After sharing a round of farewell hugs and kisses, Thimi popped Harry and Hermione back to the house in London. She made a second trip and brought their trunks. It was agreed that Thimi continue to shadow her mistress. If she was discovered (Hermione suspected by another house-elf), then she would make herself known as The Royal Family house-elf.
Crookshanks puttered down to weave between his mistress's legs, head butting her and Harry's shins, purring loudly.
"We missed you too, Crooks," Hermione said gently.
The half-kneazle purred louder in response. Harry smiled at her familiar.
Soon Elara and Hedwig swooped down and ruffed their feathers up happy to see their humans, Elara landing on the railing nearby and Hedwig on Harry's shoulder. The snowy owl started grooming his hair with little soft hoots. The young wizard let it happen lest he be bit on the ear by his familiar. Family or not, she would always mother him.
"Hey girl, think you can send Sirius a quick message for me?" He asked.
Hedwig ruffled her feathers up more and stuck her leg out waiting for the parcel to be tied to it. Elara hooted softly knowing that Hedwig would take all primary postings. In the little familiar family menagerie they started, Elara was second ranking. Crookshanks and Hedwig were tied for first, although Hedwig admitted that Crookshanks had better instincts concerning humans.
Quickly tying the response to her leg, Harry let Hedwig out of the back window. When he came back he seated himself on the steps in front of the door making himself comfortable.
"Since Hedwig flies second to none we should have someone get us soon." Hermione announced.
The curly haired witch looked at Elara, "You already know when term starts, Thimi will let you know if Hedwig hasn't already, that Crooks will be coming with me on the train. You'll meet us there. The rules say one familiar per student…" she said drifting off.
"Hermione?"
"One familiar per student. I'm an apprentice. I still attend as a student, but I'm also an apprentice which gives me more leeway," she grinned, "Meet us at the school so no one can say anything on the train. You've already met the most important people to me."
Hermione softly petted Elara as the owl started to coo at her. The sooty owl also knew it was so certain people didn't know who her mistress was. There was a reason she had her special bracelet after all.
"Wait, if you're not a student how will you be prefect?" her brother asked.
She gave him a chagrined lopsided smile, "Believe it or not, I can't be a prefect. Since I'm an Apprentice I have more luxuries, because I have more responsibilities, and I don't have the time to dedicate strictly to the school. Professor McGonagall already admitted I was her first pick, but couldn't give me the badge since I'm Master Snape's apprentice."
"So you'll never be Head girl?" he asked quietly.
"I guess not. At this point though, as upsetting as that would have been last term, I find I'm rather happy with what I have."
Harry nodded even though he didn't seem to agree.
"I'm an apprentice, Harry. It's… a very coveted and special thing. I'll be a potions mistress. Well respected throughout the entire wizarding world," her eyes had a slight glimmer.
The young wizard's face twisted to the side. He both understood and didn't. They were both well known in the wizarding world now. What with him being the boy-who-lived and her being royalty.
His sister noticed the look and sighed, "Harry, I was hiding in plain sight. I was just a muggleborn… a mudblood. Britain is the worst in terms of blood purity. I know how witches and wizards feel about me. As a muggleborn I'm a freak of nature, and it's a slap in the face that I'm the top of our year. Being top of our year, even with the best of NEWTs, I'd still struggle to find a decent paying job, just because I'm a first generation witch. I mean I have other theories about muggleborns, but that's a different tangent. As a mistress I'll be able to have a better job, be more respected, be… accepted," 'if begrudgingly,' she thought, "If not, I'd have to look outside of the country or go back to the muggle world. It's hard for muggleborns in Britain."
Harry frowned but nodded, "I don't like it, and you're not a-a that word," he glared at her for a second, mad that she referred to herself as a mudblood, "but you're right. You're always right," he gave her a grin understanding where she was coming from.
The doorbell rang.
Hermione looked at the door with slight suspicion in her eyes before she went over to the window next to the door and peeked through the blinds. She heaved a light breath of relief. There was a familiar figure wearing semi-casual muggle clothes standing at her door. She was glad he decided to dress well enough that he wouldn't gather undue attention. He was wearing a light blue button up shirt and khaki pants.
Which was just as well since both her and Harry had decided to wear their most casual jeans and t-shirts. Harry's was a sea green v-neck, so Ron wouldn't complain about him wearing 'Slytherin' colors, where Hermione was wearing a light grey v-neck, with a white camisole underneath.
"It's Remus," she told Harry, as she moved to open the door.
The young wizard bounced up and leaned around his sister's hair to smile at the werewolf.
The sandy haired man grinned at the two, "Harry, Hermione! You're looking well. Glad we got your note. The Weasleys are already at headquarters so you won't be left with just us stuffy old people," he chuckled.
Hermione's smile turned into a grimace.
"Oh! Before we go, read this. The house is under a fidilus charm, so you won't be able to find it without reading it. Read it, remember it," He gave Hermione the strip of paper with Sirius's handwriting.
'The Black home is located at number 12 Grimmauld Place, London.'
Both siblings nodded. Remus then took the paper out of her hair and burned it.
"Since we're in London we're going to walk, better than the original plan if you ask me."
Hermione looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "What was the original plan?"
