A/N: This is my first piece of fiction - I have an outline and the main plot points figured out, but I don't know what will happen to that plan along the way, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. While I hope the premise is unique, I have read hundreds of stories on this site and have undoubtedly been influenced by them. If you see anything you recognize (besides the world and characters created by the fabulous JKR), please let me know so I can give credit. And now, we begin.

When everything falls apart, time becomes fluid. Moments last for days, and hours pass in seconds. Hermione had long since lost track of how much time had passed since they had arrived in Hogsmeade and walked through the tunnel into Hogwarts. All she knew for sure was that dawn had not yet arrived, and she feared it may never come again.

In the chaos of the battle, she had become separated from Harry and Ron. They had been fighting their way through the courtyard when a massive stone wall collapsed thanks to two giants who were felled by Hogwarts' animated statues. She darted to the right, the boys dove left, all three just narrowly escaping the debris.

There was a brief moment of stunned silence while the dust settled, but then the fight resumed, with the crushed Death Eaters, giants and acromantulas quickly replaced by what seemed to be double the forces. There were no such reinforcements for the Light, which was massively outnumbered and quickly being decimated.

Hermione frantically searched for a way to rejoin the boys, but with three Death Eaters closing in around her, she had no time to maneuver around the rubble. Her wand arm was a blur as she flung spell after spell at her opponents. Two fell quickly to her powerful stunning spells, but the third was nimble and managed to evade everything she sent his way.

A burning hex sizzled as it hit her left shoulder and singed her hair, which had come loose from its elastic band. She ducked as another spell whizzed past her head – an entrail-expelling curse, by the looks of the unfortunate Seventh Year who happened to be fighting a Death Eater behind her. The boy's horrific scream and the gory scene distracted her enemies enough to give Hermione the upper hand – she disarmed and stunned her opponent before making her escape. She quickly darted through the crowd and was swallowed up by the smoke and bedlam around her.

Finding shelter behind a stone pillar at the very edge of the courtyard, Hermione wiped hair, tears and sweat from her face and sucked in air, desperate to catch her breath and figure out where to go and what to do next. Panic was setting in. Where were the boys? She had to find them! They were meant to face this together!

For three long years, they had been on the hunt for horcruxes. It had been incredibly difficult to decipher Dumbledore's clues, and once they had an idea of what their mission was, it had taken months to figure out where to begin. How can you find an object when you don't know what it is? How can you destroy all the pieces of someone's soul when you don't know how many there are? And how do you keep from sinking into utter despair when months pass by with nothing but hunger, pain and loneliness to show for your efforts?

There were many times when one or another of the trio wanted to give up. Harry nearly lost sight of the goal after their ill-fated trip to Godric's Hollow. Somehow, seeing his parents' graves and the site of their murders defeated, rather than inspired, him. Losing his wand in the attack just made it worse. He sank so low into misery that Hermione and Ron weren't sure he'd ever surface again. He eventually did, of course, but he often talked of leaving Britain, heading to South America, finding a beach and starting over.

Ron was no better, and in fact he did leave. It was months before he returned, shamed and apologetic. But he was never the same. Hermione watched him from time to time, when he didn't know anyone else was looking. She could see it in his eyes – an anguished look that spoke of utter despair. If Harry had actually followed through on his plan to ditch the war, there was no doubt Ron would have followed.

And Hermione? Her worst moments came at night, during those wee hours when she was on watch while the boys slept. Those were the times when her bravery wavered, her cleverness paled in the harsh light of self-examination, and doubt watched from the shadows, waiting for her to run out of ideas – to fail, like the stupid, worthless little Mudb- muggleborn she was. Who was she to think she belonged in this world? How can a mere slip of a girl make a difference in a war based on prejudices a thousand years older than she?

Yet, despite everything, they had pushed on, week after week, year after year. Sometimes they camped in that God-awful tent, sometimes they rested in an abandoned house or storefront, and sometimes, if they were lucky, they found (stole) enough money to stay at a muggle inn, just long enough for a warm meal, a hot shower and a decent night's rest in a warm bed. If ever they found comfort in each other's arms and bodies, they didn't discuss it the next day.

And now, after three horrific years, after what seemed like several lifetimes' worth of close calls and near misses, five horcruxes had been destroyed and it was just a matter of killing the snake, and killing the bastard. But how? Harry was depending on her logic and Ron's battle strategies to help him fulfill the prophecy. They're a team! She can't help them if she can't find them. And if she can't find them …

A wave of anguish passed over her, and she slid to the ground, nearly overcome with emotion. They can't fail now, not when they've come this far. Or can they?

A loud explosion shook the very ground on which Hermione sat and interrupted her reverie. She scrambled to her feet just as a wave of searing heat, glowing embers and jagged stones flew past her. She glanced up and saw that the pillar she was using for protection was starting to wobble. Quickly assessing her options, Hermione turned and ran toward the path that led to a stone henge. No sooner did she clear the area than the pillar – and the archway it supported – crashed to the earth, creating a domino effect that toppled the entire west wall of the courtyard and effectively blocked the path back to the battle.

Think, Hermione, THINK!

In the waning moonlight, she could see that the henge was deserted. Because of its location on the crest of a hill, the flat area on which the ancient stone circle sat would give her a panoramic view of the land surrounding Hogwarts. She ran toward it, hearing the sounds of battle fade away behind her.

Once she reached the henge, Hermione stopped and stood quietly, catching her breath and absorbing information. Just ahead, she could see and hear pockets of fighting near the edge of the Forbidden forest, which was illuminated by intermittent wandfire and punctuated by distant explosions.

To her left was the rocky crag on which stood the owlery. She knew there was nothing beyond that but barren cliffs and deep crevasses, which she could not safely traverse by day, let alone in the dark of night. To her right and behind was the castle, which was crumbling under the all-out assault of the Death Eaters. Even as she stood there, she saw the Astronomy Tower topple, no doubt taking everyone in or near it to their deaths.

There was still no sign of the boys. After some thought, Hermione decided the only thing she could do was drop down to the forest line and try to make her way around toward Hagrid's hut. From there, she could head back up to the castle. At least, she hoped she could – she'd have to avoid being seen or fight her way through enemy lines.

Reaching into her pocket, she grasped her fake galleon with a shaking hand and sent a message to Harry and Ron telling them her plans. Then she set off, wand at the ready and every sense on high alert.