Tensions rode high and heavy in the air as they all sat and watched the fireplace crackle. This was the last night before they left for summer hols and most were packing or in groups to get in a last bit of friend time before they were separated for months. That the three Gryffindors and their token Hufflepuff were so quiet went unnoticed among all the hubbub.
"I can get us something from the kitchens," Draco offered. He was the one least likely to be stopped by their professor should he be spotted, though it was still not a small chance. He at least had the excuse of going to his dorm and Hermione not being there. Tom would have to believe him about that too.
But Hermione didn't want her friend to leave and she said as much.
"We need to eat," said Ron.
It wasn't as though they didn't have snacks; between the two boys who lived in the tower, there was always something to eat. They had chocolate and pumpkin patsies aplenty. There were also licorice wands and a few ice mice, though it was hardly a nutritious meal.
Draco sighed. "I suppose one night without a real dinner will hardly kill us," he said. "Hand me another chocolate frog, then?"
Hermione grabbed one from the pile and passed it his way.
"Do you think they'll arrive at nine or beforehand?" she wondered, checking the clock for the umpteenth time that evening. It was after seven now.
Harry shrugged. "Could be having a meeting first, I suppose. I mean, he's trying not to scare you, right?"
"Right," she confirmed.
There was something about sharing her fears and suspicions with her friends that had eased her anxieties; Hermione was no longer on the verge of a breakdown, though it wasn't terribly far off, just out of sight and easily pushed back for practical matters. She could break down once she was safe.
If that ever happens.
The boys were in this with her now, whatever it was exactly that she was involved in. And that was fair, all things considered. Harry's mother was muggleborn and in danger much as she was should war break out again. Draco would always side with her, and surely at this point, Ron would as well. His family was considered blood traitors with far too much interest in muggles. They had all been on her side when it came to Lucius as well.
That wasn't a war. It was just one man.
How silly it felt now that the name of one man should strike such fear and shame in her when Tom had a small army at his disposal. That army was already working to change the face of the world and had partially been responsible for what happened to her.
What did Tom really have to do with the law?
She shivered.
"Alright there, Hermione?" Ron asked, and she had to hand it to her redheaded friend; he was more attentive than he used to be. Perhaps he was growing up.
She was about to answer the affirmative when Harry piped up. "How could she be, with what's happening tonight?"
"Oi, you know what I meant," replied Ron.
She snorted and all three of the boys gaped at her. "Sorry, it's just— nothing can change us, can it? Not what's between us, that is."
The boys grinned in agreement, though Ron and Harry exchanged slugs to the shoulder.
Just as they were settling down, a low rumble ripped through the castle. It started quiet and subtle, rose up their feet until it shook and roared across the halls.
"I—I think it's started," said Harry, drawing his wand.
"Shit," said Ron.
Hermione didn't even think as she admonished, "Language." Her own wand was already out, as were Ron's and Draco's. Around them, the common room had fallen silent. Students were staring everywhich way, but especially toward the portrait entrance. They didn't know what was happening and were waiting for someone to come and tell them.
"To your dorms." Harry came to the same realization and it spurred him into action. "Actually, everyone go fetch those in the dorms and bring them here. It'll be safer. Those in the Defense Club to the front."
"Harry. Harry, the other Houses don't know," she murmured hurriedly.
"Don't know what?" Whispers and mutters ran through the other students. Ginny had worked her way to the front to stand with them and it was she who spoke. Neville was at her side.
Hermione bit her lip.
"What don't we know?" the girl pressed.
"Riddle is coming with some of his men today. We think they're attacking the castle." Harry's voice rose to inform the crowd. There were sounds of disbelief all around, but not from her circle of friends. Neville and Ginny both seemed to accept what they were told at face value. "I know it seems bonkers, but it's true. He's responsible for the attack on Hogsmeade, too."
"But Professor Riddle is our best teacher," said Lavender. "Why would he—"
"It's true." Hermione had to throw her voice in with Harry. Everyone knew she was his teaching assistant, his most ardent supporter. If Hermione Granger believed he was capable of an attack, then it must be true. "Now, we need to prepare defenses in case they come here."
They might, she realized. If nothing else, Tom could decide he wanted to confront her for her betrayal.
Her heart hammered as she thought through what to do. "I—I can inform the other Houses." She could take the Invisibility Cloak and use it to evade detection. And also maybe, just maybe, the Death Eaters and Tom would leave Gryffindor Tower alone if she weren't present.
Draco said, "Absolutely not," at the same time Ron said, "Like Hell you are."
"They're right. It's too dangerous."
