The crack from her apparation echoed through the Shrieking Shack. The shack was vacant, and the dust in the air was so thick it choked her slightly anytime she took a deep breath in.

Dusk was approaching. Hermione transformed quickly, keeping to the outskirts of Hogsmeade as she made her way to the castle. The shift in the air as she crossed through the wards made her crouch closer to the ground. It was like stepping into a void.

Her senses were heightened in her otter form. There were boots crunching the ground and dementors flying overhead. She moved quickly through the tall blades of dead grass towards the castle. There was a secret stairway on the west side of Hogwarts. The stones were heavily disillusioned, and Hermione passed it three times before the bricks gave way. Only once concealed within the staircase did she transform back into her human form. Her bag felt familiar against her hip as she pulled the invisibility cloak out. It felt nearly sacrilegious to wear it inside of Hogwarts without Harry, but she was sure that he would understand.

After casting a quick charm to silence her steps, Hermione walked up the stairwell where it opened on the second floor. The corridor was empty and dark, the only light coming from the master staircase.

There were no portraits hanging on the walls. Instead, throughout each level there were cages. All varying sizes but their purpose was obvious. The smallest ones were towards the bottom, hardly large enough to fit anyone older than eleven. They were hung high enough to be just out of reach of people who walked the stairs. The ones she was close to were empty, but Hermione could hear distressed groaning floating down from somewhere towards the top and a waft of human waste was coming up from the bottom.

Parvati and Isla wouldn't be in the cages. These cages were for humiliation, not death. These must be for students. Hermione held her breath, fighting the urge to make her way up and free those locked inside. There wasn't time to save everyone. Being the one to make the decision on who lived and who died made Hermione feel an awful lot like she was the one killing them.

Uniform footsteps started behind her, and Hermione shuffled quickly within an alcove to remove herself from their trajectory. Each step was taken together, making them sound like an army walking the halls. The robes were all black, their hoods up and eyes down, and it became clear that an army was exactly what Voldemort wanted them to become. They were intimidating, but only one of the hooded figures was close to Hermione's height. The rest must have been a mixture of first and second years.

It had been such a long time since Hermione had felt so useless. Not since she watched Neddy and Katie Bell die while she hid behind the cloak and did nothing. She wasn't ashamed to admit she wanted to turn around and run far away. The dark magic and dementor presence made the castle nearly inhabitable to anyone other than the Dark Lord himself. Yet she pushed forward, avoiding the commotion in the Great Hall and heading down the stairs to the dungeon. Other than the occasional march of students, the halls were eerily empty.

As she descended, she was met with the scent of decaying flesh. Bile started to rise in her throat, but she swallowed it down. The tunnels were dark, and the ground was wet. There was not enough light to see very far beyond the bars of each cell in the dungeon, but there wasn't anything Hermione wanted to see in there. Not in the cells that smelt rancid and were absent from the sounds of life.

There were two robed students standing post in front of a group of cells. Hermione approached slowly, careful not to make a sound. There was coughing on the other side of the bars, and when one of the guards lifted their wand in their direction, Hermione casted silently under her breath.

Imperio.

"Hey, what are you doing?" the other said.

Hermione casted again in his direction, waiting silently before moving forward in case anymore else were to appear. The movement on the other side of the bars stalled. Hermione approached the guard, noting the prefect badge pinned to his cloak. A quick glance to the other revealed his badge as Head Boy, and Hermione moved closer.

" Unlock the gate ," Hermione whispered in his ear.

The Head Boy stepped forward, mumbling the charm and turning his wand like a key in a lock. The gate groaned in protest as it opened, and the occupants inside that could move took a few cautious steps back.

Hermione moved around the guards as if they were little more than statues, she didn't reveal herself or enter the cell. Parvati approached from the shadows, putting herself between the entrance and someone who laid on the ground.

Hermione pulled back her hood, revealing herself and Parvati gasped. Any doubt Hermione had of Parvati being real was demolished when she felt the way she trembled as the embraced. Just for a moment.

"You're so fucking scary, Hermione. My gods," Parvati mumbled, and Hermione chuckled nervously.

"We need to go," Hermione said, looking over her shoulder to see the other captured members step forward.

