Chapter 26: Return to school
The break came to an end much too quickly in the children's eyes; they loved hanging out at each other's houses and enjoyed being able to say and do what they wanted without worry as to the what rule they would be breaking. The first day of school seemed normal enough, everyone got back into the swing of their schedules and attended every meal and studied in the library until thirty minutes before curfew. It was a good schedule for the most part, except the twins didn't want to study much.
"Shouldn't you two be at least attempting to pass your NEWT's?"
"Shouldn't you be studying for you're…? Never mind."
"You know, she's right."
"Isn't she always?"
"Yep."
Umbridge was still wreaking havoc on the school and the small group that were involved in Dumbledore's Army. One night Hermione had had it, "That toad is going to kill us all from panic!"
"Hermione what are you talking about?" Draco asked one day when they were all in the Slytherin common room.
"Everyone is on edge and worried that they are going to be next to be called into her office for 'friendly conversation.' She is absolutely horrid."
"You got hassled today didn't you?"
She plopped into the couch, "Yes, it was frightening."
"Don't worry Mia, she maybe on our tail but no one can say anything, they swore."
"I know, but I still don't like her."
"Name one person that likes her.
"Filch."
"Eww" all of them exclaimed at once.
"That was gross Hermione," Ginny said.
"It's true though," George said, "yeah he is like her little puppy dog," Fred continued. The students laughed.
The group continued on with their lives as if nothing was going on; Hermione had frequent chats with her grandmother and vented a lot of her frustrations, minus her worries about the DA. Eventually January and February passed without much of a hassle. Hermione and George went on their date on Valentine's Day to Hogsmeade and Umbridge got more frustrated as time went one.
One day during a DA practice, there was a banging noise, when they checked it out; it was Umbridge trying to catch them in the act of practicing and meeting illegally. She had caught them and immediately called the minister who met her along with Harry, Hermione and Draco in the headmaster's office. Professor McGonagall was there as well. After a few questions, the Minister announced that he was taking Albus to Azkaban, Albus and Fawkes pulled a magic trick and disappeared. Dolores volunteered to take over the school, she was unfortunately given permission and all of the DA members were punished, they all had to do lines with her special quills a week later. It turns out that Cho had been the one that ratted them out with full intention; Umbridge had promised her a full pardon if she told her what she needed to know.
Hermione, the twins, Ginny, Harry, Draco and Blaise all sat in Minerva's office icing their hands.
"I can't believe that BRAT ratted on us, I swear I am going to get her for this!"
"I think the un-removable boils are enough Mia."
"No their not, those third years were just supporting the cause, they didn't deserve to do lines, it was my stupid idea. This is my fault."
"No Mione, it's ours too, we made our choices." George said putting an arm around her.
The group of fifth years was taking their OWLs a month later and Fred and George had pulled their little stunt as they left the school. Hermione knew that they were going to be alright, but it still hurt to watch the two leave the school so soon. She didn't have time to be sad for too much longer because Harry had grabbed her arm as he collapsed onto the ground from a vision. He only said "Sirius," before bolting toward the castle.
"Harry wait, what if this is a trap?" Hermione asked after he told her what he had seen.
"What if it is? He's my only family left I need him with me! Can you sit there and tell me that you would just sit here if he had someone you loved?" Hermione was silent, "We are going to floo headquarters and see if he's there."
Harry had just come out of the floo when Hermione was tackled to the ground and he was pulled up by his collar by Seamus. Hermione was held back by Ron; Ginny, Luna, Neville, Draco and Blaise were held back by others from Ron's posse.
"Calling upon Dumbledore are we?"
"No," Umbridge slapped him. Snape came in and Harry used a code that he knew that he would understand.
"They have Padfoot in the place where it's hidden; you need to sound the alarm." Snape put a puzzled look on his face and left the office.
"Tell me what that means or I will be forced to use the cruciatus curse."
"You can't do that, it's illegal!" Hermione said trying to remain calm.
"What the minister and the board don't know can't hurt me."
She started to form the curse, "Harry tell her!"
"Tell me what."
"Tell her where it's hidden or I will, I can't watch you be tortured."
"Where what is?"
"Dumbledore's weapon that he plans on using against the ministry."