She shook her head. "He's less likely to kill me than anyone elsae. After all, he's invested too much time in me." That's what she told herself. In truth, her blood ran cold at the idea of him realizing how Dumbledore had known to be prepared. It would be obvious when she didn't show up at the meeting. In fact, she was surprised she hadn't received a message somehow.
"If you go, I go," Harry told her.
"Then I go, too," added Ron.
Draco hesitated but nodded. "I can't let anything happen to you." Again echoed unsaid between them.
"We can't all fit under the cloak." She clicked her tongue. "It's too dangerous—"
"If it's too dangerous for us, then it's too dangerous for you," Ron said.
"We can't just not send anyone," she tried again from a new angle.
Her fellow prefect shook his head. "They'll realize something is wrong, Hermione. No one is going to leave their common rooms."
Hot tears prickled at her eyes. "But—"
"No." Draco steered her away from the back of the portrait. She didn't remember approaching it. Was it when the explosions started, or—
Blasts sounded through the common room like bombs dropped over a city. They boomed and shook.
Harry began organizing people into lines, beginning with sending the first, second, and third years to their dormitories. Students older than fifteen were allowed to choose if they wanted to stay, with Defense Club students and any NEWTs level students who volunteered up front.
"Put the jungle trap right there. Good. There's a pocket of quicksand in it." Who knew Weasley joke items would have uses? Ron and Neville especially seemed able to figure out tactics to use in the small space.
Harry, meanwhile, was making sure everyone knew the disarming charm and the shield charm.
"Hermione, go show that lot, yeah?" He gestured toward a knot of students at the back, all of whom looked unsure they had made the right decision.
She nodded back and wove through to them. "Erm, hello. Does anyone here know the shield charm?"
One student shyly raised her hand.
"Good. And the disarming charm?"
Two raised their hands then.
"Would you cast the disarming charm at her?" she asked. "And I want you to let it go the first time. The second, would you please throw up a shield?"
She had Tom to thank for her ability to do this, a bitter thought, but he was an inspired teacher. She watched as the pair demonstrated twice, then asked that they help her teach the others the movements.
Toward the front of the room, Harry was showing a stunner to some more advanced, braver students than those she had.
He was a natural, a leader. A seventh year prefect came to him with a question and he fielded it without hesitation.
How was he so confident, she wondered. How was he able to get people to listen so effortlessly? It was like what Tom had, but with Harry, there was something different. He was genuine, good, and humble.
Hermione nodded as her handful of students swapped positions to practice. "Good. I'll be right back, Keep practicing—"
The cacophony seemed to have no point of origin as the world exploded into red, then dust and haze. Her ears were ringing. She blinked to clear her vision as much as possible and just made out figuring coming through the gaping hole where the portrait used to be. It was wide enough for several men abreast now.
At the head was one who managed to dispel jungle, sneering as he did so. Though he wore no mask there was something familiar about him. Her skin crawled and she pushed the nearest student back and behind her, wand out-thrust.
The man's shifting grey eyes roved until they spotted her dust-laden form. "Mudblood." She knew that voice; this was the man she'd encountered in Hogsmeade, Antonin. Harry threw a stunner at him, but he deflected it. "Come with me and no one will get hurt."
"Don't listen to him." It was a low hiss from nearby. Draco crouched behind a squishy crimson armchair and shook his head ardently.
"No." That was Harry, who had stepped between her and foreboding man.
Antonin's lip curled. "I wasn't speaking to you, boy."
"Harry, it's alright," she murmured.
"Hermione, don't be an idiot." Ron had joined Harry, followed by Nevill and Ginny. Slowly, Draco crept to her from his hiding place.
"Hiding behind your friends isn't very brave, little lion," the man taunted.
"Neither is attacking children." She stepped up with them, at their side instead of in the background. "Tell your master to come meet me himself."
He tipped his head and dark curls slid around his shoulders. Then, he smiled. It was a handsome smile and turned her marrow to ice. "As you wish." She didn't know the spell that left his lips, but it was purple and bright and grazed along Draco's shoulder.
Her best friend screamed and fell to the floor.
Hermione wanted to duck toward him, but another spell hurled toward her. All around, colorful jinxes, hexes, curses, charms flew through the air. Some were spoke aloud and some were silent.
For one bare second, Hermione's head was clear. She glanced down at Draco, at another Gryffindor, a fourth year, falling to the floor. Harry was fielding curses with more expertise than he had any right to, and Ron and Ginny were back-to-back.
She murmured a low, "I'm sorry," and ran.
It would be her only chance to stop this.
Notes:
The doc is on and I'm having a sale on commissions this month.
IN OTHER NEWS- we are getting to the end of this arc. It has one more chapter and then we are officially in the War arc. The War arc is long and will hurt, ngl. Some of you are gonna hate me.
Mwahahahahahahaa.