A/N Hello faithful readers. I am sorry that I have been gone from this site for a short time but a lot of things have happened in my life. I lost my foster son that we were planning to adopt. They gave him back to his birth mom on November 20. I still get to see him a few times a week but its not the same. So I took a break from writing. I am working on the next chapter of 'How to survive getting stranded with your enemy". Look for it in the next few weeks. This story is a little different. I am trying to write it totally canon. It picks up after the epilouge ends in Deathly Hallows with only one minor change in that book. So I hope you like it. I have been working on this for quite a while and it will update once a month. Happy reading and please review! I need some happy comments! Recalling the Past
It had been nearly two weeks since Hermione, Ron and Hugo dropped Rose off at King's cross station. She had known it would be hard, seeing her little girl off to Hogwarts. She supposed it was how her own parents felt when she had gone off to school, but at least she had Hugo to occupy her mind. And her work of course. Working for the department of magical law enforcement had been her dream come true. So that morning after fixing Hugo breakfast and sending him off by floo to Aunt Ginny's she prepared to leave for work. After showering she studied herself in the mirror. She would be turning thirty eight in less than a week's time. Hermione considered herself to look much younger than she was, but this morning she noticed that time was beginning to take its toll on her once youthful appearance. Small lines around her eyes and mouth had begun to appear. Molly had shown her some charms to lessen the signs of aging but she ignored them.
'I've earned these lines.' she thought to herself as she brushed her hair and pulled it into her all too customary bun. She looked at the clock on the wall and realized that she was going to be late if she didn't hurry. Grabbing her wand she used it to dress quickly and then ran for the fireplace.
"Ministry of Magic!" she shouted, throwing the ash like glittering powder into the orange flames. They turned green instantly and she walked into them. She was whooshed into a vacant fireplace in the ministry's main entrance hall. That entrance had changed a lot since the days of Fudge and Scrimgegour. It was bright and cheery, with lots of magical windows beaming in sunshine and blue skies. All the black marble had been replaced with warm; honey toned oak and brass trim. The fountain of magical brethren, which had been destroyed once and then rebuilt to put fear in muggles and muggleborns, had also been replaced with a solid gold statue of witches, wizards and all magical creatures together around shallow pool. All proceeds were still donated to St. Mungo's hospital. She ran past the fountain and headed to the lifts. She pressed the number two to head down to her office.
"Morning." she said lightly to another witch who had entered the lift. She was carrying a teapot that seemed to be oozing slightly. The witch noticed the two was already pressed and settled in for the ride. Moments later they both stepped off and the other witch headed for the Misuse of muggle artifacts office, still run by Arthur Weasley. Hermione walked past this and headed for her office.
Hermione Weasleys office was light and bright. It was painted a pale blue color with light wood accents. Her desk was simple and her walls lined with books. She set her bag down on her cream colored wingchair and sat behind the desk. Papers to be signed sat in a tray labeled 'in'. She picked up the first one, scanned it, signed it, put it in the tray labeled 'out' and moved to the next one. And this is how she spent her morning. And nearly every morning before that since she had taken over the department.
'At least when I worked in the department of regulation and control of magical creatures I got to make a difference.' she thought glumly as she shuffled more papers from 'in' to 'out'.
By lunchtime she was ready for a break. She walked to the cafeteria that used to be some unused offices and sat down. Ron was meeting her for lunch, as he did everyday, and he was usually late. Hermione tapped her fingers patiently on the table and soon Harry and Ron walked in.
"Hello love." Ron said kissing her on the cheek.
"Hello." she said back. "Hi Harry."
Ron looked almost the same as he had back in school. He had grown into his hands and feet, his hair was receding slightly and his skin was slightly less freckly, but you could spot him easily. Harry looked amazingly good for all he had been through in his life. A slight hint of grey at his temples was most likely the result of something James and Albus had done rather than the natural aging process.
"Hey Hermione. How's work today?"
"Same as usual. How are things with you?"
"Boring."
"Yeah." she said. "I know how that is."
"Well what will it be today?" a tall, slender man said carrying a small notebook asked them.
"Same." all three of them replied at once. The man nodded and went off to fetch their order.
"I wish they would get some new food options." Hermione complained. "I may start bringing my lunch."
"I love the food here." Ron said happily, thinking of the steak and kidney pie that would be in front of him any second.
"Hermione's right. It's getting old. I'll speak with the staff about varying the menu." he said staring off out the window.
Moments later their food arrived. Steak and kidney pie for Ron, chicken ceaser salad for Hermione and sausage and potatoes for Harry. They ate quickly and said nearly nothing. Hermione picked at her salad, eating only a few bites before getting up to leave.
