CHAPTER 20 The Ghostly Battle
"Of course!" Hermione cried hitting her forehead. "It makes so much sense now!
"Yes I see now, they took you there the first time to try and get the book to work", Harry cried looking at Hermione.
"But obviously it didn't because they would have activated it earlier", Hermione replied nodding her head.
"And the reason they didn't kill you-"
"Was because they knew I was working on the book", Hermione replied finishing his sentence.
"Courtesy of our insider", Harry said.
"We have work to do", Hermione cried and Harry nodded.
"Ok guys, seriously back up a few seconds, what on earth is going on?" Ron asked bewildered.
"Oh thank you for those news Ron, you have just given us enough time to stop doomsday", Hermione replied smiling at him.
Ron smiled back, pleased with her compliment, but then worry grew on his face, "What do you mean doomsday? Hermione, don't tell me you're trying to stop doomsday now!"
"We have to or else we're all dead", Hermione cried.
"I'm not letting you do this, you'll get yourself hurt. Remember the last time you tried to stop them? We had to come save you!" Ron replied worry etched in every line on his face.
"Oh for heaven's sake Ron! I can take care of myself and I don't need you telling me what I can and cannot do!"
"Well I worry about you, because you sure as hell don't worry enough about yourself!" "What is that meant to mean!" Hermione cried.
"That you always get yourself into stupid trouble that could have killed you, or have you forgotten the final battle. It scared me so much then what risk you had taken without even thinking about it and it scares me now. You didn't even realise what was happening!"
"How dare you-"Hermione cried but she was cut off when Harry roared.
"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP FOR JUST ONE MINUTE!"
Ron and Hermione turned around to face Harry, both faces showing a mixture of shock and anger.
"In case you two haven't realised, we have doomsday to stop after all!" Harry cried. "Thank you very much Ron for the info, you have just given us a chance at stopping this, Hermione you go to the Canon's grounds and get everyone out of there while I call on all the Auror groups and meet you there with the rest of the teams. And no hero attempts ok?" Harry said, his chest heaving.
"Fine!" Hermione glowered.
"Oh no, you two are not going off to save the world without me!" Ron cried.
"Ron, this is no time for childish behaviour!" Hermione cried.
"I am not letting you get hurt, either of you!" Ron heaved back.
"Fine Ron, you can come too, but you're only helping us evacuate everyone from the grounds, this is too dangerous!" Harry said and when Hermione glowered at him, he added warningly. "Hermione I'm your superior, don't make me pull rank on you".
"Fine!" Hermione replied rather begrudgingly and she made her way to the Apparition centre in the Atrium, Ron in tow.
"Hermione I-"
"Not now Ron we have work to do", she replied not even turning around as she took out her wand, ready to Disapparate.
"Hermione wait", Ron cried taking hold of her arm, and slowly Hermione turned around to face him. "Please let's not fight. How on earth are we meant to stop this if I can't even depend on you watching my back".
Hermione looked down at her feet and slowly raised her eyes, saying wryly, "Harry said you're only helping us evacuate everyone". Then she added rather quietly, "I would always watch your back". Ron smiled at her, which she returned rather slowly.
"We have to go", Hermione said rather stiffly and flicked her wand and with a loud crack she was gone. Ron sighed, he had almost gotten through to her, but again to no avail. He also flicked his wand and disappeared a second later with a loud crack.
Hermione and Ron Apparated outside the Canon's grounds, in the alleyway that Ron had used earlier in the day to enter the grounds. Hermione was about to walk in, when she stopped and turned to Ron handing him an identification card.
"In case they won't listen to you, use my other id card and order them out of the grounds ok?" she said holding out the card that had only the Ministry crest and ID written on it. Ron took it from her hand and for a brief second both their fingers touched. Hermione felt a tingle, like a dormant supply of energy coming to the surface and she was confused. She looked up to Ron's eyes and they were looking at her, in a way Hermione hadn't seen in many years. She looked back down at her hand, her actions slow and clumsy.
"We had better go now", she said slowly and waited for Ron to open the door.
