Hermione stepped further from the tent and stared at Ron and Harry both of them were smiling despite both of them dripping wet in this cold. Ron had started talking something about how he had followed her voice. and it had led him to them, to her how he was sorry for ever leaving. She was sure she was supposed to feel warm and happy that both of her boys were back and safe smiling like they did before last year. hell, Ron even had the sword of Gryffindor somehow. Ron had returned but all she could feel was a mix of feelings mainly rage. When Ron had left she felt abandoned and hurt he had left them during their most difficult time so far. He used his family as an excuse for his out lash at them. They had all been over-emotional that night but he had left them. He made her feel abandoned and a failure for the loss of yet another loved one. One that she again had no way to know if he was okay or not. Then she and Harry had continued on trying to not break down, Harry retreating more into himself and her silently crying in her cot almost every night till she fell asleep. On their own, they took on challenges that almost killed them. Voldemort's snake, almost getting caught by the man himself. Harry's wand had broken during their escape. She had to give over hers when they changed shifts she honestly felt more scared than she ever felt sitting inside the tent alone on her cot without her wand. Even with Harry just outside, there was a true sense of volubility without her wand she was sure Harry felt truly helpless with the loss of his. When she woke earlier this morning and couldn't find Harry she panicked. Did he leave her behind, why would he do that wasn't she good enough didn't he want her help? Was she cursed to be abandoned by everyone? She ran back into the tent to grab her bag and head out to find him. When she heard Harry calling for her. she rushed out and now here they were.
She stomped forward and started hitting and yelling at the stupid smiling redhead. Rage, relief, rage joy, rage these were what she felt as she went berserk on her friend. She saw that her wacks did nothing so she turned to Harry calling for her wand he just backed away guarding her wand from her and refusing her order. She turned back to Ron and whacked him again before marching into the tent she went and yanked dry clothes out for them. They were going to change and then tell her exactly what the hell happened.
Draco took a puff of his minxs Pixes powder, as he walked down the hall. He needed something to help him get through the day but still needed to make sure he kept his wits about him. He had no desire to go to any classes those fucking twins taught. Luckily they left him alone even when he didn't go to their lessons. After all, they're all death eaters that serve the same dark lord. He walked the halls the other students giving him a wide birth. No one wanted to be too close to him even a percentage of Slythrins stayed away from him one of his closest friends included.
Theo hadn't talked to him since the end of last year. and now at school, he couldn't even get near him. Theo would literally send him flying anytime he tried to approach him. Blaise was still around though it was different he could feel that his friend was no longer just a good friend that he could trust and rely on. That he could relax with, and joke with. No, now there was a shift he was a Slytherin friend one that watched you smile as you spoke and gave easy answers ready to strike at any moment. just waiting for you to let down your shield. That was all he had now, people who were around him all wanted to use him or end him in any way that would serve them. Some would give small jabs just because they now had the opportunity. since his family fell from the dark lord's good graces. the respect from the other Death Easters and their families has withered.
Draco continued walking stopping when he saw a head of red hair being manhandled by Flich pulling on a chain attached to her wrist and being paraded around for all to see. Heading to the headmaster's office again he was sure. She kept her head high not looking weak or scared even while restrained. She turned her head toward him probably sensing his stare. Her glare burned just a little. She probably used whatever power she could to send any kind of magic attack at him wand or no wand. The last punishment was the forbidden forest if he's not mistaken. He wondered if Snape would give that same punishment or if he would do worse. The twins have been taking it upon themselves to discipline students. Though Snape had made it clear that they were supposed to send them to him first. But lately, fewer students have been brought to the headmaster. The Crowly siblings seem to always find out about misbehaved students before they can go to the headmaster. And after their punishment, there wasn't any need to be sent to the headmaster. He was sure some of the students who enjoyed the twin's lessons were probably earning brownie points by acting as spies for them. he had noticed that some students from the other houses had gone missing as well Longbottom being the most notable absence. he had wondered if the twins had been behind it but they claimed to know nothing. Not that they would admit to it pure blood could be disciplined and put on trial but not killed. Draco looked around the hall at the rest of the students and faculty. Many walked the halls with bent heads these days looking like they had summited to the new rule of the school. but he had noticed that their wand hands were always in their shelves and out of view. It was not just snakes that wanted to strike.
Hermione reread the book of wizard childhood stories with Ron and Harry. after their meeting with Lovegood, she was finally able to see it. Fairy tales tend to stem from true past events. Exhagertated and stretched out with lies to make it more exciting. But one can usually find at least one truth in them. She wasn't sure about the brothers or death but the gifts that they had well she had seen at least one of them herself Harry's cloak was not like the rest of the invisible cloaks that were sold to the rest of the wizarding world their magic wears off after a year if not months. But Harry's had been passed down to him from his father. No ordinary magic cloak. That would also explain how someone got the idea to manufacture the cloak in the first place. that left the stone and the wand. why would Dumbledore want them to know that the three powers existed? She sat thinking of what the reason could be.
