Author note

Thanks to all the readers, I'm verry happy that my story pleased you, and ask you all to forgive me for the many mistakes I made wile writing, as you know english is my third language. I was inspired for these chapter, so I have decide to write it. Also second chance, will have an update soon. As for veela mate, I'm not sure, maybe I will update next week. Please review

Chapter 8

Hermione couldn't wait to see her brother. She new that she'd have to stay in Hogwarts untill the official end of term, but it was very difficult to keep her excitement.

She recalled all they had accomplished in the last year and half, and was very pleased with the results. She had helped her brother with his training last year, and they both had now the level of a seventh year in their wanded subject, which was a great thing giving what they need to do.

She had also formed a core group of the DA, and all of the members had master all of the fifth year spells. Neville and Luna specially were now on pair with the sixth year students which was a great boost for the two outcasts.

But that wasn't all she had done these last year. She knew that with the tournament the attention would be mostly on Harry. And with Barty Crouch jr there she could nick any ingredients she would need from Snape stores, because when exposed, the death eater would be responsible for it. So she had carefully instructed Winky to gather some of the restricted potion ingredients.

She had at first wanted to start brewing and stocking potions at Hogwarts, but a talk with Harry had made her change her mind. They were both aware of Dumbeldor knowledge of anything that happened at the school and they both wanted to avoid his suspicion for the longest time they could. So she had started with the safe potions under the disguise of a study group. Everybody knew that Snape wasn't teaching anything so it was normal for the most studious witch at school to start a study group, she had talked about the matter to some of her classmates. And soon the group formed with Neville, Susan, Hannah, Harry and her from her year, and Luna and Collin from third year, and Denis from second year. she had invited Ron to the group meeting, but after the second time he declined prefering to spend his time playing chess. She didn't includ Ginny because she wasn't that friendly with the girl..

And so she had began storing the potions wile to every one she was only studying potions ahead of time. She limited her brewing to the potions of the first five years of Hogwarts, but the results were excellent. All of them improoved on their studies, and she had began her stock. And soon after that, she extended their study from potions and herbology to include all of their wanded subject. She also began teaching them meditation to prepare them for learning both occulomancy and the animagus transformation.

In fact she and Harry had both searched for ways to help them master the transfomation. They had found two ways, through a potion or through meditation. Finally they had settled for the second way. They had found accidently in an book given to them by the ROR that the wizards had at least three animagus form, one for his personality, one for his element and one for his magic, but to ensure the transformation it needed first the complet control of the mind. They had both been surprised by those fact and both wanted to know if it was true and why nobody seemed to be taking it seriously, so Hermione had approched her head of house, and the teacher answer had confirmed her thoughts of the wizarding world, Mconaggol had denied the possibility of more than one animagus form, and had warned her pupil that what was in the books were all lies printed by some fiction writher. They had found later that the author of the book was mugglborn who had left britan two centuries ago.

The rest of the year had been a blur to her, and wile she had enjoyed the ball, she prefered if she hadn't been the centre of attention.

Rita 's articles hadn't helped the matter, but she and Harry had already agreed to keep the important events of the books, with just small changes, to help them. So they had agreed to destroy the diadem on their fourth year, wile waiting untill the summer to destroy the locket and the cup.

She had tried to keep a strait face on the third task, but was releaved when nobody asked about her feelings. Apparently been the best friend of Harry had been enaugh explanation.

The rest of her time at the school had been very frustrating, she couldn't do more now. but she was grateful that it would change when she regain home. She and Harry had began the first stage of finding their first form, and according to the books they could both achieve it by the chrismast holiday.

The first weeks had been very busy for her. She had began brewing polyjuice, and truth serum, with all of the other healing potions she had. And when she was free, she would research spells, and potions helpful to their quest. She had already owled the bookstores three times asking for more books.

