Disclaimer : I don't own anything in the world of Harry Potter, that's J.K.Rowling's job. The plot is mine though.

Chapter 6 : He's Coming

He collapsed heavily down to his knees, still shaking and whispered to Hermione in a croaky voice that spoke only of fear, "Find Dumbledore. He's coming..."

"Out!" he screeched, "Everyone out!"

There was a blur of activity as they all tried to grab their things and hurry out of the classroom. Hermione didn't get up however, she just sat there looking at the Professor, unable to move. Harry and Ron stood by the door and waited for her to get up.

"Hermione, come on!" called Ron, "We have to go and find Dumbledore."

"You go," she answered, "I'll stay here."

As Harry and Ron left the room there was a roar of bright red flames in the centre of the room and a black-cloaked figure appeared from them. Almost before Hermione had even had chance to realise what was happening the figure spun round and swung a long, thin sword, which she was sure hadn't been there a second ago, straight at the Professor's head.

"Pr-" she started.

That was about all she had managed to say before the Professor had seen what was happening and blocked the blow with a sword of his own. Small silver sparks were shooting across the room from the point where the sword met. Both the men just stayed exactly where they were, unmoving, as if trying to find a weakness in the other. The Professor was still kneeling on the floor, his sword horizontally above his head, while his attacker was trying to force his sword downwards. At the moment of stillness Hermione had a chance to get a look at the figure.

At first glance he looked quite similar to the professor, about the same sort of height, wearing a pain robe, and about average build. His face was completely different however. It was heavily scarred and twisted, like he had been covered in rather nasty burns, and what were the most shocking were his eyes. They were completely black. There were no white or coloured parts to them, just completely black, and it gave him a terrifying appearance as though he wasn't quite human. The sword he was holding was a dark grey colour, and had many different runes along the blade. Hermione didn't recognise all of them, but she could see the one that represented death or murder.

In contrast, the Professor's sword was a lighter grey and was completely smooth. At times it seemed to glow faintly, as if the power inside it could be seen. A few moments later, Dumbledore hurriedly entered the room.

He took one look at what was happening in the room and without thinking twice shot a large red spell towards the figure in black. Hermione could hear the spell cracking through the air but as it reached it's target it just slowly faded away to next to nothing and only a faint red light washed over the pair of them. Not looking too discouraged, Dumbledore sent more spells similar to the first.

"Miss Granger," he called out, between spells, "Help".

Hermione had never heard Dumbledore actually asking for help before, but she pointed her wand in the same direction as his, and shot off a stunning spell, not worried about how strong it might be. Her spell ended up much the same way as Dumbledore's, and it was only when the two of them hit their target at exactly the same time did it have any effect at all. The two of them together caused the figure to sway ever so slightly on his feet, he looked up with a piercing glare towards Hermione causing her to stop.

It was like looking into an eternity of darkness and fear. The only time she had felt anything like it was when the Dementors had boarded the train to school. It was different though; she wasn't remembering the worst parts of her own life. Instead it was like all the pain and misery were being forced upon her. Unable to think she lowered her wand to her side. A moment later she was thrown back across the classroom by an invisible force and collided heavily will the wall with a sickening crack. Ron, who had been standing in the doorway watching fight, hurried over to where she lay. A small trail of blood ran down the wall where her head had stuck it, and a small pool had begun to form on the floor.

The Professor chose this moment to break the stalemate. He rolled quickly off to one side, letting his opponant's sword come crashing down to the floor, sprung to his feet and thrust his sword straight at the figure. The figure reacted inhumanly quickly to this blow but only managed to deflect the sword slightly to the side, and it pierced his left shoulder. With a cry of fury the figure stepped back and disappeared in a roar of flames. No sooner as he had gone, the Professor dropped his sword and fell back down to the floor.

Hermione and the Professor were both injured, but this time Dumbledore chose to move to the Professor first, and said something under his breath.

The professor smiled weakly, "I haven't heard that name in a long time. Don't spread it around." He glanced down at his arm and saw that it was cut slightly on the elbow, and chuckled slightly. "Looks like the old git has finally got me."

With that his eyes closed and he stopped moving.

Dumbledore stood in the Hospital Wing and looked at the two patients lying there. The Professor was physically fine, but much to Madam Pomfrey's annoyance he wasn't responding to any of her treatment and so just lay there unconscious. Hermione was not looking so good. As always Dumbledore was greatly saddened every time someone was injured on school grounds. He held himself responsible and just wished there was something he could do to make it better. He cursed himself for not thinking of some way he could have prevented it. He knew that this time would come sooner or later, he just figured the Professor would have stood a better chance inside the school.

Perhaps if I had kept him away from the students.

He knew that wouldn't have helped. He might not have been able to fight him off without his and Hermione's help.

She had suffered a severe head injury and lost a lot of blood. He knew that there was little chance of her ever waking up, and even less chance of her mind being intact. If her situation didn't change soon he would have to pay a visit to her parents.

How do you tell parents that their only child has… has…

A single tear appeared at the corner of his eye. He tried to remain light-hearted as much as he could in his rather long life, but it was at times like this that he felt his age. He walked slowly out of the Hospital Wing and headed up to his office, his shoulders slumped forward.

The Professor slowly opened his eyes and remembered what had just happened. It had only seemed like a few moments ago, but he had been unconscious now for nearly a whole day. He looked down at his elbow and saw that the cut had nearly healed, but he knew that he would never be the same. Already he could feel the effects working inside him. It won't be long now.

He looked over a the next bed and saw Hermione lying there, hardly breathing, with a bandage around her head.

Save her. He heard the voice in his head. You know you can save her.

But should I? He thought. Is it right to do that to her without asking her first? She will never be the same…

It's that or death.

He made his decision, climbed slowly out of his bed and walked over to Hermione, completely ignoring Dumbledore who was sitting by her bed. He had assured her friends that he would stay with her during the day so that they could all carry on going to lessons. The Professor placed both of his hands a few inches above her chest, and closed his eyes. Dumbledore reached over and placed a hand on the Professor's arm, and their eyes locked. After a few moments the Professor nodded his head slighly and closed his eyes again.

He tried to focus on all the power he could manage and built it up inside him. On the outside he started glowing very brightly. It wasn't just a faint glow, but more like the burning of the sun. It was too bright, and Dumbledore had to look away. The Professor's cloak flapped behind him, as though being blown about by some strong wind, and with one final push, the Professor forced every ounce of magic he could out of his hands. A bright beam of light flew out from them and stuck Hermione dead on.

For an instant nothing happened, then she opened her eyes, burst into flames, and screamed.

A/N – Well I suppose that sort of sets the story up nicely! I promise some of the other characters will come into it soon, along with a few more of my own!