Hiya everyone, Guru here, and I must apologise for the long wait you have all had. This is due in part to me trying to figure out some filler for this chapter, and also how i was going to word the big scene. Ihave also changed the chapter names to something more fitting for each of them, so feel free to have a look. Now sit back and enjoy.

Kingsley felt as if he had just been thrown through several brick walls. His entire body was in agony and he couldn't move a muscle. His memory was fuzzy as well; the last thing he remembered was talking with the Minister in the Department of Mysteries, and he was voicing his concern about the direction of the current Ministry. Then he remembered nothing.

"Kingsley," came a familiar voice. "Kingsley, can you hear me?"

Kingsley opened his eyes slowly, the white light temporarily blinding him. When it faded he found he was staring into the face of Hermione Granger.

"Her...Hermione," he said weakly, as Hermione held onto his hand gently; "where am I?" He glanced around as best he could, and saw that he was opposite a grand 4-poster bed, while the remainder of the room was unoccupied. Just then, a voice called from the doorway.

"You're in Lestrange Manor, Mr Shacklebolt," Bellatrix said as she walked into the room and sat at the end of the poster bed, directly opposite him. "How is he Hermione?" she asked her lover.

"He's alive, that's the most important thing," she replied. "How is Thicknesse?" she inquired back.

"He never made it. It appears that the Ministry has fallen along with him," she replied.

"Why are you holding Hermione hostage!" Kingsley yelled, although given he was still incredibly weak the yell was more like his normal spoken voice.

"She isn't, Kingsley;" Hermione replied. "I live here of my own free will."

"Snap out of it Hermione," he said, attempting to sit upright, only to strain one of his many injuries.

Hermione helped him into a sitting position, and started to explain what had happened in the past few months. She explained how Harry had banished her and Ron, how she had been captured by Snatchers, and her deal with Bellatrix. She didn't explain about the Horcruxes, nor about the plan to defeat Harry, and at the end of it, did Kingsley finally relent.

"Ok, so what happened at the Ministry?" he asked.

"Hermione got a vision, first of Pius, then of you;" Bellatrix explained. "Both of you were at the Ministry, and you were both hurt. The Ministry itself was on fire, and I am astounded that we were actually able to get to you in time."

"We?" he asked.

"Myself, Hermione and the Dark Lord," Bellatrix stated, to Kingsley's obvious shock.

"Why would the Dark Lord want to help me?" he asked.

"Simple, he helped you due to who attacked the Ministry," Hermione said.

"And who exactly attacked the Ministry?" Kingsley asked, now getting very confused.

"Harry Potter," Bellatrix said, which confused and shocked Kingsley even more.

It took Kingsley a few minutes to digest the information he had been told, and more importantly, figure out whether it was true and why. 'Why would Harry burn down the Ministry and attack me?' he asked himself. 'I'm a member of the Order, as is he. Why attack your own ally? What do you gain from doing it?' As he contemplated this the two witches left him alone, closing the door behind them. 'Why would Voldemort help me when we are supposed to be enemies? Why would Harry torture Hermione in the first place?' He struggled to get out of the bed, and realised he was wearing a set of black night garments. He decided not to ponder this too much and headed for the door, which he expected to be booby-trapped, or at the very least locked; but was neither. Cautiously, he made his way outside into the hallway, and found that there was no guard posted outside his door. 'This must be a really bad kidnapping if they let me roam free.' Slowly making his way to the staircase, he started to walk downstairs. However, his right leg gave, and he started to fall down the stairs; fortunately, Claire was at the bottom of the stairs having a break when he fell.

"Oh my!" she said as Kingsley started to fall down the stairs. She cast a quick charm to prevent him from injuring himself, and he landed on the floor with a gentle tap. "Are you alright, sir?" she asked Kingsley.

"Yes," he replied as he nursed his leg, which seemed to have fractured at the Ministry and was now causing considerable pain. "I think," he added sheepishly, as Hermione came running over from the Dining Room.

"What happened Claire?" she asked as she looked over Kingsley carefully, noting his broken leg to be the source of the pain.

"Mr Shacklebolt was trying to come downstairs, and he fell," Claire replied, casting a Numbing Charm on Kingsley's leg to stop the pain. "I was able to prevent any major damage, but his leg has been badly hurt."

"Oh Kingsley," Hermione sighed, as she helped him onto his feet and carried him into the Dining Room, where the other residents were seated.

"So that is what all the fuss is about," Voldemort said as Kingsley entered the room. He had become a lot gentler since encountering Hermione, so his voice lacked the venom Kingsley was accustomed to.