Ron nodded his head and also took out his wand, unlocking the door. "We had better start off with the changing rooms and the offices, its where the most people are".
Hermione nodded and they made their way through, splitting up as Ron walked away to the right and Hermione made her way along the left.
"Oh and Ron", Hermione cried and Ron turned around, "Tell them there's been a security breach!" Ron smiled and nodded and headed off. She purposely made her way along the outer buildings reaching the office in no time and walking right through without knocking. A secretary came from behind her desk to stop Hermione, but Hermione ignored her, despite her protests and walked right into the office.
What the devil do you want?" an old man cried out as she opened the door.
"I'm Hermione Granger, special agent of the Ministry of Magic and I'm here to evacuate these grounds, there's been a security breach and I want everyone out before the Aurors start arriving", Hermione said in her most commanding voice. With that voice, Hermione could terrify anyone into doing what she wanted to do, but this man was showing quite a bit of resistance, for his eyes were blazing with a suppressed fury.
"I will do nothing of the sort!" he cried back.
"Well then you can get yourself killed, but I will not let that happen on my watch!" Hermione said, trying with all her might to keep her own temper suppressed.
"You had better leave and do what she told you or we could have you arrested for obstructing Auror work", Harry said dangerously and Hermione spun around seeing Harry standing in the doorway, his green eyes blazing. A few Aurors were standing behind him, their wands out.
The man resigned and nodded his head and Hermione relaxed.
"I've got it covered here, go and help Ron, and make sure he knows that he's not involved", Harry said and Hermione nodded, walking past Harry to get to the changing rooms. There she found Ron busy at work urging his fellow team mates out of the grounds.
"Ok I'm special agent Hermione Granger, I want all of you to evacuate the area, and I will hear no butts!" she said in her commanding and authority voice.
"Thanks Hermione, for a bit there they wouldn't believe me, said I was pulling a prank", Ron replied grateful. Hermione nodded in reply.
"We had better make sure they all leave, Harry's teams have split up and are escorting the rest of the grounds", Hermione said.
"Ah good, we don't want them getting killed now", Ron replied.
"And now its your turn to leave", Hermione added.
"What?"
"Harry's explicit orders, you're not to get involved and you will go home, or go to your girlfriends or whatever, but you're not staying here and trying to help out", Hermione said fiercely.
"What, but you need me, I know these grounds off by hart and I helped loads the last time when they had you!" Ron replied just as fiercely.
"There will be no arguing Ron, you're going home. None of us want to see you get hurt", Hermione said her voice growing dangerously quiet, a sign of a sure fire temper coming along.
"No Hermione!" Ron added just as dangerously. "If you think I will stand here and let you go off to get yourself killed, then you're a lot stupider than everyone thought!"
"No more arguing Ron", Hermione said angrily and she made a grab for his hand. For a second Ron thought she would kiss him, and his breath stopped, but all she did was start walking and dragged him along with her.
"Where are we going Hermione?" Ron asked angrily.
"You're going home and no butts!" she replied angrily and dragged him all the way to the side entrance and opened the door for him. "Now leave!"
"I am not going!" Ron said stubbornly yanking his hand away from her grasp and he stood there his arms folded with a frown on his face.
"Fine, then I'll just have to hex you until you do", Hermione said taking out her wand and aiming it at his chest.
"You wouldn't", Ron said his voice wavering as he nervously took a step back and kept his eyes on her wand.
"Oh wouldn't I?" Hermione asked dangerously. Her eyes were glinting and Ron knew she was serious.
"Fine I'll go!" Ron said backing away from her, and glancing only once behind him to see where he was going. He didn't trust Hermione when she was in one of those moods, because she was very likely to hex him, especially after the mood she was in last night. Ron backed all the way out of the Canons grounds and past the gate. He was about to speak, but Hermione came walking towards him and for the second time in twenty four hours she had slammed a door in his face.
"I really have to do something about that!" Ron said rather annoyed as he turned around and walked out of the alleyway.
Hermione sighed as she made her way back to the changing rooms, and found Harry and the rest of the Aurors congregating in front of the blocked up passageway to the underground cave.
