Harry quickly stepped out of the blazing green flames and out of the fireplace. He completely ignored the new people that were in the room and paid strict attention to the fire. He had gone first through the floo in order to demonstrate to Hermione how the process worked. Under normal circumstances he probably would have held onto her and taken her at the same time, but as it was, the floo was restricted and limited in the places that could be traveled to; thus Harry wasn't really concerned about Hermione coming out the wrong floo and getting lost.

Although he wasn't concerned for Hermione's safety, he should have been more concerned for his own; because as the emerald flames sparked into life once again, Hermione's novice, floo- traveling body soared out of the hearth and straight into Harry's ill prepared self. He grunted as the air was forcefully evacuated from his lungs, and he fell back onto the stone floor with a painful thump. Seeing stars for several seconds, his vision adjusted and he realized he was looking straight into Hermione's wide eyes and flustered face. She looked to be trying to say something, but her lips just kept moving, unable to produce any sound. Whether that was because there was a whole room full of people watching behind them or because she and Harry's bodies were pressed firmly together, Harry couldn't say.

Finally able to produce a sound, Hermione spoke. "I am so sorry Harry! I was traveling so fast, and I couldn't get my balance, and I couldn't stop myself!"

Harry couldn't help but smile at her nervous ranting, he quickly moved to intervene before she started hyperventilating. "Hermione—Hermione, it's alright. Nobody has an easy time the first time they floo by themselves. Really it's my own fault. I should have been ready to catch you when you came out."

Hermione shook her head, "I still feel like a complete idiot. Especially with all these people staring at us," she finished whispering.

Harry took a glance back into what was the Great Hall of Pembroke Castle and could see about a dozen people sitting at a few long, dark, wooden tables. The wizards and witches had ceased their previous activities and were looking at the two teens on the floor with various reactions. Some of the older occupants were looking at them scandalized while the younger ones looked somewhat amused. Again, Harry didn't really know any of them personally, just by face recognition.

He looked back at Hermione reluctantly. "As much as I'm enjoying lying with a beautiful girl on top of me, I think we better get up."

Hermione seemed to have momentarily forgotten where she was because she blushed brightly, and scurried to her feet, all the while apologizing profusely. As soon as she was up and adjusting her clothing, Harry sat up, picked up his wand which he had dropped when he was speared and got to his feet as well. Noticing the people still watching, Harry gave them a bright smile and a wave before placing a hand on the small of Hermione's back and leading her out of the Hall.

The Hall opened up into another small hallway and then after traveling through another door they made it out into fresh air. They stopped when they made it outside as Hermione was taking a chance to finally get a good glimpse of her surroundings.

"Where are we?" Hermione asked as she spun around admiring the castle walls.

"Wales," Harry answered, "or Pembroke Castle to be more exact." Harry looked on concerned when Hermione's face took on a disappointed frown. "What's wrong Hermione?"

She shook her head, "It's nothing, really. Just that I'm pretty knowledgeable about history and I can't believe I didn't recognize this place."

Harry leaned his back against the thick castle walls. "Don't beat yourself up too much Hermione," Harry consoled. "It's harder to distinguish a castle when you're looking at it from the inside. I'm sure if we were up on one of the towers you would immediately recognize it. The castle is literally right on the Pembroke River."

Immediately intrigued, Hermione looked at him pleadingly, "Can we go have a look?"

Harry looked at her pleading face with her big brown eyes and realized that if she kept looking at him like that she could probably ask him to jump off the castle walls and he would do it without much hesitation. As it was he nodded. "I just have to warn you though; once you look past the water, everything else is gone. The towns have been completely burned by Dumbledore's soldiers." Hermione nodded, acknowledging that she understood. Harry led her up to top of the wall of the castle and then to the North Turret that was right on the edge of the river. He hung back some while Hermione went right up to the edge of the wall.

It had been ages since he had been up on one of towers. He looked around and admired the fortress that was Pembroke Castle. It was a large structure separated into two different sections, and inner bailey and outer bailey. The walls that bordered land were immensely thick, while the ones on the water were thinner due to the water's added protection. The gatehouse stood out impressively in the distance and Harry could see several men standing looking on it. Stopping his own musing, he turned around where Hermione was still looking out.

"How could they do this?" Hermione asked quietly still not looking away.

