A.N- I hope that everyone's enjoying. Yesterday (the day before I am writing this) was September 11, and I just want to send my regards to those affected by the attacks four years ago. You are in our hearts always. I would also like to send my deepest sympathies to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-CRUCIO!Both Harry and I thought that they would pass out the day of the anticipated attack from nerves. Snape knew of our anxiety, but he still did not excuse either of us. He remained his same, old, Gryffindore-hating self. Harry blamed his father. I blame Snape.
That night, I felt my mark burn. It was time to report to the statue and let the rest of the Death Eaters in. I saw Malfoy there-I knew that it was Malfoy, because the platinum blonde hair was a dead giveaway- and when he looked at me, it wasn't a look of complete hatred and disgust. In fact, was that a smile? I couldn't believe it. Malfoy… smile? What was this world coming too?
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Meanwhile, in Gryffindore Common Room sat Harry, Ron and Ginny. Harry had knots in his stomach. He had to duel one of his best friends and render her unconscious. This was not one of his best days. Definitely not.
Ron and Ginny had no idea what was going to happen. Harry wasn't allowed to tell Ron, and obviously not Ginny. So he just sat there, waiting for the worst to happen. That was really all he could do.
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We, the young Death Eaters, heard voices on the other side of the wall. It was the delegation of Death Eaters, and I figured that the Dark Lord wasn't far behind. All of the best were here to watch and help bring the demise of Harry Potter and Dumbledore. The knots in my stomach grew larger and larger. I thought that I would pop. This was it, and I was definitely sure that I couldn't go through with it.
But then it came again. That stupid smirk! I knew that that smirk couldn't stay away for long. He was still the same old little prick. But then I realized…
It was another smile, this one sweeter than the first.
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It was just around the time when Granger had to fake the capture of Harry Potter. I kind of felt bad for the stupid know-it-all, but all I could think about was how she was getting all of the spotlight in the Death Eaters. She was new! It was all because of her friendship with stupid scar face. And then she gave m this funny look, and all I could think was, "Oh my god! Is there something in my hair!" when I realized the look on my face. No, no, not a smirk, but a smile. Can you believe it, because I sure as hell can't? And neither could Granger, judging by the look on her face. But I couldn't help but wondering what that smile was doing there in the first place, because I didn't want it there. Or did I?
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"Attack!" yelled a prefect. "Attack on Hogwarts! Death Eaters…in the third-floor corridor! They came from behind the statue of the humpbacked witch!"
Students came running from all angles to find out what all the commotion was about. Dumbledore came walking down the hallway, stopping the prefect, and asked what had happened. "Will everyone please go to their respective dormitories! Teachers, come with me to head off the Death Eaters. I advise no students to come with, or sire consequences will arise."
Harry, Ron and Ginny were there, in the hubbub of frantic students. There were cries of, "Death Eaters! Here!" and "We're all going to die!" heard from all around. Ginny gave Harry a look that clearly said, "That means we're going too."
"Under my cloak! Now!"
The three friends (and sibling, not to mention) snuck down the corridor, following the teachers, who were to fight the Death Eaters. Harry knew well that Order members were secretly here, in this melting pot of people.
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On the third-corridor were about thirty death-eaters, myself included. It was all of the young Death-Eaters, and the best of the older ones, including Malfoy Senior and Bellatrix Lestrange. All those who were involved in the fiasco in the Department of Mysteries the summer before were there, to see the prophecy they had tried so hard to steal come true. I knew that they expected me to fail. I was too young, too noble, too much of a Griffindore. And most importantly, a "Mudblood." They didn't trust me, just like how many didn't trust Snape.
Then we saw the teachers, and I knew that Harry was there, along with Ron and Ginny. It was time for my…something. Anything. I just didn't know what. Then the dueling began. I knew that the Dark Lord was lurking in the shadows-there but not seen or heard, like a shadow. I acted my part of a Death Eater. "Come out, come out, Potter. I know that you're there."
There was no answer.
"Come out, little Griffindore. You're much too noble not to come and fight for your pathetic Dumbledore," I mocked. It worked.
"What are you going to do, Hermione? Are you going to take me to Voldemort?"
"Don't say his name, you ungrateful bastard! How do you know that it is me?"
"I wouldn't know your voice anywhere."
"You may know the voice, but you will never know me. Not the new me, anyways; the better me; the improved me. EXPELLIAR-"
"Protego!" he shouted, blocking my curse.
"Oh, so now little Potter wants to play. The Dark Lord won't play with you like I do. STUPI-"
"NO!" cried a voice from behind Harry. It was Ginny. "You won't kill, him you-"
"STUPIFY!" I screamed. But just that second, I got hit with a spell.
"Stupify," said Harry, knocking me to the floor as planned. I was unconscious, and when I woke up, I found myself in the Dark Lord's chamber. All eyes were on me, as I had failed on my task that was so important to the common goal-to kill Harry Potter.
"You have failed," was all that he said to me. "CRUCIO!"
A horrible, blinding pain surged through my body. It was like hot knives, piercing my body over and over again. It was the worst feeling that I have ever known to this day. "That is what failures get in my service, Mudblood. If you want that feeling to never reach you again, you will be successful."
