I really don't like fanfiction copy and paste editor. Do you know how many time I found myself with the actual code of the page, right in the editor? It's really a freaking mess to clean it afterward. If someone who can make a difference ever read this, please DO SOMETHING about it. I beg you.

I can't just let the script without making it at least a bit less difficult to read. That's the point of using different typo. So please... fanfiction tools are already archaic. Please at least make it work.

By the way... I would dreams of columns with justified text for fake newspaper; I wouldn't say no to right alignment for differentiation, it might be cool for fake texts in between characters; I wouldn't say no either for actually BIG TITLES and I wouldn't say no to some fantastic tools like lists a) b) c) d) and real footnotes. Obviously, polices management would be the last great thing I could ask for. When used moderately, it can totally improve the immersion.

So please fanfiction... I don't want a lot for Christmas. Would you make my dream come true? (After more than five years of asking)

Chapter 14

Hermione woke up from one of those dreams. It wasn't a bad one but she could feel from her sore muscles that she had move incessantly in her bed all night long. She had been dancing with Viktor Krum. The man was sweet and a real gentleman but Hermione was uncomfortable with him. He could have crushed her by only making a misstep and their build were outrageous incompatible, so were their personalities. But as she just said, he was still a nice guy and she had a good time.

Better than Harry in that dream. He spent all the evening sulking right after the mandatory dance with his partner. He had tried to ask for Cho Chang but he found a love rival in no less than Cedric Diggory and wasn't a match for him. Hermione could tell that his bestfriend had a crush for the girl at the time and that he couldn't careless about his dance partner, one of the Patil Twins.

Hermione as she was woken up was infuriate. She could remember up to the tiniest little details of that evening, already made notes of everything that matter but her other self from the dream didn't spare a single thought about the first task. All she knew was they must have all succeeded and doing fine as Cedric Diggory looked in better health than ever. Harry also survived the First Task. Which means the sabotage either didn't happened or failed.

Considering than Lucius Malfoy was behind it, it probably just failed. So the ministry couldn't have take over and had to bind their time until the second task. That was her hypothesis. The Hermione from her dream just buy herself a few months because of Harry entering the tournament for whatever reason.

But once she was done reviewing the dream, she felt like it was pointless. She didn't learned a single useful thing. And didn't felt like talking about it to anyone. Harry? He might just be jealous. Sirius and Remus? They would just worried about her having those kind of vivid and intrusive dreams, that's it. So she decided to kickly forget about it and went on with her day.

§§§

Dear Minister,
You might not trust a single word of what we said but we would tell you anyway and let you do whatever you feel like doing with this information. A few week ago, we break in the Head of Security Dolores Umbridge and found this piece of paper, among a few thing. It's a copy and the original is still in her office but you should be able to tell from her handwriting that it's not a fake.

I can't wait to know what you will do of this information.

The marauders.

§§§

Dear Head of Security,

We must tell you that we break in your office and made a copy of a certain piece of paper. The minister was absolutely delight about. Here is a magical enchanted video tape so you can enjoy the scene to your heart content. Please bear with the poor quality of the footage as those were taken without the minister knowledge.

I wish you a very nice day.

The marauders.

§§§

Dear Lucius Malfoy,

It's our deepest regret to tell you that the minister learn about your plan to replace you and that Dolores Umbridge left Hogwarts while leaving all the proof incriminating you behind in the hope of mitigating the minister anger by placing all the blame on you. She even counterfeit a blackmail letter from you in hope that the minister would fall for it and take her back.

You must feel really bad, aren't you?

The marauders.

§§§

"Are you sure it was a good idea?" Hermione asked, for what was about the fifth time already. She wasn't feel good about that plan of Sirius. Sending anonymous letters to all three of them so they wouldn't turn against each other. They would realized they had been tricked, right?

"I told you Hermione. This is a wrong idea. We knew it from the start. But if we had to become real criminals, we at least had to try." Sirius replied once again.

