Raising Black Banner
T W O
Hermione.
These days all we ever do is training, father told me that our deployment would probably start by next month we will raid Wales. Our informan said The Order been doing their activities there, underground of course. Apparently despite their loss in this war, they still got the mole amongst them. It’s been six months since Professor Dumbledore’s passing, so it’s been six months I never heard from anyone in Hogwarts, my friends from Gryffindor I mean since all of my Slytherins are here with me right here.
During our training here, Pansy got the best ranking in everything. I always wonder what motivates her like that, because her old self is nothing like that. Trust me, I know her. I mean growing up with Pansy and we practically always together in every occasion possible and with her dating or dated Draco, she’s been my sister this whole time. I’m so amazed on her battle skill, like her spell work and fight is mesmerizing. Too bad Draco didn’t join the training with us — I mean he should see Pansy’s skill, since he got different training with the Dark Lord himself, or sometimes he visited Azkaban and training with Grindelwald himself.
Maybe Pansy had changed — or the war changes her? I don’t know. I felt like the war changes everyone, even though like us who was born into the family who support this war and basically growing up and prepared for the war —sometimes we’re not ready when the reality shifting. For me, staying at the Manor is comfortable, attending parties in the Manor or my friends’ manor is comfortable, and attending Hogwarts before the coup is comfortable. But after the coup, I can guarantee that the reality is shifting for everyone in the Wizarding World. How the ministry changes and took over mostly everything : the education, the society, the war —it must’ve been hard for everyone else who didn’t fight on our side. For The Order. I close my eyes firmly, but Pansy’s changes is different. Pansy didn’t stand in the other side of the war, she is on the winning side. But her changing like she just lost her world —like someone crushed it in front of her. Every time I asked her of course she laughed and told me I was delusional for thinking she is change, but something changes in her. I almost feels like those changes that motivates Pansy during training. Like this training is her escape or she needed to ace this training so her world didn’t falling apart. Am I changing too?
—
I found myself wandering the black marble round staircase that leads to the tower —to Draco’s room that night. I was wondering if he’s back from wherever he’s supposed to be. I knocked on his door twice, but I’ve got nothing. I pinch the emerald ring on my finger, hoping Draco knew that I was here or I was looking for him even though I know it doesn’t work that way —that it’s just a locator that shows him where I’ve been or where I’m at. Maybe he’s not back home yet, I said to myself. So I decided to go back to my room, just before I reach the staircase back I saw the door that leads to the balcony on the mezanine floor is opened. Oh somebody must’ve been there —maybe Draco? Just when I reached the door and see the tall broad figure sitting on the balcony bench. I gave a wide smile.
“Theo?” I walk towards him and sit next to him, my tall curly boy friend. I think during this war if I can observe on everyone, I would say Theo is the one who didn’t change much. Well for personality, if talking about his physical appearance of course he changed a lot.
“Hermione!” He shriek while sucking his cigarette deeply before blowing the smoke to the side so it didn’t pass through my face “Where have you been this late hour? Draco huh?”
“Give me that!” I reach for his cigarette forcefully and put it between my teeth, I sucked on it hard and I let the smoke burns my lungs with every sniff. I can see Theo smirk from the corner of my eyes. “Yes, I guess he hasn’t back yet from wherever he needed to be.” I shrugged.
“I heard he’s been deployed to spy on The Order —at Wales.” Theo put his hands at the back of his head and lean back on the wall.
“Alone?” I continue smoking, trying not to look very vibrant towards the issue but Theo just shrugged.
“Theo?”
He look at me, his gaze is so soft and gently like he used to look at me. He didn’t change. “Hmm?”
“Do you think everything will be okay after the war is over?”
He smiled, “I think it’ll be okay Hermione. I’m positive, because with this war or not I still got your back Hermione.”
I smiled on his words, “That is so nice of you Theodore! I really appreciate it.” I slap my hand towards his knee and he try to avoid it but instead of getting away, he captured my hand in his.
“You know I like you right? Like a lot and it’s been a while now.” He confessed, and I just stare deeply into his hazel eyes trying to maintain my smile. He grab the cigarette away from my hand and stomp it
I nod, “I’m pretty much aware of that,”
He nodded back “I’m relieved.” Then he let go of my hand and sit back leaning to the wall and staring blankly at the night sky. “You know if Draco knew I talk to you about this he might’ve avadad me right away.” He chuckled.
“Why would he do that? You’re his best friend and my best friend!” I laughed, realizing that maybe they both already had the conversation first beforehand.
“I don’t know,” He shrugged “Maybe because he loves you so much or he thinks I’m not good enough for you haha” he lets out a crisp laugh.
