Year Five – Part Three

Antonin felt like heaving a sigh of relief and kissing the castle floors the second they passed through the portrait hole.

He had never felt so much stress in his entire life. Not even for himself. He felt more for the children he had to look after. And even then… he hadn't felt nearly as much pressure as he had singularly felt for Hermione. He swore that no one found themselves in danger as often as her and her two buffoonish friends.

Perhaps he should ask the Headmaster for a pay raise, seeing as it was practically a full-time occupation to make sure none of the Golden Trio are killed or at least seriously maimed. Or, you know, infected with lycanthropy.

Yes, he was still annoyed by that.

But he felt a great weight release from his chest as he stepped back into the familiar feeling that the castle provided. He had his little witch in his arms, the other four were fine; well, one was unconscious, but he wasn't in any immediate danger. He was fine.

Weasley was lucky he wasn't dead. If Antonin hadn't stunned Avery when he did, then the boy would have burnt from the inside out. One of the more specialized spells that Antonin had brought to the Death Eater repertoire. Though, only a few were powerful enough to produce it adequately. Unfortunately for Weasley, Avery had been one of those few.

But unlike the others, Antonin knew the counter curse for that particularly nasty hex and had administered it as soon as he reached the boy, saving his ungrateful life. He tried reminding himself that these were just children and his students to boot, but if he had to pick his least favorite out of the six, it was Weasley.

He also tried telling himself that it had nothing to do with the idiot boy's treatment of his girl but that wouldn't be entirely truthful.

Sometimes he just wanted to curse the boy's shoelaces together and watch him trip… down several moving flights of stairs and into a suit of armor but everyone has those days.

Instead he had saved the redhead. That had to account for something, didn't it? Never mind the guilt he felt when he looked at the boy.

Just as he felt another episode of self-loathing begin to set into his mind, he felt the girl in his arms snuggle closer to him. Her arms were securely around his neck and he had a good hold on her so there was really no need for her to attempt to get closer. Unless…

We'll stop that train of thought right there, Dolohov.

But what if she just wants to be close to me?

Merlin he felt like a bloody schoolboy again. And not in the good way. He hadn't had much of a problem with women when he was in school. He didn't have much of a problem with them now. Many liked the tall, dark, and serious type. And none of them were looking to settle down. They just wanted an occasional dalliance, which he himself could admit to enjoying.

Vector had certainly been a worthy distraction. And she hadn't expected commitment or the sort from him. She had told him upfront that he was "delectable" and had wanted to "see if her equations were right about his sexual prowess." Of course it had been and so they had a few memorable nights together before moving on. Just the way Antonin preferred it.

He didn't think he deserved to settle down. Not with the guilt constantly eating away at him and the double life he now had to live. He wasn't a good man, wasn't husband material. He was suited for physical and carnal pleasure but nothing more. He didn't do emotional connections.

Well, until he began letting a pushy Gryffindor girl insert herself into his life.

Had he ever been so close to a woman who wasn't family? He remembered a tentative friendship with Floriana Zabini. But after learning what had happened to her seven husbands, it was probably best that Antonin had never taken her up on her offer of marriage.

This girl in his arms that was trying so hard to wriggle closer to him had absolutely no idea how she had already managed to wriggle herself into his daily thoughts, nighttime imaginations, and into what he thought was a once decimated heart.

And he found himself less willing to give her up the closer she got.

Soon, she would cross a line that Antonin wouldn't let her come back from. He was still a man, not a bloody saint and he only had so much control.

So, he'd let her seek her comfort from his embrace, and let her feel safe with him. He could only hope that one day she would come to understand why she shouldn't do any of that. That, or cease being his student before so. Perhaps just indulging his lust driven desires could purge her from his mind and body.

He knew he wasn't kidding anyone but a man can dream.

As the group neared the infirmary, Antonin could faintly hear raised voices coming from inside the room. It sounded like the familiarly strict and tense tones of Professor McGonagall that he remembered from his own school days. Not that he was ever in much trouble, but he had been around his dorm mates for their fair share of chew outs. The other voice was mildly familiar and feminine but he couldn't immediately place the quieter tones.

