Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter.
Author's note-- I would respond to the people who reviewed but I don't like scrolling past author's notes that seem to be a page long so I figure others won't either. I am sorry that I kept you waiting but I hadn't written more than the first 11 chapters and needed to catch up. I was gone andthen, I got this idea in the airport and wrote on the plane to Bethesda. (It was an awful flight) I have the next two chapters written and I have to type them. Hopefully you enjoy this and don't get upset at me!
Chapter 12
Millicent sat quietly next to Pansy, letting her constant chatter wash over her tense body. She stared at the doors of the great hall expectantly, waiting for the professors to enter it again. After a few minutes Pansy stopped talking and observed the anxious look on her housemate's face. "Are you okay, Millie?" she asked after noticing that her friend's eyes had never wavered from the door of the large room.
"Something's wrong, Pans, I know it." Millicent muttered.
"Well it did seem that way when Draco rushed in here to retrieve the professors. What do you think that was about?" She asked inquisitively.
"I don't know… whatever it is…" Millicent replied, dragging her eyes away from the door to look Pansy in the eyes. "Whatever it is, it's very, very bad."
Madame Pomfrey moved closer to the still unmoving student in front of her. "Albus! It's worse than it looks. I thought you said no harm would ever occur to a keeper during a test?" She looked around nervously, her eyes flitting up and down the girl's body to count her array of injuries.
"I did say that Poppy! I don't understand a bit. Never, not in any of Merlin's journals did it say that a keeper had gotten hurt completing one of their tests. I don't know what went wrong!" Dumbledore responded. He too was staring worriedly at one of his best students. Madame Pomfrey leaned over and checked her pulse.
"Her heart is still beating and she is breathing. It is very faint." The professors around Draco and Hermione sighed with relief.
"What of Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked, his voice softer than the usual bark.
"He's doing well Severus. His breathing is not labored and he should be waking up soon." Professor Snape nodded understandingly and watched the blonde boy carefully.
A few minutes passed and Madame Pomfrey was still watching Hermione closely. A rustle sounded in the circle and the group of adults glanced at Draco's pale form. Draco blinked his eyes open and began to sit up slowly. He looked around confused.
"I'm in hell." He said loudly causing Professor McGonagall to jump.
"Welcome back Draco." The headmaster said calmly. "Do you feel well?"
"I'll be fine. How long have I been out? It shouldn't have been too long."
"About twenty minutes Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall said cautiously, her eyes shooting back to Hermione's body. Draco directed his gaze to where his Transfigurations Professor was looking. A quick show of worry passed over his face that was soon replaced with discontent.
Professor Snape watched Draco's face carefully. "Did you feel the impact?" He was curious.
"I barely felt the shock of the blow. I think Granger took the majority of it. That's better for me. How is she though?" His eyes raked from her feet to her hair then moved to the Headmaster. "Is she okay?"
"It's Malfoy, Draco, or have you forgotten your wife already?" Draco turned away, his face slightly flushed from embarrassment, though a sneer adorned it.
Madame Pomfrey bustled over to Dumbledore from her spot next to Hermione and whispered in his ear. He looked at her sadly.
"Harry and Ron, could you please join us?" He called to the boys sitting on the mossy ground less than ten feet away. They obliged, coming over to stand next to the surly potion's master.
"Is she okay?" Harry asked quietly. Dumbledore looked to Hermione.
"We should thank Hermione for what she has done. That beast over there is a Winged Tipard. It has the combined characteristics of a bird, tiger, panther and leopard. The Tipard is extremely rare and extremely deadly. They have the positive aspects of each of the animals I just mentioned, such as strength, speed and intelligence. They have very few weak points and, when engaged in a battle, will fight to the death, be it their life or their opponent's." He stopped and looked at Hermione's peaceful appearance.
"The Tipard is dead. Does that mean Hermione still has a chance to live?" Harry interjected. Dumbledore looked into Harry's face.
"Rarely, very rarely, is a person able to kill a tipard. Most often," He paused, "he or she is killed within the first five minutes of battle. There is still a small hope for Hermione, though she has many injuries." When he concluded his statement Harry and Ron's faces lit up with optimism. Draco looked dissatisfied.
He was watching Hermione closely. He saw her chest rising upwards and then, with the release of each new breath, going downwards again. He was just about to ask Dumbledore a question about her 'condition' when a shriek surprised him.
"Professor!" Ron shrieked again, the color in his face draining away. He pointed his long finger to the Forbidden Forest. Professor Dumbledore's eyes swept along the edges until he spotted two large spiders staring at him, their eyes were twinkling dangerously in the light.
