Primrose Paradigms

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Primrose Paradigms

By MoiraRiordan

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Prologue: October Fourteenth, 2005

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Hermione Granger had never been a very trusting person, even before this bloody war, so safe to say that after years of coding letters, guarding speech in public, passwords and so many secrets that she doubted even the Gods knew everything, she didn't really put much stock in people other than herself. Even books had failed her, the one thing she thought she could always count on.

Hermione walked along the dim street, remembering all those manipulations and omissions, the strategies and well-laid plans, the research and late night hushed talks with Harry and Ron in front of the fire. She suddenly felt tired, way too mature for her age. It's a terrible thing to feel old at twenty-four, she decided, and even though Lord Voldemort had been dead for five years now, she still felt the enormous weight on her shoulders of finding out that her best friend was the only one who could face him like it happened yesterday.

Said best friend was walking alongside her, his face calm and impassive in the dark. She looked up at him, smiling slightly and sighing, relishing in the fact that, yes, Ron was gone, and Dumbledore was gone, but so were Voldemort and Snape, and she and Harry were still here. And that was what Ron had wanted, wasn't it? For them to keep on living?

Life was better than it had been in a while, actually. The dark days after Ron's death had faded away like the past always does, and she had just recently been able to go to sleep without crying. Harry's nightmares had lessened, and though he still had them from time to time, they weren't as often or as violent as they had been before. The spectre of pain that had lingered behind his eyes for so long was still there, and it probably always would be, but at least he was laughing again, and smiling.

Hermione closed her eyes and laid her head on Harry's shoulder, and felt his arm go around her waist. She felt like they were finally healing from all that had happened. Smiling, she remembered Harry's clumsy admission at Remus and Tonks' wedding that he had held feelings for her for a long time. She remembered that she didn't believe him, at first, then she'd felt a bubble of happiness rise in her chest, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

Getting engaged to Harry Potter was a lot like getting into a relationship with him, she found. Slightly awkward, as these things were, but sweet and in the end, she'd found that it wasn't as hard as she'd thought it would. The real challenge had come with telling everyone. Fred and George's boisterous "Finally!" echoed throughout Diagon Alley when they found out, and Remus had smiled at her knowingly when she told him. Tonks had grinned and winked at her, and when Harry had crouched down to Tonks and Remus' three-month-old daughter, Lily Lupin, and had gravelly informed her that though he loved her very much, he was engaged to be married to Hermione, and he hoped it wouldn't hurt their friendship, she'd giggled, for the first time, actually. Harry took that to mean that Lily wouldn't nurse her broken heart for long.

"You're quiet," Harry commented, and Hermione opened her eyes. They were walking down a quiet, suburban street, the streetlamps dark and faint.

"So are you," she retorted, smiling. She heard Harry scoff.

"I'm the one who has a right to be," Harry said. Hermione stayed silent. She supposed that was true, but it was Harry who had insisted on this visit, anyway. Hermione had no idea why Harry would ever want to return to Privet Drive, and had questioned him profusely, but the git had stayed stubbornly silent.

They had apparated a few streets away so as not to alarm anyone (god forbid the neighbors see something) and walked the rest of the way. The couple, dressed in Muggle clothes, stopped in front of the house that Harry had spent eleven lonely years and six long summers in.

"Are you sure about this, Harry?"

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a habit picked up from Sirius. "No, but I'm going in anyway." He kissed her forehead and murmured, "Wait here." Jogging up the steps, he rang the doorbell, and without waiting for an answer, opened the door and went inside.

Hermione stood in the driveway, fearfully waiting for the sounds of yelling, or a fight maybe. Shivering slightly in the cool autumn air, Hermione pulled her sweater around her tighter, wondering for the hundredth time what the hell was going on.

About five minutes later, the door opened and Hermione strained to see the person who had opened it. Instead of the dark, wild hair and sharp green eyes she'd expected, a woman with graying hair pulled tightly into a bun and a horse-like face stepped out. Hermione guessed that this must be Harry's aunt, Petunia Dursley.

Petunia apparently didn't see Hermione standing on her lawn, and walked out onto her porch, leaving the door open behind her. She was shaking violently, her face pale and drawn. Standing ramrod straight, her eyes staring out at nothing, Petunia didn't move for several minutes, lost in her own thoughts, as far as Hermione could tell.

Then, Harry stepped out of the house, his face stony. Shutting the door behind him, he walked up behind his aunt, making like to say something. He stopped before he uttered a word, though, and left the porch, shaking his head sadly. He walked up to Hermione, who was still standing in front of the house. Petunia didn't even look at him.

"Let's go," he said quietly. Hermione nodded and they walked off down the street, leaving Petunia still staring off into space, her spine stiff.

When they were a few houses down, Hermione took his hand, not knowing what was going on, but still wanting to offer some sort of comfort. "Harry?" she asked tentatively. Harry squeezed her hand, but shook his head, not looking at her. Hermione took this to mean 'not now,' and squeezed back.

The two walked down the street, not saying anything, the only sounds the sound of footfalls on the pavement. All of a sudden, Harry stopped short, his head snapping up. "Mione, draw your wand," he said softly.

