BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Who's in there? Come on! Let me in!"
"I'll be five minutes Ron", Hermione croaked back.
"Well hurry up! We're leaving soon - Mum's made breakfast downstairs by the way."
"Okay." Hermione had been sat alone in the Weasley's bathroom for half an hour, listening to the Burrow's occupants rushing around preparing for Bill and Fleur's wedding that morning. She on the other hand, was nowhere near ready. Perched on the edge of the ceramic bath, she studied the new garments in her lap; a heavy black velvet cloak with a long pointed hood, and a hideous skull mask. She wondered somewhat morbidly if it was real, a vile trophy from one of Voldemort's victims. She was presented with these repulsive items rather unceremoniously by Bellatrix Lestrange, and ordered to wear them when summoned to her Master's side. 'Master'...Bellatrix's word resounded itself in Hermione's head. She was enslaved to the Dark Lord, unbelievable as it seemed. Thankfully everyone was too preoccupied with the wedding to question her absence yesterday evening. No one asked why her errand in the village took so long. She slept little that night. If she wasn't sobbing silently into her pillow she was desparately contemplating her situation. Dare she tell anyone? Could her parents be hidden? Could she take that risk? One thing was certain, she was not about to give information willingly to him. 'If only Dumbledore were here' she found her self thinking over and over again. She let out a long sigh. The very last thing she felt like doing today was going to a wedding. She heaved herself to her feet and leaned on the sink, peering at her reflection in the mirror on the wall. Her hair, normally thick and shiny hung limp and dull around her face, framing her sunken, grey complexion. Dark circles lined her eyes. She rubbed her tear-stained face, catching sight of a snake's head imprinted on her arm as she did so. Trembling, she pushed the sleeve of her night gown right up, and examined the Mark. It's blackness had faded a little overnight, though it still stung. She winced as she smoothed it lightly with her fingers. She had to be careful not to let anybody see it. She imagined Harry's and Ron's faces if they ever discovered this disgusting thing on her arm.
"HER-MI-OH-NEE!!!" The bathroom door shook under Ron's pounding fists.
"ALRIGHT!" she yelled back as she hurriedly wrapped the cloak and mask in a towel, and went to unlock the door.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione emerged downstairs. Somehow she'd managed to cram her weary body into her waist-pinching lilac summer gown, which she wore with matching elbow length satin gloves in an effort to conceal the offensive Mark. Her skin glowed healthily thanks to Mrs Weasley's Minute-Magic skin revitalising creme, and her hair now fell in glamorous curls around her shoulders.
"There you are!" Ginny, dressed in stunning emerald green robes sprinted barefoot across the hall to where she stood, gripping a pair of slingback heels in one hand and a bundle of post in the other. "Hogwarts letters, we've all got one" she gasped breathlessly, handing her two envelopes, "-except for you, you've got two. You don't want to go in there!" she shrieked as Hermione made for the living room. "The blokes are in there, us girls are in the kitchen. I'll be in now, I'll just go and deliver these." Hermione tugged nervously at her gloves and entered the kitchen.
The room was a hive of activity. Mrs Weasley was running through the guest list on a roll of parchment so long it touched the ground. Tonks was busy fixing a yellow carnation in her (today) short cropped pink hair. Fleur was perched on a tall stool in the centre of the room, looking very anxious, her long ivory dress flowing into a silky pool on the floor. Fleur's mother (who looked just like an older version of Fleur) wore a pale-blue suit, and was hovering over her daughter adjusting her tiara and fixing her veil. Fleur's ten year old sister alone looked relaxed, pouring herself a glass of pumpkin juice and singing to herself in French.
"There you are Hermione dear!" exclaimed Mrs Weasley loudly, rushing over in her new cream dress and hat.
"Morning Mrs Weasley. You look wonderful", she smiled weakly.
"Oh thankyou dear! Ginny did my hair and make-up, can you believe? She can do it more often! Now go and have some breakfast quickly! The transport's just arrived, they're waiting outside." Sure enough, Hermione spotted two large shiny Ministry cars through the window, no doubt arranged by Arthur Weasley.
"I don't think I can handle breakfast this morning to tell the truth", she replied eyeing the stacks of toast, crumpets and bacon sandwiches on the table. Her stomach still felt as though it were lined with lead.
"Oh don't worry, I'm too excited to eat myself! There'll be plenty to eat at the reception later anyway, I expect you'll be hungry by then." That moment everyone's attention was caught by the sound of raucous male voices emerging in the hallway.
"Aaarrgh!!" Fleur shrieked making everyone jump, "Zomebody go and ztop zem! Bill, ee cannot zee me like zis! Eet is bad luck!"
"I'll go", Hermione volunteered.
