A/N: Submission for the Houses Competition

Team: Badgers

Subject: Charms

Category: Drabble

Prompt: [Setting] Hogwarts Library

Word Count: 590

Books in Disarray

Hermione stood in the ruins of the Hogwarts Library. This had been her safe place, her sanctuary. Now, it was no longer the safe place she remembered. The bookshelves were in varying stages of disarray, some had simply been pushed over, others were tilting or hanging over other shelves, but the majority lay in piles of broken, burnt wood.

"Aguamenti," Hermione whispered as she extinguished the fires still burning in her favourite room in the castle. It broke her heart to see her beloved tomes fade away to ash, just like what she had witnessed with her friends this past day.

Hermione had seen people die today, loved ones were injured, and the castle had been destroyed. Hermione knew that she should be downstairs helping the healers, or better yet helping the Weasleys who had just lost Fred. But she needed to be somewhere safe, she needed to be home just for a moment.

Her heart hadn't stopped thumping since she had seen Harry's still body in Hagrid's arms, she almost lost him. They had nearly been defeated. Hermione began to clear the library. With a wave of her wand, all the books were moved to a table near the door.

Then the bookshelves were put right, she repaired the ones that she could. But there were some… some that were too far gone. They could not be saved. A lone tear fell down her cheek, but she ignored it. There was too much to do, she didn't have time to cry.

Even though some shelves couldn't be saved, she couldn't find it in herself to throw the pieces away. They had been like treasured friends holding all the information she could ever have wanted, and now they were gone. She levitated them carefully to one side and started sorting through the books.

"Hermione?" A voice called through the doorway, "What are you doing here?"

It was Madam Pince. Gone was her stern expression, she looked just as dishevelled as the rest of them from fighting in Great Hall and through the halls.

"Madam Pince, I just… needed a moment alone, so I came here. Like I usually do." Hermione looked around the room, "I didn't expect to see it in this state, though."

Madam Pince moved over and started sorting through the books with her, "No, I never expected them to try and take the books in the restricted section, so I had to fight." The librarian looked over at a spot on the floor, where there was a significant burn mark. "I barely got away… but I stopped them at least. Even if I had to destroy our haven to keep it out of the hands of those who would use its knowledge for evil."

Hermione then noticed that the majority of the damaged books were books she hadn't read, they were books from the restricted section. "It was good that you were here, and I am glad you are safe."

Hermione and Madam Pince sorted in silence. Over time, more and more students came and started placing the books back on the shelves. The older students helped Madam Pince repair the books that could be fixed, and Hermione directed them to where they should be placed.

In time, Hermione felt the unease in her heart and mind begin to disappear as order came to the library once more. Her home was back, it was missing a few good friends, there were visible marks from the battle, but it was back to normal. Everything would be alright again.