Disclaimer : I do not any rights of Harry Potter !
Thanks to Ferretina, my Beta !
Chapter 7: Rancorous Blood
The weeks passed and shortly before Halloween Hermione decided to use a boggart in her third year class. This reminded her of many memories but she took pleasure in seeing the students practicing magic before her. She knew of course that it was not the kind of spell that would under no circumstances be used in combat but, after all it was necessary that from time to time the atmosphere was a little more relaxed.
She did not give them homework and let them out without noticing that three 7th year Slytherins were in front of the entrance of her classroom. It was only several days later that she realized that they were still stationed at the same place at the end of several of her classes. She decided not to talk about it, and to settle herself what might happen, after all she had fought Death Eaters, and it was not students who were going to scare her!
It was when she returned to her classroom one morning that she decided to act, someone had written on her desk in flaming letters: "Mudblood". Instinctively her hand was placed on her arm which reminded her of painful memories. She let go a small, discreet tear, and slammed her fist on her desk before removing the frightful words from it. It was too much, but she could not do anything without evidence.
For a brief moment she wanted to punish them with the same pen that Umbridge had used to make the pupils write lines, but she herself disgusted herself with such thoughts. Her day finished so she went to fetch Harry and took advantage of the good weather despite the coolness to make him walk a little outside. Several pupils looked at them, it was rare to see a young child in the school grounds and it was strange to see their teacher, other than in the classroom.
"Your son is very beautiful madame, congratulations, it would not look like you had a child." Said a fourth year student in Ravenclaw.
"Oh uh, thank you very much Miss."
"He looks like you!" Added a student from Gryffindor.
She thanked him with her head, laughing inwardly, a child she had adopted resembled her. It was certainly nice to hear flattery but the young Professor moved away from the passing students to enjoy a little of her best friend in miniature. Sirius missed her, he had gone on a mission for several days to track down the remaining Death Eaters who were still faithful to their Master. Without news, that was the worst situation, Hermione did not know if the man she loved was still alive.
She was so focused on Harry and the memories she had with him and Sirius in her old life, which today seemed so far away, that she did not hear any footsteps approaching behind her back. When she was alerted by a broken branch she stood up and turned abruptly to see the three Slytherin troublemakers who from an "Accio wand" deprived the young woman of a means of defence. They could hurt her, even kill her, but the worst part was Harry she was pressing against her and she had started crying as she felt the stress of the young woman.
"It's time to make you understand that you are not welcome here! You are not worthy to teach in this school." Said the first with a sadistic smile on his lips
"And do you think you are cleverer than pureblood? You are a shame at this school and you will leave it you can assure it!" Added the latter with the same mad look she had already seen in Bellatrix.
"Do what you want but know that this will not be without consequences because threatening a teacher will lead you to expulsion, to harm me will lead you directly to Azkaban gentlemen!"
She could see that her little sentence had not had an ounce of impact among the three wizards who all pointed their wands at their Professor. She could never defend herself without her wand and all she could do would be to protect Harry at all costs, she was her mother in her heart from the moment she had him in her arms for the first time. When she heard the first syllables of "Crucio" that the three Slytherins were going to throw at the same time she turned her back to them to make sure that none of the spells touched her son.
An immense pain appeared, Hermione had already suffered the Cruciatus Curse in the past but one sorcerer at a time, there were three and she could very quickly lose consciousness or lose her reason. She screamed, her cry mingled with Harry's powerful tears, but she did not bother, she would stand for him and for Sirius, she was stronger than the pain that was in each corner of her skin.
Suddenly everything stopped, the pain disappeared and it was thanks to a group of 5th year students of Hufflepuff that the young woman was saved, she was more than happy to have taught them a few days earlier the spell "Expeliarmus". They tried to escape but it was a group of Gryffindor of 7th year, who alerted by the crowd had joined the scene.
Hermione was still in shock and kept Harry from herself if she was now on her knees on the floor and gently regained her breath. She whispered the name of her Elf Holy to whom she confided without explanation the little boy and collapsed the second afterwards on the ground. It was then at the infirmary that she awoke, surrounded by Minerva and Albus.
"Oh Hermione, how are you? We were so worried when we learned that you had suffered three "Crucio" at the same time, fortunately those wizards were not yet very powerful!"
Minerva had uttered her words in a trembling voice.
"I just have a good headache, it will pass, it is not the first time I have such a treatment I will recover. I just lost my credibility as a teacher, I would understand you replaced me with Albus."
"By Merlin no! On the contrary, you have proved all the courage you have in facing you without sagging and protecting your child at the risk of your life! When you get better, I want you to take your place."
It was a proud look that emanated from the face of Albus against the young woman that she collapsed in her bed to rest. That same evening she was able to go out and go back to her room, then thanking Holy for taking care of Harry more than necessary, the Elf was pleased with her work and returned with a smile. Hermione approached Harry's bed, who was sleeping in a closed fist, and stroked his face with a tender, maternal gesture.
The next day tried to do it as normal as possible, of course, many rumours had circulated and a tired but determined witch made them run, no one dared ask her the end of this story. It was at midday that Albus decided to clarify the situation, because at the dinner of the previous day he had not mentioned the events although everyone had noticed the absence of their professor.
"Many things circulate about an attack yesterday by Slytherin students on Professor Wilkins. Indeed, cowardly and for the simple reason that she is a born-muggle witch, they took to three to surprise her while she took advantage of a little time with her son."
The whole room was quiet, every pupil like every teacher wanted to hear the story because only small pieces here and there had circulated. A wave of black glances came to the pupils of the other three houses on that of Slytherin before the attention returned to the speech of their director.
"They disarmed her by taking advantage of the fact that her hands were busy on her son's protection and together used the Cruciatus Curse, one of the unforgivable spells causing excruciating pain on her. Concentrating her energy on her son, who thanks to her was not wounded, she suffered three full force. I'll turn it over to Professor Wilkins."
Hermione stood up, took the place of Professor Dumbledore and saw that everyone supported her with a compassionate smile, even Slytherin pupils. She coughed a little to pick up a voice that would suit the event.
"I think you have understood that you will not see your comrades again any time soon. The use of an unforgivable spell results in a shipment to Azkaban. I would like to sincerely thank the students who have come to my rescue and who have my utmost gratitude. It is also important, in my opinion, that each house understands that I refuse to make any remarks and / or actions against the Slytherins."
The Slytherin house remained silent at the speeches of their Professor, many of them had a horror of having a Mudblood as a professor but they would never have been in this kind of extreme. Moreover, even if they did not admit it, they loved their classes which were interactive and interesting. They could only be happy that the sorceress did not judge their whole house for the mistake of three sorcerers.
The meal then resumed, and even if the main subject of conversation was this event, everyone held back the courage and strength of mind of their professor as well as her tolerance. The weeks that followed until Christmas passed without worry though Hermione kept Sirius from saying two words to the Slytherin director.
