The room's large size finally made sense to Harry. They would need the space for their duel. He vaguely wondered how the room anticipated their need as he saw movement from the corners of his eyes. Everyone shuffled as they pressed shoulder to shoulder along one wall to watch the duel that was about to begin. Harry concentrated on all the spells and techniques that he had been studying for months now as he called forth the full measure of his power. Harry and Hermione were used to keeping their powers in check during class practices but neither of them would hold back this time.
"Look at their eyes," Luna said rather loudly. Harry's gaze flickered to Hermione's eyes and saw the familiar shine of a blazing gleam that betrayed her full power. He realized that a similar burning light must have been coming from his own eyes. A fearsome looking twinkling that he had first seen when Dumbledore came to their rescue in the Department of Mysteries.
With the precision of a choreographed dance routine Harry and Hermione simultaneously let their wands fall from their starting stance as they began their first spells. Not knowing what to expect Harry summoned a shining silver shield gilded with the head of a stag. Hermione had likewise summoned a shield identical to his except adorned with an otter. As soon as they had finished their shields both had sent a powerful incapacitating spell sizzling in their opponent's direction but both spells were harmlessly absorbed by the other's shield.
Harry knew there was only one way to bring down a shield as strong as Hermione's and he also knew that she would be trying to bring his down as well. Who ever dropped the other's shield first might very will gain enough advantage to win. Harry and Hermione side stepped at the same time which had the effect of causing them to circle each other like predators trying to corner their prey. Wands slashed rapidly and noiseless lightening flashes filled the room as tiny pinpoints of energy from their breaker curses slammed into each other's shields. Harry's arm felt numb after a few seconds as a portion of the force behind each hammer blow transferred to his body.
Harry felt his shield break apart at the same time as he saw Hermione's crack and knew that he had lost the race. Hermione calmly fired seven beams of light on slightly different angles trying to ensnare him. Desperately Harry focused and jerked his wand upright. He was rewarded by a tiny crystal gleam from the air in front of him as his barrier charm took effect and absorbed the hex Hermione had just cast.
Hermione didn't even flinch at his successful defense since she had him on the run now. A bright tongue of flame flared up at the end of her wand and then multiplied into a swarm of fiery projectiles that homed in on Harry like angry insects. Each one of them was actually rather weak, but all of them working together were swiftly overwhelming Harry's barrier. Each time a piece of fire impacted against it the barrier flashed white before reverting to its normal transparent nature. The attacks were impacting so swiftly that the entire barrier was taking on a white tinge within a few seconds.
Harry readied a huge blast of air and cast it through his own barrier, shattering it, but also scattering Hermione's flames from their intended target. Harry's wand summoned another gilded silver shield as his left hand came up, palm flat, to bring the swirling shards of the shield into a tight formation in front of him. With a wave of his hand the jagged shards of broken shield were accelerated toward a defenseless Hermione.
Hermione pointed her wand at herself and with a flash of motion she was gone. The shards impacted harmlessly where she had stood an instant before. Harry quickly whirled until he found where she had stopped moving and discovered that she had taken the time to summon a new shield. They were back at the same stalemate that their duel had started with.
There was a thin mist clinging to the floor now as the result of Harry's barrier and Hermione's flame attack. Apparently the barrier left behind some residue when it was vaporized or ground into dust after being used as a weapon. The crowd was beginning to get restless too.
"What was that?" asked someone in an awed voice. "Is this duel real?"
"It's like something from a dream," answered a voice that definitely sounded like Luna.
Harry raised his wand again and summoned masses of silver spikes with a spell that was typically used to fight werewolves. As each set of spikes appeared they slashed downward with alarming speed toward Hermione and then exploded harmlessly or else missed her entirely as she fired some kind of curse at them. Since neither of them were calling out their spells Harry couldn't be sure what she was doing since several spells could have similar effects.
Hermione flipped her wand in her hand so that she wielded it like a dagger. Harry's eyes widened as he realized what she was about to do. With each slash a great white gash was torn into the fabric of the air that surrounded her before hardening into a thin edge and speeding toward Harry like a scythe. Harry began running to dodge the white crescents before they could cut him in half. He couldn't afford to stay so far out from Hermione any longer or else she was going to win the long range fight.
