Author's note: Hey thanks for my three comments they really mean a lot to
me. I have a bit of this written I just don't want to post it all the end
up with y'all waiting for more I don't have done. Thanks for your support.
Oh yeah: I don't own any of the characters, the setting, I don't think I even own any of the words. I might have made a couple up but who knows. I do believe the plot is mine. So if you want to steal it maybe change it up a bit.
Note: there are some "Adult Situations" in this chapter. In my opinion they aren't that bad. Just a for warning
Chapter three: The DA
Hermione went up to the owlery and sent pig and a school owl, each with about a third of the letters. Since the other school owls were all out, Hermione spent the better part of a half hour trying to coax Hedwig to come down and that Harry had said it was ok she sent the letters. After seeing Hedwig off, Hermione stayed in the owlery and leaned out one of the windows. She was thinking of how her parents would react to hearing their only baby would be leaving them to marry Ron. They liked Ron well enough, but it was the little things like how he yelled every time he called on the telephone, how he stood for half an hour switching the light switch and watching the lights go on and off so easily, confused as to how the bird lived in their clock but never left for food, or how food was cooked almost instantly in a microwave. When she thought about it, it must seem odd to her parents that he acted this way, but it seemed odd to Ron's family the way her parents had dinner with them. Hermione was thinking about how it was so weird for her to be stuck between the Muggle and Wizard worlds, at home she was a muggle with a few advantages from her magic, which she could only use when only her parents were around. When any of her childhood friends were around she felt left out and out of the loop, they had learned different things in their muggle schools, they all had learned about the Second World War, Hermione just from a wizarding point of view. As she was thinking of all the things she never learned, due to not going to Muggle School, her thoughts were interrupted as someone behind her said her name.
"Oh, Hermione. I didn't expect anyone to be here now." Hermione turned to find Mandy Brokeherst, a seventh-year Ravenclaw and a fellow DA member.
"I sent my letters awhile a go. I kind of got lost in thought."
"I bet you have a lot to think about. Congrats on the whole wedding thing. You and Ron fit so perfect."
"Um, thanks, but how do you know?"
"Well you weren't really that quiet in the Great Hall, and with not that many people in there it carried pretty well."
Oh no! Hermione thought. The way news travels here the whole school will know.
"Actually Hermione, I'm glad I ran into you. I need to talk to you, about Harry."
"Oh Mandy," Hermione replied thinking she knew where this was going, "Harry's not exactly, um, looking for love at the moment."
To Hermione's surprise Mandy laughed. "Oh no, it's nothing like that. I need to talk to him about Sirius Black."
"Oh!" Hermione was a bit surprised not a lot of people talked about Sirius. He had died a criminal. Though his name was cleared nobody really believed it. "Mandy, Harry gets really touchy when Sirius is brought up. Ever since he died at least."
"I know, but I've got to tell someone!" Mandy's normally bright attitude was now vanished and she was approaching tears.
Hermione pulled Mandy into a hug, "Tell someone what?"
"Sirius," she paused to take a deep breath to hold back the tears. "He was my dad." At this she let the tears go.
"How come he never told us about you?"
"He- he never knew. My mum never told him." She had regained her self now. Now as she spoke there were still silent tears running down her face.
"I am so sorry. You never got to meet him?"
"Hm-mh, that's why I wanted to talk to Harry. My mum says he was Harry's godfather and he and Harry were really close."
"Yes, they were. Tell you what. I'll tell Harry that you are going to talk to him after the next DA meeting. We should be having one awfully soon, Harry just spent all summer with the Order."
"Thanks Hermione, you've been really great." She dried her face, cooled her cheeks, and started to leave.
"Mandy, your letter?"
"Oh yeah, thanks again."
"No problem, I'll see you at the next DA meeting." She gave Mandy an 'it'll be all right smile' and left.
Hermione returned to the common room to find that Ron, Harry, Seamus, and some others had gone down to the Pitch to play some Quidditch. She decided to read the new book she got from her parents for Christmas, High School Physics. She started at the beginning: What is energy? As interesting as this all was to Hermione, she soon fell asleep.
