Chapter 61
Despite the danger and adrenaline rush the night had brought, Hermione found herself beginning to yawn as they walked back down Stoatshead Hill. To keep herself awake, she increased her pace to keep up with the twins.
"Did you have any trouble getting back to the portkey?" Hermione asked when she caught up with them.
"No," George said. "Not a bit."
"Your directions were great," Fred said, "Though it took a while for Lee to catch up."
"Catch up?" Hermione asked, blinking.
"Yeah," George said.
"He didn't follow us right away," Fred added.
"Well, no one was there when we went back," Hermione said.
"You wentback?" the twins asked in unison.
"What for?" George asked.
"Ron," Hermione whispered to them. "He was too scared to take a chance with the fires and the Death Eaters."
The twins rolled their eyes and then glared toward where their brother was walking with Ginny and Harry up by their dad.
"Little coward," Fred murmured. "Thinking to save his own skin when Harry was in danger and could have been caught or killed."
Hermione bit her lip but didn't say anything. She remembered him being perfectly heroic when he thought it was all fun and games in their first year. The second year, Harry put his own life on the line to rescue Ginny, and then last year, when everyone was on the look out for Sirius Black, he'd been afraid of a dog... granted, she thought, itdidturn out to be Sirius in disguise, but still... she couldn't fault the twins for thinking their brother was a coward when it was Harry who seemed to be putting his life on the line every year.
"So what happened with Lee?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, his parents were there with the portkeys when we got there, so he went home," George said.
"Though theydidstay with us until Cedric and his dad arrived," Fred added.
"Well, that's good," Hermione said before falling quiet.
"What happened with Ollie?" the twins asked.
"I - I don't know," Hermione said worriedly. "That's part of why Ron had us go back... Oliver left us when he noticed the fires were close to his camp."
"Don't worry, Hermione," Fred said.
"Yeah, I'm sure he's okay," George said.
"Maybe mum will let us check on him a little later using the floo," Fred suggested.
"That reminds me, I need to contact my parents later today, too," Hermione said. "She okayed my going to the Woods house, but getting this years shopping was a concern, so I told her I would talk to them about it and then contact her again. I told Oliver about it after I talked to her, but that was even before the finals."
"You could probably still go," Fred said.
"If everything's okay," George added.
Hermione took a deep, shuddering breath as her fears jumped to the forefront of her mind.
"Good going," Fred said, and elbowed his twin.
The twins changed places, walking with Hermione in the middle and each wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Sorry Hermione," George said. "I didn't mean that anything was really wrong. Don't mind me, I'm always eating my foot."
Hermione couldn't help it when a smile crept through her fear, and soon she was laughing out right as she imagined George gnawing on his foot like a dog chewed on a bone.
"There it is!" Fred cheered.
"There's our smile!" George joined in and they hi-fived each other with their free hands.
The laughter did her good, she relaxed and the fear faded away. She stretched, knocking their arms off her shoulders and yawned as she walked, her gait staggering once in a while, her eyes getting heavier until she was practically somnambulating on the way to the Burrow.
"Oh!" Fred exclaimed and caught her, hooking her arm around his neck. "Come on now," he said, swinging her up in his arms, and carrying her easily the rest of the way.
"I think first thing she needs is some sleep," George observed.
The next morning, Hermione woke to find herself in a strange room. It was small but the walls were brightly painted, making the dark wooden beams of the ceiling stand out in stark contrast. She groaned trying to remember what happened and how she got there, and rolled over to see posters of the Weird Sisters adorning the walls with the Holyhead Harpies. Blinking when she felt a still warm breeze blow gently into the room, carrying the delicious scent of apples with it, she turned to see a small desk in front of the open window that was dressed in delicate cream colored curtains.
She jumped slightly when the door burst open, slamming back against the wall. "Shutup, Ronald!" Ginny yelled before lowering her voice to mutter to herself, "I swear he's such a baby sometimes!"
"GinervaMollyWeasley!" Mrs. Weasley voice trumpeted through the open door. "Will you bequiet? Poor Hermione istryingto sleep!"
Hermione watched as Ginny turned.
"Oh!" Ginny said in surprise, "No she's not!" Ginny yelled again. "She's awake!"
"Well, it's no wonder with you lot yelling all the time!" Molly shouted back, causing Hermione to shake her head and laugh.
"We didn't wake you," Ginny asked uncertainly, making a cute little impish face, that sort of reminded her of Ron in first year. "Did we?"
"No," Hermione reassured her, "I woke on my own."
"Oh good," Ginny said and smiled, coming over and plopping down on the foot of the bed. "I wouldhateto yell at Ron again," she said and winked.
"What did he do now?" Hermione asked, not really wanting to know.
