Disclaimer: JK created, I adapted.
It didn't take Hermione long the next morning to figure out as to why Harry would propose that they go to the Ball together. Unfortunately, the reason caused her to cry.
"Hermione. Look, I'm sorry, it was a crazy idea…" She smiled slightly through her tears, knowing she was attracting a whole lot of attention that Harry Potter didn't want.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I… just miss him so much and I…" she looked at him, "Thank you, you too Ginny…" Ginny looked away from her conversation with Seamus.
"For what?"
"For taking the time to think of me, even when you were snogging Harry." Ginny's eyes widened.
"How…"
"It doesn't take words for me to figure it out. You two were smiling like idiots when you came down the stairs. Besides, you forget who you're dealing with." Harry smiled.
"Will you?" She looked at him.
"I have no one else to go with…"
"It's been two days and I still can't figure that stupid poem out!"
"Hermione! Calm down!" She turned towards him.
"The only thing I've figured out was you and Voldemort."
"What?" She rolled her eyes. He's just like Ron.
"Seriously, Harry. It's quite obvious. The one who has lived, and the one who has risen, shall reach the end. It obviously means that you and Voldemort have to battle."
"I already know that."
"It also talks about Peter Pettigrew."
"Really?"
"Yeah, right here. The one whose hand, was freely given, shall reap what he has sown. By the hand of the one, whose heart was freely given. You told me in fourth year that Pettigrew gave his own hand freely, so that Voldemort could rise again."
"Yeah, but whose the one whose heart was freely given?"
"I don't know. I don't know…"
"So let me get this straight. Voldemort is going to take over Hogwarts."
"Haven of safeness. Yes."
"He's going to have something to back him up."
"Well, I don't know, but I'm guessing that the night crawlers, what ever they are, are with him."
"After, some creature is going to come out of the Forbidden Forrest, in the form of something or someone lost."
"Yes."
"Me and Voldemort are going to fight to the end."
"Voldemort and I, Harry." Now it was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. We're talking about my death sentence and all she can do is correct my grammar. Some things never change.
"Sorry. Wormtail's going to snuff it and what ever that creature is, it's going to find redemption."
"Pretty much."
"That sounds wonderful. I have to wait here like a freaking vulnerable baby, and wait till Voldemort attacks!"
"Harry! Please." She grabbed his hands and sat herself on the table in front of the couch he was currently sitting on. "Harry, I believe that you can do this. Remember the curses and counter curses Lupin taught us. Remember the Unforgivable. Please…" He looked up at her, into her frightened eyes, and he realized something terrible. If he died, Hermione would be alone. She was begging him not to die. He grabbed her and pulled her into a fierce hug.
"I'm not going anywhere… I promise you," he whispered. She began to shake and he knew she was crying. He pulled her onto the couch and let her cry, and while she cried, he let a few tears shed himself.
For Ron…
For the Weasleys…
For Hogwarts…
For the Wizarding world…
And for their own pain…
"Have you seen Wellington?"
"No, why?"
"I haven't seen him since Trelawney made that prediction and it's bothering me. I would like to have a nice evening and the Halloween Ball and know where the man who raped me is at the same time."
"Hermione, it'll be ok."
"Fine. Who did you say you were going with to the ball? Seeing as I took your man."
"Har, Har… Seamus asked me."
"Seamus. Harry actually allowed you to go to the Ball with Seamus Finnegan."
"He's not as bad as people make him out to be."
"Yeah well. I'm just surprised. That's all." She straightened the headdress to her outfit and turned to a rather fearsome looking Ginny.
"Do I look like a Siren?" Ginny nodded.
"How about me?"
"You're the scariest jungle girl I've ever seen."
"Great! Let's go." They exited the dormitories and walked down the stairs with some other girls to the boys, who were waiting anxiously at the bottom. Harry stared.
"Wow, Hermione. You look… beautiful." She blushed and took his out stretched hand and allowed him to lead her into the decorated Great Hall. There were small, carved pumpkins floating around, while large cobwebs with large spiders clung to the walls. There was an old organ in the back, playing itself.
