Written In The Body

Poetheather

A/N: Well, I did it. However, things have been very rough this week. Between therapy and going to another state to see Macbeth (movie with Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston Woot!) over the weekend there will be no chapter next Sunday. The week after there should be one without any problem. So, I will see you all then. Hugs!

Still not JKR. I mean, do I look like her?

Forty-Seven

"Ah… look at little Muddy there, on the ground where her kind belongs. You know… you'll make a good pet once you've been properly trained." Bellatrix sneered down at her, something dangerous and a little perverted in her eyes that drove a cold spike to her core.

Hermione looked up at her, her face burning with tears, jaws uncomfortable from the screaming she had been doing, how wide her mouth had stretched, how tight her mouth had clenched. Everything ached, her whole body protested, and muscles twitched as they tried to deal with the curse energy, moving in individual packets without synchronicity. She panted, desperate for air to fill her burning lungs as she glared at Voldemort's twisted second in command with pure loathing. She hated this woman like she hated nothing in this world. "Bitch."

The boot to her side hurt and she heard and felt a wet snapping sound. The flare of pain and nausea, the wash of heat that covered her, the rise of sweat was nothing compared to the Crucios she had just been under but that didn't truly diminish the event. That spell seemed to enhance the sensation of other pains afterwards, making you feel even the simple aches of the body with terrible intensity if it was held on you long enough. Bellatrix cooed at her, "Awww… that's so cute that you think you have an option. You are mine Muddy, to do with what I want and you always will be. You're my pet do with and torment as I will."

"No! No! I'm not yours. I'll never be yours!" She screamed again just as the Cruciatus tore her apart again lighting everything up again in an aurora of torment. Her mind was lost as her body was consumed by that nerve rending force that rent everything in her over and over again.

Coming out of it she heard that damnable humming. She seemed to enjoy humming as she tortured as she had done more and more of it as this had gone on. That thought itself churned her stomach as she realized that the crazed witch was getting off on this. In a singsong voice, Bellatrix responded to her, "Oh I have no doubt whatsoever you will willingly give yourself to me Muddy."

"Never!" Hermione worked really hard to push herself up onto an elbow, just a little lift off the floor in order to glare more effectively against the insane Death Eater. It was all the fight she had left to give but she wasn't just going to give in. That simply wasn't in her.

Bellatrix laughed again, clearly filled with glee at the continued struggle and kicked her in the side down by her hip. Crowing excitedly, she taunted, "I know something you don't. I know something you don't."

Her ribs screamed in agony as a second kick landed just off where Bellatrix had kicked her earlier, moving the snapped rib around dangerously. She could feel the bone shift slightly in her ribcage and the hot flush increased. With some effort she swallowed back her gorge, desperate to avoid showing anymore weakness before the madwoman. Her body was not working quite right and it took more effort to do things than it should so she could only hope and pray she could manage that. Bellatrix leaned down, getting right in her face so she could smell her fetid breath before she whispered, "I think you just might change your mind when you see the surprise I have for you Muddy."

When she stood back upright and moved away from Hermione, she gestured off to where she couldn't see and her younger sisters and Ginny where shoved forward, bound and gagged, dread in their eyes. Tears were flowing down Amy's dirty face and she looked sick with fear. Lucy appeared to be on the edge of panic, her school uniform torn in several places. Ginny's face had several bruises and a cut lip as she had clearly fought back before they had got her. Bellatrix gave her a few moments to take that all in before she stepped in the way briefly, to draw attention back to her. "Now, as you can see I have a few things of yours. I'll give you a choice Muddy, you can give yourself to me forever or you can watch these… 'people' die. I heard they mean something to you."

