Chapter 31: Trouble Back home

Hermione was sitting at the dinner table with her brothers, Severus, Albus, Minerva and her parents when a tan owl came to the window and rapped it for entrance. Blaise went to get it but the bird flew instantly to Hermione.

"Hey Butters, how have you been?" The bird hooted at her before moving himself to the back of her chair. "What do you have for me?" she took the letter but the owl sat there and stared at her, "So you need a reply?" another hoot, "Ok well you just go sit out on a tree and I'll have some food sent for you as I write one ok?" the bird gave a final hoot before flying out of the house. "Marian?" there was a pop behind her.

"Yes Misses?"

"Hi, could you please take a bowl of food out to the beige owl sitting in one of the trees, he has a journey to return a reply and I don't want him going on an empty stomach."

"Of course miss."

"Thank you," and the elf was gone.

"Who's it from Mia?" Lucius asked.

"I think it's from Mum, I mean Mrs. Granger."

"Oh, what does she say?" Narcissa asked ignoring her daughter's correction.

"I don't know," she tore open the letter and as her eyes reached the bottom, all the color drained from her face. She stood quickly and ran to her room. The group looked at each other before they noticed that their jewelry was turning a vibrant color of yellow-red.

"She's upset about something," Lucius said stating the obvious. They heard a crash from upstairs and they went to go investigate it. They found Hermione's door locked and she refused to talk to any of them or unlock it. After a good fifteen minutes of trying to do so, Minerva had unlocked the door and walked in to find her granddaughter in the bathroom sitting inside her large tub with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Go away! I said I didn't want to talk to you about ANYTHING!" she threw a bottle of shampoo at her grandmother's head.

"Actually you never said anything," Draco said trying to get a smile, it failed because he had a lufa coming at his head, he had to make a quick move to miss it.

"wasn't the locked door enough of a hint?" She screamed collapsing back into the tub.

"Baby, we just want to talk," Minerva said soothingly, "Please don't shut us out, let us help you."

She was silent for a while, simply staring at the periwinkle paint on the wall, the family gathered around her and waited for her to open up.

"He's gone Grams, just gone." It was a small whisper almost in audible.

"What?" Narcissa asked as she got closer. The boys had decided that this was a mother daughter moment and left, that is all but Lucius. He went and stood behind the tub putting a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulders.

"Mr. Granger, Mother, He died, she didn't say how, but she wants me to come home for the funeral… I should have been there, I should have been there to save him, but it's too late, he's gone." She sobbed uncontrollably as she leaned into her father's touch. Her mother and grandmother wrapped their arms around the poor girl and just let her cry and screamed. After what seemed like ages she had regained control of her emotions. "Grams, there was one more thing, I am sure that she had good intentions when she wrote this… she said that she would like for me to bring as many friends and family that I desired. I want you and Grandpa to come along, Mother, Daddy, you'll come too right?"

"Of course."

"Your grandfather and I will come too."

"I would also like Severus, the Weasleys and Harry to come too, if that's alright."

"Your mother has already approved of them so I see no reason to say no now." Narcissa said.

"Thank you." She smiled a teary smile and got out of the tub with help from the three adults and went downstairs to ask Severus to join her for the funeral. When everyone was seated at the dinner table again she spoke, "Um... there was one bit of information that Mum passed on that I think would only be fair to share now." She looked around and saw no hints of objection so she continued, "She wants us there from Friday until Wednesday, just since our family is going to be there, she wants some form of civil company and they will leave Tuesday but she wants some time with us so…"

"That's fine Mia," Her father said, "I'll request the time off at the ministry."

"I don't suppose that it could hurt to postpone our studies for a week." Severus said.

"Ok, I should probably go talk to the Weasleys…" just then the floo roared announcing the message coming through.

"Hermione?" Came a calm familiar voice.

"Hey Fred," She smiled at the fire head of her boyfriends twin.

"No, it's me George."

"Nice try Gred, I know it's you."

"How do you do that?"

