A/N: WARNING: Major character deaths ahead!
...So, this is the climax of the war, and well, the story. I hope you like it :) Review!
Chapter 46: The End
July 27th 1979 (Friday)
Hermione walked along a vast, dimly lit hall with dark looking paintings and displeased looking busts adorning its walls. Everything was dark and gloomy; the windows were covered with black heavy curtains and the stone floor was barren. Bellatrix pranced in front of her, her heels clacking against the stone and her occasional cackling echoing from the walls. Hermione didn't feel calm or courageous. She was terrified, in panic. She was scared to death.
Regulus walked behind her, still making no gestures that would have shown that they even knew each other. He didn't touch her, but merely kept his wand aimed at her and urged her to move forward. It was better that way. She knew he had to keep his cover, and she hoped that he would survive, even if she didn't.
After what felt like a half an hour walk, they stopped in front of a pair of heavy wooden doors with silver snake door knobs. The doors, guarded by two Death Eaters, opened, and Bellatrix, Hermione and Regulus walked into what Hermione thought had once been a ball room, based on its size, but it was nothing like a ball room now. There were several people – at least fifty Death Eaters and other Voldemort's followers, forming a large crescent in the centre of the room. In the middle of it was a giant, mahogany throne chair in a pedestal with a man sitting on it, staring calmly ahead, his red eyes glowing in the dark.
Voldemort.
Even though he didn't look like the snake-like man Harry had once described rising from the large cauldron after his resurrection, his features still seemed somehow burned and distorted. His hair was black, his skin white, and he had long fingers curling on the chair's armrests. Hermione suppressed a shiver and walked silently ahead, not daring to look into the man's eyes, not wanting him to see how terrified she was. As they neared the group, Bellatrix took her place next to Voldemort, while Regulus and Hermione stopped in front of them.
"Miss Dumbledore." Voldemort spoke with a cold, serpentine voice. "Welcome."
Hermione stared at the floor, deciding not to answer, not to give in to his taunts.
"You filthy little tramp, answer to the Dark Lord!" Bellatrix shrieked, her eyes blazing with madness.
Voldemort tutted. "Now, now, Bella. Let out guest gather her courage," he said silkily.
Hermione gritted her teeth and stayed silent.
"Afraid to look at me?" Voldemort spoke inside her head. Hermione knees nearly buckled. It was horrifying.
"Not to worry. We'll have some fun first."
Then Voldemort spoke louder so that everyone could hear him. "I believe introductions are in order. Those of you, who haven't had the pleasure to get acquainted with this young lady, may I present; Miss Hermione Dumbledore, the niece of Albus Dumbledore, and daughter of Aberforth Dumbledore," Voldemort spoke in a serpentine way. Several Death Eaters snarled and cackled as they assessed her under their masks, closing the circle behind her and Regulus.
"Silence." Voldemort hissed and the chattering stopped immediately. "Mr. Black," Voldemort said silkily.
Regulus slid past Hermione and kneeled on the floor in front of Voldemort. "My Lord?"
His voice was steady, without emotion, but Hermione still knew he was scared.
Hermione glanced slightly upwards, and she could see Voldemort smiling.
"See that our guest feels welcome," He said quietly, a threatening hint in his voice.
Hermione knew that it didn't mean anything good, and she took in a shaky breath, trying to stay strong. Trying to stay brave, even though she was practically trembling.
Regulus muttered, "My Lord." He stood up and turned to look at Hermione. For a miniscule moment, she could see despair in his eyes, and she knew he had been ordered to kill her.
There was so much she wanted to say to him, so much she wanted to do with her life. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to leave this world. She didn't want to leave him.
Hermione was surprised when a Cruciatus curse left from Regulus's wand and struck her.
Hermione fell to the ground, screaming because of the unexpected pain. It felt like scalding hot water had been thrown on her, like hundred needles were stinging her. But the pain…the pain wasn't anything like she had experienced the last time she had been tortured. When Bellatrix had tortured her. It was…less. She suddenly realised that it didn't hurt that much. She was able to bear it. Hermione's eyes moved to Regulus, and she could see that he was gasping, his eyes filled with tears and his face twisted with agony. The bracelet. He was taking her pain.
"What is she doing to him?!" Bellatrix screeched impatiently from her place.
Voldemort lifted his hand and smiled as the curse was lifted from Hermione.
"Well, well…" Voldemort said slowly. "I should have known…Mr. Black. Take off her bracelet."
Regulus hesitated for a small moment, and Voldemort laughed. Everyone else was silent while a cold, amused laugh echoed in the room. Regulus's wand instantly flew from between his fingers towards Voldemort. Hermione suppressed a shiver of nausea. Voldemort had seen through Regulus.
"You fool. You think you can mislead me, boy?" Voldemort said darkly.
Regulus faced Voldemort but said nothing.
"I know where she comes from. I know about your desires. I know about your betrayal. I. Know. Everything. I have seen everything, inside your head," Voldemort hissed with such malice, that it made Hermione's skin prickle. Voldemort had known about her all along.
"Were you foolish enough to think that you, a mere boy, could deceive a mighty Lord?" He asked tauntingly. Murmurs and amused sounds erupted from the Death Eaters around them.
