Hermione POV

I start to wake, my senses slowly surfacing through the groggy haze that fills my head.

My head is pounding like I'd been smacked over the head with a beater's bat repeatedly.

I hear the slow drip of water leaking from what sounds like a pipe and whispers so quiet coming from behind me, that the words are unintelligible.

My body is constricted and dull pain leers over my chest like I've been trampled by a horde of hippogriffs.

I finally manage to open my eyes, but my vision is still blurry and I blink rapidly trying to clear it, but the darkness surrounding me makes matters worse.

I flex my fingers and realize that my arms are completely bound, so I try my legs and find that my legs are also bound to a chair.

Fuckin' hell… Not again. Moody is DEFINITELY going to be pissed this time…

A sense of dejavu rushes over me, having been in a somewhat similar position less than a year ago.

I have a feeling this is not a friendly capture this time… Bollacks.

I struggle with the binds, furiously tugging at them and after a few minutes of intense struggle I let out a frustrated sigh of defeat, slumping back into my chair.

A few moments later, I hear the sharp click of a pair of heels in the darkness making their way toward me.

"Oh goodie! You're awake!" The shrill feminine voice cuts through the darkness like nails on a chalkboard.

This toadfaced bitch? Come onnnnnnnn… Ugh.

I snap my head up, growling as the moving shadow makes their way toward me. The familiar figure crouches down in front of me, smiling up at my obvious distress.

"Having trouble? Good! It's time you and I had a little chat, you filthy little Mudblood," the horrific screech of words tumble of of the mouth of Dolores Umbridge.

This bitch…

Sirius POV

"BLACK! Where's your wife? I've been trying to reach her but she's not responding," Moody calls out the question to me into the bullpen.

I was sitting at my desk, chair kicked back on its back two legs and my feet up on the desk when he started yelling. I yelp and topple backwards.

"FUCK!" I cry out when I hit the ground. I pop back up and dust off my Auror robes and start walking over toward Moody.

"Sorry, boss! Not sure, you were the last one to see her. I thought she was still with you?" I ask him crossing over the threshold into his office.

"What are you going on about, Black? I haven't seen her all day. The Minister just owled me asking for her because she wasn't responding," Moody gruffs out.

My body tightens when I hear this. "What? She got a note from you a few hours ago. She rushed off as soon as she got it and hasn't been back since! Where is my wife, Moody?!" I spew out venomously, leaning forward on his desk.

"Black, I didn't send your bloody wife any damn message today! Are you sure she said it was from me?" He asks angrily, worry creeping over his face.

My heart starts racing, the blood is rushing to my head. I clench my knuckles so hard that they turn white immediately.

Hermione… Something's wrong…

I push myself back from his desk and start pacing back and forth in his office, pulling my hair is anxious frustration.

"I'm bloody fuckin' sure, Moody! She said that you owled her to meet her urgently and then ran off! Something's wrong, Moody… I can feel it… FUCK! What do we do?!" I cry out, furiously pacing and ready to blast the bookshelf to pieces.

Moody shoots up to his feet and makes his way to the door. "Stop your bloody pacing, Black! We're going to figure this out," he gruffs and makes his way out the door.

Moody addresses the entire Bullpen and when no one says they've seen her since this morning, I pull out my Galleon and send out a message to everyone that has one and a separate one to Hermione.

"Is Hermione with you? - SOB"

"Where are you? - SOB"

My Galleon burns constantly for the next few minutes, floods of, No, what's going on?, messages coming through one after the other.

I stare at the Galleon for over thirty minutes waiting for a response from Hermione, and when it remains cold I throw it furiously across the room before accioing it back into my hand.

Moody storms back into the Bullpen almost an hour after we realized my wife was missing.

"Black! In my office," he gruffs out the command and brushes past me. I quickly follow him inside and slam the door behind me.

"Any news?" I ask sharply.

Moody plops down in his chair and rubs his head in frustration, "I've been all over this bloody Ministry. No one has seen or heard from her since this morning. I checked with the Transportation Department and she hasn't been picked up on any Floo or Apparation movement since she came into the office. So she's either still here or… someone has taken her by other travel means."