Hermione was in an absolute panic, her heart racing just hearing this. What the hell was she supposed to do over this? Fear and desperation was in all their wide eyes as they silently begged her for assistance and she had no idea what to do, her mind coming up blank. Giving in to Bellatrix in that way was simply not an option but then she would be condemning them to death. What the hell could she do? She didn't want to fail them but to aid them meant to fail herself. Humming that damnable ditty, the wild haired witch Crucioed the three of them, the gags muffling their screaming as they fell to the floor writhing. It did not make the sound any less horrific. "Tick tock. Tick tock Muddy."

Hermione's mind spun, desperate to think of something, some way to get free so she could save them, some way to find an advantage somewhere, anywhere. Her eyes were moving back and forth, trying to find a solution, she would be happy to take most anything. The other witch cackled excitedly as she watched the younger girl's internal struggle, "Too long!"

Bellatrix hit Amy with a Cruciatus and held it there. Hermione was horrified at the sight of her youngest sister thrashing about in her bindings, trying to drag herself forward but her body did not obey her, so all she could do was scream out at the top of her lungs, "NO!"

When the spell was lifted, her adorable six year old sister Amy lay there unmoving, bloody drool coming from her nose and the corner of her mouth, past the gag, eyes rolled up in her head, only the sclera showing. Hermione tried to swallow her bile, but it was a difficult task as it rose up to burn her throat. The horror of the scene tore at her worse than the spell had. With great effort she pulled her eyes away from her littlest sister and stared icily at the witch with all the hate she could muster. Bellatrix tittered in pleasure as she looked over her work and then when she turned back to face Hermione she purred out, "My my, whoever is going to be next?"

"Stop it, stop please," begged Hermione. She knew there was no mercy in the woman but she couldn't help it. Just the sight of Amy made her shudder and want to say or do anything to save what she could, debase herself if she had to.

"Then come over here and give yourself to me Muddy," said Bellatrix with amused patience. "You know you want to. It's what you have always been meant for."

Hermione wavered ever so slightly, not wanting anyone else to die because of her but was almost powerless to move, her mouth and tongue bound almost as if by spell. Her eyes widened in realization a moment before.

"Tsk tsk." Bellatrix danced over behind Lucy and slit her throat with casual efficiency. "Too slow."

Hermione shrieked, unable to tear her eyes away from the sight of the life fading from Lucy's eyes as blood poured forth. Her sister dropped to her knees and then fell backwards, blood pooling around her. Tears blurred her vision and she wept, the madwoman had complete control of this situation and there was nothing she could do about it. She was utterly powerless, unable to affect anything. She tried to blink the wash of tears away so she would be able to see her love, next on the chopping block.

Bellatrix sidled up alongside her fiancée, rubbing her horrid body against the redhead, to finally lick her cheek, her tongue flat as it slid up leaving a trail of saliva. Ginny shuddered in revulsion, trying to shy away but was held in place by a hand. Bellatrix turned to look right at Hermione and smirked, "Blood traitor tastes good Muddy. I bet you are good at eating out your betters. Huh Muddy? Do you love that taste? Do you? Do you beg for it? To clean out that traitorous snatch? Speak Muddy. Speak!"

Hermione shuddered and before she could say anything she was hit with another Cruciatus. It roiled through her body, a burning oil that left its taint everywhere, nerves slick with fiery pain. "What was that Muddy? I can't hear you!"

Breathing was difficult, her body protesting any movement as it only aggravated the throbbing from her nerves magnifying every little thing into a cacophony of misery. She flopped on the ground, back arched like a bow, trying to get away from it, rib shifting dangerously adding new complexity to the tune. It took her a moment to realize that the curse had stopped, that the pain had gone away as the aftereffects still tormented her. The acidic taste of vomit was in her mouth and she swallowed it down bitterly. "Admit it Muddy, you belong to me. You are mine and will always belong to me to do with as I will."

Ginny was looking scared, her eyes filled with love but also defiant enough to remind her that there were lots of reasons she had to keep fighting, despite the cost. That reminder of the love that was there let her find herself again, letting her draw up strength from a deep wellspring within, giving her just enough strength to spit out a rebellious, "No, you insane bitch! Kill me if you want but I will never be yours!"