"It would cause quite an upset and we have no freaking idea what the result would be." Hermione pointed out.

"Best case scenario: Cornelius Fudge prove that he is competent for once and deal with both Umbridge and Malfoy." Sirius summarized. "Worst case scenario, Lucius Malfoy feel so threaten that he actually drop the act and take over the ministry by force before appointing someone else worse for Umbridge work."

"I'm actually agonising just waiting to know what it would be." Hermione admitted.

"Me too." Sirius said. "We knew it was a high-risk, high-reward and foolish move to take, but we had to take it."

"Harry endangered himself to take those footages." Hermione complained even more. "It really have to be worth it."

"I know." Sirius said. "Whatever happens, I would make it front-page tomorrow morning. Just be patient."

§§§

"The minister charge for corruption! Rufus Scrimgeour appointed as the new office holder.

It turned out that a sudden jump in the investigation finally permitted to know what unfold during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. It turn out the Barty Crouch was the one who sabotage the shackle of the Dragon.

The most prevalent theory was the he had an arrangement with Ludo Bagman. Our responsible of the sport management was already known for making money from the bait of the events he organized. He also turn out that he had no qualm to influence the result to make even more money!

It was also proven that Ludo Bagman was the one who convinced the minister of homing the tournament, promising good press and actual benefits. And so the minister was charged with corruption as he permits his employee to make benefits from their charge for years, taking a percentage for himself.

Dolores Umbridge was also sacked from her office as Head of Hogwarts Security. Since the investigation is now done, the ministry don't feel like withholding information anymore and so had to announced that Albus Dumbledore must have been intoxicated by the smoke during the first task and was founded unconscious shortly after.

As he is obviously incapable of doing his job any more, the new minister is asking the board of governors to immediately appoint someone to replace it. It should be a mere formality as the Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall already proved that she was up to the task during those last few weeks.

Not to sullen further the minister office, Cornelius Fudge trial would be held in private, tomorrow morning. If proven guilty -there is little to no doubt he is at this point- he would be sent to Azkaban for life and all the fortune he amassed would be seized by the ministry to finance a reinforcement of the Auror department."

"What does that means for us?" Harry asked.

"That means that Lucius Malfoy gave up on Hogwarts to keep his hold on the ministry." Hermione responded."I bet that his Auror reinforcement would consist of Deatheaters and sympathizers."

"So we should be safe at Hogwarts but not in the country, how does it even make sense?" Harry couldn't help but throw a fist to the table.

"That means that professor mcGonagall appointment as Headmistress might be really short lived." Sirius stated the obvious.

"So what are we doing?" Harry asked again.

"You are going back to Hogwarts. Not going back would only paint a target on us even sooner. But you won't take the Hogwarts Express." Remus stated.

"So it's really second year all over again." Harry couldn't help but remark.

"I'm going to make an illegal portkey." Sirius said. "At this point, we are going to be criminals sooner or later so I don't see the point waiting."

"If anything happens, you call for Dobby and Winky, go straight to the shack and use it." Remus completed.

"If you are lucky, try to bring Moody with you." Sirius told them. "He will be the first one to be target if Hogwarts is taken over."

"Use that time at Hogwarts to hone your skill and recruit. There is going to be a bloody war really soon." Remus said again.

"And please, please... stay together... no matter what." Sirius said, taking both their shoulder and shaking it slightly.

§§§

It was the day before Christmas Eve. Harry and Hermione's friend were surprised they got invited so soon after parting way. Sirius told them everything and invited them to join.

He told them about the order, how they manage to survive the first war, what they had sacrificed. What he was hoping to achieve this time as they couldn't count on Dumbledore help.

He was grave and realistic about their odds. He used his and Remus' example of how successful they could hope to be and how 'grateful' the society would be for what they would have done.

There was no pretending to be heroes. They were just average opposers trying to survive a bunch of fanatics whom had the backing of a corrupted government, that was it.

