Author's Note: I know stories that aren't "Romance" are usually ignored in this fandom so I want to thank you kind souls who are still here for sticking around. My current goal is to have this story finished by the end of November. (Hopefully, life will cooperate.) I'm hoping to be able to update this story twice a week until it is finished.

Chapter Fourteen

Unburdening herself to Kingsley about the reasons why she and the boys had been out alone for months brought a measure of relief to Hermione she didn't expect. Even without telling him everything yet it felt as if an impossible weight she had been carrying around was lifted from her shoulders. It had been wrong to place such a vital and dangerous mission into the hands of a teenager who was only allowed the help of two other teenagers. What had Dumbledore been thinking? She was certain she would never forgive the wizard for his careless actions no matter how long she lived.

Having even just one intelligent and capable ally in the hunt for horcruxes was encouraging. A grown adult with life experience, especially one who made a career out of fighting dark wizards, was already an improvement to the whole sorry affair. How much more effective could it all have been if Dumbledore hadn't wasted the time he had living conducting confusing lessons with Harry every few weeks and just been out there searching himself? He had far more allies and contacts of his own. Even feeding himself would've been easier than it had been for three teenagers without access to money.

Recognizing she was in real danger of working herself up into a rage if she wasn't careful, Hermione took a deep breath in an effort to calm herself down. Being furious about the continuous mistakes of a dead man would not help her survive. She had to look to the future and not dwell on the past if she wanted to make it. There was a lot of work left to do. Those who kept their thoughts forever mired in the past usually stayed there.

Even making it out of the Forbidden Forest wasn't guaranteed yet. There hadn't been a real fight for their survival since they entered the forest, a fact that filled her with dread. Danger lurked behind every tree trunk and around every corner. It was even more important that she not keep her mind stuck on what could not be changed. A single second of distraction could get them both killed. She couldn't allow that to happen. There was still too much she needed to do.

Another snap of a twig sounded extra loud in the strange stillness of the forest. The first time they heard that sound could've easily been explained as their own minds making a simple noise into something much worse than it actually was. Hearing it again, however, made it impossible to ignore. There was something tracking them, following their every move. A disconcerting thought anywhere else they travelled, it was deadly inside the forest.

Kingsley cut his eyes towards Hermione. Without uttering a single word, she knew he was worried too. A great deal could be said silently if one only paid close attention. He carefully moved in front of her again, ready to be the shield she needed in her wandless state. It was unfortunate that neither he nor Snape considered the fact that she might need a wand if they were going to escape the Shrieking Shack. Of course it was also embarrassing to realize she could've easily stolen Thorfinn's in his unconscious state. She had been so anxious to just get out of the room that she never once considered the theft. He'd already taken enough from her. A wand would be a small price for him to pay. And if it was the thing that eventually got him killed, she wouldn't shed a tear. He deserved to die, painfully if possible.

There was a definite rustling of the leaves in the area where they heard the twig snap. Perhaps realizing that the sounds they were making had been heard by the prey they were stalking, the creature didn't seem bothered about making even more noise. Any moment it would jump out at them to begin the fight that might end in someone's death. She felt her stomach clench in painful knots. Maybe eating that sandwich hadn't been the best decision. What did food matter if they were just going to become food themselves a short time later?

Close enough that the back of his robes brushed against the front of Hermione's cloak, Kingsley was ready to attack. That should have made her feel more confident about their chances, but it didn't. Why had they been foolish enough to take Snape's suggestion that they run into the forest? It was madness. Maybe it was also his way of getting rid of two very large problems of his own. If they were dead, no one would ever find out the claims he made about Dumbledore or his own part in rescuing her from the Shrieking Shack. Getting rid of Kingsley would also help the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters. Few of their foes were as formidable as the handsome auror.

A very subtle tingling started at Hermione's toes and rapidly went all the way up to her head. Hardly unpleasant, she felt more secure when her entire body was engulfed in the spell. One look at Kingsley's barely moving lips and the tiny circles he made with his wand told her that he was the one responsible. She didn't know the magic he was using, only that it was clearly powerful.

He stopped their steps with just a touch of his hand. While it seemed insane to remain in the same spot when they were certain there was something tracking them, she trusted him. Biting her bottom lip to keep from inadvertently asking an unnecessary question and drawing attention to them, Hermione was glad she didn't rush to question his actions.

