'Hermione?'
Ginny's whisper cut through the darkness, waking the sleeping girl opposite her.
'What . . . what is it?'
The fear in Ginny's voice communicated itself loud and clear to Hermione as she struggled to sit up.
'There's a snake on the floor!'
With a small cry, Hermione lit her wand, scuttling up in bed so as to be as far from the floor as possible. Sure enough, slithering towards her bed, was a long green snake, with eyes that burned red. There was a 'whoomph', and suddenly the snake was gone, replaced by a tall dark figure, who gazed on the terrified girls impassively.
Ginny gave a short shriek as she realised who it was, waking the other girls. They all began to shout, silencing as Voldemort's cold gaze swept over them, returning to rest on Hermione. She shrank back against the headboard, as if the old wood could hide her in some way from the truth that was about to be told.
'Hermione.'
The single word dropped from his tongue like ice, no warmth in the way he addressed his daughter. A quavering voice cut through the silence.
'You leave her alone, you hear me? She wants nothing to do with you!'
Hermione could have cried.
No, Ginny, no, she thought. Don't try and help me. He'll kill you.
The Dark Lord turned and glared at the brave girl, who stood in front of her friends, her wand outstretched but trembling. He raised his own wand, and hers went flying from her grip, clattering to the floor.
Hermione felt more than saw his lips begin to form the Cruciatus, and began to sob in terror, drawing his attention back onto her.
'Please, don't hurt her, don't hurt any of them, please . . .'
He regarded her impassively, turning back to the trembling redhead with the words,
'If you are to be my heir, you must learn to harden your heart, my daughter.'
A gasp ran around the room, as seven sets of astonished eyes turned to look at Hermione. Only Ginny's eyes remained on Voldemort, and only she saw him raise his wand.
There was a hammering on the door, and the knob began to turn. Voldemort threw a charm at the ancient wood, causing whoever was turning the knob to leap back in pain and alarm. The hammering began again, voices calling through the door.
'Hermione? Hermione, are you all right?'
The sound of Harry's voice made her sob harder, knowing that Voldemort would turn on him the moment he broke through the door. Voldemort smiled, seeing the distress on every face around him. His wand came up again, and this time there was nothing to distract him.
Ginny dropped to the floor with a scream, writhing in agony. Hermione cried out, as her father turned on her friends. He singled out Lavender, and gestured to her to come forwards. The hammering intensified, Ron's voice joining Harry's.
'Ginny!'
There were cries for someone to fetch Dumbledore, and Madame Pomfrey. It sounded as if the entire Gryffindor Wing had roused and were ready to protect their friends. Lavender stepped forward, mesmerised by the Dark Lord's presence. With a cruel smile, he raised his wand a second time.
Hermione threw herself off the bed and into the path of the curse. Her screams joined Ginny's as she, too, dropped to the carpet. Voldemort seemed taken aback, surprised that she would have the strength of will to deny him like this. He stared at her writhing form, feeling an alien emotion creep into him. Guilt? Why should he feel guilt? Slowly it dawned on him. Because he had hurt his own daughter. She was in pain because of him. Unsettled, unsure of himself, he hurried to the window, leaping out and transforming his shape into that of an owl.
As the girls edged forwards to gather around the softly moaning shapes, the door finally burst open, and Dumbledore, Snape, Harry, and Ron all piled in. Snape moved straight to the window, knowing, even as he did so, the dark shape was out of range. Dumbledore removed the curses, allowing the girls reprieve from the agonising burning that permeated their being. As Ron and Harry moved to hold them in their arms, Madame Pomfrey arrived, selecting them to carry the girls up to the Hospital Wing.
Dumbledore reassured those remaining that the action was over for the evening, setting memory charms on the girls in the dormitory before allowing them to drift off to sleep again. As they left, he and Snape exchanged a glance, scanning the floor and searching dark corners before finally leaving. Under the cover of darkness, a rat slipped out from behind the glowing embers of the fire, and watched them leave, eyes too cold and calculating to be rodent.
*~*~*
Hermione rolled over and opened her eyes, finding herself gazing into Harry's concerned face.
'I seem to be spending a lot of time in here,' she remarked, noting her place in the Hospital Wing.
