Chapter 10
Attack of Voldemort
A few hours later, they were all gathered in the Great Hall. Most of the prefect looked a little disheveled; they were discussing the reason for meeting so late. Dumbledore stood, "Voldemort has targeted this school," he started. People started muttering to each other, everybody looked petrified. "I know this has most of you worried, but he can be defeated, I must ask all prefects to lead their Houses when he arrives, all the teachers will be occupied. So we look to the Head Boy and Girl for leadership and guidance," Dumbledore continued with a glance at Harry and Hermione, "No one is to panic. We must remain calm and intact. Are there any questions?" he finished. "Professor, when will he arrive?" asked Harry. "Good question Harry," answered Dumbledore, "That I'm afraid I cannot answer." "How many followers does he have?" asked Hermione. "Another good question I cannot answer," said Dumbledore. Finally everything that had happened struck Harry instantly, everything made sense, why he was Head Boy, why Hermione had made Head Girl a full year before they were eligible. Hermione felt his surprise, "What is it?" she asked. "I figured out why we were selected for Head Boy and Girl, why we were trained and not Ron, everything just fell into place!" Harry replied. "Why?" asked Hermione. "He's known about this for a while; he was hoping it wouldn't materialize but…" Harry said quietly. "Why then not follow the rules?" Hermione asked. "I've escaped Voldemort 4 times, no one else has," replied Harry.
After being sent to bed, Harry and Hermione sat down together in the common room, "What do you think is going to happen?" asked Hermione. Harry looked around at the empty common room, "I don't know Herm, all I know is that I want you to lead the prefects, if anyone is to risk their life, I ought to," Harry said looking at her warily. "Harry, did you just…" Hermione started. "Herm, I've escaped him 4 times, I can make that a fifth, you've never had to escape him, please," Harry said pleadingly. "SO WE'RE KEEPING SCORE HUH?" Hermione started to shout. "No, no, Herm, please, understand I just want to make sure you're safe," Harry said looking a little alarmed, "I couldn't stand losing you…" he drifted off. They started to move closer… too close…
"Who's shouting?" asked Dean. Hermione groaned, "NO, NOT AGAIN!" she said in a high, loud voice. "What not again?" asked Dean. "CLUELESS, DENSE, INOBSERVANT LITTLE TOAD…" her language started to go downhill fast. Harry started to drag her upstairs before she did more than call Dean names.
As soon as they were nearly upstairs Hermione stopped, "Harry, promise me that before you face Voldemort… You'll have one minute of peace and quiet with me, I just can't stand it," she said nearing tears. Harry was feeling the same way, but handling it differently, "Herm… I hope more than that," he said quietly, she hugged him while crying. "I'm sorry Harry…" she said as she closed her door. Harry stood there for a moment, feeling almost lost, just like Hermione. He finally realized part of what Neo meant, he had lost some his innocence, he felt pain and heartbreak of separation, yet not just for himself, but for Hermione as well, they felt each others pain… Perhaps they should face him together, for neither could stand losing the other. Harry started to open the door to his own room, but changed his mind. 'Herm,' he said quietly. 'Yes Harry?' asked Hermione. 'Mind if I bug you for a few minutes?' Harry replied. 'No,' she answered as the door opened. Harry slipped in and closed the door behind him, "You okay?" he asked. "Yes," she replied not looking at him. "Then why aren't you acting it?" Harry asked. "Oh Harry, we just can't get a moment alone," she said quietly, "It just irritates me." Harry sat next to her again, "Want to get interrupted again?" he asked with a smile at tear-faced Hermione. She gave Harry a hopeless look and laughed none the less, again everything disappeared around them, nothing else existed, only them. Hermione held her breath… nearer… nearer…
The castle shook and trembled, Hermione groaned again… The castle's tremors had just caught their attention. Harry wiped away Hermione's tears, "Come on, let's find out what's going on," Harry said, Hermione smiled at him. They ran down the stairs, when they reached the portrait hole Professor McGonagall was coming in, "Harry! Hermione! Get all the students, hurry," cried Professor McGonagall. Harry ran up the boys' staircase and Hermione took the girls'. Harry hurriedly woke all the students, "Come on! Guys get up now!" Harry yelled. All the students who hadn't awaken from the first tremors felt them now. Everyone rushed to the common room, Professor McGonagall whispered hurriedly to Harry and Hermione. Harry nodded curtly, "Professor, I can get them out," said Harry. "How?" asked Professor McGonagall, "they are surrounding us." Harry hesitated, "There is no time to hesitate, take the students and go!" said Professor McGonagall. Harry whispered to Hermione, she nodded. "Gryffindors follow me!" she shouted over the noise. She led them to the statue that which Harry had used to illegally visited Hogsmead. She tapped it, "Dissendum," she said quickly, the witches hump opened, "Go, go," Hermione pushed the Gryffindors through the hole.
