Disclaimer- dont own anything


Summer rolled around in a cloud of grey. Grey skies; grey furniture; grey hearts. Draco Malfoy had never felt more isolated in his home than he had that summer. The hopes of spending every night with the twin he had missed so terribly perished within the first week. He couldn't be angry about it, though. Not completely, not with his Mia. Not after all she had gone through that first week back from Hogwarts.

She still watched him practice his Quidditch and read to him while he curled her hair between his fingers. There was a distance, however. Between Mia and the rest of the world. Draco wanted to give her space. He wanted to give her comfort. He wanted her to not be in so much pain all the time and most of all he wanted to still believe his father was a good man.

His whole life Draco had heard rumors and seen the looks of discomfort, he had been totally aware as the wizarding community around him created an image of his family. Of his father. Draco had experienced first hand the way his father's personality could switch. How the man could be charming and loving and shower his wife and son with attention and gifts. How the man could beat a young boy for mispronouncing a French dish in front of guests.

He knew the stories from the war. The reports of the raids and what it was exactly that caused people to fear Death Eaters so greatly and somehow he still idolized the man. Still believed wholeheartedly that the cruel streak his father often possessed wasn't really who he was. He would put it down to stress and fatigue, often blaming himself for the outbursts. Telling himself that the kindness that his father had residing in him was what defined him as a man.

Draco knew now he had been mistaken. The nasty streak wasn't just a streak it was a fundamental personality flaw.

The first day back from Hogwarts had been magnificent. Draco had waited impatiently in the drawing room for his twin to be Apparated to the manor by his mother. Draco had paced and paced, checking in with the house elves every ten minutes to confirm that the assortment of his and Mia's favorite treats were all prepared and the fort was set up perfectly in his room.

When his twin finally arrived, the relief and joy the young wizard felt when he saw silver eyes mirroring his own was unprecedented. The pair had embraced for what seemed like hours. All night they stayed awake. Laughing and snacking until neither twin could find the energy to move. Draco had asked endless questions about the year's events and he knew that Mia didn't tell him everything. Which hurt, but not nearly as much as the blow to his head he received the day after next.

When Lucius Malfoy had found out about his daughter's petrification he had been gripped with guilt. He had slipped that diary into the red heads possession. He had been the catalyst for his daughter almost losing her life.

Not a day after finding out about his daughter's state was it that he then found out about the disrespect shown to his family by the youngest Weasley boy and needless to say Lucius Malfoy spent a great deal of time in a wave of guilt and anger. Directed at anyone who crossed his path, including the young Potter.

It was a day into the holidays however that Arthur Weasley approached him in the Ministry to offer an awkward yet sincere apology on his son's behalf. Lucius Malfoy had never been fond of the Weasley figurehead and his obvious inability to raise children was blatant to Lucius in the behavior of the youngest son and the stupidity of the girl.

Had Arthur Weasley spent more time teaching his children the importance of decorum and common sense instead of obsessing over muggle rubbish that would never hold any importance in the wizarding world than his daughter would not have been targeted by the 'heir of Slytherin'. A fact which still made his skin crawl in fury because Hesperia Malfoy would never have been targeted. The pureblood, Slytherin twin of Draco Malfoy should never have even made a cameo in the year's events.

Weasley's incompetent daughter had not only failed in keeping the chamber open for an impacting amount of time but in the process had set the basilisk on one of the few truly pure witches in the school. Lucius had stared long and hard at the aging man in front of him before turning without a word of acceptance toward his office. As time ticked by his anger subsided none. Instead, his magic gathered around him intimidatingly, as he went back and forth over the years events. The blame flickered in his mind From Arthur Weasley to his daughter, to the Dark Lord, to Severus and Dumbledore. Round and round, new people to blame appeared in his mind until he came to one finite conclusion.

That night when Lucius returned from work at the ministry he felt no happiness in seeing his two children looking up at him from the sofa in the large study. Instead, his face was completely stoic. Narcissa had risen from where she had been reading Witch Weekly in the corner of the study at his appearance and watched immobile as Lucius stormed across the room. His magic radiating off of him dangerously.

At the sight of his father approaching them, Draco rose slowly. Subconsciously placing his body in front of his twin. For a moment, time inside of Malfoy Manor slowed. As if the Magic in the house was preparing for what was about to happen. As if it could sense Lucius' rage and almost see the future and the repercussions of his next actions.

In one whistling motion, the end of Lucius's cane impacted with Draco's skull. In the time it took the boy to hit the floor a lot happened. As if breaking from an immobilus, Mia collapsed onto of her brother, her eyes wide as she stared up at the man before her. Lucius, in turn, moved to close the space between them, arm outstretched toward his daughter.

