DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, AND I AM NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.

Warning: Strong language in Authors Note.

Chapter 10

'Room of Requirement,' said Harry, and he sprinted to the door, wrenching it open and tearing down the spiral staircase. Hermione, Ron and Luna followed after him, doing their very best to keep up with his rapid pace.

'Harry! How can you be sure?' called Hermione from behind him.

He could hear his friends' ragged breathing as they descended the stairs and they reached the corridor.

'It's like Helena said, if you need to ask, you'll never know,' he shouted back, pushing his way past students still wearing their pyjamas. Voldemort had only spoken a few minutes ago, but it seemed that most of the school was now awake. Hermione had caught up with Harry, and grabbed his arm. He was forced to slow down, but moved swiftly through the corridor.

'I hid my potions book in the Room last year,when Snape was after it. I wanted to be able to find it again, so I put it near this bust, and I put a wig and a tiara on it. That battered old tiara was the Diadem; I'm sure of it. It was right there, I touched it, but I didn't know about Horcruxes. If I had, there would only be one left,' he said to Hermione as they continued up more staircases trying to get to the Room of Requirement, pushing their way through the students. Ron and Luna were barely keeping up.

'Harry it's not your fault. Everyone's in danger because Voldemort's alive,' said Hermione.

Once they were clear of the students Harry started to run again; Hermione breaking effortlessly into a matching pace alongside him. They encountered more students throughout the castle, but ignored their confused looks and impulsive questions as they saw Harry Potter and Hermione Granger tearing past them. Ron and Luna were falling further and further behind from the sprinting couple.

Harry and Hermione skidded to a halt as they reached the Room of Requirement. The door was vanishing before their eyes, and several people were rushing away from the Room, about to turn the corner into a hallway.

'Ginny!' Harry shouted at the mane of red hair that was about to disappear around the corner. Ginny stopped running and turned around. She saw Harry and Hermione, and hurried back to them. 'Ginny, I need to know, is anyone's in the Room?'

'No, everyone left when You-Know-Who was talking. Everyone that you saw in the Room of Requirement when you came back are fighting. The rest of my family are here too. Except Charlie, he hasn't had time to get here. Even Percy has come back. He was raving about how he's realised that the Ministry is corrupt. Remus, Tonks, Kingsley and Aberforth came too,' she said.

'Okay thanks Ginny,' she turned to leave but Harry grabbed her arm, 'We need to talk later.'

Ginny looked between Harry and Hermione and nodded. Harry was fairly sure she had seen that they were holding hands, but he wanted to make sure she knew that he had a girlfriend now. Just as he let go of her arm, Ron and Luna appeared, red-faced, panting and sweating.

'Gin- Ginny,' gasped Ron, bent double, his hands on his knees. 'What're you doing out of the Room?'

'I'm fighting, like everyone else Ron. Come on, Mum wants to see you,' said Ginny as she started to run away.

'Great, more running,' mumbled Ron as he and Luna jogged after Ginny.

Harry and Hermione were left alone in the hall. Looking at one another, Harry could see the longing in Hermione's eyes – longing that was echoed in his own. They were desperate to have contact with one another, as they hadn't gone so long without kissing since they had been together. As they drew near each other, set to remedy that, Voldemort's voice rung out again.

'It has been ten minutes Harry Potter, yet you are not here. I want you to know that everyone that now dies, died because of your cowardice.'

And Harry and Hermione moved towards each other. Her left hand rose to touch his cheek, his arms wrapping around her body. Their lips met, and the kiss was desperate and full of longing and fear. Neither wanting to lose the other to the cold grasp of death. For fifteen seconds they embraced and kissed, until the whole castle shook and there was a almighty bang.

They sprang apart and looked at each other, then Harry closed his eyes, held Hermione's hand tightly, and began to chant in his head.

'I need a place to hide my book. I need a place to hide my book. I need a place to hide my book.'

Harry opened his eyes and was met by the familiar door to the Room of Requirement. He looked at Hermione and then pushed open the grand wooden doors. Harry immediately recognised the mountains of discarded possessions and the paths that they created. As they advanced deeper into the Room of Hidden Things, the doors banged shut behind them.

Hermione was startled by the sound and jumped into Harry. He caught her, and held her close as he looked around, trying to remember where he had actually hidden his book.

'Can you remember where you hid it?'

'Er, no.' said Harry. Hermione looked worried.

'Do you know where we should start?'

Harry looked wildly around.

