Chapter Text
In the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts, the magical world was met with unnatural silence. Rather than lingering spells or falling stones, Hogwarts castle was full of whispered conversations and the occasional healing spells muttered. Everywhere Hermione turned, she saw spell damaged corridors, blood mixed with the dirt and rubble, and broken souls in the eyes of every survivor, regardless of which side of the war they fought in. The few remaining witches and wizards who had worked as Aurors before the fall of the ministry were already stepping up to round up the remaining Death Eaters and Snatchers; many recent Hogwarts alumni joined, trying to distinguish between those who fought willingly and those who were imperiused or otherwise coerced into fighting for Lord Voldemort. As Hermione made her way through the Great Hall, she made eye contact with Neville. Hermione breathed out a sigh of relief at his survival. She noticed that his grandmother, Augusta, personally confirmed that all of her son and daughter-in-law's torturers were amongst the casualties of the battle. Hermione could see both the relief in Neville’s eyes and the struggle to accept that any chance of reversing a lingering curse died with the last of the Lestranges.
Eventually, shouting mixed with anguished yells as parents, siblings, and friends began to process each of their losses. A corner of the great hall seemed to be overflowing with red hair as the entire Weasley family was surrounding the lifeless form of Fred, and unconscious forms of George and Percy. It was unclear from the quick trauma assessments done by Madam Pomphrey and her apprentices, if Percy would survive his injuries from the same falling wall that claimed Fred’s life. George’s body seemed to drop once he no longer felt his bond with his twin the adrenaline of battle was no longer enough to keep him going. Hermione wanted to comfort the Weasley family, but after Ron and Ginny’s inability to accept that the “brightest witch of the age” didn’t know any spells to fix their brothers, she was sure she would be unwelcome in the corner.
Hermione turned away from the Weasleys in order to search for Harry. Her brother in all but blood (though, after all of their adventures, it was likely that that technicality was covered too). As she dodged groups of people reuniting in the great hall, she kept her eyes peeled for any indication of where Harry ended up. He hadn’t reunited with Ginny or the rest of the Weasleys; he wasn’t speaking with Professor McGonagall; he wasn’t helping Kingsley round up stray Death Eaters. At last, she found him trapped in conversations with classmates and families as he desperately tried to get away from the crowds. While Hermione could find comfort in Harry managing to defeat Voldemort once and for all, she could feel his anguish over the number of causalities the light had suffered. The guilt of not finishing the war sooner was written all over his face as people tried to interrupt his obvious grieving to thank him. Hermione could tell he was becoming more and more uncomfortable and needed an escape. Hermione looked him in the eyes and nodded as she grabbed Luna’s arm and whispered a small request to try and distract people so Harry could get away. The relief was obvious as Harry heard Luna start to speak.
“Look everyone, the nargles have arrived. How fortunate that they are here to promote healing,” Luna murmured to the crowd gathering around Harry. Several heads turned to search for the made up, invisible creatures, allowing Harry to make a quick getaway.
Before they could turn back, Harry disappeared under his invisibility cloak and out of the great hall. Hermione began to casually follow him before she stopped dead in her track. Two of her favorite mentors were laying with their hands intertwined in the row of Order losses. Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks; brand new parents, friend, teacher. Two of the only adults who tried to help Hermione transition from young student to order member, it broke the little bit of her heart that had survived, and Hermione raced out to the edge of the courtyard.
It was too much. Too many dead bodies. Too much magic lingering in the air. Too few people fighting for the light. Hermione was so used to being the person who had the answers, planned for any potential scenario, and carried the others when they couldn’t carry themselves. For years Hermione had carried the responsibility of keeping Harry alive, often at the detriment of her own well being; she pushed her wants and needs aside to put him first. Hermione dropped to her knees as her grief and magic surged. The only people to notice Hermione’s devastation were the owners of two pairs of grey eyes.
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Draco exchanged a nervous look with his mother. He managed to force his parents to turn back before they fully ram away from the final push of battle because he knew it was right to fight against the Dark Lord regardless of any potential punishment should he have won. He was tired of the lies of blood supremacy, and seeing his fellow students and friends tortured for no reason. Draco had long admired many members of the light, but his long-standing obsession with Hermione Granger meant he had been tracking her movements as the dust settled. Narcissa had been aware of Draco’s fascination with Hermione Granger and was in awe of her strength as she survived the torture at the hands of her sister Bellatrix just a few weeks prior. That day at Malfoy Manor, the mother in her had been torn between two impossible choices; trying to further protect her son, should he accidentally reveal the Golden Trio’s identities or his connection to them, and as a mother watching a young child soldier suffer needlessly for simply being a woman and born to two muggle parents. Ignoring his parents, Draco rushed to Hermione’s side.
