In the end, it was Neville who encouraged them to go out as a group. They met in the Entrance Hall, disorientated and lost, and Neville took up the mantle of leader and said, "We'll go out together, like Harry did."
Professor Lupin let out a strangled sob, and Hermione saw Ginny cover her face with her hands.
She found Draco, and her brother immediately drew her into a hug.
"You're hurt," he said, looking down at Hermione's bite.
She smiled, "It's nothing." His eyes were red, and she felt her own eyes water, "It can't be true, Draco. It can't, it's a lie."
He nodded, but couldn't speak.
"Hermione!" Her father's voice echoed over the crowd, and she turned to see him shove his way past Professor Sprout. Her mother was right behind him. "Draco! Oh, thank god!"
She and Draco were pulled into a hug, and their mother joined in. "Oh thank goodness," her mother sighed. "When I heard, I thought one of you might be with him when…"
Draco sniffled, and buried his face in their mother's shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked her father. She knew her mother would want to help because of the Patroni, but her father had made it clear that he intended to stay as far away from the Dark Lord as possible.
He gave a grim smile. "I couldn't let my family risk their lives without me."
"How brave of you," Bellatrix drawled, but she put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
There was a commotion towards the center of the room, and Hermione turned to see that the door had cracked. Snape stalked forward, until he reached Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva," he said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "If this is to be the last of us, I ask that you allow me to stand at your side."
McGonagall gave him a shrewd look, "I believe that's where you've always been," she said.
There was a smattering of shocked whispers, but the Order began seconding her.
A faint pink tinge entered Snape's cheeks, and he fell in step beside the Transfiguration professor.
"We can still get away," her father whispered to the family. "There's a passage in the dungeons that leads to the lake. If we-"
"I'm not going anywhere," Draco said coldly.
Hermione nodded, "We can't live our lives on the run, Papa. He'll find us wherever we go."
Lucius gave a pained smile, and shared a look with their mother. "Then remember," he said in a low voice. "Bone-breaking curses aimed at the legs. That will give you the upper hand."
Bellatrix laughed, and then stiffened as Neville called them all to get in line.
The whole room assembled, and seemed to take a collective breath. Then the doors widened, and Neville led them out.
Her parents were there, on either side of her. Bellatrix was behind her shoulder, Draco on her mother's other side, and Hermione decided that if this was how she was going to die, well. At least she would have her family with her.
Somehow they ended up at the front, with Neville. Her leg throbbed so badly that she barely made it hold her weight, and Bellatrix's hand sought hers and squeezed.
It was raining. That at least made Hermione feel a little better. She couldn't bear it if the sun was shining.
A large crowd came from the forest. There were a few giants, a horde of acromantula, werewolves that had shifted to their canine forms. The Dark Lord led them, his wand raised like a beacon. Beside him, Hagrid was in chains, and in his arms was a crumpled figure.
"Oh no," Hermione moaned. Her mother put a warm hand on her back.
Draco was openly weeping, and his wand shook as they stepped forward.
A third group approached from the gates that led to Hogsmeade, and Hermione's stomach flopped when she noticed the stout figure of Ma Griesly.
"Coram said that she'd fight with us," she said, "but it looks like-"
"Shh," her father whispered. "Trust Coram. He's family. Our family doesn't betray each other."
Hermione swallowed, and felt lightheaded. If they killed the snake, they might have a chance against Voldemort's forces, but if Ma Griesly's people joined, then he would have nearly double the number of armed wizards.
"Listen to your father," Bellatrix soothed. Her hand was the only thing keeping Hermione from dissolving into tears.
When all three groups were in hearing distance, Voldemort opened his arms. "Griesly," he purred in a paternal tone, "Come and join us. Take your rightful place beside my warriors."
Ma Griesly looked at him, and lifted her chin. "We stand with Hermione Malfoy. It's her that we're bound to, and her that we'll follow."
