September 1, 1997
Hermione couldn't quell the nerves that had her stomach in knots. Today they were going to sneak into the Ministry of Magic under the guise of polyjuice potion in hopes that they could find Umbridge's necklace. Kreacher had gone to her home and searched her house while she was gone and found nothing. He had been surprised that the woman hadn't owned any elves or put up anything more than basic wards. It was nice to file the information in the back of her mind but it did nothing to help them in this instance.
They had spent the last month spying on the comings and goings of the Ministry. All employees were now required to be flushed into the Atrium; the floos only worked to leave. You had to show a badge that proved that you worked there before you were allowed to be flushed. It seemed that security had been tightened since Voldemort had taken over. Ron had been quite pissy over the fact that now his father wasn't going to be able to work, meaning that his family was suffering even more financially. Harry had tried to reassure him but it had started an argument between the two of them that Hermione had had to physically break up. They had both apologized later but it wasn't something she wanted to deal with again.
They were currently crouched under the invisibility cloak, waiting for their targets to arrive. Hermione's knees were aching from the position she was in but they were too tall to fit under the cloak together while standing. She could feel both boys shifting slightly so she assumed that they were just as uncomfortable as she was.
Ron's double appeared first, a Reginald Cattermole. He looked quite caught up in wherever his thoughts were. He didn't even see the wand emerge from the cloak and shoot a stunning spell at him. Once he was on the ground, Ron was quick to jump up and go collect his hairs. He shoved them directly into his vial of polyjuice potion before casting a disillusionment charm on the unconscious body of his victim.
Hermione's came along next, Mafalda Hopkirk. She had her nose buried in a file folder, reading something as she approached. She didn't see Hermione's wand creep out from under the cloak either and her papers scattered everywhere when she fell to the ground unconscious. Hermione ran to her body and pulled out her hair, doing like Ron did and putting them directly into the vial of potion. She did the same, disillusioning Ms. Hopkirk before moving her out of the way of traffic so she wouldn't get trampled.
They waited almost ten minutes before Harry's donor came along, Albert Runcorn. While he wasn't a Death Eater, he quite happily supported the dark side and the changes they were bringing about in their world. He was quickly disposed of, his hair put in Harry's potion, and his body made invisible before being placed next to the other two. After he returned to the cloak, Hermione threw it off of them and held up her vial. She just wanted to get this done and over with. The two boys followed suit and they drank down the putrid potion together.
Hermione hated how polyjuice potion felt. It felt like your skin was bubbling away in order for someone else's to take its place. Her hair lengthed and was pulled up, long and straight rather than her usual unruly curls. She shot up several inches in height and it threw Hermione off balance for a few moments. Looking over, she saw that Ron and Harry had also completed their transformations. Harry took the cloak and stuffed it in his robes
The trio started for the building that flushed them into the Ministry. The guard checked their badges at the door and waved them past. All three stepped up to a toilet and Harry took the first step to crawl inside the bowl. Hermione cringed at the feel of the water on her feet along with the fact that she was standing in a toilet. However, after she flushed herself in, she stepped out of the toilet and her feet were completely dry. She waited there for Harry and Ron to appear and wasn't disappointed when the appeared seconds later. Harry leaned over to whisper to the pair of them while nobody else was looking.
"You both know the plan and what you're looking for. Meet back here in an hour." Hermione nodded.
Since she was Mafalda Hopkirk, she was heading for the courtrooms. There had been whispers as they spied about a Muggleborn Registration and that they were trying the muggleborns for stealing magic. Hermione was supposed to go and get as much information about it as possible. Ron had been assigned to check on his father if he was there. It was more for his peace of mind and since Harry was going to be searching through Umbridge's office for the horcrux, it made sense. If Ron got intel on his family, he was to go search the office of the new Head of the D.M.L.E. Gordon Travers had taken Amelia Bones place when she had been killed over the summer in her home. Hermione's heart had broken for Susan since it meant that she was now an orphan like Harry.
Hermione started for the lifts, taking the first one she found clear to the bottom. There were several other people in it with her, all getting off on the same level as she did. Harry had told her that the courtrooms were enormous and it was likely that they would be full to witness witches and wizards getting convicted of stealing magic. However, she wasn't ready to see Dolores Umbridge standing at the door of the lift when it opened. She was in her signature sickly pink cardigan and had a fake smile plastered on her face.
"Oh, Mafalda, I was just coming to get you. I was wondering if you were running late. We can't start putting the trash away without you there to take down the minutes." Hermione gave her a small smile and nodded.
