{22-If You Thought We Were Going to Let You DIE-}

When Hermione came to there was a body standing in front of her, wand pointed out, but it was shaking slightly, as though they weren't entirely sure what they were doing. Her vision was blurred, and she felt like she'd been hit with millions of curses, hair covering her face and eyes crusty with tears she was sure were shed with contempt.

"What are you doing, Wormtail? Throwing away your chance at a seat by my side? All she did was put the process into motion, I'll be more powerful now, I have a million reasons to kill everyone in my way. And you're in my way."

Peter? Hermione looked up from her spot on the floor, attempting to sit up, even slightly. She couldn't get much footing, but she could see through blurred vision, Peter was wand to wand with Voldemort, looking extremely unsure of himself.

"She doesn't deserve this. She's kind... so kind."

"Kindness gets you nowhere, Wormtail. If you want something you must seize it with your ferocity and shred through those who demand you step aside."

That was a warning for a faithful servant, and Hermione did her best to try and pick herself up, but she still was failing, getting no more than up on her side.

Peter shook his head, and Hermione breathed in and out, ignoring the protests of her lungs. She felt around for her wand, unable to locate it. Of course Voldemort had taken it, he wasn't daft.

"Have it your way, then."

Voldemort was slow with his wand, seemingly ready to cherish the moment that he got to take this mans life, but Peter was quick, he was quicker than Hermione thought it possible, and with the quick flick of his wand he had Voldemort stupefied, but not dead. The rest of the Death Eaters were in such shock, that they ran over towards Voldemort instead of hashing in on Peter who ran to Hermione, tripping on the carpet and falling at her side.

She could have laughed if their lives weren't at risk.

"Are you okay?"

"My wand," she begged.

He nodded, looking back as he scrambled up, a slight struggle because of his weight. It didn't take long for him to find the forgotten wand close to them, and he handed it to her, turning back to the Death Eaters who were all pestering their Lord. A fight was coming, and Hermione was doing her best to stand, but she couldn't, not quite yet.

Peter could not take on all the Death Eaters, and as Voldemort regained his composure, calling for an attack, she had never been more thankful to hear the sound of Order Members buzzing into the room, immediately taking action. She backed up to the nearest sofa, watching as Dumbledore and McGonagall fought off several Death Eaters by themselves, and several other Order members seemed be doing just as well. Vaguely aware of Neville's parents, two more utterly brave Aurors, Hermione was soon distracted by a woman's presence next to her.

"You know, I thought you were dead."

She bobbed her head to the side and huffed, "Mary?"

"Who else? You got yourself into all this bloody trouble and didn't tell anyone? Gods, Hermione. Healers can only do so much work. Remus came and saw me a while back, poor thing misses you, not like that of course. That would be silly considering he's with Sirius. Handsome bloke, I'm kind of jealous, actually."

All this information could have knocked Hermione right back out. Remus missed her? Surely she was imagining Mary, that was the only option for all the odd bits and ends of drama she was receiving.

"I'm a healer, now cooperate with me, will you? I can't apparate you, but they seem to have it pretty much handled over there. I think they're trying to take Voldemort in to the Ministry, but I highly doubt that's a good idea. They have Grindelwald on so many drugs that they'd have to have him on double to lock him up and keep him there. Just grab on to me, will you? You've got a lot of strained muscles and bruises. An unforgivable, I imagine?"

She nodded, feeling hazy as spells fired off silently in the room, grabbing onto Mary best she could. She was hoisted onto the couch, and Hermione felt a ton of healing spells hit her, each one bringing just a tiny bit of clarity to the world. In no time she was feeling much better, but the action was over.

The Longbottom's had Voldemort restrained and seemingly unconscious, and while there were several dead, the other remaining Death Eaters were also paralyzed and in custody. She'd missed the fight, but at least she'd made it possible.

Hermione saw clearly that they'd won. At least that was one wizard who would not threaten anyone any longer. She stood, checking the faces of those who were dead, ignoring those who told her to sit, that she was exacerbating herself beyond necessity.

Though she'd never liked him, Hermione felt rather bad for Draco when she saw the lifeless bodies of Lucius Malfoy and his sister-in-law. Of course they'd fought for Voldemort, and while Bellatrix was bound to die anyways, Lucius had not been.

He was her first casualty.

There seemed to be no one else important who was dead, so Hermione finally heeded Mary and went back to her.

"Is everyone else okay?"

"It was just you who got knocked out, sweetie. Everyone else is going to be taken very good care of, so let's get you home."

"I don't have one," she told her gently, "I've been travelling for the past couple of years."

Mary nodded, "I know, then let's get you to the others, hm? There's some people there who would love to see you."

Kissing her cheek, Mary grabbed onto her and raised her wand, "Are you okay to apparate, or should we floo?"

