Authors Note - Edited the chapter. Some parts are still the same but added more content as well. Thank you so much everyone who leaves a review, it means a lot to read what you think and your suggestions are always welcomed. All mistakes are mine, sorry but English is like my third language.

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face- forever

George Orwell, 1984

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Filius Flitwick hurried steps echoed through the cavernous caves as he made his way towards his family's ancestral home. He vanished his robes as he took a turn knowing his fellow goblins did not take well to him dressing as a wizard. He didn't know why his father had summoned him, their monthly meetings were not for a few more weeks. He knew it was not a social call, his father never did those. Standing before a large and intricate door he took a steadying breath. He could not appear flustered in front of his father, he was a goblin always calm and collected.

With one long finger he run it through the intricate carvings on the door, only family members knew what carvings were to be touched. One wrong move and he knew what traps his ancestors had set about to discourage intruders. Stepping back he watched as the large door melted away to reveal a high domed room which acted as the receiving room. Paying no mind to the lavish chairs, paintings and gold draped lamps he made his way further into the home.

Filius didn't pay much mind the his surroundings, if he spent too much time standing still he would notice his mother's absence. His ancestral home didn't feel like a home ever since her death when he was a young boy. It was devoid of all her human touches as his father often put it.

He could hear gruff voices coming from his father's study, approaching the door he took one steadying breath before knocking and stepping in. As he entered the room the occupants stopped talking and all gazes rested on him. Filius braced himself and fought the urge to shrink back from the gazes of the others. Years of torment from his fellow goblins for not being goblin enough still plagued him. Placing his right fisted hand across his chest while his left hand went behind his back he bowed respectfully to those present in the room.

"Filius I sent for you hours ago, yet you just arrived now?" Bard Flitwick said. His gruff voice ringing across the room.

"I came as soon as I could. There were other matters that needed to be taken care of before my departure," Filius said trying to keep his voice even. Security on the island was tight. Arrivals and departures tightly controlled. It took a team of ten to bring down the wards in the one area designated two allow international travel.

"Yes...well you still seem to place those wizards above your own."

Before Filius could defend his actions his father carried on, "This is Arild manager of Gringotts and Asger Goblin representative to the Ministry. "

"Honoured to meet you both," he said as he bowed once more. Taking the offered seat at the table, he waited for the need of his presence to be made clear.

"the time has come my son for the goblin nation to take a stand against those who have taken such pleasure in oppressing us. The goblin tribes will unite and wage war against the wizards. You have to chose my son, will you fight with us or against us?"

That had always been the fight against him and his father. Was he a goblin or not. He could never be goblin enough for his father, which wasn't his fault. He was also half human. He mulled over the information his father had just given him, a war between the goblins and the wizards. They would lose, he came to that conclusion immediately. They had the numbers and courage but the wizards had magic. A simple wave of their wands and hundreds of them would die. Not even including the magical creatures they could set loose on the battlefield against them.

There was a better way, a way that wouldn't result in the deaths of so many of his kin, but it would mean a compromise. He could sense a war was imminent between the muggle borns and wizarding community. A war that he was not sure the muggle borns would win without proper capital. War was expensive and the island was barely ticking over with what little money they had left. Combining their forces the goblins and the muggle borns would have a better chance of dealing a crippling blow to the wizarding community.

He knew it would be a challenge to convince his father and the goblins around the table of his plan, they didn't trust wizards. Clearing his voice he prepared to lay out his plan.

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The cloudless night held a chill to it, the night creatures made a soothing soundtrack to the night. Two winged horses waited patiently as their riders readied themselves for a long flight throughout the night, into to the early morning. Hermione run her hands gently on the thestrals head, marvelling at the velvety texture of its skin. The sharp edges of its bones broke the marvel and reminded you that they were not normal horses.

"Are you ready for this?" Dean whispered not wanting to spoil the magical moment the night seemed to hold. Smiling Hermione turned to him, seeing his face cast in the glow of the burning torches made a lump form in her throat. It was only a few hours ago that she had kissed George and how Dean was looking at her now was making her feel guilty.

Seeing her troubled expression Dean cupped her cheek with his hands and brought her face up to see her better. "you have nothing to be worried about, you got this," smiling at her he added, "and I promise I won't let you fall off the thestral."

