Hermione and Ron wandered around the room talking to the various people that had come to help. Hermione tried to follow Susan's advice and keep a positive attitude, but as the evening continued, she grew more and more tired and the effort to keep smiling for Ron's benefit was taking its toll. For his part, Ron seemed to be enjoying himself and his recent experiences hadn't affected his friendships as he had originally feared. Hermione had stopped wearing the necklace a few weeks prior when she realized that Ron was blocking the necklace affects, but truly she didn't need it. Especially on nights like this one.
"Hermione, do you want to dance?" Ron asked turning to her as they left Colin, Luna and Neville.
"Sure," she replied as they walked towards the dance floor. At least in dancing Hermione wouldn't have to keep up with the small talk with the others.
Ron held her close to him and smiled down at her, "This was wonderful, thank you for planning it. I thought you had forgotten with all of your other projects going on."
"I'm glad you are enjoying the party," Hermione replied leaning her forehead against his chin. If she stayed close enough, he wouldn't be able to see her embarrassment at the lie.
They danced that way through the rest of the song until a tap on her shoulder interrupted them, "If you will pardon me, I believe its my turn to dance with the birthday boy," Daphne's voice interrupted them.
Hermione nodded and stepped away, grateful for the break as she faced Daphne's previous partner. Blaise offered her his hand and held her at a distance, "At least this way, you won't have to worry about your toes."
Hermione nodded and followed his lead finding this a good opportunity to discuss the events from the Castle, "I know who Val is," she whispered up to Blaise.
Blaise quirked an eyebrow, "I suspected as much. I think they have known for awhile about each other."
Hermione looked over at the couple dancing close by, laughing and relaxed, "They are obviously better friends than I had anticipated."
"A just answer," he replied as he turned them and a frown flashed across his face.
"What is it?" Hermione asked the proud Slytherin.
Blaise looked down at Hermione and shook his head, "Nothing."
He turned them again and Hermione saw Susan and Ernie talking to Luna and Neville over near one of the food tables. "I see," Hermione smiled up at Blaise. "You know why, don't you?"
Blaise looked down at Hermione and narrowed his eyes, "I don't know what you mean."
Hermione rolled her eyes in reply, "Blaise, she's making a point and doing what you told her to do. You should go ask her to dance with you. Ernie's just a friend."
Blaise grew quiet and stiff, obviously uncomfortable with the subject. Hermione searched around for a change of subject, "Blaise, I need you to check some wards I have set tomorrow, if you have some time," Hermione asked him.
"Wards?" Blaise asked. "Where?"
"We'll just look at them after lunch tomorrow, if you are free. I want to make sure I didn't miss anything."
"You? Granger, don't tell me you're slipping," Blaise replied.
"Hardly, but it doesn't pay to be too cautious," Hermione replied as the song ended. "Now, go ask that Hufflepuff to dance with you. She's been waiting for you to do that all night."
Blaise ignored her as he returned to Daphne, on the opposite side of the room where Susan was standing. Hermione looked over to her friend who saw the entire thing. Susan looked worried. Hermione nodded to her friend and decided to try to break the ice with Ginny.
Hermione found Ginny serving punch at one of the nearby tables; she didn't look pleased. Hermione took a deep breath and began, "Thank you."
Ginny shrugged a shoulder, "I didn't do this for you."
Hermione nodded, "I know."
"What you know isn't the problem. It's what you don't know that is," Ginny snapped a little too loudly. Several people glanced towards the two of them as Ginny pulled Hermione over into a corner.
Ginny started in again, "Look, we're friends, but Ron's my brother. Hermione, you are incredibly smart and a good friend of mine and most of the people in this room. If you keep going the way you've been going, you could lose all of this. You can't work all of your life away."
"I do not work all of my life away. What makes you think I'm going to lose all my friends? I know I've been busy, but Ginny, aren't you being a little melodramatic about the entire thing?" Hermione argued. Ginny's words had stung.
"Hermione, you collapsed last night. I saw you, we all did. I know you've been killing yourself for The Order, the Circle, prefect duties, and your complete over kill on all your classes. In that, when was the last time you had fun with your friends? Spent time with Ron for one evening playing chess? Christmas?" Ginny argued.
"Ginny, what I'm working on is important," Hermione whispered. "It could make the difference with . . . well, with everything."
"Right, and when it is all over if no one is standing up with you to help you cheer, what did you do it all for? Is it worth losing Ron? Is it worth losing all of us? You're slipping. You keep slipping, you won't even get through your 'important' work."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but echoes of third year came crashing back around her. The tension, the lack of sleep, no eating, disappearing to the library for large amounts of time, all of the signs were there. Hermione sighed and looked over to where Ron and Harry were laughing at Seamus' antics across the room. Everyone was happy and having fun, everyone, but herself.
Ginny looked Hermione over, "We're still friends, you and I, but you need to start trusting other people to help. Ron and Harry would do anything for you, for that matter, so would I, and any number of people in this room. If you can't trust the three of us to help, who can you? We aren't perfect, but we're a heck of a lot better than nothing."
Ginny walked away from Hermione at that point, leaving the brown haired girl alone with her thoughts. Hermione walked over and found a vacant couch where she sat down thinking about everything. She was tired. Hermione's eyes hurt, her feet heart, her shoulders were screaming from the tension, but none of it compared to the ache in her heart. Hermione curled her feet up under her and rested her head on the arm of the chair for a minute watching the people milling around the room, talking and laughing. Even Blaise and Daphne seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The music changed to another slow song, and the couples filtered to the floor, Ginny and Colin, Neville and Luna, Daphne and Seamus, Dean and Parvati, and the list continued to grow. Ron and Harry were off talking to themselves affording Hermione some peace to study the room. She caught sight of Ernie dancing with Lavendar off in a corner, looking rather intimate. Finally, Hermione watched Blaise offer his hand to Susan before her own eyes drifted closed. Hermione finally fell asleep.
Ron found her an hour later, amid all the racket of music. The party had been going strong for several hours and it had taken some time for Ron to realize that he didn't see Hermione in the crowd. He found her curled up on one of the couches, sleeping as if nothing else was going on in the room. Chuckling, he picked her up and carried her over to one corner of the room, less removed from the party, and placed her on another couch where he promptly cast a Silencing Charm. Confident that Hermione would sleep uninterrupted, he returned to join Harry, Daphne, Blaise and several other students in a lively discussion about who would win the Quidditch cup this year.
He had arrived just in time to hear Seamus state in his heavy Irish brogue, "There is no way that Ravenclaw Slytherin (we said earlier that Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were playing for the cup) is going to beat us. There has never been a better Seeker than Harry bloody Potter, and I don't care who knows it!" Harry, of course, had denied Seamus praise and shook off the compliment.
Ginny though, took it on her self to tease him about it unmercilessly, "Absolutely, there is no one, anywhere as great as him! Could I get an autograph, please?"
With Harry and Ginny suddenly distracted with their mock fighting the conversation lulled and everyone just stood there in companionable silence, laughing as Harry and Ginny bantered back and forth regarding payment for said authograph. This had only gone on a minute or two, when the door burst open and a couple of Slytherin firsties ran through.
"Blaise, it's started," one of them managed to spit out in between gasping for air.
"What happened?" Blaise snapped at the frightened Slytherins.
"They attacked a study group of fifth years, several of them are hurt pretty badly," the blond boy returned. Ron could smell the fear on the three and he noticed that they looked a little banged up.
