I do not own Harry Potter, nor it's characters. Everything belongs to Mrs Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have no intention of gaining any material benefit from this fictional work , never had, never will.
+The foulest creatures! KEEP FIGHTING!+
"We are really lucky Hermione is Dobby's friend." Said Blaise carrying a basket.
"Yeah, my Princess is fair to all creatures. " He was carrying one too, a smug expression coloring his face.
"Oh, we're almost at the Common Room. I can't wait to see Ronnie excitedly eating these sweets."
"Yeah, I also..." A faint explosion disrupted him. An enormous cloud of black fog engulfed them
"Watch out, Blaise! We're... being attacked."
Then...
Nothing.
Meanwhile...
"Hermione I can't thank you enough. Imagine I was praised for an essay! An essay!"
They were walking together from the grounds. They had Care for Magical Creatures Class, and Hagrid asked them to stay behind and help him clean the Ghoul manure. Malfoy and Blaise disappeared after that. Hermione was somehow inexplicably upset at Malfoy, who seemed to skip the dirty work.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She heard this for the umpteenth time today.
"Ron, don't act silly. It's not that of a big deal."
"Maybe for you, but bloody hell – he said, a skip in his step – it's a miracle for me. Don't be a killjoy!" He pleaded.
"Fine, fine! Besides you don't have to thank me. The essential part was your work."
"Thanks, 'Mione! Oh-oh bitch at twelve o'clock." He said looking forward.
She looked at the same direction. Astoria was marching towards her.
Reaching her, she pushed her shoulder with a perfectly manicured index finger.
"Where is he?" she said revolted.
"What are you talking about?" she asked confused and angry at being questioned.
"Where is my Draco?" she said sniffing delicately.
"YOUR Draco? Where is he... I don't know probably somewhere... doing something?" she said mockingly.
"Stop fooling around, Mudblood. I went to your Common Room. By the way your hallway is really dirty. Dirty as your blood. Anyway, they said to me that Drakie is gone missing." she ranted.
"You did something to him again." she continued accusingly.
"That or he didn't want to see your ugly frog face, now if you'll excuse me." she pushed past her walking away.
I have a bad feeling. Why the heck did the guys tell her he is missing of all things.
"Uggh! Your face is ugly!" she shouted pathetically.
Great comeback... this girl has the intelligence of a groundhog.
"Hermione." - Ron spoke cautiously – "Do you... think something happened?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron. What on earth could have happened?" she said driving her eyebrows together in thought and concern.
Meanwhile...
I cannot move. I can barely breath. My head... the black fog... it's as though it entered my mind. Blaise... is he here. Is he okay? Can I talk?
"B-b-blase?" Malfoy stuttered hoarsely.
A sound silence followed. Then...
"Malfoy?" - Blaise said panicking – "Are you well?"
"Yes... Yes... I'm good. Besides this fog. I can't seem to move. You?"
"Fine." Silence followed. "Where are we?"
"I don't know, Blaise – hissed an irritated Malfoy – I can't see a damned thing!"
"My my my... - droned a voice in the dark – aren't our little hero Slytherin Princes a bunch of coward bastards..." The voice was full of venom.
"Who are you?" Malfoy said madly. He was trying frantically to find his wand, when he realized he can't move properly.
They probably took it anyway.
"Whoever you are, you don't know what you've gotten yourself into." Malfoy said threateningly.
"They will come after us." said Blaise confidently. "And they won't be forgiving. So you better release us now. Before things get bloody."
"Coming for you?" mocked the voice. "Why that is what I am precisely hoping for."
At the same time, in the Common Room.
"Do you think, this is a prank?" said Ginny worriedly.
"I hoped it is. But I don't know." Harry spoke sighing sadly.
The portrait hole opened.
"Luna?" Both spoke out hopefully.
"Do I look blonde and outterspace to you?" said Hermione entering.
"Hermione! We're so glad you're here!" said Ginny walking towards her.
"Oy! Did something happen? What's up with that black stuff outside?" said Ron confused.
Harry joined Ginny taking her hand.
"I'm afraid we have terrible news." Harry said tensely.
"Horrid even. You better sit down. The both of you." Ginny spoke compassionately.
