Lost Control
Harry had no idea what to do. Her lips were so soft and her breath was warm. He responded much butter than his first kiss. Hermione leaned on him taking control, putting her hand behind his head. Then she suddenly released him.
"Oh I'm sorry Harry." she looked at him, ashamed of her aggression.
"No, it's totally fine. You're a great kisser." Harry said smiling shyly.
"Harry! What about Cho?" she said, looking to him with genuine concern "You can't sneak into another girl's pants when you have a girlfriend."
"That is correct. I currently don't have a girlfriend. Cho and I broke up." Harry said with a soft smile which wavered once he remembered her hostility toward Hermione "Oh she'll explode if she finds out. She was really sensitive about you."
"I told you to tell her you think I'm ugly. That always works." She said exasperatedly.
"Okay that's a stupid lie. You're the most beautiful girl in this tower. Even Cho knew that." said Harry teasingly.
"Harry, I'm…" Hermione.
"Not sorry for kissing me, unless it was so bad that you do."
His smile was back.
"Oh Merlin no! You're great, Harry. You really are. It's just that you're my best friend." She paused. "And I have no real reason for not being with you." She admitted.
"... But?" He asked worriedly.
"I'm afraid people will react badly." Hermione said wisely.
"Oh that's what they always do." Harry caressed her hair "And what we do is this." He leaned forward to kiss hermione gently. She welcomed the kiss and let it last for a quarter of a minute before stopping.
"You're so sweet Harry." she confessed "It's impossible to say no to you."
"I'm so stressed." Hermione as they were having breakfast.
"Hermione, if all of the class fails charms. You don't. Okay? Chill down." Said Padma Patil.
"Yeah, hermione. You shouldn't worry about it. If they deduct any points the only reason would be that you cast your spell nonverbally."
"Neville!" She looked at the boy accusingly.
"I just told Lavender." He squeaked.
"And she told everyone." said Harry depressed by the cloudy morning. "Will I get an 'A' I wonder?"
"Oh you will Harry. You better get more than A." Hermione said with a dangerously low voice.
"Harry, be a good lad and don't make your girlfriend angry, okay?" begged Dean as Ginny patted Harry on the back.
"I wouldn't dare." he shivered suddenly realising something. He looked at Hermione and then at Dean.
"Dean, did you… did you just... say girlfriend?" Asked Ron.
"Oh yeah, Sir Nicolas had a very interesting story to tell this morning." said Dean teasingly.
He and Ginny smirked at Harry.
"He told us that we are now the second cutest couple of Gryffindor." teased Ginny.
"Harry, is that true?" Ron asked slowly.
"Yes, Ron. That's true." Hermione responded instead.
"And I'm not the first to hear it?"
He looked at her with shock.
"You're the first to hear it from ourselves and not from Sir Nicolas." Hermione responded firmly.
"Yeah, okay... congratulations guys." said Ron. The news had been a little bit of a shock. He went back to ravaging his bacon.
"Tomorrow, this time we have our first O.W.L." said Hermione trying to change the subject.
"Actually, this time tomorrow we have breakfast, then we can take our exams." Ron continued as he pointed to something behind her. "Your gang is waiting for you, Head Inquisitor."
Hermione looked back to see Inquisitorial Squad wanting for her next to the Slytherin table.
"I've got to go." She said as she packed her stuff into her bag and joined her fellow Inquisitors.
"We didn't interrupt anything, did we?" asked Pansy Parkinson nervously. She was one of the few who had resisted Hermione's full reign. Now she seemed unnaturally anxious.
"No Pansy you didn't." Hermione assured her.
"Examiners will be here tomorrow. What should we do, Lestrange?" Theodore Nott asked.
"We'll meet them at the gates. Draco and I ought to suffice. You should make sure no one does anything funny as they enter. We want the students to be presentable, don't we?"
They all nodded and scattered.
"Miss Lestrange, may I have a word with you?" she heard Snape behind her.
"Yee, sir." She said as she turned to meet his gaze. She only managed to do so momentarily as he averted his look to Harry. "Mr Potter should come as well."
Sanpe led them the dungeons. He seemed nervous and agitated. He took them to his quarters and warded the door thoroughly.
"Is everything okay, Professor?" asked Harry.
"We cannot risk anyone hear what I'm about to say." He looked at Harry with a grave expression. "The Dark Lord will make his move soon. Do not do anything in haste, Mr Potter. You're far from closing your mind to him. Don't be a fool."
He didn't look at Hermione's eyes but her mouth. "Miss Lestrange, in case Potter shows incompetence and goes after the Dark Lord, promise me that you won't follow him. You are the last person who should go with him, because your mother is Bellatrix and if she's involved, you will be Her primary target."
