Title: Screaming on the Inside
Rating: R.
Summary: Tragedy strikes Hermione. How will her friends react?
Disclaimer: The characters of this story were created by the genius that is JK Rowling. This fic was not written to make money of any kind but merely for the enjoyment.
Authors Note: Thanks to all who have reviewed. You really help with the writing process. A huge thanks to Jamie for the allowing me to bounce ideas. Well read, review and as always enjoy.
Just a couple of things because no one seems to remember what I put in the Authors Notes.
This is an OLD fic which I wrote ages ago… before book 5 was out. Anything in book 5 didn't happen as far as this fic is concerned. The fics not finished… I'm just halfway through, that why updates are coming so fast. I have writer's block so I'm hoping by posting it on portkey I'll get over that and be able to finish it.
This fic is also up at my site (http://feedthesoul.hyperboards.com) and fanfiction.net. I refuse to put this on Schnoogle because I just don't like Schnoogle. I would much prefer to have it on a lot of small sites than Schnoogle.
With the POV's I'm doing whoever I feel has the most to say at that point in time and who will progress the plot along nicely. Its just happened that so far its been a different character each time.
I do read reviews I just don't reply to them individually except if the question needs to be answer or a few people ask it.
This chapter was megafun to write so I hope you enjoy.
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Draco's POV
Of all the places I ever thought I would be this is definitely not one of them. Sitting in the Gryffindor common room with a bunch of simpering idiots. These were the people Dumbledore was recruiting to save the world? Okay I've got to admit Potter, Granger and the boy Weasel had a pretty impressive record in the world save-age department but Potter's told me himself half of it was luck. And Potter and Granger would they just hurry up and shag already.
For some reason I feel slightly jealous as I watch Hermione fold herself into the seat next to Harry again. From what appears to be habit Harry gently slings an arm around Hermione's shoulders and Hermione leans into him a little bit more. I shake myself. Since when did I become a sap?
As I continue to stare at the couple, unable to tear my eyes away, I come to a startling conclusion. I'm not jealous because Harry's touching Hermione, but I'm jealous of the fact of their relationship. Now don't get me wrong I would shag Hermione any day if the very idea didn't involve Potter's fist connecting with my nose at a rather alarming rate. Which I had seen happen to Finnigan after and idle "I'd do her any day" as she flounced past nose in her book. I replay that image in my head for a second. Good times.
This is going to sound childish and grade school but I want what they have. I want to be that secure with someone, know someone that intimately without having to take their clothes off, to connect on that intellectual level. You can put all that down to my abysmal childhood. For once in my life I'm around people who don't treat each other like toerags and I'm jealous.
I'm snapped back to reality as Black's voice cuts through the silence that had reined since Dumbledore's last words each person trying to do as he asked. By all means it was not an easy task. "Are you sure this is wise?" Black questions in his gruff voice. This must be huge if Black's questioning Dumbledore.
Dumbledore nods. "It's best they know now and from us rather than hearing elsewhere." Dumbledore gestures to Potter, Granger and Weasley, "And knowing these three they mos definitely will find out." Black looks a Dumbledore for a second and its obvious that he is trying to find a way to disagree with him. When none comes to him Black nods and lets Dumbledore continue.
"Voldemort has a history of attacking his victims families before going in for the kill but you most likely knew this. Countless death eaters join his army fearing for the lives of the ones they loved. Once in the fold Voldemort manipulates them in a way that often they would be the ones to deliver the final blows. This done Voldemort felt that he had a servant for life. Most people stay because they have nothing to go back to." Across from me I see Granger squirm. By the look on her face I know she wants to ask something. Dumbledore looks at her before she attempts to speak.
"Why?" I look at her stunned. I thought the girl had more brains than that. "Why are you telling us this? It's not exactly ground breaking news."
Dumbledore's gaze sweeps the common room. "I was merely making it clear to those new to us exactly what they were agreeing too. Anyone who feels the risk is too high by all means leave. Nothing will be said. This is your choice." I watch as people around me think over their decision. To me it's a no brainer. I've got nothing left. A few people stand and leave scared at the very whisper about what we were asking them to attempt.
When everyone appears to have made their decision I look around the common room and am not surprised that all that are left are Seventh Years and Red Weasley. Neville Longbottom stands behind Harry a determined look on his face, Finnigan and Thomas next to him looking rather uncertain of their choices but there all the same. Off to the side Patil sits in a chair looking positively sick yet strangely resolute. Brown grips tightly onto Weasley's hand and its obvious that if he wasn't there she would be either.
I look around at the rest of the faces and I realise that everyone here has been dragged into this, Voldemort stripping them of almost everything. Dumbledore his strength, McGonagall her right to teach without fear, Snape his freewill, Black his freedom, Potter his childhood, Granger her freedom and Red her innocence when he lured her into the Chamber of Secrets. Everyone had lost something dear to them except for the boy Weasley, he was their by choice, the notion of doing good. Just like those we had just recruited he had the option to back out at any stage unlike us who have to do this. Its not a choice its our lifestyle. I understand why Potter and Weasley are not as tight as they once were.
"Good," Dumbledore announces non-pulsed by those who have left and getting straight to business. "Voldemort is tired of waiting around. He wants absolute power over the Wizarding World and effectively the Muggle World. He's beyond caring at what he has to do to get that. He has waited too long for it."
