You're right, Hermione, that's definitely the locket. I guess we're putting Gringotts on hold to figure out how to break into the Ministry. If you have any ideas… we have none!

I think Malfoy is getting more comfortable here with us. He's talking more and giving valid suggestions; he's really trying. Ron is still a little unsure about him, but they played Wizard Chess yesterday and no one died. So that's something.

Good idea about giving the fake locket to Kreature! He never takes it off and he's been less of a grouch – he actually made us dinner! The house is super clean and he wears a clean pillowcase now instead of that filthy rag that smelled worse than Ron's socks.

I really miss you, 'Mione, we all do. Even Malfoy, though he doesn't say it. It's just not the same without you. I hope you don't hate me for this arrangement, but I really think it will work – it has been so far, at least.

I wish I could tell Ginny I miss her. So much. I wish I could write to her, but I don't want to risk the owl. Should we tell her about this? Could we give her an update? I know I left things wrong back at The Burrow and I regret it all now. Hopefully, things can go back to normal once this is all over.

Hermione wiped away a tear. She missed them, too. Her heart ached, constantly worrying about them. She had taken to using sleeping draughts from Madam Pomfrey to help her sleep at night. Wiping at her misty eyes, Hermione sniffed once and continued reading the latest message from the trio at Grimwald Place.

As for Neville, he should definitely learn to cast the Patronus. Maybe he just needs a different kind of happy memory. Tell him mine – it's just me sitting with my parents talking. It's not technically even real, but the emotion is still there.

Wish him luck from me. Black can be intimidating, but I'm sure she'd give him a second chance if he really needed it. She can be reasonable.

Talk soon, 'Mione. Stay safe, stay strong. Love – Harry

Clearing away the words, she placed the book away and made her way to the common room. Tonight was the last night Neville had to practice before tomorrow's DADA class, where Professor Black would be testing their Patronuses for the last time. Now she had an idea of how to help Neville, at least. It still surprised her that Black had known she would be the one with the answer – or more likely, Harry by proxy of Hermione.

It was only half passed seven, but the common room was nearly empty. Seamus sat in a corner with a group of other boys. Without Dean, he had been having trouble finding a place, but he had acclimated; hence the new group of lonely teens discussing the absurdity of the rubbish in the Prophet and the disgust they held for their new professors and Headmaster. War made quick adults of children.

"Hermione, what am I going to do? It's due tomorrow and I still have no idea how to cast a strong shield-Patronus, let alone a corporeal one!" Neville whined as Hermione approached him and Ginny seated on the sofa in front of the fire.

"I actually had a thought, Neville. Come on, we'll practice in the Room of Requirement," Hermione said, ushering them out the portrait hole and through the deserted corridors.

Making their way to the vanishing room, Hermione was glad Harry had thought to give Ginny the Marauder's Map before leaving – it saved them from meeting up with Filch and a few professors on their way through the school.

Inside the Room, they found it exactly the same as it had been for Dumbledore's Army. At one end of the room, the large hearth burst into flames, beginning to warm the chilly air. The floor-to-ceiling mirrors reflected the fire-light and a warm glow enveloped the room. Taking a deep breath, Hermione felt herself relax.

"I remembered what Harry's memory was," she said, turning to a gloomy Neville. "Only it never happened, so it's not exactly a memory."

Neville looked back at her, his question written plainly on his face. Ginny, at the mention of Harry, began to pay closer attention. "What's his memory?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"It's him sitting with his parents, just sitting and talking; having a conversation. It isn't real, but he says that the emotion is strong enough to produce the full-bodied Patronus," Hermione elaborated. "I want you to think Neville, take as long as you need. Think of a situation that would make you happy – even if it's never happened. Take as long as you need."

For some time, the three of them sat quietly on the mats provided to them by the Room in front of the roaring fire. Every now and again, Hermione would see Ginny wipe under an eye. She longed to comfort her friend and tell her that her boyfriend was safe. Recalling Harry's message, Hermione's heart broke for the couple. She wondered if there was a way to let Ginny know that he cared, that he missed her, that he loved her. She would find a way. The youngest Weasley needed something to lift her spirits; she was falling into a deep dark place in her wondering fear.

An hour passed, maybe two, Hermione wasn't sure. Lying on her mat, she drifted off listening to her friends' breathing and the crackling of the fire. Her imagination played tricks with her semi-conscious thoughts. Behind her eyelids, the world passed in a blur, like she was driving down a fast highway at night, everything outside obscure. And then, from the darkness, a shape began to take form – one from her reality and her nightmares. Curls blacker than night whipped around a face as pale as a ghost's; lips as red as blood stretched into a wide smile. Hermione's gaze lifted to the eyes of the individual, terrified of finding the frigid emptiness in the black orbs. Instead, she saw passion, fire, life, and vigor. Her heart beat faster and her eyes darted back and forth beneath her eyelids.