"Caleb, are you OK?" Susan asked walking over and interrupting them.
The young Slytherin nodded once, his face reddening at the girls attention, he glanced from Blaise to Susan and back again, obviously uncomfortable. Ron didn't know whether to be surprised that Susan knew him or laugh because the kid obviously had a crush on her.
"Wait outside of the door for just a moment, and we'll be right out," Blaise instructed. The firsties nodded and left without a word.
"What do you need us to do?" Harry asked in a low voice.
Daphne looked at both Harry and Ron and sighed, "We don't need you two to do anything." Daphne paused for a moment and both Ron and Harry opened their mouths to retort, but she beat them to the punch, "I know, I know. You two want to help, but you can't this time. Just having Gryffindors down there would cause more trouble than you could help with."
The music was turned off and the little group realized that the entire room was listening quite intently to what was going on.
Luna and Neville walked over to the group, "I suppose it is a good thing that I brought my warm cloak? It's always so cold down in the dungeons."
Blaise blinked in surprise, but Daphne just smiled, "Just Luna this time, Neville."
"I think most everyone is here," Susan said looking around as many people began pulling their wands.
Filled with resolve at the response, Daphne smiled and turned to Blaise, "Let's get started."
Blaise nodded and walked out of the room with Susan and another ten witches and wizards behind him.
"See you later," Luna kissed Neville on the cheek and followed the crowd out.
Daphne turned to go as well, but a hand reached out and grabbed her arm at the last minute, "Good luck to you lass," Seamus whispered. "I expect to see you in the morning."
Daphne nodded with a slight smile and then turned back to join Blaise and the others. Soon the room was empty of anyone but Gryffindors and Harry looked at Ron and whispered, "So, what do we do now?"
Ron seemed to ponder this for a moment before replying, "We go get the Marauders map and follow what is happening that way."
Harry grinned, "That way we know if they need help."
Ron nodded and gathered Hermione up in his arms, inclining his head towards the door. The remaining Gryffindors and a few stragglers all left, everyone wondering what was going on a few floors below.
Everyone clambered back into the Common Room and stood around, "Come on Parvati, Ginny, let's get some sleep. We aren't going to find out anything until tomorrow anyway," Lavendar spoke up drawing the other two girls back up the stairs.
"Night Gin," Harry called after his girlfriend. He knew she didn't want to go, but Lavender didn't leave her with an option.
Ron carried Hermione upstairs and laid her on his bed. He covered her gently and kissed the top of her head before walking over to Harry as he whispered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Both of them watched as the inky lines appeared on the page and very soon they were inspecting the dungeon area for any insight into how the battle was going. Ron's eyes quickly scanned the map and almost immediately he saw something that made his blood run cold in his veins. From the sharp intake of air to his right, Ron knew that Harry saw it as well.
Lucious Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov were in the Dungeons and on the move.
Ron's head snapped up and he saw his own anger reflected in Harry's eyes. Ron dropped the blanket and started for the door only to have Harry reach out and grab his arm, "What the hell are you doing, Ron?"
Ron looked at him puzzled and Harry explained, "We've got to make sure she's safe first,"
"Hermione will be fine here. No one will get passed the portrait door."
"Sirius did, remember?"
Both of the boy's faces clouded for a moment as they recalled their lost friend. Ron looked over to Hermione's sleeping form, his fists tightened with frustration as he realized they could not leave Hermione alone with Dolohov in the Castle.
Several minutes passed as each of them tried to come up with a solution to their dilemma. Ron felt like he was going to go mad when the dorm room door swung open and Neville, Seamus and the Creevey brothers walked. Ron jumped up and ran over to them. "Neville I need you four to stay here and guard Hermione while she sleeps,"
"Guard her from what Ron?" Neville questioned.
"There are a couple of Death Eaters in the Castle, and Antonin Dolohov is one of them. You remember him, I believe?"
Neville's eyes went hard and he nodded.
"Good, then I need you guys to stay here while Harry and I take care of some business."
Neville gave them both a grim smile, "We'll take care of it. I'll use the Sobering Charm on Seamus here. Do you want us to inform Dumbledore?"
"Yes," Harry interrupted while Ron shouted, "No"
Harry looked at Ron questioningly, "Why not, Ron?"
"Because Dumbledore will want to capture him."
Harry looked confused, so Ron spelled it out for him, "I intend to make sure Dolohov can't ever hurt Hermione again."
To his credit, Harry didn't even blink. Neville on the other hand looked like he might faint, "You mean your going to kill him? On purpose?"
"I won't have Hermione hurt by that maniac again, and I'm willing to do whatever I have to do," Ron growled.
Neville blinked rapidly and then nodded slowly, "Be careful you two and don't forget things are bound to be crazy with the Slytherins all fighting each other."
Harry's eyes widened at Neville's remark, "I'm willing to bet my broom that it's no coincidence that Death Eaters are in the Castle the night the fighting really got bad."
Harry and Ron started to move to the door when Neville's voice caused them to stop, "If you two see Luna..."
Harry and Ron both smiled and then turned serious again, "We'll make sure she's okay if we run into her Neville, we promise," Harry said soothingly.
Ron nodded, "Thanks for taking care of Hermione, mate,"
"Anytime," Neville replied simply.
Harry reached out one hand and tapped the map with his wand. "Mischief managed." The map folded it self up and flew into his hand.
Blaise, Daphne, Susan and Caleb walked at the head of the group that had left Ron's party whispering between them.
"Do you know where the fifth years are?" Blaise asked Caleb and the other first year, Conner, that had followed him.
"Yes," Caleb replied. "We can find them."
"We'll take three groups. Daphne, do what you can for damage control. I want you to stay to the east side. I'll take Conner with me and find the fifth years. Susan, are you OK with Caleb and taking the right? There will be other Slytherins down there that can help you. Watch for traps left in the halls. Try to keep things as tidy as you can. If we end up with the professors down here, I'd like to hide what we can."
"No problem," Susan replied.
"Susan, do you have a good idea of how to break up the groups? Split the better duelists between you and Daphne. I'll take one or two others with me, but no more," Blaise told her.
Susan nodded and fell back in with the others relaying the plan, "Is she going to be OK with this?" Blaise asked Daphne. "I haven't seen her fight before, but she hasn't backed down and the others listen to her."
Daphne chuckled, no one had any idea of what Susan Bones was capable of, including Susan Bones, "She'll be fine." Daphne replied.
"Find Gavin or Lenore if you can," Blaise whispered. "They'll have a better idea of what is going on."
Susan returned, "Cho and Ernie are going with you, they're the best of the lot. I divided the others between Daphne and myself."
"Good thinking," Daphne complimented the Hufflepuff's planning as the group stopped at the steps down in the dungeons.
Blaise and Daphne faced the others that had all ready grouped themselves off from Susan's direction. Blaise began, "There are a couple of rules. Do what you can to keep from destroying and damaging things and each other. There will be traps and tricks in the halls. Stay with the Slytherins in the group, they know how to manage the maze. Keep your eyes open for other students on both sides. Let's try to drive Malfoy and his group towards the Common Room, it's the most central location. We can handle it from there. Try not to engage them one on one and most importantly, stay with your group. No one wanders off by themselves, no matter what. Any questions?"
The group looked at Blaise and he saw the resolve in all of them, something moved him to continue in a very uncharacteristic maneuver, "Thank you."
