Chapter 5
Harry woke up with a searing pain in his forehead. He was in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts again.
"Ron! RON!" he said shaking him awake. "Eh...What?" he said grumpily.
"Weren't you there? The Riddle House! We were about to go in!"
"What are you talking about Harry? Are you going mad? Or are you having those weird dreams again?"
"Neither Ron! I was me! And you and Ginny were yourselves!"
"Well maybe it was a normal dream. Maybe those Occlumency lessons have finally started to pay off."
"Wait, where's Ginny?" asked Harry looking around the room for her.
"She left last night," said Ron frowning. "Don't you remember?"
"What? She left? Left where?"
"To Grimmauld Place. She was so upset she couldn't control herself so she ran outside and Dumbledore sent her back to my parents in Grimmauld Place."
Just then, the doors opened and Dumbledore came in, followed by Snape.
"Good morning." he said softly, avoiding eye contact with the both of them. "Professor Snape has set up a portkey, and he will take you two back to Grimmauld Place. Young Miss Weasley left last night as you may know. Professor, please be on your way. Most students should be up by now and would most likely want to know what's going on. Good day." he said. He turned around and left the room.
"Follow me Potter, Weasley. You've got some explaining to do when you arrive. Let's go."
He led them next to Hagrid's hut. Snape went near a small pot next to the front door.
"Come on you two. There's no time to waste." Harry and Ron put there hands on the pot and they started spinning. Next thing they knew they were in Grimmauld Place surrounded by a crowd of angry and worried people.
Hermione was woken up by Lucius Malfoy's jingling key ring. She sat up and crawled into a corner, not knowing what to expect.
"Get in you good-for-nothing dimwit!" he said pushing in a little girl. The girl smashed into the wall by Hermione and fell to the ground crying.
"Don't attempt to comfort her, she's untamable." said Lucius, and he turned around and left the room, not forgetting to lock it.
Hermione crawled closer to the crying girl.
"Are—are you alright?" she asked. The girl only wailed louder. Hermione put her hand on her back and she screamed. She wheeled around and saw Hermione. The girl had short brown hair, and looked no older than 10 years old.
"What's your name?" asked Hermione.
"Lily Brocklehurst." she sniffled. "Who are you?"
"Hermione Granger. Are you alright?"
"I—I think so." said Lily sitting up. "What is this place?"
"Er, I'm not sure. It's called the Water Room though."
"There's no water in here."
"I know, that's the strange part."
"So where are you from?" asked Lily.
"Well, I was taken from Hogwarts. You do know what Hogwarts is, right?"
"Oh yea. My sister goes there. Her name's Mandy Brocklehurst. She's in her seventh year."
"I know her. Ravenclaw, right?"
Lily nodded.
"So, when will you be starting Hogwarts?"
"I don't know if I ever will. My mum's really protective, and with You-know-who back... she'd die before she let me go."
"She believes Harry's story then? The truth that he is back?"
"Of course. And I'm here with him, you-know-who, I mean. I sort of have to believe it now. And my mum said anyone who doesn't believe Harry Potter's story is a stupid, good for nothing fool."
"So she believes that Harry isn't trying to get attention by making up a cock-and-bull story?"
"No! Whoever thinks that is wrong. She said why would anyone try and be famous for having dead parents and no family? Others think he may be disturbed, since he doesn't have a family and all, but the rest, they believe he's telling the truth. Why shouldn't they after all? I mean, he doesn't have a black mark on his record. He's a good person, or so I hear. And he was only a baby when you-know-who... you know... disappeared." she said lowering her voice. "It would be so much better if people would just believe him, support him. He's gotten rid of you-know-who once, if people just helped him out, maybe he could do it again. Maybe this time... he'll be gone for good."
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?!?!?!?!?!?" screamed Mrs. Weasley. Harry thought the house shook.
"Mum calm down!" said Ron.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HERMIONE!?!?!?!"
"Mum, Lucius Malfoy took her! We tried to stop him! HONESTLY!"
"AND WHAT DO YOU EXCPECT TO TELL HER PARENTS?"
"We—er—we haven't though of that yet." said Ron looking down at his shoes.
"WELL THINK FAST, BECAUSE HER PARENTS ARE WAITING IN THE KITCHEN WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DAUGHTER!"
"They're here?" said Ron in a panicky voice.
"YES, AND I AM NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"
"I suggest you go to the kitchen before the house falls on our heads." said Snape.
Harry and Ron slumped into the kitchen, where Mr. and Mrs. Granger were waiting at the table.
"Harry dear, Ron, where's Hermione?" said Mrs. Granger.
"Harry, why don't you tell them." said Ron backing away.
"Why me? You were in it too!"
"Yeah, but who's idea was it to go visit Hagrid?"
"It was mine, but if it was so wrong, why didn't you stop me?"
"Harry, you're seventeen! I think you should know how to do something to prevent our best friend from getting kidnapped by Voldemort!" Ron quickly clapped his hands over his mouth. It was the first time he had said Voldemort's name.
"Do you mean to tell me, that our daughter has been kidnapped by the evil man who killed your parents?" said Mr. Granger.
Harry nodded, "Yes, sir."
Mrs. Granger let out a scream and started crying.
"THAT'S IT! HERMIONE HAS BEEN GOING ON THESE WILD ADVENTURES WITH THIS WIZARD BLOKE FOR LONG ENOUGH! WHEN YOU GET HER BACK— and believe me it will be you who gets her back—SHE IS FORBIDDED TO EVER SEE YOU AGAIN! AND YOU TOO!" he added to Ron, who's hand was still over his mouth.
"You can't do that!" said Harry. "She's overage! SHE'S ALLOWED TO DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS! YOU CAN'T STOP HER!"
"NO MATTER HOW OLD SHE IS, SHE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY DAUGHTER, AND I WILL NOT HAVE YOU TELLING ME WHAT TO DO WITH HER!" yelled Mr. Granger.
"Honey calm down." said Mrs. Granger who had now stopped sobbing. She sniffled. "He's right. We can't stop her from seeing them. But we can stop seeing them. And his parents."
"But you're members of the Order!" said Ron taking his hand off his mouth. "You can't leave!"
"No my dear boy, we are not members of the Order. We never signed the contract, you see. So we can leave as we please."
"Ron, we're not going to tell anyone about the Order. I guess my husband and I went a little out of hand. We still love you both very much. And we know it's not your fault Hermione is gone. But when you have your own kids, and someone tells you this, it is a bit of a shock and you will, I guarantee you will do the same. All I—All we ask of you is to please bring Hermione home safely. Please."
"Alright Mrs. Granger. We'll get her back." Said Harry confidently.