Many thanks go to thekingofsweden1, rpeh and brianna-xox for beta reading. Their work and diligence has improved the story a lot.
Chapter 18: Family Meetings
London, Diagon Alley, September 24th, 1999, 07.34 hours
"Luna! Over here!" Wand-Leader Hermione called when she saw her friend step out of the Floo connection in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Hermione! Antoine! Good morning!" Luna beamed at them. "Here!" she said, dropping a special issue of The Quibbler on the table at which Hermione and Ron were eating breakfast. "Personal delivery just for you!"
"Thank you." Hermione picked the magazine up while Ron grabbed the Daily Prophet in case Luna tried to 'accidentally' vanish it - sometimes the blonde took the competition among Britain's leading publishers a bit too far. Today she didn't try anything, though, and seemed to be barely able to sit still on her seat. Which, in Hermione's experience, meant that the Lovegoods had scooped the Prophet.
A quick glance on the magazine's cover proved it. Next to the headline 'The Return of the Exiles' - she didn't know why Ron, reading over her shoulder, snorted at that, it was a catchy line - was the announcement of an exclusive interview with Albus Dumbledore.
"Very nice, Luna," Hermione said. Compared to the Prophet's coverage of Dumbledore - half hastily rewritten articles published under Lucius Malfoy's rule, half slightly polished articles dug out from the archives dating back to before 1981 - that was outstanding journalism. And clever propaganda. She was certain that the interview hadn't taken place last night, but had been done a few days ago.
Luna nodded several times, a wide smile on her face. "And the next regular issue will feature an interview with Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter!"
"You're milking this for all that it's worth, aren't you?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
Luna grinned shamelessly. "Daddy always said that doing good is nice, but doing good, and doing well at sales is better!"
Ron chuckled. "And after them, Sirius Black?"
Luna pouted. "I would love to, but Daddy said he'll do that interview personally. So I'll be doing the Weasleys."
Ron coughed at that, and Hermione snorted. "I think you mean 'covering the Weasleys'," she said.
"Yes. At least the family members who will be coming over to Britain." Luna looked at Ron pointedly.
"That would be Arthur, Fred and George I believe," Hermione said.
"What about Ron? I hear he's an attractive young wizard. He could seduce you away from Antoine!" Luna grinned, but then pouted when she saw Hermione and Ron were wincing. "Sorry, I forgot." She smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "It's just…"
Hermione nodded. Luna and her father would be meeting the ghost of Pandora Lovegood today. The blonde witch was acting happy and carefree, but she was nervous, Hermione could tell. And the Wand-Leader was certain that her friend had been far more affected by the killing of Malfoy than she let on. She took Luna's hands in hers. "It'll be alright, Luna."
Luna sighed, but didn't say anything. Hermione felt for her friend - compared to what the Lovegoods were facing, Ron having to keep his real identity secret didn't seem to be that big a problem. They were together, after all.
Beauxbatons, France, September 24th, 1999, 08.05 hours
"You are returning to Britain then."
Olympe stood in the door to Albus Dumbledore's office and looked at the empty shelves. "Not just to fight your Dark Lord, but to stay," she added.
Albus nodded. "You knew that when you hired me."
The Headmistress of Beauxbatons sighed. "You couldn't beat him twenty years ago. What makes you think you can beat him now?"
"Experience?" Albus smiled, then grew serious. "Things have changed. Lucius knew the Dark Lord would return, and has raised an army in preparation. An army that desires to avenge his death at the Dark Lord's hand." Far more competent than the Aurors back in his day. Far more dangerous too.
"And you're taking your own army with you." The witch stepped inside. "Back to the war from which you fled so long ago."
"A few friends are following me. You know that most of the exiles will not fight in the war." Albus knew that all too well. And not all of those who would be fighting should be fighting.
"But they will leave for Britain as well."
"Not all of them. Many have taken roots here in France." Found love, and families.
"The younger generation, yes. But your friends never really settled. You've always dreamed of returning to Britain. And taking revenge." Olympe looked at the desk, which was emptying itself into a chest, then back at him.
"Not many remain upon whom anyone here would wish revenge." And most of those left were now fighting for the Dark Lord.
"At least the Ministry will be happy that the threat of you and your friends launching an invasion from our soil is now gone. The English invited you back." Olympe snorted. "How fickle they are. Their Minister dies, and at once they forget that you were considered their enemy for a generation. Aren't you afraid that once you have defeated the Dark Lord, they'll turn on you again?"
Albus chuckled. "I doubt that. Britain loves its heroes. And Lucius took care to not let anyone grow into a leader able to threaten him."
"I don't like to see you go, Albus. And not simply because it spells the end of the Alchemy course at Beauxbatons."
"Nicholas has agreed to teach until the end of the year," Albus said. He was honouring his obligations; he wouldn't simply leave the school and his students hanging. Beauxbatons would have the most famous Alchemist alive replacing him.
"And he'll not teach a day longer."
Albus nodded, acknowledging that. "There are others though." He had been teaching Alchemy here for almost twenty years. There had been several students who'd be able to teach by now.
