Chapter 2

A/N: I'd like to give a huge thanks to Krissy and Muggle Jane. You both are such great helps! Thanks to everyone who reviewed the story! I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Disclaimer: JKR owns the world and characters of Harry Potter, not me. I also don't own Beauty and the Beast, which serves as the inspiration for this story. I am not making any money from the posting of this story.

Chapter 2

Hermione sat on the steps as she waited for the rest of the Order to arrive. There was going to be a meeting later on tonight, discussing what would happen next in regards to the war.

Ron and Harry were both playing chess in the living room. Neither of them had any interest in being involved with the Order, but Hermione did. She wanted to be a part of the war. She wanted to fight, but no one else wanted her to.

She was almost an adult. She could make her own choices, why couldn't anyone else see that?

Remus walked past her, going into the kitchen. Hermione inwardly groaned once more. For the past week, she had been trying to talk to him. She wanted to explain herself. Hell, she just wanted to talk to him and hear his voice, but no, he was acting as if she didn't exist. Real mature of him. Rolling her eyes, she stood, brushing the dust off her hands.

She made her way towards the boys. Harry was talking, which was strange because he usually just stayed shut up in Sirius's room. He didn't usually want to talk to anyone; he'd rather just bottle his emotions up. He could be a real idiot sometimes, but she loved him, nonetheless. He was the brother she never had. They were family.

She sat down, watching as Ron's knight smashed Harry's rook. "You know, Hermione, we really don't understand why you're so upset that Mum's not going to let you into the meeting."

She crossed her arms. "You don't understand, Ron. I want to fight. I want to be a part of this."

Harry shook his head. "I've had enough fighting for now. I just want to go back to Hogwarts. I just want a bit of normalcy again."

Hermione rolled her eyes. They would never understand. But she couldn't blame them. They wanted to stay innocent. "Well, we have different views on things, and that's all."

Ron shook his head. "Whatever you say." He knew better than to push Hermione when she obviously didn't want to change her mind.

She heard the front door swing open and then voices. "Wotcher guys," Tonks said with a smile, standing in the doorway. Ron grinned up at her, his cheeks turning red. Hermione smirked. She didn't understand what Ron saw in her, but then again, what did she see in Remus?

Everyone was making his or her way towards the kitchen. Molly stood in the doorway, watching Hermione. "You're not coming in," she huffed.

"Molly, that isn't fair. I have every right!" Hermione protested.

"You're a child. This is no place for you!"

"I'm almost seventeen!" Hermione cried, resisting the urge to stomp her foot like a child. "I fought in a battle. I've held my own against Death Eaters! There's no reason I shouldn't be in that room."

"She's right. You know that, Molly," a husky voice spoke out.

Hermione looked up to see Remus standing in the doorway. Her heart fluttered nervously.

"See? Please let me in, Molly," she begged.

"Hermione, you don't understand. By every right, you should be here, attending this meeting. However, you're not old enough. Until you actually are seventeen, you can't attend a meeting. There's a spell in place to make sure people don't join when they're too young," Remus explained.

Hermione frowned. "Oh. I see. No one ever told me that."

"Sorry," Remus responded, giving her a sympathetic look before turning back into the kitchen.

Hermione walked away feeling dejected. The door to the kitchen closed, and the meeting began. Once more, she was being left out. She made her way back towards the living room.

"Is Dumbledore here?" Harry asked, looking up from his game.

Hermione shook her head. "No, he's at the Ministry with Kingsley and Mad-Eye. There were some issues earlier today."

Ron looked up. "What kind of issues?"

Hermione frowned as she shrugged. "The bad kind. I think Voldemort infiltrated the Ministry."

"Really?" Harry frowned. He pursed his lips, an angry expression appearing on his face.

"Yes," Hermione responded, sitting on the couch. "Something isn't right, though. He should be here by now."

Suddenly, a silver fox appeared in the hallway. Hermione immediately stood, grabbing both Ron and Harry. "Remus!" she cried.

The door to the kitchen burst open. Remus, Molly, and the others were pouring into the hall to hear the message.

"The Ministry has fallen. Dumbledore has fallen. They're coming!"

"What?" Harry cried, angry tears now falling down his face.

Hermione whipped around. "Don't you understand? Dumbledore's the Secret Keeper, if he's dead—"

"They'll know where we are," Ron finished in a whisper.

There was an explosion in the street. The building shook and the lights flickered.

"Everyone run! You have to get past the block in order to get past the anti-Apparition wards!" Molly shouted.

Hermione's heart started pounding. "Come on boys!" She yanked the two of them out the door.

Hexes were flying in every direction. The night sky provided the perfect cover for the enemy. Hermione quickly broke into a run, dragging the boys along.

A loud cackle broke out. Harry skidded to a stop. "Bellatrix," he breathed, running off towards her.

"Harry, no!" Hermione cried. Ron took off after Harry.

She went to run after them, but felt a pair of arms wrap around her. "Let go!" she cried, throwing her head back. She heard the satisfying crunch of bone breaking. She turned around quickly, pulling out her wand.

"You filthy Mudblood," the Death Eater growled.

Hermione pointed her wand in his face. "Dolohov," she spat. "Back for more I see."

"I won't rest until I've had the whole thing," he growled in response.

The two of them began dueling, sparks flying every which way. Sweat was pouring down her body, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She grinned in triumph as her hex sliced through his legs, blood pouring outwards.

He looked at her, fury in his eyes. "Aeternum nonmagico!"

Hermione cried out as a black mist wrapped around her body and then seeped into her skin. She tried to get away from the mist, but couldn't. She screamed in pain.

Dolohov slowly began to approach her. She pointed her wand at him, crying out, but nothing happened. She tried to back away, but it was too late. Dolohov lunged at her, tackling her to the ground.

Hermione screamed in pain. Dolohov gripped her head and pulled it forward, only to slam it backwards into the concrete.

"Hermione!" someone shouted.

Dolohov wrapped his hands around her throat, tightening them. "I'm going to enjoy this," he whispered. "Watching the light leave your eyes."

He tightened his grip, and then Hermione knew no more.