"We have to go face them, then!" said Harry.
"Everyone knows who we're here for," Astoria said, jumping up. "Hermione. Protect her at all costs."
"What if they find the room?" asked an agitated Andiey.
Padma Patil, who had thankfully decided to attend this meeting, stood up. "I have some Polyjuice at home. I'll go fetch it, Hermione can drink it, and whoever finds her can just assume she's Parvati."
Malfoy nodded. "Don't waste a moment, then. Go, now!" he barked. She nodded, Lucius removed the wards, and she Disapparated. "No one else leave, or else!" He strode over to Hermione and crouched low in front of her. "You're going to take that potion, but whatever goes on outside, you must not leave this room. If the Death Eaters find you, they won't put up much of a fight, because the Patils are nothing extraordinary. They're not much of a threat, so you'll take them out easily."
Padma appeared back suddenly. "Here, take it!" She almost threw the potion in her haste to give it to Hermione.
"Careful with that, Patil!" hissed Malfoy.
Hermione brought the potion to her lips, grimacing. "You're positive this is you?"
"Of course I am!" Padma assured impatiently.
Still hesitant, Hermione downed the potion. She felt herself begin to change and groaned. Whimpering, she sank down into the sofa as her skin seem to melt off her. Her hair began to grow, causing an unpleasant prickling on her scalp. She felt herself grow taller, her entire proportions change. Watching her hands as they grew darker and more delicate, she was comforted in the fact that at least she didn't turn into a cat. Just when she felt she could take no more and there would be sick all over the sofa, it stopped.
Padma tossed Hermione some extra robes of Parvati's; she caught them clumsily.
"Let's go, then," said Ginny.
"Gin, no," Hermione protested. "Not you. Not in your condition. You can't just think about yourself, you're having a baby."
"She's right," agreed Lucius. "Mrs. Potter, it would be best for you and your child if you went home."
"But Astoria said at all costs!" Ginny complained.
"Ginny," intervened Astoria. "Are you really willing to risk your son's life?"
"No," she huffed. Before Disapparating, she muttered, "First because I wasn't of age and now because I'm pregnant. Just my luck."
"Everyone go, now!" ordered Lucius. I've already sent Patronuses for backup."
"Don't you dare leave this room," said Malfoy after everyone left, in the same commanding voice his father had used. "No matter what happens. Just because you took that potion, it doesn't mean you have to go parading outside."
She nodded mutely. Obviously she wasn't going to stay here while everyone else risked their lives for her, it was hardly fair. But, she realized, even if she went out there, she might not see some of the people that had just left ever again. Those Death Eaters could kill without a second thought, and there might be deaths tonight.
Before she knew what she was doing, her arms were around his neck and he was responding. They had iron grips on each other, making Hermione think their friendship was closer than she had originally thought it was. He let go of her waist first, nodding stiffly before leaving. She swallowed thickly. After waiting a few minutes, she followed him out.
The floor she was on seemed calm enough, but soon the sounds of a struggle came to her from below. Not one struggle, many. Downstairs, everyone was dueling Death Eaters, and she ran.
Hermione raced through the hallways, dodging ill-aimed spell after spell. She cursed internally. She knew the meetings were a bad idea, and here was proof. Malfoy and his parents couldn't reveal their true colors, not now. Yet that was exactly what they were doing. What else could they do, caught with the Order of the Phoenix?
Hermione passed Lucius fighting back-to-back with Narcissa, expertly dueling four Death Eaters at once.
"Traitors!" one of them snarled. "Muggle-loving scum!"
"What would Bellatrix say?" screamed another. "The Blacks and Malfoys are probably turning in their graves!"
As more and more Order members arrived, Hermione became confident they would emerge victorious. A desperately familiar voice reached Hermione, causing her to whirl around.
"Let's go, Gabrielle, please!" screamed Fleur.
"No!" insisted Gabrielle, Fleur's younger sister. "I want to stay!"
"Fleur!" called Hermione. "Gabrielle!"
Fleur looked up, confused, "Ah, do I know you?"
"It-" Hermione remembered her appearance. "It's me, Hermione. I took some Polyjuice earlier tonight."
"Herminny! Please, get Gabrielle to safety!" pleaded Fleur.
"Come on, Gabrielle, please," said Hermione.
"No!" refused Gabrielle. "I don't want to!"
"Gabrielle!" snapped Fleur. "Do as Herminny says!"
"I am of age!" Gabrielle said. "I can stay if I want to!"
"Fleur, we can't force her," said Hermione.
"Gabrielle, please!" begged Fleur.
"I'm staying!" Gabrielle screamed.
"I'm sorry." Hermione said before quickly giving both a hug and dashing off again. She looked around, desperately looking for someone, anyone she could help. Harry, Ron, Pansy, Astoria, Blaise, even Malfoy were too close to her to lose. She stopped running only when she caught sight of familiar dirty-blond hair. The woman dueled a Death Eater, neatly dodging Unforgivables as if it was a friendly game of dodgeball.
"You know, Voldemort isn't even that strong," Luna said. "You all follow him because you're afraid but if you could leave without fear that he'd kill you, you would. But see, Hermione and Harry have people that really love them and that would follow them no matter what. They're not scared, they're proud." As Luna continued rambling on, the Death Eater, looking befuddled, angry, and exerted, continued attempting to curse her.
Another Death Eater threatened her back, and Hermione sidled up behind her protectively. She thanked God for Polyjuice; if it weren't for the potion, she'd have Death Eaters coming at her left and right. Not to mention how angry everyone would be at her.
