The Madness of War

A/N:

Special thanks to alert reader, Jong_Kahn, who caught a dastardly typo in the last chapter. Also to the ever-vigilant MMadFan, who realized that I had a typo in my email addy of all places. I'm an idiot! Big thanks to Periergeia, for finding a wee typo clear back in chapter 23. Even with the best of betas, and I have been blessed in that regard, the odd Pooka mistake sneaks through. Thanks!

My lovely beta, Southern Witch, and I have been having some miscommunication troubles, so I'm afraid that this chapter has not been betaed. If any of my kind readers find an oopsie, please feel free to email me at Plaidpooka@yahoo.com and I'll get it squared away.

To answer a few concerned readers, yes, Hermione did misquote or paraphrase one of the most misquoted quotes of all time. That was how I intended it to be. My Hermione, bookworm that she is, has been too busy with Hogwarts: a History to be reading much Richard Lovelace, and she is quoting what she has heard, a more modern paraphrasing of the sentiment. She might just as innocently say "Play it again, Sam." even though that oft quoted quote doesn't actually exist in the original. I did try the true quote in the first draft, but the language was distracting from the moment, and my Hermione didn't want to say it. So I decided to leave the paraphrased nod to Mr. Lovelace, and use the more modern sounding misquote.

The fic is finished! Here's 32, I'll post 33 soon, and 34 will be the end of it. I'm both very relieved that it is finally finished, and sad it's over.

Disclaimer: They are not mine; I only take them out to play.

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No man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Reaching the top of the stairs, Hermione was met by Dumbledore and McGonagall. Both wore expressions of concern as they crossed the room to meet her.

"Hermione, what is it? What's amiss?" asked Minerva, putting a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Why, child, you're trembling like a leaf!"

"It's time," Hermione managed between pants as she tried to catch her breath. "Severus has been called. He's heading for the front gate. He'll apparate to Voldemort if he doesn't hear otherwise from you."

"So soon," muttered Albus. "We none of us expected it to be quite this soon. But our plans are in place. The Order is ready to fight. Soon as it is, there's no reason to risk more senseless deaths by waiting."

"That's what Severus said," Hermione admitted.

"Then let's get to work!" Albus roared. He then made an intricate pattern with his wand while muttering a charm to himself. This charm would temporarily lift the block on Apparating into the Headmistress' office. It was a chancy move, but Albus had explained that by the time he dropped the wards, Voldemort should be too busy with his own wicked plans to come snooping around the Hogwarts wards.

Each of them had people to contact and alert that the time to fight was now. While Albus fire-called Harry, Hermione sent her Patronus to Remus, and Minerva sent her Patronus to alert Hestia Jones. Hestia would contact the order members on her list while Minerva continued to contact the ones on her own.

While Hermione tried to wait patiently for her Patronus to return, Harry stepped through the floo, with Ron fast on his heels. Striding to where Albus held a barely bristled hairbrush, Harry paused only long enough to give Hermione a nod and a smile. He grasped the hairbrush tightly and vanished.

Ron had made himself busy with both his Patronus and the floo. Soon the office began to fill with red-headed witches and wizards. Next appeared Hestia Jones, Mundungus, and Dedulus Diggle almost simultaneously. A moment later and Elphius Dodge and Albus' brother, Aberforth, popped in at the same time.

A silvery otter swam through a wall in the office. Hermione immediately sent it to Hagrid, who crawled on hands and knees out of the floo a moment later. As soon as Hagrid cleared the grate, the floo flashed green again and Remus and Draco entered the crowded office together. The soft conversation of the gathered Order members abruptly stopped and several witches and wizards went for their wands. As Remus hurriedly stepped in front of Draco, Albus' voice echoed off the walls.

"Put your wands away, you fools!" he bellowed. "Do you really think Remus would lead a Death Eater into our midst? He's the Order's spy, and a damned good one at that." As still distrustful Order members slowly lowered their wands, Albus strode over to Draco. "Nagini?"

"Dead as a poisoned rat, which is exactly what killer her," Draco said smirking.

"Are you certain you want to be with us instead of with Severus?" Albus asked, putting a hand on Draco's shoulder.

"Yes," Draco fairly snarled. "I was seen by that skulking Wormtail." I want to fight, not be killed out of hand for being a traitor."

"Good to have you with us, my boy," Albus said affectionately, giving Draco's shoulder a pat. "You're a fine duelist, and the Order's numbers are not what they once were. It will be hard enough keeping Severus safe while he stands with Tom without us having to worry about the both of you."

