A.N. so anyone that read that brief now removed note, yes I was unable to access all my data but it's back now, yay! Mini panic attack over. So to celebrate I thought I'd post the new chapter because I haven't posted in ages! Huge thanks to JayBat, Raven That Flies At Night and Decadenceofmysoul for reviewing the last chapter, reading them meant a lot. Let's get straight into the war then shall we?

Chapter 40 - The First Battle Cry

"This school!" Began Professor McGonagall importantly. She was standing up at the staff table and all eyes in the solemn atmosphere had turned to her, some wondering when breakfast would be served, others wondering what was so important that their head mistress needed to say. She cleared her throat and tried again, "This school is in grave danger." All other conversations stopped. Draco, who was sitting on the old Ravenclaw table with Blaise, Theo, Pansy and Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Ron, Neville and Luna, glanced quickly at Hermione who was biting her lip anxiously. He quickly found her hand underneath the table and squeezed it hard, reassuringly. They looked back up at the table and saw McGonagall had turned to Snape for conformation. He nodded.

"Professor Snape here, has informed us that V- Voldemort has planned to attack Hogwarts!" There was a gasp from all around as scared faces turned to their friends with worry pooling from their eyes. "Enough! A good man once told me, that fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself. That man was Albus Dumbledore. It has been brought to my attention that Professor Snape and Albus prearranged Albus's death so that Voldemort would think that Severus Snape was loyal to the death eaters. He is in fact working for our side as a spy. Whether you choose to believe me or not is another matter but the point remains that Voldemort has declared war upon Hogwarts. The siege begins tonight," she finished, a lump in her throat. There was an uproar of terror as everyone burst out in fear. Even some of the staff looked horrified. They had every right to look that way too.

"Never, in all my years at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began again and hush fell again, "have I been this distressed. Most of you have probably realised that Mr Potter and Mr Weasley have returned from their, er, adventures. They were in fact away so that they could help destroy Voldemort once and for all. I am under the belief that they still need time. Is that right, Mr Potter?" Everyone turned to face Harry, who stood up uneasily and replied clearly, "Yes, that is right Professor. As much time as you can spare us."

She nodded and continued with her speech, "Some of you may also be aware that the Hogwarts Express has been derailed and that the portkeys are currently out of action. This means that we must all remain at the school. Our head boy and head girl will be in charge of leading the first to fifth year's into the Chamber of Secrets, where you will be as safe as possible. Sixth and seventh years you are more than welcome to join the rest of the students but you also have to option to stay up here and fight. I'm sure I do not need to inform you that we cannot guarantee your safety if you choose to fight. If you do choose to remain and fight would you please remain in the great hall after breakfast. Students will be given fifteen minutes to gather anything they want from their dorms to take down to the chamber after breakfast. Food is being prepared as we speak down in the kitchens to last you a week. We can only hope that this dreadful war ends today with us vanquishing the evil that threatens us. So, I make a toast in hoping that we will all get through this. To Hogwarts!" The elderly woman finished, raising her glass of pumpkin juice. Every single person in the hall followed suit. Gryffindors and Slytherins alike, all raised their goblets and chanted, "To Hogwarts," and drank. The torches in the brackets flickered.

Breakfast was a very quick affair. Everyone was too nervous to eat much, their heads buzzing with questions. The sixth years and seventh years on all tables were busy telling the younger ones what exactly the chamber of secrets was to try and preoccupy themselves because no one wanted to dwell on the events set to take place later on that day.

"Draco I can't believe you'd even ask me that! No!"

"Please? You know I -"

"DRACO MALFOY! Listen to me! No. The answer is no."

"But -"

"Now be quiet, we have to get one hundred and eighteen students down into that chamber minus the amount who want to stay here."

"That's not too many you know," Draco muttered. Hermione glared at him.

"I'm staying to fight Draco, I will not stay down there whether you like it or not," Hermione huffed.

"I knew that. No harm in asking though is there. I just don't want you to get hurt," Draco sighed.

"Your the so called 'traitor' and you're worrying about me getting hurt," Hermione sighed, shaking her head.

"And you're the muggleborn Gryffindor Princess who's too selfless to know when to move out the way!" Draco snapped back. Hermione bowed her head. It hurt, but she knew he was right. She'd never admit that though.

"I'll stay alive if you do," she muttered.

"You'll stay alive regardless," Draco snapped, staring at his plate of half eaten sausages.

"Harry?" Ginny asked. Harry looked at her and smiled.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Don't do anything stupid!" Ginny rushed out before kissing him heatedly. Seconds later, Harry drew away and said, "Ginny I swear I'll come out of this alive. We'll get a house, have kids, we'll-"

"Don't make promises you can't keep," whispered Ginny into Harry's chest. Harry looked down at the pretty red headed girl and bit his lip.

"Mate you've got to stick around for a bit longer," Neville pointed out.

"And that's because...?" Harry asked intrigued.

"You're playing quidditch against us at the end of the year. Hasn't anyone told you?" Neville asked.

"Oh yeah, Gin mentioned something about that," Harry laughed.

"You better stay alive Potter, I can't wait to beat you finally at quidditch," Draco smirked.

