Harry Potter One Shots

I Could Never Let Go

All rights belong to the author, hokiesmokie

This was it – the final showdown. This was the last fight between good and evil. Somebody would win, and somebody would lose. And then it would all be over.

Hermione Granger was focused on her battle, but still noticed the scene around her. She was dueling with Bellatrix Lestrange, and was surprisingly holding her own. She was tired, after months of searching for Horcruxes, weeks of hiding from Death Eaters, days of fighting, and hours of this single duel. To her left were Neville Longbottom and Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew. Hermione was glad Neville was paired with someone he could handle. To her right were Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. She was very worried about this pairing. They could handle each other easily, and that's what scared her most.

They were the three pairs closest to the edge of the high cliff they were fighting on. It was twilight in summer; the air was hot, but the fierce wind was cool. The shock waves from all the curses flying around them didn't help matters. Hermione saw flashes of light in the distance, and knew that all her other friends and surrogate family were out there somewhere, fighting, including Harry Potter, who was facing Lord Voldemort for the last time. She was worried for them all. Over the last few days, their numbers had been cut nearly in half. They'd fought in so many places; Hermione couldn't even remember where most of them had died. She didn't know where she was now, or how on earth she'd gotten there. It would be nice, she thought, to at least know the name of the battleground where this horrid war ended.

"Ouch!" Hermione was pulled out of her wondering thoughts by a stinging heat on her left hip. She narrowed her eyes when Bellatrix cackled, and put her focus back on the fight. She pissed Bellatrix off pretty well when the next curse knocked her down. Hermione smirked and then, remembering where she picked up that trait, changed to a frown.

Bellatrix stood up, smoothing out her hopeless black hair. Hermione was glad that there was somebody with hair troubles worse than hers.

"Boys," she directed to the four males around them, "does anybody have any last words for the Mudblood?"

"Don't threaten her!"

Hermione silently cursed Ron for taking his focus off his fight.

Bellatrix's high-pitched laugh sounded like the scream of a banshee. Hermione winced and automatically drew back form it.

"Oh look, it's afraid of me."

Hermione didn't respond, but backed away further, nearing the edge of the cliff. She gripped her wand tightly, preparing to defend herself.

"Leave her alone!"

"Ron, shut up and pay attention to Malfoy." She didn't take her eyes of Bellatrix, but she didn't need to, to know that Ron hesitated.

"I don't need to. He's not a worthy opponent, anyhow."

"Is that so, Weasley?"

Hermione could hear the sneer in his familiar voice. She tensed. She wanted so badly to look at them, to see what was going on beyond the extent of her lousy peripheral vision.

As Draco prepared to curse Ron, Bellatrix watched in delight. Hermione saw her chance and threw the strongest curse short of an Unforgivable at the small woman's chest. Bellatrix flew backwards with a look of shock on her strikingly beautiful face. She hit a wall of rock, the force causing it to crumble and bury her in a pile of clay-colored rubble.

Hermione breathed hard. It wasn't her first kill – not even close – but it was the first time she'd killed someone strong. She heard a gasp come from Ron, and if she wasn't mistaken, Draco as well.