"They're young. Inexperienced."
"They are talented, and willing. With the exception of Nicholas, none of us will be living forever." And even the Flamels might one day decide to go on the next great adventure. "At my age, looking for a successor is the responsible thing to do."
"I expect you will be taking over Hogwarts then?"
Albus sighed.
Olympe raised her eyebrows, surprised. "You will not?"
"It might sound arrogant, but I think I'll be needed more at the Ministry. Hogwarts is in capable hands." It would need some changes, of course. But the most important ones wouldn't be possible without the support of the Wands. And Albus didn't know if they would agree to equal rights for muggleborns. It would mean the end of the Corps in its current state.
"I can but wish you luck then."
"Thank you."
He watched as the tall witch left his office.
"Is she gone now?" Behind him, the ghost of Pandora Lovegood floated. "Can we go now?"
He took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yes."
London, September 24th, 1999, 18.45 hours
Wand-Leader Hermione watched as the bus they were on passed through the streets of London. Diagon Alley would be growing darker now, she knew. Sunset was a few minutes away, and soon you'd need a wand to see where you were going. Muggle London wouldn't grow that dark, ever.
"Are you certain that you want me to be there when you meet your mother?" she asked Luna, who was sitting at her side. She didn't want to intrude on what was certain to be a very private, very emotional meeting. She had no experience with those kind of meetings. Due to the Obliviators, she couldn't even remember her own family's faces.
"Yes, I'm certain." Luna smiled at her.
"I just mean…" Hermione bit her lower lip. "I'm not exactly…"
"You're like my sister, Hermione." Luna hugged her. "I want you there, with me," she whispered into Hermione's ear, "when I meet Mummy's ghost. I need you," she added, sniffling.
Hermione rubbed the blonde's back. "Of course." Luna was putting on a brave face, but her friend was not doing well, she knew. And if she needed Hermione, then the Wand-leader would be there for her. Anywhere. Anytime.
The two were on their way to the safehouse with which Hermione was familiar. Ron was already there - he had taken the Vanishing Cabinet back with him in the morning. Hermione knew that Dumbledore was keeping it a secret. A wand up his sleeve, probably in case the Ministry didn't honour the agreement. She didn't know exactly how it would be used though - to provide a secure line of retreat, just in case, or to allow them to move around without getting tracked within Britain?
Luna released her, and returned to her seat on the bus. "Oh… did you see that? All the streetlights just went on. Do you know how they do that?"
Hermione knew that this wasn't Luna's first time in the muggle world. The blonde had been on expeditions with her father, after all. But if Luna wanted to change the topic, she would oblige her. "I think it's controlled by electricity," she said. She'd have to learn more about all that, she realised. She owed it to her own dead parents. And she didn't want to rely on Ron for that sort of knowledge forever.
"Ah." Luna nodded. "Did you meet your boyfriend's parents yet?"
"I saw his father. But I didn't talk to him."
"Maybe they'll be there as well. They haven't seen their son in a long time, have they?"
Hermione wasn't certain how to feel about that. Meeting Ron's friends and siblings was one thing, but his parents? That was different.
"I'm sorry…" Luna said, sucking on her lower lip. "I didn't want to remind you of your own parents."
"It's OK, Luna." She forced herself to smile. "It's been a long time. I don't remember them."
Luna nodded. For a while, they sat in silence, watching as the night fell on the city.
"I'm nervous," Luna suddenly said.
Hermione looked at her.
"What if dying has changed her? What if she's not the Mummy I remember? What if… "
Hermione pulled the smaller girl into her arms. "She loves you. She wants to see you, and your Daddy." Who had gone ahead to interview Sirius.
Luna nodded, but she saw tears in her friend's eyes.
This wasn't a good idea, but she couldn't stop it. She could just hope her friend wouldn't be hurt too much.
Luna's father was sitting in the living room, scribbling on a long scroll of parchment when they arrived at the safehouse. "Luna!" He jumped up, and the scroll fell to the ground where it started to roll itself up while he embraced his daughter.
Hermione herself was hugging Ron. "Everything went well?" she asked, after a long kiss.
"Yes. We've been shifting supplies through the cabinet all day. Well, most of us," he added, with a glance at Mister Lovegood. "Sirius was busy getting interviewed."
"Ah." She smiled. "I saw your father last evening."
"I thought so." He grinned.
"Did you tell him about us?" she asked, starting to bite her lower lip.
"Well, my parents know I have a girlfriend. Ginny told them." He winced. "She didn't mean to, but they were having a row about her involvement in the attack on the Malfoys."
"Ah." That was understandable.
"So… they want to meet you. For dinner. Tomorrow." He smiled weakly. "I'm sorry to spring this on you without warning, but… once you meet my mum, you'll understand."
That sounded ominous. "I guess so," she said. "We'll be travelling to France then?"
He nodded. "It'll be a family dinner. Apart from Percy, everyone will be there."
"I should disguise myself then." She snorted. "You can remove your disguise, and I'll pose as Ron Weasley's girlfriend."
