Disclaimer:I only own the shirt on my back and my own novel.

A/N:I only have a few thanks you, so this should be quick:-) Noemi - It always overwhelms me when people compare my fics to Ms Rowling herself. It's such a wonderful compliment to be made but I can only hope to have half the talent she does. I'm glad you that you like my story and I will definitely try my hand at a Harry and Hermione fic for you. sexy-jess - I'm quite proud of myself for thinking of that line:-) I hope this chapter is up to my usual standards for you. Severus' And Lucius' Girl - I know what you mean and had thought of it, but then decided to leave it. I just like to think of it as Snape being his usual berating self. allana - All my love right back atcha. I have a nice surprise for you in this chapter, see if you can spot it:-). hotskittles - Is this soon enough? And older men are the best.

Well, I'm sorry to say it's nearly at an end and I don't want it to be. But I have so much going on right now that I can't keep dragging it out. Besides, it would just get boring. However, there is a wonderful story that I'm Beta reading called The Rose That Bleeds by Lyckan. It's a HG/LM story and you should all go and read it:-) Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Spring was starting to make its presence known around the school grounds but the place was filled with sombre faces. N.E.W.T's and O.W.L's were starting to stress the fifth and seventh years. They also had the added pressure of learning how to duel two days of the week, and they were always long days. Dumbledore had received his fair number of Howlers off annoyed parents, however, they were soon overshadowed with praise from parents who thought it best their child or children know how to do these things in such a time of worry.

Hermione had cut off all of her emotions and thrown herself into studying for her looming exams. And when she wasn't doing that, she was searching for fierce hexes and curses that they hadn't been taught yet. Even Harry and Ron were rarely seen without a book under their arm.

None of the students had been informed of why they were suddenly learning all these new spells for combat but they didn't question it. They knew something serious was going to happen and left it at that. Teachers were now bearing down on their students for any mistakes in their lessons, the pressure of walking on eggshells clearly getting to them.

Dumbledore had taken to making the same speech each night at dinner; a united front was needed by all houses and family beliefs forgotten. The latter part always aimed at the Slytherin table.

Hermione was in her usual spot in the library, in a corner away from everyone. She had done her time of studying for the night and now it was time to do some research. She grabbed the large volume nearest to her and opened it at a random page. A lengthy spell in the middle of the page caught her eye. She read it through three times, feeling as though she was missing something. She took a look at the cover: 'Magic Through the Family Line: How to use it to your advantage'. Of course, how had she not thought of it before? Her heart was racing and felt light for the first time in months. She had a broad smile and couldn't believe luck could actually be on their side. It was going to take some thinking through and practice, but it should work.

She quickly checked the book out and almost ran all the way back to Gryffindor tower. Harry and Ron were in a corner doing their homework. She practically dragged them out of the common room and refused to say a word until they reached the Room of Requirement. They weren't about to argue either, as she was smiling and it had to mean something good.

"Take a look at this spell." She instructed as soon as they sat down on a couch in the corner. She gave them the open book and pointed to it. They both read it and then gave her a confused look. "Look at the title of the book." The closed the book and the frown went even deeper. "Harry, if you do that spell then you have all the power you need to defeat Voldemort." His head shot up at the word 'defeat'.

"You really think this will work?" He queried, not sure how this was going to give him that sort of power. She nodded vigorously causing her hair to come loose from her hair band.

"In the prophecy, Harry, it says that 'he will have power the Dark Lord knows not'. Voldemort doesn't know love and that's the power that protected you when you were a baby. If you say that spell, you will have so much love surrounding you that your power will be immense. It'll be enough to defeat Voldemort." She explained excitedly, only just enunciating her words. There was a lengthy silence before anyone spoke.

"There's no guarantee that this will work, Hermione. Also, the prophecy might not be about me." Harry told her in a defeatist tone.

