Umbridge and Centaurs
“The first thing that we’re going to learn is Expelliarmus. Defending yourself from the Dark Arts has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with thinking fast and acting on your feet. I used Expelliarmus against the Dark Lord last year and it saved my life.”
Hermione practiced, pairing herself up with Ronald on purpose. He glares at her as she swirls her wand. “Expelliarmus!” Ron’s wand goes flying out of his hands, landing across the room. He goes to retrieve it and she does it over and over again until Ron finally huffs in frustration, turning to find a new partner. Hermione crosses her arms and leans against the wall, watching everybody else. Neville has proven to be quite adept, landing the spell multiple times as he blushes from Harry’s praise. Blaise and Theo, who she convinced Harry to let in here, are smirking at each other seemingly evenly matched. Ginny Weasley got it after her third try, knowing Cho’s wand from her hand. Harry took the opportunity to stand behind her, showing her the correct way to hold her wand. Ginny blasted it from her again with a red face. Hermione smirked. Pansy and Daphne were another two evenly matched and she watched Pansy’s eyes track Harry through the room with a raised brow.
Lessons were going to be interesting.
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Christmas Break was terrifying. Harry had a dream about Arthur Weasley getting attacked by a snake and Hermione stayed at the castle as they disappeared to be with Ron’s family. After everything that happened she decided that being there was probably not a smart decision. When he returns he explains that Snape is planning on teaching him Occlumency and Hermione tries desperately to find any and all books on the subject to help him. She realizes that it’s exactly what Narcissa had been teaching her to do during their meditations.
Hermione had watched wide eyed with Harry when Umbridge had attempted to banish Trelawney from the ground only for Dumbledore to replace her with Firenze, who was a Centaur. The expression that she had upon seeing him alone was enough to make Hermione happy for a few days. Until Harry shattered her little bubble as her, Ronald and him sat around the table whispering. He had told her about how Arthur had been in the Ministry, in a room that somehow looked familiar. He also said that when he had been at the Ministry, there was a sort of…familiarity as if he had been there before. “When we visited Arthur at the hospital I asked him if the weapon that he was guarding happened to be at the Ministry and Mrs. Weasley ushered me from the room faster than I could blink.”
Hermione processed the information, her lips pursed. “So you think that the weapon is somewhere at the Ministry?”
Harry nodded, green eyes bright. Ron had been silent, listening to everything and pointedly sitting as far away from her as possible at the small table they were seated. Her eyes flit over to the Daily Prophet that was just dropped onto the table and her eyes widen. Mass Breakout.
She snatched the newspaper up, looking over the list of names with wide eyes. Bellatrix Lestrange. Antonin Dolohov. Augustus Rookwood. The names were familiar, and she vaguely remembered Narcissa talking about a sister, and the wallpaper at 12 Grimmauld Place came into her mind. Narcissa’s sister. Bellatrix was Narcissa’s sister. She stood up quickly, the chair clattering behind her as it scratched across the floor. Without another word she dropped the newspaper onto the table and left in search of Draco.
It didn’t take long, he was outside at the bench that was tucked in between the green houses. It was Hermione’s favorite place besides the library, and oftentimes she found Draco there when he needed time to think away from the rest of the students. A place where his walls could drop and he could feel things without worrying about somebody seeing him. Hermione pulled the vines from the brick and slipped into the secluded area, finding Draco with his head down, arms draped across his knees.
There was a soft swish of the vines brushing against each other, she didn’t have to speak for him to know she was there. “Granger.”
“Malfoy.” He snorted.
“I’m assuming you saw the papers as well?”
“I saw that your aunt was released, yes. I came here to see how you were feeling about it.”
Draco lifted his head, glaring at the wall in front of him. “Not very pleased if we’re being honest.”
