Droplets of water raced down the side of the red door. Like the tears that left Hermione's cheeks. She knocked, softly. Not expecting an answer of course, it was past midnight.
Hermione's eyes grew tired with time. Bags formed. Her last spit at hope was the red door in front. She couldn't stop thinking about her encounter in the cafe. It's not safe anymore Hermione. The boys words continued to rattle her mind. His mark. The dark mark. Darker than ever.
No answer.
More tears.
She began to turn away. Until she heard the noise she'd been waiting for.
"Hermione! What are you doing out here it's freezing!" Exclaimed Ginny extremely worried about the witch in front of her, she gestured her inside swiftly, "Are you okay?!" Hermione practically fell into Ginny's arms.
Truthfully Hermione was not okay. And I think her appearance portrayed that. Blood still dripping from the deep cut under her eyebrow. Battered and bruised all over. Both physically and mentally drained. Ginny wrapped her arms tight around her as Hermione lost control of her tears.
The last time Ginny saw Hermione, she was having a laugh at the Burrow and an all round good time. This was a completely different side to the girl. A much more complex and broken side.
"Hermione, your face," said Ginny softly, concerned for her state, "What happened!"
"Oh." replied Hermione as she touched her cut and checked her fingers. Blood. Dark red. What with the pain of her scar and adrenaline from the fight she had barley noticed. Ginny continued to stare at the witch, waiting for the answer she so desperately wanted.
"Have you been to see Ron?" Ginny was getting rather impatient now, she just wanted to know what had happened to see if she could help.
"No." another blunt reply from Hermione, sitting down on the sofa. She didn't want Ron to know, it would only worry him more.
"For gods sake Hermione! I just want to help!"
"But you can't help, Ginny! No one can help!" Hermione snapped back.
There was an awkward silence between the pair. The room was still. Neither moved.
"I had a run in at a cafe in London," said Hermione finally, "Two men with wands." Ginny's jaw dropped slightly before raising an eyebrow, as if pondering Hermione's attack further.
"But, there hasn't been any magical combat outside of law in years. Well ever since the-"
"I know. I thought that too. I had to no choice but to defend myself." Hermione didn't take her eyes off the floor as she spoke.
"We'll have to report this." Said Ginny seriously, standing up now.
"No...there's more. After I stunned them both, I-" she stuttered, almost reliving the memories, "I went over...to their bodies I mean. They had the dark mark Ginny. I recognised one of them. I couldn't remember at the time but I do now. Walden Macnair, ex death eater. He escaped after the war."
Too stunned to speak and yet Ginny didn't believe it to be true. Or didn't want it to be true is probably the more accurate representation.
"I don't want to sound rude but if I were you, I'd expect some ex death eaters to be after me, especially after what happened." Ginny looked at Hermione, hopeful.
Hermione shook her head.
"No but you see, these weren't ex death eaters. They were there for a reason. The dark mark, it's well..." A shudder fell down her spine, causing her body to contract slightly. Dracos bogart had warned her. He had warned her.
"Wh-what do you mean...?" Ginny's face turned white, as if all the life had been drained out of her body. Dry as a bone. She knew what Hermione meant, and yet she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Like it was...before." Hermione replied, finding Ginny's stunned eyes.
Ginny looked up to Hermione. She had never seen Ginny so serious. So worried. They had sacrificed everything to destroy Voldemort, and now it appears the army is reforming.
Hermione had only told Ginny what she needed to know. She knew there was much more. Becoming a Keeper. Esme. Her scar. The boggarts. But if she had learnt anything from her past it was that most information was best not shared. Or it could end up in the wrong hands.
"Where's Harry?" Asked Hermione suddenly. Ginny noticed that face. The concentration face that many teased Hermione for, but in situations like this Hermione's whit and intelligence was crucial.
"Sent away with the Aurors," replied Ginny, "Reports of dementors in muggle settlements on the outskirts of London."
How strange. The dementors were banished after the war. Only few remained protecting the walls of Azkaban. Hermione raised an eyebrow. She knew something wasn't right.
"We need to find the others." Hermione said, finally taking the situation seriously. The girls had no time to be afraid anymore.
Knock
Knock
Knock
They exchanged looks. Eyes wide. Bodies still. Frozen.
They pulled the curtain on the window back slightly.
Curly hair. Black hair.
Hermione let go of the cream material as her breathing intensified, taking a step back whilst Ginny gasped at the sight.
Though Hermione's terror was not seen in Ginny. No. And Hermione couldn't quite believe her eyes as her best friend made her way to the door. Her best friend that she'd been through so much with. And just like that she was opening the door. The door to all of Hermione's nightmares. Pure horrific and terrifying nightmares. Forever and alwa-
"Andy!" Exclaimed Ginny, a sense of relief hummed through her voice. Wrong black.
