A dark cloud of sadness hangs over Hermione. She feels hollow as if the very wind has been sapped from her. She is unable to comprehend how someone could just choose to sit on the sidelines and do nothing while others were in pain.
The urge to cry is there but the hot tears are not. She won't cry. She refuses to curl up and cry, not when there is so much at stake.
She would rather die than accept someone's dystopian views. She knows she will be a key target, after all, she is Harry Potter's best friend and that makes her a high profile muggleborn. But she doesn't care, she will die for what's right, and now that the battle is on their doorstep, and so real, she stands firm in her resolve I will die for what's right, she tells herself. It is one thing to say you will die for something, but to be faced with potential death and still stand resolute makes her feel powerful, almost invincible. It's amazing how when you let go of all other thoughts and accept death as an option you no longer fear it. If only Parkinson could accept that this is bigger than just her.
"Hermione. Hermione" her name echoes down the corridor.
Turning swiftly she sees Harry and Ron racing towards her, the look on their faces instantly pushing aside her thoughts and feelings on Parkinson.
"Harry. What's happened?" she asks
"I know where it is. I know where the Ravenclaw Horcrux is" Harry shouts in glee "We have to get to the Room of Requirement. Now" he says racing towards the seventh floor.
They race and push past students many who were huddled together crying, a sheer look of terror on their faces.
"They are evacuating them through to Hogsmeade, I showed them some of the exit points from the map" shouts Harry as the door to the Room of Requirement approaches before them
As Harry opens the door to the Room, Hermione almost crashes directly into Professor Lupin, the Room is filled with faces she had not seen in such a long time. Lupin looks at her as does Kingsley, Oliver Wood Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, Bill and Fleur, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Seeing such familiar faces especially those of her surrogate mother and father Mrs. and Mr. Weasley fills her with hope. Hope that they may actually have a chance to defeat Voldemort.
"Mum, Dad" shouts Ron running into the giant open hug of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley
"What are you all doing here?" blurts out Harry "How did you know what was happening"
'We sent messages to the rest of Dumbledore's Army,' Fred explains brightly holding up an enchanted coin between his fingers. It was the fake Galleon Hermione has created to inform members of Dumbledore's Army when the next meeting would take place the years previous
"They let Aberforth know who let the Order of the Phoenix know, and it all kind of happened from there." chipped in George
"You couldn't expect everyone to miss the fun now, could you? says Fred smiling mischievously
"What's happening?" asks Lupin
'The Professors are barricading the school, they're evacuating the younger kids and everyone's meeting in the Great Hall to get organised,' says Harry. 'Voldemort is here, he's waiting until midnight. He wants me.
"Over my dead body" says Fred
"And mine" says George "There's going to be a fight"
There was a great surge towards them, that nearly made Hermione lose her balance and fall to the floor. Members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army all with their wands drawn, race out of the Room of Requirement, towards the Great Hall to strategise and prepare for battle, leaving just the three of them in the Room.
"Ok let's step outside and re-enter" says, Harry
"Harry, are you sure it's in the Room of Requirement?" asks Hermione worryingly "What exactly are we looking for"
"Yes. I know it is. I remember seeing it and It's Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem"
"Ravenclaws Diadem? But no one knows where that is..."
"Ah" chimes in Ron "No living persons knows, there's a ghost that knows it very well" says Ron pointing his finger up knowingly, proud to know something Hermione didn't "Harry spoke to the Gray Lady"
"The Gray Lady" repeats Hermione
"Yep. Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter, apparently" informs Ron
"We haven't got time" snapped Harry "it's nearly midnight"
A door appears the third time Harry walks past the Room of Requirement. Hermione holds her breath, she hopes against all odds the Diadem would be sitting proudly alone in the centre of the room. Easy for them to retrieve and destroy especially with the handful of Basilisk fangs she had in her bag. Any sparkle of hope that this would be easy to quickly crumbles away as she follows Harry into the room.
The Room was overwhelmingly huge, almost if not bigger than a Quidditch arena. Items upon items of objects hidden by hundreds perhaps thousands of students over the years line the room from wall to wall, piles of items towering well above them like skyscrapers. Chairs, weapons, broomsticks, bats, cauldrons, desks, a quidditch ring, and everything else imaginable stand in their path to the Diadem
"Bloody Hell," says Ron "Where do we even start?"
