Chapter 6: Bonds are Weathered

Harry's birthday started very well where his birthdays were concerned. He woke up and the first thing he saw was note on the coffee table. He picked it up and read Hermione's tiny neat handwriting.

Happy Birthday Harry!

I wanted to tell you that I was visiting my parents this morning. You were asleep when I left so here is the note. I'll see you tonight at the party.

He squinted down at her signature because it looked like she marked through something above it. It looked suspiciously like the word love. She'd settled on;

Your Friend, Hermione

He shrugged it off not realizing its significance. He got up to shower and change. He was on his way to the bathroom when he ducked to avoid Ember. He watched as the phoenix swooped past and out of sight. He shook his head and went into the bathroom.

When he walked into the kitchen he was met with a banner above the table and a shout of "Happy Birthday Harry!" He smiled at Amber because she did her usual translation into French. "Bone Anniversair Mon Aime!" He smiled and looked around. Ginny, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Luna, and Neville were in the kitchen along with Amber and Remus.

"What are you all doing here?" he asked the others as he sat down at the table. Ginny rolled her eyes at him.

"We wanted to surprise you of course!" she said Neville nodded and Luna did before she went back to staring at the Quibbler. He shook his head and turned away to talk to Amber.

"Are you obsessed with French or what?" he asked jokingly because even though it wasn't her first language she still seamed to speak it all the time. She pretended to hit him and put on a mocking pout.

"Bien Sur! Of course!" she provided her almost instant translation to which he rolled his eyes. Then she smiled and went back to her previously forgotten breakfast. After breakfast was over things settled down. Harry and Ron went upstairs and Neville followed them shortly after.

Amber rolled her eyes because she knew they were going to talk about Quidditch. Then she decided to go see her family in France. They'd moved there this year to avoid Voldemort finding them in the U.S. She'd gone to Hogwarts the whole time and didn't want to change now.

Hermione was having lunch in London with her parents. When she sat down at the table she thought she recognized someone sitting at the next one. It couldn't be… Lucius Malfoy, no not here it was impossible.

Robert Granger looked at his daughter noticing the shocked look in her eyes. He lent forward and asked, "'Mione darling are you ok? Is something wrong?" She started at the concern in his voice. She smiled but then bit her lip deciding how to respond.

"I think I just recognized a Death Eater sitting a table over." Both her parents looked pale and shocked at this statement. Caroline looked at her husband and then back to her daughter.

"We should go. Do you think they're after you?" he asked the question before he could stop himself. He'd tried to keep his worry about her at the back of his mind for her visit but he couldn't suppress it at the moment.

Hermione rose from the table and started for the door. She looked back at her father, "I don't know. I guess we'll find out in a moment or two." By this time they'd reached the door and when she looked back he was gone. It was unsettling because she had the suspicion she was being followed.

Then they got to the car. Her mother and father exchanged glances and Robert said, "Sweat heart, would it be safer for you if we dropped you back off early?" Hermione looked up at them.

"Dad, I couldn't… this was supposed to be our day together…" she trailed off not having the words to express her feelings adequately. Her dad nodded understanding what she was trying to say.

"I know 'Mione but I think we'll take you back anyway. Besides," he smiled slightly trying to lighten the gloomy mood in the air, "it is Harry's birthday after all. It's not like you won't find something to do." Then Hermione nodded slowly in agreement with what he'd asked. Then they started for Number 12 Grimmauld Place and the hidden headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

Ginny shook her head annoyed as she walked over to a window. Ron and Harry were talking about Quidditch and she was tired of it. When she glanced out onto the street she saw Hermione's parents' car pull up in front of Number 11, they were early. She watched as her friend got out and then another motion caught her eye. She saw clearly the blond head of Lucius Malfoy. Hermione spotted him too and froze. She beckoned for her parents to drive off.

"Guys come on, Hermione needs us!" she said springing up and heading for the door. Harry was the first to react and followed. When they'd reached the front door they stopped to listen. Harry didn't want to but Ginny held her ground, "If we don't know the situation then we won't be able to help."

"Fine," he said flatly remembering that Hermione had tried to stop him from going to the Department of Mysteries the year before. He wondered if he'd listened to her then Sirius might still be alive.

"No, Harry, don't think that." Amber used their connection to let him know she too had her eye on the situation, "I've contacted a couple of Order members and Tonks is on her way. Mad-Eye is coming too." Harry sighed because he knew that in this situation he was truly helpless. He'd not only expose himself if he went out there, but he'd also expose the location of headquarters to Voldemort.

The sound of the kitchen door opening interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see Remus and Snape enter the hall followed by Tonks. Then another sound split the air like a knife jabbing directly at their hearts; Harry's in particular. This was the sound of the Crucartus curse and then Hermione's scream of pain an instant later.

It felt as if something had exploded within Harry. He shut his eyes against the sound and when he opened them a second later he was outside standing just behind the offending Death Eater. He didn't even pause to think about what he'd just done he went right into the fight, "STUPEFY!" Lucius turned but wasn't quick enough to deflect the retaliatory strike.

Harry went over to Hermione who was getting shakily to her feet. He lifted her up and turned to reenter number 12 where it was safe. She looked surprised and he gave her a quizzical look, "Harry, I think you just Apparated…"