Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Fourteen

Attack

So going to Hagrid might not have turned out to be the best idea, what with him looking like he was put through the grinder and then the toad showing up at the end acting like he was incompetent because he was half giant (as if that matters). Then there was the story he told them about the giants themselves, it seem so dangerous and it was all for nothing because they didn't get a single giant to go with them. However, none of that really mattered in the end, because Hagrid was there, he was safe and he… well he was safe at least.

Now, the only problem was getting him to follow a sensible lesson plan because she knew that the stupid toad was already going to have it in for him because of her prejudice and the fact he was so close to Dumbledore. Hagrid didn't seem to understand how horrible things had gotten at Hogwarts since he was gone, and kept insisting that what he had plan was going to be fine (he had a far off look and she knew it would be impossible to persuade him to do something else, though that didn't stop her from trying for awhile). In the end she had to just pray, like Harry and Ron were, that he wouldn't choose something too dangerous.

And he didn't, he actually chosen something very fascinating… something that she was highly interested in learning about. Especially, because it was something that could only be seen by people that had seen death. Yes, she was quite enjoying the lesson on Thestrals; that was until the bloody toad came and acted like Hagrid was an oaf that didn't know anything about his subject, and couldn't even understand English. It made her so freaking angry that she would have like nothing better than to curse the toad right bloody there, though she was thankful that Neville had put a hand on her shoulder to stop her (she didn't want to get kicked out after all).

If it wasn't for the DA, and knowing that they really were doing something against the toad's regime (though right now she wouldn't have minded if it wasn't a little more ostentatious), she would have gone insane by now. It was a pleasing sight though, seeing how in to teaching everyone Harry was and that he really truly was helping everyone improve their skills. She was a little disappointed though at the last meeting (though she knew that he had a point), that he didn't teach them anything new, but it did give her the chance to curse Ron a few more times then she would have so it wasn't so bad. She noted that he was a little faster when he was dueling Neville and she wondered why that was (she hoped that it didn't have anything to do with the fact that she's a girl and even more that it was because he had certain feeling for her too).

"You know Ron, we really need to get to our rounds," Hermione said after the meeting and it looked like he was waiting for Harry (who was giving Cho sideways glances and it was obviously he wanted to talk to her).

"What?" Ron said raising his eyebrow, they didn't have to patrol today and she knew that, however he let her drag him out of there anyway. "What was that about?"

"Couldn't you see that Harry wanted to be left alone?" Hermione said.

"Really?" Ron said he honestly didn't noticing anything like that. "Why?

"I think that he wanted to wish Cho a happy Christmas," Hermione said.

"Oh!" Ron said grinning like an idiot.

"You are such a prat," Hermione said rolling her eyes at his immaturity.

"Whatever," Ron shrugged, looking down at her thoughtfully. So far this year, it seem that everything about her suggested that she might like him back and he really liked that they have become so much closer than before, thanks a lot to the patrols they had to do every few nights. He was about to say something… try to make his move (his ears were even bright red as he thought of ways to talk to her) but before he could say anything she was talking again.

"So I heard that Ginny made the Quidditch team," Hermione said trying to start up a conversation with him and knowing that Quidditch always made him happy in the pass (though she probably should have thought this more through seeing as how things were now).

"Yeah," Ron said glumly but it couldn't totally suppress the pride he had at his sister's skills. "She's the new Seeker… she's not bad. Though the bloody Beaters we had to get were the worst… I'm even better than them."

"That's not a pleasant thought," Hermione teased playfully and just hoped that he would take it that way.

"Oi," Ron huffed, but he wasn't nearly as angry as he knew he should be.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," Hermione laughed. "But I'm sure that you'll do fine… you'll pull it off somehow."

"Right," Ron scoffed, "if the other team is all sick or something."

"You still have three excellent Chasers a…" Hermione said.

"That have no defense… if the Beaters on Hufflepuff are even halfway decent, our Chasers will be easy pickings," Ron said going into Quidditch mood, and though Hermione didn't really follow what he was saying she let him carry on. Even when he was talking like this (about how much his team sucked) he was still animated talking about Quidditch, and she loved that look. When they got to the common room she said goodnight to him (he looked like he was going to be waiting for Harry to return so he could tease his best mate and she didn't want to intrude on that).