"I think it's down here" says Harry "this is where I remember going down to hide my potions book"
"My" potions book thinks Hermione, it was hardy your potions book. She knows it petty and now is not the time to be concerned with this, but she is still a little peeved that the only reason Harry did so well in the potions class was because he stumbled across a book, that altered potion formulas they were supposed to be following. It was an unfair advantage, although she wouldn't mind having an unfair advantage right now as they look for the Diadem
They speed off up an aisle, being sure not to bump into items that might cause the mountain of junk to tumble and fall on them.
"Somewhere near here," she hears Harry muttering to himself. "Somewhere . . . somewhere . . ."
Hermione stops in her tracks grabbing Ron by the sleeve "Harry" she whispers as loud as she can halting him in his tracks" hear that".
They all strain their ears. Simultaneously they look at each other. Footsteps they can hear other footsteps not their own.
"Quick. Let's move" says Harry
Deeper and deeper in the maze they ventured hoping above all they retrieve the Diadem and don't bump into whoever else is in the Room. .
Hermione collides into the back of Harry, who has stopped suddenly. She notices him shiver, his eyes focussed ahead
"Harry. What is it" says Hermione worryingly
Following his gaze, Hermione lets out a gasp. A scratched old cupboard lies ahead, on top of it is a stone warlock wearing a dusty old wig and what looked like an ancient discoloured tiara - the Diadem.
She waits with baited breath as Harry steps forward, arm stretched, ready to grasp the Diadem.
"Hold it, Potter."
Hermione spins around drawing her wand ready to defend or attack whichever came first. Her back stiffens. Crabbe and Goyle are standing behind them, their own wands pointed at the trio. From just over their shoulder she spies the sneering face of Draco Malfoy.
"That's my wand you've got there, Potter," say Malfoy, pointing a wand through the gap between Crabbe and Goyle.
Hermione casts a sideway glance at greyish brown wand in Harry's hand. He had explained to her that during their escape from Malfoy Manor, he had acquired Malfoy's wand during a scuffle between the two.
"Not anymore," says Harry, tightening his grip on the hawthorn wand. "It's mine now. Who's lent you theirs?"
Hermione grips her own wand tightly, her heart beats against her chest, they need to get the Diadem.
"My mother," says Draco.
And when Harry laughs out loud she could have actually whacked him across the back of the head. Why would Harry antagonise him? Not now they were so close to getting the Diadem, they needed to avoid unnecessary confrontation and stick to the task.
"So how come you three aren't with Voldemort?" asks Harry.
"We're gonna be rewarded," says Crabbe "We 'ung back, Potter. We decided not to go. Decided to bring you to in."
"Interesting plan," says Harry mockingly
It occurs to Hermione that Harry is trying to edge closer to the Horcrux. He's trying to distract them thinks Hermione so he can get the Diadem before any wayward spell accidentally knocks it into the clutter of items
"So how did you get in here?" asks Hermione. Harry gives her a sideways appreciative glance as he edges further towards the Diadem.
"You're not the only one that knows things, Granger" spits Malfoy
"We were hiding in the corridor outside," grunts Goyle. "We can do Diss-lusion Charms now!" his face split into a big wide toothy grin, "you turned up right in front of us and said you was looking for a die-dum! What's a die-dum?"
"You wouldn't understand, even if I did explain it slowly and with diagrams for you" says Harry
Goyle's face twist and reddens in anger. Harry's words obviously offending him. With his wand pointed at the mountain of books, trunks, furniture and all other imaginable items he shouts "Descendo!"
The wall of items began to tip and tumble towards the trio. Quick as a whip, Hermione points her wand and flips the tumbling items from the top of the mountain to the left of them
"Finite" cries Harry starring the remaining stumbling wall of items
"No!" shouts Malfoy, grabbing Goyle's arm, to stop him from casting another spell... "If you wreck the room you might bury this diadem thing!"
"What's that matter?" says Crabbe. "It's Potter the Dark Lord wants, who cares about a die-dum?"
"Merlín. Potter came in here to get it," says Malfoy. "so that must mean –"
"'Must mean'?" Crabbe turns on Malfoy viciously. "Who cares what you think anyhow? I don't take your orders no more, Draco. You an' your dad are finished."
