(A/N: Hey everyone! Well we seem to be having some difficulties. Apparently, while away this month, fanfcition changed some of their settings and for some reason, it claims that I have not written any stories in my login area. Now, when I search for the stories, they're all there with me as the author. I just can't see them in my login box to update! So I'm trying to figure it out but in order to update, am updating all of my other chapters into a new story. There will be no differences between the two stories. I hope I can get this figured out but until then hang in there with me! Well, new chapter is here and I'm very excited about where the plot's going! Yay! First of all, let me just say again how absolutely marvelous you all are! The reviews I got were absolutely amazing! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Secondly, This system of updating about every 4-5 weeks is working out great for me with my school schedule and everything. I'm sorry it's such a long time in between updates but hopefully you'll still stick with me, some good stuff's coming up! Thirdly, I have not heard any news regarding the review thing so if anyone's heard anything could you let me know? Thanks. That's about it right now. I hope you all enjoy this chapter; it's a nice long 16 pages for you! My treat! Much love, Haystack)

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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: THE BEGINNING

It took Hermione a moment or two to figure out where she was when she woke up the next morning. Strong, muscled arms encircled her waist and drew her close but Hermione felt alone. Opening her eyes wearily and looking around their vacant and darkened room, she was only acutely aware of the tapping at their door.

Too comfortable to get up, Hermione instead turned her attention to Ron, shaking his shoulders to wake him up. The man didn't budge.

Sighing, Hermione laid on her back for a moment, temporarily ignoring the tapping at their door. It was still early…the person would probably assume that she and Ron were asleep and go away. At least she hoped so.

Hermione wasn't sure why exactly she was so tired. Sure she'd been under a lot of stress lately, but nothing compared to what she'd endured during the war. She was with Ron and the Weasleys and they were safe. What more could she ask for?

Harry, her brain said almost automatically. She closed her eyes and grimaced…she hadn't meant to think that. She didn't want to think about Harry now. She'd had about all she could handle last night.

But despite her wishes, memories and thoughts of Harry shot through her mind. It had only been a few days since she'd last seen Harry; last spoke to him, last hugged him…but it felt like a lifetime ago.

She still couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the fact that Harry was gone for good. That even when this whole mess was over and done with, when life returned to normal…he wouldn't be there. And that was another thing…normality. She couldn't imagine Voldemort ruling the world forever, but at the same time, how were they supposed to beat Voldemort without Harry?

Tired, she tried to push her thoughts away. Ron snuggled closer to her right shoulder; and despite everything, she smiled. Leaning over, Hermione kissed his forehead and ran her fingers lightly through his hair. But before she could do anything else, the knocking got louder.

Grumbling to herself, Hermione got out of bed and put on a dressing robe; making her way over to the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming…" She mumbled to no one in particular.

Wondering who exactly would wake her up in such a manner, Hermione opened the door slowly. All thoughts were gone however, as she stared in mixed wonder and shock at the stranger outside her door.

She wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, she wanted to collapse onto the floor…but for the moment all she could do was stare with an open mouth as the man turned around to face her, a widespread grin on his face.

"Hermione" Was all he said, but it was all that was needed. Hermione shook, as if coming out of some sort of dream, and stepped into his outstretched arms, where her tears soaked his shirt through and through.

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Hermione's brain was racing…she couldn't comprehend everything at once. How could he be here? Wasn't he supposed to be dead? But as he hugged her tightly back, Hermione threw all thoughts to the wind. It didn't matter right now…

She held onto him tightly, but he pulled away, holding her at arms length to check her over.

Hermione gave a tear strained laugh, "I'm fine." She said, understanding what he was doing.

A smile somehow crossed his face, "Sorry I just…I can't believe you're all alive. It's…. indescribable"

"I know how you feel," Hermione said, wiping at her tears. Neville watched her, a grin on his face the whole time. She smiled back warmly, unable to hide the joy in her smile. "I can't believe you're here" She said honestly, "How did you survive all this time? I-I just can't believe it. How are you? Have you seen the others?"

Neville's face was somber almost immediately. "It's bad Hermione…really bad"

Hermione's heart sped up and panic gripped her, "What do you mean? Have you seen the others?"

Neville nodded slowly. "Some of them."

"Who?"

"Earlier on in the battle I saw Luna, Hagrid, Ginny, and some of the others. But the past few days have been…." Neville looked away, unable to finish.

