Please note that I do not own Dungeons and Dragons,their relevant editions, Pathfinder or Harry Potter. Dungeons and Dragons are owned by Wizards of the Coasts, Pathfinder is owned by Paizo and Harry Potter and its franchises are owned by JK Rowling. The following story is just for my enjoyment and hopefully yours as well.

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Chapter 11: Seeds Sown

Hermione's casually walked down the hallway, noting the looks that some of her fellow Gryffindors gave her. They were looks of resolve and friendship and she returned them in kind. In the months that passed after the tragic deaths of three students, the wounds that Hogwarts sustained in its very soul had never fully healed. There was an air of danger in the castle and everywhere she went, she always maintained at least a few spells that could warn her of danger as well as summoning spells to aid her in dire situations.

She sighed as she thought of Draco. The conjurer had claimed the deaths as completely accidental. He never meant to kill them as what he did was completely self-defence. The lone Gryffindor had chanced upon him and he had tried his best to convince the boy otherwise but that's when the two Slytherins came onto the scene and mayhem ensued. The details of the battle were not discussed and despite her divinations, Hermione couldn't find anything pertinent. Either the Ministry and the administration of Hogwarts was that good at keeping secrets or Draco had wiped any trace of the crime.

She doubted the latter and feared the former but the scariest thing about this entire fracas was that she didn't feel anything for the dead. A few years ago she would have been grieving for people she didn't know but now the diviner felt removed from the carnage. It was unsettling but paradoxically comforting at the same time. Harry exhibited an apathetic attitude, citing that such death was simply a by-product of what was happening and Hermione wondered if that was how it felt to be all logic and no emotion. Perhaps that was what she had been in her youth.

Now though she couldn't feel anything for anyone, except for her fellow Hand and her love as well as Ira. She informed her mentor about warrants for his arrest and he had replied that he would be returning at a later date. There was danger coming, the necromancer had said and they would need to prepare themselves, though the exact nature of this supposed danger was not explained to her.

She turned a corner, looked around and without preamble entered the door that the Room of Requirement created for her. The space within had reconfigured itself to form reflective walls with large practice dummies strewn about. Students from different Houses –all except Slytherin- practiced their hexes and jinxes on the dummies.

Ron oversaw a few of his fellow students but he wasn't the only one. The Patil twins, Cho Chang and even Cormac McLaggen –who Hermione once had a crush on- were helping their friends on various spells. Ron turned to her and smiled. She returned the gesture and approached. After the deaths, Hermione managed to convince the rest to give the Room to the D.A

They agreed, even Draco but she sensed reluctance in the Diabolist and wondered what actions the conjurer would take next. She could pry into such matters but she didn't want to. It was weird but wasn't that how one felt towards family. Draco was as much her family as Ira was, since she lost her parents and she wouldn't gainsay the rest. However the Right Hand did agree that they would keep a low profile from now on as per Ira's request. Umbridge was now twice as dangerous and while she did have spells to deal with the pink horror, she didn't want to cause any unnecessary hiccups in their plans.

"Glad you could make it Hermione," Ron began. He almost went for a hug but then pulled himself back and shook her hand. He continued, "This place is amazing. It's what we really needed after all that's happened. Honestly I don't know what we would have done without you"

She gave a small smile, "Oh stop it Ron. The important thing is that we now have a secret place and Umbridge doesn't know about it. But our next objective is to decide what happens next"

Ron nodded and went to gather the rest for a meeting. Despite being the de facto leader, the ginger wizard decided upon collective agreement. Once they all gathered in a circle, he said, "Right, I think we all know what's been happening these past few days. Umbridge has increased patrols and they're even going to do it by day. However most of those patrolling are Slytherins," there was an audible hiss from the circle, "and we can fight them. Just look at where we are thanks to Hermione!"

They gave her applause and some even patted her on the back and Ron continued, "It's like Hogwarts, our home, wants us to take the fight to that pink bitch and bloody hell, we will!" The assembled conspirators laughed and pumped the air. When the hooting died down, Ron continued, "What I'm going to suggest next may not be agreed by all of you. In fact some of you may choose to speak against it," some of those gathered looked to one another, "but I won't blame you if you do. What I'm going to suggest next," he took a breath, "is that we disable the enemy patrols completely!"

