a/n: Sorry for the delay in posting. I'm in the middle of completing my PhD dissertation and it's been overwhelming. Your likes and follows have been appreciated. I'm hoping to update every other week through the summer. Then weekly again until this is finished.

Special thanks and apologies to poka. Spell check did me dirty in that last chapter. Thank you truly for your comments and support. Edit for a shout out for catching that embarrassing typo!

Chapter 9: Old Enemies, New Threats

Thursday, July 2, 1998 | Stonegate

The calm inside the interview room was a stark contrast to the flurry of activity within and without the prison. Narcissa sat with her arms folded tightly crossed her midsection. It was a nightmare. Not only was Lucius falling deeper into the movement to elevate Tom Riddle, Voldemort was again a threat. The world was closing in around her family and the person to blame was her own sister. A woman who sat serenely on the other side of a metal table. Narcissa didn't want to be there. She wanted to pack up Draco and relocated him somewhere else. A place where they could just start over. Leaning closer to her sister, she whispered as quietly as she could, "What were you thinking?"

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "We don't have to whisper. They'll hear us no matter what."

The assessment was accurate. There had been no promise of privacy. She was simply there as a family member, not a legal representative. There would most certainly be listening spells engaged. "You had a second chance and this is how you chose to use it?" Narcissa asked, dropping the whispers.

"I had a second chance to help the Dark Lord. This is what I was meant to do."

The blind loyalty was hard to accept from the other side of the thrall. Their parents had raised them to be proud of their pureblood heritage. That they were expected to maintain that purity in their own arranged marriages. It was their duty. Voldemort had offered a vision of that supremacy. Not only had he put forward a vision, he had the power to carry it out. The Malfoys deserved to be in the highest echelons of the new order. Instead they were betrayed. They gave up everything for Voldemort and he wasted it all away. They were pariahs. Forced to risk everything they had left to appear repentant. Narcissa wasn't angry. She was furious. "What you were meant to do? Why didn't you just leave the country? No one would have bothered you."

Her sister's face twisted with disgust. A reaction Narcissa had seen many times. It was the first time it was directed at her. "You're a traitor. Abandoned our Dark Lord to save yourself. You'll be lucky if he lets you live."

A tightening spread over Narcissa's chest as she processed the threat. Family was everything to her. The only thing that mattered in fact. It was hard to believe Bellatrix would sacrifice her family for a wizard who made so many missteps. "Let me help you. You don't have to go down for this." The appeal was meant to change the subject, not just to shift the focus away from revenge. Voldemort was loose again. And there was a time turner unaccounted for. He might not have his body. That didn't mean he couldn't find one and change the past.

"What am I going down for Cissy?" Bellatrix's demeanor shifted from indifference to suspicion.

Narcissa's voice dropped again. "You changed time."

That earned her a snort. "I've murdered people. Not just with the killing curse. You think the ministry is going to care so much about a time turner?"

"They do. They care enough to make you a deal in exchange for its return."

"You're really working for them. I thought you and Lucius were just cowards. Taking the opportunity to spare yourselves Azkaban. Now I see. I thought Severus was the traitor."

Panic rose up. If Bellatrix and Voldemort reconnected, it was clear her sister wouldn't hesitate to sell out her own family knowing the consequences. Voldemort could be mixing with the followers of Tom at that moment. He might already think Lucius was a traitor. Forcing herself to stay in her chair, Narcissa shook her head. "I'm just trying to save my family. That will always include you."

"The device stays where it is."

Standing stiffly, Narcissa spared her sister one last look. It had been clear towards the end of the war that Bellatrix was too far gone. Thinking she had died had been a relief. There was nothing left to say. She turned on her heel and left the small room. A door at the end of the hall opened. Picking up the pace, Narcissa hurried into the conference room. Potter and Nymphadora stood with their boss. "You have to move her back to Azkaban. If the dark lord possesses her again, she'll tell him Lucius is a traitor."

Williamson nodded. "We're moving her this morning with the rest of the prisoners. We had to try everything first. She was a key witness in Tom's trial. She's stopped cooperating now that she got what she wanted."

"I think the only way to get her to turn on Tom again is to find Lord Voldemort. Use what's left of him." Her assessment appeared to be shared amongst the aurors. "Please move her. Lucius is already at risk… if the Dark Lord is looking for a follower here to possess, he'll start with him."

