Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related names and places are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission.  No copyright infringement is intended.

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The rush of color did not even register in Harry's mind.  He kept hearing the same words over and over in his head.

"Harry, I'm afraid something has happened."

What could have happened?  Was it Ron, or Ginny, or one of the other Weasleys?  Could something have happened to them in Romania?  Harry didn't want to think about it. 

When Harry's feet found solid ground, he was quite unprepared.  He fell hard onto his backside.   Harry jumped up immediately and looked around the room.  He was back in Number 12. A horrible cold swept over him.  Christmas...the basement kitchen...something wrong...

"Harry, come with me."  Harry looked up and saw Professor Dumbledore beckoning him up the steps.

The scene was chaotic.  People that Harry barely had time to recognize were dashing here and there.  He caught snatches of conversations.

"...got to get there, man.  Ministry will muck things up royally."

"...can't believe this, does anyone know why?"

Harry followed Dumbledore into the large drawing room.

"The others will be here shortly. Please stay here, don't leave this room. I must go..."  Dumbledore didn't even finish his sentence before running out of the room.

Harry was furious. He walked to the door with every intention of finding someone to tell him what was going on.  The moment he stuck his head out, to look up and down the corridor, it was nearly taken off by a black blur heading up the stairs.  Though the person was moving at an alarming rate, there was no doubt who that greasy black hair belonged to.

Harry took one step out of the door when voices and thuds sounded behind him.  He whipped around.  Four red haired people had just appeared right in the middle of the drawing room.

"Where are they, Harry?"  Mr. Weasley asked.

"Everyone's running upstairs.  What's going on?" Harry stamped his foot.  It was a childish thing to do, but he was beginning to get annoyed.

"We'll explain when everything is sorted out.  Do not, and I mean do not leave this room for any reason!"  Mrs. Weasley yelled at them while charging up the stairs behind her husband.

Harry looked back at the other two.  Ron looked pale and Ginny was writhing with pure anger.  "Has anyone told you what's going on?"

The both shook their heads. Ginny looked at her watch then around the room.  "Wh...where's Hermione?  Shouldn't she be here, if we are?"

Ron went even paler, and looked at Harry.  "Y...you don't suppose..." 

Harry felt his knees shake and grabbed onto the back of a chair to support himself.  "No, no...don't think that. She's home with her parents.  It's harder for her to get here.  She can't use floo..."

Harry wasn't sure who he was trying to convince.  Ginny was right, if something had happened Hermione should be there with them. 

As much as they wanted to, none of them attempted to leave the room.  Ginny sat, shaking, in an armchair.  Ron paced the room and Harry stared into the fire.  When the door opened, all three jumped and swarmed the people who had entered.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore, and Lupin stood in the room looking grimmer than Harry thought possible. 

"I need you all to sit down, please."   Dumbledore said, his voice barely audible.

For some reason, Harry couldn't argue.  He sank down in the chair he had been gripping.  Ron and Ginny sat on the faded old sofa.   Harry's eyes scanned the group and he immediately panicked. His eyes had fallen on Lupin's robes.  There were dark patches of something that looked terribly like blood.

"Where's Hermione?  Why isn't she here?  She's a part of this..."  Ginny's voice was strangely high.

"That is what I need to discuss with you.  There was an attack tonight. I'm not exactly sure what happened myself..."

"Hermione's home was attacked by Deatheaters."  Lupin interrupted Dumbledore. 

Ginny cried out and began sobbing into Ron's shirt.  Ron sat stone still, staring.  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took seats on either side of their children. 

"Where is she?  What about her parents?"  Harry felt strangely detached.  Surely this was a nightmare.  Just another nightmare that he would soon wake up from...

"Hermione is upstairs.  She was injured and Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape are seeing to her."  Lupin sat in a chair that Dumbledore had pulled up for him.  "About an hour ago, Hermione came through on the two way communication mirrors.  I could barely hear her, but I knew there was trouble.  I apparated to her house and found several of the escaped Deatheaters.  I..."  He stopped and took several deep breaths.  "I found Hermione trying to hold two of them off.  The others had her parents.   Several other Order members had heard Hermione's calls and rushed to the house.  We didn't manage to capture any of them.  Hermione was hurt and I knew I had to get her somewhere safe, so I brought her here.  I immediately contacted Professor Dumbledore and Arthur."

