REAL SUMMARY!: Hermione becomes the new DADA teacher (who would've
guessed?) 4 years after departing Hogwarts. But aside from the fact that
she thinks she's safe, things aren't always as they seem, and neither are
people. There are new and more powerful enemies after her.along with some
professors. Even after Voldemort's death, is the wizard community safe
after all? Includes confusing loves triangles, spies, death, and LOTS of
Dark Arts.
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Angst
A/N!: Eeep! I totally just got this idea today and HAD to write it. All these little things started flitting through me head and I wrote them down on paper while my aunt and uncle were over (ya. I'm not a very good host.) Anywayz.. I'm hoping to make this pretty long and already have tons of ideas and a story plot.
Please R/R and I will luv you for it!
*Prologue: Bloody Nightmare.*
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." the sermon seemed to go on forever. Hermione sat in the front row. Hands in clenched in her lap, she looked around nervously. Someone else had stepped up to the podium. A head of silver-blonde caught her eye.
"The war against Voldemort took its toll on us. Many gave up their lives to help free us from."
Hermione stopped listening and glanced around the crowd again. The many familiar faces were now filled with sorrow and mourning. Most were crying. But Hermione still couldn't help but feel paranoid.
Quite worrying! A voice told her. There's no one here but your friends. Remember: He's dead. You killed him. You're safe. Everyone's safe now...
That reassuring thought calmed her a bit. Though little. She returned back to the reality when she heard her named mentioned. She didn't remember volunteering to speak.
"We all owe greatest thanks to our beloved Miss Granger," the speaker was Dumbledore this time. Hermione felt herself freeze. All faces were turned to her, many we smiling. She heard clapping coming from somewhere. Everything seemed to be so distant. She felt a hand lightly pat her shoulder.
"It's alright Miss Granger, you've done a good job," he said.
She looked up at him and smiled. She was still getting used to the fact that he was being nice to her. It seemed everyone was. But he had changed so much since the fall of the Dark Lord. Almost as if a major burden had been lifted from him and he had started over with a new life.
"Thank you, Severus. But really I don't deserve all this praise," she said, motioning to the dying applause.
"Nonsense," he said, placing his hand back in his lap and standing up. Hermione looked around. Many people were standing along with him and a slow trickle of black was making its way towards the row of caskets. She got up slowly and grabbed the bundle of flowers next to her. Making her way toward the one casket that didn't have a swarm of people around it. It only had one other visitor. She looked down at the gold lettering.
Lucius Malfoy 1957-2001
He was one of the few Death Eaters whose body was found intact. She turned to the man standing beside her. He was staring down at the casket with a look of dread on his face.
"Your speech was beautiful Mal.." she corrected herself, "Draco.."
"I..I just wonder what it would have been like to grow up in a loving family. What would it had been like if he hadn't been a..a Death Eater," he said, not looking at her for fear of what she would see. He looked around finally as if he didn't belong there.
"It's alright, Draco. Everything is going to be okay," someone had come up behind them and planted their hand on top of his.
"I hope so, Gin," he said, looking back at her. Hermione felt oddly out of place.
Ginny leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed profusely.
"I..I think I should be going know," he said, still red. Ginny shrugged and, after giving Hermione a big hug, turned to leave also.
Hermione slowly made her way to the other casket she wanted to visit. She looked down at it sadly, holding back tears. As she set the flowers down a voice came from behind her.
"It's so sad isn't it?" it said. She looked down at the tiny writing in front of her again. But this time it wasn't stating Lucius' death but someone else's.
Arthur & Molly Weasley May God rest their souls. 1954-2001
She gulped. Ron had taken it the worst. He had refused to speak for weeks. And now spoke every once and a while, only to answer or ask questions.
"But professor," Hermione said, turning around, "it shouldn't have been them; it should've been me,"
"I know you have your doubts, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes twinkling down at her, "but try to be happy about what their death brought, they died to save you. To save everyone,"
She looked down forlornly, letting a tear fall down on the name 'Weasley'.
"Yes, professor,"
"Oh, and I've been meaning to talk to you, Miss Granger...." he said slowly.
"What about? She asked, curiously.
"About you becoming a professor. We need someone to fill for Defense Against the Dark Arts and you seem to be very qualified for the job," he said lightly. Hermione thought for a moment. She didn't have anything else. She didn't even have a home now..