“Isn’t that what we always are with one another?” His silver eyes met hers and she felt all of the air leave her. They were the brightest silver she had ever seen them, vulnerable and open. There were even lighter flecks swirling in their depths and she could have sworn that they were luminescent in the small light in the area between them. She stepped towards him, her hands at her sides until she was standing between his legs. He peeked up at her, his hands coming to rest on her hips as he pressed his head to her stomach. It was strangely intimate, her holding him like this. He was vulnerable, his breaths stuttered against the fabric of her shirt. Slowly, his hands slipped from her waist to encircle her, pressing her against him. He was hugging her stomach, and she rested a hand on his shoulder, the other threading through his hair.
“I’m so scared, Hermione.” She didn’t say anything, just let him hold her. She let him take what he needed from her as he whispered his confessions in the dark. Each one was another stab to her heart as her chest ached for him. “She…she’s horrid. Evil. That woman thrives off of torture and killing. I can–fuck. Fuck.”
He released a heavy exhale, squeezing her tighter. “I don’t know how I’m going to be able to protect you from all of the evil that keeps piling up. How am I…how am I going to be enough? You would be better off away from me…far away…away from all of the darkness that seems to follow me.”
Hermione stilled, her hands squeezing tightly to his hair. Draco wasn’t breathing, as if he realized that he admitted to thinking that she was safer away from him. That he would be willing to let her go. “Draco.” He released a breath against her, loosening his grip as she pulled away. He wasn’t looking at her, instead his gaze was focused on one of the buttons on her shirt. “Look at me.”
Immediately, his silver eyes flicked to hers, flitting between them. “Granger…”
“No. No. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to sit here and pretend that you’re the only one with darkness, Draco. I’m a Nott. There is more darkness in that name than I would ever be able to comprehend. I’m also a Snape. Whether or not he wants to admit it, he’s the closest thing to a father that I have. I’m also…a Malfoy.” He inhaled sharply, staring at her with eyes that were so intense they took the breath from her lungs. “I am yours, Draco Lucius Malfoy. I would raise hell and burn the heavens to protect the people that I love. I would hand you the match to start the fires that you would burn for me. Whatever we do in this life, we do together.”
Draco was staring at her with a reverence, his eyes shining before she cupped his jaw, leaning in to capture his lips with hers. She meant it to be a quick kiss, but as soon as her lips touched his he was encircling her again, his arms around her hips as he held her to his chest. It was slow, and yet it carried the promise that neither of them had to say out loud to know.
They weren’t letting each other go, no matter what tried to separate them.
He whispered against her lips. “Some day, I’m going to really make you a Malfoy, Granger.”
She hummed against his lips in response, her fingers tugging the hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m holding you to that.”
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Hermione leaned against the table, her elbows propped up as she glared at the reporter across from her. Rita Skeeter was definitely on her list of people that she couldn’t tolerate. Unfortunately she found that both of the names on the list were sadly people who were dreadfully dressed, their attire borderline offensive. Skeeter and Umbridge in the same room was a sight that she wasn’t sure if her eyes would be able to recover from. Rita was staring at her, well more so glaring and Hermione gave her the best Narcissa smile that she could muster.
Rita recoiled, startled and quickly corrected herself into the disgusting simpering woman that she was as soon as Harry made his way into the Three Broomsticks. If she was being honest, she would have preferred hiding out with Draco on Valentine's Day, but the idea of Harry being able to tell his side and defend himself in the paper was something that she couldn’t deny. And the opportunities for Hogsmeade were growing smaller and smaller, so she had to take it before it disappeared. Harry sat, soaking wet and looking rather perplexed next to her. “Hermione? What’s this about?”
Hermione turned back to Rita. “This is about you taking the narrative into your hands, Harry.”
Luna was perched next to her, staring out the window as Rita scoffed at her. “There isn’t a Newspaper around that would print that story.”
Hermione smiled. “There is actually.”
“My father is the Editor of the Quibbler.” Rita scoffs, a fake laugh falling from her lips.