"Its blocked up and we were waiting until you could open it up. Its ancient magic and you know how bad I am at that", Harry said as Hermione made her way through the throng to him.
"What took you so long anyway?" he asked curiously as Hermione started tapping the stone wall blocking the passageway would be with her wand.
"Ron wouldn't leave", she replied rather curtly and Harry knew she was in a bad mood. "Why what did you do?" Harry asked nervously, "Because I would rather have a best friend that's intact!"
"I just threatened him until he left. Boy finally came to his senses", Hermione replied curtly. Harry didn't reply for he knew not to press her when she was in such a mood, especially if it was caused by the red-head, lanky best friend that always drove her crazy.
Hermione held her wand tightly as she cried out, "Prior Incantato Practica!" The bricks that had been blocking up the passageway started to crumble and fall down until there was nothing left but rubble at their feet.
"Now you know the deal, capture as many alive as you can and secure the perimeter first. I want someone to guard Hermione as she goes for the book. Kaylee, can I trust on you to keep an eye on her so she doesn't get hit by anything?" Harry called out. Kaylee nodded her head in reply at his question and moved up to stand beside Hermione.
"I'll cover you", she said and Hermione smiled.
"Right lets go!" Harry called out and they made their way down the stairs leading to the cave, going two at a time. When they reached the bottom, the group split in two teams as the first went ahead, leaving the second behind to watch out for more Dark Wizards.
As Hermione and Harry neared the cave, they saw the Blood Kindred gathered around a large bonfire, each one standing in the circle as they chanted some incomprehensible song. "God that's many!" Hermione whispered and Harry nodded.
"Ok we go on three, split into three teams, Hermione you're in the middle with me and I'll protect you as far as I can, then its up to Kaylee. Remember get the book and secure it as fast as you can", Harry whispered, then counted off with his fingers and gave the signal to go. Twenty Aurors ran into the cave, wands shooting spells all around the place, as Hermione ran through the middle with it, her wand ready and Harry by her side dodging curses. Soon Harry was caught up in a duel with a very agile Dark Wizard and it was up to Hermione, and Kaylee by her side, to get to the book. The cave was in pandemonium as Hermione quickly looked around her to get her bearings. All the Aurors were fighting, and even more Dark Wizards seemed to be poring into the cave from what seemed to be all sides. Hermione knew she had only little time left until the Aurors were outnumbered, so she used this quick chance that she had to look for Draco Malfoy, who undoubtedly had the book. She spotted one wizard not fighting, as he stood in the corner away from the rest. In his arms was something that could only be a book. Hermione dodged left and right as she ran zigzagged across the cave to reach Malfoy. Still he hadn't spotted her running towards him and Hermione knew she was in luck. If she could surprise him then she had a big chance of stopping this whole thing, but at that exact same time a Dark Wizard spotted her darting in between people and sent a curse towards her. The curse, though not fatal, hit Hermione squarely in the chest and she collapsed from the pain. Kaylee was quickly by her side, helping her up as Hermione grasped her stomach to stop the pain.
