So it began.
Hermione ran up the stone staircase to her aunts room, almost busting with excitement, she had just got back from her four day honeymoon with Draco, and she was about to see her new baby cousin for the first time.
Hermione knocked gently on the cheery wood door frame, then pushed it open.
"Hermione!" Prue smiled at her. "Your back!"
Prue was sitting cross legged on her bed with what Hermione recognized as charms books spread out all around her. 'No rest for the wicked.' Hermione thought to herself.
"I'm back." Hermione grinned, looking around an spotting a crib at Prue's right side.
Prue gave her a knowing look. "No one comes to see me anymore, only him." She laughed. "Go on have a look."
Hermione grinned at her aunt as she walked around the large bed over to the crib. As Hermione bent over the crib she gasped, she felt a sudden urge to pick up and cradle the baby. He was on his back in a deep sleep, so Hermione had a chance to look at him properly. Along with his parents tan skin he also seemed to have Prue's light hair, and a small button noes to match his face. "Oh Prue, such a beautiful baby." She said, brushing the baby light brown hair.
"He has Sirius's eyes you know." Prue told her.
Hermione smiled. "And a name? Something with a P? Like -"
"Actually." Prue interrupted. " Sirius and I decided to pull away from tradition too we call him Thomas. Thomas James Black Halliwell."
Hermione looked surprised at her aunt. "Black Halliwell? Grams will kill you."
Prue laughed. "Oh she knows. She's not happy, but she knows."
"So wheres Sirius?"
"He's in the dungeons with Snape, I'm doing some last minute research. And Draco?"
"With Cissy. I just couldn't wait to see you two."
"So how does it feel to be a married woman." Prue laughed as Hermione face glowed with happiness.
"Amazing, nothing has changed much, were just closer. We're so in love, we could kill Voldemort with just saying I love you." Mione giggled.
"How perfect young love can be." Prue whispered.
And as aunt and niece sat there on the large bed, gossiping and laughing completely oblivious to the outside world, they heard it. An explosion so loud the walls around the bedroom shock violently.
Prue jumped up off the bed and grabbed an now screaming Thomas from his crib.
"What the hell?" Hermione said making her way to the window. "My god." No sooner where the words out of her mouth, Hermione felt the stabbing pain of the dark mark appearing on her arm.
She felt the glamor charm pull itself over her once more.
"Hermione?"
Prue's shocked voice pushed into Miones head.
"He's summoning us, find Wyatt and get him and Thomas out of here, its starting." With that Hermione transfigured her clothes with a quick spell and with one last look at her aunt an cousin she shimmered away.
Hermione reappeared in the forbidden forest, and joined the circle of D.E. Hermione reappeared in the forbidden forest, and joined the circle of D.E. Hermione pulled on her mask and looked around the circle trying to spot her friends, as the other Death Eaters appeared.
As Mione looked around someone passed behind her, running three fingers over the nape of her neck. Hermione recognized Draco's touch as his signal, his promise. I'm safe, everyones safe."
She breathed out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, and focused her attention on the figure coming out of the mist.
Lord Voldemort stood in the middle of the circle
Death Eaters! Tonight, is the night we have worked so long for! Tonight we take Hogwarts, and the wizerding world with it!
And tonight you will witness what no other witch or wizard has ever witnessed. Tonight before your very eyes I will become the source of all evil!
Gaps flew around the circle and Draco caught Hermione's eye.
"Time, my children, is of the esense. Let us begin."
Voldemort turns to Bellatrix, signaling her forward.
Bella bowed opened a small black box and held it out to her lord. "Miss Halliwell. Step forward."
Hermione bit her lip nervously behind her mask. She knew nothing about this ritual, and it scared her to be so powerless to prevent it. She moved forward feeling Draco's worried gaze flowing her.
"My lord?" she bowed.
"You are needed for this to work, Halliwell." Voldemort told her taking her arm ruffly.
"You thought you could lie to me?
Angered shouts filled the silence of the night, as Hermione's glamor was broken before them.
"Me, Lord VOLDEMORT? You are a fool Mercy Halliwell. Or should I say Hermione Halliwell."
"Let go of me." Hermione snapped.
