Another week, another update. This one has some excitement in it. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 15 The Final Task
Marcus sat at the table waiting with Theo. "Hi. What brings you by?" she greeted. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Adrian reminded me we have OWLs in two months and I need to start reviewing. Gemma's idea of revising is snogging in the library. She is upset with me because I picked revising with Theo over snogging her."

"For the record, I think you made the right choice," Theo remarked.

"I agree," added Hermione.

"Thanks, guys. You'll help me won't you?" he asked nervously.

"Haven't I always?" she chuckled. "Where do you want to start?"

He sagged with relief, "Charms, please."

Later that night Marcus initiated a conversation for the first time in a long time. M: Gemma broke up with me?

H: I'm sorry.

M: Why? I've been trying to figure out if I wanted to even be with her. And how to break up with her if I didn't. Theo admitted neither of you even liked her.

H: It is the social convention to express sympathy, not congratulations, in this instance.

M: Okay, that's fair.

H: Lucius Malfoy, the Minister, and some men tried to ambush me and make the Malfoys my guardians in Dumbledore's office today. They know most of it."

M: Wow, now what?

H: Nothing. Sirius Black is my magical guardian he supports what I want. My parents are druids like yours. They know just as much about this stuff as most wizards. But now that they know it is only a matter of time before everyone knows, even with Sirius's threats about my privacy. I don't think they know exactly what the individual components of the mark mean, just that its presence means I am a fully trained Druid.

M: Are you ready?

H: How can anyone know if they're ready? Either way, it'll happen. Most important no one can manipulate me to do anything, or try and take me away from my parents.

M: That's good, I suppose. Though, with the doorway spell, who could keep you somewhere you didn't want to be? Will you help me revise tomorrow after quidditch?

H: Of course.

He took so long to write anything else she thought he had fallen asleep, then he changed the subject again.

M: Are you really going to visit Krum this summer?

H: Yes, his family invited me to their summer mountain home. I still don't know how Skeeter knew. We're not serious or anything. Despite what everyone else thinks

M: You don't owe me an explanation.

H: I'm aware. But I want to talk about it with somebody. I like him, but after this year how often will we see each other? Right now we're in different stages of our lives. We both know it. Something long distance wouldn't be fair to either of us.

M: Merlin, Gemma had our wedding planned and was naming our hypothetical kids, and you're rationalizing why you and Krum are short term.

H: I have my reasons. I overthink everything. Why should this be any different?

M: Ha ha, good night.

H: Good night.

Hermione knew why she was overthinking her relationship with Viktor. She also knew the idea of exploring her feelings for Marcus risked their friendship. Something she treasured greatly. Viktor was safe. She admitted it was cowardly. She didn't care. She had bigger things going on. Marcus fell asleep wondering what her reasons were and if he really cared so long as they ended up breaking up. And he didn't care if thinking that way was selfish or made him a bad person.

The only change Hermione noticed after the showdown in the headmaster's office was in Malfoy. He wasn't fawning or even more than barely civil, but he hadn't insulted her since then. She wondered if the conflict this created in his brain might cause a stroke. He hadn't said anything to Parkinson, she knew, because the pug nosed girl continued to be a hateful bully. He did shut her down if she said something in front of him, but that was extent. The press printed nothing about her at all. The ministry maintained their silence as well. Professor Dumbledore appeared deep in thought when she noticed him looking at her. Professor McGonagall addressed the issue, though, "I wish you had said something, lass. You can trust me to keep your secrets. It is my job as Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmistress to support you."

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll remember that going forward."

"See that you do."

She did tell Ron and Harry about what happened when they managed to find themselves alone in the library. "The way Professor Dumbledore talked they were just going down the list of students who dressed a certain way at Yule Ball."

"You don't think anyone suspected at all?" asked Harry.

"Professor Snape might have, and he could have said something, but he wasn't there at the meeting."

Ron nodded, "Don't take this the wrong way, but even the most forward-thinking wizards would consider it unlikely that a muggleborn was the Druid. No offense, but when my parents discussed it, they never mentioned a muggleborn."

