A/N: Hi everyone,

This is the last chapter. It's done. I want to thank kyresar for being my beta read and my wife for her editing as well. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews and PM's, I REALLY appreciate it. And thank you to everyone who read and enjoyed the story, I hope you had as much fun reading as I had writing it.

Thank you!

Chapter 17

Hermione arrived at the gates of Hogwarts utterly drained. She had taken a quick look to make sure the remaining Weasley's were alright before apparating away to find Valerie.

Despite the violent coughing the fiendfyre had caused and the cuts from the glass that had rained down on her earlier she broke into a run. She didn't want to lose any more time.

In her head she kept debating whether it had been the right decision to just up and leave. Her guilty conscience was tugging at her. She should've at least told Ginny where she was going. "How could I forget to tell her?" Hermione kept reprimanding her own behaviour in her head while running towards the familiar castle and then through the corridors she knew so well.

Her lungs were screaming for air, her brain trying to drill a hole into her skull, and her eyes were so bloodshot from the smoke she could barely see. But the thought of losing Valerie kept her moving.

She turned the last corner and ran down the hallway towards the hospital wing. Poppy Pomfrey was already waiting for her at the door. The coughing must have alerted her to Hermione's imminent arrival. The nurse was standing in the middle of the doorway, preventing Hermione from entering or seeing inside.

"You…let me…Valerie…," Hermione got out between coughs. She was wheezing, her whole body asking for permission to collapse – and not in a polite way – but before she could allow it to she needed to know about her friend.

"Miss Granger, calm down. You need to lie down and let me examine you," Madame Pomfrey said, gently reaching for Hermione's arm. Her voice was strict but palpably concerned.

Hermione was desperately trying to catch her breath and get the coughing under control but it was no use. By then she was coughing so bad that she actually doubled over, clutching her stomach with one hand and holding onto the doorframe for some stability with the other. "Valerie!" she bellowed, half hoping to make herself clear to Madame Pomfrey, half hoping her friend might hear her.

"Miss Granger, do not shout around in my hospital! I can see that you're in some distress, and if this is about your Muggle friend I can tell you right now she won't be able to answer because she is currently unconscious. Now get in here and let me see how I can help you get rid of this ghastly cough," Madame Pomfrey said, shooting Hermione a look against which even she wouldn't dare protest.

Unconscious is good. Unconscious isn't dead.

When Hermione let herself be led into the Hospital wing she spotted a figure sitting next to a bed in the distance but her eyes were refusing to focus properly.

"Sit down," Madame Pomfrey said and pointed to one of the beds. Hermione followed her orders without protest.

The seasoned nurse swished her wand a couple of times and muttered to herself but Hermione didn't really care. She was otherwise occupied: Her undersupplied brain was crying for oxygen while her guilty conscience was still plaguing her about leaving Ginny alone. And she wanted to know what was going on with Valerie. But she knew better than to try and talk right now.

Madame Pomfrey waved her wand a couple of times and several vials and bottles came flying from the supply cabinet and arranged themselves neatly on the bedside table.

She picked one of the bottles, unstoppered it and handed it to Hermione, "Bottoms up, Miss Granger."

Hermione tried to stop coughing long enough to swallow the bitter tasting liquid. When it was all gone her cough was already beginning to slowly subside. Healing with magic was truly… well, magical.

"Thank you. Now can you please tell me what happened to Valerie? Is she alright? And George?," Hermione asked. Now that her cough was almost gone, she realised that she kept squinting, uselessly, because of her eyes.

"Miss Granger, I have examined your friend and treated her wounds. I'm sorry to say that she was hit square in the chest with a stunning spell. Now, if you remember what that did to Minerva McGonagall a couple of years ago you can imagine how your friend is doing. She got away with her life, but barely. She'll need plenty of rest and care," Madame Pomfrey explained eventually, "But from what I can tell, she is in good hands," she added, smirking in the direction of where Hermione had seen a person sitting next to a bed before.

