Hermione's jaw clenched as she sensed a familiar energy walk up behind her. A politician's energy. Kingsley had once been a great man. But it seemed he like thousands of other great men had fallen victim to power, and greed. He had grown weak in his time in office. She felt sorry for him.
"Hermione." He said coming to her side as he ran his hands down his fine silk robes. Hermione looked down at her skinny jeans and maroon hooded knit sweater. She didn't look as grand, and she wondered if she should have dressed better for this meeting. "You can still hold onto your power of the army and order…" She looked to him. "If only you agree to the truce."
"No." She said her jaw clenching. "I will not bend."
"Your choice."
"All rise for our brave Minister of Magic. Kingsley Shacklebolt." Everyone with in the room rose except for Loki Thor and the warriors three and Hermione smiled softly at this show of allegiance. Kingsley walked to the table before the great hall and smiled as he waved.
"Please sit…" everyone did so. "I'd now personally like to call in Hermione Granger. One of the three founders and current Leader of Dumbledores Army, and the current leader of the Order of the Phoenix." Hermione walked into the room her head held high. No one stood on her behalf and Lokis jaw clenched. He couldn't believe at the lack of respect everyone had for a woman who had risked everything for them. Hermione walked with Kingsley around the table where they would take their seats in the place Dumbledore and McGonagall once did so. Kingsley took a seat while Hermione remained standing.
"Before we begin this meeting." Hermione said. "I'd like to have a moment of silence to pay our respects to the men and women who lost their lives in this very room during the war… It seems someone forgot that this was a place for reverence not meetings." Loki smiled while Kingsleys jaw clenched. Everyone bowed their head forward and after a long moment Hermione slowly sat down. "Let's begin the charade shall we?" Hermione asked looking to Loki who sat at her side. Loki smiled as Kingsley instantly stood.
"I'm here to call into question Hermione's role as leader." Many gasped and Hermione smiled as she watch Kingsley walk around to the front of the table. "After the war many people changed. Some for the better." He motioned to himself. "Some for the worst…" He motioned to Hermione and Loki felt his anger boil.
"Calm my love…" Hermione said softly so only he would hear.
"Hermione is damaged from all she went through during the war and I don't hold it against her." Kingsley said as he looked to her. "We all know you went through more than anyone else… It would be understandable that it broke you." Her jaw clenched as he looked back to the crowd of people. "After all she's been through it was cruel for us to put her in charge of this issue. To put her in charge of us. After all, we all remember that she couldn't handle taking on the magical world, it's why she passed it to me, so how could we expect her to do it now?"
"The nerve…" George said quietly.
"Calm my friend…" Loki said quietly to George before looking to Hermione who was staring forward her head held high.
"We must free her mind of this burden, we don't want her to break further then she already has…"
"What would your plan be?" Ginny asked.
"I have already spoken to Tesla the leader of the New Generation front…" Kingsley said. "He wishes to have a truce. He would meet with the Army and the Order and sign an agreement of peace."
"In exchange for what?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"He wants nothing." He said with a smile. "Only peace." Hermione just shook her head.
"Hermione what is your plan?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"To not get us all killed." Hermione said and Loki smiled. Kingsleys jaw clenched as he turned and looked to her while she remained seated.
"He wants peace."
"I can assure you all right now he does not want peace." Draco said standing. His bruises still looking angry against his skin. "The clear directive is to take over where his father left off. He wishes to rule."
"Yes he did convey that." Kingsley said. "But now that we've talked and he sees my plan for the future he agrees the magical world is better off in my hands."
"Did you talk to him face to face?" Hermione asked and Kingsleys jaw clenched.
"No."
"So you didn't look him in the eyes as he said this?"
"No."
"How did you have this talk then?"
"Owl."
"Oh so you two didn't speak you just wrote to one another? So you could have been conversing with anyone really-."
"I propose peace you propose war!" Kingsley snapped.
"I propose a preparation for war." Hermione retorted. "I'm hoping it won't get to that if everything goes as planned."
"What is your plan again Hermione?" Kingsley asked looking to her.
"I would say but seeing as your so keen to just hand everyone over to Tesla I don't really trust you enough to be able to speak openly about it."
"You don't trust me?" he asked looking to her quickly.
"It's clear Tesla has gotten to you."
"You think I'm corrupt?"
"I think you're weak." She said her jaw clenching, Loki couldn't help but think how much like a queen she sounded in that moment.
"I'm weak?" Kingsley asked. "Who was the one who couldn't deal so much that she went to a whole other world to escape her problems!"
"I didn't so much run as I was taken actually… It was completely against my will I just ended up liking it there."
"I didn't mean recently. I might a few months after the war when you expelled yourself from the magical world into the muggle one."
"You forget I am a part of both the magical and muggle world." Hermione said. "My parents were Muggles. I was looking for relief within my roots."
"You were running."
"I was dealing."
"You haven't even attempted to deal!" He yelled. "You were weak and you ran."