Regulus stared at Voldemort silently before he answered. "Yes."
Voldemort chuckled. "And why might that be?" He asked, looking raged and amused at the same time. "Why protect a mere half-blood?" He asked, seeming almost curious. Then he smirked venomously. "No. Let me guess. Is is…love?" He asked softly, and Bellatrix made a disgusted sound while the other Death Eaters jeered around them.
Hermione saw that many of them were pointing their wands at Regulus and her.
Regulus stared at Voldemort with an unreadable expression. "Yes."
"Love," Voldemort repeated mockingly. "You of all people should know it is a means to an end," Voldemort said coldly, his red eyes flashing.
"CRUCIO," Voldemort yelled before any of them could make a move, and Regulus fell to the ground, screaming on the top of his lungs, writhing on the floor and scraping the marble with his fingers.
"NO!" Hermione shrieked, trying to go to him, but was held back by two Death Eaters. "No! Please, stop!" Hermione sobbed, feeling agony and nausea as she saw Regulus moaning with pain, scratching his face, where blood, sweat and tears were mixing together.
"You should know that it is a weakness," Voldemort said chillingly after lifting the curse. Regulus panted, trembling on the floor. Voldemort's wand slashed again, "CRUCIO!"
Regulus cried again, eyes rolling in his head, his body juddering and twisting unnaturally, his voice becoming hoarse as he continued screaming.
Seconds turned into minutes and Voldemort merely stared at the trashing man at his feet with a calm, satisfied smirk on his face, his wand trained ahead.
Hermione kept screaming, kept struggling against the Death Eaters who were keeping her in place. "Please!" She cried, tears trickling down her cheeks, her ears ringing with Regulus's screams.
The curse was lifted, after what seemed like ten minutes, and Regulus was left breathing shallowly on the floor, slipping into unconsciousness. What if he was tortured to insanity?
Hermione wept silently, her heart breaking because of Regulus's pain and suffering.
Voldemort turned to look at Hermione.
"Look at me now, or I won't be so merciful to him again," Voldemort said softly.
Hermione shuddered, her lip quivering. She lifted her eyes slowly, and finally looked into his red eyes. Voldemort smiled threateningly. And then she could feel him in her mind, pushing away her Occlumency shields as if they were made from mere paper instead of strongly built walls. He was looking though her memories and her life. She could do nothing but let him. She felt him go through every moment she'd had with Regulus, every Order meeting, every memory of Dumbledore, and then he faltered. He saw the cave. The Room of Requirement. The Gaunt Shack. The Malfoy library.
Suddenly she was flying forward, and Voldemort had stood up from his chair. Hermione stopped abruptly, merely inches away from Voldemort. Seeing the red eyes and his cold features that close made her even more terrified.
"What was that?" He whispered with a chilling voice, lifting his hand and clenching his fist.
Hermione whimpered as an invisible hand closed around her throat, closing her airway. She tried to pry the hand away, and to get the blockage off of her, but there was nothing. It was Voldemort choking her with such anger that it crippled her body while searching her mind.
Images of the Room of Requirement, deserted hills of Dartmoor and a Diadem placed on the top of a stone podium fluttered in forefront of her mind. The images were replaced with the cave in Letterfearn, with a ring, a locket and a diary.
Voldemort then screamed loudly, and every window in the room exploded. His followers were hunching and yelling in surprise as they tried to cover themselves. Hermione collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath as the air was filling her lungs again.
In the midst of the pain and horror, Hermione realised that Voldemort had known about the cup, that was certain. He had known that they had been attempting to steal it, and had used it as a bait. But he hadn't known about the rest. Even though he had searched through Regulus's mind and found out about her, he hadn't seen anything regarding his other Horcruxes. Hermione glanced at Regulus. He was still lying on the ground, barely breathing, his eyes closed. She didn't even want to think of how strong Voldemort's torturing curses were.
"You…" Voldemort hissed and Hermione was lifted from the ground by an invisible force.
"You have found my secrets." Voldemort's voice echoed inside her head, while the ballroom was quiet. He stared at her with immense rage in his glimmering eyes, and Hermione knew she was as good as dead now. He had found out everything there was to know.
"We shall see who will triumph, Miss Granger. I am longing to see your friends…Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, correct?" His voice hissed in her head, and Hermione whimpered with dread. Had he figured out a way to travel through time and universe? Perhaps he had seen her Time-turner in her mind and was now planning to acquire one.
"My Lord?" Bellatrix purred affectionately.
Voldemort glanced at her.
"May I now dispose the disgrace of my family?" She asked, staring at Regulus maniacally.
Voldemort's thin lips quirked up a bit.
"NO!" Hermione screamed, kneeling in front of Regulus as soon as the spell that had kept her in the air was lifted.
Voldemort laughed coldly. "Silly girl. You are willing to protect him, even though you don't even know half of the things he's done under my command. How utterly Gryffindor of you," He said simply and smirked when several of his followers sniggered. Hermione clenched her jaw and stared back at the man.
Voldemort turned to Bellatrix. "I'm afraid you will have to wait for your cousin's persecution," he said simply. Bellatrix seemed angered but said nothing and merely narrowed her eyes at Hermione, as if she was to blame.