O

The next morning started out just like any other day, that was until she got downstairs and she found that Neville was already there looking into the fire.

"Neville?" Hermione said furrowing her eyebrows; he was never up this early, and she sat next to him.

"Hey," Neville said biting his lip and looking at her with wide eyes.

"What happened?" Hermione asked swallowing hard; it was obviously this wasn't good news.

"Harry had a bad dream last night," Neville said; he knew that this wasn't something that Harry would want anyone to know but at the same time he know how close Harry seem to have come to Hermione and thought he wouldn't mind her knowing. Besides, he was pretty sure that seeing as all the Weasleys where gone that she would need to know at least part of this and it would be better if she knew everything.

"Dream," Hermione said thinking about the dream like things that Harry had last year and felt her stomach turned. "What did he dream about?"

"He was yelling something about Mr. Weasley being attacked… being bite by a snake," Neville said, there was still a part of him that didn't want to think this was true but her expression, the fact that she didn't argue or say it was just a dream seem to kill that notion.

"What?!" Hermione exclaimed, thinking of the man that had picked her up at her house a year and a half ago and how kind he was to her when she was at his house that summer. She started to tear up even more at the thought of what Ginny was going through… what Ron was going through. "Is he all right?"

"I don't know," Neville said. "He just… saw the attack… but it was bad…"

"Where is Harry?" Hermione said, really wanting to talk to him… to confirm this information.

"Not here," Neville said. "He went to see Dumbledore after… Ron went with him too. And I checked when I got up… Fred and George aren't here either."

"He went to see Dumbledore," Hermione said, that was confirmation enough for her, but it had also given her a little hope. If Dumbledore was helping things might not be so bad… he might be able to help Mr. Weasley right? She didn't know what else to do so she just leaned on Neville's shoulder and looked into the fire, slightly crying.

That day was one of the longest that she even had to live through. Her mind was on Mr. Weasley fate, the worst part of this was that she knew that there was no way that she could find out if he was alright or not. It was just lucky that today was her last day of the term and none of the Professors were expecting too much from them except for Snape of course, who wanted them to make a potion (it was the only potion that she had made that was only satisfactory, but she didn't even care enough to hear his snide remarks he made about it). She didn't know how she was going to handle all this when she was away with her parents, but she didn't really have time to dwell on that because before dinner she was summoned by Dumbledore.

"Enter," Dumbledore said she was standing outside of his office looking rather nervous.

"Hello sir," Hermione said as bravely as she could but she was very nervous.

"Hello Miss Granger," Dumbledore smiled at her but he was giving her a calculating look, as if he was trying to gauge her. "Have a sit," he continued and when she did he took a deep breath. "I'm sure that you have heard that something has happened to Mr. Weasley."

"Yes sir," Hermione said. "And that Harry had dreamed about it…" she added nervously, somehow compelled to tell him that.

"You know about Harry's dreams," Dumbledore said raising his eyebrow, it seem in approval this time, he was still giving her a calculating look but it was more accepting. "Well, either way I'm sure that you would be pleased to know that Mr. Weasley is going to be all right."

Hermione let out a breath of relief, she was really afraid that something terrible happened. "Good."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said this time really smiling at her, whatever it was that he was thinking about he seem to have made up his mind.

"Thank you for telling me that, I was going to worry about it all during break," Hermione said, thinking that was probably why he called her there, though at the same time thinking that it might be more than that too. "And worry how Ginny a… how she was handling this."

"That is part of the reason why I've called you here," Dumbledore said. "It seems that Miss Weasley has expressed that she would like it if you would come to visit her during break…"

"Okay," Hermione said immediately without thinking, she knew that Ginny must be going through hell right now.

"Well, I'm afraid that it's not quite as simple as that," Dumbledore said still smiling at her. "First, you'll need to tell you parents…"

"They'll understand," Hermione sighed, knowing that her parents would be disappointed but they would be proud that she was helping her friend like this.

"Unfortunately it's not that simple either," Dumbledore said. "You see, Miss Weasley… in fact all of the Weasleys are not staying at the Burrow at the moment."

