Harry Potter and The Guards of Gryffindor
Any thoughts on who Hannah is? All will be revealed!
After the house had quieted and everyone was asleep, Hermione rose out of bed. She grabed her napsack and sneakers and gave one final pet to Crookshankes and slipped out of Ginny's room to the boys room. The wild haired brunette sat next to Harry on his bed.
"Harry," she whispered. "Wake up."
Harry rolled over. "I'm up," he said clearly. Hermione nodded and slipped on her shoes as she walked over to Ron's bed.
"Ronald," she said softly. "It's time to go."
Ron rolled over and for the first time in his life, sat up, wide awake. "I'm up, 'Mione" She nodded and the boys put on their shoes. Each had slept in Muggle street clothes and packed the night before. The boys picked up their brooms and back packs and the trio headed down the stairs. They crept through the house, avoiding the creaky steps and boards and used hand signals to maneuver through the house.
Once outside, Ron mounted his broom. "Hermione, you should ride with Harry, he's the better flier," he sighed.
Harry shook his head. "Yeah, but I've also got a faster broom and I'm more of a target. Hermione should ride with you and if we get into any trouble, I'll run interference."
Ron nodded and Hermione climbed behind him. "Oh, I hate flying!" she whispered as they floated off the ground.
They weren't ten feet in the air before a curse slid past them. "Damn!" Harry cursed as he and Ron focused on flying. Moody and Kingsley were in the back yard throwing stunners and trying to stop the trio from leaving. Hermione drew her wand as the boys began to take flight and gain altitude. Curses were thrown at them, but Hermione blocked them with shields and counter curses.
Within minutes the trio was out of range from Kingsley and Moody and were on thier way to Ottery St. Chappole. They landed and quickly hid behind a trashbinwhile Ron signaled the Knight Bus. Stan and Ernie arrived in a flash and the trio quickly jumped onto the bus. "London, Ernie," Harry directed the old driver as he collapsed onto a bed.
Ron sat down across from him and just as Hermione went to sit, Ernie gunned the engine, pulling her off her feet and into Ron's lap. "Oh!" she sqealed as she fell.
"Ah!" Ron grunted as she fell on him. "You okay?" he asked with concern.
"Um, yes," Hermione said as she blushed and removed herself from her friend's lap. Harry watched the duo with a smirk, but said nothing.
"That was close," Ron sighed.
"Too close," Harry complained.
"They must have been watching the house," Hermione said calmly.
"Yeah, but why hex us?" Ron asked with sarcasm.
Harry slapped his forehead. "They're trying to keep us from running away."
"Fat lotta good that did," Ron said with a shrug as the bus moved toward London.
Back at the Burrow, Molly Weasley was ringing her hands and Moody explained what happened. "We saw three figures on two brooms outside the house and we started hexin' them as fast as we could. Only thing was one of 'em put up some shields and returned the curses as the other two flew off. Didn't notice it was Ron, Hermione and Harry 'till the moonlight hit Ron's red hair," Moody said sheepishly. "Sorry Molly."
Molly sniffed and whiped a tear from her eye, but said nothing. "Then Kingsley began to follow them, apparating from place to place and I woke Aurther, who woke McGonagall who went to the ministry. Aurther then called Remus and Tonks and began wakin' you all up," Moody finished.
The faces that surrounded the table were in shock. "So where are they goin'?" Oliver asked with his thick broage.
"We don't know," Charlie sighed. "I searched the boys room and I found nothing."
Hannah looked to Ginny, whose eyes were dark and heavy with sorrow. "Ginny, do you know where they went?" she asked.
Ginny shook her head. "They wouldn't tell me. Harry's had it planned since Dumbledore's funeral, that's when he broke it off with me. He said it wasn't safe and that he wouldn't be returning to school in the fall."
"They're gone!" Molly wailed.
"Where's Kingsley now?" Percy asked.
A flash of green light came from the fireplace as Aurther stepped out and brought Minerva with him. "He's with Tonks and Remus following the Knight Bus," Mr. Weasley supplied.
"I'll go meet them," Percy offered.