Laughing slightly at his attempt to lift her spirits she stepped closer to him, wrapping her hands around his waist she buried her face into his chest. For a moment she tried to enjoy this moment. The cold air blowing around them, the chorus of night creatures singing their songs. Dean's strong arms wrapped around her, the heat from his body seeping into hers and the smell of parchment and paint that always clung to him.

As she stepped back she said, " I know you won't, I'm in safe hands with you."

They stood there bodies pressed tightly against each other and oblivious to their surrounding. Looking deeply into the other's eyes, seeing a new hidden side to the person before them. Before they could speak Neville cleared his throat, breaking the spell between them.

"Sorry guys but we have to get going."

"yes of course," Hermione answered hoarsely.

Helping her mount the thestral Dean joined her on the saddle. Feeling her hands link over his abdomen he joined Neville in their steady ascent towards the sky.

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The room was dimly lit, two small rectangle windows were set high near the ceiling letting in light and ventilating the room. Cooling charms kept the desert heat at bay making the room a pleasant refuge from the unrelenting sun. Hermione's eyes had long adjusted to the room, the sweat that had once lined her back and forehead long since dried. Her heart though was still tattooing against her rib cage

Sitting on an intricately woven rug, a low table sat between the two meeting groups. Hermione, Dean, Neville and Luna on one side. Harry, Nina, June and David on the other. The small talk had been dispensed with and now was the time to discuss the matter at hand.

"it is great to finally meet you Hermione Granger, you have become a beacon for a great cause." June's husky voice rung across the room. Smiling politely at the compliment she replied, "thank you but I did not set out to be beacon or a mascot. This is bigger than all of us, I just wanted change."

"Spoken as a true leader. The mark of true leadership is one who does not seek it but has it thrust upon them." June stated, sipping her cooling tea.

"Yes that's all well and good, now let us discuss why we are really here. We need to rally our troop if we want to make a radical change to the ICW and the wizarding community." David Oliech's booming voice cut through the pleasant atmosphere.

"Can all this be done without much bloodshed?" Harry asked his eyes moving from Hermione's form to the man sitting next to him.

"Of course not," Oliech scoffed, "we need to take over the ministries in the different countries that's the only way this will work and to do that we will have to fight for it."

"but I thought Germany, the African Covens and a few others were on our side?" Luna asked wanting to clarify.

"their will be no opposition from the African Covens we are all of one goal. Even though he have sympathisers in other countries they would still need our help to take power and hold onto it from those opposing them within their own Ministry." Oliech clarified.

"How do we go about this?" asked Dean.

"First we need to get all the rebels together," June spoke eyeing the young people across from her, "in one place. Train them and attack the different ministries when the time is right."

At the mention of more fighting Hermione moved uneasily on the rug. Looking down at her silver arm she swallowed around the lump in her throat. Fighting meant losing people, more deaths and injuries that would weigh heavily on her.

"Could we not just take the rebels in, and anyone who want to leave the wizarding world and leave them to their own self destruction?" she asked looking at June.

"No," Nina replied, "that does not solve the problem, it is just hiding from it. The time has come for a revolution, for a proper change and this is the first chances we have had in centuries to do that for the better."

"I know you do not wish to see anymore people die Hermione, but sometimes fighting is the only way to bring about real change." Harry said to her. His emerald eyes bored into her brown orbs searching to see if she understood.

Sighing and nodding in defeat Hermione spoke, "okay, let's iron out what we have to do.."

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Her hands cautiously hovered over the centuries old scrolls fighting the temptation to take one out. Hermione couldn't believe she was standing in the famed library of Timbuktu, she had always wanted to visit the historical site.

"You can take one out you know," Harry's voice cut through her musings, "it's magically protected from decay and tears."

Hermione knew this moment was coming and as much as she had prepared herself for it, she was still taken off guard by the sound of his voice. Turning to face her old friend she plastered a smile on her face, "hey Harry,"

"Hey Hermione," he replied, "it's good to see you." He felt his words were inadequate to truly express how he felt at seeing her. Months of worrying she was dead and countless hours thinking about how he had failed her he finally had a chance to clear the air.

"Did you get my letter?"

"I did, thanks for that."

