A/N: Draco and Hermione have a very happy holiday together, but once they're back at Hogwarts, what will happen? The Observer may not be in the castle anymore, but he's waiting for a chance – and in this chapter he'll get it!
I'll include some of those revolutionary ideas that I was telling you about in the note to my previous chapter, and I hope you'll like them.
We finally find out who the Observer really is, and also the identity of the new Dark Lord… and much more, but I wouldn't want to give too much away, so read, enjoy and review!
Chapter 9 The trip to Hogsmeade and the revelations
Hermione loved Hogwarts and yet she was not as happy to return from the holiday as she usually was. After dreamy days with Draco, all she wanted was more of that, but on the other hand, she did want to attend classes an learn more about spells and potions and plants, so that she could ace her N.E.W.T.s and then be ready to go through the harsh auror training.
There were other events to look forward to though – the first would be the Quidditch match of Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin. She could finally cheer for Draco and his team, without fearing that her house would consider her a traitor for doing so.
The other event was Lucius Malfoy's hearing at the Ministry. Hermione knew Draco was hoping his father would be released and truth be told, she was kind of hoping for the same result – just like his son, Lucius had really changed since the Battle of Hogwarts, and given that he offered full cooperation, there was no reason to keep him locked with the likes of Rosier or Theo's father.
Last, but not least, at the end of the first week of February, the Headmistress had planned a trip to Hogsmeade – Hermione missed visiting the village, and she wanted to browse books at the Tomes and Scrolls, not to mention she also hoped to stop by Dominic Maestro's Music Shop to purchase some music sheets of some wizarding music masterpieces – Hermione only knew how to play the muggle classics at the piano, so she wanted to 'expand her horizons', so to speak.
But for now, she still had to get through her classes – all of which had reached a new level of intensity due to the impending exams. Headmistress McGonagall, in particular, was fierce about the students' proficiency with transfiguration, giving them a lot of homework and threatening with detention for anyone who failed to achieve good enough results during practice lessons.
On the day of the Quidditch match, Hermione was in the Great Hall, having lunch with her friends.
"Are you guys coming to the match?" she asked. Usually all the students came to the matches, whether their House played or not, because the results would decide who they'd be playing next. However, these days everyone was studying intensely for exams, so perhaps some would rather continue doing just that, as they could always find out the result from someone else.
"Definitely", Harry replied. "I've had it with all this studying and homework when we've only just returned from the holiday – I need to unwind", he complained.
"Exactly – I'm going too!" Ron said, and Neville confirmed that he was going too.
"No one wants to miss a Quidditch game, it's a break from thinking about exams", Seamus said darkly – during Charms he had managed to once again blow things up instead of performing the correct spell.
Just then, Luna approached their table, and she was carrying something big and green – Hermione couldn't tell exactly what it was.
"Hi, everyone", Luna said happily. "Hermione, I made this", she said, showing her what she brought. It was a snake hat, as eccentric as her lion hat. "You can have it for this game, but I'll want it back for later on in the year, when Slytherin plays Hufflepuff", she added with a smile.
Hermione was at a loss as to what she could possibly say to not offend her friend – she wanted to support Draco, but not to that extent.
"Um… thanks, Luna, I really appreciate it, but it's yours, you made, it, so you should keep it. Dean's helped me make a banner for Draco", she added with a grateful smile at Dean, who helpfully showed Luna the banner they'd been working on. It was green and it showed all seven members of the Slytherin Quidditch team, and Draco with the snitch in his hand – Hermione had cast a spell to make everyone fly around, and also to make writing alternately appear and disappear ('Slytherin for the win').
Hermione had been surprised that Dean offered to help, because he wasn't Draco's biggest fan, quite the contrary, but he said that even he could tell the Slytherins, and Draco in particular, had changed for the better, so he was trying to get over old grudges.
"Oh, all right then! I want to cheer for Draco, but I hope Ravenclaw wins, so I can't say I approve of that message", Luna said, but in a friendly manner – and no one could blame her for wanting her House to win the game. "I'll see you at the game, Neville, everyone", she added and then skipped back to the Ravenclaw table where a big bowl of pudding awaited her.
"Neville, I suppose you'll be cheering for Ravenclaw too?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I kind of have to, given that it's Luna's house, but like she said, I kind of want Draco's team to win too", he replied sheepishly.
"Oh, what's the point in cheering with this team or the other?" Parvati asked impatiently. "Let's finish eating so we can go watch the game and see who wins."
Everyone agreed, and before long they were in the stands, waiting for Madam Hooch to signal the beginning of the game.
"Welcome, everyone, to today's Quidditch match – Ravenclaw vs Slytherin", Luna was saying, her voice amplified with 'Sonorus'. "Let's see if a convocation of eagles manage to defeat a nest of snakes", the girl cheerfully continued, though the Headmistress wasn't please ('Miss Lovegood, a commentator must be impartial!')
The excitement of the crowd was on the rise, and Hermione crossed her fingers, a muggle gesture she made involuntarily when she was anxious and hoping for the best.
As the game progressed, more than once she jumped out of her seat in excitement – Draco and the Slytherins were good, but so were the Ravenclaws, and it was a close thing. In the end, however, Draco managed to catch the snitch, ending the match with a score of 280 – 120.
That evening, she went with Draco to celebrate in the Slytherin Common Room. Blaise was the life of the party – he had scored most of the points, and he had probably been in such a good shape because he was back with Hecate.
Hermione tried to stay away from the girl – there was just too much between them for any friendship to be possible, at least at the moment.
She talked to Theo and Daphne instead.
