Spells shot through the air in every direction. The shouts and screams of fallen witches and wizards could be heard everywhere. Hermione herself ducked one before unleashing a cutting charm towards the Death Eater in front of her. She gritted her teeth, her eyes shifting around immediately for another enemy. Harry was battling Voldemort as she speaks, so Hermione needs to deal with every other goon which the dark wizard had. Hermione almost immediately got into another duel with another Death Eater, her years' experience of being an Auror helping her tremendously as she knocked them out easily.

To think that it would all come down to this. The Second Wizarding War was a growing nightmare which the ministry tried to hide for so long, trying to deny the truth which was growing right before their eyes. A spark of irritation struck through Hermione's mind as she ducked a killing spell and counteracted with a blasting curse. This needed to end. The battlefield was getting destroyed more and more and despite her needing to keep her head on her shoulders as she fought for her survival, the memories of the school just kept going through Hermione's mind.

Hogwarts was a place who accepted her despite being a muggle-born. It was a place of learning for all witches and wizards, the very ones who were fighting right now. Hermione recognizes faces of students and past students who she went to Hogwarts with. Young and old, past, and present, alumni and present students, all fighting for the future they believed was right. It was a black and white battle. Those who believed in Harry and those who believed in Voldemort.

Hermione prayed that Harry were persevering. He was the only one who could stop all this. While Hermione feels terribly that such a life changing thing can only be done by him, she had complete faith in his abilities. He has grown into a powerful wizard and she knows that he is the only one who can defeat Voldemort once and for all. As long as he has destroyed all of the horcruxes, then Voldemort can be eradicated from this world forever and there can finally be peace.

Although Hermione did notice Nagini when Voldemort marched across the bridge with his army of Death Eaters, while Hagrid carried the supposed lifeless body of Harry. She is the only thing which is keeping the dark wizard rooted to this world. But knowing Harry, he should have a plan. And hopefully he will be able to achieve that as well. She did hear Luna and Ron speaking about something regarding the snake so hopefully they will be implementing the plan they had with Harry.

As Hermione battles inside the castle walls, Hermione couldn't help but felt heartsick when she saw the ruins of the place she saw as her second home when she attended the school. Her memories that she had here between these walls. The times she spent with her housemates and friends, learning everything that a young witch needed to know before going into the real world, it was wonderful. And of course, her experiences with all her peers were not forgettable. Especially the experiences she had with a certain witch.

Seeing her standing by his side gave her a mixture of feelings, though she tried not to be in view of the witch. The students of the school flocked in front of her, screaming and gasping when they saw Harry getting carried by Hagrid. So, she shouldn't have been spotted. But Hermione could spot the witch from any crowd. She was very eye-catching after all.

Running through the castle walls, attacking each Death Eater she saw and aiding the others who were locked in their own battles, Hermione eventually found herself fighting in the Great Hall. The place where she used to have meals with all her housemates. The best time for her as she and Lily used to guess over the latest book they had found in the library and the various different spells they were learning while James and Sirius would be having a heated discussion about Quidditch while Peter tried to chime into the conversation while Remus simply would eat quietly, listening to all the conversations that were going around the table. Those were such bright, innocent times. Hermione wishes she could go back to those days. Where all of them were simply being students, not needing to worry for the future and fates that were in store for them. If only things had gone differently. If they had just known what would happen to them once they graduated.

Hermione spotted Molly and Author in the Great Hall, fighting battles alongside their son George and their daughter Ginny. Ron was nowhere to be seen so Hermione only hoped that the ginger boy was okay. The familiar face of her friends was a welcoming sight and it made Hermione relax a little bit, knowing that the Weasley's were okay. Knowing the two of them since school days, it was a relied that they were still alive.

Molly caught her eye and a smile graced her lips before she turned back to fight off the Death Eaters that dared to get closer to her family. Hermione smiled inwardly. She has always been a protective lioness to her family. Before and after she married Author.

But then Hermione's attention got taken away when she turned and caught sight of the very witch, she worried she would have to face today. Those dark eyes that always managed to freeze her in place were locked with hers and they would not look away for even a second. Her untamed locks were as wild as ever and her skin was perfectly smooth despite the grime and dirt which was on her face. She still wore her trademark dress, which provided much temptation to those whose eyes wondered to her. Her bodice emphasised on the thin, feminine figure which she always had, even back in school days where she walked through the school proudly in her Slytherin robes.

Bellatrix Black, the right hand of the Dark Lord himself, stood before her, her wand clenched in her hand as she stared back ay Hermione with a concealed expression. Hermione gritted her teeth as she tensed, her wand hand slightly shaking as she squeezed her wand's handle.

"To think that it would come to this."

Bellatrix tilted her head slightly, a lock of hair falling into her eyes but quickly shook away from the black witch herself. Even though there was a battle going on, it still felt like it was just Hermione and Bellatrix in the room, no one else. Hermione swallowed thickly as she looked at the woman whom she had so many experiences wit in Hogwarts, some bad but some also good.

"You and I are on two different sides."

She said, her voice sounding surprisingly gentle despite her cackling sadistically not too long ago when she took in the reactions of all the shocked horror that was portrayed by everyone when they believed that Harry was dead. Despite being on opposite sides, Hermione's heart tightened when Bellatrix used that tone on her. The tone she so rarely used because she had a reputation she always upheld. It was the tone she used when she was with her back at school, when it was just her and Hermione together without any other students surrounding them.

"You can still change. I know you still have a chance to change this Bella. You can do good."

"Ha!"

Bellatrix let out a laugh, shaking her head wildly as she looked at Hermione like she had told her a joke. Her wild locks shook with the movement and her eyes zeroed in on Hermione's as she took a stance, raising her wand as she stared at Hermione, who began to raise her wand as well.

"You and I both know that is not true. I am the Dark Lord's most trusted. I am his right-hand. I am his most loyal follower. I will not abandon him now, not when we are so close."

Her eyes had fire in them, the same maniac glint which the newspapers always caught perfectly in her eyes when the black witch featured in the Daily Prophet. Hermione as seen it many times. It was a part of Bellatrix that could never leave her. With everything she has gone though, there will always be a little bit of insanity in her. But that was not what defined her. Hermione knew that.

"You know better Bella. You know that what you are saying is just rehearsed."

Hermione took her stance, still not firing the first spell. But Bellatrix didn't either. The two of them just faced off with one another. Hermione noticed that Bellatrix's wand was shaking slightly, and she noticed a flicker of doubt passing through her eyes before getting covered up with resolve again.

"You're wrong."

"I don't think I am."

Both stood before each other, the battle still going on around them and no one taking note of the old classmates that were facing off with one another.

"Where did it all go wrong Bella?"

"I'm sure you already know, Pet."

The nickname shot through Hermione, being so long since she heard the term of endearment. Bellatrix was not someone who always showed affection, but if there was just one string of hope left…just one chance to try save her…then maybe Hermione can get to it before it gets cut.

"Bella-"

"Enough."

Bellatrix's face hardened and her lips circled back as she snarled at Hermione, no form of recognition in her eyes as she saw Hermione as an enemy now. Hermione tensed and readied herself as she waited. Then at the same time, the two witches casted, both intending to win this fight.

"Sectumsempra!"

"Confingo!"

And as the two spells clashed, Hermione couldn't help but think at the back of her head as her spell connected with Bellatrix's

Where did it all go wrong?