~ When Insanity stops ~
Summary: At the end of Hermione's fifth year, she feels depressed about all the stuff that has happened. One morning upon waking up, Hermione finds someone else in bed with her. And that's the only the start of this interesting tale.
AN: I'm going to try something in this chapter. It's called a scene flashback. Basically someone is telling the scene, but instead of having the character tell it, the author writes the scene as it happened. Tell me what you think.
The Burrow
Looking around the familiar kitchen, Hermione notices small differences. The kitchen table was new along with some new dishes but the rest remained blissfully the same. It still feels like home. Good Lord is that Charlie? Or is it Ron? Blinking Hermione was saved from asking when Molly turned and yelled at Charlie.
"Something's never change," happily mutters Hermione placing her hands over Sirius's. Feeling totally safe in his embrace, Hermione leans into his warm chest.
Laughter greets her statement. "That's true," says Sirius sitting down in any overly large chair, gently tugging Hermione onto his lap. "Greeting Percy," greets Sirius as Percy takes the seat next to them.
Swallowing hard, Hermione looks Percy over. Wow! He's changed his whole look. Although he still looks like he just stepped out of prep school. Attempting to smile at Percy, Hermione finds that she can't. Hastily glancing to Sirius for help, Hermione feels the warmth of Sirius's arm pull her closer to him.
"My Mione," says Sirius looking at Percy. "Would like to know what happened that night when her father died."
Picking the lint off his sleeve, Percy quirks his eyebrow as he looks at Sirius then to Hermione. "Would she?" he mutters looking at Hermione intently. Settling further in his chair, Percy sighs heavily.
Clearing her suddenly dry throat, Hermione looks Percy directly into his gentle eyes. Getting comfortable, Hermione takes a breath. "Yes, I would like to know what I did that day. Harry said that I…he said that you're the only one who really knows. So will you tell me," asks Hermione.
"Yes, Percy do tell," pries Charlie from the doorway. "I would love to hear this." Confused, Hermione looks at Charlie strangely. Why would Charlie want to know about this? What did I do?
Upon seeing her face, Charlie grimaces. "Its just Percy has never told anyone the completer version of this story. Not even to Dad and Mum. So if he's telling, I want to hear it," comments Charlie. Looking over his shoulder, Charlie barks out, "Percy's talking about that night when Hermione went berserk!"
Berserk? Tonks said I went on a rampage. I thought she was just joking. Could it be true, did I really go nuts? Hearing several approaching footsteps, Hermione tenses. Merlin, what did Mrs. Weasley say when she found out? My god, I can't believe I wasn't expelled.
Blinking, Hermione finds that the room was filled with red heads. Fred. George. Billus. Charlie. Mr. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley. Blinking, Hermione does a double take. Mr. Weasley? Charlie said that they don't they already know. "Hi, Mr. Weasley?" says Hermione as she looks at him.
Chuckling Mr. Weasley turns his head. Blinking several times, he gasps. "Molly! Molly, its…"
"I know dear," states Mrs. Weasley waving her wand to conjure up a lap tray for Hermione. "Hermione decided to join us today." Placing a plate loaded with her egg sandwiches, sausages and two glasses of pumpkin juice. "There you go," happily states Mrs. Weasley. "Eat what you can."
"See! That's what I'm talking about," grumbles Fred pointing to his mother. "She's already trying to fatten you up." Hermione watches Molly narrow her eyes at her approaching son. "Resist! You must resist," states Fred coming to stand next to Sirius and Hermione. Then without warning flinching an egg sandwich, and getting a slap on his arm for it by his mother.
Well, at least I know for certain that Fred hasn't grown up. Laughing at Fred's overdramatic faking of pain where his mother slapped him, Hermione picks up a sandwich herself. Turning her attention back to Percy, Hermione saw a flash of gold. Peering at him more closely she hoped to see it again.
"Something wrong?" asks Percy noticing Hermione intense gaze.
"I thought I saw gold," mutters Hermione looking downcast.
"You did," happily states Molly. "Percy's married!" chirps Molly smiling bright at him. Not knowing how much Hermione remembered, Molly adds, "To Penelope Clearwater."