"Why are you keeping me here?" Kingsley asked, as Claire handed him a glass of water, which he eagerly accepted. "What do you gain from this?"

"I would have thought you would have realised that, Mr Shacklebolt;" Voldemort replied. "Harry Potter is targeting anyone who has allegiance with me, and it appears that you were just collateral damage. Furthermore, he is attempting to defeat me so that he may rule both worlds."

"What!" was Kingsley's answer. "Why would Harry want to rule over the Wizarding World? He is only a schoolboy, he's not... he's not you." Even as he said this, he knew he didn't believe it. Harry had become more and more obsessed with defeating Voldemort that he had sought after several leads across the country, and even though the Order was practically destroyed with Dumbledore's passing, he knew people were watching his every move. What was worse however was that Ron, Hermione and Harry had dropped off the radar for weeks, and none of the Order knew where they were. "Why would Harry want the power that you possess?" he asked Voldemort.

"Potter wishes to defeat me, as do so many wizards across the country. However, he possesses the Elder Wand, a legendary unbeatable wand; and he believes that its power will be enough to defeat me. Worryingly, his lust for power has led him to the path of death itself. He believes that as master over death, he should have the right to rule the world, as he would be unstoppable, and immortal."

"Immortal?" Kingsley said disbelievingly, in truth, he did not want to believe that Harry was immortal, yet at the same time, he did not realise how powerful and at the same time fearful he had become.

"Yes, Kingsley." It was Hermione speaking now, and even as she did, Kingsley could not believe that she had willingly allied herself with the Death Eaters. "The blood running through the Dark Lord's veins is Harry's blood. Since his blood is in the body of another, he cannot die until the Dark Lord dies." Kingsley was still as he processed this information, analysing every shred of info in his head.

"The reason you are here is for your protection, Kingsley," Bellatrix stated. "As said before, Potter is attempting to stop us from defeating him, so is attacking our allies. You were simply caught in the crossfire." She glanced over to Voldemort before continuing. "We wish to offer a truce with the Order. We will stop the War, and cease fighting so that we can stop Harry. We would like you to set up a meeting so that we can discuss the future of the Wizarding World, not as enemies, but as allies."

Kingsley was thunderstruck; here were two of the most powerful Dark wizards in the world and they were essentially denouncing their 'birthright'. They were telling him that they wished for the war to end, but how could he trust them. "How can I trust you? How can anyone trust you?" he said, the emotion within him attempting to free itself.

"I trust them."

Kingsley looked to Hermione, and could have sworn he saw the most truthful face in the world. "Why do you trust them, when I cannot?"

"Because, if they were lying, they would have killed me instantly when they first met me;" Hermione said, mentally pleading with Kingsley. "I believe there is some good in both of them, and that they truly regret what they have done in the past."

Kingsley pondered this for a minute, before deciding that she was right. "Alright, Hermione, I believe them. But I don't think the Order would like this situation."

"My Death Eaters weren't too fond of the notion either," Voldemort offered, and Kingsley let out a small chuckle. "But what is done is done. We need to stop Potter before he reveals us to the entire Muggle world."

"You're right," Kingsley agreed. "If Harry has truly lost it, then it isn't just our two organisations that are in danger, the entire Wizarding world would be revealed from his actions."

"It almost was." Hermione held up a small television, charmed to run without electricity, and it was broadcasting the national news.

"... Our top story tonight: the mysterious fire that broke out in Central London has been extinguished, but what puzzles local fire-fighters is not how the fire started, but where. Sources from the fire department say that the building where the most intense flames were emanating appeared to belong to a mysterious cult, and they also appear to have found people dressed in robes; probable members of this mystery cult, dead and burnt. We will update you as soon as information becomes available. In other news..."

Hermione turned the television off and looked at Kingsley. As their eyes met, he realised that they meant what they had said about a truce, and that they at least had to try. "We will need a suitable meeting place; not too small, easy to conceal from Muggles, and easy for the Organisations to access."

"I know; the church near to Riddle Mansion!" Voldemort said. "The church is pretty old, so a simple concealment charm will prevent Muggles from seeing us, and it is a very big area so everyone will be able to fit."

"Not to mention that we could put an anti-spellcasting jinx within the church walls, so no one can 'accidentally' attack another," Hermione added.

