Chapter 10
When at last Hermione, Luna and Harry came back they got a tearful welcome again. Hermione's parents were talking to Andromeda who had been telling them the role Hermione played in the last war and how she was tortured. Her parents were stunned and the bitterness of her actions in their mind was overrun by the concern about her wellbeing. In Febryary, Hermione's parents wanted to go back to Australia to finally close the shop and come to London. It would take some time to settle and for those days she would stay with Andromeda. They want her live with them for a few months and then settle for her own establishment. They insisted she should have her own place in a place where they could reach them. And the absolutely wanted her to be truthful to them hence forward.
So she and Luna were now staying back with Harry and Andromeda and children. The children have Prof. Snape teach them and he took lunch with them downstairs in the first floor.
There is a wave of visitors for them. First to come is Lavender with all the gossips. They are taking lunch together as Andromeda is out. Lavender said about her and Ron.
"Mrs. Weasley didn't want a daughter in law who could not produce a normal child or any child at all. She is in the way of losing it and is too controlling of all her children especially who are unmarried", she said.
"After the war I have become too stubborn to do as I am told. A bad influence of sharing dorm with you for six long years Hermione, I completely blame it on you", she continued as they laughed.
"Any way Ron has changed a lot. He is becoming a lot responsible and taking care of his parents. Someone who could submissive enough to put up with her mother will have a very caring husband in him. Just not me! You should have seen him rescuing Pansy. I was coming out of the book shop and saw the whole thing". Hermione exclaimed "Book shop! Are you sure?" At that they dissolved in laughter and Lavender with a rude gesture continued "yes a book shop ordering books for the children of our school. It was Luna who told Harry to make me the purchase incharge so blame her. Now I was on the stairs and suddenly a shout. I saw four or five men crowding around a short clocked figure. It was a girl and when she shouted it was a known voice. I couldn't make up. Ron and Rolf were with me. He told Rolf to help me with supplies and went to see and next I hear him shouting, throwing hex. He fought with all of them stunned two and got hold of the abused figure. Next he cast a patronus and nodded to Rolf. Rolf suddenly pulls me and apparat in front of no 12. Later I found out it was Pansy."
"What happened to Pansy after that?" asks Hermione.
"Oh she is here working under the Professor err… Mr. Snape. It is too difficult to call him anything other than professor you know. But he insists." huffed Lavender.
"So how are things with Rolf?" asks Luna with smile. Hermione widens her eyes and Lavender blushes and says "good", then after a few seconds asks Luna "do you mind. I really do not like to be labeled as boyfriend thief" she says seriously. "Oh don't worry" says both Luna and Hermione and laugh together. Lavender suddenly says to Hermione, "you know Ron will never be able to get over you. I think it didn't work out between us because you were always there between us." Then she hurries to add, "I am not blaming you for the breakup Hermione, don't get me wrong. But Ron's feelings about are mixed up. And you are his best friend in female species even now. But I have no regrets. Rolf is not like Ron, he is, how to say, more aware of the surrounding and others feelings. Ohh I am coming in a minute".
When she headed to the lavatory Hermione said to Luna, "I was, for six years her dorm mate. And this Lavender I like very much better though I feel sad. She is so very different as if the old one is lost, I can't place her in my memory."
"War has this effect to most of the people", said Luna.
As Lavender returned there was someone else with her and it was Ginny. Ginny has become a beautiful woman with flame red hair and a temper to match. There is a frown in her forehead which has become a permanent fixture. She was still working with Prof. Snape.
"He treats me like any other student. That's ok with me; I need to stay another two months. He is not victimizing me. But he treats Malfoy like… I don't know, I don't understand", says Ginny.
"He keeps an eye on Malfoy all the time. Malfoy gets into this fit once in a while. I have seen once only. The professor said that it was an after effect of exposure to dimentors. Now the cow Pansy is there too flashing her eyes and ignoring everyone other than the professor. I can't stand Pansy. And Malfoy; he tries to tell me how to do things. As if I would take help from him. At least Snape barks the instructions and let me be." Then Ginny frowns and says, "I really don't understand what is it with Harry and Neville, trying to talk to Malfoy and Parkinson cow."
