Chapter 12

Harry had his arm around Ginny's shoulder while she was leaning snuggly against his chest. They were lounging comfortably on one of the Granger's squishy love seats. Ron was seated in an armchair, completely oblivious to what was going on around him, as he was totally fascinated with the television, and absorbed in a program that was on.

Hermione was seated in-between her parents, holding her mother's hand while she told them almost everything she had done in the last year. Shock and horror evident on their faces at parts that had to do with being followed through the air by a dozen death eaters and Voldemort himself, and dragons, and the death of some of her close friends. She left out details here and there to spare them the horrors of what some in the magical community are capable of. They were quite upset with her when they first discovered what she had done to them, but now, they were so relieved to have her back that the disappointment had evaporated.

"I never really forgot about you. We could both feel something missing. . . here," Mrs. Granger placed one hand over her heart, and the other around Hermione and gave her a loving squeeze. "We couldn't quite put our finger on what it was though. I guess that's why we thought that maybe a child could fill the void. It's odd, you know. I remember everything now. Everything of my two very different lives." She jumped slightly, "Oh!" She grabbed Hermione's hand and placed it on her stomach, "Can you feel that?"

Hermione smiled and nodded as she felt her little brother or sister moving around. "I really missed you. I felt completely awful about putting that charm on you and dad. But I couldn't stand the thought of death eaters torturing you, and I know they would have, because of me, and because of what I've told you about Harry." Hermione looked over at where Harry and Ginny were sitting. Ginny was sleeping soundly with her head on Harry's chest, and Harry's head was lolling to one side and was likewise taking a little nap. She smiled at the sight.

"Well dear," said Mrs. Granger, as she stood up, "I think it would be a good idea if we turn in for the night. You and Ginny can have the guest bedroom, and we can make a bed out here on the sofas for Harry and Ron."

Hermione looked a little disappointed. She didn't want to say goodnight quite yet, and started to protest. But as if on cue, she covered her mouth and tried to stifle a yawn.

"Your mother is right Hermione," her father agreed, "The lot of you look as though you could use a good night's sleep." He stood and pulled her up, and in for a fatherly hug and placed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm so grateful to have you back, baby girl."

Hermione smiled again, and gave her father a goodnight kiss on the cheek.

Harry woke at the sound of the Granger's moving around. He carefully pulled his arm back and tried to slide out from underneath Ginny without waking her.
"Don't bother being careful, mate. Ginny can sleep through anything. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she could sleep right through a major earthquake. Once she's out, she's out," Ron informed wisely.

Harry smiled, and chanced pulling himself off the sofa. Ron was right, she slept right through it. He walked over to where Hermione and her parents were standing, Ron followed. "Thank you so much for letting us stay here. I really appreciate it," Harry said. Ron nodded his agreement.

"Not at all dear. We're happy to have you. We were just telling Hermione that she and Ginny could have the guest room, and you two," she motioned to Harry and Ron, "can have the sofas, if that's alright," said Mrs. Granger.

"That's excellent," said Ron, "Now we just need to wake Ginny."

"No need," Harry said, walking back over to the love-seat where Ginny was sleeping. "I'll take her." He bent down and picked her up easily. "Where's the room?" he asked quietly.

"It's at the very end of the hall."

The next three days were spent relaxing, and enjoying the feeling of having nothing pressing to do. They woke up when they wanted, they did whatever they wanted, and they helped Hermione's parents make plans to move back to Britain. The day before they were to return to the Burrow, the six of them went to a scenic park overlooking a small lake, for a picnic. It was overcast, but the clouds were not threatening, and the temperature was pleasant.

They were all enjoying the lunch that had been packed, and watching the ducks swimming in the lake when, "Well, well, well, look who we have here." The voice was slow and deep and deliberate. "I would never have thought that we would run into you so far from home."

As one, they all turned to see who had spoken. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny jumped immediately to their feet and drew their wands. Hermione turned to her parents, and shouted, "RUN!" Then at her father's protest she added, "NOW!"

The intruder lifted his head and laughed menacingly and snapped his fingers. His face instantly sobered, and at once, they were surrounded by a dozen large very angry men.

Fear clutched Hermione as her mother's terrified scream echoed towards them.

"You can't win this time Potter!" said the man.

Harry laughed in spite of himself. "Oh no?" he asked, "I beg to differ. You think you can win, when even your 'beloved,'" he spat the word out as though it were something very nasty, "master couldn't?" He didn't feel nearly as sure as he sounded, for there was a very good chance he could lose this time. They were outnumbered three to one and there was nothing more connecting Harry to life. His blood was no longer running through anyone's veins but his own, but he wasn't about to let the likes of this scum know just how scared he was feeling for, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and her parents. He couldn't bare to lose anymore of his friends. If he could fake them out, maybe they could all get away unscathed. "Do you really think you are better than me?" the man glared hard at Harry, but Harry kept the eye contact. Not to do so would show weakness, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

"My wife is dead because of you Potter."

The group of men standing around them started closing in. Harry could feel his friends beside him stiffen. "Wrong, Lestrange," he spat, "I didn't kill her, but I would have liked to have done. That evil cow deserved what she. . ."

