A/N- Y'all are awesome, I just love the support you give me during the writing of this story. Those that have supported me in any way throughout this fic, thank you from the bottom of my heart. For the guest reviewer, once again, I'm planning on 49 chapters but that isn't set in stone. It's most definitely up for debate, depending on my muse. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy Umbridge's downfall, I hope that it ends up being epic.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. All the tropes have been done before and they've probably been done better. Anything you recognize belongs to our queen, J.K.R.
Chapter 36
February 28, 1996
Hermione couldn't keep the grin off her face. Just the day before Hermione had pulled a first year Gryffindor to the side and had begged him of a favor. Since the little lion was most trusting of one of his house, Hermione gave him the prestigious position of planting the information of a Defense Club in the mind of Dolores Umbridge. Just the drop of her name, the first year had become most nervous, but Hermione had assured him that no harm would come to him.
Hermione had instructed him to cause a bit of a scene in Defense the day before and let the Professor assign him detention. When he reported for detention, tell the professor that the older students were all getting together in the Room of Requirement to meet illegally for defense lessons. Hermione had previously arranged with Dobby, so the Room would be visible, and she would take care of the rest.
While she felt a thrill of excitement, the rest of her friends were nervous. She hadn't told anyone outside of the twins, Ginny, Luna, and Theo that they were setting Umbridge up that night. She needed numbers to make it believable. All her friends were resolute in their determination to bring the horrible hag down, reinforcing the fact that Hermione believed that she was doing the right thing, but they were nervous about getting in trouble. Hermione had assured them that they were likely the only people to be held back by Umbridge. While it did put the twins, Ginny, and Luna at a small risk, Hermione was almost certain that Harry would be the one to bear the brunt of her anger. Hermione just had to make sure that she didn't overreact, so she wouldn't be expelled.
Her breakfast was before her but was wholly unappetizing. She had managed a few bites but there wasn't anything that anyone could sat to make her eat more. Everyone was already on edge for the meeting that night, so Hermione was leaning towards the houses taking care of themselves that day.
This being Hermione's general belief, it wasn't one that was shared by Harry. He was whispering softly up the table to students that they need not worry about getting in trouble, that he would be the one that suffered rather than themselves. Some believed him, he was the Great Harry Potter after all, but some still seemed wary. Hermione didn't blame them in the least. In their places she probably would have been wary as well. Her thoughts were brought to a halt by Harry speaking to the table.
"That's the bell. We better get to class. We can't afford detention today of all days." Hermione knew that he was correct, so she nodded her head in agreement. The twins seemed to want to rebel but refused to speak against the girl that they considered their little sister. Hermione stood and waited for the boys to join her before they joined her on their way to Potions. Neither boys seemed too excited for her father's class, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Harry had suggested that they have Severus keep his evening open so that they could call upon him if he was needed. Hermione had laughed at the thought at first, thinking that there was no way that Umbridge could get past her plan, but a day later, Hermione had reconsidered her opinion and realized that it wouldn't be difficult for Umbridge to back the professor if she so ordered it. Therefore, her wand would be constantly hiding up the sleeve of her robes, more than ready to call upon her father if it was needed.
Hermione pulled her boys to take their usual seats in Potions. They took their seats with little to no fanfare, quietly taking their books and parchment out with them so they could take notes. Her father began his lecture on the Draught of Peace and Hermione took immaculate notes. Draco and Harry beside her did as well. What Hermione had noticed was that Lavender no longer seemed eager to tease Hermione and rub her insecurities in her face. She knew that the girl had had detention with her father for a couple nights, but she hadn't expected the girl to desist quite so easily. Harry had pointed out that it was perhaps the thrashing the girl had received at her hands that made her wary of crossing Hermione again.
The trio worked together once the class was cleared to brew the potion from their notes. Harry went to gather their ingredients while she and Draco readied their cauldron. Hermione realized that Neville was paired with Seamus and Dean, making for a disastrous trio and Ronald was paired with Lavender and Parvati. She doubted that either group of Gryffindors would achieve the desired result the first time, but she could certainly be surprised.
Harry returned, and the trio began their brewing. It wasn't a terribly difficult potion to make, simply time consuming. By the end of the class period, Draco, Hermione, and Harry had turned in a perfect specimen of the potion. Hermione had had to hide a smile when her father winked her way on their way out of class.
The trio moved on to Herbology after Potions. It was clearly a lecture period, covering Fanged Geranium. This was Hermione's least favorite subject, so it was easy to get lost in her own thoughts. She couldn't stop thinking about Umbridge going down. While her father had been made aware that something was going to happen, he was the only one and he was clear in the dungeons. If something went terribly wrong, they would be unable to depend on him and that left the safety of all the students on Hermione's shoulders. To say that she was nervous would be an understatement.
