The night was cool as they made their way through the thick scrub of the forest, delving deeper and deeper. Navigating by the moonlight and a lamp held up high by Hagrid as they moved around the roots of thousand year old trees. Harry wrapped his jacket around him tighter. He was only wearing a white cotton shirt underneath, not expecting the current excursion. The forest was chatting, the wind whistling as twigs cracked underfoot. He would've felt more anxious had he not been in the company of the two wizards beside him. Dumbledore, sure-footed and steady as he followed the lead of Hagrid.

"Do we know what's causing the breaches, sir?" Harry asked as he hopped over a particularly large root. "Is it Voldemort?"

"I believe so." Dumbledore answered, "I understand that they are providing food to the group which has expanded significantly. They are depleting the resources of the forest with their growing appetite so have to look elsewhere."

Harry briefly thought of Ron. He'd be terrified to hear that sentence.

"Who's the… boss?" Harry tilted his head, trying to find the right word. "Without Aragog?"

"His name is Brayan." Hagrid answered, "fought and defeated one of his siblings. Marked himself as the alpha."

They walked on in silence. Harry could tell when they were getting closer. The air seemed thicker somehow. The moon now completely hidden beneath the canopy of the trees.

"They've moved inwards." Hagrid commented. "They never use' to be this close before."

"Leave your wand alone, Harry." Dumbledore cautioned. "We're here to talk. Not fight."

Harry nodded and his wand remained pocketed. He surprisingly didn't feel the need the use it. He had become quite adept at wandless magic. The back of his neck prickled, the feeling of being watched. The sound of scuttling came from all sides. They were surrounded.

And from the middle of a domed web above them, a spider the size of a small elephant emerged, very slowly. His entire body was black. Harry thought he looked remarkably like Aragog. He was just as large, definitely.

"Brayan?" Hagrid stepped forward slightly.

"You enter our colony uninvited, Hagrid." Came the strong reply. "And you bring intruders."

"I know I do. I've got Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter with me. We only wan' to talk." Hagrid's voice was unthreatening. Calm. "I notice yer moved."

"Our camp was being encroached upon." Brayan replied, his voice becoming angry. "We had no choice."

"Encroached?" Dumbledore was the one to reply. "By Voldemort?"

Brayan's black eyes flicked to Dumbledore. The old wizard remained poised somehow. Harry marvelled quietly. Even in the midst of the forest in a giant army of spiders did he command respect.

"Yes. He has promised to compensate me with food for my family."

"Of course," Dumbledore's voice was easy as he replied, "you've a lot of mouths to feed." He paused, "has he fulfilled his promise?"

"He has." A pause, "in instalments,"

"And you have had to relocate to accomodate to his army?" Dumbledore continued.

"Evidently." Brayan replied, dry. Harry kind of liked him. Until he spoke again. "Alas, it is kind of you to bring an offering in Harry Potter. He did get away from us last time."

"He ain't no offering." Hagrid stepped in front of him. Harry appreciated the gesture but disputed its effectiveness. They were literally encircled by them. He looked around curiously, many eyes stared back. Hungry.

He stepped around Hagrid, "Hi Brayan."

"Harry Potter." The spider's eyes flickered, he looked to Dumbledore. "It is a very risky move to him here, when his enemies are just across the way. He would be a very useful bargaining tool."

A bargaining tool. Just across the way. How close were they? He felt a shiver run down him. The castle was at greater risk than he realised.

"I'm sorry about your father," Harry spoke again, quietly and hoping to appeal to a more empathetic side. Did they even have one? "He was a very impressive creature. He looked out for his family above all else. That's very admirable."

Brayan eyed him with interest, "Why are you here?"

"We're here to reinstate the safety wards on the castle." Dumbledore was the one to reply.

"And why would we allow you that?" Brayan asked. Harry imagined if he had eyebrows, he'd have it raised. It felt odd to be negotiating with a giant spider.

Dumbledore offered a slight smile. "As it was your and your father's duty to protect your family. It is mine to protect the lives of those in the castle. I am here for them, Brayan."

There was a moment of silence before Brayan gave the slightest of nods. Dumbledore returned it as he produced his wand. He moved forward slightly and was about to conduct the spell when the mood shifted. The scuttling of the spiders intensified, hissing whipping around them.

"What's happening?" Harry's hand gripped his wand.

Dumbledore frowned, the lines of his face hardening. "Fall in, Harry." He instructed.

Harry didn't question the instruction and stepped towards Dumbledore and Hagrid, their backs meeting. He looked to the half-giant, he was holding his trusty pink umbrella. Fang was cowering in-between them. "What's happened?"

