War Against Magiterran

Chapter 12: Return of the Dark Lord

Hermione stared at the Dark Lord in horror. 'This isn't possible!' she thought. 'He's dead! You saw him die with your very own eyes!'

Voldemort grinned down at her. "I assume you're wondering how I am standing in front of you very much alive," he said.

"Y-you're d-d-dead. I s-saw y-you c-c-crumble to d-dust with m-my own eyes!"

The high-pitched laughter of Voldemort rang through the bathroom. "And I would've been if that griffin patronus had hit me properly," he said. "But I was lucky. The basilisk of my killing curse had cut the power of your griffin patronus in half! While my body was destroyed, my spirit fled across the sea."

"That's not possible!" yelled Hermione, sounding braver than she actually felt. "You can't be alive! You just can't. You can't..." She started shaking her head as her mind tried to process the information that the Dark Lord whom she had believed to have been dead for the past two years was standing in front of her, alive.

"I admit it is rather shocking," said Voldemort. He crouched down and brought his face close to Hermione's. Hermione recoiled in horror as Voldemort whispered, "But you're going to have to accept it."

"No."

"Oh surely you must realize mudblood that seeing is believing. You see, Hermione, I've just spent the last two years here in Durmstrang plotting ways of revenge toward you and your husband. Congratulations on your marriage by the way, and of the birth of your twins."

Hermione simply stared into Voldemort's red eyes with disgust. Voldemort made his familiar malicious grin. "You see, Hermione," he said. "I may have all of Durmstrang under control but my heart has always gone out to Magiterran." Hermione snorted. She couldn't believe that Voldemort had any heart.

Voldemort glanced at the Ring of the Phoenix on Hermione's finger. "I see that you still have that ring."

"And I can still use it," hissed Hermione. Voldemort laughed.

"Come now, Hermione. You know full well that with the two rings separated, they are nothing more than worthless pieces of junk."

"Harry will come here soon," hissed Hermione. "He has the other ring. You can't win! The two of us will defeat you, just the way we defeated you two years ago!"

Voldemort suddenly looked infuriated. He grabbed Hermione's chin, stood up and raised her out of the bath. Hermione thanked God that he was glaring at her face rather than gazing at her body, though she wasn't sure about the Neo Death Eaters.

"Don't speak to me that way, mudblood!" hissed Voldemort. Hermione winced as the Dark Lord had her chin in a death grip. "You are lucky that I cannot kill you right now for it would spoil our plans to lure Potter here!" He tossed Hermione back into the bath with a splash. Hermione spluttered as some bubbles went into her mouth.

"You know, I know precisely the way how Potter thinks," said Voldemort with a nostalgic look. "I was once a Mage Knight myself."

Hermione looked up at the Dark Lord surprised. "What?"

"Sir Tom Marvolo Riddle of Slytherin. It seems like ages ago. During those years I learned that those who seek power are those that live and so I started my quest for power. And now look where it has led me: soon to be master of Magiterran."

Lingilam snorted. "We all know whom you need to thank for that," he said.

Voldemort whipped around to face Lingilam. "Why not remember your position Edward, or shall I say Grindelwald." Hermione gasped at the revelation was the dark wizard Grindelwald., the predecessor of Voldemort.

"Just what do you mean by that, Riddle?" hissed Lingilam.

"What I mean, Grindelwald is that you're a has been, long defeated by Mage Knight Sir Albus Dumbledore when I was but a squire at Hogwarts. You were a washed up nobody when I found you. So I appreciate more proper manners."

Grindelwald spluttered but was unable to make a come back. He turned around and stormed out of the room, followed by the other Neo Death Eaters. Voldemort turned to Hermione. He said, "I will see you later. Oh and if I were you, I'd get ready to defend myself for what's coming next." With a laugh, he left the room.

A few minutes later, Hermione learnt what the Dark Lord had meant. Viktor Krum barged into the room looking and acting as if he had completely lost his mind! He ran over to Hermione, grabbed her wrist and proceeded to pull her out of the bath! Hermione screamed as she saw the glint of mad lust in Krum's eyes. He dragged her to the wall, pinned her to it and tried to kiss her.