"What happened to her parents?"  Harry was sure he already knew the answer to this question.

"I'm afraid there was nothing we could do for them."

The room was filled with a deafening silence.  Ginny's muffled sobs had stopped.  Everyone simply stared at Lupin.

"Ministry officials are at the house now.  Several muggle neighbors heard the commotion; they'll have to have their memories modified."  Harry looked at Dumbledore.  "This is a very serious situation.  Muggles haven't been attacked in public in nearly sixteen years.  They tend to panic over unexplained deaths.  They will want to blame someone and that someone will be the one person who survived."

"Hermione."  Ron had spoken for the first time since the others had entered the room.

"Yes.  The muggle police may possibly think Hermione had something to do with her parents' mysterious deaths.  We have devised a plan to make sure this doesn't happen.  We've questioned her and found out who knew she was at home for the holidays.  Members of the Order are already seeking out these people.  Their memories will be modified to believe that Hermione was with the Weasleys for Christmas holiday.  Shortly, Molly and Arthur will accompany Hermione to the police.  We've had Tonks to pose as a friend of the family.  She is pretending to have dropped by to visit the Grangers.  She'll know of Hermione's whereabouts and offer to get in touch with Molly."

"What's to become of Hermione, Professor?  I know she only has a grandmother in France, but she doesn't like the idea of Hermione being a witch.  Where will she go?"  Ginny was wiping her tears.

"The Grangers appointed appropriate guardians for Hermione awhile back."  Dumbledore gave Mrs. Weasley a sad smile.

"Your father and I are to be Hermione's guardians until she comes of age.  The plans were finalized the day we came to bring you here after your holiday."

It all seemed too terrible to be true.  Hermione's parents were dead.  Harry couldn't begin to think of how horrible this was for Hermione.  Sure, his parents had been killed, but he had only been a baby.  He hadn't really known them; Hermione had had sixteen years with her family.

 "Professor Dumbledore?"  Madame Pomfrey had entered the room.  "She is doing much better.  I've given her a calming draught.  The muggles shouldn't be suspicious.  Also, Tonks has just sent word that the muggles have asked her to bring Hermione to them."

"Thank you Poppy."

"Arthur and I will go and get her.  We'll come straight back here after it's all over."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood up and left the room.  Professor Lupin soon followed.  Harry, Ginny, and Ron were left trying to come to terms with what had happened.

"I would like to have a few words with the three of you."  Dumbledore looked very seriously over the top of his glasses.  "Hermione is going to need her friends now more than she ever has."  He turned to Harry.  "Harry, you understand what she's going through more than anyone.  She's going to need you.  You will all stay here until the end of the holidays.  Ms. Granger will be given the choice of returning to school in January or delaying her return.  Now, the three of you should be heading to bed, it's rather late.  You will find your belonging are in the rooms you occupied over the summer."  And he left, without another word.

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The hours passed in agony.  Harry, Ginny, and Ron went up to their separate rooms.  Harry couldn't have slept, even if he had tried.  He kept going over what had happened in his mind. How many more people would die before Voldemort was stopped?  How many more families would be torn apart?  Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he heard footsteps and voices pass his room.

"The poor dear.  I felt so helpless sitting there with her.  When those policemen told her what had happened, she just sat and stared at them."

"I know Molly.  She's an incredibly strong person, though. I think she will be alright in the end. Is she sleeping yet, Poppy?"

"Yes, I've given her a dreamless draught.  That should help a bit.  She nodded off just as we were leaving."

Harry jumped from his bed and pulled on his dressing gown.  He was going to see her, he had to.  He wanted to see for himself that she was alive and well.

Remembering to step over the squeaky steps, he tiptoed to Hermione's room.  Standing outside her door, Hermione's words came back to him.

"If you had just learned to keep your nose out of my business and let me be, none of this would be happening.  I wish you hadn't bothered to come and find me in first year.  At least then I could have had five years of peace!

She had screamed those words to Ron, but Harry felt they applied to him now.  If she hadn't been his friend, none of this would be happening to her.  She would be home, safe with her parents.

He placed a hand on the doorknob, but a voice stopped him.  Someone was talking inside of Hermione's room.

"I wish you were awake to hear me, Hermione.  Actually I don't, because if you were awake I wouldn't have the nerve to say this.  You mean everything to me, do you know that?"

Harry's eyes widened and he held his breath.  That was Ron! 