"Sly little thing. But I have won this war. You can not stop the Great lord Voldemort." Voldemort took a dagger from Bellatrix other hand, and ignoring Draco's shouts of protests. Cut into Hermione's Charmed tattoo. Watching the drops of gold magic fall into the black box.
The box shook and a evil howl erupted from it. Voldemort threw Hermione to the floor, and Draco rushed over to her. Together the watched as a black energy ball hovered in the air, for a few seconds before finally drifting and landing over Voldemort's head.
"duos fio unus , malum fio vinco , nex fio umbra , fio radix."
And with those words the energy ball collapsed over him covering him in its darkness.
When the darkness passed Voldemort was silent, he was taller, his once snake like face was now scared, his blood red eyes were now black as night.
The Death Eaters watched him in awe as he moved back to the center. He spoke. His voice like nothing they had ever heard before. Dark, evil almost poisonous. "We will attack Hogwarts, we will kill everyone who gets in are way, and we Will take their magic."
as Voldemort spoke, Blaise, Pansy and Severus all joined Hermione on the floor. "We have to get out of here." Draco told them. "To warn the others."
"Can you orb?" Severus asked Hermione worriedly.
"No. but I can Shimmer, he wont notice. Grab on." Hermione instructed.
All four of them grabbed hold of Hermione discreetly and Hermione shimmered them away.
Voldemorts new powers sensed this, but he was to late. They were gone.
Hphphphphphpphphpphhphphphp
"Hermione!" Phoebe rushed up to her daughter who had just appeared on the floor of the common room.
Draco helped Hermione stand up. "It's starting, He absorbed the source, he knows who we are." Hermione told her.
Phoebe stared aghast at them all. Then sighing as she waved a hand over herself, and transfigured her dress into a pair of jeans, and a cloak. "better to fight in." she told them.
"Send out the warning. Sev, find dad. He'll already know."
Snape closed his eyes for a minute, in pure anguish. Nodded then left.
The group nodded. Transfiguring their own cloths, then sent out a message to the other Halliwells and the Order.
"To you posts. The war has began. Protect hogwarts."
Hermione now stood before the entire school, breathing heavily. About to give her speech. Telling her loved ones they may die tonight.
"I have known most of you for almost seven years of my life. you are my friends and I care deeply about all of you I think of you as family. but Tonight. tonight I stand before you. not as a student at Hogwarts. Not as a friend, I stand before you as a leader. I stand before you as the charmed one.
With this title comes respect, comes power. comes Loyalty. Loyalty to the world. to the school, to my family. and most of all to myself. We may lose some of ours to night. And I know I have no right ask any of you to give up your lives. But as I stand here. I do just that. I am asking you, to help us. At the cost of yourself s."
She looked into the faces of all her friends.
"So I'm asking to respect the decisions i make tonight, as I base theses decisions on a way to not only save your lives but the lives of the rest of the world too.
If you are to fight with us. let it be only fifth years and older. If any teacher, student, parent or member of the order do not wish to stay, you may leave. There will be no jugement for those who do not wish to risk their lives.
5th years. follow over the instructions of Leo Wyatt. 6th years of Severus Snape. 7th years of Draco Malfoy.
and faculty and parents please report to Penny Halliwell. 1st 2nd and 3rd years follow Piper Halliwell she will get you out safely If any 4th year feels a need to fight, please join a group of you own will."
With one finale lase around the hall Hermione sighed. "All of you, be careful, let Merlin be with you."
She climbed down from the podium just as a loud explosion was heard.
"1st 2nd 3rd years ! this way hurry!"
"Their here!"
"Its the entrance." And with those words, hundreds of cloaked figures entered the school. The only place they could not enter was the Great Hall which as long as Hermione was alive, it would stay magically protected.
"Hermione, Go, you need to get the spell to vanquish the Source, you need to get out to the forest. Harry and you must fight at the same time to for fill the prophecy." Phoebe told her, kissing her hand. "Go, now."
Hermione nodded her understanding, and she and Harry set off.
"Hermione."
Hermione spun around as Draco called to her. Taking her in his arms and kissing her. A kiss that frightened her. Like saying goodbye. "Draco-"
"No time. Go. I love you." he told her, giving her that lopsided smile she loved so much.
"I love you too." She whispered, before pulling away and running after Harry. Leaving Draco to pull off his robe and join Cole in line.
And so began... The last battle.