Hermione wasn't about to let herself be taken advantage of, however. She reached behind her ear, enlarged her staff to its normal length and blasted Krum away! A second later, Hermione was dried up and dressed in her familiar blue and white travel robes, her golden brown hair falling to her shoulders.

Krum wasn't out for the count as he lunged at Hermione again, seeming to have lost all reason. Hermione shouted, "Stupefy!" and Krum fell unconscious.

Hermione examined the form of the unconscious king. Apparently, Voldemort had placed a spell on him that had forced him to release all of the pent up lust he had for her. She also saw that Voldemort had been controlling him with the Imperius curse for the past two years. Hermione shuddered at the thought of what he might have done if she hadn't been able to defend herself. Her thoughts immediately drew to Harry. The Ring of the Phoenix was telling her that Harry was now only miles away from where she was and was drawing closer. 'Running right into a trap," she remembered. That thought sealed her determination. She was going to escape from the palace right then and now. If she could only get out of the grounds, she could meet with Harry outside in the wilderness and that way, Harry wouldn't be led into the trap.

Moving as quietly as she could, Hermione crept out of the bathroom and made her way down the hall. During the days that she had been there, Hermione had memorized every, path, nook, passage, and corridor in Durmstrang Palace, so she already had a good idea of where she was heading. Her plan was to head toward the last place anybody expected an escape from, the main entrance.

Hermione made her way to the main courtyard that led to the main entrance. She saw two guards there standing watch. 'This is going to make things a little hard,' she thought.

She darted between the pillars that held the ceiling up slowly making her way to the guards. She edged closer and closer and closer and closer...

Hermione suddenly leapt forward and said "Stupefy!" rendering one of the guards unconscious. Before the other one could raise the alarm, Hermione swung her staff into his face. She then swung her staff upward and hit the guard in that place where the sun don't shine. The guard keeled over, groaning in pain. Hermione said, "Stupefy," once more to make sure he was out for the count.

Satisfied with her handy work, Hermione brushed off her hands and slowly opened the door. She quickly made her way across the courtyard and to the front entrance. She was just making her way past the stables when a voice called from behind her, "And just where do you think you're going, mudblood?"

Hermione whipped around to see Flame looking very menacing. Yet she reminded Hermione of Icicle so much that Hermione couldn't help but snort with laughter. This made Flame angrier.

"What's so funny, mudblood?" she hissed.

Hermione actually couldn't help grinning. "Oh nothing, its just that I bested your sister in a duel in case you didn't know that. I guess I just supposed that I could beat you as well."

Flame looked furious. "I am nothing like Icicle! She was nothing more than an incompetent fool whom was humiliated by a mudblood! I am nothing like her!"

"Oh, want to bet?"

"If it's a duel you're challenging me at then it will be a duel you'll get!"

"Oh, well if that's what you think then I might as well oblige." Hermione had no idea why she was making wisecracks at such a crucial time but they made her feel braver. She figured that was one of the reasons why Ron always made them.

"First we bow," said Flame. She and Hermione merely lowered their heads never taking eyes off the other. "And now we duel!"

Chapter 13: Sir Hermione Granger

"Crucio!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Hermione and Flame each dodged the curses they had just shot at each other. Hermione leapt forward and swung her staff at Flame who blocked her blow with her own staff. Hermione yelled "Reducto!" and blasted Flame away. Flame simply flipped in the air and landed on her feet.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Flame. Hermione blocked the stunner with a shield charm. She yelled "Impedimenta!" Flame dodged the curse and closed in on Hermione. She pinned Hermione down to the ground with her staff.

"You will suffer, mudblood," she hissed. Hermione glared at her and kicked Flame in the shins. Flame winced in pain and Hermione didn't miss her chance to punch Flame in the cheek. Flame rolled off of Hermione and Hermione scrambled to her feet.

