Part 9

Hermione bid her parents good night and left them watching one of their favorite programs on the telly as she went upstairs to her room. Sitting at her desk, she pulled out her transfiguration homework to reread one more time to make sure she hadn't missed anything. As she was finishing it, she heard the clock downstairs chime the 10 o'clock hour, so she quickly changed into her nightclothes and grabbed a V.C. Andrews book to read until she was sleepy enough to turn out the light.

A loud crash from below woke her abruptly from a dream where she had been flying free in her animagus form, Feather. Sitting up in her bed, confused at first as she shook off the cobwebs of her dream, Hermione heard her father opening their bedroom door and start down the hall to the stairs. Scrambling free of her sheets, the girl grabbed her wand instinctively and slipped silently to the door.

Her father had already started down the stairs as she stepped out into the hall. Her mother had just passed her bedroom and was almost to the top landing when the first hex lit up the house with a sickly yellow glow. Mr. Granger tumbled down the last few steps and landed in a heap at the bottom, moaning in pain.

Jean Granger cried out her husband's name as she attempted to rush down the steps to reach him. A stunning hex struck her midway down and she collapsed on the stairs without a sound.

Hermione was petrified but managed to keep her wits about her enough to conjure her otter patronus, whisper a message to it, and send it hurtling on its way to Hogwarts. She was thankful she was such a diligent pupil in her studies that she was able to cast such a spell and clung to the belief that Albus Dumbledore would soon arrive with help.

A scream from below brought her attention back to the situation at hand and she ran to the top of the steps to find that the Death Eaters had levitated her parents into the living room and some were beginning to torture them while others tossed blasting curses at various bits of furniture for fun. Before Hermione to think of a spell to cast, she was grabbed from behind and yanked against a hard chest.

"Well, well, well. And what do we have here? Could it be a little mud-blood for us to play with?" She didn't recognize the voice and his silver mask hid his face as the man holding her dragged her down the stairs to where the rest of her family were writhing in pain.

Hermione was thrown to the floor beside her father and a female voice cried out, "Crucio!" The teenaged girl was unable to prevent the shrieks of pain that were torn from her as the curse went on and on. It seemed like forever before she was finally released and her body buckled to lay motionless on the floor except for her heaving lungs.

Another "Crucio", this time from a man rang out and she was again screaming and thrashing on the floor as pain overwhelmed her. This time, however, the pain was cut mercifully short as several loud pops were heard outside and the door to their home exploded inward. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, came through it, followed by a legion of Aurors.

The Death Eaters didn't stand a chance against the fire-power brought down on them and quickly found themselves stunned and restrained. Professor Dumbledore made his way to the Granger family with Kingsley and Tonks, and between the three of them, transported the stricken family back to the school for care…

Hermione had just finished her recitation of the events at her home when the school's mediwitch, Poppy Pomfrey, hurried over with a glass of bluish/gray liquid that she placed in the girl's hand. After making a face at the potion, she took a deep breath and swallowed it down as fast as she could, then accepted the glass of water Madame handed her to wash the taste away.

"There now, child," the matron soothed, "that should be your last dose. Anymore shaking or trembling? No? Good, then. As soon as Professor Dumbledore has a safe place for you and your family to go, I can release you."

"Actually, Poppy, I was hoping to speak with Sirius about that very subject."

The little group turned to find the headmaster, followed by Remus and Minerva, approaching them with a faint smile and rose to greet him. The former Transfiguration professor had stepped into the role of headmistress during the previous year due to the Tri-Wizard Tournament and would continue in that manner so Albus would be able to get some rest on occasion. The elderly wizard gently drew Hermione close for a brief hug and lightly stroked a hand over her thick brown hair before he released her. While he was supposed to be impartial to all the students under his care, the man was especially devoted to Harry, Hermione, the Weasley children, and a few others who had won his heart for an assortment of reasons.

The canine animagus nodded respectfully at his mentor, "Hermione and her parents are more than welcome to spend the rest of the summer at the manor with us, Albus."

