From Wiltshire, With Love

Chapter 80

Trigger warnings: Violence, death, mayhem, some gore. The good stuff.

"Bring forth the prisoners!"

Like shards of glass, Voldemort's voice cut through the air. Underneath the grand arch of the Hogwarts entrance, Hermione watched him from across the courtyard, flanked by his supporters and the giant stone statues on either side. Despite the distance between the Order and Voldemort's army, the tenor of his voice made her blood run cold, and she shivered. Gripping her wand tighter, the crowd of Order members shifted in front of the large castle entry way, parting so the captured Death Eaters could exit Hogwarts. Voldemort's Army lay in wait across the courtyard, having arrived on foot by crossing the stone bridge. With the exception of height and girth differences, they all looked like Grim Reapers.

One by one, the prisoners appeared in full Death Eater regalia. She watched as they took in the rag-tag bunch of Order members and the sea of black cloaks.

Dementors circled above. Hermione's teeth chattered and despite knowing what was going to happen next, she worried they'd be wiped out. Harry was sacrificing himself and what next? Ron could die, Draco could die, the Order was outnumbered three to one by the Death Eaters alone and there were upwards of fifty Dementors swirling above them.

The courtyard felt like a graveyard, waiting for their corpses.

She had to remind herself that this was exactly what Tonks wanted. Snape was hidden amongst the Death Eaters; Voldemort thought Hogwarts was under his control. They were waiting.

"What's going on?" she heard one of the prisoners ask warily.

"If I didn't know better," another prisoner replied, "I'd say everyone's ready to fight."

"They'll lose," a third growled.

Their voices trailed off as the group of prisoners ambled over to rejoin Voldemort. Some of them gazed in her general direction, trying to get a glimpse of the legendary Harry Potter. A tall one looked directly at her as he passed through. Her heart skipped a beat and she stared at the ground, not wanting to give Draco away.

Hermione and Ron stood on either side Harry, each holding one of his hands. She squeezed Harry's hand as tears formed in her eyes.

This was it.

Hermione watched as the wandless prisoners ambled over to join the ranks and surveyed the intimidating mass of black cloaks standing at the other end of the courtyard. She and Draco were standing on opposite sides now, but they were fighting together.

Finally.

As she brought her gaze towards Voldemort, her eyes landed on Bellatrix, the only one without a mask. The older witch's dark stare met Hermione's, and Bellatrix licked her lips in anticipation and smiled.

Images of eyes and teeth reflecting the dim light cast from a knife blade returned to her and she squeezed Harry's hand, drawing strength from the presence of her friends. No longer tied down and wandless, and most importantly – not alone – Hermione sneered through her tears, and glared right back at her.

"Now you must bring ours, Tom!" McGonagall's voice was amplified across the courtyard.

Tonks relayed earlier in the morning during a pre-battle rally that the prisoners had been executed, and then turned everyone's grief into a desire for revenge. But they had to keep up the ruse of not knowing.

Voldemort's loud, terrible hiss echoed everywhere. "I am very sorry, Minerva. But we do not have your prisoners today." He walked slowly back and forth in front of his army. "Your Order is finished. Join our new regime. Help rebuild the Wizarding world, as it was always meant to be."