Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
by: LogicalRaven
Hello again, from the desk of LogicalRaven. I could have made you wait till tomorrow, but I'm really happy with the way this chapter has turned out. Don't fear—I'm not killing off Cho as of yet….did I just say that?
I had to go back and check myself, Rayven is right....Ron and already confessed his love to Hermione, but not in an unforced way. This is the first time he's truly said it the way Hermione wanted it said. Atleast that is my new arguement since I messed up.
This chapter is the first real battle scene I've written since Perils, I do hope I did alright. I tried to imagine what it would have been like in the heat of the moment. I kind of got inspired by a few war movies, see if you can pick them out.
This might seem a bit odd and out of place, but remember that the elections are fastly approaching, pay attention to the dialog I've given you a huge hint as to what is going to happen in the next chapter.
Thanks again to everybody who is reading or reviewing or both. I was flattered by several of the e-mail I received, and I'm working steadily on replying to as many of them as I can, except for the chap who keeps trying to see me Viagra…I really don't need that stuff.
Read and Review
Nothing is my Own
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Not Everything Is As It Appears
December smiled forcefully as she took a sip of her tea and pulled back. "It's good."
Remus shook his head in return. "I was never very good at brewing tea."
"Now that you mention it, I think I remembered that. Where did you get these tea leaves?" December asked.
"Professor Sprout, her original design," Remus sighed. "I promised her I'd save them for a special occasion."
"Broken promise," December said lightly. "Good thing to."
Remus shook his head. "Oh, it isn't that bad."
"Isn't it?" December pushed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to poison me."
"Now, back to this Harry thing," Remus started again. He had been insistent on the subject since it had first been mentioned that day, but December was firmly trying to avoid it.
"No, not back to the Harry thing. I told you I'd fix it, just leave it at that," December warned.
Remus shook his head. "This isn't the kind of thing to be stubborn about."
"It was harmless in retrospect. It wasn't like she intentionally harmed him; it was a binding potion—a love potion," December argued against her better judgment.
"Harmless, the lad was in need of medical care. No telling what would have happened if Cho hadn't been there," Remus retorted.
December stood up and shook her head. "I've crossed the line. I should have never told you."
"It's my responsibility to make certain of Harry's safety," Remus said, raising his voice slightly.
"No, it isn't. It's my responsibility, not yours," December returned. "Just leave it at that."
"Leave it at that," Remus repeated.
"If you know what's best for you," December added.
Remus' eyes grew and his voice grew loud. "Are you threatening me?"
"No," December said with exasperation. "I'm simply asking you to let me deal with the situation according to what I feel is best."
"I don't want you placing Harry in anymore dangerous situations with that girl," Remus spat.
"That girl is an Auror in training, and my niece!" December argued, rising from her seat.
"That girl can't be trusted," Remus roared.
December threw her hands into the air. "I don't have to take this from a—from a.…"
"What December, your own prejudices finally coming out? So the truth is finally revealed," Remus said bitterly.
December took in a deep breath. "I didn't mean that. You know I have nothing against your condition."
"Yes you do!" Remus continued. "You don't want to be with me because I'm a werewolf."
"This is ridiculous," December said under her breath.
"Sirius was right. You wouldn't ever risk your career to be seen with a monster, a dark creature."
"Sirius would have never said that; he knew me better than you apparently do," December said in a broken voice.
Remus collapsed back into his chair and let his head fall. His old body heaved as he took in heavy breaths. Yet, December did not go to comfort him. She did not place her arms around his shoulder in an act of forgiveness.
The tension escalated until finally a sound of fast flapping wings broke it. December moved from her stationary position and took the letter off the owl's leg and read it quickly.
"I have to go," she said flatly.
Remus glanced at her and nodded. "Just keep an eye on him, December. He really is all I have left."
How December got from Remus' Hogwarts dwelling to the Ministry was beyond her. Kingsley Shacklebolt was already present with the briefing of what had happened.
"It's Chang, apparently there has been an enemy attack in Northern China. We've been in contact with the Chinese Ministry of Magic, but it's complicated. The Chinese Minister of Magic has been murdered, and the details are sketchy, apparently they suffered a hard hit early last night, which crippled its eternal structure. It's been decided that we're prepared to honor the Treaty of 1540, and we've sent reinforcements. Chang was the one who reported the first signs of the attack; nobody has heard from her since that initial report."
"How many do we have on the ground?" December asked.
"Only fifteen at this time, but I've already deployed a medical unit in case of causalities." Kinglsey replied. "The Chinese government has sent some of their own to fight, the Shen Luu."
"How many in the medical unit?" December continued to inquire.
