They'd been walking to the library, Hermione had pushed her sleeves up, enjoying the late March warmth. For a moment they'd been more focused on their school work than the tense situation in Hogwarts. For a moment Susan had forgotten they were supposed to be on guard. They had spotted Umbridge standing in the middle of the corridor far too late.
Umbridge opened her mouth and then paused, looking entirely too focused for Susan's liking.
"Miss Granger," Umbridge smiled sickly sweet and Hermione visibly set her jaw. "Those bracelets are goblin-made. Who did you steal them from?"
Susan followed the awful witch's gaze and realised that the bracelets Hermione had worn for as long as she could remember were glinting brightly in the sunlight. The bracelets, she realised, with horror pooling in her stomach, that was the only thing keeping her soul marks hidden.
Hermione had gone very pale, but she spoke carefully as though she was weighing each word.
"They're mine." She explained, hands clenching into tight fists. "They were a present from Susan for Christmas."
"That's right," Susan added desperately. "I got them in Diagon Alley with my Aunt. You do know my Aunt, don't you?"
Umbridge didn't seem to hear her, a sick expression crossing her face. Susan had never hated someone as much as she did then. This wasn't about rules or the ministry. Umbridge just wanted to make Hermione unhappy. This was about an adult lauding their power over a child.
"I will be confiscating those, Miss Granger. And attempting to return them to their rightful owners."
"They're mine!" Hermione snapped, stepping backwards as Umbridge's smile grew. She folded her arms, keeping her wrists tight to her side. Umbridge pulled her wand and Hermione...She looked a split second away from…
Hermione bolted and Susan lunged at Umbridge, trying to knock her aim off as the older witch shouted "Locomotor Mortis"
The spell hit Hermione in the back and she fell face forward onto the stone floor, landing with a sickening crunch which echoed around the deserted corridor.
Susan threw herself back so she was standing over her cousin.
"Stay away from her!" She yelled, raising her own wand.
Susan had never been the best at Defence, in fact academically, Susan was better suited to theoretical subjects. Practical magic just wasn't her strong point.
"Miss Bones!" Umbridge scowled at her. "Step out of the way or I will be forced to give you detention."
She flinched. She couldn't help it. She'd seen the state of Hermione after one of Umbridge's detentions.
She set her teeth.
"No!"
Her cousin was prone behind her and there was no way she was letting her get hurt.
"Susan…" Hermione warned. She'd managed to turn herself over and was shuffling desperately towards her wand. There was blood dripping down her face, it looked like her nose had broken. "Don't!"
She glanced over her shoulder at her cousin, sitting prone on the floor, legs locked together, wand just out of reach. Hermione gave her a sad look and Susan realised that at this point there was nothing she could do. Umbridge would have those bracelets off Hermione, come hell or high water. But maybe she could get help from outside the school.
"The Twins," Hermione mouthed and Susan felt a lead weight settle in her stomach. Hermione wasn't the only one who needed protecting here. She nodded once and stepped out of the way, crouching down next to Hermione.
"Finite," She murmured, helping her cousin up.
Umbridge looked satisfied, probably believing that she'd cowed Susan into submission. She snatched at Hermione's wrist, pink painted nails leaving scratches in her pale skin.
The bracelet was dragged off and Susan stared numbly as Hermione's bond marks, solid black and snaking up her forearms were revealed to Umbridge.
"What is this?" The old witch demanded.
Hermione didn't say anything, just stared woodenly at the floor. Susan wrapped her arm around her waist and did her best to shield her.
"What is this?" Umbridge seethed, pulling at the other bracelet. She flinched when the second mark was revealed. "Two?"
Hermione looked at Susan once, clearly terrified before she shut down.
And Susan ran.
When Draco was feeling particularly vulnerable or simply vindictive, he liked to play a game his mother had taught him. The most successful snake, Narcissa would say, is not the one that hisses and puffs itself up, it is the one which is small and quiet and waits until you are vulnerable to strike. He hadn't listened at the time, but now, alone and vulnerable himself, he began to see the merit in what she had been trying to teach him. Make yourself unnoticed and people will forget you're a threat. Identify weaknesses in your enemies and wait to exploit them.
Whenever the Gryffin... whenever, Salazar help him, his family, was being particularly grating Draco played the same game. What was the biggest weakness in the Black family? The Twins. Their family was poor, and dependant upon a Ministry job, in a particularly precarious position. Their father was already under suspicion for working for the Order and with four children in Hogwarts, they were under constant threat from Umbridge. And here in the problem lay. If you controlled the Weasley's, you controlled the Twins. If you controlled the Twins, you controlled Hermione, although Draco still did not understand the attraction there. And if you controlled Hermione...you could get to Draco.
He'd mentioned this to his cousin. Some Black, other than Sirius, had married a Bones a few generations back, as well as one of the Malfoy's, so they were related, although not as closely as Potter was. Luckily Susan was a Hufflepuff and Draco's father would never have dreamed of marrying him off to her. She'd been...more alarmed than Draco though the situation called for. Alarmed and, unlike their Gryffindor family members, practical. They'd come up with a plan and had planned very carefully to not tell Harry or Hermione. For two people who weren't related in any way, they were unnervingly similar sometimes. If they knew the plan existed, they'd bury themselves in guilt.
Susan had hit him at full speed outside the main staircase, knocking them both across the stone floor, sending his armful of books flying.
"What!"
"It's happened!" She dragged him to his feet, her grip like iron. "It's happened, Draco. We've got to find the Twins. She's got Hermione."
He left his books on the floor and ran.
Umbridge hauled Hermione by her wrist through the castle. The student's they passed stared openly and Hermione was glad that Umbridge had yanked her jumper sleeves down, hiding most of her marks from view. About five minutes or so ago the bond had begun seething with emotion. Susan had probably warned the Twins who were, judging by the concentration she could feel, definitely up to something. Maybe they'd get away before she got to Dumbledore's office.
Except… this was the way to the Defence classroom.
"What's going on?" She demanded, yanking hard on her wrist. Umbridge sank her long fingernails into her skin. "Where are you taking me?"
"We are going to the Ministry, where we'll get this all sorted out." She sounded excited, thrilled even. "This sort of magic should be under Ministry control."
If they went to the Ministry it would be all over.
Hermione kicked her in the shin hard enough that Umbridge loosened her grip in surprise and she was able stumbled a few feet back.
"I am not," Hermione seethed, "Going anywhere with you."
"Well, Miss Granger," She raised her wand again, and this time Hermione didn't think it would be a leg-lock jinx she'd receive. She drew her own wand and settled into an easy stance, adrenaline settling like lightning in her limbs. "That's where you're wrong."
And everything went black.
For a moment Hermione thought Umbridge had blinded her. It was pitch dark, only the faintest flickers of light coming in from the end of the corridor, casting dark grey shadows. Hermione felt herself relax as a hand crept into hers, lacing their fingers together.
"Trust me?" George whispered, lips pressed against her ear.
"Always," Hermione returned, already relaxing.
When the blackout lifted five seconds later, Hermione was nowhere to be found.
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked as George pulled her along, stress thrumming through the bond.
"You're going to McGonagall's office.' George navigated them through the tunnels effortlessly. 'Hopefully, she won't think to look for you there until the chaos has died down."
"Chaos?"
