Phew~ Well here's the second chapter. Sorry it took so long it was the end of the school year and I was swamped. SO a note about the story, All the spells that are being used are spoken, every character is actually saying the spell. So even it it seems like its soundless its not. This is an important little detail, sorry if its not really written well. Please read and Review, any questions or concerns please PM me if you want. Enjoy~

Chapter 2: Third Mistake

I ran as fast as my damaged body could. The chilling laugh of the monster who carved my arm like a Christmas ham filled my head. Dashing past the last bit of people I saw them. Ginny and Luna dueling Bellatrix with all they had. They weren't winning though; Bellatrix was slowly over powering them. I swallowed heavily and pushed back the feelings of terror over whelming me. I had to help them; I had to make sure they lived, no matter what. Bolting forward I moved in between Ginny and Luna. Hoping to take Bellatrix my surprise I yelled "Bombarda Maxima". The spell hit the ground beneath Bellatrix viciously tearing it up sending her flying. The force of the spell sent me flying backward where I landed with a sickening thud.

"Bloody Hell, Hermione", Ginny shouted while running to my side, "While that was slightly insane, it was also brilliant!" I groaned in response. My back was going to be black and blue after this. Ginny helped me to my feet before looking back at were Luna was watching to see what happened to Bellatrix.

"Where is she Luna?" I asked walking back to her side with Ginny. Her bright blue eyes bore into mine as if checking to see if I was all right. She must have found her answer because she gave me a patent airy Lovegood smile.

"Oh she's still alive if that's what your mean. She'll be harder to kill then seeing a Nargle during the spring time." I blinked and gave her what I thought was a smile though I came out as more as a grimace. Before I could respond a shrill vomit inducing voice rang out.

"MUDBLOOD BITCH" Bellatrix raged. She walked in view and I almost smirked at what I saw. She was covered in bleeding wounds and her hair was singed all over. I made her look ten times as crazy as she was before. Her eyes were full of rage and killing intent. She was grinding her already rotting yellow teeth like two chain saws going at each other. The chilliest inducing sight was her magic. It rolled off her like a sick stench. It was so over flowing that you could see it. The black fog that seemed to surround her and the pitch black sparks jumping out at us like starving ticks. It surrounded us like a blanket that brought no good dreams of feelings of comfort or warmth, just nightmares and the feelings of despair. I could feel it soaking into my skin and into my blood stream. I could imagine bleeding black blood, slick, slow flowing blood that never stopped. I felt for the first time I really felt like I had dirty blood. Tainted, unnatural, wrong.

Magic was not supposed to feel this way. It was supposed to be this great thing that made cups turn to mice and make a feather float. It was supposed to give you the ability to soar through the skies on a broom, feeling the wind blow your hair, seeing the view of the world from a place not many see. Magic was made to be exactly just that, magic. This woman had taken something that was meant to be natural and turned it unnatural. She had left a residue of tainted magic on the world.

I closed my eyes drawing all the magic I had inside me to the surface. Snapping them open I looked to Ginny and Luna mentally telling them to prepare. Round two was about to begin but this one was going to be the hardest duel we've ever been in. I looked at Bellatrix who was preparing herself as well, like she knew this would not be that simple for her. I took a deep breath and raised my wand; from the corner of my eyes I could see Ginny and Luna doing the same.

A volley of colorful lights came next. If I wasn't so worried that I was going to die I would have called it a beautiful display of magic. What felt like minutes but was really only seconds we came to a pause in the battle. Bellatrix looked slightly winded from dueling all three at us at once. I glanced toward Ginny. She was breathing heavily. I could see the sweet drops running down her face, her unwavering face of determination and courage. Turning my head to Luna, I could see her chest moving faster and deeper then normally. Her normally serene face had hardened.

I swallowed hard. I could feel my heart speed up more than the already fast pace it was at. Looking at Luna always made my heart beat faster and my head to drag up memories that I never wanted to remember.