A massive centaur with light, nearly translucent skin and long grey hair stepped out of the shadows. Carrying the bow and arrows she had seen other centaurs carry the last time she was unfortunate enough to cross their path in the forest, she knew that he wasn't there to just offer a few strange words about the planets and the stars. No, he was there to protect his home and the herd from unwelcome intruders.

Kingsley slowly reached behind his back to grab her hand with the one not holding his wand. With a gentle squeeze, he offered her both encouragement and a silent reminder to remain perfectly still. Whatever spell he managed to cast on them both worked. The centaur walked around them without seeming to even know they were there. After several minutes of searching the immediate area, the creature ran off in the direction he appeared at full speed.

"We don't have much time. He's probably alerting the rest of the herd."

There was no need to tell Hermione that she had to push aside her exhaustion and sore feet to make a run for it. Knowing full well what sort of experience she would have if they were captured was enough incentive to run faster than she may have run in her entire life. Following closely behind the wizard who blasted through the thick undergrowth to clear a safe path, she didn't dare fall behind.

Just when it seemed her poor lungs could take it no more, she thought she could see a thinning of the trees up ahead. Had they finally reached the other side of the wretched forest? Seeing the same signs up ahead, Kingsley spun in place. In a swirl of his robes, he disappeared.

Hermione nearly fell to her knees. Had she been cruelly abandoned with a centaur and his furious mates only a short distance behind? She froze in place, unsure if she was seeing what she was really seeing. How could Kingsley just leave her after all they had both gone through just to get to the point where they were?

A hand grabbed her arm roughly. Terrified that she was about to be dragged back into the forest by the centaur they'd seen, she didn't even get the chance to scream. She felt the uncomfortable squeeze of Apparition. Seconds later her feet landed on pavement. Thoroughly confused by all that happened in such a few short moments, she nearly sobbed in relief when she realized the hand still gripping her arm belonged to Kingsley.

"I thought you abandoned me."

"Never, Little Witch. I just had to test if the anti-Apparition wards were still active that far away from the castle. Did you feel the change in magic back there when we walked out of the wards?"

She shook her head. No, she had been too focused on running to notice the subtle changes in the atmosphere that one could usually feel stepping through security enchantments. His experience as an auror running away from the baddies must've given him an advantage she certainly didn't possess.

One look around the immediate area showed they were behind some brick building like a warehouse in a quiet town. It was late enough, or early enough, that most of the residents were probably still safely tucked inside their own beds in their own warm houses. She envied them their ignorance of what what happening elsewhere outside of their protective little bubbles of existence.

"Where are we?"

"Not far from my house. It was the first place I thought of."

"Is it safe to go there?"

"Oh, no. Definitely not. It's probably not even safe this close to my house. I broke the Taboo a couple of months ago. Been on the run ever since."

She had no idea he had been so reckless. It was understandable, of course, but for years he had made a huge effort to be certain he could easily remain at the Ministry of Magic in his job as an auror without drawing any attention to himself as an Order member. The fact that she wasn't the only one to break the Taboo also helped her feel a little bit better about her mistake weeks earlier.

"I broke it too. That's how this entire mess started."

Kingsley might have just claimed they probably weren't safe where they were standing, but he made no effort to leave. With a hint of an amused smirk back on his lips, he seemed ready to hear the details of what he thought must have been a good story. Knowing that he would understand what she went through, she sighed.

"It was a horrible night. Ron left us weeks earlier alone. I don't blame him. I wish I had somewhere I could've run off to. Somehow he managed to find us. I don't know how. He probably would've been able to explain it if I'd stayed behind in the tent. I was so angry when he came back. Relieved, yes, but furious. I knew I had to take a walk or I was in danger of cursing him to bits."

If she could go back in time to any part of her life, she had no doubt that was the moment she would choose. Instead of running out and throwing a temper tantrum like a displeased toddler in the middle of the night in a dark forest, she would've summoned up all of her self-control and remained calm. Why would she be so angry with Ron for running but then essentially do the same thing?

"I was so mad. Furious that we were being asked to do what we were. I hated You-Know-Who. I cursed him and never thought twice about saying his actual name. As soon as I did, Dolohov appeared. He was very happy it was me."