"Very…festive." Hermione smiled.
"You look very nice, with that blood dripping from your mouth."
"Vampires… it was hard to get the spell right."
"You pulled it off." They sat down at a table and watched as Neville led Luna over.
"Hey, Neville. Luna." They said hi and sat down across from the two best friends.
"I was hoping to see you Harry. A girl, a Hufflepuff I think said she wanted me to give this to you." Luna passed Harry a piece of parchment. Hermione leaned towards Harry to get a look at what it said.
Tonight is the Night
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Hermione stared at it and then got up.
"Harry, will you dance with me?" Harry shrugged, confused and got up and led her to the other couples. He pulled her close and she leaned her head against his chest.
"It's Loren."
"Hannah's friend."
"Yes. I think she's talking about the poem."
"You thought Trelawney was a fake."
"That's not the point Harry," she stressed, "We have to be on our guard. I've been thinking. Today is Halloween."
"So."
"Remember our first year at Hogwarts."
"Of course. Todaywas the day we all became…friends."
"Exactly."
"Voldemort's entered this castle before. Who says he can't do it again?"
"How could he?" Hermione glanced around the Hall, at the couples, the teachers, and out the windows.
"I don't know Harry… I…wait… I have an idea…" She pulled away from him. "I have to get to the library. Get Ginny and meet me at the Room of Requirements in ten minutes."
"Ten minutes?"
"Yeah." She hurried out of the Hall and snuck her way to the library. After finding what she was looking for she headed for the Room of Requirements.
"Neville! Luna! Harry!"
"I thought we'd need back up, just in case." Hermione sighed and was about to tell Harry to send them back when she heard her name being called. She squinted into the darkness and gasped.
"Loren! What are you doing here?"
"Please. I don't have much time! You need to know. Hogwarts isn't safe anymore. Harry, you need to get out of here! None of you return to the Great Hall no matter what you hear, especially you Harry. He's going to try to lure you. Don't go for it!" They were all panicking now. Hermione grabbed her by the arms.
"Who? Who's trying to lure Harry?" Loren gasped and pulled away from Hermione. Hermione was about to ask again when she felt something warm and sticky on her hands. She lit her wand and examined it and gasped.
"You're hurt." Hermione whispered.
"It's to late for me... just remember what I told you...remember what Trelawney said..."
"But..." Harry started.
"No buts.. Harry, you have a choice to make. Remember, the cloaked figure is not evil, no matter what it does." Suddenly she screamed, started gasping and bent over. When she looked up Ginny screamed. Her eyes were completely sunken in, black and bulging. Her skull was pulled back, making her bones show even more.
"He's coming..." Harry doubled over in pain. She looked at him, pointing at the screaming scar on his head. "They're here..." Then she collapsed... dead.
"Oh Merlin! Is… is she…" Ginny stuttered. Neville bent down to feel her pulse and looked up and shook his head. Ginny screamed again then turned to Harry. He was still on the ground, gasping.
"He… He's here… Voldemort."
"Where is the boy?"
"He must have been with Weasley, my Lord." A death eater said.
"Don't suck up to me! Potter belongs to me. Understand. ME!"
"Don't worry, Tom. He will be found, along with whoever is with him."
"You better hope your people find him, or the deal is off and I'll kill the Mudblood."
"Don't worry. Once I find Granger… and start the process, Potter wouldn't be able to help himself. He's lost one friend, he wouldn't stand by and listen to another one die."
"Ahh… but what was lost is found… thought, what was found doesn't know it's rightful purpose. Lucky for you, Wellington, is it not." The man hissed at Voldemort and then moved away as a tall hooded figure walked up beside Voldemort. The only thing seen from the figure was a large hairy claw, extremely sharp. Voldemort reached out and stroked the head of the silent thing.
"Lucky for you, I have patience and many students now at my disposal to keep me entertained. I won't sick him on you… yet." Wellington hissed and then gave orders to the winged creatures that served him.
"Find the girl!"
A/N: I hope you like it. I was very interesting to write and I hope even more interesting to read. Special thanks to my reviewers. Love ya! Oh and don't forget to R/R!
