Chapter 4
(Nov.3, 1998)
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, mom," I said as I unsuccessfully tried to feed Teddy.
He kept teasing me by opening his mouth several times, almost taking the food, and then turning his head at the last minute.
Teddy's hair had more food on it than in his stomach.
I paused as he clapped his hands and ended it with a smear of food on his brilliant yellow hair.
"I was healed at the hospital, mom. You know they wouldn't have let me leave if it had been otherwise."
"I know, I'm just worried about you, darling," she said as she set a warm plate of food in front of me.
I dug into the eggs as I left Teddy with his bottle of warm milk since he was done with his food. Every time I'd hurt myself as a child, she would make a big deal out of it.
"Harry said that we can't go out alone. It kind of chafes me that I got hurt and was useless. I almost got Teddy hurt yesterday." I said quietly.
My mother glanced out the window as she spoke, "From what you've told me, you saved those two boys. Especially the boy by the door. It did put Teddy in danger. But in the end, you were the only one hurt."
Setting my fork down as I looked outside briefly, I was about to reply when a shadow passed by the window. Picking up my wand and without even thinking set up a shield around both of them before moving towards the window. The shadow passed again before a large owl landed where Soa usually did. I heard my mother gasp in awe, while Teddy prattled excitedly. I understood the feeling since the bird was beautiful.
I looked down at the owl's clawed feet and saw two envelopes tied to one. I cautiously moved towards the owl, who cocked his head, tracking my every move with its beady eyes. I gently reached for the letters and was given no trouble for my cautiousness.
Once I got them off him, the bird flew away. Soa must have gone hunting since she didn't give us a warning that an unknown owl was coming.
Taking the shield down from around my mother and Teddy, I nodded distractingly at my mom before kissing Teddy on the head and walking upstairs to my room. Glancing down at both letters, one had graceful handwriting while the other had a more scratchy familiar writing.
Both were addressed to me. I knew who the sender of the scratchy letter was since he had graded my papers since my first year.
Sitting down at my desk, I pulled out a largely hidden folder. I waved my wand to check for any harmful charms over Nott's letter. I didn't worry over Snape's since he always treated her with respect now. I didn't know Nott well enough so I couldn't be too sure.
Although, I remember his face when he thought that I was going to attack before saving him. He had looked relieved for a second there. Almost like he was expecting… something unpleasant but deserving.
Opening up Nott's letter first which only had a small paragraph. I honestly didn't think he would reply to me personally. I had thought that he would contact Harry or even Kingsley himself. I didn't know if it was forced or not but I couldn't focus on that right now.
Hermione Granger,
I know many things, most of which I'd told the Aurors and the minister himself. I was asked for the last known locations as well as the old hideouts. I told them everything I did know. Which wasn't much, to begin with, I don't know if it would help to look into them for more clues but I would give you several copies of the known places as well as a list of the old family manors and vacation homes. I am currently staying with Malfoy but we could meet somewhere else if that isn't an option.
Sincerely,
Theodore Nott
I almost ripped the sheet in half without realizing it.
He was asking me to meet him at the Manor.
Flashes of my only experience there came across my mind. I knew that I had said I would do anything but merlin, I didn't think it would be something like this. As gently as I could, I set it down on the desk and tried to calm my racing heart. It was making it hard for me to breathe.
Clenching my fist in my lap and trying to breathe in and out slowly while staring down at the unopened letter in front of me with almost no emotion at all on my face. A few more moments passed before I could move again. I had to do this.
Opening the letter Snape sent with almost all of my emotions under control, I read it carefully.
Miss Granger,
You must have been told that I hadn't been able to talk with the Aurors since I can't speak. I do have a bit more information concerning some of the missing Death Eaters. The problem is communicating since the attack from Nagini happened. I am sure Potter told you about legilimency. Something I had tried teaching the boy before. With the way that things are now, it is not safe to cast such spells.
As for the matter at hand, it'd best if we meet personally lest the information is heard by those you seek.
As for the location...
Severus Snape
He was telling me that he couldn't have been able to tell anybody about the rest of the information he had since the binding spells were still in place since the missing Death Eaters weren't dead or in prison.
The location couldn't be my home.
I would have to go to the Manor but I knew that Harry and Ron would never willingly let me go by myself without them going as well. They both might have different jobs but right now they were both working to get this done as soon as possible before dead bodies started showing up. I could meet them somewhere else but the Order was still active and any of the safe houses could be occupied.
Looking up at the bookshelf on my wall, which held the book I had picked up from Sirius's library, I pulled it out. This one caught my interest since Harry had told me about the failed attempt at learning legilimency. I had read the book over twenty times.
But I had kept it a secret since somebody of my age couldn't have been able to become a master of both legilimency and occlumency. It would have brought unwanted attention. I hadn't even known anybody personally who had been able to do it. Severus Snape didn't count since he had never liked me. I had practised occlumency a lot more than legilimency. That was mostly since practising it in Hogwarts had led to many discoveries; what exactly when on in broom closets or what Ron had once thought about-
Ugh.
