Sorry for the delay in this update - I planned to write more over Christmas but I'm finding myself a little blocked on how to continue this story. I really hate this chapter but it was an important moment that I needed to get past.
enjoy x
15
"Hermione, are you ready?" Sirius shouts up the stairs. "Everybody's waiting."
"Sorry," she says as she comes into view. Half the boys feel their knees weaken as they take her in. She is dressed in a strapless red ball-gown, tight around her chest and her waist and then flowing out into a dome shape around her hips and her legs. Her hair is loose and curly around her shoulders and she has matched it with the same red on her lips. As she starts down the stairs, they see she is wearing black stilettos.
"You look beautiful," Sirius says, kissing her lightly.
"As per usual," Cass says. "Can we go?"
"Yes," Hermione says. "Has anyone heard from Bella? Or Sev?"
"Severus sent a Patronus about a half hour ago," Lily says. "They're probably in the bank right now."
"Right, then we definitely need to go," Hermione says. "In and out, you guys – the only people who need to be visible are Sirius, Narcissa and I. Lily and James can go straight up to Lucius's study with Avery and Remus – agreed?"
"Agreed," Avery says. "Come on, let's just do it."
They all turn on the spot and reappear at the bottom of the Malfoy garden. "Come on," Sirius says, grabbing Hermione's arm. "Let's just go in so we can get out of here."
The group hurry inside and split up – Hermione, Sirius, Narcissa and Regulus head into the main hall to be introduced and welcomed, while James, Lily, Remus and Avery sneak upstairs to the study Narcissa has told them about.
"Ah, Minister, what a pleasure," Hermione says, crossing the room and shaking Harold's hand warmly.
"Nonsense, Hermione," Harold says. "The pleasure is all mine as usual."
"How have you been, sir?" Sirius asks, shaking his hand. Hermione's attention is already elsewhere, watching as Narcissa and Regulus keep Lucius entertained.
"Well on the whole," Harold says. "Busy but okay."
"Hmm," Hermione says. "Had any more threats, Minister?"
"Those threats are not public knowledge, Miss Granger," he says tightly. "I hope I can trust you to act with discretion."
"You always can, Minister," Hermione says. "So, is that a yes?"
"A couple," he nods. "You think they are to be taken seriously?"
"I think everything is to be taken seriously," Hermione says. "Especially in the current climate."
"So, what would you recommend?" he asks.
"Caution," she says. "I don't know what else we can do at this stage. Until whoever is threatening you shows himself, we cannot hope to prepare."
"But what if-" Harold begins, before he is cut off by Lucius.
"Hermione," he says as he crosses the room and sweeps her into a tight embrace. "How are you?"
"Fine, Lucius," she says, exchanging a surprised look with Sirius. "How are you?"
"Narcissa has been telling me what a good friend you have been to her," he says. "I am very grateful."
"Oh you don't have to be grateful," she says. "I love Narcissa, I'd do anything for her."
"Good," he says. "I wonder if I might have a word in private?"
"Okay," she says, trying to hide her nerves. "Shall we step outside?"
"Nonsense," he says. "Let's go up to my private library."
"Sounds lovely," Hermione says. "Lead the way." She follows him through the house and up to the library.
"In you go," he says. "After you."
"Okay," she says, walking in. To her surprise, however, Lucius does not follow. Instead he closes the door and locks it. She blinks at it for a second and then looks at the desk, where Tom is sitting, waiting patiently.
"Hey," she says softly. "Good to see you."
"You too," he says. "I have been told many times just how beautiful you are at these parties; I had to see it for myself."
"You're taking a big risk by being here," she says, sitting herself down opposite him and struggling to adjust the neckline on her dress. "Dumbledore and the Minister are both downstairs."
"And I am a match for both," he says calmly.
"If you truly believed that, you would have made your move by now," she replies. "Yet here we are, hiding in Lucius Malfoy's library."
"I am not hiding," he says. "I am simply biding my time."
"Why?" she asks.
"Now now," he chides. "I didn't come here to reveal all my plans, Miss Granger."
"Then why did you come here?" she asks. "Just to tell me how pretty I look? Because I'm flattered, I really am, but-"
"My sources tell me you are close to choosing a side," he says. "I wanted to know if they were accurate."
"And why would I tell you that?" she says. "It's still early in the game to show my hand, wouldn't you say?"
"Well, what if I tell you what my sources are saying?" he says. Hermione shrugs and so he continues, "Nott alleges that the Black sisters, Bellatrix and Narcissa, have fallen out over Narcissa's engagement to the Malfoy boy." He looks at her for a moment, trying to read her reaction, and then continues, "By your presence here, at the Malfoy party, I assume you've chosen Malfoy's side. And since you know that Malfoy is associated with me, I can only presume that-"
"You shouldn't presume anything," she says. "My presence here has nothing to do with the decision I may or may not be making."
"So why are you here?" he asks.
"Because I was invited," she says simply. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to know what you're thinking," he says.
"Well I'm not going to tell you that, I'm afraid," she says.
"I could force you," he says.
"You could," she agrees. "But that would ruin the lovely relationship we've been building for the past few months."
"I am already uncharacteristically lenient with you, Miss Granger," he says. "Don't test me."
"Apologies," she says quietly. "But I'm not going to tell you what I'm thinking."
"I will make you tell me," he says.
"We agreed on a deadline," she says. "It is unreasonable for you to change the terms now."
"I'm allowed to be unreasonable," he says. "You will tell me."
"In two months," she says. "Now, I'm going to walk out of that door and I will write to you sometime next week."
"Hermione," he says, but she shakes her head, getting up and walking out. She hurries down the hall and back downstairs, joining James and Sirius at the side of the room.
"We've got it," James says.
