AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and contacted me on Tumblr or PM, hearing that people enjoy this story is so encouraging and wonderful to hear. If you have any questions pop on over to Tumblr and I'll be more than happy to discuss TOEG.
El.
}{—}{—}{
November bought with it a dark chill that seemed to sweep over all of Britain, Hermione's letters from home consisted of grim news. Nicholas Haven, Petunia's sort of boyfriend had been shipped off to some sort of military boarding school for unruly teens, leaving Petunia devastated.
The Daily Prophet bought even darker news; Witches and Wizards were constantly disappearing without a trace.
Three particular names shook Hogwarts student body to its core.
Joey Anderson.
Sophia Morgen
Macie Gorborg
They'd all been seventh years a few months back and now they were missing and presumed dead.
A Ravenclaw
A Hufflepuff
A Gryffindor
And all Muggle Borns.
"She was Head Girl" Lily quietly whispered across the table. They were sat in the back of the library and although it was filled with students, the only sounds were of soft murmurs and the scratching of quill on parchment.
"I don't remember her" Hermione shook her head, a hard stone had settled in her stomach over the past few days and showed no signs of abating.
"She was nice" Lily sighed, her face ghostly pale.
Hermione was unsure of what to say, so simply stayed quiet, ideas shooting around quick as lightning in her head. Her watch was so close to completion, she'd devoted the past few weeks to it, practically living at the library.
She'd hit a run of luck and she was sure that she'd figured out how to breach the wards, how to anchor the Portkey however still remained an issue. She'd have to sort that first before she could begin testing her creation.
How was she suppose to create a connection that the Ministry or anyone else couldn't detect and trace?
She'd been working on a bastardised version of the Portkey spell adding a flight rune with an extra layer of untraceable charms but no matter what she did, the results weren't quite right.
"Hermione?"
She startled in place, brown eyes connecting with worried green.
"Sorry?" She shook her head, "I was miles away."
"I can see that" Lily worriedly frowned, her green eyes scanning Hermione's face "maybe you should go and lie down" she gently suggested.
"I'm fine" Hermione shrugged her off. She grabbed a piece of parchment off the table and pretended to read it.
"I don't understand why you study so much" Lily frowned "you spend more time in here than half of Hogwarts combined"
"It's OWLs year" Hermione smirked "that's what I'm suppose to be doing"
Lily's eyes turned soft "you could take the OWLs tomorrow and still come out with the best results this school has ever seen" she said. "Besides, you want to be in tip top shape for the duelling sessions"
Hermione frowned, memories clashing like waves upon rocks.
She remembered herself as a second year, stood besides Ron as Harry took on Draco in a duelling class.
She also remembered just this morning, when the common room was filled with chatter because of the announcement pinned to the notice board.
Until the end of term, all students were to participate in new duelling classes, a Ministry initiative meant to calm the fears of Hogwarts parents.
"It's only our first lesson tomorrow" she shrugged "I doubt we'll be doing anything too serious"
"It's Pennyweather" Lily grimaced "the man doesn't understand the word easy"
Professor Pennyweather was a far cry from their previous Defence Against the Dark Arts Professors, he was a brutal old man that had worked as an Auror when Grindelwald had been terrorising the world. A former Slytherin, the only bit of kindness he seemed to possess was only ever shown to his old House.
"True" Hermione sighed, "perhaps I should call it a night" she said, her eyes straying to the darkened windows.
With a tired huff, she rose from her seat and began to pack away her books, "are you coming?" she asked her sister.
Lily grimaced, darkly scanning the books in front of her "some of us actually need to study" she sighed
Hermione smirked, "I'll see you later then"
}{—}{—}{
When she entered the common room, there were only a handful of people lurking around, they were all broken off into small groups, scattered around the room. She spotted Diana and Arlo sat by the fire and made her way over to the two.
"Hey" Arlo smiled at the sight of her.
Hermione returned the grin and sat down in the empty seat besides Diana, "where's Marlene?" she curiously asked, it was rather rare to see one without the other.
"Upstairs" Diana said "she's picking out her outfit for the Quidditch game this weekend"
"It's four days away" Hermione said surprised, who needed four days to pick out some clothes?