"They're coming." Brayan replied. He looked almost contrite. "As soon as you entered our colony, they were alerted." Harry felt his heart sink at the realisation of the betrayal. It was a trap. A classic move.

"Brayan…" Hagrid attempted.

"As you said, Dumbledore. It is my duty to look after my family." He continued, "I am sorry."

"Not quite an apology," Harry muttered as he held his wand out, reaching for his magic. The danger of the situation not lost on Harry.

They materialised then. 10 of them. Circling them. Their black coats emerging back from the darkness, masks obscuring their faces. The acromantula's provided a solid ring around them, their black eyes peering out from the trees.

Harry looked into the crowd, noting a slithering in between the trees. Nagini. He felt his pulse quicken. Voldemort was never far from Nagini. He glanced at Dumbledore, who had clearly noted the same thing. He and Harry shared a glance and a moment later they launched an attack. Spells flew everywhere, they blurred with the speed, hitting trees, deflecting. Harry ducked and weaved as he and Dumbledore took down their attackers. The Death Eaters didn't hold back, they were relentless in their approach, clearly trained and coordinated.

"Expelliarmus! Reducto!" The force behind his verbal spells was strong and he felt the magic course through him.

Harry only caught it in the corner of his eye, Fang leaping from the fold and Hagrid following after him. Harry paused in his actions to watch as a red spell caught his oldest friend in the chest, watching helpless as he fell hard to the ground.

"Hagrid!" Harry leapt towards him but was too late, a Death Eater appeared before him. Grabbed Hagrid by the hand and in a crack, had apparated them both away.

"No!" Harry's heart thudded in his chest as he watched where Hagrid had been moments before. Fang was barking, the sound echoing in the forest. A moment later a spell caught him in the chest and he flew backwards, his wand soaring out of his hands. He landed heavily on his right wrist, a loud cracking sound and a searing pain coursed through his hand and up his arm. "Fuck!"

He twisted on the ground, avoiding a spell and kicked out at a Death Eater. He had no wand. And with his broken wrist, didn't have the strength to summon it, or to produce any direct magic. He engaged in combat, gritting his teeth as he fought the offender off, trying not to use his preferred and injured hand. He fought and scrapped, finally disarming them and knocking them unconscious with a well timed elbow. A spider then landed on his back, their pincers latching on and he yelled out in pain. He reeled around, and slammed his back into a tree behind him, forcing the spider to let him go. He shuffled back into the middle of the clearing, wandless and injured. He looked towards Dumbledore, who was dueling 3 at one time. He was moving well and looked strong. He rendered them all incapacitated within seconds. But then it happened in a moment. Just a moment. The scales of Nagini shimmered just before she launched.

"Dumbledore!"

The wizard was too late. The snake already airborne and had sunk its teeth into Dumbledore's abdomen. Harry shouted, helpless as Dumbledore stumbled.

Nagini slithered, hissing as she circled the wizard again and launching a fresh attack. Again in the abdomen. Dumbledore groaned in pain. It was a sound Harry would never forget.

"NO!" Harry screamed, his voice almost ripping from his throat when he saw a glimmer of silver. Without thinking about how it appeared, he picked up the sword of Gryffindor. It was heavy in his left hand. He approached the still circling snake. The eyes of Nagini now resting on him. The snake stood between him and Dumbledore.

"Harry Potter."

"Let me help him." Harry pleaded, eying his headmaster, noting blood darkening his robes.

"I can't do that, Harry Potter. Dumbledore must die." Nagini slithered towards him, "as must you."

"Not today." Harry replied. With great effort, Harry raised the sword just as Nagini went on the attack. He swung widely, but forcefully, hoping more than anything that he would connect. He did. The sword sliced through Nagini, blood spurting everywhere as the old snakes head detached completely from its body. The forest was silent for a moment as the snake fell to the floor, still. Dead. Harry didn't waste any more time as he rushed towards the old wizard, falling to his knees.

He looked up, his face hard as he was encircled by the acromantula's. There were hundreds of them. Hungrily looking at Dumbledore as though ready for their next meal.

"Get away!" He swung the sword again, creating a wide birth as they jumped out of the way. He thought he nicked a couple in the effort.

"Harry Potter."

"No. No you cannot have him." Harry shouted, his voice cracking as Brayan approached.

"You are vastly outnumbered." Brayan spoke, eyes glittering.

