Dark Desires

Chapter 7

A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait, school's been really busy, hopefully the next chapter will be up sooner. Enjoy, vote and comment!

After explaining her plan to a very distraught Bellatrix, Hermione sighed. The woman seemed much too distant for her liking. All the information she had just given her, could have easily slipped her mind. The brunette felt pity for her however. She wanted to reach out from where she was sitting and take her hand and comfort her. Instead she stood up and dusted off her trousers.

«Well then. Meet me by the front gate, remember? It shouldn't take longer than an hour, and if it does: then we've lost.» Bellatrix just nodded her head, a defeated look dancing over her face. And so Hermione climbed down into the tunnels, leaving Bellatrix alone.

                                      }•••{

Hermione made her way up to the castle. The weather had changed from when they walked down here earlier. The fog had disappeared, but the sky remained grey and it had now begun to rain. Water was showering down in big droplets, not a ray of sunshine came through the thick clouds. It was almost as though the sky was grieving.

The young witch hurried into the castle, her goal clear as day. She had a plan, but it was impossible without her enchanted bag which happened to be left in the dormitory. She hurried through each hallway, her fear of being seen slowly decreasing. This part of the castle was as silent as the grave. But as she neared the courtyard with the fountain, Hermione heard people talking. It was quiet talk, as people do when someone has died, and the brunette followed the sound carefully. As she came closer, the full damages of the castle came into view under the, now visible, sky. Her heart sank in her chest. They had destroyed what had been her home for seven years now, and she suddenly had trouble fighting back the tears. There was only about five people in the courtyard, whom Hermione recognised as some of the Hufflepuff fourth years. She walked determinedly through the yard, hoping they wouldn't question her motives for being there. No one stopped her and so Hermione set her goal on the stone bridge that crossed to the other part of the castle. She let her hand stroke the side of the bridge, slowly making her way across.

Hermione knew for a fact that everyone would be gathered in the Great Hall, so instead of taking the shortest way up the stairs to Gryffindor tower, she took the complicated route. The brunette walked into a different corridor and navigated the castle with such skill anyone would be jealous of. She took detours through secret passages and climbed hidden stairs until she ended up outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

«Stop! Who's there?» The portrait called out.

«It's only me: Hermione», whispered Hermione in return, afraid someone would hear her. The Fat Lady wrinkled her eyebrows and studied her thoroughly.

«How do I know it's really Hermione? Password?" Hermione rolled her eyes, was this really necessary?

«Bravery is all», whispered Hermione and the Fat Lady immediately sprung open.

}•••{

Hermione didn't have time to take detours this time. After half an hour of searching in the dormitory she'd found the bag inside her pillowcase; she had put it there earlier for safekeeping and had forgotten her own hiding place. Hastily, she had thrown everything on her bedside table into the bag, without even looking at it. From the chest at the bottom of the bed, she took all her clothes, and from under her mattress she grabbed the photograph of her parents. The clock was moving faster than Hermione was comfortable with. So now, when she ran through the common room, she decided that detours was a thing of the past. And if she was seen, she would run.

She was making her way down the grand stairs, trying to look as natural as possible. Bellatrix had agreed to meet her by the front gate, which meant that Hermione had to pass the Great Hall, the courtyard and finally make her way down to the gates. She was only one floor away from the Great Hall now, and the odd silence unnerved her. Slowly she decreased her speed, listening intently. There were absolutely no sounds. As she walked down the last flight of stairs she quickly understood why; the doors to the Hall were closed. They were only closed for special occasions and grief seemed to be one of them. The brunette let out a relieved breath and hurried out into the courtyard. Everything was destructed but Hermione didn't have time to stop and mourn the building. She skillfully avoided fallen bricks, climbed the ruins and made her way down to the path ending by the gates. This seemed too simple in Hermione's brain, yet she couldn't help but feel victorious. So much so that she didn't notice the sniffling from somewhere behind her until it was much too late.

«Hermione?»