A/N: A huge thanks as always to my fantastic readers.

All rights of the characters, places and props belong to JKR. Plot is mine though.

Chapter 27: Holiday Season

The week following Hermione's terrifying reveal brought another sensational discovery. Urged on by Ron and Hermione, Harry finally resorted to the tiny little potion bottle received from Slughorn to trick the Potion master into giving up the memory that Dumbledore so required. He could not help being a little miffed with their new friend as she sided with Ron to convince him to use the potion, although she had no clue about the Horcruxes yet. All that the boys had told her was Slughorn had a memory which Dumbledore required and that Harry had failed so far to retrieve it from him. She seemed to be satisfied with sitting down with the two and working on the problem, to the extent of spending the entire Saturday afternoon discussing it, without even mentioning homework once.

And it worked.

Returning back from Dumbledore's office late that night, he walked slowly through the castle pondering over all the new information received. There was a substantial amount of fear as well.

Six parts?!

How on earth would they find six objects that could as well be anywhere on the planet? And if they failed to destroy even one of them, all the efforts of killing Voldemort would fail and he would resurrect again. While it was questionable how he could be killed in the first place, something also told Harry that it would not take the evil wizard twelve years to return this time, he would have made arrangements.

It made Voldemort's zeal to finish Harry all the more clear, finish off the only one who could be any danger to his immortality. And honestly, he seemed to have a proper back up plan in place. One failed chance and Harry would surely be dead, after all Voldemort had ensured that his mother's blood protection was breached upon. Harry had no Horcruxes to keep him alive. He cringed at the very thought. For that he would not only have to kill someone but use the death for his own benefit. Even the thought of murdering an innocent man seemed to taint his soul.

Trudging on, he realised that could understand Dumbledore's two fold plan to save Hermione. Not only was he keeping Voldemort's preferred candidate out of the maniac's reach, he was also going to use the very same person to help Harry bring him down.

"So, I should tell Hermione about the Horcruxes, Sir?" he had asked when they had come to the end of the meeting, remembering about it the last minute.

"Yes, but not now," replied the old man before watching Harry's confused expression with a smile and continuing. "You will know when it is time for Miss Granger to know." He finished cryptically.

"But how, Sir?" he asked, baffled.

"You will, Harry."

He didn't know what to make of it so he asked another question that bothered him so much. It might seem insignificant to the Headmaster, but for him it was important enough.

"Why did you put Ron though this, Sir?" he asked unable to hold back the grudge from his voice. "You have no clue what Hermione has done to him."

"Oh, I do know Harry." sighed the old man. "To be betrayed by the one you love is not easy. I won't say I did not have selfish reasons, but you see, it was only Ron who I could have trusted with this!"

"How do you know she won't hurt him again? How can you trust her not to betray us anymore?" he asked, it was crucial to know that he was putting his faith in the right person. Her betrayal would cost them more than a new heartbreak for Ron this time.

"Miss Granger will not do anything that will harm Mr Weasley or you for that matter, Harry. And this by itself ensures that she won't side with Voldemort, no matter what the provocation."

"How can you be so sure, Sir?" he asked again. Couldn't Dumbledore just explain it all without the riddles?

"I am, my boy, but if you don't believe me just wait for her to pass the third test. That will ensure that she is worth the trust I am putting into her in this crucial mission of destroying the Horcruxes."

He did not know what to make of that information. What third test?

"And Harry, I apologise for what I have made Ron go through, but he deserved a chance to prove to Miss Granger how her perceptions about him were false. He needed only one chance to show her, and to himself as well, I suppose, what he truly is."

He had been dismissed soon after to ponder over the thousand questions that played in his mind.

...

The following week brought along a packed schedule for the boys as they started their Apparition classes. To Hermione's immense disappointment she received a note from the Headmaster that he was engaged in an urgent business and she would start her training only from the week post the Easter Holidays. She decided to research the theory instead, sharing her finding with the boys who were struggling with the three 'D's of apparition themselves.

