Warning(s): Disturbing imagery; Violence
~o0o~
Oh God… There was so much carnage. Bodies everywhere. Hermione screamed and fell to her knees. She was there… she was there, how could she fail? They killed everyone.
"Mimi…"
Cedric lay before her, there was so much blood she didn't know where it was coming from. His face was swollen from a fight, his remaining limbs blackened and curled.
Crying out, Hermione wrapped her arms around him. Her tongue felt stuck to the roof of her mouth. She could help him. She knew the right spells.
"I'm so cold," he croaked.
She wanted to comfort him. She stroked his cheek and wept.
A horrible laugh echoed across the clearing and she looked up at Voldemort. He had a new arm, one she recognized well. How dare he?
"I never promised to let them live," he laughed, sweeping Cedric's hand across the area. "Look at what you wrought. And the best part is… they'll be the ones to kill you."
She looked down at Cedric to see his flesh melting into nothing, leaving him a skeleton with skin stretched over it. He shrieked and lunged at her, wrapping thin fingers around her throat. The husks of people she knew and cared for scurried in for the kill.
Screaming, Hermione opened her eyes to find herself in a dark room. She saw the magical signatures of everyone in the house. Alive and well. Her pillow was soaked. Upon touching her cheek she realized she really was weeping. Her heart pounded so fast she thought it might explode.
Scrambling to her feet, she wrapped her favorite blanket around herself like a shawl and moved swiftly and silently. The house was quiet. It must've been the dead of night. She didn't care. She should have put socks on, the cold floor was like walking on knives. The shadows… logically she knew they were just shadows, but she trembled and scurried along like they had claws that could strip her flesh away.
There were hidden dangers. Ones she couldn't even see. Her gut knew it. The steps to the attic barely creaked beneath her feet. She slowed at the top and pushed open the door.
Cedric slept soundly in his bed, the just waning moon casting the room in silver light. Hermione closed the door behind herself and tiptoed the few steps it took to reach the edge of the bed. His face was smooth and his breathing was even. His loosely plaited hair spilled over his pillow. His prosthetic sat on the side table. He wasn't dying. Even so, she pressed her hand to his chest to feel his heartbeat.
He gasped sharply and grabbed her wrist, his eyes flying open. They glowed silver, a reminder of his transformation the previous night. Or would they always be a glowing silver at night and that beautiful stormy grey in the day?
"Mimi?" He rested his hand over hers, his heart drumming hard against her palm. "What's wrong?"
"Can I stay here tonight?" she whispered.
"Of course."
He scooted over and she climbed in next to him, jumping back up when she sat on something weird.
"Oh, sorry," he said, pulling the covers back and setting a book on home repair and a Car magazine on the nightstand. "There we go."
She climbed in again, the bed creaking slightly, and shifted under the blankets until she was covered to her chin.
The bed was much warmer than her own despite the chill of the attic. The sky glittered with stars and clouds swept around the moon like a cloak. She could see why he insisted on this room as a kid and even now. Even so, she still felt as if she would have to spring up and take off at a run at a moment's notice. She was terrified. Her dream. It could happen. It was very plausible and she could be the cause of it all.
What did she know better?
"Do you want to talk about it?" Cedric asked.
"Am I doing the right thing?" she asked. "What if my tactics get everyone killed?"
"I don't think they will," he said. "You've done so much good already. Saved so many people. Caused the enemy so many problems."
"What if it isn't enough?"
"Then it's not your fault. You're doing all you can and that's sure as hell a lot more than most." He looked over at her. "I think you're doing great and I know lots agree. They just… complain because they feel helpless."
Hermione shifted onto her side to face him, he mirrored her and tentatively touched her hand. She linked her fingers with his. Her reasons for keeping him at arm's length weren't good enough anymore. And she often forgot she was trying to keep them apart. It was too easy to fall into old habits. To find an excuse to touch him. What was the point? What mattered was that she refused to waste anymore time. If he died tomorrow, she would beat herself up for wasting whatever time they had left.
"You spend all your time taking care of everyone else," he murmured. "But who's taking care of you?"
