A/N: Brownie points to whoever knows where the Salahuddin reference comes from.
Several Months Later:
Hermione Granger strolled up to her Head Girl's rooms, murmured "Salahuddin" at the door and entered her private suite. She quickly unclasped her robes, peeled off her uniform, and pulled on her pajamas. She picked up the photo on her nightstand, gazed at it for a moment, smiled, and gave both her parents a kiss. After a moment of stretching, Hermione picked up the note on her bed and scanned it quickly. Miss Granger…hydrogen peroxide…laptop computer…miracle grow…other stuff…gummy bears. That must have been Dumbledore's personal request. Typical list of stuff to get from London. I'll do it in the morning.
For the past few months, since her parents had died over the summer, Hermione had been stocking up on supplies from muggle London for faculty and members of the Order while living at her uncle's home. She had gone to live with him after the funerals of her parents, despite the fact that their house was now hers. While living with her uncle, she had picked up a few items for Professor Snape and it had become a custom now amongst the faculty and the Order. It was always items unavailable in the magical world or suspicious to acquire. Tensions were mounting, and very soon the war would break out in force.
Hermione sighed tiredly when she heard the knock at the door. "Enter!" she called out as she climbed into bed.
"'Mione. Goodnight, my dear, but I have a favor to ask you." Draco Malfoy struck a pose in the doorway. "Would you be a love and get me the new GQ magazine?"
"Draco, we're in the middle of a war and you're reading GQ?"
He smiled. "Well, to be accurate darling, I'm playing my 'straight-as-an-arrow-Death-Eater-to-be' role quite well. Not a soul save you really suspects any differently."
Hermione grinned. "I'll get you the new GQ. Besides, Johnny Depp's on the cover. I was going to pick it up for myself in any case." Draco laughed and turned to leave.
"Goodnight, Bushy."
"Goodnight, my fairy godfather." He's not at all bad once you get to know him. And to think, Ron and Harry don't even realize. Then again, he does play his role well. Wouldn't even suspect he was gay if I hadn't caught him plucking his eyebrows one day and we'd had that confrontation. I'm glad he has someone to confide in now.
With that thought, she drifted into sleep.
Morning came, and with it the first day of winter holiday. Ron and Harry had left for the headquarters of the Order, while Hermione had chosen to stay in Hogwarts to work with some of the professors. Lupin had also left for the vacation, as had Snape, Trelawney, and Sinistra. McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid, Sprout, and Hooch remained, and Hermione was working with all of them on various aspects of magical theory, hoping to develop defense spells, tracking spells, healing plants, and a variety of other items. This project with Hagrid's going to kill me though. Working on strategic uses for thestrals was maybe not one of my better ideas. Well, not when it involves Hagrid, bless his heart.
Hermione showered, pulled her hair into a tight braid, and walked to the closet. Jeans…boots made for walking…ooh that one was way cheesy, Mya. You really need to work on your jokes. Black shirt, leather jacket, and belt. And switchblade clipped on to belt. Lovely. I look like…a big bad biker chick. Oh well, better than looking like a go-go girl I suppose. Hermione grabbed a black satchel bag and slung it over her shoulder as she left her rooms. Fairy's still asleep, lazy-ass.
Hermione smiled and nodded at the few students she passed as she strode to the edge of the grounds. She stepped off the grounds, paused, and apparated. Hermione appeared in an alley. She exited the alley and began to walk towards a computer store on the corner. Three hours later, Hermione walked back towards her apparition point with several bags. Something's…odd. Very odd. I should turn around and walk away right now. She froze and turned to walk away from the alley. Hermione Granger knew as well as anyone never to ignore instinct. She turned and registered the movement behind her. Suddenly she was yanked into the alleyway. Hermione stumbled backwards and hit the ground hard, skidding into the wall. Fight back, Mya! She pulled out her wand and fired curses at random. There were a few grunts as several hit their marks and Hermione began to struggle to her feet but before she'd really gotten her bearings a stunning curse threw her into the wall. Oh, ow. That's going to leave a mark. The world went black around her.
"She's fiery," a smooth voice murmured. The owner of said voice approached the limp body of Hermione Granger and lifted it gently. "I'll enjoy her."
"Remember what our lord said: she will not respond to Veritaserum. You will have to use more…traditional methods if legilimency does not work," Bellatrix Lestrange noted.
"I sincerely hope it does not," replied her nephew Dayrin Lestrange. And he smiled.