Odds and Ends

by Wrexscar

A collection of unconnected shorts and random ideas. So far we have a snowball fight, a flirtatious Sue, a psychopathic Bella, some zombies, a tale of Tom's childhood, a were-squid, a thug, a brutal death, Scorpius slash,a drabble,some Ronimone good and bad, Neville post battle. Pansy and Hermione trapped in a classroom. Other stuff too but I've hit the word limit for summaries.

21. An unfinished tale

Mistakes.

When Hermione was a little girl, her mother had taught that making a mistake was not a bad thing. Not correcting a mistake was. She should learn from them and whenever possible correct them. A lesson the little girl had taken to heart and tried to put into practice whenever she could.

Hermione had an epiphany that night in the ministry; she had learnt that the enemy was out to kill and destroy. She had discovered that mercy was returned with violence. After she had fought the same death eater three times she understood that stunning spells were not effective in a battle. It didn't matter how good she was, or how much she read or knew, the test that mattered was surviving. However, she had been taken down before she had a chance to put her realisation into practice.

So now, she stayed in the Hogwarts infirmary on a regime of seven different potions. As she idled away her time reading and rereading her textbooks. She planned and went over her mistakes. From now on she would survive, she would ensure that Harry and her other friends would survive. Goodness and mercy belonged to the pre-ministry Hermione. She would rectify her mistakes and second chances were a thing of the past. If someone tried to hurt her or her friends, she would have to hurt them.

It was on her second day stuck in the infirmary that Edgecombe burst into the room in tears followed by Chang.

"They've come back, they've come back," Marietta kept sobbing.

Madam Pomfrey waved a wand over the girls face,muttered under her breath and bustled out, before returning moments later with a potion. As Marietta turned to leave, she saw Hermione in bed. "It was her fault, she did this, she caused this. She should be expelled until she tells us how to fix it."

Hermione watched the girl coolly as she ranted and raved hysterically at her. Once she had wound down from her frenzy Hermione spoke.

"No, you did this, you freely signed a magical contract then you broke the terms of it. In fact, you caused my injuries. If I had been able to practice freely, I would have been better able to defend myself. I nearly died Marietta and that is your fault, what's a little acne compared to that?"

Hermione watched as Cho hustled her friend out of the room. It was good to know that the contract still had an effect but it was the old Hermione who had written it. The nice girl, the merciful girl. If she had written it now acne would not have been her weapon of choice. Maybe having the tongue swell up so you couldn't speak or breathe. That was still childish really.

Life and death situations need life and death consequences. Yes,Marietta could have cost someone their life so she had got off lightly. As her mother said, mistakes should always be rectified. She set herself a test. She loved tests. She decided to deal with Edgecombe before something worse happened. That was her test, to deliberately hurt someone and live with the consequences if she did that then she knew she'd be able to stand by harry and fight in this war.

Madam Pomfrey was talking to her and she hadn't noticed as she had been lost in her thoughts. "..is that true Miss Granger?"

"Yes, the girl broke a contract and that was the result."

Madam Pomfrey held her under her gaze but Hermione met her eyes before the silence was broken. "I will need this contract so I can cure Miss Edgecombe."

"I'm afraid Madam Umbridge took it, I've no idea what happened to it after that." Hermione answered allowing the good girl to come forth and quail a little under authority.

Madam Pomfrey held her stare for a little longer before heading back to her office. Allowing Hermione to begin her plans.

xx

It wasn't until the following school year that Hermione had the opportunity to put her plan into operation. She watched and waited, she knew the opportunity would come and was always prepared. It had to be effective, it had to be undetectable. She left her toilet stall and saw Marietta peering into the mirrors applying makeup to her face. Hermione's wand was in her hand before she had consciously thought of it. She hit the girl with the spell, a compulsion charm and then reached into her bag and began handing her potions.

The final part was the riskiest she hadn't been able to practice this one. She cast a mild obliviate just enough to remove the last two minutes of the girls life and then returned to the stall, giving Edgecombe time to leave and head away so that no one would think they had been in the same place together.

The potions were nothing dramatic. They would make the boils worse and have an effect on the girl's mood. Considering the how highly strung she already was it was the last that would give her the push.

Her mistake would soon be rectified. Hermione spent the next few weeks observing Marietta's behaviour. She had started skipping meals in the great hall, she would only turn up when Cho forced her to and then only picked at her food. When Hermione noticed she had stopped using make up, she smiled inwardly. At least the word sneak could not be seen any more, her face was covered in spots and blemishes.

The Slytherin's played their part as if Hermione had scripted it. They pointed and laughed, Hermione could not hear the comments but Marietta did and was frequently in tears. Then Hermione noticed the girl had stopped crying, she spent two days eerily calm, no tears or any reactions to the insults or taunts, except a sad smile. Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table pointedly ignoring Ron and Lavender but trying to observe the Ravenclaw one. She watched Marietta give Cho a hug then listlessly shuffle away. She watched Luna, as she watched the girl leave. After mealtime was finished, she caught up with the blond Ravenclaw in the library.

"What was going on with Cho and Marietta?" Hermione asked without preamble.

"Marietta came over to say goodbye. She seemed like she was going away for a long time."

Hermione wondered at that, it all became clear that evening when she was on her patrols round the castle.

It took some time to get the body down from where Marietta had hung herself. Hermione didn't have to act upset, finding the girl there had genuinely terrifiedher. Stillit had taken some time but she had passed her own test. Next time she would have to work quicker and make her own opportunities. McGonagall had seen she got a calming draft but she refused it. This was part of the test too, coping with what she had done.

She sat in her dorm room and wished she still had the potion. Watching Ron and Lavender trying to suck each other's face off was more than she could cope with. She had to admit it to herself she had moved too slowly with the boy. Now she had to share a room with the blond bimbo giggling about Ron Weasley this and Ron Weasley that.

Still mistakes were only bad if left uncorrected. Marietta had been a security breach and needed to be resolved. Lavender was merely an annoyance and wasn't too bad a roommate, usually.

No, she couldn't take the same sort of action with Lavender as she had with Marietta. That was for the war, this was personnel. It was entirely different. Still she couldn't stop the ideas forming in her head as she drifted off to sleep each evening. Maybe some extra credit work on seizing opportunities.

She resolved to stop thinking like that. There were more important targets in the school than annoying dorm mates. Malfoy should be top of her list. Harry was convinced he was up to something, it seemed unlikely that it was anything major, but the boy had been an annoyance since the first day.

Although that pug nosed Parkinson was higher on her radar. Yet all her thoughts seemed to turn to Lavender.

An opportunity came earlier than she expected, Lavender and Parvati were looking over a catalogue for jewellery. She made some suggestions to Lavender about something Ron could show off to his brothers, the bigger and bolder it was, the better he would like it.

It might not be enough or it might start the end. Hermione could live with herself either way it wasn't as if she had done anything to hurt the girl or imperiused her as she keep thinking about as she drifted off to sleep. Still she could content herself with the thoughts she had done something and happy with herself that she had learnt to spot opportunities.

xx

The Christmas holidays came and went, it was strange to spend time with her parents again. She found that their concerns and lives mattered less to her than they once had. She had fought the first battles in a war and they worried about her career options and how her grades were. These things had been important to her once; now knowledge was only useful if it kept those she cared about alive.

It was painfully obvious to her just how unprepared her parents were. How if anything happened they would be powerless to defend themselves. She would have to plan for their safety. She had gently floated the idea of her parents taking a gap year, of doing some travelling but they had not been willing to consider it. She would need to take steps. She never wanted to be in Harry's situation or worse still Neville's.

Once the holidays were over, she flooed back to Hogwarts, the train being consideredunsafe. She had to travel into London and use a floo station set up at the ministry.

She arrived back in Hogwarts earlier than most of her friends and decided to walk the grounds. The clear Scottish air, the snow underfoot and the feel of magic always revitalised her. Maybe she could devise a plan to deal with her parents.

She walked vaguely in the direction of Hagrid's hut. She would see him later, a cup of tea to warm up and his fire would be welcome but first she would get herself properly cold.

As she walked the edge of the forest, her mind was on the issue of her parents. She never noticed there was anyone else nearby until a spell whizzed past her ear. Her wand was instantly in her hand as she ducked and crouched. Another spell moved through the space she had just occupied.

Pansy Parkinson was directly behind her a grin on her otherwise hard face. Hermione silently cast her spell and the Diffindo caught Pansy in the side of the neck.

Hermione clamped down on her mouth and swallowed her bile back but forced herself to keep watching the Slytherin girl bleed out in front of her. The blood was crimson and steaming in contrast to the white perfection of the snow on the ground. She knew she would need to get used to it. This was another test. She had chosen this path and knew she would have to get used to death.

Hermione had a momentary panic, she felt no regret in the girl's death but she would need to take steps. Thinking on the spur was more Harry's domain, she liked to plan. She initially buried the body and blood under snow. She then cast aquamenti over the area so that would freeze and add to the protection.

Then she headed back to Hagrid's hut for some tea. As she walked she ran through different spells to remove her footprints from the snow. She worked through different sequences and patterns; it also had the effect that if anyone checked her wand the cutting spell would be a long way down the list.

After tea she headed back to the castle, her blood nearly froze in her veins as she saw the headmaster waiting in the entrance hall. He headed straight for her. "Miss Granger, I would be gratified if you could give this note to Harry when he returns."

She found herself nodding dumbly and headed off quickly. She was certain he knew, that she'd been found out.

Heading back to the Gryffindor tower, she saw Ron, Harry and Ginny trying to get in. She gave them the new password but held Harry back from entering the common room. She led him to an unused classroom. After locking the door and casting silencing charms she handed Harry the parchment from Dumbledore, after some time discussing Harry's news told Harry what had happened with Pansy. Letting him think it was a mistake, that she regretted her actions. He wasn't ready yet to know she had chosen this path, that it was the logical thing to do.