Arlo rolled her eyes "she seems to think that clothes are the answers to her new problem" she smirked
"New problem?" Hermione questioned
"You" Diana tartly said, a dark look in her brown eyes.
"Me?" Hermione breathed out, eyes wide with surprise. "How in Merlin's beard am I a problem?" Hermione demanded
"Do you think that we're blind?" Diana scowled
"Diana" Arlo warned and the other witch fell silent. Arlo's hazel green eyes moved on to Hermione, softening at the sight of her. "It isn't your fault" she started "but" she hesitated
"But?" Hermione urged her on.
"But, we've all noticed how Sirius is always around you" she sighed "how he's always trying to sit next you at dinner and offering to carry your books to class, he's always chasing after you" she frowned.
"Chasing?" Hermione scowled "you means stalks!" she glared
"Yes" Arlo quickly agreed "stalks is a much better…ehh…more accurate word"
"What difference does it make" Diana demanded "you have Sirius' attention and Marlene doesn't, that makes you a problem"
Hermione frowned at the girl, taken aback by the situation. The last thing she ever wanted was the attention of that insufferable git. "Sirius Black is a complete berk, that I want nothing to do with" she made clear "Marlene is more than welcome to him" she snapped, rising up from her seat.
"Hermione" Arlo called after her but she ignored the girl and climbed up the stairs to her dorm.
When she entered the room, clothes were scattered all over the place with Marlene prancing about in front of the mirror.
The blond turned when the door opened and a frown formed on her face when she realised exactly who had entered.
Hermione thought of talking to her but she was in no mood to repeat herself and Marlene didn't look like she wanted a chat.
With a sigh, Hermione climbed into bed, firmly pulling the curtains around her.
}{—}{—}{
When she arose that morning, an awkward, suffocating undercurrent hung in the air.
Lines had clearly been drawn in their dorm room, with Diana in Marlene's corner and Lily and Arlo firmly with Hermione.
Hermione silently got dressed, her snappish movements annoying Augustus who opened one eye to glare at her.
She rolled her eyes at the frog, this really wasn't the time to get into an argument with her pet.
Without a word, she exited the dorm, taking her book bag with her so that she didn't have to return after breakfast.
She'd barely taken two steps when Lily came after her.
"The nerve of those two" Lily scowled, falling into step with Hermione.
"I don't care" Hermione shrugged. The tension was rather bothersome but she didn't give two figs about Marlene or Diana.
"Well I do" Lily snapped
"Oy! Evans!"
Both girls turned to see James Potter, with his uniform askew hurrying towards them.
Lily huffed, her hand already on her wand as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm not in the mood for this Potter" Lily warned.
James' grin fell a little but he still persevered.
He stood tall, running a hand through his messy hair to make it even messier.
Hermione couldn't help how her mind always thought of another in his presence, one with even messier hair.
"I just wanted to let you know, that I was having a rather dreary morning but one look at you and my heart just soared" he beamed
Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing but the same couldn't be said for the other Gryffindors in the common room.
Lily went a dark shade of red, the anger clear in her green eyes, her grip tightened on her wand and lucky for Potter, Hermione chose to intervene.
"Not now Potter" she told the boy as she grabbed a hold of Lily's free hand and dragged her through the portrait hole.
"Honestly!" Lily fumed as they made their way down to breakfast "he is such a prat!"
"I know" Hermione instantly agreed.
"And a tosser!"
"Yep"
"Insufferable little git!"
"Couldn't agree more" Hermione smirked, trying to hold in a chuckle.
Lily turned on her, green eyes ablaze "are you laughing at me?" she demanded
"A little bit" Hermione admitted
Lily rolled her eyes and continued walking down to the Great Hall.
"Why am I the unlucky twin?" she demanded
"Unlucky" Hermione snorted as they entered the Great Hall.
"Yes" Lily adamantly said, taking a seat halfway down the table, Hermione grabbed the empty seat across from her. "I get James sodding Potter with his cheesy lines and his stupid need for attention, whilst you get quiet, discreet Sirius Black"
Hermione chocked on her orange juice, spraying it all over her uniform and empty plate.
Lily smirked at her and waved her wand, the orange juice disappearing.
"You're joking!" Hermione demanded
"Yes" Lily giggled, "of course I'm joking, we're both awfully unlucky"
"And why would that be?" said a familiar voice.