"Oh," Hermione said her eye going wide, no one had said it, but she had deduced that Harry, Ron and Ginny had stayed somewhere specially this year, which was why Ginny hadn't been able to send her letters.

Again Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly at her reaction but carried on. "You won't be able to tell your parents where you really are going. In fact it would be best if you told them that you were staying at Hogwarts."

"Hm…" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, she never liked lying to her parents but she felt that she really had to this time. "That shouldn't be too difficult, I can just tell them that I need to take the time to study, they know how important the tests at the end of the year are to me."

Dumbledore smile this time seem to be rather fond, as if this information was amusing. "Okay, now Hermione," he said calling her name for the first time that she could remember and giving her a piercing look. "This is important and I want you to think about this before you give your answer. What I need to tell you before you are able to see Miss Weasley is serious and can lead you into something that you are not prepared to handle. In a way this make you more involved in the war against Voldemort…" at this Dumbledore paused, trying to gauge her reaction again and was pleasantly surprised when she didn't even flinched at the name and that her eyes never wavered from the determined look she had in them.

"I don't really need to think about this. I've already decided to be on Harry's side when I followed him through the trap door in the first year and that hasn't changed one bit now that I know that V-Voldemort is back in the picture," Hermione said feeling relieved that she could finally say this to someone (other than Ginny), though she would have preferred it if she didn't stuttered on Voldemort's name.

"Indeed," Dumbledore smiled at her. "The Weasleys are staying at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. You'll be taken there tomorrow morning by the Knight's bus. It would be best if you called your parents and let them know about the change in plans."

Dumbledore then charmed an object so that she could use it to call her parents. As she was doing this, Dumbledore again was watching her with a calculated look. When Molly had first asked him if Hermione could come over, explaining how her daughter had expressed the need to have her friend near, his answer was no. He didn't want to risk another young adult's life as much as it would be by having them that close to the Order. Not to mention he wasn't so sure if he could trust this girl that had been an interesting and unexpected piece in this war. She had indeed shown that she was brave and very helpful to Harry in both his first and more importantly his third year. She hadn't even hesitated to break the law to save Sirius from a terrible fate… but still it unnerved him that she was that involved. He would have accepted this easily if the girl was Harry's friends, yes he understands that the bonds of friendship are very strong but it didn't seem like that was the case here. The boy never seemed to spend time with her, though it was true that they were closer in the last few years.

However, before he could even tell Molly that he didn't think it was such a good idea both Remus and Sirius had went to the defense of the girl saying that she could be trusted. So he had decided to give the girl a chance, and that he would make up his mind once he had time to understand her motives better. By the time he was done, in a sense, interviewing her, he felt more comfortable having her around and knowing that she was a good help to Harry.

O

Hermione was knocking on the door of a house that had literally seem to grow out of the earth as soon as she walked up to it. She was nervous and didn't know what to expect but knowing that she would have a lot to do when she got inside.

"Hermione?" Ron said incredulously as he opened the door (there was a horrible shrieking off in the background but she could hardly hear it). Ron didn't look good at all, he looked like he was worried and the rings under his eyes suggested that he hadn't slept (or if he had it wasn't for long). "What are you doing here?"

She didn't answer at first because before she knew what she was doing she was hugging him tightly (and he was hugging her back just as tightly). "I heard about your dad," she finally said a few minutes later pulling away from him biting her lip.

"Right," Ron said his ears were red, it was surprising how much better he felt just by being hugged by her. However, that didn't take away the pain of everything that went on for the last two days, and his face contorted as he thought of his dad and best mate, that was up Merlin knows where blaming himself for this whole mess.

His look was all she needed to know that he wasn't doing okay at all, so she took his hand and pulled him into one of the rooms that were empty (luckily there was one right at the end of the hall). She made him sit on the couch and sat next to him still holding his hand and leaning on his should. She realized after a few minutes of silence that she was actually the one that was getting comfort from this, but she didn't move, she needed this moment to relax knowing what she'll have to be dealing with soon (and she hoped that he was at least being help a little having her there).