Harry could pretty clearly guess to what she was referring to. "Horrible isn't it? It's even sadder that this is what most of the United Kingdom looks like now—well, the muggle areas anyway."

"What do you mean?" Hermione questioned, finally turning to face him.

"You have to understand," Harry started, "that before Dumbledore claimed power that there was a strict agreement of secrecy between the magic and non-magic populations. Magical institutions were hidden away right under the noses of muggles."

"Why was it that way though? Why couldn't the two communities coexist?" Hermione continued, trying to control her hair that was blowing in the cool breeze.

Harry sat down against one of the walls to avoid the wind. "That's a really complicated question. A lot of it has to do with fear. Looking back through history, people who did things that were considered weird or unnatural were persecuted and killed by other normal people. Hiding was a means of self preservation that started for magical population hundreds of years ago."

"What changed that led to this situation now?"

"An increasing magical population to begin with; the number of witches and wizards has soared throughout the years. Add to that hostility towards the muggles for having to hide away, and you end up with Dumbledore's rhetoric," Harry explained. "That's why we're all here Hermione. Any tie to muggles was looked down on as a treasonous act. However, Dumbledore graciously allowed for us to flee before threatening our lives," Harry added sarcastically, with menace in his voice.

"Is there any hope at stopping him?" Hermione asked.

"There's always hope Hermione," Harry exclaimed. "It's just that right now we aren't in a position to do much. Dumbledore has too many allies at this point, and trying to fight him head on would be insanity and suicide on our part. Right now we have to settle on gathering intelligence and on small victories—you being one of them."

"Me?" Hermione looked skeptical.

Harry nodded. "Of course, getting you away from harm was a victory for us. Who knows, maybe after some time under my amazing tutelage, you'll turn into our secret weapon?" Hermione looked at Harry like he was crazy for several seconds before they both dissolved laughing. "Alright maybe not secret weapon, but definitely accomplished witch," Harry conceded.

"I'll take that," Hermione added with a grin. "Now didn't you say something about food?"

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

After making their way back down from the turret, Harry led Hermione from the inner bailey to the outer bailey where some additional buildings had been constructed after their group had taken up residence. There was a moderately large stone structure built up against the left side of the castle wall which was their destination. As they approached, loud laughter and talking could be heard as well a smell of cooking wafting out towards them. Harry pulled the door open and the sound was immediately magnified. He held the door open for Hermione and they entered the building.

The pub they entered was almost filled to capacity. It was easily the most popular place in any of the castles. It been had set up to try to instill some sense of enjoyment and normalcy to the Resistance's members. The whole place was made up of two rooms: one large main room that held a bar and twenty round tables, and another smaller room that housed a kitchen. There were chandeliers that provided lighting from the ceiling and several paintings and tapestries that were affixed to the stone walls.

Nobody paid them much attention as they entered, so Harry pulled Hermione along as she admired the room. The finely crafted wooden bar was situated in the rear of the building with the kitchen behind it separated by a wall. Harry led them to a table relatively near the bar and gestured for Hermione to sit on one of bar stools that surrounded it.

"Is fish and chips alright with you Hermione?" Harry asked her. "I promise their really good if not very original."

"Oh, that's fine Harry, thank you," Hermione replied.

"What about to drink? We have something called butterbeer, which is really good or I think we have some muggle stuff if you prefer," Harry stated.

"Whatever you're having is fine with me."

"I'll be right back then," said Harry as he turned and walked up to bar. There were two people working behind it, preparing drinks and taking orders for food. He didn't recognize the older gentlemen, but younger girl he did. As she finished pouring a drink for one of the people at the bar, she saw him and smiled as she made her way over.

"Hello Harry," said the girl, Susan Bones. Her family lived in Pembroke and her Aunt Amelia was the one in charge of running the castle. Harry knew her pretty well as their families spent a significant amount of time together and also from the time he spent in the pub. "Haven't seen you in a few days," she continued before pulling a ribbon from the brown apron she was wearing and tying her long, blonde hair back.

Harry chuckled, "Yeah, well the past few days have been sort of crazy."

She gave him a stern look, "been getting into trouble?"

"Ah, you could say that," Harry confessed. "Nothing too bad though. Can I get two butterbeers and two fish and chips please?" Harry had quickly looked back to check on Hermione and Susan had obviously noticed.

She raised her eyebrows at him. "On a date Harry? Haven't seen that before."