Over his shoulder, she could see Ron talking with Ginny, who was sat up in the next bed along the row. The younger girl was pale, but animated, obviously recounting events of the previous night. She felt Hermione's eyes on her, and smiled, drawing a guilty smile from her friend. Harry relaxed a little.
'How do you feel?' he asked.
Hermione grimaced, her body felt like it had been put through a mangle. Twice.
'Fine,' she managed, pulling herself up to a sitting position. 'How are the others?'
'They're okay,' Harry told her. 'A little shocked, but on the whole, still in one piece. They've told Dumbledore what happened, so you don't have to worry about that.'
A memory flashed in front of Hermione's eyes.
'Lavender . . .'
Harry shushed her, stroking his thumbs over her knuckles.
'She's fine. You got there in time.'
He pressed his forehead against hers, looking deep into her eyes.
'That was a very brave thing you did, 'Mione. I don't think I could have done it.'
Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes.
'Oh, Harry, of course, you could have. I wasn't brave, just stupid. I thought I could stop him -'
'You did.'
A voice cut into the silence. Looking up, they saw Dumbledore standing at the foot of the bed.
'Good morning, Hermione. I trust you're not feeling as terrible as you did last night?'
Hermione blinked.
'Why, how was I feeling last night?'
Bright blue eyes twinkled in an aged cheerful face.
'I believe your exact words were, 'Oh, God, how many times did I throw myself under that bus'. Apart from that, you were quite incomprehensible for most of the evening. I hope you are somewhat recovered?'
She blushed, looking down at her hands, still entwined with Harry's. He gave them a reassuring squeeze, smiling down at her with openly amused eyes.
'Yes, well. I'm feeling much better, thank you, Professor.'
Dumbledore smiled and nodded, coming around to sit on the bed.
'Good. As I was saying, with your remarkably well timed dive into the Cruciatus, you did, in fact, stop Voldemort. From what I can gather, he was so mortified at having hurt you, he leapt out of the window and flew off.'
The two students frowned.
'Why would he do that?' Harry asked, as Hermione laid her head on his shoulder. She felt so sleepy, she allowed herself to lull as Dumbledore continued.
'I believe it is because Hermione is the only thing he has ever truly loved, Harry. She is his daughter, he has loved her since the day she was born. The only problem is, he doesn't know how to approach her without resorting to his scare tactics.'
Dumbledore gazed calmly at Hermione, who gave him a drowsy smile.
'It is his unfamiliarity with his emotions that may help us to defeat him. My guess is that he is now feeling guilt over your injuries, and will soon return to ascertain your health. For now, that will be his only concern.'
He stood, having noticed a stern looking Madame Pomfrey advancing down the aisle towards him. She was glaring at him, her arms already beginning the actions that spelled out just how angry she was.
'You must excuse me, I'm afraid. The wicked medi-witch of the west is about to throw me out for worrying her patients.'
Amid the quiet giggles of all four students, Albus Dumbledore, HeadMaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was thrown out of the Hospital Wing by an irate Madame Poppy Pomfrey, protesting all the way.
*~*~*
Defence Against the Dark Arts was doubled in the aftermath of the attack, leaving the students in no doubt that they were in danger. Word had spread of Hermione's parentage, and now she was looked upon by many as an enemy. The Slytherins, however, seemed to revere her, protecting the frightened girl from the threats directed at her by others of the school. Draco Malfoy had even gone so far as to offer his services as her bodyguard.
Now that had gone down well in the Gryffindor common room.
'He didn't!'
Parvati had shrieked with laughter, rolling around in front of the fire in hysterics. Even Nearly Headless Nick had seen the funny side, his ghostly guffaws echoing through the tower.
Through all this, Harry and Hermione's relationship continued to strengthen, the two of them growing closer each day. They fitted so well together, they could finish each other's sentences, or say exactly the same thing simultaneously. They watched Ron and Parvati's relationship grow as well, those two quite happy to amble through life as if they'd already seen the joke.
And so, as Easter approached, and there had been no sign of Voldemort, some semblance of normality began to return to Hogwarts. Students went home, or stayed behind for the holidays, and no one was any the wiser, that in the shadows of the Forbidden Forest, someone was waiting to make his move.
