A/N – New story time. Deception has 18 chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue, bringing the total up to 20. I will update this story two or three times a week, days varying depending on what I'm doing.

I just want to point out that this story does contain an extra-marital affair. (Although Draco and Hermione will not be cheating on each other, that's something I just don't do) I know some people aren't comfortable with affairs, so I thought I'd put a warning at the beginning.

For those who want to continue reading, I hope you enjoy.

Prologue.

In the distance Hogwarts was clearly visible as Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley took a moment to gather their thoughts. A lot had happened since they last saw their school nearly a year ago. If it hadn't been for the war currently raging on in the wizarding world the trio would have been safe in the castle, attending their seventh year of school. Instead they'd spent the previous year hunting down Horcrux's in an attempt to finally bring down the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort.

"We should be going," Harry said.

Taking hold of Hermione's hand, Harry began leading the way down towards the village. The trio walked at a brisk pace and reached the outskirts of the village in just a few hours. Being extra cautious not to be seen, the trio slipped into the backstreets of Hogsmeade. Almost immediately they realised their mistake when hooded figures started apparating into the village.

"He must have some sort of spell on the village to detect trespassers," Hermione whispered as the threesome hid in a dark alcove. She was referring to Voldemort, but they'd learnt the hard way that saying his name was taboo and would summon a handful of his followers to where they were.

"Then how do we escape?" Ron asked. "There's too many of them for us to fight."

"We could try running," Hermione suggested.

"Where to?" Harry responded. "Apart from Hogwarts there's nowhere anywhere near here. If we apparate they can trace us, and if we run they can track us down."

"So what are we going to do?" Ron pressed. For the time being they were safe, but eventually the Death Eaters would search the alcove.

Before Harry could answer the trio heard a creaking noise behind them. Whirling round they spotted a door opening behind them, and an old man peered out. They had no idea the back of the alcove hid a secret door, otherwise they might have tried it for themselves.

"Get inside quick," The man hissed.

Without hesitation the three teenagers bolted through the door, ending up in a small dingy room that looked as though it hadn't been cleaned properly for years. As the man quietly closed the door, all three teenagers tried to get a better look at him.

"Hey, I know you," Ron cried. "You run The Hog's Head."

"Yes," The man nodded. "I'm Aberforth."

"You're Dumbledore's brother," Harry gasped, spotting the family resemblance.

Aberforth nodded again. "Aye, Albus was my brother."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Hermione said kindly. "He was a great man."

"He was," Aberforth sighed. "We had our differences, but he always meant well. Anyway, I'm guessing you three need my help."

"We were trying to get up to Hogwarts," Harry explained. "But I'm not sure that's possible."

"It's possible," Aberforth said as he walked over to a portrait of a young girl. He quietly said something to the girl and she turned and headed down the path in the picture.

Harry, Ron and Hermione shared a bemused look as Aberforth remained standing in front of the picture, watching it intently. After about fifteen minutes the girl reappeared walking down the path, but she wasn't alone. With her was a boy, a boy they recognised as he moved closer.

"Neville?" Ron questioned.

Neville waved from the picture, before Aberforth pulled the frame away from the wall, revealing a tunnel. Grinning widely Neville climbed out of the tunnel, and explained that it led up to Hogwarts. He also spent a few minutes explaining that the vast majority of the students were holed up in the Room of Requirements, as they fought against Voldemort's regime in the school.

"Are you coming back with me?" Neville asked while Aberforth bustled about preparing baskets of food and drink for them to take back up to school.

"Yeah," Harry replied with a nod. "Let's go."

After thanking Aberforth and taking the baskets he'd prepared the quartet climbed into the tunnel and Neville led them back to Hogwarts. As they went they talked a bit about what they'd experience since they'd last seen each other. Neville filled them in on what school was now like while Harry, Ron and Hermione briefly mentioned their year on the run.