Squinting into that same direction again now she couldn't really make out much more with her bloodshot, teary eyes. She could, however, discern that it was a redhead sitting there: George.

Hermione smiled and finally gave in to her body's pleading. Or maybe, she wondered, there had been something in that cough potion. She blacked out.

When Hermione came to it was pitch black around her. She couldn't see a thing. In fact, she couldn't even open her eyes. She lifted her arms, ignoring that they felt like lead, and touched her hands to her eyes. A blindfold.

"Hermione, don't be scared. It's going to be just fine."

Ginny!

"You need to leave the blindfold on for a bit longer though. Your eyes were pretty badly affected by the smoke," Ginny's voice said in the most reassuring tone she had in her repertoire. Hermione smiled and let herself sink into the warm sound. She felt Ginny take her hand and Hermione squeezed it before speaking, "I'm so sorry for just leaving. I wasn't thinking. Or maybe I thought too much, too quickly. Maybe…"

"Shhh," Ginny's voice interrupted her, "Don't worry. I'm here now. It will all be alright."

"How is Valerie?" Hermione asked, "and George? Where is he?"

"They are both fine. George is as good as new and Valerie is sleeping right now, but she will be ok. She just needs some rest. I spoke to her earlier and explained to her what happened; Or, at least, almost everything. You still owe us all an explanation, Miss most-dangerous-witch-of-her-age," Ginny answered.

Hermione swallowed. She wasn't used to this title and not sure she liked it much. She took a deep breath and said, "Muggle physics," as if that explained it all.

She didn't even have to be able to see Ginny to know the look on her face. Hermione sighed and launched into one of her lengthy explanations, "I didn't know what to do with the Fiendfyre and while I was busy being angry at Malfoy my mind tried to find something on how to get rid of out of control Fiendfyre. But all I had ever read about it was that there is really nothing one can do. I saw it closing in on us and I started to panic. So when there was really nothing we could do except apparate out and leave everything to the fire I remembered reading about something Muggles call Physics. It's a science that – apart from other things – studies energy and force."

At this point Ginny scrunched up her face in concentration. She had a hard time following what Hermione was saying but nobody could blame her for not trying.

"So, fire needs oxygen as fuel to burn. I assumed – or hoped – that Fiendfyre does the same. And so, what I did, essentially, was to trap the Fiendfyre between two airtight layers of magical energy. By doing that I could shrink the fire AND starve it by taking away its oxygen supply," Hermione finished her little lecture.

She lifted her hand to search for Ginny's face. Her other hand was still holding onto Ginny's. Softly she stroked her girlfriend's cheek with her thumb.

"Wow, Hermione. You really are scarily smart. I can't say I've understood everything, but I'm glad it turned out to work. I'm happy we're all ok and that nutter is behind bars again," Ginny said, softly pushing Hermione back to make her lie down again, "Harry promised me he would make sure that Malfoy wouldn't escape again," she added.

Hermione smiled. That was good news indeed.

"I love you, Ginny," Hermione said.

"I love you too," Ginny answered and then kissed her surprised girlfriend.

"OY! Get a room, you two!" George was laughing as he walked closer.

"Hi, George," Hermione said, when Ginny broke the kiss, "Thank you for saving Valerie. And thanks for not debating with me over the whole taking her to Hogwarts thing."

"Hermione, don't worry about it. I was about to suggest I take her to Madame Pomfrey myself when you said it. I…we…I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself had anything happened to her, you know," George stammered.

Ginny and Hermione smirked a little before Hermione just quickly said, "Well, thanks anyway."

The next day, Poppy Pomfrey took off Hermione's blindfold and after a few minutes Hermione had adjusted to the light and was as good as new.

"Thank you, Madame Pomfrey. I feel great. Am I allowed to go home now?" Hermione asked. She was hoping to get back to the Burrow and to Ginny. She didn't mind being in her old school, but she'd rather not stay in the hospital wing any longer than she had to. Valerie was in good hands, and now that she knew that Malfoy hadn't killed her she didn't need to stay with her all day.

