Disclaimer: I don't own any characters, places, spells, names and such like within this story. Believe me if i did...you'd all know my name by now :p

Blurb: When Hogwarts is threatened by attack Draco has a change of heart and tries to divulge the Dark Lord's plans to Harry and the others. Not surprisingly, no one is willing to give him a chance. No one, that is, except Hermione Granger. Now she's the only one who believes him and they only have 7 days. 7 days to convince the others, save Hogwarts, save the world...or RUN!

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The D.A were just having their mid-session coffee break, lounging on chairs that had handily appeared from thin air. Harry looked around, satisfied. Of course, in year 7 now, he didn't really teach the older ones- they didn't need it. But they all helped together to teach the younger students, out of habit and fun more than real need anymore. Their new Defence teacher was ok, better than Umbridge had been at any rate.

"Right guys, are we almost ready to kick off again?" Harry addressed the group at large, returned with a general mumbling of yes. Just then the door burst open and Ginny dashed in, hair flying, breathing heavily. She shut the door behind her and slammed the bolt across. She turned to face them and Harry saw instantly the horror there. "Gin?"

"Dumbledore's been killed!"

-*-

There was stunned silence for some moments as everyone took it in.

"What?" Ron's voice echoed through the perfectly still air as he, Harry and Hermione drew together.

"Dumbledore was murdered. Just now. I went up to his office to hand him an errand from Professor McGonagall and as soon as I walked in I noticed Faulks had vanished. And then I saw him." Her voice was heavy with tears and fear, "His wand was gone and he was stone dead."

"Did you tell McGonagall yet?" Hermione came to her senses.

"I can't believe it." Harry whispered.

"Did you?" Hermione pressed.

"What? No I didn't tell anyone I came right here." The whole D.A was on its feet, looking petrified.

"What?" Hermione was horrified. Then, when she realised no one else would do it for her, she took charge of the D.A. "Right. Dean, run right to McGonagall and tell her what's happened. Terry to Professor Sprout, Neville to Flitwick, Seamus to Snape, Cho go to Hagrid, Luna Sinistra, Padma get to Trelawny." She waited for a reaction but she had none of the authority of Harry, or even Ron to that matter, "Now! Go!" She yelled, and finally people jerked into action. Now she focused her attention back on the others, Ron was stunned, Ginny crying and Harry was just shaking, his eyes dark with anger,

"It just can't be." He whispered, "I want to know who did this." He growled, glaring round at them, challenging them to deny him to chance to kill with his own wand whoever had destroyed his beloved Headmaster. "Ginny I- I just can't believe- will you please take me to see him?"

"You sure you want to?" She was tentative. Harry nodded darkly.

"I'll come mate." Ron stood close by,

"Me too." Hermione wanted to be there.

"No." Harry snapped out of his reverie for the first time, "I need you to look after the others, here, Hermione." She looked frustrated,

"But-"

"Please!" She couldn't say no. Hermione sighed and threw herself grudgingly into an arm chair while the others set off at a running pace. Hermione let herself drift into a semi-dreaming state, it was the only way she could keep calm, to not think. Dean came puffing through the door and she snapped away, standing up right away, full of restless energy again. Dean merely stood and wheezed for a few moments.

"Well?" She demanded walking right up to Dean and shaking him a little.

"They want us in the main hall." He paused, "Now." Everyone started to move in a complete melee. The students began to surge in a panicky, noisy crowd towards the door, nearly knocking Hermione from her feet. She merely stood, eyes closed, waiting for the drama to pass.

Within seconds the entire room had been leeched of students. Hermione didn't want this to be real. The panic that had arisen, she couldn't really take it in. She glanced around the room and vainly looked for something to tidy away, but she knew the room of requirement would already have sorted it. She walked like a ghost and didn't look back as she shut the door. She watched the door vanish into brick.

He's dead Hermione. Everything just changed, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.