No more. She'd cling to whatever shred of happiness she had left in the world.
Scarcely realizing she had moved, she cupped his cheek and kissed him. He inhaled softly and let go of her other hand so he could draw her close. It wasn't a very long kiss, but it said all it needed to.
"Hold me?" she whispered.
"As you wish." He embraced her.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. Hay. He smelled like hay and sunshine again. She closed her eyes and sighed softly. The rest of her fear ebbed and all she felt was warm and safe. She cuddled as close to him as she possibly could and drifted off.
A shrill bell startled her awake. It ended just as suddenly as it started. Her heart pounded wildly as she stared up at disappearing stars in a lilac sky. Where was she?
"Sorry, sorry," Cedric whispered softly in her ear. "Just my alarm."
That's right… Exhaling slowly, Hermione settled back into her pillow. She was so tired.
Cedric kissed her temple and eased over her so he could get up.
"Where you going?" she mumbled.
"I need to tend the animals," he said, adjusting the blankets around her. "I'll be back before the sun even rises, go back to sleep."
She hummed and rolled over, burrowing under the covers. She listened to him pull on his overalls and brush his teeth before bracing his knee against the bed so he could open the window.
"Moo!" he called out.
One of the cows lowed back.
Hermione giggled and snuggled down. She had a dream like this once. She'd almost forgotten it until this gave her a sense of déjà vu. She hugged the pillow Cedric was using and buried her face into it. She rarely fell back to sleep after waking up, unless she was injured or sick, but she managed it this time.
When she opened her eyes next, the sky was a beautiful pink and Cedric had returned. He typically tended the animals in the morning and Barnaby tended them in the evening. The chores were going to be on a cycle while the Piranha Plants were on tour.
Cedric stepped out of the bathroom freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. He saw her awake and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Did I wake you again?" he asked.
"No, I normally wake up at this hour," she said and sat up. "Thanks for… well, everything."
He smiled and rested his hand on hers. His hair had been dried with a charm and tumbled over his shoulders. The silver in his eyes was going down to that dark grey as the sun rose. He was so beautiful. And he smelled like himself again. Fresh hay, sunshine, that woodsy, grassy, vanilla scent of his soap.
Her farm boy.
He leaned over and kissed her sweetly. She felt as if something shifted to its proper place and she could breathe just a little easier.
When they parted, he coasted his fingers along the scars dotting her hairline. Really she wanted nothing more than to scurry off somewhere away from it all so they could just sit and be.
"I'd better get ready for training," she said. "If I'm late for that, the whole day will be off."
"Sure."
She kissed him lightly. "I don't think we should make an official announcement. I'm sure everyone already thinks we're together anyway."
"But I can still act like a lovesick puppy, right?" he said. "I have over two years of mush to make up with you."
"I'll allow it," she said, walking her fingers up his chest. "Just as long as you don't distract me too much."
"Well, look who learned how to flirt," he teased, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Took me three years to come up with that." She smiled at the sound of his laughter. "Want to keep me company while I train?"
"I'd love to."
She tessered down to her room, brushed her teeth, and changed into her workout gear. It was still weird not being able to tie up her hair. She considered using a serum to grow it back out, but what if she had another event where there was too much blood and muck to wash out? She was better off letting it grow naturally.
She met Cedric outside her door and held his hand down to the training room. They'd used magic to expand on it some and make it better for magic training. Really it had been extended out from the house so if there was an accident it wouldn't cause a complete collapse.
Hermione did her warm up stretches before going into her endurance training. Her skill meant nothing if she couldn't outlast the enemy. She was certain that's how she got an advantage over Voldemort and his lackeys. By keeping them moving until they were out of breath and desperate to end the fight. Which led to sloppy mistakes they didn't normally make.
"You've gotten so strong," Cedric commented. "Not just physically. I just… I remember you used to cry at loud noises and now you don't."
That's right… she did do that. When had that changed?
"Not sure," she said answering her own question. "Probably when I started S.A.M.B. at Castelobruxo? People would come up to instigate fights and I had to learn to shut it down quickly. People seem to think that as soon as you show emotion you've lost the fight, which is bullshit. I'd like to see them defend something they're passionate about without getting emotional."
