Disclaimer: Still belongs to Rowling. Thank you Ms. Rowling for inspiring us all to explore our imaginations!
Here it is! Long awaited! This was the concept for the rest of the fic. The idea for a spell like this cast in the pentacle came first and then the story.
Chapter Fifteen: Virginity Expended
"Today, the reason we haven't found our grail, the key to who we are as women, is because we look for it in worlds of false power, the very worlds that took it away from us in the first place. Neither men nor work can restore our lost scepter. Nothing in this world can take us home. Only the radar in our hearts can do that, and when it does, ... 'We will light up like lamps, and the world will never be the same again.' "
--Marianne Williamson
"This upright pentacle apparently originated as the symbol of a Goddess who was worshiped over an area which extends from present-day England to Egypt and beyond. Her name was Kore (a.k.a. Car, Cara, Carnac, Ceres, Core, Kar, Karnak, Kaur, Kauri, Ker, Kerma, Kher, Kore, Q're, etc.). As Carmenta she was said to have invented the Roman alphabet. From her alternate Roman name Ceres have evolved many English words: cardiac, carnal, cereal, core, corn, and kernel. The port of Caraalis, (now Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia), was named after her.
Kore's sacred fruit is the apple. When an apple is cut through its equator, both halves will reveal a near-perfect pentagram shape at the core, with each point on the star containing a seed. Many Wiccans, other Neopagans and Roma (Gypsies) continue to cut apples in this way. The Roma refer to the core as the Star of Knowledge."
excerpt from 'The Power of Women'
"Throughout humanity's societies, the Sacred Feminine has been identified with the qualities of wisdom, justice, beauty, and compassion. She is also the irresistible power that destroys old forms and brings new ones into being. The Divine Feminine is this unseen dimension of soul to which we are connected through our instincts, our feelings, and the longing imagination of the heart. She is an invisible flow of energy that brings life into being, sustains and transforms it, and withdraws it into a hidden dimension for rebirth or regeneration. This process is rhythmic, and rhythm is a primary characteristic of the Feminine. In a very Masonic definition of Being, She has been described as being the principle of justice that inspires all human laws, She is the invisible spirit guiding human consciousness.
Creation and destruction, energy and rhythm— Twenty girls come together in the pentacle and leave as women, losing their blood yet remaining innocent.
Choosing to stand in the pentacle, symbol of the feminine, enables casters to connect with their own womanliness and power such that they are able to call upon a goddess to help them. Such purity of heart and spirit amongst these sisters fulfills the destiny of the spell, renewing wards to a height unknown to many.
Virginity expended, innocence preserved."
excerpt from 'The Power of the Innocent'
Preparations for the Yule Ball were going smoothly, but the only problems came when they needed to mark their exact places for the incantation. All of the tables had been removed for decoration's sake and Hermione, Pansy and Melanie had attached invisible ink pads to the bottom of their right shoes. Meticulously they dragged their feet along the floor, tracing the design of the pentagram. Hermione resorted to masking tape, but quickly she saw elves popping in and scraping it up. Thank God the staff wasn't there to witness the fiasco.
After months of stealth, someone eventually noticed. That someone was Dobby.
"Miss, I is knowing what you's up to. You is up to no good," he whispered. Dobby nervously wrung his tattered multi-colored vest made of used ties.
"Dobby, not here." Hermione's eyes went wide and quickly called him to the Room of Requirement, leaving Pansy and Melanie puzzled at her departure.
Hermione's mind raced as she wondered what Dobby could know. He was a talkative elf, and free to talk to whomever he liked. Did he tell Harry? Dumbledore? She knew that the members of SOS had been extremely discreet about talking about the spell nowhere but the Room of Requirement, and only she and Pansy had a copy of the spell book. Of course when she entered the Room of Requirement, the wide-eyed jittery house elf was already standing in the doorway.
"Dobby, what are you talking about?" Hermione asked, not offering any information, closing the door tightly behind her and warding it.
"I knows you is planning to do some magic in the Great Hall. You are marking the floor and we is having to clean it up before he sees. You will get in trouble, Miss. You has been nice to Dobby…"
"Dobby, listen to me very carefully. Did you tell anyone about what you saw?"
"No, Miss." Dobby shook his head furiously, worried she might become angry.
"You are sure, no other elves talked?" Hermione's gaze was intent making sure Dobby wouldn't lie. No real way to know, he had no master and therefore wasn't obligated to tell the truth to anyone.
"Yes, Miss." Dobby was looking a bit nervous, wringing his hands.
"Dobby, I need your help. I am doing a big spell of protection for Hogwarts at the Yule Ball. But it is a surprise. I have been working on it long time. Can you please, please keep it a secret? We've been using invisible ink and masking tape to help me remember where to stand."
"Then we can clean it up, Miss? Dumbledore is wanting to always have a clean castle. The elves was getting very upset, angry that you is writing on the floor."
"So you can see the ink?" Hermione said restlessly.
"Yes, Miss. But we have different ways of seeing, elves do. And I is hearing about the bad rumors about you, and they are wrong."
Hermione blushed a bit and furrowed her brow in confusion at the short elf. "Wrong about what, Dobby?"
"I shouldn't be saying, because I know you'll tell me it's none of my business… but you is never having a… you is a virgin." He said the last word under his breath and then quickly covered his eyes with his hands to ward off any unwanted criticism from the girl.
Hermione was so taken aback by his statement that she shed a tear. "You do see a lot don't you?" She had not thought that the staff who might see the truth were the forgotten ones— the focus of SPEW, the house elves of Hogwarts. They were the unseen, flies on the wall, observing silently everything that happened there.
Big crocodile tears welled in his eyes. "And you is planning to leave, Miss. I know you is. But it's dangerous to go there! You can't, and that bad man," he shuddered. "He is coming here, I know," he whispered.
Hermione knelt in front of Dobby and grew very serious. Their secret was teetering on the precipice of revelation. "Dobby, I need you to help me. I know you have seen a lot, but I need you to trust me. Please don't tell anyone about what you have seen. This is absolutely critical." Dobby started beating his hands to his face.
"Stop, stop, stopstop. Dobby… stop!" Hermione badgered, trying to wrangle his hands away from his face. "I'm not mad at you, but please,"she begged, " I've been working so long. I promise to talk to Dumbledore after the Yule Ball, okay? I promise. But for now this has to be a secret. Between us, understand? Harry Potter doesn't even know."
Dobby looked up hopefully at the girl. "You said I could help you." Dobby brightened.
Oh no, did I say that? Helpful though he might be, Dobby's idea of help in the past included an independent streak which caused bodily injury to Harry,. Though he did work in the kitchens…
"Hey Dobby, maybe you could be helpful…"
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Pansy and Hermione were learning their music, Luna had helped with the Portkeys, Ginny was outlining their class schedules and collecting necessary educational supplies and medical first aid supplies, just in case.
Millie was still barking out instructions to increase the strength of the spell (and their frustration) by insisting that each of them pleasure themselves to the brink of climax and then stop. It was a means of testing their resolve before the casting. They had no idea what they were facing in the spell, only that they were to resist their desires. The book had no way to prepare them so Millicent was making it up as they went along.
Damn it. She had just removed her only outlet. This exercise did not help Hermione's confidence any and since she had enough desire on her own without the dissatisfaction of not fulfilling her physical needs for completion, she decided to abstain from masturbation all together. She was certain her current passionate yearnings could light up Northern London, she did not want to burst into flames by stoking her desire any further. She still had one last class with Snape, and besides which she had other matters to attend to.
Hermione had her work cut out for her. She offered to help Hagrid with preparations for his class, hoping it would lend her opportunities to go out in the forest, but of course with the fear about kidnapping he wouldn't have it. She had to give up and resort to borrowing Harry's cloak during the day on a Saturday, in part so she wouldn't be missed or out after curfew.
