Chapter 5: Secrets revealed
***
Hermione took a step in the Staff Room and silence fell upon all those gathered there. She took a quick look around. All the teachers of Hogwarts were there, as well as most of the members of the Order of the Phoenix.
'They are your friends. They will understand.'
Keeping those words in mind, Hermione walked across the room to the only empty seat, right in front of everyone else. Dumbledore smiled slightly at her.
"Good. Now I believe that all of us want to know exactly what happened a bit more than a year ago. To allow Professor Granger to explain, I will ask that you keep all of your questions for the end of her story."
Murmurs of agreements ran through the room before silence settled again. Hermione sighed slightly before taking a deep breath.
"I suppose that I must start with my death…"
Hermione closed her eyes as memories came crashing in her mind and she open her mouth to tell everyone.
~~~
Hermione was still crying, clutching the picture of her parents against her heart.
He's wrong. Dumbledore's wrong. Let Dumbledore be wrong only this time. They're not dead. It's just a joke. A sick joke. They will be waiting for meat King's Cross. Dumbledore's wrong. They're alive. We will spend our holidays in France again. My parents' are not dead. They're not dead.
The words blurred in her mind as she kept repeating them in her head, a litany to keep her sane. But she knew deep down that this wasn't a joke. Dumbledore never lied. Her parents' were dead. Because of her.
No! Because of Voldemort!
This shout of her mind shocked her out of her tears. Yes, it was all Voldemort's fault. He had killed Harry's parents. He had killed Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. He had tried to kill Harry. He had tried to kill Ron. He had tried to kill Draco. And now, he had killed her parents. And something snapped in her mind as her tearful eyes dried, a terrible glint beginning to show in the once happy brown pools.
It's his fault. And he's gonna pay for it!
~~~
She felt the tug. And before her brain even registered it, she was already flying on one of the school broom toward the limits of the Hogwarts Grounds. She had been ready. It had taken her a whole day in the Restricted Area of the Library, but she had found a spell allowing her to feel when a specific spell was used. She had cast it three times, one for each of the Unforgivable Curses. And it had worked. Once off the Grounds, she Disapparated to the place where the Cruciatus Curse had been used.
She saw what she expected there: three black figures with silver masks bent over the naked form of a girl. With an almost joyful shout, Hermione dived from the skies, her wands in her hand.
"Stupefy!"
And one of the three dropped on the floor, stunned. The two others turned to face their attacker, but Hermione shot a second Stunning spell straight at the farthest Death Eater before ramming into the nearest with her broom. Both attacks succeeded and Hermione jumped on the ground with a satisfied smirk on her lips. She walked over to the only Death Eater she had stunned. He was still trying to catch his breath, as she had knocked the wind off him when she had collided with him. But Hermione didn't intend on giving him the time. And her smirk was simply evil as she put a foot on his throat and applied pressure.
"How does it feel to be helpless? To know that no one is left to save you? To know that you're going to die?"
Then Hermione leant a bit closer, shifting all her weight onto the foot that was pinning the Death Eater on the floor. Under the force, the man began squirming, gasping for air. But Hermione didn't remove her foot…
~~~
"I was simply out to kill them all. The official version is that Voldemort felt something was wrong, came over to see and killed me."
"What really happened, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked softly.
"Voldemort did come and we dueled. But Professor Dumbledore Apparated me back safely here before we could finish that duel."
Hermione could remember very well the discussion that had followed. She could remember crashing every single thing in the Headmaster's office. She remembered Dumbledore proposing her with a way to have her revenge. She had accepted. But for the sake of all present, she would pass over that.
"Albus organized everything so I could disappear back into the Muggle world. He contacted the press and told them about my 'death', betting on the fact that Voldemort wouldn't want anyone to know that a 'Mudblood' had nearly bested him and three of his cronies. After that, I passed my NEWTs in secret…"
"And I'm pleased to announce to the Professors that Hermione passed Potions, Transfiguration, Charm and Defence Against the Dark Arts, with Off the Records marks, and Herbology, Ancient Runes, Astronomy and Arithmancy with Outstanding marks."
The Professors nodded slowly at that, no one really surprised by these achievements. Hermione shrugged.
