Unofficial Portkey Archive

Title: All Nights (17/18)
Author: Goldy
Summary: It's time.
Keywords: Harry/Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Horcrux!plot, Voldemort.
Spoilers: Books 1-6
Word Count: 6, 900

A/N: Sorry for the long wait (I do seem to be saying that a lot, don't I?). The last chapter should be out within a few days. Thanks, again, to everyone who has followed me through this thing.

***

Harry's kisses were dizzy and frantic, a mess of unrestrained emotion and fear. Down her neck and the slope of her breasts. He dipped one tongue into her belly button, quirking a smile up at her when she shifted.

She let her fingers entangle in his hair, and closed her eyes. Maybe she could fade away. Maybe they could all fade away.

She just wanted it to be over.

***

"You'll be careful."

"Yes, Harry. Stop fussing."

"I'm not fussing. You fuss. Not me."

"You are too fussing."

He rolled his eyes, and straightened her shirt. "Bra strap is showing," he explained.

Hermione blushed. "Oh. Well… thank you."

He flashed her a sheepish grin. "I reckon it's my fault, anyway."

She touched his cheek. "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

***

Or maybe she wasn't quite yet ready for it to be over.

Not when Harry pulled her into an empty room (five hours left, four, no, three… counting never did her any good). He tugged at her clothes, breath hot and ragged in her ear. He said her name, once, hands cupping at her bottom, mouth sucking on her neck.

It was over in five minutes, their cries soft and quick. Her fingernails left marks on his back.

Afterwards, she wanted to make a joke about it being their first quickie.

She didn't.

It wasn't the time for jokes.

***

The DA respected Harry. They twitched when he twitched. Their eyes widened when he spoke to them.

It wasn't Harry's magical strength that made him powerful, Hermione realized. It was who he was. People followed him because they trusted him.

"Okay, Neville… I'm putting you in charge."

There was a long moment of heavy silence.

Neville squeaked and shot his hand in the air. "Harry, are you mental?"

Harry met his eyes. "You'll do what you need to do. You've got… a good heart, Neville. I reckon that's important-the best thing we've got. Voldemort can't make heads or tails of a heart. I hear he hasn't got one. Just a dried up prune. Disgusting, really."

A few people laughed.

"But, Harry…" Neville flushed. "I can't seem to ever remember curses when I need them most. I panic. Why would anyone-"

"Neville, if anyone has problem with this, they're welcome to leave."

There were a few glances, but no one moved. Neville slowly lowered his arm, his face paling. "Harry, I have to ask my Gram."

Seamus snickered, stopping abruptly when Harry gave him a dirty look.

Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione watched Ron slink out of the room. She touched Harry's arm to tell him she was leaving, before hurrying out after him.

"Ron," she called. "Hang on…"

She jogged to catch up to him, and he turned around, looking tired and haggard.

"It doesn't seem right," he said heavily. "Don't you get it, Hermione? They're all going to die."

"What?" Hermione said. "Ron-oh, you know that's not true."

"How can Neville possibly lead anyone? He can't even find his own wand half the time."

"Harry thinks he can."

"Harry thinks he can take down Voldemort. I'm not exactly sure I trust Harry's judgment," Ron muttered.

"Ron, how can you…" Hermione trailed off, her eyes widening, and her voice dropping to a hush. "Ron, you just said it, didn't you? You said Voldemort's name-oh, Ron, I always knew-"

"Yeah, whatever," Ron cut in. He grinned. "I practiced in the toilets. I never made the mirror crack or anything, so I figured… can't be that big a deal, can it?"

"I suppose not," Hermione said. "In the end, it's just… a name, really." They stared at each other a few moments before Hermione turned serious. "Ron, I… if anything happens to me, I-"

"What?" Ron said, suddenly alarmed. "What's going to happen to you? Don't be nutters, Hermione. Nothing's going to happen to you. You're brilliant! You were casting spells when you were a baby! If any one of us is going to survive, it's bound to be you."

"Yes, well…" Hermione took a moment to be flattered by Ron's praise before swallowing and moving forward. "I've just got a bad feeling, that's all."

Ron's eyebrows furrowed. "A bad feeling?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "But you'll take care of him if… if I don't… well, you will Ron, won't you?"

"Take care of who?" Ron said. "Neville?"

"Ronald Weasley, that is not what I meant, and you well know it."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Hermione, for the last time, not a bloody thing is going to happen to you. So stop talking about it."

"Ron," she said again, grabbing his wrists. "Please. It would make me feel better."

"Harry's never needed looking after, Hermione," Ron said, shaking her away. There was a surprising amount of bitterness behind his words. "He's not a child. And he's not your responsibility. I think he's learned how to tie his own shoes by now."

