Song Of The Guardians

Rest In Peace

Hermione and Ginny cried out in horror but they were silenced a moment later by the inhuman shrieks produced by Sam and Jenna. Their beautiful features were distorted by their fury. As Caroline collapsed, her sisters snapped. Enormous wings erupted from their shoulder blades. Their fingers appeared to elongate and sharpen into talons. Their eyes glowed in a way that was both mesmerizing and terrifying.

The two sirens rushed forward and slammed into the bewildered vampire. In moments they had ripped him apart, filling the air with their terrible cries. Satisfied that the vampire was dead, they returned to the body of their sister. Their hands and eyes had returned to normal but they were covered in blood. The wings remained, but they drooped slightly, as if weighed down by the anguish of the sirens.

Andy was cradling Caroline's head in his lap. "What have I done?" he cried. "I never should have let you come." Draco held her limp hand, his face etched in grief. Caroline's eyes looked empty and blood trickled out of her mouth.

Harry hugged Ginny to his chest, horrified by what he had seen. Sweet, beautiful Caroline was dead. In an instant, her life had been snuffed out and there was nothing they could have done to stop it. Draco looked devastated. Harry gripped Ginny tighter, knowing that it could have just as easily been her lying lifelessly on the ground. He sighed heavily and glanced at Hermione. He blinked in surprise at her expression. She was frowning, but he could see in her eyes that her mind was whirling. After all these years, he had learned to see hope in that expression. "Hermione?" he asked carefully.

Severus looked at Hermione and then Harry. "Is she alright?" he asked.

Harry smiled. "She's thinking," he replied. "That's a good sign."

"How can that possibly be good?" Ron demanded. "All that thinking won't bring her back."

"Shut up Ron," Hermione said in a quiet but firm voice. "I have an idea." She looked at Harry. "You'll need to help me." She hurried over to Caroline and waited for Andy to move away. "I need you too Severus," Hermione said.

"What can I do?" Severus asked uncertainly.

Hermione smiled slightly. "I'm hoping you can 'put a stopper in death'" she said. "We need healing potions and salves. Blood replenishing potions as well." Seeing his hesitation she went on. "I realize that these are used on the living, but Harry and I are going to try to remedy that."

"How?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Severus is going to use the salve to close up the wound. The knife probably punctured one of her lungs or other organs. We'll repair that damage and close the wounds to prevent more blood loss. Harry and I are going to do CPR, like the muggles do," Hermione said. "You are going to do chest compressions to get her heart started. I will do rescue breathing." She frowned. "I would like to use the siren's song as well, but I'm not sure they're capable of that right now." She glanced at Sam and Jenna. They were clinging to one another, sobbing brokenly.

Severus was already carefully pouring a healing salve into the open wound on Caroline's abdomen, murmuring healing spells as he did so. Hermione quickly demonstrated for Harry how to do chest compressions. When he stopped, she covered Caroline's mouth with her own, blowing her own air into Caroline's uncooperative lungs. When Harry returned to chest compressions, Hermione sighed in frustration. Then she had another idea. "Draco, do you love Caroline?" she asked hastily.

Draco scowled at her. "What bloody difference does it make now?" he snapped.

"It could make a world of difference," Hermione insisted. "Do you love her?" She nodded in satisfaction when he bowed his head in defeat. "I need you to sing to her."