The Daily Prophet
15th of May, 1978
4 Dead in Death Eater Attack!
A Death Eater attack in Diagon Alley has left 4 dead in the most brazen assault since March. Heavy Auror and Hit-wizard presence did nothing to deter or prevent the mid-day attack by the followers of He-who-must-not-be-named. Despite constant Ministry reassurances that the war is being won, the number of casualties continues to rise. Among the victims were…
The Daily Prophet
2nd September 1979
Terror at King's Cross!
Wizards in full Death Eater regalia and ordinary Citizens under the Imperius Curse attacked at Platform 9 3/4 yesterday. Only the arrival of Headmaster Dumbledore and other professors protected the students on the train. 8 adults were left dead on the platform…
11th of January 1972
Suspected wizard involvement in deaths of Muggles at New Years celebration.
Muggle police have been baffled by the deaths of 15 Muggles in a London Nightclub in the early hours of the 1st of January, but recent investigations by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement have suggested that magic was involved. There is evidence that the Cruciatus Curse was used…
12th of July 1976
Witch murdered in York city centre…
23rd of November 1977
Multiple deaths in Hogsmeade…
1980
Prominent Wizengamot member murdered…
Unexplained deaths in…
5 killed in attack on…
Numerous Muggles dead at…
Aurors killed in the line of duty…
Murder!...
Attack!...
Terror!...
Death Eaters…
Many dead…
The Dark Lord, often referred to as You-Know-Who…
Death!
Dead!...
Dead!...
Dead! Dead! Dead! Dead! Dea…
"Hey, Hermione."
"AHH!"
Hermione almost fell out of her chair in surprise.
Harry smirked at her over-reaction. "Careful Hermione, you don't want to upset Madam Pince."
"Harry! Don't do that!" Hermione whispered angrily, "Merlin's beard, you almost gave me a heart attack."
"Okay, okay." Harry said, joining her whispering.
"What are you even doing here, Harry?"
Harry feigned an insulted look. "Believe it or not, I can use the library independently of you, Hermione," Harry said. Hermione gave him a look which said Oh, please and Harry deflated slightly. "Err, I'm just returning some overdue books. But, how about you? What had you so engrossed that you didn't notice me arriving?"
Hermione hesitated, "err, just some old Daily Prophets. But nevermind that, do you want to do that Transfiguration homework together?"
"Hermione. That's not due for another two weeks."
"So?"
"Oh, would you look at the time, I've got to go."
"Oh, sure. Yeah. Quidditch with the boys, is it, Mr. Champion?" Hermione asked, with a smile.
"Actually, if you must know. I've got a date with Ginny"
"Ooh, where are you going?"
"A private dinner in the kitchens." Harry said, smugly.
"Followed by a trip to the top of the astronomy tower, right?" Hermione wiggled her eyebrows, to which Harry rolled his eyes and started to leave.
"Hey, Harry?" she smirked at him, "You know the charm, right?"
"Ha ha. Yes, mum."
Hermione laughed and waved goodbye to Harry as he left, but the smile dropped from her face as she turned back to the newspapers in front of her.
The Daily Prophet
14th August 1981
Muggleborn witch killed by You-Know-Who.
Portia Shepherd, a popular Muggle-born witch, after graduating Hogwarts just 6 months ago, was found dead today in her family's home. Aurors detected traces of all 3 unforgivables being used on the family of 3. How many more families will the Death Eaters destroy, before they are stopped?...
Yes, thought Hermione. How many indeed? Then she moved the old newspapers aside, to look at the book she had hidden beneath.
Rituals Made Easy! Create Your Own Ritual in less than Seven Minutes!
I'm Ginny Weasley, but you already know that. I'm the toughest, fiercest, most fiery witch in this whole school. So what if I'm only a fifth-year, is that seventh-year Slytherin glaring at me? I'll show him a glare! I'm the daughter of Molly Weasley, and when she throws glares around, the hippogriffs bow to her!
Six older brothers, but don't let that deceive you. That just means I know how to scrap with the best of them. I'm no pampered princess, I grew up with the twins as role-models! I fought against Death Eaters at fifteen and lived!
Quidditch fan, are you? Well, I'm the star Gryffindor chaser? But, I'm no one-trick hippogriff. Chaser, seeker, I can do it all. Hell, I've always wanted to give being a beater a try. I like the look of those bats.
Relationship status? Dating Harry Potter: Boy-Who-Lived, Triwizard champion, Chosen One. How would Ginny Weasley settle for anything less? But don't let the size of his reputation deceive you. We both know that I wear the trousers in this relationship…
"Hey, Ginny."
Ahh!
Harry, who must have just come in from the portrait hole, was standing behind her.
