You won't survive this time you filthy mudblood." Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange were standing between everyone and the way out.
Hermione reacted to the voice and instead of turning to look she dove straight into Harry sending them both sprawling through a rack of robes. That was the only reason that the piercing hex missed Hermione's head and instead gouged a large chunk of brick out of the back wall.
While Hermione was tackling them both out of the way Harry was drawing his wand and the shield charm he was able to snap off saved them both from the next hex reflecting it into the ceiling.
That's when the real fight started. They may have been taken a little by surprise but both Charlus and Mrs Weasley were expecting that something like this may happen and Ron had been training with Harry and Hermione in case of situations exactly like this. None of them could have missed the declaration, the sound of the spell or the sound of Harry and Hermione crashing through the clothes rack.
Mrs Weasley was at first preoccupied turning the curtain that hid the changing area, where Madame Malkin was currently helping Ginny with a fitting for her underthings, into a brick wall to keep her daughter from trying to join them. Then she immediately started casting stunners her experience in the original order of the Phoenix making it her go to spell. Charlus, who had served in the war against Grindelwald opened with a string of cutting and piercing hexes, low power but easy to string together and deadly enough that you only needed one to land in the right place. Ron however, had training to fall back on, and he only had one real spell that in his head was labelled 'for enemies'. Lighting shot through the store as he practically screamed out the incantation "Fulmenactus!"
Lucius called up his own shield to defend against the onslaught of spells and they were all made harmless. Ron however didn't let up; he pushed more and more power into the spell, keeping it active and pinning the Malfoy Warlock in place. Normally this would be a terrible strategy. The Fulmenactus spell took a lot more magic to cast than a shield, Ron would collapse from exhaustion long before Malfoy even got a little tired. But Ron wasn't fighting alone on the piste, Ron had the advantage of numbers on his side and as long as he kept that spell up his mother, Charlus, Harry, and Hermione outnumbered the rest four to two and he liked those odds. Charlus and Mrs Weasley turned their attention onto Bellatrix Lestrange.
Hermione was able to scramble to her feet first by virtue of both landing on top of Harry and because Harry had to use one hand to keep a shield up between them and Narcissa Malfoy who was already blasting at the shield, only the long incantation keeping her from jumping straight to the killing curse.
"Harry, this bitch imperiused my parents, she is mine." Hermione said ice in her voice. Hermione immediately launched into a chain of spells that fired almost faster than Harry could track, leaving Harry to cover the defence.
Harry was going to argue but didn't want to risk splitting Hermione's focus. Instead he vowed to himself that if he saw an opportunity he would take it. So instead all he said was "kick her ass." as he got to his feet making sure to keep the shield up the whole time.
With spells flying all over the place it wasn't long before the shop itself was trashed. The racks of robes waiting for new owners were perfect tinder for any sparks and the fact of the matter was lightning bolts gave off sparks like Santa gave presents and it didn't take long for the battlefield to turn into an inferno.
Bellatrix tried to use the cruciatus curse on Charlus. However she wasn't prepared for Mrs Weasley. The red-haired witch was a mother of seven who had long ago come up with a response to bad words and after the twins had gotten enough practice that she could not only cast it nonverbally but without the wand movements as well. Lestrange was about halfway through her first syllable of the forbidden spell when she suddenly found herself choking on a mouthful of soap.
Lestrange choked on the soap and it gave Charlus all the opportunity he needed. He wasn't one to worry about things like prisoners when he was fighting like this instead he shot a piercing hex right through her chest. He didn't stop there, he immediately followed up with two more to make sure he had the job done. Unfortunately his two followup shots were less on target, one taking her in the shoulder and the other sailing past her ear.
Seeing Lestrange take a hit had the two Malfoy's realise that despite the fact that they were facing three school children, an old man, and a house wife they were still out classed and Lucius shouted something and the three of them disappeared as portkeys they were wearing were all activated.
Hermione screamed in frustration as the target she was focusing her frustrations on vanished. Ron stopped his lightning bolt but not before Malfoy had disappeared so as a result he accidentally set even more of the store on fire.
There were a few moments where they all stood there stunned over what had just happened but it didn't last long when they started to feel the light sting of the fires that were picking up around them. They quickly turned their wands on the flames spraying water everywhere. Unfortunately most of the clothes were ruined.
Madam Malkin was incredibly distraught at the destruction of her business. Mrs Weasley had turned the wall back into a curtain and when the owner of the shop had come out demanding to know what had happened she had seen the state of her merchandise and it was too much for her.
