A/N :So, I'm so sorry it's been so so long... I'm sorry to any of you that have waited and waited. Adulting, working, not working, COVID, writer's block, excuses, excuses, excuses. I've got some questions asked about what happened to Lucius, why Ron isn't so mad about Draco, all that. So this is a flashback chapter.

Oh and obviously I still don't own the Potterverse as wicked as that would be.

FINAL BATLLE OF HOGWARTS MAY 2

-Right after they break into Gringotts and escape-

**Hermione's POV**

"It's at Hogwarts. His horcrux is at Hogwarts."

"Then that's where we have to be Harry. I don't know about you or Mione but I'm done waiting for him to pick us off. We have the sword of Gryffindor and you know at least a location." Ron looked at both of us imploringly.

I wrapped the horcrux in a thick woolen scarf before dropping it in my bag. I handed each of them a small bit of bread and checked everyone for injuries while we planned our next step.

"Let's be smart about this. We should apparate to Hogsmeade and get hidden. Luna said all the old tunnels on the Map are guarded or blocked off. Clearly Wormtail was helpful in one aspect. Madame Rosmerta might help us but the Three Broomsticks isn't safe."

**Third Person's POV**

The trio apparated and were immediately met by a loud wailing. Dementors started swooping in and Harry yelled out.

"Expecto Patronum!"

The stag burst from his wand.

"It's Potter!"

Chaos ensued and a gruff man hustled the scuffed up trio into his dirty pub.

"Where's Potter?!"

"Are you blind you ninny? That's a goat! I stepped outside to try calling my cat in and the dementors come swooping in!"

"That's a stag and we all know it!"

The old man cast the spell and a goat came hopping out. It seemed enough to convince the doltish followers before they left off grumbling. He turned on the trio before wiping down a mug and waving to a portrait of a young girl. She went down a tunnel and disappeared.

"You know what to do."

"You're him. Dumbledore's brother."

"Mind you girl, I am a Dumbledore as well in case you've forgotten. Everyone else seems to. Sit down. I'll get you stew and you'll eat it before going into the maelstrom that used to be my brother's school."

The trio ate as questions bounded back and forth but all three were shocked to see Neville being led down the hallway in the painting before the painting swung open to show a tunnel.

Neville seemed to have filled out more but he was covered in bruises and cuts.

"It's been a rough year. Follow me. There'll be some more coming in Aberforth, you know the drill."

"Wonderful..."

The cut and bruised boy led the trio through the tunnel, telling them all about the horrors of the previous school year before opening a door to reveal Dumbledore's Army.

"Harry!" Ginny squealed.

"No recognition for her brother I see," Ron says, rolling his eyes at Hermione.

"She's got six brothers but there's only one Harry," says the familiar Irish brogue of Seamus.

**Hermione's POV**

"This is it. I'm not giving some big long speech because you all can feel it in your bones and cores. There are a few things we still need to take care of, and if anyone gets the opportunity, you HAVE to kill Nagini, his snake. It's part of this all. Now, any Ravenclaws, we need your help with something. Are there any artifacts associated with Ravenclaw?"

Harry looked every bit the leader I knew he always would be.

"There's her lost diadem," spoke the floaty voice of Luna.

"There's a reason it's called lost, Lune. No one has seen it for centuries! Not exactly helpful in this situation."

I looked at all the forlorn faces before an idea struck Ginny.

"Your potions book. We wanted it to never be found... Do you think...?"

Harry still looked a little oblivious so Ginny groaned in exasperation before turning to me.

"Remember when the Grey Lady told of us the room where everything is hidden? You wanted to look for a bracelet you lost and asked if there's a place the castle puts all the lost things..."

"Of course! Gin, Lune, you're brilliant! Everyone get out of this room. We need everyone out so we can shift the room. If you can, get the younger kids to safety..."

Murmurs broke out in the room.

"What is safe?"

"How do we get them out?"

"The ghosts are already rounding up the little ones. The Bloody Baron is waiting to lead them to the dungeons and safety. The Grey Lady is using her extensive knowledge to make sure they remain unseen. She knows these halls better than anyone seeing as she ran through them as they were being built," rang out a voice I wasn't expecting. Blaise Zabini.

"How do we know we can trust you? How do we know you're not with Him?! You could be a death eater like all the other snakes!" Ron looked furious.

When he saw Ron's scowling face, Blaise tossed him one of the enchanted galleons I gave the D.A. in fifth year.

"Blaise has been our ally all year long. He's been letting me into the Slytherin dungeons to heal their cuts and bruises and wounds because the Carrows caught me healing a Slytherin first year that had been in one of their... detentions... and made Blaise use the torture curse on me. He barely made it tickle me and then asked if I could heal others in the common room," Luna stood beside Blaise, losing her airy voice for a firmer one.

"Not all snakes are evil. Just as not all lions are heroes. Now let's forget all that and fight together."