George stumbled to a stop just behind the portrait that would let them out near the transfiguration office. He turned to look down at her and Hermione felt her throat catch. He looked so sad.
"Fred really wanted to be here, to say goodbye," He promised, stepping closer and cupping her cheek with his hand. "But we needed one of us to set things up and…"
"Goodbye?" Hermione demanded, covering his hand with her own. It was only then that she noticed that her black soul marks were mirrored on his own arm. "Where's your bracelet? What's going on, George?"
He sighed heavily.
"Susan has them, she's...planning something. We've got...we're supposed to create a distraction to get you to safety and give them time to get your parents here. But we…"
"She can't get all three of us," Hermione finished for him. She didn't want them to leave, but she would be damned before she saw them hurt by Umbridge. "Where are you going to go?"
"London?" He offered weakly. "'Mione...I'm so sorry. We should have…"
"Shut up!" Hermione snapped out. "This isn't your fault." She hugged him tightly. "How long have we got?"
"Not long at all." He sighed against the top of her head. "We've got a show to put on."
Hermione stepped back, glaring fiercely.
"Tear this castle to pieces," She snarled and George grinned at her, looking feral and furious in the wand light.
"For you?" He kissed her quickly. "Anything."
The Inquisitorial Squad were scouring the corridors for Hermione, going room by room. Fred was begrudgingly impressed at their efficiency. Still, he thought to himself as he slipped from his hiding place and set the box on the ground, they'd be very busy in a moment. He set the timing charm on the box and then took off at a flat sprint. George met him in the secret passageway behind the main staircase and gave him a long look.
"She's safe." He murmured, handing him one-half of the bags he was carrying.
"Furious?" Fred asked.
His twin snorted.
"You ready for this?"
"Ha!"
Afternoon classes had just let out. The main staircase was bustling with students and staff. Harry was keeping one wary eye on the pink witch a floor above him. She looked as though someone had forced her to swallow bubotubor pus and that meant he needed to get out of her way before she tried to blame him for something.
"WITCHES AND WIZARDS OF HOGWARTS!"
There were several small screams as people jumped. Harry was slightly more used to sudden loud noises and immediately looked towards the source. There, three floor up. the Twins leapt up onto the bannister. He could just make out the wide smiles on their faces.
"HAVE YOU GROWN TIRED OF THE DRUDGERY OF A MINISTRY CONTROLLED HOGWARTS?" One asked. Several Gryffindors, spurred on by a carefully hidden Lee Jordan, cheered.
"IS THE PINK TOAD GETTING YOU DOWN?" The other demanded. The cheers were louder this time, more genuine. Students were clogging the stairs, eager to see what the Twins had planned. Umbridge was fighting her way through them towards the throng but wasn't getting far. At this time of day, practically the whole school was here.
"WELL WE'VE ORGANISED A WELL NEEDED BREAK FROM ALL THAT!"
"ENJOY CHAOS, HOGWARTS!"
The Twins' shot identical spells at the ceiling of the Grand Staircase, some seven floors up. As the spells hit the castle shook under multiple explosions and dark clouds started spreading across the ceiling.
"ACCIO BROOMS!"
"ALL OF THE PRODUCTS USED IN TODAY'S PRANKS," Pink bubbles started streaming out of the charms corridor, and snow began to drift down from the clouds. Distant roaring could be heard from somewhere on the ground floor. "ARE AVAILABLE FROM OUR NEW PREMISES NO.93 DIAGON ALLEY!"
"OR FROM ONE OF OUR IN-SCHOOL STOCKISTS!"
There was a rattling and a pair of broomsticks came shooting out of the Defence corridor. It was then Harry noticed the bags the Twins had on over their cloaks and the goggles perched on their heads. The leather gloves they were both wearing. A sinking feeling began to settle in his gut.
They grabbed their brooms and leapt off the bannisters in the same movement. They dropped two floors, to the sound of screaming students, before the hovering charms kicked in and they slowed enough to kick off from the ground floor and rocket straight upwards.
"Silence!" Umbridge was screaming, she'd fought her way up to the bannister and the Twins hovered in front of her. "I will have silence!"
"NO, YOU WON'T!" A Twin hollered at her.
"PEEVES!" The other yelled.
The poltergeist came zooming out from an alcove and stood at attention. The Twins tossed a bag straight upward, grinning when the ghost caught it.
"YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS."
Peeves actually saluted.
The other twin began setting off fireworks as they did a quick lap of the stairs, flying higher and higher as they did so until they vanished amongst the clouds they'd conjured.
There was an enormous explosion of magenta sparks and they came streaking back down, a trail of light and trick sweets trailing behind them as the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes logo sketched itself against the clouds.
The students roared their support, Umbridge's shrill shouts for order lost amid the noise, as the Weasley Twins turned their tactical retreat into the stuff of legend.
Hermione, carefully hidden in Minerva's office, heard the explosions and the cheers. She watched from the window as two tiny figures on broom sped away from the castle. She scrubbed at her eyes, doing her best to not cry.
Susan and Draco waited for the explosions to go off before they stole into Umbridge's office.
"Urgh," Draco complained looking around the pink walls and decorative plates. "This is atrocious,"
Susan didn't spare a glance for the decor, heading straight for the fireplace, rifling through the mantelpiece, looking for...Ah ha! A disgustingly hideous urn that was full to the brim with floo powder.
"Auror Office," Susan shouted, throwing a pinch of the dust into the grate and sticking her head into the green flames.
The fireplace in the Auror office was situated by the main desk so the receptionist could answer it. The receptionist in question looked startled to find a school girl's head glaring at him from the fire.
"Uh...Can I help you?" The young man, Susan vaguely recognised him as a Ravenclaw from a few years ago, asked.
"I need to speak to Amelia Bones!"
He frowned.
"I'm sorry, but Lady Bones is in a Wizengamot meeting right now. Can I take a message?"
Susan sighed heavily, making ash swirl up out of the fireplace.
"Fine. What about Auror Tonks?"
The receptionist brightened.
"Oh, I know where she is."
"Can you get her for me?" Susan gritted out.
"Sure!" He wandered off and she let out a strangled scream at his slow speed.
It was a full three minutes later before he brought Tonks back. Susan had counted every painful second.
"Wotcher Susie?" Tonks asked, confused. She dropped to her knees in front of the fire. "You okay?"
"No, I am not okay," Susan complained. "I need you to get a message to Sirius, or Amy or Remus or someone!"
Tonks sobered and nodded.
"Sure thing."
"Tell them, "Umbridge knows about Hermione"."
The older witch froze and Susan realised that while Tonks didn't know the whole story, she knew Hermione's adoption was a secret.
"Oh shit. I got it, Susie. I'm on it."
"We've bought some time but…" She felt Draco tugging at her ankle. "But tell them to hurry." She pulled her head out of the fire and tumbled back onto the carpet. Her eyes lit upon Draco who was being held at wand point by Pansy Parkinson.
"Nice of you to join us, Miss Bones," Umbridge smirked down at her. "Now why don't you and Mr Malfoy here, tell me where Miss Granger is?"
Susan grinned broadly and took a leaf out of her cousin's book.
"With all due respect professor, go fuck yourself."
They would have been taken straight to the Headmaster's office, but Umbridge had to get the castle back under control first. They were left under guard, wands confiscated and the office door locked.
