Like Always, I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, this fanfic is just for fun, yada yada.
Chapter 30: Final Preparations
Hermione had been quite troubled for the past three days since she had arrived at the BWLA headquarters. Her husband, contrary to R.J. Lupin's promise had still not turned up, and it hit her as she spent her first night in the caves of the headquarters three nights ago, that for the first time in her life she had taken someone's life. Not only so, but she had somehow managed to use the killing curse which required very complicated magic and concentration on causing the object of the curse pain, pain which she never had any desire to cause, even to the wizard whom she killed.
She therefore wondered how she was able to conjure the curse. The prospect that she had, in fact, been directly responsible for someone's death was also disconcerting to her as she wandered through the caverns looking for anyone she knew, specifically though, looking for Ron.
"Found anyone yet?" came the voice of R.J. Lupin from behind.
Hermione swung around to see him gently grinning at her.
"No," she said.
"Well, Hagrid's here somewhere," said Lupin. "Keep looking, and don't worry about Ron, he's in good hands."
Lupin began to walk off in the other direction before Hermione's voice stopped him.
"Mr. Lupin," Hermione called, Lupin turned to face him. "I killed someone."
Lupin's expression immediately became sympathetic.
"Hermione you did what you had to do, there was no wrong in it."
"I know but, how?"
"How could you have conjured the killing curse?"
Hermione nodded.
Lupin took a deep breath before beginning. "Hermione, the difference between the Dark Arts and good magic is much more complicated than a list of spells on either side, what matters is the intention with which one performs the spell. Did you want to cause the individual you killed pain?"
"No actually, that's what's so confusing."
"Why did you do it then?"
"Well, because I had to, but…"
"Exactly," said Lupin. "Your intentions were motivated out of love for your husband, love for your child, and the greater utility of the cause, that is what makes what you did good magic and not dark art. It was your righteous intentions that allowed you to conjure the killing curse. It is powerful magic, and the fact that you were able to do it is amazing."
"Amazing," she said looking taken back, tears came to her eyes. "Mr. Lupin, I killed someone, I took his life…"
"I put that badly I'm sorry," Lupin said. "I know it hurts to kill, I don't like doing it myself, but think about it this way, for every one of Voldemort's men you kill, you save…" Lupin paused as if he was making a mathematical calculation. "…at least ten more people on our side."
Hermione was now especially offended.
"You can't put value on human life, Mr. Lupin."
"Guess what, we are at war Hermione," said Lupin. "The common ethics you're used to don't apply, victory is the only thing that matters anymore, and if you are not willing to do what is required in order to end the reign of the Dark Lord, then you have no business being here."
Lupin again started to walk off until Hermione's voice called to him.
"You've changed Mr. Lupin," she said.
Lupin turned around and faced her again.
"I know," he said. "Unfortunately you probably will too."
Hermione spun around with a shrug of disgust at Lupin's attitude when a red-headed person caught his eye standing off in the distance looking at her with an expression of joy and relief. Hermione focused her gaze on the individual to see that it was, in fact, Ron. She let out the biggest sigh of relief she had ever given, a smile came to both of their faces as they ran to each other, taking each other in a mutual embrace. Tears fell from both of their faces.
"I thought I'd lost you," said Hermione.
"I know, I'm sorry," said Ron, holding his sobbing wife as close to himself as possible. "I love you."
"I love you."
Ron joined Hermione's search for any familiar faces. As the two walked hand-in-hand through the caverns, Ron's previously joyful expression was replaced by one of sadness and anger.
"This place is disgusting, the smell is awful," he said. "So many dispossessed people, have you found anyone we know?"
"Draco Malfoy and…"
"…Neville Longbottom, I know," said Ron. "They found me and brought me in, Malfoy has changed that's for sure."
"Apparently Hagrid's here, but I just wish I knew where," said Hermione. "It is a big cavern, and there are a lot of people here."
Hermione led her husband to the double cot in which she had been sleeping the past three days. The two sat down on it holding each other hands. Tears glistened Ron's eyes as he spoke, revealing the reason why he had been so sad and frustrated after they found each other.
"Neville told me, they're all dead," said Ron, as he continued to speak tears came to Hermione's eyes. "Percy, Bill and Fleur, Ginny, Fred and George, even Charlie was killed in Romania. My parents were the first to die."
The tears fell down Ron's cheeks as he broke down into uncontrollable sobs, Hermione took his head and rested it on her shoulder.
"I've lost my family!" he cried.
"I'm here Ron," she said softly. "I love you."
"You're all I have left Hermione," he sobbed. "Please don't leave me!"