"How many do they know?" countered Hermione. "And how many families really follow the old ways anymore?"

"Not many," admitted Ron. "I barely know the basics."

"So, they had no idea? They picked something as random as clothing choice to start asking people if they were?" asked Harry.

"Unless someone knew more than they were admitting. I refused to speak to them without Sirius, and he told all of them he expected my privacy to be respected, and so far that is happening. So, we'll see where this goes."
oOo

A week before the final task the nightmares began. The champions wandered around a dark maze through dangers untold. The foreboding feeling permeated everything. Dead bodies in different combinations lay on the field beyond the finish line. In every vision, a large trophy loomed ominously. Most often the bodies were Diggory and Harry.

Hermione bolted upright drenched in sweat from the dream of all four mangled bodies lying at her feet. Amos Diggory clung to his son's lifeless bloodied body as he sobbed, "You did this, you monster!" The unseeing eyes of the champions stared at the dark sky overhead. Each face twisted at the horror that had been their deaths. She swallowed her scream. Determined to face her responsibility head-on she climbed out of bed and headed to shower.

The smile slid from Viktor's face when he saw the expression on hers as she approached him before their run."Can you collect Fleur and meet us at the gazebo?"

"Of course. But what is wrong?"

"I would prefer to only explain this once, please."

"I will go now."

"Let's meet after breakfast."

"Da," he hurried off to find the French student.

She simply instructed Harry when and where to meet. He nodded at her silently. She finished eating and headed to the Hufflepuff table. Several of them eyed her suspiciously. She ignored them as she had never done anything to any of them as far as they knew. If she imagined the horrible mangled deaths of some of them when they were mean to Harry, wild horses wouldn't drag that confession out of her. She found her target and stood next to his shoulder, "Diggory, may I have a word?"

He looked confused at her request. Before he could answer another older Hufflepuff did, "Run along, Gryffindor. Cedric is busy." She continued to look at Diggory waiting for his reply. "Did you hear me? Get lost."

"I heard you. The adults are talking, be quiet. Diggory?"

"Uh, sure, let's go," he looked mildly amused at her demeanor. Once away from the table, he asked, "Okay, what's up?"

"Not here. We're meeting the other champions." She lead the way to the meeting.

Fleur saw them and began waving her arms, "Zere they are. Will you explain now?"

"Hello," said Hermione with a wave. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Hermione Granger. I asked all of you to meet this morning because, after a week of dreams, I cannot in good conscience ignore the warnings anymore."

"You 'ad a bad dream?" Fleur snipped. "Ziz iz why you bother uz?"

"No, I wanted to warn you. I had a premonition last summer. It escalated in seriousness." Fleur rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. Hermione gestured behind her, "Feel free to return to the castle." She held up her left hand inner wrist out. "I won't inflict my bad dreams on you."

Fleur's eyes widened, "Do ze girlz of 'Ogwarts draw on zemzelvez?" She looked at Diggory and Harry when she asked.

Diggory's face scrunched, "Uh, no." Understanding spread across his face. "We should listen." He sat on the stone bench. "We're all ears."

She gave him a grateful half smile and took a deep breath, "We all know the final task involves the hedge maze they've been growing all year. Don't bother denying it. Three of you play quidditch and the other would have been informed by either her ball date or schoolmates. From the air you can see in, not well enough to map it out, but you know what it is." They all nodded confirmation. "The trophy at the end has been tampered with. I don't know how or why. If any of you touch it some combination of you dies. Again, I don't know how or why. Divination isn't my forte. Which is part of why it took me a week to heed the warning enough to tell you."

"What do you want us to do?" asked Viktor.

"Whatever feels natural in the moment. But I have no idea what happens if you touch it. Declare yourselves tied for all I care. But. Do. Not. Touch. That. Trophy."

Diggory nodded, "We'll just have to wing it." The others nodded.