It only took Draco five minutes to get them out again.
"Hermione?" Minerva called quietly into her office, trying to ignore the firework spelling out rude words behind her. At least they were spelt correctly.
"Minnie?"
The teenager stepped out from behind an armchair where she'd clearly been hiding and smiled nervously. It looked rather like she was just baring her teeth.
"Oh, thank goodness." Minerva let the portrait swing shut and gathered the girl close in her arms. "Are you okay?"
"I'm worried," Hermione admitted. She stepped away rubbing her arms and Minerva gaped at the dark grey marks on the backs of her hands, visible for all to see.
"What happened?" She demanded. All she'd known was that Umbridge had started a manhunt for Hermione, only to have the castle fall to bits around her ears. "Your marks.."
"Umbridge took my bracelets." Hermione scowled, staring down at her hands unhappily. "She was going to take me to the Ministry before George rescued me."
And fled the castle, Minerva realised.
"Susan's up to something I think," She rubbed at her eyes, looking the picture of defeat. "And I've got these stupid marks out."
Minerva sighed heavily and moved over to her drawers, rummaging through odds and ends until eventually, she turned up her old quidditch gloves. She passed them over to Hermione who took them with a grimace.
"Thanks." She murmured, tugging them on. There was a pause and then she said, "I'm sorry! If I'd just…"
"Hermione!"
The younger witch stopped rambling and stared at Minerva, looking shocked.
"This is not your fault," Minerva insisted. She settled herself in one of the armchairs and gestured for her adopted daughter to do the same. "We've been very lucky to get away with it for as long as we have. But now Umbridge knows, we can finally act appropriately."
Hermione sat, eyeing her warily.
"What do you mean?"
Minerva flexed her hands on the ragged armrest. She really wanted to claw something.
"We've nothing left to hide, Hermione. And as long as I am in this castle, no one will be getting near my daughter."
She smiled slightly as Hermione giggled.
"Thanks, Aunt Minnie."
"Ah, Minerva." Dumbledore greeted her as she stood in the doorway, surveying the room. "We were just about to send for you."
He was seated behind his desk fingers steepled and had apparently weathered the chaos of the Twins departure to no ill effect. The same could not be said of Professor Umbridge, who was smoking in places and whose hair was strewn in disarray. She was glowering at Dumbledore who seemed entirely at ease. Also present was Flitwick, who was muddy from the knee down and Poppy Pomfrey.
"Oh?" Minerva feigned surprise, not moving away from the door. "And why might that be?"
"The Granger girl," Umbridge demanded manically. "We need to find her. Search the castle."
Minerva smirked.
"No need, Delores." She stepped into the Headmaster's office, gesturing behind her. "She's right here."
You have to understand that at that time I had no idea what was going on. I didn't know anything about Black's plans. I only knew that Minerva appeased to be handing her daughter over to the enemy and that there was nothing I could do about it.
"What's this about, Delores?" Dumbledore asked, as Hermione nervously took up position next to Minerva.
Umbridge smiled.
"It seems Miss Granger had been hiding something from us," She reached for Hermione, to pull her gloves off. Minerva reached out, cat fast and caught her hand.
"If you lay one more hand on my daughter," Minerva murmured, in a clear voice that carried around the office. "I will not be held responsible for my actions."
I don't know who was more shocked. Umbridge, who looked as though Minerva had just stunned her, Dumbledore, who had frozen at his desk or Hermione who was staring up at Minerva in awe. Trust is a funny thing. Just because Hermione trusted her guardians, that didn't mean she wasn't surprised when they came through for her.
"Excuse me," Umbridge smiled, "I think I misheard you, Professor."
"I doubt it." Minerva's eyes were narrowed. "What are these allegations are about, Ms Umbridge?"
Flitwick let out a small noise that he quickly disguised as a cough.
"I think it would be best that you explain," Dumbledore seemed content to lean back in his chair and watch over his spectacles. Behind him, the portraits were unusually quiet.
"Miss Granger," Umbridge spat, "Has been hiding a soul bond. I see I was the last person to be informed of this?"
Dumbledore sighed heavily.
"If you would, Miss Granger?"
With a nervous look at Minerva, the young woman pulled off the quidditch gloves exposing her marks. Umbridge let out a loud crow of accusation.
"You see?"
I wasn't watching Umbridge's triumph. I was watching Dumbledore and Minerva. They were staring at each other, and I suddenly realised that this was the first time Minerva had ever openly defied him. She'd kept this secret for years, and now she was challenging him. Dumbledore was either to throw her to the wolves or support her and I could not tell what he was deciding.
"I see that you have relieved my daughter of something that was keeping her safe," Minerva snapped, as the fireplace flared and Sirius stepped into the room in a swirl of green flames and ash. Gone were the muggle band t-shirts, instead he was wearing a charcoal suit with long robes over the top, his hair swept back and his eyes cold.
"Sirius," Dumbledore greeted, looking unsurprised.
Black glanced at him and nodded cooly before he swept past Umbridge and crouched down in front of Hermione. He took her hands and gave her a small smile.
"Are you all right?" He asked, looking her over, taking in the deep scratches and the dried blood on her shirt.
Hermione nodded, looking marginally less terrified.
"What is the meaning of this, Dumbledore?" He demanded, getting to his feet and turning to scowl magnificently at the Headmaster. It did not go unnoticed that he didn't even spare a glance for Umbridge.
"Lord Black," Umbridge smiled and Sirius looked vaguely repulsed. "What exactly are you doing here?"
"Where are your bracelets, Hermione?" He demanded, ignoring the question.
"Professor Umbridge confiscated them." She murmured, eyeing the assembled adults with a worried expression.
"Miss Granger," Umbridge continued loudly, "Has been hiding a soul bond. I am going to find out who her bond mates are and then this entire mess will be reported to the Ministry."
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore interrupted. "Has done nothing wrong. There is no requirement to register a soul bond to the Ministry and you have no right to demand the names of her bondmates."
"You knew!" Umbridge hissed, advancing on the Headmaster. "You've been hiding this…"
"Of course I knew," He smiled faintly. "Miss Granger was a ward of this school…"
"And as such!" Umbridge snapped, "Information about her should have been reported to the MInistry,"
"Forgive me, Madame Inquisitor," Dumbledore looked over her towards Minerva who was watching. "You misheard me. Miss Granger was a ward of this school. She is not any longer."
Umbridge looked as though she had swallowed her tongue.
"Excuse me,"
"We adopted Hermione," Sirius murmured, as though it wasn't terribly important. "Was there anything else to discuss here, Dumbledore, or is it just Madam Umbridge's continued mistreatment of my daughter?"
"Ah yes," The Headmaster's eyes narrowed. "I heard that you had assumed the Black seat in the Wizengamot. Remus is standing for Lady Bones isn't he?"
"He is," He glanced at Umbridge, "As such, I look forward to your next report to the Wizengamot, Inquisitor. I suspect there will be a lot of interest in what you have to say for yourself."
Umbridge looked from Sirius to Minerva to Dumbledore, eyes narrowing as her face turned an ugly shade of red.
"You've all been conspiring together!" She declared. "This is a plot against the Ministry, and…"
Her tirade was forestalled by a series of knocks on the door to the Headmasters' office. It opened without waiting for a response and Susan and Draco spilt into the room.
