When Hermione was a child, she always thought that in war, the great battles would take place on a long, even field. Both sides would agree on terms, and they would meet at dawn for one great clash that would decide the victor.
She never thought it would end in a school. In her school.
Nothing on earth could make Bellatrix stay in the hospital wing. She snatched a wand from the nearest child she found and stalked after Hermione as the girl flew through the corridors. She had to find Coram, and then Draco.
There were Death Eaters in the castle. Not just the teachers, but others as well. Then there were Order people. Both sides ignored Hermione, and Bellatrix still wore her disguise charms, so no one thought to question her.
It took the better part of an hour to battle their way from the Hospital Wing to the staircases.
"Hermione!"
Hermione looked around at her mother's voice, and saw her leading a group of panicked first years through the corridors. Narcissa gave her a quick, one-arms hug, and said, "We have to get the students out."
"Coram?" Hermione asked.
Narcissa looked worried, "I haven't seen him. That means nothing," she added quickly, "I have half the Patroni here getting the students out."
"Then Bella and I will help Harry."
Her mother gave her a long look, then nodded. "He was headed for the seventh floor."
Realization dawned on Hermione. "I know where he's going," she told Bellatrix, and broke into a run.
A handful of snatchers were fighting the Order on the staircase. Bellatrix threw a shield around them as they climbed, and hissed.
"Stupefy!" Hermione shot her strongest stunner at the snatcher who wounded Bellatrix.
Are you alright? We can return home.
Bellatrix snorted in her ear. "We can't. You'd just sneak back here the moment I looked away."
A younger student in Ravenclaw robes huddled at the top of the stairway. "I don't know what to do!" She cried out when Hermione drew near. "Please don't hurt me, I don't know what to do!"
"I'm not going to hurt you," Hermione snapped. There was more fighting in the corridor. She looked back down at the fighting below, and then hauled the girl up.
"What are you doing?" Bellatrix demanded.
Hermione gave her a look. We can't leave her here.
The girl flinched away from Hermione, but threw her arms around Bellatrix. The older witch laughed, and said, "We'll take care of you."
Hermione rolled her eyes, and plunged forward.
The Seventh floor was full of masked Death Eaters and members of the D.A. For a moment it struck Hermione how young they all looked. They should be preparing for exams, not fighting a war.
"Malfoy!" Dolohov laughed as he flung brightly colored curses at Neville Longbottom. "Malfoy, join in!"
Hermione looked at Neville, saw the strain on his face, and flung a hex at Dolohov.
The look of shock on his face was hilarious. Neville stalked forward, flinging spell after spell, and Hermione matched him, advancing quickly. Dolohov switched to defensive spells, and backed up.
"Ohhh, you're in for it, little Malfoy," he spat once he'd recovered from his surprise. "When the Dark Lord finds out he's going to eat you for breakfast!"
"Not likely," she countered, and grinned as he reached another passageway and fled down it.
Neville gave her a nod and a grin of thanks, and turned to help the rest of the D.A.
A piercing shriek echoed across the corridor, and everyone flinched. A moment later Harry and Draco appeared from a door halfway down the wall. There was a bang, and Ron slid out behind them. All of them were pale.
"Potter!" One of the masked Death Eaters howled. He advanced, and the girl holding onto Bellatrix shrieked as Bellatrix raised her wand and sent the Death Eater flying. She had left the disguising charms in the Hospital Wing, and her features finally slid back into their original configuration.
"Sorry," Bellatrix said to the horrified girl.
Rookwood launched himself at Harry, and Hermione transfigured his boots into spiders. They scurried up his body and sent him into a panic. He cast an Incendio at the spiders, and ended up lighting himself on fire.
The Patil twins ran by, and Parvati swung around and pointed her wand at Hermione.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" She asked through gritted teeth. "Haven't you Death Eaters done enough?"
Bellatrix growled, "Who do you think-" but was cut off by Harry.
"Hermione and Bellatrix are with us!" He said, fending off an attack by Thicknesse. "They stand with us."
"We can't trust them!" Parvati spat. "Not her," she pointed at Hermione, "She killed Dumbledore!"
"I'll explain it later," Harry said. "But she's on our side."
Parvati still did not look convinced, but Padma put an arm around her sister.
"She didn't kill Lavender," Padma said softly.
Hermione stiffened. Her eyes widened and she took a step forward, "Oh, Parvati. I'm so-"
"Don't," Parvati said, her eyes glistening. Slowly she lowered her wand from where it aimed at Hermione. "If Harry says you're on our side I'll-" she broke off, and steeled herself, "But don't pretend you cared about Lavender."
Bellatrix's hand slid around her elbow and squeezed. Hermione nodded at Parvati, and stepped back.
A masked Death Eater flew between them at that point, and Hermione put up a shield so that they could get the Ravenclaw girl through.
Draco was on the other side of the corridor, panting as he stood over a fallen Death Eater.
"Did you do it?" Bellatrix demanded.
Draco nodded. "Now there's only Nagini. Though Snape had something urgent to talk to Harry about when he first arrived, so I hope there's nothing there."
"Do you know what he spoke to him about?" Hermione asked.
Draco shook his head. "No idea. It was right before McGonagall chased him out."
Hermione shared a look with Bellatrix.
There might be another Horcrux, Bellatrix said. We have to get to Snape.
Hermione nodded, "First we take the girl to Ravenclaw Tower," she said.
Draco stiffened, "Where's Harry?"
