Self-Writing Parchment
Hermione still struggles with life at Hogwarts as she tries to develop a trust with Draco, but Draco and Ginny are still at odds with each other, making recruiting Draco to the DA's side difficult. And Severus does something that reassures the Death Eaters that he is still in charge and a loyal Death Eater, but it's not at all what they think.
~o44o~
Standpoint and Fulcrum
At the end of her Wizard Language and Literature lesson on Thursday, Hermione handed in her term paper comparing the poem, Beowulf, the legendary Geatish hero, to the heroic epic poem, Penda, the magical ironworker from Mercia who won favor with the Saxon King Æthelwealh, and collected her things. Nott stood by his desk and nodded to her as she walked by him. "Where to now," Cillian asked softly as he held open the door for her.
"The library," she replied, turning to answer him, surprised to see Nott right behind Cillian. "I want to work on my Charms and Literature essay."
Cillian huffed a laugh. "I somehow knew that taking this assignment would allow me to read every book in the library," he said peevishly.
She ignored his barb and walked quickly to the library, with both Cillian and Nott walking along with her. Cillian followed her to the literary section, checking each aisle they passed. Hermione dropped her bag on the bottom shelf and began pursuing the shelves for Cynewald's book, finding the copy she wanted easily on a low shelf. She trailed her finger on the spines of the books as she began looking on the shelf for Chaucer's, hoping it was in the same section.
"What are you looking for?" Draco asked, startling Hermione, making her stand upright so quickly they bumped heads. "Ouch!"
"Sorry, you startled me," she said, rubbing her head for a moment. She hadn't seen him follow her into the aisle.
"I didn't sneak up on you," he grumbled. He did, however, lower his voice significantly as she bent down to examine the row of books again. "Potter would not be interested in anything on romantic historical legends and myths."
"You would be surprised in what he'd be interested in," she replied quietly, knowing she'd searched every book she could find on Godric Gryffindor. The bardic tales of his adventures included quite a few romantic legends. Not that they helped her find any artifact that survived beside the Sorting Hat and his sword. "I need to get a copy of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde for the Literature assignment."
"I thought your assignment was to compare Shakespeare's play, Troilus and Cressida to Cynewald's Eadfrith and Arella?" Cillian asked, leaning against the shelf. Head jerked up as something caught his attention, and both Hermione and Draco turned, seeing Nott at the end of the aisle, likewise searching for something. Hermione went back to searching for the book she wanted.
"It is," she replied, finding the book and standing up. "Both Chaucer's and Shakespeare's works are both are based on the same legend of Troy. Shakespeare's play is set during the later years of the Trojan War, from Achilles' refusal to participate in battle and ending with Hector's death, much like Homer's Iliad, which I have in my room. In Chaucer's version the story is similar, but Cressida's father abandoned Troy in favor of the Greeks… Moreover, Cynewald's, which is a similar story, is set inNorthumbria, and in his account, Arella is given over to the temple by her father, a soothsayer, because Arella was a witch and he fears her."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Yes, but if you're to compare Shakespeare and Cynewald, why exactly are you including Chaucer's?" he asked.
"Cynewald's version isn't a tragic romance, and both Shakespeare's and Chaucer's are," she said. Up the isle behind him, she saw Nott open a book to hide his smirk; he'd been listening.
"Bloody know-it-all overachiever," Draco scoffed.
She ignored him as she carried her books to a table and sat down. Draco sat down next to her immediately and pulled out his own assignment, and Cillian sat at the head of the table, keeping his eyes on everyone in the room. Hermione saw Ginny and Jenny, sitting across from Janilynn and Tinko at another table. Ginny made a small gesture when she looked up, but when Draco noticed, Ginny lowered her head. Jenny nudged Ginny, showing her something under the table, and Ginny nodded, leaning forward to show something to Janilynn and Tinko. Janilynn smiled, looking at the door, but Tinko looked worried and leaned forward to say something to Jenny.
"What's with them?" Draco asked.
Hermione shrugged. "Revising, like we are," she replied noncommittally.
"Not likely," he said as Jack Sloper and Ernie Coppersmith came in and walked up to her friends. "They are up to something."
"Draco, they are sitting in the library, revising and talking quietly," Hermione pointed out. "Just like you and me."
Jenny showed Ginny whatever it was she was holding in her hand on her lap while Jack pulled something from his pocket. He nudged Jenny and whispered something in her ear. Jenny smiled, but Tinko shook her head and drew her book closer to her. Hermione wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a flash of gold on Jack's hand before he shoved it back into his pocket.
The DA coins! she thought, trying to hide her reaction from Draco. No point getting him more suspicious of her friends than he already was. She saw Nott, sitting with his friend, Marcus, at the next table, watching her, and she could tell he had been watching her friends as well. When the bell tolled, Hermione collected her things and went to check out her books.
Jenny got in queue behind her. "How are you doing?" she asked.
Hermione turned. "I'm doing well, thank you. How are you doing?" She looked over Jenny's shoulder at Nott, then leaned in closer to Jenny. "Get any messages from Colin?"
"Colin? No," Jenny exclaimed softly, then looked around quickly. "Just the usual." She leaned in to Hermione's ear and lowered her voice, "You'll see. Jack said McGonagall and Alecto were arguing in the corridor over some detentions Professor McGonagall had assigned. Alecto thought she should have taken over the punishment since it happened in a corridor – but Professor McGonagall said it was right outside her classroom and therefore she'd deal with it. I'm glad; second-years shouldn't be flogged."
"Flogged?" Hermione gasped. The librarian gave her a stern glare as she handed Madam Pince her lending cards.
"With her riding crop," Jenny said, giving the librarian hers as well. "Have you seen Janilynn's sister, Melissa's hands? They look like yours. And Victoria Frobisher? Charlene had to bandage her hand with that murtlap salve from her uncle. I hope they don't scar."
"What did they do?" Hermione asked, tuning to go. Both Draco and Cillian were waiting for her.
"Mentioned your name in the corridor," Jenny said. "Something about you being the smartest girl in the school. Jack said Alecto pitched a fit over it and pinned them to the wall, screaming at them that you are just a lying, thieving, filthy Mudblood."
"Oh, Jenny, tell them not to!" Hermione exclaimed, stopping short. "I'm not really the cleverest – there are loads of people cleverer than I am."
Jenny laughed softly. "Oh yes, the girl who gets everything on the first try if not on the same day it's introduced in her lessons. Everyone knows, even Ron bragged about your skills. Colin told me you were the first person to learn how to do the Patronus in the DA." She turned her head and smiled at the group waiting and looked back at Hermione. "Ready for lunch?"
"Harry was the first," Hermione said, falling into step with her.
Jenny chuffed a laugh. "Colin said Potter was teaching it to everyone, and you got it right off," she said, smiling as they neared Cillian and Draco. "It's a ferret or weasel, isn't it?"
"What about it, Wang?" Draco snapped angrily.
"An otter," Hermione corrected her to fend off Draco's anger from misunderstanding. "My Patronus is an otter."
Draco's mouth snapped shut as Jenny waved her friends over. "Oh, that's right, I remember now. Charms Club," she said as her friends began to gather. "Can you conjure a Patronus, Draco?"
He scowled. "I haven't tried."
"Mine is a Eurasian Spoonbill," Jenny said, turning back to Hermione as the group walked out of the library. "And Tinko's is a monkey. Can you believe it – a monkey!"
