The Falling
Darkness Rising

Chapter Six: Unleashed

Voldemort sat staring at his long thin fingers, lost deep in thought. The boy's actions troubled him … and what troubled Lord Voldemort must be dealt with.

"Lucius!"

The sound of a chair toppling across the floor echoed in the silence. Malfoy opened the doors to Voldemort's chamber, straightening his robes as he entered. "You summoned me, my Lord?"

"Any news about Potter?"

"No, my Lord. None has seen the boy since he and his followers rescued his Muggle relatives."

"He did more than rescue some filthy Muggles, Lucius," Voldemort breathed. "He cost me the services of over a hundred werewolves. Without Greyback to keep them in line, we have no leverage over them."

Lucius trembled with fear. "Maybe we can —"

"What of the Mudblood's aunt and uncle?" Voldemort interrupted, not wishing to hear any more excuses or foolish ideas.

"They haven't been seen since their daughter's funeral," Lucius stammered. "We suspect that the Order has moved them to a secure location."

"You suspect? What would be your second choice? That they were buried with their Muggle daughter?" Voldemort rose from his chair and circled the desk, causing Lucius to retreat several paces. "Stand your ground. Show your family name the respect and dignity it demands. Do you believe that you could flee my wrath, should I deem your time has come?"

Lucius' gaze fell to the floor. "No, my Lord. I only wished to show you respect."

"Respect." The hiss filled the room. "If you wish to show me respect, Lucius, bring me news that I find useful."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Fetch me Bella."

Malfoy bowed, then hastily left the chamber. Moments later, Bellatrix entered the chamber, her face lit with excitement.

"My Lord."

"Ah, Bella … my faithful servant. Is she ready?"

Bellatrix's excitement faded. "My Lord, she is ready though still a bit unpredictable."

"I grow tired of waiting. Potter has decided to play but awaits our next move. His hand must be forced before my plan can continue." Voldemort strode across the chamber to the fireplace where Nagini laid curled up near the grate. "You are worried that when the time comes, she will falter."

"My Lord, should she come face-to-face with the brat, there's no guarantee that she will engage."

"Ah, dear Bella." Voldemort turned his gaze back to her, a smile curving his lipless face. "Send her. Initiate phase two. Have our connections within the Ministry ignore any reports that might reach them. When Potter shows, he will be forced to engage. He won't allow those he deems innocent to suffer, no matter who is causing it."

Voldemort strolled back around to his chair. Bellatrix stood motionless, waiting for her dismissal.

"One last thing, Bella."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Send for Severus."

