Chapter 33: On the Edge of Battle
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The Snape living room was a mess. Every available surface was stacked with piles of cloth, books and sewing supplies. Dumbledore had refused to let them go into Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, but they had been able to convince Mrs. Stitching into making a house call instead. The three women had spent the last four hours going through patterns and fabric bolts, but no decisions had been made yet.
Part of the problem had been over how much was to be spent. To keep it secret for as long as possible they had agreed that Severus would pay for everything and Harry would repay them after it was made public. But the girls could not agree on what they wanted. Hermione was of the opinion that Ginny should forget expense and have whatever she wanted, while Ginny disliked the idea of owing so much even to a friend. Unfortunately this was also impeding on what they were going to choose too.
Hermione held up an ivory bolt of silk and said, "Why not just go with this? It would look great on you and you could have it as simple or elaborate as you want."
Ginny shook her head and replied, "It's too much. I was perfectly fine with the white cotton."
Mrs. Stitching had watched the battle of the bolts with some amusement, but at the word cotton she spoke up, "My dear not even the poorest of women should get married in cotton and from the arguments you ladies have been making, I can guess that your man can afford better. Not that I want to take sides mind you but I have to agree with Mrs. Snape, the silk would look wonderful on you."
Ginny sighed but she was smiling, "I'm not going to win this am I? Very well then silk it is. Now how do I wear it?"
Hermione opened her mouth to make a suggestion but the shopkeeper beat her there, "If you don't mind my interrupting, I have the perfect thing. I have been waiting to use this patter for years but the trend over the last decade has been for satin and lace. Far too much lace." As the girls snickered to themselves over the disdain in the older witch's voice, she riffled through a book of robes and pulled out one from the middle. With a smile of satisfaction she placed the picture on the table. "This one doesn't come with a fabrication spell. You see it is of my own design so it will have to be custom made to fit you. What do you think?"
The younger witches were bent of over the table peer in amazement at the confection of silk and pearls that lay on the page of parchment. Ginny looked up the older woman and said, "It's perfect. I love the transition from gray to white. As much I didn't want to spend the money, this is exactly what I wanted. I'll take it. Don't tell me what it costs or I'll change my mind. Do you need me to stand or do you make it first?"
"Go ahead and stand just let me find the right supplies. Accio! Accio! Accio! Accio! Now just try to hold still and we will be done in a jiffy," she said. She spread lengths of cloth and muttering incantations happily she started to weave the fabric around the red-head. Ten minutes later Mrs. Stitching placed a silver and pearl tiara with its gossamer veil on the bride-to-be's head and stepped back to admire her work
Hermione smiled at her friend and made a gesture behind her with her wand. As the other girl turned she saw that a three-way mirror had been conjured, but that was all she was able to register as she saw the gown that had been created around her. It was perfect in every detail right down to the hundreds of matched grey pearls. After a few minutes of admiring the dress and turning this way and that Hermione and Mrs. Stitching helped her to carefully remove the robes and folded it carefully for transportation.
The next half hour was spent finalizing the rest of the wedding party's cloths including Hermione's color changing dress that faded from blue to purple every three minutes. Harry and Ron were to be dressed in a new fashion incorporating muggle trousers with a long robe like frock jacket. Harry's consisted off and emerald green coat, with pants of such a dark green they seemed black, with black trim. Ron's was opposite with black coat and pants with green trim.
Three hours after they started saw everything packed carefully away and Mrs. Stitching returned to her shop a few hundred galleons richer. With tired but happy looks the two friends parted. They had a wedding to get ready for.
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Grimauld Place sparkled with oiled wood and fairy lights New Year's Eve day. The scent of lilies wafted from the numerous bouquets and garlands. White and pale green streamers were floating near the ceiling and as if to highlight the occasion the sun was streaming through the open windows, backlighting the kissing couple with an ethereal glow. As Harry and Ginny Potter parted for air the gathered friends and family let out a cacophony of cheers, clapping, whistles and shouts. Somewhere in the back row on either side of the isle someone, most likely a pair of carrot topped twins, set off a few rounds of small indoor fireworks.
A few miniature Catherine wheels exploded over head as the newly weds exited to be followed by a train of guests to the reception and cake in dining hall. By the time Hermione and Severus were able to enter the paneled room the band was in full swing and there was a group of dancers surrounding the couple of the hour. Hermione commented to Severus as they headed towards an unoccupied table, "She makes a beautiful bride, don't you think?"
