A low moan like a wounded animal echoed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest. The trees shook violently, their barren limbs looking like outstretched arms waving in the frigid December winds.
Chief Sentinel Gregory Capps shivered slightly as he looked out over the land of what used to be Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He didn't like those trees—never had. They hid more Dark magic than even Albus Dumbledore knew about.
Capps fastened the long, standard military blue cloak around his shoulders and blew on his hands. The wind howled again. It was an unreasonably cold December, even for England. He peered up at the sky; gray clouds swirled, holding the threat of snow. The clouds didn't seem so far above Capps's position atop the Astronomy Tower.
Or, what had formerly been the Astronomy Tower, when Hogwarts had still been a normally operating school. True, it still held students, but learning was informal. Now it was in likeness, a veritable fortress, protecting witches and wizards alike from the impending threat of Voldemort and his Death Eater army.
Capps shivered again, though not from the cold. It was not even two months ago that attacks had started, on that Halloween night in Diagon Alley. But the Dark Lord had lost no time in making a swift comeback. His attacks had been well thought out, logical, and precise. His method changed and his horizons broadened. His enemies had been unprepared, and unable to fight back in their weakened state. They were thus driven to the few existing strongholds: St. Mungo's Hospital in London, along with the Ministry of Magic downtown, and Hogwarts.
Gregory Capps's own home had been destroyed. Capps grimaced at the painful memory. He had been coming back from the Centaur's Hoof, the local pub in a wizarding village not far from Liverpool, when he saw it: a huge, green skull with a serpent crawling from its mouth, hovering fifty feet above his house. His mother, father, and brother had all died.
That was when he enlisted in Dumbledore's Army and was deployed to Hogwarts.
Capps shook off his painful memories. He'd been promoted eight times in the last week. Hogwarts wasn't protected with more than former students, the Order members, and the occasional Auror. He'd been put on Sentinel duty late last night…Capps checked his pocket watch. It was nearly eight in the morning.
Capps yawned and stretched his head upward. In doing so, a flash of red caught his eye. His head whipped around to face the Forest fully.
And then he saw them.
Legions of Death Eaters began to Apparated through the trees. Cloaked in their new blood-red robes, and unmasked for the first time in history…
Wait. Apparated?
Capps fumbled for his wand. Frantically, he turned to the other sentinels 100 yards away.
"DEATH EATERS!" Capps screamed. The other sentinels looked to the Forest in terror. "Alert Dumbledore NOW!" Capps ordered. A young watchman ran down the stairs.
Capps looked down on the grounds. The Death Eaters began streaming out of the trees. Capps knew what he had to do.
"We must hold them off!" He shouted. "Fire on my orders!" The other sentinels readied themselves, wands at firing position. "One," Capps cried. "Two!"
A volley of green light shot up the castle's walls, and Gregory Capps didn't make it to three.
***
Hermione Granger sat with a full deck of Exploding Snap cards in front of her. A fire cackled in the Great Hall's hearth as she sat with a small group at the head of the former Gryffindor table.
Harry sat across from her, as well as Ron and Ginny. In the month they had been trapped inside Hogwarts, Hermione had tried to make the time pass easier by teaching groups of children (and her friends) how to play Muggle card games with the Exploding Snap pack. Ron and Harry had particularly liked Poker, for the deck began to smolder if anyone was bluffing too badly.
"Royal straight flush," Hermione said with a grin, laying down her cards. Harry's emerald eyes widened to roughly the size of teacups, while Ron did an impression of a goldfish.
"I don't understand how the girl does it," Ron said, shoving the chips toward a triumphant Hermione. "That makes the eighth time you've beat us this week," he added as an afterthought.
"I think she's trying to run us broke," Ginny said. The somber group gave a little laugh.
Hermione glanced around the hall as she magically swept the cards into a pile. Families sat huddled in every corner, men, women, and children of all ages. Hermione had been terrified when she received an order to join her friends at her Alma matter. The time of Voldemort left little room for disobedience, though.
From somewhere across the hall, a baby shrieked. Hermione sighed. The people were not happy. The Ministry was doing little to engage Voldemort's army in battle; it was rumored Cornelius Fudge had fled the country and was hiding somewhere in France. Dumbledore had scarcely been seen by anyone who was not in the Order, but he had members of his Army running the castle/fortress to keep the people from becoming worrisome.
Hermione fingered the crest on her robes. Like the ones she had worn attending the castle in her school days (hard to believe it was only four months ago she graduated) they were standard black, but in place of the Gryffindor crest above the left breast, there was an embroidered phoenix in all its glory with the words Respice Finem—"look to the end"—in scrawling scarlet script. It was the official uniform of Dumbledore's Army.
