Chapter 4 – Hermione's task
Hermione had tracked down the other George Weasley who was with Lee Jordan, guarding one of the secret passageways. Both of them didn't look overly busy despite the fact there was a huge battle going on around them.
"Not got anything to do?" Hermione questioned, placing her hands on her hips.
"We've been told to stay here Granger." Lee Jordan answered.
"Well I need you to come and help me with something." Hermione stated, pulling out the map.
"Will it be more interesting than being stuck here like two idiots?" Lee wondered.
"Yes. We're going to find some of the others to give them a hand. They might be in danger and might need back up." Hermione answered.
"Good I've been itching to get my hands on some death eaters." George grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Have you seen Fred?"
Hermione opened out the map and attempted to look for Fred's name but there were just far too many named dots on it.
"I can't seem to find his name as there's too many names on the map to find specific people." Hermione answered scanning the map.
George snapped the map from her hands and began to look. He did know the map pretty well since it once belonged to him and Fred.
"There he is, with Percy and Ron." George stated.
Hermione let out a silent sigh of relief that George didn't spot another dot with his name on it, meaning that the other George Weasley had managed to get away. Thankfully there wasn't another note with her name on it with Percy and Ron either. She'd have some serious explaining to do to George and Lee.
"Are we going to help them?" Lee asked.
"No, we need to find either Lupin or Tonks." Hermione stated.
"Well Lupin was with Kingsley and Dad." George answered.
"Can you find them on the map?" Hermione asked in urgency.
"There. I've found Lupin down near the one eyed witch passageway." George stated.
"And Tonks?" Hermione asked.
"I can't find her." George answered.
"You two go and help Lupin and I'll see if I can find Tonks." Hermione stated.
"Why will Lupin need our help when he's supposed to be with Dad and Kingsley?" George wondered.
"Please just trust me, George." Hermione answered.
"Right you are Hermione, we'll go and find him." Lee said.
Hermione took the map from George and watched as they dashed off. "Be careful!" she shouted at the two friends. Her body filled with fear. What if Fred had survived and George would end up getting killed in some sort of horrible twist of fate? If would all be her fault for suggesting they use the time turner. She felt something warm up in her pocket which was her DA coin.
"In the common room." it read.
Other George had made it safely to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione sent a message back saying that she was going to find Tonks. She carefully studied the map to find where her other self was. She was with Harry and Ron just outside the Great Hall. Once she knew where other Hermione was, she tried to find Tonks. It wasn't an easy task though due to the large amount of dots.
"AHA!" She shrieked as Tonks' name came into view.
She wasn't alone however as she spotted Bellatrix's name near Tonks. Both of them weren't far from where Hermione was so she took off at lightning speed in a bid to find both. She knew that Bellatrix had 'killed' Tonks so she was going to try her very best to save Tonks before it was too late. She knew she was near when she heard Bella's evil cackle that made a shudder run down her spine. Hermione's blood began to boil but the fear had gone, it was more anger and revenge.
Bellatrix was taunting her niece, Tonks, calling her a blood traitor amongst other stuff. Hermione hid so she couldn't be seen or else she'd be dead meat too. She knew that Molly would eventually kill Bellatrix and that was something she didn't want to change. Then again it could go the other way and Molly might be killed. George and Hermione were technically changing the past so things could change that they didn't want too. Hermione knew that something could go horribly wrong. Bellatrix came exceptionally close to where Hermione was hidden so took this opportunity to cast several non-verbal curses at the evil witch. This gave Tonks the chance to hex her too. Neither of the young witches killed Bellatrix though, although the temptation was there.
"Come on Tonks, we need to get you out of here!" Hermione stated, grabbing Tonks arm.
"Thanks for that Granger." Tonks replied. "Should we have killed her?"
"No, we don't want to lower ourselves to her level. We're better than that, you're better than that." Hermione replied. "She's still your Mum's sister whatever way you look at it."
"Alright, alright." Tonks answered. "Although she'd love nothing more than to kill me."
"Look I've got to go and help some of the others. I'll see you later and be careful." Hermione stated.
"Alright and thanks again Granger, I owe you one." Tonks replied.
Hermione quickly gave Tonks a hug then dashed off in a bid to get to George in the Gryffindor common room. She dodged various curses and hexes that were thrown in her direction, blocking them with ease and precision. She shot various non-verbal spells at death eaters who had ganged up on students, threatening to kill them. She finally made it to the Gryffindor common room. Where the pink lady was waiting.
"I don't know the password and I need in." Hermione pleaded.
"Can you tell me whom is waiting inside on you?" The Fat Lady asked.
"George Weasley, one of the famous Weasley twins." Hermione answered.
"Correct." The Fat lady replied. "Shouldn't you be fighting?"
"No time to explain. George and I are looking for something important." Hermione answered.
The portrait whole swung open and Hermione dashed inside to find George sat on one of the swishy sofas in front of a fire he had lit.
"It's me, Hermione." Hermione spoke.
"Oh thank Merlin." George gasped, jumping to his feet and rushing over to give Hermione a hug.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked.
"Well I saved Fred from the wall but he's still down there fighting. I hate being up here knowing that's all going on down there and not being able to help everyone." George stated.
"We've done our bit, George. There's nothing else we can do but wait." Hermione answered.
"Did you get to Lupin and Tonks?" George asked.
"I found George and Lee and asked them to go and help Lupin and I managed to find Tonks and save her from Bellatrix." Hermione answered.
"Is she dead? Bellatrix I mean?" George asked.
"Nope, not that I am aware of." Hermione answered.
"WHAT? She's going to be duelling with Mum, she could kill Mum!" George shrieked, jumping from Hermione's grip.
"Then Molly will succeed in killing her again. We can't take any chances, George." Hermione answered.
"You don't understand, do you? The only reason Mum was able to kill Bellatrix was because she was taunting Mum about Fred being dead. If Fred is alive, then Mum could be an easy target for her." George shrieked.
"Oh crap, I didn't think about that one." Hermione said. "This could all go wrong."
"Hermione we need to get going again." George stated.
"We need to see where our others are at first." Hermione said, pulling out the map.
The other Hermione was with Ron just outside the Great Hall while George and Lee were with Lupin and Kingsley.
"We're going to have to go under the cloak again. When we get near the fighting, cast a shield around the both of us." Hermione stated. "Even under the cloak we're in serious danger, stray curses could hit both of us."
"Where will we go?" George asked.
"There's that chamber just off the Great Hall, the one Harry went in too after finding out he was a Triwizard champion." Hermione answered.
"Will it be safe?" George asked.
"I don't know but it's worth a try." Hermione answered.
"We could always use the secret passageway down if they aren't closed off." George suggested.
"It's worth a try." Hermione replied.
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Note: I couldn't think of anywhere in the castle that would be safe enough for George and Hermione to hide out in so I went for the Gryffindor common room as I'm assuming all the younger students would have been evacuated.