When she had left her house to the ordre quarters, she had been very disappointed. Hadn't those poeple had any common sense. All they would do was to brag that they were fighting you know who, how could they fight him if they were afraid to even say his name. They were busy doing nothing useful. In fact the only one doing something seemed to be Snape, who was their only spy in the death eaters ranks.

She had always been curious to know how had Voldemort succed in calling his lakeys after his rebirth. He had been alone. but it seemed that he didn't need a death eaters to do that. She had began searching the matter in the Black library and was pleased to find a book about bond, and another named dark curses and rituals . She had quickly hide them in her book bag befor Mrs Weasley found her.

Talking about the red head, she found very hard to keep calm arround them. They were all hyppocrites. Ron was trying to impress her with his role in the resistance, when all he was doing was eating and sleeping, and Ginny and her mother was trying to show her that she was inferior to them, that they were better than her, and that she should be grateful that Ron even gave her his time. It was very apparent in their tones, and their attitude. But she kept her calm. It wasn't time for that, she would put them in their place when the time is right.

The rest of the holiday was very entertaining for her and her brother. They had succed in destroying two other Horcruxes. And they had advanced in their magical training. They had used the law against the ministry, because in a magical house there wasn't any monitoring, they both knew that they could use magic without any fear. So they had began learning the spell of the seventh year.

The first term had been very busy for both pretenders. She had organised the DA, and had kept the study group, wile helping Harry, Luna and Neville with their training. But she was very happy.

She had been very careful, arround the Weasleys. The comments about love potions still in her mind, and she had searched the matter. She was releaved that a nutralizing draught taken every day could get rid of any love potion, so she had brewed enaugh to last them a life time, and she had instructed Harry to take a dose every day. It was a matter less to worry about.

When the chrismast holiday neared, Hermione and Harry had discussed the matter of Nagini. They finally agreed that she would go to the ministry, because Harry absence would be immediately noticed, and difficult to explain, wile her absence, wouldn't rize that many questions.

So when Dobby had apparated to her she had taken Harry's cloack, and immediatly grabed the elf hand. They had quickly apparated to the prophecy hall. Thankfully the snack hadn't stricked Mr Weasley yet, so without losing anymore time Hermione quietly slipped past the snack and she placed carefully her hand on the wizard wand, she waited untill he was injured to fire from his wand a reducto to the snack head. When she was certain that the snack was dead, and that nobody would suspect her presence, she took Dobby hand, signaling the time of her return.

She was gratful that nobody had noticed her absence, but she was very nervous about the matter. What if Mr Weasley suspected her presence, or what if the headmaster suspected something. And so she spend the next two days very anxious for any news.

she was very happy when she left Hogwart to the headquarters, because she would find answers to her questions.

Her relief was very great when Harry old her that nobody suspected a thing, because all of them assumed that Mr Weasley had fired the reducto, when they noticed the snack lieing dead there. Even the red head wizard hadn't tought anything different, he had felt the hex living his wand, so he assumed that with the fear of the moment he had fired it to stop the snack.

The next meeting proove them right, but what had them very furious was the last conversation they had heared from the headmaster office. It was between Snape and Dumbledor

' you want me to do what ?' said Snape, it was clear from his voice that he was furious

'I want you to teach Harry occulomancy'

'but that's insane Albus, we can't stand each other, how can I teach him then ?'

' that's why you'll use Grengroove method, it doesn't need trust'

'but it can leave him insane,I refuse to do it'

'then you leave me with no other solution, I ordre you to do it, or you 'd find yourself in prison'

'very well headmaster, I will do as you say'

It was very clear that the potion master wasn't happy with his new task, but that he didn't have any choices. But the tap wasn't finished yet, and the rest had them furious at the headmaster.

' you may loose both of them Albus' said an unknown voice

'no Phineas, this experience will drove both of them further, Harry will hate Severus more, and Severus will loose what little patience he have. It will also help implant Tom toughts in Harry mind, this way we can have another encontre between Harry and Tom.'

' but what if they suspect something ?'

