Disclaimer: The Harry Potter-verse, borrowed by thousands, belonging to the one and only Mrs J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Since I'm resuming my work (because writing fanfiction does not pay at all, if you didn't know that yet :D ), updates may take longer in between and I'm very sorry about that, but I'll do my best.
I've had really awesome reviews lately, they made me blush and laugh, thank you guys! And thanks to my beta-friend Fredrika, who's still not tired of me :D
Warning: there may or may not be a cliffhanger at the end of this chapter (but just so you know, there is! Again... and I'm not even sorry! )
Chapter 15: Rescue Mission
Hermione woke to the sound of laughter, a silly boy's laugh that sounded like he would choke on his own mirth. It was a pleasant change, and even if she was in the hospital wing, at least it was a cheerful one. It also reassured her that their experiment with the Dark Mark had gone well, but still, she'd only believe the results with her own eyes so she jumped to her feet and hurried out of bed, intent on finding out how Severus and Remus were faring, and eventually the source of the undignified giggles. Peeking around the first closed curtain she came upon, she saw Madam Pomfrey bent over a bare ass with a magnifying glass and tweezers. Harry was sitting next to the bed, tears of mirth rolling down his cheeks.
"Mione!" He greeted her happily when he spotted the wild curls, startling the buttocks' owner who vainly tried to cover himself.
"Remus, I swear if you don't hold still, I'll have you stupefied." The nurse threatened.
"What in heaven's name is going on here? Are you hurt Remus?" She asked, totally and inappropriately transfixed by Remus' ravishing rear.
"Only my pride." Came a muffled response from the pillows.
"That's it! Out of here with you!" The irate healer bellowed. "Not you, Remus. I'm not nearly finished with you."
The poor man groaned while Harry scampered out, snatching Hermione's arm on his way out. She tried protesting, worried about his injuries but Harry led her away.
"Don't worry about it. He was just unlucky landing rear-first in the potions cabinet."
"Can't she just accio the glass out?"
"That's what Remus has been demanding, but you know Poppy: she said it would do more harm than good."
Hermione couldn't help picturing shards of glass zooming in a straight line, tearing through flesh and muscle to find a way out, unmindful of causing new injuries, and winced.
Harry had led her to Severus' bed, for which she was thankful. Her snarky friend didn't look all that better, motionless and pale, but the bleeding had visibly stopped as he was now bandage free. She gasped when she noticed the Dark Mark, standing out against his alabaster skin and starch white sheets. Had it all been for nought?
"Look closer." Harry prodded.
She gently grasped the Slytherin's arm, turning it this way and that to get a better view. The Dark Mark looked just like an ordinary tattoo, a bit faded by time maybe... wait, that wasn't right, was it? She had learned Voldemort's Mark burned blacker and almost writhed with a living quality the more powerful it's master was, and the dark wizard was now at the peak of his power, so why did this Mark look so dull?
"It's deactivated." Harry explained when she asked as much. "Seems old Voldy needed the tattoo as a base for the charms, just like you needed a galleon to enchant for the DA. When you take out the spells, you're just left with an ordinary galleon... or a very tacky tattoo."
Hermione fell back in the chair nearby, relief flooding over her.
"Snake-face was livid." Harry chuckled when Hermione recomposed herself from the shock. "He got hit by the magical backlash and was so furious and humiliated he killed at least a dozen of his minions. Not that I'm complaining... less work for me, you know."
Hermione could see he was putting up a brave face. It must still have rankled the kind-hearted man to watch a madman butcher his own troops, even if they were the enemy.
"Oh, Harry! I'm so sorry. I had no idea." She apologized. "At least, I won't ever have to do that again. It was scary, and a bit gross to be honest. I'd rather heal werewolfs anytime."
"You might have to do it once more though." Harry told her smugly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know Albus. Lose a spy, gain a spy. He had every eventuality planned out, of course, even the fact that Snape might lose his cover."
"Who's the new spy?"