The older man's cheeks turned pink. "Uh," he looked away from the witch for a moment before looking back at her, "We were going to get Harry at night –"
"We?" Harry asked.
"Mad-eye Moody, Nymphadora don't-call-me-Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and myself."
"And will we still be meeting these people?"
"Of course! I'm sure you'll be introduced into most of The Order."
Hermione cleared her throat.
"Oh, yes. We were going to, ah, get him and travel by broom," he trailed off his voice going a bit quiet near the end.
The petite witch tilted her head at him and blinked slowly. "Whose idea was that?" she asked lowly.
Remus looked at her feet feeling a bit stupid now, "It was a group decision."
"Did no one think of side-along apparation?" she pushed, squinting hard at him.
The werewolf blushed more, answering her more than his words would.
She took a deep breath and let out a long sigh at wizard's poor critical thinking skills. They could learn a lot from muggles if they weren't so biased.
"Let's go." She said.
"We'll be coming up by the house soon," the werewolf said as they stepped onto the curb that turned into Grimmauld Place, "It'll be on our left."
The walk was far enough that it would have been a nuisance to walk every day, but not impossible. It was just shy of walking to Hogsmead from the castle.
Hermione followed him, having decided to simply keep quiet the whole way while Harry and Remus made small talk.
About halfway into the block she saw a house that seemed to push itself between 11 and 13, making itself known. To keep the inquisitiveness off her face she merely raised an eyebrow, unaware that it was a near perfect imitation of her master's. Harry looked over at her and grinned, knowing what she was trying to do but decided to needle her instead.
"C'mon, Hermione. It's not that bad."
His sister blushed and turned an amused glare on him, not saying anything. They were still in a public muggle place and she decided to play along, pretending that she just got caught judging someone's house.
"No, but it's bad enough," she said with a straight face, even while her eyes twinkled with mirth.
Harry laughed, slightly bending over. It wasn't often that his sister made a joke, and he was quickly recognizing the dry humor that their dad had in her.
She bumped her hip into his side, "Come on. Let's go then. I can judge the inside just as well as the outside."
Harry kept laughing as he straightened up and started to follow Remus up the stairs while the werewolf chuckled, opening the door.
Upon entering Remus called for Sirius. Harry however tripped on an umbrella stand that looked like a troll's foot, but managed to catch himself before he fell. Hermione lifted her lip up in distaste at the offending object.
The grim animagus bounced into the hall to greet his guests, "Harry, Hermione! So glad you could be here!"
Both smiled at the excited wizard. It was clear that if he were in his canine form his tail would be wagging ferociously.
"We have a lot to talk about, but let me bring you up the stairs," he said leading them through the house, "I had Kreature set up your rooms. In a moment there's going to be a bit of drama, so gather yourself and don't lose your heads."
The curly haired witch's lips thinned, having expected nothing less as soon as she heard the Weasleys were there. Harry's face however twisted into one of distaste having enjoyed a mostly drama free summer thus far. His new family was very understanding and the louder portion of the Weasleys were… not.
"If it gets too bad, I want to go back home," Harry said to Hermione, who simply nodded and 'hm'ed in agreement behind him.
As soon as the words registered in his head his chest filled with warmth again. Having a home and family he loved, who he knew loved him in return. If he saw the mirror of erased again he wasn't sure what he would see since he had a family now.
Before it was his parents, because he wanted a family who loved him and would be proud of him in a way that the Dursley's weren't. Now he had that and a sister. He saw his parents for a few moments in the graveyard and got their approval. They told him they were proud of him, loved him, and essentially gave their blessings approving of Hermione. Any guilt would have had over having a new family was gone with that short meeting and those simple words.
Pretending to not have overheard that Sirius continued to walk up the stairs, "This is the guest floor, there are 2 bathrooms on this floor. The Weasley's have taken up rooms here. Molly and Albus insisted," the last part was grumbled, "We're going to continue going up."
He lead them down the hall and up another set of stairs, "Up here is the family floor, I've banned all guests from this floor for obvious reasons."
The wizard walked to the middle of the hallway, knowing there was plenty of room for the 2 teens to stand there comfortably.
"Three of the rooms here have bathrooms attached to them, one of them being the master bedroom, mine of course. The other two are next to the master bedroom. The ones I've reserved for you. Kreature cleaned them up, you can decorate them however you want. I want you both to know you can consider this another home, I want you both as comfortable as possible here. I know it'll be hard with our current guests, but you can at least come up here for respite. Merlin knows I do," he grumbled.
"Are you sure, Sirius?" Hermione asked.
"Of course! Harry's my godson, you're his sister, making you both family!" he exclaimed, "Remus also has a bedroom up here, but he rarely uses it. The common bathroom is the door in the middle on the right. Second door on our left is Buckbeak's room. I would have made it my mother's old room, but Kreature outdid himself and I have to say, I appreciate it."
"Thanks, Padfoot," Harry grinned, "We'll put our trunks in our rooms then and be right out."
"Okay. And then we'll meet in Harry's room. It'll be the best place to talk," the bright witch stated.
Both boys nodded.
As soon as Hermione brought her trunk into her room Thimi touched her hand letting Hermione know silently that she would take care of her unpacking.
"Thank you," the witch murmured, keeping her voice low so no one would hear her, sensitive hearing or otherwise.
