Harry was going to have to fix things with Fionn, and soon. The only problem was, he wasn't sure how he was going to do it. The Fae was still sharing his room and bed, and wasn't outright ignoring him... but Harry could tell that things were not the way they had been, or the way they should be. Right now, everyone was gathered in Ash's sitting room. It had been decided that as Harry really needed to know where Hermione stood, that he and Ash would go visit her. Only this time they would need to do so much more carefully than when they had visited Fred and George. If she was still on Harry's side, he didn't want to alert Dumbledore to the fact that he was going to see her. He couldn't bring her to the Realm, Ash had no more space for people, and he was sure Hermione wouldn't want to leave her parents in any case.

Fred, George, and Fionn would be going back to the twins' flat to pick up a few things they had forgotten, as well as some items Fred and George wanted to tweak to see if they could make them work on those living in the Realm. Fionn's Fae talent was glamors, he would easily be able to disguise himself and the twins, and if anything went wrong, Fred or George could apparate them to Hermione's home. Harry didn't like the idea of them all splitting up, but had to admit it would be easier to sneak two people in, than five.

They all gathered into a close group, Harry to Ash's left with an arm around Fionn. Then Fred, then George, everyone holding onto the person next to them, with George on Ash's right. Ash called Air, and they were quickly in the twins' flat.

"Remember, don't stay longer than you have to. We'll meet you at Gringotts in an hour and a half."

"Yes mum!" Fred and George saluted Ash cheekily, and then dragged Fionn off.

"Children, no respect!" Ash mock-sighed. "All right Harry, one more charm and then we can be off." They were already wearing the glamor that hid their Demon attributes, but had decided that being invisible would be the best way to hide their visit from Dumbledore. Raising one hand palm-up, Ash called a whisper of Air and then blew lightly towards Harry. As it hit him, the Air warped the light around Harry, and he vanished from sight. Then Ash wrapped Air around herself, and vanished as well. Reaching out to where Harry had been standing, she managed to grab his arm and pull him towards herself, before calling up Air a final time and take them both to the street Hermione lived on.

Harry had never been there, but he knew what house number was hers, and from the description she had given of her home over the years, they were able to find the right house after only a few minutes. Being a Muggle house, there were no wards to deal with, and Ash simply called Air again to get them inside and upstairs. Harry poked his head in a few doorways, and finally found a room that looked like it should belong to Hermione.

Ceiling to floor bookcases on three walls, and a desk that was covered in more books, plus parchment and quills. Everything was done in a rich brown wood, with gold and cream accents.

"So what's the plan now? If we just wait here, she may not come in until after we have to go meet the others. And after all the work I went to in hiding us, walking around yelling for her isn't going to work either." As Ash spoke, the bed seemed to shift a little, and then one of the random lumps started to move towards them. As it reached the edge of the bed, there was a soft thump, and Crookshanks dropped to the floor. His fur fluffed out a bit and he glared around, like he knew something was there, even if he couldn't see it.

"Quick! Drop the invisibility charm on me, Crookshanks can fetch Hermione for us."

Crookshanks began a low thrumming growl, his ears flattening to his head as he tried to find the source of the voices. As soon as Harry could see himself again, he knelt down and reached out a hand. "Easy Crookshanks, it's just me. You remember me, I didn't mean to startle you." The cat stared at him a moment longer and then slowly slunk forward to sniff his fingers. His fur smoothed itself out, as much as it was capable of, and his ears returned to their normal angle. "That's it. Nothing to worry about. I really need to talk to Hermione though, could you bring her up here for me? Please?"

A soft snort of laughter could be heard from over near the desk, Harry was sure Ash was laughing at him for talking to a cat. Crookshanks glared in the direction of the desk a moment, before walking past Harry and out the bedroom door. A short while later, he could hear yelling from downstairs, and then the sound of running feet coming up the stairs and towards the bedroom. Crookshanks nearly flew past him, carrying something in his mouth that Harry didn't get the chance to identify, before he shot under the bed. Harry quickly moved behind the door in case it wasn't Hermione chasing the cat, and a moment later a breathless Hermione ran into the room and slammed the door shut.

