Chapter 4: Two Truths and A Lie

I look over to all the people in the room, I wonder what happened. I'm able to see everything, I mean I see my body on the floor. Ron seems sad, I guess he should be it was not too long ago that I thought I lost him.

I never even heard her say the words, those two dreaded words that could end everything. That one unforgivable curse that even the most powerful witch or wizard could fear.

"You Killed her!" I hear Ron yell.

Bellatrix smiles. "You think I would just kill the Mudblood after the dark lord ordered her presence? You think I would kill her without proper consent?"

Ron looks confused. "Shes not dead... Yet, she will be as soon as I get consent."

Ron breaks free from whoever is holding him and runs over to me, or my body, which still looks pretty lifeless from my perspective. He brushes hair away from my face and starts to call my name.

"Pick her up." Bellatrix orders.

Ron picks my limp form up off the ground. Then he's escorted back down to the basement. Where we get to live the rest of our lives, until Bellatrix is given consent to kill us.

I wake up in Ron's arms. "Hey" He calls softly. "I was so worried about you, I thought you were dead, I didn't recognize the curse she used on you."

I smile. "I didn't hear a thing." I say softly. He smiles back down at me.

"Are you alright?" He asks me.

"Fine" I say. "Just fine."

"You need to rest" he says

I shake my head. "No, we need to find a way out... Wheres Neville?"

"I'm right here Hermione." Neville calls. They both help me to sit up. I feel weak, but I have no intentions to rest. We need to find a way out of here. I can't let my friends die. I won't lose them... Not again.

Neville takes one look at me. Saddened almost, he gulps, looking like he's about to cry.

"Her... Hermione...? Can I ask you something." He stammers.

I nod a yes. "Luna... Is she alright?"

"As far as I know, she was really depressed by your death, she thought I did it."

"You?" Neville questioned.

"Yeah." I laugh. "But at least I know I'm not the killer now."

Both of them smile at me. "I don't want anyone else to die." I say solemnly. "They won't take anyone else away from me... From us."

"Hermione, we just cannot do anything. We are prisoners, we won't be able to control what happens from here." Ron says.

I look him right in the eyes. A single tear runs down my face. I breathe in deeply. "okay." I nod. "I understand."

"Look sweetheart, I don't want to die, I know you don't, we'll get out of here together. Dead or Alive... I promise."

"We can't just abandon everyone! I understand we can't get out! But we at least have to try, we have to."

"Hermione, we did. For hours and hours before you got here."

"There is no chance." Neville added "sorry..."

I shake my head. "I don't believe it." I reply sternly. Not wanting to push away and chance we have of getting out of here. I look over at Ron and then down at my feet. "we can get out of here." I say. "I know we can."

Ron grabs both my hands and sighs. "If you have a plan Hermione, I'll help you in any way I can."

I smile,"since we can get out ourselves, somebody will have to let us out, we will wait until they come downstairs, we will wait right outside the door, and knock them unconscious when they come in, take their wand and apparate out."

Ron stares wide eyed at me. "Have you been planning this for hours?"

"don't underestimate me." I say "of course I haven't" I smile back. "Just thought if It now."

He looks back at Neville. Then to me again. "What if it doesn't work?" Ron asks.

"It'll work, I reply, I will at least get the two of you out."

"What about you? I can't leave you here?" Ron says surprised. "No way, I'll die before I leave you."

I smile. "Thanks, but I'll be okay If I get left. I'm not sure about you..."

"what's that supposed to mean!"

I shrug. "Nothing, just I guess that I can maybe er ... Resist longer than you."

Ron shrugs. Thinks for a moment, then laughs. "Probably true."

"Hermione..."Neville asks. "Do you think. This will actually work?"

I smile back at him. "Look." I say. "As far as getting out of this place goes, we don't have a lot of choices."

"Hermione, it's just that... I don't think that it'll work out to well."

"Do you know what will happen to us." I ask in a stern tone. "we stay we die, we get caught we die, our plan fails we die, our plan works well, maybe we live a little longer. Which door do you want to take?" I ask

HOGWARTS (Harry POV)

" , I'm afraid I have some bad news."

"What is it, not another one of my friends..."

"I'm afraid So, was found dead this morning."

I stare at her wide eyed. "You said she would be safe, you told me that this was for our protection, for her protection!"

"I apologize for this . The more Auorors and ministry case workers will be along to assist the current ones in this case. We shall find the murders point of entry and their identity."

I nod. "I've just lost both my best friends, you think that is enough! They're dead because of me! It's my fault!" I yell.

She looks at me sadly. "I assure you that we will find who did this, they will be punished. You may be expected to testify if they are tried in a court of law."

"fine, If I am needed I will go. If I am not do not expect me to go to the trial."

"Very well Mr. Potter, thank you for your time ."

"Before I go i have one more thing to say, you better find a way to protect the rest of the students! How could you let this happen! Neville, Ron and Hermione? All dead, who knows the next targets? Fred, George, Ginny, Luna? You better keep us safe."

I leave her looking stunned, the. Walk away. Mad, sad and Disappointed all at the same time. As I enter the common room Ginny runs over to me.

"Harry? What did she say to you? What happened?" She asks me.

I breathe deeply a lump forming in my throat. "Hermione, shes dead." I say.

It looks like tears are staring to form in her eyes. She blinks quickly a bunch of times.

"Harry... Are you ok?"

"No! I can't say I am, both my best friends are dead! Ginny, I'll never see them again don't you get it? They are DEAD! It will never be okay. Not for a long time." I say outraged.

She reaches for my hand but I pull away. "Stay away from me." I say. "I never want to see any of you again."

Ginny looks hurt and gets up to leave. "Fine, don't expect me to pity you anymore."

Before I can reply she runs out of the room and I sign. She may not like me anymore, or want to be my friend. But at least she is less of a target for death eaters and she is protected.