Sorry for such a long time between the two chapters! So much has been going on! Hope every one had a Happy Christmas and I'm THRILLED that I got this up BEFORE 2011! Haha!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING...but Hermione's thoughts that I've made up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-LovelyAlice831-

Time seemed to freeze. I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't believe it. Fred…was gone. Forever. Something wasn't right. My mind…it was playing tricks, right? Right? Because there was no way Fred could be –

Someone screaming as they fell past the gaping hole brought me back to earth.

"Get down!" Harry shouted as curses flew past us. I felt two pairs of hands on me, pulling me to the floor. I looked up and saw Percy still lying across Fred's body, almost as if he were shielding it.

"Percy, come one, we've got to move!" Harry shouted at him, but he just shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "Percy!"

I looked at Ron when I heard a choked sob as he reached for his older brother. Tears stained his cheeks as he tried to pull Percy off of Fred, but Percy clung tight.

I wanted to sob, to let me knees that were shaking horribly to collapse and never get up again. I was suddenly tired, exhausted, as if the past eight months were coming back to me full force.

"Percy, you can't do anything for him! We're going to –"

The whole time Harry was shouting at Percy, something climbing into the hole in the wall caught my eye. It's large, hairy leg poked through and I screamed loudly.

Harry broke off and all eyes turned to the hole.

Aragog's family had joined the fight.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ron and Harry both lift their wands and shout, their spells colliding with the spider, throwing it backwards into the night.

"It brought friends!" Harry cried to us as he glanced over the castle.

I watched as curse after curse was thrown through the night, hitting nothing, hitting people, and hitting the castle.

Looking out at the Forbidden Forest, I saw great masses of spiders not only gratefully leaving the forest to fight. And most of them were climbing up the castle walls. I stumbled away from the wall as Harry blasted one with a spell, making it fall from the wall, colliding into its fellows as it fell.

Suddenly, more curses were flying up at us that Harry had to duck for fear of getting struck.

"Let's move, NOW!"

Harry pushed me ahead of him, Ron following close behind me. I turned to look back and saw Harry grabbing under Fred's arm. It took Percy a moment to realize what Harry was doing, but he was soon helping Harry hide him. And then they were running with us. And then we stopped. The end of the hall, through the dust, were many people running backwards. Percy shoved me aside as he yelled, "ROOKWOOD!"

He ran after him, pursing he man who was chasing students.

"Harry, in here!" I shouted as I spotted a tapestry that was really covering a secret passageway.

I pulled Ron into the passageway, but he fought against me. I tried to keep hold of him while his face contorted with rage, struggling against me.

"Listen to me – LISTEN, RON!"

"I wanna help – I wanna kill Death Eaters – "

His face was nothing but rage and grief as he fought against me. I wanted to let him go. I wanted to fight with him, to avenge Fred. But not now! We needed to find that blasted snake!

"Ron, we're the only ones who can end this! Please – Ron – we need the snake, we've got to kill the snake!" I screamed.

He continued to fight, ignoring me, as he kept struggling. I saw Harry's face and knew he wanted what Ron and I both wanted: to kill. And then his face changed, fear taking over his enraged features. I knew what he was thinking of: Ginny.

"We will fight!" I told Ron as he kept resisting. "We'll have to, to reach the snake! But let's not lose sight now of what we're supposed to be d-doing! We're the only ones who can end it!"

The tears were flowing freely now and I had to wipe my face on my singed sleeve as I took deep, calming breaths, still keeping a tight hold of Ron.

I turned to Harry and said, "You need to find out where Voldemort is, Harry, because he'll have the snake with him, won't he? Do it Harry – look inside him!"

I don't where the idea came from, but somehow I knew that now was the time for Harry to look, to see inside his mind. They must be so very connected right now, what with the fight going on, both so close to each other. I shuddered as Harry closed his eyes.

What seemed like hours later, Harry let out a gasp, his eyes wrenching open.

"He's in the Shrieking Shack! The snake's with him, it's got some sort of magical protection around it. He's just send Lucius Malfoy to find Snape."

I stared at Harry in disbelief. Really? He was just…sitting there? He wasn't even fight? I voiced this to Harry, who shook his head angrily.

"He doesn't think he needs to fight," Harry said. "He thinks I'm just going to go to him!"

"But…why?"