"May I help you?" Dumbledore asked the spiders politely. He was blatantly ignoring Ron's consistent squeaks.
"Hagrid," They responded, tilting their heads to the giant in unison. Hagrid blanched.
"You mus' be one'f Aragog's chil'ren, arncha?" He asked excitedly, forgetting the matter at hand.
"Yes, we have come to you for help. We need to ask the help of the keeper of the light." The professors gasped loudly, "We were visited by a specter last night stating this 'Keeper' could help us. It told us to inform you that we are the test and that you would understand." They bowed low to the ground, "Aragog has died."
"'e coul'nt 'ave!" Hagrid cried. The spiders pretended not to hear.
"He was attacked by a winged beast. He sacrificed himself for us. Now our kin are fighting against one another for leadership. We need help to calm our family."
Dumbledore's appalled face had Draco listening closely. "Is that the beast that killed Aragog?" he asked. The spiders looked to where he was pointing and bristled.
"Yes!" They cried excitedly, "Who has killed the beast?" Dumbledore pointed to Hermione.
"She did." The spiders dropped to the ground without looking to where the headmaster was pointing.
"And who is the keeper of which the specter spoke?" they asked.
"She is." Dumbledore replied, again pointing to Hermione.
"Our Savior!" they whispered dramatically, looking to Dumbledore for confirmation. Dumbledore nodded slowly and the spiders made their way to the circle of teachers. They stopped short when they noticed Hermione's frail and broken body. "Our Savior?" they now questioned.
Dumbledore glanced sadly at Madame Pomfrey and he arched his back in a low bow. The others followed suit. "This is my student—"
"Albus," Madame Pomfrey interrupted, looking up to face him, her face white as a ghost. Her voice began quivering as she quietly spoke to the group.
"She has stopped breathing… Hermione Malfoy is dead."
Millicent felt a sudden jolt throughout her body. "Pansy, come on!" She practically screamed as she leapt from her seat and jogged around her befuddled classmates. She flew through the doors of the great hall and began her descent to the Forbidden Forest. Pansy, breathless, was following close behind.
"Mil, what are you doing? We aren't supposed to go out here. Draco –"
"Stop, Pansy, just stop. We need to get down there!" She gestured to the group of professors. Getting closer they noticed everyone begin to bow.
Millicent began to slow as she neared the small cluster of people. She was breathing heavily and stopped for a moment to catch her breath. When Pansy had caught up to her they moved forward.
When they were steps away from entering the bunch they stopped dead in their tracks.
"She has stopped breathing. Hermione Malfoy is dead."
"NO!" Millicent cried bounding into the circle, breaking the brief silence that had fallen over the group. "What happened to her? What's wrong?
"Ms. Bulstrode," Snape said quietly, "Would you please explain to me why you and Ms. Parkinson are down here when the headmaster specifically told you to stay in the great hall?" Millicent glared at her head of house.
"After you explain to me what happened to Hermione." She argued. Snape's face turned to a scowl and he was about to scold her when Dumbledore jumped in.
"Ms. Bulstrode," Dumbledore began to explain, "Our Mrs. Malfoy fought a winged Tipard." Millicent gasped, looking horrified.
"Good Merlin!" She yelled. "Where did the beast get off to?" Dumbledore signaled to the dead creature and Millicent inhaled sharply. "She killed it?" At everyone's grim nod she sat back in resignation. "Shit! That's amazing. It's impossible! How the hell… please tell me what you know." Draco began to speak and Millicent listened closely.
Pansy watched the melancholy group as they told Millicent the story. She was impressed after the first seconds of the tale. She sighed deeply and gazed dejectedly at the small gathering. Then, she walked away quickly, no one noticing her hasty exit.
Three minutes later Millicent was staring dumbfounded at her less-than-living friend. "I love you Hermione." She whispered then giggled sadly, "In a non homosexual way. I won't forget our love-hate relationship."
The group looked miserably to where Hermione's head was cradled on Millicent's lap.
"We need to inform the student body." Professor McGonagall said authoritatively though all standing around could hear the sadness lacing her words. Professor Dumbledore levitated Hermione's body and turned to face the spiders.
"If there is anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to let me know." The spiders turned and headed into the dreary forest. After watching them go, the group surged forward. "Harry, Ron, do you two want to talk to the students?" Harry and Ron looked at each other morbidly.
"I—I—I really d-don't t-t-h-ink.." Ron began, his voice becoming heavy with tears. Harry put his arm around Ron's shoulder.
"I know the perfect thing to say." He softly told his professor. The woman nodded, pretending, for Harry's sake, not to hear the sadness his voice dripped. Draco just trudged onward, his stance suggesting that he was upset.