“That’s nonsense, Theo.” I raise from the chair and stretched out my hand towards him. “Let’s go, we have a lot to do tomorrow.”
He grabbed my hand and escort me back to my room before going down into his room downstairs.
“Goodnight Hermione,” He hugged me
“Goodnight Theo,” and I hugged him back. I open my door and went straight to my bed. It’s a big rendezvous meeting tomorrow. Everyone will be there, everyone including Draco and the Dark Lord.
Everyone in the castle are busy arranging the meeting for tonight which will be held in the main hall on the second floor of the castle —where the whole floor is basically an open space filled with a huge hall and a throne where the Dark Lord sat and also filled with long tables and chairs for meeting like today. The whole house elves that works for the Death Eater’s family already busy preparing meals and cleaning the hall way, dusting the chairs and tables, also decorating the main hall with black Darwin tulips —the Dark Lord favorites flower.
The castle roaming with every Death Eater that you can possibly think of, they are apparating inside the castle from anywhere around the continents —where the Dark Lord send them to do their jobs or their post. The young Death Eater are getting ready for their last training before the meeting tonight —legilimency with Amycus Carrow down in the basement of the castle. Everyone already wearing their Death Eater’s black robe, minus the masks of course since they are not going to a formal meeting so they won’t be using it. Looks like everyone already gathering there when Amycus walks in, he look stiff and cold as per usual.
“So last training before the meeting, I hope everyone ready and giving their best performance today. I believe I have trained you all so well.” He gave a cocky smile at the corner of his mouth, “Now, let’s begin shall we? Miss Malfoy and Mister Zabini, please.”
Hermione calmly walks towards Amycus —to be seated in the chair in front of the class in the damp floor of the basement. While Blaise walking steadfast to sit in front of Hermione, based on their trainings, Legilimency is the most hated subject among anything else yet they have to master legilimency and occlumency to be able fighting this war. The Dark Lord believe that it’s the key to fight The Order while battling with them in the battle field for it’s way more efficient to be able to know what their move or their plan during the fight. So here they are.
“Whenever you’re ready Blaise,” Hermione calmly said across the bench, knowing so well she is so good at occlumency since she already learned it since third year with Alecto and her auntie Bella and Draco throughout Hogwarts.
But Blaise only giving her a sour smile, knowing that he couldn’t get pass through her memory.
“Legilimens!” Blaise pointing out his wand toward Hermione, his eyebrows arched together forming a lot of wrinkle on his forehead —he’s trying to concentrate to tear down Hermione’s wall. On the other hand, Hermione sit calmly and not trying to fight Blaise tooth and nails. The others watching them closely, Theo and Enzo started to boo-ing Blaise but Amycus shot them a deadly look and they knock it off. Daphne is smiling so wide knowing Blaise will loose this one with Hermione, and Pansy doesn’t seem interested at all.
“That’s enough.” Amycus said and Blaise give a long sigh —partly relieved because it’s over since he almost lost half of his power trying to break Hermione’s wall and other thing is relieved that he didn’t have to continue for he fail this one. “Miss Parkinson please switch place with Mister Zabini.”
Then Pansy stands from her seat, making her way gracefuly walking pass Theo and Enzo in the front seat and smile at Hermione. Her bob cut fit perfectly sit on her shoulder and her uniform somehow better fit than other girls’. She looks like a living goddess.
Pansy raised her eyebrows, “Let’s get this over with Hermione.”
“Pans,” Hermione smile, pointing out her wands towards Pansy, “Legilimens!” It doesn’t take long for Hermione to be able to get into Pansy’s mind. It’s not that Pansy was bad at legilimency, she choose to let her in and Hermione gladly swimming inside of her memory. Hermione knew that Pansy only show her the memory that she wants Hemione to know, at first Hermione would play along with that until she hears Draco voice in Pansy’s mind. She looks to the left and saw a bulk of memory of her and Draco trap inside a floating bubble, Hermione tries to reach it. She managed to get into the bubble and there is a snippet of a memory from last year summer party at the Malfoy Manor:
“Whoa, you’re alright sis?” Pansy asked from the door, she’s standing in between the room and the porch— hesitant whether or not walking towards Hermione. Hermione look at Pansy softly and chuckles.
“I’m perfect Pans,” Then Pansy walk right to Hermione, stand beside her with a bottle of firewhiskey almost empty.
“Whoa, it seems like I should be the one to ask you whether or not you’re okay Pansy Parkinson?”
Pansy chuckled, Hermione can tell that Pansy’s half wasted. “Look at me, I’m exceptional!” Pansy twirling around in her maxi black dress but she almost stumble on her feet.
