Shipping Shuffle Competition:

Cho/Hermione

Radioactive

It's Open to Interpretation: Music: Imagine Dragons

Interesting Words Challenge: equanimity - mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation

Favorite Hogwarts House Boot Camp: 13. Blood

Elemental Song Challenge: LIGHT: The past is mercy when the future is glow. -Your Favorite Enemies, "The Messenger"

Oh the Thinks You Can Think! Competition: Sam I Am

Harry had disappeared to find the diadem, and Ron had been taken aside to take to Neville, Seamus, and Dean to discuss the goings on of Hogwarts. (Whoever had said girls gossiped more than boys had never met the Gryffindor boys.) That left Hermione, an outsider to the other Gryffindor girls from the beginning, standing alone.

"Hey, Hermione." The bushy-haired girl turned in surprise to see Cho Chang standing in front of her.

"Hi, Cho. How have you been? I know you were planning on going into the Ministry after graduation, but... Well, I'm afraid I've been a bit cut off from society recently." The two girls smiled tensely.

"It's alright, Hermione. The Ministry didn't really work out... I've been waiting tables in a Muggle coffee shop recently. At least there I can help if something happens in the Muggle community, you know?" She looked down at her feet.

"That's really brave of you, Cho." It was quiet for a moment, then:

"I wanted to apologize. I know I wasn't very nice to you when I was with Harry, and afterwards. I was jealous, and I'm sorry. I know you never tried to get between us. So, will you forgive me?"

Hermione looked down at the hand the Ravenclaw girl had offered. "Of course, Cho. You were forgiven a long time ago," she said, shaking her hand. "Now, since this battle is happening, would you mind helping me with strategy? You're an intelligent person, and I think it would be useful to have another smart girl on things. Harry and Ron are wonderful, but they just don't understand subtly all the time, do they?" Cho laughed at that, and the two girls walked over to Remus and Tonks to help devise strategy.

The battle had begun again, and Hermione was on the ground, her mouth filled with ash and dust. Scrambling to her feet, she shot spells over her shoulder as she ran down the corridors. Ron was somewhere, and Harry had disappeared as well. She was looking all over for Voldemort, but she knew Nagini would be protected. She doubted he was even in the battle yet.

"Hermione!" She looked over her shoulder to see Cho struggling behind her. Hermione quickly shot a diffindo spell at the ropes binding the girl, helping her to her feet.

"C'mon, Cho, let's get out of here. Have you seen Harry or Ron?" They still needed to destroy this Horcrux.

"No, not recently. Get DOWN!" She yelled suddenly, yanking Hermione to the ground as a bright green jet of light flew over their heads. Hermione quickly shot back in retaliation, knocking the Death Eater back.

"Thanks, Cho."

"No problem. I got your back, Hermione. Now, let's go kick some Death Eater butt." The older girl grinned, her face showing the drive to get revenge on those who had made her life hell by taking her boyfriend, her friends, her family.

"Gladly," Hermione said as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "Let's go."

The battle was over for now; Voldemort was giving Harry time to surrender and the rest of them were gathering the dead. She assumed Harry was up in Dumbledore's office, dealing with Snape's memories, though he had been gone a while, and Ron was with his family. Hermione went to stand by Cho Chang, who had become an unlikely friend in the few hours they had both been back in school.

"Thanks again, Cho, for saving my life." The two girls stood staring out at everyone, both dead and alive.

"You saved mine as well. So thank you for that."

"Whatever happens, Cho, I'd just like you to know that I really admire you. You went through hell when Cedric died, and you still got through it. And you've been so brave, fighting for this cause. I'm really glad to have you at my back. And I hope, if both of us make it through this, we can be friends afterwards." Hermione turned to look at the older girl, startled to see her tearing up.

"Of course, Hermione. I'd love to be friends with you," she whispered, and the two girls hugged.

Suddenly, that chilling voice came slithering through the air again.

No, no, NO! Hermione thought, tears slipping down her face.

Hermione felt Cho's hand slip into her own as the two girls, made unlikely friends by a war of hatred, stepped out of the castle to mourn the death of Harry Potter.