Chapter Four: New Beginnings
AN / I have one awesome beta team. There's no other way to say it!
Thank you B., Imogen, Anne and Paula!
October 4th
Blinking her eyes against the morning light, Hermione Granger slowly drifted into consciousness. She frowned as she noticed that it must be late morning. Why hadn't she awoken before now? She always got up on time for class. Panic started to overtake her and she abruptly sat up in bed. She looked around at her surroundings for a confused moment, and then she realized that she was in the infirmary. Memory crashed down on her, as the scene in the Headmaster's office came tumbling though her brain.
"Mum, Dad," she whispered hoarsely.
Drawing her knees up, she wrapped her arms around herself, as a wave of coldness seemed to settle in her bones. It couldn't be true. They couldn't be gone forever. Suddenly, a terrible anger overcame her and she stood up from the bed and frantically looked around for her clothes. She would go to the Headmaster and make him tell her that it had been a mistake. Her parents weren't dead. She had just gotten a letter from her mum a few days past. Everything was fine. The information just had to have been mixed up.
Her scrabbling around must have caught Madame Pomfrey's attention, as she came into the draped-off room. She looked at Hermione with a surprised expression.
"Hermione, dear, I didn't know you were awake." The healer started to put a hand on her arm, but Hermione pulled back violently.
"I need to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey. I need to speak with him now!"
Madame Pomfrey seemed to be startled by Hermione's forceful tone but then she took a deep breath and shook her head sadly. "Hermione..."
"Don't 'Hermione' me! He was wrong about my parents, he had to be wrong."
Hermione took a gasping breath. "I need to speak to him, please." The last was said in a broken tone and she watched as the usually stalwart Madam's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sure he'll take time to speak with you, Hermione." Madame Pomfrey said quietly. "Let me check to see if he's available. Your clothes are in the chest next to the bed."
Shudders shook Hermione and tears threatened, but she refused to give in to them. They were mistaken. They had to be mistaken. She found her clothing in the indicated chest and dressed quickly.
The wait for Madame Pomfrey's return seemed to take forever, but Hermione finally heard footsteps coming towards her. She stood up as the Headmaster and Madame Pomfrey came into the room. Her hands were trembling badly that she had to clasp them together to still them.
"Headmaster," she began in a tremulous voice. "I need...I can't," her voice broke. "Please! Tell me that your information was wrong. My parents must still be alive!"
Dumbledore looked at her with a great sadness in his eyes. Moving towards her, he gently put his hands on her shoulders. "Hermione, I wish I could tell you it was a mistake, but one of the Ministries' Aurors was there as a witness. She was gravely injured trying to save your parents and her back- up team confirmed your parents identities. I'm so sorry my dear, but I'm afraid there was nothing that could be done for them."
Reeling from the information, Hermione shook her head in denial. She saw, however, the horrible truth reflected in the Headmasters eyes. She felt the cold sensation deepen and spread until she was curiously numb. It was true.
They were gone. She was alone.
Needing to know the details but not really wanting to hear them, she closed her eyes. "How - Who?"
She heard the Headmaster let out a ragged breath. "Voldemort saw to the matter personally. There were a few other Death Eaters there with them, three of which Tessa was able to neutralize."
Hermione's eyes snapped open. "Tessa?" she asked in confusion. "My Tessa?"
Dumbledore gave her a small smile. "Yes, she is one of the Ministries Surveillance Aurors. Her supervisor mentioned that she was a good friend to your family."
"But she never told me she was an Auror!"
"Hermione," the Headmaster squeezed her shoulders gently. "Surveillance Aurors work completely undercover, especially when dealing with Muggles. She couldn't have told you or your family about who or what she was.
"And she was hurt too?" Hermione was becoming completely dazed. "Will she live?"
Dumbledore smiled gently and nodded. "Yes, I believe that she will pull though." His eyes twinkled down at her for a moment. "If you know Tessa, then I'm sure you've seen that mile-wide stubborn streak of hers."
Hermione choked back a laugh. "Yes, that does sound like Tessa." She looked up at him with vague curiosity, "you sound like you know her."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, she was here about the same time that James and Severus were." He looked reflective. "Those were dark times as well."
Her mind circling back to her parents, Hermione looked at the Headmaster bleakly. "You still didn't tell me how. And why - why would Voldemort himself be there?"
He held her eyes with his own steady gaze. "I don't honestly know why he chose to be there. He and his supporters are becoming more and more arrogant as they gain power but I'm hoping that that arrogance will one day soon be their undoing. As to the other, I won't lie to you Hermione. A killing curse was used on your parents. However, I don't believe that they were made to suffer. The Dark Lord must have known that the area was carefully watched and so therefore, he would have known he wouldn't have much time." Dumbledore gently squeezed her shoulders again. "I know it's not much, but please know that they died quickly."
Hermione closed her eyes and nodded. "They loved each other so much," she whispered. I'm glad...I'm glad that they weren't alone." A single tear slid down her cheek but it was all that she could allow. She couldn't face this yet. It was too horrible. She wanted to stay numb.
She heard the main door creak open and turned to see Ron, Ginny and Harry coming towards her. They were all hesitant, but Ron finally stepped forward.
He tried for a smile but wasn't very successful. "Madame Pomfrey said that we could take you back with us to the common room, Hermione," he said in a soft voice.
Ginny nodded and put a tentative hand on Hermione's arm. "Crookshanks has been looking for you. I think he misses you."
Hermione gave a small smile at the thought of her terrorizing, ginger cat missing anybody.
Harry smiled earnestly at her. "He was meowing by the portrait hole quite pitifully. I think you should come back with us and let him know you're all right."
Hermione tried to return his banter, but she didn't have the heart for it. There was a quiet sympathy in Harry's eyes that cut into the wall of ice that buffered her. She turned and glanced questioningly at Madame Pomfrey.
Madame nodded and Hermione turned towards the door without a word to anyone and walked out alone.
***************
October 5th
Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts, could not concentrate. He stared blindly down at the multitude of assignments on his desk that had yet to be graded, and he sighed. He usually had no problems whisking though his students' often-deplorable attempts to answer his basic test questions, but tonight, he could not focus.