My heart drops, never in my life having felt the sheer terror that I'm feeling in this moment.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck! This is not fucking happening! My pregnant wife is MISSING, Moody. FUCK!" I roar out, throwing a paperweight across the room and it shatters when it collides with the wall.

"I've sent messages to all our friends and family… No one has heard or seen her. She's not answering her Galleon either and I know she carries that bloody thing with her everywhere, Moody!" I shakily cry out, sheer panic quaking in my voice.

Moody comes around the desk and puts his hand on my shoulder, "We're going to find her, Black. I swear to you, we will find her. On the bright side, your wife is the most terrifying witch or wizard I've ever met. I almost feel sorry for the wizard who took her, they're in for a fucking ride."

Hermione POV

"Having trouble? Good! It's time you and I had a little chat, you filthy little Mudblood," The horrific screech of words tumble of of the mouth of Dolores Umbridge.

This bitch…

I raise my head to meet her direct eye sight and tilt my head, "We do? Can't imagine what that could be about, Dolores? Unless it's about that god-awful ensemble you're sporting… Hasn't anyone ever told there's a limit to how much pink a witch should wear? No worries, I'll gladly help you with your wardrobe. No need for the extremities," I taunt with faux sweetness, the heavy sarcasm dripping off my tongue.

Umbridge's face turns pink at my comment, and then she shrilly scoffs, "We do indeed need to have a little chat, Miss Granger."

"That's Mrs. Black to you, Dolores," I calmly sneer out.

Umbridge rolls her eyes at me, "Apologies… Mrs. Black. I just have such a hard time acknowledging someone of your… breeding… could ever be tied with such an Ancient and Noble House. It's a shame really, generations upon generation of such a pure line, wasted on a filthy Mudblood criminal." She insinuates to me with a smirk.

Criminal? What in the fuck is she spatting on about?

"I think my Order of Merlin, First Class begs to differ on the criminal aspect, Dolores. Unless you know something I don't?" I ask genuinely, cocking my head to the side trying to pry her for information without giving myself away.

What could she possibly know?

"Oh yes, my dear. You've hidden it quite well I admit, but I knew there was something off about you from the moment I saw your name in the Prophet. A Mudblood whom no one had heard of before the fall of the Dark Lord, suddenly a part of the team who killed him and then latches herself to such a prestigious House. Then you skate your way into an elite department, land a ancient familial seat on the Wizengamot, and start pushing your worrisome agenda on the masses. It's a wonder how no one was suspicious before? But most don't have the connections nor intelligence that I do," she states all too confidently.

Merlin, she's fucking puffing her chest out like a god damn chicken…

"Oh, Dolores. I have to say I'm flattered… but I need you to know I don't swing that way. I'm afraid your obsession with me is not reciprocated," I chuckle out, trying to rouse her.

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, "How much like your husband you are." She crouches back down to meet my eye level.

"I did a little digging with the help of some of my trusted colleagues. Imagine my surprise when we went through document after document, and everything seemed to be completely in order. A Mudblood witch, who registered and completed her schooling at Beauxbatons, and whose family was killed in a raid by the Dark Lord. Everything was there… I have to admit I lost hope, until this September," she taunts to me, eyes filled with pride.

Fuck… September… No… How?

As if reading my mind she continues, "Through one of my colleagues, he had a trace put on your maiden name so that if any information regarding your name was registered within the Ministry, they would be alerted. To all of our surprise, an alert came through on a document for future Hogwarts attendees, which is generated at the time of birth. Hermione Granger, born September 19th, 1979. Strange isn't it? Such a unique name, there was no way it was a coincidence." Her smile growing even wider.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

I keep my cool, meeting her glare for glare, "Sounds like the parents of this newborn had excellent taste in names. You know it's quite common for Muggles to name their children after celebrities, I'm flattered to know I impacted this family so much. But I am unclear what this has to do with me?"

Her eyes narrow in and her smile widens almost comically, "Still denying it I see? What if I told you that the Department of Mysteries, where you are so conveniently located now…" She says opening her arm to show me the room. I turn my head around and see that I'm sitting directly in front of the Veil.

