"Get the girl!"

"Dad! Dad!-"

"Incarcerus!"

Another loud explosion shook the ground as the small modest home gave a dangerous sway. Stone and other debris came down like firey rain before Draco made it through what was left of the door. Smoke filled his lungs as he jumped over the destroyed furniture.

A small flash of light caught the corner of his eye before a sharp pain ran down his shoulder, slamming him back into an outer wall causing the already unstable building to rumble. A series of his own spells brought down the stairs and along with it Luna who fell onto the small kitchen table with a sickening crunch.

Draco moved hastily through the debris, his face turning sour when he got a clear look. Luna's body was folded nearly in half, her head laying awkwardly bent over her legs with her arms curled crookedly against her stomach. Her eyes were closed but were quickly being covered by a thick stream of blood coming from the crown of her head.

"Lu-Lu!" Mr. Lovegood's voice rang out through the chaos before his second cry for his daughter was cut short.

Draco's heart was beating hard between his ears as he pushed off one of the beams keeping Luna trapped. With as much care as was possible, he pulled on her arm dragging her heavy body forward and over his shoulder, "Severus!"

A dark shadow appeared almost instantly in the collapsing doorway, "I've got her! Tell everyone to get back to the manor!" Another loud explosion followed by a new chorus of voices pushed him towards the doorway. As soon as he was able to get his wand firmly in his fingers he was turning on the spot.

oOo

Hermione snapped the belt tight around her waist, her action fueled by her anger over having been drugged. She had no idea what time it was or even if there was any chance for her to do any good but she had to try. Another tight pull to her collar and sleeves raised her head to the mirror. Not enough.

She raised her fingers over her eyes and through the black makeup dragging them down over her cheeks to give the illusion of black tears. A small charm over her eyes turned them red, giving them a small fleck of gold to shine in the firelight. She was a demon. A ruthless warrior and she would have her dues.

A sharp turn out of the bathroom took her straight into the office, the charm that kept those from apparating in did not keep her from apparating out and so, she was gone mid-stride in a plume of black smoke.

She arrived to smoke and fire, the battle seemingly over but the fighters had not yet gone. She appeared out of the shadows, wand to her right, dagger to her left unsure of just whom was lingering about.

The first spell to come flying her way missed her easily, her jump into the air exploding the ground beneath where she'd just stood. Her eyes narrowed as she thought she saw Lupin before another spell came from behind, sending her jump into a forward spiral. She landed with a hard roll and was back on her feet in seconds but the sound of familiar voices stayed her wand.

"After them!"

Hermione pushed herself hard into the tall grass quickly sheathing her dagger before casting a fog charm around her. She wouldn't attack them, but they'd surely seen her well enough. She had to get away but not until she'd acquired a bit more information. She'd lead them on a chase and circle back if possible.

Orders echoed behind her, spells of all colors whizzing past her body. The few that had hit her back fizzled into nothingness, mere stunning hexes. They hurt but not more than a heavy thump on the back. Not enough to get through the coat's protections.

Her heart ached to know that those she considered her friends were giving chase with such malice. Yet still, she could not turn and reveal herself though she desperately wanted to. It was a choice she made to protect not only herself but Severus as well. She had to swallow down the bitter taste of betrayal.

"Got you!" Mrs. Weasley's voice was sharp as a blade through the deep fog just in front of her. Hermione tried to slow her run so as not to run full-on into her but in her adjustment, she failed to raise her wand to protect herself from the bright flash of red light that barreled towards her.

Her sharp cry echoed over the moor, muddled by the footsteps of those drawn to it. Her hand had gone to her chest and she felt it skip when the pendant that she had so much relied on was no longer there; but a rather deep hole in the fabric torn away from the spell that could have easily taken her entire arm.

With only her wits she jumped once more, sending a gust of tornadic like winds out in all directions. She pulled her cloak taut behind her as the burst of wind gave her flight. She'd lost her pin, but she realized that she was going to lose much more than that if she lingered any longer.

Her spiraled ascent drowned out her voice, her magical call to retrieve what had been lost. Her flight was taken partially off course when a flame ripped through the back of her coat made wings. The loss of lift sent her hard to the right where she landed on her feet with a heavy pop to her knees. Another spell whizzed over her head while she struggled to keep hold of the pin she'd called back to her.

Everything inside her heart screamed at her to reveal who she was, the fear of losing her life at the hands of her friends nearly too much to bear. It was only with pure will alone that she held her tongue. Using the fog that had grown thicker with time, she pushed herself through the tall grass. She could hear their voices, their cracks of apparation as they tried to outflank her.

