Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction, using the characters and story created by JK Rowling. Though I think that is obvious.
It has been a really long time and I did not really expect me to continue this story. For all I know, it could be another year until I update next. Who knows.
"Boys, go pack your stuff, we don't want to be late!" Mrs. Weasley's voice yelled up the stairs.
After telling the order about Harry's idea, it was decided to leave the following morning. Surprisingly, most of the order was excited to visit the stubborn bookworm, only Moody muttering something about hasty decisions.
"So, how will we get there?" Ron asked as he and Harry carried their trunks down the stairs.
"We have a Portkey, that goes to a Village, near Hermione's home. From there we will take brooms. We agreed with Hermione that she will wait for us there since she has a few protection charms on her parents' house." Tonks said changing the tips of her pink hair to turquoise.
Everyone who would move was already in the kitchen. Mr. Weasley and Kingsley were busy shrinking everyone's trunks while Mrs. Weasley yelled at the twins for not showing her what was in their luggage.
Remus and Sirius looked a bit nervous, Remus still not wanting to endanger the Grangers with the upcoming full moon and Sirius worried that the Aurors might find him. Still, not going with Harry wasn't an option for him.
Tonks and Ginny were questioning Harry about what kind of animals Hermione had, to which he did not really have an answer.
Finally, Moody declared that the Portkey was ready to go.
The Portkey started spinning, and after a slightly nauseating feeling, they were descending towards what seemed like the edge of a small village. They reached solid ground behind a small grocery store. They had agreed to meet Hermione in front of it.
Moody checked their surroundings and then lifted the invisibility spell. After rearranging their clothes and luggage, the odd group went around the building and to the front of the store.
The first thing Harry saw when they turned the corner was a horse. A chestnut horse which was tied to a stake, and was currently grazing.
Before anyone was able to wonder what the horse was doing there, the store door swung open and Hermione stepped outside.
"Harry, Ron, I've missed you so much," Hermione said as she hugged them. Then she turned to everyone else. "Okay, hi everyone!" But before she could continue her greetings, Moody interrupted, saying they should go to the Granger's home as soon as possible.
"Yes, of course. I just need to close the store. Then we can go," said Hermione. At the confused looks she added, " I sometimes help the shopowner. She is in hospital at the moment."
While Harry got his Firebolt from the bag of brooms they had brought, he wondered how Hermione would get back since he could not really imagine her flying on a broom. However, before he could utter his question, Hermione had untied the horse and surprised them all by climbing on its back.
When everyone had mounted their brooms, Hermione turned her horse around and set off at quite a fast pace, Padfoot running along.
The odd formation of flying people followed Hermione until they reached an old farmhouse. When Harry looked around, he saw a building that looked like a barn next to it, an old shack, and a riding ground. The Granger house was surrounded by fields and penfolds.
As soon as Hermione jumped from the horse, the door opened and four dogs of all sizes came running out.
The biggest of them all, a wolf-like creature with a crumpled ear, jumped straight at Kingsley who looked taken aback. Before anyone could react, a woman with dark brown, curly hair in her mid-forties had stepped through the door and told the dog off, whose name was apparently Amandus.
When Amandus had proceeded to attempt to lick people's faces, Remus asked whether Amandus was, in fact, a wolf.
"He is part wolf and part dog," answered Hermione. "Someone wanted a fancy pet. However, they did not calculate that he would not stay a puppy forever. When he grew up, they could not handle him anymore. So, now he is living with us."
Most of the grown-ups, especially Mrs. Weasley, seemed shocked that Hermione had just casually told them that she was housing a wolfhound.
"But, but isn't that dangerous? Won't he bite?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly.
"Careful there!" The woman who seemed to be Hermione's mother responded. "You question one of Hermione's protégés, and chances are way higher of her biting you than Amandus ever harming a fly." This actually made Remus smile and Padfoot grin, as far as dogs can grin.
Hermione introduced her mother, Lydia, to the order and then went on to introduce the order to her. Her father, Robert, was still at the dentistry practice sharing in town, where he and his wife worked parttime to fund their animal shelter.
"Well, I have to head to the practice in a few minutes, but why don't you show them their rooms, Hermione? Maybe give them a tour." Mrs. Granger proposed. Hermione nodded and told them that she just had to bring the horse back to his penfold and told the others to wait in the kitchen.
Harry watched, through the kitchen window, as Hermione walked across the yard, accompanied by the family dogs. Her horse, whose rope she had laid loosely over its back, walked beside her.
The Granger's kitchen was rudimental. However, Harry thought it looked rather warm. On the walls, numerous picture frames were showing unmoving photos of Hermione at different ages, all kinds of animals, and several people Harry did not know. Relatives or friends of the family Harry assumed.
One of the photos showed Hermione and the Horse they had met earlier. They were jumping over a tree trunk in the woods. What astounded Harry and everyone that had looked at the picture the most, was that not only was Hermione riding bareback, there was also no other equipment on the horse; not even a bridle. Harry really did not understand why Hermione was absolutely opposed to riding a broom but had no problem whatsoever, jumping trees on the back of a horse.