Chapter 11 - Madam Bones' Malady
"Don't you two need to rest?" Molly asked, her voice laced with concern as Harry and Hermione prepared to leave for Hogwarts.
"The Elixir can sustain us in place of sleep," Hermione replied. Harry and Ron had returned from America barely an hour prior bearing he grim news of the current situation. With things as they stood it was likely that they would have desperate need of wands in the coming days.
"Don't worry," Harry said reassuringly. "We'll all sleep better when we've got wands again. If the Ministry makes its move we're going to need the ability to cast the Unforgivable curses again."
"Luna and I will finish seeing that the rest of the werewolf muggles are equipped with the new weapons," Ron said.
Harry and Hermione nodded before shimmering away in silent apparation. An instant later they appeared at a location near Hogwarts where they immediately transformed into their bird shapes.
"Things are starting to look normal again," Harry marveled as Hogsmeade came into view. The once burned out wreck of a town was showing noticeable reconstruction and restoration such that it would soon be back much as it was before the war. Of course, it remained to be seen if it would have a large audience of school children from Hogwarts to fuel its economy.
From there the familiar outline of Hogwarts soon came into focus. The castle still bore the scars of the final battle as certain sections of it had been too damaged or cursed for restoration by mundane magical means. Despite this, there were visible reductions in damage as the structure seemed to be slowly repairing itself.
"Vampires and aurors," Hermione observed as they flew over the castle walls at a high altitude and began to slowly circle in an unobtrusive descent toward the roosting tower used by the school's delivery owls. They perched on an entry window for a moment as they took in their surroundings to make sure that there were no watchers nearby. A bright red light shone brightly from around the necks of their bird forms as they began to access their magic.
"They may be using some of our eyepieces," Harry said as they transformed. "We'll need to increase the power of our invisibility charms as much as possible."
Hermione nodded and together they summoned as much power as their stones could produce to cloak themselves in a thin coat of invisibility. As the spell finished a shiver ran through their bones and a distant unearthly cry wafted in. They had heard that noise before.
"Those creatures, they're here," Hermione exclaimed. Once might have been coincidence, but twice left little doubt. The creatures were drawn to them whenever they used the power of the stone.
"We've got to hurry," Harry said grimly. The sense of inner strength that the stone bestowed seemed to drain away with the reality that there were things in this world that the stone's powers could not touch and those things were coming to kill them.
Despite the increased risk of detection they moved as quickly as possible down the halls toward the entrance that led to the Chamber of Secrets. Fortunately with no children and only a few complacent guards they were able to make it without creating any disruption. The hole that had been blown into the floor was still there, though it didn't seem to be as big as before. Apparently the castle's self repairs still had a ways to go, but that was good for Harry and Hermione at this point.
"Drop your spell," Hermione said anxiously as they dropped through the hole into the catacomb of piping below. "Maybe that will throw the creatures off our scent if we refrain from using anymore magic."
"I wouldn't count on it," Harry replied as an echoing cry reverberated through the pipes' narrow confines.
"Did they come in through the lake?" Hermione asked as they ran toward the Chamber.
"Who knows," Harry replied. "Are we even sure they can't walk through walls?"
The dementors had been vague about the extent of the creature's abilities, but such a notion wasn't outside the realm of possibility. As they approached the door to the Chamber they immediately noticed the prominent scars on the thick covering that were the result of intense spell fire and probably dark curses. The Ministry had evidently attempted to gain access to the Chamber and failed. Harry hissed a command and the door began to open for them.
"They're coming," Hermione said. They chafed at the delay as the door swung open slowly. Just as it had opened enough for them to pass through it a bestial roar sounded within the very same chamber that they were in. The creature or creatures were in their entirely invisible state though, since they were unable to spot them.
"There, that is the stone where their bodies are," Harry said.
"We'll have to use magic," Hermione said. The stone covering was much too heavy for them to remove by hand.
Harry's stone glowed red as he gathered magical energy and instantly he was beset by three of the mysterious monsters. He leapt to the side as claws slashed great gashes in the ground where he had stood moments before. Stone shrapnel and debris flew through the air as powerful limbs shredded the floor with frightening ease.
