A/N - Thanks so much for reading!

Chapter 21

Alone

2 July 1998

Someone was screaming. It took Hermione a moment to realize it was her. Ear-splitting shrieks that didn't even come close to expressing how much pain she was in. Even as she begged, swore, pleaded, the pain continued. The moments it stopped, she gulped air and wished for death.

"You won't get anything else out of her," a gruff voice said. "You said I could have her when you were finished." Hermione shuddered violently. She couldn't see him, but she knew who that voice belonged to. She'd rather suffer the pain than be given to him.

"Quiet, wolf," Bellatrix snapped. "You'll get her when I say you do." She stared down at Hermione. "I think she needs a bit more incentive. Draco, bring up the blood traitor."

"No," Hermione moaned. "Please, no."

"Tell me what I want to know," Bellatrix demanded.

"I don't know," Hermione cried. "We found it." With a snarl, the pain began again. As much as she tried to hold them in, Hermione screamed. She screamed and screamed and screamed.

"Hermione!"

"Hermione, wake up!" A hand came down on her shoulder and Hermione jumped, scrambling into the corner of the couch. She threw her hands up in front of her face in defense.

"Hermione, it's me," a soft voice said. Hermione looked up into green eyes she knew as well as her own.

"Harry?" she questioned quietly, slowly lowering her hands.

"It's all right," he said. He sat down carefully on the couch next to her. Hermione watched him warily, still half in the throes of her nightmare. "It was just a dream." She stared at him for a few moments longer, before throwing herself into his arms. Harry held her tightly, murmuring words of comfort in her ear.

"Ginny's here too," Harry said, so as not to startle her. The redhead sat down on Hermione's other side, putting a hand on her back in comfort. "You're all right." When Hermione had finally calmed, she pulled back from Harry, looking at Ginny in embarrassment.

"Sorry," she said. "I must have fallen asleep."

"Don't apologize," Ginny said. "Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione shook her head. Harry put a hand on her knee.

"Hermione," he said, slightly chastising. Hermione pulled in a breath and let it out.

"It was the same nightmare. Bellatrix was torturing me. Except," she trailed off and shook her head.

"Except what?" Harry asked.

"Except she thought I needed more incentive to tell the truth about the sword, so she sent Malfoy to get Ron. She was going to, to," Hermione's voice hitched and the tears began to run down her cheeks again. Harry pulled her into his arms once more.

"That didn't happen, Hermione, you know that. She's dead. She can't hurt any of us ever again." Hermione nodded against his shoulder. Harry kissed the top of her head before pulled away again. She swiped at her eyes.

"Is everyone here?" she asked, biting her bottom lip. She would be mortified if everyone had heard her screams.

"No, just me and Gin," Harry said. "We wanted to make sure you and Ron were okay."

"Speaking of my brother, where is he?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked down at her lap, trying to will her tears away.

"I don't know," she said.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"We had a row and he left," Hermione said. "Apparated. I don't know where he went." She saw Ginny and Harry look at each other in concern. "Thanks for helping me, with the nightmare I mean."

"Of course," Harry said. "Hermione, what's going on with you and Ron?" Hermione looked at her best friend and wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to pour out her heart to him and let Harry comfort her as he always did. But she couldn't. Ron was his best friend too and she wouldn't put Harry in the middle. She wouldn't.

"I can't, I just can't talk about it right now, Harry," she said. She looked at Ginny who smiled in understanding. Hermione realized that she couldn't stay here. No matter how supportive the Weasleys were, Ron was still their family and she had driven him from his own home. She stood from the couch.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"I need to get some things," she said. "I just, I need to go, right now."

"Go where?" Ginny asked in confusion.

"Just, somewhere else," Hermione said.

"Hermione," Harry said as he stood. He took her upper arms in his hands. "Tell me what's going on."

"I think, I think we broke up," Hermione said, tears beginning anew.

"You think?" Harry said in confusion.

"Ron was really angry and he said, he said that I wanted him to leave, but I didn't, I," Hermione shook her head. "I just, I need to go, Harry. Before everyone gets back. I don't want, I can't explain, I, please."

"Hermione, you don't have to leave," Ginny said.

"This is Ron's house," Hermione said.

"Mum and Dad would never turn you out," Ginny said.

"I know they wouldn't. That's why I should go," Hermione replied. Ginny opened her mouth to protest once more, but Harry shook his head.

