Beltane Night
XVII: Umbridge

Storms had come and gone again, lighting up the sky at night for them. Contrasting against the old Grimmauld place, creating an eerie atmosphere for the Trio. They had even found Kreatcher lurking about, taking note of their movements. He had lunged at Hermione once, but Ron threatened him—keeping him in line once again.

Harry had ordered him to go and find the man that had stolen the locket. Kreatcher was gone with a snap of his fingers and had yet to return for a week. He was a house elf under the Blacks command, he had no choice, but to follow Harry's commands. He was now the owner of the estate itself, and in turn he became Kreatcher's master. It was not something that he enjoyed, but Kreatcher was stuck in his old ways of believing in blood purity himself—if he had let him go like he did dobby, then who knows where he would have used his services.

Hermione had taken to trying to teach Ron how to play the piano. Their fingers stroking the keys at the same time, though Ron's were slightly slower. The music was just as sweet if it had been at the same pace. It was the only thing that was keeping them sane, besides Potter Watch.

Ron had taken to listening to the radio, listening specifically to his brothers Fred and George. They recited plans and a secret password after each session. Allowing users to get in contact with them with any news. They talked about Voldemort's army and how the Ministry had fallen into disaster.

Their job was also to talk about the deaths—the lives that had been taken during the Death Eaters reign. Each night giving them a moment of silence and gratefulness for their sacrifice to make a better world for their future.

The numbers slowly rose each day, and it turned the Trio into waiting explosions. They did no good to sit around, and the guilt from the deaths was beginning to take its toll on them.

A loud crash came from the kitchen and Harry ran from Sirius's room downstairs. Hermione and Ron ran to the kitchen, wands drawn until they saw Dobby on the table.

"Hello Harry!" the elf cried happily.

Kreatcher was wrestling with Mundungus Fletcher and soon Dobbie moved onto the short man, to help out Kreatcher.

"This is the man who stole it?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Kreatcher remembers," Kreatcher hissed.

"Dobby saw Kreatcher lurking around Knockturn Alley. Dobby though he might help Harry Potter when Kreatcher mentioned his name. Dobby didn't want Kreatcher to hurt Mr. Potter," Dobby said quickly and Harry moved his wand into Fletcher's throat.

"Where is it?" Harry demanded. Hermione quickly moved around some of their valuables, far away from Fletcher and Ron flanked his other side. Pushing Fletcher into a corner with his wand also drawn.

"I don't know what you're talking about, this bloody elf has been going on about a locket. I've never had no locket!" Fletcher protested.

"It looks like this," Hermione said, exasperated. She held up the locket and thrust it into his face. Registration rang across Fletcher's face and soon he saw down on the chair in the corner. His moth twisted up into a grin.

"That locket—what interests do you have with that locket? Another woman years ago enjoyed it as well."

"Who was she?" Ron demanded.

"Don't know—some old bird walking around Knockturn. Said she was on the way to the ministry, and took interest in it. My way of getting out of trouble."

"If she's from the Ministry then you must know who she is." Harry said. His patience had begun running thin as the man tried to deflect each of their questions, keeping the woman a mystery.

"Alright, alright she's this older woman. Likes a lot of Pink, you've gotten it out of me," Fletcher put his hands up in surrender.

"No…" Hermione sighed out. She grabbed the Daily Prophet off of the table and shoved it into Fletcher's hands. On the cover was a picture of the Minister and his cronies, including one very pink Dolores Umbridge. "Is this the woman who took the necklace off of you? Don't you dare lie to us either," Hermione threatened.

"This might be her, she's gotten a bit older though—high voice?" Fletcher questioned.

"That's her—how are we going to get it back from Umbridge?" Hermione questioned.

Harry let out a sigh and placed his wand on the table and sat down, holding his head in his hand. Ron stayed silent, keeping his wand at Fletcher's throat.

"I don't know mate, but Dobby—could you take him away? Put him somewhere that we can track him easily. He's a thief…" Ron asked.

"Dobby can do that sir. Come now!" Dobby commanded the wizard and took a hold of his hand, apparating them away from the spot.

