Hermione's Terror
Chapter 3
"And so, we lay these two to their otherworldly rest." Many were sniffling out of memory or pity, but Hermione's resumed wailing was out of grief and guilt. Ron and Harry tried vainly to comfort her as her parents were lowered into the earth. A few Ministry wizards were talking in low tones off to one side. The Muggles had all left as soon as the preacher finished and the first shovel of dirt was thrown. All other Weasleys were exploring the graves, scared by Hermione's anguish.
"Come on, Hermione," started Ron. "You don't have to see this."
"You go on," she choked out. "I will see this. It's better than wondering."
He tried to pull Harry away, but he wouldn't go. Ron shrugged and headed toward the twins.
After a pause, Harry started haltingly. "You're right. It's better not wondering."
She whirled around. "Harry, I'm so sorry! Of course it must be worse for you-"
"It's not worse for either of us. You have to deal with memories, I with questions. It's how we deal with it that counts."
She gave a tiny laugh. "You prat! You just want me to stop crying, is that it?"
He grinned. "Partly."
Despite none-too-quiet protests from the Weasleys, Mr. Essex appeared beside Hermione. "Well, now that we have the funeral things sorted out, we need to focus on where you'll live. Who's your closest family?"
Hermione made a valiant attempt to stem her tears. "Both my parents were the only child. The only family I know of is in America, and certainly doesn't know I'm a witch."
"Well, we should notify them of your situation. I can-"
"Greg, what are you thinking?" exploded Mr. Weasley. "She can't leave Hogwarts, especially now!"
"Arthur's right." Mrs. Weasley put her arm around Hermione. "Hermione can stay with us. She doesn't need to worry about all this right now." Hermione's efforts were washed away with this.
Mr. Essex looked slightly flustered with them ganging up against him. "I'm just exploring the options. No need to get defensive."
"Sorry Greg. Of course, you're just trying to help. You mind staying with us Hermione?" She shook her head, sniffling. "Ok. Molly, I'm going to see about the paperwork. See you at home." He apparated off.
"Come on Hermione." With one last look, the seven Weasleys and Harry went over to the Ministry cars. As Hermione stared at the fresh dirt and small green markers, she thought about the latest newspaper, with the news of another household dead. Unlike most of the wizarding community, she knew it wasn't just a "family enemy," and probably weren't any "investigators on the case." A warm summer breeze blew her hair away from her face, and she saw several red heads slightly turned her way, and one, dark, trying to draw away the attention. She walked to a car, climbed in the open door, and didn't look back as the tears dried on her cheeks.
~*~*~
The next day she officially moved in Ginny's room. Everything from her Muggle life was in three drawers in a bureau, except for her pillow she only saw during the summer, strange on the mattress.
When she had the house and office money in hand, Hermione found Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen. "Here, Mrs. Weasley. To cover the cost of my living with you."
She was appalled. "Hermione! We'll take you in because we love you! You aren't a boarder!"
"Mrs. Weasley, you and Mr. Weasley have spent so much time helping me get things in order and now are taking me in. I feel guilty. Please take it." After an hour of arguing, she took half of the house money.
~*~*~
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in semi-uncomfortable silence the next day. They spread over the porch, watching Ministry officials put wards around the Weasley household. She started conversation. "The reports are really rolling in now, aren't they? Two in the paper this morning, and the one yesterday. Harry, you have to watch your back."
He was looking at her with a strange look on his face, like a mixture of pity and guilt and disgrace. "Hermione! How could you be worried about me? I've put you and Ron in danger, and as good as got your parents killed! How can you even be civil to me?"
Hermione gaped at him, while Ron jumped in. "Harry, it won't do you one ounce of good to talk like that. You know you didn't get them or Cedric killed. You didn't know those other families, and they're dead."
"Right Harry. I'm civil to you because you're my best friend. If I turned away from you and Ron, I'd be in quite a predicament, now wouldn't I?" she said a bit wryly. "Honestly, Harry. Nobody blames you for having your luck but you."
~*~*~
It was Harry's birthday, so he got the luxury of being with people who cared about him, whom he hadn't seen since the horrid few days after the death of Hermione's parents. Mrs. Weasley had baked a delicious cake to complement a wonderful meal in his honor.
It was dusk, and the three friends were in the edge of the woods, talking and playing with Harry's new wizarding compass. It not only pointed north, but also told which way the wind was blowing, if a storm was near, and had a compartment to carry a bit more than it seemed should fit inside.
While the laughter was dying down after a particularly funny joke, Harry's sharp ears picked up a noise floating with the wind. His compass's wind gauge pointed north, so he spun that way. Ron and Hermione noticed Harry's sudden movement, and turned too. A figure in dark robes, hood over head, was stealthily approaching, but not entirely silent. Thanks to the wards of the now-absent Aurors, the wizard hadn't been able to Apparate up to them. The mysterious, seemingly wandless figure said nothing as he walked up to the three with their wands drawn.
When he was within a few yards, he spoke in a gravelly low voice. "Harry Potter, don't think because you have been lucky before, you will be anymore. My Master is gaining strength, so much strength. You won't be safe in that Muggle house or your school. My Master is coming for you. My Master will make you, all your friends and loved ones, all rue the day you thought Him gone, the times you defied Him. Your day is coming, soon, very soon."
The wizard suddenly reached his hand up his left sleeve. Thinking he was reaching for a wand, all three raised their wands, silently telling each other 'Stupefy.' Before they could get one syllable out, he started sinking to the ground. They stopped stock still, watching the man seem to melt. A small cry escaped the wizard, then he moved no more. Slowly, Ron, Harry, and Hermione lowered their arms, staring at the heap.
~*~*~
The scene darkened out.
"That, children, was the beginning of Voldemort's second rise in Hermione Granger's eyes." Delilah Monroe stood up, shut off the projector, and faced the Hall.
"After his resurrection, the first family to go was that of Harry Potter's Muggle-born friend. Luckily, she escaped to help our side triumph later on. There was a brief pause after the first attack, to gather his forces. The wizarding world was in shock when whole families started to appear in graveyards. Fudge tried to hush it up, but the Dark Mark still made it into the papers eventually. Luckily some believed, and a few families were able to escape before he could attack. Any questions?"
A young Hufflepuff raised her hand. "Is that her Pensieve?"
"No, the Post-Age Memorial Company contacted the Trio when it first started, and had duplicates of their memories made. We take them to schools around the world every year. Each thought it was a great idea."
A boy at the Slytherin table commanded her attention then. "How did that man kill himself? What happened to him?"
"When the Trio gathered their wits and got Ministry wizards over there, he was a bit more melted, but his hand was still up his sleeve. We still don't know exactly what killed him, but the most accepted theory is that a charm was placed on his Dark Mark, so when he touched it he would die, therefore not able to be captured and have a truth spell put on him. Any more questions?"
Some children seemed a bit shocked, staring at the patch of wall where the images had been. Others stared at her, bored with old information. She sighed.
"Well, all right then. Tomorrow after dinner we will meet to watch memories that came next, mainly Harry's, since he was in the middle of it all the time. 'Til tomorrow Hogwarts, and be glad the age of His reign is over!"