Chapter Eleven

Hermione sat quietly by the fire in the common room in her favorite chair by the fireplace. Harry and Ron were off at Quidditch Practice, and everyone else was outside enjoying the clear weather. Hermione was at a loss, she had been taken and brought back to Hogwarts three times in very obvious fashions and yet each time only Fred, George, Neville, Ginny, herself, Harry and Ron seemed to remember anything.

Hermione was startled from her thoughts when a muffled voice came from her bag. Eyeing her bag suspiciously she slowly edged her hand towards the latch. Opening it she heard her name called from somewhere inside of it. 'Hermione, I'm behind… um… hang on… Buh… five edarg, slleps fo yroeht lacigam evisnefed. I'm not sure what kind of books you read for class but my goodness books that have their words backwards? Oh, wait the mirror's upside down.'

Not quite sure which book who ever it was in the "mirror" was talking about she began to look behind every book. Until she found a large piece of glass. Pulling it out she let out a startled cry. "Kit! How? What?"

'Two-way mirror. Anyway, I just came to tell you that we've been ordered to cease these "massive assaults" that involve picking you up and returning you to Hogwarts. So we're pretty much going to have to rely on you for our information and other… such… things… Or something like that… No not really.

But we will still be around just under disillusionment charms on all our stuff. So don't worry, I'm having Dobby deliver something to you tomorrow or tonight that'll help when you're at a Quidditch match or in Hogsmeade,' replied Kit.

Somewhat puzzled Hermione inquired, "Okay. One question though. How is it that every time I'm picked up or brought back no one remembers except Fred, George, Neville, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and me?"

'A lot of memory charms that are applied in a very sneaky-Dumbledore eqsue fashion. But I gotta head out now. I'll see you later.'

Before Hermione had a chance to say bye Kit's face disappeared from the mirror leaving her with just her reflection. Placing the mirror back into her bag Hermione let out a deep breath. Resting her head in her hands she closed her eyes and fell into an unintentional sleep.

Hermione was standing on a roadside, to her left was an old tree stump. The sun shining directly behind the tree stump into Hermione's eyes making it almost impossible to see the figure upon the tree stump. Small child like figures walk past occasionally glancing towards the figure on the tree stump then dismissing it and continuing on their way. The air began to shimmer and Hermione found herself standing a top of a mountain that seemed strangely familiar.

Smoke rises from the base of the mountain and helicopters circle like vultures around the smoke. Suddenly Hermione found herself standing in the middle of the smoke. Oddly colored blurry figures move around occasionally bursts of blinding light appear slightly in front of the figures.

Looking up towards the sky she saw a forest and from the trees out shot Harry riding on a skeletal looking horse alone. The horse disappeared from sight and Hermione looked back down towards the ground, and screamed.

To her left sat Harry and Fred both looking exhausted and both had tears streaming down their faces. Ron lay on his back in the snow his face pale and the snow around him was stained red. Beside Ron lay Ginny, George, and Neville each pale, and lying on the ground some had cuts and gashes visible, all were laying on their backs. But as unnerving as the images of them lying there in blood stained snow, nothing could prepare Hermione for what came next.

A few feet away from the others lay were several of the oddly colored figures all crouching around something. Moving closer she saw what it was they were crouching around. In the middle lay a figure, unrecognizable by the face, due to what she assumed to be medical bandages all soaked in blood, she began to try and find something distinguishing about it. Before she could finish one of the figures crouching around the body pulled the bandages off revealing what used to be someone's face. Through the blood Hermione detected small bits of skull that stuck out from the blood. Feeling nauseous she quickly looked past the face, but what she saw only made it worse. Attached to the body was a massive amount of bushy brown hair.

Falling to her knees Hermione's stomach began to repel the food she had eaten earlier. The images all around Hermione began to swirl, but she had time to see a line of masked figures sitting on their knees behind them were more of the oddly colored figures. The blinding flashes of light burst through the image and the masked figures keeled over onto the ground. Suddenly everything grew cold and Hermione looked up to see Kit standing over her. Except Kit was different his eyes held a fury behind them and an insane smile upon his face. His skin looked like it belonged to someone dead and his voice was like ice. Before everything went black Hermione heard a distant voice filled with terror. 'He has been overtaken.'

Hermione felt cold, exhausted, drenched in ice cold sweat. Looking around she saw Harry, Ron and the rest of Gryffindor standing over her looking fearful. Wondering where she was or why these people were looking at her she suddenly remembered the images from the dream. Ron, Ginny, Neville, George, herself all lying in blood on the ground, the image of Kit. Hermione suddenly rolled over onto her side just as the first of many waves of vomit flowed out of her mouth.

"Quick, someone go get help!" Cried Ron and the sound of multiple footfalls echoed through her pounding skull.