'no, they won't, Severus will blame Harry lazy attitude for his lack of progress, and Harry will suspect that Severus is a death eaters. It will also help me guide Harry, for the next step'

'what about the horcruxes ?' said Phineas

' they have to wait untill Harry is ready to go after them, though I will retrieve the ring first, it wouldn't do to leave the stone on anyone hands.'

'what about later ?'

'oh, he will marry the Weasley girl, and settle with her. We have to encourage the mix of the blood, to save the old family. And the Weasleys had done so much for the light that they deserve some prices. Yes Harry and the Granger girl would be a good reward to them'

Harry and Hermione were both stuned, they had never expected that the headmaster manipulations would reach so far. He wanted to implant the hatred of the potion master in Harry, just so he could take the role of the mentor. And to think that he wanted to give them to the Weasleys as a reward for their service. Didn't they have a choice in the matter. They were both silent for a long time befor Hermione broke the silence

'so what do we do now ? he will try to stop us if he ever found what we plan to do, he is very confident in his abbility to know what is right for everybody, and he won't accept any ideas but his'

'well, we have to worry about Voldemort first, then we'll see'

'you know, I 'd love to see the headmaster incapacited in the fight at the ministry. Any idea how we could tell the dark idiot to injure the old coat. But knowing him he will botched it because' she stoped there when she saw the look on Harry face

'you know that you just give me the solution to all of our problems' said Harry

' how ? no you can't be serious Harry,we can't kill the headmaster'

'oh it won't be us. The headmaster will die honorably wile fighting the dark lord. He might even get a post mortem reward. '

'but what about the wizards ? you know that without him there, there is going to be struggle for the power.'

'probably, but with me defeating the dark idiot, they wouldn't risk my anger. We could use it to our advantages. Let's not worry about it now, we still had to destroy the remaining horcruxes, any ideas ?'

'well, we could hire the goblins to retrieve the ring, but it could also leak out. We aren't certain of the goblins loyality'

' I sense that you had a solution to that'

'what if we ask Dobby and Kreatchur to go there and see if they can retrieve it for us. You know that Voldemort is very arrogant, and he wouldn't expect a lesser being to search for the ring, so he wouldn't have warded the location against them'

'it's a good idea, we can talk to them tomorrow, but they would first test the protections, and when deemed safe, they would return to bring the ring. There is something else we had to think about Harry'

' what ?'

' we have to be sure that all the horcruxes had been destroyed.'

'yes I know, all we had to worry about now are the ring and my scare, and as we had a way to destroy the ring. We will be free to search for a safe way to destroy the horcrux on my scare without killing me'

' but what if he had made more ? we can't risk him coming back.' We'll have to search the matter before destroying the ring.'

They spend the next two days in the Black library reading books on rituals and curses, but they were often interrupted by the Weasleys children. Hermione had a great urge to curse them into oblivion. She was very frustrated with her lack of progress that she throw her book bag to vent her anger. She took several minutes to calm down befor begining to repack her books, and then she stumbled on two intersting books.

She remembered that she had took them with her, but so far she hadn't had the time to read them. She was surprised by what she found that she run to Harry immediately happy that she had found a solution to there problem.

'Harry, you won't believe what I had found ?' she told him when she had found him in his bedroom

' calm down Hermione, let's head to the library, we can talk freely there' wispered Harry. She blushed ,feeling guilty that she had made the mistake of talking befor been sure that there wasn't any risque. She was very relieved that nobody had seen her little outburst.

