Ch 10
Maintenance:
Thought
"Normal speaking"
"Spell"
Nonverbal Spell
"Parseltounge"
Thanks to my reviewers: Sylphides, Sofia7, Harry-Hermione Potter, Lysjknopp, Stashthesocks, Padslet, Kymie29, Fire Daughter, potterhead0013, XxXxJackBlackxXxX, Darkness-Lightness, pstibbons, digio, camya (anon), Diespedes, notwritten, missevilprincess, Dark Yellow Dino, Excel Go Boom, Miss-Fleur-Riddle, classygyrl
And thanks to everyone who has this story on alert or as a fav!
Disclaimer: It's not mine, it's note mine, I am bad at rhymes, and I'm dead lazy when it comes to finishing these jingles.
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Sirius and Lupin were sitting in front of the fire, just enjoying the other's company and the feeling of peace that had been missing from their lives for too long. Suddenly Sirius spoke, "D'you remember when all this started?"
Remus turned towards his friend, "When all what started? The war?"
"No," He shook his head. "The Order. When we finally realized that it was real and that the life we had dreamt about when we were in Hogwarts would never exist" Sirius was staring into the fire.
Lupin sighed and said sadly, "I remember, Padfoot." He put his arm around his friend. "Losing James and Lily like that will never be alright. It's normal to grieve for them after all this time."
"I still do miss them" Sirius said quietly. "But I was actually thinking about Snape."
Remus could not hide the surprise that crossed his face "What made you think of him?"
"Dunno. I guess the season. It's been almost eight years since he started spying. And every year he closes himself off a little more. Sure he seemed fine when I apologized for tormenting him in school, but he seems more isolated now and I can't help but feel that we're losing the chance to help him every day we don't do something."
Lupin closed his eyes, of course he remembered the day that Snape turned spy.
It was an Order meeting in 1984, right before the New Year, and the war was going very bad for the Light side. They had battled back after the Potters had died, but that had been four years ago and their morale was draining. They did not have a permanent Headquarters yet and their locations continued to be discovered, so the air was filled with tension.
Someone- had it been Scrimgeour? - had insisted that the Death Eaters had spies in almost every level of the Ministry, despite all the precautions that had been taken. He had insisted that they needed another spy or two of their own.
Everyone knew it was the truth- they couldn't just keep reacting to the terror the Death Eaters wrought, and they had no way to anticipate their moves.
Dumbledore had surveyed the room, "But who would be willing to spy?"
No one had answered. Everyone was weighing their own character, thinking of the sacrifices it would take, the strain on not only themselves, but their loved ones. And a collective shudder went through the room at the thought of facing Voldemort.
"My friends, we must look for other ways to defeat-"Dumbledore was cut off by Sirius.
"-I'll do it."
Lupin remembered the hole that had filled his stomach with those words. He looked blankly at Sirius, trying to articulate all the reasons why he shouldn't, no, couldn't do this insane mission, but words failed him.
Everyone turned to look at Sirius, who was determinedly looking at the Headmaster. "I'll do it." He repeated.
Just as the Headmaster opened his mouth to speak another voice cut across the room.
"And I thought you couldn't get any stupider."
At this new voice everyone turned to look at the person in the corner of the room who almost blended in with the shadows.
"What's he doing here?" Sirius had demanded of the Headmaster, staring in unmasked loathing at his old enemy.
"He is here at my invitation. Severus joined the Order before he left to achieve his Mastery in Potions. He has just recently returned from Germany, where he was awarded his Master level title, and I invited him as is his right."
The Order members stared at him in shock and looked back at Snape; they simply couldn't believe that he was in the Order.
Snape ignored them and fixed his gaze on Sirius again. "You could not hope to pass for a Death Eater" he said evenly. There was no malice in his voice but Sirius' eyes jumped at the veiled insult.
"Then what should we do?" He roared. "We need something to tip the scales in our favor. I'm the only one here who has a chance of being accepted as a traitor. My family is excuse enough to turn to the Death Eaters."
"No you're not." Snape returned, still deadly quiet.
"Not what?" Sirius challenged.
"The only one who would be accepted. You're not even the most viable candidate. Do you think you could face him- face Voldemort- stare in his eyes and lie?" That sent another shudder through the room. "Do you think you could face your brother? Your cousins? Bellatrix? Narcissa? Could you lie to them? Watch your brother tortured by Volde-"
"That's enough, Severus. You've made your point." Dumbledore said.
Sirius's face was white and his eyes held a pain that Remus hadn't seen since Lily and James died. "Then what do you suggest we do?" He spoke to his childhood enemy in an almost civil tone for the first time.
"I will be the spy." He ignored the protests and shocked stares and continued in a sharp voice that demanded everyone's silence. "No one will think twice about my allegiance, I was in Slytherin and know many of the Death Eaters from school. They will not have a hard time accepting me into their folds and I will find myself useful as a Potions Master and thus be privy to Voldemort's plans. I was the one who told Lucius to go to Dumbledore when he wanted to defect from Voldemort's ranks, and it is thanks to that that you have a spy right now."
Shocked silence met this explanation. Snape turned to the Headmaster, "I trust this meets with your approval." Dumbledore nodded once, solemnly and Snape asked him "Just tell me this: you knew, didn't you?"
The other members looked on in confusion as a tear fell onto the Headmaster's beard and he nodded once more. Snape seemed to expect this and walked briskly from the room. Sirius followed him.
