Strong Enough

CH 33 DON’T DREAM IT’S OVER

Zephyr, I love you
Thanks at the bottom
I own nothing

There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There\'s a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you\'ll never see the end of the road
While you\'re travelling with me

Don’t dream it’s over, Crowded House

The sky was beginning to show the first signs of daylight as Hermione stepped out of the camp in the forbidden forest. Black night was making way to swirls of pink and orange; it was going to be a gorgeous summer’s day.

As she walked across the grounds, she felt her chest tighten in anticipation and fear. This was it. Today, Lord Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy and their army of death eaters would attack Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and their army of friends, family and students.

She allowed herself a thought for her friends for a moment before shutting down all her emotions as a woman and switching on her skills as an auror and a fighter. Everyone she cared about was in grave danger, most of them on the front line. Harry, who had to kill or be killed, Ron, who along with Hagrid, would be leading the attack from the forest and Albus and Minerva, who, along with the DA would be protecting the younger students and their home, Hogwarts. Then there was the other side. Ginny and Severus. She swallowed hard as she thought of Ginny who, was right now getting prepared to storm the building that was her home for seven years, with an army of madmen before showing her true colours, and of Severus, who was probably pacing hiambeambers and looking into the fire, expecting this to be the day he died.

Severus was in his chambers, pacing, until a knock at his door bought him out of it. It was Dumbledore. The headmaster looked very imposing in robes of gold. \"This is it Severus, are you ready to show yourself to the enemy?\"

\"Yes, I suppose today is as good a day as any to die,\" he replied humourlessly.

Dumbledore wrinkled brow creased a little more and then relaxed. \"She does what we all do in times like this Severus,\" said the old man quietly.

Severus, who was used to the wizard in front of him knowing everything, sneered and said, \"And what would that be?\"

\"What we must. For what it is worth to you, I know she loves you, as much as you love her.\"

Severus tried to look unaffected and failed miserably. \"I do not wish to discuss this with you Albus,\" he said finally, ignoring the pain in his chest. \"Is it time?\"

The older wizard nodded and Severus grabbed his robes and followed the headmaster out of his rooms, wondering if he would ever see them again.

She walked into the great hall, which was full of people ready to fight for the freedom of the wizarding world. They were quietly talking amongst themselves, as if afraid that a raised voice would bring the battle on. She stopped to say hello to Molly and Arthur Weasley as Harry, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Severus stepped out on to the platform that usually housed the Head table and a hush descended over the assembled fighters. To everyone’s surprise it was Harry and not Dumbledore who stepped forward to address them all.

\"First of all let me start by thanking you all for making the decision to fight with us today, you have done yourselves and your families proud just by being here.\" He looked around at the assembled group, knowing that his message was being heard by everyone involved inside the castle and outside, thanks to another of Hermione’s electronic reworkings. \"Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to address you this morning as we are now without a leader,\" Cornelius Fudge had fled the country a fortnight ago. \"I am happy to take up the mantle of leader until a replacement can be found, and so I come to you today to say… We can win this war, all of us, together, as a team. Thank you. Take your positions.\"

Everyone started to make their way to where they were supposed to be, except Hermione, who had spent the whole speech watching the man she loved. He hadn’t looked at her once and although it had hurt her, she understood the need to remain impassive. She sighed and followed the others out.

Severus watched her go, anger and hurt mixed with love and desire filled him and the thought that he may have just seen her for the last time made his stomach turn over. He shook himself out of it. There would be time enough for that later, or he would be dead. Dumbledore called him over and Severus pushed all thoughts of Hermione from his heart and mind.

As she stepped out of the Castle, she noticed that the sun had fully risen. The sky was a beautiful shade of azure blue but in the distance she could see black storm clouds gathering as though the weather knew what was about to happen, and couldn’t bear for it to be on a gorgeous day like this. She arrived at the front line where Harry, his team and hers were already assembled. They were in the middle of the grounds facing the gates; everyone else was behind them in different locations or guarding the perimeters. She shook off her robes and threw them to the ground. She was in hsualsual attire of a tight black t-shirt, black jeans and her boots, the full face of make up was in place because if ever she needed ‘war paint’ it was today and her hair was plaited, falling like a thick rope down her back.

Harry smiled at her and looked at the heap of robes on the ground. \"You’ve never been able to fight in them anyway,\" he said reaching for her hand and squeezing it tightly. She squeezed his back and they let go, both pulling their wands from their back pockets. They looked at each other and smiled. \"Better wizards than you have lost buttocks you know,\" said Harry, imitating Moody‘s rough, grizzled voice. The old auror had been telling the trio that for years, to no avail, all three of them kept their wands there. They both collapsed into fits of childish giggles knowing it was inappropriate, but doing it anyway.