The class passed quickly since there wasn't any practical part this time. The trio made their way to lunch and Hermione could hear the whispers all around them about that evening. It wasn't helping her nerves in the slightest. She was very much aware of the fact that if things went wrong with Umbridge, it would be her fault.
Lunch was a quiet affair. While there were whispers all around her, from two of the three other tables, Hermione tried to block them out, so she could keep her head on straight. The whole Gryffindor table seemed nervous but there wasn't much that she could do about it. They would attend the meeting no matter what it meant for them because they were lions and being brave was a key trait of Gryffindors. While she didn't like it, she knew that there was nothing she could do to change it.
The lunch bell rang, and Hermione pulled herself to her feet, forcing her boys to follow her lead. While she knew that they weren't as nervous as she was, they were still nervous about being split up. It was clear that Umbridge favored Slytherin and it wouldn't have surprised Hermione if she dismissed Draco and Theo just because of their house affiliation. She didn't think that either one of them planned on leaving but it made them both nervous to consider disobeying a teacher like that for no good reason.
The trio made their way to transfiguration. Hermione loved the class, but she didn't feel challenged anymore, that much was fact. She wished that she could have a different lesson plan than the rest of the students but there wasn't anything that she could do about it. The trio took their seats and waited patiently for the Deputy Headmistress to appear. When she finally did, she was quick to assign them reading and then an essay. Hermione couldn't help but be disappointed. Therefore, she was doubly surprised when Professor McGonagall called her to the front of the room to speak to her once the rest of the class had their assignment.
"Miss Granger, I'm aware that the curriculum doesn't challenge you in the least. You have no idea how much this pleases me. Since there isn't much that even the seventh-year curriculum could offer you, I wanted to let you know that for the rest of year, you are exempt from schoolwork in this class. That being said, I want you to spend your time studying for your N.E. in this subject. You are more than ready, and I know that you will pass with flying colors. If it is to your liking, once you pass your test at the end of the year, I would love to take you on as an apprentice at the end of the year." Hermione wasn't quite sure what she was supposed to say. Her professor was offering her the opportunity to gain a mastery just a year after graduating since they usually took three years to achieve. She already knew that she wanted at least the mastery in transfiguration, but she was unsure of where to go from there. Therefore, she squealed and threw her arms around her strictest professor.
"I accept, oh Merlin, I'll make you proud, I swear it." Her professor chuckled as she hugged the teen back and Hermione had to bite back a smile.
"I'm pleased, I would love to know that you were taking my place at the school, but I would understand if you wanted to see a bit of the world first." Hermione had no interest in the world at large but didn't tell her professor that.
"I'm not sure what I want to do but studying under you in a great honor. You've been my personal hero since I began Hogwarts." Hermione could see that her words affected the older woman. Her eyes watered and softened, and Hermione could only hope that the woman wouldn't cry. Professor McGonagall gathered herself visibly and shook her mistiness away.
"Thank you, Miss Granger. That means a lot to me since I've never really considered myself one for favorites. Yet here we are." Hermione knew that the woman was telling her that she had always been one of her favorites but didn't want to actually say the words.
"I'm glad, Professor." The older woman let the happiness fall from her gaze as she glanced from side to side.
"I know that you have something planned regarding Madam Umbridge. I would really like to know what the plan is; I don't intend to interfere." Hermione wasn't sure that she could trust those words since one of the students, most likely Harry, would receive at least one curse. Hermione fully intended to step in after she made the first move, but it would prove to be difficult if she truly harmed Harry. After all, she couldn't get the woman fired if she killed her as she did Bellatrix. Hermione leaned close to her Head of House and winked conspiratorially.
"We're setting her up. I know she's going to keep us when she figures out that we're running an 'illegal' defense group and she's going to punish one of us. She knows exactly who I am, so she won't take the chance of cursing me. I doubt that she would take the chance of cursing Theo or Draco so that leaves Harry. I'm simply hoping that I can keep my calm when it happens and not kill her. As wonderful as the thought of her being dead is, I want her to suffer the indignity of losing her job and prestige because she causes a student harm. I'm going to have to control myself, so I can stop her but not harm her." Her professor shot her a worried look.
"Will you be able to control yourself?" Hermione knew that she couldn't answer truly in the affirmative. Therefore, she did the best that she could.
"I hope so. To be honest, she made Harry use a blood quill for his one and only detention with her and I cursed her into the window and knocked her out. Dad had to come and modify her memory." The older witch seemed a little surprised at her words but took it in stride.
"This time will be different, Miss Granger. You will control yourself and you will make sure that we can prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law. I trust that you have a plan." Hermione gave her a heartfelt smile.
"I hope so, Professor." The older woman gave her a secret smile and Hermione felt bolstered by the fact that one of the faculty had faith in her.