There were also faces she didn't know. Her heart sank as she realized there may not be enough portkeys for all of them.

"We'll splinch if we must," Parvati said, reading her mind. "We can't leave them."

Hermione's eyes kept searching. Searching and waiting for Isla to brave herself to walk out of the shadows.

"They took Isla," Parvati said. "And two others I don't know."

"Where?" Hermione asked.

"Great Hall. That's where they hold all their spectacles," A boy said from the ground.

Hermione took in their robes and noticed that they were older students. Likely the worst of offenders. The boy at Hermione's feet was trembling something fierce, and it seemed his heart kept beating only by divine intervention.

"How many people are in here?" Hermione asked, starting to count herself as she removed the cloak and handed it to Parvati. "How many can't move?"

"Seven will need to be carried," Parvati said.

Hermione smiled, faintly. "Miller will be so pleased his training proved useful."

"I'm still using a charm to make them lighter," Parvati replied. "We'll have to carry one at a time to remain hidden."
"That will take a very long time."

"It will," Parvati confirmed, her voice as solemn as Hermione felt. "But it's the only option we've got."

Hermione agreed. Even with the hidden passageways, it would take well over an hour to trek back and forth. Davis appeared from the back, and Hermione accepted his hug because he seemed like he needed it.

"The wards end at the forest line. Get there and you can use the port keys to take you to the safehouse. It's the shitty one in Glasgow but it's close enough you can travel up to five on each one," Hermione handed Parvati the pouch of portkeys. "Take the two guards with you if you can. They won't survive if we leave them behind."

They started moving around the cell, hidden in the safety of the shadows but creating makeshift splits to help them move.
Hermione looked down, taking a deep breath. "I'm going to find Isla."

Parvati opened her mouth to speak but was bumped from behind as people jostled around in the overcrowded cell.

"Don't think about it," Hermione said quickly before she could speak. "It's a full moon. You need to get moving before the sun sets."

Parvati walked back into the shadow and quickly returned with a small vial. "Take this. It makes it so you can't feel pain."

Hermione turned the vial over in her hand, not recognizing its shape and sure it was not one that they had brewed.

"Malfoy slipped it to me," Parvati whispered, quietly.

Hermione grabbed the vial and felt completely terrified. She looked at the person on the floor, trembling and covered in sweat.

"It works. My body is still struggling something fierce, but it could be worse," the boy, probably no older than fourteen, declared between chattering teeth from his place on the floor.

Hermione told Parvati what secret passages were still open and the least populated. She transformed and disillusioned herself and walked beside the first group to the staircase, where they continued straight to escape, and she turned around towards the Great Hall.

Voldemort had made himself a throne. His seat was center and elevated with two long tables on either side. Like a king with his counsel. There were no tables for the students, and everyone who crowded the room was standing. The only open area was in the center of the hall, directly in front of Voldemort, where people were being dragged to stand before him.

Hermione treaded lightly. The ground was a sea of floor length black robes and Hermione easily navigated between them. So far, most people in the castle were preoccupied. It almost made Hermione feel fortunate until she saw one of the people queued to stand before Voldemort was Isla. Hermione's heart dropped. There was a chance she could disapparate within the grounds. There was no way to test it but to get to Isla and try.

A man Hermione didn't recognize was dragged to the center of the floor. The Death Eater released him and stood back, keeping his wand pointed between his eyes.

"Who stands before the Dark Lord? A traitor?" Voldemort nearly sang.

There was some chuckling around the room as the man tried to find a break in the crowd. When it was clear there was nowhere for him to run, he dropped to his knees.

"P-please, My Lord. I've done you no wrong. I didn't resist when the Death Eaters entered the Alley. I swear it!"

"Of this I am aware. It is why you and your comrades stand here," Voldemort gestured to the other apprehended people, awaiting their turn, "instead of rotting in the dungeon with the traitors. But we have plans for them later."

More laughter erupted in the room. Hermione scurried to the wall, concealed beneath a hideous tapestry that has since been hung. The last of the sunlight was fading behind the windows. She looked at Voldemort and sitting on either side of him were Draco and his father. Looking bored most of the time and dutifully amused when their master made an attempt at humor.

