Despite the fact that she got one whole week with Sirus Hermione was sad to see him go. She had spent the last few days slightly depressed since she had no idea when she was going to see him again. He had said that he would be back to see her at Christmas several times but she wasn't sure if that would happen or not because there are things out there that could detain him.
After he had gone she retreated to her room and declined to come out for dinner that night much to Cedric's dismay. To entertain herself she unpacked and repacked her school trunk several times. By the third time she had organized everything from her books to potions supplies in alphabetical order. She was about to start going through it again when Cedric had barged into her room and forced her to stop and eat a small sandwich. While she was annoyed with him she was quite hunger and the only time she had gone longer without food was when she was petrified during her second year.
"Do you want me to get you another one?" Cedric asked her when she was finished with it.
"No. I'm fine."
And their days proceed to go just like that until it was time for Hermione to go to the Weasley's. Cedric had made her trunk smaller so they wouldn't look suspicious as they walked to the Weasley's. Their muggle neighbors would think it odd to see two teenagers carrying a trunk down a long dirt road. It didn't take long for the burrow to appear in their line of sight.
Cedric and Hermione walked up to the burrow and through the gate and through the yard past the chickens. Cedric walked up to the door and knocked. It was Ginny that walked up to the door. She didn't open it.
"Who was it warned us of Umbridge at the last DA meeting?" she asked through the door.
"It was Dobby the free house elf." Cedric told her.
Ginny opened the door and stepped back to allow them in. She smiled at Cedric and told him to put Hermione's trunk in her room (it was the door with the Weird Sisters poster on it). Hermione and Ginny watched as he disappeared up the stairs.
"So what is going on between you two?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing is going on." Hermione told her. "I think something might have happened a week ago but Sirius showed up and put the kibosh on that one."
"That's probably a good thing wouldn't want something to happen a little too early." Ginny said.
Hermione scowled at her and how would you know that.
"My mum has been giving the boys the talk when they are old enough because Dad is to chicken to do it. They only thing I've heard her talk about more is how much she seems to dislike Fleur."
"That explains things but why doesn't she like Fleur."
"Fleur is staying here because she and Bill are getting married next summer and I guess there is a lot that goes into a wedding. As for the 'talk' thing yes it does. Mum only gave the talk to them before third year because they could go to Hogsmeade and the charms that protect the school don't protect the town."
"I had no clue about the charms but I had assumed there was something after the steps to the girls' dorms turned into a slide when Harry and Ron tired to get up there. There were some girls that liked sliding down because the book load didn't seem as heavy sliding down."
"It'd be fun until someone forgot to hold their skirt down and the boys got a peek and wouldn't' shut up about it." Ginny said.
"Oh I'm with you on that one." Hermione said. "I would get tired of holding it down all the time."
"Hold down what all the time?" Cedric asked.
"Nothing," Hermione replied at the same time Ginny had said "Girl talk."
"Oh alright, yeah I don't think I need to know about that, Well your trunk is in Ginny's room and back to regular size. I'll come see you this week end if I don't get too much home work form that muggle school." Cedric said.
"That's fine Cedric. I'll have more work than you once I get back to school."
Hermione watched as Cedric walked out the door and when he got to the point just be on the Weasley's gate he turned on his heel and vanish.
"So where is Ron?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"Sleeping or trying to play Quidditch by himself." Ginny told her. "But Mum doesn't let us outside much anymore so I have to say he is sleeping."
"Is Crookshanks here?" Hermione asked.
"He'll be curled up on or underneath my bed, come on and I'll show you."
Ginny did just she led Hermione to her room. It was just as small as the last time Hermione had seen it. Posters lined the walls. Crookshanks tail was poking out from under the bed.
"See I told you he would be under the bed. It's such a shame that Mrs. Diggory is allergic to him." Ginny said handing Crookshanks over to Hermione.
"I'm just glad that someone was able to take him." Hermione said. "I missed him a lot."
"Well he has missed you too. He has done nothing but eat, sleep and go the bathroom without you here taking care of him He hardly ever plays anymore."
"Well he won't have to worry about that too much longer and nothing against the Diggory's but I turn seventeen in a few weeks so I won't have to stay in a ministry approved home once sixth year ends."
"Where would you stay then?" Ginny asked.
"I have enough muggle money from my mum's passing that I can rent a place. Plus that will even give Sirius a place to stay without worry of the ministry as long as he doesn't use any magic that is and if I don't find out away to get him a new trial."
