The Weasley's plus Dumbles, Min and Sev. No Snape bashing, we all know he is really a good guy anyway right. Mild Ron bashing but unlike my usual fics there isnt a lot of bashing of anyone in later chapters. Angst sure, but bashing no.
Enjoy.
Hermione sat up straight in her seat as many voices could be heard coming along the hall. Tonks was sitting beside her and draped and arm around the little witch. They all sat looking towards the doorway. When Dumbledor walked into the room he was looking back over his shoulder talking to Arthur Weasley. It was only when the entire clan was in the room that Dumbledor turned to see exactly who was in the room.
Never in all their years had the four people in front of Albus Dumbledor seen the man look even remotely surprised. His usually content blue eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed before he cleared his throat. The people standing behind him peered around him equally shocked to see Hermione Granger already at Grimmauld Place and sitting content under Tonks' arm beside Sirius.
"Miss Granger?" Dumbledor queried and the brunette in question frowned.
"Who else?" Hermione asked seriously.
"But... you were expelled?" Albus stated dumbly.
"And my wand was snapped." Hermione retorted standing up and gathering the four wine glasses from her friends.
"I'm not sure I understand." Albus frowns, the red-heads behind him looked confused.
"No one could find you." Albus stated after a moment.
"Sure they could. Andy did, and Draco and Narcissa. Tonks found me the very first day. Even Fleur found me. Who was looking Albus?" Hermione knew she was getting snide but she couldn't handle it. The man was supposed to know everything that went on with his students.
"Come on, little babe. Give the Professor a chance to explain." Tonks spoke softly moving over to stand beside her friend.
"You're right. I'm sorry, Professor." Hermione calmed considerably when Tonks slipped an arm around her waist.
"Hermione, can you tell me whats happened? I was only told that you were expelled for the use of underage magic but when I went to your home two days ago it was empty and for sale." Dumbledor explained apologetically.
"Is there any chance we can wait until Minerva and Severus are here? She doesnt want to have to keep explaining over and over." Sirius spoke up then and reluctantly the older man nodded.
The Weasley's all moved then greeting Sirius, Tonks and Remus while the youngest four Weasley's converged on Hermione. They hugged her and asked how she had been, her answer was vague but they were too excited to notice. When she asked how they had been they explained what they had been doing. The twins working on their taffy's and other sweets to help students skeave off school. Ginny and Ron hadnt been up to us much but did practice flying a lot, when they werent fighting.
"Is this a real tattoo?" George asked suddenly.
"What?" Molly spoke up suddenly looking over at the children.
"Oh yeah. It's great isnt it?" Hermione smiled and held her arm out showing off her vine and dragon sleeve.
"Why would you mutilate your body like that?" Ron asked frowning at the brunette.
"Mutilate? Ron, it's art." Hermione stated with a scowl.
It was at this point that Ginny noticed the bruise on Hermione's neck and a grin spread across her lips. She also chose that moment, while everyone was focussed on her yet again, to speak up about it. Bouncing excitedly she practically shouted, there was not a chance that those present didnt hear her.
"Is that a love-bite?" Ginny spoke loudly.
"Of course not. It's Hermione, who would be snogging her?" Ronald laughed as if it was all some joke.
"You'd be surprised. I need to use the bathroom." Hermione spoke up mostly just addressing Tonks and Sirius before leaving the kitchen.
Without waiting for a response she headed up the stairs to the second floor and headed straight for the bathroom. She didnt actually have to use the loo but did anyway before going on up to her room. There was no way she had the patience to deal with Ron's snide comments. The worst part was that he didnt even know he was being a complete arse.
When Hermione made it to her room, a room she knew she would have to share with Ginny from now on, she lay down on her back and stared at the ceiling. She was still laying there like that when the door creaked open and Tonks invited herself in. The older witch walked over and lay beside the little witch wrapping an arm over her gently. They lay there like that for a few moments until Tonks leaned over and kissed Hermione on the cheek.
"Dont be upset, little babe. Ron doesnt know any better. He's only 15 this year, youre 16 in weeks and we all know boys are developmentally challenged." Tonks pointed out in her usually bright manner. It worked and Hermione smirked.
"I think he is going to be behind the curve the rest of his life." Hermione grumbled though she wasnt feeling nearly as bad now.
"Pretty sure he was born behind it. Dont worry about him. Minerva and Severus are here." Tonks informed casually.
"Suppose I best put my big girl pants back on then." Hermione rolled right into Tonks who laughed when legs and arms were wrapped around her.
"You'll be right." Tonks stood with Hermione still clinging too her and simply apparated them both to the kitchen where everyone was gathered.
In the twenty minutes that Hermione had been in the bedroom Molly had gotten her children calmed down and started on Lunch. Severus and Minerva had arrived together from Hogwarts only a couple of mintues before Tonks had come upstairs. Everyone was settled at the table in the kitchen when Tonks appeared with Hermione stuck to her. Hermione grumbled something about wanting some warning next time.