"You wish," Harry challenged.

"How's our team?" Ron asked Neville.

"No idea, you're with Pansy, Hannah and a couple of others," Neville shrugged.

"Our team will thrash Draco's," Pansy confirmed from across the table.

"Hmm," hummed Luna.

"You alright babe?" Neville asked, turning to look at Luna who smiled.

"I've been better," she said dreamily, then she faced Neville and whispered, "Please don't die, I really love you." Neville blushed a deep crimson and kissed Luna on her forehead.

Grinning, Draco turned to Hermione. "Remember when I had to kiss you in potions?" He asked slyly.

"Yes," Hermione smirked.

"And I went up in flames, yes I think we all remember that day," Pansy scowled.

"Well it was you who messed up the potion!" Harry retorted.

"It was already messed up," spat Pansy.

"Sorry when did Pansy go up in flames?" Ginny asked.

"Remember that potions lesson where Draco kissed Hermione and -" Ron began but then Ginny cut in.

"Oh that one. Yeah I remember you saying," she said nodding.

"That was the first day you knew you looooooved her," Theo teased causing Draco to blush and smirk.

"Was it?" Hermione asked astonished.

"He looked so worried when you didn't wake up," Blaise said exaggeratedly.

"Oh shut up," Draco whined.

Moments later, Lavender Brown approached the table. Both she and Hermione looked each other hard in the eye before Lavender narrowed hers and stuck a hand out. Hermione's eyebrows shot up and she swallowed before taking the hand and shaking it once. Lavender nodded before skipping over to Ron and crouching down to whisper something in his ear. "Stop that," Ron said in an annoyed tone before standing up and pulling her into an embrace, not some sloppy kiss but a genuine embrace. "I love you," she said in her usual whining voice and Harry pretended to vomit. Draco smirked and let slip a chuckle. Hermione elbowed him in a friendly manner and Theo and Blaise nearly spat out their pumpkin juice. "Hey Blaise where's Daf?" Theo asked.

"No idea," Blaise said nonchalantly.

"Blaise she's your girlfriend!" Theo remarked.

"Sucks to be her then, we're all gonna die anyway," Blaise muttered. Everyone turned to look at him. Blaise was meant to be the optimist. Theo looked appalled and he drew back his hand and slapped Blaise around the face.

"OW! What the HELL was that for?!" Blaise yelled.

"Stop taking shit then! Go find your girlfriend and have fucking last minute sex or whatever it is you two do and -"

"It's not like that!"

"Then what's it like Blaise because you're acting like a jerk!"

"I'm acting realistically!"

"Well I'm sorry for having a little hope!"

"Damn it Theo, I love her okay and I'm going to die in this war and I don't want her to... to..." Blaise died out. Theo stared at him.

"You think you're helping her? Man that's messed up. What if she dies knowing you never told her you loved her!"

"I don't even know what side she's fighting on! I -" Blaise began but he trailed off. "You're right," he sighed angrily. He shook his head and got up from the table and slouched over to the old Slytherin table where Daphne was sitting with Tracey and Millicent.

"Okay then," Harry said, shaking his head. The bell that would usually mark the 'start going to lessons' period sounded, and everyone got up, no doubt to get things from their dorm. "I'm going upstairs, you coming?" Hermione asked Draco.

"Sure," Draco said before getting up and following Hermione out.

"Meet back here!" Hermione shouted back to their friends as they made their way out the hall.

"Chuck all your stuff in here," Hermione called over her shoulder as they entered their common room rapidly. Draco stared at the little beaded bag Hermione had just pulled out of her pocket. "Hermione -" Draco began uncertainly but Hermione had tossed it at him and he lunged forwards to catch it. There was a loud purring from their feet and Hermione nearly fell headlong over the large ginger mass on the floor. "Oh Crookshanks," moaned Hermione, who'd completely forgot about her cat.

"Give him to one of the first years to play with," Draco suggested, staring into the bag.

"What if they're allergic?" Hermione asked desperately.

"Then that's the least of their worries," Draco stated flatly.

"Come here Crooks, stay out of the way whilst I pack," Hermione told her cat as she climbed awkwardly into her bulldozed looking room.

"Reparo," murmured Draco next to Hermione and she watched in awe as the splinters of wood repaired themselves to recreate her room exactly as it had been before.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered quietly, then snapped back into action. "Right, everything you own shove in that bag as neatly as possible, I've still got to put my stuff in there too," she ordered.

"Hermione we can't fit two entire bedrooms into this purse. There's enough room for a bit of cash but -" Draco began but Hermione had snatched the bag from him and put her fist in, followed by her wrist, her arm and then even her shoulder. "How -?"

"Undetectable extension charm," Hermione replied automatically, bringing her arm out and saying, "Pack."

"Can't we just put everyone into this bag and chuck it in a corner? Then everyone would be safe and -"

"Voldemort would still be at large. No Draco we are not hiding from this war in a handbag. How many times? Just go and pack for Merlin's sake!" Hermione huffed angrily. Draco tutted and left as Hermione feverishly pulled things out of her wardrobe and folded them into neat piles. There were so many things. Boxes from her parents' house, books, clothes, more books, some Christmas presents, letters from Harry and Ron, photographs, ink, quills, more books, potions accessories, her alarm clock, SPEW badges, a tiny bit of money, Christmas decorations, cat food and so much more.