"-are they, then?!"

"-sure, but Harry's safe-"

"-manage to lose five children, is beyond me!"

"-no idea…"

At that, Antonin threw open the door to the hospital wing and walked inside, barely registering the look of shock and surprise on the occupants faces. He led the children into the center of the room and with a flourish of his wand, situated the Weasley boy on a hospital bed before saying,

"Find a bed." When the three behind him didn't move, he growled out, "Now." At that, they jumped and scurried off to place themselves on one of the infirmary's white beds. Antonin walked to the closest cot to him and gently deposited the tiny Gryffindor in his arms into it, watching her leg to make sure she hadn't further injured it without his knowledge.

Confident that she just needed some professional care, he stepped back and turned to go find the girl a pain potion when he came face to face with the Head of Gryffindor House herself. Despite being over a foot taller than her, Antonin still couldn't help but shrink back from the woman he still called professor out of pure respect.

"Professor Dolohov, what…" The usually stern woman appeared at a loss as she looked from him to her student. When Antonin looked at the little Gryffindor from the corner of his, he saw her worried gaze was also going between him and the older witch.

"I…" The usually fairly eloquent man faltered as he returned his full attention to the gaping woman in front of him. "I found out… About the plot to lure Potter from the castle…" He heard a gasp come from behind his ex-professor but ignored it as he tentatively continued, "And I accepted the invitation to join them just before they left… Because I knew the boy would go."

"You went to save him…?" He barely heard the witch, but he nodded his head to her question.

"Yes."

"But… why? You could have jeopardized yourself. You could have been killed for that…" The older woman was staring at him with a combination of shock and confusion lacing her weathered features. Antonin's brows furrowed slightly at her statement though. Didn't she know the promise he had made to the Headmaster?

"I… am there professor. Isn't it my duty to protect them, Professor?" Antonin might have expected acceptance of his answer, or more confusion as to why he would even take that oath seriously, but he certainly wasn't expecting… this.

The witch had physically sagged in relief with a wide smile crossing her normally terse lips, before she breathed out, "Oh my dear boy," and hugged him.

He could count the number of women who willingly hugged him on one hand but he never foresaw Minerva McGonagall to ever be one of them.

His face probably showed his surprise after the muffled giggles he could hear coming from his Gryffindor's cot began to show.

"Professor-" He began, trying to figure out just what had happened to make this particular witch show such affection with the likes of him. But he was cut off almost as soon as the word left his mouth.

"Minerva. You've more than earned the right to call me such." She pulled away from him, and he was left swaying slightly as he stared in disbelief at her. He had earned nothing. All he had done was go after Potter and ended up taking his five friends back to the school instead. He hadn't even saved them. Well… not really. It didn't feel like it to him.

"I don't understand…" At her questioning look, he explained, "I thought you would be disappointed that I had gone back…"

"Do you still believe that pureblood drivel?" At her immediate question, he snapped back to when he was a student and quickly answered,

"No, but-"

"Do you detest Muggleborns?"

"I never have-"

"Do you want to create a Muggle free or enslaved world?"

"Not any longer." That answer was final. He may have once agreed with the thought that Muggles were beneath him but now that he met and interacted with many who come from Muggles… He didn't see the appeal.

"Then why do I need to be disappointed in you, Antonin Dolohov? You saved these five students from the same group you had once aligned yourself with. You went against the ideals you had been brought up with by creating your own. You risked your own life because, as you said it, you are their professor and have a duty as such to protect them."

When she put it that way… It did make more sense. He may have gone back to the Death Eaters, but he couldn't truly consider himself one of them anymore. Antonin had left that life fifteen years ago. He was still a dangerous man with a penchant for dark magic and occasional sadism, but he wasn't a bigoted psychopath that harmed just anyone. Especially not children.