Hermione took a step toward the altar. This was the day! She was getting married! Look there was Ron looking oh so sharp in his tux! Look at all the people who came to see their wedding! There was Harry, and all the Weasleys, her parents, her whole extended family, all her teachers, practically everyone she'd ever met. She had reached the altar and the reverend began the ceremony. "If anyone know of reason that these should not be married speak now or forever hold your peace." Of course no one would say any thing these two were made for each other. "Now why wasn't I invited to this joyous event? All these Mudbloods and blood traitors I could of made this a real party. Now, who wants to die first?" As Voldemort started killing people, Ron grabbed Hermione and pulled her through a trap door behind the altar. The only thing in this room was a king sized bed. "Hermione I love you. I don't want to die a virgin!" at these words they started to make mad passionate love as they stripped each other naked. Once they were both naked which took surprisingly little time, Ron threw Hermione on the bed and joined her. Before she knew it they were one he was a part of her, and she of him. Then she heard a high cold laugh. "Now that the rest are dead, it's your turn." He raised his wand and-
"Hermione! Wake up!" Hermione snapped awake to find a small crowd gathered around her. "Give her some breathing room." A lot of the people stepped back. "Are you alright? You were shaking real bad and muttering things. You had me, all of us, really worried. Do you have a fever?" Ron reached over to feel her forehead. "You don't have a fever, maybe you should go to bed."
Hermione did not want to fall back asleep. "NO!" she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear "I just want you to hold me." "Ok," he whispered back and they moved away to a couch by the window where she curled up into his arms and he just held her. They sat this way for a while until Harry came over to see if she was ok.
"Everything all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just had a dream about that night a t the ministry." Hermione lied. "Hey, do you know when the next DA meeting will be?" she asked remembering her conversation with Mandy.
"Yeah, I just sent it. It will be tomorrow after dinner. We have a lot to go over."
"Um, I promised Mandy that you would talk to her after the meeting. She really needs to talk to you."
"What about?"
"Um, I think it would be better if she told you."
"Hermione, you're not trying to set me up again, are you?"
"I had nothing to do with any of that, that was all Ginny! I didn't even like most of those girls!"
Ginny had spent most of the first half of the year playing matchmaker. It was actually thanks to her that Ron and Hermione started going out this year. But her main case had been. Harry. She would pick girl after girl and Harry rejected all of them. He really never gave them a fair chance, but Hermione didn't blame him, he was content, and all of the girls really weren't that great for him. They were all very pretty but even more so, they were shallow.
"I have no desire to hook you up, Harry, you'll find love when you're meant to. Where is Ginny anyway?"
"She went out again with Simon. I can't believe it she spent all holiday with him and now they are out doing who knows what." They could here the protectiveness in Ron's voice he always was partial when it came to Ginny. But Ginny did all right for herself. She was now one of the prettiest most popular girls in school. She could get any guy she wanted and usually did. But now she seemed to be sticking with Simon. She hadn't dated anyone else since last June. "They are always snogging, and, and other things."
"You're one to speak. Tell me Ron what have you and I been doing every night this week?"
"That doesn't count we're getting married!"
"How does that make it different? She's been seeing Simon a lot longer than we've been going out. At least she's only snogging one boy now. Last year there was that whole problem with Derrick, Alex, and Sam that was a fiasco when they all found out. Luckily no hard feelings."
"When did this happen? How come she never tells me anything? How does every else know but me? How many boyfriends has she had?"
"Well," began Harry, "there was Michael, and then Dean, then Derrick, Alex, Sam, Robby, that one kid, Colin..."
"Enough! My sisters a little scarlet woman! Why are you laughing? Stop laughing! This isn't funny! She's gonna get hurt!"
"Ron first of all nobody says scarlet woman any more. Second of all it is perfectly fine that your sister dates a lot. Not every girl gets engaged to the second boy she dates. I got lucky. And she knows what she's doing, she's been hurt before, she gets over it. So now I'm hungry, we've missed dinner so lets go down to the kitchens and get some food."
They made their way down to the kitchens. Hermione had long past quite trying to free the elves when Dumbledore told her that by trying to free the elves she was aggravating them and they needed the house elves on their side for this war. And they were all much more polite to the house elves ever since the Kreacher incident.
"Ah, Mr. Harry Potter has come to see Dobby!"
"Actually Dobby, we missed supper and were wondering if we could get some food."
