Chapter 26
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Hogwarts, 1995
The air was heavy with tension as Hermione shoved Malfoy away from her. He didn't even stumble as he shot her a glare. His mouth formed a sneer, one she hadn't seen since the year before.
When he had been only a prat and spoiled boy.
What stood before her wasn't the boy anymore. And she wasn't sure what to think about it.
"Did you hear me, Granger?" he questioned harshly.
Not wanting to stay in the cold any longer, Hermione turned her back to him and headed back down. Very conscious of the Slytherin at her back, she kept her head high.
She wasn't sure how to deal with him. He really had thrown her off with the sudden confession.
Hermione paused midway down the stairs, heading out of the Astronomy Tower. She spoke up, voice low as not to be heard.
"Why do you think there is anything going on between Snape and me? There shouldn't be any connection at all."
But they hadn't been careful. Something to keep in mind for now on.
His steps came to a stop too. Hermione saw a slight shadow ahead of them and relaxed. He had come the instant Malfoy had started to question her. He should have already left but had probably decided to stay in case she needed him.
Malfoy finally spoke, voice thick with suspicion.
"Like I said, I have seen you coming and going as you please. But I also noticed Theo's involvement with you too. Something is going on and I want to know what. The Dark Lord doesn't believe in betrayal."
The threat was delivered in a way that had Hermione wanting to laugh. This boy wanted to play games?
She turned her body so that it was in his line of sight, so he didn't see the shadow move. Putting one foot after another on the steps until she was directly in front of him, she sent him a look that she knew would unsettle him.
"Hm, that sounds like a threat. One that I don't particularly like. You are implying that I'm somehow involved with Snape and Nott, correct?"
Malfoy frowned but kept his eyes full of judgment. "I know what I saw and what I have been seeing. You are somehow behind all the problems behind both sides. There are whispers of somebody other than Dumbledore interfering."
Now that did catch her attention.
Hermione dropped all pretense and dropped her wand from her holster. She would have Obliviated him but the shadow revealed himself.
Severus stepped out from behind Malfoy, who whirled around in sudden awareness of another's presence. Hermine calmly watched as Severus disarmed his godson with a flick of his wrist. Malfoy seemed to shrink into himself, his eyes taking on a different tune.
"Draco."
Just his name seemed to break Malfoy. Months of living with a monster burst forth, seemingly out of his control. He uttered a strange sound before taking it all out on Severus, who could only stare at his godson with what seemed to be genuine shock and sadness. Hermione cast a silencing charm and notice-me-not spell around them.
Certain things shouldn't be gawked at.
Malfoy grabbed his godfather's arm in what appeared to be a tight grip and whispered out months worth of pent up anger and fear.
"You left me with them. With him. Why? I waited and waited for you but when you did come you went to him! I didn't have a choice and as soon as this year finishes I will bear the mark regardless of what I want. Yet, you are with Theodore and this… Why?"
His voice trailed off as he pushed away from Severus with jerky movements that betrayed his unstable emotions. Severus still stood there but this time with a calm understanding as he watched his godson step down the stairs and push by Hermione.
"Are you just going to let him go like that, Severus?"
"He needs to calm down and when he does, he will come looking for me," he whispered.
His eyes were on the wand that he had taken from his godson. Hermione stepped up and laid a hand on his arm gently.
"Let's go, we can talk in private in your rooms."
Once back in his rooms, she removed her robes and changed into some spare clothing she kept in his rooms. He sat down, his face blank as he poured himself firewhisky from the side table. She sat down on the floor between his legs as she lit the fireplace. They stayed like that for an hour, him just sipping while Hermione played with the fire.
He finally spoke up, his voice tightly controlled.
"What happened between Draco and you?"
His voice sliced her with his anger. But she didn't back down, his mood one she knew how to handle now. Unlike before, where once she would have fired back with something just as cutting, she understood that it was his way of dealing with emotions that would break others.
She leaned back, nestled tight between his legs and shrugged. "I want to say I know what happened but I actually don't know everything."
She told him what happened from the moment that she met with Malfoy to when Severus found them. He didn't seem to find his voice at first but the muscles in his legs were still ridged with anger.
