Golem

Hermione's head spun from the funerals she'd attended. She was glad no one had talked about the way Neville had died; she wasn't sure she had the restraint necessary to stop herself from speaking out. Any word about it could get them all killed, while she stayed safely outside of Hogwarts.

She didn't want her parents with her at any of them. It was easier to keep using dimension door or teleport to get around than sit in a confined space for hours on end. Besides, everyone kept arriving by floo powder or apparition anyway, so she wasn't out of place. It also gave her time to be alone, something she wanted more than anything.

She wanted to speak about Neville, but she knew she couldn't do it without mentioning Rose. Everyone thought it was the ultimate sign that she'd abandoned them, that she was blind where Rose was concerned, but Hermione knew better. She knew Rose wasn't evil, that she'd never kill Hermione, Luna, or Neville.

There was a break the next day, likely the day they were holding Malfoy's funeral. She wondered if Sally-Anne would go. She hoped so; Sally-Anne had cared so much about him.

She took the opportunity to look in on Luna. Luna had been a complete mess during Neville's funeral, which was no surprise. Hermione wished he'd run, that he'd done whatever was necessary to get out of Hogwarts alive. Most of all, she wished she hadn't put up a fight to stay behind. If she hadn't, maybe they all could've gotten out alive. Maybe Neville would've joined them on their quest. Of course, if he had, she would've had to have put up with them making eyes at each other the entire time.

Luna was no better the next day. When Hermione got there, Luna insisted that they sit outside.

"I miss his smell. I'll never smell him again, and I think that's the hardest part."

Hermione struggled to smile, forcing herself to be strong for Luna. She needed it most of all.

"Brain, are you alright?"

Hermione smiled at her, suddenly overcome with warmth.

"I think I miss Rose calling me Brain. And… and her stupid smile." She wiped away her own tears. "And the stupid way she'd hug me when she got excited. Or how she'd bounce up and down, being too happy for any one person. Like she had to share it with someone or she'd burst."

By the time she'd finished, Hermione was choking out words through sobs. Luna slid closer to her and the girls held one another, the pair of them crying a river.

"We're the only ones that know the truth," Hermione said. "You and me. We've got to stick together, okay?"

"Why? Were you planning not to?"

In spite of everything, a small laugh escaped Hermione's lips. Good old Luna.

"Why don't we have a funeral for Rose?" Luna asked. "I think she'd be happy we're thinking of her."

Hermione pulled out of the hug and nodded, struggling to smile again.

"I think that'd be nice."

If anything was harder than Neville's funeral, or the small memorial for Rose, it was Septima's funeral. Once again, Hermione spotted Sally-Anne in the crowd, and resolved to avoid her. She couldn't talk to her, not yet. She had too much on her mind, like what to say about Septima.

She'd offered to speak, being closer with her than any other student, but it was so hard to find the words, especially considering it'd been Rose that had killed her. It'd been because of Hermione that Septima had died.

She drifted in and out of her own thoughts while other people spoke. Once again, Professor McGonagall was present and spoke well of Septima. Everyone did. It was how Hogwarts was.

When it was Hermione's turn to go up and speak, she still didn't know what she was going to say. She wished she were better with words so she could do Septima justice. So that's what she said.

"I'm no good with words. Maths was always a talent of mine, and Septima saw it right away. She took me under her wing in my first year at Hogwarts, and… I couldn't have gotten half as far as I have without her. She was always vouching for me, always looking out for me. She… she used to say that I'd probably have her job before I graduated, or that I was going to change the world."

Hermione wiped the tears away, giving up on the possibility of maintaining any semblance of composure.

"I'll never forget her. She changed my life more than nearly anyone else at Hogwarts."

Her and Rose.

"She was a brilliant woman who truly cared about me."

And she died because of it.

Hermione couldn't say anything more after that. She lost her composure, but Professor McGonagall found her way to Hermione's side.

"That was wonderful, Ms. Granger. Septima would be proud of you, even now."