"I..I'd love to professor," he held up a hand to stop her.
"Please, if we are going to be colleagues, call me Albus,"
"All right..Albus," it seemed awkward to call him that.
"I've also been in contact with Remus. Trying to convince him to come back and teach. We need a Transfiguration teacher since.." his voice trailed off and a look of grief replaced the twinkle in his eyes. It was obviously still hard for him to talk about Minerva's death.
"Has he said yes yet?" she asked, steering off the topic of their former teacher and friend.
"Not yet, but I think he's starting to lean towards it," he said, smiling a little. "Hopefully, everything will be back to normal," as normal as it ever was.
"I...I hope so professor,"
*****
The cold was intense. Probably more than it had been for the past couple weeks. Three dark weeks. That's when it had all really started. The plague of Death Eaters had approach the one stronghold of the wizard community. Hogwarts.
With it being four years since she had left Hogwarts, Hermione had not been there at the time. She sat at her desk by her window looking out at the gray sky. Oh, how things had began going down hill for her and everyone. Voldemort had gained an enormous amount of power over the past year. She looked down at the desk. Tears clouded her vision. Everything had gotten so damn complicated.
She heard a faint tapping on the window and looked up again. There was a small owl outside of it. She opened the latch to let it in. It hooted softly, leaving a letter in front of her before flying through the window again. It wasn't too thick and the writing looked very hurried but none-the- less in Dumbledore's hand. Curiously, she broke the seal and pulled out a tiny letter. The writing on this also seemed to be rushed. He eyes flicked over it, trying to take in the words.
Dear Miss Granger,
You are to operate to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry immediately after reading this. All other ways of communicating have been shut off. Even by ways of the Order. Please, come prepared for the worst for it is finally happened. I will not need to explain any further. All aid is needed.
-Albus Dumbledore Order of the Phoenix.
Hermione gasped, dropping the letter in to her lap. Now. It was all going to take place now. She could just sense what was happening. She had to get there as soon as possible. She ran to her wardrobe and threw on her scarlet robes. On the chest was a golden crest of a phoenix. Over a year ago she had known the dangers of joining the Order. But it didn't matter. What use were all her brains if she wasn't able to use them? After making sure she had her wand, Hermione stared at her room. It may be her last time she would see it. She ran over to her dresser and threw open her drawer trying to hurry. Inside it laid a few personal belongings. On top of a pair of socks lay a small picture. She looked at the two dentists smiling, holding their 18-year-old daughter. Just graduated from Hogwarts. It had been the last time she had seen them. She remembered returning home that day from the grocer. She had stopped dead in her tracks, dropping her bags; a loaf of bread rolling down the street. Her house was dancing in flames. She looked around her. The whole block was incinerated. She ran to the gathering pile of ashes, tears rolling down to her robes.
"Mother! Father!" she had gasped. Ignoring the flames she ran into the house. Towards her parents bedroom. She let out a cry, seeing them strewn out on the floor. A puddle of blood. Flames threatening to engulf them. Hermione ran to their bodies. There was something faint on their forehead. She tried to make it out. The Dark Mark.
"No!" she cried..
Hermione pried herself from the memory, dropped the picture into her pocket, and Apparated.
Suddenly, Hermione found herself in front of Hogwarts. Students and teacher were running everywhere. People were screaming, crying. There were numerous curses and spells being shouted but Hermione couldn't tell whom they were from. Flames caught her eyes again. Tapestries were on fire. She saw many she knew.and some she didn't. Someone ran up to her, grabbing her arm.
"Hermione! Come on, we have to hurry....they're everywhere.." it was Harry. He was wearing deep red robes just like hers. But he was also drenched in blood. A large gash on his shoulder. Hermione looked at him.
"Harry, what on earth happened to you?" she asked, following him.
"That doesn't matter.... Come on!" Hermione heard a scream come from somewhere behind her. She turned around, afraid of what she'd see. She knew who it was..
"Ginny!"
Ginny was cornered. Two Death Eaters were approaching her. Hermione saw someone run over there. To join the Death Eaters or to save Ginny she wasn't sure.
"Harry, we have to go help her!" she said prying from his grasp.
"It's alright, Malfoy's got her," he said calmly.
"What?! Are you crazy!" she screeched.
