Disclaimer….not mine
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Chapter 43. Billy get your guns
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The Great Hall was abuzz with activity as Hermione and Sirius ate their dinner. Hermione scanned the Slytherin table until she located the student she was looking for.
"Hey Sirius, what ever happened to Monique?" she asked quietly.
Sirius raised and eyebrow at the odd question. "I don't know. Why?"
"Is she Nott's mother?"
Sirius looked over at the Slytherin. "I'm not sure, I heard rumors she'd stuck with Nott after graduation but to be honest I haven't heard anything about her since."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I mean no one can just disappear like that, someone has to know something."
Sirius frowned wondering why Hermione was being so persistent. "I don't."
"Nothing? I mean the Order knows about Nott senior, surely they'd know about his wife as well."
"I don't know," Sirius repeated as the couple stood to head back to their chambers.
"You can't recall anything from Order meetings?" she asked as they made their way through the throngs of students in the corridors.
"Hermione," Sirius said running his hands through his hair. "I was in Azkaban for twelve years, isolated from the outside world, just like you were, you should know exactly what its like."
Hermione closed her eyes; she could feel the exhaustion of the day catching up with her, but didn't let the subject drop.
"But I just don't see how…"
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Sirius slammed open the door to their chambers, earning curious glances from students passing by, an exhausted Hermione following close on his heels.
"Please Sirius, you must know something!" Hermione pleaded once again, trying to keep up with his long strides.
"For the umpteenth time Hermione I don't know anything, why do you keep asking me!" he snarled getting angrier every time she asked.
"But…"
Sirius spun around, grey eyes flashing "I DON'T KNOW!" he yelled startling the witch in front of him. "THAT WOMEN CAUSED US ENOUGH TROUBLE IN THE PAST, WHY FOR THE LOVE OF MERLIN DO YOU INSIST ON ASKING ME THIS, NOW OF ALL TIMES?" He finished, fire in his eyes. Sighing he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose already regretting the outburst
Hermione stared angrily at the raging wizard in front of her before she caved in and stared at the ground. "She killed Ron," she whispered in a voice barely audible.
Sirius eyes widened in shock. "Oh Hermione," he murmured. "I'm sorry," he apologized bundling her up in his arms. "Why didn't you say so?"
A sob escaped Hermione and she cried freely into Sirius' shirt, he rocked her gently until the tears began to subside.
He pulled back after a few minutes and looked into her chocolate brown eyes, now rimmed with red, and gave her a small smile "I'm starting to regret pulling you off her now."
A small laugh escaped Hermione lips as she rested her head on Sirius chest taking in a shuddering breath and tiredly closing her eyes, the long day along with the tears beginning to take their toll.
"Sirius?"
The black haired wizard looked up to see Remus standing at the door, a concerned expression gracing his features. Sirius smiled at his friend and signaled him to wait a moment.
He lead Hermione to their bed and lay the exhausted witch down, stroking the curls from her face before pulling up the duvet and giving her a small kiss on her temple. "I'm sorry I yelled love," he whispered. Hermione opened her eyes slightly and gave him a small smile in forgiveness before drifting off.
Sirius exited the room, gently closing the door behind him before turning to Remus with a sigh.
"She knows who killed Ron."
"Why were you yelling at her then?"
"Where were you? Standing outside our door?"
"Grading papers in my chambers."
"Bloody werewolf hearing," Sirius muttered, the corners of his mouth twitching as he suppressed a grin. "Hermione was bugging me about Monique Nott. I didn't know at the time that she'd killed Ron."
"Monique?" Remus asked with a frown, "as in Monique 'I'm going to ruin Sirius' and Hermione's relationship' Monique?"
Sirius nodded.
"Well that explains the beautiful left hook Hermione gave her," the werewolf said with a grin. "We should go and ask Dumbledore, I'm not sure there's much we'd be able to do but at least we'll be able to answer Hermione's question."
Sirius agreed. "There's an Order meeting in the morning, we'll ask then, someone should know."
"Snape will know."
Sirius ignored the Snape comment, talking about the greasy haired wizard as little as possible helped make Sirius treat him with a certain amount of civility. Sirius thought of something else and frowned slightly. "I'd hate to be Monique next time she runs into Hermione."
"You should take that as a sign Padfoot".
Sirius raised a questioning eyebrow at his friend
"Don't get on her bad side."
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The following morning, the majority of the Order available at the time congregated on Hogwarts for a meeting called by Dumbledore. Hermione waited nervously with Sirius and Remus in the spare classroom being used, this would be the first time since her arrival back that she would be seeing people that hadn't been within Hogwarts.