The trio of aurors watched the witch leave. Harry rubbed his neck. She wasn't wrong. Her whole family was at risk. A lot of people were at risk. All because they missed Vodemort's possession of his most trusted follower. It was a mistake he hoped they didn't live to regret. As he considered the situation, he corrected himself. He hoped they all lived to regret it. His whole body felt like there was an itch he couldn't reach. "Want us to move her now?" Harry asked, turning to Williamson.

"Better do it now. Ophelia wanted another run at her to save her case, I don't think we can risk it though. We can set up an interview room at Azkaban if she wants to bang her head against that brick wall," their boss said. He looked resigned to the situation. "Take Weasley."

Harry and Ron turned as one and motioned for Nelson to get their prisoner ready. "The Director is still refusing to go to a safe house?" Ron asked. They had taken to using her title to remove as much of the emotion from the situation as both men could.

"Williamson said she doesn't think it's necessary. There's a groundbreaking for that resource center today. Not only is she not going to let us protect her, she's planning to put herself in the middle of a crowd composed of the general public. Any of them could be a vessel for Voldemort." Harry rubbed at his forehead, felt the outline of his scar. He swore it hurt but knew the horcrux within him was destroyed. It was all in his head, imagining the connection was returning ever since discovering Voldemort was officially on the loose. "We need to get the prisoner to the Azkaban quickly if we're going to be back in London to join the security detail." They stepped out to the holding area where an apparation exception was in place. The Aurors were stretched thin. The rookies were getting more experience than they likely planned on. It looked like they all rose to the occasion. Harry thought the past week was better than any training program they could offer.

Bellatrix was ushered into the small room by Nelson. She looked pleased with herself. Outsmarting everyone so completely, she had a right to be proud of her results. "I suppose your witch is worried," she said smugly to Harry.

Harry refused to react, he wouldn't give her the pleasure. "You might want to worry about yourself," he told her, checked her bindings and took her arm.

"Why should I worry?"

They turned on the spot and appeared in front of a boat already loaded with prisoners returning to Azkaban. Each one was petrified and shackled to ensure they couldn't go anywhere during the trip to the island. Ron sat her down on a bench of her own, secured her completely but waited for Harry to cast the spells. "We know every Death Eater who got sick this month volunteered. None of them will qualify for a transfer to Stonegate now. You'll all die at Azkaban and it's entirely your fault. We'll see how they react knowing that this was always your plan. Voldemort was always just using them so he could get away. They were never going to be freed by him. Even worse, if a few of them died for the cause, well that was acceptable collateral damage."

She turned her eyes away from the Death Eaters staring at her on the opposite bench. "Everyone who takes the dark mark has volunteered their life for the Dark Lord. Even if they regret that choice, they'll never be in a position to touch me."

Harry petrified her and smirked. "You've been added to the recreation pod rotation. We'll see how you fare in general population. I'd bet all my galleons that Voldemort's hosts didn't know they could die." Harry let the other Aurors manage the security of the boat as they made their way to the prison. Moving the prisoners back to the isolated fort was the right decision. Everyone was working on fumes having transported them all to Stonegate the day before. Harry was trying to think of a way to locate Voldemort. Knowing he couldn't cross the enchantments added to the water around Azkaban made the situation more manageable. It wouldn't last long. If the dark wizard wanted to leave Great Britain completely, he'd just need to find a volunteer. Harry knew from Lucius' reports there were several people who could fit the bill. He understood history repeated itself. He thought it was supposed to take longer between cycles.

~~/~~

Disloyal. The clone was inferior. His promises had enticed his followers. Voldemort moved through the sky with ease. Disembodied, this form was liberating in a sense. He could manipulate the physical world with speed and movement. It was an effort he perfected the last time he had been so humiliated. Those who took his mark could also be controlled physically without possession. It was limited to just the arm that held the curse. It was enough to snatch up a Daily Prophet. To see the face of Tom Gaunt on the front page. His philosophy was published for the world to read. And every Death Eater he came across believed this claim. They were so enthralled, they didn't even recognize him to permit his possession.

It was time to find a permanent body. Not through magic that brought him back to life before. There was another way. Megrim had insisted it was possible to merge his soul with another. He was done relegating his talents to the shadows. Done being treated as a criminal, forced to hide. He wouldn't pick a wizard who wasn't already regarded a criminal. Someone young. Connected. Powerful. And he knew where to find him. The Daily Prophet had split the front page story. Hermione Granger was wasting her time saving werewolves and filthy creatures. Where Hermione Granger went, Harry Potter followed. It was time to embrace his destiny and destroy the lives of those who've stopped him at every turn.

