4. Freedom in Death
Mist wafting over the rough Nordic sea. The muggle ferries wouldn't dare cross the Minch today. And very few magical Ferries either. However her craft braved the the storm wrought sea steadily. A small sense of pride nickeled in the back of her mind as Hermione contemplated the shear power of the enchantments she had woven around her craft herself. Not even the three sisters would be able to sink the „Vendetta" now.
Finally the day was here she would get her brother back and than Good bye Britain, Good bye wizards war. Let Voldemort scorch the British Isles she had nothing to live for here anymore anyway. A bitter laugh escaped her when remembering her excitement when she first got that fateful letter telling her she was a witch. Blessed childhood. It had hurt taking her leave from her parents and the one true friend she had at that time.
She had been so exited seeing Diagon Alley for the first time...Hogwarts ... friendship that would last forever or so she thought. A rueful laugh escaped her as she stood in the bow of the small ship heading steadily straight for Azkaban. Now eight years after entering the magical world the sugar coated veil hang in tatters before her eyes. Something had died the day when her parents died at the hands of Death Eaters while Fudge still had denied the return of Voldemort and the existence of any remaining followers. She had lost her believe in the grandfatherly figure of Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts shortly afterwards when he, Harry' s mentor actually proclaimed Harry guilty of murdering his remaining relatives. She had lost the believe in her onetime boyfriend Ronald Weasley when he proclaimed that he had always known that his best friend was treading a fine line between the dark and light and had finally crossed that thin line into eternal darkness. She had lost her believe in the wizarding world when these sheep bawled for their one time Saviour's head without the barest whisper of a clue to Harry's guilt.When arguing her case to those she trusted most, they wouldn't help. She decided to cut all ties permanently and in a way that ensured that she would never be detected by said magical world. Only those enclosed in the charm were able to see her now. A very short list. Two in fact. Her brother in mind and someone very unlikely. Someone who used to hate the very idea of Harry Potter. Their co-conspirator and tentative companion.
Her mind slipped back two years; when she had denounced the wizarding world for good while they shipped of her best friend and brother in mind to Azkaban. Her wandering through the streets of London and the confusion when waking up in the house of her best friend.
Awareness came to me slowly as I swam in this big comfy sea of light my thoughts moved sluggishly in my head, lingering a little moment longer in that state between sleep and fully awake. I felt ...content. For the first time in what seemed like eternity. I was completely aware of the fact that I only needed to open my eyes to pass the threshold to full awareness. I felt movement somewhere close by and a whispered yet heated argument. A door closed and sharp steps removed them self from the room. A cool yet gentle hand came to rest on my forehand drawing me back to consciousness. As I opened my eyes I ended up staring into a pair of peculiar golden eyes. „Hush, Hermione. Don't fret you will understand soon" the owner of those eyes said gently like she was trying to calm a frightened child ...or someone who had lost the memory of who she was. A glass of what was supposedly water was pressed against my parched lips. I tried to speak but a firm yet not unfriendly „Drink!" turned my mind to the very important task of drinking my fill. To late I notice the uncanny taste of ...something sharp running down my throat. I screamed as a burning sensation ran down my throat into my stomach were it spread through my whole body. I started fighting against arms that were trying to keep me down. „Hermione , calm down you are hurting yourself. All will be well." That traitorous cow crooned. ...Yeah as if, I thought unfavorably as I started to drown in darkness once more.