He walked and kneeled next to side table to pick up a pocket watch. He whispered "Portus" as he aimed his wand at it. "I don't have much time. I must join Dumbledore soon."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"I cannot tell you Potter. Dumbledore hasn't informed me yet. He needs me to do something. I won't be back soon enough for our Headmistress not to suspect, so I won't return as long as she remains." He said as the watch started to glow.
"Occlude, boy!" He Yelled as he vanished into light.
Snape's departure was followed by a lot of questions. Why or when he had left wasn't clear. Professor Sinatra was now in charge of Slytherins.
"It doesn't make sense. Why would Dumbledore leave us all alone and take Snape, too?" Asked Harry.
"Dumbledore took Snape?" Ron asked thickly. He was trying to stay awake despite his overwhelming fatigue.
"Yes, Ron. Snape said it himself." Hermione said skimming through Achievements in Charms.
"Even Snape didn't know what it's about, and now we won't find out because we can't contact them in his quarters anymore." Said Harry in annoyance. "It's heavily sealed."
"We have our mirrors, Harry." Hermione said.
"They don't work. I tried this morning."Harry said.
"Are you sure? Maybe Sirius simply wasn't around to answer your call." Hermione guessed.
"No, something's wrong. It shattered when I tried to use it. Is Umbridge doing anything?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Nothing new. We have a pretty tight security protocol, but it shouldn't work on the mirrors." Hermione said bewildered at the odd reaction of Harry's mirror.
"Okay so if it's not Umbridge then who's responsible?" asked Ron with closed eyes and drowsy voice.
"Maybe that's why Snape left. It might have to do with that." Hermione suggested, but Harry highly doubted that. He knew something was wrong.
"Okay I think I'll settle on Poor for Charms." Ronald finally yielded and went to bed.
"He's not gonna get 'P' for Charms, is he?" she asked Harry who raised his shoulders in response.
The next the fifth year students were busy with their exam. There were no talks about Harry and Hermione, just innocent academic questions and demands to clarify something right before the dreaded exam. Hermione and Draco accompanied the examiners to the Great Hall, who insatiably kept asking and talking about Dumbledore to point that Umbridge wanted to bang their heads to the table. Finally the exam began. It was quite easy to Hermione's delight and Harry's surprise. Some others like Ronald would complain how hard it had been for him.
After dinner they went for practical exam. Hermione was called with Neville as they were the he only ones whose last names start with L. Harry and Ron wished them luck.
"Hermione I'm really sorry for what happened the other night." he told her apologetically. "Will you forgive me?"
"Oh Neville. You did nothing wrong. I know it's hard. I'm not angry or disappointed with you. It's been very difficult for me, too." she said honestly and smiled at him.
"Thanks." said Neville, reflecting her smile.
"Ah hurry up you two. Professor Tofty will see you now." Professor Flitwick said as he guided them to Tofty's office. Neville went in first and came back looking extremely nervous. Flitwick asked him to leave immediately, so he left Hermione alone. Upon entrance she was faced with the analysing eyes of Professor Tofty. The old professor gazed at her, trying to evaluate her.
"I'm Hermione Gran... pardon me, Lestrange." Hermione corrected herself nervously.
"We've already met Miss Lestrange. Did you encounter any issues while you were alone with Mr Longbottom?" He asked calmly.
"Oh dear, no. He's a sweet boy." She said trying her best to smile.
"Please make this plate fly, Miss Lestrange." He demanded and she obliged.
He looked at her performance carefully.
"I'm surprised that you did that nonverbally." he said as he wrote something down.
"Bluebell fire please." she asked next. Hermione did that nonverbally as well. The flames danced beautifully on the desk taking the shape of little animals. The colours changed and create a spectacular work of art.
The old man looked at fire and sighed. "Fire affinity of course. Very befitting. I bet if you cast Fiendfyre her Dumbledore himself wouldn't be able to stop it." She looked at her sternly. "Not that I'm suggesting that you should."
"I'm sorry sir but I don't even know the incantation." she said in her defense.
"Don't worry you'll learn soon enough." he said as if they were talking about a very harmless spell. "There were some great wizards who could tame the Fiendfyre to be as harmless as this Bluebell spell here. Deadly to their foes and safe to their friends."
Hermione gulped. He was looking at her with curiosity. "Can you do another spell of your choice silently?"
Hermione cast Accio on a pillow nearby. It flew right into her grip.
"Miss Lestrange." he called her softly "You're a remarkable witch, I hope you're not offended but I wish you truly were a Granger. That would have been much more exciting."
"I've got the same wish but unfortunately, I can't escape this name." Hermione responded.
"Reality might be fixed but our interpretations of it are various. Perhaps you should choose a different interpretation." he smiled kindly "We're done. You may leave, dear."