"He very well does need looking after, and you know it!" Hermione said. "You were there, that first day on the Hogwarts Express-you remember how he was. All lost and confused, only going forward because he had to! Ron, please."

Ron bowed his head. "I don't like that you're talking this way."

"I don't either," Hermione admitted. "But… I need to be prepared. For everything. That's… I've always been that way."

Ron looked up at her. "And what about me?"

"Ron…" Hermione bit her lip. "I can't say that I've always loved Harry, or that I was bound to end up this way. It was you for a very long time." Her voice quieted. "It's just the way of life, that's all."

Ron didn't say anything. His fingers twisted at the loops on his jeans.

"Ron?"

"Yeah."

"Can you do something for me?"

"Yeah, Hermione. I'll look after him. I'll look after Harry if you kick the bucket. Is that it?"

"Yes." She waited a moment. "Ron?"

"What?"

"That wasn't what I was going to ask."

"Oh," he said. "Fine, then. What is it?"

"Will you close your eyes?"

"Er, why?"

Hermione took a deep breath. She licked her lips. "Because… well, I'm hoping you'll let me kiss you."

"What?" Ron hissed. "Are you… you're mental. Why are you…?"

"Ron," she said, tears brimming. "Please."

He opened his mouth to argue, but shut it after seeing the look on her face. He closed his eyes. "I don't get this. I don't get any of this."

"I know," Hermione said. "I don't either."

"You just said you love Harry!"

"I do!" Hermione cried. "But I-I know we never got our time together, and I'm scared I might die, and can't you keep your mouth shut for five seconds so I can just kiss you and fight Voldemort without any regrets? Honestly!"

"Harry's my best mate!" Ron said. "You're his… girlfriend-like… person. It's not right, Hermione."

"He doesn't have to know," Hermione said. "In fact, it's probably best that he doesn't."

"Hermione… that's… that's lying, is what it is!"

"Oh, you won't tell him, will you? He is terribly insecure. I'm afraid he won't understand."

"I don't understand!" Ron yelped.

"Hush," Hermione said, "you're hardly helping matters." She thought for a moment. "Just one kiss?"

Ron paused. He looked tempted. "Fine. But not further than that. Okay?"

"But you won't tell Harry."

"I won't tell Harry."

"You swear?"

"I swear."

"Even if I die and he's very upset and you're all he's got left in the world, you won't tell him, will you?"

"Hermione, what kind of heartless idiot do you think I am?"

"Would you really like me to answer that?"

Ron screwed up his eyes and leaned forward. "I thought you were going to snog me."

Hermione wrinkled her brow. "That's hardly appealing."

"C'mon, Hermione… you were the one who wanted-"

"Oh, very well," she muttered.

She leaned forward and kissed him. It was a very sweet kiss, a little bit hesitant, maybe, but not quite as awkward as their first kiss in the library all those months ago. She let him relax into it, and he eventually leaned forward to cup her cheek. Their tongues touched once, almost as an afterthought, and they pulled away, shy smiles on both their faces.

"There," Hermione said, releasing a long breath. "That wasn't so terrible, was it?"

Ron stared at her for another minute, eyes unfocused and lost in thought. "No. Not terrible."

Hermione nodded. "And you'll take care of him, Ron, won't you?"

"Yeah, Hermione," he said. "Harry's my best mate. It's not like I'm planning on chucking him and getting a new one in the near future."

"Good," Hermione said. "Thank you." She squeezed his hand. "Thank you… for everything."

***

They were all planning to hit Hogwarts at the same time. Voldemort had managed to infiltrate the castle, but Harry and the Order were certain Hogwarts' magic would still be inclined in their favour. They were all to Apparate to planned access points, nearest to their separate areas of attack.

Ten minutes to departure, Hermione held fast to Harry's hand. They barely talked, both of them preoccupied with their plan. Let the Order go in first so they could make into the castle undetected. The DA would go in last, as another distraction. It would be up to Harry and Hermione to find Voldemort. Ron would go in last and head for Nagini.

Five minutes.

Harry's grip was sweaty, but he held fast to her fingers. She could feel his pulse beating in his thumb where it pressed against her wrist.

"I kissed Ron," she blurted, causing Harry to whip his head around and stare at her. She glanced away. "Earlier. When you were talking to the DA. I got scared… and I… I kissed him. He didn't want to, but I told him I didn't want any regrets-it wasn't a very nice kiss, I mean, I suppose it was okay, certainly not my best, obviously, you're my best, Harry, everything about you is. But… I did. Kiss him, I mean. And I feel awful about it, and thought you should know. Before we… well, you know." She waited a moment. "I love you."

It seemed like the wisest thing to tack on, in retrospect.

When she dared to look back at Harry, he was wearing a rather bemused expression. "You kissed Ron?"

