"So what, I lied I lied to me too
Hold out for the ones you know will love you
Hide out from the ones you know will love you"
-Dark Come Soon, Tegan and Sara (2007)
The sensation of her limbs and her head flailing against the hard stone floor barely registered as the pain from the spell seared through every nerve. However once it was not masked by the horrific curse that ache settled in. Her muscles were stretched and torn from contracting in ways that were completely unnatural. Beyond the overwhelming pain and terrifying anticipation only a trace of her consciousness still lingered. But a trace was all she needed to protect her friends.
By the nineteenth time Bellatrix had cursed her Hermione hoped that she would tire and end her game. A flash of green light would be quick and easy compared to the pain. It was after the twenty third cycle of the curse and the unnerving wait that Bellatrix changed her pattern. She dove on Hermione, grabbed her and held her weakened body down with ease. Defenseless all Hermione could do was watch as Bellatrix carved into her arm with the knife.
"Hermione" Bellatrix said, yet her voice sounded strange, somehow wrong. Suddenly Bellatrix started shaking her, "Hermione!" she said again and although it was Bellatrix's mouth that moved she knew the voice, it was a kind voice not cruel Bellatrix. It was enough to jolt her through the fog of her subconscious.
She gasped for air as she woke. Ron was holding her shoulders gently, evidently having been the one to have snapped her back to reality. With a violent sob she pushed Ron away, averting her gaze so he couldn't see the tears she was sure had started falling.
"You were screaming in your sleep again. I just wanted to help." He explained to a sobbing Hermione.
Hermione didn't have to look at her boyfriend to know he would be watching her carefully from his red rimmed eyes with the large black circles under them. They'd been sharing a bed in the eighteen months since she'd finished her N.E.W.T.S and she had the nightmares most nights. Even three years on her body kept recreating the horrors of the war, her torture, seeing her friends die.
Ron scooted closer to her, embracing her but Hermione shrugged him off with the excuse, "You need sleep we've got Seamus and Dean's wedding tomorrow night."
Turning her back on Ron hoping he'd get back to sleep quickly Hermione curled into herself. She didn't want to be held, it only made her feel trapped. She tried to sob in silence as she mentally ran through Arithmancy calculations in an effort to clear the images from her mind. It wasn't until the first rays of light started to filter through the curtains Hermione was finally able to drift off to sleep. Sleeping through Ron waking she had a single hour of uninterrupted sleep before her alarm work her. Gathering her books Hermione rushed off the library, knowing taking a day off both her Magical and Muggle Law study would put her too far behind.
That night at the wedding when Hermione had seen the bouquet hurtling towards Ron she acted on impulse. Unfortunately Ron noticed and when she saw how hurt and angry Ron she realized what needed to be done.
The next morning after another fitful sleep Hermione walked into their kitchen to find Ron sitting at the table. His eyes followed her forlornly as she made a cup of tea the Muggle way. While she moved around the kitchen Ron asked tentatively, "I don't suppose you've changed your mind on my marriage proposal?"
Hermione closed her eyes, hoping if she ignored the question Ron might think she hadn't heard it. The silence dragged awkwardly until it was broken by the kettle's whistle.
"Thought that might be the response," Ron said sadly once there was silence again, "Is it because I couldn't protect you that you don't want to marry me?"
Unconsciously squeezing the kettle a bit hard before putting it down Hermione drew up a chair alongside Ron. She knew he tortured himself whenever she had bad dreams. She also suspected he was wracked with guilt and regret for leaving them.
"I didn't need you to protect me Ron. We were both children who should have been enjoying a normal adolescence instead of being on the frontline of a war. But all of us knew the risks going in, I made the right choice and would make it again."
"Then what is it Hermione? Don't you love me?" Ron said, his eyes watering and his face grave as he asked her.
Hermione knew this confrontation had been inevitable. Things had been increasingly distant between her and Ron. She was broken and she knew it wasn't fair to Ron. He wanted to celebrate life, to move on, to marry and have children like his siblings.
Yet she was stuck. She did love Ron, but when she thought of spending the rest of her life with Ron all she felt was uneasy. And she definitely didn't want to have a family. She knew the best thing she could do, for both of them, was to let him find someone who could give him those things.
Swallowing hard she started what would be a very long and sad conversation with, "I do love you. But I'm not sure it's enough anymore."
"We have to be back at the Hog's Head in a few hours, did you want to stay here?" Hermione asked Fleur.
As soon as the words were out she felt the heat creeping into her cheeks. She hadn't meant it like that. But given her hand was still resting on Fleur's thigh as evidence of their heated kiss she wasn't sure how else Fleur could possibly have taken it.
"I'm not sure that'd actually be conductive to us being at Hog's Head in a few hours." Fleur replied, smirking at Hermione.
Images flooded Hermione's mind, rendering her mute and causing her to squirm slightly as her hand squeezed Fleur's thigh. She opened her mouth to reply, trying to think of something smart to say back but found she was still without words. Fleur's grin widened as she leaned forward, her hand gently pushing up under Hermione's chin to close her mouth.