Hermione had led Umbridge and Harry into the forest, unfortunately, they were overrun by centaurs and when Umbridge attacked one of them, the attacked back and Hermione and Harry had barely made it out of the forest and back to the castle when they met up with Ginny, Luna, Neville, Draco and Blaise on the bridge.
"I have to get to the ministry."
"We are going with you," Hermione said.
"I will not risk it."
"Harry, we are going with you, we are in this together," Neville said.
"Fine, any idea how to get there," Harry sighed in defeat.
"Threstals of course," Luna said.
The group had taken the threstals to the ministry where they went into the Department of Mysteries to find Sirius; he wasn't there.
"Shouldn't you know the difference between real and false memoires by now Potter?" Bellatix asked.
"Aunt Bellatrix?"
"Very observant Draco, you and your sister are to get out of here."
"No we are staying with Harry."
"Very well, Potter, give me the prophecy."
"Come any closer and I will smash it."
"Very good Potter, he knows how to play Bella." One of the death eaters said.
The students were the first to throw a curse and a full battle broke out; the students tried to escape both deatheaters and the department. They hit a stone walled room after running out the door, they stood together and got ready for battle, unfortunately, they weren't ready for apparition nabbing. Harry was standing alone by the time the death eaters had his friends.
"Give me the prophecy Potter and we will let them go."
"Don't Harry!" Hermione yelled. The death eater that had a hold on her put his hand over her mouth.
Harry started reaching to put the prophecy in her hand when there were numerous lights throughout the room and numerous death eaters fell. Sirius appeared with a mysterious looking man beside him.
"Say away from my Godson," Sirius said. He and Bellatrix got into a minor battle while the man ran around to help get the students out of the room. He rounded up Blaise, Draco and Hermione.
"Dad," Blaise said.
"Hi son," he patted his son's shoulder and Hermione found her voice.
"Ohmare?" He looked so familiar, but then again Blaise looked like a miniature, much like Draco did to her own father.
"Hello Hermione it's nice to finally meet you. Listen to me all three of you; you are to get out of here."
"No we are going to help you," Draco protested.
"You all have done well, but let us take it from here."
"Us?"
"The Order, now get out of here while you still can." Hermione looked up and saw her parents, grandmother and friends dueling death eaters throughout the room, more specifically, she focused on Harry and Sirius dueling with Bellatrix. "Go now!" and Soon Ohmare was dueling with the other two as another death eater joined in the fight. Blaise, Hermione and Draco were so wrapped up in their own musings that they didn't notice the death eater approach them. Blaise heard something behind him and turned just in time for the death eater to stun Draco. Hermione and Blaise both drew their wands in time to knock him out. Hermione turned and saw Harry and his team struggling.
"Blaise you take him I have to help." She didn't wait for a response she ran and helped her godfather. She didn't know how long they dueled for but she heard a Latin phrase come from behind her and before she knew what was going on, Ohmare jumped between her and curse and quickly crumpled in a heap on the floor.
"That's for your betrayal traitors; soon you will all pay!" and he began to run in the opposite direction.
Hermione knelt in next to her godfather as Blaise came rushing out of nowhere.
"Blaise, listen to me, take care of your family, take care of our family, they are all you need to keep going through the day."
"I will but you are going to be fine."
"No, listen you all are to take care of each other," they nodded agreement.
"Hermione, just know that I loved you and that if I had known that your family was going to be in danger before I left I would have taken you with me."
"I know."
"I love you both and tell Draco that I love him too."
"We will," Hermione said her face now damp with tears. Ohmare took a few more breaths and then went limp. Blaise clung to his father's body as he wept. He saw something out of the corner of his eye and he saw a death eater, he ran after him. Hermione turned and watched the battle raging on around her, Bella threw a silent hex at Sirius, which she ran and jumped in front of, luckily it was just a stunner, and Bellatrix wanted the Azkaban escapee to take the rap for the damage they had caused. Harry saw Hermione jump in front of the unknown curse for Sirius; he thought it was the killing curse. He didn't notice the stray stunner hit Sirius, when Bellatrix took off running, so did he. He didn't notice that Blaise had followed another death eater just a moment earlier. They entered the corridor in time to watch the battle continue. Bellatrix went to go throw a curse at Blaise.
