Edited 9/15/2023 Minor Grammar/Spelling.
Hello! 1/5 for today AND that means I'm all caught up which means I'm hoping to get back to my daily updates for you all!
This one is a bit of a filler, but these five chapters get a bit juicy!
Friday, August 7, 1998
On Friday, Hermione dragged Theo to Headquarters to help with the Muggleborn Relief Effort. They spent hours working with Andromeda to heal minor injuries and provide Nourishment Potions to the emaciated group. When they'd first arrived Andromeda let them know that there had been a few casualties already. A few of the Muggleborns had gorged themselves and gotten sick, eventually leading to their deaths. A few others had injuries that were beyond the Healer's capabilities.
Hermione felt a creeping sense of guilt when she looked over the assembled group. She should have been there with them. She should have been there to help them. If she hadn't met Harry so early she would have been. She found herself standing in the middle of the room just watching the people bustle around her, but she couldn't force herself to move.
"Love?" Theo asked softly, pulling her to a bench that had been pushed against the wall. "It's not your fault, I can feel the guilt radiating from you."
"I-It is tough!" she said, brokenly. "I should have been there with them. I'm sure I could have gotten us out sooner. I should have done something. I should have stopped it!"
"What, pray tell," he asked patiently, "do you think you could have done that all of these fully grown witches and wizards couldn't?"
Hermione stared at him, dumbstruck.
"Hermione," he said with a sigh, brushing a tear from her cheek, "you're brilliant, but you're human. We're doing all we can to end this war, but that doesn't mean everything is going to work out perfectly for everyone."
"But-" she started.
"No buts, love," he said firmly. "There is no denying that between you, Draco and I we could probably have graduated from Hogwarts after our Second Year, but that doesn't mean that many of the people in this room don't have more knowledge than us. We don't need another person in the Order who blames themselves for things that are out of their control, that's why we keep Potter around."
She chuckled wetly, and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thank you," she murmured.
After a few moments, he helped her stand and they began to circulate through the hall. They were approached by a few people who wanted to join the Order, but many of them looked like they just wanted to get to a Safehouse and not have to think about it anymore.
Hermione could understand the sentiment, sometimes, when she was feeling her lowest, she wished that she, Draco and Theo could run away and avoid the whole mess. Unfortunately, that was not to be her lot in life. She was here to help and here to stay. She tucked into her work, collapsing onto their bed when they arrived home, much after their usual time.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!