The class ended quickly enough and once they were in the corridor, Hermione shared her professor's words with them. Both boys seemed skeptical that she would allow such an underhanded plot to occur, but Hermione was quite certain that they were underestimating the woman's influence on evil activity around them. Once Transfiguration dismissed, Hermione was left with the feeling that nobody believed her. She wasn't sure if that was the case, but she had yet to see any level of support.
Dinner was a simple roast beef and roast potatoes, one of Ron's favorite dishes. She tried not to stare at him in disgust as he inhaled his food, hardly chewing. Draco and Harry caught her gaze and burst into laughter at the look on her face. She turned her gaze to her own food and did the best she could. Her mind kept turning to the meeting that took place in a few hours and hoping that she could control herself enough to get the proof that they needed to get Umbridge sacked.
Everyone finished their meal quickly and Harry gave them all a quick reminder to make it to the meeting on time. Hermione needed to try to take her mind off what would be happening, so she dragged both of her boys to the library. She was up to date on her homework but there was always something that she could research. Her thoughts were currently leading her towards the typical apprenticeship and what guidelines there generally were.
Harry and Draco rolled their eyes at her destination but didn't complain. Surprisingly, Theo turned up shortly after they arrived and claimed that he had homework of his own to work on. All three of the boys had Transfiguration to work on so Hermione left them to it. She was enthralled in a book that she found about modern apprenticeships when Theo broke the silence.
"You already finished your homework?" Hermione smirked his way.
"I'm exempt from Transfiguration for the rest of the year. Professor McGonagall told me that I no longer had to participate in class if I studied for my N.E.W.T. in the class. She wants me to test out at the end of the year and then begin apprenticing under her next year." Theo stared at her uncomprehendingly. For several seconds, it was silent.
"You're telling me that you're going to test out with the seventh years at the end of the year?" Hermione smirked again and nodded.
"That's what I'm telling you." Theo started to slowly shake his head before he smiled.
"You're such an overachiever. That just means that you get to help me with my homework whenever I need it." Hermione giggled softly before she nodded.
"You got it."
The four of the continued with their homework for the next couple hours. All the boys finished their transfiguration and started on their charms essay that was due in three days' time. Hermione made it halfway through the book she was reading and found it an informative read. She checked it out as the four of them left and started to make their way to the seventh-floor corridor.
There was tension in the air as they passed students on their way to pace in front of Barnabas the Barmy. Hermione did her best to not let worry seep in and she could see the others doing the same. Harry paced the corridor and when the door opened, the four of them slipped inside. Where they usually got the dummies ready and spread out the mats, they did nothing to ready the room.
Students began pouring into the Room and Hermione had to admit that she was surprised that there were as many people that showed up. While she was almost positive that the other students wouldn't receive any sort of punishment, it wasn't completely certain. The fact that they trusted Hermione enough to get rid of the woman touched her.
Harry lined them up in two lines, facing each other. It had been decided that they wouldn't show the toad exactly what they were working on, instead she could report to the authorities when they arrived that they had been learning a simple disarming charm. Once they were all in place, Hermione facing off against her brother, Harry spoke.
"We all know what is going to happen tonight. When she comes in I want her to see us learning expelliarmus. Nothing that will tell anyone that we're learning defensive magic. We can make it seem like this is our first meeting. I've talked to one of the elves and he's going to make sure the door remains open, so she can get in. I doubt she understands how the Room of Requirement works so that's our only option. We don't know how long it will be until she gets here so get busy and make it look like you don't know what you're doing."
Harry started wandering along the two lines of people, impressed that they were as convincing as they were. Hermione was less than thrilled to have to act like she had no idea how to defend herself but there was nothing for it. It had to be done. Everyone else seemed to be just as annoyed as she was at acting like they didn't know what they were doing.
It didn't take long for Umbridge to arrive. Only half an hour had passed when the door went flying open and an enraged professor barreled through. Her face matched Ron's when he got angry, so red it was almost puce. Sparks shot out of her stubby wand and everyone went silent and dropped their wands to their sides, so they could stare at her. Hermione was proud of everyone for standing their ground and not instantly blaring out that there was a plan against her all along.
"What is the meaning of this?" Hermione wasn't surprised when Harry stepped forward and met the witch's stare.
"We're learning defense since we haven't learned a single thing in your class." Umbridge started to sputter in indignation.
"You've learned plenty, you just haven't learned what you wanted to." Harry shrugged his shoulders and twirled his wand.
"We aren't doing anything wrong. We're learning the disarming charm. Nobody can accuse us of learning violent magic. Disarming fits the same logic you've been teaching, non-confrontational magic." Umbridge crossed her arms over her chest, wand still clutched in her hand.
