TW: minor character death

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Dinner was a solemn affair. Everyone was still reeling from Cedric's death and Harry's announcement at the beginning of the summer. Everyone was drowning in a sea of grief since Cedric's death was still fresh on their mind.

As Molly set down the last of the food items on the table, Everyone watched Harry leave to go upstairs. He was thankful that Molly didn't intervene and force him to stay. Hermione noticed Ginny's eyes linger towards Harry as he rushed up the steps. Hermione sighed as she watched Harry go up the stairs. It seemed that Cedric's death was the hardest for Harry. She wondered if he'll ever overcome whatever he was feeling inside.

The table was full of meals that Mrs. Weasley had made. It was an overwhelming amount of food for Hermione to look at. There was roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and many other vegetables. The savory richness of the meal was surrounding them while they were eating.

As Arthur was passing the mashed potatoes around the dish fell on the table. He narrowed his eyes, an eerie look on such a usually jovial man. He looked around the house for any sign of an intruder. Maybe he was just being too paranoid, even so, he had a look of unease.

"Dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking concerned at her husband.

Arthur jumped when he heard his wife's voice. "I thought I heard -"

The glass window imploded around them, sending shrapnel flying at the dinner table.. "Everyone down on the ground, now!" Arthur yelled.

Molly suddenly realized they were missing a person and looked up at Arthur worriedly.

And she was right to be as Harry rushed downstairs in surprise. He was about to step down the last set of stairs when Arthur shouted "Don't move!"

"What's going on?" Harry asked, frozen in place.

"Come out Potter! Or I'll burn the whole rats nest to the ground, and it'll be all your fault!"

The unmistakable screech of Bellatrix LeStrange Rushed down Hermione's spine warning of danger.

She watched in horror as Harry rushed outside to face the maniac.

"Harry!" Ginny yelled as she rushed after him.

"Ginny, no!" Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley yelled for her and rushed out of the house.

As a precaution, everyone followed one another outside to keep the children safe.

"Had a nice little chat with one of your piglets. The swine kindly gave us the location of your pig pen," Bellatrix cackled as she was shooting spells around the house.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry bellowed.

Bellatrix popped out of existence and then reappeared. They worked tirelessly while dueling Bellatrix.

As the battle went on outside the house, Arthur took charge of the other kids. While the battle was still raging, he grabbed Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron to safety. However, there was nowhere to hide. As soon as he saw the battle scene, Bill rushed to help.

"Do you want to play, bitty baby Potter?" The Fiend Fire spell exploded out of control as Bellatrix shouted at him. Luckily, everyone was outside before The Fiend Fire reached the house. Knowing Bellatrix Lestrange, she couldn't care less what happened to her adversaries.

As Bellatrix uttered the curse incarnation, she cackled as Bill fell to the ground, but George rushed over and blocked the curse, taking the hit. George fell to the ground and Fred was about to go after him, but Arthur was holding onto him tightly

It was no use however, Fred loosened his grasp and rushed over towards his twin in a hurry. Arthur followed behind him, without thinking.

"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley's ears were ringing and her mind was full of disbelief at what she had just seen and heard. She saw Bellatrix raise her wand and there was a flash of green light. She paused, a grin creeping onto her face.

"Good enough I suppose," she mused before popping out of existence just as Fred's stunner would have hit.

All of a sudden they heard a wailing scream from their mother. Fred's eyes went wide as he looked in that direction. Time seemed to slow as the scene unfolded, Fred powerless to stop it. He caught his father's eyes just as the last of the light faded from them. He remembered the same eyes that held him as a baby, twinkling in mirth at his jokes. Now his father's eyes were going dark and felt like the sun was disappearing, leaving nothing but a dark rage as his father's body hit the ground.

After hearing his mother's scream, Fred had lost it, unable to watch her grieve as he turned his attention to revenge.

Fred shrieked with fury as he rushed in the direction of Bellatrix. shots of magic were flying through the air from each of their wands.

As he was about to get hit by one of Bellatrix's curses, George came behind him, and he jumped in front of Fred in order to save his twin brother. Little did he know, George was hit by the spell. George fell to the ground and Fred rushed over.

It was then that Bellatrix nearly landed a spell on Fred this time, but Harry rushed over towards Fred and shielded them. She wickedly smiled at all of them and apparated out of what used to be their home. Everyone was distraught with what happened.

Fred was torn between going to his own brother and to his father's corpse. It was a harsh reality for them to deal with. He whimpered while watching their father die. Not knowing what to do next, he heard his brother say. "You go on to dad, I'll be fine," George said as if he had a lump in his throat.