After one or two visits she found the perfect spot and began preparing it. She made a list of necessary charms and personal items for the girls. It was snowing already, sure to be a chilly winter. Venturing farther into the Forbidden Forest, she managed to avoid any unwelcome entanglements with the centaurs. Though she did catch the eye of the dove who had been visiting her, a relief to see him there. He followed her as she worked, watching over her. As always, it gave Hermione a strange feeling of tranquility and peace, even at such a time. She also caught sight of a startled white unicorn, barely discernable against the blanket of snow. It made eye contact with her through the invisibility cloak— maybe it could see as well as Dobby could. In a show of respect she bowed low, as she would have for Buckbeak. Ever since then, Hermione had been doing so for every larger creature she met in the forest, showing proper respect— the lack of reverence having caused so many misunderstandings and discord in the wizarding world already.
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It was her last day of research and they still weren't done. They had made incredible headway though, and Snape had told her that she should be proud of the progress they had made at least in eliminating twenty possibilities down to two. Hermione stayed up late in her familiar position on his sofa next to the fire. It was always chilly in the dungeons, especially in December. She covered her legs with her cloak and continued reading.
Snape had already come to adjourn her once, but in response she had said, "Just one more page, Professor. I'm almost done."
He shook his head and finally returned when she nodded off for the second time. It was eleven thirty, but obviously a long day for her. She probably took at least two examinations today, had Prefects rounds, and was still preparing for the Yule Ball. "That is quite enough drooling on my couch I think, Miss Granger." She really hadn't been drooling, though she was perilously close to a snore.
"Huh? Oh." She looked around, not realizing how long she had been to sleep. "I'm sorry. I just really wanted to…" She couldn't suppress a yawn which drowned out the rest of her sentence.
"I know, and it can wait until next term don't you think? It's time to take a break. You may use the workstation if you wish over the Christmas Break. It will still be here." He smiled to himself, her study habits were as exhaustive and demanding as his own. But then, she had a distant look about her. Almost sad. And he didn't quite pick up on it.
She rose to leave finally and he shooed her out the door.
"It will still be here, Miss Granger."
Yeah, but I won't. "Thank you, Professor Snape."
He bottled the still black substance as quickly as he could, without disturbing the surface of the potion too much. Snape waited for Hermione to leave before doing so, anyone would think he looked ridiculous in such an outfit. He was clad from head to toe in a cloak and boots that covered every inch of bare skin. He used a bubble charm to protect his eyes, ears, nose and mouth from the fumes, and dragon hide gloves extended up the lengths of his arms. Snape looked like a freaky spaceman.
Once the potion was bottled, he quickly disposed of the remainder. The cauldron— useable only once, he reduced to a pile of powdery sand. Sweeping it up careful not to disturb the dusty remains, he placed it in a sealed container and discarded it. The Haustum Vigor was noxious in the worst sense. It would be three weeks before Snape would be willing to brew anything else on this table.
He removed his protective clothing for his other simmering potion. Finally after a month of tedious attention, he bottled two batches for the Headmaster. He had not said what it was for, but he obliged him. Snape still owed him much and brewing Polyjuice, though involved was a small enough task not to be considered an inconvenience.
He did find it almost amusing that his two would be Masters both asked him to brew something— the purposes of which he had not the foggiest clue. He shook his head as the Dark Mark burned, scarcely believing that this event could happen soon. Order members were on standby, waiting for word from Dumbledore. Gathering his Death Eater clothes and donning the cold emotional mask of indifference, he took the vial of dark destruction with him outside the Gates of Hogwarts, where he could disapparate.
"Severus, is it ready?" Voldemort hissed.
"Yes, my Lord." Severus bowed as was expected of him and offered the potion to him. "It is highly corrosive. Be cautious when using it." On second thought, don't . Please… feel free to inhale deeply.
The wicked half man smiled in a crooked way, and turned the black vial over in his grasp. "You have done well, Severus."
"Thank you, my Lord. Is there anything else that I may do to be of service?" It was hard for him to find that delicate balance between servitude and groveling, between offering assistance and outright demanding what he was planning.
"No that will be all. And Severus, before you depart. Is there anything unusual happening up at the school lately?"
What was he getting at? "No, my Lord, not particularly. The Yule Ball is next week, but it is a bit different in that the entire school will be present instead of just the upperclassmen. I will try my best to tolerate what will likely be a nightmare of gaiety." Snape said this dryly with as must disgust and revulsion as his could. And he wasn't faking. He wasn't looking forward to it.
"Ah, the sacrifices we make." Voldemort did not disguise the very pleased grin which eerily consumed the whole of his face.
Snape left and shuddered to remember Voldemort's last words. Sacrifices. He always left Snape cold, feeling that there was always some hidden meaning beyond his snakelike words. Snape prepared as much as he could for his inevitable death. It was only a matter of time before the Dark Lord saw through his ruse. It had been unnatural that it had gone on this long.
It was a shame that it would be Potter who would save them all and not someone like him who regularly stood within five feet of the enemy. Snape had a multitude of reasons more than Potter to want to see Voldemort banished to dust. But he would do what he must.
Snape adjourned to his room after another fruitless meeting with the headmaster, once again having nothing useful to report except his unnerving non-verbal cues. Voldemort seemed almost elated when he found out that every student would be at the Yule Ball. He sunk into his leather chair with a glass of whiskey listening to the melancholy tune which he tormented himself with every so often. He had listened to it for years after visits with the Dark Lord. It should be a love song, but it only burned into his mind the irony of his regretted decision to join the Death Eaters, and he imagined Lord Voldemort in place of the audience.
Everytime we say goodbye, I die… a little. Everytime we say goodbye… I wonder why— a little.
Why the Gods above me, must be in the know, think so little of me, they allow you to go…
A little piece of him did die every time Snape was in the Dark Lord's presence. Sometimes he was so filled with cold hatred he could kill everything in his path just to get to him, other times, he felt so hollow that he would take his own life just to end the cruel servitude. But he still owed. Snape wondered every time, why he wasn't dead yet, and why if the Gods weren't merciful were they permitting him to leave each meeting alive, escaping Avada Kedavra once more. Was it punishment? Penance?
He laughed sarcastically at the next line of the song,
When your near there such an air of spring… about it. I can hear a lark somewhere… begin to sing about it.
Once again— even birds were laughing at him and he abruptly cut the music. No more self-pity. The Light may very well be in a full war soon and they still had work to do. He brought himself to his feet, exchanged his whisky glass for the lighter solution of wine and curled up near the fire with the book of Shakespearean Sonnets. It would be nice to be loved in such a way, though it sounded unbearably tragic. Snape hadn't permitted himself any serious relationships in years. What serious? Even flings were few and far between— empty, unfulfilling. It was hard to permit people to get close to him. He could feign interest well enough, but genuine intimacy was difficult for him. His father… well, wasn't a good role model for such things and his mother had been withdrawn for years until her death. They never talked.
He thought on so many students he saw openly kissing in the halls and sneaking in closets. Many of them would never have the opportunity to realize their dreams, careers, families. War was ugly. It had been ugly sixteen years ago and it was still ugly now. Kendra was still missing, though he had a pretty good idea of her whereabouts. He was puzzled as to why they were keeping her at all, if Melanie had been returned. He of course could not retrieve her. Once again he had to play out his role as sadistic bastard and wait for them to release her.
And what would happen to Hermione? Would she die at Harry's side? She used to be the insufferable, foolish know-it-all, but now he wasn't so sure. She could hold her own with the best of them. And her light would be extinguished in war, instead of at a ripe age beside a potions cauldron. Research suited her and the wizarding world would suffer greatly at losing her, never fully realizing the loss. Many of the students could fit that description. Draco was terribly bright, but didn't apply himself. He waited for his father to pave the way for him, and he feelings of entitlement and knowing things were guaranteed held him back. He would likely wind up a Death Eater unless the Dark Lord could be killed beforehand. And Neville— he was following in his parents' footsteps. Ever since his wand had been broken the previous year, his marks were excellent. Many students used their parents wands for either monetary reasons or nostalgia. It didn't mean that they were particularly well-suited for each other.
He spun the wine around in his glass and drained it, reading the poem one more time.
…Who was the fool who said
'Love conquers all?'
Love has damned me forever.