Bellatrix nodded, then swept from the room.

~~~Darkness Rising~~~

Harry awoke with a start, his eyes flying open. The sheer volume of noise coming from beyond the coverings that surrounded his bed was deafening. He threw on his clothes, tore back the covers, and leaped to his feet. He found the boy's section of the sleeping chamber completely deserted. Before he could reach the door, it burst open.

"Easy Harry!" Neville shouted, his arms raised in surrender, the glowing tip of Harry's wand nearly touching his nose.

"Bloody hell, Nev," Harry growled, lowering his wand. "What's with all the noise?"

"There's been an attack in Diagon Alley. Sirius and Bill just left to scout the situation."

"Why am I just now hearing this? Where's Hermione? What bloody time is it?" Harry rubbed his forehead, feeling disorientated.

Neville placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "It's a little after six in the morning. Sirius and Hermione thought that you should get some rest. She sent me to fetch you."

Harry nodded his response, flashing Neville a small smile before hurrying out of the chamber into the main area of their new headquarters. The ever-expanding Room of Requirement. At the center of the room stood the large meeting table, Hermione and her father leaning over some rolls of parchment and books while discussing something in hushed tones.

"Am I interrupting?"

Hermione spun around and embraced Harry before he could react. "Oh, Harry. I'm so sorry to have to wake you. I know that you haven't been sleeping well, but there's been an attack." She released the vice grip she calls a hug to look him in the eyes. "Harry ... we think ... we think that it's Umbridge."

"Really." Harry swallowed, inhaling a ragged breath. "How many are—"

"We have no real idea as of yet," Mr. Granger interjected, his eyes locked on Harry. "Sirius and Bill have headed to London to scout out the situation."

Harry's eyes passed from Mr. Granger to Hermione, then back again. "When did this happen?"

"Reports started flooding in over the wireless right before sunrise." Hermione pointed to the small radio sitting on the table. "Ron and his dad had been listening."

Harry knew that he wasn't the only one having trouble sleeping these days. The rift in the Weasley family tugged at his mind. Forced or not, Voldemort had tricked Molly into turning on everyone for the sake of Ginny. As for Ginny, whether she had joined the Death Eaters willingly or served under the Imperius curse, none knew for certain.

"What are you two working on?" Harry pointed to the books on the table.

"Nothing worth sharing. At least not yet." Harry squinted at Hermione, tilting his head to one side. "Do you trust me, Harry?"

Harry cracked a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Always."

At that moment, the fireplace at the end of the room roared to life, green flames licking the top of the grate. Out stepped Sirius and Bill, dusting off their traveling cloaks and peering around the room.

"Harry!" Sirius shouted, making his way towards the table. "Good that you're awake, lad. Has Hermione updated you to the situation?"

"As much as she knows," Harry replied, his eyes raking his godfather's face. "What have you found? Was it Umbridge?"

Sirius rubbed his hands together. "Yes indeed. Delores Umbridge has resurfaced, and as mad as the day she left Hogwarts."

"Witnesses present were informing the Aurors that she strolled down the alley, firing curses at anything that moved." Bill tugged off his traveling cloak, draping it over the back of one of the chairs. "There were several injured, but none dead. They said that when she reached the ice cream parlor, she grabbed the owner then disapparated."

"Why would she abduct Mr. Fortescue?" Arthur asked, stepping past Harry and passing two steaming cups of coffee to Sirius and Bill.

"Thanks, Dad," Bill sighed, taking a sip and holding the cup with two hands.

Sirius yawned as he accepted his cup. "The Aurors were confused by this as well, Arthur. The best we can assume is that he has something that Voldemort needs."

"You really think that Umbitch is working for Voldemort?" Ron asked in mild disbelief, joining the group in front of the table.

Neville cleared his throat. "Well, didn't Professor Flitwick say that one of the Ravenclaws saw Snape enter the hospital wing before her escape?"

"That's correct," Sirius nodded. "Though this cannot be used to implicate Snape as an agent of Voldemort, it does raise many red flags amongst us and the Order that she is indeed working for old snake face."

Bill smirked. "Don't believe that she's evil enough, Ron?"

"It's not that," Ron shook his head. "The foul toad is evil enough, but I would have thought that she would be less obvious. I mean, look how all his other Death Eaters run about in masks and cloaks. Besides, she's gone mad."

"And Bellatrix Lestrange is sane?" Neville retorted, a quiver to his voice.

Harry cleared his throat. "Point made. Now, how do we find out why and where she took Mr. Fortescue?"

Mr. Granger placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, say we were to find out where this Mr. Forteacue has been taken. What would be your next proposed move? To rescue him?"

"Why do you say that as though it would be a bad idea?" Harry retorted.

"Because you can't win a war by running off after every captured civilian or soldier."

Harry tugged his shoulder free. "So you're proposing that we just let an innocent man be tortured or killed?"

"War is hell, Harry," Sirius added, standing up. "Rescue missions, such as the ones to retrieve your relatives and Hermione's parents," he nodded to Eugene, "were necessary to level the playing field."

"But rescuing someone like Mr. Forteacue isn't worth our time?"

"Harry," Hermione pulled his hand into hers, "Voldemort is baiting you, to see if you'll react. We can't let him lure us into a trap. I know how hard it is to sit back and wait, but—"

"We've got a problem!" Professor McGonagall interrupted, marching into the room.

Sirius spun around. "What's going on, Minerva?"

"Death Eaters have taken Hogsmeade in a siege."

"A siege?" Neville repeated.

"Yes, Mr. Longbottom. A report of masked figures in cloaks marching into establishments all around the square in Hogsmeade has reached the castle. Though no spells, jinxes, or curses have been cast, their intentions are clear."

"It's an awfully bold move," Sirius interjected. "Especially after attacking Diagon Alley only hours earlier."

"Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't."

Professor McGonagall stared at Harry. "What do you mean?"

"Simply this," Harry released Hermione's hand then strolled to the middle of the room, "if Umbitch is under his control, it is. If not, then it's just a bloody bad coincidence for us that they chose the same day. Have the Aurors or the Ministry been informed?"

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No. The Hog's Head was able to send us a brief message, but all communications out of Hogsmeade have been cut off. Our sources inside the Ministry report that they're oblivious to the situation, for now."

"He's trying to smoke us out," Seamus growled. "To see if we're held up here in Hogwarts."

Mr. Granger cleared his throat. "Not necessarily, Mr. Finnigan. Voldemort knows that the Alliance and the Order have connections inside the school. I believe that he's trying to lure us in. Hogsmeade is full of witches and wizards, and is prime bait."

"What do you suggest, Mr. Granger?"

Mr. Granger smiled at Harry. "We draw them out. Anyone have a map of Hogsmeade?"

"The room does," Luna replied, pointing to the table.

The group turned to see a scrolled map unrolled upon its surface.

Mr. Granger clapped his hands as they circled the table. "Excellent. One could get spoiled by magic. Now, Harry, you and a medium-size party apparate to the center square. Draw out the Death Eaters. Lure them into the open. The moment they engage, signal the rest of the Alliance then disapparate to this road here." Mr. Granger pointed to the road leading back to the school. "The rest of us will apparate in here, here, and here. We'll cut them off before they know what hit them."

"What if they use witches and wizards as hostages?"

"Provoke them, Hermione. Taunt them until they make a bold move. Their arrogance is the key."

Hermione stared at her father, wearing an odd expression.

Sirius cleared his throat. "Excellent plan, Eugene. What do you say, Harry?"

Harry glanced at Hermione, then nodded. "Let's go welcome Tom's messengers and see what message they have for us this time."