"Then we need to go," Hermione says. "Tom's upstairs."
"What?" Sirius gasps.
"I know," Hermione says. "Now come on, we've got to hurry."
"We need to say goodbye to Lucius and Narcissa," James says. "The others have already left."
"With the thing?" Hermione asks and James nods. "Okay, good," she says. "I think you two should just go – I need to do one more round before I go."
"If you're sure?" Sirius says.
"It will literally take five minutes," she says. "Just go, I'll catch you up." She kisses James and Sirius goodbye and then hurries across the dancefloor to where Lucius is chatting to Harold.
"Sorry to interrupt," she says quickly. "James is extremely drunk and I need to go home to take care of him. Thank you for a beautiful party – I'm sure we'll catch up again soon."
"A pleasure as always, Miss Granger," Harold says. "I'll write to you in the next couple of days – I would like to continue our discussion."
"As would I," she says.
"Thanks for coming tonight," Lucius says. "I know it means the world to Narcissa and…to our mutual friend."
"Yes, he's on good form," she says. "I'm sure I'll see you both again very soon."
"I look forward to it," Lucius says. "I hope James feels better."
"So do I," she says, grimacing. She smiles graciously and then hurries away, out of the house and down to the apparition point. She turns in mid-air and reappears back at James's house, only seconds before Bella and Severus do.
"Oh Merlin," Bella says, clutching her chest. "Granger, you scared the living crap out of me."
"Sorry, sorry," Hermione says. "Did you get it?"
"Of course," Severus says. "Let's go inside."
"Oh well done, you guys," she says, heaving a sigh of relief. "Give it to me."
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Bellatrix says.
"Excuse me?" Hermione says.
"I don't trust you," Bellatrix says. "Because you're not telling us everything."
"Bella, once this is over, I will tell you everything you want to know," Hermione says. "But I need you to give it to me."
"But what if you're wrong?" Bella shouts. "What if Dumbledore is not the good guy you think he is?"
"I don't think he's a good guy," Hermione says tearfully. "I really don't, Bella, I promise."
"Then why are we doing this?" Bella asks. "Why are we helping him?"
"Because he's the better option," Hermione says, starting to weep. "Bella, I've seen the future where we don't take Tom down now and it sucks for so many people. So many people will die and I just can't take it anymore. I can't let that happen but I can't stop it without you. Please, Bella, I need you."
"Oh, Mi," Bella says. "I want to help but I just…I'm so scared."
"I get it," Hermione says. "Help me anyway."
"Okay," Bella says tearfully, reaching into her bag and pulling out Hufflepuff's cup.
"Oh, thank you," Hermione says. "Now let's go – quickly, inside."
"Very well," Severus says. The three of them hurry inside to where Sirius and the others are gathered in the lounge.
"You got it?" Hermione asks Lily, who nods excitedly.
"Here," Lily says, handing her the diary.
"Amazing," Hermione breathes. "Then let's do this."
"Now?" Sirius says. "You want to do this now?"
"When better?" Hermione asks. "We need to choose five people to do it."
"All at once?" James asks.
"All at once," Hermione agrees. "Sirius, Bella, Lily and James – you'll do it with me." She reaches into her bag, pulls out the diadem, the ring and the locket, placing them all on the table. "Everyone should probably step back," she says, watching as everyone who is not needed lines up against the back wall.
"Sirius, the fangs," she says. Sirius reaches into his pocket and pulls out five Basilisk fangs, handing one to each of the chosen five.
"All together," she says calmly. "They're going to fight back. They're going to try and stop us from killing them. But we're all here together and we can do this."
"How does it work then?" James asks, standing behind the ring.
"We've just got to stab it right?" Lily says, taking the diary in her hands and turning it over.
"Yeah," Hermione says, choosing the locket.
"Will it work?" Bellatrix asks uncertainly as she steps up to the cup.
"We're just going to have to see," Sirius says, falling into line behind the diadem. "Will you count us in?"
"Yes," Hermione says. "Three, two, one." Immediately, all five raise their arms and slam the fang down. There is a cacophony of sounds, tearing paper and crunching metal and five ear-piercing screams. An all too familiar red liquid is pouring out of the diary; water is inexplicably pouring out of the cup. And then, to their horror, five smoky figures have joined them in the room.
"Ignore them," Hermione shouts as the figures start to hiss and whisper, wrapping themselves around their murderers. "Stab again." Nobody makes a move – James and Lily are both crying, while Bella and Sirius have gone rigid. "Stab again," Hermione orders. "Three, two, one!" Despite their fear, Bella and Sirius both follow her order, raising their arms and stabbing their Horcruxes again. With another pain-filled, ear-splitting screech, three of the figures disappear.
"Lily," Hermione says, tears pouring down her cheeks. "You have to do it now!"
"I can't," Lily sobs.
"Do it anyway," Hermione screams, struggling to make herself heard over the increasingly loud hissing. With a loud shout, Lily raises her arm, slams the fang down and kills the diary. The figure around her vanishes and then James is the only one left.
"Lily," Hermione says. "You have to help him!"
"James," Lily shouts. "James, you've got to end this!"
"Lily, I don't think I can," he shouts.
"You have to," Lily weeps. "You have to so that we can grow up and get married and have a hundred beautiful children – including one very special boy called Harry." She reaches out and grabs Hermione's hand; the brunette girl is in floods of tears.
"You want to marry me?" James asks.
"More than anything," Lily sobs. "So please, James, just kill it."
James nods, lifting his hand and slamming the fang down into the ring. It lets out one final scream and then disappears; James slumps to the floor, panting.
"We did it," Hermione breathes, shocked. "I can't believe this worked."
"Anyone else need a nap?" Sirius jokes.