Chapter 2: Battle on the Grounds

Ron, Harry and Hermione stood just inside the castle doors, watching the wave of witches and wizards rushing towards their opposition on the school lawns. Harry flinched as he saw the first curse fly with a bright red beam and hit one of the soldiers on their side, throwing them back ten feet, knocking down three peopled in the process. When another curse caught five soldiers off guard and threw them back with a flash of bright yellow light, Harry took an automatic step toward the battle only to have Ron and Hermione pull him back and behind the stone wall. He struggled against their restraining hands. "Let me go! I should be out there." He snarled when Ron's hands tightened on his shoulder.

Behind him they heard the sound of another body being flung back against the castle walls, making impact with a painful crack. Ron cringed at the sound and both Harry and Hermione knew he was remembering his own encounter with Death Eaters last year.

"I'm the only one who can end him." Harry persisted. "I should be out there fighting with them."

"You will." Hermione said soothingly, taking a hold of Harry's hand and squeezing it with support. "Just let them take a few of the Death Eaters out before we go out there. We need to give you as clear a shot as possible, and the less Death Eaters out there, the greater your chances are of making it to Voldemort."

A sudden flash of green light filled the doorway followed by the sound of several bodies hitting the ground. A surge of intense pain hit Harry behind his scar and he knew he was feeling Voldemort's joy at the carnage taking place all around him.

"Harry what is it?" Hermione asked when Harry clutched at his head, his teeth clamping tightly together to keep from screaming in agony. "Is it him?"

"I can't take this anymore." Harry shouted savagely before pushing his friends' hands off him and plunging through the doors, ignoring their frightened calls behind him. This had to end now before to many lives were lost.

Almost instantly upon coming through the portal curses were hurtled at him. He spared no thought for the Death Eaters and continued on his way, ducking to get under their spells. When another volley of spells was thrown at him he could feel the furry swelling inside him. Digging deep inside himself he found his reserve of magic and threw up a shield, deflecting the curses coming at him and forcing them back to the senders, throwing them off their feet and crumbling to the ground. From the corner of his eye he saw a jet of green light barreling towards him. He fell to the ground, rolling to the left as the jet streamed past him, missing him but oblivating a tree behind him. Almost instantly he was back on his feet, sending a binding curse at the man who threw the jet, causing his arms and legs to snap to his side, locking him in a total body bind.

Suddenly there were voices beside him casting spells to take out another pair of Death Eaters. Harry continued on, not bothering to look who was there. He already knew. He rushed forward, his friends keeping up along side him. They threw curses and hexes in every direction, talking out Death Eaters while protecting themselves from getting hit.

The sight of the blood and carnage pilling up around them was enough to make Harry sick to his stomach. Hatred for the man that caused this unnecessary loss of life welled up inside of him. But he also felt this overwhelming sense of sorrow. Sorrow for all these people he couldn't save.

Following his gut Harry turned toward the low stone wall that lined the school grounds. As one the three vaulted over it and were off again in an instant. Harry stiffened at the high pitch laugh behind him. He spun around and came face to face with the man that had haunted his dreams for the past six and a half years.

The sickly pale, snake like face looked back at him from the depths of his cloak. His eyes gleamed red as his lips turned up evilly at the corners. He arched an eyebrow and cast an appraising glance at the scene around them. Harry couldn't help but glance to the side as he did, feeling the bile rise up his throat. The ground that had only yesterday been covered in a thick, clean blanket of white snow was now crimson with blood, littered with bodies and limbs. It was butchery the likes of which no one his age should ever have to see.

"Isn't it beautiful, Harry?" at the sound of his voice a cold chill slipped down Harry's spine. "All these Mudbloods and Blood-Traitors dead. And I couldn't have done it without you, Harry. Thank you."

"Don't listen to him." Hermione sidled up to his side, slipping her hand comfortingly into his. "It's time." She whispered, her voice barley reaching him on the cold wind that whipped through the grounds.