"It's all my fault," Hermione said.

"Nonsense. You didn't kill her, nor could you have done anything about Peta-Lorrum."

Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but chose against it, instead allowing herself to be escorted back to her seat. No one knew the truth, nor could they ever know the truth. Not until Slytherin was dealt with. Not until Hermione had found what Rose had left her.

Losha grew accustomed to seeing Brain. It was nice having a sister again. At least, that was how it felt.

She couldn't go a day without thinking of Toad, nor of waking up and not panicking.

She'd forget when she woke up, struggle to find ground so she could get her bearings, then relax when she remembered she was in her bed.

On this particular night, she decided she was tired of sitting around and doing nothing. She kicked off the covers, then rolled around until she fell off and onto the floor. That was an improvement, but not good enough. She still longed for the forest floor, for the fresh air and scent of the woods. For a bed of grass and leaves, rather than fabric and fluff. For the open air. Her old room felt like a cage, trapping her, cutting her off from the outside.

Losha snuck through the house, careful to avoid her father noticing. He worried so much about her, but she was fine.

Each footstep carefully placed to make as little noise as possible.

"If you'd figured out how to become an animagus," Mars said, "I bet you wouldn't be having this problem. Or if you knew how to apparate."

Losha thought back for a moment on her attempts at doing both. Apparition was difficult, and she'd nearly hurt herself trying. Hundreds of attempts, and the closest success she'd had nearly took off her hand. After that, she decided it wasn't a good idea.

"Apparition's necessary," Mercury said, her voice shaky as always. "I've avoided detection hundreds of times because of it."

In her head, Mercury hunched over, looking apprehensive all the time. She was terrified of everything, always looking for an exit. That made her the expert on escaping.

"Which means you're wasting your time again," Mars said. "You could reach inside her memories and figure it out, but you're still afraid."

Flashes of her fight with Lestrange filled her head. Methodically circling her, with the intention of crippling her. The screams of the other Death Eaters as she'd sunk her teeth into their necks.

The taste and smell of blood filled her senses and she doubled over. Clutching her stomach, she tried to regain control of herself before she drew any attention from her father.

It's not one of my memories. It's one of Mars's memories.

Something nuzzled against her, and a new smell chased away the memory of blood. One of comfort and warmth, keeping her safe from everything.

<Moon, are you alright?>

Losha struggled to nod yes, before climbing slowly to her feet.

<I want some fresh air.>

<Follow me.>

Tutela led her through her house to the front door. They quietly opened it, then Losha walked towards the woods not far from her house.

<I don't want to use their memories again. It was horrible.>

<I'm sorry, Moon, but you may not get a choice. If you're to go with Brain, you'll need to be ready to fight. When Rose would look at the world, she'd see conflict and possibilities, problems in need of solving.>

Losha considered it, envisioning what it'd be like to go alongside Brain. She wouldn't be a burden, not again. She had to be strong.

When they reached the woods, she collapsed among the leaves and branches. It was funny; she'd often thought of returning home, but this felt more like home to her than the house in which she'd grown up.

<I miss the forest,> Losha told Tutela. <I want to go back.>

<There won't be time.>

"Besides," Mars said, "Slytherin has got to pay for what it did to Toad."

If there was one thing on which she and Mars agreed, it was that Slytherin had to be stopped. For what it did to Toad, and what it did to Rose. Losha had always known Rose wasn't evil; even though she'd gone on about being jealous, it didn't make sense for her to turn on them. She wasn't mad, and she'd never try to harm Brain, Toad, or Losha.

Losha got to her feet, then sensed the forest around her. It must've still been dark, judging by the sounds she heard.

"Mercury can teach you apparition," Jupiter said. "Each of us have got a different animagus. No one can teach you that. You'll have to do it on your own."

"Good luck," Mars said with a sneer. "We've seen how well you do on your own."