"Excuse me, Headmaster," Draco murmured, looking incredibly pale.
"We were worried about Hermione," Susan finished for him, pushing her hair out of her face and shamelessly displaying the gold bracelet wrapped around her wrist.
Bill Weasley watched the London skyline with worried eyes and a frown on his face. The letter he'd gotten, sent via a Hogsmeade owl had been short and ultimately empty of any real information. He'd brought his girlfriend in case there was any trouble. You could never be too careful these days.
Fleur was leaning against on side of the alley, wand drawn, carefully vigilant. She'd covered her hair so she didn't shine in the darkness.
"Bill…" she nodded towards the sky, seeing that he'd gotten distracted staring at her. "I zhink…"
He followed her gaze and instantly spotted the two tiny ink black figures flying far too close together. Their path was erratic and getting lower by the minute.
"They're looking for us," Bill admitted grimly. Lifting his wand he sent one jet of red sparks into the air and watched as the two figures turned towards him, getting low enough to land.
They hit the alley at a run, or they would have if they'd have the sense between them to do so. As it was they skidded to their knees, brooms and bags going everywhere as they did so. Bill rushed forwards to help but was held back by one slender arm.
"Non," Fleur cautioned. "Zhey must identify zhemselves."
She was right, he admitted to himself, but when the two men finally got to their feet and lifted their faces in the pale city streetlight it took everything Bill had not to run to them. Fred and George looked shattered and exhausted, faces incredibly pale and eyes red and swollen as though they'd been flying without goggles, which they hadn't. They were perched on top of their hair. No, his brothers had been crying.
"Fred," Bill called and they stepped towards him automatically, only to back off when Fleur lifted her wand. "George. What did you turn Ron's teddy bear into when he was a kid."
"A giant spider," One said with a sigh, leaning on the other.
"We were trying to turn it into an enormous spider," The other admitted.
"It's them," Bill stepped past his girlfriend and rushed towards his little brothers, hugging them tightly. "What the hell is going on, you two? Why aren't you at Hogwarts? Are the others okay?"
One of the Twins laughed bleakly.
"It's a long story."
The other frowned, peering into the darkness behind Bill.
"Is that Fleur Delacour?"
Bill felt flushed.
"Ah," he said. "That's a long story too,"
Between himself and Fleur, they got the Twins back to the shop that Bill had helped them buy. If his mother ever found out that he'd helped them with this endeavour, then he was dead meat. But for now, it served as a safe place for the twins to recuperate. It had better be safe, Bill had done the wards himself.
"So," He asked, once the twins had returned from the bathroom and had settled on the floor to start healing their scraped knees. "Want to tell me what happened?" When had they learned healing charms? It wasn't even taught at Hogwarts.
The flat was empty, so he didn't have much choice but to join them on the floor, Fleur settling doubtfully next to him.
One of them, George he reckoned, sighed heavily.
"Umbridge happened," He admitted dully and Fred scoffed. "She found out about us and Hermione and we had to get out of the castle fast."
Next to him,Fleur had gone very still.
"'Ermione Granger?" She asked sharply.
The Twins glanced up at her, wary.
"Ah, non!" She moved forward and gripped their shoulders tightly, ignoring the confused look that Bill was giving her. "Tell me, did zhey discover all three of you or just 'er?"
The Twins exchanged a nervous look.
"How do you know?" Fred asked sounding honestly scared.
"'Ermione," Fleur looked grim. "I met 'er over ze summer. I offered 'er some of ze books from ma grand'mere."
George gaped at her.
"So that's where she got it from!"
"Would someone tell me what the hell you three are talking about?" Bill demanded and they froze. Fleur turned to look at him with a carefully blank expression on her face.
"Eet is not my secret to tell." She said simply.
"So?" He turned to the Twins. Fred and George exchanged a long look and then told him everything.
They told him about the soul bond with Hermione Granger, which they'd been hiding since their third year. They told him about the Blacks and the trouble they'd faced at Hogwarts. They told him everything, the words getting muddled as they spoke over each other, apparently desperate to finally tell someone who was family. Someone who they knew would be on their side regardless.
"Then Susan, she caught up to us. Said she would take care of Hermione but that we needed to get out of the castle. Took our bracelets. I think she's going to make sure that Umbridge thinks that someone else is Hermione's bondmates. Can't risk her finding out it's us." George seemed exhausted, leaning heavily against his twin.
"But isn't Hermione in danger?" Bill asked confused. "She's…"
"She's Sirius Black's daughter," Fred murmured. "Sirius and McGonagall adopted her a few years ago in case this ever happened. Umbridge can't touch her. But us…"
"What about you two?" Bill demanded. "You're both adults, you're not at the school anymore and…"
"It's not us that we have to worry about," Fred snapped.
"We were thinking about this on the way over," George explained. Bill would never get used to the way they said: "We were thinking". "Umbridge is a powerful witch in the Ministry. She could get Dad or Percy fired. She could get Ron or Ginny thrown out of Hogwarts. You and Charlie are pretty safe but Dad...He was found outside the Department of Mysteries. It wouldn't be a big leap to get him thrown into Azkaban."
They were right, Bill realised. For the first time, he looked at his brothers properly and realised they weren't just pranksters anymore. At some point when he hadn't been looking, his little brothers had grown up into men.
"We caused enough chaos at Hogwarts to give Susan enough time to get her plan going and then we got out of there," George scrubbed at his eyes and Bill openly stared at the black tattoo that spread across his hand. "We don't even know if she's okay."
Bill watched them for a long moment.
"I am very proud of you two," He said eventually and they stared at him, amazed. "I'm not gonna lie, I thought this was you two fucking around again, but you have protected this family and you have acted incredibly bravely." He grinned at them. "And I promise not to tell mum where you're staying."
The Twins laughed and feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, Bill joined them.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Bill demanded.
Fleur gave him a distinctly unimpressed look and he winced apologetically.
"Eet was not my secret to tell," She said again.
They were standing at the bar in the Leaky, collecting drinks and food for the almost catatonic Twins, who'd slumped in one corner of the bar, sleeves pulled low over their wrists.
Bill wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you for protecting my family," He murmured.
"Eet is my honour," She scowled prettily. "Even if your mere doesn't like me,"
He laughed deeply.
"Ah, don't worry. Once she finds out about all of this, she's going to be so mad at the three of them she won't even remember you,"
The shop was a bit of a state, George had to admit. A lot of the fittings could be salvaged and there was a lot of space in the back for stock and a workroom. But the paint was peeling and the floor was filthy and the whole building felt damp. The first thing they'd done was light all the fireplaces, followed by a run to Flourish and Blotts for books on home repair. Well, no. The first thing they'd actually done was transfigured some gloves to cover their marks. Now they were working on sorting the remaining furniture into things they needed and things they were beyond repair.
"Did you hear that?" Fred asked, frowning towards the front door. The large windows of the shop were covered with brown paper, so there was no reason that anyone would come knocking. No one should even know they were here.
"Yeah,"
They both stepped quietly up to the door and jumped a little when it rattled under the next barrage of knocks.
"C' mon boys," A voice called. "I solemnly swear I'm not a Death Eater."
"Sirius," A second, quieter, voice scolded.
"Sirius?" The Twins called.