The next time I woke was different as anger suffused my blood. „Emily Kathrine Woodwork " I screamed, „What the hell were you thinking..." Oh yes I wasn't thinking to favorably about my best friend besides Harry Potter at the moment. That cow forcing a potion down my throat without a by your leaf, the utter gall. I deftly dismissed the minor fact that this actually had been part of a plan she and myself had cooked up with the help of non other than my sour potions professor Severus Snape ...the only other person who believed in Harry's innocence. Bright musical laughter wafted through the room as Emily walked into my room and proceeded to throw open the curtains with alacrity. Harsh morning light fell upon my face as the window is flung open as well. Street noises filtered up from somewhere outside honking cars and chatting passerbys. I glared mutinously at my friend as she plopped down besides Crookshanks on the bed. Which was the only seat available in the sparsely furnished bedroom. Oh yes I remember everything again. Harry's supposed crime which I know he couldn't have done. Being much to gentle a soul for a deed as amoral as this. Besides he had opportunities en masse before that and much less incriminating ones if he had really planned on offing his only living family. On top of it all it had been the second to last summer he needed to stay there anyway. It really didn't make sense. They didn't listen, the headmaster fell for the aurors codswalop hook line and sinker and everybody else followed hard and fast. If I didn't know any better I would say everybody has been put under a mind controlling spell or potion. Sadly I know better I checked them, especially Dumbles. Until the very last I had hoped that someone would cry out „jinx" but no one ever did. On top of that there was Emily. I don't know how it happened but one day before fourth year had started I introduced Harry to my best friend since the nursery even though she is two years my senior. By the end of our fifth those two were a couple. It seemed as if they had always stayed in contact. They were very secretive. Not even Snape found out in his Occlumency lessons with Harry. Which I had found odd at the time but now I know. It had been a spell Harry had cast upon himself to protect his muggle girlfriend. When I passed on the news of Harry's arrest Emily went ballistic. After calming her down I proposed a plan, a foolish plan with slim to no chance of succeding but beggars can't be choosers. A plan which would free me from any scrutiny I might receive from Dumbles and his bandwagon of sheep or should I rather say chicks. „Hello again, Hermione. How are you feeling," Cat broke my trail of morbid thoughts. „Your memory is recovered, I hope? No side effect's, no blanks?" she asked a little anxiously her voice to bright to cheerful almost brittle as if being on the brink of tears as I knew she probably was. Looking a little closer I notice big dark rings circling her eyes.
She hadn't been particularly happy about my cooked up plan to begin with. „Do you have anything to drink?" I rasp hoarsely ignoring her question for a few seconds longer as a glass of water is handed to me and I greedily swallow the liquid. Has my memory returned in full? „I think so.", I volunteer eventually. „I feel like I've been run over by a dra...truck." Cat's eyes narrowed dangerously. „If I were not as concerned as I am I would say you deserved every bit of that headache you are sporting right now." My eyes grew wide in surprise. How did she know. „And don't tell me your fine when I can clearly fee...see when you are anything but." Perplexed I open my mouth to retort. However, the desperate expression of her amber eyes stopped me. The moment she had found out about the wizarding world she had lost her boyfriend to an unjust system of blundering idiots. To think I wanted once to be part of that society made me shudder in disgust. No more of that. I have irrevocably renounced the wizarding world. I will never be a part of that world again. The last spell I had cast with my old wand made sure of that. It didn't strip me of my magic like these idiots thought I had done, no, nothing that dramatic. It simply made me completely invisible to the wizarding world unfortunately it made me temporarily helpless although while robbing me of my memory. The last missive to Harry acted like the Fidelius Charm keying Harry in to my secret without having to tell him. I only hoped that Harry was able to read it."No, you are right." I finally choked out „ I lost my best friend on top off my parents death. And the one I loved shredded my heart by betraying our best friend. But there is no time for self pity. We have to plan of how to get Harry out of that hellhole." A slow smile began to spread around Kat's mouth. wizarding world beware. You won't know what hit you when we have finished with you. „Got a plan already, have you? Come on mistress of the library lets hear it. maybe I the mistress of intuition and strategy should show you how its done." Smirking I turned my head to my best friend as we started plotting.
