Author's Note: Took me a little while to get an update going but here it is. Someone commented in a review how they like that the angle switches between Hermione's side of the story and Andromeda's side of the story. To me, both sides are of equal importance and events taking place on both sides come back to form a complete story. It is very important to me to show both sides. Enjoy this chapter. It is written from the resistance's point of view. ~Cissy

Chapter 9

Believe

There was a sense of anticipation hanging in the room. People didn't speak as they clutched their warm mugs of tea and coffee. The sun had barely climbed up from behind the horizon and thin strings of mist pressed against the windows of the pub. It looked dark and dreary outside, as if something loomed over them that they couldn't see.

Andromeda put down her now empty mug and pushed herself off the barstool she had been sitting on. She felt various sets of eyes snap in her direction when she stood up and slowly raised her eyes to meet their expecting gazes.

"We have to find Gregorovitch, the old wand maker," she explained and people nodded. "Tonks has narrowed it down to three locations, all of which are places that he used to go. I haven't got a clue if he would go back to any of them and all those places now fall into Core territory. It isn't going to be easy getting in and I fully expect to have to fight."

"We're as ready now as we're ever going to be," Dean said and people around him nodded.

Andromeda weakly smiled. "Good man, Dean. I know I am asking a lot of you. I am asking you to go out there and find a man who may or may not be able to help us. I am holding on to the firm belief that he can at least tell us what to do next, even if he cannot produce a wand of some sort. We need to believe that we can succeed because if we don't, there is no point walking out of this door."

"Gregorovitch is our only hope to find some way of dealing with the Cores. We can fight the Keepers and the Scouts. Most of them are dumber than your average troll and they haven't got a clue what to do with their wands. I admit, some of them are cleverer – fools like Yaxley belong to that group-, but it isn't about the Keepers and the Scouts. In the end we can overpower them but the Cores will just send a replacement," Tonks said.

"What about Ginny?" Seamus asked. "Are we going to rescue her?"

Andromeda glanced at her daughter. After everyone had retired to bed the previous night, Tonks had knocked on her mother's bedroom door with the same question. "We need to find a way to defeat the Cores if we want any chance of saving Ginny. Sending any of us into that castle right now would just be a suicide mission. We wouldn't make it past the door."

"We would try using Polyjuice Potion again," Seamus countered. "It worked before. It could work again."

Andromeda was painfully reminded of what had happened, what she had done, the last time she used Polyjuice Potion within the walls of Robur Castle. "It worked when we wanted information, Seamus. I don't know if it will work for all of us to make our way inside. We haven't got much potion left and we are currently in no position to brew more or get some from anywhere else."

"Where will we be going to look for Gregorovitch?" Katie's voice was soft and when Andromeda looked at the girl she saw the dark rings around her eyes. The lack of sleep was getting to them all.

"The first one is a small village just outside of Glasgow, Scotland," Tonks said and she flicked her wand. A map Britain appeared and landed neatly on the table. She pointed her wand at a tiny dot and a small flag appeared, moving at will as she let her wand trail across the map. "It's called Saint Helen. Gregorovitch lived there for a little while when he was younger. Nobody really knows this but apparently its common knowledge within the Ministry. He was only here for a few years." Her wand shifted further south. "The second place we will be looking at today is Manchester. I've been told it's a hotspot for foreign witches and wizards since the rise of the Core. Many are trapped in our country. Some are too afraid to leave, worried that if they do it will be a sign of treason and they will be killed."

"And the last one is here," Andromeda said and pointed her wand to Wales. "Snowdonia. It is a National Park in Wales but apparently there is a small Wizarding village, hidden from the Muggle world. It was one of the last places to be taken by the Cores but I've been told that they fought like warriors and were all brandishing wands uncommon in England which leads me to believe that Gregorovitch stopped there for at least a little while and created some new wands."

"Rosmerta will be taking Dean and Susan to Saint Helen. Seamus and Marcus will come with me to Manchester," Tonks said and looked around the group. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the map. She could see the determination as well as the fear behind their eyes. "Katie, you will go with my mother to Saint Helen." Her eyes drifted around. There were a few people here she didn't really know. "Anyone else is free to volunteer but we really need people to stay in Hogsmeade. With Rosmerta gone for several hours, we need someone to guard the pub."

