"We need to get out of here" stated Neville as he ducked out the way of a stray spell from where he had been peeking round a corner to see if any danger was coming their way. Seamus nodded in agreement. They had managed to drag Hermione and Ginny down a narrow corridor but the battle was progressing slowly towards them and it wouldn't be long before they were spotted.
"Damn right we do but how are we gonna get out of here without being targeted? It's not like we can move quickly with Hermione and Ginny now is it" Neville frowned with concern as he glanced down at the injured witches. Hermione's breathing was shallow and her face was twisted in agony as she sat with her back against the wall with Ginny at her side.
A frown appeared on Ginny's face as she watched Hermione wince in pain. Ginny tightened her hold on the brunette's hand which drew Hermione's attention back to her. Offering the red head a tiny smile she squeezed her hand back.
"I reckon we should split up" stated Seamus.
"No" stated Ginny. The coldness and absolution in her tone surprised everyone; even Hermione raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Ginny we can't stay together that just makes us a bigger target for the Death Eaters" Ginny turned her head up to look at Seamus with a determined glint in her eyes.
"And what's going to happen if we do and we get caught by a bunch of Death Eaters? There's safety in numbers Seamus" Neville watched as Seamus opened his mouth to argue with her but a coughing fit from Hermione interrupted him. Everyone's attention was quickly drawn to the brunette and they could all see the blood escaping from her mouth despite her attempts to hide it.
"Shit either way we gotta go now. Seamus take Ginny and get to the Great Hall as quickly as you can, I'll take Hermione down a different route and meet you there" Hermione cracked open an eye and looked at Neville in surprise along with Ginny and Seamus, it was so unlike the boy to take charge.
"But…" a small tug on her hand stopped her in her tracks and drew her attention away from Neville and back to Hermione.
"Neville's…right…Gin" the red head wanted to argue, she didn't want them all to split up. This could be the last time she would see them and the very idea of losing Hermione and Neville pulled desperately at her heart. She had seen enough death to last her a life time and she didn't think she could bear to lose anyone important.
"We'll be fine Ginny. I promise I won't let anything happen to us" Ginny hesitated, uncertainty welling in her eyes before she nodded in reluctantly.
"Seamus take Ginny down the next corridor on your left, follow it all the way down and for Merlin's sake don't attract any unwanted attention" ordered Neville while he knelt down next to Hermione.
Seamus nodded as he reached his hand down for Ginny to take. Taking his hand Seamus quickly pulled her up onto her feet and wrapped her arm round the back of his neck.
"I'll see you both at the Great Hall then?" Hermione nodded slowly with a small smile and Neville offered Ginny a smirk. Though the uncertainty and fear remained in her green eyes Ginny turned and allowed Seamus to lead her away to safety.
Hermione watched them go until they turned the corner and vanished from sight, hissing in pain she tried to get to her feet. Quickly taking hold of her arm Neville, much like Seamus had done with Ginny, wrapped her arm around his neck before carefully lifting her to her feet.
Waiting until she was steady he began to help her walk down the hallway, keeping her free hand pressed against her chest Hermione tried to keep quiet as they travelled towards the Great Hall.
"Madame Pomphrey and Professor Sprout are in the Great Hall taking care of the injured…its incredible really I never knew that they had such an extensive knowledge of how to take care of injuries" Hermione listened silently to Neville's small talk, a clear sign that the boy wasn't nearly as confident as he had portrayed himself to be in front of Seamus and Ginny since he was the quiet sought of person.
Neville continued to prattle on about irrelevant things to keep Hermione's mind off the pain in her body, never once mentioning his concern about how light Hermione felt or how ill she looked since he felt it would be of little consequence given their situation.
Coming to the end of the hallway Neville and Hermione could hear shouting and the sounds of battle in the empty corridor in front of them, concerned Neville slowly lowered Hermione to the ground so she could rest with her back against the wall.
Clutching his wand in his right hand he pointed it in front of him as he walked towards the end of the corridor. Peeking his head round the corner his eyes narrowed in anger as he watch the black clad form of Bellatrix Lestrange duel with Fleur Delacour while her husband was further down the corridor dealing with Bill Weasley.