“Whoa, maybe sitting down would be okay Pans.” Hermione grab her shoulder and make her seat in the recliner on the porch. Then Hermione sit with her on the next recliner, relaxing their whole body and grab Pansy’s firewhiskey bottle and empty it out.
“Hey! That is mine!”
“Well it seems like you had enough and I need something stronger Pans, so yeah no it’s not. Bleh” Hermione sticking out my tongue at her and she laughed, followed by my crisp laugh afterwards. The room behind them is loud with music and chattering, it almost felt like the room was too busy for them but they have their own quiet happy world in the backyard pool. This is shooting.
“Hey, I think we should go in the pool right now Hermione,” Pansy inisiating while laughing
Hermione look towards her, “Pans no, we’re wasted and there’s a bunch of people in the room what if they saw us wasted and swimming? Besides we’re wearing dresses.”
Pansy roll her eyes, “We’re not going to swim naked Hermione you sassy little thing, let’s just swim in our dresses and our jewelry. It’ll be fun I promise!”
And the scene moving after we were rescued by Draco and Theo from the pool, I remember I went straight to bed after that impromptu dipping. But her memory showed that later that night she, Draco and Theo had continue their party in the drawing room while having firewhisky. There Draco looks 100% drunks, I can tell because I have never seen him so wasted like that before.
“You know that I can’t be with you Pansy,” Draco blurted out holding his bottle tight to his chest, the other hand laying on the mantel to keep his figure steady on the ground.
“hmm?” Pansy just mumbling
Wait, how can she still remember this if she’s like wasted with me? She even classified this memory into a sorted bubble too.
“Why mate?” Theo blurted into their conversation
“Hermione,” Draco answer and he shook his head.
“What about her Drake?” Pansy asked him finally, getting back into the conversation again.
“I can’t hold this secret for any longer Pans. The reason I cannot be with you because I need to tell you that Herm—”
“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Pansy screams disperse Hermione’s concentration as she pulled out of Pansy’s mind forcefully. Pansy scoff at her when she managed to get her out of her mind.
“Pans..” Hermione gasp, she contemplate for a second whether she should be apologizing or being mad at her because she sense her covering something from her.
They both ended up in a huge silence, staring at each other. Both feeling hurt by each other but can’t spit the word out loud. Seems like everyone in the room was hypnotized by their tensions and none of them trying to separate them. Before they heard a heavy steps from the hall way approaching the basement as the door flung open and a broad tall man figure wearing a Death Eater robe with a gold mask stepping inside.
Amycus Carrow bow down to the figure as he keeps walking towards the young Death Eater. Hermione can’t put her stare off of the figure for she had been longing to see him for quite a while now. Pansy still staring at her closely though the figure has been a huge distraction for everyone in the room.
“General Malfoy,” Amycus greeted him and he took off his mask. Revealing a cold blue eyes and platinum hair framing a strong jaw line. His stare is locked on his sister and Pansy, now Pansy staring back at him. With so much anger in her eyes.
“I’ll take over the legilimency practice from here Amycus.” His voice is heavy and low, still staring closely at both girls. He can read the situation has gone bad during legilimency, and judging from Pansy’s look. She is pissed as hell.
“Of course, I’ll leave you to it.” Amycus bowed down while excusing himself out of the room.
“Thank you ladies, please get back to your seat now.” He said coldly to dismiss Hermione and Pansy from the chair as he darted his sight to Theo. “Let’s try your ability Theodore,” Draco give a little smirk as he raised his eyebrows to Theo. He raised from his seat and paced quickly to the chair and take a seat, followed by Draco only to stand in front of him.
“Legilimens!” Draco pointed out his wand towards Theo without warnings, Theo seems to struggle to stand his ground —building the walls on his mind so Draco couldn’t get in and also to stand himself to sit steady.
“Arghhh,” He groans
“Come on Theo,” Draco grip the back of the chair where he leans on. Been hanging around with my sister apparently, he said to Theo in his mind. And confess something too, I thought we agree on this Theo. I thought you were my friends.
“STOP!!!” He screams but Draco wouldn’t stop invading his thought, “Arghh Protego!” He finally blurted out the spell and Draco pull himself out of his mind. His blue eyes turns into a darker shade of grey as he pin his stare at Theo sharply. The whole room went quiet.
“Class dismissed. Get some rest for the meeting tonight. Do not be late.” Draco storms out of the room wearing back his mask.
Theo snorted out a clump of blood from his nose and wipe it with his thumb. Getting up on his feet and walk away through the door leaving everyone else’s behind.
PANSY.