Once Draco came back into her room ten minutes later, she took the bag from him, opened it up and crammed everything into it. Muttering something under her breath, she grasped her wand from her bed and flicked it at her bag. Draco could only assume she was making it bigger. "Bigger and fireproof," she explained, confirming part of Draco's prediction.

"Fireproof?" He asked.

"This has all my belongings in it Draco, from home too! Without this I have nothing," Hermione explained defensively. Draco stared for a moment.

"Your house...?" He began, trailing off unsurely.

"Every trace of me from that house is gone. I even removed Dad's number one dad mug. There's nothing in that house that is mine, apart from a few old clothes and some stuff in the attic that has been locked for good," Hermione sniffed. Draco nodded, took her hand and gave the dorms one last look. Hermione accioed Crookshanks' bowls and slung the water into the empty fireplace before putting them into her bag. "Anything else in this room?" She asked Draco, fighting back tears.

"No," he said, looking from the fire whiskey bottles to the coffee jar to the small bookshelf and the empty fire place. "Nothing." Hermione nodded and Draco led them out of the room, sniffing slightly.

Hermione's beaded bag caught the light every time it swung in front of her. Crookshanks was bundled up in her arms and Hermione had to grip tightly onto the orange fur ball to stop him from trying to pounce at the glimmering fabric. "You know you have me," Draco said after a while as they hurried down the corridor. Hermione looked at him briefly.

"What?" She asked.

"You said that you'd have nothing without that bag. You'd still have me. And Harry, Ron, Ginny and all of them lot. You'd still have us," Draco said comfortingly. Hermione smiled and bit her lip, looking up at Draco for a split second before bowing her head and continuing along the corridor leaving a trail of undetectable tears behind her.

The castle was full of running students, each with bags full of their belongings which swung as they darted round corners and barged past others. Hermione thought grimly at the 'no running in the corridors' rule and picked up the pace. Memories flashed before her eyes of her previous years in the castle. What she wouldn't do to relive those few years before Voldemort had returned, despite the horrors that came with them. All those years ago when Sirius and Dumbledore was still alive, when her parents were safe and knew who she was, when Harry and Ron had been her partners in crime, when there had been no bad side, only school, fun and sneaking out after hours. She missed the times when it'd been her, Harry and Ron against Filtch, Snape and the Slytherins. Missed the normal, simple life. And yet, she met the changed Draco after all of the change, after Voldemort's return and after Dumbledore's death. She looked briefly up at the pale head boy and wondered: if Voldemort had never returned, would Draco be the person he was now? What had it to do with Voldemort, really. He'd only changed after he'd been made head boy and seen her bleeding in their common room. After Ron had hit her. But Ron had changed. Ron had changed because of Voldemort, she was almost certain of that. Without that incident, Draco would have never ran to her aid and shown his true colours. So maybe the change was good. "But the war," she thought to herself, clambering down yet another flight of stairs. She'd do anything to make the war go away. People were going to die tonight. She could die tonight or worse, Draco.

They reached the Great Hall moments later and weren't surprised by what they saw. It was utter chaos. Bags were littering the floor, people were scrambling over kit and benches to find their friends and despite the teachers' futile efforts to keep people under control, there was havoc breaking out everywhere. "Now what?" Muttered Draco in Hermione's ear.

"No idea," Hermione muttered back. McGonagall's gaze caught theirs and she drew her wand, pointed it into the air and set of three loud bangs. Everyone fell silent, staring up at their headmistress.

"Would all students who are not staying to fight please line up in an orderly fashion by the doors. Prefects, I ask you to bring up the rear and a couple of you to stand in the middle. Professor Flitwick, Professor Lupin, Professor Hagrid and Professor Snape, I would like to have a word with you. Professor Sprout, if you'd like to bring out any plants which could provide useful that would be lovely. Professors Vector, Sinistra, Trelawney, Babbling, Binns, Slughorn and Hooch will you please sweep the rest of the school and make sure there are no students left out of this hall. Argus Filtch, would you be ever so kind to lock any idiot who wishes to fight in favour of Lord Voldemort's side in the dungeon please." Immediately there was a scuffling as some Slytherins including Goyle tried to escape Filch but McGonagall saw everyone who made a move and cast a binding spell onto each and every one of them. Draco checked all their faces. Yep, all children of death eaters or brainless pureblooded idiots. None of his year other than Goyle had been restrained, he realised. "Then would you alert the house elves and bring them up here," McGonagall said loudly, "That would be all. Would you please remain calm for the remaining minutes before we move you all downstairs," McGonagall finished calmly. Almost everyone erupted in their former states of panic and started pushing and shoving to be with their friends in the 'line'. If truth be told, it was more of a cluster by the door than a line. "Everyone form a line please!" Called out Hermione, clicking into action and trying to form everyone into a fairly decent line. Draco shook his head before resigning himself to help his girlfriend and head girl.

