Hi guys, Welcome to the 17th Chapter of Dark is all that's left!
This is it, the chapter where it's the beginning of the end.
Please read the AN at the end.
All the usual disclaimers and warnings still stand. HP universe belongs to the almighty JK Rowling. Puny beasts like me indulge in writing non profit fanfic for entertainment from time to time.
Reporters had a field day publishing articles about The-Boy-Who-Lived's engagement to his long time girlfriend Ginny Weasley for the next couple of weeks. Apparently the wedding had been planned for the coming New Year's eve signifying Wizarding Britain's entry into a new era propelled by the new power couple. Everyone in wizarding Britain was rejoicing the fall of the Dark Lord and the probability of attending a very public Potter Wedding Ceremony.
Meanwhile, miles away from the wizarding district, somewhere in the remote county of Norfolk, a black Nissan Patrol SUV stood next to a green armoured Bedford TM4 truck being guarded by two men in muggle camouflage clothes armed with guns next to the deserted Happisburgh lighthouse.
Two people in similar camouflage clothes and another person in a black trench coat and hood with a suitcase stood atop the tower conversing.
"As per our agreement, your order is ready in the truck. Do you have the money." said the woman with a thick Russian accent.
"Of course, Famke! What do you take me for?" the hooded woman replied with a distorted voice.
"A very dangerous woman! That is some serious stuff down there." the Russian woman quipped back.
"And it will be put to good use. Here's your money, and you know the standard protocol." the hooded woman held the suitcase forward.
Famke nodded towards her associate who took the bag and checked to see if the money was there. He nodded back in affirmation tilting the open suitcase to show the stacks of cash inside.
"Very well! It's always a pleasure doing business with you. Dasvidaniya!" the Russian woman said while moving towards the stairs down the tower.
The hooded figure stood near the railings watching the muggles climb down the tower. Famke and her men left the armoured truck and boarded the SUV which then sped off towards the county road. The figure disappeared in a wisp of black smoke and appeared next to the truck with her hood removed.
Hermione's smile turned predatory as she flicked her palm in the SUV's direction as an explosion blew the car apart and obliterated everyone inside to chunks of burning flesh. "Dasvidaniya!"
With another flick she shrunk the truck into a small size and pocketed it before disappearing in a wisp of smoke.
2 days until New Year's Eve,
Hermione sat working on the armoured truck enlarged back to its original size inside the factory. On the other side of the room near the walls kept were multiple wooden crates stacked on each other bearing the Ex-Soviet Union's military mark.
Movement caught Hermione's attention as a speckled brown owl flew towards her and perched atop one of the Russian NSV high calibre guns kept next to her. Hermione tilted her head in amused, "You know that's not a perch, right?"
The bird just hooted and held out its leg bearing the letter.
"Huh! Not the talkative one, are you? Fine!" Hermione untied the letter, "Here, done. Now scram!"
The owl simply pecked at her in annoyance and flew off outside the factory.
"Fucking bird! I'll roast him the next time he tries that." Hermione rubbed the side of her head while turning the envelope over to see the Lestrange seal at the back embossed in wax.
Her curiosity thoroughly peaked, she ran a few diagnostics over it to check for any maliciousness. Satisfied with the safety, she opened the envelope to a small letter that simply read, 'Thank You! - BL'
Turning the letter over, there was another note that read, 'You always have refuge at the House of Lestrange, just say the words "Delphi's Mudblood Aunt" whenever you need help.'
Hermione chuckled lightly, "Hmmmm, well aren't you a sentimental fool, Lestrange! I don't need refuge. I'll end this one way or another." She mused to herself petting the gun next to her. She folded the letter back and put it back in her pocket before getting back to work. It sure as hell would take a lot of time mounting everything in place.
31st December, Burrow
With the help from everyone, and a few thousand galleons from the Potter vault, the fields behind the Burrow were transformed into an elaborate wedding venue despite the cold. Warming charms were put throughout the area courtesy special runestones created by Fleur as an early wedding gift to Harry.
She really couldn't be a part of the celebrations without breaking down and hence decided it was the best time for her to return back to her motherland. There really wasn't anything left for her in this Merlin forsaken land. She would stay there and raise the child growing inside her, the only remaining memory of her beloved Bill. Apoline Delacour and Gabriele came down personally to escort her back to France the day before the wedding.