"Snape" he called. The other man stopped and looked at his rival. "What Black?"
Sirius looked at Snape as if seeing him for the first time. He extended a hand towards him, "Thank you. For doing this." Snape's only reaction was that his eyebrow raised in a silent question.
"I was willing to do this, but I did not think I could do it well. I'm glad that I don't have to make this decision because I want to be there for the Order and for Harry."
"Harry?" Snape said after a pause.
"James and Lily's son. We found him after- after…"
Snape hesitated and then tentatively reached out his hand and grasped Sirius's. .
"I did not like James, but I am sorry that he's gone. No one deserves what happened to them and I think he would be-" he bit the words out- "happy to know that his son was being cared for by his friends."
Snape turned to leave when Sirius called to him again, "I know that nothing I say will change what happened, but I am sorry for how I treated you when we were in Hogwarts."
Snape faced him and nodded once, but his eyes betrayed the shock he felt at hearing Sirius say those words so honestly.
He strode quickly from the meeting and was not seen again for a week.
Remus remembered the accusations that had flown from some of the members: Snape was a traitor, he never meant to spy for them, he would sell their secrets to Voldemort. But the Headmaster, and surprisingly, Sirius, defended the Potions Master staunchly. Life for the Order members had continued, there had been noticeably less attacks that week, but the only result was that everyone was more on edge than before.
Sirius and Lupin were only at Hogwarts on that night by chance; Dumbledore had asked them to help patrol the corridors that night. Sirius, Lupin, and Scrimgeour were patrolling different areas of the castle when a Patronus called them to the Hospital Wing.
Sirius ran through the halls, thinking of everything and anything that could have happened. The doors were closed when he came to them and he pushed them open, looking around the empty room to see what the source of the trouble was. A long portrait on the wall suddenly opened and Sirius raised his wand- only to see the Headmaster emerge. "Sirius, quickly, I need you to assist Madam Pomfrey. I will wait for Remus and Rufus and send them after you."
He gestured through the portrait hole and Sirius looked at him, "What happe-"
"There's no time, she needs as much help as you can give." He gave Sirius a light push and walked to the entrance of the Hospital Wing to await the other two Order members.
Sirius walked quickly into the room that the portrait protected and looked for Madam Pomfrey. She bustled in from an adjoining room and said, "Quickly, Mr. Black. We need another pair of hands." She pulled him into the other room and his mind rebelled against what he was seeing.
Minerva McGonagall was holding someone's head still while he thrashed and twitched on the bed. Filius Flitwick was waving his wand in a complicated manner over the figure and Poppy Pomfrey had run to retrieve a potion.
But it was the figure on the bed that captured his attention. No! his soul cried, but his mind could not deny what he was seeing.
Severus Snape was lying on the bed, covered in blood, bruises, and dirt, his robes were ripped and even shredded in some places and Poppy moved to take them off in order to see his chest better.
When they were removed he took a sharp breath at the deep bruising on the man's chest, as he turned away he noticed the Dark Mark on Snape's skin, in stark contrast with the man's ghost like appearance. In fact, if Snape hadn't been shaking so much, Sirius would have sworn that he was dead.
"Sirius!" Minerva called, all her years as a teacher making her voice break through his shock. "Help me hold him down."
Sirius moved to stand next to the pale man and took his arms gently and lowered them with as little pressure as he could. Even as he stopped thrashing Sirius could feel the tremors that shook the man.
His eyes asked the question that his voice wouldn't dare and Minerva looked at him sadly, "We don't know. Hagrid found him on the edge of the grounds and he hasn't regained conciousness."
Lupin and Scrimgeour walked in a moment later, followed by Dumbledore who looked at the occupants and said, "I cannot stay here though I wish I could. The school is vulnerable without you five patrolling, and I must watch for anything unusual. Send a message if his condition changes."
He nodded at them and walked quickly out of the room. Minerva gestured towards two men. "Help us keep him still."
Lupin's eyes told everything he was feeling at the moment while Scrimgeour seemed to accept what had happened and moved to keep Snape's legs from thrashing too much.
Flitwick and Pomfrey worked in tandem to cast as many healing charms as they dared and used a few potions to lessen the tremors and the pain. Everyone watched in tense silence as broken bones reset themselves and returned to their normal place and the deep bruises and angry burns on his chest and shoulders healed.
At last Snape stilled and the room held their breath in fear, but Poppy assured them that he was in a healing coma that would only last one or two days.
Lupin remembered the relief he felt when Snape pulled out of the coma late on the second day, and he saw that relief mirrored in Sirius's eyes. They were quickly sent from the room when the Headmaster entered but they waited in the Hospital Wing for the news.
Dumbledore didn't emerge for an hour and when he did he looked much older than they had ever seen him. "What happened?" Sirius asked, determined to get an answer.
"He was successful." Lupin couldn't even begin to discern what the Headmaster was feeling at the moment.
"If they don't suspect him of being a spy then what happened?" He asked cautiously.
Dumbledore shook his head, "I will not reveal the extent to which Severus was injured. Suffice it to say that they don't suspect that he is our spy, but the injuries you saw were the result of his- ah…initiation as a Death Eater."
As one, both Sirius and Lupin paled and Lupin felt slightly sick. "Severus will fill Horace's position as Potions Professor this coming September- Horace had decided to retire last year but I persuaded him to stay another year, so he will be pleased to retire at the end of this year."
