Chapter Six
The first week after returning to the house was more than uncomfortable for everyone involved. Hermione pledged to spend more time in her room to avoid the Malfoy's, she did not know how Madam Malfoy would react to spending time in the same room as her sister's murderer. Not that Madam Malfoy would know that it was Hermione that shot the ancient spell that marked Bellatrix's end. The order had kept the information as quiet as could be on the subject and even going as far as creating a story that another Death Eater had missed his own mark and ended up killing one of their own. Her injury was also the perfect excuse to stay held up in her room reading instead of forced to join the group meals in the main dining room. Neville had been by several times to beg her to attend before he was swiftly kicked out of her room by the protective Pinky who took Hermione's healing very carefully. It was Pinky who had pulled her out of her afternoon reading the Sunday following her return from Hogwarts.
"Miss Mi is instructed to attended dinner this evening. Mistress insists." Pinky said standing next to Hermione's plush reading chair, clutching the tip of her ears.
"It's okay Pinky," Hermione said reaching to pull the elf's hands away from the large droopy ears. "I knew I wouldn't be able to hide in here forever."
"Light tea is to be served before dinner in the Mistress sitting room," Pinky said clutching Hermione's hand. "Just you and Mistress, Miss Mi. I'll brew your favorite tea!"
"That would be delightful Pinky," Hermione said again smiling down at the elf and her large blue eyes. Pinky had gotten her name due to the coloring of her skin being very rare in house elves as instead of greying skin hers had a pink tone. "I'll get ready now. Did she said if we are to dress formally since we have guests staying?"
"Little Master has been wearing normal home clothing, although I have heard Mistress making remarks that he needs to be dressing up more," Pinky said letting Hermione get up and made her way to the closet pulling out a bright yellow sundress that was soft and billowy. "This would be suitable for Mistress."
"Thank you," Hermione said grabbing the dress. It was high necked which worked perfectly to hide her bandages and due to it being billowy it wasn't restrictive around her chest. "A perfect dress. I appreciate you taking my injury into account."
"Of course Miss," Pinky said with a bow before popping away.
Hermione was slow and careful as she changed. The wound on her chest while looking better from when she first arrived home will ache when she didn't move and gave sharp pain into her chest if she moved her upper body too quickly. She had been far too lucky to get out of family meals especially when Grad had mentioned a wish to talk to her privately after the Malfoy's had arrived at the Longbottom estate. Neville had mentioned that Grad was being the mediator between the Malfoy's and the Headmaster. It seems the great wizard was upset at not being included in the plan to hide the Malfoy's from the dark wizards taking over Malfoy Manor. The twins had also sent an owl with the same information. Apparently, she was the talk of the order, despite the protest from not only the twins but also Sirius and Remus as well. A problem for another day, when she could actually visit with her twins. It had only been a week but she had missed their laughter and matching grins, which brightened up her own mood.
The walk to Gran's sitting room thankfully didn't involve stairs but a quick walk to the master wing, not too far from the family wing that Neville and Hermione's quarters were located. The Longbottom Manor had four total wings, the master wing that house the head of the family, which included a sitting room, private study, and a few rooms that Hermione was not allowed to explore (although she did try when she had first arrived). Next was the family wing, which traditionally housed the children of the family. Although Neville and Hermione were the only two in the wing there were an additional five rooms that had housed the Longbottom family in previous generations. The final two wings included the guest wing, which the Malfoy's now resided, as well as, the functional section of the house including the kitchens, dining room, ballroom, sitting room, and the family library.
Hermione's first time exploring the house with Neville had almost been as magical as seeing Hogwarts for the first time. Thankfully the manor did not include ghosts popping in and out of the rooms like at the castle. Gran was already set in her normal high-backed velvet armchair an antique teacup and saucer floating next to her as she skimmed through scrolls. The Longbottom ran the top tier potion ingredient greenhouses within Europe. Gran ran most of the business in her sitting room instead of the traditional master study. The opened windows that looked upon the rolling green knolls were relaxing even during stressful business meetings, at least that what Neville had told her when she had first learned of Gran's business practices.
"Do come in, one should never dawdle," Gran commented flicking her want at the papers to vanish them before standing and sweeping Hermione in a tight embrace. "Good to see you up and about, my dear."
"I'm sorry I've been missing so many family meals. You know how Pinky is. Wouldn't let me out of her sight till I was well enough in her opinion." Hermione said as she settled on the other armchair across the tea table. The armchair was her favorite and Pinky had already set a teacup at that setting. Bless the elf.
