Disclaimer: Oh come on, you know I don't own it, so why rub it in.
A/N: It's been a week, only a week sense I've updated, and thanks to the generosity of my friends you get this chapter now. I went around asking them if I should post today or next Monday. The majority of them voted for today, so here's your chapter. I would like to thank each of my friends in turn. Brianna, you've been a big help getting me through my thoughts. Chris, you've helped by just reading, and commenting. Jenna, you've helped me sift through thoughts, and remind me if I'm going off track. Herbie, you've helped with suggestions, which some I just might take. Kate, you've helped by reading and telling me exactly how I did on a specific chapter, and Jacob, you've helped me by being patient when we are on the phone when I write. But most importantly thanks to all of those just mentioned for keeping me interested in this story enough to make it this far. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10: Strike One, Death Eaters
The morning of the 14th dawned bright and no one was up except the animals. Hedwig and Errol along with the other owls were in the Kitchen looking out of the window. Other birds were flying around, lighting in trees, and catching their pray. Hedwig flitted out the window to hunt, and she heard some of her other friends follow.
"Hedwig, wait up, we want to come." Crystal called. Hedwig slowed down, and the others caught up. As they flew over the cities they talked about many subjects.
"So what do you think we should do this morning?" Rose asked.
"Do you want to visit my friend Coils the snake?"
"A snake?" Nala question with fright.
"Nala, you are such a scarrdy-owl." Cocoa hooted in exasperation.
"Well, might I remind you that Snakes eat Owls?" She squeaked.
"Hedwig hasn't been harmed in any way, now has she?" Topaz cut in.
"No, but..."
"No butt's, I think it's a good idea to go visit her." Caramel said with enthusiasm.
"Well, then," Emerald said.
"That's settled," Eliza continued.
"We will go visit the snake," Emerald added.
"Hedwig can guide us there." Eliza finished.
"Would you two stop doing that, it's kind of creepy." Hedwig said with a click of her beak. The animals hunted on the way to Davidson Manor, and when they arrived Kendra was the one who let them in.
"Who are you guys looking for," she asked. Hedwig just landed on her shoulder and it clicked. "You want to see Holly?" Hedwig nipped her ear and KENDRA brought her up to the bedroom where Holly was still sleeping.
Kendra quietly opened the door and saw all three animals curled up beside her second oldest daughter.
"Holly, you have some friends that want to visit." Holly didn't move. KENDRA entered her daughter's room and sat on the bed beside her. "Holls?" This got Coils attention, and the snake lifted her head to see who was here. When she saw Hedwig the snake slithered off the bed and lifted herself to Hedwigs height. Kendra then wiped Holly's curls out of her face, and then bent her head to her ear. "Holls, you have little owlish friends waiting to see you." Holly groaned, then opened her eyes.
"Mum, what are you talking about." Hedwig flew over to the sleepy girl and lit in her hair. "O!, Hedwig, I wasn't expecting you." Hedwig hooted happily and then hooted again to bring her friends closer. The owls glided over to Hedwig lighting on Holly's chest and stomach. "Oh, you brought friends." The girl smiled then patted each in turn. "We go to have breakfast Mum?"
"Yes, if you get up and come downstairs. Maybe we can eat out on the deck." Holly smiled and gently brushed away the animals.
The Owls and Coils stayed in Holly's room after she left.
"So what are all of you doing here?" Coils asked.
"I wanted to introduce you to my other companions, they are really nice." Hedwig answered. Coils head bobbed in response, and then she slithered out of the door to rest on the back of the couch. When the other owls settled on the couch Hedwig said,
"Like I said earlier, I'd like you to meet my other companions," Coils just lay there examining each one in turn. "Crystal, Rose, Cocoa, Topaz, Caramel, Emerald, Eliza. This is my friend Coils."
"Hi everyone, and if I may ask who are your owners?"
The animals looked at each other, then Crystal said,
"Gracie Longbottom," Rose continued,
"My owner is Jane Potter," Just to get it out of the way cocoa said,
"My owner is Carianna Potter," With a sigh Topaz said,
"My owner is Anastasia Black," Caramel looked nervous before she squeaked out,
"My owner is Kira Longbottom," And the last two owls squeaked in fright,
"I am emerald, and my owner is Emma Potter," and the other owl said,
"My name is Eliza, and my owner is Wen Wei Potter." When the introductions were made, Coils asked,
"So, how are the Potters doing?"
