Chapter 54
Falling Faith
Several Hours Earlier
Hermione emerged from the lake wet, alone, and with a burning desire to smack Fred Weasley upside the head.
She didn't have the foggiest idea as to what mischief he was about, but she knew he was up to something. Probably something that, had she known the details, she would have put an effort in to stop. Fred Weasley and a dragon—what good could come of this?
"Where's Fred?" Asked Harry when she joined he and Ron on the banks of the loch. "Kelpie get him?"
"He's going to wish a water horse drowned him," Hermione muttered to herself.
"Sorry?"
"He said he needed to borrow the dragon for the night," said Hermione, opening her purse and rummaging thru for their change of clothes, "maybe he's having an affair with the dragon, hell if I know."
"He's what?" Ron asked surprised, balking at her while he changed shirts, "He didn't say anything—what's he doing he needs a dragon?"
"Hell if I know," Hermione grumbled again tersely as she herself changed. Ron and Harry exchanged looks and went to work drying their own clothes without any comment on Fred.
She was pouring over the past days in her head. Why would he need a dragon? Was he going to try and make a distraction and use the dragon to take out Death Eaters before the battle? Was he out to causing mayhem? Or was it all for a greater distraction? What if he ended up doing something that wouldn't kill him at Hogwarts but would kill him wherever he was going? He had told her there was something he needed to do away from Hogwarts—why hadn't she pushed him on this?
She was going to kill him. Or at the very least skewer him with her rhetoric the next time she saw him.
Which would be when danger had passed. Because he wasn't coming back. He couldn't—he wouldn't see her at Hogwarts.
Suddenly, Harry stumbled forward, Ron catching his shoulder before he could fall to the ground.
"Harry—" she started, rushing towards him, supporting his other shoulder and lifting his head up, "Harry what is it?"
"He knows," said Harry, cradling his scar, his cringing pulling Hermione from her thoughts of romantic homicide. "He knows—-oh! You-Know-Who? He knows what we're up to?"
"Yes, I think he had theories after Malfoy Manor but he knows we took the cup—he knows we're hunting Horcruxes," Harry confirmed. "I think he's going to check on the ring and the locket—but I also saw Hogwarts—I think we're right when we thought the last ones there."
"Something of Ravenclaw," said Ron, chewing his lip in thought, turning to Hermione, "Did she have a sort of relic? Something her house would rub before an exam for luck?"
"The Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw—remember? The headdress Lovegood had?" Hermione asked, trying to think of ways to convince them.
" I don't think Ravenclaw went around wearing a hat like Lovegood was making—she's always came off more put together founder, not some barmy woman wearing radishes—Maybe there's some books in the library that was hers? You'd have found it by now for sure—"
"Come on Ron, if you had ever read Hogwarts a History you'd had known all about it. It's a tiara that bestows the wearer with cleverness and wit—the Diadem of Ravenclaw."
This was a downright lie. There was nothing about the Diadem in the book. But if friendship with these two had taught her anything if was confidence mixed with a pursuit yielded the best results.
"And it's the only known relic of Ravenclaw? Does the book say where it's located?" Harry asked.
"It's the Lost Diadem Harry, it's been missing for centuries," Hermione explained, mild annoyance bubbling. "it disappears not long before Ravenclaw dies, when her daughter went missing."
"Then how the ruddy hell did You-Know-Who find it to turn it into a Horcrux?" groaned Ron in frustration, "Not exactly easy is it? Bewitching a missing magical artifact?"
"But if anyone could find it, he'd be the one," she pushed, "Wouldn't he? Probably had a tracking spell—or maybe he talked to the Grey Lady—maybe the Ravenclaw ghost knew where it had ended up? I don't know how he did it but it's the best shot we have, isn't it?"
"She's right," Harry said added a moment, "and he kept thinking of Hogwarts so it's as good as any place to look."
"So we're going back to Hogwarts?" Asked Ron looking between the two. " How are we going to do that? Pretty sure we can't use the front door. Remember what Bill told us? They have all the secret passageways under watch, they had to smuggle Ginny out—and we're Undesirables One, Two, and Three, I doubt we can sneak in during dinner—"
"Pretty sure they don't know about the Honeydukes entrance," Harry offered, looking at Hermione, "we can sneak in and hide in the hump till the Marauders Map shows the coast is clear."
Ron's eyes met hers . She knew that he was waiting for her to either bless or shoot down the plan. "We go back to Hogwarts—it's going to cause ripple effects. If the Horcrux really is there I can see You-Know-Who bringing his army and laying siege of the castle," she said clearly. "But—" she kept going, acknowledging Harry trying to interrupt her, "it's the best lead we have. We go in, we find it, and we end this thing. And if we end it tonight all the better for us."
Hardy nodded and she turned, seeing Ron still had his eyes on her. He nodded too, and looked away, his eyes far and distant. "Apparate under the cloak?" He asked.
"Let's Apparate near the Hogshead, that part of town is pretty empty this time of day, no one would hear us," she sighed, "and we're not horribly fall from Sirius' cave if things go south."
They grabbed hands, the wind picking up about them. "Wouldn't that be a thing? If we ended it tonight?" Harry asked, looking at the two of them, "This time tomorrow the three of us next to the Fireplace in Gryffindor Tower—"
"It'd all be over, we'd be home," Ron finished for him, the distance in his eyes coming home to them, he turned from Harry to Hermione, "What the hell are we going to do when we're not on the run anymore?"
"Let's get there and find out," said Hermione, squeezing both of their hands. "One—two—"
A shot pop and they were gone, only Hermione knowing they were headed straight into their longest night.
((*))
The next few hours fell into place as she had remembered them. They had arrived in Hogsmeade to the calls of the Caterwauling Charm; she was relieved they had landed so close to Aberforth's bar as he pulled them in before any of the Death Eaters had time to start looking. No close calls like they had experienced before.
"The House Elf came down this afternoon and said you lot might be coming, something about breaking into Gringotts—" Aberforth had said, confusion etched in the fine wrinkles on his face as he passed them food and butterbeers..
He picked up the hand mirror and called for Dobby; she supposed that but was different—Dobby had lived, maybe he and not Neville would come to get them after Aberforth had shared his story.