"Why you. . . you. . .don't. . . ever. . . talk. . . about. . . my. . . wife. . . Avada Kedav. . ."

"STUPEFY!" Harry's spell missed his target, but it hit Rudolphus Lestrange's wand and sent it flying. All hell broke loose at that very moment. There were stunning spells and killing curses flying all over.

He heard Hermione's yelp of pain, then Ron's anguished cry, "Hermione!"

'No!' thought Harry, 'Not Hermione.' He re-doubled his efforts. "INCARCEROUS!" he bellowed, ropes flew out of his wand tip and bound the nearest death eater head to toe. He ducked as green light flew over his head, he looked quickly around at his friends to make sure they were alright. Hermione was down, and Ron was fighting like a man possessed. Ginny too was still up and unhurt, sending every hex and curse she could think of at the party of death eaters.

Rudolphus had retrieved his wand and was now dueling with Harry. Harry asked him in a tone befitting of one simply questioning an old friend, "So, Lestrange. What brings you here? Petrificus Totalus," he was blocked.

"I thought I'd have a nice little holiday, just like yourself," answered Rudolphus sarcastically. "Crucio!"

Harry ducked and fired another stunning spell. This time, Rudolphus Lestrange collapsed, as the curse hit him right in the chest.

"Stop Potter, or they die. And tell your little friends to stop as well."

Harry turned, and to his horror he saw Rudolphus' brother Rabastan and Yaxley holding an unconscious David Granger, who was bleeding copiously from a wound on his head, and a terrified and stricken Jean Granger who had blood trickling from her mouth and nose. "My baby, please don't hurt my baby," he could hear her pleading to her captor.

"SHUT UP, YOU STUPID, FILTHY MUGGLE!" yelled Rabastan as he yanked her hair to pull her head back. "Do you really think I care one wit for that Muggle brat you're carryin? We'd be best to kill it now in case it turns out to be another Mudblood witch like that one lying on the ground." He pointed his wand at Hermione, "Yeah, I've heard all about that one. Thinks she's real clever, she does. But she don't look too clever now, does she?" he cackled in Mrs. Granger's ear as she looked to where her daughter lay crumpled on the ground. She let out another cry of horror.

"Let her go Lestrange!" Harry demanded.

"Oh, yeah, I'm really gonna do what you want me to do," he snarled. "Put down your wands, all three of you, then I'll think about letting this one loose." He had a dagger, much like the one that killed Dobby, to her throat.

But before anyone could do anything else, a curse came from behind the two death eaters, and stunned, they dropped their captives and fell to the ground. Mr. Granger hit the ground with a sickening thud, while Mrs. Granger fell to her knees. She quickly checked for a pulse in her husband, and after she was reassured that he was breathing, she crawled quickly to her daughter, and was joined instantly by Harry, Ron and Ginny. 'She's alive. Thank heavens she's alive.'

Harry, Ron and Ginny looked around to see their rescuers. Striding towards them were four men not much older than themselves. The tallest of the group, a muscular man with a deep tan, sandy blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and a friendly smile stuck out his hand in welcome. Harry shook it, followed by Ron and Ginny. "Andrew Nansen," he said, "And these are my mates." He motioned to two of the others standing beside him, "Michael Saunders, and Aaron Jenks, and this," he ruffled the hair of a boy who looked to be several years younger, with many of the same facial characteristics of Andrew, "is my little brother Geoffrey."

"Harry Potter," said Harry, "And this is my girlfriend Ginny, and my best mate, Ron." He looked back down at Hermione, "And that's Hermione." Then urgently, "We need to get these two to a hospital. Is there a magical hospital around here?"

"Of course there is. It's not far from here. We'll take ya." He looked around the park at the fallen death eaters. "These blokes have been wandering around here for coming on two weeks now. Causin all sorts of trouble, they have. We heard a commotion so we thought we'd come out and see what was going on, then we saw them capture the Wilkins'. We live next door to them see." He looked anxiously at his neighbors, "Finer Muggles I've never met."

"Yeah they are great," agreed Ron, "Only their name isn't Wilkins. It's Granger."

"What?" Andrew looked confused, "Nah, can't be. They've been here nearly a year, and they're the Wilkins' alright."

"Well, that's just it," argued Ron, "Hermione is their daughter, and. . ." he went on to tell their four new friends of how Wendell and Monica Wilkins came to be.

"You mean to tell us. . . You're the ones that defeated Voldemort?" asked the boy named Aaron.
Harry nodded as he bent down to each of the death eaters lying on the ground and took their wands, and made sure they were all bound and couldn't get away. He was sure Kingsley would love to fill a few more cells in Azkaban. They would take them back with them when they left. "Is there somewhere we could put these idiots while we're at the hospital?" Harry asked.

"Oh, sure," answered Andrew happily, "We could take them to my house. Mum and dad can keep an eye on them for you."

"That would be really excellent. Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Within five minutes they had the dozen death eaters at Andrew's house and were making their way towards the hospital. They didn't dare Disapparate, they didn't know how it would affect an unborn baby.

Andrew had just announced that they would be there in two more minutes when Mrs. Granger clutched her stomach and cried as though she were being tortured with the Cruciatus Curse.