Chapter 6-The Truth Be Told
Hermione was walking to meet Harry in front of the Great Hall to make up the fight that began when Harry kissed Cho. She looked down at the ring Harry had given her remembering the words Harry had said to her the day he had given her the ring…
"This ring shows how much I love you. This will bring me back to you no matter how far I've strayed. I have a ring identical to yours," Harry said the silver ring band now visible on his finger, "so even when I'm far away I'll still be reminded of my promise to you."
~He was so corny, but it was still cute~ she thought.
Hermione looked up and saw the scene before her, out of the corner of her eye she saw two Ravenclaw sixth years picking up he contents of a split bag. In front of her she saw an enraged Harry lift his hand and shoot a black fireball towards Malfoy but hitting Ron in the process as he tripped over his shoelace and continuing on to hit one of the sixth years. At the exact same time Lavender came from the opposite direction.
"Nooooooo!!!!!" she screamed. The last thing she saw before the world went black were Harry's eyes looking down at her and hearing the clinking, ringing sound of a ring hitting the cold stone floor next to her.
She awoke to see Harry's silver ring with the inscription "H/H forever in life and death" lying next to her on the floor. Hand trembling she closed her hand around the ring before slipping into unconsciousness again.
She opened her eyes and found herself in the Forbidden Forest. Nearby she saw Harry crouched into a ball under a tree crying. Suddenly she saw Voldemort carrying another boy run from out of nowhere and grab Harry dragging him deeper into the forest.
"Help! Someone help me!" he shouted.
Hermione came to her senses at last and ran after them till she found herself at a clearing. Her heart stopped when she saw the scene before her. Harry and Devin Park were chained to two trees with faces pleading for help while the Dark Lord laughed like a maniac in he middle.
"Hermione help us. Only you can bring me back, you know how." Harry said. But his voice sounded different, it sounded as if he was struggling to get the words out, it was strained and distant.
"How? I don't know how!"
"Show me the way. Remind me!"
"I don't understand!"
"It's too late anyway." Voldemort hissed.
Hermione cried out in anguish as she saw two large daggers fly at the boys with one flick of Voldemort's wand killing them in seconds.
"They're dead. They've been dead. Nothing you can do will show them the way. You've lost mudblood," he hissed.
Suddenly he was engulfed in flames crying out in agony and just as suddenly he was nothing more than ash.
"Harry!" Hermione cried running towards Harry's bloody body. "No! You can't die! You can't die! You can't die Harry!" She continued to scream.
~
"Hermione! Hermione wake up!"
Hermione woke up with a start in cold sweat. The covers and sheets were twisted and disheveled. Hermione looked around to see Fred, George, Cindal, and Andrew looking at her with concerned faces. The group had gone to sleep a mere two hours ago after having packed up their things and gone to Hogwarts in secret. At the present they were residing in one of Hogwarts' guest towers.
"Harry's dead." she moaned.
"You were dreaming Hermione, it was just a dream." Fred said putting comforting arm around her.
Hermione silently laughed as she thought of how much Fred and George babied her. Over the years they had come to have a sister, brother relationship and had acted as such.
"We heard you screaming and came to check on you." Andrew explained.
"It wasn't a dream," she whispered.
"No sweetie, it wasn't real." Cindal chimed in.
"It was just your imagination." George added.
"I'm telling you, Harry was here and so was that other boy Devin!"
Andrew flinched as she said the last part and Cindal's eyes averted towards him. Hermione didn't see this as she continued. "They were in the Forbidden Forest and they were tied to these trees, and You Know Who…he was there and the daggers…they flying at them… it was just so real… and oh, the blood…"
Hermione couldn't continue as she broke down crying.
"It was just a dream, we have no proof that they are dead."
"Fred it's been two years! If they're alive then why aren't they here!" she replied through the tears.
This stunned the five into silence, each with their own thoughts. Finally after five minutes of silence Hermione had calmed down. There was an uncertain tension in the room as horrible memories flooded back, memories shared by two people in particular.
"Well a fine bunch we are. We all look like bunch of incredible gits standing here in our pajamas so I suggest that we all go to bed. But not before you, Hermione, admit that it was just a bad dream." George said in attempts to lighten the mood.
They all looked at her expectantly. She sat quietly as if in thought. Sighing and taking a deep breath she responded.
"You're right, I was just being silly. It was just a dream." Hermione lied. She knew if she didn't say anything they would never leave her alone.
"Well alright then, good night all. No more bad dreams okay?" George said directing the last statement toward Hermione.
They said their good nights and left but Fred hung back for a minute.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
"Well we're all here for you, you know if you need anything that is."
"I know, I know. Especially you and George, I swear if you act any more brotherly to me your mother and father might as well adopt me and make it official."
"It's an idea. Good night luv."
Once Hermione was alone she pulled a necklace out from under her shirt. Attached to it were two silver rings, their rings, both bearing the inscription "H/H forever in life and death."
"It wasn't just a dream," she whispered as she tucked the necklace back into her shirt and settled down in bed for a less turbulent sleep.
Fred walked out of Hermione's room and shut the door quietly. He was about to proceed to his room but stopped and hid in the shadows watching Andrew and Cindal. They held each other in their arms with slight tears streaming down their faces. Fred is normally not one to invade the privacy of two people in love but somehow he knew this was more than just a "moment" between two lovers. Cindal was whispering something to Andrew but it brought about more tears. After a slightly passionate kiss good night, Cindal walked into her room and Andrew proceeded to his in the opposite direction. On his way, though, he spotted George. He sighed and said, "How much did you see?"
"Who? Me? I didn't see anything, I have no idea what you're talking about!" his voice was unconvincing as he talked and crumbled under Andrew's stare. "Okay I did see! But if it's any consolation I didn't hear anything!"
