Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Tiz the Season
Summary: Response to HB: Christmas Challenge. Takes place during Hermione's sixth year winter recess. With the emending war, Hermione decides to create her Christmas gifts. Wanting them to be extra special for her best friends and Order members. Something goes seriously wrong with her gift, when Death Eaters attack her home.
Ministry of Magic
Fudge's Office
Excitedly tapping his foot, Fudge clears away the last bit of paperwork from his desk. An evil smirk flashes across his face as loud pounding footsteps make their way towards his office. A single loud bang on the door before it opens to reveal his long-standing friend Dolores Umbridge.
"Hello Dolores," greets Fudge as he gestures for her to have a seat in one of his chairs. "What brings you here?"
Closing the door behind her, Dolores's eyes flash in excitement. Her hands smooth down her dress robes in a small nervous jester. "Oh nothing much," Dolores attempts to dismiss. Making her way towards one of the chairs, she chooses the one nearby the door. "I'm just looking forward to our 'outing' this evening. You are coming?"
"Oh yes," laughs Fudge with a nasty twinkle in his eyes. Looking like an excited schoolboy, bouncing up and down in his seat. "I can't wait. We're going to Luc… you-know-who's house. He said that the 'entertainment' should be ready for us when we arrive."
"Oh…" squeals Dolores rubbing her hands together. She looks extremely pleased before an unknown emotion flashes across her face. Clearing her throat, Dolores bats her lashes at him. "I hope he lets me have first pickings." An angry, disgusted look creeps into her face. "I so want to get that filthy little mudblood back for that… that… the incident at the school."
"Don't worry," reassures Fudge getting up from his chair. Wrapping his scrawny arms around Dolores's bulging frame, Fudge gives her a tight squeeze. Running his hands over her wide shoulders and then down her back. "I'll pick up a few 'gifts' for our Master. He will be appeased with them, that he'll order that mudblood be handed over to you."
Sniffing loudly like a pig, Dolores rubs her hands up and down Fudge's legs. "Thank you, Cornelius. What would I do without you?"
"Hmm," mutters Fudge. "I don't know my dear." Leaning down, he licks Dolores's temple as her hand creeps upwards on his leg. "Master is going to be pleased," snickers Fudge. "Harry Potter will be friendless by midnight tonight!"
Leaning down, Fudge was about to kiss the top of her head when he stop and smells her hair. "New shampoo? I thought you liked the one I bought you?"
Slowly Dolores's hand makes its way up around Fudge's waist. Dolores looks up at him, "I ran into Mandy who sprayed me with her new perfume! The nerve of that girl!" Her hand clutches at Fudge's waist for a few seconds before it drops. A wide smile graces her face.
"Cornelius Fudge," states Dolores in a serious tone. Standing to her feet, she holds him off with her wand pointed directly at him. "You are under arrest for being a Voldemort supporter."
"What? Who are you kidding Dolores," laughs Fudge attempting to get closer to her. "You're one too, you know."
"Actually," states Dolores. "I'm not." In slow motion Dolores grows in height, thinning out. Dolores's shoulder length black hair shrunk, into short spiky pink and purple hair.
"I'm Auror Tonks."
"Bloody hell!" hiss Fudge jumping away from Tonks. "You can't just come in here impersonating someone!"
"Auror O'Connor!" shouts Tonks still pointing Fudge's own wand at him. The office door opens; two more Aurors seep into the office. "Let's get him down to lock up."
"Auror Tonks," whispers O'Connor. "Reports are already coming in. Most of the attacks have been thawed. We haven't heard back from Moody nor Justus Pilliwickle crew."
"So you're saying," simplifies Tonks. "Is that you don't know if the Weasley's or the Granger's are ok? But the rest we have some information on. Did anyone arrest Dolores Umbridge?"
"That's affirmative, Madam," answers O'Connor. "And yes, Mrs. Umbridge is already down in lock down as we speak." The two male Aurors bound Fudge to them, as Tonks kept both his wand and her wand to Fudge's back at all times.
