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

Chapter Thirty Seven

Talks with the Parents

The train ride, the last that she might have as a Hogwarts student, she thought glumly, was uneventful. This meant that she had plenty of time to think about what she had to do now. Before she had left the Hogwarts's grounds, she realized that she would need a lot more research material in concerns to the Horcruxes. She remembered what Harry had said about Dumbledore taking the books out of the library and wondered if that meant they were out of the school... or if it just meant that students couldn't get them. She had used a summoning charm, calling for books that had something to do with Horcruxes, feeling foolish about doing this. However, when the books flew into her hands she couldn't help but be pleased by this (hoping that Dumbledore would understand that she was just doing this so she could help Harry out). She wondered briefly what she would have done if she wasn't able to get these books, and shivered when she thought she might have had to go to Knockturn Alley or somewhere like it to find this.

The next thing she had to worry about though, was really what held most of her concentration. She was worrying about what she would tell her parents and even more so what she was going to have to do to keep them safe. It was no use to pretend that they would be safe once she went off with Harry. Surely the Death Eater would love to do something to them if they were left unprotected, one part of her mind would say. The other was skeptical that they would get involved at all. However, the worrying side of her mind had gotten the better of her, knowing that if something... anything happened to them because of her, she would never be able to forgive herself. She resolved to talk to Mr. Weasley about this when she got to the train station. She knew that her parents wouldn't be at the station themselves, because she had written to them, explaining that she would Apparate there as soon as she got to the London station.

Though she had meant it when she agreed with Ron when he said that they would go to Harry's relatives with him, she wasn't surprised at all that Harry refused to let them. She could see that he need some time alone... some time to gather himself, and though he could do that with them there, for they would give him any time he needed, their presence at the Dursleys was only going to cause him more trouble than it was worth. So, that is why Harry now had a grimace as he walked away from them, and the wizarding world for a few months, and they had to watch him go with a similar grimace on their face.

"Are you ready to go dears?" Molly said, her arm securely around Ginny and her eyes were scanning the station constantly, looking like she was expect some kind of massive attack any minute now. They all Apparated to the Burrows, Ginny going sidealong with Molly, as Ron took the extra suit case.

"It really is a lot easier with you all being old enough to Apparate," Molly said, looking more relax now that she was close to her own house. "Hermione, are you staying for dinner, or are you going to head home soon."

"I'm not sure yet," Hermione said. "I have to talk to Mr. Weasley first…"

"What about?" Arthur asked, he had been at the station, too, his expression and stance was much the same as Molly's had been.

They had reached the front door then and Hermione walked into the living room. Ron looked at her, questioning her with his eyes, asking if she wanted him to stay or leave. One looked at her and he sat down next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. "It's about my parents."

"What about them?" Arthur sighed, sitting in a chair across from them.

"I've been thinking about... how safe they are," Hermione said softly.

"It's too early to see how... er... the war will escalate after this," Arthur said, rubbing the back of his head. "I was going to have this conversation with you soon, but I suppose I can't be surprise that you're the one to bring this up... still, I was planning on having Remus with me..."

"I'm sorry," Hermione gave him a weak smile.

"It's okay," Arthur returned the smile just as weakly.

"So they're not safe," Hermione then sighed, biting her lip and Ron tightened his grip around her.

"We predict that the anti-Muggle movement will definitely pick up now," Arthur sighed, "and most Muggle-borns will be targeted... and you, well, unfortunately would rank high on the list... especially with you being at the Ministry last year.

"So, what can I do?" Hermione said.

"For right now, there is nothing to worry about," Arthur said. "Kingsley had talked with a few of his friends and there has been a rather extensive amount of protection that has been places on your house."

"Well that's good," Hermione sighed in relief, but she could tell that there was more to this. "But you said for right now..."

"Yes," Arthur said. "Well, the Ministry isn't as safe as it once was, and we're not sure how long it will be safe to trust them..."

"What…?" Hermione began to ask but Arthur shook his head.

"It's not all that bad yet... but some of the things that have been going on in the last month have been troubling," Arthur sighed. "We feel it would be best if we think of another plan to guarantee their safety."

"And how do I do that?" Hermione asked.

"We're not sure yet," Arthur said. "Another reason why I wish you would have let us come to you... I might have had a better idea at that point."