Not knowing how to break his dark mood but knowing that if she didn't he would further punish himself, she turned her body and plucked the glass from his loose fingers. It was half full, probably refilled, but she still took it like a shot. It burned her throat.
Fighting hard not to show her distaste, she dropped it gently on the table and sat down on his lap. The arms of the armchair prevented her from scooting forward the rest of the way so she leaned back on his knees so that she was head level with him. His dark mood didn't seem to darken so she took it as a good omen.
Her throat still burned so she cleared it and pushed his hair away from his face. "Are you worried about what he said?" she whispered to him.
From the look he sent her, it obviously was. He closed his eyes but didn't pull away from her touch.
"I haven't heard anything from Riddle to indicate that he had you in his sights. I knew he would want to strike again but I wasn't paying attention to it since I figured he was busy with other things. But the hate he has for Potter should have been a clear indicator to me. But I know that in his eyes, he already sees past Potter's death and towards the future. So he's already planning ahead and sees those around Potter as targets. I suppose it just caught me unaware."
Hermione figured that it was more than just him not seeing the signs but she was keenly aware that the man she was forming a relationship was troubled by deeper thoughts so it would be pointless to press for more.
It wasn't until an hour later that Malfoy showed up. And what happened next was the same outcome they had with McGonagall.
A safe backup that would never be discovered unless it was made to do so by Hermione or Severus.
A safe shadow on both sides.
o0o
The rain pelted the stone floor in the courtyard as Hermione followed Harry and Ron. All Ron could talk about was Quidditch while Harry would glance at her every few steps. Hermione would just smile and push him forward. They walked inside and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione noticed the looks some threw at Harry as he walked by them.
Soon, they would change their minds.
Very soon.
She casually looked over to Theodore Nott and received a slight nod to the side. She had asked him to escort Malfoy back to their common room the night before.
She then glanced over at Susan Bones who had looked over at them the instant they had walked in. Hermione sent her small smile before sitting down beside
Ginny, who had been glaring at somebody that suspiciously looked like Cho Chang, noticed the look but didn't comment. Hermione nudged her and received a sly grin in return. Harry sat down beside her and didn't talk since Ron and the twins began talking about the Quidditch practice they would have later.
The mood of the Great Hall rose as the owls began to stream in. Hermione hid a smirk and waited for the first gasp.
It came from the Head Table of course. Although it was soon followed by twenty more. She saw Dumbledore set his goblet down and reach for the Daily Prophet that had made Sprout gasp out loud.
Hermione already knew what it said. She had been told by Amelia the instant she had woken. Amelia had warned her with a brief and straight to the point sentence that had Hermione raising her eyebrows in mock surprise as she read the title out loud.
"MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM. DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR."
Harry leaned over to read it himself, his breakfast all but forgotten. She passed it to him and glanced up at the High Table. Dumbledore was sitting rigidly while the Pink Toad radiated smugness as she openly stared at Dumbledore.
He only picked up his goblet like it was nothing while the rest of the Professor's stared from one to the other. All except for Severus, who was turning the pages to the small section near the back that normally nobody ever read.
Hermione flipped the page as Harry moved away in anger. He visibly appeared enraged as he heard Ginny read out loud about Umbridge's new position. Ron continued to eat but with forceful bites that made Hermione's own teeth hurt.
She looked around the hall and noticed that all the attention that had been centered on Harry had been shifted to Umbridge and more than one person seemed to realize the extent that the Ministry would go to control Hogwarts as well as Dumbledore.
Or at least that was what she thought they were thinking. She would have. But she too flipped to the last page and read the small sentence out loud, gaining the attention of those around her.
"Tap wand to the circle below and clearly state 'Nargle" to flip sides. The truth behind the lies will free the Nargles."
Many around them searched for what she had read, Harry picked up his own, while Hermione pulled her wand from her holster. She touched the circle with the tip of her wand and whispered the magic truth.
"Nargle."
The instant she uttered the word the Daily Prophet began to glow with a soft blue light before literally flipping in her hands. What it transformed into forced her to release a fake sound of surprise as others around her did as she had done. The Daily Prophet had transformed into the Quibbler.