But it wasn't just one person who came through Arianna's portrait. Neville and Dobby had come through together, both beaming to see them again.
"Dobby told us all about what happened at Malfoy Manor," Neville said, breaking away from their embrace, "he's been having to keep a low profile as Bellatrix thinks he's dead but—"
"But that's a very easy task when your a House Elf Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby beamed, "No ones recognizes House Elves, Dobby's just had to put away his hats and socks. The others know the Carrows are a bad Witch and Wizard so they did a small funeral for Dobby and let Bobby the House Elf take Dobby's quarters," he winked with a laugh.
"Good job Bobby," Ron smiled, patting the House Elf's head, "you'll take us in and I'll give you every dock I own."
"Course we will," Neville grinned, turning to Aberforth, "couple more people might be popping in Abe, we'll keep the portrait open if you do."
Hermione couldn't quite make out what Aberforth was chundering about but he nodded and went back to cleaning his glasses with a dirty cloth.
The three of them joined Neville and Dobby down the tunnel headed to the school. "How bad is it Neville?" Harry asked once they were a few steps in, "don't mean to be blunt but you look like hell."
"Detentions have changed since you lot were at Hogwarts last," he said, "got these for refusing to use the cruciatus curse on a first year."
"That's horrible," Hermione said, bile tickling her throat as her scarred arm burned.
"That's the Carrows," Neville shrugged, "Been standing up to them since they started last fall—it's something I learned from you," he said motioning to Harry.
"What?"
"When you used to stand up to Snape and Umbridge," Neville explained, "All it took was your standing up to them, telling the truth—It was enough to push me along and it's been enough to keep the others going.
"How is everyone else Neville? Everyone look as rough as you?" Hermione asked, watching the shadows stretch into canyons on his face.
"Nah, I'm the one they're trying to make an example of, they've been upping the ante since Ginny disappeared in the Spring. The Patil twins got thrown around pretty good last time the class had detention—Paravati's been hiding in North Tower with Lavender ever since," Neville explained, "Trewalaney's fully embraced her role as insane and will do Tarot readings anytime the Carrows come close—it scares them I guess. Strangely superstitious pair. A lot of the younger kids who haven't been able to join us in the Room of Requirement are up in North Tower with her."
"Lavender's there?" Asked Ron, perking up at the detail, "How's she?"
"Just told you mate, she's with Trewalaney, she's alright," Neville winked and they journeyed on, "She and the Patil twins are actually in the Room of Requirements right now—we all got together to hear about Gringotts in the short wave. Is it true? You escaped on a dragon?"
"It is," said Ron, "But don't think we're bringing that to Hogwarts—Fred took it for something he's got planned."
Neville shook his head and they crawled closer to the door, "Peeks and Coote were in stitches. Said only Harry Potter would trade in a fire bolt for a dragon."
"Trust me, I prefer the fire bolt," Harry snickered as they pushed towards a door. Light was leaking through the cracks surrounding it and Hermione could make out the hum and din on Dumbledore's Army beyond them.
"Here, let me go through, they think I just went to get more news of Gringotts from Aberforth," Neville said, sneaking through the door, "it'll make their year when you lot come through."
Neville passed through the door and the loud noise transitioned to a murmur. "What'd Abe say? Did Potter unleash fire on Diagon Alley when they flew away?"
"Don't know," Neville answered.
Another voice called out, "is it true he robbed all the Death Eater vaults and threw gold to the wandless?" Cried a different voice.
"Don't know," Neville answered with a chuckle,
"Well did they get away?" Barked a familiar voice—the Beater, Coote?—grumbled from the room below, "Hell Nev, what did Aberforth know?"
"That you'd like some company," Neville smiled and with that he opened the door, light flooding down on Harry, Ron and Hermione.
The room broke into cheers and applause. Nothing, not even having gone through this in the past could have prepared her for this moment. The relief that rolled from the students shoulders at the sight of their leader. The cheers that only could accompany loved ones return.
Because they were their loved ones. The ones who had been on the run, out doing something in the hopes of bringing back peace for them.
The room seemed to close in around them as the students came closer, hands outreached to touch them, to make sure this was real and not a trick of the light or someone's idea of a joke.
They fell into the patterns of the past. Harry fell into the arms of his remaining Quidditch team.
Ron had an arm around Lavender and Paravati who were talking with him excitedly. Hermione was smiling and saying hello to those that had rushed the door to see them, but she didn't have a face she was looking for. It was somewhere else, hopefully somewhere safe despite everything reason told her.
And then time stopped and others started emerging from the door. Others who became her faces to run to. People started emerging from the tunnel. First Luna, then Cormac McCladden. Cho Chang and Terry Boot emerged next. She was waiting for the rough and ready tumble of Lee, Angelina and Katie Bell but they were absent from the students now flooding the door. It was only when Ginny came through Hermione felt the desire to talk with the new ones. But that would have to wait a moment, Hermione couldn't help but smirk at Harry's face when it dawned on him it was real—Ginny was there.
He just stood there awkwardly, scooting away from Peeks who was now giving a reenactment of the escape from Gringotts to anyone who would listen.
Ginny walked towards him until they were six or so feet apart and then they both rushed towards each other. Harry hesitating In wrapping her in his arms and then kissing her soundly. In another time it could have been the kiss on the pitch, now it was a kiss before the end.
She moved towards the two of them, both gobsmacked with stars in their eyes. "Ginny," she said with a smile hugging her friend, "I'm sorry—I need to borrow Harry," turning to the besotted one, "shouldn't we be looking for something?"
"Right," he said, his eyes still lost in a dream.
"Harry—Ravenclaw's Diadem—"
"Right," he said, "Right—let's ask this lot, maybe they'll know?"
He turned to Neville and said a few quick words. Neville whistled loud and long, silencing the reunions taking place.
"Er—Thanks," said Harry stepping on a box, elevating him above their heads, "Listen, we're only here for a moment—we're looking for something You-Know-Who is after, something that belonged to Ravenclaw."
The crowd broke into whispers, "Don't get me wrong Potter, a little wit never hurt anyone but d'you really think it's going to be enough to stop You-Know-Who?" Asked Terry Boot, "If I were you I'd be off looking for Gryffindors sword and try skewering the bastard with that."
