Twisting Around
Summary: Please Help Me Hermione. The words echoed through Hermione's entire being. She knew she should say no. Every fiber of logic within her said she should say no, but her heart wouldn't let her.
Chapter 6: Are You My Enemy?
Harry lay concealed in a cave near Hogsmeade that was overlooking the village. Watching the students flood into the village to enjoy their weekend, he waited. Precisely at 12 noon, Bellatrix Lestrange gave the order to move out.
The Death Eaters, with Harry alongside, apparated into the village, and pandemonium ensued. No one had expected the Death Eaters to attack in the middle of the day. Students began fleeing in the direction of Hogwarts, or ran into the nearest building they could find. The adults also sought to hide, although a few brave souls did reach for their wands to fight back. Dumbledore's Army also formed up to do battle with the Death Eaters.
The bulk of the resistance came from the Order of the Phoenix. Nymphadora Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody both launched themselves into the fray, while just beyond them, Harry could see Remus Lupin raising the alarm.
He did not concern himself with them, or for the multitude of students running off in different directions. He had his own purpose in coming to Hogsmeade this day.
He marched through the battlefield, black cloak billowing behind him, searching for his old friends.
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Ron shielded himself from a slashing curse, and Ginny sent a stunner back at the Death Eater, who raced into the Three Broomsticks. Having gained a moment, the group paused to come up with a plan.
"We need to stop him. That's where a lot of the younger students are." Ginny yelled over the din of battle.
"Ginny, take the others with you and stop him. I need to get Hermione out of here." Ron glanced sideways at Hermione, whose face hadn't even changed since they had dragged her out of the library. "I'll get her back to Hogwarts. Stay with the Order if you can manage it. They're bound to have reinforcements coming."
Ginny nodded at Ron, and then began to direct her fellow students into the action, using her new authority as a prefect.
Ron wanted to fight as well, but Hermione was defenseless without him, and he had to get her to safety. Hopefully, Ron thought, Hermione would come back from whatever far off place she had gone to, and fight back like she had done so many times before.
It was hurting him to see Hermione like that. She had retreated far into herself since the fighting started, and Ron was secretly wondering whether Hermione was hoping that Harry was there, even if he was on the wrong side.
A nearby explosion, threw the two off the ground. Ron's face was now bleeding, but he ignored this as he grabbed Hermione`s arm to pull her up. Ron began running towards the castle, and Hermione was forced to run as well to stay on her feet.
They turned into an alleyway that Ron prayed would take them past the Death Eaters.
His prayers were not answered though, as Ron could hear the footsteps of pursuers behind him. "Impedimenta!" Ron incanted, then turned back to run faster. If he could just slow the Death Eater down, Ron thought that he and Hermione would be able to get away cleanly.
"Stop!" Their pursuer yelled.
Ron heard the voice, and stopped so suddenly that Hermione crashed into him.
He knew that voice.
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A Death Eater fell to the ground in front of Remus Lupin, stunned by a clever shot from the werewolf.
After sending word that Hogsmeade was under attack, Lupin had thrown himself head first into the fray. It seemed that nothing could stop him. Death Eaters succumbed to his power while their attacks were either blocked, or completely missed Lupin, who was constantly in motion. Tonks and Moody were content to allow Lupin to take the lead in this battle, and they were not alone. Lupin's presence seemed to invigorate his former students, who rallied to support their favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Wherever the battle was going poorly, Lupin was there. He had cleared a path on the main road for the younger students to retreat on. It was Lupin who had saved the students in the Three Broomsticks, leading a small contingent of Dumbledore's Army to the rescue. And it was Lupin who forced the Death Eaters farther into the village, into the teeth of the battered, yet unbeaten defenders.
Lupin felt a rush of hair pass by his neck and knew he had narrowly avoided having his head separated from his body. He turned to face the newest Death Eater to challenge him. However, beyond him, he saw Ron leading a reluctant Hermione into an alleyway, as well as a cloaked figure chasing after them.
Charging forward, Lupin engaged the one Death Eater who was preventing him from saving Ron and Hermione from their pursuer in single combat.
The Death Eater was prepared, and Lupin's stunners were merely deflected away while the Death Eater replied with his own destructive firepower. Deciding not to waste time and energy on a shield charm in what he hoped would be a quick fight, Lupin dodged the Impedimenta and the Avada Kedavra that followed. His Expelliarmus went wide, and the distance between the two combatants was dwindling rapidly. The Death Eater slashed with his wand, and a cylinder of black shot out from the wand. Lupin dove beneath what was undoubtedly a very nasty curse, and sweeping with his right leg, knocked the Death Eater's feet out from underneath. Rolling backwards, Lupin came to his feet quickly. Lashing out with his foot, Lupin connected with the Death Eater's head and knocked him senseless.
Lupin glanced around to get his bearings before heading for the alleyway to help Ron and Hermione.
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Hermione gasped when she heard his voice. In one moment her heart came back to her, summoned by the wondrous sound of Harry's voice.
