Chapter 24
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Xenophilius Lovegood reminded Hermione of a male version of his daughter. From the hair to his clothes. She liked that. It showed character. She waved him in with a smile.
Sirius only smirked and headed to the kitchen in search of food while Remus came to a halt beside her and gestured to the kitchen. "I'll bring tea, it might make the situation a bit more comfortable," he said calmly, his eyes tired but clear.
She only gave a slight nod and turned her attention to Xenophilius. He was standing hesitantly by the doorway, his face a bit tight.
"Come in, Mr. Lovegood, I don't bite."
He seemed to snap out of it and blushed as he closed the door with his hand. He walked further in after a second and took a seat closest to the door. She sat down, folding her legs underneath her. She wanted to appear as harmless as a kitten. A second later she realized that she had forgotten to once again close the link between her and Severus and so she now felt his dark amusement as he heard her thoughts. She sent him an image so sinful he abruptly closed the link on his side.
Served him right.
Trying really hard not to blush at such a daring act, she took her tea and sipped it carefully. The heat of it doing nothing to cool her down. She smiled up at the man across from her, she had really forgotten about him. "Sorry for asking you to come so late at night. I just really need to speak with you. I hope you don't mind."
Xenophilius raised a hand and wrapped it around a pendant around his neck. He tilted his head as he examined her. "I don't particularly mind the late hour but I do wish to know why they insisted on me to visit you. Arthur Weasley is an acquaintance of ours and that is how I met Black and Lupin. But I definitely don't know anybody as young as you. What business could you possibly want with an old man? I have a daughter you know. She is at Hogwarts right now."
He would have continued talking, his posture relaxing with every word that left his mouth, but stopped when Remus walked in with two cups of tea. Hermione had already finished hers so she traded her own for a new one and watched as Xenophilius took the other cup. Remus shot her a weary smile and left them alone once again. If he had been born a woman, he would have made the perfect wife.
She sent that thought to Severus, only to have him shut the link once more. And just when he had opened...
After taking a sip, she spoke up. "I know you don't know me and frankly I don't know you either. Let me introduce myself. I'm Elizabeth Smith. I'll be honest and say that it's not my birth name but it is one I must give from now on for your safety. Now, don't be alarmed, nothing will happen to your daughter, I can see that it was going to be one of the first things you were going to ask. But I am sure she has told you about the offer for the Quibbler?" Hermione questioned him, her hand drawing out an envelope.
It really did catch his full attention as he set his untouched mug on the table beside him. His eyes seem to clear up from the slightly crazed look in them. He looked like he was really here with her and sent her a cold look. "I don't want you involving my Luna. She is too young to be pulled into whatever you are starting. She told me what you offered her but now I'm rethinking things."
Hermione remained settled even though her magic snapped around her tightly. She was starting to understand that it only did that when danger was near or when she personally felt threatened. Like she would let him hurt her. He wouldn't stand a chance. She surprised herself with such talk but didn't want to think too much about that.
She understood where he was coming from but it was all null. Luna would be get involved if she wanted to but it seemed like her father wasn't aware of that. To each their own she supposed. But she did narrow her eyes at him. "Luna can make her own decisions, a fact you should know since she is your daughter.'' she waved a hand and set her cup down.
"You are also wrong to say that it was I who started it all. I didn't start anything. The one to start it all was Tom Riddle or as most people know him, Voldemort. I can tell you with absolute truth that he is back and what Harry Potter claimed was true. Everything you printed was true. Luna told me you believe Harry Potter. So I needed the Quibbler to spread the truth. We just didn't want you to be put in a dangerous position; which you will eventually find yourself in and the one that they will go after is Luna."
Xenophilius seemed to grow pale under his already white skin. He had begun to rub the pendant once more, drawing Hermione's attention to it. It glinted in the firelight. Hermione froze and willed herself to move a second later. She stood in a quick move that had him jump back, losing the cold look. He scrambled to his feet but stopped when she reached for the pendant.
"What is this symbol?" she asked him as he snatched it back before she could wrap her hand around it.