There were a few voices of agreement and then Luna's musical voice tinkled above them. "What about the Lost Diadem? Could that be it?"
"But Luna, it's lost," said Cho Chang, "you know that as well as the rest of us."
"We actually think that could be it," Hermione pressed, smiling at Luna. "We think it's hidden somewhere in the castle—we need to find it before You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters do."
"There's a bust in the Ravenclaw Common Room—Ravenclaw's wearing it, you could at least see what historians think it looks like. I can take you up," Cho offered looking unsure of herself.
"Luna can take him up," said Ginny, looking from Cho to Luna. "Would you Luna?"
Her friend nodded and walked towards Harry, "Of course, wouldn't be a problem. Ready Harry?"
"While I'm gone, don't let anyone out of here. Here—"
He fidgeted with his pocket for a moment and took out the Marauders Map. Scanning it quickly, he saw the path to Ravenclaw Tower was clear and pressed the map in Hermione's hands,"—use this. Don't let anyone in or out of the room. If McGonagall comes by it's probably safe—I wouldn't open it for anyone else."
Ron nodded but Hermione pushed back, "You should take this Harry, you've got more at stake."
"Hardly, Luna and I can hold our own. And so can you lot—" he added quickly when she began to protest, "Just keep it. Talk with the others and see what we're up against. Get ready and when I get back we'll get to work."
He disappeared with Luna, her blonde head bobbing out the door. Ron turned to her, "He'll be alright, back in no time."
She gave a stiff nod. She knew he'd be alright. But she also knew what would happen when he came back.
Ron squeezed her shoulder and turned back, headed to talk again with Lavender and Paravati. She stood staring at the door, the anxiety of waiting bubbling like bile in her.
"Surprised Fred's not here," said Ginny cooly, stepping by her side. Her eyes locked on the door.
"Sorry?" Hermione asked, snapping out of it.
"Fred," Ginny laughed, " I haven't seen him since the family went into hiding. George said he was working on something to do with the passports. But then after the wireless said you lot had broken into Gringotts I thought he might have been with you."
Hermione smiled and looked to the ground, "He was—he came with us."
"Mhmm," Ginny went knowingly, "so my dear older brothers been locked away for weeks with my other brother, best mate and ex. I can kill him right?" She asked with a laugh Hermione shared.
"Oh he pushed me off a dragon and into a lake, if anyone gets to kill him it's me," Hermione laughed as Ginny gawked at her. "He did what?"
"Did the wireless say how we escaped via a security dragon?" Hermione asked.
"May have mentioned it," Ginny said with a smile, "why did he—?"
"Apparently he's up to something tonight where he needs a dragon," Hermione answered as a matter of fact, "don't think he and George are making s'mores and need a dragon to light the fire do you?"
"No, probably not," Ginny moaned, "Oh Hermione—"
"George hasn't said anything has he? He's been staying with you lot right? Did he say anything that may tip off to what they're doing?" She asked, trying to sound less frantic than she felt. Yet hysteria seemed to tickle every question. She had thought of a half dozen scenarios over the last few hours. All of them less likely than the other. She had finally stopped her frantic brainstorm when she thought perhaps he had taken the dragon to liberate Azkaban, but surely Fred wasn't that stupid. She had to give him some credit.
"No, I've only seen George a handful of times, he left the morning after Fred. Only told Mum he was going to France because they had found Lee alive and he needed treatment. Can you believe it? Lee's alive—"
"I know—we found him. Or the boys found him—"
Ginny's eyes grew wide as saucers and she could already hear the questions flood from her friend. She took Ginny by the arm. "Soon," said Hermione, "I'll tell you everything when this is over, but not a moment sooner."
She let go of her friend and looked around the room. More people were steadily coming through the potraithole. Tonks, her hair the most vibrant shade of pink came through followed by Kingsley Shacklebolt and—
"Charlie!" Ginny called, running from Hermione's side to her brothers. "What are you doing here?"
"Penny messaged me that Seamus Finnigan told her it was going down tonight," Charlie said, hugging his sister, "Figured you might need some help."
Hermione walked over and then she saw the figure coming through after Charlie. He was much the same as he had been last she saw, a tall, strong Bulgarian Mountain.
"Viktor" she gasped, "what—"
"Charlie's been with the team, I got him on as a third string seeker—it's his cover for working in Bulgaria for the Order," her friend told her. "I was coming in to talk to him and he told me the message he got from his friend Penny. It's been a while since I got to fight the bad guys, I thought I'd come along," he relayed with a relaxed smile, "It is good to see you Hermioninny, your hair looks lovely."
Hermione touched a curl and looked away. This was wrong. Last time, Charlie and Viktor had spent the night of the battle in Sofia practicing with Viktor's team. And now they were here. Because of some woman named Penny—because of the Passports she and Fred had made—had summoned them from their safety into the heat of battle.
"Out of my way," said a familiar voice from the darkness. Both she, Ginny and Charlie straightened up, looking at each other with degrees of recognition.
"You sneak out tonight Gin?" Charlie asked, his voice low as a whisper.
"Might of left a note," she replied, voice just as low, "more than the boys did when they stole the car."
Mrs Weasley emerged from the portrait hole her eyes alight as she scanned the room. Mr Weasley appeared behind her, slightly out of breath from what had been a stormed march through the passageway following his wife.
When his eyes found his daughter and second son he smiled, waving and walking towards them.
When Mrs Weasley found them, the smile was absent and the walk a march, eyes narrowed as though she was trying to whither on sight.
"Ginevera Molly—" Mrs Weasley started, "what are we doing here?"
"Harry's here," Ginny said coolly, squaring up with her mother, "Right Hermione?"
Hermione flinched, having hoped she would have gone unnoticed in the meeting.
"Hullo Mrs Weasley," Hermione smiled, waving weakly as she stepped out in Mr and Mrs Weasley's sight.
Mr Weasley beamed, "Hermione! Good to see you!" He said, wrapping her in a father's embrace, "where's Ron? If Harry and Hermione are here he must be too Molly, isn't that lovely—"
"He's of age he can be here," she said sharply. She turned and saw Hermione and either out of pity or motherly concern she warmed her expression and wrapped her in a hug, "it's good to see you. You look—well you look like you need a decent meal and sleep—but afterwards I suppose."