"Of course, and on behalf of all the house elves here we would like to congratulate Mr. Ron and Miss Hermione on their engagement."
"How did you guys know?"
"Ron the whole school practically know, and the house elves know almost everything that goes on here."
A house elf came around with a tray with some roast beef sandwiches and pumpkin juice. They sat down and began to eat. Dobby came over with some cake when they were finish up with the sandwiches. "Dobby not suppose to say, but there have been more reports of Muggle killings by the Dark Lord and his followers." As it seems house elves were excellent spies considering most Death Eaters were wealthy. They house elves would spy on their masters and report back to Dumbledore. "There have been six in the past week."
"Oh, that's horrible!"
"Is the Ministry doing anything to try and prevent anymore? They have to be doing something they can't just let this happen."
"Hermione, the house elves can't know that. Honey, I'm sure that the Ministry is doing something. We should go it's getting late, and classes start tomorrow." They thanked the elves and headed back up to the common room.
The next morning's classes went very well. After the students had taken their O.W.L.s their classes were broken into what careers the young wizards had chosen. Harry and Ron had both chosen paths as Aurors. Hermione on the other hand had chosen to be a teacher. She was actually surprised to see how many classes they had together. They had history of magic first that day, and then Hermione went to Arithmancy, while Harry and Ron both (much to Ron's disapproval) headed toward Muggle Studies as it was a required for the Auror position. They ate a quick lunch and all went to Transfiguration.
"Now, today we will be continuing transfiguring stationary items to animals. As you can see I have gathered various pieces of furniture. You will each choose a piece to transfigure to the animal of your choice."
Hermione, as usual, was the first to finish. She had transfigured her table into a beautiful chestnut palomino. She looked around her and saw Ron just finishing a cow on one side and Mandy on the other side having a little trouble transfiguring her cabinet into what looked like a penguin. When she looked over at Harry, she saw his ottoman had now become a large, shaggy, black dog. Hermione wasn't the only one to notice either. McGonagall was quickly moving toward them, and Ron flat out said, "Harry, you know that looks just like Sirius?"
"Yeah, I suppose he does!" Harry replied as if he hadn't already realized this. Mandy's reaction was quite unexpected though. When Ron had mentioned Sirius's name her eyes grew big and she started to cry.
"S-Si-Sirius?" she stammered and ran out of the room.
"Miss Brockeherst?"
"Professor!" Hermione rushed over to McGonagall and told her the reason of which Mandy had left. McGonagall seemed taken a back at first, then had Hermione return to her horse.
"What was all that about?" Ron asked while Hermione returned Mandy's confused penguin to its cabinet state.
"It's not my place to tell you. I'm sure you will find out soon enough, I think." She glanced at Harry. He was still playing with the dog. "Harry! You better get back to work you've only got twenty minuets left!" She made sure Harry was back to work and finished transfiguring her horse to a table again. She then went back to her desk to start on their homework assignment.
Hermione had a hurried dinner so she could get a head start on her homework before the DA meeting. At a quarter after seven Hermione headed up to the Room of Requirement, where they still held the meetings because it seemed to have exactly what they needed for the evening meetings. When she got there she found Ron and Harry already there.
Ron greeted her with a small kiss before saying, "Well it's nice to see you Miss Study-pants. Why did you have to get started on homework tonight? You have all week, you know."
"Yes, I know! But the sooner I get it done the less I have to worry about it later. I keep telling you two that you shouldn't wait until the last minute. So, Harry what will we be doing tonight?"
"Well at the last Order meeting we heard a lot of reports of Voldemort making killings where there are large groups of people. Especially mixes of Muggles and Wizards. So I think we will do some large group shielding charms."
Hermione's heart fell at the news of Voldemort attacking large groups of people. Would he attack her wedding? Would her dream come true? What was she going to do about her wedding? She pushed these thought s away for the moment as other people started arriving.
The DA had now more or less become a Hogwarts branch of the Order. Dumbledore saw it fit to make Harry a part of the Order as he was so closely related to the possible demise of Voldemort. So Harry would come back from Order meetings, like the ones over the holiday, and share with the DA what he had learned. Dumbledore now selected members of the DA. They had to at least finished their forth year and to show aptitude for Defense Against the Dark Arts. There were members from each of the four houses. Draco Malfoy was the first Slytherin to join their ranks. Malfoy had defied his family after seeing his mother killed by Voldemort because of his father's mistake. He then when to live with his mother's sister Andromeda, who was the only relative who would take him. He was now one of the best members the DA had.
