AN: A few things to make note of before the story starts
This is set in the summer before Hermione's Seventh Year, her final year at Hogwarts and a while beyond.
Books 6 & 7 are completely disregarded
Sirius is still alive
This is fanfiction – so a few liberties can and will be taken.
Enjoy!
Chapter One – Mysterious Packages
THUD!
Hermione gazed out at the stars from her bedroom window. Far in the distance, a black speck bobbed up and down, slowly getting closer to her. By the time it was distinguishable as an owl; Hermione had spotted it, and began to wonder who it was from. It can't be Harry or Ron, I sent their replies off an hour ago, Ginny's still in Ireland with Seamus and his owl is still ill, and…. Her mind trailed off, as a handsome black eagle owl landed on the window sill. Warily, Hermione reached for her wand, and began casting detection charms around the package and letter. After no jinxes, hexes or curses showed up, she picked up the letter. Miss Granger was written on the front, and on the back was a wax seal unlike the Hogwarts seal. This had a serpent and a skull, which looked suspiciously like the Dark Mark. It was sealed in a rich red substance, which Hermione realised with a shock, was probably blood.
THUD!
She carefully put aside the letter, not wanting to open it and examined the package. It was a small, square in shape and was wrapped with brown paper and finished with string. There was a gift tag attached to the knot, which also bore her name. A large BANG came from downstairs, making Hermione jump and reach for her wand. Slowly, she made her way downstairs, and spotted her parents lying on the floor. They were stiff and had a startled expression on their faces. Please let it be a stunner, please let it be a stunner…..Hermione thought desperately, and she strained her ears to catch their assailants. Behind her, came the slight swish of a cloak, but even as she spun round, a blinding flash of light quelled the stunner on her lips. For Hermione, the world went dark.
Harry and Ron were playing Exploding Snap in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place whilst and Order meeting took place. The rooms upstairs were being decorated, and they had been shooed out by Kreacher to play elsewhere. "Have you heard from Hermione recently?" asked Ron, before shuffling the cards.
"Not since the beginning of the holidays. What about you?" replied Harry who was sorting through his cards.
"Not a thing. You don't think something's happened to her, do you?" came Ron's worried reply, just as twenty chairs scraped back in the next room. The door opened, and Order members poured out, muttering about recent developments, and Scrimgeour and the Ministry in general. All except the Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks and McGonagall left, with an unnatural hush falling over the group as they reached the door and Mrs. Black's portrait.
McGonagall then came into the kitchen and handed the boys their letters reminding them about Diagon Alley.
"You boys do know about the new safety precautions in place this year don't you? Going around in twos or more and not going after dark?"
"Yes Professor" came the distracted replies whilst Harry and Ron looked over their supplies list.
"Who're the new teacher's this year?" asked Harry, suddenly filled with anxiety, dread and a surge of anger as to whether Snape would be returning.
"Professor Slughorn will be returning to teach Potions, and Professor Lupin will be returning to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Now I really must be going, if you need to contact me, just ask Arthur or Molly and they'll get a message to me." And with that, McGonagall swept out of the room, stopping just long enough to say goodbye to the other occupants.
"Mrs Weasley, I was wondering if we could visit Diagon Alley tomorrow?" asked Harry. He moved to the centre table and started to set it.
"Well, we'll have to check with Arthur and Bill to see if they can come with us, but I think Bill's got the day off, and Arthur doesn't work on Fridays. I'll have to double check with Bill, but yes we can go tomorrow. Now why don't you boys go and play somewhere else while Tonks and I start dinner?" Molly had previous bad experiences with Tonks' culinary skills, but needed to talk to her about her wedding – she was willing to put up with occasional accidents. Harry turned to go outside, but stopped, as a thought crossed his mind.
"Mrs Weasley, have you heard form Hermione recently? It's just me and Ron haven't, and we're getting a bit worried…." Harry trailed off, and glanced at Ron who just nodded at his mothers questioning glance.
"Well boys, if you two haven't heard from her….she might have gone on holiday. Or be studying for next year. I'll have a word at the next Order meeting; send someone to check up on her." Molly reassured the two boys.
"Now, go outside and play Quidditch, I'm busy in here." And with that, she turned back to her cooking.
Ron and Harry lingered in the kitchen, pretending to tie shoelaces and clean up after Exploding Snap, not wanting to leave until they got some news on Hermione. Lupin, who had been talking quietly with Tonks, then joined in the conversation and said "I don't mind popping round. I need to get out of talking weddings." The last part was intended for the boys, but Molly heard it and scowled before turning back to the cooking. Tonks also heard it and laughed, accidentally throwing flour everywhere. Looking slightly better at this reassurance, Ron and Harry went outside to play Quidditch with Charlie and the twins.