Millicent's face was set in a rock hard frown. She walked mechanically towards the doors. As Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey split away from the group she turned to see her best friend for the last time.
"Rest in Peace Hermione. Rest in Peace."
McGonagall was barely able to hold back her own tears as she led the group of people through the Great Hall's doors. They swung open with a bang and the students looked up expectantly, wanting to know what could have possibly happened. McGonagall took a deep breath as she turned to face the eager students. "Students," she began solemnly, "Sometimes, just as we come to appreciate something, it is swiped out from under us. There was a mishap down by the forbidden forest. One of your own, a student, was fatally hurt." She stopped as Professor Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey walked through the doors. She then turned to Harry.
"So many times we place our lives in the hands of another." Harry explained, his voice low and dangerous. The students were listening closely, waiting for the point, "When you were born you placed your life in the hands of your parents. Later in your life you placed yourself in Professor Dumbledore's hands. Years and Years ago you all placed your lives in my hands and just recently you placed your lives in my best friend Hermione's hands." He stopped, choking back tears. "Hermione was the student that was hurt." The student body was now listening raptly and hanging on to Harry's every word. Dumbledore knew Harry wouldn't be able to continue and began to speak.
"Ms. Hermione Granger Malfoy, today, kept you safe. The wards around Hogwarts are stronger than many would believe and can keep most anything out. Sadly, I disregarded a very powerful creature: a winged tipard." About half of the students gasped, explaining to the confused students what a tipard was, "Ms. Malfoy stood up against a creature I wouldn't even dare to mingle with. She faced the creature and… she came out victorious." The students cheered, looking to the doors for Hermione's grand entrance. So enthralled with the fact that Hermione had bested such a great beast, they hadn't noticed the somber tone their headmaster had used and had forgotten the news that she had been hurt. They all looked intently at the entrance, waiting for Hermione's grand arrival.
Snape watched the students and frowned at their expectant faces. His frown grew as he glanced at Dumbledore. "What the headmaster is really trying to say is that the Hogwarts head girl—"
"My Best Friend Hermione is DEAD." Ron shouted suddenly. "She died protecting everyone in here!" He sounded angry.
The students sat dumbstruck as Harry and Ron's faces became streaked with tears. "We should have come sooner!" Ron cried.
"It's my fault again." Harry said softly, tears trailing down his cheeks. "If I had just gone sooner…" His face was downward as he trailed off. Draco watched angrily.
"It's no one's fault." He said loudly. "We all could have done something, especially me. It was just as much our fault as hers. Stop feeling so bloody guilty." He spoke to himself more than the others.
Everyone was now gaping and staring at Dumbledore's face for confirmation. They finally noticed how somber he looked. "She has passed away." Madame Pomfrey stepped forward.
"When we first saw your Head Girl outside, the bone in her ankle was not connected to her leg. Her wrist was hanging limply and both of her arms were broken in two places. Mrs. Malfoy was very badly bruised. When I examined her, I noticed that she had a slight concussion and many, many internal injuries. She fought with these injuries causing them to worsen." Even the staff that had been outside for the event looked surprised at this news.
"Wow." Snape said in awe. He may not have liked Hermione but he was certainly impressed at her feat.
"Ms. Granger fought off the winged tipard with all of these injuries. She killed something that men stronger and larger than she ever will be could not have lasted a minute against." Draco huffed and Harry and Ron both felt faint.
"Wow." Most of the students exclaimed. Even the Slytherins looked impressed.
"It was a miracle that she won her battle. It would have been more of a miracle had she survived. I healed her broken bones and I corrected a few of her internal bleedings, but in the end, she was too far gone and in too much pain. She shouldn't have made it after she broke her foot and yet she still saved us."
"Wow." Professor Dumbledore exclaimed.He had underestimated Hermione's strength and power. Madame Pomfrey nodded sadly to the students and glanced at the headmaster.
"I'm sorry –" He began but was cut off by the creaking of the Great Hall's doors. He looked to see which of his students the lone straggler was. His mouth dropped open in surprise when he saw a student covered completely in dark red blood. "Who," he thought angrily, "would tease my students like this?"
He took a step towards the doors as the student he had been trying to identify took a step through them.
Hermione Granger
A/N- What??? What could possibly have happened? Ah! I guess I will have to explain that… in the next chapter! I apologize if you think it sucks but… well I'm sorry.
Oh and for the way Hagrid spoke… haha… I never really got how to make him speak so, haha… I'm in such a good mood.
I hope you did enjoy and I will have the next update out Friday night or Saturday morning.
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Xo, Katie