Dying is a Delicate Moment
A fanfic by Agara
"Kill me. Kill me if you ever loved me."
And he kills her.
Thoughts are written in Italics
Big Lines : New POV
OoOoOo : Sames POV / Time Lapse
CHAPTER ELEVEN : A TEMPEST IN A TEACUP - PART II
We highly recommend to re-read the last chapter because this is the second part and it's obviously connected.
09.01.1943:
They were walking down the corridors. They were talking in hushed voices. They were trying to find out how something like that could have happened just before their eyes without anyone anticipating it. They elaborated some theories, but none of them were satisfactory enough.
Dumbledore and Dippet were focused on the words coming out of the Head Auror mouth. Since he had arrived in the auror department thirty years ago, he had always been one of those who wanted to change everything for the better. He had worked many hours, had almost lost his life more times than he could count but in the end, he had made a change.
Until tonight.
Tonight Auror Mator was lost. Unable to figure out how the entire attack had happened. In fact, none of them knew. Slughorn was talking to the other auror present giving him a precise list of all the potions the matron would need to treat the wounded.
They walked beside a group of students, chatting enthusiastically but still in low voices.
"... I think he is in the infirmary." One of them said.
On a normal night, the professors and Aurors would have told the students to go back to their dorm, but on this night, every student who felt well enough to talk was a good thing. So they just kept walking.
"...But Gracie knew. She told us. How come she didn't know if she yelled at us seconds before the explosion then ?"
Slughorn turned around. "What did you just say Mister Mulciber ?"
"Nothing professor. He is just under shock." Isodor quickly answered.
"I heard it too." Dolohov announced. "She called us seconds before the attack. Not to get our attention, but more like a warning." Antonin locked eyes with the potions professor, an invisible smile on his lips.
"She knew."
OoOoOo
09.01.1943:
Hermione could not remember how she got to the infirmary. But here she was, standing straight and blood dripping from her clothes, in a room full of crying children. As she looked around her, she noticed that all eyes were on her. She wondered if it was due to how she looked at the moment or what she had just done. She stopped thinking and focused on finding the matron.
With the bustle around her, it was difficult to even distinguish the students from the medical staff. She put her left foot first and began walking, at least she tried. Every step she took shot an electric pain in her left ankle. However, after a couple of minutes of walking around the infirmary, the pain lessened. She saw, at the end of the room, the matron talking to two nurses. She quickened her pace and arrived at her level.
Miss Asphodela nodded at the two nurses then turned around and faced Hermione.
"Miss Hortense, you need to get checked." She took her by the shoulder and began guiding her towards a bed.
"How is he ?" Hermione cut her.
By the look on the matron face, Hermione knew that she had understood who she was referencing to.
'He is alive Miss Hortense." She replied with empathy.
"He is alive." Hermione repeated in a low voice.
"You saved his life." The matron reassured her and added a little more pressure on her shoulder to show her support.
"Did I ?" Hermione let out a humourless laugh.
"You did what you had to do Grace." Hermione noticed that it was the first time the matron had used her first name. "You saved his life, no matter what."
Hermione closed her eyes and the images came back in flashes. The reparo, the skin patching up and most of all the screams.
"Tobias Wilmerton is alive thanks to you Grace. Do not forget that." She smiled. "You need to sit down now and make sure you are not wounded."
Hermione turned around and started walking toward a bed. She stopped in her tracks as she saw Tom sitting on one of them with half of his face covered in blood. A nurse was examining his injuries. As she touched the skin around his right eye, Tom hissed.
Hermione sat on a bed on the other side of the room, her eyes still stuck on the fifth year Slytherin.
"Is it going to scar ?" Tom asked in a hushed voice.
"You received a dark curse Mister…" The nurse said.
"Riddle." He completed.
"You should be glad just to be alive."
With a flick of a wand, the blood on his face disappeared. Hermione silently gasped as she saw his face. A large gash was visible just near his eye.
"This is going to hurt Mister Riddle." The nurse told him before saying a spell.
Tom bit his lips as the gash reduced and the skin glued back together. Once the spell was done, the nurse gave him a small nod then left him alone, sitting on the bed, feeling the scar underneath his fingers. He turned his face and saw Hermione looking at him. He dropped his hand as if to stop her to think he was upset about it. He lifted his head and straightened his back.
