Hermione
12 Grimmauld Place, London

In the week that she'd been at number 12 Grimmauld Place, Hermione Granger, had seen and experienced many peculiar things. There were rooms that were still off limits to everyone in the house for fear of what may be in them, an entire wall that was decorated with house-elf heads, an umbrella stand made from a hollowed out troll leg, a grandfather clock that shot large bolts at anyone unfortunate enough to be walking by, and a foul portrait that screamed some of the vilest thing she'd ever heard. Overall it was the most unpleasant disgusting place she'd ever been, in fact Hermione, was quite sure the Catacombs of Paris she'd visited recently were more inviting. The house had been the ancestral home of the House of Black for many generations and recently Sirius Black gave the house over to the Order of the Phoenix to be used as a headquarters. The Order of the Phoenix, as she'd learned, was an organization founded by Professor Dumbledore during the first war against Voldemort. Now that Voldemort had returned Dumbledore was reforming the order to fight the dark wizard and his followers.

After spending a fortnight with her parents traveling on the continent she'd gone to The Burrow to spend the remainder of the summer with the Weasley family. She was at The Burrow for a little over a week before they packet up and headed to this interesting abode in London. People seemed to come and go at all hours of the day and night and the Order held at least one meeting a day. Of course neither Hermione nor any of the younger Weasley's were allowed in any of the meetings. They had all been told, in no uncertain terms, that they were too young, that the Order was for adults only. Even Fred and George Weasley, who are both of age, we told they couldn't join until they were out of school. Naturally this didn't stop any of them from listening in or gathering whatever information they could about what the Order was up to.

For example; today they learned that the Order is planning on moving Harry to headquarters in about a week and that members of the order are taking turns guarding something… probably Harry, or that was the conclusion she'd come to anyway. Several hours had passed since the conclusion of the days meeting and most of the Order members had long since left headquarters, even those that stayed after for dinner. It was not wholly uncommon for a few of the members to stay late into the evening, like Remus Lupin the former Defence professor, or Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks when they weren't on duty. At the same time there were many members who left as soon as the meetings concluded. Sturgis Podmore, Dedalus Diggle, Hestia Jones, Elphias Doge and Emmeline Vance never stayed after. Alastor Moody generally left straight away, claiming he had other things to attend to, constant vigilance and all that. Professor Snape would sweep out of the room without another word; he never arrived early, never stayed late, and rarely said anything that wasn't directly connected to the agenda of the meeting. There was another woman, Hermione didn't know her name yet but she was certain she recognised her from Hogwarts, she was young and quiet, and she almost always arrived and left with Professor Snape.

It was starting to get late and the washing up finally done and everything put away. Molly Weasley had just stormed out of the kitchen and headed upstairs to investigate a series of loud bangs and crashes, convinced that Fred and George were the culprits. Remus sat at one end of the table across from Sirius and the two were completely engrossed in a game of chess. Ginny excused herself not long ago, saying she was tired and headed for bed. Ron had not been seen for over two hours after suddenly having something very important to do as soon as dinner was over and the washing needed done. So she sat at the kitchen table with a quill and parchment in hand, enjoying the relative quiet.

Every now and then Sirius or Remus would comment about their chess match and Crookshanks, who was twisting around her ankles, would purr. She had decided to write another letter to Harry, but was having a hard time settling on what to say. Judging by the letter she'd received yesterday Harry was rather annoyed with her at the moment, well he was annoyed with just about everyone at the moment. Not that she could blame him; if she were in his place she'd be furious. He'd been left alone with those awful Dursley's and Dumbledore had made her promise, along with Ron and the rest of the Weasley children, not to tell Harry anything. She couldn't understand why, but she had faith in Dumbledore, and knew he must have his reasons whatever they were. She had just put her quill to the parchment when the kitchen door burst open and a haggard looking Arthur Weasley burst in.

"The Ministry's just sent an owl to Harry, expelling him from Hogwarts!" he shouted.

Her letter was instantly forgotten as was the chess game going on at the other end of the table. Sirius had jumped to his feet immediately looking shocked, outraged and dismayed all at the same time.

"What!" he exclaimed, "what for? They can't expel him, only Dumbledore can do that."

"They said he cast a Patronus in front of a Muggle. I know they can't expel him; I contacted Dumbledore as soon as I heard. He should be there by now." He was cut off as Mrs Weasley walked back into the room.

"What's going on dear? Dumbledore should be where by now?" she asked.

"The Ministry," Sirius answered, "They're trying to expel Harry."

"WHAT?" she shrieked, "Why on earth would they do that?"

"Because they say he used a Patronus in front of a Muggle," Remus answered just as the kitchen door flew open again.

"Arthur, what's the meaning of this? Where is Dumbledore? He contacted me and told me there was an emergency, to come here at once."

"He should be at the Ministry by now Severus, they are trying to expel Harry," said Mr Weasley.

Hermione, who had so far gone unnoticed, watched Professor Snape rolled his eyes before asking, "What's Potter done now?"

Sirius stiffened and puffed out his chest as he replied. "Why do you automatically assume that Harry's done anything?"

"Well Black, it seems highly unlikely that the Ministry should suddenly decide, 'we don't like you anymore Potter, you're expelled,' I'm sure they have a reason."

"Apparently he's cast a patronus and in front of a Muggle," whispered Mrs Weasley, "why would he do something so foolish?"

"Why indeed?" Snape remarked, "Potter's always believed himself to be above the rules…"

"Don't you dare talk about my godson like that, you know nothing about Harry!" Sirius snapped.

