I promise we'll get to St. Mungo's in time but there;s a twist before we do! Man I love having nothing to do! Please R & R. Cake and ice cream to those who do ;)

Step XxXxX ;)


Chapter 34

'You promise you'll tell me if Malfoy send us a message?' Hermione asked Harry as she pulled her jacket on, ready to go to her parent's house. She had already absent-mindedly pulled on her cloak before Harry reminded her where she was going.

'Yes Hermione, I…actually what will I do if he does, shall I just apparate to yours? But then won't that bring up a few awkward questions from your cousin?'

'Not if we don't let her see you. Just don't be seen going from the back garden to the front door, and I'll make sure I open the door all afternoon so we can have a talk in the porch if needed.'

'Ok.'

'Good, now shall I take my wand?'

'Well you really shouldn't use it whilst you're there.'

'I know but I think my dad likes the idea of an endless supply of beer coming from it!'

Harry laughed.

'Well if you do just don't let your cousin see it.'

'I'll take it but keep it in my jacket in the cloak room.'

'Sounds good, now will you just go!' he said, exasperated at her fussing.

'Are you trying to get rid of me?'

'No, you're just fussing when there's no need to.'

'Ok, I'll go. Just-'

'I'll let you know if we get a message.'

'And-'

'I'll be careful if I apparate to yours. Now go!'

'Fine! I'm going, have a good afternoon.'

'You too. Bye'

'Bye.'

She turned on the spot and apparated home.

She reappeared outside her house and behind the tree in the garden. The leaves were starting to fall from it and scattered the ground by her feet. She had a quick look to make sure the coast was clear and then walked up the stepping-stones to the house. She rang the front doorbell and her dad opened the door to her, giving her a hug as she crossed the threshold.

'Hi dad,' she said.

'Hello Hermione,' he said with a cautious smile.

Hermione frowned at her dad's expression.

'What's wrong dad?' she asked.

'Your mum mentioned you were having troubles but couldn't say what they were.'

Hermione looked at the floor as she walked through the hallway, trying to think what she could say to ease her dad's worrying. She took her jacket off and her dad automatically took it from her and hung it on the back of the chair.

'It's got my wand in, we'd better put it in the cloakroom so Aunty Christine and Uncle Tony don't see it.'

'Oh yes, that would be interesting, but you still haven't told me what's going on.'

'I know. How long before everyone arrives?'

'About twenty minutes.'

'Is mum busy?'

'She's just peeling the veg.'

'Well, if I sort that out there'll be enough time to tell you what I can.'

She opened the cloakroom door and took her wand from her jacket. She walked through to the kitchen followed by her dad.

'Hi mum,' Hermione said.

'Hermione! I didn't hear the doorbell go!' Jan wiped the water off her hands and hugged Hermione.

'Want some help?' Hermione asked, gesturing to the vegetables with her wand.

'Oh well…I suppose so.'

Hermione waved her wand and bewitched the potato peeler to do the job on it's own. Jan and Charles stared at it before turning back to Hermione.

'So what were you going to tell us Hermione?' Charles prompted.

'Well…where do I start? Erm…well we've found out why Ron hasn't woken up yet.

'You have?' Jan asked. 'Why hasn't he?'

'Well he was hit by an everlasting sleep spell.'

'I take it the name says it all,' Charles said quietly. Hermione looked at him and nodded. 'Well, now you know what it was that hit him, can't you revive him with its…counter spell?'

'Actually we might be able to.'

'Well that's good isn't it?' Jan asked.

'Why only might?' Charles asked, ignoring Jan's last question.

Hermione sighed, 'there might be complications, factors involved that we can't control.'

'How have you found this out? I thought no one you knew, knew anything about what had happened to Ron.'

Hermione closed her eyes, how come her dad was asking all the hardest questions? And the ones she couldn't answer very well?

'They don't…someone…told us.'

'I don't like the way you said that Hermione. Who told you?'

She felt like a little girl again under his gaze, but she knew her dad was only looking out for her.

'I'm sorry dad, I really can't tell you that. We can't tell anyone that. If anyone found out he's still alive-' she broke off, she really hadn't meant to say that. Thankfully her dad hadn't picked up on it.

'Do you at least know this person Hermione?'

'Yes dad of course I know him!'

'From school?'

Hermione nodded her head.

'Then why all the secrecy if he's a known wizard?'

'Dad…I wish I could tell you everything, I really do but unfortunately we still need this person to help us wake Ron up, and he's not exactly in favour with a lot of people at the minute. I won't risk waking Ron up on anything. I swear I will tell you everything when I can. I know you're worried about me but please trust my judgement on this. Harry, Ginny and me have discussed this and we're being careful, I promise.'

'You know we're only looking out for you Hermione, you're our only daughter after all; it's our right to. But, saying that, we do trust your judgement, you're an intelligent girl, just think everything through before you do anything.'

'I will dad, thanks for trusting me.'

Charles smiled and the doorbell rang.

'Oh that'll be them,' Jan said, hurrying out of the kitchen. Hermione started to push her wand up her sleeve but Charles coughed and glanced towards the sink.

'Oh! I'd forgotten all about that. That's one less thing for mum to do anyway.'

She waved her wand and then replaced it up her sleeve quickly before she saw her aunt, uncle and cousin. She would have to put it back in her jacket when she got the chance.