His fingers barely touched her silver hair when a shout rang through the air and the wizard felt himself being thrown into the side table behind him. The wood splintered beneath him and Lucius pushed his hair out of his eyes to see his wife stood over their children protectively. Her wand trained on him.

For years Narcissa had averted her gaze when her husband lashed out. She had excused herself or left as instructed only to stay behind the doors. Her ear pressed up against the wood like a child as she listened to her husband lay his hands on her son.

The few times she had spoken out she had been punished for her betrayal. In time she instead resolved to try her best to raise Draco so that he would have no reason to displease his father. So when she found herself standing over her husband, her wand threateningly over him she felt a wave of fear and power surge through her.

Shock seeped from Lucius as he stared at the two heads of long blonde hair staring defiantly at him. Draco cradled protectively behind them. This did not, however, subdue his anger in any way. Instead, Lucius Malfoy felt even more inclined to lash out at the core of all his problems. Raising himself off the ground the wizard made a large arch around his family, watching with eyes a cold as ice at his wife who never once lowered her wand. Walking straight to the fireplace he paid the curious gazes no mind as he collected a handful of floo powder in his hands.

Turning back to the unconscious boy and his protectors, Lucius looked almost sympathetic. Sighing heavily he threw the powder into the fireplace and as the fire raged green he spoke in a voice almost too soft to be heard. "This is for the best" he smiled then- his face morphing into something truly ugly. "Rosewood Cottage" he called before stepping into the flames.

When Lucius Malfoy returned the Manor seemed eerily quiet. He noticed the table had been repaired and called to a house left to have it removed from the room completely. It didn't take him long to locate his family.

Draco had clearly woken and was sat with his hand clasping his twins in his bed. The sheets pulled up around him by Narcissa. As if they had the magical ability to keep him safe. Curled on the sofa, her chin resting on her arms Narcissa never let her gaze waver from her children as they sat quietly.

When Lucius strolled nonchalantly into the room she couldn't help but have her eyes follow him. Hating herself for the same flutter of butterflies that she got every time her husband appeared.

Rising from the sofa Narcissa took a tentative step toward the man her voice thick. "Please tell me you didn't do what I think you did" she whispered, her hands gripped in from of her tightly. At her question, the twins sat upright. Draco wrapped his arm slowly around his sister, dreading the answer they all knew was coming.

Keeping his tone neutral Lucius Malfoy let his gaze lock with his daughters. "There was a fire a Rosewood Cottage. Unfortunately, the Grangers did not make it out." Breath ran short and faces went pale and all anyone could do was stare at the wizard. Mia felt a tugging in her chest that she had never known before and it bubbled up inside of her in seconds. Before anyone could even think to move the floor began to shake. Slowly at first and then as the seconds rolled past the action became more violent, until the glass was shattering and posters were falling all around them.

Rising slowly from her brothers hold, The young witch took no notice of how all the magic in the room seemed to be gravitating toward her as she sparked dangerously with uncontrolled magic. Walking down the bed until she was face to face with Lucius who had moved further inside the room to address her.

"What did you do?" she demanded quietly.

"You are a Hesperia Malfoy. You are not Hermione or Mia, you are Hesperia and you will never forget it. Your adopted parents should never have had you for as long as they did and now they won't"

"I don't believe you" She whispered "You wouldn't do that to me" and yet the ache in her gut was telling her everything she needed to know. For a moment Lucius just stared hard at the girl in front of him before a small frown fell on his lips. Raising the wand nobody realized he had in his hands Lucius Malfoy proceeded to perform perhaps the lowest act of his life. Still fueled by the intoxicating feeling that could only come from using dark magic Lucius grabbed a hold of his child and apparated her through the manor.

Finding herself inside the drawing room Hermione pushed desperately at the hand gripping her wrist. Her fight was futile though as Lucius proceeded to grab a handful of Floo powder. Hermione tried with all of her might to keep herself out of the fire but inevitably she was engulfed in green flames only to be thrown into flames of a different color.

Orange and red blazed around her and silver eyes stung with tears as the realisation of where she was and what was happening settled in. Scrambling back against the fireplace Hermione felt her foot catch on a piece of broken wood that had fallen from the ceiling and she went tumbling back into the ash. Coughing violently she had enough sense to struggle to her feet as quickly as possible.

She seemed totally unaware of Lucius watching her intently, using his wand to manipulate any flames that moved her way and clear the air around her. As to prevent a vast amount of smoke getting to her lungs.

Instead, she stared at the room she had spent most of her childhood in and the crackling of her hair stopped abruptly, along with the violent shaking of the ground beneath her which had kept up until that point. Instead, angry sobs escaped her throat. Walking forward, Hermione carefully picked her way through the room, her movements slow and controlled, even through the violent sobs that were causing a nauseous feeling to gather in her gut.

It was halfway through the room when she heard a cry that was not her own and without thought, Hermione ran toward the sound.