Harry felt Ron move in on the other side of him. Though the battle continued to rage around them, it felt like time slowed until it stopped. Neither can live while the other survive, flashed through his brain as if he had heard it echoing on the wind. Both Harry and Voldemort lifted their wands in preparation, beginning to train them on the other.

Harry turned his focus back to the man that had ruined everything good in his life. "You killed my mum and dad, Sirius. You tried to kill both of my best friends."

Voldemort laughed uninhibitedly. "They got in my way. As have you I'm afraid." Voldemort flicked at his shirt as if brushing away pesky dust. "You could have joined me, Harry. We could have done extraordinary things together."

His jaw tightened, grinding his teeth together in anger. "I won't let you hurt anyone else." He seethed, his grip tightening on the shaft of wood that was his wand. Harry felt his friends move beside him, their hands readying their wands to strike.

"You can't stop me!" Voldemort spoke slowly, his cold voice laced with confidence.

"I can, and I will!" Harry shouted, and as if reading each others thoughts he, Ron and Hermione all lifted their wands, trained them on the darkest wizard ever know, and as one, using all the conviction and love they possessed, shouted, "Avada Kedavra."

A blast of green light so intense it was blinding shot out of their wands towards the tall, pale wizard. His face froze in an almost comical expression of shock at what he was seeing and before he could come to his senses and duck the curse hit him square in the chest, issuing a tortured scream from his thin, brittle lips before he collapsed to the ground. A hush fell over the battle grounds as the fighting ceased.

"No! Master!" A figure in a black cloak and white porcelain mask ran forward and crouched at his fallen master's side. His fingers reverently touched the pasty skin and sprang away as if he had been burned. "He's dead." Harry recognized the Death Eater's voice and was unsurprised as he stood and whipped off his mask and hood and pointed his wand straight at Harry's heart.

Without hesitating a moment Ron and Hermione threw curses at them. He was able to dodge Ron's Expeliamus but in so doing threw his body in front of Hermione's Silncio. He recovered from the hit, his adrenalin pumping madly in his chest, and wordless mouthed the killing curse sending a jet of pale green light toward Hermione.

The jet seemed to travel in slow motion, coming near and near. Without stopping to think Ron lunged at Hermione and knocked her down, taking the curse in his lower back.

Ron toppled to the ground taking Hermione with him. "No!" Hermione screamed pressing her fingers to Ron's lifeless face. Using strength she didn't know she had she turned to the side, forcing Ron to his back. She came to her knees beside him and pulled his head onto her lap. Tears streamed down her face as her heart began to realize what her mind already knew. Ron's dead her heart screamed out painfully in her chest.

Hermione took several shaky breaths as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his relaxed brow, her tears sliding off the bridge of her nose onto his pale cheeks. She slid his head gently off her lap before taking her wand and rising ominously to her feet. Slowly she lifted her head and her eyes made the change from despair to fury and loathing. Her cold brown eyes lighted on Draco and he staggered back in surprise.

Acting on a sense of self preservation Draco turned and fled, Hermione chasing ruthlessly behind him. Her sudden movement broke the spell that was hanging over the others who stood watching in shock and horror. The air was filled with deafening sound of hundreds trying to appareate to find that they couldn't go anywhere. That moment of chaos allowed the Aurors and the rest of the civilian soldiers fighting a chance to throw charms and curses, effectively halting the escape of any of the remaining Death Eaters.

Draco charged his way through the crowd knocking over Death Eaters and Aurors in his haste to escape Hermione he was closing in on him. He turned and made his way toward the Dark Forest, seeking the clearing where he had apparated in. In her rage Hermione's senses heightened and she was able to guess Draco's moves before taking them. He reached the clearing and an instant before it happened Hermione knew he was going to disapperate. Without thinking she lunged at him. If he escaped she might never be able to find him again.

Hermione heard a loud crack and suddenly she was hurtled against cold stone ground, landing across Draco's chest. Almost instantly he threw her off, and in a single move rolled to his feet, his wand pointed down at her between the eyes.

