You're thinking of the way you should have held my hand

"What have you done?" Sirius Black advanced on Hermione Granger, 2 wands pointed directly at her. "Where has my Master gone, what sort of magic is this?"

She felt Draco Malfoy grab her roughly from behind and spin her around to face him. "You had better speak up Granger. Else I may be forced to let this dog have you."

"Get out of my way, Malfoy." Draco Malfoy was pushed out of the way. "You're going to let me have her? As if you could stop me." Sirius Black resumed his advance on Hermione. "Since I was interrupted, I will say this one more time, what have you done?"

Hermione looked at the dark haired man. She couldn't talk, she couldn't breathe. She saw him raise a wand and his mouth moved. She didn't hear the words that were spoken. All she could hear was this strange buzzing in her ears.

"Petrificus Totalus."

Sirius Black fell to the floor with a resounding thud.

"Accio wands."

Both wands went flying from Black into the hands of Draco Malfoy.

Hermione raised wide eyes from the figure on the floor to see a smile on Draco's face. "Well done, Hermione. Not sure exactly what you did, but well done nonetheless." The ice blue eyes swam before her and the world went black.

Draco jumped forward and caught his former classmate before she hit the floor. He rushed again to the table and laid her out. Blood had again begun to trickle from her nose and mouth. Once again, his hands and wand moved across her body. He struggled analyze the readings his wand was giving him. "Damn, I should have paid more attention in Madame Pomfrey's Healing Arts classes."

He performed what magic he could and was relieved to note that the flow of blood had again been quelled. He removed the sapphire button down he wore and with a flash of his wand she was wearing it. He performed a warming spell on her ice-cold body. Pulling up a chair, he took her hand in his and waited.

And all the times you'd say you didn't understand

In the Great Hall Voldemort was trapped.

Harry Potter's voice issued out a command and suddenly the Boy Who Lived held two wands. The phoenix feather brothers, one Holly and one Yew. The wands quivered and hummed with a life of their own. A band of power appeared, uniting the two wands as one. Staring at the wizard who killed his parents, Harry Potter began to chant. No one was sure of the words, but the effect was clear. Harry Potter was stripping Voldemort of his source. A green, glowing stream flowed from the Dark Lord to Harry's 11-inch wand.

Calmly, Albus Dumbledore cocked his head slightly, smiled and said, "It's been a long time, Tom."

"It certainly has Professor Dumbledore." The name spewed from the barely-human creature's mouth like a foul word. "I'm sure you hoped never to face me again you senile excuse for a wizard."

Albus chuckled at this, "Ah, Tom, time has not made you any less arrogant. You are amusing. Look around you. You are wandless, you're powers are being drained, and you are surrounded by powerful wizards and witches who WILL see you destroyed."

Dumbledore spoke now to Severus Snape, infuriating the Dark Lord even more. Dumbledore had turned his back to him and he was unable to do anything, helpless. The magical rubbish the boy was spewing was powerful, far stronger than any he was ever able to do. What he would give to have his wand, to point it at Dumbledore's back and issue the Unforgivable that would finally make Hogwart's his.

Voldemort's eyes fastened on the traitor in black. Once a trusted servant, he had crossed to the light side and helped to bring about the end of his Death Eaters. "Don't look so worried, Severus. Even in my absence, I'm sure Malfoy and Black will take good care of Miss Granger. They may even take the time to pleasure the Mudblood. That is, before they gut her and hang her at the gates of Hogwarts." He enjoyed the look of panic that took over the Potion Master's face.

Chuckling slightly again, Albus patted the tall man on the arm. "Leave now for Malfoy Manor, Severus. Rest assured my friend, I am sure you will find her safe. Do not act in haste."

He turned look Voldemort in the eye and explained "Draco has been working on our side since his father's death."

"I am sure he has seen to Hermione's safety. As soon as we dispose of the business at hand, I will send you further assistance." Albus nodded to Severus and smiled reassuringly.

You never had our love written in your plans

Severus moved quickly from the door, to the dungeons to retrieve his broom, and then outside. He took to the sky and made for the Aparation Zone. He had seen the state of her condition in the Pensieve; the bruises and the blood. Something inside him told him he had to hurry. He had told her there would be no proclamations of love. But, he was wrong. He had to tell her he was wrong. "I love her," drove him faster.

Hermione's eyes fluttered and opened slowly. She looked at Draco and smiled. Every inch of her body hurt. She realized that she was still injured quite badly; but, she also knew she was safe. She licked her dry lips and croaked "Water."

"Sorry, Granger. I'm sure that you are still injured internally. Nothing by mouth for you until we get you taken care of." Draco spoke softly and smoothed her hair back from her face.

"I want to go home, Draco." Tears started to fall from her eyes. "I need to go home."

"Ssshhhhhhhh," he soothed. "I can't try to move you now, not even to apparate. But, they will be coming soon. When I realized that Black had brought you here, I sent an owl to Hogwarts before making my appearance to Voldemort."

She panicked a bit at the sound of Black's name and looked around a bit frantically. "Where is he?" She raised her head a bit and saw him lying on the floor, still stunned.

Draco followed her line of vision. "Lousy SOB. You know, he was in league with Peter Pettigrew when Harry's parents were killed. He figured out that siding with Voldemort against Dumbledore was a mistake and tried to kill Pettigrew to cover his tracks. But, when Dumbledore threw him out of the castle and Harry turned his back on him, the cur came crawling back to the Dark Side."

Hermione started coughing, and, with Draco's help, turned to the side to allow the blood that was once again filling her mouth to flow to the floor. Once again, Draco cast the charms he knew, trying to staunch the red. Once again, the bleeding stopped.

She lay on her back again, clutching Draco's hand desperately. "I want Severus," she cried like a child.

"I'm sure he's coming. Just hang on Hermione." Draco did his best to hide the fear that had taken hold of him. "I just hope he hurries." "Severus is it now? Harry told me the two of you had gotten quite close. Never thought you had it in you, Granger," he teased lightly.

She looked confused. "Harry?"

"Yes, Harry. After my father was killed, I realized that Voldemort had to be destroyed if the wizarding world I loved was to continue. I come from an old line of wizards and we weren't all evil. I was a Deatheater who managed to "escape" the ministry to return to the Dark Side. Still, I have been able to keep in touch with Albus and Harry. We were just waiting for the right time to strike down Voldemort."

Hermione smiled and closed her eyes now. She drifted off, lulled by the fingers that were gently stroking her hand. The last words she heard were soft, "Sleep now, Severus will be here soon."

At the castle, the stripping was complete. Voldemort lie in a heap on the floor of the Great Hall. Red eyes still flashed his fury.

Albus Dumbledore raised his wand. "My friends if you will join me. This ends now. The ministry will overlook the use of an Unforgivable on this occasion, I can assure you. Together now."

"Avada Kadavra"

In a blinding flash of green, the Dark Lord was no more.

Harry took the longer of the phoenix feather wands to the fireplace and laid it inside. He pointed is own wand at it and it burst into flames. The final link to Voldemort was severed. The scar on his forehead vanished.

Everyone was silent. Harry spoke first. "Oh Gods, what about Hermione?" He rushed toward the doors, preparing to follow after Severus for Malfoy Manor.

"Wait," Albus instructed. "Take Poppy, Remus, and Minerva with you. Although Draco should have secured the area, you should be cautious."

In a matter of minutes, the group flew through the sky, flying southward toward the large Oak tree.