'I think it was over here,' said Harry, although he was still unsure. Hermione picked up on this, but she followed him anyway as he lead her down a path made up everything from old tables and chairs, to cages and gramophones. They rushed through the debris for a long time, Harry not recognising anything along the way.

Eventually both of them got too tired to do anymore running and they collapsed on a couple of chairs.

'Harry, we need to find, the Diadem,' Hermione said breathlessly.

'I know Hermione!' snapped Harry. She glared at him. 'I'm sorry, Mione. It's just that it's so annoying that I can't remember where I hid the book.'

Hermione's face softened and she put a hand on Harry's knee.

'I know. Okay, you need to calm down and- Harry!' Harry had doubled over in pain, his hand jumping to his scar. 'What's wrong? Is it Voldemort? Are you in his mind?' asked Hermione, her voice frantic.

Harry was standing at the edge of Hogsmeade. He looked up at Hogwarts, and saw one of the roofs being blown off of the tower it belongs to. His giants were wreaking havoc on the ancient castle. He turned his head to look at some of his Death Eaters that had not been sent into battle yet. The blond head of Draco Malfoy sticking out in the swathe of black.

'Enter the castle, my loyal followers. Go, destroy them, have no mercy,' he said, and when Draco didn't move apart from the jostling he received because of the Death Eaters rushing to meet their masters demands, he beckoned him to him. Draco moved slowly and rigidly towards the master he reluctantly served. When Draco was directly in front of him, he said, 'Now, Draco, if you don't enter the castle, and do what I ask, I will kill you. That is not an empty threat, you know that, you saw what I did to the Minister. I have a special task for you, Draco. I want you, to enter the castle, and find me Harry Potter. If anyone gets in your way, I expect you to kill them. Find Potter, when you do touch your mark, call me, and I will be there to finish him. Now, GO!' Harry bellowed.

Draco turned and ran towards the castle, scared for his life. Harry looked down at his wand, he saw his spidery hand holding the thin yew wand, and wondered if it would serve him well when it came to killing the boy. He felt his snake on his foot and looked down.

'Ah, Nagini. You will feast when we enter the castle, do not despair.'

Harry was back in the Room of Requirement. Hermione was kneeling on the floor and had a tight hold of his hands.

'Harry, baby? Are you back?' Harry shook his head and blinked rapidly.

'Yeah, I'm fine Mione,' he said, standing up from his seat and pulling Hermione to her feet as well. 'And I think I'm starting to remember where I put my book.' Harry was already jogging away before he finished his sentence. Hermione kept pace with Harry, and they rounded a corner. 'Yes! It's here!' Harry said, pointing straight ahead.

'That's it?' asked Hermione, as she followed Harry towards the bust that was getting closer and closer to them. They reached it and found the bust of the ugly old warlock. Atop its head was the Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw.

'We've got it Mione, we did it! Only one more!' Harry shouted in happiness. Hermione smiled at his enthusiasm, and opened her beaded bag. She pulled out the sword, and held it in both of her hands.

'Should I do it, or do you want to?' she asked Harry. He shrugged.

'I don't mind, I've destroyed the Diary, you've destroyed the Cup. You can do it if you want.' Hermione nodded and Harry picked up the Diadem from the bust. He placed it on the stone floor, and looked up at Hermione. 'Ready?' She nodded.

Hermione took a steadying breath, and stabbed downwards. The point of the sword connected with the sapphire in the middle of the Diadem and the ancient artifact, and it split. They heard another distant wail, both of them knowing that this was the part of Voldemort's soul being destroyed. She dropped the sword and launched herself at Harry. She pressed her lips to his and kissed her boyfriend.

'Only one left,' she said, smiling at Harry.

'Just think, we were worrying a few days ago that we wouldn't be able to find any of them,' said Harry. 'But we should probably get going. Only the snake, then it's the final showdown.'

They hurried through the piles of objects again, towards the door. Reaching it, Harry pushed it open and was met with a horrific scene of destruction. There were bodies strewn everywhere in the corridor, some students in their uniforms, some in their casual attire. There were dead acromantula, and Death Eaters as well.

'Oh no,' Hermione said quietly. She had knelt on the floor and next to two bodies. Harry joined at the side of the fallen. Harry fell to his knees beside her. Tears filled his eyes as he registered just who was lying there. Remus and Tonks. Leaning closer to Hermione, he wrapped his arm around her, trying to comfort her. Rubbing her arm, he knew that he couldn't make it better. Hermione would still be upset; their favourite teacher and Auror would still be dead. Harry stiffened slightly as he thought of Teddy; their son who was now orphaned.

