Author's Note: When I was writing the previous chapter, I forgot that no one can apparate in or out of Hogwarts. For sake of the story, I will just explain in this chapter why they were able to apparate out of Hogwarts and back into it. Sorry if there was any confusion.

CRACK!

Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Remus and Tonks apparated into Professor McGonagall's office. Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk. She was not alone in the room. Cornelius Fudge was also there. He was staring at Ron, Hermione and the others with a shocked expression. He then turned his attention to Professor McGonagall.

"I take it that you will explain to me why four students and two Professors were away from Hogwarts grounds, Headmistress?" Fudge said, "Not to mention how in the world they were able to apparate out of Hogwarts and back in when everyone knows that it is impossible to do so!"

"I will explain everything in good time, Cornelius," Professor McGonagall said, "For now, I need to speak with them." She turned to Ron, Hermione, Harry and the others, "Did you complete the task?"

"The snake and the Horcrux have been destroyed, Professor," Harry said.

"Where is Alastor?" McGonagall asked, looking around.

Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny and Tonks all looked at Remus, who looked up at Professor McGonagall with a grim expression.

"Alastor has fallen," Remus said, his voice cracking a little, "The snake was not alone. Some of the Death Eaters had come with her."

"What is this?" Fudge asked, looking around, "You know where Death Eaters are, Minerva? Why haven't you told the Ministry --"

Professor McGonagall raised her hand up to stop Fudge.

"Continue, Remus," she said.

"Harry was able to destroy the snake and the Horcrux inside her," Remus said, "But the Death Eaters had put an Anti-Disapparation Jinx up around the graveyard. We had to make a run for it, in order to find a place to apparate safely. Alastor decided to stay behind to give us a chance. He fought against them, but... there were just too many, I guess. We believe he may have killed one or two of the Death Eaters, but... right before we apparated, he had fallen to the ground. He was hit with the Killing Curse, so..."

"Am I to understand, Minerva," Fudge said, "That you put four students in danger without the Ministry of Magic knowing? Not to mention the danger you may have put us all in -- students, staff, and the aurors who are here to watch over the castle -- by allowing the Anti-Disapparation Charm, the charm that has been around this castle for who knows how long, to be lifted from this castle temporarily!"

Ron looked around at Hermione, Harry and Ginny, then up to Professor McGonagall. Is this why Professor McGonagall hoped that Fudge wouldn't find out? It had just come to Ron that he hadn't found it funny before that they had apparated when they were inside Hogwarts. It must have been because he was so nervous. But now that the Horcrux inside Nagini, along with the snake herself, had been destroyed, all of his common sense had come back to him. What had Professor McGonagall risked by letting them go to the graveyard tonight?

Professor McGonagall looked at Fudge with a straight, stern face.

"Yes," she said.

"Excuse me?" Fudge asked.

"Yes," McGonagall said again, "I allowed the charm to be lifted temporarily, knowing the risks involved. But I did it for the greater good."

"Th-the g-greater good?!" Fudge stammered, "Do you know how much trouble you have caused?! The Ministry has to know. The Minister of Magic will have to be notified immediately. I have to notify the aurors here. They have to check that no Death Eaters may have come back to the school! We promised nothing would happen! You..." Fudge breathed deeply and pointed at McGonagall. "Well, you just better hope that suspension of the title of Headmistress of this school is the worst punishment you will be getting!" he snarled.

Fudge sighed and turned around, then stomped out of the office. Remus went to go after him, but McGonagall raised his hand to stop him.

"No," she said.

"Minerva?" Remus asked.

"I said no, Remus," McGonagall said, "I knew the risks involved tonight. But, as I said to Cornelius, I did it for the greater good. Another Horcrux is destroyed. Unfortunately, we have lost as much as we have gained tonight."

"Lost as much as we have gained?" Harry asked, "We may have destroyed another Horcrux, Professor. But we lost much more than we gained."

"I know how you must feel about Alastor, Harry," McGonagall said.