"It's okay, you have a right to know. So do the others, Cindal and I have been keeping it a secret for too long."
"What is it?"
"It's about Devin."
"Devin Park?"
"Have you ever thought it strange that we have the same last name?"
"Well yeah, but Park is a common name."
"Yeah but…Devin was my brother."
"What?" George asked shocked. They had never made the connection, nor had they tried, there was never any mention of Devin having family, they just assumed he was muggle-born.
"Yeah, our parents died when we were young. I was ten and he was nine. We were living on the streets until I somehow got my letter to Hogwarts. We had no money and no way of getting there so without really knowing what to do I wrote a letter back explaining the situation. A day later Dumbledore himself came and found us, he felt sorry for us and helped us out. We both lived at Hogwarts and during the summer. I got a job in Hogsmeade to pay for school, Dumbledore never accepted the money though, he wanted me to save it for treats and etc. Then Devin found out he was a wizard too. He got into Ravenclaw like me. That's where I met Cindal."
"I thought you two looked familiar when I first met you." interjected George. "I never knew you went to Hogwarts."
"Well, we were in the same year as Hermione, and since Ravenclaw and Gryffindor didn't interact much I'm not surprised you didn't know. Anyway I always felt bad for Devin not being able to grow up with parents, I felt responsible to look out for him. When I became good fiends with Cindal she did too, so the two of us looked out for him. Kind of acting like his parents. We just loved him so much." tears were now forming in his eyes as he continued. "In seventh year when it happened, I was unconscious in the hospital wing after falling off my broom during Quidditch practice."
George put a comforting hand on his shoulder as Andrew wiped tears from his eyes.
"Cindal was in there watching both of us. She said he kept muttering something about April, his girlfriend, she was the girl who died. She had fallen asleep and when she woke up in the morning he was gone. She had to tell me what happened but I didn't want to believe it. When I finally accepted it, I didn't want anyone to know we were related because I didn't want the pity. I had seen what Hermione was going through and I thought that the memories would haunt me if people kept reminding me about it by attempting to comfort me. It was stupid to keep it secret, I don't really know why I did, it was a stupid reason."
"No it wasn't. It was just how you tried to deal with the death of a loved one. When I found out my brother Ron died for months I just pretended as if I never had a brother. If you never had something, you can't miss it. That was my motto. But it was only a bandage for the pain, nothing permanent."
"Yeah."
"Well, it's late and we're the only daft gits awake. We have to be up or breakfast in three hours so Professor Dumbledore can introduce us."
Andrew laughed at this. "I suppose you're right. Well fellow git, good night."
"Night."
With that they went their separate ways to their rooms.
Elsewhere…
"She's having dreams again." Harry Potter said to his chamber mirror.
"It's your good side trying to break through to her," his reflection said back.
"I know, but she'll never succeed, she doesn't even know how to bring me back."
"She can if she still has the…"
"Shut up! I know! Okay? I know I'll go weak because of that stupid promise I made to her! I was young and naïve, how was I supposed to know that that promise was backed by a magical bind forcing me to carry through with it."
"You idiot! That was two years ago! You're still young and naïve! As far as that promise, what are the chances that she has the ring? Even if she grabbed it when you dropped it, you know that she never loved you. She was cheating on you with Malfoy! She never loved you! There is no love! It was all lies! And you'll do good to remember that!"
"Shut up!" In anger Harry drew back his fist and smashed it straight through the mirror on the wall. "I'm not going weak!" he said, stepping down hard on the shattered remnants of the mirror in defiance.
"Who are you talking to?" a voice interrupted.
"Just my reflection Nived, just my reflection." Harry answered.
"So Potter, I'm curious as to know when we'll make our attack on Hogwarts. Sitting around here in these dark dungeons is boring. I want blood on my hands."
"I was thinking around April."
"Ugh I hate April. Anything to do with April. It's the worst time of the year!"
"Good that will be enough of an incentive to tick you off. Remember, if you want something you have to take it, no matter who you have to kill in the process."
"Hmm. Sweet Revenge. The only way to compensate for pain is to get revenge."
"Now you've got the idea."
~~~~~~~~~
"Okay guys, remember we have to keep Dumbledore safe, we have to have him watched at all times. Even when we are sleeping he has to have some find of charm on him that will alarm us of any danger."
"Yes, we've been through this a million times Herm! We know what we're doing!"
"George this is our first assignment, I don't want to mess up, especially when it involves the life of the man who has done everything in his power to protect us. It's the least we can do to repay him by doing the same."
"Hermione relax." Andrew coaxed.
"Okay come on guys. Breakfast is going to start soon." Cindal complained.
The tower in which they were staying in had an entrance that passed through Dumbledore's sleeping quarters allowing them to have easier access to the Professor in case of emergency and more privacy on their part. Finally after five minutes of walking through the familiar castle they made their way to the Great Hall. They walked up and sat at the staff table feeling the many eyes following their movements. At last Dumbledore spoke.
"Good morning everyone! Normally I don't give speeches in the morning but due to the circumstances this situation requires me to speak to you. First of all these five additions," he said gesturing to Herm, Fred, George, Cindal, and Andrew, "work for the Ministry of Magic and are here to aid in strengthening charms to protect the castle from unwanted visitors. In addition I would like to assure you that the evacuation of the first and second year students was a success, you will not be returned to your families unfortunately. You will all be hiding in an underground castle in the middle of Russia. Communication will be limited to your families and all letters will be read first in case information is revealed that could pose as a danger. Classes will continue once all students and teachers are relocated. Life will go on as usual, I know this is hard and there are quite a few unanswered questions but this is for your safety. Third and fourth years are excused from classes today so that they may get ready for evacuation in two days. I will answer more questions after dinner tonight. Now please enjoy your meals!"