The Headmaster bid them a good day and left the Hospital Wing but Remus remembered something that had been gnawing at his conscious and he hurried after the older wizard.
"Professor Dumbledore," he turned to look at Remus. "It's not my place to ask, but what did Snape mean at the meeting when he said 'you knew' after he said he would spy?"
Dumbledore sighed and motioned for Remus to follow him. They walked in silence to the Headmaster's office and Remus tried to wait patiently as the wizard sat down and looked at him, as if debating with himself.
"Remus, I must ask that this information not leave the room."
"Of course sir." Now Remus was slightly alarmed and even more determined to hear what the Headmaster had to say.
"After you graduated from Hogwarts, you, James, Sirius, and several other classmates of yours started advanced training for the Order. Many of your other classmates entered their training to become Death Eaters. I had always grouped Severus with the students who would become Death Eaters, and so I was surprised when he approached me on the last day and asked to join the Order.
"He was sincere and let me enter his mind, but I was surprised with how well developed his Occlumency walls were for a seventeen year old. From his mind, I learned that he had never really believed what the Death Eaters followed and had intended to get his Potions Mastery somewhere.
"With this knowledge I let him join the Order in secret and encouraged him to leave and complete his Mastery and return as soon as possible. His talents, aside from Potions, would greatly benefit us.
"Remus, you must understand that at that time I had only intended for him to work with us as any other member would. But as the years went on, I saw that we were struggling too much for Severus to take an ordinary role. I've known for some time now that we would need another spy in their ranks, just as I knew that it would have to be Severus who filled that role.
"There is simply no one else who could pull it off, and so I summoned him as soon as his Master's title was in his hand and he returned."
Remus was looking at the Headmaster in shock. "So that's what he meant," he choked out. "You knew it could only be him just as he knew and he just- he just accepted that! How could he? Knowing what it would mean for him?"
"Severus is not the boy you knew in school, Remus; he is brave beyond measure, and he has the skills to see this through. I am confidant in his abilities; I only hope that he will not have to serve as a double agent for long. If his return two days ago is any indication of what he will face, I think that more will be demanded of him than was ever asked of Lucius."
Remus shuddered as he remembered that and every other night that Severus had returned to them injured.
Sirius seemed to share his thoughts, for he said, "And he still goes back. He was right. I have no doubt that I couldn't have handled being a spy. He's saved us all so many times."
Remus reflected for a moment on Sirius's statement, No, I don't think Sirius could have been a spy for as long as Severus has been, but Sirius really has matured since school. I didn't think I would ever see the day that Sirius would admit that Snape was right. He's really taken his responsibilities to Harry and the Order to heart and I think Sirius just needed those responsibilities to remind him of what's important and force him to outgrow his childish tendencies.
Sirius looked at his friend and cracked a smile, trying to lighten the mood, "I think this has been too- serious- for discussion on a holiday. Why don't we go see what my dear cousin Tonks is up to?"
Sirius smirked at the blush that crept across Lupin's face and clapped him on the back.
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Despite the festivities of the other day, Hermione awoke at her usual time and crept to the dueling room to complete her exercises. She charmed several dummies to move and fire spells at random and charmed one specifically to do nothing except move.
The dummy that couldn't cast spells she kept near her in order to practice fighting and shielding someone else. I should have practiced this sooner. My friends are in danger and I need to protect them. Even Dumbledore isn't invincible, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
The first five rounds she fought ended up with either herself or the dummy getting a Stinging Hex. She sighed, frustrated, and sat down to evaluate her strategy. Or lack thereof she grimaced as she rubbed the stinging in her arm.
I know the dummy is defenseless, so I stand in front of it to block any spells. Which leaves it, and me, vulnerable from the back and sides. So that won't work. I can't stand behind it because then I run the risk of hitting it with one of my spells. I have to stand to its side. I'm weaker on my left because it's my non wand arm. If I stand on the dummy's left I leave myself vulnerable. If I stand on it's right I leave it vulnerable. My objective is to protect the dummy, so I need to stand on its left.
New plan formed, she opened her eyes and stood, moving to her place to the left of the dummy. The other dummies moved to surround her in a circle but she stayed in her spot.
She saw the first spell out of the corner of her eye and sent a too-powerful shield spell to block it at the dummy's back. The other dummies closed in, firing spells in quick succession, and Hermione was forced to dodge spells aimed at her as she shielded the dummy.
As she dodged, she tried to send concentrated, on target spells meant to incapacitate the dummy for good. She got it down to two and realized her mistake as she engaged one head on and left the other free to creep up on the dummy.
A Stinging Hex made its way to the dummy's back but Hermione was too busy ducking and dodging to protect it. To her shock, the spell was stopped by a shield.
She looked around for someone else in the room who could have cast the spell, but she hadn't noticed anyone in the room. She made the motions for a "Homenum Revelio," but the dummy she had previously engaged sent a Stinging Hex that hit her in the back.
She scowled and rubbed the spot on her back as she ended the spell on the dummies. She then cast the spell and found that there was no one else in the room.
Puzzled, she looked back at the spot where the spell had been stopped, running through the mock duel in her mind. I did cast a "Protego" on the dummy's back earlier in the duel, but the shield dissipates after it absorbs a weak spell or a spell too powerful for it passes through. What was different about the spell that it blocked? Nothing, it couldn't have been- all the spells the dummies cast are the same spell with the same intensity. So it was my shield. I wonder…with more power behind it…
She focused on power and cast a shield charm a few feet in front of herself and spelled a dummy to shoot a hex straight on it. The shield held. She waved her wand and the dummy cast another hex. The shield still held. She called a dummy to where she was standing, behind the shield, and made it cast a hex. This time the spell continued through and hit the other dummy, who looked disgruntled at the unexpected hit.
