Chapter 17
It took a full week before Astoria Greengrass' prediction came to fruition. Hermione and Harry had continued to monitor Draco on the map and his pattern of behavior had remained unchanged. He still paced his room…he still kept his head down at meals and in class…he still looked thoroughly lost and miserable. Until Saturday morning.
They didn't spot Draco at breakfast but there were no announcements made and the Slytherin table seemed to be acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She'd been much better at not looking at Astoria after the girl's reprimand but Hermione couldn't help herself that morning. The friendly, enthusiastic girl she was used to seeing was nowhere to be found as the Hufflepuff's eyes remained glued to her food and rarely spoke.
The only bit of excitement was Pigwidgeon struggling mightily but successfully delivering Mrs. Weasley's copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard during that morning's post delivery. "Mum apologizes for the delay," Ron informed as he read the accompanying letter and continued to eat, "the ghoul had made a mess of the things stored in the attic and it took her a bit to find it in the piles."
Dumbledore and Snape were notable by their absence, lending even more credence to their conclusion that Draco had made his escape. She received confirmation of this as she and Harry were waiting on Ron to finish his second helping.
"Mister Potter, Miss Granger, the Headmaster would like to speak to you," Professor McGonagall intoned behind their shoulder.
"When?" Harry asked.
"Now," she replied, brooking no argument. They quickly stood and followed their head of house, receiving a silent nod of support from Ron. Lavender did her best to smile encouragingly but looked slightly terrified on their behalf.
All eyes were on the trio as they left the hall and Hermione felt an odd sense of exhilaration as she realized that Dumbledore now saw Harry and her as a singular unit. She felt Harry grip her hand a bit tighter as the gargoyle came into view and vowed once again not to let him down.
They entered the room to find Dumbledore sitting at his desk, the picture of calm, and the Slytherin head of house pacing behind him, clearly furious at recent events.
"Thank you for coming," Dumbledore intoned pleasantly as he motioned for them to take a seat. Hermione felt the urge to point out that they weren't exactly given a choice but held her tongue.
"Is this about Malfoy's disappearance?" Harry stated bluntly. The headmaster remained calm while Snape looked murderous.
"You are indeed correct, Harry," Dumbledore continued. "We were wondering if you could shed some light on Mr. Malfoy's whereabouts."
She and Harry had a week to discuss what to share with the headmaster if Draco actually did flee the castle and they'd decided that being as honest as possible was the best option.
"I can't tell you how we confirmed it but we were right," Harry began dully. "Malfoy was responsible for Katie and Ron almost dying and he was working on another plan in the Room of Requirement. Now that we've stopped him from whatever he was scheming he is running for his life…running from Voldemort."
"I don't believe you," Snape spit. "What have you and your vigilantes done?"
"He's telling the truth, and we aren't vigilantes. We sit in a hallway," Hermione interjected in annoyance. For the first time that she could recall the Potter sneer was directed at her in full force. Snape quickly moved back to his normal target.
"Tell us what you know and how you know it," Snape continued. She'd never seen him so desperate.
Harry ignored him and turned his gaze downward at their enjoined hands, waiting for the headmaster to speak. She and Harry had agreed that he in particular should avoid engaging Professor Snape whenever possible.
While the silence grew Dumbledore seemed jolted to attention when he spotted the book of fables in her hand. It was subtle and it didn't last long but he definitely looked alarmed.
"Do you have any idea what he was planning or where he might have gone?" Dumbledore asked eventually, glancing at her hand once again.
"No. He did a runner. That's all we know," Harry answered simply.
"Would you tell us where he was planning to go even if you knew?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry paused as he considered what to say. As she waited for his answer she pondered what she would do if asked such a question. Harry's response didn't surprise her in the slightest.
"You'd try to bring him back here so probably not."
"We are on the same side, Harry," the headmaster pleaded.
"I know that. We know that. But you don't listen. And you aren't honest about the reasons why."
"Harry-"
"Have there been any actions taken against the students on the list we gave you?" Hermione interjected, wanting to change the topic.
"With no proof of any wrongdoing there is little we can do," Dumbledore answered tiredly, "but the list has been distributed to all faculty members and we are monitoring everyone as best as we can."
It was all they could expect really. Dumbledore was right…without any tangible proof it was the best he could do.
Dumbledore removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He looked so old and the curse that had withered his hand seemed to have spread a bit further than the last time she'd been in his office.
"You two should be prepared," Dumbledore instructed gravely. "If your suspicions are correct about other students seeking retaliation their resolve will be tenfold now that you have succeeded."
"Congratulations, Potter. You've brought the war to Hogwarts," Snape said derisively.
She knew Harry wanted to reply but prayed that he wouldn't. Nothing could be gained by pointing out that Voldemort had been attached to the back of their Defense professor's head in their first year…or that a death eater had smuggled Voldemort's sentient Horcrux into Hogwarts when they were twelve…the list of examples that Harry could retort with seemed unending. She wasn't aware of it at the time but she'd been fighting against large swaths of the wizarding world from the first time she and her parents stepped into Diagon Alley and were met with disgust and antipathy simply for existing within the bigots' orbit.
She squeezed his hand tightly, hoping he would get her rather forceful hint to hold his tongue. Based on the slight wince and grunt her message had been successfully delivered. He eventually grinned and she fought the urge to grin as well. She failed.
It appeared that Snape was taking their smiles personally and had more to say on the topic. He was cut off before he could comment further.
"I believe that is enough, Severus," McGonagall intoned, paying attention to forcefully emphasize the use of his first name. She stood and motioned for them to do so as well.
Hermione stood immediately while Harry remained seated, surprised at McGonagall's forceful action. He waited for Dumbledore's nod of agreement before rising and heading for the door.
"Please be careful," Dumbledore instructed gravely as they exited the room.
Ron and Lavender were waiting for them in the hallway as they passed by the gargoyle. Ron looked thoroughly nonplussed while Lavender seemed to be desperately fighting the urge to shriek in relief.
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Brown, I would suggest you return to the Gryffindor common room. I need to speak privately with these two but I assure you they will return in one piece. I would normally award you points for your loyalty but as I understand it that sort of thing is frowned upon these days," McGonagall smirked.
Harry raised a questioning eyebrow toward her and Hermione gave an answering shrug of her shoulders. She had no idea what the Deputy Headmistress needed to discuss.
The journey to McGonagall's office was made in silence, the monotony broken only by the curious stares of the people they passed along the way. Quickly enough they arrived and tea was served before McGonagall fixed them with her best stare.
"Now that your group has succeeded what are your plans?" McGonagall asked bluntly.
"Our plans?" she replied in confusion.
"With your group," she answered. "What are your plans for your group? The Headmaster is right to be concerned. You and anyone who has joined your cause is a target for retaliation."
"I don't know," Harry answered honestly, clearly annoyed.
"Well I suggest you figure it out. You've involved your fellow students, you've put them at risk," McGonagall replied brusquely.
"That isn't fair," Hermione objected.
"Just leave it, Hermione," Harry said calmly as he stood, "she doesn't care that we were right. Dumbledore is disappointed so she is disappointed."
He paused and turned his attention back to their head of house. "I actually thought you wanted to help."
"Sit down, Potter," McGonagall ordered. "Now."
Harry grudgingly complied and waited for her to continue.
"Let me be clear. I am tremendously proud of you both for your actions over the last few months. But actions have consequences and you must now be willing to deal with the consequences of your actions," she informed bluntly.