"Although we lost to you, Gryffindors, now that we've defeated Ravenclaw, we still have a chance for the cup", Daphne was saying excitedly.
"And the next match is against Hufflepuff, and this year they don't seem to have such a good team – I've watched their game versus Ravenclaw and they lost by a pretty wide margin", Theo added.
"I know it might sound unbelievable", Hermione said with an apologetic smile, "but, to be honest, I'm not that much of a Quidditch fan. I support my House's team, and yours when they're not playing Gryffindor, and I want Gryffindor to win, because it adds points to the House cup."
"Yes, I told them all about that", Draco said, as he brought everyone drinks. "So they know, although they do find it surprising."
"Well, I know she's not your favourite person, but Hecate agrees with you on this one", Daphne said, grinning. "I was shocked when Draco told us that she only played in the team to get close to him."
Hermione observed Hecate – she was happy as could be, on Blaise's arm, in the centre of attention, as he told everyone in detail how he managed to score all those points despite the Ravenclaw Chasers and Beaters and Keeper, who tried to stop him.
"I can't bring myself to like her, but perhaps one day…" Hermione trailed off, not entirely sure she'd ever be close to Hecate… and yet Blaise was close to Draco and Hecate was Blaise's girlfriend.
"Are you guys on speaking terms with her?" she asked Daphne and Theo.
"Yes, though we're acting a bit frosty with her for now, just so that we're sure she fully understands the gravity of her actions", Theo replied.
"In any case, I'm done talking about Hecate", Hermione said. "Draco, did you tell your friends the good news about your father?"
"I did, and they're as excited as I am – we all hope he'll be acquitted", he answered.
"Draco's father actually deserves to be free, unlike mine", Theo said bitterly, and Hermione regretted bringing up the subject.
"Did you find out the exact date of the hearing?" Daphne quickly asked Draco.
"It's four days from now", Draco replied, and Hermione looked at him questioningly – he hadn't told her that.
"Emerald brought me the message just today so I didn't have time to let you know", Draco said defensively.
Hermione laughed – was he afraid of her? She was somewhat bossy, true, but not scary… although Ron had said she was scary ever since their first year, when she'd cast the full body bind curse on Neville.
"This hearing isn't like a trial? I mean, you don't have to go testify or anything, right, Draco?" Theo asked.
"No – in fact, it's closed to the public, and even to family members. I'll still go to the Ministry with my mother on that day, as we want to know as soon as possible."
"Understandable", Hermione said. "Do you want me to come with you?" she asked, although she didn't really think it was place to be there – despite her recent… understanding with Lucius, she didn't consider herself close enough to go. They weren't family yet, and wouldn't be for some time, but if Draco wanted her there, she would go, of course.
"It's on a school day – I've talked to McGonagall and she's agreed to let me go, with aurors in tow, of course. However, I don't think you should miss classes for this – I'll let you know through that enchanted sickle, a 'Y' if he'll walk free, and a 'N' if he'll have to return to Azkaban."
The sickle had roman numerals on that could change due to the Protean Charm.
"And let's hope it'll be a 'Y' and we'll have something else to celebrate, other than this Quidditch victory", Daphne said, enthusiastically.
The party was probably going to continue until late into the night, so Hermione kissed Draco and then excused herself – she didn't want to be caught wandering the corridors at night.
She did run into some trouble with Peeves, whom she ran into just on the grand staircase, but she manage to shut him up by telling him the Bloody Baron was close by – that always made him behave, and as it happened, Hermione had really passed the blood stained ghost on her way up from the dungeons.
The next couple of days passed in a haze of studying and homework, and before she knew it, the day of Lucius' hearing came. That morning she managed to catch Draco after breakfast – she kissed him right outside the Great Hall, not caring who was watching.
"My thoughts are with you and your family. I will be waiting to hear good news from you", she told him and squeezed his hand in reassurance.
It was hard to focus on classes that day, what with her mind miles away, at the Ministry, with Draco. Halfway through the Ancient Runes class, she felt the sickle in her robe pocket turn hot.
Her hand was shaking as she reached in for the coin – when she finally plucked up the courage to look, she almost cried out loud with relief. A 'Y' could be seen clearly on the sickle, which mean Lucius was free. Hermione couldn't be happier for Draco, for Narcissa, and even for Lucius himself.
Now that she knew the hearing had gone favourably, she focused on classes until it was time for dinner – she expected Draco to be back by then, and sure enough, he was at the Slytherin table, talking animatedly with his friends, probably telling them all the details that Hermione herself wanted to know.
She walked briskly to the Gryffindor table and addressed her friends.
"Do you guys mind if I sit at the Slytherin table this meal?" she asked boldly, daring them to answer in the affirmative.
"No, of course not", Ginny was the first to answer. "Since whomever attacked you is no longer in the school, it should be safe enough."
"There might still be spies of his", Harry argued, "but even if they are, I don't think anyone would be fooled that you two are anything but a couple, so go ahead."
"OK – I'll see you in the Common Room, then", she said, and then walked over to the Slytherin table, ignoring how most of the people in the Great Hall turned their heads to watch her.
"Mind if I sit with you?" she asked in the general direction of Draco's friends. "I want to know the details of the hearing, so I figured I shouldn't make Draco tell the tale twice."
"Go ahead", Blaise said, with nods of approval from Theo and Daphne. Hecate was there too, but she didn't make any gesture of acceptance or denial, she just looked away.
Hermione didn't take it as an offence, but rather that the girl still felt guilty about that blood written message and therefore didn't think she was worthy of answering – at least, she hoped that was the case, otherwise Hecate would be incredibly rude, not that Hermione put it past her.
