A/N: Okay, thanks to everybody who read this fic. This going to be the second to last chapter. Well the last chapter before the epilogue. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did thinking it up. I would like to take this moment to say a few words to all the HGSS-shippers: Embrace the pairing where and however you can, for it can never truly happen in life or the books. While we aknowledge the possiblities of the pairing and find it far more believable and enjoyable than the stupidity of the teenage love shown between Mione and Ron, it is not universally understood. We will always have the wonderful stories so thoughtfully written by the many fanfic-ers out there. So to those who write I solute you. To the those who read, without you there would be no purpose to writing so thanks from the hearts of all the writers. Hermione and Severus forever!

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Chapter 34: Old Endings, New Beginnings

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With a muttered curse Ron dived to the cool grass to avoid a beam of red light passing where his head had just been. He rolled back to his feet in time to shoot a stunning spell towards the advancing black robed figure, before once again rolling behind a bush to dodge a the flash of green light that heralded the passing of a the Killing Curse. Horrified he watched as the curse meant for him hit a disheveled auror in the back and the man toppled forward dead.

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Harry charged forward leading a pack of his fellow aurors to attack a group of unsuspecting Death Eaters from behind. With in seconds Harry had downed three with well placed stunning spells. Several others were lying on the ground stunned or at least knocked unconscious by various hexes.

Absently Harry examined his sleeve which seemed to be smoking faintly. Finding only a small hole where a hex had missed he turned to the rest of the group.

Knowing that the night's work would only grow longer, he silently motioned his fellows to move forward and split up. Renewing the muffling spells on their clothes and shoes they moved towards the distant shouting by the lake.

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Severus and Hermione had to wait only moments before being joined by a dozen aurors and Order members as they portkeyed in. Not much was said, since events had all been planned before hand and they had their directions. Exchanging one last wish of luck, they moved out silently through the archway that led from the court yard to the main gardens.

They came out just in time to see a group of ten or so Death Eaters attempting to enter an old servant door hidden by swags of ivy. The marauders had only a moment to look startled before they were all stunned and bound.

After safely stashing the captives in the hall behind the door the defenders proceeded with their progress through the gardens. They were caught by surprise when a force of Death Eaters surged around the stone wall. The bushes and flowers were lit by the sudden magical light caused by the flurry of hexes and curses.

Hermione was warned of iminent danger as a masked figure shouted, "Die, mudblood!" Throwing herself to the ground and pulling Severus with her in the motion she watched as the jet of green light passed over their heads. They surged upwards simultaneously sending stunning spells towards the Death Eater. Sparing only enough time to make sure he was down, they moved to join the defense once more.

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Rank after rank of Death Eaters moved forward to replace those fallen in the assault of the Entrance Hall. Those that made it past the reflective mirrors had only moments to cast a spell before finding themselves stunned or hit with a curse of some sort cast by the many staff members and their students.

While many of the casts were wild the students were far more imaginative when it came to punishing those who would wish to take their school away from them. Some of the professors had almost started to feel bad for some of the dark witches and wizards. Some probably had no choice whether to serve the Voldemort or not. Unfortunately that did not count in the middle of a battle.

In the middle of it all stood Dumbledore. He had been maintaining the reflective mirrors as they disintegrated under the constant barrage of hexes and Killing Curses. Between assaults he receive reports and gave directions via spelled amulets that all of the defenders on the grounds wore.

While reports of Voldemort's followers numbers were disturbing he held out hope for his people. He was beginning to worry though. According to their information gathered Voldemort himself had planned to be at this foray and had yet to make an appearance.

There was no point dwelling on what had not yet happened. He would come or he would not, but until he did they would just have to wait.

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The situation was beginning to deteriorate. No matter how many Death Eaters they managed to capture or incapacitate more just seemed to appear from the forest or maybe they had found some of their fallen companions and brought them bake to the fight. Whatever the cause the Aurors and students just couldn't repel them much longer without some help.

By this time Dumbledore and the other staff had managed to push the assaulting forces out of the castle all together. The defending staff and sixth and seventh year students has moved to the front steps and surounding court yard. The younger students had retreated to the safeguarded rooms to join their peers. Dead, injured and stunned witches and wizards both light and dark littered the school ground in all directs. The evening had proceeded into the pitch dark of night making the movements of both sides hard to follow. Only the flash of cast spells and accompanying shouts gave evidence that there was anyone still alive out there.