"Do you think it was easy for me to hand off the magical world to you?" She asked looking to him. "I had wanted nothing more my whole life then to be the first female muggle born mistress of magic. When the time came, when people wanted to hand me that office I had dreamed about since learning of it when I was child I had to take a long look at myself… I looked and I found that I had been compromised by what had happened to me. I wasn't ready to deal with everyone's problems because I wasn't ready to deal with my own. So I passed it to you. I wouldn't call that move weak considering it took every ounce of my being to do so. Would you have rather me taken the office in the state I was in instead?" he was silent for a long moment before he took a breath.
"Still you ran to the muggle world."
"I was looking for my parents." Hermione said. "Can anyone blame me for doing so?" Everyone shook their head no. "Thank you."
"What did you do though after you found out they were dead?" He asked and Loki looked to her quickly. Hermione went rigid under his gaze. She had never told him her parents were dead.
"I stayed in the muggle world to try and re connect with them… I figured if I did things the muggle way I'd feel close to them… Again can anyone blame me for doing so?" They shook their heads no. "Again thank you. Anything else you'd like to bring up Kingsley to sully my good name?" His jaw clenched.
"Tell us your plan or we'll go with mine."
"That isn't your choice." Hermione said.
"Yes I know it's yours-."
"No it's theirs." She pointed to the crowd as she stood. "They are the ones who get to decide ultimately what we do… We make the plans Kingsley they decide whether they want to follow those plans."
"My plan though seems to be the only one on the table." He said.
"I've told you why I wish to not speak my plan-."
"I don't think you have one."
"I don't have to convince you." She said walking around the table. "Friends of mine… Here me out." Hermione said addressing everyone. "I wish this were as simple as signing a treaty but I know you all know deep down that it just isn't. It can't be. What I propose is to stop this before war happens-."
"All you talk about is war though." Kingsley said.
"Because we should prepare for it. Just in case."
"In case you fail."
"Yes…" She admitted and Loki was surprised by this. "Any plan we lay can fail though."
"Mine won't-."
"I assure you it will…" she said looking to him. "Kingsley if you go through with a meeting on Teslas terms he'll kill not only you but anyone you take with you. Which from what you said was the entire army and order."
"Why would he kill us if he wants peace?"
"Because he doesn't, he wants everyone dead. Think about it. If you go through with this meeting and he kills you and the entire order and army whose left to defend the magical world, hell the entire world from his reign?"
"She brings up a good point Minster." Percy said from his sitting position on the table. Kingsley looked to him quickly. Percy had been on his side the whole time. It didn't look good that he was doubting them.
"Hermione what do you want us to do?" Ginny asked and she looked to her and to the rest of the people in the great hall.
"I want you all to just think." She said. "Please just think about what Kingsley is asking. Think about it come to your own conclusion and whatever that conclusion may be please follow her heart. Weather it leads you to life or death at least you made up your own mind."
"What will you do?" Seamus asked. "If we go with his plan."
"I will pray that Kingsley was right and I was wrong." Everyone slowly nodded. "But I will not go with… For I have thought of this plan and come up with my own conclusion and must follow my heart when it comes to this situation." She said with a soft expression. "Whatever you choose, know that I accept it, and support you in it." With that she walked down the steps to walk out.
"So level headed… What a show you put on." Kingsley said and she came to a stop.
"I'm sorry I lost my temper before, but it happens to the best of us."
"It didn't with Harry." She slowly turned.
"How would you know when you were scarcely ever alone with him?" she asked. He looked off and she smiled softly before laughing. "Sorry…" she said instantly covering her mouth. Loki tilted his head as he looked her over. It was such a rare laugh that had escaped her. It had surprised everyone in the room. She laughed again and shook her head. "Sorry…"
"What is it?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I was…" she laughed. "I was just thinking about Harry… This one time he absolutely lost it." She laughed again and Loki smiled seeing her cheerful look.
"Will you tell us?" Ginny asked and she looked to her. "Please?"
"Tell us Mione." Draco said. She looked off and smiled.
"We were uhm…" She laughed "Looking for the Horcruxes. We had been at it for months and had gotten nowhere… Things were looking bleak. Ron was already showing cracks. But Harry, Harry was as calm and cool as ever. Anyways their hair had gotten incredibly shaggy so I had to take a pair of sheres to it. Ron was okay with my first attempt but when I finished Harry's he just lost it." She laughed and many smiled. "Oh man he was so angry and I didn't blame him you know because he had patches sticking out every which way." They laughed. "Later he said he was sorry because he wasn't angry about the hair cut but about not getting anywhere with the task left to us." She smiled. "I don't know why that thought just popped into my head." She laughed again.
"I'm with you." Hermione turned quickly to look to Ginny who was standing.
"As am I." Seamus said who she was most surprised by.
"Us as well." Neville said as he and Luna stood. One by one everyone in the room went to a standing position.
"When you're ready." Mr. Weasley said after everyone had stood. "We're here for you."
"My hope is that you won't have to be…" She said with a soft expression. "Thank you all… So much."
"You can't really be entrusting our future to her! Not with how damaged she is!" Kingsley said. "You don't even know the half of it!"