Harry continued to hold the sword. Its magical properties reverberating through him. He stood up, eyes bright. "That's never made a difference before." He replied as he slammed the sword into the earth. A domed enshrouded them, a bright white light erupting from where he had embedded the sword. It had the desired affect and pushed the acromantula's back, repelled by the shield and unable to move any closer. The brightness blinding them. They scuttled back, hissing all the while, angry they had been refused a meal. Harry watched them depart before falling to the ground beside his Headmaster. He clutched his hand tightly, squeezing. "Dumbledore, it's ok. Stay with me, it's gonna be ok. I'm gonna get you help, ok?" Harry watched helplessly as his purple cloak darkened with his blood at concerning speed. He had already lost so much. "Please," Harry shook his shoulder, urging the old man's eyes open. They fluttered slightly.

"Stay… Stay with me.." Harry stuttered as he tried blocking the wound. His hand warming with the feel of blood. There was so much blood. He took Dumbledore's wand, hoping that spell would work. He directed to the castle and watched as his protonus erupted from the wand, leaping quickly through the trees. Intended for the order. Intended to get help. He looked back towards Dumbledore.

"Please…" Harry felt hot tears fall from his eyes, his heart thudding loudly in his chest. "We need you." He let out a sob, his vision blurring and his voice desperate."I need you."

"You have never needed me, Harry." Dumbledore whispered his reply, tears now falling from his eyes. He blinked heavily, "sit with me."

Harry nodded, his heart aching in his chest. His mentor before him, his life ebbing away before his very eyes. He gently lay Dumbledore's head in his lap, his hand gripping Dumbledore's tightly, trying to offer whatever comfort he could. "I'm right here. I'll stay, I promise. Don't worry."

Dumbledore offered a weak smile as he met his gaze. The two of them locked onto to each other, green and blue. Dumbledore squeezing Harry's hand tightly. "I'm not worried, Harry. I'm with you."

Harry let out a watery smile as he felt his heart break. He continued holding the hand of the most powerful wizard for generations.

Dumbledore sighed, "I was wrong, Harry."

Harry blinked, eyes confused. "About what?"

Dumbledore let out a weak smile, his blue eyes retaining that familiar spark. "you were meant to live that night."

Harry let out a shaky breath, tears continuing to flow down his cheeks. He wiped at his eyes hastily with a bloody hand. "I never wanted any of this."

Dumbledore's gaze softened, his eyes starting to droop. "It is a curious thing, Harry," His voice was shallow, "but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it." He placed his hand over Harry's that had landed on his chest.

"I'm right here." Harry whispered. "I'm not leaving you."

"It's ok, Harry." He reassured him as he slowly slipped away.

Harry sat there for a long moment, completely still as he watched the life disappear from his eyes. He felt paralysed. Locked completely to the spot. It was utterly still in the forest, as though every creature was in shock at what had just transpired. He didn't know how long he sat there, his hand still clasping Dumbledore's tightly, the old mans fingers cooling with every passing moment. In the back of his mind he thought Voldemort might appear. Thought other Death Eaters could come. Or that the acromantula's would return. He thought of Hagrid, his giant body hitting the forest floor before being transported away. He sat, silent and still. He didn't know how long he'd been there when he heard new sounds. Hurried footsteps. Shouts. Someone crying. He felt someone try and break the grip he had and he felt his magic stir, involuntarily sending whoever it was a neat stinging hex.

"Harry?" He felt her kneel beside him, her hand resting on his back. Her scent washed over him, filling his senses. She pressed her hand more firmly as her other hand came to rest on his. He let it. His eyes drawn to them. They were a stark contrast to his bloody ones and Dumbledore's spindly cold ones. Hers rested on top. Warmth emanating from them.

At her touch, Harry finally looked up. McGonagall had a hand to her chest, her eyes widened in despair. She had a red hand and Harry realised it must've been her who had tried to pull him away. She met his gaze, her eyes glistening with tears. It was a look Harry would never forget seeing on his Head of House's face. Snape stood stoically to the side, his dark eyes solemn as he took in his fallen Headmaster. Remus watched in sadness at the scene before them. Death Eaters lay bound and unconscious. A dead snake, headless.

"I'm sorry." His voice was scratchy as he again gripped Dumbledore's hand as a fresh wave of tears consumed him. He bent forward, leaning against Dumbledore's chest. "I'm sorry."

Hermione shifted her hand, bringing it to his hair. She ran her fingers through it gently as she leaned forward. Her head was right beside his. "Look at me, Harry."

With what seemed like enormous effort, Harry turned his gaze to hers and felt his heart stutter. Her eyes were bright. Golden. Shimmering in the low light of the forest. "Look at me." Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Hermione…"

"You can let go, Harry."

"No." Harry shook his head slightly, his voice cracking. "No, I promised him I would stay."

"And you did." She applied more pressure. Her own eyes shimmered with tears, "you kept your promise, Harry. It's our turn now." She gently pried his hand away, "let him go, Harry."