"Thirty-two, I thought it best to be over prepared. I'm heading into the field with you. I'm leaving Odin Blackfoot in charge of debriefing and locating the rest of the Aurors."
"Agreed," December nodded.
Kingsley held out a brass key and motioned for
December to take it with him. A quick tug and a tumble later, December found herself on a makeshift battlefield. She barely had a chance to collect herself when someone tugged her up roughly by her arm.
"Honestly—an Auror should be better prepared. What are the two of you thinking, making an appearance on a battlefield without being wand ready," Moody barked, his magical eye scanning the tree line in paranoia. "I can see at least twenty of them, lurking. Just about five hundred meters beyond the tree line."
"Are you sure you just aren't seeing more trees?" Kingsley said, as he rubbed his sore arse.
"Positive, I've already got most of the Aurors you sent me climbing the path up the mountain. Witnesses say that is where the attack is taking place. Chang was already going up when I arrived, I haven't seen her, O'Riley," Moody croaked.
"I thought Fudge placed you in retirement?" December asked, suddenly realizing that Moody was out of place.
"What Fudge don't know won't hurt him," Moody retorted. "Plus, they needed someone out here who knew what to do."
"LOOK OUT!" Kingsley cried, out as December and Moody looked in the direction he was pointing.
A giant emerged from the edge of the forest and was now towering over the two Aurors.
December made a quick reach for her wand but wasn't quite quick enough. The giant had already raised a makeshift tree club and smashed it into her arm.
December let out a shriek of pain as she crumpled to her knees with her arm clinched tightly. Mad-Eye was knocked off balance by the blow and was now laying unconscious off to her right, his head bleeding where it had struck a rock.
The giant raised his club again when suddenly he stopped and fell backwards.
"Are you alright?" Kingsley asked, as he pulled December to her feet and summoned her wand.
"Fine," December gritted, "We need to get Moody to the medical tent."
Kingsley nodded, and the two hoisted Moody up over their shoulder. "Old bloke is heavy."
December smiled as she winced in pain, her arm hanging limply to her side. Suddenly, the two crumpled to the ground as a powerful explosion filled the air. The medical tent was demolished, leaving a large crater in its place.
"It's an ambush!" December yelled, holding her wand in front of her with her only good hand.
Kingsley glanced at her. "We need more help."
A few new cracks and pops filled the air; help had arrived, though December doubted it would be enough.
"I'm so tired I think I could sleep till next year," Ron complained, as he crashed down into the couch with a loud thud.
Harry grinned. "I imagine you and Hermione had a nice conversation outside considering the two of you weren't arguing when you came back inside. That must have contributed to your exhaustion."
Ron smirked. "Yea, well—we just had some stuff to get out of the way and all."
"Stuff—right," Harry commented, as he took a seat in a chair next to the couch and pointed his wand at the fireplace to light a fire.
Ron took a deep breath. "Do you really think I was being a prat when it came to the whole Ginny and Oliver thing?"
"I honestly don't want to answer that question," Harry confessed.
Ron let out his breath with a deep sigh. "She's just so young."
"She's only a year younger than us, and not even really that," Harry argued.
Ron snarled his nose. "You know Hermione and Cho are both going to expect us to propose if this whole marriage fever doesn't ease up."
Harry grinned. "So the thought hasn't ever crossed your mind in the seven some years you've been in love with Hermione?"
"Never," Ron snapped, "I know what marriage is—it's a trap they suck you into. Charlie told me the only way to save yourself is to never get married."
"Bill doesn't seem to be complaining," Harry pointed out.
Ron looked up. "Only because he understands about half the things that come out of Fleur's mouth."
"Well if comprehension is your worst fear about marriage, then I'd say Hermione is a perfect match for you," Harry continued.
Ron sat quiet for a moment before finally responding. "Why do you say that?"
"Because you only understand about half the things that come out her mouth," Harry explained.
Ron flung a pillow over towards Harry.
"HELLO! Anybody back yet?" came a voice from the kitchen.
"We're in here mate!" Ron bellowed back. " Oy, Dean."
"Hello, housemates. Did you all have a jolly Christmas?" Dean asked, as he took a seat on the floor near the fire.
Ron nodded as Harry simply lowered his head without answering.
"You'll never believe what this idiot has gone and done," Seamus said, as he appeared a moment later out of the kitchen behind Dean.
"Shut it, Seamus. Nobody cares about your gossip. You've been hanging around Lavender and Parvati too long," Dean snapped.
"No we care," Ron argued, as he gave Seamus an amused grin.
"He's dating a muggle!" Seamus bellowed before doubling over in a ball of laughter.
Dean frowned. "I don't seen anything wrong with it."