A part of Harry wanted to be angry that she hadn't helped, she may not be an Auror but she was a witch, one who used cutting charms every day as part of her job. Yet at the same time all Harry could see when he looked at her was a scared old woman who just saw her business go up in smoke. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Harry was just trying to work out what he could do to help when Charlus stepped in. First he gave her a calming draught, why he was carrying one to begin with Harry didn't know, and then when she was calm he told her "I know it looks bad but it looks a lot worse than it is. The shop can be put back together fairly quickly. So what I want you to do is work out what you need to do to get the Hogwarts robes back on sale as soon as possible and I will give you a loan for whatever you need. Then when the law gets around to getting you compensation you can pay me back and if they don't pay you the compensation or it doesn't cover the loan then I will forgive whatever is outstanding."
Because of the calming draught Madam Malkin was able to see that it was a brilliant deal for her. The Hogwarts robes were her biggest issue right now because she was the official supplier. There were places that sold second hand robes and there were a few shops who would make them as custom jobs but if you wanted new for a reasonable price she was the only option.
"I will need fabric, a lot of fabric, what I have here will have smoke damage. Thread, I think my templates will still be fine, and I will need the help of an experienced seamstress.
Mrs Weasley put a hand on her shoulder. "I have experience altering clothes and knitting new ones. I… I had to stretch one Ministry salary to clothe seven children. I am more than happy to help."
"And while you do that we can focus on getting the shop fixed up. Between us I'm sure we know enough charms and transfiguration to have this place looking as good as new." Harry said.
So that's what happened, the four teens: Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny started tidying up. It was surprising how much of the damage could be solved with a simple first year Reparo charm. It did nothing for anything that was burned which unfortunately included a sizable quantity of the merchandise. But most of the damage to the actual shop was from cutting and piercing hexes and were easily fixed. The burns required a variety of transfiguration spells to fix. Those were harder but still well inside their capabilities.
They were working for almost ten minutes when a group of Aurors came bursting through the door. "Better late than never." Hermione mumbled under her breath loud enough that Harry, Ron, and Ginny all heard her but none of the adults, including the Aurors, could hear her. Harry wasn't surprised by the venom in Hermione's voice. She was livid that the people who had targeted her parents had managed to get away.
The Aurors slowed everything down as they demanded answers to their questions. They were interested when Charlus informed them what he had done to Lestrange. "Do you think you killed her?"
"I doubt it. Despite getting her in the chest it wasn't close to her heart and it was piercing hex, nothing with dark magic. If she gets to a healer fast enough she will make a full recovery. Though it will probably take a few weeks." Charlus explained.
The Aurors were soon happy enough to let them leave. They wanted them to go to the new Ministry to file paperwork, however when Charlus explained that they needed to get the shop up and running again in time for the Hogwarts students, the Aurors agreed that tomorrow would be plenty early enough to file reports.
The teens were taken to the Manor and placed in the care of Sirius not long after that. Charlus and Mrs Weasley left again to go help Madam Malkin with buying fabric and other supplies, they wouldn't be back for hours. Mrs Weasley was probably going to need to pull an all-nighter with Madam Malkin if they were going to have any hope of keeping the disruption to the supply of school uniforms to a minimum.
Sirius of course wanted to know what happened, however Hermione was way too worked up now she didn't have the need to fix the damage to the shop to distract her. So Harry left Ron and Ginny to catch Sirius up and took Hermione to her room where she could let off some steam
Harry sat there for almost an hour just listening to Hermione rant about Narcissa getting away and how the woman deserved to die slowly for what she had done to Hermione's parents. Harry knew that for the most part Hermione didn't really mean what she was saying. Sure she wanted Narcissa brought to justice and she wouldn't hesitate to do whatever was necessary, including killing the woman, but the rant about a slow and painful death was nothing more than Hermione bleeding off her anger and frustration. Anger at the fact that Harry and their friends had been put in danger because the Malfoy's were there to kill her and she wished she hadn't killed Malfoy because it only led to people she loved being in danger.
Once Hermione ranted herself out Harry pulled her into a hug. "I understand what you meant when you said you wished you hadn't killed Malfoy but there is something you are forgetting. Why did you kill him? It was because if you hadn't, he would have killed me. I'm only here now because you saved my life. And I don't care if it takes the rest of our lives, I will happily stand with you no matter how many times she tries to kill you."
Hermione had tears in her eyes now. Her anger and frustration worn out, it was time for other emotions to get their say and the two of them stayed cuddled up until Emma walked in and seeing that the two teens were too tightly entwined together, pulled them both into a hug.