The large gash was no longer on his face. A pale pink scar, starting just above his eyebrow going down to the middle of his right cheek before arching towards his right ear, was the only remaining.
They just kept staring at each other. The infirmary's door open in a loud thud and all the noises stopped altogether. Everyone turned their heads towards the entrance. Dippet, followed by Dumbledore and Slughorn entered the room. A couple of seconds later, the lads and two Aurors joined them. Once Slughorn noticed Hermione sitting on a bed, he rushed towards her.
"Miss Hortense, please follow me." The professor whispered.
She stood up and slowly walked towards the exit. Her body was moving without her noticing. Everything was still a blur in her mind. She felt all eyes on her. She glanced at the lads and noticed Dolohov smiling. Not the typical smile he could sometimes have. This one was filled with slyness.
"Where is she going ?" She heard Miss Asphodela ask behind her. "She is covered in blood and no one has checked her injuries yet."
"Everything is fine. Please show yourself out if you have been healed." Dippet reassured the students.
She left the room alongside Slughorn, Dumbledore and who seemed to be the Head Auror by the badge he had on his black robes.
They walked a few minutes in silence before arriving in front of Slughorn's private appartments.
"I need to talk to the parents." The Head Auror said. "Horace, please find me once this is dealt with."
On this, he left Hermione alone with her two professors. She quickly looked at Dumbledore. Her heart started beating faster in her chest. She finally remembered that she had seen something she ought not to. Her mind began wondering what would happen if Dumbledore noticed she had witnessed his conversation with Grindelwald.
You're not sure he had seen you. If not, you have nothing to worry about.
"Horace, as Deputy Headmaster it is my responsibility to…"
"Grace, could you please wait for me inside. There is tea ready." Slurghorn ordered her.
Hermione nodded, gave a last quick glance at her transfiguration teacher then entered the private apartments. She left the door slightly open for her to hear the conversation taking place right outside.
She approached a large leather chair and sat. She extended her hand to reach a cup. She noticed the state of her hands. Blood was smeared up to her elbow. She began shaking. She took the teacup in her hand and poured some tea in it. The shaking became more violent and she almost dropped the beverage on the ground. She took a deep breath. She tried to focus on the teacup instead of the macabre images in her head.
The teacup was chipped.
"No Albus."
It was tiny, almost invisible.
"You have no say in this."
But the cup was chipped.
"She is my student, my responsibility."
Like a scar on porcelain skin.
"You will leave us alone."
OoOoOo
09.01.1943:
"But it wasn't. It was ashes." She concluded.
Slughorn was staring at her. His eyes were filled with humanity and horror. But Hermione was looking at the teacup which was bloodied, used and broken.
"Why am I here professor ?" She finally asked.
"It came to our attention that you knew about the attack before it happened." He answered looking her in the eyes.
"It came to your attention ?" Hermione repeated. "What are you implying professor ?"
"Nothing Grace. This is not an interrogation. We heard Mister Mulciber say that you warned them a couple of seconds before the explosion. This was confirmed by Mister Dolohov."
Hermione shut her mouth. "I did not do anything professor." She said after a minute of silence.
"I know that Grace."
She nodded.
"You should go to the infirmary Grace." He finished.
Hermione stood up, looked around her one last time then took a few steps towards the exit. She put her right hand on the doorknob and began turning it. She stopped in her tracks as she heard his voice.
"We have found a body in the south part of the town." She froze, her hand still on the doorknob, her back at him. "The dark wizard had been subjected to the disembowelment curse." Hermione closed her eyes.
"Did you found the person accountable for it ?" She asked, her voice tight.
"No. We didn't."
"Professor…" She started.
"My guess is that we won't." He cut her.
She turned around. They looked at each other, well aware of what the other was thinking.
"It was a massacre over there. No one knows who did what." He concluded.
Of course he knows Hermione. Of course he knows it was you. Thank god you are valuable to him.
She nodded, turned back again, opened the door and left. She leaned for a couple of seconds on the now-closed door.
She exhaled and felt like she could breathe for the first time in the last hours.
It's going to be okay Hermione.
She pushed herself from the door and began walking. Even though the entire castle was awake and the lights were on, this part of the castle, the dungeons, was still dark.
It was not in there.
It was not in there.
For fuck sakes, it was not in there.
