When the group reached the end of the tunnel that would lead them to Hogwarts, they paused to work out how they would exit the tunnel without being whipped by The Whomping Willow. After a brief discussion, it was decided that Sirius would lead the way in dog form, and freeze the tree so they could exit without harm.
"Will this affect the polyjuice potion?" Sirius asked as he prepared to transform into his animagi form.
"No idea," Remus said as everyone else also indicted that they had no answer to Sirius's question.
"If you turn back and you're back to yourself, you'll just have to stay in dog form," Bill decided. "But we can't debate for too long, we need to get moving."
While Sirius transformed into a dog, and braved the exit into the grounds of Hogwarts, Harry quickly checked the map and confirmed that Hermione was still tucked away in the library and there was still no-one other than Madam Pince in the vicinity.
After a few minutes, Sirius had temporarily froze The Whomping Willow, and he sent a warning bark back down the tunnel. Knowing they only had a few minutes to escape the reach of The Whomping Willow, the group clambered up the incline and scrabbled out of the hole at the base of the tree. They then sprinted away from the tree and rushed for the cover of the castle. Quickly making for the nearest entrance, the group slipped into Hogwarts and Sirius transformed back into a human.
"Interesting, the polyjuice is still working," Sirius remarked as he turned back into human and found himself still looking like a random teenager.
"Good, now let's get going," Bill said.
With everyone having attended Hogwarts they all knew where they were going as they headed towards the library. In the corridor leading to the library the group stopped yet again for Harry to check that Hermione was still in the library.
"There she is," Harry confirmed.
"And Madam Pince is the still the only one in there with her?" Bill checked.
"Yeah."
"Where's Professor McGonagall?" Charlie asked.
It took Harry a moment to find her, but when he did, he pointed her out to everyone. "Up in in her office. Why?"
"Well, we need to get Madam Pince out of the library," Charlie explained. "I'll go in and tell her Professor McGonagall needs to see her."
"What if she realises you don't go to Hogwarts?" Ron asked in concern.
"I very much doubt she knows every student in the school," Charlie remarked. "Not all of them will have visited the library. And as we said when we discussed using polyjuice potion in the first place, very few people will know everyone in the school. Trust me, Madam Pince will not know I don't belong here. Now all of you keep out of the way and leave this to me."
Once everyone had stepped back into the shadows, Charlie casually strolled into the library and greeted Madam Pince by name. He told her Professor McGonagall had sent a message asking to see her.
"She was heading down to the quidditch pitch," Charlie said, following Madam Pince out of the library. "She said to try and catch her there, and if she's finished down there before you get there, she'll be in her office."
"Thank you, young man," Madam Pince called as she headed towards the main staircase.
"Wow, that was sneaky," Harry muttered with a low whistle as everyone came out from the shadows of the corridor. "It'll take her ages to get down to the quidditch pitch, realise Professor McGonagall isn't there and then come all the way back to her office."
"That's the idea," Charlie replied with a grin. "It should keep her out of our hair long enough so we can grab Hermione and get back to the Shrieking Shack."
With the coast clear, the group slipped quietly into the library. Now there was only them and Hermione in the library, and Hermione had no idea they were coming for her.
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Tucked away in the back corner of the library, Hermione wondered if Harry, Ron and the others would take the bait and come after her. Part of her thought that there was no way they would be stupid enough to come after her in broad daylight. And to be honest if it was anyone else they were dealing with, she would have said that the chances of them breaking cover in the middle of the day was slim to none, but they were dealing with people Hermione knew for a fact to be reckless. Harry and Ron were especially reckless when it came to her, and Hermione knew that it was more likely that they wouldn't be thinking straight when it came to her. In her opinion, they would act first and think later, which was why their trap might just work.
On the chance that their plan did work, Hermione had ensured that if anyone did come across her it wouldn't look as though she was waiting for anything untoward to happen. Rather than risk distracting herself with homework, Hermione had armed herself with a book. She'd deliberately chosen a book she'd read before, meaning she could keep part of her attention on her surroundings so that she wasn't caught unawares.
Because of the fact she was on alert, Hermione knew the moment someone approached her corner. Not wanting to give the game away, she kept her focus on her book, but her ears were pricked as she tried to decide if it was a threat or Madam Pince. It didn't take Hermione long to decide that it wasn't Madam Pince who was hovering nearby. She could feel the eyes watching her, and her instinct told her it was Harry and Ron.
"I know you're there, you might as well come out," she called after a few minutes.
With her attention still on her book, it was out of the corner of her eye that a couple of figures stepped from behind a bookshelf. Raising her head, she saw the figures were two teenage boys she'd never set eyes on before. It didn't take a genius to work out what had happened, but she pretended to be surprised by the sight that greeted her.
"I'm so sorry, I was expecting someone else," she said with a smile.
"You were expecting someone?" one of the boys asked as they both glanced around nervously.