"What do you think she's going to do when you tell her you're a wizard?" Seamus said in mock seriousness. "Since he told her he's going to school at Oxford to be a brain surgeon."
"I told her I was studying bio-cranial medicine. I never said anything about being a brain surgeon."
"What is bio-cranial medicine?" Ron asked.
Dean shrugged. "No idea, but it seemed to impress her. My mum just played along, I don't think she was ready to release the shock of my exceptional talent yet either."
"Exceptional talent, this kid's a riot!" Seamus laughed.
A few more loud cracks sounded upstairs and within minutes Terry and Michael had joined the group gathered round the fire.
"Happy Christmas mates?" Terry greeted, as he set a plate of cookies on the coffee table.
"My mum made them."
"They look, lumpy," Seamus commented.
Terry shrugged. "They taste alright."
"You know what goes great with cookies?" Seamus asked suddenly.
"Fire Whiskey," the group said in almost unison.
"I don't drink that often, do I?" Seamus asked, as he dashed off into the kitchen.
He returned a moment later with several glasses and a large bottle of his homemade whiskey.
"I think I'll pass," Harry said quickly.
"Come on Potter. Chang isn't here this time. No worries," Dean joked.
Seamus finished pouring everyone, including Harry a glass, and then held his arm high up in the air. "A toast gentlemen."
"To girls," Dean offered.
"To our future," Michael corrected, "and the girls who haunt it."
"To love," Seamus finished.
The boys took a quick gulp and let out several smoky belches.
"Longbottom, you made it back alive mate!" Dean called out, as Neville came through the front door.
"Grams is going to play Bingo, some kind of muggle game, tonight, so I left early," Neville explained. "What are you all doing back?"
Most of the boys shrugged, but it was an understood understanding. Now that they were out on their own, they could only handle so much of their parents.
Neville took a seat at on the floor next to Dean and picked up a freshly poured glass of fire whiskey and chugged it down.
"Slow down there, Neville," Terry said, as he watched Neville begin to pour another drink.
"You guys have a good Christmas?" Neville asked.
"Alright," Ron confessed. "You?"
Neville took a deep breath and downed another glass. "Fine, why wouldn't I have a good Christmas?"
"Typically one doesn't drink that quickly if he's had a good Christmas," Dean pointed out.
"Unless his name is Seamus," Michael joked.
Neville sighed. "I just don't know what to do…. I mean it isn't anything important. It really isn't any of my business."
"What?" Ron demanded. "You're worse than a woman; just come out and say it."
"Padma, she's been offered at job at the Ministry of Magic," Neville said in a dull voice. "In the Department of Mysteries."
"She's going to be an Unspeakable?" Harry asked, which was followed by a grim nod from Neville.
"Wicked," Dean said with a grin. "When does she start?"
Neville sighed. "The first of the year. Isn't it a dangerous job?"
"Not as dangerous as being an Auror. Cho's an Auror and Harry doesn't object," Michael pointed out.
Harry grinned, "I actually did object, but little good it did."
"Or what about Hermione, she's working in the Ministry too. I'm sure her job is pretty dangerous," Seamus suggested.
"Really dangerous," Ron snickered. "They had her counting fairies the other day outside
of Surrey."
"Are you and Padma together then?" Terry asked, knowing ahead of time what Neville's response would be.
"No," Neville said quickly, "We're just friends."
"Honestly, how long does that hold water? 'We're just friends'," said an annoyed voice that was coming down the stairs.
"Hey, no girls allowed," Seamus protested.
Parvati narrowed her eyes. "Then I suggest you leave."
"Traitor," Michael nipped at Ernie, who simply shrugged, as he took a seat next to his girlfriend.
"So, Parvati, what is Padma saying?" Ron interrogated, as Neville dropped his head into his hands.
"That she doesn't know what to do because this logger head won't make a move," Parvati announced happily, as she placed her arm around Neville. "I suppose it's all my fault."
"Padma wouldn't say that; we agreed we're just friends," Neville said softly.
"She would if she were as vocal as I was. It doesn't matter. I'm her twin, and I can read her thoughts," Parvati argued. "Why don't you just sweep her off her feet?"
Neville bit his bottom lip and opened his mouth to say something, but Parvati stopped him.
"If you say she deserves better then I'll wham you over the head," Parvati threatened.
Neville blushed lightly as he gulped down another glass of whiskey. "I don't know how to."
"Just ask Ron, he seems to have figured it out," Harry said quickly, as he caught a glimpse of Ron's expression.
"Oh, why don't you just shut up then?" Ron snapped.
Harry shrugged. "Or, if you don't want to ask Ron, just ask Wood."
"Oliver Wood from Gryffindor?" Michael asked. "The Quidditch nut?"
