Golden

The Fallen Headmaster

June 30, 1997

Students rushed through the corridors in a state of panic, as news of the esteemed headmaster, Albus Dumbledore's demise, spread rapidly. Hermione scanned the crowd, searching for a particular boy. Spotting the platinum blonde-haired boy, she swiftly navigated her way through the waves of bodies to try catch up with him.

"Draco!" She managed to exclaim amidst her voice breaking as she called out his name.

The Slytherin student quickly turned to a corner, prompting Hermione to do the same. He quickly picked his pace in an attempt to distance himself from the on going commotion. "Draco," she managed to call out to him once more, but Draco showed no inclination to stop. She adjusted her pace to a much more faster rate, ultimately catching up to the tall, fair-haired boy. She firmly grasped his wrist and swiftly guided him to the nearest broom cupboard, promptly closing the door behind them. She efficiently cast several locking charms and protective spells as well as a muffliato before turning to face the tall, grey-eyed boy with a worried expression.

"Draco," she murmurs softly, her voice laced with a hint of yearning as she delicately shifts her hold from his wrist, gracefully intertwining their hands in a tender gesture of affection.

His eyes were darker than usual, she could tell how scared he must have been just by looking at him. His face appeared paler than before. "Hermione," he uttered her name in a hushed tone, as he gathered the courage to embrace her tightly. His hands securely wrapped around her back, while soft sobs escaped his lips, accompanied by the dampness of his tears.

"It's okay ssh, I'm here— you're fine." She reassures him as she provides a comforting touch on his back.

"I couldn't— I didn't do it," his face still hidden by the crook of her neck.

"I know, love." She released him from the hug and smiled as their foreheads touched.

"How did you find me?" He sniffled.

"It was not particularly challenging to spot a tall, platinum-haired wizard from the crowd," she remarked in a lighthearted manner, emitting a brief chuckle in an attempt to lighten up the mood a little bit.

"I was trying to— I've looked everywhere, love. I couldn't find you, I thought something had happened to you." His eyes were slightly red, but they still conveyed a deep sense of concern for her well-being.

"I was also looking for you, I have to know you're okay." She pursed her lips in an attempt to suppress her heighten emotion "The Order— they're here, Harry, Ron and I are leaving with them tonight." She tells him, her grip tightens as she expresses her reluctance to release the warm hand she has been holding onto for quite some time.

"I know."

She started to become emotional as few tears fell. " I have these charmed like the ones we used from D.A, I figured we can have a little something to communicate by without others getting suspicious." She explained as she handed Draco a bracelet with a silver, blank plaque between the dark green beads.

"I also have one," she continues as she places the dark green bracelet on his wrist.

Draco remained motionless, their foreheads still touching. He raised his hand, gently cupping her cheeks and tracing small circles with his thumb. "Promise me—" he began, his voice faltering under the weight of his emotions, as if someone had just punched him right on his chest and gripped his heart tightly, their nails digging into it.

"Promise me one thing." He finally managed to say it clearly.

"Promise me that you'll stay safe love." He closed his eyes firmly as he exhaled deeply, drawing her even closer as he wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.

"I'm not sure—I don't know if it's something that I can promise." She said attempting to break free, but Draco held her even more firmly.

"I'm not letting you go on a suicide mission Hermione!" He growled.

She argues, "it's a war Draco, I can't make any promises but I will try and stay safe, alright?"

She sensed his breath near her lips. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, his gentle lips brushed against hers. She parted her lips, allowing him to fully engage in a passionate kiss. She reciprocated his movements as he pulls her even more closer to deepen their kiss.

Hermione's back pocket unexpectedly became warm, causing her to abruptly end the passionate kiss she was sharing with Draco. She retrieved a galleon that had been magically enchanted in a similar manner to the bracelets, bearing a written message.

It's time.

It was the only thing written on it. She understood that the clock was ticking rapidly and that the moment to bid farewell had arrived. It was uncertain when this war would end or when will they ever get to see each other again. This time, Hermione initiated their final kiss. It was significantly less refined than the previous one they had shared. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally pulled apart again.

"Stay alive, Draco," she whispers softly. Their foreheads pressed together once more.

"Stay alive, Granger." He pressed his lips together firmly, attempting to control his emotions.

