Author's note: Realised I haven't wrote a disclaimer: All Harry Potter world's/characters belong to J.K Rowling. This story however is inherently mine.
Shout out to my followers and reviewers! Thank you so much! You keep me going.
When Hermione awoke, the sun was already peaked. Her broken arm was in a sling but other than that she felt replenished. Someone had dressed her in loose men's pajamas and draped her original clothes at the end of the bed.
She threw the covers and got off the bed, walking over to the mirror behind the open closet door.
She would have never guessed she had been in battle earlier that morning. Her lip was healed, and her skin adorned a fresh glow, without the cuts and bruises she knew she had acquired. She squinted as she took a closer look at the top of her left ear. It looked as if someone had cleanly cut it off with a pair of scissors.
New battle scar she supposed. It was hardly noticeable anyway.
She turned to walk back to the bed and picked up the clothes she had worn earlier that day. She hadn't realized how torn they were.
"Well, these are now garbage," she said, letting them fall back on the bed, not bothering to try to mend them.
Looking around the room she saw it was quite empty. She recognized the space, so she knew she was still at the Weasley's. Only the bed, the mirror and an old flower pot on the window sill remained. Unusual.
She turned back to the mirror to give herself another look. Her curves had filled out a little over the years, but she still couldn't tame the mess she called her hair.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts as Mrs. Weasley entered the room.
She ran to Hermione with open arms.
"Oh! Hermione! We were so worried. What on earth happened to you?"
Hermione smiled at the warmth that seemingly poured from the elder woman and explained the events of the morning. It crushed her to tell Mrs. Weasley that she had no idea if her son and Harry had made it to safety.
"Well, at least you're safe now," said Mrs. Weasley, offering Hermione a small smile.
Wait a minute.
"What happened to Malfoy?" asked Hermione.
"He's still here. Oh not to worry, Remus has him tied up good." She added when she saw Hermione's horrified expression.
"Is that Professor Lupin I heard downstairs?"
"Yes, we called him when we first noticed the young Malfoy boy. We weren't' quite sure how the Order would want to handle the situation".
Hermione nodded. Malfoy was no longer her concern. If they took him back to headquarters the Order may be able to extract valuable information from him.
"Thank you for tending to me Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh my goodness no need to thank me. I couldn't' salvage the top of your ear but another couple of days and those bones will be completely mended." She said pointing to her arm.
"That's amazing."
"All in a day's work for a mother dear," Molly's gaze shifted to her other arm. "I do want to apologize Hermione. I don't know who wrote that awful word on your forearm, but I wasn't able to heal it. I'm afraid you might need someone more specialized in the removal of curses to get it off…"
"I appreciate the effort, Mrs. Weasley," she said as she pulled back the heavy pajama sleeve to take another look at the word mudblood carved there.
"Compliments of Bellatrix Lestrange."
Molly stood in shock for a moment. "Well," she said pensivley. "I hope I never have to meet such a terrible person."
Hermione hoped she was right.
The wound had started scarring over, and she didn't know how to get rid of it. She had already tried suggestions from the various first aid and remedies against dark curses books she carried in her bag. With every potion and incantation she tried, the word only sizzled and grew dark.
"Now enough of that, I put your bag and wand with your clothes at the end of the bed there."
"Yes, I saw that, thank you. Would you happen to have any other clothes I could have? I fear those ones might be unsalvageable and I only packed four outfits."
"In fact, I think I do," Molly exited the room and returned a moment later with a school uniform.
"You left this last time you visited."
"It's perfect." She replied. It wasn't. The skirt alone was totally impractical. Chances are she would never wear it.
"Well, Remus has been waiting downstairs for you. I expect he'd like to see you now that you're awake."
"Yes, of course, I'll be right down."
With a last hug, Mrs. Weasley made her way down the stairs.
Hermione walked to her bag and pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a dark flower pattern top to change in. As per habit, she tied her bag to her belt and pocketed her wand before heading downstairs.
Hushed voices came up from the ground floor.