Hermione touched his shoulder, "It's okay," She said quietly her own voice filled with feeling, "Come on in, I'm not exactly proper but you don't care do you?"

Thankful for the change of subject, Neville shook his head, "You look lovely."

Hermione smiled at him, "Come on in, I'll wake Ron up."

"Ron?" Neville's eyes went huge, "He's here?"

Hermione nodded. "Yea he is." She said as she closed the door behind him. Neville looked frozen to the spot as his eyes fell on Ron.

Slowly, he turned to Hermione, "You both are really okay?"

It was all Hermione could do not to cry, so not knowing what to say, she nodded.

"And you two…you share a room?" He asked as he looked around their small room.

Hermione blushed as she walked over to the bed, her back to Neville. Shyly she looked over her shoulder at him. "We're engaged." She said slowly, watching his reaction.

Hermione would have expected Neville to be confused or shocked, even worried for them…but there he stood, a smug look on his face. There weren't many times in her life she'd seen Neville looking smug.

"I knew it," He said simply,

Hermione shook her head. Had that many people really known? She smiled, "Yes well we finally figured it out." She said. Leaning down so that she was eye level with Ron, she shook him gently. "Ron, wake up"

"mmm" Ron mumbled, turning away from her, but then realizing she wasn't in bed, opened his eyes. "What's going on?" He asked groggily

"Someone's here," Hermione said, unable to hide the happiness in her voice.

Ron sat up in an instant. "Who?" He asked, scanning the room. His eyes fell on Neville.

"Hey" Neville said, approaching the bed.

Ron's face flickered for a moment. But soon, a grin crossed over his face. "Hey" He said back, getting out of bed to hug Neville.

As Hermione watched the boys embrace, she caught herself wanting to cry. But not out of happiness. For a split moment…just a moment…she'd thought it was Harry that had come to knock on their door. The back of a black head had stopped her mind from working properly. And as badly as she'd worried about Neville, missed him…she couldn't help wishing that Harry and Ron were the ones re-uniting.

However, pushing her thoughts down for later, she managed to conjure up a smile for the two. "Does anyone know you're here?" Hermione asked Neville, who sat down on the bed with Ron.

Neville nodded. "I came in late last night. Lupin was there. He's the only who knows. He told me that everyone was here and I just assumed that didn't include you two. After all, I figured you'd be with Harry…"

Ron and Hermione made eye contact. She sighed, and pulled up a chair. Here we go again, she thought. How many times in their life would they have to re-tell this story? How many times was she going to have to pretend to be strong about this?

Back in school, Hermione had been a pillar of strength. She pushed emotions aside and focused on the task at hand, whether that meant her studies or keeping the three of them alive. But it seemed as if all of that time spent pushing her emotions away had caught up with her. It was exhausting to pretend to be strong, even for just a few minutes. Distantly, she wondered if this was permanent. Was she always going to be a blubbering mess?

But for now, she took a deep breath, reeling in her emotions. Once she knew she had them under control, she turned to look at Neville who wore a mixture of pain and shock on his face. Ron had already told him. Silently thanking Ron, she made a mental note to do something special for him later. He was too good to her.

"How can he be gone?" Neville choked, sounding more like his old self.

Hermione was stricken by how much Neville seemed to have changed. He was somber and wiser…less frightened of the world. But that didn't make sense did it? How could Neville experience war and be less afraid of the world? His voice was deeper…he sounded older. Dark circles were under his eyes, and he'd lost a lot of weight. Too much, Hermione thought, he'd been skinny before. But perhaps the biggest difference in Neville was the way he carried himself. She'd noticed it when he walked those few feet from the door. Before, he'd usually walked with his face looking at the ground, and his shoulders up. Sometimes with his arms crossed in front of his body. Now, his shoulders were back, his face was up, and he walked with a strange sort of confidence.

Confidence looks good on him, Hermione thought as Ron continued to answer Neville's questions.

"H-how will we defeat V-Voldemort with Harry gone?" Neville asked to no one in particular.

Ron and Hermione could only shake their heads.

"It's not fair…" Neville continued, rubbing his head as though he suddenly had a headache. "After all this time…all that pain."