Draco and Voldemort were so in sync, down to their movements and facial expressions. Like Draco had become no more than a puppet. She wanted to shake him and tell him to snap out of it. She wanted to apologize for never believing him when he told her she didn't want to know how awful the reality at Hogwarts was.

The throne Voldemort sat on was not actually levitating, Hermione discovered. It was resting on a large mountain of tiny stones. All varying in size but no one larger than a pea. The stones caused a ringing in her ears, like she was holding her breath for far too long under water. Like the merpeople were swimming around her again while she could do nothing but float aimlessly at the bottom of the black lake.

"This is your opportunity, boy, to explain to me why you have not yet fledged your undying fealty," Voldemort said.

"I-I have never fought against your cause, my lord," he stuttered again.

"Your lack of loyalty has been so pathetic it is boarding on offensive," Draco barked.

At that comment no one laughed.

Voldemort nodded with a long blink. "Yet I am a merciful lord, and I will award you the same opportunity as those before you."

"P-please my lord-"

"You can choose a quick death. Or you may duel a member of my counsel. If you win, you will be bestowed the honor of joining our army. What say you?" Voldemort taunted.

The man looked over the table. Someone from the sideline tossed a wand and it clattered onto the floor. He picked it up, holding it tightly in his hands. To his credit, he stood taller and spoke with newfound confidence.

"I challenge Alecto Carrow," he said.
Alecto raised her wand lazily when Voldemort spoke tsked.
"Now Alecto, don't tell me you've forgotten the formalities of a proper duel," Voldemort chided.

Alecto jumped up from her seat where she sat next to Greyback. Her appearance looked worn. She stomped towards him, stopping about six feet apart and promptly bowed.

The man bowed back, and before he stood up straight again, Alecto wailed a curse and had a rope shooting out the tip of her wand.

The rope coiled itself around his neck, and he dropped his wand and he attempted to pull free some slack. Alecto lifted her wand, and he levitated higher into the air, led by the noose around his neck.

There were terrible gurgling sounds that Hermione could hear too clearly. Some of the people in the room chuckled while others looked unbothered like it was any other day. It didn't last long until the thrashing stopped, and the man dangled lifelessly from the ceiling.

"Not your best work Alecto," Voldemort commented.

"I thought the hall could use a little decoration," Alecto sneered, earning a laugh that sounded more like a hiss.

"Who's next?"

Isla was dragged by a Death Eater Hermione didn't know. She stumbled only slightly, her eyes wide and looking around the Great Hall she was seeing for the first time. She would never know how magical it used to be.

"Who is this, that stands before the Dark Lord?" Voldemort asked.

Isla broke eye contact, looking instead directly at Draco. Eyes begging and pleading so desperately she may as well have shouted the words. Draco raised a brow before looking at Voldemort. Their eyes met, and then they both laughed.

"Those doe-eyes don't work on the Dark Lord's favored, whore. I have taught him to live beyond the perils of common men," Voldemort belittled her. "I hear you did not fight back against my followers during battle. In fact, none on my counsel has any idea who you are. Given that you are in fact not a Weasley."

"I'm not. I just have red hair," Isla replied, smartly.

"And why, not-Weasley, have you neglected to pledge your wand to my army?" Voldemort asked, condescendingly.

Isla swallowed. "I haven't a wand, sir."

"Squib?"

Her breath stuttered as she exhaled. "I'm a muggle, my lord."

Gasps were the only sound in the room. All eyes on Voldemort and many people flinched with surprise as he hissed a laugh.

"Marvelous. Now Draco, you will need to mentor Phineas on the importance of determining the difference between muggles and witches."

"Gladly, sir," Draco said, dutifully.

"Well now, fair is fair," Voldemort continued, stretching out his arms. "You would be no use among my army. I bestow upon you a greater opportunity. To earn your freedom . It is a prize I have never offered before. What shall it be? A quick death, or will you duel for your life?"

Murmurs of surprise surrounded Hermione until a single glare from Draco shunned them all into silence.

Isla looked at Draco again, pleading silently as he stared through her. Her eyes dropped to the ground in front of her.

"I haven't any magic, my lord," Isla apologized. Sounding remorseful for her own being.

"That poses quite the challenge, I suppose," Voldemort taunted with a snicker. "A quick death then, Draco. We have many more subjects to address. Unless of course someone else would like to volunteer to fight on her behalf?"