Daphne looked at Blaise, impressed and surprised by his words. It had the right effect on the others though. People started smiling, it gave them the additional encouragement they needed and when was the last time ANYONE had heard a Slytherin say something so . . . well, so nice to another?
The groups divided themselves up, Ernie and Cho walked over to Blaise, "Susan said you need us to go with you," Cho smiled up at the Slytherin.
Blaise looked over to where Susan stood talking to Caleb. He noticed Luna was in Daphne's group and Susan had left herself entirely with fifth years. "Excuse me one minute," Blaise told Cho walking over to the tall girl.
Daphne watched as Blaise took Susan by the arm and pulled her away from her group. A smile crossed her face as she turned towards her group, "Let's go."
Meanwhile Blaise whispered to Susan, "You sent all of the sixth years with Daphne, don't you think you should have split the groups more evenly?"
"No, we'll be fine," Susan replied looking up to Blaise, "The groups are split evenly."
Blaise paused, he wanted to tell her to be careful, he wanted to go with her, and he really wanted to hold her. Instead he settled for looking down at her, his hand on her shoulder, "Merlin Susan, just be careful. I . . ." and nothing else came out.
Susan smiled at Blaise and seemed to understand what he wanted to say and couldn't, "You too." He watched her return to her group and led them down into the dungeon with Caleb at her side, whispering directions.
Conner, Cho and Ernie waited for him. Each of them looked at him with too much interest and it made him uncomfortable. "Conner, I want you to show me on this map where you saw them last. We're taking the short cut."
Blaise led his group through the passage ways towards the area where Conner had indicated the fifth years were being held. The silence, that typically Blaise enjoyed, seemed to bother Ernie that followed close on his heels.
"So, how do you know Susan?" Ernie whispered to Blaise in the darkness.
"I don't," Blaise snapped. "We're acquaintances."
"That's not what it looked like to me," Ernie replied smugly.
Blaise turned around and raised his wand, "Lumos!" The glow from his wand illuminated Ernie's startled expression and the curiosity of the other two.
"Do you have something to say to me?" Blaise growled.
"Nah," Ernie replied casually. "I haven't seen a Slytherin go out of their way for anyone, without expecting something in return. From what I've heard, you've done it at least once for her. Not to mention that little show of concern back there. I just thought Slytherins didn't want to lower themselves by being around people like us."
Blaise looked at Ernie and then to Cho, "So why are you here then?" he asked his eyes narrowing.
"Susan asked me to. Hell, I'd date her, if I thought I had a shot. Unfortunately, she makes that I know that we are just friends."
"And you?" Blaise asked holding his wand higher so the light touched Cho's face.
"If Susan says we've been wrong about you, then I believe her," Cho replied. "Besides, Daphne can be fun when she wants to be."
Blaise paused and looked down at Conner, the first year watching all of the proceedings with amazement, "We need to keep going."
Blaise muttered, "Nox," and the hall went dark once more. As they got closer to where Conner had indicated, sounds of whispered voice began to penetrate their hiding spot. Blaise stopped before one of the hidden doors and listened to the sound of movement and voices behind.
"Listen, all you have to do is stay out of things and we'll give you your wands back. I know that arrogant Zabini and Greengrass have been filling your heads with nonsense about cooperating with the other Houses. When was the last time a Gryffindor gave a damn about any Slytherin? Don't expect to see Potter, Granger or Weasley running to help you when the war comes. You may not like it, but we are all that we can rely on," Pansy Parkinson's voice broke as it filled the corridor.
"That's where you're wrong," a male voice Blaise couldn't recognize replied. "The entire school hates us and all because you idiots can't leave the second years alone. I'm tired of having the rest of the school jump when I walk by because Draco Malfoy wants to feel important."
Blaise had heard enough, "OK, they are right behind this wall. Cho, Conner, I want you to stand here and be ready. I'm going to pull their attention. You have to assume Pansy has at least 5 or 6 people with her. Just be ready and use this hallway for protection. Ernie, I want you to come with me. There's another entrance further on that will you allow to sneak up behind them."
"We'll be ready," Cho replied as Ernie and Blaise walked past her.
Blaise left Ernie a short distance away from the group, "Give me a couple minutes before you start heading towards them. They will have people watching the hallway, so wait until I distract them before joining the fun."
"No problem," Ernie replied.
Blaise left him then and ran through the corridors to enter the Hall opposite of Ernie. Pansy's argument continued and kept increasing in volume, helping to mask the sound of his footsteps.
Blaise entered the hall opposite Ernie with his wand drawn and visible, the only concession he would make to his own nervousness. He walked towards the light where he saw Pansy and Millicent, Jeffery and William two seventh years, and a fourth year Blaise couldn't remember his name gathered around the four fifth years seated on the floor. William held their wands, but nothing seemed wrong, but bruises and scratches.
"Lord Zabini, we've been expecting you!" Pansy laughed as Blaise stepped into the light.
"Where are your friends? That doesn't seem like you to be walking about the dungeons without your subjects," Millicent sneered.
"I have no subjects. I have no need to be surrounded by others," Blaise replied. "Besides, I have come across my housemates. Why should I expect problems with them?" the sarcasm dripped from every word.
"Because you have forgotten what it means to be a Slytherin," William growled turning towards him. "You, in your arrogance, think you know what is best for our House. Who designated you to dictate our future?"
"I am not dictating our future. I am disagreeing with the thought that it is permissible to attack fellow house members. What has come of our House when we allow that to happen? I ask you again, what problems should I expect?" Blaise all but growled raising his wand. "Those members of our House are coming with me. You are welcome to do the same."
"Funny, I don't think even the great Blaise Zabini can take all five of us," Pansy accused, but it was Millicent that broke the peace.
"Expelliarmus!" Millicent cried missing Blaise as he side-stepped the curse.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Blaise cried hitting William in the chest. The Slytherin hit the floor, the wands clutched in his hand.
"Expelliarmus!" Cho's voice filled the hall knocking Pansy's wand from her hand. The remaining Slytherins took flight back towards where Ernie stood in the Hall. A scuffle broke out and Ernie hit the floor as the group of them ran past.
Cho followed the group to the end of the corridor hurling spells as she ran.
Blaise took the wands from William's hard grip and distributed them to the fifth years.
"Report," Blaise told them offering Janet and Clarice a hand to their feet.
"They caught us in the hall. Clarice sprained her ankle and Charles right arm is useless, nothing serious," Maxim told Blaise as Clarice, his girlfriend, leaned on him for support.
Ernie returned to the group, "Blaise, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting them to rush me."
"They are heading the right direction," Blaise replied. "Conner, you, Clarice and Charles take William back to the Common Room. Janet and Maxim, I want you to come with us."
Ernie, Janet and Maxim followed him to catch up with Cho, "Where did they go?"
"They went down this hall and then turned left," Cho told Blaise as they approached.
"Good, now it's five on three," Blaise told her handing Cho Pansy's fallen wand. "This is yours."
"Thanks," Cho told him taking the wand. "I hope it's that easy for everyone else."
"Cho, take Maxim and keep following them. Ernie, Janet and I will make sure they don't take any turns we don't want them to," Blaise replied. "Let's go."
"Merlin Ron, duck down or our feet will be exposed," Harry whispered as they walked through the halls under the significantly smaller invisibility cloak.