"It's not a date Susan," Harry immediately corrected. "She's my new protégé."

"Protégé?" Susan asked curiously.

Harry rubbed a hand through his messy hair, "It's a long story Susan, but she's a muggleborn we rescued from Dumbledore—never knew she was a witch so I get to teach her."

"Oh," Susan laughed, "good luck with that Professor."

"Ha ha, just get the drinks," Harry mock glared. Susan raised her hands in defense and turned back to pour their drinks from the correct tap. Susan brought the drinks over then went to the kitchen to put in their order. Harry picked the mugs up carefully as not to tip them, and made his way back over to the table that Hermione was seated at, still adjusting to her surroundings. "I got you a butterbeer." Harry placed one of the mugs in front of her. "I guarantee you'll enjoy it."

Hermione smiled and picked up the mug from in front of her. She raised it to her lips and took a tentative sip. Harry was happy to see her smile increase after she had a chance to taste it. "Wow, this really is goo Harry, thanks. Any other amazing wizard drinks you haven't told me about?"

"Well, I think you should stick to the butterbeer for now because the other stuff has a little bit of a kick if you know what I mean. It's only for drinking if you don't want to feel good the next morning," Harry advised.

"Speaking from personal experience?"

"Only once and never again," Harry answered looking extremely regretful. "My godfather thought it would be a good idea, but my mother almost killed him when she found me passed out in the bathroom the next morning. How about you, any bad situations?"

Hermione immediately looked sad. "I never really got the chance to do anything like that. I mean most of the people my age and their families left when things started to get really bad. It was definitely lonely growing up."

"Why did you stay if you don't mind me asking?"

Hermione shrugged after taking another sip of her drink. "I don't really know. Looking back now it seems extremely foolish, but we just didn't want to leave. Our community was really one of the only ones that were still functioning, and my parents were still working. We were just stubborn I guess."

"What did you do for schooling?"

"Well, my regular school didn't shut down for awhile," Hermione explained, "And after it did I just really studied on my own. It wasn't too bad really, I enjoy reading and it gave me a chance to focus on whatever I wanted to."

Harry took a large gulp of his drink before continuing. "That's good because when we go back I'm going to give you some books that you can start reading. It's just some background material to get you started, but it's still important."

"I look forward to it," Hermione smiled.

"Alright here we go," came Susan's voice from beside them, interrupting their conversation as she placed their food in front of them. "Enjoy you two."

xXxXxXxXxXx

The second trip through the floo was much more successful then the first for Hermione, as she only stumbled instead of being propelled out like a missle. The two teenagers had enjoyed their meal and had just relaxed and walked further around the grounds of Pembroke Castle before deciding to head back to Warwick. They had been out so long that it had started to get dark.

"I hope you parents aren't mad that I kept you out so late. I said we would meet up with them, but obviously that didn't happen," Harry commented worriedly.

Hermione laughed, "I wouldn't be too concerned, my parents aren't really ones to panic. And you did save our lives, so the fact that I'm with you probably has them at ease."

"Yeah, well you didn't see the look your father was giving me earlier," Harry said rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"He's all bark and no bite, don't worry about him Harry."

They walked back in peaceful silence to the housing complex and Harry stopped into his family flat to pick up the appropriate texts for Hermione. After he had found them, he escorted her back to her new flat and was immensely pleased when her mother answered the door and not her father.

"Hello Mrs. Granger," Harry greeted her. "Sorry we're back so late, but Hermione was interested in taking a tour of one of the other castles and we got caught up."

She smiled kindly at him. "It's no trouble Harry, we just got back ourselves. Make sure you thank your parents again for us for showing us around."

"I will Mrs. Granger." She patted him on the arm then disappeared back into the flat leaving Hermione and himself standing at the door.

"Well, I enjoyed myself today Harry. Thank you for taking me around," Hermione said gratefully. "I'm going to go get started on these books so I'm prepared for when we start."

Harry leaned against the wall, his hands playing with the ends of his jacket. "I enjoyed myself as well. I needed this after the past few days. And don't stay up too late on those books, make sure you get some rest," Harry ordered gently.

"I will Harry, see you tomorrow," she promised as she made her way inside and closed the door.

"Goodnight Hermione," Harry said quietly after she had already closed the door. He shook his head and started slowly walking back towards his flat.