Chapter 63: Finding comfort

They stayed like that for several minutes. Harry in the background, Hermione on her knees and in tears. It was only after a while that the young man moved closer to the lioness. He knew he had nothing to fear. Hermione was herself again and realised the consequences of her actions. He rested his forehead against hers without saying a word. He didn't really know what to say after what had just happened. He was torn between what he would have liked to hear and simply agreeing completely with the death of the former Slytherin. The wizard finally broke the heavy silence.

- Mione, we've got to get back. We can't stay here; we can't even leave her here.

Despite Harry's resentment and even hatred of his former teacher, he couldn't bring himself to leave her there. In his eyes, life was precious, and every corpse deserved a grave. Hermione looked at him and then back at the lifeless body of the woman in pink. Putting her hand on top of her, the witch held out her other hand to Harry before carrying the three of them into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore had gone back to his office with your paintings, wanting to keep up to date with the school's news.

- Miss Gran... What's happened?

The witch's puffy red eyes spoke volumes about her state of mind. She didn't have the courage to answer, or to make any sound at all. All the young woman could do was vanish without further explanation. She left that to Harry. Right now, all Hermione wanted was to see her family again, to snuggle up in Henry's arms.

Once she got to town. It wasn't long before she found the young man and curled up in his arms, letting the few remaining tears fall. Her companion was no fool; he knew that something serious had happened. Hermione's cries were mixed with anger and regret.

- Take it easy, take it easy, it'll be all right, Henry said calmly, wiping the cheeks of the woman he loved as best he could.

- No, it won't! I did it, I gave in to the darkness ...

- What's happened?

Henry was afraid of what he was going to hear, but a little voice deep inside him already knew what the witch was going to tell him. At the very least, someone had to have died for Hermione to be in this state. Between two bursts of tears, the young woman confessed to having killed Dolores Umbridge. She said nothing more, she was incapable of doing so. Henry walked her back to their house. Hearing the door open, Regina and Robin watched as he led Hermione to her room. He waited until she had fallen into a deep sleep, caused mainly by the fatigue felt by her body after so many emotions, before joining the couple who were still waiting downstairs.

- Is she all right? Regina asked immediately.

- Physically she's fine. Mentally, she's devastated... She... She killed someone. Dolores Umbridge, her Defence Against the Forces of Evil teacher.

- She... What? Robin exclaimed.

You could feel that there was no anger in Robin's voice, but mainly concern for his daughter's well-being. He had seen her at work in combat. The archer also knew full well that it would take a lot for Hermione to give in to Dark Magic. Everyone had heard about Umbridge's behaviour, and, like Draco, she was already hated by all the inhabitants.

It was not until the following day that the witch awoke. All the weight on her shoulders had just shifted back onto her. Henry entered her room without saying a word, bringing her a tray with some pastries for breakfast.

- You haven't eaten anything since yesterday. I know you're not supposed to be hungry, but you still need to eat something.

Not contradicting him, she reluctantly swallowed what he had prepared for her. She still hadn't said a word since her confession yesterday. Yet there was one thing she had to say, Hermione needed to hear it.

- I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for what I did... I...

- Look at me, Mione, he began, placing his hand on her chin to raise her eyes. What makes you different from Rumple or Voldemort is this. It's the remorse you feel, they feel none.

The witch drank in his words, sincerely wanting to believe that she was not like them. The very idea of being like them made her nauseous. So, she got out of bed and went downstairs to meet the rest of her family. Without wondering what had happened, Roland gave his big sister a tender hug. Hermione then glanced at her parents who opened their arms to her, they would never judge her. Not after everything she had done for them.

They went outside to get some fresh air, heading for Granny's. When they arrived in front of the restaurant, they were surprised to find guests in addition to the main inhabitants. Minerva and Albus had come to meet the witch. Hermione began to tremble; in her eyes, they were there to take her straight to Azkaban. The headmaster of Hogwarts approached the witch gently.

- It's all right, Miss Granger. Everything has been taken care of.

- Everything?

- Professor Dumbledore speaks the truth, Miss Granger. Minerva continued. No charges will be brought against you for what happened. Officially, nothing even remotely related to you has happened.

The witch was speechless. They had covered for her with the Ministry. The Ministry had other things to think about. Indeed, after the witch's last mission, which had taken her to St Mungo's Hospital, more than obvious evidence of the Dark Lord's return had come to light. The magical world was turned upside down and the death of Dolores Umbridge was the last thing on Fudge's mind.

Note : Thank you CallaRose4ever and BlackOrchid1978 for your reviews. The way things are going on my side, I think I'll be able to post a chapter a day until the end of this story.