Most likely Mrs. Weasley relaying her story to the others. When she heard Harry and Ron's name, she wondered where they could be. If they were safe.
Hermione took her time; gliding down every step. She observed the dark squares that adorned the spots where picture frames once hung. The Weasley's was her home away from home, and now it would apparently be lost to her too.
The muffled voices came to a halt as she stepped off the last stair. She first noticed professor Lupin leaning against the kitchen table.
"Miss Granger! So good to see you again. I see Mrs. Weasley has done a fantastic job fixing you up."
"She has." Hermione replied and offered a small smile.
Draco screamed against his gag in frustration from the living room.
"Ah yes, I'd had almost forgotten about our guest," stated Remus.
Hermione took a couple of steps towards the living room and peeked around its corner.
Malfoy was bound by a surplus of ropes and had what seemed to be a large handkerchief muffling him. He sort of resembled an overgrown worm lying down across the couch.
She turned back to the adults in the kitchen.
"Right. It's about time we head out then," said Arthur as he looked up from his watch.
"Where will you be going?" She asked the Weasley's.
As Arthur opened his mouth to answer, a knock came from the front door.
Remus turned to Mr. Weasley.
"Were you expecting somebody Arthur?"
"No."
Nodding, Remus made a show of removing his wand from his pocket.
"Wands out at the ready then."
Hermione reached into her back pocket and pulled out her wand, walking over to stand behind professor Lupin.
"Not a sound." Whispered Remus.
Malfoy's hollering became louder, trying to be noticed by whoever was at the door.
Hermione held her breath and quickly made her way back to the living room, ignoring professor Lupin's panicked glance.
Malfoy had squirmed off the couch and was desperately trying to be noticed from his position on the floor.
"Silencio" she breathed.
Malfoy's cries were instantly silenced.
The front door unlocked, pushed open, and three men wearing ministry attire entered the house.
"Moving Arthur?" said the first of them as he looked around. He had a crooked wand that he manipulated to point straight to Mr. Weasley as he walked around the kitchen, seemingly unfazed that the three others had their wands raised.
"As a matter of fact, I am."
"Odd," He stopped across the table from them. "I don't recall you informing the ministry of your decision."
One of the other officials placed himself in front of the door while the other idly paced the floor.
"Last minute decision I'm afraid," replied Mr. Weasley.
"It's an action that will be taken into account upon your hearing." The man replied.
"What hearing?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
He leisurely rounded the table to approach her, taking off his gloves as he did.
"Mr. Arthur and Mrs. Molly Weasley, you are hereby under arrest for the aid and concealment of information regarding undesirable number one; Harry James Potter."
"I'm sure the Weasley family haven't a clue to what you're talking about sir," spoke Professor Lupin.
"Don't lie to us!" the man snapped. "We have eyewitnesses tying one Ronald Billius Weasley to the recent escape of the previously detained Potter."
He turned to Hermione.
"There was also a girl present." He started walking towards her. "An unregistered mudblood named Granger." His eyes landed on her scar.
Hermione tightened her grip as one of her feet unintentionally stepped back.
"I've got someone here Davies"
All eyes turned to the third ministry official now holding the binds of an angry-looking Malfoy.
"Good God," said the man known as Davies. "That's Lucius's boy."
The other two officials now raised their wand as well.
"You can add a charge of kidnapping to your sentence, Weasley." He added as he snapped his head back to Arthur.
"Donovan, immediately send word to Malfoy Manor and inform Lucius his son has been found," stated Davies as he jerked his hand and Malfoy was released from his bindings.
As the man at the door began the expecto patronum charm, Remus expelled his wand before he could finish the incantation.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cautioned Davies. "That's a ministry official you just disarmed."
"You'll need to forgive me sir, but the Malfoy boy must stay with us."
"Watch yourself, lad. If it's a fight you want, we'll give it to you."
No one answered. Remus up kept the man's stare.
Still, he ended up breaking the silence.
"Well, no avoiding it then. Expelliarmus!"