"Good point."
"Hold my feet, I gotta do sit ups."
He got up and knelt on the ground to hold her feet.
"What do you think we'll do when the war is over?" he asked. "I mean… do you really think they'll let me start my job?"
"Legally they have to," she said.
"They've probably moved on ahead without me," he said.
"Considering they're still paying you for royalties, I doubt they've found a better, more cost efficient way to make radios," she said. "You're brilliant and I doubt you peaked at seventeen, so I'm sure you'll have a place there."
"I'm sure they'll find some reason," he sighed. "With my reputation being what it is…"
Hermione braced her hands behind her. "Tell you what, when we end this war and I do my complete takeover and crown myself supreme ruler with an iron fist, I'll title you Royal Boy Toy. Now you can stop worrying about it."
He snorted and cracked up, pressing his face into her knees. She grinned and kissed the top of his head.
"Things will turn out," she said. "I don't even know what I'll do exactly. We can figure it out together."
He beamed.
"We live here anyway," she said. "We don't even have to pay taxes on it anymore since it no longer exists. Why not just… start here and figure it out as we go along?"
"I can work with that. Erm… can I start training with you? I probably oughta start keeping up."
"I'd like that." She ran her fingers through his hair. "I think you'll manage no problem."
"So I'm not as weak as a little kitten?"
She covered her face with her hands and groaned. "Ooh, I don't even know why I said that."
She had been so caught off guard about him being there and waking up and thinking she was dead that she had tried much too hard to play it cool and ended up saying weird things.
"Well, I nearly fainted again then and there," he said. "You were so cool. You're way cooler than I ever was. If you kill some people you're a hero and a leader, but when I kill some people I'm a 'menace' and 'I must be stopped at all costs.'"
Hermione chuckled softly. "In all fairness there are plenty of people trying to stop me. That is very much a thing that is happening."
"Then I suppose we're a perfect match."
"Always have been. I'm meant to be working out you know."
"Right, right." He straightened up and adjusted his hold on her feet. "Drop and give me twenty!"
"Sir, yes sir!" Hermione returned to start and continued her sit ups. She leaned forward a bit more to give him a smooch. "One!"
Flirting was fun when she wasn't being a nervous scaredy-cat or a guilt-fueled mess about it.
When she continued onto the next leg of her routine, Cedric cheered her on and reminded her to take water breaks. She didn't do much with her weapons, but it was important to her to do strength building exercises and maintain her core. Twice a week all she did was walk laps around the barn.
"Right," she puffed after her cooldown. "I'd better shower and get breakfast going."
"Why don't I do that for you?" Cedric suggested. "You're always cooking."
"Okay, if you don't mind."
"Not at all."
After showering and readying for the day, Hermione trotted down to the kitchen. Cedric was humming one of the songs for the band as he poured pancake batter onto the griddle. Hermione spotted the ready-made stack and yelped.
"They're blue!"
Cedric chuckled. "I noticed we had some food coloring and I thought… why not?"
"Why not?" she agreed. "It smells amazing. What are we having with it?"
"Turkey bacon and fruit salad. We're out of melons so it's mostly berries."
"Sounds perfect. I'll get out the plates."
Everyone usually ate breakfast together. Most of their group still maintained jobs. It was necessary.
Hermione got out plates and readied the lunches of those who would be going into work. All were labeled and ready to go in brown sacks. When that was done, she wrapped her arms around Cedric's middle.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I just love you," she murmured into his shoulder. "And I'm happy you were patient while I sorted my feelings."
"I'd wait for you forever." He paused. "Is that a romantic thing to say or is it creepy?"
"You're attractive so it's romantic." He threw more butter on the griddle, making her inhale deeply. "I would have waited forever if you had asked. I am sorry, mostly to everyone I dated. Treating them like placeholders…" Guilt settled into her stomach. "I'm awful."
