The Weasley Tower was quiet for several hours as the family and Order members slept and discussed the next course of action with the Golden Trio. By seven, Molly Weasley had started dinner with the help of Dobby and began banging a pot to wake everyone up. Aurther sat at the head of the table, with Minerva, Remus, Moody, and Charlie sitting next to him. Slowly, Hannah, Fred, George, Percy, Oliver, Hagrid, Harry, Hermione and Ron all made their way down the stairs.
"Where's Tonks?" Fred asked as he sat next to Remus.
"With Kingsley, working," Remus explained with a tired expression. "Unlike some of us they have a schedule to keep." Hermione and Ron gave Remus guilty looks, but said nothing. Harry stared at the bowl before him, seemingly unaware of his surroundings, or Ginny's glares. Molly sat a pot of stew on the table, which already had bread and pudding on it. Dobby dished out the soup and helped the Wizards with their dinner.
"Wonderful stew, Molly," Minerva smiled through her square shaped glasses as she took another bite.
"Thank you, Minerva," Molly beamed. Fred and George passed pieces of bread to each other and began discreatly throwing them at a disgruntled looking Harry and a frustrated looking Ron.
Ron had a bit of bread hit him squarely in the forehead and immediately shouted. "Knock it of Forge!" Fred and George plastered innocent looks on their faces.
"What are you on about, ickle ronniekins?" George asked his little brother as his mother glared at them.
"Stop throwing bread at me," Ron sneared as Oliver held back a laugh.
"What bread?" George fained.
"That bread," Ron spat as he threw a piece of bread back at his brother.
"Don't make me regret making you the Head Boy Mr. Weasley," McGonagall warned.
"Ronald!" Molly squeeked with shock as Fred threw the bread back.
"Fred!" Percy warned.
Hannah rolled her eyes. "Honestly, how old are they anyway?" she asked Charlie, who smiled.
Fred laughed. "Old enough to not take ourselves so seriously..."
"And we've another Big Head Boy in the family!" George smirked as Percy blushed and turned to face Oliver who hugged him lovingly. Ron scowled, but said nothing and returned his attention to his full bowl of stew.
"Some things never change," Minerva chuckled lightly to herself.
Charlie grinned knowingly. "Are you ready to take this on?" she asked the second oldest Weasley.
Charlie beamed. "Been doin' it my whole life..." Minerva quirked an eyebrow.
"Charlie always had an eye on which battles to pick," Molly explained. "Bill's the handsome charmer and Percy's the unapproving intellect..."
"Hey," Percy protested as Oliver laughed and his mother continued.
"Fred is sly and George is inventive," Molly said as she rolled her eyes.
"I'm the brains of the outfit is what she means," George laughed.
"Not bloody likely. If it weren't for me, we'd of been caught by now," Fred challenged.
"Ron is my helper," Molly sighed, "always does whatever needs doing. And Ginny is the realist." Ron blushed as Hermione and he shared a secret smile and Ginny smacked her lips with distaste. "Charlie has always been compassionate, caring for animals as he grew up. Doesn't surprise me in the least that he married a Medi-Witch,"
Minerva smiled. "Yes, he was always quite level-headed in school as well. Even with his temper. He'll make a nice addition to the staff." Molly, Aurther, and Hannah beamed with pride.
"Where are the rest of the staff?" George asked with curiosity as Fred began throwing bread at Ron again.
"Well, Filius is on Holiday with his family, Sprout is off gathering new plants for her classes, Binns is floating around the castle somewhere, Cybil is off on a mystical journey of some sort, Sinastra's off with his latest bird, Slughorn is licking his wounds, and Argus Filch and Madam Pomfry are both preparing the castle for the new school year," Minerva said with a weak smile. "I'm afraid Madam Hooch has retired and we have no one to replace her."
Percy smiled slyly. "Well Headmistress, you are welcome to borrow Oli to teach flying and Quidditch. He only works in the spring and summer and I'm sure you could schedule his classes and the matches around his training and games."
McGonagall smiled knowingly. "Ah, that sounds wonderful. Mr. Wood, are you up for the challenge?"
Wood smiled. "Absolutely professor!" he said enthusiastically. "I'm sure I'll be around here during my free time anyway."
McGonagall smiled. "Well, that's settled then."
George rolled his eyes at his love-struck older brother and nudged Fred to change the subject. "Who'll be the new heads of house for Gryffindor and... Slytherin?" Fred asked with a slight pause. It was rare that anyone mentioned, Professor Snape, even in a round-about way.
"Um... Professor Slughorn is taking over the Slytherin's and I'd hoped Charlie would take over the Gryffindor's," Minerva smiled weekly. "With Remus' condition and Percy's love life, I thought it best to have Charlie act as head of my old house." Remus and Percy nodded with understanding.
"I have no objections to that, Professor, but what about my living situation? I mean, I can't just leave Hannah up here in the tower..." Charlie said lightheartedly.
"Yes," Minerva sighed. "That will be a bit of a problem." Charlie raised an eyebrow in question. "We've never had a married Head-of-House before," she explained.