"Why didn't he take you straight to his Dark Lord?"

"Because he's a sick bastard. We fought him the same day as Bill and Fleur's wedding. I obliviated him and the memory spell was broken under intense torture. He's anxious to make me pay for what I did."

There was concern that flitted across Kingsley's face that he quickly tried to hide. He knew what sort of man Dolohov was and what he was capable of. It was kind that he didn't want to worry her, but unnecessary. She already knew that she needed to fear the wizard. If ever given the opportunity, he would show her no mercy.

"When he was gleefully telling me that he had been hoping that I was the one to break the Taboo, Thorfinn Rowle appeared to find out what the trouble was. Thorfinn… it's complicated."

"How so?"

Hermione worried about the conversations he likely had already had with Snape about the predicament she found herself in. Did he go into details about what he witnessed her do in that room through the keyhole? She wouldn't be surprised. It would explain why Kingsley had been so quick to tell her it didn't matter what she did to survive. He probably already knew.

"I've known him for years. Last summer he came to my house and tried to get me to run. Said that I wouldn't like what was going to happen to Muggle-Borns like me nor would I like what would happen to any friend of Harry's. He has a soft spot for me. He didn't want to see me hurt."

"And Dolohov just let him talk him into not turning you in?"

"No, he blackmailed Dolohov. Warned him that he would go to You-Know-Who to tell him something he overheard him say. I don't think Dolohov is all that confident in leadership right now."

Multiple times she tried to get Dolohov to tell her more about his true feelings, but he was careful not to reveal too much. The man had been playing dangerous politics since before she was born. He was an expert, but even experts made poor decisions and mistakes from time to time. No one was perfect.

"And then before they could decide what they were going to do with me, Draco Malfoy showed up because his aunt wanted to know what was taking them so long. He was the one who knew about the Shrieking Shack. Last year he fixed the room I was in up so he could get away from the castle sometimes."

"Malfoy didn't tell anyone you were there?"

"No. He's not the dedicated Death Eater so many believe him to be. I don't think he wants to be anywhere near them, but he was forced to be. Every time I talked to him it was almost as if he was anxious for me to forgive him for his part. It was weird."

"Maybe not that weird. He's young. He shouldn't have been thrust into this war. None of you should have been."

As much as Kingsley tried to hide his feelings, she could tell he was angry. She appreciated that he was on her side.

"Do you know what the long-term plan was for you? Why were they keeping you in there?"

"I don't know."

She didn't want to admit that there had been talk of Thorfinn figuring out a way to get her out, to take her far away. Somehow admitting that the Death Eater might have had feelings of affection for her were too much. She worried that Kingsley would take that the wrong way, maybe even think that the feelings were reciprocated. Any fervent denial might be explained away as her lying to protect herself. Everything felt terribly complicated.

"There's a house the remaining Order members have been meeting at. Let me take you there."

Grabbing her hand again, Kingsley didn't wait for her agreement before apparating them away. When her feet landed again, she was pleased to find they were in a spacious garden far from the city. A large country house loomed a short distance away. Some of the rooms had light. Even before dawn there was activity within.

With each step closer to the unfamiliar house, she grew more nervous. Who would she find inside? Would the survivors hate her for abandoning Harry and Ron even if she couldn't really help it? Tensions were bound to be high. Kingsley hadn't given her any details of the fight in Hogsmeade that resulted in all of the explosions that woke her up nearly twenty-four hours earlier. How bad was the violence? Dolohov taunted her that there weren't many fighters on her side left. Was that true or just another way he tried to demoralize her?

Kingsley knocked on a door that looked as if it led to the house's kitchen. After just a few moments it was opened. The moment Remus Lupin's eyes landed on Hermione, he seemed shocked and confused. His wife's head popped over his shoulder with a similar expression on her face. Did the Order think she was dead? They both looked as if she was ghost.

"Come inside. It's freezing out there."

Neither of them were about to refuse Remus' invitation. Stepping inside the warm kitchen with a blazing fire in the fireplace brought Hermione the first sense of relief she had felt in weeks. Inside there were no Death Eaters and no centaurs to worry about. All she saw were friendly faces of people she knew.

"Hermione, come sit by the fire. You're shivering."

