"Stupefy!" Fred yelled above the roars of the people around him. It didn't take a genius to recognize a setup when he saw one. The moment all the Order members had arrived at the designated coordinates, about fifty or more hooded figures had attacked with Killing Curses immediately. There was no telling what would happen as the night wore on. They were, after all, in a Muggle neighborhood tossing curses and jinxes back and forth. Dueling 'til death.

The hoods of the Death Eaters had fallen off within minutes, revealing the fact that over half of the crowd had escaped from Azkaban. Many were decently young; mere teenagers. Fred dodged an in-coming hex, throwing another stunner at the man. All around him, people were in combat. While concentrating on bringing down the sneering, pale man in front of him, Fred didn't hear the shouting of the Cruciatus Curse at the back of him until it had already stuck.

The pain of a thousand blades engulfed him instantaneously. His internal organs felt as if they were shriveling up, his bones pulsing against the confines of his skin. It was unbearable and he barely realized he was crying out in agony. Somewhere in the back of his mind he could recognize the baleful sniggering of the men who were torturing him. Then, there was a flash of green light from the corner of his eyes. He didn't realize it was not directed at him until his convulsing body was released from whatever hold the curse had previously had upon it.

"Sectumsempra," a steady, feminine voice erupted from somewhere to his side. His eyes flew open as he attempted to bring himself back to his feet before any other spells could be cast in his direction. Also, he tried to find the woman who'd helped him. His blurred vision wasn't making the task much easier.

"Crucio!" Fred recognized that voice as the man who he'd been dueling previous to being attacked.

Quickly after the curse was sent, the woman shouted, "Protego!" Shielding herself from the assault, she then followed the spell by, "Expelliarmus!"

Now, Fred's senses had returned to normal standard. His eyesight and hearing were no longer bleary. He sprung himself to his feet, pausing only for a moment in order to steady himself on his unstable legs. Fred glanced around the ground hastily for his wand, finally locating it. It was laying in a patch of heightened grass. He resisted his internal celebration and spun to help the woman. What he saw had his breath coming in rapidly.

The cruel attacker had been effectively disarmed and was now lying on the ground having had been stunned. That, however, wasn't what had him gaping as his heart raced. It was the woman who stood before him that caused that reaction. Her curly, coffee brown hair, dazzling brown eyes and flawless smile of relief while taking in his appearance was what had him striding hurriedly forward. Nothing else mattered at that moment. Not the battle raging around them or the shouts of other Order members.

"Hermione," he breathed out before closing the remaining distance, wrapping his arms around her waist and crushing his lips to hers in a fierce kiss. His hand slid around to the small of her back, pressing her further into his embrace. He couldn't help but smile slightly against her lips before pulling away after a few long moments.

Hermione grinned broadly at the man in front of her. She and Charlie instantly had been separated upon arrival in the midst of a blood-thirsty fight. It had been simply by luck that she'd been able to spot Fred. She had immediately started sprinting through the dueling pairs and towards him. That was when he'd been hit while his back was turned; which, only infuriated her more. Bloody cowards who struck when the enemy wasn't looking. She'd only stunned one of the duo before the other had aimed a Killing Curse her way. She'd been able to dodge it, thankfully. That all led up to this delightful moment. Where she was finally back in the arms of the man she'd been dreaming of for days. "Fred," she whispered.

"I love you so much," he said hurriedly, only now realizing that this might not be the proper time or place for the joyful reunion that he'd very much like to have.

"I love you, too," she smiled brightly in return, "Charlie's safe, as well. Or shall I say, he's as safe as one can be during such a situation as this one."

Fred grinned a tad, before pulling her with him behind a nearby tree. "You shouldn't be here, baby," he said, running a hand affectionately across her rosy cheek. "How did you get here, anyway?"

"We escaped the dungeon -where we were being held- following a bit of a mishap." She shook her head when he raised a curious eyebrow. Now was most definitely not the time for that particular tale, "On the way out, we were told -by a certain rat- that you all were being set up. Molly said you all had already left, when we apparated to headquarters to drop off James. We had to come to help."

"You should find Remus, then," said Fred, "The plan was to find out where you and Charlie were being detained and then send a team to the location. He should probably know that you are both here. Saves us a little work."

"True," she agreed, "He probably has already seen Charlie, though. Therefore, I should just help with the battle."

"Well-"Fred began to object but immediately stopped, in order to shove Hermione away from the tree with him as a curse was flung in their direction. "Shit," he exclaimed. He hit the ground and recovered his wits after a few moments of fogginess. Glancing around him, he cursed again. Hermione was already gone, probably back into the battle. He spun himself around to face his next duel.