"I'll stay," said an unexpected voice behind them and Rosmerta looked up in surprise.

"Aberforth," she smiled. "Didn't think I'd ever see you leave that grotty old pub of yours."

"I hear all the excitement's here these days," Aberforth answered and crossed the room towards the table. "Can't sell a bloody pint of Firewhisky in the Hog's Head these days."

Andromeda eyed the man up. The resemblance to his brother was striking and even if she hadn't known she could have guessed. Aberforth had the same blue eyes as his brother and the long, silver coloured beard wasn't far off the impressive length Albus' had been. She straightened her spine and extended her hand. "Good to see you, Aberforth."

"I hear most of this is your doing," Aberforth said as he shook Andromeda's hand. "Always knew there were at least some decent Black's left. Bless Sirius soul. He was a good man."

"He was indeed," Andromeda smiled at the memory of her cousin. "He died protecting the world from evil. If only he had known then what we know now, the world would have been a different place."

"I hear you're looking for Gregorovitch," Aberforth said. "What's the old rascal been up to?"

"He may be able to help us," Andromeda answered. "He was there when the dragon whose heartstrings were used for the wands was killed. Ollivander had come up with a possible idea to destroy the Cores by creating another wand powerful enough to do some serious damage but all his attempts failed. He suggested we find Gregorovitch."

"What happened to the old wand maker?" Aberforth asked. "I quite liked him. He came round every so often, usually when the kids were on their trips to Hogsmeade. He enjoyed seeing what they had learnt."

"I'm afraid he's dead," Andromeda answered and the lump in her throat didn't shift, no matter how hard she swallowed. "I tracked him down in Italy but Hermione found me and she got to him before I could bring him to safety. I do not dare to allow myself to think about what she will have done to him to get the information he gave me. We can only assume he told her what she wanted to know so we can't waste any more time."

"We'd better get going," Tonks interrupted her mother and put a hand on her arm. "We meet back here tonight. Anyone who hasn't returned by eight pm will be considered lost. Whatever happens, don't give up and keep on fighting. If you're not home by eight..." She paused. "..Or if we are not home by eight, we will come looking for you. Whoever finds Gregorovitch, if we find him, bring him back with you, even if he protests. His help is not optional. He has no choice."

"Stay safe," Andromeda added to her daughter's words and watched as people formed the groups like they had discussed them earlier. Katie walked over to her. She had bound her dark hair back in a ponytail and was wearing black jeans, a black long sleeved shirt and a scarf. She had drawn her wand and when her gaze met Andromeda's she could tell the younger witch was ready for whatever came their way.

"We'll see you all back here tonight," Tonks said as she extended her hands for Seamus and Marcus to take. "Whatever happens, don't give up."

She turned on the spot and she and the two lads disappeared. The faint popping sound died down quickly and Andromeda's eyes darted to Rosmerta. Her heart felt heavy. The curly haired blonde witch took Dean and Susan's hand and looked up to meet Andromeda's gaze. Silently they said their goodbyes and as she turned on the spot she hoped, prayed, she would see them all again that night.

"Well, that just leaves us," Andromeda said and felt Katie take her arm. She looked back at Aberforth. He was standing behind the bar, his blue eyes fixed on her. "See you in a few hours, old friend."

"I can only hope I will," he answered as Andromeda and Katie vanished. "I can only hope I will."

~()~

Saint Helen was a sleepy little old village about twenty miles west of Glasgow. Small cottages lined narrow streets and a war memorial surrounded with red poppies rose up proudly from the village square. Even though it was early morning, the skies were still grey and the streets were abandoned. Somewhere in the distance a lonely bird sang a sad morning song.

