A/N It's back! Another chapter of Mission Kill Mudblood and I'm starting to worry. I pre-wrote half the book before publishing and I've been publishing faster than I can write. Going to have to go on a writing marathon to get these chapters to y'all on time! Thank you again for all of you who review, I love the reviews which ask me to include stuff as it helps make the story more about what you want to see. This chapter's pretty long, but that's to make up for quite a few shorter ones coming up. And now I'm going to get on with it because this A/N is too long!

Chapter 16 - Mayhem at the Ministry

Tap. Tap tap rapity tap tap tap. Tap tap - "OKAY I'M COMIMG!" Hermione yelled, flinging on her dressing gown and walking towards her dorm window. Hopefully she didn't just wake him. So what if she did though, she didn't care. Tap - "SHUT THAT RUDDY OWL UP!" Yelled Draco from his dorm. Okay he was awake. That was their first conversation in over a week. It was Thursday the 13th of November - just. In fact, it was 2:37 am. Tap - "LADY JUST KILL THE RUDDY OWL!" Draco yelled as loud as he could just as Hermione wrenched open the window. "Ow," she exclaimed, as the tawny brown owl soared straight into her room, gripped her arm painfully with its claws and hooted indignantly with the letter in its mouth. Hermione was not perturbed however and ripped open the seal. This was Tonks' owl and that could only mean bad news. Everything went quiet, even the owl. The only sounds were the spatter of rain on the turrets and the raging wind outside. She flicked the letter open, and read:

"Hermione,

I hate to wake you like this H but I need you to know from me before the ministry. We lost. Arthur and Kingsley were at the ministry tonight, patrolling the main entrance. The death eaters came. They took over. They stormed the ministry and killed the minister. Every death eater is out of Azkaban. They've killed Scrimgeour! Hermione they've taken our last strong hold. They threw a riot in Diagon Alley last night. Most shops are alright but there were a few deaths. Arthur and Kingsley are alright but I'm worried about Harry and Ron. Everyone knows they're not at Hogwarts. Please if you know anything on there whereabouts tell us, we can help them. Stay indoors Hermione, there will be war. I miss you! Watch your back. I will write when we've sorted the Order out and I have some spare time.

Love,

Tonks

-x-"

"Oh my god," Hermione whispered. Then she clenched the parchment tight and tore out of her dorm, nearly knocking a shell shocked Draco over, out of the common room and slammed the door shut. She hurled her way along the corridor to the grand staircase. Why was it taking so long. Pictures glanced up at her and murmured something about late night lunatics but she was too preoccupied too scared too tied up to notice. She jumped the stairs two at a time and finally reached the last few steps up to the Gryffindor common room, half yelling "Fortitudo!" And tumbled into her old common room. She sprinted up the stairs and blasted the girls dorm door open, waking Ginny who shrieked and pulled up her duvet, looking around madly as the lights flickered into life. "Ginny!" Hermione panted, clutching a stitch. "Hermione what in the name of Merlin are you doing? Wait are you okay?" She asked concerned. Hermione thrust out the letter teary eyed and worried, to which Ginny snatched and gulped. "No," Ginny whispered. But Hermione was sobbing beyond hysterics now and Ginny just couldn't understand why. "Hermione," she tried, but Hermione swatted her offering hand away and turned to face the wall. "Hermione we knew it was inevitable. Why have you -"

"My parents will be next!" Hermione wept. Ginny gulped. Of course. The ministry had had two people out surveying Mr and Mrs Granger secretly and unknown to the parents, but now the ministry had fallen, there'd be no one to protect the muggles. "When?" Ginny asked softly. "Soon, I'll go soon." Hermione replied softly.

"You don't know anything on the whereabouts of Harry and my brother do you?"

"Even if I did I wouldn't tell the Order."

"Why?"

"Because they'd try and stop them."

"Out of my way Malfoy," Hermione spat, full anger and bitchiness back. She'd gone back to bed for a couple of hours, but couldn't sleep so she'd just settled for getting changed and waiting. When she walked back into the Common Room, he was there.

"Your bloody owl kept me up!" He retorted, blocking her way to the coffee jar.

"It wasn't my owl!"

