Final Stand by snoopy_pie

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 14/12/2006
Last Updated: 14/12/2006
Status: Paused

Hermione hasn't seen Harry since their 5th year and now at the start of her 7th year he come
crashing into her world. This is AU and will be rated R in future chapters.




1. Chapter One
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**Author's Note****: I'm so happy to finally be an author here at portkey. I have
been trying for ages and now it has happened! I hope that I do this ship justice and I hope you all
enjoy my stories. I do not make any money off of these stories and of course the characters are not
my creations. Perhaps someday I will have my own but for now writing about Harry and Hermione
falling in love is just fine with me!.**

**Thanks for reading!**

**Manda**

Hermione quietly placed the quill down on her desk and sealed the parchment into a large yellow
envelope. Hedwig ruffled her feathers before sticking her foot out for Hermione to attach the
message. Hermione sighed when Hedwig gave her a shameful hoot before flying out the window into the
cool night. The moon was high in the night's sky and the Head girl's new textbooks for her
7th year at Hogwarts lay forgotten inside a half packed trunk beside her bed. Her
thoughts shifted, not for the first time that evening, to a raven haired young wizard with
startling green eyes and she sighed heavily. The boy in question was known for many things. One of
which was a lightening bolt scar etched across his forehead which most people connected with fame
and heroism. None of those things were what she associated with him though. To her he was just her
best friend whom she missed terribly. He was a skinny boy who had a terrible temper when provoked
and a penchant for rule breaking. However, he was also kind, loyal and he was a good person. Very
few people actually knew the real person underneath the legend and Hermione counted herself one of
them. To her he was just Harry and that was enough for her. Or at least it had been before he
left.

He probably won't be back to Hogwarts this year either she thought to herself sadly and her
heart gave a slight jolt. She and Ron were surprised to say the least when Dumbledore informed them
that Harry Potter would not be attending Hogwarts for his 6th year. In fact he had told
them that there would be no contact whatsoever from Harry while he trained with magic well beyond
what Hogwarts could ever offer. Hermione had been distraught and demanded to follow Harry to
wherever he was, insisting that she and Ron could help. A small smile turned the corners of her
mouth and she could still hear the Headmaster telling them, “Life is difficult Ms. Granger,
especially for Harry. However, sometimes it leads us to places we didn't want to go until we
got there. Harry has agreed to the…..arrangement and so must you and Mr. Weasley.” Hermione had
been in tears at this point and Dumbledore had not unkindly laid a gentle hand upon her shoulder.
“Let him go Hermione. He will return to you and hopefully he will be better prepared for the next
time he meets Voldemort.” Hermione had taken his words to heart but from time to time she had
looked to the stars hoping against hope that he needed her just a little.

It seemed so long ago when 6 frightened teenagers had entered the Department of Mysteries to try
and save Sirius. A lot had happened since then and Hermione had changed just as much. Her hair was
still brown and bushy but she had matured. Her body now held the soft curves of a young woman and
her facial features had become softer, almost prettier. She had even caught the attention of a
couple of boys much to her delight and found out what it was like to have a boyfriend. Many things
had changed for the worse however. Now with their 7th year looming before them Voldemort
had focused all his energy into bullying many good citizens into joining his regime. The good side
was losing and there didn't seem to be a damn thing anyone could do about it.

Voldemort's war had taken its toll on the wizarding world so fully that hundreds of
wizarding families had taken refuge in the once small village of Hogsmeade. Now with a large
majority of the Hogwarts student body living in Hogsmeade the Hogwarts Express was expected to be
filled mostly with muggle borns and those too brave or stubborn to leave their homes around muggle
England.

Hermione as Head girl was expected to be present on the train to assist the students along with
2 aurors from the ministry for protection. It had taken a lot to keep the school open after the
fiasco in the Ministry of Magic and there had been meetings, arguments, and conferences with
concerned parents about the security of the school. Hogwarts had seemed like a ghost town during
her 6th year and the old school's future had been very uncertain. However, this year with so
many families living in close proximity to the castle the number of children returning to Hogwarts
seemed to have increased.

Many had died in the last two years that she didn't even want to check the causality list at
the new WCS (Wizard Community Services) building anymore. Everywhere she went were signs of
Deatheaters or war. It made her sick to think of the hold Voldemort had on the growing community.
Hermione had moved to a lovely little cottage in Hogsmeade over the summer leaving her parents in
their new hidden home in France. Fleur had been an enormous help to her family with this and she
knew she owed her a great deal of gratitude for their safety. The longer this war held on the worse
things seemed to be for magic folk and muggles alike.