As Dumbledore pauses for a breath Black cuts in. I think he just wants to get this over with. "There are only two things standing in the way." I groan inwardly. If we are going to play it like this we are going to be here all night.
"What's in the way? Where is it?" Finnigan asks. Idiot. It's going to be an even longer night than I thought. I shoot him a dirty look. Apparently I'm not the only one not in the mood to spell it out for the dumb arses because Red's look rivals my own.
"Professor Dumbledore and Harry," she answers in a tired voice.
"But that means…" Thomas interjects.
"That Voldemort is going to attack Hogwarts." I answer really not in the mood. Most of the room ignores the gasps at that piece of information. "Look can we get to the stuff we don't already know?"
"What? Hot date with Moaning Myrtle tonight, Malfoy?" Red snaps. Ouch. Note to self, do not piss that one off… too much.
"No," I answer amused by her willingness with the verbal sparring gig. "A guy needs his beauty sleep too Red."
She scoffs. "Hasn't worked, has it?" Oh, I like her.
I open my mouth to reply but Dumbledore cuts me off. "Children," he says amused. "I'm sure this can wait until later." The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes seems to be brighter than ever and not for the first time I want to smack it out of him. Red smirks at me, happy that she got the last word.
Dumbledore continues to relay his morbid yet to most of us old news. "We know that as soon as Voldemort feels he has a large enough army he will attack. What we want is to stem the casualty ratio."
"Don't you mean stop?" Finnigan asks alarmed while Thomas looked on shocked. Dumb prats. I don't think I've met two more naive people in my life.
"You're stupider than you look, you know that Seamus?" Granger asked taking the words out of my mouth as she jumps to her feet, upset. "You think we are going to get through this without more people dying? What fairy tale did you grow up in?" Finnigan looks taken back by Granger's not so sudden outburst.
Its then I realise how underestimated Granger is. People don't see past the bookish, meek exterior. I think we have all been guilty of that at one stage. Once you know her you know not to put a foot out of line if you value body parts. With her top marks in every subject no one seems to put brains with power. It's their loss. Granger's a very useful weapon for the fact she is dismissed.
"Azkaban?" Potter asks, distracting Granger from ripping Finnigan a new one. Also thankfully getting back to the point at hand.
McGonagall makes a face and a dark look passes Snape. "Filling up faster than ever, Aurors catching Death Eaters walking down the street in broad daylight."
"That doesn't make sense," Weasley interjects and for once I agree with him.
Granger and Potter share equally dark looks. "Trojan Horse," Granger whispers staring straight at Harry.
"What?" I ask and see I'm not the only one in the room confused. It must be a Muggle thing when I realise that all the Muggle-borns share a look of understanding. Granger and Potter continue to share equally terrified looks so Brown explains.
"The Trojan Horse it's a Muggle war story. The Greeks, at least I think it was the Greeks, were at war with this other country but eventually they came to agreement for a cease fire. To show that they were serious about the agreement the Greeks or whoever made this really massive wooden horse and had it wheeled into the other city. As soon as they had accepted the horse opened and from inside came spilling thousands of soldiers who absolutely massacred the others."
The Weasley's, Longbottom and the house elf give Brown a confused look still not understanding the significance. "All but concede defeat," Granger answers in a strangely hollow voice. "When the enemy is lulled into a false sense of security, attack. When Azkaban's full the Dementors are going to let all the Death Eaters free. An army ready, willing and able."
"When?" Patil asks in a small, frightened voice.
"Soon," Professor Snape answers, quickly closing the topic. Voldemort obviously wasn't letting Death Eaters in on the plan either.
"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore, sir," the house elf asks. I've been wondering why he was here all this time. He had been so quiet. Dumbledore nods at him to continue. "Whispers below stairs suggest it's going to be very soon, Professor Dumbledore, sir." This must be the Dobby the House Elf Potter told me of in passing. A very useful source of information if you could understand what the hell he was saying. Thankfully tonight he was being straightforward.
"We will have time?" Longbottom asks looking white as a sheet.
"Yes," McGonagall answers in her tight voice. "If we work quickly." That said people began to lean into the circle eager to start the planning.
"First thing we start training the newbies and expand on everyone else's training," Harry starts. The adults around him nod. "Next we need a plan for when he does attack." Harry looks up at Dumbledore, knowing he will have this worked out already it was just a matter of verbalising everything. It was really child's play so far.
With a flourish of his wand an extremely detailed map of Hogwarts appears on the table in front of us.
"Hey," Black explains, "James and I never found that one." Black points to what appears to be a secret passage with one of his hardened fingers. He stares at the map for awhile as if it's done him an injustice by pointing out something he knew nothing of.
"Without know a time or exact place of attack our strategy can is rather broad," McGonagall starts. "Finnigan, Brown, Longbottom, Patil, Malfoy, Professor Snape, Dobby and myself will all round up the students to safety through the secret passages once the alarm has been set off. The others will not be able to keep out of the front line fighting if they tried." I look at McGonagall sour. What makes her think I don't want to be there. She has no idea what my father did to me.
Potter stares at the map, not looking up, his face not betraying anything. "Fine. Except we swap Ron and Malfoy's positions. I want Malfoy with me."
Silence in the common room.