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DUN DUN DUUNN

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The first call of war rose from the mountains around Hogwarts.

Harry closed his eyes and listened feeling guilt and fear, fear of what? He thought, he was already dead but the fear still burned in him. He clenched his fists and marched towards the common room hoping to find Hermione and Ron. As he marched the fear was replaced by determination soon followed by the usual uselessness that he always felt since that day. He couldn't possibly fight in this war he was nothing. He stopped; someone was crying in the transfiguration classroom, he slowly opened the door hoping not to startle who was on the other side. It was Ginny, she had tucked herself behind professor McGonagall's desk, her head on her knees that she was hugging like they could comfort her. He wanted to be the one she was hugging. He inched closer almost afraid she would suddenly see him and faint like Hermione and Ron. She was whispering into thin air and Harry was sure she had said his name. Sadness and longing overwhelmed him, he loved her and she would never know but he knew she loved him. Tears flowed down his cheeks and disappeared into nothing.

Harry had forgotten what was happening in those moments but a loud boom reminded him that Hogwarts was at war and Voldemort had chosen now to attack. Ginny stood up and sprinted from the room, Harry got up to follow he stared down the corridor watching in horror as it exploded in fire and rubble. Ginny screamed, showers of bricks rained down on her, she collapsed under the weight. Harry sprinted towards her, running through debris "Ginny!" he screamed racing to her side. She was unconscious in the pile of bricks. Blood ran from a cut in her cheek, he searched around looking for help, anyone that would move her out of danger. He cried out in anger and frustration wanting desperately to pull her to safety but he was useless, he was nothing "help!" he shouted down the corridor. Explosions were blasting through the walls around him showering them in more bricks. Harry attempted in vain to shield Ginny. He almost fainted in relief when Ron and Hermione rounded the corner "Harry!" Hermione yelled, he glanced up at them as they came to a halt next to him "Ginny" he stammered "Harry don't worry she'll be fine I'll take her to the great hall" Ron bent down and scooped his sister into his arms and carried her off into the distance. Harry watched them till they were gone. "I couldn't help her Hermione" he sobbed "she could have died and I wouldn't have done anything! I don't want to be here anymore, I don't want to be useless!" Hermione reached for his hand letting it linger through his, it burned pleasantly "I just want to leave" he said in defeat.

Hermione knew there was nothing she could do to, nothing she could say that would make him feel better, it killed her inside watching him admit defeat, he had never given up before. She was going to lose him again, for good this time "come on Harry" she said, shouts echoed down the corridor coming closer and closer "we have to leave" she stood up. He didn't follow; he stared at the rubble blankly. The shouts came closer still "please Harry" she begged, he didn't flinch. She stamped her foot in anger and ran in the opposite direction feeling guilty for leaving, afraid that was the last time she would ever see him, she sprinted blindly through doors feeling shock waves from explosions shaking the castle, occasionally passing death eaters locked in battle with her fellow students but she didn't recognise any of them the smoke was too thick, it clogged her airways. She didn't know where she was going; she was panicking, trying to gasp for breath but choking. Light streamed up ahead in the distance, she ran towards it holding her breath, her legs feeling like led she finally broke through the smoke and gasped for fresh air, feeling it fill her lungs she groped for something solid to hold on to, afraid her legs would fail on her. "Miss Granger" came Professor McGonagall's familiar voice. Her legs gave way underneath her the Professor caught her before she hit the ground "Harry" she stuttered.

"Come inside Miss Granger" she lead Hermione back into the castle towards the great hall, she coughed trying to get rid of the ash in her lungs "Poppy take Miss Granger to the great hall, clear her airways and calm her down" Poppy nodded and she was transferred between the two. She wanted to close her eyes and go to sleep, she was so tired "No Granger you must stay awake no matter what" Poppy demanded. She groaned and tried her hardest to keep her eyes open "Harry" she repeated she wasn't sure why.

"He's dead" she said sternly afraid Hermione was hallucinating.

"I know" she nodded; Poppy sighed and sat her down on a bench in the great hall Hermione looked around. Ron was with Ginny who had fortunately woken up and didn't seem too damaged by her incident. He ran towards them when he saw her "what happened?" he asked Poppy

"Smoke inhalation she's not getting enough air keep her awake Weasley while I clear her airway" Hermione's eyes drooped feeling dizzy and heavy.

"Hermione look at me it's important" Ron demanded she looked at him "where's Harry?" he asked.

"He's given up Ron. He told me he doesn't want to be here, he wants to leave we're going to lose him again forever" she choked on her tears, Ron looked at her with concern,

"I won't let him feel sorry for himself Hermione, don't worry I'll talk sense into him right after we destroy Voldemort" Ron assured, this didn't help Hermione relax she knew better.

