To anyone following this story I have to apologize. I said I would publish and update on Friday 10/8, but work has been crazy and I caught a cold, so I'm a bit behind. Also thanks to Scarlet Summer for being my beta!

Please, please, please review.

I don't own any of the characters off course.

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Ending Fourth Year

Time flew after they had begun to hold the Young Phoenix meetings. Between classes, the meetings, exams, helping Harry and Ron with homework, and her work for the elves, the term felt like one big blur for Hermione. Ron and Harry had introduced her to the kitchens and she got to meet the house elves and start her campaign. She was particularly angry when she heard the story about Dobby and how he had been practically a slave to the Malfoys until Lily Snape had tricked Lucius into giving him clothes and setting him free. Inspired by her now adoptive mother, she had begun the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare and had been constantly reading about elves' history and checking if any efforts had been made to free them. She was happy to do this for the elves, but deep in her heart she knew that this additional task also kept her distracted from thoughts about her parents and the holidays. Ron thought that this spew thing was absolutely ridiculous and that all it would do was make the elves hate them and ban them from the kitchens. SPEW led to their first argument since last term. Once that broke the dam it seemed like rows poured from them. They fought about spew, homework, quidditch, food, anything and everything, but Harry was content with their quarrels, it made life seem normal again.

It was also great to have Ely Swanson back. Not only was it fair and right to have him back, but he also shared important information about the Black Hand with them and had taken over mentoring George and Luna, which was a blessing for the Weasley twins. Fred and George had for the most part behaved as normal as ever, poking fun at life itself and inciting more and more popularity for Weasley Wizard Wheezes. But, when the twins had their sessions with Estella Swanson, Fred always came back with a mischievous smirk and George seemed upset and frustrated and it took time for him return to his role as Fred's ideal mischief partner. The worst was the much awaited general meeting of the Young Phoenixes. They had been lucky enough to get Dobby the elf to tell them about the perfect location, the Room of Requirement. It had everything they needed and they had sent the notices of the date and time using the coins and the location details were given to the nine lead phoenixes. The meeting itself was great, everyone duelled ardently and the Snapes taught them the basics for making untraceable portkeys and how to cast the patronus charm. But, as the meeting was ending Fred conjured flowers for Estella and very publicly told her she was beautiful and asked her for a walk around the grounds. George looked like his head was going to explode and Estella seemed ready to pass out. Thank goodness for her words: "Fred, I think you are very handsome and I'm sure you are kind and funny, but I can't get off with anyone right now. I'm sorry, I can't accept these." Fred was put out but recovered quickly the weekend after in a heated snogging session with a fifth-year Ravenclaw. George on the other hand went to bed early for nearly two weeks claiming he was trying a new product line that would surprise even Fred and that left him not feeling well. Things between the twins finally seemed to go back to normal once Ely came back and George didn't have to see Estella anymore.

"I wish I knew what happened with Ella and George, but it's none of my business," Hermione thought as she closed her trunk and finished getting ready to go to home with the Snapes for the summer. Hermione stroked Crookshanks who had been purring between her legs. She remembered what it was like getting him back.

It was late on a Thursday night when they heard the portrait hole opened. All the Gryffindors besides themselves, Fred, George, and Neville, were already sleep so they readied their wands quickly. To their surprise they heard a "meow" and then saw Professor McGonagall followed by Ely Swanson, Mel, and Stella. Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Crookshanks. The large cat leaped out of Ely's arms and ran to his owner. She picked him up and proceeded to pet and hug him like her life depended on it. For the first time in his life Ron smiled at the sight of "the beast" as he called him.

"Well I'll leave you to talk Mr. Swanson" said the professor before exiting the area.

"How?" asked Hermione

"Is anyone else here besides the six of you?" asked Ely

"No" they said in unison.

"Can they..."

"Yes, Ely they can be trusted" said Estella swiftly.

"While I was in London this last month for my interrogations I stayed and worked with the order. They found the cat a few days after the attacks trying to get back in your house. So, I just told them I would bring him with me when I came back here."

Hermione was still in awe at seeing her cat, but soon ran to Ely Swanson and gave him the biggest hug while enthusiastically thanking him. Ron's ears went red and his hands were tensed into fists. The hug lasted no more than a few seconds and soon they were engrossed in a conversation about how Earlene Anderson's testimony about what happened in her house was able to get Ely safely back to school and reinstated as Head Boy, even though it took almost two months to get the truth to be acknowledged.

