Inell's Fanfiction Archive

They say that death comes in threes but Hermione doesn’t believe it’s going to end with just three.

Diggory’s death was a shock, a rude awakening and realization that nothing was safe anymore. She would be lying if she said Sirius’ death was a surprise. He was rash, reckless, and far too unstable to survive in this turbulent time. His manner of death had been a surprise, though, and she’d honestly thought he would live longer. And Dumbledore makes three; however, she fears it's just getting started.

The most recent death leaves her unable to sleep easily and constantly lost in thought. It is worse than any other if only for the fact that it leaves them without guidance. She never fully trusted their Headmaster, but he was a good leader and formidable opponent for Voldemort. Without him, she fears what will happen to the Order of the Phoenix and what it means for Harry.

Their talks have become a nightly habit. They often sneak out of the Burrow this summer to lie together. They give each other strength, just as they always have, and she wonders sometimes if she will ever be able to sleep without the warm press of her best friends’ bodies around her. It’s platonic, of course, despite the strange energy that exists between her and Ron and that has confused her for several years now and despite the feeling of coming home that she experiences every time Harry hugs her.

They are her boys and always will be regardless of what direction life may eventually take them. Their relationship transcends the neat tidy categories of friendship, lust, and love. They just are and she doesn’t question it anymore because she knows she will never truly understand the logic of what makes them this way.

Harry is convinced that Snape betrayed them all. He’s almost smug regarding the confirmation that Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater yet also confesses to them late at night as they lie together on a blanket beneath the stars that he doesn’t think Malfoy is evil. It confuses Harry, the notion that there are shades to life, as he always sees things in black and white. Of course, Ron refuses to listen to any defense of Malfoy, insisting he’s an evil bastard spawn of a Death Eater father and that’s that. She’s not certain about Malfoy and knows only time will tell where his true loyalty might lie.

There is doubt in Harry’s mind regarding Malfoy’s motivations but he refuses to consider possible reasons for Snape’s actions. Hermione has never seen the world in black and white, though she does tend to see things with her own rigid sense of right and wrong. There are shades to everything, she tells Harry and Ron in soft whispers as she stares at the moon. Human behavior cannot be predicted; motivations and feelings change things and blur the lines of colors. Everyone is gray, she explains in a tone that makes them listen and think, and it just depends on the person whether they have more shades of black or more shades of white.

Hermione doesn’t believe that Snape is a traitor. She has spent years studying tactics, strategy, and human behavior. She has no idea why he killed Dumbledore but years of suspicion and distrust of the majority of people around her has left her with a belief that Snape, while rude and very much drawn in darker shades of gray, is worthy of at least a small amount of trust. Ron may be a better strategist than she’ll ever be, constantly defeating her even at chess, but she is reasonably decent at observing people and their behavior.

For instance, she knows that Lavender actually cared for Ron and that he never connected on any level beyond snogging. She hopes Lavender realizes that Justin fancies her, though it may be too late since rumor has it that Hogwarts will not reopen this year. She also knows that Harry’s feelings for Ginny are strong and predominantly physical. They might eventually become more, certainly, but she’s doubtful they’ll ever make a true go of it. She knows that Neville is stronger than he realizes and predicts that he will not meekly remain at home when he is needed elsewhere. She doesn’t doubt he’ll be standing beside them when the time comes. As for understanding herself, observation is skewed by experience, and, to her frustration, she can't say what she thinks about her own behavior.

The wedding is next week. She has six days to convince Harry and Ron that there is more to what happened with Dumbledore’s death than they are willing to see. There is a part of her that thinks they can use him, if necessary, and shouldn’t be blind to all their options once their search begins. She tries to use terms they’ll understand and relate to as she explains the various possible theories for Snape killing Dumbledore, and she thinks they might finally be listening. It’s difficult, though, because they’ve been kept away from things that might be helpful in explaining what happened. She has to try, though, not because she trusts Snape or even believes without any doubts that he’d help them if it came down to it but because they have to look at things in shades to truly be prepared to fight.

They are leaving the night of the wedding. Ron thinks it will be the best time to sneak away because everyone will be caught up in the excitement of the ceremony and probably pissed off their arses, in his words. The entire idea of going off on their own is scary. All three of them admit to fear and worry, but they try not to dwell on the worst outcomes possible because this is what they must do. There is no other choice and they know it.

She’s not sure they’re ready and spends free time making notes of spells and charms from an advanced book she borrowed from the library at Hogwarts. She didn’t steal the book, of course, as she does plan to send it back eventually, but it has things they have not yet learned that might prove useful.

Ron has visited the twins a couple of times under the pretense of seeing what new items they’re working on, which isn’t really a lie as the twins are very clever. He has come back with several borrowed or gifted items, which might be of use, even if that use is not yet clear. He says he thinks the twins know he’s taking things so it’s not stealing if they turn a blind eye.

Fred and George, more than any other, seem to realize something is happening and Hermione is no longer that surprised to find a new item they’ve just been testing on the bedside table when she wakes in the mornings. They know she’ll not say anything whereas Ron might ask them what it does or how it works without thinking. If they can deny knowing anything, it will make it easier once the wedding is over and people discover the three of them have left.

Harry has told them every detail he can remember from his sessions with Dumbledore and the information he knows about horcruxes. She doesn’t admit it, but she finds the concept both fascinating and scary. He has also taught them the things Dumbledore taught him, as well as he can, being patient in a way that shows he has grown up during the past year.

Their first stop after leaving the Burrow is going to be Grimmauld Place. They want to go there so Hermione can raid the library; this may be the only access she’ll have to books of dark magic and that might contain useful information for their search. Harry tells them he has a feeling there is something they need at Grimmauld Place and they trust his instincts. They just go in before dawn and be gone before anyone at the Burrow even realizes they’ve left.

Harry whimpers in his sleep, his body twitching as he has another nightmare. She reaches over and gently brushes her fingers through his hair as she whispers softly that it’s okay, that everything is going to be okay until he calms down. Ron snores beside them, his foot jerking slightly as he sleeps. Hermione looks at the crescent moon above until her eyes droop and she finally feels sleepy. As she drifts off to sleep, she thinks of horcuxes and Harry’s victory with her and Ron by his side.

The End