"Let me in!" Sirius Black snapped. The wood rattles as though he'd kicked it.
They opened the door.
Standing on the doorstep where Remus and Sirius, both looking exhausted and clutching a tray with covered paper cups on it and a brown paper bag. Sirius was dressed in what Hermione privately called his "overdosed rockstar" look, muggle t-shirt, ripped jeans, biker boots and sunglasses perched firmly on his nose. Remus, by contrast, was wearing what Sirius loudly proclaimed as his "homeless werewolf librarian" clothes. Fraying jumper, corduroy trousers and an air of bemusement.
"Morning boys," Remus smiled at them, looking exhausted.
"Nice shop," Sirius murmured, shoving past the pair of them and looking around doubtfully. He shoved his sunglasses up on top of his head, exposing the dark circles under his eyes.
"Er, thanks?" George frowned at them. "Why are you here?"
"Two reasons," Sirius set down the tray he was holding on a pile of wooden crates and folded his arms. "Firstly, to say thank you,"
"Because of you, Susan managed to get Hermione away from that cow in time to call us," Remus opened the brown bag and handed each of them a ginormous cupcake. "She told us that she'd told you to leave because she was worried about what Umbridge might do to the two of you."
"Not being from Noble Houses and all." Sirius chimed in. Remus sent him a withering look.
"Quite. Secondly, we wanted to make sure that you two were okay."
"Never mind us," Fred snapped. "Is Hermione okay? Did Umbridge hurt her?"
Remus got a dark look on his face and Fred took a step back when he growled.
"Our daughter is fine," Sirius murmured, looking rather annoyed himself. "Umbridge was quite surprised when she discovered that the witch she'd been torturing was the heir to two Ancient Houses."
George quietly wondered when it had become official that Hermione had another father. He exchanged a wary look with his brother. Sirius was one thing, Remus on the other hand...
"But we knew she would want us to check in on you," Sirius nudged the tray towards them, "Coffee?"
The boys exchanged wary looks but took the two cups that Sirius handed them.
"Are these…"
"...muggle?"
Sirius took a long sip of his own coffee and then accepted the cupcake that Remus handed him.
"You know your girlfriend is muggleborn," He said conversationally, "It might do you two some good to get to know her heritage."
Remus snorted.
"Because that worked out really well for Jamie," He muttered. Sirius waved that off.
"James jumped in at the deep end. And he was a born and bred pureblood. These two have a bit more sense," He paused. "I think."
"What happened last night?" Fred asked as George carefully took a sip.
"Susan is fucking terrifying," Sirius said bluntly and Remus sighed heavily in agreement. "She turned up when we're all standing around arguing and announces that she and Draco were really worried about Hermione and could they see if they were okay. And they're wearing the bloody bracelets but with Minerva and me there she couldn't force them to take the damn things off. Umbridge was furious."
"Never mind Dumbledore, Amelia is going to kill someone," Remus complained.
"Anyway, we got rid of the kids and Umbridge. Dumbledore demanded answers, he'd backed Minerva, but didn't actually know anything." Sirius scowled. "The old coot. After that Umbridge brought back the Aurors and Dumbledore fled. Umbridge was announced as Headmistress this morning."
"So what's with the shop, boys?" Remus asked suddenly into the stunned silence that followed that and the Twins froze before they both broke into broad smiles and swept low bows.
"Welcome to the future premises of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
"We're opening a joke shop," George explained.
Remus grinned at them, exhausted but still relieved.
"Congratulations, you two. I'm sure it'll be great."
"You know," Sirius looked around himself doubtfully. "I'm sure I could help you out with this, renovating a place like this won't come cheap."
Fred didn't need to look at his twin to know his answer.
"Er..no thanks, Sirius. We'll manage on our own."
Both Marauders grinned at them and George got the sinking feeling that that had been some kind of test.
"Good," Sirius unfolded his arms. "Gotta admire men who are willing to stand on their own two feet and not on their father-in-law's money."
"Sirius," Remus chided.
"You're not our father-in-law." George insisted, rather pink.
"Do not let Hermione hear you say that!" Fred added desperately. Sirius smirked at them.
"Boys, far as I'm concerned, for as long as Hermione considers you hers, you're family. Course, if my darling daughter decides to rescind that claim then you're on your own. But for now…"
"You're as bad as Molly," Remus complained, ignoring the irritated looks the twins gave him.
Sirius sobered slightly.
"Ah," He said, sounding awkward. "On that note. Boys, we should probably prepare you for something."
"Do I have to hold your hand?" Hermione complained.
Draco tightened his grip to painfully tight and Hermione resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.
"Do you want this to be convincing or not?" Draco hissed, the blissful smile on his face not slipping an inch. Hermione scowled at him.
"Darlings," Susan greeted casually as she dropped down to sit across from them, "Don't squabble."
Hermione and Draco glowered at her.
"This is insane!" Hermione hissed, leaning across the wooden table bearing lunch. "It's never going to work!"
Susan smiled at her. It did not fill Hermione with any great amount of comfort.
"Trust me."
Hermione sighed and drew in a very long breath. She let it out very slowly. Somewhere, very far away, her other halves were missing her so strongly it physically ached.
"Umbridge thinks this is a recent development," Susan explained, calmly repeating the lie she'd used last night. "The school thinks the Twins left broken-hearted because you dumped them for us,"
"Which is why Weaslette over there is trying to fry you with her eyes," Draco added in a murmur.
"Everything is going to be fine." Susan smiled gently. "I'm looking after you, and Umbridge can't touch you."
Hermione stared morose, into her tea.
"Thank you," She breathed, unable to look at them, "You didn't need to do this,"
Susan shrugged and charmed a spoonful of peas to fling themselves at Ginny Weasley.
"You're my family. I look after what's mine."
As the Gryffindor table descended into a furtive food fight, Hermione and Draco exchanged worried looks. They really were very lucky Susan wasn't more inclined to be the next Dark Lord. She'd probably be terribly good at it.
The school couldn't seem to decide where it stood on the latest developments. The Gryffindors were, of course, heartbroken over the loss of their favourite Princes, but knew Hermione well enough to know that she wasn't dating Susan Bones, let alone Draco Malfoy. The rest of the houses seemed confused except for the Slytherins who couldn't decide if Draco dating a muggleborn was worse than a Hufflepuff. Hermione's parentage was kept quiet and the shock of Dumbledore's departure was the main concern of the student body.
The Weasley Wizard Wheezes pranks stopped because Hermione was now watched too carefully to act on them, but what should have been a quieter period in the school was marred with the damage the Twins had done in their exit. Four corridors were completely impassible, the North stairwell had a permanent lemonade stream and Peeves had become impossible to deal with. Umbridge's new powers as Headmistress did little to control the school and although she continued to put students in "detention" that only inspired anger in the student population. Teenagers hate admitting their scared. And when they are, they're just as likely to get angry instead.
Sirius, when he was in a morose mood and Harry wasn't around, could often be heard to complain about Lily Evans. Remus would usually sigh heavily and confiscate whatever Sirius was drinking before striding out as though he couldn't bear to hear it. Hermione stayed. It was never malicious, it was usually...bittersweet. Sirius had loved James Potter more than almost anyone and James had loved Lily from the moment he'd set eyes on her. Sirius would tell the story to her, staring into the fire and wearily rubbing at an old scar on his arm.
