Disclaimer: Even after all this time, I still don't own Harry Potter

It came as a shock to everyone who knew him that Ron Weasley had come up with a brilliant idea. He had remembered the Basilisk lying dead in the Chamber of Secrets, and had gotten himself and Hermione inside it by speaking Parseltongue almost as perfectly as Harry did. Hermione, at least, was in complete shock that it had been his idea, and that he had performed something that should have been impossible.

"You should do it, Hermione. Harry and I have both already killed one," Ron told her while holding out the fang that he had just plucked from the carcass.

"Give me the fang," she said fiercely, holding out her hand in expectation.

Her heart was racing, and she was terrified to say the least. She thought of how the Horcrux in Tom Riddle's diary had tried to kill Harry, and how the Horcrux in the locket affected her. It scared her the way that it practically lived inside her whenever she wore it. It spoke to her sometimes too, in her head, bringing to life all of her insecurities. She did not get to destroy the locket, but Helga Hufflepuff's cup would be a good alternative.

So even though the Horcrux terrified her, she would do it. One more Horcrux destroyed meant that Harry was one step closer to being able to destroy its maker. Helping Harry was the majority of why she knew that she could do it, because she would always do whatever it took to help him, but she would also do it for all those people who were fighting and dying for a better wizarding world, for her parents whose choices she took away from them when she took away their memories, and for herself, to show all the Pureblood supremacists that she was not a weak mudblood, but a strong and brave witch.

With that thought in mind, Hermione raised the fang high and brought it down fast and hard on the cup.

Almost immediately, the cup spun away from the fang, sputtering and shrieking, towards the statue of Salazaar Slytherin. Water rose up around them in a wall of waves. Ron and Hermione tried to back away, but they were not quick enough. The wall of water dropped down on them, engulfing them. Luckily for them, that was all that the Horcrux could muster up. The teenagers emerged from the water, and looked at each other. Hermione started laughing, which caused Ron to laugh, and then they were embracing in a hug because they were alive!

As she pulled away from him, Ron gripped her arms and looked her in the eye with such an intense look that it frightened her. She knew exactly what it meant, and though she may have wanted it once, she no longer wanted it now, so she backed away from him further, shaking her head subtly.

"Ron," she whispered, and he hung his head.

"I knew that when I left, I probably ruined any chance I had, but I had hoped that maybe… I don't know. I love you, Hermione," he told her earnestly.

"I know," she sighed before pulling him into a hug, "I'm sorry."

Ron hugged her tighter before whispering, "Well, at least you know, I guess. I did everything I could, and I'd rather have you know than not have told you at all."

"I love you too, Ron. I wish it could be in the way that you want me too, but… things changed. But you deserve happiness, Ron. And after this war, after Harry wins, after we win, you'll get it."

There was only one thing that Hermione feared almost more than Voldemort himself, and that was the fact that Harry's mind was connected to the Dark Lord's. Harry was a good, brave and strong wizard, but there were times when Hermione could see a darkness in him that everyone else overlooked. The more he looked into Voldemort's mind, the more susceptible to that darkness Harry became.

That was why she pushed Occlumency so hard on him. If he was able to protect his own mind, and stopped trying to look into Voldemort's, then she would not have to worry about the darkness gaining control of him; the darkness which she was ninety-five percent positive was a Horcrux. She prayed to Merlin that that part was not true.

Since fifth year she had been trying to get Harry to stop using the connection that he had with Voldemort. She was trying to keep him safe. But now Harry was silently begging her to let him do the one thing that she was scared of.

Ron was pleading with Harry to find Voldemort by looking into his mind, but Harry's eyes sought out her own. Hermione knew just by looking at him that he was not going to do it without her permission. She did not want to give it to him. Which time would prove to be too much for him? Would this time be the one that pushed him over the edge? Was the safety of the Wizarding World worth the risk of losing Harry?

Absolutely not.

But Harry's eyes were pleading with her, begging her, trying to tell her that he needed to do this so that he could end it for him, and end it for her. Harry needed this, and so Hermione kneeled down in front of him and placed a hand on his knee, giving him her permission.

Immediately at her touch, Harry shut his eyes and started shaking in concentration. After a few moments he opened his eyes.

"I know where he is."