A warm smile and delighted twinkle lit up the man's eyes, "Thank you, Sirius; your offer of hospitality is heart-warming, but only partially necessary. I was actually hoping that you could take in Miss Granger until school starts while I place her parents with relatives elsewhere."

Sirius nodded, "Of course; we'd love to have her."

"Sir?" Hermione ventured hesitantly. "Why am I being separated from my family? Am I placing them in danger?"

Albus sighed heavily and sank into a chair that appeared behind him, "My dear girl, I do not wish to lie to you so I will tell you this: the Death Eaters have singled you out for several reasons. One being, of course, that you are one of Harry's closest friends. Secondly, you are the brightest witch of your generation by far and thus a threat to them. And third, you are Muggle-born, which to them is quite possibly the greatest insult to those of pure-blooded fanaticism." He looked over at Harry, "Though you defeated Voldemort, some of his followers are still out there and they are looking for revenge. They will try to strike at you in any way they can; even through your friends and family."

Harry had gone pale when Dumbledore pointed out that he was one of the reasons for the strike against Hermione, and his skin went ashen at the comment about not only his friends being in danger, but his new-found family as well.

Seeing the realization dawning on the boy's face, Sirius caught hold of the teen's chin and turned his head so he could look into the emerald eyes, "Harry, no matter what may be going through your head right at this moment, never, for one second, think that I will abandon you or let you abandon me thinking to keep me safe. If you were to leave me, I would have no choice but to focus everything into finding you. That would leave me far more vulnerable than having a few Death Eaters trying to single me out." He ran his free hand over the messy black hair until he gently gripped the back of the boy's neck, "Promise me, son, that you will not do anything foolish."

"Only if you promise me the same thing, dad," Harry whispered softly.

"On my honor as a wizard, Harry, I will not go looking for trouble with the Death Eaters."

"On my honor as a wizard, Sirius, I will not go looking for trouble with the Death Eaters, either."

The two black-haired males then turned to look at Remus. The werewolf lifted his eyebrows and asked mildly, "Yes?"

"Remus," the canine animagus started.

"Sirius," came the cool response.

"Now, Moony, you know you can't go haring off after Death Eaters on your own."

"I'm sure Sev could be talked into going along with me."

"Remus!"

"Sirius!"

The young Lord huffed in annoyance, "Would you please stop that?"

"Stop what?"

"You know very well what, you irritating, aggravating, wolf!"

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about, Padfoot. Are you feeling alright?"

Before Sirius could respond or lose what little remained of his control, Harry stepped in. Moving into a position between the two men, the teenager reached out with both hands to lightly clasp his teacher's robe before raising anxious green eyes to meet the man's amber gaze. The werewolf tenderly enfolded the boy's hands with his own and smiled reassuringly.

"Uncle Remus, please, please don't do anything that might get you hurt. I couldn't bear to lose someone else I love," the young wizard whispered.

Remus Lupin melted inside at the child's fearful words and he warmly enfolded the son of his best friend in a tight embrace, "It's alright, cub, it's alright; I swear to you on my honor as a wizard that I will not go looking for Death Eaters." He rocked the boy slowly back and forth, running one soothing hand up and down the thin back as he continued to murmur reassurances.

Hermione, standing behind Lupin, bit her lip in a desperate attempt to not burst out laughing when Harry peered at her from around his uncle's enveloping arms, smirked mischievously, and winked. She had to hand it to her friend; Harry certainly did know how to subtly manipulate the men in his family when it came to keeping them safe!

Professor McGonagall pulled a handkerchief from her pocket swiftly to apply to her face as she turned away slightly. Anyone watching her would have thought she was dabbing away tears at the tender scene playing out before her. However, if one looked closely, they would have noticed her shoulders shaking, not with sobs, but with laughter. Having raised her own children to adulthood, she was quite familiar with the machinations of the young. She had been told in Harry's first year how he talked the Sorting Hat out of placing him in Slytherin; and after what she had just witnessed, Minerva could easily see why!