Hermione smiled and gave a nod before turning to Mr Weasley, "Harry and Luna had to go get something from the Ravenclaw Common Room. He should be back soon, he and McGonagall."
"Harry's not here?" Said Mrs Weasley frightfully, "he's out in the school? In Snape's school? Arthur—"
"Mum! Dad!" Ron called from a distance, walking towards them, Lavender thankfully not in tow. Ron look puzzled and then smiled, "Charlie! And—look it's Bill!"
Hermione noticed a stead smirk steal across Ginny's face. This is all she could hope for, all of her brothers to be at the school. Her mother wouldn't be able to banish her to Shell Cottage now, not if all of its inhabitants were cramming into the room with the rest of Hogwarts defenders.
"Fleur!" Viktor smiled as the other Weasleys joined the gaggle. "Bonsoire Viktor," Fleur said kissing his cheek as she saw the rest of the Weasleys, "so we all got zhe message?"
"Good Ol' Penny," Tonks said, coming in and sneaking an arm around Charlie as she surprised him with a hug, "thought I saw a dragon master come through the door."
"Tonks!" He cried beaming down at his friend, then his eyebrows knit together, "What are you doing here Tonks? You're a mum—"
"You keep talking like that and I'll tell your mum on you for misogynistic comments like that Charles Weasley," Tonks said elbowing Charlie, "Remus doesn't get to be the only warrior in the family."
"Where is Remus?" Ginny asked, "with Teddy?"
"No," Tonks answered, "No, he sent me a Patronus earlier tonight saying he had to help the twins with something but he'd be back. I was visiting Penny when Seamus broke in waving your little DA Galleon saying there was a battle to be had—so I took Teddy home to my parents, told them Penny needed help transferring some Muggleborns and I came straight here."
"Were there Muggleborns?" Charlie asked curiously. "I'll be honest I'm surprised there weren't more students coming through the pub—"
Hermione turned away, she didn't need to hear the answer. She knew it. They were all safe and sound, tucked in their beds at Beauxbatons. She withdrew from the conversation and turned to where Mr Weasley, Kingsley and Neville were pouring over the Marauders Map.
"We can have Minerva bring down the Stone Guard, have them on the bridge and outer defenses of the Front Entrance—" Kingsley said, his finger tracing the map.
"You can't forget the rear though—" said Neville pointing at another detail, "this bridge can get you to Hogsmead—it's the long way back."
"Dammit—" Kingsley said, lifting his head up and looking around the room, "we're going to need more fighters than what we've got here."
"You get Seamus Finnigan here and he can make quick work of it," Neville grinned, turning around and nearly thumping into Hermione, "let me send him a Patronus, I'll see if we can get him here any sooner."
"Sorry Hermione," he smiled, moving out of the way and running to a corner of the room to make his call.
Arthur leaned over the map and then turned to Kingsley, "We can make plans all night Kingsley but we need to get rid of Snape. We can't do any of this with him and his Death Eaters in the school."
"We can do that," Hermione said firmly, both of them looking at her for the first time. "Hermione?"
She walked over to the Marauders Map, and shifted the papers till she found Ravenclaw tower. She scanned quickly, hoping that it would be the same—what had happened before—and she saw it. Those five little dots that told her everything she needed to know.
"Look," she said, pointing at the two stationary dots of the Carrows, while Harry, Luna, and Minerva McGonagall descended the tower towards the incoming dot of Severus Snape.
"Two down," Hermione answered, her voice even, "one to go."
"Back up," Kingsley swore, grabbing his wand, "Arthur, you and Molly—"
"We're on our way, come along Molly—" Mr Weasley called, reaching for his wife's arm as she hovered near Ron and Lavender.
"What the bloody hell—" Ron asked, leaving Lavender and standing beside her, "what happened?"
"Death Eaters were waiting in Ravenclaw—"
"What—"
"Don't worry, Harry took care of them. He's headed back this way with McGonagall—they've just gone to meet the teachers, there's a chance they'll be trouble with Snape," Hermione sighed, sitting on the corner of a desk, "Now we just wait."
"We wait," Ron said, sitting next to her, waving at Lavender who had the faintest of smiles on her face.
"Go talk with her Ron, she's not going to fancy you next to me. Rivals don't make for good reunions," Hermione nudged, bumping him with her shoulder.
"I told her we need to talk about our plan—which we do," he said, "she says we'll have plenty of time to talk, soon as whatever's about to happen has happened."
"Good of her," she said looking again at Lavender who was talking with Paravati, glancing every now and again at the door to see if any of her other friends were making their way in.
"Yeah—" Ron sighed distantly, quicklime pulling himself out of his gaze. "Suppose it's a good thing—them waiting in Ravenclaw tower. Means we're guessing right—that it's something of Ravenclaw. That it's here in the castle. Do you think Harry's found it?"
"No—it wouldn't be that easy. It'll be—"
And I then a weight seemed to crash on her chest. Harry had learned it was in the Room of Requirement from talking with the Grey Lady. But it only clicked because he had a memory, one of hiding the Prince's Book in the room of Hidden Things. Next to a bust wearing a wig and a tarnished tiara—
Harry had never made that trip.
Because Hermione had taken the book.
Harry had never had to hide it. It was tucked somewhere in her house in Essex with the rest of her textbook.
She had meddled, and now Harry didn't know where I'm the Room of Hidden Things where he could find a Diadem. It would be looking for a needle in a haystack.
Fortunately, she thought, Crabbe and Goyle would light the entire haystack in Fiendfyre—but would it be enough? It had been last time—what if the battle changed and they didn't come after them? Or was it a fixed point and they'd find a way?
"Hermione what's wrong?" Ron asked pressing his hand against her forehead. "You just went really pale—is it your arm? Do you need to lie down?"
"No, I'm fine, I'm fine," she said swatting Ron's arm away. The room felt smaller than it ever had. "We just need to find Harry and find the Diadem. Come on-let's go."
She got up too quick and had to catch herself on the desk. Ron had anticipated her collapse and had an arm around her, "Small steps, come on, let's get you some air—" he coaxed as they pushed to the door.