Pulling out a set of parchment paper plus an envelope, I decided to reply without second-guessing myself.
Professor Snape,
I will meet you at the Manor.
I know where it is, so there is no need for an escort, I shall arrive at noon.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
I walked into the kitchen, passing my mother and Teddy in the living room. Both were watching the telly.
"Soa," I whispered to her as I tied the letter to her clawed foot. She still wouldn't look at me but she did lean her head down to pet her. "Take it to Severus Snape, Malfoy Manor."
With a regal nod, she took off into the night.
"Is Harry still coming today?" My mother asked me as she walked in with Teddy in her arms. I nodded and reached for Teddy's bottle of fresh milk.
"You know he always comes, he can't stay away. Although, I don't think Ron will be able to make it. He had sent me a letter earlier saying that he was taking his mom out tonight. Just the two of them."
I reached for Teddy, who had spied the bottle and knew it was nap time. My mother stayed in the kitchen to prepare dinner. I walked out into the living room, Teddy suckling away while he tugged at one of my loose curls.
Choosing an armchair that sat right by the large living room window, I carefully sat down. The wounds on my back were healed, but the tender skin ached in echo with pain.
It began to drizzle, the rain hitting the window in gentle waves, lulling Teddy into his very much-needed nap. I pulled the bottle away and patted his back to burp him.
Before I had learned of magic, when I had been a child, I had loved the rain. Gentle rain that would help me sleep at night. But soon, it would change to snow as the days grew colder.
I loved the snow as well but ever since the Forest of Dean...
The snow had been the one thing we hadn't had to brave, unlike the Acromantulas and Inferi. We had taken warmth and comfort when it snowed. Even when we were being hunted.
I glanced down at Teddy. His hair was a mixture of purple and pink but it would change throughout the night as he dreamed.
I carefully laid him down to sleep in the playpen my mother had set up earlier. I patted his back, waiting for him to settle before joining my mother in the kitchen.
Crookshanks had decided to show his mangy face and was sitting on top of the stove while my mother tried pulling him away.
"Crookshanks, leave mum alone. She will burn you. Remember what happened last time." My mum gave me a reproaching look before bending down to get out some pans to make dinner with.
Crookshanks slowly got up and whipped his tail at the top of my mother's head before jumping out the window.
Termaine just gave a small laugh, Crookshanks had made the bun on her head come apart since it had been hanging on by a few hairs.
My mother's hair was straight unlike mine. I had gotten the curls from my father and the colour from her. So it wasn't a mess unlike mine would have been.
"That cat of yours does as he wants. There's no point in chiding him. He will do it again." I almost laughed but my mum's face stopped me from doing so. "He only does it to adults, mom, except for Dumbledore and Sirius.
Although, Sirius being a dog and playing with him was probably what made him rebellious in the first place." I said with a sad smile.
Mother stopped what she was doing for a bit. "They both died didn't they."
Remembering the way Sirius used to always ruffle Harry's hair and Dumbledore's odd but kind twinkle it hit me hard right then and there. They had been gone before but the war had reached its climax. It hadn't given us time to mourn their deaths. We shed a few tears but moved on.
My heart started giving some painful thumps. I hadn't realized that I had closed my eyes and had silent tears running down my face until my mother brushed her thumbs across my face, wiping them away.
Opened them up and stared up into my mother's eyes which had been clear before were now clouded with such raw emotion it was heartbreaking to stare at them. Because she understood what it meant to hurt in such a soul-wrenching kind of way.
I had lost my father. Termaine had lost her soulmate.
My greatest regret was sending my parents away. If I hadn't done that maybe my father would be...
I faintly heard the floo activate and pushed my mother back roughly behind me with my wand out.
"It's just me, Mione," Harry said as he walked into the kitchen. He froze as his eyes landed on my face. He quickly walked over to me. My mother backed away without question.
I vaguely remember her once saying that seeing us together along with Ron was painful but beautiful at the same time. A tragic sort of picture that we couldn't see but others could.
"Hermione." Just saying my name reminded me that I was always the one holding him and Ron together. They had never seen me break down like this before and I couldn't let him see it. I had always been the one they came to for this. Not the other way around.
"No, don't do that. You always start occluding and you pay the price without us around to help you. Mione, I love you. Ron loves you too. We want to help you, be here for you like you are for us." Harry said as he pulled me into his arms.
But instead of him doing the holding it was me. Like it has always been. "I just don't want you hurting, Mione," he said brokenly.
I know you don't, Harry. But the war gave us no choice and now we hurt and cry in each other's arms. I whispered into his mind.
Harry pulled back and smiled down sadly at me. "It always ends this way, doesn't it? I try and comfort you and yet it turns out this way." I lightly ran my fingers through his hair, "You know it. Teddy's awake now so go get him while we start preparing dinner." He nodded and left the kitchen but not before picking up a bag of chips on his way out.
I stared at the door long after he was gone with a sinking feeling in my stomach. For some reason, I knew that the danger wasn't over just because the war was.
I just hope that nobody else died. I wouldn't survive it this time.