Ron cast Hermione a worried glance and she returned it, coming over to the bed to sit next to Neville. "It's okay," She said hoping her voice sounded soothing. "It's okay"

But suddenly, Neville looked up to stare her in the face—something he'd never really done before—"No" He said quietly, "It's not okay. Y-You don't know what I've seen…these past few days have been--" Neville took a shuddering breath to control himself. Hermione's heartbeat quickened. They'd gotten an idea of what life was like right now on the battlefield (now just a target zone) but Ginny hadn't spoken much about it. "And now…after all I endured…I endured it knowing someone was somehow safe; that we'd manage to beat this back. And I wanted to help. It was the only thing that kept me going…at times I just wanted to die."

Neville stopped, his voice too clogged with emotion to continue. Neither Ron nor Hermione said anything; they simply waited for Neville to continue, which he did soon enough. "And now after all that, to find out that Harry's dead. That we've lost for good…" He drifted off, and Hermione got the sense that he'd said all that he wanted to say.

"Dumbledore's coming" She said quietly, hoping Neville would see the importance of this. "Surely he has a plan."

"Dumbledore's alive?"

"Yea" Ron said, "He's coming today."

Neville gave them both a weak smile. "W-Who else?" He asked,

"My whole family's here" Ron said, "And then Hermione, Lupin, Mad Eye Moody, some other Order members…"

"What about Dean and Seamus?" Neville asked, going through the checklist of the five boys who had shared a dormitory for seven years.

Ron shook his head and Hermione noted the glimmer of pain that shot through his eyes. "No" was all he said, but it was enough for Neville who silently nodded his understanding and said no more.

Hermione looked at her hands for a moment. It's strange the way things worked out, She thought. Amidst all the sufferings and pains, little miracles continued to occur. It had been no coincidence that all nine Weasley members survived…not with the death toll as high as it was. Ginny and Neville miraculously surviving, Seamus and Lavender coming to their rescue the night before their deaths, Dumbledore surviving, Hagrid's dog surviving while Hogwarts lay in ruins, Harry dying. It was all so fickle. Hermione wasn't sure if she believed in any sort of God, but sometimes…she couldn't help but hope there was. Picturing Harry in a better place than the one he had left was certainly easier on her. After all, religion worked for people all around the world. There may not really be a city in the clouds, but dreaming of it could sure enliven the spirit.

Yet in the back of her mind, Neville's words played through. How were they supposed to defeat Voldemort? The prophecy had fulfilled itself…there was no changing it now. It had said that one must kill the other. That part was completed. The rest described Harry, and how they could be sure that it was Harry and not Neville. The only phrase of interest was the 'power the Dark Lord knows not'. But even with her necklaces, that hadn't been enough.

Her brain pounding, she sighed and looked at Neville and Ron who looked just as exhausted as she felt. Trying to smile, she touched Neville's shoulder. "Why don't you go lie down for a bit? I'm sure Mrs. Weasley will be dying to thoroughly examine you." She said softly, "Ron and I can walk you down if you want."

"No it's alright," Neville said, standing up. "I didn't mean to wake you two up earlier. It's just that…"

"Don't worry about it" Ron cut him off, "We're glad to see you. We were worried about you, you know. It's another thing to be relieved about. Thankful too."

Neville mustered up a small smile, "Yes well I could say the same thing about you two. Tell Ginny if you see her, that I'll come by her room later on today."

"Okay" Hermione said, "We will"

"Thanks," He said, walking out of the door. A tense silence fell over the room as soon as he left.

Sighing, Ron flopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Hermione mimicked him.

"Interesting day so far don't you think?" Ron finally said, his voice running on the line between humorous and exhaustion.

"Very…" Hermione said distantly, her mind chalk full of thoughts.

"Seems surreal doesn't it?" Ron spoke,

"What?"

"Him just showing up on our doorstep like that."

"Yes…I couldn't believe it when I opened the door."

A comfortable silence stretched between them.

"Can I confess something?" Ron said suddenly, breaking the silence

Interested, Hermione propped herself up. "Of course." She said, leaning towards him.