The Trio sat at the table for hours, coming up with exhausting plans and other things alike. It wasn't until midnight when Hermione pulled her potions from her bag. Holding up three small flasks of Polyjuice potion. Their plan was to invade the Ministry, using its own game. They would take hold of three officials and get the locket back from Umbridge, if she liked it or not.

"I don't know if this is going to work. Let's try to make this fast—I don't know how long the Polyjuice potion will last us," Hermione hissed when Ron and Harry stepped into the elevator with her. Everyone had stepped off, leaving the three of them on the elevator alone.

The Ministry seemed as busy as ever, as snatchers and officials alike were shunning the muggle-born workers and using their positions to forward their reign of terror.

It was hard for Hermione to see, the statue in the center with Muggles and Muggle-borns beneath a block. When Harry had asked what it was, her choked out answer was that they were 'in their rightful place'. Then they were swept away in the crowd, moving through with uncertainty to look for Umbridge.

"Just keep acting. I know you can do it," Harry whispered.

"I've got a wife. Oh! Mary, what do I do?" Ron gasped.

Rookwood had threatened the man that Ron was impersonating. Telling him that his wife was being interrogated today and would be given the kiss. She was muggle-born and awaiting questioning to see if they were going to aid Harry in the war against Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

"You don't have an actual wife," Hermione's brows knitted together in confusion. Ron had always been one for dramatics and this time he had taken it a step further with the help of Polyjuice.

"No, but this guy does. If I was him—what would I do?" He asked frantically.

Harry shook his head and looked over at Ron, "go find your wife in interrogation. I'm going to Umbri—"

The doors flew open and Umbridge stood before them, "Runcorn—my favourite employee. Miss Hopkirk, I was just looking for you. We're off to the interrogation room. Come now," Her voice was high pitched and Hermione quickly followed her out, her heels clacking against the marble floor. "Remember to file those papers, Runcorn!" Umbridge called back to Harry.

Hermione gave Harry a look of fear and quickly dashed off, weaving in and out of people and moved after Umbridge.

She took the pen out of her neat bun and began to scrawl fake notes as Umbridge talked to her. They moved through the Ministry without anyone interfering, in fact they seemed to move far away from Umbridge and Hermione.

"Doesn't it make your heart soar to see them in their place?" Umbridge exclaimed as they passed multiple rooms with muggle-borns inside, being interrogated with many methods. Some, more legal than others. "Travers sent you, I believe?"

"Yes, Ma'am. He said you needed me?" Hermione said softly. She didn't know who he was at all and she didn't know what Mafalda Hopkirk did at the Ministry of Magic anymore. She felt herself grow colder as they reached the room which held Harry's previous trial. Her skin began to crawl when they entered and she looked up. Above them was a large patronus shield, keeping dementors at bay.

"Go to your post and begin recording once I say we are beginning. Expecto Patronum!" She waved her wand and a small cat came out of the tip and sat perched on her desk, adding to the Patronus shield and soon the wizard who was keeping it up before, left.

A young wispy looking woman came forth and was accompanied by Rookwood. The woman was sat down and Umbridge signaled for them to begin and Hermione took to keeping a record for her. It would help them, she was sure, if they needed to intervene in any of the up and coming trails if it was an Order member.

Umbridge questioned the woman for a half hour straight before she saw what looked like Harry and Ron, under their disguises, coming through one of the aisles.

"Ah, Mr. Cattermole—you join us only now? Tsk," Umbridge taunted. "What are you doing here Runcorn?"

Harry coughed before bowing his head, "Observing."

"Very well, now Mrs. Cattermole—have you ever been in contact with Harry Potter?"

"No Ma'am!" She exclaimed.

"Have you ever done magic in the presence of…muggles?" She spat out. Hermione was taken back, she knew that Umbridge was an uptight witch and an old hag, but she had never seen her as a bigoted fool. The stupid toad would get what was coming to her in the end. She looked over towards Harry and slowly moved her gaze to the locket that rested on Umbridge's chest, hoping he would understand.

Hermione noticed his gaze finally move towards her chest and she nodded her head.

"Runcorn—what are you doing?" Umbridge shouted as Harry moved closer.

"What Dolores?" Harry questioned.

"This is a private hearing. You've never come to one of these before, but now you find interest in these. Make yourself useful then and help me," she scowled.

