(A/N: Good news everybody! I'm starting to catch up with my writing, in the sense that I'll be one chapter a head of you all, making my updates much much much faster! These chapters just kind of flow together so things are looking up! Yay! This chapter is kind of short but don't worry about the update, I'll have that up within two or three days. Um…not much else to say. Thanks so much for the reviews as always! Much love, Haystack)

To my reviewers…

Mr. Hifey: I'm very sorry that you do not like my story. Though I must say, it amused me that you said, "This is a horrible story" and yet you reviewed chapter 23 and mentioned hating the fact that Harry died. I suppose it wasn't horrible enough for you to stop reading, I mean you must admit, I had you going for 23 chapters! I am sorry but I simply cannot take your review seriously. But I suppose it's always good to hear someone else's opinion. So I guess in that respect I must thank you for even taking the time to hit the review button. I will do that much.

Princess Storm: Thanks so much as always for your never ceasing support and sweet reviews! I really am glad that you feel in a different world with this fic, that makes me feel really good! But then again, we all owe Miss JKR for this world to begin with! Fantasy worlds like these have been my escapes from some pretty hard times before so it means a lot to me to know that hopefully I can create that for other people as well! So thank you again, and as for your P.S. (that things in my life will go better) I especially appreciate that, and you can rest assured that everything is back to normal as of now.

doublelily: I'm glad to hear that your emotions run high, the depressing plot does require a lot of energy and emotional capacity to withstand it. Lol, hopefully the update was better and again, thanks so much for so faithfully reviewing. As for the story ending, you won't have to worry about that for a while! ;)

suckr4romance81789: lol yes, you are the lucky person who almost made me spill what is to come in chapter twenty seven I think. I can't remember what question you asked but it was extremely tempting to just tell you! Ahh! I wish I could have the time to just write and write, but too bad for me, they make me go to school! Lol thanks for reviewing!

Legofiance: Thank you very much for bringing up the subject of Hermione's cut, wound, slash, thingy. I had written the last chapter in a hurry so I wasn't sure if anyone would notice, but I'm glad you did! I'll address that a bit this chapter and a lot in chapter twenty-seven, and though the timing for everything might not be realistic I'm going to try! Again, thanks for reviewing!

Bhekie: haha your review made me laugh again! I'm sorry that you've had to say "Omg" for five days but the next chapter should be an even quicker update! Lol thanks so much for so faithfully reviewing!

AmyChris: Aw you always have such sweet reviews! Thanks! As for Ron/Seamus, I desperately want to tell you here what their fates are, but I'm afraid I can't! I'm sorry! Just another reason for me to hurry up with the updates right? Hehee….thanks as always for your support!

vacant xpressi0ns: Hmm…well I suppose you're the judge on if this update timing requires that "or else" or not. Lol! Another clever review that brought a smile to my face! I'm terribly sorry for ending where I did but I'm afraid there's not much more I could have written that wouldn't' have been considered another chapter! My deepest regrets. Thanks for reviewing!

ShimmeringEvil: lol yup things are getting kinda crazy aren't they? I'm currently at another plot deliema so we'll have to see where things go from here. I've got my direction and my goal, I just don't know quite how to get there. Lol anyways…glad you're loving the story so much! I'm so very lucky to have such wonderful sweet and faithful reviewers like you! Thanks!

RainDateChick: Aw your review made me smile! It also made me sit down and write as well though so don't worry, your cries were heard! Lol I don't think I come right out and say who screamed but hopefully by the end of the chapter you should have an idea who did! Hehee…thanks for reviewing!

Ron'n'Hermione: I'm afraid there's not much I can answer for you here that I don't make reference to this chapter. But please if you still have questions feel completely free to ask me! Hopefully I should have cleared things up a bit more by the end of this chapter and chapter twenty-seven should also clear more things up as well! Thank you soo much for continuing to stay with me on this crazy story!

dancerrdw: Glad you liked the last chapter and hopefully the update was better. You want to know what I just realized? You're almost always the first person to review a chapter! Isn't that cool? It means a lot to me that you'd be so quick with your responses and I want you to know that I appreciate them very much! Thanks for staying with me!

And now my lovely lovely reviewers….the next chapter!

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: CONNECTIONS

Hermione's body was numb with pain. She couldn't move. Her heart was withering inside of her, throbbing weakly, trying to find the energy to continue living. She was detached from the world, a world that suddenly, Hermione wanted no part of.

How had her life turned out so horrifically? Why must the world continue to plot against her? Was it too much to ask to be happy? It wasn't fair…she'd paid her dues in advance. The game was over, she'd surrendered and given in; yet fate continued to torture her so. It was the farthest thing from funny.