Sirius squeezed her hand reassuringly as the Order members started to file in and take seats at the large round table that had been conveniently placed in the room, Moody acknowledged the trio, Bill and Charlie waved a silent greeting amid a quiet conversation of their own, while Kingsley sent Sirius a not so subtle wink. Emmeline Vance wandered in with a wizard Hermione hadn't seen before, Mundungus Fletcher ambled in before falling into a chair, Professor Vector glided in followed by Hagrid who sent Hermione a large grin before standing to the back of the room. A black haired woman walked in, she reminded Hermione of someone but she couldn't quite put a finger on it. Beside her Sirius waved in greeting before turning to Hermione.
"My cousin Andromeda, Tonks' mother."
Hermione smiled, the resemblance between mother and daughter was remarkable, they could actually pass as close sisters were it not for Tonks' wild hair. Wizards and witches continued to file in, many of whom Hermione had never met, some of whom seemed somewhat familiar.
"HERMIONE!"
Hermione stood and turned to see who'd called her name, only to come face to face with red.
"We didn't think we'd ever see you again."
"You gave us quite a scare,"
"Don't you ever…"
"Do anything like that again."
Hermione grinned; she pulled back from the hug and was greeted by two identical faces.
"Hello to you too," she greeted.
Fred and George grinned and took in Hermione's appearance. "Look at you," Fred stated.
"Ouw ittle 'ermione's all growd up," George teased, both twins eyeing her appreciatively.
Sirius caught this and cleared his throat sending the twins a significant look which caused their freckles to accentuate further as they paled slightly.
Hermione laughed and swatted Sirius over the head. "It's good to see you guys again."
Before the twins could reply another burst of. "HERMIONE," was heard across the room.
Hermione turned and saw Mrs. Weasley walking quickly over to her, giving the curly haired witch a hug.
"Oh Hermione, it's so good to have you back."
"It's good to be back, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, sending a quick smile in Sirius' direction. Molly frowned slightly at this but to Hermione's relief didn't say anything. The Weasley Matriarch did however run her fingers through one of Hermione's curls.
"You're hair is so long," she said gesturing to Hermione's waist length hair. "You must let me give it a little trim sometime."
"I like it at that length," Sirius said from his seat, "it tames it out," he reached up and tenderly stroked her long curls.
Remus met the twins eyes, all wondering how the redheaded witch would react.
"Now, I'm sure Hermione can make her own decisions, can't you dear?"
Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I like the length Mrs. Weasley."
Mrs. Weasley just hmphed and began to protest but was cut off by her husband. "Come Molly, Hermione's old enough to make her own decisions."
Mrs. Weasley's eyes narrowed slightly at the underlying message her husband was sending her way.
"It's lovely to see you again Hermione," Mr. Weasley said smiling.
"You too Mister Weasley."
The lover of all things muggle smiled slightly but Hermione could still see the mourning taking place in his eyes, he had lost his youngest son, something like that affects any father.
Mr. Weasley led his wife over to a couple of empty chairs, the twins following behind, Hermione smiled at the elder woman and shook her head slightly, taking her seat next to Sirius wondering where Dumbledore was.
"I wonder where Dumbledore is," Sirius pondered out loud a frown line appearing between his grey eyes. Hermione smothered the laughter that threatened to spill, she couldn't laugh at him when the black haired wizard looked so serious.
"Hey Kingsley," Sirius called out to the dark man across the table. "Do you know anything about a Death Eater called Monique, possible married to Theodore Nott?"
"Monique Nott," Kingsley repeated with a frown. "It's been a while since I heard that name. She fell off our radar after eighty one, not seen hide or hair of since, her son, I believe, lives with close relatives."
"She was spotted in the attack on Hogsmead." This remark from Remus grabbed the attention of the rest of the Order.
"We already made a list of known Death Eaters form that attack, Monique Nott was not on it," argued the wizard who had arrived with Emmeline Vance.
Hermione spoke up then. "I saw her."
"But my dear child you wouldn't have recognized her if you'd been there, she hasn't been seen for seventeen years," Emmeline Vance argued.
Hermione felt Sirius stiffen beside her and he opened his mouth to argue back, Hermione however beat him to it.
"I am not a child," she bit out sharply, causing Molly to look at the woman in shock. She had indeed grown from the sweet teenager she remembered. "I may have only been gone a few months to you but for me it was thirteen years, twelve as a prisoner, I am definitely no child, far from it, and one does not easily forget the eyes of the one who killed her best friend."
The Order looked at Hermione shocked, Sirius next to her was grinning like a madman.