"Kingsley…" Hermione said looking to him with a soft expression. "It's going to be okay… I'm going get us all through this…" He shook his head quickly. "I know you're afraid, but it's alright." She said looking to him. "I know the fear you're feeling… I know because I feel it myself. We all do. None of us want war. But I implore you please don't meet with Tesla… It will only result in your assassination…"
"You're not stable enough to run this army or order." Kingsley said walking to her. "Which is why… Hermione Granger I am placing you under arrest."
"What?" she asked. Loki stood quickly as he watched five men quickly rush into the great hall. "For what?" she asked.
"The use of all the forbidden curses to start-."
"What are you doing? You can't be serious?" McGonagall asked. They grabbed a hold of Hermione and Lokis eyes narrowed as he looked to his brother who nodded.
"Kingsley this is going too far!" Hermione shouted.
"Take her to Azkaban." He ordered.
"Un hand her now!" Loki yelled moving forward along with Thor and the warriors three.
"You will un hand her!" Thor ordered.
"No it's alright let me handle this." Hermione said stopping them from taking extreme action.
"Let her go." Loki said trying to calm himself a dagger in hand as he stared into a man who was white knuckling Hermione's arm.
"Sorry I lost interest at your orders when you weren't the minister of magic." One of the men said.
"Kingsley do not do this…" Hermione said. "To send me to Azkaban is to send me to hell all my enemy's are inside there…"
"Take her away." The men began to drag her back.
"Un hand her now." Malfoy said coming out of his seat and pointing his wand into the neck of a man who held her. The aurors slowly looked around to see everyone pointing their wands at them.
"You could hit her you idiots!" One of the aurors yelled in panic.
"You'll find she's quite resilient…" Loki said. His jaw clenched he didn't want Hermione to be hit by spells but that may be there only course of action to get her away from the men. After all she didn't seem to be trying to escape herself.
"You would harm an Auror?" One of the men asked.
"To free her… Yes." Neville said.
"No everyone it's fine…" Hermione said. "There's no need for violence against each other."
"As you said Hermione, it's not your call." Mr. Weasley said. "You and Kingsley offer the plans we choose to follow it… We refuse to follow Kingsleys plan of taking you to Azkaban, or your plans of just letting him do so, to avoid violence on one another."
"I did say that didn't I?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Now let her go." Mrs. Weasley said.
"You heard her let her go." Luna piped up her own wand pointed. The men threw Hermione to the ground roughly. Loki lifted her to her feet his jaw clenching as he stared into the men. He wanted nothing more than to rip their throats out.
"So you all choose her?" Kingsley asked walking to his men. "You choose her over your minister?"
"She should have been the minister to begin with." Mr. Weasley said.
"You'll see when I call the truce you'll all see…" Kingsley said walking away.
"Thank you all but I must try to stop him." Hermione said to everyone who nodded as she went after them.
"Well everyone a bit peeky?" Mrs. Weasley asked trying to relieve the tension as Loki went after Hermione with Thor and the warriors three. "I'm sure the elves and I could set up a meal." Everyone nodded.
"We should take this to the room of requirement, Hermione doesn't want meetings held in here." George said.
"Rightfully so." Luna said. "Follow me everyone!" She called.
"Kingsley stop!" Hermione said rushing after him to the outside of the castle into the courtyard. "Kingsley please!"
"How dare you defy me!?" He yelled wheeling on her. "Me your Minister of Magic!"
"So they chose my plan over yours… Don't get angry about it just accept it."
"The only plans that should be laid are the ones I have come up with!" He bellowed.
"Who are you?" she asked looking him over. "This isn't the Kingsley I left the magical world too."
"Maybe I wasn't ready for it!"
"You could have said no…" Hermione said.
"I didn't have a choice." He said. "Who else was going to lead? Arthur?" he laughed. "Give me a break…"
"I think Arthur would have handled the burden a bit better then you-." He went to slap her and Loki caught his wrist in his hand halting his strike.
"Don't do that…" he said with a very dangerous tone.
"Who are you to grab me boy?" Kingsley asked.
"I am Loki prince of Asgard, and the future husband of the woman you just intended to strike. You are minister of Magic? She is a Princess of Asgard and in so being you are beneath her…" Kingsley looked to Hermione.
"Princess?" he asked.
"Someday maybe even Queen." Thor added.
"I can't just let you walk out of here Kingsley." Hermione said. "Not with you knowing everything you know. Tesla could put you threw torture and break you for information." Hermione said.
"What are you going to do kill me?" He asked as the Aurours behind him pulled their wands. The wands instantly dissipated from their hands and Hermione moved forward planting her hand against Kingsleys face. "What are you doing!?" he shouted as she shoved him to the ground. The Aurors moved to help but Thor and the warriors three held them back. Hermione's eyes drifted closed her jaw clenching tightly.
"Obliviate…" she whispered. She felt his memories begin to fade and when what was altered needed to be altered Hermione stood looking down at him, seeing he had passed out. "I am sorry for this Kingsley but it's for the best… She then looked to the Aurors held in the others grasp.
"No please…" One pleaded as she walked to them.
"Sorry boys." She walked to each one and placed her hand over their eyes.
"Please!" one of them shouted.
"Obliviate." After she altered their memories they would drop knocked out to the floor.
