The Dark Side (Unedited)

Chapter 37

Hermione could feel her mind failing under the pressure. Throughout the past few years of her life she had experienced more heartbreak and trauma than most would in ten lifetimes. Her body was telling her that it was done, it couldn't take anymore. She wanted a life where she could say goodbye to someone without worrying if they'd be alive the next time she said it.

Unfortunately, this was the only life she had, and to ensure her friends kept theirs she needed to focus. Although the sight of her friends lying eerily still caused waves of pain to crash against the shore of her heart, she forced her eyes to discern the situation in Borgin and Burkes.

Her two best friends appeared to be alone, with no sign of consciousness although Hermione thought she could saw Harry's chest rise and fall slightly. It seemed that all noise had been sucked out of the leaden night, even her breathing had become silent.

She felt her muscles tense as adrenaline pulsed through her, cancelling out any thoughts other than the safety of everybody she had put at risk. She felt certain that her friends wouldn't have been targeted if her and Draco hadn't decided to cross enemy lines. She had been foolish to think that people of the wizarding society were more accepting of each other. She had become blind.

"Neville, I think we should wait here until we can get more information on what is happening down there. We could be faced with all of Voldemort's old buddies, so we can't rush into this."

"You're right, Hermione. I just can't help feeling like we're abandoning them."

"I know, I feel horrible. The three people I love most are in there. But think of Luna and Ginny. If we are caught, they'll come looking for others. They'll have no chance."

He nodded and glanced towards the staircase with worry. Hermione knew the look in his eyes, and she knew it was probably reflected in her own. It was the expression that was unveiled when the person you loved was in danger.

"I didn't even consider that." He looked ashamed for not thinking about Luna's safety. "You know, I've always admired you Hermione. You are always the 'brains of the outfit' as my grandmother would say. The boys are always getting themselves into all sorts of trouble, but every time you are there to save them."

"Everybody will do anything they can for the people they love, Neville."

They exchanged small smiles that made Hermione's face feel strange, as if the stress had caused her to have a permanent frown.

She glanced back at the large window, and noticed a shadow that had not been there earlier. Neville noticed her concern and followed her gaze. The dark shape was growing larger, someone was approaching the boys. It seemed unusually large even for a shadow, as if it was someone like Hagrid.

But the figure eventually came into view, and Hermione saw that the person was the complete opposite of Hagrid.

Fenrir Greyback was towering over Ron, lowering his jaw on to the young man's neck. Hermione opened her mouth to scream but no sound was conveyed. She dug her nails into Neville arms and wrenched him to his feet, while stumbling over loose roof tiles.

They would be too late. There was no way of getting through the window in time, Fenrir was only a few inches away from him. Hermione would have to watch helplessly as her best friend was turned into a werewolf. That is if Fenrir intended to keep him alive.

She thought of Lavender, left bleeding to death after the werewolf had attacked her. The image was so clear in her mind that for a second she thought she imagined the girl standing behind Fenrir. She blinked and shook her head, trying to get the vision out of her mind. But as her eyes opened she realised that it wasn't her imagination, Lavender actually was creeping up to Fenrir, sharp teeth dripping with determination.

Just as his teeth made contact with Ron's pale skin, Greyback was thrown backwards and a half-turned Lavender came into full view. Her arms were quivering with rage as she rushed towards him, knocking him to the ground. Hermione felt nauseous as she saw a puddle of blood appear from under them, but ignored the feeling and climbed down a pipe that was carelessly screwed to the building. She leaped onto the window ledge and smashed her left fist through the glass.

The adrenaline made her oblivious to the many pieces of glass stuck in her wrist and fingers, and she swiftly jumped through the window, readying her wand in her unaffected right hand. She hurried over to Lavender and pushed her off of Greyback, before finishing him off with a Stunning spell.

Lavender looked down at her and began to slowly transform back into her human form, her clothes drenched with his dirty blood. Hermione heard a thump and swirled around, relaxing when she saw it was just Neville entering through the window.

"We need to wake them up. How can we wake them up?" She was babbling hysterically, all intentions of remaining silent had been shattered along with the window. The three of them tried to unbind Ron and Harry, but the cords around their wrists and torsos were plagued with dark magic. Hermione was bewildered as to how to wake them up. She eventually gave up, feeling useless. She stood with slumped shoulders and glassy eyes, as if waiting for instructions from someone else.

She didn't have to wait long for someone to speak up, however it was the last person she wanted to hear.

"Miss Granger, how lovely to see you. I was beginning to wonder when you'd be coming over for a 'meet the boyfriend's father party'."