But the door opened before they got there. Luna came first with a triumphant smile, running back to rejoin a flabbergasted and delighted Neville. Then came Flitwick and Sprout, Kingsley—taking with Professor McGonagall who upon entry raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide as she saw the students sprawled around the room, the hammocks to the ceiling and former students now calling out with cheers and greetings.
"Harry!" Ron called, "over here!"
Harry came back to them and looked at the two of them anxiously, "what's wrong?"
"Hermione f—"
"Is fine," Hermione growled, "took care of the Carrows? We saw on the map. Did you get Snape?"
"McGonagall had the honors," Harry smiled, looking at the True Headmistress who was now touring the hammock city with Neville. "Come on, we need to head downstairs—McGonagall's assembling the school—she agrees with us, she thinks You-Know-Who is going to be coming."
"You didn't find the Horcrux while you were up there did you?" Ron asked optimistically, "If you know who had the Carrows there—maybe they were guarding it?"
Harry shook his head and Hermione muffled an "I told you so."
"It's somewhere here—but where—" Harry shrugged.
"Why not here?" Hermione said, the words tripping over themselves, "Harry—you get You-Know-Who—couldn't he have known about the Room of Requirement? Maybe he walked past the room so many times, said he needed a place to hide something and—"
"That's a big maybe Hermione," Harry answered unsure, "it's possible but—"
"Where else would it be? The Chamber of Secrets?"
The sound of the crowd moving behind them stopped Harry from answering. Ron must have sensed how tense she was as he slipped between her and Harry and started waking down to the Great Hall, "Come on, let's listen to what McGonagall has to say and we can go from there. We'll come up with a plan, find things and kill the bloody snake." He waited a moment as the journeyed in silence before adding, "We can tear the Room of Requirement apart brick by brick before we go digging through the schools bloody pipes."
((*))
Hermione went down the stairs to the Great Hall with the rest of the students, thronged and pushing their way down. Already whispers of Snape's departure from the school churning about them. When she got to the Gryffindor table, sandwiched besides Ron and Ginny, those whispers had grown to loud voices that now called out—"That guy with Ginny—that's Ron Weasley, that's Harry's best friend—and that's Hermione Granger!" "What are they doing here?" "Did the war end while we're sleeping and Granger dragged us out of bed so we could sit for exams early?"
"Honestly, don't they have anything better to think?" Hermione grumbled shifting besides Ginny, keeping her head up looking for Harry.
"Oppression makes you either sharp or dull," Ginny answered, glaring at the gawkers at the Ravenclaw table.
"Here comes Harry, scoot a bit," pushed Ron as they made room for Harry, now sandwiches between Hermione and Ginny.
"What did McGonagall say?" Hermione whispered to Harry, who stood straight trying to get a few of the head table.
"She agrees we need to defend the school—she's like you, she thinks You-Know-Who is going to attack. This is all to organize the students and get as many out before things go wrong. See how Hagrid and Flitwick are missing? They're getting the carriages ready," Harry answered. His eyes scanned the room again, now falling on Viktor and Charlie beside Mr and Mrs Weasley and Kingsley and Tonks in the back.
"What are they doing here? I thought your mum would have sent you home?" Harry asked, a mix of love and worry clashing on his face.
"Your friends are with you Harry," said Ginny reaching for his hand, "let us be with you."
"But—"
"We can't defend the school while we search for the Horcrux, Harry," Hermione said stubbornly, turning her eyes from Viktor and Charlie to her friend. "The sooner we find it, the sooner we end it, the sooner everyone we love is safe."
"Good—" McGonagall looked down to her wristwatch, "Morning," she finished, "I apologize for waking you at this early hour but we must act quickly."
"Where's Professor Snape?" Piped a voice from the Slytherin table.
"He's taken a leave of absence," McGonagall smiles while applause broke from three of the four tables. "And in lieu of his absence the staff will be making preparations to fortify the castle from what we predict is about to happen."
Whispers broke like thunder in the hall. McGonagall raises her wand to her voice to silence them all, "I want to assure you that every protection possible will be provided to the students of Hogwarts. The Hogwarts Express has been sent for and will arrive at sunrise this morning. Until then we will utilize the fortress at the Station House in Hogsmeade—"
Another thunderclap of whispers shook the hall but this time it was a chilling voice, one accompanied by a scream.
And then silence as a chill descended on the castle.
"Give me Harry Potter," Voldemort said, his voice soft and chilling like a horrible secret being whispered. "Give me Harry Potter and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded."
"What are you waiting for," cried a voice. Hermione looked and saw Pansy Parkinson standing erect, her hand out stretched and finger pointing accusingly at Harry, "He's there! Potter's there! Somebody get him!"
The room erupted with the sounds of the benches moving as students stood up from the Gryffindor table, turning and looking at the Slytherin table, jaws clenched. The Hufflepuffs also had risen and turn, and the Ravenclaws too, all targeted on Pansy Parkinson and Slytherin house.
That is, until the doors flew open.
For the slightest moment, Hermione was afraid it was the Death Eaters having employed some sneak tactic, that they were all about to be massacred in the hall.
But it wasn't Death Eaters who came through the door.
Instead came Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, the smuggest and proudest of expressions carved on their faces. Hannah Abbot was flanked by Ernie Macmillion and Susan Bones, the three of them standing tall with steel like eyes.
Apart from the five rushed more faces. Colin Creevy, standing taller than she had seen him last—his brother Dennis a head taller still and all limbs lanking into the hall with a smile, waving at a classmate as they came through the doors.
And there were so many more. Nigel, with his floppy curls nearly broke the line to run to his friends. Two Hufflepuff girls with their arms linked beamed at their classmates.
It wasn't just Hogwarts students, now forming a solid line separating Pansy from the door. There were twenty or so in pale blue half capes, some still wearing the ridiculous blue silk hats of Beauxbatons. Hermione looked up in horror as she saw every single person she and Fred had liberated now stand before her.
Every last one.
They had tried but it had been for nothing. Time had said they'd be at the school this night and they had found a way to appease her.
Was everything about this night a fixed point?
"Anna!" A voice cried from one of the tables. Hermione looked up and saw Oliver Basswood stand up from the Slytherin table and rush to the girl with shoulder length sandy hair, her face positively beaming at being reunited with her friend. He swept her into his arms, twirling her around and Hermione could have sworn she heard a breaking sob from their direction.
