Disclaimer: Please, please, pretty please, can I be J.K. Rowling for a day? No, alright fine Universe I've always wanted to toss my hopes and dreams in a black hole.
"Luna! You put the dragon's blood in first! Not the thestral scales," Hermione scolded as the blonde brewing a particularly poisonous potion beside her flinched.
"I just don't see why we have to make all these! I mean we aren't going to kill anyone while we're doing this spell," Luna said frustrated, as she carefully set down her scales and grabbed the flask of dragon's blood beside her book. Muttering curses about potion masters and a few choices where inventors could shove their poison.
"These are for when we get there Luna. I don't trust any of the teachers to give us a potions lab and these will be hard to come by even with the war going on."
"Granger speaks the truth!" Snape proclaimed making everyone laugh loosening the tension in the room. "If those Gryffindorks become your friends you won't be able to go two steps without them."
"I'll have to be in a different house," Hermione said. "I don't know if I could bear to be around the Marauders or Lily back then." Especially if James looks anything like Harry she thought and shuddered. But I can change it, she thought determinedly. I can make it so that he'll survive, he won't die until I see him in a white beard.
Well that's a tall order for you fill within a year of being at Hogwarts. Luna interjected.
Hermione playfully sneered at Luna. But you'll help me right?
Luna rolled her eyes paying close attention to the knife in the Gryffindor's hand. And they call me the daft one. Yes Hermione Granger, I Luna Elizabeth Lovegood, promise as a Ravenclaw and a member of the Order of the Phoenix to always stay by your side. I promise to support you through the hard times and celebrate the good times. To heal everyone I can and help to prevent the killing of millions by going back in time to kill Voldemort and his horcruxes. Good enough for you?
Hermione smiled relieved, Yes that's fine Luna.
"Hermione," Draco asked nervously touching his left forearm, "When did you restart the wards? And which ones did you restart?"
"I started the Anti-Apparation, Unplottable, Forget-me, Glamour, Invisibility, and detection wards for unwanted visitors and Death Eaters," Hermione said then looked horrified. "I forgot the Undetectable wards didn't I? Damn," she said looking furiously down at her left arm as it started to burn. She pulled up her sleeve and underneath her Dark Mark her skin was blinking a silvery color.
Luna glanced down at the brunettes forearm and swore. "How did the Ministry find us? And why the bloody hell did they bring 30 Aurors? Well I can understand that three Death Eaters in an old abandoned house is weird, but I thought that Aradia controlled everything?"
"She does," Draco replied grimly. "But perhaps she just found what is left of the resistance fighters and might need something more than the normal entourage."
"We need to get out of here," Hermione said. Everyone looked around at the empty spaces where there used to be an assortment of potions and books.
"Great Hermione now any more secrets for us?" Seamus asked drawn in by the sound of explosions at the front of the house.
"Undetectable Extension Charm everyone. Basic skills, really must you ask? Now can we get out of here? There have been enough deaths in this day-" she was cut off by the laughter of a legacy in the doorway.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Order of the Phoenix," Aradia spat. "This is what the resistance is?" she asked and laughed. A real evil laugh. None of the silly sounds that the Muggle cartoons make. "I'll give it to you though. Just five people leading all of these attacks on the Ministry and my rule? Impressive. Although I imagined that the 'Boy Who Lived'," she quoted Harry's nickname with her fingers and her dad's wand, "would still be here too. Oh wait. He died didn't he? Just another little baby, a child, who didn't know power. Who didn't know the full extent of what you all could do." Everyone looked at her oddly. No one ever thought of how Harry had 'used', his friends to their full extent. She laughed at their looks.
"What? You thought that I would just let you go with a fight? No, no I'm not that daft. I want you to work with me. Not even for me. Just with me. Don't look at me that way Hermione. I know that what I want goes against my dad's ideas of a perfect world. But I can change you. So that you are a pureblood." Draco and Hermione snorted inwardly. "So that you will be recognized as the brilliant witch you are. And not as the sidekick of the bloody Harry Potter." The Order flinched and stood a little straighter, but Hermione seemed to be lost in thought. She was looking dreamily at Aradia.
"You know what I'm talking about, don't you?" Aradia asked gently. "Wanting to be known for what you do and not what you parents did? Or your friends? I think your friend Ronald also thought that. Wanting to shine amongst your peers. To be seen for your talents. If you joined me, as a friend, a partner, we could solve all the problems of the Magical world. The Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand would be at your disposal." Hermione nodded in what looked like a trance.
"You could help me make a better world for us. Curing all sorts of diseases, better elf rights, better rights for everyone making them all equal and happy." Hermione started waving her wand around at her side creating swirling patterns with a white shimmery substance, which looked suspiciously like a patronus. Suspicions were confirmed when the dementors who were following their 'Queen' drifted back through the stairs to the main level of the house hissing at the happiness that radiated from downstairs.
"You could be happy Hermione. Away from the threats that handicapped your learning. You could stay at Hogwarts, and have access to any reading material you would want. Hell, you could go back to Hogwarts for your seventh year at Hogwarts. All NEWT level classes right? Me too." Aradia snapped out of a trance that the future of the magical society had put her in. Hermione was still waving her wand around at her side except now it was making disturbances in the air like it was extremely hot.
"So what do you think Hermione? Do you want to change things? Do you want to make life better for everyone you love? For everyone here?" Aradia gestured to the four around her all looking at her concerned for the mental state of their leader. Hermione tended to get a little emotional when the deaths of her friends were mentioned. She either blew up cursing everything in sight and muttering to herself or just stood there unintentionally crying and silent thinking about what she could've done different to save them.
There, then, in the middle of the basement on a cloudy August night Hermione Jean Granger lost it. She started weeping into her hands her wand back inside the pocket of her cloak.
"You promise? You promise on your life and the life of your father that you will uphold your part of the deal?" Hermione asked childishly through sobs. As her tears receded she looked around to find her friends surrounding her and Aradia nodding but looking sadly at those who protected her. Draco starting to tremble and Luna swaying on her feet looking sick.
And then someone screamed.