Reports through the amulets were sparing and most tended to be of fallen aurors or more enemy forces. After relaying a report of a gathering of Death Eaters by the North edge of the lake, George Weasley's voice came through the amulet," Professor Dumbledore, me 'n Fred may have an idea. We reserved a few tricks for if things got really ugly. With your permission we will implement Plan Backfire."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner but replied, "I trust this will help not hinder our own people. Proceed as you see fit gentlemen."

He chuckled to himself. He could only imagine what the twins would involve in something called 'Plan Backfire.' Suddenly the light bloomed near Hagrid's hut followed by a deafening boom. Rather than dissapating though, the light continued as it rose into the sky backlighting against gray clouds. Fifty feet above the ground the sparking streak split into hundreds of smaller streaks and changed colors as they went. Surprisingly these fireworks were silent as they fell back to the earth without the characteristic crackling of the normal variety. For a moment the grounds that had become a battlefield was utterly silent under the sudden twilight of the fireworks. Then everyone adjusted to the light and the flash of hexes resumed.

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Raggedly Draco Malfoy pulled himself up and over the low wall. He landed heavily on the other side half consealed by a mulberry bush. Vincent Crabbe lay ten feet away, staring blankly at the sky, expression identical to the one he wore when alive. Tiredly Draco ran his empty left hand through his hair. As much as he hated the brainless sycophant, it hurt to actually see him dead. He had tried to talk him around. At one point he had almost stunned the bastard, but he had gotten cocky and didn't check before standing back up. The idiot had almost blasted his head off. Unfortunately, the sheild spell he used had worked a little too well causing it to rebound and killed his former friend.

Gathering himself he used the wall to pull himself up. Once standing he forced himself to move forward. As he rounded the corner of the castle he pulled up short as he caught sight of another Death Eater twenty paces away. In the same moment it took him to recognise the blond hair, the man turned and saw him.

The disdain was evident on his father's face as they walked towards each other. At ten feet away they stopped. "Father," Draco intoned.

Lucius raised an eyebrow as if to deny any relation but said, "Draco. I am disappointed to see you have rescinded your loyalties. I take it you were the one who told the old fool about the Return."

"My loyalties are as true as ever. Just not to the side you thought. Good-bye Father," Draco said, falling back into a dueling position and releashing a bonding hex with enough speed to do his teachers proud. With reflexes honed by trying to compete with Potter on the Quidditch pitch, he dodged the Cruciatus Curse Lucius had cast before being wrapped in centimeters thick rope.

As Draco rolled back to his feet in a swift movement preparing to cast a stunning hex, a blaze of light blinded him while the following explosion of noise deafened him. When the spots and ringing in his ears cleared, the bonds on Lucius had dissolved. In the blink of an eye he readied himself and cast his first hex only to have it countered. The battle was on.

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Severus and Hermione dispelled another of the fireworks, Severus cursing as they dodged the falling mist it released. They had narrowly missed escaping the first one, after discovering the properties of Plan Backfire. These fire works flew silently so as to approach unheard and blinded if looked at directly. They were spelled to be attracted to the Dark Mark. When they approached within two feet of anyone bearing the Mark they exploded deafening the person a second time and showering them with a highly effective sleeping potion that worked through the skin or inhaled.

It seemed to be working overd two thirds of the Death Eaters on the field had succumbed to to one or been hit with a stunning spell by someone taking advantage of the temporary distraction.

Hermione had been taking care of most of them, while Severus did all the dueling work. It had worked so far. While she commended the Weasley twins for once again proving there brilliance in a crisis situation she wished that this once it did not effect her or Severus.

Suddenly screams echoed across the grounds and the couple spun to meet the possible threat. Standing in the middle of the open ground, surrounded by a ring of bodies glowing like some insane nightlight stood Voldemort. As if in slow motion Hermione and Severu watched as the cause the night's events strode towards the castle, any impeding bodies friend and foe blasted into the air to land meters away.