"Now, was that polite? Were you ever taught manners, Muddy?" Bellatrix walked around Ginny, her wand tip tracing along her body and said, "Avada Kadavra."

The flash of green made Hermione's stomach drop. With a boot to the ass, Bellatrix shoved her fiancée's dead body onto her, crushing the air from her before casting another Cruciatus. Hermione screamed and screamed until there was no air in her lungs, the dead weight of Ginny's body making it more difficult to pull any back in, the immersive physical pain sadly a mercy after all she had suffered, despite going on and on and on.

HGHGHGHGHG

Hermione screamed herself awake, thrashing herself into a tangle, panicking more at her inability to move. Hands struggle to hold her down and even though it burned to breathe, every movement an agony, she fought back, trying to free herself from this. "NO! GINNY!"

"I'm right here love. It's okay. I'm okay. I'm right here. Please love, wake up. I'm okay." Ginny's voice sounded full of sorrow and desperation as she pleaded with her, "Come on baby, it's okay. Please. I have you."

Hermione had difficulty opening her eyes as they were a bit gummy from her crying and through haze of her tears saw Ginny's face above her, showing strain from trying to keep her still. With a sob of deliverance, she threw her arms around the woman she had feared never seeing again and began bawling even harder, "You're alive. You're alive. You're alive."

Ginny was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her, running a hand down her back, trying to soothe her. Hermione could only shake and cry in her love's arms, only peripherally aware that she was in the Hospital Wing. The nightmare had been so real, with so many things that made it feel like she had really been there, that Bellatrix had really been taunting her. "Shhh Kitten, it's okay. I have you. Everything's good. I'm still alive. It's okay."

Burrowing deeper into those strong arms, Hermione clutched her fiancée tightly. Her breath jagged as the terror from the nightmare still had her in its hold. She just let herself drown in the sensual presence of Ginny, the reality of the smell of her fiancée's skin and hair thanks to the soaps she used interacting with her own body odor, the tactile truth of the muscle's play in her back and of the arms clasped around her, hands digging into the fabric of Ginny's shirt, the soft gentle slide of one hand trailing down the back of her head in a comforting chill like water, the contrast of Ginny's voice that was lower than hers as she tried to soothe her, the faint sounds of the rest of the room echoing about giving that sense of space. She kissed Ginny on her neck, burying her face there, the slightly salty taste of her flesh helping drive home just how real she was, how concrete this was, how this was not simply a dream, that Ginny was truly not dead, that Amy and Lucy were not dead as well. It had all been a nightmare, nothing but a nightmare, just another bloody nightmare to come out of the events of Malfoy Manor. A wave of grief hit her as images from the nightmare played through her mind again. She sobbed out, "Oh Merlin Vixy, it was horrible."

Ginny turned her head slightly and kissed what part of Hermione's head she had access to. Leaving her head against the curly hair, Ginny murmured, "Kitten, it's okay, you don't have to say anything unless you want to. You're safe."

Hermione moved her head deeper into the crease of Ginny's shoulder, trying to forget the damn song the witch had been humming by trying to ground herself in the here and now but it was so difficult. The tune which still sort of echoed in her own head sounded so close to Pop Goes The Weasel but just off enough to make her crazy all on its own. She wasn't sure if she could handle hearing that song anymore thanks to that bitch, perverting anything around her that she could, even a harmless childhood ditty. But how had the Wizarding world even gotten ahold of the song?

That helped distract her from the nightmare, the intellectual musing, and slowly the intensity of it all faded, her grip on Ginny loosened, and her breathing became a lot easier as the tight band around her chest relaxed. It felt remarkably like a too tight bra being taken off despite nothing of the sort actually happening, given that she was wearing pajamas at the moment. Her crying turned softer, less desperate, tears merely leaking more than anything else. She sniffled, trying to clear her nose. She hated how her nose insisted on getting in on the act when she really truly bawled like she had just done. She had been so terrified, so relieved how could she not? Yet as if crying that heavily wasn't indignity enough that the nose had to join in on the fun to share its joy? What a fright she must be at the moment.

