Disclaimer: What can I say, except that…I don't own Harry Potter…

Author's Note: Well….it's me again! Sorry I didn't update sooner…but well, things have been….different I guess you can say. A whole lotta junk going on that has occupied my mind instead of this story…I for that I apologize….but enough of my rambling…on with the story!

Last time on 525,600 Minutes: The truth of the why Harry had been lured to Godric's Hollow as long as the mystery behind Hermione's wand. Hermione and Malfoy also shared a simple, yet meaningful moment….is hope in the future?

525,600 Minutes: In Truths That She Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Thirty-Three

Silence filled the room. Ryn's last statement seemed to ring through air, continually, as if never to end. No one was quite sure what it was that filled the room, perhaps it was hope. Hope that the Dark Lord was afraid and knew that something could be used against him.

"I'm still not exactly sure I understand." Harry said, slightly confused.

"Well," it was Hermione who broke spoke. "I think what Ryn is trying to say is that the love of you mother runs through you veins Harry."

"Well, yes."

"The wand belonged to your mother," Hermione seemed to be talking more to herself, as if she was trying to piece together the mystery. "It was part of her. And because of that her love and strength, theoretically, runs through the core of my wand. If you combine the love you posses and the love my wand posses, why…the combination could prove horrible for Voldemort. Deadly." Once Hermione finished the same feeling filled the room, and everyone was certain that it was hope. Perhaps the Dark Lord could be vanquished.

"You one 100 sure that this is true. That the wand can make Harry more powerful?" Ron asked.

"I wouldn't exactly call it giving Harry more power, but giving Harry more security. IF there is one thing Voldemort doesn't understand is love. He can't touch it. That's why he can't touch Harry, and Harry having even more of that love will ensure that Voldemort has less of a chance of touching him." Ryn paused before she answered the intended question. "But no, it is, one could call, a theory. Though a very probable one at that."

"I makes sense." Malfoy said quietly, as Hermione nodded in agreement.

"But, if Hermione's wand was indeed my mothers, and it could help me defeat Voldemort, why didn't I get it when I went to Ollivander's before first year?" Harry asked. He wasn't sure if he was made or curious. After all, he had never know his parents and one of the only connections he had of them belonged to someone else.

"The wand chooses the wizard, Harry. No one will ever no why Hermione got you mother's wand and you didn't. But your connection to Voldemort and the fact that you received the wand that is the brother to his is probably a good start."

There was silence. No one knew what to say. Hermione's mind was, once again, turning one hundred times per minute. All of it, everything she had gone through this year, the attack on the Leaky Cauldron, the dementor attack, the attack on her home, her father's death. It had all been because of a wand. A measly little piece of wood.

She suddenly felt a wave of anger run through her body. For Voldemort, for the death eaters, and even for Lily and Harry. If is hadn't been for her, for Harry's mother, she wouldn't be in the predicament, in this danger. And her parents would be all right at home, safe and sound, both of them. She hated them all.

Then, as quickly as the hate came, it was gone. She was being stupid. She couldn't hate Harry. It wasn't his fault, neither was it Lily's. Perhaps, it was for the better that she had to endure all of this pain and hate. The wand chooses the wizard. Perhaps her getting the late Lily Potter's wand had sealed Hermione's fate. Had ensured that she would become Harry Potter's friend, and that she would be able to help him in the defeat of Lord Voldemort.

As her thoughts trailed, Hermione's eyes fell on Malfoy, sitting next to her on the couch. He was staring at her, and yet it seemed that he was off in an other world, perhaps lost in his thoughts, also.

"What?" Hermione whispered, not wanting to break the silence of the room.

"I can' believe," Malfoy whispered back, "that the Dark Lord, the most powerful dark wizard of all time, has a weakness."

"Power, is only as great as the man himself."

Hermione groaned as she looked at the clock. 11:37. How could it possibly be that it was merely just over three hours ago that she was riding high above the world towards Godric's Hollow, it didn't seem possible. It seemed like days ago that she was sneaking out of the castle, and yet the clock on the all proved her wrong. And to make matters worse, they were all now sitting in Harry's old home doing absolutely nothing.

