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
Central Booking
As Justus Pilliwickle strides away, Moody signals to Tonks that he would like a word with her. Finding an empty office, the pair closes the door and place several charms.
"I want you to take a team of your best and head back over to the Grangers," orders Moody. "Check around the house for tracks or survivors… anything. I really don't want to inform Albus that she is dead or worst still, taken. Keep this within your team."
"Yes sir," answers Tonks.
"Check in at Headquarters," states Moody. "It's more secure. From there we'll plan our next step."
"What are you going to tell Albus?" asks Tonks.
"The truth," bluntly states Moody. "A team of Aurors went to the Granger residence only to find it completely destroyed. There are no sure signs of survivors, but I have Tonks re-checking the attack site." The two talk for a few more minutes, before heading off to their intended locations.
Moody picks up several rolls of parchment and grabs a quill. Muttering under his breath he starts to fill out his paperwork. Signing his name to the last roll of parchment before him, Moody takes a deep breath as he examines the room before him.
To the right of him, Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge along with several other corrupt Ministry workers were currently being processed. 'No more Death-Eaters using their political connections to escape prison', thinks Moody.
"Here," grunts Moody handing the parchment to the scary lady manning the front desk. "I want those," pointing to the corrupt Ministry workers. "Put in with the Death-Eaters."
"But Sir," argues one of the Ministry's lackeys. "They're not…"
Growling, Moody slams his fist down on the desk. "They are Death-Eaters or they are the ones who prevented the arrests and prosecutions of Death-Eaters. They are no better or maybe worst then the Death-Eaters themselves!"
"Sir," barks the scary lady. "They will be put in with the regular Death-Eaters." Glaring coldly at the Ministry's lackeys, she bluntly states, "No one gets special treatment in this department."
"Smashing," gruffly states Moody as he heads out for the exit.
London
12 Grimmauld Place
Closing the front door, Charlie takes the trunk into the family room. Upon hearing the commotion, Bill looks up only to see his parents enter with Percy sandwiched between them. Jumping out of his chair, he rushes over to his little brother embracing him in a bone-crushing hug.
"Never do that again," admonishes Bill. Clapping Percy hard on the back, Bill pulls away examining Percy closely. "You look like you haven't been eating." Hearing Molly gasp and reiterate the same thing, Percy throws Bill a withering look.
"Yeah," agrees Charlie raking his gaze over Percy. "Now that you mention it, Percy does look on the skinny side."
"Oh my," whispers Molly inspecting Percy. "I have some food in the kitchen. It just needs to warm up." Giving Percy one last squeeze Molly heads off into the kitchen, unheeding of Percy's protests.
"Why did you do that?" demands Percy turning his head towards the kitchen. Blinking, Percy finally surveys the house. "Where are we?"
"Because little bro," snickers Charlie throwing his arm around Percy's neck. "We can. Plus we need to make up for lost time."
"We are at the Black residence," answers Arthur as he watches his three oldest children goof around. A series of soft pounding on the stairs lets Arthur know that more of his children are on their way downstairs. Molly should really see this. Opening his mouth to call for her, Arthur instead smiles when Molly strides back into the room carrying a lap tray full of foods.
"Now Percy," states Molly happily as she holds out a tray of food. "You can start with this." Looking at the tray with horror filled eyes, Percy silently pleads with his family members. Arthur swallows a chuckle, when he notices that Molly is really just teasing him. A loud high-pitched squeal erupts from the doorway seconds before two red blurs rush into the room.
Fighting his way out of Ron and Ginny's clutches Percy takes a seat by his parents. He silently watches them trying to organize his siblings as they put up the Christmas decorations. Two loud cracks momentarily stun Percy before he realizes that the twins have apparated into the room.
"Do you always have to make an entrance?" demands Percy startling both Fred and George. "Why can't you just walk into a room like everyone else?"
"Of course," exclaim Fred and George as they tackle Percy in his chair. "When did you get here? Why didn't anyone let us know?"
"Probably because you would flatten him," states Harry as he slips into the room.
Groaning under the twin's weight, Percy attempts to shove them off him. "Where's Hermione when I need her?"
"What?" Ron questions Percy as he looks at him strangely. Percy pales slightly as the twins move off of him sensing something was going on.
"Random Death Eater attacks. They went after Hermione," Harry gasps
Swallowing hard, Percy quickly states, "Yes, they did. But that doesn't mean anything."
