A War of Nerves

CHAPTER 17: Of Hermione, Part 2 Cont.

"Arlaney, Jessica!" Headmistress Cherry Woodsrow called out.

Hermione fiddled with her robes. It was graduation day, the day she'd graduate. She never imagined she'd be doing this with out Harry and Ron. Viktor waved to her from the crowd and she smiled nervously. Her parents weren't there. Actually, no parents were there. It was suppose to be some private graduation, and next week their parents would be invited for another. Hermione suspected that they were going to be using some magic in the ceremony and that was why. Surprisingly, a lot of students at Salem's were Muggle-borns, or had one Muggle parent. Hermione had a theory about this too.

She had discussed it with Morgan, and she agreed. While witches and wizards with strong magical backgrounds, purebloods, were very powerful, eventually their blood would thin. You needed Muggle-borns to thicken it again, make it stronger. Muggle-born blood was newer, untainted. Basically, Morgan and she had used basic breeding strategy for their reasoning, but if it worked...

"Why are you so nervous?" Morgan asked from in front of her. Morgan was in front of her alphabetically and Brigid was behind her. She felt Brigid reach for her hand and squeeze it.

"Bair, Andrew," the headmistress called out.

"It is all right, Mimi," Brigid said, "You've already finished, you're just getting the award."

"Dallas, Colin!" the headmistress said above the crowd.

"I know," Hermione said, "I can't help it."

"Estellan, Morgan Le Fay!" the headmaster said.

Morgan walked up with grace and shook the hand of the headmistress, bowing slightly.

"Granger, Hermione!" Headmistress Woodsrow finally said.

Almost visibly shaking, Hermione walked up the stairs. She could do this, she *could* do this. She took the certificate, she shook the headmistress hand, she walked off the stage.

"Kells, Brigid!"

Still shaking, Hermione was greeted by Morgan followed by Brigid on the other side. That was what it was. It was like another side of life.

"Kelso, Elizabeth!"

It was like she was almost a new person, a new, mature person. Like she had something to contribute to the world.

"Koves, Jackson!"

So why weren't Harry and Ron there? It felt wrong, like betraying them by not being with them on graduation. Maybe if she hurried, she'd be able to observe their graduation.

"Matson, Gwendolyn!"

But she was happy, right?

"Matson, Katherine!"

She was out. She was going to be independent. She was going to be her own witch.

Katie and Gwen hugged her, each poking fun at her silence.

"Mitchell, Hope!"

That was what was eluding her. Eluding her and the rest of the wizarding world. Hope.

"Norris, Brandon!"

She would be out there. She would be living it, no matter how hard 'it' would be. And she would have hope. That she would never lose. If there was one thing she was taught at Hogwarts, it was there was always hope. Hell! She'd been best friends with hope for nearly seven years. Harry Potter, the hope of his generation, the light of the nation, the savior of the world. He'd never give up, she knew it. But that was partially what scared her. He would never give up, and where he went, Ron went. Ron the faithful, Ron the trusted, Ron the friend. Lately she had been having dreams. A faceless man comforting her in the dark. He was warm and safe. Warm and safe wasn't something she felt with Viktor. With Viktor, she felt...treasured. Yes, treasured was the right word. Like she had been stuck on the high pedestal and never let down, but more importantly, never left to stretch her wings.

She became aware of a voice calling her name.

"Hermione! Last person, Mimi!"

"Zachroy, Cynthia!"

That was the last of them. The "new generation of Aurors!" Headmistress Woodsrow said, cutting into her thoughts. "We are leading the world. Hopefully with support from the rest of the world, wizards can join forces and live my father's dream, defeat Voldemort! I congratulate you all on all your hard work, and your first step into the real world. Come young men and women, join your fellow wizards in celebration!"

Every one cheered, even Hermione to an extent. Food was served, but the cool wind started whipping things around, much to the amusement of Katie and Gwen.

"And do you know what else?" Katie said. She finally could tell them apart.

"You know she doesn't, Kate."

"We specifically-"

"-very specifically as I remember-"

"-asked her NOT to say Gwendolyn and Katherine! And do you know what else?"

"Ah, yes, we've heard this question before and cleared up the fact that the do not indeed 'know what else,' Kate."

"She did it any way! I feel I've had a sudden lack of trust and respect for our headmaster."

"Oh, please tell it like it is, Kate."

"Damn it! I will!"

"Shut up, will you two," Morgan said, putting her face in her hands.

