The Dark Lady
Chapter 7 – Finding the Key Holder
By gracie5412
Thanks as always to all you wonderful people-
Kendra is cheese,
Jessica-McConell,
Lax Goalie,
Slayer of the Evil Penguins, (love the name by the way!)
JKIJ,
For the next week Harry and Ginny grew more and more suspicious of Hermione. And, annoyingly for her, seemed to watch her every move. Ron, however, noticed no changed and just scoffed at his friends calling them paranoid. Hermione tried her best to avoid them all, without making it too obvious though. She also acted very friendly and normal to everyone else so if Harry and Ginny decided to voice their concerns to others they wouldn't be believed.
She did spend time in the company of others for too long however as she was busy preparing step one of the plan. All week she had gone to the infirmary every night for a sleeping potion and complaining of nightmares. On the fourth night doing this she finally got the desired results.
"It must be a terrible nightmare if it's getting through the potion too. Do you want to talk about it, it may help?" the nurse asked,
"Well ok." Hermione gave her a weak smile and sat at the end of the bed. "I see the deatheaters, all the ones that we caught, I see them waking up and getting free. In my dream- I mean nightmare everything is back the way it was, they are in control and all the order are dead. It's been bothering me. I mean how safe is the place they are being kept in? They may be evil but they're smart if one woke up could they get out?"
She and the nurse ended up in a lengthy discussion about people's fears and how to overcome them. Eventually it was decided that Hermione should visit the holding room to prove to herself that there was no way out of it.
"I'll talk to Dumbledore and arrange for you to be taken. We'll let you know what he says soon. Oh! And don't forget your potion!" The nurse said as Hermione walked out.
"Thanks. I'll take it upstairs with me, if you don't mind. No offence but hospitals really creep me out."
"None taken dear. I hope you have a goodnights sleep. And remember those deatheaters aren't going anywhere!" The nurses called through the door.
"Not if I can help it." Hermione muttered before walking away.
As soon as Hermione got to her room she tipped the contents of the potion down her sink and went to bed. She slept easy that night knowing that her plan had progressed a little more.
It was another three days before Hermione received confirmation that she would be able to go to the holding room. Unfortunately she wouldn't be able to go for another week as the key holder who was to take her was out of the country. Instead she set her sights on playing her two 'best friends' off against each other. They were both up in their rooms so she chose to see Ron first as he still thought she was the same as ever.
"Hiya Ron." Hermione called as she walked through his door. "Brought you a chocolate frog."
"Oh thanks Herms." Ron smiled, caught the box when she threw it to him and opened it.
"So how come you and Harry aren't hanging out?"
"Oh we had a little falling out." Ron said around a mouthful of chocolate, making Hermione cringe.
"What about?" she asked looking interested.
"You actually."
"What! Why?" She exclaimed, faking shock.
"Harry says something's wrong with you, since after the war."
"What! Am I not traumatised enough for him!" she shrieked.
"I know. Stupid isn't it? That's what I said."
"And you know what I heard him say to Ginny?" Hermione whispered, leaning forward, "He said that he didn't think we should have been in the war, we just held him back apparently." Hermione lied.
"WHAT!" Ron yelled, "If it wasn't for you we'd all be dead! And I was the one who pushed him out of the way of that curse!"
"I know that, you know that. But it looks like he sees it another way."
"God that's so stupid. You made the Portkey to get us out and distracted You-Know-Who for us." Ron ranted on.
"Oh gosh is that the time! I have to go now honey. I'll see you soon though. Bye-bye." Hermione said and rushed away.
She made her way down the hall and to Harry's room
"Hiya Harry!" She smiled and tossed another chocolate frog to him "Here have a choccy frog."
"Oh thanks Herms." Harry said and unwrapped it. "So what's up?"
"I just spoke to Ron and he said something I think you should hear."
"Why? What did he say?"
"He said you were an attention craving glory seeker and you're jealous that it was me that killed Voldemort and got the medal."
"What? That's stupid!"
"I know I told him that but he wouldn't listen. I mean think of all the times you've saved our asses! He should be thanking you!"
"Merlin what is wrong with him?"
"I have no clue. Anyway I better be going I just thought you should know." She said and walked through the door.
The next morning the little falling out between Harry and Ron has escalated into a full-blown fight. Hermione went to each of their rooms each night and fed lies about the other to them. Then she sat back and watch the sparks fly. Ginny, meanwhile kept her distance from it all. Except going to Harry to voice more concerns about Hermione from time to time. She made sure to go nowhere near Hermione.
Finally the week passed and Hermione went down to the medical room again. She found the witch who had seen her the week before. The witch introduced Hermione to the key-holder who would escort her to her Holding Room. She wasn't allowed to know his name and he didn't talk at all as they made their way to the fireplace that would take them to their destination.
They got to a huge pair of silver doors.
"Real silver, magic can't penetrate it." The voice made Hermione jump and she looked around for a second before realising that it was the male stood next to her that was speaking. They stopped and the key holder pulled the key that hung from a silver chain that was around his neck from his shirt. He placed the key in the lock and turned it clockwise three times, then counter-clockwise once. There was a click as the door unlocked. The hinges creaked as the doors opened.
"Welcome to the land of the soon to be dead." The man muttered darkly.