"Miss Parkinson you may lead your House out of this hall to the front step where the carriages will remove you from this school," McGonagall said, regaining control of the room. "As for the rest of you, Prefects are to gather their houses and follow outside. Only those who are of age can stay for the coming fight."
The Student line formed a barrier separating Slytherin house from the rest of the hall, allowing them a direct exit. All left, with the exclusion of Oliver, his hand intertwined with Anna's. Hermione felt a pang in her heart. Perhaps they weren't as platonic as she had thought; and now they had what—hours?—before death provided a deeper separation.
Once the Slytherins had left the hall McGonagall and Sprout descended from the Head Table, trying to weed out students who refused to get up and leave. McGonagall walked up to Colin and Dennis who were speaking rapid French to one of the Beauxbatons students.
"You heard me Creevey, If you're not of age you need to leave," she said stubbornly, "Come along, take your friends and head to the carriages."
"We're of age in France!" Collin argued, glaring at McGonagall. His eyes fell to his brother and then guilt flooded his face, "at least I am, Dennis. You ought to go."
"No, I want to stay and fight," he said in a near growl. "We all do Professor. That's all any of us Muggleborns have wanted since we went to France. We've hid long enough, we want to fight, to decide our fate on our terms."
McGonagall's face was stone like and for a moment Hermione was afraid she was going to go on a tirade of things she wanted, among them being the survival of Gryffindor House.
"Head up to the Astronomy Tower. Professor Vector will need help with aerial defenses," she said, her voice low. "No matter what happens, do not leave the tower. And take your friends with you, I'm not explaining to Olympé any Beauxbatons Deaths," she said as the three of them departed the hall.
Whether staying to fight or leaving in the carriages, the Hall began to empty. "Come on, the can clear the Room of Requirements and you can go meet with the Grey Lady," Hermione said anxiously as they emerged from the Great Hall, racing towards the staircase.
"I don't need to speak with the Grey Lady if you're convinced it's here," Harry protested, "you are convinced it's there?"
"I'd bet my life," She said firmly. She saw Harry nod and they raced up the stairs, one flight after another, pushing to the seventh floor and the Room of Requirement.
"We're going to have to clear the room—it won't change with people in it still—" Harry said as they reached the floor, slightly out of breath.
"Shouldn't be a problem, I think everyone will be rushing to get out," Ron groaned, holding a stitch in his side. They turned the corner, racing towards the room when they saw Lupin stumble out the door.
"Professor!" Hermione called and he met their eyes, a smile breaking on his face. She didn't know what he had been doing but his face and robes were covered in soot and he had a wide smile. Hermione thought he looked years younger, much like the man in the photographs in Harry's album. One she had certainly never seen in the time she'd known him.
"Came as soon as I could—" Lupin said, looking at the three of them and down the stairs from whence they came, "where are the others? Where do you need me?"
"Kingsleys taken for the defenses on the grounds, you'll find him outside," said Hermione automatically.
"But I think Tonks is helping Sprout in the greenhouses I think," Ron countered, "they were bringing in some of the more dangerous plants for the defenses—"
"Dora's here?" Asked Lupin, looking slightly panicked, brushing soot from his forehead, "She—"
He paused for a moment stopping himself. He turned to Harry, "Do you have a plan for what you need to do next? Do you need me to help at all with that plan?"
"No, go find Tonks," Harry assured,pushing him forward, "we'll take care of it."
Lupin squeezed his shoulder and turned to go down the stairs. Half way down he turned back to look at the three of them. Hermione half expected him to turn around and demand to help them again, or perhaps he wanted to ask for more details on their plan—a run through—something to make sure it was substantial.
"Constant Vigilance!" He called out, the soot not shaking his smile as he waved and turned back down the stairs.
"In a good mood that one," said Ron as he walked away, eyeing Lupin suspiciously as he went. "What do you think has him in such a good mood?"
The three of them opened the doors and again were nearly mowed down by more soot covered faces. Hermione could make out Angelina, Alicia Spinnit, and Katie Bell, wands extended with as they pressed forward.
"Harry!" Angelina beamed, "Got here as soon as we could. Where's McGonagall?"
"Downstairs—she was calling down the stone fighters—" said Harry unsure of himself. He poked his head past three chasers to see a stranger sight than Hermione had ever expected.
Lee Jordan and Oliver Wood we're talking to Charlie and Viktor, Oliver gobbsmacked and shaking Charlie's hand as though they were long lost friends, giving him a play by play of all decisions he made for the Gryffindor Quidditch team in the years following Charlie's graduation.
But that wasn't what was weird. It was Xenophilius Lovegood creeping out of the portrait hole calling for Luna. It was a mismatched group of friends in tattered grey robes looking around the room as though they had stumbled into a well beloved home, taking turns hugging two blonde haired women. It was Justin Finch-Fletchy helping Amos Diggory gain his balance as he walked over to Mr Weasley, the two of them also in tattered grey robes.
Hermione's head was spinning. None of this made sense. Justin was supposed to be spending the battle in Azkaban. That's what he had told her last time. Why was he here? Why was any of them—Amos, Lee—
She looked at the Grey robes again. She had seen those before, long ago. Sirius had worn similar robes in the photograph the ministry put out after he escaped Azkaban.
Hermione could feel her heart racing as she looked around the room that seemed to be shrinking around her. One of the mismatched friends had turned into a falcon, and rested on the shoulder of blonde haired woman who was dressed in normal clothes, another woman—who looked like she could be her sister saying "Penny look—is that Harry Potter?"
Hermione's eyes turned to Mr Lovegood—he had also been taken to Azkaban, thanks to them. She knew that. And if he had been in Azkaban—
Justin, Mr Lovegood, Hermione thought, calculating the only logical solution.
"Remember when I said I had plans that took me away from Hogwarts tonight? Those plans need a dragon—" that's what he had told her. That he was planning something that called for a dragon.
She was going to kill him, she swore internally. If he had done what she thought he had, and If he had survived, she was going to kill him. Taking a Dragon to break into bloody Azkaban—
"Wotcher Granger," said Justin as he walked past her to the door. Hermione reached out, grabbing his arm. He turned, looking at her grip confused and then to her.
"Oi I'm headed down—"
"What did he do?"Hermione asked, trying to focus her eyes on Justin. On something. Anything other than the insanity bouncing about her heads.