"It's from a story. A story that every witch or wizard reads to a child. It's also real. Not many believe it no more but it IS true. It is the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. But where did you see it?" he asked her, his hand hiding the gold symbol. Hermione debated on whether or not to tell him but trusted her gut and waved her hand. Her beaded bag came up from around the corner of the hallway. She caught it and accioed the ring. It was harmless now but it still echoed with a darkness that would probably never fade. It had held something evil for far too long.
She turned the ring around with her fingers before handing it to him in a show of blind trust. He hesitated for a couple of seconds before reaching for it.
The instant he saw the symbol he gasped and lifted horrified eyes to hers. He gaped at her like a fish out of water and stammered several times as he seemed to lose his voice. He raised it and tapped the stone bearing the symbol with his finger before giving up and pulling out his wand. She stilled and watched his every movement. He didn't pay attention to her as he placed the tip of his wand to the center of the ring and after a few muttered spells it made a small grating sound.
The stone fell from the snug hold it had been in. It looked like any other black stone she had ever seen. But Xenophilius cradled in his palm carefully.
"Do you know the treasure you possess? This is one of the Deathly Hallows. This is what I have believed in all of my life. I was right all along!" he finished excitingly. His blue eyes glinted with a fair bit of madness.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "It was never mine, to begin with, and still isn't. I was going to 'lose' it somehow since before it had been defiled with the darkest of magic but now it holds no value to me. What exactly is this Deathly Hallow thing? I don't believe I have ever read about it before." She knew that since she basically used to read anything she could. Nowadays, she didn't have much time to do so.
Xenophilius shot her a surprised look before frowning deeply. "They are three powerful objects created by Death himself. They were given to three brothers but the story tells it better than I ever will. But you see here," he pointed at the circle in the middle. "That is the stone. The line is the Elder wand and the triangle is the Invisibility Cloak. Together, they make the possesser, Master of Death."
Before he could finish talking Hermione reached into her beaded bag once more and pulled out Harry's cloak. The one that wasn't like other cloaks. She knew that it was special but hadn't realized... She shook it out and showed it to him. "Is this the cloak? It belongs to a dear friend of mine but I'm currently the one that uses the most."
He seemed to lose it even more as he stared in awe at her. He reached out with his hand and gently touched the cloak.
"Who are you? To possess two of the three Deathly Hallows. Who are you really? Why do you have them?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and put away the cloak. He could ask all he wanted but she wasn't going to answer him. She didn't want to lie to him any more than she had to. "Who I am is irrelevant. But what does the stone do exactly?"
The stone had to be something special if it was thrown in with the cloak and wand. He showed it to her and with a random hand gesture flipped the stone thrice. He closed his eyes and in a hushed tone spoke.
"It brings back the dead."
A chill ran through her body and she took a step back as the room turned cold and obscure. Even with the fireplace a few feet away, Hermione became clammy and lightheaded. Xenophilius opened his eyes just as a wisp of a shadow appeared between them. It was shapeless at first but eventually gained shape. Not a ghost shadow but neither was it alive. It was a woman. A tall woman with long pale hair...Almost like a much taller version of Luna. Hermione grew horrified as the woman turned her head slightly to glance at her before turning to the man in front of her.
Xenophilius gasped and lifted a hand. "Pandora," he whispered fervently.
His hand trembled as he reached for her with one hand while the other clutched the stone. Hermione swallowed hard against the pain that threatened to swallow her. It wasn't hers but from the couple in front of her. The woman, Pandora, leaned forward and placed a small hand across his cheek.
"Xeno, why did you call me. I'm dead. I don't belong here and you know this. You belong with our Luna, love."
She watched in muted horror and sorrow as he blinked back tears and gave a painful nod. "I know, Pan, but I have missed you for so long. And, Luna misses you. I only stay because of her. But now it seems like I have another purpose. One that I would never have seen myself in."