"Congregations!" states Hermione smiling at Percy brightly. "So you got the girl!"
"Yes, he did," laughs Penny coming into the room. Walking or waddling seeing how Penny was pregnant but not in the late stages.
"When are you do?" questions Hermione.
"In three months," says Percy as he offers Penny his chair. Three month? Penny is rather big for someone who isn't due for three months. "She's having twins." Choking back her laughter, Hermione could feel her eyes start to water. Oh, poor Percy! His twin brothers were the blight of his life in school. How is he going to handle have twins of his own.
"Fred! George!" barks Percy looking upset. "Do you have to bring in that stuff when Penny is here?"
"Now boys!" interrupts Mr. Weasley preventing another fight. "Fred, George. Take that stuff outside. Molly dear, do stop hovering over Hermione. Fred isn't going to steal any more of her food. Right Fred?"
"Yes dad," mutters Fred as he and George remove a gross looking pink goop. Bloody hell what in Merlin's name was that stuff?
"Hey," grumbles Billus. "I thought we were going to hear about that night."
"Aren't we going to wait for Ron and Ginny?" ask Hermione.
Waving a dismissing hand, Penny says, "They're working until about mid-morning. Well honey? Are you going to tell us?"
Sitting down next to Penny and sighing hard, Percy
takes his
wife's hands. Clearing his throat, he
shakes his head. "It all started over
your summer holiday…."
~~
St. Mungo's
Emergency Room
Swaying back and forth, Hermione nervously clenches and unclenches her hands. Her breathing was unsteady; her cloths were covered in dirt, smut while her body had thousands of tiny scrapes and a few bruises. She was alone waiting for the healer.
Finally after what seemed like days the hospital door opened, the healer who was working on her parents stepped into the hallway. Rushing up to the man, Hermione didn't see the bunch of flaming red heads and one raven-haired otherwise known as several members of the Weasley family with Harry Potter.
Grasping the healer's arm, Hermione looks at him pleadingly. Coldly shrugging her off his arm. "Your father's dead," states a man wearing a pale white cloak.
He won't look me in the eye to tell me that. "And my mum?"
The man sneers coldly, "Your mother will be joining him before the nights out."
Gasping in shock, Hermione retracts from the healer. Tears of pain blur her vision. Several strong hands are holding her up moving her over to the chairs lined up against the wall.
Mrs. Weasley's voice irate voice booms in the silent hallway. "I can't believe you call yourself a professional! How dare you!" She rants at the healer. Gesturing wildly at him, a piece of parchment escapes from Mrs. Weasley's robes, sliding on the floor. Hitting Hermione's shoe with a soft thump.
Tuning out Mrs. Weasley, Hermione blinks away her tears. Numbness consumes her. Reaching down, she picks up the parchment. Wiping her face with the back of her hand, Hermione opens the letter.
Reading the first few lines, outrageous angry starts to course along in her veins. How dare he! How dare he even think this! Let alone write it! A low growl escapes though Hermione's lips, unnoticed by those around her.
Glancing up under her lashes, Hermione watches the members of the Weasley family start to flock towards her. When things looked like they were getting out of hand, Hermione stood up, unnoticed by everyone and single-mindedly made her way out of the hospital.
Ministry of Magic
Percy's Office
Walking out of his office, Percy turns to lock the door, when he feels a wand tip just under his jaw. Looking out of the corner of his eye, Percy can barely make out the shadow of the person. Re-opening his door Percy walks back into his office, muttering the charm to turn on the lights Percy gasps in shock when he realizes that it's Hermione who has her wand under his chin.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" snaps Percy reaching up and yanking her wand away from his throat. "Do you know the penalty for attacking a member of the Ministry?"
"Who cares?" hisses Hermione her eyes flashing crazily at him. "You certainly don't."
Narrowing his eyes at Hermione, Percy glares at her coldly. "Listen little girl," starts Percy only to be cut off.
"You stupid pompous prat!" shrieks Hermione. Advancing on him. "You should be kissing the ground your mother walks on!"
"If she's the reason you're here," snaps Percy struggling to remain composed. "You should have just stayed out of it!"
