Disclaimer: I still don't own it; I still don't make money from it.

Chapter 38- a nice long one for you for being so patient!

Adeline watched with grim satisfaction as Rodolphus ran from the room and smiled when she heard the sound of apparition echo into the room.

Lord Voldemort's wand was held aloft, pointed at the empty door. He seemed surprised… and angry. He looked at her then, and the smile she was sporting took away any surprise he felt and doubled the anger.

"Surely you know what you are in for," he said, threatening Adeline as he turned his wand on her.

She met his eyes. "Yes. You don't know what you are in for though," she said, smile widening. Her head pounded from the collision with the heavy desk, and she was quite sure her ankle at the least was severely strained from how she landed, possibly broken. She would not be walking out of there today… she'd likely never walk again.

The realization that she was going to die washed over her, bringing a wave of emotions that she kept carefully locked away. She couldn't allow them to overwhelm her now. Abraxas… he would be inconsolable for a time. Fortunately, his relationship with Lucius was stronger than it had ever been, and Hera had truly connected with the man in a way that Adeline thought no one else ever had. He would be okay with time.

Lucius had Hera, and they would have more children. The loss of his mother would be hard, but she had taken the obligatory step back from Lucius when he had married a woman she would have hand selected if given the chance. She had not been the first woman in his life for a while now. He would move on from this okay.

Death itself… she'd been ready to meet it on some level ever since she had lost Luciana. Knowing that she would have her baby girl back soon soothed what she was sure would be a very painful death. The process of getting to her daughter would be arduous, but she would cope. She had to.

She would protect the biggest of the secrets she held. He would get more than she wanted, but… she would crack before she gave it all.

"How did you know about my horcruxes? How did Abraxas figure it out?"

Her attention was drawn once more to the evil wizard that glared at her from across the room. He had to go. She might not get to see what life would be like without the threat of Him surrounding her family, but she knew he was practically done for. It was a worthy cause she was comfortable facing death for.

The amusement remained in her eyes as she steeled her resolve. The smile turned into a sneer of mocking disgust. "Do your worst, arsehole."

It was with certain amount of pride, however uncouth they were, that those were the last words she ever spoke aloud.

It was a beautiful fall day, and Hermione was enjoying a canteen of butterbeer with Severus and Sirius. Remus had his nose in a book, saying that he had been happy to come with them to Hogsmeade, but he absolutely had to multitask with some studying for Binns' class. There were leaning against some trees outside of Hogsmeade, enjoying the sunshine from the hill that overlooked the tiny village. They watched as students walked the path to the town about twenty feet away from them, the boys gossiping over who was with who.

Sirius sighed as he glanced at Remus before looking at Severus. "Thank Merlin I have one friend that isn't so desperate to impress a ghost!"

Remus's head shot up, and he glared at Sirius before looking to Hera for support. "I'm sorry he is stupid enough to insult another staff member right in front of you, professor. History is important!"

Hermione held a straight face for a moment before trying to hide her grin behind her canteen as she took hold of her composure. "I take no offense, Mr. Lupin. I might trust that Professor Dumbledore is constantly trying to do his best by everyone, but that is a firing that should have happened long ago."

Sirius and Severus both laughed at the gobsmacked expression on Remus's face, hitting their own canteens together happily.

"Crap," Remus muttered to himself, watching the path as he dog-earred a page and put his book down. The others followed his gaze to see James Potter walking up the short hill to see them. The boys collectively groaned, but Hermione managed to keep it in. James had been seeking out Remus and Sirius repeatedly in an attempt to regain their friendship. While Remus hadn't completely written off the other boy, he certainly knew what happened when their interactions happened around Sirius and Severus.

"I learned this excellent jinx," Sirius muttered to Severus, excitedly. Hermione cleared her throat loudly and threw a look at the two dark haired boys.

"Civility at the least, boys," she encouraged, and Remus nodded in agreement.

James made it up the hill, looking at his shoes most of the way. The boys and Hermione watched him expectantly. After a moment, Severus said, "Potter…"

James looked up and took a deep breath. "I… uh… I wanted to apologize," he said, looking directly at Severus.

Severus raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, an unimpressed look coming over his face. "For what?"