There was a smattering of whispers from around Hermione, but the Order and the D.A. made room for Ma Griesly's people as they swelled behind them on the Hogwarts steps. Ma Griesly herself came and stood next to Bellatrix, behind Hermione.
"Is my Coram safe?"
Hermione's mother heard, and nodded. She turned her head so she could whisper, "I made him take a portkey to my mother-in-law's estate in Brittany. He'll be safe there if something happens today."
Ma Griesly blew out a breath, and said, "Thank Merlin for that."
The Dark Lord watched this happen with impassive eyes, but then he turned his attention to Hermione.
"Hermione, come back to me. I will not hold you responsible for the actions of your parents, or your-" his mouth twisted in a cruel smile, "mentor. Stand with me and let me give you everything! In fact," he addressed the whole group, "Anyone who wants to join me, may. I need fine young witches and wizards in my ranks, and I will reward you handsomely."
There was a murmur of unease, but no one moved to join him.
"No? How about you, boy?"
Neville stiffened beside her, and his grandmother gasped.
"Wouldn't you like to stand victorious tonight?"
Neville shifted, but his voice was steady, "I think not! I stand with Harry!" He turned and raised his fist in the air, "Harry!"
Several dozen voiced answered him, Hermione's included. "Harry!"
The Dark Lord shook his head, "Such a waste of precious magic. Very well then, you will all join your beloved Harry before much longer. Hermione!"
Bellatrix's hand squeezed hers so tightly that she knew she would bruise.
"Hermione," he continued, his voice lilting gently. "Return to me, my little lioness. You know where you belong."
Hermione licked her lips, and her voice failed when she tried to spek. Clearing it, she called out, "Yes, I do."
For a moment he looked relieved, and then she continued.
"I belong with my family!"
At once, his features morphed into an animalistic scowl. "Then you will die with your family!" His wand was a blur, "Avada Kedavra!"
Her mother screamed, a high, horrible sound that she could not imagine coming from her mother, and Bellatrix pulled her back just as a flash of platinum blond hair raked her face.
Hermione saw her father fall, taking the curse that was meant for her. He landed on his side, his hair shielding his face.
For a moment, her ears roared with blood. The ground swirled beneath her, and bile rose to her thought she would collapse right there and join her father. She did not want to be anywhere that he was not. Her chest grew so tight she could barely breathe, and her lips quivered. This was not real. This could not be real.
Then she registered the cruel chuckle that came from across the courtyard. Something snapped within her, and she flew across the courtyard, her wand already shooting the bone breaking curse.
"Hermione, no!"
Hermione barely registered Bellatrix's words. Her father was dead. Her Papa. Killed by this… creature.
Voldemort laughed, and blocked her curses. "No," he said, as one of his followers moved to attack. "Let me."
A wand drew parallel to her own, and Hermione smelled her mother's orange blossom perfume. Narcissa had joined the fight, and she was every bit as vengeful as Hermione.
There was a cry behind them, "The snake! The snake!"
The two witches circled as Voldemort stepped forward, moving in tandem to block and attack.
A moment later Bellatrix joined them. "I'll shield, you attack," she yelled.
It was no use, Voldemort was an impeccable duelist. He dodged Hermione's attacks and blocked Narcissa's, only to send a rapid fire of curses the next moment. Hermione growled in frustration, and stepped past the line of Bellatrix's shield.
"So," he purred, "this is how it ends. I must confess, I wanted you to be my wife, to share in my glories. Instead," he shot a stunner that made her gasp and bend over. "You decided to leave the only person who could ever love you for who you are."
The statement was so unexpected that Hermione barked out a laugh. "Is that what you think?" She hissed. He dodged her bone breaker. "You don't even know who I am!" She shot a blistering curse, and grinned as he let out a hiss of pain. "I am very much loved," she spat.
Her mother caught up to her, and shot a curse that made Voldemort let out a scream.
"We can't kill him until the snake is dead," Narcissa reminded her. "Incapacitate him only, or else he could get away."
Hermione nodded and then gasped as her mother threw her out of the way. "Mother!"