"You're family are nothin' Draco" echoes Goyle "the Dark Lord, isn't happy with you lot is he?"
"Yeah, he might not keep you Malfoy's around much longer" laughs Crabb "you're not his favourite anymore"
Both Crabbe and Goyle laugh that menacing evil laugh. Malfoy is unable to keep the worried expression from his face.
Turning to Hermione "drop your wands you're done for." demands Crabbe The Dark Lord is too good for ya"
"It's not going to be that easy," says Ron standing tall and poised for action
"Drop it" growls Goyle getting himself into an attack stance too
"Not going to happen"
All six students stand facing each other, a standoff of wills. There is no way either grouping will lower their wands, there is only one way this confrontation will end and that is with hexes flying.
Sizing up her opponents, Hermione sees their eyes flicker to Harry, he is their prize. Hermione keeps her face unreadable, calculating the best form of attack. If they know disillusionment charms now, what other spells including no doubt dark spells and hexes have they been taught? She catches Malfoy looking over her shoulder, something has caught his eye, that characteristic sneer returning to his pointed features.
"Lower your wands"
Hermione whips her head around, the voice has come from behind them. Her heart bolts to her throat. They are surrounded. She stands frozen in wide-eyed disbelief. Standing behind her, Harry and Ron is Parkinson with wand raised and pointed.
Laughing loud "You eard her" says Crabbe a smile of size of dinner plate plastered to his face "drop them"
"You're done for now? You're surrounded" says Goyle
Feeling dizzy Hermione can't believe Parkinson has chosen to fight. Her heart crumbles into a myriad of pieces at the thought that she has chosen to fight for the dark side. Parkinson's presence is creating a hurricane of emotions that twist and swirl in the pit of her belly, hurt, sadness, but mostly her deep seeded anger is surfacing with such vengeance it takes every ounce of constraint not to hex Parkinson right on the spot. No wonder she was adamant that Hermione leaves, she didn't want a challenge thinks Hermione I'm better than her, this was all a rouse to get me out of the picture.
"Vincent, Gregory. Please" pleads Parkinson as she steps cautiously forward
Her plea takes everyone by surprise including Hermione. Harry and Ron look at each other in utter disbelief, while Hermione just stares at Parkinson now realising that she has asked her Slytherin comrades, her friends, to lower their weapons. Hermione stands rooted to the spot in complete amazement at how this woman can make her feel such diverse emotions in a matter of seconds. She will actually drive her crazy.
"Huh" says Goyle it takes him a few extra moments to register that Parkinson is talking to them. It is only when Parkinson is standing almost in line with Hermione but still a good distance away that they realise she is talking to her Slytherin housemates.
"You're a blood traitor?" says Goyle slowly he is genuinely confused and hurt by Parkinson's actions. Hermione can tell his perfect little world filled with Pureblood happiness is crumbling around him.
"Our friends are getting hurt. Marcus is hurt. Tracy is hurt." There's genuine sadness and worry in Parkinson's tone.
The battle has started. Hermione looks at Harry, her chest constricting in anguish. The look on his face says what she is thinking, they need to get the Diadem, destroy it and get out of here and go help their family and friends. If Slytherin's are hurt how many on their side are hurt too.
"Casualties are expected if we are to succeed," says Crabbe. It is obviously a rehearsed line that they have been brainwashed into believing. It's the nicest way of saying, you are just a pawn and in this war, your lives do not matter.
"Tabitha Babridge is also hurt" says Parkinson
The news strikes a nerve with Crabbe, Hermione can see the stronghold he had on his wand is wavering, his. eyebrows knitting together as he tries to solve this conflicting emotional puzzle that is running in him. He must like Tabitha a lot concludes Hermione. Tabitha is a petite blonde girl, Hermione did not have a lot of interactions with. She only knew her a quiet girl that never said much, she seemed nice enough if you take a Slytherin not hexing them as being nice. She was one of those students who doesn't really make an impression one way or another.
"He will take what he wants" says Parkinson "At anyone's expense"
"But we'll give him Potter," says Goyle still standing firm wand pointed directly at them
Hermione senses Harry move closer to the Diadem, her eyes are firmly fixed on the Slytherin trio. There is no telling what they will do
"You said it yourself," says Parkinson "he's turned on the Malfoy's so quickly, his most loyal followers. How long before he turns on one of us, our family, our mothers?"