"Hurry Hermione," he yelled as he waved his hand and lifted the stone to reveal Voldemort's corpse. Hermione spotted the two wands lying where they had left them and snatched them up.
"Harry, catch," she shouted back as she tossed Voldemort's old wand toward him. Harry spun gracefully, his stone glowing brightly, to evade the frantic assault as the wand settled into his outstretched hand.
"Avada Kedavra," Harry yelled. A flash of deadly green light impacted against the nearest beast causing it to slump over dead without a sound. The remaining creatures screamed and disappeared in an attempt to retreat.
"Avada Kedavra," Hermione echoed, her spell bursting in a flash of green flame as it missed the retreating beasts as they slipped back through the entrance to the chamber.
"I wonder how many aurors are running down here after this?" Harry asked as he caught his breath.
"Hopefully none," Hermione said as she toyed with her new wand experimentally. She gestured toward the makeshift grave where Voldemort and Bellatrix had been laid to rest. "We've got one more thing to deal with before we can leave."
Harry joined her side and looked down on the desiccated remains of Bellatrix and the still very alive looking Voldemort. While the witch had decayed much more rapidly than it would seem naturally possible Voldemort's twisted form still looked exactly as it had when they had sealed him away.
"How many lives did he consume?" Harry asked softly.
"Too many," Hermione replied. "Let's end this shell while we can."
Together they kneeled down, their hands glowing, as they prepared to alchemize Voldemort's body into its base components. Harry flinched slightly, as did Hermione, at having to touch the foul carcass before them, but in order to degenerate such a tenacious spell ridden body they estimated that it was necessary. The glow around their hands built for an instant before there was a flash as the magical energies they were using reacted with the left over spells in Voldemort's form. As the light pulsed over the body flesh and bone were reduced to their elemental components and then there was nothing left of Voldemort except a residue indistinguishable from the rest of the surroundings.
"What about Bellatrix?" Harry asked.
"She was nothing special," Hermione sniffed. With a wave of her hand Bellatrix's remains burst into intense flame and then just as quickly flaked away to ash.
"Then let's get out of here," Harry said. He waved his hand and replaced the stone as they donned their invisibility charm and began walking back to the door.
Once on the outside they replaced the wards that had helped guard the Chamber just in case there was some unknown danger still lurking within the old secret room. With their powers it was a small feat to retrace their steps back up to the bathroom where the entrance to the lower level leading to the Chamber was located.
"Someone's coming," Hermione said as they made their way back into the hall. Instantly they froze, wands drawn, despite their invisibility charm since they were still not invulnerable to detection.
"Snape," Harry said, his anger rising swiftly. "That bloody traitor."
"Let's follow him, I want some answers," Hermione said, all thoughts of leaving gone.
They fell in line behind him and proceeded to follow him all the way down to his dungeon lab without disturbing anything enough to give themselves away. They had to move quickly to duck through the door before he closed it, but they seemed to make it without his knowledge.
"Professor Snape," Harry said sternly as he and Hermione shimmered back into view. Snape whirled around, his eyes going wide at their unexpected appearance. "To think I actually began to like and trust you."
"Talk," Hermione snapped. She gestured threateningly with her wand. "How dare you betray your friends like that?"
For an instant Snape's eyes betrayed actual pain, but the look passed quickly and his eyes resumed their old hard defiant look.
"I'm not the traitor here, I never was," Snape replied. "I was one of the few real loyalists to wizard kind during this whole long misbegotten affair."
"By wizard kind you mean purebloods," Harry said darkly.
"I don't expect two muggle born to understand the struggle against the destruction of our ancient heritage," Snape said stiffly.
"That sounds a lot like Voldemort…" Hermione began.
"Voldemort was scum," Snape exploded. "He was a half blood, a power mad monster that altered his own body. What kind of pureblood would tamper with the perfection of their heritage?"
"Then all this time, you were just double crossing both sides," Hermione said, saying aloud what McGonagall had already indicated to them based on her brief experience when Snape first showed his true colors.
