Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's note: We have quite a time jump! Hermione will explain where they are at in the context of Deathly Hallows but just a warning.

The Witch Slayer

Chapter 11: The bringers

What would have been 7th year if they hadn't ditched school - April

Hermione was bored!

Sure, they had broken into the ministry and almost died in Godric's Hollow but they had now been camping in the woods for months and she was bored out of her mind.

The insane slayer dreams didn't help either. She was in regular touch with the Sunnydale crew and knew what was going on – it seemed all of their battles were coming to a head. But what was she doing? Camping. Reading. Horcrux hunting.

"Ugh." She shouted as she buried her stake into yet another vampire. Ron had accompanied her this time and was looking notably bored.

"Is this what it was like when you would go into the forest with Malfoy and Harry?" He asked, stretching from his seat as they moved on.

"Well – Draco usually likes to critique my form or failure to use magic. But yeah – this is pretty typical." Hermione shrugged.

They were stuck – she had to admit it. 3 horcruxes had been eliminated: the journal, the ring, and the locket. They surmised Voldemort's snake to be the 4th. They assumed there must be 2 more – given Voldemort's proclivity towards the number 7 (with his own soul being the last piece). But other than assuming that the last two were likely connected to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw they had nothing. And she had worries about an 8th – but Harry said he wasn't willing to "go there" until the rest were taken care of.

"I'm so bored!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her stake in her bag as she and Ron huffed back into their tent.

Ron grumbled in agreement. She could only imagine how he felt – at least Hermione had slaying to keep her sane, and research. He was being a good sport though – which made Hermione feel a little guilty.

They walked in and were suddenly on high alert when they heard a scream from Harry.

"Harry! What is it?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"I had a horrible dream." He explained, confused as he put his glasses on and blinked at his two best friends.

"What was it?" She asked.

"I think I saw bringers." He answered thoughtfully, "I saw them gather and I think I saw the ubervamps you told me about." He looked directly at Hermione, "And I heard it."

She nodded, "From beneath you it devours?"

"Yeah." Harry nodded. "Hermione – why am I having slayer dreams?"

Two days later, Hermione would look back in nostalgia at the feeling of boredom. They had just set up camp in a wooded area that looked strikingly similar to every other place they had set up camp when she noticed it.

"Is it me or is it too quiet out here?" Ron commented. Hermione nodded her agreement.

"I don't like it." She confirmed. After months of camping in the woods, they had grown accustomed to the sounds of nature – the nocturnal beasts, the ever present insects chirping. They had barely enough time to whip out their wands when they heard the quiet patter of footsteps nearby.

"Bringers!" Hermione shouted – recognizing their foe.

The three stood in a circle facing outward. Hermione quickly counted – 7. Why is it always 7 she would later ponder but at the moment she was preparing for battle.

The first bringer made to attack her but she let out a silent spell before following up with a roundhouse kick, knocking the creature off course. She was preparing to stake the bringer when she felt another preparing to attack her from behind. She kicked back and swung around, quickly stupefying it which only appeared to cause the being to slow down.

"Damn it," she cursed and watched Harry and Ron battle their own foes. She quickly went back to it – retrieving a knife from her waistband to replace the stake.

Knife firmly in hand, she renewed her efforts and quickly managed to dispose of 3 of the bringers, finding a quick Incendio spell effective. Her friends had each killed 1 and the 2 remaining bringers had retreated into a defensive stance. Hermione was feeling reasonably confident when Harry yelped.

She turned to her friend and saw what had alarmed him – a kind looking woman with red hair stood to his left. She smiled at him indulgently as a mother would their toddler. "Harry – I've missed you." She said with tears in her eyes. Harry put his wand down and stared at her mesmerized.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled, while she and Ron continued to battle the bringers, "It's the first! It's not your mother!" Hermione stabbed another bringer in the heart and watched with satisfaction as it fell down.

Harry wasn't listening, "Harry – you've worked so hard. You shouldn't have this life. You deserve to be free." The woman was telling him.

"Mom?" He said, so hopeful.

"Yes Harry. It's me." She smiled back.

"But I can't be free – not with him out there." Harry responded sadly.

"HARRY!" Hermione screamed as she and Ron faced the final and apparently strongest of the bringers. The Bringer used its elbow to knock Ron out and deftly dodged a spell cast by Hermione. She spared just a second to confirm Ron was still alive before continuing.

"You don't have to fight him Harry." The apparition told him. Harry looked like he wanted to believe her.

Hermione reached out and summoned the sword of Gryffindor and made short work of decapitating the final bringer. The specter talking to Harry immediately morphed into that of Dumbledore.

Harry cried out at the loss. "You foolish girl." The specter said, now looking at Hermione, "You think you can make a difference?" It scoffed in a very un-Dumbledore like way. "My dear," he said in a patronizing tone, "You have no idea what's coming. You are but a pawn in a game far larger than you know."

Hermione looked at it, stunned by the appearance of her former headmaster, even knowing the truth of what he was. "We'll stop you," she said, trying to sound more sure of herself than she really was.

He laughed – now a jovial laugh very reminiscent of the real Dumbledore. "Of course you will. It will be the last act of the slayer. And then your kind will leave this world forever."

"Why are you here then? If I'm just a pawn?" Hermione asked. She could now hear Ron stirring and Harry helping their confused friend up.

"Oh, just doing a favor for a friend." And he smiled and vanished. The trio looked around, remaining still at the being's last words.

And suddenly, the whoosh! of apparation surrounded them. Hermione had only moments to summon her essentials and light the rest of their camp on fire before they were captured.

"Well well well, if it isn't Harry Potter." A voice snarled. Hermione darted her eyes, 8 she counted. She debated if she could take on 8 wizards – trying to imagine what Draco would say if he were here.

