Draco had been release from the hospital after several days to heal his wounds, the potions administered for his internal injuries required bed rest. A full week had passed since the time Hermione returned to classes after his return, obviously changed from the loss of her family. She had unable to attend to her head girl duties and missed most meals during the day, but managing to join the rest of the school for the evening meal.
One late May morning, one student and one Professor felt a burn in their left arms. Draco abandoned all pretenses, and relayed the message to the DA leader. Harry then mobilized the DA using Hermione's coin, with instructions to meet in the field outside Hogwarts near the Whomping Willow. The rouge army of students was joined with a handful of skilled warriors and a few cast-off wizards to stand shoulder to shoulder against the greatest evil force of the century. The warning they received came with very little time to prepare for the pending attack.
The line was drawn. Classic good vs. evil with the outcome of the world hanging in the balance, the future rested squarely on the shoulders of a single seventeen year old boy. His only motivation was not to save the world, but to save a single person. From the shadows past the grounds of the school, emerging from the fringes of the forest, an army of white masked figures drew to the same clearing. Voldemort, as was his habit took the opportunity to gloat, to torment the ranks he faced, hoping to shake their resolve.
"Ahhhh, Harry, I see you have found friends to help you. And you, Snape? So this is where your loyalties truly lay. No matter; you will meet your fate tonight with the other so-called Order members. I have, as you will see, gained far more power then you have known."
"As for you Harry, I know you won't attack me, you're too weak, and you don't have the stomach for killing. I will enjoy watching you and your friends beg for death, just like your whore's mother before she died."
"Murderous coward, you killed my parents." Hermione spit at him with vengeance in her voice. Harry was forced to physically hold her back, or she would have torn into the Dark Lord with her bare hands.
"SILENCE YOUR MUDBLOOD BITCH!"
"You and your fiends will not win tonight Riddle." Harry replied calmly, while still holding Hermione back.
"So Harry, you DO have a voice."
"Yes and now I'm going to end this here and now."
"I'm surprised; the last time we met you hid behind an old man, and now you hide behind a girl willing to fight and die in your place. How very brave."
"While you hide in shadows like rats," He glared at Pettigrew. "You all will pay for what you did to my parents." Harry shot back, his temper still in check, but only because she stood there with him.
"And MINE. I'm surprised, actually." Hermione said as she glared fire at their foe. She stepped from behind Harry to face the murderer of her family; Harry let her take the offense. Her voice had a cunning tone, as she began her revelations. "I'm surprised these pure-blood wizards are following a half-blood like you."
"Lies, you filthy little whore." He spat as he raised his wand.
"No, truths. Your father was a muggle, just like my mother, but my father was of ancient wizarding blood, as was your mother." Hermione stated as fact.
The revelation caused a stir in the Death Eater's ranks as Harry continued for Hermione. "You've deceived those that have sworn to follow you as you 'purify' the wizard blood. I suggest you start with yourself, if that's your goal."
"Lies, your bitch has no true wizarding blood in her."
"Ahh, but she does, Tom." Dumbledore confirmed. "You've know the legends, as does everyone else about the Lost Witch? She's standing in front of you, right now. Miss Granger, would you tell them the rest, please?" His wand remained pointed squarely at Voldemort while she continued her speech.
"I've researched my family and made an interesting discovery." She looked to the Death Eaters around them, "any of you 'purebloods' ever have an ancestor murdered during the Witch Hunts from 1400 to 1800? Would you like to know whose family led those persecutions?"
The grumbling from the black cloaked began to show some dissention in their ranks.
"It's very ironic that the Riddle family would marry into Salizar Slytherin's blood line. You see, persecuting wizards of any bloodline is in his blood. His family was responsible for murdering thousands of wizards then just as he is responsible for murdering wizards today. My ancestor had been tortured by a Clement Augustus Rebus, that name also meant rune or riddle, and his family's name had been changed in 1814 to Riddle. That was the same time the muggle world began to realize the 'witch-hunts' were an excuse for animals like him to kill for pleasure."
"LIES! You filthy mudblood…"
"No, those are the facts. And we all know Salizar Slytherin's views on mixed blood lines in our world."
More grumbling from behind the masks and a few of the invading wizards lowered their wands. The wedge of truth began to split the cracks of their armor.