"Sounds good to me. Tell everyone to meet at noon tomorrow at the church," Kingsley said, to which the others agreed. He sent his lynx Patronus to the Order members, who were informed of the unusual meeting place, while Voldemort messaged his active Death Eaters the same message. Hermione sent an astral dream to Ron, telling him the same message as the others.

The stage was set.

The meeting was decided.

Fate was ready to intervene.

xxxx

The Next Day

Voldemort had insisted on his party arriving to the site early, primarily to fortify the church, but also to be the first to greet any onlookers. Bellatrix was busying herself with the protection and concealment charms surrounding the church, while Hermione was creating the jinx that would protect them from each other. She also had her beaded bag, filled with all of her essentials; more importantly, it held the Sword of Gryffindor, which Bella had let her keep hold of; and she wanted to not be forced to use it. Magic was bad enough to contain, but weapons would be too much.

Kingsley , Wormtail and Voldemort were preparing the seats in the congregation for the respective groups when the first invitees arrived: the Malfoys, Carrows and Snape all Apparated into the courtyard to greet their Dark Lord, when they noticed Kingsley standing next to him. Lucius and the Carrows were ready to attack, but a simple glance from Voldemort, along with words from Draco and Snape respectively negated their responses.

Next to arrive were the Weasley clan: Fred and George, Arthur and Molly, Fleur and Bill, and strangely enough, Percy, who looked rather worse for wear. Again, the adults were on guard, but Kingsley convinced them otherwise. The cycle continued with Greyback arriving with some Death Eaters, followed by Tonks and Remus; before long, the entire congregation was filled with Death Eaters and Phoenixes galore. Last to arrive were Ron and Vernon, who Hermione immediately embraced.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed as she pounced on him, knocking him off balance. "Where the bloody hell have you been!"

"I'll tell you later," she replied, before hugging Vernon also. "Right now, we have a meeting to be a part of." She led the two inside the barrier, where the first signs of arguments were brewing, mostly between Remus and Bill against Greyback.

"Why the fuck do we have to cooperate with this animal!" Remus yelled.

"He has caused the two of us nothing but grief. Why don't you just fucking die, Greyback!" Bill yelled as well.

"I could always just kill you both now and have my fill," Greyback growled back, before their argument was abruptly stopped by Voldemort and Kingsley's appearances in front of them. Considering the seating was in a U-shape, with a gap at the base for people to walk down, Greyback had positioned himself to cause as much tension as possible, something which Voldemort was quick to notice.

"That's quite enough, Greyback. Calm yourself," he spoke. Greyback took heed and sat back down, the urge to argue suppressed by the fear of the Dark Lord.

The congregation was now silent as the meeting started. Voldemort first explained why they had been called together, and asked that they cooperate with each other to defeat Harry. Most of the Phoenixes, save for Ron and Vernon were in uproar over the request, while several members of the Death Eaters were expressing their opinions as well. When Kingsley explained what happened in the Ministry as being Harry's fault, that was when the curses would have started flying, however due to Hermione's jinx, they could not even spout out of the end of their wands, to the chagrin of the users.

Hermione was about to start speaking about how Harry had started his quest for power, when an eerie smoke started to fill the church. Everybody except Hermione found that they couldn't move a muscle, but they could still talk.

"What's going on?" Kingsley yelled, bound in place, just like Voldemort next to him. He struggled in vain to move, something was binding his body in place. Something powerful.

"Who is responsible for this!" Voldemort yelled, and he got his answer a lot sooner than he wished.

"I am."

Everyone looked over to Hermione, who was now emanating a smoky aura, with a glazed look in her eyes. Clearly someone was possessing her, but they were unsure of how. That is, until a smoky apparition appeared behind her.

An apparition of Harry Potter.

"You have all betrayed me," Hermione said, now fully possessed she sounded just like he did. "By coming to this meeting, you have shown that there is no place for the Order of the Phoenix in my new world." Every member of the Order was stunned at what he was saying. "Now, because of your betrayal you must all pay the ultimate price. As must you, Death Eaters." With this Hermione turned to their portion of the church. "You had so much promise, you could have ruled the world under my control, but now you face the same fate."

"How could you do this, Potter!" Voldemort said as Hermione turned to him now.

"Easy, I have the Elder Wand. I am the Master of Death. My word is my law. And there is nothing that anyone can do about it. Not even you, Voldemort." With this last statement, the ghostly apparition of Harry pointed his wand at Voldemort, and Hermione did the same. "Crucio!" the red bold erupted not from Harry's wand, but from Hermione's hands, and the raw power of the curse sent Voldemort flying in pain.