Andromeda and Katie had Apparated into a narrow alley between two rows of cottages. The older witch released her breath when she realised nobody had heard them arrive. She turned to look at Katie. "I've been told there are about six Scouts patrolling this village. It is too small for a Keeper. I think they must have put an extra one in Glasgow. The house Gregorovitch lived in is on the other side of the village but Tonks told me that the Scouts have set up camp on that side. We're going to have to walk our way across and hope for the best."

"Just six of them?" Katie asked and twirled her wand through her fingers. "Shouldn't be a problem."

Andromeda smirked. "Minerva would be proud of you, Katie. That's the true Gryffindor spirit."

"Hard to believe you were ever sorted into Slytherin."

"Everyone makes mistakes." Andromeda grinned. "Including the Sorting Hat, although he'll never admit it." She peered along the wall and checked the streets. "Come on."

They stepped out of the alleyway and ran across the street, past the war memorial, and reached another similar looking street. As they walked along the pavement, Andromeda could see the people behind the widows. They were getting up; having breakfast, maybe even read the paper. Saint Helen's was a mixed community of magic and Muggles, though the latter group had largely moved away. A lot of the cottages appeared to be empty.

"It feels so peaceful compared to London," Katie whispered. "The houses haven't been destroyed, there aren't fires burning everywhere, no glass on the streets. It's like time stood still here."

Andromeda swallowed. "Appearances can be deceiving."

She had barely said those words or she froze in her tracks. She grabbed Katie's arm and pulled her into a narrow gulley between two rows of houses. She pressed herself against the wall and the younger witch did the same. Two dark clad figures came around the corner at the end of the street. They had their wands drawn and their faces were emotionless, like stone cold masks.

"Take them out once they've passed us," Andromeda hissed and Katie nodded.

She followed the two Scouts with her eyes as they walked past the gulley without seeing them. She aimed her wand and noticed Andromeda doing the same. She turned her head and their eyes met. "You take the one on the right; I'll take the one on the left."

Andromeda nodded and took aim. Katie leant past her and did the same.

"Petrificus Totalis!"

The two spells hit the Scouts in their backs and they collapsed face forward onto the street. Andromeda could have sworn she heard a nose break as it made contact with the tarmac. She flicked her wand and one of the Scouts floated up into the air. Katie mirrored her actions and the two unconscious wizards drifted into the gulley where they had been hiding. Their bodies slumped down against the wall and Andromeda produced a metal chain and watched as it wrapped itself around the Scouts.

"Maybe it's best we keep them quiet too," Katie whispered and aimed her wand at the two Scouts, "Langlock." It was followed by a soft slurping sound.

Andromeda frowned. "I don't think I have ever heard that spell before."

"Harry told us about it last year. He had found it in his Potions book and he used it on Filch a couple of times," Katie answered. "It became quite popular after that. It ties a person's tongue to the roof of their mouth so they can't speak." She grinned. "It has proven useful in the past."

"I'm sure it did," Andromeda said. "And it isn't even half as cruel as what they would do to us." She kneeled down and rolled back the sleeve of one of the Scouts, revealing the scarred Core mark on their wrists. "They burn them even all the way down to the lowest rankings." She shook her head. "Most of the time I just can't understand how she became this way."

"She never used to be like this," Katie said and Andromeda looked up at her. "Hermione, I mean. The girl you describe, the girl everyone has seen over the past few months, is not the same girl I went to school with."

Andromeda remembered something Ollivander had said the night they brought him back to the Burrow. The wand would have recognised darkness inside of her, no matter how deeply hidden it was. She swallowed. "I didn't know Hermione very well before all of this. We met only a couple of weeks before all of this started. I heard the others talk about how she had changed, even before she betrayed us. That night Bellatrix found her in Diagon Alley wasn't the beginning. Something must have changed before that." Katie looked up in surprise. "What happened, Katie? You knew her. She was your friend."

"Hermione liked to study. She was always reading something," Katie said. "If you were looking for her, you'd start in the library. Table furthest away from the door, by the window. She could be there for hours. Harry and Ron sometimes teased her about it. I don't think she liked it in the beginning but she got used to it in the end and a lot of her reading actually helped them, I think."

Andromeda leant back against the wall. She was hearing about a side of Hermione she had never got to see. A side she wished she had known before all of this happened. Maybe then she could have saved her. "What changed?"

