When the owl landed in front of her she knew it was time. Something cold settled in her stomach as she pulled the scroll of parchment free from the owl's leg. Her fingers trembled as she unrolled it.

Please join me for tea in my office. -Uncle Albus

For a moment, she considered ignoring it. She could easily pretend that the owl had not found her, or that she had been in a hurry and had decided to read it at a later time.

Then, her father's image floated into her mind. What would happen to him if she failed? What would happen to Draco? To her mother? She swallowed heavily, and pulled herself to her feet.

Ron entered through the portrait hole just as she left, and she felt almost grateful for the glare he gave her. It seemed fitting.

After a quickly muttered "Candy Floss," to the stone gargoyle, she climbed the winding stairway to her uncle's door.

"Come in," he called at her knock.

She took a deep breath, and pushed her way in.

Bowls containing every type of sweet she could imagine filled his desk. Ice mice chittered in their bowl, chocolate frogs jumped frantically across the room, hunks of chocolate and mountains of taffy. Several dishes filled with lemon drops were was barely enough room for a tall purple teapot and two matching teacups.

"Hermione! Please, sit." He smiled broadly at her from across the desk, and she noted that he looked tired. His blue eyes twinkled as merrily as ever as he poured her tea.

"Dash of milk, two sugars," he said to himself as the tiny milk jug tottered out from behind a pile of acid pops. Once her tea was prepared, he passed it to her and sat back.

"My Hermione." He set his good hand on his chest, and smiled.

The teacup shook in her grasp. "It's happening today, isn't it?" Her voice was little more than a croak.

His smile never dimmed, "Let's not talk about that now. For just a moment I want us to pretend that you are my carefree niece, about to start her final summer holiday, and I am the uncle you deserved."

Her eyes stung, and she blinked rapidly. "You are-" she began.

"There's no need," he said gently, "I know who I am, and what I've done. I do not need protection from the truth." He lifted a lemon drop and popped it into his mouth. "Now, tell me how your exams went."

"Fine," she said, her voice wavered. "They were fine."

"All of them? I hear that the Defense Exams were harder than ever. 'Unfairly rigged', I believe is the rumor going around."

How could he sit there and act like nothing was happening? He wants to pretend, she told herself. After everything, I can do that much. She sniffed, and forced a smile, "It wasn't unfairly rigged at all. If you've read the text and the supplemental reading like Uncle Sev told us to, you would clearly understand what the questions asked." Lifting her chin a little, she added, "I found it easy."

He gave her a knowing look, his blue eyes sparkling, "Easy? Perhaps Severus was too soft on you?"

She rolled her eyes, "Ok, maybe not easy, but I still expect to receive full marks!"

That earned her a light chuckle, "I would expect no less." He caught the milk jug just as it was about to run off the table and opened a drawer to set it inside. It continued to run against the wooden sides of the drawer, setting off a series of Thunk! Thunk! "How is Draco these days? It's been awhile since I've seen him."

"He's trying to figure out a way to spend the summer with the Weasleys," she could barely hide the distaste in her words. Draco and Ginny had become close friends in the last few years, and he had even been granted one of Molly Weasley's notorious sweaters for Christmas. He wore it often, to her chagrin. If her mother knew about it… She shook her head, and raised her teacup to her lips, "He wants to pretend he's spending the summer with the Macmillans again."

"Much more respectable than spending it with the Weasleys," teased Uncle Albus. He selected another lemon drop, and smiled happily as he popped it into his mouth. "And you, do you plan to sneak away to the Weasley's this summer?"

"Certainly not," she arched a brow at him. "I think Ron might have set up special wards against me." She wouldn't put it past him. It had become a regular joke with Ginny that she was going to sneak Hermione into the Burrow.

Dumbledore hummed to himself. "Some of us never set aside our childhood rivalries. Your father and Mr. Weasley, for instance."

She perked up at the mention of her father. "Papa and Arthur were rivals?"