Malfoy tenses anger burning in his grey eyes, while Hermione notices Goyle's eyes begin to soften, his resolute now wavering too. His love and need to protect his mother an obvious trigger. Oh, she's good thinks Hermione. With those few sentences, Parkinson has been able to cast doubt in three of the most steadfast Pureblood loyalist.
The three Slytherin's stand huddled together in deep contemplation. In their hesitation, Harry has grasped at the opportunity and lunged at the Diadem. His actions taking the Slytherin's by surprise, they react on their first instinct which is to attack.
"Crucio" yells Crabbe
Parkinson shrieks and hides behind a pile of items, not wanting to be hit by a stray curse. Thankfully Crabbe's curse misses Harry, instead of hitting the cupboard the Diadem was resting on. The Diadem soars into the air, Harry with his lightning fast Seeker reflexes jumps high hand extended reaching for the Horcrux, and for the first time he misses. The Diadem landing somewhere in the pile of junk near them
"STOP!" Shouts Malfoy at Crabbe. "The Dark Lord wants him alive –"
"So? Crucio won't kill. I'm not killing him, am I?" yells Crabbe, pulling away from Malfoy "But if I can, I will, the Dark Lord wants him dead anyway, what's the diff – ?"
"Stupefy" shouts Hermione a jet of scarlet shoots from her wand towards Crabbe, narrowly missing him because Malfoy pulls him away.
"You bloody Mudblood" yells Crabbe "Avada Kedavra!"
A green light shoots towards Hermione, she dives out of its way and in the opposite direction of Parkinson who is kneeling behind another wardrobe, a panicked look on her face. This is everything she wanted to avoid.
"You're dead" shouts Ron shooting forceful stunning spell towards Crabbe who lunges out of the way, knocking Malfoy's wand out of his hand in the process and under some rubble of junk.
"Don't kill him! DON'T KILL HIM!" Malfoy yells at Crabbe and Goyle, who are now aiming their wands at Harry. Malfoy's words causing them to hesitate.
"Expelliarmus!" yells Harry his spell causing Goyle's wand to fly from his hands
Hermione casts another Stunning Spell towards the Slytherin trio hitting Goyle square in the chest. Ron shoots a full Body-Bind Curse at Crabbe but misses. Items crash and smash around them as stray spells miss their intended target and collide with the plethora of items in the Room.
Harry dives to Hermione's side "it's just over there" pants Harry pointing to a small pile of items "Go look for it, I'll keep them busy"
Before she can move, there is a roaring, billowing noise behind her turning she sees both Ron and Crabb running as fast as they can up the aisle towards them
"Like it hot?" yells Crabbe as he runs, but his cockiness soon turns to terror as he is unable to control what he has created.
Mammoth flames chase them, dancing and twisting hungrily devouring everything in their path.
"Aguamenti!" screams Harry. It's futile the water shooting from his wand disappearing before it even gets near the flame. It's a cursed flame.
She sees Malfoy lunge and with all his might drag the stunned Goyle with him. Parkinson, where's Parkinson panics Hermione. Her breath hitches the spot Parkinson was kneeling now empty. Hermione looks around frantically, she cannot see Parkinson anywhere. .
"RUN!" screams Harry pulling her by the arm
The fire pursues them with vengeance, as they duck and weave down the aisles
"It's chasing us" yells Ron
Hermione screams. The fire has mutated into depictions of fiery animals, dragons serpents and other hideously fanged creatures tower above them swallowing all in their wake. Items are flung into the air landing in their fanged mouths and beneath their feet.
Fear inescapable as the inferno nears them, leaving a wake of destruction. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle vanish down an aisle. Still unable to see or hear Parkinson she runs and hopes against all odds Parkinson is ok.
Claws, horned tails, fangs lash and thrash about them, encircling them into a fiery wall,
"There" yells Harry racing forward and grabbing some antique brooms throwing them at her and Ron. She hesitates for a split second. She's never been a huge fan of flying, not like the boys. But the roar of the fire echoing in her ears and the feel of the searing heat near her skin urges her to jump on. She not confident on the broom, her knuckles grip the shaft of the wood tightly. With a hard kick, she soars up towards Ron and Harry. Fiery jaws snap at them, narrowly missing the tail of her broom.
