By the end of the party, Hermione had felt pretty good about establishing S.A.M.B. as something to be supported, not ignored. Her group left together, ready to be done for the evening.
"Thanks for your help everyone," she said. "I owe you one. You need a favor, just ask."
"How about a ride home?" asked Bernice. "I'm not taking the Knight Bus again."
"I think I can manage that," she said. "If you give me some time to change, we can go right away."
"I've got to stay behind," said Tonks. "But I'll see you around Harry's place over the holiday, yeah?"
"Or you can visit us," said Hermione. "Come on, Tonks, you're practically family. Any second-cousin of my foster brother's godfather is…'' she paused. "Well… anyway, you're dating my… my s… sec-ond cousin?"
"Family is family," said Cecilia, drawing Tonks in and kissing her. "I'll be by your flat in a couple days."
While they said their goodbyes, the rest kept walking.
"I don't even know if we're going to do Christmas again," said Ginny. "Considering… considering. Oh, it's today, isn't it? The anniversary."
Luna squeezed her hand while Hermione touched her shoulder. "Want to collect Ron and I can get you home by morning?"
She nodded and took a deep breath. "Yeah."
"Okay. Be in the Entrance Hall in thirty minute—no, better make it an hour."
"Nia, I need to talk to you," said Harry.
"Talk to me in the car," she said. "Can you tell Professor McGonagall that we're leaving now, please. Anybody else need a ride?"
"No, Astoria and I will take the train," said Daphne.
"I am as well, but thank you," said Blaise.
"Will we all fit in your car?" asked Bernice.
"Yeah, it's magic."
"I'll take the train," said Char. "Thank you for inviting me, Nia. I had a nice time."
"I did too," said Hermione. "I'll see you after the holiday and… we'll talk."
Their group broke up and soon it was just the Slytherins, Esperanza, Viktor, Alejandro, Bernice, and Cecilia who had caught up. Hermione was feeling a bit worn out, but she wanted to get home as soon as possible. She hadn't been feeling much like herself, and while that wasn't likely to change upon leaving, at least she would be somewhere else.
"That's interesting," said Blaise.
"What is?"
"The common room just opened," they said as their lot entered. "I didn't hear a password."
"You didn't?" said Hermione. "I was sure I said it."
"What filth are you bringing into the common room this time, Granger?" Harper spat.
"Go fuck yourself," Viktor snarled. Ever since he was out from anyone's thumb, he'd spoken much more freely. And he seemed to take the "filth" comment personally.
Harper's face fell. "I… I didn't mean you, Mr. Krum!"
"Tch! Sure you didn't."
He continued muttering in Bulgarian and plunked down on one of the couches to wait. Alejandro sat next to him and Blaise lingered to keep chatting while the girls continued on.
"I'll help you pack," said Esperanza.
"I'll keep you on track," said Cecilia.
"I'll just watch," said Bernice.
They entered the dorm.
"Oh, this is nice," said Esperanza, looking around and sitting on the bed.
Crookshanks immediately cozied up to her and purred.
"So, you and Char?" said Cecilia.
"We're not really going official," said Hermione. "I mean… I like her. A lot, but I am going to try and use my awards to bully the Ministry into pardoning Cedric. I just… I'm allowed to like two people at the same time, aren't I? Being asked to choose when one of them isn't even here feels like being backed into a corner."
"Hey, you don't have to defend yourself," said Cecilia. "Not to us, anyway."
"We want you to be happy," Esperanza agreed.
"Char seems cool," said Bernice, sitting next to Daphne.
"She is cool." Hermione changed into jeans and pulled on her science sweatshirt. She had packed most of what she needed that morning, but made sure to grab her toiletry bag and homework. "Crookie. Time to go home."
He meowed.
"Now."
"Meow!"
Hermione set up the cat carrier and snatched him up before he could run. She stuffed him inside and closed it.
"Alright, let's go wait for the others," she said. "See ya Daphne."
"Bye, Nia. Have a good holiday."
Viktor and Alejandro were chatting while awestruck Quidditch fans milled around, too scared to join in the conversation or even ask for autographs. Esperanza hurried to her fiancé's side and kissed him smartly on the cheek.
