Self-Writing Parchment
For seventy-two days the Dark Lord will reign… Blood, sorrow, and pain, the innocent slain… Sybill Trelawney
Not only being abused herself by the Carrows and the Death Eaters in the castle, but also watching her friends being singled out, tortured and abused… Could Hermione's school year get any worse?
There is a scene where students are being tortured gruesomely. Know I abhor violence and abuse toward children – anyone actually. I know that the abuse is hard to read – it is hard to type – but thank you for sticking with me.
I'm sorry for any and all typos – I'm owning up to them. ~beaweasley2
~o 46 o~
Curses and Blood
After what had felt like weeks of being brutally attacked by Amycus' favorite Slytherins, watching him give them hundreds of house points every lesson, Hermione walked into the Dark Arts classroom to see the Imperious Curse written at the top of his blackboard. Apparently still not able to activate the spells on the magical blackboard, he'd attempted to, yet again, draw the wand movements and instructions instead under the heading: Imperio (im-PEER-e-oh). Only to her, his poor attempt of drawing the movements looked like the Path Of Surrender by Jenny Toft, an abstract expressionism conceptual acrylic painting her mother bought for her father because he loved the movement and it made him smile.
"So there's the way you do this and it's easy – yuh just point and jab," Amycus said, his hand flung back behind him, proudly indicating his handy work on the board. He dropped his arm and continued, "Yuh got to mean it – like all good curses. No mamby-pamby – wet rag tries either – with gusto."
"But that's an Unforgivable," Seamus stated. "Using Unforgivables are against the law?"
"Not anymore, boy – the Dark Lord has changed that," Amycus snarled and aimed his wand at Seamus. "Imperio." Seamus' body immediately became fully upright with a vague happy expression on his face. "Now, curse Longbottom. Use the… Ragnul's Curse – that one is easy."
Neville tried to move but Zabini cast a spell that glued his shoes to the floor. "Thank you, Mr. Zabibi: fifty points to Slytherin." He faced Seamus again. "Now, Mr. Finnigan," he said, aiming his wand at Seamus again. "Use the Ragnul's Curse on Longbottom."
"I don't know that one, Professor," Seamus said dreamily, but his wand was pointed at Neville.
"It's, er, caecitas tenebrae, that's it. Yuh just point at him and say caecitas tenebrae," Amycus said to Seamus with a crooked smile.
"You just made that one up!" Hermione said, knowing he's only said blindness and darkness together in Latin.
"Nah, I heard it before and that's what he said," Amycus said, defending his made up curse.
"Ragnul's Curse is a goblin curse. It deprives the victim of their sight, completely blinding them and is impossible to reverse. Only Sir Ragnuk himself could lift it, and he's a ghost in Gringott's," she replied.
"Millicent, shut her up," Amycus snarled angrily.
"Langlock Praefocabilis!" Millicent said, casting the spell on Hermione with a wicked smile. "Now we don't have to hear her talk anymore."
Amycus put his hands together, pleased. "Very good, Miss. Bulstrode: fifty points to Slytherin."
Hermione clutched at her throat, owing to the fact that her tongue had just glued itself to the roof of her mouth, stifling her. She tried to gulp but couldn't, choking, only able to make vocal sounds by humming through her nose. She tried to get help by making wild gestures, starting to suffocate, but no one seemed to notice her. Their attention was focused on the scene in the middle of the room.
Amycus called for everyone's attention. "So, even though Mr. Finnigan seems to be revisiting, he's clearly under the spell – see his expression, his wand pointed at Mr. Longbottom, there. It's the suggestion that wasn't determined enough, see. He should know the curse I picked cause that's how it works."
Hermione pressed her finger into the lion in her Dark Mark, hoping she didn't pass out by asphyxiation, and instantly Draco, Goyle and Nott reacted and Cillian burst into the room.
Cillian only took a moment to assess the situation, then snarled, "Stop this this instant!" He lifted the curse off Hermione, then did the same for Neville, as she gulped in air gratefully.
"I'm teaching a Ministry approved lesson on the Imperious Curse," Amycus snarled at Cillian. "You is not to be interrupting my lessons."He aimed his wand at Seamus. "Curse him," he shouted.
And Seamus, who'd been fighting the impulse aimed his wand. "Furnunculus" he said, but either his aim wasn't true or Neville moved, but he ended up hitting Zabini instead, who was standing behind Neville, making all of Zanbini's skin erupt in painful boils and huge pimples.
"Enough!" Cillian shouted. He aimed his wand at the blackboard, making a list of jinxes appear as the list of acceptable spells and added another flourish, making them appear as if painted. "Malfoy, sort out Mr. Zabini. Messrs. Longbottom and Finnigan you're coming with me. Hermione get your things." When both boys hesitated, he snarled, "Now. Move it."
Amycus was enraged, charging the retreating Gryffindor's and Cillian. "You are not taking my students—"
Cillian magically slammed the door and turned to Neville and Seamus. "Go to the hospital and get sorted."
"But we're not injured – we're fine," Seamus argued.
"I want you registered as being checked out by the Parton. I'll be notifying Professor Snape to explain why I pulled you from class, and he'll probably want to speak to you. So. Go. Now," Cillian stated in his tough Death Eater voice.
Her friends turned and walked away. "Can you breathe?" he asked her as soon as they were alone.
Hermione looked up surprised. "I'm fine now – really," she said.
"Good. I want to go speak to Severus. Let's go," he said in a kinder tone.
~S~
Cathasach Snyde, a tenth-century wizard whose portrait hung in the corridor outside the Dark Atrs classroom, pushed himself into the frame of Professor Heliotrope Wilkins. He ignored her protest, exclaiming that Mr. Gwynek had interfered with Amycus' lesson, again, pulling three students out of the classroom. "Thank you, Mr. Snyde," Severus replied, sealing the parchments of another report for the school governors and a comprehensive packet for the Department of Magical Education regarding – and defending the changes to the curriculum.
He looked up to see Professor Trimble reaching over to Professor Wilkins's frame, taking her hand to draw her into his frame, away from Cathasach Snyde. "So which students did Mr. Gwynek withdraw from Professor Carrow's lesson?"
"Two boys and a girl, the one who comes in here all the time," Cathasach stated.
"My wife, Mr. Snyde, and two boys you didn't recognize?" he asked, careful not to roll his eyes.
"I'll go check the corridor if you like, Headmaster," Professor Black suggested.
"Thank you, Phineas, but I'm sure Mr. Gwynek has the situation in hand and will inform me momentarily. Mr. Snyde, on the way back to your frame if you see Mr. Gwynek you may tell him I'll see him in my study."
Cathasach Snyde left in a huff, and Professor Wilkins thanked Professor Trimble for his interference and returned to her frame. "Really, Headmaster, that man. Why do you put up with his interferences?"
Professor Edessa Sakndenberg looked over at her. "Really, Heliotrope, if you hadn't encouraged him—"
"I did no such thing!" she screeched.
"I tolerate him because he watches the corridor outside Professor Carrow's classroom," Severus said impatiently. "He reports to me any occurrences of note as well as any rule breaking – as do many other portraits who watch the castle corridors that report to this office." He looked up to Professor Wilkins image. "I will, however, ask him to use the scenic painting next to my cabinet from now on, which the other painted occupants use."
"Thank you, Headmaster, that's quite considerate of you," she replied.