Two years later a boat softly landed on the dreary coast of Azkaban. Wind blew over the bare rocks as it carried smell clean salty sea infested with the stench of despair. It almost seemed as if the breeze carried the screams of Azkabans prisoners with it. She shook her head as if to chase these ridiculous thoughts away. However, she didn't quiet manage to shake her unease completely as she drew her black cloak closer around her body and gingerly stepped onto the shore. Cold water splashed in to her boots, which might have been impervious from below, but water splashing up to her knees still get her socks wet with icy! water. Suppressing a shriek and a curse she stiffly walked onward, venturing to what passed as the cemetery of Azkaban. Quickly she made her way to the freshly made grave. A roughly hewn headstone said Harry Potter one time Saviour now a traitor hot anger shot through her veins as she started to dig. She didn't use magic but a good old muggle shovel lest she upset any wards detecting the use of magic which might have been placed here. Hermione might have been invisible to the wizarding world in general however her target was not. A soft thud announced she was almost done. Now she only had to break open the coffin, done...now she only had to seal the grave behind her again. As she hurried back to her boat she silently saluted those lazy nitwits of Azkaban guards that had placed those convenient featherlight charm on her burden which had not worn of yet. Which made it rather easy to get her burden into the boat without using magic and no one the wiser. Gently she put Harry in the bow wrapping him in blankets though Harry wouldn't be feeling much for some time to come. Quickly the dreary Isle fell behind her as the „Vendetta" proudly parted the waves. Tomorrow the wizarding world will find out that their fallen hero had died, buried. Which probably wouldn't cause them to big a headache at the moment. But soon those fools will clamor for someone to save them. Whispers of the dark lord being alive slowly begun to get louder. Soon Dumbles would have to make his move.
After Cerberus had forced the core destroying potion down my throat it took me some time to recover. It took me even longer before I noticed that somewhere along the line Cerberus had made a mistake. For quite some time I lay despondently in my dreary cell without noticing its passing. Grubbs or Shrubs sporadically bringing something which passes as food here and with luck some water which I consumed mechanically. When staring to long at the wall I slowly became aware of pulsing lines which seemed to merge into some kind of a net with several odd swellings, like knots. A very big one surrounding the keyhole of the cell door.
Sometimes I see these lines surrounding my gaolers too especially when about to cast a spell. They seem to me like an angry red mostly as the curses rush towards its intended target. One of these times when Grubbs send one of his cruciatus curses my way I really realized what I saw. Magic. Angry red and black lines of magic seeking out my nervous system, setting it aflame. In desperation I hoped for it to stop. Suddenly, I still saw the curse ripping through me however I didn't feel anything anymore. Grubbs held the curse a little longer before with a satisfied grunt he turned around and with a last parting kick he left me alone for the time being. Exhausted and confused I than fell asleep. Over time I realized that I could redirect magical energy in small quantities. I also realized that magic wasn't only in the walls of the prison which were positively aglow with them. A cold glow nonetheless which seemed to absorb every bit of warmth in the cell. Small glowing particles of magic hung in the air before they were drawn towards the wards; after all they were magic and the wards attracted magic, leeching it. Sometimes I tried to collect these small glowing specks myself forming it into a ball of some kind or whatever my mind came up with. Mostly the faces of Emily and Hermione. There were times when it showed me Emily holding a small baby girl in her arms laughing as she blew a raspberry at her. Than she would turn her head as if she actually could see me and tears would fill her eyes. Come back these eyes said. Come back to us. We miss you. But I couldn't. One of these times rage fills me and I start attacking the Knots of the ward. Somewhere in the bowls of the castle a magical siren is howling. Alarming the guards. Madly I try to destroy the wards however they would not budge...there a knot unravels. Now another ... and another... and here they come. Spells fly as I try to absorb them, change them. However soon Grubbs and Shrubs are ringing me to the ground. Not much ringing involved on my part here actually. Suddenly a vial is pressed between my lips, a whispered spell made me swallow the content. Agony pure and simple. As I wake up I'm in a big white room similar to Hogwarts hospital wing. The strands of magic here are calming to my mind the specks of magical „fyreflies" not solely drawn to the walls. Rather dancing like a swarm of mosquito's in summer. There was also that bothersome buzzing noise associated with angry bees. However, what concerned me most was Cerberus. That permanent smirk didn't quite bode well for me. It didn't quite help that Master Sinister was standing behind him a vial of some violet potion in hand. „Now, now what ever did you try to do? Bringing the wards down ?" he spat spittle flying left and right. Where is an umbrella when you need one ? „So, you are one of those pesky little wielders now. Who would have thought that Harry Potter would have the ability to become one?" He agitatedly walked up and down. Making no sense whatsoever. „However it will be of no use to you." he prattled on „ Because Harry Potter will cease to exist tonight." A cold shiver runs down my spine. That's it. Cerberus has had enough with his little toy. I struggle against my bonds as I try to call the fireflies to me in which I'm only partly successful as Cerberus and his ilk are distracted Sinister hand reaches out with one hand holding my head while his other hand forces a potion down my throat for the second time in the space of a few hours. It grows cold ...so cold ...Can't breath...
