Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot on this fanfic and a couple
or more characters you certainly won't find in the HP books so when I say
anything I mean anything! Heck, I don't even own this computer! I'm just
renting it until I get my own. So please bear with me if my updates are
slow? ^___^;;;
Spoilers: You'll know 'em when you see 'em! ^o^v!!!
Author's Note: Enjoy!!! ^__~*
Chapter One: The French Minister of Magic
Hermione walked leisurely along rue Christine, enjoying the luxury of the pleasant day. No one in Hogwarts, not even Ron or Harry would have known that she could enjoy a day that did not involve a book. Nor would anybody believe she had an appreciation for simple things such as these.
She was free and alone in Paris for one whole week! She couldn't believe it! Her parents were suddenly called off to a dentist's convention and they had to leave immediately, leaving her the keys to the hotel and some money, thinking she was responsible enough to handle herself while they were away. For her, it was a whole new experience! All alone in one of her most favorite places in the world with no one to baby sit her. It was like being in heaven!
She continued to walk on past Pont St-Michael to the Ile de la Cité straight for her most favorite spot in the whole of Paris. The Square St. John XXIII located between the Seine and the famous church of Notre Dame.
When she got to the spot, she smiled. It was a rare smile she unconsciously never bestowed on anyone before, except Crookshanks. And that in the privacy of her rooms. The place was easily overlooked by others, so in awe they were by the bold architecture of the hundred year old church behind it, but Hermione had the ability to see the quiet little things of beauty unnoticed by others. And this was one of those things.
Ignoring the brash architecture being gawked at by the tourists, she walked into the square and reached out for one of the branches of the cherry blossom trees that lined the street. She smiled at the beautiful flowers and inhaled the equally beautiful scent. The petals showered over her head gracefully, some of them decorating her unbound hair. It would take about two weeks or three until all the flowers go down for the autumn. By that time, she won't be here any longer. And then it'll be another year of bearing another round of Ron's bickering, Ginny's friendly teasing, Harry's company and Snape's insults. Funny how her Potion's professor's insults should make her stay in Hogwarts complete. But then again, although he'll never admit it, Potions was one of her best subjects.
Hermione sighed a bit heavily. Soon she'll meet Harry and has she got an interesting birthday present for him. Hermione clutched the small rectangular crystal glass hidden inside her deep blue jumper. No longer than the top part of her pinky and just about as wide with a malachite setting carved with specific runes she carved. She knew her calculations were all correct but it wouldn't hurt to test her theories. It was a proof of her research, after all. She only wished she could test it first though. Too bad she's not old enough to cast spells yet. The only thing missing in her little invention was a Patronus.
She turned away from the Seine to walk deeper in the square. So pretty. She wished there was something like this in Hogwarts. Suddenly, a flash of black caught her eye. So contrast was it from the bright glory of the blossoms around her that she strained her eyes to look. Her eyebrows climbed up to her forehead when she recognized who she was looking at.
A young woman dressed in black jeans, turtleneck sweater and ankle boots was talking to a man dressed in a blue coat that looked as if it belonged to the 19th century, and a black top hat. The man was tall and distinguished looking, his hair underneath the hat going grayish. The lines on his face stated that he was a little over sixty years old. The sunlight shone on the girl's coal black hair, decorated by the fallen petals of the cherry blossoms around them. When the girl turned, Hermione recognized the mysterious golden eyes that caught her stare.
Jannes Delareine!
Upon seeing her, Jannes spoke briefly to the man who glanced at her too. Jannes then stood up and walked away. Hermione followed her with her eyes until Jannes was lost in the crowd.
"Good afternoon."
Hermione almost jumped out of her skin in surprise. She looked up and saw the man Jannes was talking to, smiling at her benignly. His eyes were the color of coffee but they twinkled like Dumbledore's. his voice held the thick accent of the French.
"G-good afternoon, sir." She greeted back. She was about to leave but a word from him stopped her.
"Wait." Hermione turned back to him. He was still smiling. "You are Mademoiselle Hermione Granger, are you not?"
Hermione's eyes widened and she gripped her wand, hidden inside her jeans, tightly. "You know me? H-how... why—?"
The man chuckled. "My companion, Mademoiselle Delareine has spoken briefly of you when she caught sight of you a while ago."
Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry. Did she leave because of me?"
The man shook his head. "Not in the way you think. She has... reasons, you see, for not wanting to be seen with me."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Reasons?"
The man smiled a bit wider. "You are a Hogwarts prefect, oui? Also a best friend of Harry Potter's?"
It sounded more like a statement than a question but Hermione nodded anyway. He just confirmed that he was a wizard, after all. "Oui. And you are—?"
"Oh, forgive me, mademoiselle. My manners are quite execrable today. Allow me to introduce myself. Cristophé Beauchamp, at your service," he bowed gallantly. "I am Minister of Magic here in France."
Hermione's mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise before nodding respectfully. "I-I'm glad to meet you, Monsieur Beauchamp!" she eyed him with more suspicion now although she released her grip on her wand.
