A/N: I must say that I am rather...actually make that very, disappointed that I did not get any reviews...well...I've got chapter two now...hopefully, those who read this will review '

Disclaimer: Any HP books

Encounter

She saw the light streamed at her.

She could now recognize the color.

It was green.

The gloved hand tried to jerk her into the path of the curse. But before Hermione was in its path, it raced pass her and into figure behind. The grip loosened and she ducked just in time as the next spell flew across the road. Harry dodged the spell with relative ease and was next to her by the time she got her wand out of its holder.

"Harry! I..." She began but was cut short as another spell came.

"Don't say a thing now!" Harry glared at her. "We'll talk about it once this is over...and if we get outta this aliv..."

They dodged...and were separated by the panicking people in the street. Hermione continued fighting her way towards Harry as she took out as much Death Eater as she could. It was hard with her limping leg. Damn hard.

"Stupefy!" She yelled as she saw a Death Eater approached her from her left.

One down.

"Rictusempra!"

Another down. Hopefully, that Death Eater will stay there for a while, until the Aurors came.

The crowd was mad. Driven by so much fear that she can taste it in the air. They were panicking, running around, dodging curses. Where did they come from? Only seconds ago, Diagon Alley was silent with only a few people.

She heard someone scream. That familiar scream. It was not someone's voice she recognized. But she knew it. The scream of pure pain. An agony caused by the spell caster's unreasonable hate. Cruciatus. The spell that immobilized her for ages.

She ran towards the scream. Trying to find the assaulter amongst the havoc. It was hard. When she found the man who screamed, he was writhing violently on the ground and the Death Eater who casted the spell was running towards another group of panicking crowd. She pointed her wand resolutely at the back of the Death Eater.

She hated taking her opponents from behind. The feeling of guilt and pettiness filled her every time. She wished it hadn't had to be this way. This, dishonorable way of combat. But this was war. Whether she liked it or not, survival was a priority...sole priority, she had to take every chance the opponents gave her.

It was their fault anyways, wasn't it? To turn their backs and not pay attention.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The dreaded jet of light streamed towards the unguarded Death Eater. The Death Eater didn't even have enough time to turn around fully and see the curse flying his way. The eyes behind the mask widened and the body slumped to the already bloodied floor.

Another lifeless body. Another stain of blood on her hands.

She turned to check on Harry. He was practically surrounded. She couldn't reach him anytime soon though. The hysterical crowd were like strong currents. Shoving. Pushing. Forcing her weary body to move with the flow.

Where the hell were the Aurors? Haven't they learnt from their mistakes? Didn't they know that time can caused the life of Harry?

She raised her wand and in the crack of a second where she came directly in view of the group of Death Eater surrounding Harry, she shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

The Death Eater, assumable as a she as she was at least a head shorter than the others, flew across the street and her wand went into Hermione's waiting palm. The other Death Eater looked shock at the sudden attack on their fellow.

Idiots.

Taking the slight distraction to his full advantage, Harry attacked. Not the naïve boy from Hogwarts, but the man that emerged in this war. A man who had seen more blood than he should see. He attacked with the fierceness and probably a portion of the hatred he reserved only for Voldemort.

Those Death Eaters were down before their foolish heads turned back from their fallen comrade. But more came. Another set of pawns entered this chess board. She felt sad for them. Just pawns. The chances of rising and become Queen in this game are virtually zero. Not when he is around. Not when he is the Dark Lord's right hand.

Hermione shook herself out of her reverie and made her way towards Harry.

Harry was quickly outnumbered. It was not because Harry was inexperienced or weak. He was, in fact, one of the best duelers in this generation. Harry had been on the edge since the death of Sirius and the revelation of his prophecy. It was his burden. His only and his biggest.

"Stupefy!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

The duel continued. They endless circle kept on turning. Hermione, already at Harry's side, fought along with him with their backs to a wall. One by one the Death Eater fell. It was not that the Death Eaters were awful dueler, but it was the survival of the fittest and they were not the fitter ones in this battle.

When the number of Death Eaters started to increase again, the Aurors arrived. They were efficient at what they did, albeit always late. Hermione and Harry sunk into the background. Gasping. Trying to catch their breaths. Resting.

Hermione slid down the wall she was leaning on. Harry remained standing, more alert of their surrounding. Her leg was killing her. During the ominous battle, she had overstressed her healing leg. It would not surprise her that the bone was once again fractured.

"Harry," she began, only starting to regain her normal breathing. "I'm sor-"

"I don't know what possessed you to do that, Hermione." Harry interrupted harshly. The adrenaline was still high. "We didn't put you in Hogwarts so you can roam around! Do you know how worried Ron and I were when...WATCH OUT!"

Harry forcefully shoved Hermione from her sitting position as a stream of light flew towards their general direction. She wasn't sure who send the spell. But she felt Harry slumped against her. She looked up surprised as Harry's deathly pale face hung limply on his shoulder.

She gently put her arms around Harry's back and felt something wet. The familiar coppery odor entered her nose. Fear rose in her.

It was the essence.

The life source.

She was acquainted with blood. She had killed in the field. She had taken lives and she herself had taken injuries before. But fear still emerged in her that moment. Never had Harry took a curse that caused him to bleed so much and become unconscious.

He was still. Motionless.

"Harry!" she whispered frantically. "Please, answer me! Harry!"

Harry remained silent.

"Harry, please don't die on..."

A voice interrupted.

"Avada..."

She flung herself in front of Harry as the tall, hooded Death Eater aimed a spell at him.

It was all her fault. If she hadn't sneaked out...if she hadn't listened to her immature self...if...

Then she looked at Harry's assaulter and time froze.

Steely blue orbs met hers and time stopped.

Just like it did that day. The day they parted. The day that she learnt that Fate is cruel.

Indeed until next time...but next time we meet, we'll not be lovers, but enemies, soldiers of different fronts...

They finally met.

He didn't recognize her at first. At least she hoped that he didn't for the coldness in his eyes terrified her. She had not seen him like that. Never in her years of knowing him. There was ambition...and hatred. Deep fiery hatred. A hate that ran so deep that she wouldn't associate with anyone but Voldemort...

When he saw her in the dimly lit alley, his curse drifted. His eyes widened and emotions flashed through them. Different emotions. For a brief moment, they were back in Seventh Year. They were in love, and they were happy. His eyes shone with tenderness that they once held. But it was soon gone, as she saw him regained his tight reign of his emotion.

She watched his blue eyes become clouded and stormy whilst his wand still pointed threateningly at her. He seemed to be having an internal struggle.

"Draco?" she whispered worriedly.

"Go." He said softly.

"What?" she looked at him surprised.

"Go." He repeated more desperately. "I can't kill you, Hermione! So go, before the others find you."

She wanted to stay and talk about what was happening. To wonder how she and he ended up in this mess. In the opposite ends of the war. But her priority now, was with Harry. Only Harry. She had to get him out of this mess. Even if it cost her life. The life she doesn't deserve to have after so foolishly throwing herself into the field. She watched him ran away from the alley and join the raging battle. She apparated away to 12 Grimmauld Place with Harry tight in her embrace.

A/N: Yay doing a happy dance, before dodging behind the chair to avoid objects thrown Second Chapter done! I hope you like this...I really, really, really, really...desperately need some reviews! Tell me anything...wheter you think it's good, what you want to happen, the type of ending you want...etc. etc. Thanks for reading, but i won't know unless you REVIEW!

Now, i know you want to press that button down there!