"I didn't get far with the tale, I just told them that the Minister himself conducted the hearing, assisted by the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. They gave my father Veritaserum, although like most of Voldemort's inner circle, he became a very good Occlumens and therefore the truth serum wouldn't have been very efficient. But his facts checked out, and he also gave them a lot of valuable information that they didn't have, and after some deliberation, the Wizengamot decision was almost unanimous."
"So did your father go back to Malfoy Manor with your mother?" Hermione wanted to know.
"Yes, and my father looked better than I've seen him for years – I can't wait to see him again for the Easter holiday."
Hermione thought that Lucius wasn't the only one who looked so much better after the hearing – Draco's face seemed younger somehow, like several lines of worry that were etched into his face had simply vanished. She smiled, happy for him.
After that, they ate and talked about exams and future careers. Theo was very good at creating spells, so he hoped to be able to work for the Ministry, in the Committee on Experimental Charms. Blaise didn't really need to work, given how rich his family was, but he did have an interest in Quidditch, so he considered becoming a professional player, or otherwise to work for the Department of Magical Games and Sports of the Ministry. Daphne wasn't really sure what she wanted to do – she had half a mind to see if she'd pass the test for auror training, and then later on to work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, either as an auror, or something else.
Hermione noticed Hecate didn't say much on the subject, just that she'd like to reach a position of influence and power, which was a typical Slytherin goal.
Hermione gave Draco her notes for the classes he'd missed that day and asked him to return them to her the following morning, so that she could do her homework.
She said her goodbyes and then went up to the Common Room to re-join her Gryffindor friends.
Draco was incredibly happy – his father was free, his family once more reunited. Now not only him, but his father as well could work toward restoring the Malfoy name to its former glory.
He had a spring in his step as he headed towards the Slytherin Common Room, to look over Hermione's notes and write down what he needed so that he could return them first thing in the morning.
The next couple of weeks were filled with studying in the day – and more studying for most of the evenings, although when night came and whenever they got ahead with their homework and finished their patrolling duties, he and Hermione would make a visit to the Room of Requirement, where they'd continue his piano lessons, and they'd also make love.
Draco thought that even if the Observer had spies in the school, they probably didn't have the 'authority' to attack – the proof was that there hadn't been any incidents since the Death Eater fled the school. So it was reasonably safe for him and Hermione to be together – albeit discretely, as one could never be too careful.
As February arrived, a new wave of snow encompassed Hogwarts and its surroundings in white. So it was that it was snowing on the day of the Hogsmeade trip. The Headmistress had previously informed Hermione and Draco that she was going to send aurors with them, just in case. She didn't want them unsupervised while outside school grounds.
They both thanked her – they had gotten used to having 'bodyguards' ever since the winter holiday, so they didn't complain. Besides, the Hogsmeade trip wasn't exactly a chance for Draco to be alone with Hermione, as most of the school would be there, students and professors alike. Sure, there was always Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, but Draco loathed that place, and Hermione didn't have a fondness for it either.
"Here!" he said loudly, when he saw Hermione exit the castle with her friends. Draco was already in the courtyard with Theo, Daphne, Blaise, Daphne and Astoria – however, he wanted to sit in a carriage with Hermione, so they'd have to discuss seating arrangements.
She had quite the crowd with her too – most of the last year Gryffindors (Potter and the Weasel, Longbottom, Thomas and Finnigan, and Parvati), plus two Ravenclaws (Luna and Padma).
"So how should we split up this little gathering", he asked, when they were all in one place.
"Well, there are … sixteen of us", Hermione counted quickly, "and the carriages can seat five, maybe six people, so I suggest we split into three groups."
"There are six Slytherins", Draco noticed, "so I suppose we could fit into one carriage, but I'll let you guys go together, and I'll hitch a ride with the Gryffindors", he said, addressing his friends. "We have a guard detail, so we wouldn't want the aurors to split up, because that would mean less protection."
"Suit yourself, Draco, though I don't envy your company", Blaise said with a wink, to show he was only teasing – or so Draco hoped. It wouldn't do to offend his new… 'friends'.
"Right, then – Draco, you can come with me, Harry and Ginny, and…Dean, Seamus, what do you say, will you come with us?" Hermione asked.
The two boys assented.
"Ron, you, Padma, Parvati, Neville and Luna can go together, is that OK?" Hermione continued with her planning.
"Perfectly so", Padma answered in his stead. Hermione figured it was the best way to split everyone up, so that Slytherins were in one carriage, Gryffindors in another (well, and Draco, because he was her boyfriend), and mixed Gryffindors with Ravenclaw in the last (so that Ron and Neville could be with their girlfriends, and Parvati could be with her sister).
They boarded the carriages and off they went to Hogsmeade. Draco noticed that the two aurors that were guarding him and Hermione flew behind them, each of them with one hand on their broomsticks, and their wands at the ready in their other hand.
"Where are you going first, once we get there?" Potter asked looking at everyone in the carriage. "I want to stop by Spintwitches Sporting Needs – I'm all out of broom wax, so I need to buy some."
"Ooh, you're right, Harry, I have almost none left, so I'm coming with you", Ginny said, patting him on the shoulder. "Thank you for reminding me."
"Dean and I will go to the Three Broomsticks", Seamus said. "It's a bit too cold to be wandering around in shops with nothing to drink, and I do miss a hot tankard of butterbeer."
"I'm going with Hermione – and she wants to visit the bookshop", Draco said, ignoring Potter's comment - 'Of course she does'
"I also want to go to the music store, but I dare say we all want some hot butterbeer, so let's meet back at the Three Broomsticks – make sure you sit down at a big table, as pretty much all of our friends are probably heading there sooner or later", Hermione told Finnigan.