She waited for their affirming nods before continuing.
"Ranty!" McGonagall called and an elderly elf appeared almost instantly.
"Is Mistress Minny needing more tea?" the elf asked and Hermione fought the urge to voice her displeasure.
"No, Ranty, we are fine. I was hoping you could share with Mister Potter and Miss Granger what has been happening with the Hogwarts house elves recently," McGonagall requested as she conjured a small chair for the elf.
"Ranty does not understand," replied in confusion as she took the proffered seat.
"In regards to Dobby," McGonagall prompted, causing the elf to scowl immediately.
"Dobby is telling other elves what he is doing to help Harry Potter and the Hat Maker," the elf muttered in annoyance. "Now elves always be arguing!"
"Arguing?" Hermione asked.
The elf nodded vigorously. "Some elves agree with Dobby and are staying up to help Harry Potter and the Hat Maker when they should be sleeping. Others are mad because the helping elves are tired all the time. So elves argue all day when they should be working. Ranty is wishing everyone would just be quiet and work!"
They were subjected to an additional ten minutes of Ranty, there was no other word for it, ranting about bad elves speaking on topics when and where they shouldn't be. The elf was very passionate.
"Was that supposed to make us feel guilty?" Harry asked once the elf eventually popped out of sight.
"No, Potter. It is meant to show you the ripple effects of your actions…actions which, as I have stated, I am proud of you for taking. But you need to understand that people are looking to you for guidance and that will not end now that the situation with Mr. Malfoy has been handled.
So I will ask again and I would like you to come up with a better response. What are your plans for your group?"
Harry looked at her determinedly before replying. "I reckon we should sort that out as soon as possible."
"That, Mr. Potter, is the answer I've been waiting for."
And they did. They spent the evening updating the other members of Ministry Six and Lavender of Draco's escape and the warnings they'd been given from Dumbledore and their head of house. They'd quickly come up with a plan of action and a set of talking points to discuss with the Hogwarts Defense Force.
As with most things that involved Harry it went spectacularly sideways almost from the off. Their meeting with the HDF had barely begun before she'd felt their control of the proceedings rapidly slipping away. She should have known by the overly excited cheers when they'd confirmed that Malfoy had most likely run away what was about to happen.
"So although Malfoy seems to be out of the picture we can't be sure that no-one else in the castle might not try and continue with his plan. So we're going to keep up with the shifts in front of the room and we are going to increase the groups from three to five at a time."
"If Malfoy is out of the picture than why are more people needed?" a Hufflepuff asked.
She watched Harry take a breath. Things were about to get very interesting.
"We're worried others may try to retaliate now that we've stopped Malfoy."
"So you're saying there are more death eaters at Hogwarts?" someone interjected.
"What do you think?" Ron replied, clearly annoyed at the question.
"If there are others at Hogwarts we should be doing more to stop them!" someone in the back shouted, drawing cheers from throughout the group.
"We are aware of other students that may be loyal to Voldemort…we've provided the names of who we suspect to the Headmaster and the Hogwarts staff is monitoring the students. The extra students watching the room are just an added precaution," she informed the crowd.
"How do you know that?" someone else shouted. Hermione noted that the group seemed much more emboldened than past meetings and did her best NOT to look at Astoria.
"We can't tell you that," Harry interjected, drawing angry murmurings throughout the crowd.
"We want to know!" another voice shouted and their comment was instantly met with a chorus of agreement. Hermione remembered Professor Snape's angry words and realized what he had predicted was developing in front of her eyes.
"We aren't vigilantes!" she admonished above the rumblings. "We have no proof beyond our suspicions and we can't go after other students without more to go on," she replied with as much conviction as she could manage.
The issue of whether to disclose the names publicly had caused the most disagreement in their earlier meeting. Neville and, surprisingly, Lavender, had been the most adamant that everyone had the right to know who to be wary of. In the end, however, it was agreed that doing so would cause more harm than good and could potentially jeopardize Daphne, Tracey and Blaise.
"Who are you to make that decision?" a seventh year Ravenclaw said in a near shout.
Before she or Harry could answer someone else spoke up on their behalf.
"They didn't," Lavender tentatively replied. We came to the decision together as a group."
Hermione heard a few muttered laughs and noises of protest amongst the crowd and realized she would have most likely been joining in as well a few months prior. She hadn't studied Legilimency but she could easily discern the crowd's thoughts.
Why should this girl…a girl who has always been more concerned about cosmetic charms and Witch Weekly quizzes…be making decisions on our behalf?
And while the crowd had every right to be upset at the decision they had no right to take it out on Lavender. She gave the girl a grateful smile for her support.
"If you don't want to be here then leave, I'll be happy to take up a few extra shifts," Neville replied, giving a nod of support to Lavender. "Harry and Hermione made the decision after talking it over with the people they trust. If you weren't asked for your input that says more about you than it does about the people they trust."
"Neville, it's all right," Harry attempted to interject.
"No it's not!" he answered before turning his attention back to the crowd. "Anyone else have something to say about the decisions we have made?"
While many in the group still looked angry or concerned they all remained silent. Neville nodded for the meeting to continue and sat back down.
"Ginny?" Harry prodded, wanting to move on as quickly as possible.
"Right," Ginny began, "now that we've gotten that out of the way let's discuss what we've planned for this week's Defense lessons…"
The next few days were relatively peaceful save for a few additional skirmishes in the halls as suspected death eaters in training and Hogwarts Defense Force members verbally sparred in the hallways between classes. It reminded Hermione of the atmosphere immediately after Harry's name had emerged from the Goblet of Fire. But the snipes and glares were much more sinister now…miles beyond the childish Potter Stinks badges and jelly legs jinxes in fourth year. The Tri Wizard Tournament seemed like so long ago…
As the tensions in the castle mounted Harry seemed to become more and more reserved…the weight of the decisions they had made affecting him more than anyone. Despite the support she and their friends had provided it was never enough to convince him that he wasn't to blame for everything awful that had happened.
"Goyle and Crabbe are in the hospital wing," Ginny informed them gravely as she joined them for breakfast Thursday morning.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"Demelza said they were brought in last night while she was volunteering. From what she overheard the professors thought they had been ambushed after their detention."
"How bad was it?" Harry prompted.
Ginny's expression turned grim. "There was a lot of damage. Pomfrey said they would eventually recover but they wouldn't be leaving the hospital wing anytime soon."
Hermione did her best to process how she felt about the news. It was hard to feel sympathy for those two knowing how gleeful they would be if she or Harry had ended up in hospital but she could not deny the sense of unease the news had brought. Although she still didn't agree with how the headmaster had handled the situation she now profoundly felt the weight involved in being the one making the decisions.
McGonagall's words on ripple effects echoed in her consciousness and her stomach sank. She knew the ripples had just begun.
She grabbed Harry's free hand under the table and gave it a squeeze of assurance. Whether she was trying to assure Harry or herself she wasn't quite able to determine.
As the day progressed the news of the attack began to spread throughout the castle and Harry became more and more withdrawn. Hermione barely paid attention to the class lectures…her mind focused on the rumblings within the castle and Harry's state of mind.
They both remained relatively silent as they methodically attended classes and ate their evening meal. The talking and thinking and worrying over the last few days were taking their toll.
