Not my characters or world. I am merely playing in the world created by the amazing Rowling.

NOTE: I started this fanfiction expecting Hermione to fall in love with George, and at some point I found her and Neville sparking off each other in the sweetest way. I am pretty sure I can still swing the tide, as I am not done writing out the fic, but maybe you all can let me know who you would like to read about falling in love.

Chapter 1

She couldn't hear anything over the pounding of her heart in her ears, lungs screaming, and legs trembling as she ran down the corridor. The goblet was destroyed, and she lived through the awkward moment of pulling away when Ron had tried to kiss her. She felt horrible seeing his face fall, but she grasped his hands, and reminded him that they had a war to finish. He nodded, but he still had that crestfallen look as they ran back up into the castle. She didn't love him that way. Maybe at one time, but when he had left them after his hateful words. He deserted them, and something in her had been snuffed out. That little flame that maybe if it had been fed and nourished, it could have become more, but Ron was always too harsh and mean with her for it to really take hold inside her.

He had come back, and she knew the Horcrux was part of the blame for his temper. Except it only brought out what was already there. It preyed on feelings and emotions that were there to begin with. It enhanced them, and made it easier to manipulate the person wearing it, but she knew that he felt those feelings. Had those mean spirited thoughts, and maybe without the Horcrux he would have never said them, but that didn't mean they weren't there. She admitted to herself in that cold tent. She could never love him as more than a long time friend, and not even a friend that she would particularly rely on.

She had struggled to get him to listen to her, and get to Harry fast. He for some reason felt that he had to stay with her, and protect her. Not bloody likely! They needed to let Harry know that he needed to get Nagini, and then they could move on to Voldemort.

"GO!" she screamed as she sent a strong non-verbal sectumsempra towards three charging Death eaters. Their heads flew in one direction, and their bodies crumbled to the ground, landing with a wet grisly splat that sprayed across her face and body.

"Merlin Hermione!" Ron shouted. Shocked at what a strong witch she was.

"Get to Harry, and tell him!" She yelled running off to warn the House elves to retreat.

The corridor emptied quickly after she had begged the elves to retreat. The elves had scattered saying that the young ones were still in the castle, and they would not abandon them to fend for themselves. "Okay, get the young ones out please get them away from the fighting!" Figuring the elves would get the younger students away from Hogwarts, and stay with them; therefore accomplishing her goal of keeping the elves and students alike away from the Death eaters.

After what felt like ages running down the deserted corridor she could finally hear familiar voices shouting curses and hexes. Fred, George, and Percy! Please let me find them she begged to any deity that would listen. She pumped her legs harder and charged around the corner. George was further ahead of Percy and Fred so didn't see Rookwood aiming the curse at Fred and Percy as the brothers were laughing at something Percy had screamed at the Minister.

She shot out a shield and a nonverbal reducto at Rookwood hitting him right in the chest, and he burst open with a spray of gore. She had kept running forward without hesitation. Rookwood's curse went wide and blew away a section of the wall behind them. She continued charging forward in a flying tackle towards the two Weasley's. She slammed into Percy who in turn slammed forward into Fred. Hermione's momentum pushed the two men away from the worst of the blast.

The world went up in bright flash of simultaneous curses and debris that blinded them all. The group of Death eaters they had been dueling now lay dead, and the Wesley's were shaking the rocks and dust of the blasted wall off of them.

"Fred!" "George!" "Percy!" The brother's voices rang out. "Here, I'm here!" they called to each other. Their voices were carrying the relief that they were all alright.

"Perce you saved me!" Fred cried hugging his older brother tightly.

"No!" Percy shouted, pointing at the long curling brown hair of the body on the ground. They all recognized that hair. As one they started to dig the young witch out of the debris.

"She came charging into me, and she took out Rookwood, and shoved me forward away from the blast, and she pushed so hard I was able to shove us both clear!" Percy sobbed out.

"Bloody Hell Hermione, say something!" George screamed as he reached her first. He gently pushed the mass of brown curls away from her face.

Pain! Was all she was registering at the moment, and she wanted to call out to them, but couldn't get enough spit together in her dry mouth to say anything. She could hear the boys talking, and then felt the weight across her body lessen. She heard them calling her, and could hear the fear and panic in their voices. She heard George yelling for her to say something. As he gently turned her, she sucked in a breath as the pain in her right leg intensified.

"SOMETHING!" she screamed. The Twins and Percy gaped for a moment and then laughed at the little witch in Georges arms.

