Hermione excused herself at lunch wanting some time alone in the library. She is used to being an only child so it is hard being around large families or other siblings sometimes. And missing Bill's presence at number 12 didn't help, knowing she wouldn't see him now until Hogwarts. He'd left after breakfast, and it took everything in her to keep a straight face, to only keep the hug friendly, she knew he had trouble with that one also.
Over the next couple of weeks, they found the best time to communicate is in the evening when she's in the bathroom on her own, silencing charms are the best! Ginny had tried to get it out of her, but she failed miserably. Instead, she'd taken it upon herself to watch every wizard in the household to monitor their behaviour around her, Bill didn't like that much when she told him about it, but she finds it rather amusing, to be honest.
It is now the last Monday of August, and they'd all received their owls! She'd gotten her prefect badge and then felt really sad after she said she was going to owl her parents, only to remember she couldn't. Her sudden change of mood didn't go unnoticed and Mrs Weasley found her crying in the library, she'd brought up tea things as she sat down and spoke with Hermione.
"What's happened, Hermione?" She carefully asked the clearly upset young witch, as she put a cup of tea in her hands, and she thanked her taking a sip, she sighed holding a heart-shaped locket around her neck, she hadn't noticed before or had she always worn it? And never had it out for everyone to see?
"I wanted to protect my parents from the war and asked Professor McGonagall for help with what I wanted to do, when I explained my plans to her, to keep them safe. Only Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore know of this." She had to keep a straight face upon hearing these words, as she had a feeling her eldest son probably knew too. But that's her secret to know, how she knew this, she is also one hundred percent certain that there is more than meets the eye, with those two.
"They are now happily retired Dentists, living their best life's in Australia, with no memory of me or this world at all," she took a sip of her tea and saw the girl's hands shake. Molly got up and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"Arthur and I made a promise to your parents the last time we saw them after they saw how happy and close you have become to Ginny, Ron and the twins. They asked us to please keep you safe, or if you ever wanted someone to chat with, even if you don't end up with any of my boys, we will always be here for you and the same for Harry!" This seemed to be her undoing and she cried even more.
Molly just held her tightly! She had secretly wondered if something had happened because Hermione doesn't usually stay with them the whole summer. After she had calmed down, Molly got her out of the library and between her and Ginny they got the house spotless, before they all returned to Hogwarts.
"I'm actually going to really miss this place," Harry said when they'd all gathered in her and Ginny's room. Things have been frosty between the four of them for a while until Sirius and Remus had a chat with Harry.
"I'm looking forwards to having more freedom than we do here." She closed her eyes and leaned back, feeling the heat of her locket against her chest. Sighing she rose and left the room without a word, leaving three eyes staring at her sudden, random departure. She kissed her locket open to let him know she is on her own, in the bathroom on the top floor, where nobody seems to go she discovered and started hiding there, when she wanted some space, she took her baths and showers up here. She'd locked and placed a silencing charm up when she first entered the bathroom, she now sat on the floor leaning against the bathtub.
"Hello, love how are you feeling today?" He asked her.
"Good, it felt good telling your mum about my parents the other day, and I feel a lot lighter."
"Good, I'm happy you feeling better about it, sometimes we need more people to talk to about things. Listen I haven't told anyone yet but I have a teaching post at Hogwarts, so I'll be seeing you all on the first of September." She couldn't have felt more happier
"Oh, Bill that's wonderful news. It'll make things a little easier for us." She whispered kissing his picture.
"Yes, but don't tell the others love. I want to surprise them all, and see how long it takes my brothers and sister to notice," he told her.
"How will we go about the whole teacher/student thing?" She asked him, wondering how that will work.
"I had to tell Dumbledore and McGonagall as one of the questions on the paperwork is your marital status. I couldn't lie on that one love, they've promised not to say anything to my family after they asked me who the witch is, and have said as long as we are discreet, considering you are of age then we can continue doing what we have been doing, Dumbledore mentioned something about a map, he'll have to borrow back from Harry?" He asked.
"Shit... in our third or fourth year I forget which, Sirius and Remus gave Harry a map of Hogwarts they and his father had created when they were students."
"Ah! Anyway, I can't wait to have you back in my arms. I never thought I'd miss a witch this much."
"Likewise, Bill. I love you so much," she said honestly.
"And I love you. To be completely honest love, I don't particularly like your association with Harry, it puts you in danger. I have had a similar conversation with mum and dad the same when I told them that I am returning."
"How have things been with Ron?" She couldn't lie to him.
"Ron pulled me into an uncomfortable hug and tried to kiss me randomly on the lips." Her boyfriend actually growled, and she could imagine him going red.
"Was anyone there?" He asked her.
"Yes, and he caught me by surprise when I came out of the library over the weekend. A painting did see and asked me if I was okay, surprisingly. Normally I get rude remarks about not being a pure-blood witch."
"I've never been very close to Ron out of all my brothers, he never seemed interested or bothered, whether I was home or not! He was more closer to Charlie with his more interesting stories of dragons and shit."
"Do you think he's going to be a problem?" She asked.
"I hope not, for mum and dad's sake... but if he ever hurts you, Hermione, I will reveal everything sooner if he dares to try any funny business with my girl."
Hermione decided to run a bath and wash her hair whilst she and Bill spoke so it looked like she hadn't just come up here to hide. It was after dinner anyways and tomorrow they'd all be going to Diagon Alley, to collect their latest Hogwarts supplies. She told Bill, and he said he'll go on Friday, so his family doesn't see him before the first.
They said their goodbyes and she went down to her room with Ginny, in a towel holding her clothing and hiding her locker, that she can't get off her neck. It further proved Bill's commitment to her.
Thankfully the boys had gone, and Ginny was up reading a Quidditch magazine, using her wand as a light, she looked up when she saw Hermione enter.
"How is mister mystery man?" Hermione's eyes widened.
"How do you know it's a man? It could be a woman!" She couldn't help it and burst out laughing at her friend's reaction as she processed her words.
"You don't play fair, Hermione, it is definitely not a woman as Mum is the only one that's been here!" Ginny pointed out to her friend.
"Never said I did, and I won't be saying anything until we are both ready to say. Who's the latest on your watch list?" She asked her friend.
"So your not denying it? You are actually seeing someone? Do Harry and Ron know? I think Sirius, he's a dog and bites, but I've not seen any missed love bites recently unless you've been more careful before you leave each other... I've noticed him and Remus both watching you a few times on and off, throughout our stay here, and they disappear around the same time you sometimes do. But Sirius more frequently!"
She rose her eyebrows upon hearing this and decided to be more careful over the next couple of days. She is rather glad they'll be at Hogwarts on Monday, hoping the next few days go by quickly.
"No they don't know, and interesting..." she said not giving her friend any clues to see if she was right or not.
They both settled down, unaware of said man smirking with amusement on the other side of the girl's door. He was getting close to discovering which Weasley brother the sneaky little witch is bonking under his roof. Remus his werewolf friend knew having a stronger nose than he did and smelling a change in the young witch. His werewolf friend felt rather smug that he knew about the young couple, and nobody else did. His nose just wasn't as strong as a werewolf's.
Sometimes life just wasn't fair.
