Ginny sat with Neville at the Gryffindor table trying to ignore the ravings of Ron. He hadn't stopped telling anyone who would listen that he always knew Hermione was secretly evil. Ginny was sick of it and she couldn't wait until her brother got what was coming to him. Harry sat quietly at his side, staring into his dinner, not speaking. He still couldn't accept the truth about Hermione. He so desperately wanted to think she could still come back to them. Even after the attack on the Burrow he to come up with a reason other than her being a Death Eater. Ginny hid her sneer by taking a sip of her pumpkin juice, turning away from the two boys. She caught Draco's eye, the blond giving her a slight nod that she returned. She couldn't wait for the plan to begin. She had no idea what it was, but it would mean she wouldn't have to pretend anymore.
"You alright, Ginny?" Neville whispered, gazing over at Harry and Ron.
"Yeah, I'm just ready for the end of the year so we can announce our side. It's going to be a long school year."
"I understand. What do you think the plan is?"
"I have no idea but I hope it results in my idiot brother's permanent silence." Ginny angrily stabbed her chicken as Neville nodded his head sympathetically. Ron was infuriating, talking big about how he had known Hermione was evil and if he ever saw her, he'd hex her without a second thought. Neville wanted to laugh at the redhead's words. Ron was a coward and Hermione could have him disarmed without a word or raising her wand. The redhead didn't know half as many spells as Hermione and he was a poor duelist. Hermione was with one of the most talented duelists in history, there was no way Bellatrix wasn't teaching her.
"I'm pretty sure after what happened at the Ministry with Ron so willing to sacrifice Hermione, Bellatrix wouldn't have it any other way," Neville said, patting her shoulder.
"I bloody hope so. Stupid git made summer awful."
"Have either of you seen my shoes?" Luna sat next to the two Gryffindors, staring into them and also past them. They both shook their heads, Ginny's fork halfway to her mouth.
"Luna, shouldn't you be at the Ravenclaw table?" Neville asked.
"I suppose. It doesn't really matter though. Or it won't. Whichever you prefer," she said absently, searching under the table for her shoes.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, setting her fork on her plate.
"It's all part of the plan."
Ginny and Neville left it at that, knowing it was unlikely they would get a definitive answer from the strange witch. Luna always seemed to just know things. No one really understood how but she never revealed much anyway. They watched the blonde witch search for her shoes, food forgotten as they decided to help her.
Draco sat in Snape's office, listening to Snape describe how Hermione wanted him to fix the cabinet. It wouldn't be easy to learn but he was ready for the task. He wanted to succeed, wanted to do his part in the war. Draco was grateful he wasn't tasked to also kill Dumbledore. He didn't like the man but he was hardly ready to kill someone. It scared him to think about taking another person's life and he knew part of him would never be the same if he did. There was already pressure on him and Hermione to fix the Vanishing Cabinets, he didn't need the added weight of having to kill someone.
"Hermione said the cabinet's magic needs time to rebuild from her using it. It's inadvisable for you to both repair the cabinets at the same time until the connection is strengthened. As you both repair your own cabinet the magic should regenerate with more strength, so while you learn to use an object's magic she will continue to restore hers," Snape explained, eyebrows slightly furrowed. He was worried for the teenagers. They had a large part to play in the war and it was weighing heavily on them, he could tell.
"So where do we start?"
"You need to learn to feel the magic of objects. You may not be able to do it for the first few tries so don't grow frustrated."
Snape placed a broomstick on the table, describing the process of feeling magic and what that particular broom's magic felt like. Draco did his best to feel the magic of the broom as Snape described, fists clenching in concentration. Snape halted his attempt, instructing him to be relaxed. Feeling magic could not be forced, it had to be naturally felt. Draco took several tries before he briefly felt the magic of the broom. He couldn't focus on it for long but it was a start. Snape let Draco go, satisfied with the progress they had made.