"I can't tell. Honest!" He cried out when he saw her hurt look. "I'm not allowed to, I had to take a wand oath and everything. Since we don't know how Snape... All right, Professor Snape, got ousted as our spy, Albus is being extra-careful with who knows about the new one. So far, I think only three of us know, really. And I don't think he'd tell you. He's still pretty pissed at you, and even more so since you decided to save Severus without consulting him."
Hermione snorted, not surprised in the least. He probably considered his ex-spy as a useless burden now and not worth the bother to help. What a rotten, conniving, selfish, spiteful old man. She had a few more epithets to add to that but decided she could probably use her time better.
"We can't leave him here." She said, thinking aloud. "Merlin knows what Dumbledore intends to do with him now. I wouldn't be surprised if he used him as bait, or even exchanged him against other prisoners... I don't know, but I do know that I won't leave without him."
"You really don't trust Albus, do you?" Harry asked with a frown.
"No." The young witch said gravely in hushed tones. "But I have my reasons."
"I guess everyone does at some point." Dumbledore's golden boy said, looking at her speculatively.
"You know, sometimes I fear what he has planned for you. I know you can't tell me what the two of you are doing..." She added hastily when he saw he was about to protest. "And I'm not asking you to, but I'm just afraid he'll use you like he has Severus, or Remus, or..."
"Or you?" Harry finished for her.
She nodded.
"And many other Order members. Just look at Sturgis, and even Tonks. They just snapped. Sturgis has never been the same since, and Merlin knows how Tonks will be when we find her."
They fell silent for a while, both lost in thought.
"So what do you plan to do about Snape? You can always stay here and look after him, there are other refugees gathered in the castle's furthest wing."
"No, that would still leave Severus in the old man's clutches. And it's the first place Voldemort would come looking for him and who knows where his spies are?" She cradled the prone man's hand and pushed back a lock of hair behind his ear, looking worriedly at his sunken cheeks and sallow skin.
Just then, Remus, who had been standing behind the privacy curtain while the two friends talked, made his presence known and Hermione threw herself into his arms, hugging him fiercely, much to Harry's surprise. She didn't notice how stiffly the older wizard was standing, nor his beet red face, blinded as she was that everything had turned out alright in the end. Harry excused himself, exchanging a suspicious look with the man he considered an honorary uncle.
Remus had felt uneasy listening to Hermione, his Hermione speak so possessively of Snape. He knew he was being jealous, and for no good reason, but he still had difficulties accepting that she wanted him of all people. And here she was, publicly showing her affection for him, not minding at all that her best friend was right there. He had thought she would be a bit ashamed of being with an older wizard who didn't have much to his name, but was proven wrong by her loving hug.
"We'll take him back to the cottage." Remus whispered in her ear, knowing it was the right thing to do and wanting to please his witch.
"Really? You don't mind?" She asked excitedly, beaming brightly.
"The WARTS have to stick together, right?" He chuckled, seeing how happy it made her.
The couple spoke to Madam Pomfrey, inquiring about his health and if he needed special care or potions. But all he needed, it seemed, was time for his body and magic to reconstruct.
"Actually, he could wake up any minute and I know he'll be a pain when he does. He needs rest and won't listen to me, stubborn as he is. Severus just hates my infirmary I think, too many bad memories here." She sighed theatrically. "If only someone trustworthy could care for him... Unfortunately, the headmaster wants him kept here indefinitely." The nurse stared at Hermione meaningfully.
"Oh!" Hermione gasped. "Hum, Remus, I think we should leave now." She added, tugging his sleeve so he would follow her back to Severus' bed. "Good-bye, Madam Pomfrey!"
"Good-bye, dear. I'll be very busy in the storage room for the next twenty minutes at least." She said nonchalantly, before turning on her heels without a backwards glance.
Remus finally caught on and hurried back to the Slytherin's cot, casting a disillusionment on him while Hermione gathered his wand and clothes. Remus hoisted the other wizard up and, tucked between him and Hermione, they hurried out of the castle, praying nobody looked too closely. From afar it looked like they were walking a bit awkwardly next to each other, but from upfront, it was clear they were hiding someone. Luckily, everyone they knew seemed to be busy, and the few students they met scuttled away from the weird strangers. It was not a time when you went looking for trouble, not with Voldemort and Death-Eaters on the loose.