"Practice, what's up?"

"George has asked that you come through, he is calming Mum down right now."

"Calming her down from what?"

"She got a letter from your mother today about your dad's death."

"Shit!" Hermione's hand went to her head and she held a clump of hair.

"Hermione!" Narcissa scolded, "Watch your mouth.

"Sorry Mother, when did she get the letter?"

"I'm not…

"WHEN FRED?"

"Just a few moments ago."

"Ok move I'm coming through," His head disappeared and before she left she turned to her family, "I don't know when I'll be back, let me just go sort this out and figure out a plan for them."

"Take your time Baby." Narcissa said. Hermione smiled at her mother before flooing out of the house.

Hermione returned an hour later to find her parents waiting for her.

"So how'd it go?" Lucius asked.

"Well I was greeted by a bone crushing hug from Molly, I will be surprised if I don't have a bruise on me; anyway, everyone bombarded me with questions which I answered. I finally got a moment and I asked if they would come with me. Arthur said that he had a meeting over the weekend so he and Molly would gladly allow the kids to come with us and they would meet us at the service. So they will be arriving Friday morning and they will leave with us."

"OK."

"What?"

"What?"

"You aren't' telling me something."

Narcissa sighed, "There's no point in even attempting to lie Lucius," He nodded, "Your grandfather and Severus got an urgent meeting notice and your father has to attend on Friday, they won't be leaving with us."

"Oh."

"That's it, you're not mad?"

"Why should I be mad, you are doing your job, and as long as you are there that's all I care about."

"Good, because I am working on getting us an early out."

"Thanks Daddy." She ran to her father and hugged him.

Friday came and Hermione awoke early and started packing, she only packed a few cloths and her toiletries since she had left a few cloths at the Granger house. When she was done packing and was showered and dressed, she took her bag downstairs and noticed that there were five bags, besides her parents and her brothers' bags she didn't recognize. She frowned and went into the kitchen where she got her answer; her grandparents were eating with the twins, Harry and Ginny.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"Good morning Baby," Narcissa said.

"Good morning Beautiful," George wiped his mouth and kissed his girlfriend.

"Hello to you too." She smiled at him and then looked at her mother, "Is Dad already gone?"

"Yes I am to meet him in fifteen minutes."

"Oh," was all she could say.

"Are you hungry, you didn't eat much last night?"

"Yes a bit." Narcissa fixed her daughter a plate before sitting down herself. About an hour later they were ready to go. Minerva and Narcissa had made a portkey that took them to an alley near the Granger home. They shrunk the bags and put them in their pockets and everyone grabbed part of the portkey and they were whisked away to muggle London. They landed in the alley way that they wanted and Hermione walked away from the group and up to the small picket fence that surrounded the side of her house. She walked up to a side door and dug in the garden where her spare key was hidden. She unlocked the door and walked into the house, the others soon followed her and Narcissa and Minerva enlarged the bags before setting them next to the door.

"Mom?" Hermione called looking down the three halls that met at the door. She got no answer so she called again, still no answer, she looked to her right and led the group to a fairly large kitchen, she found her adoptive mother sitting at the table staring at the place that her father usually sat blankly. "Mom?"

"Oh Hermione dear I didn't hear you come in."

"Are you ok?"

"Ya." Her voice was broken giving truth that she was anything but, Hermione raised an eyebrow at her, "He's gone Hermione, he's gone, and he left me here!" She hung her head in despair; Hermione wanted to cry but decided that she needed to be strong for the sake of her mother. She set her keys on the island coming into the room and she leaned onto her mom and put her arms around her neck and allowed her to cry. She hugged her tight and kept saying that it was going to be ok, that they were going to make it through this. A good fifteen minutes later, Mrs. Granger had collected herself enough that she was able to properly greet her guests. "Oh welcome to our home I am sorry this place is such a wreck, it's been a week that's for sure. Here let us show you to your rooms." Mrs. Granger led them to the stairs before she turned to her daughter. "Hermione, I have put your professors in the Blue guest room, your parents into my room, I assume that there are others that weren't up for the journey yet?"