"I got waylaid coming out of my office. I'm ready now." Umbridge smiled again and turned around, gesturing for Hermione to follow her. She dutifully did so, her eyes still focused on the locket hanging between her breasts. It was clear that it was the horcrux and Hermione couldn't help but wonder if it had made her an even more terrible person since she wore it every day.
They entered the courtroom and Hermione was surprised to find that the room was nearly empty. Umbridge took her seat like a judge would and Hermione took the only other seat that was available. There was a woman sitting in the defendant's chair, tied down with tears streaming down her face. There were dementors floating above them, the only thing keeping them at bay were the charmed figurines that sat on top of Umbridge's desk. Hermione picked up the quill that was supposed to dictate the conversation onto the parchment before her. Umbridge cleared her throat and started with a no-nonsense tone.
"You are Mary Elizabeth Cattermole, correct?" Umbridge asked. The tearful woman nodded.
"Yes," she answered.
"You are married to Reginald Cattermole, Ministry employee, yes?" Umbridge continued. The woman nodded again and Hermione could see that she was terrified.
"Yes, we have three children together and have been married almost fifteen years." Her words were starting to sound desperate. Umbridge just smiled; it was clear that this was what she had been waiting for.
"From which wizard or witch did you steal your magic?" Umbridge smirked at the woman as her face drained even further of color. Hermione was writing down the words but felt sick to her stomach. She didn't know if they were going to kill this woman or if she was going to spend time in Azkaban.
"I didn't steal my magic, I swear. I did accidental magic as a child, I got my Hogwarts letter when I was eleven and got my first wand just two weeks before school started," Mary pleaded, trying to get them to believe her words. Hermione wanted to scream at Umbridge that she was fucking insane but knew that she needed that damn necklace.
However, Hermione was saved from making the mistake of voicing her thoughts when Albert Runcorn entered the courtroom, his eyes blazing in fury. Hermione wasn't sure what had Harry in such a state but it likely wasn't good. His eyes focused on her before he raised his wand and starting casting at them all.
-O-
Harry slipped off in the opposite direction of Hermione and Ron; his destination was Umbridge's office. He was greeted by several people as he weaved through the corridors as quickly as he could and he made sure to greet them back. He caught sight of Arthur in the distance and while he looked tired, he still looked to be in one piece. He didn't let his mind settle on best mate's family when he still had his part of the mission to complete.
When he reached Umbridge's door, he waved his wand and cast a simple unlocking charm. Since she hadn't had advanced wards on her home, he doubted that her office would be much better protected. There was a satisfying click of the lock and he smiled to himself. He made sure that nobody was paying any attention to him as he slipped inside her office.
Harry instantly wanted to barf. He was reminded of her office at Hogwarts. The walls were pink and kitten plates decorated the entire surface. There were doilies all over her desk and Harry was surprised that they were white rather than pink. He was pulled out of his sickened stupor be a thump outside the door. Waving his wand again, he cast a far more complicated locking charm on the door to make sure that he would know if someone was trying to break in while he was still there.
Harry began to rummage through all her belongings, not caring how gentle he was. He went through every single drawer of her desk before moving to the file cabinet off the side of it. He was growing more and more frustrated the further he went, knowing that he wasn't finding the offensive piece of jewelry that all three of them were putting their lives on the line for.
Harry growled with irritation as he jerked open the last drawer of the file cabinet to find nothing but papers once again. However, the big label on the first file stopped him. The Order of the Phoenix. He reached down and pulled it out, taking a seat in her chair to read through what they knew of his friends and family.
Some of it was hard to read. Sirius was listed there, his family history and just how he had died. It was even listed that Harry had lured him to his death. Remus was listed as a dark creature that was so poor and feral he was living on the streets. Tonks was on the list, though her marriage to Remus wasn't. He was glad that they had managed to keep it from the Ministry so far. Remus didn't need another target on his back.
Harry went through all the Weasleys files and read just what was supposed to happen to them if they were caught doing something illegal. Ron was to be ordered to Azkaban for an undetermined amount of time and then released to a proper pureblood family so he could learn the proper ways and take the Dark Lord's mark. The same was listed for the twins and Bill. Surprisingly, Charlie was absent from the list.