"So how are things between you and Harry", thankfully Lavender tried to steer Ginny in a different direction. "Good", her only response.
"How is family?" asked Luna and she started again. Hermione looked at Lavender over Ginny's head and gave her a quelling look. Lavender gave her a reassuring nod and mouthed "latter".
At that time an elf popped in and told Ginny that he was required in the basement by Prof Snape. She went down.
Luna said, "I think Ginny and Harry are having some difficulty."
Lavender agreed, "Leave the Weasleys. They speak different language. Did Vati tell you what she did? She went to you did she not. She was asking your address."
Then upon their nod she laughed and said, "I gave Blaisé your direction that day. She is such a fool! Both of them, only if she was not a Griffy and he a Slytherin. Things are much easy with Theo and Padma."
"She will be returning soon, I think." At which Hermione nodded in agreement. Lavender added, "Blaise is becoming an alcoholic and workaholic day by day. What a waste for such trivial".
Then she got up and said, "Let me go down and see if anything is needed for the children. Would you come?" Luna went with her and Hermione said she would join later.
Then in came Andromeda and Hermione and talked for a while about many issues including Draco as Ginny's words were humming in Hermione's mind.
"You know that Draco was in house arrest with Cica, but before that he was in Azkaban. There was an accident where he was attacked by dementors. With extreme trauma he lost his magical powers. Cica was beside herself and contacted me. He took almost a year to gain back his magic and sometimes still has the flashback. He couldn't do any job, no one will take him. So Harry proposed to Severus that he take Draco on potion apprentice and work here in the basement. They, Severus and Draco have their lunch with the children but Harry insisted they all have the dinner together. He left the Manor and is bunking with Blaise and Theo. Pansy is staying with Cica. She too works here doing paperwork and all."
"So Pansy too eats with us? How is she doing?"
"Not good at all. She was molested you know?" Andromeda took a deep breath. They went to their room to freshen up for dinner.
When Hermione went to her room she got caught by Winky who wanted Hermione to check the progress of her students. So Hermione send a message that she will have a late dinner and started to test the elves.
Hermione got a tray in her room. Luna and Lavender came and laughed seeing her taking spelling test to the elves, and Lavender went home.
At night just before sleep Hermione found Luna sitting on her bed. "Are you avoiding them?" she asked. "No." They celebrate Luna's birthday and next day Harry has goes for a mission.
In the Middle of the night there is a loud bang on their room. Luna opened the door to find Neville.
"Hurry and come down, there is an emergency" he rushed down. They put on whatever they got and rushed down to see Kingsley. "What has happened?" asked Luna.
Neville didn't answer and went on summoning the members of DA over the phone. They started to rush in through the floo.
Ron came first then was Anthony and Susan. Dean came with Seamus. Ernei and Hanna turned up. Percy and Justin came together. Patils, Lavender and Theo came together. Blaise was tracking the international communication said Kingsley. Then the Headmistress was there, with Prof Filtwick. Kingsley said, "Harry got a lead of Pettigrew and went in with a team of two other Aurors. Both were dead, no news of Harry."
Neville shouted, "Who told Harry about him? Normally I or Ron goes with him in a mission. Ron did you know?"
"No, I left Harry in the ministry. He was coming home." Said a puzzled Ron.
Then the floo faired up an in came Blaise. "Pettigrew was seen with a box in a train towards Scotland"
"Forbidden Forest" exclaimed Hermione. "Oh God last time Voldemort was resurrected in their!"
"What?" shouted Kingsley.
"Triwizarding Tournament", whispered the professors, Luna, Neville and all the DA members together.
Kingsley asked Headmistress whether to call Snape. She nodded and Neville went to floo.
He was answered by a sleepy and disheveled head of Severus Snape, "Longbottom it better be life and death or else.." .
He was stopped by the shrill voice of the Headmistress, "Severus stop talking and come through".
"Hmm" and the head went back in.
Andromeda came with tea and everyone took a cup.