Charlie nodded. "Oh, then should you have Percy act as..."
"No," Minerva cut Charlie off. "No, Mr. Weasley, I'd like you to be the Head of House. I'll just have to make your rooms a bit larger and equip them for two instead of one."
Charlie smiled. "Thank you Professor."
"Not at all, Charlie," Minerva smiled. "It will work much better for all those involved if you and your wife live in the Gryffindor tower."
"Why is that Professor?" Remus asked with a grin.
"Because Heaven knows I'll need someone with a strong and level head taking over my Gryffindors," McGonagall quirked as she shot a look at Harry, Hermione and Ron. "And Hogwarts can offer you more protection from the outside world," Minerva finished as she glanced at Hannah.
The rest of the meal continued with relative silence. Ron, Harry, and Hermione said very little and ate even less. They were ushered up to bed at an early hour. It was still light outside when Ron fell upon his bed and looked over at Hermione. She had changed in the bathroom with Hannah and now wore pink fluffy pajamas and was laying across her bed reading some of her potions homework. She made notes on a piece of parchment with her quill and sighed every few pages. Ron knew the prospect of all of their homework was not appealing to any of them. Harry sat in the window seat near his bed, glaring out, speaking to no one. Hagrid watched the boy with a quiet reverance and a worriesome expression. It was obvious to everyone that Harry was not handling their capture well.
The next few days were long and tedious. The trio were kept in their room and only allowed out for meals, which they collectively ate little of. Hermione had managed to finish most of her homework, but the boys were only just begining. Ron refused every chess match and spent most of his time staring at Hermione and avoiding his reading.
During the daylight hours, Hagrid slept in his hut and Order members filled in his place as babysitters. Tonks had brought the teenagers sweets and magazines from Hogsmead, stashing them in her jacket so that they wouldn't be confinscated by Molly. Kingsley had mostly ignored the teenagers on his watch, chosing insted to finish paperwork for the Aurors. Fred and George had tried to test Weasley Wizarding Wheezes products on the trio, but they refused to eat or try any of them. The teens were quiet, gaunt, and losing weight rapidly.
One morning, Hermione was woken by a soft knock on their door. Hagrid opened the room and Molly Weasley entered, followed by Hermione's parents. Molly held the door open let the Grangers inside and ushered Hagrid out. Leaving the teenagers alone with the Grangers. Ruth Granger's eyes were puffy and her cheeks were streaked red as if she had been crying. Roger Granger had a deep scowel on his face and glared at the sleeping teenage boys, refusing to look at his daughter.
"Mum!" Hermione cried as she lept out of bed and ran to her mother. Ruth forced back a sob and opened her arms to her only daughter. Hermione's shout woke Harry, who sat straight up, bleary eyed, and looked around the room cautiously. Ron, ever the heavy sleeper, slept through the Grangers entrance. Hermione clung to her mother as though her life depended upon it. "Mum..." she cried softly.
Ruth patted her daughters hair and looked at her surroundings. Her daughter had been put on house arrest by the Headmistress of her school for attempting to run away with her best friends and lead an attack against a dangerous wizard. The news was shocking, to say the least, for both Grangers. Hermione had always been so level headed and so honest. For her to lie, for years, about the dangers that surrounded her world and her friends... It felt like a huge betrayl. And yet, Hermione, was still Hermione. She wore her fuzzy slippers and her pink pajamas. Her hair was frizzy and sprung up wildly around her head. She was excited to see her parents and sorrowful for lying. Ruth could definately forgive her. Roger, however, could not.
"Hermione Jane Granger," he said coolly. His deep voice finally waking Ron, who opened his eyes and saw his only love's father glaring at him. "What were you thinking?"
Ruth let go of her daughter and began to dab at the tears that fell down her cheeks. Hermione's eyes both began to gush tears.
"Daddy..." she sobbed, but was interrupted.
"Of all the rediculous, head-strong, thoughtless plans," Roger criticised. "You could have gotten yourself and so many others killed! And you LIED to us about it!" Hermione stood before her father, sobbing. Harry quietly watched from his bed, but Ron flushed red. He quickly rushed to Hermione's side, wrapping his arms around her protectively, and squaring himself up with her father.
"Do you think that no one else has said this to us?" Ron shouted. "Trust me you are not the first or the last. And bloody Hell, you're her parents, don't you know how she's already beading herself up over this. She doesn't need you to scream at her anymore. Nothing you can say can crush her more than her own conscious has already done."
Roger Granger sucked in a deep breath and fumed. "Who the Hell do you think you are to talk to me that way boy?" he growled with anger. "Hermione is MY daughter and I will talk to her any way that I want. Now get out of here so I can talk to her!" Harry stood, as if to leave, but Ron shook his head.
"No," Ron said firmly. "Anything you need to say to Hermione can be said in front of us."
"Bugger off boy!" Roger shouted. "I don't want you here!"
"Well that's just too damn bad, because I'm not goin' anywhere without Hermione," Ron spat. Harry nodded and sat back down on his bed.