"He's switched sides,"
"Are you sure?" she asked turning back around to see Draco run in front of Ginny, his wand pointed at the Death Eaters. He yelled something and red light erupted from his wand, killing both of them. He smiled and turned back to Ginny to help her up.
"But, why did he switch?" Hermione asked, stopping to throw a curse at an approaching Death Eater.
"I think it was because of Gin," Harry said, pointing at them. Hermione didn't have time to register what he had said. "Come on, do something.. anything,"
"Alright I.."
She screamed. Something large hit her arm. Piercing white light. She looked around for the curse's owner. It was Lucius.
"You silly Mudblood.." he raised his wand. Hermione brought hers to meets his. Harry wasn't with her anymore. Lucius acted first. Hermione was thrown back against a wall. He had hit her arm again. He was just going to toy with her..before killing.
Hermione saw something in front of her. Red. She looked up into the faces of Arthur and Molly Weasley. They were trying to help her up. Arthur turned to Lucius. But it was too late. A flash of green light engulfed the two of them and they collapsed to the ground.
"No!" Hermione screamed. Lucius stood over them.
"Your dead, Weasley," he said smiling. He turned back to Hermione. She fumbled for her wand. Another green light flashed and this time Lucius toppled to the floor. Someone stood next to him, looking down at his body. Hermione gasped.
"And now you're dead..father,"
It was Draco. Ginny was at his side clutching his arm. She stared down at her parents in shock before giving out a small whimper and burying her face into Draco's shoulder. He rubbed her back with one hand and extended the other to Hermione.
"Come on, get up. It's filthy down there, you can barely see you under all that rubbish," Hermione still wasn't about believe what she was seeing. Malfoy..being nice..to her. And comforting Ginny. It was all too much. She grabbed his hand anyway and he pulled her up off the ground.
"We wouldn't want you dying on us now would we, Granger?" he said with an awkward smile before turning around to do more fighting. Ginny followed him, glancing once more at her dead parents.
Hermione started running to the next room, which happened to the great hall. Someone stepped in front of her blocking her way. She squinted to see who it was and barely made out a face behind the mask.
Wormtail...
He extended a glittering hand at her. It seemed to be shacking. Hermione extended her wand at him. He didn't seem to be armed.
"Accio!" he said. Hermione stared in shock as her wand flew to his metal hand. But how did he do it?
He smirked, taking her wand in both of his hands and snapping it in half. Hermione's mouth fell open. That had been her only wand for the past ten years. And now it was gone. Right in the middle of battle. She was unarmed.
She looked around frantically. What was she going to do? She saw a body laying feet away from her. Still clutching its wand. She quickly ran over to it and paused.
Professor McGonagall.
Taking a deep breath Hermione picked up her wand and turned back to Wormtail. He was still sneering at her.
"Your little friend seems to be having fun.." he said to her. Hermione gave him a puzzled look. She glanced over his shoulder. She saw Harry. Someone was advancing on him. She struggled for breath...Voldemort.
"Harry!" she cried out. He looked in her direction, still backing up. He tripped and fell to the ground. Voldemort was laughing, getting closer to him by the second. She clapped her hand over her mouth and started running in his direction. Wormtail caught her.
"Let me go!" she yelled, drawing Minerva's wand and pointing it at him.
"Conjunctive!" blue light shot out of her wand and hit him in the face. His eyes went blank.
"My..my eyes! I can't see!" he squeaked. He swiveled his head around blindly stretching his hands out in front of him.
"You witch!"
"That's right. I'm not a Mudblood, I'm a witch.." she pushed him aside and ran to the other room. Harry was backed up in a corner. His wand was on the ground in front of him. Too far to reach.
"Ah..and this is how the famous Harry Potter meets his end. Your friends can't help you now. Neither can your mother.." Voldemort was looking down at Harry, an evil glint in his eyes. Harry was trying to buy time.
"You'll never beat us, Voldemort. Even if you kill me, what good will it do? They'll still be after you. And good will get you in the end," he said squinting his eyes. Hermione couldn't take it any more. She ran as fast as she could and came to a stop. Right between Harry and Voldemort. She heard Harry gasp.
"Hermione no!" he hissed, "Get out of here now!" She looked back at him. His eyes were pleading.
"No Harry, you've been through too much. I won't let it happen again. I won't let him hurt you,"
"Hermione.."
"NO!"
She turned back to Voldemort. He had a slightly amused look on his face.