"Harry! Please stop this! This has gone too far!" Ron yelled from beside Percy and Arthur. Immediately, Harry and Hermione turned to face him.

"You really think that I will stop attacking the man who killed my family?" he asked. "He deserves everything that he will get and more. I have more power than any wizard that ever lived, and ever will live!" He pointed his wand at Ron this time and he began levitating out of his chair, before Harry Crucioed him. "Perhaps the first blood spilt today should be the blood of the traitorous Weasleys," he said, to the shock of everyone present. Molly even started crying in her bound state. Ron meanwhile was levitated onto the crucifix that Harry had broken off of the church plinth. He then magically bound Ron to it so that he now resembled how Christ looked in the religious images.

"Hermione, I think it would be best if he was killed without magic," he said softly, his apparition stroking Hermione's cheek. Hermione nodded, and proceeded to open up her bag, before drawing the Sword of Gryffindor from it, to the obvious shock of the congregation.

"Hermione, please don't," Ron pleaded as Hermione walked in front of him.

"Crucio!" yelled Harry, and Hermione pointed the sword at Ron, the magical goblin metal amplifying the spell and causing a lot more pain than normal.

"AAAARRRGGGH!" Ron screamed as he was hit by the amplified curse. Now he knew how Hermione had felt when he cursed her all those months ago. He glanced around and in his pain he saw his family, heads down; Molly Weasley bawling her eyes out, Voldemort in a pile of rubble, and the Death Eaters all hanging their heads in disbelief.

Finally he looked at Hermione, and noticed a tiny spot of red in her otherwise white frosted eyes. "Please," he pleaded weakly, as Harry released him from the curse.

"Please stop this, Hermione!" Bellatrix yelled from behind Ron, and Hermione turned to face her.

"To think, Hermione was in love with you, Lestrange," he said, his voice mocking her pride. "A mudblood in love with a pure blood, how pathetic. You will be second to die, for what you did to Sirius." Harry made Hermione point the sword at her and cast the curse once more, but Bellatrix closed her eyes and braced herself for a pain that was not to come. When she opened them, the wall behind her had taken the attack, and was now a load of rubble.

"What?" she said aloud, before Harry cut her off.

"HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME!" his voice boomed from the apparition now, not from Hermione, and he pointed his smoky wand at her and cast a new curse at her: "Dolore Electrica!" A blue lightning engulfed Hermione and she screamed, her body wracked with pain from the electrocution. When it subsided, she collapsed to the floor, the sword clattering beside her. "If you will not do it, I will." He turned and cursed Bellatrix with the exact same spell, and Hermione saw her lover tortured before her very eyes; the blue lightning surging through every fibre of her body. She looked over to everyone else in the church, before a single tear fell from her eyes. No matter what, no one was going to suffer because of her, that much was certain.

"Now then, slave," Harry said, addressing Hermione now as Bellatrix crumpled to the floor; "I will make sure you do exactly what I say. Imperio!" Hermione was bathed in an eerie sensation, as he wasn't controlling her like a normal Imperius, he was now in complete control of her body.

'I have to fight this. I cannot hurt them for him. He is my enemy.' She kept attempting to repeat this in her head, and each time, the hold over her was challenged, but Harry still stood strong.

"There is no use fighting, now finish the job." Hermione picked up the sword and moved to where Ron was suspended.

'I can't let people die because of me.'

"Let it be known, this is what happens to people who oppose me."

'I can't let him win.'

"They will meet their demise, by my hand."

'I can't let him control me.'

"For I am the Master of Death, and all who oppose me will meet this fate."

'I won't let him control me.'

"Hermione," Bellatrix said, extremely weak and drained from the curse but able to move her arms. "Hermione please, do what you truly think is right." She looked right into Hermione's eyes, and a memory erupted into her mind.

'And I know just how to stop him...'

"Enough chit chat, end his wretched life, slave!" Harry ordered.

Hermione raised the sword and held it above her head, as if ready to strike her friend. Death Eaters and Phoenixes looked away from the scene, while Ron just braced himself for death.

Except it didn't. Hermione was struggling to bring the sword down on her friend, and as he opened his eyes, he saw that her eyes were no longer white, but were in fact a burning red, like the rage within her was building, trying to force Harry out.

"DO IT!" Harry screamed, but his order fell on deaf ears. Hermione was fighting him to the very core, and no matter how hard he tried to bring that sword down, she would not budge.

"You will not control me anymore, Harry James Potter," she said in an almost monotone version of her own voice, and a red aura started to emanate from within her, its power attempting to drive out Harry.