"You can go to Grimmauld," Harry offered. "I'll come with you."

"No, Harry," Hermione said. "I just need to be by myself. And I'm not going to Grimmauld."

"Where then?"

"I want to go home," Hermione said softly.

"I don't understand," Harry said.

"My parents never sold their house when they left for Australia," Hermione explained. "There wasn't time, so I just had them close it up."

"Hermione, are you sure that's safe?" Ginny asked.

"There were wards," Hermione said. "And even if Death Eaters did get inside, I doubt there are any there now. It's not a place any pureblood would likely want to hide."

"I'm going with you," Harry said firmly.

"Harry, I," but he held up a hand to interrupt her.

"Not to stay, just to make sure everything's okay," he said.

"Harry, I can take care of myself," Hermione said tiredly.

"I know you can, but just let me do this, Hermione." He gave her his best puppy-dog look. "Please, for me." She rolled her eyes but smiled.

"All right, fine." She turned to go upstairs to Ginny's room to pack her things. Ginny followed and sat on her bed watching Hermione for a few minutes.

"You don't have to tell me what happened, but do you think the two of you can work this out?" Ginny asked after a few minutes.

"I want to, but, I'm not sure," Hermione said.

"I know that Ron can be a prat," Ginny began, but Hermione interrupted her.

"It's not all Ron's fault. It's not all my fault either," Hermione said. "Maybe we're just too different." Ginny said nothing as Hermione tucked her things into her beaded bag. When she finished, Ginny rose from the bed and gave her a hug.

"If you want to talk," she said. "You know I'm always here for you."

"I know, thanks Gin." The two women walked back downstairs where Harry was waiting.

"Ready?" he asked. Hermione nodded, just as they heard the sound of the Floo. She looked at Harry, panicked.

"Just go," Ginny said. "I'll tell them." Harry and Hermione hurried out the door to the Apparition point. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and the two of them disappeared with a crack.

They landed in Hermione's back garden and Harry immediately drew his wand. Hermione rolled her eyes, feeling that Harry was being just a bit paranoid. Although when she realized that the wards were down, she followed suit. She sent an unlocking spell at the door and opened it slightly, listening intently.

"I don't hear anything," she said. She cast a revealing charm which showed only her and Harry. "No one's here." They stepped inside, Hermione's nose wrinkling at the musty smell from the house being uninhabited for so long. She cast an air-freshening charm.

Most of the furniture was covered with sheets and she felt her eyes fill as she looked around at the familiar room. It was all as she'd left it, minus the personal items her parents had taken along. Harry flicked the light switch on the wall, but nothing happened.

"There's no electricity," he said.

"Of course not," Hermione replied. "I'm sure they had it disconnected before they left."

"That means there's no water either," Harry pointed out. Hermione shrugged.

"I can fill the toilet and the tub with my wand."

"But it will be cold," Harry said.

"Warming charm," Hermione reminded him. "And before you say it, I can go to the market and get bottled water to drink and cook with."

"No electricity."

"Witch, remember." Harry chuckled.

"Let's check the place over anyway," he said. Hermione nodded and they inspected the main floor, then climbed the stairs to the bedrooms. Hermione waved her wand and another door appeared in the corridor.

"I hid my room," she explained. "My parents wouldn't have understood why they had a girl's bedroom in their house once I changed their memories." Harry nodded as Hermione opened the door. Besides the layer of dust that lay over everything, it was exactly the same as she'd left it, down to the pile of discarded books in the corner. Harry quickly waved his wand to clear the dust away from everything.

"I can sleep here," Hermione said, sounding too chipper even to herself. "Bed's still made and everything."

"Are you okay being back here?" Harry asked. "I know it's got to be hard."

"I'll be all right," she said. "Thanks, Harry." Hermione set her bag down on her bed. "You should get back."

"I can stay if you want," Harry said. "Kingsley won't mind if I'm a little late tomorrow."

"No, I need some time to myself," Hermione replied. "Please tell Molly that I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For just running out like that and not talking to them about it," Hermione said. "I just, I couldn't."

"Are you sure you're going to be all right here by yourself?"

"Yes, Harry, I," Hermione stopped, her brow furrowed as she heard a noise from downstairs. Harry turned and pulled his wand, putting her behind him. Hermione rolled her eyes and stepped up next to him, her own wand drawn. They crept quietly towards the stairs, listening intently.