Losha sat down and concentrated. She allowed herself to look inside, her thoughts wandering. She didn't think she'd get it, but she had to try. Being able to disguise herself as an animal would be useful. To slip away, to fly free, or to stand and fight.

I'll be like a Druid, she thought. Nature magic, and the ability to change into an animal. I wonder if I can get it to be different animals, just like a Druid.

She was quite certain that wasn't how it worked, but she held onto hope. Hope that she'd get it eventually. Hope that she wouldn't get in Brain's way.

Brain. Losha couldn't get in her way. She couldn't let Toad down. She had to be strong for him, to help Brain because Toad couldn't. It might be the only way to stop Slytherin from hurting anyone else.

She had to help.

"Mercury," Losha said. "I'd like you to show me how to apparate."

Near the end of July, Hermione and her parents arrived at Luna's house. All the adults had agreed, more or less, on the plan. Luna would ride back with them, then Hermione and Luna would talk to Ana. At least, that was Hermione's understanding of events.

They'd all gathered at the table, and Hermione had a feeling they were about to try talking her out of it.

"We're going," Luna said, sensing the same thing, "you won't talk us out of it."

"Girls," Luna's dad said, "be sensible. Even if you follow Rose's trail, it doesn't mean you two have to run in and fight this Slytherin."

"We may not have to," Hermione said. "We don't know what it's doing. It's possible that if we avoid it, it will ignore us."

That wasn't a lie. Hermione had seen that Slytherin didn't seem to go out of its way if it didn't have to. It had no direct influence outside of Hogwarts, so outside, they were relatively safe. Unless it sent something or someone after them. Thus far, it hadn't.

What Hermione didn't tell them was that she had every intention of going back into Hogwarts to put a stop to Slytherin's plans. She didn't care what they were; they'd involved manipulating Rose, and Hermione wouldn't stand for that.

"How do you know you'll be safe on this quest of yours?" Hermione's mum asked.

"We'll have Tutela with us, of course," Luna said, patting Tutela's head.

"We'll take care of one another," Hermione said, patting Luna's shoulder. "We're more than capable of it."

After that, their parents gave in. Luna's dad hugged her goodbye, then with little warning, did the same to Hermione.

"Keep her safe," he whispered.

"I will, but she can probably hear that."

Tutela trotted after them, then they all piled into Hermione's parents' car.

"I don't like it," Luna said a minute after they'd started.

"It's not long," Hermione said, glancing at the Burrow as they went past. Their other friends were all outside, laughing with one another. Looking closer, she was sure Harry met her gaze.

<Be safe,> he said. <Whatever it is you're doing, just be safe. Both of you.>

<We will. Look after everyone for me.>

<You got it.>

Apart from Luna's questions and attempts to stick her nose out the window, the drive home was uneventful.

"Ready?" Hermione asked as they pulled into her driveway.

"To get out of this thing and never get back in?" Luna asked. "Yes."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, then decided against it.

She helped Luna out of the car, who happily accepted the help getting out.

"Happy?" Hermione asked.

"Yup," Luna replied, taking a deep breath through her nose. "Very."

They walked inside Hermione's house and found Ana waiting for them in the living room. She stood tall and perfectly still until she saw them. Her head turned to watch them as they walked inside.

Crookshanks sat perched on the sofa next to Ana, watching everyone intently. His attention moved to Tutela when she walked in.

Once they were in, Ana turned to Luna and took her hands. The two stood still, Ana's attention on Luna, Luna's apparent attention straight ahead of her.

"What's she doing?" Hermione's mum whispered.

"Which 'she'?" Hermione asked.

"Either one."

"Luna can use speak with anything, so I assume she's communicating with Ana."

It bothered Hermione a little that the message Ana had been given by Rose was being passed to Luna instead of herself. Had Rose planned on this? Had she assumed that Hermione would've brought everyone? What if the clues weren't all for her? What if she needed the others? Or, worst of all, what if she needed Neville?