"You see…" Ron looked pained, "When I opened my eyes and saw him there…I couldn't see real well since I was just waking up. And all I really saw was his outline. Nothing specific." Ron took a breath, "And for a moment…I just—I thought it was Harry"

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, Ron was staring at her, waiting for some kind of reaction. "I thought so too," She whispered, the memory splashing through her mind. "All I saw was the back of his head. He's got the same hair. It just---" Hermione trailed off, unable to articulate the intense emotions that had surged through her body then. She'd thought for a moment that everything would be okay. Harry would fix everything. They could win the war, Ginny could tell Harry again how much she loved him, Ron would have his best mate back, Harry could be the best man at their wedding, the world would have its hope back. There would be no more war, no more raping or torture, no more suffering and death…no more evil.

"Sh…" Ron said gently, taking her into his arms. She hadn't realized that she'd been crying. "I know. It—He never goes away from my mind."

"I'm sorry…" She said, wiping at her tears furiously, "I don't like being weak."

Ron just shook his head. "You've been strong for as long as I've known you. Almost too strong" He teased, "It's about time you let yourself be weak. Let someone else take care of you for a change" He said as he wiped some hair from her face and then kissed her forehead. "Merlin knows you've deserved it."

"I want to take care of you though. You need me."

"I'll let you know when I'm being neglected okay?" Ron said gently, "For now just cry. I'm not going anywhere."

And with that invitation, Hermione cried. She cried about anything and everything. She cried about Harry, she cried for Ginny, she cried for Ron, she cried for those still on Hogwarts ground, she cried for Seamus and Lavender, she cried for Dean and the others, she even cried for Dumbledore. But most of all, she simply cried. Cried for a world that she'd once known, that now was no more.

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"Hermione!" Ginny cried, as she opened the door and spotted Hermione lying on her bed, a book in her hands.

Surprised by the urgency of Ginny's tone and the way her eyes were flashing, Hermione put her book down. "What's wrong?" She asked, trying to calm the way her stomach was flipping.

"I've been looking for you everywhere!" Ginny exclaimed, stepping into the room. "Mum sent me…you and Ron are wanted."

"By who?" Hermione asked, her mind trying to think of who would call them like this. Her mind gave her only one answer…

"Dumbledore's here!" Ginny smiled. "He wants to see you and Ron. It was the first thing he said."

At Ginny's words, Hermione couldn't help but smile as well. Dumbledore was here…she let out a sigh of relief. Everything would be okay now. Dumbledore always had a plan; he would fix this whole mess up. Life would be able to return to normal.

"Come on" Hermione said, her face alight, "Let's go"

And with that thought, Hermione followed Ginny out of the room.

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By the time Ginny and Hermione had reached the end of the hallway, they were running.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked Ginny as they turned a corner

"Parlor" Ginny said over her shoulder.

They continued to run, ducking people and objects in the hall. Hermione felt so light…so free. She felt like a kid again, with no troubles or worries, relying solely on adults to take care of things. Although however unreasonable it was to depend on Dumbledore in this manner, she couldn't help it. And judging by the way Ginny's face had lit up back in her room, she felt the same. Dumbledore would pull them out of this.

"Sorry!" She shouted as she and Ginny trampled by an already confused looking Hestia Jones. Hermione turned to catch Ginny's eye and the two girls laughed. It feels so good to laugh, She thought.

Finally turning the final corner, Hermione and Ginny slowed down to see a nervous looking Ron pacing outside the parlor door. Coming to a stop, Hermione grinned at him. He hadn't noticed her yet. "Thanks Ginny" She said as she put a hand to the girls arm. Ginny squeezed her hand.

"Good luck" She whispered

Hermione smiled, "Thanks. I'll let you know everything once we're done"

"You better" Ginny said. And without another word, Ginny turned around and walked away.

Walking up to Ron, he finally noticed her presence. "Hey" He grinned, walking up to her and giving her a quick kiss.

As they broke apart, Hermione smiled. "Any new news?"

Ron shook his head. "No"

Hermione tucked a curl behind her ear and wrung her hands together nervously. "So what do you think he's going to say?"

He shrugged. "It's a shot in the dark, really. I mean he'll probably tell us his plans and what we think and such."

"You're probably right." She said absent mindedly, staring at the door in anticipation.

"You nervous?" Ron asked humorously,

Hermione turned to him and bit her lip. "Honestly?"

Ron smiled. "No, falsely." Hermione rolled her eyes and smacked him but she couldn't hide her smile. This was a sign…everything was going to return to normal. Ron laughed. "There's my 'Mione I've been missing. Never stops being a know-it-all" He teased.