"I'm so sorry for everything."

Harry came to his senses.  He shouldn't be here, he shouldn't be hearing this.  He certainly would hate to know that Ron had overheard him in a situation like this.  He turned around to start back to his room and smacked right into someone.

"Merlin's beard, Harry!  What are you trying to do, give a girl a heart attack?" Ginny was speaking in a fast but low whisper, clutching her chest.

"I didn't expect you to be right behind me!  What are you doing here anyway?"

"The same thing you are, apparently." 

"Well, there's no use.  Ron's already beat us to it."  Ginny's eyes went wide, and Harry already knew what she was thinking.  "Trust me, we shouldn't interrupt."

"Oh..."  Ginny said. "Well, guess I'll go back to bed then.  Goodnight, Harry." She turned and went walked down the corridor towards her room.

Harry stood, watching her.  He didn't know why, but he did.  He watched her open the door to her room, turn and give him a small wave, then shut the door behind her.

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The funeral for Hermione's parents would be held the following week.  All sorts of memory charms had had to be cast, and the Ministry had tried to cover up every trace of what really happened.

Hermione came down to the basement kitchen in the mornings to have breakfast and then would go into the drawing room where she would read until lunch.  Her routine never changed. Her injuries had been slight.  It seemed that the Deatheaters had taken care not to hurt her very badly.  There were no visible signs of the attack on her body, but it showed clearly in her eyes.  She never spoke to anyone; she just ambled about the house. 

Harry and Ginny took turns sitting with her in the drawing room during the day.  Neither pressed conversation upon her, they would just sit.  They wanted to show that they were there for her if she wanted them, but they refused to press her until she was ready.  Ron had taken to avoiding all of them.  No one could figure out why, but Ginny came up with a possible explanation.

"Well, they fought before the end of term.  Maybe Ron feels guilty about the things he said to her.  I mean, what if she had died and the last words Ron had said to her were hateful?"  Ginny whispered to Harry one morning during breakfast.

The morning of the funeral dawned bright, but cold.  They all dressed in appropriate muggle clothes and rode in a Ministry car that had been sent for them.  Hermione was her usual detached self.  She neither spoke, nor offered any sign of emotion.  Ron seemed to have adapted this behavior as well.

Harry was shivering as they all stood next to the two open graves.  Hermione stood to his left with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley on her other side.  The Granger's friends stood across from them.  Many were weeping openly and some just stared at their feet.   Tonks, Remus, and Mad-eye (who succeeded at blending in very well, amazingly) had accompanied them to the funeral and stood behind them at the graveside.  Harry wondered if this was just supporting Hermione or if they feared another attack.

Harry kept sneaking glances at Hermione, but she still stood stone still.  She hadn't shed a tear throughout the whole day.  However Ginny seemed to be doing enough for the both of them.  She stood on Harry's right, with Ron right behind her.  When the service ended, the other people came to talk to Hermione.  Harry was about to walk away, when he felt someone grab hold of his hand.  He looked around and saw Hermione.  She gave him a pleading look and squeezed his hand.  Although she didn't say a word, Harry understood perfectly.  He stayed by her side as her parent's friends came to give their condolences.

A young woman with dark hair enveloped Hermione in a hug.  "Oh dear, I'm so sorry."  She pulled an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to Hermione.  "I was cleaning out your mother's desk and I found this.  It had your name on it.  I think she had intended on sending it to you at school; it didn't have a stamp or anything so..."

"Thank you Jennifer.  Everything has been sorted out?"  Harry was surprised to hear how calm Hermione's voice sounded.

"Yes, the office has been packed up.  All of their personal things were sent to the house.  Dr. Jenkins is going to be taking over after the first of the year."

Hermione nodded.  The woman looked ready to burst into tears, so she hugged Hermione quickly and ran towards her car.

"Oh, no...not her..."  Harry heard Hermione whisper.  He looked up to see an older woman pushing her way through the crowd.  She was looking at Hermione with a look Harry knew all too well.  It was the same look Aunt Petunia had been giving him for as long as he could remember.

"Are you going to just stand there staring or are you going to hug your grandmother?"

Harry felt Hermione's hand tighten around his.  "I'd really rather not, Grandmother, if it's all the same to you."

