Too Much To Swallow

She rolled out of the way of another curse and sent her own hex. It forced the soldier's legs and arms to lock as he fell to the ground unable to move.

"My Princess you are in fact excellent with a wand." Spoke Alastiar sounding surprised.

"Does this surprise you commander?" She asked raising an eyebrow as she helped up the soldier after reciting the counter curse.

"May I speak freely, princess?" She nodded as she turned to face him. "We do not permit woman to fight as soldiers and they do not train as such." Hermione's face hardened at this.

"And why not?"

"The woman of Kruphios are taught to run a household and please their husbands. They are not to fight in a battle."

"That is medieval." She scolded. "And that will change once I reach Kruphios." She spoke walking over towards Harry to watch his lesson in the sword.

"My Princess, I do not believe your uncle will agree with this decision of yours."

'He will not have to. It is what is right and fair. Men are not the only ones capable of holding a wand and sword." She spoke sternly. "And you would do well to get used to the notion of woman in battle."

"But it is unheard of!" Cried Alastair causing all training to stop. She turned and stared straight up at the older man.

"In Kruphios maybe, but the rest of the world has come to terms with the fact that a woman can do just as well as a man in battle. And while I am speaking I ask you this. You who have never entered a battle, where do you have such right to say who can and who cannot fight?" Her voice was low and venomous.

"I have not ruled as such. Your ancestors are the ones who made the ruling." He bowed his head after he spoke. "I am sorry to have upset you my princess. I will learn to hold my tongue on such matters in the future."

"Good, now that that is over…" She turned to the rest of the men who stood staring at them including Harry and Ron. "…Return to your training!" She yelled and watched as they immediately did as they were told.

"My princess would you like to start your hand to hand training now?" She turned to see a soldier bowing before her.

"Yes, yes I believe I would." She followed the soldier to a clear spot in the fields behind the manor.

She was slowly taught movements and stances. "Young soldiers are taught these exercises first in their training. I had thought you would like to learn them as well." Hermione nodded as they continued.

As she slowly took a stance the soldier had showed her she watched as all the soldiers suddenly dropped to their knees and bowed. Turning she saw her uncle standing at the entry way to a garden by the manor.

"Katherine!" He bellowed angry. Hermione shook her head and made her way to her uncle. Turning to Alastair who was near her uncle she spoke.

"Please continue." He nodded and stood returning to his men.

"Katherine, I am not pleased!" He spoke as they entered the manor.

"And why is that?" She asked doing her best to be polite.

"You cannot fight!" He cried as they entered the sitting room.

"Excuse me, but this is the whole reason why Draco and I took turns being here or Kruphios. So I can fight next to Harry as I've promised him I would."

"Don't you dare speak to me in this way." He said as they sat. She was surprised at his words.

"Uncle, this is my decision." She spoke her voice hard and confident.

"Woman do not fight in battles." He said in a pompous voice. She stood at this.

"You are ignorant uncle and stuck in your ways if you truly believe that. I will fight and when I get to Kruphios I will allow any woman who wants to fight for their country to do so."

"You will present this to the council then as I wash my hands of it. You will let them judge whether or not it is to be so."

"The council?"

"Yes there is a council to which I allow many decisions to go to. They speak for the people of Kruphios and are elected by the people of Kruphios."

"And this council is made up of…?"

"Mostly men." Hermione hit her fist against the wall she stood next to.

"So you know I will fail against the council and that's why you'll leave the decision to them?"

"I leave it to them because it is the decision of their people and they shall make it for them. Now I wish to speak of this no more. My decision has been made. Now…" he pulled out a letter. "Your brother has sent a letter for you with me. If you are done arguing I will give it to you." She resigned and nodded as he handed her the letter.

She ripped open the seal and read.

Dear sister,

While Uncle will never agree with your training I understand your decision to do so. I cannot stop you from fighting therefore I approve of you being trained to do so.

I must tell you that the history of our country is very interesting. Rashidi has told me little and I am hesitant about the man who seems to live in many secrets himself, but the story he has told me is interesting. I will tell you when I see you next.

Last I have to tell you that a friend has chosen to come to stay with us. It was surprise to see him make this choice, but he has chosen refuge here. I assume it is for the sake of his brother and sister which are not old enough to attend Hogwarts.

I hope you are well and stay safe during the battle.

Your Brother

"Who is it that has come?" Asked Hermione as she folded the letter. Her uncle smiled and shook his had.

"I will leave your meeting for when you arrive to Kruphios." Hermione, though now very curious, nodded.