"You alright?" Ron managed to get out with a mouth full of food.
"Fine, just a lot of paperwork to get done. See you at home later, don't be too late." she said bending down and kissing the tip of Ron's nose. He nodded and went back to his food.
"Bye Harry."
Harry gave her a wave before watching her walk out the door.
Back at her desk she was about to do more paperwork when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." she called out.
It was Kingsley Shacklebolt, the minister of Magic.
"Minister," Hermione said suddenly. She stood up to greet him.
"Hermione, how many times have I told you just to call me Kingsley. I've known you nearly 20 years now, formalities are not necessary." he said taking her hand and smiling.
"What can I do for you Kingsley?" she asked sitting back down at her desk and motioning for him to sit in a seat nearby.
"Well I have a special project for you to work on."
"Oh great!" Hermione said eagerly.
"I'm glad you are so enthusiastic. It's going to be quite difficult for you. But I feel you are up to the challenge."
"Well what is it?" she asked taking out a quill and paper.
"One of our most generous benefactors is concerned about security on one of his new Quidditch projects. He needs some new charms and spells to protect his trade secrets."
"Well that seems simple enough." Hermione replied writing down everything Kingsley was saying.
"Well…yes and no. This particular man might be difficult to work with."
"Who is it?" she asked.
"I will just let you meet him this afternoon. You two can work it out among yourselves. He is quite skilled at potions, but his charm work is lacking entirely. That's where you come in."
"I'm glad you think so much of me." she said blushing slightly. "When will I meet this mysterious benefactor?"
"Oh sometime this afternoon I suspect. He may be a bit late; he's a very busy man." Kingsley said as he stood up to leave.
"I always work late anyway." she replied.
"Wonderful. I knew you were the perfect person for the job." he said heading out the door. "Keep an open mind Hermione." was the last thing he said before shutting the door.
"Whatever does that mean?" she wondered.
The afternoon went slowly. Hermione felt the minutes tick like hours and the suspense of her new project was killing her. Every time someone walked past the door she would straighten up and look at her door intensely. When no one came in she returned to her mindless work and tried to make the hours go quickly. At about 5:30 Ron came in to take her home.
"Ready honey?" he asked grabbing her coat and bag for her.
"I can't." she said looking at her watch. "I have a new client coming by. The minister asked me to take care of it personally."
"Oh, well when is this person coming by? Ginny expects me to pick up Hugo soon."
"He didn't give a time, just that it would be sometime late this afternoon."
"Hermione it's almost 6. Skive off and come home."
"You know I can't. Pick up Hugo and order dinner out. I'll be home as soon as I can." she said standing on her tiptoes and kissing him lightly.
Ron nodded and headed out the door. Hermione sat back down and finished the last of her paperwork for the day. Then for the next hour she looked out the magical windows of the office bored to tears. By 7pm she was ready to leave when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." she called somewhat annoyed at the late hour of the meeting.
She stood up and smoothed her skirt. The man who entered was tall and was covered in a dark cloak and hood.
"Sorry about the late hour of my visit." the man said. Something was familiar about his voice.
"The minister warned me you might be late. I don't mind." she said trying to make light of her annoyance. He took his hood down but was still fumbling with something in his hand. She couldn't see his face.
"I didn't plan to be this late, but well the Headmaster of my son's school owled and I was needed there immediately."
"Does your son go to Hogwarts?" she asked.
"Yes, first year." he said looking up. The cold ice gray of his eyes pierced her right away and her breath caught in her throat.
She flashed back nineteen years to a lavishly decorated room in an aging country manor.
"If she dies under questioning, I'll take you next," she said. "Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book. Take them downstairs, Greyback, and make sure they are secure, but do nothing more to them- yet."
Hermione watched the hunched over werewolf take Harry, Ron and the others out of the room leaving only the Malfoys and Bellatrix. Hermione could feel her whole body shaking. Draco was staring at the fire and Lucius and his wife were whispering excitedly in the corner.
"I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? WHERE?" she shouted at Hermione.
"We found it, we found it! PLEASE!" Hermione screamed again.
"You are lying; filthy Mudblood and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth!"
Hermione screamed louder than ever. Her eyes pleading. Draco turned to look at her. He felt powerless to stop anything going on. He turned away from her again and stared straight ahead.
"What else did you take what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!"
Hermione screamed out from the intense pain. Thousands of knifes were piercing every inch of her body. She fell on the floor twitching and panting.
"How did you get into my vault?" Bellatrix asked. "Dirty little goblin in the cellar help you?"
"We only met him tonight!" Hermione sobbed "We've never been inside your vault…It isn't the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!"
"A copy?" screeched Bellatrix. "Oh, a likely story! Lucius, Cissy, come with me for a moment."
