A/N: And so it begins…here goes.
DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot.
Chapter 17: A war begins.
Over the next 2 months Hermione watched as Harry and Draco trained for the Great Battle. Draco had been to a few meetings since then but the trick they had played on Pansy and Dumbledore's memory charm had prevented Voldemort from finding out about their plans. They all now believed Draco's true alliance with Dumbledore and knew how he really felt about Hermione.
Draco and Harry headed down to the Great Hall for lunch. It was a Saturday and they had been training all morning. They stepped into the Great Hall at separate times and went to their respective house tables. Hermione was talking to Ron and Ginny about her pregnancy. Ginny was becoming clucky and was rubbing Hermione's stomach and talking to the baby whenever she could. Harry sat down next to Ginny and placed an arm around her.
"Oh Harry. Wouldn't it be lovely to have a baby?" Ginny cooed. Ron looked at Harry strangely.
"No. We are a bit young Gin. I'm sure your mother would kill me before I even got a chance to see the baby. That's if Ron hadn't already killed me!"
"That's right I would." Ron said sternly before laughing. Harry and Ginny joined in realising that Ron wouldn't care.
"I guess I am a bit young hey? Oh well maybe when I'm 25 or something." Ginny looked at Harry hopefully. He smiled at her but didn't say anything. Instead he put some chicken and salad on his plate and began eating. After everyone had finished eating they decided to go down to Hermione and Draco's living quarters. Draco was there when they arrived and they had a few games of exploding snap while talking and joking about things that weren't important. It was one rare moment where nobody thought about what was going on in the wizarding world. After they had gone back up to the castle for some dinner, Harry, Hermione and Draco received a letter each informing them that the Headmaster would like to see them in his office so they made their way to the stone gargoyle, up the spiral staircase and into Dumbledore's office. Once they were seated Dumbledore explained why they were there.
"I have summoned you here because I have decided that you are all ready for the Great Battle. I have planned a meeting with The Order of the Phoenix for tomorrow after breakfast. I would like the Great Battle to take place within the next week. If you feel you are not ready let me know. I warn you now. This battle should not be taken lightly. Many witches and wizards may loose their lives and we have to be prepared for the loss of a loved one."
Hermione looked at Draco. Harry just stared at the ground. All three were too shocked to talk about Dumbledore's proclamation.
After Hermione, Harry and Draco got over the shock of knowing the Great Battle was less than a week away, they headed down to the kitchens for their usual mug of hot chocolate but conversation was the last thing on their mind. Instead they sat in silence and pondered what could happen at the Great Battle. After a while the three decided to head off to bed. They would have a long day tomorrow as they had the meeting with the order to prepare for the Great Battle.
The next day after Hermione and Draco had showered; they headed up to Dumbledore's office for the meeting with the Order. When they arrived, Harry was waiting along with the entire members of the order. They sat along a table that Dumbledore had conjured in place of his own desk and made plans for the Great Battle to take place on Wednesday. Molly and Arthur were there and Harry assured them that he would administer the Draught of the Living Dead to Ron. Dumbledore had the antidote for it and Molly had agreed to stay at Grimmald Place with Hermione. Ron would also be transferred there for his own safety.
The morning of the Great Battle bought with it a sense of great doom. Hermione couldn't explain the feeling that someone she cared deeply for was going to be badly hurt. She headed up to the castle for breakfast and noticed that Harry was trying to distract Ron long enough to slip the potion into his pumpkin juice. Hermione sat down next to Ron and winked at Harry. She started talking to Ron about any homework he needed help with while Harry slipped the potion into his drink. Ron lifted his goblet to his mouth and drank deeply before answering. He was halfway through explaining to Hermione that he didn't understand his Transfiguration essay when his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out on the table. Hermione looked at Harry who was white with shock at what he had just done to his best friend.