They didn't get a chance to talk much more after that because they arrived at Hogsmeade.
Draco helped Hermione get down from the carriage, and then they went to the bookstore. Tomes and Scrolls wasn't as well stocked as Flourish and Blotts in terms of reading material, but they had a lot of less-known volumes, and apparently that's what Hermione was looking for – she already had most of the more 'popular' books.
Draco browsed for books too – Hermione wasn't the only one who enjoyed books. In the end, they each found two books apiece that they wanted to buy.
As they exited the bookstore and headed for the music shop, Draco asked Hermione to let him carry her books, and she thanked him as she gave them to him.
"Now that I think about it, it would have been better to visit the music store first, so that we don't wander about with all these books", he remarked. "Unless you're planning on buying a piano or something?" Draco asked, unsure of his fiancée's intentions.
"Of course not, Draco", Hermione replied, dismissing his question. "I just want some music sheets, so you can relax – besides, I can carry my own books, you're the one who offered to take them off my hands."
He didn't have any comeback to that, so he shut up, pouting just a little bit. He had an interest in music too, especially now, that he was starting to be good at playing the piano under Hermione's dedicated teaching – however, he was not at that level where he needed to look for music sheets, but he'd tag along as he didn't want to leave her on her own.
But after half an hour, Draco was finally becoming impatient. Hermione was thrilled with the store's music sheets, and had already decided on getting seven of them, and she was still considering three. He had looked around the shop for a while, but now he was pretty much getting bored, so when he saw Blaise and Hecate outside, he decided to go see what they were up to.
Hermione was still safely inside the store, and the two aurors were guarding the exit, so it was safe to leave her for just a bit.
When he got to them, Draco noticed they were having an argument – he didn't want to intrude, but it was too late to turn back now, plus Blaise had already spotted him.
"What are you guys doing all the way out here?" Draco asked them. The music store was among the last building in the village, the only one farther being that tea shop and another building Draco had no clue even existed before - he only noticed it then.
"Hecate insisted that we leave the Three Broomsticks and go to Madam Puddifoot's", Blaise said, obviously peeved. "Why anyone would prefer that frilly, steamy place to the Three Broomsticks, I can't fathom…"
Hecate didn't let him finish speaking.
"As I told you before, it's because the tea shop is more… private."
"We get enough privacy back at Hogwarts – there's the Common Room, not to mention the boys' dormitory where you can come and go as you please and have done so on numerous occasions", Blaise retorted.
"Okay…. That's a little too much information for me", Draco said, not wanting to get caught in their quarrel. "I'll just go back to the music store, Hermione's in there."
"Actually, she's coming out now", Blaise observed, looking over Draco's shoulder.
As Hermione headed towards them, several things happened at once, and in retrospect, Draco couldn't be sure that he accurately recalled the order in which everything happened.
He saw Hecate aim her wand at something she was holding in her hand, and mutter something, probably a spell.
The next thing he knew, roughly two dozen Death Eaters (Draco could tell because of their black cloaks and masks) apparated a short distance from where they were and starting shooting spells towards the two aurors, towards Hermione, and even towards Draco.
Although horror struck by the unexpected attack, Draco ducked so that none of the spells hit him, and then dropped the books he was holding, and took his wand out, casting 'Protego'.
Next, he fired off as many 'Stupefies', 'Petrificus totalus', 'Impedimenta' and 'Incarcerous' as he could, and probably more spells that later on he couldn't remember, some of which hit their target, some of which didn't.
The aurors were fighting back too, their backs to Hermione, protecting her… but Hermione wasn't the type to let herself be protected, so she was also trying to fight, getting around the aurors, and Draco felt his heart beat wildly at the thought of something happening to her.
This was it – surely the Observer was among the masked people, and he was making sure that Draco and Hermione wouldn't be together through the surest way possible, by killing Hermione. Although spells were fired in his direction too, it was clear that most were directed at Hermione, so she was clearly the target.
But she was holding her ground, helped by the two aurors who did wonderfully considering they were outnumbered at least eight to one…
And then the most horrible, as well as unexpected thing happened. A spell hit Hermione from behind, not from the front, where the Death Eaters were… Draco watched transfixed how she fell to the ground, unconscious – or worse – and the aurors involuntarily turned to look at her, that moment of distraction being all the death eaters needed to hit them with spells – Draco could only hope it wasn't the killing curse.
He heard a heart-wrenching sound coming from somewhere behind him, but he didn't care what it was, there was no time to look - he started running towards Hermione, firing off stunning spells towards the Death Eaters as he ran, but someone was there before him - Hecate!
And it suddenly became clear to Draco that she was the one who attacked Hermione – she must have been good at Occlumency, because it was clear she resisted the Veritaserum they gave her at the trial… she must have lied when she said she had nothing to do with her father's and the Death Eater's plans.
And now she was running faster than Draco thought her capable of, and she reached Hermione at the same time as one of the Death Eaters did, and despite Draco and Blaise's best efforts to stop them (Draco later remembered that it was Blaise who had screamed in denial at Hecate's betrayal), they exited the town's limits and then disapparated – but not before one of the Death Eaters had cast 'Morsmordre', so that the Dark Mark was conjured in the sky above the bookstore, something no one ever expected to see again after Voldemort's death.
He felt to his knees, frozen in shock, knowing that his worst nightmare had become reality.
10 minutes earlier…
Hermione knew she was pushing the limits of Draco's patience, but she was just so happy with the music sheets that Dominic Maestro's Music Shop had to offer – she had a hard time choosing what to buy, which is why it was taking such a long time.
