Chapter 46
"Hell on Earth"
Hermione was awakened by one of the women in her tent. She got up, took her medicine, brushed her hair, and then changed into a simple, yet elegant white dress. She put on her boots and placed the knife Ron gave her back in the right boot. She then put on he black robe and left her tent. Everyone ate a quick breakfast before packing up the tents. Before they hopped upon their horses, Dumbledore stood up to give a pep talk. Hermione could tell that everyone around her was anxious. They couldn't sleep so well since they knew that they were heading into battle, and in that, they may never return.
"Now, we will definitely be reaching Voldemort's castle today. I now what we shall find there, but even knowing cannot prepare use all for the shock. Today, we march into battle with a brave heart and strong mind. Take a look at the person next to you, for you may never see them again, but that's the path you're willing to take to defeat the Dark Lord and keep our world and the muggle world safe from his icy grasp. I pray for every one of us as we go on too look our fates in the eye," said Dumbledore.
Usually, there was chattering among the people as they hopped onto their horses and began to move on, but today, there was silence. Hermione wrapped her robe around her tightly as the horses trotted along the unpaved road. She looked at Ron, seeing how his face was emotionless. She wondered if he would ever see his wife and child again. She then looked at everyone else around her and wondered if they would ever return to their families.
She then thought of Tom. He had no family. He didn't have any real friends. What did he have to lose? Hermione then knew he did have something to lose, her. He had always told her that nothing in this world mattered to him besides her. She knew that she had to help Tom. She didn't want to lose him.
The group had been traveling for several hours. Food was passed around for lunch and a quick dinner. The woods began to grow darker and darker. Silence was being pursued by the wind in the trees. The heavy weight of an unknowing fate crushed everyone. For some odd reason, Hermione felt like she was close to home.
The road began to get smoother and dustier. Then, out of the gloom, rose the castle. It looked the same as Hermione had seen it, both in her past life and when she saw it in her dream. The towers rose into the sky and pierced the clouds. The sky started to become dark with storm clouds. The wind picked up and blew ferociously. The walls were old and covered in wild ivy or moss. Hermione shuddered when she heard the raging river on the other side of the castle, knowing all too well its icy touch and sharp rocks.
Suddenly, Dumbledore stopped ahead. He took his horse off to the side and motioned for everyone else to do the same. Everyone did so. Dumbledore then walked just a few feet ahead and looked at the castle.
"We have arrived," he said. "Now, I must warn everyone, keep your wands out at all time. I have a strange feeling that they might be expecting us. I will split you up into groups and tell you what to do and where to go."
Dumbledore split everyone up into groups. Some groups were to take out anyone that tried to enter the castle that wasn't a prisoner or part of the group. Others would sneak in and free the prisoners while others fought off the death eaters. When Dumbledore came to Hermione, he hesitated.
"Hermione, I want you to wait here until we can clear out the castle," he said.
"What?" Hermione asked, a look of shock on her face.
"Please," said Dumbledore. "It would be too dangerous for you to go in there with Voldemort's followers still at large. Promise me you will wait here."
Hermione stared at him.
"Promise me!" Dumbledore yelled.
Hermione bit her lip, and then nodded her head. Dumbledore then gave the orders for everyone to charge. Hermione watched as everyone made their way to the castle. She knew she always made good on her promises, but this time, she wouldn't.
Ron snuck into the castle with his group. What he saw made his stomach churn in disgust. There were many, many cages full of sick and injured people, all dirty and starving. He saw death eaters torturing some while others chunked dead bodies out of a window nearby. Ron clenched his wand tightly and hoped that Harry was still alive. He waited patiently in his spot until the signal to move in.
Hermione managed to sneak around the group outside the castle. She remembered a back door that led to the old cellar. She found it and removed the vines that covered it. She then pulled open the door, the smell of rotten wood and mold greeting her nose. She lowered herself carefully onto the rotten wooden steps and closed the door. The place was dark and musky. She could hear cries from above her. She snuck up to the door that led into the castle and peeked through the keyhole in the door. She could see the death eaters walking around and cages full of people. She pressed her ear listened closely for the signal. She only hoped that she could make it to Tom before something terrible happened to him.