"I must not tell lies," Harry said fiercely as his polyjuice began to melt away slowly.

"Wha—what?" Umbridge's eyes finally held recognition and she moved to grab her wand.

"Stupefy!" Harry called out, stunning Umbridge. She fell in her seat and the Patronus that was once keeping the dementors at bay, was left.

Ron and Hermione took care of the guards around the room, leaving them and another man's wife still standing.

"Grab it!" Ron shouted and Hermione moved up to Umbridge's podium then snatched the locket from her neck, and moved around her own seat and began running in her heels. Ron had grabbed onto Mary, pulling them with her as they rushed to the elevator. The Dementors were right behind them, the chill in the air following them.

"Expecto Patronum!" She called out, blocking them for seconds—giving the trio more time to escape.

Running into the elevator they closed it fast. The Dementors reached through the holes in the grates, their long fingers curling as they tried to reach them. Hermione felt her life slowly beginning to fade. Her determination was replaced with laziness and her happiness turned to sorrow. Her brown eyes began to fall as she grip on Harry's arm loosened.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry called out, whipping his wand forward and shooting the dementors back into the hallway, their elevator now free to go up and leave the floor. During the elevator ride Harry had completely transformed back and Hermione had done the same. Her hair had fallen from its bun and the clothes had tightened on her considerably, her form not as petite as Hopkirk.

"How do we get out of here?" Harry questioned. The elevator was approaching the main floor quickly and they had no plan in sight.

"Just keep your head down and if need be, run!" Hermione hissed out and the doors quickly dinged.

Hermione left the elevator first, her wand firmly in her grip, and Harry followed next. He kept his head down, trying not to meet anyone in the eyes.

"Mary, you need to get the children and get out of here." Ron quickly told the woman.

"Not without you!" She cried out, stopping Hermione and Harry in their tracks. They spun around to face their friend who was sporting red lipstick against his lips and cheeks now from a passionate kiss with another man's wife.

"You're, you're, not, not," she spluttered and pointed to him. Ron had slowly transformed back, the polyjuice potion completely gone from his system.

"Just go!" Ron shouted and quickly joined Hermione and Harry as they began walking through the Ministry briskly. Harry tried hard to keep his head down, Hermione even stuck close to him, trying to detract from him being recognized.

Whispering had broken out among the crowd and soon they were stepping back, parting like the red sea when Death Eaters called out for Harry.

"Get him!" Rookwood yelled out.

"Run!" Hermione shouted and Harry cast a spell, the posters of him as undesirable number one moved like a tornado and smacked against the Death Eaters who were running after them. They ran through the crowds and Hermione took her shot.

"Bombardo!"

The fountain blew up, the statue of Wizards standing on the backs of muggles and muggle-borns had been destroyed, the rubble moving across the marble. It had stopped a few Death eaters, but not enough that they weren't going to be caught.

"Quickly, we need to apparate!"

Hermione rushed towards one of the Green flames, but a gate came crashing down. Locking them from it.

"Keep going," Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her along. She ran faster in her heels, dodging and weaving through people until finally the three of them slid into a fire place, holding on to one another. Hermione imagined their destination, but when she felt Rookwood holding onto her foot, she struggled with him and kicked him off of her.

The tightness from her stomach exploded and she felt part of Rookwood stay with her as he drifted away and they found themselves in a forest.

Panting heavily she opened her eyes, the bright sky around them was clear and there was a light wind moving through the trees.

"Hermione! He's been splinched," Harry called out.

Hermione quickly got to her feet and moved over to Ron, his skin had been torn off near his shoulder—most likely dislocating it.

"Quickly grab my bag! Get out the potions," Hermione commanded and Harry reached into her purse, digging around before handing her a box. She moved through it quick, her fingers brushing over the tops of the vials before landing on Essence of Dittany. Taking the dropper she placed it on his wounds and it began to sizzle and smoke up, but his skin began to return to normal.

"Harry, take over for me. I need too, I need to fix this," She wiped the tears from her eyes and handed him the vial. Harry silently took over when Hermione got up and pulled her wand from her dress and began to recite protection spells.