"Remus, are you sure you don't mind?" Molly turned away from the cooking to focus on Lupin. "I'll be fine; I'll ask Charlie to come with me." Lupin reasoned. "Besides, if we need any more help, I'll just send a message here. We'll be fine Molly, it's Harry and Ron I'd be more worried about. They're going slightly stir crazy being in here, and worrying about Hermione isn't going to help them. Just make sure they're gone before we go, I don't want them tagging along." Molly thought for a moment before seeing the logic in his plan. "We leave at ten tomorrow morning. We should be back around six, but I can't guarantee anything." Lupin nodded. Tonks then mentioned "There might not even be anything wrong, she might just have gone on holiday, or have her nose stuck in a book." Remus frowned and said "That may be the case, but as far as we know, she's not owled us to tell us she's gone anywhere, and she can't have got her school supplies list yet, which means she's either staying quiet on purpose, or something's happened. Molly, will it be alright if I go now? I've got a funny feeling about this." Molly looked bemused but agreed. "Charlie! Come in here!"
"What's up mum?"
"Remus is going to Hermione's house to check everything is alright, and I want you to go with him." Molly barked out the instructions, and before she had finished, Charlie had grabbed his cloak and was stood next to Remus by the door. "If we're not back by eight, send Bill and Arthur." said Remus, before opening the door to escape the anti-apparating wards. Charlie followed him out, and the kitchen fell eerily silent. Molly then resumed cooking, but started glancing at the clock every so often, as if reassuring herself. Tonks muttered something about men and heroics before going out to the yard to play Quidditch with the lads.
Remus and Charlie walked down the overgrown garden path and winced as the rusted gate cried out loudly for oiling. As they passed through the gate, Charlie asked Remus "I know that we're checking out 'Mione's place, but is there a reason? Plans for an attack or something?" Remus twitched on the word attack, but said "Not that I know of. Harry and Ron haven't heard from her all summer, and it's not like her to be distant. Tonks thinks that she's either gone on holiday or is engrossed in a book for school, but she hasn't told us of holiday plans, and the school letters only came today. I was going to go tomorrow, but there's something not quite right about this, which is why I'm going now. Molly wouldn't let me go on my own; she still thinks I can't look after myself." This last part was said with a small smile, as the two men reached the boundary of the wards. "Do you know where her house is?" asked Remus. Charlie shook his head. "Right, hold on then." Charlie grabbed hold of Remus' arm as they both felt like they were squeezed through a dark tube before being promptly spat out. Getting their breaths back, Charlie and Remus looked around the street, checking for Muggles. Finding none, Remus set off down the street.
As they walked down the road, they noticed the similarity of all the houses. Brick built, with identical front gardens – the only difference being the flowers. All had an estate parked on the drive, and brown doors with a rose in the glass panel. Charlie shivered, as he'd never seen something so uniform before. Remus picked up on it, but he was focusing on remembering what Albus had told him last year. Albus had kept the Grangers under a Fidelius Charm for two years, and now the Fidelius had been voided, Remus was extremely worried. Hermione was one of the main targets – she was a muggle-born, and was one of Harry Potter's best friends. It was the Order's job to protect her – although legally of age in the Wizarding world, in the Muggle world she was still a child. Her parents couldn't be with her for their own safety, so she would have to have a guardian – a member of the Order.
Remus suddenly stopped, and started muttering under his breath. Charlie nearly walked into him, but stopped short, and saw what Remus was looking at. Remus was scanning the houses, checking what number it was. As he finished, his eyes widened with shock, as he slowly walked over to the rubble that was the Granger's home.
There was nothing left. Where a house should have been lay a pit of rubble – timber, stone, furniture, and a note lying on the top. Charlie had followed Remus over, and he looked at the rubble before turning and sending out a silvery dragon. Charlie spoke something and the dragon flew off into the night. Remus had picked up the envelope and had opened it. The letter read:
Dearest Order,
If you want your precious little mudblood back, you'll need to give us Potter. If not, Fenrir will enjoy his new 'present'. The fool Dumbledore should have taught you how to respect your superiors. If you don't you'll get a nasty surprise. Don't come after the mudblood. Don't let Potter bring anyone with him. If you want her unharmed, bring him within 24 hours. Remember, the full moon is in three weeks – Fenrir has a mind of his own, although she will be good entertainment.
The note was unsigned, but Remus and Charlie knew it was Death Eaters. They didn't say a word, simply apparated back to Grimmauld Place.