"My swan," he said, gazing up at her adoringly.
"Ready to go, bomboncito?" she asked.
"Of course."
"Have a good holiday Shaylyn," said Hermione. "You too, Gracie."
"Thanks, Nia! See you next year!"
Even though the hour wasn't up, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were waiting in the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall.
"Will you be alright, Miss Granger?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am. Bug has safety features, and if I do need to take a break, Esperanza and Cecilia can take over driving for me."
"Very good. Tonks has alerted the gate that you will be leaving. Have a good holiday."
"You too, Professor."
"You will write to me, won't you Ron?" Lavender asked.
"Yeah, sure Lavender," he said.
She cooed and kissed him like he was going off to war.
"I'm gonna go set up the car," said Hermione. "The Bug leaves in ten minutes. Whoever isn't inside is going to get left behind. Esperanza, Viktor, you two can sit up front with me."
"She is not coming with us, is she?" Viktor asked, referring to Lavender.
"No."
"Good. They kiss like Iku-Turso." He rubbed the scars around his throat from the suckers. "I know from experience."
"Oh, please, like you and Esperanza don't have to be pried apart with a crowbar," a tiny voice whispered.
"I think all they do is snog," said Ginny. "Snogging is fun and all, but conversation is important, too."
Hermione said nothing, bringing out Bug and setting her up with the extended seating.
"Alright," she said. "I've got maps and the hardest thing will be getting out of the unplottability radar."
She climbed into the driver's seat and turned it on so the heater could get working. It was bitterly cold and she'd have a hell of a time driving over snow and ice. Thankfully, the magic of the car would compensate for safety. While her passengers put their bags in the boot and climbed in, she sorted through her music trying to decide what she wanted to listen to. She also flicked through the radio, pausing on a station playing Christmas songs.
"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away," George Michael crooned.
Hermione quickly pushed in her Whitney Houston tape.
Viktor and Esperanza climbed into the front with Viktor in the middle. Ginny, Harry, and Cecilia got in the back which moved, a new seat taking its place so Alejandro and Bernice could climb in. Ron bolted from the castle, nearly tripping down the steps, and jumped into the car.
Hermione turned around in her seat. "Hang in there, champ. You'll see her again soon."
"Quick! Before she decides to come too!" he said.
"Seatbelts!" Hermione sang, turning back to the front.
"Drive!"
When she heard them click, she reached into her glove compartment for the pack of Juicy Fruit. "Who wants gum?"
"Hurry! I can see her coming out of the castle!"
Hermione put in her work out tape and turned it up. She saw Lavender coming up and hit the gas before they could be delayed anymore.
"Doesn't this car fly?" Ron asked.
"I don't have a pilot license. Point me to Glasgow." Her compass spun, pointing her the right way. "It should be about ten to eleven hours as long as we keep our breaks short. I'll have you home before lunch."
Hermione drummed her fingers to the beat on her steering wheel. Viktor and Esperanza leaned against each other, dozing, while Alejandro chatted amiably with the others. Once they were well on their way, she turned the music down.
"Okay, Harry," she said. "What was it you wanted to say?"
"Er…" he looked at the others.
"They won't say anything. They're cool."
"Fine." He rested his arms on the seat in front of him. "I was following Draco and I heard Professor Snape talking to him. Called him careless and sloppy. Said that should he require it he was there to help."
"I assume you believe he was talking about something other than homework?"
"Well, yeah."
"Look, Harry, I admit it Draco has been acting weird and suspicious, but maybe it isn't what we think?"
"Maybe it's exactly what I think. You said that if my feelings hadn't changed then you would shake him down yourself."
"I did say that didn't I?" she muttered. "I'm sorry, Harry. I've just had other things on my mind."
"Yeah, like snogging my ex-girlfriend. Speaking of, you said you owed me one so—"
Hermione worked her jaw and shut off her music. "So, what? I'm supposed to just do whatever it is you want? Sit in my little chair and read my books until you have a use for me? Oh, Nia, we need you to proof our essays. Nia, make study guides for us. Nia, use your sight so you can find dark wizards and dark objects. Nia, I need your muscles. Nia, I need your brain. Well, excuse me for wanting to go out with someone who just wants me!"