"Me too", said Tonks. "God I hate weddings", she muttered as they were out of earshot. "I look like a bloody fairy in this dress. As soon as we get back here for the party I'm changing...HEY!" She yelled over the rabble. Bill, Mr Weasley,Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Charlie all turned around. "Bill, your future missus is still getting ready in the kitchen, so you'll all have to use the front door."
"Cheers Tonks", Bill grinned. "Tell Mum and Fleur we'll make our way there now." He really had made a remarkable recovery considering the injuries he had sustained a month before. He was badly scarred facially, Bill often joked he looked like a younger version of Mad-Eye Moody. He had the same handsome features though. In fact, Hermione found his scars simply added to his dangerous appeal.
"I'll tell them", agreed Hermione.
"Good, I'm off to meet Remus now", said Tonks with a grin. "See you all there. Good luck Bill!" She Disapparated with a small 'pop'.
"Um...Dad?" Ginny turned from where she had stood looking out of the porch window. "We have a visitor."
"Oh my God."
"No way!"
"Percy?"
"What's that idiot doing here?" muttered Ron darkly.
"Look, Penelope Clearwater's with him", Hermione announced, "and they're both in dress robes."
"Ginny, open the door", Arthur ordered. Percy approached them looking sullen, Penelope looking anxious but keen, holding his hand. Hermione wondered privately whether this had been her idea, not Percys.
"Nice of you to come little brother!" said Bill brightly, welcoming him with a slap on the back. "Long time no see!" Percy forced a small smile, and looked nervously at Mr Weasley.
"Father..." he began. Hermione could tell this was going to be awkward. "I...I've been an idiot."
"Is that right?" mumbled George. Fred smirked.
"I...well, I just wanted to say that I'm...I'm sorry. For everything." He held out his right hand in a handshake gesture. Mr Weasley paused. Then, just as Hermione thought he was going to tell Percy where to stick his apology, he grasped his son's hand and pulled him into an embrace.
"Oh! Percy!" gasped Mrs Weasley, who had come out to see what the fuss was about.
"Come on, lets leave them to it", said Harry to the others, indicating towards the open door. They all followed, leaving Mr and Mrs Weasley alone in the hallway with their estranged son and his girlfriend.
"Well that was a surprise" said Ginny as they all traipsed out into the yard. "Wonder why he's come back now?"
"Family occasions like this often make people rethink rows", said Charlie knowledgably.
"Either that or Scrimgeour's sacked the little git", spat Ron, "which isn't unlikely given his record."
"Prat" added Fred.
"Now come on", interrupted Bill. "It must have taken a lot of courage to show up here and apologise in front of us all like that. Lets give him a break and try to end this stupid rift once and for all."
"Yeah whatever, he'll always be a git", remarked Ron as Bill and Charlie wandered over to where Fleur's dad was talking to the Ministry drivers.
"Changing the subject slightly", said Ginny, "has anyone opened their Hogwarts letters?"
"Er, no", Harry answered for tham all as everyone bar the twins rummaged in their pockets. Hermione tore the Hogwarts seal off her letter and began to read.
"Dear Miss Granger,
As you are no doubt aware, the future of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was uncertain following the sudden, unexpected death of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore at the end of last term. However, I am pleased to announce that after much deliberation and discussion, the staff and school governors have unanimously decided that Hogwarts will indeed reopen on the first of September this year. Classes will resume as normal and most faculty members will return to teach. Two new members have been recruited to our staff to fill the Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts positions. I understand that under the present circumstances, some students and their families may question the safety of the school. However, over the Summer holidays the school has been subjected to stringent tests by Ministry Officials, and I can confidently say that Hogwarts has never been more secure. Any concerns or queries you or your parent(s) / guardian(s) have may be owled to me. The Hogwarts Express will depart at the usual time of eleven o'clock from Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station. Book lists for your new school year are enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
Headmistress M. McGonagall"
"I knew it would reopen", said Harry solemnly, folding up his letter.
"Still, you three aren't going back are you?" asked Ginny. Harry, Ron and Hermione shook their heads in unison.
"No way. There are more important things than school now", said Ron. Ginny sighed.
"I wish you'd let me go with you", she addressed Harry alone this time.
"We've talked about this", he mumbled in reply. Ron looked away pointedly, shuffling his feet in the gravel.
"Are you sure you don't want to go back to Hogwarts Ron?" asked Fred.
"'Cos there's every chance you'll follow in Percy's footsteps and be made Head Boy y'know", sniggered George.
"Oh shut up", scowled Ron.
"Looks like Hermione's already got the Head Girl position anyway", said Fred nodding at the second letter she was clutching. Hermione studied the plain envelope in her hands. She had no idea who it was from, there was no Hogwarts seal on it, just a blob of hardened red wax. She picked it off and opened it. Inside was a scrap of parchment, on which an abrupt note was scribbled in spiky black handwriting:
"I know of your present situation. I may be able to help. Go to the village square at eleven o'clock tonight alone. Look for the red book."