Seeing Draco telling others to get into line started to cause others to shrink back into a huddled queue as they didn't want to face an angry Draco, moreover Draco Malfoy, former death eater and Slytherin Prince. So, gradually, people began to move together into what looked more like a line.

A few minutes later, all of the teachers had returned from their full sweep through of the school with about twenty or so students carrying half shut bags and armfuls of stuff that evidently they hadn't had time to pack. "Everyone?" McGonagall asked Professor Trelawney, who nodded, her beads and bangles clanking. "Right, Hermione, Draco, you know what to do," McGonagall smiled stiffly. Hermione nodded.

"Right! Come on now you three get into line. That's it, right, prefects could you make sure nobody in this line wanders off. Ginny, Collin and Ron, could you monitor the back of the line whilst Padma, Anthony, Terry, Hannah, Ernie, Zacharias, Pansy and Tracey spread themselves out to monitor the middle. Draco and I will keep an eye on the front. Everyone in order? Right then, let's go," she ordered as the prefects hurried into a space on the outside of the line.

"Hermione," Draco began and Hermione turned to him briefly to show that she was listening. "This isn't exactly the time I know but have you realised that Hufflepuff currently has the most house points?" He asked horrified. Hermione turned to stare up at the huge hourglasses that showed how many points each house had. Indeed, Hufflepuff were in lead by about 20 points.

"Oh well, does it really matter?" She asked. 'Yes,' thought Draco. "Come on everyone, follow me please," she began in a matter of fact tone.

"Follow me cowa-"

"Draco!"

"What?"

"Be nice!"

Draco shook his head grumpily. He could just stun Hermione unconscious, take her and do a runner. Why fight in a losing battle anyway. They'd live on the run, build a house somewhere and live in hiding - but Hermione would never do that. She was too much of a sodding Gryffindor, too much like Saint Potter.

They passed many ghosts on their journey up to the first floor. They looked about as worried as the students as did the portraits in the paintings, who were all scrabbling into each other's portraits. Draco didn't understand why the ghosts were worried. They were dead! Hermione sincerely hoped that Draco's plan worked because if not, all these people behind her would die. She glanced over her shoulder at the hundred or so children, some eleven years old, and prayed that nothing would happen to them.

The hubbub behind them subsided as they reached the damp door to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Pushing it open, Hermione called over her shoulder, "Harry Potter! Assistance please?" She lead the line as far into the bathroom as she could go as Harry jogged through the line, apologising to people he bumped into.

"You are joking right?" Harry asked with a lost look in his eye but Hermione shook her head. "Fine," sighed Harry and he walked to the front and stared dumbly at the sink. A giggle sounded from above them and they looked up to see Mrytle soaring around the sinks in high spirits. "Myrtle," Draco said seriously and she stopped to look at him. "Mrytle, if anyone comes into this room, you mustn't say anything about us coming down here. If you do, then all these people will die."

Myrtle cocked her head and said, "Why should I care if they die, I'm dead. I died when I was a student!"

"Mrytle! There are nearly a hundred people here who are hiding from a war which will take place this evening!" Draco yelled as Harry emitted some hissing noise and the sink began to spin fast. "War?" Mrytle questioned.

"Yes war," Draco snapped, "Between the good people like us, and the bad people otherwise known as the Dark Lord and his death eaters. You might have known him as Tom Riddle. You know, the dude that killed you in the first place!" Mrytle gasped.

"I won't tell a soul you're here," she whispered, suddenly realising how important this was. "But what if they question me?"

"You're a ghost! Fly away!" Draco said, looking at her as if she'd sprouted another head. Myrtle nodded and watched as Harry stood back from the newly formed hole in the ground.

"Right!" Hermione yelled so the people still lined up in the corridor could hear her, "We are about to descend down a - SHUT UP! We are about to descend down a pipe that leads into the chamber of secrets. There It will take a while to get everyone down so I do ask that you wait patiently and quietly! Thank you." She turned to Draco and said at normal volume level, "You and Harry should go down first and keep everyone under control. The rest of the prefects and I will make sure everyone comes down safely. Okay?"

"Yes," Draco and Harry both said.

"Make sure everyone is clear of the pipe once they're down there. I'll send them down every five seconds or so. Don't lead them into the actual chamber until we're all down there. Okay?"

"Yes," droned Draco and Harry as one. Hermione nodded and gestured for them to go down. Harry went whilst Draco gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and followed before Hermione could hit him. Someone in the crowd giggled.

It was a long process. Not only did she have to deal with first year questions such as "Are there any creatures down there?" but the actual getting them down there was an issue too. Some of them didn't like heights. Some of them were scared of the dark. Eventually Ginny had had enough too and yelled, "Look, I know your scared but Harry did this in second year so that he could kill a monster, stop Voldemort and save not only my life but everyone in this school too. Either get down there or suffer up here!" Hermione had to hide a smirk as everyone hurried to the pipe entrance.

