Chapter 52

Chapter 52
Journey to the Burrow

Author's Note: People have been asking me when I will return the story to the Malfoys/Death Eaters. My plans are to have chapter about them very soon... perhaps next chapter. This will be in Hermione's PoV.

The day after Christmas, Hermione woke up to Crookshanks sitting on her bed and hissing at something in the window. Hermione raised her hand to block the sunlight and saw an owl sitting on the windowsill. At first, Hermione thought it was Pig, but as she walked over to the window, she realized it was too big. It was a delivery owl from the Daily Prophet. Hermione opened the window. She took the money bag, full of wizarding coins, from her desk and walked over to the owl. She took a Knut from the bag and dropped it in the small bag that was hanging from the owl's beak. The owl loosened his hold from the Daily Prophet and Hermione took it. The owl flew off and Hermione closed the window.

This wasn't the first time she had received a Daily Prophet since she had been home. She got one yesterday, and had read all about the hoax. She wasn't relieved about the article. In fact she thought it was rubbish, and when she unfolded the Daily Prophet, she expected news about an attack. But there was nothing about it. She started turning the pages of the newspaper, looking for any news about an attack. Then she turned a page and gasped.

There wasn't anything about a Death Eater attack. A photo of Rita Skeeter's face was covering half of the page. A big grin spread across her face. Hermione tried to ignore her face and looked below the picture. In bold letters the headline read:

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE AND LIES
OF ALBUS DUMBLEDORE" TALKS ABOUT NEW BOOK

Hermione wanted to put the newspaper down, but something made her go on. She started to read.

On Monday, the Award-Winning author of "The
Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore", Rita Skeeter,
agreed to take a few minutes out of her busy
schedule and sit down with me for an interview.
We would be talking about the new book that
is sure to brighten the hearts of the fans who
loved Rita's previous book, and grab the throats
of those who hated the book.

"Rita, I must say I was a big fan of your book
on Albus Dumbledore," I said, starting the
interview, "And I want to thank you for sitting
down with me and talking about your new book.
I think the best question to start of with is, well,
what is the title of your new book?"

"It is called 'The Second War: Victorious or
Vicious?" Rita said.

"The Second War?" I asked, "What would you
say to those select few who say that the Second
War isn't over? That say there are still those who
fight for the Dark Arts?"

"Oh, at this moment in time, the Second War
isn't over!" Rita said, "But I have enough
information to suit my fans' fancy."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, my dear," Rita said, "Of course, I won't
tell you everything I have. But I will give you
a preview. I will reveal the secrets that the
Ministry of Magic is too afraid to give you. What
was the reason the Second War started? That
will just be one of the questions I answer."

"Does this book have anything to do with your
previous book?" I asked, "Does Albus Dumbledore's
name appear in the book?"

"Oh yes!" Rita said, "I will give you information
about Albus Dumbledore you didn't see in my
last book. Of course, it will have to do with the
Second War. In fact, who do you think was
involved in the good side of the war? When the
Ministry was taken over by Voldemort and his
supporters, who fought against them?"

"Albus Dumbledore was dead by then," I said.

"You are absolutely right," Rita said, "But he
wasn't the only man who fought for the good
side."

"Oh," I said, "You are talking about the Order
of the Phoenix ."

"Yes," Rita, "And that is all I will say about that
right now."

"Many may say that the Second War isn't over,"
I said, "But with supporters, there are also
opposers of that belief. Those opposers say that
the war ended at the Battle of Hogwarts. Do you
say anything about that in your book?"

"Oh yes!" Rita said, "I have information the
the Ministry only dreams of. I will give you a
witness' first-hand look of the infamous Battle of
Hogwarts. They will tell their story of the good
and evil, life and death, and victory and loss of
the Battle of Hogwarts."

"Tantalizing!" I said, "What about the boy that
you briefly talked about in your last book? The boy
the Ministry deems the 'Hero of the Second War'.
Does he invade the pages of your book?

"I wouldn't call it an invasion," I said, "But he does
appear in the book. Of course, I couldn't get an
interview with him. But I didn't need to. My witness
saw the boy at the Battle of Hogwarts. Are the
rumors true that he single-handedly took down
Voldemort in a bloody and brutal battle? Maybe.
Was he the reason the Battle of Hogwarts started
and finished? Maybe."

"Intriguing," I said, "But this is what I want to know:
How did the boy beat Voldemort when no one else
could?"

"You'll have to wait for that until the book comes out,"
Rita said, "It will come out in mid-spring exclusively to
Flourish and Blott's shelves."

Unfortunately that is where the interview ended. I thank
Rita Skeeter for the interview and must say that I will
be first hand to buy the book when it comes out!

Hermione stared at the page in disbelief. How could Rita Skeeter obtain all of this information?