He was wiping his eyes when a jet of light flew past his face. He pushed Hermione to the floor, protecting her with his own body, whilst twisting in the direction the spell had come from. His wand already in his hand, he pointed it at the Death Eater at the end of the corridor and sent a blasting hex at them. It connected and the Death Eater was sent smashing into the wall.

'Come on, we need to move,' Harry shouted, as the castle shook again and the wall at the end of the corridor where the Death Eater had just been exploded, showering them with rubble. A giant peered through the hole it had just made and Hermione shot a stinging hex at its eye. The target was as big as a plate, although generally out of proportion with its body, and Hermione's spell hit the giant. As they rushed past the hole, Harry saw out onto the grounds as the giant was stumbling around holding its face in agony. A ferocious battle was taking place – hordes of acromantula, Dementors and werewolves attacking the students, professors and Aurors.

They rounded a corner, half jumped down a staircase, and ran into a fully fledged battle. Seamus and Dean were fighting what looked like Dolohov and Travers. Harry and Hermione immediately sprung to their friends' aid, but before they could fire off any curses, Lord Voldemort's voice was once again ringing throughout the castle.

'Harry Potter, you have failed to comply with my demands. Many of your friends have died, but I will give you an opportunity to dispose of your dead with dignity. My followers are to cease any attacks, and return to me in the Forbidden Forest. You have one hour to meet me in the Forest Potter, or I will enter the battle and seek you out myself. And anyone that stands in my way, will die.'

Voldemort's voice faded and Dolohov and Travers both lowered their wands. They made to leave but Harry raised his wand and free hand, shouting, 'Stupefy!' The Death Eaters fell to the ground and without Harry saying a word; their wands flew into his hand. 'Reducto,' muttered Harry, and the wands disintegrated.

Before any of his friends or girlfriend could speak, Harry gave his reason for his actions, 'It's two less to deal with later.'

Hermione, Dean and Seamus nodded. The latter two ran off, bidding Harry and Hermione good luck, before they too turned off down a deserted corridor.

'Harry, you're not going to go to the Forest are you?' Hermione asked, grabbing his arm and stopping him in his tracks.

'Mione, I don't have a choice really, do I?' he retorted, turning to face Hermione's

'But Harry-' Hermione's protests were interrupted by another voice. One Harry hadn't heard for nearly a year.

'Potter.'

Harry's head jerked towards the voice, his hand and wand already raised. Severus Snape was standing in an alcove, next to a statue of Merlin.

'What do you want, murderer?' spat Harry, putting all of his hatred into his question.

'I have something that you need to see,' said Snape.

Harry adjusted his position, moving in front of Hermione. He knew that she didn't like ti when he tried to protect her, but this time she didn't say anything.

'Oh yeah, and what is it that I need to see?'

'They are memories. Please, you must see them. It is vital that you fully understand the role you must play in the Dark Lord's downfall,' said Snape, pulling a vial slowly from his black robes. He bent down and placed it on the floor.

'Accio.' The vial shot into Harry's hand, and he observed the viscous silver memories within. 'How do I know that I can trust you?'

'I could have killed you whilst you and your,' Snape paused, the thought of Hermione being with Harry causing him some discomfort, and he was obviously trying to avoid the word that he inevitably had to say, 'girlfriend argued. Or I could have pressed my mark and summoned him.'

Harry paused for a moment. 'Snape did have a point. And Dumbledore trusted him,' thought Harry. Giving in, he asked, 'Fine, where should I watch these memories? And whose are they?'

'They are my memories Potter, and you should go to the pensieve in the Headmaster's office. The password is,' Snape paused again, as if wishing he had chosen a different one, 'Lily. I changed it so you wouldn't be interrupted.' With that Snape turned and glided off.

Harry and Hermione didn't move. Both were completely shocked at what had just happened.

'Let's go,' said Hermione, and she took Harry's hand. He was glad that he could still feel her warmth through the blood and grime that coated her hand, and clutched it tighter. They hurried through the castle and came upon the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. However, it was on its side on the floor, half of its face smashed.

'Snape didn't need to tell us the password then,' muttered Harry. Hermione let out a small laugh at this, and they ascended the spiral staircase to the office. They entered and Harry took the pensieve out from its cupboard. It floated across the room and Harry unstopped the vial and poured Snape's memories into the pensieve.