"It's okay Mr. Weasley," Hermione said, "I'm just glad that you were thinking of them, I know you must have other things that are more pressing..."

"Nonsense Hermione, you're parents safety is very important to us," Arthur smiled kindly at her. "How else am I going to find out how a pheletion works if I can't ask your dad?"

Hermione chuckled at that and Arthur took that as his cue to leave.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked softly.

"No," Hermione said turning into his chest, shivering with worry. "I have to make sure they're okay."

"I know," Ron said.

"Ron," Hermione said sometime later.

"Um," Ron said.

"We're going to have to tell your parents what we're planning on doing with Harry," Hermione said and as she predicted Ron stiffened.

"I know," Ron said after a long pause. "But I think we can give Mum a week to relax."

"Okay," Hermione said, knowing that the relief she was feeling was only going to make it that much harder when the time came that they told Molly Weasley that they were all going to drop out of school to do a mission that would put them in a direct line of danger... the most terrible danger there can be. "I've really got to think of something that will keep Mum and Dad safe now... if the Death Eaters know that we're with Harry... I'm sure they'll go straight for them."

Ron stiffened even more at that and he moaned miserably.

"What's the matter?" Hermione asked him.

"That's true for my family, too," Ron said quietly, and she could hear pain in his voice as he said this. "If I'm with Harry... my parents... and brothers... Ginny... they will all be in danger… have targets on them. Though, it's not like we don't already have those targets, everyone knows that Harry comes over here ever summer."

"We'll have to think about something to keep them safe, too," Hermione sighed, more miserable than she was before now that it wasn't only her parents' safety she had to worry about.

It was hours later before Hermione got up to go. Her parents were going to be home from their dental office soon and she knew that they would be waiting for her to come home. Still, it was hard for her to leave Ron's arms when he was the only thing that was making her felt like somehow, though everything looked horrible right now, it will all work out in the end.

"I've got to be heading home," Hermione said, forcing herself to get up. She could feel Ron's hand stiffen on her, like he couldn't let her go... but they moved and she was out of his arms. "Don't worry... I'll be back soon."

"I know," Ron said, his blue eyes not looking the least bit less worried. She kissed him softly on the lips, a kiss that she always gave him when she couldn't say anymore, but she wanted him to know that there will be hundreds of more kisses like this in the future. He sighed, as he watch her make her way through the kitchen, and he went upstairs to his room so no one could see how broken he was without her.

Hermione had every intention of walking straight to the Apparated spot that was near the Burrow, but she was waylaid by Molly. Molly was obviously working on dinner; her wand seeming to direct everything to go in its proper plays without any real effort from her.

"Goodbye Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, not wanting to be rude and just leave without saying goodbye.

"Could you hold on a minute dear?" Molly said, she said putting her wand down and the dinner preparations stopped. "I just wanted to say how happy it makes me that... well... that you and Ron are back together..."

"Oh... thanks," Hermione said, shifting a little uncomfortably because she really wasn't sure what she was supposed to say to that.

"He never said anything you know," Molly went on. "I thought this might be the case, because his letters home became more frequent and they seemed to be happier, but he never actually said this."

"Well, Ron's not really one to share things like this," Hermione smiled, thinking about how red his ears would have been if he either told his mum this or even just writing a letter about it.

"You're right of course," Molly smiled. "He's so much like his father in that way... still I can't tell you how happy it made me, seeing you two together... I know my son never would be happy with anyone but you."

Hermione blushed there, but smiled, too. "The same goes for me."

"Yes, I do know that, too," Molly said kindly. "I always thought that would have been the case but it was made abundantly clear when I saw you at the hospital when Ron..." both women flinch at the reminder of Ron's near death experience. Molly lip trembled there, thinking that this wasn't even the worst thing that happened to her family this year and it wasn't even half over.

"You didn't have to leave that day, you know," Molly said, trying not to think about either her youngest or eldest sons' near death experiences. "Like I've already said... you're part of our family."

Hermione smiled at that. "Thanks, but honestly I couldn't stay there that day... not being the ex-girlfriend and all..."

"I understand," Molly smiled at her. "I just have to say that it really lightened my heart seeing you there... I knew my little boy would be okay then... I was so worried about him over Christmas... But it's good to know that he'll be okay as long as you're near him."

"Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, there was something in Molly's voice that made Hermione think that she had a good idea what she, Harry and Ron had plan. Hermione wasn't sure if this was true or not, for Molly hugged her then and told her that she should be getting off to see her parents.

O

She had been surprised how much just seeing her parents affected her. When she hugged her mum she felt so much younger than she was... or maybe she just felt her own age for once. It was nice, not to be the one that had to act responsible or plan things that were to come and just enjoy a quiet evening with her parents while she could. She allowed herself this day, knowing that she wouldn't get many other ones like this... Her parents seem to realize that she needed this, for they didn't ask any of the questions that she could see in their eyes. They didn't even mention the reason for Hogwarts closing early. No, they just talked like they always do when they're all together, about nothing important, but something they all found fascinating.

Now, however, as she lay in her bed in the quiet house, her mind was reeling with everything that she would have to tell them. Tomorrow, she made up her mind; she was going to have to tell them tomorrow. She couldn't put it off, because she had to spend the rest of her energy on thinking about what she was going to do to guarantee their safety.

As she thought, the next day was another stressful one. She sat her parents down, and told them about most of the thing that happened this year, though highly edited, and of course she didn't say a word about anything that she swore she wouldn't.

"Hold on," her dad said, "let me get this straight... your dating that git again."

"Dad!" Hermione said exasperated and shock.

"Duncan, how could you care about that when she's talking about all this!" her mum said, incredulously.

Her dad looked at her mum with the same expression. "You saw her over Christmas... I don't want that... boy... anywhere near here! And Hermione, why did you listen to anything that git had to say to you?!"

"Because the poor boy was poisoned," her mum said before Hermione could open her mouth.

"I'm sorry about that... I really am," her dad said in a grave tone. "But honey, he's already proven to hurt you once..."

"None of that matters Dad," Hermione said, looking her dad straight in the eyes, her voice filled with as much sincerity as she had. "I love Ron."

Her dad's face went from slightly red with angry to pale with shock in a second and he keep opening and closing his mouth, at a complete loss for words. Her mum on the other had squealed and got up to hug her. Saying that she knew this was going to happen from day one, and asking general questions about their relationship.

Hermione and her mum talked for quite some time before her dad gather enough of his wits and started asking question about other things... anything to get off the subject of his only child, his baby girl, loving some boy that clearly didn't deserve her. Oh well, he thought to himself, I'll probably have to be nice to this Ron fellow... it wasn't a very pleasing thought.

"What's going to happen now?" her mum asked, looking sadly at her daughter, who had seen and done more than she could have imagined.

"We're not sure yet," Hermione sighed. "We're all working on a plan to see what should be done... I think I should go to the Burrow and see if they've come up with anything."

"You just want to sneak off to be with that boy of yours," her dad said dramatically with a pout.

"Maybe," Hermione smiled at him.

But that wasn't entirely true. Of course she wanted to see Ron, she needed to see him, because with all this talk about what happened last year she felt the emotionally drain and he was the only one that could make her feel any better. Still, she really did want to talk to the Mr. Weasley again, for she thought of something that might be able to help her parents be safe, and she wanted to run it by him first.

The plan was that she would modify her parents' memories and send them off to a foreign land where they could be safe from all the fighting. She could tell that neither Arthur or Remus liked the idea much; the werewolf had been at the Burrow when she arrived and she found it easy enough to tell him about her plan, too.

"Hermione... a spell like that could do permanent damage to their minds, if performed incorrectly," Remus said softly to her.

"I know, I read about memory charms and modifications..." Hermione started to say.

"Hermione... you're not thinking about doing the charm yourself," Arthur said, raising an eyebrow, in a way (if Arthur was anything like his youngest son) that meant that he was convinced that this was a bad idea.

"I would have to if I use the charm I want," Hermione said, taking out a book that she had read several times in the past, and handed it to Remus. With a pang in her heart, she remembered getting this from her parents a few Christmases ago. The note saying that they knew that she had always enjoyed her Charms class and they were told that this was filled with very difficult spells that they were sure she would someday master. She then cringed when she remembered thanking them for it and her mum saying that she'll have to show them a spell from it (when she was of age of course). She was sure this was not what her mother meant.