Soon, everyone was down apart from herself. She sat down, scooted herself to the rim and let her legs dangle into blackness. She wondered what Harry had felt doing this all those years ago. Had he been scared? Nervous? And Ron too, what had he thought? Then, she pushed herself off the side - and realised she'd done it again. How were they going to get back up this time?! She had prefects down here too! "Figure it out later," she told herself.

After landing on her feet on the damp, bone littered floor, she led the students all the way to the rock fall where she looked at Draco. "Too long," he said before she'd opened her mouth to speak. "We'll have to risk it. Bombarda maxima!" He yelled and the sound of a small bomb exploding echoed off the walls. Some students screamed while others stared at the smoking hole in the wall. "YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US ALL YOU IDIOT! Then Voldemort really would have won!" Hermione screamed at him. Draco shrugged.

"Come on," he said sternly as they all clambered through and eventually they were faced with the two snakes set into the stone. "Harry," Hermione called again and again Harry made his way to the front and shook his head before hissing softly. "Thanks," Hermione smiled as the wall before them cracked open. Evidently, the house elves had somehow been down here as around a hundred sleeping bags littered the gigantic chamber floor, which was now enchanted dry. Quite how they'd managed to actually bypass the parseltongue part was a mystery but for another day. "Dennis Creevey," Hermione called as the students ran to pick a bed each. A small mousy haired boy turned and looked up at the head girl innocently. He must be in fourth year, Hermione surmised, looking at the little boy doubtfully. "You're in charge if anything happens down here," she sighed, then raised her voice, "ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS! Dennis Creevey will be in charge until someone comes down to collect you. This could be a long time. Food has been prepared and is stacked in crates in the corner of the room. I hardly need to make this clear that this is a war. Please don't fight people on your own side. Share the food equally and ration well, you could be in here for a day, a week, a month. We don't know. Under no circumstances will you leave this room. I'd like to pick a fifth year from each house to assist Dennis with keeping everything in order. Volunteers?" A handful of hands shot up. "Yes, you over there, you with the green scarf on, you in the blue and you with the pigtails. Okay. So any questions?" No one raised their hands. Hermione gulped. "Okay, that's it then. Prefects, Draco, follow me out," she sighed, "We're going to lock you in. No one will be able to enter nor leave this chamber -"

"Excuse me!" Called a small brunette with pigtails.

"Yes?" Hermione asked.

"What if we need the toilet?" She asked innocently. Hermione sighed again. Such a third year question.

"You're in a chamber with pipes and drains littering the floor. Fine okay um, there's, um..." Hermione trailed off.

"There's a sort of cavern bit at the back with a stone wall giving it a little privacy. There's multiple drains littering the floor there as well as small open pipes. I'm sure you could adapt that into a bathroom and use a bit of water from your wands to flush anything away," Harry stated loudly. People gave them repulsed looks but nodded begrudgingly. Hermione smiled stiffly and led the prefects and Draco out before sealing the entrance, causing a mini rockfall to hide the door and casted multiple protection charms and shields on it. By the time she'd finished, you wouldn't know that there was a door there at all. Apart from the fact that Voldemort did know there was a door here, as he'd opened the chamber over fifty years before.

"How are we getting back up the pipe?" Ginny asked but as if answering their call, a squeaky voice called through the tunnel to them.

"Flitwick," Padma muttered and they all ran to the pipe entrance. They weren't quite sure what happened next. Somehow, Professor Flitwick managed to cast a charm that brought all thirteen of them back up to the surface of Moaning Myrtle's sopping wet bathroom. "Thanks," one of them said and everyone else automatically thanked the tiny professor hurriedly.

Soon they were all back in the hall to find that Professor McGonagall was leading them all out into the courtyard. The morning air was cold and hard as the first gust of wind hit their faces. Hermione hoped it wouldn't rain, rain was the last thing they needed. The courtyard was packed. Ghosts, elves, students, teachers, thestrals, villagers from Hogsmeade were all squeezed into the large cobblestoned area, filling the spaces under the arches and around the fountain. A small smile spread onto Hermione's lips as she saw just how many were willing to fight to defend their school, and indeed all of humanity in not just the wizarding world but in the muggle world too, for if Voldemort won then he'd surely wipe out the muggle race completely. She looked around more closely and saw Buckbeak stamping his clawed feet impatiently. Draco gave the hippogriff a wary look, remembering the last time he encountered it. "I thought the beast was put down," growled Draco to which Hermione thumped him. "Ow! What was that -"

"He did get put down! And then Harry and I went back in time to save him and used him to fly up to the west tower to save Sirius!" Hermione said indignantly. Draco raised his eyebrows.

"So that's how he escaped. Hang on, how did you go back in time?!"

"Time turner. Gave it back at the end of third year though. Used it to take extra classes mainly. Buckbeak lived with Sirius ever since and... and then came back to live with Hagrid after... after it all happened," Hermione said and swallowed. Draco narrowed his eyes.

"You were given a time turner, and used it to save a hippogriff, a wanted criminal, and to take extra classes?! Hermione! You could've used it to go back in time to kill the Dark Lord before he became powerful!"

"Do you know how dangerous that would've been?! You're not supposed to meddle with time!"

"If I die tonight because you didn't use that time turner for good use -"

"Me?!"

