Chapter 54 : Ready the Troops

The news came in the form of the Daily Prophet dropping onto the Slytherin table at lunch for an emergency edition and the Great Hall erupting in hushed whispers that sounded like a horde of bees. Draco's grip on her hand under the table tightened as he read over her shoulder the headline.

"The tossers actually did it." He said in a voice that barely contained his awe.

Hermione raised her gaze to Theo's across the table, knowing that he was thinking the exact same thing as she was. "It's happening soon." she whispered, cautious to keep her voice so low that only the three of them could hear.

"When?" asked Theo, setting the paper down, a frown marring his face.

"Tonight."

Hermione tensed at the sound of her fiancé's voice sounding so hollow. Both she and Theo looked sharply at him and saw that he had opened a dark green envelope in his hands. She snatched it out of his hands and saw that it was only the one word that he had uttered written on the piece of parchment inside the envelope. It was in Narcissa's familiar script, written hurriedly and unsigned. She folded the paper and faked stowing it in her pockets, sureptitiously turning it to ash once it was out of sight.

Hermione risked a glance at Professor Snape, who, expecting her to do so, was already looking at her. He nodded once, as if he knew just what was written on the letter Draco had just opened. Down the staff table, the Carrows were seething in anger. She was somewhat relieved that they did not have Dark Arts scheduled for that day, but also terrified for the students who did.

"He won't call us back, I don't think." she said, voicing her thoughts, "Once the fighting starts, he'll expect us to join him."

"What's the plan?" Draco asked.

"We're skivving off for the rest of the day." she said, the gears turning in her head.

"You? Skive classes?" Theo scoffed.

"Yes, well, this is quite a bit more important than classes, Theodore." Hermione said, while scanning the Gryffindor table. She noticed that none of them in her year or the year below her were seated, most likely in the Room of Requirement, and that a second year had gotten up to run out inconspicuously.

"After Draco and I leave, Theo, wait a bit before following. We'll wait for you in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on the seventh floor." she whispered.

Theo nodded, going back to his lunch.

"Won't they notice us leaving?" Draco asked worriedly.

Hermione smirked at him devilishly before leaning towards him. He snaked his arm around her waist almost out of habit, "Oh, I'm counting on it, Draco, darling." she whispered, pressing a kiss on his lips. His eyes widened a fraction in surprise before realizing her plan and easing into the kiss.

"Get a room!" Blaise teased loudly, making the other Slytherins chuckle.

"Planning on it, Zabini." Draco smirked, making Hermione flush. She took his offered hand and allowed him to help her up, ignoring the wolf whistles that sounded from their housemates.

"That was devious of you." Draco said, smirking at her once they were out of earshot.

"Don't pretend like you didn't like it." she scoffed.

"Very much so, Hermione, darling," he purred, hand slithering around her waist again. "Wouldn't mind doing it again, at all, really."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him but raised her hand to around his neck anyway. He leaned down to kiss her, still smirking, but before he could she raised her hand and slapped the back of his head.

"Do get your head out of your pants, darling, there's quite a large chance that we're going to die tonight." she said.

Draco released her, grumbling as he rubbed his head, "All the more reason to, then."

Hermione's tense expression softened a bit at that, having forgotten that. She raised herself on her tiptoes, intending for it just to be a peck. But Draco, ever the Slytherin, smirked against her lips and pulled her deeper.

That was how Theo found them moments later, wrapped in each other's embrace, ties askew and hair in disarray.

"Should I find a broom closet for you, then?" Theo asked in amusement, making the both of them jump in surprise.

Hermione recovered first, clearing her throat "Erm, we got a bit distracted."

"Yes, because snagging is so much more important that whatever else is going on." Theo smirked.

"You know – ah!" Hermione hissed painfully, grabbing at her neck which had began to burn.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked, eyes wide with worry.

Hermione reached for the chain around her neck, pulling he medallion out.

Hogwarts bound.

"Potter's coming." she grinned, "Let's go."

"You know, it isn't really appropriate to be so happy with a man who's not your betrothed." Draco noted following her at a quick pace.m

"I still love you even if you're not the Chosen One, Drakey." Theo teased.

"Shut it, Nott." Draco retorted.

Once they were in front of the tapestry, Hermione paced in front of the door three times, watching it shift. Just when she was about to reach for the handle Draco stopped her. Amber eyes met silver as they flashed protectively at her.