"I thought you said no interruption." As Dumbledore smiled at her, she went on. "And I went back to the Muggle world after that. Honestly, I was still out to find a way to defeat Voldemort once and for all. I just never thought that the answer could have been at my fingertips since my second year. In the oldest book referring to Hogwarts, I discovered something that shook me to the core: the Founders had never had any disagreement. And they had never parted. The Four of them had been the Heads of the school until they began to disappear, one by one, Helga Hufflepuff leaving last. But they had left behind something to protect Hogwarts. That, I've learnt last October. So I came back in Hogwarts secretly, to try and find out what exactly had happened more than a millennia ago and what was that last protection. In the restricted area of the Library, I found the original map of Hogwarts, with the signatures of the four Founders on it. And to my amazement, the Chamber of Secret was on it. Salazar had never built it in secret. I studied Parseltongue. I already knew some basics thanks to Harry. Then I went down there…
~~~
It was only when she arrived in front of Salazar Slytherin's statue that Hermione began to have second thoughts about that expedition. Sure, the Fours had known about the Chamber, but they had probably guarded it with more than a Basilisk. As Hermione looked around, she remembered what had happened in her second year.
All because of Voldemort.
This simple thought made her take a step forward and say the words in Parseltongue.
"Open up!"
She had grown accustomed to the strange hissing sounds that fell from her lips. And as the statue started to move, Hermione steeled herself for whatever was to come. She hadn't even take a step forward that a hiss stopped her. She remembered the Basilisk and didn't really fancy another encounter. But this time, she had a weapon.
"Close your eyes and lead me to the Sanctuary."
"And may I ask who wants to go there?"
For a time, Hermione didn't answer. Basilisks weren't supposed to be stupid but its pronunciation sounded like this one was very educated.
"My name is Hermione Granger."
When the Basilisk came into view, Hermione quickly closed her eyes, straining to listen as the snake made its way toward her. She felt the tongue across her face.
"Open your eyes, little one, and hop on my back. I will lead you to the Sanctuary for you are awaited."
In shock, Hermione did as she was told and let the Basilisk take her through Slytherin's statue and along a dark and high corridor. Hermione was holding onto the snake as carefully as she could, watching the Basilisk as he took her down to the Sanctuary. She was quite surprised when they entered a second antechamber and found there the biggest badger Hermione had ever seen. Hermione felt something prodding her mind but before she could protest, the badger nodded to the basilisk. The basilisk nodded back and slithered past the other guardian. The badger began to follow them through a second corridor. In the third antechamber, the Basilisk stopped.
"Who is there?"
The sound of powerful wings beating the air was heard and a giant eagle swooped down from the darkness. It landed right in front of the basilisk, and across the way to the third corridor, Hermione noted.
"My name is Hermione Granger."
"So I am told."
The giant eagle nodded to the basilisk and the badger before turning its attention back on Hermione.
"What is your business here?"
Hermione knew that this was a test. And one she'd better not fail.
"I'm looking for a way to defeat Voldemort."
"You will not find such a thing in the Sanctuary."
"But it is said that the Sanctuary holds something able to defend the students of Hogwarts."
"That is correct."
"Then I need it. Because Voldemort won't stop until Hogwarts is either his or destroyed."
Once again, the three guardians seemed to discuss with one another without Hermione hearing anything. Finally, the eagle looked back at Hermione.
"Go forward, then."
Once again, the basilisk moved ahead. The eagle took off and disappeared in the darkness once more. And the badger moved along its snake companion, inside the third corridor. In the fourth antechamber, Hermione wasn't really surprised to see a giant lion, sitting in the path leading to yet another corridor. The sound of wings told her that the eagle was here as well.
"The Sanctuary is past our feline friend," the voice of the eagle told Hermione. "All you have to do is go past him."
With that, the basilisk lowered himself on the floor so Hermione could slide off him. Hermione cast a nervous look at the lion. It seemed carved in stone, but its yellow eyes were following each of her movements and the tip of its tail was moving just enough to assure Hermione that it was very real.
Carefully, Hermione took a few steps forward. The lion yawned widely, flashing its impressive sharp teeth at her. Hermione froze on the spot. It could take her in only one bit and nothing would be left of her. The lion cast a look to the ceiling and the eagle spoke again.
"He is wondering why the Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor. He says that it was probably a mistake."
Hermione felt those words in her pride. She took her wand out.
"Well, let's see if your friend is as big as his words."
The lion jumped on his feet and casually walked out of the way. It showed the corridor to Hermione with a shake of its head.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary, Hermione."
The young witch could have sworn that the eagle was laughing as it said that. The four guardians were already retiring into the corridor behind her. With a last look at them, Hermione walked in the opposite direction, to the corridor in front of her and the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary was even more beautiful that Hermione had expected. It looked like Hermione had stepped inside a clearing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, high trees surrounding her. In the middle was a small pond, full of crystal clear water.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary, Hermione Granger."
Hermione nearly fainted when she saw the four figures standing in the shades of the trees. Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin were smiling at her.
~~~
"You mean you met the Founders?" asked Harry in disbelief.
