Hermione felt uneasy. We shall have to see what Rowland says when he wakes up.
No, we need more information. Follow me. Severus strode out of the Hospital Wing and into the corridor. He turned a sharp corner and led Hermione into what looked like a broom cupboard, but when he closed the door behind them, they were suddenly standing outside of The Headmistress' office.
Severus opened his mouth to tell the Gargoyle the password, but it swung open before he could speak.
Hermione was not surprised, however. The castle doesn't rescind its trust. "Why are we here?"
"I am looking for a time-turner that was granted to Hogwarts." Severus declared, throwing open the drawers of Minerva's desk. "We have a rare opportunity to go back and watch. We should be focusing on surveillance, now that we know where and when the attack happens."
Hermione began to look around the office, scanning for the golden pendant. "I'm surprised at you. I would have assumed you thought yourself above such things."
"I have no interest in bending time to our will, but I do have an interest in gathering intel."
"Your talent for subterfuge isn't rusty." Hermione muttered, rifling around in a chest near the door. "So, I assume at least 2 collaborators, one near the Ravenclaw stands."
"And the other near the bottom level of the stands below the Staff Box." Severus pulled out a long golden chain that held the Time-Turner and crossed to her. "We should disillusion ourselves and stake out the area."
"Two turns? I'll take the Ravenclaw side." Hermione offered.
Severus glanced at her, his eyes holding her gaze a moment too long, a rare hesitance. "I'd rather not split up."
Hermione's stomach tightened, she hid her smile. "Then we don't split up."
Hermione and Severus sat underneath a tree that directly overlooked the stairs to the staff box. They scanned the crowd, speaking very little, searching for Felicity. Whether she was a suspect of a perpetrator, this had something to do with her.
After the first hour, Hermione began to check her watch repeatedly. The match had begun promptly at 10 am, and it could not have been more than 15 minutes of gameplay before it was halted. She just needed to wait for McDaniel to lose control of the quaffle.
"Can't we stabilize the Ravenclaw stands so that they don't fall?"
Severus shook his head, exhaling sharply. "Tampering with time rarely ends well. But by all means, do make history's mistakes your own."
Hermione exhaled, nodding. Standing idle while her students walked into disaster? Even knowing that no one would die, it clawed at her to stay put.
"I promise we will do what we can." Severus murmured, hearing her thoughts.
"I don't see Felicity." Hermione changed the subject. "Why was she even over here? She should have been with her house in the other stands."
"Perhaps Miss Macmillan knew what was going to happen." Seveus said delicately.
Hermione hated to admit that he was right. A shiny head of black curls caught her eye - it was Lucas. He glanced over his shoulder casually before he bypassed the stairs to the Staff box and ducked in between the wooden support beams that held up the stadium.
Severus seized her hand. This is it. They slipped across the grass, weaving into the skeletal framework of the stadium, silent as shadows. Keeping their distance and muffling their steps, Hermione and Severus watched for Rowland to make a move.
But Rowland seemed to be waiting. Indirect light that was filtered through the blue banners reflected on Lucas' agitated face, the lines on his forehead coming together.
Suddenly Rowland spoke, his voice a tense growl. "Whatever he told you to say, save it."
Hermione surveyed the area, Who is he speaking to?
The student announcer was ramping up above them, drowning out the conversation. "Ravenclaw's chaser, Kiran shoots out ahead and captures the Quaffle. Lieran shoots - AND IS TOO SLOW FOR LOTTIE MCDANIEL! HUFFLEPUFF HAS A REAL GIFT ON THEIR HANDS WITH THAT ONE!"
Almost there. Hermione tensed, her wand ready. The explosion happened just after Ravenclaw's first goal.
Hermione cast her night-vision charm on them both, and suddenly she saw a black robed figure, not very tall, standing 15 feet away from Rowland. A deep male voice slithered out from the shadows, seeping with contempt. "You like this comfy teaching gig, do you?" A slow inhale. "You won't be when they find out what you are."
