Some hours later, after Viktor had updated Kingsley and Remus on the new meeting place, Hermione removed several more phials from her precious store of Felix Felicis. She had seen Harry give Draco the remnants of the previous phial, and had been very proud of Harry. Draco and Luna belonged together.
Viktor walked into the bedroom as she was tucking the five phials into her pockets. "Are you planning for a worst-case scenario, love?" he asked.
Shrugging her shoulders, she answered him, "Best to be prepared, Viktor. This is my version of constant vigilance. We lost too many before: some to fear, some to the Dark, some to death. I refuse to lose anymore. When we return, I want to set up a brewing laboratory here. We will need potions. And with some help, I can have the basics done in a few weeks."
Viktor held out his hand to her and said, "I forgot to show you what we have done. Come down to the cellar with me."
They walked down the three sets of stairs to the cellar where Viktor threw open a sturdy oak door. Behind the door was a fully equipped laboratory: stocked ingredients cupboards, Potions textbooks, cauldron storage, empty phials in drawers, everything she had asked for was there.
His voice broke through her amazement. "This was to be an incentive for you to come back to me. When you agreed to marry me, I completely forgot about it. My apologies, love."
"You have nothing to apologise for, Viktor. This is perfect, thank you so much." She kissed him before he re-sealed the door.
As they returned to the ground floor, they noticed a flurry of activity outside. The Weasley twins were busily repairing and testing brooms. Charlie was supervising. Molly and Arthur were playing with their granddaughters, Victoire and Zorah. Most of the children were outside, gathering things at Minerva's direction. The wards on the chateau had been expanded into the forest, so the children were running back and forth. As they watched, little Zorah cautiously approached an unlikely person. Alastor Moody was watching the children interacting with Minerva. Zorah watched him for a minute and then went to stand in front of him. He spoke to her and she climbed up into his lap. The surprised look on his face quickly changed to one of humour when the child began to whisper in his ear.
Viktor's comment was whispered in Hermione's ear, "Looks like Moody has made a conquest, doesn't it?"
Hermione's reply was almost as quiet. "I wonder why they never had children, Viktor. They would have been wonderful parents."
"I think they may have lost a child, love. Remus and Dora referenced to some tragedy, but I was reluctant to ask. Minerva does love him, I have noticed. I know he loves her to distraction, rather like I love you." His voice was a caress that lit desire deep in her belly.
She moved against him and moaned his name. His thumbs brushed her nipples into hard peaks as he lowered his lips to hers.
The sound of someone clearing their throat jerked them back to awareness of their surroundings.
Harry grinned at them, apologetically. "We're working on a list of the remaining Death Eaters, and needed to know if either of you had anything to add to it."
Viktor found his voice first. "We will be right there, Harry. Just give us a moment."
"I shouldn't have ..." Hermione began.
"It was my fault. We will finish this when we return. Agreed, love?"
Her nod was his answer. They climbed the next set of stairs to the area where the tables were set up. Harry and Ginny were poring over the list.
iExecuted:
Avery, Amycus Carrow, Dolohov, Greyback, Bellatrix, Rookwood, Yaxley
Dead: Rodolphus Lestrange, Alecto Carrow, Mulciber, Crabbe Sr. and Jr., Goyle Sr., Selwyn, Travers, Parkinson
Unknown: MacNair
Active/alive:
Jugson
Rabastan Lestrange
Rowle
Goyle Jr.
Nott Sr.
Nott Jr.
Severus Snape
Tom Riddle /i
Harry looked to Viktor for any other names to add or delete.
Viktor said, "We need to talk to Percy. He knows who from the Ministry has gone over to the Dark Lord. Thicknesse and Scrimgeour are both dead. Who is Minister now? Percy, come here and help us."