"The bloody hell it doesn't," hisses Ron his face becoming alarmingly red.
Keeping his cool, Percy adds, "The Aurors that were assigned to her case, probably brought her to central booking."
"And Tonks or Moody, when they're done with the paperwork will bring her here," helps Bill. "You know how Hermione is. She'll want them to finish that paperwork so they can keep those Death Eaters locked up."
"Yeah that's true," whispers Ginny. "Well if she coming we better get a room… or rather the other half of mine room ready for her."
"That's a good idea," approves Molly. "I hope you gentlemen have her gift already wrapped, seeing as how she's coming." Looking abashed, both Ron and Harry shake their heads. "Well since she's not here yet, you still have some time. I think it would be wise if you do it now."
Percy stares blankly into the fire before turning to look at his parents. "Do you really think she has made it?"
"Of course," snaps Molly before she gasps. "Oh I'm so sorry."
Smiling at his mother, Percy waves a dismissing hand. "Mum, don't worry about it. I know that you're worried about Hermione and rightfully so. I'm just surprised that there has been no word as of yet."
"Usually there is something by now," agrees Arthur. "But since the Moody is in charge and the Ministry is not, we'll just have to wait until he gets here."
"He knows about this place?" questions Percy.
"This is our Headquarters," answers Albus Dumbledore as he glides into the room. "Ah, Percy it's so good to see you back among your family."
"Thanks Headmaster," mumbles Percy feeling like a schoolchild again.
"However I have just received word from Moody that he's on his way here," states Dumbledore. "From his owl, I have gathered that it's not good news."
"Why don't we move this into the library?" suggests Bill glancing towards the stairs. "That way, no one who isn't suppose to hear will."
"A good suggestion," agrees Arthur wrapping an arm around Molly. Lowering his head, Arthur softly whispers, "If it was really bad news, Moody would have just stated so to Dumbledore."
Granger's Residence
Backyard
Staring down the embankment the two men notice that there where two women that were almost completely covered in snow. Looking at each other, one man shakes his head in wonder.
"Why would Lestrange's be after these two?" ponders one man.
Grunting in frustration, the other pulls out his wand, speaking clearly he casts a complex spell. Seconds later the two women are gently hovering over the snow, floating smoothly towards them.
"Who knows with those two crazies," answers the other man. Waving his wand he weaves in a new spell. The jackets on the women turned into blankets that wrapped themselves around them. "There that should do it."
Looking over his friend's work, he touches one of the woman's shoulders. "Warming charm?"
"Yeah, it's bloody cold out here," he answers. "I'm flabbergasted the Ministry hasn't shown up yet."
"Those imbeciles," dismisses the man. As he pulls out his wand, reaching over, he cradles one of the women in his arms. "I'm not surprised at all. Do you want to take them to your place or mine?"
"My place is more secure," he states. "On the bright side of things it might even tick off my mum."
"You do so love doing that," laughs the other man.
Concentrating hard both men apparate with a loud crack. Seconds later they reappear in the heart of London. Moving both quickly and quietly they look at each other as they past the Ministry.
The cold air had a positive buzz to it, like something was either happening or was going to happen soon. The Ministry's lights were still blazing brightly, long after they should have been extinguished.
"Something's up," mutters a man to his companion.
Narrowing his eyes on the government building, he observes 'Mad-eye' Moody stalk out of the building. "Look. It's Moody. Something big must be going down tonight."
"Do you think it has to do with them?" asks the man.
"All this over two girls?" questions his companion, casting a quick glance back at the girls in question. "I hardly think so. The Ministry doesn't really care about muggles or muggleborns, no matter what they preach."
"True," answers the man, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with a simple spell. He gives them a curtsey inspection before he puts them back on his face. "Let's just get them to your place. From there we'll figure out what do next."
"Let's take the scenic route," offers his companion. "I don't want to lead trouble back to my house."
"Agreed."
Robert Granger's Residence
Arriving at the Granger residence, Tonks stares at the house in horror. 'If she survived this… It would be bloody amazing.' Swallowing the lump in her throat, Tonks and her team approach the decimated house. Pushing at the door with magic, Tonks takes a hesitant step in. 'Bloody hell, half the house is sunken in.' Moving with extreme care, she uses her wand to light her path, Tonks makes her way around the ruins of the house.
"Miss Granger?" Tonks shouts maneuvering her way throughout the room. "Miss Gran… Hermione? Can you hear me?"
