Chapter 54

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed for this fic! It has passed the 1000 mark. :) I am forever in the debt of WriterMerrin for her keen eye and helpful suggestions. Also, thanks to luvsev for her cheerleading. Please keep the reviews coming!

***

The night that Harry and the rest of the fifth-years took their Astronomy exam, Hermione went out with McGonagall for guard duty. They walked the perimeter carefully and watched out for any suspicious activity. All was calm and serene. Then, off in the distance, there was the telltale sound of multiple cracks of Apparition.

"Did you hear that?" Hermione hissed to Minerva.

"Yes," the older witch replied. "I'll go towards Hagrid's; you go the other way towards the forest. If you get into trouble, send up sparks."

Hermione and Minerva dashed off in opposite directions. Hermione crouched low behind a grove of bushes and waited for any activity coming from around the forest. She felt warm and saw a glow emanating from behind her. She whirled around with her wand brandished and saw a fire in the distance. She carefully ran closer towards Hagrid's hut and saw it surrounded by several Aurors. They were all fighting him and attempting to stun the half-giant, all to no avail. The Aurors were trying to calm him as he cursed and fought his way through them.

Hermione followed McGonagall as the older witch yelled at the lot of them. "How dare you!" she shrieked. *"Leave him alone! Alone, I say!" *

Minerva strode closer to them, demanding answers. *"On what grounds are you attacking him? He has done nothing, nothing to warrant such..."*

Hermione nearly screamed when four stunners hit Minerva directly on her chest. She flew back and landed hard on her back, looking either unconscious or dead. This was no time to be spotted; Minerva would have to wait. Hermione remained hidden and watched as Hagrid went insane. He howled at the top of his lungs, *"COWARDS! RUDDY COWARDS HAVE SOME O' THAT...AND THAT!" He began to blast his way through each of the Aurors, * and Hermione took aim and aided his escape from her crouched position in her hiding spot.

Hermione watched Umbridge as she began to scream out orders to arrest the half-giant. After Hagrid had grabbed Fang and successfully made it to the Apparition point, Hermione sank to the ground in fear and exhaustion. She waited for what seemed like an eternity before she could safely come out from hiding. She stayed perfectly still, camouflaged in the darkness until she saw Poppy come running towards Minerva. Then she came out of the shadows to help Poppy get McGonagall to the infirmary.

"Poppy," she whispered. "Will she be all right?"

Poppy set her lips in a grim line as she levitated Minerva's unconscious form onto the conjured stretcher. "I won't know until I can perform a proper diagnostic test," she said as her voice shook. "I cannot, for the life of me, understand what compelled the Aurors to such behavior! Multiple Stunners right to the chest...it might be St. Mungo's for her."

***

Hermione waited until Poppy had Minerva safely inside Hogwarts' walls before she disappeared again into the darkness to find Severus through his private entrance into the dungeons.

She saw he was working hard, oblivious to his surroundings. She barged in and immediately faced a wand pointing at her chest. "It's just me!" she screeched.

He gasped in relief. "Don't do that!" he hissed. "What the bloody hell is going on now?" he snapped in anger.

"It's Umbridge. She's gone round the twist. She tried to arrest Hagrid, and when Minerva tried to stop them, she got hit by four Stunners to the chest!" she exclaimed through gulping breaths.

"That's just fucking brilliant," he muttered. He looked up at her as he said, "Come with me. I want you to stay with Minerva, and I will talk to Poppy."

They raced to the infirmary. At the door, Severus placed a finger to his lips and motioned her to stay outside the door. He marched towards where Poppy was tending to McGonagall. Trelawney and Sprout were crying into their handkerchiefs.

"Poppy," he whispered. "She isn't...is she?"

Madam Pomfrey was livid. "It's a shock she's not dead. I don't know what has come over people. Four stunners to the chest...nothing warrants that sort of wand abuse. I will make sure Kingsley hears about this. The Aurors have gone completely mad!" she ranted.

"She'll have to be transported to St. Mungo's, Severus. I can't treat her here. I'll keep you informed on her condition."

Severus took one last look at Minerva's unconscious face.