Aurther shook his head. "No Percy. George and Fred are going to meet up with them as am I. I don't know how Ron would take you being there." Percy nodded with guilt and Oliver took his hand in his.
"We'd like you to come with us Percy," McGonagall instructed firmly. "We're taking your mother and the rest of your family to Hogwarts."
"What?" Charlie asked with surprise.
"You'll be safer there and we'll bring Mr. Potter, Miss Granger and Ronald to the school, where they can't escape us," the Headmistress explained.
"We're safe here," Charlie protested. "And I should be going with Dad."
"No you are not, Mr. Weasley and it's already been discussed. You'll apparate to Hogsmead and then Hagrid will get you to Hogwarts," Minerva dictated. Charlie sighed with defeat as Molly stared at Hannah with a glazed expression.
"We'd best pack," Molly said hautily and the Weasley's began to hurry up the stairs to collect their belongings and Aurther flewed out of the house.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione made it safely to Muggle London and then snuck into the Leakey Cauldren to get into Diagon Ally. It was six in the morning and most of the world was still quiet in the wee hours. The trio quickly made their way to Gringotts Bank to make a withdrawl. It took nearly an hour, but Harry collected enough money to support the trio for the next six months.
As they walked out of the Goblin infested building, they did not see Kingsley, Fred, George, Tonks, Remus or Aurther, who all hid in plain sight, preparing to surround and capture the teenagers. As the trio made their way toward the Leakey Cauldren, the Order members revealed themselves, through Aurther.
"Ronald," Mr. Weasley said calmly as he approached his youngest son.
"Dad!" Ron yelped. Harry reached for his friend's arm to pull him away from his father, but Aurther kept coming closer.
"Ron..." Harry warned his friend as other Order members began to show themselves. Ron took Hermione's hand and stood his ground.
Mr. Weasley stopped and stiffened. "Harry, please, be reasonable. The three of you aren't safe. Let us bring you back home to Hogwarts." Hermione flinched as though she was burned at the mention of her school.
"You need more education and more training and when you've got the entire Order behind you, you can attack," Aurther continued. Ron rubbed his hands in his hair and Hermione worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
"Don't listen to him," Harry ordered. "He's just trying to lure you back!" Both shook their heads and reached for their wands.
"You need to come back to us," Aurther said sadly, but the teenagers did not listen.
Within seconds, Fred and George shouted, "Petrificus Totalus," at Hermione as Tonks and Aurther shouted the same curse at Ron. Both teenagers froze under the curse as Lupin and Kingsley approached Harry.
"Harry, don't make us do this," Remus said firmly. "You cannot go hunting Voldemort on your own!"
Harry glared at his mentor. "I have to!" he shouted. "Don't you understand? It's what I'm meant to do! Please, just let me go."
Remus shook his head, "No Harry. Not this way. Please, just come back to school, you're not ready yet."
Harry shook with anger and squared off to duel. Remus sighed with regret and he and Shaklebolt raised their wands. Harry was quick, though and screamed "Impedimenta," at Remus who began to slow as he cast his spell. Kingsley threw a Jelly-Legs Jinx at Harry trying to slow him without hurting the boy.
Harry quickly threw off the spell and shouted "Expelliarmus," at Kingsley.
Tonks reversed Remus's state and Remus shouted "Experlliarmus," at Harry, but the boy ducked the curse. Harry then threw the Bat-Bogey Hex at Fred and George, as he tried to get to Hermione and Ron.
Aurther was too fast for him though and put the unconscious teens hands on a book and shouted, "Portus," transporting them elsewhere.
"No!" Harry screamed as he watched his friends disappear and turned to face Remus who had his wand at Harry's throat.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Remus said harshly as Harry was stunned. Harry watched as his professor and his friends apparated and he was brought along. They arrived in Hogsmead, finding the rest of the Weasleys and their belongings.
"Can't you remove that curse now?" Molly asked Aurther with worry.
"No dear, let's wait until we're at the castle," her husband said wearily. "We nearly didn't get them as it was. If I hadn't had that portkey, there's no telling if we would have got them back here safely."
"But Aurther, they don't even have thier wands," Molly protested.
