Hogwarts: A Home

Chapter 9 | Order, Observations and Orgasms

June 9, 1998

Hermione found herself with a rare moment to sit by the Black Lake with Harry and Ron. They hadn't seen much of each other in the past few days and finally had a couple of minutes between dinner and the Core Order meeting to catch up.

"Any new theories on why the killing curse hasn't...uhhh... killed me?" Harry inquired. This was the only research topic she'd allowed him in on without talking to the council, and she should have known he'd expect updates.

"Theo and I have decided to focus on soul magic theory and various dark rituals channeling the soul—"

"Theo?" Ron interrupted, his tone sharp and accusatory.

Hermione patience waned, but she swallowed her annoyance and pressed on. "Yes, Theo Nott. Anyways, I've delved into the constructs of the killing curse but my resources in the school library are a bit limited, although, we've got a general working theor—"

"Since when do you call him Theo?" Ron accused, not bothering to hide the bite in his tone.

"It's his name. Ronald. It's quite a common practice to call an individual by their—"

"Not a Slytherin!" he bellowed.

"Oh, come off it, Ron. Are we really not past house rivalries? We're at war for Godric's sake." Hermione turned to Harry for back up but he seemed to have stopped paying attention, gazing out across the sun setting over the Black Lake. "We should head to the Transfiguration classroom now for the meeting," Hermione suggested, desperate to escape this conversation and Ron's withering glare.

Since when does talking to Harry and Ron require more patience than dissecting centuries-old theoretical dark magic?

They fell into easier conversation on their way, Neville joining them in the corridor. They took their seats around the round table, surrounded by members of the Core Order. Hermione sat with Harry and Ron on either side of her, placing a hand on the arms of each to ground herself while Kingsley relayed the mission they'd be leaving for after the meeting. Listening to the details of their upcoming evening venture knocked her down a peg. They fought like siblings, and she loved them desperately. She feared for their safety and wanted to seek comfort in their touch. They each obliged her, resting a hand over her own while the mission was detailed for the Core Order to hear.

Their team, SR Team 1, and SR Team 3, along with Kingsley would be traveling to meet with a representative from the Portuguese ministry. SR Team 1 would be acting as the guard unit while Team 3 engaged. The plan was to meet on a muggle boat offshore, past the anti-apparition wards, as they didn't want to risk the time it would take to disable the wards.

Auror Robards went on to give updates from the past week. Death Eater hotspots were becoming increasingly dangerous. The anti-apparition wards had become self-generating in some areas so the teams were adapting to the way they would be handling the disablement—training to be done by Professor Flitwick. The aurors both confirm that M.A.C.U.S.A. was still refusing involvement at this time. RR Team 1 was currently on an overnight mission to retrieve refugees trapped in Puddlemere. Angelina Johnson had sent her patronus confirming they had reached the local safehouse and would be conducting the transport in the morning using thestrals and hippogriffs. Hermione caught Hagrid's eye, beaming at him in pride. A small tear welled up and he nodded at her in thanks.

Molly Weasley and Augusta Longbottom, announced they'd finished the Hufflepuff housing expansion to make room for new incoming refugees and that there would be an additional dinner time slot added in the coming weeks to help the house elves with the increase in labor. Hermione bit her tongue knowing that it wasn't the time to question whether the elves had been given a choice to remain at Hogwarts to help the war effort or not.