"I panicked!" Hermione said. "I didn't mean to! I don't know what came over me!" She narrowed her eyes. "You haven't been kissing Cho, have you?"

"No," Harry said. "Course I haven't. I would never cheat on you."

"Git," Hermione said, pushing his arm. "I didn't cheat on you."

"You just told me you kissed Ron."

"Because I love you!"

"That… Hermione, that makes no sense."

"Yes, it does," Hermione said. "I fancied Ron for a long time, and now I love you… well, it's very confusing. Maybe you ought to have been there. Then it might make more sense."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Right."

She waited a moment before tugging on his arm. "Harry? You're not terribly upset, are you?"

"Not really," he admitted. "You panicked and kissed Ron. I probably would have done the same."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "This is no time to be funny!"

Harry shrugged. "Hermione, I'm not angry. Honestly, I'm not feeling much besides very terrified. When we live through this, I promise I'll get properly upset."

"Yes, okay," Hermione said. "That sounds like a nice idea."

One minute.

***

"Harry-"

Hermione wiped at her nose, reaching blindly for Harry's arm. She latched on somewhere near his elbow and he pulled her forward.

He turned and brushed his fingers under her chin. "Hey, are you with me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"We're alright," Harry said, pulling her down. They crouched just inside the Forbidden Forest, peering out at Hogwarts through the early morning mist. "We just need to wait for the Order to move in."

"Right," Hermione said, with more bravado than she felt.

Harry noticed the waiver in her voice. He pulled her close to his side. "This is all going to be over tonight, Hermione."

"You can't know that."

"Sure I can," Harry said. "Win or lose, it's over."

Hermione turned her forehead to rest against his shoulder. "Do you think about it, Harry? What happens next? I mean, the future?"

Harry hesitated. "Yes," he said, finally. "All the time."

"And?"

"Well, all sorts of things," he said. "We could go back to school."

Hermione laughed. "Really?"

"Why not?" Harry said. "Then I think we should go with Luna on one of her snorcack expeditions."

Hermione sniffed. "Don't tell me you believe in all that rubbish."

"Hermione, I really think you're missing my point," he said. He gave her a rather awkward kiss on the cheek. "What do you think about?"

"I haven't," she said.

"Well, of course you have," he said. "You've had your entire future planned out since first-year."

"I suppose so," Hermione said. "But I haven't… I haven't really thought much about it lately." The realization startled her. "I've been so focused on… this."

She trailed off into silence.

Harry turned her around so he could kiss her properly. She instinctively closed her eyes, letting his mouth coax hers open. His teeth scraped her bottom lip, and she let her tongue dart out to meet his. He framed her face in his hands, thumbs brushing along her cheeks, under her ear.

They knew every part of each other, now. She recognized each of his kisses. When he was desperate or lonely, he put everything into the kiss, all his anger and worry. When he was feeling affectionate and relaxed, he gave her quick open-mouthed kisses, sometimes missing her lips altogether and hitting her nose. Now his kiss was everything they had already put into words, the hopes and fears of the battle coming ahead.

One of his hands curved into her hair, fingers moving against the back of her scalp. His cheeks were rough, not quite clean-shaven. She liked the way it tickled her skin. Small, tiny hurts. Just Harry.

He pulled away, perhaps sensing something she didn't, and his eyes instinctively traveled towards the school. Hermione followed his gaze, chest tightening when Hogwarts' heavy doors slid open, each lock disengaging with a deep rumble that echoed over the grounds.

Hermione glanced at Hagrid's hut, half expecting to see that familiar curl of smoke drifting out of the chimney. There was nothing there, of course. Hagrid was still in the hospital. He would probably never be mobile enough to return.

"What is it?" Hermione whispered.

Harry placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. He didn't answer, though. His eyes stayed riveted to the entrance.

"Oh, Merlin… Ginny," he said.

It was Lucius Malfoy leading her, wand pressed up against her temple. Wind whistled through the grounds, making little ripples pass over the lake.

Hermione knew there were Order members stationed at various hiding points, most concealed within the forest. Nothing moved.

"She's still alive," Harry said, his breath hot in her ear. "See? Her chest's moving."

"She can't be bait if she's dead," Hermione replied, voice hoarse. "Harry… don't you see? It's a trap. They know we're coming."

Harry's chest hitched. "That's impossible."

"How else do you explain it, Harry? It's a trap, they're going to use Ginny to-"

"To what?" Harry demanded. "You're not suggesting that we sacrifice her, are you?"

Hermione swallowed and shut her mouth. She looked away. "Practically speaking… yes, Harry. One false move… it could end us all."

Harry was staring at her like he'd never seen her before.

"Harry…"

Lucius Malfoy chose that moment to speak. His voice rang out, each of his words as clear as if he was standing next to them.

