Fallen Angels

Chapter 7

Harry and Ron rushed towards the Hogwarts gates, completely forgetting, not for the first time, that they were wizards and in their 7th year nonetheless. Harry couldn’t help but think of the complete sense of shock that he felt as he was told by the door that Hermione might die; his beautiful brilliant Hermione, with her bushy mane and glowing eyes. Everything about her that seemed to push others away just reeled him in faster. It had always been that way. He felt connected to her in a bigger and better way that even Ron did, he was sure of it. Because when Ron was either a) making googly eyes at her or b) biting her head off, Harry was always on the outskirts searching for danger that shouldn’t possibly exist. Hermione was always the one that he would go to any lengths to protect. He would save her beyond all rationale and reason. Hence, why he and Ron were streaking towards Hogwarts like two birds shot out of a cannon.

When they reached the gates Dumbledore was there to meet them. Surprisingly he just smiled at them with the twinkle in his eye and motioned for them to show him the way. They were unfortunately quite tired by this point as they hadn’t anticipated running all the way back down to the train. Ron was gasping for breath. He definitely hadn’t been trying to stay in shape this summer. All of Mrs. Weasley’s cooking was starting to get to him. But, it wasn’t like the packed on pounds weren’t going to come off with quiditch season just around the corner anyway.

And so, they reached the train with Dumbledore following closely behind them. He gazed merrily about and Harry noticed that the twinkle in his eye seemed a bit brighter, but he didn’t know what to owe the change to. Harry gasped out, “They’re in the, gasp, heads compartment, gasp, Professor.” Dumbledore merely nodded and started to walk in that direction with a hurried gate. He seemed anxious, but at the same time overly pleased. Harry and Ron slumped against the train, all nice and set to wait until Dumbledore got back until Harry suddenly slapped himself on the head, “Hedwig!” and he ran off followed by Ron’s latent cry of “Pig!”

Dumbledore found the door quite easily, “Ah, headmaster, they are within and still unconscious it is good that you have arrived.” the door informed him. It slid open. The sight that greeted him made him almost laugh. In his head nothing could be clearer. They had arrived. The angelus were here now. They were saved.

Draco felt the warm weight missing from his arms as soon as he awoke. Before he even opened his eyes he knew she had been taken from him. He couldn’t feel her presence. He was outraged. Where was she? Where was his mate?

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The students of Hogwarts were eating in the Great Hall and the heads table beneath the teachers table was empty. This was quite the topic for conversation. Dumbledore had already said his three or so words and the sorting had already happened. Everyone was almost ready to start on the truffles and ice cream that had just appeared when something strange began to happen.

Blaise Zabini was the first to notice. The window right behind him was starting to bow in and out. Almost like it was trying to jump from its frame. Then the pumpkin juice on the table started to quiver. Everyone stopped talking at the same time, they were all watching Dumbledore stand. He looked almost frightened and that’s when the shaking really began. Unfortunately that was the precise moment when the lower years began to panic. Dumbledore’s loud voice echoed through the cavernous room. “Do not panic! Prefects please escort all the houses out of the castle and down to the lake.” Everyone just stared at him while plates and glasses started to fall off of the table. “Now!” People jumped too and started to file out of the swinging doors onto the lawn in front of the castle. What met them was a sight which none wanted to ever see again. There were fish floating upside down at the top of the lake and every single window in the top of the castle had busted outwards.

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Draco couldn’t remember feeling this angry ever in his life, not when father had turned on him with the Cruciatus or when mother had backhanded him for stealing when he was five. He needed her. Without her he was next to nothing lower than nothing. They had stolen her. They would pay.

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Dumbledore watched as the male angelus sent out waves of his anger. Radiating into every part of the castle and destroying anything in his path. It was a terrifying sight to behold as one of the great creatures of heaven tore its way through their puny mortal structure. Walls fell and windows busted as he walked past with his wings flared out and his brilliant white hair shinning in the moonlight streaming into the castle. He was looking for her. The needed to be done. They had separated the two. Hermione was in the hospital wing and Draco couldn’t feel her presence due to the magical radiation surrounding him. The had placed Draco in a separate ward because the couldn’t help Hermione or even mop the blood off her back without Draco trying to cling to her.

Draco paused for a moment and like a feral animal he sensed the headmaster’s presence. In the ancient tongue Draco turned and addressed the greatest wizard who had ever lived. “Where is she and why have you stolen her? Answer me mortal or you shall forfeit your life.” Dumbledore motioned for him to follow and walked slowly towards the hospital wing. They reached the doors leading inwards and Dumbledore pointed inside. Draco radiated a ball of power towards the doors and they busted inwards. He walked through the fragments falling slowly downwards around him. He saw her sleeping in the corner of the room. She looked so quiet and peaceful. She awoke suddenly as if an electrical shock had touched her. “No you must repair what you have done. This is wrong and you know it. Fix what you have damaged now. This is no way to repay these kind people for all that they have done for us. Yes I have been separate from you for a time, but all is well again. Help me to fix them and then we shall see if these mortals will be worthy for our love.” She reached out and sent a ball of white light towards him. He caught it and sent it up to the top spire of the castle. A white light radiated through the entirety of the Hogwarts grounds and that is the last of it that anyone could remember.

“How beautiful.” Dumbledore thought, as the darkness overcame him.