Oh no… No no no no no… I knew I recognized it here… I'm in the Death Room… Fuck. No, Sirius…

Continuing on, "Has an entire team dedicated to time travel? That they monitor and track movements in time? Past, present, and future. It's ingenious really, far above my pay grade and incredibly protected information, but there are perks to being the Minister's assistant. If I so much as breathe the Minister's name, I'm granted access."

I laugh at her cockiness and roll my eyes, "How convenient for you, Dolores. Are we anywhere near the point of this conversation? I still have yet to see what this has to do with me and I'm getting quite bored of hearing about the infatuation you have with yourself."

Her smile drops when I don't give in to her not-so-subtle accusations, "Denying it then, are we? No matter, let's see if I can loosen that filthy tongue of yours a bit." Her smile lifting again, and her facial features morphing in a deranged manner.

I yawn dramatically, "Do your worst. I have nothing to say to your ludacris accusations."

Her face starts to tremble while her teeth clench, her hand gripping her wand so tightly I'm shocked it hasn't snapped.

"Just admit it, you little bitch! Admit that you traveled in time to kill the Dark Lord!" She screeches out.

I wince at the decibel her voice reaches, "Merlin, Dolores. Not so loud." I groan out, "That's a pretty impressive story you've concocted about me, shame it isn't true. That'd be one hell of a Best Seller, don't ya think?" I cackle out.

Her body starts trembling immensely as she raises her wand, "I gave you a chance to admit it! What the Minister knows won't hurt her."

"Crucio!"

Fuck… Sirius… Please… Help me…

Sirius POV

Moody and I rush into the conference room to use the Auror floo to contact Dumbledore to see if he's seen or heard from Hermione. Moody drops his head into the fire, and I pace around the room waiting for him to reemerge.

I hear shouting out in the Bullpen and take off running out the door. I turn to see a pregnant Lily Potter going toe-to-toe with one of the Aurors, finger jabbing into his chest.

"WHERE IS HERMIONE BLACK?! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!" I catch part of her rant. The Auror on the receiving end is quaking and looks like he's about to piss himself.

Behind her, I see all of our family and friends look ready to take down the entire department if they don't get answers… and soon. I yell out from the doorway trying to get their attention, "Oi! You lot! In here… Now!," hearing my voice they all turn on the drop of a dime.

I briskly turn back into the conference room and hear the others rushing my way and flood into the room. Every person begins shouting and asking questions, and my head is bursting to the brim trying to process everything that's happening.

I bark out at them, "Just… SIT DOWN! I can't answer everyone at once, bloody fuckin' hell!" As soon as he words leave my mouth, I feel a wave of shame wash over me.

Everyone goes silent and moves to grab a seat, shifting around uncomfortably not wanting to be the person to set me off again.

"Look… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that. Thank you all for coming here, I don't even know where to start…" I mumble out into the silence.

Pa being the first one to break the ice calmly asks, "What's going on, son?"

I take a big hitched breath and collapse in the seat. I prop my elbows on the table and drop my head into my heads.

"This morning Hermione received an owl from Moody asking her to meet him immediately. She took off and hasn't been back. Turns out, Moody never sent Hermione any owl…" gasps ring out all around the room.

I gather my courage to continue, knowing I'm a moment away from breaking in front of everyone… well, almost everyone… I love.

"She's been missing for seven hours now. Moody spoke with every department and no one has seen or heard from her. She hasn't been picked up on the Floo or Apparation network, so she's either still here somewhere or she's been taken outside by another method. Moody is flooing with Dumbledore now to see if she's at Hogwarts, but she has no reason to go there… I just… I just don't know what to fucking do…" I croack out before finally reaching my breaking point and the tears flow down.

Ma is the first to reach me, she pulls me in tightly and tries to calm me down. Remus and James circle in around me, lightly rubbing my back. Lily is crying and shaking into Pa's side, while Andromeda looks stunned and Narcissa looks lethal. And Regulus… Regulus looks like all of the happiness in the world drained from his body.

The tension breaks when Moody emerges back out of the floo. "Dumbledore is coming through," He announces to the room in an even toned matter.

Seconds later, our former Headmaster gracefully exits the floo and into the conference room. His eyes scan the crowd of mixed reactions and a glint crosses his eye. He turns and locks eyes with me, and a hint of sorrow on his face.

