(Disclaimer – I own nothing.)
Chapter 1 – Prologue
"Death is better, a milder fate than tyranny." - Aeschylu
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The night air was still and the frost nipped at the skin that was unfortunate enough to be exposed. There wasn't a cloud in the sky as the domineering shine of the waning moon glared down on the bloody battle sight below it illuminating almost everything it touched. A silence blanketed the picturesque scene of the final war between the sides of good and evil. In the thick of it all, among empty stares of the dead, laid one figure. She might as well have been dead, as she looked up at the heavens, not blinking, and only interrupting the night's forged calm with raspy shallow breaths.
It was over, but to her, there was no clear-cut victor. Her left shoulder gave a sharp jolt of pain and she knew with every slow beat of her heart, blood pumped out of the gapping wound that trailed from were it started on her chest, over her shoulder only stopping dangerously close to her jugular. Every breath ripped through her chest like rusted knives through steal, and she couldn't muster the strength to try to attempt anything for it. Her eyes slid to the side and a sneer twitched at her cut lips. What she saw - a heap of gray matted fur, long yellowed nails, and even though she couldn't see them knew what his eyes looked like…a sickly shade of metallic gold, a color that to her resembled mustard left out on a plate for days to crust and mold.
Fenrir Greyback, and dead as every other body strewn across the bloodied battlefield, or so she thought. The nerves and muscles that he had ripped through, right after she sent a slicing hex straight for him with her wand still clutched in her hand, was shot rendering her unable to drop the weapon even if she wanted to. A strangled sickly laugh crocked through her mouth as she lay in the open field they had named the 'Devil's Playground.' It wasn't at Hogwarts, but an open usually calm muggle countryside somewhere in Edinburgh. They decided on this place for its remote location and nothing more.
But this…this was it…no more secret missions to find Horcruxes. No more hiding in abandon caves and building days on end to dodge Death Eaters who were on their trail. No more sleep deprivation, or hunger because they were all to busy running and covering their asses.
No…this was it…death had finally come, and she was perfectly, oddly, contently at peace with this. Her battle-hardened honey colored eyes closed slowly as a comfortable numb settled over her weary, blood covered body. She could feel herself drifting off then in a sea of absolute bleakness when she heard it. The steady clip of feet crunching through the half frozen grass of the field they all laid in. Hermione could barely open her eyes when the sound of softly falling footsteps joined a new noise. It was a kind of groan mixed with a few choice words that would make even a sailor blush.
She let out a shaky sigh, she really had wanted to die in peace, and she was accepting it for goodness sakes that was until she felt a pair of hands grab her roughly at the collar and haul her up a few inches. Hermione's eyes snapped open only to be met with a pair of smoky colored amber eyes. They boiled with pure hatred, loathsomeness, and it was all directed onto her.
"Wakey, wakey, poppet," the voice was a low rumbling sound, horse and scratchy, but definitely female. "Don't want you diein' on meh."
Hermione opened her mouth to ask who she was, but a small airy wheeze filtered past her lips instead of words. The woman in front of her tilted her head to the side and opened her own mouth as her eyes brows lifted slightly.
"What was tha'?" The woman teased as she turned her head to the side fully, looking at something Hermione couldn't see. "You goin' to be alright?"
She knew the question wasn't aimed at her because she heard a gruff reply followed by more swearing. Hermione took to the time to study the woman hovering above her. Thick black hair hung past her shoulders and swung down almost tickling Hermione's chin. Her face was a perfect ivory color with not a flaw marring the skin, and the only thing standing out was the red staining her full lips.
Hermione felt herself hitting the ground suddenly and she blinked a few times against the blinding pain that shot through her body. She heard an amused sort of chuckle somewhere above her when she gasped out in pain. Her head sidled to the side and her eyes grew wider a fraction at the sight of Greyback standing sneering down at her.