Luna's loud laugh could be heard clear across the hall as she stood up and rushed from the hall in silent steps.
Hermione hid a smirk once again. But she couldn't hide it once she heard the shriek that came from the High Table when the toad realized the neat trick of magic.
All thanks to a girl with silver hair and Hermione's beloved boys who had come up with the neat trick. Hermione noticed the smile that appeared on Harry's face until he read what the Quibbler read.
"The truth behind the lies. Why Riddle is really back and the proof."
Hermione acted the part just as Severus did. He behaved like he didn't care and left like he usually did and Hermione slid the Quibbler away and pulled out a tome that she had gotten from the library the day before.
All of them playing their own parts.
o0o
It wasn't until lunch break that Hermione was informed by Harry and Ron that the proof had sent Umbridge away from the school and why they hadn't seen her the rest of the day. The proof was from an anonymous person who had been close with Riddle when they had been at Hogwarts and who had seen him very briefly in the months that followed after the Triwizard Tournament.
As well as evidence of muggle families disappearance that was similar to those from the first war. Certain families being seen together when before they hadn't had contact since the war. It hadn't named anybody but the words used to describe certain people couldn't be mistaken for anybody but those individuals.
Those words would let them know that they were being watched too.
o0o
For the rest of the week, Umbridge went missing. She had run back to the Minister's side so Dumbledore himself had actually taught them Defense.
For a whole week, they used magic like there was no tomorrow. Hermione tended to stay away from Dumbledore during the classes since he seemed to be avoiding Harry. Harry himself was acting up again. When asked, all he would say was that his scar was hurting him again. But on the last day that Dumbledore was supposed to teach them, Dumbledore pulled her aside. Hermione saw Harry zoom in on that but she turned her back to him and acted surprised instead.
The old man made eye contact but she was prepared and all he saw was the genuine worry she felt for Harry. Her studies but under it all was anger. Towards Umbridge and the Minister's games. Dumbledore didn't lose the twinkle in his eyes but did not break eye contact.
"Miss Granger, if I may ask something from you?"
"Of course, Headmaster."
"Once I am done teaching you all, Umbridge will be back to teach you and I fear that whoever played such a trick on the Minister with the Daily Prophet will not be found so she will begin with stricter rules. I, unfortunately, will not be around much since I am trying to protect you all form the Ministry. So, it wouldn't hurt to practice with Harry and anybody else that wishes to practice magic."
Basically, he was telling her to train or have Harry train others. For what reason aside from the fact to make Harry feel better about his absence. But it was exactly what she needed from the old man.
Hermione smiled hesitantly, like any other schoolgirl would have, and nodded several times. He only smiled back and walked away. It wasn't long until Harry brushed up beside her and demanded to know what she had been told.
Hermione shook her head and said later when she saw the dark expression begin to crawl across his face when she refused to tell him. It cleared after a second and he called Ron.
They left the class and headed towards the Great Hall and picked up sandwiches for themselves and headed outside. They ended up in the Wooden Bridge, it was clear of students since it was the lunch. Ron had already eaten his own lunch on the way there so she gave him hers. He shot her a quick grin and sat down between Harry and her.
"What did he say to you, Mione?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione leaned back and pulled her hair to the side as she told them what the old man had said.
Silence followed after, Harry lost in thought but he still ate his lunch and passed her half of it after a few bites. She wasn't hungry but ate it either way. She turned to look out at the ravine below and lost herself in her thoughts.
During the week of no Umbridge, the school had actually felt like a school. Many had smiled in relief. Hermione had been told by Luna herself that Umbridge had tried to blame her and her father about the Quibbler but Xenophilius had sent a letter clearing himself and his daughter of any crime or dirty tricks.
They did not own it anymore but were employed by it. Since it was privately owned, they were not held accountable for it and were left alone.
But now, Luna would be on the receiving end of Umbridge's anger.
Amelia had sent word that Umbridge was set to return with a lot more power than what she had left with. Hermione was prepared for it and now Dumbledore had given her the opportunity to distract Harry.
