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When The Stars Fell From The Heavens	By : ryukotsusei Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Sirius/Hermione Views: 7091 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no claims of ownership to the series or characters, and no profit has been made off this story.

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Three

When it came right down to it, neither Hermione, nor Harry and Ron knew exactly what to expect when Voldemort had finally attacked Hogwarts. Sure, the idea was always there that it would be bad and that people would die, but the reality of the situation had stunned all three of them especially when the adrenaline from battle was long gone. Now all that was left, was to mourn the dead and begin to rebuild what was lost. Even with that knowledge, Hermione still moved around with her mind preoccupied with what had happened to them at Malfoy manor only a few short days ago. She felt a touch on her shoulder and startled, only to see that Bill was standing in front of her, looking just as worn and tired as she felt.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, looking her over in concern. She looked like she’d taken a few hard falls, but otherwise in reasonable shape. However, he’d seen her condition when Dobby had brought her to Shell cottage and he knew that she was far from well. In fact, the first thing she’d done once she was in any condition to move was to undergo a purification ritual. Dread had coursed through him when he and Fleur realized what she was doing but when his wife had delicately asked her if there was more to what happened at Malfoy manor than what she’d admitted to, she’d denied being assaulted, at least sexually anyway. Still, in spite of her reassurances, he had his doubts but she wasn’t being forthcoming.

“It could be worse. I feel like I could almost sleep for a week,” she replied, giving him a tired smile. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to take a long, hot bath and then crawl into the nearest bed. However, she knew that no matter what she did, sleep was unlikely to come or if it did, it would bring the nightmares along with it. “I’m okay though. Could definitely be worse. I’m… I’m sorry for the loss of your brother. I wish there was something that I could do.”

“Me too, Hermione. I guess I was naive in hoping that my family would walk away from this relatively unscathed,” he said, breathing out slowly while running a hand through his hair. In truth he’d believed his family had suffered enough with George losing his ear, not to mention the permanent scars he’d been left with, courtesy of Fenrir Greyback. But his beliefs clearly counted for less than nothing as far as fate had been concerned. “At least we didn’t lose anyone else. We had a close call with Ginny, but mum handled Bellatrix Lestrange just fine.”

Immediately Hermione froze, staring at him in wonder. Was it possible that Bellatrix was truly dead? The last time she’d seen the woman, she’d been part of the Death Eater welcoming party while Voldemort was proclaiming Harry to be dead. She’d fled shortly after and lost track of her, but Hermione wasn’t foolish enough to believe the other witch had abandoned the battle completely. “You mean...”

Bill stepped up then, placing his hands on her shoulders, “She’s dead, Hermione. Mum killed her when she started dueling Ginny. You don’t ever have to worry about her touching you again.”

“She’s dead. Truly dead?” she asked, staring up at Bill, willing the words to be true. Not only for herself, but for Harry and Sirius as well. “Tell me, please! You’re absolutely sure of it. You saw her body yourself?”

“I’m positive, Hermione. I wasn’t there to see it, but mum, dad, Ginny, and George were all there. They saw what happened. Mum killed her and her body exploded on the secondary curse,” he said, giving her a wane smile and then tried to lift the mood some. “Who knew that a common household cleaning spell could kill someone. She charmed the water right out of her. All that was left was dust by the time she blew apart.”

“I have to find Harry!” she said before turning on the spot and sprinting through the room to find him. She knew Bill would be curious as to what was going on. Hell, he’d probably even run her down but she couldn’t concern herself with that now. Seeing a mop of familiar, dark hair, she ran harder, ignoring the stitch in her side that made her long to stop and rest. Finally when she was within shouting distance, she called to him. “Harry! Harry wait, Bellatrix… she’d dead!”

Whirling around, Harry looked at Hermione in shock and crossed the rest of the distance to her. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he held her steady, waiting for her to catch her breath. Vaguely he was aware of Bill running to catch up to her but he ignored him for the moment. “You’re positive she’s gone? Tell me, what do you need me to do?”

“I really should go through the purification ritual again but… I don’t think there’s a way. The castle is in ruins and there’s no telling if the bathrooms even survived,” she said before shaking her head, giving it up as a lost cause. “I guess… I guess all that is left is going to the Ministry and trying to get in. I still wish that I knew what he wanted me to do.”

“He’s ready for you, Mione. I asked… when I spoke to him with the resurrection stone. He’s waiting for you,” Harry said, pitching his voice lower so that only Hermione and perhaps Bill with his enhanced hearing could make out what he said. “I didn’t have much time, but I told him what you’d discovered and gave him the choice. If she’s really dead, he’s there and he knows you’re coming.”

All the breath went out of her when she heard those words. She’d suspected that the stone was concealed within the snitch, given Dumbledore’s obsession with the hallows, but she’d had no proof. To hear that Sirius was willing and she wouldn’t be forcing anything on him was a relief. She nodded then, giving him a relieved smile, “I should go then. I’ll bring him back to you, Harry. I promise, I’ll bring him back to you.”

“You’re not leaving by yourself,” Bill said, stepping up beside her. To say that he was curious was an understatement and right now he wanted nothing more than to grill the both of them until he had answers. However, with the excitement the both of them were giving off he knew they’d never stand for it. He was smart enough, however, to figure out the basics. The mysterious “he” that Harry wanted back could only be a few people. The fact that Bellatrix had something to do with it ruled out all but one. Sirius Black. However, everyone knew that he was dead and under ordinary circumstances he would say there was no reversing that fact. However, unless he’d misunderstood them entirely, Hermione had figured out a way to cheat death. There was no way in hell he was letting either of them get away, not until he knew what was going on.