"What will you do if Cedric comes back?"
"Fake my death and join Cirque du Soleil."
"I'm serious! I mean, geez, it's like you're a different person. Everyone is talking about your complete personality change."
"Because I won't let you boss me around?"
"Because you're obviously keeping secrets!"
She huffed. "I was going to tell you eventually, I just didn't think you were ready, but since it's such a big deal I guess I will tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"Horcruxes, Harry."
Harry looked nervously at Bernice and Alejandro.
"Should we be..?"
"They already know. The only people who don't are you, Ron, and Ginny."
Esperanza remained dozing, but Viktor had stopped pretending, sitting up straight and staring at the snow through the windshield while stroking Esperanza's hair.
"You told them before us?" said Ron.
"They've been helping me," she said and told them all about the horcrux she found and what she learned. She took it out of her hair and returned it to its natural state before passing it back. "See?"
"You're keeping something like that in your hair?" Ron squawked.
"It's fine," she said. "Actually, I've been able to understand parseltongue with it."
"That is a cool feature," said Bernice.
"So…" Harry faltered and all of them sat in silence while he connected the dots. "I'm one… aren't I?"
"A horcrux? Nah, mate, don't be barmy," said Ron.
"A person can't be a horcrux," said Ginny. "Can they?"
"I wasn't going to tell you until I had a solution," said Hermione. "Dumbledore believes that Tom Riddle will have to kill you, thus killing the part of himself that resides in you."
"The prophecy."
"Did he tell you the last line?"
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches," he said.
"And it will take the soul inside of him to ensure it is so," she finished.
"That wasn't part of it."
"I heard it from Cedric. He read the whole thing and saw it in Dumbledore's head."
"So… so I'll have to die?"
"Not if I have anything to say about it. Tía Manola and I are working on a way," she said. "Have I ever let you down?"
"No, but…" Harry scoffed, "So what… am I immortal?"
"Yes." Esperanza sat up and switched on her hearing aid. Merelin quit muttering and slithered around her fingers for a break. "Theoretically. A vessel for a horcrux will do whatever it takes to protect itself. Theoretically you are immune to everything except basilisk venom, fiendfyre, dementors, and the Killing Curse. Tell me, have you ever gotten really sick? To the point you thought you might be dying?"
"Er… no."
"When you've been attacked has there always been some sort of event that prevented you from facing too much harm?"
"Quirrell," said Ron. "He burned up, didn't he?"
"And Tom's diary was a horcrux wasn't it?" said Ginny. "So when you took my place the soul pieces were probably trying to fuse. It didn't work because I destroyed the diary before it could finish taking you."
"The tournament," said Viktor. "You came out least injured of all of us."
"When our wands connected… mine and Morty's," Harry muttered and pressed his forehead to the seat in front of him. "I think I'm going to be sick."
She heard the rustle of a paper sack being conjured.
"Bug won't like it if you puke on her," said Hermione, taking the locket back and putting it in her hair. "But do you understand now why I'm not worried about whatever Draco's doing? Why it's near the bottom of my to-do list?"
"Yeah… What if I explain to Dumbledore—"
"He knows what I know and he tried to erase it because he thinks things have to happen a certain way," she said. "For now, it's best to keep up pretenses. I know no more than you or Ron. Horcruxes? What are those? How do you make them? The only thing I've read about them is that they're so evil they don't bear mentioning. I'm going to keep spying on your lessons, Harry, but you cannot indicate that I know what's happening or that I am even listening in. I have suspicions on what some of the other horcruxes might be, but it seems that Dumbledore is more certain of what they are, where they are, and how many. Until we know…"
"Is Dumbledore evil?" Harry asked.
"He believes he's not. As misguided as his actions are, he is still an ally." Hermione rolled her lips. "He is dying, Harry. When he broke his promise to Cedric—"
"You mean to say he made an unbreakable vow?" asked Ron.
"An unbreakable vow?" said Harry.
"Yeah, it's the most serious of vows," said Ron. "Fred and George almost got me to make one. Only time I ever saw Dad yell or even hit one of us. See… if you break an unbreakable vow, you die."
"Oh. So… did Dumbledore make one to Cedric?"