The venue had a seating for about 200 people, many dignitaries were invited from the Ministry including the Minister of Magic himself. The security of the place was impeccable with the Transfiguration master Minerva McGonagall using her prowess along with Flitwick and other professors to create a 20 feet stone golem impenetrable to magic to stand guard protecting the Burrow. They would stop at nothing to make sure Hermione can't disrupt and cause any trouble after what she did to Hogwarts. It was truly a work of magic and immense talent, the Prophet featured articles about the extent of protections being done for the wedding of the century.
Finally, It was time, about a hundred aurors stood outside the venue guarding along with the golem.
The guests sat eagerly inside the venue as Harry stepped on to the stage where the Minister himself stood as the official to perform the ceremony. Molly sat in the front row, finally happy for her daughter to find some happiness in this time of distress.
Ron walked down the aisle holding Ginny's arm escorting her towards the stage. Harry felt his heart skip a beat when he saw Ginny looking absolutely beautiful in the white wedding dress. For a small flicker he imagined Hermione standing in the same dress, however that was just that, a trick of his mind, a cruel trick. He shook his head slightly trying to focus on his girlfriend and to-be wife walking down the aisle.
Meanwhile, a disillusioned armoured Bedford TM4 trudged along the road at full pelt reaching almost near Ottery St, Catchpole. The already monstrous military truck now resembled nothing less than a demon on it's own.
Every possible surface now housed a weapon mounted with big guns and almost unlimited supply of bullets in the big boxes mounted below the guns. Any muggle warmonger would drool at the reinforced vehicle. Some of the biggest and baddest guns including the NSV, M85 and Kord 12.7mm mounted atop the truck in addition to three Panzerfaust-3 grenade launchers.
For Hermione, the war wasn't over, and if magic won't help her, she would use any means possible. She burnt in hell for years, now it's time for the wizarding world to feel the fire.
With a flick of her wrist, she armed all the mounted weapons and activated a localised anti-apparition ward near the truck. She took a sharp turn through the wooded area into the clearing as the aurors near the venue were alerted to a strange muggle vehicle approaching more than 2kms away. All aurors gathered near the entrance, wands at the ready.
However, what they weren't ready for was with another flick of her wrist, all weapons opened fire at them. The grenades landed near the aurors killing a majority, while the others battled bullet fire. They fired lethal curses, bombardas and bombarda maximas, however, the truck was still out of range where it stopped moving. The aurors tried to apparate to the location however, were pushed back due to the localised wards, while Hermione stepped out of the truck and stood atop the cabin holding another grenade launcher.
The long range guns finally decimated the remaining aurors as the Golem walked forward. Hermione halted the firing and pointed all guns towards the approaching Golem. The sheer magical strength in the Golem was enough to over power Hermione's wards as it crossed through without an issue.
As soon as it crossed the wards, she opened fire with all the guns and it seemed to work, parts of the Golem started chipping off and it broke down into stones and dust until it's head fell on the ground lifeless. Hermione stepped down from the truck top, however before she could get in the truck, a shockwave coursed through the ground flicking her back towards the truck where she hit the sides and fell clutching her stomach.
A piece of metal piercing through her guts stuck protruding outwards. She pulled the rod out with great difficulty as immense pain coursed through her body. All this while the Golem slowly rebuilt itself standing tall once again.
She began the attack once more as the Golem again started moving forth towards her. The guns once again chipped away at its body and the head dropped lifeless to the ground once more. Another shockwave and the Golem built itself up again, as Hermione struggled to defeat it and keep her own injury at bay.
It seemed that there was something keeping the magic intact, which had to be some sort of a rune stone. There was no way Hermione could damage the Golem long enough to move past it, she had to defeat it.
She ordered the attack once more as the Golem again started moving forth towards her, this time reaching within 500mts of her, meaning it was her last chance. The guns once again chipped away at its body and the head dropped lifeless once again with a faint pulse glow on its forehead.
