Hey everyone! Sorry I'm late; my computer hasn't been working for a little over a week, but we're good now!
Once again, thank you for all of the great support.
Lets try and reach 360? Ok? We're coming down to the end here, and I want this story, when its finished to have 400+ reviews, and I know that you all can do it!
Enjoy!
"Where were you!" he hissed into his face.
"Speaking to the old man that the guards have been having trouble with," Severus replied instantly.
"You are not to leave that school, EVER! Do I make myself clear!"
"Yes, my Lord,"
"Now return and make sure no one goes in and no one leaves! If there is a breach, I am to know immediately!"
In a burst of smoke, he was gone, leaving Severus standing alone. Severus was stunned. The Dark Lord was pale and panicked. Something was going dreadfully wrong, and he was falling apart. Never had Severus seen him so anxious before. Without waiting another moment, Severus Apparated back to Hogwarts.
Classes were in session, leaving the halls relatively empty. Severus darted to his office, and immediately began pacing back and forth.
"Did you speak with my brother?" Albus asked.
"Yes," Severus answered shortly.
"And?"
"Everything is in order," he snapped back.
"Inform Minerva of the events that will occur tonight, prepare the students, perhaps you can do something to hinder the Carrows?"
"I can only do so much, Albus,"
"You need to be prepared for tonight, no matter what happens,"
Severus looked at the portrait. He was well aware that Albus wasn't talking about preparing for his own death, but for another's.
"I refuse to even consider that," Severus growled, turning away.
"Severus, it is possible that Hermione may be injured at the end of this war. She is recognizable and being searched for by nearly every wizard in the world. She is key to Harry's success, and many know that,"
"I do not want to discuss this!" Severus yelled, slamming his fist onto the desk.
"Very well,"
Severus remained locked in the office, pacing back and forth, waiting for the sun to set. Many people knocked on his door those hours he was locked away, and he never once answered them.
Eventually, Severus was sprawled out across the couch in the living area, slowly drifting away, allowing his breath to slow. He let his mind wander. Severus really wanted a large book to read in front of a fire, having the glowing embers the only light source in the room. He'd just sit there for hours, letting the time slip by while his mind processed the information written on the worn pages.
A sudden screech filled the air. The alarm!
Severus jumped up and darted to the window. There was a small amount of light left in the sky, but Severus could not see anything. Immediately he cast his undistinguishable Patronus to Minerva. About a minute later, large bangs could be heard. No doubt it was the students wreaking havoc on the small town in order to distract the Death Eaters.
Severus swept from the room, forcing himself to become the man everyone saw him to be. As he reached the bottom of the staircase, two Death Eaters burst through the front doors.
"Potter…in Hogsmeade…" one gasped, clutching their chest.
"Very well, go," Severus said, heading into the Great Hall.
Severus took his place in the front of the room and then ordered all of the Heads of Houses to bring their students down. He stood by the window, taking deep calming breaths.
When he turned around, he was met with hundreds of silent students, standing in lines just like the Carrows ordered. The two took their usual spots behind him as Severus slowly paced the room.
"I am sure that each of you are aware that there has been a breach in Hogsmeade. Harry Potter is somewhere in the area. Anyone, student or staff, caught aiding him in anyway will suffer the consequences. Those who turn him over, will be rewarded,"
The room was silent, and Severus continued to walk between the students. No one met his eyes, no one usually did.
"Now, does anyone have any information of Harry Potter's whereabouts? I suggest they step forward. Now,"
The room was still, and Severus waited. In another moment, a figure stepped into the aisle. Gasps filled the room as Severus locked eyes with Harry Potter himself.
"Despite your exhaustive measures, Headmaster, you have a rather large security issue,"
The doors to the Great Hall opened, and the entire order stepped in, wands drawn and ready for battle. Standing next to Remus, was her. His eyes immediately locked on hers. Potter was shouting at him, but he couldn't hear any of it. Her eyes were wide and locked on his, her hand with her wand resting at her side. Her hair was a mess and her face had dirt on it, but she was still beautiful.
Severus pulled his wand out, and pointed it at Potter, with no intension to use it. Minerva jumped in the way, guarding him. The two locked eyes; Severus didn't know what to do. A subtle nod of Minerva's head gave him his answer.
She fired a curse at him, giving him more than enough time to block it. Again she fired a curse, making sure he was ready to block it. This time, he split the curse in two, taking the Carrows out. Another curse was thrown at him and Severus gave Minerva a small smirk before exploding out of the windows and into the night.
Hermione watched as Severus darted from the window, having Minerva scream after him. Harry was speaking to Minerva, and Hermione searched for someone, anyone to answer her questions. She needed to see him.
Darting forward, Hermione touched Minerva's elbow to get her attention.