Ron was neck deep in work. His schedule was chock a block with classes, Apparition training, Quidditch practices and making up for the classes he had missed. More often than not, he was now spending time with Hermione as she helped him with his pile of work. Although it had initially seemed to be very uncomfortable a situation, it had turned to be a boon, for their interaction became more normal as they discussed, grumbled and bickered over school work. Harry wasn't sure how much it dimmed their mutual attraction but it seemed the two were too tired for the teenage hormones to wreak further havoc. All in all, he could not deny that the equation between the three was becoming more natural. Somehow, for reasons unknown, it felt right. Just like his feelings for Ginny, although that seemed to be totally a one sided obsession that was marked by guilt of falling for his best mate's sister and a tiny bit of fear for his fate if her six brothers knew the kind of dreams he was having about her.

Five days passed in a rush and after classes on Thursday, a note from the elusive Headmaster brought him and Ron to Hermione's quarters again.

"Number 12, Grimmauld Place?" Hermione asked, reading off the tiny parchment Harry had handed her and looking at the boys.

"The place where you were staying before school," explained Harry. "It's a safe house and Dumbeldore is the Secret Keeper. Only he could tell you the location."

"Are we going there?" she inquired. Leaving the castle would have been a pleasant change but staying locked up in another room wasn't very appealing an option either.

"Yes, it seems so." Answered Ron pulling and reading the longer parchment addressed to the three of them. "You won't be confined to your room this time and seems Mum and Dad are already there. This says Ginny will accompany us too."

"So, I'll get to meet them?" she asked. It made her extremely nervous. While it would be pleasant to meet new people and be free to move around the house, she was sceptical about how the rest of Ron's family would be feeling about her.

"We take the floo in the early hours tomorrow and yeah, that's all." He finished reading and handed the scroll to her.

She read through and gave it back to Harry and saw them off with a tentative smile. Packing a small bag for her trip, she spent the major part of the evening worrying about the next morning till the boys returned after dinner to check on her. It was a fitful night of sleep that graced her with its presence and she woke up more than once with nightmares that depicted scowling people who taunted her mercilessly for varying reasons from her house to her birth.

Harry and Ron found her huddled on the couch with a book when they went down to take her along in the wee hours the next morning.

"Hermione?" called Harry softly as Ron glanced at her sleeping form uncomfortably.

She scrunched her brows and peered through partly opened eyes before waking up in a jolt.

"Harry! Ron! Oh my! Are we late?" she asked scrambling up and pulling the covers to wrap over her pajama clad form.

"Not yet, could you freshen up quickly? You can come with us hidden within the cloak." he said.

"Yeah! Just... Just give me a few minutes?" she asked and hurried inside without waiting for their reply.

She came out from her room soon enough, cursing her unruly hair under her breath. Her hands were aching arranging it in a neat French braid and a few locks had still managed to escape. She wore a deep blue dress under her cloak that she had transfigured it long ago and no longer remembered how it looked when she had received it. Would Mrs Weasley be offended that Hermione had altered the dress she had kindly given? She fidgeted with her sling bag that held all her belongings shrunk to fit in, looking up she met Ron's eyes once before Harry pulled the cloak over her.

They came out of the dormitory silently and met Ginny in the common room. She heard Ron whisper in his sister's ears which made the girl look at the presumably empty space between the boys.

Ginny was gorgeous, Hermione decided. Quite possibly, it ran in her genes. Was Harry looking a bit different now? She smiled to herself and turned at Ron realising that she was invisible to them anyway. She took the opportunity to watch him instead. He had not shaved and appeared to have not bothered more than changing out of his pajamas. His hair looked as if he had merely run his fingers through them but it made her heart skip a beat nevertheless. She loved the normalcy of their interaction, was thankful for it actually. It was difficult to say what he thought of her big reveal but she knew he was still struggling to trust her. She could only hope that time would heal the wounds she had given him. Given a chance, she would have made every effort to heal him herself but for obvious reasons, she had kept that wish to herself. She was also slightly surprised, albeit pleasantly, that Lavender had not made an appearance to see him off. It would not suit her bleeding heart to see him wrapped up in someone else's arms. But then, she hadn't heard the girl during their hospital stay or heard of her. Hermione did not have high hopes, maybe Ron was just keeping that part of his life away from her, she thought sadly. Maybe they would have said their goodbyes before coming to her quarters? She decided she could do without imaging the kind of goodbye Ron would have received from his girlfriend.

They were making towards Professor McGonagall's staff quarters, and the three were chatting amongst themselves in hushed whispers. Hermione noticed the slightly conscious way Harry laughed at Ginny's words and the way he reddened when she turned at him. It was hard to miss how the Boy-Who-Lived had fallen for this pretty red haired witch. Did Ron know? She assumed, not.