Out of curiosity, she waved her wand and the dummy in front of her cast another hex. She tensed, ready to roll out of the way, but the spell hit the shield.
She stared at the shield, mind whirling and mouth open. How is this possible? It was just an ordinary shield. But the power or the intent behind it is seemingly enough to make it endure past one spell. And on my side of the shield the spell passed through it. Is this true for anyone or just me? Maybe that's why the "Servotutus" spell is so dangerous. With "Protego," the amount of power put behind the shield can be measured to suit the spell it is defending against. But with "Servotutus" the power is a set demand, and it's too high for most witches and wizards. The intent has to be there, as well, I think. The intent for the shield to last longer, otherwise someone would have discovered it sooner. I need to be sure of this before I tell anyone about it.
She reset the dummies and gave the one she was defending the ability to shoot spells back as she moved to stand by its left. This time, instead of waiting for the dummies to make a move, Hermione cast four overlapping shields that covered the front, right side, and back of the dummy and turned her back on it to cover its left, now vulnerable, side.
Two dummies engaged her and she watched as the spells that the others sent were stopped by her shields. The dummy was able to shoot spells at the other dummies, though, and Hermione quickly took care of the two that were firing hexes at her.
She turned on the spot and looked at the dummy, which was unharmed. This is big.
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Hermione watched everyone during breakfast, the post-Christmas feelings unable to dampen anyone's mood. She wrestled with her own conscience over telling someone about the shield. It can help the Order a lot. I need to see if it applies to other people or just me.
She waited until everyone was done eating and began to get up and move around to approach Lupin.
"Lupin can I show you something? It's in the training room."
"Of course, Hermione" he followed her upstairs, unnoticed by everyone except Ginny. They entered the room and Hermione shut the door, putting a silencing spell and a weak locking spell on it.
Lupin was watching her carefully, unsure what to expect from her.
"This morning I was training and I discovered something about the Shield Charm that I want to test because I think it could be beneficial to the Order."
Lupin's brow furrowed in confusion, The Shield Charm. That's fairly basic, what is there to discover? Wait, how early was she practicing?
"I need you to cast a hex or jinx at me, and really mean it" Hermione said as she raised her wand to cast her shield.
"Hermione, I don't know about this" Lupin said.
"Please, Lupin. I wouldn't ask if this wasn't important. I need someone to test my shield. It's a completely different level from when a dummy is attacking it and I need to be sure that the shield will hold against more powerful attacks."
He was still unsure as to what Hermione hoped to accomplish with this, but he prepared his jinx and waited for Hermione to set her shield.
Hermione, meanwhile, was concentrating on projecting as much power as she could and forcing it into her shield.
Then she nodded to Lupin, who threw his jinx at her, "Protego!" she cried. The jinx was repelled by the shield and Hermione nodded. "Once more, please."
Lupin nodded and fired a hex, only to watch in alarm as Hermione made no move to protect herself or move out of the way. Just as he was opening his mouth to shout to her his hex was repelled by a shield.
He stood in shock, that's exactly where her shield was before, and I know she didn't cast a new spell, but shields can only repel one spell at a time. The energy put into the shield must be greater than or equal to the spell being cast, and the energies cancel each other out. A spell that's too strong will break the shield. So for the shield to endure, the energy put into it must have been tremendous.
He stared at her in wonder and she gave him a minute to comprehend what had happened. "Can you fire another spell?"
This time he didn't hesitate and the shield still held. Hermione suddenly drew her wand and fired a spell wide.
"What was that for?" He asked, shaken at her sudden movement.
She shrugged, "I wanted to see if I could shoot a spell from behind the shield. Try another jinx. See if it held."
He shot another jinx at the shield and still it held. Lupin couldn't resist it, "Hermione this is amazing."
She nodded, "It's interesting. But I'm not sure if only I can do it because of who I am, or if anyone can do it."
Lupin nodded in understanding, "So tell me how you do it and I'll try to emulate that."
"Concentrate on building as much power as you can. Visualize it accumulating in your wand hand, then push it into the spell" Hermione watched as Lupin closed his eyes and focused.
After a moment he opened his eyes and nodded, and Hermione fired off a hex to meet the newly summoned shield that Lupin created. She waited for his signal before firing another hex at the shield. But on the fourth hex she could actually feel the magic in the shield dissipate, such was its power.
Hermione knew that the shield, both hers and each individual member, would need to be tested and assessed for weakness to determine how many spells it could endure and how powerful those spells had to be. After all, it would defeat the purpose of putting up a stronger shield if all it took was one powerful curse to break through it, and the caster was unaware that their shield was gone.
Lupin, though, was more optimistic about the new shield. He congratulated Hermione on her discovery and promised to give her credit when he explained it to Albus and at the next Order meeting but Hermione suddenly saw warning flags.
"Actually, Lupin, if you can keep my involvement quiet I would be very grateful" she said carefully.
"Why? You're the one who discovered it, why don't you want the credit?" He looked at her incredulously.
Hermione bit her lip, "I just think that the Order members would trust your explanation better if you said that you discovered it while training with me. Just something like 'I noticed that her shield could stop multiple spells and experimented on my own.' I think they would be more skeptical if a second year student got credit for this."
