Author's Note: Only one more chapter after this one! I hope you are all enjoying this story despite it not being a traditional Romance story. I've been nervous writing and sharing it.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

One of the longest nights in Hermione's short life filled with long nights passed. Despite his bright smiles and statements to the contrary, Thorfinn wasn't doing well. The decision to end his life might very well not be one they had to make. Every hour she was forcing him to drink another blood replenishing portion even when he tried to push the vial away with an assurance that he didn't need anything more. His color would improve for just a short time before it would return to a sickly pallor that made her nervous.

Letting Thorfinn die of his snake bite seemed to her to be a terrible failure. She knew it hardly made sense. Even if she told him over a dozen times that she couldn't wait for the war to end because it meant they could be together, it was all a lie. A very uncomfortable moment would come at some point if they were able to defeat Voldemort. He might even prefer that she let him succumb to his wound than to know the truth.

But she wouldn't let him die without a fight. She supposed that it was a way of her to take control of something during a time where everything else was out of her control. Pouring potions down the man's throat and keeping his bite wound clean were actions she could complete. Too much of her existence in recent months was spent unable to control anything.

"What will you do when you run out of blood replenishing potion?"

His voice was weak. Every time he tried to say anything it hurt her ears. It was proof that maybe Kingsley and several other members of the Order were right about her just wasting her time and energy. Not to mention valuable resources like potions that could be used on those who hadn't pledged their lives to an evil wizard.

"I will brew more if I have to. We're going to find the antidote."

Thorfinn offered her a smile that she knew must have taken most of his limited energy. Moments later his breathing was deep. He couldn't stay awake for longer than a few minutes at a time. The venom was taking its toll. Soon his major organs would start to shut down and there would be nothing they could do.

A soft knock on the door tore her out of her downward spiral of thoughts. Most of the inhabitants of the safe house had been avoiding that part of the house ever since she made it clear that she wasn't going to let their unexpected visitor die. Fighting back a yawn, Hermione stood up to cross the few steps to the door. Likely it was just Kingsley come to check on her again or Tonks with more tea.

She never expected to see Severus Snape standing outside in the corridor. Nor did she think he would push a vial into her hands. Was she dreaming? It wasn't out of the question considering how she had been fighting so hard to stay awake as she sat next to Thorfinn's bedside all night long.

"It took me several favors to get a vial of this from St. Mungo's."

Snape didn't even have to say the words out loud to let Hermione know he didn't approve of what she was doing. No doubt he was firmly on Kingsley's side and all of the rest of the Order.

"Thank you."

"Why are you doing this, Miss Granger? You're putting us all in danger, yourself especially. It would be best just to let him die."

Only because he was the one to bring the antidote would she bother to give him an answer. Everyone else who asked had only gotten a shrug of her shoulders or a reminder that they weren't the baddies. Their side was supposed to be the one that wanted to keep people alive, not let them die a horrifically painful death that could be avoided.

"I think that he can still do some good. Besides, he's helped us find and destroy two horcruxes. He deserves more than just a cold thank you before we let him die."

Snape wasn't in the mood to argue. Sighing heavily and pursing his lips, he said all he needed to without saying a word. She knew she was being contradictory. With her desire for revenge it should've been the most rational decision to just let him die. It would tie up some loose ends, but somehow she knew she would need him again in the future. Did that make her a Seer? She nearly snorted out loud at the very idea.

"He should drink that as soon as possible. The damage to his body might already be too much to survive. We're meeting downstairs."

Once he was her teacher and held some authority over her, but he knew in that moment after all that she had done in the war that they were on a more equal footing. He knew better than to order her to come to the meeting when she was done tending to her patient. The unspoken request for her presence, however, hung heavy in the air. Hermione nodded before turning back into the small bedroom.

"Thorfinn? Wake up. We have the antidote."

The hint of a smile appeared on his lips. His eyes were too heavy to open. Careful to not spill a single drop of the potion that would save his life, she poured it into his mouth. It took him the rest of his strength to swallow it down. Just a slight grimace gave her any indication that he had been able to drink it. He fell asleep once again. Likely he would need a lot of rest to fully heal.

Every chair in the kitchen was full when Hermione descended the narrow staircase. A couple of the more considerate Order members offered her their seat, but she declined. After an entire night of sitting, she didn't mind standing. Besides, it appeared as if Snape and Kingsley were the ones who were in charge of conducting the meeting. As exhausted as she was, she wasn't sure she had much to offer.

"The Dark Lord is inconsolable about the death of his snake. I don't think I've ever seen him so angry."