"Yes. And they told me numerous things about Hogwarts: how their dream had been to create a school to unite, not divide the wizarding world, how they had made a pact of mutual protection with the forest, how Rowena's precognitions had forced them to create the four houses in order to prevent a future even darker than the one we live in, how they had created the Hogwarts armours to protect students and staff when the time would come…"
Hermione stopped there. Even Dumbledore didn't know exactly what had happened next. She didn't want to reveal the existence of her Order of the Night yet. And even if Dumbledore probably could feel that something was off with her, he couldn't know exactly what. Not until it was too late for him to try and change her mind… So Hermione chose her next words very carefully.
"The Founders agreed that the best thing to do was to teach me as much as I could learn. They had created some kind of Time Wrapping spell that allowed me to spend 10 years learning various things in the space of 5 months. You know what happened after that."
"The attack on the school," Snape said with an obvious disgust in his voice.
"Yes," Hermione said, nodding. "I stepped out of the spell just in time. The Founders named me Hogwarts Protector and sent me to the battle field with enough of the Hogwarts armours to protect students and staff. Then I called the forest to our aid, in accordance to the old pact. And we won that day an important battle against Voldemort."
The whole room was silent, remembering that, even if they had won, some had nonetheless lost their lives in that battle. Hermione struggled a bit in her mind with her next words.
"I went back to another Time Wrapping spell and spend July there. Then, I spent August preparing myself to come back." Hermione shifted on her seat and shrugged. "And here I am."
"But why didn't you contact us?" Ron's voice sounded as hurt as the boy had been and Hermione felt the hurt in her heart.
"We had to make sure that no one knew where Hermione was, to keep her safe from Voldemort and his Death Eaters," Dumbledore said with a calm and soothing voice.
Harry was about to say something when Silver entered the staff room, clutching a message in her claws. Hermione stood up and Silver landed on her shoulder, presenting her mistress with the piece of parchment. Hermione ruffled softly her raven's feathers before reading the message. It brought a smirk on her lips.
"I'm sorry but I have to leave now. I'm awaited somewhere else."
Dumbledore shot her a sharp look but Hermione refused to meet his eyes, her smirk still in place. Obeying to her mistress's unspoken command, Silver changed into her black phoenix form. Hermione took hold of the soft tail feathers and looked around to the others.
"I'll see you at diner tonight."
With those last words, Silver took off, carrying Hermione away with her, straight for the Forbidden Forest.
***
Hermione softly landed on her feet in the clearing, then took a long look around her. Clad in black leather, the Order of the Night saluted the arrival of their leader.
"Welcome, Dark Lady. Your word is our command. Speak and you shall be obeyed."
Hermione smiled sweetly to her followers.
"Our day has come. Soon, our enemy will die by our swords and powers. And we shall build a new world from the ashes of the old one."
Hermione let the cheers die before she began walking along the ranks of her soldiers.
"The Ministry of Magic are fools, for they think that they can win this war without our help. Let them try and feel defeat. We shall be the saviors of this planet and we will take what is rightfully ours: freedom."
As the Order of the Night was cheering their leader, Hermione turned to her Generals.
"So?"
A rather tall man stepped forward.
"We did as we were told, milady. Nearly the entire Order is here. The contingent of Giants is still in Armenia but they are ready to be transported here as soon as you give the order. Halves of the orcs and the goblins contingents are here."
"What about the Morphs?"
Another of the Generals, this time a witch, stepped forward.
"We're ready. The Animagi and the full-werewolves are here, while the controlled-werewolves are kept with several Animagi in the heart of the forest, away from both Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. I made sure that the dragons have been put as far away as possible so no one knows they're here. The rest of the Animal contingents are awaiting orders in the Forest."
Hermione nodded before turning to another of her Generals.
"Wicca and psi contingents?"
"In order and ready to fight. I also made sure that every soldier of the Non-magical contingent had a Port-key with him, so he could swiftly be called upon."
Hermione turned to her fourth and final General.
"The wizarding contingent is awaiting orders as well."
"What about our spies?"
"Still on the field. Still not discovered."
Hermione nodded and smiled at each of them.
"Form about 20 teams of at least 5 people, each from different contingent. Then cast the Spell Tracker spell. Find the Death Eaters. And make them understand that they have a new opponent in this war. Don't stay long enough for the Aurors or the Order of the Phoenix to see you."
The four nodded and turned away to carry out their orders. And with a smile, Hermione took the way back to Hogwarts.
"I definitively need to keep Dumbledore out of the forest." She chuckled to herself before grabbing Silver's tail and let her black phoenix lead her back to the castle.
***
A/N
Thanks again for all the reviews.
Hope you've liked that chapter.
See you later for the next one…