"He knows I'm after the Horcruxes and he's keeping Nagini close to him – obviously, I'm going to have to go to him to get near the bloody thing – "

"Right," Ron said as he squared his shoulders. "So you can't go, that's what he wants, right? He's expecting it. So you stay here, look after Hermione, and I'll go and get it – "

"You two stay here, I'll go under the Cloak and I'll be back as soon as I can," Harry said, cutting off Ron, but I cut off Harry.

"No," I said, determined, "it makes much more sense if I take the Cloak and – "

"Don't' even think about it," Ron snarled at me. I shot him a look and said, "Ron, I'm just as capable - "

Suddenly, the tapestry that we were standing behind was ripped open.

"POTTER!"

Two masked Death Eaters stood there, but just as they raised their wands, I shouted, "Glisseo!"

The stairs beneath our feet turned into a slide and we all hurtled down it, unable to control the speed, but we were soon out of reach of the Stunning Spells the Death Eaters were shooting at us.

We shot through the other tapestry at the bottom, and as we spun to a stop, I turned and shouted, "Duro!" at the tapestry, turning it to stone. Loud sickening crunches came out from behind it as the Death Eaters hit the stone.

"Get back!" Ron shouted. We all dived to a door, flattening ourselves against it as a herd of galloping desk past, herded by a sprinting Professor McGonagall. Her hair had come down and there were several gashes on her face. She turned the corner and shouted, "CHARGE!"

"Harry, you can get the Cloak on," I said, thinking ahead. Maybe, if we can get Harry out of here, no one will really care much about Ron and I. after all, it's only Harry they want. "Never mind us –"

But then he threw it over all of us. But we were all so big now that our feet showed, but I doubted anyone would notice.

We ran down the stair case and found ourselves surrouned by duelers. As I watched, I saw Dean win a wand from Dolohov and it looked like Parvati was fighting Travers. As one, we raised our wands, reading to strike if we needed to, but the duelers were moving around so much that there was a very good chance they were going to end up hurting one of their own.

Over us, we heard someone cackling. Looking up, I saw Peeves zooming over us, dropping Snargaluff pods down onto the Death Eaters, whose heads were suddenly covered in slime.

"Argh!"

A fistful of tubers had hit the Cloak over Ron's head; the slimy green roots were suspended in air as Ron tried to shake them loose.

I shot a fearful look at the Death Eaters as one shouted, "Someone's invisible!"

I saw Dean make the most of the distracted Death Eater, knocking out a Death Eater with a Stunning Spell. Dolohov tried to retaliate, but Parvati got him with a Body-Bind Curse.

"LET'S GO!" Harry shouted at us. We gathered the Cloak tighter around us and ran through the fighters, towards the top of the marble staircase that led into the entrance hall.

"I'm Draco Malfoy! I'm Draco! I'm on your side!"

Malfoy was standing on the upper landing, pleading with the Death Eaters. Harry Stunned the Death Eater as we shot pasted. Malfoy looked around to see who had saved him, his face grateful, as Ron punched him hard.

"And that's the second time we've your ass, you two-faced bastard!" Ron yelled.

Duelers were everywhere. Looking over, I saw that a Death Eater was dueling Kingsley, who was holding his own, while students were all around, dragging injured friends away.3

I heard Harry shout a Stunning Spell but something else caught my eye.

Above us, two people were wrestling. They toppled over the banister and landed in front of us. A gray blur that looked like some disfigured animal ran on all fours to the other one who had fallen.

I knew who that was. Both of them!

"NO!" I shrieked, blasting Fenrir Greyback back off of Lavender, sending him flying through the air and hitting the marble banisters, breaking them. He struggled to his feet but a large orb cracked over his head and crumpled to his feet and didn't move.

"I have more!" Professor Trelawney shrieked from overhead. "More for any who want them!"
She threw another and used her wand to direct it so it would smash through a window, striking another Death eater. At the same time, the entrance doors flew open to massive spiders who had forced their way in.

Screams of terror rent through the air as fighters scattered. Red and green jets flew into the oncoming monsters, who shuddered and reared, more horrifying than ever.

"How do we get out?" Ron yelled over the screaming, but before either Harry or I could answer, were shoved aside by a pink umbrella carrying Hagrid, who brandished it through the air, screaming that no one hurt them.

Even through all the fighting and screaming, I couldn't resist the urge to roll my eyes. Trust Hagrid to think of the monsters before the fighting.