His attention was once again drawn to the short missive that Dumbledore had sent him and unable to resist, he picked it up. Smoothing the piece of parchment that he had almost torn to bits, he re-read the short note.
Severus
Tessa has been gravely injured.
We believe that she will pull though.
Your assistance may be required
AD
Tessa - the name slammed though him with an intensity that was stunning.
He had not seen nor heard from her since the fight that had torn them apart almost seventeen years ago. The memory still had the power to make him burn with shame. She had done the right thing all of those years ago, he knew that now. Still, her betrayal had slashed though his wall of reserve so deeply that the wounds left over still seemed to bleed. In some part of his brain, he was amazed that he was still capable of feeling the hurt.
He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes as memories of her swamped him. It seemed like he had known her forever. In some ways he had. He had first noticed the small, redheaded girl at her sorting ceremony. She had caught his gaze and held it with amazing boldness for an eleven year old. And then she had smiled at him impishly and winked. He smiled even now at her audacity.
For some unknown reason, she had decided to befriend him. Whether he had wanted that friendship or not didn't seem to be an option. Tessa had followed him around the school like a faithful shadow. There had been times when he had told her to leave him alone, that he hadn't wanted her attentions but she'd never seemed to listen. She'd always just been there, by his side. Ready to listen to him on the rare occasions that he'd wanted to talk. She was there, when he'd learned that Giants had killed his mother in a surprise attack.
He had been eighteen then, almost finished with his final school year at Hogwarts. After learning the news, he had proceeded to get stinking drunk at the Three Broomsicks. Tessa had found him, of course. She had led him upstairs and forced a jug full of water into him before letting him sleep off both the alcohol and at least a small part of the pain that had threatened to consume him.
He remembered waking up in the dingy little room with only a small headache and had been startled to find her still there. She had crammed herself in as close as she possibly could and still be outside of the covers. That she had stayed there, with him throughout the night, had finally broken though what was left of his defenses against her. She had opened her eyes sleepily and smiled at him, whispered good morning to him. And unable to resist, he had bent down and kissed her for the first time.
They had both been surprised by that kiss. The passion that had sparked between them was strong and immediate. He remembered pulling away in astonishment that this mere fifteen-year-old girl could completely disarm him. That she could arouse passions in him he never expected to feel.
The two of them walked lightly around each other for the next several weeks but the attraction had been established and their relationship had changed. It had not been long before they started seeking each other out to explore the attraction.
He had been her first lover. She, had been the first and last person to tear his heart to shreds.
A scratching knock sounded on the door to his classroom and brought him out of his musings. "Yes" he said shortly.
The door squeaked open and Neville Longbottom timidly poked his head though the opening. "I'm here for my detention, Professor," he whispered in an unnaturally high voice.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He had forgotten this particular detention. "Come in, Longbottom," he snapped.
He watched as the nervous boy almost dropped his ever-present notebook into a gently steaming cauldron and sighed again. It was going to be a long night.
*************
October 18th
Ron Weasley was frustrated beyond belief. He had tried to be patient. He had tried being nice. Truth be told, he had also tried being a prat but nothing worked. Talking to Hermione was like trying to carry on a conversation with a piece of furniture. He'd had much livelier debates with his chess set then he'd had with one of two best friends for the past two weeks.
He was scared, and it was really starting to irk him.
Ron had seen Hermione display every emotion from red-hot anger to exuberant happiness. Normally, she was somewhere in the middle, but the way she had been acting lately frightened him. It was as if she had locked all of her emotions away so that only a shadow of her former self remained. He hadn't seen her cry for her parents even once. He was confused by her behavior and hurt by the fact that she had shut him out. He had tried to reach her but it seemed impossible. Nothing he did or said seemed to make a difference.
Ron rolled over on to his back and glared at the ceiling of the boys' dorm. He was the only one in here and that was fine by him. He always let off steam best when he was alone, anyway.
As if to mock his thoughts, the door to the room slowly opened.
"Ron?"
Ron sat bolt upright in shock. "Mum?"
Molly Weasley smiled at her astonished son. "I'm here on business, dear. I thought I'd check in on you to see how you are."
Ron's brows snapped together. "Business...MUM! You're in the boys' dorm!"
Molly grinned mischievously at him. "And you think this is the first time I've been here?"
Ron's mouth dropped open and she laughed. "Ron, where exactly did you think you got your penchant for getting into trouble from. You father?"
Ron wasn't quite sure how to respond to that one. "Why are you here?"
Molly sighed and sat down next to him on the bed. "I'm here at Dumbledore's request. Regarding Hermione."
That surprised Ron and he paled a bit. "What about Hermione?"
Molly paused for a moment. "Fred told me that the two of you have become quite close this year."
Ron was shocked yet again and he blushed furiously. "He told you what?"
Molly grinned at him. "If memory serves, your father started to realize I was a girl at about your age as well." She winked at him. "I, of course had been in love with him for years and had to wait patiently for him to grow up and see what was right in front of him."
Despite his acute embarrassment, Ron couldn't help being fascinated by what his mum had just told him. He knew that his parents had met and fallen in love at Hogwarts and that they had gotten into some spectacular rows in the Gryffindor common room but not much else.
Molly smiled softly at him and continued with her story. "He did finally notice me but we definitely got off to a rocky start. She rolled her eyes and laughed. " I still clearly remember how he told me that I would be going to the Yule Ball with him."
Ron laughed at this. "He told you, not asked you?"
His mum nodded at him, her eyes twinkling. "I think that he thought if he blustered his way though it, I wouldn't think of saying no."
Ron leaned in closer. "And did you?"
Molly grinned at him. "Turned him down flat. I told him that if he couldn't ask properly, then I didn't want anything to do with him."
"And so, did he ask you properly?"
"Yes he did," Molly answered. "Two days before the ball. I told him that I already had a date, thank you very much." She shook her head at the memory. "We didn't speak to each other for weeks after that little fiasco."
Ron felt his face heating. It was weird to know that he and his dad had made the same basic blunder. His curiosity was pricked though. "So what did he do to convince you to date him?"