James blushed, but kept eye contact. "I… I've been an arse. I know that it doesn't excuse it. I said… I said some really horrible stuff to you. I don't know why exactly. It started because of you and Lily… I've always liked her and…"

"She's my friend," Severus interrupted. "Nothing more. I doubt there ever will be. We've been friends forever, but we aren't even that close now. She spends her time with McKinnon mostly."

James nodded, glancing at the others for a moment. "I know. You just… Everything seems to come so easy to you. You have everything I feel like I want."

Sirius looked ready to interject, but Remus put a hand on his arm. This didn't involve them…yet.

Severus rolled his eyes. "The problem with you, Potter, is you don't value what you do have. Parents that love you and take care of you. Friends who were loyal to you to a fault. When we started here, I would have said you had everything I wanted."

James nodded, quiet.

Severus seemed to weigh his words before speaking, a virtue that would always endear him to those around him. "I suppose from your point of view, it does seem like I have a lot of things you want. The thing is though, that… it didn't come easy, and a lot of screwed up stuff has happened…"

James met his eyes intently, then. "I… I owe you an apology especially for that. What I… what I said about you and your mother. I mean… if the papers are true, she must have loved you like crazy. I can't even imagine loving someone like that!"

Hermione felt a tear come to her eye, knowing that James most certainly could become a man capable of living with pain and fear, all for the love of his child. Harry.

Severus, to his credit, kept his composure, though she could see the mention of his mother still hurt. She felt her hand come to rest against her now empty stomach. She was familiar with the same sort of pain. "Thank you. I loved her very much as well. Still do."

"And your father," James said, looking at his feet again. "He… he must have been very hard to grow up with. I am sorry it was like that for you, and… well, some people are just mean and spiteful and cruel." A look of recognition and then more embarrassment crossed his face. "I… I don't want to be like that. You don't deserve any of it. No one does. And, I just… I'm sorry for everything. I don't know if it will change things, and I know I might just have to deal with how things are now, but… you deserved to hear it. I'm sorry… Severus."

Severus looked at James, seriously, trying to see any lie in his words. Any proof that he might just be saying what he thought the others wanted to hear. After a moment, he nodded. "It's forgiven."

James' eyes widened in disbelief, and Hermione was eager to see what he would say next, but his response was interrupted by someone screaming her name.

"HERA!"

Hermione looked passed James to see Rodolphus running up to them, diary clutched in his hands. "He…. He knew Adeline had it. He's got her!"

She felt a wave of nausea and fear come over her, and she paled. The four boys looked between them all in surprise. "Fuck, Roddy. Where?"

"At my place. He came through the floo. I… I don't know if there's saving her," he said.

At that moment, both cried out as their hands snapped to their forearms, burning like never before. Rodolphus vomited from the pain, while Hermione tried to think. After a moment, the pain tapered, and Hermione looked at the boys. Reaching into the red beaded bag she always carried with her when she left the castle, she pulled out her emergency portkey, a small pocketwatch. She handed it to Severus. "Severus, you need to take Rodolphus to Dumbledore. Tell him 999 and halfway to Hogsmeade. He will understand."

Severus only hesitated a moment before grabbing her into a hug, taking the pocketwatch from her. "I love you," he whispered. Hermione nodded, feeling tears come to her eyes as she pushed him toward Rodolphus. "Go. The word is phoenix."

Severus grabbed Rodolphus, who clutched the diary tightly, and a moment later they were gone.

She then looked at her other favorite student. "Sirius, do you have your portkey?"

Sirius nodded, pulling it out to show her. She shuddered a breath, "It can only take you. You need to go see Abraxas. Now. Tell him 999 and to go to the room. Do not mention anything else. Do you understand?!"

"Yes, but- "

"GO NOW!" He nodded frantically and yelled "Abraxas Malfoy" before he was gone as well, leaving Hermione with Remus and James.

Hermione took a few moments to prepare herself for what was to come. Earlier than expected, and with more drama… this was going to end today for better or for worse.

Lucius and Abraxas popped into existence next to her. "It's time?" James and Remus looked incredibly confused and terrified.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. We have to keep him busy while Albus-"

Hermione's arm burst into pain once more. Through her pain, she reached into her bag and pulled out a silvery cloak. Abraxas was tightly gripping his own arm in the opposite hand.

She threw it at James and Remus, barely catching James's shock. "Hey! That belongs to my-"

"HIDE!" she yelled, prompting the boys to quickly obey.

Abraxas shook his head, "How did he find out?" He gripped his arm tightly, finding that pressure dulled the pain of the mark a bit.