~~/~~

Rows of white chairs were neatly lined in front of a small stage. The podium proudly displayed the seal of the Department of Ministry of Reconciliation. The first major public event for Hermione was intentionally small. It had been planned to be limited even before Williamson notified her of the development at Stonegate. The original fear had been protestors disrupting the program. Oddly enough, she didn't see a sign of an objector to a center dedicated to providing resources to souls unfortunate enough to be labeled a beast or a being, not human enough to have freedom to exist without ministry intervention. She looked from the small crowd finding their seats to her center coordinator. Remus was pacing, clearly nervous. She stepped up to him and put a comforting hand on his arm to still him. "You're going to do great."

He shook his head, motioned to the podium. "Honestly, Hermione. You should give the speech. This is your initiative."

Her mind had been made up the second they started discussing the program. "It needs to be clear to those who will use the center, this is a safe place. It will be led entirely by you and any help provided will be confidential." Seeing her words had only a minor effect on his anxiety, she had another reason to be glad the crowd was small. "Everyone here wants to hear directly from you. They want to know they'll be in good hands."

Remus scowled. "Not everyone. The Daily Prophet is going to spin this."

Her eyes flicked to the photographer and back to Lupin. "They might. We'll deal with it." After the front page story that morning on Tom Gaunt, Hermione didn't really care much about the paper. Not that she had much respect for it to begin with. That they were willing to play along with his resurrection story was a new low. Even for The Daily Prophet. Clouds rolled in and Hermione worried it might rain before they constructed the center. All the materials were in place and the ministry builders were standing by. "Let's break ground so we can move this inside," she said, moving toward the podium.

The crowd responded to the cue. Conversations grew quieter. The attendees were a surprising mix of centaurs, trolls, house elves, werewolves, ghouls, and fairies. There was even a modified section for merpeople and a special event planned for Vampires that evening. Remus had gone out of his way to ensure outreach was diverse. Despite those efforts, they were all self segregated into sections. It likely wasn't intentional. One thing at a time, Hermione told herself and adjusted the microphone, waited for the final whispers to dissipate. "Thank you all for coming out in support of this important initiative. For too long the ministry has only care to understand beasts and beings in order to classify you. We have decades of prejudices to overcome, centuries of bureaucracy to unravel. We'd be naïve to think these efforts will be easy. We will face opposition. Progress, at times, will be slow. We will not stop until every beast and being has been heard. We will not stop until every concern is documented and addressed. That's my commitment. To prove we're serious about anonymity and confidentiality, this initiative will be led by Remus Lupin. He's had the unfortunate experience of being labeled both a beast and a being in his lifetime. He understands the impact of being ostracized. He knows trust is hard earned and easily broken. He is your advocate, your direct connection to the minister, and your ally. He was the first and only person I trust to protect you and to successfully run this center. He's a gifted wizard, a compassionate being, and a conscientious beast. And he's my friend. Remus," she motioned to take her place as the crowd applauded his introduction. It was a wonderful mix of hoofs stomping, water splashing, and hands of all shapes clapping. Hermione stepped back to give Remus the spotlight.

As he spoke, Hermione noted the aurors patrolling the perimeter. She hated that they were there. She'd been afraid that they'd scare away the attendees who might assume they were there to expect trouble from them. The aurors had done a good job adjusting their activity to satisfy her request to keep a low profile. Something Remus said had the crowd laughing, Hermione refocused her attention. She couldn't care about Voldemort. Finding what was left of the dark wizard wasn't her job. The center was her job. The beast and beings who trusted them enough to show up, they were her job. Lupin might have started his speech off with a touch of nerves lacing his words, but he had hit his stride. Outlining the programs that would begin day one. Going into depth about how the center would manage anonymity. Explaining the programs that would still need to be established. They had a lot of work to do. The work they needed to do was really as complex as the population they were trying to serve. He acknowledged as much.

When Remus turned back to Hermione, he signaled they were ready for the main event. Hermione smiled and took out her wand. She was really looking forward to having a physical center to start the work. She and Lupin stepped up to the ground behind the stage and turned over a large pile of dirt. As the spell hit the soil, lines of light burst out from the spot and activated a series of spells. The foundation formed, then the framework and metal studs. Glass panels soared into place around the outer wall creating a reflective surface designed to let in natural light while stopping anyone outside the building from seeing inside. She knew the floor plan well. She knew the sections designed for aquatic creatures would be filling with water. The rooms requiring a more natural landscape would already be growing the vegetation needed. Newt had been enthusiastic in his contribution and she couldn't wait for those attending to tour it all. Finally, the curved roof assembled itself, flowing from a stack of tiles like water. In the end, the center filled the large commercial lot. Muggles would see an old warehouse that had stood in the wizarding sector made to appear as if it was a stretch of abandoned factories on the east side of London. Some of the existing physical structures were still just abandoned muggle factories. The crowd behind them clapped again. It was clear they weren't just being polite. Several were already standing, interested in seeing the interior when a thunder rumbled above them.