"Why don't you take a break from looking you have been doing that non-stop since we got out of school and now we are starting school which will be harder this year especially for you."
"I— I know I should back off a little bit but I really want Sirus to be able to live his life as a free man." Hermione told her. "I want him to be able to spend his time as he wishes not stuck running from the ministry."
"Hermione Sirius is like an uncle to us even though he's like dad's second cousin once removed or something like that."
"So that means we're cousins." Hermione said. "You're more like a sister."
"Yes and for future reference, Hermione, I see you as a sister too." Ginny said. "It kind of sucks that I don't have one biologically related to me like my brothers but I don't think mum can have more kids."
"Blood should matter." Hermione said. "Look at how much your mum has done for Harry and me and we aren't related at least not how you are referring to it."
There was a knock at Ginny's door and then it opened to reveal Fleur.
"Hermione it is good to see you." Fleur said.
"Look Fleur I'm sorry to push you out like this but Ginny and I were talking and it's kind of privet so could you please leave us alone." Hermione said.
Fleur did leave them alone and looked a bit upset at what Hermione had said but she really didn't feel comfortable talking about Sirius or anything that pertains to him around people she really didn't know all that well.
Mrs. Weasley called them down for dinner a few hours later. Bill had come home and was looking lovingly at Fleur that it made Hermione sick. Fred and George stayed at their shop and Mr. Wesley was too busy to make it home.
"Ginny why isn't your dad here?" Hermione asked.
"He got a promotion so he works late a lot." Ginny replied.
Hermione didn't reply to that but sat down to eat with the Wesley's that remained. Mrs. Weasley made a delicious meal of stew and homemade trifle for desert. Hermione ate several helpings off both until Mrs. Weasley said it was time for bed. She wanted to help clean up but Mrs. Weasley told her to go to bed.
While Hermione did go to Ginny's room she did not go to sleep. She was too wired to go to sleep. So instead of sleeping she wrote Sirius, Harry and Cedric. She did not expect replies tonight as it was late. So while waiting she sat by Ginny's window and looked out at the stars. They were shining brighter than normal. Hermione could spot the constellation that her father was named after and several others that members of her family were named after including Draco Malfoy, someone she still could not believe that she was related to. She often wondered what Draco would do if he found out that they were cousins, second cousins but cousins none the less.
She perked up a bit when she spotted a large shadowy figure at the edge of the Weasley yard (close to the house that is). The shadowy figure walked closer and looked like a rather large dog and because of that it looked rather familiar to her. Grabbing her wand Hermione slipped down the stairs to the kitchen with its lights still on. Thankful the Mrs. Weasley wasn't in the kitchen she slipped out the door and around the house to find the shadow. Only there wasn't a dog like figure for her to find, It was a full grown man.
"Dad what are you doing here?" Hermione asked him.
"The mission has been put off a week or two. Dumbledore doesn't want me to go alone now. So he is waiting until he can find someone to go with me." Sirius replied.
"Good I don't want you to go alone any how." Hermione said. "And you'll be here to see me off to Hogwarts when the time comes."
"Hogwarts is still a few weeks away as of yet." Sirius said "I still might be gone by then."
"That sucks." Hermione said.
"Well don't worry I learned from Dumbledore that he's supposed to bring Harry here to the burrow in a few days. I'll drop back by when he's here before I leave." Sirius said.
"Will you have to leave again after Christmas?" Hermione asked him.
"I don't know right now. We have to wait until Christmas gets closer." Sirius said. "Mr. Weasley should be home soon and you should be in bed right now so I got to go. Let me know when Harry gets here."
"I will."
Hermione said. She then walked up to Sirius and hugged him good bye. Sirius hugged her back and the two walked around the house. Hermione stood on the steps and watched Sirius walk down the path to the apparition point he turned on his heel and disappeared.
Hermione quickly slipped back into the house and up to Ginny's bedroom. Ginny was still asleep. Hermione put herself on the other bed in the room and tried to force herself to go to sleep. It wasn't working; not even the old counting sheep standby worked on her. Hermione had the feeling only a dreamless sleep potion would work on her.
"Hermione are you okay?" Ginny asked from the other side of the room.
"Yes. I just can't sleep. I didn't wake you did I?" Hermione replies.
"Oh you didn't I usually wake up around this time anyhow. Dad gets home around this time and I like to know that he got home safe." Ginny told her.