"THE GIRL IS ALIVE. SHE IS NOT OUR CONCERN. WE WANT HARRY POTTER. IF HE SURRENDERS HIMSELF WILLINGLY, WE WILL LET HER GO."

Breathless silence. Hermione couldn't stop her small moan of horror.

"YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. AND THEN SHE DIES."

Lucius threw Ginny to the ground, her body limp and unmoving. Her face and hands were white. He pointed his wand down at her and waited.

Harry moved forward.

"What?" Hermione said. "Harry… no."

"Forget it, Hermione," he spat. "This is… this is what I have to do. It's who I am."

She lunged forward, and grabbed his arm. "Harry, don't… please… there's another way…"

"Five minutes is not another way," Harry said.

"He'll kill her anyway."

"No, he won't. He's not interested in her. He wants me."

Harry moved forward again and Hermione tightened her grip. "Harry!"

"Four minutes!" Harry hissed. "I'm doing this, the Order can-"

"Fine!" Hermione said shrilly. "Fine. Alright. But I'm going with you!"

Harry went still. "What?"

"You heard me!" Hermione said. "I'm… I'm coming with you. Harry… I must. I can't bear the idea of you going in there alone."

"Hermione, for the love of…" Harry swore and spun on his heels. His grabbed her shoulders with both hands, leaning down and pinning her into place with his eyes. "I'm going in there alone."

"You're not! I'm going!"

"Don't be stupid!"

"I'm not the one walking into a trap!"

"I have to… I… listen to me," Harry said, breath coming out into harsh pants. He leaned closer to her. "I can't think about what I have to do and worry about you at the same time."

"I… Harry…" she bit her bottom lip. "I want to be with you."

His mouth opened and closed. "Listen, Hermione… you… the Unbreakable Vow. That's the point of it, innit? I mean, I don't get all of it, not really… but you're half of it. You're going in there with me. I need you… out here. I can't win in there alone."

She had to bite back a sob. "Don't say that, Harry… please, don't say that…"

"You have to tell them… the Order, I mean… you have to get them going in after me. It'll be hard, but… I stand a chance, I think. Voldemort's going to want to duel with me, I'm sure."

"But… Oh, Harry… you know you won't last thirty second dueling with Voldemort-"

"Shhh," he said. "Don't think about that. I need you to think about breaking down that door after I'm-"

"THIRTY SECONDS, POTTER."

This time, Hermione couldn't hold back her sob.

"Hermione?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, alright. Go."

For a moment, she thought he might break down right then, but he pulled himself together. He pulled her forward and kissed her on the forehead before rushing off across Hogwarts' grounds.

Hermione pressed her fingers to her eyes, holding in her tears. She took a few controlled breaths before straightening.

Ten seconds.

***

"Hermione."

Hermione almost let out a high-pitched shriek. She clamped a hand over her mouth and spun around, completely unprepared for what she found.

It was Firenze; he was pawing at the ground, and throwing his head about in an impatient manner. There were several other centaurs behind him-and beyond that, Hermione saw a giant, fleshy arm. She swallowed.

"Grawp?" she said. "You brought him?"

Firenze gave a contemplative look towards the sky. "Hardly. One finds that it is not their place to tell a giant how to behave."

"But…" Hermione said, eyeing the centaurs behind Firenze with suspicion. "You are here to help… aren't you?"

"We do not help anyone, young fowl," said one of the centaurs. "We came because Voldemort has taken our home. We will not stand for that. We offer a temporary truce. Nothing more."

Hermione glanced over her shoulder, just in time to watch the Hogwarts' doors heave shut. Harry was gone, then.

True to his word, Lucius had left Ginny's unconscious form sprawled out before the school. She saw a familiar flash of red hair, and both Weasley twins rushed to her unconscious body. Ginny would live, then.

Hermione took several deep and measured breaths. It had not been Ginny's fault, what had happened. She had been possessed. Harry had done the right thing.

"Yes," Hermione said, back to the centaurs. "A… a temporary truce. Very good."

"This was not done for you," Firenze repeated. "Remember that."

"I will," said Hermione. "But honestly… I just… thank you."

"Do you have a plan, young one?"

Hermione studied Grawp. He sat cross-legged on the forest floor, gnawing on the bottom of a large tree stump.

"Yes," she said. She pointed to Hogwarts' entrance. "I need him… to get us in there."

Firenze's expression did not change. "That is your plan."

"Well… yes, it is," Hermione said. "Things haven't really been going the way they ought to up to this point, so I'm making things up! If you've got a better one, I don't mind hearing it, but until then, tell Grawp to break down the door!"

"One does not tell a giant what to do," Firenze said.

"Fine!" Hermione said. "That's-fine!"

