A/N: I appreciate all the continued reviews. It does my heart good to see all the people following this story. It causes me to want to update faster.
A/N 2: This chapter has a 'mature' scene. You are hereby warned!
Chapter 7:
It was Saturday, the day of the dance. All of Hogwarts was buzzing about it. It is the first dance in many years (not counting the Yule Ball) and most students weren't quite sure what to do. They finished dinner and the students were asked to leave the Great Hall for a few minutes while the final preparations were completed. Hermione and Draco were scrambling to get the crest up. They actually had one real crest for each house and one real Hogwarts crest. Harry had bought them (anonymously) and they were raffling them off. The proceeds were going to go to S.P.E.W. but they weren't advertising that part. Hermione had finished her campaign to free all house-elves, but she did think they should be treated better. Her society was focused on trying to change the laws about it. Harry was fully behind Hermione now. He believed in her cause. Draco thought she was a bit crazy, but he could see that it was important to Hermione, so he supported her too. Professor McGonagall agreed after she received an outline about what the society stood for. The tickets were one galleon each. The students could put in a galleon to get a ticket for the one they wanted. Draco desperately wanted the Slytherin one, but he couldn't attempt to get it. Neither could Hermione.
After they finished setting up the crests and the raffle table, the teachers moved the house tables against a wall and finished doing the work. The room finished, Hermione and Draco walked back out to the Entrance Hall. "Alright everyone!" Hermione called. The din was deafening and no one could hear her.
Draco called out a loud, "Silence!" Everyone in the room quieted down immediately. Hermione was able to continue.
"Alright, we have finished what we need to do. May I remind everyone that failure to attend will result in ten points lost per student not attending and a detention per student. I would also like to remind you that the teachers and the prefects are all watching along with Draco and myself. We have a few select 7th years who are also watching. They have been given permission by the Headmistress to hand out detentions and take away points to any student who isn't behaving properly. If they have to hand out any punishment, I have been assured by Professor McGonagall that they will be banned from future dances this year. We beg you to please behave and make this night a night to remember." Hermione said. She and Draco took out their checklists. They stood aside and allowed the throng to push past. As the students past, names were erased off of the checklist. Hermione was pleased to see that only two names were left on her checklist, and that was her and Draco. She walked over to Draco to see how his list was coming. Most of the students had pushed past, and judging by the sounds in there, they were quite impressed with the decorations. Hermione looked at Draco's list to see several names left on it. "If you could go on into the Great Hall, we're trying to see who isn't attending." Hermione said. The few students left milling around rushed into the Great Hall. Hermione rechecked Draco's list to see one student not on it. "Pansy Parkinson." She said. Draco looked at Hermione in concern.
"I know Pansy, there's no way she'd miss something like this, unless she's planning something." Draco had a hint of fear in his eyes.
"The only thing we can do is alert the teachers and the prefects. We also need to tell Harry, Neville, and Dean so they can keep an eye out for anything suspicious." Hermione said. They split up when they got into the hall so they could tell everyone what was going on. Hermione spotted Harry and Neville standing off to the side. "Harry, Neville, listen…" Hermione began to explain the predicament they found themselves in.
"Don't worry, 'Mione, with all that's watching tonight she would be stupid to try anything." Harry said. Neville nodded in agreement.
"Draco's a bit worried." Hermione said. Harry and Neville both adopted grim looks on their faces. They began to circle around to make sure she wasn't going to try anything. Hermione looked to see most of the prefects looking wary. They were worried that Pansy wasn't in attendance. They were supposed to be, and she was a prefect. She could lose her prefect badge for this. Hermione made her way up to the teachers and told them what was going on.
"If she tries anything, Ms. Granger, drastic measures will be taken." Professor McGonagall said. Hermione, satisfied that everyone who needed to know what was going on knew, went to check the raffle table. She was pleased to see a lot of people wanted to crests.
At 8:30, Hermione got everyone's attention. She and Draco were going to draw to see who was going to get the crests. "All right, everyone! We're ready to draw for the crests. We'll do the Hufflepuff Crest first. The winner is…" Hermione started. She drew a slip of paper out and read the name on it. "Susie Lu" Susie ran up and collected her prize.