Narcissa fell to the ground and groaned as a crimson stain spread from her middle. Bellatrix fell on her at once, and threw up a shield charm that knocked Voldemort back.
Hermione struggled to get to her feet, Voldemort was raising his wand. Bellatrix had both hands pressed against the wound in her mother's stomach, and she flinched as he bore down on their shield. In another moment he might get through-
"I think I'm the one you want to fight, Tom!"
Hermione's knees buckled as Harry appeared out of nowhere. His green eyes blazed, and Voldemort hissed, "You!"
The noise that erupted was chaotic. The students and the Order, backed by Ma Griesly's people, rushed forward. They left the space where Harry and Voldemort fought open, and Hermione ignored everyone around her as she ran to her mother.
"Mother," she gasped, kneeling and pressing her hands against Bellatrix's. Blood pooled up immediately, warm and sticky over her fingers.
"Her-Hermione," her mother tried to grin. Her teeth were red with blood, and her pupils were so wide that they nearly swallowed up the blue. "M-my girl."
Fear lanced through her. "Mother, please," Hermione pleaded. Her heart thundered in her chest, and tears swam in her vision. She couldn't lose both parents today. "Please."
"S'ok, sweetheart. J-just, listen t-to-"
A new voice sounded from behind her, "Hermione?"
Hermione fumbled for her wand, and pointed it right at Terence's face. "You stay away from her!" She shrieked. "You stay away?"
Terence's eyes were wide and earnest. "I can help her," he said, shucking off the outer Death Eater robes. "I can save her."
Bellatrix let out a low growl, "How do we know this isn't a trap?" She demanded. She looked halfway hysterical. Her face was deathly pale, and her eyes burned.
Terence shook his head slowly. "I would never do that to Hermione," he said. "Please."
They would lose her anyway. Hermione nodded, and moved to the side as Terence pressed his robes to the wound.
"Harry!" Her brother's voice boomed over the roar, amplified by the sonorous charm. "Nagini is dead!"
Hermione smoothed her mother's long hair back, and whispered, "Stay with me, mother. Stay with me." The rain had already soaked the golden tresses, and Hermione reflexively cast a warming charm.
"Don't give up, Cissy," Bellatrix said. Her eyes were round and she had Narcissa's hand clasped between both of her bloody ones. "Fight it."
"M-My girls," Narcissa slurred. Her voice was groggy. "I love y-you so m-much." Her eyes rolled back in her head, and her mouth opened in a delicate, "O."
Hermione's heart stopped when her mother's eyes drifted shut. "Terence!"
"She's just lost consciousness," Terence explained. A glowing blue net had sprouted from his wand, and was seeping through the robe. "She's still here."
"We have to get her inside," Hermione whined. "She needs to see Madam Pomfrey."
"But," Terence looked over his shoulder, "The battle?"
"I don't care!" Hermione was already performing the spell Lupin did on Snape's unconscious body in her third year. "Bella, keep us safe. Terence, keep working."
Most of the fighting had ceased as the others watched Voldemort and Harry duel. Hermione only had eyes for her mother as she carefully directed her back to the castle. She had to walk by her father's body, and her hand trembled horribly as she willed herself not to look down.
She couldn't risk dropping her mother.
They made it to the Hospital Wing as a huge cry erupted, and Hermione hoped it was their side that had won. Her mind was fuzzy as Bellatrix screamed for Madam Pomfrey, and then her mother was in an open bed with the Mediwitch moving in a flurry around her.
Terence gave her a small nod, and slipped away as Bellatrix's arms surrounded her.
Hermione watched her mother's face, and prayed harder than she had ever prayed to whoever would listen that her mother would make it.
She was too dehydrated to cry. Her mouth was sticky and her tongue felt heavy. The room grew blurry.
"Doveling," Bellatrix crooned, "She's going to be fine. She has to be."
Papa… Hermione swallowed, and her throat burned. The room seemed to be moving quickly away from her, and then she fell into a pool of darkness.