Ginny leaned back, wiped some tears from her face with a thumb and gazed into her eyes with such adoration that the reason for the tears changed. Hermione was so overwhelmed by the wave of warm emotion that hit her from that sight. The redhead leaned forward, uncaring of the state of her face and kissed her softly, their lips pressed together just right, not too much, not too light. It was a perfect kiss for the moment. That made her heart swell as well. Hand cupping the side of her face, Ginny asked, "Hey now, are you feeling better love."

Hermione's tears continued to slide down her face as she nodded in answer, not trusting her voice at the moment as she was sure it would break. If she spoke she just might bawl some more as her emotions were all over the place. This, this was exactly what she had needed, this right here. The love from Ginny, the way she looked at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world despite what she was sure was a pale, blotchy, snot covered face with horrendously disheveled hair. Being here in Ginny's arms was the antithesis of everything Bellatrix stood for. This was her healing, this more than potions or any other magic. Despite being in the Hospital Wing, it was in Ginny's arms where she found her true solace and balm from the madness of Bellatrix. With just a smile from her it was so easy for her to forget the abject hatred carved into her arm, a bloody testament to darker times. No, Dumbledore had been in the right about the power of Love. No wonder the Unspeakables had a room where they studied it. She tried to quiet her mind so she could just lose herself in this moment.

That quiet reminded her of the other urgency she had, the other worry that had been niggling there at the back of her mind, finally able to be heard once thee roaring from the nightmare had faded. Her eyes snapped open and she pulled back, looking about the room franticly. "Lucy! Oh God Ginny… how is she?"

"She's fine Hermione. Madam Pomfrey had her out of here rather quickly actually as it didn't take her long to patch her up. Your shield kept them from being able to do worse things to her with their spells so she was nice and safe as opposed to you. She is rather shaken up however, especially because of what happened to you but otherwise okay. Luna has taken her to get some food as she hasn't left your bedside, sitting vigil here with me. We all missed dinner and when her stomach started growling we both insisted she go get something. She really loves you 'mione."

"I love her too." She sighed in relief. Lucy was fine. Ginny was fine. That meant everybody was fine. She relaxed a bit more, letting all the lingering tension relax, and fell into a lassitude, drained from it all.

"Now take these potions. I promised Madam Pomfrey that I would take care of you and so long as I do a good job I get to stay. So drink up and you get a treat. Topsy." Ginny handed her a bottle of potion that she was unfamiliar with. She furrowed his brows in consternation.

While Ginny spoke to House Elf in hushed tones, Hermione drank something that tasted a little like how a troll smelled. This was not something she was particularly pleased to know firsthand and now taste first hand. She gagged a few times as she choked it down, the noxious taste bringing tears to her eyes, and took the vial that Ginny slapped into her palm, downing it in one go. It was her calming draught, with a touch of pain relief potion mixed in, based on the taste that managed somehow to cut through Eau d'Troll. She shuddered a few times, making all sorts of faces, as none of those potions were particularly good tasting and mixed horribly somewhat akin to Neville's potion making skills, faces she was sure that were adding to her beauteous visage.

When she was a bit more done with wishing she could shave her tongue and perhaps oblivate that taste from her memory, she opened her eyes and there was Ginny holding out flannel for her to wipe her face with as well as a mug of hot chocolate, the extra rich kind if her sense of smell hadn't been burned out by those potions. Her voice was drenched with gratitude as she said, "Bless you!"

"Apparently, chocolate is on the approved list of stimulants you can have after a Cruciatus attack. From what Madam Pomfrey said there is something in it that helps you feel better, I guess," commented Ginny, turning to her own mug and taking in a deep sniff.