"Not to worry," Draco said with a grin. "I'll keep an eye on Severus during the battle. I've had loads of practice looking out for him."

While Albus and Draco were talking, the last of the Order members had arrived. Their mouths had opened in shock at seeing a Malfoy in their midst, but then closed again without protest when they noted Albus' hand on Draco's shoulder, and the friendly manner in which they were conversing. Clearing the center of the room, Albus gestured to Draco and Ginny Weasley to join him.

"Now then, my dear Ginevra," Albus began, "as we discussed before, you will use the spell that activates Severus' tracking bracelet, and hold the map open for Harry when he arrives. Let Draco show you the charm and then we'll see what awaits us."

It was a simple charm, and in a moment a glowing green map hovered in the air before Ginny's upraised wand. Severus seemed to be on the outskirts of a village. The flashing dot that depicted him was in an empty green area, but near to him were several intersecting streets. Leaning towards the map, Dumbledore studied it intently for a moment.

"Aberforth," Albus called. "Come take a look at this. It looks rather like part of the birthmark on your shoulder."

Shuffling forward, Aberforth also leaned into the map, squinting his eyes as he studied it closely. "It does at that!" he declared. "That's Tumbly Woodside I dare say. I knew that having a birthmark that looked like a map of Tumbly Woodside would come in handy some day."

"Lincolnshire, isn't it?" asked Albus.

"Right you are, Albus," Aberforth said, nodding. "And that green patch the Death Eaters are skulking around in is the wood. They'd be fairly well hidden from the villagers there."

"I know that village well," Albus said. "Quite a few wizarding folk living there, many of them parents and families of our students. It's good we are not waiting. Those fine folk deserve to be protected. Miss Weasley, you can expect Harry to return here in half an hour. We'll do our best to keep Voldemort and his followers busy until Harry arrives."

And that was that. The time for what everyone hoped would be the final battle had arrived. The milling Order members stared at the map for a moment, then, by ones and twos, they began to apparate away.

Staring at the map with great concentration, Hermione picked a spot a bit away from the flashing dot, and made the turn. Finding herself in a wood, behind a large larch, Hermione took a moment to shake off the nausea that always accompanied Apparating. In short order she felt more herself and carefully peeked around the tree. The battle was already in force as the Death Eaters and Order members matched up. The Death Eaters had obviously been taken by surprise. Though they wore their black robes, none had put on their silvery masks. As she took stock of the scene, Hermione began to throw random hexes at the Death Eaters from her hiding place. They'd find her soon enough, but the temporary cover allowed her to help her fellows out without drawing fire to herself.

At the moment, Voldemort seemed content to let his minions fight on his behalf. Voldemort himself seemed more interested in throwing a whopping great temper tantrum. He paced back and forth, waving his arms around and shouting. Severus stood near him, ignoring the fighting, and studying a small flowering shrub.

"How did they know!" he roared. "I checked this area for detection wards myself! I told no one of my plans! They can't know we are here! Kill the bloody bastards!"

"That's a spindleberry," Severus said cheerfully to the small shrub. "Useless for potions, of course, but the fruit is quite pretty."

"Snape, I've got no time for your lunacy!" Voldemort snapped. Then, a fighter on the Order's side caught his attention. "The youngest Malfoy!" he growled. "When Wormtail told me he was near Nagini's enclosure when she died, I thought it was a coincidence. I see that it was not. Spy! Traitor! Kill him, Snape!"

Her attention to Voldemort and Severus wavered as she threw a slicing hex at Amicus Carrow. Hermione's aim was true and she sliced neatly through his left hamstring. Falling heavily to the grass, Carrow then found him self bound in magical ropes and left wriggling on the forest floor. Though she wasn't watching the scene, she could hear Severus replying to Voldemort.

"Must you shout, Lord Whore? I'm trying to study this fascinating shrubbery."

"Forget the bush, you imbecile!" Voldemort raged. "Kill that bastard of a Malfoy!"

"The boy?" Severus asked, puzzled. "But he's the boy."

"He's a traitor and must pay for his crimes!"

"I suppose so," Severus said with a sigh. Reluctantly leaving the spindleberry, Severus looked around until he saw Draco. "Boy!" he shouted, "The crazy old whore says that I have to kill you! Get your arse over here so that I can do so!"

Separating himself from the rest of the battle, Malfoy lined up against Snape. He looked Severus over, while Severus studied a vine near to Draco's shoulder.

"Get my arse over here so that you can kill me?" Draco mocked. "You may find me harder to kill than you think!"

"Perhaps," drawled Severus, "perhaps not."