Benjy grabbed the seat besides Hermione, throwing an arm around her shoulder and pulling her in to his side.
Hermione grinned up at him "because the Marauders have chosen to make us their next victims" she explained.
"Potter and Black" Benjy grinned, taking a bite out of a shiny green apple.
"Unfortunately" Lily huffed "you'd think after two years of hearing no, Potter would move on"
"The boy's clearly a little mad" Benjy smirked "especially if he wants to date you" his blue eyes gleamed.
Lily scowled at the boy, glaring at him "shouldn't you be at your own table" she demanded
Benjy snorted and began filling up his plate "after all the time I've spent at this table, I'm practically an honorary Gryffindor"
Lily rolled her eyes at him and opened her mouth to retort but before she could say anything, Arlo entered the hall, making her way down the Gryffindor table in search of them.
"Arlo!" Lily called out, waving her hand.
Arlo spotted them and made her over, her footsteps growing slower by the second as she realised exactly who was sat with Hermione and Lily.
By the time she made it to where they were seated, her honey coloured skin had turned an odd shade and her eyes were glued to the table as she took the empty seat besides Lily.
"Are you alright?" Lily asked
"Yep" Arlo squeaked, quickly filling up her plate.
Benjy sent Hermione a confused look but she ignored it, the last thing Arlo wanted was Benjy knowing that she was madly crushing on him.
"What time is your duelling class?" Hermione asked him, hoping to take the attention away from Arlo.
"This morning" Benjy answered with a frown, "I like Defence but Pennyweather's a complete bastard and he's running the sessions" he shook his head
"Defence is your best subject" Hermione smiled "Even if Pennyweather lets things go further than they should, you can handle yourself"
"I'm petty damn good with a wand" Benjy bragged "but it's the others that I'm worried about, especially with how everyone's gunning for the Slytherins"
Hermione frowned, her eyes straying to the Slytherin table, the past few weeks had left an odd divide in the school, Slytherin and Gryffindor had always been at odds but they'd been rather close with the Ravenclaws and cordial with the Hufflepuffs, with all the disappearances, their stood only one House that had been left unaffected - Slytherin.
That hadn't gone unnoticed and neither had the dark murmurings and gloats coming from the Slytherin students.
"Half of the Hufflepuff 6th years don't even take Defence as a Newt" Benjy shook his head.
"Surely they'll just concede?" Lily asked
Benjy snorted "Hufflepuffs are a proud House" he said "we'd rather be beaten fairly in a duel than concede defeat without even trying"
"I doubt Slytherins play fair" Arlo spoke up and three pair of eyes landed on her. She quickly ducked her head, finding her plate of eggs and toast far more interesting than they looked.
"So she can speak" Benjy grinned and Arlo's face grew hot at his remark.
"Stop teasing her" Hermione shook her head.
"I'm teasing more than just her" Benjy smirked
Hermione frowned up at him, confused.
Benjy nodded towards the other end of the Gryffindor table, Hermione followed his gaze to see a scowling Sirius Black and an annoyed James Potter staring back at them.
Hermione turned away as Benjy waved at them, his other arm still around Hermione's shoulder.
"Don't antagonise them" she pleaded, "I actually have to get through classes with him" she frowned.
"You're always spoiling my fun" Benjy smirked
"Then I suggest you find some fun that isn't at my expense" she grinned.
}{—}{—}{
Hermione had Charms and Potions that morning before reluctantly trudging down to the edge of the forest for Herbology.
She couldn't hide her misery as Lily all but dragged her through the Entrance Hall and down to the grounds.
"Professor Sprout isn't going to notice my absence" she pleaded
"You're not skipping Herbology" Lily firmly refused.
"It's pointless" Hermione huffed, she was so close to making a breakthrough on the watch, the last thing she needed was a dose of double Herbology classes to waste her time with.
"I don't care" Lily shrugged as they made it to the small crowd of Gryffindors and Slytherins by the edge of the forest.
The group of students were heatedly and rather loudly talking over each other, everyone desperate to tell some tale.
"What's going on?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"I haven't seen them this excited since Nancy Pivens was caught in the boy's toilets last year" Lily smirked
Hermione snorted at the memory, that had been quite the scandal.
