Grimmauld place was mobbed. The portrait was screeching but everyone was too busy tending to the injured to shut her up, there were wounded on hurriedly conjured beds in every room. Those with less severe injuries were sitting on the floor or leaning against walls. Kreacher, trailed by an army of evacuated Hogwarts elves, scurried between beds with bowls of broth, hot water and bandages. From the kitchen, plumes of purple, yellow and the occasional flash of light signalled the creation of numerous healing potions.
The first person to notice her pointed them in the direction of the Library – one of the few rooms that hadn't yet been cleaned out yet. Hermione gestured to the wizard behind her and they hurried up the stairs, stopping briefly for Grindelwald to cast a heating charm on the screaming Black matriarch. He smeared his fingers over the softened oil paint, effectively sealing the woman's mouth shut. Hermione wondered why she'd never thought of it before.
It was hardly quieter in the Library, although there were no wounded. Kingsley was there, as well as Harry, Professor McGonagall, Mr. Weasley and Lupin.
The arguing ceased as soon as Hermione cleared her throat and the room suddenly became very still as the two newcomers took a seat. Mr. Weasley peered around them as if he was hoping someone else would step through the doorway. She noticed that McGonagall had a hand on her wand and less than subtly placed hers on the table out of reach. Grindelwald tossed his in the fire, which would have been laughable if the situation hadn't been so serious.
'Where's Ron?' She blurted out, horror pooling in her stomach.
'He hasn't gotten back yet.' Harry informed her solemnly, 'we hoped he would be with you.' Mr. Weasley made a strangled choking sound and left the room in a flurry of robes, Lupin quickly chased after the distraught man.
'Who else?' She asked hollowly, dreading the answer but at the same time desperate to hear it.
'Bill and Lavender were bitten by Greyback but it wasn't a full moon so they'll hopefully both recover. Both Creevey brothers are missing, as well as Cho Chang and Percy. Fred isn't dead but he got hit over the head pretty hard.' It was a long list, especially as she knew that Harry had only listed those she knew.
'Gellert Grindelwald? How could you be so foolish Miss. Granger?' McGonagall almost hissed, finally seeming unable to hold back much longer. The previously uninterested Dark Wizard looked up from the fireplace.
'We need his knowledge to defeat Voldemort, Professor.' Hermione answered.
'Professor Dumbledore left us with a mission before he died, we think Grindelwald will be able to help us finish it.' Harry came to her rescue, he might not yet understand Hermione's reasoning but she'd never led them wrong before. Grindelwald himself stared between them, seemingly confused. Hermione hadn't had time to explain more than the battle at Hogwarts to him yet.
'He saved us all in Hogwarts, Professor, we never would have gotten away without him.' Hermione added.
'I am wand bound to Miss. Granger, Madam McGonagall. I can do nothing she does not approve of, I am sure I will be returned to my cell as soon as I have avenged my brother's murder.'
'Your brother?' McGonagall echoed.
'Albus was my blood brother, until he broke the oath to duel me.' Surprisingly, Grindelwald did not seem angry at this. Maybe it was the firelight casting strange shadows in the dark room, or the way his dirty hair and tattered clothing contrasted so sharply with his surroundings, but he looked to Hermione to be older, more worn than he had in his cell in Nurmengard. Either way, McGonagall must have seen that he was not a threat to them because she swept out of the room with little more than a suspicious look. Kingsley gave them one long measured glance, which clearly communicated that the two students were responsible if their rescued ally caused problems later on, before he to left the room.
'I can't stay here; it puts everyone else in danger.' Were Harry's first words as soon as the order had left the room. It seemed as though they would be continuing to operate as a separate unit.
'We need to find Ron.' Hermione countered.
'If he's not dead already, he will be hiding in Hogwarts. It will be days before the death eaters clear out and we can go and find him. I can't put the order at risk by staying here that long.'
'Let's stay the night at least. They need every wand to treat the wounded and Voldemort won't be able to mount an attack that fast. He lost at least as many as we did today, if not more. I could do with a warm bed tonight and I'm sure Grindelwald could use a shower and some new clothes.'
'I need a wand. That one was Scheisse.' The wizard added in agreement.
'Fine, we'll stay tonight and help but tomorrow we go.' Harry relented. He left quickly after that and she heard him being begged into the kitchen to help brew blood replenishing potions by Slughorn. Hermione followed after a short pause, glancing wistfully at the soft chairs in front of the fire.
She headed downstairs and into the first room of injured that she saw. The parlour seemed to be very quiet, moans punctuating the room rather than the wailing and screaming from the drawing room. Tonks was crouched over a cot at the far end, muttering a complex counter curse and Hermione didn't disturb her, instead focusing on a nasty flesh eating curse that covered the upper body of a nearby Ravenclaw girl.
'Ustis Carnem - A powerful healing charm for flesh wounds, not much good for bones though. ' Grindelwald spoke behind her and she jumped, she hadn't realised that he'd followed her from the library. Hermione nodded and lifted her wand but stopped when his hand caught her wrist. 'Scourgify first, or you'll trap the curse under the new flesh.' Again Hermione nodded and did as directed, the wound was healed in minutes.
This time they did make a good team, his knowledge seemed almost encyclopaedic but his magic was exhausted, possibly the only sign of his true age. Hermione meanwhile was inexperienced but had done considerably less casting that day.
Some took longer than others of course; they spent over half an hour on what ended up being a combination of a jelly-legs curse and a knee-reversal hex. Others that Hermione knew always foxed the order – the entrails expelling charm for example; Molly always had to make an incision to put the entrails back in. Grindelwald knew the counter curse of the top of his head. She knew she'd learned more in the last couple of hours than in her last year of Hogwarts.
Tonks realised they were there once she finished her first patient and quickly made use of the Dark Wizard. Between them, they had the entire room peacefully slumbering before they even needed to light the lamps.