Through Her Eyes

Chapter 33: And so it Begins

•"Ron?"

Hermione entered the grubby tent from outside, waking her boyfriend who had been weakly snoring from on his cot. Waking suddenly, his dark ringed eyes locked on Hermione who came to kneel down by his bed, "Ron?"

"Whassit? 'ermione?" the ginger haired boy yawned, running a tired hand across his eyes, "what's wrong?"

Hermione bit her lip slightly and picked at the threads of her sleeve. She wasn't used to being venerable, or feeling terrified to the point of exhaustion. Hermione Granger didn't like to ask others for help...it wasn't in her nature to be anything but completely independent. Yet sitting outside, alone, so close to Hogwarts yet so far away...it was the most terrifying thing Hermione had ever experienced,

"Will you come sit with me?"

Hermione expected Ron to question her; that's what he always did after all. It was an almost pinnacle part of their relationship. Yet the ginger just sat up with a slight grunt and dawned his oversized jacket, pulling it about himself as he stood and smiled tiredly,

"Lead the way,"

Hermione nodded slightly and ducked from the tent again, taking a seat on the log before a dying fire. Ron took up the spot beside her, wrapping a strong arm around her waist and pulling her close. They sat like that for a while, quietly, staring into the dying embers. For once, it was Hermione who broke the silence first,
"Ron, I'm scared,"

"Yeah. I am too,"

"Can you imagine it?" Hermione whispered, removing 'The Tales of Beetle the Bard' from inside her jacket and flipping open the front cover, "the damage Lord Voldemort could do if he had the Elder Wand?"

The young witch ran a hand over the inked symbol as he shook his head,

"Naw. What'do you think could happen if he had all of them? The Deathly Hallows I mean?"

"He'd be the master of death," Hermione croaked, "he'd be able to out duel even the strongest of wizards,"

"Well...let's be glad he doesn't have all three then, ey?"

"Yeah..."

Hermione stared into the dying embers and rolled a lip under her teeth, "I guess you're right," •

Hermione shot awake from her restless sleep as there was a light tapping at her room window. Exhaling shakily and glancing in that direction, a crisp snowy owl was resting patiently on the pane, holding a neatly tied Hogwarts scroll in his beak. Careful not to wake Remus, who was still fast asleep beside her, Hermione left the bed and opened the window,

"Welcome back, Fawkes," she greeted, "you found McGonagall?"

The Bird of Paradise nodded slightly as Hermione took the scroll he held. Placing a few treats on the sill for the Bird to peck at, Hermione fell down into her office chair as she opened the letter,

'Miss Black,

I'm glad to hear that you, and those troublesome friends of yours are safe. Professor Dumbledore told me of your mission before the end of term last year, and I must say I'm rather vexed that he would chose students as young as yourselves to complete such a dangerous task. I will never truly understand that man's thinking in the matter.

As for your other request, Hogwarts is already prepared for a battle against You-Know-Who. I have purposefully strengthened our anti-apparition wards, and shut off the Floo Network. I suggest using the hidden tunnels into the school before collapsing them, we don't want to take any unnecessary chances. I know you'll proceed with caution, Miss Black, as you are much too intelligent to plan otherwise. But I ask of you, don't be rash. Use all of the resources at your disposal. If we really are to battle against Voldemort, I suppose it is best if we hold the higher ground. Be safe, all of you.