Ch 4 – The meeting of the Order
It was a hot Thursday evening when Lupin, Tonks watched the rest of the Order Of The Phoenix apparate or floo into their flat which had been given a lot of wards and things for Harry frequently staid there and although the war was over as Moody would say 'Constant Vigilance'.
But although Hermione knew she was safe here she was sure she felt Dementors near by for she was suddenly cold as ice, shaking, and with all these black cloaked people around her you couldn't convince her otherwise at the moment.
This state of unbelief was how Hermione staid until she felt a kind hand on her shoulder and a gentle voice speaking to her. "There, there," McGonagall said, softly. "Don't worry about a thing; we know you had nothing to do with Harry and Ron's disappearance. I mean if it hadn't been for you keeping those boys out of trouble all these years..."
"Minerva," Albus spoke stopping her rant of Hermione's heroism. "Now let's get this meeting called to Order."
Hermione stood and turned toward Mrs. Weasley who had of yet to talk with her. "Mrs. Weasley?" but Molly seemed to have ignored her or just not heard so Hermione raised her voice a little more repeating her call and finally Molly turned to look at her.
"Yes dear?" Mrs Weasley replied.
Hermione took a deep breath trying to sound confident but she failed as a few words fell from her mouth. "I was just wondering...you probably do but...are you sure you don't blame me for Ron's disappearance...I mean I would never do anything to hurt Ron or Harry."
The Order had stopped talking and looked from Hermione to Mrs Weasley and back again. Mrs Weasley's smile had died out and her face gave out a glow of uncertainty. "I..." she looked ashamedly away as Mr. Weasley walked over to Hermione.
"We know deep down you would never hurt either one of those boys but... sometimes..."
Hermione frowned, "What are you saying?"
Arthur sighed, "Sometimes we don't have a choice and well...
"I wasn't imperioused," Hermione said chocking on her words as she tried to convince him but saw she failed miserably.
"Alright Arthur," Albus called, "we can talk about feeling later right now..."
"Why don't you take Hermione upstairs Minerva," Molly barely whispered.
But as Minerva made to escort her away Hermione pulled away from her, "I have every right to be here... I'm just as much part of the Order as anyone."
"NO!" Molly nearly yelled stepping toward Hermione as if shielding her from the rest of the group as if Hermione might strike out and harm any one of them at any moment even if she didn't mean to.
Hermione backed away hurt by the look Molly held in her eyes. "You do blame me!" Hermione bit her lip as tears weld in her eyes at the loss of this mother figures trust. "After all we've been through I thought you had learned not to believe everything you hear."
"I don't..." Molly started but stopped and this time no one came to her rescue so she continued. "I... I just want Ron back!"
"I know," Hermione said a little calmer, "as do I... and I can help."
All at once voices cut through all with their objections or opinions.
"No, she could be under some curse."
"Let her stay... she has experience."
"We can't risk it."
"I trust her!"
"She allowed this to happen."
"SILENCE!!" Albus's voice cut through the chatter but it was Hermione's voice that spoke next.
"I didn't ALLOW this!" And as if stabbed in the heart she turned to go feeling very betrayed by the people she loved.
"Headmaster, she can be trusted," a sleek voice spoke stopping Hermione at the door. Hermione turned to see Snape staring right at her with an expressionless look on his face. "She has knowledge that we can use to our advantage," he said with his arms crossed turning back to Albus.
"And how do we know you can still be trusted," Molly bit back accepting his steely eyes upon her and not flinching. "I mean it was you who..."
"MOLLY," Albus stopped all this bickering, "you all know that I trust Snape and he has never given any of you cause for alarm and has on many times saved someone's life that would have otherwise been caught or killed. Now can we please get on with the meeting?" People all around sat as they nodded and Albus caught Hermione by the shoulder encouraging her and telling her without words that she was welcomed at this meeting. "The main order of business tonight is where Ron and Harry are or how to find them."
Lupin cleared his throat and Albus nodded that the floor was his. "I wanna know what the potions were that Severus used on them.
"And why the bloody hell it took Hermione remembering to get him to come forward," Tonks added hotly as all eyes turned on Severus who didn't look at all phased.
"I used many blood replenishing potions as well as several that would be pointless to explain since none of you would understand."
Albus went on for Severus, "Severus couldn't inform you either because it would have blow his cover and Harry and Ron would be lost with us not having any inside connection because if Severus turned us onto Harry's attack there is only one person who could have told us..."
"They do not trust me as the Dark Lord did and this mission was put to one person and one person only and the rest of us were informed about it moments before it took place. When I found out about it I went straight for the apartment and was still almost too late," Severus informed everyone.
Albus stood and conjured a pensive, "Severus the memory if you please. Molly I suggest..."
"No," Molly said rather bravely looking at Hermione in a somewhat kinder way, "I wish to know."
