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(Chapter two)

As soon as Hermione walked through the door of number twelve, Grimmauld Place she was guzzled up by Mrs. Weasley's loving embrace.

"Oh Hermione, dear, are you alright? I was so worried!" Mrs. Weasley cried into Hermione's bushy hair.

"Mrs. Weasley…I can't breathe!" Hermione gasped. Mrs. Weasley blushed and released her hold on Hermione. She let her frightened motherly look linger on her for a few more seconds before she noticed her husband standing in the doorway. She ran to him and also engulfed him in a giant hug.

Hermione looked around the room taking in her surroundings. The Head quarters for the Order of Phoenix hadn't changed much from last summer. The wallpaper was still peeling, the cobwebs were still dangling from the chandelier, and the over all feeling of Grimmauld place was simply gloomy. Even more so now that Sirius had died. If Hermione thought her spirits were down from the dementors, the thought of Sirius made them drop even more.

"Somebody please tell me what happened!" Mrs. Weasley cried.

"Tell you? I think someone should tell us what happened!" yelled Tonks.

Suddenly, everyone started talking at once and a sharp pain suddenly shot through Hermione's head.

"What's going on down here?" Shouted a small voice from behind her. Hermione turned around to see Ginny bounding down the rickety old stairs. As she approached the bottom of the staircase, Ginny spotted Hermione standing in the kitchen with a grim look on her face. The young girl's face light up and she let out a shriek of relief. Next thing Hermione knew, Ginny was attacking her with a massive hug.

"Hermione! You're ok! I was so scared!"

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Ginny released her and she heard someone clearing their throat over Ginny's Shoulder. Hermione looked over, it was Ron. He blushed as Hermione caught his gaze. He looked the same as he did at the end of fifth year accept he had managed to grow even taller and had even filled out a bit more with muscle. Hermione smiled at him and Ginny moved aside. She and Ron slowly moved nearer to each other, both feeling slightly uncomfortable. Ron smiled weakly.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly. Hermione couldn't help herself, the fact that Ron was embarrassed made her want to hug him even more. Hermione soon moved forward and hugged Ron tightly.

"I'm Fine," She stated with a consoling tone.

Hermione then moved away. They smiled at each other before they realized the adults had stopped trying to talk over each other and were now explaining what had happened. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all made their way over to the kitchen table where they all were sitting deep in conversation.

"Soon after you two left, Severus got here and told us he had inside information about what you-know-who's plans are. He told us his knew target was now Harry's friends," Lupin explained. "Voldemort may believe that there is nothing worse than death, but he knows that's not what Harry believes. The worse thing for Harry is loosing the ones he loves. Those dementors were after Hermione," Lupin said gravely.

"They're after the children!" Tonk's asked shocked.

Mrs. Weasley looked frightened and she looked over to where Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were standing.

"You three! Leave! This is nothing for people your age to hear."

Ginny and Ron gasped, but Hermione held up her hand silencing them before they could continue.

"Mrs. Weasley, With all due respect. If we are the ones that V-Voldemort is after, I think we have a right to know what's going on," Hermione stated shyly.

Lupin grinned at Hermione and then slowly shifted his gaze over to catch Mrs. Weasley's reaction. She was lost for words. Defeated.

"Fine," was all she uttered.

Moody continued. "Voldemort wants Hermione specifically because for some reason he's under the impression that Harry couldn't have done most of what he did with out her, he thinks that once she's gone it might be a bit easier to get to Harry. Ron's next."

Hermione looked over and saw Ron frown at the thought.

"Voldemort's got a point Moody… Hermione is often the brains of the operation," Lupin Smiled.

Hermione blushed a bit; she would have been flattered if they weren't talking about the most evil wizard in the world trying to kill her.

"Well, there is only one thing we can really do right now and that's keep you three here where you're safe until school starts. Lupin will go for Harry as soon as possible," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Good idea Molly."

Molly smiled. The other members of the Order didn't often agree with her.

"Ron, why don't you help Hermione get her things up to her room," Suggested Mr. Weasley.

Ron nodded and he and Hermione made their way to the door where her suitcase waited to be taken up to her room.

Hermione held Crookshanks tightly to her chest as she made her way up the stairs with Ron trialing right behind her using all his strength to get Hermione's suitcase up each step.

When they finally got to the top of the stairs and entered Hermione and Ginny's room, Ron let out a deep exhausted breath as he set Hermione's stuff down with a loud sigh.

