Hermione ate dinner alone in the kitchens that night and went to bed early, still drained from staying up so late doing coven rituals. When she awoke the next morning, her arms and hands were on fire, and she fled to the Hospital Wing, tears in her eyes.

She shouldn't have been surprised when her coven showed up slightly later, concern wide in their eyes. They could feel her pain through their bond. They stood around her silently, watching as Madame Pomfrey slowly undid the bandages.

"The salve was absorbed. You're going to need more," she said, exposing the blackened flesh and reaching for a jar. "Despite how it looks, you seem to be healing rather well. You might lose some sensation in your fingers and hands, though – those nerves seem rather burned out – but we'll see if we can't make the pain stop for you."

Hermione watched as the matron covered the burns in gauze, this time going halfway up her forearms with it too, before carefully wrapping bandages around her arms and hands, taking care to shrink the bandage so each finger could be wrapped individually.

"I know it's going to hurt, but you need to be able to articulate with your fingers," Madame Pomfrey warned her. "If you don't move them, the nerves might not heal fully connected."

When she was done, Hermione's arms and hands resembled those of a mummy. They still hurt, but the pain was much less, down to a bearable level. As Madame Pomfrey hustled off to put away her jars, Hermione looked up at her coven.

"Was it worth it?" she asked quietly. "The House Elves said more ghosts came to look."

Susan's eyes were brimming with tears, and Luna gave Susan a hug.

"They did," Harry said, his eyes and voice serious. "The ghosts could feel it more once you connected the ritual to the school. They were stunned, really – they'd never thought they would have that choice again, you know. I didn't know any of the ones who showed up, but they all seemed to go away thinking about it." He paused. "I bet some of them will go, next year. Once they've had time to think about it, you know."

"Good," Hermione sighed. "That's good to hear."

"One of the ghosts came just to look at the ritual," Luna said. "He was astonished that you managed to pull a channel to connect with Hogwarts itself."

"Pulling on the magic the founders left behind wasn't too bad," Harry said. "It was… it was like having to convince them, and then pulling a thick cable into the ritual that was kind of buzzing." His eyes drifted down to her hands. "It definitely didn't burn."

"Right." Hermione winced. She looked at Harry, glancing at Blaise. "Snape said I burned you too, holding your hands like that. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry?" Susan demanded. She burst into tears, taking off her glasses and wiping at her eyes furiously. "I'm the one who should be sorry! I'm the one who suggested you change the ritual! I ended up hurting everybody! I'm so sorry!"

She threw herself at Hermione, hugging her legs and sitting on the floor, weeping into her knees. Taken aback, Hermione looked at Luna with wide eyes, but Luna only shrugged.

"It's alright, Susan," Hermione said, awkwardly stroking her head with her heavily-bandaged hand. "It was my choice, my risk to take."

"You didn't know it was a risk," Susan said. "I suggested something, and you just wanted to help me make it come true, and now you're going to have permanent nerve damage!"

She wept into Hermione's knees, clutching her legs like a lifeline, and Hermione didn't know what to do.

"It's probably only minor nerve damage?" Hermione tried. "I'm sure I'll get used to it."

That only made Susan cry harder, and Hermione winced. Her heart ached for the other girl.

"Susan, really…"

Hermione leaned down, shifting her arms to slip between Susan's, hoisting her up. Her eyes met the other girl's, still brimming with tears, and she gently wiped them from her eyes.

"I'm going to be okay," she told her firmly. "Look at me – look at me – I'm going to be okay. Okay?"

She slipped Susan's turquoise glasses back onto her, and Susan bit her lip.

"Your arms," she protested. "Your hands…"

"Susan," Hermione said, holding her gaze. "Susan, I would do it all again, even knowing this is what the result would be."

Susan's eyes widened. "But—Hermione, you have nerve damage—"

"—that I will learn to live with," Hermione said. "What is that minor discomfort compared to the chance to help the souls of lost people reach their final resting place?"

Susan looked torn, before throwing her arm's around Hermione's middle.

"You are a better person than me," she said, her voice muffled. "I don't—I don't think I could make that choice."

"No one is asking it of you," Hermione said, hugging the girl back. "Now get up. There are more important things to attend to than tears."

