Disclaimer!

These characters do not belong to me nor do I make any money off this story. I am merely writing Fan Fiction. The characters belong to their respective author. I hope you enjoy Joining Forces.

Hermione POV:

"How disastrous," From the side, a monotone voice rang still sounding deep and irritated. Wearing his black robes as he often did, Snape walked into the area we were in with a scowl that was worn even more often than his robes. From his wand, water sprayed out extinguishing a large clump of fire as well. Behind him, there were the indications of a few other lights nearby. "It's clear that nothing much has changed,"

"Yeah, punish later, will you?" Ron replied. "Since you already noticed, you might as well help, professor,"

"Such a spiteful attitude," Snape responded though he cast the water-making spell as well and the fires died down much quickly. "You were always one of my least favourites,"

"Any student who isn't in Slytherin is one of your least favourites!"

"Not true, not that I would care to explain to students as dim-witted as you," Once the fires were gone, Snape wasted no time to beat us all on the head with a growl. "Though imprudent would be a better-suited word. For people who saved Hogwarts, you seem to have no idea about how a centaur would react to this scene."

"Severus!" Coming through the path which he arrived was Professor McGonagall. Seeing the situation, her face relaxed before wearing a disappointed frown. "What in Merlin's name are you doing out here!? Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you can disregard Hogwarts rules."

"They don't wait until the holidays to disregard regulations," Snape cut in. "It has become some sort of a tradition for them, they should have already been expelled twenty times over,"

"I'm aware of your opinions, Severus," Professor McGonagall's face didn't change much, but her lips thinned. "Either way, what happens to them is not up to you to decide. Back to the matter at hand, what is going on? I saw a help signal flare,"

"That is what we'd all like to know."

"We got bigger issues. Bellatrix," Harry spat. "She came to the forbidden forest. She was accompanied with these Colchis bulls and a hellhound, there was also some sort of shadow-apparition that she could do, and our magic wasn't working-"

"Clearly, there's a lot to say, all of which is currently poorly explained, so I would rather if you could clear that head of yours and do so properly,"

"What Professor Snape means," McGonagall corrected. "Is that we'll go to Dumbledore,"

"What about Bellatrix?" Annabeth said. "She's probably still there,"

"I'll stay to check over things," McGonagall replied. "There are other professors who had seen your signal so they can stay with me. Severus will bring you to Dumbledore,"

As Professor McGonagall mentioned, there were a few other professors who had seen my signal flares and come out. We gave the short version of what had happened so some had stayed inside to guard Hogwarts while others went to the Forbidden Forest to aid McGonagall. Dumbledore's office was in the place where it always was. Although Harry was the one who often went there we weren't strangers to how it would work. When we entered, Dumbledore had been waving his wand in the air at his desk, making a small rainbow with a smile before letting it slowly dissipate. Seeing him, I could tell all of us let out a sigh of relief.

Dumbledore's on his death bed. Dumbledore's on his death bed!

It wasn't true at all.

Upon seeing us enter, Dumbledore waved his hand and got up from his seat with a smile. "You're all here for a visit, how lovely,"

"They went to the Forbidden Forest," Snape snapped. "Came out with burned property and a story about Bellatrix,"

"Let's hear it then," As always Dumbledore spoke calmly, seeming not very surprised at the news.

We told about the events in the Forbidden Forest from Bellatrix's arrival to our magic failing, the hellhound, our suspect of shadow-apparition and all the way until Snape had brought us to his office. During our quite well-explained record of the battle, Dumbledore had a few moments where he raised his brow slightly or began nodding his head. However, after it all, the first thing he asked was which colour was our favourite.

"No, blue?" Percy replied as though expecting something to be said afterwards, but all that followed was a similar question. "Hmm, blue is a very nice colour," Dumbledore asked. "I was planning of doing some more knitting as of late, and I would be delighted to have your input," After responses of different colours, and a few remarks. Dumbledore put his hand under his chin. "If things are as you said then perhaps we should call for some support in the Forbidden Forest,"

"Hagrid had gone over there to help Professor McGonagall with some of the creatures. We encountered him early on," I said. "That should help them in case of another magic-not-working scenario."

"However if this happens again, Hogwarts will be more or less defenceless," Annabeth noted. "Our classes and creatures can't make up for this fact. What if Bellatrix comes back soon, I doubt she would just stay in the Forbidden Forest with this sort of ability,"

"Some things cannot be answered so quickly," Dumbledore responded. "This is certainly a turn of the situation. Along with the earlier factors, it can be said that we shouldn't be worrying for just Hogwarts anymore, but the wizarding world as a whole."

"Should we get the minister to launch sort of campaign?" Ron suggested. "Bellatrix can't hide if we do some sort of all-out search and then she and her associate will be found-"

"And then what?" Annabeth objected. "We still have no idea what to do about the magic situation. We can't just send ourselves to her doorstep,"

"You young ones shouldn't worry about all this now, I do have some ideas on what to do," Dumbledore assured. "But we'll just have to wait at the moment. In the meantime, you should all have a good night's sleep, including you Severus. You've been looking somewhat pale lately. However, I have some words to speak with Percy and Annabeth,"

Snape raised a brow, but he wasn't the only one in confusion. It seemed that Dumbledore was having almost too many private meetings with the American students to a point where it was abnormal. Before anyone could really voice anything, Dumbledore had already answered our doubts. "Come now, it's natural for me to have so many private meetings with them. It is a strange school year. Besides, their principal, Mr. Brunner had sent me a message recently,"

"Mr. Brunner?!" Hearing his name, both Percy and Annabeth raised their heads slightly higher. It was as if this one name had brought with it immeasurable anticipation. Dumbledore replied, "Yes, there are some questions he has, along with some more news with how your school is going and more. I understand that you would rather these things ve private since some of it concerns those close to you,"

"Oh," Harry said. "Is there anything else we can do in the meantime to help? I know we shouldn't rush too much with this situation, but I feel like there should be more we can do."

"How about you all think of why Bellatrix was in the Forbidden Forest," Snape said. "You've been there enough times to think about if there is anything worthwhile to her eyes. Something that would make her bring along several monsters and light up with glee. Anything comes to mind?"