"Maybe expecting is the wrong word, it's more more like I was hoping," Hermione clarified. "I was hoping you were someone else walking into my trap."
"Trap?" the same boy echoed.
"I'm sorry, is there something wrong with your hearing?" Hermione asked innocently. "Maybe the Polyjuice Potion didn't work properly and your ears haven't fully developed. What do you think, Ron? Or is it Harry?"
As the two boys gaped at her in obvious surprise, Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at their confusion. As her old friends were trying to work out how she had been expecting them, Hermione scanned her eyes over the pair. Spotting a folded piece of parchment tucked in one of the boys front trouser pockets, she identified him as Harry as she was sure the parchment was the map. Which of course was good as if the map was tucked away in Harry's pocket, no-one could use it to see the trap that was closing in on Harry, Ron and whoever else had been foolish enough to join them.
"I know you're not alone, so the others might as well come out," Hermione remarked, casually putting down her book.
"Don't even think about fighting," the wizard Hermione had identified as Harry said as four other strangers stepped from the shadows, spreading out to keep her stuck in the corner.
"You do seem to have me outnumbered," Hermione conceded. She had no idea how close her back-up was, but she was confident she was in no real danger.
"Damn right we do," one of the newcomers said as together all six of them drew their wands.
"If you don't want to be hurt, come quietly," another of the newcomers said.
"Come where?" Hermione asked, stalling for time.
"With us," one of the first wizards, the one whom Hermione was sure was Ron, answered.
"What are you going to do, kidnap me?" Hermione snorted. "Oh sweet Merlin, you are planning that," she said, catching the look Harry and Ron shared. They may have been polyjuiced to look like someone else, but their mannerisms and how they acted with one another were still the same. "So what's the plan, snatch me and force father into being the bad guy? What are you thinking, that if you hold me hostage, you can force him into showing his hand and proving to the world what a big, bad wizard he is? Great plan. I have to hand it to you."
"We don't need your approval," Ron sneered.
"Enough of this talking," one of the second group snapped authoritatively. "Let's get this done before we're disturbed. Harry, Ron, grab her."
Instead of putting up a fight, Hermione remained passive as Harry and Ron rushed at her. Each of them grabbed an arm, and held her tightly between them.
"I don't like this," one of the others muttered with a pensive frown. Given how cautious the wizard appeared to be, Hermione was guessing that it was Remus. "She's being too passive."
"She knows when she's outnumbered," another one of the group replied with a shrug. "What's the point in fighting us? She's never going to get away from all six of us."
"Exactly, you have me right where you want me," Hermione replied with a sweet smile.
"Let's get her back," the one who seemed to be in charge ordered. By process of elimination, Hermione decided he was Bill, as she doubted Sirius would be in charge and since Bill was the eldest Weasley, it would make sense that he would be the leader.
As Harry and Ron tugged on her arms, Hermione allowed herself to be led towards the front of the library. However, as they were passing the Potions section a whizz of movements from both sides caught Hermione's attention, and before she knew what was happening Harry and Ron both found themselves whacked around their heads by twin walking sticks. Hermione heard the crunch of the two hits and as her old friends went down with loud groans, she took advantage of the situation and pulled out her wand as she danced out of their reach.
Whirling back around, Hermione was ready for action as her allies appeared from the shelves on either side, Lucius and Draco leading the way wearing identical smirks following their actions with their canes. With Harry and Ron temporarily down, Hermione's focus was on the others as she shot her first spell in their direction. Remembering what Bellatrix had taught her, she kept moving and kept up a constant stream of spells aimed towards the people who had tried to kidnap her.
Within a few minutes it was complete and utter chaos in the library as a full on battle was taking place. Hermione barely had time to register who exactly had turned up to aid her as she so caught up in the moment. Real fighting was so much more exhilarating than the practice they had done in Bellatrix's lessons, and even the cuts and bruises Hermione was sustaining seemed to spur her on and make her fight harder, rather than put her off.
"Restrain them," Voldemort barked as the fighting continued.
By this time, Harry and Ron had struggled back to their feet, but both of them seemed woozy. Harry especially seemed unfocused and Hermione took advantage of that to stun him and pull the map from his pocket.
"This might just come in handy," she chuckled as she tucked the map into her pocket and restrained Harry, so he was lying bound on the floor like a trussed turkey. "Thanks, Harry."
With Harry down, Ron proved equally easy to subdue, which Draco managed without a fuss. The others all proved harder to take down, and both Leah and Lucius received pretty nasty wounds with Leah's arm getting broken and Lucius receiving a deep gash to the stomach. Blaise had also gone over on his ankle, but it just seemed to be badly sprained rather than broken. But eventually the skill and ability to perform darker elements of magic proved to be decisive and Bill was the last one to be taken down, with Voldemort breaking his wrist to disarm him.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked, taking in the mess they had created.