The circle muttered and Cormac piped in, "I think I know what you mean. Complete shutdown, with lethal spells?" Some looked shocked but the rest seemed resolved as they saw Ron give a brusque nod. Weasley continued, "We can no longer pretend that everything is alright here in Hogwarts. We have to stop Umbridge and she relies heavily on Slytherin. We cut off the serpent's head and we shatter her control!"

A round of fierce applause greeted Ron and he gave a fierce grin. Some of those who gave worried looks now looked resigned to what they were about to do. Slytherin had crossed a line and now they needed to learn what it meant to cross said line. "When do we start?" Seamus asked.

Ron took in all of their looks, "Tonight will be the first attempt and I have it on good authority that we won't be alone. Dumbledore's Army will get a boost from the other Houses. Remember, serious injuries but no deaths! We want to make sure they don't leave the infirmary anytime soon but we're not going to stoop to their level!" All in assembly nodded and said quick prayers in their hearts for a boy whose name some couldn't remember, didn't know or hadn't bothered to find out. All they knew was that he had been Gryffindor and that was the only thing that mattered.

They set up strategies, tactics and even had a few simulations and practice rounds. All the while Hermione accepted that by the morrow, Hogwarts would find itself plunged into a new level of violence never before seen since it had been founded.

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Draco floated, close to the ceiling of the hallway. It was late already and the night sky was ominously dark. No stars or even a moon, all cloaked by thick clouds. He wondered if it were a sign. He brushed the thought away and continued keeping watch. While no one usually looked up to see if there were attackers, the past few months in Hogwarts had made everyone jumpy and so Draco maintained an Invisibility spell upon himself.

In recent months the spell had become invaluable to the Right Hand in making sure their activities were clandestine. The worst part about this -or best based on individual perception- was that Illusion, along with Evocation were schools of magic he had foregone in favour of other schools of magic. Of course, he was growing more adept at the art and Luna had thought them some improvements to their technique but he still hated that he had to hide himself from the rest of the world.

Those three idiots had begged for their deaths. Draco was walking to his dorm, enjoying the night air. He saw no need to cloak himself once he had made a certain distance from the Room but the Gryffindor had found him and challenged him. Then a Slytherin thought he was in trouble and tried to help. As if a mere child could challenge Draco Malfoy, Diabolist of Hell!

They brought their wands to bear and struck at each other and that's when he cast the paralysation spells. Then one more Slytherin found him and attacked him. Something within Draco snapped and he held that idiot immobile as well. The Diabolist promptly summoned half a dozen bearded devils and let them finish the fools off before going to bed and sleeping as sound as a baby.

The reaction had been overblown but in hindsight, he realised what he had done. It didn't make him feel guilty or shameful, just annoyed that he had not thought of disposing the corpses. Then this situation would not have presented itself. He would not be floating near the ceiling, waiting for Slytherins to ambush at the behest of Hermione.

Draco sighed and wished he could just leave it all behind. He didn't want to stay here in Hogwarts any longer and just wished he could go back to Sia-Treskri. Life there was simpler and he could focus on his wizardry. His inborn magic on the other hand was beginning to feel more like chains and he wondered if he could divest himself of it. Then he could throw everything into arcane magic and the power it held. He wanted such power, like what Ira wielded and found himself hating what he had been born with more and more.

Draco felt alarm across the link he shared with Pease. The imp was flying around, invisible and was sending back information intermittently, It's the transmuter, the imp sent to him with a flicker of indignation. Draco switched his sight to another spectrum and saw Neville flying towards him.

"What's happened now?" Draco asked with a hint of annoyance. If Hermione wanted something else from him, forget it! He may be her trusted ally but she was beginning to ask too much of him.

"Nothing," the air replied. Or rather it was Neville who was just as invisible as Draco, "I came here to join you. Thought you could use the company" The Diabolist gave his thanks and the two floated for some time in the air. They heard an occasional shout which was quickly muffled or some screams that were cut off halfway.