"Crucio!" Harry shouted; Bellatix fell to the ground with a thud. She turned over and looked surprised that the boy knew of the unforgivable.
"You have to mean it you stupid boy!"
A voice came into Harry's head, "Kill her, she deserves it." He turned to throw a curse at the known voice but was thrown back. Voldemort had come to kill him, he threw a curse at Blaise without uttering a single word and Blaise crumpled to the ground. Just then a green flash came into the room and standing behind Harry was Dumbledore himself.
"Leave him alone Tom!"
"It's my right to kill the boy. Kill or be killed."
Albus threw a curse and another battle began.
Minerva, Lucius and Narcissa took care of the rest of the deatheaters that they could and quickly rushed to the three crumpled forms lying in the middle of the room.
"Hermione!" Narcissa ran to her daughter's side and attempted to wake her while Lucius ran over to the stray form just a few feet away from his daughter and Sirius. He checked his pulse and realized he was gone.
"He's dead."
"Who?" Narcissa asked pulling her daughter's seemingly lifeless body to her.
"Ohmare." Narcissa had a wave of tears came over her, "its ok dear, I am pretty sure that they both already know." Narcissa leaned into her husband as Minerva brought Sirius back.
"Ow my head hurts." He said sitting up.
"I bet, sorry I think that was one of my stunners." Minerva said smiling at her old student.
"Damn Minerva, who were you aiming at, my mother?"
"The thought crossed my mind." Minerva smiled; she and Sirius looked at the three quarters of the Malfoy family in front of them. "Tonks, you and the others take the students back to the Hogwarts Infirmary and make sure Poppy tends to them as soon as she can."
"What about him?" Moody asked.
"Take him as well; just quickly get out of here." The aurors that were conscious quickly took the students back to the school.
"She jumped in front of that curse, it was meant for me." Sirius admitted.
"She always had that Gryffindor courage," Narcissa said.
"Do you know what it was?"
"Something obviously strong enough to knock her out, I think my dear cousin wanted me to take the rap like she always did."
"I wouldn't put it past her." Came a hoarse voice.
"Mia?" Lucius asked.
"Hi Daddy." She smiled at him, "Damn that hurt," she sat up and gently put her hand to her chest.
"Baby I am so glad you are ok," Minerva said.
"Thanks Grams." She smiled at them, "Where is everyone?"
"Safe at the school," Narcissa said through her tears.
"Can we go to the school?"
"Sure," the six apparated outside the gates and quickly took Hermione to the infirmary.
Hermione awoke to a load of commotion coming from the next few beds over. Harry was awake and relaying the previous day's events to the Headmaster and his Deputy while Sirius sat on the bed with his arm around his godson.
"Hey Mia," Draco whispered noticing her open her eyes; he attempted to get out of bed.
"Don't you dare even consider it Mr. Malfoy, your leg won't heal with you constantly get up."
"Yes, Ma'am," Hermione giggled, which drew all the attention of the room to her.
"Hermione," Minerva bustled over to her granddaughter and her parents stood from their sleeping positions next to her bed. She was quickly enveloped into a load of hugs. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit sore, but… what day is it?"
"Tuesday." Harry said.
"I've been out for four days?"
"Yes, but you are more healed then your brother over there," Poppy pointed a finger at Draco who flushed a bright red.
"Mia," Lucius asked, "What do you remember?"
"Jumping at a curse... Then nothing."
"Here take this." Poppy commanded
"What is it?"
"Does it matter?" Hermione shrugged and gulped down the potion and made a face.
"That's disgusting."
"Don't talk to me, talk to Severus he's the one that brews them. He probably does it to ensure that the student's attempt to stay out of the infirmary so that he doesn't have to brew as much." This caused Hermione to giggle. Her smile faded as soon as she laid eyes on Blaise.
"Blaise?" He didn't look at her, "Blaise are you ok?"
"Sure," he looked at her and then rolled over so that his back was facing her. She got this deep feeling of guilt inside of her and turned back to those that were around her bed.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zamini, you are both clear to go. I want you to go straight to your common room and take a shower, both of you could use the hot water. And Mr. Malfoy, you are to use those crutches, if I hear of you off of them, you will come straight back."