“The Quibbler? You really expect people to believe the story if it’s published there?” Rita made a move to stand up and Hermione glared at her hard enough for her to roll her eyes and sit down again.
“You might be right, but we’re not looking to persuade everybody, we’re not delusional. Any number that we have is more than what we did. All we need to do is convince a few people at least.”
Rita sighed, but with an eye roll she pulled her Quill from her bag. Harry opened his mouth and retold the events that she had heard a thousand times as the Quill scratched away. Luna’s lips turned up into a small smirk and Hermione took a sip from her tea.
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“By order of the Ministry of Magic: Dolores Jane Umbridge will replace Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” Hermione gaped at the toad woman before her.
Harry had barely any time to explain after ushering all of the D.A out of the Room of Requirement before he was caught and brought to Dumbledore’s office. From there, things took a wild turn. Dumbledore escaped arrest, disappearing with Fawkes. The Ministry was not pleased about hearing that he had assembled an army–a fact that he didn’t correct the Minster from stating–and then everybody was mad at her for the list being found. If she was being quite honest with herself, she wasn’t sure how it was. Marietta was getting glares from many of the students when the word SNEAK blistered across her face.
“As your new Headmistress I have decided that old punishments are being allowed, at the request of Mr. Filch. Alongside that, Draco Malfoy will lead our new Inquisitorial Squad that will report back to me about any…unfortunate student wrongdoings.” Her eyes landed on Hermione, Harry and Ron and she glared back. Draco had warned her about this, saying that she had to be careful because things at Hogwarts were about to turn dangerous for her.
Afterwards, Ron had marched to Quidditch practice and Hermione followed Harry down to Hagrid’s hut. They had been marching through the forest for what felt like hours, Hagrid ignoring their protests. Hermione was starting to feel a little crazed–there were twigs in her hair and cuts on her hands from where she had stumbled multiple times and caught herself against other trees and the rough ground.
“It won’t be much longer fore m’ sacked like Trelawney. Need you two te look after somethin for me.”
“Of course, Hagrid.” Harry steadied her when Hagrid clapped her on the back and she stumbled. Quietly, they approached a massive body lying on the forest floor. Hagrid looked nervous, wringing his hands on his shirt.
“This is er, this is me brother.” Hagrid goes on to explain his familial ties and Hermione stares at the massive figure that unfolds itself towering over them about fifteen feet as he lets out a soft roar. “Grawp, this is Harry and Hermy.”
Harry pulls her out of the way just as a fist closes into the air beside her. Hagrid scolded him, and Hermione scrambled away only to find herself circled by Centaurs moments later. Hagrid shook his head. “Oh boy.”
“I thought that you have already been told that you and that Beast are no longer welcome here.”
“You have no say about who comes and goes in this Forest.”
“We will permit you to pass this time, because you have young with you…but know that if you enter this forest again your life is forfeit. We do not take kindly to those who stop us from invoking punishment upon our own. Our ways are nothing like yours.”
The group took off throughout the forest, scattering in all directions as the ground shook from their departure.
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The table was covered with books and she was just finishing up the final touches of her schedule when Theo appeared in her peripheral. He was staring at her with wide eyes. “Granger, what the hell is all of this?” Hermione didn’t reply, instead extended her arm with a dangling parchment out towards him. “Is this a…study schedule? You made me a study schedule for the O.W.L.S?” Hermione nodded, flipping another parchment into her hand towards Theo. He grabbed it and a laugh escaped his lips. “You made Draco a schedule?? Honestly, Hermione, are you mad?”
She lifted her head then, pinning him with her gaze. It had been a tiresome few weeks. She had been taking turns with Harry to feed Grawp and cramming as much studying as she could into the small time frame before O.W.L.S. Theo was staring at her, and seeing the expression on her face, promptly sat down and pulled out his notes and books. Hermione smiled at him and returned back to her own notes.
