Disclaimer!

These characters do not belong to me nor do I make any money off this story. I am merely writing Fan Fiction. The characters belong to their respective author. I hope you enjoy Joining Forces.

Hermione POV:

"Enough," Sister Carrow snapped. "As much as I'd love to kill Potter here and now, there are more things we have to deal with. Sump!" The cyclops came into the clearing, soon grabbing Harry, who made a pained expression as two thick arms larger than tree branches gripped his body. "We have to find the others. The hellhounds should have teleported at least a dozen Hogwarts students here. Let's get them captured and send them off already. The sooner we finish this, the better."

"That would be preferable," Accompanied by another couple of hellhounds, another figure, completely cloaked in black, joined the group. From their facial features to physical shape, everything was obscured. "The others have undoubtedly caught more than you, but I suppose this is the big fish." He was followed by a couple of other creatures I couldn't recognize too well, but the students they were carrying and the outfits they wore was another story. So many Hogwarts students. My palms begun to sweat. Besides regular spells and charms, anything else such as apparition couldn't be performed wherever we were. Especially if our captors were so powerful? How could we free everyone?

"Of course it is!" Sister Carrow piped up. "Can some other pathetic students compare to Harry Potter!?"

Harry gave a weak smirk, "Didn't know you were so fond of me. I can't say the feeling's mutual though. It would have been much better if you were left in Azkaban." Soon after, he punched in the face by Brother Carrow. "Shut up, Potter." He turned towards the figure away in black. "Couldn't the hellhounds just teleport them into cages?"

"If you're so bright, maybe you should have thought of a plan on your own. Unfortunately, my resources are limited, it took some efforts just to get these hellhounds to work for me. Additionally, there are some other things to be taken care of. Besides, if I threw a couple of students at you, would you be able to capture them? Or would you be beaten down instead?"

"Of course not! I'm an excellent dueller!"

"Really? Then what about Ron Weasley? Hermione Granger?" The figure turned their head to each of the Carrows respectively. In the shadows, hidden with invisibility charms, I felt something was off.

"Why don't you capture them now?" Suddenly, it seemed as if there was a decrease in temperature. With just a flick of their hand, soon both Carrows had turned to us, their eyes widened.

"Granger? Weasley?"

The invisibility spell was revealed.

Before she could get more in, we had already bother begun firing spells. This was not good at all. The chances that one of us could escape, much less everyone, were extremely low. Still, if we could get a hellhound to teleport out here, anywhere, but here, I think that our chances would be better. Lights flashed from wand tips, but the more concerning thing was the creatures around the figure. I could deal with magic, but with them came another slew of unfamiliar abilities. It wasn't long before we were pressed onto the ground, dirt up my nose as I leaned up trying to catch a glimpse of the figure. "All three! We got all three!" Brother Carrow had a vicious glint in his eyes.

"Hello there," The figure leaned down. "I believe we haven't made each other's acquaintance. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, I've heard much about you all. Such talents in the world of magic, too bad for you, most of those working with me bear some grudges against you."

"Yeah, I wonder why." Ron snarled. The scenes of battles we fought and the dead bodies that accompanied them was a clear memory.

"You'll be killed soon enough!" Brother Carrow announced. "We have a most valuable ally one, far better than anything Dumbledore ever had." He gestured to the cloaked figure who was treating the hellhounds next to them with some head pats.

The associate. So many troubles had stemmed from this person. Someone who had been only referred to throughout these many months since Dumbledore and Snape first appeared from the dead. Now, they were right in front of us. I gritted my teeth.

"Yeah, your associate clearly has a lot of random creatures." Ron casually remarked as the hellhounds walked closer to him, large teeth showing.

"Not just random," The cloaked figure responded. "a whole new realm from yours, one beyond imagine. It has intermingled with a lot of different worlds, yours included, but I think I can say that no one would rather keep this connection."

"Who on earth are you?" I asked, the words couldn't help but fall out from my mouth in curiosity and a bit of apprehension.