"It was awful," He'd murmur, looking heartbroken. "He just had to catch a glimpse of those green eyes and he'd give in. Lily had a way of getting whatever she wanted and looking innocent while she did it. And James would follow her anywhere. Didn't matter who he was leaving behind."
Hermione was reminded of this as she looked up from her Transfiguration homework and found her gaze caught by the same pair of emerald green eyes. Harry had been a silent shadow over the last few days, a few steps behind Draco and Susan's sickening theatrics. He had his arms folded on the table, long black hair tied back in a ponytail, face unusually grave.
"What?" Hermione demanded.
He didn't say anything, just kept staring at her.
It was quiet in the library, the terrifying silence that had settled over the school after Umbridge's promotion hadn't affected the frantic studying of the fifth and seventh years. Madam Pince was busy ordering extra copies of textbooks and consoling distraught Ravenclaws.
"You've not been sleeping, have you?" She took in the dark shadows under his eyes and the slightly sallow tinge to his normally tanned skin. Blacks, Sirius' famously proclaimed, didn't burn.
Harry merely tilted his head at her in question and she scowled.
"Yeah, but I'm not allowed to sleep. They've been keeping me up late." He frowned at that.
"You can feel them from here?" He asked in a whisper.
She smiled sadly, setting her parchment aside.
"It's a lot stronger than it used to be." She admitted. "It's...They thought it was because we weren't fighting it anymore. That we were letting it grow as it meant to."
He got up and moved around, pulling her up out of her chair, enough for him to sit in it and pull her back down into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and tucked his forehead against her neck. She sighed.
"Your bloody lucky no one can see us right now," They were hidden away in one of the many dead ends of the library, tucked behind a bookcase on Goblin Wars.
"You're my sister," He murmured. "It's fine."
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, frowning down at him. "You seem…"
"I'm scared," Harry admitted easily and she froze. "I'm ruddy terrified, 'Mione. He's...My scar hurts, I'm tired, Umbridge is out to get me and my family. I'm so scared something is going to happen to you."
"Harry…"
"Do you ever wish none of this had happened?" He asked suddenly, lifting his head to meet her gaze.
"None of what?"
"Imagine if Riddle had just, I dunno, become a librarian. My parents would have gotten married. Pettigrew wouldn't have betrayed them. Wouldn't have gone on the run. Your parents would have brought you to Hogwarts…"
"Harry…"
"We'd have been friends, the biggest problem we'd have is talking to girls and sneaking out to play pranks on people. Exams. Thinking about what we want to do when we leave school. Not if we'll leave school."
"If it hadn't been for You-Know-Who," Hermione pointed out, jaw clenched. She didn't like this train of thought. "We might not have been friends. Sirius wouldn't have ended up with Amelia so you wouldn't grow up with Susan. If I wasn't an orphan the Twins wouldn't have kidnapped me in Diagon when I was eleven. We wouldn't have been friends. The troll wouldn't be released on Halloween and the three of us wouldn't have bonded."
"That's not true," He complained, "You're soulmates. You'd have ended up together eventually."
She snorted.
"The books talk about bonds as latent much of the time. There's actually a ritual you can go through to show you any latent bonds you might have. People can have dozens. It takes a very special set of circumstances to cause…" She shook her wrist. "This. I don't think they would have looked at me as anything other than an annoying first year."
Harry glared at her.
"Don't say that," He scolded.
"What's more…" Hermione added, glaring at him. "If my parents weren't dead, I wouldn't have been adopted by Sirius. I wouldn't be your sister."
"That's...true," He admitted reluctantly.
"I don't think about what could have been," She lied. "I'm just trying to focus on appreciating what I've got now. A family, my mates…" She smiled at him gently. "A little brother with a danger complex."
"Hey!"
"I'm very lucky, Harry."
"You're not scared." He asked quietly, not looking away.
"Not at the moment," She lied again.
He sighed heavily.
"You should be," He murmured, gathering her closer. "I'm so sorry, 'Mione."
"Why?"
"Because he knows about the bond." His grip on her became bruising. "I don't know how, someone at the Ministry must have told him, but he knows about you. And he wants you dead,"
They didn't tell anyone. Who could they tell realistically? Umbridge was watching them like a hawk and both of them were reluctant to worry their family anymore. But looking back now, I remember that they were both incredibly quiet. They were often found huddled together and often seemed to be staring into space, with a look of quiet horror on their faces.
She should be in bed. She should be in the tower, safe where Umbridge couldn't catch her. She should be doing anything but sneaking down the third-floor corridor in her brother's invisibility cloak, with only Fred's jumper to keep her warm in her pyjamas.
But that was exactly what she was doing.
Double checking it was clear, she tapped the statue of the one-eyed witch and nervously waited for it to open, wincing at the occasional grate of moving stone.
A pair of hands landed on her hips and she was suddenly pulled into the secret passageway, letting out a small shriek of surprise as the cloak was tugged off and she was hauled up against a hard chest. She felt her heart beating fast as she looked up into smiling brown eyes.
"Have a nice trip?" Fred asked innocently.
Hermione did the only thing she could and smacked him over the head with the Marauders Map.
"Ow!" He complained, scowling at her. "That's some way to greet your soulmate after you haven't seen him for weeks!"
"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?" Hermione hissed furiously. "You could get caught! You could be seen! And you've got some nerve, Fred Weasley! I don't hear from you for weeks, no idea if you're even okay and the first thing you say to me is some shitty joke!"
Fred rolled his eyes, a move pretty much guaranteed to make her more annoyed and wordlessly pushed her up against the wall of the tunnel so he could greet her properly. The kiss turned frantic almost immediately, tinged with desperation and longing and Hermione had missed him so very much, it had only been three weeks. Fred started trailing kisses across her jaw and down her neck, sharp nips of his teeth that left her breathless and whining. His hand slipped under her shirt and he froze at the feel of her bare skin, leaning back, his eyes very dark in the wand light.
"Shit," He panted. "I'm gonna…" He was still staring at her and Hermione wasn't sure if the look in his eyes made her want to run away or towards him. "Move some boxes," He announced, taking a large step away from her.
That got her attention.
"Boxes?" She demanded.
Fred took her by the hand and led her wordlessly down the tunnel, which was full, she quickly realised, of boxes painted with a familiar orange insignia. A figure was organising them by wand light and even in the darkness Hermione instinctively knew who he was.
"She done yelling at you yet?" George asked casually.
Fred scowled.
"Is that why you let me go first?" He demanded. "I'm gonna get the rest of the stuff," He dropped Hermione's hand and walked away.
"What crawled up his…" George turned to look at Hermione and his mouth twitched into a smirk. "Ah,"
Hermione blushed and tried to push her curls back into some form of order.
"Hey," She managed. "I missed you,"
George held out his hand and she took it without hesitation, letting him pull her closer. He tugged her into his arms and sat back on one of the crates so she was standing between his legs. They were, Hermione realised as he rested his forehead against hers, almost the same height like this.
"Missed you too, Twist."
They stood like that for a long moment, soaking in the presence of the other.
"Fred ok?" She asked regretfully.
George hummed quietly, idly curling her hair around his fingers.
