Chapter 33: Christmas Presents

Harry and Ron were shopping for the girls. Ron had decided to get Susan a set of pearls. One day he would give her the earrings, the next the bracelet and then the next the necklace before he finally gave her the ring. Ginny and Hermione had told him that traditionally women like to wear pearls on their wedding day.

Harry had Hermione and had decided to get her personalized items. He was having the stationary store make up a stationary set with the Royal Endeavors Ltd. logo as well as a phoenix feather quill from one of his own feathers. He also was having a leather satchel made for her with the logo on it for her business documents and a personalized potions vial set with her initials engraved in each one.

"I think I am going to win with this stuff," Harry told his friend. "I know Susan is going to be blown away by your gifts."
"I can't believe how much diamonds cost!" Ron said as they left the jewelry store with her pearls. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to afford anything nice enough."

"Don't worry about it mate. I have the perfect ring for you to give her in my vault at home. I have kept this secret but I actually found both Gabrielle and Fleur's rings in my collection and I found one that I thought would be perfect for you to give to Susan." Harry told him with a smile.

"I can't let you give me that Harry!" Ron told his friend. "What about Ginny, don't you want a ring for her someday?"

"I already have Gin's ring picked out and safely put away," Harry told him with a grin. "This is a different ring I have in mind for you. It is a one carat round cut diamond and I think it is exactly what you have in mind."

"Alright, but I will still have time to go to Diagon Alley if not," Ron told him.

"So you have Severus huh?" Ginny asked as they were looking through the rare books section at the book store. Hermione grinned and nodded at her friend who had figured it out by where they had been looking. "I have the perfect first gift for you to give him. Colin showed me all the photos from your birthday and there is a perfect photo of you and Snake dancing and then you kiss him. All you need is a manly frame for it."

"Do you think he would appreciate that?" Hermione asked her, brows furrowed. "It could give him the wrong impression."

Ginny just smiled at her friend, "Yeah, and kissing him like that didn't!" They just laughed and kept looking through the rare and expensive books.

Hermione was ecstatic as she pushed a couple books aside and found the perfect present for him. It was a first edition of Most Potente Potions and it was in excellent condition. The red leather looked almost new and the pages had barely started to yellow. He would love it as his copy had been damaged a few years earlier while he was using it in his lab. Ginny looked at the price for the book and had to hang onto the counter.

"Are you really going to spend that much money on one book?" She asked her friend who was almost glowing with pride at her find.

"Yep, and if they had two copies I would buy them both. This is the most important potions book ever published and I know how much this gift will mean to him. I only wish I could have my own copy." Hermione told her.

"Then buy this one for yourself and find him something else," Ginny suggested with a saucy smile.

"Nope, this is what I wanted to get him." Hermione said and they made their way to the apothecary. Hermione bought him a new marble mortar and pestle set as well as a crystal vial set with his initials engraved upon them. "I'll have to get him his last present in London before Christmas. I don't want to have to take care of it before then."

"What are you getting him?" Ginny asked her curiously.

"A pet," Hermione said with a big smile. "He needs a familiar and I plan on finding the perfect one for him."

"That's a pretty intimate gift," Ginny said with a raised eyebrow. "What if he doesn't want it?"

"Then I'll take it but I'm almost positive he'll appreciate the gift," Hermione said. "Come on, we have to get all your shopping done and then start on gifts for our family and the boys!"

Ginny had to go to three stores to find everything she wanted for her secret Santa and she hoped he liked them. They took care of presents for her brothers after that. "I can't believe how hard it is to buy things for guys!"

"Tell me about it," Hermione said with a smirk. "I don't think the boys have appreciated a single one of the gifts I've given them yet."

"That's not true since Harry still talks about the broom care set you got him years ago, claiming it proves you're not completely against Quidditch!" Ginny said laughing. "I got all the boys clothes and mum and dad a stand for their muggle appliances. Now all I have left is something for Harry, any ideas?"

"I do happen to have an idea," Hermione said leading her to the jewelry store. "How about a bracelet or necklaces that we embed a tracking device in so that if something were to happen to him you could always find him?"

"How will I work that out?" Ginny asked her knowing it was a great idea.

