AUTHORS NOTE: So I had realized while I was writing it that this chapter sucked, but I thought oh well it needs to get done it doesn't matter (moment of weakness and laziness on my part.) So I decided to rewrite it, adding detail and a couple of different things happening and making sure tha I capture the emotions in those moments. Those emotions will be intense, they will be light right now because its in the middle of the war and obviously they will be getting pushed aside but before I had written it and barely poked at the emotions that they were feeling. So please forgive me for being a lazy author. Reviews are welcomed and appreciated helps make me better. I hope its alright now and thanks for sticking with me this far. Much appreciated! And I apologize again, read on my friends!

Chapter 26

The chaos that ensued was like no other after Harry demanded Neville to take the fort, and all the while Hermione was trying not to burst into tears from missing Draco's presence and from worrying about him. She had bigger things to deal with, like winning this war for Harry and people who were like her. She has tasks and through their bond she knew he was alright. the student body is what Hermione wasn't so sure about. Many of the students didn't want to fight and were scared for their lives, as Hermione ran through the halls she came across students cowering in the corner; getting as small as they could to hide away from the evil. There there were those crying and refusing to move from the middle of the stairwell. She just needed to push the thoughts of Draco to the side for now, the sooner they got this over with the better it would be for everyone.

And as she ran through the hall it took every ounce of strength in Hermione to burst though the students that plummeted into her and not get herself knocked back on her bum. If it wasn't for Ron gripping her hand and towing her along like a pup on a leash, she would have fallen down more than once. It was actually very unhelpful, although the feeling of him touching her made her insides twitch with discomfort.

Quickly shoving that off to the side she continued on the task that was at hand. The realization that they may be able to find a Horcrux but not be able to destroy it sent hopelessness through each one of them, but Ron remembered that in second year Harry destroyed Tom Riddles diary, which happened to be a Horcrux, with a Basilisk fang. So to the dungeon was where she and Ron were heading while Harry left to go find the Diadem of Ravenclaw.

And that's where Hermione found herself just now. She stood, shaking slightly out of nervousness, in front of the porcelain sink, the only one in the bathroom that did not work, and staring at the serpent for a handle; again the only sink that had a snake for a handle. Her heart was in her throat, she had never been in the Chamber before nor did she want to go in and face the thing that had petrified her at the tender age of 12.

Bouncing on the balls of her feet she looked at Ron, "How are we going to get in?"

He gave her a cheeky grin then faced the sink muttering unintelligible nothings that only became recognizable to Hermione as Parseltongue when she heard a hissing noise come from his throat. The snake jumped to life and slithered right down the drain, disappearing from sight. With a creak the sink fell into place then sunk after it, completely into the ground and revealing a pipe wide enough to slide into.

"Harry talks in his sleep. Have you noticed?"

She looked down a little embarrassed, she had noticed, but she had not understood what he was saying. She chucked it up to sleepy mutterings. "No, of course not."

She watched Ron crouch down and slide himself down the tube, going out of sight and giving her one last goofy grin. "Ron!" She yelled, bending down and looking to the dark abyss. She pulled out her wand muttering a quick lumos and pointed it in the tunnel, and she could still absolutely see nothing.

"Hermione!" Ron yelled back, his voice echoing quietly to her ears.

"Are you alright?" She shouted.

"I'm fine, come down here!"

Hermione took a moment to steady her breathing, while she did so she braided her hair. She never did do particularly well with dark spaces, much less dark tunnels that led to things she did not know. A little warning would have been nice. She sat on her butt moving herself to the edge of the tunnel, her feet dangling straight down into the tunnel. Taking a breath and holding it Hermione pushed herself off the ledge and down into the tunnel. Her body fell with a large drop in her stomach, and she did not expect the twists and turns which created her body to flail awkwardly around, her head cracking a couple of time against the stone tunnel; she could already feel the bump coming.