Hermione decided to take a walk around the castly after meeting Viktor's family. They hadn't seen him for nine months, she didn't want to intrude. She also thought Mrs. Weasley needed time to overcome her embarrassment after Harry corrected her beliefs about Hermione's love life as reported by Rita Skeeter. Sirius tried to accompany her, but she sent him back to Harry. Remus ignored her protests and continued to follow her. "What's troubling you?"

"The knowledge something bad is planned for tonight but I have no idea what. And without that knowledge, I can't plan. I hate having to make up everything in the moment. I like having a basic outline of a plan. It never survives, but I like having it, nonetheless."

The werewolf nodded, "I sympathize but life rarely gives you those options. You need to work on learning to roll with the punches and plan on your feet. From what Harry has told us you three have done this before."

"Sure, but never with so much forewarning. Usually, we figure it out and it goes down right after. I know what you're saying, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Fair enough. Did you enjoy meeting the Krums?"

"Yes, they were kind enough to invite me to visit this summer."

"Does Sirius know?" he asked as they walked.

"No, why?"

Remus looked concerned, "Rather an important step in pureblood courtship, the family visit."

"Oh no, it's not like that. Viktor and I aren't serious. They thought I might enjoy the mountains in the summer."

"That is different. Didn't you attend Yule Ball together?"

"Yes, and we're romantically linked, but nothing serious. We know and accept this."

"How are you only fifteen?"

"My granddads always says I'm an old soul. I'm also practical. And I like Viktor but after seven months I'm not in love with him."

Remus chuckled, "Is that so?" He swatted a beetle away.

The odd flight pattern of the insect caught Hermione's attention. "It is," she answered never taking her eyes off the bug. With the speed of a hunter, she clapped her hands around it. "Gotcha! Remus, would you make me an unbreakable glass jar with a lid, please?"

"Um..."

"This is a very rare beetle, Remus, worth untold riches to the right scientist."

"Okay, one jar with holes in the lid coming up."

"So kind."

"And humane," he responded.

"More people should remember that," she said holding up the jar to peer at the bug. "And that karma's a bitch." She gave the jar a couple of shakes. The beetle flew around clearly agitated.

"Hermione, stop tormenting the beetle. We need to head back. The final task will be starting soon."

"Yeah, showtime and all that." She took the jar back to her room. She and Ron joined the others in the stands in front of the trophy. She tried not to fidget as they waited for someone to emerge from the maze. Sparks were sent up. Snape escorted a limping Fleur from the maze. Fifteen minutes later more sparks shot up and Sprout assisted Viktor, looking clearly stunned and incoherent.

Ludo Bagman perked, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Hogwarts champions remain the only contestants. And they are neck and neck in the last stretch." Harry and Diggory stopped short together, both refusing to touch the actual trophy. The judges and Moody approached them. A heated debate began. Sirius and Hermione moved closer. Ron tried to join accompany them, but Mrs. Weasley stopped him. Moody's face contorted before he panicked and grabbed the trophy. He vanished with a pop. The trophy had been a portkey.

Pandemonium broke out. People yelled, aurors ran around, and staff members tried to contain the chaos. "They'll never track him," lamented Sirius. "It'll take too long.

Hermione's eyes blazed, "Not for me." She grabbed Harry's hand pulling him away. She grabbed Ron as they passed. Given everything going on Mrs. Weasley didn't notice as Hermione dragged the boys away.

"Where are we going?" demanded Ron.

"After the fake Moody," Hermione created a dimension door and passed through without breaking her stride.

"Where are we?" asked Ron.

"The druid circle in the Forbidden Forest. Now, hush." She turned and faced the west," I stand in my grove and invoke the Hunt as is my right. Heed me now, I call for haste."

A flash of bright light announced the arrival of the Hunt. A young page held the reins of Stormbringer, the others already mounted. As the leader, Lachlan addressed her, "Who do we chase, my lady?"

"The false professor pretending to be Alaister Moody," she answered. Her armor appeared as she mounted Stormbringer. "Pick a rider and mount up, boys. We need to go."

"Huh?" said Ron, blinking his confusion.

