Chapter Eight: Preparations
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
"Draco, shut up now. We don't turn people into books. We make up characters and then draw their lives out" she explained in exasperation as she helped carry the tea tray back into the kitchen.
"What is the point of that?" Draco frowned.
"There is no point, it's a sorry excuse for literature" Hermione replied coolly.
"It's a book, you love all books. Don't tell me you discriminate books?" he grinned as he opened the door for her.
"Just because I enjoy reading does not mean I enjoy reading all types of books. I hate romance novels" Hermione replied smartly as she walked past him. Draco followed her in and let the door swing shut behind them.
"Don't lie…I remember watching you read some lovey dovey book last year while we sat in headquarters" Draco said snidely.
Hermione set down the tray and turned on him, "That was Jane Austen! It was a perfectly respectable book and a fine piece of literature!" she said heatedly, placing her hands on her hips.
Draco raised his hands in surrender, "I was just having a bit of fun poking at you. No need to bite my head off" he frowned.
"I take books very seriously" Hermione replied solemnly.
"I can see that" Draco mumbled under his breath. He looked up at the clock "its half past four. Will you be changing before we leave for dinner?" he asked.
Hermione turned and frowned at him "Changing? What for?" she asked.
"Oh right, I forgot. Dinner at the burrow. You wouldn't change for that" he smirked.
She stuck out her tongue in annoyance, "Not worth it, since they'll all most likely be playing Quidditch afterwards and Ginny and I will be left on our own" she explained.
"Why doesn't Ginerva play Quidditch too?" Draco asked as he sat on the counter.
Hermione pushed him off and then replied, "Firstly, don't call her Ginerva, that's awkward. Secondly, she keeps me company, since I'm the only one there who doesn't play Quidditch"
"Because you're scared of flying" Draco smirked.
"At least I'm not scared of the Weasley's" Hermione replied with a smirk of her own.
Draco followed her out of the kitchen whining all the while "There's so many of them! Who wouldn't be scared! It's like a plague all those freckles…"
The meal went over fairly talkatively. It seemed as though the meeting was not quite as serious as Harry had made it sound. But then again, Dumbledore had yet to make an appearance. Hermione took another serving of funnel cake from Mrs. Weasley and looked to the burrow door. She seemed to be the only outright anxious one.
Thoughts and questions just kept running through her mind. What was happening? Was it deatheaters? Was there a new issue? Was it something simple? Was it another party? Was Dumbledore Chinese? Hermione did not know and it was terrifying her.
"Hermione, chill" Draco said as he accepted more food from Mrs. Weasley "There's no point in worry about this until you figure out what it is about" he said logically.
Hermione ignored him and kept her eyes on the door. It was almost seven now and she could feel the agitation in the others two. People were apprehensive and nervous for Dumbledore's appearance.
Finally at ten after seven the door opened and a weary Dumbledore entered. The table went silent as he came and stood at the north end of the table. He looked tired, and worried. The mood fell instantly and Draco was eating his own words from earlier. Maybe this was a reason to fret. They all waited for Dumbledore to say something. Finally Mrs. Weasley broke the silence.
"Would you like some food Albus?" she asked cautiously.
"No thank you Molly. I am afraid that I am here strictly on business, not for pleasure" he replied looking up. His body went into pondering mode, his hands joined together flatly and his chin rested on his fingertips. He began carefully "There has been news…or rather activity occurring lately. Dark magic has been traced all about England in the past week"
"Is it minor?" Hermione blurted out. She clapped her hands over her mouth as everybody's gazes fell upon her "Sorry" she mouthed.
Dumbledore looked to her vaguely, as though she wasn't really there, "No it is not minor in the least Miss Granger. It has showed on the ministry radar as surprisingly strong magic, this is no simple blip. There have been large amounts of dark goings-on in England, Bristol, and Wiltshire. You can see why this is disturbing, can you not?" he asked looking about the table, this was no rhetorical question, he demanded an answer.
"Because such large traces of magic cannot be done by a few, we're talking hundreds of participants" Hermione frowned looking at her funnel cake, no longer hungry.
"Exactly, but, this might just be deatheater uprising. Almost none were sent to Azkaban since we were unable to incriminate them with such lack of evidence. The rest paid their way out of trouble…it's very possible that it's just deatheaters…so no need for immediate panic. Because deatheaters alone are like chickens without heads…" Dumbledore explained to the stunned table. Some were relieved, but Hermione remained skeptical.
"Professor?" Hermione asked hesitantly, "If you don't mind me asking…why would so many deatheaters rebel pointlessly, unless they have something to rally themselves around?"
