I own nothing.
CHAPTER 2.
An hour and a half later found Hermione once again conscious, dressed in proper clothes, - lose denim shorts, and a button up short sleeve shirt -, packed, and saying goodbye to her parents.
Yes, they where still her parents, biological or not, and Hermione had been sure to tell them this. The result had been many tears and declarations of love and affection.
Professor Dumbledore had sent Hermione's things ahead of them to Number twelve Grimauld place, and so she only had with her a light jacket, her wand and some money in her beaded bag, both muggle and magical currency.
The odd looking trio walked in a somewhat awkward silence down the street, well awkward for the two women, Dubmledore seemed to be having the time of his life.
They passed many large double fronted houses set In sprawling greenery, and Hermione prayed silently that none of her neighbours should chose this moment to look out of their windows. It was an affluent area, and thus rather quiet, they did not need to walk far before they where in a spot secluded enough to disappearate from.
"You have not of course taken your apparition test yet." Dumbledore stated, not a question, peering down his crooked nose at her. She shook her head apologetically.
"Not a Problem my dear, if you would be so kind as to take my arm, and hold on tight, the sensation does take some getting used to, I will admit, but i'd wager you'll prefer It to flying." He said, with the twinkle in his eye flashing merrily, Hermione smiled, it was common knowledge that she didn't like flying, ironic really when she was best friends with Harry potter and Ron weasley.
She did as she was bid, holding her professor's uninjured arm tightly, just bellow the elbow, she looked up at him, struck for the first time how tall he was, Hermione barley reached his shoulder with the top of her bushy head.
Both professors then simultaneously turned on their heel, and all three vanished from view with a quiet pop!
Hermione had never felt anything like it, and she found that it was indeed uncomfortable, but wholly better than hurtling through the sky at ridiculous heights and speeds held up by only a glorified twig.
She felt as though she where being squeezed through a rubber hose, as if the where the last bit of toothpaste in the tube, being forced from blackness Into daylight once more. As soon as it started, the feeling stopped, and Hermione found herself in the familiar grassy square of Grimauld place, London. The shabby house fronts, exactly as she remembered them, with number twelve invisible to those around it before her.
Professor Mcgonagall cought her by the elbow as she wobbled dangerously, fighting to regain her equalibrium. She looked concernedly at her favourite pupil.
"Still better than flying." Hermione said weakley, making her two professors chuckle.
The three of them wordlessly crossed the pavement, thinking 'Number twelve Grimauld Place' as they did so, and paused as the building materialised before them. They hurried up the stone stepps, and opened the door without knocking.
Once inside the house, Hermione shut the door as silently as she could behind them, and was again struck by her hatred for this old place, dank, dark and musty, it was a great contrast to the sunny day outside. She hated to think of poor Sirius being trapped here for any period of time, without any company, barring a hippogryph.
Creeping quietly down the hall behind her two professors, carefull not to wake any of the foul paintings or their occupants, passing the severed elf heads, she shuddered in disgust, why hadn't someone gottn rid of them yet? She took note of the troll legg umbrella stand, which was up ended. Tonks must be here, she thought.
Hermione finally reached the kitchen, where the majority of her closest friends in the wizarding world currently seemed to be congregated. However before she had a chance to see anybody more clearly, she was being smothered in a motherly hug by Mrs Weasley.
"Hermione dear, your looking well, how was your Journey? Can I get you anything dear? Are you hungry? You're getting thinner, keep going and there'll be nothing of you ..." Mrs Weasley pinched Hermione's stomach for effect, making her giggle.
"Blimey Mum," came the voice of one of her best friends, Ronald , "Don't smother the girl!" There was a resounding thwack, as ron was hit by somebody, Hermione didn't see whom, though she suspected it was her best girl friend Ginny, followed by Mr weaseley's voice saying, "Ronald, don't be rude to your mother!"
Ahhhh, it was good to be back.
Hermione smiled, "Hello Mrs Weasley, I'm fine thank you, how are you?" she enquired.
"Oh I'm fine dear, quite fine." Molly pinched her cheek fondly, and Hermione smiled haapily at her psudo magical mother.
Once Hermione was freed from Molly's clutches, she was able to see the other occupants of the room, aside from the entire Weasley family, minus Percy, there was also, to name but a few, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Tonks, Kingsley and Madeye, whom Hermione was still slightly wary of, ever since she'd witnessed him remove, and clean his magical eye in a glass of water, well she could never quite look at him the same way.
She beamed delightedly at a red head she hadn't seen since her fourth year.
She was fourteen, well technically fiffteen, time turner bla bla bla. But officially she was fourteen, sitting in her living room, waiting for Mr Weasly to come and fetch her for the quidditch world cup. She was very excited, despite the fact that she didn't enjoy flying, she did like quidditch, plus the world cup would be a fascinating oppertunity to further study the magical world.
A knock at the door heralded the arrival of a tall, thin and ballding Arthur Weasley.