She was sure any minute now Draco would offer to buy them all just so they could get out of there and go to the Three Broomsticks and drink some butterbeer.
However, Draco told her he saw Blaise and Hecate and that he'll go talk to them, but that he'll be right outside the shop while she finished her shopping.
Once he exited, Hermione decided on what she was going to buy – she wasn't entirely satisfied with her choices and would have wanted more time, but saw no point in keeping Draco waiting out there in the cold.
So she paid for the music sheets, and then went out the door, and started heading toward Draco and Blaise and Hecate.
But then, something happened – the aurors got in front of her, and Hermione soon saw why – about twenty or so Death Eaters had apparated and were attacking.
She dropped the bag with the music sheets, and quickly fished her wand out, and cast the shield charm, and then started casting all the offensive spells she knew at the Death Eaters.
Hermione knew the odds weren't good – they were vastly outnumbered, even if Draco was also attacking the Death Eaters, whether alone or with Blaise and Hecate, she couldn't tell, but spells were coming from that direction, aimed at the enemy.
But then she was hit with some spell – and Hermione could only register, with surprise, that the attack came from behind her, where the shield charm left her vulnerable (because it only created a magical barrier in front of the caster's wand) , before she sank into oblivion.
Present time
Hermione opened her eyes, blinking to try to focus and clear her head.
And then she remembered: she'd been attacked! She was now strapped to a cot in an unfamiliar room – a basement, by the look of it, because the only light in the room was coming from a small barred hopper window.
There wasn't much else in the room, except for a table near the cot, and, to Hermione's relief, her wand was on the table, still intact. Relief washed through her – she had a special connection to it, probably like all the other wizards and witches chosen by their wand.
Of course, just because her wand was not broken yet, didn't mean it couldn't sill be broken, and not just her wand, but Hermione herself was in danger. The fact that she wasn't dead already could mean only one thing: torture for getting information from her, and Hermione realized this fact with dread, because she didn't think she could stand the Cruciatus curse again.
The mere memory of Bellatrix Lestrange's torture was enough to prompt her into action. She needed to get her wand, but her restraints were very efficient in immobilizing her hands and feet, so the only way to achieve her goal was to try to summon the wand through wandless magic.
Hermione had some experience doing magic without her wand, but most of it was involuntary, and it happened at home, when she needed something badly or similar situations. The only time she had voluntarily performed wandless magic was when she confounded Cormac MacLaggen, so that Ron would be Keeper for the Gryffindor team. At the time she wasn't sure she'd succeed, but confounding him with a wand would have been too obvious – as it was, Harry had figured it out.
She had no choice but to try now – she focused on the wand, on her need to get it, and for a moment, the wand gave a little twitch, but before Hermione could do more, she heard the sound of unlocking at the door, and a moment later someone came in.
"Michael?" she asked, uncertain.
But it couldn't be, she realized.
"No – you're the so called 'Observer', aren't you? There's no point in impersonating Michael any longer, I already know you're not him, Hecate said as much", Hermione said boldly, putting on a brave front.
But talking about Hecate made her remember something else – back in Hogsmeade, she had cast Protego, which is why she lasted as long as she did in the battle, before someone attacked her from behind – and who was behind her, other than Draco, Blaise and Hecate herself?
And out of the three, it could only be Hecate who attacked her – well, Blaise wasn't all that fond of muggle borns either, but he was Draco's friend, so he couldn't have done it. Hecate, on the other hand, had played everyone false from the very beginning.
The Observer interrupted her thoughts as he spoke with that slightly familiar and faintly accented voice.
"Oh, the effects of the Polyjuice Potion are starting to wear off already, so you'll soon see who I really am – we're acquainted, you see", he said, confirming Hermione's suspicions that indeed, she knew the Observer. "I didn't want to shock you from the start with my identity, but I'm pleased to see you're awake and rational and bold, that means you can handle it…" he trailed off and Hermione felt a cold shiver running down her spine at the implications of his words.
She had to stay calm, and not panic, or everything was lost. As it was, she didn't really see a way out of the situation, but if anything could save her now, it was cold logic. Think! she thought to herself, and immediately came up with an answer – all she could do for the moment, until she had more information about who was her captor and where she was, was to stall for time.
"How long have I been unconscious?" she asked, thinking about Draco and Harry and Ron and how worried all of her friends must be… and her parents didn't even know… unless Headmistress McGonagall told them…. Hermione didn't know which of the two possibilities was worse.
"Three quarters of an hour? Give or take a few minutes", the Observer mused.
But he didn't get to say more because his body spasmed violently and then his features started to transform. He grew taller, his eyes turned from brown to bluish grey, his hair grew lighter – it was now brown with an all too familiar red streak.
"Scabior!" Hermione exclaimed, suddenly angry at discovering the Observer's identity. "You survived the fall!"
"Yes, just like you did – I do apologize for pushing you down the stairs, but I was sure that if I managed to save myself with the slowing charm, then surely so could you", Scabior said, as he advanced towards the cot and sat next to her.
Hermione moved her body away from his, as much as her restraints allowed her to.
Scabior took something out of his coat pocket, and Hermione's eyes widened when she recognized the pink material – it was her scarf, the one she left tied around a tree for Ron to find, when they were on the run and he left her and Harry.
"Remember this?" Scabior asked. She didn't say anything, but he didn't really expect an answer as he continued speaking. "I picked it up some months back and ever since then I've dreamt of being alone with its owner – well, former owner, as I'd like to think of it as mine now."
Hermione didn't like where the conversation was going, especially as Scabior was now trailing the back of his hand over the side of her face, making her shudder with revulsion.