"Bloody... witch!" Hermione muttered.

She crumpled up the newspaper and threw it in the rubbish bin.

"That's where that rubbish belongs!" she said.

She stared at the crumpled up article. She then rolled her eyes and sighed.

"It's all lies, Hermione!" she said to herself, "That is all Rita does!"

She shook her head, annoyed, and got dressed.

For the next twenty minutes, she begun packing everything she would need at the Burrow. She put it all into the magically-extended purse she had used on the hunt for the Horcruxes. When she finished, she placed the gifts for Harry and the Weasleys inside, then walked out of the room and down to the bottom floor.

The Christmas decorations were still up all over the living room. They would be for a couple of weeks, as per Granger Family tradition. At least, Hermione hoped that the tradition would survive. Knowing the condition of her parents' memories, they would likely forget the tradition and take everything down that weekend. Hermione tried her best to completely fix her parents' memories. After Ron had left the house on Christmas Eve, Hermione had stayed up for three hours in her bedroom looking through her books for a spell or potion that would fix her parents' memories. She had hoped it would be the most special of all gifts she could give her parents for Christmas. Alas, she couldn't find a thing. It was the one of the first times in Hermione's life that a book had ever failed her.

Hermione walked into the kitchen. Richard was reading the Oxfordshire Oracle and Helen was making breakfast. Richard was wearing the white fleece sweater Hermione had given him for Christmas: yet another Granger Family tradition.

"Good morning, dear," Helen said, noticing Hermione walking in, "Are you hungry? We are having sugar-free apple cobbler."

Hermione smiled. Everything her mother cooked, as well as the candies she gave out for the holidays, was sugar-free. At least her mother hadn't forgotten that little detail.

"Sounds good," Hermione said.

"So when are you going to your friend's house?" Hermione asked.

"At eleven," Hermione said, "I am taking a bus to meet my friend somewhere."

Hermione and Ron had discussed how she would get to the Burrow. Even though she had to talked to them about it, Hermione didn't want to have to frighten her parents with the sight of their daughter vanishing into fire. So Hermione decided that she would take the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron. If Ron was at the Leaky Cauldron when she arrived, the Floo Network was up and running. If he wasn't there, the Floo Network wasn't running, Hermione would go to Eeylop's Owl Emporium and send a message to Mr. Weasley. He would take care of everything from there.

"I can take you," Richard said, "Your Mum and I don't go back to the office until next Monday."

"I will be fine," Hermione assured him.

--
At eleven-o-clock, Hermione hugged her parents and said goodbye to them. She also said goodbye to Crookshanks. She wouldn't be taking him along because of the way she was going to the Burrow. She walked out of the house and to the sidewalk. She made sure the street was clear of Muggles and raised her wand arm.

The Knight Bus appeared out of thin air and drove quickly down the street. It stopped noiselessly in front of Hermione. The back door opened and Stan walked out.

"You again, eh?" Stan asked.

"Yeah," Hermione said.

"Come in, then," Stan said, motioning to the bus.

Hermione walked onto the bus and Stan followed her. They walked up to the front of the bus. Here and there, a wizard or witch was sitting, looking quite flustered from the speed of the Knight Bus.

"Leaky Cauldron," Hermione said, paying him with wizard money.

Stan took the money and knocked on the glass window behind him. The bus sped off down the street. Hermione fell back into the seat behind her, while Stan at down easily in his seat. He picked up the Daily Prophet beside him and offered it to Hermione.

"No thanks," Hermione said, "Already looked at it."

"'Eard 'bout that 'oax?" Stan asked.

"Yeah," Hermione said, "And I didn't believe a word of it."

"'Bout the 'oax itself or the 'ole article?" Stan asked.

"The whole article," Hermione said, "If you ask me, it is complete rubbish."

"Don't believe what they 'ave to say, do ye?" Stan asked.

"Oh, I believe it," Hermione said, "I just don't think the thing should have been written. We're lucky the Death Eaters didn't attack yesterday."

"Smart, ye are!" Stan said, "Keep talkin' like tha', and you could be the Minister one o' these days!"

"No, thank you," Hermione said.

"Don't like the Ministry of Magic, do ye now?" Stan asked.

"I don't like some of their beliefs," Hermione said.

"'At's just it!" Stan said, "Rumor I been 'earin' is 'at the Ministry didn' want this article posted. What'choo say to 'at?"

"They could have stopped the Daily Prophet if that was true," Hermione said.

"Not if they didn' know 'bout it," Stan said, "Even the Minister 'imself didn' know 'bout it until 'e read it in the paper with 'is own two eyes. 'At's the rumor at least!"

"The Daily Prophet's corrupt," Hermione said, "Always have been!"

"'Eard that, Ern?" Stan said, looking at the driver's direction and laughing, "Daily Prophet's corrupt."