Dumbledore's face went stone cold. "I do believe that is the question of the night Miss Granger" he replied, "Why indeed? If Voldemort is dead, then why do they feel the need to show themselves? And let's not fool ourselves; these deatheaters want to be seen. Magic of that magnitude it clearly going to be seen by the ministry, so 'why' as well? I'm afraid I cannot answer this right now"
"Because they have something to congregate about. They are trying to show the ministry that they are not defeated. What if…what if Voldemort had some back up plan in the case of his death?" Hermione asked nervously. She was afraid that her answer might cause angry outbursts from people. Nobody said anything; they all looked to Dumbledore for an answer.
"We've considered the possibility…but we would not know where to start with researching it" Dumbledore sighed.
"You don't reckon he had a kid?" Harry asked nervously.
"Possible and impossible. Voldemort has never been around a woman in his life, but it would have been an intelligent failsafe. Who would expect Voldemort to have a child? And more importantly, how would one know that it was his child? We wouldn't know what the woman looked like, and would the child resemble Tom? Or would the father's identity be lost?" Dumbledore questioned.
"What if it's not his biological kid?" Draco asked quietly.
"Have you heard something about it Draco?" Dumbledore asked leaning forward in curiosity.
"No, but it doesn't seem impossible. Voldemort has asked deatheaters to sacrifice their children for other reasons, why not this one?" He suggested.
"It will all be looked into. So far, there have been no outright protests from these people. Nor have they publically tried anything. But I thought it best to leave you wary to the possibilities" Dumbledore said gravely.
"Why did you wait a week to tell us?" Harry asked with a sigh.
Dumbledore had no reply to this.
The whole table fell into troubled silence as everyone considered the things that had been said. Did Voldemort really have some sort of failsafe? Did he leave something behind in the case of his death? Or did he never think that his horocruxes would be destroyed. Because after all, weren't his horocruxes his backup plan? Would he have two?
While it all seemed farfetched and unlikely, it did not seem as unlikely as splitting your soul into many pieces. So who was to say it was impossible. This left Hermione uneasy. Very uneasy. While Voldemort's plans may have been deniable, the dark magic being traced was not. It was clearly happening and it was a threat.
Only deatheaters were so accomplished at such magic, there was no refuting this. But why? Voldemort left them something. But what? These thoughts continued to run through Hermione's head.
"Hermione, come on outside. They boys are going to go blow off some steam playing Quidditch, and we should get out of here. The adults want to talk" Ginny whispered in her ear.
"Yeah" Hermione replied as she stood slowly out of her chair and followed Ginny blindly out of the house. She couldn't shake her fears. It was all repeating and it was something Hermione did not want to live through again. What a shitty day for her. Hermione wasn't one for self pity, but she deserved it.
Ginny sat her down on the bench in the back garden.
"Did your parents arrive?" she asked casually as Hermione sat herself down as well. She smoothed her dress before answering.
"No" Hermione replied, slowly sobering up.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked in surprise.
"They decided to not return, and after what I heard tonight, it's probably better that they didn't" she replied unemotionally. Hermione looked down into her lap and took a deep breath, trying to get her emotions under control. She was not a blubbering idiot. She was a smart and ration girl. Crying was useless.
"Why?" Ginny asked softly. She didn't mean 'why' as in 'why is it better?', but 'why' as in 'why do you say those things?' Only problem was that Hermione didn't understand the difference.
"They…just can't handle all of this. I still don't think they are over what I did. And especially what I did to them. They can't understand why I wasn't honest about everything, but how could I be! They wouldn't have understood that I needed to fight. They don't understand that I did it for them. I'm beginning to wonder if I fried their brains with that memory charm" Hermione grimaced looking up at the setting sky.
"Why would you say that?" Ginny asked in distress and she pulled her legs to her chest. Hermione's coldness was disturbing. To hear her so calm about something so…emotional was unlike her. It left Ginny uncomfortable. It was unhealthy to keep so much in.
"Because I've lost my parents. These people are not the parents I knew before. They just don't care about me. Do you know they didn't even call ahead of time to tell me they weren't arriving? I was nearly on the brink of tears before I phoned them in Australia, on Draco's insistence, to find them still there. And they so coldly told me they weren't returning, hell…my dad didn't even care that I was upset about the whole thing" she explained with a sad chuckle.
Ginny draped an arm around Hermione's shoulders comfortingly; unsure of what else she could do to help the situation. And there wasn't much. "Don't worry, you still have me, and you can always share my family. My parents are dying to adopt you and Harry" she said lightly.
