Curses and counter curses. Red, purple, blue, and the feared green lights flying overhead. Screams filled her ears. Screams of pain and suffering, of family and friends finding their loved ones lying still, of innocent students being tortured with no one to save them.
Block. Dodge. Fire. Run.
Hermione kept her usually wandering mind focused on the task ahead, on staying right beside Harry and Ron in the chaos. She knew that one mistake on her part could cost her life.
Hermione winced as she raced past a younger student, staring blankly at the sky, their Ravenclaw tie covered in blood. A loud crash sounded somewhere from behind the trio as a troll slammed its club into the castle. And even further away, a werewolf howled.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Hogwarts was supposed to be safe. Hogwarts was their home.
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Hermione's eye.
"Harry!" She yelled, throwing a shield in front of him and just barely catching him by the back of his sweater. Her best friend looked at her with gratitude in his green eyes. A chunk of the castle was taken out of the wall that Harry had almost crossed in front of.
"We can't keep this up." Ron admitted, panted. Hermione was all for staying positive, but even she had to admit that Ron was right. The Light was outnumbered and dwindling quickly compared to Voldemort's forces.
"We have to find the snake and destroy the diadem. Now." Harry agreed.
Hermione's heart sank when she realized where Harry's mind was going. There were two Horocruxes left and not enough time. They were going to have to split up.
"We need a way to kill the Horocruxes. You'll have to be the one to go to the Chamber, Harry. You're the only one who get in." Hermione reminded. Harry made a face at that. She knew her best friend did not want to venture down into the chamber, he would want to be right in the thick of the battle. She also knew that Harry would be much safer away from it all.
"Then Ron will stay with you and find Neville, the sword, and the snake."
Ron looked torn. Hermione knew that he still felt guilty for leaving them, for leaving Harry in that tent, after promising to always be there. Ron would never forgive himself if he left Harry again and something happened. As much as Hermione hated it, she had to go on her own to find the snake.
"I'll see you both once I kill the snake. And then we'll face him together." Ron opened his mouth as if to argue and then closed it again. Harry knew better than to argue with the brains of the Golden Trio. He also knew that they did not have time for a long or heartfelt goodbye. Instead, the trio took one long look at each other, trying to convey everything they felt with their eyes. And then they were off.
Block. Dodge. Fire. Run.
A cutting curse hit Hermione in the shoulder. "Fuck," she cursed, wincing as she felt blood seep from the wound. Her body felt like lead and her hands still had a slight shake to them from Malfoy Manor. She was severely underweight, nearly starving, filthy, and covered in various cuts and bruises. But she was nothing if not determined. After all she was a Gryffindor.
"Wotcher, Hermione," She heard. Hermione spun around, wand at the ready, and let out a sigh of relief when she saw Tonks standing behind her, her pink hair a stark contrast to all the grief and destruction around them. Remus was right at her heels, looking worse for wear, an exasperated smile on his face, despite it all.
"Dora, please let me know before you go running off." He turned his attention to Hermione, eyebrows raised. "Hermione, where are the boys?"
"They had something they had to do." Hermione stopped herself. The trio had been told that their mission was of upmost importance, something that no one else should know about. But the secrecy seemed silly now when everyone was in the thick of a full out battle. And Hermione need someone to know how to bring down Voldemort if the trio didn't make it.
"Riddle created Horocruxes. Seven of them." Remus' brows pulled together and Tonks let out a loud sigh.
"Of course, he did. The bastard." Grabbing both Hermione and Remus by the hands, Tonks pulled them into a nook, out of immediate danger. "I'm assuming that's what you and the boys have been after all these months?"
If Hermione was surprised that Tonks knew what a Horocrux was, she didn't let the surprise show. Remus, however, raised his eyebrows up, until they almost comically disappeared into his hairline.
"I'm a Black, remember." Tonks said as a way of explanation.
"How many are left?" Remus asked, all business now.
"Two. Harry and Ron went to go destroy the diadem and to get a fang from the Chamber of Secrets. I have to find Neville and the snake."
Hermione should have known that Remus and Tonks would not let her venture off on her own. Hermione also should have known that they would step in and protect her.
"If it isn't my favorite Mudblood come to play!"
Hermione froze like a deer in the headlights. The scar on her arm, burning, as if responding to the one who carved it there.
Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Such good company she keeps, Greyback. Isn't this one of your pups?" Both stalked towards the group, like a wolf would its prey. Sharing a look, Remus and Tonks moved to stand in front of Hermione.
Hermione watched as Tonks and her cousin began exchanging spells, both woman moving fiercely, with barely controlled rage. Greyback took a different approach, cracking his nails and moving towards Remus with so much speed that Hermione could barely track their movements. Everything was happening so fast. Hermione did not know how to help, didn't want to hit one of her friends instead.
She watched in horror as Tonks let out a scream as a cutting curse slipped past her shield. Remus looked up to make sure his wife was okay. It gave Greyback the opening he needed.