Her pace was slow. It was not deliberate but her mind was too focused on something else to realize that she was walking slowly.
How could it not be in there ?
You were so sure Hermione.
If it was not there, wher-
She felt someone grabbing her wrist violently. She rose her head and saw Tom's scarred face. She got used to seeing him every day in the last months but with the fresh scar covering a part of his face, she felt as if it was the first time she met him. And she was scared.
His eyes were dark and filled with anger.
"Wha-" She started.
"What did you tell him ?" He cut her in a menacing voice.
"What are you talking about ?"
He shot her a look she had never seen directed towards her. She had seen it earlier with Dolohov. Tom was not angry at this moment nor furious. He was mad.
"What did you tell him ?" He repeated with a clenched jaw.
"I-I.." She tried to speak.
She was frozen. Hermione had never felt so vulnerable and afraid in front of a fifteen years old boy.
"I told him what had happened today." Hermione finally answered.
"Did you tell him everything ?"
"No I did not."
OoOoOo
09.01.1943:
As she walked alone south of the village, the chatting noise of the students talking loudly distanced from her. This part of town seemed almost deserted. This area wasn't known for being popular, except for the Swizzle Wand at the end of the road. With this main attraction closed for the day, only a few people were wandering around.
She saw the second-hand book shop Forgotten Books on her left and she opened the door. The old man, probably the longtime owner, was sitting behind the counter. He wasn't known for being the most polite person on earth so it was totally normal that they didn't greet each other. She walked down the aisles, getting herself lost in the mountains of books.
She lost herself for an hour in this bookshop reading the abstracts of some of the strangest books. She had chosen four at the end of this hour : Progress in Centaurs' legislation - a thesis on how to make a change, Architectural timeline of the oldest castles in Great Britain, Why should we listen to what elves have to say ? and Wandlore : The Art of Crafting the Ultimate Magical Tool.
She put the books down her enchanted purse and left the boutique. A small group of people walked in front of her, heading north. A man, walking opposite, stood out. He was not wearing particular clothes nor had a peculiar haircut. He just didn't seem to belong here.
Instinctively, Hermione started following him. She made sure to stay a few meters behind. He turned left in an empty street. She stopped. She looked around her to find a place to hide.
The man waited a bit in the alley then a dark figure appeared at the end of the street. As the figure moved closer, Hermione could distinguish his features. Brown hair perfectly styled, piercing dark eyes and slight smirk on his lips.
"Do you have it ?" Tom asked in a hurry, slightly annoyed.
"Yes. 7 galleons." The man replied.
"You told me five."
"And now it is seven."
Tom stared at the man then put out the money from his pocket and handed it. The man got a book out of his robes and hesitated before giving it to Tom. Hermione got to notice the title: Secrets of the darkest art. She knew it. She had stolen it. She had read it. And it was dark.
"How old are you again ?" He asked.
"As long as I pay, you don't need to know my age." Tom replied.
Standing in his Hogwarts robes, Tom gave the man a look. "Take the money, give me the book and leave." He continued in a low voice. The man complied.
After the exchange, the man left and Tom was alone. He turned around and saw Hermione. They looked at each other, then his gaze fell to the book he was holding in his right hand. He rose his eyes once again to face hers but she was staring at the volume. Once she looked back at him, a silent conversation took place.
I know what that book is. No you do not. Why did you buy it ? It does not concern you.
"Kiddo !"
She spun around and saw Pollux grinning approaching her. His smile fell once he stood in front of her. "You look tired." He told her.
She let out a humorless laugh. "Well, thanks."
OoOoOo
09.01.1943 :
"Did you tell him everything ?"
"No I did not."
They stared at each other in silence. She was looking at his scar and he was looking at the blood covering her face.
"Miss Hortense." They heard.
They both turned around startled and saw professor Dumbledore walking towards them.
"May I have a word with you?" He asked once he arrived at their level. The transfiguration teacher gave a pointed look at Tom, ordering him to leave them alone. The latter gave one last glance at Hermione, stepped back and left. Dumbledore started striding back towards the dungeons and Hermione felt as if she had to follow him. She looked above a shoulder and saw Tom.
How could he leave when he knew something was up ?
"How are you feeling ?" Dumbledore asked once they stopped.