"I already researched the charm so we just need to find the right thing to attach it to. I guess if he doesn't like it he can always charm it invisible!" The girls looked around until Ginny found a gold cuff style bracelet that looked very manly so there would be no teasing.

"I like this; do you think we could have something engraved on it so it's not so plain?" Ginny asked her and they decided to have a phoenix on the outside visible part and 'All my love, now and forever, Ginny' on the inside. They watched the jeweler magically engrave the gold and paid so they could get back to the school to work the charm.

"I ordered my family's gifts so we are good to go. I got the boys books even though Ron won't like his," Hermione said with a laugh.

Gabrielle and Filuis had perfected the charm she had invented before winter break. "We will need to test it somehow," he told her. "We have to know if it is strong enough and if he can concentrate it enough."

"We should probably tell him about it then," she said with a laugh. They hadn't mentioned their progress to any of the golden trio incase the whole thing fell through. "There's an order meeting the first night we all get to HQ and we can discuss it then."

"You are very talented with charms Gabrielle I would be very pleased to write you a recommendation letter to any of the universities if you chose to pursue mastery." Professor Flitwick told her with a smile.

"Thank you sir, that means a lot. I haven't decided what my plans are after graduation. I think that is one of the things that Draco and I have to discuss over the holidays." She told him.

"Whatever decisions you make know that I am very proud of your achievements." He told her before heading off to his quarters. Gabrielle smiled at the kindly little man. It was nice to have someone believe in her like that.

Hermione had finally finished packing her trunk for the holidays. She planned on completing her personal potions research over the break. She had already finished all the assignments her classmates were going to receive over the break and decided for once in her life she would just enjoy herself and do something for fun. She and Severus had decided to take a break from their research in hopes that they would come back with a fresh perspective and find what they were missing.

Hermione shrunk her trunk and called for Crookshanks before heading down to the main hall. She wanted to make sure she wished all of her DA squad a Merry Christmas before she left. Molly had taught her a knitting charm over the summer so she had knit each of her DA squad a scarf in their house colors with DA in red writing in the corners. She hoped they liked them and had charmed the packages so only her squad could open them or see what was inside since half her squad was Slytherins.

Harry, Ginny and Ron met up with Hermione and Neville who were saying their farewells to their squad mates. "Are you ready to go?" Harry asked as the rest of the EDA and Susan joined them. Ron, Harry and Ginny each took hold of Susan, Hannah and Justin to apparate them just outside of headquarters. Hermione and the rest would meet them inside.

"Now take this and memorize what it says on it," Harry told each of them handing them a slip of paper in Albus' handwriting. They each had the address of 12 Grimwald Place written on it. Harry destroyed the papers and then told them each to concentrate on what they had read. Slowly each of them saw number 12 come to life between the other two houses. "Welcome to Hotel Potter," he said with a grin and opened the door for them.

"Wow," Justin said as they stepped inside to see the rest of their friends mingling with the few order members present. "This place is great."

"Thanks," Harry said with a grin. "Let me show you to your rooms. Dobby and Winky are my house elves and will get you anything you may need." He then led them to the boys' hallway first to show Justin his room. "Justin you're in here, Draco is next door and Ron is across the hall." Harry then led them to the girls' hallway. "Hannah and Susan you're in here," he said opening a door for them. "Luna is next door and Ginny and Hermione's rooms are across the hall. You have your own bathroom too."

"This is better than a hotel Harry," Hannah said with a grin as she noticed the two double beds in the large room. "Your house is great."

"Winky has helped me with the decorating of most of the main rooms. She did this one as well. Everyone else pretty much decorated their own." Harry told them as he showed them the other important rooms in the house. "We usually hang out in the drawing room or the study. The Longbottoms have their own wing in the back of the house and the Creevy's also stay there. The rest of the Weasley's are on the same floor and there are two hallways for order members. Tonks and Remus have their own suite and I have my private sanctuary as well in what I term the 'family wing'. Severus has his own rooms at the top of the house with a complete lab. I'll show you the training center and later Neville can show you his greenhouse. Just yell for Dobby or Winky if you get lost," Harry told them as they ended up in the kitchen and he introduced the house elves to his new guests.

Harry gave both his small friends a hug and thanked them for taking such great care of the house. "We are going to have a full house for Christmas dinner. I think we'll probably have close to 40 people here."