~~~Darkness Rising~~~

Hermione held one of the new fake galleons in her palm, waiting for Sirius's signal. She watched Harry out of the corner of her eye, not daring to let him see her face. She knew that her concern would be too easy for him to recognize. The galleon burned and her hand trembled as she let out a sigh.

"The others are ready," she whispered.

Harry squeezed her wrist. "Ready to provoke some Death Eaters?"

"I'll leave the provoking to you."

Harry cleared his throat as he and Hermione turned to face the group. "The other Alliance members are in position. When we hit the square, I'm going to announce our arrival. Shields at the ready."

Ron, Arthur, Neville, Cassie, and Bill nodded.

"Alright then. Gather round and grab hold."

As the group gathered in, Harry raised his wand hand. The next moment they were enveloped by Fawkes' fire and swept away. The instant their feet found ground again, Hermione cast a silent shield charm. Wand movements from the group told her that they were doing the exact same thing.

"Morning, Hogsmeade." Harry's magically magnified voice echoed off the buildings and beat against their eardrums. "We've heard that some of Voldemort's mindless followers have decided to stop in for a visit. I speak to them. Step outside, take off your masks and join us in the morning sunshine. I'm sure that we'll provide better entertainment."

The doors to the establishments around the square began to open. Masked Death Eaters emerged, filling the street. On a quick count, Hermione surmised that their greeting party was outnumbered five to one.

"Very bold, Potter." Hermione turned until she found the source of the familiar voice. "Then again, you've made several bold moves lately. Does your confidence come from Granger or from the successful murder of Dumbledore?"

Harry gritted his teeth. "You've adapted well to being a Death Eater, Ginny. Are you really going to stand here face-to-face with your family and attempt to taunt me?"

"I see no family here," Ginny sighed. "Only blood traitors, mudbloods, and a delusional boy with a scar."