If Hermione were an ordinary student she would have felt special. The Deputy Headmaster asking her personally how she was. However, at this precise moment, her entire body tensed. His voice was not particularly cold nor calculated but it lacked the warmth the situation should have brought.
"Mostly tired." She replied honestly.
He cocked his head slightly to the left and remained silent for a couple of seconds. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on her behind his demi circular glasses. Hermione's mind was racing. Should she say something ? Should she wait for him to talk about the subject she was scared to broach ?
Her thoughts were cut when he spoke up.
"Do you know how you got into the dome Miss Hortense ?"
She wondered if it was a rhetorical question or if he was genuinely interested in her theories. By the prolonged silence that followed his question, she opted for the latter.
"The dome let prepared people in. I believe it took both the physical condition and the mental state into consideration before letting anyone in." She replied. "Thus, it let me in Professor."
As did the goblet of fire during your fourth year Hermione when choosing the students capable of competing.
"You are completely right Miss Hortense. The dome found you prepared to fight. May I add that you fought well ?"
Hermione squinted a little, trying to figure out the tone he had just used.
"How could you have known that I fought well Professor ? You weren't there." She stated.
She saw something in Dumbledore's eyes the moment she said the last three words. He had seen her earlier today and now she was sure of it. From years of knowing him in her own timeline, she knew he wouldn't refute the fact but he would justify it.
"A war does not only take place on the battlefield Miss Hortense."
"On a battlefield brimming with students Professor. They were fighting for you Professor, and you weren't there."
You are never there Professor.
Hermione just realised that she had never witnessed Dumbledore fight. He had always been the mastermind, plotting and giving orders. Yet, he was never in the heat of action.
"Dumbledore… He… He fooled me." Hermione remembered. Harry's voice resonated in her head as she glared at the transfiguration teacher.
In fifty years, Dumbledore would fool Harry and tonight Hermione, he will try to fool you too.
"Before making war Miss Hortense, we play it." Dumbledore retorted.
"Play it ?" She repeated taken aback. "This is not a game Professor. People died. A student died !" Hermione rose her voice.
Three minutes passed when she felt the Gryffindor behind her falling on her. She slightly turned around and he fell backward. She stopped him by the shoulders and got a huge splash of blood on her face. He had his throat slit open. Out of horror, she let go of him and his body hit the ground.
"Edison Morsten's death is a tragedy but in every war there are casualties." He explained. "And you, Miss Hortense, are well-placed to know that."
Dumbledore was not talking to a student at this moment but to an adult, capable of understanding what being in a war meant. Hermione opened her mouth to spit back but stopped. She analysed his face and realised that he looked tired, exhausted even.
"Is it a game then ?" Hermione finally said. He looked at her in confusion, not fully understanding how she got to this conclusion. "You didn't refute the fact that this was a game to you Professor."
"Miss Hortense…"
"Then I hope we didn't disturb your game too much by fighting to death meters away Professor." She cut him.
"Miss Hortense." He said in a firm voice. "I understand that after the day you just had you may be tired and emotional but keep in mind that I am your professor."
A heavy silence settled and they glared at each other. She was about to answer back and Dumbledore understood that so he rose his eyes and looked upon her shoulder.
"Tom." He called in a loud voice. "Since you are still here, please take Miss Hortense to the infirmary. She had not been treated yet."
Of course he never left. He knew something was up.
The Deputy Headmaster looked back at her. "I hope that you are smart enough to know what can and cannot be said." He turned around and left Tom and Hermione alone.
"Well, I did not know you had it in you Hortense." Tom told her.
"What ?" She turned her head to face him.
"You were about to insult a professor. Was he talking about ?" Hermione didn't answer so Tom kept going. "It was not about that and you are not going to tell me anything about the discussion you have just had with him, right ?"
He is finally starting to know you.
"Right."
They stayed, just the two of them, in an empty hallway for a couple of minutes. It was the first time since the beginning of the attack that there was a real silence. Deafening. She felt her muscles becoming heavier, her wounds beginning to burn and her blood pulsing in her left ankle.
They began walking down to the infirmary. Every step she took with her left leg sent flashes of pain up her body. Hermione bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from sobbing. Tears pooled in her eyes. She clenched her fists.
"Fuck !" She exhaled. She curled up.
"Hortense ?" Tom asked, a small quiver of concern in his voice.
She turned her right hand, palm up, and saw her swelled-up thumb turning purple and she began to laugh.
