A/N: I'll be back in a week. :) Let me know what you think.
XOXO
Chapter Thirty-Six
I tapped my quill lightly on the parchment reviewing it again for the seventh time. I still had half an hour more to do the work but it was easy, too easy for what I set myself up for. The questions were something I could have answered last year and hardly anything was difficult. So far with the exams nothing was overtly hard. The only thing that had nearly caught me was the exam two days ago. The practical defense examinations. Everything was smooth sailing until we had to face the boggart.
I could still remember my breath unable to leave me as I stare at that shaking cabinet. What would mine have turned into? What secret would be exposed should I have let the boggart form? Every jolt through my nerve cells were like fire. I couldn't have possibly let it form. Would it have been Severus' dying body? My own death? Would it possibly have been able to split itself into pieces and reenact the death of everyone I loved? Would I have had to see my parents as they were that night I found them in their room? Can the boggart recreate the stench of their rotting bodies?
So what else was a girl to do but vanish it without letting it do so? My rapid spell casting impressed them rather than alert them that I was a bit apprehensive over the ordeal. Let them think I was just too fast for the boggart.
Harry's experience with the patronus charm had seemed to alert all the examiners. All of them had decided to make it a bonus mark if we were able to perform such advanced magic. My basilisk patronus sent a shock to them all as it formed weaving menacingly. The ancient Slytherin examiner that was testing me had an eye of approval as he jotted my marks, promising me nothing lower than the highest mark.
It felt good. Way better than now at least.
I tapped my quill fervidly on the desk. In all honesty I was bored. As much as I loved Hogwarts: A History the idea of a history exam seemed pointless when I knew all that I needed to know anyways. Though I don't know what on earth I would do knowing the detailed event of goblin wars.
Draco was the same as me. I could see him from the corner of my eyes equally as bored with his quill tapping emptily on the desk. We were just really killing time. It was better killing time here than alone somewhere waiting for the bait to be set and the victim to be lured. That nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn't go away even if I left the exam room.
The Fates seemed to like having everything done as if on cue by my thoughts as Harry's yell made nearly everyone jump from their seats. An examiner quickly rushed before the fallen Harry who mumbled something and shook his head violently at the person. The wizard frowned, nonetheless he picked up Harry's exam as Harry slowly strolled off outside the Great Hall. It was time.
The remaining minutes couldn't tick by fast enough. Once we finally left I grabbed Ron dragging him with me to the Gryffindor tower where Harry surely had left to.
He was there hunched over completely out of it on his bed. His sweat covered him and he looked nearly sick as he clutched tightly onto his head.
"Harry?" I whispered. I needed to know if it was time. If at that very moment I needed to get everything ready, to alert the others and make sure Severus would get the Order. "Harry?" I said again.
"Talk to us, mate. You're scaring me?" Ron whispered. Harry tore at his hair before he finally looked up at us. His eyes looked slightly crazed with determination and I knew at that moment what he saw.
"He's got Sirius," He cried out. "He's got Sirius and he's torturing him." His desperate cries made my heart twinge in regret. Either way this was going to happen, even if I didn't meddle with the Fates Sirius Black was going to be inevitably killed somehow sooner rather than later. That gnawing feeling only seemed to grow stronger with each passing second and I knew that this was going to start the war.
I let my thumb rub against the ring on my index finger, turning it and letting the magic of my thoughts through. It's time.
"What are you talking about?" Ron scared voice let out.
"Sirius has been taken to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry. It's the place I've been dreaming of since the start of the year," he exclaimed.
"I thought you were occluding those dreams," I lied. The words slipped out of me too easily.
"I haven't alright Hermione! Look I need to check to see if he's gone. I need your help to get to Umbridge's office undisturbed," he muttered out. I could see his half-baked plan starting to form in his head. That wasn't part of my plan.
"Harry, maybe there's some other way we can check to see if-" I tried to intervene.
"No," he shrieked almost hysterically.
"Harry, what if this is a trap?" It was.