“Bill, we really don’t have time for this, I’m sorry,” Harry said, moving closer to Hermione. Time was of the essence and if they got bogged down in the explanations now, there was every possibility they would be mobbed by not only the Weasley family but also everyone else in the castle who had lost a loved one.

“Wait, what are you three talking about?” Ron said, finally breaking his silence. He’d noticed Harry and Hermione had been sitting on something big, but neither were willing to explain what it was. He’d been jealous that they were sharing something that he obviously wasn’t included in on, but as Hermione had so helpfully pointed out, he’d lost the right to demand answers of them when he’d left them.

“No time to explain, we really must be going,” Hermione grabbed Harry’s hand and started walking quickly away from them. The last thing she wanted was for Ron to insist on coming as well. How would she even begin to explain to him that she was about to bind herself to a wizard who’d been dead for a couple years now. Worse still is if he decided to watch. No, there was nothing for it, they just had to get away long enough for her to apparate them to the ministry. However just when she thought she was in the clear and started to concentrate on their destination, she felt a hand grab her shoulder but by then it was too late. When they arrived at the ministry, she turned and stared at Bill, her throat closing for a moment. “You shouldn’t have come. What we’re doing… it won’t work for Fred.”

“No, I imagine it wouldn’t. Not if you’re coming here, not if you’re going to the death chamber,” he replied after a moment. He’d hoped that whatever she was doing could be done for Fred as well, but given that he wasn’t sure what she was even doing, he was willing to accept her words at face value for now. “I’m right aren’t I? It’s where Sirius died after all.”

“Yes, that’s where we’re going but we don’t have the time to talk about this. Someone might notice us,” she said after a moment and then quickly began to dig deep within her beaded bag. “Now, we don’t have Polyjuice this time but I kept the badges from the last time we’d come here. It should at least get us in the door.”

Bill and Harry both took the badges that Hermione had offered them, each hoping that they hadn’t been flagged since the last break in. Quickly they made their way down to the entrance, noting how absolutely deserted it was. Clearly news of the attack had gone out and it seemed like most of the wizarding world who had not been fighting in the battle had gone into hiding. It was only a few more short minutes and they were within the ministry itself and again, the absence of people was staggering. Harry finally made the first move and started leading them towards one of the lifts. “Come on. It may be empty now but I don’t want to run across someone who doesn’t realize we won yet.”

As Bill brought up the rear, he scanned the room to make sure that no one inadvertently stumbled upon them and only once Harry and Hermione were in the lift did he step in and shut the doors. Immediately the lift lurched into motion and began taking them down to level nine, the Department of Mysteries. Keeping his wand in hand, he watched the doors slide open again and took a cautious step out, making sure the coast was clear before he gestured to the others to follow him.

“I remember this now,” Hermione said as she stepped around him, her wand out and ready to be used as she lead them through the black door. Immediately upon closing it, she marked it with an x, the flagrate spell leaving her lips easily. She reached out, holding onto Harry’s jacket when the room began to spin around them and finally when it stopped, she cautiously reached out to open one of the doors. She frowned when the knob would not turn, nor would it open through the use of an alohomora. It was then that she understood and made another x on this door. “Love chamber. There’s no way for us to get in there and truthfully, it would be pointless. An Amortentia fountain will be of little to no help to us now.”

“I don’t even want to know why the unspeakables would need an Amortentia fountain to begin with,” Harry muttered and shook his head, waiting for the doors to stop again. When it did, he was the one to open it this time and immediately closed it again so that Hermione could mark it. “Hall of prophecies.”

“Perhaps third time will be the charm?” Hermione said, feeling more than a little anxious and then grasped the door knob to the next room, turning it slowly. The moment she opened the door, the air left her lungs and she paused to compose herself. Taking a ragged breath, she looked at Harry, “I know you’ll want to go to him but you can’t. Not until I’ve completed the ritual. Do you understand, Harry?”

“I understand,” he murmured thickly, knowing she wouldn’t be cautioning him now if she hadn’t found the correct room. As much as he wanted to charge in there, he knew that to do so would risk everything. “I know. I know what you’re about to do and I know you probably don’t want an audience for it but… I don’t know that splitting up is a good idea either.”

“It really isn’t. Look, Harry, I’ll leave it to you though, whether you wish to go in with me or not. Whatever you want to do though, decide quickly. I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary,” she replied after a moment’s thought. She didn’t want an audience for this either but she just couldn’t see any way out of it.

“There’s only one way in, one way out, right? Short of apparition?” he asked, looking thoughtfully at her, “If Bill and I were to guard the door?”

“No, Harry. Someone could engage us and she’d be virtually unprotected in there. We all go in together. If our presence bothers you that much, we’ll keep our backs turned but you won’t be doing this alone,” Bill said, immediately countering Harry’s suggestion. He was starting to get something of an idea of what Hermione was planning but he wouldn’t speak the words. If his hunch was right, then neither her, nor Sirius would be in any shape to defend themselves, wands or no wands.

“Fine. We go in together but if something goes wrong, Bill, I want you to get Hermione out of here. I’ll figure out a way to get Sirius out,” Harry said after a moment, staring at him intently.

Bill held eye contact with Harry for a few beats longer before he pulled a necklace over his head and tapped it with his wand, turning it into a portkey and pressing it into Harry’s hands. “If shite goes South, you know what to do. It’ll take you to Shell cottage. I can’t risk side along with four people but I can get at least Hermione out, possibly Sirius too. If you use that, we’ll meet you there.”

“Now that that’s settled, come on. We have someone to save,” Hermione whispered, at long last pushing the door completely open and exposing the others to the gloom contained within.
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When The Stars Fell From The Heavens