"Hello Hermione." he said jovially, smiling happily at the muggle dwelling around him.
"Hello Mr Weasly, thank you for coming to get me." Hermione said, looking up at the kindly faced tall man.
"It was no trouble, no trouble at all, I just apparated on the way home from work, so it wasn't out of my way." he said absentmindedly, his eyes had wandered to the television.
"These run of eccleticitys do they?" He asked knoweledgably, nodding knowingly, whilst pressing buttons on the remote with a delighted smile apperaing on his face as the screen sprang to life.
"Marvelous." He mumbled to himself, shaking his head.
"Um sir?" She asked tentativley, noticing her parents slightly allarmed expressions.
"Yes of course." Mr Weasly snapped awake again, pulling out his wand, "Know, I don't suppose you have a floo?" He asked.
Hermione nodded, she had had one set up after her first trip to Diagon alley, for convenience, she still didn't like using it alone though.
"Excellent!" He beamed, "Well then, after you."
Hermione said goodbye to her parents with a swift hug and kiss for each, before stepping into the emerald flames and shouting 'The Burrow'. The horrid spinning sensation only lasted a few moments, and then she was spat out, into the warm kitchen of Ron's family home.
She stumbled sligtly, but managed to catch herself spectacularly at the last second, and not land flat on her face. She punched the air in celebration.
"Nice landing!" Came an appreciative voice.
Hermione beamed, and looked up, and up, and up.
Goodness.
She wasn't tall by any means, but she barley reached this man's bicep...extreemly muscled bicep. He was very tall, and extreemly muscly, with various scars and tattoos visible beneath his leather clothes. He looked a bit intimadating, that was a lie, he looked terrifying to the tiny, technically still fouteen year old witch, that was, at least, untill you reached the eyes, which held a friendly smile.
Judjing by the red hair, she expected him to be a Weasly, he didn't seem that much older than her really, five or six years perhaps.
"I'm Charlie, Ron's brother, you must be Hermione?" he asked kindly, grinning down at the tiny curly haired witch, who had, he noticed, an intellegent gleam in her eyes. She nodded silently, still slightly intimidated, her eyes focusing on the middle of his broad chest, instead of looking him in the eye again.
"Nice to meet you." She said politley, he grinned down at her, and she blushed, looking at her feet.
Just then there were shouts heared from all over the house, "Mione?" Called Ron.
"Was that Mi?" Came Ginny's high pitched voice.
"Mya!" The twins both yelled, running towards her, enourmous smiles splitting their faces. She got on quite well with the twins, the best of friends almost, or perhaps more akin to family.
She was swept of her feet, and squished between Fred and George weasley, she laughed happily, closing her eyes as she hugged them back.
"Hello boys, don't tell me you missed me?" She teased lightly as they set her down. She heared Charlie rumble deep chuckle fom across the room, and felt her cheeks burn in response.
"Us? Miss our tiny-Mione, never." Fred said, George just hugged her again, spinning her in a fast circle.
"Oi you gits, put her down." Came an annoyed voice.
"Hey Gin." hermione greeted, just as she was nearly nocked flat by the youngest red head, only to be steadied last minute by an amused looking Charlie. She smiled up at him in thanks, only to look away quickly when she met his gaze.
"Thank Merlin you're here Mi! Another girl at last." Ginny all but sang pulling Hermione in excited circles, then dragging herback for another hug.
"Ahhhhh, thought it was you." Came the unmistacable voice of her best mate.
"Hello to you too Ron." Hermione said sarcastically, hugging him tightly, the others chuckled at them.
"Mione." he greeted into her hair, "How are the runes?" He asked mock seriously.
"Still anchient." She replied, smiling as the Weasleys all laughed.
Just then Mr Weasley came from the floo behind them, "Sorry, I got side tracked, facinating things hoovers...I nearly lost an eye!" He said, bobbing up and down excitedly.
Hermione cought Charlie's eye, and they both looked away quickly, chuckling to themselves.
"Charlie." she greeted, a grin splitting her face. As he came toward her, she pretended to jump back, "Woah there giant man, don't step on me!" She joked.
"Gosh Mya, have you gotten shorter?" The dragon tamer teased her, pulling her into a hug, lifting her bodily about ten inches from the floor in the process. She beamed, throwing her arms around his neck, and hiding her face in his broad shoulder, loving the musky smell of him.
It had been a running joke between them since they'd become friends, which had happened fairly quickly. Her barley five foot frame was dwarfed next to him, who crossed six feet easily. Their first meetings had been filled with height jokes, Charlie lifting her to reach high shelves, or standing next to her and resting his elbow on top of her head, and hermione constantly reminding him not to squash things beneath his bulk, offering to write for him, to 'save the innocent quills', and wondering very loudly how the broomstick held him up.
"Still making the dragons laugh, eh Charlie!" she quipped, her feet on the floor again, causing many to chuckle.