"We are in." The twins said in chorus to Harry and Hermione surprised.

"That Umbridge took us everything. We have nothing left to hope for at Hogwarts so we don't care if we have to leave. Our joke shop would be compromise before we even get started. So we are in. For survival and revenge." George explained.

"There is mum, my bestfriend" Ginny said "She will got herself killed without me."

She had priorities and people to protect. No one could blame her for that. Hermione did roll her eyes but that was because of how much Harry and her were alike, always ready to get themselves killed to protect someone else.

"I will do it. But I won't go anywhere" Ron said before being punched disapprovingly by her sister "I didn't try to influence your decision, so please respect mine."

He paused before explaining himself.

"I want to help but I'm not like you guys. I'm not doing well outside of my comfort zone. Being on the run? Studying abroad? And not being sure to even come back? I can't do this. This is my school. This is where I belong. So if things goes south, I will stay. Plus, what there would be left to fight for if we are all leaving?"

"If it's because of me, you shouldn't bother." Ginny tried once again.

"If it was because of you, I would tie you up and leave you no choice" Ron stated, losing his temper.

Everyone knew he truly cared for his sister but had a rather sick way to show it. As for not be willing to join because they had to leave... Harry wasn't surprised but Hermione did got quite a shock.

"I will do it!" Neville shouted his hand turned into a fist. He dared anyone to say him no.

"Grandma is always shouting at me. For how proud she was of my parents and disappointed of me. That's I should grow a pair, man up and all those bullshit. I'm scared shitless but I'm not a coward. I'm going to help. I'm going to avenge my parents. I'm going to be right beside you, no matter what. And if I'm going down, I would make sure to drag as much of those bastards with me."

His determination was fierce and everyone could tell that he thought about for long, probably for years.

Sirius nodded. He had gone visit the Longbottom once since he got freed. He couldn't bring himself to come and visit again after seeing what her cousins made of them.

That's little guy... he was going to see them each chance he got. He knew the risks more than anyone else. That there were actually fates worse than death. And yet, he was willing to come. This spoke volume of how much a Gryffindor he was.

"If someone had any doubt about it, I will do it too!" Hermione cracked a joke to break the silence and the heavy mood that had fallen on them all.

Everyone laughed. Even more than Harry safety, she was the reason they were about to leave so early.

"And that's surely not because I would surely be executed to set an example on the very first week." She kept going. "Who is going to watch his back and put some senses into his foolhardy skull if not me?" Hermione nudge Harry mercilessly.

"Again? I thought we were done with it. See? That's totally domestic abuse. I should really complain to the proper authority." Harry played along while everyone kept laughing.

The marauders had became the new Order of Phoenix. They were preparing to fight or run away for their lives. They were just a bunch of friends trying to make a difference. But didn't the Order started in the exact same way? Except that Sirius and Remus were their mentors instead of Dumbledore, it was about the same all over again. It was also easy to compare Harry and her to James and Lily. Would they meet the same fate at the very end?

Hermione couldn't help but have doubt. But she had to be strong and have faith. If she was the one to her doubt, everyone would be plagued with it. However, she couldn't help but feel like their little victory over Dolores Umbridge was really bitter, and that they actually made everything worse early on.

Also, she couldn't help but feel really bad that they let that woman escape. She wasn't the type to go down without a fight. She would surely come up with something. And Hermione would have rather seen her sent to Azkaban or die by her hand than this. But Sirius insisted and she went along with it.

She really hoped that choice would come back to haunt her.

§§§

Harry and Hermione were having some good time at Hermione's place. It was actually Harry's idea after the Granger went to Grimmault for Christmas. He didn't wanted to do the same as Ron and take Hermione going to his place for granted. So he felt like he could reciprocate. Plus, with the current tension on the wizard side of the fence, he felt like 'going muggle' for a few day.