Ginny's rehabilitation surprised him. She wasn't to be put in Azkaban. She was to be gifted to a Death Eater as a bride and impregnated as soon as possible. If she caused any problems, it would be her husbands job to punish her as he saw fit. Molly was listed to be used as a mistress if Arthur was killed since nobody would want her as a wife due to her age. As angry as this made him, nothing prepared him for what Hermione's file said.
Muggleborn Hermione Jean Granger has been tried already in front of the Wizengamot and found guilty of stealing magic. Since she didn't bother to show up to register and she hasn't appeared to start her punishment of time in Azkaban, her punishment is severe. The Ministry of Magic will not stand for these things to continue.
When Miss Granger is apprehended, she is to be transported to Hogwarts after having magic suppression cuffs placed on her. She will be housed in Slytherin House and is to be available to all males for their sexual pleasure for a term of six months. If she fights the situation, she will be terminated. At the end of her six month term, there will be a chance at renewal if she has served our pureblood youth well.
Harry couldn't help but to see red. They were going to make Hermione the Slytherin House Whore. She was to serve them for six months and then die if she didn't do a good enough job. She was perfect, the best witch he knew, and they wanted to snuff her out like she was nothing. He couldn't help the rage that took over him, nor did he want to.
Harry shoved all the things that decorated the top of her desk off onto the floor. The file sat there, staring up at him, Hermione's face from fifth year smiling at him innocently. He pressed his wand to papers and silently cast an incendio, catching not only the file but her desk on fire. He shot a few more incendio spells around her office before leaving as quickly as he had come.
Harry wasn't sure what to do next but knew deep in his soul that he needed to find Hermione next. She had been heading to the courtrooms when he had last seen her twenty minutes before. Maybe she had been more successful in her reaching her goals. He strode through the corridors, his fury simmering just below the surface. In truth, he had never felt this way. While it didn't necessarily scare him, it made him worry where this power and anger had come from.
He burst into the courtroom that was in use only to find that it was almost empty. Aside from the woman that was clearly on trial, Hermione and Umbridge were there with a few dementors kept at bay by some other means than a patronus. He stepped forward into their line of sight and Umbridge gave him one of her patented sickly sweet smiles.
"Albert, I'm so pleased that you could make it." Harry didn't even give her a chance to move. He lifted his wand and sent a cutting curse her way, catching her right across the throat. It wasn't what he meant to hit but there was nothing for it now. The necklace gleamed on her chest and he watched Hermione rush to her side to snatch it from her neck. Umbridge was trying to stem the blood flow but it was in vain. It was only a few moments before she had lost enough blood for her body to go limp. Hermione shoved the horcrux deep into her pocket and shot a spell at the woman lashed to the chair in front of them. Her bindings fell away but it also triggered the dementors to attack.
The woman, who Harry didn't recognize in the least, screamed when she saw them diving down to suck out her soul. Hermione was right next to her and while she was waving her wand, only silver mist was appearing. Patronuses were the only spell that gave her problems. Harry pointed his own wand at the descending dementors and yelled out the spell, hoping that it would be strong enough to protect them both. The day at Weasley's lake flashed in his mind, and he cast the spell.
"Expecto patronum!"
His stag burst from the tip of his wand and cantered towards the dementors; the dark soul-suckers didn't even get a chance to run before they were gored by the antlers of his enormous stag. Harry wasn't completely sure but he was pretty certain that his patronus had just killed dementors for the first time ever. Hermione grabbed the muggleborn woman and started dragging her towards Harry but she was struggling against her, clearly knowing just who Albert Runcorn was. Hermione, however, just jerked her arm a little harder and yelled at her.
"It isn't Runcorn. If you want to get out of here, then let's go. If not, then feel free to stay." The woman calmed at her words and gave her a resolute nod. Harry reached out and took Hermione's hand, pulling her with him as they ran out of the courtroom. The other woman followed closely, as did the other people waiting outside that were clearly going to be the next ones on trial.
Ron was rushing towards them, panic on his face. Harry heard the woman behind him shriek but he paid it no mind. Ron started running with them when he reached them and he was clearly out of breath.
"They're putting the whole Ministry on lockdown, they know we're here. Umbridge's office is gone, completely up in flames." Harry nodded.
"I set it on fire. Fucking bitch deserved it. She's dead though so it doesn't matter now." Ron's eyes widened at his words but he said nothing more. Harry brought them to the Atrium and when he slowed there, the woman following them threw herself into Ron's arms. She kissed him like it was the last time she would ever kiss him and Harry had to bite back a laugh. Mid-kiss, Ron transformed back into himself. When the woman pulled back and saw him, she covered her mouth in surprise and Hermione grabbed his hand.