"Not at first, if you must know the truth," Snape said. "At first the Death Eaters were quite secretive and I joined because of a recommendation from another member. We all thought that we were a society of purebloods, for purebloods, but we soon discovered otherwise when the Dark Lord revealed himself. By then it was too late and the more power hungry purebloods didn't care that their leader was himself a worthless mudblood. I sought out the Ministry and began working as an agent for the Minster. Who knew that I would one day be able to help maneuver the enemies of the purebloods into self annihilation."
"The only one's who will be annihilated is you and your Ministry," Hermione growled. Her wand began to gather energy.
"Is it murder now?" Snape asked mockingly.
"I'm sorry Snape," Harry said, his wand coming up too. "But you're too dangerous to let live."
There was a bright flash and a burst of smoke as two beams of green energy crossed at the place where Snape had stood a moment before. A shrill alarm began to ring throughout the castle as Snape somehow managed to flee the room. Harry and Hermione used the acceleration charm to rapidly get out of the smoke and back out into the hallway, but there was no trace of the wily potions professor left to be found.
"Forget him," Hermione said. The sound of pounding boots heralded the advance of the Ministry's contingent of aurors and hit wizards. Two blue robes and at least two dozen red robes could be seen rounding the corner, undoubtedly thanks to Snape's escape informing the security response.
"It's the Potters," Surocco said. Harry recognized him from their time in Ministry captivity.
"Pour it on them," the other hit wizard, a man recognized as Tom Turner, yelled to the aurors under his command.
Harry gestured with his wand and several thick stones appeared to take the slew of killing curses that leapt across the hall toward them. A couple of the curses got through, but those were swallowed up by the powerful aura of life that the Philosopher's Stone put off.
"Don't rely on the stone," Hermione said through their link. "It can't stop a curse like that except in a very small area. You almost have to get directly hit…"
"So I see," Harry replied as he dodged the next curse outright.
Hermione's stone glowed, but the long spiraling bands of flame were cast from the end of her new wand. The spirals grew in size and intensity as they radiated away from her to the point that the wizards on the receiving end were inundated by a veritable sea of flame. The aurors were terrified, but the two hit wizards charged forward grimly to meet the onslaught.
Harry winced when he noticed the hit wizards activating Light Bearer armor on their left arms as they crossed their wands and braced themselves for the impact of Hermione's spell. The thick fire arrived an instant later, but instead of burning through the defenders it was halted in a swirling mass just a few inches away from the hit wizards where it was held by some invisible spell they were casting. After Hermione's ineffective attack had been gathered for a moment Harry could feel their opponents strengthening and shaping the fire. With a hiss the flame recoiled back toward Harry and Hermione, but now it looked even more intimidating.
"Watch out," Harry yelled. He drew his arm back over his head so that his wand was positioned right next to his ear and pointing toward the oncoming inferno. A few wisps of air began to gather around his wand that quickly turned into a phenomenon resembling a small tornado swirling around his arm with the tip coextensive with his wand. He waited until the last moment before the firewall approached before thrusting his wand forward savagely into the blaze.
There was a flash of light and a sharp concussive wave of energy as the tornado destroyed itself on the firewall. The fire lost its cohesiveness and blew apart into a raging sea of flame that washed back over the entire hallway. Every surface was ablaze and even the air seemed to burn as thousands of embers filled the atmosphere.
Two dark shapes burst out of the fire and moved with unnatural speed toward Harry and Hermione. Harry caught the movement and used a counter spell to negate the acceleration charm of the hit wizard that was homing in on him. He caught the metal coated fist of the hit wizard on a corporeal shield he conjured just as he realized Hermione hadn't been quick enough. The other hit wizard had punched her square in the torso with enough force to send her crashing back into the stone wall where she immediately began to smolder from the heat of that surface.
"They're using my tactics," Hermione said as she got back to her feet while healing rapidly under the influence of the Elixir. Sure enough, the hit wizards were using their stolen Light Bearer armor to great effect by closing in and physically striking out.
Harry's stone glowed brightly as he caught a magically enhanced punch with his left hand and swiveled around to fling the offending hit wizard back toward where the aurors had last been seen before the firestorm obscured everything.
"I think we'd better make a break for it," Harry said. They had been on the clock from the instant the alert had gone up. In this place they were not prepared to chance a meeting with the unexpectedly powerful sorcerers.