'Are you coming too?' he asked Hermione. She nodded, and he pressed his face to the memories, immediately being sucked in.

Harry and Hermione watched as a young Severus Snape met with Harry's mother for the first time. They watched as they were sorted into separate houses at Hogwarts. The memory of Snape being bullied by James and Sirius was included too. The truth of Dumbledore's death was revealed. Snape and Dumbledore had been plotting together, even if Snape didn't like what he was being asked to do. Harry being a Horcrux himself. But the thing that stuck with Harry, and had the most affect on him, was Snape begging Dumbledore to save his mother from Voldemort. It was then that Harry and Hermione realised that Snape had loved someone his whole life. Lily had been his first, and only love. They watched as Snape apparated to Godric's Hollow and entered the destroyed Potter home. He ascended the stairs walking past the body of James; Harry tried not to look at his father. Snape entered Harry's nursery and Lily was lying on the floor; a baby Harry sat in the cot. Hermione released Harry's hand and started towards baby Harry, as if she wanted to pick him up and cuddle him. But she stopped, understanding that this was a memory and she could not help him. Harry's eyes however, were focussed on his mother. Snape was cradling her in his arms, tears streaming down his face. Harry had never thought of the potions master as an emotional person, but that perception had changed. As he swayed back and forth Harry wasn't sure if he could take it any more. Hermione squeezed his hand tighter, and soon he felt the sensation of being pulled out of the pensieve.

Harry and Hermione landed back in the Headmaster's office. Harry couldn't move, shaken by the memories they had just seen. The memories had changed his perception of the surly Severus Snape forever.

'I- I never knew,' Hermione said quietly, as Harry sat down on a step that lead to the desk, and she quickly joined him.

'Neither did I,' Harry responded, glancing at Hermione. She rested her head on Harry's shoulder as he continued. 'But that isn't really the most important thing we learnt, is it?' Hermione looked up at him with tears in her eyes. 'I'm a Horcrux. And he can't die unless I die. As long as I'm alive, he can't be beaten.'

At this point Hermione started to cry in earnest. She clutched at Harry and pulled herself onto his lap. She pressed her face into his chest.

'I- I- I don't- w- want you- t-t- to die, H- H- Harry,' she cried, her breath catching in her throat.

'Neither do I Mione, neither do I,' he said, holding Hermione closer. 'But it'll be okay. You'll be okay without me, and you can start dating Neville, he'll be good to you.'

'But I don't love Neville Harry. I love you, I can't be with anyone else. We've been through so much together, and I- I-' Her tears had slowed, held back by sheer force of will, but as she spoke it collapsed, leaving her sobbing once more. Harry tried to comfort her but it was no use. Softly, he said,

'It's getting near the time limit Hermione. I need to go.'

Hermione nodded and got up. He stood too, and hugged her. She pulled the invisibility cloak out of her bag and threw it over them both. Although it didn't really cover their feet, Harry knew that with all the rubble in the castle they'd never be spotted, and once they were in the grounds there wouldn't be anyone to spot them.

They walked through the ruined castle they'd once called home for most of the year. They passed Draco Malfoy, and Harry cast a wandless, non-verbal stunning spell at the blonde, leaving him visible, lying in the middle of the corridor. They saw student and professors carrying bodies down staircases, and they found out where they were being placed when they passed the Great Hall.

Hagrid was carrying two students, a Hufflepuff and a Gryffindor, towards two stretchers. Harry prayed that this meant they were still alive. They saw the Weasley's gathered around a stretcher near the end of the Hall, and both Harry and Hermione's faces fell. The looks of grief and despair on each Weasley's face showed that they had lost one of their number. As they paused to scan the Great Hall, Harry checked which Weasley's were present. He found that only a twin and Charlie were not there, and since it was very unlikely that Charlie had managed to make his way over to from Romania to fight, Harry was forced to accept that either Fred or George was gravely injured or worse.

Hermione moved them on before they could get too emotional, and the cold night air hit them, waking them up to the reality of where they were heading. The light from the Entrance Hall spilled out onto the grass before them, and illuminated a figure that was piling the bodies of students near each other so they could easily be collected and taken into the Great Hall.

As they got closer Harry saw that it was Neville that was moving the bodies.

'Give me the sword, Hermione.' She did as Harry asked and pulled the sword from her bag once again. 'Cover me up when I come back, okay?' Hermione nodded and Harry ducked out from under the cloak.

He approached Neville and called out to him. 'Neville, I've got to tell you something.'