"Unfortunately now is not the time to be alone – the Dark Lord is on his way here to have a word with you."
If there was any silver lining in the dreadful situation Hermione found herself in, it was that some of the questions that have been bothering her for months were being answered. She now knew who the Observer was – she would soon find out who this new Dark Lord was.
"You talk differently", Hermione observed, thinking that had Scabior talked the way he previously did, she would have surely recognized him, even with a mask on his face.
"You noticed that, huh?" he asked, letting his voice take on the accent from before. "It wasn't easy to change the way I talk, but I had to sound like Michael, so that I could infiltrate Hogwarts. That was my test that the Dark Lord set in order for me to gain his trust."
Hermione was curious about who the Dark Lord was, but there were more urgent matters to address.
"Where is Michael? What have you done to him?"
"He's still alive, though I have to wonder why the Dark Lord didn't kill him yet, seeing as I don't need him anymore for the Polyjuice Potion."
Hermione shuddered at the thought, but she was relieved that Michael was still alive.
"Is he here? And where exactly are we?" she asked, though she didn't really hope for answers.
"Yes, he's here, but I'd rather not tell you where we are – I mean, I don't think it has any relevance considering…" he trailed off and didn't finish the sentence, but Hermione could imagine what he was going to say. Either that she was going to be dead soon enough or that they'd never let her go, both options dreadful.
The door opened just then, and Hecate walked in, a smirk on the face at the reproachful look Hermione gave her.
"She's awake, My Lord, come in", Hecate said, as she made way for someone else to come into the room.
Scabior immediately got up from the cot and slightly lowered his head, with a respectful 'My Lord' to the person who came in.
When she saw who it was, Hermione's eyes widened in shock. It couldn't be, it just wasn't possible! she thought.
"By the look on your face, Miss Granger, you know who I am. I'm surprised though, as you've never seen me as anything other than Alastor Moody", Bartemius Crouch Jr. said.
"B..b...but you received the Dementor's Kiss…" Hermione stammered, unable to get over the shock. "No one recovers from something like that…"
"Yes, yes, just like no one survives Avada Kedavra, and yet your friend, Potter, did – even though in that case it wasn't his merit, but rather his mudblood mother's merit", Crouch said.
"Don't call Lily Potter that!" Hermione snapped, not caring about the repercussions.
"A mudblood sticking up for another – and a dead one, at that. I suppose it's admirable, in its own way", he continued, "but beside the point. The point that I was making was that in the case of the Dementor, it was entirely my merit that the creature recognized me as an ally and stopped halfway through the Kiss."
Hermione had never heard of anything like that before, so despite the perilous situation in which she was, curiosity got the better of her.
"How can you be half-way Kissed by a Dementor?" she asked. Perhaps it wasn't the time to learn new things, but she had already decided that stalling was the best thing she could do at the moment, so the longer she kept Crouch talking, the better.
"You can say that rather than becoming soulless and eventually dying, I was simply in a coma for about three years – I woke up the very day Voldemort was defeated, and I like to think that the date has significance, that is to say, it meant that I was supposed to lead the Death Eater in his place", Crouch Jr. explained, his voice taking on reverential tones when he talked about Voldemort.
"Others thought so as well – although it wasn't because they believed in me as a capable ruler, but rather because of the predictions of one Miles Mopsus, clairvoyant extraordinaire. In any case, my aunt Clarice, who was the only one in my family who shared my beliefs, took care of me for these past three years, and when I woke up, she contacted the few Death Eaters that escaped after the Battle of Hogwarts. We did some heavy recruiting since then, so that now our numbers are comparable to Voldemort's army before the battle – only I won't make Voldemort's mistake of obsessing over a foe that might interfere with my plans…"
Hermione was starting to get over the shock, and she soon found her tongue.
"Really? Not making Voldemort's mistakes? Then what do you call trying to get me or Draco killed because of Professor Mopsus' prediction?" she asked, not going too heavy on the sarcasm – she wanted to make a point, but she didn't want Crouch to snap or anything. He was deranged even before the Dementor half-kissed him, she dreaded thinking what he was like now.
"I'm just making sure there's no possibility for his prediction to come true – don't forget, Miss Granger, I've had the 'pleasure' of teaching you for a year, so I know how capable you are. I'd rather not risk having you and Draco roam freely and possibly coming between me and what I want. Besides, you might want to notice that it's been… what.. only eight months or so since Mopsus' prediction and I already managed to capture you – so I didn't exactly waste a lot of time on this little project, not to mention I've been busy otherwise during these months, like I was telling you."
"Yes, about the recruits", Hermione said disgustedly, not wanting to think how many more enemies there were now.
She knew what she wanted to ask next, but it was very risky to do so, because it might prematurely end her life. However, Hermione was a Gryffindor, so she didn't lack bravery – and also, she felt she'd go crazy if she didn't get some answers.
"So why are we even having this conversation? Didn't you want to kill me?" she asked, almost daring him to do it. It wasn't a bluff – she wasn't the smartest witch of her age without reason, so she realized that if the Death Eaters hadn't killed her in Hogsmeade but rather brought her to Crouch, then he must have a use for her, so he wouldn't kill her… yet. Hermione had to know what it was that Crouch wanted from her.
"There's still time for that", Crouch said with a nasty smile. "However, before that, I promised my loyal Death Eater here that he'd get you as a reward for risking his life by infiltrating Hogwarts", he continued, with a snake like flick of his tongue, and a nod in Scabior's direction.
Hecate gave a nasty little laugh, nothing like the wind chime tones she took on at Hogwarts, but Hermione could care less about her at the moment - she could feel herself going white in the face as the implications sunk in.