Rose was the one to answer,
"They are doing well, why?" She asked with concern.
"Can't a Snake be curious?" Coils huffed.
"Well yes, but it just seems to be a fishy question." Cocoa said.
"That may be, and would you think it suspicious if I asked how the Lupin's Longbottom's Weasley's and Black's are doing?"
The animals looked to one another.
"How do you know they are all living together?" Emerald asked.
"I do understand the things Holly tells me." They all nodded in understanding. Suddenly, Hedwig got up and started flying around Coils head. The animals automatically took sides, and they cheered them on with devotion. A half an hour later, Holly entered the parlor to find squeaking owls, flapping wings and a hissing snake.
"What in the world are all of you crazy animals doing?" Holly asked. Hedwig flew over and landed on her shoulder, and Coils followed. When Coils finished wrapping herself around Holly, she took one more playful swipe at Hedwig before resting her head atop Holly's. Holly patted the Snakes head before patting Hedwig.
"You two are a hoot, I just wish someday Harry will be able to see for himself.
An hour or two went by before the owls left to go back to the Burrow. Holly was already exhausted and it was just reaching 10:00.
"Knock knock knock," Holly heard coming from the door.
"Holly?" A little girl asked.
"Yes?" Holly answered.
"Can I come in and play with you, I'm bored." The little girl said.
"Sure, come in."
The little girl twisted the door knob and bounced in the room.
"Hi Riley," Holly said.
"Hi sissy." the little girl said bouncing upon the bed. Holly grabbed her into a hug and lay back down.
"I just want to lay here for a minute," she said with a contented sigh, "But I'll read you a story, yes." The little girl shivered with anticipation. Holly then got up and grabbed the book her sister loved so much, it was called Polar bear polar bear. Holly started,
"Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what do you hear?" Holly read, "I hear a Lion roaring in my ear." She finished, and Riley roared so it made holly giggled.
"Lion, Lion, what do you hear?" She read again, "I hear a hippopotamus snorting in my ear." and again, Riley made a snorting sound.
Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, what do you hear?" Riley laughed at the name, "I hear a flamingo fluting in my ear." With a great attempt, Riley tried to make a flute sound.
"Flamingo, Flamingo, what do you hear?" Holly's voice asked as she read, "I hear a Zebra braying in my ear." Riley then attempted to make a braying sound, and Holly just hugged her closer.
"Zebra, Zebra, what do you hear?"
"I like Zebra's," Riley said. Holly continued reading,
"I hear a Boa Constrictor hissing in my ear." Coils popped her head out from under the pillow and hissed, as Riley hissed back.
Boa Constrictor, Boa Constrictor, what do you hear?" Riley pets the Snake, "I hear an elephant trumpeting in my ear." Then Riley let out what was supposed to be an elephant call.
Elephant, Elephant, what do you hear?" Riley cuddled up closer to Holly's embrace, "I hear a Leopard snarling in my ear. Again, Riley snarled, and Coils hissed back playfully.
"Leopard, Leopard, what do you hear?" Riley wound her hand in Holly's curls, "I hear a Peacock yelping in my ear." Riley let out a squawk that didn't resemble a peacock call, but Holly just smiled.
"Peacock, Peacock, what do you hear?" Riley wrapped her arms around Holly's waist and lay her head on her chest, "I hear a Walrus bellowing in my ear." Riley lifted her head and bellowed quite literally in Holly's ear. Holly jumped, and then said,
"Hey! I don't need to go deaf! I don't want to resemble Helen Keller thank you very much." Riley giggled and put her head back on Holly's chest.
"Walrus, Walrus, what do you hear?"
"I hear a zookeeper whistling in my ear." Riley finished for her, and Kendra came in the room whistling.
