Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything else to do with Harry Potter. They are the property of J.K. Rowling. This story is purely out of my imagination and for entertainment purposes only.

CHAPTER TEN- THE BATTLE

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Hermione groaned as she opened her eyes. Harry's face blurred in front of hers and she leaned on him for support as he helped her sit up. "Ugh where the bloody hell are we?" she groaned.

Harry frowned. "I don't know. Wherever we are Voldemort is nearby. My scar is killing me." Hermione felt the tears begin to build but refused to let them fall. She knew that she had to tell him. "Harry there's something that I have to tell you…." Harry nodded for her to go on but suddenly the door to the small room they were being kept in opened.

Snape swept into the room followed by a rather hideous creature that's head was covered in boils. Hermione shrank back when the creatures glowing gold eyes landed on her. Harry reached over and grabbed her hand. Snape jerked his head and the creature came towards Hermione. Harry jumped to his feet and went to grab his wand but realized that he didn't have it and that Snape had taken it.

"Get away from her!" he said and grabbed the creature's arm. He screamed in pain as sharp barbs appeared on the scaly skin of the creature. Holding his injured hand to his chest he spun around to Snape as the creature grabbed Hermione by the upper arm and began to drag her out of the room.

"Where the bloody hell is he taking her? I swear that when we get out of this I will kill you with my bare hands!" Snape sneered. "I'm soooooo afraid Potter. Artemienus will come get you when it's time for your audience with Lord Voldemort. He's saving you for last…" With a slight chuckle he swept out of the room.

Harry felt his chest tighten as the door slammed shut. He felt completely helpless and weak like he was a child again. He swore that he would kill Snape and Voldemort even if it cost him his own life too. Rage filled him so completely that he almost didn't hear the voice calling to him from the other side of the door. He got up and walked to the door to press his ear to it.

He grinned as Ron's voice came to him through the door. "Harry! Are you in there? Answer me!" "Ron! I'm here. Get me out! We haven't got much time." Ron drew his wand and pointed it at the lock. "Alohamora!" The door swung open and Harry clasped Ron's hand and slapped him on the back. "I've never been so happy to see you in my life!" Ron laughed.

"Be happy I remembered that unlocking spell Hermione used back in 1st year!" Harry laughed then turned and glanced down the hall. "Come on! We can relive memories later right now we've got to find Seph and Mione."

Persephone tugged at the bindings that held her arms behind her back. She'd woken up in a dark room with her wrists and legs bound. Her head lifted at the sound of the door creaking open. She scowled when Snape walked into the room. He shut the door behind him and eyed her. "You know I did ask Lord Voldemort to spare you and give you to me as a gift for my loyalty…" He broke off and slapped her when she made a gagging sound.

"However…He wants the remaining Potter line to be destroyed forever so I'll have to settle for Hermione Granger instead." Persephone glared at him. "You're sick." She spat out despite the pain in her busted lower lip. "Of course Lord Voldemort won't want you for a while. I suppose I could have some fun." Persephone began to wiggle and squirm in earnest when he untied his robe and laid it over the back of a chair.

"If you touch me I'll throw up!" she yelled at him as he approached her. He pulled out his wand and muttered so that her rope bindings were gone. Before she could move he pointed the wand at her again and she felt her body freeze. She lay there looking up at him completely helpless. He fell to his knees beside her and ran his hand down her cheek to her neck. The look in his eyes suddenly changed. "You are so beautiful Lily." He said quietly.

Persephone realized that he wasn't seeing her anymore but her mother. She wished that she could say something or move but his spell binded her. She felt revulsion when his cold wet lips grazed her neck. His hands came up and grabbed her breasts, twisting them cruelly. She felt the hard stone of the floor dig into her back and hips as he moved more fully on top of her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see his wand laying a few inches away from her fingers.

If only she could reach out and get it, she thought to herself. She wanted to cry she was so angry. She tried to ignore the sickness building in her stomach as she lay there, helpless to his assault. She sensed movement in the room but she couldn't move her head to see what it was. A hand came down and quietly picked up Snape's wand.

All she could make out was a shadow standing above herself and Snape. Snape suddenly rolled off her and began to scream in an almost inhuman voice. A light suddenly flashed across a head of bright red hair and she felt happiness swell into her throat as the binding spell lifted off her. Ron! Memories that Harry had given her of him flooded through her. He bent down to help her up and she saw Harry standing over Snape. She tensed when she saw him lift the wand and point it at Snape's head.

She never even heard the curse said aloud but knew that it was the Cruciatus Curse. She struggled to her feet and fixed her clothes, wishing for a shower to wash away the filth that his hands had put on her. She turned and watched Snape continue to scream and writhe in agony. She knew that she had to stop Harry from killing him but didn't know how. Then it dawned on her.

"HARRY! Where's HERMIONE?" she asked him. He turned to her and she took a cautious step back. "She's being taken to Voldemort. We've got to get to her. Now!" He said and ran out the door. Ron stopped the Curse on Snape, who was now curled into a ball on the floor.