"And do you know what else?"

"Aside from the fact that no one knows or cares?" Gwen said sarcastically.

"Yes."

"Thought so. Continue."

"I've lost my pattern of thought, give it a minute," Katie said.

"Got it?"

"No."

"Got it?"

"No."

"Got it?"

"No."

"Got it?"

"No. No it is completely lost. Sorry."

"'S all right. You are blonde."

"You're blonde too."

"I know."

"SHUT UP!" Morgan cried.

"Oh, hello Ms. Estellan, Misses Matson, Ms. Kells and Hermione," Black said, creeping up behind them.

Morgan's complete demeanor changed. She put on a friendly yet seductive smile and said, "Professor Black-"

"You can call me Sirius, you are graduates now, remember?"

"Oh, yes," Morgan said, her lips twitching, "Sirius."

"I can't handle this," Brigid said.

"With you all the way, B-chan," Gwen said.

"Come on," Katie said, grabbing Hermione's hand.

Hermione let Katie drag her away, not really wanting to see the scene which was sure to unfold.

Standing and listening to Katie, Gwen, and Brigid talk endlessly about whatever they were talking about, another cool wind whipped around them. A feeling of uneasiness spread over her, and she reached for her wand. It was still safe under her robes.

If Hermione believed in omens or premonitions or any sort (which she didn't...adamantly), she would have sworn that something was going to happen. Today was perfect...too perfect.

She put a hand on Brigid's arm, "Brigid," she said, not turning away from the podium.

Brigid stopped talking to Katie and Gwen, "Yes?"

Hermione didn't answer immediately.

"Mimi? What is wrong?" Gwen asked, now very serious.

"Hermione?" Katie asked.

"Get out your wands," Hermione said slowly, calmly.

Hermione blinked and then there they were. All in black with black masks obscuring their faces. They were all over the place, at least thirty of them.

"Death Eaters!" some one in the crowd cried out.

That was when it started. Madness began on the graduation field of Salem's.

"*Morsmordre!*" was called out by the 'leader' who was standing on the platform.

"*Avada Kedavra!*" the leader said, pointing his wand at Headmistress Woodsrow. The headmistress had no chance, she died, but she wasn't the last.

Every one began screaming, curses flew, confusion ensued, and some one grabbed Hermione's hand.

"Her-my-ninny! Come ve must go now!" Viktor yelled above the chaos.

"We've got to stay and help!" Hermione said, pulling away.

"Her-my-ninny! Stop!" he cried, gabbing her hand again and making her face him.

One hand in his and one with a wand, she turned to him and saw something she didn't like in his eyes.

"Viktor?" she said cautiously.

"Ve must leave," he said calmly.

It was his eyes that gave him away. Those eyes she had seen, that same glint. It had been in Peter Pettigrew that day under the Shrieking Shack.

"Ve must leave," he repeated.

"What is going on?" she asked, taking a step back.

"I haf no time to explain, just come vith me. You vill be safe, Her-my-ninny," he said.

People were screaming in the background, her conscious and her heart told her she should be out there, doing something, even if it was dying.

"No," she said firmly.

He grabbed her as she walked away, forcefully, making her cry out.

"Have you got her Krum?" a man in black said from behind them.

Realization dawned fully now.

"No!" she screamed. Her wand whipping out, she yelled, "*REDUCTO!*"

They flew away, both of them, and the tables behind them. The man in black landed with a sickening crunch and Viktor flew into a tree, effectively knocking him unconscious.

Magical currents of white, blue, green, and red flew every where. There was a group of about twelve students back to back, all hurling curses into the surrounding Death Eaters, who seemed to have grown in number. Brigid, the twins, and Morgan were in the middle of them.

Hermione was about to run over to them as she was on the outskirts of the battle, when a voice croaked out, "Help..."

She looked down and saw the delicate body of Gabrielle, alive, but badly injured, she was loosing blood, though it could be worse.

"Gabby!" Hermione cried. She picked her tiny friend up, "You're coming with me!"

Hermione didn't know where this new found strength came from; it was like some one opened a floodgate, and now every one better watch out. Infused with new strength, she half carried Gabrielle over to the scene of battle.

"*Incendio!*" she heard the leader say, pointing his wand at Salem's Academy. It began burning and smoke filled the air.

"*REDUCTO!*" Hermione cried again, three Death Eaters were thrown into the fire of the castle.

