Disclaimer: I'm just a toddler in the JKRowling's sandbox, nothing more than that.

...

-Fighting Fyre with Fire-

"Draco, what are you going to do?" She asked urgently now.

He still did not respond.

Mark told her that her friends would be doomed if she left with Draco, but what if Draco stayed with her? "You have to stay to fight, Draco. Can't you see?" she tried, "There's nothing that they can give you that we—" that I "can't. We need you." I need you.

"I could care less about them when I could be saving you! I don't need to stay so long as you come with me. Now."

"But I am going to stay Draco. It wouldn't be right to leave." And it was right to just listen to a stranger you don't even know who knows all about you? She thought to herself. "It just… wouldn't. None of this makes sense, Draco. Why do you even want me with you?... You don't need to go that far for the sake of a truce."

"You're raving! You think everything I've done was for the truce!" he bellowed. She infuriated him. Didn't she notice how much she meant to him by now? How he treated her with special care?

He saw her falter and in his fury of emotions, he kissed her. His hands gripped the back of her head fiercely, entangling his fingers in with her hair. When he finally parted, she was breathless and lightheaded.

"Do you understand now? Have I made myself clear enough for you? Have I proven myself once more? Come with me, Hermione," he pleaded.

"… Unless you don't feel the same way," he added when he saw her hesitate.

Hermione could see the determined stance and concluded she couldn't try to persuade him to stay. It would be irrational to leave with him; but she found she liked that irrationality. She liked Draco, at the very least, she liked him. She thought of nothing but Mark and forced her eyes shut. "I can't… my friends"

"Hermione…" he was heartbroken.

And she got mad. She got mad that he was making her choose. She got mad that he didn't understand. She got mad that he didn't want to stay and fight for their school. For whatever they shared. "You're a coward, Draco," she cried in frustration.

Her words stung. He was no coward. He just didn't care what happened to the others as long as she was safe with him; it was what he had decidedly wanted after he discovered that she was not lower than him. In fact, if he were being honest to himself, she was better. She was the light. She was his light. But she didn't want to go with him. She had chosen them.

Her friends. Many were superficial. Of her closest, one could only offer her friendship. The other a selfish and childish love. But he, he offered her real love, his love. He could have for so long. And all he had to show for it was a handful of stolen kisses and touches. Made behind closed doors for fear of her friends finding out.

So he ran. He ran towards the Great Lake. He ran with no particular goal in mind. He just couldn't bear to stay when she hadn't chosen him…

As he ran, to his right and slightly behind him he could see the blurry outlines of their figures. A handful of protectors. To his left and slightly in front of him, he saw the Dark Lord's massive forces advancing behind the massive fury of the Fiendfyre. It reminded him of the Quidditch World Cup. Except this time, it was more real to him. He was caught in the middle, he was no longer protected by his adolescence. He was a man now. And he had to decide for himself. Neutrality would be impossible. One could not offer protection to the neutral without wanting something in return, their alliance. Thus, nullifying the point of neutrality.

So which was it for him? He desperately wanted to be with her, but still felt the pain from what felt like betrayal.

Before he could make up his mind to go back, a hooded figure stepped in front of him.

x

Hermione felt so tired. What had she done? She didn't want to let him go so easily, but what choice did she have. She wanted to stay and fight, and he didn't. But did she really, she began to question herself. Why did she trust that Mark character so much? He used little to persuade her to trust him, he just insisted on it. So why did she trust him? Except Hermione knew instinctively why. She admitted to himself that he just seemed so trustworthy. Like she knew she could trust him but couldn't really explain why. It wasn't like her. But nothing she's done lately has been very much like her.

"Hermione! We thought you and Malfoy were right behind us… Where's Malfoy?" Harry added, confused.

"Gone."

Neither he nor Ron pressed the issue further. There were more important matters at hand.

"It's the aurors, Hermione. The aurors can't apparate and help us until Hogwarts' defenses are down. And you know Dumbledore would never let that happen, so—"

"They won't be here for hours," Hermione realized numbly.

"Yes! So we have to hurry and help! McGonagall told us to help the other professors with keeping up the defenses until the aurors arrive."

"Great. Any plans?" Hermione pushed out all other thoughts and focused on protecting Hogwarts.

