A/N: Yes, I know it's been a few days, and I'm sorry. But I had a big test to study for, so… yeah. I'll have another one up tomorrow. ;D This one and the next one are both a bit angsty, I'm warning you. Also, the beginning part of this one, which is italicized, is directly quoted from HPDH, pgs. 552-3 (US edition). Just in case you wanted to know.
Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable, including the first 120 words.
Dragonfly
"Wait, wait!" cried Hermione as Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak. "We can't just go, we haven't got a plan, we need to—"
"We need to get going," said Harry firmly. "Can you imagine what he's going to do once he realizes the ring and the locket are gone? What if he moves the Hogwarts Horcrux, decides it isn't safe enough?"
"But how are we going to get it?"
"We'll go to Hogsmeade," said Harry, "And try to work something out once we see what the protection around the school's like. Get under the Cloak, Hermione, I want to stick together this time."
"But we don't really fit—"
"It'll be dark, no one's going to noticed our feet."
Hermione's mind was racing. She hated going without a plan, but she quickly made a mental checklist of their previous plans. Breaking into the Ministry – not a very well thought out plan, and they were stuck as soon as they got in. Visiting Godric's Hallow – Harry had nearly died. Breaking into Gringotts – they were foiled decently quickly, though they had gotten what they wanted. It was better, she decided, to do what Harry said.
There was a flapping of wings as the dragon rose from the other side of the lake into the air. She watched for a moment as it flew away into the sky, vanishing against the darkness. She gazed across the lake – reeds were sticking out of the muddiness, and she shuddered as she remembered having to swim through that. A lone dragonfly, the last of daylight reflecting off of its wings, flew across her field of vision.
She turned back to the boys and took her place in between the two. She grasped each of their hands tightly. She could feel Ron's sweaty palms against hers, hard with the tension of danger and excitement of their next adventure. She thought wistfully for a minute of what it would be like with him when the war was over – but she banished the thought from her mind. This is not the time, she told herself. Later.
Harry pulled the Cloak over them, trying hard not to have their ankles visible. Hermione caught a flash of light, a last glimpse, reflecting off the dragonfly's wings as she turned with the others and disappeared into crushing darkness.