She had to do this. For Harry. For Ron. Her parents. The Weasleys. For wizards everywhere.
She pulled her wand out in front her, shaking.
"And now you die, Voldemort. A long awaited death," she said softly, but with power.
"A Mudblood. A Mudblood killing me? The most powerful wizard in the world?" he was laughing. A high pitched laughter that rang deep into her eardrums and made her want to curl up in some corner and die.
She kept her wand steady. She had to do this.... Hermione mustered up all her strength and training. Focusing everything into the tip of her wand.
"Avada Kedevra!" she yelled. Green painful light emerged from her wand. Shooting out at Voldemort, engulfing him in the glow. The light was sucked into him and he still stood there. Pleasure dancing in his eyes. Hermione back up, almost running into Harry.
"No..." she gasped. It didn't work....
Voldemort smiled with malice. Suddenly, he too gave a shocked expression. His hands went to his chest. Light breaking through his scaly skin. He let out a penetrating scream. Hermione threw her arms over her face just as an explosion of green ran through the castle. The whole place seemed to shake. She could almost hear the walls cracking and tumbling. A gust of wind with the power of a hurricane ran through the room almost knocking her to the ground.
And suddenly...it was over.
She looked around. Everything was in ruins. The walls were still up but there was furniture and paintings scattered around the room. Doors were ripped off their hinges. Some people were standing, others were lying dead under all the debris.
Hermione looked in front of her where Voldemort had been standing. He wasn't there. Instead, a small pile of ashes lay at her feet, red smoke pouring from them.
Ashes. Something wasn't registering in Hermione brain. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....
Everything fell silent. The whole world seemed to be holding its breath. Was it....over? All the remaining Death Eaters had stopped and were staring opened mouth at the scene in front of them.
Hermione looked down at the ground in front of her. Not realizing how hard she was breathing. She clutched her wand in her hand. Her face was blank.
"Hermione...what was that?" Harry asked. Hermione slowly turned to him.
"I'm... I'm not sure..." she heard a voice and turned back around. The Death Eater were leering at her.
"Well find you Granger. We won't stop until you dead..." one of them said slowly. Hermione didn't respond. Suddenly, the Death Eaters vanished. Disapparated.
It had all happened moths ago. The reality ended there.... but this kept going.
Hermione found herself surrounded by dark figures. Looming over her. Hissing at her. She shrieked and backed up but they were closing in.
"Well find you..."
"You'll never be safe. Not even at Hogwarts... you'll pay..."
Tears started flowing from her.
"No, please don't hurt me..." she cried out. They didn't leave.
"Hermione..." they were getting closer. "Hermione..."
"No! Leave me alone!" she screamed in anguish.
"HERMIONE!" she felt hands on her shoulders. Someone was shaking her. She opened her eyes. The figures were gone. Replaced by two sets of eyes. Her vision started to clear. But she was still crying.
Honey-colored eyes looked down at her concerned, then shifted their gaze back to the black pair.
"What do you think happened to her, Severus?" he said. Severus looked back at him.
"I'm...not sure. It must've been a nightmare..."
Hermione sat up, sobbing. A pair of hands were on hers.
"Hermione, it's okay. You fell asleep. It was only a nightmare...that's all," he said.
"No Remus...it--it was more than that. It was horrible. I--I was having a flash back or--or something. Back to that-that day. Only it was worse...much, much worse," she said, choking on tears. She felt arms go around her. This time they were Severus' that time.
"It's okay, nothing's going to happen," he said, getting up. Hermione looked around. Somehow, she had come to be on the ground. Remus was still kneeling next to her. The other professors were looking on with great concern.
"I can't believe I fell asleep during a faculty meeting. But...it was just so..." she put her head in her hands. Remus looked at her. His eyes moved to her right arm. To the scar she had received the day she had fought Voldemort. The one Lucius had given her. He frowned. It was bleeding. Bleeding. Wounds don't bleed when it's four months old. He shook his head and decided not to alert Hermione just yet. She might not be able to handle it.
"It's alright Hermione," he said again. "It's all over now..."
Little did he know that it wasn't over yet. It had only just begun.
A/N!!!: Eeeppp! Hope that was good. Sorry if it seemed a little rushed. It was only the prologue. To get you into the story and all. Everything really begin in the next chappie. Oh, and just so you know. Thought whole thing that was after the funeral....that was her dream/flash back. Just, I have NO clue how to make italics on this site. I'm too much of an idiot. Well, R/R! Next chapter's coming soon! Oh, and if I made any mistakes someone please tell me..
