Through Her Eyes

Chapter 34: Hogwarts in Summertime

When Hermione was a little girl, she always spent the Summer Holidays with her parents. The Grangers' enjoyed traveling, and Hermione had seen the beautiful vineyards of Italy, and the golden sands of Guatemala. She had visited the Big Apple in the United States, and even traveled away from London to see the lights of Paris. But on all those adventures, nothing could ever compare to the vast beauty of Hogwarts.

Staring up at its massive pillars from where the Shrieking Shack stood quiet, Hermione felt a breath escape her lungs and fade into the Summer warmed air. The grass around Hogsmeade was a vibrant green, and the sun was casting a golden light upon the castle, causing it to glitter. Once upon a time, Hermione believed it to be magic. Now, it just seemed painfully ironic,

"You ok, love?" Remus asked, walking up beside his girlfriend and wrapping a strong arm around her waist. Hermione sighed again and leaned into his chest, shaking her head,

"Such a perfect day...to start a war. It should be dark and thundering..."

"Was the last war like that?"

Hermione cocked her head to one side and inhaled deeply, "it was actually a bit like this. Quiet, not really the type of weather to bring forth the end of the Wizarding World,"

Hermione couldn't help the dry chuckle which escaped her throat, "it seems so long ago now, being Hermione Granger,"

"Aye, that it does. But I'm selfish," Remus kissed his girlfriends cheek, "I wouldn't have it any other way,"

"I know you wouldn't," Hermione stated, turning slightly to see many Order members slipping into the Shrieking Shack, "we need to block the tunnels once everyone's through. There can be no chance of the Death Eaters getting a jump on us,"

"Right. I think this is everyone here. The rest are coming through other tunnels,"

Hermione nodded stiffly and swallowed, clenching and unclenching her pained arm since Remus still held the Horcrux,

"We should get going, before someone spots us out here,"

"Lead the way,"

Rolling her shoulders, Hermione pulled up her auburn curls as she descended the slight noll towards the shack. Sirius, James and Lily were waiting for her, holding the door open as the last of the Order filtered through, "there's no turning back now," Hermione admitted to the group of them, "are we ready?"

"I'd follow you to the moon, Hermione," Sirius stated, smoothing down the beginnings of black facial hair he had sprouted over the past months, "besides, were technically family,"

Hermione smiled slightly and glanced to Lily and James, who were in one another's arms,
'They look so much like their portraits,' Hermione thought, seeing the way Lily's eyes glimmered when she looked at James,

"We're in this together, now and forever," James stated for the both of them, "besides, Lily will need a bridesmaid when this is all over,"

James grinned widely as Hermione blinked in surprise. She then relaxed, remembering Remus's own half-proposal the night before, 'it's just the anxiety' Hermione thought,

"Congratulations, hopefully we can make it till then. Remus, you go through first, I'll take up the back,"

The young werewolf nodded as the group entered the Shack, Hermione watching as her friends disappeared one by one into a dark hole in the floor.

•"Ron? Ron are you ok?"

Hermione crawled for the first time into the Shrieking Shack, her body aching from battling the Whomping Willow as she scurried up through the floor. Ron was cowering in one corner of the room, his leg practically ripped to shreds as blood stained his pant legs. In his hands was Scabbers...Peter Pettigrew in disguise. Gasping slightly, Hermione's heart was racing as she crawled towards him,
"You're bleeding..."