Posted on: 01/05/2014 at 20:30 GMT/UTC/Zulu.
AN: Thank you to my reviewers angel897, Onyx Obsidian, OCD ADD Goldfish, saillorgemini, Bella1999, Sakura Lisel, Guest, MoonShadowAMR and TiraLu and everyone who has favourited or followed this story.
This chapter is going up early because my laptop broke, I'm glad it broke after I finished writing this, as I don't know how long it'll take to fix it. At the moment I'm borrowing Dad's laptop. Hopefully everything will be back to normal next week.
Naming this chapter took me hours while I stared at the blinking cursor and thought in circles until I eventually gave in and gave it this title. I'm not happy with it. If anyone can think of a better title please suggest it in a review.
The next chapter will be up on or by 09/02/2014.
The Marriage Curse
Betrayal's Edge
Hermione blinked and opened her eyes. She was in a bed in the Hospital wing for some reason. She couldn't remember why. It was early. She could see the dawn light, which was just filtering through the windows, staining the normally white ceiling in bands of pale pink.
She was sore and tired but had the feeling she'd been feeling much worse before. Her lack of memory bothered her but she knew it was sometimes one of the effects of healing potions and it would wear off soon enough.
She was surrounded by the sound of quiet deep breathing and she became aware that there was a paw on her forehead, Crookshanks, and both her hands were clasped somewhat loosely in two others. There was a heavy weight on her feet and shins. Both of the hands curled around hers were larger than hers but one hand was bigger than the other. She turned her head to see the owner of the larger hand and the pads of Crooks' paw rubbed across her forehead.
He stirred above her and woke. He stood and stretched then leaned over her. Her vision was momentarily completely obscured by ginger fur and she felt the rough wet rasp of his tongue on her cheek. She smiled.
"Love you too Crooks." She said.
Her voice came out croaky and dry sounding. Crookshanks turned on the pillow and jumped down to the floor. As he did she saw that it was Lucius Malfoy who had her hand. She didn't have much time to be surprised though.
Crookshanks movement had disturbed someone else. Hermione wondered who's cat had been with him on the pillow when another paw touched her head briefly as the other cat stretched. She turned her head as the other cat jumped off the bed as well. Hermione saw it blur mid-jump into Professor McGonagall. She landed on her feet soundlessly having timed her transformation perfectly as usual.
"Morning." Hermione said.
Professor McGonagall smiled at her. "You look much better. Do you remember what happened?"
"No I don't." Hermione said. "But I expect that's the fault of the potions I've been given."
Professor McGonagall frowned and pinched her lips together. "Yes no doubt."
Hermione followed her with her eyes as she manoeuvred around Ron, the other person holding her hand, and Harry next to him. She was careful not to jostle either of them as she moved to the foot of the bed. She gave the big black dog a nudge.
"Padfoot, you great lump. Get off the poor girl's feet." She admonished.
Hermione felt the weight on her legs shift. She looked down and saw Padfoot raise his head and yawn showing off all his teeth. Then he slid off the bed and turned back into Sirius.
"Morning Minnie." He greeted with a cheeky grin.
Professor McGonagall scowled at him. His grin got bigger. Then he glanced over and noticed Hermione was awake.
"How are you doing kiddo?" He asked her.
There was a careful gentleness in his voice that made Hermione wonder what was wrong.
"I'm okay. I don't remember how I got here although judging from the number of people asleep on my bed it was bad." She said.
Sirius looked grim as he nodded. Then he moved over to the boys and reached out with both hands to ruffle their hair. Both boys woke. Ron's hand tightened on hers immediately as he and Harry sat up.
"You're awake." Ron said, in an almost disbelieving tone, relief clear in his expression.
Hermione realised that she must have had an extremely close call with death.
"Yes I'm alive." Hermione said answering his unspoken comment.
"Close thing though." Harry said grimly. "I'm so sorry Hermione. It should have been me."
"I'm not sure what you're talking about Harry." Hermione said.
"She doesn't remember yet." Sirius said before Harry could say anything else.
He shut his mouth and gave her a pitying look. Hermione didn't like that. She was distracted though as Lucius' hand tightened on hers. She looked over at him as he woke. He sat up and ran his free hand over his hair, looked at the empty chair next to him and frowned and then looked at her. He seemed surprised to see her awake.
"Morning." Hermione said quietly.
She had a disturbing flash of memory. Worried grey eyes looking down at her as she rested against him held in his arms. There was a great deal of pain. Then she blinked and she was back in the present. Lucius squeezed her hand but didn't say anything. His eyes were wandering over her face looking for something. Apparently he found whatever it was because his frown eased.
"You look much better." He said.
Ron snorted. "That's an understatement if I ever heard one."
Before she could reply Madame Pomfrey spoke and Hermione turned her attention to her.
"Good morning everyone. Glad to see you awake Hermione." She said. "Now if everyone could move and give us some privacy so I can make sure Hermione is healing as she should I'd appreciate it."