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Angst
A/N!: Eeep! I totally just got this idea today and HAD to write it. All these little things started flitting through me head and I wrote them down on paper while my aunt and uncle were over (ya. I'm not a very good host.) Anywayz.. I'm hoping to make this pretty long and already have tons of ideas and a story plot.
Please R/R and I will luv you for it!
*Prologue: Bloody Nightmare.*
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." the sermon seemed to go on forever. Hermione sat in the front row. Hands in clenched in her lap, she looked around nervously. Someone else had stepped up to the podium. A head of silver-blonde caught her eye.
"The war against Voldemort took its toll on us. Many gave up their lives to help free us from."
Hermione stopped listening and glanced around the crowd again. The many familiar faces were now filled with sorrow and mourning. Most were crying. But Hermione still couldn't help but feel paranoid.
Quite worrying! A voice told her. There's no one here but your friends. Remember: He's dead. You killed him. You're safe. Everyone's safe now...
That reassuring thought calmed her a bit. Though little. She returned back to the reality when she heard her named mentioned. She didn't remember volunteering to speak.
"We all owe greatest thanks to our beloved Miss Granger," the speaker was Dumbledore this time. Hermione felt herself freeze. All faces were turned to her, many we smiling. She heard clapping coming from somewhere. Everything seemed to be so distant. She felt a hand lightly pat her shoulder.
"It's alright Miss Granger, you've done a good job," he said.
She looked up at him and smiled. She was still getting used to the fact that he was being nice to her. It seemed everyone was. But he had changed so much since the fall of the Dark Lord. Almost as if a major burden had been lifted from him and he had started over with a new life.
"Thank you, Severus. But really I don't deserve all this praise," she said, motioning to the dying applause.
"Nonsense," he said, placing his hand back in his lap and standing up. Hermione looked around. Many people were standing along with him and a slow trickle of black was making its way towards the row of caskets. She got up slowly and grabbed the bundle of flowers next to her. Making her way toward the one casket that didn't have a swarm of people around it. It only had one other visitor. She looked down at the gold lettering.
Lucius Malfoy 1957-2001
He was one of the few Death Eaters whose body was found intact. She turned to the man standing beside her. He was staring down at the casket with a look of dread on his face.
"Your speech was beautiful Mal.." she corrected herself, "Draco.."
"I..I just wonder what it would have been like to grow up in a loving family. What would it had been like if he hadn't been a..a Death Eater," he said, not looking at her for fear of what she would see. He looked around finally as if he didn't belong there.
"It's alright, Draco. Everything is going to be okay," someone had come up behind them and planted their hand on top of his.
"I hope so, Gin," he said, looking back at her. Hermione felt oddly out of place.
Ginny leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed profusely.
"I..I think I should be going know," he said, still red. Ginny shrugged and, after giving Hermione a big hug, turned to leave also.
Hermione slowly made her way to the other casket she wanted to visit. She looked down at it sadly, holding back tears. As she set the flowers down a voice came from behind her.
"It's so sad isn't it?" it said. She looked down at the tiny writing in front of her again. But this time it wasn't stating Lucius' death but someone else's.
Arthur & Molly Weasley May God rest their souls. 1954-2001
She gulped. Ron had taken it the worst. He had refused to speak for weeks. And now spoke every once and a while, only to answer or ask questions.
"But professor," Hermione said, turning around, "it shouldn't have been them; it should've been me,"
"I know you have your doubts, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes twinkling down at her, "but try to be happy about what their death brought, they died to save you. To save everyone,"
She looked down forlornly, letting a tear fall down on the name 'Weasley'.
"Yes, professor,"
"Oh, and I've been meaning to talk to you, Miss Granger...." he said slowly.
"What about? She asked, curiously.
"About you becoming a professor. We need someone to fill for Defense Against the Dark Arts and you seem to be very qualified for the job," he said lightly. Hermione thought for a moment. She didn't have anything else. She didn't even have a home now..
"I..I'd love to professor," he held up a hand to stop her.
"Please, if we are going to be colleagues, call me Albus,"
"All right..Albus," it seemed awkward to call him that.