Glancing down, he took in Hermione's beaming face. Especially not her. He never wanted to intentionally harm her. He felt like doing so would completely condemn him. Such an innocent creature… He shook those thoughts away before he did something stupid like try to compare her to that unicorn from his second year.

He didn't want to snog a celestial creature anytime soon.

Oh bloody hell… He shouldn't want to snog his own student. Ever.

Maybe he should just tell McGonagall about all the dirty, perverted thoughts he'd been having about her favorite cub. Maybe then she'd be disappointed.

But common sense and self-preservation prevailed, leaving him to merely respond with a quiet, "Thank you… Minerva." She nodded her head in approval at his acceptance before turning to go handle other matters. Presumably to find out where the Potter boy was and how she could let the Order know about the other children's safety.

Antonin wanted to make himself scarce. He knew most of the members of the Headmaster's little militia and had no interest to tangle himself in that web. Mostly because it would presumably end with his death. But… The desire to stay and take care of the little witch he had found himself entangled with was somehow stronger. So he gave her a pointed look as he began to walk away and she smiled in understanding; He'd be right back.

Walking across the infirmary floor, he saw Madam Pomfrey pouring blood replenishing potions down the Weasley boy's throat, one of her assistants was in the process of fixing Longbottom's nose, while another was checking out the other two girls. He exhaled deeply before turning his attention back to the task he had set for himself. Pain potions for Hermione.

But as he neared the storage room where he knew them to be, he met the cool black stare of the Potion's Master. Pausing, Antonin held eye contact with the man for several seconds, each seeming to scrutinize the other. He knew Snape could hold this knowledge of Antonin's betrayal over him, but it would still be worth it. His little witch was alive with nothing more than a broken ankle.

Instead of a sneer or a look of disgust though, he received a simple nod. Antonin narrowed his eyes slightly before doing the same, acknowledging… whatever that was. Perhaps he had been too brash to suspect the other wizard of being like every other Death Eater. Perhaps he too took his vows made to the Headmaster seriously.

Choosing not to dwell on it, Antonin continued to the opened storage room before a shorter figure nearly collided with him. Instinctually reaching out his hands to grab the person's shoulders, he was only mildly surprised to see his once student turned Auror, Nymphadora Tonks.

"Oh! Sorry professor. Wasn't watching where I was going," her smile was sheepish as she held onto the bottles piled in her hands. Antonin quirked an eyebrow before asking,

"When have you ever, Miss Tonks?" She seemed surprised by his answer but a crooked smile broke out on her face as she chuckled slightly.

"You got me there professor. Were you coming in here to get something for yourself?" Her gaze perused his figure and Antonin didn't know whether to be more worried that his ex-student cared, or that he saw something akin to approval in her eyes.

"No, Miss Granger's ankle is broken. I was coming to get her a pain potion." Realizing that he still had his hands on the witch's shoulders, he let them fall slowly, to not let it seem that the contact had bothered him. He was use to intimidating others, not the other way around.

"Ouch. Well, I'll ah… just let you do that then."

"You're too kind," he dryly replied, causing an unladylike snort to come from the girl- no, woman in front of him. Her hair turned a brilliant shade of blue as she stepped out of the doorway and out of his way.

"You know professor; I always knew you had a sense of humor." He rolled his eyes before stepping into the closest like area, picking up the closest pain potion he could find before turning around to walk out; only to find the same witch still standing out there.

"I wasn't aware there was anymore titillating conversation to be had between us, Miss Tonks."

Her brow furrowed slightly, "You know you can call me just Tonks, right?" He tilted his head slightly before stepping past her, drawling back to her,

"As you wish… Just Tonks." Another snort erupted from the witch and Antonin wondered just what these women saw in him to think of him as this approachable.4

He hasn't left yet…

Hermione couldn't help but stare at the man sitting in the uncomfortable hospital chair directly next to her bedside. He was leaning forward, his arms resting on his knees as he talked to her. They were only discussing the different theories involved with house elf magic. Nothing really worth staying for and yet the wizard hadn't left.