Well, she and Malfoy were doing nothing that is. Harry and Ron had taken to journeying through the house. While Ryn, on the other hand, had gone to communicate with someone from the Order.

"Ugh!" Malfoy yelled in frustration. Hermione looked at him, amused. He seemed to be feeling the same way he was right now, though he wasn't doing as good of job as hiding it.

"Bored?" she asked, trying not to laugh. Ever since earlier that evening, Hermione felt her old feelings for Malfoy, the ones she had buried deep inside her, come seeping back into her, bit by bit. So it was natural that the sarcasm she used to tease him with returned.

"And if I am?" he asked, using the same tone that she had.

"Then I find it very amusing."

"You do, do you?"

"Very much so, yes." Hermione said, smiling.

"Well, then. I'm glad my absolute boredom can bring you something to laugh at." Malfoy said, faking annoyance and hurt.

"Oh no, I thank you." Hermione smiled even wider.

An uncomfortable silence filled the air. Neither knew what to say. It seemed that this event had brought them back on speaking terms, but what were they to talk about? How could they expect for everything to go back to normal after what had happened that night so many months ago.

Suddenly, Harry's muffled exclamations from the second floor broke the silence. He must be having a good time exploring. Hermione thought.

"If Potter is that excited about something, then I don't want to know he and the Weasel are doing." Malfoy said, sounding disgusted.

"Malfoy!" Hermione gasped, trying her best to cover up her laugh. Even though it was her best friends that Malfoy had made the comment about, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, I don't!" Draco said, more playfully.

"Oh you!" exclaimed Hermione, grabbing a near by throw pillow and hitting Malfoy with it.

"OI!" he yelled.

"Serves you right." Hermione said as she laughed harder.

Malfoy was about to retort, when Harry came tumbling down the stairs, with Ron walking much more calmly behind him.

"Hermione!" Harry said excitedly. "Look at this!" he thrust a small toy broom in front of Hermione. The broom, was no doubt, a child's play broom.

"Wow, Harry. That's -er- great." Hermione didn't really know what to make of it.

"I found it in a wrapped box. I think it was going to be a present from my parents to me!"

Suddenly Hermione understood. A present from his parents, something Harry would never know the joy of. A large smile spread across her face. She was happy that her friend was beginning to find some joy. "That's wonderful Harry!"

Hermione blinked twice. The room was dark. Her head was lying on something hard, yet soft. Blinking a few more times, her eyes finally adjusted to the light. She was lying on the couch in the living room of number thirteen of Godric's Hollow. She was resting, comfortably on Malfoy, who was sleeping soundly, his arm around her.

She propped herself up on one arm, doing the best she could to not wake Malfoy. Looking around she saw Harry sleeping in an armchair and Ron sleeping on the ground. She yawned. She couldn't remember falling asleep.

Stretching just a little bit more, she saw the clock, proving that she had indeed fallen asleep for a good few hours. It read 1:13 a.m.

Hermione gave a small laugh, funny. 13:13. Can't get more unluckier than that.

Suddenly a crash sounded outside, sending Hermione into a sitting position, her back as straight as a board and her ears alert. Quiet shouting soon followed, getting closer and closer. She wished she could see better.

BANG!

Just as she was about to reach for her wand, an ear deafening bang ran through the air. Harry jumped out of his chair, looking around confused. Ron, sat up quickly. And Malfoy fell off the couch, sending Hermione with him.

Hermione landed with her face buried I Draco's chest. Realizing the position they were in, Hermione quickly rolled off of Malfoy and onto her back. She shielded her eyes, as the piercing lights of the room turned on.

Sitting up, she saw Ryn standing in the door way to the room, looking worried. Without speaking to anyone, the older woman made her way to the window in the room. Slightly pulling back the curtains, she let out a gasp.

