Chapter 13
Harry was starting to become anxious, the train would be leaving soon and Hermione had not arrived. The door burst open and she appeared carrying her bag. Dropped herself down next to Harry, she looked across at Susan as she spoke
"I could have missed the train my mum insisted on having the talk with me"
All four blushed but Neville chose to speak.
"You lot think you had it bad, my dad had the talk with me and his sign language was very graphic in places"
Neville shuddered as the others laughed, Hermione had just gotten comfortable in her favourite position. Lent against Harry reading a book with his arm around her. The door opened, lavender and Parvati were standing in the opening.
"we have a girls only compartment, and came looking for you two"
Hermione was unsure what to do, Harry made the decision for her.
"Leave your bags we will bring them up to the castle"
Both girl smiled kissed their boyfriends and left with a shocked two girls. They walked along the corridor to a compartment holding their other dorm mates and Parvati's sister. The door had only just clicked shut when Lavender rounded on them.
"Spill, when how and what was it like"
A confused Sarah asked what are you on about"
Parvati turned and waved towards Hermione and Sue
"If I'm any judge of goodbyes these two got a couple of boyfriends for Christmas. Now sit and dish"
The two girls sat on the bench and told their friends all about their holiday.
"They took you shopping in Paris"
Parvati interrupted when they got to that part of the story
Susan and Hermione informed her that they had brought some fashion magazines back for the girls in the dorm, they would need a translation spell but they all agreed it was worth it. Susan took out her mirror to adjust her lip gloss. And used a new messaging spell to ask the boys for a favour.
"Hermione had moved next to Parvati's twin Padma, she had become very interested in the Louvre. There was a knock on the door. They opened it to find Neville
"I thought you might like the mags you picked up and Harry sent one of the museum brochures for you Hermione"
Susan jumped up a pecked her boyfriend on the lips
"Your the best nev"
"Anything for you" he said with a wink
Susan and Hermione rolled their eyes as the other girls swooned. Susan hugged her boyfriend and whispered in his ear
"laying it on a bit thick"
He whispered back
"it's hard work keeping up with old green eyes"
Susan stepped back holding in a laugh
"you can jog on now this is girls time"
Neville bowed "As you wish my lady, I shall await you on the platform"
As the door closed the entire compartment broke into hysterics. Jamie got control first
"There are going to be a lot of jealous witches in that castle when they find out those two are off the market.
"Can I borrow Harry, I won't touch I just want him to look at me with those green eyes the way he looks at you, oh and Susan I wouldn't mind your Nev picking me up and carrying me off that boy is the whole package. The best friends looked at each other
"Sorry we don't share"
They all laughed at Jamie's fake pout.
They continued to talk for the rest of the journey, they all agreed a regular girls night was a must.
It was getting dark as the train started to slow. The usual announcement was replaced
"Due to unforeseen circumstances you all required to remain on the train at this time, an update will follow shortly"
Hermione your pocket is making a sound. The girl took her mirror out when she opened it a worried Harry could be heard.
"Is everyone OK in your compartment"
"Yes we are all fine do you want us to come and find you"
Hermione could see Harry turn from the mirror, but could not hear the conversation he was having. She assumed it was Neville.
"No stay where you are, too many people wandering the halls could make things harder for whatever is being dealt with. If you start to worry just call"
Hermione ended the call with Harry
"Where did you get them, they are so cool" Pointing at the mirror
Susan answered "My uncle made them he is as smart as her"
Pointing to Hermione who blushed.
An hour later people were getting bored. The prefects had passed by a couple of times to escort those who needed to toilet there and back. A new announcement rang through the train.
"If you can all make your way to the great Hall, the headmaster will address everyone"
Susan's mirror buzzed, when she opened it a message flashed up "go to the great Hall we will meet you there"
The group of girls bundled off the train. The platform was linned with wizards and witches in matching robes. Hermione spotted Harry talking to a pretty young auror with pink hair further down the platform. She was forced to watch him ushered away from the girl with pink hair and out of view. They were filed into the waiting carriages. As they entered the hall they could see Harry and Neville sitting at the Gryffindor table opposite each other. Both girls rushed over and sat next their boyfriends. Both Harry and Neville were uncomfortable with big public displays of affection. They were both very happy to be holding the girls hands under the table. The Headmaster stood to address the hall. All the tables became quiet.
"There has been a serious incident at the school that I can not discuss at this time, but until I am sure it is safe outside this hall I have no choice but to close the school"
The hall erupted into noise
"SILENCE"
The friendly Headmaster was replaced by a very powerful Albus Dumbledore. The main doors opened and the platform auror's filed in and lined the walls.
"This is not a discussion I will not toy with children's lives. All those at the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables who have access to a floo will stand"
Half of the students at each table stood. As Susan, Neville and Harry stood he pulled Hermione up with him.
"Your coming home with us, no argument"
The commanding voice that Harry used shocked her but also set butterflies dancing in her belly. This was the powerful side to Harry that she had not seen before. She could see him make eye contact with the headmaster, his eyes flicked to her and back to the Wizard standing at the front of the hall. The Headmaster gave a tiny nod and Harry relaxed a little.
Dumbledore addressed the hall when he was sure that he had all standing that were going to.