"I don't care. If Sirius is there being tortured I'm going after him. We need to go to Umbridge's office," he declared. I could see in his eyes there was no persuading him and I gave him a reluctant nod.
"We'll need to get some help from the others," I mentioned. I needed at least Luna if things weren't going to go according to my plan. I already knew something like this was bound to happen. Harry gave me a shaky nod and I turned to Ron. "You and Harry go get Ginny. She should be downstairs. Get Neville as well. Go get changed it wouldn't do us well to be caught since we look like we should be in school if we need to leave. Then get someone to tell Umbridge that Peeves is wreaking havoc somewhere far from her office. I'll go get Luna and we'll all meet at the corridor opposite from Umbridge's office." They nodded at my orders and set off hurriedly.
Sneaking to my own room I shredded off my clothes and called Tilly in the process. He appeared before me as I slipped into a pair of tight dragon hide pants that clung to me and a matching top with a large metal work down the middle for extra protection.
"Go to Luna and bring her to me once she gets ready for battle. Then go to Draco and make sure he gets the Inquisitorial squad in check. If he can't manage to get them away from our direction tell him to apprehend us and bring us to Umbridge's office. After telling him that go to Severus to tell him the plan is starting," I belted out the orders as I threw on one of my heavier duty cloaks. It was feather light but I could feel the heavy onslaught of power radiating off of it. Making sure it was secure I closed all the buttons and slipped in one of the inner pockets my trusty clutch that had everything I needed for the battle within it.
Tilly left quickly knowing the urgency of my orders and brought Luna to me within the next second. She was dressed similar to me but her carefree demeanor made it look less daunting.
"It's time," she observed. I gave her a grave look which she only smiled back to me. "We will make it out relatively unharmed," her airy voice did nothing to calm my nerves and behind her façade I could see the same nerves coursing through her.
"We need to go," I said softly as I secured my two wands in my sleeves, letting my unregistered wand slip into my more dominant side. I could see her checking her own to make sure before she casted a disillusionment charm on the both of us. With a tug on my sleeve I led her through the doors and left the tower unnoticed.
We stood by Umbridge's office for a while completely visible at that point to wait for Harry and the others. They came sooner than I had expected rushed in simple muggle clothing while Luna and I looked more serious donning our wizard robes.
"What's going on?" Neville asked.
"Can't really say just now. But we need the three of you to patrol the halls. If you see Umbridge coming by try to stall her or something," Harry thought out loud. I could see Ron by his side looking willing to follow Harry but with a tentative expression. He knew something bad was going to happen. All of them did. It was, after all, the end of the year again.
They accepted their task and went off without any need for further explanation. They would be demanding that later when we leave.
I should have gasped as Harry pulled out a knife from nowhere but I didn't. Ron did though and that was shock enough for Harry to not think anything of my outward calmness over the situation.
We were lucky enough that Umbridge couldn't have gone into the real Headmistress' office or else this would have been harder to achieve. Since she didn't we were able to easily slip inside once Harry opened the locked and warded door using the enchanted knife. We slipped inside the overly pink room. The cats painted on equally pink plates began meowing at our intrusion. They looked like they wanted to be free from their prison. Too bad I wasn't feeling up to it.
We knelt down in front of the fireplace and Harry quickly floo called Grimmauld Place. Kreacher answered just as planned. At least some things were going as planned. Harry uneasiness seemed to double or triple as Kreacher mentioned that Sirius was not at the safe house before promptly ending the call. Harry looked at us.
The door slammed open abruptly and I grabbed my wand on instinct. Umbridge had come through with a satisfied look upon her face. Behind her were Draco and the several of the students in the squad she had created. Two of which were holding another person. One holding Ginny and Neville while Draco held onto Luna.
"Students going against the rules. Now tell me what is it you are doing?" She chirped happily. "Perhaps talking to the previous headmaster?" She questioned. Her sickly sweet voice made me want to throw up, that or hex her to bits but I restrained myself. This was not the plan at all. We weren't supposed to get caught. My own uneasiness wracked through me and Draco and Luna easily saw my anxiety.
"Bugger off," Ron spat at her courageously.
"Well then. I guess we will just have to restrain you," She said sweetly. The next things I knew I was in a headlock by Crabbe along with the others except Harry who was forcibly sitting on a chair.
"Don't tell her anything," Neville exclaimed. I heard more shuffling as the Slytherin tried to better restrain him. Severus walked into the room slowly his eyes casted on us trapped. He grimaced at the turn of events. I let myself nod to him and I could see the acknowledgement in his eyes. I had a plan.
"You wished to see me?" He drawled on. He kept his eyes on Harry and I could see his brain working.
"Did you bring the Veritiserum?" The toad demanded of him.
"I'm afraid I am out of stock from your previous uses," he leered. Umbridge fidgeted in annoyance and I could see her fingers tighten on the wand she held.
"Well don't you have anything else?" She probed.
"Unless you wish to poison him, no." Severus replied back simply.
"Very well then," she muttered. Severus turned to leave his robes trailing behind him.
"He's got padfoot!" Harry yelled. Severus snapped towards him his face portraying a fake sense of confusion. "He's got padfoot at the place where it's hidden." His desperation was weaved into every word. If only he knew.
"Padfoot? Whose Padfoot? Where what is hidden?" Umbridge ranted. "Snape?" her tone was louder and she seemingly demanded an answer from him.
"No idea," Severus drawled. He, with a swish of his robes, left promptly leaving us in his wake.
"Very well than. This calls for a drastic measure." She turned and I could feel a darkness slip into her magic. It was almost time. "The use of the cruciatus curse should loosen your tongue." Her wand darted in front of Harry just a few inches from his face.
"That's illegal," Ginny yelled from beside me. Her struggle nearly had her capturer slip her hold.
"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," she reasoned. Her eyes were trained on Harry and as she said the first part of the curse I yelled. She dropped her wand to look at me. In fact everyone did.
"Tell her Harry!" The boy looked at me in shock not knowing what to say to my screams. "If you won't tell her I will."
"Tell me what?" Umbridge questioned eagerly.
"Dumbledore's secret weapon," I said briskly. I could see her happiness at having more incriminating evidence on Dumbledore through her eyes. She soaked up every lie I said about it. How it was hidden in the forbidden forest. How she needed to come along with me and Harry to go retrieve it. She was an ambitious witch. Unfortunately she was gullible. I was even able to slip my normal wand that she had taken off of me back.
With her wand trained on the both of us we made a short hike into the forest leading to Grawp, Hagrid's half-brother. The leaves crunched below us with every step we took making the witch jump up in fright.
"Is it much farther?" she said shakily. I took a look around me holding my wand tightly in my hand.
"No," I said bluntly. Harry looked at me worriedly not knowing what to expect.
"What are you doing?" He whispered gently.
"Improvising."
"Well where is it?" Umbridge commanded.
"I'm afraid I lied to you," I said softly before holding up my wand and send a sleeping spell as quickly as I could. She fell to the ground completely knocked unconscious. With a silent spell I casted another curse her way, one that was fitting for the hatred and wish for revenge I held inside me. Obliviate. Grabbing Harry I made a run for it through the forest.
"What was that?" He exclaimed as we ran. "And how did you get your wand back?"
"I made a grab for it when we left," I told him the real explanation. No need to lie about such a minor detail. We ran until we saw Hogwarts. Thankfully Luna was already there waiting for us after the bridge nearing the forest.
"How did you guys?" Harry questioned them in confusion. They all had beaming faces and Ron extended Harry's own wand out to us. Harry pocketed it without a question but wanting the explanation to question he previously asked.
"Luna was brilliant," Neville began. I could see him looking longingly at her and I frowned. She was taken already. "She told Malfoy that he should inform Snape about the weapon and he took the message in pride leaving her unguarded. No one seemed to mind since," He trailed off looking uncomfortable at the thoughts he was about to say.
"I hexed the Slytherins to free the others." Luna said simply, she looked at me and Harry with her eyebrows quirked. "Where's Umbridge?" She breathed out.
"Sleeping in the forest. Which spells?" I asked her in return.
"Stunners," she chirped. I gave her a nod before turning to the others.
"I need to go," Harry decided shortly. "I need to go alone." I snapped my head towards him about to scold his entire thought but Ron beat me to it. He preached about us being in with this for a long time now and how we weren't simply going to let him off to go fight alone. The fight part brought up a new topic and soon Harry was telling them everything he knew. He'd finally decided we were going with him at last. The only dilemma they had was that they didn't know how to get there.
"Thestrals," Luna said softly.
"They have great sense of direction," I chipped in. They looked hesitant to agree with me but knowing there was no other way, which there really wasn't unless we use the elves I had never mentioned or illegally apparate.
There was no more real talking as we flew to London. The cold air stung my face forcing me to put a warming charm on myself but the others didn't seem to think much of it was they braced the cold that was brought along by the height. The wind cut at us the dark horse like creatures flew about. They were fast luckily enough as we landed into muggle London. It was dark outside with no one in sight on the street.
The Fates were favoring us.
The descent into the Ministry was no trouble at all and I led them towards the elevators that I remembered from the first and only time I had come here with Elena. There were dozens of buttons and Harry only needed to push one to get us where we needed to go.
The Department of Mysteries was a strange place filled with various questionable things that the Ministry really shouldn't pry on. Live brains for example. It took several trials and errors to finally wind up at the correct room. The room of prophecies was made up of series after series of shelving units, each adorning what seemed to be an endless number of prophecies. The large crystal balls glowed eerily from the magic of the seers who imparted the bits of the future.
"Ninety-five. Ninety-six. Ninety-Seven," Harry counted. "He should be here." He looked around frantically and I knew it was time to tell him the truth.
"Harry, he isn't here," I said gently.
"Harry this has your name on it," Neville said out loud to us from one of the shelves. True enough the prophecy there glowed with Harry's proximity to it.
Hesitantly Harry and I approached it. I looked at him amazed as he simply picked it up unknowing what exactly he just unleashed. Reaching out I let myself touch it listening to the words it spoke.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thriced defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can like while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…" The prophecy ended and I could tell the faint voice of the woman who spoke, while distorted, was of Trelwany. I guess she wasn't a complete fraud after all.
"Harry?" I whispered. He seemed frozen as we surrounded him, the prophecy in his hand.
"If you will kindly hand that over, Mr. Potter," I heard Lucius voice come form a distance. Our wands turned to face him as he casually strolled closer to us.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry demanded as he clutched the round orb.
"Little itty bitty Potter is confused Lucius. Whatever shall we do?" the maddened voice of Bellatrix Lestrange could be figured out from anywhere. The childish tone to it made it even more mental that it already was.
"Silence Bella," Lucius said. She glowered at him but nonetheless backed off. "To me now, Potter."
"I want to know where Sirius is!" Harry shouted. He was in denial that his godfather wasn't there. He didn't want to accept that this was a trap. A trap that he unknowingly was of my own creation to some extent. It was cruel of me.
"Awe did the wittle baby hawve a bad dweam," Bellatrix mocked. I shifted by Harry's side as I saw her wand begin to rise.
"Not yet," Harry whispered quietly to us. "Where is he?" he demanded from Lucius.
"Oh this is too boring," Bellatrix whined. She moved in a sharp arc and let out a spell to which I quickly defended. All hell then broke loose.
Lucius demands at ensuring the prophecy's safety was heard all throughout the room as I ran with Harry to ensure his own safety. We dodged several hexes and I sent my own curses back at them as Harry sent out simple stunners.
"Hermione we need to split up," Harry said as he sent another stunner to an inter-apparating death eater.
"I'm not leaving you," I insisted. I really didn't want to. I wanted to make sure he would be all right. But I needed this plan to work out more. Lives depended on it. Even though Harry was the chosen one, according to the prophesy, what was one life compared to hundreds or thousands more?
"Look. Take the prophecy and run. They want it and they won't expect me to give it to someone else." He explained. This was my chance and I jumped at the opportunity.
"But-" I faked my displeasure at the plan.
"Please Hermione," he said. I twisted behind me sending another curse to a mid apparition death eater.
With his hand extended I pocketed the prophecy and ran away from him. I needed to find Lucius. With it safely in my pocket I grabbed my other wand to my real dueling position. With both my wands in my hands I twisted and turned sending curses and curses their way to make a path for myself.
Two death eaters hounded me as I saw Luna's brightly golden hair weaving through the rows. Sending more fatal curses I ran into her. We dueled the two back-to-back, dancing with each other through our movements and spell castings. Jets of various colors flitting through our wands as they tried to hit their targets. Unlike the training dummies these one threw more protective charms when they finally noticed our intent.
"Avada kedavra," I screamed at my enemy. I couldn't figure out how those words spilled from my lips so easily. The dark magic that we were taught to never use couldn't have been more seductive as it had felt as it coursed through me and exited my wand. The green light left my wand so quickly it hit true on the masked death eater. He fell with a loud thump. My kill made Luna stall behind me and I heard her fall within the next second. I twisted sharply to block the next curse sent my way and I looked towards Luna's bleeding form.
I lost myself. My anger flared and the darkness within me seemed grow. It didn't break out of my control but it changed it. It weaved itself within and I let out an animalistic growl. It didn't take more than a sliver of a second for me to assess the damage. My beautiful angelic Luna was sprawled on the floor dying. Her body convulsed in such a distorted manner. Blood bubbled from her lips. Red tears spilled from her closed eyes.
I couldn't think straight as I threw every illegal curse I knew at him. All I knew was that Luna was dying. Her gasps were all I heard. Her cries of pain fuelled my fury. He needed to be punished. Luna needed retribution. He needed to die.
The words to the killing curse left my lips so easily I didn't even notice that it was the ones that fell from my mouth until the wizard dropped, completely still.
Dead.
I dropped to the floor where Luna laid and very nearly ripped her cloak off along with her shirt. There was no wound bleeding profusely. Instead, heat radiated of her body in waves. Her body burned like hell's fire, boiling her from the inside.
"Luna, stay with me now. Stay with me. Wake up Luna! Wake up!" I repeated in shock. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." I couldn't think of anything else to say as I stared at her dying body. Her eyes opened despite everything. It was a new definition to bloodshot eyes. There was no white left in them, just blood red that contrasted heavily with her blue eyes. I chanted ever so quietly watching my magic cover her entire body before dissipating in failure. Spell after spell, the curse inflicted on her never weakened.
"Everything will be alright," she struggled to say through the blood still bubbling in her mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed once more.
"Luna?" I stared at her still form. My wide eyes were dry yet tears still streamed down. She remained unmoving. Not knowing what else to do I collapsed next to her. My sobs were unrelenting as my cries heightened even further. "Don't die. Luna wake up now. You have to wake up. Luna!" I sobbed into her. My voice left my throat as if it clawed its way out. "Please don't leave me," I heard myself whisper.
"Hermione?" The soft voice pierced the air but it wasn't the one I wished to hear.
"I'm so sorry. I tried. It should have worked. I should have protected her. I should never have," I couldn't finish the words as I felt the man pick me up from my fallen form. I couldn't care less as I buried myself into his chest, my sobs muffled by his clothes. "Please, do something. Anything!" I screamed. He pulled himself away gently. His long pale fingers traced along Luna's neck before dipping into her skin ever so slightly.
"There is nothing I can do, my dear. The spell has taken its course. There was nothing you can do. There is no known cure for this curse."
"No," I breathed out.
"I'm sorry Hermione. Luna's dead."