"Come on Hermione!" Kaylee said worried as she looked around her and sent a stunning spell at the Dark Wizard coming towards them. "We have to go!" Hermione nodded her head and started walking again. The scene around her was like something from a dream, the bonfire that was burning in the middle of the cave gave of eerie glimmers of light, the people darting in and out of her view looked ghastly in the flickering light, and the shadows of the battle scene was displayed on the walls of the caves, making the whole scene look ghostly and haunting. As Hermione gathered her strength and ran on, Kaylee behind her, her ears suddenly went quiet and all the noise that was around her, suddenly disappeared. She felt like she was running through a dream, but still Hermione kept on running, making her way towards Malfoy. At last he spotted her, and shot a spell towards, her, but Hermione was quicker. She dodged the spell and rolled to the side, the battle skills she had developed during the second war, came back as vibrant and clear as ever. Her agile body rolled to the side and she sprang up, with the agility of a cat and ran towards Malfoy, her wand out and waiting for the right moment to hit him. Hermione was only dimly aware of Kaylee beside her, fighting with another Dark Wizard, but Hermione wasn't worried. She was a competent fighter and she knew how to dodge a few spells. Kaylee could look after herself. Malfoy, spotting Hermione still running towards him, sent another curse at Hermione, which she deflected quickly and when he saw he could not stop her so easily, he began backing away from her. Just as he looked behind him to see where he was going, Hermione saw her chance and with a quick flick of her wrist she sent a stunning spell in his direction. It hit him squarely in the shoulder and Malfoy keeled over, his white blonde hair billowing in an invisible draft as he fell backwards. Hermione stepped up to him and prised the book out of his hands. As she lifted it up, she noticed that the energy of the book felt different. In fact the book felt hot and the more she touched it, the hotter it grew. Hermione dropped the book as it started scalding her hands and it fell to the ground with a loud thud. As the book hit the floor, it sprung open and the pages ruffled through it, until it rested on one page. The words on the page started to glow brighter and Hermione sank to her knees to examine the writing. It was the same as the words she had read in the memory, the same haunting lines of the book that spoke of its power, The power and control of this book is controlled by one thing. The greatest thing there is on this earth. No dark magic can pierce its power and meaning, for this power is the greatest there is and the most powerful. All who read these lines, beware this book can be tampered with but only those pure of heart can ever control its powers. Though this time the words were different and so was the energy. It felt to Hermione like the book was infused with dark energy, negativity and evil. Below the phrase, the words, 'Tonight' were glowing brighter and suddenly things clicked in her head. She rushed for her wand and stepped over the book to get to the unconscious form of Malfoy. She pointed her wand at his chest and cried;
"Enervate!" Malfoy's eyes flickered open and he looked up at Hermione looking down at him, her wand still pointing at his chest.
A sneer formed on his face and he said coldly, "Ah the mudblood. I was wondering when you would arrive, you with that snooping fat nose of yours!" He hissed vehemently at her.
"Spare me the snide remarks and childish insults", Hermione said coldly, her voice deathly calm. "I have a wand pointing at your chest so it would do you good to keep quiet and listen to me. What did you do with the book. Its different!"
Malfoy sneered at her and laughed coldly, "Has the 'clever' mudblood not figured it out yet? Well there's something she couldn't understand, that and how to keep a man happy, or isn't that right, you filthy whore. Isn't that why that Weasel dumped you, because you weren't good enough-"but Malfoy couldn't finish his sentence as Hermione had punched his squarely in the face, breaking his nose in the process.
"We are not here to discuss me", Hermione said, her icy voice running a chill down Malfoy's back as her eyes shone a suppressed rage. "Now what did you do with the book?" she cried. "I've unleashed the full power of it and now its on a countdown. I've turned that powerful book into a ticking time bomb. If I were you I'd get away right now, not that it would help you very much as you will get killed anyway!" Malfoy sneered at her wiping away the trickle of blood now coming from his nose.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked coldly, shoving her wand against his chest to let him know she had no qualms about cursing him. Sensing this Malfoy became a little more helpful.
"That book holds a lot of power and we've changed the power so it kills all the mudbloods on this sorry island. Anyone who is part muggle or not a pureblood will be killed in an instant by a blast of power so powerful it will kill people in an instant. It will go off at exactly six pm in the evening. So that means you have exactly ten minutes left", Malfoy sneered laughing at her.
"Oh Jesus Christ!" Hermione said her mouth dropping at the thought of the horrors they were about to unleash. "How do you stop it?"
Malfoy just sneered back at her.
"HOW DO YOU STOP IT?" Hermione cried at him, shoving her wand at his throat. "Don't make me use this Malfoy!"
"You can't!" Malfoy sneered and laughed. "You're too late!" Malfoy laughed his cold laugh, ringing across the cave.
"No!" Hermione cried, thinking fast, her brain reeling from the information she just received. She was so caught up in trying to think clearly, that she did not see the Death Eater coming up behind her, or the wand he had pointing at her back.
If she would have been more careful of her surroundings, Hermione would have heard him utter the curse that would doom her forever.
