So, I'm beginning chapter 4 within 2 hours of completing and posting the previous one. But it might still be several days before it gets posted, so yeah. You probably don't really care about that, but marching band has just started and now I've got practices, so those evenings I can't write. They should still be posted fairly quickly, but I have a few other things, and with it being the 4th of July, I'll either spend the spare time waiting for fireworks etc writing a LOT, or not writing at all. It just depends on what my family decides to do for activities this year. Sorry for my rambling on about nonsense, but one more thing! I do not own Harry Potter, its characters, and any other object created. This story, though, is my idea of events. The only thing that is all mine is Hermelia. I created her for this story, and this story only (unless I write a sequel, she may make a return then) No one is allowed to use her, unless they have permission from me. The actual published books all belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Four: Settling at the Granger's

Harry's worst nightmare. His worst nightmare! His worst nightmare was standing two feet in front of him, wearing pitch black robes with a sneer on his face. Snape. The hated Snape from Potions class was standing face to face with him on his front door step. What in the name of heavens is he doing here? This couldn't be good….

"Uh….may I help you, sir?" Harry barely managed out.

"Potter! You are to come with me. I will be escorting you to your new place of residency until otherwise informed," Snape turned around and took off.

"May I ask why I have to leave?"

"The headmaster does now view it as a safe location for you to remain hidden from the Dark Lord,"

"And the exact destination is?"

"My niece's living quarters. You'll find yourself right at home there,"

"Oh, ok…" Harry stuttered.

"No more questions!"

"Sorry, sir!"



Back at the Granger's residential home, Hermione's parents were in a panic attack for the disappearance of their daughter. They were moments away from calling in an emergency. But some gut feeling told them to wait, that everything was just fine. Where was she? Surely she didn't leave without telling us?

Hermelia, Hermione's mother, had panic lines all across her face. Her entire body was violently in fear that something had happened to her only child. She was moving objects into places they wouldn't usually be found if she were in the right state of mind. Her breathing became heavier more and more as she continued brainstorming of what to do about her daughter just suddenly going missing from her house without any word. Had she been kidnapped?

Hermione's mom was about to begin dialing 911 when there was a random ring from her doorbell.

"Hermelia! It's Uncle Snape! I've got the annoying boy, Harry, with me and I should really not stay too long! Let us in!" Snape actually sounded as if he liked his niece.

"Oh Severus! My daughters has disappeared!" she opened the door, seeing a new Severus Snape, dressed in casual robes unfamiliar to the wardrobe selection of the school teacher.

"Don't worry, I know exactly where she is. She's back at Hogwarts. Let us get Potter settled and then we'll explain,"

"This is my daughter's close friend? Oh it's lovely to meet you!" Mrs. Granger shook Harry's hand, who had a confused expression upon his face.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Do I know you?" Harry softly whispered.

"Uncle Severus didn't tell you? Hermione is my daughter. I'm sorry we haven't met before, but Hermione believed that Ron wouldn't be able to handle living with Muggles, or well, the Muggle way. And it wouldn't have been fair if she let you stay over and not him, so she just avoided the whole situation altogether," was her rather lengthy explanation.

"So, if Professor Snape is your uncle, wouldn't that make you a witch?"

"I'm a squib. Hermione, though, does not know this. If she thought I didn't have access to the Albus, then she'd tell me everything and I could tell Dumbledore if he needed. This was all pre-arranged years ago. There's no need for you to know though, so let's forget about any of it."

"Hermelia, where do you want the boy to stay?" Snape suddenly asked.

He can stay in the basement bedroom. It's your sister's when she comes and visits, but she isn't visiting right now, so it should be alright." Mrs. Granger answered.

Snape politely picked up Harry's luggage and exited the entry hall through a door with stairs leading downward. Harry, not knowing what to do about Snape's actions, followed him down through the door. Harry was followed by Hermione's mysterious mother. Snape was acting very….odd.

When downstairs, Snape whipped his wand out and instantly uttered an incantation to organize all of his stuff into the various drawers and closets. This room had three closets, all basically walk-in. Oh, was it mentioned that this house was a mansion? Each room was a massive, professionally decorated house within itself. They all had their own theme, their own design to make each and every room rare and unique. Harry's temporary room was decorated with designs that looked an awful lot like the movies Muggles go see in theaters. Many posters from various movies, and the only ones that Harry recognized were the well-known, such as "Dracula" and "Jaws".

After setting up Harry's items, Severus Snape and his niece excused themselves to allow themselves to talk privately. Harry didn't mind. He would rather spend time alone anyway. Harry pulled out his Quidditch Through the Ages book and glanced through a few sections. When bored with that, he began asking himself a few questions. Why wasn't Hermione home? Where had she gone? Her mother said she went missing, and Snape knew where she went.

To help answer his own questions, he crept his way up and searched stealthily for Mrs. Granger and Snape. When her heard voices, he figured they were in the kitchen. Listening closely, he instantly wished for a set of Extendable Ears, but heard ended up with an idea of this conversation:

"Severus! Why couldn't Dumbledore tell me he was taking her? I was worried out of my head!" Harry heard Mrs. Granger exclaim in a whisper.