Without hesitating, Hermione, Malfoy, Harry, and Ron ran to Ryn's side. Hermione couldn't believe it. Men and women were running around outside, their cloaks flowing behind them. It was hectic. There was no light, save the bright colors that emitted from their wands as curses and jinxes were fired. A battle was going on.

Harry was already making his way towards the door.

"Harry! NO!" Ryn yelled.

"You said we were waiting for a signal. Well, this is a good enough signal for me!" yelled Harry, without looking back.

"Harry, you can't-" but it was to late, Harry was already out the door, with Ron disappearing right behind him.

Ryn ran towards the door with Hermione and Malfoy on her heels. Ryn was just about to leave, when she paused and turned back to Hermione.

"Listen. Be aware. Keep your wand safe and yourself safer. Give it to Harry it you have to, but only if it is necessary. And I mean absolutely necessary." And with that she was gone.

Hermione went to step through the door, into the battle, but Malfoy grabbed her wrist to stop her.

She turned slowly and caught his gaze. "Yes?" she asked, slowly not understanding why he had stopped her.

"Hermione." there it was again, the usage of her first name. It had come from his lips in an uncertain way, this time. "I-I-" he couldn't seem to finish, or start for that matter, what he wanted to say. But she knew. She understood. She felt the same way.

She slipped his hand into hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She then did something that neither Hermione or Draco thought would happen again. She closed the distance between the too, and kissed Draco.

The kiss was short and sweet. Yet long and passionate. It was filled with yearning, forgiveness, compassion, and understanding.

Ever so slowly, Hermione pulled away and rested her forehead against Draco's. "I know." she whispered. "I know."

She stepped back, gave his hand one last squeeze of reassurance, and disappeared into the battle.

How long the battle had been raging on, Hermione knew not. All she was aware of was the blinding lights of spells, jinxes, and curses, being shot in every direction. People were falling everywhere, but she couldn't stop to help, and that's what bothered Hermione most. People she knew and cared for were falling to the ground and not getting up, whether they were stunned or dead she didn't know. She couldn't exactly stop and find out. It was every witch and wizard for themselves, no matter what side you were on.

Hermione, herself, had fought at least five death eaters by now, and it could have been more for she wasn't keeping track. They just seemed to keep coming at her, all yelling the same thing. "Give me the wand, mudblood, and I might let you live."

Hermione ran through the bushes and trees of the near by forest. Her last encounter with some unknown Death Eater had sent her fighting into the forest. She couldn't remember which she had entered and was desperately hoping that she was going the right way.

She stopped by a large tree, and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. The breaking of a twig sounded through the air, causing Hermione to jump in the direction of the sound, wand at the ready.

"Oh, did I scare the poor mudblood." Hermione rolled her eyes, cursed, and sighed at the same time, not knowing which emotion she should have let take control of her.

"Bellatrix." she hissed, to the owner of the familiar voice.

"And I was expecting a warmer welcome."

Hermione didn't say anything to this, she just stared at Bellatrix, showing no emotion what so ever.

"If I recall, at our last meeting you said I wouldn't escape." the Death Eater put on an expression of mock thought. "Yes, I do believe that it what you said. And now look. Here I am. Far from Azkaban. I told you last time Granger, I always escape."

"And I'm sure we can put all the credit for you escape to your oh so powerful Lord." Hermione said with as much hate as she could muster.

Even though it was dark, Hermione could tell by the moonlight that Bellatrix's face fell.

"You think your so smart, don't you Mudblood." the older witch laughed. "Your full of yourself is more like it." she smirked. "You should know that you will never be as great as you claim to be. Your nothing but a Mudblood. Do bare that in mind."

Hermione felt anger run through every single part of her body, causing her to shake. She flicked her wand, and smirked. "I am, and always will have more wits about me than you ever will."

"You think so? We'll see how you fare. CRUICO!" Bellatrix yelled, sending a blinding light at Hermione.

Hermione just stood there and smirked, allowing the curse to come her way. When it was three feet from her, the spell seemed to hit a brick wall, and it vanished.

