Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Punishment
"I have sent a message to Professor Dumbledore, who should be arriving shortly, along with Professor Slughorn. The three of us will decide what punishment is suitable. Miss Grey is here because I think that her opinion will be valuable in this matter."
Silence followed her little speech. Hermione was slightly nervous as to why her opinion might matter. Bellatrix simply folded both her arms and legs as she sneered, looking like she didn't care what her sentence may be.
Then Professor Wiccara closed her eyes and bowed her head, as if thinking. Hermione began tapping her foot in nervousness as Bellatrix simply sat there, staring at the ceiling and looking extremely bored.
After a few more seconds of this silence, Wiccara's eyes snapped open and were directed to the open door. She stood up just as Professor Dumbledore, closely followed by a waddling Professor Slughorn, entered the classroom. The Headmaster's piercing blue eyes settled on Bellatrix, who was still staring at the ceiling, not even acknowledging the presence of the two men.
"Fey, m'dear, what's the meaning of this?" Slughorn asked as he settled down into a chair that creaked slightly under the weight.
"It's quite simple Horus. We were performing mock duels in class so that I could judge how much the students have learned, and when it was Miss Black's turn to duel Miss Grey she tried to kill her."
"Nonsense, none of my students would ever think of doing such a thing!" Slughorn said with a wave of his hand, trying to dismiss the matter. Although he seemed to be trying to remain calm, his trembling hands and the slight perspiration on his forehead belied that fact.
"I beg to differ." Wiccara said with clenched teeth, "Seeing as how your student conjured up a Lethifold, which happens to be a Class 5 Being, or in case you don't know, a known wizard killer that is impossible to train or domesticate!" She began shout and waved her arms to emphasize certain points, along with advancing slowly on Slughorn. "It's one of the most deadly creatures out there! The only reason Miss Grey is still alive is because she knew enough about Lethifolds to know that a Patronus Charm is the only thing that can stop one, and is lucky enough to know how to cast it!" Wiccara took a deep breath to try and calm herself down, now only a few feet away, with Slughorn pushing himself backwards into the chair, shrinking away from the witch. "Not only did she try and commit murder, she conjured up a Dark Magic Shield. When I tried to remove it, it began to drain my life away!"
(Lethifold and classification taken from Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by JKR under the alias Newt Scamander.)
Professor Dumbledore placed a hand on Wiccara's arm, making her calm down instantly.
"I think it would be best to take this discussion into my office. If you would all follow me?" Dumbledore said and then swept out of the room, leaving the others to follow. Hermione immediately jumped out of her chair and walked behind the Headmaster. Wiccara moved over to Bellatrix and glared at her, waiting for the teenager to move. Bellatrix stayed in her position for a few more seconds, until she stood up and walked out, as if it was all her idea. Wiccara rolled her eyes and made her way behind the student. Slughorn struggled for a few seconds to raise his girth out of the chair, but managed to do it and waddled quickly behind the others.
It was silent as they all treaded the path up to Dumbledore's office. When they reached the gargoyle, he stated the password and they proceeded up the moving staircase to the room full of whirring instruments.
As he made his way around to his chair, the Headmaster waved his hand and four chairs, one significantly larger than the others, appeared in front of his desk. Hermione sat down in the one to the far right, with Wiccara on her left. Bellatrix sneered at the arrangement, for she was stuck between Wiccara and Slughorn since the Potions Master had chosen the large chair which was to the far left. She settled herself down casually, folded her arms, and stared out the window.
Professor Dumbledore rested his elbows on the table and pressed his fingertips together as he leaned forward. He looked each of them in the eye, then sighed lightly.
"Fey, will you please tell us what happened?"
"Well, it started off quite nicely. The two didn't make a move for a few minutes, but then Miss Black cast the first spell, which Miss Grey blocked. Miss Black continued to send spells, curses, and hexes at Miss Grey, while they were continually deflected. Then the situations were reversed and the one casting the spells were Miss Grey while they were blocked by Miss Black. At some point Miss Black sent a spell that knocked Miss Grey off her feet, and after that both of them began to send more serious spells and curses at each other. At the rate things were escalating, I was planning on stopping them soon, but then Miss Black constructed her shield.
"I tried to take down the shield at that point, but I could feel my energy leaving my body when I tried. After a few diagnostic spells I found that my energy was being used to power the shield. I tried to tell Miss Black to take it down," at this Hermione started, wondering why she hadn't heard anything, "but she was busy working her next bit of magic." The anger in her voice was obvious, but subdued.