She smiled fondly at the messy haired, bespectacled boy who once looked like the teenager that he was. Who would have guessed that she, Hermione Granger would find Harry Potter the closest thing to a sibling she never had? But that was how it was. She knew Harry felt the same way for her and it made her resolve to stand by them all the more stronger. She wondered if she could be friends with Ginny. It would be nice to have a girl of her age for company, she missed Daphne after all. From what she could make out, Ginny appeared to be confident and funny. Well they would see, wouldn't they?

She gripped her sling tighter, feeling nervousness grip her all over again as Harry knocked on the wooden door of the Professor's quarters.

She removed the cloak once they were all inside and the students greeted their teacher. Ron introduced her to Ginny and the girls shared a small greeting, which Hermione felt was a little cautious and guarded from the younger girl. She was not very surprised.

"Mr Weasley, you and Miss Weasley will go first and Miss Granger and Mr Potter will follow you. Molly is already waiting for you." She informed and Ron duly took his place and disappeared in a flash. Ginny followed and then it was only Harry and Hermione. She took her place in the floo and with her heart hammering inside her flooed off.

A large cavernous room materialized at the end of her travel. She knew she had reached the correct place because two familiar red head figures were standing a little ahead with their back towards the floo. It seemed as if they were being hugged by someone who was shorter than them. Gulping down a feeling of intense discomfort, she paused to get a grip.

This was insane, she was finally in the company of people like she had been wishing for days. And now, when she finally had that chance, she felt an intense urge to travel back to the school, run and hide in her chambers instead. Perhaps, the months of confinement had finally taken a toll on her sanity and turned her into some strange version of a social recluse. But this would not do! Fighting her anxiety, she tentatively placed a foot outside the floo when a few things happened simultaneously.

A larger body appeared next to her, knocking her face first out of fireplace. Her leg buckled and she went flying out of the tiny space, instantly closing her eyes and waiting for the inevitable pain of her nose hitting hard, stone floor. However, she was much surprised to land into a pair of strong, muscular arms instead. She opened her eyes to find a dashing pair of unfamiliar eyes looking at her curiously.

"Are you okay?" the person asked and she managed a meek reply because in all honestly, her leg was actually hurting, also, she was currently in a very undignified position, half on the floor and rest supported in his arms. He held her hand to help as she pushed her weight on her legs, biting the pain that seared through her ankles at the attempt.

"Thank you." She managed, breathing deeply while her eyes watered. She recognised him as one of the twins but could not say which one.

Other voices were slowly coming into focus including a flustered Harry's who was apologizing profusely somewhere behind her. Ron, Ginny and the other twin along with their mother, had gathered around her and she could feel her face burn in embarrassment. What a horrible first impression!

"My poor dear! I hope you are not hurt?" Mrs Weasley asked kindly and took the chair one of her children handed her. For some strange reason, the look of the motherly lady drove all nervousness out of her.

"I'm alright, just a slight pain in my right ankle." Hermione replied managing a smile but winced in pain immediately.

"I'm so sorry Hermione!" apologized Harry, coming forward to stand in front of her.

"It's alright, Harry. I should have left the floo earlier." She replied as she was made to sit on a chair and soon Mrs Weasley had healed her aching ankle. Letting out a sigh of relief, she stood up tentatively, happy to note that the pain had subsided completely. She thanked the elderly witch who pulled her into a warm hug instead.

"I am so glad you are finally here with us. Never supported Albus's idea on keeping you locked up that way, you know?" she said patting the younger girl's cheeks affectionately. Hermione felt an unexpected sense of warmth that made her feel lighter than she had in months, she also felt strangely teary in a good way. Unable to frame a coherent sentence, she nodded slightly. Something in Molly's eyes told her that the lady understood.

Finally Molly released her to move over to fret over Harry and she noticed the others who were chatting amongst themselves. The twins, she noticed, were shorter than Ron but more strongly built. Even in muggle casuals, they looked very well put together. Both men greeted her cordially as Ron introduced them and she realised that she was helped by Fred. They really were very difficult to recognise separately, only different colour of jumpers identified them. For some reason she could not comprehend, Ron looked slightly miffed.