Pandora turned to Hermione and smiled, showing her a simper that didn't quite seem right. "You will save so many, child. Yes, Xeno, you have another purpose other than Luna. You must help and do what they ask you. Hard and terrible things will happen if you don't so trust this woman with Luna. I love you and Luna but I really have to go. I must not be here. Take care, Xeno."
Pandora Lovegood disappeared after brushing her fading lips across his own. He seemed to stay in a daze even after the warmth of the fire came back and chased the chill from the room. She didn't have to turn to know that Sirius and Remus had walked out of the kitchen and had witnessed what had happened. She had shared everything with Severus and knew he was standing in the hallway in case something else happened.
Hermione watched Xenophilius shake himself out of his daze and focus his gaze on her. They burned with sorrow and longing. But he now held himself differently as he handed her the stone back. He hesitated for a second but dropped it in the next instant.
Hermione slipped it back into her bag and tossed it lightly to the side. She picked up the thick envelope and handed it to him. He took it with both hands that still held a slight tremble to them. She couldn't imagine what he was feeling but regardless, they had to move forward.
Or else she would be tempted to sit there and cry with him. She was still feeling the emotions and she shared them with Severus without thinking twice.
"Take all the money from the vault. Use it and leave the country. Go far to the locations marked, leave behind the evidence as false trails and settle in the last location. Don't come back to Britain unless I say otherwise. It will be too dangerous especially if you want to keep printing. I only need you to print what I send you but otherwise, you can do as you please. I promise you that I will try to keep Luna safe. She is my friend now." Not to mention the image she had caught in Nott's head. She knew he would want to protect her too.
Even if Luna didn't know it yet.
Xenophilius watched her for a couple of seconds, almost like he was trying to understand what she had left unsaid. She knew her voice held a true ring to it. She meant what she said. He gravely agreed. To leave a child behind must be the worst thing he could have done. But she knew Luna would not go with him. And he wouldn't ask that of her either.
"How are we to communicate?" he asked as he pocketed the money away. Hermione leaned down to pick up the notebook next to her and handed it to him as well. "I will write in my own and it will appear for you in this one. I will also ask you to give me your arm," she said.
He appeared perplexed but did as she said and gave her his left hand. She pushed his sleeve back and pointed her wand to the inner side of his wrist. A couple of minutes later she watched all three guests leave the house.
She turned the instant the door closed and saw him, Severus. He was watching her with narrowed eyes.
"I have heard of the Deathly Hallows. My mother, Eileen, read me the story a couple of times when I was younger. I hadn't thought of them in decades. But to see that...I haven't been shocked in a long time." he said.
His words didn't match his eyes. She stepped around the couch and raised a hand to his face. "You said a lie even as you spoke the truth. What is it that puts such shadows in your eyes, Severus?" she asked him softly.
He gazed down at her, an unfathomable look dancing in his eyes. "There is something I should have said a long time ago but never could bring myself to do so. I once loved a girl. Or more like thought I loved her but I'm now beginning to realize that I was only in love with her because she was what I always thought I had wanted. I met her before I started Hogwarts."
Hermione had stilled the instant he had said loved. He had said the word love. She all of a sudden felt uncomfortable. She would have dropped her hand as he continued talking but he was quick to grab it. She tried to pull her hand back but instead, he grabbed her other hand and changed his hold to her upper arms.
He drew her up to his chest as he stared down at her. "Listen! I said I thought I loved her. I was a child and so was she. I had thought it had been fated, especially since she was a witch. We both knew of magic. But she had been a muggleborn. Something that I had figured out since the beginning."
He paused as he seemed to gather his thoughts, his hold on her unrelenting. "But it all changed when we stepped foot in Hogwarts. She was put in Gryffindor while I was sorted into Slytherin. The hat had considered putting both of us in Ravenclaw but said something about Destiny having already chosen for us. It wasn't until later that I found out how right it had been."
The need to strike out was overwhelming in her. Her stomach filled with an acid like jealousy, it burned her heart as well. She turned her back to him as he finally let go of her. The fire in the room did nothing to warm her as her body grew cold once again.