"Stupefy!" Flame rolled out of the stunner's way. She managed to regain her balance and yell, "Avada Kedavra!" Hermione dropped to the ground to avoid the killing curse.

Both duelers yelled, Expelliarmus!" at the same time. Both staffs went flying out of their hands at the same time. That didn't stop Hermione as she kneed Flame in the gut! She then laced the fingers of her two hands together and swung her double fist down to the back of Flame's head! Flame fell to the ground in pain as Hermione collected her staff.

"Stupefy!" Flame rolled out of the way of the stunner and grabbed her staff. She sprang up and yelled, "Crucio!" She managed to catch Hermione off guard!

Hermione fell to the ground screaming in agony as the Cruciatus Curse ripped through her body. Strangely though, the curse didn't hurt as much as it usually did and Hermione willed herself to stop screaming as she fought back tears. A part of her realized that Flame was weakening a little. Slowly, Hermione managed to stand up despite the overwhelming pain. She tried to will herself to stop the curse and started concentrating more and more of her power into her body. Suddenly, Hermione blasted the Cruciatus Curse away in a flash of white light! Flame recoiled, looking shocked and terrified. When the light had disappeared, both duelers gasped.

Hermione was wearing familiar silver and red armor over her robes. The ring of the Phoenix was on the outside of her gauntlet and she was also aware of the 8-inch unicorn horn protruding upwards from her visor. Hermione glanced at the inside of the red cape she wore and saw the following words in gold lettering: 'Sir Hermione Granger, Mage Knight of Hogwarts'. Even her staff had transfigured into a thin sword! Hermione simply stared at it for a few moments, completely shocked.

Flame suddenly attacked her with renewed vigor. Hermione started to panic. 'No! I don't know how to use a sword! I can't...' Hermione was forced to defend herself as Flame swung her staff down at her. Then, the most amazing thing happened. Either Hermione's sword had a mind of its own or Hermione suddenly was gifted with natural swordsman instinct. Whichever way, Hermione didn't know and didn't care. What she did care about was that she was twirling and wielding her sword the same way she used her staff! Within seconds, Hermione was slashing at Flame as if she had done it all her life and Flame was starting to panic just blocking her blade!

Flame leapt a few steps back and yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" Hermione leaped into the air with a burst of magic, made a half moon somersault, and landed behind Flame! She managed to kick flame in the back and send her sprawling to the ground. These acrobatics amazed Hermione since she had never been able to do them in her life. She had always wondered how Mage Knights could be so swift and acrobatic in their movements as they wore so much armor. Now that she was apparently a Mage Knight herself, Hermione discovered just how light and flexible the armor was. It even seemed to amplify muscle strength and coordination not to mention enhance combat skills.

Flame was slowly standing back up. Not willing to continue the duel, Hermione pointed her sword at Flame and said, "Stupefy!" Flame slumped unconscious.

Still slightly apprehensive at her own transformation, Hermione quietly sheathed her sword and studied her armor. 'Ginny asked me why I wasn't a Mage Knight once,' she thought. 'I told her about my skills with a sword and yet now that I apparently am a Mage Knight, I have no problem with swords now.' She glanced toward the stables. 'I wonder if my problem with horses has also been corrected.'

Hermione ran to the stables. She leapt onto one of the horses and was promptly thrown off. She sighed. Apparently, becoming a Mage Knight hadn't corrected her inability to ride a horse.

Giving up on horses, Hermione made her to the main gates of the palace. Figuring that she was already near escaping, she said, "Reducto," and blasted a hole through the gate. She quickly stole out of the palace and stopped short. Standing outside of the palace was Grindelwald. with a whole battalion of orcs!

"You will not leave this palace!" yelled Grindelwald. Hermione simply glared and drew her sword.

"Oh really?" she said.

"Get her!" shouted Grindelwald. The orcs raised a mighty cry and charged at Hermione. Hermione immediately set her newly acquired sword skills to the test as she started hacking and hewing at the attacking orcs.