She was reclined back, her feet on the seat in front of her, watching her life slip away from her as she watched the countryside roll by. Lavender hovered near her, watching her like a mother watches her first-born child. Hermione sighed with guilt as she thought of all Lavender had done for her, and how she had treated her in response.

Lavender had heard the scream as well. She knew what it meant. Yet she, unlike Hermione, refused to look back. She'd played the game before; she knew how things went; you made alliances with people, yet in the end, it was every man for himself.

Hermione began to turn around, but Lavender held onto the girl all the more firmly. They had their orders, and it was obvious that Lavender was going to stick with them, no matter what other personal or emotional matters came up. For that, Hermione secretly admired her, though at the time, she'd hated her. She was what was preventing her from rescuing Ron. That and her health.

Sobbing loud enough to wake up the dead, Hermione had been yanked upon by Lavender, hobbling and running continuously. They'd never stopped for rest and Lavender never once looked back.

Hermione on the other hand was watching as the screams of death echoed to her ears, the group battled out, and her heart was slowly ripped apart. Ron was injured; there was no way he had survived. There had been only one wand between the two of them, and even if Seamus had managed to get him on his feet, there was no way he could protect Ron as well as himself.

She couldn't seem to believe that Ron was dead, but there was no possible way he'd survived. The love of her life was dead, and Hermione wished she were as well. How could she have left him like that? She'd listened to him…when had she ever listened to him! Why did she have to start obeying him now, of all the times! Now he was dead and Hermione was alone in the world, both of her best friends gone.

That pain crippled her. Once her brain realized all this, she fell to ground, leaving poor Lavender with the job of desperately trying to drag her off of Hogwarts ground.

Their escape was one that Hermione couldn't accept as real. They'd emerged from the heart of the battlefield, Hermione from prison itself, Lavender unscathed, and Hermione with only one serious wound. They'd run from Hogwarts to King's Cross Station without meeting a soul. It just seemed too easy, and for that, Hermione was wary.

Against all protests, Lavender had stopped at a Muggle doctor's, to desperately try to stop Hermione's bleeding. The slash on her abdomen was similar to the one she had received in the Department of Mysteries, except running in the opposite direction, creating a lightning bolt zig-zag effect on her front side, a mark that would forever pain her to look at; the shape reminding her too painfully of Harry.

In the pharmacy, a kind old woman who almost had a heart attack when she saw the state the two girls were in, insisted on inviting them to her home, right above the shop. They protested fiercely, it would be too dangerous to spend much time anywhere, but they did accept the comb and the food the woman offered. In addition, Hermione was now bandaged up, with painkillers to help her ease the hurt. Who would have known you could get so much for free in London if you looked bad enough?

Sneaking onto a train set to Bulgaria had been easy, not many people were headed that way, and finding an empty compartment was even easier.

Reclining out, the sensation felt almost foreign to Hermione's body. For days now she'd slept on the earth floor and stone. And now to be suddenly relaxing out on a soft cushion was…unbelievable, and immediately was lulled into a deep sleep.

When she had woken up, she spotted Lavender who was offering her another painkiller with the bottled water the woman had given them. Accepting it, she tried to smile softly at the girl who had already put up so much for her sake, but she found that she couldn't. Not with Ron dead.

Turning to her left, she gazed at the passing countryside and it was there she remained now, contemplating anything and everything. The two never said a word to each other.

But eventually the silence was too much to bear, for either party. Clearing her throat delicately, Lavender tried to catch Hermione's attention. When that didn't work, she simply began to talk.

"So" She began softly, not wanting to push Hermione too far. "Do you know where Krum lives?"

Hermione finally turned her face away from the window and gazed for a moment at Lavender's face.

Once a comb had been run through her beautifully long hair, she appeared more like her old self. With the food and water, and the nap they'd just had, Hermione was struck by how much she actually hadn't changed. Perhaps the same had happened to her, though she didn't have the energy to look at herself. It hurt too much. But it was in her voice…in her eyes that Hermione saw the change within Lavender. She was gentle and soothing towards Hermione, brave and independent, now a war-hardened warrior…qualities that Hermione would have never guessed were lying underneath Lavender's perfect skin.

She shook her head no. "I've never been to Bulgaria" She said in a hoarse voice.

Memories of the past suddenly flashed before her eyes, remembering all too well the letter she had received from Viktor, the summer of fourth year and the stir in her friendship with Ron that had followed.

"Show me the letter damn it!"