"I can't help it that this thing has shrunk," Ron growled back stooping down lower.
Harry looked at the map, "They are still down in the dungeons. It looks like Blaise, Cho and Ernie are following Pansy and a couple other Slytherins back towards the Slytherin Common Room. Daphne and Luna are in a group over on the east side of the dungeons."
"What about Susan and Draco? Any sign of them?" Ron whispered as they walked down the stairs into the dungeons.
"They are on the west side, but not any where close to each other," Harry replied. Harry took the first left hand turn and continued, "I'm thinking we follow them for a bit and try to figure out what they are after."
Ron growled low in his throat, "I'd rather not."
"You'll still get your chance at him," Harry assured him as they continued through the halls.
Ron saw first hand the damage in the halls that Neville had spoke of. Debris littering the halls, burn marks on the walls, and many other subtle signs that wizards had been attacking one another for a number of days was evident as Harry led them through the maze towards the Deatheaters.
Finally, they found them. The pair seemed to know precisely where they were going as they navigated twisting hallways heading away from the Slytherin Common Room.
"Snape told us it was in the southwest corner of the dungeons," Antonin growled. "How much further can it possibly be?"
"Patience," Lucious Malfoy drawled, "my son has the entire House distracted. No one knows we are here and by the time we get it and leave, no one will be the wiser until it is too late."
Ron started to whisper something to Harry only to feel Harry whip off the Invisibility cloak and shout "Stupefy!" as he pointed his wand at Lucious Malfoy, so much for following them.
Ron jumped to the side and pulled out his wand as a curse he didn't recognize just missed him and left a scorch mark along the wall.
Bloody hell that curse came from Dolohov! That rotten bastard is pretty fast.
Harry had moved to his left and was concentrating on Malfoy. That was just fine with Ron, as it left Dolohov to him.
"So blood traitor, where is your pretty little mudblood? I hate to leave things unfinished," Dolohov taunted as he blocked Ron's curse and ducked behind a statue.
"Diffindo!" Ron yelled as he pointed his wand at the spot he thought Dolohov would be moving into. To Ron's surprise, Dolohov had stopped behind the statue and then rolled out the way of the curse.
Dolohov came up on one knee and sneered, "Stupefy." The spell caught Ron flat-footed and it threw him up against the wall hard.
"Gotten kind of cocky haven't you, boy?" the Death Eater taunted as he regained his feet.
Ron got up shakily and gripped his wand, "Well, I reckon I have killed enough of your kind to merit it."
Ron smiled grimly in satisfaction when Dolohov's face darkened with rage, "You've been lucky enough so far boy, but it's going to run out soon I imagine,"
Over on the other side of the room, Harry gasped and Ron looked up to see a huge bruise forming on the side of his head. Ron took a step towards him when he heard Dolohov saying, "Avada Kedavra."
Ron fell flat on the floor and winced as the green light flashed by him only inches from his face.
Millicent Bulstrode turned over her wand at the door of the Common Room, the last of the group that Blaise had been chasing for the past half an hour. They were the first to enter the Common Room that night. Pansy and the others took a seat on two couches by the main fire place. Ernie and Maxim stood guard over the other group. Cho stood by Blaise near the door.
"Now what?" Cho asked the dark haired Slytherin where he stood glaring at one of the large portraits hung on the wall.
Blaise didn't answer, but stood staring at the dark haired wizard, dressed in green, portrayed in the painting.
"Blaise?" Cho asked again, the younger man's face was cold and fierce.
Blaise turned to Cho, "Check them for injuries. Do what you can."
Cho left Blaise and did what she could for the others. Most of them had only received bruises, scrapes or scratches. No one was injured enough that they needed to be sent to the infirmary.
They sat quiet for a time, no one moved, and everyone seemed to be waiting. Ernie was the first to break the silence.
"Blaise, what are we doing? It's late and sleep is sounding better and better," Ernie spoke up.
Blaise turned from the large portrait and ignored Ernie's question looking directly towards the door as it swung open and Gavin stepped into the room followed by ten more Slytherins, none with wands and more than a few limping. Daphne's group followed and last Luna and Daphne entered the room.
"Keep them all together," Daphne told Gavin as Pansy assessed her friends. The great room was filling quickly.
Nott limped over to sit by Pansy and Millicent on the sofas. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and at least half of his supporters were still missing.
"How long were you waiting?" Daphne asked Blaise walking over to him.
"Thirty minutes, no longer," Blaise returned. "Did you have any problems?"
"No, just isolating them all and disarming them took more time than I had expected," Daphne replied.
"We need to find Malfoy," Blaise told Daphne, voicing both of their concerns.
Daphne looked over to Pansy and Nott, she watched as Gavin grouped them all together and saw to everyone's injuries.
Daphne and Blaise approached the group and Pansy rose to her feet, her face sad as she looked at the injured that had come back. One of the third years was crying as Gavin cleaned a deep cut on the kid's arm that dripped dark blood onto the floor. Pansy frowned at the sight and winced as his sniffles and muffled groans filled the Common Room.
"Perhaps you are correct," Pansy spoke as silence fell over the room once more. "This is what has come of the Slytherin House?" she gestured towards the third year as his tears continued to fall. Gavin worked quickly, bandaging the wound, and moved onto the next.
Daphne frowned, "This is what you have made of it"
Pansy shook her head, "No, this is what we have made of it."
"Do you know where Malfoy is?" Blaise growled.
"Women, Blaise, women are the cruelest of creatures," Pansy answered. "Malfoy is only a part of your problem."
"Pansy don't," Millicent interrupted.
"No Millie, this ends tonight. There is no glory for a house divided. Look at that, we did that Milli," Pansy said, but more towards the others gathered around the couches where Gavin watched them. Everyone looked over to the third year that Daphne had brought back with a broken leg sitting on one of the nearby tables. "This wasn't supposed to happen this way. I always thought that I had to keep our House pure. I was told we needed to be strong and believe in our cause, but here we are losing badly to the very people we are supposed to be better than. We called Weasley a blood traitor, but at least that idiot doesn't go around injuring members of his own House. I won't do it anymore. I'm tired of people thinking I'm some sort of monster."
Pansy paused and looked back towards Blaise and Daphne, "Blaise, Lenore is helping Draco. Bones is walking into a trap they had set for you."
"Where are they?"
"I'm not sure, but in the eastern portion of the dungeon. They wanted to catch one of you, but Bones is on Draco's list and he won't be kind when he catches her instead," Pansy told him.
Blaise blinked and looked to Daphne, "How many can we spare?"
"I'll help tend to the injured, Blaise," Pansy said softly. "If you can help it, don't hurt Draco, please. Once he was kind to me and I loved him for it."
Blaise looked at Pansy sharply, "I'm sorry. I won't promise you that."
Ten minutes later, Blaise and Daphne left with ten witches and wizards from the Common Room in search of Susan and her group of fifth years and the six Slytherins that had followed Lenore on patrol.
Gavin remained behind on guard with most of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs that had come to help. Only Luna and Cho followed Blaise and Daphne as they worked their way through the dungeons.
Dolohov had been right, they were too damn cocky. Peter Pettigrew had surprised Harry from behind and knocked him out cold. Now Ron was desperately trying to keep the three Death Eaters distracted enough by fighting to prevent them from killing Harry who lay motionless on the floor. Ron dove next to Harry's form and grabbed a hold of his foot, intending to drag him to safety. Ron fought to keep the others back wishing that Val or Susan were around to cast a shield long enough for him to get clear. Ron's shirt had long since started to stick to his chest and his body ached with the strain of dodging so many spells, but he still clung to Harry's foot and dragged him back down the hall.