But just as suddenly as it started it stopped and she was catapulted with such force onto Ron that she knocked him flat on his back, landing in a heavy mess on top of him. "Sorry," She murmured, getting up and dusting herself off. It was useless though, they were filthy and grimey. Dirt stuck on their faces and who knows what on their clothes. "You have the horcrux right? and Ron how are we to get out?"

"I have a broom in my pocket that we will ride out on and the Horcrux is in my pocket. Honestly what happened to you Hermione?" He joked, nudging her with his elbow at her oblivious new mindset, then walked over to a large circular door that was decorated with snakes.

She smiled at the familiarity, the bond with her friend warming her heart. "Too much Ron, too much." She walked behind him and looked over his shoulder, listening intently as he spoke parseltongue again, and she wondered if she might learn it too.

There were six snakes coming out of the left side of the door and fanning out along the frame, their faces in these latches that locked the door. When Ron spoke each snake pulled out of the latch with a creak and a clang, one by one unlocking itself. The way the snakes moved in a quick and swift movement reminded Hermione of the way Nagini moved and that thought sent shivers down her spine as the door sung open with great effort.

Inside you could see a dimply lit, open area with a black stone path surrounded by water. If you listened intently you could hear the dripping of the water on the stone, or the little plop when a drip made contact with a pool of water. Along the stone paths were seven snakes protruding out of the black water on each side, the the mouths and teeth bared as if ready to strike at the intruders that dare enter the chamber, especially those of dirty blood; like her.

That thought made her gulp as she took a shaky step in, her breathing slowly heavier with each step. She could hear the slosh of he and Ron's wet footsteps against the slick stone as they walked down, Hermione looked down in the ground to avoid the eye contact of the snake, scared that would trigger some type of fatal reaction. As the path went on it widened until it came to the very end, where it opened up completely, a large gray wall with a carving of Salazar Slytherin in the stone. On the wall were many different tunnels, leading to who knows where and Hermione was not going to find out any time soon, that was for sure.

Those weren't the things that captivated her attention, it was the skeleton of the Basilisk that chilled her to the bone. It was dead but terrifying as ever. Its mouth was open in an angry snarl and the bones were black from decay, the smell radiating off of it making Hermione gag.

Without a second thought Ron bravely walked over to the remains of The Basilisk, bending down slowly in front of it, while Hermione stood idly in the back waiting. He reached up and grabbed the fang; yanking it out of the mouth, coming out in a tantalizing fashion. When it finally snapped of the sound made Hermione flinch, reminding her of her own bones breaking and snapping. Ron unzipped his sweatshirt pulling out the golden goblet. He handed it to Hermione and she fiddled with it awkwardly in her hands,memorizing the contour of what would have been beautiful had it not been defiled with dark magic.

Ron handed her the fang, "You do it."

She shakily accepted the sharp tooth, looking at it skeptically. "I can't." She said in a defeated manner.

"Yes you can." He insisted strongly, taking the cup from her grasp and bringing it to the center of the stone floor; kneeling down beside it, holding it ready for her to strike.

This was the moment, it all was up to this; one more Horcrux destroyed the closer they were to the end, the frantic hissing of the cup as if it knew its life was about to end. Hermione knelt down in front of Ron, the fang resting heavily in her hand in a rather uncomfortable manner. This is what they had been waiting for, fighting for. The chance for all this to end and she could do something about it, she could destroy the Horcrux for Harry and Ron; she could do this. She had survived and been in the face of death itself, so why was this so nerve racking? Why was she struggling so hard to go through the task she was given? There was too much on her mind simply, what if something had gone horrible wrong and they had no help, someone should be there for them in case.

But that was the cowardly way, that wasn't the Gryffindor way. She was a Gryffindor through and through, she could do this. Making strong eye contact with Ron she lifted her arm and swung it down quickly, hitting the goblet with a chink. The silence was deafening for her but only a breath long before a tremendous roar erupted through the chamber, bouncing off the walls into repeated echos, and the Horcrux shot away towards the corpse of the basilisk.

