Hermione stepped out of the fireplace in the Burrow. She knew the Order wasn't meeting here, but she wanted to see if the Weasley's were waiting on her before she went to Grimmauld Place. Ginny was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea in silence.
"Hey, 'Mione. Everyone else went ahead but I wanted to wait up for you. Did you have a good time with your friend?" Ginny asked in between sips of tea. She knew there was something she wasn't telling them, but Hermione was known for her good judgment and Ginny trusted the witch to tell them when she was ready.
"I did, thank you, Ginny. I didn't mean to be gone so long but we got caught up in conversation. Is everything alright?"
"I dunno. Harry's being a proper idiot and I can't help but wonder if I'm wasting my time chasing after him."
"All I can say, Gin, is that the right person won't leave you guessing."
"You speaking from experience?" Ginny asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Would it matter?"
"It might make me feel better."
"Yes, the whole world should bend to your whim to make you feel better," Hermione teased, sitting next to the youngest Weasley.
"Absolutely. That wasn't a no, though," Ginny said with a smile, bumping Hermione's shoulder.
"It wasn't a yes, either."
"I'll take what I can get."
"I suppose we should get going, then."
"If it makes you feel better," Ginny teased. They shared a laugh before entering the floo. Hermione never ceased to make her feel better and had always been her confidant when she needed.
Stepping out of the floo, the two young witches noticed the tense atmosphere. Andromeda and Sirius were face-to-face, arguing with each other over something. Tonks was next to her mother and Mad-Eye was next to Sirius, the only two in the room to have chosen sides. Everyone else was off to the side watching.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, breaking some of the tension.
"Nothing that concerns you, girl," Sirius snapped.
"On the contrary, Sirius, as part of the Order and the only reason Harry and Ron are even alive, I think it is my concern. Especially when no one else is attempting to rectify the situation. So, I'll repeat myself. What is going on?" Hermione asked again, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Let it go, Sirius. She didn't mean anything by it," Andromeda stated, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Let it go? She has blatantly disrespected me in my own home. I don't have to let you in here. In my house! You should be thanking me, woman!"
"Sirius! This may be your home, but need I remind you that you willingly gave it to the Order and are hardly more than a dog on the run. Whatever has happened, just forget about it," Hermione cut in, understanding that something had passed between Sirius and Tonks.
"Stay out of this!" he snarled.
"Easy, Black, your inner mongrel is showing," Hermione taunted. She didn't necessarily want to provoke the unstable man, but she was tired of giving into other people's will and was sick of his misogynistic attitude. Subtly placing Ginny firmly behind her, Hermione already had a silent Protego in place as Sirius drew his wand and cast a spell. It rebounded and hit him square in the chest, stunning him momentarily.
"Bloody hell, Hermione. What did you do?" Ron asked, earning a smack from Molly at his language.
"I defended myself from an attack made by a hostile and clearly unstable wizard. Sirius, I hope you will think twice about blatantly attacking me. I may be young, but I am not the brightest witch of my age for nothing. As for whatever Tonks accidentally did, I sincerely hope all is forgiven lest this situation repeats itself," Hermione said calmly. She severely disliked the man and took great pleasure in putting him in his place. Continuing to the dining room, Hermione merely raised an eyebrow at everyone as a way of asking if they were coming.
Shaking off their shock at the abnormally assertive witch, Dumbledore was the first to react. He was not entirely pleased Sirius had acted so rashly, but he had not disagreed that Tonks was out of line, which is why he hadn't stopped it. He was a little disconcerted by Hermione's behavior. The witch normally preferred to stay in the background as a mastermind rather than being an active participant. He had noticed subtle changes in the young witch since school had started that year. Deciding not to worry about it any longer, he shook himself out of his head, sitting at the head of the large table.
"Thank you, Hermione, for sticking up for my daughter without knowing the full situation. I appreciate it," Andromeda whispered, sitting on Hermione's right.
"I knew enough, Andy. There is no need to thank me. Sirius is an unstable git, but he is not particularly strong. After the meeting, there is something I wish to discuss if you have time," Hermione whispered back. She acknowledged Ginny on her left and Tonks next to Ginny, a silent thank you coming from the metamorphmagus. Andromeda nodded when she had Hermione's attention again, telling the girl she heard her. Sirius sat as far away from Hermione as he could. Mad-Eye was next to him and Harry and Ron closer to Sirius than Hermione. Snape was the last to sit, choosing a seat next to Andromeda.
"What's this about, Albus? Surely it could have waited until after Christmas?" Molly asked, being the first to speak.
"I'm afraid not, Molly. We now know for certain that Voldemort has indeed returned. This was no accident, Arthur was deliberately targeted by Death Eaters. We must stay alert and use extreme caution. Thanks to Harry, the attack was stopped in time and Arthur will make a full recovery," Dumbledore began. Hermione repressed the urge to shiver at the use of Voldemort's name. After spending the day with Tom, it was weird for his name to be thrown about.