"Merlin's Beard, yes!" He laughed, and stirred another sugar cube into his tea. "In Lucius' sixth year and Arthur's seventh I think I handed out ten detentions apiece for duelling. That's just duelling, mind you! And only the ones I caught! Professor Crabtree- the Herbology professor before Professor Sprout- once came to my office in tears because they'd knocked over a whole row of glowing orchid seedlings once. I had to promise that I'd never put Slytherin and Gryffindor together in a greenhouse again!" He shook his head, "Arthur wasn't even in the N.E.W.T.-level Herbology class, he was just there to escort one of the students." He gave her a broad grin, "At least you and young Mr. Weasley have never destroyed anything in your rivallry."

She smiled back, and then sobered immediately. A chocolate frog leapt into a pile of brightly wrapped muggle sweets, and sent them rolling across the desk. She took a sip of the tea and stared contemplatively into the steam. "I can't do it."

The only sound was the soft clicking of the silver instruments on the shelf behind her and the steady thunk of the milk jug.

"Do you remember our first Occlumency lesson?" He asked softly.

She shook her head, and blinked back tears. A heavy feeling grew in the pit of her stomach.

"You were mad at me for sending your friend away," he said softly.

It was the first time he had ever referenced her bond with Bellatrix in front of her. She looked up sharply and waited for him to continue.

"You told me you would never forgive me unless I brought her back." Blue eyes peered solemnly into hers, "You must understand now why I did what I did. But I wonder...Have you forgiven me?"

Her breath caught in her throat. "Y-yes?" She wrapped both hands around her teacup, and tried to focus on the warmth seeping through the wall of the cup. She could not look away.

There was a soft "Hmph." And then he cleared his throat. "The shields. Your shields. Can she get through them?"

Hermione's mouth felt dry, but she did not raise her cup. "No."

Relief flashed through his face-through his entire body. "Good!" The weariness that dragged at his eyes seemed to lessen. "Good. And you keep them up? At all times?" He leaned forward and did not seem to notice when tea sloshed over his ruined hand.

She read the hope in his gaze and realized that she could not tell him the truth. That Bellatrix was inside her everyday shields, that she only pushed her out when she was with him, or Uncle Severus. That she did not want to keep Bellatrix out.

Instead, she found herself flashing him an easy grin, "Of course, Uncle Albus. They're always up."

Were she not so attuned to her shields she would have missed the mild pressure on the edge of her mind. He was testing her.

Apparently, he was satisfied with what he found. He leaned back, and stroked his good hand down the length of his beard. His hand was steady when he raised his cup to drink. And when he spoke, his voice was light.

"It will happen tonight."

It was as if he had given her a blow to the chest. She jerked back, and dropped her teacup to the ground. Tea splashed against her feet and his desk, but she didn't acknowledge it. Her heart beat steadily in her ears. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

"I want it to be you," he said calmly. "It will cement Voldemort's trust in your capabilities, and ensure your position as one of his most trusted." He hesitated, "Severus will try to spare you, I think. But you must try to resist him." He rolled his hand into a fist, and tapped it gently on the wood, "I will be taking Harry on an errand after dinner. I expect we'll be gone a few hours, and then you can find me. I know you will not be alone. Severus has informed me that the castle will be invaded."

How could he be so calm? She felt as if the room was growing darker, and her breath came fast and shallow in her throat.

"The killing curse is painless, I hear." He gave her a gentle smile, "And it will be a merciful end compared to letting this curse-" he raised his shrivelled, black hand, "-consume me."

"I-I can't," she whined.

His blue gaze was gentle, "You must. There is one final task I must give to you. One that I cannot entrust to anyone else."

"W-why me?"

Nothing wavered in his gaze. "Because there is no one else who is strong enough to do this."

She had never seen the look on his face before. The raw pleading. She swallowed, "Do what?"

He stared at her a moment longer. "Harry has told you of the Horcruxes?"

She felt herself nod.