"Winky loves having lots of guests," she told him with her big eyes shining. "We has all the rooms ready."

"We'll start the holiday decorations in the morning then. I'm sure everyone will want to help like last year. Dobby you may put up the trees tonight so we have them to decorate in the morning." Harry said as the friends headed up to the drawing room to talk.

Hermione woke Draco early the next morning, much to his dislike. "Draco, I need you to come shopping with me in Diagon Alley." She said with a smirk as he opened his eyes and glared at her. "Come on, get up!"

"Woman, leave me be," he grumbled and tried to roll over but she wouldn't let him. "Fine, I'm getting up but you owe me." She left him to get dressed and meet her in the hallway. "Why are you going shopping this early and why do I need to come along?"

"I need my last secret Santa gift and I need your opinion on the perfect gift," she said with a grin as she grabbed his arm and apparated them to Diagon Alley. She hurried over to the nearest pet store and pulled him in with her.

"Why are we in a pet shop?" He asked still trying to wake up.

"Because we are buying a familiar for him," she said with a smile as she perused the cages and tanks. "I know he would hate a dog or cat so they are out."

"Why am I helping and who is this gift for?" He asked finally realizing that she had picked him for a reason.

"For Severus and because you're a Slytherin man as well and may have an idea of what he would appreciate," she told him.

Draco was thoughtful for a few moments as he watched her dismiss everything fluffy, at least she seemed to know Snape well enough. "I see they have a black furred Jarvey over here," She called to him with amusement in her voice. "Perhaps you are looking for a familiar as well?" Draco just glared and tried not to smile.

He was looking at the large assortment of lizards when he heard her coo at some animal or other. He headed over to see a small green snake wrapped around her wrist and she was patting its head and whispering to it. Draco grinned at how appropriate it would be for the head of Slytherin to have a snake for a pet. "Isn't she lovely?" Hermione asked him showing him the bottle green snake. "Do you think he'll like her?"

"I have no doubts that he will find her to be the perfect familiar," Draco said as he could tell from the way the snake was responding that it was intelligent and most likely magical. "We should see what powers the shopkeeper thinks she has and make sure she is actually a she."

They spoke with the shopkeeper for a few minutes and Hermione was positive that the little snake would be perfect for Severus. She was about 2 foot long and wouldn't grow very much more. Her scales shimmered in the brighter lights above the counter. "This one hasn't taken a liking to anyone that has looked at her until you," the shopkeeper told her. "She is an intelligent one and refused to go to anyone who mentioned she was going to be given to a child. Her magic hasn't really manifested itself to me but I know she will live a nice long life."

Hermione paid the man for the snake as well as for a black leather carrier with black satin lining. "Thanks for coming with me," She told Draco as they apparated back to headquarters. She headed to her room to put the snake away as Draco headed off to see Gabrielle. "Now, you'll meet your master in a few days at Christmas. I promise if you don't like each other then you can come back to me alright?" She asked the snake who she just knew could understand her.

"Good morning everyone!" Harry said with a big smile as they took their breakfast in the dining room so everyone could fit. "We are starting the secret Santa presents today. Everyday I want you each to write down the name of who you think your secret Santa is. At the end of the week we'll see how many of us got it right."

"Harry mate, are you channeling Albus today?" Ron asked his overly excited friend. "You almost have that damn twinkle in your eye!" Everyone laughed, especially the headmaster.

"Sorry everyone but I'm just in a great mood. I have all my family here and we are about to get presents, who could ask for a better morning!" Harry said with a grin. "Now I had Dobby and Winky collect today's presents and they will hand them out as well. Remember that there will be another 3 smaller gifts and then the final large item."

They all decided that since Harry was in such a festive mood he should be the first one to open his gift. It was a large photo of him and Ginny in a gold frame. It seemed that quite a few people had decided that framed photos made a perfect first gift. Neville and Luna got photos of them together, Susan got one of her and Ron, Hannah and Justin, Gabrielle and Draco and Ginny also both received photos. Charlie and Severus each received a photo of them dancing with Hermione, Severus was under disguise as Snake and it was right as they kissed. Hermione was pleased to see Severus flush when he looked at the photo.