"Harry" Hermione whispered as she turned around, needing to see Harry standing before her.
Harry's heart leapt when he saw Hermione. This was what Harry had come for, to see someone who cared for him. "Hermione," Harry said, just as softly.
"What are you doing all this for, Harry?" Ron said angrily. "Why have you betrayed us?"
Harry sighed in disappointment. He wasn't surprised that Ron was acting this way. It still hurt though, that his old friend immediately questioned him.
"It couldn't be avoided" Harry stated sadly.
"To hell it couldn't!" Ron yelled. "You always had a choice."
"No I didn't, Ron. I've never had a choice. Dumbledore's always made my choices for me." Harry spat bitterly.
"Do you realize what you've done to us? You've betrayed us all on this mad quest for vengeance. And what about Hermione? Have you any idea how much you've hurt her? She hasn't spoken more than two words since you disappeared"
Harry took a closer look at Hermione upon hearing Ron's words. Her brown hair was a mess, as if it hadn't been brushed in days. Her face, once so cheerful, looked as if it had been chiseled out of rock. And the brown eyes which were once bright pools of joy had dulled and become bloodshot.
Just looking at Hermione hurt Harry. Hermione, who had always had so much faith in him, had been devastated, the truth was written in those sad eyes. Harry realized, suddenly, that the last time he had hurt this much was the last time he had heard from Hermione the day before he left for Voldemort.
"Hermione…" Harry began hesitantly. "I am sorry, but I had no choice. I hope you can understand. Having to hurt you has hurt me just as much."
Hermione's face lowered, and she was staring at her shoes when she said, "I understand, Harry."
Ron's face flushed when he heard this. "This is ridiculous! Look what he's done, Hermione. Snape, Diggle. They're dead because of him"
"They're dead because of Voldemort. He cunningly set everything up to happen this way. It isn't Harry's fault." Hermione replied.
"You're letting your feelings get in the way, Hermione!" accused Ron.
"Ron, Hermione, are you all right?"
The three teenagers turned towards the voice, to see Lupin running down the alleyway, his wand at his side.
"Harry, it doesn't have to be this way." Lupin urged. "You can still come back to us. You can go back to Hogwarts, with Ron and Hermione"
"No, I can't. You don't understand. I've seen too much. I've done too much. I can't go back, especially when Dumbledore is there. He is as despicable as Voldemort."
"Is that your decision then, Harry?"
"It is"
"I'm sorry, Harry, but I have to do this." Lupin said sadly, raising his wand.
Harry made no move to escape or defend himself. He realized that he had been fooling himself the entire time he was with Voldemort. He needed someone to help him. He couldn't go on alone anymore. He needed someone to care. Harry stood still, and awaited the killing blow.
Hermione, however was not calm. She was waging a battle with herself. She watched in horror as Harry stood there, and she realized that Harry was ready to die.
Lupin saw this too, and he hesitated. For a moment, he just stared at Harry. However, Lupin knew his duty, and with a shake of his head, he began the wand motion again.
"Expelliarmus!"
Lupin flew backward into a wall behind him, his wand dropping from his limp grasp. Blood trickled down his face as he looked at his attacker.
"Hermione!" It was not Lupin, but Harry who said this, an undecipherable look on his face.
"Hermione! How could you?" Ron shouted, his face as red as his hair.
Spinning around, Hermione jabbed her wand into Ron's neck. "I told you Ron, that when we saw Harry again, that you could fight him if you chose, but I would help him in whatever he was doing. Did you not believe me?"
The fear on Ron's face gave the answer. He had not believed Hermione. He had never even once considered that Hermione would turn her wand upon him.
Harry's heart leapt at her words, realizing that Hermione was still willing to help him. Her words gave him hope.
Hermione petrified Ron, who fell to the ground rather ungracefully, and then did the same to Lupin.
Now, Harry and Hermione were the only ones left standing. A gust of wind blew through the narrow alley, flinging debris everywhere. Its occupants did not notice, for they were focused on each other.
Vibrancy had returned to Harry's green eyes as he gazed into Hermione's chocolate brown orbs. "Harry…" Hermione trailed off, not knowing what to say, tearing her eyes away. Once again, her face lowered to look upon the ground.
She brought her head up when she heard Harry walking towards her. He was standing only inches from her, and Hermione's whole body began to tremble. Harry was shaking just as badly. Brown reflected green, and green reflected brown. Pain was clearly visible in each other's eyes.
"Hermione, I've missed you so much," Harry whispered.
And then Hermione was surrounded by Harry, his arms pulling her into his body. Hermione fell into the embrace, and let Harry's hand bring her head into his shoulder, where she let all her tears flow, while Harry's tears soaked into her unkempt hair.
Harry's spoke through his crying for a moment as he said, "Please help me, Hermione"
A/N: Hoped you enjoyed that one. To all my fellow authors, I must say that I've been missing all of the excellent post-OotP fics. Just another reason to dislike HBP, although I've never been prouder to have Severus Snape as my favorite character.
Reviews are key.
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