"Voldemort made six of them consciously," his chest rose and fell in a deep breath, "and one unconsciously. There are seven Horcruxes, I believe. If Voldemort should ever be made aware of the seventh, I need you to make sure it is destroyed."

That was it? "Ok."

Something in his gaze shifted to sadness, and she grew suspicious. "What's the seventh Horcrux?"

"Not what," he said gently. "Who."

"There can be living Horcruxes?" She asked in surprise. "But I thought- Wouldn't he want them to be something indestructible?" She tried not to acknowledge that he was asking her to kill someone else.

"He didn't realize that night," said Dumbledore, and he took another lemon drop in his hand, but did not put it in his mouth. He ran his thumb over it. "That night, when the killing curse rebounded on him, his soul was split. One disappeared into the night, to eventually attach to Nagini and grow into the Voldemort we know today."

Her breathing stopped.

"And the other attached to the only living thing remaining in the room. Harry is the other Horcrux. The Unknown Horcrux."

She stared at him in shock. Was he really- Could he truly mean- For a long moment all she could do was sit there. Until her lungs burned from lack of oxygen and she gasped in a great shuddering breath.

She shook her head, and curled her fists around the fabric of her school robes. "I won't!" Something burst to life in her chest, and spread warm and hateful through her body. Her teeth bared when she looked up and snapped, "How could you ask this of me?"

It was as if she was wearing someone else's face, she could feel her brow wrinkle, her nose scrunched in anger, her jaw stretched out. For a moment, she thought she would be able to carry out her task then and there. Then, in the glass cabinet behind him she caught a glimpse of the hatred shining through her eyes, and a stab of fear shot through her.

A shallow wail rose out, and it took her a moment to realize that it was her. Her hands shot to her face, and her nails dug into the soft skin there. "N-no!"

Her wand was heavy up her sleeve, and she felt the urge to pull it out and cast it far away from her.

"Hermione. Hermione."

She looked at him, and let out a wet sob. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, and she shook her head. "Ask someone else. Ask Uncle Sev-"

"It has to be you," he said firmly. He stood, and moved to her. His good hand pulled one of her hands away from her face and held it. "Severus could not do it. There is no one else I trust to do this."

"Harry is my friend," she shook her head. "I can't. Not to him. Not him."

"Hermione," He gave a sigh, and lowered himself until he knelt next to her chair. It was something he used to do when he tried to explain a difficult concept to her. "In order to defeat Voldemort we must destroy the Horcruxes. It's what Harry would want, were he to know-"

"So tell him," she snapped. She didn't know which emotion was stronger, her sorrow or her anger. Bellatrix was alarmed, but she could focus on nothing other than his blue eyes. The eyes that had looked at her with pride and affection, and occasionally disappointment. They looked at her now with determination.

"He will find out eventually," he said. His voice was soft. "I worry that the knowledge will be too much for him. Eventually he'll know. Severus will tell him-"

"Uncle Sev knows?" Then it was all the more reason for him to complete this task. She could not understand…

Dumbledore moved his shriveled hand to wipe at her tears, and she shivered.

"I have told him. But I cannot ask him to harm Harry. I have done many things to him over the years, but I will not do that."

"But you'd do it to me?"

He said nothing, but she could read the answer in his eyes. Someone had to do it. And for whatever reason he had chosen her.

"Severus will find a way to explain to him when the time is right," he continued. "He will protect the school as best as he is able. And after tonight Harry will begin his hunt to destroy the Horcruxes. In the end I trust he will do what is right and present himself before Voldemort. I believe that you will never have to harm him." His hold on her hand tightened. "But if Voldemort finds out- if he suspects and chooses to protect Harry, I need you to finish it." His voice hardened. "Voldemort must be stopped. At all cost."

And she understood then that she was his sacrifice to the greater good. She opened her mouth to tell him, but something else came out. "You've killed me."