With that, the two men began to duel, and this was no fake duel. Hexes and curses flew heavy between them, but for each hex thrown, the man it was aimed at countered it quickly. Draco and Severus had the look of long time dueling partners, and Hermione assumed that was exactly what they were.

Hermione's attention was caught by a figure sneaking up behind Remus. Wormtail! Not wanting that silver-handed bastard anywhere near the werewolf, Hermione took advantage of Wormtail's attention being focused on sneaking, and caught him with a strong sleeping hex. Wormtail fell to the earth, snoring before he hit the ground. Hestia Jones noted his fall, and with a snap of her wand he was bound as tightly as Carrow.

"I guess she isn't all bad." Hermione muttered.

While Hermione turned her attention to throwing hexes at Goyle, who was dueling with Ron, she heard Voldemort raging again.

"Great Mordred! Are you both completely and utterly useless! Why isn't that traitor at my feet with his heart ripped out!"

"I am trying, Dark Whore," Severus spit out, while casting another hex at Draco, which was summarily blocked.

Goyle might be as stupid as his son, but he was a formidable duelist. Even with both Ron and herself throwing hexes at him, he was not only holding his own, but attacking as well. Hermione flinched as Ron got clipped in the arm with a slicing hex, and doubled her efforts. It was Mundungus, of all people who came to their aid. Slipping up behind Goyle, he used a curse that looked suspiciously like the Cruciatus, and Goyle fell on the ground writhing. Hestia was again quick with her wand and soon Goyle was bound like his fellows.

Ron was bleeding profusely from his left arm. With a quick look at Hermione, he mouthed "Be careful," and Apparated back to Hogwarts to be patched up by Poppy. Hermione's aid had not gone unnoticed, and she saw Vincent Crabbe approaching her larch tree. Stepping out of hiding, Hermione faced the threat head on, with her head held high.

"Hold 'im off, 'Mione!" she heard Hagrid growl. "I'll give ye a hand once I've got this bastard taken care of."

Having no time to even wonder which bastard Hagrid was referring to, Hermione began dueling in earnest. Hermione was clever, and fast with a wand, but she found that the most she could do was counter the older wizard's attacks. Crabbe left her no time to make an attack of her own. Merciful Merlin but the man was fast! Knowing that she could only hold him off for so long, Hermione used all her concentration to counter his attacks. She was barely aware of the battle near Severus, but could not help hearing Voldemort's next words, so loudly did he shout them.

"Enough of this mockery of a duel! I'll take care of this traitor myself!"

"Are you certain that is wise, Tom?"

The voice was quiet, but cut through the sounds of battle just the same. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class, and Grand Sorcerer; Founder and Secret Keeper, Order of the Phoenix; Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards; and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, stepped out from behind the cover he had been concealed in. Much like Hermione, Albus had stayed out of sight, helping the other order members as he could, and awaiting the perfect time to distract Voldemort with his entrance.

"No!" shrieked Voldemort, clenching his fists and stomping his feet like a small but furious child. "Dumbledore! You're dead!"

"I was." agreed Albus cheerfully. "I got better."

Just as Hermione feared she was nearing the end of her luck, Hagrid appeared behind Crabbe. A giant fist came down to smash into Crabbe's head. Eyes rolling back in his head, Crabbe slid to the ground, unconscious. Again Hestia's wand was quick, and the unconscious man was bound tightly, but Hestia's luck had run out. As the ropes flew from Hestia's wand, Bellatrix Lestrange took advantage of her inattention, and cast a Mobiliarbus. A stout tree ripped itself from the ground and threw itself at Hestia. Seeing it too late to block or dodge, the tree fell upon heavily upon Hestia, pinning her to the ground.

Even though Hermione had never liked the dark haired witch, she started towards Hestia to help her. A brutal faced Death Eater that Hermione didn't know the name of stepped between Hermione and Hestia and raised his wand. As Hermione began trading attacks with the big blond, Hagrid went to Hestia, picked up the tree, and threw it back at Bellatrix. Cackling with laughter, Bella dodged the tree easily, but it struck the death eater standing behind her. Knocked of his feet and struck a glancing blow to the head, Lucious Malfoy managed to stagger back on his feet enough to Disaperate. No one knows if he survived the blow or not. He was never seen again.

Despite his fierce appearance, the big blond Death Eater proved no match for Hermione and was soon lying on the ground, bound and helpless. Hermione looked toward Hestia just in time to See Hagrid pick up the fallen witch as if she weighed nothing, fumble a portkey out of his pocket, and disappear with her. Hermione assumed that the portkey would get them to Poppy. Hagrid did better with portkeys than Apparation, though he could manage Apparating when necessary, but a side-along was beyond his limited magic.