Hermione nodded and gathered a large bubble of magical air that she released all at once to sweep a path through the flame for them to make their escape. Harry unleashed a torrent of cutting spells as they whisked past under the influence of the acceleration charm and heard one of the still hidden aurors cry out, injured or dead.
In the confusion they were able to make it back to the first floor and out onto Hogwarts' main grounds where their animagus transformations allowed them to blend into the environment as they put distance between themselves and any would be pursuers.
"That," Hermione proclaimed after they had transformed back. "Was ridiculous..."
"Agreed," Harry said. They were somewhere just beyond the forbidden forest. "They knew all about our magic. The Ministry's sorcerers must be giving them advice on how to counter our abilities."
"Or we just aren't using them right yet," Hermione huffed. The Philosopher Stone was supposed to be the ultimate weapon. Flamel had unleashed devastating amounts of magical energies with it and he hadn't even used a specimen as perfected as their own.
"It may be that our bodies haven't fully adjusted yet," Harry said. He smiled softly as Hermione moved over close to him and let him wrap an arm around her. "I've noticed that the longer I keep drinking the Elixir the more effective the stone seems to become."
"We should probably start drinking it every day," Hermione said. "We can't afford to have any weaknesses the next time we have to fight those continental sorcerers."
"What about the life extension problem," Harry asked.
"That won't matter for a while," Hermione said. She wasn't eager to tinker with the natural order either, at least not toward the direction of full fledged immortality.
"Are you ready to go?" Harry asked after another minute had ticked past.
"No," Hermione said, "But we'd better anyway."
The scenery changed abruptly from forest to an out of the way space in Riddle Manor. Immediately they could hear noisy discussion and hurried movement coming from a nearby room.
"Thank goodness you guys are back," Ron said as soon as they walked in. Luna, McGonagall, Remus, Tonks, and several others were sitting around a table that was littered with several bottles.
"Not long after you left we received word that Madam Bones has been admitted to St. Mungos," McGonagall said. "We don't know what's wrong with her except that the nurse who reported to us didn't expect her to live."
"What?" Harry said with alarm. "Ron and I just talked to her."
"I know," McGonagall said. "That's why you and Hermione need to save her quickly, before it's too late."
"Agreed," Hermione said quickly. "However, it might look a little suspicious if we just burst in and recover her."
"That's why we've scrounged up all of these," Tonks said indicating the bottles on the table. "We're going to alter your appearances. You've still got that book I gave you for your birthday a couple years ago, right Harry?"
"Um, yeah," Harry said. "Dobby, you remember the one don't you?"
"Yes Harry Potter, sir," Dobby said quickly as he popped into the room. "One moment sir, Dobby will be fetching it."
"We've even got mediwitch uniforms," Molly said. "Though, they were blessed hard to get at such late notice without getting anyone's suspicions up. Just be glad that St. Mungo's doesn't change styles very often, now hurry up and change."
"Can't we just conjure the uniforms?" Harry asked.
"St. Mungo's uses specially made clothing that can't be vanished or switched," Hermione said as Molly practically shoved them into a side room. Harry knew that such clothing existed or else there would be no need for the various tailor shops.
"Why would they bother with such a thing?" he asked as he stripped off his old clothing. He stole a glance at Hermione as she did the same, but knew that they didn't have any time to spare with a life hanging in the balance.
"Resistant to spells, easy to clean, the usual," Hermione said, shrugging as she, like Harry, tried to keep her mind focused on the issue at hand.
"I feel a little silly in this," Harry said. The uniform was a lime green robe that he thought suspiciously resembled a muggle nun's outfit.
"I know what you mean," Hermione said.
"Okay, let's get you two altered," Tonks said as they stepped back into the main room.
"Wouldn't it be better for us to go as something other than healers?" Harry asked. Tonks applied a few drops of something after consulting with the book Dobby had brought and immediately his face began to distort.
"St. Mungo's holds a virtual monopoly on magical medicine in England," McGonagall explained. "So even though you'll be going as Madam Bones' private healers you still have to wear the St. Mungo's uniform."
"I mean, couldn't we go as relatives or something?" Harry asked.