She brushed tree-branches out of the way and stomped towards Grawp. The Order would follow the initial plan and infiltrate the building at different points. Professor McGonagall would take a group in through the headmaster's office, Madam Pomfrey through the hospital wing, Lupin's group had the Maurader's Map-they would go in through Hogsmeade.

It was up to her to get that door open and get to Harry.

"GRAWP," she hollered. "GRAWPY, YOU LISTEN TO ME!!!"

Grawp turned his immense eyes on her. Firenze and the centaurs sent each other bored looks, and stomped their hooves.

"WE HAVE GOT TO OPEN THAT DOOR," Hermione said, waving both her arms at Hogwarts and feeling like an idiot. "HARRY IS IN THERE. YOU REMEMBER HARRY, DON'T YOU?"

Grawp blinked and took a large bite of his stump.

"Oh, honestly," Hermione muttered. "Alright… think. Come on… this isn't so hard. How do you get a giant over there? Magic won't work… won't feel a thing…." Hermione studied the giant. "CHOCOLATE, GRAWP, DO YOU LIKE CHOCOLATE?"

Grawp gave her a hideous smile. "HERMY," he said, voice nearly shaking her off her feet. "HERMY."

"Yes, Grawp, that's right… that's… you're a good boy," she added, lamely. Slowly she began to back away, gesturing him forward. "Come on, Grawp… follow Hermy… come on…"

Slowly Grawp raised himself to his haunches; studiously watching Hermione's progress.

Suddenly, Hermione had an idea. "Am I witch or not?" she said. She pulled out her wand. "Luminaria!"

Her wand immediately encased itself in a bright glow; the centaurs hissed at her and shielded their eyes. Grawp dropped the tree trunk, his gaze riveted.

"That's right," Hermione said. "Come get the nice… shiny… stick…"

Turning, she hurried from the Forest, tuned to the crashing of Grawp behind her. They burst onto Hogwarts' open grounds-and plunged into a scene of confusion. The DA was left defending the open territory, and they were badly outnumbered. The Death Eaters were easy to spot, and Hermione shot a few stunning curses at those in range, diving behind one of Grawp's haunches when they retaliated.

The centaurs halted behind her, and pulled out their bow and arrows.

"This is where we leave you, young one," Firenze said. "We will take down as many of the Death Eaters as we can. But we will not follow you to the Dark Lord. That is not our place."

Grawp let out a loud roar and thumped his chest. In one fell swoop, he knocked a pile of Death Eaters off their feet and into the lake.

"Oh," Hermione said vaguely. "That's… too bad." A movement up ahead caught her eye. "Ron!" She rushed towards him, thankful that Grawp was following-and protecting her.

"Ron!" Hermione said. "Oh, god… Ron!"

"Wha-Hermione… MERLIN, HERMIONE, THAT'S GRAWP! What's he doing here?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm. "Come on, we have to get inside the castle."

"Bu-I dunno, Hermione-"

"We are going after Harry!" she shrieked. "We've already lost so much time, Ron! He could be dead-or worse, tortured!"

Ron blinked. "How is that-"

"This is really not the time to deconstruct my sentence structure, Ron!" she hissed. "We just-we have to-go."

She pulled him ahead, staying within the safe shield of Grawp's body. The giant had fully immersed himself in the battle-batting Death Eaters away like they were small bugs. Every time he sent one flying through the air, his body rumbled with his chuckles.

"That's really quite disturbing," Ron said in her ear. "Hermione, are you sure this is such a good idea? What if Harry's got a plan?"

She gave him a severe look and continued forward. "I am part of that plan, and, anyway, you need to find Nagini-if you don't… well, Harry's in loads of trouble, isn't he?"

"Oh, yeah," Ron said, shooting a curse at a Death Eater that flew at them. "I think I've got that Detractothingie in my pocket somewhere."

"Honestly, Ron, the biggest battle of our entire lives, and you couldn't be any less prepared, could you?"

"Oi!" Ron said. "I wasn't the one who let Harry go off to die alone!"

"He didn't really give me much choice in the matter, I'll have you know!"

They reached the entrance, both of them red faced and panting. "Great," Ron said, pounding his fist at the door. "What are we going to do now?"

"GRAWP," Hermione hollered, sending sparks at the door. "Please-"

Grawp never slowed down, sending his head crashing into the huge door. There was a tremendous crash as it fell inwards, slamming into the stone floor. Rubble and dust burst up around it.

"-thank you," Hermione said, coughing and waving her hand in front of her face to wave away the dust.

"Brilliant," Ron breathed. "Now what?"

Hermione pointed to Grawp. "Help the D.A.… knock…" she mimed a punch, "the Death Eaters. But only the Death Eaters. Okay? Yes?"