Her mind began to run away as Luna finished her silent conversation with Ana. Ana withdrew her hands and returned them to her sides.

"Brain, Ana, and I are leaving," Luna said. "She says not to expect any of us to return."

Hermione nodded her understanding, then turned to her parents.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" her dad asked.

Once again, Hermione nodded.

"I'm sure. I will be back, someday. I don't know what Rose left me, but I'll find it, and I'll come home when it's safe."

She hugged both her parents tightly. Part of her wanted to stay there forever, to stay in the safety of her home. But she knew she couldn't. She had to be the one to fight back against Slytherin. She wasn't going to get the option of running away.

After Hermione and her parents parted, Ana stepped up to them. She grasped Hermione's mum's hands and stared silently at her.

"I'll miss you, Ana," she said. "You've become part of our family."

Ana nodded, then turned to Hermione's dad. He extended his hand and shook Ana's.

"I've never liked all this magic nonsense, but she said it. You're part of our family."

Ana nodded, then motioned to the door.

"I guess this is it," Hermione said.

Her parents hugged her again. Her mum had started crying.

"I'll be alright," Hermione said. "I've got Moon to look after me."

"I'll bring her back safely," Luna said.

Somehow, that didn't fill Hermione with as much confidence as she would've liked.

Hermione tried to smile reassuringly, although she was sure it had made it worse. She decided it was best to leave before she continued to make it worse.

Together, she, Luna, and Ana left Hermione's house. As they walked out, Crookshanks leapt from the sofa and followed them.

"Are you coming too?" Hermione asked.

In answer, Crookshanks walked out the door behind Luna and Tutela.

"I suppose so," Hermione said. With a wave of her hand, she summoned anything she could think of for Crookshanks and stowed the supplies in her pack. After that, she left.

"Erm… I doubt Rose considered this," Hermione said as she closed the door, "but aren't people going to wonder why a duct tape golem is walking down the street?"

"Why would they?" Luna asked.

Hermione sighed. Crookshanks stared at Luna. It was going to be a long adventure.

When she turned back to Ana, she'd taken human form. She looked like Rose's sister, Alice. She had pink hair in pigtails and a blue and white dress. Her face wasn't the same, but apart from that, she looked exactly like Alice.

She nodded for them to follow her, then started walking.

Hermione glanced up and down the street, but no one seemed to have seen them. This put her nerves at ease for the moment, then she fell into step with Ana.

"Can you talk now?" she asked.

Ana shook her head.

"Of course not." Hermione turned to Luna. "Have you any idea where we're going?"

��Nope," Luna replied, as optimistic as ever, "but I can't wait to find out."

Hermione sighed again. Yup. Definitely a long adventure.

They walked for hours. Ana led them around streets until the suburbs dropped away and they entered farmland. Eventually, they reached the countryside, moving farther and farther away. Hermione began to suspect that was the point.

A side effect of favor of the martyr, one of the spells on her ring, was that she didn't get tired as easily. She didn't often notice its effects, but this was one of the times she did. Her feet were still sore, but her body wasn't tired from walking for so long.

Crookshanks had no such benefit, and had starting complaining a few hours in. Eventually, he leapt onto Hermione's back and climbed into her pack. His head stuck out, allowing to keep an eye on everything going on.

Beside them, Luna didn't seem to be tiring either. Walking through neighborhoods, Hermione had noticed that they'd drawn some looks as they��d passed by. They were people likely wondering about Luna, who was still covered in tattoos. Tattoos that would shift around every so often. Hermione hoped people would assume it was a trick of the light and not give it another thought.

Perception magic. I've got to work on perception magic.

Ana finally stopped in a field as the sun was beginning to set. The last rays of sunlight outlined the silhouettes of the trees not far from them. Some birds cawed somewhere nearby, but it was otherwise silent.

Hermione looked around, trying to figure out why Ana had stopped here. It seemed ordinary, which could've been the point. She could never tell what Rose was planning.

