(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Hagrid gave a great cry as Harry suddenly moved in his arms, dropping to the ground in front of him.

Harry was alive.

The crowd gasped in shock as Voldemort’s red eyes gleamed at him, stepping over Nagini and towards Harry.

While he was distracted, Hermione watched Draco reach into the sorting hat, his hand closing around something glinting in the weak morning sun. Then, with a fluid motion, he pulled the glittering sword of Gryffindor from the depths of the enchanted hat.

With a scream he drew it high overhead before running forward to slice it down in a great arc upon the head of the large snake. Nagini had reared up, in an attempt to strike him, but instead gave him the perfect angle to cut her head clean off her body. As the venom infused blade pierced her skin, a great rattling cry came from the snake as it writhed, black smoke pouring out of the wound as the piece of Voldemort’s soul inside her died.

Voldemort, who had just bound Harry in thick black ropes, screamed.

“TRAITOR!”

He turned, pointing his wand at Draco who wasn’t looking at him, but at Hermione.

I will find you, I promise.

“ Incarcerous vincula !” Voldemort cried, binding Draco, Lucius, and Narcissa not in ropes, but in chains.

All three Malfoys dropped to their knees, not an ounce of regret present on their faces. Hermione twitched, wanting to move forward, but Pansy grabbed her arm, holding her firmly in place.

“My, my, my. It seems I had some traitors in my midst…” Voldemort said with thinly veiled rage. “Whatever will I do with you?”

He turned back to the group at large, a strange smile on his face.

“But I am not the only one with traitors ,” he sneered and Hermione’s breath caught. “You know, there is something so strange about goodness . It blinds you to the reality right in front of you. It makes you trust things… and witches … you shouldn’t.”

At this his crimson eyes found her, and he lifted his hand, palm up.

“Allow me to introduce you to the traitor in your house. The snake in your lion’s den. Mon couteau aiguise – the sharpened blade that was thrust right into the heart of Dumbledore and the Order. Couteau… come forward.”

Hermione took a deep breath before panic overtook her. In her mind, she shoved her fear deep inside her alcove, away from her forefront. She could not go to pieces, not when her family was in danger. So, with her head held high she stepped forward, placing a hand on Neville’s shoulder to let her pass.

"Hermione..." Neville said softly. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, Neville, I really am,” she replied, moving around him.

“Hermione, no!” he cried, trying to grab for her.

But she was already past him, moving through the rest of the crowd. She watched as Mrs. Weasley’s eyes widened in shock, as Remus’ scarred face grimaced in anger, as Kingsley gave her a solemn nod.

As she stepped away from them, she summoned her robes, as small gasps echoed through the witches and wizards at her back as they saw who she truly was.

A liar.

A traitor.

A Death Eater.

Just for a moment, she locked eyes with Harry, bound and gagged on the ground. His bright green eyes were wide but not shocked – as if he’d figured it out long ago. She wanted to say she was sorry, she wanted to tell him it had been a mistake, that she’d already switched sides, but instead she lifted her chin high and stepped towards Voldemort.

“Kneel, pet,” Voldemort commanded.

She did, her head held high, keeping his ruby gaze as she pressed her palm against her heart, her cloak swirling in front of her chest and over the skin of the back of her hand.

“You sent me the Potter boy on a silver platter,” he said.

Confusion swirled through her; she hadn’t sent Harry anywhere. Hadn’t even seen Harry since before Voldemort had given her the mission. She wondered if perhaps merely by Harry’s presence in the forest, he’d assumed it had been her doing.

That was Voldemort’s downfall. He was so sure of himself – sure of his power and authority. There were parts of him so stubborn and full of zeal that he could not imagine that his protégé had betrayed him – had been betraying him.

“I ask one more thing of you, before you take your place permanently by my side. In this new world you will be the most revered, the most honored, and the most feared . But first, you must prove your loyalty one last time.”

Voldemort gestured behind him to where Draco, Lucius, and Narcissa knelt, their shoulders bowed forward with the weight of their chains. But she could not look at them, she only had eyes for Voldemort.

“Kill them and gain your true power and potential. Kill them and prove yourself.”

“Of course, my lord,” she said. “I will prove my loyalty.”

Faster than a bolt of lightning, she grabbed the dagger – a gift from the Dark Lord himself, given to her to pierce the heart of the Order – from inside her cloak, pushing to her feet in one lithe spring, and shoved the cursed blade straight into Voldemort’s heart.

They stared at each other; his eyes wide in surprise as a small stream of blood began to drip from the corner of his mouth. The light already beginning to fade from his eyes.

Because Voldemort was merely human. Merely a man after they destroyed his last two horcruxes and he killed Harry – therefore fulfilling the prophecy. She twisted the blade, pushing it deeper into his chest as she felt hot blood gush over her hand.

Then, she raised up on her toes to bring her mouth close to his ear.

“You should be careful when you hone sharp things, Tom, you may just get cut.”

Only the epilogue left after this, my loves! I can't believe we are already here! I am so grateful to all of you for your comments, kudos, & messages. It means so much to me. Please follow me on Tiktok (@gillianeliza_) & IG (@gillianeliza) to stay up to date with my other projects! Next Friday will be the final installment! xo!