Chapter 25: A Swift Resolution (or The Longest Day Imaginable)
With Hermione and Sherlock once again reunited, bound in mind and body by the spell, they stood stronger than ever. The tension that had plagued them for months now seemed like a distant memory. Together with the others in the Grangers' living room, they quickly began piecing together a plan to rescue Mycroft and deal with Eurus once and for all.
It was Harry who first suggested the simplest way to get back onto the island. Eurus didn't know Hermione was a witch. With that advantage, Hermione and Harry could easily apparate Sherlock and John straight onto the island. Four heads—two magicals, one soldier, and the genius that was Sherlock Holmes—working together.
At first, Sherlock was adamant that Hermione could not, under any circumstances, come along. "Absolutely not," he said, his voice firm, almost commanding. "It's too dangerous, Hermione, especially now." His gaze drifted to her.
But Poppy quickly interjected, "The spell was a better success than we could have expected, Sherlock. She's cleared for duty."
Sherlock's jaw clenched. "That doesn't mean it's safe."
Poppy sighed and took on a more serious tone. "Actually, now that you and Hermione are bound, it would be more dangerous for her not to go with you. You'll find that over the next few months, you'll have to spend more time together. Leaving Hermione behind, especially now, could have unpredictable consequences for you both."
Sherlock looked to Hermione, as if searching for confirmation. Hermione, her eyes determined, folded her arms across her chest and gave him a pointed look. "I don't need protecting Sherlock, I'm coming with you. End of discussion."
He hesitated for a moment longer. Hermione clearly had no idea how close they had come to losing her forever, but her firm stance brook no argument, so finally he relented with a sigh. "Fine. But you stay close to me. No risks."
Hermione nodded with a small, satisfied smile, knowing she had won that particular battle. The plan solidified, and as the group prepared, there was a renewed sense of urgency.
--
By the time they arrived back on the island, the sky had deepened into evening, casting long shadows across the complex. The air was heavy with the scent of saltwater and anticipation. It had been the longest day imaginable.
The group materialized just outside the compound where they had left Mycroft, their surroundings eerily quiet. The once cold, sterile atmosphere of the facility was now steeped in shadow. With a nod to Harry, John took the front with him intending to cover the east side of the complex, and Hermione and Sherlock took the rear, they would cover the west. Hermione cast a quick invisibility charm over herself and gripped Sherlock's hand tightly as they crept down the shadowed corridors, her heart pounding in time with his.
"Stay close," Sherlock whispered, his eyes scanning every corner, every movement in the darkened halls. They moved silently, hand in hand, their presence undetected by whatever security systems Eurus may have had in place.
--
It didn't take long. Barely ten minutes after they'd landed, they reached the room where they had left Mycroft. Sherlock's heart raced as he pushed the door open, half-expecting the worst.
But the scene that greeted them was entirely unexpected.
Mycroft sat calmly in a chair, flanked by two men in all black—clearly part of Mycroft's security detail, the kind he had at his disposal on a whim. Mycroft glanced up as they burst in, his face unreadable at first, but then a small, knowing smile crossed his lips.
"Mycroft?" Sherlock said, a mixture of relief and irritation in his voice. "What—how did you…?"
"Rescue myself?" Mycroft finished, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, well, it wasn't as complicated as you might think." He gestured to the two men in black, who nodded silently and exited the room.
Hermione let out a small sigh of relief, letting her invisibility charm fall away. "You're okay," she said, her voice warm. But there was a slight edge of incredulity to her tone. "You rescued yourself?"
Mycroft stood, adjusting his suit jacket. "Of course I did. Did you really think I would sit idly by, waiting for a rescue party?" His gaze flicked between Sherlock and Hermione, a subtle smirk tugging at his lips. "Though I must say, you are looking better than the last time I saw you Hermione."
Sherlock reached out to his side, linking his fingers with Hermione's.
"And Eurus?" Sherlock asked, his voice turning serious once more.
Mycroft's expression sobered. "Handled. She's been secured."
Sherlock's brow furrowed. "Secured? How?"
Mycroft sighed, casting a glance at Hermione, as if weighing his words. Then he began to recount what had happened in the few short minutes he had spent alone with his sister.
--
As soon as the door had shut behind Sherlock, Mycroft held the hidden button on his watch, activating an emergency signal to notify his men of his location and the need for backup. He knew his men wouldn't be long. But he could not simply wait.
Eurus stood across the room, her eyes cold, her expression unreadable. "You think you've won," she said, her voice lilting with a strange sort of calm. "But you haven't. Sherlock's little friend will die and he will never forgive you for what you did here."
