Chapter 7

Shattered

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Storybook endings
Fairy tales coming true
Deep down inside
We want to believe they still do
In our secretest heart
It's our favorite part of the story
Let's just admit
We all want to make it to

Ever ever after
If we just don't get it our own way
Ever ever after
It may only be a wish away

Start a new fashion
Wear your heart on your sleeve
Sometimes you reach what's realest
By making believe
Unafraid, unashamed
There is joy to be claimed in this world

No wonder your heart
Feels it's flying
Your head feels it's spinning
Each happy ending's
A brand new beginning
Let yourself be enchanted
You just might break through

To ever ever after

--Carrie Underwood "Ever Ever After"

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All to soon, in Phoebe's opinion, the Christmas holidays were over and the rest of the students returned to the school. Over the following week, Phoebe couldn't help but notice that Hermione was spending more time alone, reading. She seemed to be pulling away from all her friends, splitting herself from the rest of the school. At first, Phoebe felt hurt and betrayed by her friend's attitude, but soon realized her reasons for acting how she was. Any day now, she would be departing on her mission for Dumbledore, leaving everyone she cared about behind.

However, another week passed and Hermione had not yet left. Phoebe and Hermione made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast on Friday morning. Phoebe tried to make conversation as they walked, but Hermione only responded with the shortest sentences she could manage and never spoke at all unless Phoebe did so first. When they reached the Great Hall, Harry waved them over to the table with a cheery "Good morning!".

"Good morning, Harry." Phoebe responded. Hermione didn't say anything, instead she gave Harry a weak smile and rolled her eyes at the furious argument Ron and Ginny were having over a supposed illegal move in a chess game they were playing.

"Double Transfiguration this morning." Harry told them, helping himself to more bacon. After twenty minutes, they set off together toward the Transfiguration classroom. As the day passed, Phoebe couldn't help but notice that Hermione seemed to be becoming less focused on her schoolwork. She was no longer paying attention in class and appeared to be anxious for the bell to ring that signaled the end of the day's lessons. Perhaps, Phoebe thought, when Hermione told them she wouldn't be joining them in the Great Hall, that tonight would be the night Hermione left. This turned out the be true.

By eleven o'clock that night, Hermione left Gryffindor Tower only five minutes before the students were required to be in their common rooms for the night, claiming she had to get something from the library. A few minutes after Hermione departed, Harry got up without speaking and left the Tower as well, leaving Phoebe and Ron alone at their table. Phoebe felt certain that this was the night Hermione was leaving, and knew that once she left, she would have no way to find her. She felt sure that this was her reason for being her, to follow Hermione, not to hang around Hogwarts. Catherine had wanted her… to… That was it! Catherine! Phoebe immediately stood and scrambled up the staircase to her empty dormitory. Without hesitation, she called out Catherine's name. Almost instantly, Catherine appeared beside her.

"Damn, Phoebe." Catherine said. "I was a little busy back home. What's wrong?"

"I think tonight's the night Hermione's going to leave. I've got no idea where she's going or how to follow her. I don't know what to do."

"Go to the top of the Astronomy Tower. Hermione and Harry met there before she left. Try to intercept her before she leaves, but I wouldn't let Harry see you. If you can't get to her before she leaves, call me again. We'll come up with something."

"Alright." Phoebe said. "Thanks." Catherine nodded.

"Good luck."

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Phoebe left the common room and ran flat out toward the Astronomy Tower. Panting, she reached the door. She paused upon hearing voices on the other side of the hardwood door.

"You don't have to do this." Harry was saying. Phoebe carefully pushed the door open enough to see inside the room.

"Yes, I do." Hermione said. "Dumbledore asked me to do it, and I said yes. It'll be dangerous, but I'm willing."

"Will... will I ever see you again?" Harry asked, dropping his gaze to the floor.

"I don't know, Harry. I'd like to think so, but where I'm going..."

"Where are you going?"

"You know I can't tell you about that. In fact, I doubt you or anyone other than Dumbledore will ever know where I'm going."

"Mione... promise me you'll come back. Promise me that somehow, someway, you'll manage to find your way back to me." Tears began to stream down Hermione's face as she pulled Harry into a tight hug.

"I... I... I'll try, Harry. I'll try, but there's something I need you to do for me, Harry."

"Anything." Harry whispered.