-ϟϟϟ-
While Harry and Hermione were in her room Ron and Ginny finished giving their take of what happened to Sirius. Well, Ron gave his account, Ginny was in a huff about being locked in the changing room. "So yeah, that's what happened, the Malfoy's and Bellatrix Lestrange burst in suddenly and we had to fight. I pinned Warlock Malfoy while everyone else fought two on one" Ron finished with a recap. He was rather proud of himself for managing to hold Lucius Malfoy solo.
"Where is your father today?" Sirius asked.
"At work. Why?" Ginny answered.
"So he won't have seen your family clock and known you were in danger?" Sirius asked.
"No." said Ron. "He won't have seen it and the Aurors have probably already told him everything so there is no need to worry."
"What about Hermione's parents?" Ginny asked.
"They have no way of knowing Hermione was in trouble." Ron said. "It's not something we need to rush off and tell them."
Sirius however knew better. "No, Hermione gave her parents a family clock for Christmas. There is a chance they know. Ron, can you come with me for a few minutes so I can borrow your portkeys? If the Grangers want to come back here I can't sidealong them. I wish the Ministry would hurry and work out a way to retain control of the floo fires." Ron of course agreed and Ginny was more than happy to stay at the Manor and wait for them to get back.
It turned out Sirius was right to check on the Grangers. Knowing that their daughter was going shopping that day they had taken the clock to work with them. They would each check it every twenty minutes or so between patents. The result was they had seen Hermione's hand move to mortal peril. They had finished up with the patients they had. Then they left the surgery in the hands of their nurse/receptionist and told her that they had a family emergency and quickly left. They even forgot about their new security guard who was at least able to keep his head enough to follow them.
They went home and the security guard, after asking what was going on, sent an owl requesting information. Unfortunately owls aren't quick so that meant they would have to do a bit of waiting. Fortunately for them the security guard was more level headed and asked to see the clock. Now Dan and Emma's hands were pointed at home while Hermione's was pointed at second home.
"Well it looks like Miss Granger is at the Potter Manor now. That's good. While I can't say she isn't injured I can say she isn't in a life threatening situation. If she were her hand would still point at mortal peril. So she is in a safe place where if she needs help she will get it. So now it's just a matter of waiting until we hear something." He told them. Dan and Emma were of course relieved to hear that. It didn't stop them from being afraid and anxious, but they weren't terrified. So a step in the right direction
The former Auror left the two parents clinging to each other on the sofa and went to make tea. It was surprising just how much the ritual of a cup of strong sweet tea helped people calm down.
Not long after that Sirius had shown up at the back door with Ron. The security guard checked that Ron and Sirius were who they said they were and led them inside. Dan and Emma immediately demanded to know what was happening when they saw the two of them and not Hermione.
"Hermione is fine." Sirius made sure to say that first and immediately the tension seemed to flow out of the two parents. "She is feeling a little emotional right now but Harry is handling that while I came to get you."
Ron then gave them his version of a full recap, finishing with. "and as you can imagine Hermione is rather upset by the fact the Malfoy's got away."
Before anyone could say anything the security guard spoke up. "I'm going to go back to the clinic and watch over Abigail. If you would like an escort to work tomorrow give me a ring, if I don't hear from you I will meet you at work tomorrow as usual." With thanks and farewells from the Grangers the security guard left. And it wasn't much later than that that Ron's portkey took everyone back to Potter manor.
-ϟϟϟ-
The next few days were eventful. While Mrs Weasley focused on helping Madam Malkin restore her shop, Harry and his friends were all called back to the court to hear the verdict for Pansy Parkinson.
This time instead of having to wait in a separate room they were all sitting in the visitors seats. Harry got to watch as Pansy was marched out and taken to the defendants box. She was paler than normal and she looked like she had been crying a lot. It looked to Harry as if the girl already knew what the verdict would be and she wasn't expecting to go home.
There was a little bureaucracy to take care of about court being back in session but it was mostly about adding times and dates to the records that went quickly and soon one of the judges stood up and addressed Parkinson.
"Miss Parkinson you are accused of multiple crimes and in this trial we have heard all the evidence that could be found. We judges have thought hard and have come to our decision as to what should happen going forward. We want it known that the choices we had were not easy ones. You are after all a young woman not yet finished with her education and so some leniency for your age has to be accounted for. But it cannot be understated that you are more than old enough and aware enough to understand just how bad the actions you took were.
"To that end on the charge of aiding and abetting the use of an unforgivable curse we find you guilty."
"On the charge of kidnapping we find you guilty."
"On the charge of aggravated identity theft we find you guilty."
"On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder we find you guilty.
"You will spend no less than ten years in Azkaban prison at which time with good behaviour and a genuine show of remorse you will be allowed to apply for parole. Should parole not be granted you will serve a full term of fifteen years. Aurors take her away."