Molly smiled softly and gazed down at her left hand. "He gave me this." She pointed to the small, intricately carved, silver ring that she wore in front of her wedding band. "It's a promise ring. It's also the very last thing I ever expected to get from him. He just slid the box to me one day while we were at the Three Broomsticks. He apologized for being such a prat and asked if I would consider doing him the honor of going out with him." Molly sighed. "It was the most wonderfully romantic thing that had ever happened to me. I think I almost sprained my tongue, I said yes so quickly."
Ron leaned closer to her. "I wondered where you got that. You never take it off." He looked at her curiously. "What is a promise ring, anyway?"
Molly took both rings off and handed Ron the smaller one. "It's just that, a promise. Read the inside inscription." A smile quirked her lips, "It will be a good test of your Latin skills."
Ron made a face at her, but squinted down at the worn inscription. "I will love...no, I promise to love you for all time." Ron was amazed at his dad's courage. "He gave that to you before you even went out on a real date?"
Molly nodded. "He asked me to marry him, two years later to the day."
Ron rolled onto his back and examined the delicate ring closer. "Wow."
Ron felt his hair being smoothed away from his forehead. "So how is Hermione?" Molly asked.
Ron contemplated the ring for a moment and then handed it back to her. "I don't know, she won't talk to…us." He blushed and ran a distracted hand though his hair. "It's like she's pretending nothing happened, but she's gone away somewhere and I don't know how to get the old Hermione back."
"I don't know what to do, Mum."
His mother reached over and took one of his hands in her own. She squeezed it gently and brought it up to her cheek for a moment, and Ron smiled at her. She had done that for as long as he could remember and it never failed to comfort him. As he had grown older, he had spent less and less time alone with her but he realized that he hadn't said something important to her in a long time. He felt his ears go red but he gently squeezed her hand in return.
"I love you Mum."
His mum sighed and bent down to kiss his forehead. "I love you too, baby."
Ron rolled his eyes and blushed, "Mum!"
She laughed and sniffled. Wiping her eyes, she teasingly pinched his cheek. "Oh, you can take it, Ron. It seems like forever since I've been able to call you 'baby'."
Ron sighed with exasperation but returned her smile. "Do you have any suggestions, Mum? I mean, about Hermione?"
Molly seemed to lose herself in thought for a moment before looking back at him. "I think you'll either have to try to wait it out or force the issue. I don't know her as well as you do, Ron. Do you think she'll eventually return to 'the old Hermione' or do you think it would be best to try and force her to work this out?"
Ron considered her words carefully. "I'm not sure."
"What do you think she'd do if the situation were reversed?"
Ron looked at her startled. "She'd force the issue. I know she would. Hermione can be patient when it comes to a lot of things, but not when Harry or I are keeping anything from her. It drives her nuts."
Molly nodded at him. "Well then, I guess you have your answer. Try to be as gentle as possible with her, dear, but I'm afraid you'll have to push the issue until she opens up." She ran her hand gently though his hair once more. "Just remember that when she does finally respond, you, Harry and Ginny will need to stand by her more than ever before."
Ron nodded and stood up from the bed. "You're right. I need to come up with a new strategy."
Molly walked him to the door and patted his shoulder. "You're very good at strategies, Ron. I'm sure you'll do fine."
Ron smiled at her but then frowned. "You never told me what your business with Hermione and the Headmaster was about."
"I'll have to tell you later, dear. I'm just going to make my meeting with Dumbledore so I need to leave now. I'll speak to you before I leave." With that, she kissed him and then marched out the door.
Ron stared after her for a moment and then wandered back to his bed. He needed to think this though before he made his first move. He would bring the old Hermione back. His goal was more complicated than that though. He wanted to know that she would never again shut herself off from him. He was planning on it.
********
Hermione Granger was furious.
How could he do this? How could Ron be such an impossible git? She stood glaring at him in the common room with her hands on her hips. She didn't want to feel this anger. She didn't want to feel anything and yet here he was, driving her insane with his irritating comments.
"You take that back, Ron Weasley, right now!"
He had the audacity to look innocently confused. "What, what did I say?"
"You said that I was a coward!"
Ron tapped his shoe on the floor and shook his head. "No, I said that even Neville wouldn't have run away from the issue for this long."
Hermione seethed at him. "I am NOT running away! I'm right here. Just because I don't tell you about every thought that goes though my brain, it doesn't mean I'm running away from anything."
He stepped closer to her, his eyes pinning hers. "Oh really? Then who is this little ghost of a girl that's been running around Hogwarts, pretending to be Hermione?" he demanded. "You ignore me, you ignore Harry, you hardly speak to Ginny." He stepped back slightly and eyed her with a disapproving look. "I would have thought that you, of all people, would have more backbone than this."
Hermione gasped and felt as if she had been slapped. "How dare you say that?"
Ron glared at her. "How could I not say it, Hermione? What has shutting out every single person close to you accomplished?"
She shook her head at him and desperately fought down the churning emotions that fought to get out. "You don't understand! You couldn't possibly understand!" Her voice broke on the last word and she brought her hands up to her mouth, as if she could physically contain the emotional storm raging within her.
Ron stepped closer yet and ran a gentle hand though her hair. "Help me to understand, Hermione," he whispered pleadingly.
She tried to back away from him but he grabbed her shoulders and gently but firmly held her to his side. A great shudder went though her and she choked back a sob. "I'm ALONE, Ron! I have no one! You can't imagine what that feels like." She was rapidly losing the battle with her emotions and tears started to course down her cheeks. "You have a huge family, you know you're loved." Her chest heaved. "I - I have nothing."
He pulled her into his arms and she sobbed against his chest. "I have no one."
She couldn't stop crying. The tears and hiccupping sobs that wracked her body were relentless. She was vaguely aware of Ron, gently rocking her against him, but she was helpless to do anything but let the sorrow and grief move through her.
It seemed like forever, but her sobs finally subsided, and she leaned weakly against Ron, held on to him for dear life.
He tightened his arms around her for a moment and then, she felt a kiss being pressed on to the top of her head. "You have me, Hermione," he whispered.
