"Hermione!"
Ron's voice was the first to reach her ears, and his arms were the first to wrap around her as she arrived at the Burrow with Dumbledore. Harry was a close second.
"We weren't expecting you until another week, dearie." Molly smiled warmly as she hugged her.
"I hope its not a problem." Hermione said, smiling sweetly despite the fact that she was still tired.
"Of course not dear." Molly assured, rubbing her back. "Why don't you run off and play with the rest of the children dear while I prepare lunch."
"Good idea Molly, but before I leave I'd like to speak with you and Arthur." Dumbledore smiled, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
Hermione's gut sank, but she followed Ron and Harry upstairs to their room. She sank down on Ron's bed with the two boys excitedly told her about some game of Quidditch they had played yesterday. She nodded and smiled, not in the mood for talking but knowing she had to feign interest as it was only polite. What she really wanted was to cry, and for Ron to wrap her arms around her and say something funny that would make her laugh.
"Hey, what's with the sweater?" Harry asked. "It looks like something the Dursley's make me wear."
Hermione forced a laugh. "It's warm." She answered truthfully, and if she was being honest it smelled good. Like irish spring, and not like the disgusting expensive cologne her father always wore.
"So how was that fancy soiree you had to go to yesterday?" Ron asked, putting on a snobby voice as he stuck his nose in the air.
"Mmm yes." Harry muttered, puffing his chest out. "Do tell us."
"It was...something else." She laughed, this time effortlessly. "And I don't think my feet will ever recover from those heels." She groaned, wiggling her now-shoed foot at Ron and Harry.
"You don't belong in places like those." Ron muttered. "You're better than that."
"Much better." Harry agreed. "Otherwise you'd be in Slytherin."
"Really?" Hermione laughed. "Shouldn't you save the rivalry for school?"
"Well, we've got to keep it honed." Ron insisted. "Wouldn't do for us not to have comebacks prepared."
"Since when do you prepare for anything?" Hermione teased.
"Hey." Ron yelled, playfully shoving her shoulder.
"Oh, how uncouth!" Hermione mimicked a snob's voice. "I've never."
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They had been laughing and joking for awhile when Molly called for them to come downstairs.
"Ron wait...can I talk to you?" Hermione grabbed Ron's elbow as the rest of the teenagers in the house thundered down the steps, glad that no one noticed her pulling Ron back into his room.
"'Mione?" Ron asked, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"
"Well, yes. But, I want to talk to you about something...but you have to promise not to lose your cool..."
"Alright...but you have to make it quick or Mum will get suspicious that were alone up here." He grinned. "Are you going to admit to not acing a test or something?" He teased.
"Ron...last night at that soiree, my father and I got into a fight."
"Again?" Ron asked, a sympathetic look on his face. "I'm sure he'll cool down, he always does."
"Ron- he choked me." The words came out easily, though she was still worried what Ron's reaction would be.
"What?" Ron's face immediately turned red, and his fists clenched.
"He..choked me last night...so I ran away..."
"Hermione! Are you okay!?" Ron demanded, placing his hands on her shoulders. "What happened?"
"I just couldn't take it anymore, Ron. Adam called me ugly one too many time and I just...snapped."
"You're not ugly, and if I see that little-"
"I insulted him and then I ran off." She interrupted Ron, not wanting him to go on a rant as it took awhile for him to calm down. "Then Father found me, and he started to strangle me. He said he could kill me..." The tears started to poke at her eyes again. "Ron, I've tried. I've tried so hard to make them love me...I just can't. I can't do this anymore."
Ron had of course been upset, and he had been muttering oaths under his breath even after Molly had called them downstairs. Hermione had to beg him before he stopped right when they walked into the kitchen. She knew him enough to know that he was still fuming, but he was prudent enough to disguise it as he sat beside Fred.
"It smells delicious." Hermione grinned, looking down at her plate. She hadn't eaten in awhile, and Molly's food was the best to break a fast with. She didn't even wait for a response before taking a large bite.
"Geesh, Hermione. You're eating like your boyfriend now?" George teased, gesturing at Ron of course had shoved a large quantity of food in his mouth.
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"Race you to the pitch!" Ginny screamed, taking off outside with the rest of the teenagers at her heels. Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Molly.