"Elves?" she asked. A few appeared before her. "Can you please make sure these men make it to their correct homes."
"Of course misses." One said rushing forward to apperate them away. When they were all gone Hermione took a deep breath. It had been a whirlwind of a night. So much had happened she could scarcely deal.
"I can't believe they tried to imprison you." Sif said her anger flying.
"I can't either…" She looked to her Asgardian friends. "Thank you all for stepping in and helping me."
"We weren't just going to let that happen to you." Thor said.
"Hermione are you sure you want to help these people after that?" Fandral asked.
"It was the act of one, not all." Hermione said. "I have the allegiance of the order and the army… They won't turn on me"
"You have too much faith in them Hermione." Loki said.
"Maybe but if I am to save them I have to." Hermione said. "You all join everyone I thought I heard something about a party… Loki and I will be along in a bit…"
"You wish to start the spell?" Thor asked.
"I do… The sooner we find Tesla and end it… The sooner we all can get back to Asgard. I don't know how long it will be until Kingsley tries to arrest me again…"
"We'll stop him if he does try again." Volstagg said.
"Thank you my friends…" Hermione said and with that she took Lokis hand and apperated him away. "Alright… Let's start this." She said walking away from him over to a table in the potions room filled with what they needed.
"Were you going to let those men take you away?" Loki asked.
"I would let them take me away from the castle and then fight back… Stun them, and then go into hiding to continue my work against Tesla." He slowly nodded.
"I was worried you were actually thinking of letting them take you to that prison."
"I might have considered it for a second… Just to get rid of some of my enemy's left on the inside." She said with a smile as she turned to look to him. "Thank for listening to me and not hurting them."
"They truthfully didn't seem to want to hurt you." Loki said walking to her.
"I'd hope not… After all they tell Harry Ron and I's story to them in training…" She muttered while double checking their ingredients. "We need to get this going, can you light the fire beneath that copper pot?" She asked and Loki nodded waving his hand. Fire burst to light beneath it.
Hermione walked over with a large jug and poured all the contents of the potion starter in. Loki stood back as he watched Hermione expertly prepare all her ingredients before adding them in. He himself was never one for potion making. His skills lay in illusions. Hermione though he could tell was skilled in just about every corner there was in magic. Even the hidden ones. When she was done she cleared away the table and turned to Loki.
"One ingredient left." She said and he slowly nodded.
"You didn't just keep the ashes under a cloaking spell did you?" he asked and she slowly shook her head.
"No…" She said and he took a deep breath knowing what was to happen now.
"I didn't think so."
"It was too dangerous to just have them… Floating around." He nodded as he watched Hermione lift herself up so she could sit on the table before him. "Can I trust you to do this?" She asked with a soft expression.
"Yes." He said instantly.
"Are you sure you're capable?" He slowly nodded.
"Yes…" he said and she took on a soft expression.
"Let's do this then."
"Where is it?" he asked. "The ashes?" He watched as she lifted off her shirt revealing her breasts cupped perfectly in a lace bra.
"I kept it as close to my heart as I could." Her scars came into a sight and she looked down. He watched as her fingers drifted over a small scar across her left breast. Instant a soft glow began to strobe beneath her skin. "Cut there and you'll find the vial tucked inside." He slowly nodded. It was the burden a person had to bare after binding another magical being. They had to carry that persons genetic material with them for the rest of their days. Hermione watched as Loki walked to her slowly as he pulled out one of his daggers.
"Maybe we should give you the pain tonic." He said his jaw clenching.
"You know I can't." She said looking to him. "I have to feel it, it's my penance for binding him… If I take something-."
"The genetic material is useless." He said nodding. "Okay…" he set his hand on her shoulder while raising the blade to her chest. Hermione could see he was struggling with himself.
"I would do it myself if I could…" He slowly nodded. He stood before her, his hand shaking violently as his jaw clenched. He couldn't bring himself to cut her skin with his blade. He just couldn't. He loved her too dearly to cut her flesh. Hermione looked over his tortured expression and slowly nodded. "It's okay Loki…" she said resting her hand over his knife wielding one which was shaking. His forehead instantly rested against hers.
"I'm sorry…"
"That's okay… You don't have to." He shakes his head.
"I do."
"I'll get someone else…" His jaw clenched.
"I don't want someone else to do it, I don't trust anyone else to do it." She slowly nodded. "But…" He looked to her his jaw clenching. "I… I can't cut you… I can't hurt you." She moved forward and kissed him deeply.
"There's nothing wrong with that… But this needs to be done… So we have to get someone else to do it." He slowly nods his jaw clenching. "Rainy?" The house elf popped into sight. "I hate to ask but I trust you more than the other elves."
"Anything." She squeaked.
"Can you bring Sif to me please?" Loki looked up at her quickly as the elf disappeared.
"Why Sif?"
"She's a woman, and I know you wouldn't want a man to see me like this…" He slowly nodded. A pop sounded and Loki turned to see Sif by the elf who instantly disappeared.
"What's going on?" she asked confused by Hermione's state. After all Hermione was only in her jeans and a bra. Her breasts nearly out for her to see.
"I need your help Sif." Hermione said as Loki walked away.