With the snatchers' eyes focused solely on Harry she kneed the man where no man wishes to be kneed and immediately stupified another. OK – 2 down she thought, instinctively casting a protego and working her way to her next target.

"I wouldn't try anything girl." Another voice smiled cruelly at her. She gulped and watched as two snatchers had their wands held to Harry and Ron's throats. Hermione looked at her friends and nodded her head – putting her hands in the air as two snatchers roughly immobilized her.

Moments later, they were apparated away. They landed about 100 feet from some mansion – judging by the lack of driveway it must have been a wizarding dwelling.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor." The snatcher on her right whispered cruelly in her ear.

"Shit." She whispered.

Harry and Ron, equally incapacitated, looked at her with questioning eyes. "We're at Malfoy Manor." She told them; her voice steady.

Their eyes went wide but they seemed to relax just the slightest at the knowledge.

The group awkwardly stumbled to the front door where Narcissa and Bellatrix were standing awaiting them. Narcissa looked outwardly calm and collected while her sister was literally cackling in glee.

Hermione looked at Narcissa who gave her just the smallest shake of her head. Shit Hermione thought again – he wasn't here. She debated her options – fighting seemed out of the question given her and her friends lack of wands. Running was a viable option – she could get away but likely Harry and Ron would be trapped. She debated it nonetheless – run and get help maybe? Though she realized that while the current situation was not ideal she actually did need to be here – Malfoy manor had the only open floo connection to Sunnydale. Of course, she had been hoping to come voluntarily and when Draco's psychotic Aunt was out.

"Dear sister – I must alert my husband and son of this good news." Brilliant! Hermione thought, internally relieved at Narcissa's quick thinking.

"Oh – do be quick! I'm sure they don't want to miss out on the fun." Bellatrix snarled. Narcissa gave the trio a quick look over and then an almost imperceptible nod before heading into the house.

They were roughly led into the house, into some sort of formal drawing room that only really rich people seemed to have the need for when Bellatrix saw a glimmer of metal sticking out from Hermione's bag.

"What is that?" She said, alarmed, and grabbed the sword. "You mudblood filth!" She screamed and back handed Hermione.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron were now yelling. "Get away from her!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at her friends. She was fairly certain yelling wouldn't accomplish anything at this point.

She climbed to her feet and stared at the witch – whose face, already a mask of cruelty seemed to twist further, her wand aimed directly at Hermione's head. Without really thinking, relying on pure instinct Hermione kicked at the witch's wrist, hitting just the right spot forcing her to let go of her wand which fell neatly into Hermione's right hand.

"What was that?" Hermione said before kicking the woman in the stomach, sending off a quick stunner and then stalking towards her friends. Now only two snatchers remained – the rest had gone off to continue – Hermione wasn't sure but she assumed – snatching things. She yelled "down!" at her friends and then, after ducking to avoid a spell from the thug holding Ron on her right, turned and jabbed the snatcher on the left, using enough force to cause him to lose consciousness. She had just turned her wand back and was preparing to take down their final foe when she felt absolute and total pain bury into her right side.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix's voice rang through the room, Hermione's own wand pointed at her side. "What else did you steal from my vault you vile creature?!" She belted at Hermione. The sole remaining snatcher managed to grab a hold of Ron and Harry who were once again screaming at her.

And then – "What's going on in here?" Hermione heard the ever-calm voice of Draco Malfoy walk in. Bellatrix stopped her attack and both she and Hermione turned to face the newcomer. Draco stood, put together in his death eater robes, arms behind his back as he faced his aunt, as if they were discussing a cup of tea or something equally mundane.

"Just having a little fun with the Mudblood dear nephew!" She cackled because apparently that was how she communicated.

"About that," he said sadly and then looked at Hermione and gave a quick nod. At once he mumbled something under his breath which completely debilitated his aunt, causing her to collapse on the floor. In the meantime, Hermione had raced over and, using Draco's distraction, incapacitated the final death eater. Draco took a moment to ensure all of their enemies were effectively down for the count before racing over to Hermione.

The pair embraced, "I'm sorry I wasn't here – I only just got your text." He told her whispering in her ear. They stood that way for a few moments before regretfully pulling apart.

"Get a room!" Ron yelled but smiled as he approached the pair, giving Draco a solid handshake and hugging Hermione in relief.

"We didn't mean to come when we did – we were trying to get in touch with you to find a reasonable time to use your floo." Hermione explained.

"What happened?" Draco asked.

Hermione shook her head, "I don't know if we have time, I need to go to Sunnydale. And these two need to go."

"Before you go – I got your message about a relic of Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw – my father confirmed that the dark lord once gave my aunt Hufflepuff's Cup." Draco told Harry.

Harry and Ron looked to each other, "Any idea where she put it?" Harry asked.

Draco shrugged but Hermione perked up, "I think it's in her vault." The three looked at her confused and she explained, "she freaked out the minute she saw the sword – I'm not sure if the sword was in her vault but she seemed terrified that something else was missing."

Draco retrieved the trio's wands and quickly distributed them. He looked at his aunt and shrugged, grabbing her wand and handing it to Harry, "not sure how you can get into her vault but you'll need this if you have any chance." Harry thanked him before looking sadly at Hermione.

"Are you two going to be alright?" Hermione asked.

Harry and Ron smiled softly and gave her quick smiles before being shooed out.

Draco turned to Hermione, the pair smiling at one another until they heard the tell-tale sign of stirring.

"Shit." Draco cursed and grabbed Hermione's hand, urging her to the fireplace. The two looked at each other again and Hermione, with a quick swoosh and a green flame was gone.