The oppressive silence of the Gryffindor common room that evening was unbearable as she attempted to read more of Beedle's tales. She'd wanted to scan through the other stories to find some clue as to why the Headmaster had reacted so oddly the other the day but ended up only pretending to read a story about three brothers while she watched Harry pretending to read the Half Blood Prince's book. She looked at their couch and fought the urge to curse the students selfishly relaxing in its loving embrace. She needed to be with Harry. Only Harry.
"Where is your invisibility cloak?" she asked, pulling Harry out of his thoughts.
"In my bag. Why?"
She stowed her book away and pulled Harry up from his seat. "Our couch is taken but I know where we can make our own."
Fifteen minutes later they'd reached their destination and quickly relieved Dobby of his monitoring duties for the foreseeable future. She felt Harry's arm drape over her shoulder and she immediately buried herself into his side, instantly relaxing. As the minutes passed Hermione felt her stress and worries temporarily fading into the background.
She'd nearly drifted off to sleep when she was roused by Harry's voice.
"I'm scared," he stated simply.
She idly reached for the hand on her shoulder and twined her fingers with his.
"Me too," she replied.
A few minutes later he spoke once again. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt."
"I know," she answered softly, sitting up and gently removing Harry's glasses. She carefully folded them up and placed them on a nearby table.
"I'm terrified something is going to happen to you," he mumbled as he pulled her closer.
"I feel the same about you," she replied quietly as she began kissing up his jaw line.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," he murmured into her ear, his breath sending shivers down her spine.
She thought once again about ripple effects…her parents striking up a conversation in a hotel bar…asking Harry to Slughorn's Christmas party...how she had somehow become even more desperately devoted to Harry…that tomorrow wasn't guaranteed.
Before she could talk herself out of it Hermione started unbuttoning her shirt. She looked into Harry's questioning eyes and her heart stilled. They were together and it felt right and tomorrow wasn't guaranteed.
Ripple effects
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"No more talking, Harry," she replied, unable to suppress her grin.
Harry finished the sentence for her, now sporting his own smile.
"It's our night off."
Chapter 18
Hermione stared in the mirror and pondered how remarkably normal everything seemed that morning…the morning after. Her roommates were all peacefully sleeping as she prepared for her daily pre dawn vigil…Voldemort was still out there lurking…and she was still terrified for Harry's safety. Everything was sadly and distressingly normal.
She'd expected to feel fundamentally different but had been wrong on that count as well. She was still Hermione and he was still Harry…they'd been through so much together that nothing could throw them off their moors at this point. Last night had merely made them fuller…more complete. And she couldn't wait to feel complete again. Last night had given her yet another glimpse into what normalcy could and should be.
Like many things involving Harry she had been utterly terrified at the beginning…and as usual all her careful planning and study seemed to go out the window immediately when Harry started improvising. This indelible relationship dynamic had been established long ago…she was very good at planning and Harry was very good at improvising. That dynamic had served them well last night…most especially the second time. She felt a profound sense of exhilaration as she mused on what round three would entail.
"Everything all right, dear?" her mirror chimed in. Apparently seeing Hermione off her typical efficient and structured morning routine had thrown her enchanted companion a bit.
"Fine, fine…just had a bit of a late night," she replied pleasantly.
"Looks like it was a good one," her mirror replied knowingly.
Hermione idly realized she'd been smiling as she mused on her 'late night.'
"It really was," she answered as she pulled her hair into a ponytail, ignoring the mirror's mild 'tsk' of disapproval. She'd wasted too much time daydreaming about the prior evening and wanted to see Harry again. Besides, she liked it and Harry liked it. That was all that mattered.
To her surprise Harry wasn't alone in the common room when she arrived. Neville and Ginny were there as well.
"We realized you two have a predictable routine like Crabbe and Goyle," Neville supplied before she could ask. "It's not safe for you two to go to the Room by yourselves every morning. We wanted to talk to you about it last night but you disappeared on us."
"I told them we have the map-"
"And we told you," Ginny interrupted as she glared at Harry, "that it's still safer if there are five of us rather than two."
"Five?"
"We're fetching Luna along the way," Neville informed happily. "She insisted. Quite excited about it actually."
"While you're at it why don't you grab Ron and Lavender as well? Round up the whole gang," Harry muttered in annoyance.
"They'll be taking our place tomorrow," Ginny informed with a smirk. "You didn't think that Neville and I were going to get up this early every day did you?"
Neville laughed. Harry scowled.
"They're right," Hermione agreed sadly. Her quiet mornings alone with Harry had quickly become her favorite part of the day, but the peace within Hogwarts' walls had come to an end and allowances needed to be made regardless of how annoying and intrusive they were. Based on how defeated Harry looked it was clear that he felt the same.
"Fine," Harry mumbled as he scanned the map and reached for her hand, "everything looks clear. Let's go…and thanks."
The good news was that today was a Friday. The bad news was their last class of the day was Defence. She'd already been dreading this class since Malfoy had fled the castle and she knew that yesterday's retaliation against Crabbe and Goyle was only going to make things worse.
The various sixth year students from all four houses seemed to be marching en masse from the Great Hall to the Defence classroom, most wearing full on scowls with their eyes firmly affixed to the counterparts that they viewed as the enemy. Thankfully the staff had anticipated that there could be problems and several chose to trail along to monitor the situation. It was the first time Hermione could recall the staff publicly making an effort to squelch the political tensions in Hogwarts. Too little, too late, she mused.
"Stow your wands," Snape instructed brusquely as he walked to the front of the room. He leveled Harry with his best stare before continuing.
"Due to recent events some of you can't be trusted to act responsibly and respectfully towards your fellow classmates. Anyone casting so much as Lumos during this lesson risks immediate expulsion. Have I made myself clear?"
After receiving mumbled agreement from the class he flourished his wand at the board and words appeared.
Chapter 25: Magical Concealment
"We will be reviewing the means and methods to detect disillusionment charms and the various magical objects used to conceal oneself such as invisibility cloaks," he droned, emphasizing the last two words for effect.
Her blood boiled as she realized he had skipped chapters ahead in the curriculum in order to cover this specific topic on this specific day. She was reminded of his purposeful wedging in of the Defence lesson on Werewolves in third year. The man's pettiness was relentless and seemingly without end.
Hermione instinctively reached for Harry's hand under the desk to make sure he held his tongue. She realized that while the headmaster's repeated insistence that Professor Snape opposed Voldemort might be true he'd never been on Harry's side. Never.
In truth it was taking all of her willpower to restrain herself as Snape gave a point by point dissertation on how to detect and combat one of Harry's greatest advantages. She glanced at Daphne Greengrass and noticed the girl was looking at her in consideration. Daphne gave her a subtle nod before turning her gaze back toward their professor. It was clear that Daphne had deduced why the topic was being covered and how Ron and Lavender had been present during their initial meeting. If Daphne was able to suss out Snape's motivations who else would realize what their professor was doing? Her blood boiled.
"Do you have an issue with my instruction, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked. Apparently she had been wearing her emotions on her sleeve and he couldn't wait to poke the bear just a bit.
She remained steadfastly quiet.
"Truly remarkable," Snape continued on, "for the first time since you began attending my class you aren't jumping at the opportunity to show off. I wonder...has dating Potter made you dumber or lazier? Perhaps both?
Please answer the question Miss Granger," Snape prodded once again. "Is there any particular reason you have an issue with today's instruction?"