"Are you alright? Are you injured?" she asked walking to her. Loki watched as Sif took Hermione's hand in hers. He hadn't known how close they were.
"First… We're friends right Sif?"
"Of course." She said instantly. "You've become like a sister to me."
"And you to me." Hermione said. "So… When I ask you this I know I have your full trust and… Full discretion…"
"Of course Hermione." Sif said and instantly Hermione smiled softly.
"I'm going to be performing a tracking spell that involves Voldemorts genetic material."
"Yes Fandral filled me in." Sif said. "You have it from the Horcruxes?"
"No…" Hermione said. "I have a bit of Voldemorts ashes."
"His ashes?" Sif asked. "You have his ashes?"
"I do, I used them to bind Voldemort to make sure he could never come back." Sif nodded. "When you bind someone magically a price needs to be paid… You have to bare the genetic material you used for all your days as penance for binding them from magic… Most people just put the items under a cloaking spell and let them float around your person but I couldn't do that with Voldemorts ashes."
"I would think not. Even his ashes are too dangerous to let float around."
"Exactly so instead… I kept them within me… I… Placed his ashes in my body." Sif looked her over for a long moment. "Loki was going to help me cut them out but… He can't bring himself to do so… He cares for me too much."
"I can't cut you." Sif said instantly while shaking her head.
"Sif-."
"Hermione I can't-."
"Sif I need you to do this for me." She said with an air of urgency to her voice
"Why?" She asked. "Why, can't we get the Longbottom boy he has experience-."
"Because something is going to happen when you cut me… I'm… I'm going to be in a lot of pain and it's going to show something. Something I will show you before you take the blade to me."
"Why are you asking me of this?" Sif asked slightly confused.
"Because other than Loki you're the only person I'm really very close too… Who I trust completely." Sifs expression softened. "You're the only person other than him who doesn't look at me like everyone else does… Like I'm damaged. Please Sif, will you do this for me? This spell may be our only shot. I would do it myself but I can't." A knife appeared in Sifs hands.
"I will do this for you." She said and Hermione nodded.
"Thank you Sif… There's just one more thing."
"Anything."
"Don't ask any questions about what you see…" Hermione said and Sif looked to Loki who nodded at her.
"You will not say anything Sif." Loki asked. "I'm ordering you as a Prince of-."
"Don't order her…" Hermione said quietly and Sif looked to her with a soft expression. "Please don't say anything Sif… No one is ordering you we're just asking you to not say anything… Will you please keep the secret I am to show you?"
"I will." She said instantly and Hermione smiled softly.
"Thank you…" Hermione took a shaking breath trying to prepare herself. "Are you ready? Not to just cut me but to see what I'm going to show…" Sif nodded. Hermione closed her eyes tightly and Loki could tell she was struggling with herself.
"I don't see anything…" Sif said quietly looking her over.
"It's… Hard for me to show…" Hermione admitted her jaw clenching so tightly Sif could hear it pop. "Please just… Don't change how you look at me…"
"Hermione…" Sif said softly. "I could never… Sisters remember?" She asked taking her hand in hers. Hermione slowly nodded and Sifs eyes widened as she watched hundreds of scars appear across Hermione's upper body. She took a deep breath as her eyes went over her brands. Sif smiled softly.
"By the gods…" She said and Hermione's jaw clenched. "Why do you hide these?" Hermione looked up at her in surprise seeing she was smiling. "Hermione these are a testament of you as a warrior, why would you ever hide these? You should be proud. You should wear these out in the open for all to see…" Hermione smiled softly.
"I don't let others see them because they remind me of the past and I have been trying for some time to live in the now." Loki smiled, it was a good answer. "Please don't tell anyone of these scars."
"I won't." She said. "So… Where do I cut?"
"My left breast, over this scar." She said pointing it out.
"Alright, easy enough…"
"Cut and Loki will levitate it out." Loki nodded walking over.
"You may want to lay back." Sif said and Hermione nodded as she slowly laid back. She took a shaky breath. She raised her hand to her head and both Loki and Sif noticed the way her hand shook.
"Are you alright Love?" Loki asked. She smiled as she looked to him.
"Fine…" She said and he noticed that her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Loki asked and she just shook her head. "Love-."
"Nothing I'm fine…" she took his hand in hers and he looked her over. She wanted his support, needed it. He could tell by the way she was clutching onto his hand. He also knew there was no way she was going to say her need out loud for him to hear.
"Ready?" Sif asked the knife nearing Hermione's chest.
"No." She said suddenly and Sif stopped. Hermione laughed nervously. "Sorry… It's really difficult for me to expose these ashes…"
"They'll only be out for a second." Loki said. "I'll put a few of the ashes in the potion and right back in they'll go." She slowly nodded. Lokis jaw clenched. That wasn't his plan at all, and in truth the lie had tasted awful rolling off his tongue.
"Right… Okay… Alright I'm ready…" Her eyes shut tightly as she felt Sif set her hand on her shoulder. She felt the blade set against her breast and she took a shaking breath as her hand shot out and clutched onto Sifs wrist. In that moment it had felt just like it had when Bellatrix had cut her and it had sent her reeling into her most painful memory. "Stop." Hermione said instantly sitting up and Sif backed away.