The strains of my heart
Incapacitate me
Yet this body drones on
Going through the motions
Of empty existence…
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Around the corner from the library a nervous seventeen year old boy stood in wait for his target. Hermione rounded the bend to the dark hallway, she was out past curfew again, then she felt a muscular hand snake around and clamp tightly over her mouth. A sharp stab in her side told her that she was in trouble.
"I know you're a virgin, Mudblood and I'll prove it," he hissed, his voice not low enough to lose its familiar tone.
Hermione cried out on pain, but responded as best she could. He spun to face her when she said his name aloud.
"Gregory," she raised a hand up to his surprised face. She had never called him that before, almost no one did. "You don't have to do this…"
"You know nothing, so just shut up!" He yelled, unsure of himself, and backed away from her, sharp thin spear in hand. Her eyes widened in surprise at the length of it, bloody from his painful jab in her side.
"Do you really want to do what the fathers of so many of your own classmates did?! What about them? Would you want that for your sister? Your daughter?!"
He didn't respond and she called after him, barely able to continue. "You don't have to…" She grasped her side and her knees were buckling. Goyle was long gone trying to outrun his own fear at such a frank confrontation.
Before she knew it strong arms were around her and she looked up into the face of Severus Snape. His eyes were filled with anger and concern.
"What happened, Miss Granger?" He whispered in her hair. Her knees gave out and she clasped his arm pulling her with her as she knelt, her body doubled over in pain. She tried to lift her head.
"I think I'm…" Hermione couldn't describe it. She was obviously injured. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so s-sorry." Her tears fell. She wanted to tell him everything, but it was only a few more days. Maybe it was good that he didn't know she was still a virgin.
Snape shook his head. The girl was stabbed and she was confessing. He scooped her up and carried her quickly to the infirmary to be examined. His mind raced with what she had to be sorry for. When he laid her in the bed, he sat by her waiting for Pomfrey who he could hear scurrying up the hall.
"I'm sorry…" She whispered and a tear streaked down her cheek.
"Why? You have nothing to be sorry for." Merlin, why did this girl keep apologizing?
I lied to you. There were so many. She was speechless. Hermione was a bright girl and Snape was observant, but he hadn't any idea how much was on her shoulders this semester.
She finally found her voice and explained about how Goyle grabbed her and stabbed her with the sharp needle. She privately understood what he had done and likely why he had done it. "They take them so young, don't they? It makes them feel like they don't have a choice, I suppose," her quiet voice said sadly. It stunned Snape that she appeared to have a measure of compassion for the man who had assaulted her.
"What did you say to Goyle?" He asked, overhearing part of it but not all. He had waited in the shadows until he could help her. It pained him horribly that he couldn't intervene.
"I told him he didn't have to follow in his father's footsteps. That he could say no."
"No, he can't," Snape said in a defeated tone. There were no choices.
Hermione met his gaze unblinking and said clearly, "Yes, he could, if he wanted to. He could say no. It's just that there are consequences that come with refusing. You just have to ask yourself if it's worth it."
She wasn't talking anymore about Goyle, Hermione was talking about herself. But all Snape could conclude was that it was Hermione's subtle way of asking why he ever joined the Death Eaters. Their conversation could not continue due to the arrival of a frantic Poppy.
She took one look at her pierced side and gasped. When she pressed on it in her examination Hermione promptly passed out.
"Severus! What happened? This is…" Poppy had red angry eyes and shook with fury at her patient. The site around the puncture wound was growing grey and black at the edges. Thin spidery purple veins protruded from the center where she was bleeding heavily.
"Dark magic, I know, Poppy. I don't believe it's fatal." Snape said honestly. Goyle wasn't meaning to kill her. The needle had obviously extracted some of her tissue and he had a fairly good guess what its purpose was. Goyle was being initiated, and often a rite of initiation was to retrieve some item very difficult to obtain. He shuddered to think what Voldemort wanted with her tissue, skin and blood.
That was cold comfort to Madam Pomfrey's ears. "Not fatal?! I can't treat her, Severus! I can make the bleeding stop and give her something for pain, but I can't do more for her without that object." Poppy was tearful, but administered several potions and charms in succession. Hermione began to stir.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione choked out a whisper.
"Yes, dear?" She put a cool reassuring hand on her forehead.
"Am I okay? Can I go back to my dormitory? I think I'd be more comfortable there." Hermione had heard some of their conversation.
Poppy surprised her with the answer. "Yes, you may if you wish. I'll give you some potion to take in the morning, but I don't want you moving much in bed." She shook her head. There was nothing more she can do. She bandaged Hermione while Snape waited outside. He was searching for a way to talk with Goyle without tipping his hand but was at a loss. Draco might have known something but he told his blasted father everything.
Poppy transported an immobile Hermione back to her Common Room with Snape, who accompanied them as far as the Fat Lady. McGonagall followed closely behind, alerted by the portrait hole's activity at the late hour. It was a warning she wished she had placed on the door far earlier than tonight. Snape filled her in at the entrance and McGonagall was looking more ferocious by the minute. She knew there was nothing that could be done to Mister Goyle. Only if one of the other Heads of House had caught him would there be punishment.
Ginny was still up, and turned from her seat on the couch looking up from her incantations. She immediately stopped tapping her feet when she saw Hermione.
Hermione was levitated through the portrait hole and Ginny could see the dark gaze of Snape from her seat. She sprung up to her friend's aide and Poppy explained.
"Now don't let her move, alright? I'm going to put her in here…" Poppy opened the door to a private room adjacent to the common room, revealing a large double bed and bathroom in the room. It appeared to be designed for the infirm and Hermione wondered when the room had been employed last.
Ginny could see in Madam Pomfrey's eyes that what happened was serious. Ginny bit her tongue and waited to get the story from Hermione. Everyone left, after McGonagall passed some words of comfort. She mentioned that perhaps Albus would allow her parents to come see her. Hermione missed her parents, but she wasn't so sure she wanted to see them so close to the big day. She felt only a bit injured, but she'd survive. She knew something was very wrong though, and felt it in her skin.
Once they left Ginny asked the obvious question. "Hermione, what happened?"
Hermione left nothing out, and Ginny was shocked. "What if Snape goes to a meeting," she whispered low so that portraits couldn't hear, "and You-Know-Who finds out we all lied from Goyle's little sample? He'll kill him. He'll think Snape lied deliberately."
"What exactly did you say to Snape?"
"I almost told him. I wanted to, but it's better that he doesn't know. He's supposed to believe we're not virgins. It'll look strange if he found out." Hermione explained.
"We only have few more days to go." Ginny looked at her wound, the spidery veins peeking out from her bandage the blackness spreading. She paled. "Stay here Hermione. I'll be right back, promise. Don't move, you heard Madam Pomfrey."
"Where are you going?" Hermione called.
"Don't worry." Ginny left for the common room but instead of running to the boys dorms like she would have normally she turned somewhere else. She used the Protean Charm she'd been practicing. Luna had shown her how and charmed her clasp to summon as many of SOS members as she could. "Meet ASAP Gryf Portrait hole. Emergency."
The print was infinitesimally small, but Pansy could read it. She dashed to her classmates beds and surreptitiously snuck out of their dorm and down the hall, meeting up with Luna and Susan on the way. Ginny opened the portrait hole from inside, having already retrieved the book from Hermione's room. "Come on, we haven't got much time."
Nineteen girls slipped into the room where Hermione lay and many gasped their exclamations of worry.
Ginny led. "Hermione was stabbed by something dark. Now is our chance to help her with one of these incantations. We are doing so much already. Lets' do something to help her."
Hermione laid there in surprise. She couldn't believe she was on the receiving end of such magic. Pansy flipped through to a pre-marked page. They had made a list of several emergency spells and Hermione had already made a number of healing potions.
The incantation was simple and all of the girls laid their hands on her puncture wound in succession. In Latin they spoke aloud, chanting over and over again… "Integro noster soror, integro noster soror…" Heal our sister.
Hermione felt tingling through her body and felt a sharp stab of pain from the inside out. As soon as the pain came, it vanished and the wound with it. All of the girls felt slightly physically weakened by the experience, but also strengthened in a way. In that moment they all felt a bond as strong as ever amongst their group. They were moved beyond words at what they could do, and none in that moment regretted their decision to remain celibate. The Power of the Innocent.