"He is really, really sorry for not doing so. He needed her at the school as soon as possible. There are a few things he wished to discuss with her, and apparently it could not wait. Plus he needed Harry in the eyes of a person with whom he has contact with. The safest was here. She may or may not be back by the end of summer break." Snape politely answered.

Unusual, Harry thought, Snape isn't being his usual obnoxious self.

"Well, surely Harry will wish to contact people. Our house isn't connected to the Floo network, and I didn't see an owl with him."

"His owl was sent to the Weasley's. I had your house connected to the Floo network until the start of term. Whether the boy understands it or not, I do have a caring heart. Teenagers have to remain in contact with their friends at all times."

"Well, the boy must be starving. I had better begin preparations for dinner. Would you go tell Harry about the network. I'm sure he's really wishing to talk to Ron or Hermione. He's probably in terrible confusion." Harry took this as his cue to return to his room.

Moments after sitting on his bed, Snape knocked on the door and entered.

"Have a good time listening on conversations you were not invited to? I assume you heard about the Floo network. You may use it as you wish. Dinner will be ready soon. As for me, my job is done and I will be leaving. I'll make weekly check-ups on you so don't misbehave." He exited the room, which left Harry with a blank stare upon his face.

Harry slowly made his way back to the kitchen. He politely asked for directions to the fireplace to make contact to people.

"Down the left hall, second door on the right," was his answer.

"Thanks."

When Harry arrived in the room, he took a look around. This room was decorated with the family theme in mind. There were many family photographs from over the years of Hermione sitting with her parents. Harry took a few moments too look around and see Hermione as she had aged throughout the year. He was even shocked to see a few pictures with him and Ron. They weren't moving, but he guessed that was because Hermione thought both of her parents were Muggle-born. After a decently thorough inspection, Harry went straight to the fireplace, grabbed a dab of Floo powder, and tossed it directly into the fireplace. When the powder touched the inside, he immediately yelled "the Burrow". His head was whipped around in circles with the same feeling of confusion that comes with using the Floo network. When he was glaring into the Weasley's living room, he began screaming for someone to come to the fireplace. Finally the twins did, and they retrieved Ginny for him.

After completing his discussion with her, he sat in a chair for a moment, thinking about what had just occurred. He was heartbroken. After talking with Snape before arriving at the Granger's he had completely changed the intentions he had with Ginny Weasley. Why did he listen to Snape? Now he has caused pain, and he isn't happy with what occurred. He should have asked her out. He knows it is what he wanted. But what Snape said to him made complete sense.

Needing to talk with one more person, Harry threw in more powder. Only this time, he yelled "Gryffindor common room". When his head was in the fireplace on the other end, he yelled a bit, calling for Hermione. After several minutes, he figured she would have heard him if she were in the dormitories, so he left. Immediately he threw more powder in and yelled "Dumbledore's office". Dumbledore seemed to be waiting for him.

"Harry! At last, you have made contact. Was your journey safe? Have you spoken to anyone else?" Dumbledore inquired.

"I've talked to the Weasley family. I tried Hermione in the common room, but she must not be there. No one was anywhere near," was all he answered back

"Ah, of course. Your friends first. I should have known. Well, I need to talk with you and Hermione together about something. She is scheduled to arrive in my office in about an hour. Could you come back then for the three of us to have our discussion?"

"Yes, I could. I may be a bit late though. Mrs. Granger is cooking dinner and it would be rude of me if I did not patiently eat. I don't want to upset the owner of my temporary home, do I?"

"Oh, of course not. There are a few other things I needed to talk with to Hermione alone, and that proves to be the perfect time, does it not? Now, I'll let you go. You don't want to spend your whole summer talking to an old man like me, do you? Bye,"

"Bye, Professor Dumbledore,"

After eating a magnificent meal, Harry made his way back to the fireplace, explaining he had a pre-arranged meeting with Professor Dumbledore. Mrs. Granger asked Harry to keep her secret of being a squib a secret. She would tell her when the time was right.

When Harry's head was once again in Professor Dumbledore's office, he couldn't help but notice that Hermione was bawling her eyes out, tears had drenched her robes to a sopping wet.

What was it Dumbledore said to her?

So, that was chapter 4. I think this one was one of the most boring, but it also was packed with information, and it also opened several other questions. It will be a while before you know what Hermione was crying about. The next chapter goes back to Ginny. Hope you like it! Please!! REVIEW!! I really appreciate it when someone leaves a review offering help to improve my writing. I already feel as if from the first three chapters, I have gotten much better. Oh, I did not get the chance to earlier, but if you reread chapters 1-3 soon, they will have been updated and edited, thanks to blaaah92 for that. The most noticeable change will be Harry's letter to Hermione. It isn't up yet, but very, VERY soon it will be. Thanks to blaaah92!! Thanks to anyone who reviews!! Really, I would appreciate your comments.