She heard the tittering laughter amongst some of her fellow students and was reminded of Snape's sneering insult of her teeth in fourth year. She couldn't hold her tongue any longer.
"Nothing beyond the issues I've had with your instruction for the last six years, sir," she replied unthinkingly. She heard Lavender's gasp of surprise in her periphery and cursed her impulsiveness. It had felt good though.
She purposely cast her eyes downward and pretended to consider her book. Regardless of how much she wanted to glare at him she knew her refusal to meet his gaze was the most prudent action and would more than likely infuriate him more than any comeback could manage.
"Apparently some of Potter's arrogance has rubbed off on you as well. Twenty points from Gryffindor and detention with me tomorrow night for your cheek," he declared.
I see no difference echoed in her brain once again.
"No," she replied before she lost her nerve.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"No, sir," she repeated as calmly as she could manage. Harry and Ron would never let her live it down if she started yelling at a teacher. Besides, that would be letting him win. As frustrated as she was for letting their confrontation get to this point she refused to let him win.
"I'll sit for my detention with any member of the staff but you," she continued. She could hear the excited murmurings around her but kept her head down.
"Unfortunately for you that is not an option…and that will now be a week's worth of detentions, starting tonight."
She knew Harry was going to speak in her defense at any moment and forcefully squeezed his hand for him to prevent it from happening. That was exactly what Snape wanted.
"No," she repeated.
"You realize that this defiance is more than enough to see you expelled?" he asked. She knew it wasn't an idle threat. He was vindictive enough to try and do it regardless of where his loyalties truly lied. She was saved from responding from a most unexpected source.
"Lumos," she heard the voice of Susan Bones intone from the back of the room, her normal pleasantness entirely absent. If her apparent anger was an indicator of the strength of the spell than the light she'd created could rival the sun.
"Two weeks detention for you as well Miss-"
"Lumos," rang out once more. It sounded like it had been Sue's best friend Hannah Abbot this time.
Snape began to speak once again but was interrupted and drowned out by the sudden chorus of "Lumos" that began surging throughout the room. Hermione looked behind her and realized that almost half of her classmates were now holding their illuminated wands in the air, daring to be punished for their act of solidarity.
The remaining students' reactions to the communal act of defiance were a mixture of anger, confusion and amusement. She felt Harry release her hand before he cast Lumos as well.
"Everyone out!" Snape bellowed.
"Except for you two," he amended angrily, pointing at her and Harry. While most of the class quickly filed out, Neville, Lavender and Ron moved to stand behind them.
"I said to get out!" Snape ordered once again.
"They don't want to leave us alone with you," Harry informed. "It's the same reason Hermione won't sit for detention with you. None of us trust you."
"I am going into the other room to summon the headmaster and your head of house. Do not move," he ordered angrily before stalking into an adjoining room and slamming the door behind him.
The group sat quietly for several moments, stunned to silence by how quickly everything had escalated. Ron was the first to speak.
"Nothing beyond the issues I've had with your instruction for the last six years, sir," he said in a high pitched voice meant to mimic her own. "Merlin, Hermione, you're even better at insulting Snape than me."
"He made me angry," she muttered grumpily as she tried not to think about the prospect of being expelled. Again.
"That we sorted out," Neville replied in amusement. "What do you reckon is going to happen now?" he asked, instantly sobering.
No-one had a chance to answer as Snape stormed back into the room, trailed by Dumbledore and McGonagall. Apparently he had summoned them via the floo. McGonagall's look of fury nearly matched Snape while Dumbledore looked pensive.
"Let me do the talking," Harry informed quietly as the trio approached.
"We need to speak to Mister Potter and Miss Granger alone," Dumbledore informed calmly.
"We'd like them to stay so we can walk back to Gryffindor as a group," Harry replied, doing his best to match Dumbledore's calm tone. "None of us trust the staff to protect us from other students so we've had to do it ourselves."
"This is completely ridiculous," Professor McGonagall replied. "What did I tell you two?" she pleaded angrily.
Hermione wanted to argue back but she remembered Harry's request and he clearly had something to say.
"You told us about ripple effects," Harry seethed. "We've had a professor that has insulted and tried to intimidate us since we were first years so now we don't trust him. You allow a student to almost kill two other students so we don't trust the staff. When we stopped him you ordered us to sort it out ourselves. That's what we are trying to do."
"You, arrogant-"
"Ask Professor Snape what today's lesson was about," Harry interrupted. Snape fell silent, choosing instead to level Harry with his best sneer. Unfortunately his spectacular effort was wasted on Harry as he refused to look the man in the eyes.
"He decided to skip ahead several chapters to teach us, in detail, about detecting invisibility cloaks."
Dumbledore looked furious. Snape, however, seemed unrepentant.
"What was it you said to us Professor?" he asked, his gaze turning toward McGonagall. "Actions have consequences and we have to be willing to deal with them. That applies to you lot as well," Harry concluded.
As the seconds ticked by the uncomfortable silence loomed over the room. Life within the castle seemed to be changing by the minute and everyone was struggling to keep up. Unfortunately none of them seemed to know how to proceed and based on his expression the headmaster appeared to be just as unsure of what to say or do.
"There will be no punishments or point deductions at this time," Dumbledore eventually intoned. "I beg you to continue to exercise caution and do your best to not aggravate the situation. It is clear that the staff needs to be reminded of this as well."
"Headmaster-"
"Dinner will be starting soon," Dumbledore interrupted forcefully before Professor Snape could finish his sentence, "you best be off."
"I will escort you," Professor McGonagall informed tiredly as she followed them out the door.
Not only had McGonagall escorted them to the Great Hall for supper that evening she'd led the whole of Gryffindor back to the common room afterward for good measure. The speech she'd given before departing for the evening was concise and clear:
Protect yourself. Protect your fellow classmates. Do not be the aggressor.
Gryffindor had been buzzing over supper as news of that day's eventful Defence lesson had begun to spread and once McGonagall finally exited for the evening it seemed that all of Gryffindor pounced, wanting a detailed blow by blow of what had immediately been dubbed the Lumos Lesson.
And as good as it felt to see her fellow Gryffindors so engaged and unified, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd be much more content sneaking off with Harry. They were sitting in their couch but it wasn't the same because they were surrounded by other students chattering away. It was such an odd dichotomy. As the school had rallied together the past few months she found herself desperately wanting to be alone with Harry more and more. Only Harry.
As she listened to Ron regaling a pack of first years about her spirited response to their Defence instructor Harry pulled her out of the scrum.
"We can't sneak out, Harry," she said reluctantly, "it's not safe."
"I know," he replied as he led her to an empty loveseat that had been shoved into a remote corner of the common room.
There was a reason this chair had been banished to the darkest, dingiest, most depressing part of Gryffindor house. The upholstery was faded and threadbare but that wasn't the real problem. It was thoroughly uncomfortable. She wasn't sure why or how but the thing seemed to actively repel cushioning charms…as if sitting in it was destined to be such a miserable experience that even magic couldn't interfere.
But despite these seemingly overwhelming odds Harry was unfazed at the task before him. He quickly pulled out his wand and levitated the love seat, turning it around so it faced the window.
"This chair is awful," she mumbled as he pulled her down next to him.
"I know," he stated simply as he draped an arm over her shoulder and stared at the nighttime sky.