"You could see the Lethifold at that point, although it wasn't apparent as to what it was. Then it slipped out of the tip of Miss Black's wand. The shield began to expand to cover the Lethifold as it made its way towards Miss Grey. When it was only a few feet away Miss Grey conjured up a Patronus in the form of an otter which somehow penetrated the shield and sent the Lethifold back towards Miss Black, where it flowed back into her wand. I think this made her lose her concentration, for the shield fell once the Lethifold disappeared. The instant the shield was down Miss Grey Stunned Miss Black and Summoned her wand."
Hermione blinked a few times. This story seemed odd. It was accurate, of course, but a few details surprised her. Once she saw the Lethifold leave the wand she hadn't noticed the shield expanding, she had just focused on how to drive away that thing. She also hadn't realized that her otter had actually gone through the shield, her mind so intent upon her happy thoughts of Ron and the kiss.
After a few more seconds of pondering, Hermione shrugged mentally. She figured that she had just been so focused on the battle that a few details escaped her, even though that was extremely unlike her. Even when she was eleven and standing in front of a three-headed dog that she was sure was going to kill her, she had noticed that it was standing on a trap door. Oh well.
Concentrating once again on the conversation at hand, Hermione listened to Bellatrix admit fully to what she had done, offering no excuses or explanations, even when pressed by all three professors.
Professor Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, his hands now settled on the armrests.
"Miss Grey, your thoughts?"
Hermione looked extremely confused. "What do you mean Professor?"
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "What do you think of the situation?"
"Well, I don't really know. I suppose it was wrong of Bellatrix to do what she did, but since I'm not hurt-"
"It doesn't matter." Professor Wiccara interrupted. "She deliberately attacked a student and tried to kill her! Miss Black should be expelled!"
"Now, now, Fey," Slughorn chuckled. "Let's not be hasty."
"Hasty!? How am I being hasty? If there was some sort of plausible explanation for Miss Black's actions, though I can't see any that I would be content with, then perhaps that would be hasty," spitting the word out like an insult, "but she didn't give any excuse whatsoever! Nothing. She didn't even deny it! What else should be done?"
"Fey, as detestable as her actions were, expulsion is a very serious punishment. I would hate to take away a student's education."
"Fine." Wiccara said, throwing her hands into the air, then folding them across her chest. "Then I will not settle for anything less than detention for the rest of the term, and a letter home to her parents. I'd much rather prefer detention for the rest of the year, but you wouldn't let me do that, would you Horus?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that m'dear." Slughorn said, chuckling some more. "But why don't we give her detention for the rest of the term, as you suggested, and then decide if she needs further punishment over the holidays." He settled back, pleased with his idea.
Wiccara didn't look happy, obviously convinced that Slughorn wouldn't let her extend the detention to the end of the year.
"I agree with Horus on this Fey. I think that would be the best solution. Although I would request that all five of us make the decision."
The other four occupants of the room stared at Dumbledore, including Bellatrix, the statement breaking through her bored look.
"Five of us?" Slughorn boomed in surprise. "You want Miss Grey to be here again?"
"Yes." Professor Dumbledore said calmly. "I think that her opinion could be valuable, don't you think Fey?"
Wiccara looked surprised, but pleased. "Of course. The attempted murder victim should be present."
Slughorn just sighed at that, as if he though it was an exaggeration but not wanting to get into another argument.
"All right. Be at my office at eight o'clock sharp Miss Black. I think Argus will probably need some help on his first day back, don't you?"
Bellatrix's eyes widened, looking absolutely appalled.
"I don't think so." she hissed. "Cleaning is for House-Elves. I will not degrade myself by doing such a lowly task."
Professor Wiccara just smirked, as if she had expected that response. "You will do it Miss Black, or I will write home and tell your parents exactly how you disgraced your House and the Black family. I doubt they will be happy with you when they find out, will they." she smirked again, knowing that the only way to get to a Pureblood family like hers was to threaten their name.
"Well," Dumbledore clapped his hands, "I think it's time for dinner, don't you? I think they're serving some delicious roast beef tonight, so why don't we all go down and enjoy some?"
Slowly everyone got up and walked down to the Great Hall.
The second Hermione walked through the doors, the room exploded in cheers from three-fourths of the room. All of the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws were on their feet clapping and congratulating Hermione. As Bellatrix made her way to the Slytherin table, where they were all sending death-glares to Hermione, those that she passed that supported Hermione jeered at her.