"A cutting charm, Merlin Hermione, what were you thinking?" his tone was half astonishment and half accusation.

Hermione felt her temper rising she reached down taking hold of the hem of her jumper pulling it and her shirt up, showing the scar that run across her body. "I was thinking I didn't want another one of these. I was thinking that unlike Sirius I'd cast my spell first rather than get myself killed by being over confident."

Harry looked as if he'd been slapped at the mention of Sirius' name and his eyes dropped to Hermione's stomach, she now realised she had pulled her shirt up so high she was showing Harry her bra too. He swallowed nervously. She had to hide her amusement in the midst of the argument he had finally and obviously noticed she was a girl.

"Fine, it's done now." He shifted uncomfortable as he spoke and she lowered her top. "We can argue how wise it was later. The question is what are we going to do next?"

Hermione waited her wand was in her hand, the words obliviate on her lips. If Harry showed weakness she would have to do something she would regret for the rest of her life.

"What have you done with the body? When Crouch killed his father he transfigured the body into a bone and buried it."

That was it, Harry had made the hard decision, he had passed his test, he had proven that she could still follow him. They headed out immediately and carried out the plan, she transfigured Pansy's body and they went deeper into the forest than they were allowed. Finding a well-used path covered with tracks of some kind of large dog or possibly wolf they left the bone there and returned to the castle. Over the next few days searches were organised by the staff and Aurors but no one questioned Hermione directly. McGonagall brought all the Gryffindor's together and asked if anyone had information about the missing girl but other than that there was no mention of her and she didn't appear to be missed by anyone.

xx

The term passed as they usually did in Hogwarts, although she found herself sitting at Ron's bedside after a brush with death, rather than Harry's. Hermione did wonder at what her life had become that having friends in this state was the norm for her. In fact, it had been her on two occasions since she had started this school. She wondered when she had grown so indifferent to it. She also wondered when she had grown indifferent to Ron. He was still a friend but the two of them had spent more time trying to hurt to each other than anything else this term. It was obvious to her that a relationship with that as its basis could never work, not long term. She would have to put aside her petty jealousies and allow him to date if his breakup with Lavender happened. She felt slightly guilty for that, still it wasn't the first break up she had arranged. It had been obvious that Cho was using Harry and wasn't good enough for him.

Still it was for the best that she'd given up on Ron. How would Ron of reacted to the news she had killed Pansy? Sliced open her jugular and watched as the girl bled out over the snow. Ron would not have calmly worked out plans to hide the body. Harry had, he'd also been really cute as she flashed her bra at him. Accidently? She paused to remember the situation, had it been an accident? She'd certainly held it up longer than she needed. She smiled to herself as she remembered his face trying to look at her without making it obvious he was looking at her. That was a slight mark down, an opportunity missed. She would need to do better.

Ron rolled over on the bed and snored, it seemed he wasn't going to wake this evening. She quietly headed out of the infirmary as Harry walked in.

"You seem happy, is Ron improving?" Harry asked her. She paused to consider the messy haired boy in front of her, too thin, sometimes brooding, and given to sulks but never unkind. He had reacted well to the news of Pansy, how would he react to the truth? Well not the full truth, not yet but to this particular one.

"Ron's asleep and not likely to wake. No I'm happy because I was remembering something funny, just how much your eyes nearly popped out of your head when I showed you my breasts."

"I..." he began.

Hermione took pity on him, as he didn't know where to put his face. She placed one hand on either of his checks and drew him into a kiss. Her hands moved from his face to the back of his neck as she slowly deepened the kiss. It was obvious he had never done this before but neither had she. She broke the kiss and allowed them both to breathe. Harry was now hers, she vowed again to do everything she could to keep him safe.

"You are now my boyfriend, which means kissing is in your future, although not to the Ron and Lavender level." She grinned a most evil grin as she continued. "If you are a good boyfriend you might get to see my breasts again, we will see how this goes. Although if I catch you watching Ginny I'll skin you alive. Any questions?"

He took in a deep breath and looked away as he gathered his thoughts. "Hermione, although we have argued this year you are the only person who has never let me down. I've seen lots of boys and girls split up and never talk again. I don't want that to happen."

"Don't worry it won't. We've had lots of arguments. I still think using that potion book is cheating and I want to grind your face into the ground in potions but we're still speaking. We will still have arguments but we are too good friends to let things get that way and unlike the arguments with a certain ginger boy, we have never deliberately tried to hurt each other. Now how do you feel about being the topic of gossip for the next week?" So saying she took his now slightly sweaty hand and walked back to the Gryffindor common room. Ginny stared in horror at them as they walked in holding hands and fled to her bedroom. Hermione felt some guilt at that but not much. Pursuing Ron for so long was a mistake, one that she had now corrected.

xx

Ron had reacted badly to the news and stopped speaking to either of them, it was no loss to Hermione as they had hardly spoken that year. Ginny had joined her brother in ignoring her. Hermione's first response had been to snog Harry publicly but he had stopped her pointing out he didn't want to be used like Ron was using Lavender. Hermione had overheard Lavender telling Parvati about her first time with Ron. It had happened almost as soon as Ron had left the hospital wing after hearing the news of her and Harry.

Harry meanwhile was growing increasingly obsessed with Malfoy and frustrated with Slughorn. These were his tests and she didn't really help or hinder him. She listened when he needed to vent and gave the odd idea but was mostly just a sounding board for him. She had set herself a new task and was busy reviewing newspapers, family trees and Wizengamot voting records. She was making a list of were each of the pureblood families stood in terms of beliefs. She wasn't surprised to find Mclaggen's uncle on public record of supporting pureblood rights over muggles. She knew who the death eaters were but was surprised by the fact they weren't as extreme as she had thought. The majority of wizarding society leaned in that direction.

The list of potential allies when the war came was surprisingly small. It would be even smaller if they knew she had persuaded Harry that stunning spells had no place in a fight to the death.

Harry had finally succeeded in his task of getting Slughorn's memory. Hermione was equal parts fascinated and horrified with the idea of creating Horcruxes. Had she really damaged her soul with her actions? Did her actions against Marietta count as murder. She thought that Pansy's did. She couldn't lie to herself. She had aimed that spell and she had watched the girl bleed to death. If Dumbledore was right then her soul was definitely split and would be again. She knew now that come the next fight, she would kill. If it helped to keep Harry alive, she would kill every death eater. Once that was your path, why not ensure you had the edge? That you too couldn't die.

Apparently Dumbledore thought that path turned you into a monster but once you decided to fight monsters that seemed inevitable to her. Had the old man never read Nietzsche?

Should this be the next step on her path? She walked the corridors of Hogwarts deep in thought. Was her current path the right one? She believed so. When there was a war on you had to match the weapons of your enemy or you lost.

She walked into a girls toilet, first she checked she was really alone before walked over to the mirrors and looking herself in the eye. "I am Hermione Grainger; I will do anything to keep myself and Harry alive." She swallowed nervously. That was all that was important. She would have to persuade Harry that these steps were necessary. She looked herself in the eye again and nodded in agreement with herself, then laughed at how melodramatic she was being.

xx

The time passed and Harry was an attentive boyfriend. Ginny was speaking to her again even if they hadn't returned to friendship. Harry was drilling the team ready for the final game of the quidditch season.

Still his quidditch obsession had the favourably side effect of getting the two Weasley's to speak to him again which made him happy. Hermione enjoyed having a happy boyfriend rather than a brooding one. Harry's increasing obsession with Malfoy came to a head in a bathroom. As he had a witness present, even if it was only Myrtle, he waited for Malfoy to start with the dark curses. Hermione and he had practiced that and other more lethal curses out in the forest. He showed a far amount of remorse with Snape present but he was only sorry the ferret didn't die and even more sorry to miss out on quidditch.

The Gryffindor team won the cup while Harry was busy in a pointless punishment detention. Hermione met him out of detention and took him up to the room of requirements. They plotted out their actions, including how Hermione would scold and argue with him about his choice of curse and the book he got it from. In private, she felt he needed some reward. After some time kissing, Hermione's shirt hit the floor, she snuggled into Harry and after it was clear he was paralysed in shock by her actions.

"We work together well Harry, we agree on many things, how to deal with death eater spawn is only one of them. Although I killed mine, you've yet to cross that line. I don't think I can lose any more clothing until I know you're serious about this war."

Harry swallowed at that idea and gave a long hungry stare at Hermione's body. "Don't do anything rash though." She told him. "You would have no chance to enjoy me if you were in Azkaban."

Harry accepted her warning and just enjoyed their time together. No matter how long Snape kept him back in detention and whatever tasks he was set Hermione always managed to get a smile back on his face without too much effort and without having to remove too much clothing.

The days passed until Harry received another summons from Dumbledore. It wasn't long before he returned, handed out his map and the last of his good luck potion he was convinced that something would happen tonight once he and Dumbledore left the castle.

It was not a good night for Hermione she hadn't been able to get close to help Harry, she and Luna ended up being tricked by Snape and kept out of the fighting. She felt frustrated and angry that her preparation had been for nothing and somehow guilty over the injuries other members of the order received.

When she finally had a chance to talk privately to Harry, he had a fierce determination in him.

"They all deserve to die. "He told her. "I used the killing curse last night and got some death eaters but not the ones I wanted. Snape and Malfoy got away." He practically spat their names. From now on when I see a death eater it will be as lethal a curse as I can manage."

Hermione pulled him into a fierce hug and when they kissed it was passion that drove them on. Hermione held back until after Dumbledore's funeral, then she took him to the room of requirements, it was then they made love, shyly they undressed in front of each other and held each other in mutual comfort and need.