He had just proceeded to write another reply to the Department of Magical Games and Sports as to why Quidditch had been cancelled, when the bell by the door rang, indicating someone was coming up the stairs. A moment later, Hermione entered, followed by Cillian. "We shall be upstairs," he announced to the now sleeping portraits.
"Amycus is having the students practice the Imperious Curse on each other now," Cillian stated as soon as they were alone.
"He tried to make Seamus cast the Ragnul's Curse on Neville," Hermione added, helpfully.
"Is that why you activated your Mark?" Severus asked Hermione.
"I was hit with a 'Langlock' but Millicent added 'Praefocabilis' to it. I couldn't breathe," she replied. "Everyone was watching Seamus, Neville and Professor Carrow – they didn't see me."
"Or they didn't want to," Cillian said angrily. "Oh, and my sister sent me a message – she's at the gates."
"Great. She can wait," Severus said. "What was the spell Amycus wanted Mr. Finnigan to use?"
"Ragnul's Curse," Hermione replied. "But, thankfully, no one really knows the curse. Professor Carrow thought the incantation is caecitas tenebrae – but I think he's wrong."
"Ragnul's Curse is a goblin curse; it's not spoken in any human tongue," Severus replied. He mentally considered if caecitas tenebrae would possibly do anything. Caecitas meant blindness, but tenebrae meant darkness, turbidity, obscurity, and blindness. It could have worked… I'll have to see and, if it does, how to reverse it.
"I sent Messrs. Longbottom and Finnigan to the hospital so they'd not be subject to any more curses today," Cillian was saying. "Severus?"
Severus nodded. "Were they hurt?" he asked, but Cillian shook his head. "She'll give then fortifying potions and let them go after the hour. You should be close to the classroom in case anything gets out of hand. Let me know who is cursed with what – Amycus isn't too bothered with reversing anything. Tell Cathasach Snyde's likeness to see me immediately if there is a problem and to use the scenic painting."
Cillian nodded and left.
"He's fucking using the Imperious Curse in his lessons! Damn that wizard." Severus faced Hermione. "Hermione, if the Carrows, the Dark Lord's the security wizards or any of the students favoring the Dark Lord use the Imperious on you to talk, you'll compromise us! Only a truly proficient Occlumens has the practice and high degree of mental and emotional discipline to suppress their thoughts and memories, and even your perfectly honed mind castle won't protect our secrets. I'm going to have to teach you to fight it off. I already know Draco can and Cillian."
"Professor Moody – well, I suppose he was Professor Barty Crouch Jr. actually, taught us in our fourth year," she replied.
Severus turned to face her, his wand drawn. "All right, we're going to see how well you can resist the Imperious Curse."
"I have resisted it – once," she said, recalling how sheer determination and defiance worked for her in shaking off the effects.
"Tell me how you did it," he asked, crossing his arms.
"I didn't want to do what I was told to do, the suggestion Professor Moody-es-imposter wanted me to," she stammered.
"Which was?" Snape asked, actually sounding curious.
Hermione could feel her cheeks burn with embarrassment. "To walk over and kiss him."
Snape smirked. "So did you kiss him?"
"No!" Hermione looked at him gobsmacked. "Like I was going to kiss a pro – him!"
Snape laughed. "Revulsion of the suggestion; interesting choice, and yes, it is generally effective." He became serious again. "I will have to show you a more effective way – show you how to rely on your stubbornness – you're strength of will."
"My stubbornness?" she said startled. "I'm not stubborn."
"Imperio," he said without warning and her expression instantly took on a vague, trance-like state.
~H~
"Come get your ingredients here. Your cauldrons are already on your workspaces with the base we prepared on Friday," Professor Rodarte called out as the students filed into the Potions classroom. Hermione saw several cauldrons on the professor's work table as she approached his desk. The first was a ghastly green, the second smelled of bloodroot and baneberry, the third was a murky tangerine potion in a pewter cauldron that emitted swirling blue smoke, and the last held what looked like plain water boiling away inside it. She identified the second as Banesblood Potion, the third as Wolfsbane Potion, and she hoped the last was not Veritaserum.
"Miss Granger, take your package."
"Oh, sorry, Professor," she replied, taking the bag.
"Identify your ingredients, and then brew your potions. I want a two foot summary on your ingredients, listing their properties and uses, and a four foot parchment on your potion. You'll all be given a pass for the Restricted Section. Extra points shall be given if you are correct on your assumptions," Professor Rodarte said, and went back to grading papers at his desk.
Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment and her quill, wishing yet again that wizardkind could just accept using roller ball ink pens. The instructions were carefully written on the side of her bag, and the individual pouches inside stated how to prepare each of the ingredients. Reading the directions on each one and writing them down in her composition book, she was to extract the venom from the shoots and spikes, and grind the spore balls. One packet of seeds was to be ground, while the other said to crush with a knife, and the third was to be soaked before adding. Larger pouches read to slice the leaves, smash the roots, break the stems and extract the inner fibers. Three pouches read chop evenly, and a pouch that simply read 'pulverize.' Five vials of different sizes sat at the bottom of her bag.
Identification of most of her ingredients wasn't too difficult.
She had been given shoots and spikes oozing with a sickly yellowish substance, and spiky spore-like balls from a Venomous Tentacula – an alkaloid plant. Thankfully they'd been taught how to handle them in the sixth year.
She recognized the leaves and one packet of seeds as being from an Angel's Trumpet because three of them grew in her garden back home; when it had been her home. These were the most poisonous part of the plant. They contained the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, and angel's trumpet was used as a recreational drug to induce hallucinations and euphoria, or as a tea for asthma relief.
The round nut-like tuber and a fleshy dark root she recalled using in Severus' basement: Myristica braer and Manihot serpenlenta roots. Myristica braer contained cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin and lotaustralin, and linamarase which liberated hydrogen cyanide when use in potions; When properly prepared was used in potions for treating boils, abscess, carbuncles and to make Whitlow Potion.
Non-magical Manihot, was of the milkspurge family Euphorbiaceae and was used in potions to alleviate fever, headache, rheumatism, and hemorrhoids, but Manihot serpenlenta was used in potions that either created scales, such as Pholidota Potion and Squamates Potion, or to remove them, such as Haemorrhoid-Scale Potion.
However, the purple-reddish shiny seeds with brown stripes of both Myristica braer and Manihot serpenlenta plants made a nice mace-like spice.
Rosary pea seeds were distinctly glossy red with one black dot, contained abrin.
She had a teacup – maybe one and a half – of shiny black berries which looked suspiciously of black nightshade fruit, the Devil's cherry or Atropa belladonna, also had atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. The root of the plant was the most poisonous. The berries pose the greatest danger because they are mistaken for blueberries and are very sweet.
The next bag contained a musky, earthy, and pungent Erythraean Ascomycota, considering it looked like a grubby crimson truffle. The Blood truffle produced the pheromone androstanol, attractive to magical Ruminantia species and was supposedly edible. Two more held Milkweed and cannabis stems in suspension.
She glanced at Draco's ingredients; his were different from hers. Seamus and Ernie were comparing theirs as was Nott and Adriana, (although Adriana seemed to have many of the same ingredients as hers, but not all of them). Even Schlinder and Amanda looked confused. Only Zabini appeared confident, writing down notations as he examined his ingredients.
"Problem, Granger?" Draco asked with a cocky grin. "I thought that with all the reading we've been doing you'd recognize everything by now?"
