Finally, the day arrived in which I was to return to Hogwarts. I was nervous, hesitant, and every other uncertain word one could find in the dictionary. By going to Hogwarts, I would be forever turning my back on my mother, fully embracing everything she hated about me. Up until this moment, I always had the choice to return, to take my place in the Granger family. Now, though, was my last chance. And it was harder than I realized to put it behind me. So, when Remus helped me levitate my trunk to the street curb, I was having a hard time forcing one foot to follow the other.
"Come on, Hermione," he whispered to me, as I stood motionless at the door of Grimmauld Place. "Just a quick call to the Knight Bus and you'll be at Platform 9 ¾ in no time."
I gave him a smile and, realizing that he cared for me just as much and more as Mum did or ever would, found my feet and stepped out into the lawn. Reaching him, I gave him a quick hug.
"I'll write you," I promised, trying to fight back tears. "I'll tell you everything."
"Even all of the things that Harry and Ron will no doubt not want you to tell me?"
I laughed and released him. "Even the things Ron and Harry don't want me to tell you."
With one more minute of companionable silence, I took my wand from my pocket and held it aloft. "Bye, Remus," I said as the garishly purple Knight Bus appeared and the porter lifted my trunk into the bus.
"Bye, Hermione," he called back as I climbed aboard. And then, with one quick wave before the bus took off, he was gone.
Sighing, I settled into my patched and overstuffed chair, willing my rolling stomach to settle. The bus ride was short, as always, but the after effects were far more long lasting. So, even after I had made my way onto the platform, all belongings in tow, I was still feeling rather green around the gills. Still, the sight of the bright red engine and the crowd of laughing and energetic students were nearly enough to rid my head of all thoughts of nausea.
As I stood amidst the throng of children and their parents, I could hardly contain my excitement. Another school year! There was no joy as sweet as that! I stood on tiptoe anxiously, hoping to spot my friends. Then, almost as if by cue, I could see them. A huge group of red heads, all varying in size and age, with one very out of place black-haired boy. Laughing in delight, I levitated my trunk and ordered it to follow as I dashed through the various families to make my way to them. As an afterthought, that turned out not to be the greatest idea because by the time I'd reached them, I'd knocked over a good score of people with my heavy belongings.
"Sorry!" I called behind me, half truly repentant and half giggling. I turned to the Weasleys and Harry, a sheepish grin on my face. "Hi, you guys."
Immediately, I was wrapped in an innumerable amount of arms in one giant embrace. I laughed in delight as they released me and I let my eyes wander over and re-familiarize with the people I had not seen in so long: Bill, Charlie, and Percy were gone of course at their respective homes and jobs, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Ginny, Harry, and, of course, Ron were there. The one boy I had been in love with since my first year and also the one boy I somehow knew I may never get.
The goodbyes were quick as the train's departure time was nearly at hand. An empty compartment was fairly easy to find, as the amount of children seemed to diminish each year as the threat of Voldemort grew. We settled in, Harry, Ron, Ginny and I, and were relatively soon joined by Luna and Neville. The trip was long, but pleasant on all accounts. We chatted and laughed and acted like a normal group of teenagers. And not one person brought up my family's problems, something I was infinitely grateful for.
Then, later that evening, as our thestral-driven carriage stopped to let us out at the door to Hogwarts, a rather frantic looking Susan Bones rushed out to meet us. She was as thin and rather frail looking as always, her childish braids and large glasses making her appear even smaller than she was. I wasn't tall at only 160 centimeters, but she was lucky if she reached 150. "Hermione!" she gasped as she reached us.
"Hello, Susan," I answered pleasantly. "How was your summer?"
She stopped, momentarily caught off guard. "Er, fine..." She quickly shook her head to clear it. "Hermione, Professor McGonagall sent me to fetch you. She says it's urgent."
I turned to my friends in confusion, but simply waved at them, saying I'd see them at the feast in a moment before I followed Susan into the castle.
"What does she want with me, Susan?" I asked her.
The girl shrugged. "She didn't tell me, just sent me to get you since I happened to be the first out of the first carriage to arrive. Just be glad it wasn't Draco Malfoy or some other Slytherin that she sent."
I smiled at her absently, but my mind was in turmoil. Had the Death Eaters come for my mother? Had she been hurt, or killed, or worse, had she gone mad in the same manner as Neville's parents? As I fretted, my steps grew quicker and Susan had to jog just to keep up on her very short legs.