"The Minister is now Dolores Umbridge. She has become the most rabid supporter of the Dark Lord now that Bellatrix is dead. MacNair is as good as dead. He has been at St. Mungo's for months. He's catatonic and blind. The Dementors have fled from the Dark Lord's service. They suffered very heavy casualties during that raid you led, Krum. Out of the names on that list, the only one who might be a problem would be Rowle. The rest are incompetent. That is a direct quote from Madam Minister, too."
"Would she be included in their entertainment meetings, Percy?" Viktor asked.
"She enjoys torturing people, so I would say, yes, she will be there. If it happens to be Ron she is torturing..." Percy did not finish his thought.
Hermione spoke up, anxiously, "Do we have a Legilimens? We may need one. If Snape has tampered with minds..."
Harry answered her quietly, "After the Battle at Hogsmeade, I realised I need to learn Legilimency. I worked on it until I mastered it. I learned the value of studying a subject, finally." His cheeky grin reminded her of how many times she had chided him for slacking instead of studying.
She immediately realised why he had not gone with them the day before, if he had used Legilimency on Ron, it would have left a trace, and he did not want any of the Dark Lord's people to suspect.
He answered her look by saying, "I finally mastered Occlumency as well. Snape will never be able to stroll through my head unchecked again. Minerva taught me." Harry boasted a bit.
"Harry has progressed greatly since Hogsmeade, Hermione. If we can get the majority of the Death Eaters tonight, the Dark Lord will have to fight Harry much sooner than he had planned. Harry is more than ready. The three I hope we can deal with tonight are Rowle, Jugson, and Snape. The younger ones we have picked off easily because they are arrogant and stupid." Viktor said quietly.
"We had best work on the logistics until it is time to go. Harry should probably go wake Draco up and get him down here to look this all over," Hermione said.
Once Harry had gone in search of Draco, Hermione turned to Viktor and asked, "How did Draco and Luna get together? Is this something new?"
Viktor shrugged before replying, "I believe they formed an attachment while she was held captive at Malfoy Manor while you were off hunting Horcruxes. He came for her not long after the battle in Hogsmeade. She went willingly enough and then just over a year later, Draco defected to our side."
"I'm glad he did. He seems to have thrown off the spoiled, petulant persona. He really does love Luna, I think."
"He has become a trusted ally and even a friend, love. He was sick that he hadn't been able to stop Weasley from attacking your parents. I trust him." Viktor said quietly.
Ginny spoke up then, "You would be wise to trust him. I saw how his aunt and Greyback reacted to him. He was the one who interrogated them both along with Dad and Viktor. He hates the Dark Lord, Hermione, and Luna worships him. She may be unusual, but her people instincts are right on the money. She had been saying there was something off about Ron for months before anyone else noticed."
"I do trust him, Gin. It is just that I haven't quite forgiven him for the way he acted in our fourth year. He really was a nasty piece of work back then. I guess I'll get over it eventually." She shrugged.
"You're right; I was a rotten little git back then. You, Viktor, Harry, and Ginny saved me today. No one has ever survived having their Dark Mark removed, until now. You achieved something no other witch or wizard ever has; and for that I am very grateful, my dear Madam Krum. My Luna is also very grateful, or she would be, if she were awake. Apparently, pregnancy is making her sleep a lot. Are we finalising plans for the raid?" Draco had gently kissed Hermione's cheek after bowing slightly to her.
"Draco, I don't think Luna should go tonight. Let her sleep. I'll use Polyjuice again to fool the house elf. We'll wrap your arm so it appears you were injured. I'll have my wand out as if I was healing you, if the wrong house-elf shows up, we'll simply stun him and take him back. Will that work, Viktor?" Hermione asked.
"Perfectly, love. Draco will bring you some of her hair before we leave. We'll take George instead of Luna. We should be ready to go in about half an hour. The group that is staying in the caves has their maps. The rest of us have the maps of the house. Is there anything else we might run into, Draco?"
"There is a hidden room off the kitchens. It was a priest's hole back in the day. If they were going to keep a prisoner anywhere, it would be there. In addition, there is a hidden staircase from the Lord's bedroom. It is controlled by moving a brick in the fireplace in the room next door. It descends into the caves, just down from the boat dock. We should probably block it somehow."