"I'm here Ron, I won't leave you."
"Ron? Hermione?" came a harsh, powerful, low-pitched Scottish accent.
Ron and Hermione looked to behold Hagrid approaching them in tears. The two stood and he gave them each nearly bone-crushing embraces.
"Hagrid, thank God, you made it," said Hermione.
"I heard about yer family, Ron," said Hagrid sympathetically. "I'm so sorry."
Ron nodded, his tears still falling from his eyes.
"Did anyone else make it?" asked Hermione.
"None of the professors," said Hagrid. "I led a few Firs-years ter safety, and six other students managed ter escape, only Neville was from Gryffindor though." Hagrid paused before continuing, giving an expression of not being sure how to proceed. "Hermione, your parents are here."
At this, Hermione's heart sank, she had still not forgotten the terrible things her parents had said to her the last time she saw them. Her face gave a look of shock and insecurity.
"What?"
"They've been hunting down the families of muggle-born wizards as well," said Hagrid. "Two Dementors arrived at yer home, yer parents were lucky that a wizard was nearby. Look I know yeh may not want to speak ter them, but they were worried about yeh, and they are sorry for what they said to yeh."
Hermione began to bawl at this, "I can't, I can't talk to them now."
"We have to forgive Hermione," Hagrid said. "Otherwise we be consumed by our own anger, yeh don need tha'."
"I will forgive them, Hagrid," Hermione said. "But it will take time."
"Well we're in final preparations, Hermione," Hagrid warned. "We'll probably be leaving the cave in less than three Days."
"For what?" asked Ron.
"For battle," Hagrid responded. "We're going ter attack the Ministry-o-Magic, most of you-know-who's armies are in Germany. General Snape's been workin on his attack for some time now."
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After the coup, Voldemort changed offices in the Ministry of Magic, he now sat behind the desk that had belonged previously to Rufus Scrimgeour and Cornelius Fudge. As he sat meditating, he was suddenly surrounded by blinding red light, before him stood Bellatirix Lestrange.
"My Lord," Lestrange began. "We have commenced our attack on enemy siege positions surrounding Scweingzunge, their siege will collapse within the day, meaning you should expect us back within the week."
"You have done well Bella," replied Voldemort. "Return and complete your mission."
Bellatrix Lestrange nodded and bowed; Voldemort was suddenly taken back to his office. As he continued to meditate, a knock was heard on his door.
"Enter," said Voldemort, opening his eyes.
Lucius Malfoy quickly entered the room and stood in front of Voldemort's desk.
"There have been an unusually high amount of attacks on our floo Connections along the English Channel," Malfoy reported. "It appears as though they are trying to cut off magical access to London."
"It is of no concern, there is no indication that the rebels possess the strength necessary to carry out a major attack," said Voldemort.
This statement was extremely surprising to Lucius Malfoy, who would have expected his master to sense magically what he thought was surely happening.
"There is no evidence to the contrary my lord," Malfoy pleaded. "We must bring our Army back as soon as possible."
"Of course Lucius," said Voldemort. "Any sign of the Nasserites?"
"No my lord, all known Nasserites have disappeared, there seems to be no trace of them."
"Lucius I would consider that to be a greater threat than the rebellion," Voldemort instructed. "Your job is to find Severus Snape, and then the Nasserites, let me worry about their insignificant rebellion."
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Later that day, a few hours after Hermione had found Ron, new uniformed people had arrived in the caverns, each with a firebolt broom slung around their shoulders. Upon each of their shoulders a patch resembling the American flag was visibly present. The new arrivals' presence brought a combined attitude of hope and curiosity. Hermione and Ron watched them occupying an entire section of the cavern with their brooms and other equipment. They posted several uniformed guards in their section to keep civilians out.
"Americans," noticed Ron.
"Lots of Americans," responded Hermione.
Severus Snape occupied an office in one of the secret, unseen sections of the headquarters. As the Americans arrived he sat at his desk looking over reports of how the operation to cut off magical transportation to London had been doing. As he was reading these reports, a bearded man in an American Auror Uniform entered his office with a salute.
"Brigadier General Alias Coulter of the twenty-third Kentucky Auror Broomsmen brigade reporting for duty General," the American introduced in a deeply southern American draw.
Snape immediately stood and shook the American's hand.
"General Coulter, you've finally arrived."
"Sorry we're late, General," said General Coulter. "Ran into some Death Eaters over Devon, led the all the way north to Wales trying to shake them."
"Welcome to the BWLA," Snape continued. "I'm sure that it's quite wretched compared to what your used to."