Hermione received a stationary set with her new company logo on it including a crest so she could seal her correspondence. Ron was happily munching away on his extra large box of chocolate frogs, his favorite. Dennis and Colin were excitedly showing each other their gifts. Dennis had received a roll of canvas as well as different paper to sketch or paint on while Colin received a large bound photo album for him to fill with his favorite photos. Molly and Arthur were happy with their presents as she had received a wand shieth so she didn't have to worry about setting her wand down and picking up one of the twins fake ones and Arthur got a rubber duck and was happily playing with it. Everyone was very happy with their gifts and they all were trying to determine who had given them.

They were all laughing at Moody who was thoroughly examining his new hat before he would put it on. They all were reminded of his 'constant vigilance' mentality. They all had a lovely breakfast and they went their separate ways. Many of the older Order members went off to work and the younger ones all decided to have a day of relaxation and fun. Ron and Draco were trying to convince the rest of them to have a chess tournament while Fred and George wanted to play exploding snap. They were all hanging out in the drawing room and having a great time.

"Are we going to play the game again over break?" Gabrielle asked. They had decided calling it truth or dare just didn't fit so they had taken to calling it 'the game' and they all would know what they were referring to.

"I don't know what if mum hears us or something?" Ron said with a scared look.

"If Tonks, Remus and Severus are with us she's not going to think we're doing anything bad!" Ginny reminded her brother. "Besides, this is the first time we'll be able to have everyone play."

"And just who is everyone?" Justin asked her not wanting any more surprises like last time when Snape joined them.

"Bill, Fleur, Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia, Katie, Lee and Kingsley plus everyone from last time," Ginny told him with a smile. I think that makes it like 30 or more of us!"

"That is going to be one big game," Susan commented with a smile. "So when are we playing?"

"Yes!" Gabrielle yelled, "I knew I could get someone else hooked on it!"

"We've asked almost every question imaginable already," Harry commented.

"So what?" Gabrielle asked, "We can just answer again, besides some of those old dares were quite amusing!"

"I'm going to my parents' house tomorrow to visit," Hermione told them. "So can we wait until I get back to play?"

"Are you going to be gone for secret Santa presents?" Harry asked looking crushed.

"I'm leaving after breakfast tomorrow and will be back the next night so my secret Santa gift will have to wait about 8 hours or so." She said laughing at his pout. "I'm sorry to spoil your fun Harry but I would like to see my parents for at least a few hours over the holiday."

"No problem," Harry said with a big grin knowing how hard it was on her to rarely see her family. He couldn't blame her since the reason he was in such a great mood was that everyone he considered family was near by.

The secret Santa presents the next day were slightly larger and more thought had obviously been put into them. Harry had Hermione open hers first since she would miss tomorrow, she got the satchel with her company logo on it. She grinned and thanked whoever it was that gave it to her. Neville also received a satchel but with the Potter Inc. logo. Ron was ecstatic as he opened his to find a Cannons poster autographed by the whole team. Severus actually smiled at the new mortar and pestle set he received since it not only looked nice but would grind nicely as well. He had been given sets before that were basically for show and he was happy to see whoever had him knew their potions equipment.

"Oh wow," Susan said breathily as she pulled the creamy pearl earrings from their box. "These are wonderful, thank you whoever you are!" Ron had to work extra hard not to beam at her and give it away. Gabrielle was the last to open hers and laughed at the book titled 'How to be a Good Pureblood Wife'. The girls spent the rest of the morning after Hermione left reading Gabrielle's book out loud and laughing at the archaic ideas the book had.

Severus was reading in his sitting room when his mark burned. He told Albus and apparated to the Dark Lord's side. "I have sent the dementors off to take care of the rest of Potter's mudblood's friends families. I do not think he appreciated his birthday present so I decided to up the ante for Christmas." Severus tried to keep himself calm as he thought of Hermione. She had gone to her parents' house which meant she was in grave danger.

"I am sure this present will get your message across my lord," Severus told him.

"I am sending the death eaters to each house to verify the deaths," Voldemort said indicating the rest of the death eaters that were now appearing. "Which group do you wish to lead Severus?"

"I wish I could lead one my lord but I have a meeting with the old fool in less than an hour. He wants to make the remaining students' holidays extra special and has called a staff meeting of the heads of houses." Severus told him feigning sadness. "Although I would suggest separating the young members my lord so there are no mistakes," he offered hoping he wouldn't be disciplined for not being able to join in.

