disclaimer: see chapter two

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All hell broke loose.

The mass of Death Eaters began throwing curses randomly around the street. People, unseen before, were now running blindly, trying to find shelter. Those who remembered they had wands quickly pulled them out to create a meek defense against the Death Eaters strength. Nearby, a child was screaming for his mother.

Hermione jumped to life, trying to ignore the pain in her leg.

"Fred, cover me!" She yelled over her shoulder as she ran towards the little boy. Hermione scooped him up in her arms and gave him to a woman hiding inside a shop. She trusted the woman to take care of the boy until his mother could be found.

Turning away, she hurried to join Fred. Together they brought down Death Eater after Death Eater, but more just kept coming.

Suddenly, the air filled with pops of people Apparating.

A fresh group of Death Eaters had joined the fray. The mass of black cloaks kept increasing exponentially.

Hermione's leg was on fire. The pain was almost too much to bear. Her strength left her quickly; her stamina hadn't recovered from the battle and healing the day before.

"Those bastards knew you were hurt so they chose today of all days to attack." Fred, too, was tiring. His brow glistened with sweat.

More pops could be heard.

"They just keep coming!" Hermione cried hopelessly, collapsing. Her leg would no longer tolerate the immense pain.

"Hermione, no, it's the Order!" Fred found more strength to continue fighting.

She didn't duck in time as a poorly aimed spell grazed her shoulder. Pain seared through her body and she let out a pained cry. Gripping her shoulder, Hermione crawled back into the ally. Fred tried to stay with her, but the mass of Death Eaters cut him off. He fought viciously to get to his fallen friend, but he had been fighting long and hard. His body had been pushed to its limits and refused to be pushed anymore.

Remus Lupin appeared beside Fred, relieving him slightly.

When Hermione saw this, she knew Fred would be all right and moved all her attention to defending herself.

Harry came sprinting towards her, screaming something with his wand pointed at her. A jet of bright blue light streamed past her and she heard an anguished cry come from behind. Harry was lost in a sea of black cloaks as Hermione spun around and saw the Death Eater picking himself up. His hood had fallen revealing the face of her attacker.

In the dim light, the Death Eater recognized the figure collapsed on the ground before him. He froze.

Fred's body flew through the air and landed heavily on the pavement near Hermione.

"Fred!" Forgetting the man before her, she turned away. Trying to stand, her leg gave out causing her to land painfully on her knee. Hermione crawled toward the fallen twin and looked for his pulse. She sighed. It was there. Weak, but there.

More people Apparated onto the scene. The Aurors had finally arrived! They immediately took control; Death Eaters fell one after another. Soon the cloaked figures were retreating, Disapparating back to their Master.

Remembering He was behind her, Hermione turned but couldn't find the strength or will to lift her wand.

He stood, wand at the ready. His knuckles were white from gripping his wand too tightly.

Both were aware of the Auror's arrival, but neither broke their piercing gaze.

His glance shot towards the fight, where his fellows were retreating.

"Go." His voice was raspy. He stared at the ground in front of the battered girl, unwilling to meet her eyes.

"Draco…" Hermione finally found her voice, though it cracked as she formed the name she swore she would never say again all those years ago.

"Go. You're the one he wants."

She picked up her wand. The last thing she saw before Disapparating was His eyes, filled with sadness and regret.

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Mrs Weasley and Ginny were waiting, prepared for the worst. When Hermione burst in, they both jumped up and she felt Fred's weight being lifted from her.

She put her hand on her leg and felt a familiar sticky feeling.

Blood.

Her leg had a deep cut from calf to ankle, but there was too much to be just her's. Looking up, she saw a huge, jagged gash across Fred's chest.

Ginny reached out to help Hermione, but was waved away impatiently, "I'm fine." Ginny looked Hermione up and down and glared. Everything about her contradicted the statement. "Help Fred. He needs you more."

Ginny nodded and reluctantly left her friend and hurried to her brother.

Hermione sat and rested against the wall, her leg sprawled at an odd angle, but it wasn't so painful that way.

By then, the members of the Order had finished up at Diagon Ally and were now returning.

Those with minor cuts set to helping those with more serious injuries. Ron was among those more seriously hurt. George hurried to Fred, face white. Harry found Hermione in her corner.

"What were you thinking going and fighting? You should have gotten out of there before they cast their first spell!" Harry fumed in an angry whisper.

"I had to stay. It was only me and Fred. No one was there to protect all those people." Hermione stared at Harry, determined to have him see it her way. To have him understand, all the lives that would have been lost if she had left. And the little boy, crying for his mum in a street soon to be filled with horrors.

Harry could only shake his head, but didn't argue anymore. He bent down to examine her leg.

"Damn, Hermione. You've broken it again. And what in Merlin's name happened to your shoulder?"

Hermione turned her head to look, but the room began to spin and she couldn't focus. The pain in her leg flared as she slumped back into a dead faint.

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