"Yes, but they've also become skilled at wandless magic, Molly," Remus sighed. "So we'll have to wait until we're at Hogwarts."
Molly shook her head and Hagrid appeared with a set of wagons. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all loaded into the carts along with the rest of the group and their belongings as they made thier way toward the old castle. Harry's heart filled with anger as he saw the guilty face that Remus wore. The warewolf sat across from the boy-who-lived and gazed with sad determination.
"You're going to finish your final year of school, Harry," he began. "You and Ron will not be permitted to take your Apperation exams until after your graduation. The three of you will be followed by an Order member at all times and you'll have to work without a wand for the next few months until school starts." Remus sighed. "I'm sorry it's come to this, but you cannot be trusted anymore." Harry's blank gaze hid his rage and his hurt. His professors and friends would not let him meet his destiny. They were holding him back, refusing to let him rid the world of the Dark Lord. Harry shook internally with anger, but the curse wouldn't let him vent.
By mid morning, the group was back at Hogwarts and Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all placed in the Great Hall, surrounding a small table. At the table sat Aurther, Molly, Ginny, Moody, Shaklebolt, Tonks, Lupin, Hagrid, McGonagall, Charlie, Hannah, Oliver, Percy, Fred, George, Bill and Fleur. Ron's stomach lurched with guilt when he saw his newly married brother at the table before him. His irresponsibility had lead to his brother being forced to cut his honeymoon short. He would never live it down... if he lived.
After Harry, Hermione and Ron were all sat into chairs by Madam Pomfry, Headmistress McGonagall stood and faced the trio. "I'm afraid your plan did not go as you anticipated," she said sternly. "I am going to keep you petrified until I am done with my speech, so get comfortable. I cannot have you interrupting me now." Minerva walked closer to the group, bringing with her from the table a small portrait of Albus Dumbledore. "I realize that the three of you are trying to carry out Professor Dumbledore's last wishes, but I do not feel that he wanted you to carry them out in this way," she continued. "I am so disappointed in you. You risked more then your own lives, you risked us all. Willing to give up your continued education and best chance at defeating the Dark Lord because you are unwilling to wait? What good will you do us if you're dead!" she spat with anger.
"Now Minerva," the portrait of Dumbledore chastized. "The children were trying to do what they thought was best."
"But Albus..." McGonagal complained.
"Their hearts were in the right place," Dumbledore said firmly. "Unfortunately, their heads were not. Because of this, we will have Order members watching over the three of you for the rest of the year. You will go nowhere without a guardian."
"How will you manage that, Professor Dumbledore?" Molly asked with concern.
The portrait smiled. "Well actually Molly," Minerva said with a faint smile. "I have a few positions available on the staff."
"Ahh!" Fred grinned. "And who're you hiring?" he asked as he rubbed his tender nose.
"Well, I've asked Percy and Charlie to be our Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures Professors," McGonagal revealed curtly. Oliver beamed proudly and Hannah kissed Charlie's cheek.
"What? And no jobs for us?" George asked with a sly grin. "Come on Professor, you know you want a Weasley staff."
Minerva raised her eyebrows. "You'd have to have finished school first, Mr. Weasley. And as neither you nor your twin have done that, I'll have to wait before I hire you as professors." The twins shrugged. "You will, however, be asked to serve as gaurdians. You will go to classes with Harry and finish your last year of school. Tonks, Alaster, Auror Shaklebolt, Aurther, Molly, Hagrid, Hannah, Bill and Fleur will all serve as guardians. The children are never to be let out of an Order member's sight. The three will share a room and Hagrid has agreed to take the night watch, so that the rest of us can make ourselves available for them during the day"
"Bloody Hell," Oliver mumbled. "I'm never gonna see my boyfriend."
Percy smiled and wrapped an arm around Oliver. "You can visit. The Weasley's are taking over the East Tower of the castle. Mum and Dad are on floor one, Charlie and Hannah are on two, Bill and Fleur are on three, the twins are on four, Tonks and Remus get five, and I get six, with you of course."
Minerva raised her eyebrow. "Are you quite finished?"
"Yes Ma'am," Percy said with embarressment.