"HERMY!" Grawp responded, patting her on the head with one gigantic fist. Hermione slumped forward, and Ron rushed to help her up.

"Blimey," Ron said, as Grawp rushed back onto the open grounds. "I think he might fancy you, Hermione."

"That's…" Hermione tried to imagine how that could possibly work, and immediately wished she hadn't. "Anyway-Ron, you're to go after Nagini."

"Right," Ron said. "Nagini. Now where do you suppose he'll be?"

Hermione thought. "With Voldemort."

"Exactly."

"Who's… with Harry."

"Presumably."

"Which means…" Hermione said. "We're off together, then."

"Looks like," Ron said, draping an arm across her shoulders and pulling her close. "Any chance there might be more snogs in my future?"

She slapped at his arm. "You git, Ron," she sniffed. "I would never do that to Harry."

***

Ron and Hermione mostly ignored the sounds of fighting, concentrating on helping each other creep down Hogwarts' long walls.

"Where do you suppose they are, Hermione?" Ron whispered.

"The Great Hall," Hermione said. "Voldemort doesn't have power here, Ron. This is Dumbledore's school. He can't infiltrate any of the teacher's quarters, or get into each House-it's our advantage."

Ron scoffed. "Yeah, that's really obvious."

"It is," Hermione said. "He wanted to do it here, Ron, don't you see? Hogwarts is a symbol. If he can take Harry down here, if he can stop the Order, and in the very place where Dumbledore was killed…"

"Oh," Ron said, voice strangled. "I see your point."

"The world would wake up tomorrow to find their lives changes." Hermione paused. "We can't let that happen."

Ron grabbed her arm. "Hermione," he said, jerking his head around the corner. "I think we've found our snake."

Hermione dared to peek down the hallway, drawing back quickly to Ron's inquisitive stare. Nagini and several Death Eaters were standing watch outside the door. "Good call," she said. "I guess… we're up, aren't we?"

Ron shook his head. "No. I am."

"What?"

"Find another way in, Hermione. I'll take them on… see if I can buy you some time."

"Don't be stupid," she hissed. "You can't take on three Death Eaters and Voldemort's pet snake at the same time! That's suicide!"

"Nah," Ron said. "What's the use of the Order unless I can get some help? Don't worry. I won't rush at them until I find Lupin or someone. Okay?"

Hermione hesitated. "Oh, Ron… I don't know…"

"It'll be fine," he whispered. "Harry needs you."

"Be careful," she whispered. "I couldn't stand it if…"

"Don't you dare get weepy!" Ron said hastily. "Just… go."

"Alright," Hermione said, wiping at her nose. "I'll see you later."

"Hermione?"

She turned back around, hating herself for leaving him behind her. "Yes?"

"Do you reckon he's still alive?" Ron paused, and swallowed hard. "Harry, I mean. Walking in here like he did… to save Ginny… it was stupid of him."

"It was very noble of him," Hermione said. "He's… it's just… Harry."

"Yeah," Ron said, ducking his head. "He must've known it was a trap."

"He's still alive, Ron," Hermione said. "We won't do ourselves any good unless we believe that."

***

Down the corridor, behind the statue, pocket mirror, clear coast. Hermione repeated the motions as she ducked around another statue, her breath catching with each step. Periodically she heard the sounds of two wizard's dueling, though she couldn't say who was winning. The battle outside waged on and she hardly dared to check on Neville's progress. Firenze's decision to join the fight had been fortunate, indeed.

"Look … it's the Granger girl. My… but isn't that… lucky."

Hermione froze. Slowly, she turned around. "Bellatrix Lestrange," she whispered.

"Lost and alone…" Bellatrix lips curved into a smile. "Last of the three. The only one left standing. Fitting that it would be the Mudblood to suffer most."

Hermione felt goosebumps break out along her arms. "Last of the three… you don't mean that…" she trailed off and narrowed her eyes. "Harry and Ron are not dead. You're saying that to scare me."

"Stronger together than alone, little girl," Bellatrix continued, pointing a long finger in her direction. "Your mistake was separating. It's easy to pick you off like this. One by one. Your boyfriend has been stone cold the longest. The Dark Lord took him out."

"You're lying."

"She does not spin falsehoods, only tells the truth," Bellatrix said. "They are dead, Granger. Dead. You let them die."

"I'm not stupid," Hermione said. "I won't listen to-impedimenta!"

The curse caught Bellatrix off-guard. She screamed and jumped away at the last second, and Hermione's curse left a gash in the stone wall.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Hermione ducked behind the statue. It shattered under the force of Bellatrix killing curse, leaving Hermione unprotected.

She scrambled upwards, heart thumping, palms shaking, her mind unwilling to quell images of Harry and Ron… dead.

Bellatrix raised her wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Hermione cried desperately, clenching her wand in both hands.