Mycroft didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied her, his mind working rapidly. He could see the depth of her anger, her hurt, but there was something else too—something more vulnerable.
"I didn't have Sherlock's memories erased to protect myself," Mycroft said quietly, his tone measured. "I did it to protect him. And to protect you."
Eurus scoffed. "Me? You've done nothing but lock me away. You always favored Sherlock, protected him. And what did I get? A prison cell."
"You killed a boy, Eurus, you burned our home to the ground. Sherlock almost died trying to find you," Mycroft shouted, momentarily losing his calm. Eurus had a way of getting under peoples skin, she always had, even as a little girl.
Mycroft turned to face away from Eurus, he should not have placed his back to her, but he needed to calm himself if he wanted to keep her placid until his men arrived. "The Aurors believed you died that day. They wiped Sherlock's memories to protect the Statute of Secrecy. I fixed it to protect you both."
Her eyes flickered. "The fire wasn't meant for Sherlock. I would never—"
"I know," Mycroft interrupted gently, turning back to face his sister. "But you have no idea how dangerous it would've been if he had remembered. Sherlock would've never stopped looking for you, no matter the cost. The magical world was at war, and I wouldn't have put it past the dark lord to take advantage of a girl like yourself. It wasn't safe."
Eurus turned away, her arms folded tightly over her chest. Mycroft took a step closer, his voice softening further.
"Sherlock might not remember, but I do. He loved you Eurus" His gaze flicked to the door, hoping his rescuers wouldn't be too long now.
Eurus who was losing her patience with Mycroft's handling of her turned away. She was the one in control. She had orchestrated this, not him. "If Sherlock loves his siblings so much, why did he abandon you here with me. Knowing what I am capable of. Knowing I could kill you with a thought," Eurus threatened, though her tone lacked the weight her words implied.
Mycoft, observing the change in cadence, saw his opportunity and simply replied, "Hermione needs him right now".
Eurus tensed at the mention of Hermione. "The woman? What does she matter more than us, more than you?"
Mycroft took a gamble. "She's carrying his child."
The silence that followed was deafening. Eurus froze. Her back still to Mycroft.
"A child?" she whispered.
"Yes," Mycroft said softly. "Sherlock's child. A future. Something he can't afford to lose."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, slowly, Eurus turned back to face him, her eyes glassy but no longer filled with the same venom.
"I didn't want this," she whispered. "I never wanted any of this."
"I know," Mycroft said gently. "But it's not too late Eurus. We can make this right. Together."
When his men arrived shortly after, Mycroft made the call to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It was time Mycroft delivered on his promise, to get Eurus the magical help she needed. He had negotiated with the Ministry to keep her out of Azkaban, promising increased magical security, oversight, and weekly visits from a mind healer. The process had been delicate, requiring compromises on long-term political matters, but in the end, it was worth it.
Eurus had been secured in a specialized containment unit, but not without some concessions for her well-being. She didn't need to know the full truth about Hermione being a witch. It was safer for everyone that she continued to believe Hermione was a muggle. Even with so many other truths laid bare, this was one secret he knew was too dangerous to share.
--
Back in the present, Mycroft's eyes shifted between Sherlock and Hermione. "It was... delicate," he said simply, "but I managed to talk her down."
"She's secured now?" Hermione asked cautiously.
Mycroft nodded. "Magical restraints. She's still under heavy guard, but… we've made some concessions." He glanced at Hermione again. "She'll have more freedoms. The opportunity to get to know Sherlock. If you want it. I'm sorry for my part in this Sherlock, for not telling you myself"
Sherlock stood still, absorbing the weight of his brother's words. Mycroft had done more than rescue himself—he had saved them all today.
For once, Sherlock felt a wave of admiration for his brother's foresight. "How did you get her to not kill you," Sherlock joked.
Mycroft's lips quirked into a small smile. "I appealed to her better nature," he said smoothly.
Hermione exhaled softly, relieved it was over. For now, at least. She turned to Sherlock, her hand still entwined with his. "Can we go home?" she asked, her voice soft but tired.
Sherlock hesitated, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "Home?" he asked. "You mean… you don't want me to—"
Hermione laughed softly, shaking her head. "No, Sherlock. I meant, you should come with me. I think you owe my dad an explanation after all," she grinned.
Sherlock blinked, and then, for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. A real, genuine smile. "Yes," he said quietly. "I suppose I do." And with that, Hermione pulled him close, and the two of them vanished.
