Chapter 10

~*~

Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk and popped a lemon drop in his mouth. He could tell Hermione's shields were starting to drop. He had to think of a plan. But his main concern was that the attacks from the death eaters were lowering. He had to think of a plan. It was time to call in his little spy. He told Minerva he was needed at Ministry and would be gone for the day. She nodded not thinking anything about it.

Severus hadn't seen the headmaster all day and it got him wondering were the old geezer went to. He knew the Ministry hadn't called him away. He swore under his breath and vanished to Malfoy Manor.

Tom knocked over a well of ink when he saw a swirl of black smoke. He was face to face with his oldest grandson. "Severus Snape! You know better."

"Dumbledore has left the castle."

"Lucius has not mentioned a meeting for the Ministry. He's after Hermione's family. Go and be careful." Tom told him. He nodded and was gone in swirl of black smoke.

~*~

Albus stood at the Grangers' home and knocked on the door. He didn't have to wait for long. He stood face to face with Jane Granger. Albus told her he was the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizard. She let him in without any worry. She closed the door behind him.

"Is Mr. Granger home as well?" Albus asked watching a one year old little girl crawl on the floor.

"Yes. I'll get him. Please have seat." Jane disappeared down the hall to retrieve John. She quickly returned with her husband.

"What is wrong with Hermione?" John asked worryingly.

Albus smirked "Nothing this can't fix to make her come to her senses." he pulled out his wand and the family was dead with three flashes of green light. He trashed the house and sent up the dark mark. He vanished from the house grateful for his little spy's information that the family was home and unguarded.

Severus and Nott appeared at the Grangers home and saw the dark mark above the house. They ran inside and found Jane, John and little Rose dead on the floor.

"Damn it!" Severus swore and punched the wall. "We were too late. We have no proof again that bastard was here." Nott squeezed his shoulder and they were gone with a pop.

~*~

Severus found his grandfather pacing the floor in front of the fireplace. Tom stopped when he heard someone enter the room. Severus shook his head. Tom grabbed the nearest thing to him which was a vase. He threw it across the room hitting the wall shattering into thousands of pieces. Severus jumped at the sudden out burst.

"Can I do nothing right Severus." Tom said, easing himself into his arm chair. "My granddaughter has just lost her family. Dumbledore's after her because he's realized that her walls have been slowly falling. Go back to Hogwarts before anyone notices you are gone."

Severus nodded and took that as a queue that his grandfather wanted to be alone. He needed to think of his next action to take. Severus was gone with a swirl of black smoke.

~*~

Severus appeared in the darken corridor of the dungeons. He quietly made his way to Remus's class room. He stood at the door and knocked and heard him call 'enter.' Severus swept into the room and Remus studied his cousin carefully. He quickly stood up and walked around his desk. He could tell something was gravely wrong.

"The Granger family have been murdered Remus." Severus told him and he watched Remus quickly walk out of the classroom. He quickly followed him knowing he was going to the headmaster's office. "Now don't do anything stupid Remus."

"Like kill the bastard." he growled. "Lop pops," and the statue jumped aside and they stepped onto the moving staircase.

Severus was gone a swirl of black smoke to enter the headmaster's office. Remus only shook his head at his cousin. He knew Severus had to make it look like he knew about the attack.

~*~

Hermione sat in the headmaster's office wondering what was going on. She tried to keep her wolf at bay and she saw Severus enter out of the condor of her eye. She could smell her mate on the other side of the door.

Remus swept into the room without even knocking. Albus raised a brow at the werewolf. He saw the werewolf shift in Remus's eyes. Remus stood behind Hermione and gently rested both hands on her shoulders for comfort.

"Miss Granger I regret to inform you that your parents have been found murdered. The dark mark was found over their home." Professor Dumbledore told her.

'He's lying.' She told Remus in his mind. 'They wouldn't.'

'They didn't love. Dumbledore was behind it. I can smell it on him don't do anything rash Hermione.'

Hermione growled deep inside her chest and eyes flashed dangerously at the headmaster. She shook her head. 'Get out of mind old man. I won't be controlled by you any longer.' she mentally told the headmaster trying to block him from controlling her.

~*~

Tom sat at the table in the library with books surrounding him when his head snapped up. He could feel Dumbledore entering Hermione's mind. He had placed a special warning charm over hers and Ginny's marks for their protection to able him to help them block their minds. He could feel her distress and it disenabled her to completely focus.