"Moody knew the risks, Professor!" Harry yelled, "Do you know what was one of the last things he said to us? He said that there are still two Horcruxes and Voldemort himself to destroy. He knew the risks. He died... not only protecting us, but he also gave us another chance. He died, so that we can live. He died, Professor, so that we can destroy more Horcruxes. But we have still lost much more than we have gained."

"What do you mean, Harry?" Remus asked.

"We can count on two things happening now," Harry said, "Voldemort will know that we know about the Horcruxes. We wouldn't have risked seven lives just to kill a snake. Not unless we knew there was more to the snake, which we did. Voldemort will also know that I can get into his head. We have lost a lot more than we have gained tonight. We lost the knowledge we have over Voldemort. We lost the upper hand."

Silence filled the room. Every single person in that office knew that Harry was right.

"But like you said, Professor," Harry said, "You knew the risks involved."

"Thank you, Harry," McGonagall said, with a straight face, "You and your friends may go. I am sure you are all very tired. Since it is after curfew, Tonks will accompany you."

If Harry was going to say anymore, he had changed his mind. He walked toward the office door, and Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Tonks followed.

"Is Professor McGonagall going to get suspended?" Ginny asked, when everyone was in the grand staircase, walking up to the seventh floor.

"We will know by the morning edition of the Daily Prophet, I expect," Tonks said.

"Who will replace her?" Ron asked, "Hagrid or Fudge?"

"It better be Hagrid," Hermione said, "He was given the original position as Deputy Headmaster."

"Knowing the track record of the Ministry of Magic," Harry said, "I would be surprised if it was Hagrid who was chosen."

"Well it wouldn't be fair if Fudge was chosen," Hermione said.

"Since when did the Ministry play fair, Hermione?" Harry asked, "Besides, it is Fudge who will be reporting Professor McGonagall to the Ministry. Scrimgeour will probably give the position to Fudge as a reward. He is the Minister. He won't need to ask the Hogwarts Governors to vote on it."

"You may be right, Harry," Tonks said.

Everyone was silent until they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Chosen One," Harry said.

The portrait opened and, after giving Tonks a good night gesture, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny walked in to the empty Common Room. Harry didn't say anything, but went toward the stairs and walked up them, leaving Ron, Hermione and Ginny downstairs.

"Well, I am very tired," Ginny said, yawning, "I guess I better get to bed."

"Yeah," Ron said, "Us too."

Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek, and Ron went up the stairs toward his bedroom at the top of the tower. He lowered the ward, entered the room, raised the ward again and hopped into bed without changing his clothes. He fell asleep almost as soon as he hit the pillow.

----------------------------------------------
It was a very nervous morning for Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny as they waited for the Daily Prophet the next day in the Great Hall. They hadn't seen Professor McGonagall up at the Professors' table, so they were expecting the worst. Fifteen minutes after they had arrived in the Great Hall, the owls had arrived with the morning mail. An owl immediately flew down toward Hermione, with the Daily Prophet in its talons. Hermione quickly paid the owl, who flew off shortly after. Hermione opened the Daily Prophet. The article they had been looking for was on the front page. Hermione set the paper down so the others could read with her.

Other students had also read the article and had discovered the news. Most of the students at the tables were expressing their concerns. However, it wasn't hard for Hermione to figure out what the students at the Slytherin table were thinking. Most of the seventh year Slytherins were grinning with glee.

"This is an outrage!" Dean said, "We were not warned!"

"What did Professor McGonagall ever do to deserve this?!" Lavender asked.

"And why isn't Hagrid the stand-in Headmaster?" Neville asked near Ron and Hermione, "Why Fudge?"

"Not to mention that Professor McGonagall isn't the Transfigurations Professor anymore," Seamus said.

Hermione looked around at Ron, Harry and Ginny. They all knew the answers to these questions. But how could they tell their fellow students that Professor McGonagall had been suspended because she had allowed the charms to be raised so that Harry could destroy a Horcrux?

"Must be some kind of record," Parvati said, "I reckon no other headmaster or headmistress of Hogwarts was sacked only after a short time of being the head of the school."

"She wasn't sacked, Parvati," Hermione said, "She was suspended. There is a difference."

Nearly-Headless Nick floated to the end of the Gryffindor table.