"Take them to the cellar. I may have use for both of them later," Voldemort said coldly to his men who were holding Hermione again, and then they were dragged away.
Hermione couldn't help but wonder why she was still alive. Unless…unless Voldemort was planning to use her somehow to get to the future. To where she came from. To Harry and Ron. Fear filled her as she thought of the possibility.
Hermione sat again in the cold basement, her eyes adjusted to the darkness long ago. It had to be at least an hour after the events upstairs. Regulus was next to her, lying motionless on his side on the stone floor, breathing deeply. At least he was still alive. Hermione thought miserably. She had tried to revive him, but eventually given up and reckoned he needed to rest for a bit and gather his strength. If there was anything left of him…
In the meantime, Hermione had had the time to think about the events of that day as well as try to plan their escape. Which had turned out rather futile.
She had thought over their mission at Gringotts, and the situation from which she had left when she had been captured. The bank blasted into pieces and Death Eaters swarming everywhere, her friends fighting for their lives. Were they even still alive? Her insides clenched with dread as she thought how Gideon had been thrown across the room. What about Sirius, Remus, Mary and Alice? What about Ab? And Dumbledore? And everyone else?
And Voldemort knew. He knew about the time-traveller, he knew it was her. Was he going to use her somehow to travel into the future? Was that possible, even if he was able to get a Time-turner in his hands? Was she being kept alive so that he could learn about the future in peace? Hermione had noticed that Voldemort hadn't said anything about her past to anyone else, well, other than Bellatrix, so perhaps he was intending to keep the information from his followers.
Voldemort also now knew that Hermione had been hunting and destroying his Horcruxes. Had he truly thought that they hadn't known about the others, and only about the cup? The cup…it had obviously been a trap. He had known…he had fed the information to Regulus, and known that the Order would receive it, as he'd seen Regulus's mind…But why hadn't Voldemort seen it necessary to check his other Horcruxes if he knew that the Order was after one of them? Was Voldemort truly that imperious?
Was she still alive, shoved into a basement because Voldemort had wanted to check them himself? How soon would he confirm that they had all been destroyed? Hermione truly hoped that Dumbledore had left with the cup and had managed to destroy it. But was it possible for Voldemort to make new ones? Hermione doubted that. Even one was pushing magical limits, but six? Or more?
Regulus groaned next to her.
"Reg?" Hermione whispered, shuffling closer to him. "Regulus?" Hermione asked hastily. What if he had lost his mind? He had been tortured for so long. Hermione's lip quivered as she pushed the sweaty and bloody hair away from his face. "Please be okay. Please," Hermione said quietly, her voice wavering as she soothed his back.
"Hermione," He mumbled, his eyes still closed. "I'm sorry." Then he passed out again.
A quiet sob escaped from her lips. Was he going to be okay? She blinked back the tears that threatened to burst out as she thought about their hopeless situation. She had to focus. They had to get out. But there was no other way out than the door. Hermione wished she was able to do wandless magic, like some of the more powerful witches and wizards were able to. She wished she was able to send a message to the Order. Or what was left of it after Gringotts.
In the midst of her pondering, the door suddenly creaked open. Hermione let out a quiet gasp and scrambled to stand up as a man entered into the cellar.
It was Snape.
"Snape," Hermione whispered warily, not really sure if he could be trusted.
Snape eyed Hermione and then his eyes flickered to Regulus. "Wake him up. You have to go now," He said silently, an unreadable look in his eyes.
Hermione stared at him for a second, utterly stunned, and then went into motion, pulling Regulus from the ground, urging him to wake up. He didn't move a muscle.
When Hermione gave Snape a helpless look, the dark haired Slytherin frowned at his unconscious friend and muttered a spell that Hermione did not recognise. Regulus instantly blinked, his body trembling slightly.
"It won't last long. Come on," Snape said tightly.
Hermione nodded and shushed Regulus, who mumbled incoherently. "Regulus, please be quiet, just follow me. You'll feel better soon, okay? I promise," She said, trying hard not to cry as she saw his face.
He looked so lost, so in pain, but eventually he nodded to her.
"I only have one," Snape said in a hurry and thrusted a wand in her hands, and flicked his own over Hermione and Regulus. She instantly felt the disillusionment charm flowing around her. Hermione didn't have the time to examine the wand, but she knew it wasn't her wand. But it had to do.
They followed Snape towards upstairs quickly and quietly. Regulus dragged his feet, leaning heavily against Hermione as they went on, step after step, and Hermione's muscles soon quaked from his weight. She was panting as they reached the ground floor. Snape sent a glare at her direction and then looked around them cautiously. But before they managed to take another step into the vast entrance hall, Voldemort spoke, his cold voice echoing around them.
"Leaving so soon, Severus?" Voldemort said with an icy voice. "And with my guests for that matter?"
Hermione swallowed hard. Voldemort glided towards them from the shadows, with several Death Eaters following him. She moved the wand away from sight, and could see Snape's fingers twitch.
A second passed by, and a curse went flying towards Snape from Voldemort's wand. Snape deflected it and the duel was on.
The handful of Death Eaters, who were in the room, attacked Snape immediately with raging shouts. Snape sent a couple of them flying to the walls with a flick of his wrist, while simultaneously sending a curse after curse towards Voldemort, who laughed with a chilling sound.
