Chapter 4
Residents of the Burrow hardly slept that night; the four men turned up hopeless at around 4:30 in the morning and went straight to bed. Percy couldn't sleep so he decided to get up and eat something. To his surprise his sister in law was already sitting at the table and munching on some sandwiches…
"Good Morning Percy…couldn't sleep?"
Percy scratched the back of his head and nodded, he was still not that familiar with Fleur as he met her properly only after the war…
"It's quite early for you too…I mean its only 6"
"I was 'ungry…and also worried about Hermione…poor girl…she's seen too much for her age!"
"Yeah! You are right…Harry and Ron are really lucky to have her…"
"Percy?..." asked Fleur…her expression showed that she just came up with a brilliant idea, she pushed her plate of sandwiches towards Percy and asked, "do you think she tried to call on that muggle device … " Percy opened his mouth to interrupt her but she just raised her arm asking him silently to let her finish.
" I know we don't ave that device but Arry does at his muggle relatives, I was wondering if she tried to reach him there or left some message…It's just a thought…what do you think?" Fleur herself was a bit confused about how she got the idea, maybe it's because Hermione told her the story of Ron and her phone calls to Harry during their summer holidays and how his relatives reacted. So maybe she still has his number and tried to call…
Percy thought it was a brilliant idea, "she doesn't know her house was destroyed here so you never know she called her own number…I can just ask Penelope to get the information …" He jumped but felt Fleur's hand on his arm…
"Percy Professor said everything was destroyed there and it's a barren land there and nothing else…"
"But Percy we can check on Arry's relatives … No?" continued Fleur.
"We? … I am sorry but Fleur can u apparate or floo in your condition…?" asked Percy with a concerned look.
Fleur laughed at this statement…"yes it is perfectly fine and if I am going with you. I really want to help Hermione. She is a very nice girl. I am pregnant not disabled…let's go…" With that she offered her hand for him to take and they both walked out and apparated to ministry. They want to get information about the Dursleys. One of the aurors who were supposed to be on duty with them was present at the ministry while other was still on guard duty at their muggle residence. After long interrogation from them (of Percy and fleur) they finally told them the address. In fact the auror accompanied the two to their place. Fleur took some time and sent a note to the Burrow informing them of their whereabouts to avoid another panic in the family.
After some cold greetings with Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, they sat down in their lounge and inquired about any phone calls from a girl named Hermione. They said shook their heads and told them that it has only been a week since they got back and are trying to settle down…"sir, we appreciate your concern but we'd like to get back to our normal life…" was the cold reply from Mrs. Dursley.
Fleur noticed how they didn't ask after Harry…not once or the fact that why a girl name Hermione would call them…they never let Percy and Fleur finish. She could see that they were lying or hiding something. Right then Dudley made an entrance; he looked at the two new visitors and greeted them politely.
"Is my cousin alright? " Dudley asked right away. Percy and fleur were both taken a back with his question…
" Dudley dear those men told jus that he won and all that…so…" Petunia Dursley addressed. "I know mum but I want to know more…" then he turned towards Percy,
"I am asking because we've received some messages on our answering machine for him from some girl in Australia…she even used our names…some Percy or Molly type names but was insistent on Harry to contact her…"
At this he noticed that both Fleur and Percy were giving dirty looks to his parents.
"Arry is just fine. We are to inquire about some messages from Hermione and I believe you just gave us the answer…could you tell us more about these messages please?"
Dudley threw a dirty look at his parents well…"You can have the tape, dad threw the tape away after 6 or 7 messages from this girl…" saying this he got up to retrieve the cassette. Nobody bothered to exchange words over this.
Back at burrow … Harry and gang made an appearance an hour after Percy and Fleur. The house seemed empty and quiet. They all went in different directions to unpack. Harry really wanted to see Hermione and decided to wake her up … therefore he went upstairs with Ginny; George went to his room while Ron spotted the plate of sandwiches that Fleur and Percy shared and ate the left over sandwich.
Ginny and Harry were surprised to see the room empty…Ginny entered and put her bag on the bed and realized that all of Hermione's stuff was gone too not that there was much but her bag, her books, and the jacket on chair … were all gone.
"Harry I don't think Hermione is here…All her stuff is gone" Ginny stated the obvious. They heard some noise downstairs and rushed towards it. Apparently Bill and Molly Weasley were up and were talking about some paper in their hands. Once they noticed Ginny and Harry standing at the staircase, they were soon smothered in hugs by Mrs. Weasley, Bill hugged his sis and shook hands with Harry…they were soon joined by George, Ron and Mr. Weasley…they were all exchanging pleasantries. Charlie finally made an appearance as well…
"GOOD MORNING everyone! I am in no mood for hugs so keep standing where you are…So hope the trip went well?" Charlie had a bit of sarcastic tone when he said all this but Ginny ignored it and hugged him even then which he returned.