"I see the meeting has started without me," came the voice of Dumbledore from the doorway, his face solemn, blue eyes devoid of their customary twinkle. "I apologise for being late, but a situation has arisen that needed my immediate attention." The headmaster moved into the room and stood at the empty space reserved for him next to Emmeline Vance, placing his hands on the high back of the chair instead of sitting Dumbledore continued. "It appears that Severus has been found out by the enemy," he paused here waiting for the shocked gasps and exclamations to die down. Next to Hermione Sirius' face was expressionless but his grey eyes gave away his concern.
Kingsley was the first to address the aging wizard. "Snape was on a mission over the rest of the weekend, he was not due back till Monday, how do we know something has happened two days early?"
"Remus?" Sirius asked his friend quietly, the werewolf was looking around the room as if searching for something he'd missed.
Before he could answer his friend Dumbledore answered Kingsley's question. "He was meeting with another Order member, it is through them we know the pair were ambushed, Snape was taken hostage, the other left, gravely injured, to pass on the message."
Hermione, one step behind Remus, scanned the room for the absence of a familiar face. Before she got half way around the room however the two men beside her were on their feet, Remus heading towards the door, while Sirius addressed the Headmaster.
"Where is she?" he asked slowly following Remus, waiting for an answer.
"Tonks is in the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey will not allow visitors."
Sirius met Hermione's eyes before leaving the room after Remus, across the table Andromeda had gone deathly pale.
"Will she be alright?" the black haired witch asked her voice barely above a whisper.
Dumbledore nodded. "You may follow Sirius and Remus if you like, I believe Madame Pomfrey will be more likely to let you in."
Andromeda nodded and quickly left the room.
Silence descended the room as the Order waited for Dumbledore to continue. "Kingsley, I'll have you gather a team to work on where Severus may be."
The dark wizard nodded and Dumbledore continued. "The number of Death Eater attacks on Muggles and Muggleborns is decreasing in size, it is not apparent why this is happening, the Ministry is still turning a blind eye to any major activity, putting down the now scatterings of attacks to random wizards out for a bit of fun."
Hermione scoffed and instantly regretted it as the Order turned to face her once again, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, a slight twinkle evident again in his blue eyes.
"I just can't see the logic, the morality, in the Ministry putting these attacks down to 'fun', since when does killing muggles, killing students who are still learning to defend themselves, turn into fun? Maybe we should look at just how high Voldemort has poisoned the Ministry," she suggested rolling her eyes at the various winces that accompanied Voldemort's name.
"Are you implying that top officials are Death Eaters?" Emmeline's companion asked a frown placed on his face once more.
"I'm only saying it's a possibility, for all we know the Minister could be one, which would explain why the Ministry describes these attacks as 'fun'."
Fred and George were grinning at Hermione's frankness while the Order members who had high positions in the Ministry were frowning at her.
"Hermione has a point," Dumbledore said, bringing the attention of the Order back to him. "We do not know how far Voldemort has leached into the Ministry, anyone not cleared by the Order should be suspect."
This earned agreeable nods from around the table but there were still a few looking skeptical.
"We should also maintain our vigilance, the Death Eaters may be slowing their attacks to regroup for one strike, any whispers, anything that might be of help, needs to be taken into account, now I know all of you are busy so I'll leave it there, my door is always open for questions."
Order members started to stand to leave now and Hermione followed suit, wanting to join Sirius and Remus in the hospital wing.
"Hermione?"
Hermione turned to see the Headmaster approaching her, she stopped and waited for him to reach her, she had a slight inkling at what he was going to ask of her.
"As you may have gathered we have run into a slight problem with Severus' disappearance, one that needs to be sorted by Monday."
Hermione sent Dumbledore a knowing smile. "His classes."
Dumbledore nodded. "Would you mind? I'll make sure you have all the relevant information needed."
"What about the full moon?"
"I'm sure that you and Sirius can look after that, Severus and himself managed fine for the last few years."
Hermione nodded in agreement and bid the Headmaster farewell before leaving the room.
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Sirius ran after his friend as the werewolf sped down the corridors 'Hermione is not right, she is not right' he thought to himself as he ran 'Remus is just concerned for Tonks'…"Tonks, oh Merlin she better be alright, what would her mother think"
Sirius skidded to a halt at that last thought and spun back in the path he had come, almost losing his footing at the sudden change of direction. He'd left his cousin behind, it was her daughter in the hospital wing, and he'd left her in the meeting.
Half way back he skidded to another halt to avoid a collision with aforementioned witch.
"Andromenda."