"Not quite, but he crossed his heart. That's as close as you can get. Most people don't realize that binding your heart is serious and ancient magic."
"So Dumbledore is going to die," said Ginny.
"Probably sooner than he expected," said Hermione. "His magical signature has halved. He's not nearly as powerful as he used to be, and if someone tries to take him in a fight… I fear he'd lose."
She flipped her turn signal and pulled into a gas station/rest stop. She stopped at one of the pumps and switched the car off.
"Now that you know, you have to enter the balancing act I'm in," she said. "Never let on that you know more than you do. Pretend things are fine even if they aren't. Suck up to those with power but push back when you can."
"That's mental," said Ron. "A person would lose their mind!"
Hermione turned around to look at them. "Yeah! So, if I want to date someone who doesn't expect me to perform for them then we…"
"Say we're happy for you and let it go," said Ginny.
"That's right. Okay. I'm going to fill up the tank. This is your first toilet break for a few hours, so use it wisely. Alejandro, be a peach and buy me two sugar shock shutdowns." She handed him a fiver. "It turns everything blue."
He put on the mask that made him look human and nodded. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, see if they've got powdered donuts."
Hermione ended up driving the entire time, using music and conversation to keep herself awake and alert. Of course, the energy drinks helped. Eventually, only Alejandro managed to stay awake to talk to her.
"We'll be in London soon," she said. "Ever been?"
"No."
"Well, we'll have to take a tour. It's not as vibrant as it used to be, but there's always something to see. If we go to the more macabre attractions it'll probably be fine."
"I'm happy just being around you again," he said. "You're the first person to see me for who I am inside and I'll always appreciate that."
She smiled and glanced at him in her rearview mirror.
"Castelobruxo isn't the same without you," he continued. "S.A.M.B. is still going strong, we have meetings every week and the centaurs have liked collaborating with the archivists, but it sometimes feels like you're the one who knows how to move forward no matter how many ideas are thrown out there."
"I had lots of practice with that," she said. "Don't worry, the organization would have to go on without me eventually. That's the point of them, isn't it? To always welcome a new leader?"
"Yeah, but you've got the gumption."
"Gumption. I like that word."
Once they were in London, Hermione woke everyone up. They wouldn't be going through anything of interest, Islington was to the north of all the landmarks. She did promise to take Alejandro and Bernice on a tour in a couple days. Hermione pulled up to Grimmauld Place.
"Harry, you'll need to get Sirius to let Alejandro and Bernice in," she said.
"Oh, right. Erm, one moment." He fished his key out of his bag and disappeared in the space between 11 and 13. Several minutes later, Sirius came out in his bathrobe and pyjamas.
"Hello," he said. "Always good to meet friends of Nia's. You're, of course, welcome any time. Viktor, Esperanza, there's room for you too since Nia's house is already full with her parents and siblings."
"Thank you," said Esperanza. "We know where it is now, so we'll come over after dinner."
"Very good."
"You've got my address," said Hermione. "Feel free to move back and forth."
"Thanks Nia," said Bernice. "I think I'd like to just nap for now."
"Me too," Alejandro agreed.
"Okay, bye. See you soon Harry, Ginny, Ron."
Esperanza and Cecilia settled in the now much smaller back seat while Viktor stayed up front with Hermione. Thankfully, it wasn't a terribly long drive. Hermione parked in front of her house, shrank down to her otter form, and curled up. Esperanza carried her inside and she was sure she was hugged and kissed by each of her parents and her sister scritched behind her ears, but she had crashed quite entirely. Last thing she remembered was being tucked into her own bed.
~o0o~
When she came to, Hermione told her parents all about the cursed book and the people she had freed. Yes, she told them over letter but she wanted to make sure she didn't leave anything out.
"I haven't really met them yet beyond names and answering some questions," she said. "The Ministry wants to hold a special ceremony to present me with my second Order of Merlin and a couple other awards."
"She says with a note of boredom," said Amalea, grinning.
"Well, it's just… it feels more like a performance piece," she said. "No doubt they want me to publicly endorse all that they've been doing considering my connections and penchant for hell-raising without extending the same for me. Frankly, I think they could be doing more, but I'm going to tell them that if they pardon Cedric of all charges, I'll tell everyone they're doing a good job."