Ron and Hermione scrambled to their feet, the water by the wall of Salazar rising up in a rush and the water on the sides of the path following suit. They ran backwards, watching the water as carefully as possible, calculating every move to their best ability. And in the water depths Salazars face formed, Hermione stopping slightly at the angry eyes. It was twisted in a rage and as much as Ron pulled on Hermione's sleeve to make her go faster she didn't budge, and Ron stopped next to her; both of their eyes wide. They followed the water soaring over their heads, their breath stopping when it suddenly dropped around them; soaking them to the bone in the chilled water.

There mouths were opened, eyebrows raised in relief then looked at each other for a moment. An excitement in her like none other reached her fingertips and Ron looked at her in a way that he never had before. Before she could speak or do anything Ron gripped her shoulders, pulling her in and slamming his mouth onto hers. Hermione's arms folded against his chest acting as a barrier to protect herself.

Hermione shoved him away, "Stop!"

He had a pained look on her face and many different forms of guilt fell upon her. She had shoved him rather roughly and he didn't understand why, after all; the past years Hermione had been hinting that she had a crush on him only to push him away when he finally showed her the interest she once longed for. But when he kissed her it didn't feel right, it was demanding and not soft. He didn't even ask. And it had broken her barrier that she had with Draco. And with that thought another wave of guilt and a horrible feeling set in the pit of her stomach. She felt dirty and foolish, all of this on top of a war. How could she say she loved him and was worried for him then go and betray him in such a manner?

The thought sickened her beyond belief, she loved him so much; she knew she did. Yet in the same instant it wasn't as if it was her idea. She did push Ron away right after, she had felt nothing when he had kissed her; but those thoughts didn't reassure her in the slightest. Because when Draco found out about this, her betrayal and how disgusting she was; because she was going to tell him, it would break his heart. It would kill him.

Draco felt a pain in his chest like none other followed by a tremendous grief and for a moment he thought that Hermione was in danger, possibly dead; or that she had witnessed something horrible. But when he closed his eyes he could feel their bond still humming and it did sooth him, but she could be in some sort of danger. And Draco didn't know how long he had sat here anxiously shaking his legs with a couple of first years who were attached to him suddenly. Looking over at the sudden bickering Draco saw Filch yelling at a couple of third years for talking back and not taking this time of war very seriously, and while Filch was occupied with that Draco took it as a sign for him to getaway. looking at the small first year girl sleeping on the black couch, he covered her up with the green throw blanket and inconspicuously went into a hallway with very small amount of people in the dungeon. He willed himself to apparate where Hermione was, or close to where she was or would be. Anything that had anything to do with her really, and he felt the sick pull and twisting of his gut and he handed in the middle of a corridor, colliding with Blaise and Goyle before quickly grabbing them by their collars.

"Come on!" He said, if he left them out here by themselves they would die for sure.

He instructed them to tread lightly as they walked through the abandoned corridor, climbing over the rubble and dust. In the distance he could hear the sounds of spells firing off and the screams of those receiving the brunt of the spell. It was all falling apart, the castle, peoples hopes to live. He was sure half the student body was dead already, if not more. That thought sickened him to no end, none of them knew how to take care of themselves. They were just kids, they were all kids fighting an adults war; a war that was their parents and had been shoved off to the next generation.

Hiding behind a pillar he spotted Harry, heading to the Room Of Requirement; and if Potter was there Hermione would be there too. He Ran after Harry as soon as he had disappeared behind the door, Draco was quick on his tail; Blaise and Goyle following him like lost dogs. He listened for a moment for the direction of Harry's footsteps, following after. He had no idea on what he was going to say, why he was following him around; except if he just told the truth. Hermione would kill him if he did it without her though. He went around a corner to find Harry holding a tiara and Draco was surprised that he had actually found it. Raising his wand for protection, Blaise and Goyle raising theirs as well, but not for protection; Draco cleared his throat gaining the attention of the boy who lived.

"What are you doing here Potter?" He gruffed out.

"I could as you the same question."

"Where's Granger?" He asked, flinching slightly at using her surname.

"What's it to you? " Harry retorted.

"Where is she!" Draco yelled, his want shaking with anger.