It had been almost half an hour, if Hermione had to chance a guess. And yet Professor Dolohov had only left her side once when he traveled across the infirmary to retrieve her a pain potion. Madam Pomfrey had already been by to fix and set her ankle and now she was just resting until the Mediwitch was certain she wasn't in any more trouble.

And throughout it all, her professor had stayed. He was under no obligation; Hermione knew that all too well… But he just continued to find something different for them to chat about. Nothing heavy or too personal, just light topics that Hermione had no trouble rambling about.

Perhaps he was trying to distract her from what had happened earlier in the evening. Maybe he was just trying to keep her company so she didn't drive herself into a hole with worry over what was happening with her friends. Though none of their lives were in danger and they had already heard from Tonks that Harry was with Dumbledore, Hermione still felt a linger of stress over the events that had transpired.

If Professor Dolohov hadn't been there… what would have happened to them? Would they be in some Death Eaters home? Would they be bleeding out on the Ministry's floor? Would they be dead?

Hermione must have let her thoughts show on her face, because she felt a warmth cover her right hand and looked up to find her professor's worried gaze.

"Are you alright, Miss Granger?" He even sounded concerned about her. Hermione felt an overwhelming burst of fondness for the man and smiled softly at him,

"Yes professor. I guess I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment."

He nodded knowingly, "You've been through a traumatic ordeal. It's typical for you to drift in and out. If you'd rather be alone and try to sleep…?" His question trailed off, but Hermione knew he was asking if he should leave or not.

She shook her head furiously, "No, sir. I'm grateful for the conversation and the company." She could see a faint smile hidden beneath his stubble as they began to talk again. Hermione couldn't stop the giddy feeling inside of her from expanding. It was moments like this where she wanted to wrap herself around the man and never let go.

Everything she learned about him only intrigued her and endeared him more to her. She knew he was a fairly quiet man but when she addressed a topic he felt strongly about, he could talk for hours about it. He really was a fantastic teacher, especially when he explained something she didn't fully comprehend. And if she watched him carefully, she could see how he actually was a bit more expressive than people probably realized.

The quirk of his lips was usually hidden beneath his thick jaw stubble, but if you looked at the right spot on his cheeks, you could see the imprint of his dimples. The lines around his eyes would crinkle when he was pleased. His eyebrows would furrow if he was deep in thought. The lines on his forehead would grow deeper if he was worried or nervous. His eyes would flash if angered.

Hermione thought of it as a unique sort of homework; Figure out what Professor Dolohov is feeling. So far she thought she was doing fairly well at it. It was easier with him sitting still so close to her. At his impressive height it was nearly impossible to clearly see what he's feeling when he towers over you. But here, Hermione could see the impossibly dark brown irises, the line of his strong jaw, the indents in his cheeks from his upturned lips, and the smell of him drifted pleasantly all around her.

It was so easy for her to lose track of everything else around her when he was near. His presence called out to her, like he demanded her attention whenever they share a space. And she can never keep her eyes off of him. Whether in concern or excitement or force of habit, her gaze would almost always find his.

A few more minutes past before her voice was lowered by the escalating sounds coming from outside of the infirmary. She sent a nervous look to her professor who narrowed his eyes before turning to watch the doors as they slammed open. The people that rushed in were completely friendly and familiar though; much to Hermione's relief.

The Weasley family went immediately to Ron and Ginny while Harry, Sirius, Professor Lupin, and Mad-Eye Moody walked to the center of the room.

"How in the devil did these kids get here?" Moody's gruff voice demanded. Professor McGonagall came out from Madam Pomfrey's office at that moment and quickly answered his question.

"A member of our staff secured them and brought them back to Hogwarts." Her voice sounded awfully tight to Hermione and then she realized that the Order would definitely question why Professor Dolohov had been at the Ministry. Her head whipped to look at the man in question but he just appeared to be calmly watching the others in the room. His arms still rested on his legs and only his head was slightly tilted in their direction. But his eyes were cautious and even held a bit of wariness.

"Professor…" She whispered, but he only shook his head slightly in response before going back to listening to the conversations happening around the two of them.