"You will be the first to die here, you little bitch." Voldemort raised his wand directly at Hermione and that was the signal for Lucius Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle to slide around from the shadows to out-flank Arthur and Molly Weasley.
Snape observed the movements behind the lines and turned to defend the pair with a powerful binding charm, Incarcerous. The charm hit Crabbe and Goyle, and dropped them where they stood, but the third villain slipped away into the cracks like the cockroach he was. The battle had begun.
Dumbledore, Remus and other Order members engaged the Death Eaters on the perimeter of the battle. Volleys of spells flashed from both sides, like muzzle flashes from old-time muggle warfare. In the opening minutes many from both sides fell, Death Eaters fell stunned, while they showed no mercy. Colin Creevy fell to a diffindo charm when it struck his leg, and severed it above the knee. He held the stump of his leg tightly and screamed in pain as lay bleeding.
Bill Weasley was struck from behind by an unlikely foe; Cornelius Fudge finally showed his true allegiance and struck him down with a club from behind. The blow was fatal as it crushed the back of his skull. All he saw was black, then a bright light beckoning him. Fudge dropped the staff he carried and tried to scurry to safety. Arthur witnessed his son's attack and turned to his son's murderer.
"CRUCIO!" He screamed at the Minister of Magic. The politician fell to the ground, his body quivered in pain. "You cockroach… You murdered my son…" He lunged at Fudge and grabbed him by the throat, squeezing with his hands as tight as he could. His anger flared as the pain of his son's death dug deep into his heart. He felt his fingers dig into the flesh of the Minister's neck, until he crushed the bone.
Arthur stood over the body of the Minister of Magic as the man's blood dripped from his hands. The only remorse he felt was that he wouldn't see the man stand trial for murder. He looked longingly at his wife and then to the blood on his hands, and from behind, Malfoy and Bellatrix both cast Crucio at Arthur Weasley simultaneously. He was hit in the back by both spells instantly without preparation and the impact caused the poor elder man's heart to burst open inside his chest, dropping him to his knees.
"NO… ARTHUR!" screamed Molly, only to have him fall into her arms. As she weakly raised her wand to try to defend herself and her husband, Bellatrix hit her with the stunning spell; her wand flew from her hand and was lost. Lucius calmly walked behind her and with a smile born of the devil, produced a blade; the same blade used to dispatch two fellow students the beginning of the year, the same blade Harry used in the Chamber, the very same blade that help bring the Dark Lord back to his body, and slit her throat to the bone. Snape lunged at his onetime friend but was blocked by Nott hiding in the shadows, in the confusion, Malfoy slipped back into the cracks as she lay in a gathering pool of her own blood.
The choreographed confusion of the battle gave Voldemort the opportunity to cast Avada Kedavra at Harry, expecting to end this quickly. But Hermione at Harry's side protected them both with a bending shield charm she found in one of her ancient volumes to split the spell into two beams, one beam bounced back and hit the elder Nott in the chest killing him instantly, and the other hit Bellatrix. Both Death Eaters fell dead. The power she expended weakened her, she felt her knees begin to buckle but reached deep into herself as she's witnessed Harry do when they were training, and found enough inner strength to remain at his side. She felt a surge of warmth flow into her body as she stood at Harry's side. She put her free hand to his shoulder to let him know where she was, defending his back. Her touch sent a surge of confidence through the young man, knowing he was the only true protection she had.
The loss of his henchman by a defense to an un-defendable spell startled Voldemort long enough for Harry to turn his own wand to his hated enemy. The two wands locked together for a second time. Harry's wand began shooting a bright blue beam of light and the other wand, the infamous green killing beam. Harry's strength this time was not sapped, as the time in the graveyard when they last met in battle, he was ready this time. The beams from the wands of the two most powerful forces known fought each other, locking the two opponents into a deadly game. Who will outlast the other? One is the most powerful dark wizard ever to live, and the other, a young wizard with a brief lifetime of experience and a weapon his opponent would never know. The younger wizard reached back into the depths of life itself to draw into a reserve, he called upon a force the dark wizard could only dream of.
Harry reached to the witch at his side, and gently pushed her back to relative safety. She watched as a smile creped over his face. She knew this task he had to do himself and she could no longer protect her lover. Crouching for cover, she moved away from the deadly duel.
