Disclaimer: slips twenty bucks into everyone's pockets You didn't see this. I'm just taking them out for a test drive. I will return them…eventually.
By the way, this has some allusion to a Draco/Ginny. If you have an issue with that, too bad, cause I'm keeping it in here.
Jaderook: Thank you so much for reminding me about this story. I have to tell you it's pretty cool that you actually read and reviewed my story seeing as you're one of my favorite SS/HG authors. I absolutely love The Alchemist's Apprentice. Kinda weird the way that works. But anyway, thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind and try to use it. I hope this is long enough for you.
Chapter 5: Flashbacks make you wake up screaming
The good night's rest didn't last.
Hermione had been sleeping peacefully for the first time in six years until dawn approached. Then the dreams started back up again. Normally, she would have just woken out of them sweating with a muted scream on her lips, but his time she would have no such luck.
Dream/Flashback Sequence
It all started peacefully. The most wicked things always seem to start with the best of things. The day had started out blissfully enough. It was the end of sixth year and exams were done. Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting underneath a tree by the lake, talking. The subject had inevitably turned to Quidditch and Hermione had tuned the boys out. She was mulling over a problem she had had on her Arithmancy exam that had given her some difficulty. The boys turned to her, expecting an answer on something and she had answered that she wasn't paying attention to their silly debate about Quidditch. That was one of her biggest regrets, but the past can't be changed.
Suddenly, Professor Snape came flying up to them. He seemed panic-stricken, almost as if Voldemort himself was on his tail and the truth was not far off that. Grabbing Harry by the collar, he ordered Ron and I to follow him and dragged Harry behind him. Faster than she had ever thought possible, they were in the Headmaster's office.
Everyone from the Order was there. She hadn't known that Dumbledore's office could hold that many people, but somehow, everyone was there. She, Ron and Harry were brought to the front, right near Dumbledore's desk and seated in the chairs. Dumbledore turned to them, his eyes lacking their usual twinkle, the first sign that all was not going well.
"Well, now that we are all here, let us begin. To put it to you bluntly, the battle has begun. Voldemort has attacked Hogsmeade and we need to bring the battle to him. Severus has suggested that we no longer fight this war on the defensive and I feel that he is right. Now we shall attack him before he can get to Hogwarts.
"The students have been secured in secret underground passages. If anything should happen, they will be transported to a safehouse with Professors Flitwick and Hooch. There, Voldemort cannot find them. Some of the older students refused to go and instead volunteered to fight in this war. They are also below ground, being prepared by Professor McGonagall. They will join us when we leave to fight.
"Now you all know what your jobs will be in this fight. Harry, Ron and Hermione: you will be protected by both Professor Snape and myself. Everyone else knows what to do. We shall walk to the gates of Hogwarts and Apparate to the battle scene. Many of the students are unable to Apparate, so I will need each of you to help bring them to the battle." Dumbledore finished and everyone made their way down to the gates. They were soon joined by many of the sixth and seventh year students. Hermione was surprised to see Draco Malfoy in the group. She walked up to him to see if it really was him.
"What Hermione, think I would be some sniveling fool and follow that flea bag? I am nobody's slave and I will fight and die to keep that. I may not like you very much, but at least I have my priorities straight." All Hermione could do was hug him tightly and whisper a small thank you in his ear.
Surprised, Draco hugged her back and whispered, "No, thank you." The party continued silently to the front gates. Before they left the gates for the battle scene, Dumbledore stood before them.
"I know that many of you are frightened. This is to be a great battle and many will die. If you are afraid, please back out now. You will not be able to back out when we get there. But before you go to an almost certain death, I must say thank you. You are willing to lay down your lives in order to ensure that the wizarding community at large can remain safe and free. Now let us go out and show Voldemort what it means to threaten Hogwarts." Hermione, still standing next to Draco, was surprised when Ginny walked up to Draco and planted a big kiss on his lips. Draco, also surprised, started to respond before Ginny began to pull away.
She blushed before looking him in the eye and saying, "I couldn't go off to die without doing that. I'm sorry." Before she had finished her apology, however, Draco crushed his mouth against hers in a searing kiss. After a few seconds, they pulled back and he looked deeply into Ginny's eyes. He whispered to her, "We'll talk about this after the battle."
The mass of people headed for the gate, Apparating away as soon as they could. Harry, Ron and Hermione grabbed a hold of each other and Apparated together. They arrived right behind Dumbledore and Snape, both of whom were the Trio's brick wall. Hermione dispensed the potion she had created to the other two boys and made sure they remembered the spell. The potion would break down Voldemort's defenses and had taken Hermione two sleepless weeks to make. It only needed to be splashed on his skin to work. The spell would kill Voldemort and finally destroy his soul. It had taken Hermione almost two years to perfect that spell and if Harry screwed it up even the slightest, all would be lost.
The Golden Trio stayed out of harm's for the most part because of their wall. Snape was unnerving in his ability to protect them. Dumbledore, however, had been slowly leading them to where Voldemort was situated, surrounded by his Death Eaters. Hermione took a step back when she realised how close they were to Voldemort. She had known that they would eventually need to fight him, but it seemed too early in the battle for that. Then she took a look at Dumbledore's face. There had been a wicked look in his eyes and the twinkle was back but it seemed different somehow. Right about then, Hermione reached her conclusion about Dumbledore. He cared not for the safety of the rest of the group fighting Voldemort, so long as Harry was able to kill him. The thought that scared her the most was that that meant she also was expendable.
Suddenly she found herself within the circle of Death Eaters with Harry and Ron. Dumbledore and Snape were battling it out with some of the Death Eaters, unable to come help the Trio. A low laugh, the laugh that had frightened her out of dreams for six years, was coming from a point somewhere behind her. She whirled around and there sat Voldemort, the most hideous creature she had ever seen. He smiled at her (a most grotesque sight) and said to them,
"Welcome my dears. The Battle has finally begun."