"Hermione?" Arthur questioned as she made her way up the castle steps. Ron and Harry propping up a sobering Severus. "What's wrong."
"Ginny?" Hermione questioned without an answer. "Now Arthur, where is she? We haven't much time."
"Her room, with Draco." Arthur pointed to the stairs. Hermione followed his directions.
"Get everyone in the entrance who is ready to fight. Harry, get the Armstrong!" Hermione ordered as she climbed the steps to Ginny's room. Inside she found the loving parents fondly rocking their children. "It's time." Hermione was handed Jonathan as Draco left the room and Hermione escorted Ginny out.
"They are here?" Ginny asked behind Hermione, halfway down the third corridor. Halfway to there destination.
"The train has been attacked." Hermione answered weakly. Using all her strength not to cry.
"Andromeda. She's taken her again, hasn't she?" Ginny asked.
"Yes." Hermione cried. "Severus is a state. He won't be able to fight. He was drunk. Then sober. Now he's in mourning."
"He thinks she's killed her?" Ginny asked being ushered into a small room that only the two girls knew of it's existence. No one would find them here. Hermione wished now that she had done the same with her mother and daughter. "What if she has."
"Alisha had not killed your daughter. Voldermort would never let that happen. You know as well as I do.... He has a fathers love for Andromeda. She didn't show him fear, she showed him respect. He honoured that. He will not let her die."
"A life is a life to him Ginny. My daughter isn't special."
"How can you say that. She was created by two wonderful people who bring out the best in each other-"
"Who have almost destroyed each other!" Hermione reminded her. "Nothing will be the same again. After this war. I'm leaving. Him, this world. Andromeda. I take her away from him, he'll die!" Hermione cried. "I'm going to miss her. I can't live like this. I've done nothing wrong. But he looks at me as if I have. I can't forgive him for that. I can't live with a man who doesn't trust me." There was nothing Ginny could say to make her change her mind, she knew that. There was only one person who could do that. All Ginny could do was nod and hug her friend. "I have to ask. Do you want to fight?" Hermione asked the woman who was now cradling Jonathan. She shook her head.
"My duty is to protect my children. I can't do that on the battlefield." She looked to Dillon who was sleeping in a cot. "I'm a coward aren't I?"
"No. You are so brave. Your duty is coming before you pride. I wish I had your discipline. I'm going to have to go." Hermione made for the door
"Good luck." Ginny whispered. "Don't get killed." Hermione nodded and headed towards the main entrance.
When she descended down the stairs. All eyes rose to her. Everyone was looking to her for guidance. Why her? When did she become the leader of a battle? For centuries, women where not aloud to fight in the wizarding world. In one night she destroyed that tradition completed. No revolution, no painful change. At least, Hermione hoped. Why where they still looking at her? Speech?! They wanted a speech. Harry handed her a broom giving her a supportive smile. One that Severus should have been giving her.
"This night, we will fight. For every witch, wizard and muggle in the world. Tonight, we will bring down an evil Lord." Simple, yet satisfying. Harry rejoined her on the stairs as did Draco and Ron. "Severus?" Hermione questioned when he didn't appear. The boys looked grave. "Shit!" Hermione kicked the stairs. "Shit, shit, shit. Selfish fucking bastard."
"Hermione. He's gone after your daughter. That's more selfless than I could ever imagine." Ron reasoned with her
"No. He's gone to have his face off with Alisha. This has nothing to do with our daughter." Hermione fumed. "Stupid man, he's going to get himself killed."
"Hermione, we haven't got time. We need to get to the tower." Harry urged pushing her lightly up the stairs.
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The air that hit Hermione's face was think. It hugged her bones with the intention to suffocate her. The setting sun made way for the fast approaching thunder storm. Harry and Ron stood to her left while Draco stood to her right. The plan being to fly above the stone replacement of Voldermort. Plant the seed in a crevasse of the stone and then set the seed off with a simple germination spell. Hermione had felt confident about the plan until Severus had abandoned her, once again. She had known all along it was something he had to do. She just hoped he wouldn't have the nerve. Now all she could think about was; would it lead to their daughter's demise?
