Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing with her world
Chapter 22: Don't Let the Days Go By
By the time dawn had reached Hogwarts, Severus and Minerva were back into teacher mode and were preparing the school for the attack and the defense.
All the other teachers had also been awoken just after Severus and Minerva had made the rough ideas for plans. They were currently finishing moving the younger students into the Chamber. Of course, Ginny had been woken early as well, so that the Chamber could actually be opened, but none of the other students needed to know that.
Before the 5th, 6th, and 7th year students were moved into the Great Hall, all of the prefects and the Head Boy and Girl were called down by their Heads of Houses. They met in the Great Hall and were taught ten new medical spells. Basic ones, of course, but still very useful for what will need to be done. They learned the spells easily and waited there for the rest of their classmates to arrive.
Finally, the rest of the elder students were being loaded in to the Great Hall. They were talking excitedly amongst themselves. Minerva waited for Severus to get back into the Great Hall and to take his seat next to her. When he was by her side, Minerva stood to make her announcement.
"By now I'm sure many of you have heard that Headmaster Dumbledore and Mr. Harry Potter have been kidnapped by the Death Eaters. Because of this, Lord Voldemort," the younger students gasped at the name while most of the Seventh Years rolled their eyes at the others sensitivity. "has decided now is the perfect time to attack. Now, you all are here because we are asking for your help. As the older students you know more and are a bit more prepared for this then the younger students. But I will not kid you; this will most likely be the most dangerous thing you will ever encounter."
Minerva paused here to let the information, old and new, sink in. After a few moments of chatter, she cleared her throat and the talking once again died down.
"We," she indicated to the rest of the teachers who had come to gather around her since she began talking, "are asking you for help. You will not be call to fight but to heal." Some of the Seventh Years groaned at this but quickly stopped when Minerva glared at them. "No one who does not want to be in this danger may go down to the Chamber and help maintain order with the younger students." Minerva tipped her head to the door, saying that they should leave now if they were going to leave. The fear and the trepidation in the room was palpable but not a one person moved from where they sat.
Minerva smiled gently at them, but couldn't help but fear for their lives. "Your service and generosity shall not go over looked and you will not go unrewarded. Alright we shall now leave you in the hands of your Head Boy and Girl. You will be warned when they are near. Thank you." With that the teachers that had filtered in, all stood and left the Great Hall through a side door.
As the teachers were leaving, Hermione and Draco stood to walk to the front. By the time they reached the teacher's table the talking had escalated to a roar. Draco tried to shout over them but it didn't work at all. Finally Hermione rolled her eyes and placed a Sonorus charm to her throat.
"QUIET!" She screamed out. They immediately went silent. After the initialshock had worn off, a few Gryffindors clapped and cheered at Hermione.Taking the charm off her throat Hermione spoke again. "Thank you. Now as Professor McGonagall has stated, you are in our hands. During this time we have together the prefects will be teaching you some medical spells that you will need. Draco and I shall be walking around making sure everything is going alright. Now, please prefects get to work."
With that a handful of students rose and gathered their years in their Houses. Soon spells were being called out and were echoing throughout the Hall. Draco and Hermione were walking around helping those that needed it and correcting some. They circled the Hall twice and it seemed everyone had gotten the first spell down. Soon new spells were being taught and Hermione pulled Draco to the side.
"Draco, what are you going to do?" She whispered to him. She had been extremely worried about how he was going to fight off the Death Eaters without showing his true side from the beginning.
"Don't worry, my dear," he said patting her arm reassuringly, "I have gotten my orders and I know what to do."
She nodded her head with a slight smile. "I am just so scared, Draco. What if we die? What if all these kids here die? What if we lose?" Hermione hated to admit it but she was terrified.
Draco pulled her into a hug. He knew there was really nothing he could say to make her feel better. 'Save for one thing.' He thought with a sly smile.
"Go fine him, Hermione."
Confusion danced through her eyes but she was soon grinning ear to ear.
"Will you be OK here?" She asked already eyeing the doors.
Grinning Draco replied, "Of course I will be. Now will you just get out of here!" He shoved her slightly towards the doors.
Hermione faced him once again. 'So many things have changed.' She thought for a brief moment. Hermione gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before rushing out of the Great Hall. A few students looked at her run out and then at Draco but he just glared at them his best Snape glare and they went back to work very quickly.
The hallways were completely empty as Hermione sprinted through them trying to find Severus. After a couple of minutes of running, Hermione had yet to find him and she was out of breath. Sliding down the nearest wall onto the floors, she tried to think were he may be. Checking off a list in her head, Hermione crossed off the Teacher's room and a look down in the dungeons had told her that he was not down there. But, finally a thought came to Hermione.
She could have smacked herself in the face for her stupidity. Raising her wand she pointed up where Gryffindor Tower was. "Accio Marauder's Map."
Whooshing sounds could be heard and they were slowly getting louder. Finally a piece of parchment flew from a stairwell and into the waiting hands of Hermione. Looking down at the map, she saw some professors helping down in the Chambers but most were outside of Hogwarts or near the walls strengthening the wards and defenses. But Professor McGonagall and Severus were no where to be found. But by accident her eyes skimmed over the Headmaster's office.