Feeling through the smoke Hermione's heart constricted when she finally found the source of the whimpering. Her stomach dropped and it was as if her body was forgetting how to process information. Her shoulders spasmed and her mind went reeling at the sight in front of her.

How the piano had tipped Hermione couldn't understand but the results had been catastrophic. Lying nearly motionless under one of the legs of the grand piece of instrument Helen Granger watched hypnotized and what seemed at first glance like an angel emerged through flames.

Throwing herself down to the ground much in a muchness to the way she had flung herself onto Draco, Hermione could not stops the ugly scream that escaped her. "Mother, no… it is okay… I'm here… I'm gonna help you" she whispered pleadingly, her voice breaking.

Ignoring the burning the charred wood inflicted to her fingers Hermione wrapped her hands around the wood of the piano leg and pushed with all her might. She pushed ruthlessly, her breathing coming out in frantic pants. She cursed her lack of strength, making barely any progress at all until finally, she felt the wood shift in her hands. For three seconds she felt relief override her senses before a loud whimper beneath her paused her actions.

Snatching her hands away Hermione began to shake. She stared down at the woman who raised her and a sense of helplessness swallowed her whole as her mother's breathing changed distinctly. The shallow panicked breaths that had been fueling Hermione's actions had shifted into far and few between. Every new intake of breath looked harder and the exhale took longer to come every time. "Mum" Hermione croaked her hands cupping the cheeks of her mother carefully. As if she were cradling a newborn Hermione shuffled until her legs were crossed beneath her. Helen's head resting in her lap.

In Helen Grangers last moments, she found no words. Her voice would not come to her as much as she tried and the sight of the daughter she had raised staring down at her, witnessing these moments, brought her such grief. She felt as if her heart was breaking. Staring at the silver eyes above her Helen felt her body relax when albeit thick and croaky from the smoke and crying her daughter's voice filled the room with a song. It was a lullaby she had sung for Hermione as a child and she felt her chest warm slightly as she let her eyes fall shut.

Hermione never finished her song, her cries taking place of the melody when she noticed no more breaths coming from the body in her arms. It was only moments later when strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her from the body of her mother. Numb and exhausted Hermione could barely find it in herself to push Lucius away. Her eyes falling accusingly on the man. "You did this" she whispered and Lucius stared her down, his eyes flickering from her to the chaos around them.

"Have you heard of the Imperius Curse?" He inquired and Hermione hesitated before slowing nodded her head. "Technically she did this to herself" Lucius let his eyes travel back to the burning body of Helen Granger and without hesitation, he led Hermione back to the fireplace.

When they arrived back in the drawing room Narcissa and Draco were pacing anxiously awaiting their return.

Hermione didn't need to hear any more. Since she had turned 11 she had been suffering from a sort of identity crisis but removing herself from the touch of the man who had once levitated her ladder to help her reach the top shelves in the library, she realised that for Harry and Draco she may always remain Mia but she was Hermione Granger, raised by muggles, and she would never forget that.

Without a word and with three sets of eyes following her every move, Hermione walked slowly from the room. Her magic grieving- her heart grieving.

It took a long time for her magic to settle and even longer for her to speak. Draco had been more patient than he had known he was capable of. Catering to his grieving twins every need. Narcissa had never seen Draco act so selfless. Had she not been in a strange comatose state of her own perhaps she would have praised him or at least acknowledged his behavior. Instead, the family descended into cold shoulders and awkward silences.

As if it could sense the tone of the family the Manor itself grew dark. Corridors were cold even in 30-degree temperature and the food made by the house-elves was always slightly burnt.

Nothing seemed to get better and Draco willed for the school year to come sooner every day and couldn't help feeling jealous when his twin announced that she would be going early to The Leaky Cauldron to stay with the Weasleys and Harry Potter before the school term started.

Hermione was fully aware of the irony of the damp clouds growing heavy with rain above her. Casting foreboding shadows over the ever-darkening landscape. Hermione Granger, she thought purposefully. That was who she was. Smiling weakly up at Narcissa she ignored Draco, who was watching her so intently she had to wonder if Narcissa had somehow made a mistake with the changing of her features and she had ended up with a blue nose or something equally absurd.

She knew of course that her assumption of an absurd feature was far-fetched. Narcissa was to precise and powerful a witch to make such an obvious mistake and if she had, then Lucius would never have let her forget it. The image of the man made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Thinking of the confrontation she just had with her father made her stomach drop.

She had been combing her blonde waves by the vanity in her walk-in closet when the door behind her had opened and the man she had quickly learned to hate invited himself inside.

It was almost amusing to think back to the first months at Malfoy Manor. Hermione had been entranced by the magic that surrounded her. Breathtaken with the way Narcissa could create fireworks out of thin air over the dinner table.