The wind howled and Hermione jumped. It sounded like screams, wild screams.
Ron frowned. "Is that the wind?" he asked, his blue eyes alert.
Ginny gave a timid grin and brushed it off, looking outside. "I'm sure it's nothing," she said reassuringly, seemingly to her brother. But everyone had seen Harry tense at the first moan of wind. Hermione brushed her still-slightly-frizzy head of hair back into a ponytail, frowning slightly. It didn't sound like wind.
Harry stood and walked over to a window near their table. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione all exchanged a look. Harry had been very stressful and anxious lately. He wavered between feeling heroic and ready to face Voldemort to quiet, withdrawn, and sometimes even harsh. His strained behavior had been the source of many late night conversations between Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley.
"Harry," Hermione sighed. "I'm sure we're all fine."
Harry didn't turn back from the window. "How do we know, Hermione?" he asked quietly. Another howl tore through the air. Harry's black hair seemed to stand on end. Hermione could feel her heartbeat double.
Ginny stood with Hermione. "They couldn't be here. Dumbledore has spells, wards…Harry, the Death Eaters aren't going to break in," the redhead said soothingly. Harry didn't say anything. Ginny turned to Hermione helplessly, and shrugged.
"Go talk to him," Hermione whispered, her brown eyes glancing sorrowfully at their troubled friend. "You're the only one who can get through to him sometimes, Ginny." Ginny nodded, and she walked over to the window.
Hermione sank down to the table and put her head in her hands. She wanted to cry but knew she couldn't, with the others in the room. She felt Ron sit next to her.
"Hermione?" he asked, peeking under her hands. He took one of her hands in his. "Come on now, Hermione," Ron murmured, pulling the hand away from Hermione's face. Ron's eyes were concerned. Hermione allowed the tears to fall reluctantly.
Ron engulfed her in a hug. "Hermione, come one, that's a girl."
I shouldn't be doing this, Hermione thought angrily. I'm stronger than this, I know it!
Right now her emotions were overflowing, leaving her out of control. There were too many worries for Hermione—taking care of people, the Order, the army…
Hermione sniffed and wiped her tears, pulling back from Ron's protective bear hug. Ron grinned at her, pulling a handkerchief out of his robe pocket. "Hermione," he said carefully. "We're all in this for each other. For our families. For Harry," Ron gestured over to Harry and Ginny by the windowsill. He gave a tiny double take as he saw his sister give Harry a swift peck on the cheek. Hermione saw it too and smiled.
"When do you think he'll propose?" Hermione asked playfully, giving Ron a joking, watery smile.
Ron blanched. "Ginny is seventeen years old! Did Harry—"
Hermione shushed her best friend. "Ron, quiet. I was only joking."
Ron gave a sheepish grin and clasped a hand to the back of his neck. "Well…I daresay Mum would be happy…Harry's practically a son anyway," Ron muttered. Hermione gave a small smile. There was definitely a little bit of something going on between their best friend and Ron's sister…but no one was saying anything about it.
Another hiss and shriek of wind tore through the quiet air. Hermione jumped as she heard shouts. She threw a glance out the window but couldn't see anything. Something is definitely not right today, Hermione thought quickly.
The answer as to what came scant seconds later, as Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks burst through the Great Hall's doors, faces flushed and wands ready. Both looked extremely alarmed.
"Children and elderly down to the dungeons!" Lupin shouted, his voice magically amplified and his gray hair in a state if disarray. Women and children shrieked and people began pouring out of the Great Hall for an exit. Everyone knew a warning like that meant one thing.
Voldemort.
"Go!" Tonks shouted. She then turned to the four in the corner. "Follow me!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all bolted after Tonks, following the scarlet-headed beacon out of the hall. They stopped abruptly when Tonks signaled, panting.
"Tonks, what's happening?" Ginny cried.
Tonks held up a hand. "Listen," she breathed, "We don't know how it happened, but the Dark Lord managed to Apparate onto the grounds, and he's got nearly his whole army with him."
Harry's face paled considerably, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione beat him to it.
"How did he manage this?" she asked.
Tonks shook her red head frantically. "There's no time, Hermione. We have to get out there, and fast. Kingsley's already got his quadrant out there but the Death Eaters are fighting hard. You all stick together," Tonks said. She glared. "Do you hear me? All of you protect Harry!"