Desperate to get out of his predicament, he briefly considered changing form, but he had been certain that he would have been killed while he was changing.
It was that bastard Pettigrew that turned the tide in favor of the Death Eaters. It had been him that had hit Harry with the cutting curse at point blank range after changing from his Animagus form. Now Harry's blood darkened the stones and Ron continued to pull him away from the others.
Even as he shouted another curse at Dolohov, Ron felt despair clouding his mind and he was beginning to think for the first time that they might actually lose the fight with Voldemort. Shaking the weariness from his mind, he turned to dodge another volley of spells and started to prepare himself for death.
Blaise led them through the dungeons in silence. It didn't take very long before they ran into the first group, two of Susan's fifth years aiding a limping Slytherin met them in corridor as they wound their way back towards the Common Room. The trio had drawn their wands, but when they recognized the group coming towards them, they relaxed.
"What happened?" Daphne asked as the trio approached.
"We got caught in the crossfire. Susan sent us back to get help for Jerod," one of the Hufflepuffs explained.
"Where is everyone else?" Luna asked coming to the front.
"We ran into Lenore's group and then Slytherins started coming at us out of thin air. Susan and Lenore tried holding the group together and head back towards the Common Room. A lucky shot put me into the wall and sprained my ankle. Susan sent these two back with me to find you. They should be following us," Jerod finished.
"We're going to keep going. Gavin will meet you back at the Common Room," Daphne told them and Blaise walked down the hall.
As the group progressed, they started to see signs of spell damage on the walls, but no more people. Then they reached the first oddity, an amber shield blocked one of the side passages. Blaise stopped before it and looked to Daphne, "Who did this?"
"Susan is the only one I know of that casts amber shields," Daphne replied.
Blaise looked at her, and eyebrow raised in surprise, "There aren't many wizards that can cast shield spells like this."
"I know, but she can," Daphne replied. "We need to keep going."
They passed three more blocked corridors before coming to a hole blasted in the wall.
Two more stragglers crawled out of the hole in the wall. This time, they were Malfoy supporters, "Don't hurt us!" a third year girl called. She struggled to help a fourth year with a large cut along his scalp that was bleeding profusely.
"We'll take your wands and then we will escort you back to the Common Room. There won't be any more fighting tonight," Daphne explained taking their wands and helping the fourth year climb through the hole.
"How long have you been here?" Cho asked noticing the bloody scarf wrapped around the Slytherins head.
"An hour, maybe longer. I couldn't move him very far and we weren't sure where we could go that we wouldn't be attacked," the third year explained. The girl was pale and exhausted.
"Did you see anyone else?" Luna asked the girl.
"No, no one has come by since we've been hiding," the girl replied.
"Maxim, escort these two back to the Common Room. Be sure that they are tended to," Daphne ordered.
Down to nine, the group continued on further into the dungeons. Four more times they met groups of two or three, mostly Slytherins and a few of Susan's group, either hiding or making their way back through the maze towards the Common Room. Not one of them was uninjured. Either bruises and cuts from flying rock, a twisted knee or ankle, a jarred shoulder. No one had escaped unscathed.
It also seemed that no one had a firm idea of what happened. All Blaise and Daphne had managed to learn was that Susan's group had found Lenore's patrol before Malfoy and his goons attacked. Outnumbered, they began retreating back towards the Common Room. As people were wounded, Susan would send them back towards the Common Room, holding off the attacks as long as she could with the people that remained.
The students were all shaken by what had gone on. Everything had become real to them tonight and never had they seen or heard of the like. Most of the Slytherins seemed stunned. They came across Malfoy's supporters as well as their own people, all looked defeated. Blaise took the wands of Malfoy's crew, but otherwise everyone was treated with the same attention and care. Most of those Slytherins that had been supporting Malfoy reconsidered that night, many even went so far as to imply an apology or admittance that Blaise and Daphne had been correct. Blaise and Daphne had won the battle, but the cost was much higher than they had anticipated.
Daphne sent the fifth group back to the Common Room leaving only Cho, Luna, Daphne and Blaise looking for stragglers. This last group had known much more.
"We came across Bones and her group almost two hours ago. Bones told us your plan," the seventh year, Trenton, began. He had been carrying two third years back to the Common Room when Blaise had come across him.
"Lenore had told us she thought she knew where Malfoy was hiding at and Susan agreed to follow her back into the dungeons. It took us twenty minutes to arrive where Lenore thought Malfoy would be. Well, she was right, he was there, but she had led us into a trap.
"We were standing in a large opening in the hall where four corridors intersected. That's where Malfoy waited. He had a group following us and people stationed in each of the passages. It was brilliant and Lenore led us right into it.
Trenton stopped and rubbed his neck in frustration, "Then what?" Cho asked. "How did you get out of there?"
They bunched together in the center, all silent, waiting for something to happen. Susan knew they were trapped, and something felt too planned and too easy about their capture to make her believe it was an accident.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle stepped to the front of one of the passages across from where Susan stood surrounded by the fifth years she had asked to accompany her. Susan felt her guilt grow. She had asked them to join her helping the Slytherins. It was her fault and her responsibility to make sure that she got them out of here safe. Susan was gratified that even the Slytherins formed a defensive Circle facing their attackers. No one said a word, and no one backed down.
Susan crossed to where Lenore stood in front of Malfoy.
"Bones, what brings you down to the dungeons at this time of night? Looking for Zabini for a quick shag? Aren't the Gryffindors enough for you any more?" Malfoy sneered.
"I'm here to do what I said I would," Susan replied coolly ignoring Malfoy's comments.
"You know Bones, it is time for you Hufflepuffs to remember your place. I warned you about what happens to people who can't leave well enough alone," Malfoy continued.
"You mean, people that threaten their fellow housemates into agreeing with them? That's the difference between you and I, Malfoy. My friends are here because they agree with me and want to help. Your followers are here because they are more afraid of you than they are of me. In the end, it is that difference that will make you the loser."
"Very well you've made your point quite clear," Malfoy growled. "Get them."
Susan was quicker, she cast a shield over her group, blocking all of the passages. No one's spell penetrated the amber glow.
Susan gathered her group to her, "New plan, we make for the Common Room. You older students help the younger. Slytherins to the front, those of you better at defense with me. We need to find help."
"You there, what is your name?"Susan asked one of the third or fourth year Slytherins.
"Jerod," the boy replied haughtily reminding Susan of Blaise.
"Do you know how to get back to the Common Room from here?" Susan asked him.
Jerod pinned her with a glare, "Of course."
"Fine, you're in the lead. Everyone below fifth year follow him. Everyone else stays with me. We need to do what we can to hold them off. The shield won't hold forever. Which passage do we take?" Susan asked looking around.
"That one," Jerod pointed towards to the left of where they entered.
"Good, you can walk through this shield to leave, but not to enter. Trenton, you and I are going out first to clear the passage. Then, Jerod give us a count of five before following with your group. Lenore, you take the rest and hold off any one that breaks through the shields. After Jerod and his lot are through, you follow and we head for the Common Room."
Everyone nodded in agreement, Susan looked down at Jerod again, "Don't get too far ahead of us or we may lose you," she warned before walking over to the passage Jerod had indicated.