Remus looked over the spell, seeing that it really seemed to cover everything that they needed done, but he was still wary about this. As he handed the book to Arthur, so he could look it over too, he thought about this. She was quite right that she would have to be the one to cast the charm, for they spell clearly stated that it was not only more effective, but also safer if a blood kin does the spell. Even with that guarantee, he could not possible allow someone that was barely of age and still going to Hogwarts perform this kind of charm. But as he looked into the girl's brown eyes, filled with confidence, sorrow, and an overwhelming determination, he knew that she could handle this.

"Hermione," Arthur said softly, and it looked like he was choosing his words carefully. "This plan is extreme... don't you think that we should set them up in a safe house and have guards..."

"There is a problems with that," Hermione said in a brisk tone, Remus immediately was reminded of Lily whenever she was arguing her case to James... she would always win. "My parents would still have to give up everything... their jobs, their friends and family... just so they would be moved to some house, unable to do anything. Or am I mistake, and they'll be able to keep going to work while they are in hiding."

"No," Arthur shook his head, "nor would they be able to contact anyone."

"I know my parents," Hermione said. "They have to work... they'll go crazy in ten minutes if they weren't allowed to do anything productive. Add to it the fact that we don't even know how long they would have to in hiding... no they can't do that."

"We'll consider it," Remus said, before Arthur could argue with Hermione. Hermione looked at him and nodded her head. It was the best answer that she was going to get at the moment. She quickly went up to the attic bedroom then, finding Ron in his bed and joining him without second thought.

O

Hermione was right. Now that her week was up, she was petrified about what they were about to do. Neither Arthur nor Remus said anything about her plan, but after what she has to tell them today, they might understand her reasoning better. She would also be able to tell them the plan she had come up with to make it appear that she had gone with her parents...

"Well, here we go," Ron said, taking a deep breath, but he didn't move.

"Merlin, I really don't envy you right now," Ginny said from behind them, smirking.

"I bet you rather be down there with us than being left behind like always," Ron spat back at her, his nerves making him angrier.

"Ronald!" Hermione said, "Don't say that!"

Ginny was glaring at him; she had been growing steadily angrier about that fact, as Ron knew. "I hope mum rips you a new one," she huffed as she went into the living room to sit in a little chair in the corner... she would have an excellent view of what she was sure be quite a show.

"You didn't have to be so mean," Hermione chastised his, "you know she's having a hard time..."

"I know," Ron sighed, "I didn't mean for it to come out... I just didn't need her pushing my buttons right now."

"I know love," Hermione smiled at him briefly, before taking his hand and leading him into the living room that his parents, Bill, Fleur, Remus, Tonks, and Ginny was in.

"Everyone," Ron said in a shaky voice, as he held on tightly to Hermione's hand. "We've got something to tell you."

"Oh Merlin!" Molly exclaimed suddenly, causing the teens to jump. "You're pregnant!"

There was deafening silences after that statement, where everyone looked at Ron and Hermione, their faces quickly turning a bright red and they were too shock to say anything. Who knew how long this silence would have lasted if Ginny didn't burst out laughing then, actually falling on the floor in her amusement. The laughter seemed to cause several people to relax, Bill, his heavily scarred face was now impossible to read, joined his sister in laughter, something he had not done since the incident. It was clear to him that his mum had not been right with her assessment of the situation.

"What...?" Ron finally said, looking like he was lost, his ears were bright red and he was shaking his head. "No... we haven't even... I mean... no..."

"Ron," Hermione hissed, she was quite red in the face and his rumbling only seemed to be making her to blush even more.

The room was now filled with laughter, laughter that was so misplaced in this house over this last week. Everyone seemed to be serious all the time, and it really was doing them good to laugh like this.

"Harry," Ron said, and the laughter died down a little. "It's about Harry."

"What about him?" Molly asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Well... he's sort of going to do a mission once he comes of age," Ron said, not sure how to say this. "Er... he's not going back to school."

Hermione try not to groan as she pitched the bridge of her nose... that wasn't the best way of saying this. Ginny had mirrored Hermione actions, but there was a smirk on her face; quite happy that the show didn't appear to be over yet.

"Don't be ridiculous Ronald!" Molly said sternly. "Of course Harry is going back to school, and there's no way that he's going to go on a mission. He's not even of age yet!" At this point she directed her glare at Arthur and Remus, as if they had suggested that Harry should partake in a mission.