"It's much too early, you all can go to bed for a few more hours if you wish." announced Mrs Weasley as she guided a set of mugs of steaming hot chocolate onto the huge table that sat at the centre of the room.

Hermione dropped her bag on end of the long table like the others had done, and went ahead to take a seat. Only Ron and Harry had slumped down on the chairs on either side of the table while the rest were busy pulling out muffins from the adjacent pantry, Mrs Weasley was still at the stove. She debated internally for a minute and finally pulled the chair next to Harry. The others returned soon and while Fred pulled the chair next to hers, George and Ginny occupied the opposite ones, next to Ron. Mrs Weasley brought in some sandwiches for her elder boys who would be leaving for the shop early. Soon the group was merrily chatting away sipping their hot chocolates and nibbling away on the eatables.

Hermione took to replying when spoken to and watched the others. The twins were their jovial best as they cracked jokes and told them about their latest products. She got to know that the two had temporarily moved in to the Grimmauld Place for the holiday weekend like their parents but would be out most of the day running their shop. Harry too seemed to partake in the conversation easily and she realised that, the Weasleys had adopted him like a family over the years. She couldn't help notice the contrast of the present scenario with the one she knew at home. The meal times at Grangers were an impeccable affair that went like a well choreographed dance. The courses, their attire and table manners had been perfected over the years. Her father spoke of his work and other social issues with her mother, while she was taught to be silent and speak up only when spoken to. This, on the contrary, reminded her of the house tables in the Great Hall. People spoke as they ate, pulling off and passing on plates amongst each other. It was like a cacophony of sounds and laughter that hit her sound deprived senses, leaving her slightly overwhelmed. She noticed that Ron was still looking a little grumpy and more often than not, Ginny sent a sceptical look at her direction. Hermione had no clue what to make of it.

Once the plates were cleared of even the last crumbs, Mrs Weasley shoed the younger ones off to bed.

"Hermione dear, later in the day you can shift in with Ginny if you wish to. Her room is set up on the first floor."

She glancing at Ginny and unable to fathom the expression on the younger girl's face, nodded a little doubtfully in the older witch's direction.

The twins were pulling out their travelling cloaks and she was caught a little surprised when Fred came to forward to speak to her.

"See you Hermione. I hope to show you some of our special products that are for pretty witches like you." He said softly bending ever so slightly and meeting her eyes, his eyes twinkling in the mirth that played on his lips.

"Thank you, I think I'll love that." She replied with a smile that came easily. Up close she could see the resemblance he shared with Ron, the way their eyes crinkled the same way when they smiled.

"I'm going off to sleep. Harry are ya coming?" called Ron loudly and she looked away from Fred, a little embarrassed.

"Prat." murmured Fred under his breath as he watched his younger brother leave the kitchen pushing open the door a little more forcefully than required, finally, waving her once more, he flooed out with his twin.

...

She tossed and turned in her bed in the same room on the third floor where she had spent the summer. It wasn't like she was not sleepy, but her nerves were much too active. Finally tired of tossing and turning, she threw away her covers and she cautiously came out of the room. She would have loved to look around the house, but it could possibly look a lot like snooping, so she dropped the plan. She went down the steps instead, pausing for a while outside the room where she knew Harry and Ron would be sleeping. Ron had looked specifically miffed about something since their arrival. and she had no clue what it could be. She wondered if away from schoolwork and their natural distraction, he would go back to being his sulky self, not speaking to her unless absolutely required. Or perhaps, he was apprehensive about her judging his family? She slowly made her way down to the kitchen. Over the months, many things had proved her earlier notions false. She cringed at the memory of her own words. There were still many people she had to meet, but if his mother and brothers were anything to go by, whatever the Weasleys lacked in gold, they made up with love and laughter. And it was a good deal anyday.

Hermione knocked on the kitchen door and entered to find Molly Weasley whipping up an appetizing breakfast. The plum woman turned sharply at the noise, pulling her wand in front.

"Oh! I'm sorry Mrs Weasley, I didn't mean to scare you!" she apologized immediately putting up her hands in surrender.

"No... No." The older woman waved slightly and tucked her wand back in her apron. "I'm sorry. Actually it's these times, you know? Anyway, I was expecting you all to be asleep. Anything you need, dear?"