Harry quit running and pointed his wand at himself for an acceleration charm. He held his shield rigidly in front of him and then hurled himself at a rapid speed toward Hermione. At the last second Hermione realized what he was doing and put her own shield between Harry's blunt attack and herself. A sharp high-pitched metallic clang reverberated through the confines of the room causing some to wince in discomfort. Now at pointblank range the two battered each other's shields mercilessly with breaker curses designed to eat away at the strength of their protective charms.
Curses flew rapidly back and forth across the mere inches that separated the two combatants. Wands raised high, shields cracked, and the raw magical energy of their spells simply exploded in an uncontrolled reaction. Harry felt himself flying through the air as they were blown apart. He landed heavily and immediately pointed his wand at himself to perform a rejuvenation charm to heal the fatigue his body was feeling.
"They're going to kill each other!" Hannah Abbot wailed, "Someone stop them."
"Don't worry, they'll be fine," Ron interjected roughly.
"Are you sure mate?" Justin Finch-Fletchley asked. "They're using deadly curses."
"If they have that much confidence in each other then who are we to doubt?" Ginny said, "Now just hush and watch, you all wanted this."
Hermione had finally regained her feet as well and went back on the offensive. She twisted her wand oddly and sent forth massive gouts of flame. Unlike her previous fire attack designed to overwhelm a static defense this burst of liquid fire was to melt flesh from bone. Harry realized there was no way to dodge it and with a silent wish that he had studied the elemental book a little more closely he summoned a laughably thin aqua colored bubble around him.
To the outside observer Harry's entire body was immersed in deadly blue-green tinged flame. The watchers all stood rigid in horror as Hermione poured an ever increasingly intense jet of fire onto Harry's last location. Finally she gasped for air, unable to maintain the assault any longer, and conjured another shield warily. The fire was still burning and indeed acted like a liquid as it pooled in thick clumps. In the middle of this molten lake there was a small bubble that was itself covered in the dripping fire. The fire began dying quickly and the liquid portions hardened before flaking away. Harry emerged from a cocoon of flaky dust that had built up around his water elemental shield.
Cautiously Harry knelt and put his wand tip to the floor. Instantly the temperature began dropping as Harry sucked the heat from the room. The shield protecting the bystanders mitigated the effects for them but they still felt the cold seeping through. Hermione was incased inside a prison of ice in a flash and for a moment it looked like Harry had won. The ice shattered and a blue skinned Hermione gestured violently at the shards causing them to hurl toward Harry just as Harry had attacked her earlier with his barrier fragments.
Harry stood, waved his wand, and summoned a bubble of hot air in the path of the incoming attack. Ice hissed and turned to steam as the shards failed to pass through the bubble of superheated air. Without Harry holding the ice spell the rest of the frozen room reverted back to its normal state and in the process left behind even more mist to cloud the arena. Undaunted Harry conjured a piece of solid black stone shaped like two pyramids joined at the base. Holding it aloft the shard spat out dozens of identical pieces toward Hermione who conjured the tongues of flame she had used earlier against his barrier. Shards of black stone impacted and pulverized themselves against little flame daggers.
Harry tucked the black stone into his robes and conjured a fresh shield. Just battering away at her with all his might wasn't getting him anywhere. He needed a strategy to get him through her defenses long enough for one stunning spell. Hermione started slashing white gashes into the air again, each one hardening and turning into a crescent moon shaped scythe of destruction. Not wanting to retreat from his position again and leave himself open to another attack he summoned great silver disks to defend himself. Each spinning silver disk was lined along its edge with razor sharp spines that were designed to rip werewolves and other dark creatures apart.
Metallic clangs sounded and sparks flew as the attacks collided before ricocheting off of each other. The conjured items turned to powder as they fell to the floor, useless to their respective masters. Hermione's eyes flashed more brilliantly than ever as she summoned a dark magical fire attack Harry recognized as the Life's Bane elemental spell. Corporeal fire that ancient goblins had used to make burning weapons for undead warriors in conflicts long forgotten. The fire that Hermione conjured rose into the air and formed a large ball. It churned like something Harry imagined the surface of the sun might look like before pieces of it began to detach.