"This meeting will not go well if you continue to lie to me," Gran said with a raise of her delicate eyebrow. "You are avoiding family meals. I have already discussed the topping with both of our house guesses, they believe their presence her is making you distance yourself from the family. They have spoken about leaving. Is that what you want for all of your hard work in providing them with a safe haven to be for not just because you don't want to dine with them."
"It is not that," Hermione said through a clenched jaw. "I'm the reason they needed safety in the first place. If we hadn't gone to the Ministry, Mr. Malfoy would not be in Azkaban and Lady Malfoy's sister would still be alive so the pressure to serve Voldemort wouldn't fall on Draco and his mother."
"That is an illogical belief. He had already been housed in their family Manor since he arrived back. He takes delight in holding people captive and controlling them by exploiting their love of each other. I fought in the first war and I watched as he attempted to court my dear Frank and Alice. No one is safe even if they have pledged their life to him. Narcissa and her son would have been used as pawns to hold control over each other, as was done in the last war from what she has disclosed to me." Gran took a delicate sip from her teacup. "While I commend you wanting to save everyone's grief and heartache, you are not responsible for everyone."
"But Gran if I can help people safe, shouldn't I do everything I can to do so?" Hermione asked her hands settling around her warm teacup for comfort.
"Not at the risk of yourself," Gran stated. "I have already lost two of my children to this mad man I will not lose you or Neville. Is that clear?"
"But—" Hermione tried.
"There will be no buts young lady," Gran said as she finished her tea and with a quick wave banished it back to the kitchens. "Come along. Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. I want you to attend all meals from now on. We are a family and we will act like one. Later we will talk about your dark magic studies and the letters from that Viktor Krum keeps sending, to think I was going to allow him to visit this summer."
"You've been confiscating my mail," Hermione said following after Gran, her face becoming flushed with anger. She had no right her letters were private. Not to mention her condemning Viktor. Gran had adored him when he had come to visit last summer.
"Good thing I did or else you would have gotten your hands on even more dark arts texts. I've had the elves go through your rooms and while I'm sure they didn't find all of the books they did find nice collections. What were you thinking?" Gran remarked as they made it to the dining room. Neither saw the Malfoy's and Neville already stationed in the room "It is dangerous and I will not have you practicing that filth."
"That filth is what kept us alive during the fight at the Ministry." Hermione hissed out. Her curls had started to emit blue sparks from the ends as she grew outraged. "You would rather we be unprotected in the upcoming war. To use light jinx and hexes that will make your opponent dance or sprout antlers instead of injuring them before they can kill us. You are mad if you think I'm going to do that."
"It's a good thing that you are not in charge of this household then," Gran said again with that annoying raised eyebrow, challenging the young witch in front of her. "You are under my roof and my care and as such will follow my rules. This summer shall be far different from last summer. I will not have visitors that support your dark studies. That will include the Weasley Twins if you are not careful."
"First of all," Hermione said as she attempted to relax her clenched fists by her side. She had to remember to take deep breaths or her magic was going to overwhelm her during her angry outbursts. "Viktor nor the Twins have encouraged my magic. I was studying this long before I met Viktor or grew close to the Twins. If anything they have been encouraging me to practice safely so I don't get enthralled by the magic. You seem to be under the impression that I will follow every rule you put down, understand that while I love and appreciate being apart of this family. I do not share the Longbottom name and will not be intimidated to following every command you put forth as Neville does. I am not your heir and I have faced far worse monsters than an irate Augusta Longbottom."
"I will not stand for such disrespect in my house," Augusta stated. Hermione could tell that the matriarch could hardly control her anger, from her pinched mouth to the squinting of the eyes. While Hermione respected and loved the older witch, she would not have her taking all control away from her, not when this magic would and had protected her loved ones in battle already. Augusta held out her hand. "Hand over your wand, you will not be able to practice any magic this summer."
"Gran," Neville exclaimed standing between Hermione and his grandmother. "Don't you think that extreme? You can't just take away her wand."
Her wand. She wanted her wand. That was never done in pureblood wizarding homes since once children are old enough to go to Hogwarts they are encouraged to practice their studies at home. It was one fact she had been outraged at the double standard held between traditional wizarding homes and those born to muggles. She would never be without her wand if she could help it.
Thinking quickly Hermione looked over at the shocked expressions of the Malfoy's and gave a tight smile. This wasn't exactly had she wanted them to see her during her first family meal. Honestly, this was the first time she and Gran had gotten into a row. The Longbottom matriarch had never attempted to enforce strict rules on her before. She looked towards the two exits that would lead out of the room as Neville hide her from the angry witch's eyes. The exit behind Augusta lead back towards the family wing but the exit behind Hermione only led to the entrance room where their main floo was connected. While Hermione would ideally like to retreat to her room till everyone was calm and discuss this as rational individuals, she knew she needed to leave the house to protect her wand from being snatched by the irate witch. While Augusta was never violent or even mean to Hermione she had experience with guardians becoming neglectful and hurtful over her magic abilities. She would never relinquish her wand and would not put herself in a position where it could be taken away it was her only protection.