"That's better, I don't like to see you at a loss for words, at least not with this many cloth..." Fleur stopped abruptly as a loud crack rang through the air signaling someone had apparated in. Both girls sprang back but evidently not quick enough as Hermione noticed Harry's raised eyebrows.
In true Harry fashion he came straight out with the reason for arriving at Hermione's house suddenly in the very early hours of the morning. "There has been an attack on Azkaban at around two this morning. There are mass casualties among the prisoners. Ron was the guard on duty, he's a little roughed up. From what I've heard about the scene I think it may be linked to your case…" Harry finished as his eyes distractedly travelled over Fleur. Hermione noticed him shift uncomfortably and looked across the sofa at Fleur. She could see why, the French with was radiating sex with her dilated pupils, messed up hair and patches of her creamy skin on show where her thin shirt had ridden up.
Hermione's voice betrayed her fear and concern as she asked, "Ron's hurt?"
Fleur looked at her questioningly as Harry replied, "Not terribly, just a bit bruised and sorry for himself. We need you at Azkaban now Hermione." His eyes travelled between the two and he coughed awkwardly before saying, "Uh Delacour is welcome too of course as co-investigator. I'll leave you to compare case notes or whatever it was you were doing. See you soon."
Once Harry had dissaparated Hermione stood up abruptly, rushing to her bedroom. She returned with two cloaks and threw one to Fleur.
"The quickest way to get there is to apparate to the offshore visitor center and then Floo over to the prison island. The island itself has anti appiration spells on it, much like…"
"Hogwarts, yes I know." Fleur finished smiling softly at Hermione who was fiddling with her wand worriedly.
Fleur reached out to still her hand and Hermione couldn't help but smile back at her as she linked their fingers. With their fingers linked all Hermione could process was that her hand had been on Fleur's thigh only moments before yet now the mood couldn't be any more different.
Hermione and Fleur were led through the prison on the way to the guard tower. The scene was gruesome. With the prisoners locked up and wandless the killer had been able to go cell to cell causing carnage. Fay Dunbar, the Auror that was guiding them made comments as she passed by the cells, "That cell housed Carrow, the fiendfyre was charmed into the form of rats and they slowly burned the skin from his bones. We had to put it out when we arrived. There's not much of him left."
Hermione saw Fleur pale slightly and swallowed heavily herself to keep the bile down as they looked at the maimed body, the macabre skeleton was almost completely charred with a few tiny starches of flesh hanging to it.
"This cell here was Umbridge, it appears her blood was transfigured into some kind of metal. You can see that leaking out of the cuts on her arms."
Hermione stopped, and noticed the cuts were words carved into her skin. She could just make out the words pure blood in a longer string of words. Wrinkling her nose up in disgust she pointed at the metal and said "I think you'll find this will be some pure elemental metal."
Standing back up she met Fleur's sad expression and said quietly, "It's disgusting and no one deserves to die this way. But Fleur these people were evil."
The third cell and final cell they passed a blond male was being treated by a Medi-Wizard. The male looked relatively unharmed and slightly familiar to Hermione. "That's Trevor Birch, he was in my year at Hogwarts, a Ravenclaw." Fay said to Hermione with a small smile, "He was one of those spared. Arrived at Azkaban a few weeks ago to serve a six month sentence for producing counterfeit Galleons."
They stopped outside the guard tower and the Auror put her hand on Hermione's arm, "You know I can't say how relieved I am to know you are on this case. You were a few years above me at Hogwarts and I really looked up to you."
"Thanks" Hermione uttered sheepishly, extracting herself awkwardly from the other girl's arm. She was not used to people being so forward with her but seeing Fleur's amused expression her Veela friend was entertained to find it was not her for a change.
"And then when I came too I found this scene. Some prisoners stunned, some prisoners dead and some… well… you saw" Ron finished lamely rubbing the large bruise that was quickly forming on the side of his head. "We expect the prisoners to act out, all are security measures are looking in. I should have been more vigilant, I can't believe someone snuck up on me."
After being satisfied he was safe and realizing within the first few seconds of Ron speaking he had no real memory of events Hermione pulled Harry to one side. "I don't want to be presumptuous but I think this will end up being linked to our case."
"Our?" Harry asked amused.
"Yes, remember bodies in France." Hermione replied, neatly sidestepping Harry's implication.
Harry sighed and rubbed his scar, an old force of habit. "Ginny tells me I'm oblivious about a lot of these things but the other day at dinner Ginny was hinting and then to see you two so cozy. I just think…"
"You'd do well to keep you mind on your work Potter." Hermione said with a smile on her face but an underlying steely tone.
"Okay Professor McGonagall." Harry replied sarcastically before sighing. "I know it's none of my business. I just want to see all my friends happy. And I think there are better ways for people to find out if there is something to find out…"
Hermione couldn't possibly misread Harry's pointed glance at Ron. Her ex-partner was currently boasting to Fleur about his achievements as an Auror, still clearly susceptible to her charms.