"Relatives wouldn't have the authorization to remove her from healer care," Tonks said. "Besides, Madam Bones doesn't have a lot of relatives and the one's she does have are well known to most people so I doubt you'd be able to pull it off."
"This is uncomfortable to say the least," Hermione said through their bond as her hair shortened, straightened, and turned light blonde.
"We look like bloody Malfoy," Harry replied as he looked into a conjured mirror. His hair was the same as Hermione's, though somewhat shorter still, and both their eyes were the same shade of icy blue.
"Now, here are documents," McGonagall said. "I conjured these, so they won't hold up to much scrutiny."
"Just so you know we had a hard time making the alterations," Tonks added as they prepared to leave.
"Probably because of the stone and the changes it's made to us," Hermione said. "The Elixir is trying to "heal" the changes because they're foreign to our bodies."
"Hm, yes, that sounds plausible," Tonks said. "More importantly, don't do a lot of magic. Use of magic makes the changes disappear faster so if you have to do any big spells then they'll probably disappear."
"All right, all right," Harry said. "Is there anything else we need to know?"
"Just that you shouldn't expect any help when you get there," McGonagall said. "Our source is an old friend of mine, but she won't do anything beyond what she's already done and as you are well aware St. Mungo's is heavily patrolled by the Ministry these days."
"Lovely," Hermione said as she shimmered away alongside Harry to their destination in London.
"Is it just me, or are we always in a hurry?" Harry asked as they made their way down the street toward the derelict department store named Purge and Dowse Ltd. that was in fact a magical entrance to the hospital.
"I'd say," Hermione replied. Harry could tell that this entire operation was being done with too little information and too much speed to suit her logical deliberate mind.
As soon as they stepped through the window they found themselves inside the familiar lobby of St. Mungo's. Harry eyed the information sign as he followed Hermione to the front desk. Five floors, each divided amongst the various types of injuries that a wizard might suffer from magic spells and creatures.
"How may I help you?" the Welcome Witch asked.
"We're here to attend to Amelia Bones," Hermione responded. She held out her credentials along with Harry's.
"Fourth floor, spell damage," the Welcome Witch replied, barely glancing at their papers.
"This place is a lot creepier than I remember," Harry commented as they made their way toward the fourth floor. There were red cloaked aurors at regular intervals and even more ominously they passed a pair of blue cloaked hit wizards that seemed to be overseeing the facility. Harry felt his teeth grind a little when he recognized the two hit wizards as Mosely Motts and Cohen Roth. They had been there during the torture of himself and Hermione.
"The Ministry must be stationing hit wizards at all vital locations," Hermione said, stating the obvious.
Harry didn't reply, but he could feel the submerged anger radiating off of Hermione.
"Here it is, spell damage," Harry said as they stepped onto the fourth floor. "Where is Madam Bones' room located?"
"410, end of the hall," Hermione replied. "But that's not all Harry. Kingsley Shacklebolt is here too!"
"Shacklebolt?" Harry echoed. "What about him?"
"There's more going on here than we know, despite what you learned in the Americas," Hermione said. "After what Palsgraf said during our trial I want to talk to Shacklebolt and find out if he's a dupe or a traitor."
Harry paused. This was going to complicate their already improvised plan. Still, Hermione had a point. Shacklebolt had been a part of Dumbledore's circle for the time when the Order of the Phoenix had been resurrected and he might know something that they would find useful. At the very least he wanted to know why it appeared as if Shacklebolt had given false and incriminating information to Fudge for use in the "trial" against himself and Hermione.
"Okay," Harry said finally. "We'll see to Madam Bones first and then pick up Shacklebolt on our way out."
As they resumed their progression down the hall Harry expected to see Ministry security watching over a member of the Wizengamot, but when they entered the room Madam Bones had been assigned to all they found was four bare walls.
"Are they even treating her?" Hermione said aloud.
"I don't think so," Harry said, appalled at the scene before them. Madam Bones was writhing weakly on the hard mattress of the hospital bed, her skin a deathly pale grey, and her breathing so weak that it appeared as if she were barely alive.
