AN: I just wanted to say a quick but completely sincere apology for the long break in updates again, unfortunately real life has been incredibly hectic, so I'm sorry it's kept me from updating. However, thank you to all of my readers who are continuing to read this, I'm extremely grateful, as you are the reason I continue to update. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter!

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Chapter Fifty Three: Disbelief and Departures.

"I can't believe it! How could they leave me behind?" Ginny seethed for the fifteenth time in a hour. She was pacing the library, unable to sit and wait for news. Hermione could feel the breeze she created as she passed by from whether she was sat on one of the couches, "I was in Slughorn's stupid club for offensive magic for Merlin's sake!"

Hermione didn't attempt to calm her friend, knowing it was useless to try. She felt the same anger beneath her breastbone. Even blind, she felt she could fight as strong as any, yet she was sat helplessly with Ginny, who was as desperate as she to fight. Both had considered absconding, but neither had attempted to do so, knowing Tonks was patrolling outside the library to prevent them from leaving.

Fishing into her pocket, Hermione pulled out a small vial of pain relieving potion and drank quickly from it. An aura of faintness distorted her vision for a brief second before she forced it back. She knew she was keeping herself on the verge of overdosing on the potion, which was highly dangerous, yet she felt she needed to be prepared in the unlikely case that they were attacked. Stoppering the vial, she slipped it back into her pocket and cast a hasty Protego, as she felt Ginny's anger manifest in accidental magic.

"Ginny, put away your wand before you hurt yourself." Hermione cautioned her sternly.

"What?" The redhead snapped in confusion, until she spotted the silvery sparks erupting from the tip of her wand threatening to burn the carpet, "Oh." Tucking her wand back into her pocket, she turned to begin another length of the room, before a realisation struck her, "Wait. How did you know?"

"How did I know your wand was expelling your emotions?" Hermione clarified in a smart tone, "Just because I'm blind, doesn't mean my other senses are too. I could tell you the dimensions of this room, without ever having seen it. In fact, I could duel."

"Duel?!" Ginny exclaimed in alarm.

"Draco and I have been practicing. I can't give up my magic, my defences, because I've lost my sight. I had to learn to fight without seeing." She explained patiently, "We're at war."

"Wh-" Ginny's question was cut off by the loud shrieking of the defence alarms, "Someone's breaking in!" Leaving Hermione behind, Ginny raced out into the corridor and through to the entrance to their underground bunker with her wand raised and ready to battle any Death Eater daring to enter their safe house.

"It's okay, Ginny!" Tonks called over her shoulder, having run ahead of her, "It's my Mum!"

"What's Andromeda doing here?" Ginny's eyebrows creased with confusion as Tonks disabled the alarm with an impatient wave of her wand. Juggling Teddy in one arm, Tonks precariously scaled the ladder and unlatched the trapdoor. Then she stepped back to allow Andromeda to climb through, all the while trying to calm her crying child.

"Mum!" Hugging the older witch after she had barely touched the floor, Tonks breathed a sigh of relief, "Here's Teddy." Andromeda took the still agitated infant from her daughter, rocking him gently in her arms.

"Thank you, Mum." Tonks smiled and hugged her again.

"Stay safe." Andromeda begged her.

"I will." She replied. Kissing Teddy's forehead, Tonks stroked his chubby cheek tenderly, "I love you. Both of you."

"I love you too, be careful." Andromeda stepped away from the ladder, curling Teddy against her chest. Tonks nodded back with an unwavering expression and began ascending the ladder into Shell Cottage.

"I'm coming with you!" Ginny announced and followed her up the ladder.

"I thought you might." Tonks grinned fiercely, "Let's go get 'em."

Hermione rounded the corner at a steady pace as the two witches quickly disappeared up the ladder and into the adjoining building above their heads, the door shutting with a loud, resolute, and disheartening thump behind them. Scowling, she continued down the corridor, determined to follow. If she was quick enough, she would meet them as they apparated to Hogsmeade, and help plan their next step.

"Hermione?" Andromeda gasped, as she turned and caught sight of the younger girl hurrying in her direction. Shock vibrated through her tone and distorted her features, no doubt upon seeing Hermione's mutilated eyelids.

"Andromeda." She greeted her simply in response, pressing forward.

"You've just missed Tonks and Ginny leaving. I'm sorry you didn't get to say goodbye to them." Andromeda frowned sympathetically, misunderstanding Hermione's presence, "Hopefully they'll be back soon though. Come along, I'll go and get a bottle for this little one and then we'll wait for news together."

Touching Hermione's shoulder in consolation, Andromeda's long skirt swept against the Gryffindor's legs as she passed by. Hermione held her breath to stop herself from releasing an enraged growl at being left behind once more. Agonising devastation rattled her chest as she felt helpless and hopelessly dismissed from all those her were supposed to know her. Her hands shook in tight fists by her side and her jaw was clenched tightly. A red mist descended over her mind for a moment. Only Draco had believed in her capabilities when everyone else had dismissed her over her disabilities. It angered her deep into her core.

Allotting herself two minutes, she allowed that pain blister and corrupt her thoughts until her mind and body burned with rage, before she pushed it back once more. She couldn't afford to lose her rationality when so much was at stake tonight. It would be foolish to let her anger make her do something illogically rash and dangerous. Releasing the angry breath she had been holding, she turned back to find Andromeda, knowing the older witch would hunt for her if she was to leave now; potentially putting everyone in danger to do so. She would simply have to create her own plan of escape and execute it independently and very soon. She would fight tonight, even if it could be the last thing she would ever do.