"No you're not," he insisted. "How is it any different than when I dated a bunch of girls? Dating is fun and it doesn't have to be a forever commitment. Besides, you were very upfront about everything, weren't you?"
"I suppose."
He hesitated. "Er, with us…"
"One day at a time," she said. "What if after the war ends we decide we can't actually stand each other?"
"Well, I doubt it, but fair point." He rested a hand over hers. "You're everything that I want. I know what I'm in for."
She agreed and stretched on her toes to kiss his cheek. He faced her for a proper kiss. Before they met, his left ear twitched (something she would have missed if it hadn't flicked his earring) and he snapped his head towards the doorway.
Hermione looked back to see Fred retreating upstairs. She felt bad. Maybe she didn't do anyone any favors by ignoring any attempts at flirting. Of course, she also rejected him three times. Was this going to cause issues?
"I think I'll get the coffee and tea going," she said.
Cedric nodded.
Despite her lingering guilt, regrets, and anxieties, she gravitated back to his side. She felt safe just touching his hand. When had she started feeling a constant presence of fear? When she was twelve? Maybe her whole life?
"Breakfast is ready," said Cedric softly. "I suppose I made too much batter."
"We can freeze them," she said and wiggled her finger to ring the bell. "Have leftovers."
The other residents of Rosehill, sans Fred, queued up for breakfast. Hermione served it so Cedric could finish cooking the excess pancake batter.
"I'm going to take an extra plate up to Fred," said George.
Was he being cold? Was he angry? She didn't know.
"Er… is he… I mean… It wasn't my intention to hurt him," she said.
"I know," he said. "You've been clear on your feelings, but I think he needs a little time."
"Time for what?" asked Derrick.
"To cope with the fact Nia and Ced are back together," said Lee rather loudly. Hermione suspected on purpose.
The plastic fork in Derrick's hand snapped.
"What can I say?" said Hermione, trying to smile lightheartedly. "I love him."
"Don't let love cloud your head," Kingsley warned. "There's still a war to fight."
"What war?"
Cedric snickered.
Hermione knew she needed to focus. She needed help. Something… A clue. Was there a second horcrux at Hogwarts she was missing? The thought had been on her mind. She even started wondering if maybe Dumbledore did know where the other horcruxes are and just hadn't told her.
And then there was an even worse thought. She pushed that one down. It was selfish, but she couldn't deal with it.
"I'm going to astral project," she said. "Just this once, I need to see if there's something back at Hogwarts I'm missing."
"That's dangerous, Mimi," said Cedric.
"Got a better idea?"
"Not at the moment."
"It's alright. We'll just set a timer for twelve hours and then you bring me back the way you did last time," she said.
"Wait, what happened last time?" asked Cecilia. "Also, my sister called, she wants the time turner."
Oh yeah, she still had it.
"I'll send it with Stephen Squawking," she said.
Along with some presents for her family. Time had been so weird lately she didn't have a sense of birthdays or anything. She needed to add them to the calendar.
"Mark your birthdays down on the calendar," she said. "Even if we don't have giant parties, I think it's important to have a little celebration. Times like these we need all the fun we can get."
"What does that—"
"Lay off!" Cecilia snapped. "Jesus Christ all you and half the people here do is criticize her but what have you done to end this war?"
"We haven't made much progress," said Mad-Eye.
"How about saving lives, how about that progress?"
"And we caused some pretty good chaos," said George defensively. "They're still cleaning up the mess we made. All they've been able to reinforce is not letting people out of Hogwarts."
"Which we should really get on," said Hermione. "Let me see what I can find out before we stage a rescue mission."
"Just because our idea of progress does not match theirs does not mean it's wrong," said Kingsley diplomatically. "However, what if Our Good Friend suspects you went there to retrieve the diadem?"
"I'll figure it out," she said. "It's fine. We'll manage, and even if he does figure out it's gone, we can find a way to lure him there anyway. I'm even considering making it seem like I'm hiding something there. But first, let's just see what I can find out there. Green Day is coming next month so sooner the better."
"July already?" said Cedric. "How time flies."
