Thanks again for your reviews, they make my day.
Any ideas on plot twists are welcome. I might not implement all ideas since I have a lot of the story outlined and for some reason if I don't keep writing it down quickly it drives me nuts, but I'm still open to ideas.
My plan so far is to update twice a week so after this chapter expect updates on Sunday 10/3 and Friday 10/8.
Please, please, please continue to review.
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FOURTH YEAR – The return of evil
Back to Hogwarts
Ron continued to lay on his mattress taking in every detail about Hermione. After another hour the arrival of Estella downstairs finally broke Ron from his reverie.
"What are you doing up?" Ron asked.
"It's five thirty Ron, everyone will be waking up soon. I just wanted to have some time to go outside and think. I'll start some more potions and breakfast in a bit" Estella said softly as quietly she made her way out the front door. True to her word she came back within twenty minutes with her eyes looking a bit red and then went to the kitchen and started breakfast. He heard George's mattress shift and uttered 'git' under his breath. Unbeknownst to him George had been awake all night as well and he clearly heard his remark.
Hermione's eyes began to flutter and soon opened up. Ron moved closer to her and had no idea what to say. A single tear fell down her face and Ron didn't even know how, but he had her sitting up with her head under his chin and his arms wrapped around her. She didn't cry anymore, she just sat there with him. After a long while they broke apart and she asked "How long was I asleep?"
"Around four or five hours" Ron answered.
"Is everyone else ok? Harry's parents?" Ron didn't want to tell her about other deaths, but he knew that if he lied she would be angry and the last thing he wanted to do was get into a row.
"Mr. and Mrs. Snape are fine. They are over there" he pointed towards their mattresses which were a couple of rows away.
"Your family is here."
"Yeah, I think Bill and dad are in the order."
"Did anyone else... did anyone else get hurt?" she asked with a shaky voice. Ron stayed quiet. "Please tell me"
"Ely Swanson's parents and Earlene Anderson's husband are dead. The people in here were either injured or came to rest after the attacks. I don't know more" he said uneasily.
"Are Ely and Estella ok?" Ron couldn't believe it. Hermione just lost her parents and was falling apart last night and now she wanted to know about Estella and Ely. That's just like her.
"I dunno. Are YOU ok?"
"I won't throw a fit. You were right last night, this wasn't my fault. It was the Black Hand and their madness. If it wasn't for the Swansons and professors Dumbledore and Snape I would have died too. I'll make it through this and help end it. No one else will go through what I went through last night, not if I can help it" she said filled with conviction. He had never admired anyone more. Ely and Mel came down, waved and made their way into the kitchen. Ron and Hermione got up and noticed other people waking. Harry, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came into the kitchen after them.
"Morning, it's good to see you awake. Hungry?" asked Estella giving Hermione a weak but caring half smile, which was returned in kind. Soon Mrs. Weasley had forced Estella to relinquish control of the kitchen and they all shared a quiet breakfast.
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The wounded were transported by portkey back to England. Dumbledore arranged for Ralph and Esther Swanson and the Grangers to be brought to San Leandro for their service.
The next few days were all fogged into explaining the attacks to the Weasleys that remained uninformed, a good amount of reproaching at Harry and Ron for their spying activities and then the awful funeral and packing madness. No comments were made on certain secrets like Estella's identity and her relationship with George or the kyklos proctais amulets. The Snapes informed the Weasleys that Harry had contacted Ron to get him to safety by using his patronus. The Weasleys were amazed at Harry's abilities, but still annoyed at having to suffer for hours thinking that Ron was missing.
During the combined funeral service Ron and Harry both held onto Hermione and Ely Swanson was similarly sandwiched between Mel and Estella, but no tears were shed. The Snapes started the paperwork to become Hermione and Estella's legal guardians, but Ella declined. She let them know that her aunt and uncle had arranged for Ely to become her guardian if they passed and he was of age and able to do that. Hermione though was relieved to know that she would soon be legally adopted by the Snapes and would be able to continue to be a part of the wizarding world.
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All preparations to return to London by portkey on New Year's Eve and then wait to ride the Hogwarts Express were ended when a large and impeccably brown owl landed on George scratching his face and then flew off him to deliver a letter to Estella.
"Professor" she called and Severus Snape moved next to her.
