A/N: This plot bunny would not leave me alone.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1

It had come to this.

Hermione accepted the stone from Albus, keeping her hand steady with effort and holding it as firmly as she could considering the state of her fingers. She looked neither right nor left where she knew her family stood surrounded by the same symbols and markings that she was. Ron's breathing was heavy, but at least he wasn't giggling. Harry made no noise but she could feel his presence next to her, as steady and strong as it had been all these years.

Across from her, a woman with short red hair, a tall man with one arm, and an emaciated man with scars riddling his face and neck, mirrored her position. The youngest Weasley's face was serene for once, with acceptance filled eyes. Neville's eyes were closed but he held himself proudly, he had never let his handicap bring him down. Remus's brown eyes were the only thing still recognizable about him with the same determination that had seen him through two wars.

If Hermione turned her head she knew she would see the others, the last members left of an organization that had at one point been hundreds strong. Now there were nine and soon there would be none.

"Any last words?" Albus asked and Hermione could almost see him as he once was, strong and larger than life with an ever present twinkle in his eye as he hinted that it was all going according to plan.

It hadn't been going according to his plan though, and that was why he leaned on a knobby staff that was wider than his arms and legs, his hair and beard scraggly, filthy, and uneven. Only one of his brilliant blue eyes remained in his wrinkled face and while part of his mouth was firm, the other side of it gaped open showing bone from where the skin had never fully healed.

She shook her head in response to his question and saw Neville do so as well. Ginny and Remus just stared at Albus as Harry and Ron were. They had already said their goodbyes.

"Then let this commence." Albus raised his hand and lightening streaked down and hit his staff. The staff glowed blue as the lightening arced around it and through it into the ground. Symbols were illuminated as the energy traveled outwards in a circle from her old Headmaster until the ones that she was standing on top of glowed. The stone in her hand began to pulse.

The Headmaster chanted the spell in the language of the First, the un-aptly named third race of spellcasters who had walked this earth. Blood trickled out of her ears and her only eye as the power washed over her and she could feel her bones creaking under the pressure.

She smiled as much as she was able to considering the mass of scar tissue that was her face. This was simply par for the course.

"Do you accept this?" Albus was still chanting the spell but she heard his voice as clear as crystal.

"Yes." She said. There was no other choice and she had done worse things. She had done much worse things with a smile on her face, a real smile.

"Then so mote it be." It was Albus's voice, and yet it wasn't. It was all voices in all languages speaking at the same time through a conductor.

Her vision blurred as the glow brightened but her other senses were fine and though she couldn't see Albus's bones breaking, she could hear them snapping, she couldn't see his skin burning but she could both hear and smell the sizzling flesh. She was well acquainted with the scent of burnt human.

Albus had known he wouldn't survive this. It was only a gamble that they would. That was why there were all there. With all that was at stake, even if the rest of them failed, one of them would not.

Ron swallowed.

Harry took a deep breath.

And she relaxed, this pain would be nothing compared to what had come before, especially not when she knew what the results would be.

There was a horrible ripping noise and her eardrums exploded. The stone burned in her palm. Someone was screaming, someone male. Her body felt like it was being torn into a million pieces and a laugh bubbled in her throat.

And then there was darkness.

A/N: Hope everyone enjoys this. And to anyone reading this who is also reading my other fics: I have not forgotten them and will be updating them soon.