"I think you should teach the others, Harry. If you're that worried about what they think about you, this is your chance," she said carefully, her eyes taking in every movement.
He let out a harsh laugh that did not belong to him. "Teach them what? I know less of magic than them. Why would Dumbledore want me to do that? Plus, nobody will want to learn from me."
"I would," Ron spoke up.
He had risen while Harry had spoken and now faced Harry straight on. Hermione only gave a nod in agreement.
Harry stared in surprise but quickly blushed.
"Only you two? Hermione, it would make more sense for you to teach them. Not me."
"Oh, really? But who was the one to face Riddle and survive? Not once, not twice, but a handful of times. Me? I read and read but don't actually practice it unless I have to. You are the one with experience. Not me. Please think about it, Harry."
o0o
The weekend passed quickly.
She had written to Adrian during the weekend fir information but his position was being watched by those of the Order so she didn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to him.
Marcus was still searching for Horace Slughorn but had briefly sent her a note that he might be close but the old man was sneaky.
Severus had also told her that Dumbledore's plans had changed slightly, his attention centered on something that he himself hadn't told Severus. But this time, the Order had taken notice. Moody was actually getting suspicious and had taken upon himself to question Severus.
Yet, that didn't worry Hermione since she wasn't concerned about the Order, they only got in the way of things most of the time.
She had other things to worry about. Like the subject of Gringottts. She was going to discuss it with the others later, in a meeting where some of them would meet. There were too many things going on her plate and it felt a bit like she had bitten off too much. But they were almost there.
Almost.
She left the Library and ran into Susan. The girl was flushed with excitement and motioned for her to follow her. Class wasn't for another twenty minutes so she had time. Susan took her to the kitchens that were next to the Hufflepuff common room. Hermione smiled at the elves who greeted her in warm tones. There were no other students except for them. Eyes fell upon Hermione as she walked around Susan's body.
Right in the corner of the kitchens stood a familiar elf. One that turned and ran over to her, his ears flopping with every step.
"Dobby," she said, welcoming him warmly. He grinned as he glanced up at her.
"Miss Hermione, Dobby is very happy to see you. We are all very happy about what Miss Susan has told us. But also, we can see that we have no need to question you."
Hermione frowned in confusion. But wasn't left to wonder for long before an older elf stepped out from behind the others. This one was missing an eye.
But that didn't deter the intelligence shining through the one working eye. Susan turned to Hermione before the elf could speak.
"I'll leave you with them, I have to meet Professor Sprout but I was asked to bring you here before I left. Let me know what happens later, okay."
The girl left but not without picking up a bag of sweets from the table beside her.
Now Hermione really was curious.
The older elf spoke up in a raspy but clear voice. "I see the confusion, human. But what dear Dobby meant was that we see what you are trying to hide."
Confusion turned to clear understanding and alarm. That wasn't what she had wanted to hear. But she should have known. Elves were different. Their magic singular just like Goblins or Centaures.
So they could see behind the glamours.
"I see. I suppose that makes sense. But I also guess you know what I want from you. Excuse me, let me introduce myself. I'm Elizabeth Smith and Hermione Granger. But this persona I wear is for my safety. Now, I only ask that you all hear me out first.'"
Straight to the point, no beating around the bush was the only way to assert an open link of communication. Something she had learned from Severus.
The elf stared at her with one large black eye before snapping her fingers and casting what seemed like large bubble charm but proved to work when a group of third years came in and walked right by them without seeming to see them.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at that.
The elf finally spoke in a grave tone. "They call me Murin and I am the Head Elf here in the kitchen. I have been here for forty years, serving generations of students. We are loyal to Hogwarts but not the Headmaster's that run it. Hogwarts is our home. We can't lose it to the greed of others but elves do not have a voice. But now, one of those very students bears the mark of a powerful yet young being. We would like to know the story as to how you came by it."
Hermione had everything to lose but Murin was right. She was a witch that bore the mark of a sphinx.
Her hesitation wasn't mistaken as Murin smiled suddenly with full confidence. "The Headmaster Dumbledore does not deal with the elves of the castle unless we need something from him. But I can assure you that he won't find anything if he tries, child."