An uncomfortable silence filled the space between them. Gone was the easy repartee between the two friends and the comfortable silences. Harry looked over his friend again. He hadn't stopped looking at her since she walked through that small door of the hut. Her hair was longer, slightly sun bleached from spending hours outside. Her normal light olive toned skin darker. She looked healthier her weight back to what it was before the hunt. Her eyes looked troubled though, bags under her eyes letting him know she wasn't sleeping well. Moving his eyes to the silver hand poking out of her light long sleeved cotton shirt he swallowed uncomfortably.

"Ron is really torn up about what happened the last time we were together."

Hermione scoffed and shook her head in disappointment, this was playing out like a familiar scene. Every time her and Ron would fight Harry would act as the peacekeeper. Coming to her and asking her to be the bigger person and forgive, always the one forgiving. Swallowing her hurt and anger and making Harry and Ron not feel uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry that Ron is torn up about me losing my arm," she said brandishing her new silver arm, "be sure to give him my apologies."

Looking down ashamedly at her scathing tone he knew that he had made a misstep.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," sighing he rubbed his neck nervously, " how have been?"

She shrugged at the question, she didn't really have an answer for him. Too many thoughts and emotions were swirling around her.

"How have you been?"

"I have been better…" stepping closer he took her hand, " I've missed you"

Giving his hand a quick squeeze she said, "I missed you too," and it was true she missed her friend. How could she not, he and Ron were her first ever true friends. The adventures and tribulations that they had undertaken together. There was no going through that without it binding you. At the same time she had taken a different path to her friends. So much had happened. So much loss, betrayal heartache. How did you come back from that.

Stepping away from her friend she turned her gaze to the manuscripts lining the walls. Not looking at her former friend she spoke, "from the beginning of our friendship Harry I stood beside you. Tried to face everything with you, helped you whenever I could. Not once did I ever leave you when you needed me. When people said you were an attention seeker or mad I defended you." Turning to face the him she continued.

"You were my friend Harry. I lost so much…" She tapered off thinking of the lifelong effects the torture with Belatrix had done to her body. The physiological effects from the war and most of all her parents death. She didn't blame Harry for this, they were the consequences of a war fought by children.

Locking eyes with her first ever friends she said, "the one time I asked you for help Harry you turned your back on me. Do you know how that felt?"

Harry couldn't bare the look of anguish and betrayal on Hermione's face. Casting his eyes down on to the earthen floor he responded with a simple, "I'm sorry." At his statement Hermione scoffed, shaking her head sadly she turned away from him once again. "That isn't enough anymore."

There was so much that Harry wished to tell her but years of an abusive childhood had taught him to never say what he felt. Hearing a quiet sob he looked up to see Hermione with her back to him. Fighting years of programming he stepped closer to her. Turning her around he enveloped Hermione In a hug. Speaking softly into her hair he said, "you are right it's not enough. It will never be enough for the betrayal i inflicted on you. The damage I caused on our friendship. I do not deserve your forgiveness Hermione but I will still ask for it. I do not deserve your friendship but I beg you to please give me another chance to prove I can be the friend you need."

Holding her tighter he continued his voice breaking slightly, " please. You are more than my friend, you are family. My life is not the same without you. I have gone weeks without speaking or seeing Ron but it has been your absence that has impacted me the most. I never realised how much you enriched my life until you left. If you don't forgive me and want nothing to do with me I'll understand but know this. I will work everyday to make you proud of me."

As Harry held her Hermione cried, for the longest time she had held the smallest belief that things between them could return to how they were. But as she lay her wet cheeks above his beating heart she realised that there was possibly no going back. His beautiful words that she knew must taken a lot for him to say didn't begin to break the wall of hurt and betrayal that surrounded her heart.

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In a quaint and quiet French home in Naples flashes of spellfire could be seen illuminating the home. Two wizards in dark robes moved about the home meticulously vanishing any traces of the young child who was asleep in her room. Anna Prinz had earlier that day performed her first act of accidental magic at the age of three. The two wizards belonged to the newly launched department of integration. A polite and less scary way of saying department of kidnapped muggle-born children.

A third wizard loomed over the sleeping forms of Anna's parents his hand raised and poised. With a swirl of his wrists and a simple incantation every memory they had of their young daughter vanished. Satisfied with his work he moved on to the young child. Memory modifications weren't advised on children so she would have to come to terms with the sudden disappearance of her parents on her own.