Charlie kept her in a close hug for a moment, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Please don't run away to fight death eaers like that again, Mya. You scared me to death!"
Hermione felt a blush rise in her cheeks, and was touched by her friends concern. She nodded solemnly to him, squeasing him tighter for a moment before letting go.
"Hello everyone." She greeted whilst going to hug Ron - who had impossibly grown taller, and even more gangly than he had been two weeks ago, her head now barley reached the middle of his chest, - and Ginny in greeting. She decided however to leave the rest of the reunions until later, as Dumbledore had taken his seat at the head of the room, and seemed to be waiting for attention, Hermione dutifully sat, and turned towards him.
"Thank you." He said, by way of greeting, "Now, we are here on a matter of an unusual nature, many of you will remember, from some years ago, a young couple by the names Cathierine and Stephan Greenwood?"
There where humms and nods of agreement from the older in the Room, and looks of polite confusion on the faces of the younger crowd.
Hermione's heart was thumping loudly in her ears. She wasn't entirley sure why she was so nervouse, fear of not being accepted, perhaps? But she was, terrified actually.
"For those of you too young to remember this couple," Dumbledore continued, "Suffice to say they where an extremely popular, affluent and powerful force for good during the last war, tragically they both lost their lives in the fight against evil, leaving behind them a daughter.."
This admission was met by gasps from those that knew the couple personally. It was like watching a melodrama, Hermione thought absently, trying to regulate her breathing, and not hyperventalate.
"Yes you may be shocked but it is never the less true, I was personally entrusted the task of this child's well fare over the last seventeen years, and she has now come of age, and it is time for her to reclaim her heritage," he finished gravley.
Sombre looks where to be seen on the faces of those who had fought the first war, and therefor knew the cross that this mystery girls parents had born, what the child was inheriting, inhuman beauty, money, power, and the loss of a private Life and too gain a noteriaty that would lead to her being virtually hunted by those who knew her true identity.
"I think some of us are missing something here..." Said one of the weasley twins, Hermione could always tell which one, this was Fred.
The rest of the Weasley children nodded in agreement to their brothers statment, looks of incomprehension on their faces. Once however dumbledore explained, what this mystery girls lot was to be, they became more subdued, feeling everything from pity to envy for this unknown girl.
"Now this is all well and good, but what is it to do with us?" Came the gruff, impatient voice of Alistor Moody from the back corner of the room. Hermione's eyes flashed to him, before looking to Dumbledore.
"Yes, well... Miss Granger...?" Came the headmasters reply.
Molly gasped in horror, and Sirius swore, a look of seriousness upon his face that Hermione had never seen there before.
"Kitten...No." he said, looking sadly at Hermione, who just smiled at him, resignasion on her face. Getting to her feet, she walked slowly to the front of the room, feeling as if she were headed to the gallows. She pressed a kiss to Sirius' cheek as she passed him, gently touching his shoulder in comfort, touched by the concern and sadness on his face.
She noticed that Charlie, who was standing next to his older brother, not that far away from her, looked tense, his shoulders stiff. Hermione tried to reasure him, but was so nervous herself, that she doubted it did much good.
"It'll be fine." she murmered, not sure if she was trying to convince him, or herself. He mearly nodded grimly, edging slightly closer to her.
"Never a dull moment, remeber?" She quoted one of his letters to him, making him smile boyishly at her. Her insides melted a little.
Many still failed to understand, looks of incomprehension on many faces, including the rest of the Weasley children. Tonks seemed more intrested in what Hermione had just said to Charlie, for she was looking from the brightest witch of her age, to the dragon tamer, and back again, a mischevious glint in her eye.
Hermione stood directly in front of the headmaster, looking so tiny and defensless as she gazed up at him, that Charlie had to fight the urge to step towards her again. He had become increadibly protective of Hermione over the course of their friendship, and to stand back now, and watch another man wave a wand in her face, regardless of who he was, went against everything in him.
He wasn't the only one struggling either, Sirius had his hands clenched into fists, and the twins had uncharictaristically stony expressions on their faces.
Dumbledore gave her a reasuring smile, then raised his wand, and brought it curling and flashing through the air between them, undoing the protection he wrought upon Hermione all those years ago.
She closed her eyes, trying to block out all the staring faces in the room. It was a strange feeling, almost like a disselusionment charm, Hermione decided, it felt like warm liquid dripping slowly down her form.
She felt warm, her frame was almost vibrating slightly, sending electric shocks through her very bones, making her start every so often. It was not painful exactly, but by no means was it plesant either. She coud feel herself grimacing, her nose wrinkling in distaste.
Intense, she decided, the feeling was extreemly intense, she let lose an involantarry whimper, and felt, rather than heared responding movement throughout the kitchen.
As the wand stilled, and the mist of magic dissipated, the room was greeted with its first glimpse of Hermione Catherine Greenwood, and pandemonium ensued.