"That's well and good but you haven't read Hogwarts rules. All clubs and extracurricular activities have to be signed off on by a professor." Hermione wanted to laugh at the assumption Umbridge was making. The toad was completely unaware that McGonagall had signed off on the D.A. several weeks before. Hermione raised her hand knowing that the woman wouldn't let her speak.
"Put your hand down, Miss Granger. The fact that you're involved in this is appalling. You've let Mr. Potter's Gryffindor nature pull you in. Your father is going to be so disappointed in you." Hermione was anxious to shut the woman up. Nobody could know her true parentage until the right time. She didn't have to worry, however, because the witch in question turned to the rest of the room.
"All of you, back to your common rooms. This farce of a club is at it's end. Everyone except for Miss Lovegood, Miss Granger, the twin Weasleys, and Miss Weasley. You stay here." Nobody was eager to stick around and see this part of the confrontation. It was a race for the door, nobody wanting to take the chance of scoring more detention. Draco and Theo stayed behind, coming up next to Hermione and Harry. Umbridge seemed flustered for a moment when he realized that they weren't leaving.
"Mr. Nott, Mr. Malfoy, you are dismissed. Don't let me hear about you consorting with these people again." Draco stepped forward and took one of Hermione's hand in his and Harry's in the other.
"I'm not leaving. I'm with them all the way." Professor Umbridge clucked her tongue.
"Very well, Draco. I'm sure your father will not be happy at the company you keep but it is your choice to do what you wish." She turned to Theo.
"You need to go, Theodore." Theo stepped forward and stopped next to Hermione.
"You know where my loyalties lie." It was just enough to point out that Hermione was his sister but vague enough to not let everyone else in on the fact that he knew who she was. Professor Umbridge took a menacing step forward and brandished her wand.
"Mr. Nott, I insist that you head to your common room. I know for a fact that your father wouldn't like where your so-called loyalty lies." Hermione stepped forward and crossed her arms over her chest.
"He's chosen his side. What are you going to do now? If you're going to try to punish us, know that you can't. We haven't done anything wrong." Umbridge stepped forward and without a hint of what she was going to do. Her hand swung out and slapped Hermione across the face. It was hard enough that her head snapped to the side and her ears rang. It caused her to drop to her knees and Hermione took the moment to make sure that the voice recorder was still in her robe pocket. Harry and Draco went to their knees next to her, trying to help her up, while Theo stepped in front of all of them. The rest of their friends were silent as they watched the proceedings, knowing that they couldn't do anything without jeopardizing their objective. Theo's voice rang out, surprising Hermione.
"You'll get fired for that. You aren't allowed to strike a student." Umbridge laughed cruelly at his words before she pointed her wand at him. Hermione started to climb to her feet when the toad spoke.
"You'll find that I can do whatever I please. I'm in charge at this school. Cornelius gave me official dispensation to do whatever I needed to to make sure that the school runs properly." Hermione was on her feet wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, when Umbridge spoke.
"Crucio."
Theo dropped like a rock and started screaming. Hermione couldn't believe that the witch had used an Unforgivable in the school against a student. Harry and Draco both stepped to the side, complete surprise clear on their faces. Hermione couldn't let it continue. Her brother was thrashing on the floor, still screaming, and Hermione knew that it was up to her to stop the toad. With wandless magic, she disarmed the witch, catching her wand cleanly. Hermione cast the same spell on her that she had on Thoros Nott, dropping the pink-clad witch to her knees. Everyone stepped back while Hermione wrought her own revenge.
The twins, Ginny, and Luna all stepped back, horrified looks on their faces. Harry and Draco bent at Theo's side, doing their best to make sure that their friend was alright. Hermione was quite sure that she had taken Umbridge's punishment a step too far, but she didn't care. Theo was her brother and she would protect him as such. There was no way that the Ministry could do anything to her since she hadn't used a wand to hurt her.
When she finally ended the spell, Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out the voice recorder. She played it back until she reached the point where the screams became Umbridge's instead of Theo's and hit erase. The tape ended as soon as Umbridge's wand went soaring through the air. Harry stepped forward and cast a spell to bind the professor, hands tied tightly behind her back. Hermione pocketed her wand and turned to the Weasleys and Luna.
"You're all free to go back to your common room. If there are any questions that need answered, I'll let the Headmaster know that you were present." They all nodded, and Fred was a little wary when he spoke.
"Is she dead?" Hermione shook her head, hoping that she hadn't just lost their friendship.
"No, I stopped before it could kill her. This may seem harsh to you, but nobody hurts my brother. I don't like doing what I just did but it needed to happen. Do you really think that Umbridge would have gone quietly even without her wand?" They all shook their heads. Hermione needed to make sure that they were going to have her back if they were questioned.
