((Chapter 26: the last chapter, with the exception of the prologue. I hope you all like this, but let me say that the end is unlike anyone has guessed. And for all of those who answered my poll a few chapters ago, thanks!! ENJOY!))

Chapter 26::
The Final Battle

The battle's been going on for hours.

From the moment the Dark Lord gave the go ahead, the Death Eaters took advantage and blasted their way through the doors of the school. Now, hours later, every turn was covered in bodies of fallen Death Eaters and Aurors alike. Even as Draco Malfoy ran down the hall, he couldn't get away from the vicious sounds of war. Screams and shouts followed him, clouding up his ears. This was worse than he thought it would be; more gruesome. For the past few hours he's been running around, trying to find his friends. As far as he knew, Blaise was still alive—for he saw him battling Lupin a few moments before. The one he was searching for now, as he ran down the shattered halls of Hogwarts, was Pansy.

In all the confusion, she'd slipped away somehow. Blaise soon followed her, leaving Draco with Crabbe and Goyle. Thinking it be best to stay with his two goons, he'd followed Harry Potter and the Weasley's into the Room of Requirement. He had gotten cocky, thinking he could finally end the war once and for all. Even when he was throwing spells their way he was not sure this was what he wanted to do. All that really filled his mind was Hermione, and she was nowhere to be found. In the end, however, they had bested him; even saved his life. Crabbe, unfortunately, wasn't so lucky—for he died in the fire that consumed the room. From the moment Draco was saved, he ran.

He's been running since, his robes torn and his arm slashed open from a flying piece of concrete. Sweat slid down his face as he pushed himself. Sudden sounds made him stop, causing him to duck down to avoid the curse thrown his way. The wall next to him shattered, showering him in pieces of rock. Blinking away the dust, he looked to see Percy Weasley standing not ten feet away with his wand pointed down at the now cowering Draco. Several different thoughts ran through Draco's head; the first being 'what the bloody hell' or something like it.

Last time he checked, Percy was a neutral party. When did he finally decide to grow a spine?

"Hello, Weasley." He said, voice calm and holding no proof of the surprise Percy's presence rewarded him with.

"Malfoy." Percy's voice was low, full of loathing.

How odd. Draco was only a jerk to his younger siblings. "Mind telling me why you have a wand pointing at me? I thought you were neutral."

Percy's face was stone, unmoving as he replied. "I was neutral. But, I recognized the error of my ways and returned to my family. Something you would never understand, Malfoy."

If he only knew… "That doesn't explain why you have a wand pointed at me, Weasley."

He shrugged his shoulders; finally some movement. "This is a war. Who knows how many innocent victims you've murdered in your service to Voldemort. It's time someone taught you a lesson."

Draco noted the little snarl in Percy's declaration. "Indeed." Draco suddenly thought up something. "And how many innocents have died because of your ignorance?"

Percy paled, if that was even possible with his pale complexion. "That was a mistake."

Draco kept pushing. "A mistake that killed many people. A mistake you have to live with, am I right?"

No response.

"Did mummy and daddy invite you back with open arms?"

A growl sounded out of the redheads throat.

"What about your siblings? Could they forgive you're egotistical tendencies?"

His wand hand twitched.

"Even if they did, they all know your still the pencil-pushing nobody you always were—"

"ENOUGH!" Percy screamed and shot a curse at Draco.

Oh, so we're doing nonverbal magic, huh? I've got just what you need! Draco rolled to the floor, the red ball barely flying past his shoulder and smashing into the wall. He recanted, casting the Cruciatus Curse towards his opponent, who dodged to the left.

Before Draco could finish the thought about how very much he had underestimated the man, a blue light slammed into his abdomen, sending him shooting towards the wall. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs and sent him falling to ground in a heap. Unfortunately, the wall came down with him, showering the two in stones and concrete. Draco tried to catch his breath as he pulled himself out of the thick rubble. He could feel the sharp stones cutting into his face and hands. To the touch, it felt as if a few ribs were broken. If he made it through this, he would certainly have to spend time in the hospital.