She had a very bad experience with a certain Minister of Magic back home. She still got a daily copy of the Daily Prophet and matters couldn't be thought of as good or bad with Fudge's new found knowledge of Voldemort's return. By the articles she'd read, it seems that Fudge was trying to put Dumbledore out of the picture to claim the spotlight by banning the Order to mix with 'matters of the Ministry', masking it with superficial anxiety over the old wizard's safety. Hermione knew better and she was sure that the people in the Order knew that too. That was what the situation back home was, she wasn't sure about things here in France since this was the first time she's encountered another wizard here, if you count the research she did in the catacombs.
As though reading her mind, Monsieur Beauchamp smiled at her. "Don't worry, cherie, you are safe with me. Me and Cornelius Fudge quite... differ in some ways."
Hermione felt relieved. She didn't know why but this man seemed trustworthy. "That's... good to hear."
Monsieur Beauchamp grinned. "It seems that Cornelius has made himself quite unpopular with you."
Hermione laughed a little. "Can you really blame me?"
"And how is M'sieur Potter nowadays? Surely, you have written to him?"
Hermione nodded as they strolled through the square, ignored by people who were still gawking and taking pictures of Notre Dame. "He's... coping. As always."
She missed the sad, resigned look on the wizard's face. "I see. I have heard of the demise of M'sieur Sirius Black. Please send M'sieur Potter my condolences."
Hermione looked up at him. "Do you know Mr. Black?"
Beauchamp smiled at her. "Actually I... am a bit acquainted with M'sieur Potter's family."
"You know Harry's father?!" Hermione asked, alert.
Beauchamp chuckled. "Non, cherie, non. I know of the Potters since I have been Minister of Magic when James Potter was still in short pants. The Potters are quite a family, you see and very influential during Voldemort's time."
"Oh." Hermione said and looked down, thinking. Why did she get the feeling that he wasn't telling her everything. Like that feeling she got whenever Dumbledore gave them a cryptic little hint.
"I have genuinely liked certain members of the Potter family and so I have kept a few tabs on young M'sieur Potter's life. I can't say I have been... happy about the things that I have found out." Beauchamp continued.
Hermione's eyes blazed with anger. "They were horrible to him! Making him live in a cupboard for ten years! Mistreating him and making his life miserable! I swear if I ever graduate from Hogwarts, I'll come after those people and make sure they feel what they've done to Harry ten times over! After I curse them into oblivion!"
Beauchamp chuckled again and Hermione blushed in confusion. "I see M'sieur Potter has quite a defender in you. I hope he appreciates it."
"Hardly but I don't really mind. What's important to me is that I help him. I can't imagine what he's feeling right now with Sirius dead. I can only hope that my birthday present will make him happy. As well as keep him safe. but I'm afraid I won't be able to test it in it's full capacity while I'm out of school."
Monsieur Beauchamp's brows shot up. "Birthday present? What would it take for that birthday present to be tested then?"
"A Patronus charm." She answered glumly, fingering the crystal in her pocket.
"Then why not do it right here?" the old man asked her.
Hermione stared at him, horrified. "Are you kidding?! But won't I get arrested for something like that?! I don't want to see an owl with a notice on it."
Monsieur Beauchamp smiled at her kindly. "Not while you're with me. If someone asks, I'll just say I asked you to do it. Here, let me help you." He took out his wand and cast a Confundus charm around them both. "Now no one will ever notice what you're doing."
Hermione gave him a slow grin before looking around and taking her wand and the crystal out and opened it and then screwed up her eyes to think of an extremely happy thought. The best one she had. What popped in her mind was the time she solved that logic puzzle on potions when she, Harry and Ron went to save the Sorcerer's Stone. She felt so proud of herself then. It was then that she felt that she truly belonged in this strange world she never even knew existed until she got her letter from Hogwarts. It made her feel what she wanted most... Acceptance.
She put the tip of her wand on her temple and pulled the memory out. The silvery thread fell inside the crystal and she closed it. She then held out her wand to the crystal and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
A glowing silver otter flashed out of her wand and ran around the square, running through a pair of unmindful panhandlers and a few tourists. Hermione was closing the crystal a while later.
Monsieur Beauchamp looked at the now glowing crystal curiously. "Pretty. But what exactly does it do?"
Hermione smiled at him gleefully as she held the crystal up happily. "It's supposed to be protection from dementors, sir."
The French Minister of Magic stared at her for a moment before he threw back his head and laughed. "Really?" he asked after a while. "Well I wish you the best of luck then, Mademoiselle Granger. Au revoir."
The old man waved his wand and took the Confundus charm away.
"Wait!" Hermione called out as he started to leave. He stopped and looked at her in polite curiosity. She gathered her courage and asked. "About... about Voldemort, sir... what... what is the French Ministry of Magic doing to keep him from gathering power?"
She saw a flicker of seriousness on his face before it was replaced by his courteous smile. "Jannes was right about you. You do ask a lot of questions. And I can see that you do not fear the Dark Lord as the others do. However, I think you will find all that you need to know in the pages of the Daily Prophet, ma cherie, for I am not at liberty to discuss such things with you, and right here in the open. Forgive me, ma enfant, for now I must go." He bowed to her and then walked away. Moments later, he was swallowed by the crowd.
