Voldemort Ascendant

Chapter nine: A new plan.

Entering the darkened classroom, Hermione paused for a moment, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the blackness. Before she could do so, a light flared in the middle of the room, and she was forced to throw up her arms to shield herself from its brightness.

`Sorry,´ Edward said softly, lowering his wand and causing the light to dim somewhat. `Would you mind closing the door behind you? I don´t want anyone to walk in on us.´

Squinting slightly, Hermione turned and closed the door, before turning back to Edward. He was standing, alone, at the far-side of the classroom, supporting his tall frame against the wall. `Sally-Ann said you wanted to talk with me, in private?´ Hermione asked.

Edward nodded. `Yeah. You don´t mind?´

Hermione shook her head. `Of course not. You´ve been so helpful to our cause . . . I feel a bit obliged, to tell the truth.´

Edward raised his eyebrows and offered his hands in supplication. `Please don´t!´ Detaching himself from the wall, he moved to a desk and pulled out a chair to sit on before continuing. `You have to realise that I´m doing this as much for you as for myself. Without you, I don´t think I´d ever have had a chance of being with Sally-Ann. Not really. So you see, I´m just as obliged to you.´

Hermione smiled a little. `So what did you want to speak about?´ she asked, and took a seat across from Edward in the un-used classroom.

Edward turned his head slightly, and peered down at his shoes. `It´s almost embarrassing. I hope you don´t take offense to what I´m about to say.´

Hermione´s heart started to beat a little faster in trepidation. Spit it out, she said to herself, urging him to silence her qualms.

`Well . . . I´ve been thinking about this plan of ours . . . and I don´t like it. It doesn´t feel quite right . . . and it seems far too simple. I´m sorry to say it like that, but I just wanted to approach you about it in private rather than say it in front of the others. I didn´t want to. . . undermine you, or something.´ He smiled apologetically and offered a small shrug. `Slytherin trait, that. We´re taught not to undermine authority, or we suffer the consequences. And there´s always consequences.´

Hermione´s heartbeat returned to a something resembling a normal pace, and she offered Edward a smile in return. `I´ve been thinking exactly the same thing myself. It´s been so long since I last made any elaborate, trouble making plans . . . I guess I´m out of practice,´ she said, and gave a short laugh. `It´s not so easy when you don´t have multiple wands at your beck and call, you know. Magic can´t do everything, but it sure helps.´ Looking up, she suddenly gave Edward an apologetic look. `Not that I´m complaining! I really am grateful to have your wand alongside to help!´

Edward nodded. `I know what you mean. And if you´d feel more comfortable, I´m willing to offer you my wand.´ So saying, he held out his wand.

Looking at it, Hermione felt a primal urge well within her. The temptation to reach out and simply take it . . . she shook her head sharply. `I´ll confess I´m tempted, Edward. But as I´ve told you before . . . you´d be far better using it. I haven´t held a wand in over two years, never mind the fact that your wand is your wand, and not created for me. It could be more trouble than help.´

`Of course. But please . . . if there´s anything you want from it . . . from me - don´t hesitate to tell me. If I´m the only one among us with a wand, you need to feel at liberty to tell me what it is you want.´

Hermione smiled. `Thanks. So . . . did you have any improvements for the plan?´

A wicked look gleamed in Edward´s eye. `I do. It´s risky, it´s nasty, and you´re probably not going to like it. But this I guarantee you: it will work.´

Hermione felt a slight chill run down her spine. `Tell me,´ she said.

***

When Edward was done explaining his new plan, he looked across at Hermione eagerly. `Well?´ he asked. `What do you think?´

Hermione exhaled and realised that she´d been holding her breath. `You´re right,´ she said.

`About what?´

`It´s risky. It´s nasty. And I don´t like it. But-` she hurried on, before Edward could protest, `but I can see how it would work. And it would work well.´ She looked up at Edward and smiled. `It´s very much a Slytherin plan.´

`Which is why it will work,´ Edward replied. `So you´ll use it?´

Hermione nodded slowly. `Yes. Yes, I think I will. But I think it´ll take some convincing to get the others to agree to it.´

Edward cocked his head to the side. `I can understand that. I thought of this plan almost immediately after we thought up the first plan . . . but it has taken me this long to share it with you, just because I´ve been going over it in my head, making sure it´s a sound plan, that nothing can go wrong provided we execute it perfectly. And that´s what we need to tell the others. Provided we execute the plan perfectly - provided everybody does their part - this plan will work.´