"A relative," They announced. "A relative to a great many people you can say. Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Nico Di Angelo, the students," They gave a chuckle. "from CHB. I suppose we're all just one large family encased in the same pit of despair."

"What does this have to do with Hogwarts then?" Harry asked. "You...and Voldemort...are related?"

"An opportunity presented itself. I would be a fool not to seize them. In comparison to yours, we have more of a cooperation that is much clearer." They crouched down in front of us. The cloak still covered their whole body. Despite being so close, I couldn't find any clues about their identity. All there was was a chilling voice. "The minotaur. The empousa. They always knew. I have to applaud them for keeping the secret from everyone for so long. So many months, that's a long time considering how much they had to hide, especially from everyone's prying eyes, mainly yours, of course. I might as well cut the string here and give you some hints. Everything'll be done soon enough."

"Why on earth would we believe-"

"You don't have to believe me, but how much will you believe them, once you find out how much they lied? I suppose they never trusted enough to tell you. How you thought you were so close, when in reality they've been lying for so long. I suggest you review some popular stories, the ones which even muggles have heard of, then you'll know the connection to the situation. How the Americans are so god-like."

"Um...sir?" Brother Carrow piped up. "There's news. On the other end of things...should we...?"

The cloaked figure abruptly rose. "How is it?"

"Um, pretty bad. They're at the ministry, they have backup too. I don't think we will be able to secure it."

"...It's alright," The cloaked figure said. "I'll deal with it." They glanced briefly at us one more time for a semblance of courtesy before leaving with a hellhound.

"Well, I guess that leaves us with some free reign here." Brother Carrow said, directing his wand at us before he could yell out a spell, he was knocked back, his sister flinging some jinxes out before been thrown back as well. "My, never thought I'd see this personally." In place of the Carrows stood instead Professor Snape. Looking as pale and disinterested as usual, his black robes dragged slightly on the floor as he freed us from our restraints, knocking away at the cyclops who soon came lumbering back with a club, accompanied by the Carrows. "If you're finished resting," Snape remarked. "You might use your skills to help out your companions."

"On it."

The Carrows weren't the only ones who joined us. It wasn't later before several other creatures, some I didn't recognize along with other wizards came rushing in. Lights blitzed through the shadows as the sounds of running was heard all around. Going through the forest with Snape, we went searching for other students. It was only when a larger group of students were amassed did we climb atop Mrs. O'Leary who had helped with him getting here. "Things aren't very clear right now, but you all have to get back to Hogwarts."

"And you, Professor?"

"There are some things I have to deal with. Mrs. O'Leary figured out how to bring me here, albeit with too many attempts, one way or another, you all be back at Hogwarts. There are still some students missing I'll have to find." No more words were exchanged. In an instant, darkness enveloped us, feeling like we were travelling through another dimension before we landed in Hogsmeade.

The ground was still slightly wet from a recent rain shower and the streets had a more scarce number of people. Above, the sky was quite dark, some stormy clouds brooding likely being the reason why such a popular destination wasn't as crowded as usual. Then again, perhaps that was for the better.

"Hogwarts isn't too far," I said. "We got to tell Professor Dumbledore what's happening."

"He probably has some information," Neville remarked. He was one of the first students we found, managing himself pretty well by himself. "Snape was probably sent by him, I'm guessing he doesn't know this whole creature thing in the forest." In an instant he was gone before appearing a few feet away. "Apparition's working again," He noted. "Though, I think I should start practising again."

"Those who can't should do a Side-Along Apparition with those who can, fastest way to Hogwarts." Soon, we sorted ourselves amongst each other. Harry standing at the side as pairs soon disappeared. "We aren't going back to Hogwarts?" I asked, having a slight idea on what he might want to do.

"I trust Dumbledore, Neville too. There's something I have to check."

"Well then," I lifted my wand. "Where to?"

"The ministry."

Ron chuckled. "I expected that much. Let's go."