"Hell on Earth"
Hermione was awakened by one of the women in her tent. She got up, took her medicine, brushed her hair, and then changed into a simple, yet elegant white dress. She put on her boots and placed the knife Ron gave her back in the right boot. She then put on he black robe and left her tent. Everyone ate a quick breakfast before packing up the tents. Before they hopped upon their horses, Dumbledore stood up to give a pep talk. Hermione could tell that everyone around her was anxious. They couldn't sleep so well since they knew that they were heading into battle, and in that, they may never return.
"Now, we will definitely be reaching Voldemort's castle today. I now what we shall find there, but even knowing cannot prepare use all for the shock. Today, we march into battle with a brave heart and strong mind. Take a look at the person next to you, for you may never see them again, but that's the path you're willing to take to defeat the Dark Lord and keep our world and the muggle world safe from his icy grasp. I pray for every one of us as we go on too look our fates in the eye," said Dumbledore.
Usually, there was chattering among the people as they hopped onto their horses and began to move on, but today, there was silence. Hermione wrapped her robe around her tightly as the horses trotted along the unpaved road. She looked at Ron, seeing how his face was emotionless. She wondered if he would ever see his wife and child again. She then looked at everyone else around her and wondered if they would ever return to their families.
She then thought of Tom. He had no family. He didn't have any real friends. What did he have to lose? Hermione then knew he did have something to lose, her. He had always told her that nothing in this world mattered to him besides her. She knew that she had to help Tom. She didn't want to lose him.
The group had been traveling for several hours. Food was passed around for lunch and a quick dinner. The woods began to grow darker and darker. Silence was being pursued by the wind in the trees. The heavy weight of an unknowing fate crushed everyone. For some odd reason, Hermione felt like she was close to home.
The road began to get smoother and dustier. Then, out of the gloom, rose the castle. It looked the same as Hermione had seen it, both in her past life and when she saw it in her dream. The towers rose into the sky and pierced the clouds. The sky started to become dark with storm clouds. The wind picked up and blew ferociously. The walls were old and covered in wild ivy or moss. Hermione shuddered when she heard the raging river on the other side of the castle, knowing all too well its icy touch and sharp rocks.
Suddenly, Dumbledore stopped ahead. He took his horse off to the side and motioned for everyone else to do the same. Everyone did so. Dumbledore then walked just a few feet ahead and looked at the castle.
"We have arrived," he said. "Now, I must warn everyone, keep your wands out at all time. I have a strange feeling that they might be expecting us. I will split you up into groups and tell you what to do and where to go."
Dumbledore split everyone up into groups. Some groups were to take out anyone that tried to enter the castle that wasn't a prisoner or part of the group. Others would sneak in and free the prisoners while others fought off the death eaters. When Dumbledore came to Hermione, he hesitated.
"Hermione, I want you to wait here until we can clear out the castle," he said.
"What?" Hermione asked, a look of shock on her face.
"Please," said Dumbledore. "It would be too dangerous for you to go in there with Voldemort's followers still at large. Promise me you will wait here."
Hermione stared at him.
"Promise me!" Dumbledore yelled.
Hermione bit her lip, and then nodded her head. Dumbledore then gave the orders for everyone to charge. Hermione watched as everyone made their way to the castle. She knew she always made good on her promises, but this time, she wouldn't.
Ron snuck into the castle with his group. What he saw made his stomach churn in disgust. There were many, many cages full of sick and injured people, all dirty and starving. He saw death eaters torturing some while others chunked dead bodies out of a window nearby. Ron clenched his wand tightly and hoped that Harry was still alive. He waited patiently in his spot until the signal to move in.
Hermione managed to sneak around the group outside the castle. She remembered a back door that led to the old cellar. She found it and removed the vines that covered it. She then pulled open the door, the smell of rotten wood and mold greeting her nose. She lowered herself carefully onto the rotten wooden steps and closed the door. The place was dark and musky. She could hear cries from above her. She snuck up to the door that led into the castle and peeked through the keyhole in the door. She could see the death eaters walking around and cages full of people. She pressed her ear listened closely for the signal. She only hoped that she could make it to Tom before something terrible happened to him.