"It was delivering to you!"

"It was urgent!"

"What bloody news could be that -" thud. Draco's eagle owl had just deposited this morning's Daily Prophet, and the headlines couldn't be more true. "The Fall of The Ministry" Draco read, jaw dropped.

"You see why I needed that owl? I was being delivered the information about your people killing Scrimgeour!" Hermione shrieked. Draco stepped away from the coffee jar and growled, "They're not my people!"

"Oh really," Hermione sniped, grabbing Draco's bottle of fire whisky behind the coffee.

"Hey that's mine!"

"Does it look like I care Malfoy?"

"No but I do!" Draco made to grab it back but Hermione hit him hard around the face, downing a quarter of the contents of fire whisky. "What the hell you stupid - girl!" Malfoy yelled, clutching his face.

"You're no better than your father, ferret! Just a cowardly, ungrateful Slytherin death eater!"

"You take that back! You take that back you bitch!"

"Why should I?"

"I haven't done anything against you all year! I haven't done his bidding, I haven't even shown up to the meetings and you have the cheek to call me cowardly?"

"YOU GET EVERYTHING HANDED TO YOU ON A PLATE! Harry's parents died because of him! Ginny's dad nearly died last night! Your parents own a mansion, are servants for the most evil creature on earth, are completely loaded, complete total arseholes just like yourself and you have the cheek to call me a bitch, the impure one?"

"Don't you DARE INSULT MY PARENTS GRANGER!"

"TRY AND STOP ME!"

"CONFRINGO!" Draco yelled, although the spell narrowly missed Hermione and instead hit a teapot which exploded, shards of china shooting in all directions. Hermione screamed, ducking and yelled, "LANGLOCK!" Draco shouted through his nose, as his tongue was now glued to the roof of his mouth. Hermione stormed up to him and slapped him, knocking him to the floor. Draco's eyes widened a fraction as he tried to fight of the curse, eventually breaking free and shouting, "Granger stop!" But she was hitting every part of him she could. He stood up, grabbed her collar and shoved her away from him, yelling, "This is NOT MY FAULT! When will you get it in your thick skull Granger, that I am not the one you should be fearing at the moment! The dark lord will come, and he will kill all of you lot." Hermione glared at him, grabbed her bag and left, yelling, "You're still a fowl, evil little cockroach, ferret! Go back to your death eater family! Sure they will be more friendly than me!"

Slam! The portrait hole banged shut and she was sprinting towards the defence against the dark arts classroom. It was 6:45, too early for breakfast. She could not be bothered to wait until after breakfast. Now would do. She skidded to a halt outside the door, and stood still for a moment, catching her breath. Then, she drew her breath, and pushed the door open. "Professor?" Hermione asked timidly. Her defence against the dark arts teacher looked at her from behind his desk, confused, and then beckoned her in. She walked inside and closed the door. The office door stood ajar and a Cornish Pixie was flying around the room. "Miss Granger what ever are you doing up and about at this hour?" Professor Lupin asked. Up close, Hermione noticed dark shadows beneath his eyes, reminiscent of the ones that occupied her own face every day now. "How is everyone?" Hermione asked. Lupin sighed.

"Tonks write to you too? I apparated there as soon as she owled me. Everybody's fine, Kingsley got out with a splinched hand but it's okay. Nothing a bandage can't fix."

"What is the Order going to do?" Hermione asked firmly, trying to remain strong.

"We're doing what we can to help the muggles of course - oh Hermione don't cry." But Hermione was crying. Her parents were in danger and she was standing here doing nothing. Lupin stood up and walked round his desk, giving the girl a very awkward hug. "What can I do?" She sobbed, backing out of his arms to sit on top of a near by table.

"Remus!" The restrained voice of the headmistress called as she opened the door, "Oh er, Miss Granger I wasn't expecting you here, I'll er, come back la-"

"No professor it's okay I can leave if -"

"No child I can wait -"

"Minerva, I'm sure we are all here about the same cause. Hermione you must stay at school and pretend nothing's out of the ordinary. Keep up your grades and head girl duties and -"

"Professor I'm sharing dorms with a death eater!" Hermione pouted angrily.

"Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy is being observed by the teachers as are all other children of death eaters," McGonagall said gravely.

"But he is a death eater. He has the - the -"

"Just because one has the mark Hermione doesn't mean they want it," Lupin said softly. Why did none of them get it? HE WAS EVIL! "Hermione there's nothing you can do at the moment," he continued.

"Professor," Hermione said sombrely, turning to her headmistress, "My parents."

"Will be dealt with accordingly. You still want to go through with this I assume?"

"Yes," Hermione replied defiantly.

"Very well, you have the weekend to do it, unless you're not doing anything during your free period on Friday, although I want to personally come with you, just in case," McGonagall heaved. Hermione nodded. "Meet me in my office when you're ready Miss Granger, the password is: 'Ubi concordia, ibi victoria.'"

"Where there is unity, there is victory..." Hermione murmured wonderingly. You could tell McGonagall had taken these passwords more seriously than Dumbledore; his passwords were always his favourite sweet. "Very good Miss Granger," McGonagall commended. "Come, Minerva, Hermione. We can take matters into my office, I can brew up a pot of tea.

True to his word, Lupin brewed a pot of tea and five minutes later, Hermione was gulping down sweet, hot gulps of tea. Now she was awake and 100% sober, she felt awful. The truth struck her like a comet. The ministry had fallen. Dumbledore and Scrimgeour were dead. The only people with authority and a slim control over Voldemort were dead. Harry and Ron were Merlin knows where destroying objects which could be anywhere in the world and they didn't even know what they looked like. Her parents now had no ministry protection and the Order were in despair. And she'd just blamed the whole lot on Draco. Draco, who hadn't turned up to death eater meetings. Draco, who'd been tortured by his father and Voldemort himself. Draco, who hadn't been cruel to her (much) all year. Draco, who had saved her twice this year from her ex. Draco. "I need to go," Hermione stated, completely aghast at her outburst this morning. Yes he was a death eater but hadn't her mother told her to give him a chance? Now who was being the prejudice one? Judging him for a tattoo and family background. She got up and walked to the door, shouldering the beaded bag she'd taken with her. "See you in third lesson then," Lupin smiled and she left, leaving her half drunk tea on the table.

.

Draco had just packed his bag to go down to breakfast when Hermione burst in and gasped, "Sorry."

"Excuse me?" Draco asked sardonically, turning around to face her.

"I said sorry! Look I realise that my behaviour this morning was totally uncalled for and I understand if you feel like you want to kill me for what I said but -"

"Granger -"

"I just want to apologise and let you know that what -"

"Granger -"

"I said wasn't true and that you're not a bad person and that this isn't your fault -"

"Hermione -"

"And that I've been really mean judging you because of that mark and I've been really ungrateful and I -"

"Hermione!" Draco interrupted her loudly, shaking her slightly by the shoulders.

"I just wanted to say sorry," Hermione said calmly.

"I know," Draco replied, stepping back from the girl and sitting on the arm of the sofa.

"Can we just forget about everything?" Hermione asked. Did he want to forget. He got it, she was going through a lot. But really? She needed to relax about everything. "What ever you want," Draco replied coolly, "But -" Now this could ruin things, "You don't have to be afraid of me. And for the record I'd never wish death upon you." She was shocked. He turned and went down to breakfast. She however decided to go to the owlery and try to contact Harry. And Ron. He may be a jerk but forgive and forget right? She shouldered her bag, replaced the beaded bag inside her shoulder bag and left.

The trek up to the owlery was dull and uneventful, unless you count helping a second or third year out of a trick step, who'd managed to get his whole leg locked in the step. Or calling to a fifth year not to run down the corridor. It was automatic, she supposed. Rules were there for a reason. Or were they? There weren't really rules anymore. Yet she wanted to hold onto that slither of normality. Rules had always been a part of her life. She needed one stable, trustworthy part in her life and rules were always there. Yet, like everything else in the end, they break shatter.