"Excellent. Now, go get Hermione some of Luna's hair. Primary objective for this raid is Rowle and Snape, if he is there. Moreover, if the Dark Lord is there, so much the better. If Umbridge happens to be there, I will take care of her." Viktor was still making notes.
Draco touched two fingers to his forehead and headed back up the stairs to his sleeping wife. Harry and Ginny were handing out maps to those going on the raid. Viktor pocketed two more maps for Remus and Kingsley. Everyone was milling about studying the maps when Draco brought a pinch of Luna's white blonde hair down to Hermione. She retrieved one of the phials of Polyjuice Potion out of her bag and added it to her pockets. The hair, she wrapped in a piece of parchment and put into another pocket. Viktor sent off a Patronus to Kingsley and Remus, telling them to Disapparate to Malfoy Manor in twenty minutes. Everyone was getting ready to go when Moody suggested something.
"Gather round, all of you. Years ago, when I was first an Auror, we had an older Auror who was the son of a Muggle curate. He always took a moment before we left on a mission to say a protective spell or two. He called it praying for help from a higher power. We younger ones scoffed at him until one night he said no protective spells and we lost three men. I am doing this in memory of Lachlan MacGregor. I hope I can remember what he said. 'For those of us who are Mage-born and Muggle-born alike, we ask protection from the Dark powers and affirm our pledge to the Light. May the Light always shine upon us and in our hearts.' "
Everyone repeated the last sentence as Moody cast the i Salus/i spell. Viktor and Moody exchanged a look that said they would talk about this later. The first group Disapparated to Malfoy Manor, Draco, Viktor, Hermione, Vulchanov, and Moody. Draco modified the wards on the grounds to refuse entrance to anyone with a Dark Mark. The next groups arrived quickly and took up hiding places where they could hear what was going on. Remus and Kingsley were the last to arrive.
Draco had a bandage around his arm and his forehead when he called out, "Toddy, help me. I am hurt."
Hermione had taken the Polyjuice Potion with Luna's hair just moments before an elderly house-elf popped into the room.
"Master Draco, you is wanting Toddy?" he asked.
Draco breathed a sigh of relief; the old house-elf was indeed Toddy.
"Toddy, are there any other house-elves at the Castle? I mean are there some there that did not belong to Aunt Bella?"
"No, Master Draco, all belong to you. You told us to stay and keep watch over goings on. We is doing that." The elf replied.
"Is there to be some kind of party there tonight? Who is staying in the Castle, Toddy?" Draco asked.
"They is all there, Master Draco, except Professor Snape. The ugly one, Rowle is marrying Parkinson girl. She not happy. They tortured that red-haired boy near to death. Toddy does not like these things."
"Toddy, I need you to go back and seal off the upper floors of the Castle. Seal all the exits as well, after all of them arrive. You need to serve them all the firewhiskey in the place. My friends and I are coming to capture as many of them as we can tonight. I don't want you or the other house-elves hurt. Is the red-haired boy locked in the squint? Good. You go on back and act like you haven't seen me."
The house-elf nodded and popped away. Viktor and Kingsley came out of the next room to re-form their plans. It was no longer necessary for all of them to go. Dora and Remus could stay at the Chateau with Teddy. Bill, Arthur, Neville, and George were sent back as well. Minerva, Moody, Poliakoff, and Anton would seal off the caves and take Ron and Patsy back to Malfoy Manor. The remaining ten would go into the Castle and take on the Death Eaters. The second the sun dipped below the horizon, they Disapparated to the cave entrance by Lynton.