"You could've kept it!" Draco moaned, staring at her indignantly.

"Ridiculous,"scoffed Hermione and stopped the conversation there. Draco shook his head. There was a loud growling from somewhere in the courtyard and suddenly Draco was tugging at Hermione's sleeve. "What?" She asked before seeing exactly what 'what' was. Tethered next to Hagrid to an archway stood a very large, very fluffy, three headed dog. And it wasn't just any three headed dog. "Fluffy," murmured Hermione in awe. Hagrid looked up at that moment and waved frantically at Hermione, pointing at his dog excitedly, sitting next to which was Fang, who looked terribly uncomfortable. Hermione continued to stare at the drooling dog, sincerely hoping it knew who it was supposed to be fighting. She didn't like the look of those fangs at all. "You know it?" Draco asked, seeing the recognition in her eyes.

"Yeah," she murmured, vividly remembering all three of them clambering through the trapdoor after nearly getting their heads ripped off, "Only too well."

"Professor, we've just had word that your men have arrived in Hogsmeade. They'll be here as soon as possible," a Hogsmeade civilian told Professor McGonagall hurriedly.

"Excellent," she said promptly and then turned to face her students. "Now, we don't have much time as we don't know when Voldemort plans on invading our school. However, we have the numbers. All I ask is that you fight proudly and -" she sniffed, a tear forming in her beady eye, "And that you know that you're fighting proud and well, no matter what happens. I believe in you all." Professor Sprout and Neville Longbottom suddenly appeared with a small army of what looked like venomous tentacula and Hermione was surprised she hadn't notice that Neville had been missing before. "Venomous Tentacula," Professor Sprout said happily, sounding as though she'd gone through a lot of effort to get them out of the greenhouses. "It nearly bit me," Hermione heard Neville whisper to Dean and Seamus.

"I fully trust Mr Longbottom with these plants Minerva, if anything were to go wrong," Professor Sprout said proudly and Neville beamed. McGonagall nodded curtly and turned back to face her students.

"I-" she began, then faltered.

"Headmistress Miss, they're here," a Hogsmeade citizen said hurriedly before moving aside to reveal exactly 'who' were here. Hermione gasped and smiled broadly, as did many of her fellow students. Draco smiled genuinely at the ecstatic look oh his girlfriend's face and watched as she rushed forwards.

At least twenty five people maybe more had just appeared at the archway leading to the wooden bridge. All wearing black, billowing cloaks, some looking serious, others more casual but all of them smiling, even if it was a small one. Draco recognised the people in front. Molly Weasley standing next to Arthur with Fred, George, Percy and some other tall boy but he must've been a Weasley because of his flaming red ginger hair, which was tied neatly in a ponytail. "MOLLY! Arthur! Fred, George! Bill! What are you all doing here?!" Hermione asked. It was a stupid question she knew, but she was so full of joy.

"It's good to see you too Hermione dear," Molly said kindly back to her.

"Well we weren't going to let you all die alone now were we," George stated, winking at her. Draco's eyes narrowed.

"Where's Charlie?" Hermione asked.

"Oh he'll be here," Arthur said, checking his watch.

"MUM! DAD!" Screamed a voice as Ginny came charging into view and flung herself at her parents. Ron followed with Harry behind him. Ginny disentangled herself from her parents and then threw her arms over Fred and George too, who looked mildly startled. "Calm down Gin, we're not dead quite yet," joked Fred.

"Yeah, as if you could lose us that easily," George laughed, elbowing Fred.

"And if we did die, we'd send you a postcard," Fred said reassuringly. Ginny shook her head, laughing.

"Tonks!" Hermione exclaimed happily as her eyes found the new mother in the group. "What are you doing here?! Where's the baby?!" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Oh it's fine, Teddy's with Mum, you know, Andromenda," Tonks said calmly. Draco's head snapped up. He stared at the women with Hermione. Andromenda? Tonks? But...

"Tonks?" He asked slowly and Tonks' head shot up.

"What are you doing here?" She asked suspiciously.

"He's Hermione's boyfriend," sung Blaise from behind them, "Hello, I'm Blaise, this is Theo and Pansy," he gestured behind him, "And that's Daphne, who decided to fight on our side because I am," he pointed vaguely over towards the small trio of Slytherin girls who were staying to fight against Voldemort, "And we are children of death eaters who are here to fight our parents! Apart from me, of course. My mother is off hooking up with some foreign dude as she does so every few days. Anyway, I do believe you're Draco's cousin! Is that right?" All five of them turned to face Blaise in bewilderment. Draco, Theo and Pansy all made uneasy eye contact. None of them had really discussed the fact that they might be face to face with their parents. But in Draco's eyes the answer was certain. If he was put against his father, he would kill him without hesitation. He'd never kill his mother though. Pansy bit her lip. She hated her father but would she really kill him. She didn't particularly like her mother but she wasn't a death eater so why would she be here today. Theo and his father seemed to have a decent, average pure blood family relationship. Civil until the child steps out of line. And Theo had stepped out of line. In fact, he had stepped right over the line onto the other side. And he was dead set upon staying there.