"YOU WILL NOT DEFY ME!" he screamed as he attempted to regain control of her by cursing her, but the aura shielded her from his attacks.

"You will not make me kill my friends, my family, my whole world." Blasts of energy emitted from Hermione, striking Harry square in the chest, and causing his hold on her to decrease more and more.

"NO!" He screamed, and his spectre blasted into Hermione, and now in 'complete control' of Hermione he raised the sword up, ready to strike.

'Got you Potter...'

"Any last words, Ron Weasley," Harry said as he raised the sword to above his head.

Ron looked into the eyes in front of him, and in that instant saw exactly what Hermione had planned for Harry. The sword was pulsating a vivid blood red colour, the same colour that Bellatrix's knife did the first time.

"Yeah," came the reply, from the same mouth no less. Hermione gripped the sword tightly and plunged it into her own abdomen, casting the strongest spell she knew: "CRUCIO MAXIMA!"

The red aura surrounding Hermione exploded, Harry's spectre writhing in pain, the added bonus of his soul being in contact with the basilisk infused sword caused the fragment of Voldemort's soul within him to be obliterated. The blast wave also knocked everyone back, destroying the chairs and most of the church. As Harry's apparition vanished, the spell binding all of the other wizards and witches was removed, allowing them free movement. It also restored their energy, as Ron was able to hug his family; but it wasn't until he realised what Bellatrix was holding did he realise the extent of what had happened. "Hermione!"

Hermione was lying in a pool of blood, the sword having pierced her entirely, and Bella was cradling her, soothing her and pleading with her not to die. "Please, please don't die Miney!" she cried as Hermione's pulse started to weaken.

"Bella," Hermione said weakly, "It was the only way to save you and Ron. I... I love you, my Bella..." she then passed out in her lover's arms, and Ron started to cradle her as well.

"There must be a way to save her, Bellatrix!" Ron said, barely able to contain his emotions.

"I... I don't know if there is one, she has lost a lot of blood, even if there was, she would die before we were able to save her." She started to cry over her lover's lifeless body, and even though she was just within an inch from death, she could not give up. "My Lord, surely there must be a way to save her life."

"There is..." came a reply, not from Voldemort, but from Snape. "We must act quickly though if we are to succeed, and all the equipment we need is in your manor."

"You don't mean..." Bella said, before summoning Claire to the church. "Claire, I need a mass Apparition to Lestrange Manor and I need it now!" she yelled to her house elf, who by now was aware of the gravity of the situation she had landed in.

"At once, my lady," she said and took Voldemort's hand. "Everybody join hands, quickly," she ordered, and immediately, the entire crowd joined hands and concentrated. They Apparated to the manor, where while most of the people were confused as to why they were there, Voldemort, Bella and Snape were quickly gathering the materials necessary to save Hermione's life.

"While I was at Hogwarts, Trelawney made a prophecy, a prophecy referring to Potter, and the Trinity that will have the power to defeat him. I believe it refers to you three," Snape said, as Voldemort and Bellatrix listened in amazement. "The Trinity of Truth, Ideals and Power."

As they made their way to the Sitting Room where Hermione lay motionless, Voldemort asked Bella a question that made her stop in her tracks. "Are you really in love with her, Bellatrix?"

"I love her like no other before her, not even Rodolphus compares to her. I would do anything to save her life. Even this." Voldemort looked at his most trusted ally, and smiled.

"Then let's do this, Bella."

xxxx

When Hermione woke up, she was in a white space, with no other people near her. She got to her feet and looked round. No one there. Then she looked at her body, which was covered in a black dress. She traced the outline of where the sword had entered her abdomen, but there was no wound there. There wasn't even any wounds that were caused by Bellatrix.

Bellatrix.

When her thoughts turned to her lover, she looked round, trying desperately to find her.

"You were so brave, Miney," her soft voice floated towards her and she turned round to be greeted by her lover.

"Bella!" the witch embraced her counterpart in one of the most intense kisses she had ever given to her. As they released each other, she looked at Bella, and didn't see a single scratch on her, and she started to cry. "I'm sorry Bella, I'm so so sorry."

"Don't apologise, Miney, besides, you look good in that dress." Hermione looked at her and saw that she was in an almost identical dress to her own.

"Where are we, Bella?" she said finally, as the two began to wander the vast white plane.

"We are in your mind, Hermione Granger," a third voice said, and the two witches turned to see a man, with a black suit and matching black hair addressing them. "Forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Tom Marvolo Riddle."