"Yes Mom, Um, Professor Snape is still coming with Father, Grandpa and Blaise."

"Oh dear, I didn't think that you had invited a few…."

"Mom, grandpa is Professor Dumbledore, you're ok," Hermione said quickly as she saw tears of in her mother's eyes.

Mrs. Granger nodded, "Right, well then, Professor Snape will have your room, and you and your friends can have a mass camp out in your father's…. In his…"

"Ok Mom, I know what you mean, I will take care of it," Hermione looked at her mother and she looked like she hadn't slept in days. "Mom have you slept at all?" She shook her head, "Where are you going to stay?"

"On the pull out on the couch downstairs."

"Oh Mrs. Granger…"

"Oh please it's Jane, we are practically family after all."

"Jane then, we don't want to put you out, my husband and I are perfectly capable of sleeping on the couch."

"No it's fine, I haven't slept in there anyway, it's been…."

"Hard." Hermione finished.

"Yes, anyway…"

"Mom, I'll take it from here, I know where everyone is staying so why don't you go lay down for a bit and we'll be back down in a moment."

"I…" The look on her daughter's face said 'no argument,' "Alright, I'll be downstairs if you need anything." And she was gone.

"Follow me please." They followed her down the narrow hall and she led them to the first room, "Grams this will be your room, she opened the door, she left it open as Minerva pulled out her and Albus' bag and set it on the bed, she opened the closet and said, "There are extra blankets in here if you need them and feel free to hang anything up that you would like, each room has an complete set of hangers.

"Thank you Baby."

"Yep, Mom, you and Dad are in here," She walked out leaving her grandmother to do whatever unpacking had to be done. She walked three doors down and opened the door, "again, feel free to hang anything up in the armoire, let me see if it's empty," she did and it was, "Yes feel free to hang anything up here."

"Ok, are you…"

"I'm fine," she said curtly, "Guys we are down here," She opened double doors two down from her mother, She noticed that her mother had already set out the air mattresses that they had bought for the family reunion five summers ago. "There is a closet that Mom said was freshly stocked with blankets and hangers for us." She didn't wait for them to say anything; she went and grabbed her and Draco's bags from her mother. Hers didn't contain much, just a toothbrush and her other toiletries and a decent pair of pajamas. Ginny had followed her to grab her and her brother's bags. They both returned with bags in their hands. Hermione set hers on one of the single air mattress boxes and left again without so much of a word.

"Is she ok?" Draco asked.

"I think she is trying to stay strong, her mom is having a hard time with this, and she is staying busy so that she doesn't have to think about the pain that is weighing heavily on her heart." Fred said.

"Wow brother, that was deep," Ginny said putting a hand on his shoulder. They hung up what needed to be hung and then put their bags in their designated space around the room and headed down the hall, where they were met with the other two members of their party. After a wordless conversation, they walked down the hall and down the stairs where they saw Hermione watching her mom sleep with pain written all over her face.

"It's almost lunch time, are you hungry?"

"Not really," George said calmly.

"I'll go fix some lunch you all should eat," she briskly walked out of the room and into the kitchen where she started cooking a lunch for everyone. She had decided on Sandwiches and Mac and Cheese with salad for everyone. When she was done she went out and woke her mother. "Mom, you need to eat something."

"I'm not hungry," She said sleepily.

"Mom get up and eat, now." She looked at her daughter and saw that no nonsense look again and reluctantly got up.

"What does everyone want?"

"Mom, I already made ham and turkey sandwiches with Mac and cheese and salad, all you have to do is eat."

"Thanks princess."

"You're welcome," she turned to the group, "Well get eating, it's not going to jump out and bite you." The group took a seat around the table which didn't leave any room for Hermione but she quickly cleared a spot on the counter and put her plate there, she put a plate in the microwave for a few minutes, while it cooked, she sat on the counter and ate her sandwich. When it was done, she was almost done with her sandwich and she moved things around the plate and grabbed a knife, she put the plate on the table before grabbing one of the hotdogs on it. She cut up the hotdog and put it in her bowl of Mac and cheese.

