Part Twenty

Hermione walked into the dorm room and screamed. Erin changed back. "Hermione it's me!"

She stared at the girl with surprise and a little admiration. "You can do it!" She squealed.

"I can do it!" Erin said happily. "I turn into a wolf I think."

"Do it again!" She said closing the door behind her.

Erin did. "Well?" she barked.

Hermione laughed and probably figured out what the girl was saying. "You are a wolf! A half-grown wolf! With a sleek black coat and green eyes!"

Erin changed back. "This is a great night."

"Oh," Hermione said. "I came up because I saw you leave the feast early. You weren't having a very good time, were you?"

"Not really." She said a little wistfully. "Truthfully, I don't want to leave."

"We'll be back in two months." Hermione said.

"Yeah, but how much thinner will I be?" Erin asked. "How dark will the rings around my eyes be? How tired will I be? You have never known the life I lead." Erin said. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Hermione."

"Erin—"

"I said 'goodnight'." Erin got into bed and drew the curtains around her.

The grades came the next day Erin and Hermione had aced every class. Only Hermione scored higher than Erin did. Harry and Ron passed with great marks, too. Even Goyle passed. Harry and Erin talked at lunch. He understood that the girl was just anxious about going back to the orphanage. Then everything was packed and the next morning we left Hogwarts.

It took a while to get off the platform because an old wizard was only letting them through a few at a time. The four of them managed to get off together. "All three of you have to come and stay this summer!" Ron said.

Erin hesitated, but Harry said, "Thanks, I'll need something to look forward to."

"I might not be able to." Erin said quietly, but all of them looked at her. She licked her lips. "I doubt Matron will let me."

Mrs. Weasley showing up then, saving Erin the trouble of answering questions. The girl answered her questions politely enough though leaving out that she probably wouldn't be able to stay with them. Erin smiled at the Weasley girl and she smiled back. "I'm Ginny." She said.

"It's nice to meet you, Ginny."

Then a grumpy voice said, "Ready are you?"

They turned to see a large man with a red face and large mustache. "You must be Harry's family!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"In a matter of speaking." The man said. "Hurry up, boy!"

Harry leaned in to talk to Ron, Hermione and Erin. "See you over the summer." He paused. "Even if I have to go to that orphanage."

Erin smiled happily. "Have a good holiday, Harry." She said hugging him and he gratefully hugged her back.

"Yeah." Hermione said still looking at Harry's uncle unsure of that.

"Oh, I will." Harry said happily. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home." They had been given notices that morning reminding them not to use magic outside of Hogwarts.

Harry left and they all waved after him. "Is someone meeting you, Erin?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"No." The girl said. "I am supposed to take the 8 o'clock bus to the home tonight."

"That's hours away!" Mrs. Weasley said. And she was right since it was only 3 o'clock. "Maybe we can talk to your matron and she will agree to let you spend some time with us this summer."

"Really?" Erin asked. "I would love that!"

"Wonderful. I am sorry we can't take you now, but those places usually want some time. We have to sign for you and such."

"Just as long as I can." She said. "The only place I have been is Hogwarts."

She blinked surprised. "You've never left the home?" She asked.

"No." Erin said. "All my clothes are hand-me-downs, I'm a good sewer, and I was always too busy cleaning and mending and moving furniture and gardening."

"You had to work all the time?" She was appalled. "And what of the other children?"

"No, I did all of that stuff."

"Erin…did you say your last name was Lyancomp?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yes." Erin said a little uncertainly.

"Who were your parents?"

Erin swallowed. "My mother was Xenia Lyancomp."

Her eyes went wide. "Then…"

That's when Hermione's parents came over. They hugged her and she told them about her school year. "This is Erin!" She said pulling the other girl over, saving her from any more questions. "She's one of my best friends!"

"Friends?" Her mother asked excitedly. "You have friends?"

Hermione blushed a little. "Yes, and this is Ron." She pulled Ron over too. "There's another boy in our group named Harry. We're all best friends."

Her parents were smiling. "It's wonderful to meet you." Her father said shaking their hands.

"And this is Ron's mom." Hermione said.

"Molly Weasley." She said. "These are my children. Percy, Fred and George, and Ginny." Mr. and Mrs. Granger nodded politely. "We hope Hermione will come and visit us this summer."

"Perhaps." Mrs. Granger said. "We have a lot planned, but maybe we can squeeze in some visiting." Mrs. Granger winked at her daughter.

"We have to be going, we're taking Hermione out to dinner so she can tell us all about her first year."

"Are you going to tell them everything?" Erin whispered and Ron leaned in to.

"You're crazy." She giggled. "I am leaving out everything that has to do with getting in trouble or death or…"She grinned. "Illegal activities?" Erin grinned back.

"Good thinking." Ron said.

"What about you, Ron?" Hermione asked.

"She'll already know. I just have to give her my version of the events."

"Bravery." Erin said nodded.

"You have no idea." Ron said glancing at his mum.

Everyone left and Erin wandered over to the bus stop to wait, but for the first time in her life she was happy.