But Harry screamed at Hagrid as he vanished amongst the spiders.

"HAGRID!"

Harry sprinted out from under the Cloak and neither Ron or I had a chance to grab him.

We ran after Harry, calling after him, desperate to get him back under the Cloak.

Finally, we caught up to Harry and tossed the Cloak over him as we watched Hagrid get carried away by the acromantula.

I looked around at the devastation that was Hogwarts and shrieked as a giant tried to seize people from windows above.

So they did get giants on their side, I though sadly. But I had to do something! I couldn't let him take people!

I raised my arm, but Ron caught it, yelling, "Don't! Stun him and he'll crush half the castle!"

"HAGGER?"

We spun just as Grawp lurched around a corner of the castle, calling out for his brother. I could finally see why Hagrid called Grawp a runt. Compared to the massive giant trying to seize people, Grawp was tiny. They both spotted each other and suddenly, they lunged, catching each other in a fight, crushing the steps beneath them.

"RUN!" Harry shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me down the steps, Ron close behind.

We had to get to Nagini! We had to! It was all that mattered! All that –

The air froze and breathing became near impossible.

Shadowy shapes floated through the darkness, their breath rattling eerily, their faces hooded, toward the castle.

I could tell Harry was close to falling, to not making it. I stood closer to him as did Ron. Together, we raised our wands and shouted, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Silvery wisps shot out of our wands, but they faded quickly.

"Come on, Harry!" I said, trying to encourage him to get his Patronus. "Patronuses, Harry, come on!"

I watched as he raised his wand, but I could tell he thought it was pointless. I began to agree.

No! We mustn't fail! Happy thoughts, Hermione, happy thoughts!

Ron….

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

An otter shot out, taking the Dementors head on, Ron's terrier following.

"HARRY, COME ON!" I screamed as we began to be surrounded by hundreds of Dementors. My otter faded and so did Ron's. Harry's wand shook and dropped. He wasn't able to do the Patronus, I realized, terrified.

Suddenly, a silver hare, boar, and fox soared past, straight at the Dementors. They fell back as the Patronuses drew near. Three more people stood at our sides: Luna, Seamus, and Ernie.

"That's right," Luna encouraged us soothingly. "That's right, Harry…come on, think of something happy…."

"Something happy?" Harry asked, his voice cracking.

I shook my head. Something happy. Come on, Hermione! Think! What makes you happy?

Flashes of Ron laughing floated to my mind. The Burrow. Christmas at Grimmauld Place. Dancing with Harry in the tent. Ron….

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I shouted at the same time as Harry and Ron. Together, our Patronuses charged forward, making the Dementors scatter.

"Can't thank you enough," Ron said shakily as the Dementors cleared off. "You've just saved – "

With a roar, another giant charged through, brandishing a club.

"RUN!" Harry shouted again, but we didn't need telling. We scattered just as the giants foot fell right where we had been standing.

The others had vanished, it was just Ron, Harry, and me as we raced away from the giant.

"We have to get out of range!" Ron yelled as the giante brandished the club once more.

"The Whomping Willow!" Harry said, "go!"

We sprinted towards the enchanted tree, dodging the whipping branches as it guarded the entrance to the Shrieking Shack.

We slowed down, but I couldn't breathe. I hadn't realized we had ran so far and so fast. I doubled over, trying to catch my breath.

"How – how're we going to get in?" Ron panted. "I can – see the place – if we just had – Crookshanks again –"

I huffed angrily, retorting the words he said to me when we fought the Devil's Snare: "Are you a wizard or what?"

"Oh yeah…"

Ron looked around, spotted a twig and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
the twig flew up and shot right at the knot that froze the tree.

"Perfect," I panted, still clutching my side.

"Wait."

I looked at Harry and it looked like he was unsure. About what? What was there to be unsure about? The snake was inside! And we have to kill the snake!

But Ron seemed to understand.

"Harry, we're coming with you, just go!" he said, pushing Harry forward.

We wriggled into the passage and crawled slowly forward until we saw the hole where it led into the Shack.

"The Cloak!" I whispered, suddenly remembering. "Put the Cloak on!"

Harry pulled the Cloak on and we waited.

Voices came from directly overhead, muffled slightly because the hole had just been covered by an old crate.

I watched as Harry edged, flat against the wall, to see into the room.