"I'd rather stand. Now don't talk to us like we're halfwits. Speak up."
"Malfoy and Blaise are... missing."
Hermione's knees buckled slightly.
"Haha... What? Stop joking. This is moronic, guys!" She started to laugh peculiarly, shaking her head.
They were watching her with a concerned look.
"Shut it 'Mione!" They all looked at a pale Ron, who continued undisturbed. "What happened?"
"We came back to our Common Rooms, when we saw what seemed like the remnants of an explosion." Ginny told them.
Harry continued.
"All we found were two destroyed sweets baskets and this." Harry handed Hermione a slightly burned piece of paper.
She read her eyes widening.
"We couldn't figure out what it means." he said.
Ron took the paper from Hermione.
Hermione seemed to gather herself. "Where is Luna and Neville?"
"They went searching the castle. We stayed behind, should they... return. At first we thought it was a prank. Who knows. Maybe it is. Maybe they're fine."
"Quit Moon for mere rent? What in Merlin's balls is that supposed to mean?" asked Ron angrily.
The portrait door opened once again. All were holding their breath.
"They are not in the castle." spoke a distressed Luna entering. "We even asked Dobby to search for them. And is a house elf can't find them...well, it's..."
"All for nothing..." spoke up a confused Neville. "Have you guys figured out what the message means?"
Harry and Ginny shook their heads.
"It's an anagram." whispered Hermione staring into space. She turned to the others. "Have you messaged Dumbledore?"
"I sent him my Patronus. He didn't answer, yet. What's an anagram, 'Mione?" inquired Harry.
"Letters in words mixed up result other words. You know like..."
Harry instantly remembered the name and the dreadful face.
"Do you... think this is from his Followers?" asked Ginny truly panicking. "Do you think there were Death Eaters left uncaptured?"
"No. Whoever did this has mediocre thinking. In other words they're idiots." She said snorting.
"But we shouldn't underestimate them. They captured Malfoy and Zabini after all."
Ron sat down putting his face in his hands. "What should we do?"
"What does the anagram stand for, Hermione?" asked Neville.
"What should we do? - she said taking out her wand – we'll go get them back."
"Where?" Ron asked also taking out his wand. They all did the same determined looks in their eyes.
"The anagram stands for the... Room of Requirement." She said heading to exit the Common Room.
As they all walked down the corridor from the dirty patch of explosion, they had one thought in mind. They had enough of fighting, blood and curses flying. But this was about their friends. They had lost too much, seen too much in the war to stay back and wait for Dumbledore's help. They were not willing to loose another loved one. Not willing to see them hurt. They'd be damned if they let it happen again.
Never again.
Had they looked back they would've seen that the Spirit's Scepter started to rotate faster. His usual blue glow was changing, first into purple then into a flaming red.
"Draco, do you feel it?" Blaise asked whispering.
"Yes, Blaise. It's a creepy place. It shimmers of dark magic. And I can't sense any other kind of magic. If I'd didn't know any better I'd say we are behind the veil." he sniffed the air around him.
"It smells rotten."
"I hope they'll be here soon, coz this feels like hell. It's frustrating that we can't even move." said Blaise struggling to move his limbs, but to no avail.
They reached the entrance of the Room of Requirement.
"Here we are." said Ginny.
"But how will we enter?" asked Luna. "We are not the ones requiring the room."
As if on cue a dark-wood door appeared.
"Looks like this answers your question." responded Hermione gripping her wand tighter.
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you." said a voice behind them. They turned to see Barnabas the Barmy stopping his ballet lesson for the trolls on the tapestry above.
"And why is that, Barnabas?" asked Hermione suspiciously.
"Because I have never felt the room being this mad. Someone's messed with the castle. Someone tampered the Room's magic. The room is granting a request, that is forbidden."
"What request?" Harry asked coldly.
Barnabas twirled, and did a gracious pirouette.
"I don't know exactly what the clocked figures wanted. But it seemed to be a wish, that made the room use dark magic."
They all had a grave expression on their faces.
"This is more serious, than I have thought." said Hermione.
"Hermione, - said Harry with a blank expression looking emptily towards the door – you know this is a trap."
"I know, Harry. But we have to save them."
"Enough talk. Let's head inside." said a very determined Ron.