During all this, Molly and Bill forgot the letter they received from Fleur…it was Harry who asked about Hermione…"Where's Hermione, Ginny's room is empty?"
At this everyone went quiet…now it was Ron who persisted … "I just checked and yeah her stuff is gone…has she gone some place…has she gone to get her parents? " Ron asked with real concern and seemed as if he was waiting for the answer and he'll be one his way to follow Hermione.
"You knew about her plan to go visit her parents?" Mrs. Weasley asked Ron.
"Ofcourse we knew that she had to bring them back… But I thought…well we thought (looking at Harry) that we'd go with her to bring her parents back. So I am assuming she has gone to get them??" Ron said this impatiently.
After Ron's question Mr. Weasley spoke, "Yes she did leave to visit her parents … but…Perhaps you all should sit down as this can take long…"
"Is something the matter Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked
Percy and Fleur made an entrance then, they looked quite happy with their progress. They looked around and hastily greeted the four not really caring what they thought.
"We got some information…" they were holding some kind of box in their hands and placed it on the table. Harry moved forward and asked, "Is that an answering machine? "
"Yep, and your cousin Dudley gave it to us and taught us ow to work it. Muggles sure are brilliant…" Fleur stated.
Before anymore questions were asked … Percy played the tape while Fleur shushed everyone with a stern look and a finger on her lips.
"Hello? Is this The Dursley's residence…Harry are you there? Anyone? Harry I can't find my parents, they are not here. I don't know what to do? Somebody else is living where they were supposed to be at. I asked around and nobody knows…Harry I am scared please do something. My own residence number is cut off I think, that number is not even responding..."
Everyone stared at it in stunned silence…Harry opened his mouth to ask questions but once again Percy told him to listen…"In a while Harry…just listen". The color from Ron and Harry's face had totally gone and they both wanted answers … they could feel the desperation in their friend's voice.
"Hermione here again…please… anyone there? Deatheaters? Hehe lame joke I know, umm I am running out of change here please if someone is there…please tell Harry about my messages. Ohh…wait infact call Percy Weasley, he works at the ministry, tell him Hermione Granger called. Contact me on this number this is the place where I work. Bye harry or whoever is there at the receiving end"
"Please I have no way of contacting anybody. I had this number in my bag; I don't have access to floo or owls. Please HARRY…whoever gets this message please, contact Percy or Molly Weasley. Find Bill Weasley, he use to work for Gringotts, his wife Fleur knows about me…I can't find my parents Harry. Umm How was your trip…How's George? Say Hi to him. I miss Ginny too…and Fleur and Mrs. Weasley…I miss her the most right now you know, she reminded me of my mu…(Beep)"
Another 3 or 4 more message of the same sort where she kept asking for either Harry or Percy or Fleur. In one message she even named everyone she knew in wizarding world…and with every new message Hermione's voice seemed lost and hopeless. Her messages were random, one minute she was talking about something else and in the next statement she mentioned something totally different. It seemed as if she was taking comfort in talking to the answering machine as if it was some person.
She mentioned that she was working as a waitress and was able to rent a room in nearby location. She left the number of that work place with few messages and also mentioned how she thought she was being careless leaving the number like that but she was desperate. She seemed so lost that it didn't even sound like her by the time last message finished. Harry found Hermione this lost really disturbing, never in these past 7 or so years had he heard her sound like this.
George broke the apparent silence in the room, "What is going on, why can't Hermione find her parents … I mean…I don't even know what to ask so why don't you tell us please? "
Mr. Weasley filled them in on everything, starting from how Hermione asked Percy to help her get portkey, how Professor McGonagall informed them about the charm on her parents and their death, her situation with money etc. etc.
Harry sat stunned hiding his face in his hands while his glasses were lying on the table near his elbows. Ron on the other hand was shaking his head as if not believing a word he just heard…
"So Hermione doesn't know as yet that her parents died?" George asked very quietly; it was obvious from Hermione's messages that she didn't know and she didn't even consider that an option. Nobody really answered him.
Ginny was silently crying and held on to Harry's shoulders who had still not uttered anything.