Lupin hid a smirk, Years of being around Severus have paid off, at least. I know when I'm being manipulated, even if it comes from a twelve year old girl. I'll go along with this for now, but I don't like this at all.
"I see what you mean. If it makes you happy, I suppose I can say something like that" he smiled a genuine smile when he saw her relax at his words.
"Thanks, Lupin. I really appreciate it" she discreetly lifted the charms that she had placed on the door and walked downstairs to the library.
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Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder and tensed, preparing to run or fight, until her eyes focused on the bright green eyes in front of her. It's Harry. Relax!
She gave him a small smile, "Hey Harry. What's up?"
He sat back on the armchair next to her, "I would have woken you for lunch, but Lupin told me to let you sleep. Dinner's in an hour or two."
"That's fine. I think I needed the sleep more than I needed lunch" Hermione assured him. The improved shield must take more energy than I had anticipated if I was drained enough to sleep in the library.
"Hermione, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a couple days now" her friend hesitated.
"You can ask me Harry. What's bugging you?"
"You already knew Lupin was a werewolf, didn't you?" he said slowly.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, that was a lot less harmful that I had thought.
"Dunno. Just a feeling I guess" Harry shrugged, watching his friend carefully.
"I didn't know he was a werewolf before he told me" she began. "But I did suspect it. I would never have said anything, though."
"I know you wouldn't have" Harry said quickly. "I was just wondering. So, yea. Dinner will be soon. See you then I guess."
He walked out of the room rather quickly, and Hermione watched him go, he's more observant than I give him credit for.
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The remaining days of the winter holiday dwindled at an alarming pace. Hermione eventually adapted to life with the Weasleys and found that Ginny was soon becoming a sort of sister to her. They began to talk not only about classes and defense spells, but about school, their dorm mates, and life in general.
Ginny did most of the talking, but that seemed to suit both girls just fine for the moment. They continued to train in both offensive and defensive magic, but Hermione was particularly concerned with developing her own Occlumency shields.
She spent many hours in her room when everyone else had gone to bed fortifying her mind and trying to decide on her mindscape in order to fix the defenses to it.
After several nights, she finally decided on one; it would be an ice lake with her memories hidden in plain sight. She smirked as she developed her mindscape in rich detail. Her most important and dangerous memories and secrets remained in the cellar, but the door was disguised in her mindscape and guarded with traps.
Let's see Professor Snape get through that.
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All too soon it was January and time to return to Hogwarts. Harry and Ron were sad to see the holiday end, Hermione was too; she had enjoyed her time at Grimmauld Place and would miss the freedom she had.
She packed her trunk carefully, placing her notebook and two albums, one with newspaper clippings and one with photographs, at the bottom, and piled her neatly folded clothes on top. She levitated her trunk downstairs, pausing to say farewell to Mrs. Black, and then proceeded to the kitchen.
She sat at the table, watching Mrs. Weasley hustle and bustle in an attempt to get her boys packed. Percy sat next to her with a sigh, "Every year."
She gave him a smile; I can only imagine what it's like for him to have to go through this at the end of every holiday.
Ginny came down next, looking a little cross with her mum, but she was better off than Ron and the twins were. Hermione could hear Mrs. Weasley as clearly as if she were standing next to her.
"How can you still not be packed? You've had all day and you can use magic to boot!"
"But mum- I swear I packed this mor-"
"Enough! Pack! Now!" Mrs. Weasley huffed.
The twins walked downstairs whistling a merry tune, "I wonder what's got dear mother upset?"
"Maybe because something pulled everything out of dear Ronnikins trunk and threw it around the room."
"My dear Fred, who would do such a terrible thing?"
"I have no idea, George, especially knowing what kind of mood mum works herself into every time we go back to school. It was truly a despicable thing to do."
"Therefore we feel it incumbent upon ourselves to catch the culprit, who is in fact sitting in this room right now." They made a great spectacle of looking around the kitchen.
Ginny giggled at their antics and Percy rolled his eyes.
As one, they pointed to Percy, "We knew it!" They cried in unison. "Who else but Percy could have done such a dastardly deed?"
"'Done such a dastardly deed,' my we do outdo ourselves, don't we?"
"Indeed we do George."
Percy heaved a great sigh and put his arms in the air, "You caught me. I confess to unpacking Ron's packed trunk this morning."
"Percy! I never would have expected that from you! And you're a Prefect, my goodness. Apologize to your brother at once" Mrs. Weasley had entered the kitchen in time to hear Percy's confession.
"Merlin, mum. Really? You really think I did that to Ron?"
"You just said you did" she maintained, although she looked less sure of herself.
Here the twins broke into laughter, "We are rather devious if we can get mum to believe that Perce unpacked Ron's trunk."
Mrs. Weasley flushed at realizing that she had been the butt of the joke and scolded the twins for their jokes in the face of a rapidly approaching time constriction.
Even as she spoke several Order members arrived through the Floo, ready to safely transport everyone to the train station.
"Why do we have to go on the train, again?" Ron asked. "We can just Floo there."
"And how do you plan to explain why the lot of you arrived before everyone and were not seen on the train?" Mr. Weasley had arrived and was in the kitchen with his family.
"I think Ron knows that, Dad. He just likes to complain" Percy smirked at his youngest brother. Ron made a face back at him as Mrs. Weasley cut in.
"Let's get everything together. We're taking the Knight Bus to the train station and we need to get organized."