She looked up at him blearily. "What?" she croaked.
His mouth quirked at her froggy voice, but he brushed a tear from her cheek and gently bumped his nose with hers "I said, you have me." He looked over her shoulder. "And Harry and Ginny and Mum and the rest of my family."
He took her face in his hands, and her breath caught at his expression. "We're your family now, Hermione." He smiled at her lopsidedly. "I'm afraid you're stuck with us."
Hermione felt an irrational urge to giggle. "You can't just adopt me Ron."
He grinned at her. "Why not? We adopted Harry and look how well he turned out."
She gave into her giggles and leaned into him as she laughed. Ron wrapped his arms around her again, and she heard him let out a large sigh above her head.
"You had me really worried, Hermione. Please don't ever do that to me ever again."
She pulled back and glared at him. "I couldn't help…Ron! You were horrid to me just now!"
He looked at her with an exasperated expression. "Hermione, what would you have done if Harry or I completely shut down and wouldn't talk to you for over two weeks? Wouldn't let you help us in any way?"
Hermione opened her mouth but couldn't think of a response. Finally, she glared at him grumpily. "All right, I see you point."
Ron laughed at her. "That's one of the things I love about you Hermione, You're such a generous loser."
Her eyes shot to his at his words, and she watched him blush crimson. "Erm, I meant…"
Hermione felt her face heating as well. "I know you didn't mean…" She ducked her head in embarrassment but then looked up at him.
He ran a hand though his hair distractedly. "Er, no. Well, yes, but…" He blushed even brighter.
She stared at him in amazement. Had he just said what she thought he did?
"You know what I mean!" Ron gulped "I mean, I like you. Of course I like you, you're one of my best friends." He looked at the ceiling as if seeking Devine guidance but then let his breath out in a whoosh and managed to hold her eyes again. Then, he proceeded to completely shock her.
"Hermione, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
She sputtered at him. "Go to the…" She felt tears start to bubble inside her again, but this time they were happy ones. She flung her arms around him and hugged him. "Yes, I will go to the Yule Ball with you, Ronald Weasley. Even though you are still the biggest prat in the room."
The sound of applause broke them apart abruptly and they both spun around to face a motley crew of observers clapping at them.
They both turned bright red. Hermione didn't think she had been this embarrassed since she had accidentally turned herself into Crookshanks in the girls bathroom.
Ron stuck his tongue out at the group, which included a giggling Ginny and a grinning Harry and then dragged Hermione towards the Portrait hole. "Come on Hermione. Let's get away from this group of loons."
He turned to her and smiled. "Besides, I don't think either one of us has had dinner yet."
Hermione glanced over at Harry who was still grinning madly at them and nodded her head. "Yes, dinner does sound good."
As the words left her mouth, she realized that she was hungry. It was the first time in recent memory that she had felt something so normal. She took the hand that Ron offered to her and climbed out the portrait hole with him.
*********
Ginny watched the pair go out the portrait hole and then glanced over at Harry. He sniggered at her and they both burst out laughing.
Ginny's sides were starting to hurt. "Oh dear, I can't believe he actually said that to her!"
Harry looked at her in amazement. "Which part?"
This, of course, just made them laugh all the harder and they were practically a heap on the floor before they could stop.
Ginny wiped her eyes and grinned at Harry whose glasses had gone askew from his fit of laughter. She felt herself turn bright red, but reached over and straightened them. It was something she'd been dying to do for the longest time. He blinked at her and blushed slightly but smiled down at her.
"I think she'll be okay now, Ginny." Harry said.
Ginny returned his smile. "I think so too." She shook her head. "When Ron told me what he was going to do, I didn't think it would work but somehow, he pulled it off."
Harry nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. He was scared to death that he would be too mean to her and that she would never forgive him."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Somehow, I think that she forgave him."
Harry looked at her with a puzzled expression but then ruined it by laughing. "You think?"
Ginny grinned at this. It was so nice to see Harry smile and laugh. It didn't happen often and she treasured times like these when he would let himself just be a boy.
She wanted to ask him something but hesitated. She wasn't sure how to approach him about this.
He must have wondered at her silence and he cocked his head to the side. "What is it?"
Ginny nibbled on her lip. "Harry, I need to ask a favor of you."
He looked at her a bit warily. "What kind of favor?"
Wringing her hands together, she ducked her head. "I was wondering if you could talk to Hermione." Ginny looked up at Harry. "I know you didn't really know your parents, but you know what it's like to be alone. She was right about that. Neither Ron or I could imagine what that's like but you…" She ducked her head again.
"I'm an orphan, too." The words were stark.
Ginny looked at him imploringly. "I didn't mean to upset you Harry. I just thought that you might be able to help her in ways that we couldn't."
Harry looked down at his shoes for a moment but then sighed quietly. "All right Ginny. I'll see what I can do." He looked at her again and Ginny had to stifle a gasp at the bleak, lost expression in them.
"I never knew my parents, really. My situation is different but I will talk to her," he said quietly.
Ginny felt tears well in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Harry." She couldn't think of anything else to say.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I'm used to it."
Ginny held his gaze steadily. "Ron was right Harry. We did adopt you. You're not alone."
She held her breath at her own daring but Harry just looked at her for a moment and then teasingly tugged at her ponytail.
"Thanks Ginny, It means a lot to me."
Ginny blushed but grinned at him. She suddenly felt like she could walk on air. "You know, I didn't get dinner either. Would you like to come down to the dining hall with me so we can watch Ron and Hermione make kissy faces at each other?"
Harry shouted with laughter. "I wouldn't let Ron hear you say that!"
Ginny laughed and headed toward the portrait hole. "I'm his sister. It's part of my job to give him a hard time."
She felt him gently tug her hair once again.
"Well then, since I'm adopted into you're family that means you're officially able to give me a hard time as well, I suppose?"
Ginny winced at being thought of as a sister to him, but then grinned over her shoulder. This could actually be fun.
"Harry, you can count on it."
To be continued...
And yes, dear readers, it actually is being continued! Please check back in the next two weeks for the next chapter and thanks to all of those who followed this story at SQ and asked me to continue with it.