"Salvio Hexia. Protego Totalum. Repello Muggletum," she repeated clearly as she walked around a wide area of land for them. She directed Harry to open up her bag once again to pull out the tent, it had been one of the Weasley's that they had used earlier in their fourth year at the Quidditch World Cup.

Hermione had walked the perimeter before casting a Muffliato charm and finally a Disillusionment charm. No one would know that they were in the area—it would be like they weren't there at all.

She slipped her wand back into her dress and moved forward towards their now set up tent. Harry had moved Ron inside and he would be able to sleep and rest up while they searched for a way to destroy the locket.

Hermione was sat outside of the tent, book in hand, trying to find something that Dumbledore had left them. Her frustration was growing with each turn of a page. It had been days since Ron was splinched and he was in no definite shape to be moving around. He was weak, but he was awake now and clung to the small radio he had taken with him.

The static buzzing through the tent and area, keeping everyone on edge as they listened to the body count of the war.

Harry's guilt festered into anger on multiple occasions until Hermione had demanded they take turns wearing the locket. The Horcrux, twisting and changing his personality into something vicious and cruel.

The rustling of branches brought Hermione back to the present, and she drew her wand quickly, pointing it at the noise.

"Who's out there?" She hissed out.

The noise grew louder and she raised her wand, "Homenum Revelio." Two sparks from her wand flew quickly through the trees and lit up a small portion of the bushes.

"Come out!" She called out, "reveal yourself."

She let out a breath as Narcissa Malfoy walked out from behind the tree line, looking around before walking closer and motioning to someone else with her hand. Draco followed after before turning around and mumbling another incantation.

"My precious girl!" Narcissa cried and swept Hermione into a hug. Hermione held her back, burying her face against Narcissa's shoulder and tears streamed down her face.

"How did you find us?" Hermione questioned.

"Mothers instinct and I found your name on the taboo list—you've got to stop saying his name. I erased all the records and didn't let anyone else see it. Draco and I are the only ones who know where you are," Narcissa revealed.

"I have to go say Harry. We've been using it to keep the spirits up. Fear of the name—"

"Only increases the fear itself," Draco repeated.

Hermione was taken back, "Right…"

She no longer knew how to treat him. She had slept with him and the reality of what they had done began to crash down around her. She let go of Narcissa, and stepped back, with her eyes never leaving Draco. She had slept with him and he made a promise to find her again. He had tried to protect her from the Death Eaters and then Igor from killing her.

Her heart beat sped up and her fingers itched to reach out and touch him, thank him for being there. He stood before her, no smirk on his face and no frown either, just a silent understanding of what was running through her head. The wheels began turning slowly and she began to overthink everything. Draco had told her that he wanted to date the witch he ended up with, he wanted to date her. She knew now, she knew about him, but did it change his opinion? Her tongue darted out, licking her dry lips, as she fidgeted with her long sleeves.

"You two should come in," She spluttered out and moved towards the tent, opening up the flap and letting the two inside.

"Hermione, what is thi—oh, hello Mrs. Malfoy. Draco," Harry started.

"Mr. Potter, I'm here to help you three. I've come to give some information that I've found out. I think you can use all the help you can get," Narcissa smiled and walked up the steps to the second level of the tent and sat at their bench.

"You came for information?" Hermione asked excitedly and quickly walked up, pulling out a notebook and pencil she waited patiently.

Harry smiled and sat next to Hermione and Ron moved slowly, the necklace around his neck still, and he sat at the end of the table. His moves cold and calculated while Draco sat next to his Mother.

"What do you know about the Horcrux's?"

"The Diary and Ring have been destroyed, but we have another that we're in possession of. The locket around Ron's neck…I don't know how, but I can feel them—I know where they are when we're in a certain region," Harry explained.

"I can tell you where one other Horcrux is. Bella—she has it. A cup and I think she mentioned that it was from the Hufflepuff family. Hepzibah Smith. It's in her vault at Gringrott's," Narcissa confessed.

Ron scoffed, "why should we trust you?"

"My mother risked her life for you three. Do you think that we are having a walk in the park either? Don't be stupid Weasley," Draco sneered.