There was the usual chatter to follow any important announcements, filled with gossip and tall tales as to why they were being moved from the school, the place they thought no one could ever hurt them. Only those being relocated were told of he situation because the longer they knew about the situation the longer they had to worry. Dumbledore ignoring this, walked over to his five former students.
"After lunch there will be a meeting with Cornelius Fudge and several other Ministry officials to further discuss the news of the oncoming danger."
After Lunch…
Hermione looked around at the group seeing both new and familiar faces. Sirius Black, having been cleared by the Ministry and given a full pardon, was put to work as head of the Auror Department. Emma Lane, Department head of the Enforcers was also present. A very agitated Minster of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, sat next an amused Dumbledore. Arthur Weasley, Arabella Figg, and Remus Lupin, were there to represent different divisions of the Ministry. Several teachers were present at the meeting as well.
"Now that we are all present we can begin. We are here to discuss the oncoming danger…" Dumbledore began.
"This is outrageous!" Fudge interrupted. "There is no danger! We are wasting our time!"
"Please Cornelius not this again!" Arthur pleaded.
"We have undercover spies who have gathered this information!" Emma added.
"You are all fools! I see no danger! We have been living in relative peace for the past four years! Why interrupt the calmness just because of a rumor?"
"Fudge you are wrong about this! You have to see that! You have been wrong a countless number of times, this is no different!"
"Sirius, name one time!" Fudge yelled back.
"Me! Do you not remember when you sent me to Azkaban for a crime I did not commit!"
"Look at the evidence against you! What would you have done?"
"Given me a fair trial at least! And what about five years ago when You Know Who rose to power again? Look at how many people died last time before you acknowledged that you were wrong! If not for Harry Potter he would still be in power and it would be the dark times once again because you failed to stop him before it was late! How many people have to die this time? Huh? How lives must be lost before you open your eyes to what is right in front of you?" Sirius finished.
"You are out of line, Black!" Cornelius said, or rather yelled in a pathetic attempt to retort.
"Please gentlemen! Calm yourselves! We are not here to talk about the past!" Dumbledore interrupted.
"Yeah well the only way to learn from your mistakes in the past is to accept that you made them in the first place." Sirius sneered.
"Oh sod, off!" Fudge retorted.
Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the two men as they bickered like children.
"Enough!" Dumbledore shouted, his patience running low, "What is important right now is the safety of the wizarding world regardless if the rumors are true or not! We have news that Voldemort or some other Dark Lord is going to attack Hogwarts. The concern is to get the students evacuated immediately. I am glad that my former students," he said gesturing to Hermione and the others, "are here to protect me even though I am not the one the Ministry should worry about."
"Please Albus! The rumors say You Know Who wants to attack you! They have to be here." Emma cut in.
"It's not You Know Who." Hermione mumbled a little louder than she intended to because all eyes had turned on her.
"What was that?" Remus asked.
"It's not You Know Who who's attacking. He's dead."
"Hermione how can you know for sure?" Mr. Weasley asked gently.
"I've been having dreams, I never believed in divination but these dreams feel too real." she replied now looking down at her feet.
"Herm, I thought that last night was the first time you had that dream." Fred stated with concern in his voice.
"No, I've been having it off and on for two years. The first time was about a month after Harry disappeared, I had it for maybe a week straight then it stopped and came less often but recently it's been coming back. This time it's more clear and I've gotten farther in my dream."
"What happens in your dream?" Dumbledore pressed.
"I'm walking to meet Harry in the Great Hall, the day of the accident I was supposed to meet him there. Then I see the fireball and the bodies, it's all clear and I've started to notice every single detail, then it's black. I wake up and grab Harry's ring lying next to me, we had a set of promise rings, he had dropped it that day and I woke up and grabbed it. Anyway in the dream I wake up one more time and I'm in the Forbidden Forest when suddenly I see You Know Who run out of nowhere taking Devin Park and Harry to a clearing. I followed and found them chained to a tree, Harry kept saying I was the only one who could bring him back or something like that, and before he could explain Voldemort killed them both. And then he suddenly died, and I know he died because I could sense it. That's where I always wake up."
"Why didn't you tell us? How could you have kept it a secret?" Andrew said in disbelief.
"I didn't want you to worry so I put soundproof charms around my room at night so you wouldn't hear me if I screamed."
Dumbledore sat in thought; everyone taking noticing of his facial expression saw this and waited for him to speak.
"I believe Hermione that you're dreams are real. In some symbolic sense of course, all dreams have symbolism. But I've felt that Voldemort had died recently as well. It was like a burden lifted from my heart and I felt his spirit leave this world."
"So You Know Who is dead?" Arthur said as if the idea was both preposterous and a blessing.
"Yes." Dumbledore answered.
"But then if Voldemort died in Hermione's dream and died in real life then what about Devin and Harry…" Sirius trailed off.
Each in the room had drawn the same conclusion. The boys taken from them two years earlier were dead.
"So if it's not You Know Who then who is attacking Hogwarts?" Hermione asked her voice trembling.
"We don't know." Emma answered.
"Meaning there is no reason for this drama, there is no danger whatsoever!" Fudge shouted. Obviously the meaning of Hermione's dream was lost on him and he was being his usual insensitive, pompous self.
"You jerk! Why are you so blind? You always have been!" Sirius shouted standing up in anger.
"Why do all of you have to be so pessimistic? I will not be the Minister of Magic who caused public scare over something long gone! You're all confounded!"
"You pompous, self-centered, ass!"
"I'll have you know that the only reason I came to this meeting was to make you come to your senses, but seeing as how you are all deranged I have no choice to do what I see fit. Ms. Emma Lane, the Enforcers Department is officially disbanded! Have your now unemployed agents removed from the town of Hogsmeade and from Hogwarts premises. The evacuation of students will come to a halt and evacuated students will return to Hogwarts immediately!" Fudge finished.