"What is it?" Sif asked. "Did that tiny knick hurt?"
"No." Hermione said as a trickle of blood moved down her breast. "No… I… I can't have you do it… Here give me the knife." Hermione said holding out her hand.
"Hermione the pain you're going to feel is going to be too intense you won't be able to get through it yourself." Loki said and Hermione's jaw clenched "It's a part of the internal binding. It creates a barrier one that sears when your binding material is threatened with exposure."
"Right… Okay." Hermione laid back her eyes shutting tightly. "Mind over matter… Sif go, don't stop even if I scream it. Go!" She ordered and instantly Sif moved forward slicing open a half inch of her breast. Hermiones jaw clenched as she made a small pained noise. Loki looked down at his hand which Hermione was clutching onto. She was in a lot of pain but she was trying her hardest not to show it.
"Keep going I don't see the vial." Loki said. Sif nodded and she sliced deeper, instantly Hermione's head threw back and she went to sit up to stop Sif. Loki moved and held her down. Sif stared wide eyed at the wound seeing it was glowing. "Cut deeper I can't see the vial yet. If I can't see it I can't levitate it." Loki said holding Hermione down as she struggled. Sif cut deeper and Hermione yelled in pain making Loki shut his eyes. They snapped open when he realized Sif had stopped her eyes wide as she looked over Hermione. "Don't stop!" Loki ordered Sif despite the fact he wanted nothing more than to make Sif stop. Sif cut and Hermione screamed this time. It was a mixture of the pain and her memories which were making it so difficult. "I see it!" Loki put out his hand and the vial of ashes flew into it. Hermione instantly stopped screaming as she took a shaky breath.
"It's okay Hermione almost done…" Sif said taking her hand in hers the bloody knife laying at her side. Hermione slowly nodded the pain gone, but the memories remaining. Sif watched as Loki ran to the cauldron.
"Thank you for this Sif." Hermione said blood flowing down her chest. Sif looked to her. "I won't ever forget this, thank you."
"I never thought anyone would thank me for cutting them…" Hermione laughed despite her pain and Sif smiled. Loki came back from the cauldron. Hermione looked to him and smiled softly she tilted her head seeing his jaw clenching.
"Loki why aren't you putting the vial back in?" She asked and Sif looked to him to see he was empty handed.
"I had to use all the ashes." Hermione instantly sat up her eyes wide as she looked to Loki blood flowing from the wound on her breast.
"What?" she and Sif asked.
"What do you mean you used all the ashes?" Hermione inquired her eyes wide.
"It wasn't mulling with just a few of the ashes…" Loki said quietly. "I put in more and more and more until they were all gone… But the upside is that the potion is mulling now."
"Are you kidding me?" she asked and he merely shook his head. "Loki are you kidding?"
"I'm not kid-."
"This is no time for pranks!"
"I'm not making jests." He said instantly. "Hermione I'm sorry." She jumped off the table and rushed to the potion. She stared down into it wide eyed.
"No… Please no…" Hermione said her jaw clenching.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Sif asked walking to her with her shirt where she held it out for her. Hermione took it in hand instantly.
"What's wrong is that if they wish they can bring him back now…" Hermione said as she threw on her shirt while rushing from the room.
"Hermione!" Loki yelled going after her. Sif quickly walked to the bloody vial to make sure indeed no ashes were left. "Hermione wait!" He yelled following her through the castle. They broke out into the courtyard and he watched as Hermione looked all around. "You won't find any left love…"
"No… No there has to be something… Even a speck…" She said her eyes wide. Loki saw it now. Pure undiluted fear in her eyes. "I have to find something, if I don't he'll come back." She said quickly before putting her hand out. "Accio…" She said her jaw clenching.
"Hermion-."
"Accio!" She yelled.
"There's no ashes left love!" She wheeled on him.
"Why would you do that!?" she yelled. "Why would you dump it all!?"
"The potion wasn't taking…" He said his eyes widening seeing blood seeping through her shirt. She hadn't healed herself yet. "Hermione you're bleeding." He reached for her and she slapped his hands away.
"The potion was bubbling…" She said her jaw clenching.
"Potions tend to do that-."
"It would have been fine with less than half of that vial." She said her jaw clenching and his eyes stared into hers for a long moment. "You dumped all of it in on purpose."
"I may have been mistaken that it wasn't working I'm not a potion master-."
"Don't lie to me!" She shouted her eyes brimming with tears. He took a shaking breath as he looked away from her tears. "Please don't lie to me… Not you Loki…" He slowly brought her eyes to his. "Why… Why would you do that to me?" she asked her voice breaking. "Why did you dump all of his ashes?"
"As long as you carried the vial of that evil mans ashes within yourself, you would carry all that he had done to you and yours within you as well… I'm trying to move you forward!"
"That isn't your call!" She shouted. "Do you have any clue what you've done!? Tesla can bring his father back!"
"He won't-."
"You don't know that!" She yelled.
"Hermione… Yell at me later but first let me heal you." He reached for her and she slapped his hands away again her eyes locking onto his.
