Same disclaimer. Sorry for such a short chapter, its just this one is to show how good a fighter Hermione is and what the War did to her. Next chapter it's the Battle so I wanted to get this done quickly. There is only 3 Chapters and the epilogue left now YAY!

Anyway, enjoy

Chapter Eleven

Ready for War

The next morning the Order woke and immediately set about preparing for the battle to come. The Cullens offered their secluded baseball pitch for them to use to train. The Order accepted and began setting up their equipment. They warded the area, so any person not with them couldn't find them.

Edward watched with a dull interest as some various Order members duelled the Deatheater dummies in pairs, some duelling 3 at a time. His interest peaked when Hermione and Harry stepped forward. Dumbledore added six Deatheaters to the scenario before coming to sit by Bella and the Cullens.

"This is the same amount they duelled as Harry tried to reach Voldemort. In fact, they're going to re-enact it." He told them, before activating the dummies. At once they sprung into life, firing spells at them. Quite dangerous spells.

Harry and Hermione stood back to back, blocking and firing their own spells back at the Dummies. Then an opening appeared as a Deatheater Dummy fell. "Go, Harry!" Hermione yelled, stunning another Dummy. Harry nodded and ran out of the gap, Hermione shielding him when a couple of spells were aimed at him. Now it was just her and 4 Deatheaters.

Edward watched spellbound as Hermione fought the dummies single handed. She was graceful, yet deadly. She sent a spell to a Dummy as it crept up behind her. One down.

She then spun round and aimed a round house kick at another Dummy. The Dummy grabbed her leg, stopping it. Hermione used it's hold to twist herself round, freeing her leg and kicking it's head. She then leapt down into a crouch and shot a spell at it. Two down.

The other two circled Hermione as she stood tensed, ready to attack. One charged at her and she leapt skilfully over it's head. She then kicked it's back, forcing it to the ground. Once on the ground, she withdrew a dagger and plunged it into it's back. Three down.

She and the final Dummy circled each other, waiting for the other to attack. This time, Hermione attacked first. She fired a curse at the Dummy, which it blocked. It went on like this for a long while before the Dummy finally fell and the test ended.

Harry walked back over and gently hugged Hermione. "That was awesome!" Emmett exclaimed, bounding over to her. Hermione laughed. "It was nothing. Just good practice." She replied.

"Nothing? Mione that was amazing. You were so graceful, but yet so deadly." Bella gushed, coincidently mirroring Edward's earlier thoughts. Hermione blushed lightly. "It was necessary. In war there is only ever kill or be killed." She sighed.

Jasper hung his head, knowing only too well what she meant. Edward nudged him and gestured for the Cullen brothers to use the Dummies to train. They walked into the clearing and set the Dummies to Newborn Vampire level, setting up 2 dummies each.

Now it was Hermione's turn to watch. The Dummies and the Vampires moved so fast it was nearly impossible to see. She watched stunned as each Cullen covered each other's back and fought side by side. It wasn't long before the fight was over.

The only major casualty was Jasper's arm had been torn off. He had ignored it, deciding he was probably going to have worse at the end of the fight. Once the fight was over, Alice ran straight to him and helped him reattach him arm, helping him through the agony of the skin and bones fusing together again.

At the end of the day, Hermione and Edward sat outside on a small hillock looking up at the stars as they twinkled silently above them.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Edward asked quietly, his arms wrapped around Hermione. "Just thinking of the Final battle and the one to come." She replied. Edward smiled. "What made you come here in the first place?" He asked.

"When Ron died, I used all the pain I had locked up inside of me and turned into the fuel for fighting. I trained harder than most, just wanting to be the best so I could avenge him, and my parents." Hermione told him, sighing.

"My parents were terrified when they were captured, not really knowing what was going on. Then they died and I felt half of me go. But when Ron died, the rest of me died with him. I managed to ignore it until after the battle."

"Seeing so many celebrating couples made me realise how much I missed him. I tried to cope for a while, but I couldn't. There was no-one to hold or comfort me during my nightmares and I couldn't impose on Harry. He was happy being free. So I decided to leave and come here. I'm so glad I did, because I have you."

Hermione leaned up and kissed Edward gently. Edward smiled and hugged her tightly. Above them a shooting star went by.

Please Read and Review and I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible.