Chapter 34: Hogwarts in Summertime

When Hermione was a little girl, she always spent the Summer Holidays with her parents. The Grangers' enjoyed traveling, and Hermione had seen the beautiful vineyards of Italy, and the golden sands of Guatemala. She had visited the Big Apple in the United States, and even traveled away from London to see the lights of Paris. But on all those adventures, nothing could ever compare to the vast beauty of Hogwarts.

Staring up at its massive pillars from where the Shrieking Shack stood quiet, Hermione felt a breath escape her lungs and fade into the Summer warmed air. The grass around Hogsmeade was a vibrant green, and the sun was casting a golden light upon the castle, causing it to glitter. Once upon a time, Hermione believed it to be magic. Now, it just seemed painfully ironic,

"You ok, love?" Remus asked, walking up beside his girlfriend and wrapping a strong arm around her waist. Hermione sighed again and leaned into his chest, shaking her head,

"Such a perfect day...to start a war. It should be dark and thundering..."

"Was the last war like that?"

Hermione cocked her head to one side and inhaled deeply, "it was actually a bit like this. Quiet, not really the type of weather to bring forth the end of the Wizarding World,"

Hermione couldn't help the dry chuckle which escaped her throat, "it seems so long ago now, being Hermione Granger,"

"Aye, that it does. But I'm selfish," Remus kissed his girlfriends cheek, "I wouldn't have it any other way,"

"I know you wouldn't," Hermione stated, turning slightly to see many Order members slipping into the Shrieking Shack, "we need to block the tunnels once everyone's through. There can be no chance of the Death Eaters getting a jump on us,"

"Right. I think this is everyone here. The rest are coming through other tunnels,"

Hermione nodded stiffly and swallowed, clenching and unclenching her pained arm since Remus still held the Horcrux,

"We should get going, before someone spots us out here,"

"Lead the way,"

Rolling her shoulders, Hermione pulled up her auburn curls as she descended the slight noll towards the shack. Sirius, James and Lily were waiting for her, holding the door open as the last of the Order filtered through, "there's no turning back now," Hermione admitted to the group of them, "are we ready?"

"I'd follow you to the moon, Hermione," Sirius stated, smoothing down the beginnings of black facial hair he had sprouted over the past months, "besides, were technically family,"

Hermione smiled slightly and glanced to Lily and James, who were in one another's arms,

'They look so much like their portraits,' Hermione thought, seeing the way Lily's eyes glimmered when she looked at James,

"We're in this together, now and forever," James stated for the both of them, "besides, Lily will need a bridesmaid when this is all over,"

James grinned widely as Hermione blinked in surprise. She then relaxed, remembering Remus's own half-proposal the night before, 'it's just the anxiety' Hermione thought,

"Congratulations, hopefully we can make it till then. Remus, you go through first, I'll take up the back,"

The young werewolf nodded as the group entered the Shack, Hermione watching as her friends disappeared one by one into a dark hole in the floor.

•"Ron? Ron are you ok?"

Hermione crawled for the first time into the Shrieking Shack, her body aching from battling the Whomping Willow as she scurried up through the floor. Ron was cowering in one corner of the room, his leg practically ripped to shreds as blood stained his pant legs. In his hands was Scabbers...Peter Pettigrew in disguise. Gasping slightly, Hermione's heart was racing as she crawled towards him,

"You're bleeding..."

"It's him, Hermione," Ron rasped, pointing a shaky hand past Hermione's shoulder, "Harry run! It's the Grimm!"

Whipping herself around, Hermione rose to her feet as a man in a tattered prison uniform emerged from the shadows,

"You!" Harry seethed, lurching forward only for Hermione to grapple his shoulders and hold him back.•

Hermione smiled half heartedly and descended down into the hole, removing the Elder Wand from her sleeve as she took one last look at the Shrieking Shack, "Bombarda Maxima!"