Before anyone could say a thing he stormed out of the room and left Hogwarts grounds, no one bothered to follow as they were too stunned by his sudden outburst.
"Ms. Lane he can't possibly disband the Enforcers without any kind of vote!" George cried.
"I'm afraid he can, just like that. Rules say in a time of crisis Minister of Magic has absolute power in matters he feels are a threat to society. This would be considered a time of crisis. When sworn in as minister he was magically bound to the law, what he says must be carried through."
"This can not be happening," someone mumbled, everyone was thinking the same.
"Well, unfortunately for Cornelius, Hogwarts is not part of the Ministry." Everyone turned to look at Dumbledore, shocked at his words. Did he just say what they thought he said? "Evacuation will continue. Emma, these five," gesturing to Hermione and company, "are now staying here under invitation and will continue to due what they came to do. As for your agents in Hogsmeade there is nothing we can do, Hogsmeade is part of the Ministry and must abide by the laws. Arthur, I want you to team up with Sirius, Arabella, and Remus, get as much support from the Ministry as you can. Just like last time. Teachers please go inform the third and fourth year students to be in the Great Hall in an hour for evacuation information. Dismissed."
Everyone left with shocked and confused, yet resolute faces. This was serious.
Two hours later…
"You need to be ready a day earlier due to a change in plans. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic refuses to believe we are in danger. He ordered the evacuation to stop, we are now going against official orders to ensure you're safety so please be cooperative. While you are gone we have people putting on charms that will make any witch or wizard who sees the castle think it is full of students, they will be tricked into seeing all of you carrying on your normal routine. Please tell no other students of this, you are dismissed to your houses." Dumbledore said finishing a meeting full of questions.
"Hey, George, where's Hermi?" Fred asked turning to George. The five had been sitting in on the meeting.
"She said something about the astronomy tower. What was that Andrew?" George quickly answered but then turned his attention back to Andrew who had been saying something at the time.
"I need to talk to you, it's about Devin Park." Andrew said quietly so only the four could here them.
"I'm going to go find Herm." Fred interrupted yet again.
"Wait Fred you should here this too." Cindal said stopping him.
"It's okay Cindal, he already knows." Andrew assured her.
Fred left for the Astronomy Tower in search of Hermione.
~Playing this big brother gig is never easy, especially when it's a girl~ he thought to himself.
Soon he found himself standing in the doorway to the Astronomy Tower looking at Hermione as she sat on the windowsill crying softly.
"Well don't just stand there Fred, come in.," she said softly.
"I didn't want to interrupt. I came to check on you."
"Do you act this way towards Ginny, your real sister?" she asked with a slight smile.
"You know I don't. She hasn't been the same since…you know…she's been really distant." he said sadly.
"I know."
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"I was thinking about how this whole thing started. It's all my fault really."
"Hermione, how can you say that? None of this is your fault. We've been through this already."
"We haven't even covered what I'm thinking."
"Well then pray tell what is it that you are thinking?"
"Back in seventh year when Harry kissed Cho Chang is when this all started. I'd known that Harry had a crush on Cho, what guy wouldn't, but I never really let that get to me. I knew that Harry's heart belonged to me, only me, I had no doubt that he loved me. When Cho graduated I was thrilled, our seventh year would be Cho free, but I was wrong. Cho never liked me, mainly because I 'stole' Harry from her. You could see it in her eyes when she walked into our cabin on the Hogwarts Express that she was enjoying the look of terror and confusion on my face. She came back to retake a Defense Against Dark Arts class that she needed for a job at the Ministry. The entire time she flirted with Harry to death, just when I thought I could trust him, he's playing tonsil hockey with the slut. I was so hurt and mad, it wasn't just that he kissed another girl, it was that he was kissing someone who loved to make me miserable."
"So that's the fight. You were going to make up with him the day IT happened."
"Yup, I was going to the Great Hall to get my Harry back only to lose him again. If I had just forgiven him earlier he wouldn't have been at the Great Hall waiting for me. It's all my fault he's dead."
"We don't know he's dead for sure." Fred said gently.
"Yes, we do! My dreams, remember? They felt so real! They had to have been real!" she cried.
"Hey come here, no matter what it's not your fault. You didn't want this to happen." he said, pulling her into his arms.
"I wanted Cho to die and she did."
"What?" Fred exclaimed in alarm.
"Well, I was so mad at her I wished she would die. Last year she drowned in some lake in Bulgaria, she got tangled in the kelp or something. But I admit that wasn't my fault." she joked through her tears.
"Well, there you then see? Anyway I came up here to tell you something else but it unfortunately won't make you feel any better."
"What?"
"Have you ever wondered about any connection between Andrew and Devin Park?"
"No, why?"
"They are…were brothers." Fred paused at Hermione's shocked face then continued. "Their parents died and Dumbledore took them in to live here at Hogwarts. Andrew and Cindal had been keeping it a secret for all this time. Their way of dealing with Devin's death, I guess. They told everyone who knew to just keep their mouths shut. Andrew wanted us to know."
"Oh my…I never knew."
"Yeah, never even crossed my mind."
"This is not been a good day. The Enforcers are suddenly disbanded, we find out my dreams are real, and we happen to be breaking orders from the Minister of Magic. I've never been comfortable breaking rules, unlike you and George, and from what I've heard Cindal and Andrew weren't exactly angels either."
"Well, we can hope it will get better, that's all we can do." Fred said throwing an arm around her shoulders.
The two sat for a while longer staring at the stars enjoying each other's company not thinking about the danger they knew they would have to face. Not knowing that that danger was approaching fast and furiously.