Hermione was left behind in deep thought of what just happened, wondering if she was missing something, while the orb in her hand glowed a faint silver under the sunlight...
***
"Severus... my dear Severus..."
Severus bowed lower before the red pupiled serpent man in front of him, keeping his face neutral and above all, impassable. It was all part of the game. The façade he had to show everyone else in this side of his life to keep himself alive and useful. An interesting game he specialized in and was highly valued for despite trepidations.
"Yes, Master, I am here." He responded with just the right touch of scraping humility he knew Voldemort expected no less from him. "Only ask and I shall give it."
Voldemort smiled at him coldly as he sat on a great big mahogany chair while petting Nagini who was coiled at the foot of it. "Yes... tell me, Severus... How do my enemies fare since our last... encounter...?"
Severus smirked sneeringly and disdainfully. "They are fools, Master, thinking that Dumbledore and Harry Potter has weakened you since you fought them last. The Ministry is even underestimating you now, thinking that, as long as they have The-Boy-Who-Lived beside them, the wizarding world can drive you away. They all treat him like some fragile goblet made of spun glass, my lord. It is pathetic."
Voldemort emitted a sound which was the closest to a snort he could ever make in the body he now occupied. "You are right, as always, Severus. They are fools. I will soon disillusion them of that thought. Bella, my dear..."
"Yes, Master?" Bellatrix Lestrange, her madness now pleasantly subdued appeared from the shadows beside Severus who did not so much as bat an eyelash.
He knew the way his fellow Death Eaters moved and all their tendency to appear seemingly out of nowhere. With some notable exceptions, of course. He shot a disdainful and surreptitious glance at Pettigrew who was shivering beside the Dark Lord like a pet although he was trying to look smug. Snape made his gaze look like a glance of envy in order to hide his disgust for the filthy creature.
"Have you arranged everything for our... guests?"
Severus could feel Bellatrix's smirk from where he was kneeling. It was cold and ruthless that bode no mercy tinged with deep malice. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Yes, master." She answered with deep reverence.
The ghost of a truly terrifying and malicious grin spread across the dark wizard's face. "Then put on your masks, my faithful followers and await as I summon those who had been and shall be loyal to me... Wormtail..." Still shivering in terror, Pettigrew stepped near Voldemort and offered his left forearm. The Dark Lord touched the Dark Mark glowing there and concentrated. Severus had an uneasy feeling about all this but he remained silent.
He was risking a lot, responding to the summons of the Dark Lord, but the call had to be answered in order for him to continue with his services for the Order. He thought that the Dark Lord had to have been weakened anyway since the battle down in the Department of Mysteries. In a way, he was right, but the serpentine man looked too smug for Severus' taste. And he didn't like it one bit. He's got something up his sleeve. Nonetheless, Severus put on his Death Eater mask and blended behind the shadows of the dark cave underneath a long abandoned, unplottable Lestrange estate near the Cornish coasts.
For a moment, there was complete silence... and then, one by one, Death Eaters started popping out of the woodwork and kneeling in front of the Dark Lord. Severus felt his stomach grow cold. Who were these people...? He thought the Death Eater ranks have been mercifully depleted since Malfoy and the others were caught! Looks like he was sadly mistaken. Soon, the whole cave was filled with kneeling Death Eaters and kept in the shadows. Listening. Dreading. It was a good thing his mask was on. It was the only thing that kept his jaw from dropping off.
For a moment, there were murmurs of different languages as the cave filled. All excited and restless. Then the whole cave became quiet and Nagini slithered to place herself between the newly arrived Death Eaters and her master. Voldemort's flashing red eyes bore through all his Death Eaters as they all knelt before him in praise and worship. The Dark Lord swept his eyes over them all. Nagini coiled before his feet and hissed at the mortals in front of its master. Severus tried not to shiver from the intense cold the mere presence of this wizard brought with him. A truly, terrible contrast between him and Albus Dumbledore who exhibited warmth. The perfect antithesis.
Images of what he'd witnessed over the past years loomed in his brain and he forced them out. This was not the time. He needed to know what the Dark Lord was up to. From the summons he got and the order that they all should come in garb, he figured that this was going to be another killing spree. The Dark Lord may have withdrawn from his and Dumbledore's battle last term but that didn't make him weak. At least that was what he wanted to show his followers. He's already informed the Order about the meeting tonight and they were now all on alert for any attacks. Severus could only hope it would be enough.
"Rise, my faithful followers both old and new..." Voldemort hissed at them.
New?! As in new recruits?!
Oh fuck.
He saw Bellatrix smiling like a cat from her position at the right hand place of the dark wizard while Pettigrew simpered on the left. There was a time when Lucius occupied that particular spot of Bella's. Would that he could see the arrogant scum's face now if he knew what was going on now that he was serving his stint in Azkaban. Severus smirked at the thought of Malfoy's red, angry face and his stuttering protests despite his distress.
All the Death Eaters present raised their heads but did not stand. Severus knew that the Dark Lord loved the illusion that he was higher than anyone else, therefore adopting the old imperial Chinese custom that no one should stand higher than the emperor as a sign of respect for him. It seems these recruits have been well trained.