It didn't take long for them to meet in Harry's room, the siblings making themselves comfortable on Harry's queen sized bed.
Sirius closed the door quietly and gathered his courage hoping what he had to say wouldn't devastate them or push them away.
"Okay, before I start I'm going to ask that you don't get mad and let me finish first. I also want to remind you that I care for you both and only want the best for you," Sirius said, running a hand through his hair.
Both nodded. Sirius nodded in turn and cast a quiet muffliato.
"Taking precaution. The twins invented this cool thing that helps you eavesdrop on private conversations. They've managed to make it get around silencing charms, but this one doesn't silence, just makes the listener hear a soft buzzing noise, like people mumbling in the background," he explained.
Hermione nodded in appreciation and respect at the twin's genius.
'If only they applied themselves.'
"First off, I've noticed something. I know Ron's your best mate, Harry, and your friend Kitten," Hermione made a face at the nickname, "But he's been doing nothing but talking bad about you behind your backs."
They were quiet, knowing how Ron got when he felt he was wronged in some way, imaginary or not. However Sirius was taking their quiet as something else.
"I'm not trying to tear your guys apart!" he added hastily.
"Sirius, we know how Ron gets. We're not mad at you. We're aware of it, he has a bad habit of doing so..." Hermione finished with a slight sneer. Harry nodded with a downtrodden look.
"Oh. Well…" Sirius started, trying to figure out where to start next, "I don't know what they're planning but Albus and Molly have been sharing weird looks in the Order meetings. I can't tell you what goes on in them and such, I'm sworn to secrecy, but I can tell you that I've been getting a bad feeling about Molly lately. I don't know what she does during her free time, honestly I don't care, but I do know is that she's putting something in her food. I've been having Kreature make the same thing and switch my plates when she isn't looking. I don't know what, it's kinda rude to just turn and sniff her cooking," he grimaced.
The siblings looked at each other and nodded. "We trust you, Padfoot. If you think Mrs. Weasley is putting something in her food we won't eat it. We'll do what you think is best."
Hermione nodded, even as her face turned serious. It was clear she was thinking at a frightening speed.
"I'm not sure if Master Snape asked you yet, but we were hoping to set up a lab here, temporary, so I could continue some of my lessons. It would be easy for me to take a plate in there saying it was either so I could eat while I work or to bring a plate to him and we could look for potions in it," she spoke up.
Sirius blinked in surprise, "Snape has asked and I didn't give him an answer yet, but that would be bloody brilliant. Maybe you could take our plates too, the ones I'll have Kreature replace, and see if there are different potions in them. She was our potions mistress until she retired, so it's more than possible."
Harry paled at the thought, having trusted the mothering witch. He had seen a few of her true colors this past term, so he wouldn't put it past her.
"I want you both on your guard. I know a few of your adventures, so you know it's better to find out yourself rather than be surprised later. If I thought they would give up whatever it is they're doing while you were at Hogwarts I would have insisted you stay at your place. But I can only find out so much on my own."
Neither could fault him that logic, especially since he was a prankster. Following a gut instinct that something was hidden in plain sight, such as the food, would have saved him a lot of humiliation from retaliation.
"We'll do our best," Hermione said for them.
Sirius let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks."
After taking another breath he looked at them, "If you guys want, I could start training you to be animagi. From someone who did it before their fifth year, I have a few tricks that will help you skip over a lot of it. If that rat Pettigrew could do it, I know you could."
Both look excited and nodded, "We'll register afterwards though," Hermione said with a small smirk.
"Knowing Harry he'll get upset at some point and want to run around in his animal form without a care of who's there or not," she laughed, "That and it would be fun to patrol as an animal."
Both wizards looked at the curly haired witch with a grin.
"Hermione, that's brilliant." Sirius grinned, too excited to tease her.
No one wanted to say it, but Sirius rolled his shoulders trying to hint. Hermione leaned to the side dramatically, "Let's face the music."
They stood up getting ready to leave the room.
"Wait before we go, I should warn you, Molly tried to assign you rooms with Ron and Ginny. Obviously I refuse to let that happen, so that might be an issue. Just so you aren't blind sighted."
Hermione's lips thinned again, "Thanks for the heads up. Shall we?"
Taking the spell down they went to greet the rest of the house.
Walking into the kitchen they saw everyone eating what looked like stew for lunch.
"Oh! Harry, Hermione! I'm so glad you're here! Come, come. I've made a hearty stew with rice. I wasn't sure if those muggles were feeding you right, you're a growing boy after all. No offense to Hermione's parents, but boys eat differently than girls," Molly said, shoving plates into what was to be Harry's and Hermione's seating. 'Harry's' plate had about twice the amount of food of 'Hermione's'. The witch also set a plate up at the head of the table for Sirius as he took his seat.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," They both said, taking their seats.
They took up their forks and Hermione waited for her food to flicker before sticking her fork into the plate, letting Harry know it was safe to eat now. Following his sister's lead, Harry smiled as he ate.
"This is wonderful as always, Molly," the elder wizard said.
The plump witch beamed at him pleasantly.
Harry ate politely, "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. I have to say though that mum and dad did feed me rather well."
A weird look crossed the redhead's face, but it was there long enough for them to notice.
"What do you mean, dear? Lily and James are dead," she said softly as though trying to comfort a young child.
