Chapter Text
1979
Gideon and Fabian Prewett were losing the battle. Faced with Dolohov and four other Death Eaters, the twins were outnumbered and trying to stay alive. They had been duelling for a couple of hours, after being ambushed doing a routine search of an empty property. Even though they had been overwhelmed immediately, they were able to defend themselves enough to keep on for a while.
Antonin Dolohov was about to send a dark and likely lethal curse Gideon Prewett wasn't sure he could block when a figure stepped in between them, a woman with a sword.
Hermione Granger had apparated in the middle of the fight, poised to strike with a British Infantry Officer's Sword, covered in intricate Victorian acid etching, that she would never explain. She immediately lunged for Dolohov, and put her blade through his heart. Not waiting to make sure it took, she then swung around and sent four Diffendo spells to the other Death Eaters, straight for their throats. She knew she had to act quickly, she counted on surprising them and was thankful it worked as she saw her spells weren't blocked fast enough.
Fabian Prewett had been preparing himself to watch his twin die, likely to follow him soon after when this woman came out of nowhere and killed all their attackers in less than a minute. The only way he could think of describing this moment was a vengeful angel falling straight out of the sky.
Hermione took her sword out of Dolohov, and walked away from the macabre scene, she didn't look up, simply cleaned up the sword and put it back in its scabbard on her hip. A beautiful black leather piece carved with vines, the memory of a wand she would never touch again.
Gideon and Fabian were speechless, a rare thing for them. When it looked like the woman was about to leave without a word, they had to act.
"What the fuck?!"
"Who are you?"
Hermione finally looked up, and at them. She still had a determined look about her, but mainly she looked relieved. Still, she remained silent.
"Right, thank you for the save." Gideon finally said, but Fabian wouldn't be deterred and asked again "Who are you?"
Hermione smiled sadly, looking through them as if they were ghosts, she said "Ask no questions, and I tell no lies", then promptly apparated away without a sound.
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The Order was in shambles, the twins came back shortly after the mysterious woman disappeared. They were limping, and the meeting they wanted had to be delayed while their injuries were taken care of.
They tried to explain what happened but it was clear people were sceptical of their mysterious guardian angel, so they finally snapped and took out their memory of the interaction.
"Watch, take out a pensieve and watch what happened, and tell us if you recognise her."
Albus Dumbledore left for a few minutes, then came back with his pensieve, he deposited the memory inside of it but then took out his wand to spell the pensieve in order for everyone to see the memory instead of cramming a few people into it. While the spell was impressive, he had always refused to share it with anyone, and rarely used it himself.
Total silence reigned while the memory played out in front of the Order. Dumbledore was frowning and looking pensive.
Once the memory finished, he took a breath and said "I've never seen her before, I don't think, I don't believe she studied at Hogwarts but she barely looks to be 20 years old.
While I appreciate the fact she saved your lives Fabian and Gideon, that much loss of life is deeply sad and must not be admired."
"She only did what had to be done! She killed people who murdered, tortured and from what I know of Dolohov, raped as well." Sirius Black snarled from his seat further down the table.
"Be that as it may, everyone deserves a second chance, or at least a trial. No one can be a judge, jury and executioner." Dumbledore admonished, the always present twinkle in his eyes a bit dimmer.
Several people nodded in agreement, while the majority looked pensive, admiring or frowning.
"I don't care, she saved our lives and took out five monsters." Fabian said and walked away.
Unknown to the people in the room, an invisible Hermione smiled at Fabian's declaration and silently apparated away, thankful the Order seemed very lax on security measures at this point in time.