For the Love of the Land
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Seven
"Hermione?" Hermione looked up from the book to see Ginny, looking rather timid.
"Yes?" She asked, trying to be patient. She REALLY needed to study for this Charm's test!
"Can I talk to you?" She asked, then nodded pointedly at Ron. "Alone?" Interest boosted in the extreme, Hermione obliged by following her to a secluded corner.
"What is it, Ginny?" Hermione asked kindly, sitting down next to the chair Ginny had, unknowingly, as if her mind were somewhere else, sat. She looked at Hermione.
"What is it like, Hermione? The first time you kissed Ron?" Ginny asked without preamble. Hermione was taken aback at Ginny's question. This, of all things, was NOT what she had expected.
"Well, it was..." Hermione struggled for words. She could, of course, remember in exact detail the fulfillment of her long-awaited desire to kiss Ron. She could remember every detail, every raindrop, and every millisecond of that eternal minute of time. But words...no words could describe that feeling. Hermione smiled. "It was indescribable." She smiled, and the severity of the emotions in the memory communicated itself the Ginny. Much the same way it had been when Draco had kissed her.
"Are you in love with him?" She asked. Hermione raised her eyebrows. Ginny was certainly full of unexpected questions tonight.
"Yes." Hermione said, realizing it for the first time herself how much she really LOVED Ron. How different it was from the way she loved Harry and Ginny and everyone else. She realized why it felt so right, yet confused her. She realized, in that single syllable, that the storybooks she had scorned as a child for being impractical were perfectly practical. She was living a storybook love. She smiled, radiating a sense of realized wisdom that GINNY had not been expecting. "Yes, Ginny. I love Ron with everything I know."
"I was just curious, because I think I may, well, nevermind." Ginny blushed a deep scarlet, and stood to leave, but Hermione caught her arm and forced her to sit again.
"What is going on, Ginny Weasley." She searched her friends' eyes, and felt her own widen with understanding. "Oh my God," She breathed. "Who, Ginny? Who?"
"Draco Malfoy." She whispered, and Hermione, having nothing to say, said nothing.
* * *
Ginny and Draco were teased mercilessly at the Defender meetings. Even Luna participated in the game of who-can-make-Ginny-redder. However, thankfully for them, the other three Defenders swore to secrecy on the subject, and the only teasing they received outside these now almost daily meetings was a gesture or a whisper from Hermione, Neville, or Cho.
However, while those who knew said nothing, Ron wasn't COMPLETELY oblivious to the goings-on of his little sister. He, and by association Harry, were becoming rather suspicious of Ginny. Hermione found it exceedingly annoying.
"What do you think is up with her?" Ron questioned. Hermione choked on her pumpkin juice, trying not to make it too obvious that she was laughing, not gagging in shock.
"I, um, dunno?" And with that, Hermione had to excuse herself from the table and "go to the bathroom." (In other words, running out where she could laugh hysterically without looking suspicious.
"What's do you think is up with HER?" Harry replied, motioning to Hermione. Ron shrugged.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Ron said. They began to talk with the full interest of having a meaningful relationship. However, boys will be boys, and the conversation, inevitably turned to Quidditch.
Hermione did return in a few minutes and sat down to finish her half eaten lunch. She was just raising her fork when a little red summons was dropped onto her lap.
"Why does Hermione always get the summons?" Ron whined once Hermione was out of hearing distance.
"Ginny gets them every time Hermione does." Harry said.
"She does?" Ron sounded rather surprised. "I hadn't noticed. Why are you noticing my sister, Harry?" Ron was teasing, and he laughed and continued to eat. Harry forced a laugh, trying not to blush. He had been asking himself the same question often recently.
Why am I watching Ginny Weasley every time I get the chance?
* * *
Ron was standing on a front lawn of a house in a residential area. He was watching in horror as the house across the street was surrounded by Death Eaters. They went in fearlessly.
A sudden switch in perception. He was no longer himself, but simply watching, like a movie, as three Death Eaters entered the room. He was in a bedroom, he noticed. There was a pretty, middle-aged woman sitting up in bed and watching the cloaked figures in horror. Ron strained, but he couldn't hear one syllable of the word exchange, until the tallest Death Eater raised his wand, pointing it at the woman.
