5

                                    

                                          
Hermione sprinted across the courtyard faster than she'd ever run in her whole life. Through the skies, all across Hogwarts, Voldemort's voice pierced through the air. 
                          
"You have fought valiantly, but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured."
                          
Hermione tripped over a fallen goalpost on the Quidditch field. Ignoring the cut she received on her forearm, she got up again and continued. 
                          
"Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonour."
                          
Hermione slipped on slick grass and acquired a graze to her calf. She continued without stopping to check. 
                          
"Join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. Should you do so, I give my word that no other life will be lost on this night. You have one hour. If at the end of of that time, you have not given yourself up, then I shall punish every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me." 
                          
As the darkened clouds dissipated, Hermione reached the castle. Ron and Harry noticed her absence at the boat house as she tripped on the steps and flew into what remained of the front doors. 
                          
Hermione stared around the empty castle. She hesitated. She didn't know where do go. Eventually, she chose the Great Hall. The doors gave way easily and she stumbled in, falling to the floor. Ignoring the sharp pains shooting up her left leg from her ankle, Hermione stood up again. 
                          
The tables had been pushed to the sides. Across the floor, bodies lined up with the living surrounding them in tears.
                          
You save them all, Granger. It's a war. No matter what you do, there will be casualties. 
                          
Hermione's gaze fell on Lupin and Tonks as she reached them. He heart broke for the baby boy their death orphaned. 
                          
"Hermione!" 
                          
She looked up to see a cluster of redheads.  No, she thought, not one of the Weasleys. 
                          
She walked slowly, dreading to see who was missing. She refused to do a headcount, or to identify each one. She didn't want to know. 
                          
"He kept saying your name," Fred told her when she reached them. "I didn't -- we didn't know you were close." 
                          
Hermione forced herself to look down. As soon as she saw his face, she shut her eyes and turned away, biting down on her bottom lip to stop the cries. 
                          
"He told me to tell you he was sorry."
                          
"What happened?" Hermione asked, barely having the strength to speak in anything above a whisper. 
                          
"A wall came down. It would've been me over there if it weren't for him."
                          
Hermione clamped her hand over her mouth as a choked sob forced itself out. Ginny reached out for Hermione, but she'd dropped to the ground, taking Draco's cold hand in her warm ones. 
                          
"You weren't supposed to die," she whispered, pressing the back of his hand to her cheek. "I told you to be careful." 
                          
"Oh, Hermione," Ginny murmured, kneeling down to offer Hermione a hug.
                          
Hermione ignored Ginny. In fact, she didn't even notice Ginny. 
                          
"I'm going to reset," Hermione told Draco, swallowing her tears. "I'm going to reset, okay? You won't die like this again."
                          
"Hermione?" 
                          
Hermione stood up sharply and pulled her wand from her pocket. 
                          
"Hermione, what are you doing?"