A dark shadow moved in the thick cloud cover. The attendees started to push forward, wanting to get inside before the rain started. The shadow seemed to grow and in a blink the dark mark was floating over the building. There were gasps and screams at the sight. Whoever cast the Morsmordre spell had to have been outside the center boundaries. Aurors were already on the move. Hermione's staff organized quickly to get the doors open to the new building, ushering everyone to safety. "Remus. Help me with the merpeople," Hermione said, already moving toward the water tanks. As they wove their way through the crowd, she couldn't stop glancing up at the mark. She'd only seen it once in her life. At the world cup. There had been so much chaos, she hadn't gotten a really good look. Still, something wasn't sitting right with her. It was different.

"We got you. We'll get you inside," Remus said, his wand up to his throat, a spell translating to a language they would understand. The pair worked quickly to get the tanks levitated and moving toward the center.

Hermione hung back, letting her locomotion charm take over. "Does it look like it's getting closer?" she asked.

Remus stopped, looked up at the mark and back to Hermione. "Maybe the storm pressure is pushing it down?"

Maddy had her wand out, helping the merpeople once they were close. Everyone seemed to be moving in an orderly manner. The mark pulsed. A quick motion had it lurching toward her, a stream of what appeared to be black smoke dispersed and then reconstituted itself into something thicker, a viscous substance came to a point, picked up speed. Hermione's eyes grew wide and her wand was up. Before she could cast a spell, Remus was jumping in front of her. He had a shield up. It didn't stop it. It was picking up speed as it blew through the barrier. It hit Remus, pushing him back. Hermione tried to steady him but there was a force preceding the black residue that knocked her back. She watched his head collide with the corner of the cement barrier that had been supporting the water tanks. "Remus!" she called out, feeling helpless. She let up red sparks, hoping an auror was close. Blood was pooling from a large gash on the back of her friend's head. Looking wildly, a familiar face was rushing toward her.

"Hermione! What happened?" Tonks asked, going white at the sight. Several aurors trailed behind her.

There was no sight of Ron or Harry. That fact unsettled Hermione. She shook it off. "He got thrown down. He needs a healer," Hermione explained, not sure what to do.

Tonks was checking on her husband. Hermione stood over them both, wand out, searching the sky, trying to find out where the thing went. Not a thing. She knew what was attacking. "It's Voldemort. What's left of his soul. You can't use any spells that would work on a body." The instruction to the aurors wasn't entirely helpful, and she knew it.

"The small crowd of protestors ran as soon as we got to them. They looked as scared of the mark as they were of us," Luke Nelson stepped closer to Hermione. He appeared to be taking it upon himself to guard Hermione in the absence of Harry.

Suddenly a nearby building exploded. One of the old factories. Bricks, glass, metal beams, and other shrapnel rained down on them. Hermione and Nelson got a shield in place over the small group. Flames streaked the energy barrier as the material hit the outer boundary. "Apparate him to the healers," she told Tonks. Several aurors broke away at Nelson's instruction to search the burning structure.

"We should get you out of here too. There are too many abandoned buildings around here. He could be anywhere. We got word to Henry. He'll be coming with the lantern Snape modified to imprison him...it," Nelson said, motioning back to the center.

Hermione looked behind her and saw one of the merpeople's tanks had been broken in the explosion. They were essentially helpless trying to crawl to safety. Tonks disappeared with Remus with a pop. Hermione's wand was up, clearing a path, using the material to create the best physical barrier she could manage, knowing it would only slow the amorphous form if Voldemort reappeared.

By the time she got to the struggling water beings, Maddy was working to get them up and inside. "We need to get them to the aquatic habitat. The other tank was damaged too."

Two Centaurs came up from behind and allowed them to put the merpeople on their backs. The act wasn't lost on Hermione and she nodded gratefully.

"Director, come inside. That's everyone," Maddy's voice shook. Nelson was nodding his approval of the request, and held the door open for the two witches.

