Chapter Eleven
Draco rammed into me and I faltered in my steps and dropping my books. "Watch where you're going, Granger," he spat. His friends from a distance laughed at my expense. "It's done," he whispered much more softly before walking away from me.
"Hermione, Neville's done it. He says he's found a place," Harry exclaimed as he came to me before looking down at my fallen books. "What happened?"
"Dropped them when someone accidentally walked into me." I picked up my books and deposited them in my bag. "What were you saying about Neville?"
"He says he's found a place in the seventh floor. We're meeting him in the common room before we head to the place. You coming with?" Harry asked me. I nodded towards him and I feigned in excitement from finally finding a place. Draco really managed to pull it off.
Although knowing he was right along side me as the top students of the year he proved to be much faster learner than I expected. His skill to grasp the concept of occluding the mind was improving quickly and his spell work was getting along even better than his occlumency in the few days that had passed. Snape was a much faster teacher when one on one with me and Draco. He still hadn't decided to teach us both together. I've nearly passed Snape's tests of holding up my shields to above average level though, not powerful enough for a harsher onslaught on my mind by Voldemort of Dumbledore. Although, despite the lessons the topic of his loyalties still hadn't been addressed. Was I too quick to question his loyalties and offer him my option?
Neville's and Ron's quick cheers of excitement came to us as we finally met them in front of the Gryffindor House's portrait. Neville talked animatedly about how he accidentally found the hidden room after being pushed around by Draco and hexed by his two sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle. He had needed a room to hide in and there it was, a door suddenly appeared that was never there before.
Coming to a halt in front of the blank wall Neville paced by it three times. For some reason he paced while thinking of what room he needed. I never paced and it seemed to work just fine. I nodded to his instructions on how to use the room and smiled at his brilliance on finding such a room. Entering it we found a large empty room that was similar to how I found it the first time. There were dueling dummies and a slightly raised stage. The only absences were the books that were safely secured in my trunk.
"You've really found it Neville. The Room of Requirement." I said out loud. Regardless of how he found it, Neville still did. Just with a slight push, of course.
"The what?" Ron asked.
"Also known as the come and go room. The room of requirement will always see to the seekers needs," I further explained.
"So say we needed to use the loo?"
"Charming Ronald. But yes, that's the general idea."
"Brilliant. It's like Hogwarts wants us to learn and fight back." I nodded in reply. Hogwarts always see to the needs of its students. Even when those needs could be of a more dark or selfish nature.
Calling the rest of the D.A. immediately Neville and the others lured them into the room discreetly. One by one they came in with full anticipation on the first lesson.
"Alright well since everyone is here now we can begin to learn the first spell," Harry began. "The disarming spell is a must know for every witch or wizard along with the simple stunner, stupefy. They are sort of like a wizard's bread and butter really."
I dozed off at the rest of Harry's explanation on the two spells letting my eyes wander to the dummies across the room. I wonder if I ask the room, would they come to life and actually fight me like a wizard would? Harry's explanation soon turned to the practical as people began to line up in front of a dummy. One by one they attempted to disarm the wooden wizard, and one by one Harry gave them tips to fix their mistakes before slowly they began to pair off and tried to disarm each other. The both of us walked around fixing mistakes and quickly there was an improvement in the attempts to disarm.
The class rolled by perfectly and soon Harry stopped them to further explain the stunning curse. Everyone watched as a small first year boy named Nigel went up against Harry as he was instructed to stun him. The boy was scared beyond his belief and I nearly laughed as his face turned red and puffy as he said the spell. It was strong enough to send Harry flying but the backfire was nearly as strong.
"Ron. Hermione. You're up." Harry said. Quickly leaving the crowd I stepped up towards Ron. "They will demonstrate the use of the stunning spell paired with the disarming spell in a duel."
"Don't worry I'll go easy on you," Ron whispered towards me. I nearly laughed out loud at the thought of needing him to go easy on me in a duel. He was one of my best friends but surely he knew that I already knew the spells perfectly. I was the one to teach them to Harry.
"Why thank you, Ronald," I teased him. We turned to pace a few steps away from each other, both of us poised to attack.
"On my mark. Ready. Begin," Harry exclaimed.
At once Ron flicked his wand. But before he can say the incantation I yelled out the disarming charming. His wand quickly flew away and he looked at me helplessly.
"Stupefy," I said calmly. My spell hit him full on and he soared slightly in the air. I yelled out a cushioning charm for his fall and he landed softly in the ground. I smirked at him as the girls came towards me giggling. I overheard the guys crowding around him.
"I let her do that," Ron muttered. The guys nodded back towards him understandingly. While the girls went up to me, giggling at the sight of me defeating Ron with such ease.
"Alright then," Harry's voice kicked in again. "Well that's it for today's class. You can practice the stunning spell on your own time, and we'll meet again soon to practice it here as well. Well done everyone." The class was cheerful at the eventful class that was so much more fulfilling than that of Umbridge.
"That went better than I expected," I said to Harry.