"They aren't making their way here, are they?" Neville asked. Draco sighed, "You think? Sorry about that. I've been feeling testy these past few days and this guard duty is boring"

Neville chuckled, "Then let's make it fun" Draco gave a puzzled look which he was sure the transmuter was capable of seeing. The Gryffindor motioned to the Slytherin to follow and the two invisible wizards flew to another corridor where a battle was just ending. The Gryffindors, who were not part of the D.A, looked hurt but other than that, they were alright. The Slytherins lying on the ground though were much worse off.

Some had broken limbs and deep cuts and even as they moaned, Gryffindors came forward and kicked them hard in the chest or groin. The Slytherins fell unconscious. Draco gave Neville a pointed look but noticed the transmuter wasn't looking at him. He caught the Master Specialist finish gesturing, the last syllable of a spell being completed, and silence descended upon the students below.

Before they could even puzzle out what was happening, they fell to the ground, held by magical paralysis. "What are you doing?" Draco asked, genuinely puzzled. He didn't have to worry about his voice carrying to those below, since the silencing spell prevented sound from being heard either way. He did worry about people coming onto the scene and pressed the question.

"For a long time," Neville sighed, "I've been nothing but the end of someone else's joke. Until Ira offered me apprenticeship and I started learning arcane wizardry. Can I confide in you Draco?" Malfoy nodded and the transmuter continued, "I'm tired of Hogwarts. I don't want to stay here any longer. This castle or this world is no longer my home. My home is with Luna and where we choose to make it"

Draco chuckled, "Those are my exact thoughts given voice. I cannot believe you and I share the same sentiments!" Neville smiled, "Really? Well that's new but what I'm trying to say is this. I don't care about all of this. This is just child's play and I can't be bothered. I shouldn't be but I am and that's getting in the way of my studies"

Longbottom continued, "I could leave with Luna and just go but Ira has said otherwise and I won't gainsay him. I'll do what he wants us to do but if the situation below is of any significance, is that Hogwarts is ripping itself apart"

Draco nodded, "And why exactly do you care? You already said my thoughts exactly. Children playing at games! I want to leave too and I won't go against Ira, at least not in this. What are you getting at?"

The transmuter dropped his Invisibility and floated below. Neville willed the silencing magic away as Draco floated down next to him, clearly visible. Some of the students made sounds, trying to form words despite their paralysis, surprised at the sudden appearance of the two. Neville motioned to all the spell-held children, "We can't let situations like these happen anymore. Even if Umbridge is thrown out the door, the bad blood has stained the school and it can't be washed away. I suggest we keep the school under control," the Master Specialist gave the Diabolist a pointed stare, "our control"

Draco gave a wolfish grin, "I can understand that and better yet, I will help," Malfoy then gave an inquisitive look, "What about Luna? Or the rest? Harry and Hermione won't like this"

"Hermione won't like it but it has to be done," Harry appeared from the shadows, peeling himself from the gloom through his Shadow Walk spell, "in fact, I was the one who came up with the proposal"

Draco gave a chortle, "Look at you, Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, coming up with such diabolical plans! I must say I am impressed"

Harry waved his hand, giving a small smirk, "It's nothing. We probably needed to take this action at some point and Umbridge gave us the opportunity. The reason why we could use your help is because you have a better grasp of Enchantment spells than the two of us" That was true enough as Harry and Neville were not comfortably skilled with controlling people's minds, at least not yet.

But that was before all this and before they lost the ones they loved. They wouldn't shirk from what needed to be done, even if it were distasteful. They were not inexperienced in wielding compulsion spells but they weren't as good compared to Draco, who had a superior command over Enchantments along with Conjuration spells.

"Alright then, let's get started," Draco said and turned to face the prone students, "you two committed some Domination spells to memory right?" The two nodded and they divided up the students so that one person wouldn't be overwhelmed with too many minds to control. Confusion was replaced by fear as some of the students felt a crushing sensation in their heads and they could only scream inside as even their minds were taken from them.

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