"I think I've got it."

Sitting bolt upright, Hermione gasped at the sudden rush of reality. It felt so real… almost like that night but… different…

"Brilliant, Neville. Are you ready to give it a go?"

The young man nodded and rose from the mat, followed by Ginny and a slightly disoriented Hermione.

Taking a few steps forward, Neville faced the girls with a determined look on his grown-up face. Hermione tried to see the chubby little boy she had helped to find his toad on their first ride on the Hogwarts Express. That Neville no longer existed, she admitted sadly.

Neville raised his wand high, and with the practiced wrist motion, cast the charm. "Expecto Patronum."

Suddenly, a silvery form erupted from the tip of his wand. From the usual cloud of wispy moonlight, a creature came forth, brilliant in its splendor and so strong, Hermione felt she could reach out and touch the animal in front of her.

Hermione and Ginny stood in awe as Neville's Patronus took a step forward and shook its head. The creature blinked its eyes – such large, intelligent eyes, it was almost as if Neville had summoned a living, breathing beast before them. Then, Neville lowered his wand, and the creature gave a last look to its creator before slowly vanishing.

"Neville… that was…" Ginny tried to find the words, her brown eyes impossibly wide in shock and admiration.

"Yeah, I know. I did it!" For the first time since their arrival at Hogwarts, a genuine grin of pure elation and pride in himself spread over Neville's face.

Hermione felt as if her heart would burst with happiness and pride for her friend. "What was it you thought of, Neville? Can you tell us?"

Neville nodded and ran a hand through his short hair, which was damp with sweat from the effort of performing the difficult spell. "It was my parents. In a moment of clarity… they looked at me and smiled. Dad said he was proud of me and Mum said she loved me. Then I hugged them, and they hugged me back." Neville's voice had begun to break and crack, tears forming in the corners of his eyes and Hermione felt her own tears trickle down her cheeks. Lunging forward, she wrapped her arms around her friend's neck and sobbed openly into his shoulder.

Stepping forward, Ginny gripped Neville's arm firmly, her own tears shining proudly in her eyes.

Holding Hermione tightly, Neville let his tears fall down his cheeks and soak into Hermione's robes. Never before had he felt this happy, this accomplished, and this loved. This truly was powerful magic.


"Line up, everyone, you know what today is," Professor Black commanded once the door to her classroom was shut securely and she stood at the front, facing the gaggle of students.

Taking the same places as before, the students prepared themselves for the imminent test. Having already dropped their essays on the professor's desk, this was the moment that would decide if they would pass the unit or fail.

Beginning with the Slytherins on the opposite side of the room, Black made her way from student to student, jotting down on a piece of parchment notes on each student's Patronus. Over the few weeks they had been practicing, most of the students had learned how to perform the strong shield-Patronus and even a few managed full corporeal Patronuses.

Much to Hermione's annoyance, Pansy's ethereal jackal skipped around the room as smug as its caster and Blaise's black stallion clamped around majestically. Much too quickly, Neville found himself face to face with the raven-haired witch.

Professor Black glanced at the young man with no emotion passing over her beautifully sculpted face. "You're up, Longbottom," she said. Behind her, the Slytherins snickered; no one had seen Neville cast his Patronus during the weeks they had been practicing, nothing but the wispy smoke had sprouted from his wand.

Hermione bit her lip to contain her smile. They're so in for it…

Quickly squeezing Neville's wrist, Hermione stepped aside to allow enough room for him to cast.

Taking a deep breath, Neville raised his wand. A thin sheen of sweat covered his brow from nerves and his palms were damp. Conjuring his memory, Neville felt the feeling envelop his heart and warm his entire being until Gryffindor courage pulsed just beneath his skin.

"Expecto Patronum." With the swish of his wand, Neville produced his Patronus. It started out as a simple mist and Hermione heard the Slytherins' snickering turn into full forced guffaws. But they soon quieted. The mist grew thicker and thicker, rising high to the ceiling; a column of shimmering smoke.

Then from the thick of it, emerged a form. A great, large silvery elephant stepped forward from the smoke, its step shaking the room and causing even Professor Black to take several steps back with a startled look on her face and her black eyes wide in shock. Many of the students yelped in surprise and most of them hurriedly backed away from the giant Patronus.