"I recognize them fine, it's the combination that I'm not sure of," she replied.
He laughed softly and went back to work, his list of ingredients nearly all identified.
~S~
He'd waited until her revision time before dinner, knowing Wednesdays were always hard on her and she'd be exhausted after having double Muggle Studies with Alecto, double Dark Arts with Amycus, and standing over a cauldron for double Potions – but it couldn't wait. If either of the Carrows or any of the Death Eaters tried to force memories or confessions from her under the Imperious Curse he'd be compromised, as would Cillian and Draco and her newly acquired Slytherin friends. And she had to become proficient at resisting of the curse quickly. Severus knew he'd have to not only teach her to resist the curse but find her weaknesses, immediately.
She stood wandlessly before him, her shoulders braced. "Imperio!" he said with a flick of his wand, hitting her full strength. "Now lick my boots." They were the boots he wore when he brewed potions. Currently, it looked like there was vomit and mud and who knew whatever else. He used Legilimency on her to read her thoughts. Her mind was screaming, No, but she was sinking to her knees.
This was disgusting. Lick his boots. She shook her head rather than to fall on all fours. Lick his boots. No! He could see it was demeaning to her. Lick his boots. NO! No. "No!" she shouted and pushed away from him. He smiled and he released the Legilimency as she landed on her bum.
"That is revolting!"
"But you broke the control of the curse," he said, looking down at her smugly, knowing it would annoy her. "Now, but you took too long to repel the suggestion. Determination is the key – not revulsion. You have to recognize the unwanted or imposed impression and throw it off. "Imperio!" he said with a flick of his wand and again slipped into her mind magically navigating through mind and her thoughts. "Now kiss me."
He could sense the heady feeling in her mind, the compulsion, but kissing him was in no way disagreeable to her. Her memory castle held, even the places he knew she hid things. However, she moved closer to him as she fought with all her determination to resist, thinking, and "This is a test." Suddenly the light-headiness dissipated.
Smiling with happiness at her achievement, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. He allowed the impulse even though it had been planted into her mind and held her tightly.
"I did it!" she exclaimed, kissing him again.
"Hardly," he sneered, grasping her shoulders to make her back up. The shocked expression nearly made him smile, but he needed to be her snarling Potions Professor tonight. She craved recognition for her accomplishment and he had to break her down instead.
"No, I did. The light-headiness went away," she explained, "Of course, I do like kissing you, so that … I did it anyway."
"The impression was there, the inception stuck. I'd have been more impressed if you had resisted," he replied coolly – dismissively, but her statement touched him. He was really putting his full will into the curse, slamming her hard with it on each attack.
"Spoil sport," she said and braced herself for the next round.
This time when he cast the spells, slipping into her mind as he directed her to undo his buttons under the Imperious.
She fought the compulsion, knowing she needed to. Her feet moved in his direction, but she dug down deep and fought his suggestion. He now knew one of her weaknesses: it was harder for her to fight off something she would like to do. But she eventually resisted the impulse, and the heady feelings lifted and he'd slipped from her mind easily. She was still taking too long to repel the impulse.
After several ticks of the mantel clock as her breathing slowed, he said, "I'm disappointed. I know you can do better," something else that would ruffle his over-achieving wife, possibly unbalance her. He'd been surprised somewhat what she'd accomplished so far, but it wasn't enough. She had to master this.
And with that thought, he cast the spells again. It was going to be along night.
~H~
It had been a long week between Severus' relentless sessions on repelling the Imperious curse, dealing with the abuse from both Carrow professors, and Hermione's heavy homework assignments. She was glad to have two days with no need to face either Alecto or Amycus and if it could be helped, Crabbe, Zabini, McFaul, Pansy and Millicent, and now even several of the sixth years that had fallen in with the Dark Lord – or wanted to be.
And because Nott, Schlinder and Felicia and Amanda and her sister Eleanora had been in the hospital last weekend, the girls had called off the tea. From what Adriana had told her, verified by the Bloody Baron who'd came into Severus' office to notify him, the boys had been dueling in the dungeon corridor after the girls had been attacked by some students who'd left the Potions classroom. Who attacked them wasn't revealed by the Baron, but Adriana, teary-eyed, had named Ravenclaws Mr. Messer Carmichael, Selwyn and Runcorn and the Slytherin twins Isabel and Morag McDougal and Granilda Grimmson. Adriana also mentioned to Hermione it had been the sixth year NEWT level students who had been the targets, her friends were merely trying to protecting them and things turned nasty.
Hermione had charmed parchment swans for friends, but Felicia, Amanda and Eleanora had been sleeping, so she left the swans on their bedside tables. Determined to see her friends, she asked Peren to sneak her to the hospital wing through the house-elf tunnels, since Cillian wasn't in the castle that morning.
The hospital wing was full of students, so many so that Madam Pomfrey had another witch in pale green robes and a stained Pinafore apron with bulging pockets helping her.
"Hermione?"
She turned to see Immodine Clearwater wearing a similar Pinafore apron over simple green robes. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Felicia, Amanda and Eleanora," she said.
Miss Clearwater drew her aside and pulled a curtain. "You can't – it's mad in here."
"What's happened? Why are so many injured?" Hermione was certain it was due to Amycus' lessons.
"Students pulling pranks and using curses and some pretty bad spells on each other. We had an incident with several students having a bad reaction to Murtlaps bites – someone had shot it with a stinging hex in a Magical Creatures lesson, and in HerbologyFlesh-Eating Slugs had gotten onto the Venomous Tentaculas, which made them absolutely furious and Devil's Snare and snargaluff stumps were transplanted in the Hufflepuff's dormitories, and grindylows were put into the toilets in the boy's loos…Plus the various curses and spell combinations being used on the students from Professor Amycus Carrow's lessons all last week," Immodine confided. "Please, go back to the Headmaster's tower or the library. I'll tell your friends you're concerned for them."
Hermione quietly left the hospital and literally collided with Cillian when she'd turned a corner on the fourth floor, heading for the stairs.
"What did I say about not going to the hospital?" he asked, and before she could answer he said, "I know you're concerned for your friends. I was coming up here to check on them for you and pass on your regards for their recovery."
"I'm sorry, I was worried. Adriana didn't tell me how bad off they were, and to have seen them lying there in a coma frightened me."
"I know you are, I'm not trying to be an arse – I'm trying to keep you out of trouble!" Cillian took her elbow to lead her away. "Severus has Draco brewing potions for Madam Pomfrey, and he's even been working with him in their potions lab."
Hermione smiled, recalling watching and participating in concocting potions with Severus in his basement: the multiple cauldrons and the complicated timing charts. Her smile vanished when she saw Ginny on the steps leading to the fourth floor. Ginny had a yellow and purple bruises on her face, and her left arm in a sling. "What happened to you?"
"I ran into Professors Carrow in the corridor yesterday. Alecto hit me with her Down's Hex." Now that Hermione was closer Ginny's face appeared flattened, especially the bridge of her nose, her eyes looked narrower and slanted, and her mouth stretched into a wide smile. "I didn't do so well in Muggle Studies," she said, indicating her face with a flourish of her hand. "Alecto hit with a Down's Hex that felt more like a Bludger hit. You know she loves to punish and torture anyone who opposed her and her brother – no reasonable excuses needed."