"He's just cooling off. Seeing you again is…" He grinned ruefully. "A bit of a shock to the system. We had you all to ourselves since Christmas and then nothing for weeks. A little overwhelming."
Hermione tipped her head up to stare at him.
"You don't seem very overwhelmed."
George snorted.
"I," He told her archly. "Am not my brother." He leaned down to kiss her. It lacked the fire of Fred's kiss but was no less passionate for it. A deep ocean to his brother's inferno. Hermione could feel herself starting to get pulled under. "Besides," He pulled back a fraction, his words ghosting across her lips, "I've got more self-control."
"Clearly," Hermione deadpanned. George's fingers were rubbing small circles on the back of her neck and it was driving her to distraction.
There was a scraping noise further down the corridor and turned to see Fred walking towards them with an armful of boxes.
"What is all this anyway?" She asked.
"A little birdie told us you were out of stock," George explained. "So consider the Hogwarts illicit branch of WWW officially restocked."
"Oh, that is brilliant!" Hermione crowed.
Fred finally arrived setting his load down. He turned to look at them and threw up his hands in apparently genuine frustration.
"Didn't work," He complained. "She's still gorgeous, George."
"Yep," George agreed, grinning at her blush. He shoved her helpfully forward.
"Nothing for it then. C'mere 'Mione."
"What? Wh..?"
Hermione found that she was very quickly silenced and that she really didn't mind all that much.
Hermione staggered back into her dormitory bathroom at four forty-three am. Her lips felt dry and bruised, there was a prickling on the skin of her neck because George hadn't shaved properly, her bag was full of prank items and, she realised meeting her reflexion in the mirror, there was two galleons sized bruises on her shoulders. One on each side.
"Honestly!" She complained to the world at large.
Hermione had been dreading her career meeting. Apparently, she'd been right to. She stepped into Minerva's office and stumbled to a halt as the three adults turned to face her. Minnie, she'd been expecting, it was her office. Umbridge...well it was almost cliche at this point. But Flitwick….
"Ah, Miss Granger," Flitwick squeaked, "Come in, come in."
"I'm...here for my career meeting?" She frowned at her adoptive mother whose expression didn't change except for a slight twitch of her left eyebrow.
"Please sit down, Hermione."
Worriedly, Hermione did so. Umbridge hadn't said anything yet. She seemed content to watch the other two professors over the top of her clipboard.
"Now, I've asked Professor Flitwick here because I thought he might be able to give us a little advice," Minerva smiled slightly. "He is somewhat better acquainted with the selection committee at Gringotts."
Umbridge made a strangled sound in her throat that Hermione ignored.
"Gringotts?" She asked, leaning forward a little.
"It was our understanding," Flitwick explained, beaming at her, "That you'd expressed some interest in becoming a Curse Breaker."
Hermione blinked. Currently, her greatest concern was surviving the school year, she hadn't really given much thought to her future prospects.
"Erm, yeah." She managed. Umbridge let out a little giggle and Minerva scowled.
"Well," Flitwick forged bravely on. "Let's discuss what subjects you need to focus on. You're currently projected to pass all your subjects at O.W.L with good grades…"
"Almost all of her grades," Umbridge chimed in. "Miss Granger has shown no academic ability in my class,"
Neither professor blinked. Apparently, they'd decided to ignore Umbridge's presence. Hermione felt a hysterical giggle bubble up in her throat that she worked to suppress.
"So for sixth year," Minerva continued "I would recommend you continue your classes in Charms, Transfiguration, Runes and Defense…"
Umbridge snorted.
"Providing you do very well in History of Magic this year continuing that wouldn't be necessary, but Arithmancy would serve you…" She paused. "Can I help you, Headmistress?"
Umbridge had been making increasingly loud noises of disbelief.
"I'm sorry," She clearly lied, "But I do not think Miss Granger will be able to find employment with her current academic record, nevermind her ongoing discipline problems."
"Unfortunately," Minerva said dryly, looking down at her notes, "It is not up to you. Gringotts is entirely outwith Ministry control,"
"For now," Umbridge snapped.
"And I would be only too happy to recommend Miss Granger," Flitwick added brightly. "Her charms work is exemplary."
"But you are right, Delores," Minerva continued. "Miss Granger may be entirely too busy with politics to find time for employment."
"Politics?" Umbridge spat, through a frozen smile.
"Well yes," Hermione began to wonder if her presence was even necessary. "She is the heir to both the Ross and Black seats in the Wizengamot." This was news to Hermione. "Seventeen is a little early to start a career in politics," Minerva mused, "But the Ross seat has been unoccupied for so long. I see no reason why Hermione couldn't assume it as soon as she is of age."
There was a long pause. Minerva was staring down Umbridge with narrowed eyes, an air of triumph hanging around her. It was a declaration, Hermione realised, of power and intent.
"Perhaps," Umbridge bit out, "With some hard work she may be able to achieve the grades necessary to become a curse breaker."
Minerva smiled.
"Ah, Delores. I just knew you come to agree with me."
Over the next week, Hermione received detentions for sitting too close to Draco, failing to put her hand up in class and "lingering". Needless to say, Harry, Draco and Susan soon joined her in writing lines as Umbridge showed her fury.
"So how long have you three been dating?" Bill asked, frowning down at a recipe for Nosebleed Nougat.
"Firstly," George quickly retrieved the jar of gillyweed that Bill was holding. "If you add that, the cauldron will explode. Secondly, the three of us aren't dating."
His brother gave him an unimpressed look and George rolled his eyes.
"She's dating me and she's dating Fred. There's a very important difference."
Bill paused to think about that and made a disgusted face.
"Fair point. The question still stands,"
He'd been by on almost every day off he'd had, helping his brothers set up their shop. He wasn't usually allowed to help with product preparation, the instructions were surprisingly complex for a pair who only had five O.W.L's between them. Fred was out at the moment, hunting down food, leaving the two of them filling orders.
"Since Christmas," George admitted. His ears were going a little red and Bill grinned. He'd always wanted to enjoy this part of being a big brother.
"And now your bond thing is complete?"
George visibly hesitated.
"No?" He offered.
There was an awkward pause filled with the slow bubble of the cauldrons set up along the back of the workroom.
"It's…" He waved the arm with the thick black tattoo etched along it. Bill still couldn't believe the Twins had managed to hide them from their mother so well. They seemed to be enjoying being able to show them off in the privacy of their shop. "Complicated. The book wasn't terribly specific."
"Maybe you have to get married," Bill mused.
There was a crash as George fumbled with a beaker which shattered across the floor, spreading thick purple ooze in a puddle.
"Too soon?" His brother asked innocently.
"Fuck off," George grumbled, pulling out his wand to vanish the mess. "'Mione's not big on that sort of thing. 'Sides, she's sixteen. And she's Sirius's daughter. You want me dead that bad?"
Bill leaned back against the counter, fiddling with his leather bracelet.
"I'm gonna propose to Fleur."
The second crash was caused by Fred apparating back into the foyer with a large plastic bag.
"I've got no idea what I got this time!" He announced proudly. "I just picked at random. Think I got the money right though." He stumbled into the workroom and glanced around at the scene in front of him. "What's happened?"
"Professor Umbridge?" Draco knocked on the door to her office, that ostentatious bangle slipping up his arm as he did so. In his other hand, he clenched the parchment that had included his summons.