"AVADA KEDARVA!"
"Of course!" Hermione cried hitting her forehead. "It makes so much sense now!
"Yes I see now, they took you there the first time to try and get the book to work", Harry cried looking at Hermione.
"But obviously it didn't because they would have activated it earlier", Hermione replied nodding her head.
"And the reason they didn't kill you-"
"Was because they knew I was working on the book", Hermione replied finishing his sentence.
"Courtesy of our insider", Harry said.
"We have work to do", Hermione cried and Harry nodded.
"Ok guys, seriously back up a few seconds, what on earth is going on?" Ron asked bewildered.
"Oh thank you for those news Ron, you have just given us enough time to stop doomsday", Hermione replied smiling at him.
Ron smiled back, pleased with her compliment, but then worry grew on his face, "What do you mean doomsday? Hermione, don't tell me you're trying to stop doomsday now!"
"We have to or else we're all dead", Hermione cried.
"I'm not letting you do this, you'll get yourself hurt. Remember the last time you tried to stop them? We had to come save you!" Ron replied worry etched in every line on his face.
"Oh for heaven's sake Ron! I can take care of myself and I don't need you telling me what I can and cannot do!"
"Well I worry about you, because you sure as hell don't worry enough about yourself!" "What is that meant to mean!" Hermione cried.
"That you always get yourself into stupid trouble that could have killed you, or have you forgotten the final battle. It scared me so much then what risk you had taken without even thinking about it and it scares me now. You didn't even realise what was happening!"
"How dare you-"Hermione cried but she was cut off when Harry roared.
"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP FOR JUST ONE MINUTE!"
Ron and Hermione turned around to face Harry, both faces showing a mixture of shock and anger.
"In case you two haven't realised, we have doomsday to stop after all!" Harry cried. "Thank you very much Ron for the info, you have just given us a chance at stopping this, Hermione you go to the Canon's grounds and get everyone out of there while I call on all the Auror groups and meet you there with the rest of the teams. And no hero attempts ok?" Harry said, his chest heaving.
"Fine!" Hermione glowered.
"Oh no, you two are not going off to save the world without me!" Ron cried.
"Ron, this is no time for childish behaviour!" Hermione cried.
"I am not letting you get hurt, either of you!" Ron heaved back.
"Fine Ron, you can come too, but you're only helping us evacuate everyone from the grounds, this is too dangerous!" Harry said and when Hermione glowered at him, he added warningly. "Hermione I'm your superior, don't make me pull rank on you".
"Fine!" Hermione replied rather begrudgingly and she made her way to the Apparition centre in the Atrium, Ron in tow.
"Hermione I-"
"Not now Ron we have work to do", she replied not even turning around as she took out her wand, ready to Disapparate.
"Hermione wait", Ron cried taking hold of her arm, and slowly Hermione turned around to face him. "Please let's not fight. How on earth are we meant to stop this if I can't even depend on you watching my back".
Hermione looked down at her feet and slowly raised her eyes, saying wryly, "Harry said you're only helping us evacuate everyone". Then she added rather quietly, "I would always watch your back". Ron smiled at her, which she returned rather slowly.
"We have to go", Hermione said rather stiffly and flicked her wand and with a loud crack she was gone. Ron sighed, he had almost gotten through to her, but again to no avail. He also flicked his wand and disappeared a second later with a loud crack.
Hermione and Ron Apparated outside the Canon's grounds, in the alleyway that Ron had used earlier in the day to enter the grounds. Hermione was about to walk in, when she stopped and turned to Ron handing him an identification card.
"In case they won't listen to you, use my other id card and order them out of the grounds ok?" she said holding out the card that had only the Ministry crest and ID written on it. Ron took it from her hand and for a brief second both their fingers touched. Hermione felt a tingle, like a dormant supply of energy coming to the surface and she was confused. She looked up to Ron's eyes and they were looking at her, in a way Hermione hadn't seen in many years. She looked back down at her hand, her actions slow and clumsy.
"We had better go now", she said slowly and waited for Ron to open the door.