Tonks took her by the arm to lead her over to a bench next to the fireplace. Sitting down in front of the fire and being able to take a deep breath allowed her body to start to feel its exhaustion fully. She yawned.

"I don't know where you have both been, but you're filthy and exhausted. I'm taking you both upstairs where you can shower and go to bed. We will talk later today."

No one argued with Tonks even though it seemed like her husband wanted to. Remus likely had a thousand different questions he wanted answered. As much as Hermione could sympathize with his need for information, she could hardly keep her eyes open. She gladly accepted the suggestion that they save all conversations for later when she had had some rest.

"Come with me, Hermione. I'll show you where you can stay. Kingsley, the room you used last time is empty."

The auror nodded, but didn't follow the ladies out of the room. Used to ignoring his physical needs when he was on a mission, he likely was going to force himself to stay awake long enough to satisfy some of Remus' curiosity. He probably had some of his own. There had been so much action that day when he was breaking Hermione out of the Shrieking Shack he probably felt just as frustrated with his own ignorance.

"There's a room on the second floor that you can use. It's not very big, but it's quiet and no one will bother you there."

"Where are we, Tonks?"

She smiled as she led Hermione up a narrow staircase just off the kitchen. Likely used in the past by the servants of the house, it was more convenient than the grand staircase on the other side of the large dwelling.

"This was my granny's house. On my father's side. She came from a wealthy family. Her grandfather was a baronet. He only had girls and his girls only had girls. Dad was the first boy in two generations."

"Oh, I didn't know."

In truth, Hermione knew next to nothing about Tonks' father's side of the family. Having never met Ted Tonks, she didn't have the first clue about what his family was like. All she knew was he was Muggle-Born like she was. To know that he had been born into such wealth and privilege was a little bit of a surprise.

"He hated this house."

Tonks voice cracked at the mention of her father. Considering his blood status, she doubted anything good happened to him while she was on the run and then in captivity. Everyone in their world, it seemed, had been touched by recent loss.

"But it is warm and large and few people outside of my immediate family even knows it exists. When Sirius' house became unusable, it seemed the best option. Granny died a couple of years ago and it has been empty ever since. Dad didn't want to move into it and Remus thought it was probably haunted."

"A former DADA professor afraid of some Muggle ghosts?"

Tonks' soft giggle helped Hermione feel more at ease. She was still struggling to believe she wasn't still trapped in the Shrieking Shack or lost in the Forbidden Forest. It would probably take a few days to get used to her new reality.

"It was a weak excuse. I think he was probably more afraid of how we were going to heat it on a junior auror's salary. Maybe when the war is over we can sell it and buy a little house on a warm beach somewhere far away."

"That sounds lovely."

They reached the top of the narrow staircase. Tucked away in a dark corner was a small bedroom. Hermione thought she could've slept on the floor, if necessary, but was pleased to see the bed looked very comfortable.

"The loo is across the corridor. You should be able to find everything you need."

A short time later following a hot shower, Hermione slipped beneath the covers. Worried at first that her overactive thoughts would keep her awake, she fell asleep within moments.

Sunshine hitting her directly in the face was what finally drew Hermione out of her deep sleep. She could have slept for hours longer if she didn't feel that hollow ache in her stomach telling her that she had to eat something. The one sandwich she had consumed in over a day wasn't enough to last, especially after their journey through the Forbidden Forest. Curious to know who else might be inside the house, she dressed quickly. After exiting the bathroom a short time later, she descended the narrow staircase she'd climbed only a few hours earlier.

The kitchen was the heart of the house. All of the activity seemed to pass through it even though there were plenty of other rooms that were available. Voices wafted up the stairs long before Hermione could see the faces they belonged to. She knew they were familiar, if a bit muted. No one seemed much in the mood to laugh or joke around. The war had gotten too serious, the losses too many. She could only imagine what the Order felt after Harry's death.

Everyone must have been warned that she was there. The second that her feet hit the bottom stair all eyes were turned in her direction. Some were friendlier than others. They all looked exhausted and frightened. No longer the happy, optimistic group they'd been when they were huddled around the kitchen table in Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, the leftovers were battle weary.

Seeing the first redhead in the midst of the much smaller group was a jolt. Hermione felt immediate guilt when she looked out and made eye contact with her first Weasley. Bill had always been kind to her and though he wasn't overtly hostile, there was a hardness in his eyes she didn't expect. Did he blame her for Harry and Ron dying? She thought he must have and he wasn't wrong.