Hermione charged forward, facing three Death Eaters at once. She knew she wasn't going to last long, but at least she had the element of surprise since she was still disillusioned.
"You think you can outrun me, Severus?" Voldemort taunted with a silky voice even as they traded curses and deflected them. "Look at your pathetic little friends, Severus…They'll be dead within minutes."
Hermione dodged and swirled, her wand slashing in the air as she fought the three men, their magic crackling in the air. She sent every curse she could think of, deflected curses, rolled to the floor to avoid them, but then a torturing curse hit her straight in the chest.
"AAAAH!" Hermione screamed and trashed, her wand flying from her grip. But the pain lasted only seconds, ending with a green jet of light hitting the Death Eater who had cursed her.
Regulus.
Voldemort snarled and flicked his wrist, ending the disillusionment charm over Hermione and Regulus, but didn't have a chance to interfere more since both Regulus and Snape shot a string of curses towards him.
"You're dead, Black!" One of the Death Eaters yelled, his mouth already forming a curse, which Regulus deflected easily as he started to duel the remaining two men, all the while summoning the wand of the fallen Death Eater. Hermione sprang to her feet and quickly grabbed the wand from the air, sending a curse of her own towards the opponents.
She spared a glance at Snape and Voldemort, who were both still alive, both still in full motion, and if she hadn't been fighting her own fight, their duel would have been something magnificent to see. Something she hadn't never even dared to imagine. Their magic was flowing in the air, sending electricity towards everything and everyone, the waves power coursing around them.
"Hermione, run!" Regulus yelled as they fought, side by side, with jets of green and red flying everywhere.
She wasn't going to leave him. He was still weak, probably losing his strength soon. "Not without you!" Hermione screamed and stunned the other Death Eater.
Before either of them could say anything else, Voldemort's and Snape's spells collided and a large explosion erupted from their wands, blasting a hole into the ceiling. Everyone took cover, trying to avoid the bits of ceiling that was flying everywhere.
Blasts and screaming sounds emanated from outside. Hermione saw Voldemort growling with anger and then he disapparated, the one surviving Death Eater following him.
"Come on!" Hermione screamed to Regulus, who was still gazing at the entrance hall, its floor filled with bits of rock. Then she saw what he was staring at.
It was Snape. He was lying on the floor. A deep wound across his chest, blood pooling under him.
"Shit," Regulus whispered and ran to him. Hermione followed.
Snape gurgled while the two tried every healing spell they could perform, tried to put pressure to the wound, but nothing was working. With his final strength, Snape gripped Regulus's neck and stared into his eyes.
Regulus looked back in silence, and then nodded at his friend. Snape's hand slackened, slowly falling back to the ground, and the sharp look in his black eyes disappeared.
He was gone.
Regulus stood slowly up and gasped for breath, blinking away tears as he watched his fallen friend. He swallowed hard, swayed slightly and turned to Hermione. "Let's go," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Hermione pressed her lips together and after a short hesitation, she followed him. They quickly moved towards the doors that lead outside, where they could hear a battle taking place. Was the Order there? How had they found them? Had Snape tipped them off before coming to rescue Hermione and Regulus from the dungeon? Hermione's heart filled with hope. Perhaps her friends were alive. Perhaps they were there, fighting, refusing to let go.
As Hermione and Regulus stepped outside, Hermione's breath left her lungs when she saw the devastating view. It was the final battle. The vast grounds and the beautiful Scottish wilderness surrounding the castle was filled with Death Eaters, Giants, Trolls, and other dark creatures Hermione didn't even know existed, facing Order members, Aurors and other fighters of the Light. Duels were taking place everywhere she looked, wizards and witches were running away from the dozen Giants who waved their weapons and tried to stomp on people. Jets of light zoomed here and there, and people were screaming and shouting.
It was utterly insane.
And her side was losing. She could see many bodies in the ground, panic rising inside her. "Regulus," Hermione gasped. "Sirius. Remus. My friends," She mumbled. She couldn't see them. What if they were amongst the bodies lying on the ground? Cold spread inside her as she realised the possibility.
"Hermione." Regulus said, his focus faltering. Hermione cursed inwardly, hoping to Merlin he was going to get better. "You need to leave," he said, swallowing hard.
Hermione shook her head. "No. I'm fighting. For them. Until the end," She said with a lump in her throat and glanced at him. She had to fight, there was no other way.
Regulus's gritted his teeth, his eyes focusing again. He didn't say anything, but merely nodded, and together they made their way towards the battle, towards the nearest duel taking place between five Death Eaters and three Aurors.
One of the Aurors fell to the ground just before Hermione and Regulus had come close enough to fight.
"NO!" Hermione screamed and aimed her wand to the Death Eaters. "Stupefy!"
There was no time to see if the fallen wizard was alive, since it was five against four, and Regulus was still slower, weaker than he normally was.
One of the Aurors stunned one Death Eater and sent another flying across the air, straight into the walls of the castle with a sickening thud. After that, Hermione, Regulus and the two Aurors managed to stun the rest of their opponents and bind them against the nearest tree after taking their wands away.