Bellatrix blocked it, still wearing the same twisted grin on her face. "Two down, one to go. One scared little girl left to-"

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Hermione hollered.

Bellatrix easily repelled the charm with a shield. Her amusement grew and Hermione felt sick.

"Only teenagers, after all," Bellatrix said.

"Locomoter-Mortis!"

Bellatrix dodged and laughed. "Too slow again, girl."

Hermione took a step backwards and clenched her teeth. "Well, that doesn't matter. You know why? Because the entire Order of Phoenix is standing behind you."

Bellatrix spun around.

Hermione shoved her hand in her side-pocket and barreled forward, crashing into Bellatrix's form. They fell to the ground, Bellatrix's jaw smashing against the cold stone floor of Hogwarts' corridors. Her wand skidded out of her hand.

"You little bitch-"

Hermione swung her elbow, slamming it into Bellatrix's head with all the force she could muster. She gave a small moan of pain when something in her elbow popped. Bellatrix twitched once and then lay still.

Hermione gave herself a moment to regain her composure before scrambling off the woman. Her elbow throbbed. There was a large gash on the side of her forehead.

She gave Bellatrix a half-hearted kick in the side, satisfied when she stayed still. Tiredly, Hermione pulled out her wand and roped her hands and feet together.

When she was satisfied, she limped forward again. The Great Hall wasn't so far away, now. And neither was Harry.

***

Hermione was not so surprised to find the doors leading to the Great Hall shut and locked. She pulled with full strength, but her elbow gave a yawning groan of pain and she stopped, panting.

"Think, Hermione, think!" she said.

She took a few shaky steps backwards, giving herself time to regain her energy.

She looked at the doors and narrowed her eyes. "REDUCTO!" she yelled. She ducked as the door exploded, spraying her with pieces of wood.

"Right. Great idea, Hermione."

For a minute, she was surrounded by dust. She pressed a fist to her mouth and squinted. From far away she could hear the sounds of fighting outside on Hogwarts' grounds.

The Great Hall was eerily silent.

She made her way inside, wand held out in front of her. Her eyes scanned the hall, over broken chairs, overturned tabletops… nothing.

"Harry?" she said, daring to lower her wand.

Hermione swallowed, chilled. Had Bellatrix been right? Was it too late?

She stumbled and glanced downwards. The floor was charred. There had obviously been a battle of some kind. The Order must have been involved. After Harry surrendered himself, it would have been minutes before the Order caught up with him.

Hermione hurried forward, trying to ignore the ache in her muscles. She had to press forward. She had to. She burst out of the Great Hall and careened to a stop.

Nagini, several Death Eaters, and…

"No," Hermione whispered, moving forward again, and falling to her knees beside Ron's motionless body. "Ron? Ron, can you hear me?"

Tears threatened her vision. Her fingers tightened painfully around her wand until bits of wood dug into her palm.

"Ron? Ron???" She groped forward, pressing her fingers to his neck.

His chest wasn't moving.

"Oh, god, Ron…"

She scarcely recognized her voice. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

"Damnit it, Ron, get up!" she screeched. "This isn't funny, you know! We have to save Harry, and we very well can't go about it if you're lying here like a lazy prat!"

He still wasn't moving.

Hermione buried her face in her hands, the world fading to black around the edges. "I'm sorry, Ron. I'm so sorry."

A burst of muffled laughter cut through her foggy haze, and Hermione raised her head to meet the eyes of one of the fallen Death Eater's. He had a large gash running through his side, and his body jerked with every forced movement he took towards Hermione.

"He's dead," the Death Eater said. "He tried to play hero."

Hermione closed her eyes. "He killed your boss's snake."

"It doesn't matter," the Death Eater wheezed. "My Lord will kill the Potter boy, and nothing will be left to stand in our way. It's time for a new order."

Hermione stood up and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes.

"You haven't killed me yet." And then Hermione let herself feel the true pain and anguish of Ron's death. She channeled it into anger, and half-sobbing, raised her wand against the Death Eater, "Avada Kedavra!"

The Death Eater slumped to his side, unmoving. Hermione allowed herself one last look at Ron's body. No, she wasn't sorry for using the killing curse.

She turned and ran back outdoors. She'd already lost one best friend. She wouldn't lose another.

***

The first thing Hermione saw was the bobbing of Tonks' ponytail as she dueled with several Death Eaters. The battle outside was furious-this, Hermione realized, was where everyone ended up. Inside the castle was too unpredictable, it gave the Order a slight advantage. Outside, the numbers were about even, each side fighting for their own vision of the world.

Hermione jogged through the crowd, dodging curses, and helping when she could. She saw the DA gathered around Grawp's large form, cutting a heavy swath through the Death Eater's army.