Ron just looked at their hands intertwined as he sat there. He knew this isn't what she intended to happen but he couldn't help think about her while they were sitting there. All kinds of things about her, but mostly about how much he liked that she was there, holding his hand like this. And how nice it was that she could get his mind off his father and best mate for two seconds… though of course that thought made him think about them and he groaned.

"What's the matter Ron?" Hermione finally spoke once he groaned.

"Dad's okay… we've seen him and he's okay," Ron said thickly. "It was hard to see him like that… hard to… but he's going to be fine, so it's okay."

"Ron," Hermione said squeezing his hand reassuringly.

Ron took a deep breath and said, "Now it's Harry… he's gotten in his head that it's his fault…"

"How could he think that?" Hermione said incredulously.

"Honestly I don't know," Ron almost smiled at her reaction but then frowned again. "What do you know about what happened?"

"That Harry had another of his dreams and he saw a…" Hermione said biting her lip.

"Okay," Ron said cutting her off and squeezing her hand involuntarily (he really didn't need hearing that again). "He was the snake… in the vision…"

"Oh," Hermione gasped as the color drained from her face.

"I know…" Ron said paling a little himself. "But that doesn't mean that it's his bloody fault."

"Of course not," Hermione said, and she believed that, but she couldn't think what that could mean.

"And then we heard bloody Moody saying that he was being possess," Ron hissed with really venom and getting up so he could pace the room. "But it couldn't be that; he was in our dorm the whole effing time, but of course Harry took him at his word and now he won't even look at us… like he thinks we could blame him for this! He bloody saved dad's life but he thinks we could blame him!"

"Ron," Hermione said, grabbing his arm. "I'm not the one that you should be telling this."

"He won't look at me Mione," Ron said looking angry and pained by that.

Hermione heart nearly stopped, it was the first time that he had ever called her Mione (that she knew of) and that made her whole body heat up (she was sure she was blushing now). However, now wasn't the time for this so she just shook it off.

"Then you're just going to have to make him," Hermione smiled at him. "You can't let him brood by himself."

"Gee, I wish I thought of that," Ron rolled his eyes. "I just… I don't know what to say to him. I know it's not his fault, but how the hell am I supposed to make him see that?"

"You just being there well help, Ron," Hermione said, she still couldn't believe that Ron didn't understand how much Harry leans on him. "Don't worry, I'll go get him and bring him to your room so you two could talk."

"And just what makes you think you could make him go anywhere?" Ron asked raising his eyebrow.

"Easy… he'll be so shocked that I'm here that he won't even put up a fight," Hermione smiled and Ron had to laugh at that; it would probably work.

"Ron… you know you have to keep your…" Ginny said walking into the room, a shrieking sound was still going off in the background (though neither Ron nor Hermione noticed it much), but she stopped dead when she saw Hermione. "Mione!" she exclaimed and ran to her friend hugging her tightly. "You actually came… mum said she didn't think it would happen…"

"Well I'm here now," Hermione said smiling sadly at her friend; she could feel the other girl tremble slightly in her arms. "How are you holding up?" she whispered.

"I…" Ginny started but stopped and pulled away, glancing at her brother (who was looking at the two of them with a distant look that she couldn't read) and bit her lip. "Can we go somewhere else and talk…"

"Er… actually Ginny, I was going to try and talk to Harry right now," Hermione said biting her lip, if Ginny really needed to talk to her right now of course she would do it but she still thought it would be best to deal with Harry first.

"So you could kick him out the stupid funk he's in," Ginny said rolling her eyes; she had been quite upset with him because of that.

"Pretty much, yeah," Hermione smiled. "It would probably be good if you wait with Ron in his room."

"Sounds good to me," Ginny said and followed Hermione as she left the room. "Ron, you coming?"

"Yeah," Ron grumbled, frowning still, of course, he should have known that Hermione would come here because of his sister.

"Harry! Open up Harry!" Hermione cried at the door at the top of the stairs.

"Hermione?" Harry said opening the door looking at her incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

"The Weasley thought I would be the best one to shock you out of your cave," Hermione smirked, and then looked into the room and of course she had to mention the Hippogriff in the room. "Buckbeak?"

"Huh?" Harry said still looking at her incredulous. "Seriously Hermione… what are you doing here?"