Despite the fact that she uncovered the pattern behind a lot of the murders which they failed to do. They were just making arrests with no rhyme or reason and too many people were going without trial. Again.
"Ever feel like you're the only one who's doing anything?" she muttered.
"All the time," said Hana. "It's just perspective. If there weren't people out there actively helping and doing something, I think things would be a lot worse."
"Things could be a lot better too."
"Things could always be better," said Beatrice. "I know you've got a lot on your mind but… let's take a break. Breathe and be a family."
"Good idea, Bea," said Manuia. "Nia, we all agreed that we're proud of you for rescuing those people. Roge and I are planning a big dinner, we're actually going to make it at Sirius' place so we have the room to cook. Good food is meant to be shared anyway."
~o0o~
The first several days of holiday were welcome. Hermione ate good food with her family, showed her friends some of her old favorite hangouts in London (including the areas where b-boys and girls dance battled), and hung around the house all while being tailed by Aurors. Sometimes she felt like they were watching and taking note of her schedule more than keeping an eye out for danger. So she made it a point to act as suspicious as possible. Erratic schedules, walk patterns, oh, God, she was paranoid.
Even so, she couldn't help but worry. Perhaps she could at least relax until January 1st.
Until then, she would focus on her family.
Christmas morning, she and her family would be going over to Sirius' house to open presents and eat dinner before jumping into group games. While everyone was hustling around and getting ready, Hermione took the jar of floo powder off the mantel and looked inside to only find a couple pinches left. Guess they had been moving back and forth too much these last few days.
"Mum?" she called. "Where's the extra bag of floo powder?"
"Hm? We have enough, don't we?"
"No. I don't think we even have enough if some of us apparate."
"Oh… Call Sirius, see if he has any he can bring over."
Hermione nodded and dialed Grimmauld Place.
"Potter, Weasley, and Black residence," Fleur sang. "Who may I ask is calling?"
"Hey, Fleur, it's Nia. Got any floo powder? We're out here."
"I am so sorry, we were just talking about how we ran out here," she said.
"Oh, okay. Well, we can just take Bug. We'll be over as soon as we can then. We might end up needing to eat before we open presents, but the streets should be empty around this hour. Everyone will either be opening presents, in a church, or sleeping."
"Bon, I will let everyone know."
Hermione hung up. "Well, no one has floo powder, but I can drive us all in Bug. Anyone who doesn't want to sit in the car can just apparate ahead."
"I think we'll ride with you," said Esperanza. "Bomboncito?"
"Yes, I don't mind a car ride," he agreed.
Cecilia agreed to that and Hermione nodded.
"Alright, then I'll go set up Bug, warm up the car."
"Take the hamper of presents," said Roger. "Don't want to forget them."
"Okay." Hermione picked it up, checking under the tree that they didn't have any remaining.
She went out to Bug and woke her up, placing the presents in the boot before going around to start her and set up the passenger van seating. She'd spent half the night last night crying and listening to "Last Christmas" on repeat. She would not bring anyone down today.
"Hi, I'm Barbie!" she said in the most chipper, perky voice she could manage. "Let's go for a ride." She looked up at the gray sky. "What the fuck kind of weather is this?"
She felt eyes on her and slowly turned around to see Manuia carrying Chibuzo's car seat. He had a strange look like he was trying not to laugh.
"You know," he said, opening the back seat to set the car seat up. "Sometimes you act so much like Nachelle. She'd say funny things when she thought no one was listening, too."
"Mm… I was… er… I don't actually curse that often."
"I know," he said. "You're seventeen, precious. I can't expect you to not know what swears are, just… don't get into the habit of using them until you're a little older, yeah?"
"I won't."
There was a disturbance in the wards. Hermione turned towards the house. Before her eyes, she saw Peter Pettigrew transform past the barrier from rat to human. He wiggled his fingers, a triumphant grin on his face, and said quite plainly, "Voldemort!"
To her horror, the wards fell away and dark clouds shot towards her house.
"Dad, get in the car!" she yelled and ran towards the house. "EVACUATE! RUN!"