"Of course you are free to go. Miss Cox is asleep now and Mister Weasley is just outside to stretch his legs. But the Headmistress has asked for you to come by her offices before you leave. Maybe if you do that first Miss Cox will wake up in the meantime so you can have a quick chat with her before you leave," Madam Pomfrey offered.

Hermione walked the short distance and stopped at the gargoyle guarding the Headmistress' office.

"I don't know the password," the young woman muttered more to herself than anyone.

"Then I can't let you up," the gargoyle answered.

Hermione almost jumped out of her skin.

"You speak!"

"No, I'm just a puppet with somebody's hand up my arse. Of course, I speak!" the gargoyle answered indignantly.

"I know! It's just that I've never heard it before!" Hermione said excitedly but was taken aback when she could have sworn the gargoyle rolled its eyes at her.

"Would you be able to let the Headmistress know, that I'd like to see her?" Hermione asked politely.

"I speak. I do not move unless somebody knows the password," the gargoyle explained, obviously annoyed at the stupidity he had to deal with.

"Great. A quarter of a million words in the English Muggle dictionary alone and I'm supposed to guess which one she chose," Hermione said, throwing her hands in the air in a motion of frustration.

The young witch started pacing up and down in front of the gargoyle.

"I'm not the Room of Requirement. Walking in front of me won't reveal anything," the gargoyle scoffed.

"Oh shut up, you… you… uch. Can you at least give me a hint?" Hermione almost started arguing but calmed down after realising that she was conversing with a gargoyle.

"I'm not a sphinx either. Maybe you should head to the Library. It would do you good to read a book every once in a while, you know," the gargoyle said, very happy with himself.

"Listen up, gargoyle, you're talking to me here, Hermione Jean Granger and telling me I'm stupid is not a very clever thing to do. You either give me a hint now or I'll blow your head off!" Hermione growled, "I'll blow it from here all the way to the Library, if you like," she added.

"Ok, ok, no need to threaten me. You magic folk are all the same. Always so ready to use your wands before you use your heads," the gargoyle gave in, "The password is a tribute to something or someone."

Hermione sighed. This didn't really help all that much, "Dumbledore," she tried.

"No," the gargoyle simply said.

"Montrose Magpies," Hermoine tried her former teacher's favourite Quidditch team. Harry would've been proud to know she had listened to him and Ron going on endlessly about the teams at almost every meal in the Great Hall.

"Good guess, but no," the gargoyle seemed to be rather enjoying himself, "Go on, then."

"Ugh. It could be anyone or anything. How about Snape?" Hermione tried.

"No. Sorry."

"Potter."

"No. But keep going," the gargoyle tried to help again.

"This is infuriating," Hermione spoke through clenched teeth and ran her fingers through her hair. Why was it that Muggles had doorbells and Wizards didn't?

"Keep at it. You'll get there," the gargoyle said, unable to hide a smirk.

He was clearly having fun with this.

"BRADFORD!" a voice shrieked across the hallway.

Hermione turned on the spot so fast she would've apparated had it not been impossible on school grounds.

Her old Transfiguration teacher was rushing down the hallway towards Hermione and the gargoyle.

When she arrived she gave the gargoyle one of the sternest looks Hermione had ever seen her give anyone and said, "Bradford, I told you to let her up when she arrived!"

The gargoyle seemed to lower his head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Miss Granger, I didn't know when you would be coming or I would have spared you this little annoyance," McGonagall said, her features softening as she looked at her favourite student.

"Please, after you," she added and motioned for Hermione to go up. When Hermione took a step forward, however, nothing happened. "Bradford!" McGonagall shrieked.

"I'm sorry, Headmistress, but I can't work the stairs without the correct password. It's not my fault, it's magic," the gargoyle whined, looking pitiful.

"Alright then. 'Dobby'," Minerva said softly and looked back at Hermione as the stairs began to move.

Hermione looked at the older woman in surprise.