"Get these lot back through the tunnel to Honeydukes basement," Voldemort ordered. "Narcissa and I will get them back to the manor, where we'll get Lucius and Leah checked out. Draco, Blaise, you head back to your friends in Hogsmeade and check they've cleared that shack. I want no sign that anyone was ever there. Blaise, you'll have to get your ankle treated when you get back to school. Severus, Bellatrix, you cover our tracks here. And as for you, Hermione, tidy yourself up and then get back to your reading. When you do leave, make sure Madam Pince sees you. I very much doubt anyone will ask questions, but if they do, I want us all ready. No-one here has seen Potter, or any of his cronies. Is that understood?"
"Where is Madam Pince?" Hermione asked as everyone assured Voldemort they knew what they were doing.
"She wasn't here when we arrived," Severus explained. "Potter and his cronies must have gotten her out of the library somehow. And since we didn't want her coming back, I erected a ward in the corridor so if Madam Pince, or anyone else tried to come to the library they would suddenly remember something they'd forgotten and turn away. I'll remove the ward once everyone is safely away and the library is back to normal."
"Makes sense," Hermione agreed with a nod before turning back to her father. "What about the prisoners? Will I get a chance to see them again?"
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Voldemort chuckled. "But for now, we've got a couple of cells in the basement of Malfoy Manor with their names on."
"See you soon, Harry," Hermione cooed, blowing a kiss to Harry, who was now looking like himself again since the polyjuice potion had worn off after he'd been restrained. In fact everyone was now back to themselves, even if Remus and Charlie were still unconscious. "You too, Ron. It was a pleasure to see you both again."
Buoyed up from the fight, Hermione watched with regret as the prisoners were dragged away. She was rather disappointed that it had been such a small skirmish, but at the same time she was delighted that her father finally had those who posed the most risk to him in his hands. She knew that neither Harry nor any of the others would see the light of day again, but she couldn't help but think they had brought it all on themselves. They'd arrived to kidnap her, only to find the tables turned on them and they were the ones leaving Hogwarts as captives.
"Tidy yourself up, Hermione," Bellatrix ordered, pulling Hermione back to the present.
While Severus and Bellatrix returned the library to its pristine condition, Hermione tided herself up and settled back down in her chair. Half an hour later, she got up to leave the library and after ensuring that Madam Pince was back, she gave the librarian cheery wave as she exited the library. Madam Pince didn't seem to notice anything had happened in her precious library, or that she'd been unable to enter for a short time, and Hermione knew that if she was ever asked, she would say Hermione had been in the library all morning.
Hermione reached the front hallway the same time as the front doors crashed open and Blaise hopped into the castle clutching Draco's cane, with Draco and Theo holding him up on either side. They were followed by their other friends, as well as a gathering of onlookers, who had clearly been attracted by the cries of pain Blaise was emitting.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"It's terrible, I'm in agony," Blaise answered dramatically. "I went over on my ankle, and now I can't walk."
"We've virtually had to carry him up to the castle," Draco said. "Which was not easy with my leg."
"My need is greater than yours," Blaise snapped. "Do you think I can keep it?"
"Hell no, it's mine," Draco snorted. "Get one of your own if your need is so great."
"Why don't we get him checked out before we dish out canes," Daphne suggested with a roll of her eyes.
"I can't manage the stairs," Blaise declared. "You'll have to carry me."
"Vince, Greg, come and give us a hand," Draco ordered.
With the boys leading the way, Hermione slipped her arm through Daphne's and the two girls followed their friends up to the hospital wing. As they were walking Daphne promised Hermione that the shrieking shack had been cleared of any evidence that anyone had been there. Even if the place was searched, there would be no evidence that Harry, Ron or anyone else had been near the place.
"Do you think questions will be asked?" Daphne asked. "After all, Potter, Weasley and their little band have to all intents and purposes vanished without a trace."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Hermione said. "But there's not really a lot of people left to kick up a fuss. And if they do, who are they going to tell, the Ministry? With father in charge, it will be a bit pointless."
"I guess so," Daphne agreed with a nod. "You know, I can hardly believe it's all over."
"Not quite, we've still got Harry, Ron and the others to deal with," Hermione corrected. "But I guess the real threat has gone. Now we can get on with things and not have to worry about people causing trouble."
Sharing triumphant grins, the two girls turned their focus back to Blaise. For the moment they would concentrate on their friend. But the important thing was that they had won. The threat against Hermione and her father had been neutralised, and even though there were still things to be finalised, the hard work had been done. Victory was theirs and nothing could stop them now.
A/N – I hope people aren't too disappointed by the lack of a big battle in this story. To be honest when I started writing, I did envision a larger final battle, but rather than forcing the issue I let the story go where it felt natural, and this was the natural outcome. However, I do feel as though it fits the style of story this has ended up being as even though its a dark story, it's more about taking power by manipulation and cunning rather than force. There is a few more chapters of this story to go, but it will soon be finished.