Draco was still numb, still on his knees on the snow covered ground, but not feeling the cold either.
All around him, everyone was busy – the commotion of the Death Eaters' attack had attracted big crowd, among which Potter and Weasley and all their friends, and pretty much everyone else from Hogwarts – professors included, even the Headmistress.
Since Draco was still in shock, Blaise was the one who had to answer all the questions, although Draco was sure he was in a bad shape too, being betrayed a second time by Hecate.
Once everyone got the gist of the situation, it was time to prioritize actions. The Headmistress instructed Slughorn and Sprout to transport the surviving auror to St. Mungo's hospital – the second auror, however, was dead, so Hagrid was given the task to take her body back to her family.
Then everyone started worrying about Hermione, but no one came up with any ideas of how to find her and get her out, and while they were standing there, arguing, Draco dreaded to imagine what they were doing to Hermione.
Although Draco thought that it was, in a way, a good thing that Hermione had been taken as opposed to killed, it didn't necessarily mean that she'd stay alive. Perhaps they just wanted information from her, and planned to kill her afterwards.
He couldn't bear thinking about it, and he covered his face with his hands, in anguish.
"Draco, stop wallowing in grief", Potter said to him, as he pulled him up by the elbow. "Think! Where could they have taken her?" he asked, and his voice was shaky, whether with anger, terror or both, Draco didn't know and didn't much care at the moment.
"You think that if I knew, I wouldn't already be there, Potter?" Draco asked scathingly. "My father and I have already told the Ministry everything we know about possible locations of the Death Eaters' gatherings, and if they haven't found anything, it's because they're not in any of those places. So how about you try to think, for a bloody change?" he asked spitefully.
"Potter, Malfoy, this is not the time to fight amongst ourselves", McGonagall said, as she approached them briskly. "We must all return to Hogwarts, where we'll be relatively safe – here we might get attacked again, since you're a target too, Mr. Malfoy."
"You want us to flee, when Hermione is God only knows where, surrounded by enemies, going through who knows what horrors?!" Draco yelled at her, but McGonagall didn't even flinch.
"I understand your distress, Mr. Malfoy, and I'd like to point out that Miss Granger is a student of my house, and one of my favourite students, if I am to be honest, so don't think for a minute that I don't care what happens to her. But I have other students to think of – there are young students here, third years, fourth years, and if we're attacked they might be killed, so please do your Head Boy duty and help get everyone into carriages – no one must be unaccounted for", she said sternly.
"Hermione isn't accounted for", Draco replied bitterly, "and neither is Hecate, for that matter. She's been lying to us all along – she was the one who attacked Hermione from the back, like a coward, and she disapparated with her and the Death Eaters".
McGonagall looked a little rattled, but she quickly recomposed herself.
"Then everyone else must be accounted for. Potter, can I count on you to instruct the prefects to help you and Mr. Malfoy round up everyone?"
"Of course, Professor", Potter answered and Draco had no choice but to join him in talking to the prefects.
The next couple of minutes were pretty hectic: students were counted off the Headmistress' list and put into carriages, with one professor in each carriage for protection.
Draco went through the motions mechanically, his mind still numb when he thought at how everything had fallen to pieces in a couple of minutes.
He was starting to remember small details – like the fact that Hecate must have used the Protean charm on something to communicate with the Death Eaters, because she was fiddling with something in her pocket, her wand in hand, right before they appeared and attacked.
Hermione and he had unwillingly given Hecate the idea that had allowed her to orchestrate this attack, and Draco was bitterly sorry that he ever mentioned the enchanted sickle around that treacherous bitch.
But then Hecate had everyone fooled – she played the innocent and the victim so well, that Draco had been convinced that she was genuinely sorry for imperiusing Parvati and leaving that offensive message in blood for Hermione. And that was the smallest of her sins – the fact that she was actually working with the Death Eaters… not that he hadn't done the same in the past, but that was before the Battle of Hogwarts, and he had wanted out for far longer than that. To try to continue Voldemort's work now was unthinkable, and yet the Mulcibers were obviously of a different mind.
Once everyone was safely back at Hogwarts, the professors and the aurors had a meeting to try to find Hermione – they were discussing all types of possible tracking spells, and Draco could only hope they'd come up with a solution, but he felt dead inside… somehow he just didn't think they'd make it on time. Whatever the aurors learned at the Stealth and Tracking class, surely it couldn't be good enough if they were still talking instead of already knowing where Hermione was and going to rescue her…
Potter was of a different mind though, and all his friends were the same. They, too, were discussing ways to find Hermione, and Draco listened to what they were saying but he just couldn't bring himself to join the discussion, he felt too dispirited.
"Can't we use that enchanted sickle to track her somehow?" Ginny was asking.
"No, it doesn't work that way", Luna said with a sigh.
"Can't we use floo powder to just go wherever she is?" Seamus suggested.
"And say what? 'To where Hermione Granger is'?" Dean said, shaking his head. "It won't work."
"We don't even know if there's a fireplace there to begin with", Parvati added.
"How about using Appare Vestigium?" Longbottom suggested.
"To track what?" Weasley countered. "They disapparated with her", he said bitterly.
"Yes, I'm afraid that wouldn't work", Padma agreed, her voice filled with worry.
"Perhaps we can look in the Mirror of Erised – I'm sure what any one of us wants most at the moment is to find her, so we should be able to see her location, right?" Potter asked.
Draco had a fascination for the Mirror of Erised, and so he knew that this was a real lead.
"That might actually work" he said aloud. "Do you know where the mirror is now, Potter?"