"Oh, Severus," hiccoughed Madam Sprout. "What shall we do with Albus and Minerva gone? That woman is pure evil!"

"I know," he whispered as he gazed fiercely on Minerva's form. "Well, we'll do what we can," he said curtly and swept back to where Hermione was waiting.

"We have to call an Order meeting," he whispered determinedly. "I'm going to Albus' office. He has allowed only Minerva and myself entrance. If it is safe, I will come back for you, and we shall Apparate to headquarters. So, wait here for me to fetch you."

***

It seemed like an eternity, but when he returned, he beckoned for her, and they quietly swept up to the headmaster's winding staircase and swiftly Flooed to headquarters. Hermione and Severus made their way down into the dark kitchen. Molly and Arthur were there, talking in whispered tones.

"What?" Severus said loudly.

Molly fiddled around with the teacups and saucers. "We don't know what to do about Sirius. He's very agitated. We don't know if Remus should leave him."

Severus sighed impatiently. "Fine, I'll go upstairs, put the mongrel into a Body-Bind Hex and have done with it," he said tersely.

"Come now, Severus," insisted Arthur. "Let's have Diggle, Bill or Charlie watch him. We must have Remus here; he's a part of the Advance Guard!"

Severus looked at him as if Arthur were an idiot. "Then, why, pray tell, am I being bothered with this nonsense if all has been already decided?"

Molly pursed her lips. "Severus, Hermione is the one with the schedule. We don't know where they all are!" she snapped at him.

By now, people were pouring into the basement. Hermione looked at Dung. He had something bulky under his filthy coat.

Severus turned to the crowd and barked at Bill Weasley, "Get Lupin down here; relieve him of his dog-watching."

"Honestly, Severus," muttered Hermione, feeling embarrassed.

He jerked his head toward her and calmed down. Hermione sat next to her husband as they waited for Remus.

"All right," he began with his hands clasped behind his back. "We have a major security issue to discuss. This evening Minerva was attacked by four Aurors, one of them being Dawlish..."

Gasps and sputters issued from the crowd.

"Where's 'Agrid?" mumbled Dung.

"He fled into the mountains, no doubt. Umbridge tried to have him arrested."

Dung shook his head. "Know wha' I 'eard?" he wheezed. "I 'eard that old cow knows what wi' tha' wand of 'er's."

Kingsley came charging down the stairs, very upset. "Sorry, I had quite the evening. There are a group of Aurors that have gone completely..."

"...Barmy!" interrupted Tonks as she came galloping down the stairs. "That old bint put all of them under the Imperius. There's no way Dawlish would have stunned Minerva, especially without a warning!"

"How do you know for sure?" asked Hermione.

"Hagrid's my contact," said Tonks. "He Apparated right into my flat. I forgot to put up my wards. Rather embarrassing that...just coming out of the shower and all."

Severus closed his eyes as if he were having an onset of a migraine. "Try, try, Nymphadora, to have some tact and hold your infernal tongue," he seethed acidly.

Tonks' hair flared pink, and she whispered in Hermione's ear. "I think that one needs a good rodgering, if you know what I mean."

"I'll take it under advisement," she whispered back out of the corner of her mouth and then flashed a smile when Severus caught her talking out of turn.

"Kingsley, if you would be so kind?" Severus sneered. He looked thoroughly disgusted with the lot of them.

Kingsley stood tall and rubbed his hands together. "Now that Albus, Minerva, and Hagrid are unable to help protect Hogwarts, it will be imperative that Hermione stay as close to Harry as possible."

"We have a suspicion, and only a suspicion," he added when Tonks gave a snort from the back of the room, "that Umbridge may have been giving aid to Death Eaters, possibly through the orders of Fudge himself."

"Do you think Fudge has been placed under the Imperius?" asked Hestia Jones.

"I don't think it would even be necessary. The man's ambition knows no end. He accepts whatever Lucius Malfoy tells him."

"Severus, do you think you could manage to find out?" Kingsley asked hopefully.

