Chapter 25.
Hermione turned to see her father smiling. She ran to him crying and he wrapped her in his embrace. "Hush my princess, dry those tears."
Hermione looked up to her father and he wiped her tears away with his thumb. His touch was gentle. "You have done so well, I couldn't be prouder of you my child."
Hermione smiled "It's been hard for me and mum." Daniel smiled "I know, but you both are well. I'm so glad your mum and you are being taken care of. My only regret was not getting a chance to scare that husband of yours."
Hermione smiled, "He's been so good to me daddy," Dan smiled, but Hermione could tell there was more, "He has, I'm glad he's met my approval but he's going to be facing challenges ahead. You two need to be there for each other, same as your mum and I were."
Dan let go of Hermione, "tell your mum I love her but she needs to find happiness again. Now I have to go, but know I'll always be there in your heart princess." Hermione smiled and Dan kissed her forehead and then there was a bright light.
Hermione woke up in the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey walked over to her, "good morning Mrs. Potter, you exhausted your magical core in the village and been sleeping for last couple days."
Hermione was shocked "Days?"
Madame Pomfrey nodded "Yes, you've been here for the entire weekend."
Hermione looked around the room for Harry. Madame Pomfrey knew what Hermione was doing. "Your husband is hopefully sleeping in your suite, I told him if he didn't leave he would be banned from the wing."
Hermione frowned and soon the doors to the hospital wing opened and Luna and Susan walked in. Luna looked at Hermione seeing she was awake then looked at Susan "I told you she would be awake."
Susan ran over and hugged Hermione "I'm so glad your awake Hermione."
Hermione smiled "Thanks, have either of you seen Harry?"
Both girls remained silent, Hermione looked confused. "Well?"
Luna stepped forward "He's been working hard in class taking what looked like two sets of notes and coming to see you. He got so tired he nearly passed out in the library. I gave him a sleeping draught and told him to drink it when he was in your suite."
Susan spoke up next, "he hasn't woken up yet."
Hermione remained quiet until she heard her husband's thoughts in the hall. She smiled "He will be in shortly."
Hermione looked at the doors and shouted "Harry get your butt in here now!" The doors opened and Harry ran in.
"Mione, you're awake," Harry said giving her a grin.
"Awake yes, kissed by my husband, not since Saturday." Luna and Susan giggled. Harry walked over to her and gave her a searing kiss.
Hermione and Harry split when they heard Madame Pomfrey clear her throat.
"Young love is nice but there is a time and place. Mrs. Potter you should be going to get breakfast."
Hermione then heard her stomach growl. After Hermione got changed, Harry smiled offered her his arm. "Come on, let's go get something to eat." Hermione looped her arm through Harrys and they made their way to the great hall.
Once they made it to the Gryffindor table Hermione looked at Harry "So what happened while I was out?" Harry handed Hermione her breakfast.
"Eat, I'll tell you, while you eat." Harry said making sure his wife ate.
"After you blew away Malfoy seniors hand and wand. Luna and Ron came to help fend off Bellatrix, while I kept Dolohov off you."
Hermione began to choke and Harry quickly handed her pumpkin juice. She took the goblet and drank quickly. Once relieved she looked at Harry, "Ron?, what was he doing with Luna?"
Harry rubbed Hermione's back "Ron's grades slipped after you stopped helping him. Luna says she's caught him in the library studying. She has been tutoring him after he stopped her from getting hexed by Ginny."
"Well aside from Ron finding the library on his own, why would Ginny hex Luna?"
Harry looked nervous "Ginny was brewing what Luna thought was a love potion but later found out to be something else."
Hermione's fork fell and hit the table. Harry looked at his wife seeing she was silent. She turned to him, "What was it?"
Harry could see his wife was not happy and remembered the smoldering stump that was once Lucius's hand.
Harry sighed he knew if he didn't tell her she would use the bond to read his mind.
Harry sighed knowing he had to come clean, "Luna found out it was a powerful lust potion keyed to Ginny. What Luna thinks is that Ginny was going to slip it into my drink and it would make me want to sleep with her."
"What?" Hermione said in a low tone. Harry started to feel traces of blood lust emanating from his wife as her magic started to flare.
Thinking quickly, Harry grabbed Hermione's hand, "Ginny is serving detention, her parents already know and all of her potion books and ingredients were confiscated by McGonagall who has also threatened her with suspension."
Hermione seemed to settle a little, "That still doesn't change the fact she tried to give you a lust potion."
Harry smiled and leaned in close to her ear "You're the only girl I ever need or want." He said in a husky tone, making his wife blush, "So what else happened?"
"I've been tutoring Neville and Susan, both are making huge strides. Susan can manifest a full Patronus." Hermione was shocked "What?"