Thinking back to several articles she had read a few summers ago, Hermione casually stated as she wiped her face clean, "Oh that's probably the anandamide in it which promotes a feeling of wellbeing in people as well as theobromine and phenylethylamine which help release the hormone oxytocin which has often been called the love hormone by some. That is responsible for many things such as bonding, sexual attraction and arousal, empathy and memory. Chocolate has other properties as well that could help, like lowering your blood pressure and the like, but those are the ones that most immediately spring to mind."

"What the…?" Ginny just stared at her, lowering her mug slightly, a slight chocolate mustache on her upper lip, utterly confused at the information Hermione had just spouted.

"What? Oh, yeah, that has to do with chemistry and biochemistry as well as human phisiology. Muggle science tries to figure out the whys of everything out there and does a very good job of it in my opinion, despite having missed magic. Anyway, after my third year, when Remus was handing out chocolate like it was the greatest thing ever, I had to try and figure out why he would be doing that. Just the fact that it would help wasn't enough for me. I had to know why and I knew the wizarding world was not really good with giving me the whys in a lot of cases. Given the feelings that the Dementors make you experience and the things that these chemical compounds make you feel, it suddenly made perfect sense why someone would be given chocolate even if you did not know the science behind it. The chocolate chemically counteracts the sensations that you experience from the Dementors," explained Hermione with a slight smile, taking another drink, relishing the creamy taste. "It really is quite simple."

Ginny blinked at her a few times and shook her head. She started chuckling which turned into a short bark of laughter. Looking up at Hermione with pure adoration, Ginny stated, "I honestly did not think it was possible for me to love you more. I am so looking forward to marrying you Hermione Jean Granger, you simply have no idea."

"What?" Now it was Hermione's turn to be confused. She had clearly lost the thread somewhere along the line. "What did I do?"

Wiping the start of a tear from the corner of her eye, Ginny said, "You go from a horrific nightmare to feeling a little better to worrying over Lucy to lecturing me on muggle science and all of this after you have recovered from being injured while tromping all over eight bullies who are so afraid of you right now that I think they are ready to cry. You are, without a doubt, the perfect woman."

Hermione blushed and hid in her mug of cocoa, too embarrassed by that comment to look up. She certainly didn't see herself as perfect, not even close. She saw all her flaws and mistakes, places where she should have chosen differently, answers she could have made better, times where she had not quite measured up to her own standard. No, she wasn't perfect and that Ginny thought that boggled her mind. Maybe it was love but she herself could see all the flaws in Ginny so could she doubt that Ginny could be any less aware of her weaknesses, less discerning? She knew she had a streak inside that was willing to do anything to succeed, to overcome any obstacle, to be ruthless at need. Certainly Rita Skeeter and Marietta Edgecombe discovered that the hard way. In a way it was one of the things about Bellatrix that scared her the most, that a brilliant, talented witch had turned so completely to evil, used all that she was for Voldemort just as she had done the same for Harry. They were reflections of the other just as Harry was one for Voldemort and Hermione knew was but a bad turn from becoming her. That realization had chilled her to the core, made her physically ill, making her shower and try to scrub that taint from herself for hours. No one in Australia had known who she was so there was no one to stop her as she did this. Being introspective right after such a terrible war might not have been the best plan but could she really stop her own mind?

She trembled slightly, looking down at her left forearm and the reminder carved in there of who she was, realizing that she wasn't that bitch, she was still herself, still the woman beloved of an amazingly talented and beautiful redheaded pure blooded witch who thought she was worth marrying. They were deeply in love, looking forward to spending a life together making each other happy, something she was sure that Bellatrix had never had in her marriage. Love. There it was again, the biggest difference between the two of them. No, regardless of what happened she would never become that woman thanks to the love she had in her life. No matter what curses may fall she was blessed.