Hermione's gaze brushed over a small sturdy box that held a wand. *Should she take it with
her?* She thought distractedly. Right before her 17th birthday she had received the
wand in a beaten up and partially singed package and had opened it cautiously afraid of what she
might find within. Fear had gripped her heart when she laid eyes upon that familiar piece of wood.
Why did someone send her Harry's wand? Was he hurt? Was he dead? There were so many whys and so
few answers. Dumbledore had only told her that Harry was fine and that if he had sent her his wand
then he must have no need of it at the moment. Hermione nearly pulled her hair out from grief and
worry over what had become of her best friend and all the headmaster would do was give her small
tidbits of information with that insufferable little twinkle in his eye. She began writing to Harry
faithfully every day because if Hedwig could carry something from him then she can surely carry
things to him. Ron of course had vowed to write Harry as well, but as the weeks turned into months
he soon lost interest and sheepishly informed Hermione that he was no letter writer.

Hermione on the other hand never once forgot to write him. In the beginning she begged for some
sort of assurance that he was okay. She had even threatened to stop writing to him if he didn't
tell her where he was right then and there. This was when Hedwig came to stay with her and she took
this as a sign from Harry to keep writing. Soon she accepted the one sided aspect of their
correspondence and had poured her heart into those letters, telling him more in one year than she
had ever told anyone. She began to think of Harry as a sort of dream pen pal or diary not certain
if he was even getting the letters she wrote. Hedwig kept taking them though, so she had to be
delivering them somewhere. She wrote of boyfriends and homework as well as more important things
that were happening in their world. She told him about Lupin and Tonks getting married and about
Snape's betrayal to Dumbledore. She wrote about school and how she was so worried about their
newt classes and if she would actually get into St. Mungos school for Healers. Sometimes she forgot
that Harry was possibly reading her innermost thoughts and passions. It didn't seem to matter
that her dreams and desires were being shared with someone she hadn't seen for nearly two
years.

Hermione smiled gently to herself and lovingly touched the little box holding the beautifully
carved wand that had once been roughly shoved up a troll's nose on her behalf. Using her own
magic wand she whispered nostalgically, “Wingardium Leviosa” and the box gently floated through the
air to land neatly beside her newest copy of “Hogwarts: A History” already packed into her trunk.
“What do you use to do magic now Mr. Potter?” She whispered to herself.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dumbledore paced back and forth in front of his great fireplace glancing at his pocket watch
once…….and then twice before he felt a familiar twinge of magic trying to get through the magical
protections of the castle. Dumbledore smiled calmly and briefly lifted the anti apparition charm
from his office allowing a slim young man with wild black hair to appear beside his desk with a
loud crack. Dumbledore's smile quickly turned into one of joyous amusement as he turned toward
the boy he once knew. However; it was no boy who stood before him now with smirking with a
rebellious attitude that emanated off of him like smoke from a fire. He was wearing a pair of faded
blue jeans and a black button up shirt which was carelessly unbuttoned to reveal a white t-shirt
underneath. The only clue to the boy's identity was a bolt of lightening seemingly carved onto
his brow. The young bloke seemed at ease despite the circumstances of his arrival and raised
troubled green eyes to his mentor's twinkling ones. Albus gripped the boy's shoulders with
his weakened hands and shook him slightly as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Without even
being told Albus could feel the fire inside of him and wanted to say something but what could he
say? He was no longer on a superior playing field with this boy and there was no need to pretend
that he was the teacher of this magical being any longer.

“Thank you for coming Harry. I think this year we may need you more than ever.”

Harry Potter had returned to once again be the savior of the wizarding world. He knew the reason
for his return and he understood that the training he received was destined for one purpose, but it
didn't make things any easier. “He raised fiery green eyes to look around Dumbledore's
office and dropped the worn pack he had been carrying onto the floor with a loud plunk. Albus eyed
Harry carefully with worried eyes, silently wondering about the quiet young man before him.

Harry grinned at how obvious Dumbledore was to him now. How did he ever think the man was
unreadable? He could feel the worry and uncertainty churning inside him. “You needn't worry,”
Harry said indifferently as he picked up a small trinket from Dumbledore's desk. “The precious
students of Hogwarts are safe from the likes of me.”