"I couldn't help but notice that I am not the only one feeling gloomy today," he said.

"Professor McGonagall has been suspended, Nick," Ron said, "Can't feel all too cheerful about that, can we?"

"Point taken, Ronald," Nick said, "But, if you must know... oh, nevermind. Shouldn't have said anything."

"What is it, Sir Nicholas?" Hermione asked.

"Well, don't tell anyone I said this," Nick said, "I mean, if the Bloody Baron was to find out..."

Nick shuddered, and his head shook off of his neck, so only that it was held by the sinew. Nick put his head back on his neck.

"Go on," Seamus urged, "What were you going to tell us?"

"Late last night," Nick said, "I heard a ruckus in one of the halls, and I thought Peeves had gotten into some more mischief. Well, I went to tell him off, and to my surprise, do you know who I saw?"

"Who?" Lavender asked.

"Cornelius Fudge," Nick said, "He was ordering security to do something. I didn't know what. But he sounded mad. He then stormed off and left the castle in a hurry."

"What do you suppose Fudge was so mad about?" Seamus asked.

"I wouldn't know," Nick said, "Good day."

Hermione looked at Ron, Harry and Ginny. She knew exactly what Fudge was telling the aurors, and she knew the others did too. He was ordering them to make sure no Death Eaters got in the school during the time when the charm was lifted.

"Looks like we are about to find out," Dean said, nodding to the doors of the Great Hall.

Hermione and Ron turned around. Cornelius Fudge was entering the Hall. He walked between the center tables, and around him students were talking in hushed voices. More students, who had yet to come down for breakfast, were coming into the Hall now. Hermione expected that, since most of them hadn't heard the news about McGonagall's suspension and Fudge's appointment, that they were curious as to what Fudge was doing here. Colin and Dennis Creevey sat down at the table.

"Where is Professor McGonagall?" Colin whispered, "And what is Fudge doing here?"

Hermione pushed the Daily Prophet over to Colin. Colin's jaw dropped as he read the article. When Fudge walked to the table, Hagrid lightly hit his glass with a spoon. He coughed, in order to get everyone's attention.

"Attention," he said, "Cornelius Fudge wants --"

Fudge coughed and Hagrid looked at him. Fudge muttered something and Hagrid spoke to the students again.

"Stand-in Headmaster of Hogwarts, Cornelius Fudge, would like to speak to everyone," he said.

"Thank you," Fudge said, turning to the students.

"Tell us why Professor McGonagall has been suspended!" Ernie Macmillan yelled.

"Yeah!" a fourth year Ravenclaw said, "What did you tell Scrimgeour that made him make that decision?!"

Other students started voicing their comments and questions to Fudge. Hermione half-expected Hagrid or one of the other Professors to ask the students to behave themselves, but to her surprise, none did.

"Silence!" Fudge finally yelled.

Everyone quieted down.

"While there is an investigation going on," Fudge said, "I will not tell you why Professor McGonagall was suspended. Nor will any Professor tell you. Nor will any student tell you, that is if any happen to know what is going on, for they will risk expulsion from this school."

Fudge looked over at the end of the Gryffindor table. Hermione knew that he was looking at her, Ron, Harry and Ginny.

"I only say this," Fudge said, "Because Rufus Scrimgeour wishes it. I assure you that Professor McGonagall would not want you to know either."

Fudge paused and Hermione knew it was for dramatic effect. Either that, or it was to see if anyone was going to speak up.

"Now," Fudge continued, "As all of you will know by now, I am the stand-in Headmaster of Hogwarts. I will not set any new rules for now, because I feel that the students shouldn't be punished for another person's mistakes. But you must know. If at any time I feel the need, I will set new rules to make sure that this castle is still as safe as it is right now. Now, this is the weekend, of course. It is your free time. Have fun. Have a good day all of you."

Fudge smiled and walked back between the center of the tables. When he got to the end of the tables, he stopped and turned to Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny. For a second, Hermione thought he was going to yell at them. But all he did was stare at them for a couple of seconds, as if telling them silently that they will not break any more rules... or else. He then walked out of the Great Hall, which immediately filled with chatter.