"Precisely what I said," Ron retorted, as he glared at Harry.
"He asked Ginny to marry him," Harry announced.
"OH! How romantic," Parvati cooed, as Ernie looked at her with a terrified face.
"I think its something in the water mate," Ron replied, as he caught Ernie's expression.
Neville however seemed to take in her reaction with a bit more consideration. "Do girls like things like that?"
"Like what?" Parvati asked.
"Marriage?" Neville asked.
Parvati giggled and gave Ernie a flirty wink. "Of course silly, all girls love the thought of marriage."
"I swear, Neville, if you try anything crazy like proposing to Padma, I'll hex you so badly that you won't be able to stand for a week," Ron warned.
"Don't listen to him, he was never very good at romance," Parvati snapped, as she gave Ron a disgusted look.
Ron started to object but Harry beat him to the punch. "Hermione might disagree with you on that one."
Parvati grinned lightly. "Well, you weren't much better with it Harry, and I seriously doubt Cho would disagree with me."
"Ouch, mate, very ouch," Dean commented.
"Shut up Dean," Ron snapped. "You don't even know how to be honest with a girl."
"No, I just don't know how to be honest with muggle girls. My crooked nose is evidence I know how to be honest with the magical ones," Dean countered.
"How do you know when you're in love?" Neville asked quietly, as if he were hoping nobody was actually paying attention.
"It's quite simple really," Dean announced. "Love simply doesn't exist. If you're happy with someone, then you're in love. But if that happiness suddenly fizzles out, then…well, it wasn't really love. In conclusion, love is a sub-emotional creation that is merely in place to explain an emotion that is inconstant and unexplainable."
"Thanks for the interesting observation," Seamus laughed. "I don't think that answered Neville's question however."
"Be my guest then," Dean offered with a bow.
"I knew I was in love with Lavender after that battle in Hogsmeade. I thought, if anything happened to that lass, then I couldn't go on. That's when I decided to make her me wife," Seamus explained. "It's really just something I felt in me heart."
"I agree with Seamus," Harry voiced. "It's just something you know when you know it."
"Like I said, a sub-emotional creation that is merely in place to explain an emotion that is unexplainable," Dean retorted.
Michael laughed. "It's like you're walking on air, and you can't wait to see that person again, but you don't know why."
"Who have you been in love with?" Ron demanded.
Michael merely grinned and took a sip of fire whiskey.
"I'm in the same boat as Neville. I've never really felt anything remotely close to that," Terry confessed.
Ernie chanced a glance at Parvati. "Can I not answer this question?"
Parvati poked him hard in the side and caused him to jump.
"I never said I'd never felt anything…" Neville started to protest, but suddenly stopped as he caught glimpse of a head in the fire, swirling green in the flames.
"Holy Merlin," Dean swore, as the group was suddenly taken back.
"Harry, Michael?"
"Master Blackfoot?" Michael asked, as he examined the old man in the fire.
"Yea, yea—no time for formalities. I need the two of you to report back the Academy at once, the port-key you have should be activated. Is Boot with you by any chance?"
"Right here," Terry called out as he inched closer to the fire.
"Good, we're going to need healers, even partial trained ones. Is Granger around?" Odin Blackfoot continued.
"She's at her parents' for the holidays," Ron answered.
"She's muggle born, so I'm willing to bet she isn't connected to the Floo Network. You boy, do you have permission to apparate into her parents' home?"
Ron's eyes widened. "I…"
"It's a simple question, yes or no?"
"Yes," Ron said with a shrug towards Harry.
Odin Blackfoot nodded. "Good, go get her and tell her to report to the Ministry of Magic immediately. We've already lost 32 healers in a ambush; we need her skills, since she knows the basics and is a Ministry employee."
"Thirty-two healers?" Harry asked, looking slightly puzzled.
"No time for questions, get a move on. We haven't got time," Odin Blackfoot barked, as his head disappeared with a pop.
Michael had already gone to fetch the port-key used to transport them to the Academy. It was usually only during times of extreme high security that the students could access the Academy by port-key. Other times, they would be told to Floo, and once they had received their sixth rank, they would be able to apparate in and out without permission.
"Are you two ready?" Michael asked.
"Has there been an attack or something?" Neville asked.
Harry sighed. "Apparently."
"Do you think I could…" Neville continued.
"No," Michael said instantly. "Don't look so grim guys. I'm sure it isn't anything to worry about."
"Oh no, I'm quite used to seeing green heads in my fires telling me 32 healers have just been wiped out," Parvati said sarcastically, as she lowered her head.
"You guys WILL be alright, won't you?" Ernie asked.