"Mr. Black, I am very sorry to hear about Hermione. Alastor just finished updating me on the situation. I have the portraits scanning the halls for any sight of her, but with the immense passageways and grounds, I can't be completely sure she isn't in Hogwarts," he tells in his mystical voice, almost hinting at something.

Remus pipes up, rummaging around in his pockets, "We can help with that."

Remus walks around from behind me and lays out a familiar bit of parchment on the table. "I grabbed this on the way out, I wasn't sure if we'd need it. If she's at Hogwarts… then she'll be on here," he explains as he finishes unfolding the map.

Merlin fuckin' bless you, Moony.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The maps starts taking form, and I look up sheepishly to Dumbledore who is mystified by the bit of magic in front of him.

"Best thing we ever made, boys," I chuckle sorrowfully out to the room.

I get up out of my seat and hunch over Remus looking at the map. Scanning as intensely as possible, pleading internally for any sign of Hermione.

After a few minutes of unsuccessful searching, I turn around and slam my fist into the wall.

"FUCK! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!" I roar out. My legs give out and I collapse against the wall, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Where are you, Baby… Please… Where are you…" I cry out in prayer.

The room starts to blur, my emotions reaching a completely unstable level. The pain in my chest suffocates me to the point I can barely breathe. I start hyperventilating when all of a sudden my thoughts and emotions suddenly disappear my from head and voice cries out…

Fuck… Sirius… Please… Help me…

Hermione POV

Fuck… Sirius… Please… Help me…

The pain electrocutes through my body like I am being injected with lava. Every sensory medium registering the highest pain point possible. Bound to the chair, I can't move most of my body except my neck, making the pain that much more excruciating.

I cry out, pleading the witch to stop, "Please… My baby… Please… Stop hurting her…"

Umbridge cackles and lowers her wand, "You think pleading for your filthy, unborn Halfblood is going to stop me? You don't deserve to carry on their line. You don't deserve to do anything, but sit in Azkaban for the rest of your pathetic life."

I'm going to kill you so slowly and piss on your fuckin' grave, you bitch…

My muscles twitch from the aftershock, and a sneer crawls over my face. Internally, I'm falling a part terrified at the thought of losing my daughter, but it will be a cold day in hell before I let her know it.

"Sunk that low have you, Dolores? Pathetic. Crucioing a wandlessly, pregnant Mudblood? Even your Dark Lord had better taste than that. Aren't you worried what'll happen to you when the Ministry finds out you've used an Unforgiveable? I heard the sentence lands you an all-expenses paid vacation, " I taunt her, trying to bait her into releasing me.

She stomps her foot in frustration of not cracking me, "Worry about yourself, Mudblood. I have plenty of means to get away with this, I am catching a criminal… I'll be spared any charges once your transgressions have been revealed to the Ministry!"

I roll my eyes at her, "Really, Dolores? I'm a Order of Merlin, First Class recipient. You honestly think you'll get away with harming me? Tell me… what means did you use to obtain the information from the Unspeakables in the Time Room? We all know how seriously they protect their work. An Imperio, possibly? Sounds right up your alley doesn't it." I cackle out.

Her face goes white and I know I've got her right where I want her, "Even if say, I did travel over twenty years into the past with the knowledge to kill Voldemort, you honestly think that your chain of evidence will legally hold? Unforgiveables used to obtain evidence are automatically thrown out. I would know… I'm an Auror." Sending her a wink as I finish.

She's trying to keep her composure, but I see her cracks breaking. "You think you've got it all figured out don't you, Mudblood? How dare you speak to me that way! I'm the Minister's right hand, I have connections you would dream of having. Barty will overlook this little transgression once I get your confession and hand you over," she spews out.

"Ah yes… Barty. The Head of the DMLE whom is notorious for his hatred against Dark Wizards… and Dark Magic. Yes, he will be so forgiving with your methods of uncovering supposed evidence and the capture of me. Well done, Dolores. Well done," I continue cackling at her sheer stupidity.

"Shut up, you stupid bint! You killed our only chance at a pure society! You don't deserve to walk these halls, you don't deserve him," she squeals out before firing another Crucio my way.