She felt the colour drain from her face. Who knew? Who sent this?
"Hermione?"
"Sorry to disappoint you Fred", she answered regaining her composure. "It's just my renewed Prophet subscription." She tucked the note carefully down her glove sleeve.
"Come on boys!" shouted Bill suddenly. "I'm getting married in fifteen minutes!"
"Dunno why we can't just Apparate there", grumbled Ron as he tugged at his tight crevatte.
"It's a wedding Ron, we have to arrive in style", said Ginny. "Plus Dad thought the cars would be a novelty."
"They're novel alright, you could fit the entire congregation in here!" Harry exclaimed as he jumped in.
"That's it boys, in you get, lets go!" Mr Weasley had dashed over to the car, red-faced and top-hat lop-sided. "Thank God we don't do this every day - Percy are you travelling with us?"
"Course he is Dad", said George grabbing his elbow before he could speak.
"Come on Perce", said Fred, grabbing his other arm and yanking him with George into the car.
"Excellent", said Mr Weasley beaming. "Ok, we're off! Girls, you go and get into your car, Molly, Penelope, Fleur and her family are coming now...see you there!" He jumped in the car just as a window rolled down and Ron stuck his head out.
"Look what we've got!" he exclaimed, brandishing a glass of champagne. "Muggles do know how to travel after all!" Ron's strangled yelp as Arthur pulled him back in was drowned by the sound of the engine starting. As the car disappeared down the Weasley's drive, Ginny turned to Hermione, complaining about Harry not letting her go with them on their journey. Though Hermione nodded and 'mmmmed' at the right moments, she barely registered a word she said as she felt the mysterious note tucked in her glove, and wondered who it was from.
"SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!"
"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!" Bill yelled over the guest's loud chants initiated by Fred and George. "Ladies and gentlemen, witches and wizards, humans and part-humans", he began rising to his feet, "-thankyou for coming! Before I begin I would like you all to join me in a round of applause for my parents for hosting this fabulous reception!" Hermione clapped distractedly along with the other two-hundred or so guests. The Weasley's garden was unrecognisable. A long table stretched across a platform at one end where the bride, groom, and their close family members sat. On the ground, dozens of circular tables for the guests had been moved to make room for dancing. A white marquee was magically suspended above them all, illuminated by real fairy lights. As daylight faded, hundreds of brightly coloured lanterns were lit and hung in the trees lining the garden. As Bill continued his speech, Hermione glanced at her watch. It was a little after ten pm already, and she had to slip away soon. She should, she thought, manage this easily unnoticed amongst the celebrations. However, she knew that two wizards were actively looking to catch her on her own. It was mid-way through the wedding vows when she spotted him - Viktor Krum in traditional Bulgarian robes sat on the bride's side of the hall. He looked as serious and straight-faced as ever, though he winked at her when he caught her eye, a knowing smile curving his mouth. They had already shared a lingering kiss of greeting that afternoon before he was ambushed by Quidditch fanatics. Since then she had caught him staring at her several times, both during dinner and throughout the evening. It was true that events of the last twenty-four hours had given her enough to dwell on already, though it didn't stop her mind occasionally fantasising about what might happen if she didn't have to leave the party so early...there was no doubt she still found him attractive. She caught sight of Ron standing a few yards away - he wasn't listening to Bill's speech either. His face was set, evidently he was thinking hard. She remembered the conversation she had overheard a few hours earlier. She was in Ginny's bedroom changing into her black evening dress when she heard Ron and Harry discussing her on the landing.
"...seen the way she's been looking at Vicky all day?"
"Hermione's just friends with him Ron. Even so, she's not going out with anyone, she's free to look if she wants."
"Yeah well, she doesn't have to rub it in my face, kissing him like that in front of everyone."
"He kissed her! He was saying hello, it looked perfectly innocent to me. Anyway, Hermione's not a mind-reader y'know."
"What are you on about?" She heard Harry give an exasperated sigh.
"You haven't once told her how you feel. And don't look like that 'cos I know you fancied her months before you told me. The tension between the pair of you is driving me mad, and if you don't sort it out I'm leaving for Godric's Hollow tomorrow by myself, and you two can go back to Hogwarts."
"Come off it - "
"No Ron - tell her tonight, get it in the open, you've hung about long enough. Krum's not hanging around, but that's no good thing 'cos I'm sure he'd like to get Hermione on her own before the night's out and he has to leave...if you get my drift."
Since then she had been expecting Ron to approach her alone. Nothing had happened yet, though they had laughed and joked together with Harry, Ginny and the twins. She wished she hadn't heard them talking, she had plenty to think about already. At least, she told herself, she could think out a response in advance. Four hours later however, she found she still didn't know how she should react. How did she feel about Ron Weasley?