"I will keep Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Ronald's wands until they have proven themselves level-headed and honest enough to earn them back. Until then, they will recieve their wands for class demonstration only," Minerva said firmly. "Is that clear?" she asked as she faced the three teenagers. "You will reside on the seventh floor of the East Tower." With that, McGonagall threw four Hogwarts letters down on the table and shouted, "Enervate!" and the teens coughed and sputtered and wiggled their sore muscles. Harry scowled, but said nothing. Hermione had tears welling in her eyes and Ron flushed with humiliation. "Professor Dumbledore's portrait will hang in my office," McGonagal said softly. "You are welcome to visit it any time. Alaster, Kingsley, Hagrid, why don't you come with me to my office to draw up a babysitting schedule," Minerva said with distain. The men nodded and followed the Headmistress and the picture of Dumbledore out of the Great Hall. Ginny glared at her brother and her friends, but said nothing.
Molly stood and shook with rage. "I cannot believe the three of you!" she shouted. "Risking not only your lives, but the lives of the Order members and your family... I'm so glad Minerva had Kingsley and Moody watching the house, I can't imagine what could have happened had they not been there to see you leave! Ah! I could just..." she said as she wrung her hands.
Aurther put his hands on his wife's shoulders. "...kill them," he finished for her. "But that wouldn't help the situation." Tears began to fall down Hermione's cheeks and Ron took her hand in his. Harry stared blankly at the floor. "The new precautions we're going to have to take because of your irresponsibility will also slow down our plans. We had been making contacts and developing a larger network of Wizards to help us with the fight, but now we can't go out and search like we were. We'll have to keep at least three of us here at all times to watch over you!" Aurther said with frustration. Ron paled at his father's anger and squeezed Hermione's hand tighter. "The three of you have become more of an obligation than a help to any of us. How you could be so selfish and so thoughtless is beyond me," Aurther spat as Harry flushed with indignation. Aurther turned to Ron. "Ronald, I am very dissappointed in you."
Harry shook his head as Ron turned his eyes to the ground. "No Mr. Weasley," Harry said with anguish. "If you're gonna be angry with anyone. Be angry with me." Harry looked at Ginny and continued. "It was my idea to go alone and Ron and Hermione were trying to protect me. They didn't want to go, but they did it out of loyalty to me. It's my fault Mr. Weasley. Please don't be angry with Ron. He didn't do anything wrong."
Aurther shook his head, but Remus spoke. "They should have been real friends and told one of us what was happening. They shouldn't have gone along with your idea. Harry, you're too valuable to risk yourself like that..."
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Remus Lupin!" she scolded. "You're lecturing Ron and Hermione for acting as you did when you were there age."
"It's not the same Nymphadora," Remus shook his head.
"It is!" Tonks shouted. "Like you would have told on Sirius, James, or Peter! You're such a hypocrite!" she spat as she ran from the room.
"Tonks!" Remus sighed as he followed the women from the room.
Molly let out a choked sob as the rest of the Weasleys remained silent. The room was tense with anger charged emotions.
"Maybe we should go upstairs," Oliver suggested to Percy as the lecture seemed to be just begining. Percy nodded and the two left the room quickly.
Ron eyed Bill and a stoney faced Fleur and tears began to well up in his eyes. "Bill..." he started, "I'm so sorry about your honeymoon... You shouldn't of come."
Bill sighed with irritation. "Yeah and I was supposed to be able to enjoy my time with my bride when I knew that my younger brother was off trying to get himself killed? It doesn't work that way Ron."
Ron blinked the tears away, refusing to let them fall. Hermione clutched Ron's hand tighter and took a deep breath. "We all make choices in this life and this was ours. You may not have agreed with it, but it was our decision to make and live with."
"Die with," Ginny burst from her imposed silence. "You wouldn't have lived. You'd have died. All of you! And you knew it! You knew that you were going off to die and you didn't even tell anyone or say goodbye. You were trying to spare us. To save the world? No, you wouldn't have saved anyone. All you would have done was died. I hate you for this. I hate all of you!" she screamed as she ran from the Great Hall.