Standing up and wrapping her arms around herself, Hermione sighed and started to pace the room. `Light, I hate all of this. It makes all those early years at Hogwarts seem like such child play. Sneaking past three-headed dogs . . . playing life-sized chess pieces . . . the basilisk in the girl´s bathroom . . . it just seems like nothing compared to this. I almost wish I were only facing a basilisk. I´d feel less sick-to-the-stomach.´

Edward looked down at his gripped hands. `You three were really something, you know. Everybody used to talk about you after first year. My brothers - they were still here, back then - they used to talk about how clever, how brave you three were. And because I was a Slytherin, I´d have to bluster and say you were just lucky.´

Hermione ceased pacing and turned to look at Edward. `What was it like, being a Slytherin when the rest of your family were Ravenclaws?´

Edward looked faintly surprised by the question. `No one has ever really asked me that,´ he said. `I mean, I spend so much time justifying why that blasted hat placed me in Slytherin . . . but no one ever asked how I felt about it.´ He paused, frowning. `I was shocked, at first. I can remember sitting under that hat and looking at my brothers, over at the Ravenclaw table. And they were just as certain as I was, that I´d be placed in Ravenclaw. And when the hat said Slytherin, I don´t think I really realised it. My first, immediate instinct was to walk to Ravenclaw . . . but then I heard the Slytherins cheering, and I saw the look on my older brother´s face. It almost hurt, you know? Like I had betrayed him.´ He stopped for a moment, uncertain. `Is this boring you?´

`No,´ Hermione assured him. `I wanted to know.´

Edward remained silent a moment, clearly gathering his thoughts, before continuing. `I felt out of place at first. I´d been expecting to be lead up to the Ravenclaw rooms. My brothers had told me all about it; about the Grey Lady, how the passwords were chosen, about the view from the towers and the common room. I had a pair of blue socks tucked away in my trunk, and my quill had blue plumes.´ Looking up, he gave Hermione an abashed grin. `Stupid, huh? Only a kid would do something like that. When I got down to the Slytherin rooms . . . light, it was awful. I swear there seemed to be slime growing on the walls. The kids were so cold, so defensive and vicious . . . but at the same time, they stuck together against "outsiders". They knew what they were about. And light help anyone that crossed one of us in the hallways . . . they were like a pack of wolves. I mostly hung to the back, hoping they wouldn´t notice me too much. And all I could think was that the Sorting Hat got it wrong. Confused me with someone else.´

`I felt like that too, at first,´ Hermione suddenly said. `I didn´t fit into Gryffindor at first, you know,´ she defended, as Edward gave her an unbelieving look. `They all seemed to be such trouble makers, really. Oh, not in that Slytherin way - no offense! But they broke the rules, wondering around at night. No one seemed interested in doing their homework or reading or studying. I´d read all about the houses before coming here, of course . . . how Ravenclaw was traditionally the house for the smartest students. And I was so certain . . . so certain.´ Looking up, she smiled. `Like you, I guess. I almost felt a bit disorientated. But I accepted the judgment of the Sorting Hat. It was all a bit horrid at first. Ron and Harry didn´t like me at first, did you know?´

`They didn´t? I always thought you were friends from the beginning . . . everyone thought that.´

Hermione shook her head. `No. Ron said the most horrible things about me . . . I overheard him saying that no one liked me. It broke my heart. All I wanted to do was go home. Or ask that the Hat resort me into Ravenclaw. I was certain that Ravenclaw wouldn´t dislike me just for wanting to study and go by the rules. But it sorted itself out.´ Hermione stopped, waiting for Edward to continue with his own experiences. For a moment he remained silent, and she thought that perhaps he had no more to say. But then he sighed, shaking his head slightly.

`I don´t think I´ve ever really adjusted to the Slytherin thing,´ he started. `I learnt to adapt though. You have to, in Slytherin. The blustering, the nastiness, the hierarchy. You need to know your place. Know how to act. Know what to say, and when to say it. Even though I think we were all a little awed by you and Harry and Ron, we all knew what to say. Luck. Chance. Never courage, or cleverness. That first Christmas, I took it home with me. I tried to bluster around my brothers, just like a real Slytherin. They beat it out of me right quickly,´ Edward added, ruefully. `They told me they didn´t want to have to watch their backs when I was around. And at home, I was treated like a Ravenclaw. They´re clever, my brothers. Taught me how to survive the Ravenclaw way. At heart, I still believe I´m a Ravenclaw. I guess now, I´ve got the best of both worlds. The brains and heart of a Ravenclaw, the sneakiness of Slytherin. I wouldn´t have survived without those Slytherin and Ravenclaw tendencies.´

`And we wouldn´t be escaping without them,´ Hermione said softly.