"Let me help you clean up." She insisted, already gathering plates from the table.
"Thank you dear." Molly smiled kindly. "It'll be nice to have you here for the next few days."
Hermione startled. Few days? She had been expecting longer than that before Dumbledore sent her home. Was she really such an imposition?
"Oh dear, didn't Albus tell you?" Molly asked.
"Tell me what?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice even as she started to wipe the table clear.
"We love having you here- you and Harry are as good as my own. But Albus seems to think you'd be safer somewhere else. A place where your parents won't be able to find you."
"Oh." Hermione let out a sigh of relief. She was sad she wasn't able to stay here, but was glad she wasn't being forced 'home'.
"It's not that we don't want you here, and that we wouldn't protect you." Arthur assured, filling the sink with dishes so he could wash them. "But this is for the best seeing as we'll be renovating the house for the next few days."
"Renovating?" Hermione asked, curiosity replacing her disappointment.
"Oh yes, the kids must have been so excited they forgot to tell you. We're having another room or two added." Molly explained, starting to dry the dishes Arthur handed her. Hermione grabbed the dried plate from Molly and put it away.
"We just need more space, and since Harry will be leaving to stay with Sirius for a week we thought it would be a good time to get it done." Arthur gave her a warm smile. "We weren't expecting you until Harry returned...otherwise we'd have put it off."
"I don't mind." Hermione assured. "And I'm sure everyone will be excited about having more room." She grinned. "And I'll be happy to help you get them set up when they've been finished."
"Thank you dear." Molly turned to look her in the eyes. "And just remember, you always have a home here."
"Thank..thank you." Hermione's voice was thick. "May I...may I be excused, I need some air."
"Of course dear. Run along now."
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Hermione headed outside in a hurry, hoping that watching the Weasley's and Harry play quidditch would take her mind off things. At least watching Ron would. It didn't take long for her too find a spot in the grass, and in the sun, that was just a few feet away from the game taking place. She didn't have to crane her neck that much too watch. She sighed. If Ron would just ask, she'd be his.
"Hermione."
She gave a jump at the headmaster's voice, having not heard him approach. She smiled politely as he took a seat beside her, and craned his own neck up to watch the game.
"How are you?" The headmaster asked her, his eyes following Ginny as she reached for and just missed the snitch.
"I'm okay. And you?" Hermione asked, her eyes on Ron who yet again stopped George from scoring.
"Are you certain you are okay?" He asked, looking at her even though Hermione refused to tear her eyes away from the sky. "Did Molly tell you that renovations wouldn't allow you to stay at the Burrow?"
"She did." Hermione nodded. "And don't worry. I think my father will have calmed down in the next few days so I'm not too worried about going home."
"Hermione, you won't be returning to your parents." Dumbledore insisted, and it was then that she looked at him. "At least not until I can be certain it is perfectly safe."
"Than am I staying with Sirius?" She asked. "Or Tonks or someone?"
"Oh no, dear." Dumbledore seemed to become distracted by some move Harry was making, and Hermione waited patiently for him to come back to the conversation. A few minutes had passed before she spoke up.
"With whom than?"
"You like to read, don't you Hermione."
Hermione was getting a tad irritated with the older man, but she knew Dumbledore always had a reason for the things he did. "Very much." She agreed.
"And you like learning don't you? And being able to ask questions?"
Hermione nodded, but she couldn't think of anyone in the order who fit such descriptions and or wanted to have a teenager with them in their home. "I do." Was Dumbledore going to let her stay at the castle? She highly doubted it, he wouldn't even let Harry do such a thing. And she knew that headmaster was very fond of him.
"How would you like to stay with someone who has a very large library of both muggle and wizard books? Someone who would have answers to all your questions?"
"I think I'd very much like that." She answered, wondering just who fit that description. Was Dumbledore going to take her to his house or something? Did Dumbledore even have a house?
"Excellent." The headmaster grinned as Harry let a whoop, seconds after catching a hold of the snitch. "I'll be back for you in a few days, do have your things prepared."
"You haven't told me where I'm going?" Hermione gave the man a look, wondering if he was being purposely unclear.
"Oh, you'll find out sound enough."