"Potter, party of six."

"Of course, Mr. Potter. Right this way." The snooty looking, attractive waiter leaned over to Hermione with a very kind smile. He wasn't as snooty as he looked. "And congratulations, Miss."

Hermione smiled and blushed humbly. "Thank you, sir."

"Right this way, folks," the waiter said, straightening up and leading the Order through the Wand Star Grande to a very expensive table, under a giant window that allowed them a beautiful view of the clear night sky. As they walked through, people quieted and stared. Many even stood and saluted.

One little boy approached Hermione tentatively, despite his mother's hushed yells to return.

"Awe you 'Ermione Granga?" the little boy asked.

Hermione smiled and knelt down to his height. "Why, yes, I am."

He smiled and hugged her. "Thank you fow saving my daddy."

Hermione's heart swelled and she hugged him back.

"Of course-it was my pleasure."

"I hope you is happy like we is."

Hermione froze for a split second before her smile returned and she squeezed him tight one more time before standing and taking his hand. "Shall I take you to your mum?"

He stood and nodded, and Hermione took him to the grateful mother. After insisting that she didn't mind at all, Hermione took her seat at the head of the table, Harry at her right and Draco at her left.

She chatted excitedly with everyone she could, narrowly avoiding conversation with Ron.

Finally, just as they'd finished ordering, Ginny stood up, causing all eyes to move to her.

She shuffled awkwardly. "I'm going to the ladies room." She paused. "Hermione?"

Hermione stopped in her conversation with Draco and glanced at Ginny, the smile practically gone. She was trying to gauge what Ginny's intentions were when she realised that everyone was awaiting her answer.

"Of course, Ginny," Hermione replied civilly, getting to her feet and picking up her beaded clutch, pushing in her chair slowly as she gave Harry a worried look before following swiftly after Ginny.

Once they were sure no one was in there, Ginny moved to the browse the perfume samples to buy herself some time to collect her thoughts. Hermione granted her all of the time she needed, shuffling her feet in the meantime, glancing at her pale, thin reflection in the mirror. Deciding she hated the reflection, she returned her attention to Ginny, who was regaining some self-confidence an was readying herself to tell Hermione what she needed to.

"Hermione, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting."

Hermione rose an eyebrow. "And what way is that?"

Ginny sighed and leaned over the sink, pressing her forehead to the cool glass of the mirror. "I've been being such a little brat. I don't know what's come over me-we used to be best friends, you know?"

Hermione nodded slowly, wondering what had suddenly brought all of this on. She and Ginny hadn't been on good terms since sixth year, when Ginny's dating became serious and she dumped Harry. She'd suddenly become too good for them, and had ran off with every boy she could.

But now, there seemed to be something a little different about her.

"What's going on, Ginny? Are you alright?"

Ginny smiled and laughed lightly, a small, whispery sound through her nose. "Yes, I'm alright. Of course I am. In fact, I'm better than I've been in a long time." She moved her eyes to Hermione's. "I've met someone. And they've changed me back to the old Ginny-the Ginny you used to WANT to be around."

Hermione gave Ginny a soft smile, moving forward to give her a small hug. "I'm glad. I've missed you."

Ginny laughed lightly and wiped a tear from her eye. "I was so scared you wouldn't want to be my friend again."

Hermione shook her head. "As long as you're sorry. Now...if you don't mind my asking...?"

"You want to know who I've met, am I right?"

Hermione nodded sheepishly.

Ginny sighed and did a little twirl. "Blaise Zabini."

"Really?" Hermione asked, eyebrows slightly raised.

"Yeah," Ginny replied, sighing again. "Do you know him?"

"Pretty well," Hermione replied, nodding. "He helped with...ah..." She cleared her throat.

Ginny nodded, understanding she meant the ordeal with Ron at the end of seventh year.

"Is he seeing anyone?"

"Not that I know of," Hermione replied. "But how will you see him? Aren't you returning to Hogwarts for your seventh year?"

Ginny sighed and nodded. "Yeah. But I'll find a way."

The two of them soon returned to the table. Draco and Harry gave Hermione concerned looks, but Hermione just smiled reassuringly, glad to find her food had arrived. While she still hadn't completely reformed an appetite, she could appreciate the small but expensive and delicious dishes that the Wand Star Grande had to offer.

The conversation between the friends was light and happy. Soon, the topic of Hermione's appearance came up.

"Hermione, dear, you look especially wonderful tonight," Molly Weasley said with a happy twinkle in her eye. "Did you cut your hair?"

Hermione nodded, smiling. "I did. I like it better this way, I think."

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Shorter. I like it."

"She only did it because she knows I like long hair," Ron mumbled under his breath, hoping no one would hear. But, of course, they did.

The happy look dropped from Hermione's face. Draco repressed the strange urge to snarl.

"Did you ever think that maybe she doesn't want to have anything to do with you in any way at all?" he growled, trying his best not to attract attention.

Ron looked away from the table, his arms crossed. "Whatever, Malfoy. Who cares."

"I think you do," Ginny said under her breath.

"Ginny?" Ron said quietly. It sounded like a whisper, like he was asking if she, too, were ganging up on him, but it also sounded like a warning, a warning for her to shut up, and fast.

"Just grow up, Ron," Ginny continued, ignoring her brother.

He stood up fast, his plate flipping over.

"Ron!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, also getting to her feet, but at this point, it didn't matter. As Ron looked like he might make a move for Ginny, all of the lights in the restaurant shut off, the doors all slammed shut, and a ghostly wind came through the room, whipping across the tables, scattering napkins and even plates. It gradually got stronger, and more concentrated in a single area.

Finally, Rodolphus Lestrange stood on the table, right in front of Hermione.

All he had time to do was smirk and twitch his hand to his wand before both Draco and Harry had tackled Hermione to the floor and out of the way.

Rodolphus laughed. "You're no match for me, you two," he said. "Calm down and simply listen to my message. I'm naught but an image, aren't I?"

Sirius stood cautiously and poked his hand through Rodolphus's leg. It went straight through, confirming what he'd just said.

"I'm here to tell you that there is no reason to fight," he said. "You're all dead. All of you. Everyone here. Dead." His lip curled back in a cruel sneer. His gaze swept across the room, taking in every last frightened face. "We will kill you all: mudbloods and blood traitors alike. Especially each and every member of the order. Especially..." he paused her, his gaze locking on Hermione. "Miss Granger. You will die first-" his finger raised to point directly at her, where she was sitting on the floor, half guarded by Harry and Draco. "And your knowledge, skills, and magic will be used against you and everyone you love."

He smirked once again, letting out one low chuckle before he disappeared in a whirlwind of smoke.

...

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