"It's a rhesus macaque," Tinko said, slightly annoyed. She leaned around Jenny to look at Hermione. "You know, from China."
"I loved seeing the rhesus monkeys," Hermione said with a smile. "I saw some while on holiday in China with my parents." Tinko smiled back, and said something to Ginny. Hermione didn't know Tinko well, but it did seem to fit her personality: curious, highly intelligent, social and lively among her friends but shy around others; she was also quite expressive of her feelings and apparently loved to swim.
As their group walked toward the stairs, Hermione couldn't help but notice the DA messages painted on the walls.
Join the fight. Stand up for what is right. Dumbledore's Army Wants You.
Draco looked at Hermione each time they passed the graffiti on their way to lunch, and Cillian's expression seemed to get stonier each time as well, but her friends all chatted on as if nothing was amiss.
At the top of the stairs that led down in the Entrance Hall, Hermione saw Severus, Amycus and at least five of the Death Eaters singling out all of her friends along the wall where the red painted words were. "You six, over here," Severus snarled.
A firm hand clamped on Hermione's shoulder. "Stay put," Cillian warned as Rosier, Mr. Nott and Filch moved in on Hermione and her friends.
Ginny backed up into Draco, and he clamped a hand on her shoulder before she stepped in his foot. "Good, Draco, now get that one, too," Mr. Nott said, pointing at Jenny.
"But they couldn't have!" Hermione said, looking at Severus, ignoring Cillian's firm grip. "Ginny, Jenny, Tinko and Janilynn were all in the library – with me! I me us."
"Hush," Cillian warned as Mr. Nott grabbed Tinko's arm.
"We all know whose side you're on, missy, so I warn you to shut your trap," Mr. Nott snarled at Hermione while pushing Tinko toward the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors queued up against the wall. "Draco, put those two over there with the others."
"She didn't do it," Draco said defiantly, holding Ginny firmly. "I have been with her all morning, so unless you're accusing me of it, too, or saying I allowed her to deface school property, then leave her out of this." He steered Ginny and Hermione toward the Great Hall as Cillian moved to put himself between them and Mr. Nott.
"Gwynek," Rosier scowled. "Defending Severus' pet?"
"Hermione was not involved; I can vouch for that since I was with her all day! Neither of the Wang girls were involved, nor were Miss Weasley or Miss Waithe," Cillian stated. Nott glared at Cillian but he didn't back down. Severus moved closer, and Cillian addressed him, "There was no writing on the walls when I escorted Hermione from her last lesson to the library, and her friends, these three and Miss Waithe," he pointed to her, "were already in the library when we arrived. Since we all left at the same time, I know that they were not involved," his arm rose, indicating the writing, "in this." He reached out, taking hold of Tinko's other arm. "Let her go, Nott."
"What about them," Rosier asked, pointing at Jack and Ernie.
"Mr. Sloper and Mr. Coppersmith came into the library maybe ten or fifteen minutes after we did, so I cannot account for their whereabouts prior to that," Cillian stated. "However, they were with us when we left the library."
Severus nodded. "Miss Waithe, come here," he snapped, and Janilynn did as he demanded quickly. Severus turned to Cillian. "Keep an eye on these four for a while." He looked at Jack and Ernie. "You two, over there against the wall. Now."
"C'mon," Draco said, hauling Hermione and Ginny, who for once was too stunned to put up any argument at being man-handled by Draco into the Great Hall. He shoved them toward the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Hermione.
Cillian halted Tinko from walking away. "Where do you think you are going, young lady?" he growled. "Sit down where I can see you."
Tinko's eyes widened but she climbed in next to her sister, and she glanced around at the nearest Gryffindors as if expecting rebuke for doing so. "Why would he stand up for us?" Tinko asked Jenny.
Jenny shrugged. "Rather nice that he did though," she replied.
Ginny agreed and turned to look at Hermione, her gaze darting to Draco and back. "Odd, don't you think?" Janilynn asked from Ginny's right. "Hermione's bodyguard standing up for us."
"I'm more interested to know why Malfoy did," Ginny said softly, but Hermione knew that Draco overheard her. "He's always been such a git before."
Draco glared at Ginny, and Hermione nudged him. "Only a year ago you might have," she whispered softly in his direction. "You have to admit, you were not fond of us nor did we like you much either," she added before he responded.
He made a grunt and picked up his fork. "I still don't like her," he admitted.
"You learned to like me," Hermione said, helping herself to the lamb stew.
"Don't flatter yourself," he said but with no malice or sneer at all. His lip curled back in a lopsided grin. "You are pretty tough to take."
Smiling at his joke, she turned to Ginny. "Gits can change too. Remember when Ernie thought Harry was the Heir of Slytherin? Some wise up."
"Ernie was just misinformed. We're talking about Malfoy!" Ginny stated, sounding so much like Ron. At least she kept her voice low, not that Draco couldn't hear her anyway. "Why would he stand up for us instead of lying and turning us in? It doesn't make sense."
Hermione ignored Draco's scowl. She leaned in close to Ginny's ear and whispered, "Think about it. He's been around me all year. The Dark Lord is living in his house. Can't you imagine what that must be like, living with that maniac? Gin, he's horrible! He uses people and – well, everything you've heard is true and so much more. Draco – he's not as bad as all that, really. But he was brought up believing things, lies like those Alecto is trying to get us to believe."
"I suppose so," Ginny relented. She glanced at Draco again, then mumbled. "I still don't trust him."
"Then trust me. He's okay. Prejudiced, yes, but he's not as bad as all that," Hermione whispered softly. She noticed a pendant hanging from a chain around her friends' neck, one that seemed old, like an antique. "Gin, that's pretty. Where did you get it?"
Ginny touched the pendant as she turned to look at her. "Oh this. Dad gave it to me," she said. She glanced up at Draco, then leaned in closer to her, and whispered in her ear, "But warned me not to use it. He said Snape gave it to him, and that you'd be given the match. It supposedly has the Protean Charm on it."
Hermione examined the pendant. It looked like a locket with a compass rose on the cover. "When?" she asked, but Ginny glanced quickly at Draco and shook her head, and didn't say anything else. But she did show it to her.
Inside the pendant was a small compass, with tiny engravings on the inside of the cover. "No, Severus didn't give me one, but I can ask him about it later," Hermione said quietly, letting go of the pendant. She wondered when Severus had given Mr. Weasely the compass, guessing that it might have been when he was looking for her. But then that meant that Severus had been in touch with Mr. Weasely. The Order. He was still in contact with the Order! The implications swirled around in her mind. Has he spoken to Mr. Weasely? In person – had to be to give him the locket, unless it was sent in a letter? Would Severus have sent the compass by post? But that was risky; owls were sometimes intercepted or followed.
"Who has you Confunded?" Draco asked.
"No one," she replied, reaching for a roll. Hermione looked down the table, realizing nearly everyone was missing, Neville, Seamus, Ernie, Jack, Jimmy, Euan had all been standing next to the wall in the Entrance Hall, but Lavender, Parvati, Breanna and Charlene were not at the table either. All her DA friends at the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw table were missing as well.
"Who are you looking for?" Draco asked.
"Everyone. They...," Hermione said as she looked at him. "Thank you for what you did."
"I didn't do anything," he said emphatically.
The rest of lunch passed quickly. None of the students Severus had pulled aside came in for lunch, and she worried for them. Twice Ginny tried to talk to Hermione, but she glanced over at Draco and changed her mind.