"That sounds like-" Harry began

"A cat," Hermione finished. She faltered for a moment. Crookshanks had disappeared after the Weasleys had gone into hiding at their aunt Muriel's. Used to having the run of the property, the cat hadn't been in the house when they had decided they needed to leave and Ginny hadn't been able to find him anywhere. When everyone had returned to the Burrow after the Final Battle, Ginny had hoped that Crookshanks would be waiting for them. When he wasn't, she had tearfully told Hermione what had happened. Hermione had never blamed her, Crookshanks was too independent and stubborn by half, but she had mourned her cat almost as much as their friends that had died. She didn't think she was ready to face a stray that just wanted to be fed.

They reached the bottom of the stairs and Harry went to the living room and looked out the window next to the back door.

"Hermione, you need to come see this," he said.

"Harry, I can't have another cat," she said. "Not yet. Just shoo it away or something." Harry ignored her and opened the back door.

"Harry, I said-" but Hermione trailed off, her mouth dropping open at the sight before her. Looking thinner and much mangier than she'd ever seen him, was Crookshanks. He meowed loudly and walked into the house with a flick of his tail.

"Crookshanks?" Hermione whispered, still shocked as to how her cat had gotten here from the Burrow. She put a hand to her mouth and dropped to her knees as Crookshanks walked toward her. He meowed loudly again, as if to scold her and then crawled right into her lap.

"Oh, Crooks," Hermione said, beginning to cry now. She cuddled the cat to her and he rubbed his face against her neck. Never having been an overly affectionate cat, Hermione half-laughed, half-cried at his gesture. She grabbed his face in her hands.

"How did you get here, you amazing, brilliant, crazy cat?"

"Sirius always said he was extremely smart," Harry said, grin on his face.

"Of course, he's smart," Hermione scoffed. She smiled again as she scratched Crookshanks behind the ears like she knew he liked. "I just can't believe he's here."

"Well, I'm glad he is," Harry said. "I don't like leaving you here alone."

"We'll be fine, won't we Crooks?" Hermione looked up at her friend. "Thank you, Harry."

"I love you, Hermione, you know that."

"I know," she said. She stood with Crookshanks still in her arms and hugged Harry as tightly as she could without squishing her cat. "Send me a Patronus to let me know he's all right?"

"Of course, I will." Harry studied her for a few moments. "It's going to be okay, Hermione." She gave him a watery smile.

"I know." Harry hugged her one more time, then waved as he stepped into the back garden to Disapparate. When he had gone, Hermione put Crookshanks down and began to pull the sheets off the furniture. She looked around the room that was so familiar to her, so comforting, but also entirely different since there were no photographs or mementos anywhere. Reaching down, she picked up Crooks again and snuggled him close to her as she sank down on the couch. He didn't seem to mind as she lay on her side and curled around him. Stroking his back, the tears began anew. Crookshanks stayed snuggled into her, not protesting as his fur got wetter.

3 July 1998

"Everything all right?" Andromeda asked as Remus finished reading the note an owl had just delivered.

"Hermione's cancelled our meeting tomorrow to work on the portrait," Remus said.

"Did she say why?"

"Just that something had come up," Remus replied.

"I do hope she's all right," Andromeda said in concern.

"She sounds fine." Remus shrugged. Perhaps she had decided to take Ron up on his offer instead.

"What in Merlin's name?" Andromeda muttered. Remus turned to see what had gotten her attention. A regal looking eagle owl was flying towards the window. Remus hurriedly got up to open it and the bird landed gracefully on the kitchen table. He shot Remus a look of disdain and held out his leg to Andromeda. She carefully removed the letter and before she could offer the bird anything, he flew out the window. Remus shook his head at the owl then turned back to his mother-in-law.

Andromeda had gone very white, her eyes wide. Remus moved towards her in concern.

"What is it?" he asked.

"This is Narcissa's handwriting," Andromeda said. Her hand was shaking and Remus gently guided her into a chair. Andromeda stared at the letter in her hands. "I have not heard from her in twenty-five years. Why would she send me a letter now?"

"Perhaps you should open it and find out," Remus suggested. Andromeda stared at the letter for another minute, then set it down on the table in front of her.

"I do not think I want to." She pushed it away from her a little. "Why would she be writing to me?" she asked again.

"Perhaps she wants to try and reconcile," Remus said. Andromeda snorted.

"Somehow, I doubt that. Narcissa made her position quite clear."