Hermione nodded. "And we'll be on tour while we move the rest out, but when we get back we can focus more on the hunt. I'll use this as an opportunity to bring Harry and Ron back in too. Maybe they'll have some ideas on where to go from here. They know the memories, too, so maybe there's something I missed."
Or just didn't want to see.
"Perhaps we should look for Little Hangleton?" Cedric suggested. "It was an important place."
Oh right. Hermione tried not to sigh with relief.
"Excellent idea! I imagine there will be some protections that way, but perhaps we can pop by and check it out on our way back to Hogwarts!" She turned her attention to her now soggy pancakes and scarfed them down.
"And I can find where my arm ended up," said Cedric. "I'm sure if we put it on ice we can still save it."
She snorted and nudged his foot with hers.
Once breakfast had been cleared away, Hermione went up to her room with Cedric. He flinched on the staircase like he'd been stung and she wondered what he sensed.
"It's alright," he said. "Just some bad feelings."
She took his hand, entwining her fingers with his. No regrets. Anyone who had feelings for her would move on. Perhaps even find someone who brought out the best in them like Cedric did for her.
"So, how does this work?" Cedric asked. "Astral Projection."
"Erm… I don't quite know," she said. "I only successfully did it the one time. I think if I just meditate…"
"You sure you want me in here for that?" he asked. "I don't think I'm conducive to a meditative atmosphere."
"But you keep me calm," she said. "I was thinking I would probably just lay down and think of Hogwarts. She always calls to me so, I think it will be fairly easy."
"Alright. I'll be here then."
She laid down in the middle of the floor. Hermione thought if she tried her bed she would just fall asleep. Cedric lay next to her and removed his prosthetic and sock before taking her hand back.
"Is it bothering you?" she asked.
"No, I just don't always like having it on. I do well enough without it, really these days it's just for playing guitar and opening jars."
Hermione nodded and flicked her hand to cast colorful lights on the ceiling. She took a deep breath and watched them. Hogwarts. She needed to see Hogwarts.
Unsure why, she muttered the spell that she often used to put herself in the mirror.
It seemed to work. She slipped away like falling asleep and the runes on her spine grew warm. She found herself in the mirror again. The runes she had written still in place. The space wasn't quite like the D.A., though it was in the Room of Things. She sensed everyone in the castle but there was a concentration of people right here in the room living in hammocks and spare beds.
The mirrors were in a little training area in the corner. She saw Daphne and Padma practicing spells on dummies.
"What are we going to do?" Daphne asked. "Aberforth is doing the best he can to feed us, but we can't stay here forever."
"But if we escape now, how will we get out the others who can't run?" Padma countered.
Hermione tapped her nails against the glass and was pleased to find she had sound unlike last time when she had to rely on Cedric answering his mirror. Eventually, she'd have to figure out how exactly this all worked, but until then she'd take what she could get.
"Nia!" they ran over and each pressed a hand against the glass.
"You look like hell," said Daphne and Padma nodded.
"You're two to talk."
Daphne's nose was broken and her jaw was at an awkward angle, Padma had a black eye and a missing tooth, they both were covered in remnants of curses and hexes. Scars, burns, Hermione caught flashes of what they had been through. They'd been leaving this out of their notes to her.
She didn't want to see this.
She had no choice.
There was no deep breath to calm her anger. She had no air here. Hermione pursed her lips.
"I'm coming," she said. "To get you out. Sometime within the next few days. There's just something I need to check for, but I promise I'll be here."
"There are caterwaul charms," said Padma. "Neville tried to apparate out to get help and was caught and brought back."
They beat him within an inch of his life. He had bounced back and was currently tending to a couple first years who he helped escape to the room. Hogwarts had become so small.
"I'll figure it out, I'll take everyone out," said Hermione. "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, pretty sure that's everyone."
Daphne snorted then winced and touched her nose.
"It won't be long," Hermione promised. "I just…"
There… in the Headmaster's Office. Hidden in the Pensieve was a diary. Dumbledore's? She thought she saw him access it. Hm…
Oh no. Death Eaters.
"I don't care what you have to do!" Amycus snarled. "Tear it down brick by brick if you must, but I know those brats are hiding in there."