Draco was sullen as they walked to Herbology, and he stood next to her at the worktable. "Draco couldn't you try to get along with Ginny?" she asked as Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle came in.
"Leave it," he said hissed softly as he grabbed a pair of pruning shears. The Hebridean Impalebulbus mimbletonia in front of him seemed to shiver as if there was a breeze. "Stupid plants."
"Then why take Herbology, Draco, if you don't like plants?" Crabbe asked as Neville, Ernie and Hannah walked up, much to Hermione's relief. Goyle, smirking at Crabbe's question, watched them enter with an odd look on his face.
"It's a strong option if you're going to brew potions," Draco snapped as Goyle kicked Hannah's stool out from the beneath the worktable, nearly tripping her.
"Watch it," Neville snapped at Goyle, but Hannah put a hand on his arm.
"It's all right, Neville, he does that sometimes," she replied. However, Goyle shoved her stool behind her as she tried to sit down, making the stool bump her thighs. She glared at him for as he set a potted Impalebulbus mimbletonia in front of her. "Aren't these in the same family as your Mimbulus mimbletonia, Neville?" she asked Neville to pacify him.
Neville turned his attention to her. "Well, same genus, only you have to be careful of the thorns," he replied.
"Genius, as if we wouldn't try to avoid being stabbed," Draco sneered. "We can all see the plant has two inch poisonous thorns, Longbottom."
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, touching his arm lightly.
"Nothing," he snapped as he shoved her off.
"It's what was said at lunch, wasn't it?" she asked, but he glared at her.
"Leave it," he snapped as Professor Sprout begun the lesson.
The rest of class went uneventfully, since all their concentration had to be on harvesting the sap from the pustules on their Impalebulbus mimbletonia without getting jabbed by the poisonous thorns.
After their lesson, Hermione informed Draco and Cillian that she needed to go to the library before dinner. Draco merely rolled his eyes, mumbling, "Of course," as Cillian merely nodded. Hermione noticed that Goyle was ambling along several feet behind Hannah, Ernie and Neville, instead of walking with Pansy and Crabbe, and wondered what was up with him.
As they walked through the Entrance Hall, Cillian's gaze lingered on the pillory. Hermione glanced at him, then smiled sadly. She didn't like the threat of the torture device anymore than he appeared to.
Up in the library, Hermione searched the shelves for books to help her with her Herbology essay and then wandered into the Charms section, smiling when she saw Ginny perusing the books. She glanced at Draco and Cillian, holding up her hand to silently ask them to give her some space and approached Ginny. "Hi, Gin," she said, kneeling down next to her.
Ginny looked up, smiled at her, but then her eyes flickered over to Draco and Cillian standing a few feet behind her and the smile faded.
"Gin, do you have your mirror?" Hermione asked, adding softly. "I would like to try and contact Harry and Ron."
"Hush!" Ginny admonished as she glanced at the wizards lingering in the aisle, then shook her head as she looked at Hermione. "I – you can't ask me here!" she hissed. "I'll slip it to you at dinner." She rose and hurried away.
But Ginny never showed up at dinner, and Jenny was very distraught and left the table when Hermione tired to talk to her. "I don't know why Ginny isn't here," Janilynn said. "But I did hear that Jenny's aunt and uncle have been taken to the MRC."
"What? When?" Hermione asked, but she wouldn't say anything more.
Hermione tried to go up to the Gryffindor Tower after dinner, but MacCavish was in the corridor, arguing with the Fat Lady, so Cillian led her away before they were spotted. Reluctantly, Hermione went to the library, fruitlessly trying to find anything on Rowena Ravenclaw that would help Harry and Ron, but with the exception of Ravenclaw's books and awards, the originals all held in the National Wizarding Museum Magical Archives, there wasn't anything left or known of hers to have survived. There was a magical blue sapphire, sometimes called a blue diamond, supposedly set in a magical diadem mentioned many times, but the diadem had been lost for centuries. However, a few biographies of the famous witch mentioned that the blue stone had been passed down to her daughter, but no references of Helena Ravenclaw mentioned her having a diadem or made any mention of the blue stone. Giving up, she went up to the Headmaster's Tower and said good night to Cillian.
Surprisingly, Severus was not sitting at his desk, surrounded by mounds of parchment, and she heard soft music coming from the sitting room. Peren appeared, and Hermione handed her elf her robes and book bag, too tired to think about revising this evening. Besides, she was quite caught up in her assignments considering she now spent all her free time in the library or revising on the sitting room coffee table. When she entered the sitting room, she saw Severus sitting on the sofa, reading a book while tranquil classical music wafted softly in the background. Smiling, she crossed the room, kicked of her shoes and sat down beside him.
When Severus turned the page of his book, she moved closer to him, and he raised his arm, allowing her to cuddle up at this side. She rested her head on his shoulder, watching the fire flicker in the fireplace and listened to the music, enjoying the quiet moment. It was perfect. Intimate.
His finger flicked by her ear and the page of his book turned. She smiled at the casual display of wandless magic. He turned his head to look at her. "Don't you want to read?" he asked softly, and her smile widened slightly at the sound of his voice rippling under her ear where her head rested.
"No," she said, rolling her eyes upward in his direction. "This is nice. I've been doing nothing but reading lately it seems. It's nice just sitting here with you."
He kissed the top of her head and resumed reading.
A log cracked in the grate and the music changed to another lovely piece. She felt so relaxed, peaceful and content. Every once in a while his finger moved again, first to make the page turn, then to toy with a strand of her hair. "Is everything all right?" he asked.
"Yes," she breathed and turned her head to kiss his chest, then snuggled back in place. It was comfortable, sitting there like this quietly. A cello began a solo, a soft yet rich, wistful melody, creating an 'alternate episode of opposition, cooperation and independence to the orchestra' as her father would have said, and she closed her eyes as she imagined a place in her mind that fit the magic that the instrument created. She could almost see her father sitting in the chair by the fire, enjoying a glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape from their trip to Southern Rhone a few years ago. Oh she missed her parents, and wondered if they were still safe.
Every so often Severus' hand stilled in her hair, his finger flicked, and the page turned. She quickly buried the memory of her family behind the rock wall hiding all memories of her family in her memory castle so the Dark Lord would never find it.
Severus must have sensed her shift of mood and asked, "Are you sleepy?"
"No. Happy," she said softly, hoping he didn't pick up on her melancholy.
He put the book down, and his arm tightened on her shoulders. She knew without looking that he was watching her. They sat in companionable silence, listening to the next part of the concerto. She let her thoughts and mood settle with the music as she stared at the fireplace, watching the flames of the fire dance and dwindle away, leaving the only hot embers glowing behind the grate. Severus' fingers stroked her hair, and he leaned down again and kissed her head when the music ended.
She shifted her weight so she could look up at him, and he tipped her face up, brushing her lips with his. Hermione turned, rising up, their lips never parting, so she could kiss him back more easily. He pulled her onto his lap. His hand slid under her jumper, and he started to unfasten her buttons. When his fingers found skin, she sighed at the contact.
"Would you like to continue this somewhere more comfortable?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, although she made no move to get up. Instead she began unfastening every button she could reach, opening him up to her touch.
When she reached for his belt, he smiled against her lips. "I think it's time for bed – now," he said in a lust-deepened drawl. His hand moved gracefully from her hair down to behind her bum, and he stood easily, lifting her as he did. His strength amazed her, it always did, as if he could cast a nonverbal Featherweight Charm on her in the matter of a heartbeat, which he probably could. She wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him as he carried her to their bedroom.