Her mouth opened in fury, "How dare you demand something like that from me!" She shrieked, standing up from the couch in the common room that she'd been sitting on.

Ron's face was redder than she'd ever seen it before. "Fine, then if you won't show it to me, read me what he said!"

"It's none of your business!"

"Yes it is! I need to know what that git is doing with you!" Ron cried out furiously

"He's just my friend Ron! Nothing more!" She replied defensively

"He wants something from you! And you're daft if you think I'm going to let him get it!"

"HE WANTS FRIENDSHIP!"

Ron's lip curled dangerously, as he stepped closer to Hermione, trying to tower over her. "HE WANTS MORE THAN FRIENDSHIP 'MIONE AND YOU KNOW IT! YOU'RE JUST SO WILLING TO GIVE IT TO HIM!"

"AND JUST EXACTLY DO YOU THINK HE WANTS! YOU SEEM TO KNOW EVERYTHING HE WANTS, SO WHY DON'T YOU ENLIGHTEN ME!"

"HE WANTS YOU TO GO TO BULGARIA SO HE CAN IMPRESS YOU WITH ALL HE HAS, SO THAT YOU'LL FALL HEAD OVER HEELS FOR HIM!" Ron suddenly screamed

Hermione's eyes bulged and all anger drained from her. She looked up in fear and amazement at Ron whose eyes held fire in them. Taking a step back from him, she glanced at the letter in her hands.

I'd been thinking about this since we left Hogwarts a few weeks ago. Why don't you come to Bulgaria and visit me for a week or so? I miss you and I'm sure you'd love all the history and charm here. I promise to take you on any tour anywhere you want to go. I could even pay for your ticket and such if money would be in the way of your coming. Let me know as soon as you can.

"How did you know?" She asked timidly, afraid to meet his gaze.

"Ginny told me." He said quietly, looking at the floor.

"Look Ron I was going to tell you but"

"Forget it 'Mione. I shouldn't have gotten so mad. Obviously, you want to be with him, so f-feel free to go" He choked the last part out as if it were difficult to say.

Hermione glanced at the piece of paper in her hands. Viktor really was just a friend, and she wanted to see Bulgaria, but how could she give Ron the wrong idea? She couldn't leave with him thinking that she had those kinds of feelings towards Viktor.

"Thanks for looking out for me Ron" She said quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "But Viktor really is a good guy. You really should get to know him someday. He's not out to kill me or anything"

"I know," He mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

"But because it bothers you so…I won't go."

Ron's head snapped up immediately and his eyes met hers. "Really!"

Hermione smiled at him warmly, "Yes."

"Hermione, you don't have to do this because of me. I just—I don't like him hanging around you all the time. He always has this look in his eye. And Harry and I wouldn't be there to look after you and…I don't know. I didn't mean for you to give this up for me."

"It's okay Ron. I suppose it is kind of sweet to always have the two of you looking after me, though you really need to get this idea of me liking Viktor out of your mind."

Ron's eyes lit up. "You think it's sweet?"

Blushing a bit, Hermione smiled, "Well, yes."

Ron grinned his famous lopsided grin and the two stood there smiling at each other like fools in love, though at the time, neither understood the meaning of this moment. Awkwardly, for Ron was only 14 at the time, he took Hermione's hand in his. It was a memory that still sent chills down her spine, and at the time, made her lungs suddenly stop working. Looking up at him with wonder and even a bit of fear he gently squeezed her hand, probably for a bit longer than he should have and said, "I'm really glad you're not going this summer."

And in that moment, Hermione knew that there was something going on between her and Ron Weasley. Smiling as though the earth had given her everything she could have wanted, she said, "Me too"

Based by the look on Lavender's face, she was extremely confused why suddenly, a wave of tears spilled over Hermione's face.

"Hermione?" She asked sweetly, a concerned expression on her face "What's wrong?"

Hermione could only shake her head, choking back a sob. Lavender changed seats so that she could sit next to the girl and hug her comfortingly. Leaning into the hug Lavender had offered, Hermione continued to cry. "I-I'm s-sorry" She managed to say

"For what?" Lavender asked

"E-Everything" She cried

"You have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing." Lavender said gently, offering her a napkin to blow her nose into. Hermione took it eagerly. After several moments it was Lavender's soft voice that broke the silence. "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"Why?" Hermione sniffed "You saved me"

"Yea" Lavender said sarcastically, tears of her own building up in her eyes. "And I'm also the one who prevented you from running back there. I dragged you away in the first place. I was so scared for my own life that I made you walk away from the one you had with Ron. I'm not loyal like you are Hermione, what it comes down to is that I'm a coward who cares more about herself than others. That's the truth about me. Just look at everything Seamus did for me. He saved my life, he protected me, he carried me back to safety when I couldn't handle it anymore, he encouraged me, he was there for me when everyone else was gone. And how did I repay him? I ran away without a second glance back. So don't say you're sorry. You've never done anything wrong in life."