"Ginevra!" Mr. Weasley shouted. "Listen to what you're saying!"

Ginny removed her mask, then raised her wand. As she did, several of the surrounding Death Eaters turned and pointed their wands at the buildings.

"I hear what I'm saying, Father, and I mean every word. Now, drop your wands and surrender or we'll destroy these buildings and bury the bound witches and wizards within."

Harry pointed a finger at Ginny. "You have us surrounded and outnumbered. Is the Dark Lord's followers so incompetent that they can't defeat seven witches and wizards? That they have to hide behind hostages and be led by a little girl?" Ginny's face flushed and every Death Eater turned their attention to him. "You want our wands? Come take them. Now!"

Hermione focused on her message and squeezed the fake galleon as the group unleashed a barrage of curses.

"To me!"

Hermione and the others closed in around Harry as he lifted his arm. They were whisked away in a whirl of fire before landing opposite the square. As they did, the rest of the Alliance apparated into Hogsmeade wearing burnt-orange cloaks with hoods and surrounding the Death Eaters.

Chaos reigned. Jets of green and purple flew everywhere, mingled with the unmistakable sound of gunfire. The Death Eaters weren't shaken this time by the Muggle weapon but didn't seem prepared for it either. Deflecting and dodging Muggle artillery had thrown their rhythm off and they were paying for it. Every minute that passed, another Death Eater fell.

Though nearly impossible to tell one Alliance member from another, Hermione believed that she could recognize some of their fighting styles. Seamus and Viktor looked to be battling three Death Eaters, while Sirius and her dad scattered the ranks with a mixture of curses and gunfire. She aimed a cutting curse at a Death Eater that attempted to flank Professor McGonagall while Cassie, Ron, and Neville formed a barrier between the fighting and the residents of Hogsmeade. She heard Harry shout and turned to see him locked in a tight duel with a towering Death Eater.

"Confringo!"

Hermione heard the shout and ducked as she felt the curse strike the wall behind her. The concussion of the blast dropped her to one knee.

"Down where you should be. On one knee before a pureblood princess. Avada —"

Hermione swiped the air, hurling the bombarda curse and forcing Ginny to alter course. "You dare," anger coursed through her and she swiped the air, again and again, sending curse after curse, "attempt to murder me? You bloody little bitch!"

Ginny retreated as she deflected the curses with increasing difficulty. Finally, one of Hermione's curses broke through, striking her in the shoulder. She fell to the ground in pain as Hermione towered over her.

Pure venom pumped through Hermione's veins as she aimed her wand at Ginny's chest. Before she could react, a shield charm expanded between her and Ginny. She looked up to see Harry's hand extended in their direction. The look on his face made her stomach twist into a knot.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

The Death Eater's shouts drew her back to reality. She turned in time to see those that could, including Ginny, disapparating from the square.

"Aurors must be on their way!" Sirius shouted from the opposite side of the square.

"Time to get a move on then!" Cassie retorted. "Madam Bones and Scrimgeour won't be pleased to see us."

Hermione looked back at Harry and the knot in her stomach tightened. He reached out and grabbed ahold of her arm as Cassie disapparated with Ron and Neville. In another whirl of flames, they were gone as well. The moment they appeared in the Room of Requirement, Harry directed Hermione into a side room.

"What happened out there?" Harry's eyes bored into hers.

"I was dueling with Ginny."

"You were going to kill her." His voice cracked with the word, 'kill'. "I could feel it through our wands. Your intent was to kill her where she lay."

Hermione's face flushed. "Her intent was to kill me! Doesn't that mean a bloody thing to you?"

"It does, and if it were any other Death Eater I probably wouldn't have batted an eye. But that was Ginny. Ron, Bill, Fred, and George's sister. Mr. Weasley's daughter. Possibly Imperiused and being forced to —"

"I screwed up! Okay? Is that what you want me to say? I let the moment get away from me! War is hell, remember?"

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I'm not accusing you of anything. It's just that you were so angry and I'm worried about you." Harry moved to embrace her, but she extended her hand to keep him at an arm's length.