"Tonks," shouts of her team. "The floor will not hold our combine weight. Jamison and I are going to take the back half of the house."
"Okay, Monterey. Let me know if you find anything," shouts Tonks.
"Will do, and Tonks be careful were you step," states Monterey.
Moving slowly to avoid the fallen debris, Tonks blinks away the dust in her eyes. Surveying the scene around her, Tonks notices that the floor has collapsed into the bottom level.
"Hermione? Can you hear me?" shouts Tonks. Tuning her ears, Tonks hears nothing but the wind answering her. "Damn it girl. Where are you?" Loud thundering footsteps coming closer to her causes Tonks to quickly glance behind her. "What's going on?"
"Tracks!" shouts Jamison, he waits for Tonks to make her way out of the ruins before continuing, "Outback. There are four sets of footprints and two sets that are animal markings."
Hope flares inside of Tonks before she ruthlessly shoves it back down. Nodding Tonks lets her teammate leads her outback. Racing around the house, Tonks meets up with Monterey. Pointing to the track emerging from the lower bank wall, Monterey quickly brings Tonks up to speed.
Looking around she sees a disturbance in the snow on the other side of the embankment.
"Alright," whispers Tonks keep her eyes pined on the tracks. "Let's see where they lead too." Racing throw the snow, Tonks faithfully follows the tracks. 'Defiantly four people came this way. With any luck it will be Hermione and her family.' Looking down at the tracks, Tonks studies them more carefully. 'I thought Hermione had a cat not a dog. Are those deer tracks?'
"Tonks!"
Startled Tonks looks up. 'Please let her be alive!' Rushing towards her teammate, Tonks gasps as she spies two crumbled figures on the ground. Forcing her tired body to move quicker, she gasps as she recognizes one of the figures to be Bellatrix. 'Bloody hell!'
"What happened here?" huffs Tonks pointing to Bellatrix. Using her foot she turns the other figure over to see Rodolphus. "There's no way that Hermione could have done this."
"She didn't at lest not on her own," Jamison answers while pointing to the embankment. "I think Hermione and someone else went down somewhere over there." Pointing to the ground, he continues with his explanation. "The dog and deer tracks end here, also. These two are powerfully stunned, but alive. No sixth year did this. I don't care how smart she is."
"I agree," mutters Tonks looking around. "Are there any other tracks?"
"No," reply Monterey. "These are it."
"So then," ponders Tonks softly. "Where is she?"
"I have no idea who took her," Jamison answers. "But I can reasonably say that whoever has her, they weren't Death Eaters. Not if they're willing to take out two of you-know-who's inner circle."
"Hey," Monterey gasps. "Maybe they took them to St. Mungo's to be checked over?"
"Ok," orders Tonks. "She's not here. Let's call it a night. I'll take this information to Moody, myself. You guys take them into custody. Book them and then you guys can go home."
"Sure thing boss," mutters her teammates. Seconds later two small pops signal that they have gone.
"Where are you, Hermione?" whispers Tonks as she apparates away.
Ministry of Magic
Central Booking
Apparating into the heavily secured part of central booking the two Aurors instantly were surrounded by several Aurors with their wands drawn.
"You caught the Lestranges?" states several Aurors.
"Bloody hell!" rings out.
"Everyone!" barks the Sergeant on duty. "Let's get them into Cell-Block D before they awake." As the group moves the Lestranges into their cells, several Aurors cast detention spells to find out if they have any weapons or wands on them. "Move it everyone! Those who are to be here stay. Those who are not, leave."
London
12 Grimmauld Place
Whipping out his wand Moody silently stalks the person who was approaching the door. Getting ready to sprout off several nasty hexes, Moody was slightly shocked to see a tired Tonks standing before him.
"Where's Granger?" Moody demands with his wand still pointed at Tonks.
"She wasn't there," answers Tonks. "But Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange were. Those two were heavily stunned and still out of it when I got there."
"What?" Moody questions. "There's no way Granger did that."
"She didn't," gruffly answers Tonks. "It's weird, even by wazarding standards of weird."
"Then you better explain it to the entire group," states Moody opening the door. "It would be best if you explain this once instead of repeating yourself several times over."
Going up to the library, Tonks was stunned to see her mother and Remus sitting together in a corner of the room. 'They're probably talking about Sirius. Merlin, I miss him.' Moving further into the room, Tonks notes that the adults have left the younger kids out of the meeting.
