Hermione had been at Hogwarts, trying her hardest to not think of Snape for four days now.
Kingsley said that he would contact Minerva when his request to have Snape moved into rehabilitation had went through.
So far though they had heard nothing.
Minerva was worse off than Hermione; the Headmistress had horribly large purple bags beneath her eyes and rarely did she eat at meals.
Hermione had originally just worried about Snape's life but now she felt that McGonagall was in danger of starving herself if Kingsley didn't succeed.
Another day passed and still nothing, the worried looks on the faces of teachers as McGonagall entered a room couldn't be concealed for very long, the headmistress was becoming increasingly more despondent the closer it got to the execution date.
Finally one morning an owl seated itself in front of McGonagall at breakfast.
The little bird seemed agitated and paced as Minerva read the letter.
Hermione recognized the ministry seal on the front of the letter and the look on Minerva's face made Hermione's stomach turn.
"What is it?" Hermione tried to keep her voice quiet, but everyone else was silent so it was difficult for Hermione to not be heard by everyone.
"My office," McGonagall didn't have to say another word. Both women finished what was one their plates and bolted out of the great hall and made their way back up to Minerva's office.
When the door closed Minerva began to speak much too quickly for Hermione to understand her.
"Minerva, calm down and speak more slowly please," McGonagall looked at her and ducked her head in apology.
"Kingsley's letter isn't good," the sentence hit Hermione right in the gut.
"He says that there is one member of the Wizenagamot who refuses to sign the petition necessary to have Severus transferred." Hermione sat down heavily in one of the over-stuffed chairs; they were so close, how could one stupid stubborn wizard was going to stand in their way.
Hermione smiled a little to herself she wouldn't let him stand in their way she'd push him out of the way with both hands if she had to.
"Minerva does it say who the member is?" Minerva looked at her confused by her reaction to this news.
"Well, yes it does it says his name is Bernard Flealand," Hermione nodded her head and began to head for the door.
"Hermione, where are you going?" Minerva had turned to follow Hermione as she walked across the room and her face showed that she believed either Hermione had lost it or that she was missing something extremely important.
"I am going to persuade Mr. Bernard Flealand to see our side in this matter," Hermione couldn't help the smile that curled her lips as she spoke.
Before Minerva could stop her with more questions Hermione opened the door and fled to go research taking comfort in going to the library where she'd planned so many schemes and plans in the past.
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Hermione walked out of her rooms dressed to the nines; her hair was elegantly piled on top of her head and her little black dress accentuated every curve she had and a couple she hadn't known she'd had.
She had a pair of black stilettos on and was beginning to walk in them without tripping quite as much.
Hermione had a plan and she was going to go through with it wether Minerva approved or not.
The plan went like this; Mr. Bernard Flealand was a frequent visitor to a small bar in Westminster, he was also unmarried and had no hope of doing so because the man was, quite frankly, hideous.
Hermione didn't like to judge a book by its cover but from the pictures she'd found the man looked like a slob at best and quite resembled a pig with his upturned nose and his large body mass.
This is where Hermione came in, she was going to show up at the bar, seduce Bernard and then convince him to sign the petition. Simple really.
Hermione walked out of the gates stopped to collect her thoughts and then she disappeared apparateing away.
The bar was deplorable at best, it seemed that even the flies that pestered the sleeping bar man were drunk flying in lazy circles and occasionally bumping into each other.
Hermione scanned the room for the bulk that was Bernard Flealand.
Eventually Hermione spied a hunched figure sitting in a booth at the back of the bar.
Hermione made her way over only tripping once on her ridiculously high heels.
"Hello there, mind if I join you?" Hermione could see that her outfit had the desired effect.
Bernard's mouth fell open and he motioned towards the empty seat across from himself with a shaky hand.
"Yes, yes of course please sit," His voice was high and nasally and Hermione had to cough to cover a laugh that threatened to escape.
Hermione sat gracefully across from the large man and smiled at him showing her perfectly aligned white teeth.
They sat for hours, Hermione was sure she almost fell asleep once. Bernard spoke of nothing but ministry business the entire time. Hermione was ready to bring the subject up herself when he finally arrived on the topic of interest.
"And the new Minister is actually trying to save that murdering deatheater Snape, I put a stop to it though. Without my signature on this document," He reached into his jacket and pulled out a leaf of official looking parchment and set it on the table for Hermione to see. "He'll be getting the noose tomorrow morning," Hermione almost choked, his execution was tomorrow!
"Surely you cant just sign it and stop them, I mean what if he's innocent?" The man looked at Hermione as if she'd grown a second head.
"I would never allow a filthy deatheater to live while I can help it! I also think it is time for you to go Miss?..." Hermione swallowed nervously she'd been hoping that he'd sign the paper with no problems but now Hermione was backed into a corner with one way out.
"Smith, Harriet Smith," He nodded his head and waved a hand at her to indicate she was to leave his presence.
Hermione looked around it was only them and the sleeping barkeep. Bernard had gone back to his drink and Hermione pulled out her wand and leveled it with Bernard's head.
"Imperio," instantly Bernard's head lolled a little to the side and he stopped drinking his beer to await Hermione's command.
"I want you to take this quill," Hermione was glad she'd brought her handy beaded bag with her, she pulled out a small quill and placed it in Bernard's hand.
"Good, now I want you to sign the paper in front of you," Hermione watched as the hand holding the quill moved towards the paper, Hermione had to hurry closer to him and snatch his hand quickly away from the paper when he tried to sign the one corner. She guided his meaty hand up to where it would look more natural for someone to sign.
She stood near his should making sure his signature looked normal.
When he finished Hermione rolled the paper up and tied it with string for him.
"I want you to leave the pub, go home and send this paper to the ministry with an owl that belongs to you. After that I want you to bathe; you smell awful," He really did too Hermione couldn't wait to get away from the horrible man.
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Hermione got back to Hogwarts a couple of minutes later, she ran through the gates and straight into the school, beelining for the headmistress's office.
"Minerva, he signed it!" Hermione was out of breathe and had a stitch in her side that was nearly crippling; McGonagall turned and looked at Hermione with a shocked expression.
"How...?" Hermione shook her head and refused to answer MInerva's question she was sure that the Ministry couldn't have tracked the spell she cast but she didn't want Minerva getting in trouble for knowing about it.
"Doesn't matter how it just matters that he did and that Snape's execution is tomorrow,"
Hermione checked the time and amended herself "Today, I mean this morning in six hours or so." Minerva's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"We need to go. I'll alert Kingsley and have him meet us at the ministry." McGonagall then turned and cast her patronus she told the lioness her message for the Minister and then the glowing animal was off.
A few seconds later Kingsley's patronus flew in and told them that Kingsley would be in the ministry in moments and that they were meant to meet him in the atrium.
McGonagall grabbed her cloak and transfigured one for Hermione from her table cloth and handed it to her.
"I'm sure we'll end up at Azkaban before the end of this ordeal," Hermione nodded and put the cloak on.
Minerva hurried out of the office with Hermione on her heels as soon as they reached the gates McGonagall grabbed Hermione's arm and they were gone with a soft pop.