"Dear -" she couldn't address it to Harry, what if the letter was looked at by a death eater. Or anyone really. She was sitting in one of the stone arched windows and trying to write her letter to Harry and Ron. A few late hunters soared through the arches with a mouse or shrew in their beaks. The gentle breeze lifted a few blades of straw and rolled a few owl droppings across the floor. It was rather peaceful, to be honest, although it did smell a bit. What could she call him? Friend? Mate even? She could make up a name. Lewis, Tom, Daniel, Rupert. Nope, none of them suited. She could address him by his middle name, James, but that seemed too sensitive, calling him by his father's name. In the end she settled with...

"Dear Trouble,

I do hope you get this owl, if you aren't the addressee to this letter then bog off. I hope you're okay, haven't seen you in a while. In case you hadn't heard, the ministry has fallen. O is struggling, hurry up out there. I miss you - both believe it or not. Not you so much you two faced pigeon but you'll be pleased to know your babe is still as bitchy as ever. As for your babe, trouble, she misses you but is holding up well. I'm good, went into hospital, kissed a guy," she couldn't resist putting that in for effect, "but all in all it's good up here. Hope to see you soon," now how to sign it. Jean? No.

"S.P.E.W.

-xx-"

S.P.E.W. Now that was a throwback. Fourth year, The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. She still had some badges. And the collecting tin. And that old clipboard Harry had recorded a meeting in. Where was it? Must be in the loose floorboard next to her old bed still. It used to be in the wardrobe, but then Fred and George had snuck in to try and take the money. She'd had such a go at them for coming into the girl's dorm, she'd threatened to tell Molly. The twins had of course given the money back and told her that, "We would have given it back anyway." Hermione smiled to herself and looked hopefully at the school owls. They all looked back begrudgingly. Finalły one shuffled forward and stuck its leg out. It was an old brown owl, one of the school's. "This is very important," Hermione began, looking the owl in the face, "I don't know if you can understand me but this letter needs to be delivered to Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Suddenly the owl took off angrily without the letter as a fluff ball the size of a tennis ball flung itself at the letter. Hermione laughed and noticed it was Pigwigeon. "Hey Pig, you want to take this? Will you find him. It doesn't have an address." Pigwigeon zoomed around the letter hoping it would get to take it. "Stand still," Hermione huffed, as the bird landed on a perch and she tied the letter to his leg. The brown owl hooted indignantly and turned away. "Don't let anyone else see it okay, only Ron and Harry." Pigwigeon hooted then soared out of the window. Small as he was, Hermione was sure that Ron's owl was intelligent enough to find his owner.

She trailed down the steps and through the door back into the castle. Someone rushed passed her saying something about quidditch. Quidditch. Another thing to add to her growing list of jobs. Tryouts were starting tomorrow as both sixth years and sevens had a free period last lesson. She'd personally tacked a sign up sheet outside the great hall on Monday before breakfast. When she'd come back from breakfast, Draco M, Seamus F, Dean T, Ginny W and Hannah A had signed up. Someone had written 'Reserve Harry P' and 'Reserve Ron W.' The last time she'd seen it, Blaise, Theo and Ernie had added their names. Ginny was still the only sixth year to try out for the team though. Draco had also signed up to be a team captain, no surprise there, and Ginny had signed up to be the other team's captain.

She reached double Herbology with along with the rest of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, and decided to sit next to Neville, Seamus and Dean. "How come you weren't at breakfast Hermione?" Seamus asked.

"Mm you weren't at the table, not even at the end," Neville added.

"I was up at the owlery," Hermione replied, glancing at her reflection in the glass. "Merlin," she muttered. Of course, the glass was green but she still looked awful. She had bags under her eyes and massive black shadows all over her face, she was slouched even when she felt she was standing straight and her eyes had that dull, given up look about them. None of the usual - well maybe not so usual anymore - fieriness or determination. She had also definitely gotten thinner. "Who were you owling at this time in the morning?" Dean asked, whilst putting in some thick gloves and grabbing a rather venomous, spiky looking plant.

"Harry and Ron," Hermione replied. Neville looked at her.

"You didn't address them did you," he asked.

"Of course not. I called them trouble."

"Of course you did," Neville chuckled whilst the other two boys laughed.

"OW!" Dean yelled as the plant slapped one of its spiky tentacles on Dean's forgotten hand. He snatched it back, took a sharp tool and sliced the tentacles off. The plant drooped slightly.