"Does he suspect that his horcruxes have all been destroyed?"

Kingsley's question was simple enough, but the answer didn't appear to be so. It took Snape over a minute to finally answer.

"I can't be certain. He probably doesn't believe anyone has yet figured out his secret, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel vulnerable. He hasn't left Malfoy Manor since the snake was killed. He's ordered everyone to search for Rowle. His punishment will be very severe. He wants him found before the venom kills him."

Some of Snape's reluctance to search for the antidote made sense to Hermione. If Voldemort learned that he had been trying to procure an antidote, it would put a target on his back too. Anyone who dared to help a traitor was a traitor themselves.

"We have to do something now when everything is so uncertain."

No one dared argue with Kingsley's suggestion. For the first time in months, there was a small amount of hope amongst their ragged group that there might be a future worth having. A plan was quickly made. It was reckless and dangerous and more than a little desperate, but even Hermione could see the sense in trying. Acting entirely on emotions could make a person unpredictable and weaker than they might ordinarily be when they were able to think more logically. Voldemort grieved for his lost snake. Every move he made in the beginning would be motivated by his grief. They could take advantage of the chaotic atmosphere. Sitting around waiting for Voldemort to get stronger or gain more followers wasn't an option.

With few opportunities available, the Order prepared itself for what was likely to be the final battle of the entire war. If they weren't successful, the chances of them being able to survive to fight another were highly unlikely. Based on the suggestions made around the table, they would take the fight to Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Waiting around to react to their violence hadn't gotten them anywhere.

Hermione returned to the little bedroom on the second floor when the meeting adjourned. Very little time was going to be wasted before their plan was put into action. She wanted to check on Thorfinn's progress after taking the antidote. It had been years since Arthur Weasley had to take the same potion and she couldn't remember how long it was before he was back to his full strength.

"You're going to try to get them all at the same time?"

Thorfinn sat on the edge of the bed with sweat drops rolling down his face. His skin was its usual fair color but tinged with red splotches. He clutched the bandage she'd placed on his snakebite. She waited until the door was closed behind her before she would answer the question.

"That is the plan. Could you hear the meeting from up here?"

She felt sick to her stomach. What if he had a sudden crisis of conscience in regard to his comrades and the master he swore to serve for the rest of his life? All it would take was a single message to the wrong person and they would lose the element of surprise. There was no possible way they could succeed if anyone suspected what they were going to try. They only had one chance. Precautions and enchantments could be put in place to prevent them from succeeding. Or worse, he could alert the other side where the country house was. Maybe he would be forgiven for killing the snake if he could deliver the entire Order to his Dark Lord.

"I was able to make it halfway down the stairs. I sat there and listened."

He would've heard it all. Every last detail especially when the voices were raised and the arguments grew heated. What should she do? Should she be worried? Just as she was on the verge of worrying herself into a troubling spot, the corner of his mouth twitched up into a pleased grin.

"I think it's brilliant."

The sudden relief she felt made her smile too.

"You do?"

Thorfinn reached for her hand to pull her closer to the bed. The simple act clearly caused him some pain, but he tried to pretend like everything was fine. When she was close enough, he ran his hand gently through her curls.

"I do. This is going to work. The war is going to be over and we can finally be together."

Hermione was the one to initiate the kiss. It seemed like the right move and she also wasn't sure what she would say in response. When the war was indeed over, he was going to be a serious problem she would have to deal with. More and more she wondered if she had made a mistake trying to so hard to keep him alive. If he knew how badly she was using him and lying to him about her true feelings, he might get angry enough to bash her head in. Passion was often unpredictable. There was still that small voice in the back of her head telling her that he was still going to be useful, but she still felt worried. Too weak to do much, Thorfinn was the one that had to gently push her away. In his mind, there would be a lifetime ahead of them to kiss again.

"I want to go with you."

"No, Thorfinn. That's not a good idea. You're still not at your full strength."

He sighed, but didn't argue. Perhaps he realized his presence would be more of a distraction than a help.

"Promise me you'll be careful? This was all for nothing if you don't make it to the end, you know."

"I know."

To try to further convince him that she meant what she said, Hermione pressed her lips against his. The kiss only lasted a few seconds. There wasn't enough time. She was grateful that he was still so weak after the attack. If he had any strength at all, he would be insistent that they get naked together one last time.

"I have to go. We're leaving soon."

Before she walked out of the bedroom, Hermione turned to look at Thorfinn one last time. For being such a large man, he seemed like a small, pathetic little creature. He really had been on the verge of death. She smiled at him, a silent promise that she would see him again.