Hermione gathered her trunk and coat and stood, almost falling over when Tonks tripped on to her. "Sorry 'bout that, Hermione. I'll be sticking with you until we get you on the train" she winked.
Hermione nodded, happy that she would get to talk to the young Auror more, and waited for Ginny before leaving the house in on big group. Bye Grimmauld Place.
The Knight Bus was already waiting for them and was surprisingly empty as they boarded and moved to the back. Harry was near Sirius and Lupin, with Ron and the twins across from them. Percy sat with his father and Mrs. Weasley found a seat next to her husband. Hermione and Ginny sat in front of them with Tonks on their left, closest to the aisle.
Hermione found the trip to the station to be pleasant, with Ginny and Tonks being very good company. Tonks answered as many questions as she could about Auror training and some of what she did for the Order.
They arrived at the station at quarter of eleven and moved quickly to pass through the barrier. After much debate, Sirius went through first, followed by Hermione and then Harry. Tonks went next and Ron and Ginny ran through after her. Lupin preceded the twins and Percy, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley brought up the end of their group.
Percy and the twins said their goodbyes and moved hastily towards the train, eager to find their friends. Harry and Ron said their goodbyes as well and as they left, Harry called over his shoulder, "I'll save you a seat, Hermione."
Hermione noticed Ginny's smile falter at not being included, so she nudged the girl and said quietly, "You won't leave me alone with a compartment of boys, right?"
"Course not" Ginny said. "And leave you to fend for yourself?"
Ginny turned to say her farewells and Hermione walked over to Sirius, "Thanks for letting me stay. I had a great holiday."
Sirius knelt down so he and Hermione were eye level, "Think nothing of it. You're always welcome at Grimmauld. Don't forget that. Have a good rest of the year. Try to keep Harry in line, would you?"
"I'll try, but I don't think I'll be up to the task." She didn't need to say goodbye to Lupin since he would be going with them, so she turned to Tonks.
"Thanks for, erm, guarding me?" Hermione laughed.
"No problem. It's my job after all" She winked. "Do me a favor and keep your eyes open, eh? Something's not right at Hogwarts."
"Will do" she nodded.
She wasn't really sure what she would say to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley when she walked over to them, so she didn't try to squirm away when Mrs. Weasley swept her into a hug and said "Be careful, dear."
She was released from her hug and gave Molly a small smile before she joined Ginny and hopped on the train.
Lupin then turned and said his farewells "See you soon, Padfoot." They clasped hands briefly and he turned to Arthur. "We're not out of this yet, keep your head up at the Ministry."
"Molly, please don't worry yourself. We'll figure out what's going on at Hogwarts" she only nodded, the worry in her eyes increasing now that her children were out of her sight.
Molly and Arthur moved back towards the barrier with Sirius as Lupin made his way to the train.
"Surely you didn't forget me?" Tonks asked playfully as she walked up to him.
"I apologize, Nym-Tonks. I thought you had left after Hermione boarded the train" he ran a hand through his hair.
"Don't worry about it. I know it's hard to see me, it's not like I have pink hair of anything" she said lightly.
Lupin blushed, "Yea. Well."
"Just teasing, Remus. Safe journey" She inclined her head towards him.
"Tonks, wait!" She turned to find herself dangerously close to his chest. She backed up a step, her blush matching his.
"They're so cute together" Mrs. Weasley gushed to her husband; they were watching them from the back of the station.
Lupin, unaware of their audience, took one of Tonks's hands in his, "Please be careful."
For once Tonks was at a loss for words. She simply nodded and leaned into his chest. The whistle sounded to signal the final boarding call for the train and Lupin jumped, suddenly looking very self conscious.
"I-I have to go" he stammered, and quickly turned and boarded the train.
Tonks remained where she was for several moments after the train had left the station before she remembered where she was and quickly apparated out.
Sirius watched her until she was gone, and then apparated as well, a smile on his face.
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The train ride was uneventful, Draco didn't sit with them and Hermione suspected that something had happened over break, but she would have to wait until later to ask.
They walked into the Great Hall and sat in the middle of the table, on the end further away from the teachers. Draco was among the last to come in and sat down with them. He waved off their looks as Dumbledore stood to briefly greet the students.
As the Headmaster spoke Hermione watched her blond haired friend, he looked different, but it wasn't something she could pin down. Suddenly the food appeared and Hermione and Harry could turn their full attention to their friend.
He remained quiet for most of the meal and deflected most of their questions. "Hermione, did you get my gift?" he asked eventually.
"Oh," she had completely forgotten about it. "I think I must have left it at- at Harry's house." She caught herself.
"That's alright. You can get it later. It's nothing important, just a bauble."
He sighed suddenly, and looked ready to collapse. Hermione looked at him in alarm. "Not here" he shook his head, casting a significant look at the end of the table, where certain Slytherins sat. "We'll go to the Room after dinner."
Hermione nodded, forcing herself to relax and wait until dinner ended.
When the moment finally came, the three of them slipped away to the seventh floor and entered the Room of Requirement.
"Alright, Draco, what happened?" Harry asked as his friend collapsed into an armchair.
"I don't know how long I can keep this up" he whispered. "It's so hard to go home and pretend to support that monster. Pretend to enjoy what he does- you don't know what he does" Draco said, and his voice sounded haunted.
Hermione sat next to him, "Tell us, Draco."
