Hello all!
My surgery went fine, thanks to all of you who asked after it. My vision's back, other than a bizarre 'auto-focus' thing my eyes keep doing and an odd halo effect. I'll be back to my regular posting schedule…still stalled on chapter 14 though.
Hippiechick, Ed, and hand3, you guys are the best. Your encouragement really gets me going J… hand3, I'm glad you like my characters…sometimes I wonder…
SaraC, thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like my work and I hope you enjoy the rest!
--aimes
It was nearly four a.m. when she heard the pounding on her door.
"Hermione! Open the damned door, right now!"
Fairy? What the hell? It's four in the bloody morning…if this is a joke, he'll pay.
"Come in, then!" she replied, releasing the wards. Draco raced into the room fully dressed and grabbed her by the hand.
"Come on, we've got to go to Dumbledore!"
"Calm down! What's going on, Draco?" Hermione pulled him onto the bed and forced him to settle for a moment. He closed his eyes, pulling himself together before he spoke.
"I just spoke with my father. Tomorrow after everyone's gone, they're going to storm Hogwarts. The Dark Lord and his followers. The spies amongst us are to remain here and help them when they come. My father found out fifteen minutes before I did…apparently Voldemort told no one."
"Wait, if your father found out fifteen minutes before he told you, Snape probably found out then too. He's quite likely already told Dumbledore, but let's make sure." She got out of bed and grabbed a handful of floo powder.
"Dumbledore's Office!" she shouted and stepped into the fire.
She stepped out into the illuminated office of Albus Dumbledore. Fawkes scrutinized her from his perch and she made a face at him. Bloody bird thinks he's so damned wise just because he's got an Order named for him. And his tail's in a couple of really important wands. Who the hell gives up their damned tailfeathers for wands anyways? What a crock.
Hermione sat in one of the chairs as Draco stepped out of the fire and walked over to her, dusting himself off. He sat next to her, looking steely and composed. Hermione patted his hand reassuringly.
"Hello Hermione, hello Draco," the Headmaster greeted them as he entered his office fully dressed. "I presume you are here to tell me of the impending invasion of Hogwarts."
"We figured Professor Snape told you, actually," Hermione replied confidently. "We were unsure, however, whether he realized that the children left here to spy were ordered to stay behind and aid in the invasion."
"I did not, actually," Professor Snape replied from behind her. Holy shite! Bloody git's such a sneak…he needs a damn hobby.
"Surprise," Draco commented ironically.
"As I recall, that's what you said when you told me you were homosexual," replied Snape dryly. "Not that it was really much of a surprise."
"Touche," Draco granted.
"Back to the issue at hand, gentlemen?" The group turned to Hermione. "Hey, it's four in the morning. Does anyone have the energy for this?"
"You are correct, Miss Granger. Unfortunately, I do not see any way to stop Voldemort without more in the way of resources."
Snape, Draco, and Dumbledore began tossing out ideas on defence while Hermione sat silently for a moment. There's really only one option.
"Give it up," she said aloud. The men fell silent and looked at her.
"Are you nuts?" Draco voiced everyone's thoughts.
"Probably. What I mean is that we can't do anything to defend Hogwarts without sacrificing a large quantity of our forces and using weapons that are in the testing phase at best and useless at worst. We're just not in a position to fight this battle effectively…so our best tactic is to be gone when they get here. The kids will leave in the morning, we'll drop the wards, and everyone save the mini-spies will Disapparate or portkey out of here. Headmaster Dumbledore can 'present' the plan at the very last second so that no one will suspect Professor Snape of withholding information. The spies will corroborate his story that even McGonagall, widely presumed your most trusted advisor, did not know until absolutely the last moment."
There was a moment of silence in the room.
"It's bloody brilliant," Draco murmured.
"I agree," said Snape, sounding a bit surprised.
"The plan seems to be our only option," Dumbledore decided. "We shall work out the details, Severus. Thank you, Miss Granger."
"I have my moments," she replied wryly. "Draco and I need to get back to our quarters in case one of the younger kids comes to him for reassurance." Dumbledore and Snape nodded distractedly. Draco gestured to Hermione and she preceded him to the fireplace.
"Goodnight, sirs," she said gently before flooing out. Draco merely glanced back at them before following her.
In their common room, Draco stared at Hermione pensively.
"We could die tomorrow, Bushy."
"I know. Then again, I've done the near-death thing before, remember? Dying's not what concerns me. Everyone else dying; that concerns me. But in response to what you're really asking, I asked Dobby to fetch him a split second before you stepped out of the fire. I'll be in my room, try not to get too loud about it." She grinned at him and hugged him tightly.
"Thanks, Hermione."
"Draco, be careful. When you're about to die, or you've almost died, you tend to make rash decisions. Don't let that ruin what you've been working toward," she warned.
"I won't," he reassured her.
Hermione turned and went up to her room silently. As she changed she listened to the sounds of whispering outside and the rustling as clothes came off. Is it bad that I'm wondering whether Remus is still here? Yes. Stop it, Mya. You've been through this. You only have feelings for him because of the trauma he helped you through. Don't blow it out of proportion. You want to seek him out right now and have him hold you close; why? Because he's alive…you want to be near his life, to crawl under his skin and remind yourself that you're still alive. Battle sickness, Mya, that's all it is. You can't do this, you can't do this. There was a soft laugh outside and the sound of kissing. You don't really want it Hermione. Okay, you do really want it, but you want it for the wrong reasons and that's not fair to you or him. Especially if you want something real and lasting. Oh my gods! Did you really think that?
Hermione cast a silencing charm and screamed in frustration, dropping to her knees and passing her hands over her face. You're completely nuts, Mya. Lie in bed and think of worst case scenarios. It'll be at least somewhat normal. She slumped into bed with a grunt and closed her eyes, counting the moments til morning.
Counting the moments till her safe haven fell.