"It's broken." She chuckled.
"You finally lost it." He replied confused.
Hermione finally straightened her back. Her cheeks were wet from tears. Tom, his eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment, examined her. His gaze finally settled on her right hand.
"You broke your thumb." He stated.
"By fucking punching a guy in the face."
"Come on Hortense, let's go to the infirmary."
She met his eyes. "I can't." Tom waited for her to give the reason why. "I think I also broke my ankle."
He exhaled exasperated and realised she was favoring her right leg. He crouched down a little and cast a Ferula. A splint appeared around her left ankle. He took her right arm and settled it around his shoulders to help her walk.
"Come on." He said.
Hermione was a little taken aback by how easy it was for him to touch her. She was expecting him to reach for help or just not caring at all. She didn't expect him to actually help though.
They walked in silence for a bit. Hermione was now remembering the entire day. Her mind went back to Tobias.
"He survived you know." She spoke up.
"Hm ?" He replied, his gaze still focused in front of him.
"Tobias Wilmerton."
"Who ?" Tom asked, obviously not caring about what she was about to tell him.
"The third-year I healed."
"Healed ?" He snickered. "You messed him up."
Hermione stopped walking and without even thinking shoved him against the nearest wall in spite of her broken ankle. She put her wand underneath his chin. "Don't you dare laugh about that." She threatened him, guilt rising in her guts.
Even though she must have looked terrifying with the blood covering her face and her wand pointed towards him, Tom could still see a vulnerability and smirked.
"You should have let him die."
"Don't." She groaned while pushing her wand further in his skin.
"Reparo should be used on a broken plate, not a human body. You should know that Hortense, it is a first-year spell." Her eyes became wet. "I wanted to vomit when I saw you doing it."
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up." Hermione repeated, never letting go of her wand.
"What are you going to do ? Kill me ?" He taunted her. "I would not be your first."
Hermione was ready to throw a curse at him. She was almost ready to kill him at this instant and that thought scared her. She lowered her wand and quickly took a step back, her eyes still locked on him.
"How does it feel ?" He smirked.
How does it feel ? Taking the life out of someone ?
The first person you killed was not voluntary. You only tried to hurt him. You cried all night.
The second person you killed was intentional. You cried all night because you didn't regret it.
And from the third one, you stopped crying.
Behind the taunting, Hermione could see the sincerity behind his question. "You're disgusting." She spat.
You're disgusting too.
"I am disgusting ? You used the mending charm on a kid. You slaughtered a man and you didn't give him a quick death. He bled out. And I am the disgusting one ?" He let out a small laugh. "Take a good look in the mirror Hortense."
"Fuck you Riddle." She concluded. She turned around and limped towards the infirmary. As she was about to turn left she heard Tom yell behind her. "Interesting spell by the way."
As she walked alone, she was surrounded by the silence around her. The corridors were deserted and all she could hear was her breath and her steps on the stone floor. She pushed open the infirmary doors. The calm she had experienced a couple of seconds prior had just been replaced by chaos. She limped her way to a bed when someone called her name.
"Grace ?"
She turned her head to the left and saw him. He approached her.
"Why are you covered in blood ?" He scanned her face. "Are you hurt ?" He searched for any open wounds. "Where are the blood nurses in here ?" He looked around.
"Abe, Abe." Hermione said. "I'm fine. Calm down."
"No, you're obviously not. And sit down." She obeyed at his authoritarian voice.
"Leonara." Abe called the matron.
The latter gave him a sign to wait and resumed healing another student.
Hermione tried to give him a smile to reassure him. It didn't work.
"What happened to you ?" He asked her. "Don't tell me you got in." After a small silence, he resumed. "Of course you got in. I totally freaked out. Pollux told me you were supposed to meet him at the bar. You never showed up. So I went here immediately after the battle. And here you are. You entir.. Why are you smiling ?"
"I am glad to see you too Abe." She chuckled.
"This is not funny Grace. I was genuinely panicked. Pollux told me you would be there in twenty minutes then I heard the explosion and…"
"You saw Pollux ?"
"Yes, I just told you that."
"When ?" Hermione started worrying about Pollux again.
"About fifteen minutes before the attack. Why ?"
"Have you seen him since ?" She rose from her seat.
"Grace sit down. He is not here but…"
He is dead.