"Oh, of course Harry. I know you didn't think it at the time we broke up but I care a great deal for Ron. Ending things was right for both of us, you have to admit that you've never seen him happier than when he is with Romilda and Rose."
Whatever reply Harry may have made was silenced as Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister for Magic walked into the room. As the Minister's gaze travelled around the room Ron turned a very interesting shade of red. "Potter, Delacour and Granger a word please."
The three wizards summoned by the Minister followed silently as he led them along the wall besides the guard tower. The smell of the sea spray hitting the wall below them was discernible, even from such a great height. The Minister paused before speaking carefully, "I have good reason to think this attack is linked with the murder currently being investigated by Granger and Delacour. Potter I would like you to run the scene and manage any evidence as well as build up profiles the victims, try to figure out why some were spared. This information will be passed directly on to Granger and Delacour."
Harry nodded, "No problem at all sir. My team will do our best to assist the current investigation."
"I would expect no less of you Potter. Delacour, Granger given the gravity of this matter now I personally want progress reports. Should you need more resources all you need of is ask, however the smaller the investigation team is on this the easier it will be to prevent any leaks. Delacour, I spoke with the French Minister via Floo briefly before coming out, he has requested you return to Paris and update him at your earliest convenience."
The Minister drew himself up to full height before saying, "Thank you Potter, Delacour that will be all for now."
Hermione stayed behind nervously as the other two walked off. The Minister turned to her and in the same measured tone said, "Hermione you know I have every confidence in you, the seniority of your position is no accident. However if I begin to feel progress has faltered or you become out of your depth I may reallocate this matter. If that should happen please know I see it as no reflection on you or your current career trajectory. As I'm sure you can understand the way I handle this may mark my legacy as a minister."
"Of course Minister." Hermione said with smile, pleased to receive reassurance from the Minister.
"Now, with the overwhelming evidence we have piling up here in the UK I believe we are in a position to remove the French from the case. Any thoughts on the matter?"
Hermione froze, her mind racing. If she had been asked this on that first day of the case, when Fleur had mocked her in the Prime Ministers office her answer would have been immediate. Now she hesitated before replying diplomatically, "During the course of the investigation I have witnessed the French team at work and believe they are competent. I strongly believe part of this case ties to events in France and that they are just as keen to get a result as we are."
Minister Shacklebolt nodded, "Well they are definitely loyal." Hermione turned to see Fleur was standing outside the guard tower, her gaze unwaveringly on Hermione.
Hermione blushed, "She's very invested in the case."
Shacklebolt chuckled, "I'll go with your call on this Granger. Remember to keep the updates frequent."
Fleur joined step with Hermione as she neared the guard tower and sent her a questioning glance. Hermione didn't react so Fleur huffed indignantly and asked, "Well what did he want?"
Hermione smiled before replying with a half truth, "Just to let me know it wouldn't hurt my career in the long run if he had to take us off the case."
Hermione hesitated as Fleur blanched and half stopped at her words. Her face was etched with concern as she lightly grasped Hermione's forearm, "He wouldn't right?"
Aware that all that was between her scar and Fleur's hand was a few layers of fabric Hermione replied as nonchalantly as she could, "He'd need a good reason to and we just won't give him one."
Fleur smiled at Hermione as they walked into the guard tower and were drowned out by the chatter all around them. They were soon distracted by Harry who wanted to discuss some case formalities with them.
It wasn't until late in the evening they were able to enjoy the luxury of sitting in Hermione's office while they poured over reports, death counts and preliminary links between those murdered, those stunned and those tortured.
Fleur suddenly threw down her stack of reports, evidently done. "Well it looks like we have about one thousand new suspects. The only consolation as we know it wasn't the Hogs Head guy considering we were with him when the attack happened.
Hermione smiled at the outburst before throwing her own reports down on the pile, "Yes, we unintentionally provided an alibi for Aberforth."
In the silence that followed the room suddenly seemed much smaller than it was. Sitting next to Fleur at the desk Hermione could feel the heat radiating from her body.
"I better get going back to Paris to report to the Minister" Fleur said without moving as their eyes stayed connected.
Hermione wanted to stay in Fleur's company and just as she was about to volunteer to go with Fleur a knock sounded on her office door. Arthur Weasley walked in a second later holding up a copy of The Quibbler, "I thought you'd want to see this as soon as possible. Percy's seen it and he's on the warpath…"
Hermione frowned as she read the headline, 'The Truth Behind Azkaban: The Killer Speaks Out'
"Merde…" Fleur said next to her, evidently as pissed off as Hermione was that this was public knowledge before they knew about it.
"I agree Fleur, this is shit indeed." Hermione echoed, her voice ringing hollow in her ears as fury caused blood to pound through her head.
A/N: Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter! I made some formatting changes to hopefully make the flashbacks and corresponding flashback years more obvious. Also I write realistic(ish) so no, there isn't much affection in this chapter considering the two are at work almost the enterierty of this chapter.