A/N: Thanks to my beta Ru, you rock! This chapter was updated on August 6, 2004

Chapter 3: 12 Grimmauld Place

Hermione watched as Professor Snape paced the length of the study in 12 Grimmauld Place. She took his advice and sat in a chair. She was nervous, partly because she was fearing bad news, and partly because she was left alone in a room with the potions professor.

"Miss Granger, I am sure by now you know of Lucius Malfoy's power of persuasion over the Ministry of Magic."

"Yes Sir."

"Am I right in assuming that you know of Lucius's activities as a Death Eater?" Snape asked.

"Yes Sir," Hermione replied again.

"Miss Granger, as per the Dark Lord's request, Lucius has used his sway with the Ministry to pass a new law. The law is called the 'Wizarding Population Protection Act.' Details of this law will be released in tomorrow's Prophet. Basically, this new law is a marriage law that requires all single purebloods between the ages of 16 and 60 to marry muggle borns within the same age range. Married purebloods may also marry a muggle born. The law also requires that couples produce a child within the first two years of marriage and two more within the next five years. Failure to do so will result in both parties being sent to Azkaban unless infertility is proven."

"That is totally barbaric."

"I am afraid it gets worse Miss Granger. Marriages will be made through a petition sent to a muggle born from a pure blood. Once a muggle born has received their first petition, they will have thirty days to receive more petitions. If they receive none, they will be forced to marry their petitioner. Now, despite the harsh packaging there is some good to be done by this law. St. Mungo's had been studying the wizarding population for some time. They have concluded that, due to heavy inbreeding on the part of pure bloods, the number of still borns, barren children, deformities, and squibs. That is how the Ministry will present the law," he paused.

"The truth behind the law is far more grim. The Dark Lord will use this law in order to increase his support base and army. The Dark Lord has required all of his Death Eaters to marry a muggle born and begin having children immediately." Severus stopped pacing and sat down in a chair beside Hermione.

"So all these muggle born witches and wizards will become slaves?" she asked.

"Most of them will."

"Professor, why are you telling me all of this?"

"Because Hermione you really are the greatest witch of your time. You are far more brilliant than any witch or wizard that has set foot in Hogwarts."

Hermione listened to every word her said while noting the important ones. Snape had called her 'Hermione' instead of 'Miss Granger,' that meant that this was serious. He had also complimented her, which meant this was really, really serious.

"That fact alone has caught the attention of the Dark Lord. But that isn't the only thing, you are also Mr. Potter's close friend. The Dark Lord knows that if you were to marry a Death Eater that Mr. Potter would foolishly try to come to your rescue. It is that foolishness that the Dark Lord wishes to capitalize on. He hopes that in trying to rescue you it will force a premature meeting between himself and Mr. Potter, one that Mr. Potter will not be prepared for."

"Then I won't marry anyone. I'll just leave the wizarding world," Hermione huffed. "I am not about to let Fudge or and arsehole like Voldemort ruin my life and tell me what to do!"

"Language Miss Granger! I know that this is not an ideal situation for you, but let me make it perfectly clear to you that, along with your intelligence, your stubbornness is also well known to the Dark Lord. That is exactly why your parents are in danger and that is exactly why your friend's parents are dead. The Dark Lord cares nothing for innocent lives and he will stop at nothing when it comes to achieving his goals, and right now one of those goals is to keep you from leaving the wizarding world." Severus was now standing directly in front of Hermione. "Look Miss Granger," He said as he sat back down in the chair. "I have done my duty in bringing you up to speed. I am sure that you wish to discuss this further but I am afraid that it will have to wait until the Order meeting tonight. Let me assure you, however, that your parents are indeed fine and safe." With that Severus stood up and swept out of the room leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts.

Hermione left the study shortly after Professor Snape and went to the kitchen, where she found Morgan surrounded by a sea of red hair. Harry as well as every Weasley in the house were trying to comfort the girl. Morgan just sat at the table with a cup of tea in front of her, listening to the soft words of support coming from all around her. Hermione had to admire her friend, she was sure that if she were in Morgan's place she would never be able to calmly sit drinking tea in a room full of sympathetic strangers. Morgan, though had always liked meeting new people. Hermione could clearly remember their first day of school together. While Hermione was timid and shy, Morgan was very outgoing, quickly making friends with every child in the room. Every kid was quietly clinging to their parents when she and Morgan had walked in the room. Morgan, who was not interested in hiding behind her mother's skirt, simply walked into the middle of

the room and said, "Hey kids, let's play!"

So it was no surprise to Hermione that now Morgan would take all of these strangers in stride.