She glared at him. "Worried about me, or worried about keeping the Alliance together?" A mixture of shock hurt, and anger filled his face. She couldn't understand where the anger rose from, but it kept coming. "Would you have abandoned me if I had killed her today? Sacrificed me to keep your war with Voldemort going?"

"What are you talking about? I'm not doing this to defeat Voldemort. I'm doing this to protect us, your family, and everyone who means anything to us. This isn't about me or my parents. It's about ending this madness."

Several moments of silence passed as they stared at one another.

"Then don't get bloody upset with me when things get dicey." Harry started to say something, but she turned away. "I want to be alone. I'm headed to my room, and don't you dare follow."

Without a backward glance, Hermione left a bewildered Harry and headed for her room.

~~~Darkness Rising~~~

Amelia Bones blew into the Three Broomsticks, her eyes dancing about the tavern until they found her quarry.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Professor McGonagall sat her fire whiskey down and appraised the fuming witch. "Morning, Madam Minister. I know that a glass of Ogden's before noon isn't usually acceptable behavior for a Hogwarts head, but given the situation …"

"I couldn't bloody well care what you're drinking unless you're sharing and you know it. I'm talking about the dozen dead Death Eaters outside in the square and the reports of seeing Potter here." Madam Bones placed a hand on the counter, then whispered, "You know that he's not supposed to be acting out without my approval."

"I take responsibility for the clutter in the square, Madam Minister. Communication broke down between here and London, so I was forced to do something. It is my duty to protect the school and the students within." Professor McGonagall rose to her full height, peering down at the Madam Minister. "My staff and I shall return to the school and leave you to sort things out. If, for some reason, Harry Potter did show here in Hogsmeade this morning, it was because your Aurors failed to protect this village. Good day."

Madam Bones balled her hand into a fist upon the counter as Professor McGonagall brushed past her.

~~~Darkness Rising~~~

Hermione closed the door behind her before taking a seat on the side of her bed. She brushed her hair out of her face as she tried to understand why she'd gotten so angry.

"Harry had every right to be cross," she muttered aloud. "I lost control. Plain and simple."

"Did you? Are you sure you didn't take control?"

Hermione jerked her head up, looking around the room. "Who's there?"

"Come over to the mirror and see, Hermione."

Her eyes locked upon the mirror hanging on the wall. The voice sounded familiar. She stood up, withdrew her wand, and then hesitated. Should I get Harry?

"There are many things that you need Harry for, but this isn't one of them. Come on, Hermione. Step in front of the mirror."

A chill shot through her body. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"

"I know all your thoughts, Hermione. All your secrets. All your darkest desires. Come. Step in front of the mirror. Deep down, you know who I am."

Trembling, she closed her eyes and stepped in front of the mirror. She opened them, to behold her own face. "Okay. Where are you?"

"Right here."

She had to throw a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. Her reflection had spoken of its own accord. She raised her wand. "Who are you?"

"Are you going to hex a mirror?" her reflection scoffed. "This isn't some trick, Hermione. It's me, or should I say you."

Hermione rubbed her face. "I don't understand."

"Come on, Hermione. Think. Remember the curse? The one that Narcissa Malfoy placed upon us?"

Hermione shivered at the word, 'us'. "What do you mean by us?"

Her reflection smiled. "You're the brightest in all of Hogwarts, but you just can't see it. Pomphrey and McGonagall should have consulted with us. Then they would have gotten it right."

Hermione covered her face with her hands.

"Think, Hermione. You know what's happening. What has happened. The curse was indeed an old one. Older than any living witch or wizard. Thus …"

"Thus, the caster didn't know exactly how to cast it," Hermione finished, dropping her hands and looking back at the mirror.

"There's the brightest witch in a generation. Narcissa had no clue how to cast it and her master was too arrogant. The curse didn't enforce her will upon us …"

"It divided my consciousness into two," Hermione gasped, her knees starting to buckle.

"Don't fall. At least, not yet."

As if on command, she found her strength. "How did you do that?"