Hermione looked at him blankly, unsure what to say. Unsure how to process what had surely happened. "I…." She gripped her own arm, crying out in pain.

Several pops happened as various order members started to pop up around them. Several others were running down the path from Hogsmeade, wands drawn. Moody and Roland approached quickly.

"Show time?" Moody said, looking strangely excited at the prospect.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Have people spread out and split up. I don't want us all clumped together. He'll be gunning for me and Abraxas. We can safely assume our covers are blown."

Albus had looked up in surprise from his desk to see Severus and Rodolphus land in a heap on the floor. He stood in shock upon hearing the panic in Severus's voice. "Hera says 999. Halfway to Hogsmeade."

Rodolphus climbed to his feet, thrusting the diary toward Albus. "Take it. He knows. He has Adeline."

Severus's eyes widened as the implications of that statement came to him. "What… what's happening, sir?"

Albus walked around his desk toward Fawkes' perch. He cast a spell at the wooden beam behind it and they both watched as part of it swung out, revealing a hollow interior. The headmaster reached inside, pulling out various velvet bags of differing sizes.

"The Dark Lord is to be made mortal today. I must destroy these, and then Rodolphus and I must join Hera in Hogsmeade for the confrontation. He knows she's a spy, Mr. Lestrange?"

Rodolphus was wiping tears from his eyes, glaring down at the diary laid upon the desk. "I… I greatly suspect so. I am sure he interrogated Adeline."

Albus nodded resolutely before casting the Patronus Charm. When his Phoenix appeared, he said, "Minerva McGonagall, alert the chain. Halfway to Hogsmeade. Expect a fight."

"Is Mrs. Malfoy okay?" Severus asked with concern, looking alarmed.

Albus and Rodolphus both looked at him sharply but didn't answer.

"Bring the diary, Rodolphus. Let's go," Albus finally said.

They ran through the halls of Hogwarts, an act which had many students looking at them in concern. They did pass Professor Flitwick as he ran in the opposite direction down the stairs toward the entrance hall. They didn't even acknowledge each other in their haste. At last, they came upon a blank wall on the 7th floor. Albus stopped running, almost causing Severus and Rodolphus to run into him from behind.

He concentrated as he paced back and forth three times, and the young men looked on in surprise as a door appeared. "Come in," he told them, taking the lead once more.

The room was utterly bare except for a large runic circle painted on the floor in front of them. Albus quickly walked to its center and started dropping the objects out of the bag and onto the floor. Rodolphus tossed the diary onto the small stack.

It was a strange assortment of objects. The diary. A chalice. A locket. A ring. Some sort of tiara, as well.

Albus looked around the circle at the runes carefully, making sure that nothing had been altered or changed since he and Abraxas had painted them a week ago. He finally nodded. "You two wait by the door. The circle should contain the flame, but if things go awry, make a hasty retreat. It won't make it out of the room, I know."

They didn't ask questions, but went to stand by the closed door as instructed. The headmaster walked to the very edge of the circle, still inside, and pointed his wand at the objects a mere 5 feet away.

"FIENDFYRE!" he cast, watching as the flames leapt from his wand and set upon the horcruxes. It did not stay there for long though. Giant beasts leapt from the flames, churning out of it like lava flowing upward from a volcano. The headmaster left the circle and ran toward them at the door. They watched, waiting for the possibility that they would need to quickly retreat from the room. The circle held the fire at bay, though, forming a round wall of flames. Severus listened as shrieks and screams seemed to emit from the cursed fire, halfway making him wonder if somehow, something alive had slipped in there, and they had not noticed.

After roughly ten minutes, the fire had nothing more to eat, and it died out. The two men and Severus walked to the edge of the circle, seeing that the ground and ceiling were both charred black in a perfect circle. Amongst the ash in center, three serpents writhed.

"Ashwinders. Professors Kettleburn and Slughorn will be most pleased," Albus commented, turning to walk from the room. Rodolphus followed.

"Sir," Severus said, interrupting their departure. "What were those things?"

Albus paused. "Those were the Dark Lord, Severus. Now, you must return to your common room. Or Professor Malfoy's quarters, I suppose. We have to join the fight."

"I can help! Sirius and I practice all the time!" he said, pulling his wand.

