1

                                    

                                          
May 1st, 1998 -- in the Hog's Head 
                          
Hermione jerked awake. 
                          
"Sorry!" Ron said quickly, his hand still on her shoulder. "Didn't mean to startle you. Harry says Ariana's coming back. It looks like she's got someone with her." 
                          
Hermione pushed off the terrible couch and blinked her bleary eyes. She could just make out the figure in the portrait as she walked closer, someone limping along beside her. "Is that. . ."
                          
"Neville!" Harry cried, jumping back when the portrait swung open. 
                          
"I knew you'd come! I told them all, Harry Potter would never abandon Hogwarts!"
                          
Hermione took in Neville's battered look. His hair was significantly longer than when she'd last seen him. His jersey was ripped. He bore a swollen eye. A violent scar tore across his cheek.
                          
"Neville," Harry said, "you look--"
                          
"Like hell? I'll bet! This is nothing, though. You should see Seamus. You-- Hermione! Ron!" 
                          
Neville jumped out of the hole in the wall and pulled both Ron and Hermione into a hug. As he let go of them, Aberforth Dumbledore returned. 
                          
Hermione wondered if she'd even slept or if she'd just dozed off for a few seconds. 
                          
"Hey, Abe," Neville said, "there might be a couple more people on the way."
                          
Aberforth nodded to Neville, who then turned to the trio. He hopped back into the wall and held out his hand. "Ready?" 
                          
Hermione pushed forward and grabbed Neville's hand, letting him pull her up. Once all three were in, the portrait swung closed again. They followed Neville down the dark tunnel. 
                          
"I don't remember this being on the map," Ron said, if only to break the silence.
                          
"It never existed until now," Neville said, "the seven secret passages were sealed off before the start of the year. This is the only way in or out now. The grounds are crawling with Death Eaters and Dementors."
                          
"How bad is it, Neville?" Hermione asked, "having Snape as a headmaster." 
                          
"Hardly ever see him. It's the Carrows you've got to watch out for." 
                          
"The Carrows?" Harry asked. 
                          
"Brother and sister. They're in charge of discipline."
                          
"They did this to you?" Ron asked, gesturing the wounds he could see. "Why?"
                          
"Today's lesson was practicing the Cruciatus Curse . . . on First Years. I refused. Hogwarts has changed." 
                          
Hermione began to feel as if the tunnel may never come to an end.
                          
~~||~~
                          
The student body was thrilled to see Harry Potter. As Harry began to explain that they'd come to Higwarts in search of something, something they didn't even know about, Hermione's gaze landed on the haphazardly folded Marauder's Map. Between the edges, she could see the corridor outside the Room of Requirement. Pacing along the corridor was a banner with a name on it. 
                          
"I'm not feeling quite well," she murmured to Ron and Neville, "perhaps a bit of fresh air would do me some good." 
                          
Ron started to nod. 
                          
"Absolutely not," Neville said, "who knows what could be lurking out there?"
                          
"I'll take the Map," Hermione said, snatching the parchment and holding it close to her chest. "Besides, there's a window in the corridor. I won't even look out of it."