"Do you four intend to tell the truth about what happened here tonight?" The Weasleys all looked affronted at her question. It was George that stepped forward and put his hands on his hips.
"We're your friends, we would never snitch you out. How could you even think that?" Hermione felt a twinge of guilt at asking the question.
"You all looked a little squeamish at what I just did." Fred stepped forward next to George.
"We know that it needed to be done. We just didn't expect it to be quite like that. We aren't going to snitch on you." Hermione gave them a small smile.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure that you would be alright with it." The twins gave her a smile before they started to herd Ginny and Luna to the door. Once they were gone, Hermione turned her attention back to her boys and Theo. Umbridge was unconscious, which Hermione couldn't have when she delivered her to Dumbledore. Hermione cast a wandless rennervate. Umbridge's eyes fluttered open and she groaned. Hermione took a handful of the woman's hair and made her meet her eyes.
"Nobody fucks with my brother, my father, or my boys." Umbridge laughed.
"You can't prove a thing." Hermione just grinned in return.
"Let's go. We're going to Dumbledore's office." Hermione was more than happy to let the boys each take an arm of Umbridge, so she could prop Theo up with her shoulder. His body was still randomly shaking with the aftershocks of the Cruciatus. He gave Hermione a shaky smile.
"Thanks, sis." She wrapped an arm around his waist and started to follow Harry, Draco, and Umbridge.
There were no students in corridors as they made their way from the seventh floor to the second where Dumbledore's office was located. Umbridge was cursing at them, swearing up and down that she would see them all expelled. Neither boy responded, and Hermione could only imagine that it was making the professor angrier.
They reached the griffin that guarded Dumbledore's office and Hermione instructed them to wait until the Headmaster opened it for them. A minute passed before the griffin leapt out of the way and the staircase descended. Hermione watched as Umbridge started to fight Harry and Draco and they in turn tightened their hold on her arms. Theo was still lurching to the side slightly, but Hermione kept her shoulder planted firmly in his armpit. When they reached the top of the stairs, the door swung open as if the Headmaster was aware that they wouldn't have spare hands to turn the door knob. Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, eyes twinkling.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Nott, what a lovely surprise. Is there a reason that you have Madam Umbridge tied up?" Umbridge started screeching.
"They've been holding meetings of a club that isn't sanctioned by a professor. I put an end to it and they overpowered me and took my wand. That little bitch cast the Cruciatus on me." Hermione helped Theo into a chair and turned to the Headmaster.
"I think we'll be needing the Minister and a few aurors to escort Madam Umbridge to Azkaban." The Headmaster raised his eyebrow.
"Is that necessary?" Hermione raised her brow back.
"Not only did she strike me, she used the Cruciatus on Theo. She deserves to be in prison." Umbridge started screaming again.
"I did no such thing, they have no proof!" Hermione turned and looked her way.
"What makes you think that we don't have proof?" She turned her attention back to Dumbledore.
"Call them now."
The Headmaster sighed and nodded, standing from his chair behind his desk. He made his way over to the fireplace and knelt before it, throwing floo powder in. The flames turned green and Dumbledore's head disappeared in the fire. Theo was still quaking sporadically, and Hermione went to his side.
"We should get you to the Hospital Wing." He shook his head.
"No, I need to be here. When we're done, I'll go see Pomfrey." She smoothed his hair back from his forehead and gave him a soft smile.
"Alright, have it your way. But you will be going." Theo chuckled softly and nodded.
"You got it."
The Headmaster stood from before the fire and went back to his chair. He steepled his hands under his chin for a few moments before he whipped out his wand and cast a patronus, an enormous phoenix. He whispered a message to it that Hermione couldn't quite hear and sent it on it's way. He turned Hermione's way and smiled at her questioning gaze.
"I sent for Severus and Minerva. They both deserve to be here for this." She gave an approving nod. It wasn't long at all before there was a knock at the door. Her father and Professor McGonagall strode through the door together making her think that they were together. It suited her perfectly. Her father caught her gaze and his eyes flashed. In a matter of seconds, he had made his way across the room and took her face in his hands, so he could inspect her face.
"What happened to you?" He swiped his thumb over a part of the blood trickle that she had wiped away.
"That fucking bitch hit me. The boys came to help me, and Theo stepped between us. She used the Cruciatus on him." Hermione could see the absolute fury flit through his eyes before he turned to Dumbledore.
"The Ministry is sending someone?" He gave a single nod before returning his eyes to Hermione.
"After this meeting, I'll heal your face. It's already bruising." She nodded and gave him a smile. Umbridge was still screeching the background about the injustice of the whole situation but nobody was really paying attention to her. It was several minutes before the fireplace flared to life and Cornelius Fudge and three aurors stepped out of the flames. Hermione had to bite back a grin when on of the aurors was Kingsley Shacklebolt. Cornelius was sloppily put together leading Hermione to believe that he had been roused from bed.