Shaking her head, the black cloud was coming around for another attack. He needed to pick up speed to have an effect on the physical world. He was hunting her. "No. I can't go in there. Everyone would be in danger. Lock and barricade the door. Wait until the aurors tell you it's safe." Her assistant was opening her mouth to protest. Hermione didn't have time. "That's an order. Go on." Not bothering to watch Maddy, she knew she'd listen even if she didn't understand.

Nelson swore, barked orders for others to secure the center.

Hermione ran through the debris field, away from the center. She heard the heavy footfall of Luke behind her. "We need a spell that will disrupt the energy he's creating with his motion," she called out behind her. As she got closer to the street the black mass ripped through a small alley, Hermione heard the sounds of glass popping. The shockwave was just as dangerous as the force he was generating. "Sound. Use a spell that makes sound," she skidded to a halt near the street. Nelson had been right, there were no Death Eaters there. No back up fighting for Voldemort. He either hadn't managed to rally them or hadn't even tried. Hadn't bothered to possess them. It didn't make sense. The effort he had to make to manipulate the physical world was immense. As if to punctuate her point, Hermione felt wind rush passed her with such force her hair was blown out of its clip. Then something slammed into her. No, not into her. Through her. Mostly. It connected to familiar scars. She felt surprise. It didn't entirely come from her. Her face smashed into the ground even as momentum pulled her forward. Wind rushed around her, picking up the pieces of building, chairs, rafters, creating an impassable storm and they were in the eye. The bodiless Voldemort had managed to grab hold of parts of her damaged by his curses, dragging her painfully over the gravel until ultimately pinning her down.

Where's Harry?

The question slid through her head. A whisper in her mind that wasn't her voice. It had been his surprise she felt.

"Azkaban. You shouldn't have left. I'm sure someone would be willing to return you to a cell where you belong," Hermione answered, feeling a little strange talking aloud to a voice in her head. Anger rolled through her. It was a shock to experience someone else's emotions. Her world was dark and she assumed she was in the middle of whatever he was. Her wand was still firmly pressed in her hand, she couldn't aim it. He had a hold on her bicep where the white fire curse left its mark and the palm of her wand hand where the killing curse entered her.

These curses. They're not all from me.

Even as he made the revelation, Hermione felt a tightening along the scar tissue on her back. It was disconcerting. Like a hand inside her. Touching the remnants of Tom's spells.

Tom. He's an abomination. Let me possess you. We can destroy him once for all.

The very idea of giving her body over for Voldemort's soul to control was revolting. Her denial push him away from her violently. Finding herself in complete control of body again, Hermione gripped her wand, tried to locate the threat again. He was coming at her. Red lights were erupting around her as aurors tried to penetrate the tornado of debris surrounding them. She shot out a sonic wave from her wand. It forced him to redirect his approach. She needed to find her own way out. Sending her own hexes at the barrier it became clear what the problem was. The spells could land and new debris would fill the hole that was made. Voldemort hit her again. Lifted her up. She felt herself flying through the air. She held tight to her wand. Her only defense. Now her scars hurt. The force pulling on them was a shooting pain. Suddenly she was falling. Slammed down on top the roof of the building that was engulfed in flames. Smoke stung her eyes. He wasn't going to just let her go. He wanted Harry for some reason. Her only chance to get out of the encounter alive was information.

"If you want to possess me, why do you need Harry?"

Disjointed images of an ancient wizard flashed in her mind. A conversation about Horcruxes. Not how to make them. What to do if he found himself without a body.

I can make a new body, Voldemort insisted in the past, seeming to blow off the scenario.

Or you can use an existing one, Megrim pressed on, undeterred by the dismissal.

Temporarily.

Permanently.

Attempting to get her wand up, Hermione felt his hold on her scars from the white fire curse pull her hand back down. He tried to slam it in an effort to disarm her but lacked the control. "You can't have Harry. He won't let you."

He will if it will spare you.

That much was true. She needed to escape before word got to Harry about what was happening.

There is no escape, he hissed, proving the connection they had worked both ways. He knew her thoughts. Maybe a connection through unseen scars from the umbra.

"Why Harry?"

Vision of Harry stopping Voldemort burst out in anger. As a baby, as a first year, in the graveyard, in the department of mysteries, on the motorbike, and then finally at Hogwarts. He wanted revenge. With the thoughts revealed, the intensity faded. Maybe the display of force was coming at a cost.