"That's not at all that happened, is it?" Professor Valeria Myriadd's likeness stated, standing in the frame of a little girl making parchments fold into origami dragons, which then flew away, again and again.
Ginny scowled – appearing more pronounced because of her morphed facial features. Professor Myriadd seemed to take no notice. "That nasty Wroithesley boy cast a spell that went horribly wrong on that sweet Malinda Greenburg girl in my house. He changed her into a waterfowl-dragon-like hybrid with taloned webbed feet and spikey appendages – and Miss Weasley stunned her so she'd stop flailing about furiously and not harm herself or anyone else with her flame-spurting breath, barbed tail and taloned claws."
"I was defending my friend and, yes, protecting others," she answered.
"A true Gryffindor," Professor Myriadd said proudly, then became concerned. "You've been hit with that spell again haven't you? That's twice today! Professor Derwent had to be summoned for consultation this morning because it seemed determined to stick."
"I'm on my way to the hospital now," Ginny replied, grinning widely. She turned to Cillian as the professor moved on to another frame in the castle. "So, I assume you're helping her to resist the Imperious Curse?"
"I don't use the Imperious on children," Cillian stated, affronted, as Hermione said, "Severus is teaching me."
"Don't let him go easy on you," Ginny said to her and looked directly at Cillian. "I need you to help me." He started to protest but she insisted. "No, don't – I need you to. Neville, Seamus and a few others can really give it a punch – not that we like doing this to our friends – but we can't do the cruse as well as Alecto and Amycus or their favorite students. We're getting slammed. Neville, Seamus and I – we can't repel it if the Carrows do it, and you don't want me inadvertently revealing our secrets, do you?"
"Fine, in my spare time," Cillian said, rolling his eye.
"No. Now," Ginny persisted. "This," she indicated her face again, "Is nothing, I'll get sorted after. And you better hit me with full force because I need to do this."
Reluctantly he followed her to an unused room and faced her. "I've not had to use this bloody curse ever," he stated, but raised his wand. "It may take a few tries. Imperio!"
After an hour into their fifth session, when Ginny managed to repel Cillian's curse, she called for a break, saying she needed to use the loo. They'd been using different rooms around the castle, so as not to be seen – or worse – caught. Hermione followed Ginny into Myrtle's bathroom, which was thankfully quiet, leaving Cillian to watching the corridor.
"We gather in the Room of Requirement for meetings, all the seventh years bring their notes and essays on how to fight off the Imperious from Professor Moody's lessons, and the room provides helpful material as well. But we still have to do it to each other in order to get proficient at throwing it off. Thanks to Cillian's instructions we're getting better, but I hate using an Unforgivable on my friends," Ginny said softly.
"I'm sure that when Harry defeats the Dark Lord and the Ministry is returned to normal, it won't be held against any of you. Circumstances being what they are and all that," Hermione replied. So far neither Cillian nor Severus had allowed her to cast the Imperious, one thing she was eternally grateful for. But that didn't stop Amycus inflicting it on the students in his class – except of course his favorite Slytherins.
"I've been thinking about what you said and what if either the cup or the diadem are in the Chamber of Secrets?" Ginny asked. "Well, I can't get it to open, but this is where I stood when Riddle made me open it." She pointed to a faucet. "This one; it has a snake embossed on the side. This is where I got into the Chamber of Secrets. This, and a huge metal door."
"She spoke a funny language – just as Harry had," Myrtle said, startling the two of them.
"Hello, Myrtle," Hermione said as politely as possible. "I'm sorry I haven't visited a while."
"You've been busy," she answered, floating down to them. "But I see you, now and again when you are around to be seen. I suppose congratulations are in order. I'd have thought you'd marry Harry or Ronald, but I suppose they're not your type."
"Myrtle, go swim in the pipes," Draco said from behind them. Myrtle made a sorrowful howl and vanished down a toilet with a splash. "Barmy ghost. She spies on us in the Prefect bathroom."
"What are you doing here, Drakon-gor?" Ginny asked.
"Still can't say my name, Weaslette?" Draco said, annoyed. "So about what you were saying before that pervert ghost interrupted you…"
"We were discussing the Imperious Curse the Death Eater scum use on us and the Cruciatus Curse Snape uses on us before he puts us in the pillories," Ginny threw at him.
Hermione was surprised at the vitriol in her tone. "Ginny! He—"
"No, you weren't," Draco cut her off, snarling at Ginny, "and besides, you've never felt the true pain of the Cruciatus – you or your troublesome friends."
"Really? And how would you know – you're one of them as far as they know. A pampered Malfoy…" she snapped back.
"You don't get it do you? I've felt it. It's sadistic – beyond torture. The Killing Curse is kinder. Do you really think you've felt the all-consuming, white-hot daggers piercing every inch of your body, excruciating physical pain that a true psychopathic sadist can inflict? A megalomaniac, demented Dark Wizard? To truly Cruciate" someone the caster has to want to inflict pain – they have to really want to make the person suffer. The curse makes your muscles spasm, they contract and knot at the same time; the pain so intense you feel like you're eyes will burst and your head explode! Then when it's over your body is still racked in so much agony you can't move, you can barely breathe, your heart is beating so hard you're sure it will rupture and your insides are so tight you vomit, you mess yourself. It can take forty minutes to abate – much more if the wizard is proficient and suitably determined. That is what the Cruciatus really feels like."
His gut-wrenching description made Hermione's stomach clench, her heart pound and tears fill her eyes. "You've been…"
"Yes, I've been hit by it and by people who can really summon enough contempt and hate to give maximum effect," he stated. He looked up at Hermione and scowled. "Don't pity me, I survived." He turned to Ginny who was equally shaken. "If you want to know what it's really like – ask Longbottom. My aunt, my uncle and her brother-in-law used it to torture his parents. Their minds were destroyed so they are basically a breathing empty shell."
Tears escaped Hermione's eyes. Neville – oh, Neville. She hadn't known. Ginny was equally as stricken, clutching the side of her robes in her fists.
"So be glad it's Headmaster Snape torturing you. Be grateful, Weaslette, I'm brewing the potion to make you feel better afterwards. Because until you ever face one of the Death Eaters who are not just proficient with the curse – but revel in the pain it causes – you haven't really felt it at all."
"I'm sorry, Draco, that was uncalled for. I-I'm sorry. I didn't know," Ginny's voice broke as she tried to speak.
"Don't pity me!" he replied, still angry.
"It's not pity it's empathy. There is a difference," Ginny said, her voice weak. "You shouldn't have to live that way – no one should."
"Take a stand. Join the cause. Stand up to him – riiiiiight. He's the most manipulative, psychopathic, narcissistic, demented megalomaniac there ever was. He's imperiously arrogant and takes immense pride in how great he is."
"Do you want to know the truth about him? His name was Tom Riddle when he was at Hogwarts. He fashioned the name – well that name – because his father was a Muggle. He claimed that he was the most talented pupil to ever attend Hogwarts. He was handsome and polite to everyone but in reality you're right, he was manipulative, cruel and arrogant."
"How would you know?"
"Your father gave me his magical diary. The boy in that diary was very clever, manipulated me into trusting him and then he used me. Yes, he achieved an outstanding in every examination he took and received honors here at school," Ginny said.
"But after leaving Hogwarts, Riddle took a job at Borgin and Burkes, before disappearing from public view completely," Hermione added.