Watching the dancing couple she was a bit surprised when she turned to find her husband looking at her and nothing else. With a small smile the sent warm shivered up her spine, he said, "I hadn't noticed. I was distracted by the maid of honor." For some reason the heat in his eyes made her want to take him home right this moment, the wedding be damned, but she managed to suppress it. Instead she leaned forward and lightly kissed him on the lips. She felt the quirk of his mouth moving into a slight smirk just before she pulled away.
The moment was disturbed as the Weasley twins sat across from them with dramatic sighs of mock weariness from the exuberant dancing. The three years since leaving school seemed to have lost them their fear and dislike of the potions master. It hadn't hurt that Hermione was his wife. With broad grins they summoned glasses and poured from the wine bottle that was present at every table. Despite using the same bottle each Weasley ended up with a different drink. George had was looked like whiskey or rum, while Fred surprisingly had red wine. The bottles were spelled to release what ever drink the pour wished for so long as the source tanks in the basement still contained the actual beverage. It surprise no one, except maybe Molly Weasley that George and Fred would come up with such a product.
After quenching their thirst and refilling their glasses, George said, "It's about time those two got married. They've only been snogging in corners and who knows what else for two years."
Fred piped in, "I agree, mate. Those two look great together."
Surprisingly Severus ventured to comment, "They look like James and Lily did."
That brought a few startled looks, but was quickly forgotten as the four watched the other dancers. Frowning thoughtfully after a few minutes, Fred mused, "How in the world did you get Harry to wear green? It's so… Slytherin." He eyed Severus to see how it would take the comment, but Hermione answered.
"The color matches his eyes. It's not like we did it silver and green. We did choose black you know. We thought it might be better receipted that way. Besides, Ginny picked it out and what ever she wants she gets according to him," she explained. The twins just rolled their eyes before bounce up to join in the conga line that was now circling the room.
Several more people paused to converse with them. The hours slipped by as the party went on. The cake was served with some frosting ending up where it shouldn't in the process. Severus and Hermione danced, occasionally trading partners. As darkness started to fall the guests with children started to make there goodbyes. Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter made their way to the door of the hall to the chorus of whistles, congratulations and a few catcalls that got laughter as well. With a final wave, Harry picked up his bride and carried her to the stairs, disappearing down the hall.
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The room seemed smaller than it was with so many bodies pressed into it. Every Order of the Phoenix member in the British Isles and some from farther away was present at this meeting. Rumors had run like wildfire as to why so many were summoned. The Severus and Hermione ignored the rumors, because they already knew. While the stupidity of some of the tales made her want to shout out the truth, she had been sworn to keep this silent until it was announced here first. Impatient she idling tapped her foot on the stone floor, waiting for Dumbledore and Malfoy to arrive.
Just as she was beginning to think that maybe something had gone wrong Albus strode into the room followed closely by the pale haired young man. Draco looked grim faced as he announced without preamble, "Voldemort plans to attack Hogwarts in one week. The plan is to destroy the castle and kill as many as possible. He hopes to lure Potter into coming to him to get revenge."
The following silence was so profound it almost hurt to listen to it. It lasted all but a breath before everyone was suddenly talking and asking questions. A few of the newer and younger members seemed on the verge of hysteria, before Albus raised his hands and received instant silence. The headmaster began to explain, "Through long hours of discussion with my staff and trusted students we have come up with a possible defense. As some of the younger of you know in Harry's fifth year he started a defense group that taught and practiced defense as well as offensive spells. That group has continued every year since then and has grown to include most of the students third year and above. While we wish the children to be safe it is beyond probability to hope Voldemort will stop at slaying children now. This last year the Hogwarts staff has been fortifying some of the dungeons to allow the students safety should Death Eaters ever directly attack the castle. Students first through third year are to remain in those rooms until a staff member retrieves them or penetrated by Voldemort's followers. Each room is secured with a hidden escape door that will be known to the two eldest in the room. Evacuation is possible should it be needed. Now, let's move on to the matter of the defense itself."
The next hour was spent bent over maps with aurors and family leaders arguing the best spells and defenses to use in what formations. The discussion lasted into the wee hours of the night. Most hardly noticed when Hermione and Mrs. Weasley left and came back with food and hot drinks. Around three in the morning the meeting finally broke up. Plans had been finalized, despite some unhappy faces they all nodded in agreement and took one of the small objects from the pile on the table as they left. As Severus and Hermione apparated to just outside the gates, she thought over what had been decided and knew that when Voldemort came he would be in for a big surprise.
