It was dark…Hermione couldn't see anything vastly important to her well being. It was strange; Hermione could feel grass beneath her bare feet. She was probably in a wooded area....her head began to hurt from trying to grasp what was going on. She knew she was dreaming; it was best she followed through the dream and see where it leads. Hermione looked up as screams began to fill the air. Her eyes bulged as moonlight flooded her surroundings. She knew where she was.
"MOM!" she screamed running down the path she knew too well. "DAD!" Her childhood home appeared; bright lights flashed on and off in the windows. Anger washed through her body, replacing the fear that had grasped her heart. She couldn't let her parents die; she knew that the Dark Mark would be placed over the house after the deaths of her parents. It was routine for Death Eaters to mark the house after the deed was done. A round of evil hackles made Hermione run faster; she knew that voice. It belong o the mad woman….Bellatrix Lestrange. Hermione could see the shadows moving in the windows. She was so close; Hermione pulled out her wand and shouted, "Bombarda!" The wall blasted through reveling her shriveling parents.
"RUN, MARIA!" a familiar voice shrilled as her mom looked up. Instead of the face of Jane Granger, Hermione gazed at her biological mother, Claudia Zabini. Her eyes widen a bright green light enveloped her mother's body. Screams echoed through the air as Hermione's eyes fluttered open.
"Hermione…Hermione, wake up!" Harry hissed shaking his friend desperately. All of the sudden, she pounced. Harry landed on his back with Hermione straddling his hips. Her wand was pointed at his throat, wavering only slightly. "BLOODY HELL!" Hermione realized what was going on and quickly got up. She ran her fingers through her hair as she took a deep breath in. "What was that? You almost took my bloody head off." Hermione looked at Harry who watching her bug-eyed. Her friend was dressed in a pair of ragged pajama pants and a white wifebeater. His hair was messy; looked like he just got out of bed.
"Sorry," she muttered her body still shaking from the nightmare. "Bad dream." Hermione needed to see her paretns' to make sure that they were alive. Something strange was going on; they didn't respond to her letters. Hermione shook her head, trying to stop herself from hyperventilating. Harry would take her to her parents later on; she could convince him. He nodded realizing that he woke her up at the right time. Cold sweat drenched her body from the body spasms she had as she dreamed. Harry could still remember that scream that woke him up. He shuddered at the thought; it scared him that a sound like that could come out of his best friend's lips.
"It's fine...I just have to remember to never wake you again." he joked. Hermione smiled at his trying. "Come on, Ginny is making a spot of breakfast." Hermione took his hand and let him lead her out of the bedroom. Maybe this wasn't bad after all.
"We have to find them soon." Molly stated looking at the group of people that were encased in her kitchen. Remus stood in the back ground; his mind running through all the possibilities. Part of him was proud that Harry took Hermione away. He was quite protective of them after Sirius died. Harry more so because he had lost his godfather, the only connection he had to a real family. Yet Remus always saw a part of himself in Hermione. They both had a love for knowledge, a love to know all there was to know. He could remember several incidents were they had spent all night conversing about numerous subjects. She was a bright witch and the best friend to his self-appointed "godson". Her emotions and actions were directly connected to Harry's. If he did one thing, she would follow up. Ron just completed what they had....they were so much like the Marauders. They were always there for each other. Yet Remus knew that running away wasn't the best way Harry could have handled this. There was other possibilities...if they had hurt her, well that caused a rise in Mooney. They wouldn't chance hurting Hermione. Too many people loved her.
Remus smiled at the thought of his beloved friends. They were always there for him when he need it the most. Since he was a werewolf and all, Remus wasn't allowed the normal acts of a regular witch or wizard. He could remember several times were Lily or James would stand up to the leering people and tell them to sod off. They were the best; Sirius helped him out as well. After he lost his flat, Sirius let Remus stay at Grimmauld 12. The Black Library was humongous, Remus would spend hours in there. Sirius would have to drag him out so he could eat.
"Grimmauld 12," Remus thought to himself. It was a brilliant place to hide...he wondered why nobody has gone there before. It wasn't like that place was unknown to the Order. They used it as headquarters most of the time. Harry would certainly take Hermione there if she was in any trouble. Sirius would have done the same. Remus grabbed his coat off the hanger and made his way to the door.
"Where are you going, Remus?" Molly yelled making several heads turn to him. He smiled slightly.
"I know where they are."
"You should have been there, Hermione. It was bloody fantastic!"Ginny stammered making Hermione smile. They were eating at the table, conversing like hey used to. Harry was reading from his Quidditich magazine while sipping some coffee Hermione made. At the moment, Ginny was telling Hermione about how Ron was turned bright pink by one of George's experiments and wouldn't turn back until the following day. "Mum was furious, of course. Wouldn't stop lecturing them about how they were of age and that they should be responsible...I couldn't stop laughing." Hermione laughed at the thought of Ron being pink.