Long spears of fire began raining down toward a defenseless Harry. He knew that his elemental bubble wouldn't work against this fire. Desperately he reached into his robes and pulled out the black stone. It was the only thing that even approached the power of the flame Hermione now wielded. He hurled the stone to the floor, shattering it, and then began infusing it with magical energy. The fragments of the stone formed a circle around Harry before enlarging and springing up to form a thick armored barrier around him. Harry could feel the impact of each spear of flame vibrating through the stone dome he had constructed to keep himself safe. Harry didn't know if his improvised defense was going to hold and wished that he could simply apparate. That was the tactic described as most effective in the elemental book that documented the spell.
As the dome began to crack Harry conjured up a thick shroud of super cold air and enlarged his shield to give himself the most protection possible. He felt a spike of magical energy surge through the air and knew that Hermione had launched her final attack, probably the entire ball of fire she had been building up. It was now or never, so Harry quickly blew out the wall of his shelter and performed the acceleration charm. There was a deafening crash as the corporal fire impacted and shattered against the floor of the room. Apparently the Room of Requirement could become very durable when necessary because a blast like that would have torn apart a normal structure.
Again Harry felt himself impact heavily against the floor but this time he wasn't able to perform any healing charms before he had to scramble to his feet to deflect more spells. Hermione had reverted to more conventional high-powered spells in an attempt to overwhelm his shield. People were staring at him with wide-eyed fear as he staggered slightly, his clothes giving off a little smoke from their charred ends. Harry pointed his wand like a one would point a finger as he hid beneath his shield. A tiny black ball formed at the tip of his wand and then sped straight toward Hermione. She tried to block it but at the last instant it unfurled itself into a huge black sheet and enveloped her completely.
"Soul Drainer curse," Neville whispered into the now totally silent room, "my gran told me about it. Its supposed to be only one step away from an unforgivable curse, black magic at its worst."
Harry said nothing instead taking the opportunity to cast some healing charms on himself. The dark mass that enveloped Hermione would easily block any other spell he might try to cast on her. Seconds ticked by as Harry waited for the inevitable. It came suddenly, first as a tiny pinprick of light, then as large gashes all across the dark mass. Hermione burst the black curse apart and emerged from its grasp enveloped in a sheen of white light that clung to her form.
"I didn't think you had it in you Harry," Hermione croaked feebly. The attack had obviously drained her far more than it had appeared on first glance. "I don't think I could handle another curse like that."
"You're in luck then," Harry rasped back, "I don't think I could cast another one right now."
Hermione smiled wanly and swayed in place as they both prepared for their final offensive. Hermione pointed her wand at herself and cast an exertion charm. Reluctantly Harry followed suit knowing that if he didn't he would be swiftly overwhelmed. The exertion charm allowed the user to access their remaining physical strength for a short period of time at the cost of complete collapse with exhaustion once its effects ended. Vigor rushed through his body as he completed the spell and he focused on Hermione, trying to imagine what spell she would evoke next.
Expecting her typical level of finesse Harry was nearly knocked off his feet by the impact of her first breaking curse as it tried to crack his shield. Harry quickly returned fire, matching Hermione curse for curse as they repeated their earlier performance of trying to bash through each other's shields with brute force. This time instead of circling each other at a distance they marched straight at each other, rapidly closing the distance to point blank range. Hermione swung her shield physically against his as she tried to slip a spell under his defense. The both kept moving in a weird sort of dance as they each worked to keep the other's wand in front of their shield instead of their body.
Hermione pointed her wand at her own shield and infused it with something Harry didn't recognize. He swung his shield at hers again and immediately regretted it. For the third time he found himself flying through the air from the force of a magical explosion. He managed to land in a crouched position and roll out of the way of her follow up stunner that was intended to end the duel in her favor. The enclosed space erupted in an ear-shattering clap of thunder from Harry's retaliation. Magically created lightening sizzled through the air toward Hermione who merely held up her wand, Harry's wand, and let it hit.
"It's over," Hermione said confidently as the lightening was absorbed into the wood, "I enchanted this wand to be impervious to lightening long ago. The weakest of the elements."
Harry slowly got to his feet, never taking his eyes off of her. "You should have finished me then when you had the chance."
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she shot a stunner even as Harry pointed his wand at himself. Conjured metal strained and shattered as their shields connected one final time. Harry saw an opening and jabbed his wand into Hermione's exposed torso. He dimly felt something blunt digging at his ribs as he willed a powerful stunning spell from his wand and blacked out.
A hazy voice from what seemed to be impossibly far away spoke. "Look, they're moving."