“Harry, we must be cert—“

“I am in control of it.” He stated candidly turning to look Albus in the eyes, and gave him a
quiet laugh that neither inspired pleasure nor sadness. Dumbledore heaved a heavy sigh and nodded
reluctantly. In that one moment he understood that Harry had changed from the boy he once was into
something that no one could have ever expected. Dumbledore rejoiced that this boy might be able to
save them, but a small part of him remembered the young Gryffindor as he used to be and he grieved
for the loss.

“Welcome home Harry.” Albus gave him a fatherly smile, but Harry merely turned his head away.
Harry's heart hammered inside his chest and he swallowed the fear that had been haunting him
since his departure over a year ago. Would Hermione and Ron still want to be his friend?

Harry saw the Scarlet steam engine winding into the Hogsmeade station from one of the astronomy
towers and his stomach lurched uncomfortably. The cool September day had grown colder as the day
turned to evening and a slight drizzling rain pounded heavily upon the courtyard and gardens below.
He could see Hagrid's hut below him giving the impression of a crouched giant resting lazily
upon the grounds. Harry was instantly reminded of Grawp, and other memories regarding his last few
days of his 5th year seemed to follow. They almost felt like a dream and he frowned. The
weather didn't help his mood as he slowly descended the winding staircase hoping for a glimpse
of the students as they entered the school. He stopped right before he reached the bottom to stand
on the small landing facing the doors to the great hall and here he paused. His green eyes
shimmered with a low flame as he waited for the inevitable to happen. He had already decided to
forego the feast and he was already settled into his room. All he wanted to do was see his friends.
Just a glance was all he needed for now to assure himself that they did exist. He had spent so many
nights in the beginning wondering if they had all been a dream. He would have plenty of time to
explain things later he had reasoned. Suddenly his heart tumbled nervously inside his chest as the
door to Hogwarts opened and a crowd of children stumbled into the foyer laughing and chatting
happily. Some complained of the weather while others simply used their wand to siphon off their
sodden clothes.

One young girl wearing a prefect badge glanced up toward the staircase and saw Harry sitting
there. She smiled tentatively at him before nervously rushing a couple of 2nd years
fearfully toward the great hall. Harry shifted his black cloak more snuggly around himself and
cursed for not using his invisibility cloak. As more and more students noticed him however a small
hum of excitement began growing and soon most everyone knew of the tall dark stranger sitting
menacingly upon the stairs.

Hermione directed a group of Hufflepuffs toward the Great Hall before she heard a familiar
voice. Whipping around she saw her best friend grinning broadly at her with his shaggy red hair
hanging over his eyes. “Oi, Hermione do you see that bloke sitting up there on the landing?”

Hermione looked up to see a thin creepy looking person hiding behind a black cloak which hung
drearily from his shoulders. She narrowed her eyes and turned back to Ron. “Who do you think he
is?”

“I don't know but I heard some Ravenclaw Prefects saying that a vampire was here.” His voice
was apprehensive when he returned his eyes back to Hermione's and whispered, “Do you think he
is a Vampire?”

“Don't be ridiculous. Of course he isn't.” Hermione shook her head and chanced another
look at the lone figure. “Dumbledore would know better than to allow a vampire loose in the school.
People are just being paranoid.” Hermione shivered a little and couldn't shake the feeling that
the stranger was staring at her.

Ron nodded agreeably, “Well, yeah but…he did let in a werewolf didn't he?” Ron swallowed
uneasily before pulling his cloak up a little higher around his neck. Hermione humphed and to prove
her point held her head high exposing the soft contours of her neckline.

“One of these days Hermione, I'm going to be right and I just want to be there when it
happens.” Ron paused and stared importantly out into space.

Hermione snorted, “Honestly Ron, you would have to be there if you were the one who was right
now wouldn't you? Anyway, I don't think he is a vampire.” She looked up the stairs and as
she watched she felt drawn to the familiar form and she wandered what business he had at Hogwarts.
Shaking her head she leaned back toward Ron and whispered, “He seems mysterious but I think it is
that cloak that makes him look so……..intimidating.”

Ron nodded but still averted his eyes from the landing. “Let's go will ya? He gives me the
willies”. Hermione sighed and quickly followed her best friend before giving one last glance toward
the landing that was now standing empty. In a wave of sudden panic she wished desperately that
Harry was with them this year. She frowned before hurrying along after Ron who held the door open
for her.

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