They divested each other of their clothes slowly, kissing each other softly, tenderly touching and caressing each other's bodies. Hermione felt like the strings of the cello and Severus was her soloist. When finally warm, firm male skin pressed against her soft flesh, they climbed up on the bed, their lips never losing contact as they stretched out beside each other.
"Gods, I want you," she breathed heavily as his mouth descended to her neck.
He smiled and pressed his lips to the sensitive spot under her ear. "As do I you," he said and positioned himself at her entrance. She opened up to him, and he rubbed himself along her moist lips before slowly sinking inside her.
Her head rolled back, and she felt lost in the moment as he filled her, the sensation of it erasing all other thought. "Oh, gods, Severus…"
He chuffed a laugh and began to move, and she wrapped her legs around him to increase the contact and move with him. Her hands slid on his skin, luxuriating in the feel of his body, feeling his muscles flex and relax as he moved. His mouth captured hers, and she gave into him completely.
Their love making was soft and tender, much like the music of the concerto, and every bit as blissful and rewarding.
~o0o~
Cillian kept a tight rein on Hermione all weekend, having her spend most of her time in the library. He'd insisted she use a small table in a quiet corner of the room rather than at the revision tables with the other students. He even refused to let her visit Hagrid that afternoon or to visit her friends in the Gryffindor common room. "You have to ask when there are eleven Death Eaters with nothing to do but wander the about the corridors looking for trouble," he pointed out when she confronted him about it. "I'm supposed to protect you, to keep you out of trouble, remember? That includes potential trouble."
Ginny appeared in the library at noon on Saturday and again on Sunday, but since Draco and Cillian were sitting with Hermione all day Saturday, and both Draco and Nott were with her and Cillian on Sunday, Ginny kept her distance, sitting with the six-year Hufflepuffs instead. And unfortunately since, Avery was sitting across from MacCavish just a few seats away from Cillian and Hermione at meals, Ginny, Jenny and Janilynn wouldn't talk about anything other than lessons, and Ginny just shook her head when Hermione asked about the mirror. But then, Baddock chose to sit with Travers at the Ravenclaw table each meal, right behind Hermione and her friends, while Rosier sat with Rowle at the Hufflepuff table facing the Gryffindor table, so meals in the Great Hall was quite subdued.
The only upside was that Hermione's confinement allowed her to search through more of Severus' books on the warded shelf for any mention of Horcruxes, not that her efforts were fruitful.
On Monday when Cillian showed up to walk with Hermione and Severus to breakfast, Hermione overheard Cillian ask Severus about the rumors that two third years were put in Filch's chains overnight. "They were there for twenty minutes Sunday evening, then they were taken to the hospital for the rest of the night," Severus had said. Hermione knew that Cillian was bothered that Severus seemed to allow it.
At dinner, Ginny had sat with her head down, as did Janilynn, but when Hermione tried to talk to Ginny, she shook her head, giving Hermione a glimpse of a bruise. "Ginny, what happened?" she whispered, tipping her friends head up. Bruise Paste covered a fourth of her friend's face, and the skin underneath was mottled in purple, a reddish hue and yellow.
"She was where she wasn't supposed to be," MacCavish snarled before Ginny could speak.
"I was sending a letter to my aunt," Ginny snapped, and Janilynn looked up slyly, and Hermione saw that her face was bruised as well.
"All letters are to be reviewed," MacCavish stated. "That's the rules."
"And that's reason enough to slam us face first into the wall and make Jenny trip on the stairs?" Ginny snarled. "Jenny's in the hospital with a broken ankle and wrist!"
"You're supposed to give your letters to your House Security Officer," Avery said, indicating MacCavish. "It's for your own good."
Ginny jumped up. "No, it's tyranny," she quipped and ran from the room. Janilynn and Stephanie both rose and ran after her, but Cillian clamped a hand down on Hermione's shoulder.
"Stay put," he warned her. "Don't concern yourself."
"Don't concern myself – they are my friends! Ginny's and Janilynn's faces are black and blue, and Jenny's in the hospital with a broken ankle and wrist, and you're telling me not to concern myself," Hermione argued back, her voice rising an octave. "She's my friend!"
"That's it," Cillian snapped, hauling her to her feet. "Come with me, princess," he snarled. He practically dragged her from the Great Hall, much to the amusement Baddock, Travers, Rosier, Rowle, Avery and MacCavish.
When they reached a quiet corridor, he drew her aside. "Listen, that was for show," he snapped, then ran a hand through his dark, curly hair. "I don't like this any more than you do, but I overheard Avery telling MacCavish that Lestrange is posted outside the hospital. Three of the sixth-years, I'm not sure who, received a suspicious package from the Weasley twins. Joke stuff from their shop – only when their stuff was inspected, they didn't have anything suspicious. Two of them had ridiculous hats, and two had mottled-colored cloaks with matching gloves, but no joke items. However, there have been instances where Dungbombs, Decoy Detonators, Liquid Condensed Fog, Blinding Flash and Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder – to name a few – have been used in the corridors. And no one has been able to remove the swamp outside Alecto's office. And everyone knows you're friends with the Weasleys."
Hermione nodded, having heard some of the rumors. "Most of the students don't like all the new restrictions."
"Like we don't know that," he hissed. "So, until things settle down, Severus and I thought its best you lay low for a while. Or haven't you noticed that we've been unable to curtail the reappearances of the DA messages on the walls?"
"Okay, I'm sorry," she replied. "But I'd like to see Jenny." But his face became fairly set, and she knew he'd not relent. "At least let me send her something."
"If you must, write her a letter or make her a card, and I'll get some Honeydukes chocolate for her," Cillian offered. "I promise I'll give them to her tonight."
"She likes the licorice wands and flossing mints," Hermione said, and he nodded.
"All right," he said, indicating that they continue walking. "I'll get a packet of the licorice wands and flossing mints."
~S~
Severus surveyed the scene, drawing himself up to his full height and assuming his not-to-be-questioned Headmaster role. With an air of pure Dark Lord-appointed-superiority, he walked down the stairs to the Entrance Hall, confidently ready to take command of the situation.
As he'd expected, the writing on the walls had persisted almost every day since school had resumed, increasing the irritation of the four security officers who were supposed to help control the students' miscreant behavior, especially now that the Dark Lord had five wizards in the castle to report to him on the goings on in the school. Not only that many of the Weasley products had been repeatedly used in the corridors, eliciting a tighter control of the curfews and student's restrictions. That Joke shop was gaining the attention of the Dark Lord, although Roquewood, Mulciber and Nott said the shop has appeared vacant for months.
So Rowle, Travers, MacCavish and VanHalal had begun to watch the corridors between lessons, making the students move about in an orderly fashion, yet the words still appeared and the DA flyers were being hung up on the notice boards and in the loos. Avery, Baddock, Lestrange, Rosier and Yaxley were not at all pleased, calling the four Death Eaters whose task it was to help control the students, completely inept. It had been a very stressful start of term.
This time however, the evidence showed that the students responsible had been caught in the act. The red 'paint' of a few of the letters was running down the stone and the last letter 'r' was a long smear, but he could guess what it would have been.
Choose Voldemort or choose Harry Potter!
Who do YOU want to win this War?