"See what I mean?" Hermione said, as she twirled her wand in her fingers. She had nonverbally set a protective shield around her.

"You little brat." Bellatrix raised her wand, preparing to say an incantation, but Hermione was quicker.

With the flick of her wand, Hermione once again used nonverbal communication with her wand. A force very powerful flew towards Bellatrix, sending her backwards slightly and her wand flying from her hand as she was hit by the Expelliarmus spell. Not waiting for Bellatrix to regain composure, Hermione raised her wand again.

"STUPEFY!" she yelled, causing Bellztrix's body to fall to the ground.

"Pathetic." Hermione whispered, as she continued on her walk from the forest and back to the main battle ground.

Hermione could see the battle raging forward as she stepped out of the forest. She paused in awe of what she saw. Dozens upon dozens of witches and wizards fighting. Teachers, Order members, Aurors, Death Eaters,en, women, and even students could be seen in the mass of people. Hermione could see all of the Weasley's, their red hair like a fire in the moonlight. All nine of them were there, even Ginny, whom Hermione thought would still be at school. Standing next to Ginny, and helping her ward off three Death Eaters, was Luna and Neville. Hermione smirked. She should have known those three would be there, not even the walls of Hogwarts would be able to keep them away.

Hermione also saw other Hogwarts students. Dean, Seamus, and many others, fighting with the Order and ministry Aurors. And even Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were there, fighting alongside with the Death Eaters.

Flashing lights were everywhere, igniting the night sky with red, blues, violets, and most deadly of all greens. It was almost like a fireworks show. Telling a story, not yet to be forgotten for a very long time.

Everyone there. Fighting for what they believed to be right.

Hermione was snapped out of her daze as a strong gust of wind swept through the air, causing the fighting to stop momentarily The gust had been so strong that it seemed unnatural, and unnatural it was. Standing at the front of the battle field was the last person to join the fight: Lord Voldemort himself.

The sight of their master seemed to give the Death Eaters more strength to fight as the battle resumed itself, stronger than ever.

I have to find Harry, Hermione thought. She began to run forward, but was stopped as a tree root send her tumbling to the ground.

She groaned. The fall hadn't been a nice one. She had landed on her right wrist the wrong way, and she was pretty sure it was broken. The pain was unbearable. She tried to sit up, but the pain in her wrist was to much to handle and she collapsed back to the ground.

An evil cackle sounded to her right. "How sad, it looks like the Mudblood has fallen and can't get up." The sinister voice of Lucius Malfoy sneered. Hermione involuntarily clutched her wand tighter. "Allow me to help you up."

Hermione didn't know what he did, but one second she was lying on the ground and the next she was soaring through the air before she collided with something hard. Suddenly, she felt the soft damp ground meet her once again.

"Give me the wand, Mudblood. And I'll spare your life."

Hermione shook her head. "No." she said, strongly.. She wanted to fight back, but she couldn't her collision with what ever Lucius had sent her into put her whole body in pain.

Lucius smirked. "Very well then, you leave me no choice." he raised his wand.

"Leave her alone." a familiar voice said. Hermione looked to her right to see Draco standing there, his chin set high as he glared at his father.

"Draco. How nice of you to join us."

Draco didn't say anything.

"I'll give you one last chance, son. Come back. Join us again."

Draco looked his father straight in the eye. "No."

Lucius looked hurt. "Then, once again, you leave me no choice." Lucius raised his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Draco yelled, before his father could muster a word, but Lucius was quick in reflexes and avoided the spell. The two were soon engaged in a battle.

Hermione watched in horror as Draco fought his father. She couldn't believe it had come to this. A son fighting is own father and a father fighting is own son. Hermione didn't know whether to be in a complete state of shock, horror, or fascination.

It was amazing what the influence of one man, in this case Voldemort, and one philosophy could do to a family. Tear it apart and make each side face each other like Draco and his father were doing right now.

