Disclaimer-see 1st chapter

A.N.- single quotationscharacter thoughts

double quotations talking

"Have a good summer, Hermione. Take care of yourself and I'll owl you soon so you can come to the burrow and spend time with us."

"Ok Ron, thanks and take care too." Ron hugs Hermione and whispers, "Keep a eye on Harry ok? He trusts you more than me."

Hermione looks up at Ron and nods before she slips through the barrier into the muggle world at Platform 9 3/4. Taking a deep breath, Hermione checks her trolley again to make sure everything is secure before walking towards her parents who are standing around looking for her.

Peter Granger, a lanky man with the same hair color as Hermione and warm cinnamon brown eyes that Hermione has inherited, opens his arms to receive Hermione's hug.

"Sweetie, its good to see you again. How was your term?" Annabelle Granger turns around after hearing her husband's voice.

An older version of Hermione but with dark blond lightly bushy hair, Annabelle cracks a smile and takes a step forward to hug her daughter.

She quips, "Peter, stop shooting off question after question, we have plenty of time to do that at home."

Chewing her lower lip, Hermione glances quickly at both of her parents and is relieved that they haven't noticed anything out of order.

At least, not yet. "Sweetheart, we could go shopping tomorrow in London if you are up to it. You have grown so much since the last time we saw you; you're nearly as tall as your father."

'Yeah...great, means mum will grill me about school the whole time we're shopping, though it's time for new clothes. Good thing I'm tall, I hate being short.'

Hermione stares out the back window and takes in the scenery of London as her parents' speedy BMW makes its way to the suburbs. 'Its good to be back home but im not looking forward to the firing range squad i.e. my parents.'

Thump! "Ow, bugger that, shouldn't have done that." exclaims Hermione as her mother whirls around in the seat to look at her daughter who just had banged her head against the window. Shooting a worried glance at Hermione, Annabelle ponders what has been bothering her daughter ever since she stepped through the barrier back into London.

Pulling into the driveway of the 2 story English-style Tudor house that the Grangers have occupied since Hermione's birth, Peter stretches his tired arms. He gets out of the BMW, leans against it, and watches his daughter exit the vehicle before turning to face her.

"Home, sweet home! Aren't you glad to be back home with us?" Peter asked his daughter.

"Yeah dad, I am...I just want to unwind and relax because it was a long day,." replied a tired Hermione.

Peter reaches out and gently squeezes Hermione's shoulders. "Ok, Sweetheart. Go on ahead upstairs and I'll bring your trunk up to your room and let Crookshanks out of his carrier." Annabelle looks over to her husband and they both share the same worried glance as they watched their only child disappear into the house.

Later that evening

Annabelle Granger climbs the stairs and heads to Hermione's room, at the end of the hallway- supper is ready. Meanwhile in Hermione's room- Hermione is on her 4-post bed listening to Coldplay and Good Charlotte on her iPod and looks around the room. 'Thank god I finally remodeled my room last summer.' The room is painted a cool, soothing color. It is lined with bookshelves, and beside her closet is a computer desk with her laptop sitting atop it. 'The songs...they definitely match my mood, good riddance...can't even escape the wizarding world even when I'm sitting in my room.'

Meerow! "Oh crooks, poor baby...you want to be cuddled?" Meerow! Crookshanks looks at her master and butts his squashed face against her legs begging to be petted and cuddled. 'Crooks, you're lucky to just be a cat...all you need is food and water...and more exercise because you are getting a bit too fat...all simple things.'

Knocking "Hermione dinner is ready, come down so we can eat."

"Ok mum be down there in 5!"

At the dinner table, the conversation is stilted because Peter and Annabelle don't know how to approach the subject and Hermione is moodily looking at her plate and just moving around the food.

'Why isn't Hermione eating? I cooked her favorite, Chicken Feucttini Alfredo with garlic cheese bread, and creme brulee for dessert.'

"Sweetie, how was your school year?" Peter cheerily says to get the ball rolling hoping to find the root of Hermione's glumness.

Hermione's head shoots up to look at her father and she blanches a little but stiffly replies, "yeah it was good, just stressful because of the O.W.Ls." 'Gods, please make it short...my chest is killing me and I just want to go back upstairs and take the pain potion Madame Pomfrey gave me...crawl under the covers and just sleep.'

"Hermione, how do you think u did on the O.W.Ls?" questioned Annabelle after noticing Hermione blanching a bit when Peter asked about school.

"Oh mum, it was good, I did well on my exams...I'm just glad its over."

"Ok, Hermione. That's good to hear."

"Mum, Dad can I be excused? I'm just really really tired, I wish I was better company tonight."

Peter smiled reassuringly, "Sweetie, its ok, go on to bed maybe you will feel better tomorrow morning. I will not be here in the morning because I have to go to the dentist office early but mum will be here since she has the summer off. Have fun shopping tomorrow, just don't burn a hole in your wallet."

"Ok mum and dad, thanks for dinner and good night."

Peter and Annabelle looked at each other after watching Hermione's retreat back to her room. "Anna, she's probably just tired, I think the stress from the O.W.Ls is just finally coming crashing down on her shoulders. You know how obsessive she is about studying, she's just like us when we were younger, albeit more methodical."

"That's true Pete, but I just have a feeling that its deeper than the stress from the O.W.Ls, she's not letting us in on the details."

"Anna, are you sure?"

"Yes, Peter I'm sure, no doubt about that."

Hermione takes a deep breath leaning against the closed door on her bedroom and Crookshanks stares at her unapprovingly from his perch atop Hermione's pillows. 'Gods...that was torture...Dad's clueless but I think mum suspects...bugger'

"Crooks, quit staring at me, I know I should have told mum and dad, I cannot believe I'm having a conversation with my cat...Herms, .you have really gone off the deep end."

Dumbledore's Office

"Hello Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, please take a seat. I know that it has been a difficult night for you both but I strongly advise you to stay quiet about it- remember the walls have ears and people talk."

Ron shifted in his seat and inquired, "Professor Dumbledore, why should we keep this quiet? Fudge already knows about you-know-who."

Dumbledore takes a hard look at Ron, who wilts a little but stares back defiantly. "Mr. Weasley, I strongly suggest that because there are other enemies out there whom will not hesitate to strike back because you and the rest of the D.A. just put half of Voldermort's inner circle in Azkaban."

Hermione eyes them both and wisely keeps her mouth shut. She wonders, 'Why is Professor Dumbeldore changing his tune all of a sudden? He has always been outspoken..'

Lying in bed, Hermione muses over the events that have occurred in the last 72 hours and she rolls over in an attempt to fall asleep, since the pain potion is starting to take effect. 'What will happen now? Wait, is that McGonagall outside on the ...' is the last thought Hermione has before she finally succumbs to exhaustion.