***

`No. Absolutely not. I don´t like it, and I don´t agree to it. Can´t you see how dangerous that is? . . . All it would take is for one of us to stumble, and that´s it, we´d be dead. At least if we´re just dealing with old Malfoy, we have a chance. But not with those things on the loose,´ Justin rambled, his eyes like saucers in his head.

`Justin, we know it´s risky. But you yourself complained about how simple the other plan was. What is it with you and protesting?´ Hermione demanded, glaring at Justin.

`I´m not protesting!´ Justin replied loudly, his voice perilously close to a shout. `I´m downright saying no! This is a flat denial. I won´t have anything to do with this, you hear me? It´s too fucking risky, and I´m not going to have anything to do with it!´

Justin glared at Hermione. Hermione continued to glare right back at Justin. Both were red and flustered, both were breathing heavily. In the end, it was Parvati who intervened. Laying down the tomatoes she´d been dicing, and putting aside the large knife, she sent what she hoped was a placating look at the pair. `Look you two, just cut it out. Justin, you told Hermione her other plan was too simple. Hermione, you have to acknowledge that this new plan is incredibly risky - probably more risky than the original plan, simply because it´s dangerous. Can´t we come to some sort of arrangement that . . . I don´t know. Isn´t simple, but isn´t quite so risky?´

Hermione sighed loudly and moved a hand to her aching head. `I don´t think there´s any way we can compromise this plan. I know it´s dangerous. The simple plan was risky, and this one is just downright dangerous. But it´s also foolproof provided big foot there doesn´t trip over his own shoes.´

`Hey!´ Justin protested sharply, and stuck out his bottom lip.

Parvati quickly raised both her hands, gesturing for peace. `Alright! Don´t start up again!´ Turning to Justin, she raised her eyebrows. `Do you really worry that you´re going to trip over?´

Justin gave a choked gasp and started pacing back and forth. `It´s not that I think I´ll trip over . . . it´s the chance that any of us might trip over. Hermione says this plan for escape is foolproof, but how can it be foolproof with that margin for error? Say Harry is weakened from all that time being mad and kept in a cell . . . we´re trying to escape the dungeons, Harry trips . . . bammo, dementors are on him and that´s that. Kiss of Death for Harry. Do you call that foolproof?´

Parvati turned to Hermione. `He makes a good argument. What do you have to say in response?´

Hermione rubbed her temples. `I realise that there´s this slim chance someone will trip. There´s a chance that we won´t move fast enough to get away from them. But you´re looking at this as if the dementors are going to be running right behind us the whole time. They´re not. We´ll make sure we´re well and truly ahead of them before we allow them loose in the halls. Do you really think that I wouldn´t have considered that, Justin? I´m here to help us escape with as little risk to ourselves as possible. Don´t you see that?´

Justin stopped and cocked his head to the side, giving Hermione a considering look. `I know you just want to help us to escape Hermione. I know that. But light, Hermione . . . isn´t there some other way?´

`Probably. There´s probably one hundred thousand different ways. And if you can give me at least one of them, I´m more than willing to listen. But unless you can do that, Justin . . . this is it. This is the plan. Can´t you at least acknowledge that if you don´t trip over, this is going to work?´

Though his reluctance was obvious, Justin slowly nodded his agreement. `It´s a sound plan, as far as providing another distraction and getting us out of the castle unnoticed goes. And I guess the dangerous nature of it is why it has so much potential to work.´

Acknowledging Justin´s agreement, Hermione offered a slight smile. `I´m sure I´ve read of elegance charms . . . Edward can probably cast something to keep us light on our feet.´

Justin took a deep breath. `Alright, then. And Hermione?´

`Yes?´

`My feet aren´t that big.´

Looking at them both, Parvati laughed.

***

The kitchens were dark, and only the occasional crackle from the fire they´d left burning in the fireplace disturbed the usual sounds of the kitchen at night - Justin´s deep, pig-like snores and the occasional sleep-talking mutters of the Creevey brothers.

`Hermione?´ Parvati suddenly whispered. `Hermione, are you awake?´

Tossing her arm over her eyes, Hermione shifted her head towards Parvati. `Mmm? Yeah . . . what is it?´ she asked, though at heart she knew.

`What are you feeling right now?´

`What do you mean?´ Hermione asked quietly.

`Well, with all this planning . . . knowing that we might be about to escape. How does it make you feel?´

Hermione shifted again, moving herself upright as quietly as possible and locating Parvati´s face in the darkness. Looking down at her, she readjusted her blanket over her feet. `How do you feel?´ she said first.