Ginny gave her a moment and when Hermione lowered her mug, a smile of ease on her face, she looked at her with some concern and then asked, "So what happened? I mean it all went to hell so fast that we couldn't figure it out and Lucy couldn't tell us anything."

Suppressing a shudder while she was thinking about the attack, Hermione shared a faint smile with her, saying, "There were too many exits for me to block quickly at their ambush site and they started attacking Lucy really fast. When she yelped I… I just lost it. After the fear hit, this… rage filled me and I knew I had to save Lucy and make those bastards pay for what they had done to her and all their other victims. I had an initial urge to cast a sectumsempra on some of them. When I realized that I knew I couldn't just let loose on them. It took everything I had to keep it non-lethal. You have no idea how difficult it was. I so wanted to go through the worst spells I knew, even the variations of simple spells that can be devastating when cast on people that I learned from Remus's notes. The only way I could manage to hold back enough was to keep my spells on the simple side for the most part. And even then I slipped a few times, overpowering some. You didn't see her Gin, she was terrified, even knowing I was there to protect her."

Closing her eyes, Hermione swallowed, trying to hold back the wave of rage and weakness and disgust and fear that was churning inside her, brought back up as if she were right back there again, in that place, wand in hand. The calming draught was really helping, taking the edge off the whole thing just enough that it wasn't the major battle she thought it might have been otherwise to stay calm. She opened her eyes and looked up as Ginny took her hand gently. There was a look of understanding there the made her feel a different kind of connection than she had earlier. "I know. I get it. The idea of… of losing her… yeah… we've both been there."

Ginny smiled weakly, as a few tears of her own slipped loose. Hermione knew that she was thinking about Fred and some of the others who had not made it, but also about that terrible moment, when they stood there, stunned, looking across the courtyard at the preternaturally still body in Hagrid's arms, trying to deny it was Harry lying there dead and then almost fainting when he moved, rolling free. Yeah, they both were a little too familiar with the idea of loss.

A voice clearing softly from the end of the bed made both their heads turn. Madam Pomfrey was standing there with a concerned smile on her face and a covered tray in her hands, watching them. "And how are you feeling?"

"Terrible. I am still having some of the aftershocks like I had before, with my nerves firing making me hurt, but they are relatively minor compared to when this first happened to me," admitted Hermione, blushing slightly as she had not mentioned any of that to her fiancée.

Ginny looked a touch surprised by that admission but Madam Pomfrey just nodded as if expecting that while she set the tray down on the end table. "That's to be expected actually. You haven't fully healed from your earlier Cruciatus exposure and then to be re-exposed like that. Apparently that was Miss Rafferty's first time casting that particular spell in something other than class so that was certainly a help."

"That makes sense. I did think it was fairly weak overall. Though I must say, I am not happy that I can tell a strong Cruciatus from a weak one, but what can you do?" said Hermione humorlessly. She had honestly been hit by the spell often enough that she really could tell a difference. Even Bellatrix had varied the strength of the spell just for her own amusement, knowing that it would affect the amount of pain it would cause. And she knew Harry had been hit by more people than she had, having even more experience with different casters overall. She couldn't exactly recall who had been hit more if you added in all the times Bellatrix had hit her. Why couldn't she have had a normal life?

"Well, let me know if you feel worse or the symptoms you are experiencing are aggravated," asked School Nurse.

"Certainly Madam Pomfrey and thank you for taking care of me all these years, most especially this last one. I really have seen this room far too often." Hermione knew she didn't have to thank the woman but she did it anyway. It was only polite.

"It was my pleasure. Now here is this vial of Dreamless Sleep potion for you. No arguments young lady. You will be taking this before bed and that's that." She gave her a stern glance that didn't have much force behind it as she pulled the vial free from her apron. "Given what you have experienced and that you already had a nightmare I figured that you will doubtful have another nightmare tonight."

Hermione smiled as she gave in without fighting. Given everything Madam Pomfrey had done over the years she really did not want to make her job any harder than necessary and it wasn't like she could argue with her point. "Yes ma'am."