Andromeda Black. No one could blame Hermione for being so alarmed. The women was the spitting image of her deranged sister. Making Narcissa seem like another blood. Dark eccentric clothing lined with a tight corset which exaggerated the women's malnourished curves. Sharp shoulders, long skinny legs and not to mention her jet black frizzy hair that draped from her oddly young looking face. Appearance, however, is always deceiving, as the witch embraced Ginny in a hug Hermione knew she was no threat. As well as the small boy, around 5 or 6, following closely behind her.
Both Ginny and Andromeda turned to Hermione. Their faces full of concern. Hermione hadn't moved, as if returning to reality she looked down at her right hand. Her wand. Directly pointed towards Andromeda. Hermione's face went pale as she quickly turned to put her wand away.
"I don't blame you, Granger." Said the witch. Her voice rather soothing. Which is ironic given the fact she looked exactly like her sister, whose voice was no where near comforting. Hermione's body couldn't help but tense as the witch approached her.
"I'm sorry I- I thought you were someone-"
"I know. Unfortunately it seems I took after my older sister. Who I'm aware you've heard of." Replied Andromeda plainly. She hadn't just heard of Hermione. No. She'd been tracking the golden trios movements all through their 7th year. The horcrux hunt, Malfoy manor and the battle of Hogwarts. Andromeda knew the lot. Yet Teddy had become her first priority.
"Something like that." Said Hermione. Her look of dread said it all. She grasped her forearm. Her scar. Her memories.
"Yes well Bellatrix always did like to play with her food." Andromeda said, forcing a weak smile as if trying to apologise for her sisters actions. Just her name rattled through Hermione like a drum.
"Call me Andy," Said the witch, seeing as Hermione didn't reply. She gave a slight nod instead. They had met on occasion but never a proper greeting. "And this is Teddy Tonks." She gave the boy a small pat on the head, he waved at Hermione with a beaming smile. Not an idea of the world around him.
Ah yes, her grandson. Son of Tonks and Lupin. More bad memories.
"Is everything alright Andy? I'd have never expected you at this hour." Asked Ginny. It was true that Andromeda visited both her and Harry often, what with them being Godparents to Teddy, but it was rather unusual at this time of night.
"No, as it so happens," she signalled to Teddy to go and play in the playroom, which he did running through and out the door, "I heard about an attack at a cafe in London. The girl matched your description Hermione and so I became curious. Kingsley was furious, however, you know how he likes order and control. But by the time they arrived at the scene both men had gone."
Hermione felt a sharp dig in her chest. A whole. Her evidence had ran away.
"I was only curious as earlier that same day I saw my sister with Lucius, looking like two people that didn't want to be followed. So I did. But I hadn't expected to end up at The Lestrange Manor. And they weren't alone. There was hundreds. As if they had been hibernating. Or hiding away more like."
It's not safe anymore Hermione. His voice ringing in her ears.
"Hundreds? Of death eaters?" Asked Ginny with a worried expression.
"Not exactly. All kinds of people. Though many with the mark. Much darker than it was." Replied Andy.
Hermione's body sunk with fear.
"I saw it to. Before I left, I checked their bodies on the floor." Hermione said with a soft voice, cracking as she tried to comprehend the situation.
"But Harry killed Voldemort. He's gone. It's not like he can just pop back for a visit!" Ginny was frantic, practically shouting at the other witches.
"Nothing like this has ever happened before Ginny," Andy send a serious yet reassuring look to the girls who could only stare back with worry. "I've alerted Kingsley, it won't be long before they send a team of Aurors to the manor. I've contacted your family and their on the way here. Everything is under con-"
"Aurors. They sent the best team of Aurors to the outskirts of London. Away from The Lestrange Manor. For something that is impossible because the dementors are limited and only kept in Azkaban!" Hermione had finally cracked it. Everything was certainly not under control.
Before Andy or Ginny could continue, a large gust of wind swept through the living room. The door swung wide open, almost cracking its hinges.
"Oh Ginny! Hermione!" Exclaimed Molly as she charged into the room, throwing her bags onto the sofa and embracing the girls into a hug. They could hear her pure distress in those few words.
All sound was drowned out. Muffled in Hermione's ears. That's when she saw him. Ginger, scruffy, anxious. Her arms wrapped around him. Tight. Comforting.
Ron brushed his lips against hers. He moved his hands over her body, analysing her cuts and bruises. He didn't have to say anything to make Hermione smile. Short lived however. Hermione opened her mouth to speak as the room drew to silence.
"We know." Said Ron staring deeply into her eyes, caressing her cheek with his warm hands.
"I'll start on the enchantments." Piped a loud voice from the back of the room. Hermione hadn't noticed Arthur make his entrance. I suppose she had been too busy burying her face into the man she loved.
I remember that day, it was special Hermione.
Now was not the time. And yet his voice sent tremors through her body. Butterflies.