Harry scowled but Tonks was already sprinting down the hallway. The four pulled out their wands and ran after her. As they got to the exit, the doors burst open and a bloody middle-aged wizard stumbled past them. Tonks lead them all outside, and it amazed Hermione.
"Go!" Tonks screamed, before disappearing into the hailstorm of thrown curses and flashing lights.
Harry turned to them. "You heard her…let's go," he said.
Hermione nodded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a Death Eater running toward the open castle doors.
"Stupefy!" she cried. The Death Eater fell down the stairs, Stunned. Hermione turned back to Harry and Ron, only to find that they had already been separated. She shook it off—they all had to be on their guard.
Another red-cloaked Death Eater came running toward her, an insane grin of his face. Hermione couldn't hear what he said, but a flash of green light came out of his wand. She dropped to the snow-covered ground and rolled through a pair of legs. She popped up again with a mouthful of snow, but continued to run. She heard a scream from behind her and turned to see Stewart Ackerly fall in a crumpled heap onto the snow. His head lolled to one side. He was dead.
Hermione saw the Death Eater that killed him run in the other direction. "Avada Kedavera!" She cried. Jet green light shot out of her wand and the Death Eater didn't even see the cause of his own death. Hermione barely paused to reflect on it; in this business, it was either kill, or be killed.
"Hermione! Look out!"
The shout came from Lupin, who was motioning at the Death Eaters charging from Hagrid's hut, which was now ablaze. Hermione grabbed the nearest member of Dumbledore's Army and began to throw curses. Blood splattered onto the snow around them as the Death Eaters continued to hit members of the Light.
This isn't working! Hermione thought frantically. Where are all these Death Eaters coming from?
Just then an explosion rocked the castle, and the doors of the entrance hall were blown away. A loud cry was heard from within as a dozen Death Eaters rushed in. Hermione turned in horror and began to run toward the castle doors at top speed. She was nearly up the stairs when an arm was thrown out in front of her.
"Hermione!" The arms grabbed her. She spun to see that it was Harry. He had blood running down one arm and dirt was smeared across his face, and he looked worried. He grabbed onto Hermione's shoulders. "Hermione, listen to me!" he said sternly. Hermione stopped. "You can't go in there. Hogwarts will fall, Hermione. Make sure you and Ron get out of here."
Hermione's eyes widened as she saw Harry's emerald eyes on fire. "Harry, you're coming with us!" she cried frantically, grabbing his arm as he made his way to the castle. Harry shook his head, smiling a little.
"He's up there, Hermione," Harry said softly. Hermione looked up at the castle, terrified. Harry nodded, taking her hand and squeezing it. "I have to go, Hermione. I can end all this."
Hermione squeezed back. "Then let me stay, Harry," she said gently. "It's our battle too."
Harry shook his head 'no.' "Hermione, the Death Eaters will kill any Muggle born they kind. I'm not risking another person I love to that," he said firmly. Hermione's eyes watered. She reached up and threw her arms around Harry, who gave her a hug and a swift kiss on the cheek. He pulled away abruptly as another shriek came from within.
"Go, Hermione," Harry said, his green eyes both sorrowful and oddly calm. "Look after Ginny for me. Don't look back." He nudged Hermione in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. Hermione took a few tentative steps before she stopped again.
Harry motioned her away. "I'm sending Ron and Ginny after you if I find them," Harry called. "Take care of them for us…and don't look back, Hermione, go!"
A Death Eater popped out of the bushes and threw an Avada Kedavera at Hermione. It missed her by scant inches, but Harry quickly took care of him. Hermione turned to thank him, but all she saw was his robes disappearing into the castle.
Hermione mentally shook herself and took off at top speed for the Forest. The cold stung her face and snow stuck to her eyelashes as she crunched through leaves. Then she heard voices behind her.
"Ay, Goyle! Nott! There goes one!"
Hermione gulped and took a peek behind her. Crabbe and Goyle came lumbering through the Forest after her, looking like great moving boulders, with Theodore Nott leading the way. Hermione ducked behind a tree and rolled underneath a bush.
She tried to regain her breath but fell silent as three pairs of footsteps, two loud and one soft, came lumbering past her hiding spot seconds later. Hermione could identify Nott as he slowly walked past her.
"Hey, where'd she go?" Crabbe asked stupidly, looking around. They shuffled through the snow and wet leaves. Hermione held her breath as Nott's boots appeared next to her bush. Nott's deep voice could be heard.
"You all…look that way," he said in an authorial tone. "I'll go this way." A moment later, their footsteps had died away through the snow. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and untangled her bushy brown hair from the bush and crawled out. She pulled her wand into her palm.
