DISCLAIMER: Sorry to disappoint, but I must admit that I do not own Harry Potter. I know, I know, it's a tragedy...

All thanks to my wonderful beta, MoonyNZ.

Rue tekau ma iwa

The Ministry was just beginning to stir when Dumbledore swept in through the floo, followed by both Lily, Lauri, and Harry. A minute later, another floo roared to life. James and Sirius both stepped through and nodded at the group beside them before heading toward the Auror department.

Lauri reached out slightly to the side and touched something, a move that wouldn't be noticed unless someone was watching very closely. She smiled at the others and nodded. They all moved through the Ministry down toward the holding cells.

As they went, some of the people that they passed gave small nods to the group. The Order members were dispersed clear throughout the Ministry, their minds, unlike everyone else, not focused on rebuilding the destroyed section, but rather to prepare for the attack.

They found Hermione sitting in the middle of one of the cells, her legs crossed in front of her and her eyes closed. She had a small smudge of dirt across the scar that ran down her cheek. She was whispering different spells to herself, starting with the spells she had learnt her first year and going clear to NEWT level spells.

"Hermione," Harry said, kneeling down in front of the bars and holding his hand through it. Hermione's eyes opened and she smiled, crawling forward to take hold of his hand. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Harry," she assured. She moved closer to him and cupped his cheek, leaning close to the bars to whisper, "Do you have it?"

He nodded, then pulled his hand back and slipped it into his pocket. Pulling out a vial, he discreetly handed it to her. "Snape gave us all one so. There's always a chance that I won't be able to hit him. This way, one of us can strip him of his magic."

"Just remember that you have to kill him." She gave him a light kiss on the cheek. She stood, then, using the action to hide the vial in her pocket. "Is everyone ready?" she asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, Miss Granger. We have Order members spread throughout the entire Ministry."

Hermione nodded, stepping back from the bars and back toward the centre of the cell. "Now all we have to do is wait."

AmAyAtHeGrEaTtHiNkStHeBiTeMeMaNiScRaZy

It was just after one when Voldemort struck. Hermione had been removed from her cell thirty minutes prior for an impromptu hearing. The members of the Wizengamot that were present were slightly surprised when Dumbledore was there waiting for them.

Hermione could tell almost instantly that they were determined to send her to Azkaban. They were using every angle they could to find a reason, but Dumbledore easily countered them. He argued that there was no law pronouncing it illegal to travel through time, and, if there was, Time Turners should not exist.

Dumbledore would not let them gain any ground. For every move they made, he found a loophole in their reasoning. Hermione could only smile at the floundering of the Ministry. Lily and Lauri both whispered their confidence that she would be let free.

It was about thirty minutes into the trial when they were interrupted by a loud explosion. Hermione had a flashback of the previous day when the officials all instantly ducked before thinking about defending themselves.

Dumbledore instantly had his wand out, as did Lily and Lauri. "It's starting," he told them softly. "Hermione, make sure they're alright, and then get your wand."

"Yes sir," she said, before running off toward the Wizengamot. "Go to the back room," she instructed them while she heard the others take off through the main door. "Go," she screamed when none of them moved.

Herding them like livestock out of the room, she finally got them into one of the back rooms. "Give me my wand," she told one of the Aurors that had followed them.

"Miss Granger," started one of the older wizards, "may I remind you that you are on trial and therefore not permitted possession of your wand."

She growled in frustration and clenched her hands into fists at her side in an effort not to hit the man. "And may I remind you, sir, that the Ministry is under attack at the moment and Voldemort is after me. Unless you want him to come striding in here, I'd give me my wand."

The wand was handed over almost instantly and she was out the door a second later, taking a moment to put a number of wards up around it to protect them. Taking off, Hermione headed toward the screams.

The bodies were already spread across the floor, more than most being Ministry officials. Hermione stepped carefully over them, her wand out in front of her as she kept her eyes open. She made sure to keep herself pressed against the wall, trying to stay out of sight as much as possible.

Rounding a corner, Hermione jumped as she almost ran into Lucius and Severus. Her wand was shoved under Lucius' chin before she noticed it was him. He merely arched one of his aristocratic brows.

"Sorry," she muttered, lowering her wand.