Harry felt as if he had run all the way to London and back a few times. Feeling slowly returned to his limbs and he was aware of Hermione stirring next to him, no doubt feeling just as exhausted.
"What happened?" Harry asked, renewing their mental communication that they had suspended voluntarily during the duel.
"I think we tied," Hermione replied. "We can sit up if we lean against each other."
After a little struggling they got themselves into an upright position. They had never exerted themselves to the limit of their physical and magical potential before. The experience was painful to say the least. At some point their hats had fallen off, Harry didn't remember when, but Hermione was summoning them.
"Restorative potion should revive us enough, at least physically, to go on until we can rest properly," Hermione said as she fished two vials out of her hat. They downed the contents together and immediately Harry felt relief spread to his limbs.
The other students had been trying to help them but were unable because the shield ward that Hermione had used blocked physical passage too, not just spells. None of them had been able to blast their way through it or bypass it so everyone had been forced to wait while they were unconscious with no idea how badly they might be injured. Everyone seemed to have a sense of awe at their friends abilities and disbelief that they could stand up again so quickly.
Hermione held up her hand and the four wards disconnected from where they had planted themselves to return to her. With the shields down everyone crowded around them, though Ron and the others tried to keep them back a bit.
"Really, we'll be fine," Harry insisted for the third time. "If we were knocked out for hours at a time after a tough fight then we really wouldn't be much use to anyone now would we?"
"Everyone should stand back a little," Hermione said, as the crowd pressed uncomfortably close, "our proof isn't over yet."
"You all should see that we cannot be tortured or spelled into betraying your trust either," Harry said as he caught onto what Hermione's next demonstration would be.
Hermione pointed her wand at Harry and uttered the unforgivable incantation, "Crucio!"
Harry would have heard the gasps of horror from everyone around them, even Ron had no idea that they had been practicing unforgivables, but he was too busy stifling a scream and struggling to keep his feet. At last he wrested control of the pain and shoved it aside.
Harry pointed his wand at Hermione and repeated the incantation. Now an intense searing pain that burned within every nerve of their bodies was pressing into both of them. Their wands trembled as they made tiny twisting motions like someone grinding a dagger into an open wound.
After what seemed like an eternity they both lifted their wands and staggered back gasping for air, as the curse was broken. "You cannot block or resist the Cruciatus Curse," Harry said, "but after continued exposure and with the disciplining of your mind you can function somewhat even when it is affecting you."
"The Imperius Curse on the other hand can be thrown off entirely through strength of mind," Hermione said, then pointed her wand at Harry and uttered the incantation. "Bow before me."
Harry cringed and his eyes went glossy for a moment but then the gleam of his power surged again as he shook the spell off. Harry didn't bow, he instead he pointed his wand at Hermione and said the same words. "Bow before me."
Hermione now jerked slightly but she didn't bow either. "If we cannot control each other Voldemort cannot control us either, though undoubtedly he is stronger than we are."
This pronouncement seemed to chill their audience who Harry suspected was already bordering on information overload. Nevertheless there was nothing else to do but forge ahead. "So who will join us?"
Seamus gave a hollow little laugh, "Why do you need us again?"
"Honestly," Hermione said impatiently. She was still feeling the physical and mental fatigue of their duel. "Terry touched on this earlier, we need all of you for the same reason Voldemort needs Death Eaters. We're only two people and anyone who can cast a killing curse can bring us down in a flash no matter how strong we might be. We can't be everywhere nor do everything."
"All right," Seamus said at last, "You told us we could quit at any time right? I'll join, where do I sign up?"
"Follow us," Hermione said. Everyone followed them to where Hermione enlarged the ornate boxes that contained the basic supplies that they were going to issue each new member.
"As we said earlier, just place the emblem around your neck and we will be able to find you. When we call you will apparate blindly following the guidance of the magic in the emblem. Apparate after conjuring your uniform and concealing your identity with wand drawn ready to battle since we won't be able to communicate the details before you arrive."
Harry and Hermione showed everyone in turn how to summon their uniform properly, along with instruction for feeling the pull of the emblems guiding magic. The fifth years would have to be in training since apparation would alert the ministry to their underage magic. Hermione had insisted that they be included though so that they could be trained properly and so they could help with lesser tasks like the brewing of simple potions. In the end everyone who came joined, much to Harry's surprise despite his faith in Hermione's ability to judge character.