Her face grim, she did so, scanning the street for danger. Harry had obviously heard or sensed something she hadn't. Straining her ears in the silence, she raised her wand high, holding it in front of her. She felt Harry do the same beside her, turning in the opposite direction that she was.

She heard a branch snap to her left, and whirled around, pointing her wand at the noise. Harry hadn't moved, and she kept her wand trained in the spot where she'd heard the noise, listening for anything else.

Two things happened then. She saw a flash of green light out of the corner of her eye, and Harry pushed her to the ground roughly, the curse missing her head by centimeters. Harry yelled out a spell, and red light from his Reducto curse nearly blinded her.

Blinking, she jumped up and immediately saw several dark, cloaked figures advancing them from across the street. Dodging what looked like a Crucio curse from the shortest one on the far right, she fired several spells in fast succession at each of the figures, Harry doing the same a few feet away.

Two went down, unconscious, and one dropped his wand and grabbed his head, crying out. His hood fell back and Hermione recognized Augustus Lafferty, a former Death Eater. Hermione knew instantly who these men were, and quickly fired a Stupefy curse at Lafferty, knocking him out. These men were members of Salazar's Legion, a group of renegade Death Eaters, Voldemort supporters, and pureblood fanatics that had been attacking Muggles ever since the fall of the Dark Lord.

The Order of the Phoenix had come close to capturing them all about a year ago, but since then the group had split up and gone underground. In fact, this was the biggest group she'd seen since the battle that had taken place in Diagon Alley, when the Order had put most of the Legion in Azkaban. There were at least eight Legion members here tonight, and probably a few younger members hidden on the streets, acting as scouts.

As Hermione's instincts kicked in and she started dodging spells and dueling in earnest, in the back of her head, she wondered if Harry had found out through his contacts that there was to be a Legion attack tonight, and that was the reason that he'd come tonight. But if that was true, then why did he bring only her? Why not inform the Order? And why actually go and visit the Dursleys? If the visit was only a pretense, then Harry had no reason to actually go inside and talk to them, or do whatever it was that he did in there. Hermione sighed, frustrated at her ignorance, and promised herself that as soon as she could she'd interrogate her aggravating boyfriend. Stupid Harry.

"Mione!" Speaking of... "Look out!" She turned to face where Harry was pointing, and saw that one of the larger Legion members was running towards her. He had no wand; Harry had probably disarmed him, and apparently had decided to take a more physical approach. She rolled her eyes and promptly stunned him. Honestly.

Assessing the situation, Hermione looked around. Five Legion members were unconscious, one was at the mercy of a particularly nasty Jelly-Legs Curse, and the last two were tag teaming Harry. While most normal wizards would be panicked at facing two Legion members at the same time, Harry looked like he was having the time of his life. Dodging a stunner, Harry shot two bright pink curses at the two in quick sequence, which made the two cloaked figures bend over and start laughing hysterically. "Learned that one from Ginny," Harry commented lightly.

"Harry, c'mon," Hermione said. She walked over to the fallen Legion members and pointed her wand at all of them. Long ropes shot out of her wand and wrapped around each of them separately. Taking pity on the chap under the Jelly-Legs, she stunned him and tied him up as well. "Just stun them already, I'm tired."

Harry grinned and did so, tying the two up as well. "That was bracing," he said.

"And pathetic," Hermione added. "Honestly, I don't even know why they try."

Harry shrugged. "Pissed off dark wizards don't really need a reason, I don't think," he said. He pulled a pendant from underneath his shirt and tapped it with his wand. The pendant, in the shape of a phoenix, was an invention modeled after the coins that Hermione had made in fifth year to schedule a DA meeting. Every member of the Order had one, and by tapping it with your wand, you signaled the three closest members to apparate to your location. It worked well when you needed backup, or help carting prisoners.

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, a raspy voice sounded from behind them. "Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. My, my, what a surprise." Whirling around, the pair saw the leader of Salazar's Legion, flanked by at least twenty members assembling on the street. The man stood surrounded by Legion members, darkly resplendent in long, velvet black robes lined with cords of green. His face was sunken in and dark, his eyes black and purple bags underneath. Greasy, dark blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his neck, straggles that had escaped framing the aristocratic face.

"Midas Kane," Harry said coldly, gripping his wand. Harry had held a grudge against this man ever since he had dared to attack Lily and Tonks on a day out at Diagon Alley. Harry had always especially hated those who picked on the people weaker then themselves, a holdover from years of being tormented by his cousin Dudley.

Kane chuckled coldly, the sound sending shivers down Hermione's spine. "Just as I predicted. Scatter bread crumbs and the mice come running. Don't even think about it, Mudblood," Kane said sharply, when Hermione went to raise her wand. Normally, a homicidal maniac telling her not to do something wouldn't deter her, but Hermione suddenly felt the sharp poke of a wand in her back and stopped her movement. "That's better," Kane said, smiling.

