Reflection on last chapter: Ron is kind of an idiot. But he's also very sweet.

Thank everyone for your reviews!!

Chapter 14- Her Last Hope

Potions had been especially grueling, but it was the last class of the day, fortunately. Hermione voiced her relief in escaping Snape- as soon as they were out of earshot.

Hermione went over their circumstances again in her mind. It was the end of May, which meant exams were coming up. SDADM had not been particularly active, owing to the virtual absence of Dark Magic within school walls. Although there was that one time they had caught Malfoy practicing advanced curses, forbidden for students. There was no sign that Nova knew the unicorn was gone. He had relaxed around Dumbledore after two months of 'inexplicably' twitchy behavior, but Hermione still caught him eyeing the headmaster from across the room. She had a feeling Dumbledore knew as well.

Noting these things, she concluded that not much was likely to happen between then and the end of the year. But it was more than uncertain. Their adventures in previous years had usually climaxed sometime in June.

The most surprising thing about that Friday afternoon was the lack of homework. Snape had told them to continue the assignment she had finished yesterday. In Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and History of Magic, she had asked for the week's homework in advance, out of boredom- Ron and Harry were gone most of their free hours, at Quidditch practice for their match against Slytherin- and she had it all done, polished, and neatly stowed away. She had been the only one not to get anything in Charms, and the had gloated about it for five full minutes. Hagrid, characteristically, had left them free for the weekend. Which left only DADA. The assignment was long but fairly easy. She could have it done within an hour.

She barely heard where Ron and Harry said they were going. She waved them off distractedly as they disappeared down a side hall.

"Um…Hermione Granger?" a quiet voice inquired below.

She looked down at the timid first year. "Yes, that's me. What is it?" she prompted kindly.

"I've a message for you," he continued, even quieter. "Dumbledore wants to see you, at the top of the West Tower."

"Thank you," she told the boy.

On the way up, she met Ginny. They walked together.

"Are you going to the West Tower, Hermione?" Ginny asked after a while.

"Yes. Dumbledore sent for me."

"Why? No one ever goes up there."

"Good place for an SDADM meeting, then."

But something was wrong. No one was in the West Tower, none but Hermione and Ginny. Hermione sensed the danger first. Now Ron's words came to her fully. "We're going to see Dumbledore in his office."

"Run, Ginny!" Being closer to the door, Ginny managed to reach it and escape before it swung shut of its own accord. She tugged at it futilely. It would only open by magic.

"Hermione! Are you okay?!"

"Ginny, go find Dumbledore! Now! He'll be in his office, tell him to hurry!" From the sounds she could hear through the door, Ginny hesitated once before pounding down the twisting stairs.

Footsteps sounded behind Hermione. She turned and whipped her wand out as quickly as she knew how. Before she could blink, Professor Nova shouted, "Expelliarmus!" and her wand flew out of her hand.

Out the open window.

She could feel her hopes plummeting with the wand. With her powers, Hermione would be a formidable match for him. Without them, she was just another Muggle, another helpless victim. She faced him steadfastly. "The truth comes out."

"At last, it does. You have no idea how tiring it is hiding malign intent at this school."

"Others have done it," Hermione said simply.

"When I heard about the unicorn, I knew I had to get inside Hogwarts. This job was the perfect cover. When you gave me my knife that night, I though for sure it was over. But after a while, I realized that Dumbledore did not know a thing, and I had unknowingly caused his suspicion to grow. When I realized the clever trick you played on me, I knew you would be the one with the answers I need. So tell me, Miss Granger. Where are the unicorns?"

Hermione laughed mirthlessly. "I don't think you'd really want to know even if I could tell you." She laughed again, thin and frail. "You'd never get past their guards."

"You underestimate me, my dear."

"Don't call me 'my dear'. It's sickening."

"I don't think you're in much of a position to make demands, young one. I have the wand here."

Hermione was silent. He was too far to simply grab the wand from him. Maybe if she distracted him…no, he was psychotic, not stupid. Oh, how she wished he were the latter.

She backed up as he advanced on her, finding herself backing right into the window. She trued to turn away from him, but he grabbed the front of her robes and pulled her in.

"I have always found you exceptionally attractive, my dear." Nova crooned disgustingly. "I have longed for female intimacy for too long now. You are quite ripe for the taking, I think. It will be delicious."

Her eyes widened at the realization. He would not dare, what kind of man would do such a thing? Yet she saw the look in his eyes, that hungry, semi-focused look, and knew he would. And at once she lost all common sense.

Nails scratching, arms flailing, she fought like a madwoman. Her only thought was to get away from this man- she didn't care how. But he had a firm grip on her clothes, and he managed to find another on her arm. He was probably twice her mass and at least that much stronger. Basically, her attempts were merely wasted efforts, only succeeding to tire her.

And all at once her struggling resulted in her falling head over heels out the window. It was the only time she had ever been grateful for Nova's presence, for his grip on her arm was all that kept her from falling to her death. Her gratitude faded, however, when she looked up into his gleaming eyes.

"How are you going to get out of *this*, Miss Perfect," he said maliciously. As he spoke, a desperate idea came to Hermione.

She could not remember when she had taken to carrying Hagrid's gift with her, but she found that it had been in her pockets for quite some time. With her free hand she rummaged restlessly in her pocket, puling out the small white pouch. She managed to open it with only three fingers. Dumping the contents straight down, she said, "Accio wand!"

At almost the same moment, a gust of wind carried the hair away from the castle. It would probably never reach her wand now. She had one last hope: Ginny would reach Dumbledore in time. But even in her panic she knew how long it would take her to reach the office, and for him to reach the tower. There was not enough time.

"Tell me where the unicorn is, and I'll pull you back up."

"No!" she cried. Tears sprang up unbidden, tears of fear, horror, and the annoying bit of hope that someone would reach her. Her hope faded quickly at Nova's next words.

"No? Well, I guess that's all for you, then."

His hand did not have time to loosen its grip before the door exploded inward. "Vilo! Let her go!" Dumbledore's voice rang out, commanding and clear. It was the purest, sweetest sound she had ever heard.

"One more step, and I let go!"

She heard Ron, Harry, and Ginny all crying out protests. But they could not doubt him. He was too far gone to heed any plea or command. Even with her friends there, Hermione feared for her life.

Suddenly her heart soared. She felt her wand in her hand. Before she could think, she raised it and struck her blow.

End Chapter 14

Stay tuned for the last chapter. And review.

The last teaser of the story:

"I knew I should have watched him more closely," Dumbledore said with a shake of his head.

"Why did you hire him in the first place?" Later, Hermione could never remember which of them had asked.