"Let me go first." he said. She opened her mouth to protest and was immediately silenced, "I know you're strong enough, I'm not doubting you, Mione, just let me do this."

She thought better of fighting and let him step in front of her, watching as he swung the door open and all here of them were faced with several wand points glowing menacingly at them.

"Would you mind letting your wands down?" Hermione asked in the sweetest tone she could muster.

"Why the bloody hell would we do that, snake?" asked Ernie Macmillan, who was sporting a black eye.

"Do it." came the voice of Seamus Finnegan, who limped forward, parting the crowd of students.

"Come off it, Finnegan, did you hit your head or something?" barked Ernie.

"They're the ones who've been helping us with the potions." Seamus admitted.

The room unexpectedly erupted in disbelieving laughter.

"What are you on, mate?" Justin Finch-Fletchley howled, "Thought we were all out of Firewhiskey."

"Quiet, you lot." Seamus shouted, then turned to face the three snakes, "What are you doing here?"

"Did you see the paper, Finnegan?" she queried.

"Aye, Dennis came up to give it to us." he said, "What about it?"

"He's on the way here." Hermione said.

"Harry? Harry's coming here?" Ginny Weasley asked, still pointing her wand at the witch.

"Yes, Weaslette, your boyfriend is making his way to Hogwarts right now." Draco snorted, rolling his eyes.

"How do you know that?" she said, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"He told me." Hermione shrugged. Almost immediately, chaos ensued. Shouts were directed at them, accusing them of lying, saying it was a trap, shouting that they were nothing but dirty Death Eaters.

"QUIET!" Finnegan shouted over all the noise. "Let her speak."

Hermione breathed in shakily, "We are Death Eaters."

More shouting enveloped the room. "SHUT UP BEFORE I SILENCE YA BLEEDING FECKERS!" Seamus roared.

"Draco and Theo have defected, I am a spy. I've been working undercover for the Order for years." She unchained her medallon from her neck and threw it at Weaslette, "That's how Potter contacts me."

"What are you doing here, then?" Weaslette asked.

"We've come to warn you." Hermione said, "The Dark Lord plans on attacking Hogwarts tonight."

Crazed panic engulfed the room at her words and it took Seamus a while longer to get them to settle down. "What's your plan?" he asked finally.

"I can't do anything about it without Potter here." she admitted. "The best we can do is prepare for battle."

"Battle?" Ernie protested, "Half of us are barely conscious."

Hermione looked at Seamus in confusion, " I thought I gave you enough to last for months?"

"Yeah, well, the Carrows are wankers." he huffed.

"What's the time?" she asked Draco, who pulled out his pocket watch.

"Half past one.." he said, looking at her in confusion. "Why?"

"Potter broke out of Gringotts at around eleven this morning on the back of a dragon, if that's true, then he'll be here in about an hour. We have that long to heal them before Potter gets here. The Dark Lord probably won't strike until nightfall, so we have the rest of the afternoon to prepare.

"Are you in contact with any of the teachers?" she asked Seamus.

"We can send Dennis to McGonagall, he's small enough not to be noticed." Seamus said.

"That will have to do." she sighed, turning to the boy, "You need to tell McGonagall to strengthen the castle wards without the Carrows noticing, and to be ready to evacuate the younger students any time today."

She stopped the boy from scurrying away to do his job with a hand on his shoulder, casting a silencing charm on his feet and a Disillusionment charm over him. "Go."

"Gather your wounded." she instructed Seamus, "The three of us know how to heal and I have a few potions with me."

The shuffling of feet and moving of bodies filled the space as several students moved towards the Slytherins warily. Seamus was up first being nearest.

"Draco, Theo, help with the others, please." she asked, and reached into her robes, which she had cast an extension charm on, "Here are numbing potions, blood replenishers, and Calming Draughts. I'm sure if you ask the room for bandages it'll supply them."

The two boys went to work immediately, seeing to a pair of Hufflepuffs.

"Why do you still have a limp?" she asked, "This should have gone away weeks ago."

"Dinnae," he shrugged, "Never healed right."

"The bone probably hasn't set properly." she muttered to herself, "I'll have to break it again, Finnegan, so that I can give you a double dose of Bone Mending potion."

He grimaced at the thought before nodding, "I've come this far, haven't I? Do yer worst then, snake."

"You might want to hold on to something, Gryff."


a/n: A thousand apologies for my prolonged absence! I've been working on a six part story both Theo and Hermione and I got side tracked a bit. Forgive me for the short chapter! See you in battle!