Disclaimer-See first chapter

A.N.-this will be my last post until after August 1st to give everyone a chance to read Half-Blood Prince because chapters from now on will have Half-Blood Prince spoilers. This chapter is currently unbeta'd. Also to all readers who have finished reading HBP, I want you to please answer a poll question at the very bottom of the chapter in your reviews.

"Mr. Granger, I know you are very angry and upset right now, but we need to discuss this like responsible adults."

"I have to agree with you, Headmaster Dumbledore." Scowling, Peter sits down beside his wife in an attempt to calm himself down.

"Firstly, why have you kept my wife and I in the dark for all these years?

"Mr. Granger, we have a protocol in the wizarding world and that is to keep the magical world secret. It is not in our best interest if muggles know too much."

"That may be true, but it does not justify putting my daughter in dangerous situations"

"Mr. Granger you are correct in that sense. I don't blame Miss. Granger nor disapprove her choices of friends. It is just in the nature of her friends that trouble tends to come calling for them especially if a person is the best friend of Harry Potter."

"This Harry Potter...how often does he get my daughter in troublesome & DANGEROUS situations!"

"Almost never, it is just that trouble seems to find them no matter where they are. Miss Granger's loyalty is admirable. Mr. Potter is not a bad kid, he is just a innocent boy who fate has dealt a hard card. Mr. Potter did not ask for all this. Voldermort has chosen that boy and marked him as his equal. Harry now has the burden of carrying the hope of the wizarding world on his shoulders."

"Well, since trouble apparently always finds Harry Potter, why let him stay at Hogwarts? It seems to me his presence puts everyone in danger. Certainly that is the fault of Voldermort, but why put your other students in unnecessary danger. As you said, Voldermort has chosen Harry Potter as his equal."

"Mr. Granger...you are pushing the limit of my patience. If Harry Potter was pulled out of Hogwarts, what do you think would happen? The dark side would see it as a victory and try to kill or seduce him to their side...do you think that would be a good thing for the wizarding world considering who Voldermort is?"

"Mr Granger, You are a muggle...you do not understand the scope of Voldermort's power. I have witnessed it...it wold be disastrous for both worlds if Voldermort was allowed to win."

"Headmaster, don't be so presumptuous as to assume I do not understand. I have been in the military for many years. I've confronted and defeated corrupt men hungry for power."

"Mr. Granger I acknowledge your experience but it is different if you are a wizard. You underestimate the power of magic...imagine if you were bend to do things against your will, see sadistic things, chaos everywhere, not knowing who to trust, and death everywhere."

"Things of that sort happen in the 'muggle world' as well Headmaster."

"Unfortunately yes, I have to agree with that, but Voldermort is immortal. He cannot be defeated by anybody. He can only be defeated by one person and that person is Harry Potter."

"In all honesty, headmaster, Voldermort is your problem, not mine. All I want to do is keep my daughter safe and if that means withdrawing her from Hogwarts, so be it."

"I understand that the parental desire is to protect one's young Mr. Granger, but I strictly advise that. Voldermort has a presence in America and he has acknowledged that your daughter is a threat and he will do everything that is possible to eliminate that threat.

"What do you suggest I do?"

"My recommendation is that Miss. Granger remain at Hogwarts where she will be under the order protections and mine."

"I come from a military background, meaning I don't sit on my bum and wait for something bad to happen. I take swift action."

"Duly noted, Mr. Granger. I will be personally assigning Miss Granger a bodyguard under the guise of a apprenticeship."

"And who is that bodyguard you speak of?"

"That would be Professor Snape ...he is the best we have. Minerva McGonagall would obviously be Miss. Granger's choice but desperate times calls for drastic measures."

"Professor SNAPE! That man has been cruel to my daughter all those years she has been at Hogwarts!"

"Mr Granger! Professor Snape is one of the most powerful wizards of our time. My powers pale in comparison to him and I would entrust my own safety to him."

"Ah, I see"

"I would think it would be best for Miss Granger to be under his wing as you would put it. Mr Granger"

"Would Hermione be allowed to keep in contact with me and my wife?"

"Yes, Miss Granger would be allowed to keep in contact with you. However, Voldermort would do anything necessary to strike back against Miss. Granger and that would including her family. I would suggest that you and your wife go into hiding. I can place the Fidelius charm on you and serve as the secret keeper. No one but I would be able to find you."

"Unfortunately I'll have to agree with you there. You know, Headmaster, I'm grudgingly becoming a willing participant in all this. I expect you to keep my daughter safe, that's all I ask."

"Wonderful, Mr Granger, your knowledge in muggle military tactics is invaluable and I may find myself coming to you for your help."

"Headmaster, you shall have it."

"There may be a point in the war... that we will have to strike back with muggle means. We are at war right now as you speak."

"Headmaster, I know because my daughter is evidence of this war you are currently fighting. Thank you for your time and I will make arrangements for my wife and I to go in hiding."

"Thank you Mr. Granger and Ms Granger for inviting me here. Miss Granger, I suggest you pack up all your things now because I will be sending Professor McGonagall to take you to the Weasley family before moving you to Hogwarts. Mr. Granger I will be owling you soon with details and a member of the order will arrive tomorrow with a portkey that will immediately take you in hiding."

Hermione looks on nervously as both her father and the headmaster shake hands and the headmaster apparates away in front of them.

"Daddy, are you okay with all this?"

"Sweetie, I'm not okay with this because I want you to be safe but I know that I cannot protect you anymore. You have to fight your own battles now, but remember your mother and I will be always there for you."

"Daddy thank you and I love you both...I really do and I know I may not be able to see you for a long time because I don't know how long this war will last."

All the Grangers even Crookshanks join in a one final family hug because it may be the last time the family will ever be whole... As Minerva McGonagall looks on from her perch on the fence outside the living room.

TBC

Should I stay true to the plotline in HBP or go AU? I will make the final decision on where I want the story to go but I would like input from the readers.