Dumbledore's Army – standing up fo~-
MacCavish, Lestrange, Avery, Travers and Amycus were all there: MacCavish held Mr. Longbottom in his grip, the boy's lip cut and bleeding as well a cut over his left eye. Travers held Mr. Finnigan by the ropes that bound him, the boy sporting a black eye and cut lip. Lestrange had Ginevra in his grasp, his wand pointed into the girl's neck so deep her skin was already bruising. Avery fisted Miss Wang's hair as she stared with huge eyes at the giblet cages hanging from the ceiling as she clutched his wrist, and Amycus was grasping the inert form of Mr. Boot.
"They dared write the Dark Lord's name," Lestrange snarled, pointing at the writing.
"They did this – I saw them," MacCavish snarled as Mr. Longbottom struggled, held firmly in the wizard's strong grasp. "This boy and the girl had their wands out, pointing at the wall as the words appeared."
Severus walked forward, shoulders back, head held high. He had to take control of the situation fast. Now. Before Amycus did anything. "I see," he said smoothly and deliberately. "Give me the girl."
Lestrange smirked, saying, "Here," as he shoved Ginevra forward forcibly, making her stumble at Severus' feet.
Severus stood over Ginevra's body, keeping a stern but impassive expression on his face. Hermione pleaded with him, "Severus, please," but Cillian grasped her arm to keep her from interfering, ordering to shut up.
Ginevra looked up at him from all fours, glaring at him. Severus raised his wand, his heart not in what he was about to do, but knowing he had little choice. "Crucio," he said through gritted teeth, hoping it sounded determined enough. The girl fell on her side as she cried out, and her back arched as she screamed. Behind him Hermione pleaded with him to stop, struggling to break free of Cillian's grasp, as Longbottom and Finnigan struggled against those holding them. Severus ended the curse, and the girl took a deep breath. She immediately rolled onto her back and scrambled away from him on her hands and feet, staring at him in horror and disbelief. "Give me Mr. Longbottom," he said coolly.
Mr. Longbottom was thrust into the circle in front of him, and MacCavish hit the boy with a stunner behind his knees to make him kneel. Longbottom stared at Severus, his hazel brown eyes staring up at him defiantly, looking every bit as strong and ready to face what may come as his father had done many times.
Severus pointed his wand, forcing a calm he didn't feel and swallowing back the revulsion at what he was about to do. "Crucio," he said softly through clenched teeth, the angry tone familiar to many who were or had been his students. He hated doing it; even though Severus deliberately held back, even though he lacked the determination and hardened intent to actually cause the boy harm, it would still be very painful.
Hermione screamed as Longbottom fell backwards, his shoulders hitting the floor and his hips rose up as the curse hit him. The boy resisted for a while, then finally gave into the pain. As Longbottom's screams grew louder, Severus counted to five, then released him, and, to all outward appearances, waited until the boy's body relaxed. "Extremus Gelidus," he said, knowing that the cold would ease the effects of the Cruciatus, and Longbottom began to shake, shiver and cramp as if he'd been plunged into freezing water. Severus released the boy, forming a cold smirk on his face that made his fellow Death Eaters chuckle.
"Me next," Travers said, looking at Mr. Finnigan with anticipation.
"No," Severus said flatly, flicking his wand to make Mr. Boot float over to him. Thankfully the boy was still breathing. "Put Mr. Finnigan and Miss Wang in the gibbet cage and place Mr. Longbottom and Miss Weasley in the pillory for the night." He turned to face Cillian, keeping his face as impassive as possible. "Take her to our bedroom. I'll deal with her there."
Cillian nodded and dragged Hermione up the stairs. Severus turned his attention to the group as Amycus lowered two of the giblet cages as Filch unlocked the pillory. "Keep the cages low," Severus instructed, "I want them to be able to see each other."
Amycus chuckled as he opened the cage. Travers stunned Mr. Finnigan and levitated him into the cage as Avery opened the second gibbet cage, shoving Miss Wang inside. Lestrange and MacCavish both held Mr. Longbottom and Miss Weasley in place as Filch closed the pillory on the two students.
"Mr. Filch, I expect you and Amycus to stand guard over them tonight, so that their friends don't release them," Severus instructed. "And someone will have to take Mr. Boot here to Madam Pomfrey."
"Of course, Headmaster," Mr. Filch replied, snapping the lock closed. "They will be here all nigh', I promise."
"I'll see to the boy," Avery stated.
"Good," Severus stated and turned on his heel. He strode purposefully to his office so as not to seem as if he were in a hurry.
As time permitted, he and Cillian had spoken often about what had happened since the start of term and about the role they would both play. Cillian had already guessed as to Severus' position in the war and admired the wizard's subterfuge and skill at duplicity. But Severus knew that the boundaries which Cillian had set for himself as Hermione's protector would be severely challenged in the days ahead, especially if Hermione chose to participate in any of the DA's activities. Neither he nor Cillian believed she'd be willing to sit passively by, especially after having had spent a day and a half with Potter and Weasley. Cillian was still uncomfortable with what he thought Hermione expected of him, even though so far she'd not taken any active role in the misbehavior, but Severus knew his friend well. Even if she did, he'd protect her.
As soon as his office door closed behind him, he heard his friend bark, "Stay put," before coming down the stairs. A lot of good that did, Severus thought to himself with a smirk as Hermione came down right behind him. "What were you thinking putting children in those… torture devices?" Cillian roared as Hermione snarled, "How could you!" at him, and Severus smirked.
"It was a matter of discipline," Severus stated as he walked around behind his desk.
"Discipline?!" Cillian growled. "I thought you were against torturing students? Why alter the Carrow's punishments if you're going to torture them yourself? You used the Cruciatus – on children."
Severus shook his head as he opened a cabinet and withdrew a wooden box. "Because if I hadn't, Amycus would have and without using any restraint. He has the Dark Lord's grant to handle punishments for infractions and misconduct that happens outside of a classroom, but his authority is limited to the corridors. Believe me, he would have done far worse than I had, I assure you."
"Worse than you had… You mean you held back?" Hermione asked, accusingly. "But I heard her – I heard Ginny's and Neville's screams! They were in pain."
Severus set the box on his desk. "Yes, I did. I had enough intent to make them scream, but without enough determination to seriously harm them. The affect of the curse hurt, but both of your friends will recover quickly. Did you not notice how Miss Weasley was able to scramble away or how quickly Mr. Longbottom was able to recover after each curse?"
Hermione's eyes widened, then her brow furrowed as she nodded slowly. "Unlike when the Dark Lord does it; his victims lay there, curled up and unable to move…reeling from the after affects." She looked at him with alarm in her amber eyes. "But won't the others recognize it, too – that it didn't affect them the same?"
"They are not really that bright to have caught on, Hermione. Oh, Avery is, and Lestrange might've if he'd not been jeering along with the others, and I did have your friends placed in the pillories and gibbet cages. That should satisfy my dark brethren." He took out four small wax bottles holding concentrated doses his own creation inside: two a purplish-blue, two a yellowish-olive green.
"What are those? Are they… Nik and Nips?" she asked, and he smiled.
"More potions?" Cillian asked, but then he turned to look at Hermione. "Nick and what?"
"Nik and Nips, wax bottles with flavored syrup inside – I had some when my family went to America for a dental conference a few years back. You bite off the top, suck out the liquid and then chew the wax, just like gum," she explained. Cillian's brow creased, and Severus chuffed laugh.