"Avada Kedavra." He hissed. Ron's eyes widened as the green swoosh of death took the woman's life before she even had a chance to scream. A with cat with black paws came up to her and laid down, as if mourning, followed by two other felines.
Ron was back on the lawn again. The Death Eaters were apparating away. The last one, the same one who killed the woman, pointed his wand to the sky. A flash of green swept the sky. Ron looked up to see a serpent-tongued green skull grinning evilly down at him.
Ron felt himself being pulled up toward the skull's foreboding mouth. Ron put his hands in front of his face to protect himself, but he was still being sucked in...
He was no longer on the dark street, but in Dumbledore's office. The headmaster was handing Hermione an envelope. Once again, Ron could not here what he was telling Hermione, but it seemed to have quite an effect. She slumped down into a chair, looking shocked. What was going on? He didn't understand...
Ron sat up suddenly, gasping for breath. What a strange dream!
* * *
The next day Hermione was sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Luna was giving a long lecture on something or other, but Hermione wasn't paying attention. Ever since becoming a Defender Luna had not only left her alone in class, but she could catch the information in much more detail later. She was staring out the window, watching an owl fly up, toward Dumbledore's tower.
Normally she would've paid attention anyway, but Hermione had a funny feeling that day. What is was, she wasn't quite sure. Nobody else seemed to be feeling that way...
Hermione was brought out of her trance a few minutes later. An owl swooped into the classroom. Hermione was shocked when it dropped a red summons onto her lap.
What is THIS all about? Hermione wondered in surprise. The summons were used for Luna's Defender meetings. And here she was, in Luna's class! She picked up the red note card, and flipped it over. Professor Dumbledore, it read. Hermione's heart jumped into her throat. What would Professor Dumbledore want with her?
"Well, Miss Granger?" Luna said. Hermione flinched. Luna was still incredibly strict in her classroom, and made no exceptions for the Defenders. "Who summoned you?"
"Professor Dumbledore, L-Professor." She looked up at Luna, whose eyes betrayed the fact that she was as confused as Hermione. However the rest of her demeanor showed nothing.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" She demanded. "You are a prefect, you know the password to Dumbledore's office! Go!" Luna watched as Hermione stood, gathered her books, and left the classroom.
Why is the Heamaster summoning me? Hermione wondered once again, somewhat desperately. What could I have done? Hermione searched her mind for answers, but still had none when she reached the gargoyle.
"Jelly Slugs." She said, and when the gargoyle jumped aside, she jogged up the staircase to Dumbledore's office. She was about to knock on the door when he answered it. Hermione noticed immediately that he was somber, more so then Hermione had ever seen him. Well, that wasn't entirely true, (she had, after all, seen him several times with Harry after Harry had nearly died doing something heroic) but it was the first time Hermione had seen him so somber about something pertaining to HER.
"This will only take a second, Miss Granger." He said, motioning for her to come inside. Hermione did so, becoming more and more curious be the moment. "Please, take a seat."
Hermione didn't take a seat. "If it will be quick, Professor, I'd rather stand. I've been sitting all class and I think my legs are going numb.
"As you wish." He replied, sitting down and sighing heavily. "There really is no way to beat around the bush about this, Miss Granger. This morning the Dark Mark was spotted." Hermione just stared. Voldemort was using the Dark Mark again? "It was in a Muggle neighborhood, so, of course, the Ministry was dispatched immediately to clear up Muggle curiosity, and to...ah, identify the body." Dumbledore swallowed, as if he was treading on dangerous ground. Hermione continued to wait expectantly. "I'm sorry, Hermione," Dumbledore said as he picked a thin white envelope off his desk and handed it to her, as she started to slump down into the chair. "It was your Aunt Charlotte."
The world stopped, and Hermione dropped her books and fell down into the chair with a 'flump' in shock. She robotically took the envelope, but didn't read it.
Aunt Charlotte was dead. Hermione couldn't force herself to believe this. She looked up into Dumbledore's eyes expecting him to say that she wasn't REALLY dead. But that's not what he said. Dumbledore wasn't even LOOKING at her, but down at his desk.