Ron nodded his head and also took out his wand, unlocking the door. "We had better start off with the changing rooms and the offices, its where the most people are".
Hermione nodded and they made their way through, splitting up as Ron walked away to the right and Hermione made her way along the left.
"Oh and Ron", Hermione cried and Ron turned around, "Tell them there's been a security breach!" Ron smiled and nodded and headed off. She purposely made her way along the outer buildings reaching the office in no time and walking right through without knocking. A secretary came from behind her desk to stop Hermione, but Hermione ignored her, despite her protests and walked right into the office.
What the devil do you want?" an old man cried out as she opened the door.
"I'm Hermione Granger, special agent of the Ministry of Magic and I'm here to evacuate these grounds, there's been a security breach and I want everyone out before the Aurors start arriving", Hermione said in her most commanding voice. With that voice, Hermione could terrify anyone into doing what she wanted to do, but this man was showing quite a bit of resistance, for his eyes were blazing with a suppressed fury.
"I will do nothing of the sort!" he cried back.
"Well then you can get yourself killed, but I will not let that happen on my watch!" Hermione said, trying with all her might to keep her own temper suppressed.
"You had better leave and do what she told you or we could have you arrested for obstructing Auror work", Harry said dangerously and Hermione spun around seeing Harry standing in the doorway, his green eyes blazing. A few Aurors were standing behind him, their wands out.
The man resigned and nodded his head and Hermione relaxed.
"I've got it covered here, go and help Ron, and make sure he knows that he's not involved", Harry said and Hermione nodded, walking past Harry to get to the changing rooms. There she found Ron busy at work urging his fellow team mates out of the grounds.
"Ok I'm special agent Hermione Granger, I want all of you to evacuate the area, and I will hear no butts!" she said in her commanding and authority voice.
"Thanks Hermione, for a bit there they wouldn't believe me, said I was pulling a prank", Ron replied grateful. Hermione nodded in reply.
"We had better make sure they all leave, Harry's teams have split up and are escorting the rest of the grounds", Hermione said.
"Ah good, we don't want them getting killed now", Ron replied.
"And now its your turn to leave", Hermione added.
"What?"
"Harry's explicit orders, you're not to get involved and you will go home, or go to your girlfriends or whatever, but you're not staying here and trying to help out", Hermione said fiercely.
"What, but you need me, I know these grounds off by hart and I helped loads the last time when they had you!" Ron replied just as fiercely.
"There will be no arguing Ron, you're going home. None of us want to see you get hurt", Hermione said her voice growing dangerously quiet, a sign of a sure fire temper coming along.
"No Hermione!" Ron added just as dangerously. "If you think I will stand here and let you go off to get yourself killed, then you're a lot stupider than everyone thought!"
"No more arguing Ron", Hermione said angrily and she made a grab for his hand. For a second Ron thought she would kiss him, and his breath stopped, but all she did was start walking and dragged him along with her.
"Where are we going Hermione?" Ron asked angrily.
"You're going home and no butts!" she replied angrily and dragged him all the way to the side entrance and opened the door for him. "Now leave!"
"I am not going!" Ron said stubbornly yanking his hand away from her grasp and he stood there his arms folded with a frown on his face.
"Fine, then I'll just have to hex you until you do", Hermione said taking out her wand and aiming it at his chest.
"You wouldn't", Ron said his voice wavering as he nervously took a step back and kept his eyes on her wand.
"Oh wouldn't I?" Hermione asked dangerously. Her eyes were glinting and Ron knew she was serious.
"Fine I'll go!" Ron said backing away from her, and glancing only once behind him to see where he was going. He didn't trust Hermione when she was in one of those moods, because she was very likely to hex him, especially after the mood she was in last night. Ron backed all the way out of the Canons grounds and past the gate. He was about to speak, but Hermione came walking towards him and for the second time in twenty four hours she had slammed a door in his face.
"I really have to do something about that!" Ron said rather annoyed as he turned around and walked out of the alleyway.
Hermione sighed as she made her way back to the changing rooms, and found Harry and the rest of the Aurors congregating in front of the blocked up passageway to the underground cave.