Hermione took a cup and went to the opposite corner of the fireplace to talk to Percy.
"Ginny? Molly, Athur?" "No, I came from Audrey's with Justin. George was with Angelina in Burrows. So, no."
Then came in Bill and started to talk with the professors and Percy joined them. Hermione took Percy's seat.
In five or so minutes a properly dressed Severus Snape stepped in and barked "What?"
So Kingsley repeated all of it again. "A box, you say?" he asked Blaise and he nodded.
"Severus?" McGonagall asked. "Minerva, Kingsley a box is difficult to hide. Hogsmeade station Master should be informed. Minerva we need to search the Forbidden Forest. Go back and get Hagrid out."
"You could ask Prof Firenze to Madam" said Luna. So they grouped up and went out. First group was Prof Snape and all the other professors and Nevill, Bill, Ron, Dean, Erni, Percy, Seamus even Theo. Antony and Susan was to stay in no 12 and to tent to any injury. Blaise went to the ministry while Auror group were dispatched towards Hogsmeade and Forbidden Forest.
They waited with nerve wrecking tension for how long they did not know. Hermione didn't talk but closed her eyes and looked as if meditating.
Then suddenly she opened her eyes and went straight to Kingsley and said "Little Hangleton, sent them their". Then she cast her patronus "Little Hangleton. You get him there. Fast. you would lose him".
Kingsley looked at him and said "Are you sure?" "100%" she replied.
Kingsley then casted his with message "Little Hangleton, half of the force go on searching rest move. Severus, Bill, please go with them. Professors please guard Hogwarts".
After some time Luna asks "where in Little Hangleton?" with DA coin in hand. She says "Graveyard."
In the morning at 3:30 around they came in with an unconscious Harry.
"How did you know?" asked Percy. "Tell you later." She answered. Snape, Kingsley, Bill went home. Theo took Parvati, Padma, Lavender and called Blaise back. All the rest exhausted people went home except Anthony, Susan, Neville, Dean and Ron. Hermione and Luna and all of them settled up around Harry in his room.
"We searched and searched but could not find a thing. Then the Headmistress and Hagrid called the centaurs. They too searched. After searching for an hour or so we gathered and one of the centaurs informed that there was some activity under Whomping Willow. Ron looked at Prof. Snape", said Dean.
Ron smiled at Hermione, "Yes we three have a history there with Snape".
"Professor Snape, Ron". Mimicked Dean of Hermione and they all laughed.
"Well Professor then ordered Neville to open the hole under. You should have seen Neville pursue! The tree stood still and then shifted and we quickly went in to the Shrieking Shack. Nothing. All dark. So we cast Lumos, nothing. Then Snape cast a Lumos Maxima and Ron finds Harry's Auror cloak. Professor ordered to search again and we started when your otter came." Dean went to have water and Neville took over.
"As Dean said we were to search for the second time and heard from you. We didn't know what to do. Then Professor asked 'Who?' Ron and I together 'Hermione'. After a beat he looks at us and shouts 'who knows the place'. Ron and Bill and some Aurors. So we thought to borrow broom from Hogwarts and fly. But Percy says 'it will take almost 3 hours and Hermione said to hurry or we will lose him'. So the professor tells to side-along to Gaunt shack and takes my hand and goes off. Upon reaching, we wait and Ron with Dean and Percy and Bill appear. Then appear the aurors. So we then all go back to get others. He asked 'where?' I took out the coin. Luna answers. I say 'Graveyard'. Ron mumbles, professor barks 'What Weasley?' Ron shouts 'resurrection'."
Dean hands over a bottle to Neville and says "you should see us swore. I think Merlin might just turn in his grave" he laughed.
Ron looks at Hermione and looks away. Dean continues "so we approach the graveyard from different directions. Professor says no light no sound. Well ok. We see torch light and a small group. A fire and a cauldron over it like campfire. Then I see Harry tied in a chair. Professor and some other might have seen him too and started casting. One or two cracks. Just in the nick of time. We got all but three. A huge blast in the cauldron, Pettigrew escaped."
"Aurors take them we took Harry."