Voldemort's eyes scanned the room before tilting his head to Draco to get on with it.

"Any takers?"

Draco stood at the same time Hermione darted between the robes, making haste to the part of the hall that the other captives were being held. She stopped right in the middle and transformed quickly. No one noticed she was there until she pushed past the Death Eaters to make her way to stand by Isla, grabbing her hand gently and pushing her behind her.

"I will."

It had been eleven minutes since Hermione entered that hall after leaving the others in the dungeon. It would be forty-nine more for them all to escape. Hermione slipped the pain relief potion into Isla's hand as she pushed her off to the side. All reason pointed to that she could apparate. But if there were some unknown protections in place, she would have to end it quickly for the both of them.

Voldemort had never seen her while she wore her own skin. All three times she was captured, his men failed to hold her long enough for him to arrive. It was a moment before recognition appeared in his stare, and he smiled largely.

A bellowing laugh past his sharp teeth as he was overjoyed with her seeming capture.

"Phineas! You may live another day after all. Why did you not tell us you were successful in capturing the mudblood?" Voldemort said.

"A surprise for you, my lord," Phineas lied through his teeth.
"A risk too. To not lock her in the dungeon with the others," Voldemort acknowledged.

Hermione forced her eyes to remain neutral as her gut clenched with the mention of the dungeons. The people surrounding her took a few additional steps back, increasing the empty space surrounding her. Voldemort sat up attentively in his seat and a few displaced small stones tumbled down.

"Escort her to the dungeons," Draco said, assertively.

Instantly, he signaled to someone off to the side. When his gaze returned to her she looked away. There was no need to see the fury in his eyes she knew was there.

"It would be my honor to execute the mudblood, my lord," Lucius sneered, reaching for his wand.

Hermione could see them in her peripheral vision. Ready to strike. Was this how Harry felt when he walked to his fate into the Forbidden Forest? Did the weight of the lives resting on his shoulders scare him more than the death that stood before him? She wished she could have been there for him as desperately as she wished he was there for her now.

Draco's body language was just as rigid but for what she suspected was a different reason. There was no time to dwell on it. Time was not on her side, but she needed forty-two more minutes.

She would get to Isla. Disapparate away or die trying.

"Lucius had his opportunity to kill it. Award me the honor, my lord. I won't let you down," Yaxley said next.

"It must answer for its crimes," Alecto contributed next and Greyback growled his concurrence.

"Crimes established by this court have no authority over me. Less any baring over right and wrong," Hermione said, voice firm and confident.

Greyback lunged, only to be held back by Alecto. She should have taken all remanence of herself from his memory when she had the chance. Or killed him. It was the one mercy she regretted the most.

"Not yet," Voldemort announced with forced regality. "My word is my bond. Who from my council will it be, mudblood?"

Hermione let herself look at Draco. His gaze was demanding and confident as he nodded slightly, and Hermione wanted, just one last time, to see more.

Hermione turned away, looking back to Voldemort and not holding back a fraction of her hate.

"I challenge Tom Riddle."

If people out there were really looking to her for inspiration, let those in the room see.

Voldemort's teeth were bared, and the only sound of the room was from the air that hissed between them. His snarl so large, the blood red of his gums were displayed. Hermione stood taller, courage pumping from her heart and through her veins like an old friend. The Elder wand didn't make the magic. All Voldemort had was what could only be a tiny sliver of a soul. She was going to destroy him.

"You know the formalities of a proper duel," Hermione said and Voldermort remained still as a snake ready to strike. "Step down from your throne and bow to me, Tom."

Draco choked and Hermione couldn't stop her eyes from flickering to him. He had a fist on the table. He looked like he may just hex her himself.

Everyone in the room waited, Hermione most of all. Voldemort closed his mouth and sat back, fingers lazily stretched on the arms, no wand in sight. Finally, he laughed.

Fucking laughed .

Those on his counsel joined in, like it was all some big joke. Hermione tightened her wand in her hand, raising it to give them something to fucking laugh about.

Draco shot up from his chair, looking as he was ready to pounce.

"Stand down, Draco," Voldemort chuckled, so incredibly forced. "My favored does not tolerate disrespect, Mudblood. Perhaps I should let him have his way with you."