"Its blocked up and we were waiting until you could open it up. Its ancient magic and you know how bad I am at that", Harry said as Hermione made her way through the throng to him.
"What took you so long anyway?" he asked curiously as Hermione started tapping the stone wall blocking the passageway would be with her wand.
"Ron wouldn't leave", she replied rather curtly and Harry knew she was in a bad mood. "Why what did you do?" Harry asked nervously, "Because I would rather have a best friend that's intact!"
"I just threatened him until he left. Boy finally came to his senses", Hermione replied curtly. Harry didn't reply for he knew not to press her when she was in such a mood, especially if it was caused by the red-head, lanky best friend that always drove her crazy.
Hermione held her wand tightly as she cried out, "Prior Incantato Practica!" The bricks that had been blocking up the passageway started to crumble and fall down until there was nothing left but rubble at their feet.
"Now you know the deal, capture as many alive as you can and secure the perimeter first. I want someone to guard Hermione as she goes for the book. Kaylee, can I trust on you to keep an eye on her so she doesn't get hit by anything?" Harry called out. Kaylee nodded her head in reply at his question and moved up to stand beside Hermione.
"I'll cover you", she said and Hermione smiled.
"Right lets go!" Harry called out and they made their way down the stairs leading to the cave, going two at a time. When they reached the bottom, the group split in two teams as the first went ahead, leaving the second behind to watch out for more Dark Wizards.
As Hermione and Harry neared the cave, they saw the Blood Kindred gathered around a large bonfire, each one standing in the circle as they chanted some incomprehensible song. "God that's many!" Hermione whispered and Harry nodded.
"Ok we go on three, split into three teams, Hermione you're in the middle with me and I'll protect you as far as I can, then its up to Kaylee. Remember get the book and secure it as fast as you can", Harry whispered, then counted off with his fingers and gave the signal to go. Twenty Aurors ran into the cave, wands shooting spells all around the place, as Hermione ran through the middle with it, her wand ready and Harry by her side dodging curses. Soon Harry was caught up in a duel with a very agile Dark Wizard and it was up to Hermione, and Kaylee by her side, to get to the book. The cave was in pandemonium as Hermione quickly looked around her to get her bearings. All the Aurors were fighting, and even more Dark Wizards seemed to be poring into the cave from what seemed to be all sides. Hermione knew she had only little time left until the Aurors were outnumbered, so she used this quick chance that she had to look for Draco Malfoy, who undoubtedly had the book. She spotted one wizard not fighting, as he stood in the corner away from the rest. In his arms was something that could only be a book. Hermione dodged left and right as she ran zigzagged across the cave to reach Malfoy. Still he hadn't spotted her running towards him and Hermione knew she was in luck. If she could surprise him then she had a big chance of stopping this whole thing, but at that exact same time a Dark Wizard spotted her darting in between people and sent a curse towards her. The curse, though not fatal, hit Hermione squarely in the chest and she collapsed from the pain. Kaylee was quickly by her side, helping her up as Hermione grasped her stomach to stop the pain.