The two missing professors were in there. Doing what, she didn't know, but just the fact she now knew where he was and that he was somewhat close made the smile come back to her face.
Her breath had finally caught up with her. So rolling the Map up and putting it away, she ran off to the Headmaster's office.
After running, her sides began to ache and her heart was beating very fast but she could not stop now. She had to keep going. At last, she saw the gargoyle that led to the Headmaster's office. Hermione thought she had never been so happy to see that old ugly thing in her whole life.
Trying every kind of candy she could think of, the gargoyle finally stepped out of the way to let her up the stairs.
She took the stairs two at a time. Running, she reached the doors. The smile on her face came back as she heard voices on the other side of the door.
Pushing the sweaty hair out of her face and straightening her rumpled clothes, Hermione tried to look a bit decent. She let out a long breath of nervousness and raised her hand to open the door. But right as she was about to grip the door handle popping sounds could be heard. Fearing the worst, Hermione rushed through the door.
The second that she did she wished to any god that would listen that she hadn't. The room was empty. The voices that had been there only moments before were gone. Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. She couldn't believe it. After trying so hard to track him down, all of her hopes were dashed in a fraction of a second. But as she looked out of the no doubt magical window, she saw a black army heading her way.
"Oh, gods!" She whispered into her hands, which had automatically flown to her mouth. The army was not all that shocking but what leading them was. Her eyes fell upon the roughly put together pieces of wood. The wooden platform held two pieces stakes sticking at least 10 feet in the air. Attached to those pieces of wood were none other then Harry and the Headmaster. Harry was untouched and struggling very hard, while Dumbledore was sitting there limply. He was beaten terribly, his face was black and blue and there was dried blood everywhere. She could tell he was still alive and awake but looked to just be sitting there gaining his strength back.
A few moments earlier, Severus and Minerva had gotten back down to the Great Hall. They apparated directly next to Draco, who had been helping a fifth year on their last spell. The second they appeared beside him, Draco let out a rather girlish scream and jumped back pulling out his wand.
Severus smiled just a bit at Draco's behavior while Minerva chuckled out right and apologized.
After making sure he was OK, Minerva informed the students that the armies of the Dark Lord were very close, so they needed to get into positions.
Draco, while listening to the report, was once again pulled to the side, though, this time by Severus.
"Where is she?" Severus asked discreetly but his voice was laced with worry.
Draco eyed him wearily, "Did she not find you? She left to go look for you and when she didn't come back I figured you two were getting out pre-battle tensions." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. But one look from his uncle made him stop.
Severus looked furious. "You let her roam about the castle by herself? What if she had been hurt? They took the wards down once, what if they had done it again?"
"Unc…Uncle I'm sorry. I just wanted her to find you to say good-bye before battle. I didn't even think about that. I was only trying to help." Draco shot back defensively.
Severus patted him on the arm, only once though not wanted the other students to see. "Alright, my boy. But where in the castle is she, did she say where she would be going?"
Draco shook his head. "No, she just sprinted out of here like a bat out of hell wanting to go and find you." Severus eyed him strangely for that remark but said nothing about it.
"Alright, I will go and see if I can fi…" But Severus wasn't able to finish as a man from the Order burst in.
"Severus, Minerva we are all here, but that means that so are they."
The chatter of the students grew loudly as the word of why the man had arrived was passed around.
Minerva shouted over them. "QUIET! Students, I'm going to need you to move down to the dungeons, that is where we are holding all of the injured for the time being." All the students nodded in unison. "Go. Do well, be careful, and I will see you all after this is all over."
With those solemn words, the students made their way quietly down to the dungeons.
The man from the Order ran up to Severus and Draco and explained the situation. Minerva soon filled in. The recruits had already arrived and were assembling on the make-shift battlefield. Aurors were arrived one by one and even after 50 had arrived the promise of more still came. The briefing ended and Minerva and Severus watched the young man leave with Draco in toe.
"Are you ready, Severus, for the fight of your life?" Minerva said with a slight smile on her face. The pre-battle excitement was running through her veins.
"As always. But there will be other 'fights of my life', as you so put it." He said very sardonically.
Eyeing him carefully, Minerva walked around a bit. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing." Severus replied foully and a little too quickly.
Nodding her head, Minerva didn't push. "Then let's go." Throwing off her heavy outer robes, Minerva gripped her wand tightly and led the way out of the Great Hall and on to the battlefield.
A/N: Am I too mean for doing that? He he he he. And see I told you that I would get it this chapter out faster, and I think it may even be a bit longer.
Don't you just love me? The next one will most definitely be the battle, well the next or the one after, because I have to get in Death Eaters POV.
Also I am writing up a new story. It's Phantom of the Opera. I'm doing really good on it and I can't wait to be ready to type it up and send it out to all of you guys.
Oh, to that reviewer that said Snape would never go into that heartfelt story to McGonagall, sorry my online isn't working right now but you know who you are. I know that he wouldn't ever do that, but I realized that after I had it all written out and everything so I tried to add in some 'back in character' moments. And this chapter too may be a bit OOC for him but I'm getting better I think.
Hope you like this one! Please Read and Review!