March 26th

Only the anticipation that she would finally be useful again kept Hermione from going completely round the bend the day before. After her short meeting with Ginny in the middle of the lane, she returned to her tent to begin the long wait for the day when she would begin her training. Her excitement was palpable. All thoughts about Draco and his bizarre behavior flew out of her mind. There were more important things to dwell on.

Like the potential for her freedom. She had yet to make her final decision whether or not she would do as the Resistance was asking her once she learned enough to keep her use of magic a secret. To be fair, she could have years to think about her choice and still not be prepared to make it. There was too much that could go wrong if she had to go back to her old life to gather information and recruit new supporters. Would all of her running for the past almost year be for nothing?

It was her natural instinct as a parent to want to do what she could to ensure a prosperous and safe future for her child. Even if she wasn't a great mum, or hardly even an adequate one, she still feared that the world they were living in would chew up her son and spit him out into a bloody blob of unused potential. If the Resistance or any of their allies were eventually successful in overthrowing the Dark Lord's regime, Oliver wouldn't be safe. Not unless she'd made certain provisions for him beforehand. Was she willing to risk the possibility that her inaction would get him killed?

She didn't think she would actually make her final decision until the last moment. Dwelling on it and considering all of the different possibilities was all well and good, but she worked better under pressure. There was still much she needed to know about what her mission would be. Living once more behind enemy lines wasn't going to be easy. It might not even be possible. Despite what she'd heard from more than a couple of people in recent weeks, she did not believe that her husband was missing her presence in his life. Certainly, she didn't believe for a moment that he was actually sad that she wasn't around. She'd stabbed him in the eye with a fork and then sliced his stomach and stabbed him in the ribs with a knife! He would be a fool to welcome her back into his home with open arms. Every second she was there, he would be on the defensive, ready for another attack to come without warning.

But again, for Oliver's sake, she had to at least consider the possibility of returning to Hogsmeade as a spy for the Resistance. She was under no delusions that she wouldn't have to one day pay for the crimes she committed in a painful manner. One could only run so far from their past mistakes before they caught up. Denying her son at least a chance, no matter how slim, that he would be able to survive beyond his parents' demise in a world controlled by the very people he was raised to scorn and fear, wasn't what a good mother should do.

Sleep, her one escape from the reality she'd been forced to endure, didn't come easily after Ginny's announcement. Hermione was out of bed earlier than probably every other resident in the village the next morning. Unable to sit still for a single moment while she waited for the mysterious Resistance member who was going to stop by to teach her their secrets, she kept her hands busy by brewing a pot of tea before the sun came up and taking her time sipping each and every drop. Just as she was about to rise from the table to brew more, the tent flap opened to reveal her mysterious guest.

Apparently, the courtesy of announcing his arrival before stepping inside her home was something that Aberforth Dumbledore wasn't prepared to offer. Hermione knew enough about how to effectively interact with one's enemies to understand what he was doing. From the very start, he wanted her to understand that he held the power. It was an iron-fisted enough action to make her smile despite her dislike of the man. He might be there to teach her how to cloak her magic, but he wasn't going to be too friendly. Just what she appreciated.

"Are you ready to go?"

She hadn't expected to be asked to leave her tent. In her reasoning, she was perfectly safe inside the temporary canvas home to learn exactly what she demanded she be taught. Despite years of practice keeping her face an expressionless mask when required, her confusion must have been all too apparent. Dumbledore sighed and rolled his eyes as effectively as any teenage witch.

"We can't very well have our lesson here. Not only do we need more space, but there are many who wouldn't be too pleased to see what I'm doing with you."

Of that, Hermione had little doubt. If the general population in their small village filled with Resistance members and their families learned that one of their greatest enemies was being taught how to use magic effectively without being caught, they would not be pleased. Their secret was jealously guarded. She was sure there was a fear that if the wrong person discovered their methods, it wouldn't take long before the other side learned the best way to combat their magic shields. And if she was honest, they weren't wrong to fear that would happen. She knew better than anyone that that would be exactly what the Dark Lord would order.

The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon when she stepped outside the tent behind the former tavern owner. No one else was yet outside, something she was sure was planned. After a quick glance around the area to be sure no one was watching, Aberforth stepped outside of Draco's protective circle. He didn't look over his shoulder to see if she was following, simply expected that she would. Hermione stayed just a few steps behind him up until the moment he crossed over the village's wards.

She knew the rules. As long as she remained inside of the village, she wasn't to be harmed by anyone. Not even those who would desire nothing more than to see her dead at their feet. If she followed Dumbledore, she would be at risk of being attacked. But, if she didn't follow him, she wouldn't learn what she desired. She hadn't gotten so far along in life without paying close attention to the suspicious thoughts that crept up on her from time to time. Perhaps, he was luring her over just so he could get rid of her. Not that she would blame him. It was a clever ruse. Maybe Ginny had been lying the day before and there was never any intention to teach her. The dirty work of getting rid of her now that she was inconvenient might have fallen to the elderly wizard for no other reason than he drew the short straw or it was his turn or whatever ridiculous, egalitarian method the Resistance used to decide who did what.

He was at least ten meters over the invisible line before he realized that she wasn't following him. Stopping and spinning on his feel to face her, he didn't even try to disguise his frustration. Her reasons for not following dawned on him after just a moment or two. Sighing, he lowered his eyes to where her feet were still standing still.

"No one is going to harm you if you follow me."

She didn't move. Aberforth closed the distance between them in just a few strides of his long legs.

"Will's not even in the country. He left yesterday to check on his daughter."

Still, her feet stayed inside the wards.

"I promise that you will not be harmed."

Hermione had to make the decision to cross over the line. She had to take a chance. Staying behind would keep her safe, but she wouldn't learn how to cloak her magic. Following the wizard might end in her death or he was being truthful. Deciding that she had nothing to lose, she crossed over the wards.