"Now to do the Ravenclaw Crest." The winner is…" He drew out the slip from the Ravenclaw bucket. "Jaime Carmicheal!" The excited 4th year ran up and grabbed his seal. They finished after a fashion and then it was time to dismiss the younger years.
"It is now 9:00. It is time for all 1st through 3rd years to head to your dorms. If anyone is found after your time to leave, you will be given detention." Draco said. The younger students walked dejectedly out of the room. Hermione checked the list again. The younger years disappeared as soon as they exited the room. Hermione wasn't happy to see that Pansy was still left unmarked on Draco's list. The longer it was, the less happy she was.
All except the 7th years left. The seventh years were enjoying their time and were grateful the head boy and head girl were willing to give them something like this. "Hermione, can you come over here for a minute?" Draco asked. Hermione walked over and looked at him questioningly. "Look." He said. Hermione looked at the list in his hand. Pansy's name was now crossed off. She had finally decided to attend. Whatever she had planned, was strictly for the 7th years.
Draco and Hermione looked up when they heard a bang. They walked to the edge of the circle to see Pansy in the middle. "Now that I have everyone's attention, I have an announcement." She started. She looked around to make sure she had everyone's undivided attention. "Unfortunately, the Dark Lord has been vanquished, but the Light side has not won yet. As long as servants are around, the light side will have to fight. I am such a servant. I have people who are willing to help me get rid of your symbol. It will be payback for getting rid of our symbol. Then, you will see our might. We have no rules. We have no regrets. Everyone is fair game. You don't stand a chance, with your rules and morals. I wish you all good luck in your fight; you will need it, because the end is very neigh." She said. With that she strode out of the castle and into the dark.
The professors were stunned. Professor McGonagall stood up. "I must impress on all of you the importance of what we just heard. If she is serious, then we must prepare for battle. I would like to ask you all not to say anything to the younger years. They do not need to be scared. If we find out that it is true, then we will make the announcement. Anyone in this room found telling anyone not in this room about this, will be expelled and banned from the grounds. Now, I must ask all of you to go to your dorms. I ask that the head boy and head girl stay behind, and Harry Potter, I believe should stay as well." The three students and the staff waited until the rest filed out. Professor McGonagall waved her wand and a large circle with armchairs was made in the center of the dance floor. Everyone sat down in a chair and waited for the headmistress to begin. "Filius, I must ask you to get Arthur and Molly Weasley here as soon as you can. Poppy, please tell Kingsley and tell him to bring as many aurors as he truly trusts." She said. She waited for her commands to be carried out before she continued. "Harry, do you think you can face another battle?"
"Yes. Voldemort was their symbol because he was the strongest. They will be coming out in force now that they have nothing to lose. We'll need all the help we can get. Unfortunately, I think the school should cancel the rest of the year. All students under 17 must return home with letters explaining the danger. I believe the students who are 17 who want to fight should stay. I believe they should be trained in defensive spells. Spells that are above the normal 7th year level. We need to hole up here, that way they will come here and fight." Harry said. The staff was impressed at how he took charge.
"I believe you are right, Harry. Draco, you know your father will be in the mix, do you think you can face him?" She asked. Draco regarded her seriously for a moment before answering.
"I have to. If I spend my life running from him, then I'll always run. I'm tired of running. If I die, then at least I die fighting for what's right." Draco said. Hermione squeezed his hand. Professor Flitwick returned with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"What's going on?" Mr. Weasley said. Before anyone could answer, Kingsley entered with 4 aurors.
"The threat is true, Minerva." Kingsley said. He noticed the elder Weasley couple and nodded in greeting in their direction. "We have been having reports of known death eaters moving. They have great numbers. We believe they are preparing to launch an attack in the coming months." He said.
"I was afraid of that. I need all the students back here immediately. We must send them home. The school must close for the remainder of the year, hopefully, we can reopen next year." Minerva said. Kingsley nodded in grim approval. The heads of houses quietly left to get their students. The students returned to the Great Hall and sat down at their respective tables. Harry, Hermione, and Draco stood at the front with the staff, minister and aurors, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "I need you all to repack your belongings. The school is under threat. We will send all home." She said. Neville stood up.
"What about those of us old enough to fight. I am not going home!" He said. There was a smattering around the room in approval.