"War does tend to change things," Remus said.

"The first one did not change anything," Andromeda retorted.

"I think that things were much more difficult for her this time around," Remus said.

"They were more difficult for all of us."

"I won't argue that point." The two of them silently stared at the letter as if they could divine the contents just by looking at it. Finally, Andromeda picked it up again. She turned it over and studied the Malfoy crest for a moment, before running a finger under it and breaking the seal. Taking a deep breath, she opened it and began to read.

Remus watched her closely, but her face betrayed little as she read. The corners of her mouth did pinch slightly at one point, but otherwise, she wore a mask of indifference. When she finished, she folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. Remus looked at her expectantly.

"She would like to see me," Andromeda said. Remus' brow furrowed.

"She's confined to the Manor until August."

"She mentioned that," Andromeda said. "She invited me to the Manor." Remus' mouth dropped open in shock. "She said she suspected that I would decline. Therefore, she would like to keep up a correspondence until such time that we can meet at a place of my choosing. She would like to 'put all this unpleasantness behind us' and be my sister again." Though Andromeda's face showed no emotion, Remus saw that her hands were shaking.

"Are you going to accept?" Andromeda's façade cracked.

"Would you?" she snapped. Remus held his hands up in surrender and Andromeda sighed. "I am sorry, Remus. I just cannot believe that she would ask this of me."

"You don't think she's sincere?"

"I think she is as sincere as she is able to be. Cissy always was good at hiding behind her mask. Something our mother taught her well." Remus didn't comment on the fact that Andromeda was more than capable of hiding behind the very same mask.

"Are you going to respond?" Remus asked.

"If I do, it will only be to tell her that she is mad to think we could have any kind of relationship," Andromeda said. She glanced at Remus and her eyes narrowed.

"You don't agree with me?"

"It's your choice," Remus said. "I have nothing to say about it."

"And yet, your eyes say otherwise," Andromeda said.

"Obviously, you know your sister better than I do, but is it possible she's hiding behind that mask because she assumes you will reject her?" Andromeda opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again.

"It is possible, yes," she finally agreed. "Another lesson drilled into us by Father. Never let anyone hurt you if you can hurt them first." She shook her head sadly.

"Then, maybe you should respond and see what happens," Remus suggested.

"I have no intention of visiting her," Andromeda said firmly.

"I didn't say you should," Remus replied. "In fact, I think that's a terrible idea. If the two of you do meet sometime in the future, you should have gotten to know one another again first. But if she knows that you aren't rejecting her outright, perhaps she'll be a bit more open in her next letter."

"Perhaps," Andromeda mused, looking down at the envelope once more. Teddy began to cry upstairs.

"I'll get him," Remus said as he rose from his chair. Andromeda nodded absently. Remus glanced back at her just before he left the room to see her looking contemplatively out the window, clearly lost in thought.

5 July 1998

"Hermione?" a voice called. Hermione shifted in her bed, mumbling something unintelligible. "Hermione, where are you?" She burrowed deeper into her pillow and pulled the blankets over her head.

"Hermione, it's half eleven," the same voice said, but closer now. "What are you still doing in bed?" Harry reached out and pulled the blankets off her head. Hermione scowled.

"I'm sleeping," she said.

"You never sleep this late."

"Maybe I do, now." She pulled the blanket away from Harry and yanked it back over her head.

"Hermione, get up."

"No," she said petulantly. Harry tried to pull the blanket away from her, but she held on stubbornly. After a few minutes of struggle, Hermione felt the blankets vanish entirely. The curtains flew open and sunlight streamed in the window.

"Harry," she whined, curling up in a ball and trying to hide under her pillow.

"How long have you been in bed?" Harry demanded. She cracked one eye open and glowered at him.

"I don't know." Harry snorted.

"Remus told me that you cancelled on him yesterday."

"When did you talk to Remus?"

"I went over to visit Teddy this morning," Harry said. "Have you been in bed since yesterday?"

"No," she said, looking away from him.

"All right, get up," Harry said, reaching over and grabbing her arm.

"No, Harry, leave me alone," Hermione said trying to snatch her arm back.

"I won't. You're going to get up and then you're going to have a bath and we're going to talk."

"Why don't you go bother Ginny or something," Hermione said grumpily.

"That's a good idea," Harry said. "I'll send her a Patronus and get her over here."

"No, no, I'm getting up," Hermione said as she quickly sat up. Harry smirked.