Sometime later after Madame Pomfrey had made sure she was mending as she should Hermione sat propped up on several pillows. The Order of the Phoenix and everyone else gathered around her. She had remembered everything shortly after breakfast. It was shortly after lunch now and as they took seats on the neighbouring beds or conjured chairs she prepared to tell them what had happened. Neville took a seat last and then everyone was waiting for her to begin. She licked her dry lips and tightened her hand in Crooks' fur.
"I was in the library last night when someone stunned me from behind. I didn't see them but it was a male voice. It sounded vaguely familiar but I can't place it exactly. I'll try and remember." She said.
"We'll investigate." Professor Dumbledore said grimly.
"When I woke up I was in a clearing in the Forbidden Forest surrounded by Death Eaters." Hermione continued.
Her voice sounded distant to her own ears and the whole situation felt unreal. Her voice sounded unnaturally calm to her. Luna and Ginny joined her on the bed as she told them how Bellatrix and Lord Voldemort killed her parents. She was grateful for their arms around her as she continued to tell them what had happened up to the point when she remembered the spider collapsing on her injured leg.
As she spoke she kept expecting to wake up. She even pinched herself carefully under the blankets so no one would see. The pinch hurt but she didn't wake up.
There was silence for a long while after she finished speaking. Then they all heard a dreaded sound.
"Hem, hem." Came Professor Umbridge's fake cough.
Hermione looked up from the blanket she had been studying absently. Crookshanks stiffened under her hands as he raised his head. Ginny and Luna's arms tightened around her. The entire group's attention was focused on the nightmare in pink.
"Good afternoon Dolores." Professor Dumbledore said pleasantly. "It's good to see you well again."
Hermione wondered how he managed to sound sincere.
"Thank you Albus." She said. "I was wondering why several students, excepting Miss Granger of course, and Professors McGonagall and Snape are here when they should all be in class."
"These students and teachers are here because I allowed them to be. The students are excused from class because they spent half the night waiting to see if Miss Granger would live. Madame Pomfrey needed Professor Snape's expertise as a potions master and as Professor McGonagall is Miss Granger's head of house she was also here and awake most of last night. They have left appropriate cover work for their students. There is no need to worry Dolores." Professor Dumbledore said.
His tone was pleasant enough but Hermione had noticed the straightening of his back when Professor Umbridge spoke. Harry and Ron had gone tense and leant forward as though readying themselves to attack and she really hoped neither of them said anything stupid.
Hermione noticed Professor Umbridge going pink with anger at Professor Dumbledore's words.
"I suppose these outsiders are all family members and friends then." She said acidly.
"Yes." Sirius said sharply as his hands clamped down on Harry and Ron's shoulders.
Umbridge's eyes flickered towards the Malfoys and she opened her mouth to speak again.
"As a school governor I have a vested interest in helping to catch the student or students responsible for the kidnap of Miss Granger." Lucius Malfoy gave his coldest and most condescending smile as he spoke.
Professor Umbridge seemed stumped.
"Of course." She said with a sickeningly sweet smile.
"Get well soon Miss Granger." She added.
"Thank you Professor. I will." Hermione said.
Professor Umbridge nodded and left the Hospital wing.
Sirius released his hold on Harry and Ron and sat back.
"What's her problem?" He asked.
"She thinks Professor Dumbledore is plotting to take over the Ministry." Professor McGonagall answered with a snort.
"And she thinks this is the group he intends to do it with?" Sirius asked.
"That's about the size of it." Professor Snape sneered. "It's the most ridiculous thing the Minister and his lackeys have ever thought."
Kingsley chuckled.
"We should go to your office Albus and come up with a plan to catch our culprit." He said.
He stood and everyone else moved too.
"Get well quickly Hermione." He said and squeezed her shoulder gently. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you Kingsley." She managed.
After that there were a lot of touches, hugs and condolences. Madame Pomfrey had to chase Harry and the Weasleys off. At last she was left on her own.
Madame Pomfrey gave a goblet of Dreamless Sleep potion and told her to drink all of it. Hermione was tired and didn't protest. She drained the goblet quickly and lay down pulling the blankets up over her shoulders before she fell asleep.
"Sirius, Remus can we talk to you later?" Fred asked the two marauders as they were leaving the hospital wing.
"Of course. What's this about boys?" Remus said.
"We've had an idea." George said.
Both of the twins grinned.
"It is your evening to patrol right?" Fred asked.
"Yes it is." Sirius confirmed.
"We'll meet you in the seventh floor by the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy." George said.
Sirius and Remus grinned.
"You've found the room." Sirius said.
"We have." George said. "See you there."
"Yes. Later boys." Remus said. "I think I need some more sleep. Come on Sirius. Tonks and Kingsley can handle this assignment."
The pair of them left.
Draco Malfoy waited until the Weasley twins had gone too before moving out from behind the statue he'd hidden behind. What was this room on the seventh floor corridor near the tapestry of the mad wizard? He'd never seen one. The only thing there was an old broom closet.