"Until his rise as Lord V – you know, and started to take over the wizarding world," Ginny stated.
Draco was quiet. He leaned against the side of the stalls with his arms crossed, his eyes moving randomly until Cillian opened the door. "Aren't you girls done in there?" Cillian called out. "It's almost curfew – time to go."
Ginny placed a hand on Draco's arm, saying, "You have more reasons than I do for wanting him gone for good," and walked passed him to leave.
"Damn that girl. Ungrateful witch," he snarled angrily. "Just because I…" Hermione cocked her head. "I walked by and – I wasn't alone… Those Ravenclaws Grimmson, Gerund and the McDougal twins are chatty with Pans and Millicent this year – I couldn't do anything." He pushed off the stall, but stopped before he reached the door. "I do you know; you know I agree it'd be better, but I'm expected to do things – be a certain way." He put his hand on the door. "You're going to get me killed." He yanked open the door and ran out.
As she walked with Cillian on their way back to the Headmaster's tower they saw several new DA messages on the walls, each with an image of a student in chains beside the familiar words.
Cillian left them alone.
~S~
Severus came out of his study as Hermione trudged up the stairs. "You're out rather late," he said, taking in her haggard appearance.
"Ginny and I were practicing repelling the Imperious Curse with Cillian," she admitted, dropping her bag to the floor. "I need to change," she added as she walked directly to the bedroom. He followed her, seeing Peren scurry around the room, pulling out Hermione's silky green night slip and matching robe, slippers and her hair brush.
"Would mistress like a nice baths, Mistress?" Peren asked, picking up Hermione's items as they fell on the floor. "I's can brushes your hair, Mistress, or massages your hands…"
"That would be lovely, thank you, Peren," she said wearily.
"Where did you conduct these practices?" Severus asked. "Not in the common room, I presume."
"No, in an old classroom on the second floor, near Myrtle's bathroom," she replied honestly, waking into the bathroom.
He watched her slip into the hot water, the aroma of the herbs and flowers Peren generally added to her baths filled the room. He knew they were soothing for her fatigue and muscle aches, but he hardly found them relaxing. "And how did these lessons go?" he asked, knowing Cillian didn't perform the Unforgivable Curses unless he had no choice.
"Ginny is as adept as I am," she stated, which meant that her friends were becoming equally as adept at resisting the Imperious as well. That did not bode well. If the Carrows noticed, they'd change tactics – things could get worse.
Hermione slipped into a loo between classes and was surprised to see Glenwynn in crying at the sinks. "Glenwynn, what happened? What's wrong? Is there anything I can do?" she asked, moving to her side to console her friend, but it only made Glenwynn's tears fall faster. She pulled a fresh handkerchief from her pocket and handed them to her friend.
"Thank you," she said, trying to pull herself together, and blew her nose. "I'm sorry, I'm usually more composed."
"It's all right, really. But what happened? Is it someone in your family?" She must have hit a nerve because Glenwynn's tears started sliding down her face again. "You can tell me. Did something happen to them?"
Glenwynn nodded, and did a quick Refreshment Charm on the two handkerchiefs she'd been using. Hermione waited patiently, and after a few moments, Glenwynn turned to face her.
"My cousin Dietrich, he turned in my aunt, Rosalinda into the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. She was arrested as an-an Undesirable and imprisoned, and he sent me a letter gloating about it," she confessed between sobs. "She's Muggleborn, like you, but she's wonderful. She's beautiful and elegant and loves him. And now my Uncle Theobald is – he's in hiding now with their kids because he's listed as having pro-Muggle ideals and is to be arrested for harboring a Muggleborn and siring children with her. If – if they find them they might kill him for defection, and – and I don't want to think what they will do to my young cousins!"
"Oh my god!" Hermione exclaimed, knowing nothing she could say would help. "He wasn't marked, maybe he can elude him."
"The Muggle-Born Registration Commission has employed Snatchers, magical – what do you call them – bounty-getters, to hunt down and arrest anyone who tries to avoid registration and fails to appear for their interrogation. There are even rogue bounty-getters who do it for the rewards offered."
She pulled out some folded pieces of thick parchment from her pocket and handed them to her. "I'm not supposed to show you these," she said. "I'm not even supposed to have them at the school, but I thought you should know." Hermione unfolded the parchments, staring at a flyer with the words UNDESIRABLE NO. 1 all in capitals emblazoned under Harry's name and magical likeness. The reward was given as ten thousand galleons.
"My brother Quentin expects me to find out from you where Potter and Ronald Weasley are hiding. He's number two – Mr. Weasley," she said, indicating the second parchment. The other flyer declared Ron as undesirable no. 2. However, he was only worth five thousand galleons, which she was sure would irk him.
"We should head to class," Glenwynn suggested.
"Yes, sure," Hermione mumbled and looked up from the flyers. "Are you okay? You're sure you're ready to face Alecto and her ever droning on about how I'm half-animal, stupid and have dirty blood."
"And how you and your kind drove wizards into hiding by being vicious toward them, torturing and burning wizardkind at the stake," Glenwynn added.
"Burning or hanging every Herbologist and Healer they could find," Hermione quipped in.
Glenwynn smiled. "And how the natural order is being reestablished," she said with an eye roll. "And today we're learning why Muggles need electricity – sorry, "eclecticity", and why they have to use "hacky carriages and coaches," "gassy aw-tuh-muh-beels," "mow-toe bikes," and "lorry beels" to get around." She refreshed the handkerchiefs and handed them back to Hermione. "I think we just covered everything."
"I believe so, although I'll get a Troll mark for the day's exam anyway." The Carrows' lessons were the only classes a troll mark didn't upset Hermione.
Glenwynn laughed softly. "You did get a few Dreadfuls, as I recall."
"Yeah, I'm terrible at Muggle Studies – and Dark Arts – apparently." She lifted her bag to her shoulder and Glenwynn did the same.
"Thank you, Hermione, for listening to my troubles."
"It's what friends do for each other," she replied. "Now let's see how badly she blunders explaining Muggle Transportation and the parts of motorized vehicles."
After Potions Hermione heard crying as she and Draco were passing a girl's loo. She immediately did an about-face and entered the loo, ignoring Draco's protest, and spotted three girls standing in a stall, one trying to comfort the other two. "What happened?" she asked and all three turned around and gaped at her in fear.
"Noth-nothing," one girl, a brunette, stuttered.
Hermione moved closer. "Something's wrong – you're crying. Is it a family member or a friend that's in trouble or missing?"
"It's nothing," the first to speak persisted.
But the other girl with a mass of dark curls, who'd also been crying, turned her head. "It's our friends, they were cursed by Travers and taken to—" she started to say, but her friend with a long blonde plait made her pause. "Well they did! I heard he used that Unforgivable on them – made them walk themselves to Filch's office!"
"Are they still in Filch's office?" Hermione asked, trying to be supportive but she was raging mad. These girls were second or third year Ravenclaws.
The girl with the dark curly hair nodded her head and sniffled, wiping her nose. "They've been there since…I haven't seen them since they left for breakfast."
Since breakfast – they haven't eaten all day? "I'll go and see if they're all right," Hermione said. "You best go. Be careful so Travers doesn't do the same to you."
The smaller girl with the blonde plait's face blanched and the eyes of other two widened in fear. "Yes, Mrs. Snape. Thank you."
"I'm going to Filch's office," she announced when she exited the loo. The girls were still inside, apparently collecting themselves.