"You'll be leaving on the Hogwarts Express in about an hour. Your parents will be waiting to take you home for the funeral. You'll be back in a week. I will notify all your teachers." He looked up, and it hit Hermione that Dumbledore was NOT going to change his mind. His eyes held sympathy and...something more. Hate, she realized. He hates Voldemort. However, this did not console her.
"I'll understand if you don't want to go back to class..."
"No, it's fine." Hermione's voice sounded distant and surreal to her own ears. She stood and left, not even realizing that she had left her books lying on the floor of Dumbledore's office.
As she walked slowly, robotically back down to Luna's classroom, the bell rang. She didn't even here it. Students pushed toward the Great Hall, but Hermione kept on against the crowd, not noticing them. As she walked she opened the letter and read:
Miss Hermione Granger,
We regret to inform you that in Voldemort's latest attack Charlotte Granger, your aunt, was killed. We at the Ministry send our regards and sympathy.
Cornelius Fudge,
Minister of Magic
Hermione slipped the pitiful condolence letter back into its envelope. She continued her robotic journey down a corridor. Her feet carried her without her brain controlling them, and somehow she managed to get to Luna's classroom.
Ron and Harry were standing outside, waiting impatiently for her.
"Let's GO Hermione, I'm starving and...Hermione?" Hermione walked right past Ron into the classroom, not even noticing her two best friends. Ron looked Harry. Harry looked at Ron. They both looked into the classroom, eavesdropping.
Luna looked up from her paperwork. Her expression changed immediately from one of patience to one of anxious surprise.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" She asked, her voice soothing and kind. Hermione, sniffling, handed her the letter. Luna took it and, with a curious look at Hermione, opened it.
"What's going on?" Ron hissed.
"Shhh!" Harry replied, straining. Was it just his imagination, or did Professor Starlight just call Hermione by her first name?
Luna glanced at the letter, and her eyes opened wide.
"Oh, Hermione..." She said. Hermione couldn't hold it in any longer. She started to cry. Luna gave her a hug and Hermione cried and cried and cried, holding onto to her like a shipwrecked passenger to the last life raft out at sea.
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Seven
"Hermione?" Hermione looked up from the book to see Ginny, looking rather timid.
"Yes?" She asked, trying to be patient. She REALLY needed to study for this Charm's test!
"Can I talk to you?" She asked, then nodded pointedly at Ron. "Alone?" Interest boosted in the extreme, Hermione obliged by following her to a secluded corner.
"What is it, Ginny?" Hermione asked kindly, sitting down next to the chair Ginny had, unknowingly, as if her mind were somewhere else, sat. She looked at Hermione.
"What is it like, Hermione? The first time you kissed Ron?" Ginny asked without preamble. Hermione was taken aback at Ginny's question. This, of all things, was NOT what she had expected.
"Well, it was..." Hermione struggled for words. She could, of course, remember in exact detail the fulfillment of her long-awaited desire to kiss Ron. She could remember every detail, every raindrop, and every millisecond of that eternal minute of time. But words...no words could describe that feeling. Hermione smiled. "It was indescribable." She smiled, and the severity of the emotions in the memory communicated itself the Ginny. Much the same way it had been when Draco had kissed her.
"Are you in love with him?" She asked. Hermione raised her eyebrows. Ginny was certainly full of unexpected questions tonight.
"Yes." Hermione said, realizing it for the first time herself how much she really LOVED Ron. How different it was from the way she loved Harry and Ginny and everyone else. She realized why it felt so right, yet confused her. She realized, in that single syllable, that the storybooks she had scorned as a child for being impractical were perfectly practical. She was living a storybook love. She smiled, radiating a sense of realized wisdom that GINNY had not been expecting. "Yes, Ginny. I love Ron with everything I know."
"I was just curious, because I think I may, well, nevermind." Ginny blushed a deep scarlet, and stood to leave, but Hermione caught her arm and forced her to sit again.
"What is going on, Ginny Weasley." She searched her friends' eyes, and felt her own widen with understanding. "Oh my God," She breathed. "Who, Ginny? Who?"
"Draco Malfoy." She whispered, and Hermione, having nothing to say, said nothing.
