Beauty and the Beast
Chapter 6 – Sunset
Molly magically served dinner and they ate with friendly chatter and a light atmosphere. Hermione gradually relaxed as she dealt with all the questions thrown at her mainly by Ron and Harry. The two were apparently best friends and had grown up together. She gathered that Harry didn't have the easiest childhood being a primary target of the Dark Lord so he spent most in hiding. Meanwhile Ron was the second youngest, Ginny the youngest, and with the rest of the family fighting the war, the three were put together a lot. "It wasn't great being the only girl," Ginny pouted dramatically. "We could never play any of the games I wanted to. It was always either fake duelling or Quidditch."
"I'm sorry if a couple of boys aren't interested in playing dress up," Harry rolled his eyes. "Besides you were good at Quidditch."
"That's because you couldn't change the rules on me or make up spells midway that conveniently counteracted mine," Ginny sniffed.
"OI! Are you suggesting we cheated?" Ron pretended to be offended.
"What do you think?" Ginny snorted. "Only with a three year-old would believe that there was such a thing as Impervious Completus. Immunity to everything." She added as an explanation to Hermione.
Hermione giggled and then sighed, "I spent most of my time reading. After my parents died, my grandfather was ultra-protective and wouldn't let me out unless he was there to supervise along with another adult. But that's how it was for everyone." It didn't always work but she kept that to herself, as it was the others were looking at her understandingly.
"When this is all over I want to have a place in the country," Harry said wistfully. "Nothing but wide open space as far as you can see."
"I want to play Quidditch," Ron had a dreamy smile of his face. "Just fly in the open air and have fun then come crash at Harry's when I need a place to sleep." Harry punched his arm playfully.
"I like Quidditch well enough, I could play but I don't see myself doing it forever," Ginny mused. "I'm not sure but I'd like to do something ordinary, simple. What about you Hermione?"
"I'd like to continue my Potions research," Hermione shrugged. "I want to publish at least one academic paper, after that…I think I'd fancy a go at writing novels just like the ones I read as a kid."
"That should be fun, as long as I get a signed copy from the author," Ginny winked.
"On the first available owl," Hermione agreed.
"Albus did mention you are a Potions Mistress," Remus interjected, that's when they realized the others had been listening in. "When did you qualify?"
"I haven't actually qualified yet," Hermione admitted. "I'm apprenticing under my grandfather right now and we're planning to go to the Ministry to write the examination in a few months or at least we were. Grandfather said it was just a formality really, he already considered me a Master." Hermione stopped talking as her throat got too tight to speak, Ginny patted her hand softly.
Sirius was the one to break the silence, "Still you're awfully young, even to be apprenticing, most don't write the exam until 25, and you're what 21?"
"As matter of fact yes, good guess," Hermione half-smiled.
"Sirius always did have good eyes for women," James quipped earning him a whack from his wife.
Sirius rolled said eyes, a move that made him more human to Hermione since she'd met him. "James shut it, I wasn't talking to you anyway. I'm making the acquaintance of my new house guest, so," he returned his attention to Hermione, "how did you manage to do all of that studying in such a short time?"
"Well when you're stuck in the house all day, sometimes for weeks on end, you do what you can," Hermione said plaintively. "Books were my thing."
"You never snuck out? Went to meet a boy or something?"
This caused Hermione to laugh outright, "Hate to point this out Sirius but we're at war right now, I don't exactly have the opportunity to date."
"I'm surprised you're taking such an interest Sirius," Tonks sipped her wine.
"I'd like to know a little more about the person I am letting into my home Tonks, that's hardly unreasonable," Sirius said gruffly.
"No it's not, and for any other person it would be perfectly fine but with you, it's just strange," Tonks snorted. "Molly was here for three weeks before you realised she was staying on."
"That's -" Whatever that was, Hermione never found out because Sirius abruptly cut off and grabbed his shoulder with obvious pain. It was strange but every person, other than Hermione, in unison looked at the window as the sun had begun to set. It didn't take Hermione long to realize what was happening, at the same time Sirius growled something and left and everyone began to rise as well.
"We should get going," Ginny looked at her apologetically. "He doesn't like an audience."
"But sunset isn't for a while," Hermione said confused.
"I guess you were imagining some quick transformation," James said not unkindly. "It's slow, beginning as the sun lowers and ends at sunset. It's not easy on him but he wants his space so we give it to him."
"Ms. Granger, if I could have a word with you before I leave," Dumbledore interrupted. Hermione nodded and they walked back into the main hall to speak. "You'll be happy to hear that we have located your grandfather safe and sound. He is in another safe house and knows you are well. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Death Eaters. One Death Eater, Antonin, was killed by the falling debris but there is no sign of the woman or the other one. I must impress upon you the urgency of caution," Dumbledore warned. "Do not leave these grounds. I cannot guarantee they won't realise you are here but you are safe as long stay within the wards. Pay attention, the boundaries are marked and do not allow yourself to be lured away." Hermione had a sneaking suspicion she knew where that rule came from but she didn't have the time to do more than nod before the rest emerged, ready to go.
Goodbyes were said and pleasantries exchanged. "It was lovely to meet you all," Hermione bid them as they walked out the door. Molly was still clearing the dining room, leaving Hermione by herself to see them off. She waved as she watched them exit the gate and apparate away. When the last person had disappeared, she closed the door unsure of what to do next. She checked the dining room as saw Molly had already cleaned it and was nowhere to be found. With no other idea, she began to head back to her room mulling over the day's events. From breakfast with her grandfather this morning in their cottage to a Death Eater attack to dinner in a manor with a horribly cursed man and his friends and family. The full weight and weariness of everything set in and all she wanted to do was sleep for a long time. She made it back to four hallway intersection where she'd run into Sirius. He was a whole set of mulling onto himself. She still wasn't entirely sure if she liked him. He seemed like a good man but he was…somewhat distant for a lack of a better term. He allowed her to stay in his home without warning and that was definitely kind of him. He showed some interest in her but that was probably because she was new, some kind of permanent company other than Molly. Not to mention he could just as easily be indifferent and brusque. Lost in thought, she was then completely alarmed by a loud agonizing sound from the door Sirius had come through earlier. It was like an animal being tortured, it had to be Sirius and he sounded like he was in excruciating pain.
She took a step towards the hall but Molly shouted, "HERMIONE NO!" She came running at full speed and stopped the girl from going further. "No, no dear, you mustn't go there. You heard Sirius, the West Wing is his area, he will be very angry."
"But Molly, surely…"
"Happens every time dear, every – single – time," Molly looked like she could cry for the man, Hermione certainly did. "He'll call for me if he needs help but really there is nothing we can do. Nothing."
"I see," Hermione frowned. In her heart, she just couldn't accept that. There had to be a way, there just had to.
"You should go get some rest," Molly suggested gently. "I'll tend to Sirius if he needs anything."
"Alright, goodnight Molly," Hermione turned, heading for her room. Molly's goodnight was lost in another piercing howl. Hermione glanced out a window, the sun hadn't set yet.
A/N: Hey guys, finally we've gotten through all the preliminary stuff and can really get into the meat of the story. I've pretty much planned out the whole story and I think you're all going to love it. Can't wait to see you next time, until then ENJOY! R&R PLZ!