Afterwards they talked. They planned for the Horecrux hunt, they both needed time apart to deal with situations, Harry told her he had decided to warn the Dursley's but that was it, he would leave as soon as Hermione said she was ready to go. She had decided to send her parents away she had toyed with the idea of using the imperius but decided on giving them false memories. They left Ron out of their plans, there was no way he could cope with the two of them in their current relationship and it would be unlikely to be as pragmatic as they were over the use of curses.

This was a fight to the death from now on. War was truly under way. Hermione meant for Harry to win at whatever cost.

xx

After the train ride home, she set to work immediately. Cataloguing the house what would need to be removed so her parents wouldn't have clues to her existence. It took time but she was finally able to get it all done.

Monica and Wendell set off to the New World and Hermione watched them go with a hard heart. This was total war now and sentiment had no part to play.

Using Hedwig she sent Harry a message. It was map coordinates and a time. At the appointed moment, Harry apparated into the London alley and after a brief hug the two headed off for a coffee to make plans.

As they were planning and discussing a base of operations to hide from Voldemort two men entered the cafe.

As the two men made identical movements, Harry mirrored them. "Diffando." He shouted the spell instead of the usual beam the spell spread out to a wedge taking both men in the necks. They were instantly decapitated, the blood spraying out over the surrounding area. The other patrons of the cafe starting screaming.

Hermione jumped to her feet she stunned the waitress who was running around in a panic and also quickly locked the door.

She nudged Harry who was watching the two men's bodies bleed over the floor. "Help me stun the other customers." So saying she started casting stupefy at the other people in the cafe. After a moment's hesitation Harry copied her. Once they had stunned everyone in the cafe she told him to dispose of the bodies and clean up the blood while she memory charmed everyone there to forget the incident.

Once she had ensured the witnesses had forgotten everything she returned to Harry who was still looking at the bodies.

"Do you regret killing them Harry?" Hermione asked him.

"Once they pulled out wands I wasn't holding back. No I was wondering what to do with the bodies. We can transfigure them. But then what, they will revert in time. It's not like we can hide the bone in the forest and let something eat it."

Hermione paused as she considered the question, looking round the cafe. She turned back to Harry who was looking at a plate of egg and chips someone had been eating. "Don't even think about it. Follow me." So saying she levitated the body and head of one of the men, she glanced back at Harry who followed her example. Leading him into the kitchen she dropped the head into the sink and transfigured it into water. Followed by the body.

"The transfiguration will last at least three days, by then they will have mixed with enough water they won't even be recognisable as human when it ends."

Harry turned to look at her in shock." Hermione that's brilliant."

Hermione turned to him and smiled. "Thank you Harry. Now where shall we go next?"

After some time discussing where to go next they apparated into Grimmauld Place and quickly moved into the Black residence.

After getting past the traps that had been set, they spent the night together. The next morning Harry discovered the identity of R.A.B. and after eventually speaking to Kreacher they realised Fletcher had stolen the locket.

Xx

Chapter 2

It took Kreacherfive days to track Fletcher.

During that time they celebrated Harry's birthday by spending the day in bed. It was almost a week before Kreacher appeared before them, dropping the smelly thief into the kitchen

Hermione watched Harry as he started to question Fletcher. She allowed all her fears and frustrations to build. She then took her emotion and turned it into hatred for this filthy creature who had stolen the Horecrux.

"Crucio." Hermione watched him impassively as he screamed and twisted round on the floor. She allowed the spell to end and Harry glanced at her in shock but hardened his expression before he took to questioning him again.

Even after her persuasion, Fletcher was still being cautious with his information. Hermione decided drastic action was needed.

First, she performed the transfiguration then hit Fletcher with a compulsion charm. "Swallow this." After watching him do as she asked she begun to explain what she'd done. "That Fletcher was a copy of the amulet you stole, transfigured into a bead. I calculate it will revert in about an hour unless I put some extra magic into it. Think about what that will do to your insides when it returns to normal size. Not stop evading and start talking."

After they got the information they needed out of Fletcher they stunned him tied him up and left Kreacherto watch him before heading to the sitting room to plan their next move.

"Are you going to add the extra magic to the locket?" Harry asked her.

"You don't seem to mind either way, no it was a bluff, we promised the locket to Kreacher. We should obliviate him then have Kreacher dump him somewhere."

Harry paused to consider their options."I' d like to see him end up in Azkaban."

"Then ask Kreacher if he can do it. He got out of Voldemort's traps maybe he can get through the ministries. Most wizards have a blind spot to elf magic. If not we can just imperius him and send him to confess all his crimes."

Harry squirmed uncomfortably before he spoke again. "Hermione, about using the unforgiveables."

"Harry I want you to live, I want us to live. Look at this again." She reached up and removed her t-shirt and then her bra. "Look at the scar Harry, not my breasts. This scar is my reminder. The girl who received that was too nice. She used stunners, she left living enemies behind her. Never again Harry, I will use every spell, every bit of magic at my disposal, light or dark. I swear to you Harry I will do everything that needs to be done to see we live and Voldemort dies.

There is nothing unforgiveable any more, it's just magic that keeps us alive. I think you should make a Horecrux."

Harry looked stunned at what he considered a non sequitur. Then realised her point and that she was serious. "Won't that make us as bad as him? Dumbledore said it was the ultimate evil."

"I've been reading." She smiled as he rolled his eyes at her. "There are books here on the theory of them. The worst part is killing someone. We have both done that. You did it only the other day. I have only killed Parkinson and it's a little ambiguous as far as the spell is concerned as to whether it would count. After that it's selecting the object and preparing it, once that is done the spell is quite simple. You would be done in five minutes. You have to live Harry. The prophecy demands it. I'm not talking about splitting yourself seven times. That way leads to insanity. No, do it once, hide it, although once an object becomes a Horecrux it becomes resistant to most damage anyway. "

Harry paused as he thought about it. "Do you think we should?"

"I need you to live Harry." She stood and as she did so put her thumbs into the top of her jeans slowly pushing them down. "Who would keep me warm at night if you died?"

After they had made love and were lying in each other's arms, they talked again. "Ok. " Harry said steeling himself. "If you think I should, I will, but only if you do it too. I can't live without you either."

Hermione nodded. "Do you know what you're asking Harry? You are asking me to murder someone. That's why I don't think Pansy would work for me, my intent was not to kill but to hurt. You used the killing curse the night Dumbledore died. That is a guaranteed way to be certain. Is this what you want? Do you want me to be a killer?" Hermione got up and hurriedly left the room. She saw the hurt in Harry's eyes as she left the room. Ignore that now, she need to do this, she needed to do this for Harry. Taking this next step together sealing their would have counted despite what she said to Harry. She wanted to see if she could do this and to what harry would say when she had done it.

They had so much to do on this hunt and no idea where to start, they would be in constant danger at every step. She needed Harry to live; she reached down into herself allowing her emotions to come forth, what would she do if he died? If she was alone? A cold sweat prickled her skin. Heading to the kitchen where Fletcher was tied up. His eyes bulged as he saw Hermione walking towards him naked. She turned all her fear into resolve. Into a cold hard determination, this had to be done, what was this man's life in comparison to Harry's? This was an important moment to her and she hesitated. This would be her first murder. Not just a manipulation or a fight that ending in a death but a murder. It was useful that Fletcher was looking at her in lust, it made it just that bit easier.

"Fletcher you are a despicable human being and it was a mistake to allow you into the order. Mistakes should always be rectified." She pointed her wand at him steeling herself. "Aveda Kedavra."

Fletchers lifeless body slumped against the wall. It was done, she was a killer. There could be no regrets now; this was to guarantee Harry's safety. The path was chosen and she could never go back. Turning on her heel, she headed back to where Harry was still sitting on the floor. "I'll need to double check the spell then we will do it this afternoon. "

Harry's head snapped up alarmed at what he'd just heard. "Hermione, you didn't just."

She cut him off. "I need you alive. Before we risk going out again you need to make a Horecrux. You won't do it unless I do. Well now I can and we don't have to worry about doing an imperfect memory charm anymore. The man who stole off Sirius is dealt with. The man who would sell us out in a heartbeat now doesn't have the chance.

xx

As Hermione predicted the actual process of creating a Horecrux for Harry was a quick one

She prepared the vessels for both of them privately and spent a little time throwing up once she was done. Looking herself in a mirror she grimaced. She thought killing was the ultimate step but that was far worse. She forced herself to look up and look in her eye. She nodded her acceptance. She understood what Dumbledore now meant she was as dark as they came and she honestly didn't care.

The next day they began to plan how to get the Locket from Umbridge. They had decided to not attend Bill and Fleur's wedding it seemed slightly ridiculous. They were on the verge of one of the most important tasks of their lives and they decided against stopping to party.

They would spend some time preparing but once that was done they would move. Harry was watching the ministry hoping he would see Umbridge use the public entrance.

On the morning of the second of August it was obvious something had changed inside the ministry. There were lots more people than usual using the public entrance but still not Umbridge.

Over the next few days the tone of the Prophet, which they were having Kreacher pickup for them, changed. It became increasingly anti-muggle.

One morning they looked at it shock as it declared Harry wanted, for the murder of Dumbledore. It also accused muggleborns of stealing magic who would need to be questioned over their crimes.

It was on this morning that Remus visited them at Grimmauld Place.

After some time trying to scold Harry for disappearing from the Dursley's without telling anyone. He finally explained about the fall of the Ministry and then asked to help them.

Hermione watched curiously as Harry lost his temper with Remus whose own temper matched Harry's own. She was quiet content to be a spectator to the argument.

