Warning(s): Discussions of Child Abuse; Violence; Death

~o0o~

Cecilia insisted on coming too. Hermione agreed. She didn't really have any big reason for agreeing, she just didn't have any reason not to agree. The four of them put on disguises, piled into Bug (now camouflaged a beautiful blue and made into a convertible with harvested parts), and made their way North. Draco was in charge of the map as the compass refused to focus on their destination, which only worried Hermione.

She and Cedric took turns driving. During her downtime she crocheted and tried to think of backup plans in the event something went wrong with Plan A.

"How are you planning on hiding the diadem?" asked Cecilia.

"I don't know. I wish I knew how Dumbledore put the Philosopher's Stone into the Mirror of Erised."

"There's a Mirror of Erised there?" she gasped. "I studied one at Castelobruxo."

"There's more than one?" asked Draco.

"Of course. Haven't you heard of the legend of Erised?"

"No. We were taught History by a ghost for most of our school careers," said Cedric. "And while Hogwarts has the biggest magic library around here, it doesn't really seem to compare to other schools. Of course, that's what happens when Headmasters censor information."

"And each one has censored something," said Hermione. "All those books they removed are scattered throughout… somewhere. That's the extent of Hogwarts' knowledge."

"Well, Erised used to be a real place centuries ago," Cecilia explained. "Its location is long lost, but it was somewhere in Eastern Europe. See, there were these nymphs that guarded these reflective pools that could show the future. At least… that's what everyone thought. The nymphs could speak any language in the world, but only backwards. No one bothered to translate, so what they thought was the future were just their desires. Things got out of hand when a King who lost his war took whatever military he had left and stormed the nymphs' home. Upon their deaths, the pools they guarded became glass. Except one who wrote it all down. Some say she's still out there guarding the last pool after wizards came and stole the others to turn into mirrors.

"Anyway, the mirrors have special properties. You can place items inside for people to retrieve. In order to make sure no one else can take it, you have to list your specifications upon placing it inside."

"Can people go in the mirrors?" asked Draco.

"Strangely, no. Not for lack of trying. I heard of one dark witch who wanted to banish her enemies into the mirror, but it failed. Anyway, you can put the diadem in there with no extra spells. Just name the limitation as you put it in."

"Right. Okay. It's back in that old classroom. While you lot are getting everyone who wants to leave in Cedric's bag, Duckie and I will lead them away from the room. They're planning on forcing their way in. Dead of night. Catch them by surprise… Not on my watch! They can't hurt my students any longer! I refuse… I REFUSE!"

"MIMI!"

She blinked back the grey and hit the brakes before she could hit the sign in front of her. Cedric rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Let me drive for a bit," he said. "We aren't even in Scotland yet."

"We're a mile out from Greater Hangleton," said Draco.

"Fine." Hermione threw the car in park and traded places with Cedric.

He dodged the sun visor flipping out to smack him in the forehead.

"Your car hates me," he said.

"Probably because of the van," said Hermione. "Bug, be nice. We like Cedric and now you can feel the wind in your seats thanks to him. Isn't that nice?"

The radio stations flickered erratically, settling on some pop love song while Bug pushed the canvas top back.

"I know you're lying, but I appreciate it." Hermione settled back in her seat and brought out her crochet project.

"Little Hangleton!" said Draco some time after they were on the road. "Turn left here. Can we stop for lunch after?"

"Sure. Where should we stop?"

"Sunderland. There's a more direct road to Edinburgh there."

"Great. We'll find a pub, have a pint and a sandwich. Well, if you want, I don't drink and don't intend to start now."

"Why not?" asked Cecilia.

"I worry I might become addicted and have it grow into a problem."

"Well, it's good you're aware of that," said Cedric. "I started feeling that way about cigarettes. People let me bum some, you know. Makes you feel calm, but how could I afford a nicotine addiction when I was getting my meals out of dust bins?"

"Yeah, I hear that."

"I'll stick to my pakalolo instead."

She snorted and looked back down at her project.

"Well, I ain't driving so just a beer," said Cecilia. "I'll be sober by the time we get there."