Harry looked over at her, giving her a look that said, 'not yet.' Looking back at Kane, his eyes hardened. "You were the one who poisoned my uncle, then?" Hermione inhaled sharply. She should have known something was wrong. Harry hated his family, but if they were in danger, he would come running. He was just that type of person.

Kane laughed. "Child's play, really. I just needed to get you here." He twirled his Black Ash wand between his dirty fingers.

"So arrogant," Harry said snidely. "Too arrogant, really, for someone who lives in the sewers." It was true, Kane's face was smudged with dirt, his robes were shabby and torn, and Hermione was sure that if she were closer to him, the stink would be sharp and acrid.

Kane bristled. "Mark my words, Potter, the Legion's days of hiding underground will be over at night's end."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Can we please skip all the rubbish where you gloat over your great plan and just get to the duel?" Harry asked.

Kane smiled coldly. "Who says that we duel?" He gestured to a man at his side, who pulled a cloth bag out of his pocket. The man walked over to Harry and Hermione, still held at wand point, and emptied the bag in a circle around them. Hermione recognized the white powder as crushed Basilisk bone, and shivered. As Kane started muttering softly in Latin, Hermione looked up at Harry. Clearly Kane was planning on performing a very dark ritual, probably very powerful, and probably very destructive, judging by the fact that they were using Basilisk bone in a containment circle, an ingredient that was highly volatile and very expensive.

Harry looked down at Hermione and mouthed, 'on my signal.' Hermione nodded. Harry looked back over at Kane, and whistled sharply. "Oi, Midas. Hope you don't strain yourself, we don't want to deliver you to the Dementors half-dead," Harry taunted. Kane twitched slightly, and many of the surrounding Legion members stiffened and looked around nervously, but Kane kept chanting.

Harry kept taunting both Kane and the Legion members around them, and Hermione joined in, too, though keeping a wary eye on Kane, who's eyes had rolled back into his head. If they didn't hurry, the ritual would be too far gone, and she and Harry wouldn't be able to escape the circle.

Finally, the Legion member who had his wand trained on Harry bristled at a comment of Hermione's, and Harry used the distraction to his advantage, stunning him. "Now!" he yelled at Hermione, and she and Harry started firing curses at every member they could reach.

Hermione felt dread and fear seeping into her stomach when she realized that none of them were fighting back. They'd dodge the curses and put up shields, but no counter curses were being fired. That means that they were ordered not to harm them, which normally would be to their advantage, but Hermione's apprehension towards whatever ritual that Kane was performing increased.

Harry seemed to be thinking the same thing, shooting her a look. Hermione looked over at Kane, who had pulled out an athame, the steel glittering dangerously in the dim light of the street lamps. Hermione watched in horror as two members snapped open Kane's robes, and Kane slit a long line down his chest with the knife, dark red blood pouring out of the wound. A member collected the blood with some sort of chalice, and then threw the cup, seemingly at Harry.

Harry flinched, but the blood filled chalice didn't hit him, it was stopped by some sort of barrier that the Basilisk bone had created. The blood poured out of the cup, making the barrier glow white, pulsing a few times, and then fading to a dark red.

"Bugger," Harry murmured. Bugger was right; Kane was using blood magic, which made the ritual about a hundred times more powerful and more dangerous. Where the hell was that backup, anyway? Hermione thought frantically. Harry had called for them nearly ten minutes ago.

Grabbing Harry's arm tightly, she whispered. "Don't try to step out of the circle. It's too late now, the bone's enforced with Kane's blood now; it'll probably kill you, or worse, if you try to cross it." Harry nodded.

"What about spells? Can they cross?"

"I would suspect so," she said. Harry fired a stunner, and sure enough it passed through the red barrier and knocked out the member who had thrown the blood.

Hermione and Harry both started firing curses at Kane, hoping to stop the ritual, but the members who had surrounded him either put up shields or jumped in front of their leader, taking the curses themselves.

Kane's chanting reached a crescendo, and Hermione felt cold terror spread throughout her bones. Was this it? Was this how it would end?

Harry suddenly seized up, and a scream tore itself out of Hermione's throat. He fell to the ground, and Hermione frantically bent down to feel for a pulse. Sagging with relief at the strong steady beat underneath the skin of Harry's wrist, Hermione realized that he was only unconscious. What the hell kind of ritual was this?

Looking up at Kane, the whites of the backs of his eyes chilled her almost as bad as the red eyes of Voldemort had. The chanting seemed to grow louder and louder.

Suddenly, Hermione gasped as her body went rigid. It felt worse than Cruciatus, it felt like every bone in her body was under immense pressure from all sides, she thought that a few more seconds and she would collapse underneath it. Choking slightly, Hermione managed to see a flash of bright, swirling color before everything went black.

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I know what you're thinking--why is she trying to write two stories at the same time? Trust me, I'm not going to give up on the Degrassi fic, Wishworld, that I'm writing. These two stories are not meant to be like, novel-length. I haven't been writing much lately, and so these two are just to get me back into writing mode. So keep that in mind in relation to updates for this fic, they will probably be sporadic.

Reviews make me happy...

-MoiraRiordan

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