Ginny's whisper cut through the darkness, waking the sleeping girl opposite her.
'What . . . what is it?'
The fear in Ginny's voice communicated itself loud and clear to Hermione as she struggled to sit up.
'There's a snake on the floor!'
With a small cry, Hermione lit her wand, scuttling up in bed so as to be as far from the floor as possible. Sure enough, slithering towards her bed, was a long green snake, with eyes that burned red. There was a 'whoomph', and suddenly the snake was gone, replaced by a tall dark figure, who gazed on the terrified girls impassively.
Ginny gave a short shriek as she realised who it was, waking the other girls. They all began to shout, silencing as Voldemort's cold gaze swept over them, returning to rest on Hermione. She shrank back against the headboard, as if the old wood could hide her in some way from the truth that was about to be told.
'Hermione.'
The single word dropped from his tongue like ice, no warmth in the way he addressed his daughter. A quavering voice cut through the silence.
'You leave her alone, you hear me? She wants nothing to do with you!'
Hermione could have cried.
No, Ginny, no, she thought. Don't try and help me. He'll kill you.
The Dark Lord turned and glared at the brave girl, who stood in front of her friends, her wand outstretched but trembling. He raised his own wand, and hers went flying from her grip, clattering to the floor.
Hermione felt more than saw his lips begin to form the Cruciatus, and began to sob in terror, drawing his attention back onto her.
'Please, don't hurt her, don't hurt any of them, please . . .'
He regarded her impassively, turning back to the trembling redhead with the words,
'If you are to be my heir, you must learn to harden your heart, my daughter.'
A gasp ran around the room, as seven sets of astonished eyes turned to look at Hermione. Only Ginny's eyes remained on Voldemort, and only she saw him raise his wand.
There was a hammering on the door, and the knob began to turn. Voldemort threw a charm at the ancient wood, causing whoever was turning the knob to leap back in pain and alarm. The hammering began again, voices calling through the door.
'Hermione? Hermione, are you all right?'
The sound of Harry's voice made her sob harder, knowing that Voldemort would turn on him the moment he broke through the door. Voldemort smiled, seeing the distress on every face around him. His wand came up again, and this time there was nothing to distract him.
Ginny dropped to the floor with a scream, writhing in agony. Hermione cried out, as her father turned on her friends. He singled out Lavender, and gestured to her to come forwards. The hammering intensified, Ron's voice joining Harry's.
'Ginny!'
There were cries for someone to fetch Dumbledore, and Madame Pomfrey. It sounded as if the entire Gryffindor Wing had roused and were ready to protect their friends. Lavender stepped forward, mesmerised by the Dark Lord's presence. With a cruel smile, he raised his wand a second time.
Hermione threw herself off the bed and into the path of the curse. Her screams joined Ginny's as she, too, dropped to the carpet. Voldemort seemed taken aback, surprised that she would have the strength of will to deny him like this. He stared at her writhing form, feeling an alien emotion creep into him. Guilt? Why should he feel guilt? Slowly it dawned on him. Because he had hurt his own daughter. She was in pain because of him. Unsettled, unsure of himself, he hurried to the window, leaping out and transforming his shape into that of an owl.
As the girls edged forwards to gather around the softly moaning shapes, the door finally burst open, and Dumbledore, Snape, Harry, and Ron all piled in. Snape moved straight to the window, knowing, even as he did so, the dark shape was out of range. Dumbledore removed the curses, allowing the girls reprieve from the agonising burning that permeated their being. As Ron and Harry moved to hold them in their arms, Madame Pomfrey arrived, selecting them to carry the girls up to the Hospital Wing.
Dumbledore reassured those remaining that the action was over for the evening, setting memory charms on the girls in the dormitory before allowing them to drift off to sleep again. As they left, he and Snape exchanged a glance, scanning the floor and searching dark corners before finally leaving. Under the cover of darkness, a rat slipped out from behind the glowing embers of the fire, and watched them leave, eyes too cold and calculating to be rodent.
*~*~*
Hermione rolled over and opened her eyes, finding herself gazing into Harry's concerned face.
'I seem to be spending a lot of time in here,' she remarked, noting her place in the Hospital Wing.
