"NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!"
Time seemed to stand still as Molly Weasley stepped between her daughter and Bellatrix Lestrange. The Battle of Hogwarts was going badly, but Molly would be damned if she lost her only daughter to this war, especially after losing Fred earlier in the night. The loss of one of her sons seemed to change something in Molly Weasley, as she no longer held back, she was dueling to kill. And kill she did, after a fierce fight between the two, Bellatrix's arrogance got the better of her, and with a well-placed cutting curse, Voldemort's right hand woman fell.
Voldemort shouted in rage and a burst of energy spewed forth, knocking any nearby to their feet. The end of the duel between Molly and Bellatrix seemed to breathe new life into the fight, and many on both sides were falling. Amycus Carrow was dispatched by a quick cutting curse from Arthur Weasley, while Cormac McLaggen was killed by Amycus's sister, Alecto. Professors Slughorn, Trelawney, and Flitwick were fighting Voldemort, and losing. Slughorn took a killing curse to the face, and Trelawney was overtaken by a cruciatus. Flitwick was blown back by a reducto that hit the ground in front of him. The tides were turning. While it seemed that there was hope for victory when it was revealed that Harry Potter had survived once again, the defenders of Hogwarts were quickly falling to the Death Eaters. Minerva McGonnagal had been fighting Lucius Malfoy when a sickly purple curse hit her from the side and she went down, no one knew if she was dead or alive. Neville Longbottom attempted to go after Nagini but was blasted out of the great hall. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were fighting their way toward Voldemort to try and end things, but it was slow going, dodging and deflecting curses, engaging enemies they couldn't avoid. Ron and Harry stunned Augustus Rookwood, while Hermione disarmed and bound Fenrir Greyback, and their path was clear. Harry began to engage Voldemort, with Ron and Hermione guarding his flanks.
Neither Harry nor Voldemort paid much attention to the battle raging around them, both far too focused on defeating their quarry. Harry was losing. While nothing lethal had gotten through to him yet, he bore several cuts and bruises. He was breathing heavily from trying to keep up with an opponent with 50 years more dueling experience than he, and a bone breaking jinx had broken through his shield and shattered his left arm. Voldemort was almost a blur, his wand waving in complicated patterns, a deadly dance between a predator and his prey, but even he was beginning to show signs of fatigue.
Without warning, a great ball of fire erupted between the two combatants, stilling the battle that was ravaging the Great Hall. Fawkes the phoenix had appeared, stunning most into silence. The former familiar of Albus Dumbledore had not been seen since the great wizard's funeral almost a year ago. The bright red bird created a wall of fire between the Death Eaters and the remaining defenders, and to the shock of all in the room, began to speak, his voice booming out not unlike a howler.
"Harry Potter, you cannot win this fight. Not while one Horcrux remains. My barrier will only hold for a few minutes. Gather your forces and leave this place while you can. This is not how this war should end."
A very surprised and quiet group began to gather what was left of the defenders to retreat from Hogwarts. Arthur and Molly Weasley took the lead, helping up injured friends and checking on those who were unconscious, to make sure they were still alive. Kingsley Shacklebolt took it upon himself to carry Minerva's unconscious form from the hall. Harry, Ron, and Hermione brought up the rear, making sure none were left behind. They had almost reached the door when Fawkes's barrier fell. Voldemort and his army rushed forward as the defenders began to apparate away. In desperation Voldemort flung one last Avada Kedavra at Harry's back, and time slowed to a crawl. Ron Weasley was one of the few who saw what was coming, and in a split second decision, pushed his best friend out of harm's way, taking the bright green curse in his place. Time went from a crawl to a complete stop as Ron's body fell to the ground, the shouts of Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys echoing around the room. They just barely had time to grab his body and apparate away, a second killing curse hitting the ground where Harry had been just a moment before.
The broken and bloodied defenders reappeared at Grimmauld Place, and there was immediate chaos. The shock and horror of the loss of all those people, the loss of the battle, and the fact that they had essentially lost the war, was too much. Most of the chaos and voices were looking to Harry for their next move, but he and Hermione were still frozen in shock, staring down and Ron's broken form. Kingsley finally restored order and silence with a cannon blast from his wand and began to take charge.
"Okay everyone, we need to regroup. Madam Pomfrey, please set up a ward for the injured upstairs. The rest of us that are healthy need to split up and go into hiding, that will make us harder to locate. We need to get safe houses set up. We have here at Grimmauld and the Burrow, along with a few other houses scattered across the country. Let's make a list and start getting those that don't need medical attention out to their houses. Each house will be placed under a new Fidelius."
Once the wounded were moved upstairs and the survivors were divided amongst the safe houses, they had a small memorial service for those lost in the back garden. The weasleys were solemn, mourning the loss of Fred and of Ron. After the memorial, those who were staying at other safe houses left, with the Weasleys returning to the Burrow for the first time in months. Harry and Hermione were two of the few remaining at Grimmauld, along with the wounded, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor Flitwick. Everyone had retired to their rooms and settled down for a long overdue sleep. Harry had taken a shower, and just crawled into bed and doused the light when there was a knock on the door. With a slight groan he got up, lit his wand, and opened it, surprised to find Hermione, looking scared and exhausted.
"Harry….. Can I stay in here with you? I – I don't want to be alone tonight."
Harry opened the door without a word and stepped back so she could enter, then closed the door and returned to his bed. Hermione hesitated for a moment before laying down on the other side of the bed. Almost subconsciously, Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her close, before they both succumbed to their exhaustion.