"*MUNDELUSIA!*" she said, following up her blasting curse with a ground splitting spell. A great rift in the earth appeared and swallowed up a Death Eater. Another few were hit with curses from the still fighting though dwindling in number Salem's students.

"APPARATE YOU FOOLS!" she cried. No one did and she was forced to use a large shielding charm to protect herself and Gabrielle from the new round of attack thrown by the no longer oblivious of her Death Eaters.

"*ELECTRONOX!*" she cried out desperately, long fingers of black lightening erupting from her wand and striking countless Death Eaters.

"APPARATE!" she repeated, breaching the circle of Salem's students because of the various curses she'd used that had killed or wounded Death Eaters.

"Listen to Hermione!" Morgan said, "We don't stand a chance, they are coming back, more are coming!"

"Where?" some one cried out.

Hermione didn't even pause. "Hogwarts! Apparate just outside of Hogwarts!"

"*KALINUS!*" a Death Eater roared.

"*PROTECTUS*" Hermione cried, her shield protecting the Salem's students as they Disapparated to Hogwarts.

"I'll take her," Katie said, grabbing Gabrielle.

Then Katie and Gwen disappeared, Gwen holding on to a few more almost lifeless bodies.

"Take as many as you can!" Hermione yelled above the confusion and curses, still managing to hold up her shielding charm. "Take the headmistress!"

A boy, Jackson Koves, she remembered, escaped to the headmistress and the unconscious body of the deputy headmaster and Apparated out of there.

Then her charm broke and it seemed like thirty spells came flying at them at once. A Freezing Spell hit her leg and she quickly used the counter curse to lift it.

"*MAGNARUS!*" Hermione said desperately, managing to stick together several of the Death Eaters.

"*ELECTRONOX!*" she said again, black waves of electricity springing from her wand and killing a Death Eater about to kill the Disapparting form of Brigid dragging an unconscious Sirius Black, two people on her back, and some other kid she didn't recognize holding onto her hand.

"Who is left?" Hermione asked Morgan, who was at her back.

"Me!" a boy with sallow skin and greasy hair said. "*LETHALARIA!*" he yelled, two Death Eaters stopping in their tracks and clutching their chests, then falling dead.

He put his back to Hermione's and Morgan's, forming a sort of circle.

"*PROTECTUS!*" Hermione said again, forming a shield around the three of them and repelling the curses coming at them.

Her shield was weakening again, "Go you two! Take those bodies too!"

The boy grabbed the hand of Morgan and another boy on the ground and they were gone. That left her and a hell of a lot of Death Eaters.

Then all the magic seemed to stop. The Death Eaters lowered their wands and made way for some one wearing a long black robe. Hermione didn't stop to find out who it was. She Apparated her ass back to Hogwarts and fast.

She arrived at the front gate. It was like what she imagined a battle field would sound like after the fighting was done. She looked around her. Twenty-five people in total, though she didn't know if some were living or not. Only nine people were standing. Morgan rushed over to her.

"Hermione, what do we do?" she asked in an uncharacteristically nervous voice.

Hermione swallowed, "Alright!"

All eyes went to her.

"Everyone who still has their wands, conjure stretchers for the injured or unconscious! I want some one to run ahead of us to warn Dumbledore we are coming. It is the middle of the morning here, morning classes have just started."

"I'll go!" said Brigid, "I can run and I now the way."

"Go!" Hermione said. And Brigid ran.

"The rest of you," she said to the eight people still standing, "stretchers now! We've got to get moving, Apparitions can be traced."

Stretchers were conjured, Hermione opened the front gates wider, and they began the trek to the castle.

"Mr. Potter," Professor Lupin said. Harry was sitting in his DADA class, and was bored stiff. It wasn't like he was normally bored stiff, it was just today they were talking about their futures.

"Yes, Professor," he said.

"I would like you to take this book to Professor Snape. He requested it and I've just found it," Lupin said kindly.

Harry nodded and took the large book. He walked past Lily, who had partnered up with Seamus at a desk and were using each other as pillows.

He left the class room and started down to the dungeons.

SMACK!

Some one ran into him hard.

"Hey!" he began.

The person landed on top of him and he did a double take when he saw her. "Brigid?"

Her eyes widened, "Oh, Harry!" she said in relief. She hugged him tight and kissed him on both cheeks. Then she pulled him up and pulled him along with her, running, book left forgotten on the ground.

"Hey, Brigid, where are we going?" he asked, "Why are you here?" he added.