"I've been in battle before General," said General Coulter. "Nasty business, those of my men who aren't wretched soon will be. What's the situation sir?"
"We've successfully, for all intents and purposes, cut London off from all magical transportation, The Dark Lord cannot escape by normal means now, and we cannot expect any further reinforcements. The time of our attack has come."
"My men are ready."
"Your men will provide air support, we will enter London from the South in Force," Snape explained. "Our wand cannon artillery will bombard enemy positions around the ministry, not only so but will provide advancing covering fire as our armies advance"
"I take it disillusionment charms have been placed on the artillery."
"The muggles will think it was a meteor shower," Snape informed the General. "Though inevitably our attack on the city will not go unnoticed, this cannot be helped.
General Coulter nodded. At that moment a small, bald, portly man wearing pinstriped robes and a tie entered the room, and came to stand beside General Coulter.
"General Coulter, may I introduce Cornelius Fudge, our legitimate Minister of Magic," Snape introduced. "Minister, this is General Coulter of the twenty-third Kentucky Auror Broomsmen brigade, he'll be providing air-support."
Fudge and General Coulter shook hands pleasantly.
"How do you do?" asked Fudge.
"Minister," Coulter greeted.
"General we need three of your best men for a special assignment to London, you'll be traveling as muggles," said Snape.
"Of course."
"We want you to escort Minister Fudge to the office of the Muggle Prime Minister, with whom he has an appointment tomorrow evening. The result of this meeting should clear our target above the ministry of any Muggle bystanders."
"Very Well, General," Coulter agreed. "What about enemy resistance."
"The moment we leave this cave, the Dark Lord will know we are coming," Snape responded. "We can expect an army to meet us. It will probably outnumber us, our one stroke of good fortune as you know is that the majority of Voldemort's army is in Germany. We attack tomorrow at dusk."
General Coulter nodded, "My men are ready sir."
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The Americans had become the object of observation for many of the British resistance fighters who, distinguished by their tattoos of the phoenix (civilians wore tattoos of the fleur-de-lis), were allowed into the assembly area, a privilege which Ron and Hermione, out of curiosity, took.
"Broomsmen," said Ron.
"Probably for Aerial support," came Hermione. "We'll probably be moving out soon."
"How can you tell?"
"Look,"
The Americans were not only assembling their equipment, they were filling their canteens and field rations, checking their brooms for imperfections etc. At this sight, Hermione made her nervousness visible as she inhaled deeply, her right hand shook ever-so-slightly as it was held by Ron's left. Ron noticed his wife's fear.
"We've been in battle before, Hermione,"
"Not like this," Hermione corrected. "Ron, are you scared?"
Hermione positioned herself to face her husband, staring directly into his eyes, revealing the intense fear in her own.
"Yes, you?"
"To death," Hermione whispered.
"Excuse me," came an American voice from behind, they turned to behold a middle-sized man with red-hair and a goatee, wearing an American Uniform with captain's bars on the shoulder. "Are you Ron Weasley?"
"Yes."
The American Captain nodded. "I thought I saw the resemblance to Ginny, Captain Malchus Ewls, Brigade Chaplain; Thomas Ewls is my uncle, Ginny visited the family for Christmas as you know."
Ron offered his hand to the American who immediately shook it in response.
"Pleasure," Ron placed his left hand on the shoulder of his wife. "This is my wife Hermione."
Hermione and the captain shook hands. Captain Ewls had the firm handshake of his uncle, but not the powerful expression. The Captain's expression was almost as nervous as Hermione's. If Ron had to guess, he would have said that Captain Ewls had never been in combat before.
"Hermione Granger," Ewls said. "Well Weasley that is. Ginny told us a lot about all of you, how's the baby?"
"Fine, your uncle is taking care of it for now."
"At the temple? Hmm, probably the best place for it at the moment, did you see the temple?"
"Yeah," said Ron.
"What was it like?" asked Captain Ewls, his expression one of intense curiosity. "I'm not a Nasserite and I've always wanted to go there."
"It was absolutely wonderful," Hermione replied. "The spirit was so strong there, it's amazing."
"Did you become a believer Mrs. Weasley?"
"Absolutely."
"That's excellent," complimented Captain Ewls. "Well, we'll be celebrating a Liturgy before the attack tomorrow, all are welcome."
The captain turned and began to walk off in the opposite direction.
"Thank you Reverend," called out Ron, with that, Ewls turned back to face the couple.
"That would be Father Mr. Weasley," Ewls corrected. "I'm Catholic."
Captain Ewls then walked off.