"Harry," said Ginny, rising out of her chair in front of the fireplace. Oh Merlin, that smile. "Are you ready for our date?" Please say 'yes', I can't bear waiting any longer.
"Sure, let me just change out of my school robes and we can go."
"Take your time," Ginny smiled at him. Hurry back!
She sighed, sometimes, it's not so easy being the tough, fierce and fiery witch when Harry Potter is around.
Hermione knew books from the Restricted Section weren't really meant to be taken from the library, but honestly, the Restricted Section is used so rarely anyway, and it's not as if Madam Pince would think that Hermione Granger would be doing anything untoward with a library book anyway! Besides, despite the lofty promise of seven minutes, in reality, Hermione didn't have any idea where to start.
'Rituals are your ticket to permanent magical benefits, no need for potions or charms for owners of this instructional book!'
Sure, thought Hermione, that's great. But, there's just one teensy issue:
'Take care though, all rituals require sacrifices. And this isn't like the sacrifice of missing the next Celestia Warbeck concert. No, ritual sacrifices are permanent. Looks like no more concerts for you at all.'
Hermione was walking slowly back to Gryffindor Tower, not feeling tired, despite the late hour. The small book at the bottom of her book bag was weighing her down. What could I even give up to help Harry? Really, the most dear things to me are my friends. Crookshanks too, but, I don't think Harry would appreciate me sacrificing my pet cat, under the light of the full moon for his sake.
Hermione aborted her journey to her dorm room and turned into the nearest empty classroom. She magicked the dust off one of the desks and sat down, quickly bringing out 'Rituals Made Easy!' again.
'Remember, ritual components are thematically linked. If you want to get clear skin and really show those mean girls in the year above you, you'll have to beg your older cousin for some of her good looks.'
I do love books, I suppose. Hermione considered, but what could me giving up my ability to read even give him? A supernatural memory? Not bad, but hardly something to give Voldermort a run for his money. Hermione leaned back in her chair, now all traces of tiredness gone, and settled in for a long think.
'The better you link concepts in a ritual, the more efficient the transfer of attributes. Better to sacrifice your left hand for your right hand, than to sacrifice your left foot for your nose.'
I want to give my strengths and my advantages to Harry, but how do I do that? How do I give myself to him?
"You remember the charm, right?"
"I've got a date with Ginny"
"Followed by a trip to the top of the astronomy tower, right?"
Hermione wiggled her eyebrows.
Hermione shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Be serious, she told herself, and get back to making a dangerous, untestable ritual.
'Please note that the authors and publishers of this informational book do not accept any legal liability resulting from any magic used from within. All actions taken by the owners of this book are taken at their own risk. Rituals are restricted under some jurisdictions and under some international treaties. Have fun!'
Hermione stayed in the classroom a long while, thinking as the last light of the day vanished from the windows.
Harry was flying. That was great. Harry loved flying. Wait… wasn't he on a date with Ginny? Where did she go? Oh she's flying too, that's nice. They're flying together. Hermione? What are you saying? I can't talk right now. I'm on a date with Ginny. Now where was I? Oh, that's right flying. Don't I normally fly with a broomstick? Where is it? What do you mean I have to wake up, Hermione? I have to find my broo…
"Harry, if you don't wake up in the next five seconds, I'll jinx you, I swear!"
"Gah!" Harry cried, "I'm up, I'm up!" He looked around his dorm room, finding it full of his dormmates still asleep in the darkness. He lowered his voice, "Merlin, Hermione. What are you doing here? What time is it?"
"It's just gone past three."
"Why are you up so early?"
"Actually, I'm just up very late," Hermione said, "can I speak to you in the common room? It's important."
Harry looked at Hermione in the dim light emitting from her wand. "Okay, Hermione. Go on ahead, I'll be right down."
By the time Harry came down, a couple of minutes later, he found Hermione pacing in front of the empty fireplace. The normally welcoming common room was strangely disquieting to Harry, with only the pale moonlight illuminating it from the windows.
"Harry, good. Come and sit down," Hermionely said, anxiety colouring her voice, "I need to talk to you."
"Okay," said Harry slowly, as he sat down in the comfy chair that he liked, "what's this all about?"
Hermione sat down, across from him, but she still appeared upset and she couldn't keep from wringing her hands. "The thing is… well, you see… actually…"
"Hermione," Harry began.
"I'm worried about my parents."
"Are they okay?" Harry asked.
"What? They're fine."
"Then what are you afraid of?"
"Voldemort, obviously."
"What does Voldemort have against a pair of dentists?" Harry asked, confused.
"No, not that they're dentists," Hermione snapped, "that they're Muggles."
"Oh, that makes more sense," said Harry, "but, I think Voldemort has other things to worry about than middle-aged Muggle dental professionals."