Justin's face broke into a smile, "I should let him tell you, it was incredible. You wouldn't believe it
If it came from anyone other than him."
He shook loose and hurried behind Mr Diggory, "We can share our stories when this is all done," he called to her, "despite all of this, it's been a damn good story!"
"What did he mean? Who were you asking him about Hermione?" Asked Harry, concern flooding his face.
"Shh—Mum," Ron said, nodding his head to his mother who was now locked in a battle of wills with her youngest daughter.
But Mrs Weasleys words failed her. Both she and Ginny were now lost, mouths open wide in disbelief as the portrait hole opened one more time, now granting entrance to Percy Weasley who stood, looking down with apprehension to the family reunion he couldn't have been expecting, at least not this soon in his arrival.
Mrs Weasley let go of her squabble with Ginny and ran to her son, wrapping him in her arms. Ginny turned looking to her dad who came forward and wrapped his arms around both his wife and son. Bill, Fleur, and Charlie—along with Krum, Lee and Oliver looked on at the scene with varied looks of awareness.
"Mum! Look who we found on our way in!" George grinned as he came down from the portrait hole.
Hermione wasn't sure if anyone responded to George. Her eyes were locked on Fred, stepping into the brightly lit room, his eyes temporarily blinded, a hand raised to them.
Fred was covered in more soot than any of the others, his blue eyes popping in the darkness. His hair pushed up and pushed back in all sorts of a proper mess. His eyes finally met hers and she glared at him, lips pursed.
He promised. He promised he wouldn't come.
Ah but he didn't—not right away, a voice chided, you asked him not to come when they called for help. You should have asked him to stay away from this place all together.
He knew I didn't want him here at all tonight, she fumed, he knows the risk and he damn well doesn't care—
He shot her a smile that she didn't return, glaring at him still, returning her eyes to Mrs Weasley who had stopped crying and was now feasting her eyes on Percy.
"I came as soon as I heard," Percy blubbered, looking at his parents. "I—"
"You came Perc—" said Bill, clapping a hand on the back of his shoulders. "That's all that matters now."
"See Mum? Percy's here now. And so is Charlie. The entire family's here—you can't send me away if the entire family's here," Ginny argued, digging in her heels.
"She could go stay with Audrey—my receptionist," Percy said, turning to his mother. "Ginny I'll give you her address and—"
"I'm not abandoning my family Percy," Ginny shot back, her words so strong and firm it nearly knocked Hermione back. She thought Ginny could have slapped Percy and it wouldn't have hurt him as much as her words had.
"You don't have to go back to Muriel's," said her father, making Mrs Weasley's head snap at her husband. Mr Weasley put out a hand in hopes to stop Mrs Weasley from reacting—"Listen to me Molly—she doesn't have to go to Muriel's but you can't stay here either—"
"But dad—"
"Go to the Station House—some of the students are there. You'll be close—as soon as this is over one of us will come for you."
Ginny straightened up, her expression proud, "Hide with the Slytherins while you lot fight, that's it?"
"It's that or going back to Muriel's," her father said firmly, "Those are your choices."
"Or she could stay in the Room of Requirement," said Ron, bravely interjecting, his parents and sister staring him down, "Come on, Rooms only letting in rebel fighters. Ginny can stay her safe and if something happens someone can run and let her know—"
If looks could kill Mrs Weasley would have been one son short. Ginny turned to her father, eyes pleading. "Please Dad?"
He glanced at Ron and then Mrs Weasley before resting them on Ginny. "You don't leave this room Ginevra Weasley, you understand?"
Ginny nodded fiercely before rushing and hugging Ron, the surprise nearly knocking him to the ground. The family seemed to cave in, everyone coming up to embrace Percy and relish in the few moments given to be a family.
All but one, that was.
((*))
Fred walked towards Hermione, a soot covered smile etched on his face, his hands outstretched towards her.
Which, to be honest, he thought was rather brave on his part. Hermione was staring him down with the intensity of blast ended skrewt locked on a target. Yes, the last time he had seen her he had promised that he wouldn't be coming to Hogwarts right before pushing her from a dragon and into a lake but that had been hours ago and she knew the odds for their survival—surely she wasn't going to hold that against him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked through gritted teeth.
Oh, she's holding it against you—smooth move Freddie.
"Well George and I stopped by the Hogs Head for a drink tonight and we saw a lot of people running for a tunnel—"
"And where the hell have you been?!" She seethed, digging into her purse and grabbing a handkerchief, wiping soot away, "you're an idiot Fred—an absolute—," a wipe that felt more like a slap, "—bleeding—" another violent wipe "—hopeless," he caught her hand this time and held it in his. He raised his other hand to hold her cheek.
"We're better together, Remember that?" He said soothingly, he lowered the hand that had the handkerchief balled tightly in it, "you and me, we're always better when we're together. Figured we needed to be our best tonight."
"But we can't be, not tonight. I have to stick with Harry—" she turned around to where Ginny was now talking to Fleur, "You've got to stay here with Gin. As soon as things are clear I'll come back for you—"
"This is one of the last times we could possibly be speaking and you want to waste it on stay here with Ginny?" He asked, "Hermione, We've tipped the scales. We went and got twenty odd fighters from Azkaban, that has to be enough to change the fight. Twenty timelines that otherwise wouldn't have crossed here—it's not going to be the same battle," he smiled, "don't you see? We found a way to trick time. It's on our side now."
She opened her mouth but didn't say anything, not right away. Her eyes had a glisten as she cleared her voice, "Fred—there's more than just Azkaban here tonight," she started, "they came back. All our Muggleborns from France—they're back and with them two dozen Beauxbaton students."
Fred felt ice on his insides. He tried to keep control of his expressions, while his head did the calculations, hoping they'd be for the good and not damning of them all. "Well then—nearly fifty different timelines—"
"Fred—" she started and he could see the coming unravel played out in her eyes. The blame. The blame she was going to hold by herself if he couldn't stop her.
"It's not your fault Hermione, you tried to get them out. Anyone who dies tonight—that's not your fault, you have to realize that. Promise me you won't blame yourself," he started, tucking a curl, "Today is the beginning of all your tomorrows and I forbid you to be held back by our yesterdays."