Hermione nodded and frowned. Something wasn't right.

"STOP!"

"What?! What did I hit?" asked Cedric.

Hermione furrowed her brow. "I don't like this… Something's wrong." She looked around. "Bug, put the top up. Cedric, take that side road there, up the hill."

Cedric waited until the latches were secure before continuing onto the path. The car rattled over the dirt and potholes, and overgrown branches scraped against the car like claws. After a few minutes, it opened up to a look out and they could see all of Little Hangleton.

"Holy smokes…" Hermione whispered.

"What? What do you see?" asked Draco.

"Is it my dignity?" asked Cedric.

Hermione rested her hand on his shoulder so he could see what she did.

It was a tangled mass of wards. More complex than she had ever seen. No openings. They dug into the ground. A complete bubble of protection surrounding part of the village which had grown around a cluster of foliage. A ways away on a hill was a cemetery and a strange piece of magic. As soon as she looked away, she forgot about it. Oh God, the village. No human could survive this much magic.

"Fuck…" Cedric whispered and held out his hand so Cecilia and Draco could see too.

In the center of the foliage cluster was a writhing, dark mass. Pulsing. Angry. Beneath that… an Inferi nest. She recognized it as similar to the one at the cave. Was that what Voldemort was doing? Going to his horcrux sites and making inferi nests? Because she kept putting dents in his lackeys?

What about… oh God… if they found the children. Is that what he was planning? Turn Hogwarts into an inferi nest? If there was another one…

They had to destroy the one off the shore. They couldn't let him make another one at Hogwarts. But this one… It would take time they didn't have to dismantle the wards one by one. And even at this distance they could see patrols.

"I think we're going to have to save this one for a later date," said Cedric. "Love, can you see a horcrux?"

"Yes. It's… it's strange. It's stretched out. Maybe it's just the dark magic playing tricks. Like a black hole, you know?"

"So what are we going to do?" asked Draco.

"I don't know… I suppose we'll just have to do what Cedric said and save it for a later date." Hermione sighed and slumped back into her seat. "Let's get some lunch and then hurry on to Hogwarts. I think we should say bollocks to the original plan and get as close as we can before triggering any protective wards. From there we'll walk."

"Sure thing, boss," said Cedric, turning the car around and going back the way they came.

They actually managed to get quite a bit closer than expected. Of course, Hogwarts was holding the anti-apparition wards and the caterwaul charms as close as possible. The Death Eaters couldn't actually find the anchor stones and had just tried to cast the spells around the perimeter.

Bug was shrunk down and put away in her case. Hermione put on a cloak and gave a second to Draco. The one with Gryffindor's Pin.

"I want to psych them out," she said. "You'll follow along invisibly. Cedric, Ceci, I want you to focus on getting everyone out. As soon as everyone is in the car, just leave. We'll follow along."

"We going through the anchor stones?" asked Cecilia.

"No. I don't want them to know about that," she said. "I can't risk that. There's another way in through the Hog's Head. Let's go."

It took them nearly two hours of walking to get to Hogsmeade and subsequently the Hog's Head. They didn't trigger any alarms. No one stopped them. The one Death Eater they crossed on patrol just nodded at them as they passed without really looking at them.

Aberforth was putting chairs on tables and wiping down the counter. The place was as dingy and grey as ever, but it did seem significantly cleaner than last time. There was a single pumpkin-colored high chair behind the counter, out of place among the dingy greys of the publ

"Oy, we're closed," he snapped.

"I know," said Hermione, pushing back her hood. "I'm here about your sister."

She nodded at the portrait by the fireplace. Aberforth scowled and seemed ready to hex her before recognizing her and realizing the implication.

"Am I… expecting any others?" he asked.

"Potentially," she said, tapping her friendship bracelet.

S.B. RNDV HogH

The beads spun and a new message appeared.

Standing By

"That's nifty," said Aberforth.

"Here." Hermione took out one and handed it to him. "If you and baby Brian need a safe place, just tap the bracelet, think 'Aurora' and it'll directly message me."