"Merlin! But you're right - if it gets out that Dumbledore had agents in Britain for months, rumours will start that could threaten the agreement." He cocked his head to the side and made a show of studying her. "Would you rather be a blonde or a redhead?" Then he shook his head. "No… we already have enough redheads, and Mum's still not over how 'Fleur snagged Bill'. Dark hair would be best."
Hermione wondered even more about Ron's family. Before she could say anything, she heard steps on the stairs. A moment later, Dumbledore entered the living room.
"I see everyone has arrived. I have prepared a private room for the Lovegoods."
It was time.
London, September 24th, 1999, 20.13 hours
Hermione did her best to hide her anxiety when she followed the Lovegoods and Dumbledore into the next room. The furniture was scarce - a seat, a couch, a low table - and didn't match. It didn't look new either, though she was certain that the room had served as a bedroom when she had visited the house for the first time.
Luna looked around, hesitantly, while even Xenophilius seemed to have grown more serious than usual.
Dumbledore smiled. "Mrs Lovegood will be with you in a moment." He nodded at them, then left, closing the door behind him.
Luna rubbed her arms, almost hugging herself. Before Hermione could move to her and touch her, a ghost floated through door. Pandora Lovegood. Luna's mother.
Luna gasped, and her father seemed frozen. For a moment, no one moved or said anything. Hermione looked at the ghost. The resemblance to Luna was obvious. The same hair, the same figure, just the face looked different. Not just older, but harder too, somehow.
Though then the ghost smiled, and that hardness disappeared. "Luna."
"Mummy!" Luna sobbed, tears running down her face, then rushed towards the ghost, opening her arms, then stopped. The look on her face when she realised she couldn't touch her mother's ghost tore at Hermione's heart.
"Darling." Xenophilius stepped closer, putting his hand on Luna's shoulder. He was crying as well.
"My love." Pandora didn't cry. Ghosts might not be able to; Hermione didn't know.
"H-How are you doing?" Xenophilius asked.
The ghost looked surprised, then she chuckled. "You mean, how am I doing, being dead?"
Luna's father nodded. He was forcing himself to smile, Hermione thought.
"You would ask that," Pandora said. "I can talk and fly, but I cannot touch anything. I could have explored the world, but I was bound to a place. It was rather boring." Hermione felt that the ghost was understating things, for her family's benefit. Spending years bound to Rookwood must have been far worse than simply boring.
Luna sniffled, but wasn't crying anymore. "Mummy… were we the reason you became a ghost? Or were you afraid of dying, as the Headmaster said at Hogwarts?"
Pandora shook her translucent head. "No, my dear. I didn't choose this. I was summoned as a ghost by Rookwood, so he could force me to tell him about Malfoy."
Luna hissed, and her father scowled. "We did our best to avenge you, but we were not able to personally kill Lucius. We helped though."
"And I killed his son!" Luna said.
"Very well done!"
Pandora smiled and for a moment, she looked very, very different from Luna. Cruel even. Luna's tales of her mother had painted a rather different picture, Hermione realised. Her friend's mother hadn't been that nice. At least not to everyone. And, she added, when she saw Luna beam at her mother's praise, maybe Luna might have more of her mother than she had thought as well.
"He cowardly murdered me for simply stumbling onto one of his schemes."
"And he fooled us into believing he was our friend," Luna's father added. "It shames me to remember how much we trusted him."
Luna nodded. "He was almost an uncle to me. And it was all a lie." She looked close to tears again. Hermione almost ran up to her, but held back. This was the Lovegoods' moment. She wouldn't intrude.
"It might not have been a complete lie," Pandora said. "I doubt he felt guilty for murdering me, but if he had disliked you, he'd have kept his distance after some gesture for the public."
Luna nodded, slightly consoled it seemed.
"But enough of that scum-drenched offal of a Nundu! Please tell me about your lives. I could only catch the barest glimpses through the newspaper, when I chanced to find one open, and Dumbledore hasn't told me much."
Luna nodded. "I've finished Hogwarts. I was in Ravenclaw, second best of my year."
She went on to tell her mother about her life - her expeditions, her work at The Quibbler, her many pets, and her time at Hogwarts. "At the start I had some troubles with my housemates, but then I made friends with Hermione, and she introduced me to the other Wands, and I was happy there."
"Your best friend is a Wand?" Pandora sounded surprised.
"Yes, Mummy. She found out about the lies of the Minister too."
Hermione saw the ghost turn towards her, and forced herself to smile. "Hello, Mrs Lovegood."
"She's the girlfriend of Ron Weasley," Luna helpfully added. "Though he is a spy, and so has to disguise himself as a Québecois."
"Remarkable."
Hermione didn't know what to say to that. She felt like a specimen under that close scrutiny. So she simply nodded. "Thank you."
"She also saved our lives, together with Arthur's son," Xenophilius pointed out, "when the Dark Lord attacked our home." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry to say that the Rook didn't survive. We lost so much of what we built up together."
Pandora nodded. "But you two are still alive. Trust me, I'm in the unique position to know that that is all that really matters."