I went down to the meeting with Daphne and not asking Hermione together because I’m still quite pissed with her this afternoon during legilimency session. I thought if I let her in and show her the memory I wanted her to see it should end well for both of us in front of Amycus, you know? But little did I know she has the audacity to roaming around my other memory. I don’t think I owe her an apology for that, she owe me one for barging into my private memory. If I see it from her shoes, of course she’s pissed because she didn’t get the full information about why Draco and I broke up. But trust me, I’m just trying to protect her.
The hall is packed with all of us sitting in a ranking position. We were ranked based on our family loyalty since we’re still to young to proof our loyalty to the Dark Lord. The sacred twenty eight of course get the front row seat since we are the base of the Death Eater but the top five family are Gaunt (the Dark Lord himself), Malfoy, Lestrange, Nott, and Carrow. While the others sat behind them, I sat with my family next to Daphne’s. We are all wears our masks during this meeting but I can see Hermione’s bushy curly pony tail popping out as she sitting in front of me, next to Draco and Narcissa. I can tell Hermione’s irritation by the way she couldn’t keep her annoying arse steady at the chair so Draco had to hold her hand altogether, I saw their elbow connecting at the armchair. I rolled my eyes inside of my mask.
The room suddenly getting quiet, I assumed the Dark Lord has arrived into the room. I squint my eyes behind my mask to see the tall pale bald figure walking —almost floating across the hall with Nagini on his side. I nod my head in agreement, the Dark Lord is here and the meeting is about to get started. Everyone already rise on their feet, when the Dark Lord reach his throne he stretched out both of his hands towards us and everyone shouting clamorously. Then he took a seat on his throne, with Nagini on his lap and he allow everyone else’s to be seated while showing us his palm.
“Good evening my fellow brave soldiers,” He greeted us with his cold flat smile, I can see his flat nose stretched out as he pull his lips forming his smile. “As you all well known tonight is our major meeting to discuss our success in ruling the magical world in the right path under my command.” The whole room soaring their voices and clapping their hands celebrating.
Then he raise from his throne and pacing back and forth in his throne podium.
“It’s all started when my trustee right hand, my favorite general —young Draco killed Dumbledore successfully. He managed to eliminate one obstacle from my way to reign fully.” Then everyone soaring for Draco, tossing up their wine glasses through the air as he raised from his seat and nod towards the Dark Lord and towards everyone.
“But,” The Dark Lord then stop pacing back and forth, distancing his face from the audience —giving his back “We still have another little obstacle, The Order. And Harry Potter still alive.”
“So tonight I command you all, my very loyal soldiers that we shall hunt The Order down and shut their operational once and for all. Bring Harry Potter to me and I shall kill him myself. Then I can finally reign this with you together. FOREVER!!”
“YEAAAHH!!!”
“KILL THAT POTTER!”
“KILL THE ORDER!”
“VANISH THEM!”
“BURN THEM!”
And all the loud chattering fill the hall, all of them replying towards each other. I found myself clapping towards the speech.
“General Lestrange, please enlighten us with the plan.” He demand Rodolphus, and the man figure walk from his family seat towards the stage. He toss his gold mask aside as he conjure a long war table which contains a 3D maps of Europe on it.
“We shall start The Order operation from here,” Then he pointed out the Wales, “We have been spying on The Order for a while and we can confirmed that they have build a reconnaissance fortress in Wales. We shall ambush the place in fortnight, the fort doesn’t contain many members of The Order but we shall took them as hostages and simply extract the information from there. Since it’s just an easy peasy target, I already spoke to the Dark Lord to deploy the Le Burgeon on the field.”
“General Draco? Do I have your say on this?” The Dark Lord urge him
Draco stand from where his seat “Yes my Lord, I have been spying on Wales for the past month and I supposed Le Burgeon can this as their first job.”
“Very well,” He smile so wide, seems so pleased with Draco’s answer. “Now the rest of you shall follow the plan for part two,” He clasp his hand altogether “Second, General Lestrange please devide them into two battalions : one for preparing the war, one for security guard here and there. And Minister Lucius? You guard our favorite prisoner, she is your major responsibility now.”
Lucius raised from his seat and bow down to him, “Of course my Lord,”
He then raised from his throne, flick his long thin pale finger in the air and a glass of wine slipping into his hand. Then everyone in the room follow the motion : they raised their hand holding their wine glasses.
“Here’s to us! As for tonight I declare our winning on the magical realm! We are raising our black banner tonight, in this castle and in every place we hold as a firm action that we will banish The Order once and for all! To always pure!”
“TO ALWAYS PURE!” Everyone else’s soaring their voices followed by clanking glasses tossing one and another. I then gulp the whole wine in one sipping.
I guess this is it. We raised our black banner, this means the war is officially started.