"I was adopted. Hermione's parents adopted me," He said calmly, twirling his fork.
"Oh? I don't know if it's binding in our world though dear, you'd still need a magical guardian – "
"Which I am, Molly," Sirius said firmly, "Not that it matters since it's just on paper. Hermione's parents are higher stationed that they are considered acceptable on our side of things."
She tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace, "Of course, how silly of me. We've known Hermione so long I forgot she wasn't just a regular muggleborn."
Hermione looked at her plate coolly letting the jab wash over her. She refused to say anything, instead letting her formal training kick in and resumed eating. The change was like a transformation.
One moment Hermione was there, the next a member of society's elite was sitting at the humble table in the kitchen. The change was discomforting to everyone other than Harry, who had been taking lessons with their mum. Even Sirius was startled.
Harry followed suit, the pair looking perfectly poised, and out of place in the kitchen.
Molly didn't like the change, she was more than thankful that Ron had said something before she did.
The young wizard looked at them with envy, "What's with you guys? Last I checked you were eating with friends, not at some palace. Too good for us now!?"
"Just because we have manners doesn't make us better, Ronald," Hermione replied calmly, "However we would be remiss if we didn't use the manners our parents taught us."
Ginny glared at her from down the table as the curly haired witch made her feel insecure. The other witch's poise would have her Aunt Muriel praise her. Her manners and holding were "most befitting of a lady of her stature". Now that Harry was using manners befitting his stature, she would look like a country bumpkin in comparison!
"You know when you guys sit like that it looks like you're looking down on us. It's okay to relax, y'know," Ginny said.
Hermione 'hm'ed in a way that made it sound polite, acknowledging her even though she continued what she was doing.
The only ones who had no issue were Remus and the twins, who thought it was brilliant. The best way to ruffle her feathers without her being able to say anything was to be better behaved than everyone else.
After a quick tense meal Molly started cleaning the kitchen up rethinking the dosage of the potions she would be slipping the teens.
"I don't know if Remus told you on your way here, dears, but Harry, you'll be sharing a room with Ron. Hermione, you'll be sharing a room with Ginny," Molly said as kindly as she could.
"Oh. I didn't know that, Sirius showed us our rooms when we got here," Hermione said primly.
"Your rooms? No, no dear. You must be mistaken," Molly looked pointedly at the muggleborn, "The other rooms on the guest floor are reserved for Order members."
"Then it's a good thing we have rooms on the family floor," Hermione said through her teeth, forcing her face to form a smile.
The older witch roughly dropped the plates in the sink, a few of them could be heard breaking, as she whirled around with her hands on her hips.
"Family floor? Sirius knew you would be sharing a room with Ginny! Sirius, tell them!" Molly said, her face turning red.
"They've always had a room on the family floor, Molly," he said calmly sipping his pumpkin juice, "I just didn't say anything so Ron and Ginny could have their own rooms," the grim animagus said, hoping to come across as benevolent.
Ron and Ginny beamed at the dark wizard. They weren't happy about Harry and Hermione getting special treatment, but they were happy to have their own rooms.
Molly glared at him.
"Well we still need to clean the parlor and other rooms, so they'll be cleaning it together," she said firmly.
Sirius hummed noncommittally.
"You can get started after you've washed your hands. I'll take you there. You need to help clean the floor, dust the shelves, get rid of the rubbish, we have a lot to do!"
Harry and Hermione didn't even look at each other as they went to go wash their hands not ready to ruffle her feathers any more for the moment. Being on their 'best behavior' seemed to be doing that well enough.
Ron and Ginny were waiting impatiently in the parlor with their mother. The siblings were wearing jeans and a t-shirt that were worn in, but presentable and what could be called comfortable. Ron was wearing an orange shirt to match his favorite quidditch team, Ginny was wearing a light blue.
Thankfully they didn't have to wait long as Hermione and Harry walked in calmly, still holding themselves with elegant poise. Molly willfully ignored it.
"Ron, you'll work with Hermione with sweeping the room and cleaning the windows. Harry, you'll work with Ginny with mopping after them and dusting the room," Molly said, standing next to the broom and mop holding some rags.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," they replied.
Molly stared at them for a few seconds before nodding and holding the broom out to Hermione. Hermione took it before her eyes brightened, "Oh! Mrs. Weasley, I hope you don't mind, but I won't be able to work as much as the others since I have work to do with my master."
Ron glared at the witch feeling a monster claw at his chest, "You'd rather spend time with the greasy git than me!?"
The redheaded wizard was usually oblivious, but even he noticed her new appearance. She had filled out rather well, it was a shame he didn't notice under her frumpy school robes. If it weren't for her going to the ball with Krum he would have completely missed how pretty she could be. She would never be a Lavender, but she was pretty enough. He had planned on spending some special time with her, practicing until he found a proper witch. Now that he knew she was rich though, he realized how pretty she was under all of that bushy hair.
Hermione turned her head slowly to look at the aggravated wizard, "Yes. I would much rather spend my time working with my master towards my mastery than clean with you."
Ron's face started to redden while his mother glared at the muggleborn.
"You'll be staying here, so you need to help out, young lady!" Molly yelled.
