Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell is JK Rowling's

Chapter 66: Saving the damned.

Hermione's POV

I snapped Spellman's Syllabary shut, which was the last of the books I had on Ancient Runes. That's including the few that Len brought with him from Grimauld Place. I looked down at the parchment that Nott had given me, not a single one of the runes translated. It had taken me four days to search through these books; it would have taken me a lot less if we hadn't been so busy…

I dropped my head into my hands; I can't believe Dumbledore is gone. I can't believe Umbridge is headmistress. Thank heavens Ky is in the hospital wing, unconscious, because Godric knows what would have happened if she was around when Umbridge caught the DA.

I knew I should have gone to Dumbledore with the runes once I found them, even if it was three in the morning! By the time I got to his office at breakfast he had already left for China for the meeting with the specialised Healer about Ky's condition! That very same night was the night that the DA got caught and Dumbledore lied to the Ministry about his involvement which resulted in his present Wanted Wizard status. All to protect Harry. And the rest of us. But now there's no way I can get these runes to him. Linus and Len are not allowed on school premises like they were when Dumbledore was headmaster so I can't consult them either! I even tried sending it over the Parch but Linus hasn't responded ever since his abrupt end to our conversation a few days ago.

I looked at my watch; it was six in the evening…I need a break. I've been in here since two. And I have prefect duties at nine and Hannah has covered for me so many times as is. Not that it would be necessary, considering the Inquisitorial Squad is around. They're just a bunch of glorified vigilantes; it's an insult to prefects. I felt a prickle across my neck and turned around.

The moonlight from the nearby window cast his eyes in a shade of light green, he smirked at me, and I returned it with a glare, the candlelight catching that insipid Inquisitorial Squad badge as if reminding me what a complete…berk he was.

Inquisitorial Squad! What would that demon woman think of next! I left the library, looking out of the corner of my eye to ensure the idiot Nott wasn't following me, and thankfully he wasn't.

I lowered myself onto the seat, staring at her closed eyes. She had been unconscious for just over a week this time. I can't imagine what must be going on inside her body if she needed such an exorbitant amount of time for recovery.

Surprisingly, Healer Atticus had shown up two days ago, he said he was just visiting but he ran some tests. It seemed no matter how much his knowledge of the situation says that he should just give up on Ky, something kept calling him back. It was a stroke of luck that he was there too, one of the first things Umbridge requested when she was announced as headmistress was a detailed explanation of Ky's diagnosis. It would seem Healer Atticus had no qualms with risking his license being revoked and sent Umbridge the very diagnosis we had concocted, that Ky had a very severe case of Xebonite infection, and she reacted poorly to the antidote. When asked how this occurred, we responded that she must have come across the infectious plant in Hogsmeade, probably whilst rock climbing. The symptoms she displayed were so similar to Xebonite that nobody questioned it, except Umbridge. But I think that has less to do with the fact that she could tell it was a lie and more to do with the fact that she hated Ky and wanted to think the worse of her even in her present state.

I looked across the bed, to Harry. I was utterly perplexed; he was looking down at his potions essay and doing something he hadn't done in over a week…he was smiling.

"I really don't think the uses of Vitamix is that funny?"

"What?" He looked up at me, probably just realising that I was there. I smiled to myself and shook my head.

"If you need some help with the essay, just borrow mine, don't tell Ron though. If I lend him an inch, he will take a mile."

"What essay?" Harry frowned at me,

"Aren't you doing that potions essay, the one that's due tomorrow?"

"Oh, no." The smile wiped off his face, "I haven't even started with that yet."

I didn't chastise him though; he had so much on his plate. Sometimes I wondered just how far away he was from the end of his tether.

At least he stopped having those funny dreams, which was strange to me considering he never made it seem that occlumency was going that well and suddenly Snape tells him last night that he doesn't need any more lessons.

"What are you reading then?"

"That letter from Ky. The one she sent us when she got suspended."

"Excuse me, Harry?"

We turned around to see none other than Cho Chang standing a few feet away; Harry looked surprised for a moment.

"Hi Cho."

"May I have a word in private, please?"

Harry's brows furrowed, "Cho, anything you have to say, can be said in front of Hermione." I smiled inwardly at the statement knowing what he really meant. Harry tried to stay by Ky's side as much as physically possible, hoping that he would be the first thing she sees when she wakes up again. He wasn't about to leave her side for Cho.

"No, I don't mind, go ahead Harry." I spoke the words just to be courteous, knowing he wouldn't heed them.

She glanced at me; I've never seen her look so angry. Actually, I very rarely see any emotion except sadness on her pretty face. Harry remained seated, and she directed her body so she would only be looking at him.

"It's about Marietta. I was just wondering, if you had the antidote for…for that hex on her face."

Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I haven't a clue Cho, sorry."

"Well, I mean, maybe there is a way that you might be able to get the antidote."