As she nestled into his side she could practically feel the splinters beginning to set up residence in her back. Quickly she theorized that if she leaned just a bit further into Harry she could hopefully avoid touching the abomination in any meaningful way. She felt Harry's arm slide down from her shoulders and wrap her waist in a protective hug, effectively providing a barrier from her nemesis. Within seconds his hand began calmly venturing to places just barely appropriate for their current location.
The voices behind her seemed to fade away as she curled her hand around Harry's thigh. Perhaps this chair wasn't so bad. She gazed out the window…it was a beautiful night.
As promised Ron and Lavender had replaced Neville and Ginny for Saturday morning's excursion to the Room of Requirement with Luna happily joining as well.
"I can't believe I agreed to get up this early to protect you lot and now I'm going to be late for breakfast," Ron mumbled good naturedly as they made the trek to Slughorn's office two hours later. Neville and Ginny had joined them as well, strengthening their numbers even further.
"You already had breakfast…in fact you had it earlier than normal thanks to Dobby," Lavender informed.
"That was almost two hours ago," he scoffed.
"So does that mean you won't be joining us to help Slughorn? That leech juice isn't going to extract itself you know," Harry replied.
"I would join you but I think Hermione wants to spend time alone with you Harry," Luna observed casually, drawing a chuckle from the group.
"You're more than welcome to join us, Luna," she quickly replied, pretending to ignore how on the mark the girl had been.
"Oh, I know that," Luna continued, "but I imagine it's difficult having everyone around you all the time now."
"It's not too bad," Harry replied as Slughorn's classroom came into sight. "Except for Ron. Bloody annoying he is."
"You have no idea," Lavender and Ginny replied in unison, drawing a cry of protest from the redhead.
"We'll see you in two hours," Neville said with a happy wave as the group departed for the Great Hall.
It was clear that Dumbledore had spoken to the staff as Professor Slughorn seemed much more reserved than normal. He even went so far as to cast several enchantments on the door, presumably meant to prevent any surprise visitors from joining them.
Slughorn quickly set them to work, ironically enough, extracting juice from a rather rambunctious bunch of leeches, before returning to his office to finish up some grading.
"This is torture," Harry grumbled several minutes later. "I finally have a chance to be properly alone with you and I'm stuck doing this," he lamented, gesturing to the gelatinous goo dripping off of his hands.
She snorted her agreement. "I don't think we'll have a chance to be properly alone again for a long time."
"It was okay, wasn't it?" Harry asked hesitantly. "We haven't really talked about it but…you don't regret it do you?"
She stopped what she was doing and looked at him. "Are you really worried about that?"
He was nervous but unafraid. "I thought it was amazing and I thought you did as well…but yeah…a bit."
She took off her gloves and cradled his face. "If I have any say about it we are going to be doing that again as soon as we can manage it. It's you and me now, Harry. Never doubt that."
The tender moment was broken spectacularly as Harry's leech let out an undignified squelch of protest. According to the reading she'd done leeches quite enjoyed the 'juicing' process and apparently this one was annoyed at the temporary stoppage.
"Thanks for ruining the mood," Harry muttered to the leech as he resumed his task, drawing what amounted to a contented sigh from the subject.
Hermione's amusement at the scene was broken as she felt her HDF coin warm. It was a message from Astoria.
Something is going on. Daphne says a large group of JDE's just left Slytherin together and they looked excited.
"We should go," Harry informed over her shoulder. "You tell Slughorn what's going on and I'll check the map."
Hermione quickly knocked on the office door and opened it without waiting for a response.
"Professor, Harry and I-"
Her voice caught in her throat as she spotted Professor Slughorn sitting at his desk, staring straight ahead. He was flanked by a very familiar, very worried face.
"What's going on, Mr. Dagworth?" she asked.
"They've threatened my family..."
"What have you done?" she asked.
"I'm sorry Miss Granger but I can't let you leave," he informed.
"What have you done?" she repeated as she drew her wand.
"The door won't open!" she heard Harry call from the other room.
"He won't be able to open it. I had Sluggy place several enchantments on the door," Dagworth supplied.
"He's Imperiused?" she surmised.
He nodded as he slowly and purposefully placed his wand on the desk. "I'm just trying to protect my family," he mumbled, "I told you I was a coward. I'm sorry."
"What are they doing?" she asked.
"I don't know…all I had to do was make sure you two were locked in this room," he answered.
Blaise's prior warning echoed in her brain. She and Harry were the targets.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouted from behind her and Dagworth crashed backwards, slumping to the floor.
"This doesn't look good," he muttered, handing her the Marauders Map.
It was a river of red names and they were all headed their way.
Chapter 19
"We need to move," Harry ordered as she stared at the map. There were ten red names headed their way from Slytherin and a few coming from Ravenclaw for good measure.
"Hermione!" he nearly screamed, snapping her back to attention.
"Sorry!" she replied as she pulled out her mirror and coin.
She tapped out a message on her HDF coin.
Harry and I are in Slughorn's classroom and JDE's are coming. Send help!
She turned her attention back to Harry. "Only the professors can control who can lock or unlock the doors. I think they've trapped us in," she began.
"Floo?" Harry asked as he sprinted over to the fireplace.
"Except for Dumbledore they control that and also who can use it for travel."
"Albus Dumbledore!" Harry nearly shouted with no affect. "Minerva McGonagall! Remus Lupin! Grimmauld Place!" he continued with no success. "Shit!"
"What about elves? Dobby! Kreacher!" he called desperately. Nothing happened.
"The professor controls the room," she repeated. "It's how Crouch was able to manage impersonating Moody for so long. No-one gets in or out without their permission."
"We could break Slughorn from the Imperius," Harry suggested as he began pulling vials from shelves and placing them on the desks in the room.
"Only the caster can break the curse quickly and we don't have time. Are we sending these at them?" she asked as she began to help.
"That's the plan unless you have something better in mind," he answered.
"We don't know what these do. They could be dangerous."
"That's the point!" he replied as he began levitating the remaining empty desks in front of the door and stacking them together.
"They're almost here!" she called desperately as she eyed the map once again. "There is no way we can take all of them."
"Come on," he ordered as he grabbed his invisibility cloak and pulled her towards Slughorn's office.
She quickly began casting enchantments on the nearby doorway…anything and everything she could think of to provide them a precious few more seconds before the cavalry hopefully arrived. They heard an explosion. Apparently their pursuers had resorted to magic to get past the blockade.
"The storage closet," she suggested and they quickly huddled together in the furthest corner of the small room. Hermione looked at the map once again. "They're here."
They heard the rumbling from the other room as the attackers pushed past Harry's desk blockade in front of the door.
"They must be in the other room!" she heard someone inform. "You four stay here and see if they've disillusioned themselves or are using something else to hide."
Based on the sounds and muffled curses her tripping jinx had caught the first few attackers as they barreled into the room.
"Slow down and check for spells," she heard an unknown voice exclaim
"Accio potions," Harry incanted quietly and they heard the sound of breaking glass. Several shrieks could be heard and it was apparent Harry was right. Some of the potions had been toxic.
"They're playing with you," she heard the unmistakable voice of Daphne Greengrass observe through her coughs.
"Stow it, Daphne. It's just like you to finally pick a side after we've got the advantage," another familiar voice replied. Pansy
"Shut up," the first voice interjected once again. "I think everything has been dispelled. Let's go. Slowly"
Hermione put a finger up to her mouth in instruction and Harry nodded his agreement. They were both on the same page that hiding and remaining quiet was their only option.