Harry rubbed his scar and his eyes, to prevent anyone from seeing him cry. Ginny's outburst was the worst of all. He could handle anyone else being angry with him, but not Ginny. He walked as if to follow her, but was stopped by George.
"No Harry," he warned. "Let her be."
"Fred, let me go!" Harry spat as he struggled against the arm holding him.
"It's George, Harry, and I'm not letting you go," he said sternly, looking for the first time every bit his nineteen years. "You have to go with one of us. So storm after my sister if you want, but know that my brother or I are gonna be with you while you pour your heart out."
Harry sagged with defeat. "Bugger..."
"Harry Potter!" Molly chided him as the boy sank against the wall and watched as the women continued with her previous tangent. The remaining Weasley's listened to the matriarch shout, rant, and rave for the next hour. Aurther finally made her stop.
"Molly, that's enough. I'm sure the following weeks will be enough punishment to let the children know how very stupid their actions were," he said firmly. "Now, lets get upstairs and get some rest. Bill and Fleur can resume their honeymoon and Charlie and Hannah can take the first shift as babysitters." Aurther stood and took Molly by the hand. "Have a nice vacation," he said kindly to Bill and Fleur as they followed the older Weasley's out of the Great Hall.
All that remained were George, Fred, Hannah, Charlie, Ron, Hermione and Harry. The teenagers all looked withdrawn and weary. As if on cue, Dobby appeared with a tray of sandwiches and juice and sat it at the table.
"Dobby is bringing Harry Potter food," the house elf said with glee as he ran to his favorite wizard. "Dobby is so glad Harry Potter is back at Hogwarts."
Harry forced a smile and gave Dobby a hug. "Thanks Dobby." With that, Dobby disapperated out, leaving the group with food.
Charlie and Hannah scooted over, making room at the table for the trio. Ron, Harry, and Hermione all slowly walked over to the table and sat down. Fred passed at sandwiches out and George poured the juice. After a painfully quiet lunch, Hannah flipped the Hogwarts letters that sat on the table over and handed them to the trio.
Hermione grinned slightly at the letter and quickly opened it. Ron ripped his open with trepidation and Harry glanced at his, but didn't really read it. Hermione blushed at the Head Girl badge that fell into her hands.
"Congrats, Hermione," Charlie mumbled.
"Thank you," Hermione sighed. "But I should return it. It's an honor I don't deserve."
Ron shook his head. "'Mione, you deserve it. Don't say that." Hermione blushed and Ron looked down at his own letter. "Bloody Hell!" he screatched. "What was she thinking?"
Fred glanced at his brother, "What is it?"
Ron held up the Head Boy badge with shock and disbelief. "No bloody way!" George laughed.
"We've a new big head boy in the family!" Fred chuckled.
Hermione shot the twins glares and then turned to Ron. "Congradulations Ron!" she smiled. "You've really proved yourslef as a leader in our school."
Ron paled and turned to Harry who half smiled and shrugged. "Good luck," he smirked.
"Thanks," Ron gulped.
Hannah smiled. "This is brilliant! Both Ron and Hermione are the Head students. Your parents will be so proud!"
"Yeah, after the urge to kill us is over," Ron mumbled.
Charlie ruffled his little brother's hair. "Oh, they'll get over it. As long as you three give up on your plans to chase Voldemort on your own."
"About that," George interrupted, "What the Hell were you three planning to do?"
Harry shot warning glances at his best friends. "We have a plan, but it's not something we can talk about," Hermione said honestly.
"Right," Fred said with disbelief. "That's believable."
"We did," Ron growled. "And we would be out their doing it had Shaklebolt and Mad-Eye not been there."
"Yeah, whatever Ron," Charlie drawled, but the conversation was over. Hermione began to worrie her lower lip. "Charlie, why were Kingsley and Moody there, anyway?"
Charlie shrugged. "Protecting us, I suppose."
Hannah coughed. "They were looking out for me," she said with a sigh.
"Huh?" Ron spat.
"Why?" Hermione asked with curiosity.
Hannah winced and glanced at Charlie, who nodded encouragingly. "Well, Headmistress McGonagal is concerned that my family might come after me."