Monique
AN / I have one awesome beta team. There's no other way to say it!
Thank you B., Imogen, Anne and Paula!
October 4th
Blinking her eyes against the morning light, Hermione Granger slowly drifted into consciousness. She frowned as she noticed that it must be late morning. Why hadn't she awoken before now? She always got up on time for class. Panic started to overtake her and she abruptly sat up in bed. She looked around at her surroundings for a confused moment, and then she realized that she was in the infirmary. Memory crashed down on her, as the scene in the Headmaster's office came tumbling though her brain.
"Mum, Dad," she whispered hoarsely.
Drawing her knees up, she wrapped her arms around herself, as a wave of coldness seemed to settle in her bones. It couldn't be true. They couldn't be gone forever. Suddenly, a terrible anger overcame her and she stood up from the bed and frantically looked around for her clothes. She would go to the Headmaster and make him tell her that it had been a mistake. Her parents weren't dead. She had just gotten a letter from her mum a few days past. Everything was fine. The information just had to have been mixed up.
Her scrabbling around must have caught Madame Pomfrey's attention, as she came into the draped-off room. She looked at Hermione with a surprised expression.
"Hermione, dear, I didn't know you were awake." The healer started to put a hand on her arm, but Hermione pulled back violently.
"I need to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey. I need to speak with him now!"
Madame Pomfrey seemed to be startled by Hermione's forceful tone but then she took a deep breath and shook her head sadly. "Hermione..."
"Don't 'Hermione' me! He was wrong about my parents, he had to be wrong."
Hermione took a gasping breath. "I need to speak to him, please." The last was said in a broken tone and she watched as the usually stalwart Madam's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sure he'll take time to speak with you, Hermione." Madame Pomfrey said quietly. "Let me check to see if he's available. Your clothes are in the chest next to the bed."
Shudders shook Hermione and tears threatened, but she refused to give in to them. They were mistaken. They had to be mistaken. She found her clothing in the indicated chest and dressed quickly.
The wait for Madame Pomfrey's return seemed to take forever, but Hermione finally heard footsteps coming towards her. She stood up as the Headmaster and Madame Pomfrey came into the room. Her hands were trembling badly that she had to clasp them together to still them.
"Headmaster," she began in a tremulous voice. "I need...I can't," her voice broke. "Please! Tell me that your information was wrong. My parents must still be alive!"
Dumbledore looked at her with a great sadness in his eyes. Moving towards her, he gently put his hands on her shoulders. "Hermione, I wish I could tell you it was a mistake, but one of the Ministries' Aurors was there as a witness. She was gravely injured trying to save your parents and her back- up team confirmed your parents identities. I'm so sorry my dear, but I'm afraid there was nothing that could be done for them."
Reeling from the information, Hermione shook her head in denial. She saw, however, the horrible truth reflected in the Headmasters eyes. She felt the cold sensation deepen and spread until she was curiously numb. It was true.
They were gone. She was alone.
Needing to know the details but not really wanting to hear them, she closed her eyes. "How - Who?"
She heard the Headmaster let out a ragged breath. "Voldemort saw to the matter personally. There were a few other Death Eaters there with them, three of which Tessa was able to neutralize."
Hermione's eyes snapped open. "Tessa?" she asked in confusion. "My Tessa?"
Dumbledore gave her a small smile. "Yes, she is one of the Ministries Surveillance Aurors. Her supervisor mentioned that she was a good friend to your family."
"But she never told me she was an Auror!"
"Hermione," the Headmaster squeezed her shoulders gently. "Surveillance Aurors work completely undercover, especially when dealing with Muggles. She couldn't have told you or your family about who or what she was.
"And she was hurt too?" Hermione was becoming completely dazed. "Will she live?"
Dumbledore smiled gently and nodded. "Yes, I believe that she will pull though." His eyes twinkled down at her for a moment. "If you know Tessa, then I'm sure you've seen that mile-wide stubborn streak of hers."
Hermione choked back a laugh. "Yes, that does sound like Tessa." She looked up at him with vague curiosity, "you sound like you know her."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, she was here about the same time that James and Severus were." He looked reflective. "Those were dark times as well."
Her mind circling back to her parents, Hermione looked at the Headmaster bleakly. "You still didn't tell me how. And why - why would Voldemort himself be there?"
He held her eyes with his own steady gaze. "I don't honestly know why he chose to be there. He and his supporters are becoming more and more arrogant as they gain power but I'm hoping that that arrogance will one day soon be their undoing. As to the other, I won't lie to you Hermione. A killing curse was used on your parents. However, I don't believe that they were made to suffer. The Dark Lord must have known that the area was carefully watched and so therefore, he would have known he wouldn't have much time." Dumbledore gently squeezed her shoulders again. "I know it's not much, but please know that they died quickly."
Hermione closed her eyes and nodded. "They loved each other so much," she whispered. I'm glad...I'm glad that they weren't alone." A single tear slid down her cheek but it was all that she could allow. She couldn't face this yet. It was too horrible. She wanted to stay numb.
She heard the main door creak open and turned to see Ron, Ginny and Harry coming towards her. They were all hesitant, but Ron finally stepped forward.
He tried for a smile but wasn't very successful. "Madame Pomfrey said that we could take you back with us to the common room, Hermione," he said in a soft voice.
Ginny nodded and put a tentative hand on Hermione's arm. "Crookshanks has been looking for you. I think he misses you."
Hermione gave a small smile at the thought of her terrorizing, ginger cat missing anybody.
Harry smiled earnestly at her. "He was meowing by the portrait hole quite pitifully. I think you should come back with us and let him know you're all right."
Hermione tried to return his banter, but she didn't have the heart for it. There was a quiet sympathy in Harry's eyes that cut into the wall of ice that buffered her. She turned and glanced questioningly at Madame Pomfrey.
Madame nodded and Hermione turned towards the door without a word to anyone and walked out alone.
***************
October 5th
Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts, could not concentrate. He stared blindly down at the multitude of assignments on his desk that had yet to be graded, and he sighed. He usually had no problems whisking though his students' often-deplorable attempts to answer his basic test questions, but tonight, he could not focus.