He accepted the bracelet and beckoned them over to the portrait. Ariana Dumbledore smiled broadly at Hermione and opened up. Hermione climbed in first and the others followed. They walked along a long tunnel before coming to a wooden panel. Behind it was an amalgam of magic.

She knocked and it swung open to reveal a safe space within the Room of Things just as she saw it. Except now it seemed the entire school, those who were forced to stay over the summer since their parents refused to pledge loyalty to Voldemort, were all gathered. Even the teachers, those who weren't Death Eaters anyway, were there.

"Good thing we expanded the space," said Cedric.

Everyone dozing jerked awake. Neville jumped to his feet and ran over, hugging Hermione fiercely.

"I'm glad you're here," he said. "They're furious out there. They want the entire school gathered in the Great Hall in the morning. Even if they have to break into here to get us out."

"I know," she said. "Get everyone organized and into the backpack. Duckie and I are going to buy you time."

"It's dangerous out there."

"We'll be alright." She squeezed his shoulder and dragged Draco along. He was looking around, no doubt for Astoria. "No time, Romeo. Hood up."

He huffed and pulled the hood up so he disappeared. Hermione pulled her own cloak hood up, but not to become invisible. She ran with him out of the room and along the path to the Headmaster's Office. Snape wasn't there yet. The Gargoyle stepped aside for her and she took the steps two at a time.

The pensieve was still in the corner, but all the memories were gone. Where they went, she didn't know. She approached the Pensieve, her senses were on overload.

"Meenie."

With a soft pop, the head elf appeared.

"Miss!" she whispered in surprise.

"We're getting everyone out of the school," she said. "Or, almost everyone. If you or anyone else want to escape with us, go to the Come-and-Go room now. We'll find a place for you."

"Thank you, Miss," said Meenie. "Some of us will remain, but I know who is thinking of leaving."

She left and Hermione went back to cracking open the Pensieve. What appeared to be stone was actually a wooden panel. There she found a diary and a few other things of importance. She funneled them into her purse and focused on how everyone else was faring.

If she hadn't had Draco with her…

He tugged her sharply to the side as a curse split the Pensieve Bowl in two, the liquid inside gushing out.

Hermione jumped to her feet and faced her attacker.

"Granger," Snape sneered. "You are trespassing."

"You are trespassing," she mocked in a stupid voice.

"The dark lord is furious," he ground out. "Give me one reason I should not kill you where you stand?"

"I dunno… your lust for Lily Potter?"

He flinched and Draco fired off a stunner.

"Let's go," he said and pulled her along.

Dammit. Hermione drew her scythe.

"They're heading for the room," she said. "We need to draw them away."

They ran up to the seventh floor. Hermione twitched her hand to turn the fire in all the brackets black. Hogwarts' rage was already through the roof, so it was easy. The faint white outline gave a little bit of light in the corridor. The ten Death Eaters called to break into the Room of Things were chipping away at the wall.

Hermione stood a good distance away menacingly.

"Look!" Amycus shouted. "You there! Reveal yourself."

She allowed herself to merge more with Hogwarts, which would make her eyes glow. She hissed and the foundations rumbled.

"It's the Grim Reaper!" Stan Shunpike (broken out of Azkaban like all the other Death Eaters) cried and ran the other direction.

"COWARD!" Alecto screamed. "Your little parlor tricks won't work, mudblood. You'll never get into the room while we're here. The Dark Lord's artifact will never be found by the likes of you!"

She fished the false diadem out of her purse and held it up.

"You mean this artifact?" she asked, her voice a soft whisper that came from every corner of the castle. "The Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw?"

"That isn't the lost diadem! We will not be tricked."

"YOU!" The ghost of Helena Ravenclaw surged down the corridor. "That! Give it back!"

Hermione wiggled it. "You recognize this?"

"It was my mother's!" she snarled. "That man stole it from me! He defiled it!"

The eyes of her enemies grew greedy. Hermione smirked. She loved when a plan fell into place. Draco forced her shoulder down as a curse shot over her head from behind. Snape was back. His spell hit someone else.

Hermione took off at a run down the adjacent corridor and they all gave chase. Draco ran next to her, safely hidden by the invisibility spell on the cloak pin. The Room of Things was almost clear, they were just getting the house-elves in.