Severus sipped his tea and remained quiet. Then he spoke. "It's delicate," he said softly. "However, if a situation arose, I could manipulate his pride into bragging about his latest accomplishments for the Dark Lord."

"Fine," Kingsley replied. "The school term is almost over; we'll have some respite with Harry being back at his aunt's house, but be on your guard! You-Know-Who is going to start making a move soon."

***

When Hermione and Severus went to bed for the night, they were tense and afraid for the morrow. Hermione sat up in bed and straddled her husband.

"What is this?" he sneered.

"Oh, well, if you're going to be ungrateful about it..."

Severus placed a vice grip on her waist as she attempted to dismount him. "What has brought on this surge of lust?"

Hermione tried to look coy as she said, "Oh, I was told that you might be in need of a good 'rodgering,' if I remember it correctly. I replied that I would take it under advisement."

"And?" he prompted her.

"Are you in need of a pleasant diversion?"

"Always," he said deeply, his voice rumbling like thick velvet.

"I suppose I could think of something to please you," she said huskily as she began to push the old, gray nightshirt to his chest. "Ohh! Professor Snape!" she gasped. "Are you... up... to something?"

***

When daylight came, all was well and very subdued. It was the final day of the O.W.L. examinations, and Hermione was relieved to find Ron and Harry completely focused on their exams. They told Hermione what they had seen from the Astronomy Tower, but Hermione told them not to worry, that the Order was quite aware of everything, and that things were in hand.

Ron and Ginny were relieved, but Harry remained concerned. Hermione decided to let it be for now. They had their History of Magic exam coming up, and she didn't want to disrupt their studying with things they couldn't help with anyway.

When the boys went for their test, Hermione and Ginny went to the library to read. The silence was soothing, and soon Hermione fell asleep. Ron and Ginny jolted her awake.

"Hermione!" Ron hissed as he tried to avoid getting yelled at by Madam Pince.

"Wh-what?" she said sleepily.

"You've got to come! Harry is in the infirmary...he was taking his test, and suddenly he started screaming and gripping his scar," he said.

Hermione bolted out of her chair, and the three of them went straight to the infirmary. Harry was yelling his head off.

"I don't need to be here! I'm not sick. I just had a nightmare!" he shouted at the proctor and Madam Pomfrey.

When Hermione arrived, Madam Pomfrey shooed away the proctor. "Yes, yes, I have things under control here. Just go back and tend to your students," she said testily.

Once he was gone, Poppy left them alone. "Harry," Hermione said as she sat next to him on the bed, "what happened?"

"It was so strange. There I was working on my exam, and then I was Voldemort! He was torturing Sirius in the place I've been seeing all year! I have to save him!" He began to struggle to get out of bed, and Hermione pointed her wand at his chest until he calmed down.

"Harry," Hermione said as she held him back, "I need you to tell me everything so we know exactly what we have to do."

Harry swallowed, licked his lips and whispered. "I was in that room, the room that opens from the blue circular room...the diamond glittering room. I walked past all the clocks and desks; then there was another door, and I opened it. It was that huge room with all the small, dusty balls inside. I was there, and I was HIM! I was looking at the numbers. It was row... uh... ninety-seven! That was it on the left. Then I was looking down at a hurt animal, trying to coax it to get something. I was saying, 'I can't do it, but you can.'"

***

Hermione felt a sense of dread she had not felt in a very long time.

Ron whispered to her, "He was laughing like a nutter, just like the last time."

Harry shot him an angry look. "Well, of course! I was Voldemort!" he snapped.

"Focus, Harry," Hermione said calmly as she rubbed his arms and stared fiercely into his eyes. "What else happened?"

Harry grew impatient. "I told you! Sirius is there...he's torturing him. We have to save him. There's no one to help us. Hermione, you're the only one left of the Order to help us," he pleaded.

"Harry," she reasoned. "It doesn't make sense. There's no way he could be there."

"How do you know?" he demanded.

She exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I just do, Harry. You have to trust me!" she insisted.

"Look," he said as he bolted out of bed. "I was right about Ron's dad, wasn't I? I don't care if I'm not supposed to know about what's going on in his mind. I'm not going to let Sirius die!"