'Oh dad, Harry might arrive at some point, do you mind if I answer the door all afternoon? That way he doesn't have to be seen.'

Charles frowned, wondering why Harry would need to see Hermione but knew he wouldn't get any answers from his daughter.

'Ok, I'll let your mother know when she escapes.'

'Thanks dad,' she said with a smile.

The next moment Hermione's Aunty Christine had made her entrance into the kitchen.

'Charles! How good to see you! And Hermione's here too, how wonderful to see you all!'

Hermione smiled her well-practiced fake smile she had perfected when she got asked for photographs after the end of the war, as soon as her aunt had walked in the room.

'Christine, how are you? It's been far too long!'

Hermione looked at her dad and saw the slightly forced smile on his face, although no one else would notice, especially his sister-in-law.

When her aunt had finished hugging her dad, Hermione braced herself for what was coming next. It came in full force.

'Hermione! You look tired!'

Thanks, Hermione thought, always good to be told.

'You're obviously enjoying university life! Rachel's exactly the same, always exhausted from one thing or another.'

Hermione was pulled into a hug before she had chance to remember her wand was up her sleeve and she had limited movement in her right arm. She automatically tried to bend her arm but gasped when the tip of it was forced into the crook of her arm. Her aunt pulled back and looked at her.

'What is it dear?'

'Oh nothing, just a…recurring hockey injury,' she said holding her elbow, proud of herself for coming up with the lie so fast.

'You're as bad as Rachel! She couldn't play Netball for weeks because she injured her shoulder, the team struggled without her of course but they managed to carry on and find a replacement until she was fit to play again.'

Hermione said nothing but just smiled politely at her aunt. Christine turned and left the kitchen calling to Jan as she did so.

'I swear if I broke my leg she'd have Rachel break both of hers so she had a more spectacular injury!' she muttered to her dad.

'Hermione, that's a terrible thing to say! True though!'

Hermione laughed and so did Charles as they walked through to the lounge.

It was four o'clock and Ginny had just walked into the lounge. As she did so she thought she saw bright green flames in the fireplace die away. Harry was stood in front of where the flames had been, and was holding a letter in his hand.

'Who was that?' Ginny asked.

'It was your dad actually, from the Ministry.'

'What did he want?'

'He didn't have time to explain anything, just said he'd been asked to give me this.'

He held up the thick envelope.

'What-'

'I haven't opened it yet!'

'Oh.'

Harry broke the wax seal and took out the contents. On top was a scrawled note from Arthur. He started to read it and Ginny read over his shoulder.

Harry,

Scrimgeour thought you would like to know this information but he asks if you could keep it between you, Hermione and Ginny.

Arthur.

'Sounds ominous.' Ginny said.

Harry unfolded the rest of the parchment and skim read the report from the Auror office. What he read made his heart start beating far faster than was normal.

'Merlin above!' he said quietly. He looked at Ginny, 'this could be a problem.'

'You think?' she replied in a whisper.

'Will you-'

'I'll get the coin,' she replied before he had the chance to finish his sentence.

Harry flicked through the rest of the papers and the news only got worse. A few seconds later Ginny had returned with the coin.

'Has it changed?' he asked her.

'No, it's exactly how Hermione left it.'

'I never thought I'd say this, but I really wish he'd contact us.'

'You don't think he's been…caught do you?'

'Don't jump to conclusions Gin, and to be fair I think we'd know if he had.'

'Yeah I suppose so.'

'Let's sit down and read through this properly, there's no point in skimming through it and just catching the odd detail.'

They sat down on the sofa and pulled the coffee table towards them. Harry spread out the various papers across the table and picked up the first one to read.

Half an hour later and Harry and Ginny hadn't said a word to each other, both absorbed in the reports, maps and scribbled notes that they had been given.

When they had finished reading Ginny turned to Harry.

'You can tell Hermione,' she said.

'Do I have to?' Harry asked.

'Imagine what she would do to you if you kept this from her.'

'Yeah I'll go and tell her. She's going to be hysterical.'

'Give her a bit more credit, she doesn't generally get hysterical unless there's a really good reason.'

'Thing is, I'd call this a really good reason.'

'I knew things were going too well, I knew something like this would happen.'

She fell silent and fear crept into her eyes at the thought she might be about to lose her brother. Harry pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.

'It'll work out Gin; we'll make it work out. We'll get him back.'

'I hope so Harry, I miss him so much. I know he was a pain in the arse to me sometimes but it was only because he was trying to protect me. As much as I hated it sometimes, I loved him for it.'

'I know, I miss him too.'

They held each other for a minute more before Ginny pulled back.

'You need to speak to Hermione; I'll stay here in case anything else gets sent to us by feather or flame!

Harry smiled'

'Ok, I'll try not to be too long.'

'Take all the time Hermione needs, ok?'

'As long as you don't mind.'

'Not at all.'

She bent down and collected the papers together before sliding them neatly back in the envelope. Harry put it in his back pocket and did the same with the coin and his wand.

'See you later,' Ginny said, before she kissed him goodbye. 'Love you.'

'Love you too. Bye.'

Harry spun on the spot and apparated, and a few seconds later appeared behind the tree in Hermione's back garden. Sighing deeply, and checking there was no one looking, he stepped out from behind the tree, dreading the conversation he was about to have with his best friend.