His attention was once again drawn to the short missive that Dumbledore had sent him and unable to resist, he picked it up. Smoothing the piece of parchment that he had almost torn to bits, he re-read the short note.
Severus
Tessa has been gravely injured.
We believe that she will pull though.
Your assistance may be required
AD
Tessa - the name slammed though him with an intensity that was stunning.
He had not seen nor heard from her since the fight that had torn them apart almost seventeen years ago. The memory still had the power to make him burn with shame. She had done the right thing all of those years ago, he knew that now. Still, her betrayal had slashed though his wall of reserve so deeply that the wounds left over still seemed to bleed. In some part of his brain, he was amazed that he was still capable of feeling the hurt.
He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes as memories of her swamped him. It seemed like he had known her forever. In some ways he had. He had first noticed the small, redheaded girl at her sorting ceremony. She had caught his gaze and held it with amazing boldness for an eleven year old. And then she had smiled at him impishly and winked. He smiled even now at her audacity.
For some unknown reason, she had decided to befriend him. Whether he had wanted that friendship or not didn't seem to be an option. Tessa had followed him around the school like a faithful shadow. There had been times when he had told her to leave him alone, that he hadn't wanted her attentions but she'd never seemed to listen. She'd always just been there, by his side. Ready to listen to him on the rare occasions that he'd wanted to talk. She was there, when he'd learned that Giants had killed his mother in a surprise attack.
He had been eighteen then, almost finished with his final school year at Hogwarts. After learning the news, he had proceeded to get stinking drunk at the Three Broomsicks. Tessa had found him, of course. She had led him upstairs and forced a jug full of water into him before letting him sleep off both the alcohol and at least a small part of the pain that had threatened to consume him.
He remembered waking up in the dingy little room with only a small headache and had been startled to find her still there. She had crammed herself in as close as she possibly could and still be outside of the covers. That she had stayed there, with him throughout the night, had finally broken though what was left of his defenses against her. She had opened her eyes sleepily and smiled at him, whispered good morning to him. And unable to resist, he had bent down and kissed her for the first time.
They had both been surprised by that kiss. The passion that had sparked between them was strong and immediate. He remembered pulling away in astonishment that this mere fifteen-year-old girl could completely disarm him. That she could arouse passions in him he never expected to feel.
The two of them walked lightly around each other for the next several weeks but the attraction had been established and their relationship had changed. It had not been long before they started seeking each other out to explore the attraction.
He had been her first lover. She, had been the first and last person to tear his heart to shreds.
A scratching knock sounded on the door to his classroom and brought him out of his musings. "Yes" he said shortly.
The door squeaked open and Neville Longbottom timidly poked his head though the opening. "I'm here for my detention, Professor," he whispered in an unnaturally high voice.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He had forgotten this particular detention. "Come in, Longbottom," he snapped.
He watched as the nervous boy almost dropped his ever-present notebook into a gently steaming cauldron and sighed again. It was going to be a long night.
*************
October 18th
Ron Weasley was frustrated beyond belief. He had tried to be patient. He had tried being nice. Truth be told, he had also tried being a prat but nothing worked. Talking to Hermione was like trying to carry on a conversation with a piece of furniture. He'd had much livelier debates with his chess set then he'd had with one of two best friends for the past two weeks.
He was scared, and it was really starting to irk him.
Ron had seen Hermione display every emotion from red-hot anger to exuberant happiness. Normally, she was somewhere in the middle, but the way she had been acting lately frightened him. It was as if she had locked all of her emotions away so that only a shadow of her former self remained. He hadn't seen her cry for her parents even once. He was confused by her behavior and hurt by the fact that she had shut him out. He had tried to reach her but it seemed impossible. Nothing he did or said seemed to make a difference.
Ron rolled over on to his back and glared at the ceiling of the boys' dorm. He was the only one in here and that was fine by him. He always let off steam best when he was alone, anyway.
As if to mock his thoughts, the door to the room slowly opened.
"Ron?"
Ron sat bolt upright in shock. "Mum?"
Molly Weasley smiled at her astonished son. "I'm here on business, dear. I thought I'd check in on you to see how you are."
Ron's brows snapped together. "Business...MUM! You're in the boys' dorm!"
Molly grinned mischievously at him. "And you think this is the first time I've been here?"
Ron's mouth dropped open and she laughed. "Ron, where exactly did you think you got your penchant for getting into trouble from. You father?"
Ron wasn't quite sure how to respond to that one. "Why are you here?"
Molly sighed and sat down next to him on the bed. "I'm here at Dumbledore's request. Regarding Hermione."
That surprised Ron and he paled a bit. "What about Hermione?"
Molly paused for a moment. "Fred told me that the two of you have become quite close this year."
Ron was shocked yet again and he blushed furiously. "He told you what?"
Molly grinned at him. "If memory serves, your father started to realize I was a girl at about your age as well." She winked at him. "I, of course had been in love with him for years and had to wait patiently for him to grow up and see what was right in front of him."
Despite his acute embarrassment, Ron couldn't help being fascinated by what his mum had just told him. He knew that his parents had met and fallen in love at Hogwarts and that they had gotten into some spectacular rows in the Gryffindor common room but not much else.
Molly smiled softly at him and continued with her story. "He did finally notice me but we definitely got off to a rocky start. She rolled her eyes and laughed. " I still clearly remember how he told me that I would be going to the Yule Ball with him."
Ron laughed at this. "He told you, not asked you?"
His mum nodded at him, her eyes twinkling. "I think that he thought if he blustered his way though it, I wouldn't think of saying no."
Ron leaned in closer. "And did you?"
Molly grinned at him. "Turned him down flat. I told him that if he couldn't ask properly, then I didn't want anything to do with him."
"And so, did he ask you properly?"
"Yes he did," Molly answered. "Two days before the ball. I told him that I already had a date, thank you very much." She shook her head at the memory. "We didn't speak to each other for weeks after that little fiasco."
Ron felt his face heating. It was weird to know that he and his dad had made the same basic blunder. His curiosity was pricked though. "So what did he do to convince you to date him?"