"Here, hold her while I get this down her," Hermione said briskly. Harry would normally have cast magical restraints, but he didn't want to wear down his disguise so he grabbed her arms and tried to keep her steady. Hermione still had a difficult time forcing the Elixir down her throat, but eventually she was able to. The effect was almost immediate. Madam Bones' skin began to regain its healthy color and her thrashing stilled.
"Give her some more," Harry said. They needed her to be awake, if possible, so that they would have a better basis for removing her from St. Mungo's without raising suspicions.
"I think its working," Hermione said. She wished that she could cast a healing charm to help the Elixir work, but such an expenditure of magic might cause their whole scheme to come crashing down.
Madam Bones began to sputter and thrash around again as she was forcefully fed more of the Elixir. Suddenly her eyes flared open and she started to take in her surroundings with some degree of alarm.
"Where am I?" she asked weakly. "What happened?"
"We were hoping that you could tell us that," Harry replied comfortingly. "Hermione and I were away on some business and when we returned we were informed that you had been stuck down mysteriously."
"It was that snake Fudge," Madam Bones snarled, her memories flooding back. She seemed taken aback at their appearance for a moment, but Harry's use of Hermione's name combined with the stone he was holding appeared to convince her of who they were.
"Fudge did this to you?" Hermione asked as the elderly lady struggled to sit up.
"He might as well have," Madam Bones replied. "It was vampires. They bit me, tried to turn me."
"Oh no," Hermione said, recoiling back slightly.
"What's wrong child?" Madam Bones said, alarmed. "I'm alive aren't I? They didn't have enough time, I'm fine."
"You were nearly dead when we arrived," Hermione said, her voice barely a whisper. "We used the Elixir of Life to restore you."
"T-Then, I was, I was going to die?" Madam Bones asked. She began to sob slightly, her body going limp. "I've been turned."
"Don't worry," Harry said reassuringly. "We're going to get you out of here and…"
"And what?" Madam Bones said forcefully. "I'll die and turn into one of those cursed monsters. I'll eat my own friends and family without a care in the world. I'll be gone, but my body will still be around slaughtering and…"
"Madam Bones," Hermione said quizzically. "As far as I know vampires still retain the memories they had when they were, as we know it, alive, and I don't see…"
Madam Bones' cold hand gripped Hermione's forearm tightly, almost to the point where her unexpectedly sharp nails gouged into her skin, causing her to flinch uncomfortably.
"Those things aren't mistreated elves," she said tersely. "The shell remains, but the soul is gone. Vampires are a wholly cursed existence animated by foul magic beyond our comprehension. They're the reason that the dark things of study are Unspeakable."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, interested.
"I don't know any more than that," Madam Bones replied, her hand withdrawing. "Wizard-kind has studied the vampire for hundreds of years, but their condition has never been explained or their bloodlust sated. In recent years we've managed to organize enough to keep them sequestered and mostly feeding on non-humans, but they're a constant plague threatening to break out."
"No wonder Fudge wants rid of them," Harry muttered. Now it was Madam Bones' turn to be puzzled.
"Fudge is trying to get rid of them?" she said, incredulous. "He's practically granted them equality."
"As fascinating as this is," Hermione interrupted. "I think perhaps we should get out of here first."
"Of course," Harry said quickly. "Can you stand?"
"I don't think so," Madam Bones replied.
"I think I saw a mobile chair in the hall," Harry said. He ducked outside and then returned a moment later with the implement. With Hermione's help Madam Bones was transferred into the chair.
"Where are we going?" Madam Bones asked softly when they missed their turn off.
"We've got one other quick stop before we go," Hermione replied.
The room that Shacklebolt was being held in was not much better or more secure than the one Madam Bones had been in, though it had slightly more equipment. The reason for his intensified care became obvious as the slight taint of charred flesh became apparent, even through the thick salves and bandages that Shacklebolt's limbs were encased in.
"At least he isn't awake," Harry said with relief. For all they knew Shacklebolt might raise an alarm at their suspicious appearance in his room.
"We're going to have to transfigure him though," Hermione said. They might get away with removing Madam Bones as long as she was there confirming their story, but there was practically no chance that their credentials wouldn't be scrutinized closely if they were trying to remove an unconscious auror too.
"What's an easy animal?" Harry asked.
"I'll do it," Hermione said. "My spells are probably still more efficient than yours. You don't mind holding a cat do you Madam Bones?"