"No Ron you don't get it! Harry will leave and it's already begun, because Voldemort's already weakened and Harry died he can't kill Harry which means there is no longer any need for the protection, he will leave. Forever" Ron stared at her like she had punched him in the face

"It's okay now Weasley she can sleep, I have cleared her airway, she's not in any danger" Hermione sighed in relief and let her eyelids close.

Ron kissed Hermione on the forehead and turned to face Madam Pomfry "she will only be asleep for ten minutes or so. I'll keep her out of harm's way, don't worry" this reassured Ron. He thanked Madam Pomfry and walked out of the great hall glancing back briefly at Hermione sleeping peacefully. He had to find Harry before it was too late. He fought his way through the rubble towards the transfiguration courtyard hoping Harry would still be there, praying Harry was still on this earth full stop. He rounded a corner and bumped into a large hard object. He looked up and stared into the eyes of Fenrir Greyback

"Well, well, well I've got myself a Weasley" he chuckled Ron stumbled backwards drawing his wand from his pocket, his heart beating so loudly he swore Fenrir could hear it. "Stupefy!" he yelled but Fenrir was too quick. He battered the spell away with one sweep of his wand, "did you think that would work you stupid Weasley?" he snarled walking towards Ron, backing him into a corner. He reached towards Ron and pulled him up the wall by his collar, Ron cowered waiting for Him to snap his neck but instead he was let go. Fenrir howled in pain and thudded to the floor

"The bigger and uglier they are the harder they fall" someone muttered Ron looked up at his saviour it was Neville Longbottom. He offered his hand to Ron and smiled down at him "Thanks Neville I don't know what I would have done without you"

"Hey Ron, I'm really sorry about Harry, we all miss him but I know how you and Hermione must feel" he spoke a little awkwardly scratching his head, not really looking at him. Ron just nodded his head looking at the ground

"Neville thanks again but I gotta run, I gotta find-" he cut himself off not wanting to look crazy in front of Neville "Hermione" he said quickly before grinning and walking away from Neville as fast as possible Neville stared at him a little concerned before shrugging it off and walking towards the great hall.

It was dark outside when Hermione finally woke up. Ron was gone, the great hall was full of people rushing round like busy bodies carrying strange coloured liquids and dishing out commands. People were lying on the floor covered in blood, boils and some dead. Hermione felt claustrophobic and crowded, she stood feeling briefly dizzy. She didn't know what time it was or where Ron was she felt alone and scared "Oh Granger you're awake good" Hermione jumped and turned to face the voice. It was Madam Pomfry

"What's the time?" she demanded

"Good to know you're okay; it's 11:00pm, why?" Hermione's stomach dropped it was nearly midnight in one hour Harry would be gone forever, she knew he wouldn't stay till tomorrow "I gotta go!" she said hurriedly standing up.

"Granger stay here, you can't go running around in a war, you're still injured!" Hermione didn't hear the rest of her sentence; she was already out the door running down corridors searching desperately for the familiar ghostly figure. There was a flash of orange before her "RON!" she shouted down the corridor causing her to feel slightly dizzy the room swayed. Ron spun around and ran towards her he skidded to a halt and grabbed Hermione pulling her close to him. He pressed his lips to hers. Her lips tingled with excitement and her head soared to the skies swooping with the phoenixes. It seemed to last a lifetime before Ron pulled away and stared at like he expected her to run away from him. She blushed furiously and flung her arms around Ron he gasped in surprise and hugged back. She pulled away and clung to his shoulders "Harry, we have to find him now!"

"Right" Ron nodded and grabbed Hermione's hand tugging her in all directions "I saw him in the owlery not to long ago, I was just on my way to see him" Hermione felt relief that she no longer had to run around blindly, Ron was her guide now, she felt she would never lose her way again. They stopped at the owlery steps hearing the battle far away, Hermione stared in awe at the wooden bridge billowing black smoke into the murky sky and spilling fire like lava. Ron tugged her up the steps; Hermione felt her arm would drop off.

"HARRY!" Ron bellowed from below, no answer. He climbed up the steps, leading Hermione more gently this time. Harry was sitting staring up at the castle from the rafters. His black hair had turned an ugly grey colour and he looked even more unreal. Hermione hated seeing him like this; she turned away and stared at the wall. Harry hadn't acknowledged they were there he just stared out like a zombie "Harry?" Hermione asked in a timid voice, turning to face him and walking slowly towards him.

"What are you doing here? There is a war going on here" he said there was no emotion in his voice. Hermione withdrew and glanced at Ron hoping he would take over.

"Mate we came to just say…" Ron stared awkwardly at Hermione and shrugged. The stairs creaked below. Airy footsteps started up the steps towards the rafters, towards them. Hermione held her breath, the wind picked up whipping her hair around her face. Hermione shivered seeing the deathly pale face and gleaming blood red eyes belonging to Voldemort. He laughed his high cold cackle Harry drew his attention away from the castle and stared at Voldemort watching with horror as he made his way slowly towards the three.