Hermione turned to look at the older witch, "There is a wonderful house-elf here. I don't need to help out, Mrs. Weasley, Sirius made that clear," she fibbed the last part but it was clear that he wanted them happy and were welcome any time, "I have an apprenticeship and when my master calls for me I am to answer."
"So you're just gonna abandon your friends for your fancy apprenticeship!? I bet you abandoned your family too! Don't worry about Harry, we'll take good care of him!" Ron shouted at her, spittle flying from his mouth.
"Woah. Ron, mate, she never abandoned us and I don't appreciate you yelling at my sister like that. She has her own responsibilities," Harry said firmly with a glare. He was doing his best at using his dad's new mental teachings, and he was glad they were working for him.
"All of a sudden she has an apprenticeship and she's better than us!" Ron shouted.
Ginny hid her face in her hands, she'd rather be in detention with Filch than be here.
"All of a sudden I have an apprenticeship with more responsibilities. An apprenticeship takes time, work, and effort, Ronald. You don't just have an apprenticeship and wait until a certain amount of time has passed to gain your mastery. I have a lot to learn, which means I have a lot of work to do," the curly haired witch bit back.
Ron scoffed and crossed his arms, "You do enough learning at Hogwarts. What? Are you done with Hogwarts too now?"
Hermione crossed her arms and glared coldly at the redheaded wizard, "No. I have an apprenticeship on top of my regular Hogwarts work."
"I'm sure Severus will still make sure you have time for your friends, dear," Molly tried, knowing she already stepped on the younger witch's toes.
'I'll dose her more at dinner…'
"Master Snape has made sure that I have time for my family; and my family has respected that my apprenticeship is important and that it requires a lot of time and focus. No one has held it against me," Hermione replied pointedly.
"I bet Harry only said that since your parents said to and he was too scared to say anything else! Well he's here now! Right, Harry? Tell her!" Ron snapped.
"Hermione is right, Ron. We do support her; and mum and dad encourage her to spend time with Master Snape. He even came to my birthday party."
Molly did not like how this was playing out, and was angrier that he didn't spend his birthday with them. This was not going according to plan. At this rate she would need to dose the witch up so much that she wouldn't want to spend time on her apprenticeship or with Severus.
"Just clean the floor then," Molly snapped and she left the room.
Things were not going the way she hoped at all. There should have been a more pliable change with the stew. Perhaps she'd add a bit to dinner and maybe in their juice…
The next day Hermione left with Severus for a short brewing session, and to get out of the tense atmosphere Molly was creating. When they got back 3 hours later, they smelled Molly's cooking. Thankfully Severus had been brought up to speed, including Sirius's suspicions, and had to agree with the animagus. They had brewed a large batch of generic antidotes that were to be taken after every meal, once a day for her brother so Molly wouldn't be too suspicious that her potions weren't working. So he left, stating that he had a few errands to take care of before he returned later.
Molly wasn't concerned with Severus, while he was a fly in her plans she also knew about Hermione having to spend time with him to brew potions for the Order. It was part of Albus's plan, so she wouldn't interfere.
After the meal Severus returned with Minerva, both bringing the teens' Hogwarts' letters. Molly was quick to follow.
The transfiguration professor handed the Weasley's and Harry's letters to the proper students.
Severus handed his apprentice the letter that had her bouncing on her toes. She took it from him calmly belying her excitement before tearing into it.
Just behind her Harry and Ron were opening theirs, and the redhead gasped.
"I made prefect," he said dumbfounded.
Hermione turned slowly, "You made prefect?" she asked incredulously before looking at Minerva. At the same time that Molly squealed like a teenager.
"The Headmaster overrode my decisions," she said with a look of distaste.
Hermione nodded knowing that the Deputy couldn't do anything about that. While the final decision should have been with the Heads of House, she knew it was possible that the Headmaster was able to override their decision should he feel they chose poorly. It left a bitter taste in her mouth knowing that every other boy in fifth year would have been a better choice than Ronald Weasley.
Thankfully Molly was too busy gushing over Ron to take notice of the interaction.
"Now it's too dangerous for you to go out to Diagon Alley, so I'll do your shopping for you," Molly said.
"Harry, if you'd be a dear and get your Gringotts' key?" she instructed with a smile, everyone knew it was an order.
Hermione fixed a stern look onto the older witch, "That's alright Mrs. Weasley, Master Snape is taking me into the Alley to get my supplies and a few other things I need. I can get Harry's things while we're there."
"He'll need a few things that you might forget to get. He's a boy and I've raised enough to know what they need. No offense, dear," Molly said in clipped tones.
She was supposed to go into Harry's vault and grab a few hundred galleons for the Order.
"I don't need anything aside from my school supplies. I already went clothes shopping and everything else while I was with mum and dad," Harry said.
"I'm sure you forgot something, dear. The Granger's have only had Hermione until recently after all," she replied.
"And last I was aware of dad has a talleywhacker," Hermione sniped.
"Language!" Molly yelled.
"Mrs. Weasley, I will be shopping for my brother while I'm out with my Master. Anything else that might be forgotten could be gotten through an owl order," she replied before leaving the room tossing her hair over her shoulder.
The finality left Molly fuming. She was the adult!
It had been about a few days since then, Severus and Hermione had spent those days setting up the temporary lab in one of the guest rooms. Things were still extremely tense with the loud Weasley's. Molly hadn't taken being told no well at all.
