Chapter 2: The out skirts of Noughtingham
2 months later


Damp chilly drafts of air wafted through the floor boards as Hermione Granger huddled in the darkness, her back pressed against the hard cold dirt as she hid beneath the floor boards of her home. She was wet cold and afraid as the shadows above searched in vain for the missing witch, Hermione. One of the shadows she could tell was a Dementor, by the way it glided, the sick sloshing sound of dead flesh as it walked, and how the air grew ten times as cold when it passed, causing her almost to slip into unconsciousness. Hermione bit down on her bottom lip till she tasted the familiar salty flavor of blood at the tip of her tongue, a desperate attempt to keep her teeth from chattering. The whole of her body was shivering as the dampness of her black cloak clung to her body and delved for her bones, sending chilly gushes of shivers up her spine.

There's no sign of her blast it! cried a human voice, the person was obviously male, and was obviously very angry. Hermione knew exactly who the owner of the voice happened to be, and a new kind of shiver crept through her body, one of pure hatred. Draco Malfoy, her worst enemy, stood just above her, his intent crystal clear. He meant to kill her, and to destroy the cause she worked so hard to obtain these last ten, terrible years. Hermione wasn't sure how he found out it 'twas her, or how he knew where to find her, but he was here now and he was set on killing her. That much she was sure of.

Did you search the attic? Malfoy asked another figure in black, the creature's response was low and hiss like, Hermione strained to hear through her shivers but she caught nothing. The creature was probably a Balik, a twisted lizard like creature with sharp claws and venomous teeth, who could walk on two legs strangely enough. Malfoy sighed unhappily, shifting his feet uncertainly, My father is not going to be pleased, he muttered under his breath, and Hermione was sure she was the only one who heard it, she mental noted his secrecy.

Lets go then, we'll watch the road till she returns, Malfoy said, this time loud enough so his three minions could hear. Hermione held her breath as the shadows above moved and swayed until the last of the footsteps faded and she heard a door slam.

She made no effort to move for long moments, but lay beneath the floor boards of her home shivering from fear and cold, her thin face pale and stretched. Then at last Hermione reached up with her trembling hands and pushed on the floor boards above, she shifted them aside and crawled out from the damp foundation of her home. Her short straight hair framed her thin fair face in damp tendrils, her small body quivered beneath the worn material of her black robe, from one pocket protruded her wand and at her hip she carried a crudely made sword. Her appearance was deceptive, small and frail she seemed, but in reality she was the leader of a struggling group of rebels.

Glancing around she surveyed her ruined home, tables were turned, chairs destroyed and glass broken, littering the floor like diamonds as they reflected the full moon light. Desks were emptied and many of her most precious possessions were broken, but none of that mattered now. Hermione sighed and leaned back against one gray wall, drawing her knees to her chest, desperate for warmth.

Hermione was unsure of how Malfoy had found her, her house was hidden deep within a forgotten forest set on the middle of island atop a large lake, no one knew its exact location save her and one other person. Neville Longbottom was her right hand man, her friend and her trusted assistant. Hermione had a hard time believing that Neville would reveal her location willingly, but anything was possible in days like these.

Slowly, shivering with intense cold, Hermione rose and made her way across the room to her large fire place. She hadn't time when Malfoy and his crones had first arrived to properly hide herself, else wise she would have used her passage way to escape. Sighing she reached into her pocket and drew forth her wand, slowly she tapped the third brick from the right, under her breath she muttered a secret incantation and stood back. Slowly the arch of the fireplace grew towards the ceiling and the stone back retreated to one side.

A black entrance faced Hermione, and she raised her wand and whispered, before stepping forwards into the dark tunnel, her wand giving her a bubble of pure white light.

The entrance closed slowly behind her until she was alone in a dark, low tunnel, the sound of dripping water breaking the silence. Her breath came in white puffs as her already frigid body was met with the new cold of the frozen tunnel. With a deep breath for comfort she began forwards.

To Hermione the tunnel seemed never ending, her eyes were growing steadily heavier, and her frozen legs felt like lead, but she kept on, desperate to reach safety and warn her followers.

Just as Hermione's will power began to deteriorate the light from her wand fell on a small wooden door, barely large enough for her to fit through. she muttered the word barely escaping her chapped , cracking lips.

A swoon of hot warm air enveloped Hermione in a thick warm hug of refreshing heat. The icicles in her hair almost immediately melted and she stood dripping in the door way, swaying slightly where she stood.

Why ermione! what happened? a deep voice exclaimed as the huge form of Hagrid appeared before her, his busy face full of worry beneath his graying black beard. Not waiting for an answer Hagrid drew her stooping form inside, nearly causing her to topple forwards.

The room was high and doomed, a thick layer of earth creating the roof above, the echo of voices resounded off the walls. People, wizards mostly, sat a small desks working over battle strategies and weaponry results, but all silence when they saw their leader in such distress.

This was Hermione's rebellion some fifty people, half witch half wizard. The only hope for the world sat in the large room. Pathetic really.

There were fourteen other doors much like the one she'd just come through, that led to the houses of other, also important wizards. Glancing around the crowded room Hermione saw no sign of Neville, which worried her even more.

You look Hagrid breathed, Come sit by the fire and dry he lead her to the roaring fire at the back of the huge room and seated her in one squishy chair, Hermione making no move to protest. Hagrid drew a chair in front of her and sat with his hands gripping his knees.

Now was' happened? he said looking at her expectantly, beady eyes searching her face. Hermione wetted her cracked lips wearily before speaking. Draco Malfoy, along with at least one Dementor and maybe be a Balik, broke into my house tonight, she said mildly as Hagrid gasped in shock. Looking up to meet the blurry half-giants eyes she said coldly, They know about the rebellion and that I'm the leader, Hagrid. The knew exactly where my house was and knew the password and everything. She paused waiting for some kind of response, but Hagrid had his head down and made no move to speak, eyes closed tightly shut. she said firmly and he raised his head slowly, his eyes filled with sadness and loss of hope. Hermione waited till she was positive he was listening. Hagrid, its time we contacted Harry, its time Harry forgot his past and joined our cause. Its our only hope now. I think Neville might have been captured. We must get Harry!