She laughed, "And you never stop being an insufferable--"

"Prat, yes we've all heard that line before." A strange voice said. Hermione and Ron both spun around.

Dumbledore stood in the doorway, his blue eyes twinkling. Those eyes…Hermione fought back tears…there had only been one time in her life Hermione had known those eyes without that twinkle. It was more powerful and reassuring than anything else Hermione could think of. If his eyes could stay…. Hermione knew that everything would be all right.

Caught up with emotion, and not even thinking twice, she approached her Headmaster, and hugged him tightly. Dumbledore was surprised, but obviously touched as he hugged her back much like a father would hug a daughter. "Ah Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said, "So good to see you."

"You too Professor" Hermione said as she stepped back and wiped at a tear that had somehow managed to leak from her eyes.

"Professor…" Ron said as he approached Dumbledore, his hand outstretched.

"Mr. Weasley" Dumbledore said fondly, accepting Ron's handshake and placing his other hand on top of their hands. "I'm afraid it has been much too long since I've seen you both."

"I agree" Ron said, giving Hermione a sideways glance. She nodded.

"Ah yes well, why don't you two come in? We have much to discuss I'm afraid."

Hermione looked nervously to Ron, who took her hand and led her inside. Dumbledore followed and shut the door behind them.

The wide parlor had somehow been transfigured into a study…one that looked so similarly like Dumbledore's office back at Hogwarts, Hermione had to wonder if maybe somehow they'd been magically transported back to Hogwarts. It took her a moment to remember that Hogwarts had collapsed. That knowledge made being in the room almost painful.

"I find certain things very comforting in these troubled times." Dumbledore said as a way of explanation, as he crossed the room to his desk where he sat behind it. "Please, sit down" He said, gesturing to the two chairs that were opposite his desk.

Pushing down the lump in her throat, Hermione nodded and sat down into the chair on the left.

Dumbledore nodded at them, as if approving the situation, and then sighed, taking off his half-moon spectacles and rubbing his head. All this he did in complete silence, and Hermione suddenly wondered if maybe this wasn't going to be a happy discussion after all. Putting his glasses back on, he looked at directly at Ron and Hermione who couldn't help but stare at him expectantly. They had no idea why they were there.

"I'm sure you both are wondering why you're here." Dumbledore said, trying to keep his voice casual and light but failing miserably. "But I'm surprised that you two aren't used to it. For years, you both have been called to my office to discuss certain…issues. And tonight is no different."

"Unfortunately, the things we must discuss are of grave importance and your answers could change this war…and the outcome of many lives. So before we begin I want you both to promise me that you will answer all of my questions honestly and with as much information as you can provide." Dumbledore said this all with such a serious tone, it made Hermione uneasy. Looking to Ron, he looked just as nervous and…scared as she felt.

Dumbledore paused, as if to give them the opportunity to say something. Hermione wasn't quite sure what to say. Apparently, Ron had nothing to say either. Sensing this, Dumbledore continued.

"First of all, I'm not sure what you've been told, but for the past two or three days, Hagrid and I have been out in invisibility cloaks searching for Harry. We have yet to actually find a body. But when word came in that you two were safe, and very much without Harry, I thought it would be wise to talk to you, to see if maybe you knew anything."

Hermione could actually feel her stomach dropping to the floor.

"I don't need to explain to you how important it is that we find Harry." Dumbledore said quietly, "I also want to find him for personal reasons…besides the obvious. I believe Hagrid and I will be able to use any information you two can give us. I know much you both care for him."

Hermione's head spun. This was getting so old…she hated having to be the one to crush people's hopes. She hated having to tell this horrible story over and over again. She hated watching people crumble, their hearts crushed. She hated to be the one who was challenged as to why Harry had to die. Didn't people realize that she missed him just as much as they did? Maybe even more? She missed Harry with every fiber in her body and would give anything for him to come back. But he wasn't coming back, and there was nothing for anyone to do.

She turned to catch Ron's eye. He was withering inside…

"Professor…" Hermione paused, taking a deep breath, "We know more about Harry than you probably want to know."

Dumbledore smiled, "I was hoping so Miss Granger. Please, tell me everything."