He dashed out, and Hermione was at his heels. "What makes you think Voldemort wants him dead? Sirius being alive has given him the best cover to prolong his hiding from the public!"

Harry whirled on her. "Voldemort said he would kill him. Sirius said that he would never do what he demanded. He told Sirius he was going to torture and kill him. I can't lose him, Hermione...he's all I've got!"

Fuck! Hermione screamed inside her head as she trailed him. Once Harry got his mind fixated on something, there was no stopping him. Even if she magically bound him, she couldn't keep him that way forever. Eventually, he would be free, and she couldn't risk alienating him.

He dashed upstairs to his dorm room, and Hermione paced, trying to think of how she was going to talk him out of this insane idea.

When he returned, she stopped him, trying to stall for time and said, "Think, Harry. Think! The Ministry is full of people. It doesn't make sense that Voldemort would risk going in there, not to mention holding Sirius there captive!"

"When has anything Voldemort's done ever made sense?" he shot back at her.

You would be surprised, she thought darkly. "But, Harry, you don't know these places. You don't know what you are walking into!" she yelled at him desperately.

"You just don't get it!" he screamed. "I'm not having nightmares, and I'm not dreaming! Why do you think I had all that Occlumency training? It's because it is REAL! Sirius is trapped. I've seen him. If you don't want to help, that's fine, just stay out of my way!"

*Ginny walked into the common room and said, "What's going on?"

"There's no need to take that tone with me," she said coolly. "Luna's outside. We thought we could help." *

Harry gave a snort.

"Wait!" said Hermione, grabbing his arm. "They can help. We need to establish whether Sirius is really at the Ministry. We can Floo him from Umbridge's office whilst she and Luna make a diversion."

"Hermione," Harry pleaded.

"Harry, I'm begging you," she said urgently, "as a friend. Now I'm going to pull rank on you if you don't stop to consider all the options. If we check and it's true, we'll go. Otherwise, it could just be a trap!"

Harry hesitated for a moment; then he said, "Fine. Let's do it."

The five of them made up a diversionary tactic. Hermione was a bit shocked at Ginny's cunning. She was more like Fred and George than Hermione had realized.

When they broke into Umbridge's office, they softly padded to the fireplace. Harry called for Sirius and got Kreacher instead.

* "Master does not tell poor Kreacher where he is going," the elf said resentfully.

"Master will not come back. He is at the Department of Mysteries!" he said gleefully. "Kreacher and his Mistress are alone again!" *

Harry grasped his scar and said, "It's still prickling. I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but time's running out. How are we going to get there?"

Luna said, "Well, there are six of us. Why don't we take the thestrals?"

"Are you mad?" Ron shouted before being shushed by Hermione. "I can't see those ruddy things. I can't fly on something I can't see!"

"Oh, buck up, Ron!" spat Ginny.

"I don't know about this," Hermione said nervously. "Harry, let me tell the Order."

"No, Hermione!" Harry shouted. "There isn't time. If the Order knew, they'd make me stay here, and I don't think the Order really gives two shites if Sirius dies or not! I'm going, and if you want to stay here, then by all means, stay. But don't you interfere."

Hermione looked at the motley group in front of her. They were going, whatever Hermione did or said. She couldn't let him walk into a possible Death Eater trap. She sighed and capitulated. "Fine. I'll go with you."

***

"What's the hold up, you lot?" asked Hermione as she got on a thestral with Luna's help.

"I don't think we all should go...I mean it's dangerous," Harry said quietly.

"Luna," Hermione said bossily. "Go attract more thestrals. We'll need six. Harry, you need to realize you can't do this alone. If this is happening, there will be loads of Death Eaters there...I can promise you that! It's not going to be easy to penetrate through to the bowls of the Ministry. The more we have, the more we can achieve."

"You sure seem to know a lot about the Ministry of Magic, Hermione," he replied strangely.

"Harry," she said as Luna brought more thestrals towards them, "it's my job for the Order. Now, let's go!"

***

A/N: The italicized sentences with asterisks belong to J.K. Rowling. The rest belongs to me.