They entered the dark room. Barnabas sighed and resumed teaching the proper way to curtsey to the trolls.
"Lumos maxima!" said Neville. Nothing happened. He grunted, almost whining. Why did this always happen to him?
Hermione tried it too. "Lumos Maxima!" she cried confidently.
Still no effect. She flicked her wand, first self-assured, then her movements turn in a terrified frenzy.
"Oh, no!" she said panicking. "We cannot use magic. The room is restricting our powers."
A faint green light illuminated a path before them. They could only see a few feet away. Bones seemed to decorate the road. Human bones and skulls.
"Let's go. Everyone be careful we may have to use body-on-body combat." said Harry looking around and searching for the unseen enemy.
They walked down on the path for a few minutes in silence. They were aware of every little detail surrounding them. The deadly silence was interrupted by a deep and frustrated grunting.
"Who's there?" said a faint voice. "Have you changed your mind and release us? There's got to be a bit of common sense in you morons!"
"Malfoy? Is that you? Hermione said running forward to the source of the voice.
"Watch out, Hermione! This may be a trick." Harry cried out.
However, Hermione paid no attention to him. Only one thing was on her mind. Reaching Malfoy.
The others followed her close behind lead by Ron.
"Hermione." Malfoy said relieved. "I knew my Warrior Maid would come and save us."
"Shut it, Malfoy!" said Hermione softly. She reached them and saw them sitting on a chair. "Now get up, Malfoy, don't just sit there idly and lets leave this damned Room of Requirement." She said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Do you think if we could move we'd stay in a dark room chatting with Blaise?" he said irritated.
"What do you – she tried to take her hand from Malfoy's shoulders but found herself unable to do so – I-I ca-cannot move. Damn, this was a trap. How could I have been so blinded." She turned to warn the others. "Don't touch them, they've got a petrifying jinx on them!"
"What will we do?" questioned a terrified Ginny. "They can't move, and we can't use magic to move them."
"What do you mean, Weaslette?" asked Malfoy with growing terror.
However, she couldn't answer a cold light blinded them. When they could see again somewhat, they were surrounded by a group of cloaked individuals.
"What she means is you have no way to escape. We manipulated the Room in such way that you will not be able to counterattack, nor defend yourselves. You are trapped saint heroes of the Dark War." the dark voice mocked, finishing his speech with a fake laugh.
The one's who weren't petrified raised their wands instinctively.
"Don't even bother. Your magic won't work here. That's what we requested from the Room." said a girl's shrill voice next to the one who was talking until now.
"You... you monsters. You have abused the Castle. I won't forgive you for this." said Hermione with choleric black anger.
"Don't act like you own the Castle." the one who seemed to be their leader screamed in rage. He continued eerily. "Now let the show begin!"
The room darkened again. The peculiar faint green light returning. Shadows were moving in the background. Hermione could still sense the cloaked figures watching them.
The shadows were coming nearer. Silence was broken by creeping steps. The shadows were finally no longer shadows. They stepped into the light and revealed themselves to be the foulest creatures known to mankind.
Inferi. One of the darkest and most disgusting beings in the world. But they weren't just any Inferi. They were the victims of the War. On both parts. Their lost loved ones mixed with the one's they killed with their own hands.
Hermione screamed a silent scream. Everybody stood numb, gazes filled with terror and guilt. Luna begin sobbing, and so did Ginny. Neville was shaking so violently he seemed to get dizzy from it.
Harry was the first to recover somewhat.
"Everyone prepare for combat. Surround Malfoy, Zabini and 'Mione! Protect them."
Ron was the first to do so. He rushed to Blaise's side looking at him for a moment. Blaise narrowed his eyes and nodded understandingly. Ron did the same.
Hermione started to mumble incoherently.
"Hermione. Please. We need you. I beg you. Don't do this to yourself."
Hermione's eyes were blank, she seemed to somehow stay hypnotized in the middle of this chaos.
"Please, Hermione. We need to think." No response came.
Meanwhile, the others have started to fight with the foul creatures.
"Granger!" shouted Malfoy angrily. "This is no time for self-pity."
She seemed to come back from her daze. Reality was crashing on her senses in a cruel manner. "You're right we are in grave danger." she whispered hoarsely.