The Slytherins left immediately, such a large number gone from their beds would be noticed rapidly. Besides after what Ginny had said, they had some housekeeping to take care of.
Some of the other members left also after wishing Hermione well. This included Lisa Turpin, who could have her Prefect status pulled from her for breaking this many school rules. Luna, Susan, Natalie and Ginny stayed behind with Hermione when an angry McGonagall arrived to confront them on their presence.
"Miss Granger is supposed to be getting her rest. Your visit could have waited until the morning." McGonagall was too upset to dock points. It was enough that the girls were safe. "You, Miss Lovegood, need to return to your dorm as well as you, Miss Bones. I will take you myself."
She glared at Ginny who had obviously fetched her friends, though she was surprised that Ron and Harry weren't there. "Professor McGonagall?" Hermione called out. "Can we keep this between us? I don't want them to worry, you know how they get. There's nothing they can do."
She nodded painfully, surprised that Hermione would deliberately keep her two closest friends away from such an important event, but understanding that she was doing it for their good. "Very well, Miss Granger. Now get some sleep."
Hermione was already tucked deep under the heavy covers. Ginny crawled in with her.
"Thanks, Ginny."
"Your welcome, sis."
The next morning it was all over the school. Goyle was in the hospital wing. Evidently, he had been beaten and hexed to an almost unrecognizable bloody pulp, attacked in the middle of the night, found with a pillowcase over his head.
When Snape stormed off to Gryffindor to retrieve the usual suspects, he spied a few of his Slytherin group soaking their knuckles in cloths doused with essence of Murtlap. Still others applied concealing cream in a corner of a hallway. Pansy, Linda, Roberta, Millicent, and several others were having a good laugh. Apparently, word had gotten out and the young ladies here weren't too happy at what they heard.
Finally, in their own way, they had gotten some retribution for Kendra and Melanie. At least the Slytherins had brought him to some justice. They were nicer than Snape would've been, if he had his own way of dispensing punishment. He found himself extremely protective of her of late, noticing her interaction with others in the halls, remembering her prayers in the Cathedral last summer. She was a unique young lady… and a dedicated researcher. In the Veritaserum trials, they had narrowed down the list from twenty possible substitutes to two.
It was a shock to everyone come Monday when Hermione attended class, fully recovered from her mysterious illness which she described was a flu. "Except no one ever got their own room from getting a cold," Harry noted.
Poppy checked her twice and she was much improved, in fact perfectly healed from a condition that the mediwitch had said she had not a cure for. They all just thanked Merlin for such a miracle of magic. While Madam Pomfrey accepted from time to time that there were things that she couldn't explain, Professor Snape did not. He was however, so preoccupied with discovering the plans Voldemort had for his potion that he found he had no time to pursue that line of thought.
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The Great Hall was usually covered by tables and such. The masking tape was covered by potted baby Christmas trees, long benches, and painted emblems on the floor which could be removed later. The ink was invisible and the elves had nervously agreed to keep quiet at least for a few more days. Many elves threw Hermione angry glances. She was again thwarting their sacred duties to serve, but they also saw the truth in her eyes when she said this was necessary. Dobby had promised and Dobby did not lie to other house elves.
Pansy groaned. "I take back what I said about this being a good idea. This sucks. Look at this one." Seeing the hideous choice, Hermione made a sour face. "Can I hit you again?" Pansy asked.
They had been practicing for weeks, laughing at the insane nonsense of some of the lines. They weren't afraid of being too nervous, they were more afraid of laughing their way through some of the sappier requests.
"Okay, we are NOT singing 'My Heart Will Go On.' I refuse," Pansy said disgusted.
"Eww, don't even mention it… urgh." Hermione made a face and held it at the edge like an old smelly sock and dropped it in the wastebasket.
Hermione reached her hand in the box and fished out another slip of paper. It had almost disappeared in the bottom having been rolled into a minute scroll. She froze when she saw the song requested, recognizing the familiar scrawl of the object of her desire.
"What is it?" Pansy asked.
"I'll take this one," Hermione said, plastering a false expression of calm on her face. Gooseflesh covered her skin at the thought of his request, an intimate song she could not have chosen better herself. And it would in essence, be a goodbye. He just wouldn't know it at the time.
Hermione had given Pansy several recordings of Muggle tunes that had been requested to see which ones she might be interested in performing. On one of the albums she became particularly moved by the artist's talent. It was perfectly within her range. When one of the songs hit a little too close to home she knew what she would sing. She was making her own request. Even though Draco wouldn't know it was her, she relished the thought of reading him the riot act in front of the whole school. He had no idea how much he had hurt her. Rat bastard.
Now if she could just sing it without choking on the lyrics…
-----------
They were meeting to make their final preparations for the spell, going over again for the umpteenth time their places, the incantation, confirming with one another their virginal status and that no one was having second thoughts.
Hermione was nervous to talk with the girls about her suggestion, so it was a relief to have Luna start out by discussing something cheerful. The girls were sipping hot cocoa on an odd assortment of couches. They pampered themselves regularly, as they were about to make do with very little— they were living it up while they could.
"Merry Christmas, Lisa… Merry Christmas, Millie… Merry Christmas, Pansy… Merry Christmas, Linda…" Luna said walking around the circle of girls in their usual seating arrangement.
"Um, Luna? Christmas isn't here yet," Roberta corrected, turning the shiny package over in her hands.
Luna just hummed a happy tune as she continued passing out the little wrapped gifts. "Of course not silly, but it is for us. Merry Christmas, Roberta…"
"Oooh… What is this?" Linda asked pulling her necklace from it's box.
"Don't open it yet, Linda. These are your portkeys."
"Shit. You made all of these?" Millicent asked, holding up her shiny, gold heart-shaped locket.
Luna nodded and everyone was impressed. Portkeys weren't easy to charm and it was dangerous to be caught with an unauthorized portkey, particularly— Hermione imagined, if one was underage.
"We can wear them at the Yule Ball. Merry Christmas, Susan… And when the time is right, you can open them and touch the hollow part inside and slurp…"
"We're outta here!" Linda exclaimed. "Cool."
"And when you finish, it's still a nice necklace to have when you're done. Merry Christmas, Natalie…" Luna continued her rounds.
Luna had gone out of her way to choose them for people. They were all different lockets, and each one had their name inscribed on the back. It was a kind gesture to people who, before the group's formation, had not always been nice to her. Luna had plenty of friends since her participation in the DA and SOS. It wasn't nearly at difficult to locate her missing belongings as it was previous years, and she had lots of help in retrieving her things from various locations around Hogwarts.
When everyone had received their gifts Pansy did a recap. "Alright, we all have the candles, the lockets, Hermione is packing for all of us so be sure and bring your belongings—pack lightly please, we are not going to the Swiss Alps— to the next meeting so they can go in the bag. Natalie, our resident seamstress has made and altered our robes…" There was applause all around for the exceptional work of Natalie.
"Do they all fit?" Natalie asked, and the girls nodded.
"Melanie is our go to girl," Pansy winked at her and pointed her finger with a snap. Melanie attended all meetings but felt a little out of use; she was their emergency back-up. "So that if anything happens during the spell, she can help us. Melanie, do you have the stopwatch yet?"
"Yes. I borrowed one from Madame Hooch. She had several," Melanie reported.
Hermione and Pansy had spent a lot of time ranking each member according to desire. The girls with the strongest feelings towards the objects of desire would stand at the five points, and the next five at the intersecting lines of the star. The last ten girls would stand on the circle of the pentacle. Of course several girls claimed to have strong desire, but what decided it was age and love. No one was surprised to hear that Lisa and Ginny were in love. Millicent, Ginny and Pansy gasped when Hermione volunteered her condition.
"You've got to be joking." Ginny was stunned. "You're one of my best friends and you never told me. Who is it?"
"I can't talk about it, I'm sorry." Hermione looked painfully away, covering an open mouth with her hands, trying to blink back tears. Millie mercifully bit her tongue, knowing she didn't want to be scrutinized over her choice.