"Those who are above 17 and wish to stay may stay." Kingsley said. All who were under age left the Great Hall to pack their belongings. They would be on the train the next morning, headed back home. All that were left were 17 year olds.
"There will be training courses to help strengthen our defense." Harry said.
"Classes are cancelled. Instead, if you choose to stay, you will be trained for war. You will learn spells far above the 7th year level." Draco added.
"We want you to stay, but you must be willing to die. If you choose to stay, you have to understand that possibility." Hermione said. "No one will look down on you if you decide to go." The group waited for a few minutes for the students to decide. None left. All were willing to die for the cause, even the Slytherins.
"Slytherin House, if you are willing to stay and fight for the Light, you may, but if you switch sides and fight against us, you will be killed." Draco said. The Slytherins didn't doubt it. All of them but two stood and left the room. The two that stayed were Blaise Zabini and Gregory Goyle. "Zabini, Goyle, are you sure you wish to fight for us?" He asked.
"I lost my best friend in the final battle. I want all the death eaters destroyed." Goyle said.
"I've never had an alliance in the war. I figure it's about time to choose, and if you are this serious, Draco, then I stand with you. You are still my number 1." Blaise said. Draco bowed his head to hide the tears that sprang in his eyes. Blaise didn't remove his gaze until Draco met it again.
"Good to have you back, Blazer." He said. The shook hands and stood side by side. Kingsley spoke to the group.
"This training course will not only be for you. It will be for everyone who needs it. We will have several aurors who are working to teach you skills, and I believe Remus Lupin will help as well. Once someone masters the spell we are working on, I want you to help someone who doesn't get it yet. I feel this is the best way to proceed. This will be the fastest way to make sure we all learn what we need to." Kingsley said.
"Now, back to bed. We will start with rigorous training right after breakfast. We all need sleep." Professor McGonagall said. Before the students could move, Remus spoke into her ear. "I agree. You will all now share a common room. The house elves will move your things down tomorrow morning. The password will be 'United we Stand'. You will sleep in the Slytherin dorm rooms after dinner tomorrow night. For now, back to your old rooms, and good night. Sleep well." With that, all the students left the room; all except, Harry, Draco, and Hermione. "If it is alright with Hermione and Draco, I believe you should stay with them, Harry." She said. Harry nodded and Hermione looked at Draco. They were thinking the same thing.
"Professor, I know it's unorthodox, but could Draco and I share a room? Harry could have his own room, and I think Draco and I would prefer that." She said. Draco grabbed her hand and squeezed, showing his solidarity to her.
"Students are not supposed to share a bed." She said. She was looking for a way around that rule when Remus spoke.
"As we are sending most of the students home tomorrow, I don't think they qualify as students anymore. Right now, they are considered warriors-in-training." Hermione looked at Remus with gratitude.
"Yes, I agree, well, if that's alright with Draco, then yes, you two may share a room." Minerva said.
"I would like that very much, Professor," he said. Hermione was beside herself in excitement. They hadn't slept very well since they were trying to obey the school rules, but neither could sleep without the other.
"Now, you three must be off to bed as well. Harry, tomorrow you will move in with Hermione and Draco. Also, I believe you should start the training. Everyone will do so much better if they master the beginnings. So many people never manage to master them like they should. The students you taught 2 years ago did the best in exams that year. After they manage to master the beginning spells, we will have someone else come and teach them the harder things." Professor McGonagall said. Harry nodded, wide-eyed. This wasn't the same thing as the DA. That was a teenager's gang, as Mrs. Weasley once called it, and this is teaching people much older than him things they should have known for years now. Harry wasn't sure this was going to be received very well, but decided not to say anything. He would try it and see how it went.