**Draco's POV**

"This is it Drake. And if things turn out how we want, you'll keep your word?" Theo was wearing his emotionless mask that we'd all learned when we were younger but I could hear the nerves.

"Mate, we get through this and I'll set the contract on fire myself. We both know it's not me that Tori wants and we both know who I want. Yours is at least attainable. But for now, we have our roles. Don't draw attention to yourselves but try not to hurt anyone in the light side. Shields up snakes. We're at war. Daph, are all the younger students out?"

The blonde in question was finishing pulling her hair out of her face.

"Yes. The ghosts have guided them to the tunnels and any student under Fourth year is in Ravenclaw's own study. Hidden as the Chamber of Secrets but luckily we have Rowena's daughter as a guide. Spells and wards that can only be removed by someone with good intentions towards the students. Pansy is on defense with Millie, though she as well as others worry about any... family... we might encounter."

It's definitely a valid concern, but I couldn't let them see just how scared I was of that myself. If I came across my father alone though, I know just how it would turn out...

"We only engage if they do first. If they try to kill you, then you can see how strong the familial bond is. Hopefully after this we can breathe easier. If it goes how we want then we won't have to worry anymore."

Astoria shared a look with her sister before tilting her head in question.

"And what about those whose demons wear a mask different than the Death Eater's? Or if this all goes sideways and the Light is extinguished? How do we breathe then?"

Theo grabs her hand and looks into her eyes.

"Any way we can, love. We will survive. We have to. If it goes wrong, you'll be married to Draco and I'll be married to your sister. None of us with who we want to be with... We'll have to keep Pansy safe somehow, we can't leave her contracted to Pucey."

"Mushy talk later Theo. Vince and Goyle will be with me... They'll be meeting me at the room, so Goyle doesn't hear all this. We have a special mission from the Dark Lord... We have to retrieve whatever he thinks Potter will go after in the room of hidden things. Remember, we have to at least give it a go, because otherwise all our efforts have been for nothing... Let's pray Potter gets whatever he's looking for."

-After Goyle sets fire to the ROR, first half of battle is mainly done, Harry has "died" and is in Hagrid's arms, the fighting resumes-

**Third person's POV**

As the battle raged on, Hermione found herself dueling Dolohov, Rowle, and Yaxley with Ron.

"If you live, the Dark Lord says I can have you as my plaything, Mudblood! I have so many plans to hear your screams. Doesn't that sound like fun?" Dolohov smirked at Hermione, who had yet to notice Lucius Malfoy going through the steps of a very old, very dangerous curse behind them. And then there was a bang that caught everyone's attention, followed by a sickening crunch.

**Draco's POV**

After Potter leapt out of the giant's arms, all hell broke loose. My mother had tried to convince me to run while she stayed and fought with the Light but I refused to run. We both leapt into battle with renewed vigor, openly fighting against people we once called friends. Knowing I had my mother's wand, I quickly disarmed someone and grabbed the wand. I tossed my mother hers before we separated in the hellish battle. Chaos seems too simple a word to describe everything going on. I sent curses and blasts, rubble fell all around me, and I knew I had to make sure she was okay. At one point, I came across Professor McGonagall holding her
own against four Death Eaters.

"Malfoy, either take one of them down or move along, you're one student I didn't want to come across my path. Pick your side and be quick about it!" She yelled out.

I quickly sent powerful stunners to two of the Death Eaters while their attention was still on McGonagall, but I caught a glimpse of long blonde hair and went to chase
it because it looked like my father's hair. I was right and recognized what spell he was doing. It would rip out their intestines combined with a blood boiling curse, an
old Malfoy spell. I immediately pointed my wand at him and yelled the most powerful blasting spell I could do. His body went flying and his head hit the wall with a
sickening crunch. With my hand still shaking and barely catching my breath, I turned to see her. Hermione. Her and Weasel had been the targets of my father's curse,
while they were battling Dolohov, Rowle, and Yaxley. The stunned silence didn't last very long and I hopped in right alongside her and Weasel. It was hazy after that.

And then they were saying it was over. Potter won. Some Death Eaters tried to flee, most were apprehended, even more were dead on both sides. I saw faces I knew.
Some I didn't. I noted that Theo's father was among the dead. Adrian Pucey, so Pansy was free from her contract, along with her father and brother. I'm not sure who,
but someone came to arrest me at the same time my mother flung herself into my arms. They tried arresting both of us and there was yelling. Some one was keeping
them from arresting us and checked us over for injuries.

"Father is dead. I know you loved him at times, and I'm sorry for it, but he's dead. And I'm the one who killed him. I couldn't let him use that Malfoy curse on any of
the light side. And it was her that he was aiming for, Granger that is... What's going to happen to us..?"

She held my hand and laid her head on her shoulder.

"I don't know Draco. It could be really bad and scary after everything we've had to do to survive. But it's out of our hands now."