"And we have saved the animals as well!" Luna said. "Voley saved us too." She proceeded to mention all the pets of the Lovegoods, past and present. Her friendship with Astoria Greengrass, and her expeditions. "We haven't found snorkacks yet though, but we're close. Really close."
"Have you found anyone in your life?" Pandora asked when Luna had finished, and Hermione couldn't tell who she was asking - her former husband, her daughter, or both.
Luna's father shook his head. Luna said: "Not someone serious. Most of my friends are Wands, and with the exception of Hermione, they didn't look for marriage to a pureblood."
Hermione felt the need to defend the Corps. "It wasn't as if such thoughts were encouraged, Mrs Lovegood. Quite the contrary. My relationship to Ron wasn't received that well either."
The ghost nodded at her, but turned back to Luna. "You're still young, dear. You'll find the right one."
Luna nodded, smiling, but still with tears in her eyes.
The ghost sighed then. "I wish I could say the same to you… but I'm not quite certain," she said, looking at her former husband.
Xenophilius smiled. "If it happens it happens. I know I'll meet you again, someday."
Luna gasped. "Does that mean you'll leave, Mummy? But I have still so much to tell you!"
"I shouldn't be here, dear. I was forced to return, in a way, by a cruel wizard. And my consciousness lingered a bit longer, so I might see my family again."
Luna sobbed, and while her father nodded in agreement, he was crying once more.
"Live long, live well, and find happiness. Pursue your dream, no matter what others say. And crush whoever means you or yours harm."
The ghost reached out then, her spectral hands touching her daughter and her husband, and she started to fade, growing dimmer and more translucent.
"Remember: I love you," Pandora said, before she disappeared completely.
Hermione stood there for a moment, hearing Luna sob and Xenophilius consoling her, before she jerked, and stepped over to her friend, wrapping her arms around her.
In another room, Albus Dumbledore ended the spells he had used to observe the meeting. He felt guilty about eavesdropping on such an emotional and private, intimate even, occasion, but needs must. And the result justified his means, at least in this case.
He glanced at the stone in his hand. As he had suspected, Pandora hadn't been a true ghost. She hadn't been a mere imprint of a witch's consciousness at the time of her death, like a painting, but a true soul, summoned back from the afterlife and bound to the Resurrection Stone. Something Augustus certainly would be paying for in his afterlife.
Albus had broken that bond tonight, and Pandora had passed on after meeting her family, who hopefully had been able to find some closure.
And he had found new hope that he might be able to save another soul.
London, September 25th, 1999, 19.35 hours
"You look fine, dear."
Wand-Leader Hermione checked herself in the single enchanted mirror she had found in the safehouse once again. She agreed with the mirror's judgement, in theory. She did look fine. But looking fine might not be enough. Not for meeting Ron's parents and the rest of his family. She needed to make the best impression possible from what she had gathered.
"You know, you don't have to try that hard. Just be yourself."
Hermione whirled around and glared at Ron. "I can't be myself. I'm in disguise."
"Apart from that, I mean." He stepped closer and kissed her. "I love you. Disguise or not, you're perfect. Relax, my family's not that bad."
He had removed his beard and hair dye already. She still wasn't used to how he really looked, but she liked it. Kissing him like this felt different. In a good way. But it didn't help her nervousness that much. "You're not the foreign witch trying to lure another Weasley away." From what she had heard about the past girlfriends of the other Weasley sons, she could expect a rather hostile reception.
Ron winced. "Fleur's a special case. She's a Veela. Mum has a bit of a chip on her shoulder, ever since one flirted with Dad once."
Hermione nodded. She was certainly no Veela, not even close. Though she still didn't know exactly what Molly Weasley wanted in a future daughter-in-law. And, as importantly, what she didn't want. As unlikely as it was to happen, as Ron told her, she didn't want her boyfriend to be forced to choose between her and his mother.
Ron sighed. "Ginny was not exactly nice to Fleur either, but then, she has treated every girlfriend of Bill that way. Ma petite was so jealous of anyone trying to take 'her Bill' away."
"I'm not exactly feeling any more secure here," Hermione said.
"You'll be fine. Ginny likes you. You're not French, you're British. Mum won't fear you'll make me live in France instead of returning to Britain." He grinned. "And you won't try to outdo her at home."
"I guess mentioning I planned to head to France with you before I knew your real name would be a bad idea then."
He chuckled. "Yes. You can save that for our… second anniversary, I guess."
The easy way he said that filled her with happiness. She grabbed his head and pulled him in for another, longer kiss that left both of them panting.
"I really wish we had more time," Ron said, his tongue flicking over his lips.
She nodded. But they hadn't. It had taken them almost an hour to reach the safe house in London due to some accident-related traffic jam. Hermione sighed, caressing his now smooth cheek, before turning away to grab her jacket.
"Let's go then."
