Two in the morning, that's what time it was when Harry finally came back to the common room. Ron and I had sat up the entire time, trying to keep each other from falling asleep. When Harry finally walked through the portrait hole we both descended on him, very awake at the sight of him. He refused to tell us what had happened, claiming it was a very long story, and that he would tell us about it in the morning.
The only thing he did tell us was that he got the memory.
He kept his promise and told us all that had happened the next morning. I could not believe what he told us about the Horcruxs. Could things get any worse? How was a person supposed to track one down and destroy it when it could be anything in the world? I went to the common room after my lessons wanting to do only one thing. Rest.
Of course, I wouldn't get to. Harry came into the room minutes after me, covered in blood and water. He was paler than I'd ever seen him, his eyes distant and his face set in a grimace.
"Harry!" I shrieked, jumping up and grabbing him. I examined him quickly, my eyes darting around his face and body. He wasn't hurt, then why was he covered in blood?
He didn't say anything, he just kept staring straight ahead.
"Harry!" I snapped, shaking him a slight bit. I heard someone coming down the stairs behind me as I walked Harry over to the couch. I sat him down, finally gaining a reaction from him. He looked over at me, his eyes wide and horrified.
"'Mione…" He mumbled, sounding shocked.
"What?" I asked, making my voice soothing as I rubbed his arms. I knelt in front of him and looked up at him, barely noticing Ron joining me.
"Malfoy, I…" He broke off, looking even worse. What? Malfoy? Had he found something else out?
"What's going on Harry?" Ron asked, sitting beside him on the couch and looking thoroughly alarmed.
"I used Sectumsempra on Malfoy." Harry barely whispered, his eyes growing wide as he looked like he was remembering something.
"Explain." I said, drawing him back to me. "Now." And he did. He told the two of us about everything.
"Please don't say I told you so." He finished, looking desperately at me.
I told you so? How on earth could I berate him about that book after what just happened? The 'Prince' had more than punished Harry enough. I just hoped he wouldn't go to get back the book.
Because I had no doubt in my mind that the prince had probably made that spell, and that would mean he was into the Dark Arts. The book was fifty years old, what if it had been Voldmort's? He'd attended the school at that time… Could it be possible?
What's more, how could I let Harry know about my worries without making him mad? He already was furious at me for ever thinking the 'Prince' could be evil, what would he think if he knew my true fears. What's more, I felt like it was partly my fault. I had known Malfoy was not doing well, he'd been looking progressively worse all year. Yet I did absolutely nothing about it. I let the fact that he had caught me and George in a very intimate moment stop me from even trying to help him.
Darn it, I wish I had that book so I could destroy it. I wish Harry had never come across it.
Harry didn't need any more nightmares.
After the initial shock of Harry and Malfoy's battle, the rest of May passed dully. Other than the fact that Harry was finally dating Ginny, nothing to exciting happened. I did find out whom Pavarti had danced with at the party though, Dean. Apparently she had spent most of the night talking to him, and had made it a point to talk to him quite frequently since then. She was now dating Dean, and the two were quite happy about it. I have to admit, I never saw that one coming.
I began to count down the days until I would get to see George again. I had already decided I would spend summer at the burrow, no need to stay long with my parents. June arrived, and that meant there would just be a few more weeks till we were finished with our sixth year.
Ron and I were sitting in the common room waiting for Harry to come back from another meeting with Dumbledore, when he came running into the room.
"I'm fine," Harry said quickly, racing past us and up to his dormitory. Ron and I looked at each other, I shook my head and he shrugged his shoulders. Not two minutes later Harry came dashing back down the stairs.
"'I haven't got much time," He panted, looking winded and clutching a bunch of stuff. "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen ..." and he proceeded to tell us everything he had learned, and what he had guessed. Where he was going, and what he wanted us to do.
"'... so you see what this means?' Harry finished his rushed explanation. 'Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. 'I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here -' He shoved the Marauder's Map into my shaking hand. "You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA. Hermione, those contact Galleons will still work, right?" I nodded my head slowly, feeling thoroughly winded. Things had just gone from dull to painfully serious in a matter of minutes.
"Dumbledore says he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's protection is, and how to avoid it - but he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?'
"Harry –" I began, my eyes wide and my voice shaking. I didn't think I'd be able to do it, I wouldn't be able to fight alone. He was the fighter, not me.
"We haven't got time to argue," Harry said, cutting me off. "Take this as well -' He thrust an old sock into Ron's hands.
"Thanks,' Ron said weakly. "Er - why do I need socks?"