Hermione glanced at the fight, and just as she turned back to their group, she saw one of the two Aurors lift his wand towards the unconscious Death Eaters.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked with confusion and moved closer to the Aurors. Regulus eyed the men suspiciously.
The Auror lifted his brows at Hermione. "Making sure they're not coming back to kill us, that is."
"No! You can't do that!" Hermione yelled in shock, grabbing the Auror's hand. Regulus and the other Auror moved next to them, both gripping their wands.
"What if they were Imperiused?" Hermione asked imploringly, stunned by the Auror's behaviour. They were officers of the law, for Merlin's sake!
The Auror's wand hand dropped a notch. "They killed my partner," he said bitterly.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and let his arm go. "That doesn't mean they did it willingly. They deserve a trial," Hermione said tersely, and saw the other Auror next to Regulus nod in agreement.
"Come on, mate…they're unarmed. We're needed elsewhere," the Auror, who seemed to be agreeing with Hermione, spoke, a warning tone in his voice.
The Auror closer to Hermione pulled his wand back and heaved a sigh. "I suppose you're right," He said heavily, looking slightly torn.
Hermione gave him a tight smile. The two Aurors left hastily towards the next duel nearby, and Hermione turned to Regulus. "We have to move on."
The battle had spread out to at least a half-mile radius, and Hermione still hadn't seen any of her friends. The only Order members she had spotted were Dorcas Meadowes and Caradoc Dearborn, who were fighting side by side a small distance away.
"Hermione, look out!" Regulus shouted seconds before she was knocked back by several yards.
She thumped on the grass on her back and gasped in surprise as she saw an ugly looking Troll advance on her. Not again… Hermione thought as she quickly rolled to her side to avoid the Troll's club which was smashing into the ground. She could hear Regulus yelling curses at the Troll, but none of them sunk in because of its thick hide.
"Regulus!" Hermione screamed to him, leaping on the other side to avoid the swinging club.
"Hit it with the club!" She shrieked and lunged aside again.
Suddenly the club was lifted in the air, and the Troll blinked stupidly at its hands. Then the club whacked the Troll in the stomach with a brutal force, sending the creature flying in the air and colliding with a Giant further away, knocking the Troll unconscious.
Hermione stared at Regulus in amazement. "That was…Well. Thanks," She said and let out a stunned laugh.
Regulus pulled her up from the ground and pushed a tendril of her hair behind her ear. "You okay?" He asked with a worried look, trying to assess her injuries.
Hermione nodded. "I'm okay. Let's just – "
The rest of her sentence died in her throat as she glanced around them and saw something. It was Sirius and Fabian, fighting a Giant. The spells were bouncing off of its thick hide, and even though they managed to hurt the Giant, it seemed it only made it even angrier. Then the Giant lifted Fabian up, its fingers pressing against the man's body, attempting to squash him. The Giant threw Fabian back to the ground when Sirius shot a severing charm straight into its eyes.
The Giant howled and waved its weapon, aiming at the two wizards.
"NO!" Hermione screamed and lifted her wand, running towards them. She didn't think about the consequences. She couldn't. Her wand circled in an intricate pattern, and right before an enormous fiery eagle soared from the tip of her wand, Hermione screamed, "SIRIUS! TAKE FABIAN AND RUN!"
The Giant saw the Fiendfyre too late. When the cursed flames touched it, the Giant howled in pain. Regulus helped his brother to drag the unconscious Fabian away, and only seconds later the large creature fell to the ground, dead. Hermione put all her willpower to maintaining the curse, attacking the next Giant nearby.
"Mother of Merlin…" Sirius gasped behind her, after seeing what she'd done, before turning and making sure no one was attacking them since Hermione and Fabian were both defenceless.
Hermione started to shake slightly. It was taking so much of her, maintaining the curse. Second Giant crashed to the ground. Hermione could hear whoops and shouting around them, since the rest of the Giants started to retreat. They had seen what had happened to their kind.
Hermione gasped, her strength fading. She knew she had to put out the flames, before they'd become uncontrollable. With a significant amount of strength, Hermione was able to end the curse.
She was left panting, as if she'd run a marathon, feeling delighted and exhausted after her performance.
"That was something. You did good, Hermione," Gideon's voice spoke behind her.
Hermione turned to look at him, feeling drained. "Gideon!" She sobbed, drawing him into a crushing hug. "You're alive!"
Gideon gave her a tight smile and pulled back. "Nothing of the sort now, Hermione. We have a war to win." He said with determination. Hermione could see that he was rather banged up, but so were all of them.
Gideon turned to his brother, who was groaning on the ground where Regulus was helping him, healing everything he was able to.
"Gideon, the cup! Is it destroyed?" Hermione asked urgently, while Gideon nodded to Regulus, who backed away slightly.
"Black."
"Prewett."
Gideon glanced at Hermione and nodded. "Yeah. Dumbledore's somewhere fighting Voldemort," he said and waved his wand over his brother, and frowned as he examined him. "Should be good," he muttered.
Fabian smirked slightly. "Well, that's nothing new…that I should be god. I am divine, after all," Fabian said weakly, blinking as he struggled to sit up with a small wince.
Gideon rolled his eyes. "How do you explain Hermione saving your arse then, oh high and mighty?" He asked and lifted his brother up.