Let me…

"No!" she shouted denying his control before he could fully ask. He was expelled from her body again. Scrambling up, adrenaline rushed through her. She'd jump from the building if she had to. She had to get away. Aurors were moving about below her. They were still battling the debris Voldemort had marshaled to his service. Launching herself off the roof, Hermione aimed her wand at the ground. She'd let gravity work as long as she could. She never got the chance to stop her fall. Voldemort rushed past her and then up through her, catching her again. She dangled high in the air. The wind whipped around her. The strain on her back screamed at her. With a violent lurch forward, Voldemort brought her over a jagged metal beam rising up twenty feet from the ground. To make his point, he let her drop several feet. There would be no surviving the damage that would be done if he dropped her in that position. She couldn't be sure she'd be able to get a spell off in time either. "There's a body already available for you. Possess Tom."

Fear. She hadn't believed he was capable of the terror that suggestion brought. He wasn't afraid of Tom though. It was something else.

I can't possess him as long as the Horcrux is within him.

Her mind raced, trying to remember all that she'd read about the dark magic. The properties. The theory. The history. The information was incomplete. Likely on purpose. Why couldn't what was left of his soul inhabit the vessel of a horcrux? "Oh," she breathed out when she worked it out. "You'd have to feel remorse. Is that it?"

The fear gripped her. It was so intense she wasn't certain it wasn't her fear.

Let me have you.

His request put her fate in her own hands. If she rejected him, he'd be expelled and she'd fall, likely to be impaled by the twisted metal below her. She didn't understand what he'd gain by possessing her other than getting close to Harry. It was enough to put her in a position to be used to hurt Harry. Squeezing her eyes tight. It wasn't an option. "No," she breathed and erected a shield around herself as quickly as she could after regaining control of herself. A white hot pain burst from her side and she was falling. Clearing the beam she felt the point graze her. The ground was rushing up at her. The shield pressed up against her when it made contact and then it burst outward. Hitting the ground with a breath stealing thud, she was sure the shield had saved her life. Afraid to move, Hermione heard shouting. Someone was getting closer.

"Hermione! Don't move. Nelson, redirect him to the lantern," Tonks was yelling. They had gotten through the shrapnel or Voldemort had dropped the barrier.

Sensing Tonks hovering above her, Hermione felt a measure of relief. Relaxing, the pain started. Nothing felt life threatening.

"He's come back around," a male voice shouted.

Hermione tensed. Pressing her forehead against the ground, she tried to convince herself she could keep fighting. With some resignation, she turned her head head and looked around. If she was going to fight, she'd need to get up.

"Shh," Tonks sensed the movement and comforted Hermione. "Don't move. That was a bad fall. Penny and Nelson are working to get him contained."

"Where's Harry," she asked through a sore throat.

"Still at Azkaban. They locked down the second the dark mark was reported. What did Voldemort want?"

What did he want. Hermione wasn't really sure she understood. "Harry. He wants to possess him. Maybe more. He thought Harry would be here."

Tonks moved around to look Hermione in the eyes. "He won't touch him. I won't let him."

The conviction was reassuring. Shouting pulled Tonks' attention away. Hermione didn't want to know what was going on. She felt guilt over the weakness.

"Shit," Tonks breathed out. Streaks of white smoke rose up in the air, aurors in pursuit of a retreating bodiless Voldemort. "Anyone who's passed their broomless flying charm certification, follow Nelson. Everyone else, secure the center. I need a healer here!" Her orders came out in rapid fire. Voldemort was getting away.

"Remus. How's Remus?" Hermione asked, she started to push herself up and regretted it.

"The healer's coming. Lupin is okay. He's already helping inside. He's got a hard head, that one," Tonks explained before motioning to a red haired witch. "Make sure it's safe to move the Director. Then let's get her to the medi-suit."

The familiar triage spell was invoked. Hermione waited.

"Director. I'm Wiley Dempsey. The matron here at the center. It looks like you have a bad wound on your side. I need to heal some small fractures in cervical vertebrae first. I know that sounds scary, but it's easy enough to heal up," the Irish lilt explained what the medical chart was reporting. "Lots of bruising along those scars must hurt. Take this."

"Her scars?" Tonks piped up at the assessment.

A small bottle was brought to Hermione's mouth. "It's how he was able to lift me up."

"Healer Wiley. I don't doubt your ability, but we're going to summon a healer who knows the director's medical history."

"Tonks, it's not necessary—"

"It is," the auror interrupted Hermione's protests. "Bell. Apparate to Saint Mungo's. We need Healer Edmond Halley here now."