"Give the order, my lord," Draco panted, hovering back in his chair.

Voldemort looked around, feigning boredom, when his eyes registered the sun setting through the window.

"Fenrir, I remember you having a certain proclivity to this particular mudblood," Voldemort sneered. "There are only a few minutes until your transformation. Lets see what picture you can paint with the mudblood before your departure. Your work is always such an inspiration to my younger members."

Greyback rose stealthily. The gasps surrounding her made her believe he didn't get chosen for duals very often. When he pulled out his wand, it looked more like a stick. With the full moon so close, Hermione assumed he was even stronger than usual.

"Hardly a fair fight," Greyback taunted.

"You're right," Hermione said, tossing her wand to the side. It clattered against the hard ground and rolled away. "Better?"

Hermioe could only relish in the way Greyback faltered in his steps for a moment. It was worth it, along with the gasps and excited murmurs in the room. As if it was the first act of defiance the Great Hall had seen.

Greyback stormed toward her with no finesse. They bowed quickly, and before Hermione could even stand up straight, Greyback was pouncing toward her.

Hermione dropped back towards the ground, casting a shield charm over and watched him bounce over it instead of onto her. Greyback landed just above her head. The filth and dirt from his boots breaking off and dusting into her hair. Hermione rolled quickly, unsheathing her dagger and slicing quickly through his boot and achilles. The wailing sound that erupted from Greyback was inhuman. Hermione pushed herself up quickly, getting on her feet before Greyback who was withering as his foot severed and turned to ash.

Hermione kicked out his other one and he fell to his knees. The curse from the dagger stopped at the ankle, and blood was pouring from where the newly severed limb used to be. Greyback roared casted a nameless curse at her from his knees that she blocked easily with her hand. He rose to his good leg and started hurdling more dark curses to her.

"I thought you wanted to sink your teeth into me . You big, ugly bitch," Hermione spat.

Confusion mixed with fury raided his face. Hermione didn't care that he had forgotten their past transgression. She hadn't.

Greyback casted a disarming charm the same time he lurched forward to claw her with his other hand. Hermione blocked it well enough that the dagger stayed in her hand, and she used it to slice through his arm when he swiped at her again.

Greyback wailed again, and Hermione spun to the side and pushed him down hard until he fell to his knees. She didn't waste anymore time, grabbing a handful of his hair to force his head back and slicing the blade across his neck. On the second time, she pushed the blade harder until it severed his head from his body.

The rest of his body flopped to the ground with a thud. Hermione was seeing red from her rage and the blood painting the floor, and she didn't think twice about it before stalking forward and heaving Greyback's head right towards Voldemort, growling with the effort and her rage.

The curse kept working while in the air, and by the time it reached its target, Voldemort's face was painted with black ash instead of blood like she would have liked.

The blood on the ground disintegrating into ash and floating in the air around her. It was nearly dark. Clearly, this was not the outcome they all expected. Well, they can all get fucked.

Hermione held out her hand and her wand obediently flew to it. She held onto it tightly. The next fight would be horribly outnumbered.

Howling started from a short distance away, alerting that the sun had finally set. Not that it mattered, Hermione would have killed Greyback in his wolf form. It may have even been more satisfying.

"Seize the muggle," Draco ordered and people around her started to move immediately.

Voldemort didn't flinch. He trusted Draco as an extension of himself. Isla whelped as someone grabbed onto arm and Hermione wanted to scan the room to look for her but wasn't willing to remove her eyes from Voldemort.

"The Dark Lord has honored the muggle with her freedom," Draco announced and Voldemort snorted in displeasure. "She will redeem her reward immediately. Release her right outside the castle wards. The werewolves have their first full moon without their leader. They can all relish in their freedom together."

Hermione gasped in horror and Isla screeched. "No! Let her go!-"

The death eater dragging Isla shoved a wand in Hermione's face. Hermione was one second from cursing him before she saw Blaise's warm eyes from under his hood. Other's started to draw their wands on her as well, though a few of the younger faces looked conflicted. Hermione watched as Isla fought and yelled for her as Blaise dragged her away.