'Harry, what is it?' Neville asked, all the joy from earlier in the day gone from his voice.

'Take this,' Harry handed him the sword, 'And kill the snake the first chance you get, okay?'

'Er, yeah, okay,' Harry smiled at him and began to walk away, 'But Harry, why do I need to?'

'Because if you don't, he can't die,' answered Harry. He didn't have enough time to explain about the Horcruxes. He walked off again, and Neville called out.

'Harry, you're not going to him are you?' Harry turned back around and flashed a fake smile.

'Of course not. I just needed to get some air. And Neville, I'm proud to have been able to call you my friend, and I would love to fight them with you by my side.' With that Harry walked back into the darkness and was quickly enveloped by Hermione's arms as she pulled the cloak back over him.

Together they walked towards the edge of the forest, Harry's arm around Hermione. As they reached the edge he stopped moving and looked at Hermione, the moonlight showing her shining eyes and moist cheeks. Harry wiped her tears away and said,

'This is as far as you can go Hermione,' he said softly. She sniffed and blinked.

'Why have you stopped calling me Mione?'

'Because I'm about to die, and you need to get used to people not calling you Mione. I'm the only one that calls you that.'

'Please don't stop Harry. I like it,' she didn't meet his eye, but Harry knew that she wasn't lying.

'Okay, Mione. You have to go now.' Hermione hugged him and their lips met for what she thought would be the last time. The kiss was the most passionate they had ever shared, full of love and fear, despair and longing. When they broke apart, she choked over her tears.

'You come back to me, Harry Potter. You hear me? You come back to me.'

'Mione, you know I can't-'

'Don't say that! I love you, and you love me, why aren't you upset?'

'I am, Mione. I love you so much, and I am upset, but I'm also happy. Because you're going to be able to live the rest of your life without fear, and you'll meet someone else, someone great. And sometimes you'll remember me, and you'll cry, but then you'll see what me dying achieved. The world you and your kids will live in will be safe, and you can tell them how your best friend died to give them and everyone else this world. Okay Mione?' Harry was now openly crying and he pushed Hermione away from him.

He made sure the cloak stayed over him, and from the darkness Hermione heard him say, 'Go Mione. Go and live, and have a good life.'

Harry stood in the darkness and watched as Hermione sobbed, looking wildly around for any indication of where Harry was. But she couldn't see him and she turned away, running back towards the castle. When Harry saw the speck in the distance disappear through the doors to the Entrance Hall, he turned around. It was the first time he felt truly alone.

He stepped into the forest and began to walk. He eventually came across a perimeter of Death Eaters, and he passed silently between them, continuing along through the trees towards a light within an opening in the trees. Harry hid between the trees and looked past them. He saw Voldemort standing with his back to tree line. Harry pulled the cloak off, and stuffed it into his coat pocket.

He took a couple of breaths and stepped out into the clearing. There were gasps from the Death Eaters and Voldemort turned around, looking for the cause of the disturbance.

'Harry Potter, you came. Good,' said the Dark Lord. 'I didn't think that you would come. I thought that you were the type to let others die for you.'

'No Tom, I'm here to die, so I'm able to protect my friends,' Harry said determinedly. Voldemort laughed, his high pitched, cold voice scaring the birds from the trees.

'Your death will not lead to the protection of your friends Potter. Nothing you do will protect them from I, Lord Voldemort.'

Harry tried to enrage Voldemort. Anything to have it end quickly.

He smiled.

Harry saw the anger flash on Voldemort's face and he raised his wand. Harry closed his eyes expectantly.

'Avada Kedavra!'

There was a blinding flash of green, and Harry was thrown backward, his limp body crashing to the dirty forest floor.

A/N: I had an altercation with my first flamer last week. Destroyed them with sound logic and reasoning. Anyway, what did you think of the chapter? A review would be lovely. Although, I'm not one of these people who is like, 'I'll only upload the next chapter if I get x amount of reviews.' If you're doing that, you're writing for the wrong reasons. Write for yourself, because you enjoy it. I have a tumblr account now, a link is in my profile. Come over and say hello :D. There is also a poll on my profile regarding the language I'll use in sex scenes. I've tried to avoid words like: cock, pussy etc. Should i use that sort of language or keep it clean? Vote in the poll. Huge thanks to my betas, Nightfire K'Vala and Nightserenade :D I've also posted a oneshot called 'Letter of Confession', go and have a read, it isn't that long. I hope that you like it.