The hunt begins
The last few weeks of sixth year were relatively quiet for Hermione and her friends. Her Grandmama took over as Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dumbledore's funeral was held without incident and was well attended and the school grieved their headmaster quietly. Even the more viscious and pureblood indoctrinated Slytherins called a ceasefire within the walls in honour of the late Albus Dumbledore and by the last day of term everyone was more than relieved to be escaping to their families to recover in the sanctuary of their own homes.
For the Order of the Pheonix, Blackbird and Hermione and her family though they knew they did not have the luxury to do as their peers were.
They had agreed to allow everyone to lock themselves away with their families for one week, a week that Hermione, Minerva and the Tonks Family spent in France at Delacour Manor, before rejoining the fight against voldemort and his death eaters. Everyone agreeing to meet at number 12 Grimmauld place to start planning the best strategy in taking down the dark Lord and his forces.
The week spent in France was quiet, relaxing and truthfully extremely refreshing for Hermione and her family. The Delacour Elders reaffirmed their promise to the trinity that should they call on the Delacour clan for support at any point they would have it without a moments notice. Apoline gave Fleur, Dora and Hermione a necklace that if held tightly between thumb and forefinger while thinking the words 'Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité' would act as a Portkey and apparate them to the Delacour Manor sitting room automatically, by passing any wards the individual encountered and because they were made in France they could not be traced by the British ministry.
This gave Hermione an idea.
"Apoline, how easy is it to get your hands on this strong a portkey?" She questioned.
"Eet iz quite easy for me az ze leader of ze Delacour clan, vhy do you ask little one?" Apoline replied curiously.
"I was thinking it might be an idea to have a few more handy for when the final showdown happens. We have a number of people who are currently being held within the Dark Lords ranks against their will, mainly women and children and when the time comes they may not be automatically safe within the ranks of the light because we will not have time to provide evidence to the light that these people are being held against their will, it would be good to be able to offer them a safe place to land if they are in danger until we can clear their names" Hermione explained thoughtfully.
"You are more zan welcome to send zem here, ve vill greet zem and set zem up with a guest chamber until zey are safe. Do you vish for me to get you some more?" Fleurs mother offered beaming at the kindhearted witch infront if her.
"If you truly do not mind Apoline I'd be more than grateful"
Apoline had been true to her word and on the day that they were due to depart France to return to the front lines she handed each member of Hermiones family five spare portkeys each to give to whoever they felt needed them.
----
Hermiones heart broke daily for her grandmama who in losing Albus had lost her best friend. The grief and sorrow were evident on the older witches face and it tore Hermione apart to witness it. She wished more than anything that she could have stopped this from happening. She would have done anything to ensure that her grandmama and her family never had to endure the pain her grandmama was now after losing her closest friend. She knew however that her grandmama was taking comfort in the new found family she had acquired in Hermione, Fleur, Dora and Mrs and Mrs Tonks. Minerva would take every and any opportunity she could to pull Hermione close and hold her, help Andromeda in the kitchen, play muggle chess with Teddy or take the trio out to duel or walk. She was glad her grandmama had the support around her to help her deal with the grief of losing Albus and it made her appreciate Minerva more than she thought possible when she thought of all the woman had been through yet still had done nothing but fight for Hermione and support her through everything. She knew it would be slow going but she hoped desperately that with time and the unconditional love shown from her family her grandmama's heart would slowly heal.
-----
Once they reached 12 Grimmauld place they had a few days to rest up and get organised before they made the journey to Privet Drive, Little Whinging to collect Harry. He had seen his mothers family of the day before and had insisted they wait twenty four hours before coming to collect him so that he could ensure what was left of his family after his mother and fathers death made it out of Surrey alive.
Planning how to get Harry out of Little Whinging and to the Burrow safely without voldemort or his band of thugs finding him was slow going, no one could agree on anything yet they knew it had to be soon, the blood wards that protected him would cease on his 17th birthday, which meant they had less than two weeks to strategise and execute a plan.