Roger took two long strides up to Ron and got in his face. "This is all your fault!" he shouted. "She never would have agreed to all this rule breaking and endangering her life if she hadn't gotten involved with you!"
Ruth walked over to her husband. "Now Roger," she said softly, "there's no reason to shout," she said as she tried to pull her spouse away from her daughter's friend.
"Yes there bloody well is!" Roger said as he shook off his wife's hands. "She's doing this for him. She's been lying to us for years and now she just expects us to act understanding and supportive? Not bloody likely."
Hermione shuttered as she continued to sob and Ron's flush ran up to his ears. "She's doing this for all of us, herself included. If Harry doesn't kill Voldemort no one can. And if he takes over the wizarding world, we're all doomed. He'll kill every Muggle and Muggle-born wizard alive. He'll destroy not only our way of life, but yours. Hermione is standing up to him, not just for me and Harry, but for you..."
Roger panted. "Then why can't she say that for herself," he spat. "Are you talking for her as well as thinking for her now?"
"Good Merlin!" Ron yelled. "Are you taking the piss? She thinks for me and Harry! We couldn't servive without her brilliant brain. And there is no way in Hell I will ever attempt to try and tell her what to think and or do! All I do is try and protect her..."
"Really?" Roger sneared. "And why is that?"
"Because I love her," Ron shouted, not realizing what he had said.
Hermione stopped crying from behind him and stared at his blazing blue eyes with shock. "Love me?" she whispered.
Ron paled and cleared his throat. "Um..." he said with a new crimson blush flashing across his face. Roger and Ruth stared silently as their only child's face lit up and she threw her arms around the lanky red-head in front of her. Harry hid his grin behind his hands as he watched from his post on his bed.
"I'm not done yelling at you yet!" Roger shouted, but Ruth laid her hands on her husband's arms.
"Yes you are dear," Ruth smiled. "It's not your place anymore. Hermione is an adult now and we have to let her make her own decisions and live her own life." Roger opened his mouth to protest, but Ruth silenced him with a finger against his lips.
"It must be genetic," Harry whispered to himself as he watched the Granger's fight with their eyes.
Roger took several deep breaths, but said nothing as he launched himself out of the room and down the stairs. Hermione's eyes welled up with tears and Ruth walked over to her daugher and the young man that held onto her and handed her a hankerchief. "He'll get over it," Ruth assured her child. "He always does."
"But Mum, he's so angry," Hermione said with a snif.
"Yes he is, and with good reason," Mrs. Granger reminded her. "But he loves you and eventually, he will forgive you."
"Thanks Mum," Hermione said as she let go of Ron and gave her mother a hug.
"Any time dear," Ruth sighed as she released her child. Hermione stepped back into Ron's arms.
"So are you staying a while?" she asked with sad curiosity.
Ruth shook her head no. "We're being sent on Holiday by your Headmistress. She thinks we'll be safer if we're out of the country over the next six months or so."
"So she told you all that we have to do?" Hermione asked nervously.
"What she knows of it, yes," Ruth said softly. "But now, we've got to catch that train and go to Heathrowe to catch our flight to Spain. I'll write you when we arrive."
Hermione launched herself back into her mother's arms. "I'm so sorry Mum!" she cried.
"It's alright dear," Ruth soothed her. "It'll be alright..." With that, Mrs. Granger handed Hermione over to Ron. "Ronald," she said firmly. "Take good care of her for me."
"I will Mrs. Granger," Ron assured her as the women nodded and walked out of the room without a backwards glance.
Hermione collapsed against Ron, sobbing. Ron held her with more confidence than he knew he posessed and slowly walked her over to her bed where they could sit and she could cry. Harry watched from his bed, until he felt like he was intruding and then he snuck on a pair of trowsers and a shirt and left the room quietly.
Mrs. Weasley found Harry sneaking out of the room. "Harry?" she inquired softly.
"I'd leave them be for a few minutes Mrs. Weasley," Harry said with senserity. "Hermione just needs a few minutes alone with Ron, then you can send somebody in." Molly nodded with understanding and surprise as it was the most Harry had said in days and she led the thin teenager downstairs to some breakfast.
After half an hour, Molly sent Hannah up to check on the duo. Hannah slipped into the room and found them cuddled together sleeping on Hermione's bed. She smiled to herself and sat down in the wooden rocking chair and began to knit as she stared at the stove and gave the young lovers as much privacy as she could while she sat in the room.
It was late morning by the time Hermione awoke and found herself alone in her bed with Hannah Weasley babysitting her. "What time is it?" she asked groogily.
"It's nearly noon," Hannah said easily. "Ron went downstairs about an hour ago for some breakfast and a shower"
"Oh," Hermione said feeling very alone until the young Medi-Witch turned and faced her.
"If you'd like, you can shower and then I'll bring you downstairs as well," Hannah offered kindly.
"Thank you," Hermione said with a stiff smile as she gathered her things and was escorted out of the bedroom to the upstairs loo.