She had barely believed her eyes when trays of iced lemonade and biscuits came floating out into the garden by themselves or when Lucius had given her a jar of fairies to guide her way through the library in the dark Autumn evenings. Being at Malfoy Manor was like being inside a children's story book.

Little had she realised that she was not in a castle. From that first night when Draco had warned her of the Malfoys reputation. Of her father's reputation. She should have been smart enough to realise that this was not a story that would have a happy ending.

Instead, she had insisted on staying for months at a time with the Malfoys, wasting precious time she could have spent with the Grangers. Time she should have spent with them. Lowering the brush down onto the table in front of her Hermione locked eyes with Lucius in the mirror.

"Narcissa informs me that you wish to leave early for the three broomsticks. To spend time with your friends before the school year" He spoke calmly, not moving from the doorway. It was a power move. Something she was starting to recognize Lucius Malfoy was very fond of. By being the first to speak he held the ball in his court, by staying in the doorway he was blocking her exit, putting him in the position of power. It was similar to the way the Muggle businessman Donald Trump shook hands by pulling the action into his area of space. He was asserting his dominance. Like a child.

"Yes, Father" Hermione replied. Using everything in her power not to spit the word at him. Lucius leveled his gaze and for a while made no move to speak. Instead, he just watched as she watched him. Refusing to turn and only looking at him through reflection on the glass in front of her.

"You will go to your mother now and have the glamor charms put in place" he continued eventually and this time it was much harder for Hermione to keep her temper under control.

"Why. The Grangers are dead and I am a Malfoy. Why keep up this charade" she demanded her voice even and strong.

"Because when the dark lord returns you will offer you services as a spy. As an act of forgiveness for our decision to hide you from him all those years ago," Lucius stated matter of factly.

She was sick to death of hearing about the Dark Lords return from the man in front of her. All summer the Malfoys had been subject to Lucius preaching against muggle-borns and muggles. It was like a switch had gone inside of the man and the kindness he had frequently shown had dissipated. Narcissa had aged what seemed years- it was clear from the sadness on her face in his presence that she no longer recognized the man she had fallen for all those years ago at the Yule Ball as he flitted between dutiful husband and tyrant.

"Why do this. Why go through the trouble to hide me away only to hand me to him on the platter. To rip everything you once gave to me away. What was the point "

"The Dark Lord has power like… like nothing, you will ever know. This tattoo on my arm is so much more than a tattoo. It's like a siphon to my magic. It enhances everything. Connects us to our magic and the dark lord. It is how he can summon us. How we can fly without brooms. His magic is intertwined with ours. Its… powerful"

"So you're being controlled. Used" Hermione spat. Turning finally on the stool to stare wide-eyed at the man before her, a man who was gripping his left arm as if it were his lifeline.

"You will go now to your mother. No more arguments" shaking himself out of his reverie Lucius did not wait for a reply. Instead turned away from his daughter to leave, pausing only when he heard her quiet voice behind him.

"Voldemort is dead. Harry Killed him."

"The potters were always notoriously unreliable wizards. Not to mention a mud blood for a mother. You can't blame him really. For failing at such a seemingly straightforward task" Lucius replied curtly before leaving the room.

Squinting up at the dark clouds and folding her hands delicately in front of herself Hermione pursed her lips in anticipation. She had become accustomed to the silence that seemed to hang over the Malfoys and longed to reach the end of the lengthy walk to the huge gates of Malfoy Manor. The bars oozing with power. Power, that Hermione had learned recently would not only keep her in but the muggle borns out. The magic that had been created to create such wards had been stowed away in only the oldest and darkest homes of Wizarding Britain and ran through the manor. Through her.

It was a particularly disheartening thought and Hermione focused on the patch of daisies growing on the outskirts of the Malfoy property. The ends of each petal were tinged with pink and it brought a small smile.

When the trio finally reached the apparation point a short walk away from the Manors property line, Hermione found herself at a loss for words as she turned to her brother. Until Christmas, this would be the last real moments they spent together. The reality of that fact, piled on top of the fact that they hadn't spent nearly enough time together without being shrouded in guilt and grief, caused the hole in Hermione's chest to ache.

Not wanting to drag the moment out as the pain was becoming increasingly unbearable as Draco stared at her with quiet eyes. Everything he wanted to say and had wanted to say all summer was written across his face and she suddenly felt guilty for shutting him out the way she had.

Reaching out her hand Hermione squeezed Draco's fingers tightly before letting go. "Next summer" Draco murmured, a small hopeful smile gracing his lips and Hermione nodded back solemnly.

"Next summer" she agreed before moving to Narcissa's side. wrapping her hand around Narcissa's offered arm, Hermione smiled reassuringly at the blonde boy in front of her that she had grown to love so tenderly since they were first introduced. Disappearing with a crack Narcissa and Hermione arrived in a small desolate back street right around the corner from The Leaky Cauldron.