Fred and George had been surprised when they had first seen Aurion around the castle. They hadn't been prepared to see him but Hermione had told them he was there. Aurion had so much magical knowledge he could teach them so they could improve their products. Since they had started spending time with him, they had learned better techniques of using magic and they had applied it to their experiments. Sometimes it was successful, other times it wasn't. Like now, for instance. The twins stood in their lab, looking between the charred remains of what was supposed to be fireworks and each other. They each had a gentle dusting of soot on their faces and in their hair.
"Well, I guess that doesn't work," Fred said with a laugh. George joined him, nodding in agreement. Fireworks required gentle care when spelling but they had wanted to try something new. Their shop was doing better, thanks in part to Draco. The Slytherins had come in droves when they saw Draco shopping there. They had sent him and Hermione some finally perfected jelly beans earlier. It had taken a long time to figure out how to inject it into the candy but Aurion had actually helped with that. They rather liked the elf, even if he had a strict facade. There was a trickster in everyone, they just had to dig it up.
The Death Eaters were gathered in the dining room of Hermione's island home, eager for something to do other than sitting around. They were getting bored of doing nothing but practicing. They loved training together but there was a difference between training and causing mayhem at their Lord's request. Hermione and Bellatrix were next to each other, masks on the table in front of them, anticipation curling around them, spreading through their magic. Bellatrix fiddled with the ring on Hermione's finger, waiting for the Dark Lord to enter the room. The Death Eaters were chattering anxiously, filling the absence of their Lord with words. Silence descended upon the room as the Dark Lord entered, taking his seat at the head of the table. His Death Eaters looked to him excitedly, staying silent while waiting for him to disclose why he had called a meeting. The Dark Lord observed his followers, satisfied he had their attention.
"Hermione, what news do you have of the Vanishing Cabinet repairs?" he asked, knowing the situation already. He would never purposely humiliate her in front of the other Death Eaters. He had seen the stress his task had caused but he was happy she had found a way to fix the cabinets. He was asking so his followers had something to look forward to in the coming months.
"My Lord, I have begun repairs to the physical damage without severing the connection of the two cabinets. It will be slow-going but I predict both cabinets will be physically restored by Christmas. The magical connection between the two will strengthen as the physical damage is repaired but it will need mending before it is safe for us to travel by," Hermione dutifully reported, more to the Death Eaters than to the Dark Lord.
"Excellent. Hermione and Bellatrix will be leading a raid next month. You will all be present and you will not disobey them. There is a Muggle bridge I wish destroyed. It seems there are still doubts about my return but this will leave no room for such folly. No one is to go out of their way to end the life of anyone. It is to appear to the Muggles as a structural failure but the Wizarding World must know it was not an accident. Casualties will be impossible to avoid but do try to minimize deaths."
"Yes, my Lord," the Death Eaters chorused. Hermione and Bellatrix shared a look, excitement gleaming in their eyes and flowing through their magic.
"Does anyone have any questions?"
"My Lord, surely it would be better to attack a Wizarding settlement?" Dolohov asked. They worked hard to mask their existence from Muggles whenever possible and attacking them seemed dangerous.
"Normally, I would be in agreeance but some still attempt to convince others that Sirius Black is responsible for the attacks. He would not be able to attack the Muggles in this way. This will be the only attack on Muggles we make but be sure to Obliviate any who directly see you, if possible."
"Of course, my Lord."
The Dark Lord waved his hand in a dismissive motion, watching as his followers dispersed. Hermione and Bellatrix Disapparated returning to Malfoy Manor. The Dark Lord remained at the table, hands tented in front of him. Nagini slithered onto the table, turning to face him and he stroked her head absently. He regretted asking his followers to attack the Muggle world but it was necessary. The Wizarding World was exceptional at refusing to see the truth. It wouldn't matter for too much longer. Once Dumbledore and the Ministry fell, he could implement his new society. It wouldn't be a utopia, such a thing was impossible, but it would be better than what they had. Wizards and witches were a far cry from what they used to be but he would revive the magic of old.