Pansy identified with her, maybe she wasn't the only one to have a sour experience with love. Love, lust, she couldn't identify it. She just knew she was still fiercely attracted to Draco and at the same time she wanted to wring his ferret neck.
Melanie interrupted the painful silence. "Remember at least one of you has to hang on for at least 36 seconds. I know it doesn't seem like that long, but I imagine when we get there it'll feel like an eternity."
"We know, Melanie. Thanks," Pansy said. They'd been over this a million times. They had no reassurances that they would succeed.
"We agree to keep our clasps with us at all times now just in case of emergency, no shagging…" Pansy muttered under her breath, "and Millie, Mistress of Desire—no shagging, is available to help you 24 hours a day if you have need— no shagging."
Laughter ensued followed by exclamations of , "We know, we know, no shagging!"
Hermione couldn't delay any longer, their meeting was drawing to a close. "I have an item for discussion, and I have waited until now to bring it up because I have only recently found a solution. Many of you have heard of how valuable, in fact priceless even one drop of virginal blood is." Nervous glances shot around the room. "I think it would be a wasted opportunity for us not to attempt to collect our blood during the ceremony."
"How in the hell do we do that?!" Millicent laughed. It was a joke.
"In front of everyone?" Orla asked, embarrassed.
"Yeah," Linda and Tracey said together.
"Hold up, it won't be that public. But it may be… awkward," Hermione admitted.
Hermione explained what collecting the blood would entail and she held up an example of what they would use. Several of the girls paled.
"We have to use that?" asked Emma shyly.
"There's no other way?" Hermione shook her head.
"And it won't break?" inquired Marietta skeptically
"No, it should be fine," Hermione assured them.
"Wait a second, You-Know-Who was trying to get all of this blood before. If we save it, can't he just use it to bring down the wards?" Luna asked studiously.
"No, that's covered in the book too. Don't worry. I'm in." Pansy led, and Hermione handed her a small glass tube. It was a fantastic idea. Hermione had been pouring over the potions opportunities for months and Pansy knew the value of such strong healing balms and remedies. They needed all the help they could get. Hermione had already made as many potions as she could to take with them, she doubted they would have the ability to brew once they were away.
"I must encourage you to consider participating, so many healing potions and medicines could be made from this. I've made a pomade in advance that we can take with us on our little break. It will be effective as soon as the blood is added. We won't be able to use magic once we leave and it will be helpful for us to have as many potions available as possible, in case of emergency."
"Where are we going, Hermione?" Lisa asked.
"It's safer not to say. But I have made a list of spells we should cast immediately on our arrival and then cease using magic so our whereabouts are not discovered. Pansy and I have agreed to be the ones to perform magic in case of emergency— though I will cast first because I am possibly more likely to get off if I should ever be prosecuted, since I am of legal age."
"Can you apparate?" A nervous Linda asked.
"I got my license last week," Hermione said. "But they have a way to track that, so we shouldn't use it unless we want to be found."
The girls chatted and left, leaving in spurts, until only Hermione and Pansy remained. They were still practicing for the Ball.
"So have you told him how you feel?" Pansy asked quietly, not looking at her and sorting through music she wasn't really reading.
"Can't. He wouldn't…" She drew in a shaky breath and let it out. "I can't tell him."
After a moment or two, Hermione inquired about Draco. "And you? Have you talked to…"
"No." Pansy's voice was hollow. "Why him? Why does have to be him?" Hermione's thoughts exactly. They were both doomed.
Hermione laid out her clothes, not at all the ones she had originally expected to wear for the ball. She left the beautiful silk robes neatly hung in her closet for her return. The white silky gown that Natalie had designed was waiting for her and she transfigured her robes to cover a bit more than they normally did, making the length to the floor instead of to her ankle and having the front overlap.
The bag to the right of her bed was the size of a satchel, yet it was as bottomless as Moody's trunk. She could not shrink and unshrink things after their trip, so she had invested the remainder of the Galleons she had in her drawer to make the purchase. It was valuable and she told herself she could keep it all her life. If she indeed lived a long time.
Hermione wrote several letters in the event something bad should happen. She wrote a very long one to her parents, to Dumbledore, to Harry and Ron, to Ginny, to Pansy, and an especially difficult one to Severus Snape. There were so many things she wanted to tell him, and she suspected they were things a man in his position needed to hear. She wondered if at this rate, she'd ever get the chance. And finally she made a will. She was emotionally detached as she did this, as if she were writing it for someone else. She took out her ink and good parchment and wrote in her most flowery hand. At least in the event of her death, Severus would know who had penned his work.
She wrote another letter, one she expected would be read by a shocked and angry Headmaster if he was still in the dark. Hermione had her doubts, but she hadn't checked them out. Dumbledore wasn't a man you could put much past, certainly not in his own school. She wanted to write another one to Severus as well, but that could wait.
Finally she was packed, yet her room still looked lived in, leaving enough of herself behind that it wouldn't look suspicious. Everyone expected that Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione would stay behind for the holidays.
Ginny stood in the door, dressed in her formal dress robes over the white gown underneath. Her hair was pinned up in an elaborate way on the back of her head, courtesy of Lavender and Pavarti couture.
"All ready?" Ginny asked.
"As I'll ever be."
Hermione touched up her makeup, heavy handed with the lipstick and rouge. She adjusted the rather flamboyant attire that hugged her curves and donned the cloak over it, carrying her hanging bags behind her. Dumbledore met her at the portrait hole with a vial. She drank a sip immediately, and recalled her strong urge to retch from the second year. Still foul as ever. Before she knew it she had long silky black hair and deep olive skin. She was a tall bombshell, and her dress was tighter still, but not uncomfortable. She slipped the vial in her pocket to maintain the look each hour.
"You are for the next few hours, Fiona Whittier. Your counterpart Monica Bruce is already awaiting you at the back of the hall. Good luck, Miss Whittier."
"It's Fiona to you, and thank you, sir." Hermione said in her own voice, cognizant of her need to disguise it.
Hermione took the back way to the Great Hall. Everyone was still getting ready, except for twenty, overly-prepared, nervous girls with butterflies. She saw Pansy at the back doors where she was dressing behind a curtain.
"Hey." Pansy said.
"Hey."
"Is that the bag?" She gestured to the bottomless suitcase that held all of their belongings.
"Yeah." With a one word vocabulary, how was she going to sing to the whole school?
"You got everything?"
"Uh huh." Hermione was getting more nervous. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the music. They taped a list to the floor in front of them with their selections. The orchestra was impressive, instruments flanking them on each side and a grand piano for Hermione to play when necessary.
Dumbledore arrived with a camera and took a quick picture of the pair, who tried their best to keep a light spirit about themselves when it was shot. Magical pictures had a unique way of telling far more than a thousand words. Not terribly much longer there was a large easel in front of the Great Hall with the pair of foxy Polyjuiced entertainment. The caption underneath read:
One Night Only— Fiona Whittier and Monica Bruce!
Their faces looked as if they hid some mysterious secret, making them look all the more sultry. Suddenly, as the guests walked past, Fiona and Monica made suggestive kissy faces toward passers-by and primped themselves, fiddling with their hair and makeup. Several of the ogling boys were craning their necks as they walked by the marquee, being yanked along by their dates. If the attendees only knew…
The students began to file in to the elaborately decorated hall. And there had been no insignificant amount of grumbling that the younger students were attending, but there was really no disturbance. They played exploding snap in the corners of the hall and students frequently segregated themselves along their class lines, the younger students not really bothering the older ones.
The music got under way until all of the students arrived. Fiona and Monica wouldn't go on until everyone was there. Hermione peered through the tall red velvet curtain.
"Any sign of Malfoy?"
Hermione shot her an inquiring look.
"Senior." She rolled her eyes and then looked herself. "Nope. Well, well. Will you look at that…"
Millicent strode in the room looking almost unrecognizably pretty. She had waxed her eyebrows and trimmed her hair, allowing her Slytherin sisters many liberties with a wand and make-up. She walked in on the arm of Neville Longbottom. He was looking mighty proud of himself and not at all showing signs of sheepishness or embarrassment at coming to the dance with the student voted "Most Likely to Kick Your Ass". Millie was breaking all the rules tonight. Neville was being quite the gentleman.