Thick billows of smoke sting her eyes as she looks desperately for Parkinson, but she cannot see her. She watches Harry sweep as low as he could without being swallowed by the inferno. Was he looking for the Diadem? Surely that would be impossible
"Harry" yells Ron "let's go"
"I hear them" yells Harry back swooping towards the flames
"It's – too – dangerous – !" yells Ron
Flying faster and steadier than she ever has before Hermione chases after Harry, he has heard cries for help. Please. Please let it be Parkinson. Please let it be Parkinson she prays repeatedly
The flames thunder below them devouring everything. Thick black smoke burns her eyes but still, she persists, hanging on tightly following Harry. Harry swoops down swiftly, he's seen, someone. Her stomach drops, all hope that it is Parkinson plummets instantly when she spots what Harry has seen. Crabbe and Malfoy with his arms wrapped around Goyle perched precariously on an unstable tower of flame licked desks.
Malfoy raises his arm to Harry, but slips from Harry's grasp. Goyle and Malfoy are too heavy for Harry. Crabbe raises his arm too, but Hermione can't bring herself to reach out to help Crabbe, he's the one who started this inferno, he's the reason that Parkinson is somewhere trapped in this fiery mess, scared alone and in danger.
"Help get Goyle onto my broom" yells Hermione "make sure he's balanced"
"IF WE DIE FOR THEM, I'LL KILL YOU, HARRY! I'LL KILL YOU BOTH" roars Ron's helping Malfoy hoist Goyle on Hermione's broom
Her broom dips instantly from the weight of Goyle dangling bent at the waist over the broomstick.
"Colloshoo" says Hermione casting a sticking spell at Goyle so he doesn't slide off into the flames.
Crabbe clambers onto the back of Ron's broom. Hope that they will find Parkinson disappearing into the thick smoke as the horny tail of the inferno beast towering above them comes crashing down smashing and engulfing the table they were just on.
They fly off into the air, ducking and weaving from the flames. Hermione looks frantically about in anguish hoping to see Parkinson, she strains her ears against the roar of the fire desperately trying to hear something that resembles a human call for help, but the roar of the flames engulf any hope. Her insides are dying with every second that passes. Where is Parkinson. She never wanted this, yes she wanted Parkinson to fight to stand for something but she never wanted her to die. Hermione never expected that she might.
The smoke overwhelming, crushing her lungs making it hard to breathe they need to get out of here
"Get to the door" she hears Malfoy scream to Harry "what are you doing"
Harry is diving down again as Malfoy screams like an unearthed Mandrake, for a split second Hermione's hope that he had seen Parkinson peaks but instantly crashes down as she realises Harry has seen the Diadem. She watches him dive and scoops up the Diadem in one swift movement.
Something in the corner of her eye catches her attention. She sees a flash of black hair racing down a cluttered aisle, the hungry flames chasing her down.
"She's over there" yells Hermione
Lowering herself she makes to speed towards the running figure, but she can't get the momentum, the weight of Goyle on the broom is slowing her down. She tries to thrust forward with all her might as the fiery inferno swishes and engulfs like a raging river below her. The black smoke is thick, crushing her lungs, choking her, the last few objects unburned by the hungry flames shoot past her, as the fiery beasts cast them into the air. She tries with all her might to speed up but Parkinson is out of reach, beside her are now Harry and Ron intent on helping her.
Not far now she tells herself, extending her arm to Parkinson, who is still running down the aisle.
"Hermione" call out Harry and Ron at the same time.
Harry grabs the front of her broom thrusting her off course and away from Parkinson and the head of a sharp-toothed blazing dragon that has risen like an explosion of lava from beneath, lunging and snapping its gigantic jaws blocking her from Parkinson.
"PANSY" screams Hermione her hand still outstretched.
"We have to go" yells Harry still grasping the front of her broom leading her towards a rectangle in the wall.
The smoke stings and burns her eyes, as she frantically looks back in search for Parkinson. The ferocious body of flames ruthlessly engulfing all that is left below, all she can see is a sea of vicious and violent flames as the beasts cheer and ravage item below. A final ear shattering explosion thrusts her forward through the door. She sees Parkinson no more.