Brushing the dirt out of his eyes, he stood out of the rocks. Percy was still buried, but he was moving. As Draco made to send a stunning curse the redhead's way, a large thunder clap caught his attention. Looking up, he didn't know whether to smile or be afraid. The sky was a pitch black, storm clouds rushing in at a pace that was anything but normal. No rain was falling as of yet, but there was certainly an angry storm coming in.

Hermione was here after all.

Draco stepped up to the end of the floor, near the whole in the wall. As he examined the sky with a rush of emotions, a sudden noise drew his eyes downward to the grounds. A large group of people were gathered there, dark cloaks on one side and torn clothing on the other. Wands were out on both sides. It took Draco time to realize the sound that had caught his attention had been the sound of sobs and tears. Someone had died; someone important at that. Draco found himself with the sharp urge to go down to the group. Always one to listen to his instincts, he stumbled over rocks and rubble to run towards the stairwell.

Just as he jumped from stair to stair, a furious sound occurred from above. It wasn't a human sound and certainly not made by any animal. It was coming from higher than that. It was coming from the sky. Something had made Hermione very mad.

Running onto the grounds, he found Pansy staring at the scene ahead and hidden behind a pillar. Happy she was alive, he ran her way and tried to spot what she was seeing. What he saw made his eyes bug out of his head. It was Harry Potter. His limp body was being carried by the big oaf Hagrid. It took Draco a moment to really understand what was going on. When he finally did, he couldn't believe it. The-Boy-Who-Lived was dead; killed by the hands of the Dark Lord. A deep sorrow spread through him. Sure, he hated the happy go lucky boy, but he never truly wished him dead.

"This can't be true…" Pansy whispered while she wrapped her arms tight around herself.

Draco didn't need to ask her to explain. He felt the same way. They might have both been fighting on this side of the war, but they never truly thought they would win. Deep down, they had hoped the Order would win. It was just fun and games until it turned serious. Now, it was too serious.

A loud roar echoed through the clouds as a lightning flashed downward and struck the ground by Hagrid's feet. If possibly, the sky turned blacker then before. Rain started to slam down in globs, turning to hail as it slammed into the ground.

Pansy looked to the sky, letting the ice cubes and rain drops hit her dirty face. Her voice was low, full of shock. "She's mourning…"

No one in the crowd moved to cover their heads or run out of the storm. Their fallen hero and last hope lay dead in the sobbing half-giant's arms. Neville Longbottom, the former witless wonder, fell to his knees as Hagrid laid Potter on the ground. Everyone, including the Dark Lord whom was laughing at the sobbing mourners, thought he was paying his respects. Even Draco thought the same.

It wasn't until a bright orange Phoenix came soaring overhead and dropping the sorting hat at his side that anyone thought otherwise. Unexpectedly, Neville pulled out the Gryffindor Sword, slicing off the head of the Dark Lord's snake. All Hell broke loose after that. Potter ended up not being dead after all. Standing up suddenly, he shot curses towards the Death Eaters as the crowd tried to shake themselves out of shock.

"He's alive!" Pansy said with a small smile on her face.

Draco, who shared in her enthusiasm, wasn't able to voice his thoughts. The crowd was rushing in their direction. If they were to be caught they could be killed. "Pansy, we've got to go!"

Not needing to be told twice, Pansy turned and ran with Draco hot on her heels. Curses kept flying directly over their heads as they ran towards the Great Hall. It seemed to be the clearest part of the school. Once they arrived there, however, the mob filed in behind them. The once grand Great Hall was now in shambles, the rain pouring in from the blown open ceiling. Draco searched around him, desperately trying to spot Blaise.

"Where's Blaise?" Pansy asked, shielding herself from a flying curse.