Draco looked up, shocked. "Are you looking to be stretched out on the rack or just interested in how an iron maiden feels?"
"He certainly isn't using those on students." Hermione walked away, hoping he was kidding, explaining, "Beside, we have revision time now. We'll just have a look and see if we can—"
But he interrupted her. "Do we have to get involved? I'd rather not stick my neck out and get put into the chains for my trouble," he argued as he followed her down the corridor.
"Then you can wait outside and act as my lookout," she suggested.
"You expect me to free them? Isn't it bad enough that your friends are pulling this stunt?" he asked, running after her to Filch's office.
Filches office was locked. "Alohomora," she incanted with as much determined force as she could, trying to do it wandlessly.
She thought it worked – she'd heard the soft click of the lock. "If you're that determined; and you're welcome," he said, stowing his wand away.
Hermione thanked him as she opened the door. Once inside she was hit by the smell of urine, fear and damp, musty stone. Only a few candles offered any light. As she moved forward she saw several students hanging from Manacles along two walls. The students could barely brush the floor with the tips of their shoes, a position which could dislocate their shoulders and restrict their breathing. Another girl had been placed in one of the seven Shrew's fiddles attached to the floor by short chains, making the girl have to lie down on the filthy floor. A boy was stretched out on a rack, and another was in a metal tub full of water with his hands and feet shackled inside and he had to keep his arms and legs fully extended and his head up so he didn't drown. "This is barbaric!"
"What, no dunking stool or breaking wheel?" Draco asked, looking into the iron maiden. "Empty." He turned toward Hermione. "And you were outraged by the pillories and giblet cages."
Hermione ignored his barb, trying to undo the cuffs for the boy on the rack when Padma Patil, Claudia Ramirez and Geraldine Smothers entered the office. The three of them glared at Draco. "What are you doing in here?" Geraldine demanded.
"Hermione is here to rescue them, of course," he said, eyeing the thumb screws and toe locks which sat on the table next to a pile of knee-crushers and a crate of oddly shaped pointed boots with heavy rings on the toes. "I'm here to see how she does it without her wand. What are you doing here?"
"These students are from our house," Geraldine said as Padma flicked her wand at one set of manacles on the wall, letting the student's feet finally touch the ground. But he fell, unable to stand which indicated how long he'd been there. Claudia released the girl in the shrew's fiddle on the floor and helped her stand up and refreshed her robes.
Hermione said the Unlocking Charm with pure determination as she focused her full intentions on the magical closure on a cuff. After a few tries, and more determination, she finally made it release. The other three were easier. She turned her attention on the boy in the tub next, plunging her hand into the water to touch a lock and repeated the process, finding it a bit harder because of the glacial-cold water stinging her skin and numbing her fingers.
"Are you almost done?" Draco asked, pocketing a heavy set of rattling keys into his pocket. "I don't want to be here when Filch or one of the Carrows comes by."
"Both the Carrows are in their classrooms, and the security thugs are spaced out on different landings of the main staircase," Charlene stated. "So, you best go so you don't get caught."
Finally freed from the tub, the boy was shivering so badly he could barely coordinate his movements and he had a distinct blue tint to his skin and lips – signs of hyperthermia. He also had swollen, red feet and hands with blisters and bruising indicating possible bleeding under the skin – the sign of severe trench foot; and his fingers and toes were blue-gray tinged with white – a sure sign of severe frostbite. She looked up at the girls supporting the injured students from the manacles. "I'm coming with you," she stated firmly so they wouldn't argue against her.
"And him?" Padma asked, indicating Draco.
"If he doesn't help us then he's disobeying the Dark Lord's command to keep watch over me since Mr. Gwynek is presently busy this afternoon," Hermione stated, not wanting to say he'd left the castle to see Dianne.
"You'll pay for this, Granger," Draco hissed softly as he walked by Hermione, but he at least cast a Protection Charm on all of them. But then Charlene cast the Disillusionment Charm, Padma cast the Shield Charm and Geraldine the Invisibility Spell as well. "Well that's overkill," he said, but cast a Floating Charm on the girl he was helping since she couldn't walk. Hermione put the wet boy's arm across her shoulders and then wrapped her arm around his waist to support him. He was obviously confused and disoriented, calling her Lavender, but she hoped he could walk.
"So we go up the stairs, trying not to make any noises and hoping to fool Rowle, Travers, MacCavish, VanHalal and Lestrange?" Draco asked with a sneer.
"No, we take the repairman's stairs in the clock tower up to the hospital corridor," Charlene stated. "And if you ever tell anyone that I'll hex you into next week!"
Padma, helping one of the younger boys, took the lead, Geraldine with two of the girls leaning on each other for support followed next. The rest spaced out in an awkward line, keeping close to the wall. Padma stopped and opened a door with a heavy bolt, holding it open for the rest to go through.
"Why are you doing this?" the boy asked Hermione softly.
"Because it's the right thing to do – using those torture devices on students is wrong," Hermione replied, having to help shift him on each stair. Suddenly the boy stiffened and he became almost weightless. She turned her head to see Draco nod slightly. 'Thank you,' she mouthed.
The rest of the trip, although progressing very slowly, was met with only one obstacle; Mrs. Norris was cleaning herself on the landing to the fourth floor. Charlene simply stunned the cat and led the way to the hospital wing. Once there, Charlene and Padma removed the concealing spells on all of them and Claudia opened the door, letting everyone in.
"Miss Patil – Miss Smothers, put those students on the beds down there," said the witch in pale green robes, this time with a clean Pinafore apron. "Miss Ramirez, you, too." She turned to look behind her and her eyes became widened. "Mr. Malfoy – what are you doing with that Ravenclaw?"
"Bringing her here to be sorted out – same as Mrs. Snape," he replied. "She insisted we give her Ravenclaw friends a hand."
"Very well, very well. Miss Clearwater, help these children to their beds," she called out and the young Healer apprentice came over at once.
"I've got you, I've got you," she said, taking both students, still under the influence of the Floating Charm.
Back out in the corridor Hermione asked, "Why all the snobbery? We were there to help. What were you playing at?"
"Playing at – playing at? Are you mad? I can't have them see me as anything but what they think I am," he snapped, keeping his vice low. "I am fine with you and the Weaslette knowing, but not them. Don't you ever put me in that compromising situation again."
"All right, Draco, you're maintaining your ruse." She thought a moment as they walked away. "I only hope someday you will be the real you, not what people expect you to be."
The Daily Prophet's, which had been completely slanted in favor of Voldemort all year, had regular deliveries every morning and evening. However, the Quibbler, which had not been allowed in the school, was once again being allowed their morning deliveries. However, Xenophilius was now spewing the same crap The Daily Prophet did.
However, unlike the old copies (that it still managed to show up carefully hidden in the Library and common rooms), every new copy had headlines across the top which read: 'Any wizard who's against You-Know-Who ought to make helping Harry Potter their number-one priority!'
"It was still the only publication with pro-Muggleborn articles with lists of who had been arrested, gone missing or had been found dead," Ginny said, removing something invisible from her face and placing it carefully in her book. "They're a pair of Spectrespecs from the centerfold insert. If use them all they do is give the answers to the puzzles, unless you say 'Pandora's Dirigible plums' to activate them and 'crazy Wrackspurts' to turn them off. Then they make the private articles and images pop up on the paper. But anyone reading the paper with Spectrespecs is immediately punished so we have to recast the Invisibility Spell on them frequently."