When they emerged from the tunnel, the group was met by stunned silence, followed by loud cheers when they realised the trio were really there. Harry, Ron and Hermione barely had time to register what the Room of Requirements looked like before they were swept into hugs by their friends and people they barely knew.

As the greetings continued, Hermione saw Harry get swept into a hug with Ginny and she had to swallow a flash of jealousy. Ginny had a long term crush on Harry and the previous year they'd had a brief relationship. Harry however had stopped things getting too serious, claiming the war with Voldemort had to be his priority and he had no time for romance. What Ginny didn't know was that he didn't want to get involved with her for another reason, he was already in love with Hermione.

Hermione herself hadn't discovered Harry's feelings for her until they were on the run from the Death Eaters, but when he confessed everything to her she admitted she had feelings for him too. Over the course of their year on the run the pair had developed their relationship, even though it wasn't always easy with Ron around. Luckily Ron approved of his friends relationship and did try and give them some privacy when he could.

Hermione smiled when she saw Harry pull out of Ginny's grasp, and she quickly made her way over to the pair. Giving Ginny a hug in greeting, she snuggled into Harry's side. Harry automatically put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

"You two are together?" Ginny gasped.

"Yes," Harry replied.

"But what about us?" Ginny questioned. "You said we couldn't be together because of the war."

"I'm sorry Ginny, but I don't feel like that about you," Harry sighed. "I was trying to let you down gently. I don't want to hurt you, but it's Hermione I love."

Ginny nodded and gulping down her tears she turned and barged her way through the crowds. Harry wondered if he should go after her, but Hermione told him to give her space. They had a Horcrux to find, they didn't have time to deal with an emotional teenager.

xXx

Three hours later an upset Ginny was the least of anyone's problems. Voldemort had cottoned onto the fact his Horcrux's were been destroyed and he'd made a bee-line for Hogwarts. Luckily Harry was able to use their connection to know he was coming, giving them time to evacuate the school and assemble the Order of the Phoenix. Now a full on battle was taking place inside the castle and across the grounds of the school.

In the midst of the fighting Harry, Ron and Hermione had managed to locate the Horcrux they were looking for. With it now destroyed all they needed to do was get close enough to Voldemort's snake, Nagini, and kill her as she was the last remaining Horcrux. Less than half an hour ago the trio had been tracking the snake, and had witnessed the death of Severus Snape, their Potions Professor. Before he died he'd given Harry a vial of memories and told him that they would reveal the truth to him. Harry had immediately set out to use the pensive in Dumbledore's office and while he allowed Hermione and Ron to accompany him to the office, he wouldn't let them view the memories with them.

"I need to do this alone," He told his friends. "You need to find Nagini and kill her. Once I've looked at these memories, I'm ending this for good."

While Harry had then slipped into Dumbledore's office, Hermione and Ron had returned to the battle in search of the snake. Hermione however couldn't concentrate, all she could think about was her boyfriend's impending showdown with Voldemort. As much as she had complete faith in Harry, she was still terrified of losing the wizard she loved.

"Hermione!" Ron's cry reached the brunette's ears seconds before she felt a body slam into her, knocking her to the ground.

Hermione was momentarily stunned by the fall, but as she came back to awareness she realised there was a dead weight on top of her. Carefully she crawled out from underneath whoever had fallen on her, but as she did so she spotted the familiar red hair of her best friend. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she found herself looking into his lifeless blue eyes.

"Ron," Hermione whispered, clutching at her friend. "Ron, wake up," She cried, shaking his lifeless body as tears began to blur her vision. "Ron!"

With a low howl, she buried her head in Ron's chest, willing him to wake up. She knew he was dead, but in her heart she didn't yet believe it. He couldn't be dead, he was her best friend, he was supposed to survive and live a long, happy life. Hermione clung onto Ron, totally unconcerned by the battle raging on around her as she wept for the boy who'd been her friend since first year.

"Hermione."

Hermione barely registered the deep voice at first, but when it persisted she looked up. Through her tears she found Kingsley Shackelbolt standing over her and Ron. She was also vaguely aware that the sounds of battle had ceased, the only sounds were now shouts and cries.