However, this time Hermione didn't rest, she waited for the faint glow near the forehead to emerge. It was likely there, the runestone was hidden. A faint yellow glow appeared right on the Golem's forehead which began pulsing, readying for another shockwave. She picked up the fallen Panzerfaust 3 aiming straight and hard for the glow and fired off the grenade just as the pulse reached its pinnacle before the shock.
The runestone was hit and a huge magical discharge in addition to the blast blew apart the rest of the Golem's body in a wave of dust.
As the wave settled, Hermione saw a few of the guests in the venue gather near the entrance as she mused with a pained smile, "Well, that was fun, Professor!"
Hermione got into the truck and roared forward with the guns once again armed and aimed ahead. The guests panicked and created a stampede as the monster muggle truck roared towards them raining bullets.
The truck finally crashed through the gate and went through hitting the stage. Hermione flicked her wrists and all the guns pointed away from the truck towards the sides.
An amplified voice roared through the terrified venue, "Anyone else tries to act smart, that will be their last breath. This is between me and Potter. I shall kill anyone in between."
"Hermione! What are you doing here? Haven't you killed enough innocents?" Minerva McGonagall stepped forth as Harry stood protectively in front of the Weasleys.
"Yes, Professor! I have! Yet, I was the first innocent killed." Hermione said climbing on top of the cabin looking down at her old professors and friends. "You all killed, killed the innocent little girl with her idealistic view of the world. I am just a deadman walking with only one purpose. Anyway, enough chit chat, professor. If you take a step forth or any one moves, the guns will fire and shoot to kill. Don't believe me? Try it out for yourself."
"Get Lost, Hermione! You are not welcome here. I don't have any feelings for you anymore. You're a monster." Harry snarled at her pointing his wand.
"Welcome? I didn't come here to eat a buffet dinner, dumbass! You're still as thick-headed as you were a couple of years back. Moment you fire a spell, Hero, the guns rain fire upon the guests. So, be a lamb and drop your wands. EVERYONE! NOW!"
When Harry failed to follow, she snapped a finger and one of the guns opened fire upon a section of the guests killing them instantly. "I said, NOW!"
This time everyone complied as she picked up his wand and pocketed it before holding out a rope. "Here, all 3 of you hold this rope. Take it or it'll be your beloved Professors facing my M85s next." Hermione pointed towards the big gun taking aim towards the Hogwarts professors.
"Stop it, child! Stop this madness. Come back." Minerva called out pleadingly.
Hermione turned her head giving a sad smile, "It's too late, Professor. I was an Azkaban escapee before, I am a proclaimed terrorist now. Isn't that right, Minister?"
She turned back and held the rope again which Harry took hold reluctantly and let a shocked and shaken Ginny hold the other end with Ron holding the middle of the rope.
"Say the magic words, Harry! I'm sure you remember your gift, don't you?" Hermione crooned sweetly.
Harry scrunched his face in disgust, yet spoke slowly, "Et Tu, Brute!"
The rope glowed blue as he realized that activated the portkey, however before he could say something, all three of them were pulled through the vortex along with the portkey back to the safe house where 3 sets of magic resistant cuffs awaited them.
"I really wished at least you believed my innocence, I respected you like my own mother. We may not meet again, so I'll say it again, not for anyone else, only for you. I may have killed numerous people post Azkaban and I won't deny that now I'm the monster you see, but it was Ginny who killed Luna and framed me, turning me into this monster. You can choose to believe it or stay in denial. It's your choice either way. Bye, Professor McGonagall." Hermione disapparated in a wisp of black smoke.
Minerva felt her shoulders droop with exhaustion, had she failed Hermione yet again? She could feel the truth in Hermione's eyes, if that was so then why didn't she believe her innocence the first time. She would never have the answers, she felt as tears welled in her eyes.
All guns relaxed and dropped barrels inactive, except one M85 which was pointed at the Minister who was obliterated with hundreds of bullets before the gun drooped inactive.
A/N: Thanks for reading. If you felt there was excessive Muggle influence, it was purely intentional. Military Vehicles, Bond movies and Big guns were some things which I loved to see and read about. This was just my way of paying them a homage. I do hope you like it, it's finally happening. Next chapter is in progress.
Thanks for reading, if you liked/disliked the fic please do leave a comment. I love to read what you've got to say.
Cheers!