The grandmother didn't look the least bit shocked.  "Well, I can see you're still as hateful as you've always been.  I've been told that Annette arranged for you to live with another family.  I figured my daughter would want you away from me.  I've always said she did the wrong thing by encouraging your...whatever it is."  The grandmother smiled nastily.

"If you are going to insult my parents or me, I suggest you leave now."  Hermione's voice was filled with a bitterness Harry had never heard before.

"I will stay until I am ready to leave, you nasty little girl.  However I won't talk of them anymore, it is wrong to speak ill of the dead.  Are these people you are to live with like you?"

"I am not going to discuss anything with you.  Good day, Grandmother."

The old woman gave a snort and walked away from Hermione. 

"I want to leave, Harry.  Can we go now?"  Hermione sounded as though she were on the verge of having a breakdown, so Harry led her back to the car.

"Where's Ron?" 

Harry looked around. Ron had been right behind them just a few moments ago.  "I don't know. Do you want me to find him?"

"No, it's alright. Never mind."

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When they arrived back at number twelve, Hermione rushed into her bedroom.  They could all hear her sobbing inside, but no one knew quite what to do.

After lunch (which Hermione refused to come down for) Harry met up with Ron in the corridor leading to Hermione's room.

"What are you doing here?"  Ron asked.

"Your mum wanted me to bring this to Hermione."  Harry held up a tray of sandwiches and juice. 

"Yeah, you're the only one she'll talk to now.  Makes sense to have you do it."  Ron said, brushing roughly past Harry.

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

"Nothing, never mind."

Ron remained distant for the rest of the holidays.  Eventually Hermione came out of her room and resumed her spot in the drawing room.  She began to talk to Harry and Ginny.  Every day she would ask about Ron, but none of them could ever find him.

On the first of January, the three of them sat in the drawing room.  Hermione was reading and Harry and Ginny were playing chess.

"Are you all packed?"  Mrs. Weasley asked.  They nodded.  "Good.  You'll be taking the train back, so make sure you are up at a decent time. Hermione, I picked up everything you wanted me to, it's all lying on your bed."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley."

Mrs. Weasley left and Ginny turned to Hermione.  "You're going back to Hogwarts tomorrow?"

"Of course I am."  She smiled when Harry and Ginny glanced at one another.  "I can't just hide.  Besides my parents would want me to move on with life, not be mired down in grief."

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The next morning, they all rushed around trying to get ready for the return to school.  They made it to the train station with twenty minutes to spare.  Ron, still avoiding everyone, rushed through the barrier ahead of everyone else.  Harry was about to walk through when a voice called out to him. 

"Harry!  Harry, wait!"

He turned to see Mark Evans charging at him, full speed.

"Hello, Mark.  Have a good holiday?"

"Yeah, I did.  Listen, my dad is being really weird.  When I told him about you, he flipped.  He says he wants to meet you.  Think you could come and have a chat with him?  He'll drive me mad all term if you don't!"

Harry knew that Mark Evan was muggle born, but the idea of meeting a stranger didn't set well with him.  "I suppose I can."

"Good, stay here and I'll go and get him."

Harry was thankful that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were still standing with him.   He had turned to tell them what was going on, when another voice stopped him.

"You're Lily's son?" 

Harry jerked around.  How did this man know his mother's name?  Harry's eyes widened as they fell on a tall man with dark auburn hair and bright... "Wait a minute...those are my eyes!"

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A/N: Well I promised to thank all of my reviewers individually so here goes:

tanstaafl—Thank you so much!

The Yellow Dart—I hate you too!  Just kidding!  You have to be my most enthusiastic fan yet!  I'm so glad you like this silly thing.

Paul--Glad you think so!

hermionegreen—I'm glad you thought it was realistic.  I tried to go off my stupid fights at that age, but of course I got to spice them up by adding all the magical parts!

Spaci Ireth—I'm terribly sorry about the long chapters!  Sometimes my brain gets carried away and I can't wrangle it back!  I'm trying to be very careful with the Harry/Ginny situation.  Hermione/Ron have had five years to fall in love, so I can just make them say "I love you" just about any old time.  Harry/Ginny, however, have a very strange relationship.  They've just learned to be friends and respect each other on a whole new level.  I hate the idea of Harry taking one look at Ginny and saying... "Hey, I think I love you..."  That seems a bit far-fetched to me...I'm so glad you like this.  By the way...I love how you got your screen name...!

Remember guys...R/R!!!!