The room stood silent as nobody wanted to answer that question.
Dean glanced around at the group. "So, Harry, if you don't come back, who gets the house?"
Dean's antic didn't lighten the mood, but somehow tensed it up a bit more.
"Calamus Accendo," Cho said loudly, as she aimed her wand at an advancing form. Silver arrows shot into the air from her wand, and she ducked back behind a tree.
It seemed like days ago that she had first heard the scream that pierced the morning peace and started this battle. It was hard to even tell if there was much help around. Not long before this moment Cho had seen a large explosion near the base, and the screams and frantic cries that emerged from the scene told her that lives were lost in that blast.
Her ascent up the mountain had been a slow go, and she was positive she was in the lead fronts of the battle. Every few feet, she ran into resistance, forms dressed in black cloaks wearing white masks.
"Avada Kedavra."
Cho ducked quickly as the tree above her took the brunt of the spell.
"Reppuli," Cho cried, as her banishing charm sent a cloaked Death Eater flying into the air.
The situation looked hopeless, and Cho glanced behind her for a second to see if she could see any signs of someone coming up behind her. She knew the Aurors had to be there by now; it was impossible for her to still be alive if reinforcements had not arrived.
"Aestuarium fluxi," Cho recited, as she aimed her wand in front of her. A great gush of water flooded the trees in front of her, and a few cries could be heard. " Accio wand!"
Nothing came.
" Crucio ."
" Protego," Cho said a split second before the curse reached her. The spell beam bounced off her shield as she ducked to her knees in a secondary defense.
Cho lifted her head, knowing her cover was now blown; she had taken far too long to react from her shielding charm, which affects were spent. A Death Eater emerged with their wand drawn on her.
"Stupefy."
Cho looked up and saw Tonks, and then she turned to see the fallen Death Eater.
"You alright?" Tonks asked, as she pulled Cho quickly to her feet.
"Fine," Cho said, as she and Tonks ducked quickly behind a tree.
"How many are here?" Cho asked.
Tonks threw a purple colored spell that Cho didn't know over her shoulder into the dense set of trees. "About twenty Aurors and a group of Healers last I knew, but that was a while ago."
"What was that explosion near the base of the mountain earlier?" Cho asked.
Tonks shrugged. "A disaster, but they didn't give me the details.I think it was a medical tent."
"My mother's tomb is at the top," Cho pointed upwards. "Why would they attack a funeral? Why would they attack Healers?"
"They have the giants here. O'Riley and Shacklebolt got hit pretty hard, but that was the beginning stages of the attack," Tonks said breathlessly, as Cho aimed another silver arrow spell to her right.
Cho shook her head. "This doesn't fit. Are there any reports of vampires?"
Tonks shook her head. "I haven't heard, but if there are giants here, I'm sure there are other allies here as well."
Cho shook her head. "It's a distraction."
Tonks shot a stunner into the forest and then looked back at Cho. "What do you mean?"
"It doesn't make sense, that is all I'm saying… LOOK OUT!" Cho cried, as she pointed her wand over Tonks' head. " Protego ."
Tonks ducked slightly as Cho's shielding charm repelled another spell and caused its beam to fly high into the sky and disappear.
Tonks and Cho crawled on their bellies across the ground until they reached a rock half buried in the ground, which offered them some better forms of protection. Cho slowly lifted herself off the ground; she could taste the soured earth seeping its way into her mouth. Her sweaty hair clung to her face as her eyes continued to scan the forest for any signs of movement.
"Accio wands! " Tonks attempted.
"Expelliarmus, ," Cho added, hoping to catch a few enemies by surprise.
Nothing.
"We're going to be lucky to get out of here alive," Tonks said, as she ducked with a clumsy fumble at the end. She just missed being hit a red jet of light that hit a few feet over her head.
Cho narrowed her eyes. "I'm getting to the top of this mountain. My father is up there."
"Hopefully he's still putting up a good fight," Tonks continued, as she pointed her wand at a tree and set loose a jet of fire.
Cho shook her head. "Hopefully he's doing better than we are. LOOK OUT!"
Tonks and Cho both ducked low as another jet of green light came barreling towards them.
"We've got to move," Tonks snapped, "We're a sitting target here."
Cho chanced lifting her head up a second, "Over there, if we can get on the upper side of the hill we'll have a clearer view."
"Expendiaiou," Cho yelled. A cloud of black smoke formed around them, giving them cover to run.
Ron blinked and took a deep breath. Why had he done it? Why had he told that Blackfoot fellow that he had permission to apparate to Hermione's parents? He barely knew Hermione's parents, being he had only met them a few times before, and he didn't really feel comfortable being around them because he always felt they were judging him. In his opinion, they didn't think he was good enough for their oldest daughter. Mr. Granger had even asked Ron once if he had ever considered a career as a dentist.