"It's been moved back to the classroom it was in originally, I think – we can find out easily enough", Potter answered. "Follow me!" he said, and everyone went with him as they ran towards the disused classroom on the fourth floor, where the mirror was supposed to be.
"There it is!" Weasley exclaimed as they entered the classroom, and Draco pushed everyone aside, as he came to stand directly in front of the mirror.
"Well?" Ginny asked. "Do you see where Hermione is?"
For a few moments, Draco couldn't speak – what he saw in the mirror made his blood boil in anger. He drew a long breath to steady his voice before replying.
"I do – but it's not use, I can't tell where she is."
"What do you mean?!" Potter shouted. "Talk sense!"
"I mean she's in a dungeon of sorts, which could be under any wizard mansion – or even a muggle one", he said disappointedly.
"Is she all right?" Luna asked, for once not serene at all, but extremely worried.
"She is … for now", he answered darkly.
"Malfoy, if you say one more cryptic line, I swear to God…" Potter said, and Draco sighed again.
"She's tied to a cot… and Scabior's with her", he answered.
There was a general indrawn breath around the room.
"I knew that bastard didn't die", Longbottom said bitterly.
"Malfoy, is that all you see?" Potter asked again. "Besides wanting to see where she is, surely you must want to save her, so look closer, perhaps the mirror will show you how", he added.
Draco realized Potter was right, so he looked in the mirror again. What he saw made no sense to him.
"What is it? What do you see?" Ginny asked.
"I'm not entirely sure. I see myself apparating in the dungeon room where Hermione is, and there's this blue ball of light coming out of me – it's pretty eerie, looks somewhat like the light around a Portkey or something, but I know of no such spells…"
"Ah!" Weasley and Potter exclaimed at the same time.
"Of course, the Deluminator!", Weasley continued, suddenly jumping to his feet.
"Come again?" Draco asked at the same time as pretty much everyone else asked "What's that?", "The what?", "What's a deluminator?" and other versions of the same question.
"It's something that Dumbledore left me in his will – something that can get me to Hermione as long as she says my name", Weasley said, and Draco immediately bristled.
"What do you mean it can take you to her? Why not me?" he asked.
"Because the Deluminator is mine…?" the Weasel said uncertainly.
"What if you give it to me?" Draco asked.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because Hermione is my fiancée so I should be the one…" Draco was saying when Potter interrupted.
"Enough, both of you!" he shouted. "First of all, neither of you is going alone to a place presumably filled with Death Eaters."
"So what are you suggesting then? That we do nothing, when there is this device that could take us to her?" Draco asked.
"No, I'm just saying we should think before we act", Potter said calmly, which annoyed Draco to no ends. This was not a time to think but act – every second could prove fatal to Hermione.
"Harry's right, Draco", Padma said. "I think there's more to the Deluminator than meets the eye. Ron told me a bit about it and I think that not only does it emit that light like a portkey, but that it might actually work as a portkey too – that is to say, to transport more people at once, under the right circumstances."
Draco started to see where she was going with the discussion and had to admit the girl had a point.
"I think that if we all hold on to the Deluminator, we might all get transported to where Hermione is and then we'll have a fighting chance, wouldn't you think?" Padma added.
"But the Deluminator is so small, Padma, how are we all supposed to touch it?" Potter asked.
"If it works like a Portkey, we only need to put one finger on it, I'm sure we can manage", Longbottom said excitedly. "Where is this Deluminator, Ron? Do you have it on you?"
"It's in my trunk, I'll go get it now", Weasley said, and exited the classroom.
"Does everyone have their wand? And do you all want to come?" Ginny asked.
Everyone assented, but Potter had an observation to make.
"Even if we're all ready to go right this instant, it doesn't work that way – just like a portkey, which leaves at a certain hour, the deluminator can only take us to Hermione if she says one of our names, and we don't know when that might be, if at all."
Draco felt despair grip him again at the thought that Hermione would most likely refuse to give information on them, so the chance of her saying any of their names was slim at best.
"Don't worry, Draco, I'm sure she'll say your name, if only in a whisper of hope", Luna said encouragingly, patting him on the shoulder.
"And don't you feel guilty either", Ginny said. "There's nothing you could have done to prevent this - no one suspected Hecate after she 'confessed'… if anyone is to blame, then it's me, because back at the Department of Mysteries I took a stunning spell to the face from her father, so I should have known she was as vicious as him… I shouldn't have fallen for her 'good girl' act."
"You couldn't have known, Ginny, none of us could, and none of us could have prevented this", Potter said glumly.
"Of course we could – we never should have gone to Hogsmeade", Draco spat.
"Oh, then why stop there?" Longbottom asked. "You never should have left Hogwarts during the holiday and you never should go out shopping or walking again for fear of being attacked", he added, ironically, and irony was not something Draco knew Longbottom was capable of. "Of course that wasn't an option, you can't live your life in fear and in hiding."
Weasley returned at that moment, with a small silver cylindrical object in his hand.
"What now?" he asked, a hopeful expression on his face.
"Now we wait, I guess", Ginny said.
"But we don't know how long it's going to take", Weasley whined.
"What, you have something else to do?" Draco snapped and the Weasel snapped right back.
"No, Malfoy, I meant that we should act now, because Hermione's in danger!"
"But, Ron, it doesn't work like that, you of all people know that for a fact", Padma said, trying to defuse the tension.
"Then we should get comfortable, because we're going to wait as long as it takes", Draco said, determination in his voice, and fire in his eyes at the thought at coming face to face with those who took Hermione from him. He only prayed that it wouldn't be too late by the time he got to her.