"So you're... going out?" Tonks teetered, then whispered to Hermione, "Hermione he's a -"

"Shut up Tonks," Hermione warned dangerously, "We've been together for ages now. He risked his ass to save mine, multiple times. I love him and he loves me and all the crap that comes along with it. Fact is, he's on our side. He's also your cousin." Tonks looked from Draco to Hermione before sighing.

"Don't screw it up," she told Draco with a nod. Draco bit his lip and risked a nod back. Nothing really made sense any more. He hadn't seen Tonks in... he hadn't seen Tonks ever, other than in the Daily Prophet. Sure, she'd been talked about but he'd never really met her, despite them being cousins.

Hermione looked around and saw other familiar faces; Kingsley, Mundungus and some of the old order members like Dedalus Diggle, Elphias Doge and Hestia Jones were all grouped together near the Weasleys and a very old looking man who strongly resembled Dumbledore was standing quite alone by the archway. She recognised him but couldn't quite work out where from. Making her way over to this man, Hermione noticed small features about him that made her feel as though she was staring at their late headmaster himself but of course, that was impossible. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione introduced herself. The old man peered down his long nose at the girl and his eyes crinkled in recognition.

"I know who you are," the man said sternly, before focusing his gaze beyond Hermione and up at the castle. Hermione bit her lip and persisted the conversation.

"If you don't mind me asking," she started in a small voice, "Who are you?"

"Aberforth Dumbledore, I'm surprised you didn't know that. I run the Hog's Head," the old man mused shortly. That's where she'd recognised him from, the Hog's Head!

"Wait - Dumbledore?" She asked, "Albus's brother?"

"Hmm? Yes Albus's brother. Didn't like him very much. A greedy coward he was," Aberforth said with a bitter edge. Hermione looked startled. Surely they couldn't be talking about the same Albus Dumbledore.

"Hermione! What are you - oh..." Draco faltered, seeing Aberforth. Unlike Hermione, he knew exactly who he was. "Hermione we need to get back to the others," he said shortly before pulling the curious Hermione away.

"Draco what are you doing?" She hissed once they were out of Aberforth's earshot.

"Nothing, just... don't run off like that," Draco said uncomfortably.

"I was just talking to someone else!" Hermione said incredulously.

"I know," snapped Draco, fidgeting slightly, "But I couldn't see where you were."

"We're about to go into war Draco, you may not be able to see me at all."

"How am I supposed to protect you if I don't know where you are?!"

"You're not," said Hermione shortly with a smile, "I can protect myself." Draco bit his lip and Hermione could see the worry etched in his pale face. "I love you," Hermione added and gripped Draco's hand, giving it a slight squeeze.

Draco watched Hermione closely as she turned and headed towards another group of people, thoroughly wishing he could just tell her how much he cared about her. She just didn't get it.

"Fleur? What a nice surprise!" Hermione smiled to Fleur, who was holding hands with Bill Weasley and looking around. Despite her dislike for Fleur in fourth year, Hermione had gotten over their differences during Bill and Fleur's wedding earlier that year.

"Hermione, eet eez veory nice to zees you," Fleur said in her strong French accent. Hermione smiled and noticed a massive shadow to her right and looked up to see Madam Maxime. She smiled up at her and said hi to the Beauxbatons headmistress before leaving them to see who else was here.

She saw Neville talking to an elderly woman who she guessed must be his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom. To their left was a huddle of young adults consisting of Lee Jordan, Oliver wood, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Katy Bell and the Weasleys twins, all of whom had been in the old Gryffindor quiddich team., other than Lee, who'd commentated all of their matches since Hermione's first year. Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe were talking to each other a few feet away but Hermione didn't really want to talk to either of them. Not after how Marietta had betrayed the whole of D.A. by snitching on them to Umbridge in fifth year.

And that was everyone. Not many people, but it might be enough. Soon, Professor McGonagall was ordering all the advanced witches and wizards into a circle to form a protective shield around the school. "It needs to block out an entire army so don't be feeble!" Cried McGonagall as she raised her wand and yelled, "Protego, Maxima!" Everyone followed suit including Ginny, Hermione and Draco as Harry, Ron, Neville and Luna watched, knowing they couldn't make the shield effectively.

Soon, a glimmering white dome had formed around the school, blurring the setting sun beyond the mountains on the horizon. "Sunset," Draco murmured uneasily. All Hermione could do was nod. A growl sounded behind them and they turned to see Fluffy barking at something ahead. Turning their attention back towards the archway they saw a towering figure emerge clumsily. "GRAWPY!" Boomed Hagrid as he strode proudly over to the giant. Grawp beamed stupidly and ducked under the archway. Many people screamed but McGonagall managed to form a hush and everyone instead stared at the giant. "What -" Draco began.

"Hagrid's half brother," Hermione explained to which Draco gave her a bewildered look. He decided not to question it however.

There was a definite increase of panic now with the sun dropping ever lower behind the mountains. "Seamus, Dean, Lee, Fred and George!" McGonagall called determinedly. The five boys looked around and wandered over hurriedly to the headmistress. "I trust you know the seriousness of the situation," McGonagall said heavily, "I want you to blow up the wooden bridge."