"I think not." Hermione pushed on the pane and fell through it. She was more in control this time around.
She looked back to see her natural self slumped against the glass, reflected in the mirror was a being of ash and light. A first year spotted her and screamed in alarm.
"Nia!" Neville gasped.
Hogwarts got to her feet and stormed through the wall.
"GET OUT!" she roared. The foundations trembled slightly. Imagine what she could do if she was truly there.
The gathered Death Eaters screamed. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, there upon orders from Snape, stepped back in shock.
"How dare you," Hogwarts snarled. "How dare you treat my students so shamefully?!"
"A mere trick!" Snape retorted.
Hermione scowled.
"I recognize that ugly little face," he said. "Hermione Granger. You have some nerve showing up here, especially with a parlor trick like that."
"The Mudblood!" gasped Amycus. "The Dark Lord has quite the price on her head. Alive is worth quite a bit more, but dead will have to do. Avada Kedavra!"
The spell went through her. Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"I think I felt something," she said. "Why don't you try again?"
"She's not really here you idiot," said Snape. "She's must be hiding nearby. An illusion."
Hermione surged forward and grabbed his collar.
"Does this feel like an illusion?" she sneered. "I injured your boss in a pitch black cave, just imagine what I can do to you as a mere shadow!"
"And we will not go down easy," she said with Hogwarts.
All-in-all, not her best decision. Hogwarts was to blame. Hermione didn't intend a confrontation, it was meant to be a simple and quiet search.
Even so, she played the part of arrogant hero and dissipated in a cloud of smoke, cackling while the Death Eaters hit each other with curses.
She returned to the Room of Things.
"I will be back for you within the week," she said to the shock of everyone there. "Be ready."
She returned to her body in the mirror and woke up in Rosehill. An alarmed Cedric was using a blanket to smother the smoke emitting from her skin.
"Please don't do that again," he begged. "I couldn't wake you up."
"It was a disaster anyway," she said, pushing the blanket back. She was too warm. "We're going to have a hell of a time getting people out and retrieving that secret diary."
"Will we need everyone?" asked Cedric, sitting back on his heels.
"Mm… they think I'm already in the school," she said. "I think we'd be better off keeping you, me, and Duckie, but have the rest of the team on standby in the event an ambush is waiting for us."
He nodded. "Perhaps we just won't tell Mad-Eye?"
"No. No sneaking around our own team members. I just don't know what his issue is," she huffed and sat up. "He was supportive until he wasn't. What happened?"
"He's prejudiced against werewolves and won't admit it," said Cedric. "You defending me when I was transformed… letting me hang around untethered…"
"You aren't dangerous, why would I cage you?"
"I am dangerous," he said. "Just no more than you. We attack when provoked and people don't seem to realize words are just as provocative as actions."
Hermione dragged her hands down her face and sighed heavily. Oh wait, she didn't have to carry it all herself anymore. That would take some getting used to. She scooted closer to Cedric and leaned into him.
"I think we oughta leave tomorrow," she said. "What they're doing…"
"I know," he said, wrapping his arm around her. "I saw when your mind cried out. I'm scared, Mimi. Scared to lose you. The kill on sight…"
"Well, that's only if they aren't greedy," she said. "I'm worth way more alive. Quite a few seem to underestimate me. Or rather, they overestimate themselves. We should take your backpack and the car. I think we should strike in the dead of night. People will be tired and off their guard."
"Where will we get in from? The anchor stones?"
"Yes, and then I can apparate us out," she said. "Being me has its perks… Will you be okay going back?"
"If you're there with me, yes," he said. "And I popped back in once before and I was alright. That was when you used the time-turner again."
"Ah. Right." She fiddled with his loose sleeve. "And you're sure you want to be my partner in all this?"
"Always," he said. "Partners in life and in crime. Just the way it should be."
She chuckled and sat with him for a long moment until she knew she couldn't put off her responsibilities any longer.
"Let me tell Draco," said Cedric before she could finish forming her thought into words. "And I'll make sure my backpack is ready. We can tell the others at dinner."