Susan looked over at the huge seventh year she recognized from the Slytherin Quiddich team. He stared at her blankly for a moment.
"Is there a problem I need to know about?" Susan asked when Trenton didn't move to join her. The spells from Malfoy and his group increased in fury and Susan knew they were running out of time.
"No, I just . . . I never knew," Trenton spoke up as he joined her.
"Never knew what?" Susan asked.
Susan didn't learn the answer as Trenton passed through the shield. Susan followed him and started casting spells as she pushed through.
Trenton was not a "point and shoot" type of fighter Susan learned. He walked through the shield and struck the first Slytherin he came across. Between the two of them, they made quick work of the first two Slytherins they came across and the others decide to run, rather than face them.
Jerod and four others follwed through the shield, Caleb in the mix. Finally, as the shield began to collapse, Lenore, Susan's fifth years, and two other Slytherins came through the shield.
"Two of you to the front, most of them ran. We'll be right behind you!" Susan hissed to the group as they started blocking the spells that won through the now clear passage behind.
"What didn't you know?" Luna asked the hulking Slytherin as he paused in the tale.
"She was incredible. Merlin, I'd never thought that a girl, let alone a Hufflepuff could do what she did," Trenton shook his head. "She's one of the best duelists I've seen. They couldn't touch her."
Daphne looked to Luna and Cho and the three of them smiled. After their experiences at the Circle, Susan Bones wasn't as big a surprise to some of her friends.
Blaise though seemed surprised by Trenton's support as he looked to Daphne to confirm it. Daphne just shrugged, "She's good."
"Keep going," Blaise ignored the girls and focussed once again on Trenton.
"Well, we made our way back towards the Common Room. Some of Malfoy's goons followed us and most of the others tried to block our path or come at us from the sides. We ended up with Susan in the lead, Lenore to the left, I stayed behind, and a couple of those fifth years that came with Susan on the right. Everyone else stayed between us. It was ugly. There's no place to hide in those passageways and packed in like we were, it was hard even to dodge out of the way. As people were getting hit, Susan would clear a path and she would send them out in groups of two or three. Malfoy's gang ignored the injured, but we made sure we gave them something to concentrate on," Trenton continued.
"I don't think I understand," Cho frowned.
"Susan, we need you up here!" Caleb's voice broke Susan's concentration as she parried another spell.
"Trenton, can you cover for me?" Susan asked the large Slytherin at her side.
"Go," he growled. "Those bastards are mine."
Susan dodged her way to the front of the group. There, Malfoy and six others had pinned Jerod and the others down and the group was trapped. Jerod was sitting on the ground with Janice, a fifth year Hufflepuff, at his side.
Susan began casting spells at Malfoy trying to puzzle out what to do. She knew someone had to get to Blaise and send help, nor could they afford to hole up in the hallway. This is was not an easily defensible position. Susan thought back to her training with Moody and made her decision.
Susan knelt next to Jerod and looked at his ankle, "It's sprained, it may be broken."
Jerod looked at her and winced, "Leave me, you can't defend this position all night."
Susan nodded towards Janice, "I'm going to cast a shield over you, Janice, and Dana. You can't get far on that leg and someone has to go for help."
"Your last shield didn't last very long," Jerod argued.
"Look, I'm leaving the three of you behind. This shield will last. The more they hit it with magic, the stronger it will become. We'll keep moving and drawing their attention. Hopefully they will ignore you and once you're alone, make your way back to the Common Room and send help. We will draw them away from there."
"You can't afford to leave two people with me," Jerod argued.
"I'm not leaving you by yourself. Find Blaise, Jerod. Tell him I need him," Susan snapped at the younger Slytherin.
"You're making a mistake. You need to keep everyone you can to fight," Jerod tried once more.
"You stubborn Slytherins. You can't do everything by yourself. Find Blaise and that's the end of it," Susan finished blocking a spell that was headed towards them.
"Janice, Dana, stay with Jerod and find help," Susan told them. Susan stepped back and concentrated, the stronger the shield, the more energy it took from her. A second, small amber shield covered the three of them.
"I'm sorry I can't do more," Susan told the three.
Susan turned and found Caleb nearby, "Caleb, how deep are we in the dungeons? How far is it to the stairs out of here?"
Caleb frowned, "We're pretty far from there,"
"Are we closer to the Common Room or the Stairs?" Susan asked blocking another set of spells.
"Stairs, but just barely," Caleb answered.
"Which way?" Susan responded ducking out of the way of another blast that rained bits to stone and dust down on them.
"Through there," Caleb replied pointing towards Lenore's position.
"Let's make a break for it!" Susan called running to Lenore's side. Once again they burst through the hall past the waiting Slytherins.
Susan waited down the hall. No one followed in pursuit. She could hear Malfoy continue to blast spells against the shield she had placed around Jerod. Susan called back to Malfoy, she needed to keep his attention, "Malfoy you wanker! You never could stand up to a fight!"
"Run Bones! Run, but I will find you and those fools that are following you!" Malfoy called back.
"We continued on the move for the next twenty or thirty minutes. By then only a few of us were in good enough condition to keep going. Susan decided to break up the group. She left me with the wounded. Only Caleb, Lenore and Susan could keep pushing forward. We parted closer to the stairs. Susan was right, Malfoy wasn't interested in the rest of us."
"Do you have any idea where they are now?" Daphne asked looking towards Trenton.
"No, it wasn't that long ago though. They can't have made it that far," Trenton replied.
"Trenton, was Susan tired when you parted? Did you notice if she was pale or showing any other signs of fatigue?" Daphne continued.
"Yes, I suppose she was, but we all were," Trenton replied with a quizzical expression.
"Let's keep going," Blaise snapped. "Trenton, everyone is gathering back at the Common Room. We will meet you there."
Blaise pushed forward with Daphne at his heels. "Blaise, those shield spells. They take a lot out of a person."
"What do you mean?" Blaise asked taking a left and pushing towards the stairs out of the dungeons.
"I mean, those shields. There are reasons why so few wizards and witches can do them. The number of spells she's cast tonight, we need to find her."
The four passed another hallway, and this time it was Cho that stopped, "Here, there's something down there."
"Lumos," four lighted wands filled the dead end of the hall with light. There in the corner Caleb sat with tears streaked down his face and Susan's head rested on his lap.
"Susan," Blaise spoke first picking his way through the rubble in the hall to reach the pair. Daphne was right behind him looking over Caleb. The young Slytherin had a large welt on his forehead and his right arm hung limply at his side.
Blaise turned the Hufflepuff over and gathered her into his arms, "Damn it! I told you not to go off alone."
Luna handed Blaise her cloak, "Wrap it around her. She needs to stay warm."
Cho looked around the damage at the end of the hall. One large blast hole had shattered rock over the floor.
"Caleb, we need to get you back to the Common Room. Can you walk?" she asked surprisingly gentle with the first year.
"Yes, I couldn't leave her. She wouldn't know how to get back to the Common Room," Caleb answered without focusing on any of them.
Blaise gathered Susan's unconscious body in the cloak and struggled to his feet, picking his way through the rubble and back to the passage. Daphne and Luna led Caleb between them back to the hallway. The story just spilled out of the kid, no one said a word as he spoke. He walked next to where Blaise carried Susan, his good hand on her foot.