"Don't apologize," he told her. "I could have been a Death Eater." He straightened his robes and smirked at her. "We were just coming to retrieve you."

"Where's the battle?"

"At the moment," Severus started, "it's all over the building. It started near where you just were, but the Order has managed to push them back."

"He knew you'd be brought to trial today," Lucius continued.

"I figured that." She ran her hand through her hair and let out a deep breath. "Alright, here's the plan. I'm going to go find Harry."

"So you're using yourself as bait?"

She nodded. "Basically."

"You're crazy," Lucius informed her.

Hermione grinned, giving him a playful poke. "I know I am, but it'll work." She turned when she heard someone stumbling over fallen pieces of the ceiling. Her wand was automatically pointed at the two, ready to throw off a spell, before she recognized them. "Your parents are going to murder you."

Declan grinned sheepishly while Rachel raised her chin defiantly. "I made him come," she said, "so it's not his fault. But if you lot thought I'd stay behind while you all could have been killed, then you're all bloody idiots."

"Language," Lucius chided, though Hermione noticed the amused smirk on his face. "Though I wager I'm going to regret this, I will watch after the children…"

"Hey!"

"While you and Severus work your way to Mr. Potter and Voldemort," Lucius continued, ignoring the indignant outburst from Rachel.

"Sounds like a plan," Hermione said, and, before the younger two had time to protest, she grabbed Severus' arm and took off on down the hall. She could hear Rachel and Lucius bickering behind her while Declan tried to get her to calm down.

A Death Eater stood before them up ahead, but one well placed spell easily knocked him out. The hallway split there, then met back up later. Hermione nodded at Severus and they separated for a while, each taking one of the forking hallways.

Hermione snuck up behind a Death Eater who was casting a well aimed, "Crucio," on a member of the Ministry. She flicked her wand with a silent, "Stupify," and then tied up the knocked out Death Eater. The other man looked alright; she figured he would need medical treatment but his wounds weren't life threatening at the moment.

She could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up as she weaved her way through the fallen debris and bodies. She stopped, her back stiffening when the tip of a wand was pressed against the middle of her back.

"Hello girly," a raspy voice said in her ear, "my master be looking for you."

"What a coincidence, I'm looking for him as well."

She whipped around before he could register her movements and knocked the wand away with her arm, following that with a swift kid to his side. He bent over wheezing, his wand dropping from his hand. Hermione drove her elbow down onto his upper back just below his neck, causing him to fall all the way to the floor with a grunt of pain.

"Unfortunately for you," she drawled, "I don't need you to take me to him. Stupify."

Hermione felt the beam of light strike her shoulder before she could even step over the fallen Death Eater. As she stumbled, her wand flew from her hand. She didn't even have a chance to turn to see her attacker as ropes encircled her from behind.

"Hello Hermione."

Hermione stopped struggling almost instantly as she heard the voice, her mind racing as she tried to develop a plan. She moved her arms slightly, testing the tightness of the ropes, but found them securely wrapped around her.

"No greeting for me?" Voldemort continued, striding up to her leisurely. He circled her, running one pale digit across the ropes. "You wound me."

"You need to have feelings before they could be hurt," she bit out, staring at him through narrowed eyes. She tried to lean away from his touch, but paused when she almost fell.

"Oh, but I do have feelings," he drawled, stepping closer to her. "I want you, my dear. I have always wanted you and I'm afraid I refuse to take no for an answer."

"Too bad." She gritted her teeth as his hand moved to her cheek, tracing her scar. "I'm afraid that I must refuse your lovely offer."

He wound his way in behind her, his hands coming to rest on her waist as he leaned in close, whispering in her ear, "I must admit confusion as to why you remain fighting for people that would persecute you. I came today to save you, Hermione."

"No, you came to take over the Ministry. I just merely happened to be here which was convenient for you."

He chuckled, his wandering hands starting to become a nuisance. "Perhaps that is true, but I am here nonetheless for you. They have tried to kill you before. Do you remember, Hermione? Do you remember how they sent you right into my group and it was I that sent my Death Eaters away before you were caught? Do you remember how many times they sent you out alone to scout Death Eaters when everyone else were sent with at least one other wizard?"

"That was the Ministry, not the Order." She tried to move her hands underneath the ropes to get the potion, but found that she was unable to.

