Ya!! Upload manager is working again...not that it was holding me back from uploading anyways, lol. This chappies a little short, sorry. Next one will be up soon. I have finals approaching so I won't be able to update as much as I would like.

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Chapter Twenty Five – The Last Twinkle

Hermione woke up the next morning and made her way downstairs. She really wanted to go see Harry. She was about to go into the study when the stairs cracked behind her. She turned around and found Draco standing on the top steps. He smirked at her and walked down to her level.

"We eat first," Draco ordered.

Hermione nodded in agreement and followed him into the dining room. She sat down beside him and waited for their food to be delivered. She watched as Dobby filled the table before they dug in. Draco refused to make conversation with her so she busied herself with muttering into her head. Her worried nerves bugging her. When she finished her pancakes Lucius walked into the room. He looked them both over and sat down.

"Morning," Draco said.

"Morning," Lucius said.

"How is he?" Hermione asked.

Lucius studied her. "Not good."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"Don't question me," Lucius stated. "If you want to know go into my study and go see Severus."

Hermione excused herself and left the table. She made her way through the hall and into Lucius' study. Grabbing some floo she jumped into the fire and made her way to the Riddle Mansion. She walked around till she found the stairs that led to Harry's room. Running up as fast she she could she ran to Harry's door when someone grabbed her.

"Don't go in there," Bella said.

"Why?" Hermione asked. "I want to see him."

"Right now isn't good," Bella said. "They're still fixing him."

"Fixing him?" Hermione said. "What was wrong?"

"Something happened," Bella said. "He started to remember things and it affected different spells and charms on him. Damaged his aura a little."

"He's okay though?" Hermione asked.

"He's in a lot of pain," Bella said. "But he will be okay."

"When can I see him?" Hermione asked.

"Soon," Bella said. "Why don't you go busy yourself in the library?"

Hermione nodded and made her way back down the stairs. She walked down one of the hallways and went into the library. She pulled out some books and sat down. She tried reading but failed and looked around the room. It was deafly quiet, which really bugged her. She thought there would be voices or anything coming from upstairs. Maybe they had a silencing spell up? Hermione looked down at her books and jumped a little. She watched as Nagini moved passed her feet. The snake slithered around up the chair posts till she could sit beside Hermione. Hermione smiled at the snake and ran a hand down her glossy coat before sitting back in the chair.

"I don't sees why I have to watch yous?" Nagini hissed though Hermione never heard her.

Hermione closed one of the books she took out and heard the far door open. She watched as Bella walked over to her. She wondered how long she had been sitting in the library for since Bella held a sandwich in her hand. She smiled kindly at Hermione and placed the sandwich on the table. The plate clattered against the wood table.

"It's lunch time," Bella said. "Thought you might be hungry."

"Thanks," Hermione said. "Why are you being so nice?"

"I like you," Bella said simply.

"What's in the sandwich?" Hermione asked.

"Ham, cheese and tomato," Bella said.

"Alright," Hermione said taking a piece.

"You should watch yourself," Bella said looking at Nagini. "Around here."

"Oh?" Hermione questioned.

"Nothing," Bella said. "Once you finish you can come see Harry."

Hermione nodded at her and began eating her sandwich. Bella left the room in silence. Hermione looked down at Nagini and shook her head. What was she doing here? When she finished her meal she jumped when her plate disappeared. Brushing that off she put her books away and made her way up to Harry's room.

She pushed open the door and found Severus standing over him. She noticed his aura was still floating around a little. She walked over to them and stood beside Severus. Severus craned his neck to look at her.

"He's not that well, yet," Severus said. "He's calm now."

"What really happened?" Hermione asked.

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Exactly what Bella told you."

"Hmm," Hermione said not convinced.

"He started to remember his past," Severus said. "Has this happened before?"

"A couple times," Hermione said. "His nose bled too, like this time."

"I see," Severus said.

"It's not good his aura's still out," Hermione said.

Severus nodded. "It's not."

"Tom has a lot of spells placed on him," Severus said. "Some are protection, some are memory charms, and some are hiding things."

"Like his scar?" Hermione questioned.

"How...never mind, yes," Severus said. "When he started to remember, the memory charms tried back firing him."

"That doesn't make sense," Hermione said. "There has to be something else?"

"There's not," Severus lied.

"So, your telling me the charms and spells all crashed together," Hermione said. "Making his nose bleed, his scar bleed, and making him pass out?"

"Yes," Severus lied again.

"Your lying," Hermione said. "What else is there?"

"There's nothing you need to be concerned with," Severus snarled.

Hermione looked at him. "There is something?"

"Of course there is," Severus growled. "You figured it out yourself."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"None of your business," Severus said.

"But that caused this?" Hermione asked. "His aura getting damaged, the pain?"

"Clearly, yes," Severus sighed.

"Who are you spying for?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"I should ask you the same question," Severus sneered.

Hermione glared at him. "I asked first."

"Then I won't answer your question," Severus said, Hermione said nothing. "I'm assuming my answer, determines yours?"

Hermione looked away from him.

"Thought so," Severus laughed. "If I say Tom, you'll say Tom. If I say Albus, you'll say Albus, clever."

