A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I Hope you like this next chapter, I wanted to add some suspense to the story. I also wanted to know if anyone was interested in a Blaise/Hermione story. I have an idea for a new story, but I can't decide if Hermione should get with Draco or Blaise. Please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but if I did I would be rich.

Chapter 10 – The End of the Beginning

The three figures approached the gate, greeting the two men. The walked through the opening in the gate and watched and Fred and George replaced the missing bars.

"Has everything gone as scheduled?" asked Dumbledore.

"As far as we know, they entered nearly an hour ago.

"He will probably know we are here then," announced Dumbledore.

"Well, no Death Eaters have come onto the yard or anywhere near here," replied Fred.

"That means he's waiting to see who arrives: me, Harry or both. I assume they have found the Death Eaters on guard; you two may join them. The rest of us have other tasks to complete," Dumbledore said as they made their way to the open side door.

Fred and George nodded as they entered the manor. A sight of utter chaos met their eyes. There had been at least twenty Death Eaters on guard and they had only sent in four people all of whom were still fighting.

Most of the Death Eaters were down and some had obviously fled. The two of them quickly joined the fight as Dumbledore and the invisible Harry separated from the two girls.

"My lord," gasped a breathless Bellatrix, "he has arrived."

"Was the boy with him?" Asked the high cruel voice of the once Tom Riddle.

"No, just two young girls, one was definitely a Weasley. I couldn't see the other."

"Very well, that means he has used a pollyjuice potion to disguise the boy. He will not let us get the boy alone, so we must get rid of him at once. Snape"

"Yes, my lord," he said as he stepped into the firelight.

"I want you to find Nagini, it is important that she stays well protected."

"Yes, master," he left the room quickly to proceed with the Dark Lord's orders.

"Bella, I have a special job for you," he began as she watched him eagerly, "I want you to find any Death Eaters not fighting here and lead an attack at Hogwarts."

"My Lord, it would be an honor."

"Go now."

"Yes," she murmured as she left the room.

Voldemort stood alone, in the shadows of the room firelight dancing madly in his red eyes. "Finally, I will put an end to Potter and Dumbledore all in one night."

Hermione and Ginny ran though the gathering of people fighting. Flashes of green and red were flying through the air, the girls dodged, ducked and blocked every curse thrown their way as they made for the door at the end of he hall. They entered undetected and hurried along the corridor.

"This place is huge, how are we going to find that snake?" hissed Ginny.

"I don't know, I really want to try a tracking spell, but that will also give away our location. Wait, shhh," whispered Hermione. She pointed to the door a bit ahead of them, the door was shut, so they peeked through the keyhole. Inside the room she saw Snape and Draco Malfoy! They both pressed their ears to the door, trying to hear what they were saying.

"I've told you already I want to help you spy for Dumbledore," Malfoy said determinedly.

"And I told you already it's too dangerous, and besides you're too late the Dark Lord will be vanquished soon," snapped Snape, "and speaking of him, you ought to be more careful, running to Dumbledore letting him know where we are located. If the Dark Lord found out you would be dead within seconds."

"What? I didn't tell Dumbledore anything."

"Yes, you did. You're just lucky Dumbledore erased your memory. Now if you haven't noticed there is a war going on and I have a job to do."

"Can I help?" Asked Malfoy eagerly.

"With what?"

"The job you have to do."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Gosh you sound like mother."

The girls were listening so intently they wouldn't have noticed if a large marching band was behind them. Luckily there was no one there, imagine if they were caught unaware by Death Eaters. Back in the room, the two men continued to argue. Then Hermione saw it, slithering towards Snape's back poised to strike.

"No!" Hermione threw the door open, but she was too late the snake had gotten there first. Snape fell to the floor, blood soaking his robes. The wound in his neck was large and the snake's venom had acted too quickly for anyone to save him. The last thing he did was thrust a bottle filled with, what looked like smoke, into Hermione's hands.

She looked down and read the label 'memories for Potter'. The three of them stood there in shock staring at their potions master. They were brought back to the present when the snake went to strike again, this time for Ginny. She dodged it.

"Hermione, the sword quick," yelled Ginny as she led the snake away from the others. Hermione pulled the miniature sword from her pocket and returned it to its full size.

Then she made her move, Ginny had just ran past her, she raised the sword and brought it down through the snake's upper body. Blood splashed everywhere, and Hermione shivered, not from the wind from the open window, but from the sight of their potions master.

"Come on let's go, before someone finds us," Malfoy said quickly. He grabbed the two shocked girls and pulled them out of the room away from his now dead godfather. The corridor was still deserted. There was a blast in front of them and five Death Eaters blocked their way. Eight wands were raised and the battle continued.

"You have been expecting me Tom," said Dumbledore quietly as he entered the small room where his opponent stood.

"For the last time," he spat, "tonight I shall finished what I started sixteen years ago. By the end of tonight both you and Potter will be dead and I shall be the most powerful sorcerer ever known." He drew his wand and turned to face the wizened face looking back at him.

"I have waited along time for this Dumbledore." His wand slashed through the air and a purple bolt of electricity flew towards Dumbledore. With the smallest flick of his wand Dumbledore turned the electricity into a gentle breeze that picked up speed becoming a full-fledged tornado. The tornado hit the wall, but did no damage.

Harry watched in awe as the two wizards dueled. He stayed, as Dumbledore had ordered him to, in his hiding place beside the fireplace. The wind in the room made the cloak rise around his legs dangerously. He sunk to his knees to guarantee that his cloak would not fly off.

The tornado became a coiled up snake ready to attack. But as Dumbledore went to defend himself his wand flew out of his hand and across the room. Dumbledore faltered as he looked to see who disarmed him, a large cloaked Death Eater stood in the doorway wand arm raised. The snake was about to strike and Harry knew it was time.

He threw off his cloak and pushed Dumbledore out of harms way. He waved his wand and the snake became a wisp of dark gray smoke. Harry looked behind him quickly to find the Death Eater gone and Dumbledore on the floor motionless. He had never felt so alone.

"Potter," said Voldemort sneering, "Not even Dumbledore can protect you now." Once again he raised his wand shooting a large flame at Harry. Harry tried to dodge it, but the flame grew larger and larger, until it surrounded him.

He heard a ripping noise and looked down, the front of his shirt was caught on a chair. He thought quickly of any spell that could save him before he burned to death. Then it hit him.

"Agrumenti," he yelled, a small stream of water spouted from his wand, but not enough to put out the flames surrounding him. "Agrumenti, Agrumenti," he yelled. He waved his wand a bit harsher then he meant to and a large amount of water burst from his wand dousing the fire.

"I see you've learned some new tricks, since I've seen you last. But I have no time for games so I'll get straight to the point," Voldemort said venomously.

"Avada Kedavra."

The green light shot towards Harry. Harry stepped back, but his wand slipped out of his wet hand, so he dived out of the way. The green light was nearly at his chest. It finally made contact pushing Harry off his feet.

From far away he heard a high cruel laugh. Then once again the laughter stopped abruptly, the green light had bounced off Harry and was now heading towards the horror-struck Voldemort. Voldemort fell, and the three most powerful wizards lay motionless in that room. Moments later the door burst open revealing Ron and Hermione.

"No, Harry!" She gasped

A/N: Sorry to end it there, but I liked the suspense. Please read and review!!

:-D