Molly smiled softly and gazed down at her left hand. "He gave me this." She pointed to the small, intricately carved, silver ring that she wore in front of her wedding band. "It's a promise ring. It's also the very last thing I ever expected to get from him. He just slid the box to me one day while we were at the Three Broomsticks. He apologized for being such a prat and asked if I would consider doing him the honor of going out with him." Molly sighed. "It was the most wonderfully romantic thing that had ever happened to me. I think I almost sprained my tongue, I said yes so quickly."
Ron leaned closer to her. "I wondered where you got that. You never take it off." He looked at her curiously. "What is a promise ring, anyway?"
Molly took both rings off and handed Ron the smaller one. "It's just that, a promise. Read the inside inscription." A smile quirked her lips, "It will be a good test of your Latin skills."
Ron made a face at her, but squinted down at the worn inscription. "I will love...no, I promise to love you for all time." Ron was amazed at his dad's courage. "He gave that to you before you even went out on a real date?"
Molly nodded. "He asked me to marry him, two years later to the day."
Ron rolled onto his back and examined the delicate ring closer. "Wow."
Ron felt his hair being smoothed away from his forehead. "So how is Hermione?" Molly asked.
Ron contemplated the ring for a moment and then handed it back to her. "I don't know, she won't talk to…us." He blushed and ran a distracted hand though his hair. "It's like she's pretending nothing happened, but she's gone away somewhere and I don't know how to get the old Hermione back."
"I don't know what to do, Mum."
His mother reached over and took one of his hands in her own. She squeezed it gently and brought it up to her cheek for a moment, and Ron smiled at her. She had done that for as long as he could remember and it never failed to comfort him. As he had grown older, he had spent less and less time alone with her but he realized that he hadn't said something important to her in a long time. He felt his ears go red but he gently squeezed her hand in return.
"I love you Mum."
His mum sighed and bent down to kiss his forehead. "I love you too, baby."
Ron rolled his eyes and blushed, "Mum!"
She laughed and sniffled. Wiping her eyes, she teasingly pinched his cheek. "Oh, you can take it, Ron. It seems like forever since I've been able to call you 'baby'."
Ron sighed with exasperation but returned her smile. "Do you have any suggestions, Mum? I mean, about Hermione?"
Molly seemed to lose herself in thought for a moment before looking back at him. "I think you'll either have to try to wait it out or force the issue. I don't know her as well as you do, Ron. Do you think she'll eventually return to 'the old Hermione' or do you think it would be best to try and force her to work this out?"
Ron considered her words carefully. "I'm not sure."
"What do you think she'd do if the situation were reversed?"
Ron looked at her startled. "She'd force the issue. I know she would. Hermione can be patient when it comes to a lot of things, but not when Harry or I are keeping anything from her. It drives her nuts."
Molly nodded at him. "Well then, I guess you have your answer. Try to be as gentle as possible with her, dear, but I'm afraid you'll have to push the issue until she opens up." She ran her hand gently though his hair once more. "Just remember that when she does finally respond, you, Harry and Ginny will need to stand by her more than ever before."
Ron nodded and stood up from the bed. "You're right. I need to come up with a new strategy."
Molly walked him to the door and patted his shoulder. "You're very good at strategies, Ron. I'm sure you'll do fine."
Ron smiled at her but then frowned. "You never told me what your business with Hermione and the Headmaster was about."
"I'll have to tell you later, dear. I'm just going to make my meeting with Dumbledore so I need to leave now. I'll speak to you before I leave." With that, she kissed him and then marched out the door.
Ron stared after her for a moment and then wandered back to his bed. He needed to think this though before he made his first move. He would bring the old Hermione back. His goal was more complicated than that though. He wanted to know that she would never again shut herself off from him. He was planning on it.
********
Hermione Granger was furious.
How could he do this? How could Ron be such an impossible git? She stood glaring at him in the common room with her hands on her hips. She didn't want to feel this anger. She didn't want to feel anything and yet here he was, driving her insane with his irritating comments.
"You take that back, Ron Weasley, right now!"
He had the audacity to look innocently confused. "What, what did I say?"
"You said that I was a coward!"
Ron tapped his shoe on the floor and shook his head. "No, I said that even Neville wouldn't have run away from the issue for this long."
Hermione seethed at him. "I am NOT running away! I'm right here. Just because I don't tell you about every thought that goes though my brain, it doesn't mean I'm running away from anything."
He stepped closer to her, his eyes pinning hers. "Oh really? Then who is this little ghost of a girl that's been running around Hogwarts, pretending to be Hermione?" he demanded. "You ignore me, you ignore Harry, you hardly speak to Ginny." He stepped back slightly and eyed her with a disapproving look. "I would have thought that you, of all people, would have more backbone than this."
Hermione gasped and felt as if she had been slapped. "How dare you say that?"
Ron glared at her. "How could I not say it, Hermione? What has shutting out every single person close to you accomplished?"
She shook her head at him and desperately fought down the churning emotions that fought to get out. "You don't understand! You couldn't possibly understand!" Her voice broke on the last word and she brought her hands up to her mouth, as if she could physically contain the emotional storm raging within her.
Ron stepped closer yet and ran a gentle hand though her hair. "Help me to understand, Hermione," he whispered pleadingly.
She tried to back away from him but he grabbed her shoulders and gently but firmly held her to his side. A great shudder went though her and she choked back a sob. "I'm ALONE, Ron! I have no one! You can't imagine what that feels like." She was rapidly losing the battle with her emotions and tears started to course down her cheeks. "You have a huge family, you know you're loved." Her chest heaved. "I - I have nothing."
He pulled her into his arms and she sobbed against his chest. "I have no one."
She couldn't stop crying. The tears and hiccupping sobs that wracked her body were relentless. She was vaguely aware of Ron, gently rocking her against him, but she was helpless to do anything but let the sorrow and grief move through her.
It seemed like forever, but her sobs finally subsided, and she leaned weakly against Ron, held on to him for dear life.
He tightened his arms around her for a moment and then, she felt a kiss being pressed on to the top of her head. "You have me, Hermione," he whispered.
