In a dark, alternate universe where Voldemort has won the war but did not survive, Draco Malfoy finds himself trapped between duty and desire. As one of the Dark Lord's most trusted Death Eaters, Draco is cold, calculating, and ruthless-until he's faced with the one person who makes him question everything: Hermione Granger.
After being captured and sold to Lucius Malfoy, Hermione's life becomes a nightmare. But when Draco steps in to protect her, she finds herself torn between hatred for what the Malfoys have done to her and an undeniable pull toward the younger Malfoy. As they navigate a world of dark magic, betrayal, and forbidden love, their bond deepens into something neither of them expected.
When a powerful pureblood ritual threatens to tear them apart forever, Draco must make a choice that could change the fate of the wizarding world. Will he follow his heart and defy his family's legacy, or will he lose Hermione forever?
This story is one of passion, darkness, and redemption-where love might just be the most dangerous magic of all.
Warnings:
This story contains dark themes, including violence, explicit language, sexual content, and elements of non-consensual situations. Reader discretion is advised.
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"reeled me in and crushed me with that ending. but i love it nonetheless." -carolinabeest
"incredible for first work!" -zeroinstinct7
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After the death of Dumbledore and the shattering night atop the Astronomy Tower, the war in Wizarding Britain twists into something far darker. Voldemort's forces have learned a terrible truth. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione are together their combined magical signatures burn like a beacon. Staying united no longer offers strength. It paints a target on their backs. So the Golden Trio must separate if they hope to survive long enough to destroy the Horcruxes.
While Harry and Ron search for the scattered Horcruxes independently, Hermione finds herself alone on the outskirts of a forgotten village in rural Britain burying herself in research in the desperate hope of uncovering where the next one might be waiting.
But even isolation cannot keep the war at bay.
One late evening, she stumbles upon a body. One that is crumpled, pale, and bleeding into the leaves.
Draco Malfoy.
The boy who chose darkness. The boy she hates.
As Hermione drags him into shelter, questions coil like smoke. How did he end up here? Why is he alone? And more dangerously... Why does she care if he dies or not?
With Death Eaters hunting them both and the boundaries between enemy and exile blurring, Hermione must decide which will destroy her first:
The war tearing their world apart... or the unexpected allegiance beginning to take shape in the quiet of the woods.
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