In the split second when Voldemort's glance shifted to her movement; Harry released his wand as it remained locked with its brother drawing Voldemort's power. Harry shifted around his foe, pointing both hands with his fingers out stretched toward Voldemort, closed his eyes and began his spell "CONTEGO OPERIRE HOSTIS". His concentration rivaled that of the most experienced wizards alive; his arms began to glow as they did when he rehearsed for this moment. A dome of pure blue energy shot from him and surrounded Voldemort. The dome contained the two wands still engaded and drawing Voldemort's power. The evil dark lord was now trapped in a sphere of an unknown force, and as long and Harry's wand continued to engage its brother and he maintained his concentration, the cell would hold. This was half of Harry's plan, to trap and hold the dark wizard. But Harry was now without a proper wand. Voldemort grinned from inside the makeshift prison, thinking Harry couldn't maintain the energy drain for long.
"Well, boy, you've trapped me. Now what? Do you really think this will hold me for long?" The dark lord taunted.
"Now, you will die for my parents, Hermione's parents, and for all those you've murdered and tortured." Harry closed his eyes as he slipped into a deep trance, waved both hands in a wide arc, and with a mighty force, stuck them together while completing one final incantation "ABEO TEGERE" sending another charge into the dome, collapsing it completely. When the edge of the dome of energy struck the beam from the two wands, the forces converged with a massive flash; destroying his hated enemy.
Voldemort was gone; there wasn't a trace left; nothing except a scorched patch of Earth that would never see life again. It was the only legacy that would remain of the darkest wizard of the age.
Those that watched the final demise were momentarily blinded from the flash. Two tried to squirm their way to safety, fearing the reprisals they faced. Hermione saw them and remembered her parent's fate at the senior Crabbe and Goyle's hands; turned to the two Death Eaters lying on the ground raised her wand to seek her revenge, "AVADA KED---" She growled, a familiar green glow began from a wand that had never been used to hurt.
"NO… Hemione I can't let you…" Harry snapped at her, stopped her actions. With a wave of his hand sent the two flying into the waiting arms of a pair of dementors. As bad as the battle was, he would not allow her to carry anyone's blood on her hands. He knew he had to kill this day, he wouldn't allow her to live with that too. She watched as the very souls of the two were sucked from their bodies, leaving empty living shells. 'More fitting, it'll be a reminder to their families.' She thought and smiled at their fate.
In the confusion, Peter Pettigrew had watched the final destruction of his master from the shadows. Fearing his fate for betraying Harry's parents, he tried to flee from the battle. Professor Snape watched the rat like scurry of this wretched human being and was almost amused at the man's plight. Thinking he wasn't worth a curse, Snape trapped the unfortunate mound of flesh and wanted nothing more then an act of violence fitting a muggle. He began to beat the wizard rat, pummeling him with blow after blow, causing Wormtail to crawl backward until he found an object in the dirt. It was what Malfoy used on Molly Weasley. In an act of self-preservation, he thrust the blade deep into the chest of the Potions master through his heart.
Harry did not witness this last act from a traitor. He lowered his guard while he watched the two dementors finish their work. Sensing the battle was over; all they have to do is capture the remaining Death Eaters. Dumbledore bound a group to Harry's right, and members of the Defense Association captured Dark Wizards on the left. He saw a number of bodies lying dead and dying, but two near by caught his attention, his adoptive parents both lay dead in each other's arms.
There he also saw Ron as he knelt and sobbed next to his parents; he stoked his dead mother's blood caked hair in a vain attempt to wake her, his father dead at her side. His brother Bill laid mortally wounded nearby. Luna in shock at the sight mustered all her strength to try and comfort the man she loved in his hour of despair.
Harry and Hermione stood together in a momentary state of shock at the carnage of bodies, and seeing his stepparents lay dead. Wormtail watched Harry turn to the dead couple, thinking if he killed Harry, he might escape this mess. Harry paused long enough for Wormtail to lunge at him from the shadows with the bloody blade that took two lives that day. Hermione saw the steel blade flash toward from the corner of her eye and turned to see the attack. She protected her one true love with a shove and received the poorly aimed blow meant for him; the blade plunged deep into her chest.