"Now let's think how we can release ourselves." he said.
"I don't know. Our bloody wands won't work!"
"Wands not, but... what if, we wouldn't need them."
"You're a bloody genius Malfoy!" said Hermione grinning.
"Malfoy, Blaise – she continued – you both know a bit of wandless magic. Concentrate on the Ennervate spell and on three release magical energy."
"One." They closed their eyes. "Two." They opened their mouths. "THREE!"
"Ennervate!" they chanted in unison.
Hermione tried moving her fingers. The were perfectly fine along with every other part of her body.
"YES! We did it!"
Malfoy and Blaise stood up in an instant.
"Everyone! Use wandless magic. It works!" Malfoy shouted.
Relieved cries were heard. They used every bit of their magical prowess, and concentrated on the only spells that were effective to counterattack the Inferi. Fire spells.
"Incendio!"
"Lacarnum Inflamare!"
Fire engulfed the Inferi. Harry was about to cry in victory when the fire ceased, but the Inferi seemed to be unaffected. They started their attack again.
Hermione stood shocked barely noticing an Inferi almost jumping on her. Luckily, Malfoy blasted the damned thing.
"Focus, Granger! Why isn't our magic working on them?"
The room seemed to spin with Hermione.
Why indeed? That guy said we would be defenseless, but I don't think he counted on us using wandless magic. It seems to work. The Ennervate spell was efficient. The Inferi are the only ones unaffected.
She looked at the Inferi. It was truly cruel what she saw. For a moment she seemed to have locked eyes with the soulless body of a Death Eater she killed. Malfoy battled a young Order member, who fought well and enthusiastically while he leaved. And died as a hero.
Even Malfoy seemed to have a hard time firing spells on him.
Her eyes widened in realization. This was truly a show. Why she didn't think of this before? One obvious question was filling her mind.
What would Inferi do in Hogwarts?
It makes sense. They are here to torture us. They couldn't bring the real thing, but something that is like them so we would be numbed down by fear and guilt. Guilt... yes. They must have sensed our biggest weakness.
"Guys!" she shouted enthusiastically. "They aren't real. This is all a show."
"Bloody hell, Hermione – cried Ron after being punched by one – I tell you they are real as it can be."
She looked at the Inferi. Hundreds of them. It was truly a miracle they resisted until now.
They are real, but not genuine.
Of course. Of course. It doesn't matter that I had it all figured out. We will eventually be overpowered by these fakes.
"Hey you!" she shouted in the dark where she presumed their enemies were. "I demand you to stop with this charade. We have figured your plan out and it's not working."
"Oh, but I think it is working very well." he said smugly.
"Why are you doing this to us? We haven't done a freaking thing to you! We may have even saved a few of your pathetic lives in the War!" she cried confused and upset, tears were clouding her vision.
She looked to her side. Ginny was down. Luna and Neville tried to protect her, while Harry was in a rage.
"You did no such thing! You don't deserve what you have. All you heroes are only pathetic. Look at you. You aren't even willing to fight these things. Why is that? Because you know deep inside you are guilty."
This struck a cord somewhere deep in Hermione's soul. This person has voiced her innermost fears. The things that caused her sleepless nights. The guilt. The guilt that made her unable to live a normal life. To forgive herself and be happy. All of them were not only outnumbered and out powered, but also their morals and confidence had sunk so low, that it was a matter of minutes, until they would give up and be murdered.
The cloaked group began chanting in a mocking sing song voice:
Murderers. Not heroes.
Hermione's knees crashed with the floor. Guilt.
"Ironic wouldn't it be?" Malfoy shouted. "If they did what the Dark Lord himself couldn't do..."
This were a bunch of idiots. I suspect they wouldn't stand a chance all combined before one of our own. But I have to hand it to them. I can't fight. They were right.
The Inferius, Hermione had previously recognized as one of the Death Eaters, was dangerously close to Hermione. She was of course oblivious. The Inferius launched himself on Hermione. His cold rotten hands snaked around her throat nearly crashing it. She cried out in pain, almost fainting.
Fortunately, Malfoy saw her predicament and launched a powerful wandless spell hitting the Inferius square in the back. He ran to Hermione gathering her up from the heap she lay in on the floor.