"Yes ma'am," Draco stood on his crutches and walked over to his sister, he squeezed her hand, "I'll talk to you later." Blaise didn't say anything; he just walked out of the room. Hermione followed him and then stared down at her hands folded in her lap, willing herself not to cry. She could feel his deep sadness through the necklace. Her thoughts were quickly interrupted by Fred and George running into the room with the Ginny, Molly and Arthur in tow.
"Hermione!" George said breathlessly, he pulled her to him for a deep kiss. Hermione smiled against his lips and pulled away. "I am so glad that you are ok." She pulled him into a hug and held on to him as if her life depended on it. She wouldn't cry, she was a strong person and didn't need this many people worrying about her sanity at the moment. She hugged the rest of the group and they sat down and Harry continued to relive the battle he witnessed between Dumbledore and Voldemort.
"I'm glad that you are both ok."
"Yeah; you want to know what my thought was that made me push him from my mine?"
"What."
"You; you and the Weasleys, our odd dysfunctional family that we have built up over the past five years."
Hermione smiled and as soon as it appeared, it disappeared and was replaced by a stream of tears. She quickly realized what was happening and hid her face under her pillow.
"Mia Bear, what's the matter?" Lucius asked rubbing his daughter's back. She mumbled into his pillow, "Mia, we can't understand you when you hide under your pillow like that."
"Baby talk to us," Narcissa put a comforting hand on her daughter's arm.
"No, it's my fault," She muffled through the pillow.
"Hermione, did you just say it's your fault?" Albus asked. He saw her nod under the pillow. He looked at Minerva.
"Baby, what's your fault?" Minerva asked.
Hermione snapped she sat up and yelled, "Ohmare, my godfather is dead because of ME! That curse was meant for me! I didn't deserve to live, I don't deserve to live, and it's all my fault. Blaise's father is dead because of ME, IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" Hermione collapsed into her pillow and sobbed.
"Mia Bear, that was in no way your fault, Ohmare would have jumped in front of the killing curse itself if it meant you would get to live, he adored you."
"That's why Blaise is mad at me, that's why he can't even look at me, because I was the one that was meant to die; I'm a bloody horrible person!"
"Mione, because of you… if you were a horrible person, I would be the one just now waking up out of a good comma, you jumped in front of that curse for me, you are not a bad person at all," Sirius said from the foot to the bed. This only made her cry harder. George couldn't take it anymore, he quickly got up and he hustled down to the halls to the Slytherin common room.
"Blaise get out here now!" after a few minutes of banging and yelling, Blaise came to the door.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to go to the hospital and tell Hermione that the death of your father is not her fault."
"It isn't her fault," Blaise said confused.
"Really, because she feels that it is and she thinks that you are not talking to her because of it."
"Oh man." Blaise quickly left the doorway and briskly walked into the hospital wing. "Hermione Jean Malfoy!" he called. He saw Hermione look at him between her parents. "How dare you blame yourself for my father's death, you will quit moping around this instant!"
"But Blaise…"
He approached the foot of the bed, "Don't you think that I don't blame myself? If I hadn't let you go off to help the Boy-That-Just-Won't-Die and his godfather, you wouldn't have been in the line of fire and he wouldn't have jumped in front of that curse. There was nothing you could have done, let it go."
"But…"
"No Hermione Let It Go. I miss him too and I knew him about as well as you did."
"But…"
"I swear Hermione if I hear that word one more time I am going to come over there and beat the crap out of you myself."
Hermione thought of her statement for a moment, "I'm sorry."
Blaise quickly whipped the tears from his eyes before sitting next to his god sister. He pulled her to his chest and the two wept for their loss. The group that was around the bed looked at each other before leaving the two to mourn in peace. Blaise and Hermione cried themselves to sleep and they slept for the rest of the day.
A/N: Thank you all for your reviews, they make my day every time. So that was chapter 26 for you, I hope you all enjoyed it. Please Read and Review. Also I don't know if I told you all this or not but I am only going to be updating on Sunday's from here on out simply because college is kicking my butt hard this semester, so please bear with me.
And, yes I am aware that Minerva was supposed to be in the hospital but I like her too much so I decided to forgo that scene. Sad, I know, unfortunately, there is a war so there will be more loss, please bear with me. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please read and review.