Hello, everyone! Yeah, I know, can you believe I'm back? I'm terribly sorry for the delay but the start of school was maddening and real life had to come first for a while. Thank you for your patience and I forced myself to deliver Hermione's part of the chapter so it's a bit shorter than normally but at least you've got something to read :P I promise I will work on the next chapter with Scabior's POV next week but I dare not establish a date for when I publish it. Somehow I don't want to rush things and make you disappointed and myself tire of the story. We're getting close to the end, my dear friends (about 10 chapters)! ;)
Inspirational music: Believe in me by Keri Noble
Chap. 42 Boldness
With miserable, hesitant steps Hermione left Scabior in the dungeons where death and pain seemed to thrive.
Finally the shock of everything stabbed her mind and heart that it was a smaller miracle she managed to not crumble in the Great Hall where several bodies covered in sheets still lay on the floor. She found Professor McGonagall who talked rapidly with a hushed voice to adults who wore an uncanny resemblance to young Gryffindors Hermione had seen in corridors and in the common room. Far away Professor Flitwick, Professor Slughorn, and Professor Sprout also spoke to utterly broken parents with ashen faces.
Hermione respectfully waited for McGonagall to end the conversation before she approached the new headmistress.
"Miss Granger? I assumed you had left with the Weasley family," the elder witch said inquisitively and Hermione braced herself for the presumptuous request she would ask for of her busy mentor.
"No, I stayed to clear my thoughts a little. But as I wandered down to the dungeons I came across Aurors guarding a classroom."
She paused to see how McGonagall would react but the woman did nothing else than frown, so Hermione went on. "They are keeping severely wounded people there, in shackles and without healing. The room was…" her voice died as a shiver ran down her spine upon recalling the growing heap of bodies, humans desperately screaming for their lives, and Scabior's sad eyes.
Hermione lifted her chin and rushed out, "The conditions are horrible and the Aurors seems to be reckless. Even if the injured are Death Eaters and snatchers I'm finding it hard to watch them suffer at the hands of those who are supposed to fight for a better world, not create another ruthless one."
"I see," McGonagall retorted and dusted off her green hat. "I will look into it. Thank you for informing me of this, Miss Granger. I'm sure the walls of Hogwarts will not disagree if we first turn our attention to humans, no matter which side they were on during the war. I myself have learnt that sometimes nothing is what it seems and that there is a grey area between black and white. Especially Severus…" The professor trailed off and sniffed as if collecting herself.
"I will gather the staff and decide what we shall do. I imagine the Auror Office is still in shambles and it is quite possible no-one knows who governs the forces. And I will have to send a Patronus to Shacklebolt when he is done visiting the muggle minister and taking care of the most acute issues."
"Please, professor! Do what needs to be done as fast as possible. The Aurors are so cruel down there and both men and women endure humiliation and torture!" Hermione very audaciously exclaimed and the other woman's sharp eyes locked on hers.
"It will do no good to heedlessly rush into a confrontation with Aurors. We need to design a plan. Go to the Burrow. I think you need comfort, Hermione."
Tears of confusion gathered in Hermione's eyes because she did not know whether the headmistress had understood and would help, or if other duties would demand her time and leave none for Scabior and the other mistreated ones. "I…I'm a witness. I saw what the Aurors did and had done. I want to join you," she all but begged which apparently did the trick.
McGonagall's features shifted and she stared at her for a while before she emitted, "Your effort in the war has been remarkable, Miss Granger. Rest one night with the Weasley's. I will send an owl tomorrow morning with the time for our thorough inspection of this school. Don't be late."
Hermione exhaled heavily but understood this was all she would be given at the moment. She was grateful, but worried about Scabior in particular. The prisoners would freeze over the night in the draughty room and their wounds would be infected. Not to mention what could happen during the night if the Aurors were insulted or decided to play games.
All the same she did not want to raise suspicion about having liaisons with a man considered to be an enemy to the wizarding world. If she was exposed she might not be permitted to see Scabior again. Plus, the atrocity of reality established that several priorities were more important than the fate of injured followers of the Dark Lord.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered at McGonagall, who inclined her head, and then walked out of the Great Hall. Her gaze strayed to the entrance to the dungeons and with a faint whimper she whipped out her wand, uttered her destination and disapparated.
She spent the evening comforting and receiving comfort, eating a little of the warming soup; knowing that Scabior most likely would get nothing to eat, but nevertheless realizing that he would not want her to starve out of sympathy.
The Weasley's were shattered and for once the Burrow was eerily silent. But Hermione felt somewhat included, as did Harry who rubbed Ron's back and repeatedly moved his glasses to wipe his eyes. Fred had been carried manually to his and George's room.
They all went to bed early, rightly exhausted from mourning, worrying, and fighting. Molly and Arthur went upstairs to their bedroom after they had commanded all the young ones to sleep in the living room and the adjoining kitchen. They needed to be close to each other this night, like cubs and so they conjured sleeping bags and arranged them as they liked. Harry slept beside Ginny and they faced each other. Bill, Fleur, and Charlie stayed in the kitchen and talked with subdued voices. Percy lay flat on his back but had a firm grip on his brother George's hand. Hermione was unsure whether they would fall asleep first of everyone, or last.