They quietly went to the study, and after closing the door, Hermione began talking

'I found these two books in my bag. I had brought them with me from number twelve these summer, to research the matter of the dark mark, but so far I hadn't had a chance to read them. Yeasterday, when I found them, and I had spend the last night reading them. It had the answer to our questions'

'how ? '

'well, to summerise it for you, there is a ritual we can do on the ring to insure there isn't anymore horcruxes for us to 's a easy one that need a couple of runes and a neutralising potion, but I had everything in my truk, so it wouldn't be a problem .I had also found mention of a potion and a charm that could help us getting ride of the horcrux on your scare, but I need to search it properly'

'we' ll worried about that later, now we have to focus on the matter at hand. We have to retrieve the ring first, do the ritual and then destroy it, OK'

' I agree, we do as you have said'

And so they had instructed both elves to go first test the wards in the Gants old home. They were both very happy when both elves returned that night with the ring in a bag. It seemed that Hermione theory was correct, and that Tom Riddle had deemed house elves lesser being to ward the house against them, and because their magic was different from wizards magic their retrival hadn't triggered the wards arround the ring.

They quickly began praparing the ritual, and after finishing the potion they had poured some of it on a parchemant before drowing the runes in it, finally they put the ring in the potion for five minutes before finally puting it on the parchemant. They both chanelled their magic through the runes for another five minutes to the parchemant to end the rituals, before throwing the ring in a bowl ful of basilic venon, and was pleased when the usual black smock d erupted from it.

When they were sure the horcrux was destoyed they inspected the parchemant and was surprised by the results. It seemed the amount of magic they had chanelled were greater than needed because they didn't just have the horcruxes identified, they had also their locations. they were both annoyed when they found that they still have another one to destroy befor focusing on Harry scare. It seemed Voldemort had found a relique from Griffindor, which was his wand, and that he had hidden it in the chamber of secrets. They resolved to destroy it as soon as they returned to the school.

They decide to rest for the night, and to continue the research the next morning.

The rest of the holiday passed in a blur for them. They hadn't found anything in the Black library, and both were very frustrated with that. They agreed to head to the ROR when they return to school. Maybe they could find something there.

The next morning they left for the school, for the second term. And after the dinner Harry and Hermione had gone to the chamber to retrieve the wand. They found it hidden in the mounth of Salazar statut, they searched for any curses arround it, but found none. It seemed the dark lord was certain that nobody was going to find it here so he didn't bother defending his horcrux. Wile they found his actions very arrogant they both agreed that the fact that a basilic had been lieing there and that parseltongue doesn't run daily in the wizarding world were enaugh protection for the wand. Harry wanted to destroy it then and there, but Hermione pointed out rightfully that they had to keep it untill the last moment, they didn't know if Voldemort would make others, and they would need a way to tell befor killing him. so they gathered the wand and kept it in the ROR untill they were ready to destroy it. Now they had the most difficult one to destroy. It was Harry scare.

They knew that they had to be extremely careful now, because with Harry occulomancy lessons, Snape could find their secrets in a matter of second, and to avoid it Harry would need to keep his calm all the time, because if he lost his concentration for just one second, all would be discovered.

They had both reached the level where they could direct a legilimancy attack, and show the intruder what they wanted him to see, but it would need a great concentration. And Hermione hoped that Harry could succed in this new challenge.

The first lesson happened exactly like the book, so they both breethed a sigh of relief, wile showing anger at the potion master. And so on Harry had to support the torture of the potion master,every so often, wile hoping that they wouldn't be discover.

the first month of the second term had been very frustrating for them, between Snape and Umbidge, Harry had his days full of torture. The only bright spots for him was the DA training which was progressing nicely. They had all worked very hard, and it was showing. Ha had been very pleased by their progress, specially Neville, Luna, Susan, Hannah, Colin and Denis. They had all finished their second shields and were working on their third, and they had progressed nicely on their animagus training. Harry was certain that they would achieve their forms before the end of the year. hermione had already had her first transformation, they had both been stuned when she had turned in a unicorne. They hadn't expected it but it was a good surprise, because usually the first form which was the personality wasn't magical. She was now mastering her form and would go to the forest every couple of days to run with the horde there. Harry had decide to wait untill he was free of the horcrux on his scare befor trying the transformation himeself.