XX
"She's lucky it didn't progress further, or else she would have lost the leg."
Hermione wrinkled her nose as the sharp smell of antiseptic met her nose. There was a soft cough, and a voice said, "But she'll be alright?"
"She'll live," said the dry voice, and it seemed to be of the opinion that that was good enough.
Hermione's lips burned as she opened them, and she cracked her eyes, "Water," she croaked.
A soft hand came down on her head, and a cup was held to her lips. "There now, Dove," crooned a gentle voice, "Small sips."
Hermione drank as much as she could, and then succumbed to the darkness.
When she woke next, she was in a room at St. Mungo's.
The dark form of Severus Snape slumped in the chair by her side, and Hermione was dimly aware that she was caught in an embrace. She turned slightly and saw the sleeping face of Bellatrix. It was as if her emotions were slow to react, her head was fuzzy, and she was so thirsty.
She reached for the cup on the tray by her bed, and a pale hand entered her vision.
"They said the venom did a number on your leg," Severus explained as he held the cup up to her mouth. "But you'll make a full recovery."
It was then that Hermione noticed the thick bandage around her lower leg. It wrapped from her ankle to her knee, and the skin around the bandage was red and inflamed. She grimaced.
"Drink," he insisted.
Hermione drank thirstily, and when she had drained the cup she handed it back to him. "Mother?" Her voice was raw, like a saw grating on wire.
He gave her a tight smile. "She'll make a full recovery too. They had to restrain her and sedate her, she was insistent that she stay with you." He refilled her cup. "Draco is with her now. She'll be so glad that you're awake."
"Draco," she said faintly. Somehow she already knew the answer before her lips formed the question. "The war, did Harry…"
"We won," Severus said, "Drink more. The Dark Lord is defeated, the Aurors are rounding up the rest of the Death Eaters as we speak. And Potter will no doubt commission a golden statue of himself to place in Hogwarts' entrance hall when it reopens."
He sighed, "He's fine. He visited earlier, but you were sleeping. I told him he could return tomorrow. He and Draco have been corresponding by charmed mirrors."
A tiny sliver of hope blossomed in her, "And… and Papa? Did he- is he really-"
"Drink," Severus said, pushing the cup up to her mouth. His gaze was tender as he considered her. Finally, he said, "Your father's body has been removed to Malfoy Manor. When your mother recuperates enough to return home she will arrange for his burial.
Arms tightened around her as tears pooled in her eyes. It was like a hole had opened up in her chest, and she had no idea how to fill it. "Papa," she whispered.
Bellatrix stirred, and rested her chin on Hermione's shoulder. "Perhaps you should go tell Cissy that she's awake," she said to Severus.
He nodded, and rested his cool hand on Hermione's shoulder. After a moment, he left.
Careful of Hermione's bandaged leg, Bellatrix scooped the younger witch into her lap and rocked her.
"We were supposed to be ok," Hermione whimpered. "We were all supposed to get out."
"I know," Bellatrix crooned. "I know."
Outside the wizarding world celebrated Voldemort's final defeat. Children were released from schools, banners were hung and fireworks cascaded through the streets.
Inside her room, Hermione could only feel the keen sting of loss. She wrapped herself tighter around Bellatrix, and wept.
Her only comfort came a moment later when the bed dipped, and her mother pressed against her back. "I know, darling," she murmured, her own voice watery. "I know."
Hermione thought of Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes, of the Dark Lord's purr when he called her "my lioness," and of her father's smile. Her father's warm hugs, and his unrelenting belief in her.
Her father who had only wanted his family to be safe. Who was the first adult to show her love without conditions. Her father who would never walk the Ministry corridors with her again.
Her eyes met Bellatrix's, and she could see the understanding reflected back at her. She reached forward and pressed their foreheads together, and Hermione clung to her mother's hand and let herself go.
For months all she could see when she closed her eyes was the flash of green and her father's fallen body.
XX