Outside Argelès-sur-Mer, France, September 25th, 1999, 19.45 hours
Travelling to the Weasley's home in France hadn't taken them more than a minute. Hermione looked around, both to get an impression of the place as well as to be able to apparate by herself next time. If there was a next time after this evening. It was a small plot, with a well-tended garden, and a sturdy looking house. Not new, but certainly not older than twenty years. Big enough so they might not have used expansion charms. Defensible too - the windows were not that large.
"You're looking far too anxious again. Relax," Ron whispered. He didn't look too relaxed either, though.
Hermione couldn't call him on it, though, since right then, the front door opened, and the Weasley family poured out.
"Ron!" A slightly plump witch rushed forward and pulled Hermione's boyfriend into a hug. That had to be his mother, Molly. She recognised his father, of course, and she already knew the twins and Ginny. Percy wasn't there, Charlie Weasley was a star Seeker, and well-known even in Britain, so the last man there had to be Bill Weasley. She didn't see Harry Potter, which hopefully meant that the absence of girlfriends was not an indication that none of them had a girlfriend. Or a girlfriend they dared to bring home.
"Mum… this is Hermione!" Ron said.
She smiled at the older witch. "Good evening, Mrs Weasley."
"Good evening, dear," Ron's mother said. Her tone left Hermione with the distinct impression that if the evening would be anything but good, it would be the young witch's fault. She stood a bit straighter in response - she wouldn't be intimidated. Before it could get uncomfortable though, Ron's father smiled at her. "I'm Ron's dad. Call me Arthur, please." He looked friendly and harmless, but anyone who accompanied Dumbledore to the British Ministry would be anything but harmless. He had probably recognised her already.
"I'm Bill," Ron's oldest brother said, flashing a very charming smile. "Enchanté. I hear we're colleagues. I'm a Gendarme Magique."
"And that's Charlie, best Seeker in Europe," Ron said, introducing his other brother, before she could answer. Hermione wasn't certain, but she thought her lover had been glaring at Bill.
"Hi!" This Weasley was stockier than Ron, and a bit shorter. "I would say Krum might be as good."
"Hi Hermione!" the twins chorused. They had to have practised this. "She usually has much wilder hair, and no glasses," Fred said.
Ginny just waved, and rolled her eyes behind her brother's backs.
"Come inside, dear," Molly Weasley said, gesturing at the door. Everyone flowed back inside, dragging Hermione and Ron with them.
The house was not expanded, as far as she could tell. At least not the ground floor. It was cozy, the furniture looked worn, but well-kept, and not too expensive. A far cry from Malfoy Manor or the late Malfoy's home in Diagon Alley. A big table dominated the living room, big enough to seat ten people comfortably.
"You're a bit late, so we'd better start with dinner," Mrs Weasley said. She sounded a bit reproachful, though Hermione wasn't certain.
"Mum, we left on time. We had a traffic jam to deal with," Ron said, "or we'd have been here on time."
"She's not Estelle," Ginny added.
Hermione looked at Ron and raised her eyebrows. "Former girlfriend of mine. Took too long to prepare and arrived late to the family dinner," he whispered.
Molly Weasley nodded, but didn't comment. "Let's just all sit down. I'll have the first course ready in a jiffy."
As before, everyone complied. Hermione found herself sitting between Ron and Ginny, across from his parents and Bill. Arthur smiled warmly. "So, Hermione… do you really have the last name 'Britain'?"
He sounded sincere and she forced herself to smile. "That was actually a joke Ron made when we first met. Wands don't have last names."
"Why not?"
His question was so innocent, and yet so ignorant that it hurt. It wasn't his fault that she hadn't a family, she tried to tell herself, but she couldn't keep from blurting out: "We're taken from our families as children, and raised together."
Arthur looked stricken. He was about to apologise for his question, when he was interrupted.
"Merlin! You poor dear!"
Hermione turned her head and saw that Ron's mother had returned from the kitchen, several bowls and pots floating behind her. She had her free hand clasped to her mouth, and looked horrified.
"I had no idea…" The older witch shook her head. "I'm so sorry."
Hermione suddenly realised that in the other witch's eyes, she had changed from the new girlfriend of Molly's youngest son into a poor orphaned young witch.
She wasn't certain if that was an improvement.
Outside Argelès-sur-Mer, France, September 25th, 1999, 20.30 hours
His mum was in full mothering mode, Ron Weasley thought. No inquisition, no snubbing, no veiled put downs. Just understanding looks and nods, and comforting comments. If not for his brothers and Ginny, Hermione would have probably fled by now. Maybe.
"You mean, she literally fell into Ron's lap? In the middle of a Death Eater attack?" Charlie asked, after hearing how they had met for the first time. Ron winced. He trusted his family, but his spying mission was now known by over a dozen people - that was far too many. He hoped that Malfoy's treachery would be revealed soon.
"Technically, yes," Hermione said. "I took cover behind a cart. He had had the same idea a bit earlier."
"And I had her wand at my throat at once. Though it wasn't really funny at the time," Ron added. Even if it did sound like part of a James Bond movie. Certainly more impressive than meeting at a Quidditch match.
"And he asked me out after I took his statement as a witness." Hermione smiled. "Things developed from there."