"Yes, I know that. So we bring Neville into the equation and double the power. Bring Ron and me into it as well to add to your power then there will be no stopping you." She was on a roll now and she wasn't about to let anyone deflate this feeling of euphoria. Both her friends still looked sceptical about it. "We have nothing to lose now; this is the only option that may help us." She was practically pleading for them to accept her theory.

"But if it's a power from either Neville or me that kills Voldemort then how will you and Ron help. Besides, you're muggle born; there is no magic in your family." He felt guilty for pulling up these questions; he did want it to work. It just seemed too easy.

"Doesn't matter, we change the words in the spell to suit Ron and me, and our ancestors will help you not us. As for magic in my family, that doesn't matter, it's the love through my family that is the key."

"I am here, do I get a say yet?" Ron asked indignantly with a firm crossing of the arms. Hermione gave him a pointed glare to urge him. "I think she may have a good plan, mate. It does make sense how all of this would work." She smiled at his confidence in her theory. Harry finally gave in, realising that it was better than nothing.

The rest of the evening was spent with Harry practicing while Hermione reworded the spell for Ron and herself and Ron had pulled Neville into the room. To say that Neville had a panic attack was an understatement when he had been told of everything that had had happened and what was to come. It wasn't an easy task calming him down but with a painful slap across the face off Hermione and some stern words off Ron, he was ready to take on the world. They had confidence in him and his ability to do the spell and it boosted his confidence a great deal.

They had decided that they weren't going to tell Dumbledore about their plan; he would only dissuade them from using such powerful magic. Unbeknownst to them, he had come up with a plan of his own and with both plans combined………….but would they realise the power when it came to the time it was needed.

It was time for yet another day of duelling in the Great Hall and with their plan in action, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville were feeling extremely confident. Dumbledore had them line up against one side of the hall. He was going to try a new tactic today. He put them in lines of twenty and placed a wardrobe ten metres away from them and in the centre of the lines.

"Could the front line all aim their wands at this rather unfortunate wardrobe." He instructed. Twenty wand arms shot straight up and were aimed to the wardrobe. "Now send the worst hex you know at it." Loud instructions immediately filled the hall and disappeared as quickly as they came. A multi coloured flash headed towards the wardrobe and it vanished into thousands of pieces. "Just as I thought." Dumbledore mumbled to himself, his sparkle finally back in his eyes with hope in his heart. Everyone bar the headmaster was astounded at what had just taken place.

He made the students repeat the process all day long, increasing the numbers in the lines as he went along. This could possibly work; the only flaw was that he may have to inform the students as to why he was doing this.

The day came to a tiring end at dinner time. The students ate in silence with the odd request for food to be passed to them filling the hall. Even the teachers had a subdued silence about them and they had been there to simply watch over the students. Present events were taking their toll on everyone.

Sleep had taken over most of the inhabitants of the school when Severus was doing his walk around the school. It was as he made his finally stop at the library that his left forearm started to burn. He immediately picked up his stride and was outside the grounds of Hogwarts within ten minutes. He disapparated the second he was over the line that stopped him for apparating. He apparated into the familiar surroundings of a forest and stepped into his place in the circle.

"We attack tonight." Voldemort stated coolly once the last Death Eater had appeared. "Apparate into Hogsmeade and wait for my signal." Lucius and Severus felt their hearts jump into their throats. It was too soon. "GO!" Voldemort shouted to them all.

Both Lucius and Severus arrived outside the gates of Hogwarts. All dignities were forgotten as they stumbled up the path trying to run as fast as they could. Snape sent Dumbledore a signal as they reached the entrance. Both men shut the entrance doors and brought the wooden bar across them and placed as many locking charms on it as they could.

Dumbledore arrived at the top of the stairs as they both spun round to face him.

"He's coming." Snape told him calmly, but his appearance was dishevelled.