"Yes, I borrowed the concept, but these are of my own design," he said, trying to suppress his mirth. He had designed it after the candy he had confiscated from a student, Allen Pawley, Severus' first year as a teacher. He'd thought they were illicit potions at the time. "The blue is a pain potion with a complex rejuvenation elixir that helps repair the immune, nervous and muscular systems, but it is only mildly effective if the Cruciatus is too strong. The other is simply a muscle relaxant and pain killer so Miss Wang and Mr. Finnigan don't get cramps in the cage or stiff joints." He looked up at Cillian. "Care to do the honors?"
"You're taking the mickey out on me, aren't you?" Cillian stated. "I can't do that."
"No, I just thought you could slip it to them on your way to your rooms," Severus said casually.
Cillian turned to stare out of the window and shook his head.
"Another way, then," Severus said. He turned and aimed his wand at an old tarnished bell that hung on a blackened iron hook on the wall. "Retinnire," he said, making the bell swing as if rung, but no sound came forth since the bell didn't have clapper.
A moment later a semi-transparent head of a young boy came through the wall, making Hermione gasp. "You rang, Headmaster?"
"Yes, Gruffudd, I need your assistance in diverting two wizards from the Entrance Hall. Please ask Kate McNiven to make Miss MyrtleBleatfield extremely upset, and ask Lady Gwenllian Glyndŵr if she wouldn't mind screaming in the first floor corridor."
"Right away, Headmaster," the boy said with a bow and withdrew his head from the room.
"You really think that ghost will distract Amycus?" Cillian asked.
"Myrtle's flooding her lavatory will distract Filch, and yes, I believe Amycus will leave the Entrance Hall to investigate the lady's screams," Severus said with a smirk. "Of course, if you were in the Entrance Hall when she screams, he is most likely to follow you."
Cillian lips stretched slowly into a smile. "He might at that. All right, I'll help to distract him." He turned to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night," Hermione said as Severus replied, "Tomorrow."
When he left the office, Severus then called for Peren. She arrived with a soft pop. "When the coast is clear, I want you to give the students in the Entrance Hall each one of these. Don't be seen," Severus said as he handed her the four vials, "and don't mention my name or that you got them from me. The olive ones are for the two in the cages; the blue ones are for Miss Weasley and Mr. Longbottom locked in the pillory. Tell them to swallow the liquid and then chew the bottle. It will help."
"Yes, Headmaster, master, sir, Peren will do as you asks. Peren will keep your secret. Peren will not says where she gets chewing potions," she said and disappeared.
"I don't understand," Hermione said, her brows furrowed again. "You tortured my friends and now you are helping them? Why make them think they're from me? I didn't invent the potions – Ginny will work it out."
"Come here," Severus said. She did as he demanded, and he pulled her to sit on his lap. "I can only do so much, Hermione," he stated flatly. "Cillian isn't ready, and I can't be any more obvious than I already am. I've done too much already."
"But why?" she asked. "I know you have to keep up the charade for the Death Eaters, but why not let my friends know about the potions? They already know you've changed their detentions and have altered their punishments? They know you're protecting them? My friends will not give you away."
"I can't risk that," Severus said with a shrug. He placed a finger under her chin and made her look at him again. "I am being what I am, Hermione. I'm one of them, a Death Eater, the Dark Lord's man, a murder and tormentor, strict disciplinarian and severe Headmaster. Your friends must believe that. Yes, I've tried to protect them, but I can only do so much before my actions are brought into question – again." He sighed. "If you really want to help your friends, tell them to be more careful, or stop interfering. If they don't, your friends will find themselves in Filch's chains – or worse."
"I know that my friends are freeing the students," she said. "Even those hiding with Ron and Harry knew about the detentions and chains."
"I'm well aware of that. The prefects go down to Filch's office and escort the students who were not rescued to the hospital." Since Ronald Weasely was not at the school this year and Hermione was not able to fulfill the duties, Minerva had appointed Neville Longbottom and Charlene Weston as Gryffindor's seventh year prefects, although she hadn't taken the honor away from Hermione.
"Madam Pomfrey has had many… discussions with Filch about the detentions," he said, with a smirk. "If he wants to keep getting his Rheumatoid and Gastritis Potions, he has to stay in her good graces. So far, Filch hasn't retaliated against the prefects, and he won't, if the matron has her way."
Besides, now that Edric Rodarte took over Potions, and he considered Squibs to be as "filthy" as Muggleborns, Filch didn't trust him to make the potions for him.
Hermione smiled at that and he kissed her cheek. "I'm glad," she sighed. "But my friends already know you're not the same as the others Death Eaters."
"I'm well aware of how they see me, but I must to keep control of the school," he said, wishing she understood. But she was right, he'd taken too many liberties, even the Dark Lord had questioned him about his softer disciplinary assignments. "When will Potter be ready to face him?"
Hermione shrugged. "He still has to find two more," she replied cryptically.
"But you cannot tell me what these artifacts are?" he asked, already knowing the answer as she shrugged and shook her head. Dumbledore had been as vague about this quest he'd assigned Potter and even now his painted image kept telling him to wait.
Either she didn't know or she still didn't trust him enough to confide in him. No matter. He'd know when the time came, either the eighteenth of March or the end of May. He still believed it would be the middle of March. He kissed her cheek. "Now go upstairs. I'll follow you up in a minute."
He watched her go, admiring the sway of her hips on the stairs. Naturally she'd forgiven him, although he was certain that her friends wouldn't. Longbottom would certainly never forgive anyone who cursed him with the same curse that had debilitated his parents, and once Arthur Weasley found out he'd cursed his daughter, he would not trust him again either. But on the positive side, he could finally write to the Dark Lord that the Quidditch matches would have to be cancelled since the students were still rebelling. He'd make the announcement tomorrow at breakfast, ironically on the exact day as he'd planned to.
~H~
The next morning at breakfast, Ginny left the table as soon as Severus and Hermione walked in. Hermione had hoped for a chance to talk to her, but she wouldn't see her friend again until lunch.
She sat down as Severus walked to his place at the head table and began his morning announcements. "Due to the continued defacement of the school walls, starting tomorrow, all students will be escorted to and from their common rooms and lessons by a Security wizard, staff member or Prefect. In orderly lines. There will be no unnecessary detours about the castle. If you do not have a lesson to attend you will be confined to your common rooms until your next class or at meal time. If any student wishes to go to the library between lessons they must have a signed voucher from their professor. No exceptions. Any student that wishes to go to the library after dinner must obtain a voucher from your Head of House which is to be signed by Madam Pince with the date and time stamped on the voucher showing the student's arrival and their departure. This voucher will be handed to your House Security Officer." There were gasps and outcries, but Severus ignored them. "Also, Saturday's Quidditch game is postponed."
Several students complained, some gaped in shock, others spoke angrily to friends, forks and napkins thrown down on the tables, and even the Death Eaters sitting at the house tables complained. Loudly. The noise rose until Severus' voice bellowed, "ENOUGH," over the din. "The defacement is to stop immediately or Quidditch and all Hogsmeade excursions will be cancelled for good." Not that Hermione recalled there being a Hogsmeade day scheduled all year.
Hermione tried to listen to the rest of Severus' announcements, but her mind kept replaying the new restrictions. Up at the head table the professors were talking among themselves, and they didn't look happy about them either. The Carrows and Lestrange appeared livid, as they looked about the Great Hall. Only Professor McGonagall remained poised, her mouth tightly pursed closed.
"Hermione, it's best we go," Cillian warned her. "Now," he snapped when she didn't move. He escorted her to the tower and asked Peren to bring them some food. "What was he thinking?" Cillian grumbled.