In a feeble attempt to help Hermione, Harry tried to form words of comfort but none came. Harry couldn't do anything except watch as Hermione laid there twitching and vomiting. The portrait hole to the Gryffindor common room burst open. First through the hole was Madam Pomfrey, followed by Professor McGonagall, then Dumbledore.

Dumbledore quickly surveyed the scene looked at Harry and asked his voice filled with concern, "What happened?"

Harry looked up at Dumbledore shaking his head, "I don't know."

Dumbledore nodded then conjured up a stretcher. By this time Hermione had lost consciousness and was lying still. With the aid of Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey lifted Hermione onto the stretcher and Madam Pomfrey walked behind the stretcher as it floated out of the common room towards the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore quickly cleaned up the large puddle of vomit that was on the ground, and made the room smell like citrus then after a quick glance at Harry and Ron he turned and followed Madam Pomfrey. Professor McGonagall walked up to Ron and Harry and said, "Mister Potter, Mister Weasley if you two will follow me please."

Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall out of the common room. Harry had been deep in thought when he suddenly realized that they had stopped walking and were standing inside the Headmaster's Office.

"You two stay here, Professor Dumbledore will be in here shortly," said Professor McGonagall before she turned and left.

Sitting down Harry looked over at Ron. Ron was visibly shaken; his face was almost completely drained of blood. He was shaking and his eyes had begun to water. Harry reached out and grabbed Ron's shoulder, but said nothing. Ron closed his eyes and nodded to Harry's unspoken statement.

Meanwhile in the Hospital Wing Madam Pomfrey had set up curtains, to prevent curious on-lookers to see what was going on, around the bed that Hermione was laying on. Standing beside the bed Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were talking in hushed voices. "Miss Granger is in excellent condition, not sick in anyway except for the obvious. But what could have caused this?" Inquired Madam Pomfrey.

Dumbledore pursed his lips in thought then spoke. "I think it best if we waited until Miss Granger is fully rested."

'Six-one, Six-one this is Victor Five-six!'

Grumbling Kit reached over and grabbed the CB Walkie-Talkie off the stand next to his bed.

'Vic-Vic-Viiiiictor Five-Six, this is Six-one,' said Kit as he attempted to stifle a yawn, 'Go ahead Five-six.'

'Hotel Eight-seven is down. Repeat Eight-seven is down. Eight-seven was last reported at Hotel Whiskey.'

'Affirmative Five-six, hold position Dog Six will be there yesterday.'

'Roger that Six-one. Five-six holding position.'

'Six-one out,' said Kit as he switched frequency, 'Attention, this is Six-one. Dog Six move to reinforce Victor Five-six. Easy Six meet me in my tent. All other units consider yourselves on Alert-Five.'

"Is Hermione okay?" Asked Harry as Dumbledore walked into the Headmaster's office.

"Miss Granger is fine, she is resting now," replied Dumbledore sitting down.

"What happened, do you know?" Asked Ron.

"As of now we have no idea. Perhaps we shall find out tomorrow morning when she awakes. Madam Pomfrey has been instructed that you two may stay in the Hospital Wing tonight, that is of course if you two wish."

'Victor Five-Six, this is Easy Six what's your twenty, over?'

'Easy Six, twenty is outside of Hotel Whiskey India, over.'

'Affirmative Five-Six hold position we're touching down now and will be there shortly, over.'

'Roger that Easy Six. Five-six out.'

Conjuring up two chairs Dumbledore turned and looked directly at Ron and Harry and said, "Now, should Miss Granger awake do not ask any questions about what caused this. Understood?"

"Yes Professor," came Harry and Ron's response.

"Very well then," said Dumbledore as he turned and walked out of the Hospital Wing.

Looking at each other and then turning to look at Hermione's sleeping form Harry and Ron sat down in the armchairs that Dumbledore had conjured up beside Hermione's bed.

Kit, Mara, Leon, Dekker and Dunningham walked up to the spot where Five-Six was standing. The soldier snapped to attention when he saw them approach.

'What happened here corporal?' Asked Kit.

'Don't know sir, came back from my patrol and I found them like this,' replied the soldier pointing to the two bodies leaning up against the trees.

'Doc, check 'em out,' ordered Kit.

'Yes sir.'

Walking along with Leon, Kit saw that each of the soldiers appeared healthy and nothing wrong with them. Except for the fact that their eyes were wide open and their eyes gazed out at nothing.

'I think you know as well as I do boss,' sighed Leon.

'Yep,' replied Kit shaking his head slightly, 'Looks like we'll be increasing patrols and stepping up security. We can now officially go on a full war footing. I'll set up a briefing some time soon for a review once we've got everything planned.'

'Roger that sir,' replied everyone around Kit.

'Okay, well get these men bagged and have 'em shipped back home. In the meantime I have to inform Dumbledore and get on the horn with command on getting some extra equipment. Looks like our good friend Voldemort now knows that we're back in action,' said Kit as he turned and walked towards the waiting Humvee column.