Eventually, Remus went for his wand but Harry was quicker and hit him with a body bind. "When you regain your movement, get out of my sight. You think I'd want anything to do with a man who would abandon his son? Also this is your only warning, if you ever pull a wand on me it will be the last thing you do."

Remus' eyes somehow managed to focus on Hermione. She had gone from curiosity during the argument to flat out fury. "Don't look at me Remus. You pulled a wand on Harry, I would be happy to kill you here and now. It's only two words and I've grown quite adapt at hiding the bodies. If I hear you have done something other than returned to your child I will find you and I will kill you. This is a fight to the death. You attacked my general, you have this one last chance to follow his orders. Go back to your wife, or I'll kill you." As she spoke to him, she held her wand in front of his face. Remus went a little cross-eyed trying to focus on it. Casually she whispered. "Diffando." A cut appeared across Remus's cheek. "A warning and a promise."She told him.

So saying she took Harry by the hand and led him upstairs to a bedroom. Remus left at some point while they were having sex.

Afterwards they talked. "Would you really have killed Remus?" He asked her.

Hermione considered the question. "As easily as you would swat a fly. I didn't care he was defenceless, he tried to attack you, I wanted him dead. I think that making the Horcruxes may have affected me. I don't think I'd have been quite so cold last month. I know threatening a defenceless man wouldn't have got me so turned on that I would have dragged you upstairs for immediate sex."

"I think you're right." Harry agreed with her. "I was on the verge of killing him. If he doesn't return to his son. I still might. It doesn't bother me anymore. Killing I mean. I think we go with our first plan. We get some polyjuice stun the first two people we see and just walk in. We find Umbridge get the locket and get out. If anyone gets in our way that will be their problem."

She nibbled a lock of her hair as she pulled herself closer to him. "Have we changed? Was making the Horecrux a mistake?" She knew what it had done to her but wanted to hear Harry's opinion

"I can't tell, all I know is it's the two of us together and we will win. After we have won we can worry about having done the right thing, today I'm going to hold you, tomorrow we can start the potion, once that's done, we go in."

They spent the month watching the ministry as the potion went through its brewing process. Harry was periodically hit with visions of Voldemort on his quest for a wand maker. While the pain still hurt, he found the visions less distressing than usual.

Eventually everything was ready. Hermione chewed at her hair. She knew Harry was right that no matter how long they planned everything would be up to chance.

They knew they could get in but after that, they didn't know. The lack of a plan particularly worried her she found herself getting short and snappy with Harry although they he had found a wonderful way of relaxing her. They couldn't spend all their time in bed they had a task to do.

xx

They apparated into the alleyway next to the ministry. Opening the door of an abandoned theatre they waited. Hermione kept herself out of sight, fretting and worrying, as Harry watched for a useable target in his invisibility cloak. There was a knot of tension in Hermione's stomach that something would go wrong. Harry was happy to just play things by ear but she liked to plan out all possibilities. Some things didn't change while she didn't fear the death's she knew were coming she still hated improvisations.

Harry imperiused their first victim and had him wait in the hallway next to Hermione. This was it now then, once they had taken the first step they would have to do this. A second man stepped in through the doorway followed by Harry who removed his invisibility cloak. They took hairs from the men they would soon be duplicating. Hermione was slightly sceptical about the need to be a man but Harry hadn't wanted them to separate as they entered through the new toilet block and on that point she conceded.

Harry ordered them to go home and stay home for the rest of the day. Before they left she obliviated them.

After flushing themselves into the ministry Hermione found herself staring in horror at the new statue. Hundreds of muggles pressed together to form a throne for the wizard to sit upon. Harry nudged her and led her away to the lifts. She could feel her temper rising as she looked around her, listening to the conversations of the ministry employees. Some glanced at the statue in fear others in appreciation.

As they entered the lift, two men joined them. They were talking loudly about the arrest of someone they knew and laughing about it.

Hermione felt her temper continue to rise until an icy chill took over her body. She nudged Harry and slowly and cautiously took her wand into her hand. She burst into action and pointed her wand at one of the men.

"Imperio."

Harry was moments behind her with his spell.

The two men fell into a daze waiting instructions. "You will carry out your normal routines for the next two days. Then after you will start to kill any death eaters you come across." Once the man had been given his instructions he stood straighter. She turned to Harry. "Give the same instructions but add a week."

Hermione watched satisfied as Harry did as she asked. The two men had been taking too much enjoyment of working in this new ministry to not be guilty of something. They watched as the men left on their appropriate floor before they continued upward to the first floor where they hoped Umbridge's office was. They set off down the corridor she followed Harry he walked purposely she was doing her best to not look around in panic. Eventually they spotted Umbridge's door across from an office of working witches and wizards.

Harry signalled for them to keep walking. Hermione kept expecting them to be challenged but no one paid them any attention. They stopped walking and Harry came up with a plan that was short on detail but might work. She would wait just out of sight while Harry would use the invisibility cloak to head into the office and set off some decoy detonators. She would set off hers and then order every to evacuate telling them there was an attack on. Harry would hold the door to Umbridge's office and if possible gain entry.

Hermione waited for the noise, her every nerve on edge. Any moment now someone would challenge her, she would be arrested. As her fear built it hit a high point and an icy calm descended on her. Let them try. She would not go quietly.

On that thought, the explosions started from Umbridge's office. She set off two more decoys to add to the noise and ran down the corridor, her unfamiliar body stumbling slightly. She saw some of the witches near hysterical in the office.

"Everybody get out. This isn't a drill, there is an attack on, everyone out."The people in the office seemed grateful for a sense of direction and herded out and down the corridor. Another decoy went off presumably set by Harry. "Move people. " she shouted at them and was surprised at the deep tones of her voice. Once everyone was out Harry removed his cloak and the two stood facing each other at the door to Umbridge's room.

"There is someone in there; I had to lock the door. When I unlock make sure your ready with a spell." He told her.

This was the person, that had spent a year torturing Harry, using a blood quill on him. She was more than ready. She swallowed and felt the bobbing of her adams apple.

Harry cancelled his spell, the door opened, and Umbridge's toad like face came into view.

"Crucio." Hermione held the spell on the woman as she staggered backwards away from the door she followed her into the office and Harry came after and locked the door behind them.

She dropped the spell and Umbridge stayed as she was, prone on the ground. The locket clearly visible around her neck. "If we used Fiendfyre on it here we wouldn't have to worry about hiding the body."

Harry seemed to consider the idea. "There are too many innocents in the ministry. People like Arthur Weasley."

"Please no, don't kill me." Umbridge managed to say from the floor.

Hermione shared a glance with Harry there was no sympathy in his eyes but he was content to let her speak.

"I'm afraid Dolorous there is no possible way that you will live through the day. I just haven't decided how yet. Crucio." Hermione held her under the spell again before Harry spoke. She felt curious as to how long she could hold this feeling on her. This was the woman who hurt Harry eternity wasn't long enough.

"Enough Hermione."

She allowed the spell to drop. "Not feeling sorry for her are you?"

Harry looked at her in surprise. "Merlin no, it's just her screaming was grating on my ears. Why don't you have a look round the office see if there is anything useful here and I'll get the locket then we can go. "

Hermione glanced through the filing cabinets that were full of files on various people and their blood status. On the desk was a pamphlet on the dangers of mudbloods which was in the process of being written. On the wall was a poster of Harry, Undesirable no 1 was written across his chest. A little note was attached 'to be punished' was written on it.

Hermione felt her temper rise quickly to the place of icy fury. "Tell her who you are Harry."

Hermione watched Harry as he did as she asked and the look of fury and panic moved across Umbridge's face. Before she could do anything else Hermione stunned her.

"Do you have the locket?" Harry jangled his pocket and nodded. Hermione stepped to the doorway of the room and cast "Incendio." She cast it on the filing cabinet, she had left open and on the papers on the desk. Watching the office burn, she then cast in on Umbridge herself. Her body disappeared in flames. Then she and Harry stepped out of the office locking the door behind them.

Once they were out Hermione felt the icy calm slip away. She wanted to run and bolt but Harry led the way out, walking at a measured pace. They descended the lift together Hermione not trusting herself to speak. Once in the foyer Hermione increased her pace and headed for the fireplaces. As she pushed through a crowd of ministry workers, she didn't pay attention to the voices around them.

"It was him, he told us there was an attack on."

It took Hermione a moment to realise she was a he, and they were talking about her.

Harry pushed her from behind. "Quick run."

The two of them ran for the fireplaces and jumped through. They paused a moment to hold hands and as they apparated Hermione felt someone grasp hold of her arm.

As they appeared at Grimmauld Place, Hermione turned in horror to see one of the ministry workers holding on to her.

"Aveda Kedavra." Harry cast the spell and the green light hit the man, as he fell it became obvious the death eaters watching the property had seen them.

The fight was short and vicious and the death eaters soon lay dead.

"We'll need to get out of here soon." Hermione said slightly out of breathe. "When those two fail to return someone will investigate. It won't be long before Snape is set down here." Harry grunted in agreement. "I've planned for this. I can get us everything we need in less than thirty minutes. If it was a real emergency I could do it in seconds."

Harry volunteered to watch while Hermione busied herself picking up everything she thought they might need. Then she rejoined Harry at the doorway. There was no sign of the bodies so she assumed he had disposed of them in some fashion.

Taking his hand they apparated away from Grimmauld place.

xx

They set up camp in the woods that had once been used for the Quidditch World Cup. Harry set up the tent and Hermione wandered the camp going through every enchantment she knew that would either protect them or at least give them warning. She worried it wouldn't be enough but at least they would have a warning if someone found them. They were still unsure how they had been found in the cafe.

She eventually headed back into the tent to see Harry going through cupboards.