Ron smiled as well. Things had developed indeed. He snorted when he thought about the irony that his cover story, looking for a place to form and raise a family, had actually become true. He had found the witch he wanted to marry.
"To the point that after Ron confessed, you've been helping him and Dumbledore fight Malfoy and the Dark Lord?" Charlie asked.
"Yes," Hermione said. She sounded tense now. Ron reached over to take her hand.
Fred grinned. "Our brother the secret agent, seducing the pretty witch working for the enemy to switch sides! We're so proud!"
Ron could have hexed his brother. He knew Fred was joking, didn't mean to hurt her, but Ron remembered how devastated Hermione had been that day. To realise her whole life had been a lie, that her parents had been murdered… that was not something to make jokes about.
Hermione was sitting stiffly now, and speaking in a flat tone. "I had just discovered that my parents had been murdered by Obliviators on Malfoy's order when I was kidnapped, as were most of the parents of the Wands. I was hoping to move to France with 'Antoine'."
Fred had the grace to look sheepish for a few moments while their parents glared at him.
"How did you find this out?" Bill asked. "Professional interest," he defended himself when Mum's glare turned on him.
"I was investigating a possible spy or traitor, and the Obliviators were suspects. I discovered that they had more money than they could explain, which led to uncovering how they robbed muggles. Then I saw them attack the family of a muggleborn and kidnap the child. Subsequent investigations revealed that this was standard practise, that the victims included my own family, and that the Minister had personally ordered it."
Hermione spoke in a clinical, controlled manner, a bit too controlled compared to her usual professional manner, and Ron put his hand on her thigh, squeezing gently. She glanced at him, smiling briefly.
"I couldn't reveal that back then, not with the Minister still in charge. And after his death, the situation has been a bit too volatile to do so. But the culprits will not escape justice." Hermione sounded dead serious.
Bill nodded. "Good."
The table was silent for a bit - a rarity in the Weasley home.
"Will you keep this house when you move back to Britain?" Hermione asked. Ron almost winced again. It was a harmless question, or would be, if not for his family's circumstances.
He saw his parents exchanging glances. After a moment, Dad said: "We'll keep it for the vacations."
Hermione nodded. Ron almost shook his head. They didn't mention that their mother had hoped Bill would move in, if he absolutely had to stay in France, but the oldest Weasley son didn't want to leave his current home, which had been a wedding gift by the Delacours that Mum still hadn't forgiven Bill's in-laws for - she considered it 'showing off their money'.
"It'll take some time to rebuild the Burrow, but we'll manage," Ron's dad said.
"Luna proposed to build matching houses," Ron said. "A Rook for the Lovegoods, and a Bishop for us."
His mum huffed, but Dad laughed. "That sounds like Xenophilius's daughter." He shook his head. "We'll start small. We don't need to house seven children anymore, though I hope you'll not let us wait too long to babysit our grandchildren."
Ron saw that Hermione looked lost, and squeezed her thigh again. "They don't mean us," he whispered. She relaxed. It was not quite a lie - they weren't even married yet.
"Well… you still have Ginny to babysit," George started, "but she's rarely at home anyway." He grinned at the pouting girl. "And Ron and Hermione might want to have their own secret base as secret agents."
"We haven't really planned where we'd live after the war," Ron said. They didn't even know what they would do, once the Dark Lord was gone.
"Too busy?" Fred said, winking.
"I would have thought you two would build a secret base. Underground," Ron said, ignoring the insinuation.
"We might keep the safehouse, if Dumbledore let us." George smiled.
Mum frowned, though Ron thought the farther the twins' experiments were from anyone's home, the better.
"How many of the other exiled families will be returning?" Hermione asked.
Arthur sighed. "If you had asked me this question a year ago, I'd have said, everyone. We - the ones who fled Britain after fighting in the war - have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time." He smiled. "But that was just talk between old people, reminiscing the past. Now that we actually can return, people are hesitating. Most of us have built new lives here. Especially the younger generation.
Mum sniffed. That was a touchy subject in the Weasley family. Ron knew his mum wanted everyone to 'come back to Britain', but Bill, Charlie and Ginny wanted to stay in France for their careers.
"Most in the Ministry seem to expect that the exiles will return en masse," Hermione said. "Dumbledore gave that impression as well."
"He isn't wrong," Ron's dad said. "We will return, to help defeat the Dark Lord and take our homes back. But I don't know how many will give up their lives in France for good." He sighed. "From my admittedly brief visit, I gained the impression that the Ministry needs a lot of help to keep running smoothly without Malfoy. We'll do what we can, of course, but there might be fewer of us returning for good than left twenty years ago."
"We'll not shirk our duty towards our home," Mum said. "Even if others might do so."
Ron saw that Ginny and Bill started to frown at the implied criticism, and he sighed. Even Hermione's presence as a guest would only go so far when it came to making everyone keep their tempers under control. So he tried to change the topic. "What do you think about the new Keeper of the Aigles?"