"Always," that was the last word she ever said to him before they completely let one another go and went on their separate ways.

⋆˙⟡

The Great Hall

June 30, 1997,

The Great Hall was filled with students from different houses. Members from the Order were transporting some of the students who had sustained injuries during the recent event. As she made her way through the Great Hall, she spotted the raven-haired Gryffindor with the distinctive circular glasses that he had worn consistently for the past six years since she had known him.

"Harry!" She sprinted to him, relief that somehow with everything that happened he's still alive. She gave him a bone crushing hug, almost suffocating him.

"Hermione! You're crushing me" Harry said, she let him go and studied him for a few moments, checking for any injuries.

Hermione looked around and Great Hall appeared different from when she had first seen it, and it no longer felt like home.

"Death Eaters—" Harry begun. "They went here and destroyed most of the Great Hall while students were having their end of the year feast."

"Malfoy—" Harry went on, "I saw him Hermione! After what happened at the Astronomy tower, he was here standing— watching that crazy aunt of his blasting and destroying the Great Hall where Dumbledore used to stand, where we used to eat!" Harry has been keeping a close eye on Draco throughout the year with that map of his, as he strongly believes that Draco is a Death Eater. In which Harry' suspicion was correct. But Draco did not willingly become a Death Eater on his own; he was compelled to bear the Dark Mark against his will because of his father's downfall when he failed to retrieve the prophecy.

"Bellatrix came running through those doors, laughing—like the lunatic she is, blasting everything. You should've seen his face, Malfoy, I mean!"

She couldn't imagine how he had felt, to witness the place you grew up in, get destroyed by your very own crazy aunt. The place where he first flirtatious smiled at her secretly from their table, the place where she caught him stealing glances of her every meal.

"He looked hurt Hermione!" Harry still goes on telling Hermione everything she has missed, "it's almost as if his home has been destroyed."

"What? Of course he'll be hurt it's been his home too—" She proceeds to defend her lover without realizing. "Hogwarts is everyone's home." She corrected, pointing that Hogwarts is a home to every student here. She knew that Hogwarts is the only place where he could find refuge, away from that manor of his where Tom Riddle has decided to reside.

"Anyway, I received a message from the galleon, aren't we leaving?" She quickly changed the subject, trying to avoid talking more about Draco.

"Yeah we were, but there were last minute changes." He says.

"Changes?"

"Everyone is going to where Dumbledore had fallen; there will be a short funeral for him." She gave a nod and both walked to where to the place where Dumbledore's body was supposed to have fallen.

Every student from every house was present, except for one Slytherin. McGonagall, now is standing right in front of of everyone holding her wand upright with both of her hands.

"This evening—" she begun, there wasn't a need to cast for a sonorous with everyone silent her voice was the only sound that filled the starry night. "Our beloved Headmaster has died." She announced.

"Death Eaters had infiltrated the castle earlier this evening— they tried to destroy the home everyone had grown to know and with that our dearest headmaster had been killed by their lots."

McGonagall slowly raised her wand above her head. Its tip slowly began to emit a white light. As she tilted her head up, she saw that most of the crowd had their wands raised, with bright white light emitting from them. She took out her Vinewood wand and brought it up in the air, casting the spell silently until a bright light emitted from the tip of her Vinewood wand.

The funeral has ended, everyone had been instructed to retire to their dormitories until further instructions were given.

The trio separated from everyone else, entering once again inside the great hall where Mad-Eye, Shacklebolt, Remus, Tonks and The Weasleys were standing.

"You three—" Mad-Eye limps as he walked around gathering everyone up. "You'll each have to take a portkey back to your own home."

"Home?" Hermione furrowed her brows, confused as it wasn't the plan they've discussed during easter holidays.

"You heard it correctly Granger," Mad-Eye said, sounding almost grumpily.

"I thought we're all g—",

Mad-eye had cut her off mid sentence, "like I said Granger, you and Weasley as well as Potter are all going home— to your respective homes via portkey."

Hermione didn't dare to ask more, she obediently followed everything, she made sure to take note of Mad-Eye's instructions.

A month, there would only be a month for her to prepare before the war. A month to be with her parents, she would have to find a way to keep them safe from this madness.