When she released the metamorph she sighed and let Tonks pull her down between herself and Remus. The table was silent, everyone looking at Hermione again and she sighed softly as she traced her vines. Severus regarded the young witch with a look of curiosity while Minerva looked like she might weep. Molly was still cooking but you could almost see her ear turn towards the table.
"I'll start for the start. Save your questions." Hermione spoke only slightly less than confidently. When they all nodded, most reluctantly, she continued.
"A couple of days into Summer holidays, it was early morning and I was asleep. I woke to screaming and ran downstairs. It was... it was horrible. There was so much blood and... Fenrir Greyback was there, he had torn my father to shreds, I assume while Lucius Malfoy held my mother." Hermione started, she stopped to clear her throat.
Severus Snapes eyes turned so dark with fury that Hermione swore she could feel it, she looked up to see him glaring at her. Well not at her, but for her, for her situation. Minerva and Molly both had tears in their eyes while Dumbledor listened intently, the rest of the Weasley's couldnt make eye contact.
"When I looked up from my dad, he had turned to look at me, all I saw was mum. Fenrir was... inside her, raping her while she bled to death from a gaping horrible wound in her throat. They were both looking at me, their kind sweet eyes were full of nothing but terror." Hermione blinked a couple of times and took a calming breath when Tonks hand rested on her knee.
"I, uh, pulled my wand and cast Incarcerous on Lucius but I was stupid and didnt remove his wand. He was kind of, stroking the flesh wand if you will. At that point Fenrir noticed be and just dropped my mother, I think they were both gone at that point but I couldnt be sure. They attacked me, I hit my head and bruised my shoulders but otherwise was mostly ok. Apparently though the trace alerted the ministry when I cast the Incarcerous. Aurors showed up, Greyback and Malfoy left and I passed out." Hermione lifted her hand and rubbed the back of her neck.
"When I woke up I was somewhere very cold and dark. Soon enough the screaming and banging let me know I was in Azkaban. That place is all kinds of horrible. Anyway, im not sure how long I was there but eventually they got me out, took me straight to the ministry. I got tried in my pyjama's." Hermione grinned ruefully.
"Anyway, I was called in and was charged with Underage magic and use of magic in front of muggles. It didnt matter that I was trying to defend myself or that those muggles were dead or even parents of a witch. My 'fair' trial ended in my expullsion and having my wand snapped. Orphaned and without magic and just sent me on my way. Tonks found me sitting in the Leaky Cauldron." Hermione finished and Tonks squeezed her thigh.
"How did Miss Tonks find out?" Severus asked curiously.
"Sheer dumb luck actually. I just happened to be walking past a desk when I looked at the file on it. It was Hermione's. I knew her from talking to Remus and Sirius so I went looking for her. I just got lucky that she was in the Cauldron." Tonks explained mildly.
"Well then what happened? How did she end up like this?" Molly gestured the sleeve.
"Nym made a suggestion that I could have very well of said no too Molly." Hermione defeneded her friend when she saw the mother cast a look at Tonks.
"How can you make such a choice? How will you ever expect to marry and have children with that?" Molly clearly didnt approve.
"Molly surely you can see the symbolism." Severus drawled, the Weasley clan plus Minerva and Albus all looked at him with a frown before looking at Hermione's tattoo.
"I dont think I get it." Minerva speaks up after a while.
"The young woman had her wand snapped. Vine and Dragon Heart-string I believe?" Severus spoke in his usual way as he looked at Hermione who actually smiled.
"Indeed. 50 points to Slytherin." Hermione smirked, she was surprised when Severus actually winked at her.
"That's all well and good, but its permanent. How do plan on convincing a man to love you?" Molly was ever the relentless one.
"I dont really plan to Molly. I prefer women and since making that realisation I havent exactly had trouble getting them into bed... or against toilet doors." Hermione bit out getting to her feet with a scowl on her face.
"I dont need you judging me, or telling what a mistake i've made. I've lost just about everything in the last week Molly. I'm taking control of my own life now." Hermione informed in a tone that brokered no arguments before turning and walking out of the room.
She promptly made her way back up to her room, jogging the last few steps to the bedroom before the build up became too much. She barely made it inside before her raw magic released with her anger, the lamps blow and the loose papers in the room went up into the air but she managed to calm herself down and get control. Taking a deep breath she focused on the lamp and thought, pictured, the workings of the Reparo spell. Satisfyingly enough the lamp magically repaired and Hermione could feel the magic in her chest.
Also these aren't strictly edited, i'm willing to admit that im quite lazy and i somehow broke my spell checker so i've really only been giving them a quick read through and fixing the most obvious mistakes so... Sorry. SF out