The Burrow
Inside
Standing aloofly in the burnt out kitchen stood five men all dressed in long black robes. One man reliantly heads up the stairs; the only sounds in the house were the creaking of wood under his weight.
"Where can they be?" hisses one man. The rest of the men shrug their shoulders.
"They have to be around," reassures one man as he gestures to the food laying about both the kitchen and the family room. Picking up one glass, he adds, "They're drinks are still hot."
and those cookies look like they just came out of the oven."
"So where are they?" impatiently demands the first man.
On the kitchen table was a plate of cookies fresh from the oven. Their aroma sharply contradicts the smell of burning wood. Two of the men reach down grabbing several cookies each and stuff them into their mouths as the wait for their companion to come back down the stairs.
"And these cookies look like they just came out of the oven," states one man.
Loud pops from the burning fire startle them, causing one to choke on his cookie. Chuckling off their shock, they partake of the food and drinks on the table.
The Burrow
Outside
Apparating with one loud pop, Percy is momentarily stunned at the site of his childhood home in flames. Sharp pain engulfed his chest as tears form in his eyes. 'Please! Please God! Tell me that Penelope got everyone out in time. That's all I want for Christmas this year. Please?' pleads Percy.
Alastor Moody observes the estranged Weasley in silence. Seeing first hand the horror and fear on his face, Moody decides to give the kid a break. Placing one gruff hand on his shoulder, Moody states, "I don't see any of your family members in there."
"What?" croaks Percy. 'They're not in there! Does that mean Penny arrived in time?' Turning to look at Moody, Percy asks, "How…"
Pointing to his magical eye, Moody re-states, "They're not in there. But five Death Eaters are." Swallowing hard, Percy grips his wand tightly. "Are you ready?" Nodding to Moody, Percy listens patiently as Moody gives the orders to move in. "Ok, everyone lets do this nice and slow," orders Moody pulling out his wand. "Don't kill anyone unless you have too."
Silently creeping their way closer, puffs of hot breaths could be seen in the icy air. Closing his eyes, Percy pictures his beautiful wife's face with his baby girl. 'Please! Be with my parents. Be safe!'
With swift movements, Percy smiles at himself. 'If only the twins could see me now. They would see that I can be as sneaky as they are.' Glancing over to Moody, Percy swallows the lump that's suddenly lodged in his throat. 'When this is all over I'm going to apologize profusely to my whole family. After I get reamed out for not telling Mum about my baby or being married or being blackmailed or being…. Merlin! Do I have to see my family after this?'
Moving closer to his childhood home, Percy could easily peer into the kitchen. He could make out three Death Eaters sitting down at his parent's kitchen table. 'Bloody hell! They're eating my mum's food!' Glancing towards Moody, Percy watches as a smirk forms on his wreathed face.
"They're never going to know what hit'em," growls Moody. Three different things happened at once, two more men appear in the kitchen; one man starts eating while the other explodes. The third thing was Moody giving the signal to attack.
Flashes of light rip throw the burrow.
Surveying the scene before him, Percy feels a certain pride in himself. Looking down at the five captured Death-Eaters; he stalks over to the kitchen table, swipes a cookie off the plate and takes a large bite. "Hmm," mutters Percy loudly. "My mum's cooking sure is good."
Swallowing a laugh, Moody keeps a watchful eye on his suspects. "So Weasley," asks Moody. "If your family wasn't here, where are they?"
"I don't know," answers Percy. Moody watches him gaze around the place sorrowfully.
"They can rebuild," offers Moody. He watches as Percy bend down, shifting throw the presents under the tree. Sadness seems to radiate off of him, as he hugs a present closely to his chest. "Anything wrong?"
"No," whispers Percy as Moody approaches him. Looking over the present, Moody notices that it has Percy's name on it.
"It's the season for forgiveness," offers Moody.
Pulling out his wand, Percy mutters several charms. Presents went flying into a trunk near the tree. Moody patiently watches Percy practically pack up everything that was remotely Christmassy into the trunk. After several attempts to shrink the tree, Moody stepped in. He places several holding charms before shrinking the tree.