Draco just looked at her momentarily before dodging a green ball thrown his way. Taking his response as the worst case scenario, she ran out of the Great Hall. If Blaise was dead, she had to find him. If he was alive, she had to find him still. She needed a piece of mind and she would gladly shield curses to get it.

"PANSY!" Draco shouted in her direction, trying to grab her hand as she shot away.

Now alone, he tried to fend off all curses shot his way. His arms were bleeding from the cuts he sustained in the rubble, causing him to get slightly light headed. Everywhere around him people were dueling to the death. Several people were falling as he looked around; his heart pounding. He could hear the sound growing more and more ferocious overhead. Knowing Hermione, she would only stay barren for so long.

He was right.

Suddenly, the ground started to shake at the rain grew louder and louder. Harry, who had just started circling the Dark Lord, stopped and looked up, followed by the Dark Lord himself. The walls started to shake as furious roars sounded overhead. Everyone coward to cover their eyes as a bright bolt of lightning hit the ground of the Great Hall, sending more concrete into the air. Dust clouded the room as everyone kept their wands at the ready. Looking around, visibility was almost zero as the dust from the room floated around. It settled slowly, but a bright light brought all eyes to the center of the room. When it was clear enough for Draco to see, his heart nearly skipped a beat.

It was Hermione. She didn't look like she had before—neither as Raven or as herself. Everything about her now looked different. Her skin was glistening with water droplets as the rain slid down her now white skin. The red in her hair was gone, replaced by a shiny mint color and now falling to her hips in waves. Even her once eerie eyes were changed—now a shining deep blue rimmed in bright silver that took up her entire eye and leaving none of it white. The most shocking of it all was her body. To his eminent surprise, she was wearing no clothing. It didn't look like she needed to. Silver and blue patterns covered every inch of her; completely blocking the indecent parts from wandering eyes. The patterns wrapped her arms and legs like vines before stopping at a diamond embedded in her forehead.

Her beauty took his breath away. If there was any word to describe how she looked, it would be 'goddess'.

No person in the room moved as she continued to glance from face to face. Her now silver lips lifting into a smirk as she spotted Harry and Voldemort. She took one step, her bare feet not even touching the floor. Draco knew with every part of his soul that she had given herself over fully to her powers. She was full Elemental now; no longer a witch. His question now was whether or not there was any part of the old Hermione Granger still in those eyes.

Only taking five steps, she still hovered several feet away from the duo. Harry looked too shocked to speak. He could tell it was Hermione. Having known her for years gave him that ability. What he didn't know was whether or not she was really her. It was her body, but maybe not her mind. Ron didn't move, just clung onto the now sobbing Ginny. Their best friend might have been alive, but she didn't look like she was home anymore.

"Hermione," The Dark Lord's voice was low and full of temptation. He would try to convince her to join them. It was obvious in his voice.

Hermione barely inclined her head in his direction. He couldn't be sure if she was listening or not.

"So much power is throbbing through you right now, am I right?" He took her silence as a yes. "I can help you harness this magic. Make it grow to extreme heights!"

"Don't listen to him, Hermione." A weak voice spoke from the doorway.

Hermione didn't move much. She did incline her head in that direction, though.

Dumbledore was brought in, clinging to McGonagall's shoulder. He was dying. You could tell. "You're good, my dear. You really are. Don't let this win."

Harry finally managed to speak up, "Come on, Mione," he flinched as she flicked those frightening eyes his way. "We're your family. We love you. We just want you home."

"Nonsense," Voldemort chuckled with evil humor, "They just want to use your magic. They just want you for their own gain. Join back with me. You'll never regret it. You shall be queen in this world! Right by my side—"

This was when Voldemort made a mistake. He took a confident step towards her, causing her head to snap in his direction. Draco watched in fascination and fear as she finally opened her mouth to release a violent and ear-splitting scream. Everyone ducked their heads as she lifted her arms, lightning slamming into the floors.