She shot a stunner at Pettigrew, but he was already darting into the house. Dammit! Thinking fast, she summoned the bottle of Felix Felicis and downed it as she ran to the house. Her mind cleared of panic and her vision sharpened as she kicked the front door open to find everyone in a stand-off with Death Eaters.
Some had dark marks, others didn't. Her family was stock still, but ready to fight. Beatrice had grabbed Hermione's baseball bat from the umbrella stand while cradling Chibuzo to her, Roger was in the kitchen holding his chef's knife. They weren't likely to be any good against spells, but any chance was still a chance.
"Little Miss Granger," said the center Death Eater. "You have something of the Dark Lord's."
"I have nothing," she spat. "You put even a scratch on my family, you'll have me to answer to."
"Lies," said another. "He knows you have his locket. Give it over and we'll burn your house to the ground."
"Don't you mean 'or?'" one of the shorter Death Eaters asked.
"Shut up!"
Hermione looked at her family. Cedric said this would happen. She wasn't careful. Whether it was the videos, showing Harry, telling Ms. Black what she found, any of it or perhaps all of it. She wasn't careful and her family was about to pay the price for her sloppiness. Nobody moved, wands remaining steady. It was on her. She would have to make the first move.
"You're not exactly giving me any good options here," she said. "There's nine of us and five of you."
"The longer you wait, the more will come," said Pettigrew.
"It's a shame you're a mudblood," said the Leader of the group. "You could've been a great asset to our forces. Tell you what, I'm in a generous mood, if you hand over the locket, we won't kill Ms. Mun, your sister, or Mr. Krum over there. It'd be unnecessary to spill so much magical blood."
"You are such a dick, but I'm not exactly in a position to make demands." Hermione worked her jaw and summoned the first thing she thought of from her purse. "Deal. Catch."
She threw the object in her hand to the ground and a puff of instant darkness powder flooded the room, engulfing the Death Eaters. Spells fired and Hermione jumped into the fray, pushing Mum and Chibuzo out the door.
"Get in the car!" she ordered. "If the Death Eaters come for you, just drive to Sirius' and don't look back!"
Beatrice nodded and ran to the car while Hermione hurried back into the house, begging for Felix Felicis to protect her family around her. She threw stunners, hexes, and jinxes, using her magic sight to bring out her family in clumps. She was getting hit and had even been thrown into her trophy stand. Adrenaline kept her moving.
"Diffindo!"
"Brachiabindo!"
"BOMBARDA!"
"RUN!" Hermione pushed Roger towards the door as the bookcase behind them exploded.
"Incendio!"
The flames spread quickly. Hermione was going to make them regret that.
"Gravitas Nullam!"
Three Death Eaters floated to the ceiling. Hermione took off for her car and dove into the driver's seat, pushing Manuia over. Before she could slam her foot on the pedal, the rest of the Death Eater cavalry arrived and surrounded them. Viktor, Hana, Esperanza, Cecilia, and Amalea pointed their wands in each direction, ready to go down fighting.
The only Death Eater not wearing a mask was Bellatrix Lestrange. She had a deranged smile and leveled her wand at them.
"Be wise now," she said.
"Move, or I'll run you over!" Hermione roared. "I'd kill all of you to protect my family!"
"You don't have the guts!" a Death Eater laughed.
"Bet." Hermione threw her car in reverse and slammed on the gas towards the ones behind them. She desperately hoped the neighbors wouldn't get trouble from the fire or the Death Eaters left behind.
Hermione turned the wheel hard and switched from reverse to drive. They spun and moved ahead. If they could get to Grimmauld Place, they'd be safe as soon as they passed through the fidelius charm wards. Not even Taboo could break that. She just had to get to the next borough over. The Death Eaters pursued, flying in clouds of black. Hermione didn't even know such a spell was possible, but perhaps Tom had invented it to give them an edge.
They moved ahead, forcing her to turn into center London. Fine. Maybe she'd just lead them to the Ministry of Magic. See how they liked that.
One bull-headed Death Eater managed to keep pace with the car and was trying to force her wand arm in. She fired a spell and Hermione felt the wind get knocked out of her. She gripped onto the wheel and refused to look down at the damage. Felix was working hard just keeping her on the road. Any spells cast at the offender went through her as she turned to smoke to avoid them.