Hermione laughed softly, but unconvincingly, "I know" she said.
A few minuets passed in silence as they watched the darkening blurs flying about in the field ahead.
"So…what did you think about that meeting?" Ginny asked far more somberly.
"I've over-thought it already. And I think its very bad news" Hermione said simply.
"I know Hermione; I understand your doubts and questions. Hell, we're all worried. You know, what if this isn't over. What if this just the beginning of another war to come?" Ginny asked tiredly "It's all possible, and it scares me. We've had such a timid and nervous peace, we're all barely scrapping by. Would people be able to live through it again? I don't know" she whispered.
"Maybe Dumbledore is right. Why should we worry just yet? We shouldn't forget it. This should be kept in mind as a possibility. But as of now, this all seems like basic auror duties. I don't think we should take everything personally until it's necessary" Hermione said rationally.
"I know. But it's hard for us, isn't it. Being saviors and all. We're just like that. We crave the suspense and danger" Ginny laughed.
Hermione smiled tightly, "Maybe you do. But I wouldn't mind just living plainly. To have a fulfilling job, a boyfriend, someday a family…that's all I ask for. To not fear for my life when I exit my house and to be able to walk around alone…" Hermione sighed.
"Someday" Ginny laughed.
"Soon for you" Hermione replied.
"Yeah…I can't believe I'm getting married and so young…" she replied dreamily glancing at her giant ring again.
"I think it's wonderful. It would be nice to be a young mother. Have your child at seventeen, when you become legal…be attractive when your kid is eighteen" Hermione mused.
"I would like to go to school" Ginny reminded her.
"Yeah, but we have your mom. I'm sure she'd love grandkids to look after, you could pop out a few and still go to school" Hermione grinned.
"Alright, I'll get on that tonight" Ginny said rolling her eyes.
"Thanks for trying to make me feel better by crashing into that bush" Hermione said pursing her lips to hide her smile. She leant against the porch frame and crossed her arms.
"Yeah, well at least you laughed" Draco said bitterly, the moment was still embarrassing and tender to touch "Anyway, I'm sorry about your parents, I really am. And if you want to take me up on my offer to stay at the manor, I'm still open to accept you" Draco said seriously.
"I'll think about it" Hermione replied, "I like your mom well enough. But I don't know that it would be the best idea. You can see how the Weasley's might not like the idea" Hermione smiled graciously.
"I know. But it's not up to them. Whatever though. If you are more comfortable here, that's okay with me. Just so long as I can visit you when I want" he demanded.
"The Weasley's would be glad to have you whenever you dropped by" Hermione said seriously.
"I'll be doing just that then" he smiled silkily.
"I supposed I'll probably end up seeing you tomorrow" Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"You just can't get enough of my smooth charms, toned body-"
"Dirty knees, arrogant attitude, horrid flying skills? You know what I like" Hermione laughed.
He stepped up on the first step until he was level with her face "Do you think they're watching?" he asked looking to the windows. The blind were down, but that wouldn't stop the Weasley's in the least.
"I wouldn't put it past them, I'm sure that Fred and George are listening" Hermione said nonchalantly.
"In that case…" Draco leaned forward, placing his hands gently on either side of her waist, the fabric of her dress creasing under his hands. He kissed her softly and shortly, his lips pressing against hers sweetly. Hermione could smell him and it was the nicest part of her day, she placed her hands on his shoulders. Their little display was enough to earn an audible groan from inside the house. Hermione burst out in laughter.
He kept his hands on her waist and spoke quietly, "Be careful, I don't want you to get hurt, so stay on your toes" he replied.
"Ditto for you" Hermione replied smoothing his flyaway hair.
Hermione lay awake next to Ginny in the wee hours of the morning. She had explained to the Weasley's that her parents weren't returning…probably ever. It had not gone over well. It was matched with fights and threats to drag them back to England by their ears, and then to promises of adoption and staying at the Weasley's until she graduated from the Healer academy.
Hermione thought about Draco. That boy seemed to be the only thing keeping her sane. Simply because he was the most trivial thing in her life. With so much happening, it was nice to think about something as simple as a boyfriend. Or what he said to her, or what he did, or how he kissed. It took her mind off the greater issues, if only for a moment.
She turned on her side and frowned at Ginny, who was also awake and staring back at her. "So much for getting on that baby making" Hermione whispered with a smile.
"Harry does have an invisibility cloak you know" Ginny teased poking her under the covers.