She was hinting at Harry to ask me for the antidote. At least they were smart enough to know that a simple counter curse wouldn't do, they probably were up all-night trying counter curses.

"I don't think so Cho."

"Harry! Please see reason! She had no right to scar Marietta like that!" Cho's voice was rising, and I looked at Ky quickly, Madam Pomfrey said the noise levels must be very low, disturbing her from this deep a sleep might cause added shock on her system. We needed to let her wake naturally.

Harry was on his feet, "Cho, I have no antidote and neither does Hermione, she never thought to make one considering that we placed a trust in our fellow members that we were sadly mistaken in. Now please, leave."

I never saw Harry so…dismissive before. And neither did Cho. She stared at him wide eyed for a moment, and then turned on her heel and ran out the door.

"Is it weird that that whole dominating act, kind of turns me on?" I snapped my head to the bed and smiled widely at the grey eyes.

Harry rushed forward, "You're awake."

Harry tried to help her sit up, but she batted his hands away. I adjusted her pillows, she didn't complain. She was so lazy. I glared at her, but it was spoiled with the megawatt smile I had on my face.

"When you're done with the pillows, I'd like a back massage. And you, bring that face here."

Harry laughed, and lowered his head, kissing her on the cheek. It would seem that the sleep had done a world of good for her.

"Would you two behave, Madam Pomfrey is in her office not ten feet away."

Harry pulled himself from Ky's lips and she laughed at me, "Ten feet Mi. She might as well be on another planet."

I shook my head and sat back down; she really needed to pay better attention to her surroundings.

"KY!" Ron, who had just entered the Hospital Wing, ran forward and engulfed her in a hug. Ginny took the seat next to me; practice must have finished.

"So, who's holding down the throne in the underworld while you're away?" Ginny smirked at Ky, the latter smiling down at her mischievously.

"I suggested your name, but then they said they wanted someone who's more bite and less bark. And bigger boobs."

I laughed as Ron closed his eyes in pain at the mention of his sister's breasts. Ky looked around the relatively quiet room. Oh no, why did she have to pick now to become aware of her surroundings.

"Where's Nonno?" I glanced at Harry at the question, pulling her attention to him, "What's going on?"

Harry sat down on the side of her bed, his face tentative, but his eyes steady, "Dumbledore is gone. He's on the run from the ministry. Umbridge found out about the DA and Dumbledore took full responsibility for it, saying that he came up with the whole thing. The Ministry has charged him with treason, saying he was trying to use us as an actual army, against them."

I watched her as the information sunk in. She was quiet for a moment, "Umbitch is Headmistress?"

I nodded, surprised at how well she was taking it. She turned to Harry,

"You must be careful; she'll be just waiting for you to slip up."

Harry scoffed, "That's my line. I know you must be upset about Dumbledore, believe me, I am too."

"I don't plan on slipping up Harry. I'll never give her that kind of satisfaction; someone has to hold down the fort while Nonno is gone."

"That's very mature Ky." I couldn't help the surprise in my voice.

She smirked at me, "I said I wouldn't slip up. I didn't say anything about not doing anything-"

"Ky!" I scowled at her, and she laughed,

"I'm joking! I wouldn't do that to Sev, I always thought he'd fancy himself to be the one that would expel me."

"And how I count the seconds to that day." We all turned to the door, Snape walked in, his face blank as always but I think I could just about read a little glint in his eyes.

"You'd wallow in misery if you didn't see my face every day Sensei."

"If you call doing a victory dance wallowing in misery, then yes, I would do just that. Can the audience clear out, Madam Pomfrey and I need to run some tests."

I rose, "I'll see you tomorrow?" They probably would keep her for the rest of the night; she nodded and smiled at me. She blew kisses at Ginny who returned it with an eye roll, Ron ruffled her hair and she and Harry exchanged such an intimate stare I felt intrusive just observing it.

"You've forgotten something Miss Granger."

I turned as Snape held out a piece of parchment to me.

"That's not mine." I said in confusion.

He looked down at the parchment and sighed in recognition, "It's Bane's, who else is lethargic enough to substitute every like sounding numerical with a word."

"Actually, it's mine." Harry held his hand out for the letter that must have fallen, looking at anything but Professor Snape. The teacher was acting just as weird, handing him the parchment, and turning away.

Ky shrugged, "It's just easier writing 4 instead of for."

"Yeah and 1 for won and 8 for ate." I smiled at Ky,

"Hey, all that matters is that it makes sense to me, nobody's asking you guys to pry into my business." She added sassily after us as we walked away.

I stopped walking towards the exit. Suddenly all the stress and exhaustion went flying out the window, Ky's sentence flipping the light switch to supernova bright.

"Hermione?"

I grabbed Harry by the arm and ran out the door, afraid that every passing moment that went by was slowly killing my idea…my idea that might just save Ky's magic.

A/N: Brightest witch of her generation is on it! What do you think it is?

Kalina