"I suppose not," she replied.
"Then here goes," Hermione said. She withdrew her wand and uttered the spell words in an attempt to draw as little magical energy as possible. There was a second of hesitation, but then Shacklebolt's damaged frame shriveled up into an equally battered little cat.
"Okay, hold onto him," Harry said as he gently placed cat Shaklebolt into Madam Bones' weak grip. "Just in case he wakes up and goes crazy."
"Harry," Hermione said. Her hair was no longer blonde, but brown and bushy once more. "I think we have a slight problem here."
"Don't worry," Madam Bones said. "I can manage that, hand me your wand."
Hermione did as she requested and Madam Bones made a few graceful swishes, each of which resulted in Hermione's hair flattening and lightening itself until it greatly resembled the original disguise.
"I don't know how long that will last," she said as she offered Hermione her wand back.
"It should be enough," Harry said.
They had made their way back to the entrance hall as briskly as possible without raising suspicion when an extra vigilant auror decided that they were worthy of challenge anyway.
"These are my people," Madam Bones said disdainfully. "This dreadful place hasn't done anything to alleviate my condition and so I'm leaving."
"That is your right Madam," the auror said uncomfortably. She was, after all, still a seated member of the Wizengamot regardless of her current political influence and such a position demanded a certain amount of respect from a field auror on sentry duty. "However, this is highly unusual. At least let me delve for enchantments."
"For the sake of your job, auror," Madam Bone said dryly.
"No, no, no," Hermione thought desperately. Shacklebolt was still sitting on Madam Bones' lap and the enchantments binding up his form might be revealed.
"Here, you, take my little Williams," Madam Bones said with the clipped tone of master addressing servant as she handed Shacklebolt to Harry. Hermione almost let out a sigh of relief as the auror began his work with the transfigured Shacklebolt well out of range in Harry's arms.
"You seem perfectly sound Madam," the auror said finally. He suddenly flushed red. "I mean…you're not enchanted. I hope you get better Madam."
"I know what you meant dear," Madam Bones said kindly and with that they were gone, back out onto the streets of London.
"Aren't we going somewhere else?" Madam Bones asked.
"As soon as we're out of sight," Hermione replied. There was a faint red glow around her neck as a four pronged portkey slowly materialized in her hand.
"Be sure Shacklebolt doesn't fall off," Harry said as each of them took hold of the oddly shaped device. Madam Bones helped stabilize the unconscious paw of Shacklebolt as the seconds ticked down to the portkey's activation.
A swirl of colors enveloped each of them as the familiar sensation of being drug along by one's midriff was felt. A few moments later they were deposited back in Riddle Manor surrounded by Light Bearers and other various individuals ranging from werewolves to Hogwarts' staff. Harry noticed that the werewolves, including Remus, were instantly wary of Madam Bones.
"Clear the way people," Hermione said briskly. "We need to get Madam Bones into our lab."
"There will be time enough for explanations later," Harry admonished hurriedly as they wheeled the elderly woman away from the portkey's arrival point past the small crowd that had gathered.
It was at that time that they passed through the entryway into the dining room. Harry's eye caught Hermione's and as one they turned, hands glowing, as the two mannequins posted on either side of the door stepped down from their place with shining swords held aloft. Harry and Hermione each caught the blades as they fell toward Madam Bones' exposed physique. Upon contact with their masters the mannequins paused a moment and then resumed their place on each side of the door with their beautiful white ceremonial robes not even ruffled.
"I almost forgot about those," Hermione said slyly as she and Harry moved on leaving their friends standing around flabbergasted.
"You see," Madam Bones said sadly. "Even your own guardian spells know what I am now."
"You're not dead yet," Harry said firmly. "And that means you're not anything except yourself."
"Harry's right," Hermione said before Madam Bones could protest. "Don't give up on us."
"I don't see what you expect to do," Madam Bones said. She eyed the many strange tools and vials of Voldemort's old lab with great suspicion. "None of these things will help me you know."
"We just needed a safe place out of the way," Hermione said. She waved her hand and levitated Madam Bones onto a conjured table.