He blinked, and frowned. "Hermione-"

"I did everything you wanted me to. I've cosied up to the Dark Lord, I'm becoming a Death Eater, I've alienated my brother- all at your request. And when this is over, if the Dark Lord falls, do you know what they're going to do to me?" She wrenched her hand away from him, and watched him clutch at his robes in surprise. "They're going to toss me to the Dementors. Or worse! They'll lock me up in Azkaban for the rest of my life!"

The chair scraped back and she stood. "My life is over!"

On his knees, he shook his head, "I have memories in place. Letters. Fawkes will take them to the Ministry when this is all over-"

"I'm sure they'll take a bird seriously," she scoffed.

It took him several tries to rise into a standing position. She had never seen him look so pale, or so desperate. "Hermione, I won't let anything happen to you."

"Like nothing's going to happen to Harry?"

As soon as she said it she could tell that it hurt him. He stumbled into his chair and buried his face in his good hand.

After a moment of watching him, she bent and picked up her fallen cup. A wave of her wand dried the spilled tea and her shoes, and she set the cup back on it's saucer.

"You will be taken care of," he said. He looked up at her, "I promise you. I won't let them villainize you." He took a deep breath, "I will make them understand. You have sacrificed so much for the cause, and you will be rewarded."

His promises didn't sound as confident as the Dark Lord's. He sounded desperate. She nodded, "Ok."

He held her gaze for a moment. "Then you'll do it?"

She nodded, and ran her thumb over the smooth dip in the handle of her wand.

Relief filled his face, and he staggered to his feet. On stumbling legs he crossed to her, and drew her into his arms.

Though she would have preferred to be anywhere else, she hugged him back. It was as if she had been dipped in an icy pool. All of her emotions felt like they were at arm's length, except for the anger that flickered and snapped in her chest.

"My Hermione," he whispered. He drew back, and clapped her shoulder with his good hand. "I could not be prouder of you than if you had been my own daughter."

Had he said that to her an hour earlier she would have glowed with pride. Instead, she nodded and felt a calm mask slip over her features.

"I haven't been the uncle you deserve," he continued. The soft light seemed to catch on every wrinkle on his face, making him look ancient. "But you have been so much more than I ever could have imagined. I promise I will make sure you get through this."

It took her a moment to realize he was waiting for her to do something, and she forced a smile. All she wanted to do was curse him, and the thought terrified her.

"I'd better go… prepare."

He nodded slowly, and stepped back. "I'll see you tonight then."

She could not look at him anymore. "Yeah. Tonight."

She did not remember walking to the owlery. It wasn't until she watched the owl fly off that she realized where she was.

It's tonight, she thought to Bellatrix.

There was a ripple of excitement, then concern. "When should I be there?"

There was a soft hoot from above her, and she looked up into Hedwig's glittering eyes. The room seemed to swim around them, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

Ten-ish? He's going out with Harry.

"Doveling, what's wrong?"

If she told her what she had just promised Dumbledore she knew she would start crying. And if she started crying she might not have the nerve to complete her task. She thought of her father and forced her feelings down.

We can talk about it later, she promised, not now.

Bellatrix seemed more worried by this, but did not push her.

She walked blindly to the Gryffindor Common Room. Nothing would feel better than sliding into bed and letting the covers consume her, but she knew that she could not fail tonight. Instead, she took up residence in her favorite wingback chair by the window.

Never had she felt as focused as she did that night. A cold calm settled over her, and she focused on nothing else but waiting. The dinner bell came and went, and she waited in the deserted common room.

Slowly, her peers trickled back in. A few confused looks were shot her way, but she ignored them.

And then Harry pushed his way in, his face pale but determined. She watched him dart into the passage to the boy's dormitories, and then emerge a few moments later with his schoolbag and… a pair of socks?

"Ron, could you join me a moment?" He called to the youngest Weasley boy.

The redhead was at his side in an instant, and Hermione realized with horror that the were walking towards her. There was nowhere to go, however, and she forced herself to stay calm as harry pulled the other boy towards her.

"It's time," Harry whispered. "Dumbledore thinks he's found the next Horcrux-"

Ron's face morphed into horror as Harry explained where he would be going that night. Hermione tried to make her face look similar.