Ron was still smacking himself for his response. " You mean someone who fixes muggle teeth? No offense sir, but it seems like a rather pointless profession."
Only after Hermione had nudged Ron hard in the side, did it occur to him that Hermione's dad was a dentist. She had only mentioned it like about a hundred times.
Ron cleared his throat and rang the doorbell with a shaky finger. What was he going to say? "Hello, is Hermione home? I need to tell her there is a wizard attack, and she's to report to the Ministry of Magic."
Could he even say that to muggles, even if they had a magical daughter?
"I've got it!" called a voice right before the door opened. A young girl opened the door whom Ron didn't recognize. She had bushy blond hair, a square face, and larger front teeth reminded Ron of someone familiar.
"Is Hermione home?" Ron asked in a high unnatural pitch.
The girl wrinkled her nose. "Who's asking?"
"Oh, sorry," Ron commented before pulling his hand out of his pocket and offering it to the young girl. "I'm Ron."
The girl merely bit her lip and eyed Ron's hand with a curious expression. "Ron who?"
"Weasley," Ron said flatly.
"Hermione!" the girl yelled up the stairs behind her.
"Beatrice, what are you yelling about?" called back a frustrated voice.
"It's the boy," the girl called back. "You know the one from your school."
"Who, Harry?" Hermione asked, as she made her way to the top of the stairs.
"No, the other one," the girl replied before moving out of the way and heading back towards the kitchen.
"Ron," Hermione said suddenly, as she made her way to the doorway and tugged tightly against the edges of her robe. "What are you doing here?"
Ron blushed slightly as he realized at the reason Hermione was tugging at her robe and diverted his eyes to the ground. "I need to talk to you."
"Now?" Hermione asked before glancing back to look at her sister with a stern look.
"Odin Blackfoot asked me to tell you to report to the Ministry of Magic, apparently there has been some kind of attack somewhere," Ron rambled. "They didn't know how to get in touch with you. Was that your younger sister?"
"What? Oh yes, that is my sister Beatrice-- ignore her; she is skeptical of everybody. What kind of attack?" Hermione continued.
Ron shook his head. "I don't know, but I was asked to come tell you."
Hermione nodded. "I'll go straight away."
Ron nodded. "You're really going to go?"
"Of course," Hermione said with a curious expression.
"Right—that was stupid," Ron replied. Nervous butterflies were turning his stomach into a mess. "Just be careful, alright."
It was like a test, and the conversation from only a short while ago kept playing over and over in Ron's mind. Now he couldn't help but wonder how dangerous Hermione's job really was.
"Alright," Hermione promised before placing a quick kiss on Ron's lips. "Thanks for coming to deliver the message to me."
"Anytime," Ron grinned foolishly, though it was halfway forced.
"I love you," Hermione whispered.
"I love you too," Ron replied ,as Hermione slowly shut the door.
Hermione turned around to face her sister who had a disappointed look etched on her face.
"Was that the guy?" Beatrice asked.
"Yes, it was," Hermione said with a lopsided grin. "Cute huh?"
"If you go for that red haired, freckly, goofy looking kind of guy," Beatrice said quickly, as Hermione shook her head.
"So, is he a wizard?" Beatrice asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, he's a wizard."
"Neat," Beatrice said quickly. "Does he have any friends."
Hermione turned to look at her sister. "You can't become a witch by dating a wizard, Beatrice."
"I know that. I was just asking out of curiosity," Beatrice insisted before taking a seat on Hermione's bed.
"Tell mum and dad I got called into work, but I should be back soon," Hermione instructed.
Beatrice grinned. "Can I come with you?"
"No," Hermione said sternly. "Stick to being a muggle. Life is a lot simpler that way."
"Oh come on, why won't you ever tell me anything about your world?" Beatrice whined.
Hermione picked her wand off her dresser and gave her sister one more annoyed look and with a loud crack left the room.
The Ministry of Magic was in a state of hysteria that Hermione had never seen. Wizards and witches were running up and down the corridors with stacks of papers, and the buzzing was so loud from the memos floating around you could barely hear yourself think.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked Amos Diggory, as she pushed her way into the office of the Regulation of Magical Creatures.
"Granger, we've been expecting you for over an hour now. Blackfoot told us you had already been summoned," Diggory started. "You've been requested in the office of Healing Magic."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
Diggory lowered his head, "Because you have medical training. We need all the help we can get in that area."
"Why?" Hermione pushed.