"The Order also caught a break and we found out the Black Hands' next targets, so we are going to protect them."

"Who are their targets now?" asked Hermione with mix of anxiety and pain in her voice. Ely hesitated, but Estella quickly spoke.

"Harry and me."

"What?" uttered the five Gryffindors.

"But, why? Do they know you two lead the meetings?" asked George with an extremely concerned tone.

"No they don't know that and the reason is not important, what matters is that we know that they will try to attack one or both of us, probably using the Hogwarts students that have signed the enlistment scroll. So, you need to stay around Harry and make sure he is protected," said Estella sternly.

"I can protect myself!" Harry yelled.

"But what about you?" asked George looking at Ella with pleading eyes.

Soon heated discussions were flying between all the Gryffindors and Estella.

"Enough!" shouted Ely.

"This is not a debate. You five will watch over Harry as I'm sure his parents will. Mel and I will be protecting Estella with some help."

"Who's going to protect her when she's alone in Slytherin?" asked George exasperatedly.

"I understand that me teaching you defence might make you think that you should be my friend or something, but whatever happens to me is really none of your business Weasley. Plus I can take care of myself and I do have Draco... and Greengrass and Zabini off course. Also, Professor Snape is my head of house and trust me he can keep an eye on both Harry and me without difficulty," said Estella sternly. George looked like he had been slapped in the face and seemed particularly annoyed at the reference to Draco Malfoy. They continued to discuss the matter and finally they laid out how Ron, Hermione, Neville and the twins would help ensure Harry's safety, Mel and the Swansons left soon after.

Hermione marched out of her room to meet Ron and Harry. "I'm glad nothing's happened. We just have to keep our eyes on Harry when we get to King Cross, that's where the Order thinks their next attack will be," she thought.

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Ron sat next to Hermione and across from Harry in the train compartment. He kept thinking that he really didn't want to be away from his friends all summer. Hermione had lost her family and even though she was strong about it at school, he knew that not being able to go home to her parents for the summer was going to be hard. Harry was also sort of a mess. He was worried, but mostly angry about this big secret his parents weren't telling him and the attack that was supposed to come his way. They were all also still reluctant to rely on information provided by the Slytherins, but Harry's dad was a Slytherin, so it had to be okay, right? Also, one of the Slytherins was Estella and even though she is the Dark Lord's daughter, she had proven herself to be on the good side. At least Hermione will be safe with Harry and his parents.

Despite this, the thought of Harry and Hermione spending the entire summer together under the protection of the Order was not so comforting to Ron. If anything it was making him feel resentful and cross. Ron tried to remind himself that Harry had been friends with Hermione longer, and the Snapes had known the Grangers since their first year, so it made sense for her to live with them. But still, lately his thoughts had begun to run wild. "Is she closer to Harry because they've been friends since first year or because of something else? Does Harry have thoughts about her like I do? I would pummel him, perverted sick bastard! Is that what I am? No, it's different! I would never act on those thoughts. Would Harry? Does she think about HIM like that? Has she fallen sleep in a couch with him and woken up with his stiffy against her back like she did with me two nights ago? Did she feel that? No, she didn't, she would have slapped me. Will she do that with Harry this summer? Will he touch her? Shit! Shit! Sh.."

"RON!" screamed Hermione

"WHAT?" he answered exasperated

"You don't have to yell!"

"You yelled first!"

"That's because I've been trying to ask you if you would like something from the food trolley for ages!"

"NO!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"Would you two stop it!" Harry bellowed before going back to brooding about the bloody secret his parents were keeping and the nuisance of all these people acting as his bodyguards. Ron and Hermione sat next to each other, also sulking, looking in opposite directions.