Ron gaped in surprise as did his date, Daphne Greengrass. She had finally relented after he asked her out for the fifth time. Seeing Neville's unapologetic attitude, Ron took a page out of his book and put his shoulders back.
Millicent sauntered her way over to an unaccompanied Melanie.
"Hey, Mel. No date?"
"Went stag." She wanted all men and boys as far away from her as possible. "So, Neville was the big secret huh? You look good together." Melanie nudged her playfully.
"You think so?" Millicent suppressed a smile.
"Yeah, he's sweet to you. It shows."
"Yeah, he is isn't he?" Millicent shot him a smile and wink as he walked back with their drinks. She slipped the tiny box into Melanie's pocket. Millicent's voice abruptly changed to a harsh growl. "Put him on his back, Melanie." The topic had changed to business.
"What is this?" Melanie asked, fingering the small case.
"Toxic dart."
"You got this from that book didn't you? This is dark magic, this is."
Who me? "It's not dark. It's… grey." Millicent feigned an innocent look.
Grey, my arse. "Will it kill him?" She whispered.
"Only if you let it go too long before you administer the antidote," Millie said quietly with a furtive look and slipped her a vial. "Take him out."
Melanie looked over to Neville who was trying to walk carefully with the overly full glasses. They were sloshing, and he was sweet, but still kind of klutzy.
"What do you think your mum will say when she finds out you're seeing a Gryffindor?"
"Melanie, somehow, I don't think that's going to be the first question on her lips after this little piece of magic."
Too true.
-----------
She was a beautiful svelte woman, with a velvety voice utterly wasted on such bad song lyrics. Fiona was dressed in a vintage twenties dress which accentuated her cleavage, hips and small waist. The colors had been charmed, multicolored in several places to make it look more modern and outrageous. She was not unpleasant to look at. Most of the selections that students had made were recent additions to a genre of music Snape wanted no part of.
Disguised as witches no one recognized, save Dumbledore— Pansy and Hermione sang exceptionally well despite the tune.
"I near a wind
Whistling air
Whispering in my ear
Boy mercury shootin' through every degree
Ooo girl dancin' down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel..."
All of the students screamed when they began to sing 'Roam.' Hermione had fantasized about having the B-52's sing at the Yule Ball, but there was no way they could afford their fees. They were like the Beatles of the wizarding community, their music had no time. The most successful wizarding band had crossed over, almost permanently into Muggle pop culture. Well, the students would have to settle for Fiona and Monica and they were doing a great job of it, despite the missing voice of the man. Pansy did an admirable job of singing Fred's parts in her lower register which encouraged amused laughter from the crowd of dancing students below the elevated platform.
They launched straight into 'Revolution Earth' the second B-52's request and Hermione was in full swing.
…Then we know that we're alive
If we weren't
Sure before
I reach for you by my side and soar
Revolution earth
On gliding fireworks
Revolution earth
Rolling under us
The world is turning on gliding fireworks
You beside me
Revolution earth…
"Oh my God. Ginny? That's Hermione! I know it is," Harry spun to face Fiona, scrutinizing her look.
"What are you talking about?" She tried to steer him away from her sister and help him focus on dancing.
"Her!" He pointed and Ginny slapped his hand down to his side.
"How do you figure?" Ginny played dumb, trying to cover for her friend.
"That's her favorite song, I saw her rockin' out to it on her headphones during the summer! Can't you tell? Just look!"
"Harry! Keep your voice down," Ginny hissed in a whisper.
"You knew." Harry fumed.
"Yes, I knew, now shut up and dance with me," she said grabbing his hand and pulling it to her waist. "There's a reason that she wanted this to be kept secret."
Harry shot frequent looks in the direction of the entertainment, still impressed that one of his best friends possessed such a hidden talent. And if Fiona was Hermione, who was singing with her? She had been a mystery a lot of the school year, taking a back seat in the DA and studying more than she should have needed. Harry was easily distracted by the sight of Ginny. He was half worried she would stand him up, as she had avoided him for nearly two weeks. The physical contact now was unbearable.
"You beside me revolution earth, Do do do… Dodododo do do do…"
Pansy and Hermione decided to save the best for last, knowing they would be unable to sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat after the last two songs of the evening.
Pansy had dressed in a full length, tight fitting black leather dress, from an entirely different era than what Hermione had chosen. Monica had dark skin and tattoos, beautiful dark curly hair and daring eyes. If Hermione was Veronica Lake, Pansy was dressed as Courtney Love. Monica approached the audience and located the object of her desire and hatred. It was impossible to make eye contact at this distance and have Draco recognize that she was singing to him, but she knew and that's what was important. She felt the painful notes rise up from her belly through her throat and into her head. 'Why you? Why did you treat me that way?'
I keep on fallin'… in… and out of love—
With you.
Sometimes I love ya,
Sometimes you make me blue
Sometimes I feel good…
At times I feel used—
Lovin' you darlin', makes me so confused.
Hermione played piano to accompany her, without interference of instruments. Pansy needed to sing at her own pace.
I keep on fallin'
in and out… of love— with you…
I never— loved someone… the way that I… loved you
I never felt this a-way
How do you give me so much pleasure?
And cause me so much pain?
Just when I think… I've taken more than would a fool…
I start fallin', back in love with you.
I… ke-ep on fallin'
in and out… of love, with you…
I… never loved someone… the way that I, loved you
Aw, aw , oh, oh fa-allin'… Fallin'…Pansy was spent, hung her head, unable to appreciate the huge applause from the crowd— her peers cheering for an awesome and moving performance. She was too caught up in her own pain.
Hermione remained on the stage, gathering herself to play and sing at the same time. She had practiced for weeks, a song she knew so well, to get it just right. She looked right at him. Snape was distracted, looking like he wished to leave and at the first chord, caught his attention. She took a deep cleansing breath as she played the first arpeggio…
Everytime we say goodbye… I die… a little—Everytime we say goodbye…
I wonder why— a little.
Why the Gods above me, must be in the know…
Think so little of me…They allow you… to go?
Her words were sung slowly, almost spoken… as she reminisced about the year. Stir fry, the leather chair, his smell in Hogsmeade, the calligraphy… their research. Why do I love you so much? It was all coming to an end. Tears edged toward the corners of her eyes.
When your near there such an air of spring… about it.
I can hear a lark somewhere… begin to sing about it.
There's no love song finer, but how strange… the change… from major to minor…
Everytime we say good… bye.
As the interlude of a French tune were played out by an unmanned accordion, Snape stood nearly paralyzed at her words. Fiona Whittier sang with such conviction. He felt like she was singing right to him. The song lost its previous bittersweet significance and was replaced with the possibility of unlocking a part of himself he hadn't acknowledged in years. Life isn't all about duty, honor, and sacrifice.
Her voice was so quiet, nearly a whisper as it broke breathily over the goodbyes.
When your near there such an air of spring… about it.
I can hear a lark somewhere… begin to sing about it.
There's no love song finer, but how strange… the change… from major to minor…
Everytime we say good… bye.
It was the conclusion and the instruments played ordinary waltzes as Fiona Whitter adjourned to the rear of the hall to change.
He was curious for himself, and decided to inquire where he could hear her sing again. Though he wasn't quite sure if that was it… entirely. She had stirred something loose in him, and he hadn't felt that way in a long time.
"Fiona?" Hermione could hear Severus's silky tones carry into the back hall.
Pansy had already changed and looked up at him in surprise, and hidden disgust. She left quickly, bidding him a good evening.
She could scarcely believe her ears. She was already transforming as she slipped into her white gown. He spied her through the silk dressing screen and turned to give a bit of privacy. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her throw the tight-fitting satin number over the screen. Hermione quickly threw on her long dress robes over her white ceremonial gown and emerged.
He looked at her puzzled. She still resembled Fiona Whittier too much and she noticed her straight black hair and olive skin remained. The Polyjuice wore off, and she transformed quickly— the light dawned on him. "I'm sorry," Hermione said looking him straight in the eye. "You just missed her."
He should have known. And he couldn't speak. No wonder something looked familiar about her.