They had always been stronger when they were together. It was like their magic fed off of each other. Hermione even thought that when they were fighting, the three of them could read each other's minds. Harry would know just when to hold her back from running around a corner, saving her from an enemy's spell. Ron was able to read Harry's body movement right before a spell, and was able to cover his back with his own appropriate spell. And Hermione was able to create a shield powerful enough to protect all three of them as her boys dueled their opponents. When they were apart, none of them could do that.

As they made their way down to the boathouse to find Voldemort, Hermione noticed that this battle was not unlike any other. Their bodies and their spells matched each other, but they seemed stronger somehow. Like all of their other fights had been leading up to this one.

Which she was sure was exactly true.

Everything that they had been through together brought them to this. They had been preparing for this fight since their first year at Hogwarts with the Sorcerer's Stone. And throughout those years, since day one of their friendship, their magic connected and has been growing stronger.

They were friends for a reason. They needed each other. And though she was technically fighting with Harry, and probably made things awkward for Ron, she knew that after everything was said and done, and after this war was over, they would all be alright in the end. They would get their happily ever after, because their friendship was not something to be taken lightly. It was not a friendship that was meant to be for only seven years, it was one that was meant to last forever. They would fight together until the end of their days.

These were all things Hermione thought of as they made their way to the boathouse. It seemed funny how she never realized these things until now. She would not realize, however, that the reason she was thinking these things, was because deep down she knew that there was a possibility that one of them might not make it through this battle.

Harry was not dead. There was no way that it was Harry's lifeless body in Hagrid's arms. This was a trick. Voldemort was toying with them, trying to get them to believe that Harry was dead in order to weaken them. Harry was hiding somewhere, waiting for the perfect moment to jump out and take them down.

Why wasn't he moving?

Why was Hagrid so quiet? Couldn't he see that it was not really Harry in his arms?

Move, Harry, move.

She should not have let him go down to the forest. Why did she let him go? She should have gone with him. She told him she would go with him. She should have screamed, begged him not to go. What was she thinking? Why didn't she run after him? She just let him go.

He still wasn't moving. Why wasn't he jumping out of Hagrid's arms? Why wasn't he moving?

Because he's dead, Hermione. He's dead, and it's because of you. You let him go to the forest on his own. You let him walk away, walk straight to his death.

No. No. No. No. No. No.

"NO!"

She was screaming now, trying to run to Harry, but Ron and George were holding her back. Agonizing screams ripped through her body. This. Was. Not. Happening. This could not happen. Maybe her screams would convince him that now it was time to get up.

But he still did not move. He would not move again. And Hermione could only blame herself for it.

"Harry, please, please Harry!"

"Silence, you insolent girl!"

Hermione fell to her knees in despair. He was gone. Harry was gone.

Gone. Gone. Gone.

He could not be. It was not possible. How could he? He was supposed to live. This was not supposed to happen this way. Everything that they had gone through and fought for was not supposed to come to this.

"Please, Harry, wake up," she whispered over and over.

She was vaguely aware of Ron wrapping his arms around her shoulders, and Neville stepping forward. Brave, brave Neville. He would always fight for Harry, even though Harry was gone.

But then… he moved!

Harry moved, rolling right out of Hagrid's arms, immediately taking a shot at Nagini, the last Horcrux.

The relief and happiness Hermione felt was unimaginable. He was alive. Harry was alive.

Alive, and she was sure that he was Horcrux free. His spells were stronger, clearer somehow. And with the realization that he was alive, her mind was clearer as well. They were going to survive. They were going to finish this.

And with that thought in mind, she followed Ron into the castle, chasing after the snake, knowing that they were going to kill it and then all that would be left was Voldemort.

And Harry was going to take him down.

Author's Note: I suck at this writing thing. For the longest time I lost all motivation. BUT, the other night I got a huge bit of some, because the Deathly Hallows was on HBO, and I wrote this. I kind of like it. I didn't want to write out the entire battle, so I picked a few a bam! I got this. This story is almost coming to a close. One or two more chapters, I'm not sure yet. It's been a crazy long journey, and I am so sorry for the long wait between the last couple of chapters. But, I would truly appreciate it if anyone who reads it sends me their feedback. It always means so much to me.

Thanks for reading! :)