"Hermione!"

The first person to greet her with a warm hug either didn't feel the same way as his older brother or was better at hiding it. She didn't realize Fred was standing near until she was already in his arms. Despite the fact that out of all the Weasleys, they had the most contentious at times relationship, she had never been so glad to be squeezed tightly by the wizard who made her job as prefect so much harder fifth year. Tears filled her eyes. She hugged him back as tightly as she could. A world without Fred Weasley was one she didn't want to live in. She was glad that he made it.

"You've missed breakfast, but we can find you something."

Even when he stepped back out of their embrace, Fred didn't let her go. There was a protectiveness to the gesture as he led her across the kitchen. She appreciated the show of support. Some of the other faces weren't so friendly. Maybe they blamed her or thought she had run away. It seemed important that she get all of the facts out as soon as possible.

"Kingsley told us that you broke the Taboo and were captured by Death Eaters."

Thankfully, much of the work had already been done for her. She looked up to see Kingsley seated at the end of the table with his own plate.

"That must have been awful. Are you sure you're all right?"

Hermione offered Fred as warm a smile as she could muster. That was a loaded question, one that she couldn't really answer. No, she really wasn't. Nor was he. She could tell that he was overcompensating. Quickly she scanned the rest of the faces in the room. When she didn't see George, she wanted to throw up. Was he one of the ones who didn't make it in Hogsmeade? She was too scared to ask.

"Yes, I'm all right. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

"Remus said Snape helped Kingsley save you."

Every side conversation stopped immediately when Fred made the statement out loud. They wanted to know if it was true.

"Yes, he did. He was the one who found me locked in the Shrieking Shack."

Still being stared at with varying levels of skepticism on their faces, Hermione didn't wait until she ate or until she was asked more questions. The details of the conversation she had with Snape the first time she realized he was the one that had been peeking in the keyhole came rushing out of her mouth in a torrent. Unwilling to pause to clarify any details or answer any questions, she didn't stop talking until every remaining member of the Order knew what happened and the claims that Snape made about Dumbledore's death.

Some would never be convinced. She knew that even before she said anything. There was still a part of her that wasn't sure it could all be believed. Snape's explanation was just a little too convenient. No one could corroborate it except for Dumbledore. A few believed that Snape only saved her from her captivity because he had a soft spot for her. Maybe that was true. Considering how he treated her when she was his student, she highly doubted it, but it was a possibility.

"Hermione, tell everyone what you told me about the mission you three were sent on."

There was no way that Hermione was going to disagree with Kingsley's demand. It was the right thing to do and she knew it. Maybe if the entire Order had some idea of what they were doing, they could've already completed the mission and Voldemort would be dead. Wishful thinking, of course, but entirely possible.

"Does anyone know what a horcrux is?"

Most of the faces around the table were confused. Only a few, mostly the aurors and the former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, nodded. She tried to keep the description down to as minimally horrifying as she could. Considering the topic of conversation, that was impossible. When she was done explaining what they were and how many Voldemort had, they were all shocked.

"You-Know-Who can never be defeated until we find all of his horcruxes and destroy them."

Murmurs all around the table that such a task would be impossible were disheartening to hear even if she knew there was truth to their concerns. Not knowing what they were looking for or where they could be made it all so much worse. She ignored the promise she'd made to Harry all over again to reveal everything she knew. Every detail that she knew, they knew.

"Mum and Dad are at Aunt Muriel's right now with Ginny. They've already lost two sons to the bastard. I'll do whatever it takes to help."

"Fred…"

"Don't even try to argue with me, Bill. Ron and George are… we owe it to them. I'll help, Hermione. What do you need me to do?"

She appreciated the willingness to jump right in to start making plans. Fred wasn't the only one. Even Bill reluctantly agreed after a little persuasion from his brother. It felt encouraging to start making plans. No longer holding it all on her shoulders, for the first time in months she felt like she could actually breathe.

The first week spent in Tonks' ancestral home was quiet. Discussions between Order members happened at all hours of the day, but they were still licking their wounds. Eventually Hermione was able to piece together some of what happened the awful night Harry died. No one would tell her exactly how Harry's death came about. She feared that was all the proof she needed to know it was much worse than even Ron's. For the immediate future, she would consider that a blessing and not go looking for more answers than she needed.