"You should be off then my faithful servant. I will be interested to know what Dumbledore's expression is when he finds out the families of so many of his students are destroyed," he said with an eerie laugh before dismissing Severus who headed straight back to headquarters hoping he had enough time to save them, and especially Hermione.

"Albus! Albus they are attacking the muggle borns families!" Severus said the second he was solidly inside the house. "Hurry we have to help them!" He was whipping off his death eater garb and transfiguring his clothing so he could help in the effort without being recognized.

"Who are they attacking?" Albus asked as the order hurried towards him.

"All muggle borns who are close to Potter," Severus said. "We have to get to Hermione!" Everyone gasped as they realized their friend was in grave danger. Justin and the Longbottoms hurried to his house to fend off the attack while the rest of the order split up to protect anyone else that may be in danger.

Albus, Minerva and Harry tried to apparate to Hermione's house. They were unsuccessful and ended up down the street. Minerva screamed in agony as she looked upon the house that was ablaze with flames, no one could have survived that attack. The house was almost completely destroyed with flames spitting from every window. With a heavy heart and tears running down their faces they apparated back to headquarters to tell everyone the awful news.

Severus was pacing like a caged dog as they wouldn't let him leave or he could jeopardize his position as a spy. He couldn't care less about his spy work while his best friend was in danger! He took one glance at the looks on Albus and Harry's faces and knew they had been too late. He fell to the floor a broken man; he had never felt anything like it before. It was as if someone had pulled out his heart and chopped it into tiny pieces. Harry fell down next to him and the two men sat next to each other trying to comprehend what had just happened. It didn't feel real and they hoped to wake from the awful nightmare.

The Grangers had decided to have Christmas early so they could spend it while Hermione was home. They kept with their old tradition of staying up until midnight on Christmas Eve and then opening one present each. They played muggle board games like scrabble and monopoly until midnight like they used to do before she went off to school. "It's nice to have you back with us sweetheart," her father told her with a hug after she had beaten him again in scrabble. "I was getting sick of winning every game against your mother!" They all laughed and her mum went into the kitchen to make some more hot chocolate.

Hermione stood up to stretch and felt a chill, a very familiar chill that made her skin crawl. She looked at her father to see him look at her in alarm, he had felt it too. "Mum, get in here!" Hermione yelled and then focused on her happiest memory and performed the partonus shield around her house. Her mother came running in from the kitchen. "We have to get out of here now!" Hermione told her parents as she sensed the dementors hitting against her shield.

"We need our trunks from upstairs!" Her mum said as she hurried to grab the presents from under the tree.

"We don't have time for that mum; Death Eaters could be here any minute!" Hermione said trying to remain calm.

"Honey, you need to call our trunks down here, we absolutely cannot leave them." Her father told her strongly. "Now call for my trunk, your grandmother's trunk, your mother's trunk and finally your trunk. Hurry honey." Hermione complied and summoned the four trunks. Her mother opened the last one, Hermione's, and threw in the Christmas presents. Her mother grabbed her trunk and with a last look at her daughter grabbed the pendant around her neck and the portkey took her to the burrow. Her father told her to grab anything else she wanted before balancing both his and her grandmother's trunks and touching his portkey as well. Hermione was so grateful for those portkeys now. She summoned their family photo albums and shrunk her mum's favorite Tiffany lamp, placing them in the trunk and then apparating to the burrow to get her parents to safety.

"Mum! Dad!" She yelled from the kitchen as she didn't see her parents. They hurried in from the living room and she quickly waved them to the fireplace. She sent her mother through first and then her father before following after sending the spell that will clean the floo so no one can trace their destination. She came out to a room full of worried faces that calmed somewhat when they saw she was alright.

Harry stared blankly into the fire in shock, not able to process the fact that his best friends was dead, either killed by dementors or burned alive inside her house. Severus was doing no better processing the information, he had thought his position at the side of the dark lord would keep those he cared about save and yet he was too late to save her. Both men were broken from their musing as the fire in the grate turned green to indicate someone was about to arrive by floo. They both jumped up and pointed their wands at the fire preparing to defend themselves if needed. Harry was the first to recognize the disheveled woman who was dragging herself and a large trunk out of the fire.