Hermione on the other hand already knew all to well what happened and did not wish to see anymore of her friend's blood that she was now accused of spilling and Tonks who really didn't need to see it offered to sit with her as every other adult in the room dove into Severus's memories with him. Less then five minutes later Severus pulled them all from the basin and Molly was weeping uncontrollably and threw herself at Hermione. Now at first Hermione was taken aback not sure whether Molly still blamed her or what but then when her arms tightened around her and embraced her in a shaky hug as she planted a few motherly kisses on her head as she threw words out like, "You're alive... oh you poor things... I'm so happy they have you as a friend..."
"Come Molly," Arthur pride her off Hermione after giving her a quick many hug and a I'm glad you are around gaze which everyone seemed to be wearing now that they were all out of Snape's memory as they all seemed to be inclined to come round and give Hermione a hug and most said something like Molly; everyone that is except Snape who just gave her a sharp nod which Hermione returned as Albus cleared his throat pulling the room back to attention.
"Hermione," he as well as they rest of the room looked at her, "I know I speak for all here that we are glad you made it back to us even though it took a month and we really could use your help for even though memories are fickle we knew that you are of age and are just as worried about your friends are we are."
Hermione looked around and all the faces did indeed agree with Albus; even Molly's who was still wet with grief. "I'm..." Hermione couldn't continue for she had no words of gratitude but instead looked at Albus charging forward with the question that had been on her mind since she last saw her memory. "What now?"
Albus was silent for a moment as he stroked his beard but then began by saying, "Well I think we who know Miss Lovegood can say for sure that, that person we say was not Miss Lovegood..."
"Luna would never hurt..." Hermione interrupted and then stopped shocked at her rudeness but saw by the look on Albus's face that it was quite all right at the moment.
Albus continued, "Since Minerva and I first saw Severus's memory we have formed a plan. See the real Miss Lovegood is currently recovering for numerous injuries for a brutal attack from which Severus informed us had happened and we, Minerva and I, rescued her from a set of Death Eaters with little risk to either of us since it was the none too smart Jr. Crabbe and Parkinson..."
"Neither of which could ever transfigure so much as a tea bag," Minerva finished with a chuckle.
"Indeed," Albus went on, "we then did something I never thought I'd agree to but I have allowed Filch to stand guard over the prisoners we now have stationed in one of the many dungeons Slytherin once set up a thousand years ago."
"The dungeons," Molly squeaked, for although she hated Death Eaters the idea of children or anyone for that matter being locked up saddened her.
"Nothing else we can do for then," Albus said, "a couple teachers are making normal daily trips down there to make sure that they are getting everything they need and talking to them about the good side but I'm not holding out any kind of hope for the dark side is strong and rarely returns anyone back to us once they've crossed." Everyone instinctively looked at Severus who pretended not to notice as Albus went on, "What we need is someone to go to the real Luna Lovegood and see if they can't extract the memory of her month long imprisonment from which I hope to learn a little more about our lost loved one's location."
"When do I leave," Tonks offered feeling it was the perfect missions for an animagi like herself and although Albus knew under normal circumstances she would be correct he shook his head.
"Not this time Dora," then he turned to Hermione, "we need someone who knows Luna as a friend... who can win her trust and talk with her assuring her all is well."
"ME?" Hermione was a little surprised he wanted her to go anywhere since she was wanted for murder; she really expected him to just lock her up in somewhere like Grimmauld Place and tell her to sit tight like he had with Sirius. "But Sir..."
Albus held up a hand stopping her, "I know your objections Miss Granger and I know Dora would be a better choice but if Luna asks a security question or anything like that to prove you are who you are going to tell her you are then we want someone who actually know your friendship. Now of course we can't have you gallivanting around looking like you since you are now wanted so Severus," he turned to Snape who produced a goblet of potion Hermione knew all too well as the last time she took it she spent over a month in the hospital with whiskers. "You will be taking some of Nymphadora hair and proceeding straight to the hospital because Tonks has an appointment to debrief Miss Lovegood tonight at eight."
Severus who was sitting next to Tonks reached over and before she could stop him pulled one of her hairs out. "OUCH," Tonks frowned now rubbing the spot where her hair departed company with her scalp.
"Miss Granger," Severus said holding out the goblet to Hermione who took it tentatively but then drank it down. "Remember only and hour," Snape reminded her as she painfully changed into the beautiful copy of the woman sitting next to her.
"Very nice," Minerva, who was on the other side of her, approved.
"Alastor," Albus stopped everyone from leaving as the meeting had been called, "didn't you have something to tell Miss Granger about her parents?"
Moody grunted not sure what he was on about but then remembered, "I got word from one of my Aurors that both your have been successfully had their minds returned to normal and they want you to know that they understand if you can't contact them for awhile and they want you to know that they love you very much."
A tear escaped the impostor Tonks' eye as the single tear traced it's way down her check. "Thank you," she whispered more grateful for that bit of good news then she'd be about anything in a long time.
"Constant Vigilance!" Moody growled not really liking emotions on the faces of his Aurors and Hermione quickly wiped away the tear as Tonks circled her nodding.
"You make a good me," she smirked.
"An hour people," Snape reminding everyone and with a nod Hermione gave the room one last look, stepped into the fire flooing to St. Mungo's without another word.