The pair were quiet for a moment. The air heavy with unspoken apologies. It was planned that Hermione would make her way to The Leaky Cauldron alone and she felt suddenly uncomfortable. Not knowing if she should say something or just turn and leave Hermione shuffled her feet nervously peering up at the witch threw her curls.

Eventually, it was Narcissa who broke the silence. With a delicate sigh, the woman stepped forward and gently let her hand cup her daughter's cheek.

"You have been braver than I ever imagined. This summer... Maybe you really are a Gryffindor" the witch laughed half-heartedly. Smiling tightly in return, Hermione wished her goodbye before making her way out onto the busy street of Muggle London. When she turned back she saw only an empty street. Graffiti on the walls and bags of rubbish leaning against the huge back bins.

When Hermione entered The Leaky Cauldron and was greeted with the immediate onslaught of the familiar crown of red heads and the noise that followed them everywhere she felt a sudden warmth spread through her chest. The family was bustling around a long table in the center of the pub that was clearly just a bunch of small tables pushed together.

Percy was the first to notice her standing idly in the entrance. His eyes flickering up from the book he had been reading at the sound of the door being opened and closed. Smiling brightly the oldest of the Weasleys still attending Hogwarts rose from his chair to greet her.

The rest of the Weasleys stayed engrossed in whatever had been holding their concentration prior to Hermione's arrival and the ease in which the family emitted caused a small pang of jealousy to creep up on the witch. Molly and Arthur were both reading the same paper. Arthurs hand resting lightly on his wife lower back as she peered over his shoulder to see the paper he had laid out in front of where he sat at the head of the table. Whispers being passed back and forth between the pair.

Fred and George were sat with Ginny, alternating between tickling and poking the girl that had found herself unwittingly wedged between the twins. When the twins shared a smirk and prepared to poke the girl once more they missed the mischievous glint that appeared in Ginny's eyes when she caught their shared look. As their hands darted in, just as fast Ginny leaned back. Hands gripping the table in front of her to keep her steady she watched delightedly as her brothers proceeded to jab each other in the ribs. Their mouths fell open in simultaneous shock before the twins laughed loudly. Staring down at Ginny as if she was the most special thing they had ever laid eyes on.

Ron, on the other hand, was currently focusing very hard on stacking Nuts, one on top of the other, and then attempting to make Scabbers work his way through the makeshift maze to a treat that Ron had found in the bottom of his pocket. Scabbers for his part seemed to be having none of it and would walk around the obstacles in order to get the treat that Ron would snatch up with a sigh before the rat could claim it.

"You look well" Percy smiled kindly as he approached her. Before she had a chance to answer the Weasley boy shoved his hand out formally and Hermione couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her. The first laugh she had emitted since the first week of the holidays- caused by Percy Weasley of all people.

Taking his in hers Hermione shook it gently and as Percy moved to extract his fingers from hers, she found herself gripping tighter. This was the most intimate contact she has shared with anyone other than Draco since the Summer had started and she couldn't help the way her laugh turned into more of a choking, crying sound.

The revelation made her head swim and right then Hermione didn't need a handshake, she needed a hug. To state that Percy was surprised when one of his little brothers closest friends threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, was an understatement.

Shock kept him still for a few dragged out seconds and Percy eventually found himself wrapping stiff arms around the girl in return. Pulling her a bit tighter to his chest Percy felt himself relax slightly. It had been a long time he had been hugged by anyone but his mum and he had almost forgotten what it felt like to be comforted.

When the appropriate time space had come and gone Percy pushed gently against the girl and slowly Hermione released her hold. An embarrassed flush covered her cheeks but what caught Percy's attention were the tears that clearly stained her face.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Percy asked quietly, he suddenly remembered his Dads excited rambling about getting to ask the Grangers about an electric toothbrush and he looked over the shoulder of the witch. Wondering if he had somehow not noticed the presence of the Grangers when he had seen Hermione come in.

Glancing around he noticed no new faces around the pub and he frowned down at the girl in front of him who was pulling on the sleeve of her white jumper. "Hermione, I thought your parents were bringing you"

Hermione, in turn, felt her eyes widen in shock. She had forgotten when she had written Ron that she had said about her mother bringing her. A lump grew in her throat and she swallowed hard as she tried to find her voice. Thoughts swirling dangerously Hermione tried to think but it was as if her brain a speeding treadmill and her maximum speed was 'meander'.

"My godmother dropped me" She replied eventually. The image of the Malfoys appearing in her kitchen so many years ago was suddenly all she could see and she nearly missed Percy's reply.

