I thought this was near the end... Turns out I was wrong, got rather a bit left to do!

Lu

As soon as Severus reached the outside, he let out a deep sigh. The air in the building had become hot, cloying and entirely smothering. It wasn't Hermione, how could it be? She'd been nothing but amazing since they'd met a few short weeks ago. Was it only weeks? It felt like forever. He crossed the entranceway and walked towards the watchtower. He hadn't been up there himself as yet and he had no real wish to do so now. It was rather high and he knew the lookouts, Lavender and Luna, were perfectly able to do their job without him poking his nose in. Pulling his cloak around him against the biting wind, he made his way towards the darkened fence.

The only noise he was able to hear was the rustling of the trees and the odd creaking of branches. There was no give away, no sign that anyone was out there and yet, somehow, he knew there was. Their opponents would not be stupid enough to attack without a good knowledge of where they lived and operated. They would know the watchtower would be manned and they would know how many people lived her as well. There wasn't all that much he could do to change any of that but perhaps the plans he had laid out with Harry would work. He had to hope they did, otherwise he might be spending the next five years wandering around alone as well. He shuddered at the thought.

Scanning the grounds again, he turned as though to return inside when something caught his eye. It was on the other side of the fence, yet he was drawn to it inexplicably. Lying there, discarded amongst the grass was something shining. He tried to reach out to it but his arm just wasn't quite long enough. Removing his wand, he thought about accioing it to him but paused. Hermione had said that using magic would attract the Restless and the last thing they needed was a bunch of them turning up. Knowing their luck, the Death Eaters would attack at the same time… In fact, he glanced at the item again, trying to make it out in the gloom and wondered why it was there.

Rising slowly, knees clicking as he did so, he shook his head, it would be of no surprise if it had been planted there to attract someone. He rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them and turned away from the object. Making a mental note to warn everyone that they could be lures, he returned to the relative safety and comfort of the prison. Not wanting to succumb to the oppressive atmosphere of the mess hall, he wondered whether he'd be welcome in Hermione's cell. They'd been getting on rather well of late and he couldn't see why not. However, she had looked exhausted earlier on and she could use some undisturbed rest. They would both need to be on high alert over the next few days and spending their nights wrapped around each other was not going to allow them to do so. Letting out a sigh, he returned to his own cell and slipped under the blankets.

The attack didn't come the next day.

Nor the day after that.

It didn't come when the watchtower was manned or when everyone was busy. It didn't come in the early evening when they'd gathered together to discuss some of the more mundane matters that had been put to one side.

The attack didn't come during any of the heated arguments that had become common place over the past few days. It didn't come during lunch time when they were sat in stony silence in the mess hall, no one daring to utter a word lest it spark another disagreement.

It came while most of them were sleeping

They bypassed the fence and appeared directly behind it. As soon as they arrived, Linnie sounded the alarm. Within moments, everyone was awake and on their feet but they had lost valuable time. Already, the Death Eaters were doing what they did best; destroying things. By the time could see what was happening, the irritating cackle of Bellatrix LeStrange could be heard as she, along with several others, trampled and kicked at the gardens. It had only just been repaired from last time and a wave of irrational anger flowed through him, colouring his sallow cheeks. A cold hand on his arm stopped him from rising further.

"Not now Severus, wait." It was Hermione at his side. He jerked his arm from her grip, irritated at her fussing. As if he didn't know how to fight. He'd been doing so since before she was born. She made no attempt to further placate him and instead listened to what was being muttered behind him. Knowing he should also be listening, he turned an ear towards Potter. He was murmuring something about making every shot could and not to kill if they didn't have to. Severus snorted; it wouldn't be like they would offer them the same mercy.

There was no more time for talk however; a bright flash filled the sky, illuminating the prison as though it was daylight. The compound was full of Death Eaters. Severus could see Lucius and Narcissa aiming their wands at the watch tower. A bright flash and a crack had the entire thing plummeting to the ground. Linnie and Matt had scampered out as quickly as they could, dodging this way and that, trying to avoid the wand blasts that were aimed at them. Harry, Remus and Hagrid, along with Molly and Ron began creeping around the edge of the prison. "Cover us!" Harry had whispered. That was that. Hermione had aimed her crossbow at the intruders and began firing. Severus supposed there was little else to do but join in.