They were almost at the gates when Severus stirred and groaned in discontent at his harsh handling.
"Shhh!" Hermione shushed between her teeth. "We're almost there."
Severus was leaning heavily on her slim built even with Remus supporting most of the wizard's weight. She was sweating abundantly by the time they walked past the two winged boars garding the front gate.
"I'll apparate with him. Will you be alright?" Remus asked worriedly.
She nodded and watched as Remus spun on the spot and disappeared with the other wizard. She was leaning against a nearby tree, still panting and knew she wouldn't be able to apparate before she caught her breath. The last thing she wanted was to get splinched.
Hearing people hurry up the path from Hogsmead, she hid behind the tree's large trunk, careful to stay in the shadows.
"Go back, Pansy. It's bad enough if someone sees me here. At least I have an excuse." Drawled a voice she hadn't heard since graduating from Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy was strutting up the path, grey robes swirling around him as he pushed back the distraught witch.
"But you're hurt! Let me at least take care of you before you go see him at least." The woman pleaded.
"Hush!" The blond Slytherin seethed angrily. "Leave! Now!"
Pansy Parkinson sobbed loudly and disappeared with a loud crack. The second she was gone, Malfoy's usually arrogant posture slumped dramatically and he shuffled away, shuddering from time to time. Hermione waited for him to vanish completely from sight, not sure what to make of it, and apparated away.
She was greeted by twin scowls outside the cottage.
"Where were you?" asked the first.
"Do you know how worried I was?" came the second.
"Why in Merlin's name aren't you in bed?" she retorted, worried about Severus' pale face and sweaty brow.
The two wizards only scowled harder so she relented:
"I had to hide when someone walked up to the gates... You'll never guess who?"
She recounted the strange scene between her two Slytherin former yearmates.
"And Draco looked ill?" Severus questioned.
"Yes. Parkinson said he was hurt, but it looked more like he was sick. He was pale, more than usual, I mean, and worn-out... and he was shivering." She recalled. "Do you know what he was doing there? He said he had an excuse. Did he take his father's seat on the board of governors?"
"Even if he did, I doubt the headmaster would give him free access to the school's grounds. No, it looks more like Dumbledore found a new replacement for me."
"Malfoy? A spy?" She said unbelievingly, eyes round as galleons.
"I often came back to the castle in that state to report to Albus. He was probably put under the cruciatus, it's one of the Dark Lord's favourites when he is displeased with one of his servant's lack of results. He thinks it motivates his troops to do better."
"Harry did mention there was a new spy." Remus said thoughtfully.
"You were eavesdropping?" Hermione exclaimed, swatting the Gryffindor's arm. "I can't believe you. What if I had been telling him how great you are in the sack?"
Remus blushed and glanced nervously at Severus who was growling.
"That better be a very distasteful joke."
"Of course it is, Severus!" she laughed. "We're not quite there yet."
"What do you mean, yet?"
Hermione was about to tease her friend and his big brother act when a patronus pranced in, stopping in between the two Gryffindors.
"That's Ginny's." She hurriedly told Severus, who was unlikely to have ever seen it.
"I need you! Death-Eaters at St Mungos! I don't know how they got in, they're rounding up the healers!" The luminescent horse exclaimed in Ginny's panicked voice. That girl did not panic without a good reason, she was cut from the same cloth as the fierce, unwavering Molly Weasley after all, so her assailants had probably backed her into a corner. Hermione and Remus were ready to apparate away when the young woman saw Severus getting dressed.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked in a dead cold tone.
"I'm going. What? Did you expect me to stay around and be pampered?" He sneered.
"Don't be ridiculous. You can hardly walk." And as if to prove her point, the usually graceful wizard stumbled, almost landing face first on the hard floor before Remus caught him. Hermione stood an inch from his face with a warning glare. "Don't make me pull a Neville on you! I swear I'll petrify you if I have to. And if you dare set a foot outside, you will wish it was Voldemort you had to deal with."