Ron and Hermione hurried to sit down as Harry began, "Tonight we will be working on large group shielding spells. There have been reports of Voldemort attacking large groups of people, mostly at celebrations. Yes, Hermione?"
"So these times would include parties, conventions, weddings and carnivals, correct?"
"Yes Hermione," he sounded a little annoyed that she couldn't of figured that out. But neither he nor anyone else seemed to hear the worry in her voice. Her wedding would be the perfect opportunity to rid the world of a large amount of Muggles and almost all the Weasleys.
"Now I want you to divide into groups of seven. One person will do the charm and another will send a jinx to it to see how well the charm was preformed. Make sure you know the counter jinx first in case the shield doesn't work."
Once everyone had gotten into groups and Harry was wandering around, Ron decided to begin. "So I'll go first and, Herm, why don't you throw a jinx at it."
"Mm-Kay." She said a she stepped away from the group.
Ron readied him self and set the charm. "Abriteir-scudo" Hermione, whose thoughts were in other places, hardly notice him do this. "Hermione! Are you going to test it or not!?!"
"Oh, yeah!" she stepped back and aimed the stunning spell. "Stupefy!" The red sparks barely made the five feet to the shield before hitting it and dispersing.
"Hermione? Are you alright?" Mandy had a worried look on her face after seeing the very weak spell.
"I'm fine." She said shortly. "I'll do the next shield Draco you jinx us. Abriteir-scudo"
"Petrificus Totalus!" It was as there was no shield at all. The jinx hit Margo, another seventh year Ravenclaw. She stiffened and fell to the floor.
"Hermione...?"
"NO, I'M NOT FINE! OK? EVERYONE I LOVE IS GOING TO DIE! AND IT WILL BE ALL MY FAULT! THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT! I AM SORRY RON BUT I CANNOT MARRY YOU!" Noticing the whole room was now watching her, Hermione left. She went to the one place she felt the safest and thought no one would find her there.
Oh yeah: I don't own any of the characters, the setting, I don't think I even own any of the words. I might have made a couple up but who knows. I do believe the plot is mine. So if you want to steal it maybe change it up a bit.
Note: there are some "Adult Situations" in this chapter. In my opinion they aren't that bad. Just a for warning
Chapter three: The DA
Hermione went up to the owlery and sent pig and a school owl, each with about a third of the letters. Since the other school owls were all out, Hermione spent the better part of a half hour trying to coax Hedwig to come down and that Harry had said it was ok she sent the letters. After seeing Hedwig off, Hermione stayed in the owlery and leaned out one of the windows. She was thinking of how her parents would react to hearing their only baby would be leaving them to marry Ron. They liked Ron well enough, but it was the little things like how he yelled every time he called on the telephone, how he stood for half an hour switching the light switch and watching the lights go on and off so easily, confused as to how the bird lived in their clock but never left for food, or how food was cooked almost instantly in a microwave. When she thought about it, it must seem odd to her parents that he acted this way, but it seemed odd to Ron's family the way her parents had dinner with them. Hermione was thinking about how it was so weird for her to be stuck between the Muggle and Wizard worlds, at home she was a muggle with a few advantages from her magic, which she could only use when only her parents were around. When any of her childhood friends were around she felt left out and out of the loop, they had learned different things in their muggle schools, they all had learned about the Second World War, Hermione just from a wizarding point of view. As she was thinking of all the things she never learned, due to not going to Muggle School, her thoughts were interrupted as someone behind her said her name.
"Oh, Hermione. I didn't expect anyone to be here now." Hermione turned to find Mandy Brokeherst, a seventh-year Ravenclaw and a fellow DA member.
"I sent my letters awhile a go. I kind of got lost in thought."
"I bet you have a lot to think about. Congrats on the whole wedding thing. You and Ron fit so perfect."
"Um, thanks, but how do you know?"
"Well you weren't really that quiet in the Great Hall, and with not that many people in there it carried pretty well."