Harry looked confused, not quite understanding this new found friendship and all the lengths Draco seemed to be going through. "Why did you tell her? Bellatrix. Why didn't you tell her? You knew it was us. Then why did you proceed to protect Hermione?"

Because I love her, Draco though sadly, his uneasiness at not having his mate ripping him slowly apart. He was about to say something, but Goyle shoved him forward. "Come on Draco, kill him. Don't be a prat." Goyle growled.

Draco looked fearful and took a step backwards instead. He knew was Goyle was telling him to do but had Goyle ever killed anyone before, or been close to it and watched? The answer was no, Goyle was more of a pansy than anyone Draco knew.

In the mists of his thoughts he was pulled out in a rush when he heard the familiar voice of his mate call out in an aggravated yell, "Expelliarmus!"

Draco flinched back shocked that she had fired at him, but happy that she was safe, she looked safe to say the least apart from the drenched clothes and hair that were plastered to her body. Yet he was a bit baffled that she had shot at him when he would never do something like that to her beloved Potter, and the thought that they were on different sides came ringing into his mind, quickly he pushed it away though, running with Goyle and Blaise away from the trio.

To Hermione it worked perfectly, sending them off in the other direction with Draco quickly behind and ensuring his safety. But before they had run of the killing curse had soared through the air at her, causing her to scream a deflective spell and a stupefy right after in the direction of whoever had yelled it. She hoped desperately Draco hadn't let those fatal words leave his mouth. She watched as Ron started running after them yelling something about not messing with his girlfriend; much to Hermione's dismay and the sick pit in her stomach began again as she turned her attention back to Harry, who had gone up the stack of furniture where the Diadem had flown to in all the chaos.

She stepped on a dusty old couch, it bending under her weight, and began moving chairs out of the way; climbing up and throwing more down. She kept slipping on the furniture or the furniture would move out from under her, and her shins would get the brunt of the attack from sharp edges. She was practically trying to crawl through the furniture and she could feel the exhaustion slowing her down. She placed her foot on what seemed to be a steady dresser right across from Harry and she started pulling on the bright red and hideous couch that he had been pulling on, her breaths coming out heavily from her body.

"I got it!" Harry screamed, pulling out the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw with a yank of his arm and jumping down off the stacked furniture.

Hermione had only caught a glimpse of it, but she had never seen anything so beautiful, the blue gem still glistening as if it was just made that day. Hermione jumped down after him, landing in an ungraceful thud; leaning on Harry for support. They smiled at one another then they heard it, a crackling sound followed by heavy footsteps and a screaming Ron. Ron soon came into view, a bright orange color in his wake.

Ron was running like a bat out of hell, a look of pure and utter panic plastered on his face. "Goyle is setting the bloody place on fire!" He screamed when he had gotten closer to them, grabbing Hermione's wrist dragging her along with him in a dizzying motion.

Harry was quickly behind them, knocking things over to buy them time, but already she could feel the heat of it. Part of her found it a bit ironic that her first trial was water and now fire, complete polar opposites and both dangerous as can be. Hermione's wet hair, once from the cold underground water, now becoming wet with sweat from the fire, and the smoke that filled her lungs was choking her to the point where she was trying to run without taking in any breath, as daft as that sounded.

Rounding a couple of corners they had come to a path where it was blocked off by fire and when they turned around to go the other way the that path was burning as well. They looked around them, the flames coming after them as they all huddled together as if that would stop it. As it headed straight towards them Harry casted 'augmentin' into a water wall, effectively shielding them from the fire and the force of the spell against the angry flames knocking Ron onto his butt and into a couple of broomsticks. He quickly grabbed them, handing one to Hermione and Harry.

In normal circumstances Hermione wouldn't get on a brook so easily, if at all. She had always hated flying and she would until the day she died, but in rare cases; like this one, she had no choice in the matter and better get on for her life. Kicking off the ground, her stomach staying behind, she looked around for any signs of Draco in the fiery hell below. She did her best to see past her watering eyes from the smoke, blinking back rapidly and wiping them away with her sleeve. She spotted them climbing a pile of crumbling furniture and she gasped in shock when she watched Goyle grab a loose piece that sent him flying into the flames. She felt for a brief moment what Draco must have been feeling, the fear and sadness, before he quickly masked it and did his best to make her feel calm through the bond.

