Neither Hermione nor Ginny could sleep. It had been a fun day, up until
Mrs Weasley had got home and threw the [I]Daily Prophet[/I] on the table.
The headline read, [I]12 muggle killings and 15 wizard killings last month
– and still the ministry deny any connection to You-Know-Who[/I].
Mr. Weasley and Percy were home late, both looked very tired, the children had decided to leave them in peace, and had headed up to bed.
That was an hour ago, and Hermione didn't understand why she couldn't sleep. She was safe with the Weasley's, and Harry had Dumbledore's protection. So why was she so worried? Maybe it was because no one can escape Voldemort, well, except for Harry, or maybe it was because she had a feeling in her gut that Dumbledore's protection wouldn't be around forever. A warm salty tear poured out of her eyes and fell down her cheek at this thought. A world without Dumbledore was scarier then anything else Hermione, or anybody for that matter, could imagine. But he was an old man; he wouldn't be around forever.
At least, Hermione thought, Voldemort can't kill Harry with his wand, thanks to Priori Incantatem, he would have to do it with his bare hands. Then again, he didn't have a shortage of supporters to lend him their wands; they would probably consider it an honour.
She hated the Death Eaters more than even Draco Malfoy. There had only ever been one other witch in her family, her mother's cousin, she had been Head girl at Hogwarts; Hermione had never met her. Why? Because she was murdered by death eaters a month after she was born, [I]that's why[/I], and she had come to see Hermione a week after Hermione was born, as she was very close to Hermione's mother.
The only thing she could say when she saw her was, "She's going to be another one." And Hermione's mother didn't need to ask, 'another what?' because she knew. Another witch. Another Hogwarts baby - another Hogwarts head girl.
Hermione had never mentioned this to anyone ever since her mother had told her, the day she got her letter. Except once. After Professor McGonagall had given the time turner to her in third year she said, "You're a lot like Caroline you know." Hermione had simply smiled weakly and nodded in response.
But that was a long time ago, and even though she felt a tie to Caroline she couldn't dwell upon it. She was going to make her parents proud, she was going to make everyone proud.
And she wasn't going to stand back and let anyone she loved die this time.
When Hermione and Ginny went downstairs next morning Mr Weasley and Percy were gone already, as they needed all hands on deck at the ministry.
Fred and George were due back that day, so the place wasn't going to stay so quiet.
They ate breakfast quickly, went into the living room to do some homework, and were extremely surprised to find Harry and Ron sat silently and writing frantically.
"What are you doing?" Hermione said, leaning over to look at what Ron was writing.
"Sssh. Potions essay." Harry said, his eyes not leaving his paper.
"[I]Still?[/I]" Ginny said, her eyes widening.
"Snape's evil you know." Ron said, glancing briefly at Ginny, but then continuing to scribble.
"You know Dumbledore trusts him!" Hermione hissed.
"Yeah, but he hates us, and he'll do anything to get me kicked out." Harry said with a shrug, Ginny looked worried,
"Don't worry." Hermione said, "Dumbledore wouldn't expel him, it's just not safe at the moment."
At this the room fell silent and the boys went back to their work again. Soon Hermione and Ginny had joined them, taking advantage of the silence they had left until that afternoon when Fred and George arrived home.
They bounced into the living room a few hours later, throwing sweets of all kinds to Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione.
"Ron!" Said Fred pulling him out of his seat and turning him to Hermione, "You didn't tell us how, [I]grown up[/I], Hermione was looking lately!"
Then George got in on the act, "Yeah!" He said, "We'll be giving you competition if you don't watch out!"
Hermione grinned at them, Ron's ears started to go red, and this quickly spread to the rest of his face.
"Shut up." He muttered, and he sat back down again.
Mr. Weasley and Percy were home late, both looked very tired, the children had decided to leave them in peace, and had headed up to bed.
That was an hour ago, and Hermione didn't understand why she couldn't sleep. She was safe with the Weasley's, and Harry had Dumbledore's protection. So why was she so worried? Maybe it was because no one can escape Voldemort, well, except for Harry, or maybe it was because she had a feeling in her gut that Dumbledore's protection wouldn't be around forever. A warm salty tear poured out of her eyes and fell down her cheek at this thought. A world without Dumbledore was scarier then anything else Hermione, or anybody for that matter, could imagine. But he was an old man; he wouldn't be around forever.
At least, Hermione thought, Voldemort can't kill Harry with his wand, thanks to Priori Incantatem, he would have to do it with his bare hands. Then again, he didn't have a shortage of supporters to lend him their wands; they would probably consider it an honour.
She hated the Death Eaters more than even Draco Malfoy. There had only ever been one other witch in her family, her mother's cousin, she had been Head girl at Hogwarts; Hermione had never met her. Why? Because she was murdered by death eaters a month after she was born, [I]that's why[/I], and she had come to see Hermione a week after Hermione was born, as she was very close to Hermione's mother.
The only thing she could say when she saw her was, "She's going to be another one." And Hermione's mother didn't need to ask, 'another what?' because she knew. Another witch. Another Hogwarts baby - another Hogwarts head girl.
Hermione had never mentioned this to anyone ever since her mother had told her, the day she got her letter. Except once. After Professor McGonagall had given the time turner to her in third year she said, "You're a lot like Caroline you know." Hermione had simply smiled weakly and nodded in response.
But that was a long time ago, and even though she felt a tie to Caroline she couldn't dwell upon it. She was going to make her parents proud, she was going to make everyone proud.
And she wasn't going to stand back and let anyone she loved die this time.
When Hermione and Ginny went downstairs next morning Mr Weasley and Percy were gone already, as they needed all hands on deck at the ministry.
Fred and George were due back that day, so the place wasn't going to stay so quiet.
They ate breakfast quickly, went into the living room to do some homework, and were extremely surprised to find Harry and Ron sat silently and writing frantically.
"What are you doing?" Hermione said, leaning over to look at what Ron was writing.
"Sssh. Potions essay." Harry said, his eyes not leaving his paper.
"[I]Still?[/I]" Ginny said, her eyes widening.
"Snape's evil you know." Ron said, glancing briefly at Ginny, but then continuing to scribble.
"You know Dumbledore trusts him!" Hermione hissed.
"Yeah, but he hates us, and he'll do anything to get me kicked out." Harry said with a shrug, Ginny looked worried,
"Don't worry." Hermione said, "Dumbledore wouldn't expel him, it's just not safe at the moment."
At this the room fell silent and the boys went back to their work again. Soon Hermione and Ginny had joined them, taking advantage of the silence they had left until that afternoon when Fred and George arrived home.
They bounced into the living room a few hours later, throwing sweets of all kinds to Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione.
"Ron!" Said Fred pulling him out of his seat and turning him to Hermione, "You didn't tell us how, [I]grown up[/I], Hermione was looking lately!"
Then George got in on the act, "Yeah!" He said, "We'll be giving you competition if you don't watch out!"
Hermione grinned at them, Ron's ears started to go red, and this quickly spread to the rest of his face.
"Shut up." He muttered, and he sat back down again.