Oh no! Hermione thought. The way news travels here the whole school will know.
"Actually Hermione, I'm glad I ran into you. I need to talk to you, about Harry."
"Oh Mandy," Hermione replied thinking she knew where this was going, "Harry's not exactly, um, looking for love at the moment."
To Hermione's surprise Mandy laughed. "Oh no, it's nothing like that. I need to talk to him about Sirius Black."
"Oh!" Hermione was a bit surprised not a lot of people talked about Sirius. He had died a criminal. Though his name was cleared nobody really believed it. "Mandy, Harry gets really touchy when Sirius is brought up. Ever since he died at least."
"I know, but I've got to tell someone!" Mandy's normally bright attitude was now vanished and she was approaching tears.
Hermione pulled Mandy into a hug, "Tell someone what?"
"Sirius," she paused to take a deep breath to hold back the tears. "He was my dad." At this she let the tears go.
"How come he never told us about you?"
"He- he never knew. My mum never told him." She had regained her self now. Now as she spoke there were still silent tears running down her face.
"I am so sorry. You never got to meet him?"
"Hm-mh, that's why I wanted to talk to Harry. My mum says he was Harry's godfather and he and Harry were really close."
"Yes, they were. Tell you what. I'll tell Harry that you are going to talk to him after the next DA meeting. We should be having one awfully soon, Harry just spent all summer with the Order."
"Thanks Hermione, you've been really great." She dried her face, cooled her cheeks, and started to leave.
"Mandy, your letter?"
"Oh yeah, thanks again."
"No problem, I'll see you at the next DA meeting." She gave Mandy an 'it'll be all right smile' and left.
Hermione returned to the common room to find that Ron, Harry, Seamus, and some others had gone down to the Pitch to play some Quidditch. She decided to read the new book she got from her parents for Christmas, High School Physics. She started at the beginning: What is energy? As interesting as this all was to Hermione, she soon fell asleep.
Hermione took a step toward the altar. This was the day! She was getting married! Look there was Ron looking oh so sharp in his tux! Look at all the people who came to see their wedding! There was Harry, and all the Weasleys, her parents, her whole extended family, all her teachers, practically everyone she'd ever met. She had reached the altar and the reverend began the ceremony. "If anyone know of reason that these should not be married speak now or forever hold your peace." Of course no one would say any thing these two were made for each other. "Now why wasn't I invited to this joyous event? All these Mudbloods and blood traitors I could of made this a real party. Now, who wants to die first?" As Voldemort started killing people, Ron grabbed Hermione and pulled her through a trap door behind the altar. The only thing in this room was a king sized bed. "Hermione I love you. I don't want to die a virgin!" at these words they started to make mad passionate love as they stripped each other naked. Once they were both naked which took surprisingly little time, Ron threw Hermione on the bed and joined her. Before she knew it they were one he was a part of her, and she of him. Then she heard a high cold laugh. "Now that the rest are dead, it's your turn." He raised his wand and-
"Hermione! Wake up!" Hermione snapped awake to find a small crowd gathered around her. "Give her some breathing room." A lot of the people stepped back. "Are you alright? You were shaking real bad and muttering things. You had me, all of us, really worried. Do you have a fever?" Ron reached over to feel her forehead. "You don't have a fever, maybe you should go to bed."
Hermione did not want to fall back asleep. "NO!" she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear "I just want you to hold me." "Ok," he whispered back and they moved away to a couch by the window where she curled up into his arms and he just held her. They sat this way for a while until Harry came over to see if she was ok.
"Everything all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just had a dream about that night a t the ministry." Hermione lied. "Hey, do you know when the next DA meeting will be?" she asked remembering her conversation with Mandy.
"Yeah, I just sent it. It will be tomorrow after dinner. We have a lot to go over."
"Um, I promised Mandy that you would talk to her after the meeting. She really needs to talk to you."
"What about?"
"Um, I think it would be better if she told you."
"Hermione, you're not trying to set me up again, are you?"
"I had nothing to do with any of that, that was all Ginny! I didn't even like most of those girls!"
Ginny had spent most of the first half of the year playing matchmaker. It was actually thanks to her that Ron and Hermione started going out this year. But her main case had been. Harry. She would pick girl after girl and Harry rejected all of them. He really never gave them a fair chance, but Hermione didn't blame him, he was content, and all of the girls really weren't that great for him. They were all very pretty but even more so, they were shallow.