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“Voldemort! He’s got Sirius in the Department of Ministries!” Hermione was staring at Harry in horror. He had just collapsed in the middle of them taking their O.W.L.S, holding his head while his scar bled all over his hand. Now, he was standing in front of her, eyes wild as he panted.
“Harry, it might be a trap…”
“I can’t risk it, Hermione. He’s the only family that I have left.”
“I understand that Harry…but how would they have gotten in there? It seems a bit unlikely don’t you think? Voldemort and Sirius can’t just waltz into the Ministry…” Harry suddenly lurches forward, his fists gripping tightly onto the front of her robes as he glared at her.
“I can’t lose him. I won’t let him die.”
Hermione reaches up, closing her hand around Harry’s fingers on her robe and gently peels them off of her. “Alright. We’ll find a way there. Calm down.”
Ginny, Fred, George, and Luna all rounded the corner, startled looks on their faces as they watched Hermione peel Harry’s hands from the front of her robes. He was shaking, sweat beading across his forehead. His normally light green eyes were dark, anger swirling through them. Slowly, as she stared at him, a plan started to form.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing that we need your help with.”
“Harry!” Hermione turned towards Ginny, staring at the pretty redhead. “Harry saw Voldemort with Sirius at the Ministry. Voldemort knows that Harry would rush off to save Sirius, which is why I think that the whole bloody thing is a trap BUT I think I have a plan. We need to get into Umbridge’s office…Fred, George can you help with that?”
The twins glanced at each other smiling before turning back to her. “Of course we can Hermione.”
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Ginny and Luna were positioned on either side of the hallway by Umbridge’s office and she huddled closer to Harry underneath the Invisibility Cloak. A bang sounded from above them, dust flitting onto the floor. Filch scrambled down the hallway, a twisted grin on his face as he followed behind Umbridge after explaining that the twins had set something off in the Astronomy Tower.
Once she was out of sight, they scrambled forward, bursting into Umbridge’s office as Harry dropped the floo powder into the hearth. The flames roared green and Hermione watched as Harry stuck his head into the flames. “Sirius!” It was quiet, the flames flickering around Harry on his hands and knees in the fireplace.
“Kreacher! Where is Sirius!” Hermione looked around, glancing at the door nervously.
Suddenly brooms fly off the wall, almost knocking Hermione off her feet as she squeals, moving out of the way as they zoom out the door. “You know where he is don’t you?”
A hand appears in the fireplace, stumpy fingers gripping Harry roughly before flinging him backwards. “Expelliarmus.” Suddenly they were all in the room, Umbridge was towering over Harry, her hand still roughly gripping his hair as two arms wrapped around her, pressing her against a solid chest. Apples, parchment and mint surrounded her. Draco’s fingertips brushed the skin underneath her shirt, goosebumps erupting across her stomach. Draco leaned forward, his chin brushing against her shoulder as he whispered.
“Not even going to fight me? Now Granger, how are they ever going to believe I’m restraining Potter’s girl so easily?”
Hermione bucked against him and his hold tightened, she gritted her teeth together, hissing. “I’m not Potter’s girl.”
Draco chuckled and her skin was on fire as his breath skated across the exposed flesh. “There you go, darling. Struggle a bit.” She shimmied against him, and he hissed. “I said struggle, not grind. Bloody hell, Hermione.”
She bit her lip in an effort not to smile as Umbridge’s shrieking filled the room. Draco’s wand was tucked underneath her chin, pressed against her throat while his other arm stayed around her waist. Neville, Ginny, Ron and Luna were also being restrained although a lot more forcefully by some of the other Slytherins. Pansy was gripping Ginny rather roughly, Goyle was downright manhandling Ronald, Crabbe had a restraining grip on Luna that was still rather soft in her opinion which surprised her. Neville surprisingly was standing with his hands up smirking at Daphne who was raising an eyebrow at him.
“What were you doing?”
“Order business, Draco.” she shimmied again and he hissed, his fingertips digging into her hips.