Hermione shot consecutive stunners as she dodged her way through the edge of the fighting. She was trying to find the man who she'd always considered a father. She had to ensure herself that he was safe. The plus side to this was that she was also following Fred's wishes by doing so. "Furnunculus!" she hexed, causing a Death Eater to groan out in agony as his body burst out with boils. Hermione couldn't help but chuckle mid-run as Charlie spun to her and tipped an imaginary hat in thanks.

It was then that she spotted him. A brief moment of relief flooded through her entire being. He wasn't engaged in duel at that exact moment. Remus appeared to be hastily debating something over with Kingsley, instead. His gaze didn't waver from the Auror in front of him, even as she got closer. Kingsley, however, did see her. It seemed he was trying to get the werewolf to turn around and look, "Don't try and distract me," Hermione heard Remus groan.

"Yes, he's a very stubborn man, Kings. It'd only do to frustrate yourself," Hermione said loudly from her place, three feet behind Remus' back.

Remus pivoted around to stare at her in surprise. His amber eyes widened as he took in her presence, "Hermione!"

"Hey, Remy," she grinned in happiness, despite the danger that still surrounded them, "Miss me?"

The werewolf swooped her up into a quick, bone-crushing embrace that could rival Molly Weasley's. "More than you can possibly know, Darling," he pressed a few loving kisses to her forehead.

"Fred told me the plan. He figured you should know that Charlie and I are fine. That way you didn't go looking for people who were right under your nose."

Kingsley nodded, "I thought I saw Charlie a few moments ago. Thought I was goin' mad." Hermione beamed at the tall, dark, burly man. His deep, reverberating voice seemed to sooth her.

Remus moved Hermione out of the way as a hex came soaring past, "We'd better not dawdle in one place for too long," he said.

Hermione concurred. "We shou-"

A shrill scream broke her off mid-sentence. Remus, Kingsley and Hermione, all turned in the direction of the noise. There seemed to be a commotion a few yards away. Nearing the crowd at a run, Hermione found the cause for the astonished shrieks. Isaac Dawson was standing in the middle of a circle of Order members, a dozen or so Death Eaters remained by his side. There was a woman dead at his feet. The owner of the scream. Hermione didn't recognize the blond, but she appeared to be an Order member. Therefore, Hermione was saddened and fuming. This was the end. The final threat that would have to be eliminated in order to take her son's future out of the darkness. People parted to let the Remus and Kingsley through. Letting her get a better look at the murderer.

"Ms. Granger," Isaac hissed, smirking in her direction. She vaguely wondered how the bloody hell he'd been able to find her with such ease. "Pleasure to regain your company."

His voice had a similar effect as all the other times it was directed at her. She shivered almost indecipherable, the hair on the back of her neck stood on ends. She didn't like the flash that his eyes held. Also, Jayden stood by his side, leering. Remus settled a comforting hand upon her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "You have no more men to hide behind, Hunter. Not when comparing to ours. This is the end," said Remus.

"I do not think so," Isaac chuckled darkly, "What do you think, Ms. Granger?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. "What was that, Angel?" Jayden said, his tone giving off a bit of his amusement. Confusion crossed the faces of those around her. No one knew this man.

Another shiver racked her spine. Hermione couldn't bring herself to say anything, her confidence was wavering at the sneers of the duo before her. Then, an arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her backwards into a hard body. Fred. "Ah! What a wonderful coincidence. It just so happens, I was seconds away from asking where your other whore was, Ms. Granger. He does have something I would very much desire to lay hands on. Such a necklace as that would do me wonders," Isaac explained, his pale face a mask of arrogant significance.

"I wonder how she chose which lover to give such a treasured belonging to," Jayden wondered aloud, looking at Isaac with a smirk, "Angel did seem rather cosy with the other Weasel, earlier."

Hermione felt Fred stiffen as she leaned back against his chest, "Liar," she hissed, "Who do you think you are fooling?"

"I don't know, Angel. However, your boyfriend seems to be rather swayed by our words."

"I don't mean to bring this pleasurable encounter to a close, especially since so many have gathered 'round...However, I will be acquiring that pendant, Ms. Granger," Isaac said, holding out his palm as if she'd actually hand it over as simple as that.

"What's it to you?" Fred asked coldly, "I hardly think it'd go with your eyes."

"You'd do well to keep your mouth shut, Weasel," Isaac glared, "I will be getting the pendant. Your girlfriend may be the so called, 'brightest witch of the age,' but she is rather dim at times. She didn't realize who was listening in on the conversation, when she explained to her other Weasel all about that very fascinating piece of jewelry."