Anna was the third child the agency had acquired in five months. After removal they were taken into a ministry home before being placed with wizarding families. This was a trail project in France the ICW wished to roll out to all its member countries. In the hopes of addressing the concerns of wizarding families unable to produce children or find spouses.

Carrying the sleeping child downstairs he looked over his teams work. Satisfied they had completed their task they made their way into the night.

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Deep in the Department of Ministries a door marked experimentation held the ministries new experiment. In a cage lay a whimpering and shivering animal. Dawlish moved from one foot to another slightly uncomfortable with the caged beast and the unspeakable who was hidden behind his hood.

"Are you sure this is safe?" He asked his voice slightly squeaking.

"Yes," the unspeakable replied his voice sounding as though multiple people with different voices had spoken the same thing. "It is completely under our control, it only needs an order and it won't stop till it's completed."

Dawlish shivered slightly at the unspeakable voice, he didn't understand why they went to such extremes to hide their identities. Stepping closer to the curled up man he looked closely at the disturbing sight. Where once was a man there currently was a creature one would be had to place. Fur covered most of his body. His fingernails long and resembling claws. He could make out scales covering its forehead. Yellow eyes were locked on to him a snarl rumbling through the beasts chest. His lips pulled back exposing sharp teeth that could easily tear flesh. With lightning reflexes a hand lashed out from the cage swiping at the Minister of Magic.

With a yell he stumbled backwards landing awkwardly a few feet away from the cage. "I thought you said it was safe," he yelled.

"It is safe," the many voices from the unspeakable spoke. "If he wanted to kill you you would be dead." With a wave of his hand the cloaked unspeakable opened an unseen door across the room. A frightened middle aged man walked into the room confused by his location. Without missing a beat the unspeakable gave an order, "kill the newcomer."

The cage that had once contained the beast vanished and in a blur it was across the room. A quick swipe of it's hand and the unknown mans head left his shoulders, landing with a wet thud metres away from its body.

"Merlin's beard," Dawlish croaked out. His eyes fixed firmly on the monstrous figure ahead of him. It hadn't moved since decapitating the man. It stood like a sentry before the fallen body eyes fixed ahead, chest barely moving and claws dripping blood onto the floor.

"Bring the body to me."

Obediently the beast followed stooping down to grab the deceased by the leg and dragging it before its master. "Lick its leg,"

With squeamish fascination the minister watched as a long snake like tongue darted out and licked the dead man's leg. With wide eyes he saw the skin burn away from were the beasts saliva had made contact with the leg. Gingerly picking himself off the floor he asked, "how many can you make?"

"As many as you want," was the quick reply.

Smiling at the first good news he had received in a while he contemplated how this was going to change the battle for them. It wasn't the muggle-burns alone who had new weapons up their sleeves.

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She stared unblinkingly at the parchment on the table, her vision obscured by the tears threatening to fall. Blinking in hopes that when she opened her eyes the parchment would be gone. The tears made their escape, rolling down her flushed cheek and landing on her shirt. He had finally done it and she couldn't believe it. Ginny always thought that what he needed was space and time and that he would come back to her.

The parchment stating the terms of their divorce proved her wrong. He wasn't coming back, she had lost him. The memory of her mother admonishing her for not having a proper wizarding wedding ceremony assaulted her. With a wizarding wedding ceremony a divorce would not have been possible. They would have been bonded for life, but Harry wanted to have the same ceremony as his parents. So they had gotten married in Gretna Green in a muggle ceremony.

Laying her head on the table she let herself cry for all she had lost.

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Moving the sleeping witch off his chest Ron ran a hand through his disheveled hair. This was not how he thought his life would have turned out. He was supposed to have someone to share his life with, someone he loved and who loved him back. Instead his days were filled with hunting down people who did nothing but demand a fair chance. His nights fending off advances from witches who wanted nothing but to be just seen with him. Before he chose one to spend the night with, anything to distract himself from feeling the loss of his friends.

As the young witch snuggled close to him, he tried to stop his wandering thoughts. He had two choices try to find a way to fix his friendship with Harry or make a new life without his other best friend.

Authors Note- thank you for your patience, still don't know when the next chapter is out but hopefully soon.