"Keep your threats." Rowland snapped.
"You already know what we need from you, Traitor. Don't you miss us?"
"It's not going to happen. Anything else?"
"We will expose you."
"Leave." Rowland said firmly, his voice darker than Hermione had ever heard it.
"Leave?" the voice laughed. "How can we leave? We are everywhere."
The announcer's voice cut in again. "Bludger from Hollins. McDaniel's tough though, manages to stay upright. ROSS SWOOPING IN FOR A GOAL AND RAVENCLAW SCORES! 10-NIL RAVENCLAW!"
A deafening crack split the air. The ground beneath them trembled as fire and splintered wood erupted from the Ravenclaw stands. Screams rang out, blending with the commentator's voice.
" What the hell— " Rowland crouched, shielding his head.
That's when a booming voice erupted from the cloaked figure, "Confringo!"
Hermione's wand snapped up. A shimmering shield burst up into existence, deflecting the curse inches from Lucas' face. The force of it sent him sprawling and tumbling sideways.
" Stupify ." Severus sent a blue blast of light toward the black robed figure. The spell hit squarely and they crumpled to the ground without another move.
Felicity's pale, wide-eyed face—almost unnaturally white—stared up blankly.
The impact of the curse shook the stands, Rowland's green eyes widened as he looked around. Seeing no one, he put out the small fire that had erupted from the Blasting Curse.
Severus knew that Rowland would be alright, and he was fairly sure he knew who was under that black cloak.
We know what caused the second explosion. We should not linger. Severus pulled Hermione to his side. He threw the time turner around them and in seconds the space beneath the stadium was empty again. Severus swiftly apparated them to the Ravenclaw stands.
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but that was not Felicity's voice . Perhaps under someone else's control, like Miss Cartwright? We know there is an adult behind the scenes.
I will examine her mind later.
I want to do damage control. Her heart was pounding in her chest, the rush of battle filling her veins once again. I'm just going to suspend the stands long enough to get everyone out safely.
I did. But that doesn't mean I think it is a good idea.
I'm going to do it anyway.
Severus sighed. I know.
"Ravenclaw's chaser, Kiran shoots out ahead and captures the Quaffle. Lieran shoots - AND IS TOO SLOW FOR LOTTIE MCDANIEL! HUFFLEPUFF HAS A REAL GIFT ON THEIR HANDS WITH THAT ONE!"
It's time.
"Bludger from Hollins. McDaniel's tough though, manages to stay upright. ROSS SWOOPING IN FOR A GOAL AND RAVENCLAW SCORES! 10-NIL RAVENCLAW!"
CONFRINGO! A deep voice called out from their left.
Hermione burst into action, "Protego Maxima!"
The shield flared, under the stain, but the groaning structure held. Severus spun, shielding Hermione with a slash of his wand. The attacker couldn't see her, meaning that they thought their spells were not effective. Good. He used that to his advantage, stepping into the line of fire to draw him out.
"Reducto!"
This time the stands did crack, but Hermione held them aloft with great use of her magic.
"Always skulking in the shadows, aren't you greaseball?" A deep, muffled voice called.
Severus didn't hesitate. "How original." Severus sent several rapid-fire curses towards the woods, chasing down the assailant.
Hermione could not hold the stands for long enough to let them all climb off onto the platform, so she lowered them slowly to the ground.
The stands groaned, wood splintering as the structure threatened to collapse. Hermione's breath caught, she couldn't hold it forever. With a desperate flick of her wand, she vast a shimmering bubble overhead, shielding the terrified, screaming, students as beans crashed around them like falling giants.
Moment's later, she heard her own voice calling out for the students. She needed to get back.
Heart hammering, Hermione slipped into the treeline. "Severus!" She whispered hurriedly, "Time to go."
A cold hand gripped her wrist, she barely had time to exhale before she the world twisted away from her and yanked them away, landing in the headmaster's office just as their past selves exited.