"Is it over?" She whispered.

"No," Kingsley replied as he shook his head sadly. "He's withdrawn his troops and given us time to sort ourselves out. He then wants Harry to meet him in an hour, or they resume their attack."

"Harry." Hermione cried softly as she thought about how devastated her boyfriend would be at losing Ron.

"Let's get you inside," Kingsley said gently.

"Ron," Hermione said quietly, refusing to let go of her friend.

"We'll take him too, don't worry," Kingsley soothed.

Kingsley gestured to someone behind Hermione and she felt a pair of arms pulling her up. Vaguely she registered that it was Remus Lupin holding her up, but her attention was focused on Kingsley carefully levitating Ron's body. Slowly the group made their way towards The Great Hall.

When they entered they were greeted by a loud wail coming from Molly Weasley as she spotted her son. Lupin made sure Hermione was sitting down and he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders as she blankly watched the Weasleys crying over Ron. The only Weasley missing was Ginny and when Hermione looked around she found the redhead, lying on a nearby stretcher.

"Ginny," She gasped, hoping the Weasleys hadn't lost a second child.

"She's okay," Lupin soothed. "She was hit by a piece of the castle when it was hit with a curse. She was in a lot of pain so Madam Pomfrey gave her a sleeping draught."

Hermione nodded, but she barely had time to register that Ginny was okay when there was a commotion by the doors and Harry came barrelling into The Great Hall. He ran straight towards where Ron was lying and sunk down on his knees as he reached his best friend.

"No, Ron," He sobbed.

Hermione felt fresh tears begin to fall as she watched Harry crying over their friend. She also felt guilty, this was all her fault. Ron died saving her, if she'd been paying better attention she would have spotted whoever tried to kill her and could have reacted. Instead she had been totally oblivious and Ron had paid the price. She'd killed him, she'd killed her best friend.

"No Hermione. You can't think like that," Harry said, jumping up and wrapping his girlfriend in his arms. As he did so she realised she must have spoken her thoughts out loud. "It was an accident, a terrible accident."

"It should have been me," She said quietly. "He pushed me out of the way, I hadn't even seen it coming. I'm responsible."

"You're not," Arthur Weasley said through his tears. "Ron did what any decent person would have done, he saved his friend. If the positions were reversed, you would have done the same."

"If anyone's to blame it was the Death Eater scum that fired the curse," Harry snarled, wiping away his tears. For what was to come he needed to be focused, not upset. "Now it's time to end this for good."

"You're going to face him," Hermione gasped.

"Yes," Harry nodded. "Neville killed Nagini and Snape's memories gave me the answer of how to defeat him. I know what I have to do."

"Please come back to me," Hermione begged Harry. "I can't lose you, too."

"I can't promise that, Hermione," Harry said softly. Gently he cupped Hermione's face in his hand and gave her a lingering kiss. "But I want you to know that whatever happens, I love you. I always will."

"I love you too," Hermione replied as the tears dripped down her face.

Harry gave Hermione one final kiss, before turning to the Weasleys and giving them all a hug. He then turned and strode out of The Great Hall, heading for the final showdown with Voldemort.

xXx

Hermione awoke with a start, her hand reaching out for Harry and finding an empty bed. Sitting up she found herself in the boys' dorms of Gryffindor Tower, and events of the previous day hit her. They'd lost Ron and they'd very nearly lost Harry as well.

After heading off to confront Voldemort there was an anxious wait for nearly an hour, until Voldemort's amplified voice announced Harry's death. Not wanting to believe it everyone had gathered outside as Voldemort and his Death Eaters advanced on the school. When Hermione had spotted Harry's unmoving body being carried by a sobbing Hagrid, she'd collapsed onto the floor, completely wrecked.