Hermione watched from the floor as three of her four captors left the room. Draco was the only one left and he was not paying her any attention.
"Please…" she sobbed. "Please…" she tried to get off the floor but her whole body ached.
Draco turned to look at her again. She looked so small and pitiful on the floor, struggling to get up. His mind told him not to…but he had to do something. Mudblood or not he didn't want to witness any more killings. He walked to her slowly, and he saw her flinch when he approached.
"Shhh…" he whispered before holding his hand out to her. She looked into his steel gray eyes and saw something deep inside him that made her take his hand in her own. He pulled her to a standing position. She stumbled against him and he let her lean against him for balance.
"Thank you." she whispered. Her voice weak.
"I can't do much…" he mumbled. "I've learned a charm to help with the pain. But you have to pretend that you still are in agony."
She nodded meekly.
"Torpeo poena." he whispered, pointing his hawthorn wand at her. She felt a tingling sensation course through her body.
"Why…" she started to ask him, but he silenced her with his hand over her mouth.
"Just don't mention this…to anyone. It will mean certain death for me and my family. Now lie back down on the floor, someone is coming back."
Hermione did as she was told and Draco went back to staring at the fire. A split second later Bellatrix, Lucius and Narcissa reentered the room.
"We can find out easily!" came Lucius' voice. "Draco, fetch the goblin, he can tell us whether the sword is real or not!"
Draco's shoulders slumped as he headed for the door. He hated seeing his classmates locked in a cell in his own home. He took the steps slowly, hoping his spell has worked.
"Stand back. Line up against the back wall. Don't try anything or I'll kill you!" he said, his voice shaking. He took the goblin by the arm and marched him upstairs; he could hear Hermione screaming again, he hoped his spell worked. The goblin stared at the sword, examining it thoroughly. Hermione lay at Bellatrix's feet. She was barely stirring.
"Well?" Bellatrix said to Griphook. "It is the true sword?"
"No." said Griphook. "It is a fake."
"Are you sure?" panted Bellatrix. "Quite sure?"
"Yes." said the goblin.
Relief broke across her face, all tension drained from it.
"Good." she said, and with a casual flick of her wand she slashed another deep cut into the goblin's face, and he dropped with a yell at her feet. She kicked him aside.
"And now," she said in a voice that burst with triumph, "we call the Dark Lord!"
And she pushed back her sleeve and touched her forefinger to the Dark mark.
"And I think," said Bellatrix's voice, "we can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback, take her if you want her."
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Ron had burst into the drawing room; Bellatrix looked around, shocked; she turned her wand to face Ron instead--
"Expelliarmus!" he roared, pointing Wormtail's wand at Bellatrix, and hers flew into the air and was caught by Harry, who had sprinted after Ron. Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and Greyback wheeled about; Harry yelled;
"Stupify!" and Lucius Malfoy collapsed onto the hearth. Jets of light flew from Draco's, Narcissa's and Greyback's wands; Harry threw himself onto the floor, rolling behind a sofa to avoid him.
"STOP OR SHE DIES!"
Panting, Harry peered around the edge of the sofa. Bellatrix was supporting Hermione, who seemed to be unconscious and was holding her short silver knife to Hermione's throat.
"Drop your wands," she whispered. "Drop them or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is!"
Ron stood rigid, clutching Wormtail's wand. Harry straightened up, still holding Bellatrix's.
"I said, drop them!" she screeched, pressing the blade into Hermione's throat: Harry saw beads of blood appear there.
"All right!" he shouted and he dropped Bellatrix's wand onto the floor at his feet. Ron did the same with Wormtail's. Both raised their hands to shoulder height.
"Good!" she leered. "Draco, pick them up. The Dark Lord is coming. Harry Potter! Your death approaches."
"Now," said Bellatrix softly, as Draco hurried back to her with the wands. "Cissy I think we ought to tie these little heroes up again, while Greyback takes care of Miss Mudblood. I am sure the Dark Lord will not begrudge you the girl, Greyback, after what you have done tonight."
At the last words there was a peculiar grinding noise from above. All of them looked upward in time to see the crystal chandelier tremble; the, with a creak and an ominous jingling, it began to fall. Bellatrix was directly beneath it; dropping Hermione, she threw herself aside with a scream. The chandelier crashed to the floor in an explosion of crystal and chains, falling on top of Hermione and the goblin who still clutched the sword of Gryffindor. Glittering shards of crystal flew in all directions: Draco doubled over, his hands covering his bloody face.
"Are you alright?" Draco's deep voice asked, bringing her back to the present.
"Yes, just fine." she replied a little disoriented. "What can I do for you Mr. Malfoy?"