"First Perce now 'Mione!" Fred laughingly sobbed out, as tears and laughter covered all their faces.

"George please not too fast! My leg is caught under the rocks." Hermione whimpered as George went to move her again.

"Oh Merlin Hermione!" Percy cried out. Using his wand he lifted the large rock, and gagged at the mangled mess her leg was.

Just then Tonks, Remus, and Sirius rounded the corner. Seeing them George called for Remus!

"Cover us while I heal her leg." Remus barked out. Surrounding their fallen friend they fought off the next wave of Death eaters, while George helped Remus repair what he could of her leg.

Remus moved quickly knowing that stopping the bleeding was the most important, and then healing her bones. George was better at the bones, and they worked in tandem while Hermione sat up and aimed her wand at a large rock and using it to smash the Acromantula that was climbing through the hole in the wall to get at them.

"Nice Shot 'Mione!" George called.

"Let's move, and get her to the Great Hall!" Remus called out, and took a moment to transfigure bandages to help cover the deeper wounds that would take too much time to heal just then.

"I need to get to Ron and Harry!" Hermione said pushing herself to stand. The bones felt weak, but they were healed and no longer broken.

"Hermione, don't be stubborn-"

"I have to get to the boys!" She yelled and ran, or tried to. George had hauled her up and in a fireman carry and started to move towards the Great Hall. The group fought together taking out Death eaters and dark creatures alike.

"Alright George, let me down so that I can help fight!" Hermione raged. The adrenaline pumping through her kept her from feeling all of her injuries.

"Stubborn witch!" George growled out. "You can't stand on your bloody leg yet!" He yelled. They all staggered in to the Great Hall as Voldemort's voice rang out to them.

They lay her on one of the cots, and she reached for George's hand. "The snake George!" The world was fading around her, but she grasped at George begging him to understand. "Tell them we still need the snake!"

"I will 'Mione." He said pushing her back down gently. She went limp and her eyes rolled back. She was bloody and pale, and if he hadn't been holding her hand, and could feel her faint pulse he would've thought she was dead.

Everyone was busy bringing in injured and the dead. None of them wanted to leave their friend but knew they still had a lot to do. George and Fred went looking for Ron and Harry, Sirius, Tonks and Remus went on to fight.

After Voldemort's defeat, there was a lull as what was left of the Death eaters were rounded up. The injured were tended, and the dead gathered.

"Oh Mon Ange! Beel!" Fleur ran towards Hermione's pale limp body, fearing the worst, she ran her hands over her, and then used her wand to clear off the blood still soaking her face .

The Weasley's were gathering around Hermione. Tears were streaking all of their faces. Ginny was sobbing into Fred's shoulder. George stood pale and shaking holding onto both his sister and his twin. Percy stood shoulders shaking with quiet sobs, and Charlie stood with his arm around his brother trying to offer support, and fight his own tears. Arthur held a sobbing Molly. Bill had gathered Fleur who was barely able to stand she was crying so hard. "Oh Beel! Not 'er! Please!"

"NO!" came another anguished cry, and a blur of messy dark hair ran across the hall to the still unconscious girl.

"Please no!" Harry sobbed. He sat cradling his friend in his arms, and rocking back and forth. He could feel someone pulling at him, but he couldn't make his arms let her go.

"Harry! Let me help her! Harry! She isn't dead!" The words shouted in his ear finally registered.

"Help her, please Remus." Finally releasing his hold on her, Harry moved back. Remus and Madame Pomfrey started running spells over her, their wands a blur as they worked quickly.

The crowd gathered all hoping that their friend would wake up. The only Weasley not with them was Ron. He was in a small alcove snogging with Lavender Brown. The well being of friends and family were the farthest thing on his mind just then.

"Enervate!" With a gasp Hermione coughed and her eyes opened. Coughing and gasping.

"Hermione!"

"Harry! The snake we still need the snake!" She struggled to sit up.

"No it's over. Voldemort's dead 'Mione." Harry said grabbing her hand, and pushing gently against her shoulder with the other. Remus was holding down the other.

"It's over?" she asked still trying to sit up.

"Yes, he's dead. We won." Harry said gently "Don't try to get up. Please just lay quietly."

"We won." She whispered and promptly faded out again.

"What happened?" Harry looked at Remus frantically.

"She's okay Harry, but very weak. We need to get her to St. Mungo's. The damage was very extensive, and we could only heal her so much here." Remus said trying to sound reassuring.