"I hope you enjoyed it, though I'm sure not all of the music was to your liking." She excused herself and took a heavy bag with her depositing it by the Christmas tree on the back left of the hall.
When Snape finally found his voice, she was gone. "It was beautiful." Beautiful. He felt a strange tugging toward her, yet disturbed that this was his student. How hadn't he noticed her? How didn't he see the similarities between Fiona Whittier and Myra Winters?
He rejoined the teachers on the right side of the room. He, Lupin, McGonagall, and Dumbledore were standing rather close together. Snape shot the Headmaster a scolding look, "You could have said something you know…" Dumbledore shrugged and pretended he didn't know what his potions master was talking about.
Seeing Hermione come into the room, all of the girls separated for their places. They stood just adjacent to the pieces of masked tape and potted plants.
The members of the DA were panicking a bit to see the infamous Death Eater stroll into the room near midnight. All wands were at the ready. Neville was wondering where Millicent had gone and Harry felt that Ginny was standing too far from him for his own comfort.
She gave the first signal. Hands were in their pockets, gripping the votives.
At least Lucius waited until the end of the Ball to show. He finally emerged into the room and Hermione took it upon herself to introduce him. "Sonorus," she whispered to her voice box. The music stopped. Her voice boomed over the conversations and shuffling of feet. "May I have your attention!" The students gathered to the middle of the room. "I hope this has been another wonderful Yule Ball…" Applause emerged from every corner. "And I have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Lucius Malfoy, here on behalf of the school governing board. Would you like to say a few words?" The platinum menace was already striding into the middle of the hall, meeting Hermione's determined gaze.
She gave the second signal. Hands were out of their pockets, candles in hand.
He opened his mouth to speak and everything happened at once.
In a single moment, Lucius had pulled a long metal rod from his cloak, slamming it in the woodfloor. It poked a minute hole in the silky billowing parachute that represented Hogwarts' wards. And it was beginning to rip. The third signal was not necessary.
Somewhere in Voldemort's presence, fifty faithful servants stood by waiting to apparate. "Just a little bit wider now."
All of the girls shifted slightly to the right or left kneeling to activate their candles in one united fluid motion, all potted Christmas trees were kicked aside. Before anyone could blink the pentacle shown a fiery blue whose light danced along the floor, illuminating each of the girls. Three of the teachers and a few students had managed to cast spells, but they immediately vanished— the red, green and gold lights were absorbed into the floor adding to the magic contained in the pentacle. They had been sucked into the spell, which had created a vacuum of magic in the circle. No one could move except the twenty. No witch or wizard could cast anything.
Millicent touched Melanie's arm in the same instant to free her for movement and Melanie's dart flew. Lucius collapsed suddenly on the ground, dropping the device. Melanie reached in her pocket and drank a strengthening potion, discarding it on the nearby table. She wove through the frozen students, careful not to touch any of them. She easily hoisted the unconscious Lucius onto her shoulder and dragged him to the outside of the circle, though she would've preferred it had been by his hair. She dumped him in a heap by the Christmas tree. He looked very dead.
"What have you done to my father?!" Draco screamed.
"Shut up, Draco!" Melanie fished out a roll of duct tape and forcefully held it up for all to see, having no magic in her wand to help ameliorate the situation. She ripped out a piece and threatened, "None of you can move and we don't have any time, so shut up or you will be gagged."
"What is the meaning of this?" Minerva exclaimed, unable to contain her inner authority. Melanie approached her with a determined expression and another sound of ripping tape. Minerva clamped her mouth shut, but she looked ready to hex someone. And she looked afraid.
All the students did. As they should've been. SOS was in control now.
"Let's go!" Pansy exclaimed setting a clapping pace. Snape's eyes widened as he recognized what had been played as a 'game' in the girls' dorms of Slytherin House.
All looked into the middle of the cast circle as the tiny tear in space began to widen.
One round of rhythmic clapping and then two. On the second pass they were in perfect unison and on the first beat of the third round they began to chant in Latin, throwing their arms out wide. It sounded almost like singing, hypnotic.
"Create desire in my loins like a flame… My body refuses each calling to the light…
Surging within me threatens my hold… Both certain and pure, I keep my control…
No to passions which tempt my soul… No to the cries of my lover's hark…
Build a wall to protect me like no other… My will holds the power of a thousand virgins…
The strength of goddesses lie before us... We are ready… Challenge us!"
When the incantation was completed, a wave of magic imploded on the center of the circle and rebounded on itself exploding back toward the witches. The entire room was bathed in light.
Remus looked on in awe, realizing at once what had happened. Immediately Minerva whispered the question, "What is happening to them, Remus?"
"They are being confronted by their most powerful desires, fighting them as long as they can to keep the wards up." His voice was hollow and disbelieving. This was a ritual not performed in hundreds of years, so few virgins existed anymore, certainly not a large enough group willing to do something like this. This was lost magic. They had obviously taken his book.
Severus looked on at the young women, all clad in white silk, arms spread wide in personal sacrificial gesture, welcoming their fate. Most were only 14 or 15 years old. Gods.
They had studied hard. They knew the risks to performing such a complex spell.
The girls fell, one by one, and as they fell every person in the room could feel the heavy veil of magic raising the wards on the ancient castle. Ginny and Pansy were shaking, their faces taut with fiery determination to persevere. Then Ginny caught sight of Harry and made eye contact with him. He was worried for her, wanting nothing more than to protect her. His look of frustrated defeat in not being able to reach her despite will brought her to her knees in sobs. In that moment, his eyes confirmed it— she knew he loved her.
Pansy tried to keep Hermione in her sights, focusing on the task at hand, and trying not to think about the intrusive thoughts of last Friday— Draco touching her, murmuring anything she wanted to hear. She was angry with him. He wasn't ready for any kind of serious relationship, though he had his moments. Her obvious physical response to the powerful temptation of her own desires was weakening her, which only caused her to become more incensed. He didn't have any clue how much she had to tolerate, how difficult it was to resist… to refuse him… 'I will beat this!' Building upon her anger, she spewed forth an exclamation of rage and looked straight into the image her mind produced, her own face contorted in a climax of ecstasy.
"NOOO!!!!"
Pansy felt her insides rip, collapsing painfully to the floor.
Only Hermione was left and Pansy and the others looked up from the floor in awe, hoping that she could hold on… just a little bit longer, long enough for the wards to be most powerful. How was she resisting?
Melanie held the stopwatch and her heart raced. Hermione's face was pained her chest heaving with effort—she wasn't looking good at the moment. "Come on Hermione, focus! Just ten more seconds! Hold on!"
The girls were screaming cries of support. No one knew what the ten seconds was about, yet everyone was doing the mental countdown. There was distant shouting, but Hermione barely registered it beyond the voices in her own head.
Come on, Hermione, Harry thought. Why didn't you tell me?
Hermione's body was beginning to tremble and shake, sweat lining her forehead and upper lip. He was there, before her, offering her everything— love, companionship, completeness. He looked more incredibly attractive than she had ever remembered, long shiny ebony hair, strong arms and fingertips… then her mind wandered about his hands, his dexterity… and he was pleasuring her, whispering syllables in her ear— unintelligible words which had no purpose other than to seduce her.
Five…
Her eyes drifted closed, like she was trying to recall a stray dream, trying to visualize it. She came to her senses resuming her inner self-talk. "This isn't real. It'll never happen," she muttered in anguish, biting her lower lip. Let my vices be done away, all lustful desires extinguished…allaying for me every disturbance of flesh and spirit… she whispered inwardly, the Prayer of St. Thomas calmed her.
Her amber eyes grew wide and glassy, she appeared to be staring at some indiscernible point in the air before her, wrestling mentally with another will. Pansy knew better. The will Hermione was fighting was her own. This spell was about self-control, and all of the girls, now women, had precious little of it left before the ceremony began.
The teaching staff was holding their breath, Albus witnessing the spectacle with a bit of relief, anger and pride all in one.
Severus Snape didn't know what to feel. She had lied. All of this time he was trying as best he could to keep his students out of harm's way, both disappointed that so many had so freely given up their virginity and grateful that they wouldn't have to face the Dark Lord.
