Of Days and Ends

A/N: I just wanted to let everyone know that I love to write, but this is my first public piece. I plan to stay true to the JKR world, characters, magic, etc. and must make it clear that this is non-DH compliant only. Any other straying from the plot should probably just be considered artistic liberty. I hope you enjoy this!
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Chapter 1—Looking for Trouble

Hermione Granger, best friend of Harry Potter, brave Gryffindor, bushy-haired know-it-all, and bookworm extraordinaire was never really the sort that anyone would call stupid. Annoying, yes. Opinionated, that was certain. Prying, unbelievably so, but certainly not stupid.

Of the trio, Hermione was the least publicized since she, Harry, and Ron left the school the previous spring. It would seem that Witch Weekly was obsessively smitten with the charismatic Harry Potter hero. The boy-who-lived was given mention in every issue at least once, and to Harry’s horror and embarrassment, an extensive spread was published featuring the boy-who-never-gives-up as the central fantasy character submitted by several horny witches. The Daily Prophet, too, were following Harry closely, and a “Potter Spotter” column was even beginning to gain momentum.

Ron received a large amount of publicity as well. He was filling out significantly, and turning heads now that appealing muscles were beginning to form. The Quibbler made a special suggestion that Ron avoid the Pedwarfic Succubine’s accosting tendencies of young attractive men, and though she wasn’t mentioned directly, Hermione amusingly knew it was a warning for her as well.

The only mention that Hermione was privileged enough to receive was from Rita Skeeter who boldly inferred that Hermione would be a liability to the trio. However, she was proving to be more of a godsend.

In school, she was indisputably the brightest witch of her age, but since their move to Grimmald Place where the library was limited, Hermione was developing a new genius. She began to improvise and experiment and write new spells whenever she could. Between Moody’s lesson-disguised sadism, McGonagall’s occasional books, Bill and Fleur’s increasingly complicated wedding plans, and the construction of a potions lab, Hermione barely had time to invent spells and even less time to finish her potions recipes. Regardless, Hermione seemed to find plenty of time to get herself in trouble.

It began with an improvised spell that was supposed to track her lost earrings in her third week at Grimmauld Place . Then, when Crookshanks managed to escape and went missing the new spell was performed for him. She managed to find him arched over the back of a very panicked-looking female a couple blocks from their home, to Harry and Ron’s amusement. The visiting Ginny who was only left unsupervised during Order meetings these days, suggested bringing the scruffy female home with them, and levitated the cats back to Grimmald Place . The success of the spell made Hermione wonder.

In fact, in her current position, Hermione wished she had known when to shut her curiosity off. She admitted to herself that the idea had become quite an obsession with her, as she lay, hidden beneath a rock at the border of a small clearing. Only a fool would cast out for Severus Snape, and yet, that is just what the brilliant Hermione Granger had done. Worse, she had done it by herself under the guise of visiting her parents.

Now, as the pops of death eaters filled the air within the clearing and Voldemort’s ranks were revealed, Hermione felt her blood go cold. They knew that the group had really grown since their first regrouping in the graveyard, but she was horrified to count nearly fifty death eaters in attendance. They stood eerily still in semicircular ranks waiting. Their general appeared in a flourish, flanked by two other Death Eaters with what appeared to be a bundle of black robes at their feet.

Just as pale and hideously snake-like as ever, Voldemort commanded the attention of all those present with an aura of fear and they all seemed to even lean forward slightly as he began to speak. The frightened quivering of the Death Eater to Voldemort’s left hand side and the glint of silver metal under the sleeve of his robes made it obvious that Wormtail was in attendance. She was intensely curious about the tall man to Voldemort’s right hand side and the mysterious bundle.

It appeared the bundle was not going to be a mystery much longer as Voldemort drew his wand and pointed at it. “Rise,” he spoke softly to the bundle, though missing no venom in his voice, “This is the final day of your punishment, and then I will extend my mercy to you.”

The bundle quivered and then slowly lifted from the ground, and the human form of a badly beaten body became slowly evident. Hermione used every ounce of her self-control she had to avoid being detected with any movement or the horrified wail that threatened to leave her throat as she recognized Draco Malfoy’s beautiful blond hair matted with blood where it had not been ripped clean out and his beautiful grey eyes that stared out blankly over the other Death Eaters under swollen, sleep-deprived lids, and a swollen brow. Empathetic tears rolled silently down her cheek as Voldemort raised his wand to begin.