Slowly, Susan stood up, backing up enough to give Hermione room to stand. She flexed her arms and wiggled her fingers as she did, testing the flickers of pain and the way they tingled. It was unpleasant, and it did hurt, but she was still healing. Wherever she ended up, it would be tolerable, and she smiled faintly.

"I'll be okay," she told them all. "I'm sorry for scaring you. And burning you, too. I didn't realize…"

"It's okay," Harry said immediately, going to give her a hug. He pulled back, bright green eyes holding hers. "It was barely a burn. Madame Pomfrey healed it in moments."

"Still," Hermione said, as Luna came forward to give her a hug. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Luna pulled back, and Hermione turned to Blaise.

Blaise had been mostly silent throughout the entire interaction, hanging in the back, observing through dark, inscrutable eyes. Hermione bit her lip, her heart twanging painfully.

"Sorry?" she offered quietly. "I heard you got burned too, Blaise..."

"You're forgiven," Blaise said immediately. "Hermione…"

His voice was anguished, and she found herself pulled firmly into his arms, holding her close.

"I didn't realize—" he said, his voice wretched. "You're going to be permanently hurt from this – I thought the burns would heal—"

"It's okay," Hermione said. "I would do it again, if I had to."

"I know, and that's the worst part." His voice sounded torn, despairing. "That you would do it again, and hurt yourself, for no personal gain—"

He broke off, holding her tighter, and Hermione found herself relaxing slowly, holding him back with her damaged arms.

"It's okay," she said quietly. "I'm okay, Blaise. I'm okay."

Blaise met her gaze immediately, dark orbs holding hers.

"Are you, though?" he said plainly. "Are you?"

Hermione bit her lip, considering.

"No," she said finally. "But I will be. Given time, all things heal."

"You know that's not true." Blaise's laugh was hollow. "Just consider your arms and hands."

"Most things heal given time, then," Hermione corrected. "You get hurt, and it scabs over and scars, leaving toughened flesh behind to protect you for next time."

Blaise met her eyes, and to Hermione's astonishment, she thought he might cry.

"That's what I'm afraid of," he said quietly. "Hermione, that's what I'm afraid of."

She didn't know what to do other than to let him hold her closer, stroking his back as he cradled her in his arms, rocking her slightly as if he never wanted to let her go. Hermione shot a worried look at Luna, who shrugged. Hermione bit her lip and focused on being present for Blaise, who seemed to be drawing some measure of comfort from her embrace.

Harry was examining his coven ring. The glowing from Beltane had worn off, leaving it just a silver ring with black enamel filling in the gaps on the flat pentacle face.

"This started blinking purple this morning at the same time I could feel you hurting," Harry said. "Does it blink whatever the color of the person in danger is?"

Susan managed a small smile.

"'Whatever the color of the person'?" she said. "Yes. Because I am 'gold person', and you are 'red person'—"

"You know what I mean," Harry shot back, but he was grinning.

"Did it really?" Hermione asked, intrigued. "That's neat."

"I think it helps you locate the coven member in danger, too," Luna said. "If we were of age and could Apparate, I think it would help us get to each other's side."

"That is excellent," Harry said with a smile. "So next time Hermione runs headlong danger to kill an ancient monster, we'll be able to pop right to her side."

"If I'm not already there," Blaise muttered from above her, his voice muffled. His arms tightened around her, and Hermione squeezed him again before letting go and taking a step back.

"I'm okay," she told him. "Really."

Blaise looked at her, searching her eyes for something, and Hermione tried to keep hers open, honest. After a moment, Blaise sighed.

"Well, at least there's no more danger this year, is there?" he asked wryly. "I think the coven bond and ritual were the last of the grand plans."

Hermione couldn't help but smile.

"Should be pretty calm," she said. "All that's left are exams."

"Oh, no," Harry groaned, clutching his head. "That's even worse."

They all laughed and teased Harry as they went down the stairs to breakfast, Blaise standing at Hermione's elbow attentively, as she couldn't hold the banister very well on the stairs.

"I wouldn't worry too much about exams, Harry," Luna told him, her eyes sparkling.

Harry made a face. "I'd like to stay in the same year as Hermione, thanks. I don't want to fail."

