Hermione was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. It would be dawn in two hours, and she needed to have answers for Neville when he returned. But what did she know about war and battles. You could read about them all you wanted, but it didn't help when your friends and the people you considered family were the soldiers. Generals didn't know the names of those they send out to die, but Hermione did.
In the end she decided to make a list of things that needed to happen.
One, The diadem must be completely destroyed. Without her bag she didn't have the weapon she needed. Not just anything would kill a horcrux. No simple spell or curse could do it. It must be powerful magic or none at all. Perhaps she could summon the sword of Gryffindor again somehow. Hermione had watched it disappear from where Ron had dropped it.
Two, Once the diadem is destroyed we must be in a defendable place. Hogwarts seemed to be the most logical spot, with all the wizards and witches they could muster. The Order can be summoned, and the castle would be entrenched for battle. Voldemort would surely come in short order to hit hard with everything He's got.
Three, The younger students and anyone who didn't want to fight must be evacuated. This will need to be done with a little supervision. Neville can co-ordinate with the headmaster to open up the floos and remove the apparition restriction to get them out as quickly as possible. The only thing stopping them were the Carrows. Hermione was sure they could be delt with.
Four, When battle begins there must be provision made for the wounded and back up defenders in critical spots. Enlarging the hospital ward would be a good idea and having plenty of healing potions available. They may find the cursed thing today, but they can take some time destroying it until they are prepared.
Hermione sighed, resting her head and closing her eyes for what she intended to be only a moment. There was a noise in the room, and she opened them. It was dawn and Draco and Neville stood before her. She yawned and stretched trying to focus. "Do you have it?"
The box that held the last horcrux sat on the table quite innocently. The evil inside rolled out like waves and Hermione knew it would start to affect them. "Neville we need to put this someplace safe until we can destroy it. It will try to confuse and control us. I'm also concerned that Riddle will feel it's presence here so close to him. Do you know of a place?"
Neville was frustrated. "We just took it from the place that has held it safely for the last twenty years. Do we put it back? Let's destroy it now and be done."
Draco rolled his eyes. "No, we don't put it back. And there's no place in the castle where it can't be found and taken from or influence someone. Hermione, how about the oubliette below. It's at least five stories underground and has no outside access. The spell on the chamber absorbs magical energy. The more it tried to get out the weaker it would become. I think it might be enough to contain it without Riddle knowing it was there. What do you think?"
Hermione smiled at Draco. "I think it might work. We won't keep it there for more than a week or so." Hermione sighed knowing what was next. "Neville, this will be hard for you it's a lot to ask, but I need you to prepare the castle. Tell everyone you trust what is about to happen, The Order, the townspeople who are with us, the faculty, even the house elves. They need to be ready at a moment's notice. Tell Poppy we need her to be ready for casualties. Extra beds and potions and the like. Also…I don't believe I'm saying this… Go to Snape and tell him just before we're ready. We need him to remove the apparition restrictions and open the floo for those who don't want to fight. He'll have to figure out what to do with the Slytherin students. We can't leave them inside to fight at our backs. And remember, this has got to stay as quiet as possible. Tell only those you are completely sure of and make certain they understand the danger. If He gets one whiff of this, He'll strike first and we're all dead. Let Draco know when you're ready."
Neville looked at Hermione with confidence. She saw him in a different light now. He suddenly seemed to have come into his own. A born leader when things seemed to be at their worst. Still, he had to kill that creature. Could he do it? "With all you know now Neville… how do you feel?"
Her implication that he was the chosen one didn't seem to bother him like he expected it would. His earlier excitement seemed only to grow. He was just going to do his best and try to make his parents proud. "Like I could take on the whole death eater army. We've been biding our time in the dark. Doing what we could with no end in sight. I can see daylight now Hermione. It's thanks to you. You and Harry and Ron. I suppose you too Draco." He grinned and nudged Draco's arm.
Draco grinned and nudged him back. "All I did was save this one. She seemed to be worth the fuss, don't you think?" His eyes showed the light of love and pride in them as he gazed at her. She blushed, unused to all the attention usually reserved for Harry.
Neville gave her a hug in farewell. "I think so too." He reached up to squeeze her chin. "You leave it up to me. We'll be ready for Him."
Neville was led out the tunnel and Draco returned. He held her cheek a moment and kissed her gently. His face full of worry and fear. "I don't want you to fight Hermione. But I might as well tell you not to breathe. You'll need a wand for the battle. I'll see if you can use mothers."
oopOqoo
Snape paced in his office like a nervous cat. When Longbottom came to him with this foolishness days ago, he thought the boy had gone mad. They had strategized the logistics long into the night. Preparing the castle for battle. It was so irresponsible, letting children fight experienced death eaters, but it was what they had to work with. It made him feel uncomfortably like Albus.
When Hermione and Draco destroyed the horcrux it would begin. Voldemort would come like a moth to a flame, to crush them.
He'd had the potions students making simple healing potions all week. Along with pepper-up, Pain reliever, blood replenishers, dittany, crucitas remedy, bruise paste, anything that could possibly be of help to the injured. Poppy even had a contact at St Mungos alerted to the possible influx of wounded.
The Order had been here for two nights in the deserted halls, setting traps and hexes, Reinforcing the walls and roofs. They would put up the shield charm and awaken the stone knights just before it began.
It was set for tomorrow at noon and everything that could be done, had been done. Now it was just waiting and wondering as he stared out the tower window, watching the sun go down. He'd never expected to survive the war. When Hermione was successfully captured he began to see the possibility of it happening, and a realized dream of being truly free.
Snape had to decide where he would land in this circus, depending on who won. He'd hated Voldemort and wanted him dead ever since that creature had killed Lily. But self-preservation was a strong trait in house Slytherin. A trait that had kept him alive for the last twenty years. Playing both ends for the middle.
He was charged with eliminating the Carrows. Not as easy as it might seem. They were a witless lot, but what they lacked in brains they made up for in violence. He would wait until they came to report the fiendfyre and then petrify them both. If Voldemort fell, then he would have them as prisoners to turn over to The Order. If the light fell he would obliviate them and they would tell fantastic stories of his loyalty to Voldemort. He had no intension to take part in the battle itself, so there would be no witnesses. Either way, he would win.
oopOqoo
"Snape! Snape! Someone has set a blaze of fiendfyre in the courtyard." Alecto was in panic mode.
"Come quickly before it gets out of hand." Alecto and Amycus. The two most hated people in the school were foolishly excited enough to turn their backs on Severus Snape. Snape rose from his desk and struck them down before they crossed the floor to the door. All too easy.
He stepped down from the desk and stood over them calmly. "Yes, I know. Let's see what happens next." At the red sparks from Longbottom, he closed the floos and strode back to the window, to wait for the show of the century to begin. He knew he would not be needed.