The next morning, most of Hogwarts was emptied. The train left with most of the students and those who remained were prepared to fight. They were planning on being trained, but they weren't sure how much time they actually would have before the Death Eaters arrived. After breakfast everyone left in the castle gathered on the lawn. They needed somewhere with a lot of space, and they figured this was probably better than anywhere in the castle itself. Harry stood in front of the group. He cast sonorous on himself so the entire group could hear him. "Professor McGonagall asked me to review the basics with everyone. Without a strong foundation in the basics, none of your advanced spells will be as effective as they could be. You might be surprised at just how powerful a basic spell can be. When I was in my third year, due to circumstances I will not mention, I was in the shrieking shack with two other students. We all cast expelliarmus at the same time and the person we were aiming at was thrown into the air and knocked unconscious." Harry said. By the amused look on Professor McGonagall's face, she remembered the incident. "We did that at just 13 years old. If we continue to practice it and train, we could be very powerful. I think expelliarmus is a great place to begin. Divide into pairs. I want all of you to practice expelliarmus until you master it. I don't mean you can disarm your opponent. I mean until nothing they try to use can block it. I want it so powerful, you can blast right through a shield charm. When you and your partner can do that, go through the group and help those who still need it." Harry said. To his surprise, nobody complained. They all divided up and began to practice. As Harry expected, the aurors and the professors were the first done. It still took them a good 3 hours before they were able to accomplish what Harry was asking. 3 hours after that, most of the group got it. Harry would work with the others later right now, they all needed a break. Harry turned the meeting over to Professor McGonagall.
"I believe its dinner time. I think we are all exhausted after that practice session, but remember, if you can disarm your opponent, you can take him down." She said. With that, the entire group moved into the Great Hall and began to eat.
"I am positively exhausted!" Ginny said. The others murmured in agreement.
"You know Harry, you should think about a career in teaching. The professors even struggled with that." Seamus said. Dean nodded in agreement. Draco looked thoughtful. "What's up, Draco?"
"I was just wondering about the possibility of Ron showing up with the Death Eaters." He said. Hermione looked up in alarm. The thought never crossed her mind. "Would any of us be able to take him down?"
"Will you be able to take down your fellow Slytherins? You know they'll be there. I know you made your choice and they made theirs, but that doesn't make it any easier." Harry said. The entire group quieted down. None of them thought about that. "That is something we all need to consider."
"What we have to remember, is that they are the enemy. They are attacking us. We are defending our home." Hermione said. The rest of the dinner was a quiet affair as the group was lost in their thoughts. Though they didn't know it, they were each thinking the same thing. The known death eaters who enjoyed killing would be easy. The hard part would be the ones they had gone to school with; the ones they knew personally. Harry wasn't sure if they could handle it.
After dinner, Harry walked with Draco and Hermione to his new quarters. Harry's things had been moved into Hermione's old room, and Hermione's things had been moved into Draco's. They all sat down around the fire still lost in thought. Hermione was the first to speak. "Harry, Draco's right. I don't think I will be able to fight Ron. I loved him once. No matter how badly he treated me, I still loved him."
"I know 'Mione, He used to be my best mate. I think about him against us, and I think about him firing curses at me, and I don't want to send spells back to him. All I want to do is shout at him to get his head out of his arse. I know if I do that, then I'll die."
"The thing is, Harry, you have a saving-people complex." Harry and Hermione looked confused. "Think about it like this. If you die, most more than likely more people will die. Because of your complex, you can't die. You stay alive, people are encouraged and they will fight harder and harder. Plus, none of the adults want to say that a 17 year old boy outwitted the enemy and stayed alive, while they couldn't." Draco said. Harry stared at the blond in contemplation. Then he started to laugh. Once he started, he couldn't stop. Hermione soon joined him, and Draco did as well, after he gave up trying to find out what was funny. Their laughter was just that contagious. Harry was calming down a bit so Draco decided to ask. "What was so funny?" He asked Harry exchanged a look with Hermione and the two started laughing again. Draco gave up trying to figure it out again, and laughed along. "I needed that, thank you. It feels like I haven't laughed in ages." He said. He cast tempus and groaned at when he saw the time. "I need to get some sleep, and I recommend you two do the same. Good night." He said. Hermione and Draco bade him good night and went to their room.
Hermione changed into her nightgown and climbed in the bed. Draco didn't even bother putting on his pajama bottoms, like he usually did, but he kissed Hermione. Hermione deepened the kiss lying back against the pillow bringing Draco with her. His hands roamed across her stomach and rested on her breast. She moaned as she felt his masculine hand over her nightgown. He reached under her nightgown to feel her naked breast against his hand. Hermione moaned when he rubbed her nipple in between his fingers. Draco then kissed down her neck and brought her other breast into his mouth. Hermione entwined her fingers in his hair and held him to her. He flicked her nipple with his tongue before breaking off. He kissed down her stomach and reached her warmth between her legs. He nestled himself in, and kissed. He ran his tongue in a manner such that caused her to curse. Hermione held on for a moment longer, when she released her orgasm.