Hermione looked down at them, "I invoked the Wild Hunt to chase down the fake Mad-Eye. If you want to come with us get on a horse." Ron scrambled up behind Sabia, the prettiest fae present. She rolled her eyes at the Tempest, but said nothing.

Harry swung into the saddle behind Hermione. "Is this okay?" he asked.

"Of course. Hold on" The horde took off full gallop. Harry wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. The countryside blurred as they raced by. Trees gave way to open fields and back to wooded areas. The group slowed to a halt in a cemetery. Two figures stood near a cauldron. Something alerted them to the presence of others. Both heads shot up. They each scooped something up and ran in opposite directions.

"Our quarry goes this way!" shouted Corc. They thundered after him.

"Why aren't we chasing the other one, too?" asked Harry, leaning close to her ear.

"I named the fake Moody our prey. We can only hunt him," replied Hermione, yelling over her shoulder loud enough to be heard over the wind.

The mounted group quickly overtook the man and the giant snake he carried. A stasis spell later he toppled forward. Someone summoned the snake before it could escape. "Your quarry, my lady," declared Finn with a flourish."

"It is, Your Highness," she nodded her head graciously. "I shall return him to the authorities missing him. Harry, take the snake, please." Harry collected the snake from the air.

Catan pulled abreast of her mount, "Are you prepared to announce yourself to the world as being of the Hunt? Your kind sometimes misunderstands your limitations. They will make demands you cannot fulfill."

"What would you council?" Hermione asked.

"Allow me to present your quarry in your stead, anonymously. You will be thrust into the spotlight all too soon, I fear." He included Harry and Ron in his look.

She looked to her friends, they nodded. She addressed Catan, "I am hesitant to draw more attention to myself, and the boys agree. Those in the know have been silent so far. Being seen publicly taking direct action could change that. I agree with your assessment."

"Very well, who shall I deliver the miscreant to?" Catan asked shaking him.

"Auror Tonks. She has pink hair," said Harry. "She's Sirius's cousin. He trusts her."

"Auror Tonks it is." Catan rode off pulling fake Moody behind him. "Shall I take the snake?"

"No, we'll keep her. We can have the conversations the rest of you cannot. I will have Lila care for her." Hermione slipped from the saddle, "Right, let's get us back in time to see the show." She patted Stormbringer on his neck. "Until next time, my friend." He neighed and nudged her with his nose and she passed his head.

"Allow me," smiled Nesan. He created a door in front of her. She smiled at him. Harry joined her, the snake wrapping itself around him. Ron took longer to make his way over as he kept looking behind him at Sabia adoringly. Harry grabbed his arm and dragged him through the doorway.

They emerged into the chaos of people yelling and trying to organize a search. Harry looked confused. Hermione realized what Nesan had done, "While I cannot reorder time the fae can and have."

Sirius spotted them and made his way over, "We need to get you lot to safety."

"Hold on a minute," said Hermione.

"Huh?"

"We don't want to miss the show," explained Harry.

"The what? And where did you get that snake? When did you get it?" Sirius looked about perplexed at the current events. Hermione summoned Lila and had to take the snake to the topmost sitting area on the boys' dorm tower.

The house elf popped off as Catan galloped onto the field, his black stallion stopping in front of Tonks. "You there, Auror Tonks."

She frowned, clearly surprised the elven knight knew her name, "Can I help you?"

"I bring you the false professor as requested."

"Um, requested?" Tonks asked, looking about for someone who might have made the request.

"The Wild Hunt was petitioned to capture and return this liar. We have done so."

A dark-skinned auror moved forward to secure the wizard on his knees behind the horse. "Oi, this isn't Moody." His words caused a new explosion of uproar.

"Now we should go," said Harry. The trio allowed Sirius and Arthur to sweep them into the castle and into Gryffindor Tower. Once in the common room, everyone mobbed Harry for information. While Ron stayed at his side lapping up the attention, Hermione slipped away. She and Ron had no place in the official story, but Harry might appreciate the support regardless of why it was given.