The two men were getting weak. They had hit each other with any spell they could think of, neither doing anything deadly, for neither wanted to severely hurt the other. Lucius had just sent a curse at Malfoy, the young man had to physically dodge to keep from getting hit.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Draco yelled, after regaining his composure.

The force Draco put behind the spell was so strong that Lucius went flying backwards, and his wand went flying towards Draco. Time seemed to slow as Lucius traveled through the air. Draco and Hermione watched in shock as his father was hit mid air by some curse, that some else must have dodged, and then fall to the ground. No one would have been able to have done that if they tried, the timing was too perfect.

Draco ran to his father, his father's wand clutched tightly in his left hand. The older Malfoy was lying limply on the ground. It was quite apparent that life was seeping away from his second by second.

"There you have it, Draco." Lucius's voice was hoarse and weak. "You have me unarmed and weak. You might as well kill me now."
Draco shuddered as his father's words sank into him. "No." he said quietly. "I'm not going to kill you. Because I don't kill the ones I loved." he paused, "No, I'm not going to kill you. But I don't have to save you either. Good bye Father." and with that, Draco walked away from his Father for the last time.

Hermione watched the whole thing, the two weren't that far away from her and she could hear their words perfectly. It brought tears to her eyes.

Draco approached her and squatted before her. "Are you alright?" he asked, brushing away one of her tears.

"Oh Draco." she said his first name for the first time, engulfing him in a hug. She was surprised to find that it came quite easily to say his first name.

While savoring the hug she hadn't felt in months Hermione saw it. A little bit away, just with in hearing distance. It made Hermione's heart freeze. Harry was fighting Voldemort in a losing battle.

"Oh no." Hermione said, as she pulled out of the embrace, and stood up. Draco at her side.

The two watched in horror as Harry was knocked to the ground, and his wand was sent flying in another direction. With all of her attention focused on the other battle, Hermione could hear what was being said.

Voldemort cackled. "At last your time as come Potter. Sixteen years, you've defied me. Sixteen years. But not this time."

Harry stood, he wasn't going to give up this easily.

"Going to take it like a man? Good boy, good boy. No cowards here. Any last words, Potter?"

"This isn't over with." was all Harry could say.

"Oh, it is dear boy. It is. Look around you, Potter." Voldemort's voice was getting more evil by the second. "There's no one here to save you now, not this time."
Hermione looked around, and felt a pang. Voldemort was right. Everyone else was oblivious to what was going on between Harry and Voldemort. But then, what of her? She could do something. She had to do something, anything. Hermione looked around. There had to be something she could do. Then it hit her, as she caught sight of her wand sitting limply in her hand.

"Of course." she said to herself. "HARRY!" she yelled, throwing her wand as best she could with her left hand.

Both Harry and Voldemort looked in her direction and at the wand flying through the air. Harry's face grew into a huge grin as Voldemort's dropped. Harry caught the wand with ease and wasted no time turning on his opponent.

"AVADA KEDVRA!" Harry bellowed.

Harry's voice rang through the air above all the other noise. His voice had been so strong and commanding that everyone ceased what they were doing. All attention was on Harry and Voldemort.

The blinding green light hit the most powerful dark wizard of all time square in the chest and it wasted no time doing it's deadly work. Voldemort's limp, lifeless body fell to the ground. The evil mans last wish had been fulfilled. It had ended where it all started.

No one spoke or moved. No Death Eaters tried to escape and no Order members of Aurors rounded them up before they could. Everyone stared at the lifeless form of Lord Voldemort as the morning sun began to rise.

Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter. It took me quite sometime to write and I think I finally have it to where I wanted it.

Queen of Duct Tape: lol. I will happily water the pear tree if I ever find it in my room, and take great care of the partridge. Thanks for reviewing!

Thank you so much to everyone else! I would thank you all personally, but I have to go to my aunt's house for a family get together and I have to hurry and get ready as we're leaving in twenty minutes! SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Sadly, I say, that the next chapter will be the last. I might get it up later tonight, I might not. I dunno…

More to come soon!

Your humble author,

The Lonely Goatherd