He didn't protest then. Simply allowed his hands to slowly drop away from Dumbledore's and into Hermione's. He leant back slightly as Snape and Remus moved forward with a gentle solemness to their movements. They didn't speak, but moved in sync, in complete understanding with one another.

"Harry, are you hurt?" McGonagall knelt in front of him. The sight of the old witch kneeling on the forest floor and dirtying her robes was an odd image. He tried to focus on her eyes. "Harry?" Her gaze swept across his face. He was covered in blood. The majority of it wasn't his. It made him feel sick.

McGonagall's eyes blinked slowly as she withdrew her wand and cast spell over him. He felt his body warm at the sensation as she scanned for any injuries. She gave a curt nod once it was complete.

"We'll get you to the hospital wing, Harry."

"They took Hagrid."

McGonagall let out a gasp, eyes widening as she shared a glance with Snape and Lupin.

Hermione let out a slight cry, a hand coming up to her mouth in horror. "Oh, no!"

He felt sick at the thought. Hagrid. His friend with the gentlest soul. His mind struggled to process the last 60 minutes. Dumbledore was dead and Hagrid had been taken.

"Nagini…" Snape stood beside the now dead snake. He looked to Harry, "how?"

"The sword." Harry went to retrieve only to realise it had disappeared. He look around, "my wand. I lost it."

"I'll get it." Remus withdrew his wand and in a moment he could see his familiar wand soaring through the air and he pocketed it gratefully.

He watched, silent as Remus took Dumbledore away. The great wizard looking remarkably small and thin. Snape moved to the Death Eaters, levitating them. Hermione remained beside him. McGonagall approached slowly, the latter conjuring a blanket. It was only then that he realised that he had been shaking as they wrapped the blanket around him. His bloody hands gripping tightly to the edges.

"Let's go you back up to the castle." McGonagall was by his side.

Harry nodded again as he stood up. He looked ahead, Snape and Remus having already disappeared in the darkness of the forest. He looked around, startled slightly at how calm it felt. A stark contrast to the chaos of the previous hour.

"The wards..." His voice was hoarse, scratchy.

"Pardon?" McGonagall replied, confused.

"Dumbledore came here to do the wards. He didn't get too."

McGonagall nodded slightly, understanding dawning in her eyes. She withdrew her wand and Harry watched as she reinstated the safety wards. He knew it would be broken again soon, it was only a matter of time really. But they would take whatever time they could.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice was low, coaxing.

He didn't offer a verbal reply. Just ordered one foot in front of the other.

Before he knew it, he was entering the infirmary with Hermione beside him. He watched as they placed Dumbledore on a cot, his body covered with a cloth. He heard Pomfrey let out a wail at the realisation of who it was. He sat still and silent as someone fixed up his hand, fixed up the marks left by the spider, quietly took a potion that was presented. Hermione was with him the entire time. Solid. Steady. She wasn't rushed. She wasn't flustered. Stoic.

McGonagall had disappeared behind the curtain that shielded Dumbledore from view. Bidding farewell to her old friend. When she emerged, her lips were thin and her eyes red rimmed.

"I need to alert the Order." McGonagall was solemn. She nodded to Harry. "Get some rest, Harry."

He could only offer a nod in response.

"I'll walk you both to your room." Remus joined them as they exited the wing. It was a silent walk. The sound of their shoes on the stone floor echoing throughout the castle. The portraits were asleep. Harry thought to the next morning. How news of Dumbledore's death would circulate. He took some solace in this quiet. The quiet before the chaos. Before the whole world knew and would mourn together. Before he knew it, they were at their portrait. Remus caught him by the elbow. His light green eyes misting as he drew Harry into a hug.

"I'll see you in a few hours, ok?" He searched Harry's eyes, worried.

He stood in the shower, eyes following the blood as it rand down the drain. He scrubbed at his skin until it felt tender. Hermione had left some clothes for him and he changed into them gratefully. He could see the sun peaking through the clouds, signalling morning. He just wanted to sleep. When he opened the door to his room, he was grateful to see her sitting there, waiting for him.

"What do you need?" Her voice was quiet, as though she didn't want to startle him. "I've got a cup of tea here with some sleeping draught. Dreamless."

"Thank you," He replied, as he downed the drink and climbed into bed. His head hit the pillow, his eyes fluttering shut involuntarily. "Hermione?"

"Yes, Harry?"

His tongue felt heavy. That draught was strong. "Stay?"

He thought he heard her cry slightly but couldn't find the strength to open his eyes. He felt her shift though, moving her body towards him. And he could smell her. He felt his heart relax. "I'm not going anywhere, Harry."

As always, R/R forever welcomed. I hope we are all keeping safe!