Stan turned back to Hermione and lifted the paper.

"Let's jus' see what the corrupt Daily Prophet has to say, then!" he said.

He sniffed and started reading through the Daily Prophet. He turned to a page and his eyes went wide.

"Oi! Ern!" he said, pressing the page against the window, "Lookie here! Rita Skeeter! Looks like she's got a new book!"

"Don't interrupt me while I am driving!" Ernie grumbled.

Stan laughed and turned back around.

"Ol' Ern fancies Rita Skeeter," Stan said to Hermione, "'At right, Ern? Yeah. Big fan of the ol' witch! In fact…"

He lowered his voice.

"I'll tell you a secret," he whispered, "Ernie only likes Rita cause of 'er 'air. 'As a thing for blonde women. What 'e doesn't know though, is 'at 'er 'air is a wig!"

Ernie grunted.

"'Ow do you know it ain't a wig?! "Stan asked Ern.

"How do you know it is?" Hermione asked him.

Stan looked at her and shrugged.

"So how can you say it is a wig?" Hermione asked.

"What'choo care?" Stan asked, "I suppose you're also a fan of 'ol Skeeter, eh?!"

"No!" Hermione scoffed, "Never liked her. She tells lies about my friends."

Stan stared at Hermione, then grinned.

"I thought I knew you!" he said, laughing, "You're 'Arry Potter's friend, right?"

"Yeah," Hermione said, slowly.

"'Ear 'at, Ern?" Stan said, laughing, "This is 'Arry Potter's friend! So, missy. What is 'Arry doing these days?"

"Why do you want to know?" Hermione asked.

"Jus' wondering!" Stan said, "Don' take no offense! It jus' seems 'e 'as been skirting 'round the questions 'bout 'is participation in the war. 'E did participate. 'E was the target of You-Know-Who himself."

"Read Rita Skeeter's new book," Hermione said, "I am sure you will learn some of it from her."

"Rita interviewed 'Arry?" Stan asked.

"No!" Hermione said, "Harry hates Rita."

"'At's what I thought," Stan said, "After those incidents wi' the Triwizard Tournament. Now I come to think on it, you were in the midst o' those articles of ol' Rita's!"

Hermione scoffed.

"Don't remind me of that rubbish, please!" she said.

"We got a celebrity on our bus, Ern!" Stan said.

Hermione rolled her eyes, annoyed. Stan laughed and started to read the article. Twenty minutes later, the Knight Bus arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Bye friend o' 'Arry Potter!" Stan yelled as Hermione walked off the bus, "Give 'im greetings from an ol' friend!"

Hermione scoffed. Old friend. Right. Wouldn't Stan like to know just what his "ol' friend" almost did to him the night of Mad-Eye Moody's death?

"I should have told him all about it," Hermione said, "Would have shut that mouth of his!"

Hermione walked into the Leaky Cauldron. She found Ron sitting at the bar. He was drinking from a brown bottle. Hermione walked over to him and cleared her throat. Ron turned around, surprised, and sloshed his drink down his front. Hermione looked at the label. She couldn't see any words, but saw orange fire on it.

"Enjoying that Firewhiskey, Ron?" Hermione asked.

"It's not Firewhiskey!" Ron said, "Honest!"

"I suppose butterbeer has a new label then?" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

Ron sighed.

"Fine," Ron said, "But I've only had one."

"Relax," Hermione said, "You're of age now. I'll let you have one."

"Great!" Ron said, turning to the bar, "Oi! Tom! Another one, please!"

"Oh no, you don't!" Hermione said, taking his hand and pulling him off the stool.

"Aw, come on!" Ron whined.

"Didn't your mum ever tell you not to drink and Floo!" Hermione asked, "Because that is exactly what you are going to do. Speaking of… does your Mum know about this?"

"You won't tell her, will you?" Ron asked, in a worried tone.

"Not if we go… now!" Hermione said.

"Why do you want to go so fast?" Ron asked, "Can't we just spend time here? It'll be like a date."

Hermione sighed. She thought for a moment. She then grinned.

"I got Christmas presents I want to hand out to everyone," she said, "That includes you. Let's go."

"Fine," Ron said, "Where is your stuff?"

Hermione lifted up the small purse.

"That's all?" Ron asked, "Oh! Wait… it's… uh… that purse thing!"

"Yeah," Hermione said.

"Good idea!" Ron said.

Hermione and Ron walked over to the fireplace. Ron took out the bag of Floo Powder and gave her some. Hermione took out her wand and pointed it at the purse. She muttered an incantation and the purse disappeared.

"It's at the Burrow now," Hermione said, to Ron's astonishment.

"You know that spell?" Ron asked.

"It's was on the N.E.W.T exams," Hermione said.

