Chapter 14

Hermione had slept a full day and night since returning to the Burrow, and Fred refused to leave her side the entire time. Molly tried to compromise by putting her in the twins' bedroom so he could sleep in the bed next to hers. Fred ignored this and ended up with a horrible crick in his neck from the odd angle he'd fallen asleep in from the chair next to Hermione's bed.

Once Hermione did wake up Fred began barking at anyone who came too close to her until she politely explained to him that if he didn't stop she would hex him herself. Fred grumbled a bit but did as she asked. George was quick to comment that Fred really should never look to a career in healing, he had a horrible bedside manner.

Fred had just settled Hermione on the sofa in the sitting room, it was George's suggestion that a change of scenery might be nice, when an odd voice was heard from the kitchen.

"Is that Professor McGonagall?" Hermione asked with a large smile.

"Miss Granger, how are you feeling?" Professor McGonagall asked walking into the room.

"I'm fine, really," Hermione said.

"Don't lie, she won't take any pain potion and her back has got to be killing her," Fred said, rolling his eyes at Hermione.

"Well, I've brought Poppy with me to take a look at you. Unfortunately I am here in an official capacity from the Order. If you're up to it, we really do need an account of what happened. The Death Eaters we have in custody are not very forthcoming."

"It was really strange, it was as if Professor Snape was trying to help me," Hermione said as Madame Pomfrey rubbed a salve of some sort on the wounds down her back. She had explained everything that had happened since Nick showed up at her front door. "I'm certain he knew it was my wand holding my hair up and he looked, I don't know, almost impressed when he saw what had happened to Greyback."

"That is interesting," Professor McGonagall said and left it at that for now.

"Well, that's me all finished, my dear," Madame Pomfrey cut in. "I'll leave this salve here, there's plenty left to do you. Just a thin layer every morning and evening with clean dressings. I'm afraid it won't help with the scarring, cursed wounds and all that, but it will speed up the healing. Minerva, I am going to get back to the school before I'm missed, I'm meant to be readying the hospital wing for beginning of term."

"Thank you Madame Pomfrey. Also, Professor, before you go, I think you should talk to Kingsley. I have a bad feeling about the way Greyback was talking, saying that I was a 'good choice' I could be wrong, but I feel like he has some plans of his own," Hermione said.

"I've already spoken with Kingsley," Mr. Weasley said quietly from the doorway. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Poppy just sent us in on her way out."

"That's okay." Hermione smiled at him, Charlie and Jake as they found their own seats around the sitting room. "What was Kingley saying?"

"He was commenting on Greyback's, well, 'hunting habits' I guess you could say. Greyback seems to have been biting more and more witches and wizards for the past few months, but he is being quiet about it so it's a bit worrying. The moon is tomorrow night so we are working hard to find him before then.

The Death Eaters we've captured didn't even know he was in the house. All any of them have to say is that they remember Snape telling them it was a low stakes mission, a very small chance of attack. They didn't even know what or who they were guarding."

"I thought they were a bit easy to overpower," Charlie said.

"No joke, the only resistance we met was when the wolf put me on my ass. I'm still catching hell on that by the way. I'm supposed to admit you are far superior, ma'am," Jake said with a wink to Hermione.

"Hermione is far superior to most of us," Fred said with a small smile.

"Miss Granger, would you be up to a bit of fresh air? I have one more matter to discuss and it would be best to have Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley's opinion on the matter as well," Professor McGonagall asked.

"Of course," Hermione said standing up slowly. "Oh Fred, my legs are just fine. I'll be back in just a few minutes."

Hermione followed Professor McGonagall out of the house through the small garden to where Harry and Ron were tending their broomsticks before a bit of flying. The short walk had tired Hermione out more than she liked to admit but waved off the worried looks from Harry and Ron.

"Hello Professor," Harry said, ignoring Hermione's brush off and bringing an old wooden box over for her to sit on.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, I was hoping to have a moment of your time. As I am sure you are aware, there have been whispers of You-Know-Who's influence gaining momentum within the Ministry, especially as it pertains to muggle-born witches and wizards. Now, Professors Flitwick, Sprout and myself, being educators, can hardly be seen dissuading any student from attending Hogwarts. However, communication between peers would hardly be strange at all, and if a muggle-born or even muggle-raised student felt the desire to use muggle means of communication, well that is just of very little import to the ministry, would you say?"

"You know Professor, I was just going to sit down and finish up a bit of correspondence. Unfortunately I seem to have misplaced my address book, you wouldn't happen to have a list of addresses I could borrow," Hermione said, smiling.

"As it just so happens, Miss Granger, I do," Professor McGonagall said with a small twitch of her mouth. She pulled a rolled up bit of parchment from inside of her robes and handed it to Hermione, before bidding them goodbye.

"Well boys, it looks like we have some letter writing to do," Hermione said with a smile.

Harry smiled back and chuckled a bit at the sad look on Ron's face before helping Hermione up from the box. Both Harry and Ron took one of Hermione's arm and walked her back to the house slowly.

….

"The Smiths would like to meet with you, when you feel up to it. They want to apologize, they had no idea what Nick was doing. They're devastated," George told her later that afternoon as she was duplicating a letter she'd written for all of the muggle-born students on Professor McGonagall's list.