"I can understand that you must be all discouraged what with the capture of some of your fellow Death Eaters, but you need not worry. For we shall be getting them back soon enough!" silence filled the room but the air was charged with excitement. Severus listened closely. "The dementors are all only too happy to aid us in our quest to cleanse this world of the filth who have all blocked us and backed us into a corner! Keeping us all locked away and living in secret when we should be ruling over them!"
Murmurs broke out all throughout the room. All of them appreciative and fired with such a hungry passion to destroy. He could sense it. It was as familiar as his own right hand.
"Though we cannot act upon it tonight, I thought we should show the Ministry of Magic and that old fool Dumbledore that we do not fear him, and that I can stomp them to the ground! And for that, I want to torture my enemy. The-Boy-Who-Lived..." Voldemort hissed once more when silence fell again. "We attack the one who will hurt Harry Potter most..."
Who? The Weasleys? That could be possible. But all the Weasleys are either in headquarters or at work right now. That project would be useless. Then who did the Dark Lord mean?
"The perfect target, brought to my attention by my faithful Peter over here." Pettigrew nervously preened and Bellatrix sent him a look. Severus would bet his last jar of boomslang skin that it wasn't friendly. "One of the old man's precious prefects. A mudblood and a close confidante to Harry Potter."
Good Merlin in heaven... he can't be talking about...
"Hermione Granger..."
Fuck.
Severus' blood ran cold and he had to close his eyes for a moment to keep himself in check.
Pettigrew, you sniveling, cowering, wretched bastard! As Ron Weasley's former rat, it would be natural for him to know a lot about Potter's friends. But why Granger?
True, she was, admittedly, the only one in the group who actually had a brain. She's even acquired a great amount of confidence last year and hasn't asked that many questions anymore. He silently acceded that she was going to be a very fine woman given half a chance, and here he was, listening to her upcoming death...
The saddest part was that he couldn't intervene. Not if he wanted his cover blown.
Fuck.
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.
Trying stoically to take in all the other details being discussed and announced, he fought the grief waging a war through his soul. It was stupid to feel such regret for a girl he hadn't even liked these past six years, but there it was. A severe tightening of his chest, constricting the very air he was breathing. What was that Jannes said about Granger last term? Granger? His favorite student? Not really. Not if he wanted to be Killer curse fodder right now. If only he could do something to stop this! Or warn her! Warn someone!
"Whom of us shall eliminate her, master?" Bella simpered from her place at the dais' feet, obviously wanting to gain back the favor she's lost when she failed in her mission to retrieve the prophecy they were sent to claim.
The Dark Lord gave her a horrible smirk while petting Nagini's head. The giant serpent closed it's eyes as though in ecstasy. "You, my dear, shall organize other, more pleasurable attacks tonight. Our French... allies... shall do the attack on the mudblood for now. Just to prove their... willingness to help. Isn't that right, Maurice?"
Severus' gaze took in the Death Eaters kneeling near the Dark Lord and a short figure knelt lower before the dark wizard. "Oui, my lord! I shall not fail you!"
Bella looked down, Severus could sense her disappointment. He didn't really care. Professor McGonagall was going to flip when she learns that her prize student was turned into a Death Eater victim! Not to mention that it would drive Potter insane with guilt...
Potter!
Damn it, he'd better not attempt any foolish rescue missions if he's seeing all this right now...
He was even more alarmed by the fact that several of the old Death Eaters were there to refill the Dark Lord's depleted ranks. Severus did not doubt that most of the people here were foreigners. There were few the Dark Lord trusted. And those few will do anything for him.
"You may take a dementor or two with you if you want to, Maurice. You may be... expected..."
Oh, fuck. Things were made just a bit more complicated.
"Now rise, my Death Eaters... and show them all that we fear nothing!" Voldemort spoke loudly and the Death Eaters rose as one, ready to do their master's bidding.
Severus couldn't help but pray that the Order was ready for this...
-***-
"NO!"
Harry Potter rose from his bed in shock. Holding onto his scar and still sweating with dread at the vision he just had.
Hermione! Hermione was in danger!
He saw everything once more. Just like he did with Mr. Weasley and the rest! They were going to set dementors on Hermione!
But wait! What if it's another trap? What if they were setting him up again just like what they did with Sirius?!
Harry buried his face on his knees and banged on his narrow bed. What was he going to do?! Should he go? He stood up and took a look outside his window. The night was dark. Starless and blank. If he used magic, he'll have another inquiry in his hands and he could do well without that.
Hedwig flew in all of a sudden from his window, carrying a dead mouse, hooting proudly as she presented him her catch. Harry patted her head. "Good work, girl."
But what if it wasn't? Hermione! God, what was he going to do?! He didn't even know where he was going to look! Adrenaline fueled dread made him swear and pace and Hedwig hooted at him questioningly. The little expression of concern gave him an idea.
Harry took out a piece of paper and penned a short letter on it before giving it to Hedwig. "Give this to Lupin, Hedwig. And hurry! Hermione's in danger!"