Fortunately, with two professional Quidditch players among them, and the rest of the family having been on the school teams, soon everyone was debating the merits and skill of various players and teams. Hermione didn't know much about the French teams, but she had some anecdotes about corruption in the British Quidditch League. Apparently Ludo Bagman had been running bets and had tried to fix matches to scam his 'customers'. A colleague of Hermione had arrested him.
They talked straight through dessert, until they had to leave. All in all, this visit had turned out to be far better than Ron had feared. Much better than any other visit by a Weasley's girlfriend he could remember. Though that didn't mean that much, of course.
London, September 26th, 1999, 10.30 hours
"And then Mum went from 'begone, evil seductress' straight to 'you poor orphan'. Hermione didn't know what hit her!"
Ron Weasley, sitting on an armchair in the Order's safehouse, sighed while Harry chuckled at Ginny's description. As correct as it was, he didn't think that it was quite that funny. Maybe looking back at it a few years or decades from now, it would be. Though as long as Harry, who was another 'poor orphan' according to Ron's mum, thought it was funny he'd not make a fuss out of it.
"So, your girlfriend has successfully braved the Weasley den, and escaped unscathed, hm?" Harry shook his head. "That's impressive. Not as impressive as me wooing the only Weasley daughter in seven generations or so, without getting cursed by her six older brothers, of course."
"Mec, that's because you didn't woo her. Ginny all but stunned and dragged you back to her room." Ron would know; his sister had badgered him for advice on how to win Harry's heart more than once.
"Hey!" Ginny glared at him.
"Well, she was stunning in that dress at the Yule Ball," Harry said, wrapping an arm around the girl in question and planting a quick kiss on her cheek.
Placated, Ginny leaned into his side.
"It helped of course that Mum loves you." Ron rubbed his chin. "Though she'd probably have approved of Neville as well." That earned him a glare from his friend. He ignored it. "Mum and Bill made it clear that they wouldn't tolerate any cursing. And Ginny," he added, before his sister could complain.
"And now that we know your mum approves of her, what did Hermione think of your parents?" Harry asked.
"She was a bit surprised by how loud we are," Ron said. "But she wasn't put off." Hermione had not much experience with meeting parents, after all - she was familiar with Luna's father and the Malfoys, and neither family was exactly average.
"I bet she's used to big gatherings. Don't the Wands consider the Corps their family?" Ginny asked.
"They do. Or are supposed to. But I don't think they're as close to everyone as we are." At least Ron hadn't seen much evidence of that.
"So, when's the wedding?" Harry asked, grinning. Ron winced, and Harry apologised. "Sorry, mec."
Ron sighed. "We haven't actually talked that much about it. I mean, we have an understanding, but… We haven't talked about any details. Like what we'll do after the war, where we'll live…" He shrugged. They had to survive first.
Harry nodded. "I can understand that." Ron knew Harry hadn't exactly been making plans himself.
Ron sighed. "We don't know how Britain will look after the war." Or if both of them would be still alive. "Speaking of, what exactly is Dumbledore planning? Hermione told me that he had the acting Minister eating out of his hand, and was talking to the Wand-Commander, but she didn't know anything more than that."
Harry cleared his throat, and exchanged a glance with Ginny. "He wants to reveal my prophecy to the Wands. At least the part the Dark Lord knows already."
"He wants to let them know that you're crucial for the war effort?" Ron asked.
"Exactly," Harry said, and his expression told Ron that he didn't like it. Ginny must have noticed it as well, since she elbowed her boyfriend into his side. "Oof." He frowned at her.
Ginny matched his frown. "I told you: No complaining about any measures taken to make you safer." She hugged him, and added in a lower tone: "I won't lose you."
Harry smiled, and sighed. "I just don't like the thought of people sacrificing themselves for me."
Ron would have quipped that Harry wanted to do that himself, but held his tongue. Some things you didn't bring up in Ginny's presence. "And what about the time after the war?"
"I guess Dumbledore will be ruling the country," Ginny said.
"I know that," Ron said. "I meant: Will there be a Corps still, and what kind? What about the Aurors?"
"Thinking of signing up?" Harry asked.
"I'm a trained Gendarme, not a future Quidditch star. Or house wizard," he added with a grin to Ginny.
"At least you'll be living in England. That'll make Mum happier," Ginny said, pouting. "She's been giving me grief about staying in France. As if I would give up my career with the Aigles!"
"You're not the only one to stay," Harry pointed out.
"Oh, yes! You should have seen her reaction to Bill telling her he'll stay. I haven't heard that many words for 'French hussy' since Mum heard that the engagement party was to be held at the Delacours'." Ginny shook her head. "And Charlie doing the same had the cauldron boil over. And melt down."
"I was actually speaking about more than your family," Harry pointed out. "Even if it feels sometimes that you're half the exiles. But I think a lot of the younger British exiles won't return."
Ginny shrugged. "France is our home. Britain's just a bunch of tales from our parents."
"Maybe," Ron said. "I've been thinking of going back to France myself, if things don't work out in Britain. Hermione would make a good Gendarme as well." Though he wasn't certain that she'd leave Britain if she thought the Corps needed her. Or Luna.