"Oh, I know much more about him than you do, Black. I spent years observing him while you were wasting away in Azkaban and running from the law like the mongrel that you are," Snape spat back, his voice laced with venom. "He has been known to show off…"

Sirius looked ready to fly across the table and attack him, and Snape looked like he hoped Sirius would do it. She watched, Sirius' face contorted with rage and Snape's wand hand twitched, slightly worried that this could turn into an all-out brawl very rapidly. Remus seemed to share her worry because he quickly stepped next to Sirius, putting his hand on the other man's arm.

"Harry may show off every once in a while, but let's be fair, what teenaged boy doesn't. We need to focus on the important thing here, like why he cast the charm, or why the Ministry was so quick to try and expel him, and what we are going to do if, gods forbid, Dumbledore can't set this right. That's why he called you here Severus. Not so you two could go at each other like angry school children. That goes for you too Sirius."

"Well what should we do?" asked Mr Weasley, "Should we go get Harry now?"

"No, Dumbledore said to do nothing yet," answered Snape, "that he would contact us here as soon as he was finished with the Ministry."

"Well there's a couple of things I'd like to know, first who was supposed to be watching Harry tonight, and second why in the world would they let him use any magic. We all know how important it is that he takes no risks and doesn't draw any attention from the Ministry," said Mrs Weasley.

"Mundungus Fletcher, Miss Farley and Mrs Figg were on duty tonight," replied Mr Weasley. Upon hearing this Professor Snape let out a dejected sigh and all attention turned to him.

"What is it Severus?" Mrs Weasley asked.

"As much as I am loath to admit, Potter may have had good reason for his rule breaking this time…" he looked as if the words were choking him and the last thing he wanted to do was continue. "It is entirely possible that he had actual need to cast the Patronus charm. Fletcher is known to be unreliable at the best of times it is not inconceivable that he was not where he should have been tonight. If Miss Farley was left alone watching Potter and the need to use that particular spell arose… it is not unlikely that she may have needed Potter's help. Not that I see what could have happened in the middle of a Muggle neighbourhood that would require a Patronus, but Miss Farley is not yet completely proficient with that spell."

Hermione figured that Miss Farley must be the young woman that she'd seen coming and going with Snape over the last week as she was the only woman in the Order whose name she hadn't known. Well that's one mystery solved, she thought. Perhaps if she went unnoticed a little longer she could learn a few other things.

"You mean that she can't cast a Patronus?" asked Remus, "I thought Dumbledore said she was a genius with charms."

"That is correct Lupin; this is the only charm I've known her to struggle with. Keep in mind that they do not teach it at Hogwarts and it is not a commonly used spell. I've been working with her for several weeks, she very nearly has it but it is still rather weak. Do not however, let this cause doubts about her ability as a witch. I know you will barely remember her from Hogwarts Lupin, as you only taught there during her final year. I however, remember quite clearly her abilities and intelligence, which far exceed most of her peers, not unlike what Miss Granger has displayed. Although she lacks Miss Granger's compulsion to perpetually show off, and yes Miss Granger I well aware you are still standing there eavesdropping."

So much for continuing to go unnoticed as she'd hoped, as soon as Snape said that every eye in the room was focused on her. The room became instantly silent as if they were all overly worried about saying another word with her still there. She began to gather her quill, ink and parchment before Mrs Weasley even spoke.

"Hermione dear, why didn't you tell us you were here?" she asked not unkindly.

"Molly, she's not about to betray herself a perfectly good opportunity to listen in," interjected Snape, and Hermione couldn't help internally agreeing with him.

"It's late dear," said Mrs Weasley, "off to bed with you now, and not a word of this to the others dear." She gently took Hermione by the shoulders and guided her in the direction of the door.

"Of course, Mrs Weasley," she answered on her way out of the kitchen. As soon as the door closed behind her she heard them all start talking at once.

She bypassed the room she was sharing with Ginny, instead going up to the second floor room that Ron was staying in. She knocked with as much fervour as she could without drawing any attention from the adults in the basement. She had to knock three times before the door opened to reveal a dishevelled looking Ron with his hair sticking out every which way and his eyes half shut.

"Hermmmione… s'matter? I'm trynna sleep," he mumbled.

"Wake up Ron, this is important! Go get Fred and George; I'm going to get Ginny. We'll meet back here and I'll explain everything,"

Less than a minute later they were all gathered in Ron's room. The four red heads with her were still half asleep and none too pleased with her for the abrupt awakening.

"This better be important Hermione," started Fred, "I was having the best dream, Angelina and I…" she interrupted quickly, that story was going places she had no desire to visit.

"I think Harry's been attacked by Dementors," she said with no preamble.

"WHAT?" they all shouted at the same time.

"Shhh… your mum will hear. I told her that I wouldn't say anything to you. If she catches us she's sure to have a fit," she hissed, worried that someone may have already heard.

"Tell us everything," insisted George.

She told them everything she'd overheard in the kitchen, relaying the conversation almost word for word. When she was finished Ron was the first to speak and he expressed some doubt.

"So that's why you think he was attacked by Dementors?" he asked.

"Of course Ron, why else would Harry cast a Patronus? Even Snape seemed to think it was a real possibility," she snapped back. The others in the room agreed with her.

"Why else would he use magic? Especially that spell Ron. Harry knows he can't use magic outside of Hogwarts," Ginny interjected.

"What I'd really like to know is why he was attacked by Dementors. We need to hear what else is going on in the kitchen," supplied George.

"Yeah," exclaimed Fred "why did Snape have to be such a git and point you out when he did?"

"Well, we need to listen in on what they are talking about that's for sure," she said with a pointed look at the twins. But they just kept staring at her, like they were waiting for her to continue. "Oh honestly!" she huffed throwing her hands in the air. "Go get one of your Extendable Ears. Hopefully we haven't missed too much already."