Dumbledore moved down the steps. The time had come for Tom Riddle to meet his due. Everywhere he looked people were still as if frozen in their last acts as they stopped to watch the meeting of who to their minds were the two most powerful wizards of the time. So consentrated on the approaching dark wizard was he that he did not hear the Death Eater behind him mutter the curse that hit him from behind.

The Order, students and aurors watched in horrified astonishment as their beloved leader fell to the ground limp as a rag doll.

The moment was broken as the sounds and sight of Lucius and Draco Malfoy dueling moved into the open ground. Instantly everyone went back to the fighting with renewed vigor both defending and attacking simultaneously.

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From his position near the lake, he watched as Dumbledore fell. Seeing his mentor and leader fall and ignored like so much trash, filled him with a burning rage. The last three years of occulemency were forgotten in a few short moments. For the first time in his life, he truly felt that if the need called for it he could effectively summon enough hate for his arch enemy to make Avada Kedavra work and with a vengence.

With the knowledge that he can't kill Voldemort he moved toward the evily glowing figure. At fifteen paces away they both stopped and stared at each other. Harry's glare held all the heat and righteous anger expected from a Gryffindor, just as Voldemort's return sneer was the epitome of Slytherin vileness.

Filling his voice with as much venom as he could muster, which was quite a lot, Harry said, "Let us end this. Duel." And with that the battle began.

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Hermione and Severus took the chance to breath as the last Death Eater they were dueling fell to Hermione's Unconsciousness Spell as they watched Harry duel with Voldemort. Hermione desperately wished to go help him but knew that she would just get in the way. This was his battle. Only he could finish it.

Severus once again engaged a Death Eater in duel. She kept a lookout while keeping an eye on both Harry and Severus. Movement in her peripheral vision made her turn. She saw that a masked figure was approaching the dueling figures of Harry and Voldemort with obvious intent to harm. Making a split decision she moved to intercept. As she ran forward she saw a streak of red hair and smiled grimly recognized the petite form of Ginny running towards the same goal.

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Harry dived behind a stand of bushes as the flash of green light sizzled past. He took a moment to breath and look around. He was surprised to find Hermione and Ginny nearby fending off a group of Death Eaters that had obviously tried to help their master in the battle for dominance. When Hermione came close enough to hear him without shouting she asked, "Is there anything we can do to help?"

His answer was stalled as Voldemort shouted, "I'm getting vexed with you, you pathetic half breed. Why don't you come out of hiding and let me finish you for good."

Quietly, so as not to give away his position, he told her, "Yes. Summon the Gryffindor sword from Dumbledore's office. I will need you to do the binding spell on the sword. Dumbledore was supposed to do it but since he can't you'll have too. When the spell finishes there will be a bright flash. Try not to look at it. You won't be able to touch it afterwards or the spell with attach to you instead. Good luck."

With that said he lept back, turning a wild arm movement into a smooth cast of his wand. Turning away from the resumed duel, she got to work. Quickly she summoned the sword, focusing her mind on the silver and ruby object remembered from frequent trips to the Headmaster's office. Ten long seconds later the object of her desire came to a whistling stop in her hands as she caught it out of the air. She relayed the aquirement to Harry. After a short pause he breathily muttered the incantation to the Dark Spell.

While internally squirming at the idea of actually using Dark Arts, she memorized the spell and focused on the sword in front of her. Just before saying the spell, she cast a warning through the amulet to warn everyone of the blinding flash to come. Taking a deep breath she pointed her wand and firmly said, "Carpe eternus."

The resulting light was not only bright but shone like the noonday sun. Even behind her eyelids she was seeing spots and she heard someone crying out that they were blind. As the glow recede she dared open her eyes. The last bit of fading light was brilliant white and blue around the edges. Careful not to touch it she shift to peer over the row of hedges. She watched as Harry was surrounded by a geletanous blue goo, that at a word from him melted like water. Quickly she talked into the amulet telling him that it was ready.

In response Harry rapid fire shouted, "Accio sword! Taratralegulla! Impalé!" For a moment time seemed to stand still, before speeding up rapidly. The sword jumped up from the ground and in a flash sped towards Voldemort, unerring in its path.