* * *
Ginny and Draco were teased mercilessly at the Defender meetings. Even Luna participated in the game of who-can-make-Ginny-redder. However, thankfully for them, the other three Defenders swore to secrecy on the subject, and the only teasing they received outside these now almost daily meetings was a gesture or a whisper from Hermione, Neville, or Cho.
However, while those who knew said nothing, Ron wasn't COMPLETELY oblivious to the goings-on of his little sister. He, and by association Harry, were becoming rather suspicious of Ginny. Hermione found it exceedingly annoying.
"What do you think is up with her?" Ron questioned. Hermione choked on her pumpkin juice, trying not to make it too obvious that she was laughing, not gagging in shock.
"I, um, dunno?" And with that, Hermione had to excuse herself from the table and "go to the bathroom." (In other words, running out where she could laugh hysterically without looking suspicious.
"What's do you think is up with HER?" Harry replied, motioning to Hermione. Ron shrugged.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Ron said. They began to talk with the full interest of having a meaningful relationship. However, boys will be boys, and the conversation, inevitably turned to Quidditch.
Hermione did return in a few minutes and sat down to finish her half eaten lunch. She was just raising her fork when a little red summons was dropped onto her lap.
"Why does Hermione always get the summons?" Ron whined once Hermione was out of hearing distance.
"Ginny gets them every time Hermione does." Harry said.
"She does?" Ron sounded rather surprised. "I hadn't noticed. Why are you noticing my sister, Harry?" Ron was teasing, and he laughed and continued to eat. Harry forced a laugh, trying not to blush. He had been asking himself the same question often recently.
Why am I watching Ginny Weasley every time I get the chance?
* * *
Ron was standing on a front lawn of a house in a residential area. He was watching in horror as the house across the street was surrounded by Death Eaters. They went in fearlessly.
A sudden switch in perception. He was no longer himself, but simply watching, like a movie, as three Death Eaters entered the room. He was in a bedroom, he noticed. There was a pretty, middle-aged woman sitting up in bed and watching the cloaked figures in horror. Ron strained, but he couldn't hear one syllable of the word exchange, until the tallest Death Eater raised his wand, pointing it at the woman.
"Avada Kedavra." He hissed. Ron's eyes widened as the green swoosh of death took the woman's life before she even had a chance to scream. A with cat with black paws came up to her and laid down, as if mourning, followed by two other felines.
Ron was back on the lawn again. The Death Eaters were apparating away. The last one, the same one who killed the woman, pointed his wand to the sky. A flash of green swept the sky. Ron looked up to see a serpent-tongued green skull grinning evilly down at him.
Ron felt himself being pulled up toward the skull's foreboding mouth. Ron put his hands in front of his face to protect himself, but he was still being sucked in...
He was no longer on the dark street, but in Dumbledore's office. The headmaster was handing Hermione an envelope. Once again, Ron could not here what he was telling Hermione, but it seemed to have quite an effect. She slumped down into a chair, looking shocked. What was going on? He didn't understand...
Ron sat up suddenly, gasping for breath. What a strange dream!
* * *
The next day Hermione was sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Luna was giving a long lecture on something or other, but Hermione wasn't paying attention. Ever since becoming a Defender Luna had not only left her alone in class, but she could catch the information in much more detail later. She was staring out the window, watching an owl fly up, toward Dumbledore's tower.
Normally she would've paid attention anyway, but Hermione had a funny feeling that day. What is was, she wasn't quite sure. Nobody else seemed to be feeling that way...
Hermione was brought out of her trance a few minutes later. An owl swooped into the classroom. Hermione was shocked when it dropped a red summons onto her lap.
What is THIS all about? Hermione wondered in surprise. The summons were used for Luna's Defender meetings. And here she was, in Luna's class! She picked up the red note card, and flipped it over. Professor Dumbledore, it read. Hermione's heart jumped into her throat. What would Professor Dumbledore want with her?
"Well, Miss Granger?" Luna said. Hermione flinched. Luna was still incredibly strict in her classroom, and made no exceptions for the Defenders. "Who summoned you?"