That's a shame, Dad was really looking forward to asking your parents about these things called toothbrushes. How are your parents, Ron mentioned they're Dentists" Percy asked politely, trying to sound as if he knew what a dentist was. He hadn't anticipated his question to cause the swell of tears in the brunette's eyes that it did but he held out a hand to rest it against her shoulder, eyes alarmed.

For one brief moment, he saw Ginny staring up at him with unshed tears after her mother had chastised her for taking Charlie's old broom out into the garden to fly. He had found her under a tree crying quietly and since then would always insist that he needs reading time in the evenings at least once a month in the gardens where no one disturbs him where he would really just watch over Ginny as she flew Charlie's broom secretly.

"My parents both died in a fire a the beginning of summer. I was there when my mum passed, " she whispered quietly her voice unable to find a normal tone with the lump that wouldn't leave her throat.

Hermione had never intended on spilling the truth upon immediate arrival but in was like a volcano and suddenly Hermione found she could no longer keep it inside.

"I'm so sorry" Percy answered his eyes softening with shock and understanding. Looking down at the 13-year-old Witch he felt saddened that she had gone through such an ordeal. And clearly hadn't even informed her closest friends from grief. "Come on, everyone's been dying to see you. Not to worry about loads of questions, I'll let mum know what happened. She'll have a word with everyone. It's probably better than you retelling the story or getting onslaughts of questions from unknowing people. Sorry, by the way," Percy smiled tentatively. A hand rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he internally cursed his lack of tact.

Hermione just nodded her head in reply, slowly pulling together her emotions. Her hair had escaped from the messy bun she had tied it into in the short walk from the apparation point to the pub and she had successfully removed any evidence of tears from her face with her sleeve.

Nodding curtly Percy turned back to the table, which was just as it was before he rose to greet Hermione and was almost at his mother's side when he felt a small hand tug on his sleeve.

"Congratulations on Head Boy" Hermione smiled, pointing at the badge shining on his chest and Percy couldn't help but think that his little brother was particularly lucky. Unable to stop himself he wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulder, holding loosely to her shoulder. A smile that had been itching to be realised all summer appeared on her face.

She had always admired Percy in his intelligence and ability to ignore the twins, for the most part, in their antics but there had always been something lonely in the way he read at the breakfast table. Nobody but the Weasleys could really understand how their family dynamic works but if any of the Weasleys seemed a bit out of the loop it was Percy. She was suddenly happy that he had been the one to greet her when she came in. She wasn't sure how many of the younger Weasleys would have been so patiently kind.

"Hermione's here" Percy spoke loudly and all at once heads rose. Ron had jumped out of seat instantly but was stilled in his movements has he took in the image of his older brother Percy with his arm around a distinctly rattled but smiling Hermione. If Mrs. Weasley was shocked by the scene she made no outward sign of it instead pulled Hermione into a tight embrace.

"How are you?" The Weasley family matriarch asked as Arthur rose from his seat, daily prophet abandoned on the table.

Thrown by her previous confession Hermione hesitated, struggling to answer until she felt a hand rest on her lower back and looked up to see Percy smiling down at her with an understanding look in his eyes. "Mum, Dad. Do you think we could have a word? There's something you need to know" chancing a quick glance in Hermione's direction. Hermione offered a small nod in his direction and Molly seemed like she wanted to protest but there must have been something in the stern gaze Percy gave her and the hand placed lightly on Hermione's shoulder that stopped her short.

Muttering agreement Hermione fiddled with her hands nervously as the trio walked to a more private area of the bar. When Mrs. Weasley emitted a small gasp and Arthurs worried eyes fell back to the small brunette she found she couldn't watch.

Instead, she turned back to the table where Ron was grinning widely and heading quickly in her direction "You alright 'Mione. We only just got her a bit before you did, but between you and me, I already reckon that Toms sick of us" He murmured, offering the barman a sly glance "Anyway I asked him if he'd seen Harry and he said he left a while ago into Diagon Alley. I was gonna go straight away to look for him but figured I'd better wait for you" Stopping a few steps in front of her Ron smiled expectantly and when he got no answer from the bemused girl in front of him, he sighed his forehead creasing slightly "Well do you want to go get ice cream or not? I'm starving"

Hermione didn't bother to point out that he hadn't exactly asked and his apparent exasperation was more than unwarranted, she didn't even point out the fact that if Ron was starving, ice cream was hardly going to fill him up. Instead, she felt her chest swell in joy as she took in the sight of her freckled friend.

"what are we waiting for" The resulting grin pulled at the corners of Hermione's mouth and she ignored the way Arthur and Molly Weasley were hovering a few feet away in her peripheral vision, waiting to pounce with their condolences and instead grabbed Ron's hand in her own and Pulling him toward the exit withouthHesitation.

Hermione was so caught up in trying to find a smile to send in Ginny, Fred, and Georges direction that she missed Rons resulting flush and Freds following quizzical scowl.