"I have no desire to hook you up, Harry, you'll find love when you're meant to. Where is Ginny anyway?"
"She went out again with Simon. I can't believe it she spent all holiday with him and now they are out doing who knows what." They could here the protectiveness in Ron's voice he always was partial when it came to Ginny. But Ginny did all right for herself. She was now one of the prettiest most popular girls in school. She could get any guy she wanted and usually did. But now she seemed to be sticking with Simon. She hadn't dated anyone else since last June. "They are always snogging, and, and other things."
"You're one to speak. Tell me Ron what have you and I been doing every night this week?"
"That doesn't count we're getting married!"
"How does that make it different? She's been seeing Simon a lot longer than we've been going out. At least she's only snogging one boy now. Last year there was that whole problem with Derrick, Alex, and Sam that was a fiasco when they all found out. Luckily no hard feelings."
"When did this happen? How come she never tells me anything? How does every else know but me? How many boyfriends has she had?"
"Well," began Harry, "there was Michael, and then Dean, then Derrick, Alex, Sam, Robby, that one kid, Colin..."
"Enough! My sisters a little scarlet woman! Why are you laughing? Stop laughing! This isn't funny! She's gonna get hurt!"
"Ron first of all nobody says scarlet woman any more. Second of all it is perfectly fine that your sister dates a lot. Not every girl gets engaged to the second boy she dates. I got lucky. And she knows what she's doing, she's been hurt before, she gets over it. So now I'm hungry, we've missed dinner so lets go down to the kitchens and get some food."
They made their way down to the kitchens. Hermione had long past quite trying to free the elves when Dumbledore told her that by trying to free the elves she was aggravating them and they needed the house elves on their side for this war. And they were all much more polite to the house elves ever since the Kreacher incident.
"Ah, Mr. Harry Potter has come to see Dobby!"
"Actually Dobby, we missed supper and were wondering if we could get some food."
"Of course, and on behalf of all the house elves here we would like to congratulate Mr. Ron and Miss Hermione on their engagement."
"How did you guys know?"
"Ron the whole school practically know, and the house elves know almost everything that goes on here."
A house elf came around with a tray with some roast beef sandwiches and pumpkin juice. They sat down and began to eat. Dobby came over with some cake when they were finish up with the sandwiches. "Dobby not suppose to say, but there have been more reports of Muggle killings by the Dark Lord and his followers." As it seems house elves were excellent spies considering most Death Eaters were wealthy. They house elves would spy on their masters and report back to Dumbledore. "There have been six in the past week."
"Oh, that's horrible!"
"Is the Ministry doing anything to try and prevent anymore? They have to be doing something they can't just let this happen."
"Hermione, the house elves can't know that. Honey, I'm sure that the Ministry is doing something. We should go it's getting late, and classes start tomorrow." They thanked the elves and headed back up to the common room.
The next morning's classes went very well. After the students had taken their O.W.L.s their classes were broken into what careers the young wizards had chosen. Harry and Ron had both chosen paths as Aurors. Hermione on the other hand had chosen to be a teacher. She was actually surprised to see how many classes they had together. They had history of magic first that day, and then Hermione went to Arithmancy, while Harry and Ron both (much to Ron's disapproval) headed toward Muggle Studies as it was a required for the Auror position. They ate a quick lunch and all went to Transfiguration.
"Now, today we will be continuing transfiguring stationary items to animals. As you can see I have gathered various pieces of furniture. You will each choose a piece to transfigure to the animal of your choice."
Hermione, as usual, was the first to finish. She had transfigured her table into a beautiful chestnut palomino. She looked around her and saw Ron just finishing a cow on one side and Mandy on the other side having a little trouble transfiguring her cabinet into what looked like a penguin. When she looked over at Harry, she saw his ottoman had now become a large, shaggy, black dog. Hermione wasn't the only one to notice either. McGonagall was quickly moving toward them, and Ron flat out said, "Harry, you know that looks just like Sirius?"
"Yeah, I suppose he does!" Harry replied as if he hadn't already realized this. Mandy's reaction was quite unexpected though. When Ron had mentioned Sirius's name her eyes grew big and she started to cry.