"You need what's wrapped in them, it's the Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves and Ginny too. Say goodbye to her from me. I'd better go, Dumbledore's waiting –"
"No!: I shrieked, not caring that my voice was raising octaves. He couldn't give us his felix, he'd need it!
"We don't want it, you take it, who knows what you're going to be facing?" I said, clutching his arm and trying to force the socks back into his hands.
"I'Il be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore," Harry said, shaking me off and heading towards the door. "I want to know you lot are OK ... don't look like that, Hermione, I'll see you later
And he was gone.
"Get those galleon's out 'Mione." Ron said, grabbing the felix out of the sock with a determined expression.
I did. Luna and Neville were the only two to respond to the call. That wouldn't be near enough if Harry was right. I decided to call in back up. I sent a message to George, asking if he could get guard duty tonight and explaining everything that was going on with Malfoy and Snape. Ron, Ginny, and Neville decided to guard the Room of Requirements while Luna and I took the dungeons, guarding Snape's office.
I hated the dungeons, they were creepy and unsettling, but the idea of not having George by my side in a fight made them seem even more ominous. I had just reached the door to Snape's office when I felt the galleon in my pocket grow warm. I drew it out carefully, my hand shaking with fear at what it might say. There were only four words.
I'm on my way.
Everything went terrible in less than five minutes. Flitwick came running down the hall, he blew past us and rushed into Snape's office. A minute later Snape emerged, he claimed that Flitwick had passed out in his office and told us to stay with him.
I actually believed him. Merlin help me, I trusted him. I forgot everything Harry said and listened to him instead of hitting him with a curse like I should have.
Five minutes after Snape left I heard the first explosion.
I ran for the noises, leaving Luna with Flitwick, and headed for the seventh floor. Explosions were going off everywhere. Spells were flying through the air and I couldn't tell who was who. It was happening, everything Harry had predicted was coming true. I fired every spell I knew, trying to bring some one down. There were bodies lying everywhere, people screaming, and I couldn't figure out where George was, were Ron was, were anyone was.
Then suddenly, they retreated, the Death Eaters ran from the grounds, and disappeared. The battle was over just as quickly as it had begun. I ran to the hospital, I had found Neville unconscious in the corner and wanted Pomfrey to examine him. I put a feather light spell on him and was now carrying him in my arms.
My eyes were shockingly dry as I carried him to the hospital wing, my heart was beating to fast but I couldn't steady it. My mind just kept going over the explosion of spells and the screams of people being hit. I hadn't heard George's voice, but I hadn't seen him either.
Merlin, please let him be alright. Please let everyone be alright.
My feet felt like they were filled with lead as I reached for the door knob to the hospital. I grasped it firmly in my hand, and after taking a deep breath I turned the handle. George, Fred, Angelina, Ron, Luna, Sirius, Tonks, and Remus were already there. I was so relieved to see George that I felt my legs give out. I laid Neville on the bed and fell against the foot of his bed and tried to breath . My heart was beating erratically and my eyes were filled with tears. I stared at George from the bed in shock, he wasn't hurt, and he was alive.
He was standing in front of a hospital bed. Someone was hurt! I jumped up from the bed, my legs still feeling wobbly, and instantly ran up to him. I let my eyes sweep across everyone again and saw all the faces I expected to. So who was hurt?
I caught sight of red, flaming hair and I knew who it was. Bill Weasley, he'd been attacked.
It actually took me a moment to recognize him. He was so badly slashed and ripped. I realized with horror what had happened, and my hand reached out for George's as I reached the bed. Bill had been attacked by Greyback.
George started when I reached the bed and grabbed his hand. He stiffened and then turned towards me, his eyes wide and wet.
"Hermione!" He gasped, pulling me to his chest in a crushing hug. I returned it with just as much relief and fear. I buried my head in his chest and forced myself not to cry. I would not break down now, George needed me to be strong. I stroked his back, running one hand up to his head and cradling it in my hand as I ran my fingers through his hair comfortingly. I held him tightly, murmuring something, I wasn't sure what, and letting him hold onto me. He let go of me after a few minutes, his eyes red and full of tears. He brushed them away with the back of his hand and pulled me to his side. I wrapped my arm around his waist and turned towards the bed.
"Have you called your parents and Fleur?" I asked, my voice soft and strong.
"Yeah, we got mum and dad." George said, and then he stopped. "You did get Fleur, right?" He said, turning towards Ron.
Merlin, they sent Ron? Poor Fleur wouldn't know. God love Ron, but he wouldn't have thought of her, he'd be far too devastated.
Ron just blinked in response to George's question. "That's okay." I said, already pulling out my wand. "I'll get her." I sent a patronus and waited for it to return. It did a few minutes later, now all we could do was sit and wait.