It was Hermione that eventually came up with the idea to disguise members of the order as Harry and have them matched with an auror to draw attention away from the real Harry and confuse the death eaters. She also suggested instructing Harry not to use his usual disarming spell of choice as he was well known for using expelliamus now after the Battle of the Department of Misteries.
With a plan in place and Severus Snape providing plenty of PolyJuice Potion they set off for Privet Drive.
----
"Harry inside quickly" Shakelbolt called as he ushered the boy who lived into his house, followed closely by Hermione, Fleur, Dora, Andromeda, Remus, Sirius, Fred and George Weasley, Mr Weasley, Hagrid, Moody and Ginny Weasley.
"Why so many?" Harry questioned thoughtfully as he eyed Shakelbolt suspiciously.
"We suspect there will be some sort of Death eaters intervention while we move you so we brought back up and a plan to cause a little confusion for his forces" Hermione answered, her eyes glittering mischievously.
"Oh really?" Harry asked, grinning at his best friend.
"Indeed" quipped Fleur, catching the playful mood between her mate and her mates bestfriend, causing them and several others to burst out in peals of laughter.
"Whats the plan then?" He enquired once he had been able to collect himself and stop laughing.
"Poly juice and several Potters" Shakelbolt deadpanned as he removed a large vile of the potion from his robes.
"No. You aren't risking yourselves" Harry hissed angrily. Not at all impressed with the idea of his friends putting themselves in so much danger for him.
Hermione seeing her friends mood change rapidly sighed in frustration. She should have guessed he'd put up a fuss she thought with a mental eye roll. Thinking quickly she moved towards him faster than he could have anticipated and plucked several hairs from his head.
"Ouch Hermione!" He glared at her, watching warily as she dropped the hairs into the vile Shakelbolt was holding.
"It's not a choice Harry, there's no arguments. We need to get you out of here safely, this is the only way" Ginny chided him, glaring at her stubborn sort of boyfriend.
"It's got to be like this Harry. They won't know who's who, as long as you don't give yourself away we will be fine. So don't use Expelliamus, use any other spell but that one. They will be watching for it" Andromeda intersected, lacing her voice with authority as she raised an eyebrow at the stubborn boy.
Harry sighed as he gave in, knowing that he couldn't possibly argue with them, Hermione and Andromeda especially. His best friend was far to like her aunt. Terrifying when they were pissed and he definitely wanted to avoid that ire being directed at him.
----
Once Hermione, Dora, Ginny, Fred, Sirius and Remus had taken the potion they were pared off. Hermione with Andromeda, Dora with Fleur, Fred with his brother George, Ginny with her father Mr Weasley and Remus with Moody, leaving Harry to ride with Hagrid and Shekelbolt with Sirius.
Heading outside in their pairs they readied themselves for the journey.
"I hate flying" Hermione grumbled as she gripped her aunts waist tightly.
"Hush up little witch, you'll be fine, you know I'd never let you fall" Andromeda reassured her, smiling tenderly at her niece over her shoulder before taking note of were Fleur and Dora were situated in the formation. Noting with relief that they would be flying in front of her.
"Go" was all the warning they got as seven order members took off to the sky with seven identical Harry Potters riding with them. Instantly as they breached the end of the blood wards, Hermione spotted the black smoke of Death eaters in flight.
"Incoming" she yelled, alerting everyone around her of the approaching danger. She slid her wand from It's place on her arm as she braced herself for what she knew would be another battle of survival.
Within minutes, curses and hexes were flying rapidly through the air around her, death eaters desperately trying to work out who was who as the order flew quickly towards the Burrow, knowing that as soon as they were through the protective wards, the death eaters couldnt follow.
"Meda on your left" Fleur shouted sounding somewhat panicked. Andromeda didn't react instantly as she fended of an attacker from her right, secretly glad when she saw Hermione engage the death eater on her left that Fleur had warned her about for her.
