OWL's exams. Day. Everything is.. disaster. With Dumbledore missing in action. Dolores Umbridge becomes the Headmistress and controls the entire Hogwarts.
The evil toad!
We could hear the quill scratching on the paper. Hermione breathing as she answered. Ron thought he could answer but forget what he studied. Harry completely blurred.
Umbridge stood in the middle of the room, behind her, there was a huge pendulum swinging weight, as its timekeeping element. It swings back and forth in a precise time interval dependent on its length.
Exact moment. Hermione hears like thunder outside of the hall exams. Everyone turned, looked over their shoulder, looked behind it when there's more and more banging.
Everyone is curious. Where does the sound come from?
Including Umbridge. Trying to ignore the sound. But it begins to get louder and louder. Faked her smile. It sounds getting nearer and closer to the hall. Umbridge walks to the door, as students watch her carefully.
She left the hall, eyes searching around. "What do you think she will do?" whispers Hermione to Ron behind her.
Umbridge looked up until Fred and George rushed above her head with the broomstick.
Is it the one who releases a torrent of enchanted fireworks? One of them took the form of a dragon and destroyed all of the Educational Decrees hanging on the walls while chasing Umbridge, causing them all to shatter and fall down, much to the cheers of the students.
Hermione watches above where the sky shows a sign 'W' referring to Weasley on the view. She smiles, clapping her hand. As for Snape he watched with amusement from the dungeons corridor. Hermione looked over her shoulder then rushed toward Harry.
He stumbled on the ground between the crowd. She reached him. "Harry, are you alright?"
"Sirius..."
Moving staircase. Later. The trio rushed on the stairs. Harry at the front, Hermione and Ron chased him behind. "Harry, are you sure?"
"I saw it. It's just like with Mr. Weasley. It's the door I've been dreaming about. I couldn't remember where I'd seen it before. Sirius said Voldemort was after something. Something he didn't have the last time, in the Department of Mysteries".
"Harry, please, just listen". Hermione meets him, she stops him. "What if Voldemort meant for you to see this? What if he's only hurting Sirius because he's trying to get to you?"
"What if he is?" Silent. "I'm supposed to just let him die? Hermione, he's the only family I've got left".
"What do we do?" asked Ron.
They rushed back to the Gryffindor dormitories. The trio climb inside the portrait, walk to the common room.
"We need plans, we can't barge in or... this is not normal. Umbridge controls everything. There's no place we couldn't get out from here".
"We'll have to use the Floo Network. Umbridge has the chimneys under surveillance. Not all of them".
Hermione and Ron glance each other then back to Harry. "Whatever it takes. We have to save Sirius".
Later in the evening. The trio creep towards the Umbridge office. The corridor is clear. The door is locked. Hermione turns to Harry. He unlocked the door.
"Alohomora". The trio burst inside. They walk to the chimney's. Hermione bent her knee beside Harry. "Alert the Order if you can".
"Are you mental? We're going with you".
"It's too dangerous". as he looks up at Ron.
"When are you going to get it into your head?" Hermione yelped. "We're in this together".
Without their knowing. Umbridge stood behind them with an evil face. "That you are." Hermione reaches Harry's hand. Ron backed away and leaned on.
"Did I mention that I am not fond of children?" Her eye on Harry. "Especially you, Mr. Potter".
Later that moment. She makes Harry sit on the chair. The D.A who are left behind are just Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna Lovegood.
Several Slytherin students whom Umbridge hired as Inquisitorial Squad caught them while trying to escape.
"Caught this one trying to help the Weasley girl". Draco enters with Neville. Umbridge smirked as she looked down at Harry.
She knows what's on his mind. "You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?" she asked.
"No".
"Liar!" She slapped Harry's face. Hermione chest panting. How dare Umbridge slapped the chosen one like Harry Potter. If Voldemort knew about this, he would kill her. "You know I hate children when they're lying".
Corner of Hermione's eye. Snape appeared at the door frame, his eyes searching for Hermione and there she was.
Crabbe holding her back. He is completely stunned, shocked when he finds out, she and the rest of D.A are caught by fellow Inquisitorial Squad students from Snape's own house, Slytherin.
Whom not giving up to fight. Both Hermione and Snape glance at each other.
"You sent it to me, headmistress?" As his eye on Umbridge. He doesn't want this pinky toad to know how much he had loved Hermione.
"Snape, yes. The time has come for answers, whether he wants to give them to me or not. Have you brought the Veritaserum?"
His mouth hangs open. Snape spoke.
"I'm afraid you've used up all my stores interrogating students. The last of it was on Miss Chang. Unless you wish to poison him... And I assure you, I would have the greatest sympathy if you did... I cannot help you".
Snape turns his feet, Harry stops him. "He's got Padfoot". Snape turned his back. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden".
"Padfoot? What is Padfoot? Where is what is hidden? What is he talking about, Snape?" Umbridge looked up at him curious.
"No idea". His eyes back to Hermione then he leaves the room. Prayed for Hermione 's safety, already knowing she won't listen to him. Hermione had no choice, watch Snape leave the room.
"Very well. You give me no choice, Potter". She backed away a bit. "As this is an issue of Ministry security... you leave me with... no alternative. The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue. That's illegal. What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him".
As she is about to Cruciatus Harry. Hermione shouts. "Tell her, Harry!" Umbridge's eyes shoot up on her.
"Tell me what?"
"Well, if you won't tell her where it is... I will".
Everyone looked curious, especially Harry. What is she talking about?
"Where what is?"
Hermione swallowed. "Dumbledore's secret weapon".