The pain rattles through my body, I clench my teeth as hard as I can to keep from screaming out. Tears leak from my eyes, and through the pain all I can think about is my daughter.

I have to get out of here… Now. It's killing her… I can't…

I reach out in my mind, praying there's someway for Sirius to hear me.

Please… Crucio… Umbridge… DOM… Death Room…

Umbridge's wand lowers again and she's breathing heavily. "What do you want from me, you sadistic bitch? Is it my husband? I caught that little note at the end… You want him don't you?" I spew out, ready to claw my way out of these binds and pluck her eyes out one-by-one.

Dolores sputters and coughs, "What? No! He's a blood traitor. That's not what I meant!"

I cackle out again at her, "Oh Merlin, you do! How pathetic! What would your Dark Lord say about that, huh? I'd imagine he wouldn't be too happy about you lusting over a Blood Traitor. I'm sorry to crush your hopes and dreams, Dolores. But after my husband hears about what happened here today, he will not react kindly. Not only are you torturing the love of his life, but you are purposely torturing our unborn daughter, you fucking bitch. Sirius will skin you alive and laugh while doing it," I promise her all too seriously.

Her eyes grow wide at my comment when the door bursts open and someone runs inside. "Dolores! You need to hurry, someone is coming!" A man calls out as he comes up next to her panting.

"Cornelius, I need you to guard the door! Tell the others I haven't gotten her confession yet, I need more time," she tells him panically.

Ewwwww, Fudge? Really? This spineless twat?

Fudge turns towards me and scans me up and down. His eyes land on my tremoring body and my very pregnant stomach and his eyes grow wide and he starts sputtering, "What… Dolores… Are you torturing her?! She's pregnant for Merlin's sake!"

"Oh shut it, Cornelius! She's a criminal and you know we need a confession before turning her over to Barty! She's fine, now go guard the door," she shrieks the command at him.

I scoff, "Say that to my unborn baby you just Crucio'd, you twat!"

Fudge's eyes round and his mouth hangs open, he looks between me and Dolores and then sprints away.

"Running out of time then? I'm sorry this is taking longer than you scheduled but I really have nothing to say to you. I will gladly forget this ever happened if you let me go. You won't hear a peep from me," I coo to her sweetly, but far far from the truth.

Like hell I won't… I'll transfigure you into a bone and bury you just like Barty Crouch Jr. did to his father…

Her gaze zeroes in on me again, "Here's what's going to happen. You confess to your crimes, you pull the legislation for Werewolf rights, and you leave your husband. Only then will I allow you to walk away from here today!"

A wave of calm rushes over me in that moment, my mind goes blank when I hear a whisper call out in my head.

I'm coming, Baby… I'm coming…

My sense flood back in and I lock eyes with her, "Oh Dolores, it was a valiant effort. But I'm leaving now whether you like it or not."
Her face pales and a look of confusion crosses over her face, and the next second a door is blasted off the hinges behind her. A group walks through the smoke and rubble, a man leading the pack.

"Step away from my wife," The cold, sinister voice that is so uncharacteristically rare booms from my husband.

I lock eyes with him as the group nears the edge of the circle Umbridge has me trapped in.

"Hi baby, I've missed you."

Sirius POV

The room starts to blur, my emotions reaching a completely unstable level. The pain in my chest suffocates me to the point I can barely breathe. I start hyperventilating when all of my thoughts and emotions suddenly disappear my from head and voice cries out.

Fuck… Sirius… Please… Help me…

Was that… Hermione?

I blink my eyes repeatedly when my vision starts to return and see Andromeda and Ma huddled in front of me shaking my shoulders. It seems I was unresponsive for a few moments.

"Sirius? Are you ok?" Andromeda pleads with worry.

I keep blinking rapidly and cough, "Yeah… I think so. But… I might be imagining it, but I think I just heard Hermione?" I respond to them in confusion.

Ma and Andromeda look at each other, and I hear a chair scrape back and Narcissa runs over to join them. "What do you mean you heard Hermione? Tell us exactly what happened, Sirius," Narcissa asks calmly.

