'Mr Weasley?'
Relieved beyond measure, Hermione began to cry, stifling her sobs in Arthur's chest. He beckoned to his companions, who gathered around, immensely relieved themselves that they would not have to enter Voldemort's tower. Dumbledore rallied them, speaking in hushed tones.
'We must return to the edge of the woods before we can Apparate away. We'll be heading for Arthur's house, and then on to Hogwarts via the Floo network. '
He melted into the darkness, closely followed by the others. Hermione found herself trailing behind them, so exhausted from her days of solitude she could hardly keep up. Her feet seemed heavy, as if they were encased in lead, and she was so tired.
Unable to concentrate on her movements and following the hurrying men, she tripped, sprawling in the undergrowth. As she tried to raise herself up, her arms gave way, dropping her back onto the bracken. Looking up, she saw Arthur Weasley disappearing into the darkness ahead of her. She tried to call to him, her voice catching in her throat.
With no strength left, even to call out to her rescuers as they ran further away from her, Hermione felt the despair begin to overwhelm her. Silent tears trickled down her pale face, and she lay, perfectly still, awaiting the arrival of the Death-Eaters. A gentle hand wiped the water from her cheeks, pulling her upright.
'Come along, Miss Granger,' Snape said, his usually sarcastic voice uncharacteristically gentle. 'We didn't go to all this trouble just to leave you behind, you know.'
He swept her up into his arms, and hurried along the trail, catching up with the others at the borders of the woods. With a quick nod, he Apparated away, appearing in the Weasley's living room with a quiet 'pop'. Molly Weasley stood ready by the fireplace.
Harry leapt out of his seat, his eyes going straight to Hermione.
'What -?'
Molly dug some Floo Powder out of a bag and threw it into the fire. Snape looked at Harry as he stepped into the flames.
'Not now, Mr Potter. Hogwarts!'
*~*~*
Hermione woke slowly, jolting upright in the bed before realising where she was. Minerva McGonagall wrapped her arms around the startled girl, comforting her as the terror of her ordeal hit her.
'It's all right, Hermione. You're safe, now. We won't let him get to you,' she assured her former student. 'And there are some very anxious people waiting to see you.'
She washed and dressed, revelling in the feel of clean clothes, and smooth hair. Gazing into the mirror she hardly recognised herself. Her face was pale, drawn, with huge dark circles under her eyes. Eyes that had seen enough in the last few days to last her a lifetime. Tears formed again as she remembered the innocents who had died in agony because she would not acquiesce to Voldemort's wish that she join him.
A large ginger cat rubbed itself against her legs, purring as she bent down to stroke him with a smile.
'Crookshanks, what would I do without you?'
The tom meowed and licked her face, nuzzling into her neck as she stood up, cat held gently in her arms. Setting him down on the bed, Hermione drew in a deep breath, and made her way along the halls to Dumbledore's office, smiling at the gargoyle on duty.
'May I ask how the young miss is feeling today?' it rasped, an anxious smile on its stony face.
'I'm very well, thank you. Relieved to be home.'
'Glad to hear it. I don't suppose you know the password?'
'How about 'Voldemort is an evil bastard who deserves to die a slow and painful death'?'
The gargoyle chuckled as it stepped aside.
'Fair enough, miss.'
As Hermione entered the crowded office, her eyes flew to the man standing beside the window, the sunlight shining off his black hair.
'Harry!'
He gathered her into his arms, kissing her hair, her cheeks, her lips, with a passion that transcended mere relief. Hermione sighed happily, holding him tighter. She had thought she would never see him again.
She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see Ron grinning at her like a maniac. He, too, wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her as tightly as he dared, to show her how happy he was that she was safe.
There was a polite cough behind them, and they all turned to see Dumbledore smiling down at them from behind his desk.
'Welcome home, Hermione. If you would take a seat? I'm sure you have many questions you'd like answering. But first, I think we would like to know what happened.'
Sitting between Harry and Ron on the tiny two-seater sofa, Hermione looked around at the people gathered in the office. She began, her speech stilted at first, growing more confident as she continued. It was only when she reached the murders that she faltered. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, but she continued bravely on, finishing her story to the shocked gathering of wizards.
'I didn't mean to worry so many people,' she mumbled, feeling Harry's arm slip around her shoulders.