Hermione nodded and went to her desk to get started on a copy of Ravenclaw's diadem. She brought out the real one and hesitated before taking out Dumbledore's wand. It was so powerful and in tune. More so than any channel she wielded. She would prefer her own wand, but she had a feeling this one would create a lifelike quality.
She used quite a bit of her bronze wires and metal pieces, heating and transfiguring them into the right shape. It went a little too easy. All she needed was some lapis lazuli. Or rather, something that looked like it. She didn't quite know how it was made. Alejandro would know. She sent him a quick note and asked him what would make good substitutions at a glance and that she would need an answer by tomorrow morning.
He responded as she was fastening the old leather from the original diadem to the fake one. It was easier just to replace the leather on hers in case it needed to be worn at any point. She documented the process, of course. For later proof of the original's authenticity.
Lapis Lazuli is made by contact metamorphism, Alejandro wrote. It's pretty difficult to make, even for us. You would need lazurite, calcite, and pyrite. It would need to be heated and super compressed. Magic would shatter it and few trolls are strong enough to create the force needed to create natural looking layers. I think you'd be better off using dyed resin or sodalite.
Here's the formula for sodalite. You'll have to use a combination alchemical and arithmantic process. I'd recommend using salt as a base and just whatever you can find for the Aluminum, Silicon, and Oxygen. It might actually work best if you use your fire breath for the Oxygen component.
It was a tricky bit of magic. Hermione stared at the compound and the alchemical circle. A hexagon layered with a square.
But she didn't have time to find resin.
Where am I going to get silicon from? She asked.
You can summon it from the earth. You can also use silicone rubber. It'll just make the gem feel weird. It's just for looks right?
Right, no one will touch it.
The quality will probably take to the dye more easily. I assume you don't have dye salt on hand?
You assume correctly. Well, I think Badeea makes her own paint with pigment.
Ask if she has ultramarine. You can't return it back to lapis, but it will make the process much easier. Supplement with a bit of pyrite or sparkly gold-colored dust. Whichever you have.
Alright. Thanks for your help. I'll reach out if I have any questions.
Putting Dumbledore's wand back in her kit, Hermione scooped up both diadems and headed downstairs. She spotted Badeea in the barn with Cedric and Barnaby, so she gathered up materials instead. She got the chalk, some salt and aluminum foil from the pantry, and a couple other essentials. She just needed the silicone rubber.
Rubber… where was she going to find that?
Ah!
Turning around, she wove through the house to get to the twin's workshop. They were both in there tinkering away at products.
"I need rubber," she declared.
"What, are you going that fast already?" asked Fred bitterly.
"Excuse me?"
"What sort of rubber?" asked George, swatting his brother.
"Er, silicone? If you have natural silicon it will work way better."
"It's the putty," said Fred, pointing to the wall with his wand.
A small, red box floated out towards her. Hermione grabbed it out of the air and got a couple more from the shelf.
"Thanks."
"What are you making?" asked George.
"Fake lapis lazuli."
She thought about saying something to Fred, but decided he didn't need her to try and fix things. How could it be fixed? It couldn't. If he was only helping her because he thought he'd get something from her… that thought didn't bear finishing. Instead, she went out the door to the barn, glad she didn't have to juggle everything through the house.
"Badeea, I need your help—what are you doing?"
Barnaby was sitting astride Daisy in only his shorts, wielding a cricket bat like a sword. Badeea had her easel and paints out and was painting a prince astride a horse. Cedric sat in the corner blushing furiously while Clover and Bumble nosed at his pockets for treats.
"He really didn't have to take his clothes off," said Badeea, rolling her eyes.
"It feels more natural this way!" said Barnaby. "You can just paint clothes on me!"
Just a big, beautiful dummy.
"Right…" Hermione blinked and remembered the task at hand. "Anyway, I need to make a lapis lazuli. Do you have any ultramarine pigment?"
"Er…" She opened a drawer in her paint chest and skimmed through jars and parcels of pigment. "Yes! How much do you need?"