With a whispered thanks to Neville, Hermione made a dash to the entrance room and threw a handful of floo powder as she announced her destination. The Leaky was relatively quiet but with a quick nod to Tom, the bartender, she made her way out into the streets of Diagon Alley. She did not want to stay in one place while in case Augusta had heard her destination. They both needed to calm down before she would risk going back home for the moment.
Her breathing was erratic and she noticed for the first time that she had her wand clenched in her hand. She swore it was in the wand pocket in her dress not even a minute before. It took a considerable amount of will power to let her grip relax around her wand and replace it in the pocket before she got even more stairs from witches and wizards in full robes compared to her light sundress. Pureblood snobs all of them she thought with a shake of her head as she wandered a bit further down, a brick storefront under construction was her destination. The twins had acquired their shop even before leaving Hogwarts and she knew that any moment they had free time was spend fixing up the shop and building up stock for when they would open later in the summer. She peered into the windows but they were blacked out to hide the work being done from pedestrians as they walked by. She took a chance on the doorknob and was happy to find it unlocked. As she walked in a bell rang announcing her presents.
"Oi, we aren't accepting customers at the moment. But come back at the beginning of August and will be up and running," Fred's voice announced from the back of the store before he came into Hermione's line of sights. Hermione's whole body relaxed when she saw both him and George. The adrenaline of fighting with Augusta wearing off as well as the pain she felt from her injury finally becoming overwhelming had her in tears. "Hermione!"
"What happened," George rushed out as they appeared at her side and instinctively cradled her between them before she could fall to the floor.
"She was going to take my wand," Hermione rushed out between sobs unable to calm down.
"Who," Fred asked as he stroked her hair back from her face.
"Augusta," Hermione whimpered as she crushed her head into his chest and continued to sob. "I couldn't let her do that. I had to run, how could she try to take my magic from me. It's all that I have."
"Hermione, love, you have to calm down. You are working yourself up. Take deep breathes with us okay," George coached. "You are safe. We locked and warded the door once we saw it was you. Take nice deep breaths. You are here with us. You are safe."
It took a few more minutes before Hermione was able to pull away from the twins. Her head was throbbing in pain from her panic as well as her chest as she hadn't taken her after dinner potions. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bust in here as I did."
"It's okay. Not the first time we had to get someone through a panic attack." Fred said with a light smile. "After Ginny's first year she had a few that summer."
"How about you take Hermione upstairs, Forge. Show her our new flat and I'll pop over to the Leaky for some dinner. I do think a pain potion might do you some good too, love. You look a little pale," George remarked.
"You don't' have to go through the trouble. I'll be fine." Hermione said but did not attempt to pull away from Fred as he guided her to the stairs that lead to the flat.
"Non-sense plus we can put you to work after dinner. We need a hand with our newest potion." Fred said distracting her as George ducked out of the store.
"And what potion is it this time," Hermione said letting herself be distracted. As she walked up the stairs she realized how exhausted she had become. Instead of wandering around the small flat she slumped down on the couch with a friend next to her and curled into his side. "Maybe we could just sit for a moment till George gets back."
"I think that's a great idea, pet," Fred said dropping a light kiss to the top of her head and summoned a pain potion from their medicine cabinet. "First you have to take this. I know you're in pain."
It attested to how truly exhausted Hermione was as she took the potion without question before nestling further into the couch and Fred's side. She whispered muttered 'thanks, Freddie', before slipping off to a dark dreamless sleep. It would be several hours later before she woke up not on the couch but one of the twin's rooms nestled between them and wrapped in George's homemade Weasley sweater. Both wizards were and asleep it didn't take long before she drifted back off, surrounded by the feeling of being comfortable, safe, and warm. She could deal with all of her problems tomorrow, hopefully before more found her.
Authors Note: Hello All! Update on my big exam, I think I passed. I won't know for sure till my university releases it's passing score but in previous years the passing score was at a 52% (let me tell you this exam is so MFing hard) I got around a 79%. So we are just going to believe I pass till I hear otherwise!
As always let me know what you think of the newest chapter. I have to say I love Augusta as a character but I don't think she would be supportive of Hermione practicing dark magic, especially since it was dark magic that drove Frank and Alice to lose their minds. We also got a small little snippet of Fred and George caring from Hermione. More to come in the next chapter!