Hermione Granger sat on the window ledge of the Burrow, staring into space. She didn't notice a pair of eyes on her, and she certainly didn't notice the large tawny owl that was making its way to the closed window. Hermione was pulled out of her trance when the owl began to peck at the window.
"Hi, aren't you cute?" she cooed as she pulled two letters—one for her and one for Ginny—from the pouch it bore.
The owl hooted at her, then flew away as Hermione began to open her letter.
"Hermione, pass me mine? Please?" Ginny's voice vibrated through the air.
"Wha—oh, it's you. Yeah, sure. Here." Hermione passed her the letter and carried on opening hers.
She had been dreading this moment. The school might never re-open—not with Dumbledore dead. She might be made Head Girl, but who would be Head Boy? She knew Draco Malfoy had been a sure candidate for the job, but he had fled Hogwarts with Severus Snape—the man who topped Harry, Ron and Hermione's list of "People we hate, reason or no reason". He ranked above Wormtail and Voldemort, and Hermione knew Draco wasn't far behind on Harry's list.
At last the seal broke and Hermione pulled out a rather heavy looking parchment. It read:
Dear Ms Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will remain open; I hope you plan to continue your education.
The usual book list and train ticket are enclosed in this letter. Term starts, as always, on the first of September. We are also pleased to inform you that you have been named Head Girl. Please report to the first compartment nearest the driver, where you will meet the Head Boy and the Prefects for the coming year.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Professor McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts
Hermione let out a gasp as she tipped the envelope over and a shiny badge with HG inscribed on it fell out. She let out a laugh—the badge matched her initials. Little did she know another person sat somewhere not too far away, doing the very same thing.
He tipped the envelope's contents out after reading the letter. How could he be Head Boy—after what had happened because of him and his lack of courage? He was amazed that he was still to be accepted back at Hogwarts—hell, he was surprised he had survived. Shimmying off the window ledge, he went over to his school trunk and pulled out his very crumpled robes. He attached the badge to the front of them and shoved them back out of sight.
"Hey, what's that?" Ginny asked, startling Hermione, who had forgot Ginny was there.
"Oh, I'm Head Girl!" she squealed, jumping off the window ledge. She dove at Ginny and engulfed her in a hug.
Ginny smiled and hugged Hermione back. Ginny knew Hermione had been hoping to get the Head Girl badge from—knowing Hermione—the instant she received her letter.
"I wonder who the Head Boy could be," Hermione said, mainly to herself.
"Hum...it won't be Harry or Ron, as they'd be in here hiding from Fred and George, who would have come to tease them as soon as they found out," Ginny told her with a smirk.
Hermione laughed. She hoped the Head Boy was someone she could get along with, especially seeing how she would have to share a dorm with him for the whole year. After Hermione had let go of Ginny, Mrs Weasley knocked on the door to tell them to come down. On their way downstairs they met Harry and Ron, who hugged Hermione when she told them about being made Head Girl.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and Harry went to enter the kitchen but stopped when he heard his name.
"We have to tell Harry. It's his house. Anyway, he's sure to find out that he's living there," Mrs Weasley was saying.
"No, not yet—and he won't be found by Harry if he sticks to the rules we've set for him." Remus Lupin's voice travelled out of the door.
Hermione scrunched her face up in concentration, and Harry looked confused.
"Wonder who they're talking about?" Ginny said, and Harry shrugged.
"Forget it for now. We'll find them—it looks like we're going to Grimmauld Place," Harry told them. They all nodded
Harry twisted the door handle and walked in. Everyone in the room stared at him as though he was a doctor telling an expectant father news about his child and wife.
"We all ready?" Tonks asked merrily. Today her hair was sky-blue with bits of lilac streaked through it. She wore a casual Muggle get-up, blouse and knee-length skirt. Everyone around her nodded and walked to the fireplace. Somehow Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny managed to fit into the fireplace, although Ron did have to duck a bit and stand against the wall, and Harry had his face pressed against the back of the fireplace, his glasses awry. He was grateful when they landed in the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place. Harry looked around for someone who wasn't supposed to be there, but noticed no one.
"Let's go and drop our stuff of in our rooms," Hermione suggested, also looking around.
They all agreed and walked slowly up the stairs, keeping a lookout for any uninvited guests.
"Hey, are you planning on going back to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked Harry and Ron.