Hermione was in such a state that she was barely aware of what occurred after that. She could vaguely recall Voldemort trying to get Draco Malfoy over to their side of the battle, but even his mother's pleas failed to convince the blond to cross over and stand with the Death Eaters. Hermione was guessing Malfoy had spotted something no-one else had as while Voldemort was busy with him, Harry was waking up. Harry being alive took Voldemort by surprise, giving Harry the upper hand in the battle that followed. Eventually Harry prevailed and Voldemort was no more.

After a brief moment of joy at Harry's victory, the mood once again turned sombre. As great as it was to be free of the dark wizard, a lot of people had lost their lives in the battle. Hermione and Harry's main loss was Ron, but they were aware that other people had suffered losses too and plenty more people were seriously injured and not guaranteed on making it.

In the aftermath of the battle, Hogwarts played host to everyone as they tried to cope with what had happened. After a few hours trying to help the survivors, Molly had sent an exhausted Harry and Hermione up to Gryffindor Tower to get some rest. The pair had curled up in Harry's bed in the boys' dorms and he'd held her as she cried herself to sleep.

Hermione was guessing Harry had gotten up to help the Order and hadn't wanted to wake her. Climbing out of bed she made a quick trip to the bathroom, before returning to the room and pulling on her clothes. She then headed downstairs to see if she could be of any help, she would rather keep busy than dwelling on losing Ron.

When Hermione arrived down in the common room she spotted a tearful Ginny curled up beside the fire. Ginny's arm was in a sling and she had a bandage over her forehead. Hermione was just about to make her way over to Ginny, when Molly suddenly stormed up to her.

"You murderer," She screeched.

Before Hermione could react Molly had raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. Hermione staggered slightly as Molly continued to rant and rave at Hermione, calling her all sorts of horrible names.

"Enough, Molly," Arthur called, dragging his wife away from Hermione.

Hermione was shocked to see venom in Arthur's eyes when he looked at her, and looking around the common room she found the rest of the Weasleys staring at her in the same disgusted manner. Clearly with time to reflect on Ron's death they'd realised what Hermione had known from the start, that she was responsible. If it hadn't been for her they would still have Ron with them, she'd cost them a son and a brother.

As well as the Weasleys looking at her with hate, Hermione was heartbroken to find Harry giving her the same look. The previous night he'd held her and told her over and over that she wasn't to blame, but something had obviously changed with him as well. He was clearly blaming Hermione for the loss of his best friend.

"You need to leave," Harry said coldly as Hermione continued to look at him, her eyes pleading for some kind of support.

"I don't understand," Hermione whispered.

"We don't want you here," Harry said. "You killed Ron. If it wasn't for you, he would be standing here with us."

Hermione nodded sadly. "I'll just grab my things."

"Good," Harry answered, still speaking in the same cold, hard voice. "Get your things and leave. We never want to see you again."

As she turned and headed back up to the boys dorms, the tears were once again flowing down Hermione's face. As quick as she could, Hermione grabbed her bag and emptied it out onto Harry's bed. Hastily she repacked it with just her stuff, before turning and leaving the bedroom. This time when she entered the common room it was deserted, apart from Harry and Ginny sitting by the fire. They both looked up when Hermione entered the room, but they soon turned away and continued on with their whispered conversation.

Still crying softly, Hermione left Gryffindor Tower and slowly made her way through the school. While she saw a few members of the Order wandering around, none of them glared at her with the same hate she'd seen in the Weasleys eyes. A few even said hello, but Hermione ignored them as she left the castle and made her way towards the school's boundary line.

Once she was off school premises Hermione turned and looked back at the castle one final time. She could hardly believe that less than twenty four hours ago her, Harry and Ron were just making their way to Hogwarts. Now a day later not only had she lost Ron, but she'd lost Harry and the Weasleys as well. In a matter of hours her entire life had been blown apart, and she was left a broken shell.

Slowly turning away from Hogwarts, Hermione pulled out her wand. Drying her eyes and trying to focus, she waved her wand and disappeared from the Scottish countryside with a loud crack.