The ground floor of the house was bustling with nervous activity. No one was ignorant of the potential danger they were about to face. Some of the more cowardly members tried to make excuses why they couldn't come. Hermione for once didn't give a damn about them. Let them wallow at home in their own fear. They would only put the rest of them in harm's way. For the plan to work, the quality of the magic was far more important than the quantity. She would put her trust in a handful of the braver members. Miserable cowards weren't needed.

"Are we clear on what our tasks are?"

A dozen or so heads nodded all around the kitchen when Snape checked one final time. Even in such a short period of time the plan had already been talked to death. Hermione was anxious to get outside and put it into action. Either it would work or it wouldn't. What was the sense in standing around talking about it more?

"We will follow you in ten minutes, Severus."

Kingsley made certain to shake the Headmaster's hand before he exited the house. If there was one person who was truly putting their life on the line, it was Severus Snape. He would have to go into the den of snakes and hope he could make his escape in time. With such a limited window in play, he was aware that one mistake could mean his life. If he couldn't get out of the manor in time, he would suffer the same fate.

Standing around for even ten minutes was torture. It was important that they time their arrival correctly. Their plan could fail a hundred different ways. They only had one shot. There would be no way to try again.

"Remember how you promised you would kill my fiancé?"

A moment of levity was necessary in the midst of the tension. Kingsley's loud laughter startled some of the members in the kitchen.

"Of course I do and I meant it. He'll be dead today."

"Good. As beautiful as this ring is, I'd like it off my finger as soon as possible."

Not a moment was wasted after the ten minutes were up. Each of the planned combatants made their way out into the garden Disapparating away in groups of two or three at a time. Hermione's stomach churned with nerves. The feeling didn't get any better when her feet landed in the grass less than a hundred meters from the gates of Malfoy Manor.

Under disillusionment charms or invisibility cloaks if they were fortunate enough to possess one, the Order watched as the most loyal members of Voldemort's Inner Circle trickled into the estate. A meeting had been called. Part of Snape's mission was to tell his master something that would force him to call for a full meeting. They wanted every Death Eater present that they could find. Life post-war would be much easier if they didn't have to constantly look over their shoulder for survivors furious that they killed their Dark Lord.

A silvery doe patronus ran through the closed gates of the estate straight towards Kingsley. It was the signal they were waiting for. Unable to cross through the closed gates without a Dark Mark on their arms, the Order was forced to stand just outside and wait. Some of the more experienced amongst them went to work on casting enchantments through the iron bars. Magic wasn't blocked as it turned out, only physical bodies. Even Bill Weasley seemed encouraged by the seeming lack of foresight from the Malfoy family into their own protection.

There were wards that needed to be broken if their plan was to succeed. Having been a visitor countless times to the manor, Snape had been able to let them know what to expect. Most of the security was fairly standard amongst wizarding families. Many possessed an embarrassing sense of complacency when it came to their own safety. Clearly the Malfoys didn't fear either Muggles nor those with wands. They had gotten used to being feared. Their close association with Voldemort only made them feel more secure.

With experienced cursebreakers and aurors well-versed in security enchantments, it didn't take much effort to remove most of the wards in just a short time. Only a matter of a few minutes after the patronus signal was received, the front door to Malfoy Manor opened. Snape casually exited the massive house like nothing at all out of the ordinary was happening. If someone happened to be watching him from one of the countless windows, they would assume that everything was perfectly normal.

When he reached the gates, he cast a spell to rip the iron gates off their hinges. No longer closed off to anyone without a Dark Mark, the assembled Order members were able to slip easily inside onto the grounds. Remembering their roles, they spread out to surround the entire structure.

While they all worked to seal every door and make every window unbreakable, Hermione began to doubt the plan. It all seemed too simple. How was it going to work? They were fighting against a group of witches and wizards who had no issue with using the darkest of magic. Some of the spells the Order were using could be cast by second years. She was ready to give up, to proclaim that there was no way it was possible until she remembered how nearly every time Harry faced Voldemort in the past, he was able to beat him with simple magic. Who would dare to try to disarm He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? It was madness.

Encouraged slightly by the thought of her best friend, she returned her attention back to casting the charms she was told to on the house. Not everything had to be elaborate and complicated to work. Hadn't that been proven time and time again in warfare throughout history? Some powerful forces with much more sophisticated weaponry had been defeated by small groups who wouldn't give up.