"No Lavender…you have it all wrong." Hermione said, composing herself "You were strong, you knew what was best for us, you stuck to the plan. War can't be about staying together. It doesn't work. That's why Ron and I were in prison and you two were free. Seamus and Ron both told us to run, and we did. It was my stupid emotions that got in the way of everything. You see that's my mistake in life. I never told Ron how I felt; I was too scared of messing everything up. I waited until he was on the brink of death to finally confess. But that new love…it's gotten in the way of us doing our job. We were supposed to protect Harry. If we could have just been brave enough to confess our feelings before the war, we could have concentrated on the spells being shot at us instead of each other's safety. We could have saved Harry. None of this would have happened."

"No Hermione. I know you didn't like Divination, but if there's one thing I learned from Trelawney, it's about prophecies and fate. Seers can predict the future, and sure the choices we make can alter the future, but fate…it's above everything. In Greek mythology, fate was the only thing above the gods. It rules our lives. Harry wasn't meant to survive…it-it just wasn't in the cards. It's hard to believe but it's true."

Hermione sighed and looked out the window again. Could Lavender be right? Was it Harry's fate all along to die? Had someone been watching his life roll out before him, knowing all along that he would die trying to save the world? Had they stepped back and let him believe he could win, was his confidence his downfall? Being around Harry…it had made Hermione believe she could do anything. She would look at all he'd accomplished, at such a young age and…she sighed…she had felt invisible, like nothing and no one could bring the three of them down. Yet…something had. Was it fate? Was it a cruel hand of cards that life dealt them? Or was it evil in itself, always out to prey on the good?

Harry's fate was one thing…but it was Ron's that drove her to the edge of her mind. He couldn't really be dead, not when she finally was free. She'd actually made it! Survived that torture, both physically and emotional, she'd persevered, she had overcome. But besides Lavender…she was utterly alone in this world. Her school was burnt to the ground, along with it all her belongings, precious books, and her future. She was without a Hogwarts full education, without her wand, and without money. All she had were the clothes on her back. Turning to Lavender, who at the moment seemed to hold so much wisdom, and she asked the question that had been burning in her mind ever since she left Hogwarts ground.

"Do…Do you think it was in our fates for us to escape? For us to still be alive?" She asked softly, her arms wrapped around herself.

Lavender blinked several times as she tried to comprehend the question Hermione was asking. She pondered for a moment or two, looking at her hands and twiddling them around. Finally, she sighed and looked up into Hermione's eyes. "Yes…and no"

"Even with both of the boys probably dead?"

"I believe that it was luck that you and I managed to get through alive. Luck and timing. But fate…I believe it was fate that you survived."

"What?" Hermione asked, shocked.

"Fate is bigger than just a power predicting your outcome. I believe that it was fate for at least one of the golden trio to survive. Harry's fate had been sealed a long time ago, it only makes sense that it should be you and not Ron."

Tears threatened to well up in her eyes again, Hermione tried to blink them away. "What do you mean? Why me instead of Ron?"

"Ron has been protective of you since day one. I know you would have gladly given up your life for him, but it's different. He felt it was his right, his duty to protect you. Like it was his job. And after seven years of developing this way of thinking, it just seems natural for him to end up being the one who gave his life for you, and not the other way around."

"But what about you?" She asked curiously "You don't think it was fate that you survived."

"No. My life isn't important the way yours is. The center of focus was Harry, and after Harry, you and Ron. The rest of us Gryffindors came after you three. Fate is blurry, you can never see it directly. Harry's fate was sealed. The fate of the last remaining member of the golden trio was between you and Ron. As for the rest of us, it was obvious that some would die, and some would survive. I just happen to be one that survived. Parvati had bad timing and that's why she was chosen as one to be sacrificed for the cause."

"But what if everyone ends up dead? Or if Seamus and Ron really aren't dead?"

"Then that'll be based on the choices of others, and the luck that everyone has. Fate makes its plans long in advance; the short details of it are up to us. And of course, we can fight fate if we want to, just like Harry did. But we're not generally going to win."

Hermione's mind was wheeling around. There was so much information to take in, so many thoughts and questions bouncing around in her brain. She sat there for several minutes, just trying to sort everything out. Faintly smiling up at Lavender she asked quietly, "Where did you learn all this?"