It was the first weekend of februray when something very intersting happened. Hermione had went to the ROR every day after the holiday to search for a way to help Harry, but so far she hadn't found anything. She had been very frustrated with her lack of progress that she decide a break was needed. she resolved to finish her homework before going to the forest for a run.

She had an essay in runes that she wanted out of the way, so she headed to the library, to gather the books she would need, befor working on it. While browsing the shelfs she found an interesting book on the history of runes that she hadn't read, so she cheked it whit Mrs Pince. It would make a good change of her reading material for last month. She finished her homework, and left for a quick run in the forest. It was very liberating, and she felt very good after her trip to the forest.

That night she decided to read the book on runes in her bed because she knew that nobody would interrupt her. what she found had her stuned. The book hold the solution to her problem, and it was lieing there unnoticed. She quickly look arround and after making sure nobody was there she performed a copying spell on the book. She had altered it stithely to be able to copy books from the library without alerting Mrs Pince.

She reread the book a second time, and after taking some notes, she left the tower and went to search for Harry.

She found him in the ROR training. When he finished he grabed a water bottle and took a drink befor sitting beside her. She happily informed him of her discovery

'you know, it still surprise me how much informations we had found in the history section of the libray. It is another proof of the wizarding world stupidity, they had the solution in front of them but they don't use it because they are too lazy to read or they think they are too right in their own ways to change'

' are you sure it would work. You know we can't risk trying it if we weren't sure that it will work ?'

' yes the ritual is a simple one , but it would need some preparations, and some of the ingredients aren't very common, it would be easy to prepare it. But the problem would be to ensure its safety and efficiency '

'well it isn't as if we could find a subject test who would need this cleansing' he stopped at that when he saw the look on her eyes 'what ?'

'well in fact we have the perfect subject test on hand, we just need to find a way to convince him'

'tell me you don't mean him' at her nod, he exclamed ' Snape. How on earth, do you want to convince him to help us ?'

'listen Harry, let's first prepare for the ingredients for the ritual, it would need time, and when we are ready, then we can worry about telling him'

And so they began the preparations. Harry was surprised at some of the ingredients. How can they collect unicorne water, and what of the dragonblood or the phenix tears, they would need at least two vials of each of them. The basilic venon was a simple one, and they had enaugh supply of it, but the goblin made dagger, would be a problem. They would also a brush made of unicorne hair. The last ingredient was the heart blood of virgin. And it semmed that it was the only ingredient he knew where to get because Hermione was a virgin.

They both agreed that they would send Dobby to the apothicary for the dragon blood. The phenix tears surprinsly were easy. They had found from Dobby that Fawks gave a vials of tears each month to the infirmary. And that he spend a night there where Poppy or Snape would gather the tears.

The unicorne water and unicorne hair wouldn't be difficult. Hermione would gather that ingredient. She knew where the unicorn of the forbidden forest gathered, and she was accepted by the unicorne because of her animagus form.

And they both agreed to gather enaugh ingredients for at least four wouldn't do to have to wait after the first attmpt if it was successful. And they both knew that it would be best if they waited untill Dumbldor was outside of Hogwarts.

So they had spend the month of march very anxious. And finally it was the day where they were betrayed by Edjcombe. They were both escorted to the hedmaster office. And when the talk was taking place, Harry had a spure of the moment. He waited until Fudge orderedthe aurors to arrest the headmaster, and he unnoticeably throw a disarming spell at the headmaster, befor he return the wand to the headmaster, by a quick spell. Dumbledor didn't have time to react at all, he quickly called Fawks, and vanish leaving a fuming Fudge and Umbridge.

When they left the headmaster office, Hermione had dragged Harry to the ROR, where she lashed at him for his impulsiveness.

' I don't think someone other noticed, and I did it to neutralize the wand. It wouldn't do us any good, if Voldemort succed in mastering it'.

They spend the next days in a fear, but they finally were relieved, when they listen to the last ordre meeting. Dumbldor knew he had lost the wand, but apparantly he suspected the aurors present that day.