"There isn't any food here, I need something after this morning. I was looking forward to dinner too. Kreacher said he would have Sheppard's pie for dinner."

"Then call him Harry, he considers himself your elf. He's not just tied to one place but to you. I know he wouldn't come for me but he will for you."

Harry called for Kreacher and he appeared before them. He had changed since they had given him Regulus' locket, more agreeable and not so decrepit.

Hermione smiled at the elf but he returned that with a frown, he still didn't like her but as least no longer called her mudblood. Harry noticed the frown.

"Kreacher I have some news for you but before that I have an order for you." Hermione glanced at Harry he almost never took that tone with Kreacher. Harry stepped close to Hermione and pulled her into a kiss. "From now on Kreacher, you should treat Hermione as if she is my wife. I am your master but she is your mistress. When this war is done we will marry but as far as you are concerned that day has come and you will follow any order from her as if from me."

Hermione almost stumbled as Harry spoke. He was without a doubt sincere but asking her before he told the elf might have been appropriate. Kreacher was muttering mutinously but Harry stopped that in its tracks.

"Kreacher we have the locket, the one you were told to destroy. We shall take up that task."

"Thank you master Harry, thank you mistress Hermione. Kreacher's last order from poor master Regulus shall at least be done. I shall bring you food at once, you both look hungry. Thank you."

After Kreacherhad returned with the food they ate quietly. Hermione watched Harry; she was waiting for him to speak first. She wasn't really annoyed with him, his complete cluelessness was part of his charm. Eventually he would realise what he had done and his embarrassment would be amusing for a while. Better than thinking of today. While she had no regrets over killing Umbridgebut had she really burned her to death? There seemed to be part of her now that she could go to it times of stress that was cold and unforgiving. She knew if Harry had not stopped her she would have held the crucio until the woman went mad. Still this seemed to be her road now.

No, better to watch her bumbling boyfriend. Eventually he would get the hint that something was wrong. He kept looking up and smiling but glancing away when all she returned was a frown.

"Are you upset about Kreacher?" he asked. " About me making you his mistress." She stayed silent and he plunged on. " I know the whole SPEW thing is important to you but you were right he responds better to kindness and I think it will be good for him to have you as his mistress."

"Harry I understand why you did what you did. There is the question of how. Now I understand you're not familiar with all the nuances and traditions of polite society but I thought even you would have known this one." She drew it out, letting him panic.

"Hermione what are you talking about." Harry asked her a slight tone of worry in his voice.

"Well Harry let me explain. Traditionally before you start informing people that I should be treated as your wife or that we will marry when the war is done, might it not have been a good idea to ask me."

Hermione watched Harry's face go white and his eyes open in shock and panic. "Oh Merlin, Hermione I'm sorry I didn't think. I..." He stopped talking and sank to his knees in front of her. "Hermione, I do love you and I can think of no one else I'd rather be with. Hermione will you marry me?"

Hermione couldn't say how she was feeling, the rush of emotions was so strong. With tears pouring down her eyes she managed to stumble over the words. "Yes Harry, forever."

She pulled him to his feet and the two of them, shedding clothing as they went, headed off to bed together.

xx

When they awoke the next morning, Hermione smiled to herself at the decor of the tent. She had found it in the basement of Grimmauld place. She was sure that whoever had set up the Black crest over the beds was rolling in his grave at the idea the Black family heir was sleeping with and was now engaged to a mudblood like her.

Once up, she made breakfast for the two of them. They had told Kreacher he was only to visit them when he knew he wasn't being traced or followed but he had found time to stock their cupboards full of food. Although no one had entered Grimmauld place yet she knew it would only be a matter of time. It was the most logical thing to do, although thanks to Harry's visions they knew Voldemort was out of the country. Maybe with him gone there was no clear leadership of the Death Eaters.

Harry grew increasingly distant and moody over the next few days until Hermione realised it was the Horecrux having an effect on him, so she convinced him to allow her to share it.

She hated the inactivity; all she and Harry did was bicker. It was almost as if she had moved in with Ron. They had stopped sleeping together somenights back, having the two of them that close to the Horecrux meant there was no respite from it.

Why had she come on this damn fool mission? She had her own plans. Her own life. She checked her bag. Names and addresses, political list of targets.

Without saying a word she apparated away.

Quietly she watched the house. There appeared to be no wards around the building. She watched the lights go out as presumably the occupants went to bed. Cautiously, one window and door at a time she sealed the building. When it was done, she cast one more spell. "Fiendfyre."

She watched as the building burned. She directed the flames and the fantastical beasts to keep turning inward and devour the building. There was something she was forgetting, something about Fiendfyre. The magical fire that could destroy anything.

Suddenly she remembered, she pulled off the locket and made to throw it into the fire. She couldn't open her hand. Her arm wouldn't pull back. She would just put it back on she decided. Her arm was able to move again and she dropped the locket.

Her mind became clearer immediately and she banished the locket into the heart of the flames. She wasn't sure if the scream she heard came from the locket or her imagination but she knew now that it was destroyed, as was the Goyle household and all its occupants.

"Never try to control me Voldemort." She muttered in grim satisfaction.

It was only a moment later when she heard the pops of apparition. She immediately disaparated back to the tent. Rushing to where Harry slept, she shook him awake.

"I'm apparating us away." She was panicking slightly, she knew. She had a working hypothesis as to how she had been found on both occasions. Later on, they would test it but for now, she would err on the side of caution.

Xx

Chapter 3

They spent a frantic day hopping around before she and Harry met with Kreacherwho had set the tent up.

When they finally settled for the night she gave Harry the explanation. She blamed her murderous journey on the effects of the Horecrux as well as her method of murder. It was a well-known death eater method of killing those that troubled them.

She also explained her theory that every time they used you-know-who's preferred nom-de-plume then death eaters had suddenly appeared soon afterwards.

They resolved to avoid using the name.

Afterwards they discussed tactics.

"Do you regret it Hermione?" Harry asked her. "Do you regret burning down the Goyles?"

Hermione considered the question. She didn't think was ready for the truth yet but she would hint and see what he said. "I know what I would have said. Once I would have regretted it. A part of me regrets that this is what I've become. I'm a soldier and there is a war on. No one else seems to be fighting it. Who knows what the order is doing or the rest of The D. doing. As I see it we need to find the other parts of his soul and destroy them but eventually we will need to destroy him. He won't be alone, he will his loyal followers around him. Everyone we kill now is one less to face when that day comes. If I thought I could I'd apparate to Malfoy Manor and burn it all down." Hermione listened to her own words her only concern was what would Harry say? He had been Dumbledore's man, he had believed in second chances and mercy.

Harry pulled her into a hug. They didn't pull apart but Hermione moved so she was facing away from him, her back leaning against his chest, his arms around her waist.

"Good." Harry finally spoke. "I think you're right. We need to use the enemies' tactics against them. Imperiusing random individuals. Setting attacks. We still search for clues. I still believe Hogwarts has a good chance of being a hiding place. We need to look into the orphanage but when we run into dead ends we won't sit idle we will go on the offensive."

Xx

That was how they spent their time, a week of research into Voldemort's past and possible hiding places, then a week planning an attack on a known death eater or high-ranking official. They used various methods, lying in wait, cast one spell each and apparating away to imperiusing wives or co-workers. They would burn down houses at night or after some research, using port keys to take people the bottom of rivers or the sea.

The thing that Hermione found curious in herself was that killed and planning deaths didn't repulse her anymore. In fact it had the opposite effect, after returning from their missions they never actually made it to their bed before removing their clothing and making love.

Harry's wanted reward increased and the Prophet screamed for his termination on sight. For once, they were right it was him and Hermione behind the recent deaths. They considered burning down the prophet but decided it was too much risk for too little gain with just the two of them.

Tom's orphanage had been knocked down years ago and was now built over. So that idea was a dead end. They now spent more time planning to take out death eaters than searching for soul fragments.

Hermione cursed Dumbledore's lack of information again. Harry was convinced they should search Hogwarts but with Snape and the Carrow's in residence, it had to be considered hostile territory. Hermione felt it was unlikely but then unlikely was higher on their list of possibilities than completely unknown.

They were on a dead end as far as the hunt went. They didn't know what they were searching for except for the possibility of Hufflepuff's Cup and they didn't know where to search.

Eventually Harry floated an idea that was so foolhardy and dangerous it couldn't have come off anyone but him.

Eventually after months of back and forth Hermione allowed herself to be persuaded. The only issue they had was Kreacher's loyalty.

But they planned for what they could and prepared themselves. Harry's visions told them He was out of the country.

They stood in a clearing, the tent packed away. Hermione took a deep breath nodded to Harry he returned her nod. Hermione let out her breath. "Voldemort."

The pops of multiple apparitions surrounded them. Hermione schooled her face to look appropriately scared. She stuttered over giving her false name. The whole time she watched and sized up the opponents.

They weren't entirely stupid it only took them five minutes to see through the paper-thin disguise they had put on Harry and to find his glasses. Eventually after some pushing around it was agreed that they should be taken to Malfoy Manor where they would claim the reward for finding Harry. The men found the wands they were willing to give up. Hermione's real wand was strapped to her upper arm, Harry's she knew was on his thigh and he had holes cut in the pocket of his jeans.

They were pushed and shoved, Hermione marked for death one of them who decided to grope her. Before long though they found themselves led into the manor itself by Narcissa Malfoy, their escort was reduced to a single guard each.

Lucius was thrilled to see them, then Bellatrix appeared. Hermione had hoped she would met someone of such high value. She brought forth all her fear and pretended to shrink away from the woman's gaze.