"So here's to many happy years of marriage with my beautiful new wife, Mrs Fleur Weasley!" Bill bent to kiss Fleur and raised his glass to the sound of 'Cheers!' from the guests. Hermione pulled her black evening shrug closer around her shoulders as she shivered. She was hard pressed to tell whether this was from the slight chill of the night air, or nerves... either way she had to leave soon. She winced in pain as she felt a sudden pressure on her left forearm - Ron had just grasped her. Though he was gentle, his touch was still sore on her Mark.
"Hermione", he whispered in her ear, "can I have a word?" She nodded, and followed as he led her through the crowd. "I've been trying to get you on your own all night", he said as they stopped at an empty table.
"Oh?" she responded in as surprised a voice as she could. "Well it has been a busy day... why, is something the matter?"
"No! Not at all, it's just... I... well...there's something I've been meaning to tell you..." he stammered finally.
"Yes?"
"I... I really... really like - "
"Herm-own-inny!" Ron was interrupted mid-sentence as Viktor Krum strode over, handing Hermione one of the two glasses of champage he was carrying. "I hav been searching for you", he smiled.
"We're in the middle of a conversation here" said Ron through gritted teeth. If Krum detected the bitterness in his voice he didn't show it.
"I am sorry", he replied in his thick Bulgarian accent, "but I go home in the morning and I vos hoping to talk with Herm-own-inny alone." Rons face reddened.
"Fine", he spat, turning and storming off in the direction of the house. Krum faced Hermione and took her hand, pulling it towards his lips.
"It is good to see you again", he said softly as he kissed her. "You look more beautiful than I remember." She was sure her face was reddening as much as Ron's.
"Thankyou", she said looking up at him with a smile. "It's been ages since I last saw you... how have you been?"
"Very good, things are very well with me... but vot about you? I hear things hav been very difficult here... especially since your Headmaster..." he bowed his head. "I liked Professor Dumbledore a lot... I hope they bring his killer to justice soon."
"Yes, we all do", Hermione tried not to sound agitated. She really had to leave soon...
"I hoped to come to his funeral, to pay my respects, and to see you of course." He stroked her cheek with his fingers. "But I couldn't make it... I vos so disappointed."
"I did look out for you", she admitted, leaning unwittingly into his touch. He leaned closer to her.
"Vell, hopefully I vill be able to see you more often very soon... I hav joined a new Quidditch team here in Britain!
"Wow! That's great news, where - ?"
"Hey Krum!" Fred bounded over followed by George and Charlie. "Just heard the news - Caerphilly Catapults, eh?"
"Ah, Krum, why couldn't you join the Chudley Cannons?" asked Charlie shaking his head.
"Who cares?" piped up George. "As long as he signs for England next he can play for who he likes!" Krum threw an apologetic look at Hermione before allowing himself to be swept away by the trio. It was now or never. Hermione scanned the party from where she stood. Lupin was slow dancing with Tonks on the dancefloor, as was Fleur with her father. Bill was laughing with a very tipsy-looking Percy; Hagrid and Olympe Maxime were stood chatting in the corner, their heads just inches from the marquee roof; and Harry and Ginny were deep in conversation at a table by themselves. Hermione heaved a determined sigh, summoned her travel cloak, and set off down the Weasley's drive at a quick pace. She had fifteen minutes to get to the village square.
The Weasley's village, Ottery St. Catchpole, was a tiny rural, mostly muggle village of no more than thirty houses, the Burrow being the outermost house. As Hermione strode down the country lane towards the dim glow of the street lamps from the village square, a hundred questions swam in her head. Who sent the note? Were they a follower of him? Would they be here now? Or would she find just this book? What was this red book? How would it help her? Another extremely worrying thought surfaced in her mind. What if this was a trap? Was she about to meet a group of Death Eaters? At this thought she almost turned around to rejoin the party she had left behind. Her curoisity however by this point was too high to ignore. She entered the square cautiously, treading softly to lessen the noise her heels made on the cobbled road. There wasn't a soul around. The few cottages that lined the square were void of light - either their owners were in bed already or they were on holiday. An old Post Office across the road was boarded up, as was the Newsagents next to it. She approached the cenotaph that loomed above her. There at it's base, was a small red book no bigger than the palm of her hand. She glanced at the clock suspended above the Post Office; it was two minutes to eleven. She wondered momentarily why the note asked that she come at this particular time... she hardly imagined the square would be any busier during the day. She reached down and picked up the book gingerly. It was bound in red leather, a gold cross embossed on the front cover. Bewildered, Hermione flicked through the pages. This was no wizard's book... it was a muggle book of hymns. Hymns for goodness sake.
"What the hell?" She found herself speaking out loud. The Post Office clock chimed eleven. In that split second, before she had chance to examine the book further, she felt a strange, familiar jerk from behind her navel, and the village square disappeared from sight.