"If you have any clue where they could be," offers Moody. "Take what you can. I have enough Aurors with me to handle this."
Percy nods his head as he carefully places the tree in the trunk. Gripping the trunks handles so tightly that Moody can see his knuckles turning white. "Go on. Your family's waiting." With a small wave Percy apparates. "He better not have splinched himself.
London
12 Grimmauld Place
When the front door opened, Arthur Weasley was pacing in front of the fireplace. As the footsteps approached, the somber room Arthur looks up spying Albus Dumbledore standing in the doorway.
"Arthur," greets Dumbledore.
"Oh Albus," cries Molly while holding a small child in her arms. Chuckling at the surprised look on his face, Molly feels compelled to add, "This is my grandchild."
"Is everyone here?" asks Harry from behind Dumbledore.
"Everyone but Percy," answers Molly. "We're hoping that he know where to go."
"Huh?" questions Harry not fully understanding.
"It's like this Harry," informs Ron as he gets up from the couch. "Mum and Dad have special place set-up that only our family members know about. In that safe place there is a portkey. Using that portkey, Percy will arrive on the front door step."
"But what if…" starts to question Harry.
"Harry dear," interrupts Molly. "Everyone else knew where Grimmauld Place is. Percy was the only one who doesn't know. So we have only one portkey hidden there."
"Oh," states Harry, clearly seeing the stress on her face. "Then we better have a room ready for him when he gets here."
London
54 Main Street
Stepping out of the darkness, a heavy trunk is dragged behind him. Slowly approaching the small structure, Percy takes a deep breath as he pulls the trunk inside with him. Looking over the weird contraption in front of him, Percy accidentally knocks over the funny looking device, which immediately makes a beeping noise.
Flustered, he quickly picks up the device slamming it back in the cradle. 'It doesn't look right,' thinks Percy as he shakes his head to clear it. 'Who cares? Where did Dad say he put that blasted thing?' Looking down, Percy finds a big yellow book dangling.
"There it is," happily states Percy. Gripping the trunk, Percy reaches out and activates the portkey.
London
12 Grimmauld Place
Feeling his feet hitting the ground Percy doesn't have enough time to brace himself before he lands with a rather loud thump on the ground. 'Ah, that hurt. Merlin's bones is my bottom going to be soar in the morning.' Groaning, Percy stands up just as the front door is thrown open.
"PERCY!" shouts a delighted Molly as she processes to give him a bear hug so hard, that he has trouble breathing. "Oh my baby," weeps Molly. "My precious baby!"
"Mum!" shouts Charlie. "He can't breath." As soon as Molly lets go, Percy finds himself in Charlie's embrace for the first time since he was a little kid. "You had everyone scared, Percy. Don't do that."
"I'll try not to," response Percy glancing around. "By any chance…"
"You have a beautiful daughter," states Charlie. "Penelope is upstairs laying down."
Smiling in gratitude, Percy wraps his arms around Molly. "So I take it you've meet Megan Marie Molly Ann Weasley. I sorry, Mum. I wanted so badly to tell you but…"
"Shhhh," whispers Molly. "It's alright. Penelope explained a lot of what happened."
"It still doesn't excuse my behavior," insists Percy. "I was horrible to you, and I'm sorry." Two more arms join around them. Looking up, Percy finds himself looking his father's eyes.
"Nothing matters," stress Arthur. "But you being here."
"What did you pack?" asks Charlie dragging in the trunk. "When did you find time?"
"When I was at the Burrow," states Percy earning a squeak and a squeeze from Molly. "Caught some Death-Eaters scum and had a cookie. They were delicious by the way. While I was there I packed up the presents and the tree."
"Well," greets Billus looking amazed. "I hear you had a busy night."
Ministry of Magic
Central Booking
A series of loud pops causes the clerks to look up. Spotting Alastor Moody among the thongs, Tonks waves her hand in delight. "Did you have any problems?"
