Death materialized in front of Hermione as she walked towards the Quidditch pitch for the Slythrein VS Hufflepuff game. She raised an eyebrow in suprise but she didn't say a word. She had heard Harry talk enough about the cloaked figure to not be too alarmed. "What would you give Winter to protect your nephew?" he asked her chillingly.
Horror flashed on her face as realization dawned. "Min," she whispered as she craned her neck in search of the witch. "Harry is at the Wizengamot today."
"They plan on attacking on both ends of their bond," Death whispered. "You must protect the Heart at all costs. Without her, my Champion will be nothing."
"I will," Hermione said determined.
"I believe you," he whispered then handled her a set of daggers. She looked at the Goblin forged blades curiously before accepting them. "A gift for those hidden talents you have convinced the eldest Potter to fund. Be strong Winter! You are stronger than you realize!"
Minerva gasped in suprise as she felt Harry pull on their bond. "Minerva," James whispered in concern.
"Harry's in trouble," she whispered emotionally. "He's plucking the battle knowledge from my mind."
"We have to get to him," James said frantically as he stood up.
"We cannot," Minerva answered as she eyed the robed figures. A blast of spellfire destroyed the steps. She focused her attention on errecting a protective barrier to protect the children.
"Bloody hell," James exclaimed. "They trapped us!"
"Hermione," Poppy's frantic cry caused Minerva and James to follow her line of sight.
"What is she doing?" James asked.
"Battling," Minerva whispered horrified.
They watched helplessly as Hermione wielded two wands and kept the seven robed figures at bay. "Need a lift," Rose asked as she and Charlie lowered their brooms with the makeshift stand for Minerva. "Mione said you needed to focus on the stands."
James hoisted Minerva up so she could stand on the piece of wood connecting the twins brooms. "Get her to the middle of the pitch eye level with the highest stand," he ordered his children. "She'll be able to right the stands from there."
"James," Poppy gasped as she clung to his hand.
"Mione," he shouted horrified as he watched her being blasted back and her wand fly out of her hand. "I have to get to her!"
"Hands up Uncle James," Leland Lupin said as he zoomed overhead. James didn't hesitate and stuck his hands up and grasped the offered hand of his nephew. He dangled off of the broom as Leland quickly lowered him to the ground. "Where the bloody hell did she learn how to use those daggers?"
James looked as bewildered as Leland was. Hermione had gotten back up and was fighting hand to hand against three others with wands. He noted two robed figures were laying unmoving on the ground. He watched as Hermione threw one of the daggers and dropped another figure to the ground. The dagger returned to her hand with a simple command from her. James was dropped near Hermione and immediately took out the remaining two robed figures with stunning spells. "Mione," he cried relieved as he pulled the girl to him and hugged her tightly.
"There's two more bastards Uncle James," she whispered emotionally. "We must protect our family."
James looked around and saw them sending curses towards Minerva. "Min," he cried as he saw her lose her balance from a blast and fall off the brooms unconscious.
Charlie made a split second decision and severed his broom from Rose's and dived after his falling sister-in-law. He muttered every spell he knew to keep his broom up as he dropped below Minerva and caught her in his lap. Her momentum was too great to be slowed by the broom. He took a deep breath and focused his magic on protecting her and his soon to be nephew. He called forth his Potter, Gryffindor and Slythrein magic and wrapped a cocoon of energy around Minerva before using what magic he had left to push Minerva upwards. He smiled as she moved upwards and then darkness overcame him.
"Charlie," Rose screamed out as she felt him lose consciousness. Her heart squeezed painfully as she watched his descent towards the ground. She watched as James subdued the remaining robed figures and hurriedly cast cushioning charms on the pitch as Charlie continued his fall towards the ground. Out of nowhere, Leland Lupin flew and caught Charlie inches before he hit the ground. "Charlie," she cried relieved as tears ran down her face.
From the corner of James' eye, he spotted Hermione running along the ledge of an undamaged section of the stands. "No Hermione," he cried as he watched the young witch fearlessly leap from the stand and catch Minerva in her arms. He watched as Hermione added her own magic protection around the unconscious pregnant witch before they crashed against the hard ground and darkness overcame them. "Hermione," he screamed. "Minerva." He ran towards them silently praying they survived that fall.
"Harry," James cried as he rushed to the hospital wing. He wrapped his son in his arms, relieved he was alive. Harry's battered form showed the intense battle he had fought.
"What happened," he demanded. "Where's Min?"
"She's hurt pretty bad son," James revealed as the rest of the family filtered in after him.
"It would have been a lot worse if Charlie and Mione hadn't of intrevened," Rose said teary-eyed as she buried herself into Sirius' arms.
"What happened," Fleamont asked his son. The elder wizard was just as battered as Harry and walked with a noticable limp.
"Seven robed figures attacked the stands," revealed James. "Rose and Charlie managed to get Minerva up in the air so she could right the stands while Hermione held off the robed figures."
"By herself," Euphemia asked suprised.
"She duelled magnificently," James said in awe of his niece at heart. "Mione duelled with two wands. When those where blasted from her, she used throwing daggers. I wasn't aware she could battle like she did."
"How did Minerva get hurt?" Sirius asked. He had seen the fierce magic Minerva was capable of.
"Minerva was blasted off of Rose and Charlie's brooms," James answered. "Charlie severed the connection to save Rose and then dived for Min. He used all of his knowledge to cocoon her in a protective barrier and then push her upwards before plummeting to the ground. Leland caught him inches from the ground."
"Charlie did that?" Fleamont said suprised.
"Family comes first," Rose offered with a sniffle. "Charlie lives by it."
"Did Minerva hit the ground then?" Euphemia questioned as she tried to reign in her tears.
"Not then," James revealed. "Hermione was running full speed across the Quidditch stand ledge before I noticed what she was up to. She never hesitated as she dove from the stands and caught Minerva's unconscious form. She wrapped her own protective magic around Minerva. I cast as many spells to soften the ground as I could but they slammed into the ground. The protective barrier around Minerva's belly stayed intact; however, the rest of it failed as she made impact. I could hear the bones snapping as they landed in a heap. Hermione had no magical protection whatsoever. It was Hermione's magical barrier that saved the baby. Minerva will survive although Healer Smith is unsure of the damage. Hermione is in critical condition. A team from St. Mungos is working on her as we speak. They are unsure if she will survive or not."
"No," Harry managed to sob as he fell to his knees in agony. His sister in every way but blood sacrificed herself for his family. His guilt overwhelmed him as he gave into his emotions and cried for his family. James dropped to his knees and pulled Harry into his arms offering what comfort he could. "She was weakened by our bond. I siphoned her magic when attacked at the Wizengamot."
"Minerva wasn't magically exhausted," James reassured her son. "She knowingly took the spellfire to prevent Rose from getting hit fullforce. It would have been a death sentence for Rose but Min was only grazed by it. It was enough to change its course and save Rose." James glanced at his daughter and sighed as he saw the devestation on her face. He knew she hadn't realized what had actually happened and wanted to spare her but Harry's reassurance in this situation was more important. "No fretting Rose," he informed her. "Minerva will always put others first and realized she had allies that would attempt to protect her from harm."
The girl nodded but buried her face in Sirius' neck and cried.