That was good. One more thing she didn't have to worry about at least.
She told them, all ten of the elves, what had led up to her receiving the marks that tied her soul and magic to another.
Murin asked a couple of question about certain things. Once she was done telling her tale, she asked Murin if she would side with her, making sure to include the rest of the other elves. One by one they turned to Murin, their eyes full of trust.
The elder elf smiled and with a nod, agreed to join her. Hermione smiled in relief, slumping against the table beside her.
"Now, do you keep contact with other elves?" Hermione asked as she bit into the muffin that a young elf named Rinn gave her.
Murin nodded as she turned to her workplace and began making rolls for dinner.
"We try to help them out since most are still serving their masters. Many can't or won't leave for reasons of their own so we try and keep track of them. There those like Dobby, who suffered greatly at the hands of their masters. Those aren't many, just a handful from the Pureblood Wizards. Why do you ask"
"Do you think you could find out something for me. From the other elves that are owned by purebloods?"
o0o
The bright light blinded her for a second as she looked over at Harry, they were making their way to Severus's classroom for two hours of potions. Harry moved closer as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He had dark circles around his eyes and his hair was so messy that he didn't shy away from her hand when she patted it down. He blushed instead and sent her a grateful look that did nothing to deter her from her worry. He was holding back on her but she didn't understand why.
They walked into the classroom and took their seats. Severus was sitting at his desk and didn't look up at them. But he did speak privately to her.
"Umbridge sent notice this morning when you left. She will be taking her role very seriously and will be in most classes all week to basically stare down her nose at us. Make sure Potter doesn't lose it."
Hermione groaned inwardly but assured him she would. It wasn't long until the toad made her grand entrance.
The toad made herself the center of attention by walking down the middle of all the tables and stopping right beside Severus. Her annoying 'ahem' came out of her puke colored lips, causing Severus's lips to thin with distaste.
Harry immidiatly glared at her. Ron came to the same conclusion as Hermione and sent her a worried look beneath his lashes. Hermione shook her head and motioned towards the front.
The class began with Severus asking them to hand in their homework. The old toad followed Severus around the class for about thirty minutes. It only served in pissing Severus off but in a dark humourous way. Harry was holding it in but just barely.
After a few minutes of quill scratching, Umbridge tapped her clipboard loudly, gaining everybody's attention but Severus's. He only turned when the room was filled with utter silence.
He scowled and turned his attention towards the pink toad. Umbridge smiled sickly and raised her chin. She asked him several questions, most were stupid and the last one set Hermione off.
"You are close with Dumbledore? But he has yet to give you the position you want."
Severus raised an eyebrow in question.
"What does this have to do with Potions?"
He didn't wait for her to answer and turned back towards his desk.
Hermione hid a smile as the toad fumbled with her clipboard. Yes, even she wondered why would she had asked that. The old woman was wasting her time trying to get a reaction from Severus. It wasn't until everybody was packing up that she left, giving everybody in the classroom a sickly smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Harry growled under his breath as he grabbed his book bag.
"That woman just sets me off every time I see her," he said, his eyes breaking away from Umbridge to flicker towards Malfoy. But the boy wasn't even looking at them, his eyes downcast.
Ron nodded but otherwise stayed silent. Hermione shrugged and followed them out. The rest of the day passed with the same procedure.
Until they arrived at DADA. Harry was in a foul mood still, his hands rubbing his forehead constantly. She checked it as they sat down but pulled her hand away when something whispered across her mind in an undertone of danger and wrongness.
Harry didn't notice the sudden stillness in her so she pushed away from him and rubbed her fingers together. She had touched him with her...
Before she could follow that thought she was sidetracked by Umbridge, who was just stepping out of her office at the top of the stairs.
The class began with her asking them to put away their wands and to pull out several sheets of parchment paper. She used her wand to float several stacks of books towards the students. Hermione narrowed her eyes when she noticed the books. She rolled her eyes as she leaned back in her seat.
Another lesson of just copying and re-reading. Everybody except of course Malfoy and his goonies. Hermione could already see many of the students grow drowsy in the first ten minutes of silence.
Harry was at it again with his glaring.
