April 1, 2002
"Hermione, this is mad!" Astoria wailed from the roof.
Hermione was standing next to Pavarti, instructing the six trainees on the roof of Potter house from the ground.
"Trust your instincts. Your magic will reflexively try to protect you. You only need to let it," Hermione instructed. "Hold onto your wand tightly. We are here to intervene if you approach the ground too quickly."
Astoria steeled herself before leaping off the edge. She screamed as she fell, but casted the charm about halfway down and drifted slowly the rest of the way. It was a bit too early but a great start for her first time.
"Excellent! See, how's it done!" Parvati encouraged her. Astoria smiled brightly and nearly skipped to stand next to them and look up waiting for the other. "Alright Ben, you next."
The younger member timidly stepped to the ledge. He made now move to jump as he looked down to the ground.
"Oh my gods. This year, please," Pansy complained loudly from behind him.
"You've got this, Ben," Hermione called, trying not to show her amusement. "On the count of five."
Ben kept a white knuckle grip on his wand as he stepped closer to the edge.
"One, two, three," Hermione counted from the ground.
At three Ben retreated from the ledge. He took a deep breath, stepped forward again, and started counting himself.
"One, two, three-"
"Five," Pansy said, giving him a stiff shove to the back.
Ben went off the ledge, waving his arms to keep upright before shouting the charm and slowing down about ten meters from the ground.
Ben landed softly, full of shock and adrenaline and laughed. He turned and looked back up at the roof at Pansy.
"I hate you!" Ben yelled with a smile.
"You're welcome!" Pansy called back, wiggling her fingers.
"Alright, Pansy's next before she launches anyone else over," Parvati instructed and Hermione shook her head at Pansy, trying not to laugh. Pansy winked at her quickly before quickly stepping over the edge.
All of the trainees took three turns each. By the end, they could all cast the charm themselves. Their next lesson, they would work on the timing so they would not be lingering in the air for too long. Eventually, it would be best if they could manage to do it without a wand, but that would take months of practice.
Hermione dismissed them and went to the other side of the garden to go for a run. She had missed morning workout the past few days to help train some members on new spells she'd developed and felt she needed to make up for it.
She pushed herself through the ten kilometer path in record time. When she got back to the grass, she took off her t-shirt and laid it flat so she could lay on the ground as she caught her breath. Her exercise bra was saturated with sweat, and started to feel cool as her body temperature went down to normal.
"Hey," Miller said as he appeared at her side and Hermione sat up. "Are you busy?"
"Hi, not at all. Just finished for the day," Hermione replied.
Miller took a seat next to her in the grass, keeping a foot between them. "There's something I needed to talk to you about."
"Oh, sure," Hermione said, turning more towards him.
"Water?" He said, handing her his bottle. She took it gratefully and gulped several mouthfuls before handing it back.
"You know Lindsey?" he asked, and Hermione nodded. She had met the newer recruit a few times at training but didn't really know her personally. "She and I have started to get on a bit. A lot actually."
Hermione smiled. "That's great."
"Yeah. I wasn't really expecting it, you know? But she's so great. Last night when we were chatting I could hardly believe it when she said she was interested in me," Miller continued, sounding nearly bashful. It was so different from the arrogant confidence she was used to.
"That is surprising."
"Rude," Miller laughed, nudging her with his elbow. "I really want to give it a chance. And… I don't really think it would be fair to her if I still spent time with you without her knowing our history. Just out of respect."
"Oh…" Hermione blinked; a bit caught off guard. "That's fair. Very fair."
"Not forever, obviously. I just don't want her to think a certain way about us, or you ," Miller continued.
Hermione looked at him questioningly. "You're not going to tell her we've slept together?"
"I will. Just, when she and I are more established. I don't want to mess this up before it's hardly started. I know she'll love you. I think you'd be great friends," he said earnestly, and Hermione nodded a couple of times.
They had sex a handful of times. Their friendship outside of it didn't change much other than occasionally sneaking around when everyone else was in bed. Neither made an effort to push it further or become exclusive.
At this moment, Hermione did find herself slightly jealous. Not of Lindsey, but Miller. Envious that he was capable of wanting more.