Hermione hesitated, and looked to Ron for support. One look in his eyes gave her all the reassurance she needed. And with that, Hermione took a deep breath and looked Dumbledore straight in the eye. "Professor, Harry's dead"

Dumbledore appeared to have not heard her correctly. He simply sat there, not blinking, not responding…Hermione wasn't even sure if he was breathing. Utter silence filled up the reasonably vacant room, and it ate away at her. All she felt right now was pity for the man Harry had thought of as father for so much of his life.

But finally, Dumbledore closed his eyes, as if in retaliation to the heartache Hermione's words had given him. When he spoke it was a hoarse whisper, a voice Hermione had never heard Dumbledore use before. "And…you're sure of this?" He asked

Hermione nodded slowly. "We saw it Professor. Ron and I were that makeshift prison. Our cell had a window and we had no choice but to simply watch."

"V-Voldemort?" Dumbledore seemed to sink even lower into his chair with each word she spoke.

She nodded gravely. "Yes. He had Harry up in the air, he could hardly breathe…then he said an incantation, there was a flash of light and he was gone."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed. "Do you think it was possible--"?

"For Harry to have gotten transported somewhere?" Ron finished for him. Hermione could only stare at him in shock. Interrupting the Headmaster like that? "No" Ron said, completely unfazed. "Because much later on, Voldemort put Harry's corpse in our cell with us as means of torture. We checked him thoroughly. He was as dead as dead could be."

"I see" Dumbledore nodded his understanding. He was quiet for a moment or two. "I trust you both wholly, so I believe everything you are telling me is indeed true."

"We wouldn't lie about Harry like that, Professor" Hermione said quietly

At that, Dumbledore's eyes seemed to fill up with tears instantaneously. "I know Miss Granger…I know"

Silence filled the room again. Dumbledore wiped at his eyes and then began to pace.

"I-I'll admit that wasn't the news I was expecting to hear. Now the task at hand is--"

"Defeating Voldemort--" Ron interrupted again.

"Without Harry" Dumbledore finished. "Well, now that finding Harry is no longer an issue, I must confess, I have another reason for calling you both here. I'm not sure how this will come into play with what we must do tonight, but it regards some of your friends."

If Dumbledore had ever wanted their undivided attention, he had it now.

"Who?" Ron asked, his fingers clenched, preparing for the worst.

Dumbledore leaned against his desk so that he was facing the two directly. "Three of them to be exact."

"Who?" Hermione echoed Ron, her heart clamoring.

"I believe that before you two were transported here, you left two very good friends behind in Voldemort's hands."

"Seamus and Lavender! Are they alive!" Ron asked, jumping to his feet instantaneously, a grin stretched out along his features.

Unlike Ron, Hermione sat still. She barely moved. Seamus and Lavender…. but they were dead! They had to be! There was no way they could have survived! Her heart was aching, she needed to know and she needed to know now. If they were alive…that would mean…

"No Mr. Weasley, I'm afraid they are no longer alive," Dumbledore said quietly

Ron's face crumbled, and his body shrank back. It was a horrible thing to watch, as Ron wore his expressions on his sleeve for them to see. "They're not?" Ron asked weakly

"No, I'm sorry. I hadn't meant to get your hopes up like that." Dumbledore said apologetically

Ron simply shook his head, too caught up in his thoughts and pain to say much more.

"Professor, what about Seamus and Lavender?" Hermione asked trying to keep her voice even. She didn't want to give away how crushed she was. How her heart was bleeding all over again for their two good friends. And guilt once more, settled down into the pit of her stomach.

"While invisible, Hagrid and I saw them trapped on top of the pile of debris that used to be Hogwarts. We snuck closer to have a better look. Voldemort was challenging them, asking them to confess who they were with, because he and his followers had definitely seen two others with them."

"Oh God…" Hermione shut her eyes painfully

"They wouldn't confess and refused over and over again. Voldemort and the Death Eaters tried anything short of death to get any information out of them. Tortured them time after time--"

"Stop" Hermione found herself whispering, "Please stop"

Dumbledore gave Hermione a sad look and said no more on the subject. "Finally, Voldemort had no choice but to extract their memories, and then he killed them both." He said softly

With Dumbledore's final words, Hermione found herself shaking. That was more than she wanted to know. Sure, she'd played over through her head, how Seamus and Lavender might have died but that…. she wrapped her arms around herself… it was too much.

They actually died for us, She thought, they died like Neville's parents did. Even Lavender didn't say a thing. And with these thoughts, the deepest kind of grief came washed over Hermione. They're heroes, She thought, liking the idea of Seamus and Lavender one day being rallied as such.