"Hey, Hermione," Morgan said, the first one to notice that Hermione had entered the room.

"Hi, Morgan. I'm sorry it took so long, but I had to discuss some things with my professor."

"I understand. Everyone has been really nice while you were gone."

"That's good," Hermione said as she went to hug her friend.

"Well now, Ron, Harry, I'd like you both to start cleaning the house for tonight's meeting." Mrs. Weasley spoke up. "Arthur, go to the Ministry and report the incident, then go with the Aurors to Morgana's house and pack up a few of her things. Don't take too much! Ginny, run upstairs and get a room ready for Morgana. Fred, George, I need to get started on dinner and I can't do that until you two clean the dishes." Taking their directions the kitchen soon became less crowded.

"Now Morgana, I need you to take your measurements."

"Why?"

"To get you some clothes, dear. Arthur won't be able to bring everything back for you, and I'm afraid that you can't go out shopping."

Morgan simply nodded and let Mrs. Weasley take her measurements. Before she knew it, Mrs. Weasley had finished with her and Ginny had come down stairs, announcing her room was ready.

"I'm kinda tired. If it is alright with you Mrs. Weasley, I'd like to go take a nap," Morgan said while yawning.

"Of course dear, and please, call me Molly. Ginny please show Morgana and Hermione to their rooms. Hermione, I want you to unpack and then go help Harry and Ron, Merlin knows they probably need it."

When Hermione had finished unpacking, she went to join Harry and Ron in the dining room, where they were dusting and washing the table and trying not to grumble too much.

"Hey 'Mione!" Ron shouted. Harry looked up at her and before she knew it, Hermione was nearly knocked over by the force of Ron and Harry's hug.

"Guys, I need to breathe!"

"Sorry 'Mione," Ron said while blushing.

"We were so worried about you when Hedwig didn't come back," Harry said.

"Yeah, and then Dumbledore sent out Fawkes, and when he didn't come back we thought you were dead," Ron added.

"No Ron, you thought she was dead," Harry corrected his friend.

"Well, as you can see I am perfectly fine. I was in a park with Morgan when Hedwig found me. We then went back to my house where I had to explain to Morgan why there was an owl bringing me a letter."

"So she knows you're a witch?" Ron asked.

"Yes Ron, she does. She said it explained a lot."

"Why would she say that?"

"Because Ron, I've known her since we were babies. She witnessed my powers before I even knew I was a witch."

"Oh."

"Her parents died because of me, didn't they?" Harry asked.

"No! Harry, why would you think such a thing?" Hermione was stunned at Harry's question.

"Because it's true! Everyone I am close to is in danger, and now some one I don't even know has to suffer because of my existence. Why are you guys still friends with me?"

"Because it is not your fault! You are a wonderful person, Harry Potter, and don't you ever think it is your fault that those people died. You are not the one that killed them and you are not the one that decided to kill them. Voldemort, oh grow up Ron, Voldemort doesn't have to kill those people but he does. He does it because he has no heart!" Hermione was practically screaming.

The three talked and cleaned until Mrs. Weasley told them to go wash up for dinner. Hermione was told to wake up Morgan and bring her down to dinner. She was told that both she and Morgan would be sitting in on the Order meeting. Suddenly Hermione got very nervous. She had almost forgot her conversation with Professor Snape, and she was sure that that was why she was to go to the Order meeting.

Dinner was uneventful. To everyone's surprise, Severus was actually there and actually ate. Bill and Charley Weasley were both there as well, which was a surprise because Ron had said that they both were unable to attend the last few meetings. Even though the table was large, it was crowded due to the extra people. Dumbledore sat at one end of the table with Professor McGonagall on his right and Morgan on his left. Mad-Eye Moody sat next to Minerva and Shacklebolt sat next to him. Harry was in between Shacklebolt and Ron, who sat next to Ginny. George was in between Fred and Ginny, and Charlie, Bill and Mrs. Weasley took up the rest of the seats on that side of the table. Arthur Weasley sat at the other end of the table, his wife on his right, and Remus on his left. Tonks was next to Remus, and Hestia Jones was next to her and Emmeline Vance. Dedalus Diggle sat in between Emmeline and Elphias Dodge, who sat next to Sturgis Podmore. Snape grudgingly sat down next to Podmore and Hermione to the last available seat, the one between Professor Snape and Morgan.

The twenty-three people ate a surprisingly peaceful dinner, and when it was done Ron, Harry, and Ginny cleared the table and then were sent to bed. Molly Weasley, not trusting the three that had just left, placed a silencing charm on the room. It was time for the Order of the Phoenix to begin it's meeting.