Over his shoulder, she could see Ron talking with Ginny, who was sat up in the next bed along the row. The younger girl was pale, but animated, obviously recounting events of the previous night. She felt Hermione's eyes on her, and smiled, drawing a guilty smile from her friend. Harry relaxed a little.
'How do you feel?' he asked.
Hermione grimaced, her body felt like it had been put through a mangle. Twice.
'Fine,' she managed, pulling herself up to a sitting position. 'How are the others?'
'They're okay,' Harry told her. 'A little shocked, but on the whole, still in one piece. They've told Dumbledore what happened, so you don't have to worry about that.'
A memory flashed in front of Hermione's eyes.
'Lavender . . .'
Harry shushed her, stroking his thumbs over her knuckles.
'She's fine. You got there in time.'
He pressed his forehead against hers, looking deep into her eyes.
'That was a very brave thing you did, 'Mione. I don't think I could have done it.'
Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes.
'Oh, Harry, of course, you could have. I wasn't brave, just stupid. I thought I could stop him -'
'You did.'
A voice cut into the silence. Looking up, they saw Dumbledore standing at the foot of the bed.
'Good morning, Hermione. I trust you're not feeling as terrible as you did last night?'
Hermione blinked.
'Why, how was I feeling last night?'
Bright blue eyes twinkled in an aged cheerful face.
'I believe your exact words were, 'Oh, God, how many times did I throw myself under that bus'. Apart from that, you were quite incomprehensible for most of the evening. I hope you are somewhat recovered?'
She blushed, looking down at her hands, still entwined with Harry's. He gave them a reassuring squeeze, smiling down at her with openly amused eyes.
'Yes, well. I'm feeling much better, thank you, Professor.'
Dumbledore smiled and nodded, coming around to sit on the bed.
'Good. As I was saying, with your remarkably well timed dive into the Cruciatus, you did, in fact, stop Voldemort. From what I can gather, he was so mortified at having hurt you, he leapt out of the window and flew off.'
The two students frowned.
'Why would he do that?' Harry asked, as Hermione laid her head on his shoulder. She felt so sleepy, she allowed herself to lull as Dumbledore continued.
'I believe it is because Hermione is the only thing he has ever truly loved, Harry. She is his daughter, he has loved her since the day she was born. The only problem is, he doesn't know how to approach her without resorting to his scare tactics.'
Dumbledore gazed calmly at Hermione, who gave him a drowsy smile.
'It is his unfamiliarity with his emotions that may help us to defeat him. My guess is that he is now feeling guilt over your injuries, and will soon return to ascertain your health. For now, that will be his only concern.'
He stood, having noticed a stern looking Madame Pomfrey advancing down the aisle towards him. She was glaring at him, her arms already beginning the actions that spelled out just how angry she was.
'You must excuse me, I'm afraid. The wicked medi-witch of the west is about to throw me out for worrying her patients.'
Amid the quiet giggles of all four students, Albus Dumbledore, HeadMaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was thrown out of the Hospital Wing by an irate Madame Poppy Pomfrey, protesting all the way.
*~*~*
Defence Against the Dark Arts was doubled in the aftermath of the attack, leaving the students in no doubt that they were in danger. Word had spread of Hermione's parentage, and now she was looked upon by many as an enemy. The Slytherins, however, seemed to revere her, protecting the frightened girl from the threats directed at her by others of the school. Draco Malfoy had even gone so far as to offer his services as her bodyguard.
Now that had gone down well in the Gryffindor common room.
'He didn't!'
Parvati had shrieked with laughter, rolling around in front of the fire in hysterics. Even Nearly Headless Nick had seen the funny side, his ghostly guffaws echoing through the tower.
Through all this, Harry and Hermione's relationship continued to strengthen, the two of them growing closer each day. They fitted so well together, they could finish each other's sentences, or say exactly the same thing simultaneously. They watched Ron and Parvati's relationship grow as well, those two quite happy to amble through life as if they'd already seen the joke.
And so, as Easter approached, and there had been no sign of Voldemort, some semblance of normality began to return to Hogwarts. Students went home, or stayed behind for the holidays, and no one was any the wiser, that in the shadows of the Forbidden Forest, someone was waiting to make his move.