"I've also been in contact with Remus. Trying to convince him to come back and teach. We need a Transfiguration teacher since.." his voice trailed off and a look of grief replaced the twinkle in his eyes. It was obviously still hard for him to talk about Minerva's death.
"Has he said yes yet?" she asked, steering off the topic of their former teacher and friend.
"Not yet, but I think he's starting to lean towards it," he said, smiling a little. "Hopefully, everything will be back to normal," as normal as it ever was.
"I...I hope so professor,"
*****
The cold was intense. Probably more than it had been for the past couple weeks. Three dark weeks. That's when it had all really started. The plague of Death Eaters had approach the one stronghold of the wizard community. Hogwarts.
With it being four years since she had left Hogwarts, Hermione had not been there at the time. She sat at her desk by her window looking out at the gray sky. Oh, how things had began going down hill for her and everyone. Voldemort had gained an enormous amount of power over the past year. She looked down at the desk. Tears clouded her vision. Everything had gotten so damn complicated.
She heard a faint tapping on the window and looked up again. There was a small owl outside of it. She opened the latch to let it in. It hooted softly, leaving a letter in front of her before flying through the window again. It wasn't too thick and the writing looked very hurried but none-the- less in Dumbledore's hand. Curiously, she broke the seal and pulled out a tiny letter. The writing on this also seemed to be rushed. He eyes flicked over it, trying to take in the words.
Dear Miss Granger,
You are to operate to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry immediately after reading this. All other ways of communicating have been shut off. Even by ways of the Order. Please, come prepared for the worst for it is finally happened. I will not need to explain any further. All aid is needed.
-Albus Dumbledore Order of the Phoenix.
Hermione gasped, dropping the letter in to her lap. Now. It was all going to take place now. She could just sense what was happening. She had to get there as soon as possible. She ran to her wardrobe and threw on her scarlet robes. On the chest was a golden crest of a phoenix. Over a year ago she had known the dangers of joining the Order. But it didn't matter. What use were all her brains if she wasn't able to use them? After making sure she had her wand, Hermione stared at her room. It may be her last time she would see it. She ran over to her dresser and threw open her drawer trying to hurry. Inside it laid a few personal belongings. On top of a pair of socks lay a small picture. She looked at the two dentists smiling, holding their 18-year-old daughter. Just graduated from Hogwarts. It had been the last time she had seen them. She remembered returning home that day from the grocer. She had stopped dead in her tracks, dropping her bags; a loaf of bread rolling down the street. Her house was dancing in flames. She looked around her. The whole block was incinerated. She ran to the gathering pile of ashes, tears rolling down to her robes.
"Mother! Father!" she had gasped. Ignoring the flames she ran into the house. Towards her parents bedroom. She let out a cry, seeing them strewn out on the floor. A puddle of blood. Flames threatening to engulf them. Hermione ran to their bodies. There was something faint on their forehead. She tried to make it out. The Dark Mark.
"No!" she cried..
Hermione pried herself from the memory, dropped the picture into her pocket, and Apparated.
Suddenly, Hermione found herself in front of Hogwarts. Students and teacher were running everywhere. People were screaming, crying. There were numerous curses and spells being shouted but Hermione couldn't tell whom they were from. Flames caught her eyes again. Tapestries were on fire. She saw many she knew.and some she didn't. Someone ran up to her, grabbing her arm.
"Hermione! Come on, we have to hurry....they're everywhere.." it was Harry. He was wearing deep red robes just like hers. But he was also drenched in blood. A large gash on his shoulder. Hermione looked at him.
"Harry, what on earth happened to you?" she asked, following him.
"That doesn't matter.... Come on!" Hermione heard a scream come from somewhere behind her. She turned around, afraid of what she'd see. She knew who it was..
"Ginny!"
Ginny was cornered. Two Death Eaters were approaching her. Hermione saw someone run over there. To join the Death Eaters or to save Ginny she wasn't sure.
"Harry, we have to go help her!" she said prying from his grasp.
"It's alright, Malfoy's got her," he said calmly.
"What?! Are you crazy!" she screeched.
"He's switched sides,"
"Are you sure?" she asked turning back around to see Draco run in front of Ginny, his wand pointed at the Death Eaters. He yelled something and red light erupted from his wand, killing both of them. He smiled and turned back to Ginny to help her up.
"But, why did he switch?" Hermione asked, stopping to throw a curse at an approaching Death Eater.