"We have to save them!" She yelled to Harry over the roaring of the fire and pointed to Blaise and Draco who stood on top the cliff of furniture.

Harry gave a quick nod leading their way back to the two abandoned on top a pile of burning furniture. Harry dove once, missing and coming back around again, Hermione hot on his tale with Ron. He swooped down the second time, grabbing Draco quickly by the arm, Ron grabbing Blaise. They flew as fast as they could, dodging the falling objects that threatened them, but when they reached the door the fire had created a wall in front of the doorway. Hermione pulled out her wand and with her last couple of breaths before the smoked gagged her put up a water wall herself, stifling the fire enough for all of them to get through and out the door. Their brooms had sunken so low to the ground at his point that when they had reached passed the doorway they had all fallen in a messy heap on top of one another.

Everything happened so fast and all at once. Blaise was the first to move and scramble away, Draco was reveling in the feeling of his mate, safe, when she landed on him. The feeling was short lived when she looked up and her wide eyes full of fear and panic when they met his and she pushed herself off of his chest screaming for Harry, throwing him what looked like to be a tooth. Harry pulled out the Tiara that Luna mentioned and stabbed it with the tooth, Hermione and Ron running to Harry as a plethora of smoke left the tiara; trailing behind it lazily as Ron kicked the screeching thing straight into the Room of Requirement to be swallowed by the flames.

Harry had collapsed back against the wall as three heads of Lord Voldemort erupted through the fire coming right at them, roaring in complete anger. Draco scooted away while Hermione limped away, dragging Ron with her in haste; both tripping over Harry and falling to the ground and bringing themselves into the fetal position for protection, their hands clasped behind their heads as the doors slammed shut hiding the flames away from sight. Hermione peeked out, slowly uncovering her head and standing, looking over at Harry sadly, soot, dirt and exhaustion written all over her beautiful face, while a couple of coughs escaped her throat.

Harry was shaking slightly in shock, quick shallow breaths passing through his lips. "The snake. She's the last one. The last Horcrux."

Draco's ears perked at the word and he remembered it getting mentioned at the Death Eater meeting and Hermione going on a tangent about it later that evening to him. He refocused at the tired sigh she gave and the look of disappointment she sent in Ron's direction. It wasn't over, in fact the last Horcrux would be the hardest because Nagini was by Voldemort all the time. It was practically attached to him.

"Look inside him Harry." Ron began urgently, bending down in front of him. "If you find him, we find the snake and we can finally end this."

Hermione glanced over at Draco offering an apologetic smile before kneeling down, slightly behind Ron, and looking at Harry with a sad disapproval of what he had to do. It didn't go unnoticed by Draco that Hermione had shifted herself a little farther away from Ron, after crouching down, a little bit nervously. He wondered if something had happened between them, an argument of some sort; although it wouldn't be the last time.

Draco stood up, his back popping in protest, and went by her side. He knelt down beside her, his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, rubbing the blade gently, and the sweet gesture going unnoticed by her friends. She looked at him and he at her, their own private conversation happening before they turned back to Harry. Draco didn't understand what exactly it was that Harry had to do but he felt a discomfort at watching it happen. Harry had shut his eyes tightly, his whole body shaking, lips pursed and breaking out in a new sweat. His face was one of pure agony, and he kept taking in jerky breaths, clenching and unclenching his fists.

Harry's eyes popped open, his breath coming out in little gasps, Hermione looked at him sadly, Ron at him hopeful. Whatever was going on they must have all had different opinions on it because Harry did it willingly, Hermione protested and Ron was the one who talked him into it. It seemed like that was how their situation was, but at the end of the day they were all friends who spoke the same language, something Draco wouldn't understand, and they supported whatever it was that Harry had to do and what he had to say and waited with baited breath.

"I know where he is."