"Of course not," Arthur said immediately. "What is this mission you're talking about?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged a look. They couldn't tell them that... they had sworn to Harry that they wouldn't tell anyone, and they would stick to that oath no matter what.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you," Ron said shaking his head.

"Ronald, if you think for one second that we are going to let Harry go on some mission to do Merlin knows what on his own, you are quite mistake," Molly said, there was a deadly calmness to her voice, and Ron gulped in fear. However, backing down was not an option, and it was time to tell them something else.

"He won't be alone," was how Ron answered that questioned, stunning everyone in the room by his own calmness. "Hermione and I are going with him."

"Absolutely not!" Molly screamed her voice filled with rage and pain. "I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT! YOU WILL NOT BE GOING ON SOME FOOL'S MISSION... ESPECIALLY ONE WHERE YOU WON'T EVEN TELL US WHAT IT IS!"

"WE ARE GOING!" Ron yelled over his mother, and she stopped short. For this wasn't the normal Ronald Weasley yell, were his temper has gotten the better of him. His eyes were in control and somehow, he looked so much older in that moment than his seventeen years. "I know you're going to worry about us..." he went on, his words still firm and determined, but he was no longer yelling, "But this isn't some fool's errand, this is something that has to be done!"

"Then tell us what it is," Remus said reasonably, he wasn't as shocked as the Weasleys where, he had seen firsthand how exceptional Ron could be when the need arises. "We can have the Order help with it..."

"Dumbledore told Harry not to tell anyone but us about this," Hermione said to Remus (Ginny huffed angrily at that), for Ron was looking at his mum, who was glaring back at him. They seemed to be having a battle of wills.

Remus sat back in his chair, raising his hand to his chin as he thought about what Hermione just said. "So, Dumbledore gave Harry this mission."

"Hm... yeah," Hermione said, not very convincingly.

Remus raised an eyebrow at that but then shook his head. Of course Dumbledore couldn't have really given Harry a mission like this when he died so suddenly... Remus cringed as he thought of that. Still, he did recall that Dumbledore was giving Harry some kind of 'lessons' and that very well might mean that there was some kind of mission attached to it.

"I see," Remus said, but before he could say any more Ron and Molly's argument became verbal again.

"Ron, you're too young..." Molly started, but Ron snorted.

"I'm of age," Ron started and went on before she could protest that that didn't matter, he was still too young. "And I haven't been a kid for a long time... I know that you want to keep us safe and out of this war Mum, but you can't. We've... I've been fighting in this war since I was eleven, ever since Harry became my best friend, and I'm going to be in this war until it's over."

Ron stopped there, still giving his mum the most piercing look he could. He didn't voice the fact that was now ringing in his head, or I died trying, for neither his mum nor Hermione (or anyone else in his family) needed to hear that. His mum never relaxed, never relented, she was not going to make this easy... not for one second. However, his dad sighed, causing Ron to look at him. When Ron meet his gaze he could see that his dad was worried about him, pained about what he was about to say and proud. He could swear he saw pride in his dad's eyes, before the older man turned away from him and looked at his wife.

"Molly," Arthur said, gravely, "he's right. They've been in the thick of the fighting since before any of us even knew about this war..."

"That doesn't mean we should let them just run out and face danger like this," Molly snapped back at him.

"No, but it does mean that we can't treat them liked children anymore," Remus said, in the same grave tone that Arthur was using.

"Honestly, I don't see how you could think of them as children after everything they've already been through," Tonks said, easily relating to the young couple, mostly due to the fact that she was closer to their age then most of the adults... and she was quite used to being told that she was too young or too new to be able to do things.

Molly glowered at them, "I can see that I'm going to be out numbered."

"But that's not going to stop you from trying to stop us from going," Ron said to his mum, there was a knowing smile there, liked he knew this was true.

"No for a second," Molly said to her youngest son and in that moment she really saw how tall... strong... old... he had gotten. He truly wasn't the little boy that he had seemed to be the last summer when she had last had a good opportunity to look at him. He had of course been growing older every year, maturing with that growth, but he was different now. He was confident now in a way that she had never seen Ron be before and she realized with a shock that he really was a man now.

She walked to her son then, and walked into his opened arms, hugging him tightly. No, she was never going to make it easy on him to leave, but somehow, she knew he was going to go none the less.