I shake my head trying to clear the blurriness, "It's like all of a sudden my head was cleared of all emotion and thought, and then a whispered voice… Hermione's voice… came through and it's all I could hear. She was begging me to help her."

The three witches look at each other in silent communication, and seem to all come to the same idea.

"The soul bond. It has to be," Ma responds quietly.

I quirk my eyebrow up in confusion, "What do you mean, Ma? What does that have to do with this?"

A brief cough comes from behind them, and I see Dumbledore walking towards us. "Apologies, if I may?" He says to my family. They all nod and move out of the way.

I move to stand up and retake a seat at the table, my body exhausted from all of the tremulous emotion of my wife's disappearance. Dumbledore sits next to me, turning to face my direction.

"If I heard Euphemia correctly, you and Mrs. Black share a soul bond?" He asks inquisitively.

I nod my head, "Yes. Found out after we sealed our marriage. Our bodies were bloody glowing for hours until we finally shagged that night," I grumble out not giving a shit about oversharing A chorus of faint laughter echoes through the room, and even Dumbledore chuckles a bit, "Lovely to hear. As I'm sure you've been told, soul bonds are incredibly rare, which makes information regarding the capabilities around it that much more unfounded. I happen to have known a soul bonded pair in my youth, tell me, have you ever been able to communicate with her telepathically before?"

I stare at him with wide eyes, trying to think if there was ever a time. "I don't think so. I honestly haven't noticed much difference after becoming aware of the bond. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I've always been obsessed with her and trusted her completely. There are times though I feel like I'm in tune with how she's feeling, but nothing as obvious as hearing her speak in my head."

Dumbledore nods listening along intently, "Fascinating! The couple I knew had similar intuitions, they moved together like a well rehearsed dance and were always in tune. Over the years they were able to test different boundaries of the bond, one of them included telepathic communication. After years of practice they we're able to communicate almost completely silent. It was truly a marvel to watch."

I stare at him with hopeful eyes, "Do you think that's what happened? Do you think I can somehow contact her?"

He nods his head, "I believe so, Sirius. We need to get you focused on opening the passageway in your mind, and see if you can push through to her. If you can open the passageway on your end, it will be significantly easier for your wife to push information through to you."

I close my eyes immediately to work on opening the passageway while Dumbledore explains to the rest of the room. Moody leads Pa and Narcissa outside to alert the group of Aurors to comb all of the popular Wizarding places in search of Hermione. James, Lily and Remus move across the room to my side to help calm me down. Regulus takes off with an Auror to Azkaban to question former Death Eaters to try and find information. Ma and Andromeda work with Dumbledore on different ideas to help me open the passageway.
A half hour passes and I'm sweating from the mental effort of opening the passageway inside my mind. Dumbledore and the others coach me the best they can, and right as I start losing hope, my mind goes blank and a voice whispers through.

Please… Crucio… Umbridge… DOM… Death Room…

Fuck… No no no…

My eyes snap open and everything sharpens back into view.

"Call the others. She's in the DOM, in the Death Room. Umbridge has her and she's being fucking Crucio'd!" I roar out.

Everyone gasps out in horror and starts running, messages on the Galleon are flying at the speed of light. I throw the chair back and run out of the door, my family and Dumbledore trailing behind. James forces Lily to stay back, to her utter dismay and very colorful language, and then we make our way out of the Bullpen and hurry to the lifts. The lift flys down to the Department of Mysteries and we all tumble out.

As we're regrouping, another lift drops down and Moody, Kingsley, Narcissa, Fleamont, and Regulus exit. Moody marches straight up to me demanding information.

"How did you find her boy?" He abruptly asks.

"I'll explain later, Moody. We've got to go, now! She's being Crucio'd… The baby… I can't lose them… I can't…" I start panicking when the reality of the situation hits me like a tsunami.

Fleamont comes over and pulls me against him, "We're going to get her out, Sirius. Her and your daughter, we're going to get them out. I promise you, son."

I nod my head as Moody cuts in, "Alright, I'll lead the charge in. Unspeakables are nasty little buggers, so expect push back. We're going in with pairs again, we have no idea what we're facing in there. Ready?"