He took her hand and turned toward the door after Harry. She followed him but paused to run back to Snape and kick him firmly between the legs causing Ron to burst into laughter. "Never mess with a Potter!" she said to him before going to the door and locking it behind her.

Harry had Snape's wand so Persephone knew that he couldn't get out. They would leave him there to face McGonagall she thought with a smirk.

As they ran down the hallways Persephone glanced at Ron. "How did you find us?" Ron grinned. "My dad works for the Ministry of Magic. They can keep track of any young witch or wizard doing magic that is officially still a student registered at Hogwarts. It doesn't lift until graduation." Persephone smiled back at him. "Well lucky for us you were able to join the party."

Ron blushed at her smile but merely shrugged. "Hey Harry and Hermione are my best friends. Did you honestly think I was going to let them fight Voldemort without me?" She stopped Ron and leaned up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek causing him to blush harder.

They ran down the dark corridors until they came to a large door with silver serpent door handles. They pushed open the doors and Persephone gasped at the sight of Hermione lying on the floor at the feet of Lord Voldemort himself.

Persephone had never seen him but the evil radiating from him told her exactly who he was. Over in the corner she saw a fat and short man with a face like a rat leering at her. "Pettigrew." Harry said in a flat voice. She turned to the man and hissed at him like a cat, causing him to scurry back into the shadows.

"Well well well….this is a very great pleasure. Harry and Persephone Potter. Here together! And you've brought Ron Weasley with you! You've played into my hands exactly how I wanted you to. I just love it when my plans go exactly how I want them." Persephone sneered at him. "Why don't you go slither back under a rock where you came from? Or better yet…..go to HELL where you belong!"

Rage flashed in his eyes. "I could kill you right here and now if I wanted to but I'll save it for later." Red eyes fixed on Harry. "But first I want to congratulate you Harry. Miss Granger is quite lovely. And from what I learned in our conversation, one of the brightest witches I've ever come across. Too bad though that she hadn't gotten the chance to tell you that she….oops I'm sorry I've said too much. There's no point in telling you something that I took care of myself."

Harry clenched and unclenched his hands. "What?" He asked through clenched teeth. "Why the whelp she was carrying. You and Persephone would have been a father and an aunt. Oh well…." His eyes darkened with hate, "it's too late now…."

Harry felt a rage like nothing he had ever felt before. His child….Hermione's child………gone… Tears built up and slid slowly from his eyes down his cheeks. He could hear Persephone and Ron gasp. His eyes found Hermione's still form on the ground, her beautiful hair spilled all around her and for the first time he noticed the smattering of blood on her legs.

He knew only one thing and that was to kill Voldemort for the life of his dead child. He lifted Snape's wand and dropped it to the floor in front of him. "Harry…wh….what are you doing? Are you barking mad!" Ron demanded as he kept his wand pointed at Voldemort. Harry glared at Voldemort.

"You want to fight you bastard? Then face both of us fairly. Give us our wands and see if you are wizard enough to beat us." Persephone cautiously watched Voldemort as he rose from his throne like chair. He lifted his hand in the air and their wands flew into sight to land at their feet.

"I almost admire your courage to face me Potter. But we both know that you are too good and noble for any of the curses to work….." He trailed off as Harry lifted his wand. Harry glanced at Persephone who nodded. "Not scared child?" Harry took a deep breath. "You……WISH!" Persephone went to one side and Harry went to the other.

Voldemort's laughter ran out through the large room. "I've faced some of the most powerful wizards and witches of all time! What makes you think that three seventeen year olds can defeat me?" Harry smiled a smile that made Voldemort pause. "CRUCIO!!!!!!!!!" Voldemort blocked Harry's attack easily but had been so focused on Harry that he forgot about Persephone and Ron.

"AVADA KADAVRA!!!!!" they both yelled but his wand came up and blocked them. He pointed his wand at them and propelled them across the room to slam into the opposite wall. Harry saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and swelled with pride when Hermione staggered to a sitting position beside Voldemort's chair where her wand had been. She lifted her wand and yelled "CRUICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" with tears of anger falling down her cheeks.

She hit him squarely and he fell to the floor in agony. "Harry now!" she yelled. Harry lifted his wand again and yelled the curse with all the hatred in his heart that he had for the murderer of not only his parents but his unborn child.

They continued to hit him as hard as they could until he had clawed at his own head to make the agony stop. Harry grinned as Hermione muttered the jinx and Voldemort's' fingers popped off one by one. "That's for my child you sick bastard!" she yelled. Harry turned away just long enough to blast a hole into the floor.

In tune to what he was thinking Hermione lifted her wand and put the jinx of Gubrathian fire on him. His whole body burst into flames and his screams echoed throughout the entire building. Harry finished jinxing the hole to be an eternal pit of torment, one that Voldemort would never be able to get out of. He lifted his wand but Ron came back and yelled, "Wingardium LEVIOSA!" and brought the flaming mass of screams over to the pit.

