Hermione ran pushing herself to keep going despite the sweat falling into her eyes and her burning throat. She didn't want to look behind her she knew she would just be disappointed. She tried to rack her mind for the tips on running she had read earlier during the summer. Was it breath in through your nose out your mouth or in through your mouth out of your nose? She was thinking too hard with her already foggy mind and didn't notice the hole in the ground. She let out a yelp as her knees and hands hit the ground. shit, this was no time to get hurt. Cursing she readjusted herself to examine her ankle. There was a little pain when she bent it but it didn't seem like anything bad. Casting a quick healing spell she felt the pain disappear, luckily it seemed to be no more than a light sprain.
Standing and testing her weight on her ankle it seemed ok satisfied she looked across the field that she had been running every morning for the last three weeks. The burrow was in the distance but not nearly as far as she had hoped. She looked to see the sun's first glow coming from over the hills at a distance. She wouldn't be able to finish her run this morning. Bill and Fleur's wedding was today. Molly had been working full force to try and host Flures family as well as her own, not to mention herself. for the last week trying to get her home ready for the flood of guests coming. She wondered if she should have come earlier to the burrow instead of staying at an Inn back in the muggle world. no, she needed that time alone after losing her parents. at least they would be safe.
She walked back wondering if she should just apparate into Ginny's room. Or if she should climb through the window she didn't want to risk running into Molly on entering the house through the front door for fear of being put to work and risk not getting to take a shower. The house was packed and Flures family had a habit of taking a great deal of time getting ready today would be worse seeing as everyone had to get dressed and wanted to look their best. They also still needed to finish setting up, cooking, and cleaning like crazy. Not that it was any different from any of the other days for the last three weeks. There was just an actual time limit this time. She decided to climb through the window not wanting the pop to wake anyone up. Lucky Ginny was on the ground level. She got to the window swinging it open and hosting herself up.
"Well, can't say I'm not disappointed," Ginny called out as she landed on the floor. She looked over to see the redhead on her bed fixing her hair to make it look messy but in a cute way. Since Flure's little sister came she had gotten a little territory over Harry's attention. Even though Harry had broken up with her before summer even started. Everyone knew that the breakup was not because he didn't want to date her anymore but because there was too much going on. And he was scared about the target that would be on her back by being his girlfriend. Ginny had accepted this but when the younger Delacour came being an adorable copy of her beautiful sister and clearly fancying Harry Ginny couldn't help but feel jealous. Usually, she would either ignore such behavior or tell her friend that she was being silly. But she needed Ginny to stay distracted by her own problems instead of hers.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Hermione said kicking off her shoes and pulling off her clothes. She was pretty sure Ginny had hoped Harry was trying to sneak in to see her.
" you know if you want I could run with you or I'm sure Ron would join you," Ginny said turning her head to check herself from a different angle.
" no that's ok you and Ron don't like waking up before the sunrise if quidditch isn't evolved." Hermione declined her offer. it was not that she didn't think they would join if she asked but she wanted that time alone she wasn't just doing it so she wouldn't fall behind Ron or Harry if they ever had to run. Like that night at Hogwarts. She also needed it to be alone to literally run herself too tired to think and burn off any agitation that coursed through her when she woke from her nightmares. They were worst than the ones she had after the attack at the ministry. It was worse because he was there. She didn't want to think about him about her mistake about how stupid she had been she just wanted to pretend it never happened. With everything going on no one had questioned or even seemed to care that she was no longer dating her mystery boyfriend. She had told Ginny during a short talk the two of them had where they pretended that things were normal. But she handt pried since, nor did anyone else which she was thankful for.
The only difference she had noticed in anyone's behavior was that Ron was a lot more attentive listening to her or wrapping a comforting arm around her whenever she started to cry. Something that had been accruing more often than she liked. But she couldn't help it they would just sprew out. Her feeling were getting a little hard to keep under control with everything happing. There was too much going on the order, death eaters, the ministry, her shattered heart and guilt, her parents, Harry, and their mission not that they knew what that was all they knew right now was that Harry wasn't going to go to Hagworts and neither would she or Ron they were going to stay with Harry even if he didn't want them to. there was also the loss of her feeling of security. she had always believed as long as they had Dumbordor it would work out they would be ok, no one was stronger or wiser than him but he was dead now and all those who had been cautious because of him now felt no fear.
Hermione was sure she wouldn't miss much by not attending school this year and there was no way she was going to the obvious trap of registering herself as a muggle-born to be allowed to go back to Hogwarts. no, that place would no longer be what it was. She pulled her bathroom pack from her purse and grabbed a change of clothes she needed to get to the bathroom. The door burst open showing Molly looking frantic she looks at both girls seeing them both awake.
" good you both are up, hurry and get moving, we have no time to dilly today the house is a mess, the food needs to be cooked, and oh gracies we need to set up and decorate!" she whispered frantically "Hurry and eat then start helping I'm going to go and wake the boys. There are egg and ham sandwiches so no need to sit and eat, oh Fred and George should be here soon don't let them slack if you see them before me. So help them if they're late." Molly raced out heading to the stairs. She and Ginny exchanged looks Hermione looked down at her shower pack well that's disappointing.