Severus grumbled and locked himself in Remus' bedroom, sulking like a spoiled child. Not that she didn't trust him - but she actually didn't concerning this issue - Hermione kept his wand with her. She'd give it back to him later and pretend she had forgotten about it. She hated being such a Slytherin with him, but it was for his own good, and it was his own fault for rubbing off on her so much.
The situation at St Mungos didn't look good. Order members and Aurors couldn't even enter the building, they had to fight Death-Eaters and dark creatures right in the street itself. Well, if this didn't make the front page of the muggle newspaper! Obliviators sure would have a lot of work after tonight.
Remus and Hermione exchanged a resolute nod and transformed into their patronus form, determined to find and rescue the youngest Weasley, and every other innocent they found along the way. The two glowing forms zoomed once above the battle, and were greeted by many cheers. Since her display at Diagon Alley and the Quibblers following article, the British wizarding population considered the "angels" a good omen in battle. After the aerial scouting, the two patroni flew straight at the most strategic points. Hermione's hair was particularly savage tonight, whipping viciously at 360° at her enemies, probably because she was so furious they would attack a hospital of all places, and one where her friend worked too. Meanwhile, Remus was so fast, much more so than Hermione, that it was hard to follow him by sight. His enemies didn't stand a chance, impossible as it was to avoid him. Soon after, two other patroni made their apparition and were greeted by many more cheers of the light side and other citizens who had joined the fray, concerned for their relatives and friends who had been in St Mungos when the Death-Eaters made their move. It was becoming a full-sized battlefield that finally began turning against Voldemort's troops.
The patroni's magic allowed the light side to make a break into the building, pushing back werewolves, exterminating dementors and making vampires flee in panic. Unfortunately, by that time, Luna and Neville had to retreat, exhausted, but Hermione was very proud of them. Her pupils had done well for their first mission. The lower ranking supporters of the Dark Lord, those who weren't even given the title of Death-Eater and much less marked, were swiftly dealt with by the Aurors and Order members with the help of the normal everyday witch and wizard. In Hermione's mind, the fact that the wizarding population fought back for and by themselves instead of waiting passively for the authorities to do their job, was an incredible step forward. It gave her more hope for the future than anything else had before.
But there wasn't time to rejoice, with grim determination, she and Remus sped forward, flying through walls, ceilings and floors in search of Ginny and the captured healers. They finally stumbled upon them in a large hall, the medical personnel all bound in thick ropes and guarded by dark wizards. Exhausted, the couple regained their human form and sent word via Hermione's otter patronus to the others. They hid and spied from behind a crate of potions, and, despite the fact that she was utterly distracted by Remus warmth on her back and breath in her ear, she managed to spot a mane of fiery red hair. Ginny was lying unconscious and bound on the spotless tiled floor, she had probably put up a good fight knowing her. However, they couldn't intervene right now seeing how well guarded they were: at least ten battle-hardened Death-Eaters patrolled around their twenty-some prisoners, it would be foolish to take them on just the two of them without waiting for reinforcements.
"They couldn't have been that far behind, could they?" The young woman whispered anxiously in the wizard's ear.
Remus shuddered slightly and squeezed her hand in understanding. It was hard for him too to lie in wait when the youngest Weasley was in the hands of those beasts, and hurt already by the looks of her. Hermione nudged him when she saw her redheaded friend start to stir. Weasleys were too stubborn to even stay unconscious for long.
Ten minutes later, they heard a commotion, growing louder and louder, down the main corridor, and the first spell flew before the two Gryffindors sprang from their hiding spot, stupefying the two nearest dark wizards and sprinting towards Ginny. However, surprising everyone, Voldemort's troops didn't fight back but each grabbed one or two of the medical staff instead and disappeared with a pop.
"Nooooo!" Hermione screamed as a burly man snatched their friend and port-keyed away right in front of her. She knew she would be haunted by Ginny's terror-filled hazel eyes until she could smother her in a hug once more.
She then dissolved into a puddle of tears in Remus' arms.
"We'll find her again." He told her softly. "We'll get her back, I promise."