Arlo popped up behind them with Marlene and Diana in tow, the two made a rather big show of walking away from the Evans twins.
"Have you heard!" Arlo demanded all but shaking with excitement.
"No" they simultaneously answered
"It's the duelling classes" Arlo grinned "they're brutal!" she said with a gleam in her eyes.
Hermione frowned at the girl "and you're excited about this because?" she asked
Arlo shook her head at her "the seventh and sixth years had their sessions this morning and they said that Pennyweather's making everyone duel, House against House" she hurriedly said "it's time to get some bloody justice against those snakes"
Hermione's frown deepened "no offence Arlo but you're not exactly the greatest with a wand"
Arlo grinned at her, "I'm not" she agreed "but out of the nine Gryffindors in our year, when it comes to Defence, five of you are brilliant at it, there's no way Gryffindor House is losing"
Hermione and Lily shared a look, neither at ease with the remarks but before anything could be said, someone roughy pushed past the trio, smacking in to Hermione's shoulder.
"Whoops" laughed Tony Rosier, his beady brown eyes filled with glee "didn't see you there Evans" he spat her name out like it was filth in his mouth.
Hermione's hand instinctively went to her wand, her fingers tightening on the wood in her pocket "perhaps next time you should watch where you're going" she advised "or you might find yourself in the hospital wing" she warned.
"Ohhh" Rosier laughed, his small group of Slytherin cohorts chuckling along, "I'm so scared of the little Muggle Born" he sneered
Arlo took a step forward, her sneer matching Rosier's "you should be" she scowled "Hermione has more magic in her Muggle Born little finger than you have in your entire Pureblood body"
The smirk slipped off of Rosier's face and he threateningly moved forward, Hermione stepped in front of Arlo but their wasn't much need, as every Gryffindor did the same thing, shoving each other back to protect one another.
That was how Sprout found them, Gryffindors on one side, Slytherins on the other.
"Class has begun" she called out, walking right through the tiny space between Rosier and Potter who stood at the head of both groups. "I expect you all to behave" she demanded, her tone leaving no room for any arguments.
Herbology was a strained affair, with both Houses staying as far away from each other as they could, Hermione didn't care but Lily did, her green eyes continuously landing on the dark Slytherin that kept to the back of his House.
Severus stood next to Avery the entire time, averting Lily's gaze.
"Pillock" Arlo snapped in his direction, Severus was too far to hear but Mulciber wasn't.
He shot them a glare and said "fucking Mudbloods" under his breath.
Arlo and Lily startled in place at the term but it held no meaning to Hermione, once upon a life, she'd had the words etched on her skin.
"And damn proud of it too" she quipped back at the boy.
Mulciber's glare darkened and he stalked off towards his friends.
Arlo's hands were shaking and Lily had turned a furious red, "I can't believe he said that" Arlo managed to say.
"You're a Half Blood" Hermione shrugged, the word wasn't meant to offend the likes of Arlo.
"So" Arlo demanded, rounding on Hermione "it's an awful, spiteful word" she fumed "we should report him for it"
"What's the point" Lily demanded, her gaze on Mulciber's group of friends or more accurately, the one boy lurking at the back - Severus. "That's what they all think we are" she frowned
"Lily" Arlo began, pity in her eyes but her voice died down, unsure of what to say.
"Forget it" Lily shrugged, her eyes unwavering from Severus.
Double Herbology went as slow as it possibly could, by the end, tensions between the Slytherin and Gryffindor 5th years was at an all time high.
They had a short break and the trio chose to sit out by the lake, a warming charm keeping the cold away.
Their afternoon lesson of History of Magic was disrupted for their new duelling sessions, whatever bravado had overtaken Arlo that morning had quickly vanished as they made their way inside the Great Hall.
The usual House tables had been removed in favour of one long duelling platform across the hall. The fifth years huddled around it, although there were clear house divides.
Professor Pennyweather stood atop the platform, he was an old man, even by wizarding standards. What little wisps of hair he had left were grey in colour, and although he was rather short he made up for his height by his mere presence, one look from him even put Hermione on edge.