"Zookeeper, Zookeeper, what do you hear," Riley jumped up and ran to her mother, "I hear children growling like a Polar Bear, roaring like a Lion, snorting like a Hippopotamus, fluting like a Flamingo, braying like a Zebra, hissing like a Boa Constrictor, trumpeting like an Elephant, snarling like a Leopard, yelping like a Peacock, bellowing like a Walrus ... that's what I hear." Holly and Riley said together while there mother made all the silly noises. Kendra tickled Riley, and then said,
"Ok you silly zoo animals, come down and play outside with your siblings."
"K mummy," Riley said as she ram out of the room.
"You like reading that silly book, huh?" Kendra asked her.
"Hey, you like reading it too. You still have to read it to Phil when he gets old enough to remember it." Holly said glaring.
"Yes dear, I know," Kendra said with a smile, "Just come down stairs and play with the others won't you?"
"Coming Mum," Holly said jumping off the bed."
A small hotel materialized in the July air. This person was on a mission. He kept a close watch on the large family that came and went from here. One of the children would suffer for a while if they didn't give the proper information he came for. He entered the building, and sat on one of the sofas to wait. A family of nine exited the elevator a few minutes later. The time was 12:00, so he assumed they were going for lunch. When the last person left the building, the young man stood up and followed the family.
This was what Hermione wanted the most, the chance to go look in a Muggle bookstore for the books Holly said should be there. When they entered the bookstore after eating a delicious lunch she roamed the shelves at her leisure. All of a sudden the name Harry Potter jumped out at her, and hesitantly she lifted the book out of the shelve.
"Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone," It read. Hermione opened the book to the table of contents and read,
The Boy Who Lived, 1
The Vanishing Glass, 18
The Letters from No One, 31
The Keeper of the Keys, 46
Diagon Alley, 61
The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-quarters, 88
The Sorting Hat, 113
The Potions Master, 131
The Midnight Duel, 143
Halloween, 163
Quidditch, 180
The Mirror of Erised, 194
Nicolas Flamel, 215
Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback, 228
The Forbidden Forest, 242
Through the Trapdoor, 262
The Man with Two Faces, 288
Hermione could remember what some of these titles meant to her, for instance The Potions Master, The Midnight Duel, Halloween, Quidditch, Nicholas Flamel, Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback, The Forbidden Forest, and Through the Trapdoor. She picked up the next book entitled, The Chamber of Secrets, the table of contents included,
ONE: The Worst Birthday, 1
TWO: Dobby's Warning, 12
THREE: The Burrow, 24
FOUR: At Flourish and Blotts, 42
FIVE: The Whomping Willow, 65
SIX: Gilderoy Lockhart, 86
SEVEN: Mudbloods and Murmurs, 104
NINE: The Writing on the Wall, 140
TEN: The Rogue Bludger, 161
ELEVEN: The Dueling Club, 182
TWELVE: The Polyjuice Potion, 205
THIRTEEN: The Very Secret Diary, 227
FOURTEEN: Cornelius Fudge, 249
FIFTEEN: Aragog, 265
SIXTEEN: The Chamber of Secrets, 283
SEVENTEEN: The Heir of Slytherin, 306
Some of these titles jumped out at Hermione as well, like: At Flourish and Blotts, Gilderoy Lockhart, The Writing on the Wall, The Rogue Bludger, The Dueling Club, and The Polyjuice Potion. First and second years came flooding back to her, and she willed herself to look at the next book titled, The Prisoner of Azkaban. These books contents included:
ONE Owl Post, 1
TWO Aunt Marge's Big Mistake, 16
THREE the Knight Bus, 31
FOUR the Leaky Cauldron, 49
FIVE the Dementor, 69
SIX Talons and Tea Leaves 96
SEVEN the Boggart in the Wardrobe, 123
EIGHT Flight of the Fat Lady, 141
NINE Grim Defeat, 162
TEN the Marauder's Map, 183
ELEVEN the Firebolt, 211
TWELVE the Patronus, 233
THIRTEEN Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw, 252
FOURTEEN Snape's Grudge, 269
FIFTEEN the Quidditch Final, 291
SIXTEEN Professor Trelawney's Prediction, 314
SEVENTEEN Cat, Rat, and Dog, 332