Her opponent was not difficult to beat, in fact he seemed inexperienced. It took all of two maybe three minutes for her to defeat him. Now he wasn't snarling aggressively, he looked quite young. No more than nineteen. Yet there was no guilt, because he wasn't dead. Hermione whirled to help Luna with her Death Eater. Neither could find an advantage, they were now too familiarized with each other. He was, however, no match for Hermione and Luna together. They dueled for a while, slowly beating him down. He was outnumbered, out-skilled and he knew it. As a cowardly last-ditch effort, he bolted. A last flash of green flew over his shoulder. Luna raised her wand before falling to the ground. She didn't move. Hermione pulled at her hand.
"C'mon, Luna," she said. "Let's go, we have to go."
But Luna didn't move. Hermione sighed in frustration. What was the point of blocking a curse if you were just going to be unconscious?
"Luna," Hermione demanded. "Wake up!"
'Padma?" came Harry. "What's wrong with Luna?"
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's me, Hermione! Luna blocked a curse but now she's unconscious and I can't move her!"
Harry glanced at Luna before squeezing his eyes shut and looking away. He took a breath. "What curse was it, Hermione?"
"Avada."
"Oh my. . ." Harry turned to Hermione abruptly. "You left the room?"
"I- Harry, I-"
"Not now." He took her hand. "Let's go, 'Mione."
She resisted. "Luna."
"I'll-" He swallowed. "I'll find someone to take her."
Hermione nodded hesitantly. "Fast. Before she gets hurt."
Harry squeezed her hand. "'Course, Hermione."
They ran, or more accurately, Harry dragged Hermione past a wild array of colors and spells, shouts and insults. Harry stopped before the first person not duelling: the one and only Ronald Weasley.
"Harry, mate what's wrong? Both of you-"
"Ron!" Harry interrupted. "Luna's in that room over there." He gestured to where they had come from. "She's unconscious. Could you go get her?"
Ron nodded and walked away. Harry stopped him before saying something Hermione couldn't quite catch. Ron stiffened and clenched his teeth before exhaling. "Second one so far," he said, grief in his tone.
Harry growled under his breath before pulling Hermione through the crowd once more. "We're getting you back." He stopped and switched directions before pointing. "He's losing, badly."
Hermione followed his gaze to see Draco Malfoy dueling. Draco bloody Malfoy, deteriorating before their very eyes. She groaned. He'd have her head when he discovered she'd snuck out! But first they'd have to save him. They snuck up behind the Death Eater and cursed him, watching as he keeled over.
Malfoy stared at his opponent before regaining his wits and looking up. Hermione tensed and cursed silently; his eyes narrowed and he said quietly, "Potter, tell me that is Patil standing next to you."
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Malfoy just narrowed his eyes, making it clear he could already tell it was Hermione. His eyes flashed. "Granger, what the hell did I tell you?!"
Hermione crossed her arms. "I wasn't about to stay locked up in a room while everyone else was fighting for me!"
"That was the only way to keep you safe!" His voice was loud and menacing.
"I had Polyjuice!"
"Are you thick?" he screamed. "You could have been- could have been killed! Someone could easily have mistook you for Patil and sent a curse flying your way! And what if- what if it wore off? What if right in the middle of a duel you changed back?"
"It won't happen!" she said hysterically.
"How do you know that? You know I'm right, Granger! Stupid, idiotic Gryffindor!"
On the verge of tears, she was about to spew some other argument, but he was right. She was being stupid and reckless. Only then did she notice the silence. Her argument with Malfoy had been the only sound filling the cavernous room. Malfoy, also noticing the hushed atmosphere, looked around at his destroyed childhood home, and walked away with quick, jerky, very un-Malfoy-like movements.
Hermione closed her eyes, lashes wet and leaned against Harry.
She had been there. Seen it. Could have prevented it. Why Luna? Why the bright and bubbly girl, with such a beautiful future? It was so ironic.
•••HP•••
Numb. So numb. So much pain. So numb. Grieved. Lost. Angry. Guilty. Tears. Numb. Why?
-CRACK-
Hermione whimpered and curled in on herself. Go away she moaned in her head because she was too tired to say it out loud.
"Gra- Hermione." He was right next to her. "I have- I have news." He stretched out his arms. An invitation. Hermione stood only to fall into them. Malfoy maneuvered them to the sofa. She curled into a ball in his lap, her head in the crook of his neck. She was still numb, still couldn't even cry.
"Hermione." His voice was thick. Like he was in pain himself. "No one wanted to tell you yet, but I know it'll be easier if you know now." His arms tightened around her as he took a deep, shuddering breath. He was trying not to break down, it was obvious. "Astoria's- She- Astoria's gone."
"No," whispered Hermione. Her voice gradually got louder. "No. No. No. NO! YOU'RE LYING!" she shrieked, trying to wrench herself from his grasp. "GET OFF OF ME! YOU'RE LYING! SHE'S NOT DEAD! SHE'S FINE! GET AWAY FROM ME!" His grip tightened.
"Hermione." His voice was shaking. "Stop. Please."
She continued kicking and screaming profanities at him, and he continued to hold on. Eventually she weakened. Her punches and kicks no longer reached him. That was when the truth found home. She whimpered, curling even tighter in on herself. Soon her sobs and shouts of anger subsided and she fell asleep, still in Draco's arms.
A/N: And please don't hate me forever cx IT HAD TO HAPPEN. Really no excuse for lateness, just pure laziness. Sorry. AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UP YESTERDAY BUT FANFICTION WAS BEING STUPID AND IDEK KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. -BaF xx