The constant unbalance in her body finally decided it had enough. Her magic spiked and she let out a hiss as she tried to rein it in. Closing her eyes didn't seem to help so she quickly made her way outside just as a whip of magic shot out, lighting up the night sky for a couple of seconds, before vanishing just as suddenly.
Hermione dropped to the cold ground as her magic whirled wildly inside of her. She gasped out a breath as it finally calmed down. The instant her magic settled she was lifted up into his arms and swiftly brought inside the house. The chill in the air had already worked itself into her bones but was instantly washed away by the heat of the house. He carried her body past the living room and into her room. She didn't protest but silently cursed herself.
The bed was made, the covers over the pillows and a throw at the foot of the bed. He lay her in the middle of the bed and stayed leaning over her as he made himself comfortable beside her. He raised an eyebrow and in a very amused tone that irked her instantly, asked if she was done throwing a tantrum.
"Well?"
It only made her want to hit him over the head with something large and heavy. But didn't actually want to hurt him. But she did voice what she had been thinking about. What had really triggered her?
"Who was this girl? You said had, as in past tense. Who was she, Severus?" she asked. The answer wouldn't change them but she needed to know. His hair slipped forward as he leaned his head towards hers.
"Lilly Evans. But you might know her by a different name. Lily Potter, mother of Harry Potter."
For a second she thought she had heard wrong.
Lily Potter. Wait, Harry's mother?
She groaned and rolled over as she connected everything. Now she understood so many things. Her name sounded so delicate. Harry rarely talked of his parents but when he did he always painted them in a biased look.
But nobody had anything bad to say about Lily Potter. The girl who sacrificed her life for her son. It shouldn't have cast any kind of shadow over their current relationship but it did. She let it happen and didn't say anything to break the silence that followed.
o0o
They were already packed and ready to go back. Hermione had asked Severus to train her for the rest of the week and without question he had. He had given her space and kept to himself when they weren't training. She had spent hours pouring over tomes and potions as well as trying to find strong spells of concealment. She had found some that required little magic and a whole lot of concentration. Or others that were the opposite. While doing that she hadn't had one single dream or nightmare.
But she could feel one building up and it made her see red. Severus had just watched her without commenting. She had been grateful since even she didn't know how to deal with it. But time had run out and now they needed to return to Hogwarts.
She stood outside waiting for him when she heard the flap of wings and looked up. She watched the owl come to a halt by a small baby tree next to her. It held an envelope that seemed to be addressed to her. The owls dark grey feathers brushed her fingers as she took the envelope from its clawed foot. A second later it took to the sky in a quick flap of wings. The door to the house opened and closed from behind her as she watched the owl fly away.
"Who is it from?" asked Severus as he shouldered his own bag. She shrugged carelessly but still turned it over to check the seal. It wasn't one she knew but she didn't sense anything wrong with it. She broke the seal only to be confronted with elegant writing. One that did not match the small note at the top.
Madam Bones wanted to write to you directly and to request an official meeting in two weeks. She has been finding out on her own how dirty THEY. She doesn't want to believe them but so far, she has uncovered quite a bit but she wants you to know that she HAS heard you.
-Percy
Underneath it was very elegant handwriting, one that she hadn't seen before and could only be Amelia Bone's handwriting.
Miss Smith, I do believe that I'm finding it hard to disagree with the evidence you have given me but you have to understand that after decades of knowing Dumbledore and those that follow him it is hard for me to even think dishonorably of them, especially of him. So I will continue to search and understand. But I will support if you call for me.
-Amelia Bones
Once she finished reading the letter she passed it to Severus. He didn't linger too long on it and gave it back with a roll of his shoulders in response.
She didn't miss the way Severus' hands lingered on her waist as he took them back to school grounds.
o0o
Hogwarts, Sept 1995
Hermione lay in her bed as she watched the sun rise from her window. They had arrived just in time too. She was exhausted mentally and she knew why. She was stressing over something bloody stupid.
She had thought that she was too mature for such adolescent emotions and yet here she was, stressing over a petty matter. She gave a huff and stood up, her bones popping in places that made her laugh.