Draco brought his hardened member to her warmth and pushed in. Hermione moaned quietly as he pumped gently into her. They held each other tightly. Draco felt his release coming and quickened the pace slightly. Hermione kissed him right as he spilled his seed inside. Hermione and Draco fell into each other's arms and fell asleep.
The next morning, Hermione woke Draco earlier than usual. He looked at her with a hint of sadness in his eyes. "What's wrong?" She asked.
"I'm afraid that last night will be the last time." He said. Hermione pulled him close and enjoyed the feeling of him in her arms.
"If it is, at least we know we love each other. We made love last night, and if it is the last time, then we die knowing that we are in love." She said. Draco smiled and gave her a gently kiss. Hermione kissed him back and got out of the bed. "We need to get ready to train today." She said simply. Draco and Hermione went to take a shower together. They wanted to spend as much time as possible with each other.
"Hey guys." Harry said, dimly. He didn't have a girlfriend, but he could understand how his friends felt. "Ready for breakfast?" He asked. He decided to avoid the issue that was so obviously on their minds. They both nodded and headed down to the Great Hall.
After breakfast, the entire group went to the lawn again. Harry was satisfied with the group's ability to cast a shield charm and the disarming spell, so he felt they could move on. "We made real progress yesterday. If we were to get attacked today, I am very confident in our chances. But most of our intelligence says we have about a month before they launch the attack. We want to make sure you're as prepared as you possibly can be. Today we will be working on stunning and enervate. If an ally is stunned, whoever can get to them, needs to revive them. If they don't have their wand, then they can channel their magic to you, and make you all the more powerful. Divide into partners again, but this time, make it a different partner than yesterday. We need to get comfortable with working with everyone and not just one person. I want you to stun your partner and revive him. If you can get through his shield and get that done with in one minute, switch partners. When your partner can do it, you need to help other partner groups." Harry said. Due to the determination from the day before, it took a lot less time than yesterday's lesson. Harry was pretty sure the group learned a few things the day before to help them make a regular spell more powerful. Harry was pleased that this exercise only took an hour and everyone got it. "Good job everyone, I am very impressed. Now, I want you to divide into different pairs, yet again and work on casting non-lethal curses at your opponent. Again, use the shield charm to defend yourself. I eventually want everyone's shield to be so strong, not even Avada Kedavra could penetrate it. Your shield charm is your best friend. But you can't rely only on it. You have to be an expert in curses, jinxes, and hexes to have a chance to survive. Also, I think we all need to learn some first aid spells. If we can fix our minor injuries, then we have an easier chance of staying on top, but I don't know those, so someone else will have to teach those." Harry said. Again, the group got the spells easier than Harry would have expected. Soon, he was joining in the mock dueling. Everyone was getting extremely comfortable with working with each other. Kingsley and Neville seemed to be the most compatible. They were able to anticipate the other's move and took down their opposing team in less than thirty seconds. Harry was impressed. He called everyone to order again.
"I think that is the end of what I can teach you. I feel that everyone has a firm grasp in the basic spells. I turn the floor over to Professor McGonagall.
"Well done everyone. I believe Harry is right, but we will spend the rest of the day like we spent this morning. After our lunch, we will head back out here, and do more mock duels. I believe this will strengthen our alliances and our defense will be that much stronger." She said. Everyone headed inside for lunch.
True to her word, the rest of the day finished out like it started. By day's end, they could work easily with almost everyone else in the group. Hermione and Draco were both exhausted. They went to bed without a word to anyone and fell asleep without even taking the time to change their clothes. They were still incredibly stressed and working harder than anyone else in the group. They were also sure they would lose each other. Hermione wasn't sure she could handle it if something happened to Draco. Of course, she wasn't sure she could handle it if something happened to Harry either. She cared for them both too much. Hermione wasn't sure she was going to make it out alive. This thought saddened her and was the reason she stared out into the rainy darkness.
A/N: Thank you all for reading. Please, please, please review. I appreciate all reviews you would be willing to give me.