"When's the last time you ate?"

"I had some toast, last night, I think," she said. Harry sighed before he sat down next to her.

"What happened?" he asked. "You seemed all right on Friday when I was here." Hermione shrugged. Harry put an arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. It was true. Friday, she had spent most of the day cleaning and organizing the house. She wanted things to be perfect for her parents' return. Harry had stopped by after work to check up on her. She had been relieved to know that Ron was all right. He had spent the night at George's flat above the shop after he stormed out of the Burrow but had been at training on Friday morning.

"I was," Hermione said.

"Then, what happened?" Harry asked. "Please talk to me, Hermione." Hermione took a deep breath.

"Remember I told you that I'd finished making my list of telephone numbers that might possibly be my parents?"

"Yes," Harry said. "And I told you that you should wait to start calling because you didn't need any more stress right now." Hermione shifted next to him. "Hermione, you didn't."

"I had to, Harry," she said, sitting up and looking at him. "I just, being here, I'm always thinking about them and there's a telephone box a couple of blocks over. I was only going to call a few numbers."

"But what, you did the whole list?" Harry asked.

"No," Hermione said shaking her head. "I only got a quarter of the way through, but…none of them were my parents."

"That doesn't mean that you won't find them," Harry said. "You've still got a lot more to go."

"I know, but," Hermione's chin began to quiver. "What if I don't find them?" Harry put his arm around her again and pulled her back into his side.

"We'll find them," he promised. "If I have to hire a hundred detectives, we'll find them." They sat in silence for a few minutes, Hermione sniffling every so often as Harry kept his arm tight around her. "So, this is what drove you into your bed."

"Not entirely," Hermione admitted. "When I got back here, I needed something to keep me busy, so I went up into the attic. I knew that there were some boxes of old junk my dad had put up there once, so I was going to clean that out. But there was a lot more than that up there."

"What?" Harry asked.

"They must not have time to go through it or forgotten about it or something. Probably the latter." She looked at Harry. "It was all my old baby things. My cot and a few boxes of clothes. Some toys and books I had when I was little. They didn't clean it out because I took all their memories of me." She sniffled again and began to cry.

"Oh, Hermione," Harry said and wrapped both arms around her. "Listen, we're going to find them and you're going to reverse the charm and everything will be fine."

"You don't know that," she mumbled.

"I do," Harry said. "Because you're the smartest witch I know and if you cast that spell, then you can reverse it." She clung to him tightly. "So, this is why you've spent the two days in bed?"

"Mostly," she said. "It was everything with Ron too and I just didn't want to deal with it all anymore."

"I understand," Harry said. "But no more wallowing." Hermione sighed.

"How about just another afternoon?" Harry laughed.

"No, get up and get dressed. I'm taking you out for lunch." Hermione sat up and her stomach growled loudly. Harry laughed again and Hermione smiled. Before Harry could stand, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Thanks, Harry."

"What are brothers for?" he asked with a wink, then left the room so she could dress.

"You sure you don't want to come home with me?" Harry asked when they had returned from lunch.

"No," Hermione said. "I just need to stay here for a while."

"The neighbors are going to notice soon," Harry said. Hermione shook her head.

"No, I put up new wards," she said. "They can still see the house, but no one feels the need to actually come here." Harry nodded. He met her eyes, then glanced away.

"What is it, Harry?"

"Nothing," Harry said quickly. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Rubbish," she said. "I know you, Harry Potter."

"I don't want to get in the middle, Hermione, honestly I don't, but I do wish you'd talk to Ron."

"You told me he was still angry," Hermione said. "It wouldn't do any good to talk to him now, we'd just argue again."

"He is still upset, but he's worried too," Harry said. "And I really don't like you being here all by yourself."

"Harry, I'm in the middle of a Muggle neighborhood and all the Death Eaters are either dead or in Azkaban. And I can take care of myself."

"I know, it's just," Harry sighed. "I worry about you." Hermione smiled.

"I know," she said. "But I'm okay, really." Harry looked skeptical.

"You had been in bed for more than a day when I got here." Hermione laughed.

"I promise I won't take to my bed again." Her smile faded. "And I will talk to Ron, just, not yet."

"Fair enough," Harry said. He hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"Tell Ginny I said hi," Hermione said.

"I will."

"Love you, Harry."

"Love you too, Hermione." He walked into the back garden and waved before he Disapparated.