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One week later
The murmur of voices at Saturday's dinner was shattered by the sudden blaring of an alarm. Instantly the staff was on their feet. The heads of houses directed the prefects to help the students to the safe warded rooms. Only a few of the younger students showed any sign of panic. The school had been drilled on this many times over the last year. With in minutes the levels above ground was vacant of any student under the age of 14. The older students arranged themselves as they had been taught, facing the doorway in the entrance hall. Older students in front in overlapping ranks, behind the staff members who were currently giving them last minute instruction not to leave the castle unless directed to and defend only unless attacked directly.
Hermione was heading towards the back where she would join the rest of the rear guard when Severus suddenly grabbed her arm and practically dragged her back into the Great Hall. She frowned as he paused abruptly. She opened her mouth to complain that he was holding up the plan, but he cut her off with a sudden, "I won't let you go."
She stared at him in surprise that was not what she had been expecting him to say after a moment she recovered her wits enough to say, "It's a little late for that. We are needed now."
She started to turn back to the door but he stopped her in her tracks with an uncharacteristic growl, "I refuse to put you and my baby in danger. You will not go out there. I will not allow it. You will join the staff guarding the safe rooms."
Suddenly his ears were ringing and he was seeing double. He unconsciously raised a hand to his stinging cheek. As his vision cleared he saw that his wife was livid and if looks could kill he would be somewhere in muggle hell surrounded by walls of flame right about now.
"You listen to me, professor. I am no longer a child or student for you to order around. I am your wife and the child is half mine thank you very much. I am not yet to the point of incapacitation. My brain and reflexes are as good as ever. If you think I am just going to sit on the edge of a battle that I can't avoid until it comes to me you have another thing coming. I don't want to be out there. Hell if I could choose I would be sitting in our rooms knitting the baby a hat or booties right now. But I have no choice and I will not just sit waiting for some Death Eater to walk in on us and kill half the students while I watch. Besides who will keep Harry and Ron from getting themselves killed if I'm not there," she argued voice rigid steel with barely suppressed anger.
He blinked at her stupidly for a few seconds before lifting her of the ground in a tight hug and a hard kiss. Holding her to him and feeling her arms wrap around his neck, he whispered fiercely, "You stay near me. I can't protect you if you wander off. If you get yourself killed, I'll never forgive you."
She laughed slightly as he set her down. But the smile faded as reality came back. With one last kiss then returned to the hall.
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The January moon bathed the grounds beyond the forest in an eery twighlight. The eeriness was not helped by complete silence that blanketed the surrounding forest and lakeshore. Not even a cricket chirped in the almost expectant hush.
Suddenly the silence was broken by the crackle and slither of footsteps and clothe over dry leaves. The shadows seemed to move of their own violition as they resolved into a score of black cloaked and masked figures. Steadily they marched past the treeline and the lake. The groundkeepers hut was dark and silent as the group headed towards the castle.
As they neared the castle doors they came together in uniformed knot and prepared themselves for the assault. This was it, the culmination of the Dark Lord's plans. Twenty years of scheming and rebuilding would come together tonight. They would succeed in finally toppling that over-bearing fool Dumbledore, the Dark Lord would conquer over Harry Potter, and Hogwarts would be theirs to run. They would succeed. They must succeed. Failure was not an option. Failure meant death or Azkaban for all those captured. They could not fail.
The many windows of the castle glowed with warm comforting yellow light that belied the night's events. The school's inhabitants should be gathered in the Great Hall for dinner. There would be a few abherants of course, but they would be delt with. The takeover should be relatively easy, once the staff was taken care off.
The group of Death Eaters moved forward as one and with a well place spell the tall iron bound wooden door smashed open. They surged forward intent on getting to the Great Hall before the staff and children could react, but suddenly ground to a halt again. The Entrance Hall was not empty as they had expected, but filled to the brim with rank upon rank of grim faced students. The front rank was a solid wall of staff members with Albus Dumbledore at the center.
The leading Death Eater took a second to swear mentally at the stupidity in underestimating an enemy like Dumbledore before giving voice to the first spell. As green light flashed from his wand to be reflected off a suddenly appearing silver shield in front of Minerva McGonagall, the dark wizards surged forward once more.
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A/N: So sorry this took so long. My classes were harder than I expected and work just took the rest of my free time. Anyway I hope this chapter is worthy of the time lapse. The Final Battle is coming up next so it may take me a couple weeks. Give me until after finals.