"What was that about, you suppose?" Seamus asked.

"What was what about?" Harry asked.

"He acted like he wanted to speak to you guys," Seamus said, nodding to Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny. "Is there... uh... something you would like to tell us? Hmm?"

"No," Ron said a little quickly.

"And if there was, Seamus," Hermione said, "We couldn't tell you anyway. Any more discussion about it, and we will just have to give you a detention."

Seamus sighed and rolled his eyes. But Hermione knew he wasn't fooled. Because of Fudge, Hermione was sure there was going to be some fingers pointed their way. Especially from their fellow Gryffindor seventh years.
-------------------------------------------

"What are you thinking about, Hermione?" Ron asked.

Ron and Hermione were sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was just nearing seven-o-clock in the night and the Common Room was almost empty.

"Who said I was thinking about anything?" Hermione replied, tearing her attention away from the blaze of the fire.

"You haven't given any thought about the dueling we need to be practicing for Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron said, "You haven't complained that I have yet to do an inch of the Charms essay. This is not like you, Mione. What is wrong?"

"Seriously, when have I complained about you not doing your homework since we got together, Ronald?" Hermione said.

"Well I-I... I suppose," Ron said, "That is not the point, Mione! What is wrong?"

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione said, "A lot of stuff. The Horcruxes. Voldemort. Moody dying."

Ron sighed and looked into the fire.

"You," Hermione said.

"Me what?" Ron asked.

"I've been thinking about you as well," Hermione said.

"Oh yeah?" Ron asked, "Like what?

Hermione was about to speak, but the portrait hole opened and Ginny walked into the Common Room.

"Where have you been?" Ron asked.

"With Harry," Ginny said.

"Where is Harry?" Hermione asked.

"He went to talk to Remus about something," Ginny said, "Now if you excuse me, I need to go to my room to get something."

Before Hermione and Ron could ask anymore, Ginny walked up the stairs to the girls dormitories.

"I think you were about to tell me what you were thinking about," Ron said, turning back to Hermione.

"Well," Hermione said, "I --"

Suddenly they heard the alarms go off up the stairs to the girl's dormitory, then they stopped. Ginny screamed, and Hermione and Ron stood up. Ron was about to go to the stairs, but Hermione stopped him.

"You can't go up, remember?" Hermione said quickly, "I have to."

"Just hurry," Ron said, "Something might have happened."

Hermione was already heading up the stairs by the time Ron finished his sentence. Hermione reached Ginny's dormitory and she gasped. Wormtail was standing behind Ginny. One of his arms was around her throat, and his other had his wand pointing at Hermione.

"Hermione!" Ginny said, "Help!"

"Stay where you are!" Wormtail ordered, "Or she will die."

"I am not going anywhere," Hermione said, "What do you want?"

"My master has ordered me to come here," Wormtail said.

"I can go get Harry," Hermione said, "Is that who you want?"

"No," Wormtail said, "My master will deal with the Potter boy later. I am here to give you a letter."

"What does Voldemort want with me?" Hermione asked.

"You will see," Wormtail said, using his wand hand to take a letter out of his pocket, "Take it."

Suddenly, Hermione noticed that Ginny was motioning to something with her eyes. It looked as if she was motioning to something on her body. Hermione suddenly saw Ginny's wand in the pocket of her jeans. Hermione knew what to do.

"Ginny can give it to me," Hermione said, "Let her go, and she can hand it to me. I promise I will not do a thing."

Wormtail sighed and looked at Hermione, then the note, then Ginny.

"Fine!" Wormtail said, "Here, girl!"

Wormtail let go of Ginny and gave her the letter. Ginny ran over to Hermione. Hermione took the wand out of Ginny's pocket and pointed it at Wormtail.

"Stupefy!" Hermione yelled.

The curse hit Wormtail before he knew what had happened. Wormtail sank to the floor. He was stunned.

"How did he get up here?" Ginny asked, "The alarm should have set off."

"He is an animagus," Hermione said, looking at the stunned body of Wormtail, "He could have transformed into Scabbers and came up here and no one would have seen him. The alarms probably didn't work when he was a rat. They went off as soon as he transformed."