Draco led the way through the caves, with Moody and Anton securing the caves behind them. It only took a few minutes to arrive at the landing dock under the castle. There were three boats tied up there. Moody ran a diagnostic spell and determined that Rowle, Nott, and Jugson had come by boat. That still didn't indicate whether or not Snape was present or the Dark Lord either. Once the caves were sealed off, the group moved into the kitchens. Draco opened the squint or priest's hole to find Pansy Parkinson and Ron Weasley both unconscious. They were removed to Malfoy manor under guard, hurriedly. Viktor and Hermione led one group up the servants' stairs to the first floor. Draco took the second group up the other set of servants' stairs on the other side of the castle. Then he called Toddy again.
"Toddy, who is here? Is Snape here? Or the Dark Lord?"
The old house-elf answered sadly. "No, Master Draco, they is gone until tomorrow. The fat toad witch is here and acting like she is in charge. I has sealed off upper floors. All house-elves is waiting for you to tell us what to do."
"Toddy, take the elves to Malfoy Manor. Keep the two who were locked in the squint asleep and help the people who are there taking care of them. You never have to come back here."
"Yes, Master Draco. We is going now." The house-elf popped away immediately.
Draco pulled two tiny bottles out of his jacket and poured the contents of a small dark phial into them. Then he returned the bottles to their normal size and took each one by the neck.
He then opened the door to the ballroom and walked in saying, "Rabastan, I brought the last of father's cellar to you. I got away from the Order members who were following me. Here everyone, have a drink. It is the three hundred year old Amontillado. I'll go get the house-elves to bring some food. Oh, let me pour you some, Dolores, you'll just love it."
He was back out the door in minutes and waited with the group for another five minutes. He grinned at Viktor and mouthed the words "Dreamless Sleep" at him.
When the group entered the room, everyone present was sound asleep, except Dolores Umbridge. She was sitting at the table with her wand out and about to press it to the Dark Mark on her arm.
Umbridge reacted by starting to utter the killing curse at Viktor. Hermione did not even have time to think before screaming "Repercutio!"
Umbridge's Avada Kedavra hit the golden wall of Hermione's spell and rebounded, killing Umbridge instantly. Viktor was unhurt. Hermione sagged against him for a moment.
"Thank you, love. How did you find a spell that reverses the killing curse onto the person who cast it?" He was holding her up because she was starting to shake.
"I learned it from Professor Hooch, before she disappeared. She had it written on a parchment where she had listed everyone from the Order and the school who had died in both wars. And the names of the missing, as well. I asked her what it was and she told me it... evened the score. I never thought I would ever use it. I didn't know what it would do. I only thought you were going to die at her hands and I wanted her to die for killing you." Hermione was crying now, taking huge gulps of air as if she couldn't breathe properly.
Viktor hugged her close and comforted her, then ordered the others to bring the prisoners and Umbridge's body to Malfoy Manor.
When they arrived, Harry ordered Pansy Parkinson be brought to a small salon near the ballroom. Minerva administered some Pepper-Up Potion and the girl came around abruptly. She was terrified until she realised that she was safe and out of that tiny room.
Minerva started to question the girl about whether or not she was one of the Dark Lord's followers.
Pansy broke down into tears and shook her head violently. "No, Professor, they were going to marry me to that crazy Rowle. He is sadistic and not right in the head. I refused and they locked me in with Weasley. Snape left because he said he had to attend to family business at his house. The Dark Lord was going to be at Riddle Manor until Snape came for him. Does that help you? Please can I go home? Mother and I were never part of this. My father was the only one. And he's dead." She began to sob quietly until Minerva gave her a calming draught.
Draco had the house-elves take Pansy upstairs and put to bed. They would guard her until she could be safely returned to her mother.
The still sleeping Death Eaters were thrown into the basement rooms that Hermione remembered all too well from two years ago. Ron Weasley was taken to the same small salon where Pansy had been interrogated. He was unconscious and twitching badly. After Hermione and Minerva had done several healing spells on him, he stirred to consciousness. His first words were strange.