Heart pounding fast, Hermione let herself be cornered in the classroom with the Mirror of Erised. She approached it, but didn't look into it. She didn't care what she desired.

"STOP!" Snape approached, wand trained on her. "There's nowhere to run."

She needed to waste their time. Keep them trained on her.

"Hand over the diadem," said Snape. "Do you know what you hold?"

"Of course I do. It's the most important artifact I ever found in the Room of Things," she said. "Of course little Tommy Tims wants it."

"You will show the proper respect, Mudblood!" Alecto spat.

"I am showing the respect he deserves," she said.

"If you even attempt to leave with that diadem," said Amycus, "you will wish we killed you where you stood."

She knew the threat. She knew what they had been doing to her students and it sickened her.

"You want this diadem?" she asked. "This one right here?"

"Yes!" said Snape.

"And we will grant you a merciful death!"

Hermione snorted. Just a little longer.

"Why do you want it so bad?" she asked. "It would only be useful to me. It acts like my necklace, it just helped Ravenclaw focus. Trust me, it will not make any of you smarter."

"Leave it here and we will let your friends leave this place alive," said Snape. "Leave it and we will not chase them."

"Promise?" she said, tapping the diadem to the blade. "Swear on your magic that they won't be forced back here?"

"Yes. I swear on my magic," said Snape. "If you swear you leave that diadem behind."

"So desperate," she said. "Deal. I decree this diadem cannot leave until the time is right."

She tossed it over her shoulder and was thrilled it phased through the glass. She cackled and the castle cackled with her in an eerie echo.

"YOU SNEAKY LITTLE BITCH!"

"I did not promise you would leave alive!" Snape snarled.

The spells were on their lips. Draco came to the rescue and threw down instant darkness powder.

"I'll be back!" Hermione shouted.

She pulled Draco close and apparated as the spells fired off. She stepped towards Rosehill and Cedric and Cecilia appeared a moment later. Hermione tapped her bracelet.

Stand Down.

Exhaling slowly, she trotted to fall into step with Cedric.

"Anyone we shouldn't bring here?" she asked.

"No. This is everyone who was unable to leave. Prisoners essentially," he said. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. They think the horcrux is in the mirror and if Snape doesn't want to lose his magic he can't force anyone back. Not a perfect deal, but it did the trick."

Cedric kissed her and went inside. He carried the backpack to the library and set it down. While he helped everyone out, Hermione set the household running. It was nearly three in the morning, but everyone was up. She got kitchen duty running, medical care, and the rest setting up places to sleep.

"Nia…"

"Hm?" she looked over at Draco as he helped her carry blankets to the library.

"Am I… did I save your life?" he asked.

She noticed the thread connecting him to her was gone. He saved her life. His debt was repaid.

"Yes," she said. "Seemed rather easy didn't it?"

He nodded and looked pensive.

"Look, I won't keep you here if you don't want," she said. "You can leave after the tour and I won't stop you. You're also welcome to stay and help."

She pushed the library doors open. Draco dropped the blankets as Astoria raced towards him. She loped along, her knee having been injured. There were cuts on her face and her hair was a tangled mess. She threw her arms around Draco's neck and kissed him. He sighed softly and drew her close.

Hermione picked up the blankets he dropped with a flick of her wrist and carried them to the group. A hundred students, eight teachers, and two hundred house-elves all in various states of injury.

"Nia!" Padma and Daphne hugged her tightly.

"Hello, girls," she said. "Sorry I waited so long."

"It's alright," said Daphne. She looked over at her sister and Draco and scowled. "Hey! No! Stop that right now!"

Hermione and Padma exchanged looks and broke into giggles. Hermione stood up on a chair to address the room.

"Hello, everyone," she said. "Welcome to Rosehill. Quarters are going to be a little tight for a month or so, but we will get you to secondary locations starting in mid-August. You are welcome to leave from here on your own terms of course. If anyone of age would like to volunteer to help the Weather with our work you are, of course, welcome to. As soon as your injuries are taken care of, we'll assign sleeping areas. Please don't feel offended if someone gets a room and you don't, it's not showing favoritism it's just for ease. Breakfast is at eight o'clock, sandwiches will be set out for lunch, dinner is at 7:30 in the evening. Quiet time starts at 10:30 and ends at 7:30 the next morning. Please remember to pick up after yourselves and be kind to each other."

