Clockwork

--- Chapter 2: Rude Awakening ---

"Five minutes should give you enough time to get out of their room, Hedwig?" The bird nodded and pecked lightly at the paper. Hermione sealed the crimson envelope with a quick tap of her wand and recited the words to a delayed self-opening charm. She held it up for the bird who took off with the envelope clutched tightly in her beak.

"You're a horrible girl, Hermione," laughed Ginny, "They'll never forgive you for this."

"Serves them right for being so lazy," stated Hermione, "Besides, can you imagine the looks on their faces?"

"Priceless," said Ginny giggling, "How much longer?"

"Anytime now..." Hermione checked the clock, "Three.... two... one..." Both girls held their breath in anticipation."

"MISTER POTTER! MISTER WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU OVERSLEEP?! THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE! I ORDER YOU OUT OF BED THIS INSTANT! NOW! OR THERE WILL BE FOUR MONTHS DETENTION FOR THE BOTH OF YOU!" The furious voice of Severus Snape drifted down from the boys' dormitory and filled the Gryffindor common room. Hermione and Ginny burst into gales of laughter as the racket continued. Heavy footsteps sounded above them and within moments Ron and Harry came stumbling down the stairway from the tower, half dressed and wide awake.

"Hermione!!" they chorused simultaneously. Both boys wore looks of utter annoyance as the girls continued to giggle.

"Hmm?" Hermione said as tears streamed down her cheeks, "Is something the matter boys?"

"Is something the matter she says," Ron whined dramatically, "Of course! This blasted thing is the matter! What was the big idea sending a howler to wake us up?!"

"Wait a minute, Ron," said Harry, taking the envelope from his friend's hands, "That's not just any howler." He squinted at the bottom edge of the paper and read aloud the fine gold calligraphy, "Proudly made and magicked by Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes for their lovely client, Miss Hermione Granger." As Harry finished reading and stared up in shock, Ron's eyes began to widen but he attempted to stay calm.

"Well... that's not much of a howler if you asked me. Doesn't even tear itself up does it? Not surprising... and definitely not so great in my opinion... Wouldn't you say so Harry?" he finished smoothly.

"Have to agree with you there mate," Harry nodded, "We'll have to have a word with George and Fed about-- What?" Looking up, he saw Ginny and Hermione blinking all too innocent stares in his direction. "Umm, Ron... Why don't you, err, hang on to this. I'm just..." Harry slid the paper into Ron's hands and retreated hastily towards the girls, leaving his best friend bewildered on the stairs. Ron's jaw began to drop with realization as the remaining trio clasped their hands over their ears and turned away. BOOM! A deafening explosion reverberated through the common room.

Hermione finally uncovered her eyes and emerged from the refuge she had taken buried familiarly against Harry's chest. She was greeted by a spectacular sight. Everything within a seven metre radius of Ron was now charred beyond and blackened beyond recognition, not to mention burning with small green flames. Ron himself was covered in soot and had been knocked to the landing at the bottom of the staircase by the explosion's force.

"You okay, 'Mione?" asked Harry softly, bending down to whisper in Hermione's ear. She nodded and gave him a quick kiss.

"As long as you are."

Ginny crawled from under a chair, rushing to her brother's side. Her face was wrought with genuine concern.

"Ron! Ron, are you alright?" There was no reply, Ginny's eyes shone with fear. "Merlin, no... Ron! Wake up Ron!" Just as her eyes brimmed with glistening tears, she was momentarily blinded by something shoved at her face. "Mmph! Hey!" Astounded, she grabbed the pillow off of the ground and launched it at her brother's smiling face.

"Ron, that was a lousy trick!" Whomp.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Whack.

"What the bloody hell did you think you were doing?!" Smack.

"Just a bit of fun, Gin'," She dodged the pillow headed in her direction and gasped as an awkward silence settled.

Hermione and Harry swept the feathers off of each other and glared pointedly towards Ron.

"You're in for it now, mate," warned Harry as both he and his girlfriend joined the fray. Elapsing over the next half hour pillows flew, exploded and mounds of soft white feathers drifted to the ceiling.

Hermione unsuccessfully ducked from a well placed shot from Ron, finding herself sprawled on the floor completely unprepared for the sirens that pieced through the down-filled air. With only a collectively nervous stare at each other all four Gryffindors seized their wands and sped out the door.

The sirens blare ferociously, amplified tenfold by the unyielding stone that blurred past the group as they ran. Hermione's heart sunk in her chest. The sirens only sounded for one reason, and one reason alone: attack. All able witches and wizards were to proceed directly to their pre-assigned posts where a professor would brief them of the situation.

"Ron, I'll meet you at the doors!" Hermione strained to be heard above the screeching as they approached the intersecting corridor that led in the direction of the Great Hall, "I've got to find something out first!" Ron acknowledged her with a wave and took off down the hall at a mild sprint. Harry reached out and took Hermione's arm in firm protest.

"No, Hermione. Just get yourself to the doors. They'll need you there."

"And I need to find the Headmaster! This shouldn't be happening now!"

"Alright," Harry sighed, knowing it was hopeless to argue with the stubbornness. "Just be careful. There could be Death Eaters in the castle; we don't know."

"Then I'll just have to find out. There must be something wrong. I'll see you later; take good care of Ginny." The young Weasley rolled her eyes dramatically and stuck out her tongue. Hermione smiled lovingly back in response. "Well, we couldn't afford to lose you, could we?"

As she turned her back to leave Harry softly called after her, "And I can't afford to lose you."

"Give it a rest, Harry! The girl can take care of herself you know." Ginny stated with exasperation as she pulled Harry down the corridor.

"Am I at least allowed to worry?"

"Come on, Harry! She'll be fine." Hermione grinned to herself as the protests faded away. She was on her own to find the answers she needed.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

It had been fifteen minutes since Ron had arrived at the front entrance of the castle. Professor Flitwick was unable to answer questions pressed upon him by the students. It appeared that no one possessed any facts or even a clue as to the circumstances. They had all been informed the first attack would fall on the seventeenth, the date today being the fourteenth.

However, as much as they were not expecting this, the entire population remaining in the castle (all years less than and including fifth, had been sent home as a precaution) was still prepared and ready for battle; to protect the school at all costs. Months of training would not go unheeded; the Dark Lord's minions would have a worthy adversary.

Now, the professor stood gazing intently at a charmed parchment. Script could scrawl across it at any moment, a message from Dumbledore. The students around him cast strengthening spells at the large oak doors. In the midst of a firmitas charm Ron felt himself being spun around by a purposeful tug on his shoulder. Flushed and out of breath, Hermione led him a short way into the Great Hall.

"Hermione! Am I ever glad to see you, we're running short on manpower here."

Hermione breathed heavily, "I never did find Dumbledore, Ron. But I suppose it really didn't matter in the end... McGonagall though, met her in the hallway," she stumbled across the words as they rushed past her lips, "...had just spoken with the Headmaster... Nobody knew this was meant for today... not to worry, just defend the castle... like we practiced..."

"From what, Miss Granger?" interjected Professor Flitwick squeakily, as he and a few other students joined them. "Defend the castle against what?" Hermione's eyes darted from the professor to Ron, back again, and all through the group.

"The Death Eaters," she answered finally, fixing a distant stare on Ron. "Death Eaters and trolls moving towards the castle... If they aren't slowed they could reach the doors here in less than ten minutes."

The entire group fell under a collective silence filled with unease. Fear wrote itself across each of the wizards' faces until at last the professor broke the stillness. Ordering his squad back to the door, he swore under his breath,

"By Merlin, I hope Minerva can hold the stadium."

--- End of Chapter 2 ---