As she watched them leave the hall, she saw the two dungeon guards exiting as well. Hermione sighed. If they were leaving, that meant the others were already out. Hermione turned back towards Voldemort, giving Isla and Blaise a chance to get further away.

A green curse came straight towards her and Hermione barely had a moment to deflect it before another came. The force of them nearly shook the wand out of her hand. Fuck . The Elder wand was definitely not just a myth. Voldemort was half out of his chair as he continued to try and curse her, no one getting in his way or coming between them. He wanted her for himself. Just like how he did with Harry.

" Avada Kadavra! " Hermione casted back with full force, and the green light from her wand and his met in the middle.

The force of it had Hermione falling to her knees. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She brought up her other hand to join but could still hardly hold on.

This is it, Hermione thought to herself.

She wasn't as scared as she thought she would be. It would be quick.

The green kept inching closer to her until a flick from Voldemort's wand had her's flying from her hand. She was barely able to cast a wandless curse to collide with his and it sent her tumbling back several feet. She could feel the dark magic start to enter her and there was no time to cast again before another green light came towards her.

The curse clashed with another mid air, one she didn't cast. It was Draco's, who was standing over her. The shock of it knocked Voldemort back. Hermione opened her hand, her wand flying to it. There were exclamations around the hall, and realization had just inched its way on Voldemort's face before Draco grabbed her arm and they disappeared.

Hermione landed with a grunt, Draco half on top of her. He jumped up instantly and she followed. Weakened from the curse but understanding they had to keep moving. Draco had taken them to the grounds just past Hagrid's hut.

"Zabini!" Draco bellowed.

"Where did they go-"

"Don't say a word or I will fucking strangle you, Hermione!" Draco roared at her and Hermione took a step back.

He grabbed her sleeve and yanked her forward until she was running in front of him. They ran into the woods for cover just as Death Eaters began to pour out of the castle. There was howling surrounding them in the dark woods.

Draco was hard to follow, but Hermione forced her legs to move faster. Draco had stopped and Hermione nearly ran into his back. There was a shuffling to the side of them, and then a werewolf attacked out of the darkness.

Hermione reflexively casted a shield charm and Draco ripped the dagger from her waist and gutted the wolf from its belly to its mouth. They weren't running in a pack. Not without Greyback to lead them. They were wild and feral and even more unpredictable.

"ZABINI!" Draco screamed and his voice echoed through the trees.

Draco stopped suddenly, his eyes fixating on nothing as he concentrated. He made a high-pitched sound, almost like a chirp and another replied from near in the distance. His head turned quickly and then they were running again.

A clearing appeared out of nowhere and Hermione slowed down as she saw Blaise's profile. Draco ran straight to him, bumping him slightly before stilling.

Two wolves were inching towards them, foam dripping from their sharp teeth.

Draco tightened his fist around the dagger. Hermione pulled out her wand and directed it at the wolves.

Debris shifted behind them and the trio turned to see three more wolves approaching. These were formed with one at the center, like a self-proclaimed leader.

"Good boy... You don't want the nasty humans, do you?" Blaise muttered to the wolf in the leader.

"We need to transform," Hermione whispered.

"We can cast curses if we transform," Draco hissed.

There was no time to explain. The next moment the three wolves were leaping over them as they ducked colliding with the other wolves in the clearing. The trio scrambled to their feet rushing away while Blaise kept looking over his shoulder.

Light from the night sky was penetrating the tree line up ahead and Hermione and Draco ran first into a clearing to find Parvati and Isla.

"Hermione!" Parvati cried. "You're alive!"

Hermione shoved her final portkey into Parvati's hand. "Let's get out of here."

Blaise fumbled into the clearing- wand drawn and pointed at them reflexively.

Draco stepped towards him and shoved his chest. "Why are you still here?!"

"Nous ne pouvions pas disapparate. La fille est enceinte," Blaise hissed back.

" Fucking Weasley," Draco swore under his breath and turned towards the girls. "Go!"

Parvati grabbed Isla's arm tightly. Hermione grabbed onto the other, and right before the portkey activated, Draco fisted the back of her shirt and yanked her back towards him.

"Not you," Draco growled. "You're coming with me."

Hermione looked back at the empty space Parvati and Isla just stood, before the world in front of her disappeared.