Chapter 52: A Place Between Worry And Want

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers Enjoy -S.S

Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Hermione Jean Granger could hardly contain herself as she paced the floor of the girls dormatory unable to get her mind off the horrendous turn of events. She'd been so preoccupied by her feelings and the fragments of her past that she had not taken the time to consider what had been happening in the present. Her parents, well the only parents she had ever known were in very real danger and there was no telling what the twisted despot Voldemort had been plotting for any and all muggles unfortunate enough to cross his path. Harry himself had been rather worried about his Aunt and Uncle, Dudley...not so much but he had not wanted "Big D" to parish at the hands of Voldemort. His stress level increased significantly in the wake of the meeting. Ron had been the same, as he had no true attachment to the muggle world and worried constantly about his own family running a foul of the despot given their vast reach in the same circles as some of his death eaters. Sirius Black's threats and the looming war had begun to take their toll on Hermione as she found herself more exhausted than she'd ever been.

The fragmented memories of a pregnancy long forgotten had come flooding back as fear gripped her.

She recalled feeling such fear before.

The day the cauldron exploded in Professor Slughorn's classroom.

She had been terrified about the baby, her unborn little boy. She had an inkling about the child's sex and had done some investigating when she had been proven correct she'd rushed to inform Severus whom had been attending class at the time. They had such high hopes for the baby, and how they were going to shower him with all the love that they never had as children growing up in Cokeworth. Hermione sighed recalling just how much turmoil she and Severus had left behind. Her aunt always unpleasant and nasty to her due to her magical ablities. She'd been a right mean drunk as well, but never so bold as to strike her for she feared her niece's wrath as much as her new found magical ablities.

Of what she knew of John and Jean Granger, they had been as good to her as natural parents and never spoke of or hinted at her being adopted. She supposed it was how she ended up with magical blood and they were simply muggles. Still, they had supported her every step of the way and even seemed proud of the young woman she had become. Truth be told, she couldn't have asked for better parents, and as her memories have indicated, she use to often wish for decent people like them to have taken her in, in place of her drunken Aunt.

A chill filled the air as Hermione made her way toward the nearby window.

Dumbledore decreed everyone return to Hogwarts due to the increase in danger and he forbid anyone from leaving for the holidays in connection with the order. Hermione had hoped to at least visit with her parents and perhaps spend more time with her new found husband but that seemed to be off the table with this latest round of concerns. Professor McGonagall had not been too keen on anyone roaming the halls with the children of death eaters still among them in Slytherin house.

Her lack of trust in the other students had been startling at first but given the severity of the situation, Hermione had been grateful for the protection.

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The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Using her fork to shovel food from one side of her plate to another, Hermione had been lost in thought by the time she noticed that most of her fellow Gryffindors had been looking at her. Harry had been the first to speak as she'd hardly eaten a thing since they returned from his godfather's house. Ron was stuffing his face as per the usual despite the lingering effects of the awful news they had recieved earlier in the day. Harry managed to eat half his meal before his thoughts too turned to sadness and worry.

"It'll be alright, Mione." he said attempting to reassure them both. "I'm sure Dumbledore has this matter well in hand."

Hermione sighed finally giving up the charade of attempting to enjoy her meal when she'd been sick with worry.

"I'd love to believe that." she replied. "But...I can't seem to forget what he described happened to that town and all those poor people."

"Well you have to eat something Mione, if only to keep your strength up." said Ron biting into a buttered roll.

Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes at his savage eating display.

"How can you eat at a time like this?" she asked unable to hide her annoyance with the red head wizard.

"I don't know." replied Ron chewing with his mouth open. "I always eat when I'm hungry."

Turning her attention elsewhere lest she hex him entirely, Hermione found herself looking up at the staff table. There had been no sign of Snape since they had last seen him take off from Sirius Black's manor. He had been put to work in finding as much information out about whomever was leading these vicious attacks on muggle towns and that meant he'd been right back into the thick of it with the despot again and that further worried Hermione. She didn't know how long he'd be gone or what the despot would either do to him or force him to do for that matter. It had all been very touch and go in terms of how everyone was dealing with this new information and fear was beginning to set in.

From the looks on the faces of the other adults, these new attacks had been different from the first war and more brutal in nature. The sheer volume suggested that the towns were chosen for their relative size and there fore increased the impact when wipped out. Briefly Hermione thought of her own home in the muggle world and the potential for it to be reduced to a smoking crator of black smoke and ash as well. Cokeworth came to mind and the house she'd shared with her husband. They had just found each other again and to lose him now would be devistating. Hermione turned her attention back to her plate not wishing to bring attention to the tears that were forming within the wells of her amber eyes.

"He's got to be alright." she thought. "Please...for Merlin's sake let him be alright."