“Hermione.” It was low and husky and for some reason she found that she rather enjoyed the feeling of making Draco unrestrained, teetering on the edge.
“Draco, go and get Professor Snape. I’ll get some answers out of them.”
Darco reluctantly released her, gently pushing her off of him with a show towards Daphne. Daphne smirked at her, before tipping her wand in her direction. Goyle sneered, reaching out to grab her rather roughly by the arm and yanked her against Ronald. She narrowed her eyes at him, already knowing that a bruise was going to form.
Snape billowed into the room after enough time for her to develop a headache from Umridge’s shrieking, followed by Draco who scowled at Hermione bening pressed roughly into Ron by Goyle at wandpoint. Snape’s eyes flicked between Goyle’s hand on her arm and her face before he turned towards Umbridge. “You summoned me?”
“I need Veritaserum.”
“I cannot help you there. I have none.” With that, he sweeps from the room eyeing Goyle’s hand again.
What are you doing?
She didn’t have to answer him because Harry shouted across the room. “He’s got Padfoot in the place where it’s hidden!” Hermione watched his feet falter before he turned around with a bewildered expression.
“Potter, if I wanted to have nonsense shouted at me I would’ve asked.”
“What does that mean? Snape! What does that mean?”
Snape raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea.” Then he left. Hermione could feel her bond sing and she knew that he was pausing in the hallway just outside the door.
Voldemort has Sirius at the Ministry.
There was a pause as Umbridge shrieked in rage, yanking her wand from her pocket. Then she felt him leave. Her eyes traveled towards where Umbridge was approaching Harry with her wand drawn. “Crucio!”
Harry’s eyes rolled back in his head as she watched him writhe in the chair. “Stop it!” The words tumbled from her lips as she wiggled against Goyle’s hold. He gripped her harder and she swore that she heard Draco growl from across the room, his silver eyes pinned onto Goyle’s hand.
Umbridge swung around, the tip of her wand trained on Hermione’s chest. “What?!”
Hermione sputtered, her eyes dancing over to Harry. He was slumped, panting in the chair behind Umbridge. “You have to tell her, Harry.”
Harry looked confused, then suddenly enraged his eyes filled with betrayal. “I would rather die.” Hermione closed her eyes, acting as though she was terrified as the plan formed in her mind. She could do this. As long as she didn’t look at Draco, she could do this. Goyle shoved her roughly forward and Hermione tumbled against the desk as Umbridge yanked her from his grasp.
“Who were you trying to reach?”
“Dumbledore…we had to tell him that the secret weapon..”
“Yes. Go on.” Umbridge looked feral, staring at her as though she were about to start salivating any moment.
“The secret weapon is ready.” Umbridge’s eyes dance over Hermione’s face, dancing with eagerness.
“You and Potter will take me to it.” Hermione nodded, Umbridge’s wand poised underneath her jaw. Harry stood up, following after Hermione as Umbridge pointed her wand at their back as she followed them into the forest. Hermione led her through the rough foliage, hoping that she didn’t get too impatient. Draco had somehow slipped her wand into her pocket again, and she was trying desperately not to grab it and hex Umbridge herself.
“Not much further…Dumbledore wanted it hidden.” Umbridge nodded in delight, eagerness dripping off of her. When Hermione glanced back, her eyes widened, watching the arrow soar through the air and land on the ground beside them. Hermione’s eyes widened, and she scrambled closer to Harry. Centaurs surrounded them and slowly, Hermione grabbed Harry’s wand backing them up against a tree as Umbridge and them argued.
“Any attack from a halfbreed–”
“Don’t call them that!” Hermione glared at Umbridge, her wand poised and pointed at her. Umbridge scoffed, flitting her eyes between Hermione and the gathering Centaurs. She scrambles, watching in horror as the Centaurs are suddenly fighting with Umbridge, scooping her up as they take off running. She squeals, yelling obscenities as Hermione tucks them tightly behind the tree.