“Granger. I’ve got you. You aren’t alone”. He was startled as he felt her magic reaching out to meet his, but he carried on speaking softly to Hermione.
After several minutes of whispered reassurances, Hermione’s sobs began to turn into soft whimpers, and she eventually began to piece together who was comforting her. Shock overtook her features as she blinked incredulously at Draco Malfoy’s arms wrapped around her own.
“Malfoy?”
“Hey, Granger. Gotta be honest about a couple of things here. One, I’m glad Potter won. And two, I’m so sorry for everything I have ever said or done to you. I know that chances are that in a few minutes I’ll be wrapped up with the rest of the bad guys, but I needed to apologize before I go.”
Hermione was speechless for a few moments while she processed his hasty apology. As she searched his eyes for the truth hidden behind his eyes, a quiet acceptance settled in her heart.
“Thank you, Malfoy but…”
Draco’s shoulders began to droop as he anticipated her rejection.
“…you won’t be going anywhere if I have anything to say about it. How many of our classmates really believe in this shit? Goyle? Montague? Nott? Zabini? Parkinson? Flint?”
It was Draco’s turn to be speechless. His brows furrowed as he tried to piece together why Hermione Granger would be asking after other students. As he looked her in the eye, he noticed her burning fire blaze brighter. She wasn’t asking for revenge but to help.
“Just Crabbe in our year. A few of the older Slytherins like Montague and Flint, but most of us were just trying to survive sadistic parents and trying to avoid being killed by the evil megalomaniac.”
“Understood. Kingsley!” Hermione turned and shouted after Kingsley Shacklebolt as he returned from taking another group of snatched to be processed for war crimes.
“Hermione? How can I help you?
“How many students, how many *children* are you and the others trying to take in for crimes committed during extreme duress?!” The Malfoy family was shocked at the vitriol Hermione was spewing at someone on her own side.
“Hermione. I thought you knew me better than that. The only students we have started to look at have been those we have had to inform of their parents' incarceration or death. I have no intention of allowing any to be charged for their involvement in the war until we have had a chance to talk to students and staff about abuse during the school year. I can’t promise that all of them will walk away in a few months without being charged for *something*, but I know you will help hold me accountable to make sure they receive fair trials, and any punishment will still give them a new start in the world.” Kingsley tried to offer a reassuring smile to Hermione and the Malfoys.
“So, Draco and his parents can go home right now, and they won’t be ripped away in an hour? Good.” Draco was relieved to hear the familiar bossy tone in Hermione's voice as she seemed to take charge.
“Ah. Well, I’d like to take Lucius and Narcissa in, at least for questioning tonight…”
“No.”
Draco and Kingsley both looked sharply at Hermione. While he admired her, Draco was still surprised at the audacity she possessed to tell a high-ranking Order Member and presumed new head Auror that he effectively could not do his job.
“Kingsley. You have no idea…” Hermione took a deep breath. “Make an unbreakable vow that they won’t flee if you must but give them a day with each other before you take them away for questioning. You don’t need to talk to them right now, especially when you and I both know that they would just be sitting around for hours before anyone can actually spare the time to talk to them.”
“Why is this so important to you?” Kingsley tilted his head as he assessed Hermione's motivation to help a family so famously on the other side of the war.
“Granger, you don’t have to do this. We knew this would happen when we didn’t leave ages ago.”
“No, Malfoy. Kingsley can come pick up your parents tomorrow. Just in case—you shouldn’t have to say goodbye to them before you’re ready.”
Draco was taken aback by the tears and sorrow welling up in Hermione’s eyes. Kingsley remembered the steps Hermione had talked about taking to protect her parents, and felt shame as he knew no one in the order took her fears seriously; he knew in that moment Hermione had taken a drastic step to limit the chances of Death Eaters finding and torturing her parents for information.
“Hermione. I am so sorry.” Kingsley and Hermione shared a look of understanding.
“Don’t worry about it Kings. Just do this for me, yeah?”