7 July 1998

Hermione sighed as she set down the list of telephone numbers. She had called a few more today, but someone had been waiting impatiently outside the telephone box and Hermione had had to leave before she could finish. It would be so much easier if she could hook up the telephone in the house. She had thought about doing as much, but it would raise suspicion if she didn't connect the electricity and gas as well. And she really didn't want to modify anyone else's memory, especially just to make her own life easier.

Crookshanks jumped up onto the couch next to her. Hermione absently stroked his back, her thoughts shifting to Ron as they often did when she wasn't keeping herself busy. She needed to talk to him, she knew that. The longer they went ignoring one another, the less chance there was to work things out. She knew that Ron really wasn't angry anymore; Harry had told her as much when he'd stopped by after work the night before. Hermione just wasn't sure if she could give Ron what he wanted. She wasn't sure what he wanted, if she were honest with herself. She wondered if Ron even knew himself.

His jealousy wasn't new, although she had hoped that he'd grown out of it after everything that happened on the Horcrux hunt. But his seeming need to have her turn to only him for help with whatever problem she had at the time was not only unrealistic, but a bit ridiculous. She had been shocked at his reaction to her asking Remus to help her with the portrait. Hermione hadn't been trying to exclude Ron from helping, she simply didn't want to give him one more task to do on his day off, when he got so little time to just relax as it was. They would have been together working on the problem at Grimmauld, true, but it was still work. She was sure he'd much rather take a dip in the pond or play a pick-up game of Quidditch with Harry and Ginny.

Sighing, she looked down at Crookshanks and gave him a scratch behind the ears. His tail flicked lazily as he pushed his head into her hand.

"What do you think, Crooks? Should I send him an owl?" Hermione asked. He looked up at her and blinked once, then jumped off the couch and sauntered to the back door, seemingly ignoring her. She laughed. "I see you have strong opinions about this subject."

He meowed loudly at her and she shook her head fondly, getting up to open the back door for him. Before she even had the door fully open, Pigwidgeon flew inside, excitedly flapping around her head. Crookshanks gave the bird a look of disdain, sniffed and walked outside.

"Come here, Pig," Hermione said as she closed the door. The tiny owl hooted once, then flew close enough to Hermione that she was able to grab him. She took the letter from his leg and he nipped her finger affectionately. Deciding it was better to keep hold of the excitable owl, she opened the note and read it.

Hermione,

Will you meet me at the Leaky Cauldron tonight at seven? I want to talk to you.

Ron

Hermione stared at the note until Pigwidgeon hooted again. Pulled from her reverie, she grabbed a pen from the coffee table and wrote quickly at the bottom of Ron's note.

I'll be there.

Love, Hermione

"Here, Pig, take this back to Ron, all right?" She retied the note to his leg and let him go. Walking to the back door, she opened it and waited nearly five minutes before Pig finally realized it was open and flew outside.

Once the owl was gone, Hermione began to pace. Her first thought was to wonder why Ron was home in the afternoon to send her a note. If he had been at work, he would have just used one of the Ministry owls. She hoped that he was all right. Her second thought was to second-guess the way she'd signed her reply. Ron hadn't done the same in his note, so perhaps she shouldn't have either. It had been more reflex than anything.

Why hadn't Ron signed his 'Love, Ron'? Had his feelings changed so completely in the last five days? Did he want to talk to her because he wanted to break things off permanently? Hermione wrung her hands in front of her as she paced. What would happen if she and Ron broke up? What about Harry? What about the Weasleys? They were her second family; would she still be welcome at the Burrow? Her breath caught. What if she couldn't find her parents and she lost the Weasleys too?

Hermione sank down in the armchair in the corner and buried her face in her hands. She couldn't lose the Weasleys, not now. And she didn't know what she would do if she lost Harry. She knew he would never abandon her, but Ron was his best friend too. Hermione didn't want Harry to feel like he was being pulled between the two of them. Hermione sat frozen for quite some time until a voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like Ginny told her to get a grip. Taking a breath, she sat back in her chair and looked at the ceiling.

She was being daft. She hadn't even spoken to Ron yet; she shouldn't be speculating as to what was going to happen based on a two-sentence note. Taking another deep breath, Hermione decided to take a bath and try and relax a bit before she left for Diagon Alley. She checked outside for Crookshanks, but he seemed to be enjoying himself lying in a patch of sun in the garden, so she let him be and hurried upstairs.