"My boy, I don't doubt your bravery or intelligence when I say that most of the people we fight today are simply beyond your ability at time point in time…. Instead, go to the hospital wing and help Poppy when she needs it. She will need it."

Severus looked about to protest, but Rodolphus looked at him seriously.

"Get the others- get Rabastan. He can help as well. Please, Severus. You know where she would want you to be." Then, the two men ran from the room.

The Order members that were in attendance (all of them except for Edgar Bones and Molly Weasley) waited for the Dark Lord to show up. They all knew it would be any moment that he decided to follow his mark to his traitors. While waiting, the Prewett Twins and Arthur Weasley were rapidly working on anti-disapparition wards so that Voldemort and his Death Eaters could not run.

Hermione had an eye on the castle in the distance, halfway expecting to see physical proof that the horcruxes had been destroyed. After ten minutes of waiting, she saw the Phoenix patronus rushing to them. "On our way. It is done," it called clearly in the headmaster's voice.

Hermione and the Malfoy men breathed audible sighs of relief, but the relief was short lived as Abraxas and Hermione fell to their knees in pain. "He knows!" Hermione said. Lucius and Alastor Moody quickly cast spells on the spies' arms to numb them from the pain a bit, allowing Hermione and Abraxas to at least stand and fight.

They didn't have to wait long. The Dark Lord arrived, and roughly 10 robed death eaters were with them. Obviously, they hadn't expected the resistance to be so large, as several of them took wary steps backward upon looking around. Getting to the Dark Lord before he gained much power had saved them from having to face off against people like the Carrows, Rowle, Barty Crouch Jr., Rabastan, and Fenrir Greyback with his pack.

Still, none dared to leave as all wands were drawn. The Dark Lord quickly singled out Hera and Abraxas, glaring at them. "You dared to defy me?" he hissed.

Abraxas looked coolly back while Hera raised her chin.

"I've been defying you for half my life now," Hera said, calmly.

The Dark Lord smirked. "So I've been told… Seer. Abraxas, I hope you don't have any dinner plans with Adeline tonight. Or plans at all really. She's permanently indisposed."

Abraxas paled, and Lucius reached out to grab hold of his father's shoulder.

"What did you do to her?" he snarled at his wife's murderer.

"She broke easily, I'm afraid. Not much of an Occlumens, and even less capable of dealing with pain. Her mind told me the truth in the end."

"So you know me to be a Seer?" Hera said, smirking. "Do you know what we did with your precious diary?"

Voldemort raised his wand to aim at her. "I felt when it was destroyed. A most painful sensation, I assue you. As you can see, though, I survived it. I have other safeguards in place."

Hermione smirked, taking a single forward. "Would those happen to be… a cup? …. A locket?... a ring?... and, oh, yes, a diadem?"

With the naming of each of his horcruxes, the Dark Lord looked more and more visibly angry and fear mixed into the expressions quite easily.

Hermione smiled at the man. "They were all destroyed at once, I'm afraid. You are just one of us mere mortals now."

With a scream of rage, the Dark Lord cast an unknown spell at her, and Abraxas shielded her from it. Lucius caught a curse sent in her direction by a vengeful Cygnus Black, and engaged him quickly.

Soon, almost everyone was fighting. Abraxas and Hermione were occupied by the Dark Lord. They weren't able to deny that they were the duo best able of dealing with him right now. Voldemort wouldn't have allowed it to be any other way.

Lucius didn't waste his time with casting a spell that gutted Cygnus Black. He'd been too hot headed, fighting for the obviously "wrongful" death of Bellatrix. After Cygnus was down, Lucius stopped to grab his wand, just in case, when a curse sailed right by his head. He turned to see Vaughn Dolohov advancing, but his next curse was cut off when the Death Eater was disarmed by another Death Eater, then knocked out and bound in chains.

Antonin pulled off his mask, and helped Lucius to his feet. "About time I get to join the party. I'm shite at occlumency I'm afraid, but… you know, help when you can and all that."

Lucius hugged his friend quickly before nodding at him and running off. Antonin split his Death Eater robe and dropped it to the ground before getting back to the fight, changing sides at once.

After only probably ten minutes of dueling, most of the Death Eaters had been incapacitated or killed, leaving only Parkinson and Avery at anyone's best guess.

They decided to focus on helping out the Dark Lord, unable to see they had been beaten. They took on Abraxas and almost got the jump on him by sending a blinding hex to him. Fortunately, in a rare show of altruism, Alastor Moody jumped to catch the curse, causing him to fall permanently blinded to the ground.