At the mention of Hermione's name, the snowy owl took off, not even finishing her meal. Harry prayed that she would make it on time. He couldn't afford to lose Hermione too... Not after everything!
Not her too...
Spoilers: You'll know 'em when you see 'em! ^o^v!!!
Author's Note: Enjoy!!! ^__~*
Chapter One: The French Minister of Magic
Hermione walked leisurely along rue Christine, enjoying the luxury of the pleasant day. No one in Hogwarts, not even Ron or Harry would have known that she could enjoy a day that did not involve a book. Nor would anybody believe she had an appreciation for simple things such as these.
She was free and alone in Paris for one whole week! She couldn't believe it! Her parents were suddenly called off to a dentist's convention and they had to leave immediately, leaving her the keys to the hotel and some money, thinking she was responsible enough to handle herself while they were away. For her, it was a whole new experience! All alone in one of her most favorite places in the world with no one to baby sit her. It was like being in heaven!
She continued to walk on past Pont St-Michael to the Ile de la Cité straight for her most favorite spot in the whole of Paris. The Square St. John XXIII located between the Seine and the famous church of Notre Dame.
When she got to the spot, she smiled. It was a rare smile she unconsciously never bestowed on anyone before, except Crookshanks. And that in the privacy of her rooms. The place was easily overlooked by others, so in awe they were by the bold architecture of the hundred year old church behind it, but Hermione had the ability to see the quiet little things of beauty unnoticed by others. And this was one of those things.
Ignoring the brash architecture being gawked at by the tourists, she walked into the square and reached out for one of the branches of the cherry blossom trees that lined the street. She smiled at the beautiful flowers and inhaled the equally beautiful scent. The petals showered over her head gracefully, some of them decorating her unbound hair. It would take about two weeks or three until all the flowers go down for the autumn. By that time, she won't be here any longer. And then it'll be another year of bearing another round of Ron's bickering, Ginny's friendly teasing, Harry's company and Snape's insults. Funny how her Potion's professor's insults should make her stay in Hogwarts complete. But then again, although he'll never admit it, Potions was one of her best subjects.
Hermione sighed a bit heavily. Soon she'll meet Harry and has she got an interesting birthday present for him. Hermione clutched the small rectangular crystal glass hidden inside her deep blue jumper. No longer than the top part of her pinky and just about as wide with a malachite setting carved with specific runes she carved. She knew her calculations were all correct but it wouldn't hurt to test her theories. It was a proof of her research, after all. She only wished she could test it first though. Too bad she's not old enough to cast spells yet. The only thing missing in her little invention was a Patronus.
She turned away from the Seine to walk deeper in the square. So pretty. She wished there was something like this in Hogwarts. Suddenly, a flash of black caught her eye. So contrast was it from the bright glory of the blossoms around her that she strained her eyes to look. Her eyebrows climbed up to her forehead when she recognized who she was looking at.
A young woman dressed in black jeans, turtleneck sweater and ankle boots was talking to a man dressed in a blue coat that looked as if it belonged to the 19th century, and a black top hat. The man was tall and distinguished looking, his hair underneath the hat going grayish. The lines on his face stated that he was a little over sixty years old. The sunlight shone on the girl's coal black hair, decorated by the fallen petals of the cherry blossoms around them. When the girl turned, Hermione recognized the mysterious golden eyes that caught her stare.
Jannes Delareine!
Upon seeing her, Jannes spoke briefly to the man who glanced at her too. Jannes then stood up and walked away. Hermione followed her with her eyes until Jannes was lost in the crowd.
"Good afternoon."
Hermione almost jumped out of her skin in surprise. She looked up and saw the man Jannes was talking to, smiling at her benignly. His eyes were the color of coffee but they twinkled like Dumbledore's. his voice held the thick accent of the French.
"G-good afternoon, sir." She greeted back. She was about to leave but a word from him stopped her.
"Wait." Hermione turned back to him. He was still smiling. "You are Mademoiselle Hermione Granger, are you not?"
Hermione's eyes widened and she gripped her wand, hidden inside her jeans, tightly. "You know me? H-how... why—?"
The man chuckled. "My companion, Mademoiselle Delareine has spoken briefly of you when she caught sight of you a while ago."
Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry. Did she leave because of me?"
The man shook his head. "Not in the way you think. She has... reasons, you see, for not wanting to be seen with me."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Reasons?"
The man smiled a bit wider. "You are a Hogwarts prefect, oui? Also a best friend of Harry Potter's?"
It sounded more like a statement than a question but Hermione nodded anyway. He just confirmed that he was a wizard, after all. "Oui. And you are—?"
"Oh, forgive me, mademoiselle. My manners are quite execrable today. Allow me to introduce myself. Cristophé Beauchamp, at your service," he bowed gallantly. "I am Minister of Magic here in France."
Hermione's mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise before nodding respectfully. "I-I'm glad to meet you, Monsieur Beauchamp!" she eyed him with more suspicion now although she released her grip on her wand.