Her head started turning and her legs began shaking. She looked right at Abe with wide eyes. He put both of his hands on her shoulders to stop her from panicking. His lips moved yet she couldn't hear a thing.
He is dead. Pollux is dead.
She stared at his lips and thought she discerned St Mungos, she snapped back to reality.
"Lots of students were sent there." Abe finished.
"He is at St Mungos." She repeated to herself like a mantra.
"He might be." Abe insisted.
"Abelforth let her breathe." Leonara said approaching the two.
The nurse took him by the arm and they both moved away from her. Even though they were not beside her, Hermione could still hear their conversation.
"She is having a panic attack." Miss Asphodela whispered.
"Have you seen Pollux Parkinson ? Or heard anything regarding him ?"
"I already told you. We don't have a precise list of students transferred to St Mungo's."
"How many were killed ?"
"Three for the moment. On the battlefield." She replied giving the names of the three dead students. "Two others are in an alarming state."
He is not dead. Pollux is not dead.
Her breath became steadier.
"Here, take this." Miss Asphodela told her at the same time as she put a calming draught in her hand.
"I feel better there is no need."
"Miss Hortense, take the potion."
"I just told you I didn't need it." Hermione snapped, pushing the draught away from her.
The nurse gave her a suspicious look then examined her. A few healing spells later, her wounds closed and her bones mended. "Stay here two more minutes, just for your bones to be strong enough for you to walk back to your dorm. Then take a shower and sleep." Miss Asphodela gave her a small nod then went away.
"Are you feeling better ?" Abe asked her.
"I think."
"You heard Leonara. Go shower and rest."
"I'll wait. Maybe there will be news about Pollux."
"No sweetheart. I'll stay here and take care of that. You need to sleep."
Abe kissed her forehead and she smiled at him. As he walked away, she looked around her. Her mind not focusing on anything. She heard whispers and felt eyes on her. Her eyes fell upon the lads, standing across from her, a couple of meters away. They were all staring at her. She didn't tear her gaze away.
Isodor was lying on the bed with a large bandage covering his right thigh while the others were gathered around him.
"Are you feeling alright Hortense ?" Abraxas asked her.
The usual disdain present in his voice was gone and replaced by what seemed respect.
"I'm fine Malfoy. Are you lads okay ?" Hermione answered.
"Living my best life." Isodor joked from his bed. She chuckled and got up.
She put her left foot first and felt no pain. She continued walking through the crowded room. She was only a few meters away from the door when the latter opened violently.
"Where is my son !" A fifty years old man yelled as he entered.
Hermione looked behind the man and saw Dippet, alongside Dumbledore, the Aurors and the four candidates -Malfoy, Tuft, Rosier, and Lestrange- quickly reaching for him.
"Mister Morsten, please…" Dippet slowly said.
"Where is my son !?" He repeated. He seemed panicked, looking around him, his arms trying to grab anyone who could help him find his son. Although Hermione knew that he wouldn't.
"Mister Morsten." The head Auror approached the distraught man. "We should have this conversation somewhere else."
"I just want to see my son. I just want to see Edison."
Hermione felt her heart sank as she watched the father sob. He was fisting Mator's black robes, his hands becoming white as he added more pressure. She felt as if the world had just stopped. And for a moment it did. There were no sounds other than the cries of a sonless father. There was no movement other than the father's shaking shoulders. There was just pure agony, and everyone felt it.
Hermione thought about his son. His throat split, his eyes wide open in shock. A father should never see his son in this condition.
"Edwin." The other Auror whispered. As he heard his name, his head snapped up. "Come with us."
"You !" Edwin yelled, pointing his finger at Dumbledore. "You were supposed to keep him at bay."
Hermione understood how Edwin Morsten could feel betrayed. Everyone relied on Dumbledore to keep Grindelwald away from England. And today he had failed.
"It is not Professor Dumbledore's fault." Tuft intervened. "No one's at fault."
"You are at fault. All of you ! With your bloody promises. You have blood on your hands ! All of you ! How could you have let this happen ?! He was a child. He was my son." His words got cut by large sobs.
Hermione felt a lump in her throat.
But they did something.
Tuft had always known that something like that would happen sooner or later. So she had taken the matter in her own hands : more protections around the castle, dozens of Aurors ready to intervene if necessary, the discussion she had had with Dumbledore and Dippet about the necessity of shield - the Dome -. She had done something but as Dumbledore had said, there are always casualties in a war.