But Hermione wasn't going to let him get in trouble this time. She wasn't going to leave him alone with the foul woman again. She didn't have to wait long until Seamus asked if he could practice a spell that the book mentioned.
Obviously, the answer was no. That made the others talk out of turn. Harry didn't waste the opportunity.
"We are in this class to learn and practice magic. Why can't we? Is the Ministry scared of us or for us?" he asked, his voice silencing those around him.
Umbridge turned her complete attention on Harry with sharp eyes, her mouth pinched tightly.
"I'll not have you speak ill of the Ministry this way!-"
Hermione interrupted her, gaining the attention of others as well as the infuriated woman who had been about to gleefully give Harry detention once again.
"I believe that the Ministry is afraid of us. Why else would they send you? Not that it will make any difference in the end if he's really back."
That did it.
Umbridge marched towards to her and grabbed her arm in a painful jerk. Hermione deliberately let out a whimper of pain as the old toad jerked her up.
She saw the boys get up as well as others in the classroom. Hermione resisted the urge to curse the stupid old woman but played along as the toad's bony fingers dug deeper into her arm.
"Class dismissed! Get out! Everybody!" Umbridge yelled her face blood red.
Some of the students left the room, mostly Slytherins.
All except for Theodore Nott who edged back into the back corner to watch them.
"Do as she says Harry, please," Hermione whispered as Umbridge shook her arm while yelling at the others to leave the room.
Harry shook his head in denial but Ron grabbed his arm, bag in hand, and dragged him out of the room. They both were the last to leave as the others left the classroom ahead of them. Hermione pulled away from Umbridge, her arm throbbing.
"Now, Granger, you will learn something crucial. You will have detention until Christmas break and during that time, you will learn obedience. Any more bad mouthing the Ministry and I will take this directly to the Wizengamot and they can deal with you. You would be considered a traitor to the Wizarding world."
Hermione forced herself to act pitiful and began crying as she rubbed her sore arm. Umbridge smirked, eyes filled with triumph. She dismissed her after reminding her of detention.
She walked out of the room but froze when Nott came out of the shadows. His eyes seemed to burn into hers but the question in them didn't need to be spoken out loud.
"I'm fine. It was all a step up. At least on my part. Go, I'll see you later with the others." she whispered, her mouth curling up into a smirk.
He inclined his head in acknowledgment and slipped past her just as her boys turned a corner with the others behind them. But not far behind them was Professor McGonagall with a furious expression.
o0o
Dinner was a quiet thing for most of the students. The news of what had occurred had spread like wildfire. Many hadn't believed Hermione had said what she had said but others also couldn't believe that Umbridge had lost it with a student.
Professor McGonagall had taken her to her office along with the boys. She had been told many different versions of what had happened but she had asked Hermione directly.
Not one to hold back, Hermione had told her why she had done it. Harry had also bravely taken some of McGonagall's anger since she too had warned Harry not to lose it with Umbridge since right now even McGonagall was powerless since Dumbledore wasn't in the castle.
He was in the Ministry fighting the Wizengamot and the Minister.
Hermione had shown McGonagall her arm once she had gotten to the part were Umbridge had grabbed her roughly.
But Hermione had asked her to not make a commotion.
She had asked to di the same so now she sat between both of them in compromise. Neither one of them had left her side since the incident. She glanced up at the High table. Severus was furious but understood why she had done it.
Just because he understood did mean he had to like it. He was seething inside but now grimly kept his silence. She sipped her pumpkin juice while the twins tried to lighten the mood with talks of their future joke shop.
After dinner, she asked the boys to head back to the common room since she knew they wouldn't leave her alone if they took her to the classroom. They were still pissed off and still hadn't cooled off.
But she saw the guilty look that Harry sent her when he thought she wasn't looking. She kissed his cheek and watched him redden like a ripe potato.
"It's okay, Harry, I know," she whispered and patted his arm. He tentatively smiled but didn't move until she was further down the corridor.
She knocked at the door and was told to come in. Once inside she saw Umbridge sitting primly at her desk and in front of her desk was a single table with parchment and a quill.
The Blood Quill.