Believing that she'd lured them away from the house, she worried that there had been no one left to save. That she had been too late, that Draco and his crew had already completed their mission. It was just as she took a second to look down at the cracked pin in her hand that her feet stumbled over something soft yet firm.

"No..." Hermione barely had time to register the body she'd tripped over as more spells came flying over her head. With a forward roll, she pressed the pin hard to her chest and rolled onto her back. Her eyes shone up into those who had come through the fog. Looking directly into that of her former Professor before the pin snapped hard into her palm and she was gone.

oOOo

"You have done well, Draco." Voldemort's words were barely a whisper into the young adult's ear.

Draco swallowed down the bile in his throat when he felt his 'master's' hand come down upon his shoulder, his body too strict to dare to turn to face him. Instead, he merely lowered his chin in respect.

Severus' jaw twitched when the half-man moved towards the prone girl still bleeding out on the floor. Her body lying partially on its side as Draco had laid her. She was alive, for now.

"Severus... make sure the girl becomes comfortable in our presence." Voldemort continued his path towards the doors a clear dismissal of those who had returned.

Everyone inside the room waited until the heavy door echoed closed before daring to move. The snatchers who had been called to assist made their way out at the end while Draco and Severus moved towards Luna. Severus knelt down first, pressing his fingers into her neck to check her pulse before gently tilting her head towards the light overhead.

"Did you curse her?"

"No...the house was collapsing..."

Severus ran a quick diagnostic charm, the vice around his heart slowly unwinding, "She's merely unconscious. She'll be in pain for a while but nothing appears to be severely damaged..."

"That's good right...?" Draco knelt down as well, his hands opening and closing unknowing of what to do.

"Yes and no." Severus let his answer hang in the air, leaving the boy to figure out its meaning while he worked on calling back some of the blood she'd lost. She'd probably need a potion to help her heal more quickly, but she wouldn't die without one. Perhaps it was best to let her body take time to recuperate. It would spare her from the horrors the Dark Lord had planned for her.

Draco tried not to look squeamish but it was impossible, "Where should I keep her?"

"The dungeons. She is a prisoner." Severus pushed her gently onto her back, using his hand to push her knees flat as well, "Make sure she has water and food. A place to lay that won't cause fever."

Draco nodded his head before pushing himself up, "Trollip." A house-elf appeared shakily at his feet, "I need a mattress, towels, and a pitcher of refilling water."

"Yes, Master."

Severus sealed the gash with a slow drag of his wand before tucking it into his sleeve. How many children had he carried in his arms? How many more would lay motionless at his feet? Barely 16 the girl hadn't even known the world outside of the walls of Hogwarts.

Coming to his feet was hardly a challenge. The petite girl was much lighter than Hermione and much smaller built. Her head easily fit into the crook of his arm and her legs barely covered his forearm.

"I must return," Severus knew he was being cruel but a hard lesson needed to be learned. He approached Draco with steel in his eyes before the boy dumbly raised his arms. Without a word he transferred the girl into his hold easily able to see the weight she brought with. He knew if given the choice Draco would have simply levitated her to the dungeons but he also knew that he needed to learn first hand the cost of war.

"What if she needs potions or something?" Draco's voice was tight with suppressed worry.

"You sat in my classroom for nearly six years, I am sure you are capable." It was a verbal slap to the back of the head, a sharp tone of condemnation.

Draco swallowed thickly watching his Godfather make his way to the fireplace. Feeling no more than a child holding a broken toy their parents refused to replace. When the flames went out his head turned down into Luna's face, his brow furrowing tightly. He could do this. She was merely a task to complete and nothing more. Soon enough he'd be back at Hogwarts safe inside its walls from all the horrors. He could do this, he had to do this.

oOo

When Severus stepped through the flames he had but only a second before his world was rocked on its axis. His body stumbled back into the side of the hearth before he managed to bring his arms up to shield his ringing skull.

"Where is she!?" Hermione was beyond furious, the pain she'd felt on the moor having built to an anger and frustration over all that had become her world. The helplessness she felt, the pain of watching her friends turn into her enemies, "Did you kill her?!"

Her fists became caught in his hold but still, she pressed against him, tears running down her face choking her throat. She struggled against him until he pulled her tight to his chest, holding her hands behind her back in an odd dance. She snarled and whimpered at the same time, knocking her forehead into his chest.

"She is alive." Severus winced from her blow but spoke to try and ease her temper.

Hermione shook her head. While she wanted to believe him, her trust in him had been tarnished. With a sharp twist, she released one of her hands reaching up to strike his face once more but it was caught easily and her eyes snapped open to look into his.