"I think it was because of Gin," Harry said, pointing at them. Hermione didn't have time to register what he had said. "Come on, do something.. anything,"
"Alright I.."
She screamed. Something large hit her arm. Piercing white light. She looked around for the curse's owner. It was Lucius.
"You silly Mudblood.." he raised his wand. Hermione brought hers to meets his. Harry wasn't with her anymore. Lucius acted first. Hermione was thrown back against a wall. He had hit her arm again. He was just going to toy with her..before killing.
Hermione saw something in front of her. Red. She looked up into the faces of Arthur and Molly Weasley. They were trying to help her up. Arthur turned to Lucius. But it was too late. A flash of green light engulfed the two of them and they collapsed to the ground.
"No!" Hermione screamed. Lucius stood over them.
"Your dead, Weasley," he said smiling. He turned back to Hermione. She fumbled for her wand. Another green light flashed and this time Lucius toppled to the floor. Someone stood next to him, looking down at his body. Hermione gasped.
"And now you're dead..father,"
It was Draco. Ginny was at his side clutching his arm. She stared down at her parents in shock before giving out a small whimper and burying her face into Draco's shoulder. He rubbed her back with one hand and extended the other to Hermione.
"Come on, get up. It's filthy down there, you can barely see you under all that rubbish," Hermione still wasn't about believe what she was seeing. Malfoy..being nice..to her. And comforting Ginny. It was all too much. She grabbed his hand anyway and he pulled her up off the ground.
"We wouldn't want you dying on us now would we, Granger?" he said with an awkward smile before turning around to do more fighting. Ginny followed him, glancing once more at her dead parents.
Hermione started running to the next room, which happened to the great hall. Someone stepped in front of her blocking her way. She squinted to see who it was and barely made out a face behind the mask.
Wormtail...
He extended a glittering hand at her. It seemed to be shacking. Hermione extended her wand at him. He didn't seem to be armed.
"Accio!" he said. Hermione stared in shock as her wand flew to his metal hand. But how did he do it?
He smirked, taking her wand in both of his hands and snapping it in half. Hermione's mouth fell open. That had been her only wand for the past ten years. And now it was gone. Right in the middle of battle. She was unarmed.
She looked around frantically. What was she going to do? She saw a body laying feet away from her. Still clutching its wand. She quickly ran over to it and paused.
Professor McGonagall.
Taking a deep breath Hermione picked up her wand and turned back to Wormtail. He was still sneering at her.
"Your little friend seems to be having fun.." he said to her. Hermione gave him a puzzled look. She glanced over his shoulder. She saw Harry. Someone was advancing on him. She struggled for breath...Voldemort.
"Harry!" she cried out. He looked in her direction, still backing up. He tripped and fell to the ground. Voldemort was laughing, getting closer to him by the second. She clapped her hand over her mouth and started running in his direction. Wormtail caught her.
"Let me go!" she yelled, drawing Minerva's wand and pointing it at him.
"Conjunctive!" blue light shot out of her wand and hit him in the face. His eyes went blank.
"My..my eyes! I can't see!" he squeaked. He swiveled his head around blindly stretching his hands out in front of him.
"You witch!"
"That's right. I'm not a Mudblood, I'm a witch.." she pushed him aside and ran to the other room. Harry was backed up in a corner. His wand was on the ground in front of him. Too far to reach.
"Ah..and this is how the famous Harry Potter meets his end. Your friends can't help you now. Neither can your mother.." Voldemort was looking down at Harry, an evil glint in his eyes. Harry was trying to buy time.
"You'll never beat us, Voldemort. Even if you kill me, what good will it do? They'll still be after you. And good will get you in the end," he said squinting his eyes. Hermione couldn't take it any more. She ran as fast as she could and came to a stop. Right between Harry and Voldemort. She heard Harry gasp.
"Hermione no!" he hissed, "Get out of here now!" She looked back at him. His eyes were pleading.
"No Harry, you've been through too much. I won't let it happen again. I won't let him hurt you,"
"Hermione.."
"NO!"
She turned back to Voldemort. He had a slightly amused look on his face.
She had to do this. For Harry. For Ron. Her parents. The Weasleys. For wizards everywhere.
She pulled her wand out in front her, shaking.
"And now you die, Voldemort. A long awaited death," she said softly, but with power.
