A/N: Hello everyone and yes I know that I has been a while. At this moment my writing isn't going that great (for any of my stories), but I do still enjoy it. So chapters will come out with a bit of a slower pace, but I promise as always to finish every story that I create. We are getting a bit of romance in this chapter, so please tell me what you think and if you would like to see more. Besides that I would only like to mention that I'm not English so forgive me for any mistakes that I have made and have fun reading this chapter.

xxx

It was empty at Grimmauld place.

Hermione had grown up in a small family and her home had always been a silent place. Being with the Order this summer had shown her how different it could be. She had to admit that in the beginning she had felt a bit out of place, but slowly she had grown to be part of the group of family and friends that had gathered in the home.

She had so gotten used to it that the house felt just uncomfortable empty with so little people in it. The only ones home were Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Dudley and herself, everyone else was out. She stared for a moment at the table covered in books, Merlin and Albus had so suddenly rushed out, giving absolutely no explanation for where they were going, just a simple. ''We will be back soon.'' That had been six hours ago.

She sighed and placed her Charm's book to the side. She glanced for a moment at the boys, all in deep concentration over a game of wizard's chess.

The witch ended up walking to the kitchen, where mother Weasley was writing a little note while her daughter was sitting on the table swinging her legs back and forth. The older woman looked up from the small piece of paper and smiled. ''Ah Hermione, I was just about to come and get you. Do you mind going on a little errand for me? It's just that I need some ingredients for diner from the muggle shop down the street and since you're more familiar with muggle customs than I am I thought that maybe you wouldn't mind going.''

''Oh, of course.'' She definitely didn't mind some fresh air.

''I will tag along.'' Ginny said as she jumped of the table and walked over to her mother and Hermione.

''Well... be careful, don't talk to strangers and come straight home if you think anyone is following you!'' Hermione could see the worry in the mother's eyes. Mrs. Weasley knew how dangerous the world was with his return. She wondered how her own mother would react if she truly knew the dangers, the small part that her mom knew she and her father had read in the Daily Prophet. She knew that if her parents knew more than written in the Daily Prophet that they would never let her go back to Hogwarts and most likely try to forget that they had every heard of magic.

She pushed the memory of her parents to the side, she could never abandon her friends. Her eyes shifted to the note in her hands and her eyes ran over the ingredients that Mrs. Weasley had written down. A small smile spread over her lips, they definitely knew little about the muggle world, almost half of these ingredients weren't for sale at any muggle store.

It was ten minutes later that Hermione and Ginny went on their way. She had tried to explain that not all ingredients would be for sale, but in the end she was just told to get the ingredients that she could find and was handed some muggle money.

Ginny acted like a little kid in a candy store as soon as they walked into the small convenience store. It was rather amusing to see, the joy that only holding a ballpoint pen and glue stick could create.

They took twice as long as needed, but in the end they paid and walked back to their hideout.

''Hermione?'' The red haired girl asked, completely dropping the cheesy grin from just moments ago.

''Yes?'' She glanced at Ginny walking next to her.

Ginny held her hands behind her back, eying the sky for a moment. ''What do you think will happen next school year? Because I do worry about Harry.'' A small blush spread over her cheeks. ''The dark lord is after him after all.''

''You think he would try anything with Dumbledore and Merlin so close?''

''Quirrell, the fake Moody... the diary. That all happened right beneath their eyes.'' Hermione nodded in silence. It wasn't like she didn't fear the same that Ginny felt, but she also knew that she had to trust Harry and his abilities. And she also would be there to protect him. ''Hermione!'' She snapped up as she heard the warning in her friend's voice.

The muggleborn witch followed Ginny's gaze and her eyes fell upon a small girl sitting curled up on curb. She shared a look with Ginny, who bit her lip and looked back at her for an answer about what to do. The girl definitely didn't seem dangerous. She walked up to the girl, kneeling in front of her. The girl didn't acknowledge the two of them as she had her head rested on top of her knees and eyes closed. Hermione narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of the girl's face, she was small and extremely, maybe even sickly, thin. She had first thought that the girl was no more than twelve because of her small body, but she could now see that the girl was actually in her late teen or maybe early twenties. But that wasn't the most worrying thing. The young woman was completely drenched, her black hair and dress stuck to her skin as small droplets of water rolled over her arms and ended up creating a small puddle around her. ''Are you okay?'' The witch carefully touched the young woman's shoulder and gasped as she felt the cold skin. This wasn't healthy! They had to do something! ''Ginny, go get your mom and bring towels and blankets!'' The red haired girl stared at her for a moment before nodding and running of to Grimmauld place.