The plan to check the food for the potions was going well. The story was more believable as he did take his meals in the temporary lab room, of course he ate the meals that were prepared by Kreature while they checked the meals prepared by Molly.
The dark wizard took the time to show Hermione how to test for potions in food or drinks, and was pleased that Kreature's food showed up negative every time. If there were left overs he would place a drop of the hallucinogen that he had as an example.
Hermione was fascinated and was surprised by how similar it was to scanning for curses and harmful objects. There were a few minor differences, but was simple enough. Severus then showed her three different methods of deciphering the hidden potion or poison.
One, made it so it listed the ingredients of the potion. Two, listed the potion by name. Three, listed if the potion was keyed to someone or something.
He instructed her to use the first one to break down the potions before she used the second one if she couldn't tell what it was by ingredients.
Molly had been almost unbearable to the witch, but Hermione has smiled and nodded politely while trying to be amicable with Ron in front of her. Ginny had started to try to flirt with Harry, which was a great source of humor for Hermione. Harry however looked extremely uncomfortable.
The gentle ribbing she'd give her brother that was overheard by Molly pleased the older witch that Hermione, despite the adoption, had no such feelings towards Harry. Said older witch was curious as to how shy Harry must be however since he hadn't done more than trying to stare at Ginny while she wasn't looking.
Hermione however was angering her. She had decided against her original plan, dosing her slowly, and had started placing half a vial of the loyalty potion in her drink with a quarter of the love potion keyed to Ron in her food. Still nothing! She would listen more during a meal, but after leaving for the bathroom she'd be her stubborn self again.
It was 5 days until they were going to head to Hogwarts. There had been a few Order meetings, of which Harry and Hermione (even though she was a member) had been excluded from along with the Weasley brood. The twin's extendable ears had been quite helpful.
It was because of them that they found out a few more important facts and they knew that Sirius thought they should indeed be allowed in on the meetings since he didn't cast any spells to distort what was being said. They were also aware of how much Sirius was trying to be polite to Severus, even Moody despite his growling.
Harry and Sirius had tried to get Harry into some of the meetings, but Molly bulled over them. She made painful potshots at them both. Sirius had told Harry some of what he could, despite Molly fuming and yelling, but couldn't go into details. Harry appreciated what his godfather could tell him, and was anger with most of the other members.
Moody, Tonks, Kingsley, and surprisingly Severus, were of the opinion that he should be included in the meetings as it was his life that the plans were mostly centered around. In the meantime all they could do was protect the 'secret weapon'. It wasn't enough action for the aurors, or Severus, but they followed orders despite not agreeing with them.
Albus refused to meet with the children despite his anger with them, or rather due to his anger with them. He had hoped to speak with them at Hogwarts where he was the adult in charge where they wouldn't be able to run to another adult that wasn't under his control. The anger and shame he still had over the incident at Gringotts hadn't left his mind, he was just glad that Skeeter hadn't been aware. Not that it had stopped the slander that was coming from the Prophet. Even then he had a plan as Hermione Granger had not been slandered, he was surprised. He had expected who they knew to be Death Eaters to be vocal against her, publicly or subtly. The only one who had been truly crude was Dolores Umbridge…
Hermione had been ecstatic to see Mad-eye again. She had hugged him and demanded information about Barty as soon as she was able to get him into the lab alone. The gruff wizard had hugged her back and pat her hair. He was normally not an affectionate man, but he knew how hard she had worked. Of course that didn't stop him from shooting an imperius at her, which he was pleased that she shrugged off.
The only time Molly had restrained herself from drugging the teens was when the grizzled auror came over for meetings, knowing he would be able to tell as soon as he checked his food. Every meal was potioned so they would trust Albus more than they would. Molly felt it wasn't completely necessary but she understood how teenagers rebelled and it wasn't the time for that. She also slipped one in so they would trust her. Should something happen she would need them to believe her over someone else, just as much as they trusted Albus…
Nevertheless Thimi had been giving Hermione and Harry antidotes daily. The house-elf was furious with the plump witch, trying to control her family. She was just happy that her family trusted her enough to take their potion when she handed it to them. She was worried about her master Harry, who hadn't realized he was being slipped love potions in his drinks. He would go through the day confused about the younger redheaded witch.
Harry had slipped into Hermione's room after knocking and making sure she was there. They would be going to Hogwarts in 2 days. He was upset with his emotions, confused, even though he was sure he was missing Mrs. Weasley's potions. He had made himself comfortable on her bed while she changed into her nightclothes.
"Hermione, I… I've been feeling weird practically since we got here," Harry mumbled, looking at his feet instead of staring at his sister.
Hermione was pulling on a shirt when she looked at him concerned, "What do you mean, Harry?"
"Since we've been here, after Mrs. Weasley started cooking dinner, and the rest of the meals, for the whole day I'd be wondering about Ginny. But not in a way where I would normally consider. I know I don't like her that way, I don't… y'know. So I'm confused since I wonder what she would be like if she was a guy," He admitted with a small blush.