"I'm in here too, remember? Time to come to grips with the truth, Hermione. Narcissa wasn't in your head, ever. It has always been us. The curse gave me a voice, then Pomphrey and McGonagall helped finish the job. They were correct. The conflict would have killed us."

"But …"

"How could those thoughts have been yours?" Darkness filled her eyes in the mirror. "Do you really believe yourself to be that righteous? I'll admit that Narcissa did leave some nice suggestions but," a snarl covered her reflection, "I would rather eat slugs than be submissive to her wretch of a son. Harry, on the other hand …"

"Stop!" Hermione shouted, gripping her hair at the thoughts that filled her head.

Her wand hand snapped up and she cast a non-verbal silencing spell at the door. Eyes wide, she stared open-mouthed at her wand.

"Can't have your shouting bringing Harry or members of the Alliance."

Her head jerked back to the mirror. "You did that?"

"I'm you, remember? I'm in here too. You may do most of the driving …"

"Most?" Hermione interrupted. "What do you mean by most?"

"Remember our little duel earlier with Ginny? I gave you the edge. I filled you with the rage and adrenaline necessary to topple the little bitch. Do you think that you could have really killed Dumbledore? Had the nerve? That was me. I killed the bastard!"

Hermione shook her head. "This is insane!"

"I agree. You can't keep thinking of me as you. While I am you, I'm not you. You're Hermione, but you can call me Jean. I always preferred that name anyways. Mum only used it when we were being bad."

Hermione yanked the mirror from the wall then dropped to the bed. "Why are you doing this? Get out of my head!"

"I can't. I'm you, only without anything holding you back. You've tried shutting me out, so I had to get your attention. I'm the you that wanted to dye our hair when we were eight. I'm the you that wanted to shrink our teeth when we were ten. I'm the you that wanted to kill Dumbledore … and did. I'm Jean." Tears flowed down her cheeks. "Don't cry for us, Hermione. Accept us."

"How am I supposed to accept that I'm insane?"

"You're not insane, Hermione. Consider that curse a blessing. It separated us and united us. You're the light, and I'm the darkness. Most can never accept that such things exist within them. They bicker internally and never fully achieve their goals for the conflict. Together, we can accomplish everything."

Her hands shook. "What things can we accomplish together?"

"Everything we've ever wanted, but been too scared to try." Hermione looked down at the mirror and her reflection smirked. "We can put an end to the bigotry in the Magical world, starting with all the Death Eaters and their leader, Voldemort. We can prove that Muggleborns belong in this world and deserve to be treated as equals."

Hermione bit the inside of her lip. "How?"

"By letting me do what is necessary. I can do the things that we need to without concern. You can forgive. I can punish. You can be friendly. I can be manipulative. You can love. I can have fun. You can subdue. I can kill. Together, we can have it all. If you fight me, we will be seen as madder than Bellatrix Lestrange."

Hermione rubbed her forehead. "I've gone mad."

"Not yet. The best way to keep from being seen as such will be not to fight, and to hear me when I speak. That way, we don't have to communicate like this. We can work together. Tell anyone, and they'll think you're mad."

Hermione took a deep breath. Can you hear me now?

Loud and clear, Jean retorted. As always. Now, you're listening.

"What do you want?" Hermione moaned as a tear slipped down her cheek.

No need for tears, Hermione. I want what you want. Let me help, and our dreams can come true. Fight me, and our nightmares will become reality.

Hermione another drew a deep breath, then released it. Very well. What do we do first?

Time to go back to where this all began. Time to deal with Lucius and Draco Malfoy the same way that we dealt with Dumbledore. We've waited long enough.

A/N: We're back! With new updates! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Special thanks to Critters At Play for being beta. Please leave some reviews and let us know what you think! Hope that everyone is staying safe and well. We (my dad and I) have some time and are back at it. I just finished the manuscript for my second book and my dad just finished his first!

We plan on finishing most of our stories this year. We have more to start but are waiting until we get these done first. As always, we solemnly swear that we are up to no good...

JB