Lavender sighed. "Honestly?" Hermione nodded. "Honestly, I learned it all from you."

"Me!"

"Yea. I never could understand how you could be so in tune with everything. You were like an academic superhero. Whenever you would answer a question, it would be like a revelation to me because suddenly the answer seemed obvious. I had been playing with this topic before the war, and of course I asked Professor Trelawney for some input, but I really only began to understand the full effects of what I'd been thinking about once I saw Parvati and Padma's deaths. All this silence with you has left my brain with time to think about it as well. But it's taken me all this time to come up with the answers, whereas you could have figured all this out in a day, so really, it's not that big of a deal."

"No, Lavender, it is. I'm really impressed. You seem so…I don't know, put together. I'm in a pretty weak period and right now, you look like a mentor or a teacher or something in my eyes."

Lavender looked surprised, but flattered by the compliment. "Wow, I never I'd hear those words out of your mouth. At least addressed to me."

Hermione shrugged. "War changes people."

Lavender's smile slowly slid off her face. Nodding in agreement, she looked down at her hands. "Yea…" She whispered, "It does."

There were a few precious moments of silence between them, but this silence…it was different than the quiet before. It was comfortable, not awkward in the least, each with their own thoughts to tackle. They could read each other's thoughts, and they sympathized and understood. It was a feeling Hermione had never felt with anyone besides Harry and Ron before, and she realized with sudden realization that Lavender, in the short time of 24 hours, had become a good friend…possibly even a best friend.

The realization startled her. Lavender Brown one of her best friends! Something about that sentence didn't feel right to Hermione. But looking at the girl, the only companion she might possibly have left in the world, someone who understood exactly what it felt like, and a changed person…Hermione couldn't help but smile faintly as she accepted the statement in her mind. She used the term best friend lightly, but even still…it applied. Harry and Ron were her very best friends, and Ginny was probably the only other soul she was this close to. But Harry was dead, and it was more than likely that both Ron and Ginny had died as well.

When she thought of Ginny, her stomach filled with guilt. She should have looked for her. They shouldn't have left with her still hiding in a hole with Colin. What would she do if she found out they had fled? Harry, the same Harry who'd had her heart since first year, would be dead. Her role model and protector Ron would probably be dead as well, and Hermione…she would be gone. Immediately pushing the thoughts out of her mind, she tried to focus on something else but images kept flashing in front of her eyes.

They were little images, just snippets of unimportant events. But they were moments she would never let herself forget, the only proof in her mind that there had been happiness in the world at some time.

There was the one during the summer of sixth and seventh years. All four of them were at the Burrow outside by the lake. Harry and Ron were in their swimming trunks, lying out on their backs with their toes dangling in the ice-cold water. Even for the tough manly boys, this water was much too cold, a fact that Hermione had teased them mercilessly about. Harry then had taken matters into his own hands by holding her out above the water. She'd kicked and screamed of course and after some bargaining on her part, Ginny made him put her down; though everybody ended up laughing about the whole ordeal. And it was then that this image came to life. Ginny had gone into the house and here she snuck out, carrying a huge bucket of the water. She'd winked at Hermione and began to run.

The sun was behind her, casting shadows all about her lovely freckly face. As she ran, her beautiful auburn hair swinging behind her, her face contorted into one of complete giddiness, the biggest smile Hermione had ever seen, stretched across her features, the boys suddenly realized what was going on. Looking up at the youngest Weasley with a mixture of terror and shock the two boys simply stood there, dumbfounded as Ginny approached them with the water, completely soaking them with the icy water.

Harry amused, and Ron outraged, the two agreed without even looking at each other that Ginny must pay for her crimes. Picking her up carelessly, they tossed her easily into the lake, a laughing and shivering Ginny emerging from the blue water.

It was an innocent enough memory, but it meant more to her than a whole library of books. Just as she was about to float onto the next memory her brain was providing her, a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.

"ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS! WE HAVE NOW JUST ARRIVED IN SOFIA, BULGARIA! THANK YOU ALL FOR TRAVELING WITH US THIS MORNING, AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE, I'D LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A SAFE JOURNEY. THE DOORS ARE OPENING NOW; PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR BAGGAGE. MIND THE GAP!"

"Let's go" Lavender said hurriedly, sitting up and looking around. They had no baggage.

The moment they stepped off the platform, they received many looks from people. They were two young woman with no luggage, no coats, no purses…nothing. And on top of that, their clothes were filthy and they appeared as if they'd survived sudden crossfire. Yet, amidst the stares that they received, the two simply held their heads up high and smiled. After all…they were alive.

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