"Are they not interloped?" he drawled. "Join me, Hermione, and I will make you a Queen. You can rule by my side over my Death Eaters and the world."

Hermione smirked slightly, hearing the light pad of someone moving up behind them. "Sorry, but I'm afraid your offer doesn't appeal to me much."

She knew the moment that the potion was thrown against him. Voldemort stumbled into her, knocking them both to the ground with him on top of her. She kicked her legs, trying to free herself. Voldemort gripped her tightly though, his body and hand holding her beneath him while his other hand sought his wand.

"Hermione!"

"Sirius," she called, fighting against Voldemort's hold. She felt it then, the ropes around her starting to slacken. The realization hit her and Voldemort at the same moment when he gripped his wand. To the left she heard the soft pad of dog paws on the marble floor, nails scraping as the Animagus sought purchase.

"What did you do?" he hissed, his hand going instantly to her throat.

"Made you into the very thing you despised," she growled, fighting him now. "Surprise, Tom, you're a muggle."

"No." The one word growl left him just as she managed to dig her elbow into his gut, causing him to loosen his grip in surprise. "I will kill you."

Sirius was upon them then, throwing himself onto Voldemort and knocking him off her. Harry was right behind him, extending his hand to help Hermione up from the floor.

"End it, Harry," she told him, her eyes seeking out the two struggling on the ground. "Sirius."

Sirius shifted back from his dog form and came to stand by Hermione while Harry faced Voldemort with his wand. Sirius' hand gripped hers tightly, pulling her toward him.

She didn't look away as Harry cast the killing curse, hitting Voldemort square in the chest. She didn't flinch as the body of the Dark Lord slumped lifelessly to the floor, his wide red eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling. She didn't move as Sirius stepped forward, her hand falling from his, to place his hand on his godson's shoulder.

"It's done," she said, drawing their attention. "It's over."

She heard the cry of one of the Death Eaters down the hall, yelling that the Dark Lord was dead. The Order starting striking them down as they tried to apparate away, catching most of them before they could escape.

Sirius extended his hand to her, offering her a small smile. She returned it happily as she took it, threading her fingers through his. "It's really over," she whispered once more, looking up at him through hopeful eyes.

"Yeah, it is."

AmAyAtHeGrEaTtHiNkShEaDaChEsShOuLdNoTeXiSt

The Ministry dropped all charges against Hermione Granger two days after the defeat of Voldemort. The public had deemed her a hero for her actions taken to bring down one of the most evil wizards in history and, as such, the Ministry did not dare to send her to Azkaban.

The Ministry had a lot of work to do after they finally managed to capture the remaining Death Eaters. Whole sections of the building was in ruin and many had been killed. Fifty three had lost their lives to Death Eaters, while the dark wizards had lost twelve of their own.

Hermione had gone home with Sirius that night; Dumbledore had dismissed classes for a whole week and allowed the students to return home for a short break. The pair had snuck away while Lauri and Lily were chastising their children, managing to leave without catching anyone's eyes.

Later that night, Hermione snuggled up against Sirius as they sat outside on the deck, staring up at the night sky. She threaded her fingers through his and kissed his bare chest, letting his scent envelope her.

"I love you," he whispered, running his hand through her curls. Pulling a couple of strands from her face, he smiled down at her. "I never got over you, you know, and then when I saw you again for the first time, I could barely believe it. I was almost scared to believe it."

"I never wanted to leave you," she told him, "but I had to." She ran her free hand down over his chest, tracing the spots where he was once covered in tattoos from Azkaban… but that was another time. "I didn't want you to go to Azkaban, so I thought…"

"Hermione," he placed one finger under her chin to tilt her face up to look at him, "though I hated losing you, I know why you did it and I understand. You did the right thing, the only thing that you could have done in your situation." He kissed her lips lightly, letting his linger against her own for a minute before pulling back. "And you saved the wizarding world."

"I love you." She drew his head back down to hers. "I love you so much," she whispered once more before capturing his lips once again.

Hey guys… so this was the last "actual" chapter of the story. I'll be posting the epilogue soon for it and then…. A brand spankin new story! Excited? I hope you are. I am.

Thanks for reading,

MiZZ AmAyA