Prologue

"If you're going through hell, keep going." -Winston Churchill

There was a bright flash of light and it was over. Hermione didn't remember falling to the ground, but it must have happened in the last few moments. She pushed herself up as quickly as possible, and noticed others around her doing the same. Fighting would continue for sometime, but Harry or Voldemort had just been killed. There was no other reason for that light.

Merlin, she hoped that Harry had won.

She moved to where the light had originated. Harry is alright, the phrase was a mantra, letting no other thought in her mind.

There was a crater outside of the Leaky Cauldron, nothing was left of Voldemort, at least, not that she could see. Harry, however, was a different story. He lay on the edge of the crater, as if blown backwards. There was blood on him, around him, she could see plenty of wounds as she ran to him, but he was breathing, alive.

"It's finally over," Harry whispered as she started to tend to him. He leaned into her and smiled a little.

"Almost over, Harry."

He nodded, "Killed him," his voice was hoarse, exhausted, "Not gonna come back this time. Not gonna let him."

"You did it," she stroked his forehead.

"We did."

She didn't argue. After seven years of knowing him, Hermione knew that Harry had never wanted to be the hero. Telling him that he was would only upset him more.

She heard footsteps but could see no one. Her wand out, she waited for whoever it was to reveal their location. It was Ron. He approached slowly, wand drawn. Once he saw her and Harry, he relaxed visibly.

"Is he alright?" Ron asked, leaning over the other man.

Hermione began to speak, but Harry beat her to it. "Everything's attached."

Ron smiled and looked at Hermione, "We should move him. He needs a medi-witch and we'll have company soon."

She nodded.

Both she and Ron hooked one of Harry's arms around each of their shoulders. "Do you have your wand, Harry?" she asked.

He tried to shake his head, but it seemed to hurt too much. "Broke it fighting him. Shattered it."

"Okay."

Footsteps again. Hermione detached herself from Ron and Harry and moved ahead of them. Ron could carry Harry's weight better than she could, and now she wasn't hindered if an enemy exposed himself.

One did.

Upon seeing her, his wand arm sprung to attention, as did hers. He could see Ron and Harry behind her. Showing caution he didn't attempt to use his wand. "Harry's alive, Malfoy," she said, "Your master is dead. Don't do anything stupid."

His eyes widened, shocked.

Then everything went black.

"Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..." 1 Corinthians 15: 51-52