"We have to go. Mary, you need to get out of here. Flee the country. Don't come back until the war is over." Harry threw an arm around her shoulders and started to pull her towards the nearest floo. Ron followed her, still clearly confused about the kiss she had given him. Hermione was changing back to her usual self next to him and Harry could feel the familiar bubbling of his skin, telling him that he was changing as well.
There was a shout in the distance, telling him that they had been recognized. Spell fire was coming their way and Harry did the best he could to protect all three of them. Harry could see Travers running their way and he knew that it was time to make their great escape. The Head of the D.M.L.E. yelled something and the grates on the floos started to close. Harry yelled and lunged for the nearest one, dragging Hermione and Ron with him. Just as they stepped into the flames and they flared to life, Travers reached out and grabbed ahold of Hermione's sleeve.
They spun like they usually did, landing in a heap on the floor of Grimmauld Place. However, Harry was horrified to realize that they had brought Travers with them. Quicker than a snitch, Hermione's wand came up and blasted Travers away from them. He flew across the room and hit the wall with a thud. However, he wasn't unconscious. Hermione reached out and grabbed Harry's hand and Ron's arm and disapparated, something that she didn't usually do without centering herself first.
The three of them were sucked through a tube and landed in a heavy forest; all three sprawled on the ground since it was clear they weren't ready for the apparition. Harry was the first on his feet and he hurried to Hermione's side to help her up. However, when he got to Ron's side, he instantly knew that something was wrong. He could smell the coppery tang of blood and it was covering the forest floor beneath his best mate. He dropped to his knees and tried to keep the panic out of his voice.
"Hermione, love, you need to get over here," Harry called out to her. She smiled at him and came to his side, only for the smell of blood to hit her square in the face. She dropped to her knees and ripped Ron's shirt open so she could see the wound. Harry let her; there was no way that he could compete with her when it came to healing spells.
Ron's right arm had clearly been seriously splinched. It was only still connected to his body by the bone; the rest of the flesh and muscle had been torn away. Hermione had tears running down her cheeks, blood staining her hands, as she pulled her beaded bag from her inner robe pocket and threw it to Harry.
"Find me the dittany," she ordered. Harry stuck his whole arm in and tried to feel around for a vial. When he had no luck, he pulled his wand and accioed the liquid that Hermione needed. When he returned to her side, her wand was tracing the wound on Ron's arm, closing it as she went. Tears were still coursing down her cheeks but she was focused on the task before her. After Ron's wounds were closed, he handed her the vial of dittany. She dropped the fluid all over the wound, using it liberally. Harry watched the scar all but disappear before them. Once she was finished, she rocked back and sat on her bum, clearly exhausted. Harry went for his wand again.
"I'm going to get the tent set up. Obviously, we're going to have to stay here for a few days before Ron can move. Will he be able to apparate?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head.
"No, not until the muscle is completely healed. We can't take the chance of him splinching again." Harry nodded. He waved his wand and summoned the tent. After it was in his hands, he undid the snaps that held it together and used his wand to set it up. When he returned to Hermione and Ron, he noticed that Ron's eyes were open and he was grimacing in pain.
"How you doing, mate?" Harry asked. Ron snorted, clearly not in the mood to joke around.
"I'm peachy. Is it possible for someone to help me up off the bloody ground?" Both Harry and Hermione stood to help him but he glared at Hermione. Her eyes fell to the ground and Harry knew she felt guilty. Her words were slightly stuttered when she started.
"Ron," she started, "I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen." Ron just glared at her.
"Maybe not but it did. Now we're stuck here until I'm healed." he groused. Hermione didn't say anything else and Harry had to fight the urge to get in the middle of it. Hermione had gotten them away from Travers as quickly as possible and that's what was needed. Harry just had to remind himself that Ron was in pain and would be in a better mood in the morning.
Both of them helped Ron into the tent, letting him take the single bed that was closest to the door. Of course, this mean that Harry and Hermione were going to have to share at some point but that was something that they would deal with later. Ron didn't need to take the chance of anyone hitting his arm and injuring it further. They settled their mate into the bed and Hermione produced one of the vials of pain potion that she had hidden away in the confines of her beaded bag. Ron took it without a word and then laid back. Both Harry and Hermione settled in on the couch across from the bed while they let the potion work. After ten minutes or so, Harry finally broke the silence.