"She became more withdrawn in her sixth year. A lot of people thought it was because of Ron and Lavender. They were dating and stuff and people thought Hermione was jealous." Katie took a deep breath. "I don't think she was jealous. I think she was trying to find herself. Dean was dating Ginny and Harry was in love with Ginny. People around us were just all drawn to each other. Maybe it was because we knew the war would start sooner or later. Hermione seemed to just distance herself from it and she actually enjoyed winding Ron up when she took another boy to Slughorn's Christmas party."

"So that's when it started," Andromeda whispered. "Would you say Hermione started to change that year?"

Katie nodded. "She wasn't the same happy girl she'd been before. I thought it was because of Harry and Ron and You-Know-Who and stuff."

"She started to experience feelings of anger and frustration and opened up that pit of darkness inside herself. The wand core recognised it and used it," Andromeda sighed.

Katie chewed her lip. "When I heard what Ron had done to her..."

"It call came crashing down from there onwards," Andromeda finished and closed her eyes to let what Katie had said about Hermione sink in. She struggled to envision a younger Hermione, smiling and laughing with her friends. She couldn't imagine how she had been happy once, before this darkness invaded and destroyed her. Her eyes snapped back open and she glanced at the Scouts. "We had better get moving. Two down, four to go."

"Do you think Gregorovitch will be here?" Katie asked as they stepped out of the gulley.

"Personally I think they'll find him in Wales," Andromeda answered. "He has no reason to be here."

"Which makes it the perfect hiding place."

Andromeda looked at Katie in surprise. "Maybe you're right."

They walked their way up along the street from where they'd just seen the Scouts appear. It turned to the left with a bend and Andromeda peered around the corner before signalling Katie that it was safe to go. The next street was lined with the same style cottages but Andromeda noticed they looked different. They showed signs of battle, with bricks missing and stone that looked like someone had tried to burn it. One or two windows had been boarded up.

"Scout camp?" Katie asked and Andromeda nodded. "Looks like whoever it is isn't very welcome here."

"Neither are you," spoke a voice suddenly behind them and Andromeda spun around. Two dark clad figures, their robes identical to the two men they had just tied up in the gulley, stood behind them. The one on the right had an unsightly scar from his left temple down to the right corner of his mouth. It looked like someone had cut his face in half with a meat cleaver.

"Stupefy!" cried Katie but her spell was easily deflected by the Scout on the left.

"Resistance, eh?" the older of the two Scouts said. He took a step towards Andromeda, whose wand shot up in defence. "We have a very special treatment for people like you."

"Probably not as special as the treatment we have for you," Andromeda sneered. "Impedimenta!"

"Protego!"

The Scout blocked her spell with a strong Shield Charm and took another step towards her. Andromeda glanced at Katie. She recognised the determination in the younger witch's eyes and felt a sense of pride over the fact she didn't seem scared. She looked back at the Scout and set her jaw. "Looks like I am going to have to do better."

"A lot better," her opponent challenged her.

Andromeda smirked. "Don't challenge me."

"Why not?" the Scout dared her. "Think you can beat me?"

"Actually, I think I can," Andromeda said sharply and her wand slashed through the air so quickly that the Scout had no time to react. He blinked and his hand shot up to his throat. Blood poured through his fingers and his eyes widened in fear. He took a step towards Andromeda, followed by a tentative second. He staggered for a few more steps before dropping to his knees. He was so close to her know that some of the blood sprayed onto her clothes. A horrific gurgling noise rose up from his throat and the blood began to form a pool next to his body.

"Avada Kedavra!" shouted the other Scout and his wand aimed at Katie.

The young witch spun around on the tip of her toes and jumped out of the way, throwing her body to the ground as she did so. She rolled over a couple of times before jumping back up, leapt onto her right foot and aimed her wand. She reminded Andromeda of warrior ballerina and with a strong, clear voice Katie cried, "Avada Kedavra!"