"Oh don't look at me like that. Without him we would all be dead," McGonagall said sternly.

When she entered the spacious room, Hermione stood and looked at how the office had transformed from Dumbledore's to so obviously McGonagall's.

Instead of the brass and silver knick-knacks there were now fascinating transfigured items on her desk. Not quite one thing not quite the other. There was fountain pen that kept changing into a quill and back, a miniature replica of Edinburgh castle that changed into something that distinctly looked like Hogwarts, and an old box that was open and looked a lot like these musical boxes that were wound up and played a tune while the little ballerina spun. Only this ballerina sat on the edge of the box, dangling her feet in boredom, waiting for someone to wind it up again.

Just like before, however, there were books of all colours, sizes and ages. Some Hermione recognized from having been in Dumbledore's office but some were new additions.

"Please, do sit down Miss Granger," the Headmistress pulled Hermione out of her reverie.

She saw her motion towards one of the two wooden chairs in front of the desk and followed her offer. Once she had sat down the chair transformed into one of those overstuffed chairs that Hermione remembered from the Gryffindor common room. The young witch couldn't help but wonder if everything in this office had fallen victim to her old Professor's favourite subject.

"Miss Granger, you're probably wondering why I asked you to come here," Minerva McGonagall began and Hermione nodded, "I know I probably shouldn't say this, but you have always been one of my favourite students."

Hermione had trouble hiding a grin. She knew that teachers weren't supposed to have favourites but it was good to hear that they were only human too, especially when that favourite was you.

McGonagall continued, "So, naturally, I come to you first with this. And given the most recent events of your life, I'm hoping my proposition will stand a much better chance now. You see, I find myself a bit short-staffed."

Hermione had an inkling where this was going and sat up straighter in her comfortable chair.

"Professors Vector and Trelawney have informed me that they are going to retire after the school year is done and I will have to find replacements for both of them," the Headmistress continued her explanations.

"Professor, I… I'm not sure what you're saying here, but if you're offering me a job… I mean, you know, I've already got one," Hermione said and inwardly rolled her eyes at her inability to form a coherent sentence.

"Miss Granger, I am fully aware of your employment with the Ministry," Minerva McGonagall answered, sounding slightly annoyed, "but I also know that your job has caused quite a bit of trouble for you and I was thinking, or hoping really, that you might find yourself interested in a bit of change. I'm not enough of a fool to offer you the Divination post, but maybe you could think about becoming the next Arithmancy teacher," McGonagall finished.

Hermione had trouble finding her words but tried anyway, "Professor, I'm incredibly honoured. I admit I am flattered that you would think of me in such a situation, but I do love the job I have now. I took it for a reason and I feel that reason has not yet lost its purpose for me. Please, let me elaborate," Hermione began when she saw her former Professor's face lined with disappointment, "I know I was sorted into Gryffindor for a reason and I'm aware that I have played a somewhat important part in the war. However, I am not fond of physical violence and have always preferred to fight my battles with words. This is exactly what I'm doing now. I am helping our society return to normal, to become better by putting away those responsible for the war. I'm cleaning up the mess we've made, if you will. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting others do that for me," Hermione finished her explanation and exhaled audibly.

"Don't worry, Miss Granger. I fully understand your reasons, but please know that I will always come to you first whenever there is a job opening. I believe our future generations could benefit greatly from your experience and knowledge. And should you ever be weary of your current job there will always be a place for you here at Hogwarts," Minerva McGonagall said calmly. She was well aware of Hermione's ever present need to please and wanted to make sure the young witch didn't think she had disappointed her.

Before they could turn to more pleasant topics the flames in the Headmistress' fireplace turned green and a second later Percy Weasley stepped into the office.

"Headmistress McGonagall, I am sorry to interrupt you unannounced, "Percy said pompously while plucking an imaginary piece of lint from his immaculate robes. "I see you have company. Hello Hermione, I hope you have recovered from your recent experiences at my dear parents' home."