Esperanza got hit and slumped over, completely unresponsive. Viktor roared with rage, turned into a seagull, and shot into the Death Eaters face. They both fell out of the car and tumbled into the street. Hermione could only look in her rear view for a second. She was too focused on not crashing to even consider turning around.
Thankfully, there was only one other person driving the streets of London and they were going as fast as Hermione. They actually ended up side-by-side on a one-lane road. This car was the complete opposite to her cutesy, round bug. It was a shiny, black 1926 Bentley sleek and ominous as a hearse. Had she been thinking anything other than "FLOOR IT!" Hermione might have thought it strange that such an old car, even in good condition, would match her speed.
Had she been allowed to, she might have speculated about what sort of person drives a 1926 Bentley around London on Christmas Day. They didn't seem to be in the same predicament she was in. Chased by Death Eaters who were keen on killing them and their entire family. She might have decided that, due to lack of traffic, they were simply out on a joy ride. She might have mused that they were part of the Addams Family.
A stray curse knocked out the driver's side mirror of the Bentley. The window rolled down letting "Keep yourself Alive" by Queen blast freely and a man wearing nearly opaque sunglasses stuck his head out, looking back at the offender with the disgruntled look of someone who just had a bird shit on their windshield. He looked over at Hermione who was trying to stop Bug from retaliating to the Bentley's radio with "One Way Or Another" by Blondie.
"'scuse me," he said, gesturing vaguely behind them. "Are these your friends?"
"Those are not my friends!" she shouted above the wind and clashing music. "Watch it!"
The green light of the Killing Curse shot between them, thankfully hitting neither.
"DEAD END!" Manuia yelled. "DRIFT!"
She slammed her feet on the brake pedal and her papí pulled on her parking brake so she careened left around the corner. The Bentley followed and both cars dodged another nasty spell that surely would have destroyed them both.
Growing smarter, the Death Eaters disappeared briefly and reappeared about a block down. There was no corner to turn. A few lowered onto the roof of her car, ready to do whatever was necessary.
"Oh, so that's how you want to play, eh?" the Bentley driver roared and, shockingly, managed to go faster, pulling ahead of the Bug.
Hermione did not want to see how this would play out. She needed a miracle. Slamming her foot on the accelerator, she braced one hand against the ceiling and poured all of her magic into her vehicle. She thought of home. She wanted to be as far away from here as she possibly could. She imagined pulling Koloa closer, enfolding the space in front of them. Just as the Bentley turned sideways to hit the five Death Eaters ahead of them, London bent around Bug and soon there was nothing but ribbons of light and nebulae of colors.
"Nia?" Cecilia gasped.
The car lurched once, briefly throwing them into farmland that looked like all the others. Corn, broken down houses, though there was a huge sign that said HELL IS REAL in large, ominous letters, which meant they must've been in the American Midwest. One of the Death Eaters flew forward and landed under her wheels. Space bent again and the second time they lurched, water splashed across the sides of the car sweeping off the other Death Eaters. The third, and last time, the car lurched and they were on a beach. Hermione slammed on the brakes, spraying sand everywhere. There was a horrible shudder within the car before it slammed into a palm tree. The roots lifted briefly out of the ground as the car tried to keep going before both rocked back, loose palm leaves clattering onto the windshield and hood.
Ears ringing, Hermione plucked the pen out of her cupholder, clicked it, and stabbed the air bag so it deflated. She blinked back the tears that had flooded her eyes and looked outside. It was night, though the sky still held a tinge of reds and purples of twilight just before it would settle into the cool blue of nighttime. She was sure that she could hear shouting and crying, but everything was muffled. She needed to get out of here.
She tapped her seatbelt buckle, it swung off her and she uneasily got out of the car. She felt like she'd been punched in the chest and the nose and her head split with an ache. Her side was bleeding. Not badly, but she knew it'd make stretching difficult for a couple weeks. Stumbling to her knees, she retched into the wet sand before finally looking up. Just a short ways away was the yellow house Manuia and Hana owned. She'd done it. She brought them home.
Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed. Everything seemed to keep spinning until she lost consciousness. The last thing she felt was high tide tugging at her legs.