"A Catholic Wizard, don't you think that's a bit unusual?" asked Ron.
"A year ago I would have thought a Christian Wizard to be a bit unusual Ron."
The couple then returned to their cot, resolved to get as much sleep that night as their nerves would allow them. For the moment, however, they merely sat hand-in-hand in the cot. Both of them were almost to the point of shaking. Hermione was Right indeed; neither of them had ever been in the kind of battle they were about to experience. They sat in silence, each gripping the other's hand firmly. Hermione then turned and looked at Ron's face, in response, Ron turned to face Hermione.
"Tomorrow then," said Hermione.
"Tomorrow," Ron responded.
"Are you ready for this?"
"Yeah, are you?"
"I don't know," said Hermione, the definite presence of shaking was clear in her voice. "I have the distinct feeling that we're going to die."
"Don't talk like that Herm, we'll make it."
"I'm not afraid of dying," said Hermione as tears began to form in her eyes. "I've been to paradise before, it's a wonderful place, I wouldn't mind going back there now, I'm afraid of pain, and not being with my son as he grows. I wish I could have had more children, I wish I could have had children with you."
No matter how much he tried to hide it, Ron's face also bore nervousness. Hermione could definitely tell, yet Ron's lips gave way to a small grin.
"We may yet Hermione."
"Ron we have to fight separate tomorrow."
"What?"
"The pact Ron," Hermione reminded her husband. "…and one of us has to survive, for Harry Ronald."
"Hermione I don't know if I want to survive if you don't."
"I don't know if I'd want to survive if you don't, but our son needs us, at least one of us."
"Hermione, Harry Ronald will be fine," said Ron as tears were definitely welding in his eyes now too. "I want to be with you if we die. Whatever happens to you, I want to happen to me."
"Ron…"
"I love Harry Ronald," Ron's tears now fell down his cheeks, Hermione tried to wipe them away gently with her fingers. "I love him more than anything, but if it is God's will that we die tomorrow, fighting separately won't stop that, I want us to be together."
"If it is God's will that only one of us lives tomorrow," said Hermione who was bawling with her husband. "Being together won't stop that either."
Ron's tears of fear were replaced by ones of frustration at his wife's logic.
"Damn it Hermione, I lost you once before I don't want to do it again," Ron said almost angry. "You're right, it doesn't matter. So let's fight together anyways, leave who dies and who lives in the hands of God, but whatever happens, let's at least be together. If I die Hermione I don't want to be alone, I'd want someone there, holding my hand when it happened, not worrying about what will happen to you, and I don't think you'd want to be alone if the situation were reversed."
Hermione reluctantly nodded as tears continued to fall from her cheeks.
"Alright Ron, we'll stay together then."
"Hermione?" came a female voice which both she and Ron recognized.
Hermione and Ron immediately looked away from each other and in front of their cot to find Hermione's mother approaching hesitantly, in tears, definitely afraid of what her daughter would say to her. Not far behind Hermione's mother was her father, whose facial expression bore the same tears of worry.
"Hermione?" repeated her mother as if unable to recognize.
As Hermione beheld her parents whom she hadn't seen since the fall, her tears became more intense, her heart sank, she could not stand to be in their presence. She knew rationally that she hand to forgive them but she could not bring herself to.
"Hermione," came her father's voice. "We were so worried about you."
"I," Hermione began but paused. "I can't talk to you right now."
She stood up and walked away, her sobs heard by both her parents and her husband. Ron looked into the eyes of Hermione's parents, eyes which bore the most extreme penance he had ever seen. They wanted, nothing more than to be reconciled to their daughter. Given what was going to happen tomorrow, tonight might be their only chance. Ron's gaze was therefore one of sympathy as he stood and followed after his wife.
"Hermione wait!" he called.
She kept sobbing as she walked on and would not respond, even to the voice of her own husband. When he finally caught up to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. She turned around and buried her head in Ron's shoulder, crying intensely.
"Hermione…"
"I tried Ron," she cried. "I tried to forgive them, but I can't help but remember the terrible things they told me that night."
Ron's hand stroked his wife's hair comfortingly.
"They said terrible things that night Hermione, terrible, untrue things, but they were happy to see you, they've probably been worried sick about you, they'd probably thought they'd lost you, we've all screwed up Hermione; can't you forgive them and let them spend a few hours with their daughter before she goes off to fight?"
Hermione kept crying into her husband's shoulder. Her voice came back in between her sobs.
"I guess that would be the Christian thing to do wouldn't it?"
"Yeah, it would."
"Alright then, I'll try."
