Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Harry Potter. I am just playing with them, and making them do the things that JKR should have.

I cannot name this
I cannot explain this
and I really don't want to
just call me shameless

-Ani DiFranco, Shameless

"Imperio," Hermione whispered, focusing all of her attention on her intended target. She didn't know what she was doing or even why, but she couldn't stop herself. She had to understand. Neither Arthur nor George Weasley heard the unforgivable curse leave her lips.

Just then, Hermione looked in horror. Bellatrix Lestrange had quickly thrown a curse towards her best girlfriend, Ginny, the youngest of the Weasley family. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as Ginny jumped out of the way of the spell, just in time. She knew it had likely saved her life.

Bellatrix chortled, relishing the fear rising within the young girl. 'Soon,' Bellatrix thought, 'I'm going to send you to join your pathetic, dead blood-traitor brother.'

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" Molly Weasley bellowed, jumping in between her daughter and the dark witch attacking her. Bellatrix cackled, adoring the opportunity for a newer, slightly-more worthy opponent. Hermione was reassured, knowing that Molly was experienced enough to take on the malicious witch. Molly sent a curse towards Bellatrix. It was easily deflected, sending a chill through Molly's body. She was slightly taken aback at her own attack.

'Perfectly believable,' Hermione mused to herself.

Bellatrix fired back with three spells, forcing the elder Weasley to take several steps backwards whilst deflecting. It was easy. Almost too easy. An evil smirk took over Bellatrix Lestrange and she squealed at the efforts made against her.

Hermione focused all of her attention of her best friend's mother.

As if something had taken hold of her, Molly changed. A rage she had never known before swelled up within her body. Bellatrix sensed the change in her demeanor.

'The Weasel is serious,' she thought, taking a more thoughtful and defensive approach against her attacker.

The ginger haired mother sent curse after curse toward her raven haired counterpart, attacking the Death Eater before her with unfailing stamina. A look of recognition swept across Bellatrix. The smile left the corset-clad Death Eater's face, replaced by a sneer. She began to genuinely fight back. Bellatrix, blocking the spells hurled towards her, was forced backwards.

The ground beneath the two witches began to crack under the force of their combat, neither witch relinquishing control. Issuing silent spells, Bellatrix taunted Molly.

"At least you put up more of a fight than little Freddie over there did. He begged me for death!"

Hermione carefully surveyed the scene before her, waiting for just the right moment. Fortitude spread across Molly's countenance. The look in her eyes could kill. She was out for blood.

Bellatrix blocked one more spell, but wasn't quick enough to block the one immediately following. A spark of green light shot from Mrs. Weasley's wand, hitting Bellatrix square in the chest. Hermione gasped, fearful to see what would happen. Bellatrix's body seemed to freeze in mid-air. Mrs. Weasley sent one last curse, causing Bellatrix to completely vanish.

Voldemort let out a scream as he saw that his best lieutenant had perished. The final and most fearsome Death Eater in Voldemort's ranks was dead at the hands of Molly Weasley.

Nobody except Hermione noticed the tiny pebble that had flown into Bella's chest a fraction of a second before the final, silent spell was cast.

Hermione, unnoticed by anyone around her, mumbled something unintelligible while flicking her wand. She rushed to the side of her best friend's mother. "Are you alright, Mrs. Weasley?"

"Never better!" she exclaimed, the glazed possessed look leaving her eyes. "That'll teach that bitch to mess with my offspring! It was like something just came over me!"

"I noticed," Hermione retorted, barely audible.

"Mum! You did it!" Ginny Weasley shrieked, hugging her mother with a grip like death. A sense of relief washed over mother and daughter. Hermione faked a smile, her insides turning knots. Around them, the war was still raging, whether Bellatrix was alive and fighting or not.

All eyes turned to the violent battle occurring between Voldemort, McGonagall, Kingsley, and Slughorn. The three teachers were thrown against a wall at Voldemort's fury over losing Bellatrix. Hermione turned her back and quickly sped away, unnoticed in all of the turmoil. She did not know who would survive this final battle and in that moment she did not care. There was only one person whose fate was of any consequence to her.

Rounding the corner, she disapparated with a loud CRACK!

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Hermione surveyed the landscape before her, searching. She ran through the thick trees, her bushy brown curls bouncing with every step. Her feet tangled in the brush that covered the forest, scratching her legs and arms. The brunette was too focused to take notice of the thin lines of blood pooling from the scrapes.

Her heart felt like it had jumped into her throat and was beating wildly. Sensing that what she sought was near, she slowed to a walk, peering through the trees once more. A loud throb echoed in her head, as her pulse rise even higher.

She gasped softly as she finally spotted what she was seeking. Slowly, cautiously, she approached the black mass in front of her, like a helpless animal thrown to the wolves. She was only feet away. Her hands trembled with anticipation of the unknown. A dry twig broke underneath her foot.

The black mass whipped around. Silky raven curls spun with fury. Fierce, black eyes locked onto her form. A wand pointed dangerously close to Hermione's chest.

"YOU?" hissed a confused Bellatrix Lestrange. Her face betrayed bewilderment, anger, intrigue.

Hermione nodded, twinges of doubt seeping into her veins like a slow reacting poison.

"You're gonna regret this, Mudblood!"

A/N: Sooo, what do you think? Should I continue writing on this story? Anyone interested? If so, you know what to do. Click that big, blue button and send me some love! I promise, future chapters will be longer! I just want to make sure there is some interest before continuing.