"…my Lord, their resistance is crumbling – "

" – and yet it is doing so without your help," came an icy voice. I shuddered. I had never heard Voldemort when he was so close. "Skilled wizard though you may be, Severus, I do not think you will make much difference now. We are almost there…almost."

"Let me find the boy. Let me bring you Potter. I know I can find him, my Lord. Please."

Footsteps sounded overhead and Harry drew back. More footsteps and Voldemort spoke again.

"I have a problem, Severus," he said softly.
"My Lord?" Snape asked.

"Why doesn't my wand work for me, Severus?"

What was he talking about? It was his wand. Shouldn't it work….and then I remembered: Voldemort had the Elder Wand!

"My – my Lord?" Snape asked, sounding completely confused. "I don't understand. You have performed marvelous magic with that wand."

"No," Voldemort said. "I have performed my usual magic. I am already extraordinary, but this wand…no. it has not revealed to me its secrets, its wanders it has promised. I feel no difference between this wand and the wand I procured from Ollivander all those years ago."

"No difference," Voldemort repeated a few moments later.

There was silence from above and I knew Snape was in danger. It sounded as though Voldemort was moving around slowly, thoughtfully.

"I have thought long and heard, Severus…Do you know why I have called you from the battle?"

"No, my Lord, but I beg you let me return. Let me find Potter! I can –"

"You sound like Lucius," Voldemort purred. "Neither understand Potter like I do. He does not need finding. Before the night is over, Potter will come to me. I know his weaknesses, his one great flaw. He will hate watching the others struck down around him, knowing it was for him. He will want to stop it at any cost. He will come."

"But my Lord, he might be killed accidentally," Snape said, "by someone other than yourself."

"My instructions were clear. Capture Potter. Kill his friends – the more, the better – but do not kill him.

"But it is you that I wished to speak with, Severus, not Harry Potter." He spat the last words and then continued. "You have been very valuable to me. Very valuable."

"My Lord knows I seek only to serve him. But – let me go and find the boy, my Lord. Let me bring him to you. I know I can –"

"I have told you, no!" Voldemort shrieked. I shrunk father back, terrified. If he finds us, we're nothing but dead. "My concern at the moment is what will happen when I finally meet the boy!"

"My Lord, there can be no question, surely -?"

" - but there is a question, Severus. There is."

The footsteps overhead stopped and Harry edged closer.

Not so close, Harry. Not to close….
Why did both the wands I have used fail when directed at Harry Potter?"

"I cannot answer that, my Lord."

"Can't you?"

I saw Harry rub his forehead fiercely, his face contorted in rage and pain.

"My wand of yew did everything of which I asked it, except kill Harry Potter. Twice it failed. Ollivander told me under torture of the twin cores and told me to take another's wand. I did so, but Lucius's wand shattered upon meeting Potter's."

"I have no explanation, my Lord."

"I sought a third wand. The Elder Wand. I took it from its former master, from the grave of Albus Dumbledore."

"My Lord – "

"All night, I have sat here," Voldemort continued, "wondering why the Elder Wand refuses to work for me, why it refuses to work for its rightful owner…and I think have the answer."

Silence.

"The wand cannot work for me, Severus, because I am not the rightful owner. The Elder Wand belongs to the man who killed its last owner. You killed Albus Dumbledore. While you live, I cannot be the owner. It cannot truly be mine."

"My Lord!" Snape cried.

A thud resounded overhead and terror coursed through me as I heard a strangled hiss.

A terrible scream rent the air followed by several thuds and crashes.

"I regret it," I heard Voldemort say coldly over the struggles.

Footsteps overhead and then they faded.

"Harry!" I breathed as Harry released his knuckles he had been biting on for the last minute. He raised his wand and moved the crate that blocked the way. He crawled through the hole and Ron and I followed after exchanging glances of terror.

Pulling myself into the Shack, I saw Harry bent of Snape with Snape's fist clutching at Harry's jacket. A silvery substance was leaking out of him, from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

A horrible rasping, gurgling noise came from Snape's throat.

"Take…it….Take…it…."

Without thinking, I conjured a flask and thrust it into to Harry's shaking hands. Harry captured the memories and filled it to the brim.

Tears pricked my eyes as I watched the hatred ebb from both men.

"Look…at…me….

Also, sorry this is really long! But read...review...all that jazz!

-LovelyAlice831-