"Hermione that is disgusting," Jane said.

"Mom, Dad and I have eaten our Mac this way for as long as I can remember and I think it's delicious."

"Yes and do you know how many times I begged him not to get you hooked?"

"I've heard stories," Hermione smiled at her mom while picking up a hot dog and noodles onto her fork and put it into her mouth putting a big smile on her face.

"You always were Daddy's little girl," Jane said.

"Yes I was," Hermione's smile faded and the room fell deadly silent everyone ate in silence.

Hermione looked at her mom after a few moments, "When are Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Mark supposed to be here?"

"Tonight around six or seven."

"Do I need to prepare to have them for dinner?"

"Might be a good idea, we can always have left overs, and we need to expand the table, the extensions are down in the basement along with the extra chairs."

"Sure; what about Satan's mistress?"

"Hermione Jean! She is your aunt and you are to respect her better than that, I certainly can tell you that I raised you better."

"Yes ma'am."

"Good girl, your aunt is due tomorrow afternoon."

Soon everyone was done and Jane was the first to stand.

"I can take your dishes."

"Mom you will do no such thing, I will take care of the kitchen, you go rest."

Jane wasn't in the mood for arguing and was quite tired, when she had cleared the table and set all the dishes inside the sink and then quickly put away the food in its respected place in the fridge.

"So who is this Saten's mistress that you speak so highly of?" Fred asked from his place at the sink as he started dishes with Ginny and George.

"She's my awful aunt, my father's sister, she doesn't like me at all and she has pretty much disowned me."

"Hermione quit talking about Joanne, I mean it young lady, I am still your mother and I will box your ears."

Hermione looked at the twins and attempted to muffle her giggles.

"How did she do that, you weren't talking very loud?" George asked.

"She has always had exceptional hearing, that and apparently when I talk about Sa… Joanne, there is an acid taste in the air."

Fred and George looked at each other and licked the air, "Yep, now I can taste it, that's good stuff."

The group laughed hard at the joke and finished cleaning up the kitchen. When they were done, Hermione spoke, "I should probably go… outside for a moment." She quickly walked out of the kitchen and out the back door. They decided to give her some space and went up to their rooms for an hour. After they figured she had had enough alone time, they followed each other to the door and saw Hermione talking with a boy that none of them recognized, they walked out and walked over to Hermione who was sitting in one of the lawn chairs by the pool.

"… Hard to think about you know?"

"Yeah, do you remember when my mom died six years ago?"

"How could I forget, I could have heard you crying from a mile away at the funeral, your eyes were so swollen and you were sniffling so bad..."

"Not true, in my defense I had spilled pepper on my suit that morning and I didn't get it all."

"Hmhum, that's what they all say." The two laughed before Hermione realized that they were no longer alone. "Hey guys, this is my friend Bryan, he lives next door with his dad; Bryan, this is my Mother, Narcissa Malfoy, My grandmother and professor, Minerva McGonagall, one of my brothers, Draco and my friends, Ginny, Harry, Fred and George."

"It's nice to meet you all, are you all w… Like Mya?"

"Yes they are just like me."

"Good. I'm glad you found those that you could connect with."

"Me too Bryan."

"I've asked about you but how's your mom?"

"I know she's having a hard time; would you look out for her when I go back?"

"Of course, Jane has been a mother to me too, I will be glad to look out for her."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Almost five after 2. When does the evil arrive?"

"Tomorrow."

"Ouch, I'll be by later when that woman is out cold."

"Like her heart."

"Ouch such bitterness Miss Granger."

"Do you taste it?"

"Don't I always?" the two laughed at their inside joke that they shared since they were kids.

"I had better go get the other rooms ready, Grandmother might actually kill me if it's not done."