He moped as he thought about the summer. "She hates me. Definitely hates me! She will run into Harry's arms this holiday. They'll probably travel all over the bloody continent together and won't even think of the poor, silly, pathetic ginger that they have to deal with at Hogwarts. It would make sense. Harry is the son of bloody heroes, rich heroes that teach out of pure joy not because they need their jobs. And Harry is supposed to do all these great things that he needs protection for, of course she'll be all over him"

Hermione was furious and anxious. "What a prat! Does he have any idea how much I'll miss him? I'll be with the Snapes all summer, no mum, no dad anymore. The professors are wonderful, and I'll have Harry and I love Harry, but... I'll miss Ron. How did this happen? If I was meant to have a crush on someone it should have been Harry. We've been friends longer and he's never yelled at me or called me names or made me cry. But, Harry, the thought of it sounds just wrong, disgusting even, he's like the brother I never had. And Ron should be too. It's just that he makes me feel safe and cared for and infuriated and frustrated and...hot! And alive! He just, he just makes me feel! Why does he have to be an arse? I just want to have a proper goodbye, a nice moment, like the other night on the couch. He was so tender when I told him it was my mum's birthday. I don't even know how he knew I was upset or how he managed to make me tell him. Ron tries so hard just to be silly and laidback, but that night, and the night and morning after the attacks, he was sweet and caring. It was as if making me feel better was the most important thing in the world for him, and he succeeded all those times. Then sleeping by him in the common room, have we done that twice now? Merlin! That was the best sleep, and waking up and feeling his...his... I can't even say it in my head! It was hard and so unbelievably hot... electrifying... insane! I wanted to turn around and kiss him and touch it and press myself against him and... My knickers are getting all wet again! What has gotten into me? This is wrong, so wrong. He is my friend and he's only being nice and he woke up like that because he's a fifteen year old boy and that happens to all boys at this age... or so the books say, it's supposed to be normal for them to wake up like that. I just need to say goodbye and try to enjoy the summer and the distance will completely make me get over this."

Suddenly they felt the train vibrate violently. Their trunks and Crookshanks' cage fell from the racks onto their heads. Ron pulled Hermione to his chest and took the brunt of the things falling. It stopped for a second and Harry looked to his friends. They were all alright. The train shook violently again and began to flip over. They felt like they were being tossed around inside a box, but Ron kept his arms firmly wrapped around Hermione. The movement stopped and they sat on what was the side of the train, but now was under them. Hermione stood up, but Ron wouldn't let go of her hand. She managed to make it to the spot where Crookshanks cage sat, to be sure he was okay. She opened it, pushed through one of the broken windows above them, shoved him and harshly ordered him, "GO KITTY, RUN!" The cat complied. They heard noises in the corridor and raised their wands.

"Move as far away from the door as you can and cover your heads!" ordered Ely "Bombarda!" he screamed and a big hole opened to the side leading them to the hallway where they met with the Swansons, Mel and Sam Roberts.

"We have to get out of here or we're trapped! Everyone wands out! Harry! Estella! Stay in the middle, you are who they want!" commanded Ely. He soon opened a hole for them to escape the train.

"Wait!" yelled Ella.

"Estella for Merlin's sake we have to go!"

"There are others in the next compartments!" she said as she ran and screamed at the students to get away from the door and moved to open a hole. Soon the Weasley twins, Lee Jordan, Chrysta Moyne and another Hufflepuff girl emerged. She repeated her move at the next door and Ginny, Luna and Neville were freed as well.

"We'll run to the trees for cover! Let's go!" screamed Estella. Hermione ran faster than she ever thought possible trying to keep pace with the redhead that had her hand firmly enclosed and was pulling her along. She looked to her side and thankfully Harry was right by them. Soon, figures with black robes and black masks were trailing their steps closely and her worst nightmare was repeating itself. Somehow she managed to get closer to Harry and grabbed one of his hands with her free one. She would not lose her friends; she would not lose anyone again. They saw curses flying but continued running and soon found that the large group was separated and all that was left was the three of them. They reached a thick forest and heard a female voice calling to Harry.

"Thank God!" cried Lily Snape as her and Severus made their way to the trio.

"Are you alright?" asked Severus and all three of them nodded. "We have to keep moving. I sent a message to the Headmaster, but we have to try to avoid the hands of terror until help gets here, there are too many of them." They now moved at a slower pace with their backs to each other in a tight circle, pointing their wands in front of them.

Soon, a scream startled their pace and Harry ran fast to where the painful cries had come from. His parents had yelled for him to stop, but he had deaf ears for anything but the awful noises of agony. Quickly, Harry found himself close to a clearing. "Think! What's the best strategy? We learned this in the meetings, figure out a strategy, is it best to attack or hide and then surprise? First assess the situation," Harry thought. He hid behind a tree and looked at the scene unfolding.