"I can't. But it's so hard. I see how much my father sacrifices, how hard it is for him to pretend to be loyal. I see how much it hurts my mother. She's so fragile but no one notices. She is so strong in front of them, especially my Aunt Bellatrix. But I can see that they're both breaking. It tears me apart" his voice rose with each word until he was yelling and crying tears of frustration.
Hermione, never one to initiate physical contact, immediately recognized her friend's need and pulled him into a strong hug, which he returned gratefully. Harry put his hand on Draco's shoulder and the three of them stayed as they were until the curfew warning bell rang.
Hermione cast a glamour charm on Draco and they ran back to the common room.
None of them noticed that Blaise Zabini had followed them to the Room of Requirement and waited for them to leave before walking down to the common room himself.
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To Hermione, who had become used to a plethora of free time which she used to study advanced magic, classes were elevated to a new level of boring. She continued to do well in all of her classes, but she found that her mind wandered more than it used to, and she found herself scratching notes to remind herself of things she wanted to research more.
She used History of Magic as a sort of free block to get homework for other classes done so that she had more time to use in the library. She, Harry, and Draco resumed their training schedule and she showed them her improved shields, which they tried to perfect and study in order to find any weaknesses.
Hermione added several charms to her bed to keep her dorm mates from knowing that she hardly slept. She mostly stayed out of their way and they left her alone, Pansy Parkinson was the worst of them, but all it took was a scathing comment from Hermione to make the girl back off. Millicent was a different sort and left Hermione alone, they were cordial to each other, but they never went past their customary greetings.
January passed to February with minimal changes to mark the transition. Hermione still watched Draco carefully, but she was sure that her friend was improving with each day. Harry and Draco were talking excitedly about Quidditch one day during breakfast when Hermione felt a sudden pain in her arm, right where her phoenix mark was.
She clenched her teeth and subtly reached her right arm up to grasp her left as she looked towards the staff table. Both Snape and the Headmaster looked suddenly more aware and the Headmaster whispered something to him. Snape nodded once, then turned to Lupin and McGonagall. The three of them left the Great Hall and Hermione watched them go, worrying about what had happened.
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Tom sat in the Chamber, putting some finishing touches on his plans that would soon be set in motion. He looked over to a corner where seven bodies were lying. He had drained the students over the break, ensuring his own vitality and with all of their strength he felt stronger than he ever had.
He pulled his magic around himself and summoned a wand from one of the students. He produced a black snake from it as a test, this wand will do for now.
Tom began a complex series of spells meant to change some of his features so that he could walk through the school undetected by Dumbledore. Looking over the students, he decided that a mix of the two would go unnoticed. As he wove his spell he felt something brush against his magic. It was an alien feeling and he stopped, puzzled by the source.
As soon as he dropped the spell the presence disappeared, Surely not Dumbledore. I would recognize his magic. And Severus is a part of my magic through the Mark.
Intrigued, he began to weave his spell again, this time focusing on the other magic. As his spell grew in strength, he could identify two other sources of magic, but a third one was completely unknown to him. He felt Dumbledore, obviously the Headmaster's power would unconsciously be drawn toward his. Snape, too, he felt, but his magic was more of a flicker in Tom's own magic.
Focusing on the third magic, he struggled to identify it; it feels young, but so powerful. No child could have this much power, unless- of course! The child of the prophecy.
He attempted to reign in the child's magic, but it was like trying to grab water; the magic continued to escape him. Frustrated, he finished his spell, content in the knowledge that soon he would have the child.
Summoning the Basilisk, the walked towards it and climbed on its head. The great snake raised itself as high as it would go, stretching its head to deliver its master to the platform.
Tom walked off and opened a hidden door with a word in Parseltongue, then commanded the Basilisk to return to its hiding place. He closed the door and walked through the halls at a brisk pace, knowing that Dumbledore would have been alerted to his movements. But the old man will think that I'm after the child.
He climbed the stairs to the North tower with the ease of a student who had lived in the castle for years and entered the room quietly, closing the door firmly behind him.
"Professor?" he called.
He turned as he heard something crash and saw the Professor stumble out.
"Wh-What are you doing in here? I did not See you coming-"
"Stupefy" Tom said calmly, watching in delight as her eyes widened in shock and understanding. "And now, dear Sybil, you're going to help me with something."
He quickly Disillusioned the Stunned woman and levitated her out of the room and down the tower stairs. He heard McGonagall talking to the werewolf Lupin several stair flights away, and quickly Disillusioned himself as well.
He took the fastest route to the entrance and dropped through the sink, removing both the spell on himself and the Professor, although she remained Stunned. He walked them down to the center of the Chamber and turned to face her, "Now, Professor, let's see what you remember about a certain prophecy."
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Minerva walked back to the Headmaster's office and entered, hoping that her colleagues had better news to report. Snape and Lupin were already sitting down, and she joined them.
"Anything?" Dumbledore asked anxiously.
McGonagall started, "The wards haven't been broken, nothing has come through them, and Remus verified that when I asked him. So whatever it was that you're not telling me, it was already in the castle."
Dumbledore nodded as if he expected the answer, "Remus?"
"I couldn't detect anything. I used almost every spell I know to reveal foreign magic, but the halls were empty. All the students were at breakfast, Poppy said that two students came in for minor ailments and she sent them to breakfast with a Pepper-Up potion."
"Severus?"
"Nothing aside from what you already know. It has to be him. He's making his move."
"Who, Albus?" McGonagall seized on what Snape said. "We need to know what's going on."