Hermione's heart gave a little jump-up ahead, there was Harry. Lupin and Professor McGonagall were both fighting with him.

"Hermione, look out!"

Hermione flinched as someone barreled into her. She registered the quickly rising ground a moment before her face crunched into it. She inhaled a mouthful of dirt and grass. A curse whistled over her, singing her hair.

"Expelliarmus!" cried Neville's voice. He helped Hermione up, giving her a ghost of a smile. "You okay?"

"Yes, I… thank you," Hermione managed.

Neville nodded and gently pushed her forward. "Of course."

Hermione forced her unsteady legs to move-she kept seeing Ron lying on his back. Ron lying dead. Sickness tore through her stomach and a sheen of sweat broke out along her forehead.

Her eyes searched for Harry again. Professor Lupin was immobile on the ground. A dollop of sweat dripped down Hermione's face.

McGonagall's back was rim-rod straight, and she kept one hand on Harry's shoulder, her other poised in front of her. Ready for… Hermione gave a squeak of surprise when Voldemort flashed in front of her. McGonagall blocked the curse and waited. Voldemort circled them and disappeared.

Half-stumbling, her body throbbing, Hermione ran towards them. Harry, Ron is dead… he's dead…

"Harry!" she said, voice hoarse. He turned towards her, and Hermione ran into him, only remembering to breathe when his arms came around her. Harry smelled like sweat and exhaustion but he was real and solid, his arms tight, his lips pressing against her forehead.

"You're alive," he said. "I thought that-"

Hermione pulled away, her hands still fisted in his shirt. "He's done it, Harry," she gasped. "Ron's destroyed the last Horcrux."

Hermione finished just as Voldemort reappeared again. Harry grabbed her about the wrist, yanking her forward, and the curse struck McGonagall in the chest.

"Oh, god," Hermione whispered, as McGongall went down.

"No, it's alright," Harry said. His face was pasty, his eyes wide and red. The scar on his forehead stood out against his skin. "Turns out, the Order had been expecting something like this. Came bursting out nearly as soon as Lucius released Ginny. We ganged up on Voldemort, all at once. Forced him out here. Snape was right. This is wearing him down. He's Apparating, you know."

"But… you can't… that's not possible on Hogwarts' grounds," Hermione managed, her fingers grasping Harry's shoulder.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Exactly. He has to fight that magic… and us too. I think I'm almost ready."

For what? Hermione wanted to ask. Was Harry capable of using the Killing Curse? He was only a seventeen-year-old boy, after all.

A tingling sensation at the back of her spine told her that Voldemort was coming back. Suddenly, Hermione felt very calm-she knew what she had to do. The pain in her legs, in her elbow, drained away, leaving her refreshed.

"Harry," she said, turning him around to face her. "Harry, listen to me." She grabbed both his shoulders and got up into his face. "I didn't want to tell you this, but you need to know."

Harry's expression darkened and he reached one hand up to touch her cheek. "What?"

Hermione bit down hard on her bottom lip. "Ron is… he's dead, Harry. He died killing Nagini… there wasn't anything I could do. I didn't know…"

Harry stared down at her blankly. "Ron is-"

"Dead," Hermione said. "Harry, you need to accept this, you need to-"

Harry blinked, grabbing her shoulder with one hand to keep himself steady. "No…"

"I'm sorry," Hermione said desperately. "If I had known, I never would have… he promised he would take backup."

A swooshing noise came out of Harry's chest, like he was losing all the air in his lungs. "How can you be sure? I'm sure if we get Madam Pomfrey… what if he was just unconscious-"

"He's dead," Hermione said flatly.

Harry blinked and turned away from her, his wand pointed at the ground. "But-"

"Harry, listen…." Her voice broke. "We don't have much time. You have to use this, Harry. I know what you're feeling. I'm feeling it too."

"Are you mad?" Harry said, voicing choking. "Use it? Hermione, my best mate is dead. What do you want me to do?"

"Get angry," Hermione said. The tingle along her spine grew stronger. "Because oh-Harry, you have to do this. If you don't, it's all lost. I can't help you with this."

Harry's mouth bobbed open. "What… what are you-"

"There's no time!" Hermione said. She gestured to Lupin and McGonagall's unconscious bodies. "They knew what they were doing, Harry. If I-if I take whatever he throws at me, the Unbreakable Vow, it should-"

Comprehension dawned. "No," he said. He seized her wrists, his fingers cutting into her until it hurt. "I won't let you do this. Hermione, I can't lose you too! I won't!"

"I love you, Harry," she said. She stomped on his foot as Voldemort reappeared behind her, his curse landing in the middle of her back.

***

Coming up next: Will Hermione make it to the final chapter? Does Harry defeat Voldemort? What will recovery look like?

TBC in Chapter 18.