Bellatrix used her right arm to hold Hermione's left and pulled her towards her. Hermione glanced over to Harry before she allowed herself to move, he was ready. As Hermione was pulled towards the older witch she used that momentum and struck out with her right hand,jabbing upwards into her throat.

Bellatrix never expected a physical attack, most pure bloods didn't she had found. Bellatrix staggered backwards falling inelegantly on her backside, her hands clutched to her throat as she tried to gasp for air.

Harry had been prepared and pirouetted away from his attacker his wand now in his hand as he paralysed first Narcissa then Lucius. As all eyes turned on him, Hermione was free to get out her own wand. She spared Bellatrix a glance but she was still unable to breathe. The two men who had brought them to the manor were starting to get their wands into a position they could attack Harry.

"Aveda Kedavra." She took down the one nearest to her. The other turned to her and Hermione found herself covered in blood as Harry's Diffando took his head off. It was becoming his signature more.

"Damn it Harry, do you have to keep doing that?" She asked as she used a sleeve to wipe her face free of blood.

"It works, it's quick and effective and it's one less syllable then your preferred curse." He came over to her and started to clean her up using his wand to remove blood from her.

"It can also be blocked and you need to accurate for it to be lethal."

While Hermione traded jibes with Harry, she carefully watched Bellatrix. The black haired witch was slowly getting herself together. Her breathing became easier and she got her hand on her wand. Hermione nodded at Harry and they both turned and pointed at Bellatrix.

"Crucio." The two spells hit the witch together. Hermione didn't have to work hard to hate the pureblood witch, the one who wanted to be Voldemort's right hand. Harry was equally motivated about keeping the spell on the woman who had killed his godfather.

With a glance at each other they ended the spell. Hermione summoned the wand that had fallen from her hand as she had suffered the torture.

Harry levitated her and stuck her to the wall, followed by her brother-in law and sister. The latter two he removed the paralysis spell from. Lucius began spouting threats as soon as he could speak.

"Enough." Harry shouted at him. "Diffando." He said the word almost conversationally and Hermione watched in amusement as Lucius lost a finger.

"Yes Lucius I know, the dark lord is going to kill me. That gives me tremendous freedom to do as I wish. No one else would dare to break into his head quarters and torture his followers for fear of death. As we're marked for death we can do as we please can't we Hermione?"

She moved casually over to him, caressing his arm as she stood next to him. It was all an act but one to hopefully put them off guard. "Can I have Narcissa next?" she asked watching the shock on the faces of the other two before they started shouting threats.

"Silencio." Harry cast the spell at them. "I have one question. Years ago Lucius your master gave you a diary to take special care of. Do any of you know of other such items? Now I know that you Lucius and you Bella don't fear a little torture, after all you serve Tom, but how do you feel about watching Hermione do her special little tricks on Narcissa."

Hermione summoned a knife to her and transfigured it into a longer and sharper blade. She casually walked toward Narcissa. "Such a pretty face." she murmured just loud enough for them all to hear. Harry ended the silencing spell on all three of their victims. No one dared make a sound as Hermione steeled herself and moved the blade across Narcissa'a face.

Narcissa sucked in air as she felt the cold of it. Hermione hadn't cut her yet she was used the back of it, watching Lucius she turned the knife over in her hand and prepared to cut the woman's cheek. Allowing her feelings free reign, Harry would assume it was part of the plan, she was going to go to town on the mother of the boy who had tormented her. She was ready now. The edge of the blade caught Narcissa's cheek and she pulled it slowly down. The cut wasn't deep and resembled a duelling scar as it sat diagonally on her face.

Lucius suddenly shouted. "Stop. Bella had one, I don't know what though."

Harry stepped forward and restrained her, although there was no need for it, she was still in control.

"Is this true Bella? Or would you like to watch your sister be sliced up like a piece of meat?"

"Fools, I'd gladly watch her die. I serve the Dark Lord, I live or die at his whim, as does my sister her husband however is an idiot and a traitor."

Harry turned to Hermione, "I knew this one would be trouble. She has no vanity, she has been with Tom long enough to enjoy pain, all she wants is to serve him. Reducto." Harry's curse came from nowhere as he turned from talking to Hermione to casting the spell at Bellatrix's right hand. "Let's see you pick up a wand now and serve your master."

Hermione had been thinking furiously. Where would Bellatrix hide a Horecrux? She didn't own a mansion, like the Malfoy's . Any property she did have would have been seized by the ministry at her arrest. Where would a pure blood arrogant witch put something to be kept safe?

Suddenly several things happened at once. Hermione shouted out in triumph as the idea came to her.

"It's at Gringotts." The look of anger and fear on Bellatrix's face told her she was right.

Harry meanwhile dropped his wand in pain, clutching at his head. "He's coming, he knows we're here. "

"How long do we have?" Hermione asked, her calm facade slipping for a moment a note of real fear slipping into her voice."

"He's still in Germany. We've got minutes. "

"Fine, get outside and call Kreacher. I'll be just behind you. "

Hermione was only seconds behind Harry, it was all the time she needed to cast the killing curse three times and Fiendfyre just before she left.

She got out side to see Harry causing havoc to the men who had brought them here. They were still waited for their leader to join them. As all their concentration was on Harry her sudden arrival caught them off balance. It didn't take the pair long to ruthlessly finish them off.

Kreacher took them back to where they had the tent set up. Hermione quietly took Harry to bed and held him as he endured the pain of Voldemort's tantrum after apparating into a burning Malfoy Manor.

xx

Hermione sat at the table in the tent making notes and jotting down ideas. Harry watched her with a quizzical expression on his face. She knew at some point his curiosity would prompt him to ask but for the moment he kept quiet.

She consulted books on genealogy and probate law. Making lists on the paper, she worked with biros and reporters notepads, never quite understanding the wizarding fascination with parchment and quills. As she nibbled on her hair and stared off trying to calculate as Harry interrupted her thoughts.

"Hermione what are you doing now?"

"We know there is a soul fragment in the Lestrange vault. I'm trying to work out who has ownership of it now and how we access it. My first idea was to assassinate everyone with a claim to it until either you get it as Black heir or Tonks does. The Lestrange family is huge though, almost as big in Europe as the Black family here. If it was just Rudolphus and Rabastan it would be easy after that it would fall to Draco and then presumably Tonk's mum, Andromeda. But as it is it would take some time and after a while it would be obvious what we were up to as we worked across Europe. "

"What if we just went direct to Rudolph," Harry smirked. "A simple imperius and we get the cup."

"That's fine if it's the cup, you're assuming again. I think we need to get in there and search. "

Harry turned away from her and walked to the back of the tent a sure sign that something was troubling him he always tried to avoid argument or confrontations with those he cared for. She followed him and found him sitting on the four-poster bed with the Black crest built into the canopy.

"What Harry?"

He looked up with a haunted look in his eyes. "Do you love me?" There was a small boy behind that question one looking for comfort and support. She went to him then and kissed him. Then after slowly undressing him, they made love.

Afterward she lay in his arms. "What's troubling you Harry?"

"We're never going to go back. At one time I thought once the war was done we could go back, become normal people again. Get jobs in the ministry and settle down. It's never going to happen. I just heard you suggest a plan about travelling across Europe and systematically killing an entire family. It didn't bother me, in fact I liked it. It was simple, efficient, and direct. Hermione I love you but you are a dark witch and I don't care. If you come up with a plan that involves us having to murder every goblin and death eater between us and the vault, I say let's do it."

Hermione was taken aback by Harry's words, that he had finally recognised what they were. She had known she was dark ever since she had made the Horecruxes, no before that even, she had logically decided on this path from her hospital bed, although she was surprised how far she had gone though. The Horecrux ritual had tainted her forever. She hadn't admitted it to Harry but had to herself, killing now give her a sexual thrill. Torturing Narcissa hadn't been an act, she'd enjoyed it. It was now out in the open and Harry said he didn't care.

"Harry, you still have a chance of redemption. I don't think I have, are you sure?" She had to ask, she had ideas and seen rituals that would help them in some of the Black's books. She had been tempted by them but had always been scared of what Harry would say. Now he seemed to say he didn't care.

"Who would you like me to kill to prove it to you? I should have seen it ages ago, you murdered Fletcher without a blink of an eye. The only thing you cared about was would I reject you. I never will Hermione. I'll be with you as long as you have me, which since we made Horcruxes might be a long time. " He smiled at that joke.

"Fine then, there are things we could do that I haven't looked into. Paths I haven't walked for fear of what you would say. I have one question to ask though, what do you want to do after we win? We could rule the country, with your fame and my drive you could be minister in less than 10 years. Do you want that Harry?"

"No, I want that man dead, then I want to be left alone. I've never wanted fame, I apparently have a fortune thanks to Sirius."

"Good that gives me more freedom to work with then. If you wanted some sort of public career afterwards I might have needed to protect your image. I have a plan now, things I'd I idly considered but had rejected because of what you might have said."

"So what's the plan?" He asked her leaning up on his elbow in curiosity.

"As you said, we walk in there and take what we want. People who stop us get hurt."

xx

The reason some rituals and potions were considered dark Hermione found was the sacrifice that had to be made. Some of them it was blood. Usually the blood of the person making it. Sometimes it was the blood of an animal, some rituals required the blood of animals that were considered magical or pure, like unicorns. For the ritual to be most effective it required the benefactory of the ritual to harvest the blood themselves. Making it a double sacrifice as the maker had to give up more of their innocence. The potion that Hermione considered to be most useful for their coming adventure required human blood. "A pint of blood from your first love, taken by force."

Hermione sat eating her hair again. She wasn't that bothered for herself, she knew it was Ron and she knew she could do it. Again she fretted over what Harry would say. As if she had projected her thoughts he was suddenly behind her, he leaned over and kissed the nape of neck, then he put his head alongside hers and read from the book she had open. She could feel him tense slightly as he got to the troubling passage.