"Well, 32 medi-witches killed in one strike, is probably the main reason," Diggory said casually. "Go, I promised I'd send you as soon as you got here, and make certain Shacklebolt sends word as soon as the fighting ends. I hear the giants are in on this one."
Hermione nodded as she walked rather briskly to the office of Healing Magic, and pushed open the door. "I'm reporting to duty, Granger. Hermione Granger."
"Ah, Granger," said an aging medi-witch. "Have you been debriefed on the situation."
"Something about 32 medi-witches being killed in a single strike," Hermione began.
The old witch shrugged. "Basically, there is a major battle going on in Northern China. We've pretty much sent all our medical staff there to assist."
"What about the Chinese magical government?" Hermione asked.
"They're in a complete state of chaos. Apparently before this attack, the enemy attacked and killed the heart of the Chinese central magical government. They can't get their barring; we're helping out. Keep alert, just because you'll be wearing these white robes doesn't mean you're above being hexed," the witch continued, as she tossed Hermione a white uniform robe.
Hermione nodded. "How do I get there?"
"We have a few port-keys in the back that will take you to the medical set-ups. Be careful Miss Granger and good luck."
Hermione took another deep breath before proceeding into the back room. She quickly spotted the port-keys and reached out to take one. She immediately felt the swift tug behind her navel pull her forward, and she landed a moment later in the middle of another frantic crowd.
"Hermione, thank goodness," called a voice she vaguely remembered from her time at Healer training.
Hermione's eyes grew wide as she examined the blood dripping off the Healer's robes and then looked around the room to take in the scene around her.
"Keep your eyes open child and your wand ready. Half our victims have been healers," the medi-witch snapped. "I'm putting you in the stabilization tent with Boot, Frontier, and Fortez. They'll tell you what your responsibilities are once you're there."
Hermione followed the witch until she motioned for her to go though a slightly less hectic portion of the tent. She immediately spotted Terry, who rushed over to her with an exhausted expression.
"Good to see you, Hermione," Terry said with a sigh. "Can you go check on that patient over there. He's a Chinese dark wizard fighter; I can't pronounce it what they're called. He took a nasty fireball in the chest; he's stable, but his burn seems to be a bit resistant to the burn cream we used. It could be a side effect of the charm."
Hermione nodded and quickly walked over to the Chinese man. "Hello, how are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"
The Chinese wizard looked up at her with tear filled eyes, oblivious to a single word she was saying. She slowly moved the bandage that was covering his chest, and a gasp escaped her. The injury was festering with yellow pus that seemed to be boiling at an alarming rate.
"It's getting worse, what do I do?" Hermione called back over to Terry, who tipped up on his toes and shook his head.
"We don't have the time to deal with it right now. Give him some of that pain-numbing potion in the chest by the door. It's the best we can do for him right now," Terry hollered back, as he attempted to mend a broken arm bone in front of him.
Hermione quickly ran to the chest and pulled out a vial of potion and held it up to the light. "We don't have enough to kill the entire pain. There is only about a quarter of a vial left."
"That will have to do," Terry snapped back. He had already moved on to the next victim.
Hermione reluctantly administered the small amount of pain numbing potion and moved over to the next bed. The witch lying there was in white robes, and she had a vacant look in her eyes. It only took Hermione a moment to recognize the symptoms.
"Dementors?" Hermione said loudly, but this time it was Fortez that answered her.
"Yea, they've kissed about fifteen so far, but the Aurors have fought most of them away from the medical tents now."
Hermione frowned. "They were attacking Healers?"
"Healers aren't taught that type of advance defensive magic. We were an easy target," Fortez said with a grim expression. He was using his wand to perform a type of CPR on his victim, but from the looks of it he was failing.
Hermione shook her head and stepped back. "I'm not trained enough for this, I'm just in the way."
"You aren't in the way. Just do what comes natural," Terry called out over the noise.
"We need you, Hermione. We're already pushed to our limits, and we can't expect any help from out there. These aren't the serious patients."
Hermione whipped a tear off her face and moved to the next bed and rolled the victim over. "Moody."
"Yea, old Mad-Eye took a giant's club to the head. He's should be okay though. Just treat him for a concussion and revive him," Fortez said quickly, as he abandoned his attempt at the reviving the victim he was working on. He simply pulled the white sheet over the fallen wizard's head and moved on.
Hermione took a deep breath and placed her wand at Moody's temple.
December O'Riley looked up the hill and pulled her slinged arm tightly against her body. Had she been thinking, she would have been more prepared for the giants. Then again, it appeared Moody had not even foreseen their use so early in this new uprising.
Her wand arm was shattered, and no amount of magic would repair in a short time.
Instead of charging up the battle along side her colleagues, she was barking out orders and keeping things running peacefully at the base of the battle.