"I think he's coming in now because I hear muffled voices." Hermione said.
Ginny got up from her bed and walked over to the door and put her ear to it and turned back toward Hermione.
"That's him." Ginny said. "He's always so tired when he gets home now and mum will be sure to make him eat before he even thinks about going to bed."
"That's just your mum. She'll be doing that to Harry when he gets here." Hermione said. "She probably would have done it to me had I not just eaten before I left the Diggory's. Do you know when Harry is supposed to be here?"
"I'm not entirely too sure but I think its sometime next week." Ginny replied.
There was a knock at the door and then Mrs. Weasley's voice following "I want you girls asleep in ten minutes not up and talking."
"Don't worry mum we will be. Hermione just had a nightmare and I was calming her down," Ginny lied.
"OH sorry dear, it is around that time." Mrs. Weasley said as she walked away from Ginny's bedroom door."
"What does she mean around that time?" Ginny asked.
"It's around the time my mum died last year." Hermione told her.
"Oh I'm sorry do you want to go do something for her or—"
"Ginny I'm fine with it and Cedric took me to see her grave last week so no need to worry." Hermione said. "And I dealt with my mum's death last year and I have Sirius to talk to if I really need it, no offence."
"Oh no worry. I totally get that because there are times when I would rather talk to my mum or dad and not one of my friends."
"I'm guessing you go to your dad for the muggle stuff and your mum for the girly things that would make your dad cringe." Hermione said.
"You are right about that." Ginny said. "Including my dislike for Fleur but we should get back to sleep before mum comes back. My lie will only work for so long on her and I don't want her to come in here screaming at us to go to bed."
Ginny and Hermione both went to sleep after that statement all thought Hermione has slept fit fully because of her dream. She knew it was a dream and not a memory because she was younger and had siblings, not to mention Sirius looked much younger and like he hadn't even been in Azkaban.
She had another dream that was much darker than the first and she suspected that the dream is what would have happened if Sirius had been killed during the battle at the ministry. It was a major freak out for her and was surprised that she hadn't woken up screaming causing everyone in the house to wake up because of her screaming but she didn't wake them up she just woke herself up.
Since she couldn't get herself back to sleep Hermione pulled her robe on and walked down stairs to the Weasley sitting room and curled up on the couch. There was already a fire going in the fire place but it was dying down and the flames barley danced among the ashes. It didn't take her long to hear someone else's steps making the steps on the stair case creak.
"What are you doing down here Mione?" Ron asked.
"I had a night mare and couldn't get back to sleep." She told him. "I also didn't want to bug your mother for a dreamless sleep potion either."
"She wouldn't have minded." Ron replied.
"She has enough to worry about with your brother and father out there with Voldemort." Hermione said "And she needs all the rest she can get because she'll worry even more once we are all back at Hogwarts even thought Hogwarts is possibly safer for us. It's the mother in her that worry's my mother would be doing the same if she was alive and knew what was going on in our world."
"You don't have to recite and essay Hermione." Ron replied.
"Save it for the morning Ron. I am tired and you know I like to talk."
"I know." Ron mumbled turning around and walking back up the stairs to his room probably forgetting why he came down in the first place.
Hermione stayed by the fire and continued to watch the flames dance in the ashes as they died down. She drifted off as she watched the final flame burn out into a puff of smoke. It was there on the couch –curled up into a ball—that Mrs. Weasley found her in the morning.
"Hermione dear you should get back up stairs and changed before the boys come down for breakfast. I'll bring it up to you if you don't feel well." Mrs. Weasley said as she shook Hermione awake.
"It won't be necessary. I'll eat with the family. I only fell asleep here last night when I couldn't get back to sleep in Ginny's room." Hermione told her rubbing her eyes and sitting up.
"She did tell me you had nightmare." Mrs. Weasley said. "I can only hope it wasn't too terrifying."
"Oh it wasn't. It just showed something I whole heartedly never wish to happen happening." Hermione replied. "I'll go get changed now and wake Ginny if she isn't up yet."
"That would be very nice of you and if it's not too much of a bother could you wake Ron. I swear that boy wouldn't wake for a hail storm unless he smelled food."
"I'll wake him Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said.
Mrs. Weasley left the sitting room and headed into the kitchen. Hermione pushed herself up from the couch and stretched before trudging up the stairs to change and wake up Ginny and Ron. She ran into Bill on the stairs and he looked away from her while quickly mumbling good morning and passing her. Fleur followed him a few seconds later only her greeting was in her native language French. Hermione slipped into Ginny's room and quickly changed.