"Oh Harry, I don't mean now! I mean in the future," Hermione looked into the empty fireplace. "If we lose," she added in a scared whisper. "And not just them, but all the Muggles. If we lose, it'll be worse than it was at the height of Voldermort's power in 1981."
"Well, I get that, Hermione," Harry replied, "I do, but what are you coming to me for?"
"Because," Hermione said, desperately, "it has to be you, Harry. You're the…" and she glanced around to make sure that the common room really was empty, except for the two of them, "you're the one with a 'power the Dark Lord knows not', Dumbledore can't win against him, only you can! We may joke about it, but you truly are the Chosen One." Hermione's face was terribly serious, as she said this, and Harry's face grew in horror at what she was saying.
"I know what you're saying, Hermione," Harry said, after a moment, "but I really don't think I'm that capable of a wizard. You didn't see Dumbledore and Voldemort fight in the Ministry, but it was really… something else."
"I understand that, Harry, which is why I was up all night," and she reached into her bag on the chair next to her and passed a slim book over to Harry.
"Rituals?" Harry read, looking up at Hermione, "aren't those dangerous and illegal?"
"Not illegal, but against school rules, certainly."
"And dangerous?"
"Err, yes. But, so is fighting Voldemort, so you're no worse off."
"Hmm," Harry flipped through the book randomly, "and you found some… what? Voldemort Vanquishing Ritual?" Harry looked inquiringly at Hermione.
"No," said Hermione, rolling her eyes, "I've invented a new ritual."
Harry raised his eyebrows at her, "aren't those incredibly complicated?"
"Not really?" Hermione shrugged, "subtle and powerful and disastrous if gone wrong, but not something that requires months of calculation. I think that's why this book was in the Restricted Section, so that students don't do something foolish without any forethought."
"Like you want to do," Harry quipped.
"Hey! I've put a lot of thought into this," said Hermione, outraged.
"Okay, okay. Keep your hair on. Tell me about this ritual you've invented, then."
"Hmm?"
"How does it work?"
"Oh," said Hermione, who suddenly could look in any direction except at Harry, "uh, it's a ritual."
"Yes, I think we've covered that," Harry drawled.
"It's a ritual, where, uh…" then Hermione mumbled something too quietly for Harry to hear.
"Sorry? I didn't quite catch that, Hermione."
"Well," said Hermione, who was now blushing quite impressively, "what else can a girl give up to her friend?"
Harry was nonplussed, "her… make-up? What?"
Now Hermione looked almost angry at him, "no, you moron, what can a girl give up for a guy?"
Now it was Harry's turn to blush, "you don't mean…?"
"Yes."
"You mean, you and I?"
"'Me and you', Harry, and yes."
"But, what about Ginny?"
"Her too, obviously."
What?!
"What?!"
"Look Harry, It's very simple. The ritual that I have made is a way of sharing our strength with you. We need you to defeat Voldermort, so we need to give you… a helping hand, an advantage."
Harry was starting to calm down from his initial shock, "and you want to… with me?"
Hermione finally looked back at him again, "It's not about what I want, but what we need, you see?" Don't get me wrong, you're a great guy," she said, kindly " but I've never really seen you that way."
Harry nodded, "and suppose, hypothetically I go along with this, what is the result of this ritual supposed to be?"
Here, Hermione brightened, "Well, because we would be giving ourselves up to you, the symbolism of that means that we can give up our… strength, our… aptitudes, our capabilities to you."
"A power boost?"
Hermione scoffed, "It might be a little more nuanced than that."
"Sure, fine," said Harry, "and you think that Ginny will want to go along with this?"
"I'm sure that if you explained it to her…"
"If I explain? Listen, I've seen her Bat-Bogey-Hex in action. I don't want to get on her wrong side."
"Harry…"
"Fine, fine. If, and that's a big if, I agree, I'll talk to her."
Hermione relaxed at the lack of an outright refusal and pushed the book further into Harry's grip, "read that, and try to keep an open mind. Remember, we need you to be able to beat Voldermort."
Harry grunted, examining the book carefully. Hermione stood up, "I'm going to sleep for a few hours. Will you be okay?"
"Yeah, I guess I've got some studying to do."
"There's one more thing, Harry."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. You'll read about it in there, but basically things sacrificed in rituals can't be taken back."
"You mean, if we do this, you'll be stuck with me forever?" Harry asked.
"Well, not quite. We could still leave you, but there couldn't be anybody else. We'd be sacrificing our chance to love other people romantically and our chance to be… intimate with others."
"And you'd be okay with that?" Harry asked, disbelievingly.
"If it helps stop Voldermort? Of course." Harry had no response to that and looked down at the book in his hands as if it were an unexploded bomb.
"I'll speak with you tomorrow… today… later."
"Yeah, sure Hermione," Harry said without looking up.