"Welcome to your first ever duelling class" he said, he didn't raise his voice but his words carried across the Great Hall. "These classes will only run for a month, to some of you they'll be of great use to others" he sneered "I suggest you learn to duck"
Laughter resonated from the Slytherins and a few Ravenclaws but the rest of the Hall remained silent.
"For our first lesson, I would like to see exactly where you all stand when it comes to duelling" Pennyweather said, he flicked his wand and numbers appeared above the great doors, the numbers ranged from 1 to 42. "By the end of the session you will all be ranked based on your skill" Pennyweather said "the ranks will be changed at the end of every session to reflect the results"
Hermione's eyes scanned the room as a ripple of excitement and anxiety shot through it. Arlo looked slightly green and Peter looked ready to hurl.
She wasn't nervous, she'd survived a war in the worst conditions imaginable, it would take more than a little duelling class with some fifth years to make her nervous.
"You'll duel in pairs of two" Pennyweather explained "Dumont, Aubrey, get up here"
Levi Dumont and Bertram Aubrey, both Ravenclaws made their way up the platform. Hermione didn't know much about them except that Bertram excelled at his studies, always ranking second or third in their year and that Levi was Ravenclaws Quidditch Keeper.
A cheer came from the Ravenclaw section as the two stood upon the platform.
"Rosier, Snape" Pennyweather barked and the gathered Slytherins applauded as the two made their up the platform.
The two groups stood across from each other with Pennyweather in the middle "All spells, jinxes and charms that don't send you off to Azkaban are permitted" he announced "If you are disarmed that will count as a defeat, if you fall off the platform that will also be counted as a defeat, you may concede a match but it will be your loss" he said darkly.
The four boys glared at each other from across the platform, their Houses loudly cheering them on.
"To the centre" Pennyweather demanded "back to back, hurry up now"
The four slowly got into position.
Pennyweather removed himself from the platform "on the count of three" he called out.
Rosier smirked and Hermione remembered seeing the same exact look on another boy.
A boy that hadn't waited until the count of three to attack.
"Scared Potter?" Draco had demanded
"You wish" Harry had fired back.
"1" Pennyweather called out
"2" he barked
"Filpendo" Rosier roared, his jinx hitting Bertram in the back, the boy had no chance as he collapsed to the ground.
A displeased cry erupted from the Ravenclaws but a dark look from Pennyweather shut them up.
"Expelliarmus" Severus shot and Bertram's wand soared through the air and into his hands.
"Bombarda" Rosier threw at Levi but he was ready, his shield going up just in time.
"Baubillious" Levi shot back but he was once again on the defensive as Rosier sent a nasty looking hex his way.
Snape dodged Levi's spell and with Bertram down, it didn't take long for the two Slytherins to gang up on Levi.
Their was no way he would win but Levi put up a hell of a fight before, an Expulso charm had him soaring through the air, landing with a rather hard thud on the ground.
Deafening noise came at once from every angle of the Hall.
Laughter from the Slytherins.
Angry jeers from the Ravenclaws.
Displeasure from the Hufflepuffs.
And cries of "Cheats" led by James Potter and Sirius Black from the Gryffindors.
Pennyweather climbed back up the platform and all noise ceased at once.
"The winners" he said, glaring at the gathered students "are Rosier and Snape"
The Slytherins broke out into applause, ignoring the glares being sent their way.
"Although next time, I would suggest waiting until I am finished counting" Pennyweather growled
Rosier smirked as he climbed down and triumphantly made his way over to his House.
Pennyweather waved his wand and the rankings shifted, names appeared besides spots 1 to 4.
1 - Tony Rosier
2 - Severus Snape
3 - Levi Dumont
4- Bertram Aubrey
"Next contest" Pennyweather said, his eyes scanning through the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors.
"Macdonald and Mason" Pennyweather called out.
Hufflepuff's Mary Macdonald and Cole Mason climbed up the platform.
Pennyweather's eyes scanned the Gryffindors, "Black" he barked "and" his eyes landed on Hermione "Evans" he announced.
Sirius cheered and high-fived as many students as he could as he made his way up the platform, Hermione quietly followed.
They stood side by side as Pennyweather went over the rules again.
"Don't end it too quickly" Sirius quietly warned her
"Why not?" she frowned up at him.