"I don't suppose there is a definition of first love is they? I don't think I could forcibly take it from you."

"This is just the ingredient list. There is a break down further on of what each ingredient means and how it should be gathered. It means first crush. The first girl you had romantic feelings for. The sacrifice here is the cost of what this will do to you, the inevitable hardening of your heart balances out the potions effect."

Harry sighed as he thought about that, Hermione watched him, the lock of her hair back in her mouth. "You'll get split ends doing that you know?" He told her.

Hermione took the hair out of her mouth and turned to look at him. "Is that your only worry?"

"Not my only one, I was also trying to work out who, is yours Ron or Victor?"

Hermione felt a slight blush form on her cheeks as she thought about it. "Ron." She finally admitted in a quiet voice although why this embarrassed so much she couldn't say. "So what about you?"

"I guess Ginny. There was always something about her. I found her shyness cute. Then I just found it annoying if she liked me it would have been nice if she'd spoken to me. Then more importantly you came along and made me happier than I've ever been. Look at us, the two most wanted people in the country. We're conducting a campaign of terror from a tent and yet because of you I'm happy."

Hermione knew he was over compensating because he'd admitted to having a crush on Ginny but Harry had a way of melting her heart. "Well look at you, getting all romantic while planning to kidnap and steal blood from your old school crush."

xx.

They decided to wait for Easter before snatching the two Weasley's. They hoped and were not disappointed to discover they had both come home for the Holidays, usually most years staying in the castle during Easter, as it was a perfect time to do revision for end of year exams.

Harry and Hermione sat cuddled together under the invisibility cloak, their backs to a tree. It was a pleasant way to spend the time. They had brought picnic food and the weather in Devon was starting to warm. They could hear the plaintive bleats of newborn lambs and catch the faint fragrance of the may blossom on the breeze. It was the second day of watching that the two younger Weasley's headed out into the orchid. Hermione felt Harry tense as they watched them approach. The sudden appearance of two masked figures before them caused panic but she and Harry had stunned their targets before they had a chance to react.

They portkeyed the pair back to Grimmauld Place which Kreacherreported had not been visited by anyone in their absence.

Hermione got to work levitating Ron onto a hospital bed she had transfigured for this exercise. She conjured ropes and tied down each of Ron's limbs securely. Then she glanced over at Harry. He hadn't moved over to Ginny off the floor onto the bed yet.

"It's not too late to back out Harry we could portkey them back, Rennervate them and they would be none the wiser." She made this last offer to him.

"No, this is the cost as you said. How are you doing this so easily?"

"Compared to making the Horecrux vessels this is easy." Harry had no idea really, she had quietly conducted quite a few rituals and they got easier as you went on. She had picked this one not just for its usefulness but also for how far it would take Harry. There was a part of her, the girl she had been that would horrified at what she had become. When she looked back each step seemed logical, a natural progression. This was all a necessity in the fighting of the war. Harry was still quite naive; he thought that they would be able to walk away when they had killed Tom. Hermione had seen how corrupt the wizarding world was and she felt the battle would continue for many years. No Harry had to harden himself to realities. He had said he was willing to walk into Gringotts and kill whoever got in their way. He wasn't yet she knew, but soon he would be.

Hermione watched him in silence as he copied her steps tying Ginny to her bed slicing open her sleeve to the elbow. Then with a silent nod to each other,they put on masks and Rennervated the siblings.

Hermione watched carefully, she knew what to expect from Ron and she was ready for his curses and shouts. It was Harry that concerned her but he matched her every move. He was slightly hesitant over cutting Ginny, especially as the girl was in tears by then and pleading for mercy.

It didn't take long for them to harvest the blood, Hermione healed Ron's arm, stunned him, cut the ropes tying him down then placed a port key on him. Harry slightly less efficiently followed her example. When the pair had done Hermione watched Harry remove his mask and head off to the corner. When he turned to face her his eyes had lost some of their colour and life.

"So this is how it feels to be dark. I just feel numb.

Hermione moved across the room and gentle run her hand across his face. "Don't worry Harry you can still feel plenty." She run her hand down his face and across his body , then taking him by the hand she led him up stairs to a bedroom.

xx

The potion had brewed and they were ready. Kreacher had found them dragon hide armour from somewhere, they had both found secondary wands from their stock of stolen wands. The spare wand that suited Hermione best was Bellatrix's while her own created better shields Bellatrix's was better for offensive spells. Especially the unforgiveables. Hermione had lost track of which death eater they had taken Harry's spare wand from, some nameless victim of one of their night time raids.

Using her position with Kreacher as Lady black she had sent him to Gringotts and had him empty the Black gold and more it to the Gnomes in Switzerland. Strangely she had no authority over the Potter accounts.

Everything that could be done was ready, with one last look at each other they took their potions and felt its effects immediately. Then they apparated away.

Chapter 4

The pair apparated into Diagon Alley as close to Gringotts as they were able. Step for step they matched each other, Hermione spared Harry a sideways glance his face was resolute as they neared the doors they were challenged by two wizards.

"Aveda Kedavra." The two off them were in sync as they cast the spell. The two wizards slumped to the floor, Hermione had to slightly break step to get over her body, Harry slowed to allow her to walk beside him again.

Into the main body of the bank and they headed straight for a teller.

"I want a cart to my vault, now." Harry demanded.

"I'm afraid Mr Potter that the ministry has impounded your vault." The goblin informed them.

"Imperious." Hermione whispered the spell. Immediately the goblin signalled a cart attendant to come forward. They were led towards the tracks and got into the cart behind the Goblin. This time Harry imperioused the goblin.

Hermione held onto her stomach, this was almost more nauseating than making a Horecrux. They headed deeper and deeper into the bank eventually coming to a halt before an enormous dragon standing guard before five deep vaults.

"So how do we get in?" She had never been to the vaults before; her only business with Gringotts prior to this had been changing pounds to galleons.

"Every vault has a key but any goblin can open one if they need to." As Harry spoke, the Goblin came forward. That just leaves the problem of getting past the dragon.

Hermione took a deep breath and stepped out towards the vaults. The dragon sensing her reached as far forward as it's chains would allow and belched out a huge fireball engulfing her. As the flames died away Hermione breathed out in relief, the potion had worked she had resisted any damage from the dragons flames. As she raised her wand she noticed a problem. Her clothes were burned and charred, as she moved they turned to ash. She looked down at herself. Being inconspicuous would be an issue as her burnt out clothes fell away. She breathed a sigh of relief she had left her ever useful bag in the cart. If that had burnt up there would be no end of problems.

Her own wand was smouldering but thankfully, Bellatrix's walnut wand being against her inner arm had fared better, so she switched to that one. Hermione worked through a wide repertoire of spells to drive back the dragon. Blasting and gouging spells forced it back, allowing Harry and the imperioused goblin to open the vault.

She didn't spare them any attention she was too busy distracting the dragon.

Eventually Harry shouted out that he had seen the cup. "Well burn it and shut the door before the dragon gets past me."

She heard rather than saw harry shout out Fiendfyre and barely noticed the vault door slam shut. Harry and the goblin moved back to safety and the cart were she joined them.

"Hermione!"

"I know Harry I've lost my clothes." she glanced down at herself and ignored the urge to cover herself. It was only Harry with her and she doubted the goblin would have any interest in her, being from a different species. She turned her attention to the Goblin. "Get us out of here."

He stood in the cart vacantly but despite everything he tried the cart remained motionless.

"I guess we've been noticed, Harry told her. As he spoke a band of goblins came warily around the corner of the track. They were armed and armoured and approached them cautiously.

Towards the back of the group she could see archers pulling back on their bows.

She raised her wand in anticipation of the attack.

"Stop!" Harry shouted. "As of this moment we have harmed no Goblin, this is part of the wizarding war, if you attack us we will defend ourselves and some of you will die. If you wish to pick a side in a wizards matter then do so."

"Not so Mr Potter you have cast magic on a goblin and broken into a vault, these are both Goblin matters."

Hermione watched in amusement. She knew she could walk through the goblins and none of their weapons would harm her. Despite Harry saying he was happy to kill people while they were planning he still had a streak of nobility in him that would try to avoid conflict. With those he regarded as innocents.

"So what now?" Harry asked them.

Hermione listened as the Goblins started to make their list of demands. They never got past their second one as she fired a Reducto into the centre of the group. She grabbed Harry's arm slung her bag over her shoulder and pulled him up the tracks. "Make him guide us." She pointed at the still imperiused Goblin. She pushed Harry to follow the goblin. Heading up the tracks. She took the last position, firing blasting and gouging spells into the tunnel walls and ceiling to discourage pursuit.

The goblins were now on high alert. Every side passage brought danger. Carts would come hurtling down towards them faster than they had seen . Groups of goblins would appear seemingly out of shadows. The first Hermione knew of one attack was an axe catching her in the back of her neck. The force of the impact knocked her onto her knees. Harry turned and fired a cutting spell at the axe wielder, which cut him in two. Hermione got back to her feet, thankful for the potion they had taken. Their skin was still impervious. Although how much longer this would last and whether it would have an effect on magical weapons or on spells was still an unknown.

At the next intersection of tunnels they encountered wizards mixed in with the attacking goblins. Harry through up a hasty shield with his own wand and returned fire with his spare. Hermione had to step around the edge of Harry's shield and fired an incedio over the heads of the attackers forcing them back. She and Harry then fired reductos where the attackers had been standing and then quickly ran past the intersection of tracks.

As they slowly ascended the tunnel, Hermione could sense the passageway become warmer and see natural light rather than torchlight. Their plan such as it was had been abandoned back in the tunnels. It was possible they would need to fight their way through the foyer and then far enough into Diagon Alley to be able to portkey away. Hopefully if they were lucky they might be able to return to their original plan.