"As tragic and awful as their deaths are however, the crisis on hand is that Voldemort now has their memories. He now knows that you both are alive and probably safe, and he knows that there are other students still alive to help you. The price on your lives has never been higher. Remember, he knows now that you escaped." Dumbledore explained; his face contorted into one of great urgency.

"Uh Oh…" Ron's voice came, hoarse but scared.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley, things are bad. And now, he also knows that Professor Lupin and myself are alive. Hagrid too. Your family. But most importantly, he knows that there is still an Order trying to fight him. He's angry. Very angry. And will do anything to get revenge on us."

"Do we know what he's planning to do?" Ron asked

Dumbledore nodded gravely, "We know that he took a day yesterday to re-evaluate with his Death Eaters how to wipe us out. And tomorrow they're leaving."

"Leaving?" Hermione asked confused, "But where are they going?"

Dumbledore gave her a look, and suddenly it all made sense. Her heart began to pound and she felt herself go weak. "Of course." She whispered, despite herself, "Bulgaria"

"Bulgaria!" Ron cried, obviously surprised, "But why!"

"Viktor..." Hermione replied, her mind recoiling against her own words, "He's going to kill Viktor"

Ron's face went white. "No…h-he can't! B-But what does that accomplish!"

"I believe he thinks you foolish enough to come rescue him. And if not, Viktor is an easy target. One that he knows will weaken you both. Either way, Voldemort sees it as a perfect opportunity to strike."

"B-But Professor! We can't let him do this! Viktor's in a Muggle neighborhood! He'll be killing hundreds of Muggles…"

"Precisely, Ron" Dumbledore said sadly, "And when he returns, he expects we'll give him a battle to fight. Voldemort is no longer going to stop terrorizing the Wizarding World. Remember his goal is world conquest. He's stopping at nothing now with Harry out of the way. After Harry, defenseless Muggles are a piece of cake. "

It was Hermione's turn to go white. "Professor…we can't let this happen!" She said, her thoughts resting on the Muggles and Viktor. Not Viktor…her mind screamed, He helped us when we needed him most. Not him.

"Of course we'll try to stop it Miss Granger. That has always been our job. But I just don't know what to do without Harry. If we have any shot at taking Voldemort by surprise, then we'd need to attack tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Ron echoed, not believing his ears

"Yes," Dumbledore said sadly, "Otherwise we'll have the lower hand to begin with. And with our numbers, we frankly can't afford it."

"But Professor, what about the prophecy? Is it even worth it to try to fight back now with Harry dead?"

Dumbledore looked at her for a moment, and Hermione wondered if she'd said the wrong thing. But then, Dumbledore chuckled to himself and the twinkle returned to his eyes. Hermione relaxed.

"Not fight back you say?" Dumbledore smiled, "Miss Granger, we've all suffered terrible losses in the past few days. Our hope is dead with Harry dead. He of all people fit the prophecy. But you are forgetting that he had a power the Dark Lord knew not. Harry himself looked over this line many times.

Frankly, I do no know what power he possessed that we're not aware of, but I believe its fair to assume it's still with us. With or without the prophecy, I believe you agree with me that we need to fight this battle. But I also believe that this is our last chance. Life rarely grants a second chance at things, and I do not think we would want to miss this.

Our only hope in restoring the world back to normal is in defeating Voldemort and his followers. The world is counting on us to fight back again. Without this, evil will indeed take over the world. And in that, I dare not think about what would happen.

So yes, Miss Granger, I do believe it's worth it to fight tomorrow. It's worth it because this war is personal now. You can fight for Seamus and Lavender, You can fight for Harry. I believe they will be the ones to bring us to victory. Their sacrifices will bring peace to this world.

But of course, the real question here is, are you willing to fight again? Are you willing to face the fears you've made in the past few days? Are you willing to face death in the face after only just leaving him? Willing to sacrifice your life and join those who have already? It's all up to you. This is our last chance. We have to put everything we have into it, or else…. the world as we know it will be no more."

Silence followed.

And then…

"We're willing" Ron and Hermione said, looking at each other

Dumbledore smiled. "I knew you would be"

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(A/N: teehee…and we have another war on our hands! Let me know what you think! Hugs, Haystack)