"Hermione Granger! You're soaked! Get into the house this instant!" Mrs. Granger called from the door.
It was true. A severely wet girl came in from the rain. She shook her mass of brown hair into a towel and headed upstairs.
"Can we talk?" her mother cried after her.
"Maybe later." she said.
She knew that her mom was concerned about her. The usually up beat Hermione hadn't been the same since she returned from her fifth year at Hogwarts. She entered her room and was delighted to see Hedwig sitting on her pillow. She smiled to the owl and removed its letter, which read...
Dear Mio,
How has your summer been going? I'm all right, I'd be better if Snape hadn't given us that huge essay. I must have been mad to take advanced potions. All to be an Auror though eh? I think Snape wants us all to have as miserable a summer as he must be having. You must be right, about him getting connected to Voldemort again. I've never seen him paler. The complexion of his face is truly an accomplishment.
I'm not sure which is more ridiculous anymore, the daily prophet, or the quibbler. Did you see the article the other day about Voldemort hiding in the three broomsticks? I wonder what Malfoy is doing with his dad in Azkaban? Do you know what Dumbledore got to guard it now? With the dementors gone? I really do wish I were back at the order's place. Well, I'm not sure actually. I don't really want to go back there. Screaming portraits and all.
Maybe Ron will have us at the burrow soon. I can't stand it here at the Dursleys. Write back soon,
Harry
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Yeah, it's the portraits that would bother him about Sirrius's old house. But the humor didn't last long. Soon she threw herself down on the bed and started crying. Poor Harry. He just lost one of the most important people in his life, and he has to spend this time with his aunt and uncle. But then she sat up. Why hadn't she thought of it before?
"Mom!" She cried, jumping into the kitchen.
"What?" Mrs. Granger asked with a jolt.
"Can I have a friend come over? For a while?" She asked.
"Tonight? Mio, its almost ten."
"No. For a week, or something. It's Harry and, he's having a hard time and his Aunt & Uncle aren't very sympathetic so maybe he could stay with us?"
"You'll have to ask your father when he gets in, but it's fine with me."
Hermione ran to her mother and gave her a big hug, which wasn't as much of a gift to her mother than seeing Hermione truly happy since she got back from school.
She practically pounced on her father as soon as he came through the door, and when she got the clear she jetted to her bedroom and was relived to find that Hedwig had fallen asleep on her pillow.
Dear Harry,
My summer has been all right. I didn't think that essay was too bad. I finished it the first weekend of Holiday. Both newspapers are a bunch of parp, your right. No clue what Dumbledore is up to. But listen, why don't you come stay with me for a week? We could always go to Ron's later. It'll be fun. Ask your Uncle, and respond soon! You can come up tomorrow, around noon. Send Hedwig back if you can't. Bye
Mio
She couldn't wait for the owl to wake up. The big amber eyes glared at her for a bit but agreed to take it immediately.
"Hermione Granger, are you singing?" her mother asked incredulously as her daughter came down to breakfast.
"Yes mother, I dare say I am." she said, sitting down.
Hermione spent the rest of the morning making sure the house was spotless. She didn't know why, but taking Harry out of his current situation made her absolutely giddy.
At quarter to 12, Hermione settled herself on the porch. Five after noon a shiny car pulled into the drive. A tall, black-haired boy got out from the passenger seat, smiled and waved, before pulling his trunk from the back seat and dragging it to the door. As soon as the back door had shut, Harry's Uncle had peeled out of the driveway and sped off.
Hermione couldn't sustain herself. She jumped from the porch as Harry was halfway up the walkway and hugged him very tightly, but his trunk fell painfully on her toe.
"I am SO sorry Mio!" Harry moaned as he helped her inside.
"No, I'm okay. Own fault, should have waited till you set it down." she said wincing.
"Hermione! What happened?" asked her father, staring beadily at Harry.
"I hugged him, and his trunk fell on my toe. Not a problem. I'll be fine." She said as Harry laid her down on the couch. He then approached Mr. Granger with his hand outstretched.
He took it, but kept staring intently at Harry, obviously wondering why the hug was necessary.
"Dad, this is Harry, Harry, my dad."
"Nice to see you again Harry, though we've never had a chance to really talk. So, um, how do you know my daughter?" he asked, quite formally.
"Er," said Harry uncomfortably. "From school."
"Oh," Hermione said, looking angrily at her father. "That's not what he means. Harry is a FRIEND of mine, dad."
"Oh yeah." Said Harry, suddenly. "Just good friends."
"I wasn't insinuating anything dear." Said Mr. Granger, but looked a good deal happier.
"Do you need ice, or anything Mio?" Harry asked.
"Oh no. I'll be fine. I'd show you to the guest room but, I'm not sure about the stairs yet."
"I'll show him." announced Mr. Granger.
Hermione looked absolutely terrified at this idea, but Harry grabbed his trunk and followed him out of the room.
"This is the guest room. Mine, and Mrs. Granger's room is right across the way, We sleep with the door open, and I am a very light sleeper. (what movie is that from) The bathroom is to the right, Hermione's room is to the left, I don't expect there to be any confusion."
Harry sunk on to the bed as Mr. Granger closed the door, but soon after he heard a soft knock.
"Yes?" Harry asked, and Hermione creaked the door open and limped over to the bed.
"Is it feeling better?" He asked, putting a pillow by her to stick her leg on.
"Oh yes, much better" she responded, but still propped her foot up. "So, how have you really been?"
"FFin," harry started, but knew it was no good. "I can't stand it. He's gone. He's gone and its my fault, Voldemort's back, he's after me and he'll go threw anyone to get me. And I really don't think that I'm going to have anyone I care about left, once he's done, because everyone is set on protecting me. What's the point of me living, if he's just going to kill everybody else?"
"Harry," Hermione said softly. "Have you given any thought to the prediction? You have to be the one to end him. I know that's scary. You're only 15! But you're a great wizard Harry, and you can do it. You have powers that Voldemort doesn't. And don't worry about everybody protecting you. Have some faith in them."
But Harry intruded, "I do have faith in you, uh them. But Sirrius was one of the greatest wizards I know, and he died! Hermione, he died!" He said, shaking. He was crying. Hermione hadn't the slightest idea of what to do. She knew he was ashamed of it, as he was trying to wipe his tears away. So, she threw her arms around him and started crying herself.
"It's okay, Harry. It's okay."
The door cracked open and a resonating "WHAT THE HECK?" was heard as Mr. Granger pulled Harry off of the bed. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"HE WAS CRYING DAD!" Hermione yelled at him.
Harry sunk onto the floor, as Mr. Granger looked curiously at him. "Why?"
"His godfather died!" She said indignantly.
"Oh," Said Mr. Granger, very embarrassed. "Carry on, then." he said shortly and shut the door.
"Hermione, I'm scared." Harry said, looking stonily at her from the floor.
She slumped down next to him, wrapped an arm around his shoulder and reassured him "It'll be all right."
A/N Please R&R