Harry ran toward the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw towers, after leading both of them to Hermione he rushed to Slytherines common room, when he approached the picture said, "Password?" He knocked, there was no answer, Harry was in a rush, there was no time for guessing games, "Sorry," Harry said to the picture, he remembered something… He held up his hand palm forward and pulled back hard, the picture was ripped from the wall, the door appeared, the Slytherines were stunned. "Come on, go we're under attack from Voldemort," Harry said, he got a surprising reaction, they all laughed. "Soon, you'll be with your dear mudblood mother," Malfoy echoed. Harry left disgusted, when he reached the witches hump, almost everybody was gone. "Hermione, you go next, I'll take care of the rest," said Harry quickly. "NO," she said firmly, "We're going together or not at all." The rest disappeared, "Herm, please go," Harry asked pleadingly. "Are you going?" she asked. "This is not the time to be having this discussion," Harry said urgently. "You're right, then we agree, I'm staying," Hermione argued. Harry couldn't argue anymore, "Look Hermione, I'm going to see if I can help before I leave," Harry said, "I'll be right behind you." Hermione's stance told Harry it was no good. "Girls," he muttered, "Okay fine, but stay close, we may have a narrow escape." The wall behind them was hit by a club that broke it into a thousand pieces, Harry jumped on Hermione. Large chunks flew around them. Harry picked her up and put her on the slide behind the witches hump, "Go, I'm coming too," he said, he knew the battle was lost, but not the war. Professor McGonagall and some of the other teachers, including Dumbledore came up the stairs, "Go," they shouted above the racket, Harry saw through the hole in the wall giants tearing apart Hogwarts. Harry whispered something only Hermione could hear, "No matter what happens Herm, I love you more than life itself." He gave her a push and she slid down, the teachers followed. "Harry?" Hermione asked because it was too dark to see a thing. The teachers lit their wands, some of them were nurturing injuries. Harry was not among them; Hermione's heart was now in her throat. She took off up the slide they had come down; Professor McGonagall called after her, "HERMIONE NO!" She opened the hump and closed it. Harry was running up the stairs to the left, she could feel it now, panic left her.
Harry ran up the stairs to the West tower, he had to stop them. When he reached the top he could see the damages inflicted on the castle. "Enough," said Harry under his breath, "Calm." The ground stopped shaking, the giants looked up, one of them rammed their club into the West tower trying to bring it down, Harry held a hand up and stopped it, "Why?" he asked. Another giant hit the Slytherin tower, he saw the Death Eaters rush into the castle doors. Hermione came up panting beside him, "Why didn't you come as well?" she asked out of breath. "Hermione!" he said in surprise, "I guess I haven't been paying attention," he finished with anger at himself. "YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT HARRY POTTER!" Hermione started to get very angry. "Hermione… I was trying to keep you safe," he said. "HARRY, HAS THIS EVER OCCURRED TO YOU; I DON'T WANT TO BE KEPT SAFE?!" shouted Hermione angrily. Harry flinched at her tone, "But Herm, I don't want you in danger," he replied. "I don't want you in danger either Harry!" Hermione retorted, "Sometimes we don't have a choice." "But you do…" Harry started. "AT YOUR EXPENSE?!" Hermione yelled angrily at him, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" "Not at my expense, but for my peace of mind," Harry replied calmly. "What about my peace of mind?" asked Hermione. "I know," responded Harry, "But you are too valuable to me… I could never lose you without losing myself…" Hermione looked at him with compassion, "I know… I feel the same way, we should always stick together…" before she could finish, several Death Eaters appeared. "Well, well, Potter, what a pleasant surprise and your girlfriend, I hope you're eternally loyal to each other, you're not going to get a chance in this life," sneered one. "We are," replied Harry calmly. 'Neo, help us!' thought Hermione and Harry together. 'With what?' came the reply. 'What do we do?' asked Harry. 'You have to find the answer within yourselves,' said Neo carefully. Harry put an arm around Hermione; she forgot her anger, "At least we got everyone else out Herm," said Harry compassionately. "Yeah," replied Hermione. They hugged each other, their minds filled with compassion for the other. One of the giants struck the tower, it started to fall…