'The floo is still disabled," Pansy informed. Hermione could see the legs of the various students moving around the room and hear detection charms being cast.
"Accio cloak!" rang out and her stomach sank. Apparently Pansy had been paying attention to Snape's Defence lesson as well. She gripped the cloak tighter, waiting for the inevitable pull of the spell. But nothing happened…nothing at all.
"They've escaped!" Pansy lamented.
"You can't apparate in Hogwarts," the unknown voice corrected. "They're here. They've just hidden themselves really well. Look in and under everything."
Daphne entered the room and quickly began casting disillusionment detection charms…seemingly with no affect. Hermione's confusion grew even further. The summoning spell, if done correctly, should have worked. The detection charms, cast in such close proximity to their target, should have worked.
Daphne began poking her wand forward as she stalked around the room and her eyes widened as it finally made contact with their invisible form. She'd found them. Daphne didn't say a word, merely reaching out a hand and feeling the cloak in her palm.
"Shit!" the leader exclaimed, drawing Daphne's attention before she exited the room.
"You said we wouldn't get caught Derek," a new voice interjected."
So the leader was Derek Clayhorne, a quiet seventh year…a name that she had been surprised to see on the junior death eater list.
"Someone's bound to be on the way now. We need to go!" Daphne pleaded.
"They must have been tipped off!" Derek nearly screamed. "How?"
"It was her!" Pansy exclaimed. "Daphne hasn't been interested until now but suddenly she can't wait to tag along and help."
"You're paranoid, Pansy," Daphne shot back.
"Where was she searching?" Clayhorne replied.
"You can't be-"
"The storage closet."
Before Hermione could react she heard Harry softly whisper "Petrificus Totalus" and she felt her body go stiff. She wanted to scream but was unable as Harry stepped forward and draped the cloak over her. "I'm sorry," he whispered before exiting the room.
"Potter," Clayhorne said with a laugh. "The Chosen One was hiding like a coward."
"Calling me a coward when it's ten to one," Harry spit back, "very brave. Just like your death eater pals."
"Nine to three, actually," Clayhorne answered. "Greengrass is clearly on your side and I'm guessing that Granger is still hiding."
"Derek-"
"Hand over your wand, Daphne."
There were several seconds of silence before Clayhorne spoke again.
"Take Daphne into the other room."
"What should I do with her?"
"Seems like a little punishment is in order don't you think? Nothing permanent obviously. Think you can manage that?"
Hermione's skin crawled as Pansy giddily replied. "Absolutely."
She heard Daphne being shuffled out of the room as Harry spoke.
"It's just me. Hermione didn't come because we knew she'd been targeted."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Look for yourself, take all the time you need," Harry replied as casually as he could manage. "You'd be doing me a favor actually…wasting even more time so help can arrive."
Hermione heard muffled screams. Daphne's punishment had begun.
Clayhorne appeared and quickly began casting the same charms Daphne had attempted just minutes prior.
"I told you," Harry chimed in once again from the adjoining room, "but thank you for wasting an extra few minutes."
Hermione released a breath as Derek gave one final look at the room before leaving.
"I really wanted the mudblood but I suppose we'll have to settle for you," Clayhorne muttered and her heart clenched. She knew what was coming.
"Crucio."
The seconds felt like hours as she was forced to listen to Harry attempting to suppress his cries of pain. While Daphne's agony was full throated and loud Harry's was stubbornly muted as he did his best to suppress the damage that the spell was causing. If anything it made it more difficult for her to endure. He always fought. Always. She felt the tears sliding down her face and realized there were some things even magic couldn't suppress.
And suddenly the torturous screaming stopped as a cacophony of new voices sounded from the other room. Help had apparently arrived.
"Looks like the odds have evened up," Harry grit out.
She heard the floo flare to life and felt another wave of relief wash over her. The headmaster had finally arrived. A scattered clattering of wands hitting the floor followed several seconds later. It appeared they knew they were no match for Dumbledore.
"Mr. Clayhorne, what have you done?" Dumbledore asked, fury evident in his voice.
"Not nearly enough," Clayhorne replied defiantly as the sound of spellfire ceased altogether. Apparently order had been restored in the other room as well.
"He used the Cruciatus on me. Parkinson did the same to Daphne Greengrass," Harry informed.
"You'll be going to Azkaban," Dumbledore informed gravely.
"Not for long," Clayhorne answered, "and Pansy and I are the only ones who have reached our majority. The worst you can do to the rest is expel them."
She heard what sounded like a punch followed by something heavy hitting the floor. She assumed that it was Clayhorne.
"Where is Miss Granger? And what has happened to Horace?"
"Get them out of here first," Harry ordered.
After several moments of murmured orders and people being shuffled out the room was silent.
"Him as well."
"You little-"
"If you don't order him to leave I'll hex him myself."
"Severus, please check with Poppy about any additional potions she may need. I do not believe Horace will be any condition to assist."
"Headmaster-"
"Now, Severus."
The room fell silent again before she heard the sound of a door closing.
"She's in the storage room, under the invisibility cloak. I petrified her."
Finally, mercifully, Finite Incantatem was cast and she was released from Harry's spell. She quickly pushed past the headmaster and sprinted to Harry, catching herself moments before barreling into him.
"It's all right," he mumbled as he pulled her close.
"I don't want to hurt you," she stated as he heard him let out a grimace.
"It's okay," he gritted into her ear as his head fell on her shoulder.
"It's not okay!" she replied through her tears. "Don't ever do that again. It's you and me, Harry. Don't ever do that again."
"They were after you. I couldn't let them hurt you."
She had no response for that because it really was that simple. If she had thought of petrifying Harry and sacrificing herself she would have done it without a second thought. He'd been hurt too much already. She just wanted it all to end.
"Miss Granger-"
"They threatened Mr. Dagworth's family. I think he was authorized to use Professor Slughorn's floo. He put the professor under the Imperius and had him lock us in. It was all coordinated and planned."
"And Miss Greengrass?"
"She warned us then pretended to be on their side to delay them from finding us," Harry continued with the story. "You need to find Astoria Greengrass. She helped warn us as well and-"
"Astoria is most likely in the hospital wing as we speak. She and a few other students from Hufflepuff were involved in a confrontation."
"She must have been trying to stop more from coming here," Hermione interjected. "Is she all right?"
"I do not know. Professor Sprout was the one who came upon the fight. "Astoria insisted that she inform me of what was going on immediately."
It was then that Hermione became aware of the rumbling chorus from the other room.
"I believe there are members of your group waiting to escort you to the hospital wing, Harry. Can you make it under your own power while I tend to Professor Slughorn and Mr. Dagworth?"
"What about the students who attacked us?"
"They will more than likely be expelled," Dumbledore supplied tiredly. "Unfortunately Mr. Clayhorne is right. There isn't much more that can be done to those who have yet to turn seventeen. But we can discuss this later once I have more information. You need medical attention and I need to begin dealing with what has happened tonight. Am I correct in assuming that Miss Greengrass was the source of your list?"
Hermione waited for Harry's nod before replying. "Yes. She was assisted by others but she was the leader."
"Then I will need to inform her parents as well. I need to know the names of all who have assisted you two. It is for their protection."
"You'll tell Professor Snape and we don't trust him," Harry mumbled.
"I will not share the names with Severus. You have my word," Dumbledore replied.
