This is written for the Round 11 on Quidditch League, Chaser 2 Wasps. This round, it's all about seasons. My task is to write about either a death on a summer's day or a birth on a winter night. I chose death on a summer's day. My optional prompts are (dialogue) You can't start a new chapter of your life if you keep rereading the last one, (sound) sobbing, and (song) Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran. I have a great idea for this one, so let's get started! Also, AU notice!
Hermione was going to the Weasleys the next day, and would be staying with them for the last week of summer break before Hogwarts started back.
"Hermione, dear!" her mother called up the stairs. "Come and have your tea!"
"Coming, Mum!" Hermione called down the steps. She left her bedroom, taking a last glance at the Daily Prophet issue laying on her bed. It was an article about how Harry had been right when he'd said that Voldemort had returned.
Of course, it made sense. Now that it couldn't be denied, everyone was trying to make up for thinking he was losing his mind. It infuriated her but, unfortunately, that was how the world worked.
Hermione entered the living room, where her mother was setting a teakettle on the center table. Some biscuits, plates, and teacups were already set out, as well as sugar and other condiments. Her father was sitting in an armchair holding a newspaper in front of his face. Hermione could read the headline: Millennium Bridge Collapse Blamed on Faulty Cables. A lie, Hermione was certain. It was most likely that the collapse had not been accidental, but the work of Death Eaters. That was only the latest of a series of fear-inducing occurrences, not the least of which were the many disappearances and deaths all around England.
"Hermione, darling," her father said, laying the newspaper down. "I'm starting to worry about you going back to Hogwarts."
"We've already talked about this, Dad," Hermione said. She had no problem talking to her parents like this. They were almost completely ignorant when it came to the world of magic. "Hogwarts is the safest place for me now. I'll be at the Weasley's for a week. You've met them, they're good people. And then I'll be at Hogwarts, where Dumbledore is. Hogwarts is superbly safe as long as Dumbledore's there."
Hermione had told her parents all about Dumbledore. How he was the one person Voldemort ever feared, a very powerful wizard, and one of the people she trusted most, after Harry, the Weasleys, and her parents. Hogwarts was definitely the safest place for her to be.
"I don't like all those attacks," Mrs. Granger murmured. "What if they decide to attack Hogwarts?"
"They're powerful people, but they're not stupid enough to attack the school while Dumbledore's there. The bridge, and all the kidnappings, they were executed by them. They're crazy, but not that crazy."
"You're certain you'll be safe?" Mr. Granger questioned.
"Yes, Dad," Hermione said. "As long as Dumbledore's there, I'm perfectly safe. Don't worry."
"We can't help it, dear," Mrs. Granger said, smiling at her daughter. "You're our daughter. We worry about you."
Tea was soon over and done, and Hermione, having nothing to do, decided to take a walk and see if she could find anything interesting to do until dinner.
Arriving at the nearby park, Hermione sat on a swing. It was a favorite pastime of hers. She could observe the other park-goers and think about being normal. Normal had never been an option for Hermione, though.
Surprising her, hands covered her eyes. "Guess who," a boy's voice said.
"Let's see," Hermione said, laughing. She knew very well who it was, but she loved to tease him. "Mum?"
"I don't think so," he said, a laugh in his tone. "Guess again, young lady."
"Is it… Mr. Walker?" Hermione asked, referring to the old man around the corner who was always spying on everyone.
"You wound me," the boy's voice said. He came around in front of her. "Can't even recognize your own best friend?"
Hermione recognized the "All-American boy" looks of her best Muggle friend, Andrew. They'd been friends ever since they were six. He had broken his leg running from his brother and a couple of his friends. Hermione had helped him after he rolled down the hill behind the school. Since then, they had told each other everything… up until they were eleven. That was when Hermione had gotten her Hogwarts letter, when she'd had to start keeping secrets, even from her best friend. She couldn't break the Statute of Secrecy.
"You know you love it," Hermione laughed. Andrew could make Hermione laugh even when she was in an extremely bleak mood. "What's up?"