"You got the horcrux, right?" he asked. Hermione had clearly forgotten what their mission had really been about. She reached into her pocket and produced the locket. Harry could instantly tell that it was a piece of Voldemort; his skin started to crawl and his scar twinged in pain. Ron looked at them sullenly.
"What are we going to do with it?" he asked. Harry sighed but Hermione answered first.
"We have to wear it to keep it safe. I could lose the beaded bag at any point. It wouldn't do to lose the horcruxes too." she informed them. With mounting horror, Harry watched as she slipped the necklace over her head and settled it between her breasts. He felt an uncontrolled rage swell up in him at the sight and knowledge of her being so close to a piece of Tom Riddle but he shoved it back down. They really didn't have any other choice. To distract himself, he turned to Ron.
"Did you find your dad? I saw him from a distance." Ron nodded, his voice still strained.
"Yeah, he made us promise to not to be foolish and told me that everyone is safe for now. They had to send Ginny back to Hogwarts even though they weren't going to originally. Fred and George have closed the shop, they're only doing mail orders now. Bill is still working but he won't be there much longer. Dad doesn't think he's going to be able to pull it off much longer either. He told me not to worry about them, that they'll be staying at Aunt Muriel's," he informed them. Harry nodded. At least there was one spot of bright news throughout the day.
"Well, that's good. At least everyone is safe for now. They just need to play it safe." Ron rolled his eyes but said nothing else. Hermione turned his way.
"Are you going to tell us what had you angry enough to kill Umbridge?" He shook his head.
"Not right now, please. I will, I promise, just not right now." Hermione gave him an understanding nod.
All three fell silent again and after several minutes, Harry looked over to see that his best mate had fallen asleep. He glanced over at Hermione to see that she was crying again as she stared at Ron. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, leaning his head against hers.
"It wasn't your fault, 'Mi. You did what you had to to get us out of there. Otherwise, we'd probably be dead. He's in pain and bitchy because he can't see his family. Give him a few days and he'll get better." She gave a soft nod and wiped her face.
"I know, I just can't help but feel guilty." Harry tugged on her until she was laying down with her head in his lap, one hand resting lightly on her neck while the other one played with her curls.
"I know you do, 'Mi. It's not your fault though. I wouldn't lie to you about something like that," he promised her. She smiled slightly into his stomach and sighed. Harry chuckled softly.
"Take a short nap. It'll make you feel better. When you wake up, we'll figure out what to do for meals." Hermione snuggled deeper into his lap and Harry had to fight the erection that was threatening to poke her in the head.
"Umm hmmm," she was incoherent as she let sleep pull her under.
Harry sat there for ages, his hand playing with her curls while he considered their options. He wasn't sure what they were going to do from here, he had no idea how to get rid of horcruxes after all, but he knew that they were going to be okay. He was with his best mate and the Brightest Witch of the Age.
Together, they were unstoppable.
-O-
Molly couldn't believe what Arthur was telling her. Her son had infiltrated the Ministry of Magic with the Undesirable Number One and a muggleborn witch. He was either extremely brave or extremely stupid. Maybe both.
Arthur had said that it was part of the mission that Dumbledore had given the three of them before he had died. She had scoffed at the notion numerous times; why would the old man give three children a mission that he couldn't trust to his most loyal followers? Bill had pointed out that when she said it like that, she made him sound like Voldemort. She hadn't been pleased.
Of course, she had wanted to pump Arthur for information regarding Harry and Hermione but since he had no idea what her plans were regarding the pair and Ginny, she couldn't. To give the game away now would be unfortunate; they were almost at the end. She had gotten Ron to agree to potion Hermione, even though he had been extremely reluctant to do so. She wasn't quite sure that he believed that she was giving her a contraception potion or not. Either way, it was clear that he wasn't comfortable with potioning his friend against her will.
Molly planned to get around that and tell him how some of his friends had been caught by Death Eaters and brutally raped. She knew that he had a crush on the girl, that would be the last thing that he would want for her. Ginny could supply her with names from school now that there were Death Eaters running the school. The Potter fortune wasn't something that she planned on missing out on; she would do whatever it took to get ahold of it. Nobody was above being manipulated, not even her own son.
Hopefully, Hermione would be back around the Burrow after the dose of potion Ron was to give her; she didn't trust him to give her more than one. Where Hermione was to lead, Harry would follow and Molly would be waiting with not only a lust potion but an attraction potion for Ginny and a hate-inducing potion for Hermione. It was going to be brilliant.
She was going to be one of the richest witches in the world.