I shook my head; it wasn't the time or place to be thinking about Luna and the things she did to me. Bellatrix cackled "Is that all you have? I'm disappointed Mudblood. I thought you would entertain me more. You even have too filthy blood traitors helping you and yet you haven't hit me with one curse yet." She ended her rant with a snarl and a killing curse aimed at my head. I ducked and sent a Reducto at her. She skipped out of the way letting out a shrill laugh that sent shills up my bruised spine.

She's right; I'm not as strong as I usually am. The damage I had taken minutes before was taking its toll. The wound that Dolohov gave me was bleeding out every time I moved and the use of my magic battling her was taking away from the magic that was keeping my arm alive and capable. I wouldn't last much longer and she knew it.

Ginny and Luna moved in closed to me. I glanced at Ginny's eyes and could see worry and realization that I was more hurt then I let on when I came to her and Luna's aid. I knew I had to end this no matter what the cost. I would not let this monster walk away to end more lives. I would not let her hurt Ginny or Luna. Harry was alive, he would kill Voldemort and he would finally be free of the weight he's been carrying since he gain that scar. Ginny was his future happiness, she would live. Luna grasped my arm and I turned to her, seeing concern in her eyes I smiled. She let go of my right arm.

My eyes widened when I looked at my arm. My mind briefly went back to the room of requirement when we destroyed the diadem. I knew what I had to do. "Ginny, Luna I have a plan but I need you two to get back. As far as you can while still being able to see what's going on."As the words flew from my mouth I could tell they did not like leaving me. I made sure my eyes were full of confidence and that know-it-all gleam that they would listen to. I made sure that my face did not show the welcomed death that I was sure this plan would bring.

Luna tried to look into my eyes but I didn't let her, she sighed and breathed"Ok we have faith in you Hermione." Ginny nodded and they both slowly started to back up. Bellatrix glared but did not stop them. She grinned when she noticed my wand dropping to my side.

"Oh Is the Mudblood giving up? Has she finally realized that she can't do a thing to a pureblood witch?" Bellatrix giggled madly and clapped her hand together. My eyes narrowed in response. She was a crazy bitch, she did not deserve to be a witch, to know the wonderful feeling that magic gave you. Magic wasn't dark or evil nor was it light or good. It was like oxygen, breathing in and out. The feeling of being alive, of feeling magic flowing though your body, the feeling of your finger tips buzzing in anticipation, the feel of being, just for a moment connected to the world around you. Magic was meant to be just that, magic.

I smiled. I smiled and laughed a true joyful laugh. Bellatrix stared like I was the crazy one. I could hear Ginny say something, concerned with my laughter. If I was going to kill this crazy witch by giving my own life I was going to go down the way I wanted to. I smile on my face and happiness in my veins.

Bellatrix still looked unnerved with my laughter. I knew this was my moment, so I moved. Using all the strength I had left I bolted toward Bellatrix. Moving my wand toward my right I gathered all the magic I had left. Bellatrix had come to her senses and started to pelt me with curses. I kept moving closer to her.

Ginny was screaming my name, finally realizing that I had no intention of coming living through this.

Luna was quiet, but I could see her face contorted into horror in my mind.

Bellatrix was still throwing curses, a bit of panic showing through.

I was still smiling. Smiling for all the people I was protecting, smiling for those who had been wronged by the dark witch and most of all I was smiling for myself.

With all the magic I had I screamed the only spell that even Bellatrix could not stop.

"FIENDFYRE" Flames burst through my wand. I could feel the heat surround me, grasping for anything that contained coolness. I swung my arm toward Bellatrix who was looking on in horror. Flames had surrounded me; I could feel the heat. The flame had surrounded Bellatrix who was trying and failing to put them out with water.

She was screaming.

She was falling.

She was quiet. Unmoving.

I dropped my wand. Her wand. The wand Harry had taken from the Manor.

The flames stopped flowing through it.

The flames engulfed me.

Ginny and Luna screaming.

Darkness.

As I slipped from the clutches of conciseness the image of blue not orange and red flames danced before my eyes.