"Ginny, that's gross…not while I'm in the room. Never, while I'm in the room" Hermione said seriously. Ginny laughed at her. "What, I had to listen to you and Draco smooch, the twins had it on full blast inside the house" she grimaced.
Hermione covered her face in mortification, "Oh, it didn't sound that gross did it?" she asked.
"No, it was more like the boys' ideas about what could have been happening, that grossed me out a little" she admitted.
"Fair enough" Hermione smiled.
"We should sleep" Ginny sighed.
"Yeah" Hermione agreed.
Hermione closed her eyes, and she turned. The she turned and cleared her throat, and then turned over again and opened her eyes.
"Can't sleep?" Ginny asked.
"Clearly" Hermione replied.
"Any specific reason?" Ginny asked.
"Disquiet, and Draco telling me to stay on my toes" Hermione replied.
"It will pass" Ginny said waving it away.
"Get up!" Ginny yelped as a loud thump echoed behind Hermione's ears.
Hermione sat up quickly. Her heart pounding and her eyes swimming unfocusedly. She crawled out of her bed and stood by Ginny, "What?" she asked fearfully looking around the room, nothing different was noticeable. It was still dark and Hermione was disoriented and confused.
"We have to leave" Ginny said seriously as she began to pull on her jeans "Mom just crashed into the room and told us to meet her downstairs. I thought you heard but…"
Hermione didn't ask what was happening. She knew there would be time for questions later. The seriousness in Ginny's voice was enough to snap her into reality. Hermione pulled on her dress and shoes. She grabbed her wand which sat on the bedside table and then looked at Ginny.
"Quickly, let's head downstairs" Ginny said. She grabbed Hermione by the wrist and dragged her down to the first floor. Hermione noticed there was much dust falling from the ceilings and the floors were shaking. But that maybe have just been the stampede of people running downstairs. She and Ginny ran into the living room and stopped short at the sight. Half of the north wall was missing, the brick fireplace bending awkwardly, unsupported.
"Come girls" Mr. Weasley said urgently beckoning them towards him by the table. Hermione and Ginny rushed over, "Take this" he said shoving a stirring spoon in their hands. Hermione and Ginny gripped the wooden utensil and not a moment later they were being pulled elsewhere.
A hard surface connected with Hermione's rear, she had forgotten to brace herself for the landing. It was dark and she could barely hear Ginny's breathing over the pounding in her chest. "Where are we?" Hermione asked quietly.
The light flicked on and Hermione and Ginny saw they were sitting in what looked to be a dungeon, Mrs. Weasley stood at the door. "Come on, into the kitchen" she said ushering them out of the stone room.
"Where's the kitchen?" Ginny asked, "Correction, where are we?"
"Dumbledore's safe house, it's the new headquarter for the Order" Mrs. Weasley explained as she swerved through long lavish hallways. The two girls followed her.
"Why don't we know about this place?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Well, there was no reason for you to know. I've only been here twice myself" Mrs. Weasley said briskly. Hermione could tell her mind was elsewhere. "I hope Arthur was able to return safely" she mumbled to herself.
"What happened back there?" Ginny asked speeding up in order to catch up with her mother's quick frantic steps.
"Everything will be explained in due time, through that door ahead, I'll see you later" Molly Weasley said pointing to the large door in an antechamber. She turned and walked back the way she came.
Hermione and Ginny looked at one another. "I guess we should go in" Hermione said breathlessly. She was confused and her head was spinning with half chewed information. They had been attacked, she did not know how, or by whom, but it was clearly an attack upon the Weasley residence.
She and Ginny pushed opened the door and entered to find the rest of the Weasley family sitting around a large table arguing. Their entrance went unnoticed, so they sat silently at the end of the table. Harry was missing from the crowd. Ginny noticed this too. "Where is Harry?" she asked bringing her hands up to her face.
"Don't worry" Hermione said tersely, "He's probably with Dumbledore right now…" she wasn't sure if she believed it herself.
Eventually an intense silence came about. Every member of the room looking around edgily. Apparently nobody had many answers. Fred and George looked awkwardly solemn, Ron was confused, and Percy was frantically tapping on the table.
"What happened?" Hermione ventured.
"We were attacked, damn Dumbledore for keeping this from us" Ron said heatedly.
"The wards were cracked; half of the house fell apart. I think we were all lucky to manage to get out before any more damage was done" George said.
"Deatheaters" Fred said answering the unasked question. It hung thick in the air.
"What now?" Hermione asked looking around the table.
The door burst open and Dumbledore walked in briskly.
"The deatheaters are back…it seems Voldemort had more backing preparations than we though" he said gravely.