Hermione was walking to meet Harry in front of the Great Hall to make up the fight that began when Harry kissed Cho. She looked down at the ring Harry had given her remembering the words Harry had said to her the day he had given her the ring…
"This ring shows how much I love you. This will bring me back to you no matter how far I've strayed. I have a ring identical to yours," Harry said the silver ring band now visible on his finger, "so even when I'm far away I'll still be reminded of my promise to you."
~He was so corny, but it was still cute~ she thought.
Hermione looked up and saw the scene before her, out of the corner of her eye she saw two Ravenclaw sixth years picking up he contents of a split bag. In front of her she saw an enraged Harry lift his hand and shoot a black fireball towards Malfoy but hitting Ron in the process as he tripped over his shoelace and continuing on to hit one of the sixth years. At the exact same time Lavender came from the opposite direction.
"Nooooooo!!!!!" she screamed. The last thing she saw before the world went black were Harry's eyes looking down at her and hearing the clinking, ringing sound of a ring hitting the cold stone floor next to her.
She awoke to see Harry's silver ring with the inscription "H/H forever in life and death" lying next to her on the floor. Hand trembling she closed her hand around the ring before slipping into unconsciousness again.
She opened her eyes and found herself in the Forbidden Forest. Nearby she saw Harry crouched into a ball under a tree crying. Suddenly she saw Voldemort carrying another boy run from out of nowhere and grab Harry dragging him deeper into the forest.
"Help! Someone help me!" he shouted.
Hermione came to her senses at last and ran after them till she found herself at a clearing. Her heart stopped when she saw the scene before her. Harry and Devin Park were chained to two trees with faces pleading for help while the Dark Lord laughed like a maniac in he middle.
"Hermione help us. Only you can bring me back, you know how." Harry said. But his voice sounded different, it sounded as if he was struggling to get the words out, it was strained and distant.
"How? I don't know how!"
"Show me the way. Remind me!"
"I don't understand!"
"It's too late anyway." Voldemort hissed.
Hermione cried out in anguish as she saw two large daggers fly at the boys with one flick of Voldemort's wand killing them in seconds.
"They're dead. They've been dead. Nothing you can do will show them the way. You've lost mudblood," he hissed.
Suddenly he was engulfed in flames crying out in agony and just as suddenly he was nothing more than ash.
"Harry!" Hermione cried running towards Harry's bloody body. "No! You can't die! You can't die! You can't die Harry!" She continued to scream.
~
"Hermione! Hermione wake up!"
Hermione woke up with a start in cold sweat. The covers and sheets were twisted and disheveled. Hermione looked around to see Fred, George, Cindal, and Andrew looking at her with concerned faces. The group had gone to sleep a mere two hours ago after having packed up their things and gone to Hogwarts in secret. At the present they were residing in one of Hogwarts' guest towers.
"Harry's dead." she moaned.
"You were dreaming Hermione, it was just a dream." Fred said putting comforting arm around her.
Hermione silently laughed as she thought of how much Fred and George babied her. Over the years they had come to have a sister, brother relationship and had acted as such.
"We heard you screaming and came to check on you." Andrew explained.
"It wasn't a dream," she whispered.
"No sweetie, it wasn't real." Cindal chimed in.
"It was just your imagination." George added.
"I'm telling you, Harry was here and so was that other boy Devin!"
Andrew flinched as she said the last part and Cindal's eyes averted towards him. Hermione didn't see this as she continued. "They were in the Forbidden Forest and they were tied to these trees, and You Know Who…he was there and the daggers…they flying at them… it was just so real… and oh, the blood…"
Hermione couldn't continue as she broke down crying.
"It was just a dream, we have no proof that they are dead."
"Fred it's been two years! If they're alive then why aren't they here!" she replied through the tears.
This stunned the five into silence, each with their own thoughts. Finally after five minutes of silence Hermione had calmed down. There was an uncertain tension in the room as horrible memories flooded back, memories shared by two people in particular.
"Well a fine bunch we are. We all look like bunch of incredible gits standing here in our pajamas so I suggest that we all go to bed. But not before you, Hermione, admit that it was just a bad dream." George said in attempts to lighten the mood.
They all looked at her expectantly. She sat quietly as if in thought. Sighing and taking a deep breath she responded.
"You're right, I was just being silly. It was just a dream." Hermione lied. She knew if she didn't say anything they would never leave her alone.
"Well alright then, good night all. No more bad dreams okay?" George said directing the last statement toward Hermione.
They said their good nights and left but Fred hung back for a minute.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
"Well we're all here for you, you know if you need anything that is."
"I know, I know. Especially you and George, I swear if you act any more brotherly to me your mother and father might as well adopt me and make it official."
"It's an idea. Good night luv."
Once Hermione was alone she pulled a necklace out from under her shirt. Attached to it were two silver rings, their rings, both bearing the inscription "H/H forever in life and death."
"It wasn't just a dream," she whispered as she tucked the necklace back into her shirt and settled down in bed for a less turbulent sleep.
Fred walked out of Hermione's room and shut the door quietly. He was about to proceed to his room but stopped and hid in the shadows watching Andrew and Cindal. They held each other in their arms with slight tears streaming down their faces. Fred is normally not one to invade the privacy of two people in love but somehow he knew this was more than just a "moment" between two lovers. Cindal was whispering something to Andrew but it brought about more tears. After a slightly passionate kiss good night, Cindal walked into her room and Andrew proceeded to his in the opposite direction. On his way, though, he spotted George. He sighed and said, "How much did you see?"
"Who? Me? I didn't see anything, I have no idea what you're talking about!" his voice was unconvincing as he talked and crumbled under Andrew's stare. "Okay I did see! But if it's any consolation I didn't hear anything!"