"I wouldn't put it past her; I had probably go help Dad in the garage anyway. I'll talk to you later Mya."

"Bye," she saw him put one foot on the fence and jump over and disappear from sight. "Oh that boy, one day he is going to get himself killed doing that."

"Who was that Baby?" Narcissa asked.

"Just an old friend, he was the first person I told about being a witch, and he understands what's going on, he has not only been close to the family since forever, but he lost his mom a few years back."

"Oh." Hermione got up and went up to make the other two guest rooms for her family. She also dusted and straightened up while she waited, that took her about an hour. When she was done, she went down to find that her family and friends were talking and laughing.

"Hi angel, is everything ready?"

"Yep, beds made towels in the bathroom and rooms dusted and the table and chairs are taken care of too."

"Good maybe now they can't complain."

"Ha! See you do see the evilness of our family." Hermione joked

"No I am just not in the mood to argue with your grandmother and aunt this weekend."

"Amen Momma," She smiled at her mom and yawned.

"It seems that I am not the only one in need of rest."

"I am a bit tired."Jane patted her lap and her daughter laid her head upon her thighs. "Mom, will wake in an hour?"

"Sure angel." Jane hummed an old folk song she used to sing to her child when she was younger and Hermione drifted off to sleep. When she was done and Hermione was out cold, Jane talked to the group some more; mostly about Hermione's adjustment into a new family and how she and George were getting along. Soon Hermione's hour nap was done, and she joined reality, she quickly regained consciousness and went to go start dinner to leave her family to chat. The time quickly passed and Hermione's grandparents arrived, Hermione greeted them enthusiastically and introduced everyone but there was still a bit of tension in the Granger Group.

Hermione heard a pop outside, "They're here!" Hermione said jumping off the couch and opening the side door. "Hi Daddy, Hey Grandpa! Come inside," The four followed her into the sitting room where she performed introductions. Everyone respectfully shook hands and then Jane showed her in-laws to their rooms while Hermione showed her father, Grandfather and Severus to theirs.

When she reached her room, she paused. "Severus, what is in this room is not what you would expect from a sixteen year old ok, so please, whatever is in here does not get back to my brothers."

"Deal."

She opened the door and revealed a pale green room filled with miscellaneous porcelain objects, he noticed a Gryffindor board filled with pictures of her friends and family, however because the colors wouldn't go with the room, she had opted not to have her scarf on her board like her brother's. Her desk was basically empty except for a large calendar that sat in front of the chair. Her desk was in a corner facing a window and on the side of the desk there was a shelf that was attached to the wall, on the shelf there were a various assortments of books, but it was what was hanging from the shelf that caught his attention, there were baby food jars filled with things like paperclips, safety pins, thumbtacks, pencil lead and staples.

"My Dad helped me make those; he thought it would help me keep my room organized." She smiled at the memory of him helping her hang the shelf.

"That was nice; I think it's a great idea."

"Me too." He noticed that she was leaning on a four poster bed post, on the bed was a matching bedspread and throw pillows, he noticed a little lion on the bed that she was reaching for, he raised an eyebrow. "Dad got it for me when I wrote them telling them that I got into Gryffindor, he wrote back and asked what they were represented by and when I told him a lion for courage…"

"It's ok to let your emotions out Hermione."

"I know, I just need to be strong for Mom right now, you know?"

"Understandable."

"Let me just grab my outfit for the funeral before I leave and then you can have the room to yourself."

"Take your time." Hermione walked into her closet and grabbed a covered hanger and then smiled at her professor as she walked out of the room.

The family sat down to dinner and ate a wonderful beef stew that Hermione had cooked up. Her grandmother had complimented her success, that threw both Jane and Hermione off but Hermione regained her composure to say thank you. After dinner, they discussed Hermione's schooling and then how the Malfoy's were doing. Soon it was time for bed and they all went their separate ways; Hermione helped her mother ready the pull out bed. She kissed her mom goodnight and then went to bed herself.