Harry managed the explanations and dissemination of their equipment for the most part so that Hermione could concentrate on the difficult task of casting the fidelius charm to prevent anyone from divulging the secrets of Light Bearer either intentionally or by accident. Only Hermione would be able to hand out that information even though Harry and Ron would know everything. Of course the charm wouldn't be fool proof because of the nature of the information they were trying to conceal. Someone could still unravel their identities if they found out too much.
The meeting had drug out late into the evening well past curfew so everyone donned their new invisibility cloaks and went out in pairs while both ends of the hall were watched to make sure no one showed up. Harry had the Marauder's map out but he insisted on a visual guard too just in case someone knew how to conceal themselves from the map. Remus always insisted that the map never lies but in Harry's experience someone strong enough or smart enough could overcome any magic device.
Hermione was anxious over the next few days that their newest recruits would inadvertently act differently around her or Harry and raise the suspicions of the aurors that seemed to be watching them closer than ever. She need not have worried though, Harry had made it clear that everyone was to act normal and take no action unless they got a summons through the emblem. In a few days after the newness of being a member of a new organization wore off everyone had settled back into their normal routines with out a second thought.
With much grumbling Ron had covered for many of Hermione's prefect duties so that she could devote more time to wading through the piles of parchment that accompanied all of Fred and George's outside activities. Besides recruiting new members they were also setting up various caches of supplies, funded by Harry's account, in secret locations that would be used as staging areas and safe houses. Hermione had a keen mind for detail and had drawn up all kinds of supply lists for potions, extra wands, specialized equipment, and even recommended strategies for operatives. Currently Harry was trying to create magical eyepieces like the aurors wore to enable their followers to see through solid objects and invisibility. He was having little success though, so instead he generally focused on creating various types of wards. Hermione insisted that every member should have access to all the wards and potions that could possibly be useful in combat.
Hermione motioned for Harry to come over when he finished his last ward piece that he was working on. There were several people in the commons so they put their heads close together to whisper. They could have went up to Harry's room but with as much time as they had been spending together lately that would have probably been just as suspicious. As it was no one was really paying attention to them so Harry figured that they could get away with it.
"George thinks we may get a source inside the Ministry soon," Hermione whispered excitedly, "and they've forwarded us six more people who are prepared to accept the emblem."
"Are they trustworthy?" Harry whispered back. He wished they could just use their mind link but they figured that the two of them working without speaking at all might draw attention.
"Who knows? I mean obviously there isn't anything in their backgrounds that Fred and George could find to suggest that they might betray us to Voldemort. There is no way to know for sure though, which is why I've instructed the twins to keep each cell small right now. Their only link to anyone else will be the twins and us." Hermione said.
"What instructions are we sending out right now?" Harry asked. Hermione insisted that he be appraised of everything in case something happened to her.
"Basically for everyone to pay attention to what's going on around them, watch out for anything that might suggest Death Eater activity and of course to keep their eyes open for anyone suitable to be recruited. They are to pass names along to the twins for investigation and contact when they think they've found a suitable person." Hermione replied as she finished up the last touches on her latest orders for the new recruits.
"Harry, sign," Hermione said thrusting the paper at him. Hermione insisted that Harry countersign each official order that was issued to low ranking members to add a layer of reassurance that the instructions were real and to make sure that both leaders had equal recognition within the ranks. Harry pointed his wand next to the silver lettering that read "Greywing" and added a splotch of silver that shimmered as it hardened into the word "Fantail." When he had finished Hermione sealed the letter and stamped a round circle with lines coming off of it on the outside. The sun symbol was their correspondence identification rather than the usual image of a burning torch so that if the letter were intercepted there would be no visual evidence to associate it with the Bearers of the Light. The letter was also charmed to destroy itself if it were not opened properly and only the twins, Harry, and Hermione were currently aware of the procedure.
The portrait swung in and Ron stepped into the commons, snapping irritably at a first year that was hanging around too close to the door. He spotted them and came over to sit down on the sofa across from Hermione.
"What's that?" he asked, nodding at the letter.
"Er, for the twins," Hermione said shortly.
"Again? All you do is send them mail," Ron replied, his eyes narrowing.
"Everything's having to be set up right now, no time to lose," Harry said.