Hermione's heart stopped in her chest at the sight of the wand pointing at her. "You filthy little Mudblood." Draco snarled. "You killed the Dark Lord."

Hermione tilted her chin defiantly. "What are you going to do, Malfoy? Kill me? Like you killed Ron?" Tears glistened in the deep pools of her eyes.

"As a matter of fact, I think I am." Draco snarled vindictively as sickening delight gleamed behind his eyes. "I already took down the Weasel." His cold eyes delved into her as he gave her the good once over. "I think I'll send you to join him." A sadistic smile flitted across his lips. "Poor Potter. Just when he thinks he has it all he looses both of his best friends. What a pity."

Hermione's heart clenched painfully in her chest. It was true. The silencing charm hadn't been enough to save Ron and now she was going to die as well and Harry was going to be all alone. "Harry." She whispered as her eyes closed against the truth of his words. She had failed Harry. She had failed Ron. Her hand traveled up to her neck and grasped the crystal suspended there. Ron. Her Ron. She saw his beautiful grin appear before her eyes and her heart ached for him. I love you, her mind screamed as she heard Malfoy speak above her.


The darkness that had enveloped his mind and held him prisoner began to lesson from the inky blackness, to a dull grey and lastly to a fuzzy white before it exploded in mind numbing brightness. His entire body throbbed with pain as the vestiges of sleep lifted and he was forced back into consciences. He wasn't aware of much but was certain the he could hear anguished cries from somewhere close by. He concentrated harder and the crying grew louder until it sounded oddly familiar to him. With the realization began his struggle to break through the blackness. Ginny needed him and the only way he could help her was if he broke free of the darkness that was clawing at him.

Wincing with pain, his eyes cracked open and the sunlight seeping through the window across from him blinded him painfully. He would have yelped but feared he wouldn't be able to make a sound. Ginny's crying persisted and that alone was what forced him to open his eyes and embrace the glaring sunlight. The lids flickered rapidly like the wings of a butterfly and after several attempts at keeping them open he was finally able to. He looked around him with hid bright blue eyes and recognized that he was in the hospital wing but could not seem to remember how he got there.

"Ginny," another voice spoke to his right. I think he's waking up."

"Ron?" he heard his sister's voice quiver as she rose to her feet. "Ron." Ginny's face appeared above him. He felt the soft touch of her fingers cupping his cheeks as she leaned forward to press kisses to his pale skin. She pressed her face into his shoulder and let her tears soak through the hospital gown he was wearing. "We were so worried. We saw you get hit, then…then you didn't wake up and…and now Her…"

Ginny broke off in a sob and Harry's hand came to rest comfortingly on her shoulder.

Slowly Ron's arms came up to circle around his sister's waist and hug her comfortingly. He held onto Ginny in comfort a moment longer before he sought out Harry and found him, his eyes brimming with tears, a look of anguish on his cut and battered face.

Feeling Ron's eyes on him, Harry turned and forced the happiest smile he could muster onto his lips. "Welcome back, Ron." Harry stepped closer to the bed and waited for Ginny to release him before he enveloped his best mate, his brother, in a hug of utter relief. "You scared the hell out of us Ron. Don't you ever do that again." He pulled away, his hands still resting on his friend's shoulders. "My heart stopped in my chest when I saw you jump in front of Herm…"

"Hermione?" Ron physically perked up at the sound of his fiancé's voice. "Where is she?" He asked as he pushed himself into a sitting position to look down both sides of the hospital ward. Every single one of the beds was filled, but he couldn't see Hermione's bushy locks in any of them.

Harry met Ginny's eyes over the bed. They stared at each other for a moment, there eyes saying what there mouths could not. Harry wanted desperately to lie to his best friend and say that Hermione was just in another room and would come and see him as soon as she recovered, but he knew he couldn't. It would only hurt Ron more to lie to him. Even if it meant sparing him from the most unbearable pain Harry could even imagine.

