Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Hermione/Remus/Sirius
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 875

Notes:

30 Day OT3 Competition/Challenge: Day 20 - Naked

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Ancient Runes - Task 1 - Write about something irreversible. Prompt - (word) detached

Greek Mythology Category Competition: The Arae - Write about someone using an Unforgivable Curse

Pokemon Trading Card Collection Challenge: Beedrill - Bonus Shiny - Write about a mother protecting her children or children-figures (like Molly to Harry).


Naked terror showed on her face as she stood in front of her six-year old daughter. Rose clutched her shirt with tiny fists, hiding behind her mother.

After the war ended, almost are Death Eaters were either captured or killed, but there were still a few that managed to escape. Although the Aurors had tried to find all of them, a couple of them managed to remain hidden.

And one of them had found Hermione and her family.

"Yaxley, you won't get away!" Hermione snarled, holding her wand in front of her.

Yaxley chuckled darkly. "Little Miss Hermione Know-it-All Granger. All grown up and with a kid. Who would have thought? I'm going to enjoy torturing your daughter and making you watch. When you know all hope is lost—that there is nothing you can do to save her—I'll kill her and then you. It will be so beautiful."

Rose sobbed harder. "Mommy, don't let the bad man hurt me."

"He'll never hurt you," Hermione promised ferociously. "No matter what happens, I will always protect you."

"I want Daddy and Papa," Rose wailed.

"I want them too, and I'm sure they're doing everything they can to get here."

"Such a touching conversation, but you should really pay more attention to me," Yaxley snarled. He aimed his wand at her and sent a cutting hex.

"Protego," Hermione screamed, shielding the two of them.

And the battle was on. Hermione made sure to stay in front of Rose as she defended each attack. She was a much better duelist than she was during the final battle, but her attention was split between the fight and protecting Rose. That was the only explanation for her making such a stupid mistake.

Her wand dropped minimally, and Yaxley saw an opening. He said a chant that Hermione didn't recognize, and a sickly yellow light came towards her.

It hit her, and she was pushed off of her feet. She slammed against a tree, knocking the breath out of her and hitting her head.

Hermione slumped to the ground, feeling wave after wave of dizziness.

"Mommy!" Rose screamed.

Yaxley laughed, and the sinister sound sent shivers up and down Hermione's back. She couldn't seem to focus enough to stand up, though.

"Stay away from her," Hermione weakly ordered.

"What are you going to do about it?" Yaxley taunted.

"Mommy!" Rose screamed again.

Yaxley raised his wand and gleefully shouted, "Crucio."

Hermione watched her worse nightmare come true as Rose's tiny body thrashed on the ground, horrible screams ripping from her throat.

Hermione shook her head. "No, no, no." She couldn't stand up, but she lifted her wand, aimed it at Yaxley, and with hatred burning throughout her whole body, she yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"

Feeling a little detached, she watched the body fall to the ground with a thud that had never sounded louder to her ears.

She swallowed down the bile that wanted to spew from her mouth. She casted an Unforgivable, something she had never done. It was something irreversible. She had killed someone, and she had to live with it.

Loud pops of Apparation sounded. She stared at her partners.

"Hermione!" Remus and Sirius screamed.

"Go to Rose," Hermione urged.

Sirius did go to Rose, but Remus came to her. "Can you stand up?" he asked.

Hermione tried, but her legs failed her. "I killed someone."

Remus looked over to the fallen body of the Death Eater. Remus pulled her into his arms. "It's okay. You saved Rose and yourself. That's all that matters."

"Rose felt a Cruciatus Curse on her. I promised her that he wouldn't hurt her, and I failed."

Remus hugged her, and Hermione cried into his shirt.

When Sirius came with Rose in his arms, he said, "We need to get you two to St. Mungo's."

Hermione turned her head away from Remus. "Is she okay?"

"She isn't awake, but she's breathing."

Hermione stared at Rose, her young body twitching from the aftershocks of the curse being held on her.

"Hermione."

She looked up at Sirius at the stern tone. His grey eyes bore into hers intently. "Listen to me. This isn't your fault. The only one to blame is Yaxley. You did everything you could to protect her. In fact, you saved her life. You're not bad, and Yaxley's death isn't your fault. You have to believe that."

Hermione sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I just want to get Rose to the hospital. I'll deal with my feelings after I know for sure she's okay."

There was a pop of Apparition, and she stiffened at the sight of Tonks who surveyed the situation. Was Hermione about to be arrested? It might have been in defense of her daughter, but she still casted an Unforgivable.

Instead, all Tonks said was "Go. Get to the hospital."

Remus helped her stand and while Sirius Apparated with Rose in his arms. Remus did side-along with her.

They were ushered into a hospital room when they arrived, and it was a flurry of activity.

Hermione didn't have the time or energy to dissect her feelings, but she would later. All that mattered was that Rose was okay. That was the most important thing to her.