She sat down carefully, making sure to look harmless and afraid. Seconds later Umbridge cleared her throat annoyingly.
"Now, I want you to write, 'The Minister is always right. I must never lie.' In neat lines for two whole pieces of parchment. Began"
Hermione did as she was told. But even before she finished the first letter, her hand began to burn as if she was getting paper cuts in the same spot over and over again. Technically she literally was being cut.
So, this is what Harry had to endure as well Susan. She gritted her teeth and pulled her magic back as it began to slither across her body.
After thirty minutes, she was sweating, her hand pulsing with pain and her magic at a snapping point. But she finished writing and stood up with the parchment papers. She handed it to Umbridge; the toad smiled wide, showing off her pearly white teeth that looked as fake as her smile.
"Thank you, dear. You may leave."
"Of course, Professor Umbridge."
Instead of going towards the common room, she headed to Severus's rooms. Along the way, she ran into Nott, who had almost been completely hidden by a shadowy alcove to the side of the corridor. He walked up to her, his face blank but the worry in his eyes that surprised her. He leaned down and pulled her hand up so that he could inspect the wound.
Something flashed across his eyes before she could catch it.
They arrived at the same time as Luna and Murin. She let them in first and walked inside to see her other boys. Hermione passed everybody else as she sent her greetings privately to Severus.
She was soon wrapped in both boys arms as they pulled her away from the others. She winced as Marcus closed his hand over her injured hand.
Shite. She had forgotten.
Marcus noticed the pain on her face and raised her right hand up. He growled in anger just as Adrian sucked in a breath that hissed out in a blue curse so foul that it brought Zeph and Dimitry's attention to them. Hermione rolled her eyes as they huddled around her in bright rage.
Zeph was beautiful in her's.
Her pearl colored eyes glowed with rare anger as she softly ran a finger around the words.
"Who?" she asked, her voice tightly controlled.
Hermione pulled her hand away and smiled.
"I'm fine, Zeph. The one who did this isn't going to last much longer. Believe me, I almost lost it in there."
They weren't happy about it but dropped it when the others began watching them closely. Luna smiled as she waved her wand around in slow circles.
"That's very interesting." was all she said.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. She would have spoken but the fireplace flared green and in stepped Heidi Desrosiers.
Hermione welcomed her and moved over to the small table in the middle of the room. She waved her hand and enlarged it to accommodate eight people. But she knew that the men would stay standing so she only transfigured a few chairs. Luna smiled up at Severus and sidestepped around him to come to Hermione's side, Severus staring blankly the whole time.
Murin headed straight to the kitchen, while Heidi sat down across from Hermione; her brown eyes taking in every individual.
The men just spread out evenly, all of them positioned in a way to cover all entrance points as well as the woman. The only one that didn't leave her side was Severus. He stood a little to her left. She loved that about him. She sent him a kiss through the link as she pulled out a few pieces of parchment paper.
Murin came back with cups of steaming coffee and tea. She also brought over pastries and sandwiches for them.
Hermione smiled and picked up a turkey sandwich. "Thank you, Murin."
She seemed to glow at the compliment and gestured to the others to accept some too.
After they did, Hermione cleaned her fingers on a napkin and introduced everybody to each other. "This is Heidi, she is Adalene's mother, she is currently acting as a messenger between us and Xenophilius, Luna's father. Mostly for the Quibbler and such. Her husband will be here in the next meeting so you can all meet him then."
Heidi turned her kind eyes to everybody in the room and the others nodded in acknowledgment.
Next, she pointed towards Zeph and Dimitry. "Everybody, this is Dimitry Pucey and Zephrine Pucey, they were one of the first ones to join. Dimitry is a Death Eater turned spy for me. His son, the one brooding against the fireplace, is also a Death Eater turned spy. He is currently working under the Ministry so if you need something to help you in your task, you can ask either of them. I trust them with my life."
Hermione would have turned to the next person when Luna spoke up, her voice soft and dreamlike, except her eyes that held a sharp glint in them and they centered right on Hermione.
"What about the Lady? What does she do?"