"It's ok Harry. He'll understand when he wakes up. I'll be there to explain it all to him when his mum gives him the antidote." Hermione told him as they heaved Ron up to the Gryffindor tower. Students were looking at them with interest but they ignored them. Molly was coming to pick Ron and Hermione up and take them to Grimmald Place.
About twenty minutes had passed when Professor Dumbledore came into the Gryffindor Tower to announce that Molly was here with a cart to take Hermione and Ron to Grimmald place. Hermione smiled nervously at Dumbledore. Draco had come in with Dumbledore. The other Gryffindor's were in class so it was safe for him to be in there. He had come to say goodbye to Hermione and to reassure her he would stay safe. Hermione had tears in her eyes but kept herself together.
"Draco. Please don't get hurt or die or something." Hermione whispered to him.
"Mione, I promise to stay as safe as I can. I'm fighting in this battle to save every witch and wizard alive. If I die doing it then so be it. Just remember that I will always love you ok Hermione."
"Please don't talk like that. I love you to Draco. I always will."
Draco embraced Hermione and kissed her lightly on the lips before she headed out the portrait hole and off to the waiting carriage where Ron was sleeping and Mrs Weasley was making sure he was comfortable. Hermione needed help getting into the carriage as she was now eight months pregnant and her stomach prevented her from lifting herself up. They horse drawn carriage slowly made its way out of the school grounds and towards Hogsmeade station where the Hogwarts express would take them as close as possible to Grimmald Place. They would be driving in a Ministry car the rest of the way.
Back at the castle, Dumbledore, Harry, Draco and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix were preparing themselves for the Great Battle. They were going to sneak up on Lord Voldemort and his followers. They didn't have a game plan except to protect Harry long enough to allow him access to Voldemort. He would be able to get murdered now that his horcruxes had all been destroyed.
"Ok everyone. We must make sure that none of the Death Eaters attack Harry. He must be given a clear path to Voldemort," a few people flinched, Dumbledore pretended not to notice, "We must try to kill as many Death Eaters as possible. Those remaining will be taken straight to Azkaban where they will be given the Dementor's kiss. There will be no questions asked this time and no one will get off."
After Dumbledore had said what he needed to say, there was an eerie silence. The Order waited in Dumbledore's office for classes to finish. The whole school was being given the rest of the afternoon off so those teachers who were apart of the Order would be free to fight.
A bell rang somewhere deep inside the castle and they heard the sounds of students rushing to their respective house dormitories. Once the scuttle of feet had died down, Professor McGonagall and a couple of the other Professor's, came into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore had already told them what was planned for the battle. Once they had all assembled together Dumbledore spoke once more.
"We shall use a portkey to reach our destination of Little Hangleton. Lord Voldemort," some people flinched, "is residing in his father's abandoned mansion at the top of the hill. The ministry have given permission for this," he held up a metal pole long enough to allow almost 50 fully grown witches and wizards to put at least one finger upon it, "to be used as a portkey. We will be leaving in approximately 2 minutes. Please place one finger upon the pole and prepare yourselves for the Great Battle." Everyone moved in closer and formed a tight circle all placing a finger upon the metal pole. Dumbledore looked around as though he was checking to make sure everyone still had the nerve to go through with it. He smiled at the looks of determination and courage set upon their faces. He checked his watch. There was 30 seconds to go.
"Ok everyone we have 30 seconds to go. 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"
Harry felt the familiar feeling of a hook just behind his naval jerking him forward and the familiar howl of wind and swirling colour as the portkey lifted him off the ground taking him to face the man who had murdered his parents. He had a good feeling about this encounter. Like he would be able to defeat Lord Voldemort. The howling winds and swirling colours vanished to be replaced by a vast stretch of meadow. Not to far in the distance was a tall, run down looking mansion. Harry knew that this was where Lord Voldemort's father, Tom Riddle and his wealthy parents had been murdered. There was some familiarity about the mansion to Harry but he couldn't quite figure out why. The order made there way over to the trees to the left of the mansion so that unwanted Death Eaters didn't see them.
A/N: Only one more chapter to go...