The party was in full swing everyone having a truly joyous time. Hermione danced with Ron trying not to bump into the others around them. She had been surprised that he had even asked as far as she knew Ron didn't care for dancing much but she was glad he did, she was having fun. She felt a little bad that he had interrupted her and Vicktore's talk but she would make sure to talk to him later, the night was still young. She glance in Harry's direction he was sitting at a table out of the way with a few other guests. His disguise was holding up she had an extra Poly juice potion in her purse in case it started to ware off before it should.
It was sad he couldn't come as himself but there were too many people here and you can never be too safe. the rule was that no one outside of the order should know where Harry was. As far as the rest of the wizarding world was concerned he vanished overnight. She and Ron continued to dance as another song started before Ginny broke in to dance with her instead. Ron looked slightly relieved. She saw him glance over locating Harry before heading off the dance space. Ginny asked if Harry had even noticed that she had danced with some other guys. She complained that she had hoped that Harry would cut in and dance with her but he never did. Hermione was sure it was just because he didn't feel comfortable in his disguise he was larger and he had mentioned that one leg seemed longer than the other. After a bit Hermione also took a break from dancing she readjusted her bag the strap had started digging into her skin a bit. Grabbing a drink she noticed Luna talking to a few people showing her finger to them. She took a few steps toward them when a light rushed into the tent.
The moment she heard Kingsly's voice she dropped her drink and ran toward Harry everyone else also started panicking once they heard the message. There was a stampede of people hurrying some to get to loved ones, some just to get out. She got to Harry grabbed onto his arm then started pulling him out of the tent she had to get him out of there and to the apparate point off the property. She felt a hand on her shoulder looking back she saw that it was Ron. She let out a sigh of relief that he had found them. they ran with the large group of wedding guests who also didn't want to be found by the Ministry/Death Eaters the three of them holding hands making sure not to lose each other in the madness. She heard the loud popping from others apparating around her. She squeezed the boys' hands before pulling them with her. She was their best chance of getting them to a safe place a place that the magic world wouldn't think of or want to follow. she took a deep breath and then apparated.
Draco stared at Herminoes's house trying to muster the courage to go up to the door. He twisted his ring nervously. it wasn't very big not small but it was no manor and seeing as it was a muggle house he was sure it wouldn't be bigger on the inside. but this was her home even if it was a muggle house. Draco shook his head he can't be distracted. She hated him right now he knew that but he couldn't leave her alone. If snatchers got to her she would be done for he had been keeping tabs on news about her and her friends. She had yet to go to the Ministry to register as a muggle-born witch. And knowing her she would still try and go back to Hogwarts. nothing stopped her when it came to her education. But if she tried she would be arrested. Draco had heard about what happened to muggle-borns at the ministry behind the scenes.
Everything was moving fast they were already so close to taking over the ministry. He patted his inner pocket where a port key was he had 30 more minutes before it would activate. This was his only chance, anyone who really paid attention to him was on a mission tonight to get Potter. Snape had given intel that tonight he would no longer be protected with his home ward magic. So it was the best time to ambush him. Draco walked up to the door he needed to be careful she was already of age so unlike him she could use magic he pulled out the dueling shield from his robes this should help. Once he had her at Malfoy's property in Thailand he could slowly work on getting her to understand his side of things and why he had to do what he had done and most likely have to continue to do.
He knocked on the door and waited as his heartbeat thundered in his ears. A few minutes passed but there was no answer he tried again but nothing. He jiggled the door handle but it was locked. Shit, he didn't take into account if they weren't home, how could he be so stupid he had thought so much about everything else and planned so many details. He stood frozen at the door not knowing what to do. should he wait here try and break in and hope she returns on time or walk the stress looking for her. he might miss her though if she does return home.
"Excuse me do you need help?" Draocs head shot up there was a young man standing on the other side of the fence looking at him. Draco narrowed his eyes this guy was a muggle. But he might be able to find out where Hermione was or when she would be back. " I'm looking for someone, is everyone out, do you know when they or their daughter will be back?" Draco asked turning fully to the man. " are you a patient of the Grangers or something, well sorry to tell you this but they moved a few months ago."
"What that can't be right, where did they move to?" the man looked him up and down. " don't know they didn't say, one day they just started packing up and said bye they didn't give any details. we were all pretty shocked they never even hinted about leaving or wanting to, but the first week of summer they sold a bunch of things and then left. are you here about the house as far as I know they didn't sell it." Draco couldn't believe it had she actually left. no, he would have heard if she tried to leave the country the ministry was keeping an eye on all muggle-borns they wouldn't allow anyone muggle-born or pure blood to leave the country. Was it Theo, his old friend hadn't talked to him since that night he left Hogwarts. so she was willing to get help from Theo but not him.
Draco clenched his hands at his side. "then did Hermione not say anything, or maybe her parents had mentioned what she plans to do for her final year of school." Draco bit out. if she really did go to Theo there was no way he would be able to find her without his help and he was sure his old friend wouldn't help him.
" who, sorry but the Grangers don't have a kid." Draco stared at the man how could he not know Hermione maybe he just moved in next door. Or he could be lying he would have to come back after his birthday and see if this guy was telling the truth. Draco felt the small vibration in his pocket from the port key. "if the Grangers get in touch with you tell them Draco is looking for Hermione."
" ummm sure, my name is Gregory by the way. Did you need me to call someone for you?" Gregory gave a polite smile but it dropped when he noticed that the weird guy who he was talking to was suddenly gone and he was alone.