But there they were. Twenty virgins, all sacrificing their maidenhead to protect themselves and the school. And this wasn't just Gryffindor foolishness, though he suspected she was a ringleader. In fact there were impressive Slytherin components at work here. This group was very clever in their rumor spreading, keeping this group and a spell of this incredible magnitude a secret from Albus Dumbledore himself.
Pansy had played an important role, so curious that they would pair up, and yet it wasn't the student from his own house he was looking at. Here was the woman at Rue Nineteen who sang so seductively, the one who escaped the clutches of Malfoy, the one who defied him in class, her hand always asking one more question. Here she was— beautiful, powerful and terrible… filled with light, anguish, pain. How could she hold on to it like it was something precious? How could she not let go like the rest of the girls had?
It's like the Mirror of Erised, showing you what you most desire but not the truth. Staring at it too long you can wither away… she thought.
Then it hit her again, her mouth opened wide with the brunt of the next wave of temptation, tears streaming down her face. So hard to resist… Hermione cried out, her own voice inaudible from the spell taking hold. She fell to the hard floor, ears ringing, a bit dizzy. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the explosion of light from the center of the room. It arched up to the ceiling and shot outward beyond the walls and the front gates. Magic saturated the Great Hall and the crowd watched it seeping into the floor like thick honey, renewing Hogwarts wards once more. The gap was closed.
Hermione took a few moments to catch her bearings. 'Next step… come on, not done yet.'
The group still looked on in silence, too stunned to move even though the vacuum had been released and the students were free to move.
Hermione caught Snape's gaze, and tried to prop herself up on one elbow. "Pro…f-fessor…S-snape?" She mouthed and motioned for him to come to her. She was weak and she couldn't go to him.
He went to her immediately in a fluid motion, kneeling beside her in support. She looked up at him and his obsidian gaze searched her, seeing in her eyes only a reflection of himself. She raised her hand to his forehead, closed her eyes, tracing the middle of his brow with her thumb…
"Blessings of Gaia be with you, Severus."
He heard the protective spell echo in his mind, unsure if he audibly heard the blessing or not. A warmth flowed through his body and for the briefest moment he felt connected and utterly bound to the sacred. Her thoughts and wishes for him to be safe were the most pure, so honest. He was astonished at the power of it, his eyes nearly tearing up at the enormity of that moment.
She opened her eyes and pulled her hand back, scooting back on her hips away from him and pulling at a locket she wore.
She quickly looked around the room, making eye contact with her sisters. All of the others appeared ready.
Pansy cried out, "Now!"
Hermione grabbed the nearby bag, flicked the locket open, and touched the hollow place, feeling a familiar tug at her navel, she gave an apologetic look to a shocked Professor Snape who could not intervene, but only watch her sudden departure.
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Author's Notes:
Whew! I hoped you liked it! Thank you to reviewers who made the observation that Lucius would gain protection if he remained within the circle. I originally had imagined that Millie would be the one to put him down after Pansy screamed out "Somebody put him on his back!" in an angry tone, but I couldn't make it happen. Melanie has an important job anyway.
Hope the incantation doesn't sound too lame. I wasn't about to try and translate it to Latin or Gaelic… I wonder if it would even translate.
I had a very difficult time choosing which goddess to connect with Hermione and Severus. Likely, I should have chosen Artemis, goddess of the hunt and protector of children. She of course, was an eternal virgin who punished her followers who did not remain chaste. Or perhaps Aphrodite, the goddess Venus who suffered for her love. Ah well. Gaia sounded better. Still researching. Anyway, a virgin Hermione is now, but no Artemis/Diana.
The first two quotes are from websites on the Sacred Feminine. The first quote really is from Marianne Williamson. The last paragraph in italics is my own.
Do yourself a favor and listen to Alicia Keys if you haven't before. In addition, the arrangement of 'Everytime We Say Goodbye' was sung by Annie Lennox on the Red, Hot and Blue album (a compilation of different artists, not just her). She is incredible.
I love the B-52's and I imagine Hermione grew up listening to them, probably also what her parent's listened to. They are cool. And I'm and 80's girl what can I say? Revolution Earth came out when Hermione was eleven, so I imagine she feels pretty girlish excitement when listening to it.
Beky- Minutes before I upload, I get your review! Thank you! I love the fight scene too. As for remaining virgins, you will have to wait and see… you'll be 76% pleased.
Maxy- No Lucius Malfoy couldn't foil a pot roast where SOS is concerned. Girls rock! Thank you for saying I keep the characters true, I do tend to make my heroines a bit too strong for their own good. I really wanted to make it appear that these women didn't know their own power before Lupin's little lecture. After healing Hermione, everybody feels it.
Omani- Thank you! And here's more suspense.
White Roses for Me- Yes, no kiddies. This is rated R for a reason. And I apologize for the you're/your issue. I haven't corrected my old pre-beta chapters.
Keket Amunet- Thank you for reviewing and the calligraphy will come later…
Romm- Hahaha! No fight club. But that's cute. Sound like an idea for another fic… maybe I should post it as a wiktt challenge…
Ezmerelda- Don't you think? Draco is the king of jerks. He doesn't value enough and the disappearance of Kendra and Melanie really hasn't affected him in any meaningful way. Pansy I'm sure had the same thoughts when she was sitting there. Once Draco was out of her line of vision she could see the closet and cot for what they were. Used.
As for the Wall of Desire, it will come into play later. Pansy gave up after a while, and only Luna really could perform it well. Hermione could manage the wrist thing once after a hundred tries. She only has to say the second half of the incantation without her wand to activate it. It will be needed later, though she could have used it in the halls at school if any particularly unwanted advances were made.
And while I am sure that secretly Remus, Dumbledore, Snape and other adult men could appreciate the attractive qualities of the girls, their personal mores set stronger boundaries than the hints of the spell can cross. Snape is the only one close enough to Hermione to be affected by it, though he would never personally acknowledge such feelings. He's about to confront that though. Now that Hermione is gone.
Tiffie101- How much longer? Longer. And who won? Nobody. It was a tie. They both were injured and both were docked equal numbers of house points. Hermione has a lot of guts but truly, Pansy has more practice. Pansy would have kicked her ass.
Rosmerta- Ooohh! You had guesses… were you right? What were they? Hee hee. More fighting to come. Did you like the poison dart bit? Millie's got a bit of a violent streak.
Franflutewitch- Moowahhahahaa! I couldn't wait. And Draco is such a little wanker isn't he? He's somewhat shallow when it comes to girls, of course I imagine somewhere in there he is a little sweet on Pansy, yet not quite taking her seriously. A spoiled brat like him so far can't take anything very much seriously, except the thought that he wishes to postpone his initiation into the Death Eaters.
Kary Sky- Oui. Un petit peu. It's been too long. My Spanish is better. Hope you have, had? A wonderful time in France. Or that I've posted the Yule Ball fast enough for you to enjoy it before your trip!
Sharon- Thank you, I try. I recently lost the expertise of my beta who I believe is submerged in other work. I hope my grammar continues to be precise.
Lyress- here you go as promised! Tell me what you want to happen next. I wonder if I've answered most questions…
Helena- Nope you didn't misunderstand and I certainly don't want to protect that son of a bitch. Therefore we "took him out." Well, Melanie took him out. Thanks and no dildos…ewww. No one would agree to that. It's spontaneous. In the Power of the Innocent it spoke earlier about collection of blood being somewhat easier during the spell, hence… well you'll find out next chapter. Yay! Thanks for your review!
Azulkan27- Yeah, they're insane alright. And here they are, in the middle of the hall exposing themselves to the culmination of all sexual frustrations in a single moment. Carnal indeed.
Falafelgigglehiney- Nope. Hermione can't and won't do that. I'll tell you why soon. Kind of out of character for her not to have the balls to do it. And Neville yes… what a catch. What can I say… opposites do attract!
Jane W- Yeah.. I must admit, that is my longing as well. More angst before that though. You'll see. Hermione is about to find herself in a pickle of trouble.
Alicat99- Thank you for your observation, you helped me figure out what was missing in the scene. I always knew Lucius would be unconscious for the thing. I just didn't know where.