What would Rose do? She had Ana bring us far away from civilization, so…

She turned to Ana, who had resumed her original form.

"We've got to fight you, haven't we?" Hermione asked.

Ana nodded.

Hermione knew Ana couldn't tell them if they won, not directly, but she figured they'd work out the clue after they won.

Luna crouched down and the runes on her shifted around.

<Remember, she's a golem,> Hermione said. <Don't use magic on her directly.>

<I remember.>

Tutela grew to her larger size and stood ready for an attack.

Crookshanks leapt out of Hermione's pack and climbed up into a tree.

Ana extended her arms and flung them at Hermione. Hermione thought fast and threw down a shield to protect herself.

Luna and Tutela ran in on either side of Ana. Tutela lunged, but Ana bent herself around the attack. Luna jumped over Tutela and raked a claw across Ana.

Ana took the hit, looking unphased. She swung at Luna. As she made contact, her fingers grew to cover her opponent. Once she had a hold of Luna, she grabbed Tutela with her other hand, lifting them both into the air.

"Grappling," Hermione muttered, "why not?"

Not wanting to risk a teleportation spell, Hermione chose to throw her off balance. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a puddle of grease below Ana's feet.

The golem slid around it, then fell to her knees.

With her focus off her captives, she lost her hold on them.

Luna and Tutela slipped out, then Tutela lunged again.

As she did, Luna flicked her arm and rocks shot at Ana.

Ana recovered and avoided Tutela's attack, but took the brunt of Luna's. Tutela wheeled around and lunged again, grabbing Ana before she could recover.

Hermione looked around, trying to plan her own moves. Tutela and Luna continued alternating their attacks, moving around Ana to keep her from knowing who would attack next, or from where the attack would originate.

They fought in unison, looking like they'd done this hundreds of times. Thinking about it, Hermione realized they probably had.

Tentacles of duct tape lashed out at both of them, grabbing Luna and Tutela. Hermione threw grease at her again, but before she could, legs sprouted from Ana and she shuffled away.

<Attack her, Brain!>

Hermione looked around again, but she couldn't think of something. At least, she couldn't think of anything that would leave Ana standing.

Ana constricted Luna and Tutela. Tutela wriggled and struggled to get free.

"Brain!" Luna screamed. "Help us!"

Hermione stepped back, wishing she could run away. She couldn't; she couldn't be responsible for destroying Ana, not after Rose.

But that was her choice, as it'd been before. Her or Rose. Ana or Luna.

"Stop!"

Hermione raised her hand and black ooze flew from the ground at her feet at Ana. It seeped into the cracks in the golem's body, spreading out to her limbs. It covered her, oozing out of every crease.

Then it expanded.

Ana blew apart, dropping Luna and Tutela. The ooze went with her, evaporating in the air.

Pieces of duct tape fluttered around them. Hermione lowered herself to her knees and let what she'd done sink in. Ana was gone. That was one more piece of Rose that was gone from their world.

Luna walked over and sat beside her.

"Are you alright?" Luna asked.

"Not really," Hermione replied, knowing Luna could smell grief on her. "I'll be fine."

She went over everything they'd learned, everything that had happened. There wasn't much, so what were they supposed to have learned from that?

"I don't understand." She turned to Luna. "Did Ana tell you anything else?"

Luna shook her head.

Hermione sat and watched the pieces of Ana flutter around them. Was it supposed to have been a metaphor? Ana fought them because Rose made her, like Rose had fought them presumably because Slytherin had made her? No, that wasn't Rose's style. In her world, you fought your way through the Big Bad's underlings until you reached the Big Bad herself, then fought her to save the land from her tyranny, or to save the ancient artifact she'd stolen, or to stop her from destroying the world. Was that what Rose was doing? Forcing them through all of her creations? Who was next? Her homunculi were gone, Ana was gone, Taltria and Alavel were gone.

She glanced at Tutela.

"Please tell me we don't have to fight you."

Tutela shook her head as Crookshanks walked over and sat down beside Hermione.