"I need you to try and get along with Catherine. I know you don't like her, but I've been spending a lot of time with her, and... well, she's changed. She's not all that bad once you get to know her. I think she'd like a friend while I'm away." Harry sighed.

"If you were anyone else, Mione. Fine, but only because you're the best friend I've ever had." Suddenly, Harry leaned in and kissed her. Phoebe had the sudden urge to charge through the doorway and give Harry a firm kick between the…

"Good luck." Harry said, interrupting Phoebe as she planned on exactly the best way to ambush him as he came back down the stairs.

"Luck won't help, Harry. Be safe." With that, Hermione climbed onto the broom, grabbed her bag, and took off into the night. Harry turned and left the tower. Phoebe ran as quietly as she could back down the stairs and hid herself behind a table supporting a collection of telescopes. Once Harry was well out of earshot, Phoebe stood and called Catherine's name once again.

"Jesus Christ, yes, Phoebe?" Catherine exclaimed reappearing before her. "I swear, I just left."

"I'm sorry, Kat." Phoebe said. "Hermione left before Harry did. I couldn't stop her." Catherine nodded.

"Alright, then. Here's what you do. Focus on Hermione… no, not with your mind, with your heart. Collect everything you feel for her and focus on that. Concentrate on being at her side. It'll take you right to her."

"Really?" Phoebe asked.

"Why would I lie, Phoebe? Now, we're rather busy back home. Nobody's saying too much, but we're planning something big. Be careful." Catherine vanished. Phoebe sighed and sat down on the floor. She focused all her thoughts on Hermione, and as she did so, she disappeared…

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… and reappeared, floating several feet above a bed in a tiny room in the Leaky Cauldron. As gravity at last took hold of her, she fell downward and landed next to Hermione, who had her nose buried, once again, in a book she was reading only by the light of a small candle. When Phoebe hit the mattress, Hermione screamed and leapt out of bed, her wand aimed directly at Phoebe.

"Hermione, it's all right!" Phoebe exclaimed. "It's me."

"Lilly?" Hermione asked, lighting her wand and casting the narrow beam over the bed. "Goddamn, you scared the shit out of me! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"I… I… Harry told me you'd left. I couldn't just let you go alone. I wanted to help!"

"You can help me by going back to Hogwarts." Hermione told her. "This isn't something for two people to do. I have to do this by myself, and I can't do this if you're tagging along."

"But, Mi…"

"Lilly, this is dangerous! No one was supposed to know what I was doing, but I had to tell Harry and Ron…"

"What?" Phoebe asked in a hurt voice. "You don't trust me?"

"Of course I do, Lilly. That's why I don't want you here. Look, where I'm going… it's very dangerous. I probably won't ever be coming back. I can't take you with me, Lilly… I can't put you in danger. If you ended up dying or getting hurt, I'd never forgive myself."

"And I would never forgive myself if I let you go by yourself." Phoebe countered. She sat up in bed and folded her arms across her chest. She noticed that Hermione looked thoroughly frustrated. Phoebe could understand why. If she refused to allow Phoebe to stay, Phoebe would simply follow her at a distance, which would put her in perhaps more danger than if she allowed her to come. On the other hand, if Phoebe did come, Hermione, having a protective nature, would have to split her focus between her work and protecting Phoebe. In the end, there was only one option.

"Fine," Hermione said furiously. "you can stay. But you have to promise me that you'll do exactly as I say exactly when I say it." Phoebe smiled sweetly.

"Oh, I'd be pleased to do anything you want me to." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I sure you would." she said, slipping back into bed and placing her book on the nightstand.

"So," Phoebe said, shifting over onto her own side of the bed, noticing with some discomfort that the bed was very small. "what are we doing out here?"

"Nothing I can speak about here." Hermione said wearily. "I can't be sure no one is listening in. For now, just accept that what we're doing is extremely dangerous, extremely important, and extremely secret." Hermione turned to lay on her right side so she was facing Phoebe. Phoebe reached out and took Hermione's hand.

"Are you afraid, Mi?" Phoebe asked in a quiet voice.

"I'm terrified, Lil. C'mon, let's get some sleep. We're going to need it over the next couple of months." Phoebe nodded.

"'Night, Mi." she whispered. "I love you." Phoebe could just make out the smile on Hermione's face as she blew out the solitary candle, plunging the room into total darkness.

"I love you, too, Lilly."