Hermione's eyes fell on the transfiguration professor and she understood at this moment what he had meant.
"I put him on the train this morning…" The father kept crying. Iru Mator, the Head Auror, took him by the shoulders and guided him out of the room. Dippet tried to calm the students, and Dumbledore stayed still. Hermione thought that he had never looked as old as he did at this precise moment. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and left the room.
She was taking the last step leading her to the Slytherin common room. Only a few meters and she would find the peace of her dorm.
"... I've searched for you everywhere ! Did you even look for me ?!" Cassandre almost shouted.
This day is never going to end.
A loud silence followed the youngest Parkinson's question. Hermione kept walking, not wanting to interfere with the drama going on not far from her.
"You've never replied to any of my letters. We were supposed to meet this morning, you never showed up. I kept waiting for you. What happened ?" Cassandre asked with a mix of concern and anger in his voice.
"Nothing happened Cassandre." Walburga coldly answered.
"Then why ?"
"It was a mistake from the beginning Cassandre."
"What are you talking about ? We were supposed to run away together. We promised."
"And I made a promise to my family."
"Your family ? You fucking hate your family Walburga. Don't pull that shit on me."
"It doesn't matter if I like them or not. I have a duty towards them. I could never betray them."
Hermione saw the Slytherim common room door at the end of the hallway and prayed to the gods to reach it quickly.
"Open your eyes Cassandre. It was never going to work. This is going nowhere. And even if I could marry into the Parkinson family, it would have never been you. It would have been your brother. You're not the heir."
Hermione stopped as she heard the harsh words, her eyes wide open.
"Is it about that then ? Pollux ? It always fucking about him." Cassandre shouted, blinded by hatred not understanding what Walburga had just meant. "Fuck him !"
Hermione started walking again, quickening her pace.
"No Cassandre, it's…" Walburga's words were cut as Hermione closed the door behind her.
She let her head fall on the door, closed her eyes and just breathed. Her mind was blank, not thinking about anything. She couldn't hear a sound, the common room was empty. She finally began to calm down and felt the tiredness drowning her senses.
"Kiddo ?" A quiet voice said.
Her heart raced, her eyes opened in half a second and her head turned to the left, where the sound came from. Pollux was lying on a couch near the fireplace, his eyes not completely opened. Hermione approached him, shaking. He rose up into a sitting position, his hands rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes. She didn't let him take a real look at her that she closed her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Wow kiddo calm down, let me take a hangover potion first." He chuckled.
Hermione realised that he was stinking alcohol. Again. She let go of him and he finally really looked at her.
"Grace ?!" He stood up and took her by the shoulders. "What the fuck happened to you ?"
"You don't know ?" Hermione's voice broke a little. She spent the day worrying about him when he was passed out from alcohol in the common room. "There was an attack."
"What ?!" He looked around him, panicked. "Where's Cassandre ?"
"Is it about that then ? Pollux ? It always fucking about him. Fuck him !"
"He's fine. Don't worry about him."
"And Cole ? Abe ? You ?! You're soaking in blood."
"I'm fine."
"Okay, stay there. Don't move. I just need to see him. I-I just need to see my little brother. I'll be right back. Don't move."
Pollux looked right at her one last time then left the common room. Hermione found herself alone. She wanted to snap at him, cry on his shoulder, hug him, slap him. She had too many emotions overwhelming her at this moment. She realised that she had been controlled by her emotion the entire night, going from angry to scared to depressed to angry again. She just needed to sleep.
She turned around and climbed the stairs to her room. All of her roommates, expect for Walburga, were asleep. Hermione got closer to her bed with catlike stealth and found a steaming cup of tea next to a handwritten note. She recognized Slughorn's writing : Dreamless potion.
Hermione took the teacup in her right hand and flowed her thumb over the porcelain.
It was not chipped anymore.
Author's notes :
Hi guys,
Sorry for the delay. But we're back !
Obviously Pollux is not dead and Tom is still a little bitch
Btw we made a YearBook photosop of all the characters : you can find it on our Tumblr / agarariddle-andhernachos
We're living in the same city again so it should be easier for us to work on ddm.
Thank you so so much for all of our reviews !
Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
Lots of love
-DDM's Managers