Wiley laid a reassuring hand on Hermione's arm. "The expertise will be welcomed. No reason to take a chance when it comes to curses."

There was a warmth that washed over Hermione's neck from the Healer's ministrations. She took in a deep breath and let the chaos rage around her. Pops of several people apparating rang out in random intervals. They could be coming or going. "Was anyone seriously hurt?" she asked Wiley.

"Just you and Administrator Lupin. He's all healed up. Otherwise, just bumps and bruises and a few broken bones. My team's fully staffed and the medi-suit was already stocked up. I can't say anyone is every prepared for for a mass causality event, but we had everything we needed," the redhead consulted the chart, "There. Seems alright. Any lingering neck pain?"

"Considering I didn't know I had neck pain, I'm not a reliable source."

Wiley supported Hermione's head, "Let's move you on to your back so I can take a look at your side. We'll go slow."

Hermione let the healer do most of the work. As soon as she was settled, her condition started to sink in. Her back made contact with the hard ground. It felt like millions of tiny needles were stabbing her over and over again. The cool air washed over her, she felt wetness on her shirt. Looking down, she was shocked to see it was blood. "I thought I got my shield up before I cleared the beam. Guess it got it me," she explained, looking up at the jagged metal jutting up into the air.

"Hm, it didn't run you through. That's something."

"Wiley. It looks like you've met the director" Healer Halley's voice announced his arrival.

Without looking up from her task, Wiley nodded, pushed the medical chart in his direction. "Edmond. Her reputation preceded her. Curse scars don't look good. Bruising and bleeding. You-know-who was able to grab hold of her there, made them bear her weight. Tossed her about."

It was an oversimplified explanation of what Voldemort had done to her. Hermione wasn't ready to elaborate. Her eyelids were growing heavy and she didn't have any fight left in her. The healers would take care of her. The threat was over. For now.

~~/~~

When Harry and Ron apparated to the center, it looked like a warzone. A nearby building was still on fire, smoke hung in the air, debris was everywhere, soot wafted through the air. He swallowed hard and looked at his friend. They got the reports in real time while they were securing Azkaban. It hadn't given the full picture.

"Tonks said in her message that Hermione is inside," Ron said, sensing Harry needed someone to take charge.

The pair weaved their way through the remains of the ceremony to the front doors of the center. Several aurors were standing guard, wands out. Katie Bell nodded at both as they approached, "Tonks is inside. Hermione is in the medical suite."

That spurred Harry on ahead of Ron. It was clear from the reports she had been attacked. How a disembodied Voldemort had been able to attack her wasn't clear. He thought form the dark wizard's soul took without a body it needed to possess something or someone to physically interact with something. Based on the destruction outside, that was clearly false. Had he tried to possess her? Harry couldn't move faster without breaking out into a run. He saw the signs directing him to the medical suite. Crowds of people were congregating throughout the center. Some recognized him, stopping their hushed whispers to watch him and Ron move passed. He didn't have the energy to really care. Catching a streak of purple hair, Harry walked toward his partner.

"Harry. I'm sorry you got stuck at the prison," she started, motioning toward the door of the healers. "She's okay."

Harry stepped closer, lowered his voice, aware of the audience around them. "What the hell happened. Voldemort attacked her?"

Tonks took his arm, and pulled him into a small waiting room. Ron followed, closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Ready to fight anyone who tried to enter. "We thought a Death Eater cast the dark mark in the air. We were trying to find them but it was Voldemort himself. He used it as a distraction to pull us away from the ceremony. He's able to use sound and motion to manipulate the environment. But he was able to take hold of her by her curse scars."

Concern her back injury might be exacerbated, he stepped toward the exam room, pulled the curtain back. Catching the eye of Healer Halley, Harry was waved back. He nodded at Tonks, and closed the curtain behind him. A red haired witch was applying a potion to the ior rune shaped mark on Hermione's back. It looked red and swollen.

"My anti-inflammatory potion isn't having an effect," Wiley told Edmond and then shot Harry a protective warning.

There wasn't a scenario Harry could imagine where the Irish witch didn't know who he was or what he was to her patient. Still, Harry worried he was about to be kicked out of the examination area.

Edmond stepped in, pulling a chair up to the bedside and turned his attention back to the other healer. "It might be an immune response. Try an anti-histamine protocol."