"What, blow it up?" Dean asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"As in kaboom?!" Lee asked excitedly.

"Boom Lee, boom indeed," McGonagall said with energy.

"Alright then!" Fred said enthusiastically.

"Never want to disappoint Professor," George said grinning.

"Off now with you!" The elderly woman said firmly. All five boys exchanged excited looks before running towards the bridge.

"They're gonna blow it up Professor? For real?" Asked Neville excitedly.

"Yes Mr Longbottom. Boom!" McGonagall said proudly as she walked over towards a huddle of teachers.

"Wicked!" Neville called towards her retreating back.

"Right!" McGonagall said bravely once she'd reached a group of teachers, "Get ready for a small boom!" She raised her arms to the heavens and cried, "PIERTOTUM LOCOMATOR!" Instantly there was a crash like the roll of thunder that shakes the sky and a small army of stone statues and suits of armour came marching out of the entrance hall doors. "Hogwarts is threatened! Man the boundaries! Protect us! DO YOUR DUTY TO OUR SCHOOL!" McGonagall cried loudly to the army of statues and armour suits, some small some large but all bearing swords or flails. They separated and marched in small groups to the different entrances of the school, blocking the bridges and gateways. "I've always wanted to do that spell!" McGonagall squeaked excitedly to Molly Weasley, who raised her eyebrows, unsure whether to be disapproving or amused.

Suddenly, they were in semidarkness and people began to notice the lack of sun, or rather no sun at all. The terror grew amongst everyone standing in that courtyard. You'd be stupid to say you weren't scared. However, it was in silence that the people stood, watching. Waiting. Even Ron and Harry were looking beyond the archway to see if anyone was coming. "Destroyed all the horcruxes yet?" Hermione asked Harry timidly. Harry looked at her before biting his lip.

"We think that there are six," he said quietly, "we've destroyed five. I - I had a vision when down in the chamber... it's the snake Hermione. We've got to kill the snake." Hermione gasped. Draco overheard and shot his head towards Harry.

"How the hell do you propose we kill a snake, not just any snake, but the Dark Lord's pet snake. That's like... that's like trying to kill Crookshanks with Hermione's in the room! Or... or trying to get Pansy to be a kind and sympathetic princess to everyone! That's impossible! Not going to happen. He never leaves the beast!" Draco said indignantly as Hermione pouted, annoyed that he'd consider killing her cat.

"Well we'll find a way," said Harry determinedly.

"We're killing the snake?" Neville asked from behind them.

"Why?" Ginny asked from Hermione's left.

"Sounds interesting," mused Luna.

"For Merlin's sake," groaned Ron.

"Yes were killing the snake," sighed Harry defeatedly.

"Why are we killing the snake," Ginny repeated.

"'Cos it's a horcrux. Basically we get rid of it, we get rid of Voldemort," Harry said with a heavy heart.

"Sounds fun," Neville grinned.

"I'm in," smiled Luna. Harry bit his lip.

"Don't forget us, we're very ultra important members in your defeat the Dark Lord gang," Blaise said loudly from behind Draco. They all turned to see Blaise, Theo and Pansy, who was smirking proudly.

"Skip the it's dangerous talk babe, we know it off by heart," Ginny said giving him a false, sweet smile. Harry nodded once and then again to the new trio of Slytherins and just as he did so, a fork of lightning filled the sky with light making everyone squint and silhouetted by the lightning on the top of one of the closer hills stood a man as pale as the flesh of a dead body, swathed in black and leading an army which trailed off into the distance, an army all hooded and masked, swathed like their master in black, billowing cloaks. "It's time!" A magically magnified voice echoed off of the mountains as loud as if it were shouting in your ear. Draco sneaked an arm around Hermione's waist and quivered slightly. Ginny clenched Harry's hand, Blaise, Theo and Pansy all huddled next to each other, Ron took a few steps to find Lavender, Luna smiled timidly at Neville with all usual happiness swiped clean off her face and every other face in their crowd looked up at the dark figure in the blackness beyond. "You will all die tonight," came the cold, mirthless, magnified voice of the man they all knew so well, "You will join me or die, the choice is yours. Live a better life with no mudblood or muggle dirt unpurifying the ground beneath your feet, or die in the blood of your friends as we slaughter them all. The choice is your." Everyone shuddered yet they all stood their ground.

"Bitch we're gonna hunt you mother a-holes down!" Yelled Blaise, giving a few people around him a little hope and some even stifle a laugh. The lack of responsitivity made ruthless wizard laugh his cold, high pitched laugh and grin. "So be it," he spat and raised his wand, shooting a beam of light into the everlasting darkness. "Death eaters, begin the attack." And the man laughed again that spine shivering laugh that made them want to turn and shudder, never to look into that face again. The face of Lord Voldemort.

A/N Well then. How do we think? Sorry if it dragged a little, had to do a bit of explaining but the war has now officially started! Only a few more chapters to go, probably around 5 knowing me. Remember to tell me what you think and next chapter should hopefully be out on a Tuesday, preferably 2 weeks time but no garuntee. Hope you've enjoyed the story so far.