Remus collapsed, shock on his face. His heart in Greyback's hand.
"No!" Tonks cried, falling to her knees in her pain.
"Avada Kedavra!"
And like that, the Lupins were no more.
The sound of Bellatrix's cackling laugher made Hermione's blood run ice cold in her veins. She had barely survived Malfoy Manor. She knew she couldn't survive another encounter.
"Can I have her first this time?" Greyback threw Remus's heart on the ground and spit on the body of her professor and friend.
"No." Hermione breathed in horror. "No. Please, no."
"Crucio!" The power behind the spell brought Hermione to her knees, which cracked painfully against the ground. She gritted her teeth against it, not wanting to give Bellatrix the satisfaction of hearing her scream. A boot kicked her in the side and she went down, her body curling around itself.
"When our Lord wins, I'm going to ask that you be spared." Warm breath upon Hermione's cheek had her shuddering away. "I will make you my pet." Greyback promised. His finger traced down Hermione's face, drawing blood. Hermione almost puked when he opened his mouth to lick his finger clean. "So sweet." He groaned.
"Crucio," Bellatrix cursed again. This time Hermione could not hold in the scream as white hot pain laced through her entire body. "Diffindo!" The cutting charm was a different kind of pain. "Crucio!"
Hermione screamed and screamed and screamed. At one point she started to count, only reaching one hundred before losing track. She scratched and clawed at the ground, trying to get purchase anywhere. She begged to die, the desperation and pain in her voice, shocking even her.
"Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age, reduced to this." With a sneer in her voice, Bellatrix shouted, "Confringo", blasting Hermione backwards into a wall. She saw something shiny fall out of her beaded bag and into her hand, and then she welcomed the darkness that called out to her.
In the Great Hall, in a completely different Hogwarts, four boys sat around the Gryffindor table, ready and excited for a new year.
"So Padfoot, who is gonna be your lucky conquest this year?" James Potter teased his best friend.
"You mean he hasn't shagged every girl in the school yet?" Remus asked offhandedly. He had his book out in front of him and was quite engaged in the story, ignoring his friends' antics.
"Moony, you wound me," Sirius Black whined, hand over his heart and face in an adorable pout. It didn't even phase Remus. "I haven't shagged every girl. I still have yet to impress the lovely McGonagall."
"Give it up already Sirius, she's too good for you." Remus scolded.
"If you keep flirting with her we won't stand a chance at winning the house cup," Peter pointed out, smirk on his face.
"Oh, shut it. Remus earns all the points I lose back anyway." Sirius grumbled, having heard this lecture way too many times. "Maybe I'll just start on the boys of Hogwarts", Sirius teased, chucking at the blush that began to spread up Remus' neck at the suggestive comment.
"Okay," James announced, changing the subject before the atmosphere could get too uncomfortable. Sirius and Remus had been dancing around each other for years, but neither one ever acted on their obvious attraction. It had been driving James mental, especially because it was making things weird between the friends. "What are our plans for this year?" He asked, changing the subject.
"It has to be our best one yet!" Peter announced. It was their last year.
"Maybe Lily will finally agree to go out with you this year." Sirius announced loudly, drawing dirty looks from the Gryffindor seventh years, sitting a few benches down the table. Lily Evans was Head Girl this year and had to share a room with James Potter. Sirius spent the whole summer joking that even Dumbledore was tired and James being turned down and was trying his hand at match making.
The nasty look Lily sent towards the Marauders proved just how disgusted she was with that idea.
The conversation died down as Albus Dumbledore stood to welcome the students back. "Attention! Students and staff I would like the welcome you back to another year here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. First, we are going to have our first years sorted, as they are all looking very green with excitement, and then we shall begin the feast. Now let's see… Abrams, Sara."
All attention was on the little first year when a loud pop sounded through the hall, and something came hurtling from the ceiling landing directly in front of the Marauders. Every student and staff member froze and stared open mouthed as the figured let out a strangled scream and a groan. Blood seeped from the figure onto the table, and a brown mane of hair was tangled and covered in dust and grim.
Remus was the first in action, slowing approaching this injured person, wand at the ready. The person stirred and then frantically moved backwards falling to the ground with a thump. All eyes were focused as the pale freckled face of a girl no older than eighteen came into view. She held a wand in her shaking hand, pointing it directly at Remus's heart.
"Who are you?" Came her harsh voice. The girl was struggling to stand, yet she held her wand as if she were under attack.
Remus, confused as to what to do, held his hands up in a surrender position. Dumbledore, who was now behind him, did the same.
"Am I ... dead?" She asked this time softer. A small crowd gathered around the girl.
"Hey, it's okay." James said calmly, stepping forward next to Remus. The girl took one look at him, muttered what sounded like 'Harry' and tipped backwards unconscious. Dumbledore spared a hard look at James before gently scooping the stranger into his arms and running to the direction of the Hospital Wing.