She stepped down and approached the teachers. "We have space here. There's also a bit of room at our other bases."

"I think I will wait until it's light," said Professor Vector. "Thank you, Miss Granger."

"Of course. Where's Hagrid?"

"He left shortly after Professor Fisher was murdered," said Professor McGonagall. "I am uncertain where he and Grawp went, though I suspect France."

"Cedric!" Professor Sprout exclaimed, startling the other teachers. She approached her former student and hugged him fiercely.

Oh, of course they wouldn't recognize him right away.

"I think I'm going to go see Daddy," said Luna. "I'd really love to see Ginny again, but I think it's more important that I stay home."

"Alright," Hermione agreed. "But I think you oughta have an escort. Know what? I'll take you. Cedric, you're in charge."

"As you wish," he said.

Hermione went out through the lab and walked with Luna over to the Rook that made up her house.

"I imagine you saw everything that happened to us," said Luna.

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Funny how people apologize for things that aren't their fault and yet those at fault rarely apologize," Luna mused. "Is it true you cut off Our Good Friend's arm?"

"Yes. I'd die before I admitted this to Professor Trelawney, but I think there might be some truth to the prophecy," said Hermione. "I could see him. I aimed right for the head and yet I only got an arm? I could have brought everything to a stand still. Given us time to search without impediment and yet… It was like the blade was moved by some force I couldn't see."

"Well, if prophecies weren't true why keep and document them?" Luna speculated. "And perhaps you would believe Professor Trelawney if she didn't try so hard. Don't any of your relatives have the Sight?"

"Sure," she said. "Mamá Delfina does. She said she saw me becoming a leader and the family prepared to train me to be the Matriarch. Not to my face, I overheard her. I'm told there are different Sights but you can't be an expert in each one. You can either see the Mundane or the Earth Shattering. You can study the stars or you can specialize in tarot. Determine the future by learning of someone's past or seeing all possible futures based on current actions. It's a mixed bag and I don't like it."

"Of course not, you could never leave anything up to chance, so you developed a sense of obsessive control over your environment," said Luna.

"You know, I think you'd make a decent mind healer," said Hermione. "With the proper training. You always seem to know the root of the problem."

Xe smiled and leaned against her.

"What just bothers me is… why does it have to be Harry? He's suffered enough, he shouldn't have to be the Chosen One if he doesn't want to be. I mean… Our Good Friend started this war, why can't I be the one to finish it? Why can't the power he knows not be a pissed off Latina who likes to crochet in her spare time and just wants a moment of peace around here?"

"Well, I think at this point it is more the principle of the matter," said Luna. "Everyone knows Harry is the only one who can kill him. Whether or not that is actually true is irrelevant. If someone else does it, people will feel cheated. I imagine it would only martyr him as opposed to finishing the battle."

"Yeah… I know that, I just don't want to accept it."

Luna decided to change the topic. "When did you let Cedric back in?"

"A couple days ago, actually." She smiled slightly. "He chases my nightmares away and I feel safe when I'm with him. Why would I push that away?"

As they got closer to the house, Hermione realized there wasn't a single protective ward surrounding it.

"You sure you don't want to leave the country?"

"I can't just leave Daddy," said Luna. "We'll be alright."

"Okay. If you're sure," said Hermione.

"Would you like to visit? You've never seen my room."

Hermione smiled. "I'd like to. How's Tuesday sound?"

"Perfect." Luna unlocked the door and went inside.

Hermione waited a few moments, watching the single magical signature of Xenophilius Lovegood get up, switch on a light, and greet his daughter. Once she was sure there wasn't any secret killer in the house, she cast a couple wards, turned and apparated home. She was feeling shaky, so she opened the fridge to get her juice. The house was starting to settle down.

"Miss Hermione!" a voice squeaked.

