Night had fallen in the castle and Hermione stared out a window in the Common Room towards the Forbidden Forest, a small smile playing across her lips. Things had finally been set in motion- the letter had been sent, Draco placed in the crypt (she shuddered at the thought) and Harry probably already on his way to be reunited with his lover. She glanced at the clock. A couple more hours before the draught should have worn off and she had promised Draco she would be there when he woke up.

Suddenly, a shadow flew across the moon- the shadow of an owl. It was flying slowly as if incredibly tired and she saw that all its feathers were bent and battered. Then, as it flew across the window… something looked familiar about that little owl. Something which she could not place her finger on. She watched it as it flew up to the Owlery… Then, she gasped and began to sprint towards the portrait hole, ignoring the shouts from her peers as they followed her progress. Something was wrong.

She sprung up the last couple of steps and came gasping to a stop. The little owl was sitting on the windowsill hooting feebly. It looked as if it had been through a bush backwards, even worse than Errol looked on a bad day if that was possible. But it was not the owl's feeble condition which caught Hermoine's attention as she ran over and began to gently stroke its feathers back into place. It was the envelope tied to its leg that looked terribly familiar. She picked it up and saw her own neat handwriting on the cover. It was the letter she had sent to Harry, telling him about the plan.

She turned it over and saw an unfamiliar script on the back.

We regret to inform you that Mr Potter was unable to receive your letter as it arrived just after he left with Mr Longbottom…

And the rest was a blur. "Neville!" she groaned. She had seen him race out of the castle right after the funeral but thought nothing of it. She knew that he was the messenger between Harry and Draco but she had completely forgotten to tell him…

She gave the owl one last pat and jumped up again. Maybe she wasn't too late. Maybe… maybe…

"Miss Granger!"

She came to a sudden halt as Professor McGonagall emerged from a neighbouring corridor.

"Professor?"

"Miss Granger, I am shocked. You, of all people, know that it is forbidden for students to be out this late at night, especially at the Owlery of all places."

"Yes, but-"

"No buts! Come with me."

And Hermoine had no choice but to follow.

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