"Mum says their business has been suffering some from lack of attention. Couldn't you guys lay off?" Ron asked.
"This is more important than money Ron," Hermione said tersely.
"We can't Ron," Harry said plaintively, "and they haven't complained. You know that I wouldn't let their business fail."
Hermione's dig on money seemed to strike a nerve with Ron though. "Oh no, its never about money for you is it Hermione, you know you're set already. Did you think I missed the little fact that you've got a Gringotts key now? I wonder who's that could be."
Harry grimaced, "It's not like that Ron, you know that Hermione needs access to our capital, I just can't oversee every necessary expenditure by myself."
Ron wasn't listening though he was building up a full steam that was very reminiscent of Molly when she got on a rampage. "It must be nice going around bossing people around, having others do your work after you complained at me all last year about prefect duties, showing off all the time with your enchantments and potions that none of the rest of us can understand."
"Ron, come on now, that's out of line," Harry hissed under his breath as he felt himself starting to get angry, especially when he saw the expression on Hermione's face and the pain that radiated from her across their link. Hermione had been sacrificing everything that mattered to her, her grades, her prefect responsibilities, and now she was getting upbraided for it. "We're all on the same side here, Hermione isn't doing this for the fun of it, we're trying to build a viable resistance to Voldemort."
"I knew you'd take her side Harry," Ron said, getting even angrier as he whispered hoarsely at them, "you've gotten just as bad, you act just like her, all holier than thou study freak."
"Ron!" Harry said slightly louder, "What's gotten into you? You know better than anyone why I have to study and its not like I've tried to exclude you from anything."
Ron made some kind of snort, "You tried to pretend that you weren't but when push came to shove you decided I was too weak to be a full partner, I'm just a lackey like the twins, too weak to do anything but run at the beck and call of real wizards like Hermione or yourself. Everyone's been rubbing it in my face now for days about how great and powerful you two are."
"This is all about you being jealous?" Hermione squeaked with disbelief.
"Ron you've become one of the best wizards I know, your strength isn't why you don't have a controlling emblem," Harry said, though it wasn't entirely true. Ron wasn't strong enough to resist the most powerful of the Death Eaters like Hermione was.
Ron still wasn't listening though, he jumped to his feet prepared to storm off but decided to shout out one last parting shot. "You think you're special just because some old bat made some vague…"
"RON!" Hermione shrieked. Everyone in the room was staring at them now. Harry's wand was out and even though Ron was still talking his voice was silenced. Harry was truly enraged now at Ron's behavior.
"You've crossed the line Ron," Harry growled. Ron grabbed for his wand in a panic but it flew out of his robes and into Harry's hand. Harry's eyes burned with power as he immobilized him and levitated him up toward the dorm. "It's time we talked about this."
Harry must have looked especially menacing because as soon as the two had disappeared one of younger students cried out, "Someone go get Professor McGonagall, he's gonna kill him."
"Don't be foolish," Hermione snapped, but a third year ran for the door anyway. Hermione's wand was out in a flash and before anyone could move she had appeared in front of the door with the aid of the acceleration charm. "No one's going anywhere or telling anyone."
Seamus looked at her oddly. "Maybe we should make sure they're ok…"
"They'll be fine," Hermione said coldly, her wand still pointed at the room. "Come here Seamus."
Now Seamus looked very concerned, but he approached her anyway. Hermione leaned over and whispered in his ear whilst watching everyone. "Remember that thing we told you all that was dangerous for anyone to know? Ron almost let it slip."
Seamus' eyes widened at the implications of such dangerous forbidden knowledge being nearly let out. "I'm going to go up, make sure no one leaves."
She need not have bothered though for Harry reappeared at that moment. "We've straightened it out," Harry said, "Ron refused to come back down though, but he said that if anyone wanted to see him he'd stay up a while."
One kid that Harry remembered was pretty fond of Ron hesitantly went up the stairs. Hermione gracefully walked over to him and they whispered together for a moment no longer caring how conspiratorial it looked, their cover was somewhat blown regardless of what they did at this point.
"What did he say?" Hermione asked.
"He's just been under a lot of pressure, as soon as he realized what he's almost done he was devastated," Harry said. "You know he'd never do anything to hurt either of us."
"So he just…snapped?" Hermione said hesitantly.