Maybe it only appeared on Thursdays or the door looked like a wall, he thought suddenly, answering his own question. There were certainly plenty of odd things like that in Hogwarts including walls pretending to be doors. Whatever the secret was he was going to find out. With that thought he started to walk up to Gryffindor Tower.
The hex hit him in the back as he turned into the Charms corridor. He turned, drawing his wand, to see Nott as his front teeth began to grow over his lips making speech difficult.
"Diffindo." Draco managed to get out around his new fangs.
Nott's robes, and his uniform beneath them, split at the seams and fell off leaving him standing in his underpants. Childish perhaps but amusing none the less. He cast the counter curse on his teeth. They stopped growing and began to shrink back to their normal size.
There was a peal of laughter behind Nott and Draco was pleased to see the entirety of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fourth year class coming out of the Charms classroom.
"Lost something Theodore?" Draco taunted.
Nott flushed red all over and returned fire. Draco only just deflected his cutting curse. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour he gave a mocking half-bow in the direction of the fourth years and fled.
"This isn't over Blood Traitor!" Nott shouted after him. Another spell hit the wall above his head.
Draco sniggered and kept running. Nott would bring allies with him next time though and he realised it had been stupid to let himself end up alone. Especially after what had happened to Granger. He had no idea which of his former housemates might be working for the Dark Lord and which ones just sympathised. At that thought he ducked into a hidden passage behind a tapestry and stopped to listen. He heard nothing. The passageway was dark.
"Homenum Revelio." He cast.
There was no one nearby. He was alone. With a sigh of relief he relaxed against the passage wall and caught his breath. When he had he cast a disillusionment charm on himself and a silencing spell on his robes and shoes. Suitably hidden he sneaked back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Where have you been?" Ron said the moment he stepped through the portrait.
"Sneaking back here carefully." Draco said. "I realise it was foolish to let myself end up alone. It won't happen again."
"Good." Ron said shortly. "I'd miss beating you at chess if the snakes did you in."
Draco sneered and crossed his arms. "They won't get me and I demand a rematch. You cheated last time."
"I didn't but I'd be happy to whip your tail again." Ron countered. "In fact why not make it two on one to give you more of a chance?"
Draco didn't rise to the bait and considered whether Dean or Seamus was the better player. He had only seen them play a handful of times but thought Dean was probably better as he was less impulsive than Seamus.
"Dean?" Draco asked.
"Sure." Dean said.
Ron got his chess set from the dorm and they all sat down to play.
"How's she doing?" Seamus asked as they set up the board.
"Good. She's far tougher than she looks." Ron said.
Harry joined the spectators. "I'll play whoever wins." He said.
The hours until dinner passed slowly but the chess match was a good distraction. Ron won despite playing against two opponents. Then he slaughtered Harry and then the twins one after the other.
The doors of the great hall swung closed with a loud clunk after the last student was inside. They all noticed the line of silent and grim looking aurors standing against the back wall behind the teacher's table. Whispers rose all over the hall as they waited to hear what was going on.
Silence fell immediately when Professor Dumbledore stood.
"Last night a student was stunned and taken from the grounds by one of the people in this room." He started.
There were murmurs of shock and horror but they soon died down again.
"While the student in question is now safe and under Auror guard this is a most serious matter. There are several wizards here tonight trained in the use of Legilimency. Every student will be questioned and no one will leave until we catch the culprit. The use of Veritaserum has also been authorised in the unlikely event that the culprit is trained in the art of Occlumency." He said.
There was a silence so complete now that a pin dropping would have been heard throughout the hall.
"We will find you. We will find any accomplices you may have. Surrender now and you will be granted some clemency. If we have to search through the entire student body to find you the punishments you will face will be far harsher. I suggest you surrender." He said.
Then he stood silently and waited. The whole hall waited with baited breath. Nobody moved for what felt like a very long time.
Then to the surprise of everyone present a brother and sister, both of them sixth year Ravenclaws, and a seventh year Slytherin stood. They looked at one another across the gasping students and the three of them walked up to the head table and surrendered their wands to Dumbledore. He looked on them with a deep disappointed sadness.
"Mister Runcorn, Mister and Miss Fenton you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. His voice was solemn and sad.
There were three sharp snaps as he broke each surrendered wand in turn. The snaps sounded as loud as gunshots in the silent hall. Dumbledore nodded to the Aurors and sat down.
The Aurors came around the table and arrested the three former students. As soon as the ministry contingent had left the hall with their prisoners the food appeared and a babble broke out.
Harry stared at his plate and didn't make any move to take any food. He was too shocked. He had thought all his enemies were in Slytherin but two Ravenclaws! Two!
Up at the staff table Professors Dumbledore and Flitwick didn't eat either.
Please review. Constructive crit is welcome. Flames will be used to heat rocks to keep Nagini warm.