Fabian shrugged. "Never said I was stronger than her," he said simply and turned to Hermione. "Thank you, little Dumbledore. Nice save." He said with a grateful look and hugged her briefly.
Hermione smiled at Fabian while Gideon rolled his eyes.
"If we are done with the niceties, could we perhaps wipe away those fucking sneers from the Death Eaters' faces? Anyone?" Sirius asked, and together they advanced the nearest group of duels taking place.
Just as they had separated, with Gideon and Fabian moving to another direction while Sirius, Hermione and Regulus moved towards another, Sirius screamed, "MOONY!"
Hermione only saw the black-haired Marauder sprint towards a small group. Mary was there, fighting against two Death Eaters. Then Hermione saw Remus on the ground. "No…." Hermione whispered with dread and ran towards them.
Remus was panting on the ground, a deep gash in his arm, dripping with blood. His leg was twisted unnaturally, looking deformed. "Pads…I'm fine. Help Mary…" Remus grunted, pressing the wound with his other hand.
Sirius glanced at Hermione and his brother before he surged forward to duel beside Mary.
"Remus, is everyone okay?" Hermione asked as she quickly healed the wound in Remus's arm and waved her wand over his leg, casting a quick diagnostic charm. His knee was dislocated. Hermione flicked her wand and put it back in place.
Remus growled with pain and then shook his head. "I don't have a clue, honestly. I'm relieved that you guys are okay, though," He said and stood up when Regulus helped him.
"Where is Dumbledore?" Hermione muttered more to herself than anyone else as she eyed around them. There was a large clearing ahead, and on its other side, she could see bursts of magic cracking in the air, puffs of smoke and surges of energy. Dumbledore was duelling Voldemort. And a handful of Death Eaters at the same time.
"There!" Hermione yelled, pointing towards the distance. "Let's go!"
Sirius and Mary joined Hermione, Remus and Regulus, and together they started to run towards Dumbledore.
"Hermione…" Regulus gasped suddenly, his voice wavering, his pace slowing down.
Hermione whirled to look at him and stopped on her tracks. "What is it?" She asked and regarded his exhausted appearance. She could see that Sirius, Remus and Mary too had stopped and were eyeing their surroundings with alarm. Hermione felt cold, even though only moments before it had been a warm summer night. Suddenly everything seemed darker, and she knew what it was.
"No, no, no…" Hermione whispered, fear gripping her heart. Dementors.
It had to be at least a hundred Dementors, gliding towards them from where Dumbledore and Voldemort were duelling.
Hermione felt hopelessness taking over, feeling only despair and sorrow. She could feel the darkness and the desolateness fill her as the creatures came closer. Patronus charm. She had to cast the Patronus charm. Hermione lifted her wand and aimed at the creatures, her hand wavering.
"Expecto…" Hermione whispered, her voice trailing off. She was able to cast the spell, she was sure of it. But she couldn't. The closer the dark creatures came, the more impossible it felt. "I…I can't," Hermione gasped.
She knew the others were in similar situation, she heard them. She could feel them. They all felt despair, misery and pain, while living their worst memories again and again. Regulus cried and fell onto his knees, as did Sirius. And then Mary. Hermione and Remus stood in place, shaking, both aiming their wands at the creatures which were closing in on them, but neither could cast the spell. Neither of them was strong enough.
Just as she thought that their end had come, a powerful light blinded her eyes, so bright that she had to press her eyes shut. The air warmed again, and the depressing thoughts left her. Hermione opened her eyes and saw a majestic silver stag soaring across the clearing, chasing the Dementors, attacking them with its antlers, causing the creatures to disperse.
"Come on, Pads, you can do it," James said with an encouraging grin, pulling his friend up from the ground.
Sirius gave James a grateful smile before he aimed his wand at the nearest bunch of Dementors, already moving to another group of witches and wizards. "Expecto Patronum!" He cried, and a large silver, bearlike dog erupted from his wand and joined the stag, charging towards the creatures.
"Hermione! Moony! Do it!" Sirius yelled. There were still dozens of Dementors gliding across the field.
Hermione turned to Regulus, who had stood up, and took his hand. She looked into his grey eyes and thought of what they could be after the war, when they'd finally be together. When they would finally have each other. She glanced at Sirius, who wouldn't suffer the same fate as he had in her time. He wasn't going to rotten in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit. He wasn't going to feel pain for losing his friends for the rest of his life. She looked at Remus, and her heart warmed as she thought how close they had become. How good friends they were. Her eyes flickered to James. To the silver stag. Harry. Even if she wouldn't see him ever again, she would be part of his family. She would be James's and Lily's child's godmother. And she was with her family now. Her friends. Aberforth. Dumbledore. They were all her family.
With love and hope filling her heart, she aimed her wand and whispered, "Expecto Patronum!"
Silver otter burst from her wand and leaped toward the Dementors, followed by an enormous silver wolf, an eagle and another silver dog, identical to the first.
The Dementors were soon scattered and retreated.
But even though they all felt triumphant and invincible, the battle continued. Their side was still badly outnumbered, but fighting like hell. Dumbledore and Voldemort had both vanished from their earlier spot, and Hermione and her friends turned quickly back to where most of the duels were happening.