It was clear Hermione was sleeping. Likely a potion. That troubled him. There was a blood stain on her blouse but no obvious cause. Harry was about to take her hand in his when he noted the swelling and bruising. Looking closer the skin he could see was littered with scrapes, bruises, and cuts. He couldn't imagine what she had been through that would have left her so battered. He'd have to wait until the reports were filed or until she was ready to tell him. "Is she okay?" he asked, not caring which healer answered him.

"All the injuries are relatively minor. We're just being cautious," Halley explained. "Her scar tissue was aggravated. It's causing her some discomfort. We gave her a potion to get some sleep while we work. She was awake, alert, and walking when we moved her inside."

Walking. She was walking. Harry let out a deep breath. He was about to sit back when voices erupted from the nearby room. "I'll go see what's happening," he told the healers so they could keep working. The voices were talking fast. He knew one was his partner and the other was his boss. It couldn't be good news. Harry cleared his throat. The group went silent. Ron was still hovering near the door. Remus had joined them. Harry saw blood on the collar of his shirt, reminding him his friend had almost been killed in the attack.

Williamson stepped forward. Tonks looked like she was about to stand between her partner and their boss. "Harry. How's Hermione?"

Harry was still annoyed he had been ordered to stay at Azkaban while the attack played out. He knew it was protocol to increase security under certain conditions. He wasn't unconvinced that the order had the added benefit of keeping Harry away from the attack on Hermione. "The healers are still taking care of her. They say she'll be alright. Did you track down Voldemort?"

The switch in topics didn't go unnoticed by Tonks. She took a small step back. Harry was feeling defensive. The best solution was to go on the offensive. Tonks would back him up if he needed it. She was going to give him the space he needed.

"No," Henry said simply. "He got away. We're on high alert and the minister is aware of the development. We need to talk to Hermione. She had been able to communicate with him somehow and we need to know what else she might know."

"What else? What did she tell you?" Harry asked, hating the feeling of being so far behind the others.

It was Tonks' turn to speak up. She looked… scared. "She said he was here to possess you. He thought if she was in danger, you'd intervene."

Harry's fingers curled up into a tight fist. He wanted to hit something. Fight something. He would have been there the moment word got to him. If he hadn't been ordered to stay. "That's why we were stuck at Azkaban? To protect me?"

"No. Harry. No," Williamson answered not unkindly. "We didn't know anything until…"

"Until what?" He sounded insubordinate. He knew he should care, especially with Ron looking on.

"Until he released her and I was able to get to her," Tonks supplied.

"How could he possess me? The horcrux is gone. Based on our limited understanding after taking statements from the Death Eaters who fell ill, Voldemort couldn't enter just anyone. He got into them through their dark mark."

Henry shook his head, and held his hands open, "We don't understand entirely. That's why we need to talk to the Director."

"No," Harry said sharply. "No. She's under a sleeping potion and the healers are still trying to mend the damage he did to her. No one is talking to her until the healers wake her and she says she's ready. I'm done prioritizing everything over her health and well being. I'm taking her…" he trailed off. He knew it was going to weaken his argument. He couldn't take her to Godric's Hollow. She had made her decision to leave him. Forcing her back there while she was unable to have a say was just as bad as forcing her to sacrifice her healing. "...to 12 Grimmauld Place." His boss likely knew he and Hermione had separated. There wasn't much that got passed the head auror, especially when the security of the minister's cabinet members were involved. He hadn't brought it up with Harry and it wasn't a discussion he wanted to have with Henry.

"Ron and I will go make sure it's safe. Re-enforce the protections," Tonks offered.

Harry nodded his thanks, but kept his eyes on Williamson. Finally the older wizard relented. "We'll keep her safe and arranged for Healer Halley to have whatever resources he needs. When she'd ready for a full statement, I'll come to her."

Harry let out a small breath. He nodded his thanks and returned to the exam room. The healers were making notes on their charts. Hermione was sleeping on her side.

Healer Halley repositioned the chair he had recently vacated. "We've done all we can tonight. She's going to be uncomfortable for the next few days. She has deep tissue bruising that we can't see yet. Sleep and analgesic potions will be best. We'll send her home with a topical potion for the inflammatory reaction."

"She can go home?" he asked, knowing Grimmauld Place wasn't really home. It was safety, that was most important.

"Whenever you'd like. It's best if she stays sleeping. Best to carry her by floo or apparition. Wiley or myself will follow up tomorrow."

"We'll be at a safe house tonight. Just to be sure. I'll send an owl," Harry promised, stood, and lifted Hermione with ease. He didn't waste time and turned on the spot.