"We have been ignoring him more than usual, he felt left out, and he is very loyal to his family obviously. We should let the twins know that they shouldn't hurt their business, there's no need for that." Harry said. "Really, he was embarrassed more than anything."
"I feel terrible," Hermione said as she eyed the staircase, "I should go apologize. I have been bossier than usual..."
"Just give him some time alone, he doesn't want us traipsing in on him again so soon," Harry said. Ron had been under a lot of strain lately. Harry knew that he had always somewhat resented being under the shadow of Harry's fame and wealth. He wouldn't hold a grudge against Ron for his sensitivities and instead kicked himself for not being more attentive to his best friend's feelings.
"Harry we'd better see to sending out the letters then before curfew," Hermione said. "Maybe we should both go so if Ron wants to come back down he won't be too uncomfortable."
Harry nodded in agreement and helped Hermione gather up her other papers. He waited for a minute while she took the box of parchments upstairs to her room. Harry took the letters and held the opening to the room for her before following her out into the hall. A very disturbing and unexpected scene immediately confronted them.
Dumbledore was standing opposite their door looking very washed out and transparent. Hermione's voice immediately shouted in his mind.
"Keep going Harry, don't let on like you see anything, he's under an invisibility charm."
They had only taken a few steps when they saw Tram lurking behind a statue, concealed from Dumbledore, and also apparently using some kind of invisibility, probably a cloak. Hermione radiated confusion and Harry was sure that he was as well.
The situation got even weirder when the nearly stumbled over the two aurors who had harassed them before, Langley and Gangstrom. The two surly looking wizards were also cloaked and taking turns peering around the corner to observe the hallway.
"Something is going on," Harry said as they continued to walk briskly toward the tower that housed the owls. "I've never seen Dumbledore out like that before."
"We've not been able to see through invisibility charms for that long Harry. For all we know he does this regularly." Hermione replied.
"That doesn't explain the others though. They all seemed to be unaware of each other, except maybe Langley and Gangstrom." Harry speculated.
"Why would they be watching Gryffindor tower though?" Hermione asked. "What do they think is going on? Something connected with Voldemort?"
"I can't imagine what else would prompt Dumbledore and three aurors to stake out our tower. Maybe they're watching me." Harry said.
"That doesn't make any sense though, maybe they're watching for a student instead? Maybe they think that the Death Eaters have a student working for them" Hermione said thoughtfully.
"No, that doesn't make any sense either. Even if a student couldn't cast avada kedavra they could easily kill any of us in our sleep with poison or even a knife," Harry replied. "There's no way Dumbledore would let someone that dangerous just wonder around where they can threaten lives."
"I don't know Harry, but we need to figure this out and fast," Hermione said. She then added hesitantly the same phrase she had been repeating all term. "Maybe we should go to Dumbledore."
"I think you're right," Harry said as he pulled Hermione over to the side of the hall. Hermione was stunned and pleased that Harry finally agreed it was time to go for some answers. She didn't get to say anything more before Harry took off his hat and dug around looking for the Marauder's Map. They hurriedly activated it and tried to locate Dumbledore. They looked at Gryffindor tower but found only Tram was still there. He was talking to a little bubble whose name Harry didn't recognize.
"I think that's a first year," Hermione whispered.
The bubble moved away from Tram and entered the tower. The couple watched as Tram quickly began heading toward the main entrance before dropping off of the map entirely.
"He left?" Harry said puzzled.
"Where's Dumbledore?" Hermione said urgently. They finally found him next to a bubble that read Gangstrom. They were near a part of the castle that Harry recognized as the kitchens.
"Looks like Langley is snitching a bite," Harry smirked as he pointed at the bubble in the kitchens.
"Oh no, Dumbledore and Gangstrom are leaving," Hermione said. Sure enough the two bubbles representing them disappeared in the same direction as Tram had.
"Then there's nothing more we can do tonight," Harry said dejectedly, "We'd better send the letters and get back before curfew."
After giving Hedwig her assignment the couple returned straight to the tower encountering no more strange things on along the way. The entire castle seemed subdued as if it were holding its breath for something. Hermione went up to her dorm early and Harry decided that he would as well so they could analyze the day's events in their shared dream.
Harry entered the dark room and listened to Ron's restless sleeping for a moment. He walked over to the bed and put his wand down on the nightstand while yawning sleepily. The last thing he remembered was putting a hand on the covers before collapsing to the floor unconscious.