Hermione was happy so long they were together. They didn't had much time left to go skying that year with her family so they just went to the park, take a few stroll, had some shopping - a real first for Harry - and sat on the couch to watch some nice old movies.

Ron and Neville join for a few days but they had to come back home for the new year Eve. As for Sirius and Remus, they would join at the last moment as they were trying to regroup the Order and to do whatever they could to prevent the Deatheaters to take over the ministry completely.

Rufus Scrimgeour was a decent man but he was really ill-advised as he couldn't tell that his primally adviser - Lucius Malfoy, of course, was using him to advance his own agenda. As for Malfoy Sr, he was really a threatening man. He probably tried to manipulate Voldemort itself before he realized that it wouldn't work. He was actually good at politics and one hell of an incredible hypocrite.

Since Rufus Scrimgeous had took over, he had come up with 'protected works for muggleborns' which were essentially ministry servitudes. It was design so it would be extremely difficult to back out once engaged. And he managed to pull it off while pretending to protect and promote muggleborns within the ministry. He tried to pull off the same shit with 'preferential loans for muggleborns' and 'moderate rent housing for muggleborns'. Basically, if those three laws had come to pass - they didn't - the muggleborns would have been essentially turned into slaves for the ministry.

But Hermione was confident in Remus and Sirius to deal with those kind of things. Even if she tried, no one would listen to an underage witch anyway. She learnt that from Buckbeak. Her opinion was worth nothing so long she didn't got her newts.

"A penny for you thought?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Lucius Malfoy." She replied, laconically.

"That's it? You are not going to tell me more?"

"My thought are worth a bit more than a penny." She said, sticking her tongue.

"So that's how it is..." Harry welcomed Hermione's childish behaviour with a smile.

"But I would give you another piece of my mind for free." Hermione said. "You have a bit of crystal sugar on your cheek."

"Oh." Harry exclaimed, brushing it off.

They just eat lemon sugar crepe from a stall and Harry just had been a little bit too enthusiastic about it.

Harry must have thought that the mood was exceptionally good because he leaned closer.

"I love you, did I mention it already?"

Hermione pushed him back really gently.

"You did. I would say... fifty times already."

"But you won't change your mind about it, won't you?"

"A war is about to break out. I'm not feeling any better about it than before. You are really sweet and you know I love you but this isn't right." Hermione tried to explain. "This would hardly count as a first date, you know?"

"So we are dating?" Harry asked encouragingly.

"A platonic date for a platonic relationship? Sure. Why not?" Hermione agreed.

"Then, do you want to make it a real date? Watching a movie or going to an exhibition. Going home. Making dinner all by ourselves, for ourselves. How does it sound?"

"You like to cook, right?" Hermione asked.

"Since I don't have to do it for the Dursleys any more? Hell yes." Harry replied with a passion.

"You cook, I set the table?" She asked for a deal.

"Sound good to me. So what are we doing now?"

"You will think I'm crazy but I like it outdoor." Hermione joked. It was freezing cold. "A comedy would be nice."

"I totally agree on that one."

It would be good to have a break from their predicament and laugh for once.

And that's it. I realize that what they needed the most would be allies, not skills and that going for a place to hide should only be a temporary arrangement. Yeah, I know, it's bloody obvious. A lot of things that were supposed to happen, mostly the team of friends development would still happen.

Dolores Umbridge is on the run but would make a come back, on way or another. She is one of the best villain, after all. Almost as good as Bellatrix. Really, Dolores Umbridge is totally an anti-Hermione. She likes rules, she is authoritarian ans she is a bit obsessive like Hermione about failure and stuff. For the sake of OoP, she was made incompetent, not that much intelligent, but it's clear that she is a kind of 'Hermione that gone wrong.' I really think there is much to do with that character.

I'm really sorry to all my early readers for deleting/rewriting this chapter but I had reached a bottom neck with my previous idea (with my characters realising that they made the wrong move and were checkmate) so, by my godly power as the writer, I went back to my 'save file' and tried again.