'I could really get used to this,' she thought as she decapitated one orc. She stabbed another one and deflected the blows of two more. It was at that point that a voice called out, "Crucio!" Hermione dove forward and rolled out of the way as the Cruciatus Curse hit one of the orcs. Flame had regained consciousness and she was seething with anger. 'Uh-oh,' thought Hermione as she managed to slash at another orc while in mid-roll.

"You'll pay mudblood!" yelled Flame. She and Grindelwald started firing curses toward Hermione who barely managed to either block or dodge them, all the while slashing at orcs. Hermione was starting to get exhausted and she was soon on the very edge of despair. 'Harry where are you! Help me!' she thought.

It was right at that second when another figure leaped through the air! The figure landed on top of Grindelwald and placed two swift kicks on his head before leaping again. With a twirl and a half moon somersault, the figure landed on the other side of the orc battalion in a crouching position, his left leg drawn out and his sword raised horizontally over his head. It was Sir Harry Potter.

"Well what's this," said Harry with a grin. "A birthday party and I wasn't invited?"

"Harry!" shouted Hermione with sheer joy. Harry beamed at her.

Grindelwald and Flame simply stared at the newly arrived Mage Knight, too stunned to move. Harry took this opportunity to start slashing at the orcs.

Hermione also started fighting again with renewed vigor. Lingilam and Flame snapped out of their stupor and started firing curses at the Mage Knights.

The combined power of two Mage Knights soon leveled the orcs to scattered numbers, allowing them more freedom to deal with the Neo Death Eaters. Hermione attacked Flame with even more fiercely than previously. Flame wasn't even a match for Hermione now that she was a full-fledged Mage Knight and she was about to be defeated again when Grindelwald crept up behind Hermione.

"Hermione!" yelled Harry just as Grindelwald yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" Hearing Harry's warning, Hermione ducked as the green light whizzed above her head! It hit Flame instead and she fell dead with a scream.

Lingilam was stunned for a moment and that moment was all Harry needed as he leapt forward and stabbed Grindelwald. "That was for Cho!" he hissed. Grindelwald, however, was not gone yet as he raised his hand in an attempt to fire the killing-curse at Harry. Not allowing him the chance, Hermione ran forward and also stabbed Lingilam. Grindelwald fell over dead.

It was only after the battle was won that Hermione and Harry were able to acknowledge each other. Without a word, they embraced each other and started kissing with hunger and passion that they had been denied while they were away from each other. When they finally parted, they drew back and stared into each other's eyes: Harry into Hermione's cinnamon brown and Hermione into Harry's emerald green. They both had tears of joy streaming out of those eyes.

"I missed you so much," said Harry as he held Hermione close to him again. Hermione returned the embrace tightly.

"I missed you as well," said Hermione. They embraced each other in a way that suggested that if they were ever to let go, the other would fall away again. They both placed wet kisses on each other's faces.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Harry."

Harry finally pulled back and studied the armor that Hermione was wearing. "I see you've finally passed into the level of Mage Knight, Sir Hermione Granger." He grinned.

"Yes I was wondering about that," said Hermione looking a little puzzled. "Why am I all of a sudden a Mage Knight?"

"Well you see, Hermione. Anybody who receives training at Hogwarts, no matter how little training they receive, is automatically chosen to become a potential Mage Knight. When that person finally achieves a certain level of magic, than the armor materializes and that person is an official Mage Knight of Hogwarts."

"So I was liable to become one since the two months of training I received during the war?"

"That's right. You just finally achieved the necessary level tonight."

Hermione kissed Harry once more. After they had parted, Harry registered the fact that they were still right outside of the gates of the royal palace.

"Come on, we better get out of here and find some hiding place," he said. Hermione nodded and allowed Harry to take her hand and lead her through the snow-covered forest.

"Harry, so much has happened. There's a lot of important stuff I need to explain."

"Alright, you can tell me as soon as we find some secluded shelter." Hermione nodded as the two Mage Knights disappeared into the night.