Chapter Twenty: Immediate Action

"Headmistress!" The young man fainted immediately upon seeing the embodiment of Albus Dumbledore before him.

"Oh my." The elder man said as he looked towards his female counterpart.

"Well, leave!" She spat out before walking over to the boy. "Enervate!" The young boy's eyes quickly blinked open and he stared around looking for the illusion he thought he see earlier. "What is it you came her for, Mr. Arnold?"

"P-P-Professor Potter is hurt!" He said as McGonagall stood from her spot and went over to the fireplace.

"Mr. Arnold, go down to the great hall and tell Professor Sprout to get the children to their dormitories. Take this," she handed him a piece of blank paper, "She will know what to do with it." The young boy nodded before McGonagall grabbed a handful of floo powder and shouted 'Infirmary'.

She landed in Poppy's office and quickly stepped through the fireplace into the main room. What she saw hurt her emotionally. Harry was shaking with a severe amount of pain and Hermione was crying while clinging to him, trying to make him stop. She wished that her two former-pupils did not have to go through such pain and that this war was over.

"Poppy, what is the matter?" She asked when Poppy looked grimly at the boy.

"He just keeps saying something about Tom Riddle and that he is really angry."

"How would Harry know?"

"The same way he has all along, I'm afraid." Poppy left the room and went to her office to retrieve a few calming potions she knew would not be able to help Harry. She knew that in some way, Voldemort's mood affected him and that unless Voldemort took the draught, Harry would still be in pain. She was getting the calming draught for Hermione. Hermione was just as stressed as Harry and she couldn't understand why. She had known that they were always close, but he could see that she was feeling just as much upset as he was.

She came back out to see Harry finally relaxed. Hermione was smoothing back the hairs that clung to his forehead and crying. She walked up to the pair and slipping the draught into Hermione's hand and she willingly drank it, knowing exactly what it was.

"Minerva, we know that Voldemort was incredibly angry, but know he appears to have become happier. We don't know what is causing his mood swings, but something is up." Hermione said in a soft tone as Harry rolled over on the bed to face towards the window.

"Has he ever been this angry before?" She asked, just now noticing the ring on Hermione's left hand ring finger. She couldn't stop the smile that escaped her finger and the surprise that she displayed on her face. Hermione followed her eyes and looked down to see the beautiful ring Harry had bought her. It was only about five hours ago that they were both waking up in each others warm arms.

"I've never seen Harry react this way, Minerva." She said sadly and Harry turned around again.

"He was so angry." Harry whispered, his voice cracking due to the screaming he had done earlier. "He's never been that mad before." Harry took a deep breath and then smiled sardonically, "And now he is happier than I've ever recognized before. Something is happening and we need to prepare." He looked down at the hand resting against his own and gazed down at the beautiful diamond shimmering on her hand.

He had found the ring along with some other jewelry and heirlooms among the list of things he had inherited from Sirius. He didn't really know where they came from, but when he turned eighteen, it was all his to use as he wished and because he couldn't imagine finding a more beautiful diamond, he decided to give this one to Hermione. That and Hermione probably wouldn't let him leave without her to do anything. They hadn't spent much longer than a day without each other all summer.

"Do we have to prepare for the final battle?" Minerva asked in concern, gazing down at the two who appeared to be lost in their thoughts.

"Yes." Hermione said. "We are going to need your help, Minerva."

"Anything." She said unwaveringly.

"We need you to marry us as soon as possible." Minerva's eyes nearly shot out of her head at hearing Harry's wishes.

"Well, being Headmistress, I do have that ability, but aren't you rushing things a bit."

"We need to be married, we'll tell you about it later." Hermione said and Harry sat up in his bed.

"Okay." Harry stood slowly and they both followed the Headmistress to her office where she would draw upon the Portraits on the wall to act witness, as was Hogwarts tradition.

"You ready, Hermione." Harry asked and she smiled before kissing him on the cheek.

"Had you asked me that yesterday, I would have answered… well, I don't really know what I would have answered, but I do know that I didn't imagine my wedding this way." She smiled and placed her hand on his cheek. "As sudden and unimaginable as this is, it is what I want." McGonagall had tears falling down her face as she stated the ceremonial wizard binding. Harry and Hermione's wrists were tied together with a magical rope before uttering a simple marital charm that only certain people knew how to perform. A sheet of people appeared from thin air.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Potter." She said in her usual Scottish accent. Dumbledore came out of his personal study where he was hiding the entire time.

"Congratulations indeed!" He said and Harry and Hermione blushed at the idea. "Why for the sudden marriage?" He asked, not displeased, as much as he was curious. "Does this have something to do with Mr. Arnold?"

"Voldemort is planning something." Harry was still gripping Hermione's hand. "We have been studying all summer in the teacher's library and I believe I know a way to kill him without being forced to destroy the horcruxes."

"Through love, of course, what did I tell you?" Harry looked about ready to attack the old man, but instead clenched his fists.

"Now is not the time to mock, we have a battle to prepare for." Minerva admonished looking at the old man and his protégé.

"Do you think it is time for me to announce that I am indeed alive?"

"I think so." Minerva said as she looked around the room at the portraits. "I trust you are capable of getting the word around?" The people in the portraits nodded and at once disappeared.

"How many people are they really going to be able to get to?" Harry asked, looking between the people in the room.

"The portraits in the headmaster's office are capable of entering nearly every other portrait around the world, and furthermore, they are often used to tell impertinent information, therefore they have been warded to only obey the Headmaster or Headmistress of the School. Anyone they intercept will no doubt, believe what is being said." Hermione answered as though she were reading it directly from a book.

"Ah, yes. Hogwarts, A History." The elder man popped a small yellow candy in his mouth and smiled.

AN: I absolutely loathe not being able to update as regularly as before. I have been busy with school and all that goes along with it. I apologize profusely and hope that nobody is offended. Thank you so much for the reviews. Smiles.