Chapter 10 –Collateral.

Before Hermione could even reach her room she became aware of the sudden surge of activity downstairs.

"Ron, Hermione, Draco." Remus screamed from the stairwell, "Neville and his Grandmother."

Hermione raced into her room shoving her legs into a pair of jeans and pulling on a sweater over her head. Draco emerged from his room his blond head still only part way out of the collar of his polo shirt. They exchanged a brief glance but had no time to speak before Ron barged past them both.

"Ron," Hermione chastised trying to regain her balance. Ron ignored her pelting down the stairs towards the kitchen.

As soon as they were all there Remus told them what he knew;

"The Longbottom house is under attack by Death Eaters. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has clearly tired of waiting for the Longbottoms to declare their allegiance to him. The Order needs to provide a distraction to help them get away."

They all nodded.

"Hermione, Ron-you're with me we will take the front." Remus continued issuing orders like a campaigning General. "Harry, Ginny with Tonks-take the back."

"I'm sorry Draco…" he began apologetically, "we shouldn't be too long."

Draco nodded but he could already feel the panic mounting. Hermione could see it in his eyes.

"Go," Remus commanded.

"Wait," Hermione rushed to an old cake tin on a dresser. She removed something and returned to press it into Draco's hands. "You can contact Andromeda with this in an emergency." She didn't say 'if we don't come back', but he knew that was what she meant.

"When you've finished with the bloody lovers goodbye," Ron snarled.

"Ron?" Ginny demanded.

"What, do we have time for this?" Ron responded.

Remus sighed, "Just go, now."

They appeared outside Neville's family home no sooner did they land than they were assaulted. Hermione immediately shielded herself.

"Well hello deary," Hermione shivered at the demented drawl of Bellatrix Lastrange. "I thought you might come to join us. Look Frank dear," she addressed the man she held at wand point who Hermione realised was Neville's father, "isn't it nice of Neville's friends to join us? Perhaps he will come out and play now?"

Hermione quickly realised what was happening. Bellatrix was using Neville's father as collateral. A simple distraction was now not an option. Hermione steeled herself for the battle she now knew would ensue.

Despite the protean charm in his hand Draco could not relax. He knew now that, thanks to Hermione, he would not be trapped but he now worried for Hermione's safety. He kicked one of the kitchen chairs in frustration it shuddered on its rickety legs. She was putting herself in danger, he wanted to protect her but he could do nothing. He felt useless.

"Bella," Remus tried, seemingly in an attempt to negotiate with insane witch. It was a tactic, another means of distraction.

"Hello Mooney," she gave him a rictus grin, "long time no see. I thought someone would have put a mongrel like you down by now."

"Charming as always Bella," Remus responded.

Despite the abuse that Remus was receiving the distraction appeared to be working. Ron and Hermione slowly circled around Bellatrix attempting to outflank her but she was not as oblivious as she appeared.

Green light flooded Hermione's field of vision as she fell forward, propelled by the momentum of Ron's push. Something hot and wet splattered across Hermione's face as Bellatrix cackled like a demented crow.

Hermione urgently moved to free herself from beneath Ron's prone form. Only then did she smell the sickly metallic tang of blood. Around her curses flew as Remus and the others duelled with Bellatrix. Although Bellatrix was an accomplished duellist she was outnumbered and quickly retreated apparating away taking her hostage, Frank Longbottom with her.

"Are you hurt," Remus demanded.

"I'm fine," she called to him but Ron was not, "Ron needs help," she shouted, she could tell he was bleeding out an extensive wound dissected his torso.

"Ron, stay with us," she encouraged but he was no longer conscious, "Remus," she pleaded trying to apply as much pressure to the wound as she could. Her former professor got to work, trying to knit the wound together but it wouldn't hold. Whatever curse had been used its affects were prolonged.

"Remus," she pleaded again, "we're losing him." Lupin didn't waste time or energy on trying to calm her.

"Put pressure on the wound," he told her passing her a field dressing. Hermione clamped the dressing down on Ron's chest apply all the pressure she could. Blood oozed up on either side of the lint pad, the wound was too large, they couldn't stem the flow.

There was a flurry of movement from near the house. Neville appeared with a plethora of medical supplies.

Everything seemed to Hermione to move into slow motion. She was distantly aware of Ginny's screams.

"He's not breathing," she heard as Ginny yelled, frantic for her brother's life. Harry began muggle style CPR, attempting to breathe for his friend and keep his heart going. Neville moved to assist Lupin, knotting together the wound, but even two wands were not enough. It wasn't working.

As they worked frantically around her Hermione already knew it was too late. Ron's eyes were still, lifeless all that she saw in his eyes was her own ashen and bloodstained face reflected back.

Numb with shock she couldn't even rouse herself to say 'goodbye'.

The first thing that Draco took in as the first member of The Order reappeared in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place was blood. Hermione looked like she had bathed in it. Her face was ashen and she looked comatose with shock.

"Hermione," he rushed towards her assuming the worst, that she was injured. Nothing, she looked straight through him as if he were a shade, a spectre who didn't truly exist.

"Hermione," he tried again taking hold of her by her upper arms hoping physical contact might snap her out of it. Slowly her eyes focused, she looked him straight in the eye and pulled violently away. Draco, now confused and a little frightened by her behaviour, caught at her hand as she retreat from him. She snatched it away. "Hermione what is it? What happened?" he asked now beginning to panic.

The look she gave him destroyed any hope he had cherished of them being together.

"Don't touch me," she said with low menace, "don't you ever touch me again."

The venom in her voice was like a viper's strike-she might as well have ripped out his heart. She had killed him, killed any hope he might have had from the night before, any hope that someone could ever care for him. He stood their stunned, multiple "pops" of apparition echoed around him and his heart, that had swelled with hope only hours earlier, contracted back into a dry shrivelled thing.

Author's Note:

I know I've killed off a major character-again! Please, please, please review.