She walked over to Ginny who was still sleeping and shook her shoulder.
"Come on Gin wake up. Your mum's got breakfast cooking."
Ginny replied with an incoherent mumble.
"Come on Gin wake up." Hermione groaned.
Ginny replied with more incoherent mumbles. To which Hermione groaned.
"Fine let Ron eat all the food." Hermione said leaving the room.
She walked up the flight of stairs and to Ron's room. It was messy like always but Ron was a boy and she couldn't expect his room to be clean as a brand new apartment. She found Ron on the bed farthest from the door.
"Ron you need to wake up. Your mum has food ready down stairs." Hermione said. "And this is the only time I'll try to wake you up so if you don't get up now the food could be gone before you even get down there to eat it."
Ron grumbled and turned over to face the wall. Hermione just left the room she wasn't in the mood to fight more than one Weasley today. When she got down stairs Ginny, Bill and Fleur had plates of eggs in front of them. Mrs. Weasley ushered her to a seat next to Ginny and sat a plate full of eggs in front of her. Hermione dug into them just as Ron had thundered down the stairs.
"What are we having for breakfast?" he asked behind a yawn.
"Eggs and bacon. I'm saving the sausage for dinner." Mrs. Weasley setting another plate of eggs on the table.
"Has Mr. Weasley gone to work?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yes dear he got called into work early. I'm sure he'll be working late again too. I'll just have Bill take him some lunch. I'm afraid Errol is too week for the trip." Mrs. Weasley said puttering around the kitchen like she was looking for something to do.
"Mum we all have food you should sit down and eat. Just put a warming charm on dad's food and it will be fine." Bill said urging his mom to sit down.
Mrs. Weasley did sit down all though reluctantly so. She sat at the end of the table close to Bill but said nothing as she picked at her own plate of eggs. Hermione quickly ate hers and washed and put away her plate much to Mrs. Weasley's dismay. She quickly diapered up stairs and into Ginny's room. She grabbed one of the last wizarding law books she planned to look through before she returned to Hogwarts. She had also planned to ask Suzan Bones to ask her aunt what she thinks should happen under the guise of writing a book.
The book she had was old dusty and look like it was about ready to fall apart so she treated it with gentle care. It seemed to be filled with several different cases. There was one that wasn't as bad as Sirius case but because the convicted or non-convicted man had been under a citizen's arrest had been given a trial but they weren't wanted for murder and that made Hermione think that a murderer under citizen's arrest wouldn't be given that opportunity especially one of Sirius caliber.
"Hey Hermione what are you doing?" Ginny asked walking into her room.
"Just reading. I think I have finally found something that could help Sirius but I want to find it in the context that would fit his situation and the one I found didn't concern murder but robbery."
"If anyone can help Sirius it's you." Ginny said "You've helped us all. I doubt Harry would be alive today if it wasn't for you. You helped him through all those puzzles during first year. Your are the one who gave him the clue that helped him save me and third year you helped him save Sirius and at the time Sirius was only your best friend's godfather. Forth year you helped him with the task during the tournament even though you weren't supposed to and last year you helped him put the DA together all the while trying to figure out who your dad was."
"I know I just thought that I would have this done sooner and he would stand as human on the platform watching me and Harry go off to Hogwarts."
"Hermione he would be happy even if he was in his Padfoot form." Ginny replied. "He has shown that he would rather be there in that form than no form at all."
"But it's not the same as seeing his human form." Hermione countered.
"Have you told him that?" Ginny asked. "Have you been totally honest with him even the parts that you are mad about."
"No I haven't." Hermione replied. "And I may be considered a genius by muggles but that doesn't mean I am in the wizarding world. I'm still learning about the wizarding world."
"That's the point Hermione he's your dad he should be the one to teach you all these things and if it's the female aspect of it he should arrange it with my mum or one of his cousin to teach you those aspects. Hell it's those kinds of things you should write to him about or talk with him about whether it's face to face or in that mirror you have." Ginny said scowling.
"Don't look at me like that. You look like your mother doing that." Hermione said.
"Of course I do. Who do you think I learned it from?" Ginny said laughing.
"The same way Ron got his muggle obsession thing from your dad." Hermione said. "But I think that only concerns money as of right now."
"Well to be fair it does look a bit funny to us at least the paper money anyway because as wizards we don't have any nor do we see it very often." Ginny said.