'Nonsense, Hermione,' Dumbledore said. 'You mean far more to us than you will ever know. Is there anything you would like to ask before we get down to business?'
Hermione looked up at her aged Headmaster, knowing she had to ask just one question.
'Just one question, Professor. Why didn't my wand work in the tower?'
'I believe I can answer that, Miss Granger,' Snape said, leaning forwards. 'Voldemort has put wards on his tower that prevent the use of magic within its walls as a way of defending himself. However, the rule also applies to him and his Death-Eaters, which is why you weren't blasted to oblivion each time you defied him. Damn stupid ward to use, if you ask me, but then, who knows what goes on in his twisted mind?'
Dumbledore gave him a warning look, turning to Hermione with a smile.
'I trust your question has been answered fully, Hermione? Good.'
He rapped on the desk, as all eyes turned on him.
'Our immediate concern is the removal of Hermione to a safe house, preferably under the Fidelius Charm, but we must make do with the resources we have available to us. The Ministry are not to know of Hermione's heritage, Arthur, so I'd appreciate it if you kept our nightly excursion to yourself.'
Arthur nodded, still a little dazed by the experience he had just been through. He'd never thought that the rescue would work, let alone be so easy. All right, so Hermione had done most of the work, but he had placed himself in a near-death situation and had come out of it. Despite himself, he was impressed.
Dumbledore continued,
'Until such time as Hermione can be housed safely away from the prying eyes of Voldemort's spies, she will remain here at Hogwarts with myself and the other Professors. That is, unless you would prefer not to, Hermione?'
She smiled hesitantly up at him.
'Of course I'll stay, Headmaster,' she said, her fingers entwined with Harry's. 'It's not like I have anywhere else to go anymore, is it?'
Harry looked concerned, leaning in to whisper in her ear,
'Don't say that, 'Mione. You've always got me.'
Her features softened as she turned to look at him. A disgusted sound from the opposite side of the room announced Snape's intention to leave, which he did. Sirius gazed thoughtfully after him, his dark eyes going from the love-struck couple to the Potions Master's empty chair. He smiled sadly, his eye catching that of Dumbledore, whose own face reflected the soft emotion on Black's.
Relieved beyond measure, Hermione began to cry, stifling her sobs in Arthur's chest. He beckoned to his companions, who gathered around, immensely relieved themselves that they would not have to enter Voldemort's tower. Dumbledore rallied them, speaking in hushed tones.
'We must return to the edge of the woods before we can Apparate away. We'll be heading for Arthur's house, and then on to Hogwarts via the Floo network. '
He melted into the darkness, closely followed by the others. Hermione found herself trailing behind them, so exhausted from her days of solitude she could hardly keep up. Her feet seemed heavy, as if they were encased in lead, and she was so tired.
Unable to concentrate on her movements and following the hurrying men, she tripped, sprawling in the undergrowth. As she tried to raise herself up, her arms gave way, dropping her back onto the bracken. Looking up, she saw Arthur Weasley disappearing into the darkness ahead of her. She tried to call to him, her voice catching in her throat.
With no strength left, even to call out to her rescuers as they ran further away from her, Hermione felt the despair begin to overwhelm her. Silent tears trickled down her pale face, and she lay, perfectly still, awaiting the arrival of the Death-Eaters. A gentle hand wiped the water from her cheeks, pulling her upright.
'Come along, Miss Granger,' Snape said, his usually sarcastic voice uncharacteristically gentle. 'We didn't go to all this trouble just to leave you behind, you know.'
He swept her up into his arms, and hurried along the trail, catching up with the others at the borders of the woods. With a quick nod, he Apparated away, appearing in the Weasley's living room with a quiet 'pop'. Molly Weasley stood ready by the fireplace.
Harry leapt out of his seat, his eyes going straight to Hermione.
'What -?'
Molly dug some Floo Powder out of a bag and threw it into the fire. Snape looked at Harry as he stepped into the flames.
'Not now, Mr Potter. Hogwarts!'
*~*~*
Hermione woke slowly, jolting upright in the bed before realising where she was. Minerva McGonagall wrapped her arms around the startled girl, comforting her as the terror of her ordeal hit her.
'It's all right, Hermione. You're safe, now. We won't let him get to you,' she assured her former student. 'And there are some very anxious people waiting to see you.'