He straightened up and cleared his throat. Hermione used the time to shoot McGonagall a pitying look. After all she had to deal with Percy almost on a daily basis since he had been appointed Director of the Department of Education.

Finally Percy continued, "I was appointed by the Minister himself to issue this communiqué because of my unique position to penetrate the defensive blocking spell applied to this strategically significant fireplace. I have…"

"Mister Weasley, get to the point! I'm not getting any younger and I don't plan to stay on as a ghost, you know," McGonagall said, glaring impatiently at Percy.

Percy looked at the Headmistress, eyes wide with shock.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Percy, not even I talk like that! Do you have a message now or do you want to verbally duel a dictionary?" Hermione chided him and her glare was an irritatingly accurate copy of McGonagall's.

Faced with two rather impatient witches Percy thought it was best to keep it short and simple, "Minister Shacklebolt has just heard about the goings on and wants Mr Malfoy tried by the end of the week. He is asking you, Hermione, to make all the necessary preparations."

Hermione turned white as a sheet and stammered, "But… there… the trial was not scheduled to be before next year. Even if I omit everything he has done prior to the war and forgo sleep until the trial I won't be able to pull everything together in time."

"Hermione, if anyone can do it, you can," Percy said, granting her one of his very rare gracious moments.

"Mister Weasley, I have the utmost confidence in Miss Granger, but I agree, it cannot be done. Especially, since our key witness is currently still in a hospital bed. She will be there for the next couple of weeks while Miss Granger prepares for the trial. Tell Kingsley that the time of the trial will be set by Miss Granger and Miss Granger alone. If he has a problem with that, he is very welcome to come by in person and discuss it with me," Professor McGonagall said sternly.

Everyone knew that tone. Her statement was final and it would remain that way.

Percy nodded curtly and said his elaborate goodbyes before disappearing into the fireplace.

"With a family like his I really wonder how he turned out to be such a… a… a numpty," the older witch sighed and Hermione bit back a chuckle.

A few weeks later Hermione rose from her usual seat in the courtroom and gathered her things. The next trial was about to begin and for this one she wasn't allowed in her allotted place beside the minister.

She walked over to the visitor's bench where Ginny, George, Ron, Harry, Valerie and the Weasley parents were already sat down. The room was filling up fast and a lot of other spectators were sitting down around them.

Ginny and Valerie made some room for Hermione between them and Ginny immediately put her arm around Hermione's waist and drew her closer.

Some of them would be called up to the stand to give their statements later, but it was perfectly fine for them to sit with the rest of the visitors. This was it, Hermione thought. This would finally keep Lucius Malfoy behind bars in Azkaban. She had made sure their case was airtight. He would get life in a high security cell, there was no question about it.

Hermione saw George squeezing Valerie's hand and whisper words of encouragement into her ear. Or maybe not. At least Hermione couldn't come up with any words of encouragement that would make Valerie blush.

She playfully smacked Valerie on her arm and whispered, "Can't you two behave for a second? You're in a court room!" But Hermione just couldn't keep her face straight and gave the two of them a smile.

She turned around and saw Draco in the last row, seemingly trying to hide away from the publicity he was about the get.

Molly saw Hermione looking and followed her gaze. She spied the blond man sitting all alone and furrowed her brow before speaking, "Draco, dear, what are you doing up there all alone. Come sit here with us. All the family sit down here!"

Hermione would later swear she had seen a couple of tears trickle down Draco's face as he was pulled into a typical Molly hug when he sat down next to the Weasleys. Draco would, of course, deny such a ridiculous notion.

Suddenly, the voice of a court clerk was heard, "Everyone rise for Minister Shacklebolt! The trial in the case of Lucius Malfoy vs. the Ministry of Magic is about to begin!"

A/N: I want to say thank you again. and as mentioned last time, I'm already starting to work on another story. And even though it might take a while for me to post it, I can already promise you that it will of course be a Harry Potter story with my favourite pairing :)

Hope to see you around!