"It's okay, you have a right to know. So do the others, Cindal and I have been keeping it a secret for too long."
"What is it?"
"It's about Devin."
"Devin Park?"
"Have you ever thought it strange that we have the same last name?"
"Well yeah, but Park is a common name."
"Yeah but…Devin was my brother."
"What?" George asked shocked. They had never made the connection, nor had they tried, there was never any mention of Devin having family, they just assumed he was muggle-born.
"Yeah, our parents died when we were young. I was ten and he was nine. We were living on the streets until I somehow got my letter to Hogwarts. We had no money and no way of getting there so without really knowing what to do I wrote a letter back explaining the situation. A day later Dumbledore himself came and found us, he felt sorry for us and helped us out. We both lived at Hogwarts and during the summer. I got a job in Hogsmeade to pay for school, Dumbledore never accepted the money though, he wanted me to save it for treats and etc. Then Devin found out he was a wizard too. He got into Ravenclaw like me. That's where I met Cindal."
"I thought you two looked familiar when I first met you." interjected George. "I never knew you went to Hogwarts."
"Well, we were in the same year as Hermione, and since Ravenclaw and Gryffindor didn't interact much I'm not surprised you didn't know. Anyway I always felt bad for Devin not being able to grow up with parents, I felt responsible to look out for him. When I became good fiends with Cindal she did too, so the two of us looked out for him. Kind of acting like his parents. We just loved him so much." tears were now forming in his eyes as he continued. "In seventh year when it happened, I was unconscious in the hospital wing after falling off my broom during Quidditch practice."
George put a comforting hand on his shoulder as Andrew wiped tears from his eyes.
"Cindal was in there watching both of us. She said he kept muttering something about April, his girlfriend, she was the girl who died. She had fallen asleep and when she woke up in the morning he was gone. She had to tell me what happened but I didn't want to believe it. When I finally accepted it, I didn't want anyone to know we were related because I didn't want the pity. I had seen what Hermione was going through and I thought that the memories would haunt me if people kept reminding me about it by attempting to comfort me. It was stupid to keep it secret, I don't really know why I did, it was a stupid reason."
"No it wasn't. It was just how you tried to deal with the death of a loved one. When I found out my brother Ron died for months I just pretended as if I never had a brother. If you never had something, you can't miss it. That was my motto. But it was only a bandage for the pain, nothing permanent."
"Yeah."
"Well, it's late and we're the only daft gits awake. We have to be up or breakfast in three hours so Professor Dumbledore can introduce us."
Andrew laughed at this. "I suppose you're right. Well fellow git, good night."
"Night."
With that they went their separate ways to their rooms.
Elsewhere…
"She's having dreams again." Harry Potter said to his chamber mirror.
"It's your good side trying to break through to her," his reflection said back.
"I know, but she'll never succeed, she doesn't even know how to bring me back."
"She can if she still has the…"
"Shut up! I know! Okay? I know I'll go weak because of that stupid promise I made to her! I was young and naïve, how was I supposed to know that that promise was backed by a magical bind forcing me to carry through with it."
"You idiot! That was two years ago! You're still young and naïve! As far as that promise, what are the chances that she has the ring? Even if she grabbed it when you dropped it, you know that she never loved you. She was cheating on you with Malfoy! She never loved you! There is no love! It was all lies! And you'll do good to remember that!"
"Shut up!" In anger Harry drew back his fist and smashed it straight through the mirror on the wall. "I'm not going weak!" he said, stepping down hard on the shattered remnants of the mirror in defiance.
"Who are you talking to?" a voice interrupted.
"Just my reflection Nived, just my reflection." Harry answered.
"So Potter, I'm curious as to know when we'll make our attack on Hogwarts. Sitting around here in these dark dungeons is boring. I want blood on my hands."
"I was thinking around April."
"Ugh I hate April. Anything to do with April. It's the worst time of the year!"
"Good that will be enough of an incentive to tick you off. Remember, if you want something you have to take it, no matter who you have to kill in the process."
"Hmm. Sweet Revenge. The only way to compensate for pain is to get revenge."
"Now you've got the idea."
~~~~~~~~~
"Okay guys, remember we have to keep Dumbledore safe, we have to have him watched at all times. Even when we are sleeping he has to have some find of charm on him that will alarm us of any danger."
"Yes, we've been through this a million times Herm! We know what we're doing!"
"George this is our first assignment, I don't want to mess up, especially when it involves the life of the man who has done everything in his power to protect us. It's the least we can do to repay him by doing the same."
"Hermione relax." Andrew coaxed.
"Okay come on guys. Breakfast is going to start soon." Cindal complained.
The tower in which they were staying in had an entrance that passed through Dumbledore's sleeping quarters allowing them to have easier access to the Professor in case of emergency and more privacy on their part. Finally after five minutes of walking through the familiar castle they made their way to the Great Hall. They walked up and sat at the staff table feeling the many eyes following their movements. At last Dumbledore spoke.
"Good morning everyone! Normally I don't give speeches in the morning but due to the circumstances this situation requires me to speak to you. First of all these five additions," he said gesturing to Herm, Fred, George, Cindal, and Andrew, "work for the Ministry of Magic and are here to aid in strengthening charms to protect the castle from unwanted visitors. In addition I would like to assure you that the evacuation of the first and second year students was a success, you will not be returned to your families unfortunately. You will all be hiding in an underground castle in the middle of Russia. Communication will be limited to your families and all letters will be read first in case information is revealed that could pose as a danger. Classes will continue once all students and teachers are relocated. Life will go on as usual, I know this is hard and there are quite a few unanswered questions but this is for your safety. Third and fourth years are excused from classes today so that they may get ready for evacuation in two days. I will answer more questions after dinner tonight. Now please enjoy your meals!"
