Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.

Chapter 80

The knights of the Undead had apparated the handful of wizards right in front of the shattered entrance of the Circle. Both Finnigan and Flitwick had rushed to the prone bodies of Healer Fed Mason and intern Liza Hornbill. Snape had just looked over his shoulder before leading the rest into the enclosure.

Filius assured the Headmaster," Suffered Stupify Dou and body binding curse, not obliviated," and Finnigan held on to Liza's hand, looking angry and determined all at the same time, informed, "They can tell us what happened here, Sir. I will go and find Healer Norman, right away." Nodding quicking at his superior, the man took off.

Shacklebolt yelled at him," Once you figure out how to stop these blaring sirens, and get Norman out of her Chamber, come back right here with back up."

"Got it Sir," he replied before turning into the nearest corridor.

Snape, followed by Malfoy and Lupin and right behind them Harry along with Shacklebolt had entered the grim enclosure, wands pointed ahead of them prepared for any kind of altercation.

But Arwyn, the knight of the Undead greeted them with a grin," We nearly missed the show. This beetle had somehow wriggled her way in. But my mates were ready and so was Missy."

Peering between their misty forms, Snape noticed Skeeter kneeling on the ground, and right across the circle of those long ghosts, he spotted Hermione shuddering right next to the shattered glass barrier. Black curling smoke whirled around her haunted eyes, her hair was still crackling with excess energy. She was looking right at Skeeter, heaving and swaying on her weak feet.

He failed to say something, right when it was most needed for him to let her know he was right there. Perhaps it was Harry or Draco, he wasn't sure which one of them had called out to her. But when her head snapped up, he was sure she had seen him. The witch barreled across the room and leaped right into his waiting arms. Curling one arm around his neck, pulling him down with her, she also managed to tackle Draco into a sideways hug.

Snape had squeezed his arms around her thin waist and mumbling next to her ears, "I got you, I got you, Hermione. We got you, just hang in there…"

He thought she was shivering in his arms, but then the witch crackled like a madwoman, throwing her head back, she laughed and then hugged the two Slytherins in a vice grip. Harry had stumbled back, colliding right into Lupin, when he watched his best friend roll her head, and greet him in a strangely familiar female voice. "Hello, Harry Potter."

Turning sideways, Hermione kissed Draco's sweating cheek soundly and crooned into his ears," Oh! You watched me torture her, didn't you nephew? Could have told me, you loved her…"

Snape had tried to free himself, while Malfoy remained rooted to his spot frightened to his core, but the possessed witch was having none of it, she hissed right into the Headmaster's ears," Traitor, what were you thinking, you could get away from me? I had my extra pair of eyes watching each and every step you took to bring down the Our Master."

Hermione threw her head back and crackled again. The dark smoke with its whirling tendrils rose high above. None of the other wizards could think of any other way to exact the two men from her grasp.

Lupin watched the woman roll her head once again and speak up, this time in a raspy male voice," Sorry, Draco, you could have said, you fancied the Mudblood all this while, would have killed her straight and painlessly. Trust me, mate, she is too stubborn to die. And Sir, didn't know you knocked Potter's mum and got a bastard of your own. I think we are even that way, Graner and I."

Snape could feel the rogue magic crashing against the other magical entities present in the room. Closing his eyes, he took a chance and slipped into Hermione's mind. He saw him then. Holding on to Granger, digging that knife right into her turned back, he had her pinned to the spot, in front of him. Right onto her shoulder, he had his chin propped dark hair, smokey eyes, deadly bluish pale shrunken cheek.

Snape cautiously stepped sideways and peered over the small's witch's shoulder. He couldn't see much, the place was dark and damp. He could hear the ocean, he could smell the moss. A glint caught his attention. Moving closer to the two, he tried to see. There, right behind Granger, the tall and thin man wasn't really moving from his place either. He was stationary. And he had a sword running right through him. The head of the griffin etched over the pommel and grip was unmistakable.