"Nothing we couldn't handle," dismisses Moody his magical eye roaming across the room. "Percy went to be with his family."
"They're dead!" shouts Fudge from the back corner. "My Master will see to that!" Two Aurors push Fudge back into a cell.
"Why am I not surprised?" questions Moody as he rakes his gaze over Fudge. "The Weasley's were not home at the time of the attack. Has everyone reported back? And what's the status?"
"Only Justus Pilliwickle's crew hasn't reported in," answers Tonks. "No civilian casualties. But two Death-Eaters are dead. They killed each other. No seriously wounded."
"Who is Justus Pilliwickle assigned too?" questions Moody.
"Hermione Granger," whispers Tonks.
Granger's Residence
Basement Laboratory
The door to the basement flies off of its hinges crashing into the opposite wall shattering into a thousand pieces. Three men dressed in black gracefully float down the stairs. Landing on the basement floor with their wands posed and ready to strike.
"Where are they?" hisses one of the men. "I heard someone speaking!"
"I'm not dealing with Bellatrix or her crazy husband Rodolphus," huffs one of the men. "So find them!" The three men slink their way around the room, bumping into objects that they couldn't see.
"I'll go myself to the dwarfs' cottage in a disguise so complete no one will ever suspect," blares from the television as a woman scans a bookshelf with references books on Black Arts, Alchemy, Witchcraft, Black Magic, Sorcery, and Poisons, she pulls down a book on Disguises.
Staring at the screen in horror all three men cast the same spell, blasting part of the basement wall away. But miss the television. The blast causes rumbles throughout the structure of the house. Throw the gapping whole in the wall dirt and snow to spill into the room. Panicking the three men look at each other before apparating away.
Two loud pops seconds after the three men disappear, show two new people dressed in black. One was a male the other was a woman.
"Where did those morons go?" demands the woman getting extremely agitated.
"Relax, Bella," sooths the man. "They left without the prey."
Smiling crazily, Bellatrix waves her wand mutter several charms. Suddenly the small items in the room go whirling about. Bellatrix points her wand at a yellow lock box, smashing it into pieces. A low grade hissing and sizzling erupts from the spilled contains.
"Mummy dust to make me old," shouts out from the television. "To shroud my clothes, the black of night."
Huffing Bellatrix points her wand directly at the television. Her aim is deadly, hitting it square in the center.
"They're obliviously not here," hisses Rodolphus turning back towards the stairs. Pausing he points his wand at the wall just below the stairs. A burst of bright yellow light blasts the wall. "It looks like our quarry is giving chase." Laughing hysterically, both Bellatrix and Rodolphus move silently into the passageway.
Running swiftly as they could, both women follow the yellow markers as the tunnel splits into two. Huffing, Hermione reaches out to Emily.
"Stop," puffs out Hermione. "What if they're following us? There are no tracks in the other tunnels."
Huffing Emily replies, "That's fine. This passageway splits several times over. Plus that's if they found the entrance and if they're looking for tracks."
Taking several deep breaths, Hermione nods her head in agreement. "Fine. Race you?"
Smirking as Emily attempts to catch her breath. "You're on." Loud hysterical laughter floats towards them. "Looks like they found that entrance."
"Yeah," whispers Hermione glancing over her shoulder. "Let's get going." Both girls take one more deep breath before launching themselves down the tunnel as fast as they could.
Rushing towards the end of the tunnel, shouts of frustration penetrate the silence. Feeling the ground getting colder under her feet, Hermione realizes that both she and Emily weren't wearing any shoes.
"Oh my god," cries out Hermione. "Emily there is three feet of snow out there."
"I know that," snaps Emily tiredly. "When we turn the bend, there should be a large duffle bag full of supplies."
Shaking from all of the running, Hermione struggles to keep up with her cousin. 'Why would she have a duffle bag full of supplies?' Taking a breath, Hermione rolls her eyes as a conclusion hits her. "Let me guess, your father is still going through his James Bond phase?"