On Hermione's part she was clinging desperately to her aunt with one hand as she held a strong 'protego' around herself and Andromeda.
"Bombarda" she shouted aiming the jinx at the still concealed death eater, followed by a silent 'Sectumsempra' startling the death eater slightly with the quickness of her casting and the skill used to cast the spell wordlessly. Hermione smirked as she saw the death eater falter in mid air before diving off to the side to try and avoid the curse.
His pain filled cry told her that he had not moved quick enough. She scanned the sky quickly to ensure she wasn't needed to engage anyone else before turning back to the death eater she had injured who was now swooping back up towards Hermione after recovering slightly from their pain and shock.
Hermione took a deep breath before checking her shield was still in place then turning slightly to begin firing at the death eaters again.
She cast out a slew of mild defensive spells before casting a silent 'accio Death eaters wands' before yelling 'bombarda maximus' at the unknown man.
She was slightly surprised when instead of just the one wand, several wands all belonging to the members of the dark lords ranks suddenly flew from the death eaters hands and shot towards her. As she realised what had happened she began throwing well aimed bouts of fire at the approaching wands, laughing quietly at the indignant shrieks from the death eaters as her aunt began to help her destroy their wands. Why she never thought of disarming the death eaters like this before she didnt know but she was quite proud of herself in the moment.
Watching carefully for any sign of her mothers wand she exhaled quietly in relief when she heard her mothers signature mad cackle carry through the air somewhere infront of her.
"You fools, you couldn't hold on to your wands?" Bellatrix cackled as she watched the wands of her 'fellow' death eaters burning as they fell towards the ground. She was rather impressed with whoever had managed to cast that spell, she wasn't being particularly biased when one name popped into her mind. 'Hermione' she thought proudly. It had to be, her girl was rather clever like that. However it meant that Bellatrix had to call the dark Lord, knowing that none of the death eaters would hold up without their wands against several well trained aurors and however many teens.
She had a sneaking suspicion that the teens had been trained far better than the dark Lord suspected based on what she had observed of their fighting so far but she wouldn't be letting that slip to the snake faced git, she felt secure in the knowledge that the dark forces were all severely underestimating her daughter and her friends, it meant that the teens would have the upper hand when it mattered.
"What issss it Bella, why do you call me" Voldemort hissed as he appeared along side her.
"My Lord it seems your best men couldn't hold on to their wands. They've been taken and burned by the order of the chickens, and there isn't just one Harry, their is seven, we cannot tell which is the real boy" Bellatrix replied harshly as she deflected random curses that were still being aimed at her.
"Foolssss" the Dark Lord hissed. "Retreat" he commanded as he disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
"You heard him, retreat you idiots" she shouted as she circled towards the back of the order members to round up the death eaters.
As the death eaters began to dissappear, Bellatrix smiled as she spotted Andromeda with a Harry Potter clutching onto the back of her, flying to Andromeda's right was the pretty Veela and another Harry. If she didnt know any better Andromeda's Harry was Hermione and the Veelas Harry was Nymphadora. Only one way to find out she thought with amusement.
'Mia' she thought as she reached out her mind to her daughter, feeling the pull of her little girls magic, she chuckled when her girls head snapped round and her eyes landed on a hovering Bella.
'Mama!' Hermione's voice chimed in her mind, the happiness in her tone warmed Bellatrix
'Hi baby, I can't stay for long but did you do as I asked? Did you look into Horcrux's?' She thought back.
'Yeah mama, we will take care of it' Hermione thought back, grinning towards her mum.
'I'm glad to hear it. Stay safe baby, I love you' Bellatrix replied with a warm smile.
'I love you too' rang in her mind as she disappeared in mid air only to reappear outside the gates of Malfoy Manor.
Making her way inside with the other death eaters she smiled tightly at her sister who was stood in the entry way, obviously trying to pretend she hadn't been pacing anxiously waiting on Bella's return.