"Harry, it's going to be dangerous," she said. "You know that- that He wouldn't hide them just anywhere. There's got to be traps set up around it or something."

This did nothing to deter him. "I need you both to keep an eye out," he said urgently. "I have a bad feeling about tonight. The castle will be vulnerable without Dumbledore. If anything happens-" He thrust the socks into Hermione's hands. "I want you to use that when I leave."

"You want us to use a pair of socks?" She exchanged a look with Ron, and for once there was confusion instead of animosity in his eyes.

Harry let out a strangled laugh. "It's not- it's inside the socks, Hermione! It's the rest of the Felix Felicis. I want you to split it amongst the two of you, and Draco and Ginny. Maybe Neville and Luna if there's enough. We need to be vigilant tonight. I need you to have all the luck you can get." His green eyes darkened, "We must protect Hogwarts."

Ron clapped a hand over his shoulder. "We will, Harry. Leave it to me and Malfoy-"

Hermione looked up at him in surprise. Never before had he said her name without sneering it.

"-we'll keep her safe."

Luckily, Harry did not look to her for reassurance. She did not know if she could lie to anyone at that moment.

"I have to go," he said, "Dumbledore's waiting. Good luck!" He sped to the portrait hole and darted out.

Ron had already fished out his D.A. coin, and quickly changed the date and time, "I'm having them meet us in ten," he explained to Hermione. "Does the Room of Requirement sound good to you?"

Again, his voice lacked all animosity. She felt as if she were in a dream. "Yeah, sounds good."

"I'm going to put on a different robe," when he looked at her, there was a look that could almost be described as friendly. "I'll meet you there."

She nodded, and after a moment, decided to change as well. She did not want to be wearing school robes when… She shook the thought out of her head as she changed into her favorite green robes. Her mother said they were her best robes, and she always felt a bit more put together when she wore them. With quick motions she knotted her hair at the back of her head, and pinned it securely.

"Very smart," crooned the mirror.

She reached into the sock and pulled out the little gold bottle of Felix Felicis. It sparkled alluringly in her hand, and she wondered if it would indeed help them. Hiding it in her fist, she made her way to the room of requirement.

The others were already assembled by the time she got there, and Draco ran to hug her, "Hermione! What's happening?"

Without mentioning the Horcruxes, as Neville, Luna, and Ginny knew nothing about them, Hermione explained that Harry and Dumbledore had gone to investigate something that might help them defeat Voldemort.

Ron took over, "It's up to us to protect the castle," he said. "At least until we have concrete evidence that there is an attack."

"Only a few hours now," said Luna in her dreamy voice.

Hermione's skin prickled, and she wondered just how much Luna knew. If she could really be a seer.

"We have the coins," Ron said, switch the location to wherever you are if you see anything out of the ordinary, and we'll all meet there. He looked to her, "Hermione, do you have the Felix Felicis?"

It was the first time he had ever used her name. She tried not to stare at him as she held out the little bottle.

The bottle was passed around the circle, with each taking a small swallow. When it came to Hermione's turn she ignored the guilty pang in her chest and downed the rest.

Warmth spread throughout her chest. It was almost like Turnip's magic, but it was also as if she had just received a pep talk from her parents. All of her guilt eased, and was replaced with the resolution that she could complete her task. That she would.

They broke off individually, and she took off towards the corridor that contained the witch's statue.

Curfew came and went, and she managed to avoid Filch twice as he patrolled the corridor she occupied.

Something shifted as the clocks chimed eleven. Something inside her decided it would be better to find the highest tower. Something far away from the other students, a place where they would not be interrupted. And she needed a way to signal to Dumbledore that she was there.

As if driven by another force, her feet took off. It took her a few moments to realize that she was headed for the Astronomy Tower. The shadows pressed heavily around her as she muttered the unlocking charm and climbed the stone steps to the highest room. Without thinking she darted to the nearest window and stuck her wand out.