"Enough!" Narcissa yelled. "I am tired of having my loyalty questioned. I am and will be always loyal to Hermione. I know you do not like me, Mr. Weasley—my intentions are not to gain your friendship or trust. It's to keep the young woman that I consider my daughter alive!" She yelled at him and slammed her hands down on the table.

"I hate it! I hate that my son is used as a prop and that you are having to play soldiers, but you are children! I don't wish death on any of you and I don't want my family to die either, but we all have a part to play."

Draco began to clutch at his forearm and his neck strained to look away from the group.

"Darling?" Narcissa questioned.

"I'm being summoned, I only have a few minutes," Draco sighed and quickly began walking towards the exit of the tent.

"I'll walk you out!" Hermione interjected and followed after him. She closed the tent flap and watched him pace through the woods, his forearm tense and his fist closed.

She coughed gently, "Draco—I think we need to—"

"Here," He cut her off and thrust a daisy into her hand. It was like the flower that she had given him. She smiled softly and touched the delicate petals and brought it to her nose. It smelled like life and fresh air, something that she couldn't miss while living in nature, but it smelled sweeter.

"Thank you," she sighed out happily.

"We can talk later, I promise. I've found you twice now—so what's once more?" He shrugged and gave her a shy smile.

In moments he collapsed into smoke and was gone, shooting across the sky. Narcissa came out of the tent and laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"We'll do everything we can for the Order back in society, but you two are doing miracles. I'm so proud of you," Narcissa leaned down and kissed the top of Hermione's head and they hugged once more before she walked out, past their boundary and apparated away.

She didn't move from her stop, still fixated by where Draco had just stood before her. Feelings of uncertainty and something else stirred in her stomach, coming through like light fluttering butterflies. She had never felt like that before, it was something completely new to her. She had never felt the same attraction¸ before Beltane. She questioned if it was just because they had slept together or if it was because she genuinely was fond of him.

She lowered herself onto the ground and stared at the Daisy, twirling it between her fingers and sighed happily.

"Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Here," she called out and looked over her shoulder. Ron's radio had begun playing again and Harry slowly walked out of the tent and came to stand beside her. He looked down at the flower she was holding and then sat on the ground next to her.

"What's that?" He questioned.

She gave a light laugh, "Just an inside joke between Draco and I. He was being an arse when he first bought me a flower."

"You call him Draco now?" Harry asked.

Her eyes widened and she turned her head to look at Harry, "No, just once in a while. We were never enemies like you two, just aggravated each other. We've just grown to have a certain agreement be-between us," she stuttered.

"He's him," Harry smiled.

Hermione looked around, trying to aware of where Ron was before she leaned in close to Harry, "Yes, but we haven't talked. I don't know if we should at all—with all the deaths that are happened. I may not know when I'll see him again."

"That's the point, Hermione. You don't know if you will or not, and wouldn't you rather have your life end with you at least knowing something? You told me Books and Cleverness! There are more important things—friendships and bravery. I think it's time you need some Gryffindor courage," Harry pointed out.

"Maybe I do," she thought long and hard before speaking again. "I think they're going to be hunting the Deathly Hallows. Dumbledore knew things before they ever happened, his intuition was almost always right. He gave me this book and the symbol is there. I think he knew," Hermione said.

"Should we contact Remus?" Harry asked.

"No, Shacklebolt. He's got more access to the Ministry still. We need to find out if Dumbledore's wand is still where it is," Hermione replied.

They sat together silently.

"Are you ready, Harry?"

"For?" He asked.

"This. I don't know if I'm ready—I don't know if I'm ready to die," Hermione admitted.

"I'm not either." He confessed.

They sat in silence once more as the night drifted on. They didn't need any more words to feel the comfort that they provided each other.

A/N: So, I've finally decided on an ending for this. I'll be ending it in 5 chapters, and they will be just as long as this one if not more so It'll bring me close to 100k. That's pretty amazing to me, because my longest work is 85k. They just keep increasing slowly and I've enjoyed writing this. Thank you each for sticking with this story and for the reviews that I've gotten. I really appreciate the reviews that I receive, because I don't know what you guys think about it unless you tell me.

Also, if you like to see updates and or things related to Beltane like Refs and updates (besides the website) you can follow me on tumblr under the same username katiwthlove. I always update my Dramione/Beltane Night tag first.