Hermione looked up as the sun disappeared behind the dark clouds, which were a few minutes ago, so far away. The blue sky was gone, replaced with rolling grey and black. There was a loud crack and Severus apparated in front of them surprising Hermione.

\"The wards are all down; they are outside the gates,\" he said solemnly. Harry nodded. Severus looked at Hermione for a moment. \"Be careful,\" he said his tone flat.

\"You too,\" she replied then rushed on, \"Severus, I...\"

\"I know,\" he said and then more softly, \"me too,\" and with that he was gone.

The sound of the gates flying off their hinges focused her and she watched as hundreds and hundreds of hooded figures approached. They all stopped and faced the Hogwarts army and for a moment there was a complete silence that to Hermione was deafening. Then came the voice of a madman, hissing from behind his army. \"Ready to die Mr. Potter?\"

Harry shrugged, \"I am if you are,\" he said offhandedly.
The evil laughter of Voldemort echoed around the grounds and then stopped suddenly.
\"Kill them,\" he hissed. \"Kill them all.\" There was a huge flash of lightening followed by an almighty roar of thunder, the sky opened up and the rain began to fall as the two armies rushed at each other and curses began to fly.

~*~*~

Severus didn’t know how long he had been fighting for, all he knew is that they just kept coming at him, especially when they realized that he was fighting on the opposite side and it was starting to wear him down. He looked over to where Draco and Ginny were fighting. They were standing back to back moving in complete synchronicity and Severus realized that he and Hermione could have done the same, could have fought together rather than apart. He felt a sharp stinging pain in his thigh and looked down to see blood pouring from a large puncture wound there. He looked up to see Lucius Malfoy standing in front of him and grinning manically.
\"Hello Lucius,\" he said calmly, knowing that this may be the end for him.

\"Hello Severus, when did you switch sides?\" said Lucius; still smiling

\"Years ago Lucius, when I realized that I didn’t want to follow a madman into hell,\" said Severus, starting to get dizzy from the lack of blood.

Lucius stopped smiling. \"That is a shame old friend,” he said with honest regret on his face. \"Crucio.\"

Severus fell to the ground, as the old familiar feeling that his blood was boiling coursed through his veins. Ten minutes had passed and Severus felt himself sinking into a blissful blackness, when suddenly it stopped. Severus, panting heavily, raised his head, as much as he could with the violent shaking. Hermione was standing opposite Lucius successfully deflecting curse after curse. Severus was relieved to see that she looked relatively unscathed, if not a little bit tired. Suddenly she was knocked off her feet by a random hex from across the field and Lucius was looming over her. Severus started to panic and desperately tried to reach for his wand which was laying a few feet away.

\"Well, Mudblood bitch, is that the best you have got? Why would you try and save this worthless piece of shit anyway?\" Hermione’s eyes darted to Severus for a moment, and Lucius caught the glance. \"Oh how sweet, you have a crush on him, well don’t waste your time little girl. He isn’t worth the bother,\" he sneered.

Hermione smiled sweetly and looked the wizard in the eye. \"Well, Lucius, he was better than you.\"

\"Oh please, as if you would ever know, although I might just have to show you before you die,\" he said advancing on her.

Hermione whispered a spell and her appearance started to shift and change until Lucius was staring into the violet eyes of Marcela Junix.

Severus gasped as he took in the sight of the woman he loved, the way his oldest friend saw her.
Lucius stared at her in complete disbelief. \"No!\" he shouted, \"You can not be her!\"

\"I can and I am Lucius,” she said, \"and I can tell you with absolute certainty that he is a hundred times the wizard you could ever hope to be!\"

Lucius struggled to compose himself. \"I should have killed you when I had the chance,\" he sneered.

\"You never had the chance,” she said calmly, raising her wand.

He rushed her and planted a deep searing kiss on her lips. \"Until next time my love,\" he whispered then sprinted off across the grounds. She steadied herself and took off a him him, glancing back at Severus, who she was glad to see had passed out and not seen the kiss.