"Go back to Asgard." She said her anger rising to its pinnacle. Still she regretted saying such a thing the moment it left her mouth.
"What?" he asked.
"I want you to leave." She said despite the fact she wished the exact opposite.
"You don't mean that."
"I do… I don't want you anywhere within my sight Loki!" she yelled her voice shaking her eyes furious as they narrowed on him as angry tears fell.
"Hermione…" He reached for her and she stepped away from him.
"Don't fucking touch me." She said her jaw clenching.
"Hermione…" He said never hearing her curse like that before.
"You've betrayed me…" She said and in her eyes he had. "You've ruined everything!" she snapped and his eyes widened. "They'll bring him back. Voldemort! Do you even know what that means? Do you even know what you've done!?"
"I was trying to help-."
"I don't need it!" She yelled before she took a deep breath as she wiped an angry tear away. "I don't want it… Go home Loki." She turned and walked away from him.
"Hermione wait!" He rushed after her and instantly she ran for him. Before he could make chase Sif stepped in his way. She set her hand against his chest halting his movements.
"Leave her be for a while…"
"You forget your place Sif." Loki said his jaw clenching.
"You forgot yours when you dumped that whole vial." Loki looked her over for a long while. "Let her cool off, you can see her later when things have calmed down." He looked off.
-o-
Hermione sat on the astronomy tower. She was staring out into the night, wiping angry tears away as she did. She had failed in protecting her oath to Harry. The second Loki had dumped the whole vial into the potion she had failed at making sure Voldemort would never rise again. Now that his soul was no longer bound it was free to come back. She let out a sob, this terrified her more than anything.
Many thought that just because the Horcruxes were gone that Voldemort had no way of coming back. Hermione though didn't trust this. After all what was Voldemort known most for, other than mass genocide, then the uncanny ability to rise up from the dead? She ran her fingers through her hair before burying her face in her hands.
She wanted to stop crying but all her hard work had been eradicated. For the past year as she worked through her problems she held onto the small comfort that there was no way Voldemort could ever come back. Now that comfort was gone and she felt as though the world was caving in. She stared forward at the edge of the astronomy tower.
"Hermione?" Harry asked as he stared out at the forest before him.
"Yeah Harry?"
"I've asked a lot of you since we met when we were children…"
"No…"
"Yes." He said turning his eyes on her with a soft expression. "Yes I have…"
"I'm your friend Harry… Nothing you asked me was beyond what you can ask of a friend…"
"You've risked everything for me Hermione, that's beyond the call of duty when it comes to friendship."
"Not in my eyes…" he smiled softy.
"Still…" he looked out at the forest once more. "I need to ask you one more thing."
"Anything… Anything Harry…" his jaw clenched.
"If something happens to me-."
"Harry…"
"If something happens to me…" he continued. "If… I… Die."
"Please don't say that…"
"If I die you have to promise me you will finish what we started."
"We'll finish it together."
"You have to promise me that you will make sure Voldemort never rises again…."
"Harry-."
"Promise me Hermione…" he said looking to her. "Please promise me Hermione."
Hermione let out sob as she slowly stood her eyes glued to the edge of the astronomy tower.
"Hermione…"
"I promise Harry… If something happens to you… God forbid… If something does I will end what we started, and I will make sure he never rises again…"
"Thank you Hermione…"
"What are friends for?" She asked softly.
"You're more than that to me Mione… You're like the sister I never got the chance to have… I…" He took a deep breath. "I love you Hermione…"
Hermione's jaw clenched as she took a heaving breath, before rushing towards the edge of the astronomy tower. Just as she was about to leap off the side she gripped onto the railing stopping herself and letting out an angry cry of anguish. She threw herself backwards away from the edge, away from her relief and collapsed down onto the ground.
"I'm so sorry Harry…" She sobbed. "I'm so sorry Harry…" She shook violently. Hermione's eyes shut tightly willing herself not to break down completely. But she could feel it. The agonizing emotion rising up into her chest. The emotion she had never allowed herself to feel after all she had been through. Hermione tried her hardest not to scream at the top of her lungs from the pain she was feeling. She felt a soft touch rest on her back and took a shaking breath before slowly looking over her shoulder to see George.
"It's okay Hermione…" he said and she bowed her head towards the ground as she let out a violent sob. He instantly gathered her into his arms and rocked as Hermione wrapped her arms around him. They had done this before, right after the war. They had done this many times. She would hold him when he needed it. George would hold her when she needed it. They were each others strength, and George was glad he was getting the chance to be such again. "I'm here love…" he said and she cried harder. "Whatever you need I'm here…"
Loki's jaw clenched as he slowly turned away from the entrance of the Astronomy tower. It should have been him comforting her in her time of need. Not George.
"Tell me what you need?" He heard George ask and Loki wanted nothing more than to throttle the red head. After all Loki knew exactly what George wanted Hermione to ask of him. Companionship. "What do you need love?"
"I need to find Loki…" Hermione said taking a shaking breath. Lokis expression softened hearing her words. She still wanted him after all he had done.
"You want Loki?" George asked his anger rising.