"I know they had nothing to do with it, they have nothing to apologize for," Hermione told him.

"Sometimes people need to say things for themselves just as much as for the other person," Fred said from where he was laying on his bed on the other side of the room.

"I reckon they are just looking for closure, answers maybe. They didn't see much, but enough. Remus is staying with them now, they are meeting with the muggle Aurors. They've agreed to file a report for a home invasion," George said.

"They haven't been obliviated?" Hermione asked surprised. "I thought that would be the first thing to happen."

"Remus gave them the option. They asked to be able to speak to you first," George informed her.

"Oh," Hermione said quietly, she was thankful for the comforting hand Fred put on her shoulder. "Well, anytime is fine with me. I'd really like it if you two would go with me. I'm not sure I wouldn't fall apart by myself."

"Of course, love. Anything you need," Fred told her and kissed her lightly on the temple.

A knock at the door made her jump and she tried to laugh it off. Fred and George shared a look between themselves but didn't say anything.

"Come in," Hermione called out.

"Hey Mione, we were just wondering if you wanted to work on those letters for Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked as he and Ron came in the room.

"She's already finished them, mate," Fred said rolling his eyes.

"If you lot want to discuss whatever mad scheme you're planning, just ask us to leave," George said.

"Fred, George, would you mind leaving so Harry, Ron and I could talk?" Hermione asked sweetly as Harry and Ron looked at each other uncomfortably.

"Come on, let's go find Charlie and Jake," George said before Fred could say what George thought he was going to say.

"Do they know anything?" Harry asked a bit aggressively once the door was shut and a silencing charm thrown at it.

"If you're asking if I've told them anything, of course not," Hermione said a bit angrily. "They aren't stupid. Just about everyone in this house know we are planning something. Why do you think Mrs. Weasley hasn't let the three of us in the same room for more than a minute and a half?"

"Right, sorry," Harry mumbled.

"So has the plan changed? You are still coming with us aren't you?" Ron asked trying to buffer the two of them.

"Of course I am. I think we should leave the day after the wedding, you'll be of age then, Harry, and I'll be completely healed. Plus it will be nice to have one last celebration with everyone before we're gone for who knows how long," Hermione said.

"I agree, I think it would break Mum's heart if we weren't here for that at least," Ron added.

"I guess that makes sense," Harry allowed.

"Harry, have you thought any more about telling Remus or Bill about them? I think it would be a huge asset to us for them to know. Even just Bill, he's so close to figuring out what the box is as it is. He's put it on the back burner at the moment, with the full moon tomorrow night, but he will figure it out eventually. I really think it could be one. We know for a fact already that it's dark magic of some sort, and it definitely was made by Voldemort. Besides who knows, he may know how to destroy them, he is a curse breaker after all," Hermione said.

"I'm still not sure, I don't think Dumbledore would have made such a big deal about not telling anyone else if it weren't important. If we can't figure out how to destroy them once we find the real locket we can decide then," Harry said, leaving very little room for a discussion.

"Mum said that if I find the three of you together I'm to make up some excuse to separate you. So, Ron, Luna would like to say goodbye, her dad gets home today. Mione, Fred wants to know if you want to come with them to watch Jake get his new tattoo, and Mum said that if you go then I can go, so you're going. And Harry, Fleur was looking for you. I think she wants to tell you gently that you aren't invited to her wedding, as you anyway, you'll have to use polyjuice potion," Ginny said, walking into the room without knocking.

"Your Mum is letting you leave the Burrow?" Harry asked incredulously, they had all been on a tight lockdown lately.

"Yeah, just cause Jake can talk Mum into just about anything," Ginny said with a small smile. "His dad's a muggle, so he does a lot of things the muggle way, so we're going to a muggle tattoo parlor."

"He's gonna get a wolf isn't he? I knew it," Ron said with a smile.

"Let's go, I need to change. Can I borrow something of yours Gin? Remus is going to be bringing my things in a couple days, after the moon," Hermione said.

"Of course, as smashing cute as you look in Fred's old quidditch jersey, it does come down to your knees," Ginny said with a laugh.

"Could you help me put this vest on," Hermione asked as Ginny closed the door to her bedroom.

"Blimey," Ginny said quietly as she turned to see that Hermione has removed Fred's jersey and saw the full extent of her back.

"Is it that bad?" Hermione asked turning her head to Ginny. "I haven't had the courage to really look yet. Fred said it wasn't so bad, but I think he was just being nice."

"It looks... like you are one of the strongest people I've ever met," Ginny said as she pulled the vest over Hermione's head.

"Come on now, how bad is it, I know you won't lie to me."

"It's probably as bad as Bill's, probably a bit deeper here at the top. Bloody hell Hermione, you are amazing."

"How am I amazing? I can't even look in a mirror," Hermione said quietly as she pulled a jumper from Ginny's wardrobe.

"Not only did you knock that monster on his arse, but you got out of that house. You are writing letters to save other muggle-borns from being targets, you can still laugh and joke. Say what you will, but that is certainly strength and courage and just pure amazingness."

"Thank you," Hermione said quietly, trying and failing to keep from crying.

"Don't thank me, that's all you. Now sit down and let me fix this mess of hair. You let Fred try and braid it didn't you? Don't ever do that again. Merlin's beard, I think the idiot just tied it up in knots."