"There's been an attack! At Salem's! Take me to the headmaster, I only know as far as this."

"An attack!" he said stopping.

She turned on him with a dangerously desperate look in her eyes, "Take me to the headmaster Harry or regret being born."

That spark in her eye left nothing to be argued with, he ran as fast as he could to Dumbledore's office. Once they got up the stairs, they found him sitting at his desk, writing something on paper.

"Headmaster," Brigid said between breaths. "An attack on Salem's. Hermione brought survivors here. There's not a lot, thirty or less."

The headmaster stood up and walked over to them, "Where are they?"

"Walking up to the castle as we speak," Brigid answered, clutching a stitch in her side.

"Harry, warn Pomfrey and tell her to get her mediwitches on training ready for thirty injured!" he said as he left. A flash of blue was all he saw of the headmaster.

"Go!" Brigid said, "Do what he said, I'll be fine!"

Harry ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. What was going on? They said that Hermione had led them, so was she still alive? Who else had lived?

"Attention Hogwarts students!" the magically amplified voice of Professor McGonagall said. "All Hogwarts students are to go directly to their common rooms lead by prefects! I repeat; all Hogwarts students report to their common room immediately! All students with the exception of Madam Pomfrey's mediwitches and -wizards in training! All mediwitches and -wizards report directly to the Infirmary immediately!"

The corridors filled with students rushing to their houses. Some prefects shouted orders over the crowds and the Halls were empty almost as soon as they had become congested. Harry kept going to Madam Pomfrey and when he arrived, a group of seven sixth and seventh years were crowded in the infirmary, talking nervously to Madam Pomfrey. Ginny entered and saw Harry but went over to Madam Pomfrey. Harry remembered that she was a mediwitch in training.

"Potter! What are you doing here?" Madam Pomfrey shouted.

"The headmaster wanted me to tell you that thirty would be coming. There was a battle at Salem's," he said urgently.

Madam Pomfrey drew a deep breath, "Thank you Potter, now get out of here!"

Pomfrey whipped out her wand and the room enlarged to three times its normal size. Harry was pushed out the door by an anxious looking sixth year Hufflepuff, "Go on Harry, sorry about this, but thank you."

Harry was shoved out the door.

Thirty-two students and three teachers had stood in the sunny graduation ceremony on that fine Tuesday morning. Ten of those thirty-five weren't able to be rescued, and were presumed dead. Twenty-five made it back to Hogwarts, ten of them walking, seven of them already dead, the headmistress included. Three died in the infirmary shortly after they arrived, and one died in the night.

Thirty-five people alive on Tuesday and only fourteen on Wednesday.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair and sighed, looking over the survivor list, Minerva looking over his shoulder.

Morgan Le Fay Estellan

Jessica Arlaney

Brigid Kells

Katherine Matson

Gwendolyn Matson

Aden Snape

Elizabeth Kelso

Jackson Koves

Sirius Black

Gabrielle Delacour

Brandon Norris

Steven Woodsrow

Hope Mitchell

Hermione Granger

"She will be awarded Order of Merlin First Class, correct," Minerva said from behind him. "After what the Salem's students told us, that is the least the Ministry could do."

"I believe she will be, Minerva," Dumbledore said with a sigh. He had heard what Hermione Granger had done in the service of her fellow wizards, if any one deserved a First Class Order of Merlin, this girl did. "Though I wish she didn't deserve it. It was a horrible event that I'm sure will fuel an uprising here in Europe."

Minerva nodded. "What of these Salem's students? I mean, to attack children, children Albus! What will become of them?"

He looked down on the list again. "Well, their parents have been notified. All the students of Hogwarts' parents have been notified as well. Many have told me to keep their children here, which is something I may have to do."

Minerva sighed, "We are just lucky that it was the private ceremony, otherwise many more would be dead."

"I don't see anything lucky about this situation, Minerva," he said looking at her sharply.

Her lips went thin and she said, "I suppose you're right, Albus. Now what of the children?"

"Morgan will be sent to her uncle, Ollivander. Aden Snape will be here with his uncle. Steven Woodsrow will be staying here as well. The Arlaneys, Matsons, Kells', Koves', Delacours, and Grangers have all requested their children be kept here. The rest have asked for their children to be sent home, they will be going into hiding," Albus replied.

"And..." Minerva's voice broke off, "And the others, their parents?"

"They will be sent the bodies along with medals of bravery."

