Scars of War
Author's notes:
This story takes place post book six and contains spoilers for at least POA, OOTP, and HBP. You have been warned!
Summary: The War has not gone as it should. There have been many tragedies and many people have been forced to do things that they otherwise would not, with losses on both sides of the conflict. The story is from Hermione Granger's POV, and occasionally from a few others.
Things to know before you read: I have written this as close to character as I can but, being American, I speak differently than those of you across the way. Also, I have created "new" spells by having Hermione do her homework in the spell research division, including one that allows the ability to mind-speak. Lastly, this story will be dark, because acts of war are dark.
Disclaimer: Own Harry Potter, etc.? You're funny, you know that? (Of course all of this, except for the story line and a few other odds and ends, is the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling.)
Chapter 1: Underestimated
She spun, holding her wand loosely in her hand, and lashed out viciously with a side kick to the ribs of the nearest wizard. The man fell as a crack resounded, signaling the first of many broken bones to come. He stayed down. That left the two witches on her right and the remaining wizard on her left. Hermione stayed low, holding her martial arts position. The two witches exchanged a glance, looking wary. Hermione heard the scuff of a shoe and dodged just barely as a fist missed her face. With a single thought, she flicked her wand and the errant wizard was upside down, held high in the air as if by an invisible hook. He struggled furiously, but the spell held him immobile. Hermione turned her attention back to the witches who were throwing stunning spells at her. Hermione used the Protego charm and felt the spells deflect past her. Her wand twirling in her hand, she released her own barrage of spells, none of them pleasant. One of the witches fell with a cry and Hermione smiled grimly. The last witch looked scared as she faced the younger witch. She opened her mouth to cast a spell too late. Hermione sent a spell at the woman. It erupted from her wand in a straight black line until it reached the witch. Then it exploded open and wrapped around her, as efficiently as a fish in a net. Hermione stunned the woman and canceled the spell on the levitating wizard who fell onto his head, moaned once and then was silent. She looked at the devastation around her. She shook her head once and then Disapparated with a deafening crack.
"Did you get it?" Tonks asked, her face creased with worry. Hermione looked at her, surprised that she hadn't noticed how much older the Auror looked. When she thought about it, they all probably looked older because of the terror, pain and anger the War was producing.
"Yeah," Hermione said, pulling a small, lumpy parcel from her back pocket. Tonks took it from her; as she did so, her face seemed to smooth as if someone had run an iron over it. "Any trouble?" the Auror asked dryly, taking in Hermione's torn jacket and jeans. "Only a bit," Hermione said, suddenly weary. She pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat down, casting a healing spell as she did so. She aimed her wand at the scrape on her knee and used her other hand to wipe the blood away where it was threatening to fall into her right eye.
"How many this time?"
"Two Inferi, two witches and two wizards," Hermione said, now moving her wand to her eye.
Tonks chuckled dryly and fixed Hermione with a look. "The Dark Lord underestimated you. He won't do that again."
Hermione looked away from the other woman. "I know."
A/N: Eager to know what happens next? What is in the mysterious package? Don't worry, more characters are forth-coming as is a back story of sorts. Please give me a few reviews, like five, and I'll update. I especially appreciate comments about my writing-if it sounds okay, any grammatical/spelling errors, thanks.