As for her, she was safely placed between Harry and Ron which hardly left any possibility for her to cry undetected for Scabior's and her own uncertain future that seemed so gloomy in a dark living room at night.
Suddenly she felt so small and alone when all she really wanted was to make the world a little bit more beautiful and fight for justice and love the man who's heart she carried. Was it too much to ask for? She did not even dare think of her parents in Australia. She had reached her limit today. The seams were stretched.
The next morning sunshine shone into the house as if there never had been a Dark Lord. Hermione was roused by a soft snore and sat up. Ron had sometime in the last few hours managed to drowse off but on either side of his open mouth tracks of tears remained on the from spattergroit scarred face. She summoned the courage and gently tapped his shoulder.
"Ron?"
"Hermione, what is it?" Ron asked as he opened his eyes and rolled onto his side towards her.
"I need to talk to you. In the garden," she whispered but Ron was either to tired or clueless to anticipate her intentions. "Okay," he replied quietly and so they got up from the floor and went into the bathroom in turns to change to clean clothes. When they were finished Ron took her hand and they snuck out without waking up anyone.
The morning was warm and fresh and Hermione greedily breathed in the scents of summer. Here however Ron hesitated which led to her starting to guide them towards a bench near the shed. She sat down with some distance to Ron and let go of his hand.
"Lovely morning," Ron said and made a sweeping gesture to which Hermione could only nod.
The traces of Voldemort are already fading." And then she looked him in the eye and emitted, "Ron, I need to go to Hogwarts today."
"Oh, okay," he began slowly before he sighed and placed his hands over hers. "I'll come with you."
"No," Hermione cut him off, though using a soft voice. "I have to go alone. Professor McGonagall will be waiting for me there."
"I… I don't understand? What are you going to do there? I mean, you lingered in the castle yesterday to sort out your thought. Can't you stay here and do it with me?"
Ron was bewildered, but it would not be fair to keep him in the dark anymore. "Ron, I want you to listen very carefully to me now. The thing I am to tell you is sort of confidential but I'll tell because I trust you with my life."
"Hermione, you're scaring me now," Ron muttered and held her hand firmer as he ran a hand through his hair. Hermione cocked her head and even though she knew her path she could not summon the Gryffindor within to share the biggest secret just yet.
"I saw Aurors torturing and neglecting wounded people in Hogwarts yesterday. I must go back and help McGonagall deal with the officials before they move the Death Eaters and snatchers to Azkaban where there will be no witnesses," she said and immediately Ron scrunched his face in disapproval.
"Honestly? You're…you're going to leave because of some enemies are getting what they deserve? I don't believe it!"
"Ron, please! They weren't exactly cocky being at the mercy of Aurors. They are people, too. They don't need humiliation! And either way; I don't support that the main defenders of our world against the dark commit crimes themselves," Hermione rationally argued but then Ron wrenched his hand from hers and snarled, "What's the matter with you? The Death Eaters have killed and tortured decent wizards and witches! I was tortured by them, as was Harry! The fewer of them in the world the better."
"Ron!" Hermione gasped, aghast at his opinion even though she understood why he felt like that. "They need trials and proper laws. We need that also! They will never harm anyone again because they are beaten! Some of them already hated Voldemort and the others will serve years in prison. But I will not accept our new Ministry to get blood on its hands the first day after the war."
Ron's face grew white of fury and he flew up from the bench and whirled around, facing her with bared teeth.
"Fred is dead! Everyone is dead because of them! You will stay here with me and the family today and grieve!" As if catching himself and how intimidating he sounded, Ron added with a frighteningly collected tone, "Let's go back to the house and get some breakfast. We can talk later if you want."
But Hermione shook her head and the curls swung beside her face. "No. I have to go. And I trust you won't tell the others of the reason for my departure."
Ron kicked a rock and sent it into a large bush where gnomes began to mutter gruffly. "Well, they won't bloody believe me if I said the truth now, will they? Because this idea is downright insane," he growled but then Hermione had had enough.
"Ronald Weasley! Calm down and hear me out! This is hard for me," she yelled and made Ron's anger flutter away and be replaced by surprise. "There's something else I must tell you, but it have to wait until tonight."
Ron pursed his lips. "What is it? Why can't you tell me now? Really, Hermione, I don't recognize you today."
Filled with guilt but still amazed at his persisting distrust, she glanced up at him with big eyes.
"I promise I'll share it with you later, because I still count on you. Will you trust me for this trip?"
Ron exhaled and his shoulders dropped. "I understand I can't persuade you to not go. Just…be careful, yeah? You clearly want to help them but that doesn't mean they'll be grateful."
She nodded to quell his concern and stood up as a pair of wings zoomed into the garden. An owl dropped a letter and then instantly returned from where it had come. Without hesitation Hermione broke the seal and read the elegant writing of McGonagall: We are ready for you now. Professor Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"I need to go now," Hermione emitted and took out her wand. One half of her expected Ron to take the wand from her hand but evidently he no longer wanted to fight with her.
"Go then." His voice was cool.
"You will understand later. I promise I'll come back," Hermione tried but stared at the red-haired wizard when he actually shrugged.
"You can count on me to lie for you, Hermione," he hissed and at that moment she thought it was best to disapparate.
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