Hermione looked around, the other boy had vanished. Most of the Death Eaters were fallen or gone too.
"I'll find him," Draco said, his jaw set. "But keep in mind, we need to kill the snake."
Hermione promised that they would, and Bellatrix reminded her in a soft whisper about the girl who was still wrapped around Bellatrix's stomach.
"Be safe, Draco," she called as she headed towards the Ravenclaw Tower.
He looked after her, and yelled, "You too!"
There were no other people between them and the staircase that lead to Ravenclaw Tower, but when they reached the top of the staircase, the little girl screamed.
"Oh Merlin," Bellatrix swore.
The passage to Ravenclaw Tower was halfway open, and a prefect stood in the opening, his wand raised. That alone was not surprising, but what was horrifying was what the prefect was fighting.
Acromantulas.
A dozen dog-sized Acromantulas surrounded the opening to the Ravenclaw common room. They appeared to be trying to force their way in, and Hermione could hear the students screaming from inside.
Her eyes moved to the crumpled form beneath the spider closest to the prefect, and she swallowed. We have to help them.
There was a pulse of annoyance, "I know that."
"Ok," Hermione said out loud. "Let's do it."
The girl cried out as Bellatrix rushed past Hermione. Hermione reached out and grabbed the girl. "Stay here," she said, trying her hardest to sound reassuring. "Just, stay here."
Bellatrix was already surrounded by three acromantulas, and Hermione shot forward. She knew a few spider-repellent curses from her days helping her mother tend the gardens, and she shot the minty spray around the landing. A few of the smaller spiders let out hisses and fled through the open window, but the majority stayed.
Hermione shot a crushing spell at the acromantula nearest Bellatrix, and to her relief it worked. She was too close to the others to use the crushing spell effectively, but she had some luck with the incendio curse. She sent two spiders flying out the window that way.
"Thanks," The prefect yelled. He joined the fray.
Pain lanced through her leg, and she yelped as a spider bit down on her leg. She shot a stunner at it, but it held on.
Black curls swept by her face, and Bellatrix let out a hissing incantation. The spider let go immediately, and shrivelled up
Half of the spiders were gone, but the six that remained were huge.
Two of them rushed Bellatrix, and knocked her down. When Hermione tried to help she was tripped by another. Her wand flew from her hand and skittered across the floor.
She looked up into the most horrifying face she had ever seen. Eight eyes glinted down at her, and two fangs as long as her hand glistened with drops of venom.
This was how she was going to die. As spider food.
Just as the fangs descended, Bellatrix's voice screamed from across the room. "Kick, damn it!"
Oh yeah. Hermione took a half breath, and managed to get her feet up. With all of her strength, she kicked, and sent the spider flying.
Then, Bellatrix was in front of her, pressing her wand into Hermione's hand, and sending a torrent of spells at the spider.
By the time it was over the spider was unrecognizable.
Bellatrix's hands shook as she pulled Hermione to her feet, and Hermione clung to her. Her limbs raced with adrenaline.
"Merlin," she whispered into Bellatrix's neck. The smell of pine and fresh earth surrounded her, comforted her, and Hermione wanted nothing more than to bury herself in that smell.
"Watch out!" The prefect yelled.
Hermione's eyes wrenched open, and she shot a bone-liquefying curse at the spider that flung itself at them. It let out a hiss, and crumpled to the ground.
Bellatrix pulled away to kill another, and then let out a shaky laugh.
It was over. They were gone.
The prefect slumped against the door. He gave her a shaky nod, and then vomited all over the floor.
"Elegant," Bellatrix said. Amusement bubbled through her words, "Make sure to leave this part out when you retell it." She looked down the staircase, and called to the girl, "Come up sweetie, before more come."
The girl had to be coaxed, but eventually she was safe in her common room.
Then a horrible voice rang out.
"Harry Potter is dead! Surrender to me or face the consequences. I will meet you on the front lawn."
"No," Hermione whispered. A knot formed instantly in her throat, and Bellatrix's hand sought hers.
"The snake," Bellatrix whispered. "Nagini will be on the front lawn."
Through the haze of panic, Hermione nodded.
Bellatrix whirled to face the prefect. "Lock yourselves in," she hissed. "Don't let anyone in until your head of house or the Aurors come. Do you understand?"
The prefect nodded.
"Then shut the door!" Bellatrix yelled.
The prefect jumped, but slammed the door behind him.
"Harry… Bella, I don't."
Bellatrix pulled her into her arms again. "I know this is difficult, Dove, but you have to get through this. Get through this day, and we will mourn him tonight."
Hermione forced the tears down, and nodded against Bellatrix's throat. "You're right." She took a deep breath. "We have to end this."
Bellatrix squeezed her tighter. "Now seems like a good time to tell you that I…" Her voice grew heavy, "I love you more than anything, Hermione. You've made my life wonderful, and I hope-"
Hermione drew back, and shook her head. "Don't do that Bella. Don't you dare say goodbye to me. Nothing's going to happen to you, I won't let it. Understand?"
Bellatrix shut her mouth, and smiled. "What would I do without you?" She whispered.
"You're never going to find out," Hermione said. She kissed her, and allowed herself to melt against Bellatrix for a long moment. Bellatrix pushed her forehead against Hermione's, and Hermione felt the swirl of emotions from the older witch. Fear. Mourning. Anxiety. Determination. She tried to muster up a feeling of calm reassurance, and laughed as Bellatrix's amusement pushed against her.
Then she pulled away and said, "Let's go."