Duels and Dances

Chapter 2

The last time Hermione was in the Room of Requirement was during fifth year, when Dumbledore's Army was assembled. It looked very different then, compared to the room she is standing in now.

In the center of the room sits a wide, long table. Situated upon the table are an array of quills and parchment, maps and newspapers. Around the edges of the room stand training figures, targets, and other equipment. Hanging from the walls are rows and shelves of various weapons, many of which Hermione doesn't even know the name of.

Her mouth hangs open in disbelief. She has been gifted her own, personal War Room.

Over the next few hours, Hermione examines the various items that occupy the War Room, even testing a few out. She quickly learns that she prefers daggers and throwing knives over swords, as well as bow and arrow for its long distance and element of surprise. Of course, none of these compared to the spells she knew. But, they would be nice to have on hand once she developed her skills.

Hermione then decides to develop a training schedule and an action plan, before starting an information wall. She tries to begin with what she knows. She tries to think of specific memories during the war, but she comes up empty.

She can remember major details, but she notices that if she tries to focus on certain aspects, she gets a searing pain in the back of her head. Hermione tries to focus on the details of Bill and Fleur's wedding. Pain. She tries to remember the song she and Harry danced to in their tent while searching for something. Pain. She tries again, What something? Pain. Hermione travels to Malfoy Manor, associating the landmark with the irritated scab on her forearm. Searing, white-hot, blood-curdling pain. Hermione slides down the wall and pulls at her hair from the roots in frustration as sobs rip through her chest. She digs her nails into her scalp, drawing blood.

"Your mind is saturated in Dark Magic."

The Dark Magic must be eating holes in her brain. Must be leeching on to her memories. Pomfrey didn't mention this lovely side effect.

After several minutes, she gives up trying to riddle out the details of the war.

She focuses on her memories from before and after.

Dumbledore is dead, but she can't remember how Dumbledore died. 

Voldemort is nowhere to be found. Her friends do not plan to search for him. 

There have been no sightings of known Death Eaters as of recent. Except for Draco Malfoy. Ginny said that he will be returning to Hogwarts in the coming days. Supposedly, he wasn't at the battle either.

Hermione gives herself a set of rules:

Don't trust anyone, don't draw suspicion.

Follow Wizard & Muggle newspapers.

Pay attention to Draco Malfoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every morning for the past week, Hermione has gone to the War Room to train. The first few days were pathetic. She could barely move from one exercise to the next without having to stop to rest. 

She does sit-ups and crunches, push-ups and squats. She does yoga to improve her balance and perfect her form. She practices complicated spells and counter-spells on targets. She uses swords and daggers, trying complicated maneuvers and tricks. 

Hermione spends the evenings looking through newspapers for potential sightings or strange occurrences. Typically not finding anything, she then turns to studying healing spells and potions, searching for wandless healing magic that can prevent her from ever finding herself in a situation like the battle ever again.