Time crawls by every second I'm away from Hermione. I'm so unattached with what is happening around me, I'm unable to think about anything other than the love of my life and our daughter. Moody's confrontation with the Head of the DOM, him and Dumbledore stunning Unspeakables, being caught in a whirling room, entering every fucking wrong door, James and Remus stunning attackers… none of it.

When I finally snap back into focus, Moody is yelling to get my attention, "BLACK! Are you listening? This is the last door. This has to be it, are you ready?"

I turn to face the door and I nod. I push through the channel to let her know we're coming.

I'm coming, Baby… I'm coming…

Lifting my wand, I blast the door with the hardest Bombarda Maxima I can. I calmly walk through the blasted entrance, the group trailing behind me, wands at the ready, and finally the smoke clears and I see my wife bound up in front of the Veil.

No… No… This is not happening.

Anger pours over my body as I make eye contact with the woman who has been torturing the love of my life.

"Step away from my wife."

I will tear you limb from limb… Try and hide, bitch… Padfoot loves a good hunt…

I turn my glare from Umbridge and make eye contact with Hermione. She's putting on such a brave face, but I can see her body trembling from the after shock of the Cruciatus curse. My heart is racing, pure fear and adrenaline are the only things keeping my body upright.

"Hi baby, I've missed you," her silky smooth voice calls out to me like an enchanting song.

Moody steps forward, anger pouring out of him, "Umbridge! What in the bloody hell do you think you're up to? You're outnumbered. Let Hermione go this instant, or I will have you sent to Azkaban so fast that it'll strip that god awful color from your clothing." Umbridge has her wand still pointed on Hermione, her glare moving rapidly between us and my wife.

"Thank goodness you're here, Head Auror Moody. I've obtained a criminal and I was keeping her contained so she couldn't escape," the nasty bitch shrieks out.

Over my dead body…

Moody starts laughing and everyone else around him joins in except me, I'm still glaring murderously at the woman.

"Really? A criminal you say?" Moody barks out mockingly.

She starts getting flustered, but her wand never leaves Hermione, "Yes! A criminal. I have evidence that Hermione Black née Granger illegally traveled back in time. The transgression is a criminal act, as time travel is highly regulated by the Department of Mysteries. I have proof!"

Each one of us looks side-to-side at each other, before we all burst out into laughing.

Umbridge's wand is shaking so heavily, not understanding what's happening. When she finally connects the dots, her face pales, and the severity of the situation rushes over her.

"You all knew?! This is insanity! The corruption, the scheming, you are all traitors to the Ministry! I will report you all to the Minister herself!" She shrieks out.

Hermione scoffs out and rolls her eyes, "Of course they know, you stupid bitch. Who do you think made all of those pretty little documents you found? Stop embarrassing yourself and untie me before my husband tears your face apart," she growls confidently with a hint of annoyance.

Gods, I love you, Baby… Hang tight, Love…

A smile creeps up over her face, obviously receiving the message in her head from me.

Umbridge is shaking in pure rage at the situation, I'm worried she's going to do something drastic, she seems completely unhinged.

"THIS IS PROPOSTEROUS! I will not allow this Mudblood to corrupt our society any longer. CORNELIUS! Get in here!" She shrieks out.

I feel movement from behind me as Fleamont levitates a body out to the front of our group, "You mean him? Yeah, I don't think him and the others will be much help to you. Now, let my daughter-in-law go… Now!"

"NO! This is not how this was supposed to go! I was supposed to get this bitch out of the Wizengamot, out of the Ministry, and out of our lives!" She screams and turns back to face Hermione.

"If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me, you filthy Mudblood," She snarls out manically.

Her wand raises, and I feel my heart break.

No… No… Please not her…

I'm frozen in place when Moody and Pa break through, Moody quickly casting a nonverbal Finite and Pa rushes forward to catch Hermione. Umbridge gears up to cast at the same time, but I quickly move forward with every ounce of rage pulsing from my body.

Umbridge starts speaking the words I've never been more terrified in my life to hear.

"Avada…"

"Flipendo!" I cry out, wand aimed directly at Umbridge.

Her body flys through the air, directly into the path of the Veil. Like de ja vu, her body floats calmly through the Veil and slowly disappears.