"Where is he? Where did he go?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I have no idea," Minerva said sadly. "I wish he could stay, but I was afraid he would give himself away,"
Before Hermione could say another word, people began screaming. Everyone turned towards the sound and a minute later, a cold sharp voice pierced the air.
"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight,"
The room was silent for a moment, before Pansy began screeching at someone to take Harry. Instantly Hermione and Ginny stood before him. More people began standing around Harry, and Minerva told Filch to remove the Slytherins from the hall.
"Hermione, we're going to need something to destroy the Horcrux," Ron said from beside her.
"We don't have the sword anymore, what are we going to do?"
"I was thinking that if the Basilisk venom was on the sword, we could go back into the Chamber. I mean, that thing still has to be down there, right?"
"Ron, that's brilliant!" Hermione said feeling a flash of hope.
The two chased after Harry, and quickly explained things to him.
"Take this," Harry said handing over the Marauder's map. "That way you can find me when you're ready,"
The two instantly darted to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. On the way there, Hermione paused for a second to stare from a window, and Ron stood beside her. The two watched as a shield slowly engulfed the school.
"Come on, we're wasting time," Ron said, taking her hand and pulling her away.
This was it; they had finally reached the end. Everything they had worked had brought them so close.
The two burst into the bathroom and Hermione saw Ron dash to a sink and look at the faucet.
"It's here," he said stepping back from the sinks.
Hermione didn't say anything; the last time Ron had been here, Hermione was in the Hospital Wing.
"Well, how are we going to get in?" she asked.
"Parseltongue," Ron replied.
"But neither of us can do that!"
"I've picked up a few things from Harry,"
"You're telling me you learned Parseltongue?"
"Harry talks in his sleep," Ron said, shrugging his shoulders and approaching a sink.
Hermione waited for a moment before hisses began coming from Ron's lips. She stared at him as if she had never seen him before in her life, until the sinks began to move.
"What's happening?" she asked.
"Just step back," Ron replied, pulling her away from the sinks.
When the movement stopped, there was a huge hole left in the floor.
"This is the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Yep, I'll go first, and you can follow," Ron said, approaching the hole. "See you in a few," he replied, giving her a smile and jumping down.
Hermione darted forward, listening for Ron. A small thud made her heart jump into her throat.
"Ron?" she called.
"Come on! It's fine!"
Hermione looked at the room around her before taking a deep breath and jumping down. Everything was dark and the air was cool. Hermione barely had much of a chance to feel anything else before she was expelled onto a pile of bones. Ron helped her up, and took her hand. The place was wet and musky, not to mention completely filthy.
"Come on, this way,"
Hermione went along, but couldn't help thinking how odd his hand felt in hers. It wasn't the right hand. Instantly her thoughts shifted to Severus. What was he doing? Where was he? Was he hurt? Was he looking for her?
In her panic, she hadn't realized that Ron had opened another door, into the actual Chamber itself. Instantly she saw the skeleton of the Basilisk. The two approached the bones, and Ron pulled out a few fangs.
Digging through her bag, Hermione pulled out the cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff. She handed the small gold trinket to Ron, who in turn, handed her a fang.
"You do it," he said, placing the cup down on the stone.
"I can't," Hermione replied, shaking her head.
"You have to, come on,"
Hermione kneeled down, at Ron's encouragement. She stared at the cup. She was about to destroy a piece of someone's soul. The thought bothered her, but then she forced herself to think whose soul it really was. Raising the cup above her head, Hermione swung down, striking the cup.
The cup spun away, startling the two. Instantly, the water around them began to move, and Hermione jumped up along with Ron, and the two began running back towards the door. Hermione could see faces in the water, and hear screeches and violent whispers around them.
At the same time, the two stopped running, knowing they couldn't out run the water any longer. Turning, they were immediately drenched. They were breathing heavy, and Hermione turned to Ron, smiling because there was another Horcrux that was gone.
What she didn't expect was for Ron to pull her against him and kiss her. His lips worked over hers, but her mind screamed at her to shove him away, which she did.
"What was that?" she instantly said, feeling like she had just been stunned.
What about Severus? She felt like she had betrayed him. He was always jealous of Ron, she had known since the wedding when he had snapped at her to go and dance with him instead. She felt like she had let him down.
"Hermione, you have to know how much I like you by now," Ron said in defense.
"Ron, now isn't the time to act on your feelings. We're in the middle of a war,"
"But now is as good as any time. What if something happens to one of us? Don't you feel the same?" he pushed.
What was she supposed to say? She was married? She didn't like him the same way he liked her? Hermione saw him as a brother; he was her best friend.
"I-" she was cut off when a large rumble caused the stone beneath their feet to vibrate.
"We have to find Harry," Hermione said, turning around and running.
When the two made it back to the bathroom, Ron pulled out the map and found Harry.