The green jet crashed into the Scout's chest and he dropped down where he stood, landing on his back. His eyes glazed over immediately and his wand rolled from his fingers. Andromeda took it as well as the wand from the Scout whose throat she had slit before looking around for Katie. The dark haired young woman walked towards her and looked at the victim of her magic.

"I remember somebody once saying that the time for being nice is well behind us," she said coolly. "If I had let him live he would have killed us." She glanced at the bleeding man at Andromeda's feet. He was staring up at them with pleading eyes. "Don't you think we should ease his suffering? It's going to take a few more minutes for him to bleed to death."

"No," Andromeda answered emotionlessly. "Leave him. It will send a message."

Katie turned away from the two Scouts and looked at Andromeda. "Where do we go now?"

"The house Gregorovitch lived in should be at the end of this street," Andromeda said and took Katie's arm. "Come, if we hurry we may get away with not having to kill any more of them."

They ran across the street without paying attention to their surroundings. They didn't care who would see them. They were almost there and when Andromeda spotted the small cottage standing alone from the others, she increased her pace. She heard Katie not far behind her and glanced over her shoulder for just a second. Then she looked back towards the cottage and realised something was wrong. Something glistened behind one of the windows. Something that shouldn't be there. It wasn't until the glass shattered and the plume of black smoke began to circle up into the sky that she realised what it was.

"Fire!" she screamed. She had reached the simple white fence that surrounded the cottage and jumped over it. She could smell the smoke and see the flames behind the windows. "The cottage is on fire!"

"Is he here?" Katie asked. She too had jumped over the fence and now reached Andromeda. "Is he inside?!"

Andromeda carefully approached one of the windows and felt the heat radiate from inside the house. She came as close as she dared and tried peering through the glass. The kitchen and living room were full of smoke and she could barely see. She was about to give up when something moved. She pressed her face against the glass and felt it blister her skin but ignored the pain. She could see a leg and as she focused she could just about make out the shape of a body.

"He's here!" She turned around to Katie. "Gregorovitch is here!"

"I'm going in," Katie said and ran to the door. She reached for the doorknob but pulled away when it burnt the palm of her hand.

"Careful! Opening the door is going to feed oxygen to the flames which means they'll soar," Andromeda said and used her wand. "We won't have much time and the smoke is really thick. We can try and separate the flames by magic but I don't know what they've used in there."

Andromeda tapped the doorknob and the door swung open. Immediately they were suffocated by the intense black smoke and Andromeda covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve. She turned to see Katie wrap her scarf around her face and the dark haired girl disappeared in the smoke. Andromeda took one last deep breath, already feeling the hot smoke scorch her lungs, and followed Katie into the cottage.

She used her wand to navigate herself through the smoke. The poisonous heat invaded her airways and travelled into her lungs, forcing whatever little bit of oxygen she had left out. She coughed and felt sweat trickle down her skin. It was extremely hot inside and she could see the flames eat away at the furniture and the walls.

In the weak light of her wand she found her way into what had once been the kitchen. The cupboards were on fire and the table and chairs had collapsed under the heat. She found Katie sitting on her knees beside an elderly looking man. His face was blackened but he looked like Gregorovitch. Andromeda bent down to grab the man's arm and swung it around her shoulders. Katie, a little unsteady on her feet, did the same and together they dragged him out of the kitchen, back through the hall and into the fresh air outside.

Andromeda collapsed the second they passed the threshold and reached the front garden. Her airways had narrowed and she struggled to breath. Katie fell down on her stomach beside her, coughing and with tears streaming down her face. Some of her dark hair had been scorched off and the scent of burnt flesh penetrated Andromeda's nose. It made her sick.

"Petrificus Totalis!"

She rolled away from the spell as it hit the ground where she had just been laying and looked up long enough to recognise the last two Scouts running towards the fence. Andromeda crawled back towards Katie and Gregorovitch and grabbed either of them by an arm. With the little bit of strength she had left she closed her eyes and called up the image of the Three Broomsticks in her mind.

When she reopened her eyes she recognised the pub's wooden floor and managed to smile to herself. But then the pain came and as she attempted to sit up the world began to spin before fading into black.