"Harry… Thimi has been giving us antidotes to Mrs. Weasley's potions at night. After me and Master Snape were able to determine the potions she was slipping us, we've made a large batch to counteract them. I know we didn't tell you what they were, but I have to take an antidote after every meal. Mrs. Weasley… Molly," she hissed, "Has been giving us love and loyalty potions. Loyalty to Dumbledore and her. I don't know what their game is, but I don't trust it. I haven't said anything since I don't want to start trouble, the less they know what we know, the better. And," she took a breath, "And a love potion. She's been trying to get us to be with Ron and Ginny, respectively. She doesn't know you like guys, so I think she assumed it would be fine," Hermione grumbled with her arms crossed.
"Ron has been smiling and leering at me more than usual. I don't like it," She glared at the floor.
"Ginny… has been holding onto my arm and pressing her… chest, against my arm. It's extremely uncomfortable," Harry admitted.
The curly haired witch's head snapped up to look at her brother intensely, "Ginny has been pressing her breasts against you?"
"Yeah," he mumbled looking down.
"Harry… don't take this wrong, but I think… I think they might know what she's doing. Either that or she's telling them that it's only a matter of time or something since they loyalty potions are in the food, like she mixes it in after so no one can tell."
The green eyed wizard furrowed his brows in concentration. He was thankful he kept up with his mind exercises as it helped him with his emotions and thinking, so he didn't fly off the handle. He now understood how Hermione was able to think about things before reacting, usually.
"I… I think you're right. Mrs. Weasley was the one who signed the contract, so I know she wants it to happen and she's been telling Ginny about me since she was little. So she probably just figures it's meant to be," he said softly, feeling a little pity for the young witch.
"And now that she's developed, she's obviously making her move…" she pondered aloud.
Harry groaned.
"She's probably gonna send some of her baked goods while we're at Hogwarts too," Hermione continued.
"So we don't eat them?" Harry asked.
"I would recommend that or keeping an antidote on you for when you eat it," she replied.
"Or I could give them away," he grumped.
Hermione looked at him, "Harry, no. Then you'd be just as bad as her, since you'd be essentially potioning someone else."
He looked back down at his feet embarrassed, "I didn't think of it like that."
"I know," she murmured, "At least we leave soon. Ron is seriously getting under my skin. He keeps… staring. I feel like I need to take an extra shower," she shivered.
'I know I can protect myself, but I can't be on guard all the time around him. We live in the same house.'
"We should go to bed," she said.
He nodded and got up leaving, "Night, 'Mione."
"Night," she replied getting into her bed.
The next day Hermione and Kreature dismantled the lab. While Sirius had contemplated keeping it, Hermione and Severus didn't want one of the members, namely Molly, to snoop and mess around with their set up. She was obviously brewing potions somewhere else, so she had no need of being around their ingredients. Hermione was worried the witch would tamper with them, which was why she placed a thin ward around them, only letting herself and Severus touch them. So she took it down when they were clearing out the room.
It would have been her and Severus, but he had to deal with something important at the castle he said. She would have bothered him for details, but he was grouchy and obviously not happy with the errand that needed his attention. He did kiss her on the forehead before he left though.
They were keeping their relationship quiet even though they were very open about the apprenticeship in public. She was more than okay with that being a decently private person, never really one for public displays of affection.
She couldn't wait to leave.
"Dirty Royal Miss should leave the rest to Kreature and Thimi," the crotchety house-elf said.
The house-elf had shown bigoted pureblood beliefs from the start, but he was as respectful to her as he was to Sirius. He had a nasty mouth, but it was easy to ignore. His common mention of her house-elf didn't surprise her, even though no one else knew of her. It seemed the house-elf understood that she was a personal elf, as far as he was concerned.
Hermione nodded at the old house-elf knowing that arguing wouldn't do her any favors, "Of course, Kreature. I shall be in the library."
Harry was sitting in the library playing chess with Ron while Ginny was wearing a low-cut shirt that was practically scandalous by wizarding Britain standards. Harry was doing his best not to look at the witch, focusing instead on the chess game he was getting thoroughly trounced in.
Ginny was mildly glaring, trying to get Harry to notice her new assets. Her breasts had grown enough to compete with some of the seventh years. She wasn't close to Bones, but she wasn't that far behind either. Her hair was smooth, shiny, and silky to the touch. She had grown in height making her athletic looking legs fit the 'mile long' stereo-type that she was sure he would appreciate. She was mildly upset she didn't have 'womanly' hips and thighs that Hermione seemed to have hidden, but decided that long legs worked better for her anyways, matching well with her hair. She knew that she was attractive, so why wasn't Harry paying her more attention!
Her mother had suggested trying to make him jealous by dating other wizards to show him what he was missing, but she was determined to make him notice her before she tried that.
Hermione walked into Ginny 'accidentally' dropping something by the chessboard, watching her slowly bend over to giving Harry, and her, an ample view of her breasts.
Harry made a face, concentrating harder on the chess game before him. The brunette witch however raised an eyebrow at the younger witch's tactics while appreciating the view. She crossed over the room, looking through the books on the wall suddenly feeling a pair of eyes boring into her from behind.
From the dirty feeling she was getting, she would guess it was Ron. She picked up Common Household Spells, feeling she'd be able to use it in the lab or find an alternative use.
A few minutes later Ron had announced "Checkmate," ending the game. The lanky redhead got up and made to sit closely next to the curly haired witch.
Hermione looked at him over her book coolly, "Yes?" she asked, her tone just as frosty.