Hermione soon found Daphne Greengrass brooding on a chair next to a very unhappy Neville Longbottom.
"May I ask why are you two so sad and depressed?" Hermione asked gently.
"I screwed up." Daphne said "I somehow managed to burst the frog in Tofty's face. He wasn't happy."
"I set his desk on fire. That couldn't have been any better." Neville sighed.
"I'm sure you'll both pass." Hermione reassured them. "He didn't seem angry at all."
Daphne looked at her uncomfortably. A moment their eyes met and Hermione knew. She was thinking that she had influenced Tofty like Umbridge. A voice in her mind yelled at Daphne's insolence. How dare she think that.
"Um I should go study for tomorrow." Daphne excused herself feeling Hermione's wrath.
"I think you scared her off, Hermione." Neville said calmly. "I take it that you performed perfectly."
"I hope I did." she admitted proudly.
"You know, I used to use you as an excuse. I would say that my heritage had nothing to do with my magic and you were the prime example. You were the most talented and powerful witch of your age and yet you were a muggle-born. The very first day I met you I knew you would be competent unlike me. You proved to everyone that blood didn't matter and even a muggle-born could be the best." He explained.
"Oh Neville." she sat next to him caressing his hair. "My blood statue is still irrelevant to my capabilities."
"You're not completely wrong, also not completely right." He said calmly. "When it turned out that you were a Lestrange, people freaked out, but at the same time they calmed down. You weren't just some muggle-born girl who was extremely powerful. You were a pureblood now and that made sense to them. It's shameful to do worse than a muggle-born, but there is no shame in doing worse than the Lestrange hair, whose parents were called the legendary duo. Did you know that Bellatrix Lesrange dueled my mom and dad single handedly?" He was shaking and Hermione wanted to stop him. His words were too painful for her.
"They really had no chance. She was You-Know-Who's right hand. She was the only Death Eater capable of holding her ground against Dumbledore. I mean what did they expect?" He cried silently. "You have a heart of gold Hermione, yet you have their blood in you. That makes your magic their magic. You see? we didn't even have a chance to outshine you, just like my parents had zero chance of survival against your mom."
"She's not my mom. My mom is Helen Granger. She's been more of a mother than Bellatrix Lestrange has ever been." Hermione said cooly. "I don't think she'll see me as her daughter, too."
"Yeah, I don't think she will. You have joined the Blood Traitors' club." he said with a welcoming voice.
"Oh I'm honored to be a member." she said as they both giggled.
There was no time to rest as they proceeded to Transfiguration the very next day and then Herbology the day after. Hermione showed such great competency at Transfiguration that made professor Marchbanks give her a funny look. Then came the Ancient Runes where she probably made a couple of mistakes. Harry had assured her that her mistakes were probably minimal and she wasn't in danger of falling. He himself was quite distressed. He was reviewing potions so madly that it made Hermione the bookworm worried for him.
"Harry, I'm pretty sure that book is suitable for N.E.W.T.s." She said concerned for his well-being.
"Oh no, not really. It covers all of the potions we've already worked on and I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything."
He had terrified Ron with that.
"I wonder if something bit him at Herbology?" He said as Harry went to sleep.
On Monday, Harry's extra studies proved to be useful since he had the best practical potion after their exam was finished.
The day after Potions, something odd happened. Umbridge called Hermione to her office to inform her that a group of elite aurors were joining them that evening.
"We have news my dear. Dumbledore is planning to take back Hogwarts and use it as his stronghold against the ministry. Fortunately, we got the wind of it before he can make his move. They won't come here publicly as we intend to bust that criminal. We will have him indicted by Friday and off to Azkaban he goes." she said, pouring Hermione more tea.
"Are you sure he won't attack the ministry in the meantime?" Hermione asked.
"Oh no dear. He cannot maintain his power over ministry. He will be overturned by morning if he does so. However, he could take over Hogwarts and keep it closed indefinitely." Umbridge explained.
Convincing her to believe otherwise would be too risky. It could further damage her brain and also raise suspicion. Hermione had to hope that they were keeping the ministry safe, too.
On the day that they were having their last exam she found her hope had been so baseless. Harry had seen Voldemort in the department of mysteries forcing Sirius to talk.
"We need to talk to Hagrid." Harry said. "He's the only one who can probably contact the Order."
He said but then he changed his mind. "We don't have that much time. You guys go to Hagrid. I'll sneak into Umbridge's office. Her chimney is the only unmonitored chimney in Hogwarts. She's out with the aurors so the risk is at the minimum."