"You're back" Narcissa stated rather coldly as she ran a critical eye down her sister to check for any visible injuries.
"I am, not a scratch either dear sister" she replied cheekily as she pushed past her sister and made it into the dinning room where she knew the dark lord would be waiting. Internally cringing as she walked as she knew he wouldn't be too pleased with the events of the evening which meant that the evening was promised to be a rather painful and unpleasant one for her.
-----
As they crossed the Burrows wards Hermione felt the effects of the Poly Juice potion wear off. She looked around anxiously as she tried to spy Fleur and Dora among the group arriving in the field beside her.
"They're in front of us, unharmed Mia" Andromeda said gently as she noticed the anxiety roll of her niece.
"Go ahead inside and see everyone baby girl, you, Fleur and Nymphadora will get a moment alone later" Andromeda whispered as she pulled Hermione in tight for a hug. Relieved that the people that meant most to her were okay.
Hermione nodded against her aunts shoulder before she leaned up and kissed her cheek.
"I'm glad thats over" the young brunette whispered as she pulled away.
"Me too little witch, me too" her aunt replied, squeezing her shoulder effectionately.
-----
It didn't take long before Hermione had arranged a secret meeting between Herself and Blackbird. She knew things were getting intense, the death eaters were getting more daring and decidedly evil in their stunts and she could feel the despair filling the world around her. The sooner they found and destroyed all of that man's Horcruxs the better, she thought anxiously.
They sat in the middle of the large field that ran off the Weasley property. All hudled under blankets, a fire blazing in the middle of the small group as they waited patiently for Hermione to gather herself.
"I'm going to skip the pleasantries, we are all to anxious to dilly dally any longer than necessary. What I want to talk to you about is something that you are all more than likely not going to like the thought of but I can assure you its more than relevant and completely necessary, if we have any chance of defeating him." She began glancing up at her Aunts nervously. She knew they were going to kick up the biggest fuss, she had already hashed this plan out with Minerva and although her grandmama hadn't liked it she trusted Hermione's judgement and had promised to let her go.
"In the coming days we are going to face our hardest challenge yet, I believe that he who shall not be named is going to go after the ministry next, he will not move against Hogwarts unless he believes he has a stronghold in the ministry. We cannot challenge him then because even if we did kill him he would inevitably come back their are still around five horcruxs in existence that hold pieces of his soul, as long as they exist he can be wounded but he cannot die. We must find these, however we cannot all go on the hunt for them, it would draw to much attention" she continued flicking a hesitant gaze towards Fleur and Dora who both looked to be growing even more anxious by the second.
"Who Hermione and what is needed of the rest of us?" Her aunt Teddy grit out, her jaw clenched and her body tense. Not liking the direction this conversation was heading. She knew her niece and knew that what she said next would probably be something that put the little brunette at risk.
"Those that stay behind need to continue on with normal life without drawing attention to yourselves. Continue to meet up in our absence and do whatever you can, students return to Hogwarts. The first task I need of you is to gather as many Muggle-borns as you can and send them along with Aunt Teddy to Delacour Manor. You will be their first targets and I will not risk the lives of so many when we can do something about it. All willing fighters among the Muggle-born will be called for before the final battle alongside the Delacour clan." The brunette spoke calmly but everyone could see the steel of her determination gleaming in her hazel brown eyes. She waited a moment to see if their would be any objections but was relieved when none came.
"Grandmama we need you at the castle. You are the rightful headmistress no matter what happens and Hogwarts magic will respond to you before it will respond to any other. Aunt Meda please stick with the Weasleys, Dora, Fleur you both as well." She instructed, slowly trying to build herself up for this next part of the conversation.
"Harry, Cedric, and I will be going on the hunt for these Horcruxs, we all have our diary's, ensure the blood wards are still in place, we will keep contact through them so as we do not run the risk of being intercepted. Those of you going back to Hogwarts ensure you find a moment to alert Draco that you know the truth and tell him "Hermione says be ready" he will know that it is safe to trust you with that statement. Keep an eye on him, he really hasn't been dealing well, Lucius Malfoy has a lot to answer for" the brunette spat icily as she spoke of the Malfoy man. Her supposed uncle.