"Sirius, did you forget something?" The witch asked walking swiftly in the direction of the hospital wing, Sirius falling into step beside her.
"You, actually."
Andromeda sent her cousin a smile, before focusing her gaze on the hall in front of her.
"Come on," Sirius said grabbing her hand and breaking out into a run, the heels of Andromeda's boots sounding off the hard marble floors.
They reached the entrance to the hospital wing and were greeted by the sight of a stern school nurse and a frustrated werewolf
"Poppy, you have to let me in to see her," Remus pleaded.
"I do not have to anything Professor, I will inform you when she can have visitors." The Mediwitch concluded.
"Madame Pomfrey," Sirius called out as he neared the witch with his cousin. "At least let her mother in," he said slowing down to a stop in front of the matron.
Madame Pomfrey nodded and let Tonks' mother past. "You're family too Mister Black, I can't stop you going in."
Remus closed his eyes in frustration and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"The only way I'm going in there is if Remus can come too."
Remus' eyes snapped open and he focused on his friend who sent him a quick grin before turning back to the nurse.
"Come on Madame P, he's practically family, one extra wont hurt," the black haired wizard smiled charmingly at the witch who sighed and stepped out of the door way.
"Fine, but only for a short while," she finished as the two men strode past her.
They entered the curtained off section of the hospital wing to be greeted by Andromeda sitting at her daughters bedside. Remus and Sirius both audibly gasped as they took in the sight of Tonks lying on the bed. Her face was deathly pale, accentuated more by her natural long black hair spread out around her face, her skin was clammy and gaunt, bandages covered her arms, her left in a cast, the rest of her wrapped up warmly in a blanket, another cast on her left leg was visible beneath the blanket. She had two black eyes, what looked to be a broken jaw, along with a deep gash running along her hairline like someone had hit her with something.
"Oh, Tonks," Remus whispered, moving to the other side of the sleeping witch and gently taking her small hand in his own.
Sirius was rooted to the spot, taking in his young cousin, normally buoyant and full of life, lying so deathly still on the hospital gurney. He felt the Mediwitch come up and stand next to him.
"Is she going to be alright?" he asked quietly, Remus and Andromeda both looking up expectantly at the nurse.
"In time, yes, her facial wounds should heal in a few weeks, she'll have a number of scars however," Madame Pomfrey paused slightly before continuing. "Her left arm and right leg were so badly broken I've had trouble mending them, those will take a number of months to heal, the recuperation period will be quite hard for her, being the energetic witch she is."
"Will she stay here?" Remus asked, his golden eyes returning to the pale witch.
Poppy nodded. "Dumbledore believes she is safest here."
The werewolf nodded slightly in acknowledgement before falling silent again.
"Do you have any other questions?" The witch asked the small group.
Andromeda shook her head, and Sirius could see that Remus' mind was elsewhere. "No, thank you Poppy, we'll be fine for now," he said, still standing at the end of the bed, his arms folded across his chest.
The mediwitch nodded and left the group to deal with the scattering of students spread around the rest of the wing.
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Hermione wandered down the halls towards the hospital wing at a slower pace than the people who'd taken the same route before her. She was pondering what, and how, she was going to teach potions, she was rather upset that she still couldn't make it to the library to research but after the last couple of hectic weeks she was hoping she'd soon have the time.
Hermione was about to round a corner when voices brought her to a halt.
"What did you do Malfoy?" An unfamiliar voice asked.
"What are you taking about?" Malfoy answered with a question of his own, his voice full of the confidence that he held so proudly.
"Potter and the Mudblood, did you help them, what did you do?" the other student spat.
"Nothing that concerns you."
Hermione could almost feel the smirk on Malfoy's face, before she heard the distinct sound of a fist meeting a target. She whirled around the corner to see the back of a student bent over Malfoy ready for another swing at the blonde now on the cold floor.
"What is going on here?" She asked authouritively, trying her best to sound like her beloved Professor McGonagall. The unknown wizard jumped up and ran off, Hermione not even getting a small look at his face. She wandered up to Malfoy and offered him a hand. He looked at it skeptically before taking it and allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.
"I don't need your help," he mumbled, glaring slightly at Hermione.
"I know."
Malfoy brought a hand up to his cut lip and winced slightly upon contact.
"You should get that looked at," Hermione told him. "I have some balm back in my chambers if you don't want an embarrassing trip to the hospital wing," she offered.
Malfoy stood staring, shocked at Hermione's words, he'd never been anything but mean to her and here she was helping him over a small little cut. He stared cautiously at the witch for a minute, as if trying to pick up a hidden agenda before answering her.