"Fine if that is all I have training to attend." Uncle Evanander's face grew hard but he nodded realizing he could not stop her.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

She watched Harry pace back and forth in the kitchen. "Harry?"

"We have yet to find the last two and things are begin to unravel now." Spoke Harry as he continued to pace. She looked to Ron who shrugged.

"He's been like this since this morning." Ron informed.

"Harry, if you constantly think of this you will ware yourself down. We will continue the search once this attack is over and done." She explained. "Why don't you rest for the day? Tomorrow will come much too soon." He nodded.

Hermione had been right. Tomorrow came quicker than any had wanted. Many left early that morning taking places to spy on the country side neighborhoods. She would leave much later with Harry while the Soldiers would leave before them allowing them to set up defenses.

"Hermione, are you sure you want to do this?" Asked Harry as he and Ron came up next to her.

"Do what?"

"Fight." She took a moment to look over them both before speaking.

"My Uncle came to you didn't he?" They both nodded. "I have promised to fight next to you and I will not break that promise. We are in this together as we always have been."

"It's time." Remus spoke allowing them to ready to apperate.

They appeared in a quiet alley way. "The soldiers are hidden throughout the housing. Except for four of them." Remus informed Hermione.

"Why are four left?"

"They have been told to guard you." He spoke quickly obviously knowing it would enrage her. She looked to see four soldiers come and bow to her.

"Know this…" She spoke quickly. "No one can know who I am. You will address me as Katherine and nothing more."

"By my pr-"

"This is my only order of you and I suggest you do it for all of our safety." She spoke harshly and the soldiers nodded before standing.

They stood quietly for the moment. Everything seemed to freeze around them as even the wind stopped blowing.

A crash brought them on guard as they watched a death eater blow a house door down and enter the house. She watched as members of the order silently followed inside and attacked them from behind.

More death eaters began to show as the order quietly followed and detained each small group that came.

Soon they came in greater numbers causing the soldiers to now engage in the fight. The fight started in the streets, but moved to the woods and fields around the houses. Muggles ran and screamed trying to get away from the odd happenings around them. Hermione fought a masked figure as she dodged and ducked before throwing her own hex disarming and detaining the death eater.

She moved on and looked for Harry. Finding him fighting Bellatrix Lestrange, she found someone coming up behind him. Running to block the curse she sent her own at the death eater causing him to fall. More death eaters found them and pushed them up against the house as they fought back to back firing curse after curse.

"Her-Katherine, get out of here." Harry called as Hermione blocked a curse and sent her own.

"No, I won't leave you Harry, now stop wasting time and fight." She yelled among the cries of pain and fear the muggles yelled.

Daring to, she looked over to see her once guards fighting five death eaters. She watched as more came up behind them surrounding them. Anger filled her knowing she was responsible for her people.

Unfortunately she was disarmed during her glance around. Looking up to her masked opponent she sneered.

"You will regret that!" She called as anger filled her. She glanced once more to the soldiers seeing them backing into each other. They needed help now.

A power within her swelled. She needed to release it and so she did. Allowing her hand to instinctively raise to her opponent a shot of light came and hit the death eater in the chest. Not understanding what happened she didn't have time to think on it as she ran to help her soldiers. Using the same white light she felt herself tire as she drove away the death eaters.

It had looked as though they were to win this attack, but a stench of evil filled the air causing Hermione to turn to Harry.

There they stood before each other. Harry dirty and breathing hard from fighting death eater after death eater that had tried to capture him for their lord.

"So I see you were prepared for me." Voldemort hissed.

Hermione's body shook with power she could not control. Feeling eyes on her she turned to see a death eater looking straight at her. Seeing the eyes she recognized the potions master.

Her breath quickened as her body pushed her to release the power, but she held it in. It was then she turned back to Harry to see Voldemort looking at her.

"Power radiates from you." He hissed. He almost glided to her as the soldiers surrounded her causing Voldemort to stop. "You are familiar." He hissed quietly to himself.

The battle still rage around them, but in this corner all had stopped as eyes moved from Voldemort to Hermione to Harry.

She felt a presence in her mind begin to build iron walls around her thoughts.

"And you are skilled in occlumency. Yes you would do well under my ranks." He hissed his voice portraying the evil he was.

"I am loyal to Harry." She spoke shaking as she tried to control herself. Confusion rolled over her. What was this? How could she do wandless magic?

"If you join me I will give you reason to live." He hissed.