"Hardly compensation," Minerva spat.

"I know," Dumbledore sighed.

"What will we do with the Hogwarts students? Surely we can't keep all of them here. School lets out in two weeks," she reminded him.

"As I said, I have notified the parents of all the Hogwarts students. I told them that they could keep their children here, or take them home. Regretfully, there is nothing more I can do for them after the school year ends," he said.

Minerva nodded. Then she said, "Ah, I believe you have a visitor, Albus."

Albus raised his eyebrows, "That was good. Quicker than me even."

She shrugged, "I've been practicing. Some one's got to train for the position when you keel over," she said shrewdly.

"Are you sure you weren't sorted into Slytherin and went to the Gryffindor table by mistake, Minerva?"

"I was never *that* stupid," she said.

Then the door opened slightly and Minerva disappeared through the door to her office.

"Ah, Miss Lily, what can I do for you?" he asked genially.

"May I sit," she asked quietly.

"Of course."

She did so quietly, not looking him in the eye. She was wearing black, still in mourning. "I wanted to speak with you about...about what happened in my time."

She opened her mouth to continue but Dumbledore held a hand up, "Miss Lily, none of this is your fault."

Her teeth gritted and she said, "I should never have come here."

"Do you really think that this world is worse than the one you are from?" he asked her sharply.

"Nothing is worse than that, Albus," she said, looking into his eyes for the first time, sincerity written on her face.

"I believe you," he said. "But the time for the final battle is coming. All we can do now is make sure Harry is well supported when he finally goes after Voldemort."

"But the Leviathan-" she began.

"Will make no difference," he finished. "And besides, it is more of a Juggernaught."

The corner of her mouth turned up and she said, "I found the instructions for making it."

"Oh really!" Dumbledore said surprised. "Certainly not in our library."

She shook her head and said, "On a trip to Hogsmeade in February I Apparated to the Orkneys. It is inscribed in the Ring of Brodgar, I took pictures and translated them."

Dumbledore frowned and said, "That could have been very dangerous. How could you be sure that Voldemort wouldn't be there?"

"It is in my blood, Albus. I inherited it from my father," she said quietly.

Dumbledore looked at her sharply for a moment then his expression softened, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that this sort of thing would last beyond one and would spread though blood."

"It isn't as sharp as Harry's, but I can feel him when he is near enough, or when his is feeling particularly evil," she explained.

Dumbledore nodded, "So about the Juggernaught?"

Lily bit her lip, "Well," she began, "I don't think it is finished."

"Why would you say that?"

"Well, a Juggernaught is supposed to have powers over time, like being able to stop it for short amounts of time. As you know, this requires the sands of time, this he can't have."

"And why not?"

"There were only seven working at the turn of the last century. Five of them the Ministry has hold on, and you would have heard if they lost one. One of them is in your office, and one of them was destroyed thirty years ago in an accident caused by a wizard killing his future self. One of them will be lost at sea in a few days, but we don't have to worry about that on because some one transfigured it into a baseball and forgot about it. I know about that one is because the Hermione from my time finds it and uses it to make the one I used to have, the one that Voldemort stole."

"So why can't he just use that one?"

"Because Hermione set a default on it. If I am gone for longer than five years and the Time Turner is still functioning, I get sent back to my time. Or, if some one tries to use it with out voice, iris, and fingerprint identification, I get sent back to my time and the Time Turner self destructs. Hermione grows into a very smart and powerful witch, Albus," Lily said seriously.

"I always guessed she would. All we have to do is hope that Voldemort doesn't find a way to get the Sands of Time out of your Time Turner."

Lily nodded. "The thing I worry about is that the Juggernaught will still be functional without the Sands of Time, functional and very powerful."

"I believe that the team I've made can take care of that," Dumbledore said confidently.

Lily's eyes widened.

"Have no worries, I've already assigned you a position dear girl," Dumbledore said.

"Do you think you could tell me the plan? I mean, would it be safe?" she asked anxiously.

"I was planning on holding a meeting tomorrow at noon. Miss Granger, Miss Estellan, and some other highly talented Aurors will be there, including Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. We'll be discussing our retaliation movement," Dumbledore said, looking very serious. "Now was there anything else."

She shook her head and stood, then she said, "Do you know where I could find Steven Woodsrow?"

"Infirmary, I'll write you a note to get past Pomfrey. And do try to be civil with Mr. Malfoy, I understand he is there too."