"A member of your staff? Wouldn't happen to be Snape or Dolohov now would it?" Professor McGonagall bristled at Moody's tone before snapping back,

"Yes, if you must know. Professor Dolohov made certain that these students returned back to the castle safely."

The room went eerily silent as the standing occupants immediately shifted their stares in Hermione's direction. But none of them looked particularly interested in her, except maybe Harry.

"And just how did you know that the kids would be there, Dolohov?" Moody asked threateningly, his body turning to throw the brunt of his glare at her professor.

"I had prior knowledge of the events." She was slightly surprised that the wizard hadn't changed his position. He didn't look tense or defensive, merely… bored? Except Hermione could still see the same look in his eye. He was waiting for something.

"Prior knowledge, eh? Because you're still a bloody Death Eater, right?" Sirius' voice joined Moody's in the onslaught against the man next to her. She didn't like that they were beginning to gang up on him, but she knew that he must have plenty of experience dealing with this sort of problem and would stay out of it.

For now.

"Because I know those who still are."

Sirius took a dangerous step forward and reached for his wand as he shouted, "Don't bloody kid yourself, Dolohov! You're a Death Eater and we all know it." Hermione felt a warm weight on her good leg and a familiar pulse of magic surround her. Looking down, she saw her professor's hand had reached out to grasp her. The look in his eyes didn't suggest comfort though. It was protection.

"Let go of Hermione, you-!"

But the low tones of her professor's voice cut the furious man off, "I would prefer to have the disagreement of my loyalties away from the already injured students, Black." His voice held a danger of its own, as he stared Sirius down.

"Put your wand away Padfoot," Hermione heard the quiet voice of her former professor say. "He's only put a barrier around Hermione in case you decided to hex him." So that's what he did… But, looking at the man, he didn't seem to have one around himself as well…

Was he just going to let Sirius attack him and only make sure that she didn't get hurt?

"Remus is right, Sirirus," her best friend added. "Professor Dolohov has always protected us. And even if he, you know… Is a Death Eater… I still believe that he saved them again tonight."

"Harry…" Sirius dropped his wand arm and slipped the piece of wood back into his pocket, but an incredulous look remained on his face as he starred at his godson. Hermione registered her professor's hand slowly leaving her leg as he leaned back in his chair.

"What do you mean he's always protected you Harry?" Lupin asked in confusion.

"Well, he's the one who saved Hermione and I from your wolf form. And he made sure that we were able to save you Sirius. He's the one who figured out the creature was most likely a basilisk and helped with the cure for those affected by it in our second year." The eyes returned to her professor but he sat silently under their scrutiny.

"Miss Granger figured out the creature was a basilisk," she heard her professor mutter unhappily. He clearly didn't like all of the attention he was quickly gathering.

"Harry's right. Ron could have died tonight if Professor Dolohov hadn't known the counter curse to whatever he was hit by." The Weasley's gave a surprised gasp at Ginny's statement and their wide eyes turned in her professor's direction.

"Mr. Weasley wouldn't have been injured with that curse if I hadn't created it and given the information to the Death Eaters," the man countered, his figure still eerily resembling a relaxed form. But Hermione could tell he was wound tight. But she'd also had enough.

"We all could have died tonight if Professor Dolohov hadn't been there," she exclaimed, her stubborn gaze meeting her professor's annoyed one. He probably wanted her to stay out of this, but she couldn't. She wouldn't let these people she respected try to tear down the man she trusted more than all of them.

"Don't exaggerate, Miss Granger. The Aurors weren't far behind you." Hermione wanted to scream at him. She wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him and yell until he understood that he was a good person. That he was capable of doing good. That he wasn't the monster he obviously thought he was.

"Do you think this indebts us to you, Dolohov?" Hermione had never heard Mr. Weasley's voice even closely resemble the dark tone it had just taken. Not even when she was twelve and heard him go against Lucius Malfoy.

"I do not." He looked away from her to meet the patriarch's leveled glare. "Nor did I expect gratitude, favor, or influence."

