Chapter 1:

-I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or scenes I may have used to get me started, these all sadly belong to that wonderful lady J.K. Rowling.

We could hear them out there surrounding us and leaving us with no way out, the wards had fallen hours ago and in the mini scrimmage we had already faced we had lost so many in just a few other hours. Some of our best had given their life to see that we had all succeeded, and in the end somehow I wasn't quite sure if we were in a more formidable position or if we had only dug the hole deeper. In the end Voldemort had made his demands of us all and that was simply for us to give up Harry now and he would spare us, not that any of us would really fall for that. Even if we gave up Harry he would never spare us, he would only use that against us as a way to torture us further once he had completed what he had come for.

I couldn't bring myself to face all the losses we had seen and felt, we had lost so many so far and they would never be able to see the day when this war would no longer darken the wizarding world. Lost in this darkness I could feel how tired my body was, how I limped from a well placed slicing hex earlier that grazed my leg and a still bleeding cut from a blow in the fray when I stupidly let my gaze wonder..Or I should say couldn't help but watch.

***Flashback***

It was like slow motion as I ran around the corner praying I would make it in time to warn them of the fast approaching danger, behind me I could feel the explosions and the debris falling. Ahead of me I could hear one of my most hated enemies heading for more of my loved ones, more people for him to try and take from me and our family. If I could just beat him there...if only I could move a little faster.

I pushed my body harder and felt my legs strain and start to complain, my feat ached as they pounded against the cold hard stone floors, and every time I avoided the debris littered on the ground I thank my lucky stars. I had never moved so fast through Hogwarts and it was only with my vast knowledge of where I was going and what was coming before me that I was able to keep up with the Death Eater's much longer stride. As I approached my destination I prayed harder to whatever might be listening and I began to reach...almost there...just a little bit further...Come on...I could hear the screams and curses of those dueling behind me start to fade away the further I pushed to keep up with him and as I began to round the corner...then that's when I heard the scream that would stay in my nightmares or at least add to the already horrible montage of movies that played regularly.

Ginny Weasley's last breathe, her eyes fading..Losing the colorful life that had once danced merrily in those beautiful brown eyes, her body falling...arm outreached, and a screaming Tonks who immediately began firing curse after curse at Lucius Malfoy's smiling face. "Come on blood traitor, is that the best you've got! I suppose I should be surprised you're even still here, you and the other are nothing but rubbish just the same as the rest of those filthy creatures you insist on associating with. You should be thanking me for giving her a quick death" he taunted as he lazily fired and defending against an angry Tonks as he continued to draw her out into the open.

I tried to follow but even with my weeks of training I was no match for Tonks' speed (although I'd never been able to keep up with the clumsy metamorphogus in any of our training) or Malfoy's natural grace. I went down hard behind a door, skinning my knee and more than a little bruise to my pride. I could still hear Tonk's and Malfoy as they taunted each other as I scrambled for purchase in the pile of rubble.

"Fat load of shit you smarmy git, you and your pureblood stupidity! That girl had more power and grace than you could ever hope to posses with you blind hatred, and those so called mudblood's I associate with are worth more than you'll ever be. I promise you will pay in blood for every misdeed you have done during this war. Sectumsempra!" she shouted as she dodged a stinging hex only to over calculate and leave her defenses down.

"Expelliamus" and Tonks' want went flying and I could hear it make a loud noise as it fell in the silence that followed. I struggled harder to get up and just get around the corner, to just get there in time to save her. To save poor Teddy from growing up without a mom, and to save Remus who had just found happiness where he didn't think he was allowed to receive it. 'God, please…please just let me make it in time!'

At wand point Tonks still refused to back down, instead she held Ginny's body close and spit in his face. "I may not be here to see you pay but I sure as hell know you've got yours coming and when it does happen I hope it's in the most unexpected way."

I could see Malfoy wiping the spit off his face 'please no, please…' pulled back… I was almost there…"Avada Kedava" a green light spiraled towards Tonks I screamed 'NOOOO…'

She fell with a smile on her face and Ginny gently cradled to her heart. I couldn't believe it but for some reason I felt anger spread throughout my body and for the first time in my life instead of keeping my great Gryffindor calm I did the stupidest thing I've ever done and in what could only be called blind anger I aimed at Malfoy, "Tarantaguella."

"Protego" so we have Potter's little mudblood finally come out to play have we? What are you going to weep for the blood traitors to, filth all of you, only good to serve your betters. You will learn your place, mudblood whore!" at this point a smile spread across his face "and I think I know just how to do that!"

"Cocky aren't we, Malfoy? You think you can beat me just because of blood? Oh well I'll show you just what a real witch can do when she really knows how to wield her magic…" I closed my mind off and reached for anything that could help me in a situation where bravado only goes so far when you're going against a fully trained death eater and you're a barely trained underage witch..

***End Flashback***

Needless to say I barely made it out of there alive, and if it hadn't been for a little pack of birds I never would have survived to be limping around like an idiot right now. If Mad Eye could have seen me then he would have skinned me alive, I had ignored everything he had ever trained me to do when fighting and I had nearly paid the ultimate price for my ignorance.

Coming out of my own thoughts I focused on the area around me and realized that I must be missing out on pretty important discussion because Ron looked ready to kill Harry or tie him up. I could only guess what it was now that had the two at each other's necks, with tensions running high everyone seemed to be jumpy or just plain angry all the time. Not that I could blame them with everything we had faced so far and how much more we seemed to have to face each day no matter how much we pushed. I sometimes wondered how Harry had handled all of it for so many years and all the accusations that came along with it.

"I have to go to him, you know it's always been me who had to face him remember, and I think this may be the only way Ron!" Harry yelled as he tried to pull away and keep walking forward.

Refusing to back down Ron swung Harry around to face him, "What to you mean Harry? We've destroyed all the horcruxes now you just have to wait, don't be an idiot! Don't go blazing off and get yourself killed just when the wizarding world needs you most!"

I chose this moment to finally speak up, "Harry do you mean what I think? Have you finally figured out the truth about it all?"

"Yes, I'm a horcrux to," was all Harry said before he took off running.

I stared after him for a moment and then I turned to Ron," Go to the great hall and get everyone prepared, we both know Voldemort's followers aren't going to just back off no matter how this goes." As I said that I began rummaging through my small beaded purse the one item that might help me do what had to be done right now.

Perplexed he grabbed my arm, "Aren't you coming with me Mione?"

And for the first time I looked Ron in the face and lied to him, "Of course I am, Ronald! I'm looking for a book on wards to place on the great hall; I saw one in here that I want the staff to help me place on our last area of protection. Go we don't have much time, get them prepared for me will you please." I could feel my heartbreaking as I felt him not and give me a weak smile before he rushed off to do something that would never come to be realized. I hoped he realized what I was doing was for the best, and that as much as I loved him I knew he couldn't help me in this and I couldn't afford to be saving his ass out here in another life or death situation.

"Accio invisibility cloak" the bundle of silky silver fabric instantly came to me and as I slipped it around my shoulders I remembered all the good and bad times we had using this cloak. The rules broken, the laughter when a silly mistake was made, or the times we saved one another from a lifetime of detention and .

Come to think of it we could probably give Harry's dad and his gang a run for their money in the amount of trouble we had caused through our school years, and if I had anything to say about it we would be around to finish the rest of our school education causing just a little bit more and maybe from then on I'd learn how to lighten up.

Squaring my shoulders I turned and headed out behind Harry, praying I would be in time to stop him or at least be able to help him survive.