"Enter,"
Repressing a sigh, he opened to door and stumbled to halt.
Sitting in one of the ornate chairs in front of Umbridge's desk, hands carefully covered with leather gloves was Lucius Malfoy. Draco's father looked well enough, robes immaculate as always, but he seemed thinner and tired.
"Mister Malfoy," Umbridge smiled thinly. "There is someone here to see you."
"Father," Draco felt entirely wrongfooted, his hands felt sweaty and he clenched his toes in his shoes. It was a trick his mother taught him. Stopped your tension showing on your face.
"Draco," He turned to Umbridge and smiled that smile he used when he wanted something. "Surely you'd give me a moment with my son,"
"Of course," She left, letting the door close behind her.
The two stared at each other for a long minute, the silence stretching between them until Draco murmured,
"I'm not your son,"
Lucius sighed heavily.
"Regardless of what the Black's might say you are still my son, Draco. That woman," He spat, clearly willing to show his distaste as long as she wasn't in the room, "Asked me to come so I could attempt to discover the truth behind some ludicrous rumour. I have no intention of doing so." Draco gaped at him, eyes wide. His father sighed.
"You have no idea the pressure I am under at the moment." He rubbed at his temples. "The Blacks, are they treating you well?"
Draco nodded slowly, hardly believing his ears.
"And your studies are going well?"
"Did you really come here to ask about my grades?" He demanded, crossing his arms.
"This is the first time I've been allowed within this castle since my son went missing almost a year ago. Dumbledore has been refusing me at every turn. Your mother…"
"Was scared," Draco hissed furiously. "She was frightened and she did what she felt was best."
Lucius said nothing to that, staring down his son.
"She misses you," Draco added in a furious whisper.
"And I, her."
Aside from the quiet mewing of one of Umbridge's hideous cat plates, there was silence as the two watched each other. Draco looked away first.
"You've been working with the Blacks," Lucius started and Draco felt his stomach sink.
"They've been good to me." He snapped.
"You trust them?" His father demanded, looking incredulous.
"I have had no choice!" Draco snarled, glowering at his father. "Every pureblood in Slytherin decided I was a blood traitor overnight. Miss Black has been protecting me!"
"She's a mudbl…"
"Don't call her that!"
He wished he could cram those words back in his mouth, take them back, turn back time anything to take that look of disgusted surprise off his father's face.
"Draco!"
He turned and fled.
Exams hit without any warning, Harry felt. Sure, the Professors had been going on about it for a while, but they'd been clearly underestimating how much he'd been listening. Even Hermione had been gripped by feverish studying and wasn't sympathetic at all to his complaining.
But to be asked to complete an exam under these conditions was clearly ridiculous.
"What is that?" The invigilator asked, peering off the side of the astronomy tower. Sensing his attention had wandered the fifth years took their eyes away from their parchment (Harry noted with disgust Hermione was already finished) and looked over the parapet.
Umbridge was leading what looked like a team of Aurors towards Hagrid's cottage. But they couldn't be Aurors because Amy wouldn't authorise their use like this. Which meant…
"Control of Magical Creatures," He breathed horrified. Hagrid was outside, his hands raised in surrender, even as he tried to get Fang to stop barking.
They were advancing when a figure ran out of the castle and called out a warning to Hagrid.
"Run, you daft man!" Minerva roared and threw herself in front of the group. Harry remembered his Aunt telling him that a lot of Auror dropouts went to join Magical Creature Control. He could see why as the group started firing stunners and…
It was only Harry's seeker training that saved his sister. She threw herself forwards, forgetting she was at the top of the tallest tower at Hogwarts and almost falling over the edge. He hauled her back as, far below them, Minerva McGonagall took no less than seven stunning spells to the chest.
"MUM!" Hermione screamed, voice lost in the screams and shouts of the other students watching the display.
"It's okay!" Harry breathed in her ear, pulling her up against his chest to stop her from making another attempt. Hermione wasn't listening, distraught and crying as she tried to help. "She's okay. They were just stunning spells. She'll be okay."
She wasn't moving he noticed dimly. Just lying there in the grass as Hagrid fled into the Forbidden Forest, Fang a shadow at his heels. Why wasn't she moving?
"Er," The examiner squeaked. "Twenty minutes left?"
He was definitely going to fail Astronomy.
Harry snuck his sister into the Hospital Wing, both of them hidden under the cloak. The long room was empty of occupants, except for the lone figure of Madam Pomfrey hunched over a large book at the desk, writing with a quill.
"Where is she?" Hermione demanded, running out from out under the cloak, causing Pomfrey to shriek and knock over her inkwell.
"Miss Granger!" She overcame her shock and sighed. "You….How did you? Never mind. Is that Mr Black there with you?"
Harry removed the cloak and gave a small wave. The healer rolled her eyes.
"Where is she?" Hermione asked quietly, looking frantically around the empty beds. Pomfrey sighed heavily.
"Minerva has moved to St Mungos about an hour ago. You should be receiving notice soon, as her next of kin."
"What?" Harry stepped up and caught his sister as she sagged, looking horrified. "But she's going to be okay?"
Pomfrey finished mopping up the ink and sighed. She looked exhausted, Harry realised.
"She's been taken to the Serious Spell Damage Ward. They've" She spoke over Hermione's quiet wail, "Got the best resources to deal with this. A lot of strain was placed on her heart and she needs constant supervision until she wakes up." There was something she wasn't saying, he realised. Not quite a lie but misinformation. "You should get some sleep. You've got exams tomorrow."
Hermione told herself later that if she wasn't so tired, she wouldn't have let it happen. That if History of Magic hadn't been her next exam, one that Minerva had just assumed she would do brilliantly at, she would have been more alert. If she'd stayed with her family after the exam, gone to see why Harry looked so worried instead of wandering off down a quiet corridor so she could just have a moment with herself, then none of it would have happened.
"What's wrong with you?" Susan demanded, looking irritable. Harry was rubbing his scar and scowling.
"Bad dream." He complained. "His Mouldiness keeps telling me Sirius is in the Ministry." He paused and Susan saw the fear he was trying to keep at bay. "But he wouldn't be, would he?"
"C'mon," She began to lead him towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Where're we going?"
"To check on Dad obviously."
Sirius didn't answer his mirror, but Remus did and assured them that he was fine, if a little busy.
"I thought you were practising occlumency?" He murmured.
"I am!" Harry complained hotly, "But it's a little hard when you spent the night comforting your sister, okay?"
Remus nodded sympathetically, unfazed by Harry's temper. He'd been around Black's long enough.
"We heard about Minerva. Sirius checked on her this morning. No change as of yet, but we'll keep you updated. She'll pull through. You lot should get some rest, okay? I've got to go convince your dad to stop working for a bit. He really is okay, I promise." There was an irritated shout from somewhere in the background that was unmistakably Sirius and Remus sighed.
"Thanks, Uncle Remus." Susan murmured, tapping the mirror and setting it back down on Hermione's bed.
Harry rubbed at his scar irritably, annoyed with the wary way his cousin was watching him.
"I'm not about to sprout fangs you know," He complained. "Just because he's in my head…"
"Where's Hermione?" Susan asked suddenly.
They searched the castle, enlisting Luna and Draco's help. They checked the map. Hermione was nowhere to be found. And neither was Umbridge.