"Um… a teaspoon? Maybe half. Ced, do you have a clear space for me to work in? I also need some goggles."
"Yes, of course." He swept a space clear of hay and dirt.
The ground was concrete. It wasn't exactly a smooth surface, but she could manage. She referenced the circle and drew it out, being very careful to get the Trollish correct. Cedric looked at the circle and quickly constructed some safety wards.
"Let's see," she murmured, weighing everything out with her scales. "Sixteen parts salt to six parts aluminum to six parts silicon to twenty four parts oxygen plus ultramarine for color."
She put everything in a pile in the center of the circle, took several sharp breaths and inhaled deeply then pressed her thumbs to the outer edges of the circle and blew a slow, steady stream of fire. It was difficult to control it like this and sweat beaded on her forehead from the heat and effort. The flames circled and condensed as everything merged together. After twenty-four seconds—when she was seconds from passing out—a resounding boom rattled the barn, sending Daisy (and Barnaby with her) running for the hills, the chickens scattering, and the calves ran out, hot on Trixie's heels.
Hermione blinked back the stars and saw Cedric's concerned face over hers.
"Did I do it?" she asked.
He said something but he sounded far away. Hermione furrowed her brow.
"I can't hear you."
He helped her sit up and removed the goggles. She hissed and knew she burnt her face a little. Cedric touched her hand.
Are you just growing more reckless or have you been doing this in secret? he projected angrily.
She blinked back the stars and popped her ears. Sound returned, though it still seemed a bit muffled, like when her allergies were bad. Working her jaw, she looked at her feet and saw a piece of sodalite a beautiful, vibrant blue. Rough, strange looking, but beautiful. She reached for it, but Cedric snatched it up.
"Badeea and I will match it up to that one," he said, gesturing to the Sapphire of Mycenae on the real diadem. "We'll finish it up just… please do something safe for a couple hours? Like a puzzle or… reading a book. No harm ever came from reading a book."
"Famous last words."
"What the bloody hell is going on in here?" Mad-Eye demanded.
"Getting things done, just like you wanted," said Hermione. "Making Our Good Friend think he managed a stalemate with his horcrux and we're rescuing however many Hogwarts students want to leave. Also, there's a secret diary Dumbledore had so I'm going to retrieve it and see if he had any info he declined to tell us. Also, also, we're going to scope out Little Hangleton and see if there's a horcrux there. Is that enough for you?!"
"Not if you get yourself killed doing it!"
Hermione scoffed. "No pleasing you is there?" She forced herself to her feet. "It's been six months Moody. What do I have to do to get you to trust me? If it's locking up my partner every full moon, you can forget it."
Mad-Eye stared at her, his prosthetic eye uncharacteristically still. "You are still a child, Granger. I forget that."
"And yet, here we are," she said. "I'm tired of clawing for even a shred of respect. If you're not even going to grant me the benefit of the doubt, then take your Order members and get the hell out of my house. Just don't get in my way. You'd be doing Morty's job for him and I won't abide by that."
"Is that a threat?"
"Yes."
They maintained direct eye-contact until his prosthetic eye quivered and swiveled around to look anywhere else. Hermione relaxed her stance.
"I'm not hard on you because I don't think you're cut out for this, Granger," he said. "I lost a lot of friends in the last war."
"And am I making the same mistakes they did?" she asked.
"No," he conceded. "You're a natural leader, people listen to you, but your methods aren't known for winning wars."
Hermione sighed through her nose. Cedric rested a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not stupid," she said. "Or naïve. I know I can't save everyone. I know some things are better kept secret, but I am not going to sit there and turn away those in need or let others die for the sake of an end goal and if that gets me killed? Fine, but at least I refused to give up my humanity. At least I said just this once everyone lives instead of letting paranoia and fear make me turn my back on my fellow humans. I have killed and would again if necessary as you are well aware."
Mad-Eye pursed his lips.
"Have everyone on call," she said. "I don't think it will turn into a giant battle, but I think we oughta be prepared nevertheless. I'm taking Cedric and Draco with me, we're checking out Little Hangleton on the way."
"Very well."