She looked up at him blearily. "What?" she croaked.
His mouth quirked at her froggy voice, but he brushed a tear from her cheek and gently bumped his nose with hers "I said, you have me." He looked over her shoulder. "And Harry and Ginny and Mum and the rest of my family."
He took her face in his hands, and her breath caught at his expression. "We're your family now, Hermione." He smiled at her lopsidedly. "I'm afraid you're stuck with us."
Hermione felt an irrational urge to giggle. "You can't just adopt me Ron."
He grinned at her. "Why not? We adopted Harry and look how well he turned out."
She gave into her giggles and leaned into him as she laughed. Ron wrapped his arms around her again, and she heard him let out a large sigh above her head.
"You had me really worried, Hermione. Please don't ever do that to me ever again."
She pulled back and glared at him. "I couldn't help…Ron! You were horrid to me just now!"
He looked at her with an exasperated expression. "Hermione, what would you have done if Harry or I completely shut down and wouldn't talk to you for over two weeks? Wouldn't let you help us in any way?"
Hermione opened her mouth but couldn't think of a response. Finally, she glared at him grumpily. "All right, I see you point."
Ron laughed at her. "That's one of the things I love about you Hermione, You're such a generous loser."
Her eyes shot to his at his words, and she watched him blush crimson. "Erm, I meant…"
Hermione felt her face heating as well. "I know you didn't mean…" She ducked her head in embarrassment but then looked up at him.
He ran a hand though his hair distractedly. "Er, no. Well, yes, but…" He blushed even brighter.
She stared at him in amazement. Had he just said what she thought he did?
"You know what I mean!" Ron gulped "I mean, I like you. Of course I like you, you're one of my best friends." He looked at the ceiling as if seeking Devine guidance but then let his breath out in a whoosh and managed to hold her eyes again. Then, he proceeded to completely shock her.
"Hermione, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
She sputtered at him. "Go to the…" She felt tears start to bubble inside her again, but this time they were happy ones. She flung her arms around him and hugged him. "Yes, I will go to the Yule Ball with you, Ronald Weasley. Even though you are still the biggest prat in the room."
The sound of applause broke them apart abruptly and they both spun around to face a motley crew of observers clapping at them.
They both turned bright red. Hermione didn't think she had been this embarrassed since she had accidentally turned herself into Crookshanks in the girls bathroom.
Ron stuck his tongue out at the group, which included a giggling Ginny and a grinning Harry and then dragged Hermione towards the Portrait hole. "Come on Hermione. Let's get away from this group of loons."
He turned to her and smiled. "Besides, I don't think either one of us has had dinner yet."
Hermione glanced over at Harry who was still grinning madly at them and nodded her head. "Yes, dinner does sound good."
As the words left her mouth, she realized that she was hungry. It was the first time in recent memory that she had felt something so normal. She took the hand that Ron offered to her and climbed out the portrait hole with him.
*********
Ginny watched the pair go out the portrait hole and then glanced over at Harry. He sniggered at her and they both burst out laughing.
Ginny's sides were starting to hurt. "Oh dear, I can't believe he actually said that to her!"
Harry looked at her in amazement. "Which part?"
This, of course, just made them laugh all the harder and they were practically a heap on the floor before they could stop.
Ginny wiped her eyes and grinned at Harry whose glasses had gone askew from his fit of laughter. She felt herself turn bright red, but reached over and straightened them. It was something she'd been dying to do for the longest time. He blinked at her and blushed slightly but smiled down at her.
"I think she'll be okay now, Ginny." Harry said.
Ginny returned his smile. "I think so too." She shook her head. "When Ron told me what he was going to do, I didn't think it would work but somehow, he pulled it off."
Harry nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. He was scared to death that he would be too mean to her and that she would never forgive him."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Somehow, I think that she forgave him."
Harry looked at her with a puzzled expression but then ruined it by laughing. "You think?"
Ginny grinned at this. It was so nice to see Harry smile and laugh. It didn't happen often and she treasured times like these when he would let himself just be a boy.
She wanted to ask him something but hesitated. She wasn't sure how to approach him about this.
He must have wondered at her silence and he cocked his head to the side. "What is it?"
Ginny nibbled on her lip. "Harry, I need to ask a favor of you."
He looked at her a bit warily. "What kind of favor?"
Wringing her hands together, she ducked her head. "I was wondering if you could talk to Hermione." Ginny looked up at Harry. "I know you didn't really know your parents, but you know what it's like to be alone. She was right about that. Neither Ron or I could imagine what that's like but you…" She ducked her head again.
"I'm an orphan, too." The words were stark.
Ginny looked at him imploringly. "I didn't mean to upset you Harry. I just thought that you might be able to help her in ways that we couldn't."
Harry looked down at his shoes for a moment but then sighed quietly. "All right Ginny. I'll see what I can do." He looked at her again and Ginny had to stifle a gasp at the bleak, lost expression in them.
"I never knew my parents, really. My situation is different but I will talk to her," he said quietly.
Ginny felt tears well in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Harry." She couldn't think of anything else to say.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I'm used to it."
Ginny held his gaze steadily. "Ron was right Harry. We did adopt you. You're not alone."
She held her breath at her own daring but Harry just looked at her for a moment and then teasingly tugged at her ponytail.
"Thanks Ginny, It means a lot to me."
Ginny blushed but grinned at him. She suddenly felt like she could walk on air. "You know, I didn't get dinner either. Would you like to come down to the dining hall with me so we can watch Ron and Hermione make kissy faces at each other?"
Harry shouted with laughter. "I wouldn't let Ron hear you say that!"
Ginny laughed and headed toward the portrait hole. "I'm his sister. It's part of my job to give him a hard time."
She felt him gently tug her hair once again.
"Well then, since I'm adopted into you're family that means you're officially able to give me a hard time as well, I suppose?"
Ginny winced at being thought of as a sister to him, but then grinned over her shoulder. This could actually be fun.
"Harry, you can count on it."
To be continued...
And yes, dear readers, it actually is being continued! Please check back in the next two weeks for the next chapter and thanks to all of those who followed this story at SQ and asked me to continue with it.
Monique