It seemed that every time Hermione managed to stun or knock out someone, a new opponent came from somewhere. Wands swirled all around them, incantations were screamed and magic burst everywhere. So many bodies lay on the ground.
Where was Dumbledore? And Voldemort?
A familiar cackle reached down to her ears. Bellatrix.
"You filthy little blood-traitor! Avada Kedavra!" Bellatrix screamed.
Hermione's insides turned cold. She quickly turned to look at the direction and saw the ghastly woman standing over a petite witch, whose heart-shaped face was still in focus even though the light had left from the woman's eyes.
No.
Hermione let out a wretched sob.
Alice.
Bellatrix laughed maniacally. Rage and despair clashed inside Hermione, and her magic bristled around her, sending sparks from the ends of her hair. Anger and grief made her run towards the older witch, made her point her wand towards her and cast one of the curses she detested.
She could hear someone yelling her name, but she didn't slow down.
"CRUCIO!" Hermione screamed the moment she was close enough, every fibre of her hoping that Bellatrix would suffer, knowing that she deserved to feel torment after what she'd done.
Bellatrix was caught by guard, shrieking and shouting in anguish as the curse hit her straight in the back. And for a small moment, it helped the pain Hermione was feeling, the grief. Then the curse was lifted, and Voldemort appeared between them.
Hermione swallowed hard, her eyes widening with fear as she brought her wand up and aimed it at him.
Voldemort tutted and twirled his wand between his fingers as he assessed Hermione. "Feisty little Muggle, aren't you…Miss Granger?" Voldemort taunted.
Hermione suppressed a shiver of nausea and gritted her teeth, knowing it wasn't wise to take her eyes off of him, but still glancing around quickly to see if Dumbledore was somewhere to help her. If anyone was near to help her.
Voldemort laughed. "Looking for your dear uncle?" Voldemort asked silkily.
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. No. What had happened to him? Was Dumbledore dead? He couldn't be! He was the only one who could destroy Voldemort! They were doomed without him! She assumed that Voldemort would be beside himself with joy if Dumbledore had truly died. The thought eased her panic-stricken heart…only slightly. But there still wasn't anyone around to help her. Why had she run away from her friends? Why had she been so reckless, thinking only revenge?
Hermione knew she was as good as dead if she tried to duel one of the most skilled wizards of time. But she had to try. She wouldn't coward in the sight of him. She would be like Harry, who had faced him with his head held high. Because she had to. Someone had to. Hermione's arm shook slightly as she took her stance and made herself ready for a duel.
Voldemort let out a shrill laugh. "You?" He laughed, several Death Eaters gathering behind him. "Your uncle is too scared to fight me, so he sends…you?" He said chillingly.
Hermione shivered with unease.
"You think you have a chance in this duel, girl? You think you will survive more than a minute?" Voldemort sneered, starting to move to the side, circling her, forcing her to move as well in order to keep him in her sight and in a distance.
Hermione took a shaky breath before she spoke. "Your Horcruxes are destroyed. Your safeguards are gone," Hermione said, feeling the energy of her magic heating up her wand. "It is only you now."
Voldemort bared his teeth at her. "And you will pay for that, little Mudblood. I will slaughter every member of your precious Order, every single person in your circle, pureblood or not. In the past, in the present. In the future," He hissed maliciously.
Hermione gripped her wand tighter, gritting her teeth. "You can try all you want. But there will always be someone to challenge you," she said sharply, feeling calmer all of a sudden.
They were still moving slowly in a circle, neither of them averting their eyes. Hermione knew there were others gathering around them, moving closer in order to help them.
Voldemort let out an amused chuckle. "And you, a mere Mudblood, will be one of them? To challenge me?" He asked, his red eyes flashing, his expression turning into a cold fury. "Don't make me laugh!"
When Hermione merely glared at him, Voldemort screamed, "I will not be bested by a simple-minded muggle girl!"
A second later a jet of dark purple burst from Voldemort's wand but the curse didn't hit her.
Hermione blinked as a powerful shield charm materialised in front of her. Regulus stepped next to Hermione, his wand trained at Voldemort. Sirius appeared on her other side. Hermione saw many others coming closer, Death Eaters and Order members, to see the climax of the battle.
"My Lord, let me handle the stains of my house," Bellatrix spoke darkly, circling from behind Voldemort and staring at the two Black men with a vicious smirk on her lips as she stood next to her master.
Voldemort's lips quirked. "By all means, Bella."
After a heartbeat, Bellatrix attacked Sirius, hurling curses towards him and laughing with a shrill voice.
At the same time Voldemort struck again, his wand whirling and sending powerful curses at Hermione and Regulus, his magical energy descending over them like an unbearable darkness. The two of them deflected and ducked, moving so fast that Hermione was out of breath after only a minute. The duels around them started again. Where was Dumbledore?
Hermione heard Bellatrix cry with pain, and Voldemort's focus faltered.
"You filthy Blood-traitor! How dare you spill my blood!" Bellatrix screamed.
Sirius laughed sharply. "Let me assure you, Bella. It is my pleasure!"
Bellatrix snarled. "I want you to know that when I'm done with you, I will enjoy torturing your despicable brother in the most excruciating way," Bellatrix taunted as they continued sending curses soaring towards one other.