"Death is too good for you." Harry said to the flames. "NOOOOOOO!" It screamed as Ron dropped it into the pit and Persephone sealed the top. "Now he will burn for all eternity literally." Persephone said. Harry's attention wasn't on Persephone but to Hermione who stood there with her wand lowered but shaking all over with rage and pain.

He walked over to her and gently picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the room. Persephone turned to follow but heard crying coming from the nearby corner. Pettigrew curled up there weeping. "My lord…..My lord…." She walked over to him and he looked up at her with hatred. "You monster…he was greatness in itself." Persephone glared right back. "You sold out our parents did you not?" she asked quietly.

He nodded. "I'd do it again too!" Persephone nodded and turned her back. "Well then……." Spinning around she pointed her wand at his head. "AVADA KADAVRA!!!!!!!" As she looked down at his still form she sneered. "Pussy." And walked to Ron who put his arm around her shoulders.

****

Harry sat there staring at Hermione's still form lying in the hospital bed. He hadn't moved since bringing her there five days before. Although Madame Pomfrey had assured him when he brought her in that she would make a full recovery, she had suffered a terrible shock and would be out of it for a few days while the potion took effect and healed her body. Ron, Hermione's parents, the Weasley's and everyone had tried to get him to leave and go get some rest but Harry wouldn't leave her side.

He sat there hour after hour watching her. He didn't realize that his eyes had started to droop shut until a warm hand clasped him on the shoulder. He started. "EASY Harry….It's only me." Persephone said as she sat down next to him.

Harry rubbed his eyes and stretched wearily. Persephone knew better than to tell him to rest because she knew the answer would be a resounding no. She merely laid her hand on his and squeezed. "She'll be all right Harry." Harry nodded and with a sigh she got up and left.

Walking out into the hallway she almost ran headfirst into Ron. He caught her and glanced at the door. "How is she? How is Harry holding up?" He asked her. She sighed. "She's healed completely but she's just sleeping the rest of the potion off now. Harry refuses to leave her. I hope that someday I have someone that loves me that much."

Ron shyly brought his hand up to brush a lock of hair away from her forehead. "You never know. Maybe he's nearby." She cut her eyes up at him and grinned. "Hmmm last time I checked you were there for me and you're here now." She reached up and grabbed the back of his neck to bring his lips to hers and kissed him long and slow. Ron laughed. "Very direct aren't you?" She smiled up at him and wound her arms around his neck. "You have NO idea."

********

Harry took Hermione's limp hand in his and kissed it gently. "I love you Mione." He said softly. He jumped two feet when her hand suddenly twitched in his.

He leaned forward and watched as her eyelids began to flutter and move. "Mione?" he whispered. He wanted to shout with joy when her tongue came out to wet her lips and she whispered. "Harry?" Never had he heard anything so wonderful than his name coming off her lips. He leaned down and kissed her softly. Her eyes opened and she looked around until her eyes landed on Harry's beat up appearance. "Oh Harry look at you! You look like you haven't slept in days." She said weakly.

He wanted to laugh at the fact that she was more concerned about him than herself when the shadow passed over her face and he knew that she was remembering. "Hermione…..about the baby…I'm so sorr…" her fingers came up and over his lips.

"Don't you DARE say that you are sorry. It was not your fault. Our baby was taken from us by a madman. I will always grieve for it but there will be others. We won't speak of anything that happened in that place do you understand me?" She said even as the tears began to slide down her cheeks. Harry smiled at her as he lowered his lips to hers. "I agree with you. And yes there will be others. But I do want to know what Voldemort said to you…."

Hermione shrugged "He didn't really say anything but greeted me and said he would tell you himself about the baby. The next thing I know felt pain like you wouldn't believe and knew I'd lost my baby. It was sheer determination and rage at the loss of my child that I was able to fight back. I saw you come and pick me up but then the next thing I knew I woke up here." Choking back tears at her pain he pulled something from his pocket.

"I was waiting for you to wake up for you to have this." He slid his mother's ring on her finger and smiled when it turned bright yellow for a moment before going back to the swirling mist. It didn't bother him that it didn't go to blue because he knew that Hermione was grieving for their child. Hermione's eyes lifted to his in surprise. "Persephone didn't want it?" she asked. Harry shook his head. "When I asked her about it she told me I was the world's biggest wizard idiot ever if I didn't give it to you." Hermione and Harry both laughed softly.

"What about you Mione? Want to be tied down?" Harry asked with a grin. "I'd love it as long as I'm tied to you." She said and leaned forward to give him a lingering kiss. "Are you all healed?" Harry asked as he felt himself harden. "Matter of fact I am. But first there's something that I've been longing to tell you." "Oh yeah? What's that?" Hermione gave him a wicked grin. "How you really really really REALLY……………………..need a shower." Harry burst out laughing. "So do you. Want to join me?" Hermione sighed as he picked her up gently and kissed her. "Last time you didn't even have to ask." She said with a laugh. "I love you." He said seriously. She touched his face as he carried her out of the room. "And I love you. Now hurry up so that I can show you just how much." Harry laughed again before his lips came down to meet hers.

THE END

A/N: Well that's it! I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did writing it! Thanks for reading!