"I'm here because Ginny needed a friend," Hermione said bowing her head to the Hippogriff and he bowed back. "You're looking well Beaky."

"Er… Hermione I don't think…" Harry said rubbing the back of his head as she walked into the room and started petting Buckbeak, he didn't really want her in there in case… but no he was okay now wasn't he?

"He's still a little frightening," Hermione said looking at the talons and then she brought up the other Hippogriff in the room. "So Ron tells me that you've been hiding in here all day…"

"Has he bothered to tell you why?" Harry said a little harshly.

"Of course… but I think you're being ridiculous avoiding them like this," Hermione rolled her eyes.

"It's not like they're dying to be in my company," Harry grumbled. "Not when I might turn…"

"That's only because you're not giving them much of an option," Hermione groaned. "Come on, you can't just sit in here brooding with Beaky all day…"

"Argh," Harry said but he let her drag him to the room that he shares with Ron, he told himself that it was just because he was still shock that she would be there but he knew it also had to do with the fact that he hoped that she was right. When he saw that Ron and Ginny were sitting on the bed waiting for him he felt hopeful but worried.

And then of course he felt like the biggest prat in the world for forgetting what Ginny had gone through in her first year. However it didn't stop him from feeling the relief that fill him as she say that he couldn't possibly have been possessed. And then when Ron give his reason why it wasn't possible Harry just had to smile, they had never thought that he was responsible, they never believed that he could have hurt their dad like that and it just made him feel better.

O

"Thanks for coming Mione," Ginny said, it was hours latter and they were both in bed, Ginny resting her head against the older girls chest.

"Of course," Hermione said wrapping her arms around the other girl, she hadn't said much just curled up in her arms, but she knew that Ginny was going to say whatever it was bothering her… she just had to be patient.

"I see him when I close my eyes," Ginny said, the way she said him made it clear that she was talking about Voldemort), she was hiding her face in the older girl's chest. "I can't sleep… and I can't think… I don't know what to do…"

"It's okay… I've got you," Hermione tightening her grip on her friend.

"It's just… it makes me feel like I did after it happened," Ginny said. "Like nothing has changed…" she went one and then sobbed harder, "I thought I was better. I thought I was through this."

"You are better Gin," Hermione forcing the other girl to look at her at this point. "It's just this isn't something that will ever really leave you," she whispered knowing the girl didn't want to hear this but it was important for her to. "It's part of who you are now, but know you will get pass this…"

Ginny lowered her head by this point, but kept her eyes wide open, she could almost see the monster laughing at her even with her eyes open and she couldn't stand that.

"Because there are people that are here for you," Hermione went on. "That I will always be here for you when you need me like this."

Ginny visibly relaxed at that.

"Now close your eyes," Hermione said.

"I can't," Ginny said in a shaky voice.

"Yes you can… nothing going to happen to you here," Hermione said reassuringly. "You're safe."

Ginny tried to let those words wash over her but it wasn't working, she still saw him… "I saw him possessing Harry…" she said quietly after a moment hesitation.

"You know that couldn't happen; not like this," Hermione said, her tone reassuring and not judgmental like Ginny almost feared it would be.

"But it didn't stop me from seeing… I… I can see that too," Ginny sobbed.

"Nothing can hurt him either…" Hermione started.

"That's not true," Ginny said flinching. "His connection to… him… it different… boundaries or barriers don't matter… he can get in Harry's mind at any time."

"I know," Hermione shivered at that thought too, she has seen that Harry has been effected by this a lot more than he would want anyone (expect for Ron) to know about. "But Harry's strong… he's not going to let Voldemort win!"

"Right," Ginny said, being comforted by that, she didn't even flinch at Voldemort's name, she had face more terrors than to fear the name (though she wasn't so sure she could handle someone saying Tom at the moment).

"Are you feeling any better," Hermione asked a few minutes later, Ginny hadn't said anything and her eyes were still wide open.

"A little," Ginny sighed. "Thanks Mione."

"No problem," Hermione said. "I'll always be here for you no matter what."

There was no more talking between the two after that, but Ginny did feel a lot better, good enough to close her eyes and eventually even fall asleep. Though she still had bad dreams it didn't get too bad because she instinctual knew that Hermione was there for her.