"What is the meaning of this? Why is my undersecretary bound?" Dumbledore sighed and held his hands out to Hermione.
"I believe Miss Granger is the one that called for you and will be doling out the explanations." Hermione nodded the Headmaster's way graciously.
"Madam Umbridge has been putting students in detention and making them use a blood quill, carving words in their own hands. The older students have stepped in when she targets the first and second years, they're just little kids for Merlin's sake. We finally had enough." Hermione took a deep breath before continuing.
"We've started a new club to teach defense to the students. Harry teaches it since he's had the most experience in fighting the dark. She rushed in tonight, ranting about how we were running an illegal club. It isn't illegal, Professor McGonagall signed off on it almost three weeks ago." She watched as her transfiguration professor stepped forward.
"She's right. Miss Granger and Mr. Potter approached me about having a dueling club. I agreed that it couldn't hurt them to learn what they could from Mr. Potter. Their club isn't illegal in the slightest." Hermione had never been happier that she had covered her ground and her tracks. The confused look on Umbridge's face was priceless.
"We got sick of her treating us like she did, so we decided to set her up. We had a firstie drop the location of our meeting. When she burst in, she told us that we were perfectly under the confines of Hogwarts' rules. She wouldn't even let us tell her that Professor McGonagall had sanctioned it. Umbridge dismissed everyone except myself, Harry and his friends. Theo and Draco stayed because they're our friends. When I told her that she couldn't do anything to us, she slapped me. Harry and Draco came to my side to help me and Theo stood between that awful hag and me. She cursed him with the Cruciatus." There were little gasps that finally made the others in the room realize how serious she was.
"I wandlessly disarmed the professor so she would stop torturing Theo. The boys bound her and we all came here." Umbridge started yelling.
"She cast the Cruciatus on me, don't let the little bitch lie to you. She had to wake me up." Hermione snorted and held out her wand.
"Here, check my wand. All you'll find is a disarming charm." Kingsley took her wand and checked it.
"She's right. She didn't cast the Cruciatus." Umbridge started yelling again.
"It doesn't matter, they have no proof." Her father didn't let anyone else speak.
"There's proof enough in the bruises on Miss Granger's face. The aftershocks of the Cruciatus on Mr. Nott. Don't you dare call them liars." Even though Fudge looked shocked at his words he couldn't stop his next words.
"I have to agree with Madam Umbridge. There has to be some proof." Hermione pulled Umbridge's wand from her pocket.
"Scan it and then I'll show you my proof." Kingsley stepped forward and took the short stubby wand and waved his own wand at it. The spells that flew past didn't surprise Hermione. The room gasped when the Cruciatus appeared. Once the room fell quiet, Hermione stepped forward with the tape recorder in her hand.
"This is a muggle device called a voice recorder. While it doesn't show what happens, every single word is recorded. These devices are used in courts in muggle law. I beg you to listen to the truth." Hermione rewound the device and started it from the start.
The truth poured from the small speaker. Everyone in the room listened as the students stepped forward and tried to tell their professor that they weren't illegal. They heard as Umbridge sent everyone away except Harry and his friends and the bravery of the Slytherins as they told her that they were remaining behind. When the slap was heard clearly, Hermione could see Professor McGonagall restraining her father. The Cruciatus was cast next and only the screams of Theo were heard. Her father and Professor McGonagall looked mutinous and when it ended with Hermione wandlessly disarming the witch, her father turned to the Minister.
"You put your dog in Azkaban or I will personally inform Thoros Nott of the treatment his son received at the hands of a Ministry official. I'm not sure that the treatment he and Mr. Malfoy received would be well-received at all." Hermione could tell that her father was furious and was barely leashing his anger. Umbridge started screaming.
"You gave me dispensation, Cornelius, you told me to do what I needed to to keep Hogwarts running smoothly. I did what I had to do." The Minister sneered her way.
"I didn't tell you to use Unforgivables on students." The woman in pink started wailing. Kingsley stepped forward and cast another binding spell on Umbridge. Hermione held her hand up and gestured that she wanted to have one last word. She stepped close to Umbridge and leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"You don't fuck with someone that the Dark Lord's granddaughter deems important. Never fuck with family." The woman's eyes widened at her words, but nobody said anything as Kingsley hauled Umbridge to her feet and towards the fire.
"I'm sorry to interrupt everyone's evening and I hope that it may continue on in a fashion that pleases you." Kingsley wasn't gentle when he shoved Umbridge into the fire, not even completely waiting for the flames to turn green. Fudge was much more vocal.