"S-Si-Sirius?" she stammered and ran out of the room.
"Miss Brockeherst?"
"Professor!" Hermione rushed over to McGonagall and told her the reason of which Mandy had left. McGonagall seemed taken a back at first, then had Hermione return to her horse.
"What was all that about?" Ron asked while Hermione returned Mandy's confused penguin to its cabinet state.
"It's not my place to tell you. I'm sure you will find out soon enough, I think." She glanced at Harry. He was still playing with the dog. "Harry! You better get back to work you've only got twenty minuets left!" She made sure Harry was back to work and finished transfiguring her horse to a table again. She then went back to her desk to start on their homework assignment.
Hermione had a hurried dinner so she could get a head start on her homework before the DA meeting. At a quarter after seven Hermione headed up to the Room of Requirement, where they still held the meetings because it seemed to have exactly what they needed for the evening meetings. When she got there she found Ron and Harry already there.
Ron greeted her with a small kiss before saying, "Well it's nice to see you Miss Study-pants. Why did you have to get started on homework tonight? You have all week, you know."
"Yes, I know! But the sooner I get it done the less I have to worry about it later. I keep telling you two that you shouldn't wait until the last minute. So, Harry what will we be doing tonight?"
"Well at the last Order meeting we heard a lot of reports of Voldemort making killings where there are large groups of people. Especially mixes of Muggles and Wizards. So I think we will do some large group shielding charms."
Hermione's heart fell at the news of Voldemort attacking large groups of people. Would he attack her wedding? Would her dream come true? What was she going to do about her wedding? She pushed these thought s away for the moment as other people started arriving.
The DA had now more or less become a Hogwarts branch of the Order. Dumbledore saw it fit to make Harry a part of the Order as he was so closely related to the possible demise of Voldemort. So Harry would come back from Order meetings, like the ones over the holiday, and share with the DA what he had learned. Dumbledore now selected members of the DA. They had to at least finished their forth year and to show aptitude for Defense Against the Dark Arts. There were members from each of the four houses. Draco Malfoy was the first Slytherin to join their ranks. Malfoy had defied his family after seeing his mother killed by Voldemort because of his father's mistake. He then when to live with his mother's sister Andromeda, who was the only relative who would take him. He was now one of the best members the DA had.
Ron and Hermione hurried to sit down as Harry began, "Tonight we will be working on large group shielding spells. There have been reports of Voldemort attacking large groups of people, mostly at celebrations. Yes, Hermione?"
"So these times would include parties, conventions, weddings and carnivals, correct?"
"Yes Hermione," he sounded a little annoyed that she couldn't of figured that out. But neither he nor anyone else seemed to hear the worry in her voice. Her wedding would be the perfect opportunity to rid the world of a large amount of Muggles and almost all the Weasleys.
"Now I want you to divide into groups of seven. One person will do the charm and another will send a jinx to it to see how well the charm was preformed. Make sure you know the counter jinx first in case the shield doesn't work."
Once everyone had gotten into groups and Harry was wandering around, Ron decided to begin. "So I'll go first and, Herm, why don't you throw a jinx at it."
"Mm-Kay." She said a she stepped away from the group.
Ron readied him self and set the charm. "Abriteir-scudo" Hermione, whose thoughts were in other places, hardly notice him do this. "Hermione! Are you going to test it or not!?!"
"Oh, yeah!" she stepped back and aimed the stunning spell. "Stupefy!" The red sparks barely made the five feet to the shield before hitting it and dispersing.
"Hermione? Are you alright?" Mandy had a worried look on her face after seeing the very weak spell.
"I'm fine." She said shortly. "I'll do the next shield Draco you jinx us. Abriteir-scudo"
"Petrificus Totalus!" It was as there was no shield at all. The jinx hit Margo, another seventh year Ravenclaw. She stiffened and fell to the floor.
"Hermione...?"
"NO, I'M NOT FINE! OK? EVERYONE I LOVE IS GOING TO DIE! AND IT WILL BE ALL MY FAULT! THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT! I AM SORRY RON BUT I CANNOT MARRY YOU!" Noticing the whole room was now watching her, Hermione left. She went to the one place she felt the safest and thought no one would find her there.