"Point Me," Hermione whispered, looking nervously around her. According to her wand, she was currently headed west. She knew of a clearing in the eastern tip of the forest by the lake, where she could easily Apparate safely to Ministry Headquarters. Hermione pulled the snow-soaked hair out of her eyes and turned east.
The forest was dark, even for mid afternoon. Hermione lit the tip of her wand, which gave off a dim light, falling in soft beams upon the thin layer of snow. She walked for fifteen minutes, thinking about Harry and the destruction of Voldemort, and her own shame at running away.
Finally she reached the clearing. The dark trees of the Forest loomed high above her. Hermione paused. This could be the very last time I stand at Hogwarts, Hermione thought morosely. I can't believe my home of seven years can be destroyed so easily. Her depressing train of thought, however, was broken when Crabbe and Goyle lumbered through the trees not to far off. Hermione gasped. Crabbe looked ahead through the trees and punched Goyle on the shoulder.
'There she is!" he cried loudly. The duo began crashing through the bramble and snow to get to Hermione.
"Oh, shit," Hermione cried to herself. She figured her only option was to run, but she quickly dispelled that option as she saw Nott running at her in the opposite direction. Hermione whipped out her wand and cried, "Stupefy!" The jet of red light hit Crabbe square on and he fell to the snow with a loud "thud."
Hermione gave a small sigh of relief as Goyle turned to look dumbly at his fallen partner. He looked up at Hermione. "Hey," he cried angrily, "you can't do that!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Says who?" she asked before Stunning Goyle as well. Hermione smirked in satisfaction and raised her wand in preparation to Apparate, when a hand grabbed her wrist from behind.
"Ah, ah, ah," Nott's deep voice said in her ear. He twisted Hermione's wrist so she had to turn to face him.
Theodore Nott had been in their year at Hogwarts, a Slytherin, obviously. Although he'd been rather quiet, he was now a very powerful Death Eater. He was tall, and very light-footed, with tan hair and green-yellow eyes. And a very powerful grip on my wrist, Hermione thought as Nott gripped her other wrist with his other hand.
"No, no, Granger…" he said, grabbing her wand out of her hand. Hermione felt her heart leap into her throat. She felt so vulnerable without her weapon! She watched sullenly as Nott slipped her wand into the pocket of his crimson Death Eater's robe, smirking.
Hermione heard the snapping of twigs, but tried to concentrate of what was before her: a very precarious predicament. She had been so sure she wasn't going to get caught, that she'd be able to double back and help Harry. And look where that had gotten her!
Nott jerked Hermione out of her thoughts. "Where is the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters, Granger?" he asked.
At least he's not trying to beat around the bush, Hermione thought glumly. She pulled a defiant look, her eyes narrow and her lips tight. Nott whipped out his own wand.
"I have ways of making you talk, Mudblood," he whispered, his greenish eyes boring into hers. Hermione blinked and looked away, remembering what Harry had said about Ligilemins. Nott grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Speak, Mudblood! Where are the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix?!" Nott shouted.
Hermione felt as though she were going to be ill. She didn't open her mouth, didn't move, and didn't blink. Nott let out a growl and threw her to the ground. Hermione cried out as her arm landed under her. She pulled out her arm; she couldn't move her wrist. A sprain.
Nott spun to face her again; his cheeks flushed and eyes glowing eerily. "I said," he whispered, "that I had ways of making you talk. After this we can take you to the Dark Lord—I dare say he'd have use for another Mudblood victim," he snickered. He turned away from her again. Hermione twisted, but didn't see Nott turn fast and hear the words pour out of his mouth:
"Sonno Di Morte!"
That was the last thing Hermione Granger remembered, before she blacked out on the forest floor.
***
Howdy, y'all!
Well here's chapter one. I have little to say, only that I thought of it mostly as I went along, which is REALLY BAD and I will never, ever do again for as long as I live!
"Sonno Di Morte" means "death sleep" in Italian, which I'm using because I haven't taken Latin yet. Forgive me. I'm in the middle of trying to find an Englishà Latin/ LatinàEnglish translator that doesn't cost any money online. Why isn't anything ever simple?!
Other than that comes the necessary babble about how I would love, adore, and appreciate reviews, I would like to say that I did love, adore, and appreciate the five reviews I got for the prologue. You guys made me warm and fuzzy inside:
*Acharnae *Andrea *hotaru420 *Loony bout Lupin and *Moonlit
Peace, Love, and all that jazz: Madame Plot Bunnie