Her body acted like it really was old.
After a shower, she pulled on jeans and one of her father's jumpers that fit a tad too big but kept her warm enough. Pulled out some boots and was ready to go. She had missed seeing the boys and wondered how Harry was.
She pulled her hair up in a loose bun and stuck her wand through it before closing the open window. She had sent Dimitry a letter with her owl but didn't expect a reply so soon.
She checked herself in the mirror and paused.
Her body really wasn't that of a teen anymore but that was to be expected since she was now twenty officially. It had happened two weeks ago but had completely forgotten about it. Now she would have to really try hard and act five years younger. That was going to be tough. But she didn't have a choice now.
Without using her wand, she cast the charms and spells needed to hide all the scars and made herself slightly younger with a charm that Severus had taught her. The eyes were harder to hide and took a bit longer to hide.
Once she was ready she set out to find her boys. She wondered about Adalene and if she was doing okay. She had literally seen her a day ago according to her notes. She turned a corner and headed down the stairs.
Harry was already waiting for her at the foot of the steps with a sleepy Ron at his side. They both smiled up at her and made her grin despite herself. Ron sent her a weird glance while Harry narrowed his eyes. She willed herself not to freeze and only raised an eyebrow.
"What is it? Do I have drool on my face?" she asked humorously.
Ron broke out into a sleepy smile. "You don't have a book with you? Today we have Quidditch practice so we thought you would bring a book."
She forced a smile and shrugged. "I was going to head to the library later to pick up one."
That was a lie. One that neither of them suspected. Both of them nodded as if it made sense and followed her out of the common room with the twins catching up to them. They all began talking about Quidditch so she tuned them out and walked a bit ahead of them.
Along the way she tried to curb her emotions, she was excited one second and the next filled with dread at seeing him. But it was all for nothing. He wasn't at the Head Table for breakfast. His seat remained empty throughout it and that didn't sit well with her. But she was to blame and she knew that.
After promising the boys that she would meet them after their practice in the common room she watched them walk down the dirt path before heading back inside.
She was feeling out of sorts so she decided to really head to the Library. It was early still so not a lot of people were in the library. Madam Pince was at her desk and cast her a dark look before clearing it the instant she noticed it was only Hermione.
"Madam Pince," Hermione called politely and only received a small nod in return. She passed by and headed to the back of the library and was surprised to see Theodore Nott sitting in her usual spot. He didn't look up as he leafed through the tome in his hand.
"I knew that you would eventually show up."
Hermione raised an eyebrow as she cast a look around before sitting down on the floor next to his feet and picking up a tome that was stacked on top of his book bag.
"You would have to have been watching me for years to know that I only come to this spot when I'm alone. Have you been watching, Nott?"
He moved around so that his leg hit the back of her neck, probably on purpose, and drolly replied. "I have. But not because I like you or anything. I just happened to see you here. But enough of the small talk. I want you to know that Malfoy's father had a very serious talk with Umbridge and let's just say that Umbridge looked to be over the moon over what he told her. Oh, here, is a note I managed to swipe from her desk earlier."
The note was waved in her face but she sent him a non-verbal jinx that caused him to yelp and drop it. She hid a grin as she took the note and brought up her knees to cover it. It was a very detailed note that must have been sent that very morning since it still smelled of fresh ink. It basically said that Umbridge needed to adhere to Malfoy's plans and to avoid verbal confrontation with little Malfoy. Hermione slipped the note into her jean pocket and stood up in a fluid motion that belied the popping from earlier and tossed the heavy tome at him.
"I'll see that it gets put to good use. By the way, the money you gave me is already going to be used as planned. He has agreed to it and I will have him hidden until the time is right." she said as she brushed her jeans off with a casual hand. His dark hair covered one eye as he watched her before turning cold all of a sudden. She felt somebody come up behind her and knew what had brought it out. She turned slightly so that she could see who it was.
Draco Malfoy stood a foot away from her, he held two large tomes in his hands. He cast her a curiously blank glance before shifting his gaze on Nott.