~*~*~

When Severus came around it was to the sight of Harry and Voldemort both crumpling to the ground. Voldemort burst into black flames, but Harry just lay there. Severus crawled over to him and shook him but it was no use. ’The boy who lived’ had finally died and the wizarding world was safe again because of him. He gently picked up the young saviour and turned towards the castle when Dumbledore appeared in front of him, tears running down his face.
\"Minerva is dead Severus,\" said the old man, looking every one of his 130 plus years and wracked with the loss of so many, including his partner of fifty years.

Severus bit back a sob. \"I am so sorry Albus,\" was all he could say, as the lump in his throat was threatening to choke him with grief for his friends.

The headmaster just nodded, \"I will take him from here Severus\" he said quietly \"Go and find your lady love\" and he took Harry’s body from him and walked slowly back to the school, his head bowed in respect.

Severus looked helplessly around him. The air was thick with multi coloured smoke from a thousand curses and even the pouring rain couldn’t wash away the stench of death that surrounded him. There were so many bodies lying across the grounds that he couldn’t even see any grass, just a sea of black robes. The last time he had seen Hermione she had been chasing Lucius Malfoy around the back of the castle to the cliffs. He headed that way, checking the fallen as he went and speaking to the medi -witches and wizards who were helping the injured, but no one had seen her.

He searched for over two hours, the pain in his leg and shaking limbs, long forgotten, and as fear and panic set into him, he began shouting her name as he looked at dead body after dead body. He stopped and silently watched as he saw Arthur Weasley on his knees, cradling his youngest son’s body. Two of the golden trio dead and one missing, Severus didn’t think that hchinching heart could take any more, until he came around the side of the castle to the cliffs and saw a body hanging half over the edge. He knew it was she straight away, the curve of her body, the clothes, and her beautiful braid of hair hanging down as though trying to reach the sea.

He dropped to his knees and turned her over, pulling her back with him to rest between his legs, by the rock where they had talked amicably for the first time all those months ago. She had been hit with numerous curses and hexes from what he could see as he cradled her head in the crook of his arm. The worse one, at least superficially seemed to have been a ‘Frequens Incisura’ a cutting curse, which had sliced small cuts all over her body and face. She was also very badly bruised and Severus could feel several broken ribs. He felt desperately for a pulse but couldn’t find one. He finally let it all go, he couldn’t bear the feelings of complete despair and emptiness that was engulfing him and as he blinked the first tear fell.

This was why he had never let himself get close to anybody. This was why she left; this was why she tried to tell him that she loved him earlier. He wished he had said the words, kissed her once more. He thought back over the last year. Punching him and storming out seemed to be her raison d’etre for most of it, but then there were times when he was sure he had seen the real her. He felt as though his insides were being ripped out and began to sob, holding her to him as though someone were trying to take her away from him. The only person he had ever loved.

He felt something brush his cheek and his eyes flew open. Hermione was looking up at him through half closed lids, the rain pushing the loose strands of hair away from her face, and washing away the heavy make up, making her look very innocent. She was using her last ounce of strength to reach out and touch his cheek before drifting away again. He pulled himself up, still holding her close and began running across the grounds, shouting like a madman, for help. She was alive.

Thanks

Nesscafe ; You are right, I will tell it my own way, but don’t be surprised if there isn’t a happy ending!! Lucius knows now, doesn’t he?? I think it was just his wording to Severus, but it served the purpose !! xx

Deb ; I can’t believe it either. This has been a true labour of love, I have loved and hated it equally over the months!! You do realize that the sequel will be mostly HG/LM?? That is exactly what Severus is doing, he is so jealous of Lucius anyway, that it doesn’t take much to set his mind working that way. Hope you enjoyed the battle xx

Sirius Star Holder ; Thank you, enjoy!!

PotionsMistressM ; My no1 bitch and drama queen!! I like your version of the ending but you know that I’m far too evil to end it like that!! I would love a picture of you, but be warned that if you do look like Eliza or Alyson, I’m packing my bags and before you can say ‘Las Vegas wedding’ you’ll be Mrs GrrArrg!! love ya xx

Brittnisnape ; Don’t cry baby, it will all be ok *lulls Brittni into false sense of security* You like Ginny and Draco? I just think they go well together, In my mind, Ginny has a dark part to her after her time in the chamber of secrets. I am truly touched that you’ve book marked me and that you are enjoying this story so much xx


One down, one to go

I can’t believe that there is only one chapter left, and I haven’t even written it yet!! I will be sad to see this go, but kind of relieved, it has been a monster of a fic!!
Huge thanks to all reviewers, and if you are reading and not reviewing (I know you are out there!!) then your time is running out!!
I will update the final chapter as soon as it is written!!
Kisses
GrrArrg