"Well I'd want the wand, can you imagine having the most powerful wand you could be unbeatable." Ron let out a whistle of envy.
"Except for all the people who try and assassinate you to get the wand, so they can be the ones to have it." Harry countered he was playing with one of the wands that Ron had stolen from some snatchers while he was away from them. She was glad to have her wand to herself again but worried about how hard of a time he was having using the new ones. His spells won't have the same power that they did when he cast them with his old wand. hell, she had seen him practice with those ones and even the simplest spells didn't come out the way he wanted. He wouldn't be able to take on a fourth year let alone Voldormort.
Voldemort, of course, that man was obsessed with power he wanted to be immortal and the most powerful. He wanted to be seen as the strongest wizard and the strongest wizard should have the strongest wand. was he hunting for the wand? what about the stone, that might help him even more with his immortality but that's what the Horcruxes were for, right? At least she didn't see much use he had already destroyed his sole making his hoxuces, which left the wand. So Dumbledore believed in the three powers or at least believed that Voldemort believed them and was looking for them or the wand at the very least.
" Dumbledore must want us to find them, Herminoe do you think you can do some research, maybe we can find a trail and find them. the wand at least if I have the wand I"
"NO, Harry stop," Herminoe said putting her hand up.
Surely Dumbledore wouldn't send them on yet another wild goose chase on top of their hunt for the Horcuxes. no, it would be best to continue their hunt for the Horcuxes not go on some side mission If Dumbledore wanted them to do that he would have given them instruction to do so like he had everything else. sure he had left her the book but that didn't mean anything.
"Harry Dumbledore left instructions for the Horcuxes, not the three powers. We should continue with our current job." She told him.
"But Herminoe he must have wanted us to learn about them so we could look for them. Why else would he have left you the book." Harry argued
" Harry if he had really wanted us to look for them he would have told you about them before he died, I don't know why he wanted us to know about the three powers but we should finish our first task."
"But what if"
"NO" Herminoe cut him off again.
"Hey maybe it would be best if we just continue hunting for Horcruxes, I mean you said there are 6 right? Well, 3 are already distoried so we just have three more. I agree with Hermione." Ron gave a little smile to her before he glanced at Harry and his smile turned apologetic. Hermione let out a sigh of relief she didn't know what she would have done if they both insisted on going fairy tale hunting. She set her book down telling the boys she was going to bed and that they should do the same Harry gave a defeated nod before dragging his feet to his cot. Ron offered to make her some tea a luxury that they could afford after Ron had security visit his brother and stocked up on a few things. She shook her head but thanked him anyway getting into her own cot she reached into her pillow feeling her bottles of dreamless sleep. Since they destroyed the locket her nightmares haven't been as bad she still had them but they weren't nearly as soul-crushing. In truth, she had originally brewed them for Harry in case Voldormaort tried to get into Harry's mind while he slept. But when nothing happened and her own nightmares were causing her difficulties she started taking them herself. She had slipped some into his beans after the attack at Bathilda Bagshot's house. But after the locket was gone everything seemed better so she kept the last few. Not for herself no she wouldn't be that selfless again but in case Harry needed them. whether he felt he needed them or not. she would keep an eye on him. She knew his bad habit of keeping these things to himself.
The next day Herminoe could tell that Harry hadn't really let the elder wand thing go. She could tell by how quiet he was throughout the whole day. In the late afternoon, Ron was playing excitedly with his radio telling them to join him at the table. She and Harry did as he said sitting as he talked about how he found out about this when he was at his brother's house. He seemed to be having a hard time finding what he was looking for saying he missed the last one. She and Harry just sat waiting for him to locate it. then she heard a familiar voice that sounded like a laugh a laugh that spread to anyone who heard it. Then that was followed by one that sounded like a smile a smile that made even the most stressed person feel warm and happy. Although these voices used to always make her suspicious and a little annoyed Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes. A third voice came on making her laugh. Fred, George, and Jodon were on the air cutting the dark lord and his people down the best way they ever could. By making them a joke in a way only they could have the gust to do. She, Harry, and Ron laughed like they hadn't in what felt like years. Trying to keep quiet so they wouldn't miss anything that their dear friends said. It wasn't just jokes they gave updates telling them about who had been killed and what the death eaters and Minirsty were really up to. who had been arrested, who was still free and on the run. It was so good to hear news from voices she could trust. She was so busy being happy that she didn't really focus on the last thing they had said about Voldemort but Harry had the moment they tuned out saying their good buys Harry had jumped to his feet talking about the wand again saying that he knew that, that must be why he wasn't in England Voldormort was hunting for the wand.
She didn't even realize what was happening when Ron Jumped up yelling no. Ron grabbed her arm pulling her up. Fear on his face where a smile had just been not even a minute earlier. nothing clicked until she heard the popping all around their tent.