"No, I-I'm good, thank you. Just couldn't sleep."

Molly nodded understandingly. "Need some tea?"

"No, please, it's all right. You are busy."

"Oh come on! Tea is never a trouble." She replied and soon two cups of hot brew made their way to the table. Putting her knives, pots and pans to work, Molly pulled a chair for herself in front of the younger girl. She was quick to put Hermione at ease and they spoke easily. The older witch told her stories of her childhood and school life and finally anecdotes of her children. Soon the two women were chatting away happily, Hermione feeling more relaxed than she had in days.

Their conversation was broken by the sound of the door opening. A slightly drowsy Ron entered, followed by Ginny and Harry who were softly chatting with each other. The tall boy glanced at the girl who sat with his mother while the women watched him back, looking as if they had been interrupted in the middle of something funny his mother was stating.

Hermione glanced at Ron. He looked genuinely surprised and a little messy with his tee peeping out from under his jumper, mussed up hair and prominent, copper stubble. He ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling them further and she bit her lips and lowered her eyes. He was looking so carelessly handsome that she felt her heart beating a tad bit faster at his sight. She could feel the blush creeping up, colouring her cheeks and berated herself hard, but with no result.

The three took their places and Molly got up to bring their breakfast. The rest of the meal passed well enough and Hermione felt much more at ease. Even Ginny seemed to have lightened up for some reason and took the initiative to strike up a conversation that rolled on between the girls till the afternoon.

Finally, she was really enjoying the holidays. With the help of her new found friend she got her things from the third floor and set up the spare bed in Ginny's bedroom. She had no clue where Ron and Harry were, and for once, was not bothered. Later in the day, the girls came down and helped Molly set up the table for another batch of fabulous meal that was lunch. The twins were coming down and also someone named Nymphadora Tonk who introduced herself simply as 'Tonks'. She looked a little down to Hermione, but Ginny ensured her that earlier, Tonks used to be a really high spirited girl. The young Gryffindor also suggested that she suspected the young Auror was actually heartbroken over some man, although, Ginny didn't really have a clue who it could be.

The twins arrived soon and filled the room with more laughter. Fred came ahead and quickly claimed the place next to Hermione. She happily took part in the meal time ritual this time, chatting, laughing and passing the plates and pumpkin juice jugs to one another. Allowing Fred to fill her goblet with the lip-smacking juice, and taking in a deep gulp, she decided that this was the absolute correct way to have meals.

...

She woke up in her earlier bedroom feeling a little disoriented.

Hadn't she taken her stuff down to Ginny's room? Then why was she here?

It seemed to be dark outside and the room was only lit by a few candles high up on the wall. She removed the covers and left the bed, noticing that she was dressed in the same peach coloured nightgown which she had been rescued in.

When did she change?

Something was different, and she could not decide what though. It felt strange, like anticipation, but for some unknown reason, it did not scare her, on the contrary, she felt an urgent need to open the door and go out.

Why?

Her feet carried her out of the door that was unlocked and she descended down the staircase one step at a time, her shoes breaking the silence of the otherwise unnaturally silent house.

Where was everyone?

"Hello?" she called. Surprisingly, she was still not feeling scared. As she went lower she could roughly make out someone who was sitting on the stairs in the landing outside the second floor. Recognising that mop of hair, she felt a sense of calm and nerves hit her simultaneously.

"Ron?" she called softly, a little confused at how his name sounded on her lips.

He turned his head slightly.

"Hermione..."

"Where is everyone?" she asked, stopping a couple of steps behind him, holding on to the railing for some reason.

Did he just whisper her name like that?

"They have all gone to the Diagon Alley." He replied, still looking away.

"Oh! And, you?"

"I'm here to keep guard." He answered.

"Harry?"

"He left too. It's just you and me..." She could feel her heart beading madly. There was something in his voice that made her dizzy and a little bit scared as well.

"Does it bother you?" he asked.

"I'm sorry... what?"

"Does it bother you that we are alone here?"

"N-No." She managed as he got up and turned at her slowly, his face lit up partly by the candles on the wall next to them.

"But it should, you know?" he whispered while he took in her face, his eyes stopping shamelessly on her lips.

"Why...?" she breathed, captivated by his eyes, and that face that was so close to hers.