EIGHTEEN Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, 349
NINETEEN the Servant of Lord Voldemort, 358
TWENTY the Dementor's Kiss, 378
TWENTY ONE Hermione's Secret, 386
TWENTY TWO Owl Post Again, 416
These titles were harder for Hermione to identify with, but the ones she did were called: The Leaky Culdron, The Dementor, The Boggart in the Wardrobe, Flight of the Fat Lady, The Firebolt, Cat Rat, and Dog, and Hermione's Secret. The last title frightened her, because she didn't have any reason to reveal her secret in third year. The next book she picked up was called, The Goblet of Fire. The titles in this book were titled:
ONE the Riddle House, 1
TWO the Scar, 16
THREE the Invitation, 26
FOUR Back to the Burrow, 39
FIVE Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, 51
SIX the Portkey, 65
SEVEN Bagman and Crouch, 75
EIGHT the Quidditch World Cup, 95
TEN Mayhem at the Ministry, 145
ELEVEN aboard the Hogwarts Express, 158
TWELVE the Triwizard Tournament, 171
THIRTEEN Mad-Eye Moody, 193
FOURTEEN the Unforgivable Curses, 209
FIFTEEN Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, 228
SIXTEEN the Goblet of Fire, 248
SEVENTEEN the Four Champions 272
EIGHTEEN the Weighing of the Wands, 288
NINETEEN the Hungarian Horntail, 313
TWENTY the First Task, 337 9
TWENTY-ONE the House-Elf Liberation Front, 363
TWENTY-TWO the Unexpected Task, 385
TWENTY-THREE the Yule Ball, 403
TWENTY-FOUR Rita Skeeter's Scoop, 433
TWENTY-FIVE the Egg and the Eye, 458
TWENTY-SIX the Second Task, 479
TWENTY-SEVEN Padfoot Returns, 509
TWENTY-EIGHT the Madness of Mr. Crouch, 535
TWENTY-NINE the Dream, 564
THIRTY the Pensieve, 581
THIRTY- ONE the Third Task, 605
THIRTY-TWO Flesh, Blood, and Bone, 636
THIRTY-THREE the Death Eaters, 644
THIRTY-FOUR Priori Incantatem, 659
THIRTY-FIVE Veritaserum, 670
THIRTY-SIX the Parting of the Ways, 692
THIRTY-SEVEN the Beginning, 716
She remembered less about this book than she did the others, but all the same she can only remember, The Quidditch World Cup, The Triwizard Tournament, The Four Champions, The First Task, The Yule Ball, Rita Skeeter's scoop, The Second Task, and The Third Task. She looked again, and saw the three remaining books on the shelf, she picked them up, one by one, and read the titles. The order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows. This information made her mind whirl, but she couldn't wait to get back and read to her hearts content. When she turned around her mother was right behind her,
"Ready to go Hermione?"
"Yes Mum, I would like to get all seven of these books, they are all in a series, and are really important I get them together."
"Sure thing, your siblings are getting a few books themselves, and I know how much you like reading."
"Thanks Mum," Hermione said as she hugged her.
"Your welcome dear," She replied hugging her daughter back.
The person had been watching the same family all day. They went to lunch, bookstores, clothing shops, and many other places before resolving that they should go back to the hotel and get some dinner. This person was becoming impatient now, and he wanted to get done what had to be done. The family unloaded the bags of purchases they made throughout the afternoon unaware that someone was following them. Hermione helped her siblings out of the Van before taking bags out to hand to her brothers who so nicely offered to carry them to the rooms. Her parents were in front of the group, with her twin sisters, then her twin brother Travis followed by Noah, Madeline, and Alina. This person had to do it quick, so he whipped out his wand disillusioning himself, and just before Hermione walked over the Threshold he tripped her, stunned her, and for great measure, knocked her unconscious before disaparating. All Hermione knew was that she hit the ground hard before her world went black.
Julie and Seth Granger pushed the stroller of their 6-month-babies into the elevator followed by the other Granger children. They had a quiet ride up to the tenth floor and as they exited Julie counted only 6 children.
"Seth, where is Hermione?" She asked her husband.
"She's... Oh! um..." his face faltered, "Not here."
