Ultimatums

Chapter 52

"Fix it"

The table looked up at Hermione Potter blankly, only Sirius, Remus and Andromeda knowing what was going on.

Euphemia's heart fell as she watched her daughter, Hermione's chest heaving, her voice raw from sobs, her eyes a violent purple. She wondered where her sweet doe eyed girl was hiding, and when she'd decided to stay there not to appear again. "Fix what?" she asked softly, a maternal lilt in her voice.

"Fix what you've all ruined. Fix it" she shrieked.

Marlene cleared her throat. "Well. We can't exactly fix something that we know nothing about. Can we? I mean instead of accusing us, why don't you have a civilised conversation. Or can Snakes not do that?"

Hermione's blood boiled. It was easy for her to put on such a charade. All the tears and anger were real. Regulus hadn't woken yet. And the comments were just adding to her frustration.

"Come on Marley" Lily said quietly. "She's upset."

"Who gives a damn if the Death Eaters pride and joy has finally been given something to cry about? Caradoc Dearborn is missing because of them. Benjy is dead. My family's gone into bloody hiding! But have we stormed over to Him and demanded an apology?" Marlene raved, her accent getting thicker with every word. She maintained eye contact with Hermione the entire time.

"Marlene" Dorcas said harshly.

Hermione swept around the room and brought out her wand out. She went to shout, to curse the witch, to do something. But instead she just stopped. Her arm fell down and she whispered "My fiancé is dead"

"What" James stood and rushed over to where his sister was. "What?"

"My fiancé is dead" she repeated louder, though more to herself.

However James walked past Hermione and took the few steps to where Sirius was sitting. He wrapped an arm around him, but Sirius just sat still. Didn't make a noise. Hermione watched them, and her anger began to resurface. Sirius had Remus. He had everyone else in the bloody room and yet James rushed to his side and not hers. As always.

"He's dead and it's all your fault" she shouted "everyone in this stupid room. You all failed him and now he's gone."

Andromeda stood up and took her arm "Come on love. Let's get you home"

Hermione shook her hand away. "No. They need to know what they've done. They've ruined lives and they just sit on their high horses."

Dumbledore clasped his hands. "If you would be so kind as to explain Miss Potter"

Sirius knew what was coming. Years of pent up and hidden away frustrations making their way to the surface. And he was sure she had every right. However, he was scared. He knew Hermione wouldn't be this emotional if something truly hadn't happened to his brother. Sirius just wanted the meeting to be over so he could see him.

Hermione took a deep breath and said "of course"

She stepped behind Lily and started to walk past the Marauders & Co like she was playing duck duck goose. "Not all Death Eaters are purebloods. Many are halfbloods or even Muggleborns. They join because they feel unwelcome in the wizarding world and Voldemort conveys a sense of found family. And why do they join? Because they are bullied. I could point out several bullies in this room.

The purebloods that do join are often forced or feel they have no choice. Do you offer sanctuary? No, not unless that teenager is beneficial to you. You're all cowards who can't come to the realisation that majority of the big bad Death Eaters you're protecting everyone from are just scared teenagers you've failed"

Now there's the Hermione Sirius knew. The one who could bottle her emotions and deliver a cold monologue even in the most dire situations. The one that could speak in daggers and shattered glass.

"Now who do you think you are? Your fiancé was a fucking murderer"

Hermione lunged at Marlene, but Alice Longbottom and Dorcas jumped in front of her. She moved them aside, and froze them still. As others approached her, she froze each one, her purple balls of energy moving faster than light itself.

Once she'd gotten everyone in the room, she advanced on Marlene and lifted her up by the throat. Her wand was in the other room, leaving the well trainer auror trainee defenceless. It was a good thing Moody wasn't here and Dumbledore would rather see how this would go then fight the witch.

"Just so everyone is aware if you weren't already. I don't care if we're blood or strangers in the street. I would tear the world apart with no qualms for two people: My daughter and Regulus Black. And that's a threat you should all take care to remember"

Hermione apparated away, leaving Marlene to cough and sputter on the floor.

☏

Hermione sat in the front pew, her head bowed. She wore a classic black mourning gown, her skirt full and bothersome. The veil she wore also helped mask the fact that she had no tears. Her hand was clasped in a pregnant Narcissa's, though she was crying openly just from hormones and the terrible atmosphere.

On the other side of her was Lyra. However, she looked nothing like herself. The night before the funeral Hermione realised she had no one to watch her. Evan and Avery were attending, as was Persephone in disguise still under the impression that Regulus actually died. So Hermione transformed Lyra so she was truly unrecognisable to the thugs at the Muggle holding centre she was still forced to manage.

She had fun with it though. Lyra now had the signature Black eyes, Hermione's wild hair and a smattering of freckles across her nose. Her skin was a light brown, and her lips became fuller. Lyra was no longer a Martins , but a Black, the product of Regulus and Hermione put together.

The story she gave was that she had found out she couldn't conceive. Lyra was their solution. The girl was cooed over by the elder women who treated Regulus's funeral as a social gathering rather than somewhere where you could all hurt together as a supposed comfort. Hermione's lie was instantly believed because why would a grieving woman make something up? Well, a bunch of reasons but who actually listened enough to care?

They sat through the service in silence, Narcissa's chest heaving. Walburga was sobbing, the first time most people had seen her show an emotion that wasn't anger or jealousy or smugness. Lyra cuddled into Hermione's side. She was happy to be in her new black dress, the most luxurious thing she'd ever worn, while Regulus slept at home. But she was also tired and the people peering at her wasn't making her feel any better.

Orion kept giving Hermione strange looks throughout the service and to her he seemed not to be grieving at all. As she gathered herself and propped Lyra on her hip to leave, Orion pulled her aside.

"I know" he said gravely.

Hermione raised a brow, prompting him to continue.

"I know that my son is alive somewhere. I read your plans. The only reason I'm going along with this insipid thing is that I trust you both"

She blinked at him, not having any words.

"It'll also get my wife to leave me alone while she grieves. I've been waiting years for such peace"