"Then why did you do it?" The unusually quiet voice of Mrs. Weasley asked. Her professor shifted slightly in his seat, but Hermione couldn't figure out why.

"Because it was the right thing to do."

Apparently that answer wasn't quite good enough for Moody though, who had somehow managed to stay quiet through most of the discussion. Until now, that is.

"Like hell, Dolohov! We're just supposed to believe a lying snake like yourself? You've got some hidden agenda and I'm not waiting around to find out what it is," he pulled his wand out during his final declaration and pointed it straight at her professor's heart.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as she flung herself out of the bed and straight into the man next to her. She ended up with her back to his chest, sitting slightly awkward in his lap, with her hands thrown to the side, hoping to prevent any spells that might be thrown at him.

"Hermione…" She could audibly hear the confusion and frustration in his voice. "Get back on the bed."

"No!" She shouted, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "They're treating you like some common criminal when you haven't even done anything. And now they're going to just attack you and you were going to let them!"

"I deserve it-" He started, but Hermione was tired of him thinking that he was a terrible person. He wasn't; Not to her at least.

"You don't! You've been nothing but kind to us. You've saved our lives and not just today! You're one of the best professors we have here at Hogwarts. You haven't done anything to deserve this treatment!"

"He's a Death Eater, girl. Now get away from him," Moody growled out. Hermione shook her head angrily.

"No! He isn't one of them anymore!"

"Anymore…" She could hear the man behind her breathe out. "I still was at one point, Miss Granger." She felt one of his arms snake around her waist and physically turn her as the other supported her underneath her knees. He easily lifted her petite figure before depositing her back onto the cot she had just vacated.

"Stay here," he said, gently pushing her shoulder as she attempted to sit back up, "And stop trying to cause more harm to yourself." His gaze warned her but she had to protect him. He had done so much for her; the least she could do was return the favor.

"Professor, please…" Her hand gripped the sleeve of his shirt and he couldn't pull himself out of her reach without being forceful. So he relented with a deep sigh, sitting back in the chair he had previously stood from.

"I don't want your protection," he muttered out loud enough for her to hear. But she smiled despite that and whispered back,

"I know. But you need it." He gave her a strange look before turning as the other's began to speak again.

"You aren't innocent, Dolohov," Mr. Weasley warned. "Just because you've somehow convinced everyone that you've reformed, it doesn't change anything."

"I never said that it did or that I was." Her professor just looked tired at this point. She still had a tight grip on his sleeve, afraid that if she let go someone would attack him. His body was turned slightly, his forearms resting across his knees, a frown on his face as he stared in the redhead's direction.

"You admit it then?" Moody grumbled out, curiosity crossing his weathered face for a moment.

"I am not innocent," her professor conceded. "I joined Voldemort's ranks the summer after I graduated from Hogwarts." Many in the room looked shock at his use of the Dark Lord's name. "I did terrible, unforgivable acts because it was expected of me. I know it doesn't excuse what I've done, but I left before Voldemort's fall," he emphasized.

"I did not, nor have I ever believed in blood purity. I had refrained from committing acts of violence against those of the wizarding community. Most of my cruelty was experienced by Muggles. And I'm not excusing it," he added, seeing the look on several of the adults' faces. "I'm merely explaining how I came to leave it all."

"Refrained from attacking those in the wizarding world? What about Molly's brothers?! How can you say that-!"

"Because he did not attack the Prewett twins." Hermione gasped and looked up to see the Headmaster standing in the doorway to the infirmary.

"Albus-" Mr. Weasley started but was cut off by a raise of the older wizard's hand.

"Please, Arthur, Molly. You must understand that while it was Antonin who ultimately killed Fabian and Gideon, it was not because he wanted to. He made the choice to after seeing what had become of them." At everyone's questioning looks, the Headmaster continued,

"Death Eaters were raiding the empty home of Madeline Sherman as you remember and the Prewett brothers were the first to arrive. They were outnumbered two to eleven. Twelve, if you count Antonin who had been inspecting the woods around the home at the time. The Death Eaters took turns torturing them, ruining their minds, destroying their bodies." A grave hush had fallen over the room as everyone focused solely on Dumbledore.