"Because I am not the right person to guard you..." He replied as he cupped her face with his right palm. His long fingers entangled in her hair while his thumb brushed over her lips. His eyes never moved away from the ministration of his finger.

"Y-You aren't?" she managed somehow. Every nerve in her body was tingling now. Her legs were feeling like jelly and she gripped the railing harder.

"No. I can't guard you against myself." He answered simply as his left hand moved, catching her swiftly around her waist, and causing an involuntary gasp to escape from her lips.

"R-Ron..."

"Are you scared of me, Hermione?"

"A-A little."

"Good. You should be." He replied with a satisfied smile and licked his lips.

She released a shaky breath.

"Do you know why you should be scared of me?" he asked and she shook her head in response. Her eyes were caught in his gaze, unable to look away from those blue ones that seemed to be filled with undisguised love and a scary amount of passion.

"Because, I wish to do things to you Hermione, touch you like no one has ever before, claim you for myself, mind...body and soul." He whispered and she lowered her eyes, blushing till the roots of her hair.

"Look at me." He said and she forced her heavy eyelids to do his bidding.

A set of firm lips crashed on hers the moment their eyes met, and her eyes closed of their own accord while she melted in his arms. His lips and tongue were skilled, she knew that already, didn't she? And they were persistent. They pulled, sucked and probed till she relented and with a deep, feral growl he claimed her mouth while his left arm pulled her closer. His fingers were gently tugging on her hair, angling her face to his demand. She tentatively began kissing him back and that seemed to take him off the edge, as he kissed her harder. How on earth she was still standing, she had no clue, maybe because her weight was balanced on him completely, and she was holding around his neck for support.

When did that happen?

He released her lips and she groaned softly at the loss of contact but not for long. His mouth had moved to her exposed neck as he tugged on her hair to tilt her back slightly. Her feet were still a couple of steps above him which balanced their height, positioning his face perfectly at her breast if he bent a little. She gasped audibly as his mouth came down on her exposed skin just below her collar bone, her hands moving into his hair of their own accord.

"Rrron..."

Urged perhaps by his name, Ron untangled his fingers from her curls and placed them on the laced neckline instead and pulled them down an inch. Hermione was sure she would pass out from the sheer amount of sensations flooding her body as his fingers grazed the top of her breasts. Was she wearing anything underneath? She hoped not.

He stopped what his fingers were doing and lowering his mouth, placed his lips directly on her satin covered nipple, sucking it very gently as she gasped aloud. He licked the sensitized bud, wetting the thin film of cloth and rendering it translucent. No, she definitely had no innerwear.

He stopped for a minute. "Do you want me to go on?" he asked and sucked the nipple once more.

"Y-Yes."

"The other one?" he asked seductively and bit the tip softly between his teeth once.

"Y-Yesss." She managed.

"You're sure?" he teased.

"Ron!" she urged, unable to bear the separation of his lips from her body.

"Hermione." He called back softly.

"Hermione!" he called again but for some reason, his voice sounded different.

"Hermione!"

This time she snapped her eyes open and was dazzled by the flooding light of the room.

Hold on... Room?!

She focused harder and found a grinning face close to her own... that of Fred Weasley.

She looked around a little dumbfounded, taking in the silence of the room and the curious faces who were looking at her intently. She wanted to ask if she had dozed off but couldn't.

Had she really cried out Ron's name?! She seriously hoped not.

"How was the demo?" asked Fred, grinning wickedly and she turned around in horror to watch a similar grin on the other twin. This couldn't be happening! Did they know?!

"Don't worry, we don't know what you saw or whom you saw, for that matter." Answered George with a smirk still playing on his lips and she gulped slightly, still not sure what was happening.

"You have actually experienced our latest, extremely hit product, The Day Dreaming Potion," he continued. "A perfected and personalised day dream charm with the man or woman of your dreams, in various different settings you can choose from. I believe, you had the Home-Alone version?"

She neither acknowledged nor refuted his words, stunned as she was. Thankfully, Molly seemed to be absent. Hermione licked her lips and picked up the goblet for a sip.

"Don't drink that!" admonished Ron sternly and she met his eyes briefly before looking away immediately and blushing crimson at his sight. But she decided to heed his words and let the goblet be.

"I-I'll be back." She muttered softly to no one in particular and literally ran out of the door.

A/N: Thank you for reading. Please leave a review, thanks!