So they were both happy, that it went well. Now all they had to do was try the ritual. But for that they would need their potion master help.

They spend two weeks trying to find the best way to talk to the potion master. Finally they agreed that Hermione would be the one talking to him about the ritual, because he would go balistic with Harry. They also agreed that the pensieve incident needed to happen. In fact it would give them the best reason for the ritual.

And so the week after the pensieve incident, found a very nervous Hermione waiting outside of the potion classroom. She gathered her courage, and entered when she heared the 'gentle' invitation of her professor. She closed the doors and approched the desk where her professor was siting, and she waited.

When it became apparent that she wouldn't speak, he stood and snarled at her 'well, what do the know it all want now ?'

She nervously replied 'professor do you want to get rid of the dark mark ?' well way to go girl, now he would just strangle you thought Hermione. She projected all of her knowledge of the ritual and her reasons for it when she felt his attack, and she didn't break contact, until she was sure he had understood all of the implication of the ritual.

He asked her 'how do you all of this ? she opened her mounth to answer when he continue how did you know to search for this specific ritual ?'

She knew then that if she lied she would loose her chance, so she told him what had happened to Harry and her with the time turner, she left out her family ties with Harry, but she told him the rest. He was very surprised by all of it, specially when she told him about the books. He even suspected her of lieing, but when she told him of his childhood, and his friendship with Lily he believe her.

'so do you want to get rid of this mark. To stop been a puppet ? please professor I know you're a good man please help us'

he remained silent for a long time, befor he replay 'ok Ms Granger, I'll help you, but I don't want you're idiotic friends there. It will be just the two of us. If we succed you'll have the experience needed for Mr Potter ritual'

' but professor, if we succed in the first one there isn't a reason to wait another month, for Harry. And I prefer to have you there to help me if things go wrong'

They spend the rest of the night going over the prepartion, and finally they agreed to do the ritual, the next week. It was the early date they could find because the ritual needs to be done on a new moon. Snape had told her that he would bring the dagger

They had finished the preparation. And was certain that she could drew the runes without any problem. So she was surprised when Snape had called her after their potion class. When he asked her to his study, she was certain that there was a problem. But he just wanted to know if she had finished all the preparations. They agreed to meet the next day in his office befor heading to the forest. Officially Harry and Hermione have detentions with the potion master, and they would help him gather ingredients from the forest.

The ritual itself was fairly simple. Hermione had wore a white gone under her clock. She guided the two wizards to theunicorne source. And began the ritual, first she took her cloak and shoes off. And she drew a cercle near the water. Next she guided the professor to do same, and to step in the circle. She drew with the dragon blood a set of runes arround the mark. Then she took the dagger, and she accidently cut her thumb with the dagger, it wasn't deep so she left it, she had more important matter at hand. She cuted the mark, she knew she need to drew blood. She poured the basilic venon on the cut, and waited. She knew she had to be extremely careful with it because it could kill the professor. They were all pleased when a black smok left the mark, then she poured the vial of the phenix tears on the mark. When the wounds began healing she washed the woound carefully with the water source. She was pleased she notice the faded mark on his arm, but she knew she still have work to do. So she cut herself across the left breast and she used her blood to drew the final set of runes on the mark. She healed her wound befor begining to chant the cleansing spell. Finally she use the water source again to washed the professor arm. She was very happy when she noticed that the mark had completly disapeared.

She waited untill the professor was conscious again and guided him to where Harry was waiting, they gave him a vial of pepper up potion, befor leaving him there, they had a ritual to do.

The next morning found three exausted, but very happy wizards, sleeping in the forest. They had succeded in their task. Now they could prepare for the last battle with the dark lord.

Author note

Sorry for the delay, and for the mistakes. I plan to edit the story when it's finished. The next chapter will be the battle and Severus thoughts. It will also have a surprise for the potion master and Hermione.