"You have the Armstrong?" Hermione questioned as Minerva led all the witches and wizards prepared to fight onto the grounds of Hogwarts. How many were condemned to their death before the war began. Harry felt his robe pocket.
"Right here." He smiled at Hermione. "You ready for this."
"I've been ready for years. I thought the day Severus brought me home from New York the war had begun. I've been on the edge of my seat since then," Hermione looked into the distance, there in the direction of the town was a bright light. They were bringing burning torches. "What are we going to do to celebrate?" Hermione questioned. They had a matter of minutes before they reached the gates.
"A feast!" Ron answered bright eyed. It was Ron's perfect idea of a celebration. "A week long feast."
"You wish to stuff us to death?" Draco questioned with a laugh.
"No. Sevi can brew us one of those potions which makes sure you never feel full." Ron began drooling at the thought.
"That's if he lives through his pride." Hermione spat. "Even if Alisha doesn't kill him. I will." The rain plummeted down on their heads as Voldermort's army of death eaters crashed through the gates. Below them, people stirred. Wanting to start the war early. "Steady!" Hermione muttered. "Hold them steady Minerva."
"She's knows what she's doing H." Harry held the woman's hand. She was trembling. He knew she was searching the crowd of death eaters for Alisha. Harry knew she wouldn't find her. "He's safe H. Don't doubt him."
"I wish I had your confidence." Hermione went to say something else but was distracted. A sound like thunder shoot the castle to the core. They knew what it was. Fear, personified. Evil, set in stone. "Son of a bitch!" Hermione screamed.
"That's the size of a house-" Draco began staring at the stone statue of a lion that was making its way to the castle.
"Make that five houses!" Ron corrected eyeing the statue up. "Didn't know muggle's made statues that big."
"They don't" Hermione and Harry said in unison.
"We are fucked!" Draco spat.
"We still go ahead as planed." Harry mounted his broom. "Back me up H. I trust you to finish this." Hermione had an instant backflash to the day Harry offered himself to her. What would have happened if she had said yes. At least the man in front of her, flying out to meet his fate, trusted her. As Draco and Ron mounted and followed suit Hermione hung back. She didn't want to get in the way. No doubt the death eaters would spot them and join them on brooms. Her eyes returned to the ground. Bodies scattered the grounds. Unforgivable were being flung about randomly. Sometimes getting one. Sometimes two. Some of the death eaters below were no older than twenty. It still shocked her to think that Draco could have been down there. How things could have been different.
Hermione's eyes were distracted by a block of blackness hobbling through the gates. She could go and check it out and the get back in time. She mounted her broom and made for the stumbling mass. The near she got, her apprehension rose. She knew who it would be. Her mother, Remus, Severus and Andromeda. All were unscathed. Bar one.
"Severus?!" Hermione dived to the ground as Remus buckled under Severus' weight. He had a fatal wound. "No!" Hermione laid his head in her lap. "You foolish man!!!!" Hermione screamed through her tears. The plan forgotten. He looked up weakly.
"I'm sorry." He pulled at a stray strand of Hermione's hair. "I-" He lost his voice amongst a mouthful of blood.
"You didn't have to do this."
"I wanted forgiveness." He answered.
"I gave it to you before you requested it." Hermione cried he shook his head.
"I had to forgive myself." He closed his eyes.........
A/N: There is more to this. But it's taken me so long to write this. I couldn't leave you all waiting.
Crimson Regret177: Orlando Bloom.... Interesting. Which one of his silver screen personas though? I loved drunk Sev.... He might appear again in another story.
queenbonnie: The bitch battle is in the next chapter.
Anarane Anwamane: Very big butt. Although he was a little AWOL in this chapter. Next chapter will be dedicated to him though.
: poetrychik: Awwwww, shucks. I'm glad you are so loyal to me
NeopianClayniac: Oh good. Don't you think it's a girl name though?
JasperPress7: Glad you enjoyed him.... Almost took advantage though :-
Siriusblackgirl4eva: WHERE ARE YOU???????? Are you still alive???????