A/N: I love the original version of this, however some time back a friend had challenged me to write a bleak ending. The fan in me could not completely comply and thus here's this short open-ended one. I say open-ended because said friend and I actually went on to roleplay this into a full story (which isn't yet over) so perhaps some time I'll put it up to. Until then, here's the one-shot.

She was running down the stairs leading to the Astronomy tower, Ron was following her. They didn't know where Harry was, but they hoped he was safe. "Ron! Hurry!" she shouted. She ran out into the corridor and past the classrooms. Voices came floating up from the field. There were sparks flying in every direction. "Reducto!" someone yelled and a bright jet of light hit a portrait, which shattered. Hermione gripped her wand tightly and glanced back at Ron who nodded. Together they hurried outside. "Crucio!" a Death Eater screamed, pointing at Ron laughing, before being caught in a duel by Lupin. "Ron!" Hermione screamed and fell down beside his twitching body. "Ron! Look at me!" she cried. "No, Hermione, go! Find Harry, help him." Ron whispered. Hermione clutched the front of his Muggle shirt and shook her head. "You need to go. I'll be fine.." She looked at him with a pained expression and then wiped her tears, "I love you." she whispered, before turning away and running out into the field..

She noticed the crowd before her and it struck her as odd that they weren't dueling anymore. The Death Eaters were on the other end. Hermione ran faster and rushed past the hoard of people, only to see Voldemort and Harry facing each other, wands out. "Expelli-" Harry yelled. Before she could process what was happening, Harry's body convulsed and there was a bright jet of green light. "Harry! No!" she cried, running towards him. A sudden blue ball of light hit her in the stomach and she lost consciousness just as the Battle erupted around her once again.

Hermione Granger awoke with a start. She could see nothing. Blinking, she tried to make out where she was. "Ah, good. I was just leaving," a deep, calm voice spoke. "Who is that?" Hermione asked, attempting to make out the contours of her wand. "Bane." came the reply. Her eyes, now attuned to the dark, made out the figure of a Centaur standing above her. "There is a Muggle village a few miles away. You shall be safe. Farewell, Hermione Granger."

"No, Bane! What happened? Where's Harry? And Ron? What happened? Vold-" she began, but Bane interrupted her in a resigned voice. "The Battle is over. He has triumphed, our world is in deep peril. I found you hurt and dying and brought you here, where you can be safe", he repeated. "Where are we?" she looked around in confusion at all the trees. "Albania", the retreating figure of the centaur called back, and just like that, without another word, he was gone. Hermione cried out for him to stop, her voice cracking. Too weak to chase him, her legs gave way and she found herself on her knees. Grabbing a fistful of the withered leaves, she flung them away in frustration before leaning back against the trunk of a tree, finally allowing her tears to fall.

Thanks for reading. I'd appreciate any comments you have :)