Suddenly Ginny startled and pulled her DA coin out of her pocket. A moment later messages started to change on the coin: 'go,' 'AF on 2,' '1 clear,' 'in,' 'moving up back,' 'AF at Talbour's,' then 'clear,' and then they simply stopped. "What's happening?" she asked Ginny.
"Hush, wait!" she said, still watching the galleon. 'All alert,' and then '2 compromised,' a pause…'needs help!' There was another pause, followed by, 'go – go now.'
"Hermione, I have to go," Ginny said, stuffing her bag and hurrying out of the library.
"Where's she going in such a rush?" Draco asked.
Hermione shrugged. "All she said was she had to go."
"Maybe she was twitchy about finding that Galleon on the floor. Being poor makes witches odd," he stated, and pulled out his notes on the potion Severus had them working on and reviewed her comments, "Venomous Tentacula – an alkaloid plant, juice extracted from a Venomous Tentacula plant is a non-fatal poison, but could turn the victim permanently purple."
She nodded. "The only potions I read said that Venomous Tentacula juice was used to make the potions have a long lasting painful death or long periods of severely painful internal burning sensations and/or involving bodily maiming."
"Angel's Trumpet contains the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Devil's cherry, or Atropa belladonna, also has atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine." He looked up at her.
She nodded and he looked back at the parchment. "The other three aren't so bad," she said. "Myristica braer and Manihot serpenlenta roots contain cyanogenic glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin, and linamarase which release hydrogen cyanide. One potion I found with both treats acute cyanide intoxication, but three others cause it. Rosy Pea Tea contains Rosary peas and is beneficial. From what I can tell it countered the effects of that combination. Except my antidote did not counter my potion," she said with a sigh. "Mine would cause hallucinations, tachycardia, vomiting and severe abdominal pain with convulsions, and a long lasting painful death. The crushed Erythraean Ascomycota would release the pheromone androstanol, which combined with Devil's cherry berries could make the potions taste sweet and be addictive…"
"You're right about your potions' effect, and that your antidote would be useless. I slipped the class a different potion to make. It was for Madam Pomfrey – one of Severus' antidotes. That's why I confounded Professor Rodarte to extend the assignment," Draco explained.
"And neither of you could tell me yourselves? I was given a fail on my antidote!" She didn't know whether to be angry or insulted. "I'd have made it for him if he'd asked!"
"Of course you would, but she needed a lot of that potion immediately, so Severus asked me to do it, slyly. You're not sly or subtle. So let's figure this one out. Severus had some ideas. Here are his notes," he said
It was pages, written in Severus' tight, slanted script and was immensely thorough. "And why is Severus helping us cheat on this assignment?" Hermione asked. "He's already tried several versions if this is correct."
"Because the potion you made disappeared from the classroom and I had to recreate it," Draco said. "We're not sure if a student took it or one of the Dark Brethren passed on to another."
Hermione gapped in horror. "Holy crap!"
Draco nodded. "Yep, so let's figure this out," he said, opening one of the books from the Restricted Section.
That night in Charms Club, Professor Flitwick proposed learning defensive spells and had many new ones written on his magical blackboards, showing the wand movements as well as the proper pronunciations. After detailed instruction on casting them, Professor Flitwick had everyone pair off, and Cillian challenged Hermione to see how she would do against him. However, the boys had become too aggressive, the practice had become literally an all-out duel, their magic at full force with each other, which had made Cillian angry and even Professor Flitwick had to step in more than once to intervene.
Hermione was sullen as she walked up the stairs with Ginny, Jenny and Tinko, too annoyed and preoccupied in her own thoughts to follow the conversation of other students around them. Cillian was quiet all the way up to the fifth floor when the Ravenclaws waved good-bye and left for their common room. Jenny excused herself and left with her sister. Cillian stopped her from going up the stairs. "Those were not dueling spells – they're practically Dark spells," he said softly to Hermione.
Both Ginny and Hermione turned to look at him. "Professor Flitwick listed them for a reason," Hermione stated.
"They are fighting spells – that's dangerous," he said, his face clam but there was hardness to his gaze.
Hermione tilted her head and tried to look like she had no idea what he was talking about. "We were just practicing Charms, some dueling techniques, nothing—"
"Nothing, eh?" Cillian snapped the tone of his voice cool. "Those spells your friends were using against each other were not all from the blackboard. They were throwing some hexes not allowed in the school," he said, pointing to the backs of Jimmy Peaks, Euan Abercrombie, Jack Sloper and Ernie Coppersmith. "And Mr. Nauman and Mr. Peterson were hitting Miss. Patil and Miss. Abbott with full force. Even Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Finnigan here were sparring with Mr. Summerby and Mr. Macmillan far more aggressively than necessary."
"I suppose they just wanted to see how well they could maintain their shields," Hermione said dismissively, surprised by Cillian's tone. "You, yourself, threw some pretty good hexes at me."
Cillian's usually warm brown eyes were dark. "Hardly. I was not trying to harm you. I was only casting reasonably strong hexes, nothing like the intensity your friends were." He grabbed her arm, making Hermione look him in the eyes. "I know Professor Flitwick is letting you use his Charms Club for you to train up to fight, but if the other Death Eaters find out about tonight – if the Carrows find out – you'll all end up in Filch's chains."
Seamus, Ginny and Neville had stopped to watch, Neville slipping his wand from his pocket, stepping closer to Hermione. Cillian raised his wand quickly and pointed it at him. "Don't think to raise your wand at me, boy! Sleeve it now," he barked coldly, never taking his eyes off Hermione. Cillian looked down the corridor. "You three – in that room, now." He flicked his wand and the door opened with a bang. "I said now. Do not make me hand you over to MacCavish." He pulled Hermione with him as Neville, Ginny, and Seamus walked in the door, his wand pointed at Neville. "Sit," Cillian snapped. Ginny took a seat at an old desk next to Hermione, but Neville and Seamus remained standing. Cillian leaned against the desk next to the girls' and glared at them. "Now tell me the truth, why are you using Alecto's spells on each other in Charms Club?"
"Because there is a war going on, and when this year is up, I'll be fighting for the right side," Neville snarled, taking a step forward, his hair falling into his eyes, "and I want to be ready."
"You'll die," Cillian said coolly.
Neville squared his shoulder and stood taller. "Then I'll die for what's right," he said defiantly. "I'd rather die for what's right than cave in and join him."
Cillian drew a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing. "You have no idea what you're up against. He is the greatest wizard I have ever known."
"Dumbledore was the greatest wizard that I've ever known, and even your Dark Lord knew that and he was afraid of him," Seamus stated, standing next to Neville.
"And now Dumbledore is dead," Cillian said with a smirk.
"But his legacy lives on," Seamus stated. "His army fights on."
"Really? His Legacy," Cillian sneered.
"Yes! In me," Neville stated, jabbing his chest with his thumb.
"And me," Seamus stated, and Ginny quickly added, "and me."
Cillian turned his head as he swore. Neville and Seamus tried to draw their wands discreetly. "Put them away," Cillian snapped. Seamus didn't. In a lightning fast move, Cillian's wand arm was up, and Seamus' wand went flying in the air toward him. Cillian caught it effortlessly as Neville drew his. "You really think you could win against me? I was trained by the best dueling instructors since I was seven. I am a four-time national champion, and a three-time international champion. There is a reason Severus Snape asked me to protect Hermione – yes, Mr. Longbottom – protect her."