"I can see you Potter" he spoke sending shivers down Hermione's spine

"Unfortunately I can't take pleasure in killing you myself like I did your mud blood mother" Harry's face contorted with rage, he balled his hands into fists. Ron took out his wand readying himself against Voldemort. He cackled again "you stupid boy, you can't defend yourself" he spat.

"I'm going to kill you but first I'm going to kill your mud blood friend." Hermione froze with fear and screwed her eyes shut, she felt Ron tense beside her, she opened her eyes; Voldemort was raising his wand ready to strike. Hermione couldn't breathe as fear took hold of her, flowing through her veins turning her blood to ice she could hear her heart beating fast and steady but it would stop, she knew it. She turned to look at Harry he was staring hopelessly at them, his eyes burning with rage. There was nothing he could do.

"Good-bye mud blood" Voldemort whispered his voice dripping with menace.

"AVADA KADAVRA"

Harry and Ron screamed. Hermione feel back with force against the wall, hearing a crack and a burning sharp pain in her chest but the world wasn't black. She was still breathing; she could feel her heart beating. Overwhelming relief flowed through her melting the ice cold fear, she opened one eye. Snape was leaning over a hunched black object on the floor. She opened the other eye seeing the full picture. The hunched black object was Voldemort. It wasn't Voldemort who had shouted the curse. It was Snape, Snape had killed Voldemort. She searched round the room for Ron. He had been thrown against the wall with the force as well. She scrambled over to him feeling the burning sharp pain in her chest again. Ron was unconscious but still breathing she grabbed his hand and buried herself face into his shoulder. She felt Snape's eyes burning into the back of her head "Granger you must leave" his voice was steady and stern despite what had happened,

"No!" she protested. She searched the rafters for Harry, praying to see his emerald eyes staring at her with concern but they were nowhere to be seen. "NO!" she shouted, once again burying her face into Ron's shoulder, feeling his steady heart beat telling her he was okay. Snape pulled Hermione up and stared at her, she was reflected back in his black eyes. Tears streaked her grimy face. She pulled away from him and ran down the stairs searching far and low for those comforting emerald green eyes before coming to the horrible conclusion, he was gone. Forever. She cried out in disbelief and sunk to the ground hugging her knees. She heard Snape's footsteps crashing down the stairs she glanced up at him. He was carrying Ron over his shoulder pushing his greasy black hair out of his face. Hermione stared into her lap again "Granger you stupid girl follow me to the Great Hall NOW" his voice was so demanding. He offered her his hand and pulled her up. Her legs were unsteady and she felt she was going to topple over but Snape steadied her and she continued out the door of the owlery towards the great hall feeling disbelief. She felt like she was stuck in a nightmare all over again, following Snape down the owlery steps outside afraid of tripping on every step she came to. The sky was clogged with black smoke and fire burned from the castle. It looked like hell had opened up. For Hermione she felt like it had.

Two days later

Hermione sat on the steps outside Hogwarts in the chilly morning air, staring at the mountains around her. She closed her eyes and listened to the birds chirping their morning song. She felt her muscles relax like sinking into a hot bath. Ron sat quietly next to her staring out at the scenery as well; he didn't speak, not wanting to disturb her.

"Where do you think he is?" she asked sounding childish.

"I don't know but he's with Sirius and his Mum and Dad, they'll look after him." Hermione smiled warm salty tears rolled down her cheeks she looked at Ron, Tears rolled down his cheeks as well. It was the first time he had cried since this all began. It felt like closer for Hermione, seeing him cry. The war was won Voldemort was dead, but so was Harry. Seeing him for so long after made her felt like he was back again, like it was all normal but seeing him gone without saying goodbye made it feel like he had died all over again. Ron's family had returned to the burrow. Ron stayed with Hermione at Hogwarts; she couldn't go home till she returned her parents memory. Professor McGonagall had given her time to stay to get over her wounds. She had suffered 3 broken ribs in the owlery that night. Ron had suffered minor memory loss and Hermione had to explain everything that had happened from the beginning all over again, ripping her heart into shreds watching him remember everything. Snape had left shortly after he had delivered Hermione and Ron to the Great hall, explaining what had happened, Neville had beheaded Nagini just before seeing Voldemort storming towards the owlery and had alerted Snape of this. That's how Snape had found them and saved their live. She couldn't stop saying thank you to him but he told her to rest before taking off.

It was all over. The fires were put out; people were rebuilding the castle one piece at a time. Ron stroked Hermione's cheek wiping away her tears.

"Don't cry Hermione" he whispered.

Fin

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