"We would also ask those at hogwarts, if it is safe to do so, look through the castle for any of these Horcruxs. We have reason to believe he could have hidden one in the castle for safe keeping." Harry added as they gently brought there private meeting to a close.
----
The first chance Fleur and Dora had at getting Hermione alone presented itself directly after their meeting.
"Mia stay where you are!" Nymphadora hissed angrily as she pinned the frightened looking witch with her eyes.
"Vere do you zink you are going little witch" Fleur added, her tone just as frightening as Dora's.
"Do not even think to answer that question, why did you not tell us of this hunt? This was a decision we should have made together!!" Dora whispered harshly as she drew close to her, clasping her youngest soulmates face by the chin.
"Ve should be going vith you at ze very least Mia!" The blonde veela added none too gently.
"You can't go with me Fleur, if we are seen fighting together before the final battle it will give away one of our biggest advantages and you and Dora will become prime targets. Harry is definitely one, I am definitely the second, its no secret that I am the boy who liveds best friend which makes me a prime candidate in Potter knowledge and I am a muggle-born in the eyes of the ministry, so I will be an even bigger target on top of being Harry's best friend." Hermione explained, her voice clipped, her body rigid with tension.
"That is why we need to be with you Hermione, we cannot stand the thought of not being able to help you or keep you safe" Dora cried in worry.
"Ze thought alone of you being 'armed 'ermione iz terrifying, ve vould not survive losing you" Fleur replied tersely.
"But thats the thing if Harry and I dont do this you will lose me, if he wins we will lose everything and I cannot allow that. I cannot do this if I am constantly worrying about your safety with me. I need you both safe. I need grandmama and aunt Meda and Aunt Teddy safe and the best way for that to happen is if you stick together. Please I need you to trust me" the brunette pleaded, her eyes beginning to swim with unshed tears. She knew this would be a hard conversation but she knew it was essential. Albus and her mama had both stated the importance if the horcruxs and she knew she could not ignore their words. Her mama would not have mentioned them if it was not important.
"Please understand that the thought of leaving you both, leaving grandmama and aunt Meda and Aunt Teddy is the most painful thing I have ever experienced and I do not want to leave you but it must be done this way. There is no other way." She sobbed, arms circling her own waist as she tried to keep herself together the best she could.
"Mia" Fluer murmured, struggling to contain her own tears at the sight of her little witches anguish and the painful knowledge that they were to be parted for an unknown amount of time.
"I dont like this Mia, but we trust you" Dora whispered as she pulled her two soulmates into her arms. Clinging on to them tightly.
"Promise us you will use the diary as often as possible to keep us up to date and you will use the charms if you need us" the purple haired witch murmured in the youngests hair as she nuzzled the brown bushy locks.
"I promise, I love you both. Always" Hermione whispered back. Placing a kiss on both Fleur and Dora's lips, chastely.
-----
For Hermione, Harry and Cedric the time to depart for their hunt came far to quickly. It was decided that their would be a joint birthday party held for Harry and Neville at the Burrow as the order members felt that it was important for the youngsters to experience as much happiness as possible before it was inevitably torn from them and they were thrust into a war. The morning of the party had passed in happy chatter and light laughter as Hermione, Dora, Fleur, Harry, Cedric, Neville, Ginny, Luna and several other students along with their parents all danced and played party games in a gazebo that the Weasley clan had erected outside the house.
The music was loud and cheerful as they danced together, Hermione taking the opportunity to dance closely with her mates. The atmosphere was light as everyone concentrated on the moment, blocking out thoughts of the impending war and the inevitable destruction they were sure to face in the near future.