"Professor Snape is looking for you, Nott. He said to meet him in his office."
He didn't look at her as he turned on his heel. Hermione raised an eyebrow, wondering what it could be about but instead of asking she waved him along. He left her alone a few seconds later. She sat down where he had been sitting and stared out the window.
It would be a long weekend.
o0o
On Monday morning she walked out of the common room with Harry and Ron. Right behind them was Neville who kept shooting Hermione looks. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what he was thinking so she turned her attention to the upcoming class.
Severus had given her a sheet of parchment paper with the month's homework that she had already completed. But that wasn't why she was nervous. The reason why she was nervous was that she had avoided him the whole weekend. Something like trepidation filled her as they stopped by the door with the others. She could hear shouting from inside, letting those outside know that it was going to be brutal today.
She turned so that she was leaning back against the wall and was surprised when Harry did the same. His shoulder leaned against hers as he spoke with Ron.
Recently she had started to notice that Harry had gotten the new tendency to touch her all the time or as much as he could. She also noticed the reason why. Many of the other students still said things behind his back and cast him angry looks as well. There was nothing they could do about that until the truth was thrust in their faces. She leaned her head in silent support on his shoulder and waited.
The delay wasn't long. Ten minutes later the door was flung open with several fourth years walking out in a hurry since they were late to their next class. She wasn't surprised to hear his sneering voice telling them to come in. Slytherins went in first, acting brave but she saw a few of them walk in with their hands fisted tightly. She waited until everybody had walked in to enter. His eyes flared with heat as he saw her come in last. The door shut with a loud clang and he turned from her as he began his lecture. She sat down on her desk and watched him struggle to control his anger during the whole class period.
Surprisingly, the class ended with no snide comment towards Harry or Neville. Hermione had read her tome the whole class period and hadn't looked up once. But now the class was over and they all quietly made their way out. She could feel his gaze burning a hole the size of Britain onto her back. She paused outside of the classroom and waved away the boys when they noticed that she had held back. She told them to go ahead to the Great Hall for lunch.
They didn't question her but once again she saw Neville hesitate but nevertheless followed them out of the dungeons. The instant she couldn't see them anymore she turned and went back inside, making sure to close the door firmly. She only got to see the end of his robes disappearing inside his private rooms when she turned around to look for him.
But he had left the door open.
After setting a few charms and spells on the door, she made her way to his private rooms. She went in and closed the door and was instantly aware of how dark his rooms were. Not that it did much to hide him since he sat in his armchair in the middle of the living room. She pulled her school robes off and took off her shoes. He ignored her and suddenly raised an arm.
He held a flask of what could only be Firewhisky. She walked over to him and took it out of his hand. Without looking away from his dark eyes, she threw it back and tried not to wink as it burned her throat in the process. He leaned back and watched her mutely. His mood still dark and his eyes burning with suppressed emotions.
Hermione knew that whatever she had started the week before was beginning to get to him and to be honest, her too. She set the flask down and hiked her skirt up and watched his eyes leave hers to follow her movements. The skirt stopped midway up and she pushed his thighs together with her own and sat on his lap with one knee on either side of his hips. He didn't reach down to hold her hips but neither did he push her off. The link between them remained opened but muffled. She didn't like it and it obviously seemed to bother him too.
"I wrote to Dimitry and he hasn't replied. Is something going on that I don't know about? It has been two days and I haven't heard a word. Something obviously has you in a bad mood." she said as she leaned forward and rested her arms on his shoulders. He watched, his eyes blank for a few seconds before shutting his eyes briefly.
"Theodore Nott Snr is dead. He was found dead a week ago but nobody had said anything. The only one that had been told about it had been Cornelius Fudge and he didn't tell anyone. The news will hit the papers in two days time." Severus said. His hands finally settled on her hips as he pulled her forward in an abrupt move that left her breathless. She frowned at the news and finally figured out why he had called for Nott. She did wonder who had killed him and wasn't left wondering for long. Severus cleared his throat and kept his eyes locked t hers.