"Hermione, Professor, I am so sorry. I didn't know Professor Umbridge was a Death Eater. She ran into me as I was coming out of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes one day. I stopped to say 'excuse me' and she used the Imperius on me. Merlin, please tell me I haven't done anything really awful. What day is it?"
Hermione was too shocked to answer him. Minerva McGonagall wasn't, however.
"It is Mid-December, Ronald. You have apparently been under the Imperius Curse for almost a year. You delivered a bomb to Hermione's parents' home, and they were killed. Fortunately, the Order still has a Time Turner so Hermione and Viktor went back to save them. You informed the Dark Lord of Order raids and meetings. You cost the Order their rendezvous place and nearly a lot of lives. Umbridge may have put you under the Imperius first, but she brought you to the Dark Lord and you struck a bargain with him. You wanted Hermione as your wife and were willing to do anything to accomplish that."
"Oh no, what have I done? I swear I didn't ...I wasn't..." Ron was miserable now. Harry gestured to Ron and quirked an eyebrow at Viktor.
Viktor replied with one word, "Yes."
Harry went to stand in front of where Ron lay on the chaise; he raised his wand and pointed it at Ron, who cowered. "Legilimens," was all Harry said.
He walked into Ron's mind easily. He found no overwhelming, obsessive love for Hermione, but he did find evidence of Umbridge's badly done Imperius Curse; and the fact that she had manipulated Ron into thinking he loved Hermione and wanted her for his wife. She had worked on his hurt from the rejection to fan it into anger and twisted that anger into treason. He found that Ron had been considering that Lavender was much more the girl he cared for than Hermione. There were only vague shadowy memories of the things he had done the previous months since he had been Imperiused.
Harry concluded his trek through Ron's mind and said, simply, "Sorry, mate, we had to know."
Then Harry related his findings to Viktor, concisely, "He was Imperiused by Umbridge, she used it to make him think he was madly in love with Hermione and the rest was also her doing. He really didn't know what he was doing."
Viktor had Charley tend to his brother until they were finished with the prisoners.
Downstairs Draco opened the heavy door for Viktor, Hermione, Moody, Kingsley, and Minerva. The captives were stirring now. Both Notts and the young Goyle were yelling at Rowle who snarled back at them. Rabastan Lestrange and Jugson were quiet, looking at the newcomers in fear. Kingsley, tiring of the noise, cast Langlock at the yelling quartet.
Viktor suddenly turned to Hermione and said, "Go back to the HQ and bring Anastasia Karkaroff, Augusta Longbottom, Filius Flitwick and Fleur Weasley back with you. They are all delegates of the International Wizengamot. We are going to try these men here tonight. You will need to use your quick Quotes Quill again, love. Ask Filius if there are other representatives of the IW and bring them." He kissed her forehead quickly as he pushed her toward the door.
She was so glad to be out of that room that she did not realise, until later, that Viktor had felt her distress and sent her to retrieve the others to ease her discomfort. She found Flitwick and the others quickly. He went to gather a few other witches and wizards that he said were representatives from some of the other countries. The group Disapparated back to Malfoy Manor with Hermione a few minutes later. The prisoners had been moved to the Ballroom where chairs had been arranged for the Wizengamot delegates. Each delegate named the country or countries he or she represented before they took a seat.
Filius Flitwick, Wales.
Fleur Weasley, France and Germany.
Minerva McGonagall, Scotland.
Alastor Moody, Ireland.
Anastasia Karkaroff, Russia, the Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, Czechoslovakia.
Augusta Longbottom, England.
Anton Krum, Romania, Bulgaria.
Bernadette Johannes, all Scandinavian countries.
Estéban de Mafra Y Vivar, Spain and Portugal.
Viktor Krum, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Cyprus.
Ten names on the Wizengamot panel. Harry took over as the Prosecution. Hermione was sitting, awed by the entire trial, her Quick Quotes Quill writing furiously.
The four older men were convicted in minutes. Their sentences were execution. The younger Nott and the young Goyle were also convicted, but were sentenced to Azkaban for seven years.
6