Draco couldn’t have been ready for the crucio that was placed on him and she counted the seconds until it stopped with her eyes closed and his screams in her ears. She didn’t notice when the right-hand man moved around to the outside of the gathering, and followed the perimeter closely and secretively moving ever closer to her. The end of the screams made her slowly open her eyes to see Draco passed out at Voldemort’s feet and Voldemort’s eyes looking at the rock outcropping where she was hidden with narrowed eyes. She didn’t have time to react as a strong arm had her contained within seconds and the strong cold grasp of a hand in her hair yanked her out of hiding. She found herself faced with the cold horror of being found.

Think, think! She screamed to herself, wide eyed and growing steadily panicky. Voldemort began to smile. Think!

“Msssssss. Granger,” he said silkily, as though inviting her for tea, “I can’t say it’s a pleasure to see you, but I think that will change soon.”

The hand on her head jostled her roughly and she struggled to get out of that grip while screaming, think! Think! THINK! And suddenly it came to her. It was a bit of a desperate hope and she wasn’t sure it would work but she decided to try anyhow.

“Bring her here.” Voldemort said and he became very serious, “This is a great opportunity. So much for being a bright witch!” he snapped.

Hermione focused her mind for the side-along apparation as the right-hand Death Eater gripped her hair more tightly, and apparated successfully right into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. She didn’t have time for victory as it became abundantly clear whom she had brought along with her. The apparation would have only let her through if Dumbledore himself had given the person the secret and there happened to be an Order of the Phoenix meeting at the time, so it couldn’t be a current member, which left only one option.

He shoved her back to the pantry so hard that she could only breathlessly say, “Snape!” He yanked off his hood, automatically pushed his hand over her mouth, pressed his body along hers to stop her struggles, and hissed “Legilimens!”

Immediately, her mind was flooded with memories that he expertly fished through to the most recent ones. She was horrified at the secrets her mind was giving away and fought him to stop the pillage of her brain. He was strong, however, and she let out a pitiful wail through his fingers.

“Hermione, are you back?” Ginny called out from the living room where she had been left temporarily outside of her mother’s visual supervision to play exploding snap with the boys during the meeting. That was enough to stop Snape, but he still held her. His eyes flashed dangerously, warning her to keep silent, and she couldn’t explain why, but she complied. Hermione leaned back against the pantry door causing it to clunk shut, and she was relieved to hear Ginny coming around the corner to investigate. When Ginny’s curious brown eyes met the sight before her she reverted instantly into defense, screamed, “stupefy!” and shot a hex just past their ex-professor’s ear. In the split second it took Ginny to fire three more hexes at him, Snape was just grabbing his wand and drawing Hermione around to use as a human shield.

It was a standoff as Ginny kept her wand trained on Snape using the door of the pantry as a shield, and three seconds later Harry and Ron were by her side.

“You’re outnumbered, Snape.” Harry said with barely controlled fury.

When Snape smiled, in response, Harry cursed furiously. “Oh, Potter, how many times in your life does the enemy tell you how to win, and how many times will you ignore him?” Harry shook with anger and Snape’s smile increased. Snape’s voice had always been very characteristic of him, and secretly Hermione always loved to listen to his bass tones and sarcastic manner. She had, however, never been this close to him while he spoke and was surprised to find herself relaxing in his arms with the deep reverberations emanating from his chest. Snape noticed, and put his lips down close to her ear while never removing his eyes from the three at the door, “Don’t speak. Just listen: number 62 Florentine Way, northwest corner of Elizabeth and Keith. All the resources are yours, but find the--.”

“I’ve got to get the kids to— Severus!” Mrs. Weasley was the first to leave the meeting room and froze at the sight before her. Moody and Kingsley, who were in turn bustled out of the way by Headmistress McGonagall, immediately flanked Mrs. Weasley.

As Hermione’s breathing quickened, she was in awe that Snape remained calm. He merely tightened his grip around her and she felt his heart remain at the same tempo though her own was thundering in panic. “Find…” he whispered, “The Book of Days and Ends. Understand?”