"Can everyone please wake up and report to the Entrance Hall immediately." Dumbledore's voice boomed through every corridor, classroom, common room and bedroom in the school. Lucius watched him exude power as he prepared himself for this battle. After a couple of minutes, a thunderous noise could be heard coming from all directions as the students and teachers approached. A silence fell upon them as soon as everyone was there. "Lord Voldemort is coming to attack the school," gasps erupted through the Entrance Hall, "We do not have much time left, you all know what you have been taught, use this knowledge well and unite together. Now will everyone go into the Great Hall and gather as far away from the doors as possible."

Calmness had made its presence know over the student body as they quickly positioned themselves in the Great Hall. Lucius blended in with the crowd as he searched for Hermione. He finally found her with Potter, Weasley and Longbottom. His gaze then searched for his son, who was only a few feet away from Hermione. He quickly cut through the crowd to Draco.

"Make sure you keep the Slytherins on this side. Do this and you will be honoured well." He hissed into his ear. Draco gave him a curt nod. He had spent much time over the pass few weeks persuading his friends that the Dark Lord wasn't the way, freedom of thought was. They had argued with him at first and were clearly not happy about betraying their parents but Draco could be very persuasive when he wanted to be. He wasn't sure what had caused his father to change so drastically and he wasn't bothered either, just as long as he got his inheritance. Lucius gave him a squeeze on his shoulder then moved to Hermione. All three boys surrounding her glared at him.

"I have nothing to hide, come with us if you must."

Hermione followed the blond haired man into the room she had last met him in, with Harry, Ron and Neville close behind her. Once the last person had entered the room, Lucius spoke quickly.

"Maybe I'll get your trust now." He drawled at the three men surrounding Hermione. Their response was to glare at him. He turned his attention back to Hermione and took a deep breath. "Hermione, marry me?" All four jaws fell open. He waited on baited breath for her answer. He had stayed away for nearly a month, pretending to be a Death Eater and the whole time he had wanted to take Hermione and disappear. Keep them both safe from everything, never to be heard of again. But his conscience had decided to haunt him for the first time in years and he wanted to do right by Hermione, which meant protecting the school. It was then that he had realised he wanted to marry her and be with her for the rest of her life.

"Yes." A small female voice pulled him out of his daze. All the males blinked in astonishment at her answer. She gently took his hands in hers and gave him an earnest look. "I feel safe and warm in knowing that I love you and I don't want it to go. So my answer is yes." In a flash he was hugging her tightly and whirling her round in a circle. The three young men stood near the door, unable to find words to speak. Once her feet were firmly on the ground she turned to them. "You can argue about this later. We have a spell to perform." They clamped their mouths shut, nodded and left the room.

"What spell, Hermione?" He demanded, not liking the look that had passed between them. She gave him a smirk that could rival his own and left the room. He quickly followed her to find all the students in lines of approximately fifty, the front line all had their wands in front of them, some were held steadier than others. The teachers were stood on a table behind all of the students with Hermione, Ron, Harry and Neville stood in a group on their own to the side of the table. Lucius immediately took his position next to Snape on the table at the end.

"Cast the Shield spell every time the students have stopped sending curses then wait for the Death Eaters to stop throwing curses back before it's lifted. Dumbledore has sent word to the Ministry; we're still waiting to hear from them. The rest of the Order are coming." Snape instructed Lucius quickly. He acknowledged it with a nod while his gaze was firmly on Hermione, wondering what she was planning.

"Let's hope the Aurors get here in time." Lucius whispered back.

"Professor, when Voldemort is near enough, Hermione, Ron, Neville and I are going to step in front. We have a plan; we just need you to shield us until we've stopped saying the spell." Harry hurriedly informed Dumbledore and with no hesitation or questions asked, he told the teachers to do as he asked.

The Great Hall was so silent that a pin dropping to the floor would have been heard. A thousand hearts were pounding, breaths were ragged and perspiration was shining on their foreheads.

A loud, vibrating boom reverberated into the Great Hall. Grips tightened on their wands as they prepared for the inevitable.