“Mr. Malfoy would you and your parents take an unbreakable vow that you won’t disappear before we can ask questions tomorrow? If so, we will allow you to return to Malloy Manor for the night— “
“Respectfully Auror Shacklebolt, none of us have any desire to return there until you all can have curse breakers and aurors go through everything left behind. Instead, we have a Black family holding we would prefer to go to if that’s acceptable.” Narcissa finally intervened.
Lucius nodded his head in agreement and conjured a scrap of parchment and quill to write down the floo address for the Auror department to use.
Kingsley took the parchment then held out his hand to complete the vow.
“Hermione, would you consent to bind us? Or would you rather I grab one of the aurors floating around?”
“Sure Kings, I can do this,” Hermione tried to offer a reassuring smile that came out as more of a grimace. She then shocked the group with her word choice.
“Do you, Kingsley Shacklebolt, as a current representative of the Order of the Phoenix and Auror for the Ministry for Magic, agree to allow Lucius Malfoy to return to the agreed upon family home for a night with his family—only coming to bring him in for questioning about his involvement in the second wizarding war after breakfast tomorrow morning?”
Kingsley chuckled to himself at how shrewd Hermione would be to cover as many bases as possible to avoid a midnight raid that would rip the Malfoy family apart prematurely.
“I do so agree,” came Kingsley’s response.
“And do you, Lucius Malfoy, as current head of the Malfoy family and alleged supporter of Lord Voldemort, agree to return to the agreed upon family home with Narcissa and Draco Malfoy, and remain there until a representative comes to bring you for questioning about your involvement in the second wizarding war after breakfast tomorrow morning?”
Lucius’ eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to find reasoning for her clarifications. “I do so agree.”
Similar wording was used for both Narcissa and Draco, giving the Malfoy family as much reassurance as Hermione was capable of that they would have quiet time as a family to regroup before questioning. Kingsley then excused himself from the group so he could make sure the list of Draco’s classmates was not left in holding but instead returned to family homes. Narcissa had offered theirs as a central location is they needed supervision for the night.
As the Malfoys and Hermione began walking towards the newly designated apparition point, Lucius lingered next to Hermione.
“Miss…Granger.” Lucius looked like he had swallowed a lemon as he searched for words to convey his gratefulness for her wording. Hermione met his eyes and held her chin up high.
“Thank you for giving us more grace than we deserve and allowing Draco and Narcissa more time. I—truly, I do apologize for the horrors we put you through in our old home. Are you quite healed? If you can send your lawyer’s contact information to us, or in case of our incarceration to any of our house elves or Gringotts account manager, I would like to cover the cost of any healer to look at your wounds and reimburse you for any treatment you received before today.”
Both Draco and Narcissa were shocked by Lucius’s offer, but before Hermione could decide whether to accept or decline, she was interrupted by the incredulous sputtering of Ron and Molly Weasley as they dragged Harry over to “rescue” Hermione from the evil Malfoys.
“Get away from her!” Hermione’s attention was drawn to Ron’s angry eyes.
“Hermione dear, come here and let us get you back home so you can rest,” Molly tutted.
“Mione, are you okay? Kingsley said you were here, but he didn’t say why...” Harry trailed off as he tried to make sense of the image of Hermione standing with the Malfoys.
“Oh, do shut up, Weasley. We weren’t doing anything; your precious golden girl is perfectly safe.” Draco drawled.
Crimson began to overtake Ron’s face as he grabbed Hermione’s arm roughly to pull her away from Malfoy.
“Ouch, Ronald, you’re hurting me!”
“See, Ferret! You hurt her!”
Molly began fussing over Hermione trying to inspect her for any sign of damage, despite her protestations that she was fine. Harry tried to step in front of Hermione and get in Draco’s face but before they could step up, Hermione wrenched her arms away from both Weasleys and threw her hands up.
“Honestly. You all are exhausting. After all this time, do you seriously think I can’t handle Malfoy if I needed to? I broke his nose in third year and started further training with Moony, Padfoot and Tonks all after that. His spell work may have been close to mine in school, but I still throw a better right hook than him”. Narcissa looked at Lucius with amusement while he seemed shocked that Hermione would speak highly of Draco’s academic abilities. “I appreciate your concern, but Kingsley and I have the Malfoys covered with an unbreakable vow, I was just about to escort them out so there is no need to worry right now.”
“Escort them out?! Are you crazy?! They’re Death Eaters! They should be sent away with the others.”
“Hermione, dear, maybe you didn’t quite understand what Kingsley meant? I’m sure he wouldn’t just let them go.”