"I did not know of this plan until now. Apparently, that is what Lucius was planning to do since Nott knew too much. He sent somebody that claimed to be a distant relative to visit Nott and slipped him a potion that would take a week to kill him. That is why it took so long and why I wasn't told. I was asked to inform Nott before they released the news." he said, his voice deeper than usual. She arched her back in a sudden need to stretch and hummed under her breath.
"I will write to Madam Bones and let her know before the news breaks out. Maybe this will convince her faster," she paused as she ran her hands through his silky hair.
She pulled it so that he was forced to face her fully. "I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to act this way. It was childish of me to act this way and yet I still did it. I didn't know I was going to react this way. And even then it was a shite thing to do. I have missed you."
The tension in his body seemed to evaporate before she could finish talking. He sent her a tired smile and shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't sure when to bring it up. But it had to be said one way or another. But do believe me when I say that I don't love her or even think about her that way. I know the difference in it now." he stated. Hermione smiled and leaned down for a kiss. It wasn't a confession of love but she would accept it for now.
Afterward, she lay across his chest, both of them holding each other in comfort. It had been a long weekend and now they both could be together again. She felt content and soon enough she drifted off to sleep in his arms, glad that she was over the bump she had caused in their relationship.
o0o
The smell of food hit her nose as she walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. She was almost to the table when she felt a small hand slip into hers. She glanced down to see Adalene and right beside her was her friend; the boy that had ears too big for his head.
"Morning, Hermione," Adalene said as she smiled widely.
Hermione couldn't resist her and smiled in return. "How are you holding up?" she asked her as she nodded her head to the boy. He blushed and stumbled as he tried to bow his head. Both girls laughed and it only made him turn a darker shade.
They arrived at the table, the young ones following her. She picked the open space beside Harry to sit. Hermione served them food before reaching for juice herself. She was about to drink when his deep rich voice filled her head.
"Do you want children? I'll admit I had never been fond of them, little dunderheads."
She froze and shot him a look before looking away in shock. Before she could help herself, she pictured little boys with their father's looks. Severus retreated from her mind but not before he himself pictured little girls that looked like her. She supposed that answered them both. She sent him an amused sly grin through their link as she grabbed a piece of bacon.
"Don't exaggerate the curls okay. I wasn't that bad."
o0o
Defense class was going well. Or at least in Umbridge eye's, it must have been since she still insisted on almost no magic. If Draco Malfoy asked to practice, he would be the only one to do so with her permission. Something he seemed to hate as he soon figured out. Harry had stayed put for most of the class but seem to stiffen every time Umbridge looked in his direction. Hermione had to stop him several times but her hold on him wouldn't last much longer. Umbridge made that annoying ahem sound and ignored Parvati's hand and headed towards Pansy who had raised her own hand to spite Parvati.
Harry saw that and before she could stop him, he stood and threw down his book.
That brought him the toads attention and noticed the sly look in her beady eyes as she addressed Harry in a loud squeaky voice of hers.
"Potter, I don't think you should be throwing a tantrum in your position. Now, pick up your book and read."
Harry shot her a nasty look as he did reach for his book but didn't stay quiet.
"I don't see what we can learn from the book unless we practice. We need to practice magic."
Umbridge turned red around her neck area and cleared her throat. "I didn't see you raise your hand Potter, ten points from Gryffindor."
Hermione shot her hand out and grabbed the back of his robes as he tried to take a step forward. She yanked him down and he shot her a glare but turned his attention back to Umbridge. "I don't understand why you're denying his return! He killed Cedric and nobody wants to accept that!"
That did it. Umbridge uttered a squeaky yelp of outrage and pointed a pink nail at Harry with a nasty smile that did nothing to calm Harry.
"You will NOT continue to spout lies! Detention for the rest of the week!"
Hermione had enough and yanked Harry again and forced him to sit still as Umbridge turned away. She hissed at him to stop just as the bell rang. He shrugged her off and walked briskly out of the classroom. But she did not miss the way Umbridge cast a gleeful gaze on his retreating back. That woman really did get on her nerves. She left the classroom, her thoughts suddenly very clear. But how to go through with the plan?