It caused enough of a distraction at least, Bellatrix and Lucius flicked their wands towards where they were gathered – behind a barricade that had been erected and started firing them instead. Severus watched Hermione load and reload her crossbow, firing over and over again at them, willing them to fall almost. The sharp crack of gunfire joined the cacophony. Linnie and Matt made it to the barricade, both panting for breath, both covered in cuts but with no other sign of injury.

"Who are these people?" Matt breathed.

"Not nice," Hermione said. Well, that was the understatement of the year! "They'll see this place destroyed rather than let us live here," she said. Severus couldn't help wonder why the sudden change. They'd both been in close proximity for several months at least, why bother with them now?

There was a huge bang and the building behind them shook. Dust crumbled to the floor and there was a deep groaning sound, as though the prison had finally found a voice of its own. There was another boom, which was followed by a chilling crash. Hermione exchanged a glance with him, her eyes widening. "That was the fence," she said.

Sure enough, when he glanced over the edge of the barricade, he saw the chain link fence had come crashing down and was now a rather tangled mess on the floor. The brilliant illumination, cast by the death eaters some moments before, had done its work. Many of the Restless were now pouring through the gap, attracted by the tasty magic that was being wielded. Severus shook his head and pushed black, dusty hair from his face. The deep, guttural moans, the cackling of the LeStrange woman and the constant crashing was all a bit too much. Rising from behind the barricade, he wielded his wand, brandishing it high in the air.

"Severus!" snapped Hermione. It was too late, the spell was on his lips and he was damned well casting it. There was no point holding back, the damage had already been done by their attackers. The Restless were already here. A jet of white light erupted from the tip of his wand and struck someone in black. There was a sort of scream and the air suddenly filled with the stench of burning flesh.

"We've no choice, look!" he said as he ducked back down again. Her eyes widened as she looked over at what was going on. His eyes followed hers; there was no sign of the others. Linnie and Matt turned their attention to the Restless, picking them off with their guns as best they could. Lavender ran out of the prison with Tonks hot on her heels.

"Oh God!" Lavender hissed, "It's Moody!" she panted.

"What do you mean?"

Before there was time to answer Hermione's question, the lumbering, dead form of their friend shambled round the corner. A deep moan sounded from his slack jaw and the roaming eye darted this way and that. Hermione's eyes widened, Linne gave a little squeal of surprise and the other two girls stood there watching as he shuffled slowly forward.

"Don't just stand there, do something!" Lavender squealed. Tonks took one of the knives that were lying on the floor where they were crouched and nodded. "Not that!" she hissed, trying to grab her arm. Severus caught Lavender and nodded to Tonks.

"There's nothing else we can do now," he said as he pulled her away.

"But he'd our friend!"

"Not anymore," Hermione said. There was a pang of sadness in her voice as she spoke but at least she knew the truth of it. Tonks walked up to the Restless being that had once been their friend and brought the knife up, thrusting it straight into his skull with all the force she could muster. A sickening crunch, a spray of black blood and their friend's body fell to the ground, lifeless as it should be. The rest of the compound was now full of Restless. There wasn't a Death Eater around and Severus realised that this had been their plan all along, start the battle and then let the Restless finish them off. As he looked over the compound, he watched, helpless, as their crops were destroyed and the rest of the fence pulled down.

"We have to get inside," he said. The Restless were moving closer and closer to where they were hidden, dangerously so.

"What about Harry?" Lavender said.

"This isn't the only way in, he'll be alright." Severus said. He shot at another Restless as it approached where they were. Several more turned towards them. "Quickly." He made a motion with his hand for them all to get behind him and begin retreating. Slowly, far too slowly, they fell backwards.

Just as the snapping jaws of the Restless approached, Severus was yanked backwards and the door slammed shut with a final crash. Leaning against it, panting for breath he watched Hermione wiped some of the dust from her eyes. "I just hope they make it round," she whispered. Severus nodded and slumped against the wall, not knowing quite what to do next.