"No, you are a heartless murderer. Never would I join you." Her voice was low and angry as the soldiers made their barrier around her. Voldemort seemed to look around and then back to Harry.

"Today is not the day." He spoke to Harry before leaving with a swoosh of his cloak. Slowly his followers too disappeared.

Hermione turned once more to the death eater before she watched him apperate. Looking around she found a good few hurt, but it seemed no dead. Alastair came up to her as she shook involuntarily.

She steadied her voice and spoke. "Take account of your soldiers. Have all wounded or not transported back to the manor. I will see a healer comes to them." Alastair nodded and bowed.

She staggered around the battlefield looking for her soldiers and ordering those well enough to take the injured to the manor. She made her way to the woods where she had seen many go.

Not seeing anyone around she took the moment to lean up against a tree. She couldn't calm her heart as its pace continued at a rapid rate.

"Princess!" Called a soldier. She turned just in time to see him block a curse that was meant for her. She lashed out on the injured death eater which had fired the curse. Watching him fall in death she turned to the fallen soldier who looked up at her.

"Are you alright?" She asked kneeling next to him. He nodded, but she watch his skin pale. She called for help and watched as he was taken away to the manor. At this she ran to find McGonagall.

Finding the elder woman ordering to Remus about the injured and dead bodies of the death eaters.

"Professor! I will be needing Madam Pomfrey at the manor!" She cried.

"Dear, you don't look well yourself. Why don't we have her check you out first" Hermione shook her head at these words.

"I don't have time for that. Quickly I need her." McGonagall nodded and apperated away.

Ministry officials soon appeared to clean up the mess and speak to Arthur and Remus. Hermione made herself scarce as she found Harry and Ron.

"Are you both alright?' She asked concerned. Ron sported a large cut on his forehead and Harry was spotted with forming bruises and cuts.

"We are fine and you?" Asked Harry.

"I am fine, but I must return to the manor. A good many of the soldiers are hurt. I am regretting the decision of letting them come. They know nothing of battle." She said shaking her head.

""Mione? What happened to you…you know during the battle?" She looked from one to the other.

"I can't say I know. But I do intend to find out." Harry nodded handing her her wand. "Thanks, I will be seeing you both at the order meeting tonight as I assume there will be one." They both nodded and she apperated to the manor.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

"How many are hurt?" She asked limping through the large house. Alastair came to her side as they walked to the rooms.

"Many are bruised and cut, but only two seriously injured. They fared extremely well." Hermione nodded as they made their way from room to room bumping into madam Pomfrey from time to time.

"Two will need to be sent back to recover." Hermione spoke as she sat in the sitting room. "More I am told will be coming yes?"

"Yes, princess, they will arrive with your brother." She nodded.

"Good, and they are just as trained and ready?"

"Yes, Princess." She nodded once more. Looking to the window she saw the sun was beginning to set slowly. She stood at this and watched as Alastair stood too.

"I suggest you rest yourself for now."

"And my Princess what of you? You will be needing rest too." Hermione smiled.

"I will rest when this war is over." She said before making her way once again to the fourth floor.

Entering a room she saw a semi conscious soldier on the bed. Madam Pomfrey tended to his wounds as best she could.

"You fought well." She praised him and saw a faint smile come to his lips.

"It is an honor to have defended the princess." She nodded.

"And you will be honored for it. I am sending you home to recover."

"But my Princess I will fight." He spoke alarmed at this.

"You have fought well and now deserve rest." He nodded at her words. "You and one more will return tomorrow if well enough." He nodded once more as she left him. She saw the darkness begin to take hold outside and made her way outside to apperate to headquarters.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

"What happened?" Asked Fluer. Remus shook his head.

"I can't say I know. We will have to ask Hermione when she arrives." Hermione heard them talk before she entered the kitchen.

Slowly opening the door she limped a bit to her spot next to Harry. She felt all eyes on her as she sat. They stared at her and waited for her to speak.

"I cannot explain it either." She said quietly. She looked to Ron whose cut had not been healed yet and then to Harry who still looked as worn as on the battle field.

"Why did he not kill you?" Asked Arthur. She shook her head.

"I do not know, but it seems that there is much more about myself that I have yet to learn." They seemed to take this answer as her only one as they moved on.

"Well, as we have now witnessed with our own eyes, Voldemort's numbers have risen."

"And that was only the death eaters." Commented Ron.

"More soldiers will be coming with Draco." Hermione spoke quietly causing all eyes to be on her once more. "He will return in one week. I do not know how many he will bring, but more than twenty this time."