Diagon Alley was as busy as expected as the last minute shoppers bustled around from shop to shop in an uncoordinated rush. Hermione and Ron had a small but heated discussion when they first made their way onto the cobbled street trying to decide whether they should start with ice cream or look for Harry first. Ron eventually giving into Hermiones want to search for Harry with the agreement that they would first venture to Quality Quidditch Supplies and that she had to at least try to refrain from looking bored.

Their search admittedly turned rather quickly into a shopping spree as the pair decided there was no harm in collecting their Hogwarts supplies while keeping an eye out for their spectacled friend. By the time two hours had rolled past Ron and Hermione decided to call it quits and with a winning grin, Ron led the pair toward Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour his new wand tucked close to his chest and Hermione's arms full of books that she had politely declined Ron's surprising offer to help carry.

After ordering their ice creams the pair found a seat outside and Hermione listened as Ron told her a story from his time in Egypt that he had already told her twice before and once in a letter. She didn't mind much however as it was better than the awkward conversation that had occurred when Ron had asked about her time in France. The long weekend in the Apartment that the Malfoys owned in the south of France that Narcissa had taken Hermione and Draco on at the beginning of the summer didn't hold the same happy memories that Rons holiday clearly did and wanting not to dwell on it she had skillfully turned the conversation to Harry and the situation with his aunt that Ron had nearly choked on excitement to tell her.

Hermione was finishing off the remnants of chocolate at the bottom of her bowl when Ron's voice rose about three octaves as jumped to his feet, ice-cream forgotten.

"Harry! HARRY!" he bellowed, arms waving frantically around his head and Hermione felt a bubble of excitement rush through her as she caught sight of a bewildered looking Harry smiling through the crowd. Harry quickly made his way toward them. Pushing his way apologetically through the crowd to plump himself down in the unoccupied seat at their table.

The three fell into conversation easily. Teasing and laughing, and surprisingly Hermione didn't dwell on the fact that the conversation about Harry's burst of uncontrollable magic caused the boy in question to frown deeply. His bottom lip pulled between his teeth in worry. She also tried not to stay long on the discussion of a number of subjects she was planning to study.

She had decided shortly after the start of the holidays that she would never allow herself to be put in a position where she was as vulnerable and useless as Lucius had made her feel. But for obvious reasons, Hermione didn't want Harry and Ron to know such particular details and instead raised the question of what she should buy with the money that her Draco had given her to buy a birthday present with.

When not twenty minutes later Hermione found herself buying a cat she had a moment to wonder if she had lost her mind. Crookshanks who had made quite the first impression by attempting to eat Ron's rat, had to Hermione's surprise, taken a liking to her after Ron and Harry had left the pet shop in search of a traumatized Scabbers.

The reaction from Ron when the two boys made their way toward her, Scabbers in tow, was predictable if nothing else. Harry had thrown her a small knowing smile when he saw the cat in her arms as Ron ranted and turned red. The walk back to The Leaky Cauldron was quiet. The trio falling into a comfortable silence, Ron sulking slightly, eyes glued to Crookshanks hugged in Hermione's arms.

Eventually, the silence became too much and Ron began pointedly fussing over Scabbers. Eyes darting in Hermione's direction after every other word as if to gauge if his dramatics were having the desired aggravating effect. In turn Hermione paid him no mind. Instead letting her mind wander to the story Ron had been telling her of Sirius Blacks escape from Azkaban. An event that Hermione had, until then, stayed blissfully ignorant of in her grief. It caused a small bubble of doubt to settle in her stomach as she thought of the school year ahead of them.

All summer Hermione had been using the knowledge of her return to Hogwarts as an incentive to climb out of bed everyday. The knowledge that she had friends and books waiting in what was meant to be one of the safest places in the Wizarding World keeping her optimistic despite her grief and now, faces with the all too familiar threat that seemed to hang over the community and the dark circles that hung beneath Harrys eyes Hermione couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

All that being said, when the witch had been digging through journals and family trees, Sirius Black's name had always been one that screamed out to her. The name staying in her mind to the extent that she had she asked Draco about it, only for his answer to come in the form of hesitant silence. Stating that Sirius had been removed from the Black family tapestry when he was young due to affiliation with Muggles and muggle-borns, Draco had said nothing else on the matter. Even when pried.

When Hermione thought of Lucius Malfoy, or Voldemort or even Professor Dumbledore an unsettlingly feeling always consumed her. Making her wary. Sirius Black brought along no such notion. Instead, there was something about every thing she read that made her all the more curious as to how a boy so seemingly opposed to his families believed had ended up a man imprisoned.