"Blaise Zabini and Tracey Davis," Hermione supplied as she wrapped an arm around Harry and led him toward the exit. She opened the door and found their head of house as well as several students waiting for them. Ron seemed to be favoring one of his legs and Lavender had a rather nasty cut on one of her arms.
"You all right?" Ron asked.
"Not really but I will be. You?"
"I've been better," Ron answered with a muted chuckle.
"May I suggest we continue this conversation in the hospital wing?" McGonagall interjected. "Do you need assistance with Mister Potter?"
"I've got him," she murmured as she delicately pulled him closer. "I've got him."
Three hours later Harry was asleep and full of several potions meant to ensure that he would stay that way for the immediate future. Hermione had supplied a full recounting of everything that had happened to Professor McGonagall. The room was now calm and quiet with most of the injured students having healed and sent to their common room, the castle in a temporary lock down. Supper was a few hours away but Hermione felt like she had been awake for a week. All other visitors had been sent away due to the lockdown by Madam Pomfrey but Hermione had refused, taking up a silent vigil by Harry's side and monitoring the map for any other threats.
She was broken from her musings by a voice from across the room.
"How is he?" Daphne asked, her voice muted and raw.
Hermione made her way over to Daphne's bedside. "Like you I suppose. Thoroughly miserable but too stubborn to show it. Why aren't you sleeping?"
'I refused that potion. My parents are due any moment and I need to speak with them," she supplied.
Daphne sat up slightly, grimacing in pain at the slight movement. "And I wanted to talk to you, about your cloak."
Hermione reflexively clutched her bag where the cloak was stored and scanned the room to see if anyone had overheard their conversation.
"Don't worry," Daphne said, purposely speaking in a near whisper, "your secret is safe with me. But you need to know…that cloak is special."
Hermione nodded her head. "It's a Potter family heirloom. It does seem to be more powerful than most cloaks from what I've read about them."
"It's more than that, Hermione. It isn't just special…I think it's one of a kind special. I've never heard of a cloak being resistant to detection and summoning spells."
"Surely you are exaggerating…"
"I'm assuming you've tracked down a copy of Beedle the Bard by now?" Daphne asked. At Hermione's nod she continued. "Have you read The Tale of the Three Brothers."
"You're joking," Hermione replied, not quite believing such a fantastical story could be true.
"My family has spent years obsessing over that book. Every story…any and every clue that could lead to a solution…especially one that deals with mastering death. My parents are convinced that the Hallows are real."
"Hallows?"
"The Deathly Hallows. The wand, the stone and the cloak."
Hermione instantly recalled Dumbledore's expression when he saw the book in her hand. She still remained skeptical.
"I find it hard to believe that Death goes around handing out magical artifacts."
"That part is nonsense of course but that doesn't mean the fairy tale isn't based on real life events." Daphne paused and nodded toward the bed next to her as confirmation of her statement.
Astoria.
According to Susan Bones, Astoria had been hit by a simple bludgeoning spell but she seemed much worse off than any of the other students who had been involved in the fighting. The girl looked so frail and withdrawn…like death warmed over. Hermione had never noticed how pale and thin the girl looked in the past but now that she knew of her condition she could see nothing else.
"I'm sorry," Hermione stated, once again not knowing what else to say, "and I'm sorry protecting me led to you being discovered."
"My idiot sister has probably taken a few years off of her life by helping today," Daphne continued. "It's ridiculous and irrational but part of me stupidly hoped that by helping you we could cure Astoria of this wretched curse."
Daphne wiped at her eyes angrily. "Astoria and I knew the risks when we decided to help. Harry was smart not to let them know about the cloak and protect you."
As Hermione was pondering Daphne's words she heard a gasp and saw Harry's eyes shoot open. He tried to sit up before sagging back into his bed, the lingering pain caused by his prior torture hitting him in full force.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, quickly rushing to his side.
"Draco is dead," he informed, his voice gravelly and hoarse as he placed a hand on his scar. "Voldemort tracked him down and killed him. He said there couldn't be any loose ends."
"You saw it?" she asked in horror. It had been almost a year since his last vision.
He nodded with a grimace. "I don't think he wanted me to see it...it felt like he'd lost a bit of control…like he was furious but enjoying it at the same time. He made his parents watch, Hermione. They just stood there."
Hermione grabbed a washcloth and dipped it in the nearby basin before placing it on Harry's forehead.
"I hate that you have this connection-"
Hermione purposely stopped herself from continuing her thought out loud. The HDF and the resulting drama had served as a distraction from the horrifying theory she'd had since learning of Horcruxes.
Harry had a connection to Voldemort.
"Close your eyes and try and go back to sleep, let the potion do its work," she urged.
Harry had a connection to Voldemort's Horcruxes.
"I need to tell Dumbledore," he murmured as his eyes slid shut, the potion taking affect once again.
Horcruxes were created by killing someone
"I'll tell him," she soothed. "Please try and sleep."
She placed the washcloth back in the basin and grabbed Harry's hand. It was softer now that he'd quit playing Quidditch. She prayed for the day when she'd get to feel those rough calluses once again.
Harry had survived being struck by the killing curse.
She brushed Harry's fringe back and looked at his infamous scar. It may have been her imagination but it looked brighter than normal.
Dumbledore knew something he hadn't shared with Harry.
She looked at Harry once again and a decision was made. No more secrets. No more unanswered questions. She needed to talk to Dumbledore.
It had taken over twenty fours but she now had her chance for answers. Dumbledore's name had finally shown back up on the Marauder's Map after dealing with the rogue student attacks from the day prior. Harry had been released from hospital and was now recuperating on their couch. She'd made an excuse and pulled Ron and Lavender to a corner out of Harry's eyesight.
"I need you to distract Harry so I can sneak out of the common room," she began.
"Why?" Ron asked immediately, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.
"I need to talk to Dumbledore about a possible theory."
"Why can't Harry know?" Lavender asked as she peered over her shoulder where Harry was seated.
"Because if your theory is correct it's really bad, right?" Ron asked. She nodded.
"How bad?"
She felt the moisture pooling in her eyes and cursed her emotions. She'd done so well keeping them in check over the last day. But in this moment…having to say the words out loud…it was too much.
"As bad as it gets," she answered, bowing her head at Ron's stricken expression.
It was Lavender who spoke first. "No."
"Lav we-"
"No hiding," she repeated. "No sneaking out. It's too dangerous." She looked very determined.
"Tell Harry the truth, Hermione," she continued. "Tell him the truth and have McGonagall take you."
Hermione looked to see Ron wearing a sad smile. "Well I'm certainly not going to help you and make Lav angry. Besides, I reckon she's right."
She nodded in resignation and sent a patronus message to her head of house asking for an escort to see the headmaster. The appearance of her silvery otter had caused a stir in the common room and Harry was now looking at her quizzically…waiting for an explanation.
She told him exactly what she had shared with Ron and Lavender and was met with the same questions and the same worried looks. Hermione watched as he pondered her words and absently scratched Crookshanks in the specific spot that always elicited a contented purr.
The tension was broken as the common room door opened and Professor McGonagall appeared, looking very concerned.
"I'll see you soon," Harry answered softly, doing his best to smile despite whatever horrible scenarios were rattling around in his brain.
She nodded her thanks, not trusting her voice at that moment, and quickly left the room.
McGonagall had apparently warned the headmaster as he seemed entirely nonplussed at her entrance, going so far as to have tea waiting for both of his guests.
"I'm assuming you are here for an update on yesterday's incident," he began pleasantly.