A couple of loud pops from behind her caught her attention.
"Master O'Riley, what happened to you arm," Susan Bones asked, as she and Noel approached.
December glanced down at her arm and shook her head. "Giants, they have a nasty habit of shattering bones…where are the other two?"
"They're still being debriefed; they should be just behind us," Noel answered.
Just as Noel had said, Harry and Michael appeared just moments later with looks of determination on their faces.
December looked at Harry with a pained expression before she began. "You've got to keep your heads together today, and remember that this is not the typical situation we like to place untrained Aurors. You must have constant vigilance and not act on emotions."
"So far the death count is undetermined, but anybody that is not account for at this time is best assumed dead. The enemy is taking no prisoners and is not hesitating to use the unforgivable curses on us," December continued.
"How many are unaccounted for?" Michael asked.
"Nearly fifty Aurors or Member of the Chinese Shen Luu," December replied flatly.
"Fifty?" Harry asked. "And we have to assume they're all dead?"
"Most of them just haven't been able to report in for some time, but we can't assume anything, not even that they are still fighting," December explained, "Not when we're up against the Unforgivables."
"What is our task, master?" Susan asked.
December nodded towards the medical tents. "Stand guard around the tents in case they're attacked again."
"Again?" Michael asked.
"It seems our enemy thinks that Healers make an easy target," December retorted.
Harry glanced up the hills. "Is Cho up there?"
"It doesn't matter, Harry," December replied smoothly.
Harry's eyes lingered up the hill. "I want to go fight."
"You aren't trained enough yet. You will follow the orders I've just given you,"
December barked before turning her back on the group.
Harry stared at her with a bitter expression as he watched her disappear into a group of Ministry officials. "There aren't enough idiots here to protect the medical tents."
"Harry, don't even think about it," Susan warned.
Harry shook his head. "I'm going. If you lot want to stay here and do nothing, that's your choice."
"You heard what Master O'Riley said," Susan continued.
"Harry's right," Michael interjected. "We're Aurors; our place is in battle."
"Our place is to follow orders," Susan protested.
"Didn't you hear what Master Shacklebolt said? Didn't you hear what Master O'Riley just said. Our friends are dying up there," Harry snapped. "I've already faced the Unforgivables. I probably have more experience against them than most wizards do."
Susan shook her head. "I'm staying here. I'm not going to risk being tossed out of the Academy for not following orders."
"There are more important things than that right now," Noel said, quickly causing the group to look at her.
"You agree with Michael and I?" Harry asked.
Noel narrowed her eyes. "No, I don't agree with you, but I do know that we're of better use on that hill than down here. My aunt never was good at getting her hands dirty."
"You're all insane. We aren't trained for this kind of thing yet," Susan begged.
Harry glared at Susan. "If you don't want to come with us then stay here."
"Harry, please think this through. Michael, surely you can see reason?" Susan begged. "Noel, come on guys."
"If December asks, tell her we're covering the forest around the perimeter," Harry said quickly before the three who agreed rushed off to the base of the mountain.
"Sure, I'll just make up something when she can't find you there," Susan called out, as the three disappeared.
Harry glanced at Michael, then at Noel and lowered his voice. "We stick together with our wands at the ready, stun first, and ask questions later."
Michael nodded and Noel gave her affirmation.
The three proceeded slowly, hiding in the thicker parts of the forest, and ducking behind trees every few meters. The path seemed to be clear, as they kept their vigilance up.
Suddenly movement ahead of them caused Harry to throw his arm up, and he pointed his wand. " Petrificus Totalus ."
There was a loud thud as something hit the ground. and the trio moved forward towards the lump.
"Master Shacklebolt," Michael said, as they all instantly recognized the wizard.
Harry quickly removed the curse, and Kingsley rubbed his arm that seemed to take most of the fall.
"What are you three doing up here?" the Auror asked.
Harry glanced at Michael who glanced at Noel.
"We were sent as back-up to see who was accounted for," Noel lied quickly.
Shacklebolt nodded. "Odd, O'Riley told me she was going to have you all do guard duty last I asked, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The Chinese Shen Luu have gained control of most everything to our right, but we haven't gotten the entire left side of the mountain just yet; the Ministry Aurors are fighting just a bit up ahead; I'm watching to see if any try to escape."
"We'll go help," Michael said quickly, as the group turned to the right.
"No, we need wands to the right…Tonks and Raymer went up the high trail about an hour ago; they'll need back-up," Shacklebolt snapped. "It's more on your level of training. The battle hasn't been that intense."
Harry was about to protest, when Noel nudged him so hard he almost when tumbling down the mountainside.
NEXT UPDATE: 10-07-04