It was a few hours later that Hermione's attention was suddenly divided. Two letters had come in and she needed to meet Luna for both of them. So she went around looking for her and was told by Neville that Luna had gone down to the edge of the forest. Hermione headed down to Hagrid's abandoned hut and saw the girl disappear further down the forest. It was close to dinner time now so she wondered what she was doing out so late. Not one to prolong the chase she called out to her.
"Luna!"
The silver-haired girl paused, her hand carrying a bucket. "Hermione?"
A little out of breath, Hermione smiled and gestured towards the castle. "Neville told me I could find you here. I was looking for you. But I see you're busy. Mind if I join you? I need to speak to you about something."
Luna lifted the bucket slowly and shook her head. "You can come. I'm just out to see something. I was feeling a bit bored so I came out to see them. You might like them. Let me ask you something," she stilled and suddenly turned her bright eyes to her. "Have you ever seen anybody die? I did. My mother died in front of me when I was little. Something went wrong with a new spell she was working on."
It was then that Hermione realized that Luna was barefoot under her school robes. But she followed her deeper into the forest as she talked. "No, I haven't seen anybody die but my circumstances are different."
That didn't seem to hinder Luna as she walked a little ahead, her eyes dreamy yet clear of any dreams. "I know. Your soul is older than even Dumbledore's. Yet, it is not human anymore."
Shocked, Hermione didn't know how to respond. But now she knew why Luna had asked if she had could see the dead. Standing in front of her stood a few Thestrals.
Large and small ones began to creep out of the woods on silent hoofbeats. The smaller ones were easily the height of a first year.
Luna turned her head to the side and sent Hermione a secretive smile as she pulled out red meat from the bucket. "Not many can see them and those that do see them, well they misunderstand them. I have been able to see them since the first time I came across them. But you see them for a different reason."
Words seemed to fail Hermione for the first time in her life. All she did was give a shrug and gave in to the nameless feeling that Luna seemed to bring out of people
"How do you know that, Luna?"
"I see things normal people don't see and in their eyes that makes me different. Odd. That is why they call me Loony Luna," she gave a carefree laugh when she saw Hermione's expression. "Oh, it doesn't bother me. It makes no difference to me what they think. Only close friends know me. I would like to be your friend, Hermione Granger, with the golden eyes."
The instinct to check her eyes was hard to resist so instead she talked. "I don't think you are loony. I would like to be friends too. But that aside, I do have something to share with you. I'm sure your father has contacted you about what I offered him and what I wanted in return." she said as she reached for her own slice of meat and didn't hesitate to feed the largest of the Thestrals. The breath of the beast was cool and when it took it from her hand it was almost gentle in doing so.
"I might be sending two individuals to protect your father and to act as messengers. But I won't know for sure until I meet them. As for the other, I was going to ask you to help me get allies. Here in the forest. I know of the centaurs and the spiders but I am sure there are others. I want to start getting allies before he does. But right now everybody is doing their part already so I can't just ask anybody." Hermione said as she fed the Thestrals that had appeared from behind the larger one and nudge her for some.
Luna twirled around one of the smaller ones, her feet silent even though there were twigs and rocks on the ground. "I'll see what I can do. But you might want to think about adding more of us on your side. You should go back inside. I'll get to working on it later. They might request a meeting with you since some of them hate wizards. Oh, and you don't have to worry about anybody reading me. Nobody wants to since they can't understand me."
Hermione smiled. "I suppose that was what I was going to ask you next. Let me know who you decide on and I'll see what we can do. I'll see you later."
She left her, surrounded by Thestrals. Passing by Hagrid's Hut she pulled out the second letter and re-read it.
"Hermione, I found them. But one of them is really injured. I need you here, to see them for yourself. They know too much now to just erase their memories and I can't send them to your parents. That would be too many people in one place. Later, when the revel is over, come with Severus. Bring potions since we are running out. The boys will be there too."
-D
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Thank you for reading! Hope you liked it.
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Vanee