Before I had time to sort out my thoughts, we had reached Professor McGonagall's door. I knocked smartly and was admitted with the Professor's curt "Enter!" I opened the door and was surprised to see two of the last people on earth I had expected to see within.
"Remus!" I cried as I flung myself into his arms. "What're you doing here?" He laughed shortly, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "And Charlie Weasley! I thought you were in Romania. With the dragons." He didn't even bother with a smile. My joviality diminished significantly as I saw the forlorn look on all three of the office's occupants' faces. "What's the matter?"
Professor McGonagall turned to the very curious Susan who still stood in the doorframe, as still and inconspicuous as a mouse. "Thank you, Miss Bones," she said gruffly. "You may return to the feast now." With a disappointed look, the girl dashed off and closed the door behind her.
I watched the closed door for a moment before meeting my professor's eyes. "Professor, what's the matter?" I repeated.
She sighed and sat behind her desk. "If you would take a seat, Miss Granger." I complied, as did Charlie and Remus, as I anxiously waited for whatever it was she had to say.
"Miss Granger," she continued, "I fear that what I must say is not easy..."
My heart constricted within my chest. "It's my mother, isn't it?" I interrupted. "They found her, didn't they, the Death Eaters? And she's dead now, isn't she?" The tears that had come so quickly began to fall. "And I never even got the chance to say anything. Is she really dead, Professor?"
McGonagall seemed stunned at my sudden disintegration into being an emotional, well, girl, and didn't know what to say for a moment. "Miss Granger," she began eventually. "Your mother is perfectly fine. It's you that we're worried about."
"Me? But, Professor, as you can see, I'm perfectly fine."
McGonagall sighed. "For the moment, yes. But your safety is in danger. You've become a target."
I stared at her. "Me? A target? Are you sure?" I turned to both Remus and Charlie for confirmation, but neither would look at me.
"Miss Granger, do you know why those Death Eaters came to your house that evening your father died?"
I stared at her in disbelief that she should bring up such a painful subject. "Of course I do, Professor. They wanted to get to Harry through me. Bring down the smart one in order to make him more vulnerable. It was all to hurt Harry, wasn't it?"
Professor McGonagall folded her hands before her face in a way that was eerily similar to Professor Dumbledore. "In a way, yes, you're right, Miss Granger. But that's not the reason they went after you."
"Wh-what're you talking about?"
"They went after you to hurt Mr. Weasley."
I turned to Charlie, staring at him in disbelief before turning back to McGonagall. "Charlie? How's he involved in this?"
McGonagall's hands made their way to her face as she sighed in exasperation. "Not this Mr. Weasley, your Mr. Weasley." I stared at her blankly. "Ron," she clarified. "They went after you to hurt Ron."
"I don't understand..."
"They wanted to hurt Ron, so they made their way to your house, as it had fewer wards, and--"
"Enough!" Remus cried, as he came to his feet. "She knows the details of that particular train of thought." He turned to me, falling to his knees and taking my hands in his. "Hermione, what Minerva is trying to say is that we, the Order, think it would be best if you were to go into hiding."
"Hiding?"
"Yes. Just until this all blows over. Then you can come back. You see, Hogwarts isn't as safe as it once was and it would be best if we could get you away from Ron and Harry."
"But, Remus, they need me. How're they expected to--"
"Hermione, they'll be fine. You, however, may not, unless we can get you out of here soon."
McGonagall took over for Remus. "Hermione, we've secured a safe house for you to hide away in, along with a protector." She held her hand up to stop my indignant tirade proclaiming my ability to take care of myself. "Humor us, Miss Granger, in this. Besides, he'll take good care of you and keep you company. In fact, he ought to take you away as soon as possible. Within the next fifteen minutes if he can."
I turned to Remus. "You're my protector, then? Well, that's all right, I guess. I mean, at least I can--"
"No, Hermione," he said. "Not me. Charlie."
I stared at the elder Weasley brother in uncertainty, before I finally steeled myself towards the fact that I had no choice. "Well, I suppose we ought to go soon. I'll just go get my things." I made for the door, but Charlie's hand stopped me.
"No time for that, I'm afraid," he whispered in his gruff voice. We'll be leaving by portkey immediately. Your things will be sent on later."
"Oh," I muttered in a small voice, so as to hide my despair.
Professor McGonagall stood and came to touch my shoulder. "Come along, then, Miss Granger, and we'll send you off."
I looked up and nodded, saddened by the fact that I would not have the chance to say goodbye and I may never be able to see any of my friends again. But worst of all, I may not have been able to ever tell Ron how I felt or find out if he felt the same about me.