Letting her hand slip into Harry's, Hermione gave his fingers a small squeeze and from the small but genuine smile he offered she found herself able to enjoy the rest of the walk back to the Leaky Cauldron, arms wrapped tightly around Crookshanks. Upon entering the pub Hermione had a moment of panic as she realised that at this point the news she had shared with Percy would surely have been spread throughout the family and the onslaught of sympathetic looks and I'm sorry's' that accompanied loss seemed almost too much to bear.

It was to her relief however that albeit the quick concerning glances shot her way by each Weasley's, in turn, the family chose instead to focus their energy into greeting Harry. After dropping off her bags and leaving Crookshanks to explore her room Hermione found herself falling into comfortable companionship with the family of red heads as conversation flowed easily throughout the bunch.

There was a moment of strain when the subject of Sirius Black was raised but the twins seemed to take the dim in the atmosphere as their cue to start telling an undeniably funny but undoubtedly untrue story. Dinner played out in much the same way the previous hours had. Laughter filled the pub. The conversations of Quidditch and Hogwarts and Bill and Charlie had everyone entertained and Hermione found herself wishing that Draco could be there too. Staring longingly at the empty space beside Harry she could almost picture the two boys sat side by side. Voices serious but the atmosphere light as they debated Quidditch moves, Draco talking circles around Harry, his signature smirk forming into a real smile at Harry's angry mutterings.

So lost in thought Hermione barely noticed the shift in conversation until she felt eyes boring into the side of her head, tuning in just in time to catch the end of what Ron was saying. 'You should have seen it. That monster of hers tried to kill Scabbers. Why

'You should have seen it. That monster of hers tried to kill Scabbers. Why she's gone and bought the thing I don't know'

'Hosetly Ron, Scabbers is fine, isn't he? and he's not a monster, he's just been unloved. The woman in the-' Hermione argued feeling extremely defensive over her new pet.

'Unloved!' Ron interrupted, the incredulity in his voice causing an end to all other conversations at the table as everyone turned their focus to the pair sitting next to each other warily. 'Possessed more like, why on earth did you buy that thing, seriously? What if he eats Scabbers? How would you feel if you lost someone close to you because Scabbers is a part of our family, Hermione? It's selfish to put Scabbers at such risk, you clearly don't understand becau-'

Ron's voice cut off abruptly, eyes wide in shock and hand flying up to his forehead where Fred had just reached across the table and smacked him atop his head. Shock held everyone imobile.

Mrs Weasley was the first to break out of the reverie and she rose from her chair, furious eyes landing on Fred who was seemingly being kept in place by George. His eyes thunderous.

"Fred Weasley, how dare you hit your brother'

'Well someone needed to shut him up' Fredansweredd back hotly, barely allowing his mother to finish her sentence before cutting in.

'That may be so, but the way you went about it!' Mrs Weasley began when she was interupted again, the sharpness of her glare indictaing that she was growing quickly tired of her sons interupting her.

'What do you mean 'that may be so' " Ron shouted indignatly. Aside from Harry who seemed more than a little lost with the direction the converstion Hermione could feel the gazes of all the Weasleys on her like a ton of bricks. Rising shakily from her chair Hermione was shocked she managed to form words as she excused herself hurridly. No one making a move to stop her. She was only a few feet from the

She was only a few feet from the table when she heard Mrs Weasly sharp demand.

'Fred WEasley i swear if you leave this table right now you will be grounded until your old enought to have children to ground yourslef' Hermione heard no reply however, instead she sensed someone fall into step next to her and knew she neednt check to confirm that Fred had just blatantly defied his mother to follow after her. Under different circumstances Hermione may have taken the time to appreciate the concern but the pain in her chest was making it hard to stay standing let actually form coherent thoughts.

Fred had just blatantly defied his mother to follow after her. Under different circumstances Hermione may have taken the time to appreciate the concern but the pain in her chest was making it hard to stay standing let aling form coherent thiugts.

Walking silently by her side Fred said nothing when she stopped halfway down the corisodr her room was on, hand braced against the wall for support. He reached out and wrapped his arms round her waist when the shaking of her body made it seem like she was about to collapse any second. His eyes warm and concerned and he lifted a hand to brush away some of the tears that Hermione was unaware were even streaming from her eyes. His gaze fell briefly on the scar at the egde of her hairline from the day he had pushed her to stop her spell from hitting her brother and he frowned hard at the memory.

'Hesperia...' he stared only to stop when he felt her flinch beneath him.

'Its Hermione' and dispite everything her voice was strong and sure, even as her eyes drooped with exhaustion where she leaned into his chest. Lifting the girl into his arms and making short work of the distance to her room Fred hesitated only briefly beofre entering the room and setlling Hermione down onto the bed. His anger was long subsided and insead he was consumed with concern for his friend.

'Im so sorry' he whispered eventually just before Hermione drifted of into unconciousness and it didnt sound fake to her. Or generic like she had anticipated it would, it felt oddly comforting.