Ron turned back to his best friend, his eyes wide with worry. He didn't know how he knew but he knew, in his gut, something was wrong. "Harry. Where is, Hermione?"

"Ron…" Harry's breath whooshed out of him in a rush. "The thing is…well you see…Hermione…"

"We don't know where she is, Ron." Ginny blurted out, stuffing her fist into her mouth after she said it as if it could pull the words back in and make it untrue.

"What?" Ron's eyes widened in confusion. "What do you mean you don't know where she is?"

Ginny dashed her hand under her eyes, whipping away the pool of tears that gathered there. She took up her brother's hand and began to stroke it soothingly. "I don't know. One minute she was there cradling your head in her lap and then she was gone chasing after Malfoy, and now…we don't know. We can't find her. It's like she vanished into thin air."

Harry shook his head when Ron looked to him for help. "I'm sorry, mate. She went after him… I…I couldn't stop her. I've never seen her like that before." He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I'm sorry."

His eyes blazing with horror, anger and worry, Ron flung his blankets off and began to move his legs over the side of his bed. "Whoo, mate," Harry pushed him back down on the bed. "What do you think you're doing?"

Ron struggled against Harry's restraining hands. "I'm going to find, Hermione."

"No you're not." Ginny joined Harry's struggle to push Ron back down on the bed. "There are Aurors looking for her, Ron. Let them do their job."

"Harry, let me go." Ron's eyes pleaded with his. "I have to find her."

"Ron…"

The tall red head threw his friends hands off. "What happened? How could you let her go after him alone? What were you thinking?"

"I'm sorry, Ron. I couldn't stop her."

"Did you even try?"

"There was nothing I could do." Harry's eyes brimmed with tears. The pain he saw in Ron's face had to be ten fold what he was feeling himself. He slowly sat on the side of the bed, effectively blocking Ron on one side while Ginny sat and blocked him on the other. "When you collapsed from the spell Hermione went after Malfoy. We all thought you were dead."

"Hermione went frantic." Ginny jumped in. "I saw the whole thing. Nothing could have stopped her from going after him."

"Don't we have any idea happened?" Ron looked around like a lost child. "I mean what could have happened to her."

Harry shook his head. "We don't know. You've been out of it for four days." Harry let out a weary sigh. "Draco was caught yesterday. He went to Azkaban on some insane mission to free the Death Eaters and begin anew, or something. He was caught immediately and brought in for questioning. But he's not speaking. We know that he was the last one to see Hermione, but we don't know where that was, or what's happened to her since. And Malfoy's simply not talking."

"Well make him talk!"

"They can't." Harry's voice cracked as the tears he had been fighting finally broke and began to course down his cheeks. He ducked his head in embarrassment trying to hide his face from sight. "They tried everything they could think of. Virtrasurim, truthfulness charms, legilmency, everything. Nothing's worked." Harry lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"No." Ron's heart squeezed painfully inside his chest, making it hard to breath. "No, not Hermione. This isn't possible. She pro…" He clutched at Harry's shirt. "Please tell me this is some kind of joke."

Ginny brushed a lock of Ron's hair out of his eyes. "The Ministry has people working on the case. We even have the Ministries from other countries sweeping their streets looking for her. Rane contacted me the other and let me know that she and the others are going to do everything in their power to help."

"They have to find her. I can't… I can't live without her again. I did that once. I can't. Not again."

"Ron…"

"No, Ginny…You don't understand. She's my life. She's the only thing in this world that makes me completely happy. She can't be gone." He looked to Harry, begging him with his eyes to make the pain go away. "She can't be gone." He said again, pleading with Harry to understand.

Harry nodded and wrapped Ron in a fierce hug. "I promise, Ron. I won't stop looking until we find her.

"But you said the Aurors were doing everything in their power."

"They are."

"Then what do you think we can do?"

"There is no one in this world who knows her better then we do. If anyone can find her we can."