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This Is The Way The World Ends.	By : tulipsaside Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 7312 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter 16. Between the Darkness and the Dawn.

Hermione waited with Harry inside the Headmaster�s office after he had stepped out a moment, telling them to make themselves comfortable while he took care of some last minute details.

Harry, Hermione noticed, was studiously ignoring her, though occasionally he would covertly glance over at her. It seemed like a whole ten minutes went by before he stood agitated and said.

"Hermione, you need to know, Snape isn�t what he seems. I know you think he�s this poor bloke everyone picks on, and at first that�s what I thought to, but Sirius and James have told me quite a few stories of the terrible things he�s done. All sorts of dark hexes and curs..."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, because James and Sirius always tell the truth."

"Hermione, you need to be reasonable, this is the same Snape that murders Dumbledore in twenty years. I think you should break ties with him, while you can, before you end up getting hurt." He said this while looking at her firmly in the eye.

Hermione jumped up her anger boiling in her veins, she reached for her collar pulling it down to show the bruised markings that the covered her skin.

"I have already been hurt, and if it wasn�t for Severus, it would have been much worse. Or didn�t your beloved Padfoot and Prongs tell you about their little foray in the Astronomy tower this afternoon, where James had me pinned to the wall hard enough to split my skin, while Sirius watched on in anticipation?"

Harry looked uncomfortable, "They told me things got carried away, they had only gone up there to talk, to warn you about what kind of person Snape is."

"Carried away," she bellowed. "This is beyond getting carried away." she gestured to her throat. "Carried away isn�t spending an hour having your skin healed back together?"

"Hermione, you have to know that James and Sirius would never intentionally hurt you like this, they were horrified at what had happened and came straight to me to admit the whole thing. Told me they would understand if I wanted to go to Dumbledore. I know you must have been scared but please they�"

She cut him off, "These boys are not the same men you know!" she screamed. "You keep telling me about Severus turning into a murderer or about how he treats you in the future, but has it never occurred to you that the same could be true for Potter and Black, that the sensible adults that you have come to know in your own time were arrogant prats in school. Even if what happened today did just get carried away," she spat. "They still strut around this school tormenting whoever they deem worthy just because half the time they�re bored!"

Harry, Hermione noticed, seemed to deflate. "I am sorry you were hurt, Hermione, but..."

"But, you don�t care; don�t believe me?" Hermione shook her head sadly. "Seven years, Harry, I�ve stood beside you for seven years and you�re taking their word, the word of two boys you�ve just met, over mine."

"I haven�t just met�" he started.

The door opened quietly as Headmaster Dumbledore walked in. Harry and Hermione stood in front of each other, anger and resentment wafting off them, eyeing each other furiously.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, but if you�re ready, we can depart."

"Yes, Headmaster." said Hermione.

"Yes, sir," said Harry, shooting Hermione one last glance.

"Now, I have procured a portkey for the evening. I had thought since there were so many of us," he smiled. "It might be prudent for us to travel together. That being said I want to establish a few rules that are of the up most importance." he glanced at Harry who seemed pale.

"You are to obey me in all things, if I say to run, hide, or go back, you must give me your word that you will."

Harry looked shaken, but nodded quickly.

"Of course, Headmaster." said Hermione taking her eyes of Harry and staring at Dumbledore.

"Now let us come closer," he said standing up and pulling out a rusty tin box that looked like at one time it held candies.

Hermione stepped next to Harry and grasped tightly onto the side of the little container.

"On the count of five then, ready, one, two, three, four, five."

Hermione felt a sharp tug in the centre of her navel, silently thanking Severus for the salve; she did not even want to think of the pain she would have been in otherwise. Just when Hermione thought the spinning was going to fling her from the little portkey, she landed quite untidily on a wet and filthy ground.

Hermione stood up trying to wipe some of the mud that covered her. She looked around at the dingy abandoned street. There were five neglected houses to her left with broken windows and boarded doors. No street lights were lit, and only the glow from the street behind them gave off any light. On her right there was a dense patch of forest that seemed out of place as if someone had dug up a section of woods and set it down in the middle of what Hermione guessed must be London, if the weather was anything to go by.

"We�re just a few kilometres away from the orphanage in which Tom Riddle grew up." said Dumbledore softly.

"You think he�s hidden one of his Horcruxes in there?" asked Harry, pointing to the sinister forest ahead of them.

"Undoubtedly." smiled Dumbledore.

Harry seemed to take a deep breath, steeling himself.

"If you�re ready," said the Headmaster.

Hermione and Harry followed behind him as he walked swiftly toward the forest.