Turning the corner he pointed his wand at Bellatrix Lestrange and prepared to command the killing curse before a smooth piece of wood pressed against the back of his neck.
"Tsk Tsk Tsk…didn't your parents ever teach you that it's rude to attack someone from behind?"
Before Neville could even blink the person behind him uttered the killing curse and a jet of green light connected with his head.
Neville collapsed onto the ground in a lifeless heap, his still open eyes staring blankly at the scene in front of him.
"Such a waste" muttered Lucius Malfoy as he stepped over the now dead boy and proceeded to attack the remaining resistance.
As Lucius moved away from Neville's lifeless body Hermione painfully staggered towards the edge of the hallway, she had seen everything and she couldn't believe how quickly it had happened. Clutching at her chest she collapsed onto her knees next to Neville and reached forward to press her fingers against his throat.
She didn't know why she searched for a pulse, she knew she wouldn't find one but she had to be certain. She couldn't just leave him there without knowing for certain that he was really gone. Leaning back she stared blankly at her friend's body, not a shred of emotion came forth at the sight of Neville Long bottom's dead body, no grief, no anger just icy coldness.
"I'm sorry Neville" she whispered as she reached forward and closed his eyes. Glancing up her eyes narrowed at the sight of Fleur dueling with Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy. An angered noise escaped from her throat as she took Neville's wand from where it had fallen to the ground and got to her feet.
With her left hand still clutching at her chest she pointed his wand at Lucius and shouted.
"Avada Kadavra!" and only by the skin of his teeth did Lucius manage to dodge the green light. Frightened pale blue eyes latched onto Hermione and a snide smirk formed on his face as the fear vanished.
"Well, well Miss Granger how nice of you to join us" he greeted with his sickly posh voice before he pointed his wand and cast a silent spell at her. She snarled angrily as she cast her own backfiring defensive charm and the spell ricocheted back towards Lucius.
His confidence evaporated as he quickly defended himself against his own spell. Spell after spell escaped from what was Neville Longbottom's wand until eventually Lucius was overwhelmed by the spells and hit by a stunning spell. Sweat dripped down Hermione's bloodied face as her chest heaved from exertion.
Gritting her teeth she cast her infuriated gaze at Bellatrix who was slowly gaining the upper hand against a distracted Fleur as a lesser minion appeared out of the darkness to attack the Veela.
"Bellatrix!" she bellowed angrily, the anger was like a poison, twisting Hermione into someone she didn't recognize but she didn't care anymore, she relished in it. The anger made her stronger.
The raven haired mad woman turned towards Hermione with a twisted smile on her face.
"Now this is an interesting turn of events, together again Mudblood, I knew that you'd come back to me"
"You fucking bitch the only thing I want from you is for you to die!" roared Hermione as her hate twisted her facial features.
Quickly dealing with Voldemort's lesser Death Eaters Fleur turned her attention to Bellatrix and her eyes widened as she recognized Hermione. The young teen was almost unrecognizable to the Veela and it made her heart bleed to see Hermione this way, she had fallen so far from the intelligent, loving Gryffindor that everyone had adored.
"And how do you propose to kill me Mudblood, we both know I'm far more powerful than you and even if you do manage it then what next? I'll still be there inside you, twisting everything you think, feel or do into my own bidding until you can't bare it any longer and end your pathetic life"
Fleur summoned a stunning spell and unleashed it upon Bellatrix, the raven haired witched defended herself against the spell with an angered frown on her face but she didn't have time to dwell on it as Hermione attacked her as well.
Both Fleur and Hermione continued their assault, neither side letting up until eventually Bellatrix became overwhelmed and fled the scene in a mist of black smoke.
Releasing a frustrated sigh Fleur watched the bitch who had ruined Hermione escape from them, trying hard not to dwell on what could've been Fleur looked to Hermione.
"No…no...no" whispered Fleur fearfully as she rushed towards Hermione, the brunette was lying limply on the ground with her face twisted in pain and drenched in sweat and blood.