August | Hermione Granger x OFC

Chapter 103

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"Robyn! What are you doing here? Why are you so...flustered?"

"Oh, you know, I ran here," she offered a fake smile. "I was thinking, actually...we should have another sleepover!"

"You ran?" Astoria laughed slightly. "All right, well, come in, then."

"No, I...have to do something first. You go up to- to Daphne's dorm. We'll invite her, Pansy, Millie, and Tracey what's-her-face, too."

"We'll invite them to have a sleepover in their dorm?"

"...Yes. To...annoy them."

"Oh! Good idea!"

"Yes, yes, I know. Just- wait for me up there, and don't leave," she stated, beginning to walk backwards away from the entrance to Slytherin's common room.

"Why can't I leave?"

"Just don't, trust me. Love you, 'Tori!" she called over her shoulder, hoping Astoria wouldn't follow her.

She didn't.

She took a steadying breath and started the walk to Ravenclaw.

(So many stairs...ugh).

As she (speed) walked the halls, she made sure to take note of where as many Aurors as she could were stationed. There were more than usual tonight, for some reason.

No, not for some reason. For the reason – Dumbledore knew.

But how? How could he possibly...

Did Snape tell him something? Could Snape be trusted? What side was he on?

What side was she on?

As scary as it was, she was going to sacrifice herself when the time came. Yes, it wasn't really a question of if but rather of when. Because the idea of her friends living in a world where the Dark Lord was in charge terrified her. The idea of her family living in a world where the Dark Lord was in charge terrified her. The idea of Hermione, a Muggle-born – in fact, any Muggle-borns – living in a world where...

It terrified her. And she already had too much blood on her hands. She couldn't let Voldemort live on. She wouldn't.

And yet she couldn't let Dumbledore live on, either.

Lines were blurring. She felt entirely...grey. Not Dark, not Light, just grey. But as long as she didn't forget herself, as Dumbledore asked of her, the lines would be clearer. It was only unfortunate that, after tonight, the entire wizarding world was going to assume she was Dark, and then, ultimately, she would sacrifice herself for the Light and no one would know – probably not even Harry, she bet.

But, really, that didn't matter, did it? She didn't need glory or celebrating. She just needed everything to be okay again.

It was almost funny. She'd gone from wanting to die, not wanting to die, and then learning she had to die, and so wanting to die again, but not really. But she would. Because if she died then Voldemort would be no more.

So, yes, she wanted to die...kind of.

Yes, when the night was at its darkest, she wasn't just going to remember the light, she was going to be the light. She would sacrifice herself for her friends, for her family, for Hermione, for every Muggle-born.

But first, she had to kill Dumbledore.

Bit contradictory, that was.

"Robyn! Where have you been all day? Why are you so...flustered?"