Hermione twisted around to look him in the eye. As a Legilimens, he would be able to see that she understood his instructions. He sneered once more around the room before turning to look very seriously into her eyes. Hermione’s heart raced as the simple movement of turning towards her amplified his nearness. When he saw the answer he wanted, he sneered down at her. Everyone watching began to show signs of their confusion as he turned back towards them. “Occlumency, Harry.”

Before any response could be made, Snape shoved Hermione forward, and in the melee of attempting to catch her, Snape disapparated to safety. Ron caught her in his arms as everyone else rushed into the empty kitchen. Hermione shoved herself out of his arms and spun around as everyone rushed past her into the kitchen. There was some confusion as everyone scrambled about and Harry, Kingsley, Moody, and McGonagall began shouting orders. Mrs. Weasley turned to Hermione who remained in the doorway and made the first inquiry. “Are you okay, dear?”

“I--I’m fine.” Hermione said with a nervous smile, and Mrs. Weasley folded her into her arms.

Headmistress McGonagall was the next person to notice Hermione and asked, “Ms. Granger, how long was he here?”

“I can’t even believe he dared! I mean he must have expected someone to be in the kitchen!” Ginny interjected.

“Some bloody nerve!” Ron raged

The immediate reaction was a gnarled cane over the head from Moody, a slap to the back of the head from his mother, and a scolding, “Language, Mr. Weasley!” from the Headmistress. McGonagall silenced the confusing din with a stern, “Now really! Silence!” The suffocating silence that fell over the group suddenly made the room feel very hot. “Now, Ms. Granger?”

“Yes, professor—er—Headmistress. He had been here about… 2 minutes before Ginny came in, I suppose.” Hermione hated the attention and carefully avoided Ron’s eyes.

“What was he saying?”

“Saying?”

“Yes, he was whispering to you.”

This was what she had worried about, and her brilliant mind immediately began to seek a suitable lie, “Oh that…” she scowled with a very convincing air of disappointed amusement, “I could barely hear him actually. He was ridiculously quiet…” She let her voice trail off to a pondering sigh and an equally pensive look, “The only thing I heard was something about The Book of Ways and something… or Days and Ends.”

“Days and Ends!” Moody breathed.

“No! We are not going to let our superstitions get the better of us, Alastor.” McGonagall shot out quickly, though not fully convincingly.

“I’m really not certain anyway.” Hermione added.

“Yes, Ms. Granger, but I’d like to hold an emergency meeting anyhow, to discuss this latest--”

“Wait… what’s The Book of Days and Ends?” Harry demanded.

“It is the only Pure Arts Book of uncon--” the Headmistress tried to explain.

“Pure Arts, headmistress?” Ginny chimed in.

“Pure, as in, neither Good nor Dark magic. Pure. It is an old art form and demands extreme amounts of energy. There are not many that can actually produce the necessary power. It would even have been a challenge for Albus.” McGonagall allowed some silence to pass sentimentally before continuing, “Anyhow, it is the only confirmed book in existence written by Merlin himself,” the headmistress explained, “but it is mere legend, Mr. Potter. Hermione likely heard wrong.”

Harry opened his mouth to argue when he caught site of Hermione’s minute shake of her head and he stopped. He stared incredulously at her for a second as the adults began filing away to restart the meeting. Ron had noticed as well and took her hand to lead everyone to a bedroom upstairs. The four stayed silent all the way to the top.

“I know they already asked you, but you aren’t hurt, are you?” Ginny asked.

“My head is beginning to hurt from where he grabbed my hair, but otherwise, I’m fine.” Hermione answered.

“He grabbed yo--” interrupted Ron.

“Not now Ron!” She crossed the small room to the vanity mirror bench and sat down, “What he really told me was—was--” She frowned, frustrated as her mouth seemed to get stuck on the first syllable.

“You forgot!” Harry accused sharply, with a frustrated sigh.

“Oh, shut up. I did not forget, I just can’t tell you, and before you say anything. Not won’t, can’t. I think he gave me the address to a secret-kept location.”

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A/N: I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. I also hope you will write reviews, because I really need feedback. I have always loved to write, but you know how family can be. I was always afraid they were just being nice, so I need you to tell me how I’m doing. Besides, the little voice in my head demands attention and threatens to stop working without it. Thank you all!