Different Sides of the War

**A/n: Okie Dokie folks, this is my first HP fan fic. I hope to get a lot of feed back. let me know if I should continue it. I have all but the last chapter typed out and ready so if there is a show of interest I shall continue to post the rest of the story here.
If any one is interested in Beta-ing let me know I am more than happy for the help.

Kurai**

Chapter One: Surprise Encounter

The war had been raging for a while, the body count had reached an all time high. The seventh year at Hogwarts for those that had stayed, soon found that a practical was added to everyday life on top of classes.

The Hogwarts professors have used their whole last year to train those that were getting ready to head out into the war. It had been a long time coming. The summer after Voldemort had been confirmed to be back by the Ministry, the staff at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry band together to train the seventh years practically so that when they reached out side the protective walls of the school they would be prepared to face the Death-Eaters head on.

Many times you could find a teacher and student dueling in a hallway or even in the middle of a lesson. The attacks came from the teachers and were implemented to keep the students on their toes and ready at all times. Constant Vigilance. With the new training, much to his disdain, Professor Snape had to take on an assistant to brew more healing potions for the infirmary, Hermione being the head of her classes was assigned to this task.

There were three places that you could be pulled into a duel: Outside any where on the grounds, the hallways, and inside of classrooms. Any other place was off limits and students were forbidden to start the confrontation.

The seventh years were unsure of how to take the new rules, but many knew of the wisdom of the new “Exams”.

On top of this Moody and Tonks were brought into the school to teach the new Six and Seventh year Dueling Classes.

By the end of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's Seventh year they were all but certified Aurors. Their bodies and minds shaped into machines built to hunt the bad of the world.

Hermione had long since sent her parents away, to a place far out of the country. She was the only one whom knew where they were. She figured that being their secret keeper she would guarantee that they would be safe. She knew for a fact that she would sooner die than allow their location be known.

Despite the trio's reluctance, they had been trained by Severus Snape in Legilimency and Occlumency. Not even he could break into their minds after their training. Hermione had thought that she could see a bit of pride in those black charcoal eyes after he last tested their mental barriers.

They had been moved into Grimmauld Place and started working for the Ministry and the Order as soon as each passed the test making them legitimate Aurors. It was on a battle field that Hermione got her greatest shock of the war.

It had been two years since she had heard from him. Two long painful years thinking he was dead. Imagine her surprise when she encountered him on the battle field, wand drawn and pointed at her.

She had just finished off three younger Death Eaters. One had knocked her wand out of her hand so she resorted to Muggle means and took them out one by one that way. She was just about to reach for her wand when she had a wand tip placed into her face.

His silver mask had been knocked off his face and he had a gash across his brow, he looked older and more worn, but she would recognize him anywhere. He was the love of her life. Yet despite that here she was at wand point staring him in the eye.

Surprise was the first thing she saw in those eyes before he closed himself off to it. He held her eyes for a long time before an explosion and red sparks signaled for the Death Eaters to retreat. With one more glance he looked at her and turned and left her to find her wand and meet up with the rest of her side.

Confused, Hermione grabbed her wand and headed back to headquarters.

“Hermione!” Ron said as he saw her return safely. They never went out at the same time hoping that if one should fall Harry would still have one unit of support. He and Harry both looked concerned by the look of shock and hurt on her face. The two boys pulled her up into her bed room, once inside away from the rest of the Order tears glistened the rim of her eyes and she broke into sobs at the two confused boys held her close.

She cried until her head hurt before she finally calmed down. Her companions just held on as she settled and pulled back. “Hermione,” Ron started a bit hesitant. “Who did we loose to make you cry?”

Both boys had left with her as soon as she entered the house so neither knew what had happened out on the field.

Hermione shook her head. “No one that I know of, we all made it out relatively unscathed.”

“I'm a bit more than a little confused then.” Harry spoke finally. He was more than just a little scared for his friend.

Since she had confessed to Harry that she was in love and whom with, he and Hermione had grown closer. When he suddenly disappeared and stopped sending letters to her she was crushed at the thought that he was dead. After many tears and a year of heart break she finally came to except it and started to move on. It was six more months before she fully turned to Harry for comfort that they became friends with benefits.

Neither had any illusions of being in love with the other, sure they loved one another but they were not in love. They were just there for the others use when they needed a physical release. Each was free to see and date who ever they wanted and they knew that the other was there to fall back on when it didn't work out.

“I have to side with Harry on this one, what happened to make you break down like that? I haven't seen you break down and cry like that since...” Ron trailed off.

He too knew about Hermione and her love, he was there with Harry for the poor womans break down. He was also her lover at times, far and few between though. Ron was bi-sexual and found it easier to find partners than most, but whenever she needed and Harry couldn't provide Ron was the one she trusted to go to.

She calmed and sat comfortably between her two best friends. “I'm OK now.” She said trying to get up and avoid telling them what she saw.

“Aw no you don't!” Ron said as he pulled her back down into his lap with her back to his chest and her facing Harry.

Harry grasped her chin lightly, “Now, tell us what you saw.”

“It wasn't so much as what I saw as to who I saw.” She whispered loud enough for both to hear.

Ron rolled his eyes but held on to her still hoping to re-assure her that it would be OK.

“Alright who did you see?”

“Some one who we believed was dead.”

Ron and Harry exchanged confused looks. It was war there were so many possibilities.

Finally the ever impatient one Ron said, “Well are you going to tell us or keep us in suspense?”

“Viktor.”