He ran off to her office as Hermione and Ron went to find Hagrid. Unfortunately, they were late. Umbridge and her aurors were chasing Hagrid and Professor McGonagall out. Hermione and Ron waited as they all followed him to the forbidden forest and then ran back to school.
When they returned to Hogwarts they found Harry had been caught by the Inquisitorial Squad.
Hermione looked into his eyes. Harry projected his thoughts. "Kreacher said that he was out. He said he had been late.I didn't get to talk to someone else. Greengrass found me and the Inquisitorial Squad came after me."
Hermione faced Draco who was standing nearby.
"Where did you get him?" Hermione asked loudly.
"Greengrass spotted him as he was leaving the room. Montague knows by the way." Draco said, warning her that she couldn't let Harry go.
"Why are these guys here?" Hermione asked pointing at Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville. Who were caught by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Oh these guys tried saved him. They trapped Daphne in a cupboard, Hermione." he said angrily.
"Is she alright?" Hermione asked immediately.
"Yes, she is. Don't worry."
"I sent a Patronus to Lucinda but I don't know if she'll get it in time. Just keep your cool." Hermione mentally told Harry.
"We should be going to the Department of Mysteries." Was Harry's response. It was a blessing to be able to talk to her without others hearing. Hermione was looking into his mind and she knew he would go just as Snape had predicted. Moreover, she would go with Harry despite potion master's warnings.
"Draco you have to..." Hermione began but to her surprise she saw Umbridge coming to them.
"Uh Hermione. It's a blessing that you are here. I felt an intrusion to my office.
"Yes Headmistress. Daphne caught Harry Potter as he was about to exit your office. I haven't had the time to interrogate them."
"Ah, that's not a problem, dear." Umbridge said sweetly. "Let's take them to my office."
Harry tried to think fast. Hermione surely had a plan. He had to pretend she wasn't on his side.
"You betrayed us, Hermione." he said venomously.
"What did you expect, Harry?" she smirked at him.
This was going well as Umbridge smiled at Hermione happily.
"I knew I could trust you, dear."
Hermione's heart broke at Neville and Ginny's depressed and unbelieving eyes.
The squad took everyone involved into the office.
"Mr. Potter, I think we don't need to waste precious coffee on you. You can have veritaserum directly."
She opened a drawer and took out a small flask. To Harry's horror, she opened it and Draco forced Harry to open his mouth. Hermione focused her will on the flusk and waved her wand under her robes.
"Uh it's empty. That fiend Snape is gone as well." Umbridge shrilled. "Can't you make some, Hermione?"
"Unfortunately, we don't have time for that, Headmistress. It takes a month to make Veritaserum." Hermione said annoyedly.
"It's alright we can use other methods. After all this is more than a school matter. The security of Ministry is at risk…. Yes we have to do it…" Umbridge seemed almost lost in her thoughts. Had Hermione's manipulations damaged her brain beyond repair?
Umbridge looked at Harry oddly with a lost look in her eyes.
"Well, I suppose we have no other choice." Her voice was rasping. "You are forcing me into this Potter. "The current circumstances justifies it. The Minister will surely understand." Her face got hard. "The Cruciatus Curse will surely loosen your tongue. You shall tell us why you broke into my office."
"Headmistress, surely you do not wish to break the law. Especially, a law regarding unfortunates." Hermione said calmly.
Umbridge was too much in her trance to hear Hermione. Malfoy gave Hermione a concerned look. He too had realised that Hermione had lost control over her puppet. If Hermione tried to stiffen the robes any more, she could break Umbridge.
"The Minister wouldn't like it, Ma'am." Hermione warned. She could feel desperation taking over her mind as Umbridge simply said: "What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him, dear." Umbridge said. Her breathing took a quicker pace as she aimed her wand at Harry's different parts in turn, trying to settle on one. "He never found out that I ordered dementors to go after Potter last summer. He was glad to have the chance to expel him after all."
"Well, why am I not surprised?" Harry asked sarcastically. "What did you want to achieve dear Madam Umbridge?"
"We had to do something. They were all whining about you but no one really wanted to act. I was the one who finally brought her thoughts into reality. Alas, you got away, you slippery snake. But you are stuck here now. Nowhere to run…"
She took a deep breath.
Hermione gave in to desperation. She had to break Umbridge but before she could go for it she realised that she was no longer in control.
"Let me handle it." said a dark voice in her mind. She felt as if she was flying. Her mind connect to most weak willed person in the room. Someone vulnerable to mental manipulation. Hermione with all her might tried to stop her alter ego, but it was already happening. Umbridge eventually choose Harry's head.
"Cru-"
"No- Harry - We'll have to tell her." yelled Ginny Weasley to everyone's surprise.
A/N: Poor Ginny! I hope things go well.
Thank you all for reading, posting reviews and following this fan fiction.
