Yes, I know it's short, but it's the third and last for today/tonight... now. This is the part I've always dreaded, because the whole thing goes to hell :(


"Severus… please…"

For a moment she was convinced that there was another message hidden in these two words as Dumbledore stood at the edge of the Astronomy Tower. The night was dark and even the moon was covered by the clouds. Above them they could count the pairs of feet of the Death Eaters that had found their way into the school, Malfoy junior in the front rows.

"Avada Kedavra."

But it hadn't been Malfoy who'd killed Dumbledore, it hadn't been him, although she'd overheard LeStrange's words, trying to push Draco to fulfill his deed. But the young man hadn't been able to do it.

No, it had been Snape's wand which emitted the deadly, green flash of the Killing Curse.

Her whole world shattered.

Her arms could not hold Harry as he sprinted after the fleeing Death Eaters, as he ran after Snape. Numbness had set in, her world was dull, her hearing gone. Snape had killed Dumbledore – the one assurance that Voldemort would not enter Hogwarts, their security was gone.

Overwhelming reality washed over her as she fell to her knees and stayed there.


She did not know just how long she had been sitting on the floor, unmoving, her brain at a still-stand. From afar she thought she heard Harry calling Snape a traitor, a coward, she heard Snape give up the secret that he was the Halfblood Prince, heard him taunt Potter… and equally heard him save the foolish boy who'd unwittingly cast a curse at one of the fleeing Death Eaters.

What was she to think now?

For years she had defended Snape, had been convinced that even though he'd been working for Voldemort he'd somewhat atoned for his sins or whatever they were and that he had switched to the side of 'Light' – after all, he hadn't been there when the monster had been resurrected.

Then again, Karkaroff had been, and now he was in Azkaban – Snape was clever, he would have never blown his cover, and it would be so easy to have tricked her; she had believed him after all. He'd saved her, had he not?

And she'd fallen for him.

Shame and regret filled her chest as she hid her face in her hand. Oh, she'd fallen for him like a fool, had fallen for the same intelligence that had outwitted her, had fallen for the same hands that had killed their security – her security – and had equally fallen for the same man who'd so easily destroyed her whole world. It all felt so wrong now.

How could she? Why had she never listened to Ron, or Harry, when they'd pointed out the weak points in his charade? Why had she wanted to believe in the good? Oh why had she fallen for him?

Hours, or maybe only minutes, she berated herself, loading the guilt of the world on her shoulders, feeling for the first time in her short life, just how hurtful disappointment could be, and how much a broken heart could weigh down on a person.


Marlene found her.

They'd been sure that Hermione had already moved away from the Astronomy Tower, but Marlene had had a feeling that she'd find her there – she'd been right. Hermes' Glamours were still intact, though he looked like a statue. In the first few moments the young witch was not even sure if her friend breathed, then she thought that maybe she'd been hit with a Petrificus, but on closer inspection, she realized that Hermione was simply… still.

"Hermione?"

As if she'd broken a seal, the kneeling witch suddenly released a heavy sob, curling together. Marlene watched silently from the stairs as the one person she looked up broke down.

It had not been a secret to the three other witches that Hermione liked Professor Snape. They'd known and yet had not said a word once – pointing out weaknesses might have been the job of a friend, but that kind of weakness was best left untouched.

Now as she watched the thick tears stream down Hermione's cheeks, she realized just why such things were not spoken out loud. It was war – and love did not belong in a world that was reigned by war. Ever so silently, Marlene's heart broke for Hermione.


The aftermath of that night was disastrous; Miss Pomfrey did not get out of her constant bustling through the infirmary that was littered with students – either petrified or worse – mostly muggle-borns. Harry and Hermes both solemnly looked at the scene in front of them.

"You know he's rising." Harry said silently to her – the witch refrained from snorting, the boy was dense sometimes. "This was a message…" another dramatic pause, Hermione was not in the mood for drama today but she waited either way, "… he wants me to come out to fight."

Finally – she thought – he's caught on, took him enough time.

Patience, Marlene had said, and she knew that she owed Harry that much. He, at least, had not been tricked by Snape's charade – she could be angry, but she had to be angry at herself, not at Harry.

"I think Harry, we should plan your year ahead – it will be full of things to do… and we cannot leave anything to fate this time around. Your magic has saved you time and again, but those were incidents, little snippets, if this will become what it looks like now, you will need skill, endurance and discipline."

The boy looked at her with big eyes, she smirked. "Don't look like that, Potter, I had it a long time coming."

And therewith, she turned, Harry following her.


So, what do you think?

Please review - there'll be more coming soon... very soon

Lots of love!