A/N: Thanks to all reviewers, followers and favorites; they are much appreciated! Hope you enjoy this chapter—the next one will be longer. Drop a review to let me know what you think!

Ever Yours,

SunnyBunny99

Chapter VII

The main gate of Grimmauld Castle led into a cobblestone courtyard, where the unharmed members of the Order were gathered, dismounting and letting servants take their horses to the stables. Snape's ebony charger was already in a stall, his rider nowhere to be seen—presumably already in the castle.

"Lady, may I take your horse?"

Startled, Hermione looked into the earnest face of a young man. He looked near to her own age, with a tousled mop of black hair and deep green eyes which flicked back and forth across her face as he gazed at her from the ground. "Uh...yes, I suppose so, thank you," she stammered, swinging out of the saddle and landing lightly.

"It's my honor," the other said in reply, smiling at her in a warm fashion, then noticed, "Why...! Your horse has no bridle or reins; how do you direct?"

Lost for words, Hermione had to scramble for a suitable explanation. "I, uh...use magic, of sorts," she said lamely.

"Oh, that's understandable!" the stable hand nodded. "If I am not being too direct, I wager you and I are close in age. It isn't often that the Order returns with someone like us...a young person, I mean."

Hermione looked at him, her curiosity piqued; here was someone who knew the place and everyone in it. "Of course not...young people can't be trusted to fight a war." She stepped closer, around Enya, and brushed dust from her coat before extending a hand. "My name is Hermione Granger, if you ever wish to find me."

The young man took her hand, bent down and kissed her knuckles before straightening back up and replying, "And I'm Harry Potter."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mister Potter."

"Oh, call me Harry," he said quickly. "Only Snape calls me Potter."

Hermione detected a hint of fear and loathing in his tone, and noticed that he hadn't given Snape the honorary title of "Master" before his name as the other servants did. She was about to ask why when Tonks interrupted—

"Hermione, come on, we're going in!"

"Coming, Tonks," replied the young woman, and she turned back to Harry. "I will find you again later, Harry. Until then." He nodded respectfully back at her and she dashed off to join the Order as they proceeded into the main castle.

As the iron-studded double oak doors swung aside, the breath was stolen from Hermione's lungs. There were several great chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, but floating freely by themselves and not on chains. The white walls were draped with banners and paintings—moving paintings, shifting around and gossiping with each other, a few human subjects going from one frame to the others.

Seeing her reaction, Remus smiled proudly and Tonks prodded her shoulder to point upwards. Hermione looked and saw that the high vaulted ceiling seemed to be open and displaying the clear, cloudless blue November sky.

"It's enchanted," explained Tonks with a smile. "At night you can see the constellations."

"Beautiful," breathed Hermione.

"Indeed it is," said a new voice, male and ringing with authority.

All five people turned and immediately four of them—Tonks, Remus, Mad-Eye and Sirius—dropped to one knee with their faces bent to the marble floor. "My liege!" they chorused.

Lord Albus Dumbledore smiled down at his knights, a pair of electric blue eyes sparkling from his weathered, white-bearded face. He spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture and said, "Rise, my faithful friends." They obeyed and he swept forward, first embracing Sirius and going down the line until he reached a trembling Hermione. Unsure of how to conduct herself, she dipped into a low curtsy.

"Oh, please rise, Miss Granger; such formalities are unnecessary, although I appreciate the gesture," the old man chuckled, taking her small, smooth hand in his larger, knobby-boned one and patting it. "You are my guest in this place, and I shall see to it that you are treated as such. I have informed the house-elves of your arrival and your chambers should be prepared by the end of dinner tonight."

"M-my Lord?" Hermione flushed. "You know I was coming?"

The mischievous yet wise twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes amplified. "But of course! Severus met with me soon as he arrived here, told me everything—you seem to be a natural at healing magic," he gushed.

"I...I'm a work in progress."

"Every great wizard or witch of legend was once a learner," Dumbledore said. "Being here will allow you to focus more on honing those skills. Here at Grimmauld Castle we have a great many number of people who will be all too happy to help train you up. Would you be partial to that?"

"It would be an honor, sir," Hermione said earnestly.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore glowed, and clasped his hands together. "Well, enough chit-chat for now. I'm sure you're all quite tired and hungry, so let's eat!" He then clapped twice, and Hermione gasped as the long banquet table was suddenly laden with food of all sorts. Dumbledore took his seat at the head as the rest of the Order arranged themselves on either side; Tonks grabbed Hermione and pushed her into a chair between she and Remus.

As the meal began, Hermione allowed herself to be dazzled. There was more food on this table than most townspeople back at home had ever laid eyes on in their whole lives, and much more variety. Savory roasted duck, quail, chicken, pork, veal, venison; loaves of whole grain and sourdough breads, wheels of different colored cheeses studded with fruit and nuts, pudding with savory and sweet sauces, baskets of fresh fruit and jugs of cold, clean water, aged mead, fine wines, butterbeer and pumpkin juice. It was almost overwhelming.

Hermione tucked in until she could not take another bite or sip. Around her, the Order was celebrating their return with joking, stories, laughter and lots of alcohol. Again, though, Snape's absence was noticed; then again, Hermione could not blame him. When he had passed her at the gate he sat in the saddle like a man who had aged a century in one hour.

"You should go get some rest; you've had a long day," said Tonks by her side, the smell of wine strong on her breath.

Wordlessly Hermione got up and went to Dumbledore, who had politely refused any alcohol and now turned a pair of very bright eyes on her. "Lord Dumbledore, may I be excused to my chambers now?"

The old wizard laughed. "Of course, Miss Granger! Dobby!"

With a muffled snap, a small goblin-esque creature with huge batlike ears and watery, bulbous eyes appeared at his side and spoke in a squeaky voice: "Lord Dumbledore! What would you be needing today, sir?"

"Dobby, please take Miss Granger to her chambers," said Dumbledore.

The house-elf bowed. "Dobby lives to serve Lord Dumbledore and his friends!" Before Hermione could say or do anything the little creature had grabbed her hand and snapped his fingers; suddenly she found herself standing in another room.

"If Miss Granger should be needing anything, all she should do is call for Dobby!" the house-elf squeaked.

"Oh...alright. Thank you, Dobby," Hermione said, still slightly dizzy. Dobby bowed and snapped out again, leaving the young woman to herself in her new bedchambers.

Having an ever curious spirit, the first order of business was exploration. Hermione crossed the room and opened the huge chest of drawers to see that all of her belongings had been magically transferred into it, except for her ratty old clothes, which had been replaced by a rack full of fine dresses all crafted of satin, linen, cotton and silk. The drawer below was full of footwear: slip-on flats, heels, boots and the like.

Hermione quickly undressed from her dusty patchwork dress and tugged a sheer silk robe from its notch before seeking out the bathroom. She soon found it, a gorgeous dome-roofed affair with a marble tub and multiple silver taps which ran colored foam. The tub was soon filled with steaming water and bubbles into which Hermione sank gratefully with a sigh.

After a long and luxurious bath, she dried with a fluffy towel and slipped on the robe. Back in her bedchamber, she pulled aside the heavy velvet curtains of the four-poster bed and tumbled onto the goose-feather down mattress.

The sheets were soft and cool against her skin, and Hermione gazed contentedly up at the ceiling, which had been set with the same charm as that in the main hall; now it reflected the clear, star-studded night sky.

Yes indeed, Grimmauld Castle was a good place. She could most definitely get used to this.