"It was horrible," Caleb gritted out. "We ran and ran and ran. No matter where we went, they were waiting. Malfoy's laughter chased our footsteps until I thought my heart would burst and my lungs were on fire. Lenore lagged behind and Susan, she drove us on, sure if we could make the stairs we would be fine.
"Susan was tiring, those shields she could do were weakening. Finally, it seemed like we had broken free when I was hit from behind. Susan hit the ground a second later. I landed on my arm. Susan, she got back to her feet, but her face was horrible. She was white and her eyes had dark circles under them. She had her wand in her fist and pointed it towards Lenore, 'You!'
"Lenore laughed, 'That's right. Me. I'm not about to apologize to some self-obsessed Hufflepuff! You can forget it!'
"Susan disarmed her and Lenore went running. She dropped to her knees next to me begging me to get up. I couldn't find the strength," Caleb choked out.
"She must have stunned you," Luna said quietly. "You couldn't have been able to stand if you wanted to."
"She picked me up. That girl hoisted me on her shoulders and kept walking. We didn't make it far. She stumbled once and then a second time before Malfoy found us. She dragged me back into that hallway and tried to cast her last shield. It failed.
"Malfoy, Lenore, Crabbe and Goyle walked into the passage and blocked our exit. Susan couldn't even stand up straight, she stood there leaning against the wall with her wand held in front of her."
"You've lost Hufflepuff," Malfoy jeered at the exhausted girl before him. "Oh, you gave us a good chase, but you still lost."
"That is a matter of perspective," Susan returned.
"Funny, there are just you against the four of us. I believe that puts the odds in my favor," Malfoy returned.
"It would take four of you to best me. You haven't the fortitude to do it yourself," Susan growled. "You're pathetic Malfoy."
Malfoy's face grew red with rage, but it was Lenore that blasted the wall behind her.
"The blast knocked Susan to the ground and she didn't open her eyes again. They left her here hoping you would find her. Malfoy said it would be a good lesson for you," Caleb finished.
"She's just exhausted herself," Daphne explained to Blaise. "She'll be fine."
Blaise's anger and guilt annoyed him as he carried her back to the Common Room. They stayed silent until they entered the Common Room as the clock tolled 4:30 in the morning.
Malfoy's supporters were grouped around the couches with the remainder tending wounds. Blaise counted five that needed to be taken to the Infirmary. Most everyone was affected by the night's activities.
"Blaise, Daphne," Pansy greeted them as they entered the room.
Gavin met Blaise and offered to take Susan from him, but Blaise felt he owed it to the girl to stay with her until she woke. He laid her down on an empty couch before turning back to the rest of them. Caleb stayed at her side.
"Do you have something to say?" Daphne asked Pansy looking around the room.
"We want to call a truce," Pansy began again. "This isn't right and we can't continue this way."
Blaise frowned down at the whiny girl, but remained silent. Daphne looked from her to the other Slytherins, carefully gauging what they were thinking. She had never seen so many of her House brought so low.
"Give them back their wands. I think we all learned something this evening," Blaise made the decision for them all. "Our fight is personal now. There will be no more separation. Any Slytherin found attacking another will be punished, swifty, severely and then turned over to the Headmaster."
"Luna, Gavin, gather everyone that needs to go to the Infirmary," Daphne continued. "I'm afraid none of us will get any sleep tonight. All hell is going to break loose when Madame Pince sees six students turn up in the Infirmary. Everyone needs to do what they can to repair the damage down here. We won't be able to hide this anymore. The most we can do is minimize the effects. For those of you from other houses, return to your Common Rooms. I'd rather you not be punished for this night's activities."
Blaise walked back to the couch and lifted Susan's form once more. Caleb rose to follow. He turned towards Daphne who smiled at him, "Go, we'll take care of this."
The suit of armor Ron ducked behind shattered with a crack and bits of metal flew through the air. As Ron rolled out of the cloud of dust that was kicked up around him, he heard both Malfoy and Dolohov laughing.
Smarmy bastards!
Coming up on his uninjured knee, he spit out the word "Diffindo!" and slashed his arm down savagely. The air around Dolohov erupted in blood and he heard the Death Eater scream and it was music to his ears.
His delight soon vanished with a slowly drawled whisper of "Crucio" from Lucious Malfoy's mouth. The pain was unbearable and it reached every nerve and fiber of his being. As he twitched on the ground, all he could think of was a faint hope that death would end the horrible pain.
Somewhere in the back of Ron's mind where instinct still dwelt, less affected by the curse than reason, something snapped and he involuntarily changed shape. The change broke the spell for just a moment and it allowed him the chance to gather his feet under him and leap.
The force of his leap carried him across the corridor and he smashed into Wormtail slamming the Death Eater hard into the stone floor. Turning quickly he sank his teeth into the traitorous rat and shook his head from side to side barely recognizing the piercing scream as human.
Lucious Malfoy's voice cut through the fog of pain and anger clouding Ron's mind as he hit Ron with a curse he had never heard of, but would never forget. He felt himself sinking further and into an animal state and he recoiled when he noticed that Wormtail smelled like food.
He could barely make himself focus on his surroundings when a clear voice lifted itself above his haze with a simple, "Stupefy".
As he collected his wits about him, he noticed that Neville, Dean, Seamus and Hermione had forced the Death Eaters to flee. The smell of blood was everywhere and Ron's primal nature responded to it with a roar.
Hermione slowly walked up to Ron as he paced back and forth swishing his tail behind him. "Ron, I need you to come back to me. I need to make sure you are okay. You have to tell me where Harry is."
With the mention of Harry, Ron snapped back into focus and changed back to his normal human form. With a slight gesture he ran over to where Harry had fallen during the fighting. Hermione knelt beside Harry and then let out a sigh of relief only to gasp in shock.
Ron's eyes followed Hermione's to find an arm clutching a wand lying on the floor a couple of paces from where Harry was laying.
Gavin, Luna, Cho, and Maxim helped the wounded to the Infirmary, following Blaise carrying the still unconscious Susan. At the early hour, no one was in the Infirmary and Cho had to go find the school's nurse.
Blaise laid Susan on one of the nearby beds, his exhaustion overwhelming him. Susan's pale face worried him, but as she began to shiver he didn't know what to do.
"She needs to keep warm," Luna spoke up. "Hold her while I get some extra blankets. Her body doesn't have enough strength to keep it from falling back into shock."
Blaise sat down gingerly beside her and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around Susan's shaking body. Luna wrapped blankets over the two of them. Even in this state, Blaise could smell the scent of flowers and cinnamon that he had begun to associate with her.
Susan's shaking continued as Madame Pomfrey entered the room, "What is going on here?"
Professor Snape and Dumbledore entered the room on her heels; neither of the two Professors looked like they had seen their bed that night.
"Madame Pomfrey, we have a couple of broken bones, a sprained ankle, and Susan Bones isn't well," Cho told her gesturing around the room.
"Mr. Zabini, please lay her back on the bed," Madame Pomfrey spoke moving the blankets. Susan's shaking grew worse. "If you gentlemen will excuse me," she said closing the screen around Susan's bed as she inspected the girl.
"Miss Lovegood, would you be so kind as to fetch Professor Sprout, I believe she will want to see her student," Professor Dumbledore directed.
Blaise waited, knowing the questions would come. Professor Dumbledore looked around the room and then back to Blaise, "Lord Zabini, I suppose you have an explanation for all of this?"