"He just appeared all of a sudden," Ginny said, "I couldn't go anywhere."

"Ginny, I need you to stay here with him," Hermione said.

"What?!" Ginny asked, "No way! He could wake up!"

"He is stunned, Ginny," Hermione said, "He is not going to wake up without magic. I need to find one of the professors. Remus will know what to do."

Ginny looked as if she was going to cry. Hermione sighed.

"All right," Hermione said, "How about this? I will go tell Ron, and he can go find Remus. I will be back up here before you know it."

"I guess that will be all right," Ginny said, in a small voice, "But hurry."

Hermione nodded and left the dorm, then headed back down the stairs.

"What happened?!" Ron said as Hermione came back down the stairs, "Where is Ginny? Is she okay?!"

"She is fine," Hermione said, "But she is not alone. Wormtail is up there."

"Wormtail?!" Ron said, "How did he--"

"You need to go find Remus," Hermione said, "Tell him that Wormtail is stunned up in Ginny's dormitory. I promised Ginny I would go back up to her. Go!"

Ron nodded and ran out of the portrait hole. He ran all the way to Remus' office and knocked on the door until it opened. Remus, Tonks and Harry were there.

"What is wrong, Ron?" Remus asked.

"Wormtail is in Ginny's dormitory!" Ron said, "He is stunned."

"What?!" Harry said, "Is Ginny okay?"

"Hermione said she is," Ron said.

"Let's go," Remus said.

Ron, Harry, Remus and Tonks ran back to the Gryffindor Common Room, and the Fat Lady opened the portrait when she saw the Professors. They rushed in, and Remus used some kind of spell on the stairs so everyone could go up. They reached Ginny's dorm and went in. Ron was expecting that Ginny was going to need some comforting and maybe a calming potion. Instead, Ginny was comforting Hermione, who was looking very distraught. Hermione had tears going down her cheeks and a piece of parchment was half-crumpled in her right hand.

Remus ran over to Wormtail and looked at him.

"How did he get into the castle?" Tonks asked, staring at Wormtail.

"He apparated when Minerva had lifted the charms," Remus said with a hollow voice, "He transformed into the rat and has probably been in the castle since."

"What did he want with Ginny?" Ron asked.

"He didn't want me," Ginny said softly, "He wanted Hermione. He wanted to give her a letter."

"Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione lifted up the letter and Remus took it and read it.

"What does it say?" Tonks asked.

"I think we need to get to Hermione's home quickly," Remus said, looking at Tonks.

Tonks covered her mouth with a hand.

"Harry and Ron," Remus said, looking over at them, "I want you to wait here until Kingsley Shacklebolt gets here. One of you will keep watch outside the door and let no one in here until Kingsley gets here. The other will watch over Wormtail."

Harry and Ron nodded.

"Ginny," Remus said, "I want you to take Hermione to the Hospital Wing and ask Madam Pomfrey to give her something for shock."

"No," Hermione said, tears running down her cheeks, "I want to go to my house!"

"It may be too dangerous, Hermione," Remus said, "I am sorry. Ginny?"

"Of course, Remus," Ginny said, still looking at Hermione, "Come on, Hermione."

Ginny helped Hermione up and took her out of the room.

"I will alert Kingsley before we go," Remus said to Harry and Ron, "I don't want you to do anything until he gets here. Don't wake up Wormtail. Don't do anything. Do you understand?"

Harry and Ron nodded again.

"We need to get going," Remus told Tonks.

Tonks nodded and followed Remus out of the room. Ron looked at Harry and both knew what the other was thinking. Why did Wormtail come to Hogwarts? What was on that note for Hermione? And had something happened to Hermione's parents?

-----------------------------------
Cliffhanger!!! The last part of this chapter (starting where Hermione first sees Wormtail) has been written for a couple of months or so. I just didn't know when I was going to use it. I added a lot to it. I hadn't even thought of Hogwarts' charms being lifted until I wrote that.

If you had any confusion at the end of the last chapter, I hope it was answered in this chapter. Hope you liked it.

Feedback is welcomed.