"Morsmordre!" Green smoke blossomed from the tip of her wand, and she stared at it in surprise as it slowly formed the gaping skull and the curling serpent of the Dark Mark. She felt the smallest tinge of fear slip past the self assurance that the Felix Felicis gave her. Dumbledore would never be able to resist the Dark Mark. She was certain it would bring him.

She stared up at the ghostly image, and steeled herself. There was no room for fear. Not while she had the task to complete.

Just as she began to grow impatient, a warm voice slid through her mind.

"I'm here, Doveling."

Good, she thought. Satisfaction wrapped around her. At least part of the plan had begun. Dumbledore's Army is patrolling the castle. Can you distract them while I wait for Dumbledore?

"Of course."

Then all I have to wait for is Dumbledore.

"Where are you?"

The Astronomy Tower.

There was a flash of pain across her arm, and she knew that Bellatrix had come across someone. "I'll be there."

In the warm evening breeze Hermione swallowed, and sent up a half-formed prayer that no one was seriously injured that night. No one except…

A movement caught her eye at the gates, and she watched two figures on broomsticks dart towards the castle. She knew before she could make out their features who they were.

This is it, she told herself. She was more grateful than ever for the luck potion, as a cool wave of confidence washed over her. She pushed all thoughts of Harry from her mind.

She watched their approach, and let out a small growl of frustration when they reached the tower. They did not aim for the highest room, as she had anticipated. Instead, they landed somewhere below her. Tightening her fist around her wand, she twisted away and stalked towards the door.

There were cries below her, and the flash of spells, but she ignored them. The only sensation that registered was the electric pulse across her skin that signalled that Bellatrix was near.

She nearly tripped at the next landing, and wrenched open the door. Nothing. Had they gone farther down than she thought? The room next to it was empty as well, and she practically flew down the stairs to the next lowest landing. The fighting was right below her, and she gasped as a stunner flew by her, narrowly avoiding her nose.

But as soon as the door opened all thoughts of the battle slipped away. There, standing in the middle of the room, was her uncle.

"Ah, Hermione. The time has come."

He looked smaller than he should. As if he had shrunk in the hours that he had been away. His voice was hoarse. His hair disheveled.

All trace of the Felix Felicis potion faded away.

"What's happened to you?" She whispered. His appearance rattled her. "Where did you go?"

He gave her a faint smile, "Nevermind that now. You have a task to carry out, isn't that right?"

Why did he phrase it like that? She tightened her grip on her wand and eyed him. Though she had been ready to do it ten minutes earlier, she found herself unable to open her mouth.

"Hermione," he said gently, "Please-"

A metallic scrape clanged through the room, and the door behind her burst open. For a moment her heart caught in her throat and she thought the Order had managed to break through…

And then the pleasant buzz over her skin intensified, and she relaxed.

Bella.

"I'm here, Dove," came the raspy voice. Nothing had ever sounded more beautiful to her.

Another voice joined her, "Hermione…" Snape stepped into view, his face starkly white as he took in the scene.

Dumbledore shook his head slightly, "Severus, no-"

"Shut up, old man!" Spat Bellatrix. Her arm was warm as it wrapped around Hermione's waist, and she leaned protectively over her. "Are you hurt? Has he done anything?"

Hermione felt her eyes sting as she forced her eyes to meet Bellatrix's gaze. No, I'm just… having trouble.

A pale hand pushed the curls away from her forehead, "It happens to the best of us," she purred. "Take a deep breath, and focus. This is your task."

"You don't need to do anything," protested Snape. "You shouldn't have to-"

"It's my task," said Hermione in a slightly stronger voice. Bellatrix's arm was still around her. "I have to do it, or my father…" she swallowed, and turned her gaze back to Dumbledore.

Where there had been warmth in those twinkling blue eyes there now was fear. "You were speaking to her," he said. "But, the Occlumency shields should have-"

"Kept me out?" shot Bellatrix. She pulled Hermione tighter against her, so that their heads nearly touched. "You stupid fool. Nothing could separate us! Not even your barrier kept me out for long!"