"Before we begin," states Moody. "I want to inform you, that Granger has yet to be found. Tonks here will be giving everyone an update on that situation. At last count, over twenty Death Eaters have been captured along with ten supporters."
Clearing her throat, Tonks begins her debriefing.
12 Grimmauld Place
Rose's room
Deep even breaths of a sleeping child could be heard in the room. But the child in the bed was far from sleeping. Rose turned her head towards her bedroom door, patiently waiting to see if her mother was going to come back up and check on her.
"Mummy's all sad because Sirius is lost," mutters Rose sitting up in her bed. "Then I'll just have to go find him." Unknown to Rose, her statements mirror those of her sister's some fourteen years ago. "Then mummy will be all happy again!"
Throwing off her bedcovers, Rose quickly jumps out of her bed. "First I'll need my trusty flashlight and backpack." Moving in a child's fashion, Rose carefully plans to look for Sirius.
After gathering everything that she'll need, Rose looks at the clock on her nightstand. "Now I just have to wait until Mummy goes to bed."
Listening closely, Rose smiles as she hears a door open and then close. Smiling to herself, she rushes over to put on her coat. After struggling to button it up, she takes a deep breath and starts again. Congratulating herself, she pulls on her backpack.
Flicking on her flashlight Rose confidently whispers, "Don't worry Uncle Sirius I'm coming for you." Reaching up, she slowly opens her bedroom door. Listening for a few seconds, she gives herself the all clear before heading out of her room.
Holding the rail, she slowly makes her way down the steps. She could hear Ron talking to someone in his room. He was being very loud but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Stepping off the last step, Rose sighs in relief.
"Thank heavens," mumbles Rose as she head straight for the front door. "Now I just need to find my uncle." Reaching the front door, Rose has to stand on her tips of her toes just to reach the doorknob.
"Oh!" Rose groans in frustration. "How am I going to find him, if I can't get the door open?" Suddenly the doorknob twists. Feeling frightened, Rose steps away from the door clutching her trusty flashlight in her hands. As the door is thrown open, Rose lifts up her flashlight shining it into the darken doorframe.
"Bloody hell," hisses a man voice. "Turn that thing off, before you blind someone."
"Wh… who are you?" cries Rose in terror not recognizing the voice. As the man steps into the light of the house, Rose's eyes widen. "Oh my god!"
12 Grimmauld Place
The Library
A soft knock rap on the door is closely by a soft squeal of delight. After just a few seconds, more giggling erupts from outside the door before two small fists pound on the door. Andromeda groans as she lowers her head into her hands. Sighing she gets up making her way towards the door.
"And it's not even Christmas yet," snickers Tonks as her mother passes her.
"You were no better," comments Andromeda as she opens the door. Blinking Andromeda barely manages not to gasp. "Rose, sweetie what have you been up to?"
"I find him!" shouts Rose utterly happy with herself. "Come see Mummy! You no get upset anymore!"
Tonks looks over to find her little sister all dressed up and ready to go outside. "Hey Rosie," greets Tonks. "Have you been outside?"
"Yes," laughs Rose waving happily to her sister. "I had to bring him inside." Dead silence greets her statement in the library. "Come on Mummy!" Rose squeals happily as she attempts to drag her mother out of the room.
"YOU WORTHLESS BLOOD TRAITOR! FILTH FROM MY LOINS!" bellows Mrs. Black portrait before she voice slowly lowers in decibels.
Gasping Remus stands up sharply. Moving faster then anyone else in the room, he scoops up Rose as he comes upon her. "Why don't you show me?"
"But I found him for Mummy," pouts Rose as she realizes that her mother is not as happy as she is.
"She's shocked," soothes Remus trying to calm Rose. "She didn't expect you to find him. Where did you put him?"
"He was hungry," Rose mumbles happily when she thinks Remus is happy about her discovery. "And his other friend said that he has a whole where his stomach was because he's always hungry."
Swallowing hard, Remus hands Rose over to Andromeda. Tonks and Moody quickly follow him towards the kitchen. Noises of someone banging pots together, causes everyone to pull out their wands.
Pointing his wand at the man whose back was to him; Remus silently makes his way over. "Put the bowl down, and then turn around." demands Remus.
"Bloody hell Moony," grumbles the man, turning around but not putting the bowl down. "It's just stuffing. I can make more tomorrow."
"Sirius?"
Until Next Time -