"Out of it," hisses Hermione angrily as tears start to form in her eyes. "What I wouldn't do to have my mother safe and alive! And all you can think about is hurting and humiliate yours!" Percy finches as Hermione's words start to make sense. "How dare you! Your mother has done nothing! Absolutely nothing to warrant your…your... OHHH!"
Ministry of Magic
Outside of Percy's Office
Soft thuds, along with short squeaks float down the hallway as Fred and George make their way towards their brother's office.
"I hope he's not in their with his girlfriend," states George as both he and Fred look disturbed by the mere idea.
"That was a gross mental image," mutters Fred. A loud shriek echoes down towards them. Looking at each other, they both whisper, "Hermione."
Racing up to Percy's door, they were shocked when Cornelius Fudge comes out of nowhere. Turning the door knob, Fred waits hoping that Fudge will continue down the hall, but that's dashed when he stands right behind them smirking.
Opening the door, Fred wasn't prepared for the sight before him. In the office was Hermione who had Percy pinned to the floor him holding him by the hem of his robes.
"You should be kissing the ground your mother walks on," shouts Hermione shaking Percy violently. "While all I can do is pray that my mother makes it through the night."
"Fred! George!" gasps Percy attempting to talk. "Help me!" Moving swiftly, the twin extract Hermione from Percy. Once she was away from him, Hermione completely broke down in hysteria. Percy takes several deep breaths before he picks himself off the floor. "Get her to St. Mungo's," orders Percy. "She be completely devastated if anything has happened to her mother and she wasn't there."
Fred and George were reliantly making their way out when Percy calls out after them. "Tell mother I'll be there as soon as I can."
Fudge was
ecstatic.
Percy could instantly tell by the way he was rubbing his hands
together
and by the smirk on his face. "I can't
believe it," squeals Fudge. "Hermione
Granger attacked a Ministry official.
She is going to be expelled from Hogwarts," laughs Fudge looking
even
more gleeful by the minute.
Smiling brightly, Fudge turns to walk out. "Thanks Percy, you have no idea how hard it is getting rid of trash like them." Turning the knob on the door, Fudge was surprised to find that the door wouldn't open.
"Do sit down," commands Percy gesturing to a vacate chair in his office. "We have a lot to discuss and not a whole lot of time to do so."
St. Mungo's
Emergency Room
Bursting though the doors, George was holding a sobbing Hermione in his arms. Instantly everyone advances on George.
"Hermione!" shouts Harry as he reaches out to her gently grabbing her hand. "You scared us when you just disappeared like that."
"Hermione," whispers Molly tucking her hair behind her ear. "Your mother is going to be just fine. Madam Pomfrey has seen her already and has said that she'll make it."
"Do you promise," cries Hermione looking at Mrs. Weasley with hopeful eyes.
"Yes," mutters Mrs. Weasley.
Two hours later, after Hermione was settled into her mother's room. Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley were still waiting for Percy to show up. The tense started to get to them, feeling uneasy they started to pace the hallway. Looking at each other they sigh heavily. Both knowing the consequences of what Hermione had done. But what was worrying the both of them was that there was no word from the Ministry, and that was highly unusual.
"Mum," asks Ron. "What is going to happen now?"
"I don't know," states Mrs. Weasley looking concerned.
"Mum," greets Percy as he walks towards them. "Father."
"What about Hermione?" demands Ron looking somewhat irate at Percy.
"What about her?" asks Percy looking at Ron coolly. But before anyone could comment, Percy continues, "She will go to school, graduate at the top of her class. And prevent you and Harry from getting yourselves expelled."
"But…" gasps Ron looking confused. "What about Fudge?"
"Politics is a dirty business, Ron," bluntly
states
Percy. "I suggest you become an Auror."
~~
"…. And that's everything," finishes Percy. Leaning over to give his wife a kiss.
"What did you say to Fudge," asks Sirius looking intrigued. "To prevent him from expelling Hermione?"
"There are some things that Fudge wouldn't like to have made known," cryptically comments Percy.
Wow! I can't believe that Percy would blackmail anyone. And for me of all people. I guess I did something that the rest of his family couldn't do. I got through to him.
Until Later