Double Herbology seemed like a waste of time for Hermione. She already knew the properties of Venemous Tentacular, and various other plants. It was getting awfully chilly and the wind kept sweeping through the open windows, so when the bell went to signal lunch, Hermione was slightly happier. She packed, said bye to the boys, and walked down to Hagrid's hut. The trek was breezy so she pulled her cloak tighter around her. She knocked twice upon Hagrid's door and waited. She heard scrabbling from inside and deep, booming barks. "Back Fang," Hagrid's gruff voice said warningly. "Back!" He snapped. Th door opened and Hagrid's smiled, seeing who it was. "Wandered when you'd be coming down ter see me!" Hagrid beamed.

"It's been very busy Hagrid," Hermione replied apologetically.

"Course," Hagrid replied, "Heard all about the Order an' all. Ministry and that ol' tosh. Knew it was gonna happen." Hermione smiled weakly. "So," Hagrid said, clapping his hands on his knees. Hermione sat in one of the chairs as Hagrid put the kettle on. Meanwhile Fang decided to rest his chin on Hermione's leg and drool. "Wanna coffee or tea?" Hagrid asked.

"Tea sounds good," she replied. He came bag with two mugs of tea, his the size of a tankard. They sipped quietly.

"So, why aren't yeh at the castle havin' lunch," he asked.

"I don't know," Hermione replied, "Felt like visiting you, after everything."

"Hmm, so, tell me about yer year, what happnin' between you an' yer friends."

Hermione sighed and replied, "Ron and I broke up. In fact he was cheating on me."

"What?"

"Yeah, he and Lavender Brown had been a couple since sometime in the summer holidays. Walked in on them kissing first week back and ran off. And here's the funny bit, we've had two rather brutal fights, both of which Ron attacked me. And you know the weirdest bit, Malfoy helped me both times, once when I could barely walk back to the common room and crashed on the floor, this was after Ron threw me against the wall, and Malfoy used lots of healing charms to help. Then, outside after charms when Ron was stamping on me, he used healing charms then too. And him and I, we're meant to be enemies."

"Merlin's beard 'Mione. 'Ave yer not told anyone? Ron though, why on earth."

"He was standing up for his new girlfriend. I started on her because naturally I was mad that he'd cheated on me, then outside she started teasing me, we fought and he intervened. Then Harry and Ginny intervened. Then Malfoy intervened and then it got very messy. It was then just Ron versus Malfoy and thank Merlin Malfoy easily took him."

"Hermione how come none of the teachers -"

"McGonagall may have figured something out, at the Halloween party. But please I don't want to cause hassle."

"Hermione come here," and he pulled her into a gruff hug.

"I'm really confused," she mumbled through tears. Hagrid patted her back and she felt her knees buckle.

"What's happnin' between you an' Malfoy then?" Hagrid asked.

"Nothing," Hermione said, drying her eyes and sitting back on her seat.

"Harry and Ron?"

"Sorry Hagrid but I really can't tell anyone that."

"Right."

"Neville, Luna and - ah what's her name again? Ginny?"

"Oh they're a laugh. Luna and Neville are dating, Ginny is getting over not being with Harry. Seamus and Dean are okay too, I seem to be the only one affected by everything."

"Hermione it'll all get better."

"I have to wipe my parents memory."

"What?!"

"So that they're protected from the death eaters. The ministry men protecting them are now gone and they're defenceless. Ever since Podmore's family were massacred, I -"

"Wait Podmore's family were massacred? When? By who?"

"You didn't know? Bellatrix killed them. The Order knows right?"

"I don't know. I'll tell McGonagall though, if she knows then that's okay. Now then," he got up and stretched, "the bell will be in ten, you should probably get going. See you soon." Hermione smiled.

"Bye," she said, "Thanks for the tea!" She then opened the door and retreated into the cold.

A/N I don't think the Order did know Hermione, how are you going to get yourself out of this one. I think you all know what's coming next Tuesday. I realised that Hagrid is a very main character in the books and films, and that no facfic really has him included. He plays a main part in the trio's life so I kind of had to include it to make it feel more real. Hope I got his character right! Remember to review if you have time, and look out for next week's chapter! Bye!