"Oh… yeah… right!" Ron said.

Hermione shook her head and walked into the fireplace.

"The Burrow!" she said, dropping the green powder.

Hermione started spinning and her feet left the ground. She tucked in her shoulders and closed her eyes. She never liked this way of traveling but it was the easiest way to get to the Burrow other than Apparation.

A few seconds later, her feet reached solid ground. She walked away, coughing and spluttering in the smoke and ash. She heard a shriek and took out her wand.

"Hello?" Hermione asked.

A few moments later, she heard coughing. Ron had arrived.

"Ron, stay there!" Hermione said, "I heard someone scream!"

"Actually it was probably a shriek," Ron said, sniggering.

"What?" Hermione asked, "Oh, this is rubbish!"

She cleared the smoke and dust using magic. Suddenly, she saw a large bird coming at her, and she ducked.

"Frederique!" a woman's voice said, "Get over here! Don't scare her! She's a friend!"

Hermione looked up. Ginny was walking down the stairs. The large bird flew over to Ginny and landed on her arm.

"What in the bloody hell is that?!" Hermione asked.

"That would be Frederique," Ginny said, "Bill and Fleur's Christmas gift to the family."

"He's evil!" Hermione said, "Bloody thing almost beheaded me!"

"See Ginny?" a voice said, "Someone else agrees with me."

Harry walked down the stairs.

"He's not evil," Ginny said, "He's cool!"

"Hermione! Welcome!" Mrs. Weasley said, walking into the room, "I am glad you could find a way to get here. We missed you last night."

"I am sorry I couldn't be here, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said.

"Don't worry," Mrs. Weasley said, "It was quite eventful."

"Really?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said, "It turns out that were are going to have not just one, but two more additions to the family this spring. Fleur will be having her baby in the spring, of course. But George announced that he will be marrying Angelina Johnson around then as well!"

"That's great!" Hermione said.

"Yes, we're all quite happy about it," Mrs. Weasley said.

Hermione finally saw her purse sitting next to the fireplace. She walked over and picked it up.

"I have gifts for all of you," Hermione said.

She looked inside the bag and sighed.

"Unfortunately, you will have to wait," she said, "They got lost in here during the trip."

"How can you lose anything in there?" Ginny asked, "Not to mention how the gifts can actually fit in there!"

"The bag is magically-extendable," Ron explained, "You could probably fit in there."

"Oh!" Ginny said, "I'm jealous! Those purses are wicked!"

"Well maybe you should unpack," Mrs. Weasley suggested, "And you will find the gifts in the process. I am making lunch. After we eat, we can open the presents. We have some for you around here somewhere. Ginny, can I get some help with lunch?"

Hermione nodded and walked up the stairs with Harry and Ron.

"Have you read today's Daily Prophet?" Hermione asked.

"First thing this morning," Harry said, "Expected to see news about a Death Eater attack."

"I did too," Hermione said.

"So you didn't believe the hoax article either?" Ron asked.

"Oh, I believed it," Hermione said, "I just couldn't believe they would put it in the Daily Prophet."

"Exactly what I said," Harry said.

"Did you read the article about Rita's new book?" Hermione asked.

"Only the first few lines," Harry said, "Just to make sure it wasn't about me."

"Parts of it is about you, Harry!" Hermione said, "Rita said she wrote about what her witness saw in the Battle of Hogwarts. And she said that he saw the boy they call 'The Hero of the Second War'. That's you!"

"So?" Harry asked, "I don't care what rubbish she writes!"

"Yeah!" Ron said, "Why? Do you?"

"No, it just confuses me," Hermione said, "She hinted that you were the reason the Battle of Hogwarts started. And that she had details about why you were able to kill Voldemort when no one else could. How could she know?"

"Maybe she made her information up?" Harry asked.

"What if she didn't?" Hermione asked.

"So what?" Harry asked, "Let it get out. It's not a big secret anymore! If she has written the truth, it just means I don't have to say anything about it! Which I won't anyway!"

"Hear, hear!" Ron said.

"I agree too, okay?" Hermione said, "I just don't like the fact that Rita has all this information, and that she is using your name in the book."

"She used my name in her last book," Harry said, "Really. I don't care. It's nothing I worry about."

"And if she writes a book about you?" Hermione asked.

"I will deal with it when the time comes," Harry said, "For now, I just want to live my life."

Hermione sighed. She knew she couldn't win this argument. She put her things away in Ginny's room. It took her about ten minutes to get all of the gifts out. After lunch, she handed them out and got gifts as well.

--
Chapter Finished! Sorry for the weak ending. I am rubbish with presents. I hope you could read Stan's dialogue. His accent is weird! Next will definitely be with the Malfoys and Death Eaters. Not sure when it will be up!

Feedback would be great!