The Right Choice

Chapter Twenty

"Got it!" Harry said, "Let's get out of here."

They heard what could only be described as a roar. Ron came running out of the maze of objects, screaming bloody murder and sweating profusely.

"Goyle set the bloody place on fire!" he yelled at Harry and Hermione as he ran past them. Draco appeared a few seconds later and grabbed Hermione by the hand, pulling her from the danger.

They ran as fast as they could, but the Fiendfyre had surrounded them. Draco and Hermione grasped each other, positive that this would be the end for all of them. Then Harry spotted three broomsticks about to be burned to a crisp. He snatched them away from the flames and handed one to Ron and the other to Draco. Harry and Ron mounted theirs and Draco and Hermione shared the last one. They were making their way out when they saw Crabbe and Goyle attempting to climb their way up from the flames.

"We can't leave them!" Harry shouted over the noise.

"He's joking, right?" Ron demanded in disbelief.

"You two get out, we'll get them." Harry told Hermione and Draco. Draco nodded and steered them out of the room. He was in such a hurry that when they finally were out, they crash landed.

Hermione stood, rubbing her head where it had hit the concrete. Draco wobbled to his feet and looked to Hermione, concerned she may be injured. They looked each other in the eye and Draco thought of how they had almost burned to death. He no longer cared about Hermione's boundaries. He took her face in his hands and kissed her, grateful that she was alive.

To his surprise, Hermione kissed him back, curling her fingers into his hair. They parted and Draco held Hermione close. Then they heard someone clear their throat.

Ron and Harry were standing before them, looking as if they were ashamed for interrupting a private moment.

"I hate to break this up, but if we don't all want to die we have to get moving." Harry said shyly.

Hermione nodded.

"Where did Crabbe and Goyle go?" Draco asked.

"Crabbe took off, Goyle fell into the fire." Ron said bluntly.

Draco had a moment of regret. They had been friends after all, sort of. But this was not a time for mourning.

"Right," Draco said. "What next?"

"Where's the Horcrux, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I dropped it in the chaos." Harry answered.

"Harry! Fiendfyre can destroy it. It's cursed fire."

"How do you know?" Ron said, turning to Hermione.

"I read it while we were on the run." Hermione told him.

"You're brilliant, you are." Ron said with a smile.

Hermione returned the smile. "There's one more Horcrux though."

They all thought for a moment, they were down to the last one and no one had any idea as to what it could be.

"Hang on, Dumbledore said that Voldemort is unusually in tune with his snake, Nagini. She behaves remarkably unique for an animal." Harry suggested.

"But hiding a piece of your soul inside something as vulnerable as a living thing is risky and complicated." Hermione said.

"Think about it Hermione." Harry urged her. "She's nearly always with him, he refuses to send her to do any of his bidding, and she's the only living thing he shows affection toward."