"Hey, stop laughing at me." a familiar voice muttered walking into the kitchen. "You trying walking through Diagon Alley while you look like a pink giant. Embarrassing it was!" Harry smiled at the recognition of the voice and quickly got up to hug his friend. Ron had grown over the summer, he had to be at least 6 foot now. His bright red hair was cut to where he could see but no more. Hermione suspected that he actually like having long hair; almost identical to Harry's hairstyle. She rolled her eyes at the thought.
"Ron, when did you get in?" Hermione asked taking a sip of her milk-diluted coffee. Ron sat down at the table and grabbed himself a croissant. She crinkled her nose as she watched him stuff his mouth full.
"Last night, everyone was asleep so I slept in the guest room." Ron muttered taking a break from feeding hsi face. "The wards were hard to get through." Hermione looked at Harry who shook his head. Sometimes she wondered how thick Ron was.
"I'll go fix the wards." Harry muttered making his way out of the kitchen. Hermione smiled at the retreating friend and looked back at Ron who was continuing to stuff his face. It made her stomach flip in revulsion ...how could someone eat that much?? It was horribly disgusting. "So why are you here so early? I didn't think you would come until later on." Ron smirked at the thought of his escape.
"Your brother guessed that I knew where the gang was. Unfortuantely, we were in the living room with both of our mothers when Blaise decided to ask me." Ron answered pouring himself some pumpkin juice. "I had to apparate out of there. Mum is furious of course." Hermione nodded before returning her gaze to Ginny, who was smirking at the thought of her brother actually did something cool. "Why did you run away? Ginny wasn't specific on the details." Her eyes flashed over to Ginny who was taking a deep swig of her drink. She sighed dramatically and returned her attention to Ron. This was going to be interesting.
"Let me in, Harry!" Remus bellowed as he was thrown to the opposite side of the road. He had to admit that the wards were pretty good; nobody could enter the house without Harry's permission. Pretty extensive....Hermione taught him well in Charms and numerous other spells. He could see Harry watching him from the window; his head shaking out of sadness. This was hurting the boy. On one hand, he cared for Remus deeply. He had taken over the spot that Sirius held in his life. Yet Harry had promised her would take care of Hermione and the contrast between the two was going to tear at him. Remus sighed before pulling out his wand, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A ghostly image of a grey wolf emerges looking at Remus with puppy eyes. Remus bends down and began to muttered into the Patronus's ear. With one wave of his hand, the Patronus bounded up to the building and jumped into the wall, disappearing from Remus's sight.
xXx
"I'm not going to make you give her up." Remus' voice stated making Harry turn around. Standing in the middle of the living room was a ghostly image of a grey wolf. Harry instantly reconginized it as a Patronus, more specifically Remus's patronus. "I just want to make sure that everyone is okay and perhaps you can explain to me what is going on. Your hand must have been pushed to take such measures." Ron's voice echoed through the air like a hot brand. Hermione must have told him why they ran. Everyone knew how much he hated the Slytherin God. "Let me in Harry. I can help you." The Patronus quickly disappeared as Ron's yelling grew louder. Harry waited and watched as Ron ran in; Hermione and Ginny quickly following him.
"She has to marry the bloody ferret!?!" Ron hissed pointing his finger at Hermione. She glared at him; Ginny placed an arm around her shoulder to comfort her. "What the hell is going on?" Harry looked at Hermione, who he guessed wanted nothing more than to hex Ron into next week.
"Remus wants permission to come in. He wants to help." Harry stated watching as Hermione's eyes flashed over to the window. She could faintly see his outline; him leaning up against a big oak tree. Her glare lost its fire as she looked back at Harry. His emerald eyes watched her as she sighed in defeat.
"Is he going to make me go back? I can't go back right now, Harry. I will go into hiding, if that is the only choice I have." Hermione stated making Ginny cringe. She couln't bare losing her friend. Ginny shook her head. It wasn't going to happen.
"It won't lead to that. If it does, than I'm running away with you. You can't leave me here alone with them." she muttered pointing at Ron, who glared at his sister. Harry smirked at Ginny's bluntness. She could always lighten the mood. Ron shook his head. Hell would freeze over before Ginny ran away with hermione; they stuck together, the four of them.
"It WON'T lead to that, 'Mione." Harry said his voice firm and calm. "Remus gave his word that he wouldn't take you away." Hermione sighed and made her way to the window. Remus looked up at her and smiled. She had a fondness for the werewolf. He would know what to do. She nodded smiling at the man outside.
"Let him in."