"Thank you. For not hating me," Miller said softly.
Hermione laughed softly. "You're welcome."
Miller smiled. "I better go. I'll still see you at training?"
Hermione smiled tightly. "Yep."
He stood slightly awkwardly and walked towards the house.
"Miller," Hermione called right before he walked too far off and he turned. "Tell her about you and I now. Everything. Trust me."
Miller nodded like he already knew it himself. "Yeah, okay."
Hermione stared at her ceiling. A fitful unrest had kept her from falling asleep. After another hour, she got out of bed and made her way down the hall to Pavarti's room.
It had been a long time since Hermione went to stay the night with Parvarti. When she first arrived, she spent several weeks sleeping over until she was comfortable enough in her own room. In the months after Theo had passed, Parvati wouldn't let her be alone at night.
Parvati was already asleep when Hermione climbed into the empty side of her bed. The movements woke her up, and Pavarti groaned a little as she blinked her eyes.
"Sorry," Hermione whispered.
"S'alight," Parvati groaned, voice thick with sleep. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just can't sleep," Hermione said.
Parvati hummed. "Nervous about leaving tomorrow?"
Hermione thought. "Not really. I wish you were coming though."
There must have been something in her tone, because Pavarti woke up a bit more.
"Did something happen today?" she asked carefully.
Hermione frowned a little. "Not really, no."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Well… Miller ended our friendship I guess. The extracurricular part at least," Hermione thought out loud.
"Hermione," Parvati exclaimed sitting up. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Hermione furrowed her brow. "Yes. Why?"
Parvati laughed softly. "Because you got dumped?"
"We weren't even together," Hermione laughed back.
That didn't even occur to her. There was a twinge of discomfort when she thought about it that gave truth to the statement.
"You were something ," Parvati explained.
Hermione laid on her back and looked up. That could be affecting her. It just didn't feel like she would expect. This felt sad, but not excruciatingly so. The thought of getting up the next morning didn't make her feel hopeless. She felt a bit of loneliness really, but that was the worst of it.
"Huh," Hermione said once she recognized it.
"Do we need to start hiding sharp objects again?"
"Piss off," Hermione said, hitting Pavarti with her pillow.
The dining room was at full capacity. It was a long time since all the members of the Advisory got together. The last time was before they made the agreement with Voldemort's Army on the neutral zones. The time before that was while Hermione first arrived at Potter house.
Anthony was admitted into the Advisory at the start of the year. It meant a lot to the other defected Death Eaters to see someone rise to the position. Anthony was never really a devoted Death Eater, but everyone didn't know that.
"We need to get our focus back on Hogwarts," Hermione announced.
There was a mixture of nods and defeated sighs around the room.
"We've tried, Granger. There is nothing we can do right now," Hestia said.
"Then we must figure out a way to get the students out," Hermione stated, feeling like a broken record.
"Voldemort has been obsessed with Hogwarts since he was a student. He will never hand it over. Not while he lives," Aberforth said.
"Then we kill him!" Hermione demanded.
"We kill him, and then who takes over? We go through this every time. We need to force the Death Eaters out of the cities. Let them retreat to Hogwarts until they rot," Diggle said.
"And the students?! More are taking the mark every week!" Hermione countered. "You know what that takes . What it costs them."
"That's their choice!" Charlie jumped in.
"Enough!" McGonagall snapped. "None of us want to see young students held captive, on that we can all agree. Now until we can find a way to get them out, let's focus on making sure there is a world left for them to return to."
Fire was roaring behind Hermione's eyes. She was so fucking sick of this. Of sitting around and waiting for the Death Eaters to strike so they could clean up the damage. The world was becoming complacent. Going on with life and accepting all the hardship without the energy to fight back.
It was as if one day she woke up and the fog had cleared, and she couldn't moan and mope around anymore when there was too much to fight for.
"Fine. Then we need to start taking the offensive," Hermione stated. Hestia began to cut her off, but she held up her hand. "With the muggle cities at least."
Conversation sparked around the idea and when the meeting adjourned, Hermione had more hope than she had in a long time.