"Come on Hermione!" Kaylee said worried as she looked around her and sent a stunning spell at the Dark Wizard coming towards them. "We have to go!" Hermione nodded her head and started walking again. The scene around her was like something from a dream, the bonfire that was burning in the middle of the cave gave of eerie glimmers of light, the people darting in and out of her view looked ghastly in the flickering light, and the shadows of the battle scene was displayed on the walls of the caves, making the whole scene look ghostly and haunting. As Hermione gathered her strength and ran on, Kaylee behind her, her ears suddenly went quiet and all the noise that was around her, suddenly disappeared. She felt like she was running through a dream, but still Hermione kept on running, making her way towards Malfoy. At last he spotted her, and shot a spell towards, her, but Hermione was quicker. She dodged the spell and rolled to the side, the battle skills she had developed during the second war, came back as vibrant and clear as ever. Her agile body rolled to the side and she sprang up, with the agility of a cat and ran towards Malfoy, her wand out and waiting for the right moment to hit him. Hermione was only dimly aware of Kaylee beside her, fighting with another Dark Wizard, but Hermione wasn't worried. She was a competent fighter and she knew how to dodge a few spells. Kaylee could look after herself. Malfoy, spotting Hermione still running towards him, sent another curse at Hermione, which she deflected quickly and when he saw he could not stop her so easily, he began backing away from her. Just as he looked behind him to see where he was going, Hermione saw her chance and with a quick flick of her wrist she sent a stunning spell in his direction. It hit him squarely in the shoulder and Malfoy keeled over, his white blonde hair billowing in an invisible draft as he fell backwards. Hermione stepped up to him and prised the book out of his hands. As she lifted it up, she noticed that the energy of the book felt different. In fact the book felt hot and the more she touched it, the hotter it grew. Hermione dropped the book as it started scalding her hands and it fell to the ground with a loud thud. As the book hit the floor, it sprung open and the pages ruffled through it, until it rested on one page. The words on the page started to glow brighter and Hermione sank to her knees to examine the writing. It was the same as the words she had read in the memory, the same haunting lines of the book that spoke of its power, The power and control of this book is controlled by one thing. The greatest thing there is on this earth. No dark magic can pierce its power and meaning, for this power is the greatest there is and the most powerful. All who read these lines, beware this book can be tampered with but only those pure of heart can ever control its powers. Though this time the words were different and so was the energy. It felt to Hermione like the book was infused with dark energy, negativity and evil. Below the phrase, the words, 'Tonight' were glowing brighter and suddenly things clicked in her head. She rushed for her wand and stepped over the book to get to the unconscious form of Malfoy. She pointed her wand at his chest and cried;
"Enervate!" Malfoy's eyes flickered open and he looked up at Hermione looking down at him, her wand still pointing at his chest.
A sneer formed on his face and he said coldly, "Ah the mudblood. I was wondering when you would arrive, you with that snooping fat nose of yours!" He hissed vehemently at her.
"Spare me the snide remarks and childish insults", Hermione said coldly, her voice deathly calm. "I have a wand pointing at your chest so it would do you good to keep quiet and listen to me. What did you do with the book. Its different!"
Malfoy sneered at her and laughed coldly, "Has the 'clever' mudblood not figured it out yet? Well there's something she couldn't understand, that and how to keep a man happy, or isn't that right, you filthy whore. Isn't that why that Weasel dumped you, because you weren't good enough-"but Malfoy couldn't finish his sentence as Hermione had punched his squarely in the face, breaking his nose in the process.
"We are not here to discuss me", Hermione said, her icy voice running a chill down Malfoy's back as her eyes shone a suppressed rage. "Now what did you do with the book?" she cried. "I've unleashed the full power of it and now its on a countdown. I've turned that powerful book into a ticking time bomb. If I were you I'd get away right now, not that it would help you very much as you will get killed anyway!" Malfoy sneered at her wiping away the trickle of blood now coming from his nose.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked coldly, shoving her wand against his chest to let him know she had no qualms about cursing him. Sensing this Malfoy became a little more helpful.
"That book holds a lot of power and we've changed the power so it kills all the mudbloods on this sorry island. Anyone who is part muggle or not a pureblood will be killed in an instant by a blast of power so powerful it will kill people in an instant. It will go off at exactly six pm in the evening. So that means you have exactly ten minutes left", Malfoy sneered laughing at her.
"Oh Jesus Christ!" Hermione said her mouth dropping at the thought of the horrors they were about to unleash. "How do you stop it?"
Malfoy just sneered back at her.
"HOW DO YOU STOP IT?" Hermione cried at him, shoving her wand at his throat. "Don't make me use this Malfoy!"
"You can't!" Malfoy sneered and laughed. "You're too late!" Malfoy laughed his cold laugh, ringing across the cave.
"No!" Hermione cried, thinking fast, her brain reeling from the information she just received. She was so caught up in trying to think clearly, that she did not see the Death Eater coming up behind her, or the wand he had pointing at her back.
If she would have been more careful of her surroundings, Hermione would have heard him utter the curse that would doom her forever.
"AVADA KEDARVA!"