Maybe not to you, but to me.
His blonde hair draped down his pale face. His piecing grey eyes.
I finally felt wanted.
No. She hated him. With every single bone in her body. Son of a malicious murderous man and his stuck up withered wife, who quite frankly she also hated with every ounce of her being.
"Now, it's very late. Your farther and I will continue to protect the house while you all get some-"
"You expect us to just go to sleep! Mother, are you sure you're aware of exactly what's going on!" Argued Ginny, stepping past anyone so she could face her mothers beady eyes.
"I am aware." She replied sternly, "Aware that whatever is going on won't get solved in the next 5 hours. So if I were you I'd get some rest while we still can!"
No one dared to talk back to Molly. She hadn't blinked in at least 60 seconds. Ginny sighed rather aggressively, much to her Mothers disgust and made her way out the room. "Hermione, come find me in the morning."
"Um- yeah. Ye-. Yes. I'll be there." She had been caught off guard, stuttering with her words, inside her own mind. Her own thoughts. Memories.
Ron had left her side. Was it bad that she hadn't noticed? What was worse was that George Weasley sat practically opposite her, and she had failed to even give him the slightest recognition. It wasn't long before he made his way upstairs also. Lucky Harry and Ginny had two spare rooms.
"Andy." Hermione moved towards the witch, who was making her way out of the room. Teddy in one hand. Coat on. Shoes on.
"You're going?" Not that Hermione was surprised. More concerned.
"I have to. If anyone catches me aiding the enemy, I'll be hunted down. I can't afford to be on the run, what with raising my grandson-"
"The enemy? For someone who believes this can all be solved in one night isn't sounding too sure from where I'm standing. We need you. I know it." Hermione had never been so sure. It felt quite odd really.
"I'm sure there will be a time. And when it comes I will be there. I promise." She reached for the door handle. Twisting. Opening. She turned back. "Trust you gut Granger. Because whatever you're thinking. It's right." Closed. She met the face of the red door once more.
Perplexed. The only way to sum up the thoughts of Hermione Granger. She had to lift her jaw back up slightly, as if it had dropped at the vastness of Andromeda's words. The more she pondered, the more she could piece together. Andromeda certainly knew more than she had let on. And yet Hermione also knew she couldn't speak of it. She had told them everything she could. For herself and Teddy's sake.
whatever you're thinking. It's right.
Ginger hair. Ron. His smile. His awful jokes. The way he made her feel. His-
Grey eyes. Blonde hair. Pale white. Draped in back garments. He stood in the drawing room. Head held high. Blood. Blood stained his lean body. His smug grin, watching the bodies. Bodies. All over the floor. A hand over his shoulder. Black curly hair. Oh no. MUDBLO-
"Mione, everything alright? I thought you'd left us." Ron couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Hermione, leaving her boyfriend, friends, family. Never.
"Sorry, no. I was just saying bye to And-" she stopped, "A friend." Looking into his warm inviting eyes. She bit her lip. Moving closer to his. Giving him no time to reply, she landed hers onto his. Soft.
WRONG WRONG WRONG
Jolted by her thoughts, Hermione pulled away. Quickly. But not too quick to make it seem odd. Ron smiled back. She did love the way he smiled. Really she did. He took her by the hand, almost guiding her to the last spare room upstairs.
Ron swung the door open, taking Hermione by surprise. He grabbed her waist and pulled Hermione into him. He smelt of almost burnt flowers, harsh but comforting. Ron traced his hands all over her, wild, searching for a way to undress her.
Hermione traced kisses down his now exposed collar bone, defined as if he hadn't eaten for weeks. He reached for her hair. Her gorgeous brown curly hair, twisting each lock around his fingers gently. Hermione moved back onto his lips, as their mouths danced to the beat of each others heart. Intensifying greatly as each item of clothing was removed.
But then she heard him.
As Ron reached for the buttons on her dark blue skinny jeans, she heard him.
I remember that day.
She pressed her lips into Ron's. Harder. More aggressively. Trying to forget.
I remember that day.
But she couldn't. Her lips relaxed. Exhaling deeply. Her boyfriend stepped back, confused.
"Sorry Ron, it's late-I'm tired...and quite frankly I don't feel comfor-...It's just what with everything going on I-"
WRONG WRONG WRONG
"Don't worry." He caressed her cheeks, his warm breath against her rosey face. Red. From another.
He placed a small kiss on her forehead and practically collapsed on the bed. Ron always did fall asleep fast.
But it was another that rocked her mind. Sent chills down her spine. Chills. Butterflies. Comfort. She hated herself for it. She hated him.
And yet that voice. That blonde hair. Those grey eyes.
She had to see him.
It just felt right.
Thanks for reading!
The more I write the more I love Dramione. Can't wait for what's to come!
Pls review if u can :)