"I'm so sorry, Albus, I never thought that this would happen. I thought that she could handle the situation. It's obvious that I made an error in judgement." Hermione scoffed loudly at his words but remained silent. While Dumbledore handled the situation with the minister, Hermione turned to Theo and gestured for him to get up.
Hermione wedged her shoulder under her brother's armpit and helped him to his feet. Draco rushed forward to take his other side while Severus stood and opened the door to the Headmaster's office. Harry followed behind them, with McGonagall hot on his heels. The six of them made their way to the Hospital Wing, quite the sight she was sure.
They traversed the two flights of stairs with little problem. Theo was tiring by the last flight of stairs but that was to be expected. When they entered the Hospital Wing, Theo was shaking with the effort that it took to remain upright. Hermione wasn't surprised. He had lasted longer than she had ever dreamed that he would. Draco seemed worried for his friend and while Harry wasn't nearly as close to Theo as Draco or Hermione, it was still clear that he cared. Her father and Professor McGonagall were following closely behind.
When they entered the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey was on them before Hermione could even call out for her. She began clucking at Theo, ushering him towards the nearest bed. Hermione and Draco helped him there as quickly as they could, hopeful that the mediwitch could help him. Once he was in the bed, the mediwitch turned their way.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione heaved a deep breath.
"Umbridge cast the Cruciatus curse on him." The mediwitch gasped and turned to the two professors in the room. Her father stepped forward and held his hands aloft.
"I know, trust me, we aren't happy. The Minister and his aurors have take the bitch away." Madam Pomfrey sniffed her displeasure but she nodded her agreement. She set about to treating Theo as he needed. Severus stepped forward to take Hermione's chin in his fingers.
"Let me heal you." Hermione gave a trusting look at her father and nodded. His wand appeared in his hand, pointed straight at her face. Without an ounce of fear, she let him cast on her. Her face instantly felt less swollen and the pain disappeared. She flashed her father a smile of thanks and then turned to her brother. Madam Pomfrey was fussing over him and pouring potion after potion down his throat. Once she bustled off, Hermione settled in the chair at the bedside of her brother. Theo smiled at her.
"You should go back to the Tower and get some sleep. Pomfrey says I'm here for the night." Hermione shook her head.
"Absolutely not. You're my brother and you got these injuries protecting me. I'm here for the long haul." Theo reached out and took her hand in his. A smile graced his features.
"I've never had anyone that wanted to stay by my bedside." Hermione smiled his way as she took his hand in hers.
"You do now. Get used to it." Theo laughed hoarsely and laid back on his pillows. The mediwitch resurfaced and Hermione watched her bully her brother into taking a Dreamless Sleep potion. He was resistant at first, but Hermione reached out and squeezed his hand.
"Please, Teddy, take the potion. I don't want you to suffer." She could tell that her nickname for him touched him down deep. When he met her eyes, he gave her a soft smile.
"I'll take it with no complaints if you promise to go back to your room and sleep as well. You can meet me here in the morning." Hermione didn't want to leave him, but she wanted him to take the Dreamless Sleep. Therefore, after a moment's thought, she turned his way and nodded her agreement. Theo took the potion from the mediwitch and chugged it down. Hermione waited there by his side until sleep pulled him under.
Once Theo was asleep, Hermione extracted her hand and met the eyes of her father and those of her transfiguration professor.
"I promised him that I would go back and sleep. Can you guarantee that he will be okay here?" She knew that her voice was pleading but she couldn't help it. Aside from her boys and Severus, Theo was the most important person in her world. Severus gave her a small smile before he laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm proud of you for caring as much as you do. I will stay here with him since you have been ordered to get some sleep. Come back in the morning and spell me." Hermione couldn't have loved her father more at that moment. She moved forward into her father's arms.
"Thank you. I love you, Daddy." He kissed the top of her head and hugged her back.
"I love you too, sweet." Hermione smiled into her father's chest before she pulled away. She let Draco take a hold of her hand and pull her to the door of the Hospital Wing. Professor McGonagall and her father were conversing softly between themselves, but Hermione wasn't worried. She trusted them both with the safety of her brother.
Harry and Draco pulled her from the Hospital Wing and up the staircases that led them back to the seventh floor. She was more than ready to be ensconced in her bed in the Room of Requirement, but she couldn't help feeling slightly guilty at the fact that she had left her brother in the Hospital Wing without her. Once they reached the seventh floor, Harry paced the corridor, so he could produce the Room they slept in. Hermione was exhausted, and she wanted nothing more than sleep. She could only hope that her boys understood.
Hermione stripped her clothes off as she made her way to the loo. She used the facilities and made quick work of her evening ablutions. She was in panties when she exited the loo and climbed into bed under the boy's watchful gaze. Once she was ensconced in the blankets on their bed, she turned a bashful face to her boys.