"I understood what Kingsley meant, Mrs. Weasley, as I am the one who bound the vows. And not that it’s any of your business, but he isn’t just letting them go. They will be going in for questioning tomorrow morning. This just frees up our very limited resources for the bigger threats today.”
If you asked any of the Malfoys later if they had doubts about Hermione Granger’s powers, they would tell you about the magic felt in the air as her entire demeanor turned cold towards those challenging her.
“Hermione. I trust you, and I do trust Kingsley. I just…I need to know you’re still safe. Are you ready to go? Professor McGonagall has said that repairs won’t begin for a couple of days. She wants to send letters to other ministries to see if people will come help while we all rest. I’m going back to the burrow for a few hours before we check on Percy. You coming?”
“Of course she’s coming.” Ron snapped as he once again tried to grab at her arms.
Hermione raised one of her hands to stop all three Malfoys from reaching towards her and stepped away from Ron’s hold.
“Thanks for checking in, Harry. I think I’m going to stop by my parents though. I want to let them know I’m okay.” Hermione’s obvious dismissal of Ron and Molly did not go unnoticed, but what was more concerning to the Malfoys was her declaration of where she would be going. Lucius and Draco paled as they made eye contact with Narcissa. They knew that the Granger household had finally been breached after the trio escaped from Malfoy Manor and was burned down; they didn’t know if her parents were inside when it happened.
“Oh, great, Mione!”
“Tell them hi and we’ll have lunch soon!” Both Weasleys were seemingly unconcerned with letting her go off by herself, as long as it wasn’t with the Malfoys.
“Sure, Harry. And thanks, Mrs. Weasley. I’m sure they’d love to. I’ll let you all get out of here and reach out this week.”
Mrs. Weasley marched Ron and Harry back towards the other Weasleys, only Harry looked back over his shoulder to Hermione before she turned away. A moment lapsed while the Malfoys silently debated who would have to break the news that her childhood home was no longer standing.
Hermione chuckled as she saw Draco lose and brace himself to tell her more bad news.
“Draco, it’s okay. My parents are fine. They haven’t been in Europe for a few years and none of the wards placed on their safe house have been breached. I know my childhood house is gone; I’m just surprised it made it this long.”
“What do you mean?” Narcissa interrupted.
“I mean, I knew a few years ago that they would eventually be targeted for the connection to myself and Harry; the Order certainly wasn’t going to spare any resources or guards for them when they were barely staying afloat trying to keep Harry going. So, after the Battle at the Department of Mysteries,” she silently reveled in the uncomfortable face Lucius quickly tried to school before she continued, “I gave them new identities, wiped myself from their memories, and set them up on the other side of the world. It was a bitch getting that done with Snape checking in on my recovery every couple of days, but I managed.”
“Why would Severus check up on you?” Draco interrupted, shocked by both his godfather's involvement and hearing her swear.
“Ah. Dolohov’s little gift left me taking about a dozen potions a day for months.” She lifted the corner of her shirt and removed the glamour over the scar that bisected her chest and stomach. “Snape brewed them and helped siphon out the lingering dark magic that summer.”
“We were still underage then. How’d you get away with that in Muggle London?” Draco asked incredulously. Once again, the Gryffindor's got away with too much.
“You were, yes. Technically, I became of age sometime between the Yule Ball and Second task 4th year. May have overused my time turner a touch 3rd year. Plus, Snape, Pomphrey, and McGonagall were there frequently enough that it hid the “underage” magic I needed to pack up my life.”
The Malfoys each were taken aback by how easily Hermione revealed the information.
“If you aren’t going to the Weasley hovel, where are you planning on going then?” Draco sneered.
Hermione shrugged, “haven’t gotten that far. May just pitch a tent and camp out here for a few days. See where I can help.”
“No.”
Three sets of eyes turned to Narcissa. “No. You are coming home with us. We have already opened our home to several other of Draco’s classmates, and you are coming too. I know that there is more than enough bad blood between our family and you, but as a mother I will not see another child alone because of this war. No more.” Her eyes were hard as she dared her husband or son to challenge her authority on the matter.
“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Malfoy, but”
“No. I was not offering, I was informing. You are coming home with us. Now, move.” She turned and started walking towards an apparition point. When no one followed right away, she stopped, snapped her fingers, and both Malfoy men hopped to fall in line behind her. Hermione hesitated one moment longer, until Draco gave her a pleading look over his shoulder.
“What the hell am I doing”? She asked herself as she began to follow.