Professor Snape answered for him, "I believe there was a difference of opinion in the Slytherin House. I trust it has been addressed?"
Blaise nodded, "Yes, but for a few people that cling to their opinions, the differences have been corrected."
Madame Pomfrey stepped out of the curtain, "Miss Bones didn't have any serious injuries, but I don't understand. Her body seems to have gone into shock."
Professor Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, Miss Bones used too much of her own energy tonight. I suppose she was trying to teach you a shield spell and cast one too many herself?" Professor Dumbledore asked Blaise. Blaise nodded, and Dumbledore turned back to the nurse, "Keep her warm Poppy; she will require a lot of rest."
Blaise kept his expression neutral, but he couldn't believe his ears. Professor Snape covered for them and Professor Dumbledore had pretended like nothing had happened. His luck couldn't continue to hold.
"I would suggest those of you without serious ailments should return to your Common Rooms for the remainder of the night," Professor Snape spoke to the others.
Blaise turned to leave the room, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Professor Dumbledore waited until the other students had left, "Professor Snape, I suggest you escort these students to their Common Rooms. Just to make sure they remember where they are."
Snape nodded and followed the others from the room. Blaise remainded standing where he was until Dumbledore chose to speak, "I understand you are interested in the school's history."
Blaise looked to the headmaster with some surprise, "You could say that."
"How much do you know of the history of the Slytherin House? I know you've been discovering the many different passages throughout the castle," Dumbledore continued quietly. Blaise watched as Pomfrey ministered to the other Slytherins who seemed to be ignoring Dumbledore's words.
"The general facts," Blaise answered Dumbledore's question, suspicious of where it was leading.
"Tonight was the third such disagreement in your House since its inception. Slytherins, while mostly of the same mold, seem to be of two minds in regards to their treatment of others. While they all believe in the superiority of their own House and aspire for power and greatness, the means of achieving that greatness is a source of contention," Dumbledore explained.
"That argument is an old discussion and one that is replayed over and over throughout the course of our history," Dumbledore paused looking down at the Slytherin at his side.
"You mean Voldemort," Blaise replied.
"He is one such case," Dumbledore replied. "However, I think in your mind Draco Malfoy may be another."
"Perhaps," Blaise replied quietly.
"There is nothing to be ashamed of in standing up for your beliefs, Lord Zabini. It is not a sign of weakness to aid another," Dumbledore continued.
Blaise snorted, but Dumbledore ignored him and continued, "I know you didn't want to do it. Perhaps you did it only for yourself in the beginning, but you still organized two other Houses into backing you and gave others of your House the strength they needed to do the same. It isn't only Gryffindors that are heroes and it isn't only Gryffindors that can make a difference."
Blaise looked at the Professor with an eyebrow raised, "I am not interested in being a leader or a hero. I'm not interested in helping to make a difference. In two years, I will take my place at my father's side in managing our family holdings. I don't care what happens with everything else."
"Of course not," Dumbledore smiled to himself. "That's why you carried Miss Bones up here from the dungeons instead of sending her with someone else."
Blaise frowned and looked down at Susan's pale features.
"She'll heal. Shield spells take a lot out of a person, but she's young yet and strong. She'll recover," Dumbledore finished.
"Lord Zabini, the next time you have a source of contention, do not think our leniency will continue. I find it disruptive to limit the use of the dungeons for long periods of time."
"Yes, Headmaster," Blaise replied gratified that there would be no worse punishment.
Dumbledore turned to walk away and then looked back at the Slytherin, "There's another internship position open with Gringots in their curse-breaking department this summer. There are also a few openings in the Ministry that may interest you. It may be a place to challenge even your exploratory skills, if your father can spare you. It's something to think about. I believe you have enrolled in all the required coursework to pursue a career there."
Dumbledore left Blaise standing at Susan's side, confusion freezing him in place. Get a job for the summer? What kind of rubbish was that?
Ron and Harry eventually managed to convince Hermione that they were well enough not to visit Madame Pomfrey. The six of them walked back to the Common Room and all Ron could think about was how much he wanted a shower and then his bed.
Neville told them that it had been Hermione that had eventually awaken in the common room and dragged the information out of Seamus about what was happening. She had left to go help, leaving the others no choice but to follow her. Ron had to chuckle at Neville's whispered words, no one would stop Hermione from doing something she had set her mind to.
Hermione walked between Ron and Harry, saying nothing in regards to the night's activities. It seemed her relief was short lived and her anger at being left behind would be around much longer.
Ron knew that early in the morning, with no sleep and as exhausted as he was, he needed to try to apologize to her.
"Hermione, I'm sorry. We didn't want to involve you. . ." Ron began.
"That's right, you didn't," she snapped. "What if something had happened to either of you and I hadn't been there because I was asleep? I saw what was going on Ronald and I'm sure the arm that was down there in the dungeons wasn't because of Harry."
"Hermione," Ron tried again keeping his voice low.
"Stop it. Just, stop it. I don't want to hear about how you and Harry decided you needed to run off and be heroes and I don't want to hear you explain that it wasn't that dangerous. It was that dangerous, Ron, and this is the fourth time since Christmas that you did something like this. I don't want to hear you apologize. I don't want to hear that you love me and that I am over-reacting. I don't want to hear that you are both still safe. You're both still safe because someone has come along at the right moment to keep you that way, Val, Neville, Susan, and now me. The only thing I want to hear from you is that you will start using the one muscle in your body you seem to keep ignoring, and it's the one between your ears."
Ron winced at her declaration and flashed a glance over his shoulder. The four guys all shrugged, leaving him alone with her anger.
Hermione stopped before the Common Room door, and Ron could see she was still building up steam, "What would I have done, Ron? When Professor McGonagal showed up in the dormitories telling us that you and Harry had gotten killed down there in the dungeons? How would I have felt knowing that you left me to sleep through it because you thought I needed it? Just once, I want you to try to think of the other side of your actions. There are consequences to doing something so reckless and those consequences will catch up to you if you don't start doing things differently."
"Hermione," Ron tried once again putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me," Hermione snapped shrugging the hand away. "I don't need to be comforted or cosseted. You're not going to smile at me and make me forget this. You've gone too far and how in the world am I going to trust that EITHER of you will exercise a little common sense? You two ARE NOT Padfoot and Prongs running around playing pranks on Slytherins. I know you two seem to think that you are James and Sirius, but you bloody well aren't. You do remember the last time we saw Sirius don't you?"
"Luv," Ron shook his head, her words stung him.
"Don't, I only want you to promise me not to go running off into those dangerous situations anymore without telling me and then actually do it. That's the only thing I want from you right now," Hermione snapped, her arms wrapped around her middle and her eyes filling with tears as she looked at him.
Ron wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, "I promise, Hermione, everything will be fine. You'll see."
Hermione shook her head against him, and then stepped away from his embrace. "Words aren't going to be good enough, Ronald. Good night."
Hermione turned back towards the door and then looked back at Harry, "I will be telling Ginny in the morning if you don't, Harry. She deserves to know."
Hermione closed the door on them and Harry came up and put a hand on Ron's shoulder, "This isn't going to go away very quickly."
Ron nodded, "She will tell Ginny, Harry. You'd best beat her to it, if you do it may go a little better for you."
"Well, I guess there are some good things to being single," Seamus cracked walking around them to speak the password to open the door. "You blokes are going to be in the doghouse for weeks."