"The only cure we can offer is this," Harry said. He held his Philosopher's Stone aloft and channeled magic through it. "But it is a substantial cure, don't you think."
"We already know the effect of the Elixir," Madam Bones said bitterly. "It can keep me alive, but it cannot undo what has been done."
"Well, but that's something isn't it?" Hermione said. "This will buy us some time to analyze what's happening to you."
"And in the mean time I take your medicine waiting for the inevitable day when I get caught out without a dose of it or get killed in some other manner your Elixir cannot prevent and then rise as one of those murderous creatures," Madam Bones retorted. "No thanks just kill me now."
"Dobby," Hermione yelled out, her eyes flashing with frustration at the woman's attitude.
"Yes Mistress?" Dobby said as he appeared instantly.
"I need a book," Hermione said. "It has no title, but it is made entirely of black obsidian stone with a great adder inscribed on the front. Do you think you can find it and bring it to me?"
"Yes, Dobby is finding it quickly," Dobby said as if scandalized at the implication that there might be any object in the entire house that he couldn't find instantly. He popped away again and then reappeared a few moments later with a book fitting Hermione's description that was nearly as big as the little elf himself.
"Thank you Dobby," Hermione said.
"Dobby is doing anything to help Harry Potter sir's 'Mione," Dobby replied eagerly.
"Will you be willing to accept our help and use the Elixir if we can guarantee that you won't become a vampire?" Hermione asked, turning again to Madam Bones.
"How do you propose to do that?" Madam Bones asked dubiously.
"In this book there is a powerful curse that wizards used to place on themselves to kill their murderers," Hermione said. "It stores dangerous elemental energy in an arcane seal and then releases it upon the death of the cursed individual."
"So when I die…" Madam Bones said.
"Your body will immolate violently," Hermione finished for her. "Nothing will be left."
"Please," Harry said when she appeared to remain uncertain. "Without you on the Wizengamot any transition from Fudge's regime will increase in difficultly dramatically."
"All right," Madam Bones said at last. She let out a weary sigh. "Do it."
"Harry, I'll need your help," Hermione said. She held the heavy book aloft easily with one hand as its thick stone pages turned magically. Together they began the incantations and immediately a red seal began to form in the air above the book. As they continued to chant the seal grew in size and complexity, each word adding a new detail to its form. When they reached the final word the book slammed shut and the seal flew down onto Madam Bones were it branded itself to her chest.
"Now," Hermione said, her stone glowing brightly, "Charge the seal."
"Right," Harry said, the details of the plan filtering into his mind from across his link with Hermione. His own stone glowed brightly too and together the young couple unleashed a searing torrent of flames straight at Madam Bones. Instead of being burnt instantly into fine ash the seal swallowed up the onslaught easily.
"All that," Madam Bones said, breathing heavily as she clutched her heart once they had finished. "All that will come back out if I die?"
"Yeah," Harry said. He felt a great swell of pity for the beaten old lady before them.
"Well, then I guess you'd best give me a supply of that Elixir and send me back," Madam Bones said briskly. She successfully sat up and put her feet on the floor gingerly to test her strength.
"Maybe you should rest a few days," Harry said.
"Don't be ridiculous," Madam Bones replied. "Fudge isn't expecting to see me again and I plan on giving that man the shock of his life. The quicker I get back into this the less chance for him to try and unseat me."
"Be careful," Hermione said. "Things are happening too fast right now."
"Don't worry about me girl," Madam Bones said dryly. "I've been at this since your parents were tikes and in this world the name Bones still means something."
"Well, at least her spirits seem better," Harry said as soon as Madam Bones had portkeyed away back to her home.
"I suppose," Hermione replied. She gingerly licked her slightly puffy lips and looked over at Harry. "We don't have time for this though. The Ministry is going to be coming for us and I intend to be ready."
"The two of you wanted to see me?" Remus asked. Harry glanced over his shoulder to where his old friend had timidly intruded into the room.
"We need your help again Remus," Harry said.
"I don't know what I can do at this point," Remus said with slight dismay. He wanted to help his best friend's son in any way possible, but he had long ago decided that Harry was far too capable to truly need his help anymore.
"Its something that only you can do for us," Hermione replied. "We need you to build an army."