The instant they reached the edge of the woods, no sounds could be heard, no birds moving about in the trees nor animals creeping; no traffic from the nearby streets that they could hear just moments before, not even the wind rustling the massive trees above them. Hermione pulled her cloak more firmly around her as they all took their first step into the shadows of the forest.

As soon as her foot hit the ground, she was met with complete darkness, which was so thick it felt tangible. She could not hear nor see Harry and Dumbledore; the dark was so permanent it seemed to invade all of her senses, causing her to feel an overwhelming awareness of shrill fear that something horrific would happen if she were to step any further into the dark. She pulled her wand out, casting a lumos spell she was certain would not work. Just as she had predicted, the light spell had not dissipated the blackness. The crushing sensation of terror welled up in her almost suffocating her. Every thought and feeling in her whole body was telling her to turn from this place and run.

She took in a deep shaky breath keeping her wand out. She braced herself before lifting her foot and taking another step into the unknown. This time when her foot hit the ground the world around her was so bright, her eyes burned from the brilliance of it. She blinked rapidly clearing the spots of colour that peppered her eyes. Finally, the light seemed to fade and she could take in the landscape that surrounded her.

There stood Dumbledore his wand out, head turning from side to side scanning the dark forest. Harry stood to the right of the Headmaster, the palms of his hands pushed hard into his eyes.

"An effective enchantment," said Dumbledore when he noticed Hermione. "Not many would have been able to withstand the compulsion to flee when such a formidable presence was telling the mind that only the worse would come if they were to stay on course."

Hermione nodded, as Harry said, "It would certainly keep the Muggles away."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes Harry, at the very least."

Hermione glanced around at the small clearing they were in, there were trees surrounding them, and in every direction, there seemed a possible path in which to travel.

"Headmaster," said Hermione, gesturing toward the trees, "which way?"

Dumbledore looked pensive for a moment, and then gestured toward two smaller trees.

"Through here, I believe," he said, indicating for them to join him.

Hermione felt as if she had fallen into the frozen lake when she stepped out from the trees. Her whole body was shivering and her clothes were soaked. The icy wet that covered her felt slick and oily, she could feel it seeping into her very skin, clasping itself around her heart and lungs. She felt strangled, as if the cold was stealing away her breath. She frantically looked to Harry and Dumbledore, noticing they were drenched as well.

Hermione placed a shaky hand to her head, tapping it once with a warming charm then again for a drying charm. She felt the pressure in her chest lessen.

"Wwwhat was th-that?" stuttered Harry as he too began casting a spell over his body.

"A warning, of sorts." said Dumbledore, reapplying a warming charm to his feet.

Hermione scanned the forest, taking in the eerie glow this clearing seemed to have, like a dense fog only more ominous than any sort of fog she knew. Beyond the fog, at the edge of the clearing she could barely make out the trees that she knew to be there. It was if they had thin black sheets of night hanging in front of them, only these curtains seemed to be moving, breathing.

At the very end of clearing was a large rock raised high like a platform. Hermione could just make out a small shadowed shape on the rock, but the fog seemed to be growing thicker, obscuring her view.

"Hermione, Harry please stay close. If I am not mistaken, we have reached our hidden Horcrux."

Hermione stood closer to Harry, glancing at him. He looked back at her, and for the moment, all thoughts of bitterness or hurt seemed to vanish. They were back to being just Harry and Hermione who had once again found themselves in a very dangerous situation.

Hermione saw a movement to her left, she turned her head quickly but the vapours seemed to be closing in around them, as if the whole forest was shrinking. She kept her wand high in front of her staying close behind the Headmaster.

The fog seemed to grow thicker, like walking through water; her legs were beginning to tire. How much further, she wondered. At first glance, the platform could not have been more than a few meters, but now with the mist closing in on them it was hard to know what direction they were travelling.

"Do not stop," said Dumbledore quietly. "It is essential that you keep moving, stay right behind me."

Hermione felt her head go slightly fuzzy, almost as if she were extremely tired. If she could only rest for a moment, gather her thoughts, she would be able to concentrate and what it was that Dumbledore just said?

She looked over at Harry; he seemed bewildered, rubbing his eyes and shaking his head from side to side, as if trying to keep himself awake.

A light started to come into view ahead of Hermione; she peered around the side of Dumbledore, straining her eyes. Fifteen paces ahead of them, she could see the large rock protruding from the ground.

From where they had started the rock looked more like a small boulder, but here, up close, it was massive. The top of Dumbledore�s head just grazed the sharp edge.