"I'm sorry. Is it alright if we mess around tomorrow? I'm so tired right now." Both boys were in bed next to her, their lips soft on her bare skin. Harry smiled against her shoulder while Draco kissed a soft pathway down her spine.
"'Mi, we would never force you. Please don't tell me that you think we would." She began to sniffle and wiped at her eyes at his accusation.
"No, I didn't think you would force me. I was worried that you would be disappointed in me." Draco scoffed at her words.
"We could never be disappointed in you. You've dealt with a lot tonight. We just want to make sure that you're alright." Hermione nodded and raised her eyes to meet Draco's.
The three of them entered their bed with no other intentions but to sleep. While Hermione would have loved private time alone, she was worried about her brother and that took her attention from her mates. Harry pulled her onto his chest and Draco snuggled up close behind her, wrapping a possessive arm around her waist. She tried not to consider the actions that had preceded their positions at the time, but there was no preventing it. Draco had hoped that their interference would take care of their problem but that wasn't the case.
Hermione dropped off to sleep in her lover's arms, more than willing to make her life brighter in a dark time. While they all knew that Theo had to remain a secret to the world at large, Harry and Draco both knew just how much of a motivator he was for Hermione. Without Umbridge there, however, it wasn't near as big of a deal.
Hermione could only hope that her friends, boys, father, and brother would be safe until war came for them in the end.
-O-
Severus settled next to Theo in the Hospital Wing. He wasn't too excited to stay there all night, but he didn't want his daughter staying there all night and getting no rest. While he knew that she wasn't seriously hurt, seeing her face bruised and bleeding had made him want to destroy the witch who had hurt her.
He didn't think that Hermione had thought that Umbridge would take it as far as she did. She had thought that the woman would stun Harry or perhaps against herself. Never in a million years did she think that the hag would use an Unforgivable on her brother. He didn't blame her for not thinking Umbridge would go that far; he would never have thought that the witch would be stupid enough to use the Cruciatus on a student in Hogwarts.
Severus rubbed a hand down his face. He hadn't even had a chance to tell the Headmaster about his meeting with his father. He had just returned from his meeting when Albus' patronus reached him and informed him that he was needed in his office. He had assumed that it was because he had been summoned so was thoroughly surprised when it was because his daughter had implemented his plan against Umbridge for that evening. She had told him that it would be that night but he hadn't expected it to be so early.
Hermione was fine, both Draco and Potter were unharmed. Theo was still suffering aftershocks of the Cruciatus, but he would be fine by morning. The whole night had been a shit show but there wasn't much that he could do about it now. His thoughts were interrupted by the door to the Hospital Wing opening. Just as he thought he would, Albus strolled through.
"Staying with a student?" Severus nodded.
"Yes. Hermione was going to stay but he wouldn't take his sleeping draught unless she went back to her room and got rest herself. She was worried, so I told her that I would stay." Albus nodded.
"Tell me of your meeting with Tom." Severus raked a hand through his hair before he waved his wand to silence the space around them. While Theo was asleep, Poppy or one of the other students in residence could hear their conversation.
"My father ordered his Death Eaters to raid a magical town just outside of Little Hangleton. They took every single muggleborn in town. My father distributed them to his followers and they're serving as servants. That's what being said anyways, who knows what kind of treatment they're receiving. They're planning on raiding Diagon Alley in a few weeks. He's taken Hermione's words to heart, but they will still suffer. Voldemort knows it, but he doesn't care. He's only agreed to stop killing them needlessly." Albus stroked his beard as he contemplated Severus' words.
"It isn't ideal, but they aren't dying. There isn't much that we can do about it at this time. We just have to hope that we can end this war quickly, so we can release all the muggleborns." Severus nodded before speaking again.
"There are also plans to attack Westminster Abbey and the London Bridge. Since they're all muggles, it will be a massacre." The Headmaster sighed.
"Do we have dates?" Severus shook his head.
"No, it's in the beginning stages of planning. He's put Thoros in charge of the Bridge and Rodolphus in charge of Westminster. Knowing both, it will be huge with large loss of life." Albus nodded.
"Let me know when you have dates and I'll see what the Order can do." Severus knew that this was what made his position so precarious. If they put up too much of a fight, his father would know that he had passed on his plans. He had been specifically ordered not to report that to Dumbledore.
Albus didn't speak again, just rose to his feet, cancelled Severus' silencing spell, and made his way to the exit of the Hospital Wing. Severus settled back into his chair, leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and tried to fall asleep.
A/N- End of the chapter, much shorter than the past chapters. I'm not sad about it, in fact, I'm happy that I'm still able to bring you the length of chapter that I was able to. Leave me your thoughts, they make me happy, make me smile, and keep me writing.
Next chapter, more D.A. meetings under new teachers and Voldy wants a meeting.
Love,
Alicia