Hermione stood in the doorway for a few seconds, uncertain and embarressed. Then Lily ran up to her and grabbed her hand, yanking her down to sit in between her and Mary, with Alice across from them. The Marauders quickly ran over them and sat with them, James next to Lily, while Sirius sat down to the right of Alice and Remus on her right, with Peter in between Remus and some other Gryffindor that scooted away slightly. Once again everyone began talking at once.
"That was amazing Mya!"
"Take a look at our hourglass, there is no way we won't get the Cup this year!"
"Over three hundred points in one day! No one's ever done that before!"
"What was that thing that attacked you?"
"When did you learn how to cast a fully corporeal Patronus?"
"Keep it up, and we'll have over a million points by the end of the year!"
"The Slytherins don't stand a chance!"
"No one does, not after this head start!"
"I did some reading, was that a Lethifold?"
"No way, a Lethifold is a Class 5 Being! There's no way Bellatrix could get one of those in the school!"
"It fits, if you think about it. Black, appears similar to a cloak, and the only known way to repel it is with a Patronus Charm."
"Believe me, if anyone would know how to do that, it would be my family."
"Well, you're the only decent one in the lot."
"Yeah, the others are maniacs. I can't believe any of us are related.
"Whatever! Mya, can you teach me how to cast a Patronus Charm?"
"Yeah, me too!"
"Count all of us in!"
They all shut up suddenly, waiting for her response.
"Ummmm... sure."
And they were off again.
"Thanks My! Can I call you My?"
"Her name's Mya, is that really so hard to remember?"
"So what, I can't give her a nickname?"
"No you can't, because there's no point."
"It really doesn't matter to me James. Go ahead and call me My."
"Told you Evans!"
"Drop it Potter."
The talk continued to surround Hermione as she sat there, playing around with her food. All the talk about the huge number of points in one day reminded her of all the times Harry, Ron, and her had saved the day and had gotten a large number of points for it, and even the ones where they didn't. Flashes of the years filled her mind.
First Year: Eleven year-old Ron getting fifty points for "the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years." Eleven year-old Hermione getting fifty points for "the use of cool logic in the face of fire." Eleven-year old Harry getting sixty points for "pure nerve and outstanding courage." And then an eleven year-old Neville getting ten points for the courage to stand up to his friends. His very first points for Gryffindor.
Second Year: Twelve year-olds Ron and Harry getting Special Awards for Services to the School and two hundred points each for going down into the Chamber of Secrets to save an eleven year-old Ginny.
Third Year: Thirteen year-olds Ron, Harry, and Hermione in the Shrieking Shack with Professor Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew escaping. Harry and Hermione going back in time. Saving Buckbeak. Saving Sirius. Fighting off the Dementors. Watching Sirius and Buckbeak fly away. Getting back to the Hospital Wing in time.
Fourth Year: Fourteen year-old Hermione helping Harry get through all three tasks. Fourteen year-old Ron and Harry fighting, then reconciling. Finding out about Voldemort returning. Seeing Cedric's dead body. Harry winning the Triwizard Tournament, but giving the winnings to Fred and George.
Fifth Year: Fifteen year-olds Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville and fourteen year-old Ginny and Luna getting fifty points each for "alerting the world to the return of You-Know-Who" after there were no more points left in the Gryffindor Hourglass.
Sixth Year: Sixteen year-old Harry going off with Dumbledore to find the locket left by Regulus Black. Sixteen year-old Ron, Hermione, and Neville and fifteen year-old Luna and Ginny helping the Professors and the Order fight the Death Eaters. The death of Professor Dumbledore. Bill getting mauled by Fenrir Greyback.
Seventh Year: Seventeen year-old Harry, Ron, and Hermione going out and trying to find the Horcruxes. Ron leaving. Ron returning. Fighting Voldemort at Godric's Hollow. The Battle of Hogwarts. Ron and Harry dieing.
Hermione hadn't realized it, but tears had started to fall as she was lost in her memories. Her new friends asked her about it, trying to comfort her, but she waved them off, saying that she just missed her friends and how she wished they could have seen her today. Not really a lie, but just not quite the truth.
It hurt. A lot. She felt so lost, and the only thing that really kept her going was the knowledge that she could save them.
No. She would save them. There was no question about it. No matter what happened, she would save them.
Even if she died trying.
So sorry I didn't add this sooner! Events made it so that I couldn't access my computer to add this chapter. Also sorry that it is so much shorter than the last one, but that seemed like a good place to end it.
A/N: Review replies are taking up too much room in these chapters, so after this chapter I will only post replies for anonymous reviews. I will also be editing the previous chapters and removing the replies from them.