"Whatever gets me there quicker!"

Nodding, the two girls were gone in an instant, greeting rather relieved faces.

"Hermione!" It was Lily first, running at lightening speed to embrace her, "You fool! If you'd have been killed, how would I have explained to Harry such things? Oh, you absolutely bonkers witch!"

Hermione laughed, closing her eyes in the warmth of Lily's arm. She never imagined having such a wonderful friend in Lily Potter, but here she was. Hell, half of what had happened to her hadn't been expected.

"I know, I'm sorry, but better me than you. Don't let Harry see me like this will you? He can't know I exist until we go to Hogwarts together."

"Put him in the other room, James, will you?"

"Sure," the man said, holding the small bundle close to his chest, smiling brightly at Hermione.

Lily finally let her go, and Hermione got a good look at the room, Sirius with his arm slung around Remus, a gigantic smile over both their faces, and Severus, who looked concerned and thrilled all at once. He knew exactly how many years older than he that he was, and she imagined that it scared him slightly. As it should.

Remus looked around and slipped out of Sirius' hold, "Since no one else seems to want to say hello."

Se was embraced, quite warmly, by someone who when she'd last seen him, had told her to sod off.

"I'm so sorry, I was a bloody fool."

Hermione couldn't have cared what he was, she cried into his sensible sweater vest and held him close, praying that she wasn't hurting him. She'd hardly kept track of her time of the month let alone his. The full moon could have been for a week straight and she wouldn't have noticed.

"It's alright, really. I'm sorry I hurt you, that was never my intention."

"I know."

They pulled away, and as he looked at her happily, he placed a kiss on her forehead, signifying a final and happy ending to what they'd had, Sirius seeming anxious in the background.

"My turn," he said excitedly, "That's enough of your hands on him, he's mine. Took me bloody years to get him, I'm not letting him go anywhere."

Hermione only laughed, walking over to the hapless man and hugging him, too, looking at Severus who seemed most uncomfortable.

"I promised you I'd do it. Easier than a first-year potion," Severus told her as he watched on, "They  really didn't need any help."

"Oh, shut it, Severus, you're just jealous."

"Hardly," he remarked snidely, looking offended Remus would even say such a thing.

The house she was in was not unfamiliar. They were in Severus' flat, one which used to be hers as well, and he hadn't moved much, maybe obtained a few extra things like various cauldrons and what have you, but still... mostly the same.

"Your turn?" She offered Severus, and he raised an eyebrow sort of skeptically, looking over at Mary who shrugged.

Hermione had no idea as to why he needed to look at her, but that was not her concern.

"Obviously."

She could have exchanged her hug for a solid smack, but she decided that he deserved the hug after two years.

"I've missed you, Sev."

"And I you, Hermione."

She smelled his robes, realizing that he did not smell like himself. In fact, he smelled faintly of soap.

Letting go, her eyes rather sad, she put out her hand. "Friends?"

"Friends."

It was odd to have made such an agreement with him, seeing as he wasn't the one who she'd fallen out with. But, maybe it was needed, and as she turned back to everyone, they all smiled at her reassuringly.

Then she was practically tackled to the ground by James who apparently needed his say in the matter as well.

"Tell us everything! Harry doesn't like to sleep very long, so you better be quick! We missed the bloody shite out of you, you know?"

"James!" Lily said, "Let her breathe!"

Laughing gently, they all settled in and she regaled them with her tales of hunting the horcruxes. Though, much less hunting than simply getting through to where they were located since she knew where most of them had been. Appreciating all the help she promised she wouldn't ask for, they told her it was the least they could have done.

And then they told her their story. How the wedding went, how Remus and Sirius got together, how Peter had sort of become distant yet something else all together, and most importantly to Hermione, how Severus and Mary had gotten together. Or, at least they'd been somewhat together-ish. At best, they were consolatory friends. This was a well known fact, and though it seemed there were things that weren't being said, Hermione didn't entirely care to hear them.

She let them talk her ears off for hours, someone ordering take-away from a local place, and then cracking open a bottle of wine by the time it was getting late.

They kept Harry out of sight of Hermione, not wanting to risk him seeing her and somehow remembering her. It was silly of them all, really, but more than anything in the world, Hermione wanted her friend back once the time came around, and if she accomplished that, then what more could she ask for?

And suddenly there were things that Hermione had yet to encounter. There were families and relationships, and no longer were they kids in school, but grown ups who all had jobs and careers, except her. It was probably best she didn't have one, but still. There were emotionally developed adults in front of her and surrounding her, but she was... alone. So alone, and the next several years would bring the same thing for her. Hermione was excited for everyone nonetheless, and a bright future laid before her and her friends.

A/N

I almost forgot??? That it was.... update day???? Glad I didn't. Hope you all enjoyed!!!