"No." Loki didn't understand. "He can't… can't see me like this… But I told him to leave and I don't want him to leave… So you need to find Loki and keep him here…" George slowly nodded. "Please George… I need him… We need him… To win." Loki knew that, that was her covering for her moment of weakness of telling George that she needed someone in her life.
"Of course." George slowly took off his coat. "Here…" he put it over her shoulders. "I don't want you to catch your death up here…" Hermione curled into the warm jacket as George slowly stood picking up her empty whiskey bottle as he did. He knew she wasn't drunk. After all, Hermione never let herself go like that. He knew though that when she was in an immense amount of emotional pain she liked the hurt and sting the intense fire whiskey brought to her throat. "Hermione…" George said looking her over. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay…" She took a deep breath. "I could help you… Like I did before…"
"George…" Hermione said softly looking to him as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I'll always love you for what you did for me… But those days are gone…" He knelt at her side while tossing the bottle. "George-."
"No…" He said. "No I need to say something." He said setting his hand on her cheek. "If you had told me you were going to leave… I would have told you how I felt. I would have made you stay…"
"George please don't do this, it's not a good time."
"When will it be?"
"Never!" She snapped. "I'm with Loki." She said. "I love Loki. I'm going to marry him for crying out loud! You can't just try and interject yourself into that…"
"You belong with me."
"No I don't… I don't belong with anyone." She said wiping a few stray tears away. "I'm damaged-."
"No-."
"Yes." She said. "I'm damaged, I'm bitter, I'm angry, I'm full of hate, and despite that all this, this extraordinary man fell in love with me…" She said and Loki smiled as he headed down the tower to await George to come get him. Of course when the red head retrieved him Loki would make him pay for his words to Hermione.
"So what, you're only with him because you felt like he was the only one who wanted you."
"No." Hermione said. "I'm with him because despite the fact I'm damaged, bitter, angry, and full of hate he made me feel less damaged less bitter less angry and he fought off the hate which was consuming me. He makes me happy George. He makes me smile. He was the first person who could make me laugh since everything happened!" A tear fell. "When I'm with him… I don't hate myself George…"
"I didn't do these things for you when we spent those nights together?" he asked.
"No." She said. "I'm sorry, I wish I could love you the way you loved me."
"love." He said and she looked him over.
"George I can't do this right now… So much has happened tonight." She jumped feeling George come at her quickly. "What are you doing?" She asked pushing him away before he could crash against her. He moved forward again his hands gripping onto her shoulders. "George stop!" She yelled as he pushed her up against the wall. "Stop it!" His mouth crashed against hers. She pushed him back and he gripped onto her arms pinning them to the wall. She slammed her knee towards his crotch making him buckle to the ground. "George stop this…" She said backing away from him. He instantly stood and made an angry noise as he rushed at her. "George!" He threw her to the ground.
"If we do what we did, you'll feel it again. I know you'll feel it…" He pinned her arms beside her head as he climbed atop her.
"George stop please!" she begged as she struggled against him. His mouth crashed against hers, and her eyes shut tightly as she made a pained noise against his mouth. Just as soon as his lips had touched hers the pressure was gone. Her eyes snapped open as she watched Loki throw George to the ground while he pulled a dagger. She instantly jumped to her feet. "Loki no!" She rushed forward and grabbed onto his arm before he could go in for the kill. "Loki stop please!" he slowly lowered his weapon his eyes narrowing in on George.
"Remove yourself from my sight or I swear to the gods I will cut you down." Loki said and George quickly got to his feet his eyes narrowing on Hermione. He rushed at her again and Loki pushed him back. "Are you deaf!?" Loki yelled.
"He's bewitched." Hermione said and Loki looked to her. "He's bewitched Loki…" Loki looked back to him and he slowly saw through the illusion. George rushed at Hermione again and Loki waved his hand. Instantly George collapsed to the ground.
"Rainey?" Loki asked and the elf popped into sight. Her eyes grew wide seeing Hermione. "Please take George to the dungeons… Tell no one of his whereabouts…"
"Is misses-."
"Hermione is fine and no one will know of her state… Take him now before he wakes please." The elf nodded and grabbed a hold of George before disappearing. Loki slowly turned to Hermione to see her hands shaking at her sides. He set his hands on her arms and rubbed them up and down.
"Are you alright?" he asked brushing a tear away. He had gone to await George to come get him, but had quickly heard Hermione start yelling at George. Loki had instantly turned and run back. What he had found he hadn't expected. He couldn't believe George had attempted to do what Loki believed he had tried to do. "Love, are you alright?" he asked again and she took a deep breath.
"Fine…" Hermione said but he could tell she was shaken.
"It's okay to not be after what he just attempted."
"He's bewitched."
"He stilled tried to rap-."
"He wasn't trying to…" She said instantly. "He wouldn't… Even bewitched he would never…"
"He ripped open your shirt…" She looked down to see it was hanging open.
"It happened when I fell he didn't rip it…" Hermione said holding it closed. She looked off her jaw clenching. "I… I… I need to change." He nodded.
"Let's get you back to the room…" She bowed her head forward as Loki wrapped his army around her tightly. She took a deep breath before apperating him back to their room.