"She is alive." Severus' chest was heaving, he could feel his jaw pulsing and blood spilling down his split lip, he held her wrist centimeters from his face though he was sure he more than deserved her wrath.

"Where?"

"Malfoy Manor."

"A prisoner?" Hermione's eyes were filled with emotion, fueled by her retreating anger.

"Yes."

Hermione's brow curled tight and she let her head fall down onto his chest, "Why did you do this?"

"To save lives." His fingers released her wrist slowly, cautiously and a slow breath left his body when it fell down onto his shoulder.

"I want to believe you..."

"I know."

"I can't right now."

"I know..." Severus released her other arm taking her by the biceps. He fully expected her to turn away from him, to run away, far away but to his grand surprise, she merely leaned into him further.

Hermione wrapped her arms tight around his back, so much emotion that she couldn't possibly sort through crossing her face before she hid it in the dark fabric of his jacket. A deep sob bubbled up the back of her throat before she raised her head once more, "What do we do now?"

"We return to our original plan and make sure Potter gets the news of Ms. Lovegood's capture."

"I think he will...I...I went...the order was there. They..." Hermione licked her lips turning her eyes towards the empty hearth, "They attacked me..."

"Are you injured?" Severus' hands ran down her arms but she wouldn't relent in her hold for him to take a proper look.

"No...but the pin is broken..."

"It can be repaired..."

"Yeah..." Hermione finally lifted her head looking at the blood that dropped down from his chin, falling onto her nose, "I'm sorry about your lip, though I'm not sorry for hitting you..."

"Fair enough." Severus raised his hand to thumb away his blood but found himself frozen when she pressed her lips into his palm. It had been a long time since he'd felt such a gesture from her but the meaning was just as powerful as it was then as now.

"Why are you so insufferable?" Hermione sniffled bringing her hand around to wipe at the makeup that was starting to become itchy, "Why can't you just..." She didn't even know what she wanted him to do at that moment.

"I never asked for you to care about me." His hackles had begun to rise, a very similar trail of words hitting a cord deep inside his soul turning his words cold and sharp.

"No, you didn't." Hermione took a slow step back turning her own hardened gaze into his own, "But that's what's happened. Whether you like it or not, I'm not going to stop caring about what happens to you." She reached up pressing her thumb into his split lip, "I won't let you die just because you think it'll right some wrong that you've committed. Death is condemnation, life is penance."

"Wiser words have never been spoken, my dear."

Both of their heads turned to the portrait hanging just behind the desk, neither one giving it a kind look. Albus looked nonpulsed by their glare and merely adjusted himself in his seat, "Potter will be learning soon of Ms. Lovegood's capture no doubt he will have the same idea as you. I would suggest that he doesn't fight this battle alone."

Severus let out a low growl on his exhale, one that only someone who was standing as close as Hermione was could hear. Instead responding to either of them, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. His head was still throbbing from her punch and though his lip hurt it was hardly gathering his attention.

Hermione turned away slowly. As much as she wanted to take responsibility for her strike the darker side of her wished for it to make its mark on his psyche. She would not tolerate being manipulated, she'd had enough of that to last her a lifetime. So instead, she crossed her arms strictly over her chest and moved towards his rooms making sure to slam the door hard on her way.

oOo

"It seems we have another threat to deal with." Tonks set down her teacup with a heavy sigh, "I'd heard rumors of a mysterious person lingering about but I thought it was mere propaganda by the other side."

"I don't think she was on the other side." Lupin ran his thumbnail over his bottom lip, his eyes staring out at the darkness through the window, "There was something familiar about her. A smell."

"A smell?" Tonks came to her feet, slowly approaching her husband, "What kind of smell?"

"One that I've smelled before...I just...I'm having trouble placing it. Like...it was mixed? I don't know how to explain it."

"That's alright, you don't need to. I believe you." Tonks smiled softly, gently taking hold of his chin to turn it towards her, "It's time to rest. We'll figure all this out in the morning. Come, your son needs you."

Lupin smiled at the thought and pulled himself from the window and into Tonk's arms. A small loving kiss was shared before both of them started their way down the narrow hall to their bedroom where Teddy was peacefully sleeping away.

Remus smiled down at his son, his heart warmed by the sight, though his smile quickly fell when he remembered just what had happened that night. "Mrs. Weasley said she'd take care of the burial?"

"Yes..."

"I don't know if I can survive another war..."

"We will." Tonks ran her hand up and down his back before taking his hand tightly in her own, "Together."

Remus turned away from the crib to look into his love's eyes, "I love you so much."

"I love you too."