After another evening meal with several Order members where she was asked a dozen questions at least about the horcrux hunt and what happened and where they needed to go next, Kingsley stopped her before she made her way back up the narrow staircase. Going over the facts could be emotionally and mentally draining. Often she would disappear into the safety of her little bedroom to be alone.

"There's something I need to do tonight. Would you come with me?"

Few details and vague answers had been a large part of her existence in recent years. The chance to get away from the suffocating feel of the house was incentive enough for Hermione to nod her head without asking any questions. Kingsley led her into the back garden. Despite having found her a new wand days earlier, he still reached for her arm to Side-Along Apparate her to their intended location.

She never wanted to return to the Hogsmeade Caves as long as she lived. Standing in the mouth of one of them looking over at the quiet, sleepy village sent a chill up her spine. In fourth year she remembered how Sirius Black hid there during the Triwizard Tournament surviving off of rats when Harry wasn't able to bring him food from the Hogwarts kitchens.

"What are we doing here, Kingsley?"

Her question was answered by a furious flurry of black robes. Anxious to get inside the safety of the cave away from where they could potentially be spotted, Severus Snape didn't even bother to greet either of them. At least the reason why Kingsley didn't tell her what they were doing made sense. Most of the Order still had trouble trusting that Snape was on their side. Even Hermione was nervous about putting her full trust in him even after he was the reason she was no longer trapped in the Shrieking Shack.

"What is this about? I can't be away from the castle for too long. Even the Headmaster is watched."

Kingsley gestured to Hermione.

"You told the rest of the Order about the… you know. He needs to know too."

Before she could talk herself out of revealing what she knew to the man who literally killed the previous Headmaster, all of the details of the horcruxes and the hunt came rushing out of her mouth. It got a little bit easier with each subsequent telling. To Snape's credit, he didn't interrupt once. Just stood there growing more and more horrified with each word she uttered.

"So now it us up to us to find the remaining horcruxes and destroy them if we ever want this war to end."

"I'm afraid what you've told me, Miss Granger, makes a lot of sense."

"Did Dumbledore tell you anything about them?"

His scoff was loud.

"No, that would require trust. Something that I fear he never offered me much of. But he did say something strange to me a short time before he…" He cleared his throat, unwilling to say what he did out loud again. "The night the Potters were murdered. When the Dark Lord nearly died, Albus thought that he might have accidentally made another one."

Hermione wasn't sure what to ask. Was there a possible item somewhere in Godric's Hollow in the ruins of Harry's family home that they missed? The thought of returning to that place after the incident with the snake in the dead woman filled her with far too much dread. If she had to go, she would, but she sincerely hoped it wouldn't be necessary.

"Albus… Albus believed that in order for the Dark Lord to be defeated, Harry Potter would have to die."

Would she ever cease to hate that horrible wizard for what he did to her best friend? It seemed that with each passing day she found new reasons to despise what he did. Maybe he thought he was doing what was best, but it didn't matter to her one bit. How could he never tell Harry his own theory?

"He must've believed that Potter was one too."

"Is that even possible?"

She looked to both men who had extensive knowledge of Dark magic she couldn't even fathom. The uncomfortable nod of their heads made her fear she was about to be sick. Voldemort inadvertently placed part of his soul into Harry? It made a sick sort of sense. Was it any wonder they had such a strong mental connection?

"His damned snake is probably one too."

The rest of the meeting passed quickly. Once Snape had all of the information she could offer, he promised them that he would do some careful research on his side. Any further information he could offer he would make sure they knew. With another swirl of his robes, he disappeared into the dark night.

As soon as he was out of sight, Hermione exhaled. Being around her old professor was uncomfortable. He unnerved her far more than anyone else did that she could think of.

"Are you all right?"

"I don't like being around him. He… well, if we're being honest here, he's seen me naked."

It was the perfect opportunity to confess to Kingsley what she had been reduced to doing in the Shrieking Shack to stay alive.

"When I was held captive…"

"It doesn't matter. You did what you had to do to survive."

She didn't press the conversation further. Maybe she would later. Kingsley took her hand in his again to return them back to the Order safe house.