—

Later that day, Dumbledore came in and offered his condolences along with the support of the Order.

"While Grimmauld Place is no home," Dumbledore had claimed. "Your family has a talent of making anywhere feel like one, it is yours to use as long as there is need." Sirius smiled with that suggestion and nodded as he patted his godson on his back affectionately.

Harry looked up at his godfather and smiled softly. He looked at Ron and offered to share a room with him and with that, everyone was off to pick their own rooms.

After the meeting Dumbledore pulled Hermione aside, explaining with a shaky voice, what had been one of the hardest decisions in her young life. When her voice hitched on the word 'oblivated' he patted her shoulder softly.

"It is a sad day when children must protect their parents and not the other way around." Dumbledore mused. "While it may have hurt terribly, I think that after tonight your caution was warranted. I will ensure they exit the country safely."

"But sir, I can have my parents stay somewhere else where the Death Eaters can't find them. Why can't I use the same spell that Harry's mum used?" Hermione protested.

Dumbledore looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm sorry but I don't think it would be enough."

While Ginny was having some alone time with Harry, Hermione finally took the time to let the impact of her decision hit her. It had been a sharp stabbing pain she had pushed away under the losses of the night but now, not roared to the front with a vengeance. After wiping her tears, she picked up her favorite book to distract herself. Hermione became so engrossed in her book that she didn't notice the knocking on the door. Researching helped ease her since she didn't know much about the spell.

Crookshanks jumped on her lap and then looked at her with a pointed look.

"What do you want, Crooks? I had no other option!" Hermione huffed.

Crookshanks licked her paw as if he was bored. She rolled her eyes.

Hermione jumped and dropped her book. Crookshanks skittered off the bed after hearing the knock. Looking over at the door frame, she saw none other than Fred Weasley standing in front of her. Aside from Molly, she was one of the only ones who could tell the twins apart easily.

She smiled and looked up at him, "Fred," she said and nodded. "H-How's George?"

When Fred noticed the book on the floor, he sank his knees down to the floor to pick up the book and read it. "He's fine," he said nonchalantly and sat down next to her. He paused to look at her, "are you okay?" He gave her back the book.

Hermione raised her right eyebrow at him with a confused look. "Why wouldn't I be?" She brought her books towards her chest as if protecting it.

Fred raised his right eyebrow.

As realization hit her, she sighed. "Eavesdropping? Honestly, do you have any decency?" She hissed and finally placed the book roughly on her nightstand.

Fred shrugged his shoulders.

Hermione frowned, "you shouldn't be asking me about my parents. I should be asking about yours. How are you?" She was sniffling as if she was about to cry.

"Just don't, no more crying, I've had enough of that from everyone in this dark and dusty place," Fred looked away from her, but she placed her hand on his shoulder to get him to look at her.

"Fred, I -" Hermione leaned forward to hug him tightly as if she was on the verge of breaking down again, but she heard someone clear his throat. They jump apart at the intrusion, turning to the door.

"Dinner is ready," he said, glaring at Fred, not even acknowledging Hermione.

When Ron left, she was about to get up from the bed when Fred leaned gently, grabbed her waist and hugged her again tightly. "Just know that I am always here if you need a shoulder to cry on."

"Open up! Please! Open up!" Said a voice at the front door as both Hermione and Fred finally arrived downstairs.

"What's all this racket!" Molly yelled with wide eyes.

"Stay back all of you!" Dumbledore yelled and helped out his wand to point at the door.

As he opened the door another redhead came inside soaking wet.

"Percy!" Molly screamed with panic as she rushed over to the second eldest Weasley.

"Breeding Program!" He wheezed, he glanced at everyone for a few seconds then fainted.

Hermione looked at Fred with wide eyes and a worried expression.

Percy had fainted and all chaos began in number twelve Grimmauld Place. Dumbledor was the first to act, insisting everyone calm down as he levitated Percy up the stairs to the nearest room.

"Children, go to your rooms. The rest of you, send out patronus to the Order. Emergency meeting. Go."

Hermione glanced at Fred but was then ushered away by Mrs. Wealsey, herded up the stairs with the other children.

Later that night her head spun as she lay in bed, replaying the scene. She couldn't be hearing this correctly, could she? What was a 'breeding program'? Like for dogs? Or cattle? Was Voldemort making some kind of magical Monster?

Who said it was a beast at all? She shivered at the thought and lay down on the bed and drifted off to sleep.