"Increasing discipline," she replied.
"He cancelled Quidditch!" he barked.
Hermione shrugged. "Postponed – unless the writing stops," she said as Peren set two plates and two cups on the coffee table.
"If it stops," he said, picking up his coffee.
Hermione ate in silence as he stewed.
Later that morning, Hermione walked out of Muggle Studies wishing that she'd had the forethought to ask Severus for Essence of Dittany for her hand. Cillian and Draco took sentry outside the bathroom doorway as Hermione excused herself and walked inside. The cool water helped, but didn't stop the bleeding.
"At this rate your hand will be riddled with scars," Charlene said, walking up to her. She withdrew her bottle of Dittany and poured a liberal amount on a gauze square. "Here," she added, reaching for Hermione's hand.
Hermione gratefully accepted the cloth. "I should have asked Severus for some."
Charlene chuffed a sympathetic laugh. "Here, keep it," she said, handing Hermione the bottle. "My uncle is a Healer. He'll send me more. I'll get you a salve that will heal your skin. We should get going; we have Dark Arts now." Hermione suppressed her groan.
In Dark Arts, Amycus had Zabini paired with Neville as Seamus faced off with Crabbe. Both pairs were at each other the moment that Amycus said go, and half the class dove for cover to avoid being hit. Seamus used a nonverbal deflection shield, making Crabbe's curse shoot off randomly. Hermione and Lavender had to duck behind Charlene's shield charm to avoid being hit, and Draco blocked a nasty hex that Zabini overshot at Neville, which he accidentally deflected towards Crabbe. Crabbe retaliated, firing a curse at Draco, which Draco barely had time to block.
"Enough!" Lestrange snapped, but he had to yell it three times before the boys stopped fighting.
Crabbe turned and snarled at Draco about being "the pauper prince" and fired a curse at him. Amycus merely laughed, and had Draco pair up with Millicent Bulstrode. "Sixty points, Miss Bulstrode, if you can fight as well as Mr. Crabbe."
Millicent nodded and looked warningly at Draco. "Oh, I can take him on," she said cockily.
The three pairs began fighting the moment Amycus said, "Go," and Millicent fired a very nasty curse at Draco, every bit as adept at Dark Arts as either Crabbe or Zabini.
Amycus clapped to get everyone's attention. "Now that's the way you do it," he said, and awarded Millicent, Crabbe and Zabini sixty points each and an extra fifty for no reason. "Let's see you go again."
The pairs faced each other, both Neville and Seamus taut with anticipation as Crabbe cracked his neck before raising his wand. The sparring turned nasty quickly, spells flying as the boys and Millicent fought. This time, Amycus didn't stop the fighting until Seamus was knocked back into a desk and Millicent made Draco fall to his knees, grasping his middle in pain. "Very good, Crabbe; ninety points for Slytherin," Amycus announced. "Miss Bulstrode, curses, not jinxes – minus two points from Slytherin and don't make me deduct points again, ya here me?" he admonished her. "Do better. Malfoy, don't hold back 'cause she's a girl, you wet prat. Your aunt said you knew how to duel – so do it!"
Cillian drew his wand, ready to cast a shield charm over the Gryffindor girls when Amycus had the three pairs square off again. "Enough, Amycus! This is not instructive it's fighting, and fighting is not allowed in the school," Cillian warned him as Parvati helped Neville to his feet. Nott lowered his wand, having been protecting the Slytherin girls from the fight. "And where is the approved list of curses posted for the students?"
"I handed the list out before Christmas," Amycus snarled. "And I say who does what and… and, well this is my classroom, and I say they is learning valuable skills." Amycus barked at the students to duel again.
By the end of the lesson, if that's what it could be called, both Draco and Neville were limping, Neville had a black eye while Draco sported sore arm, a huge bruise on his ribs (seen through the tear in his robes) and half his face was swollen. Seamus' arm and shoulder were hanging limply, and his ankle was broken. Cillian cast a support plaster on his leg, and Nott escorted all three to the hospital.
At lunch, Ginny was still absent, and Janilynn ate quickly and left, saying that she was going to the common room.
With the worst part of her day over, Hermione headed down to Potions, relieved to have a normal lesson to look forward to.
In Potions, Hermione worked with Adriana Whitehall and Amanda Bergental making Entomorphis Potion, which was supposed to remove the insectoid physical features on the victim from an Insect Hex. It had been very pleasant to work with the girls, and she thanked them at the end of the lesson.
After cleaning up their workstation Hermione packed up to leave, but was startled by Theodore Nott saying, "Where are you going?" making her jump.
She turned, surprised to see both Nott and Markus Schlinder behind her. "I go to the library during my revision breaks. I have my slip from professors Rodarte and Archstone," she replied.
Nott nodded as Adrianna said she and Amanda were going to the library as well. The Slytherin girls flanked Hermione as they left the classroom, greeting Cillian politely as they all walked out the door. "How did you do on your test last week?" Amanda asked Hermione.
"Well enough," Hermione said with a shrug. "I was certain I'd missed an important facet of the high purity metals and compounds section, but Professor Rodarte gave me full marks."
"I missed the question on cobalt purification," Amanda said, obviously disheartened. "I have to write an essay on purifying and isolating cobalt before it can be of use in potions. I forgot the order of the process."
"Its hydrochloric acid solvent and ammonia wash, followed by a Static-Pulse Charm to oxidize the cobalt, and then using the Syphon Charm while heating the cobalt in the smelting box to melt off the remaining impurities," Hermione said. Amanda stared at her, her mouth agape, and Hermione felt her face flush. "It's in the chapter on Purification Process and Characterization in The Uses of Ultra High Purity Metals in Potions and Alchemy by Peter Atkins and Magical Principles of Metallic Elements by Marcella-Antoinia Thénard. Jean-Paul Vauquelin's book was helpful, too. I was going to return them today, but I'll give them to you if you like."
"How can you recall that so easily?" Amanda said, amazed. "And the titles of the books you use?"
Now she knew her face was flushed, her cheeks were burning. "I, er, sort of have a photographic memory. And if I write something once or twice while revising, it's easy for me to retain it."
Both girls nodded, obviously impressed and surprised, and behind them, Nott turned his head as if thinking about what she'd said. Once they arrived in the library, Hermione gave Amanda the books so she could do her essay as they waited to have their permissions slips signed. She then headed to the Transfiguration section. Nott followed her, keeping a respectable distance. She watched him for a moment, then began searching for material for her own essay. When she walked around the bookshelf into the next aisle, she spotted Ginny perusing the shelves. Ginny looked up, but she didn't smile. "Gin, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, hurt by her friend's cool demeanor.
"Nothing," she said as Hermione stepped closer. "Did you still want to use the mirror?"
"Yes, please," Hermione said quietly as she dropped her bag next to her and sat down on the floor next to her friend. "I'm sorry about what happened in the Entrance Hall."
"It's not your fault," Ginny started to say, pulling the mirror out of her bag, but then her eyes narrowed and her hand stilled. "Malfoy's right there, as is Cillian. I don't want them to know," she hissed, about to put the mirror back, but Hermione reached for her wrist to stop her.
"It's all right, really, they won't do anything," Hermione persisted, but Ginny looked skeptical. "Look, Gin, I've been talking to them all year, trying to make them see the truth and really, they are not as – well, as steadfast as before."
"They are Death Eaters," Ginny said under her breath. "You can't tell me that they are seriously listening to you… You're trying to convert them?"