George was next to Estella who was leaning on him. She was on her knees with her top completely drenched in blood and tears in her eyes, but she faced hands of terror with her head held high. Ely and Mel were completely motionless on the ground and several other phoenixes including Fred, Ginny, Lee and Draco Malfoy were guarding George and Estella even though they were bruised and hurt themselves. One of the aggressors didn't have a mask on, it was Marcus McDavol.

"You shouldn't have done that sweet sister, is that boy really worth it? Would he have done the same for you? Would he put himself in the way of that curse for you?"

"You... you... would never... understand," she answered while choking on blood and crying from pain.

"What I understand is that your dear Swansons are dead, the lot of them. It's all because of you, their deaths are all on you. No one will care about you, all you have left is me, I am your family. If you agree to be on my side I can end the pain, only the caster can end iniuria constante. If you agree, Weasley won't have to die too. I'll bring him with us; I'll make him do anything you want. You will never hurt again. We can have anything we want, together we'll be invincible!" said McDavol in a hypnotizing tone as he looked Estella right in the eye. She seemed conflicted, like she was actually considering it.

"Ella, no! Remember them! You aunt, your uncle, Mel, Ely they would never want that! You are not that person! You chose to give, not to take, not to force! You taught me to stop being a coward, to do whatever is necessary for what is right! Remember! Ella! Ella!" screamed Draco.

"So you've decided to join them! My own son! You will beg for forgiveness!" said Lucius behind his mask, his voice filled with disdain as he quickly raised his wand towards his son.

"She will not give into him, she won't!" said Draco firmly as he prepared to duel his own father.

Harry decided this was it, he had to help. Lucius Malfoy was too much of an opponent; he fought in the previous war, plus there had to be over twenty hands of terror surrounding about ten phoenixes in this area, it was too much. Harry stepped up and ran towards his friends and Malfoy. "He's right about one thing, YOU WILL NEVER WIN!" he screamed as he moved closer. "Stupefy!" he yelled, but Lucius averted the curse. Suddenly, curses began to fly from all directions as many duels started.

"NO!" Estella screamed and a powerful white light shot out from her entire body hitting McDavol and knocking him and about five other hands of terror to the ground as she lost consciousness. George pulled her towards the trees and he cast protective spells around them. Ron, Hermione and the Snapes arrived by the clearing.

"Kill young Snape!" Lucius Malfoy ordered. Severus and Lily's eyes grew to about double their size and they ran towards the battle. Hermione started to run, but Ron pulled her back.

"Stay here, I'll go help," he said as he put two hands on her shoulder, made her sit on the ground, and ran to the battle.

She stared at his figure in disbelief and then screamed, "Are you mad!" as she ran and pushed pass him, getting closer to the Snapes.

"Shit!" he screamed running after her.

As he arrived to the battle Ron couldn't see either of his friends and was surrounded by chaos – the world seemed to be made of screams and smoke. He didn't look for Harry or his brothers all he searched for was Hermione, feeling the kyklos proctais power against his chest. He ducked from at least five different curses that came in his direction and managed to hit one of the dark figures with a body binding curse. He helped his sister who was engaged in a duel with a tall blond female and together they defeated her using leg-breaking curses and then stunning her. Ron kept running with Ginny behind him and finally found Hermione with Malfoy fighting as partners against three hands of terror. Hermione ducked curses swiftly and attacked with everything she had. As she defeated one of them she lost focus for a second and didn't notice the fire that was coming from one of the attackers behind her. Ron ran with all his stamina and tackled her to the ground to avoid the curse. He got there on time, but a good part of his back and left shoulder were now severely burned.

"I'll stay with Draco, help Ron!" Ginny ordered. She didn't really need to say anything because Hermione was already focused on getting Ron to stand. He had to lean on her as they moved away from the heat of battle and continued to avoid curses.

"Where is Harry?" asked Ron.

"I think I heard him not too far from here, don't worry, we have to get you away, you're hurt," she said with pain and worry in her voice. But, they soon ran right into Harry and the Snapes who were surrounded by about seven attackers including McDavol.

"You two killed my father, I'll kill your son, then we will be even! MAGICA MORTIS!" he screamed with satisfaction and a red flash of light travelled towards Harry. The curse never reached him as his father jumped right in front of him and was hit by the curse instead. Soon, many familiar faces appeared and overtook the hands of terror. Dumbledore and the order had finally arrived and the battle had ended, but they had lost many and continually found more and more injured.