"I thought we would have at least an accident on the first class. I honestly thought it would have been Neville." Harry joked. Ron and I grinned at him as we exited the room, letting it disappear behind us.
"So when do you think we should meet up again?" Ron asked.
"Maybe next week. We can't hold it too often since it'll get to obvious something is up." I recommended.
"All right sounds like a plan," Ron said as we entered the Gryffindor common room. "Hey Hermione, can you help us on our essay now?"
"I can't. I have to go tutor Luna now and then patrolling with Malfoy later. You should just do it on your own for once." I replied. I would need to find a better excuse soon. It'll only be a matter of time before Luna can't cover for me anymore.
"But it's due tomorrow," Ron whined. I sighed at his attempt to guilt me.
"Mate, we'll just have to do this without her this time," Harry muttered, placing a hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Fine," Ron whined angrily. "If I fail this essay, it's all your fault." He stormed up the tower to his dorm and I looked at Harry in confusion.
"What's up with him?"
"No clue. Got any pointers for the essay?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yup. Wait here." Running up to my dorm I quickly grabbed a potions book I had bought third year. Walking back down I held it out towards Harry.
"An entire book?" Harry questioned. "This will take me forever to read."
"Not the entire book, just chapter 23 on hellbore. It gives you the basics and overview of the uses. It's not as detailed as what I would usually use but it should have enough information for your essays." I explained handing him the large tome. "Just take care of it. I've had this since third year." Harry nodded at me and grabbed the oversized book.
"I should head up to Ron now I guess. Try and see what's wrong with him. You'll be fine with Luna? And then Malfoy?" Harry asked worriedly.
"I'll be just fine. I'm completely safe," I mentioned. Although my mind might not be from the hammering it will get soon enough. Not to mention the spells Snape would be teaching me tonight.
"And Malfoy?"
"Has never tried hexing me while we patrol." I tried to console him. "Now I really have to go or I'll be late. Don't stay up for me alright." I waved a small goodbye and left the common room. Off to the dungeons I went and quickly too, as I nearly ran down the stairs. Entering the office, Snape was already prepared and waiting for me.
"You're late. I should deduct points for your tardiness." Snape sneered at me.
"Thank goodness this isn't a formal class then," I smirked at him while shedding my outer cloak and replacing it with one I bought from Gran's store.
"And for your cheek too." He grumbled. Turning towards him I felt myself falter as his mind tried to enter mine more roughly than usual. I nearly stumbled but held my ground as I pushed him out of my mind and securing my shields.
"Was that really necessary?" I muttered clutching my head in pain. I scowled at his amused smirk and he taunted off towards me.
"Yes, it was indeed." He said softly, "I would not want to join sides with a witch who couldn't prove herself capable enough to occlude a master legillmence."
"And what are my results?" Was he really saying what I think he's saying. Is it really this easy to get him by my side.
"You pass." He stated simply. "Now follow me. We will be mostly spell casting today and we will need to use a specific room to allow us the space and equipment we will need. I believe you are familiar with the room?" He continued leaving no space to ask him about what just happened.
"The room of requirement?" He nodded at me before quickly tapping his wand on my head, completely disillusioning me. Grabbing onto his sleeve he led me out of the room all the way to the hidden room.
The set up was completely different. The walls were pitch black while hundreds of candles lined the walls to illuminate the room. A dummy lay in the middle of the room waiting to be used.
"We will start with the cutting curse I have invented. It is for enemies only and its incantation is sectumsempra. Now hit that target." He said. Lifting my wand I repeated the incitation. The rush of magic left me and hit the target dead on causing large gaping gashes across the chest and nearly severing the dummies arm.
"It's powerful," I mentioned.
"With more cause it will be even more powerful. The curse is difficult to heal. Nearly always causing death if hit directly and not treated quickly enough through bloodloss. The wounds can be easily healed by the vulnera sanenteur chant, which you already know." He explained to me. Flicking his wand at the dummy it patched it disappeared before being replaced with a stronger looking dummy. It moved quickly spitting off jinxes and minor curses. Each one was met by a shielding charm cast around us. "You will duel while I attempt to penetrate your mind. Begin."
With no further explanation he pushed me outside the shield barrier. Relying on instincts I managed to dodge an already incoming spell before raising my own shield charm. Casting a stunning curse towards the dummy I was shocked to see it actually move and protect itself with its own variation of a shield charm. Weaker than mine but still enough to deflect the weak stunner I sent.
"Do not be afraid to use stronger spells. You will not have the luxury of being hit by a simple stunner by your enemies." Snape leered at me. I threw a reductor curse and it hit the dummy right on center, instantly pulverizing it. Just as it had gone another replaced it that spitted out spells faster and moved quicker than the last one. Dodging a spell I faltered as my mind went under assault before I stiffened and fell to the floor with a thud by petrifying spell. Snape came towards me, raising up a shield as he walked. Unleashing me from the spell I got up, watching as the dummy outside the shield hit us with spell after spell.