Moment that. Crabbe pushed and forced Hermione to walk out from the Umbridge office, behind them Harry and Umbridge herself.
Snape didn't leave the place, he's waiting outside the corridor. Hermione 's voice was the most painful he couldn't not forgive himself.
How could he let this happen again? How could he? All Snape asked her is - just listen to him and everything will be under control.
His eyes shoot up where the door opens, Hermione in view. "Let GO, Crabbe!" He pushed her once more, she punched Crabbe face.
"Oi!" If she could hit Malfoy's the ferret's face why not Crabbe. "Professor this Mudblood punched me!"
Umbridge had enough of Hermione. Both of them never liked each other. "How dare you, Miss Granger".
"You should be lucky you won't have the same faith and end up like Crabbe. I kill you! Let's GO! Fight like a bitch! COME ON! I hate YOU...!"
Snape about to laugh as Hermione readys into a position to fight Umbridge with her own bare hand. But that's not time to laugh, this is a serious matter involved.
"Headmistress?" Hermione turn look over her shoulder. Snape came out of nowhere. "I suggested Miss Granger should lead you the way. Dumbledore's secret weapon. I'm sorry that I overheard her say".
"You right, Snape". Umbridge points her wand to Harry and Hermione. "I don't like playing with your game, Miss Granger. Like Snape says, ``lead the way".
Hermione sighs. Without looking up at Snape. She, Harry and Umbridge walk into the forbidden forest at night.
Death of Sirius Black.
The Death Eaters lured Harry and five other Dumbledore's Army members into the deserted Ministry. A battle broke out over a prophecy concerning Harry and the Dark Lord.
The D.A. members did well holding the Death Eaters at bay until help arrived. The Order of the Phoenix went to rescue them, and the Death Chamber standoff ensued, which resulted in the death of Sirius Black at the hands of his own cousin Bellatrix Lestrange.
The standoff also included a duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore in the Atrium of the Ministry.
After the battle, Fudge and several other witnesses saw Voldemort with their own eyes, and this position of denial became untenable. Thus, the Ministry was forced to acknowledge the return of the Dark Lord and Fudge resigned his position as Minister for Magic.
Hogwarts. Dungeons. Day. Snape's office. She was called by Snape in his office, he watched her. Her head bow studied her laps. She had no courage or bravery to look up at his black eye, she wasn't afraid of Snape just - she didn't want any argument after Black's death.
Harry needs her. After what happened in the Department of Mysteries... Death Chamber..
"Miss Granger, please look at me..." She didn't. "Tell me what I should do to make you smile again. It's okay you don't want to talk with me, Dumbledore is back, should I send you to him?"
She shook her head, Snape spoke again. "I don't blame either point. You're right that I couldn't stop you. You're brave enough to fight with the Death Eaters, Miss Granger".
Snape had nothing to say to her. He pushed his chair.
"May I escort you to the door, Miss Granger". She nodded her head. She walks up behind him, as Snape turns to her. She hugged him tightly around his waist. Snape blinks and is shocked. He looked down to hers. "Miss Granger?"
Careful his hand caresses her bushy hair. Her face was buried in his robes. "It's over, Miss Granger. You're safe. Should I write something to your parents about this?"
... "No"...
Snape sighs, letting her hug him longer as she wants. He then wrapped his arm around hers. No one wouldn't barged into his office and watch these moments.
Not even Umbridge. She's gone but not dead yet. Hermione feels safe when Snape is around her. Why now? Why now she feels safe around him... why not before.
Did she grow to accept Snape's love?
"Thanks for everything, Professor Snape". He couldn't hear clearly as Hermione buried her face on his robes. "For everything". She looks up and kisses the corner of his lips. "You're a good man, Professor. You are that man".
She whispers. Snape closed his eyes. "I will see you soon.. my Hermione..."
Hogsmeade. Days later. The students climbed down from the carriages, heading toward the station.
The trio are at the front, others are behind chattering. "I've been thinking about something Dumbledore said to me".
"What's that?" asked Hermione.
"That even though we've got a fight ahead of us... we've got one thing that Voldemort doesn't have".
"Yeah?"
Harry with no smile. He'd just lost the only family he got left but now he's dead. Sirius Black.
"Something worth fighting for".
Back to Castle. Snape and Dumbledore are talking as they walk in the corridor.
"Whenever you are my boys. With the Dark Lord returned. We must be prepared". Dumbledore's hand on his back. Snape clasped his hand. "Miss Granger is brave enough to fight the Death Eaters. I'm impressed and not just for her, whom they are fight".
"While you're gone, Headmaster. Everything went.. you know. Dolores. I'm the only bad Professor in Hogwarts. I don't want her to compete with what is mine". Silence. He spoke again. "I never liked her, you do know that".
Dumbledore nodded in a smile. "While I'm gone, Severus. Do you know where I've been". Snape eyes him. "I went to see your mother, she gave me your old room - I slept there. She seems to not remember me much".
"She won't remember me either".
"He'd nowhere to be found, am I right, Severus".
"We don't talk about him. Where else you go beside my house, Headmaster".
Dumbledore and Snape stood watching the view. He could hear the train leave the station, sighed.. he couldn't wait to see her again.
"Does Dolores know about you and Miss Granger?" Dumbledore changed the topic.
"If she knew I won't be here teaching and Miss Granger will say her graduation goodbye, Headmaster".
Snape patted his chest, his heart suddenly beating fast. Dumbledore won't believe Hermione hug him.. "Soon when she finds out the truth, she will hate me, Headmaster".
"No, my boy. She will be proud". Dumbledore turns to him. "She knows the whole truth. As I was saying my boy... the Dark Lord is returned".
THE END.