"How close to the end of this war are we?" Remus asked, looking to the Headmaster.
"That remains to be seen. There are a great many variables that could influence this war. Severus, is there anything you can tell us about Voldemort's plans?"
"He is still gathering his strength. His connection to Potter is tenuous, but he is exploring just how far it goes. I would suggest he find a new Occlumency teacher so he can learn to block him out. You already know I will no longer teach him. His Death Eaters grow readier for confrontation as time passes. I am not aware of the details of the coming plan," Severus droned. Hermione could tell he wasn't being entirely truthful. She had spent a lot of time with Snape and she was adept at reading the stoic man. There was something he wasn't revealing but she wasn't sure why.
"Thank you, Severus. I apologize for the situation you have been placed in. I know it is not easy to live two different lives."
Snape muttered under his breath and Hermione heard what sounded suspiciously like You have no idea and had to stifle a laugh. Snape may be stoic, but his sense of humour was parallel to Hermione's. Not bothering to actively listen, Hermione chose instead to observe the Order members. Dumbledore would occasionally glance curiously at her, but tried not to be obvious. Remus paid rapt attention to the conversation. Sirius was openly glaring at her, and Mad-Eye was only a bit more subtle about it. Harry and Ron were oblivious to everything as always. Ginny would occasionally look over at Tonks, who would meet her gaze and make a face before quickly turning back to the conversation. Snape was observing quietly and Andromeda was studying her curiously. The Weasley twins had huge grins on their faces, obviously up to something and Molly was talking to Dumbledore. Noticing the end of the meeting, Hermione motioned for Andromeda to follow her before going up the stairs and into an empty room.
"What do you want to talk about, Hermione?" Andromeda asked, firmly closing the door and locking it behind her. She placed a silencing charm for good measure, unaware Hermione had already warded and silenced the room.
"These are for you. I can't tell you how I got them until you read them but I swear they're real," Hermione said as she pulled out the letters and book and handed them to Andromeda. "You might want to sit down. I can answer your questions after you've read everything."
Andromeda nodded, recognizing the handwriting on both letters and the book. She knew one was from Narcissa and one was from Bellatrix. The book was none other than the Black family book, but how Hermione had managed to obtain all three left her curious. She started with the letters, reading both twice before moving on to the book. She opened it to the indicated page and read the words magically printed a few times before looking to Hermione.
"How did you get these?" she hissed.
"Your sisters. I have been exchanging letters with Bella since she escaped and Narcissa has allowed me to borrow some of her books to study. I spoke with them in person today."
Andromeda was stunned at the girl's straightforwardness and the familiar use of her sisters' names. As long as she had known Hermione, she had always been rather reserved and quiet. She was never a liar, but she had never been as confident before. It was strange to see the girl this way.
"What did you talk about?"
"I can't go into all the details. I can say that I know my real name, and I think you do too now that you've seen those letters and that book. I must ask that you not tell anyone. Professor Snape already knows because he performed the test. I suspect Dumbledore, Sirius, and Mad-Eye know who I am but they are unaware that I know. I am not yet ready to take my name so I would like it kept secret."
"Of course, I understand, I can't believe I never saw this before. I was so blinded by the pain of being disowned. I should have known Bella talked father into it to protect me. They shunned me to keep me safe. All this time, I thought they truly hated me. I couldn't understand how my own sisters would turn their backs on me. But they never did. They were just too afraid that I would hate them."
Hermione said nothing, knowing the witch needed time. Instead, she sat next to the woman who was so similar to Bella but so different at the same time. She knew Andromeda would need someone to just listen and she would do that for her. She wanted for the sisters to be reunited, she could see the quiet pain in each of them at the separation.
"Did you know that if the dark wins, they want to promote a society where a person's work is based on skill? They want to do away with the labels based on blood status, not eliminate those groups of people. They aren't good, but they aren't exactly bad, either," Hermione said once Andromeda had finished. She placed a hand on the older woman's back to help soothe the other woman. She knew the information Andy was learning was hard to process and she didn't want to push the witch.
"What side are you really on, Hermione?" Andromeda finally asked, inner conflict clear on her face.
"I don't know. There are so many factors in play and I haven't had time to truly deliberate it."
"When the time comes, I shall side with you. With your permission, I will share this information with Nymphadora. She is my daughter and I want her to know the truth. My family is everything to me."
"You do not need my permission, Andy, but if it makes you feel better, you have it."
"Thank you. I can see how you'd be very good for Bella."
"That means more than you think, thank you."
"I must be going. Should you ever need something, owl me. I can meet you in Hogsmeade if necessary."
"Be safe."
Hermione unwarded the room and went downstairs to find the Weasley family. Harry was angry with her for what happened with his godfather, and Ron was siding with him, but Ginny and the twins supported her all the way. Molly refused to voice her opinion, instead directing them to the fireplace so they could floo home.