"My parents asked you over for dinner," Andrew said, grinning. "They wanted to say hello before you go back to London."
Like all the many other times he mentioned her school, she wanted to spill everything. She hated to lie to him, but it was necessary.
"All right," Hermione said. "Let me just go and let Mum and Dad know where I'll be."
Hermione jumped down off the swing, and her wand fell out of her pocket. Andrew picked it up and examined it. "Neat," he said. "Where did you get it?"
"Er-" Hermione faltered. "It's a good luck charm. I keep it in case those crazy people on the news every try anything on me. It might keep me safe."
Andrew raised his eyebrows. "'Mione, I know when you're lying. You've not gotten any better at it over the years. Tell me the truth, and I won't think you're crazy."
"No, I am almost certain that you will think I'm crazy," Hermione said. But she'd done herself in. She couldn't keep it from him anymore. "I'm not supposed to tell you."
"But we're best friends," Andrew said. "What's so bad about it that you can't tell your best friend?"
"It's not bad," Hermione admitted. "It's just… sort of against the law."
Andrew laughed and said, "Hermione Granger, resident good-girl, break the law? All right, you don't have to tell me. If the law changes, though, feel free to let me know."
Hermione shook her head at him. "You'll be the first to know." For a moment, they were silent. Then, Hermione said, "Want to come with me to ask for tonight?."
"Sure," Andrew agreed. "Let's go. I can't wait to see Bryan and Rose."
So they got up and left the park, heading back towards Hermione's house. She knew something was wrong as soon as she walked up the sidewalk.
"Your door isn't supposed to be open, is it?" Andrew asked, giving the door a perplexed look. Hermione shook her head. She had a feeling she knew what happened, but she couldn't let Andrew get involved.
"Andrew, go and get some help," she told him. "I'll investigate and see what's happened."
"Does this have something to do with your mysterious secret?" Hermione nodded. "Explain, quickly, and then we'll investigate together."
Sighing, Hermione gave in, taking out her wand. "This is a magic wand. I was born a witch. That's why I'm gone during the school year. I don't go to a fancy girls' preparatory school in London. I go to a magic school in Scotland. My friend there, Harry Potter, is a famous wizard. There's a Dark wizard who wants to kill him, and he wouldn't mind killing me either. He probably had someone come here to kill me, and they're probably inside."
Instead of saying she was crazy and running away, Andrew simply took the information in. "I guess that explains all the trouble you used to get in when we were kids. Was that magic?"
"Yes, it was," Hermione confirmed. "Magical children always have trouble controlling their magic, and I was no different. You don't think I'm crazy?"
"I believe you," he told her. "Now, let's go see who's after you."
Hermione agreed, and they went up the stairs and into the house. Immediately, her heart began to race. The house was in ruins, glass and broken wood everywhere. "Whoa." Andrew was taken aback by the damage. "These guys mean business. Let's find your mum and dad."
"Andrew." Hermione was now scared. "If one of them is here… I want you to run. I don't want you to get hurt. They won't hesitate to kill you." As she saw him nod, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
They continued throughout the house, taking in the damage. Everything that could have been destroyed was destroyed.
"Mione..."
From the sound, Hermione could tell he'd found something that was either really bad or interesting. She hurried over to where he was, and saw what he saw.
Two forms lay on the ground, unmoving.
"Mum…" Hermione was not really surprised, but it still hurt. "Dad…"
"Check for a pulse," Andrew reminded her. "They might not be dead. Just unconscious."
Clinging on to a last shred of hope, Hermione knelt beside her father, taking his wrist, which was cool to touch, and feeling for a beat. The only thing she felt was her own heartbeat. It pounded out a rhythm that seemed strangely appropriate. Moving on to her mother, the same thing happened. "No pulse."
And Hermione let herself feel what happened. Kneeling between the bodies of her dead parents, Hermione began sobbing. She was now an orphan, and her parents had been killed by someone she didn't even know.