The established wizarding families in other countries did their best to stay out of the way. Allowing Death Eaters to ravish their cities so long as their own estates remained intact. If they could get through to them, get them to actually fight on their side, they would stand a chance.
"Hermione and Anthony, you're coming with us," Arthur said once the meeting was adjourned. "We leave at half-passed."
"I am supposed to leave with Ron at the top of the hour," Hermione answered.
"You'll have to delay until this evening. Let Ron know and we'll head off," Molly instructed with a nod.
Hermione found Ron in the barn with Dory and Isa.
"Hello there," Hermione greeted them.
She wasn't used to Dory being there. Abraxan were social creatures and didn't like to be alone. Hermione expected she spent most of her time at the Manor with the others. It was always a joy when she came to visit. She fed her a few treats, letting her bump her large head against her hand.
"Just introducing Isla to Nymphadora," Ron said with a smile. "First time she's been back in ages."
"She's so wonderful, Hermione," Isla beamed.
"Ron should be able to take you for a ride if you're feeling brave," Hermione suggested, enjoying the way it made Ron squirm.
"We still have to prepare to leave. Maybe another time, " Ron said with false confidence.
"Hmm," Hermione hummed. "Anthony and I have a detour. We won't be able to head out until later tonight."
"Oh wicked. We should be able to go for a quick ride then!" Isla cheered and Hermione smiled mischievously.
"Brilliant," Ron muttered through his teeth. "Where are you headed?"
"No clue," Hermione said flatley.
"Ah. You're favorite," Ron jested.
"Sattle is over there. Good luck!" Hermione teased as she walked away.
Ron flipped her off playfully as she walked out of the barn. Hopefully the little nudge gets him to face his fears. Honestly, Dory practically flies herself.
Anthony and Hermione met Molly and Arthur at the Apparition point. Rather than sharing with them the destination, they each left side-along. Typical procedure for when they traveled to a new place for the first time.
The streets were lined with identical brick houses. The sky was dark and it was raining heavily. Most appeared abandoned, or at the very least neglected. Hermione turned around to see the house they were standing directly in front of. The windows were cleaned of dust, and there wasn't an exorbitant amount of debris on the outside. It was rather foolish. Usually, they wanted their safehouse to blend in, not stand out.
"It's pissing it down," Anthony growled.
"Come on. Let's get inside," Hermione said, rushing towards the house and pulling Anthony behind her.
Molly and Arthur stood on the sidewalk. Hermione opened the door and paused before heading in.
"Did you want to check security first? Anthony and I can run it," Hermione asked.
"No… it's safe," Molly said before walking towards the house. "Let's just wait inside."
Hermione stepped directly into a small sitting room. It was cramped and a bit stuffy. There was no lounge furniture, save for one old armchair. Where a couch or setting looked like it would go was replaced with a working table and chairs.
"What are we waiting for?" Hermione asked as they casted drying charms on their clothes.
"We're meeting someone," Arthur said shortly.
An interview. Great . Hermione suspected as much when only she and Anthony were asked to attend. Hopefully it didn't need to progress to an outright interrogation.
Hermione looked around the sitting room while she waited. The walls were covered from floor to ceiling in old books. One looked familiar and she pulled it out to read the title.
The Complete Work of William Shakespeare
Hermione put the book back, looking at the others to find a mixture of magical and muggle texts. None of their other safehouses had nearly this amount of… stuff . There was a spellbook that caught her eye, and when Hermione flipped it open, there was text scribbled all along the margins.
Crack, crack.
The noise from apparation sounded from somewhere in the back of the house. Hermione read faster, flipping to a few more pages before she would have to focus on the task she was sent there for. It was just that the handwriting looked eerily familiar.
Voices started speaking down the hall, getting closer as their footsteps led to the room.
"Molly! You're never going to believe what our prince has done-"
"Suck my dick-"
"He's really out done himself this time."
There was a small screech on the floor and then a fumbling against the bookshelf. Hermione turned before her mind could register what was happening. What she would see.
Blaise was gripping the bookshelf with one hand for balance, the other was wrapped around a tall, blonde man who looked like he'd knocked him over.
"Draco."