"And that's a bad thing?" Fred asked with amusement.
Hannah smiled weakly. "Yeah. Fred my family isn't like the Weasleys. I'm not even sure who all of them are, because my grandfather didn't want me to know them. They're bad people. My dad's in Azkaban and his son's a Death Eater."
"Whoa," Ron muttered.
"Yeah," Hannah shrugged.
"So, who are they?" George asked curiously.
Hannah rubbed her face. "Headmistress McGonagal says I shouldn't tell anyone. She's afraid that it'll endanger you, but I don't think it matters. It's a matter of public record anyway, so they can find me if they really want to. So here goes... My dad is Lucious Malfoy."
"What!" Harry shouted as Ron gapped and Fred and George sat stunned.
"Draco Malfoy's your brother?" Hermione asked with regret. Harry paled, knowing the boy was partly responsible for Dumbledore's death and had used Unforgiveables to control and hurt others.
"Half-brother," Charlie corrected.
"My mum was Mary-Anne Shephard. She dated Lucious while they were still in school, before he took the Dark Mark," Hannah explained. "She killed herself when she found out he'd gone dark. Couldn't take it. I was handed over to my grandfather, Atticus Shephard, and Lucious Malfoy was never told of my existence, but McGonagall swears that he knows about me. He married Narcissa Black, had Draco and they remain unaware that I'm even alive."
"Bloody Hell," Ron cursed.
"You're a Malfoy..." Hermione shuttered.
"No," Charlie shook his head. "She's a Weasley. And don't any of you forget that. She'll never be one of those vendictive bastards." The small group nodded silently, unnerved by Charlie's harsh words.
"Sorry Han," Fred appologised.
"No worries," Hannah said genuinely. "That's part of the reason I don't exactly advertise who my folks were."
"Understandable," Harry grinned. "I feel, to some extent, your pain." Han smiled. "Yeah."
Charlie threw his arm around his wife and stared at the plate of sandwiches untouched before them. "Come on guys. Let's get you guys up to your room." The trio stood and followed the other Weasley's up to the East tower, later to be known as the Weasley Wing.
As they climbed the stairs, Ron began to think about their new living situation. "So we, as in the three of us are going to share a room?" he asked Charlie as he eyed Hermione wearily.
"Yep, Hagrid's gonna share the room with you. So it'll be the four of you in the seventh floor," Charlie said with a smirk. "You're always gonna have someone with you."
Always, Ron thought. I'll always be followed by an Order member, always. No time alone, ever. NO TIME ALONE, EVER. "Bloody Hell," he swore as he thought of the implications on his private... life, or lack thereof.
"You have no idea," Fred laughed as he looked at Hermione. Hermione blushed as she began to understand the boys' thought process.
Hannah turned to face the young woman as they climbed the last set of stairs to the Weasley Wing. "It's okay 'Mione. You'll have your own bathroom and you'll have one of us ladies taking you to it. I've been unofficially assigned as your personal gaurdian as have Fred and George for Ron and Bill for Harry. The three of you will not have any alone time, but we'll try to give you a little... space."
Hermione shuttered as Fred spoke the password to the East Tower to a portrait of Heratio Hobblebee, "Risk."
The door opened to a small living area filled with purple couches and red arm chairs. A long wooden table filled a corner of the room that had a door that lead to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's room. A large fireplace faced the opposite wall and the stairwell was directly across from the entry with a loo off to the side. The room had many books and portraits of Weasley's. Knit blankets were piled on the sofas making the room cozy and warm. The Weasley clock with additional hands for Harry, Hannah, Hermione, and Fleur sat in the cornor with all hands facing home. Obviously, Mrs. Weasley had been busy. The room was full, but devoid of people as the rest of the family were sleeping in their rooms. At the second floor landing, Charlie and Hannah left the teens.
"Hagrid's waiting for you upstairs," Charlie explained as Fred and George pushed the teenagers up the stairs.
"Try to rest," Hannah said encouragingly as she followed her husband into their bedroom.
Fred snickered. "Alright dumbasses," he laughed. "Let's get you off to bed."