"HERMIONE! NOO!" The terror from his dreams for over a year flooded his mind, in a fit of rage and anger, he raised his hand, and ignoring the loss of his wand; gave a wave and a grabbing gesture lifted Peter by the throat. With a vengeance reserved only for God alone, the wizard squeezed his hand, as if he had grabbed the traitor by his neck. He watched as the rat like eyes bulged from their sockets and blood oozed from his mouth. He squeezed his hand tighter and the all too familiar sound of crunching bone told the story. He released his grip, waved his hand and with a flash the crushed body fell to the ground, his head flopped awkwardly to the side. He tightened his fist one last time, and as if he were throwing a stone, a flash of fire erupted from his now open fist striking the body. The remains burst into flame and vanished leaving a small pile of dust and a silver hand. Never before has Harry experienced anger and hatred like this, the rush of raw power he felt was more then he ever wanted to feel again, it was as if the dark forces of Tom Riddle tried to seep into his soul.
The remaining Death Eaters watched as their master fell, and then after the total destruction of Pettigrew shed their hoods and masks to beg forgiveness from Harry, for fear he will exact his rage on them. In his blind anger he gritted his teeth and snarled his hatred for them. With a final wave of his hand as if he were brushing crumbs from his cloak, he instantly sent them to a sealed chamber in the castle's dungeon that had no doors, no windows, no escape and no hope; she would hold them tight to her bosom forever. It was the only mercy he would show.
He turned to his side in time to watch a young woman slowly drop to her knees as if he were watching a surreal movie. It was the same woman he swore to protect with his life; she had offered her life to save him. Her hand tightly clutched at her chest.
"Harry, it's a scratch, I-I'll be fine," she lied as she held the wound tightly to try and hide it from him. She felt her breathing become pained and difficult, but fought thru the pain. Her fingers tried to hold the wound shut and she felt the blade move with every labored breath, telling her it was deep in her chest.
Harry dropped to his knees with her to tend to her wound; she couldn't hide the blood now, as she fell into his arms. The blade that took their potions master and his stepmother still deep inside the woman he loved. It was the same blade he once held in the chamber and had sought to destroy.
Hermione's wound was severe. The blade pierced the left side of her chest near her shoulder and was buried deep; the wound profusely bled bright red blood telling the story of the damage to her lung. She looked to him with fear and shock as their eyes met; every vision he had of this moment flooded his mind. He saw her body suspended several feet above the ground, blood poured from her wounds. A bright crimson ribbon flowed down her leg, pooling at his feet. Here she was, in his arms, wounded trying to protect him.
"Mione, y-y-you'll be fine, it's over. This isn't how I saw it." He tried to boost her spirits.
Albus Dumbledore watched, in disbelief at her sacrifice, and muttered to himself, "unexpected this is." He slowly walked to the young man's side in his most dire moments with the hope he could offer some comfort.
Her breathing slowed and became shallow and pained; the punctured lung began to fill with blood, causing pressure with every new breath. She could no longer support her own weight and he pulled her to his arms when he felt her begin to falter. That's when he realized the gravity of her wound. He had never seen her eyes so icy and lifeless; they were always full of life and joy. He longed at that moment to wake from this nightmare like he had so many times before to find her sleeping at his side. He had never felt fear like this before, he was afraid to touch the blade, that it would cause her more pain. He wanted to push the blood back inside the wound as if it were a mistake he could erase.
She mouthed three words to him knowing her fate and reached to him, he felt her lips meet his one last time; they were as cold and lifeless as her eyes. She never closed her eyes as they kissed that one last time. He held her tightly in his arms when her body stiffened once and then went limp. He could no longer feel her breathe; her chest remained still, her last breath escaped from their lips. Her eyes remained open and were now dull and lifeless.
He screamed in pure agony as a blood stained hand fell lifeless to her side; a scream that drew all eyes to the scene as he wept over her, his scream rocked the core of magic held within the walls of the school. "I wasn't strong enough to save her, I failed her. She's dead because of me." he sobbed over her body while he gently rocked her in his arms as he would a baby. The Fidelius Charm lifted as she died in his arms, revealing the young couple's true feelings and their shared pain.
"No, Harry," his headmaster began, "what happened was her fate. You have no control over death; none of us can control it, it is out of our hands, she is gone. All that can be done now is to help those that need it, those that have survived." He placed a fatherly hand to Harry's shoulder in an attempt to pull him away from the body he held.
"Harry, she's gone, let her go."