With that in mind, she sent Harry on ahead. She stayed back to ensure no one or thing would sneak up behind them. She cast the occasional reducto and incedio down the tunnel more as an incentive for everyone to stay back. She noticed two figures coming towards them and decapitated them before Harry removed his cloak and let her know these two were under his control.

Thankfully Harry had found a witch as well as a wizard. She took out four bottles of polyjuice potion from her ever present bag. She swapped forms with the witch while Harry did the same with the wizard. She also took the witches clothes leaving her standing naked in the tunnel. With imperiused orders to not let anyone up the tunnel she and Harry crept up to where they could see the main foyer of the bank.

Not surprisingly there was a welcoming committee. She marvelled at Harry's ability to get two wizards to use the polyjuice on. Seeing her quizzical look Harry whispered to her. "They were advance scouts, stationed in the tunnel."

Hermione nodded her understanding. There was no way they could just walk out of the tunnel and mix with the crowd so they would need some distractions.

The first thing was set some to throw some Peruvian Instant darkness powder as well as to allow some Decoy Detonators off. Moving slowly and close to the wall the crawled into the bank. Hermione recognised the growl, It was one that had accompanied her first year nightmares. The goblins had trolls in the bank. They wouldn't be bothered by lack of sight they would follow their sense of smell. She passed more bottles to Harry. He threw out more darkness powder and added dungbombs to the mix. To add to the confusion Hermione let off another Decoy Detonator.

They should be nearing the bank doors now soon. A muggle bank would be sealed but Hermione could feel fresh air.

She reached into the bag and pulled some of the twins speciality fireworks. She banished them as far away from herself as she could before they detonated. Using this distraction she moved out from the cover of the darkness powder.

The doors of the bank stood before her. While she could see outside it was obvious they were sealed somehow. Whatever magic the goblins employed was obvious preventing people moving in or out as a the crowd of Aurors at the door and occasionally banging against it told her.

The next part was up to Harry it was outside her skill level. A slight smile played on her lips as she remembered a scene from Mary Poppins as she reached into her bag and pulled out a broom stick and more Darkness powder. Harry took the broomstick and she cast more powder, decoys, fireworks, and dungbombs around. In the general sense of confusion no one noticed Harry shatter the higher windows and dip back down for her.

She held on for dear life, her eyes closed and her faced pressed against Harry's back as he flew them out of the bank, she heard rather than saw the spell fire as the wizards reacted to their escape.

Harry didn't take them far, they quickly settled down on a nearby roof top before activating their portkeys taking them to where Kreacher had set up the tent for them.

Xx

Hermione was practicing a branch of magic she never thought to bother with before.

She was staring intently into a mirror and attempting to regrow her hair. Not just the hair on her head which she was content to leave short rather than her usual bushy curls. She decided she looked strange with no eyebrows and her eyelashes where heavily singed. Worst however was the smell of burnt hair when she breathed in from her own nasal hair. She was willing to guess the dragons fire had been well over a thousand degrees.

While she was attempting to make herself look normal again, she heard a scream from Harry, she rushed in to find him curled up on the tent floor clutching his head.

"He knows, he knows about our break in. He's angry and scared, he's scared of us." Harry continued talking through clenched teeth, Hermione marvelled yet again at his capacity to function while in pain. "He's going to check on his other Horcruxes. The Ring, that Dumbledore found, the cave with the locket and Hogwarts, he's left one in Hogwarts."

Hermione assumed the vision had ended because harry had collapsed spent on the floor. She took his head onto her lap and slowly run her fingers through his hair to help sooth his pain.

While hear fingers were tender her brain was working furiously. Where would the Horecrux be, what would it be? Something of Ravenclaw's seemed a safe bet but what?

It was a race now; they would need to get to Hogwarts and search.

She called Kreacher to bring a pain relieving potion and made Harry drink it. She took some time to restock her bag of potions and other items she considered useful. By the time she was finished Harry was back on his feet and had returned to his normal colour.

"So do we apparate into Hogsmeade?" Harry asked her.

"Harry it's too far to walk and too open. Anyone could see us and we would have to fight our way in. Here take my hand." Hermione took Harry's hand in hers. Noting he wore her ring as she wore his. It was more than a statement of commitment it was her life he held as she wore his. The decision to make the Horcruxes into rings each other wore was simple and elegant and could save time in the event of a death.

There was a momentary blur and the feeling of compression and the apparition was over. She let go of Harry's hand and took out the wand she was using.

"This way." She gestured having used point me. "We should come out near the greenhouses." The sunlight took on a tinge of green as it was filtered through the canopy of the forest. Hermione smiled to herself remembering how fearful she had once been of this place. Now without a doubt the most dangerous thing in the forest was herself and Harry.

The section they walked through was mostly beech trees and as such, there was little ground coverage. They crossed into mixed woodland, oak being the dominant species. The undergrowth built up and visibility fell. Suddenly they were surrounded. Centaurs moved on every side of them. Their hooves churned up the moist forest floor. Hermione drew close to Harry, the size of these creatures was intimidating in themselves.

"Hold humans. What business do you have in our forest?" The lead stallion challenged them. He was not one that Hermione recognised; hopefully they would be able to talk their way out of this situation.

"Your pardon, herd master. Our business is merely that of travel. We wish to be out of your domain as soon as possible. We want nothing of yours, we seek to damage nothing."

The lead centaur looked back over his shoulder to smile at his fellows. "Wise words child. Then we shall allow you passage but shall watch your journey. See that you cause no damage or take anything that is ours. Your own words shall be your judge. "

The pair moved off into the forest. Harry turned to her. "What was that all about?"

"Just treating them with proper respect. We have more important battles to face today than having to deal with the centaurs. You remember what happened to Umbridge." Hermione had taken that opportunity in fifth year when it had happened, it was only afterwards that she had read up on centaurs and their behaviour. Now that she knew, she would be slightly hesitant to do it again. Even she had standards, better to be burnt alive than for a women to be captured by a heard of angry centaurs.

They continued through the forest. She stopped Harry from cutting a path through brambles aware of the centaurs still watching them. Soon they could see the castle ahead of them and the Herbology greenhouses.

Before they left the forest she bowed her thanks to the last stallion who was still watching their progress.

He galloped towards her and stopped just short of running the two of them down. "The stars speak of you. Your path is dark child. We would ask you to remember us kindly."

She blinked slightly at the centaur's words, unsure how to respond. "The stars may call me dark but I do not seek conflict, only to stop those who would kill me."

"As of the moment, you are yet young. Remember our race kindly when you rule." With that the centaur gave a bow and then galloped off into the forest.

She shared a long look with Harry. "I think Ron said it best, bonkers the lot of them."

Despite herself, she had to laugh at Harry's comment. Then she turned serious again as she looked back to the castle. She took out a pair of Omnioculars she handed a set to Harry before looking out through her own.

She could see figures in the green houses. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs from the trim of their robes but they seemed younger years and there was no one she could put a name too.

Harry nudged her and pointed towards the doors to the castle. Standing guard there were two black robed figures.

She zoomed in, they weren't masked and she could see the distinctive blond, almost white hair of the last of the Malfoy's. Harry stiffened next to her a sign he too had seen who was guarding the doors. That answered one question, sneaking in was no longer an option. The idea of killing Draco as she had his parents and aunt excited her. The only question was could she get to him before Harry.

As far as I got.

Getting the final Horecrux should be simple. A bit of brainstorming, talking to the elves and they remember the come and go room.

How to deal with V.?

I'm inclined to let him kill H and then Herm hidden under the cloak does the snake and him.

Then uses a different ritual, guts someone as she needs a virgins blood to resurrect Harry.

Oh yeah the epilogue is optional too.

Epilogue.

Hermione sat at the bedside as she had many times in the past, she run her hand through what was left of Harry's white hair. His eyes opened and he turned to look towards her. He didn't bother with glasses anymore the milky white cataracts had robbed him of sight years before.

"Will you do it today Love?" he asked her. His voice a breezy whisper. Horcruxes, Hermione reflected were a stupid way of avoiding death. While you may not die, you still aged. Two hundred was an old age even for a wizard.

Harry had lost a lot of his vitality after the death of their youngest child. Once Lily had died, he seemed to lose his will to live. Hermione tried to remember the last time he had he been out of his bed.

"Yes dear, I'll do it." Her voice was thick with emotion. She slipped the wedding ring off her finger and moved it to the hearth in the room.

She cast Fiendfyre wordlessly and banished the flames once they had burned up the ring.

"It's done dear." She kissed him on the forehead and watched him drift off to sleep for the last time.

Xx

She sat there for over an hour holding Harry's hand as he grew colder and colder. Before rising and heading off to her lab. Set behind the false wall and the blood ward keyed to her and her alone she opened the elixir. She had been drinking a thimble full every year since she had created her own stone. It wasn't enough to make her young but it stopped her ageing. It had taken her years to make a stone so when she looked in the mirror she saw the body and face of herself as she was at a hundred and fifty.

Today would be different. Today she took the better part of a test tube. She watched herself grow young again. It took the better part of a week but she was finally able to pass for a woman in her twenties. She had toyed with going all the way back to being eleven and re-entering Hogwarts but she had all the necessary documents she was a naturalised French citizen she could return to wizarding Britton and get herself a decent job in the ministry and finally put to right those problems that still kept the society stagnated.

Harry had been true to his word and withdrawn. Their life had been good and long but once she saw a problem she longed to fix it. Wizarding Briton needed fixing and she had all the time in the world.

The End.

A.N.

No I don't intend to write the story of Hermione rebuilding society in her own image.