"As you are the closed to the emergency floo just outside the Hall you will all be leaving immediately. Once you have left the hall we will do the same for the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables. For the rest of you the ministry is contacting all the shops in Diagon Ally to arrange transport for you throughtheir floo's. Miss Patel if you could join your sister with the Gryffindors it will aid in the transfer"
Padma joined her sister and the Gryffindors left the hall followed by the Ravenclaws. Neville and Harry pushed the girls forward.
"Go through we will follow"
Both girls looked unimpressed with the boys over protective attitude but decided it could wait till they were all home. The two boys then made sure all the other girls in their house were home before leaving.
Harry exited first and received a smack to the back of the head from his sister, she then pushed him aside and grabbed Neville by the shirt front.
"you with me she growled"
Harry turned and was confronted by a very pissed off Hermione
"HARRY JAMES POTTER-BLACK WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO TREAT ME LIKE A BLOODY DAMSEL IN DISTRESS"
Harry stepped forward and placed his hands either side of her face and spoke quietly
"Hermione Jean Granger you are already becoming one of the most important people in my life and I will never apologise for wanting you safe"
He then pulled her lips to his and kissed her. Hermione gave a token amount of resistance and the wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back"
The Blacks, Grangers and Longbottoms rushed through the front door to find Susan pinning Neville to the wall kissing him.
"Susan Amelia Bones-Black let that poor boy breath"
"Oh hello mum, dad Mr and Mrs Granger, auntie Alice, uncle Frank I didn't see you there"
"That was obvious" Sirius grumbled
Susan glared at her farther "My brother and boyfriend went all macho and forced us and the other girls home first before they came back"
All three men stood a little straighter
"I was educating this lump that I was not week a willing, he then said he expected me to learn to use a knife like him if I was going to stand and fight. I was informing him I was willing to except his terms"
"with your tongue"
"Uuuurrrh dad we haven't done that"
"where are the others"
"They are still in the parlour with the fireplace, it should be safe she has stopped shouting at him, That girl has fire in her blood"
Dan mumbled "Just like her mother"
They entered the parlour to find the other two preteens kissing
Dan mumbled again "I need to bottle whatever that boy has, He not only got all protective and packed her off to safety. An action that would bring her full rage down on anyone. But he calmed her down and she is kissing him for it. Unbelievable"
The floo flared and the pink hair auror stepped through. Harry looked at the new arrival and smiled
"Hey Tonks, I told you she would not kill me"
Hermione grabbed his ear and pulled his head towards her
"thank you for reminding me, you need to give me a really good reason why you were chatting up a pretty girl. Before I start to explain my displeasure with you"
Susan winked at the new girl
"Sorry Hermione this is Nym"
The new girl glowered
"I mean Tonks, Harry loves her as much as he loves me"
Hermione turned to Harry and started to growl. Harry spoke
"why would you piss her off, Hermione this is Tonks she is Sirius's cousin and my big sister"
Amelia interrupted everyone "I have to go back to work, but first I need to hold my children. Tonks as per protocol you will be remaining as my family guard until the threat is assessed "
"Yes boss"
Amelia kissed their heads and returned to the DMLE.
Sirius called for everyone's attention "Amelia has pulled some strings, this house will be exempt from the underage use of magic between the hours of 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday. Hermione your parents have agreed for Kreacher to collect you in the morning and return you for dinner. We don't know how long Albus will keep the school closed but he has made it very clear that until he feels it is safe he will not risk students"
"Dad are you going to tell us what happened"
"I can't and you don't need to know. We made a commitment that you and your sister would have as normal childhood as we could give you"
"Are you saying this has something to so with that mad man and his nutcase followers"
"We don't know Sue but it is our job to worry about it not yours. Emma, Dan, Hermione is welcome to stay here tonight I'm sure Harry could make room" he said with a laugh
Dan turned green, Harry blushed, Emma laughed and Hermione looked like she was contemplating the idea.
"Not a chance young lady we are going home and you will be coming with us. Your dad is stressed enough as it is"
Over the next two weeks they followed the same routine. Hermione and Neville would arrive between 8.30 and 9.00 they would follow the learning pack that McGonagall had provided to all students. During this time the foursome worked hard, Hermione's work ethic was rubbing off on them. Minerva joked on one visit that they were not supposed to learn the entire silibus for the year by Easter. Dan was also teaching them the self defence techniques he had tort Hermione. Harry was convinced that he enjoyed putting him on his ass a little to much.
All joviality stopped when the Daily Profit arrived and claimed that an unnamed student had been placed under the imperious curse and forced to try to gain access to a restricted section of the school.
Amelia was fuming "How did that bitch find out, I will rip those stupid finger nails out and make her eat them"
Hermione was sitting cuddled with Harry reading a book. She asked Harry who his mum was talking about. Amelia answered for Harry
"Her name is Rita Skeeter, she calls herself and investigative reporter. She is in fact a viscous little insect who will write anything she can to keep people reading. She is the reason Harry was harassed and followed around. She would love to get her claws into him"
Hermione squeezed Harry closer
"That would be a serious error in judgment if she tried"
Amelia smiled at the young girl, her face became stoic as she spoke next
"The fact that she is well informed worries me, Ronald Weasley is just out of hospital"
Harry jumped up
" I need to go to the burrow, I have to see he is ok"