Zeph spoke up, her own voice able to rival Luna's in its softness. "I help Dimitry keep track of the other purebloods. But I also protect something precious on the behalf of Hermione. But alas, that isn't something that needs to be discussed. I assure you, I am doing what I can to help Hermione."
Luna didn't press and instead focused her attention on her wand as she drew swirls in the air, leaving behind bright and pretty colors. Her smile not giving anything away.
Hermione shook her head and gestured towards Nott. "That's Theodore Nott, a fifth year who didn't really have a choice on which side to be on since his father was the one to help Riddle come back. His father is now dead, killed by Lucius Malfoy. Nott takes care to spy on the other Slytherin students for me as well as those not in the inner circle."
She moved on to Murin next. "Murin is the Head Elf here at Hogwarts and you may all be wondering why she is here. Simple. Nobody would think that elves would be anything but slaves or workers. But there is something she and those like her can do that no wizard can. We need inside information that only belongs in certain families. She will gain the information from elves that are owned by purebloods. Like I said, nobody will suspect them."
Of course, that isn't everything but some things were better left unsaid. She lastly pointed at herself. Deliberately leaving out Marcus who had slid back in a corner, his eyes closed as he leaned his head back.
Adrian was staring at him as well and turned to meet her gaze for a second before looking away.
"I'm three people in one. I'm Hermione Granger, the know-it-all and bossy fifth year who watches out for Harry and Ron. I'm also Elizabeth Smith, an older version of myself to those that can't or shouldn't know about the real me. Aside from you all and Heidi's husband, Gabriel Black as well as Percy Weasley, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, nobody else knows that I am all three."
She stood up and showed them her persona of Elizabeth Smith, the polished version of herself, with the glasses as well as her straight hair with bangs. She dropped it along with the other charms and spells that hid her scars. She shrugged out of her school robes and looked up. The changes didn't shock those that had already seen them except for Nott and Heidi, who stared at her enthralled with the way she had changed.
Luna was a whole other ball. She just laughed. "Hermione, how old are you?"
Now that was a tricky question. "I'm supposed to be sixteen since I started Hogwarts a year after I turned eleven. I'm actually twenty now."
That seemed to surprise them. They weren't ready for the next part.
"By the way, Severus is mine. Ah, yes, as in romantically involved, Luna."
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Hermione watched Luna leave with Theo and Murin. Heidi had left after taking some wizard pictures of Hermione's injuries and leaving with the next round of news for the Quibbler.
Heidi in return gave her a note for her daughter.
As soon as they left, Severus grabbed her hand and healed it with his own concoction. Dimitry was glaring at her but wasn't angry with her. Just the situation.
Marcus came over and nudged her side. "I have some good news. I have found Slughorn. He is currently staying in a condo in London. He was hard to track only because he tends to circle back and suddenly leave without taking anything. But I know he will stay there for three more nights."
That was good news. "Give me the directions. I need to see him as soon as I can."
He already had the slip of parchment paper out and handed it to her. It held an elegant handwriting that had him flushing. So, for all his brutish stand he was blessed with such a thing.
She smiled but didn't pick on him for it.
"Zeph and Dimitry will be going with me this time," she said, her eyes on Severus who had stiffened the moment she mentioned their names. He was facing away from her and now turned slightly to the side so that he could meet her eyes.
"Why?" he asked, his velvet voice rubbing her just the right way.
"He will most likely talk with Dimitry and Zeph," she said just as Zeph walked up behind her to play with her hair.
"When do we leave?" Dimitry asked as he finally sat down, his body losing the tension it had carried earlier.
"In two hours. So pack for a week just in case."
Marcus came over and pulled off a chain from around his neck. One that she had never seen him with. It held a key on the silver chain. "Use this house. It belonged to a squib that was erased from my family line. He was my father's brother and owned a building in London."
Quiet words that held a powerful feeling of loss and love, she nodded and leaned forward so that he could clasp it around her neck. He gave her the address and stepped back just as Adrian tugged the braid that Zeph had just finished.
"Take care, Hemi, or I really will get pissed off if you come back with more scars."
"Now that isn't something I can promise, you know that. But I will try really hard not to."
o0o
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5/2019
Vanee