"I see," and once again his expression was unreadable as he gazed at Hermione. "And how long have you been communicating?"

Bella, don't-

"Since you rigged the hat to sort her into Gryffindor!" Bellatrix's wand shot off a series of silver sparks.

He looked between them, and then at Snape. "You knew about this, Severus?"

The younger man said nothing.

"I see." Was it sadness or fear that crept into his gaze? "Well, Hermione, I must say I'm disappointed-"

She cringed.

"-in myself. I should have been the person you trusted the most."

"Well you're not." Bellatrix's wand sparked again. "You've done nothing but antagonize Hermione from the beginning. Forcing her into Gryffindor, trying to guilt her into caring for Muggles, keeping me away!" Her voice broke on the last word, and she made a motion as if to hex him, but Hermione quickly put her hand on her arm.

"Don't," she said, "I need to do it."

She stepped out of Bellatrix's hold, and Dumbledore backed up so that his back was to the open window.

"Hermione," he said gently, "My dear Hermione. You should have trusted me."

"Why?" She could barely speak past the lump in her throat, "So you could take her away again?" It was easier to focus on her anger than on the dim look in his eye, the crumpled mess of his robes.

"It's not too late," he said gravely. "The promise you made me? You must keep it."

Blood roared in her ears, and she raised her wand. When she spoke, her voice was clear and calm. "Goodbye Uncle Albus."

He shook his head, "Hermione, no. Please!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

His eyes widened as the green light hit him square in the chest, and she watched him fall as if in slow motion through the window. She knew without looking that he was gone. She had done it.

He was gone.

The door behind them burst open, and Alecto Carrow stuck her brad head in and gasped out, "The whole Auror Department is here! We have to retreat!"

Bellatrix leapt forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her through the door. Severus followed close behind.

They stepped over a body at the foot of the staircase, but Hermione was too dazed to look.

"There's a passage over here that leads to the entrance hall," said Severus gravely, running ahead of them.

"I know that!" Bellatrix snapped. "This was my school too!"

"Focus on guiding Hermione," he said in scathing tones. "We need to get her out of here."

She did not even question that she was leaving Hogwarts. Her fingers gripped the fabric of Bellatrix's robes so tightly she was surprised they did not tear it. She kept her hold even as they trampled down the narrow passageway.

They reached the Entrance Hall, and she felt relief wash over her. The door hung open, the fresh night air filled the hall. They were going to make it. She wouldn't have to see-

"Hermione?"

The last person she wanted to see was her brother. She felt as if she would be sick as he ran across the Entrance Hall. His robes were in tatters, and his face was streaked with dirt and sweat. "Hermione, what are you doing?"

It was Snape who opened his mouth to answer, but he was cut off.

"NO!" A voice shot out from above them.

She looked up into a pair of enraged green eyes. Where had Harry come from?

"I saw you!" He spat. He closed the distance between them, his wand raised.

"Harry-" said Draco, his voice attempting to soothe their friend.

But Harry shook him off, his eyes bore hatefully into Hermione's, "She killed Dumbledore!"

Snape's hand was cold on the back of her neck, "Go to the gates, Bellatrix," he commanded in a low voice. "Go now, do not look back."

For once, Bellatrix obeyed. Her arm tightened around Hermione and she pulled the brunette forward.

Tearing her eyes away from Harry, Hermione did as she was bidden. Snape was right behind her, his hand never left her back.

A moment later a stunner shot past them.

"NOOOOO!" Harry screamed. "HERMIONE!"

"I'll take care of this," her uncle promised, "Get her to the Manor."

Home? Was she finally going home?

Bellatrix pulled her towards the gates, and broke into an all-out run.

She could hear Hagrid's voice join the others behind her, but Bellatrix refused to allow her to look back. "Keep going, Dove. Keep on."

At last they reached the gates, and she had no time to react as Bellatrix pulled her into a side-along apparation.

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