"Hermione, no! You must stop this! You'll kill us all!" Dumbledore's loud voice filled her screams.

As if by some miracle, Hermione stopped screaming and slowly lowered her hands, little lightning bolts still shooting out from her fingertips. She looked at Dumbledore and he tried to walk towards her.

"You are," he let out a cough, "Hermione Jean Granger; member of the Golden Trio and Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's best friend. You are the brightest witch of the age. Being an Elemental isn't who you were born to be. You were born to be a loving and caring witch. Don't give that up!"

Everyone watched in horror as he collapsed, still coughing in pain. Before he could fall to the ground, a rush of water slid to him extremely fast, catching him on a bed of waves. Draco looked back to Hermione and saw her arm raised in the direction of the headmaster. Hope slid through his body. Maybe there was still hope after all.

"I know who I am." Her voice was low and full of power. So many echoes vibrated in her words that it was difficult to not cover their ears.

Then, faster than he ever thought possible, she lifted her hands towards Voldemort. Bright rays of blue light shot out of her hands, slowly draining her of power. Draco wanted to run to her as she started to slump over, but he couldn't move. No one seemed able to. All they could do was watch as she through so much energy into the Dark Lord. Draco began to realize painfully slow that she was killing herself to weaken the wizard. Even her roots were starting to go back to brown and her eyes pulsing from blue to brown.

Voldemort was screaming terrible sounds as she tortured him aimlessly. Her powers were stripping him slowly of fluids and drying him out like a mummy.

Groans started to vibrate from Hermione as her knees gave out. With her shaking arms still raised, she managed to speak painfully, "Harry," she almost sounded like the old Hermione again as she lost all of her power, "I can't hold him long." Her breathing became labored. "This is it. You can do this…"

Draco watched in terror as she collapsed onto the ground unconscious. She didn't look alive anymore. Fear jumped into his body as he ran in her direction. She couldn't be dead! It just wasn't possible! He cradled her naked body to himself and began to call her name into her ear.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!!" Harry screamed, his wand pointed at Voldemort's heart. A bright green flash slammed into the Dark Lord's chest. He was no more. He was finally dead.

And no one seemed to care. Ginny, Harry, Ron, and the Weasley's—short the recently fallen Fred and his mourning twin—came running to Draco's side, trying to see if Hermione was still alive. Draco let the tears run from his eyes as he held her body close trying to find a pulse. Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak off of the floor and turned it inside out to cover Hermione's exposed body. He didn't want her body open for gaping eyes. He respected her too much for that.

"Hermione, you can't be dead! I love you, you can't be dead! I don't care that you're muggleborn, I love you!" Draco kept muttering over and over again.

Harry pushed everyone out of the way before sliding in to the other side of his friend's body. If the magical way wouldn't work, there was always the muggle way. "Back off, Malfoy."

Draco wouldn't let Harry pull the witch away from him. There was no way he was going to let her go.

"I'm going to try CPR! Please, if you want her alive give her to me!" Harry was still pulling her to lie flat on the floor.

Draco finally complied. If it would bring her back he was willing to trust Harry Potter. As long as she didn't die… please, Merlin, don't let her die!

Draco watched as Harry breathed into her mouth and beat on her chest. The act was foreign to him, but he didn't care. All he could do was stare at her now pale face. Her lips were slowly turning blue from lack of oxygen. Draco could feel the nagging truth beating inside his head, but his heart refused to believe. This witch saved his life and brought him out of the darkness. She showed him how to love. He wouldn't allow her to go! With everyone circling them, they continued to hope as Harry fought to bring her back. He worked to get her breathing again…

…working over a corpse.

(( That's the last chapter. It's finally the end. Don't hate me everyone! I've thought long and hard over the last few days about what I wanted this chapter to be like. I finally settled on this. But, please. Don't get too discouraged! There will be an epilogue. So I hope you'll be satisfied with that. It should be posted the day after or the day of this chapter. REVIEW!))