"She never considered the possibility of them dying…" said Ron as if talking to himself but it sure raised everyone's interest. They all looked at him expectantly to continue…Ron also had tears in his eyes which were blurring his vision…and continued. "When she cast the memory charm, it was to protect them…she thought she was protecting them…"
He made no sense to anybody except for Harry; he finally looked up to stare at him.
"What are you talking about Ron, what memory charm? Protecting whom? "Asked Bill
"She altered her parents memory so the deatheaters couldn't track them or get information about me, she altered their memory … they didn't know they had a daughter named Hermione. She considered the possibility of her dying, in that case she had the satisfaction of knowing that they won't hurt or if things went well, she'd go and lift the memory charm…" Harry said all this with such venom that he might've been a snake and killed someone with his poison.
Harry had internally started blaming himself. It was his entire fault. Hermione is suffering because of him. She would not be alone and scared right now, had he been a friend to her and gone with her. He was taking deep breaths to stop himself from shedding tears, he was sadly reminded of his time at his parents' graves where he pretty much felt the same. He instantly got up…"we must get to her…she's been on her own for too long … we .. We should…Ron?"
Usually Harry looked for Hermione when he wanted answers but this time it was Ron, Harry wanted his opinion not Hermione – it was her who needed them not the other way around. The tables had turned and Harry thought he would not fail her.
Ron just stared at Harry, "Call her Harry…whatever muggle way there is to contact her, do it and get the address from her. Dad can arrange for us to leave right away? "Harry nodded but did not really move,
"What are you waiting for Harry…move … do something. Let's go…" Ron more or less shouted this statement.
Hermione was crying in the store room of this small cafe, she felt helpless. She missed Harry and Ron more at the moment than her own parents.
"What was I thinking coming here without any plan, I should've considered the possibility of mum and dad moving to some other place than this one that I decided upon…what was I thinking when I looked through internet, I altered their memory not their personalities, they must've gone for a house with open lawn where mum could have a garden and continue with her hobby. Ohhh where the hell are Harry and Ron? … If I had only waited for them for few more days … I wouldn't be in this mess at the moment."
"I hate this place, I hate this job. I just had to take it for granted that I'll find my parents right where I arranged for them to be at, always assuming that I can go clothes shopping with them, always assuming that we'd go back to London and I can meet up with everyone then… God! People rely on me for my brilliant plans and look at me here I am stuck in a strange country, don't know anybody, don't have enough money and no idea how to get to the wizarding world… "
These thoughts plagued Hermione day and night lately and were followed by self cursing. She was right now in this mess because one of the customers grabbed her ass; she could've hexed him but instead settled for a slap on his face. Over which she got her day's tips taken – assaulting customers was just not the policy of this café. Then there was this Australian guy who waited for her outside the café every night so he could ask her out. She refused every time and ignored him but it was something she dreaded every day. She usually pretended to take the subway and always managed to lose him there. She would apparate from there so he couldn't follow her to her place. She missed Ron…
"He would've knocked this guy out … not that I can't handle him on my own. It's just a nice feeling to be protected by your boyfriend…hmm we never discussed that by the way. He cares so much for me, its really endearing …" she had a goofy smile on her face when she thought of Ron while her cheeks were still tear stained. But the smile didn't last for long when she thought about how he never wrote to her or left her a note … she was mad at both Harry and Ron, how could they just leave her like that. She needed them, if they had not been so selfish then I wouldn't be in this mess. So what if George was upset, Ron and Ginny could've taken him, why did Harry have to go, it's always Weasleys who come first…never me.
Hermione knew she was being unfair and did not make sense, but then she had a right to thinking, its not like she meant it.
Right then, another waitress Carla entered the storeroom and told her that she had a call. Carla was a middle aged lady who helped Hermione get the job and the room next to her place. She was nice but not that talkative, not that Hermione made an extra effort to talk to her. They just exchanged pleasantries, cared for each other but in a quiet manner.
She too sounded surprised when she told Hermione about the call – Hermione just couldn't believe it … she had stopped leaving messages at the Dursleys', she had given up all hope of getting in touch with any of her friends.
"Are you sure Carla? Its for me – Hermione?" she took her name as if a third person.
"Yeah ofcourse … do you know of any other Hermiones around? We never even had a customer with this name…." Carla joked.
Hermione got up immediately and ran towards the phone…
"Hello ?? "
"Hermione ?? Hi, this is Harry…"
"Harry? .. Oh my God … is it really you Harry?? " and then she started crying.
"Hermione, listen to me, everything will be fine. Don't cry common, you know I am not good with a crying Hermione…Please…I am soo sorry Hermione for not contacting you soon, I just found out…I .."