"Will they all reside at the manor?" Asked Kingsley. Hermione nodded.

"Yes, I see it the safest place for them to be." Ginny came in while Hermione spoke. The girl carried another letter and handed it to Hermione.

Hermione looked at it to see it not from Kruphios, but from a certain relative.

"I must leave." She stood quickly going to fetch her cloak.

"Hermione?" Asked Harry following her.

"Our informant." She said quietly before leaving Grimauld.

She came to the now familiar old foreboding house. Approaching it slowly she knocked three times, waited three seconds and knocked again before touching her wand to the door. The door opened for her and she saw the entire house to be dark and quiet.

"Hello?" She spoke quietly as she entered the room with her wand raised.

"Come in." She heard the familiar voice speak from the couch in the room. She did as told and sat across from him. Tea was already set before her. She watched for him to take a drink, but he did not move. It was then that she lit the candle that lay on the table between them.

She gasped as the light poured over the pale fragile man before her. His robes were tattered and blood splattered on them. He involuntarily twitched as an after affect from the cruciatus curse.

She kneeled before him. "I will help you." She said speaking spells to heal his wounds. "Your potions where are they?"

"Portrait in the kitchen." He grunted. She hurried to the next room and made way to a portrait. There sat a beautiful woman.

"Who are you?" Asked the portrait.

"Please he is hurt I need to get to the storage." Hermione plead. The woman had black hair that fell in ringlets down her back. Her skin was pale and her posture rigid as she sat in a chair with a window behind her. After a moment the portrait nodded and swung open to reveal many potion bottles. Hermione gazed at each one hoping she would find what she was looking for.

Grabbing two bottles she rushed back to the room. She administered the first to him. He groaned as the vile potion slid down his throat and she held the next to his lips.

She then sat and waited for them to take the desired effect. She watched as he slowly sat up on the couch and looked to her.

"Thank you." He whispered hoarsely. She nodded and waited for him to speak. "The Dark Lord was mad that he had not learned of you before." Snape spoke quietly his voice taking a monotone sound. "Specifically he wanted to know how I hadn't known."

"Does he know who I am then?" Snape looked down and away from her.

"He has been told your name is Katherine. He knows no more other than this." Hermione nodded and waited once more for him to look at her.

"What happened to me out there?" She asked quietly. It took many minutes before he answered.

"I can't say I know completely, but the rumor of the Malfoy line seems to be true."

"And what is that?"

"As I have told you the women in the Malfoy family seem to carry more power than the men. It is said that many years ago the power was given to your ancestor as a gift and she would pass it down to each of her daughters."

"Where have you heard this?"

"It was told to your father by your Uncle when you were born."

"My Uncle was there when I was born?" She asked. He nodded.

"As was I." She stood at this and paced the room.

"And I was given away for this reason?" She asked.

"Yes, your father knew that the dark lord would return and he could not risk putting you in danger when it happened."

"So I was sent away?" Snape nodded.

"I know nothing more of this. Your Uncle would be the one to talk to. But I must warn you. The dark lord wants you to join him. He does not know that you are a Malfoy yet, but he will find out and once he does he will stop at nothing to get you."

"Why? Why do I matter this much. Even if I am powerful why not just kill me?"

"He might take that course, but your Uncle would not tell me more than I have told you. Although I suspect there is more to the story, I also suspect the dark lord knows more than he has shown." Hermione sighed.

"I am more confused than I was before; none of this makes sense."

"As I said you must speak with your Uncle. I believe there is much about you he has chosen to keep secret."

"What is Voldemort planning now?" She asked trying to forget their conversation.

"His soul plan is to find and capture you. Potter of course is also on his mind, but he has deemed the time not right."

"That gives us more time." She whispered to herself though Snape had heard.

"More time?" He asked. She looked up at him with hard eyes.

"That is not of your concern." She spoke standing. "You will not see me for many weeks. Draco will return. Take care of yourself and eat better, you are far to injured to not to." She said. She went to the door her hand on the doorknob. "Thank you." She said still facing the door.

"I will protect you in anyway I can Katherine, know this." It was hard for her to take these words from Snape, but she nodded and left the house quickly.

A/N: I firstly have to say that i am loving the reviews I am getting you all are inspiring!! Also I will say that while i have a an idea plot for this it is not written out so i am following the adventure just as much as you all are. Do keep reviewing I love hearing your feedback!

A couple of he names from the last chapter have meanings as well...

Adofo: Warrior (African specifically Ghanian)

Medora: ruler (Greek)