"Stop making those portkeys" he ordered "the Black Hand is going to deploy hands of terror to wait outside King's Cross"
"I will go to London myself and ensure the safety of students at the station. Severus make portkeys directly to your flat in Hogsmeade and take them from there back to Hogwarts" ordered Dumbledore quickly.
"We'll come to London with you" said Bill quickly and Molly and Liana showed faces of concern and partial disapproval.
"We'll be careful darling" said Mr. Weasley as they tagged along professor Dumbledore. Mr. And Mrs. Snape began making untraceable portkeys with their new destination in mind. Estella muttered "good job Fergus, give him thanks from me" as she gave the owl a treat and water before sending it off. George stared at her for a couple of minutes with the most pathetic mix of longing, guilt and jealousy on his face.
All too soon Ron touched a battered wooden spoon and felt the pull bringing him to Hogsmeade. His first instinct was to check for Harry and Hermione. They were there along with Mrs. Snape and they were safe. Soon he saw Estella, Ely and Melinda arrive with Mr. Snape and then his brothers and sister came with mum and Liana. The Weasleys said their goodbyes and they all made their way to the castle. Hagrid waited for them with a couple of carriages ready by the gate.
Hermione flinched at seeing the animals pulling the carriages for the first time.
"They are thestrals... I'm sorry you can see them... we see them too" said Ely.
"Why?" she uttered as she stood by the front of the carriage.
"Only people who have witnessed death can see them. Mel and I saw the hands of terror kill Mr. Anderson that night" he answered quickly and then boarded.
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The next morning Harry, Ron, Hermione met the rest of the Weasleys, the Swansons and Mel in the great hall. None of them had ever stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays and their sudden arrival seemed to startle the few students that were there. Breakfast arrived quickly and Ron realized that he had missed the protection, food and caring that was natural in this place. His feeling of peace was soon disrupted by an irate Hermione who crumbled and threw a copy of The Daily Prophet on the table and quickly departed. Ron grabbed the paper, worked to flatten it and began to read.
December 31st, 1994
Ralph Swanson and Family Responsible for Holiday Attacks
After intense investigations the Department of Law Enforcement determined that Ralph Swanson, Order of Merlin Second Class and his wife, Esther Swanson, Order of Merlin Third Class, were the leaders behind a deranged mission to annihilate many muggle-born witches and wizards and their muggle families. Said mission left two wizards and six muggles dead and many more injured around the country the day after Christmas.
Both Ralph and Esther Swanson died by the hand of caring citizens under Lucius Malfoy's command, who were protecting the muggle-born witches and wizards. The Swansons' wands were missing from the area where their bodies were originally found, but authorities assure us that they had already performed the necessary tests to prove the crimes that were committed before the wands vanished. Physicians at St. Mugo's were unable to test the brains of these criminals for an insanity plea, as their bodies and those of two of the muggles that they assassinated, known as the Grangers, mysteriously disappeared from the hospital. Further investigations on the whereabouts of these four bodies are underway.
The murderers' son, Ely Swanson, is believed to be returning to Hogwarts, where he will be interrogated regarding his involvement in the assassination of Thaddeus Anderson and the injuries suffered by his wife Earlene Anderson and their sons. Ely Swanson is currently Head Boy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is believed to be a skilled young wizard. A petition has been started to remove him from that important position at the school. Investigations on the Hogwarts Headmaster are also underway as he has refused to willingly take Mr. Swanson out of the Head Boy post and has pleaded a case of innocence for the Swansons in front of the Wizengamot.
Minister Fudge assures the wizarding community that all safety precautions are being taken and the public is safe. In an effort to improve security and regulation, Minister Fudge has appointed Pertricus McDavol to be his new liaison to the Department of Law Enforcement and an advisor to the Wizengamot and Amycus Carrow to oversee the Muggle Relations and Muggle Artefacts departments and to ensure that muggles are receiving proper protection.
More on this story on page A9
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NEXT CHAPTER: Young Phoenixes Unite
larnaka22 review/idea –sorry the Weasleys won't be the ones taking care of Hermione. I thought about it, but the rest of the story will work out better if she really becomes like Harry's sister and Ron might be a bit jealous of the whole Harry/Hermione get to spend time together without him.