The Healer drew forth her wand and then silently cast an expanding charm on the bed and blankets, whisking over an extra pillow as well. "Knowing how your fiancée helps your sleep, she is of course welcome to join you tonight Miss Granger. You could use that comfort even if you are under potion induced sleep to get the best quality sleep you can manage. I feel that it would help you actually rest better."

"Thank you Madam Pomfrey. This really means a lot to me," said Hermione deeply grateful for this kindness. After the day she had had she needed this a lot. Being able to cuddle up with her girl right now would make all the difference in the world as she had noted earlier.

"You've had a rough day. Don't stay up too long dear. You have a tray with your dinner off to the side waiting for you. Eat and don't stay up late." She handed the potion to Ginny with another smile and walked back to her office without another glance backwards, a flick of her wand moving a few privacy screens into place.

"Well, how about that? I think I will enjoy this. Do you think you could eat or did you need to sleep again?" asked Ginny. "I can have Topsy get my pajamas so that won't be a problem."

Hermione thought about it and realized that even though she had not yawned that she really had no energy left in her to do anything all that much. Sleep was exactly what she needed. Right after the events of Malfoy Manor she had slept a great deal so perhaps resting the same as she had would be just what her body needed to heal fully this time as well. "I think I could in a bit, but let's cuddle some first before I eat. Then I'll take the potion. I know I won't fall asleep on my own yet so the potion will be helpful. I just need you to hold me for right now."

Ginny lay down on the bed, resting her head on the summoned pillow and held her arm out. "Well, come on then love. You really need this and I am sure you will appreciate that meal soon. Get in her Kitten."

HGHGHGHGHG

Hermione sat in the Headmistress's office listening to the discussion about what was going to happen to the bullies. She and the Head Boy were present as was the Head of Slytherin House which made a degree of sense. No other Heads of House were there, which she could understand to a degree given that she was sure that Professor Flitwick might come down on them like the wrath of God which could be problematic. This mix of people was perhaps for the best in the long run. Ginny and Luna had been talked to earlier to get their side of the events, as had Lucy and she knew the Bullies had been interrogated to figure out everything they had been up to. No this was solely the punishment phase of this event. Apparently a lot had happened while she had been unconscious. She was trying to keep focus as she was tired, still feeling the effects of her injuries.

"So it is clear that there is no other option save for Miss Rafferty getting turned over to the DMLE," commented Professor Slughorn. "Quite a shame that, really. She did seem to have a slight talent Astronomy from what I heard and could have made something of herself in that field. From a good family as well."

"Now Horace, you can't control the bad choices that students make while they are here. If Albus, who taught here for the majority of his life and tried to help many a child make better choices, couldn't manage that than how can we expect anyone to manage that?" commented the Headmistress. Hermione noticed that the painting was nodding in agreement. "No, she did this to herself."

Cameron shifted uncomfortably in his seat during this. Hermione cut her eyes over to him, wondering what he had to add to this discussion. He looked particularly vexed at where things didn't seem to be going, which interested her. His voice held tightly controlled anger, "Please, please tell me that the others are going to have something real done to them, that they aren't going to just walk away from this? Detention, no matter how vile you make it, is not going to dissuade these… fools from what they have done or from doing it again. No, we need to shut this down, and do it so hard that nobody ever thinks of doing this again, at least no one in school right now. Pranking is one thing, I mean, hell the Weasleys never got nearly that mean on their worst day against Slytherin as these eight got in their short time this year. And the pranks this year… they've been almost fun. I've heard a lot of people talk about how it's made them think more about the other Houses since they have had to deal with looking like that. No, these fools need to be made an example of to stop any further outbreak of this kind of violence."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at all that. Was he really more upset about this whole situation than she was? She had been hurt by this and she wasn't nearly as pissed off as he was. But he did have a very valid point. If something major were not done to the others then people would think things would be like it was with Dumbledore, that people could do horrible things to other students and simply get a slap on the wrist. No, it had to be memorable and drive the idea of the changes to their world home more than anything else. She had a few creative ideas running around her head but they were a touch out of the box; maybe she could share one of those and see what the others thought of them? She interjected, "I have a potential idea. I've had some time to think about it as you know. I agree with Cameron that something like Detention would not serve in this case. We need something more severe."