"Don't be like that, Herms," he said with what he thought was an attractive smile.
"Call me that again, Ronald, and I'll show you a hex worse than Ginny's bat bogeys. I don't like nicknames, and you know that," she said.
The redhead decided to ignore the threat and continued on, "I noticed you haven't been writing Krum. Did he break up with you?"
"I broke up with him, but we decided to still be friends. I figured it would be stupid to send letters while at a secret Headquarters," she said, looking at him unimpressed.
Ron grinned getting confirmation that the quidditch player and the bookworm were no longer together.
"Well I was thinking…" he started.
"Shocking," she retorted.
Again he ignored her, slightly disturbed by her recent acidic behavior that was similar to Snape, "How would you like to be my girl?" he said, reaching his arm over to hold onto her shoulder.
The witch quickly leaned out of his reach, his hand brushing against the side of her right breast instead, making Hermione shiver in disgust. The wizard misinterpreted it as desire and grinned lecherously at her.
"No," she said firmly, glaring at him heatedly.
"What!?" he asked, his face turning red with embarrassment and anger.
"I said: No," the witch repeated, holding the book in front of her chest.
"Why not!? It's not like you've got a bloke! We could be good together, Herms! We're like an old married couple!" he shouted at her.
"Old married couples don't disagree on everything. My grandparents hardly argue, instead they talk things out civilly," she hissed.
"Well my mum and dad argue, they're in love, and they have seven of us!" he argued.
"Good for them! It works for them! I don't want a relationship like that," the witch seethed.
"Yeah what do you want? Someone with money? Someone famous!? I'm a prefect! Is that not good enough!? ARE YOU TOO GOOD FOR ME!?" he shouted causing people to come see what was happening.
Hermione stood up and moved away from the furious wizard, putting her book down on the nearby table. She felt her brother come stand beside her for support and as a precaution should things get too out of hand.
"Just because I don't want to be with you?" she said lowly, her tone was biting.
"Why else wouldn't you want to be with me!?" He said standing up, his fists clenched as he tried to intimidate her with his height.
"Because you're not my type. You're not what I look for in a partner. Hell Ginny is more my type than you are, Ronald," she hissed, glaring up at him, her fists also now clenched.
"Oh! I forgot! You're a cauldron LICKER!" he snapped.
Hermione's hair started to bristle and crackle with her magic, "I'd rather lick a cauldron than have your broom anywhere near me!"
The argument was startling, everyone knowing how Hermione felt about vulgarity.
"I BET YOU BROKE UP WITH KRUM BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY A CAULDRON LICKER AND COULDN'T STAND THE IDEA OF FUCKING HIM!"
"FOR YOUR INFORMATION RONALD WEASLEY I WOULD ENJOY A GOOD COCK JUST AS MUCH AS A GOOD TONGUE AND A PAIR OF TITS!" she snarled "SO IT'S A GOOD THING I'M ALREADY WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T RONALD FUCKING WEASLEY!"
"WHO WOULD WANT YOU FOR MORE THAN SOMEONE TO PRACTICE ON!?" he bellowed.
The accusation saw Hermione lift her lip up in a furious snarl, her magic now moving her hair with an unseen wind along with the crackling magic.
"Is that what you think of me, Weasley?" she asked dangerously.
"YEAH!"
Molly was furious with her son and crying at the same time, ruining all the time she spent brewing those potions to win him the mudblood. She didn't know Hermione liked witches and wizards. She could have tried to set her up with the twins if she knew how debauched she was.
"Fuck you, Weasley," Harry growled, "Not that I would. Let's go, Hermione," he said, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her out of the room.
"Fuck ME!? FUCK HER! She doesn't know she's passing up a good thing when she sees it!"
Harry turned around and looked Ron up and down, "Really? Because I see a spoiled, gross, deplorable, wizard who made a pass at my sister and got all pissy when she turned you down!"
"SHE'S NOT EVEN YOUR SISTER!" The other wizard hollered.
"We blood bonded! She's my blood sister you twittering homophobic asshole!" Harry yelled, shocking the onlookers.
The new information took the wind out of the redheaded wizard. Harry didn't care, saying what he had to say, and took his sister, leading her out of the room, their audience moving out of the way.
Severus watched them, nodding at the younger green eyed wizard.
He waited until they had left to the family floor before stepping into the room his apprentice and her brother had vacated. Minerva had followed him having her own piece to say to the young wizard.
"As term has not yet started I can't give you detentions for the year, however I will be making this term unpleasant for you, Weasley," he said staring down his nose at the pathetic wizard with a sneer before leaving.
Minerva ignored her friend's threat staring at the wizard with her lips thinned, "Mr. Weasley, your words and actions were nothing less than deplorable; should your grades be below acceptable I will have your prefect badge before the term is out. I will be keeping an eye on you," she said dangerously.
Ron looked away from his professor. She always made him feel small and being the focus of her ire made his insides squirm discomfortingly.
"Way to go, Ron," Ginny grumbled angrily, leaving the room.
The room and hallway cleared out giving the audience much food for thought. Hermione was apparently more important to Harry than most of them thought. Albus had convinced them that the adoption was just Hermione's family taking him in with misguided concern. He was wrong. What else was he wrong about?
They still trusted him, thanks to Molly's potions, but they did start to question his information.