"I think so. I mean, nothing's happened yet—no raids, no unexplained Muggle deaths. I think I may be able to have a quiet year at Hogwarts after all," Harry said jokingly, remembering a conversation he and Ron had had a few years back.
"Isn't it ironic—Don't you think? Now the most feared wizard of all time is back and we finally have a chance of a quiet life," Hermione said, laughing.
"Do you think?" Ron asked.
"And, yeah, I really do think..." Hermione whispered. Harry burst out laughing
"You just quoted a song," Harry laughed.
"Yeah, I did. I quoted Isn't It Ironic byAlanis Morrisette."Hermione shook her head. She couldn't think what was so funny, but something had made Harry laugh. He hadn't laughed since Dumbledore's death. She didn't want to be the one that made him upset again or stop him laughing, so she joined in. When they finally reached their rooms, they waved good bye and separated, going to their own rooms.
Hermione instantly dumped her stuff on a bed and sat down. She knew it was going to be a long weekend; Harry would be determined to find out who was in his house. It had to be someone they didn't like. A thought jumped into Hermione's brain but she quickly pushed it out. There was no way on earth that he could be here in Harry's house!
Ginny was lying against the pillows watching and listening for any sign of who was in the house. Hermione could tell it was bothering everyone.
"That's it—get up. We're going to go get Harry and Ron, then we're going to ask your mum who is in the house," Hermione told Ginny firmly.
"What? Why my mum? Why not Tonks or Lupin?" Ginny asked, confused.
"As it was your mum who wanted to tell him! Now come on!" Hermione shouted as she left the room.
Ginny sighed and heaved herself off her bed. She really didn't want to leave it, it was nice and warm. She emerged into the hallway to see Harry and Ron following Hermione down the stairs.
"Mrs Weasley, before we left the Burrow, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I couldn't help overhearing you talking about someone living here. Someone the Order doesn't want Harry to know about. Could you tell us who it is, please?" Hermione asked in her most innocent voice.
"Well, I'm not meant to. But it is Harry's house. Oh, very well. If you must know, it's—" Mrs Weasley began.
"Hello, Molly. Not interrupting anything important, I hope?" asked Remus, his eyes staring into Mrs Weasley's warningly.
"Oh, no, nothing at all dear. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny—bed, now!" Mrs Weasley said, not looking into Lupin's eyes.
Harry sighed. He had nearly got an answer, until Lupin had disturbed them. He and the others crept back up the stairs and walked into their bedrooms. Harry and Ron were asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows. Hermione and Ginny, however, stayed awake to talk, but soon gave in to sleep.
He crept out of his room silently. If he wanted to stay here, he'd been told, he had to follow rules, and one of them was: "Don't let Harry see you." He desperately needed a shower—oh yeah, and he was reduced to creeping round in the dead of night. He silently crept past Ginny's and Hermione's bedroom and heard them talking. He knew there was a floorboard right outside their door that creaked, meaning if he stepped on it they would hear it and know someone was walking around. From the snores issuing out of the boys' room they were asleep; he stood still for a while outside their door, then carried on.
He managed to get to the bathroom without waking anyone up or being caught. Throwing his things behind the toilet, he climbed i to the shower. He was just letting the water hit him and run off him when he heard the creaky floorboard. Someone was up! Quickly, he flicked the water off and lay flat in the tub so his silhouette couldn't be seen through the curtain.
Just as he slammed against the cold tub floor, Harry walked in and splashed his face with water. His face was scrunched up and his scar seemed to be glowing weirdly. A few seconds later Ron ran in. "Oh, great, I'm stuck in the shower naked and my two worst enemies are in the same room as me," the boy thought as he rolled his eyes.
"Harry, what's the matter?" Ron asked, worry in his voice.
"Do you know those visions I have? Well, I just had one—it was Voldemort. He was throwing a proper paddy, but he was acting like a kid, crying and stomping around. The only difference was that unlike a kid, he kept hitting people with random curses. He hit Bellatrix Lestrange with a spell and it made her grow few feet taller; she weirdly resembled Hagrid. He was saying something about a young follower running off after he failed a task," Harry told Ron whilst he continued to wash his face.
The boy's stomach lurched. Voldemort had found out he'd left—or run off, as the Dark Lord would put it. Ron and Harry soon left the bathroom, and the boy waited until he knew it was safe to leave. He scrambled back into his bed and lay there, sleep refusing to catch him.