There would be no escape for those unlucky enough to find themselves inside the manor. Every door was locked and sealed with spells that weren't easily broken. The glass windows were unbreakable no matter what force was used against them. An anti-Apparition ward was cast over the entire estate. If the Order failed, they would have to run as fast as they could to get away. The floo connection was closed.

Draco Malfoy's horrific death had given Snape and Kingsley the idea. When they felt confident that the Death Eaters and Voldemort inside would be unable to get out, Kingsley blasted a tiny hole in the front door. Just as he had done with the horcrux stuck in the glass box, he cast Fiendfyre inside and swiftly sealed the hole back up. There was little that could be done when the cursed fire grew out of control. Crabbe proved that in the Room of Hidden Things.

Simple, but effective. She feared that the dark witches and wizards inside would be able to combat the Fiendfyre if they had enough warning. Almost at once, however, the air filled with the screams. There was a reason why so few people ever dared to mess with Fiendfyre. The flames spread through the large manor.

Faces appeared at all of the windows. Panicked and fearful, each of them tried to blast holes unsuccessfully anywhere they could. The sealing spells their enemies cast held up. Frightened out of their wits stuck in a confined area with deadly fire, none of them were able to break the intricate locking spells. Their deaths were gruesome and violent. As the screams inside started to lessen, Hermione felt the diamond ring Rabastan Lestrange placed on her finger slide off and land in the grass. Kingsley's promise was kept.

There really was only one death inside the manor that truly mattered. Even as the Order stood around watching the manor burn to ashes, some of them feared it wasn't over. Could Voldemort have somehow survived when his followers perished? Maybe they missed a horcrux or he was able to make himself immune to Fiendfyre. None of them knew all of the secrets of the Manor. Maybe there was somewhere enchanted and protected he could hide until it was all over.

No one dared celebrate until Severus Snape collapsed to the ground. He clutched his left forearm and groaned. Kingsley ran over to him and Hermione was only steps behind. The Headmaster only rolled around on the ground for a matter of seconds before pulling up the sleeve covering his left arm. A sigh that could very well have been a choking sob too came out of his mouth.

"It's gone. He's dead."

Seeing nothing but clear pale skin on his arm was enough to convince them all that they had been successful. Still afraid to celebrate, as the ruins of the house began to collapse and the Fiendfyre threatened to spread, they all jumped back into action to dispel it. Kingsley and Snape worked together with some of the other former aurors to end the Fiendfyre. When the green flames disappeared entirely and only ashes remained of Voldemort and the worst of his Death Eaters, they could all feel a peace in the air. Was it okay yet to believe it was over?

Kingsley seemed to think so. Wrapping his arm tightly around Hermione's waist, he pulled her up against his chest to kiss her right there in front of everyone. Cheers erupted all around them. Soon everyone present was laughing or hugging or even on their knees staring at the charred ruins in disbelief. Could the war really be over? She desperately hoped so.

"You should go home and rest. You're exhausted, Little Witch. I need to stay here a little while longer, but I'll join you later and we can have a proper celebration."

"I'm not going to that horrible safe house. I'm going home to my parents' house. Meet me there."

Before he would let her walk out of the estate grounds to a place where she could Apparate, Kingsley pulled her back in for another kiss. There was a lot of promise in the affection. Together they would figure out what their future looked like. For the first time, she dared to believe that it was possible. She made it to the end of the war. It would take some time for her to come to terms with that fact.

Returning home knowing she was no longer in danger from Voldemort or any of his violent goons felt incredible. She would be able to sleep a full night in her own bed without fear. Soon she would even be able to track down her parents wherever they went in Australia to restore their memories and tell them the full, ugly truth she had been hiding from them for years. It would be tense in the beginning. They may not even be able to forgive her at first, but they would have time. The future was ahead of them all.

Landing near her parents' house, she was tempted at first to slip in through the kitchen door as she had every other time she snuck in since they left. At the last second, Hermione changed her mind. No, there would be no more hiding. The war was over. She went straight to the front door, unlocked it with a spell, and stepped inside.

Immediately, she could tell she wasn't alone in the house. There was just something in the atmosphere that put her immediately on edge. She sighed. Well, it was finally time for her to deal with Thorfinn anyway. At some point the charade would have to end. He needed to hear the truth that she had no plans at all to have any sort of future with him.

Footsteps crossed the threshold into the lounge from the kitchen, but Hermione didn't see anyone. Confused, she looked around to see where the noises were coming from. Only steps away in front of the staircase a silky, silvery material landed on the wood floor in a messy pile. She gasped. No longer hidden underneath Harry's stolen invisibility cloak, Antonin Dolohov grinned.