Parkinson was sobbing as an Auror led her out of the courtroom and presumably off to Azkaban prison. "Honestly I expected more." Said Harry "especially because of the unforgivable thing."
"She isn't seventeen yet, even Hannah admitted that it was Malfoy who cast it, and Malfoy's corpse is hardly able to defend him from having all the blame heaped on him. She is lucky she has already sat her owls though, if she hadn't they would have snapped her wand and stripped her of her wand rights." Ron pointed out.
"The cow should have her wand snapped. It's an injustice that she will ever get out, that she will still have her wand is a travesty." Susan was obviously bitter about what she considered a light sentence.
If Harry was honest he didn't agree. Parkinson was sixteen and facing up to fifteen years in prison. Even in a mundane prison if she got out after ten years she would remember more of her life in prison than out of it. And with the dementors eating away at her happy memories she would remember even less of her life outside of prison. Wouldn't that make the Parkinson who gets out more a product of her incarceration than of her bigoted upbringing? He didn't know. Still he kept his mouth shut. All voicing his opinion would do is hurt Susan's and Hannah's feelings.
Ron left with Director Bones, Susan, and Hannah. Hannah was hanging with Susan until her parents finished with work and Susan and Ron had plans for some type of date after that. Hermione and Harry left with Charlus and went back to the Manor.
"Hermione, do you mind if I take Harry off your hands for an hour or so?" Charlus asked as they walked up the sunny path way that led from the gate.
"Sure. Do you mind if I raid the library?" Hermione asked the two Potter's as if trying to guess what was happening.
"As always, feel free. You know the shelves you need to avoid." Charlus told her.
Hermione continued straight up to the house while Charlus led Harry off on a route that would slowly take them around to the back of the house. They walked in near silence for a few minutes, Harry wondering what this was about when Charlus broke the silence. "How are you handling all this Harry?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
"A monster trying to kill you, goblins demanding that you be involved in negotiations, terrorists attacking the train, a former school mate trying to kill you, your girlfriend killing for you, and multiple attempts on your girlfriend's life. You handled all that and more in the last year and yet you don't seem to be anywhere near as stressed as you should be. If I wasn't a potions master I would suspect you of abusing calming draughts."
"What's the point in stressing? I accepted a while ago that my life wouldn't be normal until after Vol-shit until after you-know-who is dealt with permanently. I don't like it but my options are to shut myself in a room and cry about it or just get on with my life. Well, locked away crying over your life is how I spent my time before Hogwarts and I refuse to go back to being that. So I make sure I'm ready for whatever happens next, and keep moving forward."
Charlus gave Harry a look and asked "Just like that?"
Harry laughed a humourless laugh. "No, not just like that. Hermione tells me I have nightmares sometimes. So does she. It's going to be a little awkward going back to Hogwarts. Sleeping next to each other helps. Sometimes when the two of us go off on our own it's because one of us is a little overwhelmed. I'm not unaffected, I'm just coping. No, we are just coping. Hermione has been with me in some capacity for all of it."
"She really is a remarkable young woman. She actually reminds me a little of your grandmother. As different as the two of them are, they have the same drive. Dorea would approve, you know. Heck she would be nagging me to pen a betrothal between the two of you." Charlus smiled at the fond memories of his wife.
"Hermione wouldn't kill you, but I don't think you would like the results. Hermione wants a mundane style proposal when the time comes. Take that from her and I'm sure curses would start flying." Harry chuckled.
"What do you think you will do once the three of you-know-who are dealt with?" Charlus changed the subject a little.
Harry shrugged. "Without knowing when that will be, it's hard to say. If he died now, well it's back to school in a few days. If he dies in ten years it's completely different. And it's not like his death will be the end of it. They tried that last time. Look at what happened, no this won't be over until all the death eaters are brought to justice. An example has to be made to show everyone the consequences of following that sort of bigotry." There was a hard edge to Harry's voice as he spoke. "What about you, what are your long term plans? You gonna keep teaching?"
"I don't know. I'm enjoying teaching more than I thought I would. I will stick with it for two more years at least. Then maybe I will stay until something more interesting comes along. As to what that may be, I honestly have no idea."
They walked together saying nothing for a few minutes until Charlus broke the silence again. "About you and Hermione sleeping togeth-"
"No." Harry quickly cut him off. "I have already had that conversation with both Sirius and Dan. Do you realise how embarrassing that conversation is with your girlfriend's father? But it's done, no need to beat a dead dragon."
"You're sure?"
"Positive. It's dealt with" Harry insisted and the two Potters finished their walk with distinctively red faces.