"Thanks," Hermione blushed.

Ron nodded. He was being unusually quiet. Hermione set Crookshanks down onto the floor and stepped closer to Ron.

"Ron, Are you alright?" Hermione asked quietly; clearly concerned about her best friend.

Ron suddenly seemed embarrassed for some reason.

"I'm, I just, I-I, I just, I was really worried about you," Ron said as his whole face turned a bright shade of red.

Hermione smiled and flung her arms around him. "Oh Ron!"

Ron blushed and gently pushed Hermione off him.

"Did you miss me?" Hermione asked brightly.

"Well, with Fred and George gone most of the time it's not very exciting around here."

Hermione grinned.

"Are you actually saying I'm exciting?"

"Well, no, most of the time your not... I do have lot of homework I could use help on though."

Hermione moved away and looked offended. "Ronald Weasley! Is that the only reason you were worried about me, because you wouldn't get help on your homework?"

"No!" Ron said quickly and instinctively reached his hand out and touched her shoulder to keep her from backing away. "I was just joking, Hermione."

Ron paused waiting to be forgiven. They both stood in silence. Hermione wasn't even thinking about what he had just said though. Her focus was on Ron's Warm hand wresting on her shoulder. She wanted nothing more than to hold that hand. Ron noticed this also and both of them blushed and moved away from each other quickly.

"er…It's ok," Said Hermione.

Ron smiled. "I…er…actually do need help on a few things though," Ron said shyly.

Hermione laughed. She was in no mood to be angry with him now.

"I'll help you with it tomorrow morning, ok?"

Ron, Nodded. "Alright, Thanks. Er…goodnight," He said and left her room. Soon after Ron left, Ginny entered the room smiling.

"Hi Hermione," She said cheerfully. Hermione offered her a strange glance.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Did you have a nice chat with my brother; he's really matured this year hasn't he?"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows trying to look angry, but she couldn't keep the smile from forming on her face. "Oh, come off it Ginny!"

Ginny giggled lightly. "Hermione, when are you going to admit that you fancy my brother?"

"Ginny, Ron is my friend that's all," Hermione stated. She meant to say it confidently but instead it came out sadly. Luckily, Ginny decided to drop the subject.

"Well, we should get to sleep, you must be exhausted."

That night Hermione could not get more than ten minutes asleep at a time. There was just way too much on her mind. The dementor attack, you-know-whose new plans, and the worst, she couldn't stop thinking about Ron. Hermione groaned in frustration and threw the covers off her body and quietly made her way down into the kitchen where she poured herself a glass of milk. Hermione sat down at the table and let out a deep sigh. She sat there going through at least a hundred different things in her head. Life was certainly going to be harder this year.

"What are you doing down here?"

Hermione leapt out of her chair at the sound of his voice. "Ron! You scared me!" Hermione hissed, her heart beating quickly.

"Sorry," Ron yawned. "I didn't mean to."

"It's ok," Hermione whispered, slightly embarrassed and sat back down again. Ron slowly and sleepily made his way over to the table and sat across from her.

"I couldn't sleep," he groaned.

"Me either," She said simply. They then sat in silence for what seemed like hours.

"I…" Hermione said finally breaking the silence. "I keep thinking about the war, about Sirius's death, and what might happen to the rest of us."

Ron nodded. "Are you scared?"

Hermione looked up at him. "Of course I am, aren't you?"

Ron nodded again. He wasn't in a very talkative mood.

"I'm mostly worried about Harry," Hermione said. "He wasn't doing well after Sirius died and once he finds out what Voldemort is up to; you know if anything happens to one of us he'll blame himself."

"I know…he shouldn't though. None of us asked for this. He blames himself for everything! I don't want to see him like that this year! I just wish it all would go away," The more Ron spoke the angrier he grew. His burst of emotion made Hermione want to cry.

"I know Ron, I feel the same way!"

He sighed and put his head in his hands. They were silent again.

"You said you went on holiday? Where did you go?" Ron asked changing the subject.

Hermione suddenly hesitated and averted her eyes. "I uh, I went to the country side with my parents," She said quickly.

Ron looked at her suspiciously, but shrugged it off. Hermione smiled and slowly stood up.

"I'm going to try and get some sleep, have your homework ready in the morning."

Ron smiled and watched Hermione walk up the stairs into the darkness.

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