Parvati hesitated before answering. `Excited. Optimistic . . . but a bit nervous, too.´

It was a lie, and Hermione knew it. Guess I´ll have to be the first to admit it, then, she thought to herself before answering. `I feel scared. Anxious. Terrified. I spend every minute of the day hoping that I don´t puke. I jump at every movement, stop at every shadow. My hands tremble when I´m using a knife, and my fingers are covered in tiny cuts and scrapes from when my fingers become so sweaty that the knife slips. At night, in the darkness when everyone else sleeps, it´s worse than butterflies. I feel like someone has slipped a scalpel into my belly and is slowly, slowly, slitting open my guts. I keep replaying my memories of the night the Dark Side defeated the Light, and wondering if I could have done more to help. Everyday, every hour, has become like a waking nightmare. And I can´t stop thinking that when the moment to rescue Harry and get us out of here comes, I´m going to be the one that fucks up and makes everything fail and fall to pieces.´

For a moment, Parvati said absolutely nothing. `Me too,´ she finally whispered.

***

His back to his guest, Lucius warmed his hands by the fire, stretching his long perfect fingers to its comforting warmth. Without bothering to turn his head whatsoever, he finally broke the intentionally uncomfortable silence he had subjected his guest to.

`And what, pray tell, do you expect in return for this `vital information´?´ he asked, keeping his voice soft, dangerous.

`I want out of this place. I just want all of this to stop. No more school for the Dark Arts. No more Dark Lord. No more unquestioned allegiance and obedience. I just want to be free of it all. I want to join my parents and family again.´

`Indeed?´ Moving his eyes from the fireplace, he stared directly ahead of him at the painting of one of his ancient ancestors. The ancestor was scowling over Lucius´s head at his guest. `Rather audacious of you, do you not think? To come in here and seek to . . . haggle with me. What on earth makes you think I want to hear what you have to say?´

`I . . . that is to say . . . it´s vital information,´ the guest squirmed.

`So you´ve said.´ Finally turning to his young guest, he raised an eyebrow. `Very well then. What is this vital information you have to share with me?´ he asked, placing just a touch of scorn on the phrase `vital information´.

`The mudbloods. They´re planning to escape. A few nights from now, in the early evening, they´re planning to escape straight through the front entrance.´

Hiding his surprise at the impudence of such a plan, Lucius merely smirked. `Is that so? And what, exactly, makes them think they can get away with such a feat?´

`They have a plan . . . a good plan.´

`Oh really? A good plan?´ He asked dryly.

His guest nodded enthusiastically. `A really good plan.´

`I see. Pray, can you tell me exactly what this really good plan is?´

`Well . . . a few days from now, they´re planning to escape, and it´s going to take place before the doors are locked and sealed. Straight through the front door. They´re planning some sort of distraction . . . I don´t know what. I don´t think they´ve decided, yet. If you want, I can come back here and tell you exactly which night they have planned.´

Lucius fought down the urge to laugh. `How very generous of you,´ he said softly, and took a seat at his desk. Resting his chin lightly on his hands, he looked his guest directly in the eye. His guest returned the look uncertainly. `And in exchange for this information, you ask, quite simply, to be released from all this?´ he asked, and made a vague gesture with one hand.

Once more, his guest gave an enthusiastic nod.

Lucius remained silent for a while, enjoying the spectacle of his guest squirming in discomfort. At last, he looked down and studied his fingertips, before finally looking his guest once more in the eye. `Very well. I believe I can accommodate that. Provided, of course, that you provide me with a little more detail about this really good plan. The information is quite useless to me unless I know exactly what to expect, you realise?´

His guest looked mildly optimistic. `Well . . . I´m not sure how specific I can get. But I´m sure I can figure out what night they have planned . . . after all, they´re planning to get me free, too, aren´t they?´

Lucius covered the faintly nasty smile that tugged at his lips. `Indeed, I suppose they are. Now, if you´d be so kind?´ Lucius asked, moving to the door of his office. His guest left, nodding rather stupidly all the while.

Once he was alone, Lucius moved to the window of his office, and peered vacantly over the grounds of the school. Well, well, well, he thought to himself. You are an audacious little group of mudbloods, aren´t you? He freely confessed to himself that he´d severely underestimated them. It was one thing to pay visits in the night to their little Harry Potter . . . but quite another to plot an escape from their mutual prison. Allowing himself a small smile, he reveled in the butterflies that suddenly fluttered in his belly. So finally, I´ll discover just who it is that herded my dementors like animals in a pen, he thought to himself. And finally, I have the perfect opportunity to study Miss Granger´s Battle Lust.

The Dark Lord will be pleased, indeed.