"Hullo, love," he said crustily. He motioned for the woman still standing with a foot on either side Hermione to pick her up which she did with out struggle and slung her over her shoulder.
"Hermione!"
She blinked as her head bobbed from side to side as the woman carrying her picked up speed. She could have sworn she heard her name, and it sounded oddly like Remus Lupin. Hermione tried to get her numb body to cooperate, but she knew it wouldn't, actually it amazed her that she was still conscious. It wouldn't surprise her really if she was merely delusional. It wasn't until she heard more voices calling her name repeatedly and the recognizable sounds of spells being cast did try to look up. When she did she caught a glimpse of three figures. It was a short-lived victory however when she felt herself being thrown down and into the arms of someone else.
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Harry, Ron, and Remus scrambled after the two furtive figures as they dashed through the field littered with the dead of Death Eaters and Order members alike. They finally reached the edge of a dense forest only to see the woman standing defiantly in their path. It was the same woman that had snatched Hermione and took off.
"Where is she at?" Demanded a ragged looking Harry. The woman sneered baring a pair of sharpened canines. Remus could feel the wolf in him react almost instantly. After all like calls to like.
"Oh, you talkin' about the mudblood?" the dark haired woman hissed out venomously. Remus's sharp eyes caught movement behind her and soon saw three more figures emerge from the shadows of the trees.
"Harry…" Remus whispered urgently. "Their werewolves." It was an obvious by the way the reflection of the moon caught the distinct shade of glowing yellowish-brown eyes. Their scent drifted towards him on the slight wind and he growled deep in his throat when he realized who exactly they were. They were apart of Fenrir Greybacks pack.
"Just give her back!" Ron shouted courageously with his wand held steadily. The woman barked out a laugh and tossed her head back before dropped her eyes back to stare straight at them.
"Sorry, but we call the spoils of war. That fiery little number took out several of our clan members, and I think we'll be taking retribution from her dirty blood."
Remus couldn't help but feel like he knew the woman in front of him from somewhere. The wild sort of look that had crossed her face settled down into one of contempt as she continued to speak.
"Personally I wouldn't bother, but you know Fenrir," she laughed humorlessly as her gaze locked on to Remus. "She got him good. Almost killed him, and he's not too happy about it. I mean a muggle born taking the likes of him down. Riled him up good, I'd say."
Remus growled again and bared his own teeth although nowhere near menacing as the woman's. She chuckled slightly before taking a step back, but not in fear.
"Don't try and follow Lupin," the others that flanked her followed her lead. "Other wise your old friend might just kill the girl now instead of playing with her first."
Harry, and Ron tensed at that, and Remus could feel the hatred roll of them. He stopped the boys from moving however as the werewolves disappeared again. He braced himself as the both reeled on him shouting their demands of what he did that for.
"Because," Remus finally said softly, wearily, "she spoke the truth. Greyback won't hesitate to kill Hermione if we follow…now."
He sighed and scrubbed his eyes. "We'll wait a day and I'll catch their trail. I know Greyback he will defiantly play with his 'food' before actually killing her. He needs to heal himself first of course. So I think we have plenty of time to get Hermione back."
This was not something the boys wanted to hear in any way. He tuned out the shouts of protest and demands that they go after them right away. Finally it became too much to handle as the stress of the battle crashed down on him heavily and found himself turning on both equally exhausted boys.
"Do you want her dead?" Remus nearly shouted. This got them shut their mouths almost instantly. "Then believe me when I say this is for the best. We will get her back, until then lets gather up everyone that is still alive and get to work."
His words became soft and calm again back into the compassionate person he normally was. It would be a tiring thing to attempt right after this gruesome night, but with the knowledge of the defeat of Voldemort firmly behind them. This would hopefully be the last thing of worry on their minds for a long, long time.
A/N: Thank you for reading, and I do hope everyone enjoyed...somewhat. I am not sure what pairing this will be as of yet, but i'm sure we will find out soon. .