She whirled around to see Rikki and Tikki.

"Oh, hello," she said and stooped down to hug them both. "I'm so happy you're here, I was worried about all of you. Oh, your hands!"

Their poor hands where heavily bandaged. She touched them gently.

"They gave us orders," said Rikki. "We are being free and we ignored them."

"That's when they started…" Hermione could have cried, but that would do nothing except make them feel guilty when they shouldn't have to. "I'm so sorry. I should have come for you when that started. I'm such a hypocrite. Talking about those that matter and not even stepping in when your lives were in danger. Well, I promise you, from now on, I will never forget you."

"We know, Nia," said Tikki. "We are free. We could have left, but we chose to stay for the students. We are not helpless, meek servants. We have remembered our roots. Some of us have stayed behind to mind those who will be returning. The children are not their parents yet. Others of us want to embrace our freedom."

"And three of us would like to help you, Nia," said Rikki. "I, Tikki, and Dobby."

"Where is Dobby?"

"The one you call Duckie is apologizing to him," said Tikki. "He is being a former Master, I believe."

"Yes… that's right." How had she forgotten that? "Well, I'd appreciate your help very much. Same rules apply to you. Once your hands heal, adhere to the chore chart. Oh, I'd better find a place for you."

"Cedric gave us a lovely room in the attic," said Tikki. "Much like our home at Hogwarts! He promised to build us elf beds once things settle down."

"Oh, that's good. And the others?"

"Are sleeping in the library for the time being," said Rikki.

"Okay, well, we'll talk about what to do after we get some rest. Sleep well you two."

"Good night!" they chorused.

Hermione took her juice upstairs to her room. Cedric was crashed on the couch. Padma, Daphne, and Astoria were on futons on the floor. They looked up at her.

"Sorry, didn't mean to disturb you," she said. "Luna is back home safely but… I think we had better convince Mr. Lovegood to put some real wards down."

"Let's do that tomorrow," said Cedric. "Is it alright that I gave Rikki, Tikki, and Dobby my room? They were resisting something on the lower levels with everyone else. Honestly, I think maybe it's a sound thing? Tavi always liked being in more quiet areas and when I suggested the bedroom in the attic, they seemed happy about that."

"Sure, it reminds them of home," said Hermione. "The elf quarters were above the Great Hall."

"That makes sense. Anyway, I plan on making them some elf beds, rearrange the space for privacy and stuff."

"Good. Where are you gonna sleep?" she asked. "Never mind, just move into my room."

She sat down at her desk and brought out her stationary. She penned several letters but all read about the same.

Hello Headmaster _,

It is my understanding that most schools around the world run separately from government outside of financial support. I am writing to you to ask for your help. I have about a hundred students and two hundred house-elves from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who are looking for sanctuary. If you can even take a small fraction of that number in the interim, it would be most helpful. The house-elves are free and are paid for their labor. The students range from first through seventh years.

I am willing to provide further information if need be.

I know it's a lot to ask, especially since the I.C.W. has yet to officially declare the war in Britain and Ireland an international threat, but the threat is very real to us and the government should not be allowed to decide whether children are in danger or not when they're not the ones living each day in fear of this civil war.

Attached is a short documentation of what has been going on at the school. Instructions on how to view are included.

I await your response.

Thank you for your time.

Herminia "La Dragón" Lotulelei-Sanchez y Granger

Grand Sorceress

She copied it out, filled in the name of the Headmasters and carried the letters, plus the package for home, to the window. She opened it and whistled. Stephen Squawking landed and accepted the mail, then took off into the night.

Hermione closed the window and retreated to the bathroom. She changed out of her armor and showered, then dressed in a fresh set of clothes. When she stepped out the others were dozing off.

She barely laid down. A couple hours and she needed to get up to get breakfast going, by then the girls were fast asleep. She crept quietly to the door.

"Where are you going?" Cedric's voice asked in her mind.

She looked over her shoulder. "Who's going to make breakfast?"

He sat up. "You went on a mission yesterday, they can fend for themselves!"

She raised an eyebrow and he sighed and got up. "At least let me help you."