Sirius inclined his head towards the rankings "I can't get the top spot off those snakes if we end this too quickly"
Hermione rolled her eyes but agreed nonetheless.
"To the centre" Pennyweather barked.
The four made their way over to the centre, standing back to back.
Hermione felt Sirius tense beside her and knew exactly what he was thinking.
Would the Hufflepuffs behave as the Slytherins had and attack them with their backs turned?
Hermione wandlessly put up a small shield between them and the Hufflepuffs, they'd most likely behave honourably but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"1" Pennyweather called.
"2" he said and Hermione's grip on her wand tightened.
"3" Pennyweather barked.
"Protego" Hermione said, whipping her wand in a circular formation quicker than most people could see, two spells were instantly deflected off it and then simultaneously Hermione and Sirius fired back.
"Furnunculus" Sirius cried out
"Locomotor Wibbly" Hermione shot back.
Both Hufflepuffs put up shields and whilst Sirus' spell deflected harmlessly off of Macdonald's, the strength behind Hermione's saw it slip through Cole's shield with ease and smack him square in the chest.
He instantly collapsed onto the platform.
Murmurs broke out across the Hall, Hermione didn't take her eyes off of her competitors but she could feel numerous gazes on her.
Mary hesitated for a moment and the Gryffindors allowed her a chance to breath. After a moments pause, she positioned herself in front of Cole, who slowly climbed back to his feet.
Sirius wasted no time, shooting a stinging hex and a jelly-legs curse, Hermione stayed back acting as his shield, Cole soon became frustrated with every spell failing to hit its target and tried to get her attention, shooting a Reducto at her so that her shield around Sirius would collapse in favour of protecting herself but it hardly took any effort to put up two shields at once.
Cole kept at it but no matter what he threw at her, her shields remained. Hermione quickly grew bored, Sirius was having far to much fun with Mary Macdonald, he'd shot more than a dozen spells at her, surely that was enough to knock off Rosier and Snape?
With a roll of her eyes, Hermione lowered her shield.
"Incarcerous" She cried out, with two lightning quick flicks of her wand, Cole and Mary were wriggling on the floor, bound and gagged.
Unlike with Levi's defeat, their was no sudden eruption of noise.
It was just silent.
It was an exact replica of the stunned silence Harry had received after using his Parseltongue ability or when his name had been called during the Trwizard tournament or when Voldemort had displayed his dead body to the battle weary fighters of Hogwarts.
Hermione's eyes scanned the room, a mixture of emotions looked back at her.
Anger from the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs.
Fear from most of the student body.
Pride from Lily, Arlo and Peter.
She'd never downplayed her abilities, never hid her talents or shied away from conflict but then she supposed that no one really knew the true scope of her abilities.
"The winners!" Pennyweatehr suddenly announced, taking his position atop the platform "are Black and Evans!"
Sparse applause broke out from the gathered crowd but Gryffindor House more than made up for it with their exuberant cheers.
"Well done!" Lily hugged her when she'd made her way over.
"I knew you could do it!" Arlo cheered
"That was brilliant Padfoot" James grinned, patting his friend on the back.
"Look!" Peter cried
As one every head turned to where Peter was pointing - up at the rankings.
They were different now, it wasn't Rosier that held the top spot anymore.
It was Hermione.
1 - Hermione Evans
2 - Sirius Black
3 - Tony Rosier
4 - Severus Snape
5 - Levi Dumont
6 - Mary Macdonald
7- Cole Mason
8- Bertram Aubrey
Hermione felt heated eyes on her and turned to see Tony Rosier glaring at her from across the Hall.
She grinned and turned back to her friends.
}{—}{—}{
AN: I've been receiving a lot of constructive criticism which I really appreciate, it helps me get better as a writer. The biggest issue I seem to have is grammar and spelling, I want to make this story as perfect as I can get it,so I'm now looking for a Beta, with Thursday deadlines, this will be a weekly commitment for the foreseeable future, I post chapters as I write them, so honestly, the Beta will most likely only receive the chapter on a Tuesday/Wednesday, so only a maximum of 48 hours, If your up for it, let me know.
What's Your House: A reviewer mentioned that they were a Ravenclaw, which got me curious, what House are you guys in? I'm a proud Hufflepuff.
El.