She took a breath. "Partially."
Dumbledore paused briefly, clearly taken aback by her cryptic response.
"Mr. Clayhorne and Miss Parkinson are currently being held by the authorities and will both be charged for the use of an Unforgivable. The remaining students involved in the incident have all been expelled and their wands snapped. Based on what we've been able to surmise the plan was to torture you and Harry before obliviating you two and Professor Slughorn. They had anticipated not being detected for sixty minutes which Miss Greengrass was able to foil."
"Mr. Dagworth?"
Dumbledore sighed and removed his glasses. "Mr. Dagworth has been removed from his position at the Ministry and it is yet to be determined what, if anything, he will be charged with."
"His family?"
"His wife has been killed for his failure but his two children are alive. Her body and the children were found in his home. The Ministry employees who contacted him have yet to be apprehended."
This was more than a schoolyard fight. This was an open and clear escalation of events and there truly was no going back. She did her best to not think about the two children that had lost their mother and forced herself to refocus.
"I need to speak to you privately. It's about Harry."
"Minerva, I will escort Miss Granger back to Gryffindor once we are finished with our discussion."
McGonagall nodded and left the room, casting one last worried glance at her before disappearing down the steps. Hermione had thought and rethought about how best to phrase her questioning for the last day but all of her carefully worded plans were immediately discarded. The time for treading lightly was at an end.
"Harry is a Horcrux isn't he?"
"What have you shared with Harry?"
"Yes or no. Is Harry a Horcrux?"
She watched as the headmaster considered how to answer. When this had happened in the past a benevolent smile was on his face and there was a twinkle in his eye. This time, however, all she saw was a man who was seeing all of his carefully laid plans burn to ash.
"Yes."
Before she could reply he raised a hand to stop her. "Please, Miss Granger. Please let me explain why I have kept this information from Harry."
And he did. For the next several minutes he laid out a highly precise, detailed and logical justification for why Harry could and should not know his fate until the last possible moment...until all the remaining Horcruxes had been dealt with. He was adamant that only then could Harry be made aware of the unspeakable sacrifice that was expected of him.
Silence reigned as she attempted to process what had just been shared. How many times had he miscalculated situations in the past?
Then suddenly, inexplicably, the prophecy began echoing in her mind. As she repeated the damnable words it dawned on her that it was one more thing that Dumbledore may have gotten spectacularly wrong.
Neither can live while the other survives…
Voldemort wasn't a part of the 'neither'. He'd damned himself from that possibility long ago. Willingly splitting his soul…drinking unicorn blood…enacting ancient rituals to regain a body…they were the acts of a man doomed to a half life…a cursed life...something that could merely survive. While he may have taken steps to ensure survival his chances at living were well and truly long gone.
She thought of Harry. His ridiculous hair…his eyes…his smile…the small of his shoulder where she seemed to fit perfectly. She thought of so many wonderful, exhilarating, infuriating bits and pieces that she couldn't fathom living without. She thought of everything but the scar. That wasn't Harry. That abomination belonged to the other. And neither could live while the other survived. Her path forward was clear.
"Expecto Patronum," she intoned, sending her otter on its second mission of the day.
"What have you done?" Dumbledore asked.
"I sent a message to Harry telling him that his scar is a Horcrux but he didn't need to panic…that we would figure out a way to get rid of it together. And if I don't remember sending this message when I get back to the common room it's because you obliviated me."
The headmaster looked well and truly defeated now. Not by hernecessarily…but by time…life…his actions and inactions…all of it. "Do you really think so little of me that I would resort to such a despicable act, Miss Granger?" he asked.
"I couldn't take the chance," she replied simply.
"I believe my plan would have allowed Harry a chance to survive," Dumbledore answered.
"And I believe Harry deserves to know the truth. He doesn't need to be tricked into doing the right thing at the last moment," she spit out. As the seconds ticked by and the headmaster remained silent she thought of how much more could have been done by now…how much less Harry would have suffered…if only Dumbledore had trusted them all just a bit more.
"You always sell him short," she continued, forcing herself to remain calm. "You constantly sell him short and he's worth a thousand of you." She felt tears forming and quickly wiped them away. There would be time for tears later…when she was alone…away from the headmaster and away from Harry.
"On that we both agree," he replied wearily.
He suddenly looked so pathetic and sad and she felt her rage growing. He was Albus Dumbledore. If she could postpone her tears and remain focused than the supposed greatest wizard of the last century could do the same.
"I don't care if you feel bad! If you really care about Harry you need to tell us everything you know and help us."
"Well it seems you've left me little choice in the matter, Miss Granger," he replied with a sad smile. As sad as he looked she also thought he looked a bit relieved as well.
Neither can live while the other survives…
She knew they wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts in the fall because she and Harry had something much more important to take care of. Everyone and everything else could wait because neither she nor Harry could live while the sodding other survived. Whether Trelawney meant for her to be considered part of the neither was irrelevant…because she was. Totally and unequivocally.
Hermione had been gifted with magic for a reason. Harry had saved her in first year for a reason. She helped him survive a dragon for a reason. He'd come back from that graveyard for a reason. She'd gone to the Department of Mysteries despite knowing it was a trap for a reason. Being the two halves of the neither was the reason. It was too late to turn back now and it didn't matter that Harry was the one with a bit of Voldemort embedded on his forehead.
She'd had enough of waiting for Dumbledore's silence to end and stood to leave. "I need to talk to Harry."
As they began the journey back to Gryffindor, Dumbledore spoke. "I would very much like it if you and Harry would meet me here tomorrow morning at eight. I have some additional information to share with you and the sooner we start working on a strategy together, the better. You will, of course, be excused from your classes for the day. Perhaps Mr. Weasley could join the meeting as well."
As she nodded her agreement the mirror in her pocket warmed. It was Harry.
"Are you all right?" they asked each other in unison.
She laughed despite herself. "You just found out that you are a Horcrux and you're asking how I am?"
"You said you might be Obliviated!" he protested. "I reckoned I could start panicking about me once I knew you were safe."
"I'm fine, Harry," she reassured. I'll be there in a few minutes and we can talk about everything and start coming up with a plan. I love you."
"Me too, Hermione. You've no idea…" he answered with a sad smile. "Crooks and I will be waiting."
"Communication mirrors," Dumbledore observed as they continued their trek, "quite ingenuous."
"Harry's dad and his friends created them when they were at Hogwarts," Hermione supplied.
"That explains so many things," he observed with a soft chuckle.
A few minutes later she bounded through the portrait hole and an orange ball of fur darted toward her…presumably there to escort her to her reserved spot. Harry turned and looked at her over the back of the couch, shooting her an awkward smile. He looked a mess…hair going everywhere. She imagined he had been running his hand through it a lot the last few minutes. He did that when he was worried…or thinking. He was surrounded by Ron, Lavender, Neville, Ginny and Luna. Even Hedwig had joined the party, regally presiding over the group on a nearby window ledge.
Hermione marveled at how alive she felt at that moment despite everything they'd gone through and everything they still needed to accomplish. She had no idea how they were going to manage it but she was positive that the neither were going to live and the sodding other didn't stand a chance.
A/N: From the beginning this was planned to be a retelling of sixth year so we are nearing the end. Having said that there will be one more chapter outlining the ramifications of the changes and the final confrontation with Voldy.
Thanks to all who have stuck with this story and I'll see you in a few days for the final installment!