Hermione nodded. "I think I'm making some progress." She glanced at the wizards loitering at the end of the aisle, and figured they were not close enough to overhear them if they talked softly enough. "Gin, you have to keep this a secret for now. I'm not sure they are ready to have people know, but Draco's not at all happy under the Dark Lord. He's seen things and well, I know he's discontented. Cillian, too. But don't say anything."
Ginny looked at Draco's reflection in the compact mirror as she pretended to check her lipgloss. "I thought something seemed… off." She lowered her hand and looked at Hermione, passing the compact over. "But do you really think you can trust him?"
"Picture this: the Dark Lord has taken over his house, moved the furnishings around to suit his needs, allows his followers to come and go as he wants, and there are Death Eaters taking residence in all the guest rooms. I know Greyback is there as is Peter Pettigrew, Macnair, Gerund, Malburke and McFaul. Mengele, have you heard of him? He's doing things in the cellar of Malfoy's house, and remember that Healer that was fired from St. Mungo's for 'incomprehensible experimentation research', Edward Macaulay? He's at the manor, too."
Ginny's eyes became downcast as she considered what Hermione told her. "But really," she said looking up. "Malfoy – Lucius Malfoy's son, Death Eater, tried to kill Dumbledore and helped several Death Eaters breach the castle last year." She turned to look at him again, then back to Hermione again. "Malfoy."
Hermione shrugged as Draco walked up to them. "What?" he asked, looking down at Ginny.
Hermione wished he didn't have such distaste to his tone; it didn't help matters. "We're just talking, Draco."
"Yeah, about me," he snapped.
"About things?" Ginny said, "And yes, your name came up." Ginny scrambled to her feet, so Hermione got up too. "Can't she have a private conversation with her friends?"
Draco's eyes narrowed, and he stared at her before he walked away. "Ginny, try, please," Hermione pleaded softly as Draco walked by Cillian. "Think what it would mean to have him on our side."
"I dunno, Hermione, he's still the same to me," Ginny said.
"He kept you out of detention last Thursday," she reminded her.
Ginny became thoughtful as she stared at Malfoy, who now sat slumped in one of the chairs at the nearest table. "Oh," she said, turning her attention back on Hermione. "I never thanked you for the potions. Clever idea, putting them in chewable wax."
Hermione smirked. "Not mine, but you're welcome."
"Whose then…?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowed.
"I'm glad it helped. Please, lighten up on Malfoy, help me turn him," Hermione replied, avoiding the question so she didn't have to lie. She turned and walked to toward the end of the aisle and opened the compact. She tried focusing her magic on the mirror like she had with the DA coins, then sighed. Ginny reached around and tapped the glass with her wand, then stowed her wand away while keeping an eye on Cillian, but he was still at the other end of the aisle, looking bored.
A moment later, Hermione saw a patch of red hair and then a part of Ron's face. "Ron, Hi," Hermione whispered happily. "Don't talk loud, I'm in the library."
"Yeah, I can see the books," Ron said, laughing softly. "Are you alone? Can we talk?" he asked.
She glanced about, noting that Ginny was searching the shelf behind her. "Yeah, it's safe to talk."
"We destroyed the locket, but we have no idea where the cup might be," he stated.
"So I have to consider locations," Hermione said thoughtfully. "No clue to the other item. I've tried, but I can't find anything of significance."
"We don't have any ideas, either. "Tonks thinks there was something about an item belonging to Gryffindor? She's searching the Auror files – Remus asked her to," Ron said.
"You've brought Remus and Tonks into this?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Nah, Remus figured out that we are looking for any of the founders' artifacts and confronted us," Ron said. "Harry didn't want to, but Dean and me – they have resources we don't. They don't know why – just that we have to find them."
"So where have you looked?" Hermione asked.
Ron listed off a few places, but they seemed very unlikely to Hermione. "How are things in school? Are you all right? We keep getting odd bits of messages on the DA coins."
"That's just us, Ron," Ginny said, looking over Hermione's shoulder. "The DA sending messages to each other."
She heard Harry's angry voice, "What are you doing?" then the image in the mirror shook, she saw flashes of the tent, boots, dirty clothes and jeans, and then Ron shouted, "Don't! It's Hermione!"
"She's with Ginny. I don't want her involved – it's too dangerous!" Harry said. The reflective surface shimmered and then the mirror went black. Hermione sighed and was about to close the mirror when the wall of the tent came back in view and Ron's hair. "Well, it's not like she's going to come and join us, is she? And we need Hermione's help," Ron was saying.
"But if they question her," Harry argued, and Ginny huffed behind Hermione.
"I'm not helpless, Harry. Let me help."
"No," Harry said and the mirror went dark.
"Places for what?" Ginny asked, slightly above a whisper. "What are they looking for? It's the cursed cup again, isn't it?"
"Yes, and places that the Dark Lord might have hidden the cup," she admitted softly, but their had mirror closed.
~o0o~
Wednesday night after her Animagus lesson, as Hermione and Cillian walked back to the Headmaster's Tower, they heard the loud voices auguring. "What about the students who had escaped her office?" Amycus snarled, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Why did you leave them unattended?" MacCavish growled just as loud as Cillian drew Hermione aside.
"There was a commotion in the corridor," Alecto snarled, her voice equally as loud in the stone corridor.
"So you said," Travers snapped, shouting also, to which Rowle added, "We didn't hear any commotion, and we were in the corridor."
"And yet, the DA messages continue to appear on the walls?" Alecto shouted, supported by Filch's clearly grunted, "Yeah, what about them messages?"
"This way," Cillian whispered softly to Hermione, indicating they go the other way to avoid the scene, but his hushed words carried a little too well.
She nodded, not trusting that her voice wouldn't be heard by the others in the corridor. Cillian cast a quick muffling charm on their shoes, and they ran the other way as quietly as they could, taking the longer way back by heading for the stairs near the Ravenclaw Tower.
At the top of the stairs leading to the second floor, Neville stopped and turned to Ernie Coppersmith. He held up a hand to motion to Ernie to stop the four students behind him.
Ernie nodded, urging the four behind him to move closer to the wall, then turned back to Neville and gestured in the direction of the corridor that Hermione and Cillian had taken to avoid the Carrows and the three Security wizards, indicating they should go the same way.
Neville nodded, waving everyone to move quietly and then led the group down the same corridor Hermione and Cillian had taken, with Ernie taking up the rear. There was a passage there that magically opened up on the fourth floor and then stairs that would take them to the fifth. From there they could get into the common room easily. Two students cast 'You know right from wrong. Right is honorable – wrong is criminal' on the wall before catching up to Ernie. The same message was painted on the fourth corridor and on the fifth where students would read them.
At the bottom of the stairs leading to the third floor, hidden behind a suit of armor, Nott turned to Schlinder chuffed silently, giving his friend a nod.
Schlinder smiled as he nodded and made a quick flick of his wand while mouthing, 'Finite Incantatem.' He put his wand back into his pocket, then followed Nott down the stairs toward the dungeons, feeling smug. "Seven," he said with a nod.
"Twelve if you count the ones coming down the stairs from the fourth floor," Nott added.
~~o0o~~
Author's Notes:
Uh-oh! Quite a few Death Eater's will be very disappointed about the cancellation of the Quidditch match, huh?
A huge thank you to my alpha reader, Arabellabloodgood, for reading this over for me, Proulxes for the Britpick, and to Phoenix for combing through this and helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate the all the help. Thank you very much.