Voldemort too continued their duel even with more rage now, and Hermione knew she and Regulus wouldn't be able to hold up their end much longer. There was no one to help them, because everyone around her seemed to be struggling to keep their opponents at bay. There were too many of Voldemort's men, and too few of those who fought for the Light. Hermione sent spell after spell towards Voldemort, all the while dodging his curses, but nothing hit home. Voldemort was too powerful. Everything Hermione and Regulus cast, he deflected with ease.
Voldemort's wand never slowed down while he brought his other hand up, his fist closing slowly. Regulus started to choke next to her.
"REG!" Hermione screamed and made her mistake. She turned her eyes from their opponent.
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort screamed, hitting Hermione straight over her heart.
Unbearable pain hit her, nothing, nothing compared to what she'd felt when Bellatrix had tortured her, or when Regulus had tortured her. It felt like all the bones in her body were cracking, like she was stabbed several times with a blunt knife and her insides were being carved out, and like she was kept under water, unable to breathe. It felt like every happy memory she had was distorted into a hateful and cruel one. All she saw was pain and suffering, people dying. It made her desperate. It made her hope she would die. Hermione screamed with pain but could not hear anything. The only thing she heard was her blood rushing in her ears, and the sound of her airway closing, the sound of her choking.
The pain lessened suddenly and Hermione was aware of Regulus yelling next to her, sending curses after curses towards Voldemort.
"YOU'RE DEAD!" Regulus cried. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Hermione saw a hint of worry flicker in Voldemort's red eyes as he deflected Regulus's curse, but it was quickly replaced with a knowing gloat as he glanced at Hermione, lying on the ground, still unable to move after suffering his Cruciatus curse.
And then a jet of green light was soaring towards her from the tip of Voldemort's wand, and Hermione knew it was too late. It felt all too familiar. It was like she was watching the whole scene in slow motion. Watching the scene where it had been Bellatrix who had cast the killing curse and ultimately sent her into this time, into this universe. But now it was Voldemort, and Hermione didn't have a time turner on her this time. She didn't have anything.
Hermione closed her eyes right before the light hit her. And waited. But nothing happened. Hermione tore her eyes open as she heard Regulus scream next to her.
"SECTUMSEMPRA!"
Voldemort was on his knees, gasping as blood poured from his neck between his fingers. Dumbledore lay on Hermione's feet, unmoving, his eyes empty.
It took a moment for Hermione to comprehend what had happened. Dumbledore…Dumbledore had taken the killing curse that had been aimed at her. He had sacrificed himself for her.
And Regulus had struck down Voldemort.
"No, no, no," Hermione whispered in panic and crawled towards Dumbledore, not willing to accept the fact that he was gone. Hermione reached his limp body just as Bellatrix shrieked in terror, as did many Death Eaters who disapparated at the sight as soon as they saw their master dying.
"You filthy Blood-traitors!" Bellatrix screeched and sent her own killing curse towards Sirius.
Hermione and Regulus both screamed with dread, aiming their wands at the mad woman. But before they managed to do anything, Sirius had ducked the curse and sent his own jet of green soaring towards his cousin. The witch was instantly dead as the killing curse hit her, still the crazed smirk on her face.
"Take that you fucking insane bitch!" Sirius hissed and then turned his triumphant look at Hermione and Regulus. His face fell when he saw Hermione on the ground, cradling Dumbledore's limp body, weeping silently.
Sirius moved quickly to Hermione and Regulus, who were now both kneeling on the ground over the fallen Headmaster. But there was nothing they could do.
Dumbledore was not with them anymore.
It wasn't long after the remaining Death Eaters were captured by the Aurors and Order members. Soon the grounds around the castle were silent, and only mixed sounds of mourning and cries of joy filled the area.
Hermione and her friends had gathered around two bodies, lying on the ground, their hands intertwined. Alice and Frank. James had been at the battle, but Lily had only arrived, since she was heavily pregnant and under strict orders not to join them until it was safe.
"ALLIE!" Lily screamed in horror and ran towards their group, tears seeping down her cheeks. Mary sobbed loudly against Remus's chest, while Remus, Sirius, James, Peter and Hermione stood there, crying silently as they mourned their lost friends.
James enveloped his wife into a hug and soothed her back as she clung to him, her body shuddering as she wept. None of them said anything. None of them could do anything. Frank's father was kneeling next to his son, his hand trembling as he pressed it lightly on Frank's forehead. Augusta stood rigidly, her jaw tight, but her eyes soft and filled with pain, filled with tears.
Frank and Alice were gone. Neville was never going to exist. Dumbledore had died so that she could live. Many Order members and Aurors had lost their lives in the battle. Many had lost their loved ones. Hermione shook her head and covered her face with her hands, feeling once again a terrible guilt taking over. She knew who was responsible. She knew it wasn't her fault. But she still stewed over the question; had she done the right choices, if it meant that someone else died? If someone else suffered?
She felt someone pull her closer, smoothing her hair. "Hermione. I'm sorry." Gideon whispered, his voice hoarse and thick from crying.
Hermione couldn't say anything. She couldn't do anything. Voldemort was dead, and they were supposed to be relieved, to feel freed. But all she could feel was grief.