"Mrs. Granger!" he yelled tackling the woman in his haste. "Are you alright, is Hermione ok?" Severus stared in shock as a second person emerged from the fire, this time it was Mr. Granger and he was dragging two trunks. Albus, who had gotten over the initial shock, hurried over and helped the man into the house.

Harry was still trying to get information out of Mrs. Granger who looked nauseous from the floo travel. Before he had gotten an answer a third person came out of the floo and Severus took no time before launching himself at her and gathering her in his arms. "Hermione," he said as a sob rose in his chest. He had never been more relieved to see anyone in his life. She was alive and well and in his arms, he never wanted to let her go so he just held on tighter.

Minerva was openly sobbing behind them as she was so relieved to see her favorite student alive and well. Harry had stopped badgering Mrs. Granger and rushed to hug Hermione from the other side of Severus. Anyone just entering the house would have been shocked to see the three locked in a hug, tears threatening to fall from the eyes of the stoic potions master. "Thank god you're alright," Harry sobbed openly into her hair.

"Severus," Hermione said overwhelmed by the feeling radiating from the two men holding her as if their lives depended on it. "Will they go after my grandparents?" She asked him worriedly.

"Yes, if they didn't get your parents they may," he said looking to Albus for confirmation that they could bring the older Grangers as well. "Come, apparate me there and we'll retrieve them quickly."

Hermione grasped onto him again and concentrated on the bare patch of space behind her grandfather's recliner where she knew would be safe to apparate. "They are muggles and will be startled and confused," she warned him. "They don't know about my magic." He nodded and the next second they were in her grandparents' suite of the rest home they lived in.

"Nana, Pop!" Hermione said relieved as she saw them comfortably watching TV. She rushed forward to hug them both and Severus noted that they didn't seem all that surprised by their sudden appearance.

"What is going on sweet pea?" Pop asked her looking to Severus and back.

"We have to leave right now," Hermione said to them. "There are some very bad people that are out to hurt me and they will come here since they failed to hurt mum and dad." She said hoping they wouldn't ask too many questions. "You have 30 seconds to grab anything you absolutely can not leave behind. We can replace clothing and furniture."

"Did you get my trunk from your house?" Her grandmother asked and at Hermione's nod she sighed with relief. "Then we need nothing," she said as she slipped her shoes and coat on.

Hermione turned to Severus, "You take Nana and I'll take Pop," she said moving towards her grandfather. "Now Pop, I need you to hold tightly onto me and focus all your thoughts on me alone. Nana, you'll do the same with Severus." She then nodded to Snape, "I'll see you at the Burrow," and disapparated.

Severus had seen the strange look he received from Mrs. Granger when Hermione said his name. "Can you grab the recliner for my husband, he really likes it." She said indicating a leather chair behind them. Severus nodded and shrunk the chair, putting it in his pocket and wondering just what the older lady knew about magic. "How did the charm fail?" She asked him and was rewarded with a confused expression. "Come Severus Snape; let us away before my darling Granddaughter has a fit." He complied by apparating them to the Burrow wondering what she had meant.

Hermione and her grandfather were in the kitchen waiting for them. Hermione demonstrated how to use the floo powder by going through first. Her grandfather followed and Severus noted that he had no problems and looked at ease as he did so. He realized there was something fishy with her grandparents being muggles. He had a feeling they were quite aware of the wizarding world. "After you madam," Severus said with a slight bow as he had to clear the floo as he went. He also noted the ease and clarity of voice Mrs. Granger used while using the floo, it was as if she had done it numerous times before, and there was the mater of her knowing his last name.

Hermione was quickly wrapped in the arms of Molly Weasley as soon as she materialized with her grandfather. "Oh dear, I am so glad you are alright!" She said quickly.

"How many others were hurt?" She asked looking around the room at the order members. "Did you have time to save anyone?"

"Yes and no," Albus told her with a sad smile. "There were only a few casualties and they were minimal compared to what Voldemort planned. Justin's family was at a neighbor's house and we have placed them in a safe house out of the country. Hannah lost a second cousin and the cousin's two children. They were the only deaths that we know of so far but as we do not know which families were targeted it is hard to say yet."

"He's going to be angry that this didn't succeed," Hermione said and they nodded.