"You're not doing very well!" Neville stated.
"Sorry, but as you can see she is very much alive!" Cillian said defensively.
"I thought you were going to turn us over to MacCavish," Seamus snarled, glaring at Cillian.
Cillian turned his head, and Hermione could see the tick in his jaw from clenching his teeth. When he turned back, he wasn't looking directly at any of them.
Ginny suddenly stood up and clasped Seamus' arm. "Seamus, wait. Think about this, will you?"
"You really think you stand a chance against us?" Cillian crossed his arms, still holding his wand.
"Yes," Neville snapped back.
Neville stared at Hermione and then at Cillian. "Why are we here – instead of in Snape's office? Or more importantly, why aren't you reporting us to your Death Eater pals?" Seamus asked.
Neville made to speak, but Ginny held up a hand to quiet him. "He isn't. He didn't like us fighting so aggressively, but he's also not turning us in." She looked at Cillian. "He's stood up for us, and he's not like the others… leering at us or goading those of us in the DA. So why is that?" She glanced at Hermione and then back at the boys. Seamus' eyes widened and his head snapped in Hermione's direction. She shrugged and shook her head.
"I'm a Death Eater, Ginevra," Cillian said, growling out her name. "I report to him. Don't forget that."
"And how many reports have you made about me – about my friends?" Ginny asked.
Cillian glanced at the wall and then at Seamus' wand in his hand. "I have my reasons."
Ginny shook her head. "You didn't answer the question," Seamus said, as she looked up at him. "You don't believe in You-Know-Who's crap, do you?"
Hermione stared at Cillian, wanting to tell her friends the truth. Tell them about Dianne. Cillian stared back coolly, but she knew he was pleading with her to keep her promise. Ginny walked forward, looking at one to the other as if reading the silent exchange. But then she knew the truth, understanding his reluctance.
"You don't, do you? I was right, you don't agree anymore, but you're stuck," Neville stated. "Nearly Headless Nick and the Fat Friar said we shouldn't interfere with you, and Peeves said you're not 'a bad one.'"
"Peeves?" Hermione gasped. "I haven't seen him all year!"
"No and why would you. The bloody Barron spoke to him, told him you're having enough to get on with. He has been causing his normal ciaos and mischief – but he says it's more fun to get the Marked ones. Except he stays away from the both of you, Professor Snape, of course, and Malfoy – he leaves you lot alone."
'It's your Mark, it's different, the lion," Ginny whispered to Hermione, apparently overheard by Cillian too. "Peeves can sense it, so he leaves you alone."
"So all the ghosts are involved?" Cillian asked Seamus, his voice tightly controlled.
Hermione turned to Neville and Seamus. "No one ever leaves the Dark Lord, Neville. He can find them, anywhere, no matter how far they run. It's the Mark. It's a connection between to him. Even my Mark burns when I feel his displeasure. You have to swear – swear you'll keep this to yourselves. You can't tell anyone. It must be a secret for both of our sakes," she added, indicating Cillian and herself.
"Hermione, no," Cillian growled in warning as Ginny raised her wand. "I swear to keep your secret. On my wand, I so swear." Her wand tip flared bright blue and a thin vine-like wisp extended out and wound its way around her hand and wrist before fading into her skin.
Seamus and Neville quickly swore as well, making a wand oath too, adding, "To keep and protect your secret," and moved closer to them.
Cillian clenched his jaw. "You're going to get me killed!" he hissed at Hermione through gritted teeth
"It was better before his return, for all of us. You had everything you really wanted – it was going so well, wasn't it?" Ginny asked pleadingly. "You want it again; only you can't openly have what you want. Cillian, you have to choose." Cillian looked up, his expression hardening.
Hermione waited, practically holding her breath. He was cornered; Ginny was practically declaring where his loyalties lied and he knew it – and he knew Neville and Seamus had figured it out as well. They'd all sworn to protect his secrets.
Ginny opened her mouth to say more, but Cillian swore loudly. "I choose her side, all right? She's – How can you believe all the things he says when here is living proof that it's all wrong?" he confessed, tossing Seamus his wand back to him.
Neville and Seamus both took a step back in shock.
"You mean that, don't you?!" Ginny exclaimed, elated by his admission.
"Means what?" Seamus asked. "He just admitted to having feelings for Hermione!"
Hermione shook her head, grinning. "No, it means that we have another member of Dumbledore's Army."
"I wouldn't go that far," Cillian stated. "You lot have no idea what you're up against."
"Then help us prepare," Ginny said with her hands fisted on her hips.
"Gah!" Cillian exhaled loudly and growled, "Fine. You're going to do it anyway." He stared at the boys. "But in private. I'll teach you four – and none of you will let the others know."
Neville and Ginny nodded. "And we'll teach the rest," Seamus stated.
"Merlin, you've – I knew letting you… confiding in you would lead to this," Cillian snarled at Hermione angrily.
"So why are you angry with her?" Neville asked. "It's the Dark Lord you should be angry at."
"Because you lot are going to get me killed," he snapped back. "Fine. By the way, how many of you are there?"
"Nearly all the sixth- and seventh-year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, and half of Ravenclaw," Ginny said grinning at Hermione and Cillian.
"Hermione, let's go." Cillian pulled open the door, and she quickly said, "Good night," and left with him. "Of all the underhanded, manipulative – you entrapped me! I'm responsible for… I have to protect her. Why did you have to do that back there? Now I'm compromised – she's compromised!"
"But it will be all right, they won't tell anyone," Hermione insisted. "When Harry wins, Dianne will be free and you can be with her."
"And in the meantime, I'm teaching children how to fight in a war and allowing you to… what exactly? How in the hell are you going to fight without your wand?"
"Because when the time comes, you'll give it to me," she said with as much conviction as she could.
He stared at her, hard. He ran his hand down his face, and shook his head. Finally he crossed his arms and glared at her again. "Fine," he spat softly so as not to have his voice carry far. "When the time comes, if I can, yes, I'll make sure you have your wand."
~~o0o~~
Author's Notes:
Huge thank you to Arabellabloodgood for letting me review this with her over the phone, and to Proulxes for the Britpick and for combing through this. I really appreciate the help. Thank you very much.
'Path Of Surrender' by Jenny Toft is a real painting, but a current one by the artist and not of the timeline of this story. It is however, a nice abstract black and white mixed media, acrylic and ink on paper, and is exactly how I'd see as Amycus attempt at drawing people. I apologize to the artist for the comparison as it is a fun painting and did make me smile. Original art Painting: 2021: Abstract Expressionism Conceptual Figurative Painting.
When Amycus says, "No mamby-pamby - wet rag tries either." - namby is spelled with an 'm' on purpose.
Praefocabilis is Latin for stifling, choking, suffocating and asphyxiating.
Professor Valeria Myriadd is witch form the video game, but she suited my purpose here because she has several portraits in the castle and thus can move about. She was an accomplished witch and, according to Harry Popper Wiki, Head of Gryffindor House during her life. After she died, numerous portraits were hung of her at Hogwarts Castle. For reasons currently unknown, Myriadd's portrait was painted depicting her standing by some snowy mountains, with her wearing a dark blue, fur-lined cloak and holding a fairy.