Ultimately, it all came down to what the Wands would do. Dumbledore was gambling a lot on the Corps' reaction to the revelations about their origin. Ron just hoped that the old wizard's plan would succeed.
London, Ministry of Magic, September 26th, 1999, 14.30 hours
"Mr. Tonks, Mr. Cresswell?" Wand-Leader Hermione smiled at the two wizards in obvious muggle clothes who had just arrived in the Atrium. She was among the only ones who did - most of the employees gave the two a wide berth. Even the Wands standing guard were tense. Muggle clothes were not something you'd expect to see in Wizarding Britain these days. If all went well, that would be changing soon. Or so she hoped. When the two nodded, she continued. "I'm Wand-Leader Hermione and this is my co-worker Dean. If you'll follow me to the offices of the Investigative Branch?"
"Of course, Miss," Tonks said, smiling. Cresswell nodded, though he seemed a bit more reserved.
"Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions," she said while she led them to the lifts.
"How long have you been in the Corps?" Tonks asked.
"We've both been active members for almost one and a half years. We graduated Hogwarts in 1998, in the same class," Hermione said.
"Ah, Hogwarts!" Tonks smiled. "I wonder how it has changed since I was a student."
Hermione was certain he had been briefed thoroughly on the situation at Hogwarts, but she simply smiled. "I'd not know, that was before my time."
When they reached their floor, she stepped out first, out of habit from her tour as a guard, while Dean brought up the rear.
Benjamin and his entire team was waiting for them, as were most of the other members of the Investigative Branch. "Welcome to Britain's best investigators," the wizard said. "I'm Wand-Leader Benjamin."
He introduced the rest of the Wands present as well. Hermione used the opportunity to study the two visitors some more. Tonks appeared to be friendly and polite, though that could be an act. Cresswell was more tense, but not much more than Dean was. Hermione's friend was still dealing with the revelations from Dumbledore and herself, she knew.
"Please to meet you all. I'm Ted Tonks. I'm an investigative judge at the criminal court in Paris. This is Dirk Cresswell, a Gendarme Magique." He beamed at them. "We're here to coordinate with you so any Death Eater that is arrested will be able to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and not be acquitted because their rights were violated."
That was the pretext. Hermione was certain that both visitors were all too aware that the British judicial system hadn't really cared about technicalities under Malfoy's regime. Nor, as far as she knew, had those been a concern before Malfoy's takeover.
"Albus Dumbledore chose us two since we both have experience in law enforcement, and we're both muggleborns, like you," Tonks added.
The Wands present nodded. If they hadn't already known that from the men's clothes they wouldn't have been in the Investigative Branch, Hermione thought.
As she had expected, the actual coordination didn't take that much time - the differences between the systems the exiles were used to and the Wands' were minimal as far as investigating and arresting were concerned. Judging would be handled by the Wizengamot, most likely. Which would probably do what Dumbledore wanted - that was how it had been under Malfoy, after all.
"Do you have any questions for us not related to procedure?" Tonks asked when they took a break.
Colin, bless his curiosity and what Hermione liked to think of as courage while Dean called it a lack of embarrassment, spoke up at once: "Were you abused by your parents?"
When she saw the two muggleborn exiles' reaction at the question, Hermione wasn't quite certain anymore that they had been as thoroughly prepared as she had thought.
"Pardon?" Tonks asked, blinking.
"Were you abused by your muggle parents?" Colin asked again.
"Why would you ask that?" Tonks exchanged a glance with his companion.
"Because we were. We were taken from our parents because they wanted to kill us for being wizards. The Minister saved us," Colin said.
"No, we were not. My parents fled with me to France when the Ministry fell in 1981," Cresswell said.
"In fact, I don't recall any case of abuse of a muggleborn by their parents during the time I was working as a litigator here," Tonks added.
"That sounds a bit implausible, given the known attitudes of muggles," Cleo said. Hermione hoped the doubt she noticed was not just limited to Tonks's claim.
"Witchcraft is still a capital crime among muggles," Dean said.
"In some countries," Tonks said. "Not in Europe though, and certainly not in Britain or France. My parents were very surprised when they learned that I was a wizard, but they certainly never abused me."
"Were all of the Wands abused by their parents?" Cresswell asked, almost hesitantly, or so Hermione had the impression.
"According to the Obliviator reports, all of us were saved from impending harm, usually at the hands of our parents, in response to our first bout of accidental magic," Hermione said.
"That sounds a bit implausible," Cresswell said, glancing at Cleo.
"That's what the files say. We were looking into the Obliviators for possible treason or corruption," Hermione added. "We didn't find anything, but we were not allowed to include activities in muggle Britain in our investigation." She did her best to sound normal, as if given additional information as usual.
Colin nodded. "The Obliviators have more gold than they should have, but that's all we found."
Benjamin nodded slowly. "It's of no consequence now, under our current circumstances. We'll need to focus on beating the Dark Lord."
The glance he sent at Hermione though made it clear that there would be words once their visitors had left again.
She hoped very much that they would be the words she wanted to hear.