There was the usual chatter to follow any important announcements, filled with gossip and tall tales as to why they were being moved from the school, the place they thought no one could ever hurt them. Only those being relocated were told of he situation because the longer they knew about the situation the longer they had to worry. Dumbledore ignoring this, walked over to his five former students.
"After lunch there will be a meeting with Cornelius Fudge and several other Ministry officials to further discuss the news of the oncoming danger."
After Lunch…
Hermione looked around at the group seeing both new and familiar faces. Sirius Black, having been cleared by the Ministry and given a full pardon, was put to work as head of the Auror Department. Emma Lane, Department head of the Enforcers was also present. A very agitated Minster of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, sat next an amused Dumbledore. Arthur Weasley, Arabella Figg, and Remus Lupin, were there to represent different divisions of the Ministry. Several teachers were present at the meeting as well.
"Now that we are all present we can begin. We are here to discuss the oncoming danger…" Dumbledore began.
"This is outrageous!" Fudge interrupted. "There is no danger! We are wasting our time!"
"Please Cornelius not this again!" Arthur pleaded.
"We have undercover spies who have gathered this information!" Emma added.
"You are all fools! I see no danger! We have been living in relative peace for the past four years! Why interrupt the calmness just because of a rumor?"
"Fudge you are wrong about this! You have to see that! You have been wrong a countless number of times, this is no different!"
"Sirius, name one time!" Fudge yelled back.
"Me! Do you not remember when you sent me to Azkaban for a crime I did not commit!"
"Look at the evidence against you! What would you have done?"
"Given me a fair trial at least! And what about five years ago when You Know Who rose to power again? Look at how many people died last time before you acknowledged that you were wrong! If not for Harry Potter he would still be in power and it would be the dark times once again because you failed to stop him before it was late! How many people have to die this time? Huh? How lives must be lost before you open your eyes to what is right in front of you?" Sirius finished.
"You are out of line, Black!" Cornelius said, or rather yelled in a pathetic attempt to retort.
"Please gentlemen! Calm yourselves! We are not here to talk about the past!" Dumbledore interrupted.
"Yeah well the only way to learn from your mistakes in the past is to accept that you made them in the first place." Sirius sneered.
"Oh sod, off!" Fudge retorted.
Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the two men as they bickered like children.
"Enough!" Dumbledore shouted, his patience running low, "What is important right now is the safety of the wizarding world regardless if the rumors are true or not! We have news that Voldemort or some other Dark Lord is going to attack Hogwarts. The concern is to get the students evacuated immediately. I am glad that my former students," he said gesturing to Hermione and the others, "are here to protect me even though I am not the one the Ministry should worry about."
"Please Albus! The rumors say You Know Who wants to attack you! They have to be here." Emma cut in.
"It's not You Know Who." Hermione mumbled a little louder than she intended to because all eyes had turned on her.
"What was that?" Remus asked.
"It's not You Know Who who's attacking. He's dead."
"Hermione how can you know for sure?" Mr. Weasley asked gently.
"I've been having dreams, I never believed in divination but these dreams feel too real." she replied now looking down at her feet.
"Herm, I thought that last night was the first time you had that dream." Fred stated with concern in his voice.
"No, I've been having it off and on for two years. The first time was about a month after Harry disappeared, I had it for maybe a week straight then it stopped and came less often but recently it's been coming back. This time it's more clear and I've gotten farther in my dream."
"What happens in your dream?" Dumbledore pressed.
"I'm walking to meet Harry in the Great Hall, the day of the accident I was supposed to meet him there. Then I see the fireball and the bodies, it's all clear and I've started to notice every single detail, then it's black. I wake up and grab Harry's ring lying next to me, we had a set of promise rings, he had dropped it that day and I woke up and grabbed it. Anyway in the dream I wake up one more time and I'm in the Forbidden Forest when suddenly I see You Know Who run out of nowhere taking Devin Park and Harry to a clearing. I followed and found them chained to a tree, Harry kept saying I was the only one who could bring him back or something like that, and before he could explain Voldemort killed them both. And then he suddenly died, and I know he died because I could sense it. That's where I always wake up."
"Why didn't you tell us? How could you have kept it a secret?" Andrew said in disbelief.
"I didn't want you to worry so I put soundproof charms around my room at night so you wouldn't hear me if I screamed."
Dumbledore sat in thought; everyone taking noticing of his facial expression saw this and waited for him to speak.
"I believe Hermione that you're dreams are real. In some symbolic sense of course, all dreams have symbolism. But I've felt that Voldemort had died recently as well. It was like a burden lifted from my heart and I felt his spirit leave this world."
"So You Know Who is dead?" Arthur said as if the idea was both preposterous and a blessing.
"Yes." Dumbledore answered.
"But then if Voldemort died in Hermione's dream and died in real life then what about Devin and Harry…" Sirius trailed off.
Each in the room had drawn the same conclusion. The boys taken from them two years earlier were dead.
"So if it's not You Know Who then who is attacking Hogwarts?" Hermione asked her voice trembling.
"We don't know." Emma answered.
"Meaning there is no reason for this drama, there is no danger whatsoever!" Fudge shouted. Obviously the meaning of Hermione's dream was lost on him and he was being his usual insensitive, pompous self.
"You jerk! Why are you so blind? You always have been!" Sirius shouted standing up in anger.
"Why do all of you have to be so pessimistic? I will not be the Minister of Magic who caused public scare over something long gone! You're all confounded!"
"You pompous, self-centered, ass!"
"I'll have you know that the only reason I came to this meeting was to make you come to your senses, but seeing as how you are all deranged I have no choice to do what I see fit. Ms. Emma Lane, the Enforcers Department is officially disbanded! Have your now unemployed agents removed from the town of Hogsmeade and from Hogwarts premises. The evacuation of students will come to a halt and evacuated students will return to Hogwarts immediately!" Fudge finished.