"How are we supposed to get up there, sir?" asked Harry his words slightly slurred as if he was half asleep.

Hermione looked to the right of the rock, there were stone steps that seemed to wind its way up to the top.

"Over there, sir." she said quietly, even though her voice echoed loudly; her eyes feeling heavy she pointed to the stairs.

"Well done, Miss Granger." said the Headmaster, politely, as he led them to the bottom of the stairs. "Stay very close." he had turned to whisper before starting his ascent.

Hermione let her eyes scan out over the clearing, hoping the altitude would afford her with a better awareness as to what they would face on their return. She had her suspicion that what they accomplished so far was nothing to what they would face once they had retrieved the Horcrux. She let her eyes adjust to the unnatural light the fog was giving off, but could not make out anything but shifting shadows the haze seemed to make as it moved, covering the landscape like a heavy blanket.

They curved upward around the side of the stone, giving Hermione a brief glance at the ominous trees behind her, the air up here seemed less thick, and her head was clearing as the steps seemed to flatten out.

There at the end of the stone platform, where the rock had risen in a gentle slant, sat an ornate box, completely smooth, like black marble.

Hermione did not dare speak as Dumbledore walked over to it. He took out his wand and let it hover just above the container. Once, he had stepped back, Hermione felt that she were allowed to address him, though Harry beat her to it.

"Headmaster, what is it?" he asked.

"I am not sure." Dumbledore answered, before stretching out the fingers of his left hand.

"Sir, no, don�t...!" started Hermione, her voice echoing loudly.

"I do not believe the danger lies in opening the case. I believe once I reach in to remove the item that is being guarded, it will be a different circumstance entirely," he said smiling, before reaching down and flipping open the container.

Hermione stood to the left of Dumbledore, Harry to his right, all three of them gazing into the darkened box, that now stood open before them.

Inside, she could see a rather long and old wand. Hermione felt some of the considerable fear that had settled in her stomach, right before the Headmaster had opened the box, drain away.

"Well, this confirms that Voldemort has indeed created a sixth Horcrux," said Dumbledore.

"Was this Ravenclaw�s wand, sir?" asked Hermione.

"I believe so," he said looking at her before reaching his hand out to grasp the handle of the wand.

"No!" said Harry. "Sir please, I don�t think it is wise."

Dumbledore smiled, "Harry, do not be alarmed, while I do not underestimate Lord Voldemort�s resolve to keep his possessions firmly guarded, it is my firm belief that touching this wand will not kill me, at least not right away," he said smiling.

Harry looked very pale and shaken.

"However, I am sure it has enchantments and curses attached to it that will render me incapable of retrieving it, that being said you must both make certain that you take it back with you. Once I touch it, I am sure it will neutralize any dark magic affixed to it," he said this all very calmly as if commenting on the weather.

Harry started to shake, "This can�t happen again. Please, sir, I can�t let you di..."

"You mustn�t Harry!" shouted Hermione.

"Hermione, I will not stand by and let this happen!" he said sternly.

"You remember the conditions on which I brought you both?" said Dumbledore very quietly.

Harry looked up at the Headmaster sharply his eyes wide and terrified.

"You don�t understand, sir," pleaded Harry.

"Once and for all, Harry, do I have your word?" he said firmly

Hermione watched Harry struggle, he looked from Dumbledore to her and then to the box lying deceptively in front of the Headmaster.

"Yes, sir." he seemed to steel himself.

Dumbledore nodded once and reached slowly down into the box placing his hand firmly on the handle.

A blinding light shot from the box engulfing the Headmaster completely. His head was thrown back his eyes wide as the beam washed over him in a steady current, like a great wave of white crashing over him. He seemed to tremble all over as if the brightness was moving through him. Hermione looked out over the clearing and for the first time could see properly and what she saw made her heart beat widely in her chest. There where the fog had covered the land were hundreds of bodies so close to each other you could hardly tell where one began and where the other ended.

With one final burst of light, the Headmaster collapsed to the ground a bright glow around him and Ravenclaw�s wand firmly clutched in his hand.

Harry ran to his side, "Professor!" he shouted, kneeling down next to him.

"Hermione, I can�t tell if he�s breathing!" he said frantically looking to her as she knelt next to Dumbledore.

She placed her hand to the Headmaster�s neck.

"He�s alive Harry, but help me get him up we need to leave. There are Inferi down below."

Harry stood quickly looking out over the edge, to see where all the servants of Voldemort stood in waiting.