Hermione was amused to hear someone else fretting over exams, though his motivations were a bit skewed. Though, now that she thought about it, she wasn't really fretting over exams, was she? She'd been so busy, they'd almost entirely slipped her mind.

She glanced around at her coven members, bickering good-naturedly. Susan was laughing and Blaise was teasing Harry, who was retorting back, and Luna's eyes were sparkling as she egged them on. Even with her arms hurting, Hermione smiled.

Maybe she'd start worrying tomorrow.

Exams could wait.


The rest of Sunday passed fairly lazily, with Hermione reading on the lawn. Her coven was with her (over-attentive as they were, worried over her injuries), and Tracey and Millie came out to join them, as did Neville and Ron. Hermione was taken aback at the large group, but they all had the same motivation.

"Merlin, 'Mione, what happened to your arms?" Ron said, goggling at her bandages as he plopped down. "Yesterday it was just your hands! They're even worse today!"

"Ron!" Neville elbowed him, looking embarrassed at he turned to Hermione. "What he means to say is we heard you were in the Hospital Wing, and we came to inquire after your health."

"And to ask what happened," Ron added, and Neville groaned.

"Yes, Hermione," Tracey said, her eyes gleaming. "What did happen? Exactly how did you sustain such burns?"

"Especially overnight," Millie added. "Who knew beds were such a danger?"

Hermione bit her lip.

"I… channeled magic through my arms and hands," she said slowly, "that was a bit too powerful for me to really handle." She paused. "…I think maybe because I'd never channeled that much at a time before? Or maybe it was the very nature of the magic that made it electric."

"Eclektrik?" Millie repeated.

"The muggle magic," Tracey clarified. "It's how they have lights."

"How did that happen?" Neville asked, his eyes wide. "You were channeling magic? Raw magic?"

Hermione gnawed on her lip.

"Umm…"

She glanced around at her coven members. Harry shrugged, Luna gave her a smile, and Susan sat up straight, looking fierce and proud. She looked to Blaise, who raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to her, indicating he'd go along whatever she decided.

She sighed.

"The five of us," she said, gesturing, "bonded as a coven early Saturday morning. The raw magic was part of the ritual we did afterwards."

There were two reactions: Tracey and Ron both looked confused, while Neville and Millie gasped.

"A coven?" Millie repeated, her eyes huge. "Merlin, Hermione, seriously?" She turned to Blaise. "And I suppose you egged her on in this insanity?"

"Hey, hey!" Blaise said, holding his hands up, protesting. "I provided helpful encouragement, as any good friend should do!"

"A coven," Neville breathed. He looked awed and a little afraid. "Those are old, Hermione. That's old magic. Why?"

Hermione shrugged, embarrassed.

"Because I could?" she said with a self-conscious smile. "It's magic, Neville, a kind you can't really do with a wand. And I want to learn all magic, the wild kind as well as the kind with a wand."

"Wait, how are you doing magic without a wand?" Ron wanted to know, frowning. "That doesn't make sense."

"Covens do ritual magic together, Weasley," Millie snapped. "With chanting and circles and the like, and raw magic coming out to make things happen and bind things together."

"Like The Fallen Foe," Tracey said, her eyes widening in understanding. She looked to Hermione. "Like that, but more complicated?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "Only a lot more complicated."

"And a lot more dodgy," Millie muttered.

"Oi!" Ron objected. "What's The Fallen Foe?"

The Slytherins deliberately barreled over that.

"Covens fell out of favor once wands were refined," Millie said. "Ritual magic is dangerous." She looked at them all sharply. "Quite honestly, I'm appalled you're all just going along with this. You could get seriously hurt!"

"We know," Luna said, shrugging with a smile.

"Do you?" Millie challenged.

"Hermione has permanent nerve damage," Luna pointed out, her tone never changing, "and she got that on Day 1."

"Permanent nerve damage?" Neville looked horrified. "How? Why?"

"Hermione took the hardest part in the ritual we did that night," Susan cut in. Her eyes were shining behind her glasses. "But it was good. It was a ritual of pure Light and selflessness—"

"Not pure selflessness," Hermione admitted.

"—and its positive effect will linger for years," Susan finished, resolute. "She found the cost worth it, and she willingly paid it."

Neville looked uncertain.