Granger's Residence
Basement Laboratory
Blues, greens, different shade of pinks and brown liquids drip down from various places in the room. Each liquid slowly makes its way towards the dark black liquid on the floor where a caldron used to stand.
"A blast of wind to fan my hate," squeals out of the half dead television as wind blows in from the whole in the wall.
The wind slides several photographs from the table. Each one lands face down in the black liquid. Creepy flashes of electricity come off the broken television as it strives to play the movie. A flash of electricity hits the black Liquid on the floor.
A warped voice dulls out, "A thunderbolt to mix it well. Now begin thy magic spell."
The black liquid bubbles as the different liquids seeped into it. Popping, snapping and hissing noises came from the area where the photographs sink more deeply into the blackness. Bright colors start to ripple outwards from the photo as the liquid looks like its expanding and contracting.
"Miss Granger!" floats down the steps as beams of light explode in the darkness.
"Hermione Granger! Are you down there?" The rumble of the foundations of the house causes the searchers to stop. "Did you hear that?"
Loud roaring thunder quakes the night as part of the house crumbles. The beams of light from the searchers wands flicker off as entrance to the basement is sealed. Soft low fizzling along with low bubbles spread like wild fire from the black liquid as it stretches upwards and outwards.
Granger's Residence
Secret Passageway
Shaking from all of the running, Hermione struggles to keep up with her cousin. 'Why would she have a duffle bag full of supplies?' Taking a breath, Hermione rolls her eyes as a conclusion hits her. "Let me guess, your father is still going through his James Bond phase?"
Soft huffing laughter comes from Emily. "What gave it away? The secret tunnel? The duffle bag? The Bond collection in his room?"
Turning the corner, Hermione was in a slightly better mood when she spots the large bag. Swiftly they made their way towards it. Ripping it open and spilling out the contents, Emily quickly hands Hermione a small bag while taking one herself.
"Ok," huffs Emily. "Here's where we are." Holding up a small map, Emily puts her finger on it. "We're here. We need to make it to Old Man Larry's Place."
"Short cut?" asks Hermione.
"Yeah," answers Emily. "Once we're in the snow our tracks are going to be easy to follow. If I get hit," stresses Emily while gripping Hermione arm. "Keep going. No matter what. Got that? Keep going."
"Yes," huffs Hermione. Swiftly they pull on the shoes and coats before heading out into the drifting snow. Dashing towards the woods, Hermione steals one glance over her shoulder. 'I don't see anyone, but just because I don't see them doesn't mean that they're not there.'
Slugging up the hill, Hermione feels the cold sapping her strength. In the far distance she could hear the Lestranges somewhere behind her. 'Where's help when you need it? Someone! Anyone! Please help us.' Racing down the hill, a small smile spreads across Hermione's face when Old Man Larry's Place comes into view. 'We're almost there, just have to keep going.'
"Hey Mudblood," shouts Bellatrix. "Did you think you could just run away?"
A blue light races past Hermione's shoulder and narrowly missing Emily. Swallowing hard, Hermione keeps running. Animal cries float in the air along with Bellatrix's laughter.
"Bella!" shouts Rodolphus.
"Rodolphus!" screams Bellatrix. Loud thumping noises follow their cries.
When Emily falls down in the snow she accidentally trips Hermione. Struggling to get back up when a large deer comes into view. Blinking tiredly, Hermione groans in pain as she attempts to stand.
"Emily," croaks Hermione looking towards her cousin who hasn't moved. "Get up!" A loud bark causes Hermione to sharply look up. Blinking her eyes, Hermione sees nothing but the deer as the world fades into nothingness.
Ministry of Magic
Central Booking
Alastor Moody whips out his wand when three loud pops signal someone's arrival. Looking at them he demands, "Well? Where is the girl?"
"The house is destroyed," responses Justus Pilliwickle. "She is nowhere to be found." Sighing heavily, Moody nods his head. "We were too late," adds Justus Pilliwickle.
"Who's going to tell Albus?"
"I will," stresses Moody. "That girl is resourceful. Who knows, she just might survive?"
Until Later