Before anyone could say a thing he stormed out of the room and left Hogwarts grounds, no one bothered to follow as they were too stunned by his sudden outburst.
"Ms. Lane he can't possibly disband the Enforcers without any kind of vote!" George cried.
"I'm afraid he can, just like that. Rules say in a time of crisis Minister of Magic has absolute power in matters he feels are a threat to society. This would be considered a time of crisis. When sworn in as minister he was magically bound to the law, what he says must be carried through."
"This can not be happening," someone mumbled, everyone was thinking the same.
"Well, unfortunately for Cornelius, Hogwarts is not part of the Ministry." Everyone turned to look at Dumbledore, shocked at his words. Did he just say what they thought he said? "Evacuation will continue. Emma, these five," gesturing to Hermione and company, "are now staying here under invitation and will continue to due what they came to do. As for your agents in Hogsmeade there is nothing we can do, Hogsmeade is part of the Ministry and must abide by the laws. Arthur, I want you to team up with Sirius, Arabella, and Remus, get as much support from the Ministry as you can. Just like last time. Teachers please go inform the third and fourth year students to be in the Great Hall in an hour for evacuation information. Dismissed."
Everyone left with shocked and confused, yet resolute faces. This was serious.
Two hours later…
"You need to be ready a day earlier due to a change in plans. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic refuses to believe we are in danger. He ordered the evacuation to stop, we are now going against official orders to ensure you're safety so please be cooperative. While you are gone we have people putting on charms that will make any witch or wizard who sees the castle think it is full of students, they will be tricked into seeing all of you carrying on your normal routine. Please tell no other students of this, you are dismissed to your houses." Dumbledore said finishing a meeting full of questions.
"Hey, George, where's Hermi?" Fred asked turning to George. The five had been sitting in on the meeting.
"She said something about the astronomy tower. What was that Andrew?" George quickly answered but then turned his attention back to Andrew who had been saying something at the time.
"I need to talk to you, it's about Devin Park." Andrew said quietly so only the four could here them.
"I'm going to go find Herm." Fred interrupted yet again.
"Wait Fred you should here this too." Cindal said stopping him.
"It's okay Cindal, he already knows." Andrew assured her.
Fred left for the Astronomy Tower in search of Hermione.
~Playing this big brother gig is never easy, especially when it's a girl~ he thought to himself.
Soon he found himself standing in the doorway to the Astronomy Tower looking at Hermione as she sat on the windowsill crying softly.
"Well don't just stand there Fred, come in.," she said softly.
"I didn't want to interrupt. I came to check on you."
"Do you act this way towards Ginny, your real sister?" she asked with a slight smile.
"You know I don't. She hasn't been the same since…you know…she's been really distant." he said sadly.
"I know."
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"I was thinking about how this whole thing started. It's all my fault really."
"Hermione, how can you say that? None of this is your fault. We've been through this already."
"We haven't even covered what I'm thinking."
"Well then pray tell what is it that you are thinking?"
"Back in seventh year when Harry kissed Cho Chang is when this all started. I'd known that Harry had a crush on Cho, what guy wouldn't, but I never really let that get to me. I knew that Harry's heart belonged to me, only me, I had no doubt that he loved me. When Cho graduated I was thrilled, our seventh year would be Cho free, but I was wrong. Cho never liked me, mainly because I 'stole' Harry from her. You could see it in her eyes when she walked into our cabin on the Hogwarts Express that she was enjoying the look of terror and confusion on my face. She came back to retake a Defense Against Dark Arts class that she needed for a job at the Ministry. The entire time she flirted with Harry to death, just when I thought I could trust him, he's playing tonsil hockey with the slut. I was so hurt and mad, it wasn't just that he kissed another girl, it was that he was kissing someone who loved to make me miserable."
"So that's the fight. You were going to make up with him the day IT happened."
"Yup, I was going to the Great Hall to get my Harry back only to lose him again. If I had just forgiven him earlier he wouldn't have been at the Great Hall waiting for me. It's all my fault he's dead."
"We don't know he's dead for sure." Fred said gently.
"Yes, we do! My dreams, remember? They felt so real! They had to have been real!" she cried.
"Hey come here, no matter what it's not your fault. You didn't want this to happen." he said, pulling her into his arms.
"I wanted Cho to die and she did."
"What?" Fred exclaimed in alarm.
"Well, I was so mad at her I wished she would die. Last year she drowned in some lake in Bulgaria, she got tangled in the kelp or something. But I admit that wasn't my fault." she joked through her tears.
"Well, there you then see? Anyway I came up here to tell you something else but it unfortunately won't make you feel any better."
"What?"
"Have you ever wondered about any connection between Andrew and Devin Park?"
"No, why?"
"They are…were brothers." Fred paused at Hermione's shocked face then continued. "Their parents died and Dumbledore took them in to live here at Hogwarts. Andrew and Cindal had been keeping it a secret for all this time. Their way of dealing with Devin's death, I guess. They told everyone who knew to just keep their mouths shut. Andrew wanted us to know."
"Oh my…I never knew."
"Yeah, never even crossed my mind."
"This is not been a good day. The Enforcers are suddenly disbanded, we find out my dreams are real, and we happen to be breaking orders from the Minister of Magic. I've never been comfortable breaking rules, unlike you and George, and from what I've heard Cindal and Andrew weren't exactly angels either."
"Well, we can hope it will get better, that's all we can do." Fred said throwing an arm around her shoulders.
The two sat for a while longer staring at the stars enjoying each other's company not thinking about the danger they knew they would have to face. Not knowing that that danger was approaching fast and furiously.