"So this is… just like, and advanced magic club for you, Hermione?" he said. "I mean, I've never heard of covens doing Light rituals…"

"I suspect all you've heard of covens have been scary bedtime stories," Susan said, folding her arms. "But it's not like that. My mother was in a coven; her coven did some of the most protective ritual magic on people's homes during the war that was ever seen."

"Your mother was in a coven?" Neville was surprised. "I think your mum was friends with my mum. You know, back then."

He cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away, and Susan looked uncomfortable.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't ask me to be in your coven," Tracey announced. "This sounds more than a little crazy and insane, if you ask me."

"Likewise," Millie said, eying Hermione sideways. "I treasure you, Hermione, but this would be a step too far."

"And I don't want nerve damage," Tracey said promptly.

"Well, you're not in it, so what's it matter now?" Harry said testily. "We've already bonded. There's not room for more."

Tracey and Millie looked surprised by Harry's territorial response, while Neville looked hurt.

"Why didn't you ask me?" Neville asked Hermione. "I come from an Old Family; I would have known about coven magic."

Hermione gave him a soft smile.

"Neville," she said gently, "would you ever have said 'yes'?"

Neville paused to reflect.

"…no," he said finally. He looked at her. "But it would have been nice to be asked."

"I wanted to keep it secret," Hermione said. "I still kind of do, despite the formal bond and rings." She looked around sharply. "A secret, understand?"

"Of course." Neville looked offended like she'd ever considered he wouldn't keep it quiet.

"No telling anyone; only talking about it with you," Ron said. He shrugged. "Fair enough."

"Your secrets are mine," Millie said, nodding to her.

"Your secrets are mine, too," Tracey chimed in. Her eyes danced as they fell on her coven ring, lighting up as if she were noticing it for the first time. "Though, if Draco notices your ring, and notices Harry or Blaise wearing the same one, oh—! He is going to flip his lid—"

"Malfoy?" Ron said, his nose wrinkling. "What's that tosser care?"

To Hermione's astonishment, the entire group, all nine of them, chatted on the lawn and teased each other for another hour and a half, tentatively building bonds between the two Slytherins and the two Gryffindors. Susan seemed happy to get to know more people as well, and Luna was smiling serenely over the whole thing. Harry had been very defensive at first, before finally starting to relax once he realized everyone was getting along; Hermione suspected he had been worried he was going to see his few friends fight with each other and had been worried. And Blaise stayed by her side throughout the afternoon, helping her turn pages in her book when she struggled with her bandaged fingers while he teased Harry and Ron.

When they all rose to go to dinner, the Gryffindors drifted away, and Hermione overheard Ron tell Harry, "They're not that bad, really. I didn't think Slytherins could be like that. And the one – Tracey, with the short hair – she was actually kind of fun…"

Hermione smiled to herself, her heart warming. The fact her friends had all gotten along felt incredible.

"Do you want me to take you up to the Hospital Wing after dinner?" Blaise asked quietly, as they sat down at the table. "If Madam Pomfrey re-wraps your hands before bed, maybe you won't hurt so much when you wake up tomorrow?"

Hermione paused.

"That's probably a good idea," she confessed. She looked at him. "Thanks."

Blaise's eyes were soft. "Of course."

"Look at Lockhart," Tracey said, her eyes wide. "What is he doing?"

Hermione turned, curious.

Lockhart, as it seemed, was going through a large sheaf of incredibly old and dusty papers that kept crumbling on him. He was wearing thin-rimmed gold framed reading glasses, and his expression varied from confused and befuddled to indignant and annoyed. The other teachers were casting worried looks at him as he muttered to himself, but he ignored them, determinedly going through the parchments.

"Oh my god," Hermione breathed. "He's actually going to do it."

"Do what?" Millie asked.

"Those are old syllabi," Hermione said, ignoring Millie. She turned to Blaise, her eyes alight. "He's actually going to do it. He's going to do it."

"No way." Blaise folded his arms. "How would he have even noticed yet?"

"I don't know; maybe my hint Friday had him curious and he tried to seek him out?" Hermione suggested. Excitement was building in her voice, her eyes sparkling. "But I recognize those papers. I had to carefully go through them myself at the beginning of the year."

"If you say so…" Blaise said, amused. He smirked. "I'll suppose we'll see."