"Surely you are not suggesting expulsion?" blurted out a rather shocked McGonagall. She seemed affronted that Hermione might consider such an action for any reason.

"No, not at all. I think they all need to understand the severity of their actions, what this is leading them towards, and that the world does not let them play those games anymore but it needs to be tempered with mercy because expulsion simply sends them out to become problems for the DMLE. However, it also has to be something memorable, so that the whole school will know about it so that will work as a deterrent for every student in every House." Everyone was looking at her with interest now. This had peaked their interest that was for sure. Now if only she could finish making the pitch. She had thought about this problem for a while and had wondered if this notion would serve in this particular setting. She had noted the problems with the punishment system in the wizarding world and she had tried to find solutions, at least in her head and this was the best se had come up with, at least for juvenile offences. "What I propose is that when Miss Rafferty is collected by the Aurors let the rest of them be collected as well. And it needs to be done publically, in the Great Hall would be best, so they can't hide behind anonymity. That was another reason people got away with things, not everyone knew about it. They can all be processed at DMLE Headquarters and go through that but instead of going to Azkaban after a trial like Miss Rafferty, perhaps they can be guests of the Ministry for two weeks, two and a half in the holding cells. But it needs to be done without them knowing how long they are going to be held for. Then when their time is up, they are returned here as secretly as possible or publically, I'm not sure about that part. Then it can be explained to them that next time they do anything serious it is expulsion and their being turned over to the DMLE permanently. You make it clear that they are one simply misdeed from being gone forever. The idea is to frighten them into acting better."

They were all staring at her trying to process this whole idea she had mentioned when Cameron started laughing. His eyes were bright with glee, "That is perfect, absolutely perfect. It is so Slytherin that it fits. What do you think? I fully support this idea. I would do more to them to really punish them but this has a certain poetic justice to it, given how Slytherin it is."

The Headmistress looked over at their Head of House who seemed thoughtful. It was a look that was far less calculating than she usually saw from him so it struck her as intriguing. It made her reappraise the man just a bit, not a lot as she still did not enjoy the self-serving aims of the Slug Club. Perhaps Professor Slughorn was not exactly the man she thought he was from everything she had seen. A reappraisal might be in order. "Yes well, I do see what you mean Mr. Boyle. There is a certain… fit to Miss Granger's suggestion of punishments. I dare say that they would return from that experience changed young men and women. And it is early enough in this part of the school year for the effect of this on their end of year grades or even OWLs in some cases to not be that detrimental. And even if there is, it's not as if they haven't brought that on themselves."

"Very well. I will get a hold of the DMLE and inform them of this whole situation and ask them for their assistance in this matter. If they can do this then the matter is resolved. If not, then we must revisit the matter to find another option," said McGonagall, after pondering the notion for a short while.

Hermione was actually quite pleased by this resolution. Part of her wanted a more Code of Hammurabi style of justice to be meted out on them but this was a far more right act. She was sure both Ginny and Lucy would agree with what had been done once she had shared the details with them. It was creative, original, and should drive the idiocy of their folly into their heads making them reappraise their lives. It also allowed her to get a modicum of vengeance on the lot of them. Two to two and a half weeks in jail was a hell of a lot more severe than anything Dumbledore had ever done to anyone but these bastards had hurt people and hurt Lucy. They would think thrice before trying this nonsense again. Now her only hope was that her parents wouldn't kill her when she informed them about this whole situation and her part in it. She wondered if Ginny would be sad being widowed before they were married?