Boom! The walls of the Room of Requirement shuddered. Hermione continued pacing in front of the fireplace. The younger members of the Order, minus Harry, had been given direct orders from Dumbledore to remain hidden in here until the magical protections around the castle were broken. It was best not to let the Death Eaters know what they were up against until mid-battle, he had told them.
Boom! Across the room she could see the twins comforting Ginny. Godrick knew how worried everyone was for their loved ones, but only a select few understood the fear Ginny felt, loving the Boy Who Lived. Hermione ran her fingers through her tangled mane and slumped against the wall next to Luna and Neville.
"The border will only hold for another few minutes." Neville predicted solemnly. "We shouldn't be in here cowering. We should be stopping them before they can reach the grounds."
Luna hummed in agreement and stood. Seamus, who had been sitting near them, also stood. "A good defense is the best offense, you know." Hermione smiled at the muggle reference, and pushed off the wall towards the door.
"The time has come to stop hiding like children. It's time to show those Death Eaters what The D.A. was trained for!" Neville announced to the room, rallying everyone to join them. Cheers were heard around the room as everyone rushed out of the room towards the impending battle.
Hermione's eyes met Fred's one last time across the crowd before they were separated. She followed Neville towards the Wooden Bridge. She smiled tightly as she recalled hearing about them taking out a huge group of Snatchers during the original battle. She really shouldn't have been named the brightest witch of her age when all her friends were just as clever, and creative in ways she could never imagine.
There was a bright flash that lit up nearly all of the castle grounds, followed by the sound of the barrier shattering. For the first time ever, Hermione was able to see just what they were up against. She had already been through this. Already won this war. So why was she suddenly so afraid?
Fred was rushing through the corridor when he heard the magical barrier crumble. Beside him, he saw George stumble and begin to fall. Before he hit the ground, Fred grabbed his twin by the elbow and pulled him back up. "We have to be careful." He panted, pulling George forward. "You know how badly this can end."
George nodded. He didn't have to be reminded of Hermione's future. It was all he could do not to imagine watching his twin die in front of him. It was all he could do to focus on the right now, and not all the possibilities. He swallowed his fear and pushed against the floor harder. He couldn't wait to get this over with.
They rounded the corner just in time to see a group of Death Eaters attacking Tonks and a few other members of the Order they didn't recognize. George wasted no time in joining the fight. He took out three Death Eaters before Fred had even raised his wand.
He glanced over at Fred. "What are you waiting for? This is it Freddie! This is the end!" He almost laughed. He had spent nearly his entire life preparing for a battle that would save the wizarding world. Hadn't they all? This was it! Tomorrow they would mourn their loved ones and celebrate their freedom. He just had to make sure Fred was there to celebrate with him.
Fred grinned, and a rope shot out of his wand, wrapping tightly around all of the Death Eaters still fighting, reigning them all together tightly. As they were all drawn together, Tonks and the others quickly disarmed them before they could spell the ropes away. Fred and George moved quickly towards the others just as the wall behind them was blasted to bits. Their eyes met, and in that moment Fred understood just how easily he had lost his life before. Any little distraction, any moment could be his last. "Be careful." Tonks yelled as Death Eaters poured through where the wall once stood.
Fred battled his way through the crowd, stupefying anyone in a mask. He felt the air next to his face sizzle, and heard a groan from behind him as the curse barely missed him and hit someone else. He cast another spell and turned to see who had fallen behind him. Who had taken the curse meant for him? Lying on the floor, covered in blood, was Percy. Fred felt his heart fall and his throat burn. He stood there staring, until another curse flew past him. "NO!" He roared. Fred turned on the spot and rushed towards the Death Eaters. For the first time in his life, Fred did something unforgivable. "Avada Kedavra!" The green light rushed out of his wand and straight into the heart of the Death Eater that had his Percy. He dropped to his knees and stared at the now lifeless body in front of him.
George grabbed Fred by the shoulder and pulled him back up. "I need you to stay with me, Freddie." He said, countering a spell that had been cast at them. "It was just a bit of blood. Tonks already has him cleaned up." He gestured back at Percy and pulled Fred along with him. He pulled Fred away from the battle and looked him directly in the eye. "I know Hermione didn't tell you what happened in her time. But I know you already guessed what it was. You want to make it home to her don't you? You want to keep that promise to marry her, don't you? Now is not the time to lose it, Freddie, no matter what happens." He whispered the last part, having felt the same way when he watched Percy fall to the ground.
Fred nodded and pulled George close. "You were wrong before, Georgie." George looked at him quizzically. "This isn't the end. This is only the beginning. This is the start of a new era."
Hermione stood in the courtyard and watched as Harry walked into the Forbidden Forest to meet what she knew would only appear to be certain death. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and wished she knew where Fred was. Why isn't he out here? Where are they? Her bottom lip trembled, and she sat down in the grass.
Luna sat down next to her. "You shouldn't worry about him." She said dreamily. "George and Fred always find a way of slipping out of trouble."
Hermione had never really heard anyone put George in front of Fred when referring to them. It made her realize just how close Luna and George had become. She leaned her head on Luna's shoulder. Luna wrapped her arm around Hermione and starred off towards the trees. "Harry will be alright, too." Hermione whispered. "We shouldn't worry about him either." The two of them sat that way for what seemed like days, weeks even, but was really no more than three or four hours.
Just as the sun began to rise, the girls were joined by a twin on each side of them. As the girls embraced them, Fred explained their absence. "Percy was hit with some sort of curse that slashed his entire chest and face to bits. We stayed with him until his wounds were fully healed and he woke up."
Hermione nodded. "Sectumsempra. Snape created it. It leaves cuts like a sword would."
"Well it tore poor Perce up pretty badly. He's only just now moving about." George said, with Luna still wrapped in his arms.
Just then, a group of wizards walked out of the forest. And just like before, Harry was cradled into Hagrid's arms. The four of them stood from the ground and held each other.
"Everything will be okay now." Hermione murmmered into Fred's chest. "It will all be okay." And she was right. The rest of the battle concluded just the way it had originally, with Neville killing the snake, and Harry surprising the wizarding world again. He really is the Boy Who Lived. Hermione thought humorously to herself. And it really is over.