Their gazes locked and in the next instant they were sharing the shortest and most unromantic kiss they could have ever imagined.
"KEEP FIGHTING!" he shouted at her. And it suddenly dawned on Hermione. Her unwillingness to fight when her comrades were giving their lives for each other. For her. What kind of coward, stupid and selfish person would do that?
The Goddess gave me power to fight, and so I shall protect myself and the one's I love.
She risked a glance at Malfoy, and it suddenly struck her. Her mind was rearranging her thoughts in a moment. Her heart gave her strength for what she meant to do.
She took Malfoy's hand and started incanting an incoherent mumble. The only words Malfoy was able to make out were: 'Goddess help us'
Then...
Time stopped. Motions were freezed, fighting ceased., breathing stoppered. Even the heartbeats seemed to halt. The ground opened up between them. A dazzling blue light enveloped them.
The effect didn't last long. But the moment seemed to be something beyond magic. All was the same as it was before. Besides the thing between them. That stick. A simple stick which they were both gripping now fiercely. Malfoy looked at her, his eyes held thousands of questions.
The Spirit's Scepter.
"Never. Again!" she said softly. She turned to the fighting scene. Both of their hands were still holding the Scepter. She looked at her friends. She could see a blue shimmer surrounding each. She could see the Inferi for what they were. Mere fossils of dark magic.
The air around her seemed to explode and implode at the same time. Like nothing they had ever seen before.
Had they ever seen a nuclear explosion, they would have said that was happening at the moment.
The Inferi vanished in a split-second.
Hermione was breathing so hard her lungs were hurting.
The cloaked figures were laying unconsciously on the ground. They faces revealed. A part of them she didn't even recall of seeing. Some of them she recognized as their ardent fans. The fans that praised and adored them. The fans that claimed eternal devotion.
Ron was panting heavily his mouth hanging open. Blaise was holding an injured arm. Harry rushed to Ginny, who had regained consciousness and was weeping silently. Though if it were tears of joy or sorrow was hard to tell. Likely both. Luna stood hypnotized her head inclined, looking towards the Scepter. Neville stood dumbfounded alternatively looking between the Scepter and their attackers.
A few minutes seemed to have passed, everybody being in a hypnotic state. The door crashed open. Dumbledore and most of the staff entered panicked.
He seemed to look confused for a minute until his laid his eyes upon Hermione and Draco still clutching to the Scepter.
After some thought he spoke up.
"I suspect what happened here may as well be one of the greatest tales in our history. You, children seem to have a talent for making history." He said lightly but his gaze turned cold and hard upon seeing the previously cloaked students.
"Madam Pomfrey! Escort our the children to the Hospital Wing. I will take care of the rest. Although it seems, that they were taken care of alright."
"Professor – Hermione said with a question in her voice, she walked holding the Scepter towards the Headmaster – I don't think this belongs to us."
"Oh, but I think, Miss Granger, that is rightfully yours. Nevertheless, if you may allow me to borrow it for researching purpose, I would be more than thankful." he said his whole face sparkling with joy and unabashed admiring.
"Of course, Headmaster." she said somewhat automatically.
"Excuse us Headmaster, I think we all deserve taking a nap... that or passing out..." said Draco lightly but with a firm gleam.
"Well - Ron said walking towards the nursery – who would have seen that one coming." he scratched his head.
Who indeed?
Tune in with the next Episode of Malfoy the Fool! Heartless Hermione?
+Astoria, the Rabid groundhog! Snog a Basilisk?+
Short(hah) preview:
"But I still don't really undestand. How did the Scepter produce that kind of blast?" [...]
"Like the first time you use magic, when you are a child. You don't know what you do, but you feel what you have to do."
"Oh Drakie! I have missed you so much. We haven't been able to spend time together. Lucky for us we are going to spend the whooole - she looked at Hermione with spite shimmering in her smirk - holidays together. What a wonderful thing for us to cohost the party! Right, Drakie sweety?"
"Hell no! I would rather snog a bloody Basilisk than go to your damned ball! And I AM NOT JEALOUS! I don't care for you. For all I care you can shag the whole female population of England!"
Reviewing might mean one less Basilisk snog, you know...