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A blinding flash of light originating from behind the row of hedges momentarily stunned the Dark Lord. Blinking away the blue-edged aftermath from his vision he vaguely heard the Potter brat yell an incantation but couldn't focus on the words. As a precaution he darted to the right and started to cast a shield spell. Before he managed to get the incantation half way past his thin lips a force knocked him backwards as a pain exploded in his chest.

Looking down in wonder he saw a ruby encrusted hilt of a sword and two inches of silver blade sticking out of his chest, blood pouring down his black robes. The irony of it hit him. They knew the Killing Curse couldn't work on him so they tried to kill him with a physical weapon. Little did they know that it would just have the same effect. There was always a new body to inhabit. Taking in the stupidity of his enemies simple minds he began to laugh.

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They were all slightly startled when Voldemort instead of collapsing or even acting hurt began to laugh. Between the evil hissing that passed for humor, the dark wizard managed to say, "No mortal or magical object can stop me. I will be resurrected again. I..." He cut off midsentence, grabbing at his chest. He groaned, the sound coming out in tone almost as if someone were pulling it out of him. The most feared wizard in a century collapsed to his knees and howled as his spirit was ceized by the binding spell and sucked into the sword. The corpse that had been the resurrected body of Lord Voldemort once called Tom Riddle disinigrated into dust leaving a small pile of ash and a shining silver sword.

Carefully Harry Potter walked forward. For a moment he just stood over the ash and sword, before bending over to carefully pick up the former weapon of Godric Gryffindor. He regreted what he had to do if only because of what he had went through to get the sword in the first place. But a last step was necessary. He conjured a stool and large cauldron. Setting the sword inside it, he muttered a spell and the pewter cauldron glowed red hot for a moment. With in moments the heat faded and the metal returned to its normal gray color. Stepping back over the cauldron Harry assessed his work. The silver sword was not there any longer. Only a cooling mass of silver with interspersed rubies remained. With a wave of his wand sword, cauldron and stool vanished into nothing.

Suddenly he realize that he was surrounded by screams. Black robed figures all over were writhing in pain clutching at their arms.

Harry ran over to Hermione where she was holding Snape. He had to swallow to keep from gasping in horror at the sight of the skin turning an angry red and bubbling as if boiling around the Dark Mark. After several long moments the black blemish faded into nothing, but the burn marks stayed if no longer bubbling. The field was quiet once more other than the roving auror who proceeded around binding any remaining Death Eaters.

Together Hermione and Harry got Snape to his feet and proceeded to the school. He saw that Dumbledore was already being levitated by Minerva. Fallen aurors and Order members were being revived where possible and the injured helped towards the castle. Some would never get up but the light had come through in the end. It was over. The wizarding world was free.

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A week went by and the world had still not adjusted completely. There had of course been the expected celebrations and holiday proclimations. For the witches and wizards who had been at the Battle of Power as it was being called, things were more subdued. The losses were still being counted and the injured recovering.

Dumbledore was still being held in the infirmary recuperating from the unknown curse that had so debilitated him. He had officially resigned as Headmaster of Hogwarts. Minerva was being instated at the knew Headmistress at the end of the term. A record number of Order of Merlin First Class had been awarded in the ceremony following the battle.

Hermione held to Severus tightly as weeped during the mass funeral for the dead. Those fallen among their own included 10 aurors, 23 students, Nymphadora Tonks, and Ron Weasley. That last had been the hardest to deal with. It just hit so much closer.

There was to be a second funeral for the Death Eaters too. There dead were lower due to the lack of use of the Killing Curse by the Order. Though those that were dead were mostly those who fought back a little to hard: Avery, Vincent Crabbe, Crabbe Sr., Goyle Sr., Lucius Malfoy, and to everyone's horror Percy Weasley, along with 10 others.

The Weasleys were still in shock over losing two sons in one go, not to mention finding out Percy was for the Dark. Mr. Weasley had thrown himself into work. Everyone was on special detail dealing with the captured Death Eaters. McGonagall had been horrified to find that over fifteen of her students and their older siblings were counted in the current ranks. Slowly but surely though things were returning to normal.

I was finally and truly finished. But it was just the beginning...for some.

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A/N: Epilogue coming up next. Please read and review. Pics of wedding party dresses up. Look for miscellaneous pics after epilogue is posted.