Hermione and Ginny went back and forth like that. With Ginny telling Hermione a little bit about the magical world that she had yet to experience. It wasn't much that the two girls had spoken about but it made Hermione feel a little bit better that she knew more about the wizarding world. Their conversation had come to a game called Mash that Hermione would play with her muggle friends.
"Okay so how do you play the game?" Ginny asked.
"So you want to play it?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." Ginny replied.
"Okay first off there are twelve categories." Hermione said marking up a piece of parchment for Ginny to fill out. "Then under each heading you put four options once you have each heading filled out you pick a number and count that number over and over again over all the categories until you just have one option left in each one."
Ginny filled out the sheet that Hermione handed to her even though she thought some of the questions were weird.
"Here I'm done and the number I pick is seven." Ginny said.
Hermione stayed quiet as she figured out what Ginny's Mash sheet would turn out.
"Okay now that I have everything figured out. You have Harry as your spouse you have three kids two girls one boy to be named Lilly, Luna and Sirius respectively. You would live in France were you would also have your honeymoon after getting married here at the burrow. Your mode of transportation would be to apparition and you would go to the muggle college Harvard in America before or after you become a Quidditch player. Your pet would be and own and you would apparently die at sixty five." Hermione told her.
"So a good and decent life then?" Ginny said.
"Yep." Hermione replied.
"Well I'll leave you alone so you can write your detailed letter to Sirius." Ginny said before she left the room.
Hermione took out more parchment and just stared at it. She had no idea what to write down but had a lot of ideas in her head. Even with all the ideas she had she had no idea how to put them down on paper in a logical order because they were all so different from each other that there was no way to do that. Finally after minutes of thinking Hermione began with Sirius's name and a few seconds after that a simple sentence about why she was writing after that the words seemed to flow out of her.
Dad,
I am writing to you because there is a lot that I have to say and a lot I want to ask. Also be aware that I might have said some of this in previous letters but I guess it warrants being said again. I am also writing this letter at the suggestion of one Ginny Weasley who is just as formidable as her dear mother.
I guess the first thing I have to say or ask is did you ever try to find me? I am referring to the time before you were arrested for betraying Harry's parents and killing that rat and all those muggles. I mean did you even know about me then or were things too crazy in the magical world for you to even think about looking for me. This I guess brings about another question would you have fought my mother for custody?
My second point would be what wizarding customs are there that I should know but do not know? I know about the Yule ball and wizarding money but that's about it everything else is like a big black hole for me. Well not entirely because I know a little bit about the laws but not enough to make me seem like the half-blood I am because I think I should know a little more than the money and what to were to a school ball.
Well that's all I have to say. I thought I would have more to point out to you but it seems like I would be repeating the points I made above. As of right now I don't think there is anything else that I would like to or want to write about.
Sincerely Your Daughter,
Hermione
Hermione folded up the letter and sealed it closed with wax and gently carved her initials into it. She had no access to an owl right now. So sending the letter would have to wait. Hermione could wait to send it she just hoped that she wouldn't lose her nerve and burn the letter in the sitting room fireplace before she could send it.
After putting her letter to Sirius up Hermione once again took up a seat by Ginny's window. It was nearly lunch time now and the sky was blue. The color of the sky would leave you to believe that there was nothing wrong in the world and that there wasn't a seriously evil wizard traipsing around the country plotting to kill a sixteen year old boy.
"Hermione," Ginny yelled.
"What Ginny," Hermione asked.
"I've been calling you name for the past five minutes. Mum says it's time for lunch."
"I'll be down in a few." Hermione replied.
She wasn't tired or anything like that she just wanted a few more seconds to herself. After she took time to collect herself Hermione stood up and made her way down stairs. Mrs. Weasley didn't go all out for lunch. There were two platters on the table. One had sandwiches and the other had crisp on them.
Fleur was on the side of the table by the sink and Hermione was on the other side with Ginny. Ginny slid a plate over to Hermione so she could get her own food. The small group ate in science.
"Where's Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Oh he's with Fred and George." Ginny replied. "He doesn't want to be home while Mum does her cleaning before Harry gets here."
"Oh when is that?" Hermione asked.
"The day after next I believe." Ginny said.
The next few hours passed slowly. Fleur had come into Ginny's room an hour ago and tried talking to Hermione and Ginny like they were the best of girl friends and slowly tapered into talking at them like they were toddlers instead of the teenagers they were.