There was a loud explosion near the top of the tunnel as the doorway illuminated with smoke and light, collapsing down and casting the Brightest witch of her age into darkness. Summoning a quick lumos, Hermione looked contentedly on the pile of rubble and turned to continue her way down the tunnel, twisting and turning until a slight gleam of light and a staircase came into view. Ascending up towards it, Hermione squinted as light nearly blinded her,

"Welcome back, Miss Black,"

The Scottish drawl was familiar as Hermione passed out from underneath the Whomping Willow. Headmistress McGonagall was waiting in the grass for her, soft emerald robes gleaming in the equally vibrant grasses,

"Hello, Professor," Hermione greeted, brushing herself off, "is everything ready?"

"It is indeed, Miss Black. Please, all of you, come with me,"

As McGonagall turned elegantly, Hermione felt Remus take he shoulders and give them a slight squeeze,

"You're alright?"

"Fine. Come on,"

Remus didn't say anything as the father group filed back into Hogwarts. The tall stone walls gleamed gold as Hermione sighed and took a deep breath. This place used to be her favorite place, and it definitely still was. But now it housed equally bad memories. All the death and horror in it's future walls,

'I have to finish this' Hermione thought, knitting her brows as she marched with many others towards the Great Hall. Most of the portraits had been removed from the walls, leaving mere outlines. The suits of armor still stood guard, freshly polished, and their weapons sharpened, 'for Harry and Ron, Luna, Fred, Tonks...everyone,'

Smiling shakily, McGonagall pushed the grand doors of the Great Hall open with a flourish, revealing the massive crowd gathered inside. Many were members of the order, but there were also other Professors, and a few of the older Hogwarts students,

'At least the younger students aren't involved this time,' Hermione thought, thinking about Lavender Brown with a wince as she raised a hand to rub the back of her neck,

"Will this be enough...erm...shall we say, firepower? Miss Black," McGonagall questioned, motioning to the group as Hermione swallowed thickly,

"I think so," she stated, "professor, can you cast the animation spell over the stone statues in the Great Hall?"

"Oh? I've always wanted to use that spell," the woman chittered, leaving the room with her wand in hand as Hermione smiled. Professor McGonagall had always been one of her favorite teachers, "as for everyone else, spread out. Be ready at any entrances and exits. I don't know when the Death Eaters will get here, nor how strong they are. Be ready for anything. For Hogwarts!"

There was a massive cry from the room as people began to scatter out, flurrying back and forth as Hermione watched the room slowly empty out. Turning to Sirius, James, Lily and Remus, Hermione smiled weakly,

"We'll destroy the cup here, in the middle of everything. The minute we do, something will no doubt come out of it,"

"Not like we haven't dealt with it before," Sirius said, puffing out his chest slightly as Lily rolled her eyes and elbowed him hard,

"Now is not the time to be cocky, Sirius," she hissed. The dark boy shrugged,

"It gets worse the closer I get to dying, sweetheart. Better get used to it,"

Lily stuck her tongue out as both Sirius and James laughed, while Remus chucked deeply. Hermione wanted to laugh as well, but found herself frowning. Soon, the melancholy returned to the group as they stared silently between one another,

"It's time," Hermione croaked, "Remus?"

The werewolf nodded and stood up from where he had taken a seat, throwing a brown satchel tossed about his chest to the floor with a noisy clank. Reaching into her bag, Hermione removed the sword of Gryffindor with a gleaming brilliance. It practically vibrated with her own nervousness as the witch passed the sword over to her boyfriend,

"One hit should do it," Hermione croaked, remembering the last time she had tried to destroy the cup.

•"Ok, are you ready?" Ron asked, setting the cup in the middle of a stone tile, "I think you should do it,"

The ginger haired boy held out the long Basalisk fang to Hermione as she shook her head back and forth,

"I-I don't think I can,"

"Yes you can," Ron insisted, "come on, for Harry?"

"Alright," Hermione took the fang in one hand and stared down at the golden cup, hand quivering as she clutched it tightly, "here we go,"•

"Do it Remus," Hermione croaked, "now!"

Heaving the sword up over his head, Remus exhaled deeply as the blade crashed down towards the floor and made contact with the cup, sending it skittering across the floors as shadows exploded into the air and cried out. With it came the shattering of glass, as more undefined black filled the room. Heart thundering, Hermione removed the Wand from her sleeve.

'So much for the peace'