"Yes, My Lord," I said in a small voice. My voice was still weak from the curse.
"Snape, did anyone recognize the Mudblood?"
"Potter, my lord, thought that he recognized her voice, but his mind can be easily changed. He is not too clever."
"Very good. Her position as a spy has not been threatened. Now, I have a very important introduction to make. There is one Death Eater that I have not introduced to any of you. His name is Aberforth Dumbledore."
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"Oh, Headmaster, it's horrible! They want your brother to kill you. There is no way out of it this time. If you don't die, then our cover will be blown, and the Dark Lord we know that we told you. If you do die… it's just to horrible to think about!" I cried.
"Miss Granger, do not fret. Our victory against Voldemort is more important than I, and will be easier to obtain that if I am not here, though it may be hard to understand."
"But-"
"No buts, Hermione. Some things are just worth dying for. A very brave and amazing man once said that."
"Sirius," I whispered. Snape snorted.
"Now Mr. Malfoy, please go to your respective Dormitories. Miss Granger, we will work out the whole matter, now that people currently think that you are a Death Eater, and out to kill Harry. Your duel is bound to have spread across the school, no doubt because of onlookers."
Malfoy-the-Amazing-Bouncing-Ferret (you know, I never really got over that) got up and left. "Headmaster, what is going to happen? People now think - or rather know now that I think about it - that I am a Death Eater. They probably think that I've killed someone. They'll be trying to report me to the Ministry-"
"Who won't do anything, because you are under my protection. They are a little bit wiser this time around, and won't attempt to undermine me. We'll wait a few days, and you will stay in the Hospital Wing under sickness for two days. That will give the illusion that it was not you there. Then I will discuss a foul rumor that I have heard about one of our number at Hogwarts being a Death Eater, and will declare it untrue."
"I don't mean to sound rude-"
"At times, one will say things of a bad-mannered status without noticing, but yes, Miss Granger, please go ahead."
"Won't it attract more attention to the rumor, and make people talk of it more? And what about the Death Eaters at Hogwarts? This will all seem very suspicious to them, and report it to him. I will be a Death Eater on one side, and a Spying Traitor on the other."
"You are quite right Miss Granger. I will tell Madame Pomfrey that you fainted in my office, and we have to give the illusion that she has been there for two days. She won't object – much." I gave a slight chuckle. Snape coughed, and it was then that I remembered that he had been there all along.
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Ginny, Harry and Ron sat in the plush armchairs of the Common Room, warmed by the crackling fire, and talking of the day's events. "That little bitch! That double-crossing traitor! How dare she! I hope that Voldemort cursed her so painfully…"
But Harry could pay attention to his girlfriend's ramblings. All he could think about was Hermione. Not in a romantic way, of course, but in a brother-sister way. He loved her so much; she's been his family in a way for the past six years. She was a part of everything with him. She was his best friend.
But now things were different. She was of the Order. She was of the Death Eaters. She was a completely different Hermione than the one he befriended years ago. Well, perhaps it was the same Hermione, but her life itself was different. He was barely a part of it. She was the one in danger. She was the one we met with Voldemort, but in a completely different was than him. Things were so confusing now.
And now today they had to duel. And he kept penalizing himself for saying her name last night during the duel. And she wasn't back yet! Voldemort was probably doing painful, Dark curses on her, particularly crucio. That was a big favorite of the Dark Arts. And now everyone knew – or thought that they knew – what was going on. Rumors were going around of Hermione being a Death Eater, and it was entirely his fault.
"…And if Harry hadn't spoken first, Voldemort would have gotten to him. And Harry wouldn't have been able to defend himself, because he would be unconscious."
"How do you know, Harry, that it was Hermione?" asked Ron.
"Actually, I don't. I just kind of thought in my head that it might be her, hearing you two rambling on about how Hermione is a Death Eating little turncoat. So it may not be her at all."
"Then explain her disappearances, then."
"Well, she could be in the Hospital Wing. Or anywhere, actually. What proof do we have that she is one?"
Ginny paused for a second. "They way she hides her wrist, the way she has been so antisocial, the way that she's been regarding Malfoy-"
"WHAT!" exclaimed Harry and Ron at the same time.
"Oh please, don't tell me that you haven't been noticing it. She smiles at him, he smiles at her. It's as if they've been having some kind of romance. You two are so incredibly thick."
"It was Hermione's job to lecture us on how we know nothing romantic, and we're so thick."
"Well stupid, as you see, she's not with us now, and hasn't been for a while. Hermione isn't a part of anything anymore."
A.N- Sorry that this update took so crazily-long! It's insane, I know. But I have lots of problems with my internet connection, meaning my parents are stubborn, and won't put the internet back in my room because of a bad Math grade (an 81, which isn't so bad.) Anyways, I'm back, and back with a vengeance. Expect a lot of great, new chapters in soon, and for God's sake, please update. If you like my story, it tells me that you like it, it gives me inspiration and motivation to continue and go quicker. If you have it, the review makes me want to go back and fix the mistakes you point out.
SO PLEASE REVIEW! CLICK THAT PURPLE BUTTON! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!