Little did they know that the near future was sooner than they thought, a fact that was highlighted to the group as a glowing orb depicting various scenes of horror zoomed into the middle of the tent.
"The ministry has fallen, Minister Rufus Scrimgeour is dead. The ministry has fallen, the minister of magic is dead. They are coming" the voice of Kingsley Shakelbolt cries out just as several clouds of smoke appear surrounding the tent as death eaters appear from no where.
How they got through the wards Hermione did not know but her heart clenched as she realised that this was it! The moment Harry, Cedric and she would have to run. She looked between her mates wildly and then cast a panicked look around the tent to check on her aunts and her grandmama.
She could see several death eaters duelling various members of the order around her as party guests quickly scattered, apparating to safety. Their screams and cries of horror only adding to Hermione's anxiety.
A sudden grasp on her shoulder brings Hermione back none to gently as she looks up to meet the worried and pained gazes of her mates.
"Go Mia, get the boys, we will be alright" Dora whispers as she kisses Hermione quickly.
"Oui ve vill be alright. You must go baby. Please come 'ome to us safe" Fleur adds as she too gently but quickly kisses Hermione before pushing her further into the tent to find the boys.
----
Bellatrix glanced around the tent in worry as she tried to locate her daughter among the chaos of the burrow. The dark Lord had sent them to attack and retrieve Harry Potter and the 'mudblood' and Bellatrix was terrified that they would be successful.
The dark lord had grown increasingly convinced that Hermione had to be taken out at the earliest opportunity as 'the girl issss entirely too dangerousss, ssshe may be mud but sshe isss the brightessst witch of her age and therefore a threat to usss, ssshe must die'. His words had been laced with venom as he had given his Instructure. Indignantly explaining how the girl was a magic thief yet a powerful one and therefore had no place in their world. It had sicked Bellatrix to have to listen to this coward speak about her baby like that. It had turned her stomach even more as the death eaters around her had begun murmuring about what they could do to the girl. She couldn't react but internally she was livid and one look across at Rudulphus had told Bellatrix that he too was struggling just as much as she.
Now here they were at the burrow trying to look as if they were enjoying the attack but ensure that they did not harm anyone fatally, all the while trying to look for their daughter if only to see she got out safely.
"Over there Bella" Rudulphus whispered as he directed her gaze to the centre of the tent.
Bellatrix let out the breath she had been holding when she spotted her little girl launch herself at the Potter boy and an unknown boy who also reached for her. As soon as her baby grabbed hold of the boys, Bella watched as they disappeared. The loud pop of aspiration the only evidence that they had been there. The dark witch smiled ruefully at that, knowing it was her little girl who had got her friends out of the situation. If Hermione was anything like her it meant the girl had planned for situations like this and more than likely already had her friends somewhere safe and protected. It was a relief to know that her little girl was so well organised. It gave Bella comfort that her little girl would in fact be alright.
"That's my girl" Rudulphus whispered lowly so that only Bellatrix could hear him.
"Indeed it is" she whispered back affectionately as she smiled softly at him for a brief moment.
-----
Sitting down at a booth in a cafe in the nieghborhood of her childhood home away from the busy streets of London, Hermione let out a breath in relief at getting Harry out of danger. She would do anything to keep her friends safe and get them through this.
"That was close" Cedric stated as he too sunk into his seat. His hands circling a steaming cup of tea on the table infront of him.
"It was" Hermione agreed as she sipped at her own tea.
"Whats the plan then Mione?" Harry questioned.
"We find somewhere to rest for a few days on the low, we work out where we need to search and then we get to it" she stated simply as she glanced around.
The trio sat quietly for a few minutes in quiet contemplation as they tried to process the significance of now being completely on their own and being responsible for such a significant part of stopping Voldemort.
They knew it wouldn't be easy but if anyone had seen them in that moment all they would see is three identical looms of absolute determination shinning brightly through the eyes of three teenagers as they planned on how they could go about bringing the darkest wizard ever seen to his knees once and for all.