"Hermione you need to cast a strong incendio charm, it�s the only thing that will work against them," he said lifting Dumbledore half onto his shoulder while Hermione hoisted his other arm around her neck. Ravenclaw�s wand secured in her vest as they made their way down the stairs quickly.

A raging fire erupted from the tip of Hermione and Harry�s wand, engulfing them in a ring of blazing armour. The Inferi seemed to scatter making a path for them to move through. She could see them returning into the trees and the dense fog seemed to reappear as they neared the gathering of woods from which they had entered.

Hermione felt an icy hand grip onto her leg right before she leapt into the trees. She pointed her wand at the decaying hand and it let her go, leaving a slick and cold feeling on her leg.

She helped Harry pull Dumbledore through the two small trees and instantly felt the same engulfing chill as before. She quickly cast a drying charm on the Headmaster and herself and continued moving Dumbledore back toward the street.

The wind was starting to pick up in the clearing, whipping Hermione�s hair in her face.

"Hurry!" she shouted as the wind picked up moving around Dumbledore rapidly as if trying to pry him from their grip.

They were almost to the street just one more fence of trees. She heaved Dumbledore more solidly onto her tiny shoulders, when Harry tripped, stumbling and dropping to the ground, the Headmaster crumbling crookedly to the forest floor.

"The roots!" Harry bellowed. "They�re moving!"

Hermione looked down as the tree roots ripped themselves from the ground thrashing at them.

"Come on, Harry!" she shouted before firing a slicing hex at a root that was twining itself around Dumbledore.

She helped Harry gather the unconscious form of the Headmaster scurrying the last few paces, throwing herself and Dumbledore into the darkness. She regained her balance, as she felt the overwhelming fear rise up in her again. She quickly buried a firm hand into Dumbledore�s cloak and flung herself into the street, landing hard on the pavement.

She could hear Harry panting next to her. She turned to see him on his hands and knees shaking and looking ready to retch.

Behind them, they could see the trees swaying and bending toward them.

Hermione hastily grabbed an old pop can that lay next to her in the gutter, touched her wand tip to the metal and whispered "Portus."

"Here Harry grab a hold." she shouted thrusting the can toward him and reapplying her firm grip onto the Headmaster. She felt the familiar tugging at the centre of her navel and seconds later ended in a heap on the floor in the Headmaster�s office.

Hermione leaped from the floor rushing to Dumbledore�s side. The portraits around the room were all moving and whispering hurriedly on the walls.

"Who should we call, Madame Pomfrey?" asked Harry, his voice frail and broken.

"No," she said, putting a hand out to stop him from running out the door. "Ennervate!" she said, pointing her wand at the Headmaster.

Instantly his eyes seemed to flicker, opening and closing quickly before finally they opened wide.

His face looked defeated and broken before breaking out into a huge smile.

"Well done, you two!" he said as if they had just received a high grade, and had not rescued him from a maze built by Voldemort to protect his soul!

Dumbledore, Hermione noticed looked weary and tired. Where the streaks of his auburn hair and beard had been earlier were now entirely white, and his eyes seemed to be a crisper hue of blue.

"Sir, what happened?" gasped Harry.

Dumbledore sat up slowly resting his form against his desk.

"I believe it was a hex to allow the holder to recover all but the happiest of memories," said the Headmaster softly.

"Like a dementor, sir?" asked Hermione.

"Very similar, only had you left me in the clearing, I believe I would have relived those particular memories until I either went mad from them or one of Voldemort�s followers had come across my unconscious form."

Hermione wondered briefly what horrible thoughts he must have dwelt on, but knew better than to ask such a personal question.

"Are you sure you are all right, Headmaster?" said Harry. "Should we call Madame Pomfrey?"

"That is not necessary, I think a nice large chocolate bar will do the job," he said jokingly, but Hermione noticed that he had a pained expression in his eyes.

"With that taken care of, I must ask if we managed to retrieve the wand after such an adventuress evening?"

Hermione withdrew it from her vest, "We did, sir." She handed it to him.

He seemed reluctant to touch it, so instead she set it down softly on his desk, the badger engraved into the wood facing up at them.

"How should we destroy it, Headmaster?" asked Harry.

Dumbledore seemed contemplative for a moment before reaching down quickly and grabbing up the wand. In one quick movement, he snapped it in two, letting the pieces fall to his desk.

Hermione let out a little laugh, mostly out of relief that nothing more daunting had come from the breaking of a Horcrux.

Harry let out a long sigh, "Now, for the cup." He said, looking at Hermione.

"Now for the cup." She echoed, watching as sun broke through the window bathing them all in warmth.
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This Is The Way The World Ends.