I woke up with a start in a comfy bed motes of magic playing in the air undisturbed by any kind of wards. Something doesn't fit how did I get here. After all the last thing I remember is getting fed a supposedly lethal potion. Well it wouldn't be Cerberus first mistake. Even if I would dismiss the evidence of that nice room the lack of wards and especially the feel of this place were a dead give away. Everything in here screamed home, safety. On second thought there were wards. I could see them when squinting just so. They were powerful wards, dormant until an attack occurred. Then these wards would roar awake and destroy any threat. I doubted even a curse breaker would notice until to late. The door opens a gasp and quick steps rushing to my bedside „Hermione, quick he's awake..." A stray thought of Cat and I was out again like a light. Damn that's getting repetitive. The next time I awoke someone was sitting by my bedside which almost caused an immediate panic attack; Master Sinister.
„Potter if you can't control yourself make no mistake I will do it for you!" Came the crisp voice of no other than my favorite ex-potions professor Snape which didn't quite alleviate my misgivings. After all that man was the same who had a less than stellar record of forcing some rather nasty potions down my unsuspecting throat. So I did what I supposed what would annoy him the most without being force fed potions. I smiled. „Yes, Master Sinister." I answered meekly. It might actually have worked as the intake of breath and slightly widening of his eyes clued me in however his magic behaved still rather sluggishly not yet in a state to attack. „Potter ... I warn you!" he growled out. Before either of us could say anything the door opened and in stormed Cat my beautiful Emily. I try to get up however I getting entangled with those damned bedsheets I fell head over heels out of bed right in the waiting arms of Cat. Damn my weakness as Cat helps me back on my bed settling down beside me Snape snarled. „Potter you have to be careful. You will be weak for some weeks to come now until your magic settles again..." „What, wait I thought my core..." „Was destroyed? Honestly Potter. Some people actually believe anything..." „But Cerberus ..." Does not know anything of what he is tinkering with. The first potion masked your core as if you never had been born to be able to do magic." „Though, it was no more than a suppressor potion?" „Basically yes. So one you need an antidote for and if under its influence for too long you would indeed be rendered a squib." At this Harry paled considerably "Let me guess you forced that one down my throat when I tried to dismantle the wards around my cell." „Basically yes, I would have given it to you earlier however I couldn't return before Cerberus had to invited me. I would have given it to you under one pretense or an other, anyway. However, you provided for a nice distraction.""How could I manipulate magic or see magic anyway?" „Ah I thought this might be the case when you recognized me as Master Sinister. Those obscure texts alluded to the fact that if the condition is prolonged your brain starts to search for other ways to use magic. However this ability is hereditary and lies mostly dormant. Very few develop this ability unaided, like Morgana, Dumbledore, the dark Lord. Though these abilities are not very well known. Only very few people were under the potions effect for any prolonged time. Even fewer developed the ability's of a wielder the other turned out to be squibs" I didn't know if I should scream or cry however wanting some more answers I forced myself to remain calm. „How did you know that that ruddy potion didn't render me a squib anyway?" I pressed out. Smirking Snape leaned forward only inches away from my face„Firstly I would have made sure I would have given you the antidote early enough. There still were at least three months left before that potion would have left you with some real damages. And secondly lets say I've made an educated guess." Before I could respond in any way Snape had stood up in one flowing motion almost reached the door his smirk became rather sadistic after delivering one last parting shot „After all your daughter has shown signs after being one month old. Seeing that her mother is a muggle, I think it was rather obvious were she got that ability from." With that the door fell shut with a bang leaving me sputtering.