What should she do now, it was so warm outside that she hadn't worn a jacket or anything else that she could take off to warm the woman. ''Can you talk to me?''

The black haired woman than moved for the first time, lifting her head off her knees and slowly opening her eyes. The deepest brown eyes stared up at her, blinking as if she only now realised that someone was next to her. ''...I... Yes, I can talk to you.'' Her voice sounded rough, as if she hadn't used it in a long time.

''Are you okay, what happened to you?''

She than blinked and glanced around her before stretching her limbs. ''I'm just waiting for someone.''

Hermione stared at the girl, was she serious? Couldn't see feel how cold she was? That she was completely drenched? Maybe she was in shock? The witch stretched her hand out to touch the other's forehead, but it was the same sickly cold that she had felt on the girl's arm.

''Hermione!'' She heard Mrs. Weasley's voice and looked up. The mother looked with wide eyes at the girl and immediately wrapped a blanket around the girl's shoulders. ''Oh my dear, you're completely soaked! You don't seem to have a fever, but you're far to cold!-''

A small smile spread over the young woman's lips as she removed the blanket from her shoulders. ''Thank you Mrs. witch, but I'm fine.''

They all stared at her for a moment. ''H-how do you know, my dear? Are you a witch too? What are you doing here?''

''I... Yes, I'm of magic. I'm waiting on someone. He is supposed to be here, but he isn't. So... I will just wait till he gets here.''

Hermione eyed Mrs. Weasley. ''Should we take her inside?'' She knew what the meaning was behind the secret hideout of the Order, but they couldn't just leave her outside on the pavement.

Mrs. Weasley seemed to be in deep thought for a moment before standing up and offering the girl her hand. ''My dear, would you mind coming inside with us? You can wait there for this person while getting dry and warming up.'' The young woman didn't answer, instead she took the hand that was offered to her. ''Good, now to also get some food in you.''

Hermione picked up the fallen blanket and walked after the others to the house. She wasn't quite sure what the other member's of the Order would say with them inviting a stranger into Grimmauld place.

It was then that she noticed the water dripping from the girl's body, which wasn't surprising with her being drenched and all, but the amount was just far to much. It did worry her, but they girl did seem friendly and she could only hope that they weren't making a big mistake with letting her in.

The boys looked up from their game of wizard's chess to look at the girl. ''Who is she?'' Ron asked as he eyed her up and down.

The girl blinked. ''Ah, I did seem to have forgotten to introduce myself, my name is Freya.'' Freya was than offered a place on the couch, which was immediately soaked with water as she sat down.

Hermione sat down next to her, still a bit unsure what to make of the girl. ''Nice to meet you Freya, I'm Hermione and my friends are Ginny, Ron, Harry and Dudley and Mrs. Weasley has just gone to the kitchen.'' Freya gave the ones in the room a small smile and nod in acknowledgment. ''Would you like some dry clothes?''

''I'm good like this.''

''Are you sure?''

Freya smiled. ''I am sure, but thank you for offering.''

She sighed, but nodded and stood up. The three boys immediately walked up to her and she had to explain what had just happened. Meanwhile Mrs. Weasley had returned with chocolate cookies and butter beer for their guest, which Freya all declined. They tried to get some more information out of her for at least half an hour, but the girl didn't seem very talkative. It was then that they heard someone walk up the path to the house.

Freya was the first one to act as she jumped up, eyes wide with joy. ''He's here!'' She took of to the front door and Hermione and the others quickly followed.

The front door was opened and Merlin stepped inside. Without a word Freya jumped in his arms, planting her own lips on his shocked ones. ''Merlin!''

He pushed her back slightly, looking her into the eyes before giving her a warm and gentle smile. ''Freya.'' He whispered lovingly in return.