She had a very bad experience with a certain Minister of Magic back home. She still got a daily copy of the Daily Prophet and matters couldn't be thought of as good or bad with Fudge's new found knowledge of Voldemort's return. By the articles she'd read, it seems that Fudge was trying to put Dumbledore out of the picture to claim the spotlight by banning the Order to mix with 'matters of the Ministry', masking it with superficial anxiety over the old wizard's safety. Hermione knew better and she was sure that the people in the Order knew that too. That was what the situation back home was, she wasn't sure about things here in France since this was the first time she's encountered another wizard here, if you count the research she did in the catacombs.
As though reading her mind, Monsieur Beauchamp smiled at her. "Don't worry, cherie, you are safe with me. Me and Cornelius Fudge quite... differ in some ways."
Hermione felt relieved. She didn't know why but this man seemed trustworthy. "That's... good to hear."
Monsieur Beauchamp grinned. "It seems that Cornelius has made himself quite unpopular with you."
Hermione laughed a little. "Can you really blame me?"
"And how is M'sieur Potter nowadays? Surely, you have written to him?"
Hermione nodded as they strolled through the square, ignored by people who were still gawking and taking pictures of Notre Dame. "He's... coping. As always."
She missed the sad, resigned look on the wizard's face. "I see. I have heard of the demise of M'sieur Sirius Black. Please send M'sieur Potter my condolences."
Hermione looked up at him. "Do you know Mr. Black?"
Beauchamp smiled at her. "Actually I... am a bit acquainted with M'sieur Potter's family."
"You know Harry's father?!" Hermione asked, alert.
Beauchamp chuckled. "Non, cherie, non. I know of the Potters since I have been Minister of Magic when James Potter was still in short pants. The Potters are quite a family, you see and very influential during Voldemort's time."
"Oh." Hermione said and looked down, thinking. Why did she get the feeling that he wasn't telling her everything. Like that feeling she got whenever Dumbledore gave them a cryptic little hint.
"I have genuinely liked certain members of the Potter family and so I have kept a few tabs on young M'sieur Potter's life. I can't say I have been... happy about the things that I have found out." Beauchamp continued.
Hermione's eyes blazed with anger. "They were horrible to him! Making him live in a cupboard for ten years! Mistreating him and making his life miserable! I swear if I ever graduate from Hogwarts, I'll come after those people and make sure they feel what they've done to Harry ten times over! After I curse them into oblivion!"
Beauchamp chuckled again and Hermione blushed in confusion. "I see M'sieur Potter has quite a defender in you. I hope he appreciates it."
"Hardly but I don't really mind. What's important to me is that I help him. I can't imagine what he's feeling right now with Sirius dead. I can only hope that my birthday present will make him happy. As well as keep him safe. but I'm afraid I won't be able to test it in it's full capacity while I'm out of school."
Monsieur Beauchamp's brows shot up. "Birthday present? What would it take for that birthday present to be tested then?"
"A Patronus charm." She answered glumly, fingering the crystal in her pocket.
"Then why not do it right here?" the old man asked her.
Hermione stared at him, horrified. "Are you kidding?! But won't I get arrested for something like that?! I don't want to see an owl with a notice on it."
Monsieur Beauchamp smiled at her kindly. "Not while you're with me. If someone asks, I'll just say I asked you to do it. Here, let me help you." He took out his wand and cast a Confundus charm around them both. "Now no one will ever notice what you're doing."
Hermione gave him a slow grin before looking around and taking her wand and the crystal out and opened it and then screwed up her eyes to think of an extremely happy thought. The best one she had. What popped in her mind was the time she solved that logic puzzle on potions when she, Harry and Ron went to save the Sorcerer's Stone. She felt so proud of herself then. It was then that she felt that she truly belonged in this strange world she never even knew existed until she got her letter from Hogwarts. It made her feel what she wanted most... Acceptance.
She put the tip of her wand on her temple and pulled the memory out. The silvery thread fell inside the crystal and she closed it. She then held out her wand to the crystal and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
A glowing silver otter flashed out of her wand and ran around the square, running through a pair of unmindful panhandlers and a few tourists. Hermione was closing the crystal a while later.
Monsieur Beauchamp looked at the now glowing crystal curiously. "Pretty. But what exactly does it do?"
Hermione smiled at him gleefully as she held the crystal up happily. "It's supposed to be protection from dementors, sir."
The French Minister of Magic stared at her for a moment before he threw back his head and laughed. "Really?" he asked after a while. "Well I wish you the best of luck then, Mademoiselle Granger. Au revoir."
The old man waved his wand and took the Confundus charm away.
"Wait!" Hermione called out as he started to leave. He stopped and looked at her in polite curiosity. She gathered her courage and asked. "About... about Voldemort, sir... what... what is the French Ministry of Magic doing to keep him from gathering power?"
She saw a flicker of seriousness on his face before it was replaced by his courteous smile. "Jannes was right about you. You do ask a lot of questions. And I can see that you do not fear the Dark Lord as the others do. However, I think you will find all that you need to know in the pages of the Daily Prophet, ma cherie, for I am not at liberty to discuss such things with you, and right here in the open. Forgive me, ma enfant, for now I must go." He bowed to her and then walked away. Moments later, he was swallowed by the crowd.
Hermione was left behind in deep thought of what just happened, wondering if she was missing something, while the orb in her hand glowed a faint silver under the sunlight...
