Chapter thirty-four and a half. The Last Dance
Suddenly, a loud whistling noise tore the delicate music of the Last Dance, walls adorned with frost and garlands shook and some snow fell from the ceiling. People were freezing on the spot, looking up inquiringly.
Through a transparent ceiling of the Hall night sky was visible, it was black and starless all evening, but now particularly bright spots of light were blooming and dying above as if landing on the roof.
The crowd underneath was showing more and more signs of agitation. Dumbledore asked everybody to leave the Hall carefully, most of the teachers were hurrying towards one of the side emergency stairs that led to the roof.
In a mass of invitees presently squeezing through the front doors Malfoy and Zabini were trying to make their way in the opposite direction:
- You don't understand! I have to go: if my father doesn't see me with the Death Eaters tonight, he's gonna kill me! He wants me to enter, that's why I need to prove my worth...
- And my mother will probably be pretty unhappy, if she sees me up there...
- I thought your mother was tough, she didn't strike me as a protective type.
- She is not. She is calculating, doesn't want me to take credit for her stuff accidentally, or step on her toes, what with all this competition in the industry... She is fine with letting me participate wherever I want when she isn't involved, though.
- It's not much! I heard, she volunteers for every mission.
- No, some of them are not to her taste, so she weasels out.
- And offers you as bait?
- Drop it! I'm glad to be in the game.
They spotted the farthest staircase from the one that teachers were using, crept in shadow, put on their masks and hurried upwards.
Hermione looked dazed, she stood still, letting escaping people wash over her.
- What's the matter? - Harry asked impatiently.
- I'll go.
- You can't be serious! Even I think that would be unwise!
- It certainly would for you, but... I might want to try a few things...
- I 'm coming with you!
- No. Don't be offended, but I think you would be rather a nuisance...
- Fine, sweet of you to say so! - Harry fired up and rushed to the exit.
Hermione shoved her glass on the nearby table and drew out her wand.
The night air was cold and invigorating, she shut the window behind her and swiftly mounted the stairs. She pocked her head out, observing the scene. Foes were already deep in contest, several dueling pairs moved in front of her, not paying attention. From time to time a person would drop on the roof, their magical abilities impeded by some spell or injury, they were considered as vanquished.
In the far corner Hermione spotted a person who just beat someone. They seemed to be younger than many other Death Eaters, therefore less likely to be as skilled.
Hermione had no time to lose. Her potential opponent was looking around searchingly.
She sprang out of her hiding place and lit a red light on the tip of her wand.
When Zabini turned to look at the other side of the roof, he saw a new figure dressed in black standing there with their wand lit, glaring at him through the slits in their mask.
- I challenge you! - they shouted, casting the Red Wire.
Zabini caught the challenging spell with his wand. A new duel had began.
Both Hermione and Zabini were leaping restlessly from side to side, dodging dangerous spells of more qualified magicians deep in battle, trying to aim and cast their own spells at the same time. Granger blocked several jinxes without uttering a single word, which was convenient, as she was barely able to breathe having jumped again on the metal railing half her height tall after a protracted running session. Her foe equally unabled by his heart rate, however, was struggling to pronounce a single incantation correctly, that made him rather unpredictable giving that misspelled curses had been either enhanced or spoiled by it with various degrees of probability. Fire around them was ebbing away, most duels were at an end, but Granger decided to use running to her advantage, turning now and then to cast a relatively simple nonverbal spell, which compared to the absence of any definite strategy from her foe was pretty successful.
At last, she saw them fall and approached to finish the duel. At this moment, something else happened. A tall figure rushed in her direction so quickly that she couldn't possibly stop in time. In a fraction of a second Hermione was sprawled on the glass surface of the roof, immobilized, a long wand pointed squarely at her face. A musical voice said :
- I defy you!
Hermione stared at the distant face that she couldn't see clearly, at a long arm that seemed infinite and at the red point of a wand ablaze, dancing between her eyes. There was no possible way out. That was unexpected to say the least, how on earth she would be able to compete with...
- No! Renee, the Dark Lord had forbidden to bring unqualified prisoners! - shouted Snape - besides, there's no time: enforcement is on its way, our mission had been anticipated.
The light in front of Hermione's eyes went out. The night rang with fallen silence.
She walked heavily towards a staircase. She just couldn't understand why Renee decided to challenge her of all people, did she really take her for a qualified?
- You have skill. Zabini seldom makes mistakes - remarked a cold indifferent voice.
Granger turned around, her wand at the ready, to see Snape standing at the middle of the roof, seemingly defenceless.
- Put_that _away - they said lazily, nodding at her weapon.
- I didn't see you at the Ball, Professor.
- I'm not much of a dancer. - they answered.
Well, Dumbledore trusts them... As to their response, they might as well be bluffing, then again, they would've said just that if they weren't. - Thought Hermione, before doing as she was told.
- I only want to convey a message, from Professor Dumbledore. They wish to speak to you tomorrow morning at the end of the breakfast. _ - Snape paused an added curtly, with neglect - _ They also wish you a pleasant evening and congratulate you upon your performance.
With that they passed speechless Granger and hurried down the stairs.