"Professor Dumbledore, L-Professor." She looked up at Luna, whose eyes betrayed the fact that she was as confused as Hermione. However the rest of her demeanor showed nothing.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" She demanded. "You are a prefect, you know the password to Dumbledore's office! Go!" Luna watched as Hermione stood, gathered her books, and left the classroom.
Why is the Heamaster summoning me? Hermione wondered once again, somewhat desperately. What could I have done? Hermione searched her mind for answers, but still had none when she reached the gargoyle.
"Jelly Slugs." She said, and when the gargoyle jumped aside, she jogged up the staircase to Dumbledore's office. She was about to knock on the door when he answered it. Hermione noticed immediately that he was somber, more so then Hermione had ever seen him. Well, that wasn't entirely true, (she had, after all, seen him several times with Harry after Harry had nearly died doing something heroic) but it was the first time Hermione had seen him so somber about something pertaining to HER.
"This will only take a second, Miss Granger." He said, motioning for her to come inside. Hermione did so, becoming more and more curious be the moment. "Please, take a seat."
Hermione didn't take a seat. "If it will be quick, Professor, I'd rather stand. I've been sitting all class and I think my legs are going numb.
"As you wish." He replied, sitting down and sighing heavily. "There really is no way to beat around the bush about this, Miss Granger. This morning the Dark Mark was spotted." Hermione just stared. Voldemort was using the Dark Mark again? "It was in a Muggle neighborhood, so, of course, the Ministry was dispatched immediately to clear up Muggle curiosity, and to...ah, identify the body." Dumbledore swallowed, as if he was treading on dangerous ground. Hermione continued to wait expectantly. "I'm sorry, Hermione," Dumbledore said as he picked a thin white envelope off his desk and handed it to her, as she started to slump down into the chair. "It was your Aunt Charlotte."
The world stopped, and Hermione dropped her books and fell down into the chair with a 'flump' in shock. She robotically took the envelope, but didn't read it.
Aunt Charlotte was dead. Hermione couldn't force herself to believe this. She looked up into Dumbledore's eyes expecting him to say that she wasn't REALLY dead. But that's not what he said. Dumbledore wasn't even LOOKING at her, but down at his desk.
"You'll be leaving on the Hogwarts Express in about an hour. Your parents will be waiting to take you home for the funeral. You'll be back in a week. I will notify all your teachers." He looked up, and it hit Hermione that Dumbledore was NOT going to change his mind. His eyes held sympathy and...something more. Hate, she realized. He hates Voldemort. However, this did not console her.
"I'll understand if you don't want to go back to class..."
"No, it's fine." Hermione's voice sounded distant and surreal to her own ears. She stood and left, not even realizing that she had left her books lying on the floor of Dumbledore's office.
As she walked slowly, robotically back down to Luna's classroom, the bell rang. She didn't even here it. Students pushed toward the Great Hall, but Hermione kept on against the crowd, not noticing them. As she walked she opened the letter and read:
Miss Hermione Granger,
We regret to inform you that in Voldemort's latest attack Charlotte Granger, your aunt, was killed. We at the Ministry send our regards and sympathy.
Cornelius Fudge,
Minister of Magic
Hermione slipped the pitiful condolence letter back into its envelope. She continued her robotic journey down a corridor. Her feet carried her without her brain controlling them, and somehow she managed to get to Luna's classroom.
Ron and Harry were standing outside, waiting impatiently for her.
"Let's GO Hermione, I'm starving and...Hermione?" Hermione walked right past Ron into the classroom, not even noticing her two best friends. Ron looked Harry. Harry looked at Ron. They both looked into the classroom, eavesdropping.
Luna looked up from her paperwork. Her expression changed immediately from one of patience to one of anxious surprise.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" She asked, her voice soothing and kind. Hermione, sniffling, handed her the letter. Luna took it and, with a curious look at Hermione, opened it.
"What's going on?" Ron hissed.
"Shhh!" Harry replied, straining. Was it just his imagination, or did Professor Starlight just call Hermione by her first name?
Luna glanced at the letter, and her eyes opened wide.
"Oh, Hermione..." She said. Hermione couldn't hold it in any longer. She started to cry. Luna gave her a hug and Hermione cried and cried and cried, holding onto to her like a shipwrecked passenger to the last life raft out at sea.