"Rose didn't tell her anything," Luna said. "Probably because she knew Tutela would tell me."

Hermione sighed, then flopped down on the grass. She sat up and brushed duct tape away before sitting back down again. When she did, she saw it.

The pieces of Ana had stopped fluttering, instead hanging in the air. They weren't scattered, but concentrated on either the ground, or 10 feet in the air.

She sat up again and looked around. Sure enough, it was the same everywhere. Pieces floated up and hung in the air, or stayed suspended on the ground. Hermione knew better than to assume anything was a coincidence when dealing with Rose. Even the spot Ana had chosen probably had some purpose, one of which must've been getting them away from prying eyes.

"That's odd," she said. "They're just hanging there. In the air and on the ground."

Luna smiled to herself.

"Sky above and earth below."

"What?"

"It's something from Rose's world."

Hermione flashed back to the last time she'd heard that. When Rose had run ahead of them through the trees. She hadn't been remotely exhausted, unlike Hermione and her family.

"That's it!" Hermione exclaimed. She leaned over and hugged Luna for a moment. "Moon, you're brilliant!"

"Thank you, Brain. You are too."

"It's the campsite! Where my family goes every year! We took Rose the first year she'd stayed with us, and she told me about that… song, or poem?"

Luna shrugged.

"It doesn't matter! That must be it. Rose didn't leave whatever we need with Ana, she only left the first clue with her."

"Second," Luna said, nodding to Reflectesalon, "Ref had the first."

Hermione looked up at the stars peeking out overhead. She had a vague idea of where they were. After a minute of straining herself to form a mental image of a map in her head, she gave up.

"We've got to get back to a town and see if we can figure out where we are. Then we can figure out how to get to the campsite."

Luna tilted her head.

"Can't you teleport us there?"

"Erm… I can use it on myself, but I don't know what will happen if I try it on someone else. It could work, or it could rip us both apart."

"And you'd rather do some bonding on the way," Luna said, "I understand."

Hermione smiled at her, not that she could see. It was nice having a small piece of the old Luna back. Before Rose had died, before Slytherin had messed with her head. It wasn't hard to see why Neville had fallen in love with her.

She pushed down memories of her dead friend before her living one caught on to what she was thinking.

"Can you apparate?"

Luna shook her head.

"I'm trying to learn."

"Then we should get started," Hermione said. "We've got a long way to go. Do you want to get anything before we go? Sleeping bag, or toothbrush?"

Luna frowned, still not looking at Hermione.

"Why would I want a sleeping bag or toothbrush?"

Hermione opened her mouth, then remembered with whom she was talking.

"No reason."

Hermione wasn't sure about sleeping on the bare ground, but she figured she'd have to adjust. Luna had been doing it for years, and Neville had spent enough time in the forest. If they could do it, she would too.

"Although," she said as another thought occurred to her, "we could sleep here, walk back to my parents' house, and have them drive us."

Hermione spotted Luna taking small breaths through her nose.

"Is something wrong?" Luna asked.

Hermione looked back the way they'd come. Home wasn't that far away. She could go, stay with her parents, forget all of this before she destroyed something else. She didn't have to be there. Someone else could handle it.

No, the clues were for her. There was no one else, and if she went home, she didn't know if she'd be able to leave again. She'd left home before, but this was different. There was no promise of any comfort. It'd be the two of them, alone, hiking from one place to another.

"Any idea where we'll stay?" Hermione asked.

Luna shook her head.

"Don't worry, Brain. We'll start and see how far we can get."

Hermione nodded, wishing she'd brought along a map of the area. She had maps memorized in her head, but it wasn't perfect. She was confident that she knew the way to a town, but she didn't know what lay between them and their goal.

"Would you be against sleeping indoors?" Hermione asked.

"I'd rather sleep outside. Human beds aren't as comfortable as they used to be."

Hermione smiled at her and put her arm around Luna.

"Same old Moon."