Hermione paled at the words. He was absolutely right. She had just went and ranted to Charlie all about the pendant, not even pausing to think about the consequence. "You'll not be laying your slimy paws on it, Mr. Dawson. You're outnumbered, can't you see? You'd be dead before your wand was leveled properly."

"You see," Isaac said, "That's where your wrong. Because, the moment someone casts so much as a Jelly-Leg Hex at me, my good friends will have already beheaded them."

"Leave them out of this you foul bastard," Hermione growled, "This is between us."

"No," said Jayden, "I'm pretty sure that Ginger over here is the one wearing the charm."

Fred moved to step forward, but Hermione placed herself in front of him, "I'll kill you if you harm him."

"Feisty," Isaac laughed. "Very well...Sectumsempra!" His shout echoed around them. The moment he had uttered the curse, his remaining Death Eaters shouted their own at the crowd.

"Protego!" Hermione yelled back.

Isaac was glowering at her, "You can't beat me. Your power is useless against mine, no matter how strong you think you are."

"You're wrong."

"Am I? I don't think so." They were circling each other, now. His lips twitched with another smirk, "I only wish for your power...to add to mine. Separately, you're just another insignificant bitch."

"Expelliarmus!" she yelled, Isaac dodged it expertly. All around her, the remaining Death Eaters -despite their leader's confidence- were falling. Isaac didn't even spare a glance in their direction. His cold demeanor had no room for concern over anyone but himself.

She tried to keep her thoughts and gaze on only him and the in-coming danger; yet, Hermione didn't expect the shock that hit her when out of the corner of her eyes she saw Jayden get hit by a severing Charm. It was extremely forceful and had been sent by a fuming Harry Potter. Her heart was pounding painfully as her ex-love collapsed into his death. She would of never thought that she'd feel this kind of pity over his demise after everything he'd done. But, she did. She pitied him for becoming what he had. Idiotically, her attention was on that and nothing else.

This was why she wasn't fully aware of Isaac's chilled decision. He would kill her to end his frustration. If he couldn't have her power and intellect, no one could. Her mind didn't process the green jet of light hurtling towards her until the moment where there was no stopping her fate. She gasped and shut her eyes, waiting for the sensation of death. Did it hurt to be killed by this particular curse? Had James and Lily felt a dreadful amount of pain, or had they simply faded as if into a deep slumber? Everything around her was silent...Not one single sound registering. Her soul was simply waiting for her end.

Instead of the drifting sensation she had began to think would occur, she unexpectedly felt a sharp jolt to the side of her body. It had her falling to the ground with a heavy weight pressing into her from above. She kept her eyes shut for a few moments, not knowing what to expect when she opened them. Was that her imagination? Had she really been hit by the Killing Curse and was about to open her eyelids to a white chamber and the gates of Heaven?

No. She wished with her entire heart that the fate of her imagination had come. Anything, in the stead of what really awaited her eyes upon their opening. Unseeing, blue eyes stared into her brown ones. Her brain didn't register what had occurred until the ache of her body under the weight of whoever was on top of her, stirred her from a haze. Then, she screamed. Screamed with a sadness that she'd never before beared witness to. The green undertone of the azure orbs which gazed back at her, was gone. Nothing. Lifeless.

"No!" she cried, nudging the body gently off of hers so that she could kneel at his side, "No, God no!" Nothing mattered at that moment. She would of willingly stepped in front of the pain of a thousand blades if it meant that she could reverse time for a few minutes. "NO!" her pleas of agony and sorrow filled the air around her. She didn't know if anyone else was watching and she didn't care. "Fred!"

He had sacrificed his life for hers. He had jumped in front of the Killing Curse to save her. Now, she felt as if her heart had been ripped out. She didn't understand how this had happened. Her vision was blurred as she leaned over his tall body, resting each of her hands on one side of his face, "Fred, please. God, no!" Her tears obscured her vision, dropping from her cheeks to his. She didn't know how long she sat there, basking in the undescribable pain of losing the man that she was in love with in so many ways.

Two powerful arms encircled her body, heaving her from the ground, "We have to get you out of here," he said, his voice was thick with a similar sadness.

"No!" Hermione kicked against the restraints of his strength, "Fred!"

"Take her home," Charlie demanded to an unseen man at their side. His arms only tightened further around Hermione's waist as she continued to whimper and struggle. Attempting to get back to her love, "She can't stay here-."

The rest of the conversation was lost to her. Cries and tears oozed from her body until her eyes were dry and her throat was sore. Her mind didn't even bother to think of the locations of Isaac, The Hunter. Her world collapsed around her. The only sensation she was aware of was Charlie releasing her from his arms and into another's. Hermione didn't know who's. She faded to darkness as the pressure of apparation wore her in.