Giant tusks looked as though they could rip clean through a human body – Hermione could hardly believe how real the creature appeared. Shaking its great head, the elephant lifted his trunk and trumpeted loudly. The windows vibrated and students quickly covered their ears.

And then, an even stranger sound filled the room. Professor Bellatrix Black, most feared and revered of all the professors of Hogwarts and famous and powerful ex-Auror, was laughing. It was not her malicious laugh, the one that she used when a student was punished or she was being mischievous. No, this was a purely joyful sound that startled the students nearly as much as Neville's Patronus.

Mirth and excitement filled the woman's impossibly dark eyes and Hermione found herself entrapped by how young joy made her professor look. Her ruby red lips were stretched wide over bright white teeth as the woman laughed and clapped her hands together enthusiastically.

"Fantastic!" she shouted over the sounds of the elephant. "Brilliant! Absolutely wonderful, Longbottom!"

"Looks like we all better watch out, or Neville will set his Patronus on us," Seamus teased, thumping Neville on the back in guy-like manner.

With one last trumpet, Neville allowed his Patronus to reduce back into mist, then disappear completely. One by one, every student began to clap; even the Slytherins gave him a slow acknowledging applause.

Reaching into her robes, Black pulled out a large piece of chocolate and pressed it into Neville's slightly trembling hand. "Well done, Neville. Your parents would be proud," she whispered in the boy's ear. If Hermione had been any further away from him, she would not have heard the compliment, or Neville's quiet, "I know they are," in response.

As the professor moved on, Hermione's eyes followed the mysterious witch. This, to her knowledge, had been the first time she had seen the witch genuinely happy. Well, first time she was genuinely happy while not terrorising some poor student… brows slightly furrowed, Hermione studied her professor. Her eyes followed the glossy, unruly curls tumbling down her straight back, robes fitting snugly around a curved figure, covering a tightly laced corset over a black dress and heels clicking menacingly against the stone floor. Hermione wondered to herself why she had never before seen the professor as attractive, which she most clearly was. Fantastically thick eyelashes framed her black eyes and the paleness of her features was accentuated by the deep blood colour of her lips. The woman almost looked more like a member of the Fae Folk than a witch with her stunning appearance and the constant mischievous glint in her eyes.


Feeling eyes on her back, the professor casually cast her eyes behind her. Why the hell is Granger staring at me like that? This girl is just too confusing… have to figure out what's going on with her… frowning, Bellatrix turned back to the last student's Patronus and then, after congratulating all her students, dismissed them with the promise of an interesting next lesson. She knew exactly what their next object of study would be. What a perfect way to get inside Granger's head…


Hermione, we did it! Have you seen the Prophet? 'Undesirable No 1 Harry Potter breaks into Ministry and attacks many well-respected Ministry officials'. Sorry we haven't written in a few days, we'd been swamped with our plan, then were on the run. We found the Polyjuice you packed in Harry's rucksack, we stalked a few Ministry workers and BAM! Stunned them, took their hairs and clothes, and broke into the Ministry!

Hermione groaned at Ron's enthusiasm. Of course, she had read the paper – so had the entire school and Wizarding community! Shaking her head, she continued reading Ron's message.

I ended up being a janitor or something – I had to fix a rain problem in Yaxley's office. Malfoy tried to give a tip, but nothing worked! Harry was Something Runkhorn, some big guy in Law Enforcement and Malfoy was Umbridge's secretary! Lucky, eh? But none of that really matters because WE GOT THE BLOODY LOCKET! And Harry found Mad-Eye's eye. Creepy, right? Harry's Polyjuice started wearing off too early so we had everyone on our tail while we ran. My 'wife' kissed me and I turned into me while her husband watched… awfully awkward. I hope they got out alright.

Hi, Hermione, it's Draco. We don't have much time and Ron is taking too long. Anyways, Yaxley ended up grabbing hold of me while we flooed away, so instead of returning to the Black House in London, I thought of someplace off the grid. Ron got splinched, but we fixed it with the Dittany. We've been living in that tent you packed us for the last few nights. Thanks for that, by the way. We've been wearing the locket to keep it safe and it seems to affect our moods negatively. We're still trying to destroy it. We're also working on a new plan to get into the Black Vault. Stay safe, we'll let you know where we are soon. – Draco

Hermione quickly wrote a small reply then cleared away the writing and hid the journal in her trunk. Tucking in for the night, Hermione closed her eyes. I guess I have no choice, now. I need to tell the others we need the sword.