"Don't worry about it Harry. I am just glad you called. I had given up all hope to ever get in touch with you. I missed you so much, I am still mad at you but I'll deal with it some other time when I am not so tensed…" Hermione said all this between her heavy sobs and smiling at the same time.
Before Harry could say something, she started talking again, "Harry, I can't find my parents, please come and help me find them. I know its asking for too much but please I need your help…I can't do this on my own…" Harry was struggling for words to form, he could not tell her about her parents, he felt Ron nudge him to continue…
"Hermione you can never ask me for too much, don't ever think that. I am sorry that I left, I should be there with you. Ron and I both feel bad for letting you go alone….give me the address so we can come. We'll be there at 7…" replied Harry very soberly.
Hermione gave him the address to her place. She felt really happy when she learnt that Ron is coming too. For the first time since she had been here, Hermione laughed and her mind was at peace. That day she literally skipped to her place that evening, she took snacks for her two friends – little time left, I'll be home by 6:40, I can use magic to get the snacks ready for them. On her way home she ignored the stalker guy and also ignored the fact that he was following her. She thought about her fantasy where Ron saves her from the stalker.
At sharp 7, she heard familiar sounds of apparition outside her door. She immediately opened before Harry could even knock. She hugged him without even giving him a chance to say anything or said anything herself. Harry for the first time hugged his with equal warmth and kissed the side of her head. Then Ron cleared his throat…
"Ohh Ron…God I missed you guys!"saying this Hermione flung herself to Ron. And received the same kind of warmth that she got from Harry, only Ron kissed her neck and then her cheek. Harry noticed how much weight Hermione had lost, she looked so pale that it was hard to tell if she had any blood in her system. Harry feared that he could've crushed her bones with his tight hug.
She grabbed their hands and pulled them both inside. She was about to close the door when she heard two more pops and this time to her surprise it was Mr. Weasley and Fleur. She greeted the two of them with equal warmth. She had never hugged Mr. Weasley but she did this time. Fleur met her warmly, kissed both her cheeks and then admired her dress.
Hermione was so happy about seeing her friends after such a long time that she forgot to change out of her pink and white waitress uniform. She blushed after looking down and realizing that she didn't change but let it go.
"I am so happy to see you all; I just can't really express myself. Tea anyone? "Asked a hyper active Hermione. "I was so excited to see Harry and Ron that I forgot to change out of my uniform Fleur…this is what I have to wear at work…"
"Umm Hermione could you sit down. We'd just like to talk for now. Thanks for the offer though…" Mr. Weasley said hastily.
"Oh ok…I am sorry this place is not that big, Fleur are you comfortable…" asked Hermione
"I am perfectly alright, don't worry about me. This place is not all that bad. Anyway how have you been?" asked Fleur affectionately.
Hermione sat between Ron and Harry on her bed. "I've been ok…just have not been able to locate my parents. I won't lie and say that everything is fine because things were pretty rough initially…but now that you all are here, everything is going to be fine. How's everyone back home?" Ron had taken her hand in his hands unconsciously and was staring at her with such affection that it was apparent to everyone how much he wanted to kiss her but if anyone noticed Harry was looking at her with the same look but his eyes were full of concern. He looked at her as if looking at a fragile thing that can break only with intense stare. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and just hold her.
Harry shook up immediate when he realized his chain of thoughts…and instead focused on the ongoing conversation between the other occupants of the room.
"So Mr. Weasley is there any way that we can locate my parents really quick? Can you get some help on this??"
She noticed the change of mood in Mr. Weasley and saw his color drain…"Mr. Weasley??"
Then she turned took a look at Fleur and then Ron and finally Harry, "what is it? Is it going to be a problem? What's the matter??" Hermione sounded desperate.
"Hermione your parents were killed … I mean their plane blew up when they were leaving for Australia…" Mr. Weasley just could not continue talking. Ron squeezed her and but was not sure if she acknowledged it.
Hermione just stared at him, she was staring at Mr. Weasley so hard and yet blankly that nobody knew what to do.
She turned to look at Harry first, blinked once and then back at Mr. Weasley.
"Oh ok. No wonder I could not find them…" was her calm response.
Harry expected tears, lots and lots of tears or questions from Hermione; not only Harry but everyone in the room. They were all expecting the worse but a calm Hermione was not something they could even imagine and this is what made her response so disturbing.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Hope you like this chapter too. I am going to change the summary a little after this chapter.