"Crookshanks! Give me that- Harry?!" Her wand was out and pointed at Harry before he had time to speak. "Harry Potter! Where have you been?! You had us all worried! It's all well and good to send a note saying you're fine, but a little more information would have been nice. Like where you were going. Why you were going. You know your relatives are the safest place for you to be during the summer!" As she spoke, she was advancing on Harry until he was backed up against the wall, her wand still waving about in his face.

"Er... Hermione."

"I was worried sick! What if the Death Eaters had found you!"

"Hermione."

"You could have been dead and we wouldn't have known where to start looking for you!"

"Hermione!"

"What?!"

"Could you please stop waving your wand in my face? I can't really answer any questions if you don't give me time to answer them."

Blushing brightly, Hermione slid her wand back up her sleeve. "I'm sorry Harry. I was just so worried about you!" And suddenly Harry had a face full of bushy hair as Hermione threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. Her shoulders shook slightly, and his neck was getting a little damp as he realized that she was crying softly.

He held her, at a slight loss about what to do. He glanced towards the desk, but Ash was no help, she was visible again and sitting in the chair laughing silently at him. "I didn't mean to worry you, it's just so much has happened so quickly... Oh, and please don't freak out, but I brought someone with me. I promise to explain what I can, but I need to ask you a few things first."

Hermione finally pulled back, her eyes were reddened and her face wet. She scrubbed at her face with one sleeve, holding onto Harry with her other hand as though she thought he was going to run off and leave her again. Looking around the room quickly, she spotted Ash sitting at her desk and frowned. "She's not a student. Who is she Harry? And what is going on?"

"That's Ash, she's my... guardian at the moment I guess. I really do need to ask you something before I explain any further Hermione. Please don't be mad?"

"Hurry up and ask so you can get to the explaining part then."

"I was talking to the Goblins, and found out that Dumbledore, Molly and Ron have been stealing from me for years. Please tell me you didn't know anything about that." Harry knew it would hurt if she had known, and sided with Dumbledore, but he hadn't realized just how much it would hurt until he was standing there and talking to her again. She had been his best friend for years, and he considered her to be like a sister as well. Losing her would hurt, a lot, which was the main reason he had put off contacting her for so long.

Hermione stared at him in shock for a moment. "Are you sure Harry? I can't believe they would do something like that to you. Ron's your best friend!"

"I know. I couldn't believe it either. But Ragnok, he's my account manager, showed me statements going back to my eleventh birthday."

She shook her head and hugged him tightly again. "That's awful! Harry I had no idea! What are you going to do?"

"I haven't decided yet. A lot has been going on. On my birthday I came into-"

"Harry. Fred and George gave you Oaths, I know you didn't ask for them. But considering everything we've been learning, I think you should ask for one before you tell her anything else." Ash held up a hand as Harry started to protest. "I know she's your friend, and you want to trust her. But some of the stuff you are about to tell her will make her a bigger target if anyone thinks she knows. And I hate to say it, but you were wrong about that other boy..."

"No. She's right Harry." This time Hermione interrupted him as he tried to speak. "If Ron could lie for so long, it only makes sense that you be sure." She pulled out her wand again. "I, Hermione Jean Granger, swear that I knew nothing of what Ron, Molly or Dumbledore was doing with Harry's money." A glow surrounded her and then was gone. She put her wand away again and dragged Harry to sit on her bed. "Now, tell me what's been going on. Why did you leave?"

Harry took a deep breath and began the explanation. He'd been right, she wanted to know everything about the Realm and the creatures that lived there. She asked so many questions, that the time flew by.

"Sorry, but we have to be meeting the others. I'll bring you back some other time Harry." Ash finally spoke.

"I have to go, but I promise I'll visit you again as soon as I can." Harry hugged Hermione and stood. "Remember, you can get in touch with me through Gringotts."

"I will Harry. But you better promise to write me and visit soon!"

"I promise!" Harry laughed, and then Ash was calling Air and they were gone.

AN: Sorry for the longer-than-usual delay in updates. Was fairly busy this week. Next chapter we finally get to know exactly what the brand does.