"We were hoping you would know…"

"Let's go back to McGonagall first."

x

Professor McGonagall was rallying a small band of students and select professors to go behind the fire at the forest's edge. The others would stay at the edge and cast containment spells against the fire, knowing that shields would do nothing to protect them completely against it. Both tasks were easier said than done as the inhabitants of the forest came rushing from the forest towards the school, and thus impeded them in their tasks.

She told the three to stay and to wait for Dumbledore's messenger as she went off with her troops.

"We can't just stay here and wait," argued Harry.

"We should just follow McGonagall now! Before we lose her." Ron grabbed Harry's arm.

"No. We need to stay and think about this. I remember reading about Fiendfyre in an old charms book in the library and—"

"Hermione, you can't possibly think that books would help us now."

Hermione shot a cross look at Ron. "Yes Ronald, yes I do. Now quiet and let me think. … I just… need to think…"

Ron wasn't too happy but obeyed. Harry apprehensively obeyed, too, mentally allowing her only a few minutes before he charged ahead.

Minutes later, Hermione still said nothing and Harry turned to Ron.

"Come on, we're going to find McGonagall."

Hermione's eyes fell. She watched them leave, staring at the animals scurrying away from the boys' rampant steps. Then, inspiration struck.

"Stop you two, I've got it!"

They looked at her in disbelief.

"Hermione, you don't have to lie to get us to stay. We're leaving."

"No, really! Harry, Ron. Look down!"

Ron grew queasy at the sight of spiders, "Spiders?"

"Yes. But that's not what I meant. Look, it's the salamanders!"

They both waited for her to continue with her thought process, giving her blank stares all the while.

"Honestly, this isn't the time for me to lecture but pay attention in class! Salamander fire is the strongest of all magical fires. Which means, it'll overpower Fiendfyre. And then once the salamander fire get all of the Fiendfyre, we can just sprinkle powdered salamander eggs onto the fire!"

They were slightly less puzzled… but she continued noticing their expressions were still hazy.

"... The only way to stop Salamander fire is the presence of its own in danger from the fire. That's where the powdered salamander eggs come in!"

"Wait. Are you telling us, that to fight fire, we have to use fire?" Ron said incredulously.

"It's not that crazy, Ron. It's been done before in the twelfth century when those rogue wizards tried to burn the Forests of Calbury."

Having also not paid attention in History with Binns, Harry and Ron took her word for it and quickly asked, "So what do we do?"

"Harry, you stay with me and start collecting salamanders. A stunning spell will do. We'll get the powdered salamander eggs from Snape's storeroom later. Ron, you go find McGonagall. We can't have people or anything else running around when we do this."

Ron ran in the direction that Professor McGonagall left.

"Burn the Forbidden Forest. Is that really the plan, Hermione?"

She grasped the stunned salamander in her hands tighter, "Unfortunately."

x

Ron came back with Professor McGonagall and the others.

"Oh thank goodness, Miss Granger. I feared that we would not have lasted very long. Severus, if you would quickly get the powdered eggs. A pinch would do but bring everything you have just in case. If I recall correctly, upon meeting another salamander's fire, the fires combine minds to represent the good of the species," he went off at once, "Thank you, Severus!"

She turned to her group, "The rest of you students, start stunning and collecting Salamanders. And be careful!"

x

The fires licked at each other. Fighting for dominance. One overpowering the other with Professor Snape at the helm, ready to subdue the now growing salamander fire.

Once Professor Snape sent green sparks in the sky signaling that he had sprinkled the powdered salamander eggs and the Salamander should be eliminated soon, the other professors and students began flooding the forest with a magical solution, specifically created to prevent fires. They had to use it sparingly and with great accuracy since it was greatly diluted after retrieving the paltry amount in Professor Snape's storeroom. There was no time to make more.

From the distance, as the fire went down and the Forbidden Forest smoldered, the Death Eaters approached more distinctly now and in droves.

"Any ideas now, Hermione?"

"Not really, no…"

…

I'm definitely not an expert on Salamander fire. I just read about it another story and thought it was cool. :]

I also realized just how choppy the last chapter was; I just really wanted to update it for you guys, so yeah… I'll edit it again later when I have the time!

Right now, I'm really just updating so that you guys don't have to wait so long. After that, I'm going to take some time to edit it and tie up some loose ends. After that, I'll start on the second installment. Yeah… there's going to be a sequel…