"Yes, I showed her how and she can manifest one. Quiet brilliant." Harry said still amazed.
Hermione looked at Harry "You're teaching me."
"Well I can but we have the first defense club meeting today." Hermione grabbed Harry's arm "Your teaching me, unless you don't wish to sleep with me anymore."
Harry looked shocked "You wouldn't." Hermione smiled "I would, but also read my mind on what I was planning on ordering that I thought you might enjoy."
Harry tried their bond and his face blushed. He sighed "You're wicked."
Hermione smiled "So you will teach me then?"
Harry nodded and Hermione kissed his cheek.
"So now that's settled what are we doing today?"
Harry stood in front of the podium in the great hall, Hermione sat at a table next to him.
The doors opened and Harry and Hermione looked over to see Neville and Susan as well as Luna followed by Ron and many others, Harry could see people from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and even Slytherin.
Once everyone gathered Harry became nervous until he heard Godric speak 'Leaders lead and cowards cower, you are no coward.'
Harry took a deep breath "Alright welcome everyone. This defense club was started to help people learn how to defend themselves. We will meet every day until winter break. Use the break to review what you learn here, any questions?"
One person raised their hand and Harry looked to see it was a Slytherin student. "Yes Nott?"
"Why did the teachers put you in charge? Sure, you beat Umbridge but only cause your mud blood wife immobilized her."
"Enough Nott, 50pts from Slytherin for your mouth." Flitwick said.
Hermione glared at Nott and was about to say something but saw Harry took a step forward. He pulled out his wand and looked at the other students.
"Maybe your ears were too full of wax Nott, so I'll repeat this. My wife is a half-blood. As to why I'm in charge how about a demonstration."
Nott smiled and pulled out his wand.
They took their stances and Nott fired a leg locker jinx. Harry moved to the side, "Expeliamous." Nott's wand flew out of his hand and Harry caught the wand. He walked over to Nott and handed him back his wand.
"You may stay if your serious about defense but if you so much as utter of that that filth from your mouth about my wife or anyone else, I'll show you the door myself."
Nott paled at Harry's words and backed away.
"Alright everyone pair up and don't just stay in house only. Pair up with people outside your house you may learn something."
Harry looked at the students already paired up. Ron and Luna were paired up, Hermione had paired up with Daphne and Neville was with Susan.
Harry looked around the room "Alright asI demonstrated with Nott, you all are to practice disarming your opponent and your opponent will dodge, understood?"
The student's nodded and Harry watched.
"Ron I've seen you run faster than that from spiders, move it." Ron surprised Harry as well as Hermione as he actually listened. He began moving his whole body dodging Luna.
Harry just watched everyone until he saw Neville whipping his wand around. "Neville don't force it, use smaller movements, you've got this." Neville nodded and he did as Harry suggested and Susan's wand flew out of her hand. Neville smiled brightly "I did it."
Pleased with Neville's improvement Harry continued watching. "Susan you're not moving fast enough, death eaters won't wait, you have to move more quickly."
"Right Harry." Susan said moving faster.
He saw Hermione and Daphne were even in movement but he could tell Hermione was holding herself back.
Everything was going well for the defense class.
Meanwhile at the Malfoy Manor.
"You failed yet again Lucius, Crucio!" Voldemort cried.
Lucius fell to the ground convulsing his nerves felt as if they were on fire. While Bellatrix laughed.
"Master, I'm sorry the girl had more power!" Luscious said despite the pain.
Voldemort fired another Crucio. Lucius cried out in pain, "You still failed and it cost me a member of my inner circle."
Voldemort hit Lucius again. Lucius screaming in pain again. Voldemort walked over and using his foot he stepped on Lucius's arm applying pressure close to the stub making it throb.
He placed his wand right between lucious's eyes. The wand glowed a sickly green, Lucius cried for mercy, "Master, I'm sorry please don't, I've been loyal."
"I should kill you Malfoy for your failures." Fearing the next words that would come from his master's mouth Lucius braced himself. Voldemort growled and stuck the tip of his wand into the stub.
Suddenly a silver like mist appeared around the stub and bones began to form and then tendons and muscles finally a silver hand formed.
Lucius was confused "As much as I should kill you, your sway with the ministry is too valuable to me. I'm being merciful by giving you that hand. As for your wand you will need to replace it on your own. Serve me and the hand will serve you, betray me and the hand will kill you. As Wormtail's will kill him if he betrays me."
Lucius got on his hands and knees and bowed to his dark lord.
Bellatrix looked at Lucius "Don't mess up." She began laughing before leaving with the dark lord.
Back at Hogwarts as everyone was heading out of the great hall, Harry and Hermione returned to their suite. There they fell asleep in each other's embrace.