"One curse in particular that was used, caused unimaginable pain which ultimately would result in a slow but torturous death. The young men were left like that. Antonin stayed behind, to cast the Dark Mark, he had told the others. But he ended up casting the Killing Curse on the twins instead. A mercy killing, in the end. For there is no counter curse to what had been placed on them. Even if there had been, their minds would have forever been ruined much like Frank and Alice's." Neville's face dropped at the mention of his parent's, as did a few others.

"Yes, Fabian and Gideon Prewett had been attacked in a vicious, bloodthirsty manner. And their death came to be by Antonin Dolohov. But he had not attacked them. He had not caused their death."

Mrs. Weasley took a tentative step away from her son's bedside, her eyes never leaving the man next to her who, at some point, had dropped his head, hiding his face away. Her voice was shaky as she asked, "Is that… Is it true?"

"It was mercy, my mother told me…" Hermione had never heard her professor sound like this before. His voice had never been so thick before. "It never felt like mercy. It always felt like murder." Looking down, Hermione could see drops of water on her professor's arm. He was… crying… Mrs. Weasley seemed to notice it as well.

"You regret it…?"

"I don't regret killing them. They deserved better than a slow death at the hands of those bastards... But I regret being the one who did ultimately kill them. I never wanted to harm witches or wizards. The war wasn't supposed to be against them, but after Muggleborns began to 'disappear' and the Potter's were targeted… I knew I wanted no part in that. I didn't need any more wizarding blood spilt on my hands."

"You knew James and Lily had been targeted?" Lupin questioned.

Her professor nodded, "I was there when Pettigrew was Marked and Voldemort revealed the prophecy and his plan to the Inner Circle."

"And you didn't say anything?!" Sirius exclaimed, his hand going towards his wand once again. But her professor didn't have to answer.

"He told me. But by the time I had planned to act, it was too late. Lily and James were dead and Voldemort was gone." The Headmaster looked very forlorn in that moment, as though reliving a very painful memory. And perhaps it was. "I had tried convincing them to make me their Secret Keeper instead, but they had trusted Peter. I knew they wouldn't believe their friend had betrayed them though, and had tried to get to Peter, but I waited too long and paid for the consequences. Antonin holds no fault for my mistakes."

Hermione wanted comfort her professor. She wanted to situate herself back on his lap and curl into his chest and whisper soothing words to him until he felt better. Until this nightmare was over. Being forced to relive what must be the worst regrets of his life… It couldn't be easy. And she didn't want him to think that he was alone. She was here for him.

At the sight of a figure moving closer to her area of the infirmary, Hermione looked up into Mrs. Weasley's teary face as she came to stand a foot away from Professor Dolohov. She just stared at him, and before she could say anything, her professor was already speaking.

"I know I couldn't save your brothers… And it will be a regret that I live with for the rest of my life. I don't deserve your forgiveness. Even if I saved your children, you owe me nothing. It doesn't negate the sorrow I brought to you and your family. And if you wish to take revenge, I wouldn't blame you. Nor would I stop you."

"Professor-!" She started, but was cut off by his head lifting and his bloodshot eyes meeting hers. He shook his head slightly, the loose hairs wafting through the air with the motion.

"I may have changed my ways, Miss Granger… But it will never make up for what I have done." He stood at that declaration and in her shock, Hermione had released his sleeve, leaving him to walk away from her bed.

He waited patiently in front of Mrs. Weasley, his eyes meeting hers confidently but they were filled with regret and sadness. Hermione held her breathe as the smaller witch took a hesitant step forward, before throwing her arms around the man in one of her familiar embraces.

"I forgive you, Antonin Dolohov. I forgive you." Hermione couldn't see her professor's face, but could hear the strangled sound that came out of him.

"Why… Why would you…"

"Because Hermione was right… You are a good man."