One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

7. Holy Ground

A/N: Ooh another one haha! I've got 27 chapters written for this so far, I'm going to try to stick to a once a week posting schedule for this fic until I've finished writing it, and then it'll get more often, but I want to have a good backlog of written content and not catch up with myself and then not post anything for ages.

31st October 1971

Fabian flopped heavily onto the sofa next to Hermione, falling sideways so his head landed in her lap on top of the book she was reading. "Fabian!" She scolded. Hermes, cuddled on the arm of the sofa next to her, hissed and jumped up. The room was completely empty except for them, so her voice echoed slightly. She startled a little when she noticed; she hadn't realised she was the only one left in the common room. She assumed everyone else must be at the Samhain feast, so she wasn't too surprised Fabian had searched her out. She probably should've hid herself better, she mused.

He grinned at her, "Yes, Hermione?"

She sighed long-sufferingly, "What do you want?"

"Well. It's All Hallows Eve, Samhain, and you're sitting here all by yourself. Reading some book." Fabian sighed obnoxiously, tilting his head back a little to look at her properly. "So boring!"

"Oh, bugger off," She tried to push him from her lap, but he was too heavy. She huffed at him. "I'm having lots of fun reading my book here, thank you, big brother."

"Blergh!" Fabian exclaimed, reaching under his head and pulling her book out. He examined the cover, pulled a face, and threw it (thankfully gently) onto the footstool. "You've gotta come celebrate Samhain, 'Mione. Come have some fun with people instead of your books. Make proper friends with the others in your year or something." He pouted pleadingly up at her. She sighed again, knowing there was no way she was going to get rid of him until she agreed.

"Urgh! Fine." She stood abruptly, causing Fabian to roll off onto the floor with a squeal he vehemently denied making when she laughed loudly at him. "Lead on, oh fearless one." She gestured grandly once he'd pulled himself off the floor.

He rolled his eyes, and grabbed her hand to pull her along. Instead of pulling her down towards the Great Hall, he led them towards the fifth floor. "Where on earth are we going?" She demanded, trying to pull her arm back from his hold.

Fab turned and grinned back at her, "Patience. You'll find out." She pursed her lips, but didn't say anything further until he pulled her into one of the abandoned classrooms.

A cheer went up as they appeared. They looked to be the only Gryffindors missing from the large group in the room. Gideon bounded over with a huge grin on his face that matched Fabian's. "Come celebrate Samhain, little sister."

The room was huge, and was clearly set up specifically for whatever this was. There was a large stone hearth in the middle at one end of the room, for now it sat empty and cold. There were smaller fire pits scattered around the room, also empty. Each one had a group sitting around it on small cushions on the floor. There was a large table in one corner piled high with food, though seemingly no one had touched it yet. There were carved turnips in the form of jack-o-lanterns placed around the room, attached by strings to sticks. Each one was embedded with coal.

She found the rest of the first years at the back of the room, sitting in a loose circle around one of the fire pits, drinking Butterbeer and laughing. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to interrupt, but Sirius looked up then and a large grin lit up his face, "Hey look, she finally decided to join!" The rest of the group turned with big smiles to her.

"Come sit, Hermione." Lily said, patting the open space beside her.

"What is this? How did you all know to be here?" Hermione asked, settling into the space, and glancing around the room to take it in. There didn't seem to be any other Houses in here, which was interesting.