Hermione walked away quickly, looking for Ginny. How could she let her emotions get the best of her? She had always prided herself on being able to push aside emotions when a situation was dire, but she had let her restraint slip.
The drawing room seemed to have stretched. With each step Hermione took, she felt as though she was further away from the Weasleys. She became aware of each breath circulating through her chest. She felt the need to regain control over herself. Breathing in slowly, she tightened her body, then relaxed.
These emotions frightened her. Since she was eleven, she had been combating against dark forces in this terrible war. She had willingly run into dangerous situations, and watched her friends face death multiple times. She watched many perish over the years because of the fight- many who were close to her- yet she never felt this lost. The disappearance of her old friends left her with a great loss in hope.
"Hermione dear, I must ask you, on behalf of your mother, rest her soul, not to take this assignment," Mrs. Weasley pleaded, interrupting her thoughts. "I am worried for Ron too, but I don't want to risk losing you as well. You've been a daughter to me."
"We agree, Mum," George interrupted. "She shouldn't go. She's been through enough. That is why we are going to Mad Eye this instant to explain the advantages of having us go instead."
"And if he says no," added Fred "then we'll just go anyway. We'll have Ron and Harry back in no time."
"No you will not!" exploded Mrs. Weasley. "I will not have any of you risking your lives like this! You three, I have a say over. I can't keep you from going, Hermione. All I can do I plead with you."
During her latter years in Hogwarts, Hermione had wondered if her prominent involvement in the war would place her family in danger. Mrs. Weasley's words weighed heavily on Hermione, but it wasn't possible for her to refuse.
Her mind refocused on the conversation around her. All of Ron's brothers were arguing with their mother.
Mrs. Weasley couldn't take the stress any longer. Thoughts of her lost in the hands of Death Eaters flooded her mind. The sacrifices people made for war was something Mrs. Weasley understood all too well. Every one of the members had mothers out there, fearing for their babies, hoping they don't get an owl bearing the news of their child's death. As horrible as the thought was, she almost preferred the owl to this meeting. With the owl, there was certainty and she knew they weren't suffering any longer. But this, this was too much. She knew the pain that Death Eaters could inflict on the boys. The thought that years could pass before they are found crossed her mind. If they were found alive, what then? Would they be mindless vegetables, unable to recognize anything? The thoughts of physical and mental mutilations plagued her mind and pushed her to the edge.
Hermione saw this in Molly's eyes, and knew that there was very little restraining her friend's mother.
"Enough!" Mrs. Weasley's voice rose about the protest of her children. "Have you no consideration for your own mother? Do you want me to come here, month after month, hearing Moody tell me another one of my babies is missing, and watching another one go? Arthur, speak to them. "
Mrs. Weasley's words hung in the air. Mr. Weasley hugged her close and looked each of this children directly in their eye. Over the years he had grown accustomed to her outbursts. Rest and a good cry would help her now. War took its toll on everyone, but for his wife, it was personal. It was her failing as well as her forte; she became a mother to all those she encountered, bringing them into her life. The price paid for loving so many was the pain of losing them all.
"Boys," Mr. Weasley said, "this is a very hard time for her, for all of us, really. There will be plenty of work for us here. Hermione dear, we appreciate what you're doing, of course. Do be careful. You are, after all, like a daughter to us. Ginny, if you could return home after Hermione leaves, it would be a great help."
"Of course, Dad," Ginny replied, sullenly.
With that, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left their offspring alone to contemplate the news.
"What did Mad Eye tell you?"
Ginny stammered out the question as soon as they apparated. It seemed that she reverted back to her first year in Hogwarts with the news of Ron and Harry's disappearance.
"Nothing really. Just that we are getting the details tomorrow in McGonagall's office, and then we leave. We have tonight to put our affairs in order."
Ginny nodded and sat down on the couch. Hesitating slightly, Hermione joined her. The lack of information gnawed at her mind. If only she knew something, then she could formulate a plan, assess the risks, and feel useful. As this thought entered her mind, she turned to Ginny. She must feel horrible knowing there is nothing she can do.
"Ginny, I'm going to need you to help me put my affairs in order."
Ginny looked up, rather confused, "Are you sure, wouldn't you rather have Ms. McGonagall, or someone like that helping you?"
"Of course not," Hermione forced her voice to sound cheerful. "I need my best friend and roommate. Who could be a better help?" she smiled gently.
Ginny grinned a bit and smiled. "Alright. Since you insisted. Should we start packing first?"
"No, no packing. Mad Eye said only wands are necessary," Hermione replied. As she went to her desk and grabbed her briefcase and a quill.
Hermione took her things and went back to the sofa with Ginny. She removed a large booklet from her briefcase, "Ginny I need you to teach the Muggle Ingression class."
"You can't be serious, I'm not Muggle-born, how could I teach the class?" Ginny adamantly protested her friend's request.
"The two year program is all written here in my manual, so you wont have a problem. You sat through our horror film marathon last night, this will be a breeze. Ginny, you would be great as my substitute! I'm sending a letter to the Ministry recommending you. I'm also writing a letter for my father. In case something happens, he'll know the details of the mission. That, I'll send to you from Hogwarts. Besides that, the only thing left is that you take care of Crookshanks."
She put her quill down and sat on the couch in silence.
What have I done? Is my life so small that it is taken care of in a short conversation? I had so much pride in my work, two jobs, which will continue on without me? No one needs me not even Crookshanks. Hes self-reliant. Mostly it comes for my sake. The only one who will notice I'm gone is Ginny.
Realizing she hadn't said a word in a while, she turned to Ginny. "I'm sorry. I just got a bit distracted."
Ginny leaped forward and wrapped her arms around Hermione. "You're just nervous about tomorrow. Let's get everything settled and we can go spend tonight at The Burrow."