"Whatever," Hermione said.

"I suggest you read more on Horcruxes," Severus said. "Your going to need it."

Hermione wanted to ask him what he meant, but he was already out the door. She watched as it closed before looking at Harry. She walked over to him and sat down beside him. He looked like he was in a lot of pain, Hermione thought. She watched as his aura floated around her. She probably shouldn't stay too close for too long. She picked up Harry's hand and held it tightly. His body was cold, Hermione didn't like it. Hermione heard a sound outside the door.

"Hermione," Bella said opening the door. "We have a meeting, come down."

Hermione frowned and looked at her arm. Why hadn't she felt anything again? She got up and kissed Harry before letting go of his hand. She watched him for a moment before she walked out of the room. She made her way back downstairs and into the meeting room. She found Draco, Lucius, Severus, Fenrir, and Bella standing around. Hermione walked over to them and sighed. She heard a bang and watched as Tom came storming into the room. He glared at Hermione before looking at everyone else in the room.

"We're moving the date," Tom growled. "To tomorrow night."

Hermione stopped breathing. Tomorrow. She wouldn't be ready by then to kill Albus. She looked around trying to hid her panic. Draco laughed at her before he agreed with Tom.

"Harry should be fine tomorrow," Tom said. "So everything will be moved."

"Want me to tell Albus?" Severus asked.

"Yes," Tom said. "Make a lie, make him go into that building tomorrow night."

"Will do, my Lord," Severus said.

"Draco," Tom began. "Can you get the wardrobe ready?"

"I will," Draco said. "I'll have it complete."

"Very good," Tom said. "Dismissed."

Hermione walked out of the room and shook herself. This can't happen this fast. She can't do it. She felt Draco brush by her. He smirked at her. Hermione glared at him, she could and would kill Albus.

"You know," Draco laughed. "If I don't fix the wardrobe more. You'll be going there all by yourself. No Harry to help you out."

"So," Hermione glared.

Draco laughed at her again and walked off. Hermione felt like crying. She didn't want to go without Harry. She didn't think she could do it without Harry. Hermione walked to the stairs and sat down on them. She felt horrible. She watched as Nagini moved by her and glared at the snake. It was watching her, she knew now, but why? Tom really didn't trust her. She got to her feet and laughed. Tom really shouldn't trust her. She turned and made her way back upstairs for another time. She was really starting to hate these stairs. She walked into Harry's room and shut the door behind her. It was only the afternoon, so she shouldn't go to sleep yet. She walked over to Harry and decided to lay next to him for a while.

She watched his aura move around her when she laid on the bed. She felt a weird wind against her when she laid down next to Harry. She watched as his chest rose up and down for a while before snuggling up to his side. She wasn't sure how dangerous it was for her to belaying next to him. But since Severus touched him, she figured it was okay. She closed her eyes to rest a little while and didn't notice Severus watching them.

Severus watched as Harry's aura seemed to draw out Hermione's a little. He knew it was okay, but wasn't. Usually the aura's matched together through the individual's hands. He looked them over one last time and headed to Albus' office. When he arrived he wasn't surprised to see Black sitting in his office. Albus looked up at him and Sirius jumped out of his seat.

"What happened?" Sirius asked.

Severus scrunched up his face. "Nothing."

"Severus," Albus said.

"The spells on the boy clashed together," Severus said shrugging it off. "He's fine now. Granger is with him."

"Is that all?" Albus asked.

"Yes, it is," Severus said. "Nothing to alarm yourselves with."

"Good," Sirius said.

"I do however have news," Severus said. "Tom plans to retrieve his Horcrux from the orphanage."

"Are you sure?" Albus asked.

"Yes," Severus said. "He wants to move his plan up, I'm not sure why."

"Does he still think Hermione can kill me?" Albus asked.

"He does," Severus said. "I don't think she will be able to do it, but Harry will be with her."

"Do you think he might?" Albus asked.

"Yes," Severus confirmed. "If she fails, he won't hesitate to do it."

"So I need to go tomorrow then?" Albus asked.

"Yes, otherwise he'll think I never informed you," Severus said.

"There's not one in there though," Albus sighed. "I wish there was."

"No," Severus said. "There isn't."

"Very well," Albus said. "We'll go tomorrow."

"Albus?" Sirius questioned. "They'll kill you."

"That is their goal," Albus said. "I am getting old Sirius. I am going to die soon as it is. I better protect my students when I can."

"This is stupid,"Sirius said.

"I need to do this," Albus said. "I need to know her true intentions."

"She's a traitor, I can assure you," Severus said.

"But are you sure?" Albus asked him.

Severus sighed. "Not really."

"When I go," Albus said. "It will be up to you Sirius to led the Order and get rid of the Horcruxes and Tom."

"I know," Sirius said. "I am ready for that, just didn't think it would be so soon."

Albus smiled at him, his eyes twinkled. This could possibly the last night Severus and Sirius ever saw Albus' eyes twinkle again. Severus closed his eyes briefly as if he was trying to memorize this moment. The man that saved him, was risking his life for someone else. Sirius looked out the window. He really hoped everything would be okay.