the_debt_of_time

"The fact that no one else is fucking doing it!" Draco barked, and before the two
wizards collided, Hermione stepped between them, wand raised.
"Go, Harry. Put an end to all of this," she pleaded and then rushed forward, pulling
her best friend into a hug and kissing his cheek. Harry smiled at her and turned to leave,
gesturing at Sirius to follow, but Sirius paused, looking down at Hermione.
He realised that the two of them had not properly made eye contact since leaving
the dark, caved-in passageway. Not that they had done much with their eyes down there in
the first place.
"Go," she whispered and hugged Sirius close to her. "Come back safe, both of you."
Sirius smiled and kissed her forehead before turning on the heels of his dragonhide
boots and following Harry.
Hermione watched, longingly, as Sirius disappeared around the corner.
"Come on, Granger," Draco ordered.
Ron gripped Draco's robes tightly and glared at him. "She's not going with you."
"We don't have time for this!" Hermione shouted and turned away from them both
to go after Harry and Sirius. If Ron let Draco follow her then so be it, but she was not
sticking around to watch another pissing match between the two while her best friend and
her... and her... and Sirius risked their lives.
Hermione ran down the next staircase and found herself in the middle of several
vicious duels. The portraits on either side of the fighters were crammed with figures
screaming advice and encouragement, while Death Eaters, both masked and unmasked,
duelled students and teachers.
Dean, with his stolen Snatcher's wand, faced off with Amycus Carrow, Parvati
against Avery, and Seamus with Jugson.
It was at that point that Draco caught up with her, though he appeared to have a
new bruise marring the sharp angles of his jaw. Hermione raised a brow. Draco lifted his
right hand showing bloody knuckles.
"The other guy looks worse, trust me," he said with a smug grin, and she glared at
him.
The two surveyed the onslaught before them, scanning the crowd for Harry or
Sirius but could find neither. They stood braced, waiting for the opportunity to act, but
before they could, there came a great "Wheeeeee!"