"We should've sent them farther away," she said the damn breaking, little pearls slipping down her cheeks, "America—we should have pushed for Ilvermorny once they got to Beauxbatons—-"
"George has said they've wanted to come back since we dropped them there," Fred sighed, remembering the George's reports back earlier in the spring, "We accounted for everything but the thing we couldn't control—free will."
"Please go," she said, wiping her eyes, "please Fred if you love me you'll leave—"
"I've left you before and I won't ever again," he said drawing her into an embrace. The noise and chatter of the room seemed to fade away as he rubbed circles on her back, "Your fight is my fight."
He could feel her arms squeeze around him and thought he could hear something muffled in his coat. "What was that?"
"I love you," she said, a sob choking out into laughter, "You go against everything I've told you, time after time and I still love you, isn't that strange?"
"No more than reason," he smiled brushing back a curl, "I'll find you when all of this is over, and then it'll both be our tomorrows."
She tucked in her lips, looked down and nodded, as though she was fearful tears would return if she didn't turn away. While she was doing this, George strode over to them.
"Unfortunately Mum and Dad have both forgiven Percy so I'm afraid the gauntlet after this showdown won't happen—" he sighed, looking back at his brother with a smile, "All the best, he was always rubbish when it came to keeping quiet under duress—"
"Don't worry, we can come up with some other form of torture can't we?" Fred answered, looking down at Hermione who gingerly let go of her hold of him.
"Percy's back—he can distract your mum while you two come up with whatever post war mayhem there is to make," Hermione offered, looking at George with a teary eyed smile, " Or if you need a clean getaway—just say something like 'Percy tell mum about your girlfriend.'"
"Perc has a girlfriend?" Fred asked, reaching his head up to get a better view of his brother.
"We don't know, maybe he could? Your mum doesn't know either, makes for a clean getaway," Hermione shrugged.
"Devious little sister," George beamed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze, "I'm relieved that you ended up with Freddie—if Charlie had gotten to you—"
Hermione slipped out from his arm and scooted close to Fred who shot his brother a dirty look.
"Sorry!" He apologized, hands up in defense. He turned back to the family and then to them again.
"What have you done to make her jump away like that?" Asked Ron, he and Harry now approaching the three of them. "I might need to save that trick for after the war when I can't stand the sentimental moments anymore."
He glared at both of his brothers. "Do you need anything? I get that there's a war going on but that's outside, not in here?" Fred grumbled. He could see Hermione face flick into a smile and he felt validated.
"Dad and Charlie say that they've already got a good set of people on secret passages—said we might be needed in the towers firing down?" George explained, "Figured our tower might be a good place to start."
"Sounds good to me," said Fred, trying not to put too much in the coming moment. He looked down to Hermione, "See I'll be up in a tower, nothing dangerous about that."
"And we need to clear the room so we can start looking for our—" Harry hesitated for a moment, "looking for our thing."
"That sounds vague, whatcha looking for Harry?" George asked, peeking up.
"Tell you when your older " Ron said, then turning to Hermione and looking sympathetically, "Sooner we do this—"
"Sooner we're done," Hermione sighed.
She straightened up and got to work straightening his jacket and brushing soot off his lapel,"Stay out in the open," she said, fingers slightly shaking as she now rested her hand against his heart, "For God's sake Fred—stay out in the open."
He snuck an arm around her waist and the five of them exited the room. They stopped when they had gone a few steps out of the Room of Requirement. "For his sake, not likely. But for Hermione Granger's," he kissed the top of her head, "I'll find you when this is over, promise."
She let go of her grip on him, and took a step back, as though she was going to leave too. And then she reached up again, kissing him squarely on the mouth for the hall, pulsing with people running here, there and everywhere to see.
He knew this kiss, it had been their goodbye one. The one to remember her by. Her fingers setting little fires up his neck and into his hair. The world fading away until it was just the two of them. Where they in the castle? Or up in the apartment? Had the gods smiled down on them and taken them to Majorca rather than leave them to die in Hogwarts?
"Just come back to me," she ordered, looking up at him. She had soot smudged against her cheek and fire in her eyes. He tried to wipe it away with his thumb as he nodded. "I'll come back, every time Hermione, I'll come back."
"Come on Freddie, need to let Hermione go and fight the baddies with the boys," George said, reaching for Hermione's hand and kissing it, "I'll keep an eye on him m'lady, you can count on me."
"You two will be the death of me," she said with a weak laugh. Turning around to walk with her boys, her eyes found his and she said, "See you soon."
He and George turned around, headed for the door. "So did she forgive you for breaking into Azkaban without her?" George asked, smirking at him.
"We—er— didn't get to talk about it at length—probably," said Fred. "I think she'll be alright about it, she's just trying to focus on how to make this be—" he turned around hoping for one last look. One last firey, strong, bold Hermione look.
"Over," he said, his voice falling flat.
She was already gone.
AN:
Y'all I can't express how anxious I am updating on a Sunday... don't let me down...I thought about posting later this week but I finished editing and couldn't stand the thought of it sitting in my doc box till Friday...
Remember that one time I said the next one was the second to last? Considering JKR (who I am not on par with, pardon the comparison) spent 6-7 chapters on the battle, I hope you'll accept my apology in splitting this in two. I got to the end of Fred's portion and decided a 20k chapter, although you'd devour it, would be a little much. Better to drag it out than rush at the close right? And after 54 chapters, I'm not rushing the ending.
Also, I know some of the scenes are out of sequence...i.e., the "Ginny don't leave this room" and the "Give me Harry Potter" scenes. It just flowed better and I'm going to claim artistic liberty. I don't think it took away from the story so we should be good, right?
Next Chapter is the "You jump I jump." The "Love doesn't mean you're sorry." The "who lives who dies who tells your story." The "here's to looking at you kid." This is it—unless I go down a rabbit hole and dragging out to three chapters but I think we're safe. I've got most of 55 written and I figure another two-three weeks I'll have it polished up and ready for an update. Ultimate plan is to have all of the—the 56 chapter saga put away and finished no later than March 6th... I'm in the process of outlining another idea that'll debut in April for the twins birthday but more of that *coming soon*...
Till we meet again, I remain yours—
Kait Hobbit.