"Have they all gone?" Hermione ran into the great hall worried about the younger students getting out of the way of the battle to come. She smelled of the fire and something sickly sweet.

Neville smiled, pleased at the outcome. "It went off like clockwork. They were still in the classrooms when Snape calmly told them we were having a fire drill and they had to go home until it was safe to return. Even the Slytherin's bought it and went along. With all the fireplaces open to the floo, and the older students able to apparate, it barely took twenty minutes. My team are going through the halls now to be sure. I signaled Snape to close them. Where's Draco?"

The wheels in Hermione's mind were ticking along on the list she had created in her mind. The diadem had been destroyed and there was no going back. It would act like a beacon to Voldemort. By nightfall they will either have triumphed or be dead. "Draco's in the courtyard with the others. They are casting the shield charm. Then he said something about going through Slytherin house to be sure everyone was out. I actually saw McGonagall giggle over activating the stone soldiers. I think everyone is ready to get this over with. The waiting has been the worst part for me."

Neville nodded his head solemnly. "Yea, know what you mean. I've gone over the plan so many times. I'm sure I'll forget something."

Hermione was sympathetic. She and Draco had hardly slept a wink thinking and rethinking everything. "Just remember the last horcrux is gone. He's just as mortal as any other wizard."

Neville laughed. "Any other psychotic wizard with the most powerful wand on the planet."

"Piece of cake Neville. Piece of cake."

McGonagall came running into the great hall stopping at the doors. Her calming voice echoed in the empty room. "Their here."

The three of them stood on the Hogwarts side of the causeway. Hermione squinted at the hills around them. They seemed to be moving as hordes of every dark creature came over them.

Neville and Hermione grew pale with fear.

McGonagall only crossed her arms and huffed. "Is that all He's got?"

Just then the sound of an enormous explosion rocked the land. Fragments of wooden bridge filled the air and some smaller pieces landed at their feet. "I see Mr. Finnigan has fulfilled his assignment. I'll be sure to give him an O for his efforts." She hadn't even flinched.

The stone soldiers had marched past and were now in place blocking the bridge. Death eaters in the form of black smoke zoomed over the castle sending hexes and curses to no avail. The shield charm was holding, for now.

Hermione looked up to the ridge that overlooked the school. Voldemort's pasty face could clearly be seen at the head of his minions. His cry of frustration rang in the air like doom. "Your champion is dead. You are hopelessly outnumbered. I do not want to shed magical blood unnecessarily. You have one hour. Surrender to me or die!"

McGonagall huffed. "Great, more waiting. Mr. Longbottom, did you manage to contact Mr. Weasley in Romania?"

"Yes professor. He's standing by."

McGonagall grinned evilly. "Good. Why don't we give Him an answer He won't forget."

Hermione stood confused. That was not part of the plan. "Is Charley Weasley here?" She wondered how one man could make a difference.

Neville laughed. "Yes, and he brought a few friends." Neville lifted his wand and gold sparks flew over the castle.

There was a great roar from the green hills beyond and then a terrifying sight. A dragon. A beautiful Welch Green dragon arose, glittering in the sun, soaring over the heads of the death eaters, raining down fire on anything that moved. Two more joined the fight from either side. A Hungarian Horntail and the Swedish short snout. On each was an experienced rider and only death below. The screams of the dying and injured were hard for Hermione to hear. She reminded herself that they had chosen their side and would have thought nothing of killing her and everyone else in the castle.

Voldemort himself and his inner circle stood under the strongest protective spell ever made. The fires seemed to swirl and leap around him, but his robes were never singed. They now stood virtually alone on the precipice. He had just lost the majority of his followers to either the dragons or desertion.

McGonagall's voice rang out with the sonorous charm. "You're finished Voldemort. Our world will not allow you to crush it under your feet without a fight. If you and your followers surrender now, you may yet live. Drop your wands and come forward."

Those closest to Voldemort knew that if they were to even think about abandoning Him they wouldn't live to see another heartbeat. Yet some had considered taking their chances over standing with a maniac who didn't care if they lived or died.

One such man was Lucius Malfoy. He had come to the battle ready to run the moment he had his son in hand. But if he apparated now he was signing his own death warrant. Voldemort would have a price on his head so high he wouldn't last twenty four hours. If he didn't run, he'd be dead or permanently in Azkaban before night fall. Perhaps he could convince Snape to come out and play.

The dust and ash had settled, and He stood there as if nothing had happened. The dragons circled overhead picking off anything that moved. If Voldemort was stupid enough to surrender, Charles Weasley would incinerate him. Granting justice to his family for Ron's death.

The tension in the air grew to epic proportions. Just when they thought He might try to call it off and escape, a second explosion occurred. Radiating from Voldemort and the ridge he stood on. The concussion wave was so powerful it knocked the dragons from the sky and cast them down injured. The stone soldiers that guarded the causeway had been reduced to dust. The shield charm around the castle fell to the ground in small burning shards. It had protected the building and its occupants, but could no longer stand

Hermione, closest to the shield, was stunned and laying on the ground of the courtyard, her hearing muffled. She could only look up at the sky and the dark smoke trails of death eaters seemed to be everywhere. Explosions made walls collapse and the screams of the injured and dying were all around her. The sky was lit by burst of multicolored energy, it was The Order of the Phoenix pushing back at the darkness. Neville and McGonagall lay on the pavement near by. Nevill's face was covered in blood and his eyes were open and fixed in place. The building was under attack by the remaining death eaters. Its defenders were holding their own, and she needed to help. She sat up to turn to McGonagall when a wave of nausea hit her. She knew if she didn't get up they would kill her where she sat contemplating her feet.

With her ears still ringing and before she could choose a course of action, Hermione Granger looked over to see two very ugly bare feet just beyond her own. They were obviously still in use but looked like the feet of a corpse. Waxy, skeletal, ashen feet with long toes and dirty talons. As she looked up the black robe in front of her, the sight of His pale face and red eyes sickened her beyond thinking.

"Ms. Granger I believe." His voice like a death rattle. "Our meeting is much different this time, than last. Then you were only a minor annoyance. Now I see you are the architect of this pitiful rebellion. You shall pay for your actions for all to see and learn from." A wave of his wand and she was lifted into the air. A post and wood was arranged under her from all the debris around them. Floating down she was tied to the post at eye level so he could watch her die slowly.