Captured

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Gone

A/N: Disclaimer: Some of the quotes in this chapter are pulled straight from book seven, as there is again some overlap between canon and the fic here. Any quotes pulled from the book are not my writing, and not owned by me.

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Hermione and Ron flew above the battling students, opting to stay on brooms despite Hermione's discomfort, as they both knew this was the fastest way to get back to Harry.

That is, until a rogue curse hit Hermione's broom, smashing it to pieces.

Ron dove after her, locking his arms around her and slowing her fall moments before they crashed to the ground together, breaking the handle of his broomstick as well.

"Bloody hell," Ron groaned, rubbing his head as they both got quickly to their feet.

Hermione didn't have a chance to agree to the sentiment before she had to fire off a curse at a Death Eater approaching from Ron's rear.

He swore again, grabbing her hand and dragging her through the duelling couples scattered throughout the halls. They weaved in and out of the chaos unfolding around them, casting curse after curse as they made their way back to the seventh floor corridor where they had hoped Harry had returned to by now.

Hermione tripped and went down, a scream clawing its way up her throat as she realised she had tripped over the body of a sixth year she hadn't known personally but had seen spending time with Luna and the other sixth year Ravenclaws.

She stared at his glassy eyes, frozen in a look of terror.

She didn't even know his name.

The moment cost them, and she gasped as Ron let out another curse, toppling to the ground beside her as the opposing Death Eaters' curse slashed across his upper arm.

The Death Eater advanced on them, a dark chuckle escaping from behind the mask that covered his features.

"Well, well, well. A fitting end for the famous blood-traitor and mudblood friends of Harry Potter."

Hermione raised her wand, ready to defend Ron and herself, but before she had the chance to cast anything a bright red light hit the Death Eater square in the chest, knocking him backwards into the wall behind him with a crunch. He crumpled to the floor where he stayed unmoving.

She scrambled to her feet, wand still pointed at the dispatched Death Eater in case he jumped back up. She didn't look away until she was sure he was down for good, and she finally turned to thank the person who had saved them.

Draco stood across the hall from her, wand out and focus on the Death Eater on the floor as if he too was worried he might jump back up to try and harm she and Ron again.

His eyes finally dragged to hers, and she broke.

She tore across the hall, not caring that anyone might look away from their duels and see them, not caring that they needed to get to Harry, not caring that a battle was raging around them.

He was okay. And he was here.

She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own around him as he pulled her close and buried his face in her hair, breathing deeply.

"I missed you." She whispered against his chest, unable to stop the tears dampening his shirt. "I missed you so much."

He groaned, holding her tighter as he replied, "I missed you too. So fucking much."

She pulled back slightly, sliding her hand around his neck to pull him to her for a far too brief kiss.

"I was so scared we wouldn't find each other." She said again, voice still no louder than a whisper.