The group passed Bill and Fleur's empty room on the third floor, where a second loo was located and climbed up to the fourth where they passed their rooms. "Aren't you going to rest?" Hermione asked.
The twins shook their heads. "After we've dropped you off with Hagrid."
"Oh come on," Ron complained.
"No little brother," George said seriously. "You really aren't going to be trusted alone." The trio grumbled and ran up the stairs past a loo and Tonks and Remus' room on floor five, past Percy and Oliver on floor six, to their new room on the seventh floor. Hermione was thankful for the loo located outside their room and was the first to walk into their chamber. The light blue walls were covered by four beds and a central heating stove. An orange drapped bed, a red drapped bed, a brown drapped bed and a pink drapped bed all were prepared for inhabitants. Hagrid sat on the large brown bed and smiled sadly when the trio arrived.
"They're all yours Hagrid," Fred said with a wave as he and his brother shoved Ron in and left the room, shutting the door behind them.
Hagrid stood from a chair near the stove and walked over to the trio, encompassing them in a hug. "I'm so glad you've come 'ome," he cried. "I was worried sick."
Ron flushed and pushed away from the half-giant. "We're fine Hagrid, really."
Hagrid nodded and released Hermione and Harry. "Good to see you Hagrid," Harry said with a weak smile as he went to the red bed and sat down, facing the window.
"Glad to be seen," Hagrid grinned as he sat back down and returned to darning his socks.
Hermione rubbed her face in an attempt to hide her tears, but Ron saw through her cover and put his arm around her shoulder. "'Mione," he said soothingly. "Relax. It won't be that bad."
Hermione threw off his arm and walked toward her bed. "Please Ronald!" she spat. "We're to be treated like children! We won't have our wands! We'll be escorted everywhere! This is terrible!" Ron sighed and walked over to his friend.
"Hermione, please," he pleaded, "don't do this. Don't get yourself all worked up over something that's going to blow over soon enough."
"Blow over?" Harry asked with a smirk. "You think they're going to forgive and forget?"
"They could," Ron said with forced optimism.
"Sure," Harry said as he rolled his eyes, "that's believable."
Ron shook his head and Hermione collapsed onto her pink bed sighing, "I'm in Hell!"
Ron chuckled and Harry smiled as he looked out the tower window to the afternoon sun. Hagrid said nothing during their conversation, acting as though he wasn't hearing what was said. Ron shrugged with defeat after a while and jumped onto his own, orange bed. Falling fastly asleep.
Several floors below him, Ron's brother Charlie and his wife were having their own discussion.
"This plan is rediculous!" Hannah said as she pulled off her boots. "We can't expect teenagers to live under that kind of scrutiny for that long, they'll snap."
Charlie sat beside her one the bed and pulled off his green sweater. "Han, they nearly got themselves killed..."
"Because they were trying to protect everyone around them!" Hannah argued as she threw her sweater and jeans to the floor. "They have this whole complex where they can't risk anyone's life, but their own. I don't know where it came from, but it's there and they're only going to keep feeling that way if we isolate them like this. And no wands! How are they to defend themselves if they do end up in trouble?"
"They won't..." Charlie began, but was cut off by his bride.
"Besides, do you really think it's a good idea to let Ron and Hermione spend all that time together without a way to release all that sexual frustration? They'll either kill each other or end up pregnant."
Charlie flopped backwards onto the bed, laughing. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Put them back into the dorms when school starts," Hannah said earnestly as she climbed under the blankets of their bed. "Give them back their wands and stop with the babysitters."
Charlie snorted as he stood and took off his jeans. "Yeah, like my mum's ever gonna let that happen."
"We have to show them that we trust them," Hannah sighed as Charlie took off his socks. "We have to give them information and respect their opinions. We need to start treating them like adults and then maybe they'll start acting like them."
Charlie sat down. "Isn't that kinda backwards?"
Hannah shook her head. "No it's logical."
Charlie pulled his wife to his chest and fell back onto the bed. "Yeah, I guess, but my mum and dad aren't gonna have it."
"Then they'll loose them," Hannah said with a little sob.
"Then we'll just have to find them again, won't we," Charlie said as he kissed her forehead and they sat in silence.