"Travis, can you go put down your bags in our room, and then go see if your twin is downstairs?" Travis did what he was told, and after a good 20 minute search he came back empty handed. Julie and Seth took the Van and drove around the city to look in every place they went. They found nothing, and after there hour of searching was complete they went back to the hotel and loaded up the kids to go home.
Around an hour and a half later the Granger Van pulled into the garage. All of the kids got out grabbing whatever they could and sticking it in the house. Another half an hour past, and Julie was in the car on her way to Kendra's She knew that Kendra would have the perfect solution. She pushed her car up the gravel hill until she made it to the top. Julie got out and ran up the steps in a hurry and rang the doorbell furiously.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" A man's voice boomed. The door opened, and there in the doorway stood Edward Davidson. When he saw who it was, he smiled and opened the door wider to let her in.
"What a pleasant surprise Julie, I thought you were in Latvia on vacation?"
"I was, but something terrible happened, and we had to come back straight away."
"Terrible?" Kendra asked as she came up behind her husband."
"Yes Kendra, Hermione's gone missing!" And that was the last straw, Julie finally broke down.
"Hermione, what!" Holly shouted.
"She's missing," Kendra told her daughter.
"Should I alert the Order Mum?"
"Yes, hurry." Kendra said with urgency in her voice.
In an instant Holly aparated just outside the wards of the Burrow, and then changed immediately into a phoenix. She took flight and flew through the open Kitchen window. In her haste She forgot what she was doing and she so gracefully landed on Lily's head before hopping off transforming immediately behind her. James followed the movements with a seekers eye, and was horrified when his niece was transformed into her human form. As for the other occupants of the dinner table, they were in shock. Holly brushed off her robes, and whistled over all the commotion she just caused. Everyone stopped at once, and looked at her with murderous glares.
"I hate to interrupt dinner and all, but I've got some horrible news." She said shakily. It was just now hitting her, her best friend was kidnapped, and there wasn't anything she could do about it.
"Holly, what is it," James prompted. They all saw the fear in her eyes as she tried to fight off tears.
"Hermione was kidnapped this afternoon in Latvia where her family was vacationing." Holly was shaking violently now, and despite them knowing anything about the girl, Lily, Joanna, Rochelle, Molly, and James got up to console her. They all knew that this was no laughing matter, and no tricks were played because it took them the good part of an hour to calm her down. James picked her up, and carried her into the living room to sit on the couch. He let her cry. He knew Hermione meant so much to her, so they all let her cry. Another hour later when she was able to form coherent sentences, she lifted her arms and put them around his neck. On the couch beside them, Molly and Lily sat patiently waiting for explanations.
"Sorry," She sniffled.
"You have nothing to be sorry for dear," Molly assured her as Lily nodded in agreement.
"It all just caught up with me so fast in there..." James put a finger to her lips, and kissed the top of her head.
"It's ok Holls, she was your best friend."
"Yeah but..." She started,
"No buts," Lily interjected, "We believe you." Lily said soothingly as she stroked the blond curls. Holly was over whelmed, and in one fluid motion she leaned over quickly and wrapped her arms around Lily's neck burrowing her face into Lily's red hair. Lily just wrapped both arms around in response and took her off James' lap. At that instant another couple set of footsteps entered the Kitchen door, and in a second Julie and Kendra were standing beside the sofa.
"She finally broke down,? Kendra asked James, but it wasn't James who answered,
"She did a second after she told us," Lily said. Kendra's eyes moved from James' face to rest on her sister-in-law's. In her arms Holly was still trying to calm herself down. Kendra sat down on the arm of the sofa, and rubbed Holly's back in slow circles.
"So, I'm going to assume you're Kendra?" Lily questioned.
"Yes Lily, I am Kendra." She replied. Holly then lifted her tearstained face to face her mother.
"Holls, come here," Kendra said gently. Holly gave Lily one last appreciative squeeze, and then let her mother's arms comfort her. All of the children came in one by one, and the adults decided that they would start the search first thing in the morning. This would give there minds time to think clearly.
A/N: Thanks for reading! This was an exhausting chapter to finish, and I hope you enjoyed it. Just to remind you, I am still looking for a beta if anyone is interested. I encourage you to tell me what you thought in a review!