"Severus and I felt a pull at our magic during breakfast, and Severus noticed that Miss Granger seemed to be in pain at the same time that we felt the pull. We both feel that Tom is making his move now." He trailed off, muttering to himself. "But nothing is missing, the students were all at breakfast, the staff as well-"
He turned to look at Snape as the Potions Master arrived at the same conclusion he had. "The staff-" "Sybil!"
Snape rushed from the room, with Dumbledore managing a surprising speed close behind him. Sensing the mood, McGonagall and Lupin followed them wordlessly, and McGonagall held her questions.
As Snape crashed through the door in the North Tower, the four teachers spread out to encompass the whole room, looking for the Divination Professor.
"She's not here," Lupin said resignedly after several minutes. "And she wouldn't be anywhere else, which means-"
"That Tom now has the prophecy"
"Albus, didn't you take any precautions? Wipe her memory or something?"
"Of course, Minerva, but I have no doubt that Tom will break through them. They were not designed to keep him out"
"Then what were they designed for?" She asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"The spells were designed to keep her from remembering that she delivered the prophecy, and to keep her from remembering the contents of it. They were not designed to keep someone seeking that knowledge out; they were designed to destroy the memories before that person accessed them."
"What will that do to Sybil-"
"The Dark Lord is one of the best Legilimens this world has seen" Snape cut across. "He will get those memories before they are destroyed by the spell. Sybil does not have the strength of mind to hold him out long enough for the spell to do its job."
Silence followed Snape's words.
"So Voldemort has the prophecy" Lupin said the words that no one wanted to accept. "We failed."
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Classes that day were hectic, to say the least. Any student who had Divination that day found themselves with an unexpected free block. No one knew why the class was suddenly cancelled, and none of the teachers were talking.
It was only a matter of time until someone found out, and after lunch, one Gryffindor fourth year reported that he had been in the Divination classroom, and the Professor was no where to be found.
Rumors and theories spread like wildfire, for it was a well known fact that Sybil Trelawney never left her tower. Speculation continued into the afternoon classes, and only Snape seemed to be able to enforce order on the students.
The teachers gave up on covering any new materials that day, but secretly none of them cared because they were as worried as the students were. The only teachers who knew what had happened; Snape, McGonagall, and Lupin, were hardpressed to not reveal to their colleagues what had happened, but there was no way to tell them without infringing on the Order.
Lupin pulled Harry and Hermione aside in the hall, Draco nodded his understanding and continued on his way to dinner.
"Apologize to Draco for me at dinner, but he can't be seen talking to me alone" He looked at them, suddenly more serious than they had ever seen him. "Both of you need to be extremely careful. Professor Trelawney went missing and we think that Voldemort has her. He's becoming bolder and Dumbledore thinks he will soon make his move. Sybil knew the prophecy, Hermione." Now he focused on her. "Take extra precautions because we're sure that he's coming for you. Don't go anywhere alone. Don't take any chances. Okay?"
"Alright" Although Lupin could tell that she wasn't happy with the situation, he trusted her to be as intelligent as he knew she was. After getting the same promise from Harry he walked them towards the Great Hall.
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The Great Hall was packed for dinner and the students were buzzing with rumors about where their Divination Professor had gone.
Most agreed that she had been taken by the same thing that took away the other students, but some held out that she had finally had one sherry too many or had finally cracked and left.
Hermione remained quiet, as did Harry and Draco; they knew that the professor had been taken because of the prophecy. They knew what a disaster it was for the Order that Trelawney had been taken because she had the memory of the prophecy and it was very possible that Voldemort had access to that memory now.
With all the pandemonium over the professor's disappearance no one at the Slytherin table had noticed an extra student sitting right in the middle.
Tom smirked; It's too easy getting through this school.
He knew, however, that the next part would be the trickiest. But he had a plan. A Sneakoscope that he stole from a nearby student was charmed to loudly shrill in exactly two minutes. He had placed it carefully at the end of the Hufflepuff table. The noise would sufficiently cover his spell and hopefully mask his magic from the teachers.
He dared not even dream that Dumbledore wouldn't feel his magic, Snape probably would too, but he was counting on the child of the prophecy reacting to his magic.
He counted the seconds down as he gathered his magic around him like a blanket.
Five...four...three...two...one...The alarms and whistles of the Sneakoscope went off as the charm lifted and Tom waited several seconds before pushing his magic off of him, sending it out in waves and pulses that covered the entire Great Hall.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Snape clutch his left arm and Dumbledore's face widen in shock and panic before becoming masked. The Headmaster raised his wand and uttered a spell and the Sneakoscope fell silent.
The silence was broken not a second later by the sound of harsh breathing. He identified the sound easily; it was the labored breathing of someone in pain who was trying to hold back the screams. Tom kept his head down and looked around wildly for the source of the noise.
His eyes fell upon a hunched over figure at the end of his own House's table. He watched the girl's back closely, watched as she curled herself around her left arm, as if it was the source of her pain...
Tom smiled triumphantly, I have you now.
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YAY! An update!
The next chapter will be coming soon, since I'm almost done, but I want to see how everyone likes this first.
I know I skipped through their return to Hogwarts, but classes are so boring to write, I they're boring to read. I wanted to get to the meat of this year, and I was willing to sacrifice the classes to do it.
If you're a fan of the class scenes or you think it will help the story at all, let me know and I'll add more in my later chapters.
Thanks for your patience!!
Always,
Sinkme