"How did you escape?" Minerva asked her, the first to ask the question that most wanted the answer to.

"I felt the chill in the air and cast the partonus shield. It gave me enough time to summon the trunks and the portkeys the Longbottoms gave my parents took them to the Burrow where we flooed here." She told them as she sat down finally to try and calm her wildly beating heart. Her parents and grandparents were sitting on a couch on the far side of the room and looked oddly out of place as they took in their surroundings. "What about my family?"

Albus looked over at her parents and smiled. "We should be able to find a safe house somewhere for them."

"Can they just stay here where it is safe?" Harry asked him. "There is plenty of room anyhow." The adults all looked at each other for a moment before agreeing that it was probably the safest place for the family of the head girl. "I'll have Wink make up a suite of rooms for you. We may even be able to hook you up a TV," he said with a grin.

Severus' suspicions grew more when none of the Granger's flinched when Winky popped into the room to get instructions on where to place the Granger family. Hermione had been passed between each of her friends during this exchange, receiving hugs while they made sure she really was there and safe. Minerva held her for a long time while crying that she was devastated when she thought she had died.

Hermione finally extricated herself from her friends and made her way over to her parents. "We're so proud of you honey," her mum said giving her a hug. "That was quite some spell you worked there."

"I'm just glad I was there when they attacked or …" she couldn't bring herself to say what would have happened.

Mrs. Weasley herded her family and all the other youngsters other than Hermione up to bed since it was after midnight. The order members also went to sleep so they would be rested in the morning in case they were needed again. Minerva and Albus went off to determine what to say to the remaining students the next morning as they would have to go back to make an announcement.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Hermione asked her grandparents who she thought were either handling things way to well or were still in shock.

"Your mother already explained that you are a witch and that all these people here are your friends and want to keep us safe," Pop told her. "She also said there was a mad man after you because you're the first witch in the family."

"That is about right," Hermione said sitting down on the couch opposite them next to Severus who was the only other person left in the room. "There is a man who wanted more power and he turned evil. He thinks that magic should only be allowed to those people who have only magical ancestors. They don't like people like me because we are different then them. The magical world is an amazing place but there is a lot of intolerance. The main reason they are after me is because of my friend Harry. He is the mad man's arch enemy and since I'm his friend he wants to hurt Harry by hurting me. This is Harry's house we are in right now."

"Who are the rest of the people staying here?" Nana asked her watching Severus.

"They are a group of people joined together to fight this evil man. They are all my good friends and we fight together. All of the red heads are the Weasley family and are like my second family. The old man with the beard, Albus Dumbledore, is the headmaster of my school and the most powerful wizard alive." She told them.

"And how do you know Severus here?" Her grandmother asked with a smile.

"Hermione is one of my students," he told her watching her raise an eyebrow at him. "I teach potions at Hogwarts. She is also my research partner and together we are working on important potions research to help our side win the war. Your granddaughter is the smartest witch to have ever attended Hogwarts, tying both Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle's exam scores. She still has 4 exams to take and if she aces even one, which I know she will excel at all of them, she will be the most intelligent student ever."

Hermione was blushing at the praise he was giving her and both her parents and grandparents noticed. "So why is it that you came with her to rescue us and not one of her little friends?" Pop asked him.

"I consider Hermione to be my best friend and I was devastated at the thought that she had been killed. When she arrived safely I wasn't about to let her out of my sight." He said and Hermione had tears in her eyes so she hugged him. "Don't scare me like that again," he whispered into her hair. "I tried to get back as fast as possible and warn everyone. Albus, Harry and Minerva went to your house and it was destroyed. I thought I had lost you."

"Its alright now, I'm safe." She said surprised again by the emotions he was showing.

Hermione's family was shown to their new rooms by Winky who Mrs. Granger took to immediately. "Thank you Winky, you are so helpful," she told her with a smile admiring the pretty little dress she was wearing.

"Breakfast is at 9 in the dining room," Hermione told them and kissed them goodnight before trekking across the house to her room. She was contemplating the reactions of all her friends after the incident. She could understand the responses of most of them as they were just relieved she was alright but the reactions of her 3 teachers and Harry were most surprising. She guessed she understood. If she had believed Harry to have died and moments later he appeared alive and well in front of her she wouldn't let him go either. She was just shocked to know how much they cared.