Between angels and insects

Dumbledore was panicking which was quite unusual for him. Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley and Professor MaGonagall were in his office, in nightdresses, pacing and babbling about Seena Tariyo and Voldemort.

“We can’t do anything! We don’t know where she is and even if we knew, there’s nothing we could do against He Who Must Not Be Named and his Death Eaters!” Minerva was saying.

“How long had she been gone?”

“I don’t know...what time is it? ” Hermione asked.

“Almost two.” The Headmaster glanced at his watch.

“It’s been about three hours or so...”

“I’m going to talk to Rufus Scrimgeour about this. Ladies, all you can do is go back to your bedroom and try to have some rest. I’m afraid, we’re helpless to Miss Tariyo for now...” Albus Dumbledore sighed and turned around to speak to one of the many portraits in his office.

Profesor McGonagall walked Hermione and Ginny back to the common room. They were all very silent.

“Do you want a cup of tea, girls?” the teacher offered as they were enterring the large room. They nodded in response and sat around one of the table.

“I don’t understand Miss Tariyo’s behavior...it’s craziness!” the old lady sighed after a moment.

“She’s not crazy, she’s just...I think she wanted to show us that she could be a good person, maybe.” Hermione answered, looking blankly at her cup.

“By killing You-Know-Who?” Ginny asked.
“Yes. ‘I want to reach Voldemort so we can all get rid of him.’ That’s what she said before sending me here.”

‘I love you’ The brunette’s words were also resonating in Hermione’s mind.

“After all it was her fate to fight one of the ‘representative’ of Good and Evil.” Profesor McGonagall said, but then realized the girls in front of her weren’t supposed to know about this.

“Don’t talk about her like that! She’s still alive I know it!” Hermione said a little too harshly. Both Ginny and McGonagall stared at her with shock. “Sorry...Anyway, you must be right, after all she finally defined her side for the Final Battle. Maybe she decided that she could get into the fight by herself.”

“What are you talking about?” Ginny asked, dumbfounded. Then they heard loud footsteps and shouts coming from the corridors.

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Hagrid, the Gamekeeper, was running down the corridors. Students were beginning to appear, awaken by the loud noises.

“Profesor Dumbledore!” Hagrid was calling. The Headmaster rushed to him. “Profesor Dumbledore! Student, jus’ in front of my house! Not movin’!” Both wizards ran outside, quickly followed by several students and teachers, McGonagall, Ginny and Hermione included. The crowd reached Hagrid’s cabin in no time. Indeed, a body was lying on the grass. Dumbledore moved it on its back and gasped.

“It’s Miss Tariyo!”

“Seena!” Hermione screamed and rushed by his side. The girl was covered with blood and dirt and very pale. She was holding a package in her hand.

“What’s this?” McGonagall asked. Dumbledore took the package slowly. “Mrs Pomfrey, please can you take care of her?” He opened the package and his eyes opened wide. He let out a scream. “Oh my God!” The Hogwarts nurse was pointing her wand at Seena when the girl opened her eyes and coughed.

“She’s alive!”

“Of course I am...” Seena muttered and tried to stand up but the nurse didn’t let her do. Hermione let out a sigh of relief before hugging her girlfriend. “Hey, easy! Still bleeding here!”

“You’re a fuckin’-”

“Miss Granger!” McGonagall scolded. The nurse healed most of her wounds with a spell and Seena was finally able to stand up.

“Where’s he?” She asked, suddenly gesticulating. “Where’s his body?”

“Right here...” Dumbledore replied, still stunned by what he was holding in his arms. The students were beginning to moving about to see the package. Harry made his way through the crowd and stared at Dumbledore, than at Seena.

“Whose body?” He asked.

“Voldemort’s dead, I killed him!” Seena declared and the hubbub stopped. Dumbledore stood there, staring at Harry, Seena and the little and fragile body of the most dangerous wizard on Earth.

“Everyone in your room! Now! He ordered with a severe tone. Then the man made eye contact with Harry and Seena. “You two come with me.” Both teenagers looked at their friends who were still very shocked. The brunette shrugged and dragged the Chosen One with her, following the Headmaster’s tracks.

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The Boy-Who-Lived and The Nemesis were waiting nervously for Dumbledore’s words. The wise man man sitting at his desk, holding his head between his hands and keeping his eyes shut. Harry cleared his throat, trying to get his attention. In vain.

“Sir?” Seena called. Still no reaction.

“Do you realise what could have happened if Voldemort had killed you?” The Headmaster finally scolded.

“But he didn’t! And he won’t be able to kill anymore now!” The Nemesis replied furiously. She couldn’t stand that she was being scold for getting rid off a mass murderer.

“Sir, Seena’s right...Voldemort’s dead, it’s all that matters...” Harry stated, trying to defend his friend.

“Do I have to remind you that he already died once? He will come back one day or another!”

“So what? We’ll defeat him again!” The brunette exclaimed. Harry nodded. Dumbledore looked at them and sighed.

‘So much courage for so young wizards...’

“We have to find the Horcruxes...” The Headmaster said more calmly.

The sun was rising when Harry and Seena finally went back to their bedrooms. But they weren’t able to sleep because of Ron and Hermione who wanted the details. Both tried to reassure them, but inside they knew the worse was to come.

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The next morning, the students in the Great Hall were very animated and impatient. Those who had not assisted to the previous night’s events had heard the gossips. Voldemort, You-Know-Who, The Dark Lord was dead. When Albus Dumbledore stood up to speak, the students immediately calmed down.

“I presume you all know that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is dead. I won’t tell you anything else about it, it’s all you have to know.” Dumbledore observed his students. “But the news of his death must not be taken as a pretext not to stay on your guard. The Death Eaters are still here, and they will keep on serving their master’s will. Please be careful, and stay together. The War is not over, and marching against the enemy on your own is not courage, it is stupidity.” Hermione noticed the look of anger both in Dumbledore’s and Seena’s eyes. Her girlfriend’s knuckles were turning white. The messy-haired girl put her hand on her girlfriend’s and squeezed it gently to soothe her. None of them had talked about the change of their relationship or the words spoken that night. And Seena felt worse than ever. She loved Hermione, and she knew that the feelings were mutual. It was hard for her to know that she would have to put her girlfriend through more pain. Seena looked down at Hermione’s hand on hers and it felt good. Then Dumbledore’s words echoed in her head.

‘Tomorrow night, the three of us are going to find the first Horcruxes and destroy it. None of us can give up before all of them are destroyed or Voldemort will rise again. This quest is more dangerous than everything you’ve faced before. But it’s your duty, to both of you, to accomplish it.’

“Our duty...” She murmured and her eyes found Harry’s. They both nodded in an imperceptible movement.