Tom took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He focused on Hermione. He carefully entered her mind not to alarm Dumbledore. He could make sure Remus knew it was him trying to help. Tom knew it took a lot of power to channel from such a distance. He needed to protect his granddaughter.

~*~

Hermione sat back with heavy sighed. She could feel someone entering her mind but it was calming to her. 'Hermione, it's Tom. I've placed a special charm over your mark along with Ginny's to help protect you. I could sense your distress. Now I need you to listen to Remus and calm down your wolf. Can you do that for me?'

'Yes.' she took several deep breaths and the tears fell down cheeks. She finally broke down knowing that Tom was there to block her mind for her.

'That's my girl. I'll be with you until he lets you leave the office. My men did not attack your family. Remember that. I didn't have time to set them up a safe house. You're apart of the family and we care about you. So don't you worry. I'll do all I can to help and keep you safe.' Tom gently told his granddaughter.

"Professor can I go please." Hermione whispered not wanting to be around the man.

"Of course my dear." he told her also disappointed not able to enter her mind at the moment. He would just have to try later.

She left the office quickly followed by Remus slamming the door behind him. The portrait shook and Fawks nearly fell off his perch.

"Well, Severus I was wondering when Voldemort would strike again. It's shame that it was our Hermione's beloved family."

Severus stepped out of shadow. "Yes. It's a shame to see that happen. She'll turned to Potter and her little friends. It will make her work that much harder in her research. We both know how she acts when something bad happens." Severus swept from the office leaving the mad headmaster to his thoughts.

Albus's blue eyes shined evilly. He knew Severus was correct about Hermione. She did work harder when something bad happened. That was his main goal with killing off her family. "It's going to work perfectly."

~*~

Remus safely portkeyed him and Hermione to Malfoy Manor. They appeared in the large library. She sank to her knees in tears and he slowly went down with her. Tom quickly swept over to the couple once again conceal in the glamour charm. He knelt down beside the couple. He ran his fingers through her slick curls.

"You did right thing bringing her here, Remus." Tom whispered. "Dumbledore could enter her mind at anytime. Even with my magic helping her."

Hermione gripped Remus's robes and her body shook with sobs. She was extremely close to her parents and her baby sister. He rocked her back and forth letting her greave for her family. "Why? Why?" she pulled back and hit on his chest letting out her pain and frustration.

Remus gently grabbed her wrists and cupped her face with both hands. "He's doing it to hurt you and make you work hard to research. He knows your weaknesses Hermione. He's using it to his advantage."

"We'll do all we can to protect you. I promise." Tom whispered and she nodded her head.

Severus and Ginny appeared it swirl of black smoke. The red head ran over to her best friend. Tom quietly moved back and took his normal seat and watched the two friends.

Tom told Severus to inform Narcissa to get the funereal and had Hermione's parents things packed and to sale the house when it was time. He nodded and left the room.

The group sat long as they could until they had to leave and head back to Hogwarts so that the headmaster and other staff members noticed they had left school grounds.

~*~

Hermione had informed Harry and Ron about her parents and baby sister's death. They were quickly at her side to comfort her. She knew she was grateful for them even with them being on the wrong side of the war. She kept that to herself. She just knew that she needed the comfort.

Ron had informed his parents of Hermione's family death. Molly quickly went to work at wanting to handle things for the young woman. But Hermione told Mrs. Weasely that her parents had everything set up. She didn't want to tell her that Tom Riddle had everything taken of care of for her.

~*~

Hermione stood in London Cemetery starring at three coffins that were before her. The last of her family. She felt Remus take hold of her hand. She looked up and saw Tom standing across from her concealed his snakelike appearance with many charms. He had told Hermione's friends that he was a friend of the family. She looked around at the Weasely family and Harry that stood around her. She wanted to run and hide away until the war ended but she had to stop the evil. She didn't want another family be torn apart like hers.

"You guys go on." Hermione told the Weasely family. "I need a moment." Molly nodded and kissed her forehead and ushered the others way.

Tom walked over to Hermione and took her into his arms. Remus ran his finger through her hair. "Don't you worry. We'll win this war. Not just for us but for those lost." he whispered. "You know where to find me." He kissed her forehead and walked away.

Remus quietly lead her over to the Weasely family and Harry and they left the cemetery to leave the Granger family lay to rest.

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