The man grinned and rubbed his chin over Granger's shoulder and coughed. Black, rancid substance oozed out of his mouth and covered the witch's body. He grinned at Snape and whispered gleefully," Finally, I made my mother proud, Sir. Just like Granger is not really a Granger, nor am I just a Nott!"

Hermione had screamed at him, forcing Snape to back off a little. He could hear her speak in his mind. Her voice sounded much like herself though a little tried, "Think of home, Home, get the others out of the Circle. Think of home, and Knights will do the rest. Please, Please Father, think of Home!"

Snape thought back quickly, "Did you kill Tracy, Abdel, or Skeeter?"

Instead of hearing the witch talk back to him, he saw the man behind her chortle," Surprised aren't you, never expected, I could do something equally bad, or are you still going to run in circles around that Malfoy Princling?"

He could have asked some more questions, could have come up with a plan to get that monster to release his hold on his daughter, but Hermione had somehow pushed him out of her mind.

Thoroughly drained the witch fainted still holding on to both Snape and Draco. The father could hear his godson frantically trying to wake her. He could feel Harry dashed up to them from behind and grabbing hold of Hermione's face, patting her cheek, trying to make her open her eyes. He could feel the magical fields building up around them nearly to the point of overload.

Grabbing hold of the witch, he twisted his body and grabbed on to both Draco and Harry. He could now see, the ten Knights of the Undead were hovering in a tight circle around them. After looking at Shacklebolt pointedly, he nodded at Lupin and Flitwick. Both men had leaped right into the ghostly circle. The last thing Snape saw was Shacklebolt dragging the unconscious bodies of two intern healers and Rita Skeeter out of the Circle, before addressing Arwyn, the Head of Ghostly apparitions, "You have heard her already, now take us home."

Seamus managed to get Norman out once he felt the rippling waves of magic pass through every spec of element around him. One minute, he was struggling to open the door, kicking at it mercilessly and the very next moment, he had stumbled through the open doorway, taking down the old Healer along with him.

They both had not wasted any time in apologizing to each other. Instead, Goldrang had arrived in time, with Aurors and a few of the security personnel employed by the hospital. Together, they rushed back to the corridor where the Circle is situated.

Shacklebolt had just managed to drag both the healers as well as Rita's unconscious bodies out of the enclosure, merely seconds before the whole place exploded. Miraculously strange forces had managed to contain events within the enclosure. While the arriving team of Healers led by Norman was busy shifting the unconscious victims, Shacklebolt had drawn Seamus aside. The head Auror had slipped a small pouch into the surprised man's hands and mumbling to him," They went home. And Rita Skeeter was wearing this around her neck."

Seamus opened his fist slightly. Looking into the pouch, he gulped," Home you say, Sir. Very well. But we might as well, follow them. Because even Blaise will tell you, when it comes to Dark artifacts, like this pretty pendant, Snape is one to ask help from."

Nodding curtly at Finnigan, Shacklebolt busied himself into addressing the disaster he was meant to cover up as fast as possible. He could still hear Snape's parting words, the man had managed to convey by slipping into his mind, "Tell Amelia to cook the story around Rita. That woman is truly dying, something dark and malicious has eaten away her magical resources. Extract as much confession as you can from her. I think she will own up with just a few drops of Veritaserum. And contact the goblins. It is time we meet once again. This time all three of the parties, together, under one roof. I will send a word, once we are safe."

Well, The first part is over. This fic was a savior for me. In fact, readers, you had turned it into a lifesaver. Special thanks to Lucyole, roon0, Shawnjoell, AuntCori, starsoversaturn and tlc125! You guys, simply made the journey enjoyable. Sorry to have bothered you with endless grammar errors. Without betas and vanishing intended betas, writing had turned into a tough hobby. So thank you for showing faith in me. Well, it goes without saying the story is dedicated to all of you! :)