Taking the briefest of moments to look around her, Hermione took stock of the battle. Seven Death Eaters lay bound on the floor of the wood, while several more seemed to be missing altogether, perhaps wounded and fled like Malfoy. No Order members were dead or bound, though more than Ron and Hestia were missing, and Hermione assumed they had fled to the castle to deal with wounds and curses. Remus was fiercely holding his own against Rookwood, and looked to win the match easily. Severus and Draco were still trading attacks to no effect. Albus and Voldemort were dueling, and the maelstrom of spell effects that surrounded the pair was intense and frightening. As Hermione tore her eyes away, she saw Bellatrix Lestrange approaching the maelstrom, fury in her eyes.

A quick look around her showed all the remaining Order members already engaged. Though her knees literally shook at the prospect, Hermione knew what she had to do. Dumbledore had his hands full with Voldemort, he didn't need to deal with Bellatrix on top of it. Casting quickly, Hermione sent a shower of magical ropes from the tip of her wand straight at the insane Death Eater, hoping for a lucky strike while Bella was distracted. Showing almost inhuman reflexes, Hermione's hopes of a quick end to this duel were dashed as Bella waved a quick counter-spell. Hemione's ropes burst into flames and dissolved into ash. The next few moments were a storm of curses and counter curses. Hermione was fast, but she knew at once that she was no match for the mad witch. Struggling to keep up the frantic pace, Hermione's only hope was to try not to get herself killed until some member of the Order was free to help her.

Her hope was short lived. Sliding an unknown curse under Hermione's flagging defenses, Bella cackled with glee as the young witch crumpled to the ground.

At first, Hermione though that she had been hit with a simple Petrificus Totalus. Further examination told Hermione that this was not true. Awake and aware, Hermione could not move a muscle of her body. She felt soft and boneless rather than stiff and immobile. Simple reflexes did not seem to be effected--Hermione could breathe and every few seconds her eyes blinked of their own accord. Her hearing and sight were intact, though she could not turn her head to look around, and with concentration, could barely move her eyes at all. In fact, she felt completely boneless, and for one horrified moment was convinced that Bellatrix had used some spell to remove all of her bones. Concentrating fiercely, Hermione managed to look down her nose enough to see that she was still Hermione shaped, and not a flat, gelatinous pool. As she dragged her eyes back toward the sky, Bella came into view, looming above her. If Hermione's knees had been still capable of shaking, they would have done so.

"Well, what have we here?" Bellatrix said gleefully, smirking down at the helpless witch at her feet. "It's a pretty little Mudblood! I know just the games to play with Mudbloods."

Raising her wand, Bella cackled as she cast at Hermione. Though Hermione could not move voluntarily, her nerves fired haphazardly and she twitched and flopped on the ground as her every nerve felt as if it were on fire. Part of Hermione's mind knew it was the Cruciatus Curse, and part of her mind simply gibbered in pain. Strange huffing sounds came out of her mouth as she flopped gracelessly like a fish out of water. Suddenly, the pain was gone as fast as it had started.

"Does the ickle Mudblood like my game?" Bellatrix crooned down at her. "Perhaps we'll play some more!"

Able to do nothing as Bella raised her wand again, Hermione vaguely wondered if she would be killed outright, or end up like Neville's poor parents. Privately wishing a more final end than madness, Hermione tried to brace her mind for the next bout of torture. As the sparks of the spell began to gather on the tip of Bellatrix's wand, Hermione saw Hagrid behind Bella, towering over her with an uncharacteristically ferocious expression. Hagrid's great fist managed what Hermione had not been able to accomplish and Bella sank to the ground, unconscious.

As Hagrid knelt by Hermione's side, he barked a command, "Minerva! Bind up this bit o' rubbish!"

Though she couldn't lift her head to see it, Hermione imagined that her recent tormentor was now bound as tightly as the other Death Eaters who had fallen. Placing a gentle hand under Hermione's back, Hagrid sat her up. Her head lolled grotesquely to one side, but at least Hermione could see a little better.

"Not to worry, 'Mione." Hagrid said softly. "I'll have yeh back teh Hogwart's faster than yeh can say Antipodean Opaleye."

Before Hagrid could make good on his promise, there was a sharp crack of apparition. A strong breeze whipped suddenly through the wood, and the amber sunlight that peeked through the trees went strange and blueish. Looking up, Hagrid went momentarily speechless. With a shake of his head, and a sound of awe in his voice, he finally spoke.

"Blimey, 'Mione, it's Harry!"