Unfortunately, this chapter is only a short one. The next few are as short as this, but there are only three Chapters left so I wanted to get them done. I hope you enjoy it all the same.

Chapter Sixteen

The Battle Approaches

A month had passed since Hermione and Draco's powers were discovered. Their training had been going well, and their relationship was still going strong.

They had been watching the stars in the Astronomy Tower when Draco had confessed he knew that he was destined to love her, that he was the Dragon in the Prophesy. Hermione had in turn told him she knew as well. They both were happy to realise that were soul mates.

Hermione was sat at the Gryffindor table. She felt that she had been neglecting her boys so had spent the last two days with them. Now the three of them were sat having dinner together.

Hermione vaguely noted that Severus wasn't at Dinner, but her attention was soon drawn back to the boys as Harry recounted a funny story from Divination. The Golden Trio began to laugh at the story and a warm feeling filled Hermione. These boys were her family. She would be sorry to leave them. After all, the year was almost at an end.

Her happy bubble was burst when the doors burst open and screams erupted around the hall. Severus lay on the floor, his robes torn and blood covered his body. His face was paler than normal and Hermione felt worry fill her. After all, he had been one of her friends.

She rushed to him, pushing through all of the students forming a crowd around the Potions Master. Hermione dropped to her knees and pulled his head into her lap. "Mya." Severus groaned.

"Shh, Its okay. You're safe now." Hermione cooed, letting some of her wandless magic heal up his worst wounds. "What happened?" She asked, softly stroking his hair. "He knows. He knows I am a spy."

Hermione's blood ran cold and she bit her lip in worry. "Albus! Get down here, Albus!" She yelled, her voice echoing over the students' voices. In a minute, Albus was by her side.

"What happened?" He asked worriedly. "Tom knows that Severus is a spy for the light." Hermione told the elderly man. Horror flitted across his face before he regained his composure.

"Hermione, control the students. I need to get Severus up to the Hospital wing." Albus told her, standing and levitating his half dead colleague.

As he was about to leave, Severus grabbed Hermione's arm. "He is coming. Tomorrow, the battle begins." He rasped before fainting. Albus met Hermione's eye and she sent him a silent message that she had to tell the Students. He nodded and continued to levitate Severus to the Hospital wing.

Hermione ran up to the Teacher's podium. "Sonorus." She whispered, pointing her wand at herself. "QUIET!" She yelled. The Great Hall fell silent and turned to look at the Gryffindor heir. "We don't have much time. At Dawn, Voldemort will be here with the Deatheaters. Tomorrow, the war begins."

Chaos erupted and cries of horror ran through the student body. "SILENCE!" Hermione growled and once more they fell silent. "Only 5th years and older shall be fighting. The rest of you that are too young or do not wish to fight will be hidden. The staff will tell you where to go. Those who want to fight shall stay in the Great Hall to rest, train and eat. After all, the Battle may go on for some time. If any of you have a gift for healing please go to Madam Pomfrey."

Silence reigned after the orders had been given; only broken by the occasional sniffle of some students. The silence was suddenly broken by a rasping voice that came from the Teacher's Table.

Professor Trelawney got to her feet, her eyes gazing unseeingly out at the student population. "The burden has shifted, the future has changed course. The weight of the world no longer rests on the Boy-Who-Lived, but the Cursed One and her Dragon. The Burden has shifted, the Future has changed course, and the fate rests on the One who cannot die."

Trelawney coughed and looked down at the hall. "Sorry, I must have dozed off. Are you alright, dears?" She asked. Hermione met Draco's eye and smiled weakly at the boy. He had paled several shades than his normal skin tone and looked terrified.

Hermione turned and ran to her boys and Ginny. "Mione, does that mean what I think it does?" Harry asked weakly. Hermione sighed. "Yes, it does Harry. Draco and I have to kill Voldemort." She replied. Ron and Ginny gasped in horror. "Mione, you can't." Ron protested.

Hermione smiled sadly at him. "I'll be fine. Besides, I can't die. Remember." Ginny sniffled and hugged her older friend tightly. "But what if this time you do die?" She asked weakly. Hermione sighed. "If I do, then I hope I bring that scaly bastard with me. Besides, it's something I have dreamed off for generations." She paused. "Tomorrow, one of us will die. I am will do everything to make sure it's Tom."

Please Read and Review. I hope you liked this chapter and the fact the story is hotting up. Next Chapter: The battle begins.