"DUMBLEDORE!" several voices shouted, and the three remaining dark wizards stopped their dueling for just a moment to see Dumbledore flame into existence with Fawkes at his side. Albus wasted no time in joining Hera and Abraxas, and upon seeing that the Dark Lord had plenty of competition, Abraxas immediately took up defending the blind Alastor in the fight. Roland joined him a moment later, and the two remaining death eaters were dealt with quickly.

The Dark Lord, for a moment, was too distracted to realize he was the only one left standing. When he did notice, he hesitated for a moment. That moment caused Hermione to drop her guard as well. The Dark Lord roared with anger and cast a spell right at her, throwing her back into the smattering of trees that James and Remus were hidden in.

"If you aren't dead, I'll kill you!" Voldemort yelled in her direction while Lucius ran toward her. Albus carried on the fight.

"I'm afraid, Tom, that this moment is just meant to be. Let's end this now."

Lucius picked Hermione up and, joined by Abraxas, the two men ran with her toward the barrier so that they could apparate her to St. Mungo's. She was safer there, regardless of how bad her injuries were. If things went badly with Dumbledore, the Order would need her to step up most likely.

"Fine! I'll kill you and then that damned Seer!" Voldemort yelled, casting quickly at Albus.

Albus deflected the curses, chuckling. "You are weak from the loss of your horcruxes, Tom."

Hearing it seemed to cause the Dark Lord to hesitate once more, and Dumbledore didn't miss his shot. He disarmed the Dark Lord, catching his wand swiftly. Then, he leg-locked the dark wizard, causing him to fall flat to the ground. Albus walked up to him, looking down on him sadly.

"I've made so many mistakes, Tom. So, so many. Fate has a way of catching up with us all though. This is yours. My mistakes might have led you down this path, but what I do here… it was ultimately fated. Would have happened anyway, just not by my hand… and not for many more years yet."

"My fate is to rule!" The Dark Lord hissed.

Albus sighed. "No, Tom. You see, Hera is not a Seer. She is a time traveler. You were always destined to go up against her in some way. Your horcruxes were meant to be destroyed; they are against nature, so I don't see how that surprises you. And, Tom… you were meant to die before you ever ruled without question. Hera… Hera just wanted it done sooner rather than later."

The Order had slowly approached the conversation as Albus spoke to Lord Voldemort, interested to hear their words. They looked around in surprise at the information being relayed.

"I was told that in another life… I gave too many chances. Did you know that I have never, not once, actually killed someone? I've beaten and disarmed many… that's true enough. I have never taken a life, though, not intentionally at least. I have held onto that innocent part of myself desperately. In fact, with time, I feel assured in saying that I would have rather entrusted your death to a baby rather than take up my wand and try to do it myself. Perhaps, in that life, a baby would not have had to do that job if I had stepped up and dealt with you myself."

Lord Voldemort simply glared, and the people standing around were completely silent.

"I cannot be innocent any longer, Tom. For what it is worth, I am so sorry to the little bit of boy that might be inside of you whom…whom I failed miserably. I'm partially to blame for you being who you are, but I will be wholly to blame for your death. The horcruxes and your execution. Goodbye, Tom."

With a sharp flick and twist of his wrist and a pink light emitting from Albus Dumbledore's wand, the Dark Lord's head snapped quickly to the side, breaking his neck and killing him instantly.

Silently, the Order of the Phoenix came up, forming a protective circle around their leader as they laid hands on each other shoulders and on the headmaster himself, comforting the old wizard as he cried.

Author's Note: I apologize for how slow this was to be posted. I needed to do final editing, but I had to take a trip across the country for some work stuff that kind of preoccupied me for a few weeks. I'm here now and taking the time out of work to get it posted. Hope you enjoyed. Please review!

Content side note: I received a review a was wondering how Hermione could take a vow and have it be a loophole because it isn't her name and yet Voldemort's stuck. I choose to believe that magic is wrapped around who you decide you are. While Hermione answers to Hera, she will always believe that she is Hermione Granger/Malfoy first and foremost. Her magic answers to Hermione. Tom Riddle was a name that Voldemort dismissed. He identifies himself and believes himself more connected to Lord Voldemort than he does to his birth name. His magic answers to the name he created for himself first and foremost.