Hermione's parents sat in front of Hermione and Ron's cot, Hermione's mother buried her head into her husband's shoulder, sobbing aloud. Hermione and Ron approached them slowly, Hermione's hands were shaking as she sat down on the rocky ground next to her parents.
"Hello Mum, dad," she said through her own tears.
"When we'd heard about Hogwarts, we thought we'd lost you," Mrs. Granger said through her sobs.
"We were right gits Hermione," said her father.
"Yeah you were," said Hermione. "But I guess we all can be right gits from time to time."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Granger smiled through their tears. Mrs. Granger broke away from her husband and crawled on the rocky ground to her daughter. Hermione and her mother embraced for several happy seconds; even Ron gave a grin and a few tears. When Hermione and her mother broke apart, Hermione crawled to her father who took her into his embrace, after which Hermione turned to Ron.
"Mum, Dad, you've met Ron Weasley, my husband."
Mrs. Granger smiled. "I'm sure you were a beautiful bride."
"That she was," said Ron.
Hermione beamed at her husband's compliment.
"Sorry we couldn't have been there," said Mr. Granger, who stood in order to walk over to Ron and shake his hands. "Congratulations."
"Thanks Mr. Granger," said Ron who hesitated as if he wasn't finished with his statement. "Dad."
The four chuckled at this.
"There's word going around that the Army is leaving tomorrow, to attack London," said Mrs. Granger whose voice bore the expression of sorrow at breaking the joyful mood. "I'm almost afraid to ask but, will you be going with them?"
"It's our duty isn't it?" Hermione replied.
"Is there any way that we can talk you out of doing this?" asked Mr. Granger.
"No," Hermione replied without hesitation. "We have to, they'll be needing everyone they can get."
Both of Hermione's parents nodded reluctantly before Mr. Granger's expression fell on Ron. His commanding face was like unto Reverend Ewls as he penetrated deep within Ron.
"You take care of her, you understand?"
"I will, I promise."
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At the temple of the Holy Cross, frustrations were high as twenty of the new Nasserites had faced their trials, and those who had not were well enough at their swordsmanship and magical capabilities to fight. Father Bates, however, kept insisting that the time had not yet come. Even Reverend Ewls was now fed up as he, Walter Mickey, Barnabas McNamara, and three other Nasserites walked down the small corridor leading to Father Bates' office who had just returned to the temple only minutes before. Ewls knocked on the door, a voice responded, "come in."
Ewls and the five other Nasserites entered the office and stood in front of Bates' desk.
"So all magical connections to London have been cut off?" asked Barnabas McNamara.
"Yes, Snape must be thinking that he can trap Voldemort in London that way," Father Bates replied. "Good luck to him."
"They're going to attack and take control of the Ministry of Magic," said Walter Mickey. "We have to help them."
"We're not ready Walt."
"Just when will we be ready Robert?" came Thomas Ewls frustrated. "My Apprentice is as ready as he can be given the circumstances, as are the others. People are dying for our freedom Robert, the time has come for us to join the fight, all of the others agree, if you will not lead us into battle, I will."
Father Bates, in addition to his cold expression which somehow still bore some resemblance of pain, now gave way to disappointment; this was clearly not what he wanted to hear.
"Very well then," Bates said in resignation we will join the fight, assemble the order."
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That night came and went, the next morning every magical person in the caverns capable of bearing a wand was mustered, a total of two-thousand people. Outside of the caverns, disillusionment charms were removed for over fifty ten-foot long wooden rods which rode atop small wagons about the size of Muggle automobiles. These wand-canons were each tested and made ready for the fight.
In late afternoon, the two-thousand men and women who had been mustered, along with the American broomsmen who were taking to the sky, left the protection of their caves and marched north toward London.
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In his office in the ministry of magic, Voldemort knew there was something wrong, his meditations had detected the imminence of an attack of some kind, yet without any ability to obtain any decent confirmation, he ignored these mental warnings. The door to his office suddenly burst open, Lucius Malfoy entered, a look of utter fear appeared in his eyes.
"Rebels my lord!" said Malfoy.
"What?"
"Thousands of them, massing in the country-side to the south, heading here."
Voldemort only now realized his mistake: it was Snape. Snape who was possibly the best occlumens/Legilimens in the world, Snape who was the only person who could have blocked the Dark Lord from ever seeing this attack's coming; Voldemort thought that he should have killed Snape long ago.
"Assemble the army," Voldemort ordered.
"My Lord…"
"You lead them! see to it personally Lucius that they do not make it past our defenses."
"At least we still outnumber them my lord, it will be done."