"A Mudblood. A Mudblood killing me? The most powerful wizard in the world?" he was laughing. A high pitched laughter that rang deep into her eardrums and made her want to curl up in some corner and die.
She kept her wand steady. She had to do this.... Hermione mustered up all her strength and training. Focusing everything into the tip of her wand.
"Avada Kedevra!" she yelled. Green painful light emerged from her wand. Shooting out at Voldemort, engulfing him in the glow. The light was sucked into him and he still stood there. Pleasure dancing in his eyes. Hermione back up, almost running into Harry.
"No..." she gasped. It didn't work....
Voldemort smiled with malice. Suddenly, he too gave a shocked expression. His hands went to his chest. Light breaking through his scaly skin. He let out a penetrating scream. Hermione threw her arms over her face just as an explosion of green ran through the castle. The whole place seemed to shake. She could almost hear the walls cracking and tumbling. A gust of wind with the power of a hurricane ran through the room almost knocking her to the ground.
And suddenly...it was over.
She looked around. Everything was in ruins. The walls were still up but there was furniture and paintings scattered around the room. Doors were ripped off their hinges. Some people were standing, others were lying dead under all the debris.
Hermione looked in front of her where Voldemort had been standing. He wasn't there. Instead, a small pile of ashes lay at her feet, red smoke pouring from them.
Ashes. Something wasn't registering in Hermione brain. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....
Everything fell silent. The whole world seemed to be holding its breath. Was it....over? All the remaining Death Eaters had stopped and were staring opened mouth at the scene in front of them.
Hermione looked down at the ground in front of her. Not realizing how hard she was breathing. She clutched her wand in her hand. Her face was blank.
"Hermione...what was that?" Harry asked. Hermione slowly turned to him.
"I'm... I'm not sure..." she heard a voice and turned back around. The Death Eater were leering at her.
"Well find you Granger. We won't stop until you dead..." one of them said slowly. Hermione didn't respond. Suddenly, the Death Eaters vanished. Disapparated.
It had all happened moths ago. The reality ended there.... but this kept going.
Hermione found herself surrounded by dark figures. Looming over her. Hissing at her. She shrieked and backed up but they were closing in.
"Well find you..."
"You'll never be safe. Not even at Hogwarts... you'll pay..."
Tears started flowing from her.
"No, please don't hurt me..." she cried out. They didn't leave.
"Hermione..." they were getting closer. "Hermione..."
"No! Leave me alone!" she screamed in anguish.
"HERMIONE!" she felt hands on her shoulders. Someone was shaking her. She opened her eyes. The figures were gone. Replaced by two sets of eyes. Her vision started to clear. But she was still crying.
Honey-colored eyes looked down at her concerned, then shifted their gaze back to the black pair.
"What do you think happened to her, Severus?" he said. Severus looked back at him.
"I'm...not sure. It must've been a nightmare..."
Hermione sat up, sobbing. A pair of hands were on hers.
"Hermione, it's okay. You fell asleep. It was only a nightmare...that's all," he said.
"No Remus...it--it was more than that. It was horrible. I--I was having a flash back or--or something. Back to that-that day. Only it was worse...much, much worse," she said, choking on tears. She felt arms go around her. This time they were Severus' that time.
"It's okay, nothing's going to happen," he said, getting up. Hermione looked around. Somehow, she had come to be on the ground. Remus was still kneeling next to her. The other professors were looking on with great concern.
"I can't believe I fell asleep during a faculty meeting. But...it was just so..." she put her head in her hands. Remus looked at her. His eyes moved to her right arm. To the scar she had received the day she had fought Voldemort. The one Lucius had given her. He frowned. It was bleeding. Bleeding. Wounds don't bleed when it's four months old. He shook his head and decided not to alert Hermione just yet. She might not be able to handle it.
"It's alright Hermione," he said again. "It's all over now..."
Little did he know that it wasn't over yet. It had only just begun.
A/N!!!: Eeeppp! Hope that was good. Sorry if it seemed a little rushed. It was only the prologue. To get you into the story and all. Everything really begin in the next chappie. Oh, and just so you know. Thought whole thing that was after the funeral....that was her dream/flash back. Just, I have NO clue how to make italics on this site. I'm too much of an idiot. Well, R/R! Next chapter's coming soon! Oh, and if I made any mistakes someone please tell me..