***
"Severus... my dear Severus..."
Severus bowed lower before the red pupiled serpent man in front of him, keeping his face neutral and above all, impassable. It was all part of the game. The façade he had to show everyone else in this side of his life to keep himself alive and useful. An interesting game he specialized in and was highly valued for despite trepidations.
"Yes, Master, I am here." He responded with just the right touch of scraping humility he knew Voldemort expected no less from him. "Only ask and I shall give it."
Voldemort smiled at him coldly as he sat on a great big mahogany chair while petting Nagini who was coiled at the foot of it. "Yes... tell me, Severus... How do my enemies fare since our last... encounter...?"
Severus smirked sneeringly and disdainfully. "They are fools, Master, thinking that Dumbledore and Harry Potter has weakened you since you fought them last. The Ministry is even underestimating you now, thinking that, as long as they have The-Boy-Who-Lived beside them, the wizarding world can drive you away. They all treat him like some fragile goblet made of spun glass, my lord. It is pathetic."
Voldemort emitted a sound which was the closest to a snort he could ever make in the body he now occupied. "You are right, as always, Severus. They are fools. I will soon disillusion them of that thought. Bella, my dear..."
"Yes, Master?" Bellatrix Lestrange, her madness now pleasantly subdued appeared from the shadows beside Severus who did not so much as bat an eyelash.
He knew the way his fellow Death Eaters moved and all their tendency to appear seemingly out of nowhere. With some notable exceptions, of course. He shot a disdainful and surreptitious glance at Pettigrew who was shivering beside the Dark Lord like a pet although he was trying to look smug. Snape made his gaze look like a glance of envy in order to hide his disgust for the filthy creature.
"Have you arranged everything for our... guests?"
Severus could feel Bellatrix's smirk from where he was kneeling. It was cold and ruthless that bode no mercy tinged with deep malice. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Yes, master." She answered with deep reverence.
The ghost of a truly terrifying and malicious grin spread across the dark wizard's face. "Then put on your masks, my faithful followers and await as I summon those who had been and shall be loyal to me... Wormtail..." Still shivering in terror, Pettigrew stepped near Voldemort and offered his left forearm. The Dark Lord touched the Dark Mark glowing there and concentrated. Severus had an uneasy feeling about all this but he remained silent.
He was risking a lot, responding to the summons of the Dark Lord, but the call had to be answered in order for him to continue with his services for the Order. He thought that the Dark Lord had to have been weakened anyway since the battle down in the Department of Mysteries. In a way, he was right, but the serpentine man looked too smug for Severus' taste. And he didn't like it one bit. He's got something up his sleeve. Nonetheless, Severus put on his Death Eater mask and blended behind the shadows of the dark cave underneath a long abandoned, unplottable Lestrange estate near the Cornish coasts.
For a moment, there was complete silence... and then, one by one, Death Eaters started popping out of the woodwork and kneeling in front of the Dark Lord. Severus felt his stomach grow cold. Who were these people...? He thought the Death Eater ranks have been mercifully depleted since Malfoy and the others were caught! Looks like he was sadly mistaken. Soon, the whole cave was filled with kneeling Death Eaters and kept in the shadows. Listening. Dreading. It was a good thing his mask was on. It was the only thing that kept his jaw from dropping off.
For a moment, there were murmurs of different languages as the cave filled. All excited and restless. Then the whole cave became quiet and Nagini slithered to place herself between the newly arrived Death Eaters and her master. Voldemort's flashing red eyes bore through all his Death Eaters as they all knelt before him in praise and worship. The Dark Lord swept his eyes over them all. Nagini coiled before his feet and hissed at the mortals in front of its master. Severus tried not to shiver from the intense cold the mere presence of this wizard brought with him. A truly, terrible contrast between him and Albus Dumbledore who exhibited warmth. The perfect antithesis.
Images of what he'd witnessed over the past years loomed in his brain and he forced them out. This was not the time. He needed to know what the Dark Lord was up to. From the summons he got and the order that they all should come in garb, he figured that this was going to be another killing spree. The Dark Lord may have withdrawn from his and Dumbledore's battle last term but that didn't make him weak. At least that was what he wanted to show his followers. He's already informed the Order about the meeting tonight and they were now all on alert for any attacks. Severus could only hope it would be enough.
"Rise, my faithful followers both old and new..." Voldemort hissed at them.
New?! As in new recruits?!
Oh fuck.
He saw Bellatrix smiling like a cat from her position at the right hand place of the dark wizard while Pettigrew simpered on the left. There was a time when Lucius occupied that particular spot of Bella's. Would that he could see the arrogant scum's face now if he knew what was going on now that he was serving his stint in Azkaban. Severus smirked at the thought of Malfoy's red, angry face and his stuttering protests despite his distress.
All the Death Eaters present raised their heads but did not stand. Severus knew that the Dark Lord loved the illusion that he was higher than anyone else, therefore adopting the old imperial Chinese custom that no one should stand higher than the emperor as a sign of respect for him. It seems these recruits have been well trained.
