Summer Attack

Minerva had managed to pull herself together with the help of her friends Poppy and Hooch. She had taken on the responsibility as Headmistress of Hogwarts and was surprised at how much support she had throughout the wizarding world. At first the Minister of Magic attempted to get her sacked but protests sprung up throughout the magical world which snuffed out his ideas. She was touched with the outpouring of support she received and sought to make Hogwarts the best it could possible be.

She was presently at an Order meeting that she had arranged to discuss what new information had been picked up when a hysterical Ginny Weasley stepped out of the fireplace startling the entire group. "What's wrong Ginny," her father, Arthur, asked almost immediately.

"Death Eaters at Hermione's house," she sobbed then added, "She locked me into her room when she heard them and dashed out to help her parents."

"How many were there," someone asked from the back of the room.

"I only saw four," she answered obviously shaken.

"Let's move," Alastor Moody yelled and dashed out of the room followed by most of the older members.

Minerva stood rooted to the spot she had been standing with a haunted expression on her face. She feared for Hermione and wanted desperately to rush off to save her but her body refused to move. Her mind and heart was screaming for her to follow the others but her body was too frightened with worry to move. She closed her eyes briefly hoping her daughter would be found unharmed but she knew the likelihood for that was very slim. She would just have to wait to find out some news of her beloved daughter.

The two weeks since the Granger house was attacked had passed and still there was no word of Hermione. Her parents had been found dead at the burning house but it was apparent that the Death Eaters had taken Hermione. The Order members were still confused about her capture by the Death Eaters. They considered Hermione a mudblood and usually they just murdered them, not take them captive. It made no sense.

"I just don't understand it," Lupin proclaimed for the umpteenth time. "Why change their tactics by capturing her?"

"I don't know," Moody had said troubling.

"Could it be a method of attacking Harry," Tonks offered.

"I think there is more going on," Arthur commented before the fireplace flames turned green and announced the arrival of someone.

Everyone turned expectantly towards the fire and gaped in shock as they saw who it was. Narcissa Malfoy stood there holding a figure completely covered by a dark hooded cloak. When the figure moaned slightly in pain, Narcissa gently eased the mystery person towards the nearest chair and pulled the hood back to reveal Hermione.

A collective gasp of shock sounded through the room as everyone saw her. Her face was swollen and covered in nasty looking bruises. It was obvious to everyone that she had been tortured and probably gone through hell. Minerva rushed to her side and immediately began to comfort her. "What the hell did you do to her," Moody bellowed.

Narcissa turned to face them before replying calmly, "I didn't do anything to her but help her travel here. Voldemort commanded a few of his young followers to capture her and torture her to death before returning her to Hogwarts for what he considered to be a gift for McGonagall. However, Severus and Lucius found out what he had planned and saved her before she was killed."

"Why would they help her," someone asked in outrage.

"They want to see the downfall of Voldemort just as much as all of you do. There are a few that were forced or threatened into following Voldemort and they secretly try to undo some of the evils that he orders," she answered.

"If Snape were truly against Voldemort he would never have murdered Dumbledore," Harry yelled in outrage.

"He only did as Albus asked," Minerva said hesitantly.

Everyone turned their attention to Minerva waiting for her to explain further. "Albus was slowly dying from a curse that he had encountered and he knew it. He also knew that Severus had been forced to take an unbreakable curse in order to protect Draco so Albus came up with a plan to make it appear that Severus had murdered him but it's not so. Harry when you heard Albus begging, it wasn't for mercy, but for Severus to follow through with the plan. Albus felt it was beneficial to have Severus maintain his position as a spy."

"You knew the whole time and didn't say a word to anyone," Ron asked in disbelief.

"Not the whole time, Albus left me a letter and quite a few memories to explain things," she admitted.

Hermione shifted then slowly fluttered her eyes open. She turned her head slowly until she found Minerva then released a sigh of relief. "Voldemort knows I'm your daughter," she croaked.

"Damn," Minerva muttered then glanced around the room nervously. Everyone in the room stared disbelieving at the unexpected news. "What," she asked huffily daring anyone to question her then drew Hermione closer to her.

"Hermione is your daughter," Moody said completely flabbergasted.

She nodded then turned her attention back to her daughter. "Wee one, do you feel up to traveling back to Hogwarts so Poppy can attend your wounds?" she asked comforting.

Hermione nodded slightly but turned her attention to Narcissa and whispered a quick thank you. Narcissa smiled reassuring to her then reached a scroll of parchment to Minerva. She quickly left leaving many to stare after her. Minerva frowned then read the parchment. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw what it revealed. "She just handed me a list of all Death Eaters and whether they are truly committed to Voldemort or not," Minerva said.

"How can you be so sure that the Malfoys are trustworthy," Lupin asked slightly suspicious.

She eyed him for a moment then answered, "Lucius was forced to join Voldemort by his father. When he died, Lucius pretended to be loyal to Voldemort to protect his family. Are you aware of how Voldemort deals with disloyal Death Eaters? He forces them to watch their families being tortured to death then tortures them to death. I think it was a very wise move on Lucius' part."

Everyone watched in stunned silence as she struggled to get Hermione up then helped her to the fireplace. She grabbed a handful of Floo powder, shouted Hogwarts and silently breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar green flames enveloped them. They didn't get to ask the questions she knew they desperately wanted to.