"You must learn to occlude your mind while fighting. Legillimence users that are powerful enough will sometimes use this to cause you to falter and extract important information while you are unguarded. Now again." With no other time to recover I was pushed outside the shield.
"What's wrong with you tonight?" Draco muttered as we entered the room of requirement. The third time for me that night.
"Dueling exercise. Everything hurts," I said groaning.
"Are you up to teaching me? If not we should just patrol-" I raised my hand to stop him.
"You need to learn how to defend yourself enough just in case you get into a sticky situation when you return to your manor. Regardless if I'm tired I need to know that you will not be left unprotected in a wolves den." Draco nodded towards me. He knew what he would be going into when the time comes. It was nearly like a trap really. One slip up could cost him his life if he didn't occlude properly enough in front of Voldemort.
"Now then. Prepare yourself, Draco." I raised my wand to his head and I felt him grow rigid in anticipation. "Legillimence."
I felt myself push against his mind prying it open to see his memories, his thoughts, his emotions. His shields were up but it was too obvious. His mind blocked me with my assault with large glass shields erected in his mind. Voldemort would surely know something was being hidden if Draco came to him like this. Walking towards the glass wall I pressed my hand gently on it. Forcing my magic it shattered around me as an onslaught of memories came to view. Pulling out of his mind I looked at Draco's sweating face.
"Your shields are too obvious. You can't just hide your memories and thoughts. You must manipulate your entire mind. Hide your shield and manipulate harmless memories to pass through your shields to fake your loyalty. Now try again." I scowled at his attempt, my words reminding me of Snape's lessons. I raised my wand and entered his mind without another thought. His shield were still up but it had changed from before. It wasn't the glittering glass but a more subdued opaque material. I shook my head still too obvious. Pushing through it, it shattered again.
"You are not trying hard enough Draco. Shield your mind. Hide your shields. Your protection is not strong enough and it will get stronger in time. But you will need to hide them just like you hide your memories." I explained.
"How?" Draco muttered through the pain of a pounding headache.
"Create another shield. One that is not an obvious wall to guard your mind." I smiled at him before pressing my wand to his temple. "Again." Diving in his mind again, the opaque shields were still in full view. Stepping towards it, I felt my gaze grow cloudy as a fog rolled up in his mind. Perfect. The fog thickened and I pushed my magic through to clear the way and ram against his shields. Breaking it I pulled away from his mind entirely. Draco sat there sweating profusely gasping for breath.
"Better?" He grinned.
"Much better," I smiled back.
"Did you hear about the inquisitor squad Umbridge is making?" Draco said as he tried catching his breath. I sat down on the chair opposite of his and shook my head. "They would have higher authority than prefects. Taking away point, handing detentions out, essentially they would have more power."
"And your point?"
"My father wants me to join. To let me have a taste for that kind of power." He replied numbly.
"And what do you want?" I tilted my head in observation, grasping onto his magic to feel his emotions.
"I'm thinking on it. While the power is good, I would need to look like I'm abusing it against the other houses, especially you three. But it would be a good idea having one of us to be supposedly under Umbridge's wing. It would help us know what she is planning ahead of time." Draco stated clearly. The plan was simple enough. And wouldn't really backfire in any case. The only way it could go wrong would be if we messed up dramatically and Draco would get caught sneaking information to me. Then again, Umbridge would never suspect anything from a fellow pureblood. He would do it in the end but Snape should be informed before hand in case I'm missing something important. As much as Draco was my left hand. I preferred Snape as my right hand.
"Have you mentioned joining to anyone else?" He nodded in confirmation. "Who?"
"Snape," Draco said.
"And his advise?"
"To join. He said she isn't skilled enough apparently to try to go into my thoughts should I want to shield my activities, and was too high thinking of pureblooded Slytherin to suspect me of any wrong doing. Does he know of my connection to you?"
"Yes he does."
"And?" Draco trailed on. He sounded fearful at the revelation. He still must have thought that Snape was in Voldemort's pocket. It was of course a façade. If he were truly loyal to a side it would have been the Light. Regardless, a Slytherin like Snape always had a backup in the case the Light fell. Someone from our side had to in the case that we lost the war. Someone had to protect those that would be hunted in one form or the other.
"And nothing. He knows I'm teaching you certain spells since we've come to a truce of some sort and that in exchange you're providing me something of equal worth." I replied back swiftly.
"And does he know of my loyalties?"
"I cannot give you answers you are not prepared to know," I mentioned to him. He thought his question through and nodded at me, dropping the subject. His eyes were still reflecting the uneasiness inside him. "You will join the squad when given the opportunity and pass on any worthwhile information."
"Alright then. I can't wait to take points from Weasel." Draco grinned. I could see his eyes flaring to life with mischief despite his tired state. Regardless of the situation he seemed cheerful at the thought of having a higher power. If someone would prove to be more appealing and powerful to Draco would he leave my side? I frowned at the thought.
"None of that now. We will begin again. Focus now Draco." I raised my wand without a second thought. And the second wave of mental beating began.