She washed and dressed, revelling in the feel of clean clothes, and smooth hair. Gazing into the mirror she hardly recognised herself. Her face was pale, drawn, with huge dark circles under her eyes. Eyes that had seen enough in the last few days to last her a lifetime. Tears formed again as she remembered the innocents who had died in agony because she would not acquiesce to Voldemort's wish that she join him.
A large ginger cat rubbed itself against her legs, purring as she bent down to stroke him with a smile.
'Crookshanks, what would I do without you?'
The tom meowed and licked her face, nuzzling into her neck as she stood up, cat held gently in her arms. Setting him down on the bed, Hermione drew in a deep breath, and made her way along the halls to Dumbledore's office, smiling at the gargoyle on duty.
'May I ask how the young miss is feeling today?' it rasped, an anxious smile on its stony face.
'I'm very well, thank you. Relieved to be home.'
'Glad to hear it. I don't suppose you know the password?'
'How about 'Voldemort is an evil bastard who deserves to die a slow and painful death'?'
The gargoyle chuckled as it stepped aside.
'Fair enough, miss.'
As Hermione entered the crowded office, her eyes flew to the man standing beside the window, the sunlight shining off his black hair.
'Harry!'
He gathered her into his arms, kissing her hair, her cheeks, her lips, with a passion that transcended mere relief. Hermione sighed happily, holding him tighter. She had thought she would never see him again.
She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see Ron grinning at her like a maniac. He, too, wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her as tightly as he dared, to show her how happy he was that she was safe.
There was a polite cough behind them, and they all turned to see Dumbledore smiling down at them from behind his desk.
'Welcome home, Hermione. If you would take a seat? I'm sure you have many questions you'd like answering. But first, I think we would like to know what happened.'
Sitting between Harry and Ron on the tiny two-seater sofa, Hermione looked around at the people gathered in the office. She began, her speech stilted at first, growing more confident as she continued. It was only when she reached the murders that she faltered. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, but she continued bravely on, finishing her story to the shocked gathering of wizards.
'I didn't mean to worry so many people,' she mumbled, feeling Harry's arm slip around her shoulders.
'Nonsense, Hermione,' Dumbledore said. 'You mean far more to us than you will ever know. Is there anything you would like to ask before we get down to business?'
Hermione looked up at her aged Headmaster, knowing she had to ask just one question.
'Just one question, Professor. Why didn't my wand work in the tower?'
'I believe I can answer that, Miss Granger,' Snape said, leaning forwards. 'Voldemort has put wards on his tower that prevent the use of magic within its walls as a way of defending himself. However, the rule also applies to him and his Death-Eaters, which is why you weren't blasted to oblivion each time you defied him. Damn stupid ward to use, if you ask me, but then, who knows what goes on in his twisted mind?'
Dumbledore gave him a warning look, turning to Hermione with a smile.
'I trust your question has been answered fully, Hermione? Good.'
He rapped on the desk, as all eyes turned on him.
'Our immediate concern is the removal of Hermione to a safe house, preferably under the Fidelius Charm, but we must make do with the resources we have available to us. The Ministry are not to know of Hermione's heritage, Arthur, so I'd appreciate it if you kept our nightly excursion to yourself.'
Arthur nodded, still a little dazed by the experience he had just been through. He'd never thought that the rescue would work, let alone be so easy. All right, so Hermione had done most of the work, but he had placed himself in a near-death situation and had come out of it. Despite himself, he was impressed.
Dumbledore continued,
'Until such time as Hermione can be housed safely away from the prying eyes of Voldemort's spies, she will remain here at Hogwarts with myself and the other Professors. That is, unless you would prefer not to, Hermione?'
She smiled hesitantly up at him.
'Of course I'll stay, Headmaster,' she said, her fingers entwined with Harry's. 'It's not like I have anywhere else to go anymore, is it?'
Harry looked concerned, leaning in to whisper in her ear,
'Don't say that, 'Mione. You've always got me.'
Her features softened as she turned to look at him. A disgusted sound from the opposite side of the room announced Snape's intention to leave, which he did. Sirius gazed thoughtfully after him, his dark eyes going from the love-struck couple to the Potions Master's empty chair. He smiled sadly, his eye catching that of Dumbledore, whose own face reflected the soft emotion on Black's.