"I can understand that you must be all discouraged what with the capture of some of your fellow Death Eaters, but you need not worry. For we shall be getting them back soon enough!" silence filled the room but the air was charged with excitement. Severus listened closely. "The dementors are all only too happy to aid us in our quest to cleanse this world of the filth who have all blocked us and backed us into a corner! Keeping us all locked away and living in secret when we should be ruling over them!"
Murmurs broke out all throughout the room. All of them appreciative and fired with such a hungry passion to destroy. He could sense it. It was as familiar as his own right hand.
"Though we cannot act upon it tonight, I thought we should show the Ministry of Magic and that old fool Dumbledore that we do not fear him, and that I can stomp them to the ground! And for that, I want to torture my enemy. The-Boy-Who-Lived..." Voldemort hissed once more when silence fell again. "We attack the one who will hurt Harry Potter most..."
Who? The Weasleys? That could be possible. But all the Weasleys are either in headquarters or at work right now. That project would be useless. Then who did the Dark Lord mean?
"The perfect target, brought to my attention by my faithful Peter over here." Pettigrew nervously preened and Bellatrix sent him a look. Severus would bet his last jar of boomslang skin that it wasn't friendly. "One of the old man's precious prefects. A mudblood and a close confidante to Harry Potter."
Good Merlin in heaven... he can't be talking about...
"Hermione Granger..."
Fuck.
Severus' blood ran cold and he had to close his eyes for a moment to keep himself in check.
Pettigrew, you sniveling, cowering, wretched bastard! As Ron Weasley's former rat, it would be natural for him to know a lot about Potter's friends. But why Granger?
True, she was, admittedly, the only one in the group who actually had a brain. She's even acquired a great amount of confidence last year and hasn't asked that many questions anymore. He silently acceded that she was going to be a very fine woman given half a chance, and here he was, listening to her upcoming death...
The saddest part was that he couldn't intervene. Not if he wanted his cover blown.
Fuck.
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.
Trying stoically to take in all the other details being discussed and announced, he fought the grief waging a war through his soul. It was stupid to feel such regret for a girl he hadn't even liked these past six years, but there it was. A severe tightening of his chest, constricting the very air he was breathing. What was that Jannes said about Granger last term? Granger? His favorite student? Not really. Not if he wanted to be Killer curse fodder right now. If only he could do something to stop this! Or warn her! Warn someone!
"Whom of us shall eliminate her, master?" Bella simpered from her place at the dais' feet, obviously wanting to gain back the favor she's lost when she failed in her mission to retrieve the prophecy they were sent to claim.
The Dark Lord gave her a horrible smirk while petting Nagini's head. The giant serpent closed it's eyes as though in ecstasy. "You, my dear, shall organize other, more pleasurable attacks tonight. Our French... allies... shall do the attack on the mudblood for now. Just to prove their... willingness to help. Isn't that right, Maurice?"
Severus' gaze took in the Death Eaters kneeling near the Dark Lord and a short figure knelt lower before the dark wizard. "Oui, my lord! I shall not fail you!"
Bella looked down, Severus could sense her disappointment. He didn't really care. Professor McGonagall was going to flip when she learns that her prize student was turned into a Death Eater victim! Not to mention that it would drive Potter insane with guilt...
Potter!
Damn it, he'd better not attempt any foolish rescue missions if he's seeing all this right now...
He was even more alarmed by the fact that several of the old Death Eaters were there to refill the Dark Lord's depleted ranks. Severus did not doubt that most of the people here were foreigners. There were few the Dark Lord trusted. And those few will do anything for him.
"You may take a dementor or two with you if you want to, Maurice. You may be... expected..."
Oh, fuck. Things were made just a bit more complicated.
"Now rise, my Death Eaters... and show them all that we fear nothing!" Voldemort spoke loudly and the Death Eaters rose as one, ready to do their master's bidding.
Severus couldn't help but pray that the Order was ready for this...
-***-
"NO!"
Harry Potter rose from his bed in shock. Holding onto his scar and still sweating with dread at the vision he just had.
Hermione! Hermione was in danger!
He saw everything once more. Just like he did with Mr. Weasley and the rest! They were going to set dementors on Hermione!
But wait! What if it's another trap? What if they were setting him up again just like what they did with Sirius?!
Harry buried his face on his knees and banged on his narrow bed. What was he going to do?! Should he go? He stood up and took a look outside his window. The night was dark. Starless and blank. If he used magic, he'll have another inquiry in his hands and he could do well without that.
Hedwig flew in all of a sudden from his window, carrying a dead mouse, hooting proudly as she presented him her catch. Harry patted her head. "Good work, girl."
But what if it wasn't? Hermione! God, what was he going to do?! He didn't even know where he was going to look! Adrenaline fueled dread made him swear and pace and Hedwig hooted at him questioningly. The little expression of concern gave him an idea.
Harry took out a piece of paper and penned a short letter on it before giving it to Hedwig. "Give this to Lupin, Hedwig. And hurry! Hermione's in danger!"
At the mention of Hermione's name, the snowy owl took off, not even finishing her meal. Harry prayed that she would make it on time. He couldn't afford to lose Hermione too... Not after everything!
Not her too...