"Oh, nothing really, " Ginny said nonchalantly. "He's just being his usual self, though at the moment, he's upset that you're still here since you had made plans to go to the Wood's house."
Hermione sighed and shook her head. "He can be such ajerksome times!"
"Some times?" Ginny asked. "I think he can be a jerkallthe time. Anyway, its not your fault the way things happened, and you were concerned for Harry, while Fred and George told me that he was more concerned about saving his own skin and waiting out the fires and Death Eaters."
Hermione sighed and nodded glumly.
"Well, at least youtriedto help Harry," Ginny said. "Now their palling around and he's not letting anyone else hang out with them, it's like - I want to tell him he's not the only one here who is a friend to Harry, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Hermione said. "Maybe it's his way of making up for waiting so long to after him... you know, a show of guilt?"
"Maybe," Ginny said and shrugged. "Anyway, dad went to work with Percy already, they had a mess to clean up, he said. Probably trying to respond to all the owls about the attack at the Cup last night. He said if you wait till he gets back, we can take you home for a bit. I think he wants to explain things to your folks in person."
"Oh, okay," Hermione said.
"And mum said you're welcome to use the floo to check on how the Woods are doing, make sure everything's alright," Ginny said. "She said that we can sort out details of where you're staying when dad gets home."
"Staying?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Well..." Ginny said. "Ithinkbecause I overheard dad talking to mum about the attack at the Cup, that he doesn't think its safe for you to go back home right now, so you might be staying with us, or going on to the Woods house and going to school from there. I'm not really sure."
"Oh," Hermione said as the implication of what she'd seen happen the night before and what she'd told Oliver, hit her. "Okay."
"You hungry?" Ginny asked. "I think mum has lunch almost ready."
At that moment, Hermione's stomach growled loudly, causing her to blush and join Ginny in a laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes," Ginny said, getting up. "I'll tell mum you'll be down in a bit."
Hermione got up after Ginny was gone, finding that only her shoes had been removed. She found them nearby and her thoughts wandered as she put them on. Did Oliver get to his parents in time? Were they okay? What really happened? When did she fall asleep? Why had they let her sleep so long if it was already time for lunch? Was it reallythatdangerous to return home before school? Would her parents be safe? Shaking her head as she felt the fear start to rise in her, she dispelled it, by telling herself she wouldn't knowanythinguntil she got down stairs.
"Ah, hello dear," Mrs. Weasley said when Hermione came down stairs and entered the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you," Hermione said. "I must have been really worn out from everything. I don't even remember falling asleep."
"Fred and George said that you fell asleep on the walk back," Mrs. Weasley revealed. "Fred had to carry you."
"I'll have to thank him," Hermione said.
"Don't betoograteful," Mrs. Weasley said, making a face. "They wanted to leave you down here on the couch.Ihad them take you up to Ginny's room instead. With all the yelling that went on you wouldn't have gotten awinkof sleep."
"I'm not so sure of that," Hermione said, "if I wasthattired, who knows, I might have."
"Speaking of which," Mrs. Weasley asked setting a plate holding a large, corned-beef sandwich down in front of her, "They didn't wake you did they?"
"No, not at all," Hermione said. "I honestly just woke up before Ginny came up. I didn't hear a thing until she came in."
"See?" Ginny said sitting down next to her with her own sandwich. "I told you, mum."
"Yes, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "Now,eat."
"Yes, mum," Ginny acquiesced with a grin at Hermione before she dug into her sandwich, taking a larger bite than necessary, to put emphasis on obedience, nearly causing herself to choke when she and Hermione began laughing.
"Oh, Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said. "Arthur should be home soon, then he can take you home for a bit. We don't really think its a good idea for you to stay there, coming from a Muggle family and all, and the attacks on the Muggles that owned the land where the Finals were held."
"Oh, okay," Hermione murmured, taking a sip of the water Mrs. Weasley just set before her.
"And we've not had any news from the Woods yet," Mrs. Weasley said with a sigh. "Fred and George thought they would have had an owl by now, or a floo message. They said that you had made plans to possibly go there, but after the attack... Well, if you like, you can use the floo to try contacting them after you get back from checking in with your parents. Arthur and I really think its best that he explain things to them in person."
Hermione nodded, and hid her worry at the news by turning to her lunch, hoping that her nerves wouldn't upset her stomach. To her relief, it seemed to settle after a few bites, and she was able to finish her lunch when her hunger took over from her frayed nerves.
True to her word, Mr. Weasley arrived with Percy a short time later, both looking utterly exhausted.
"You wouldn'tbelievethe number of owls that we had to respond to," Percy said as he came in. "There was barely room on my desk to pen my replies. And talk about themessthey made!"
"Come now, Percy," Mr. Weasley said. "Youwanted to work at the Ministry... you have to learn to take the good with the bad. Ah, Hermione, good to see you're awake," he said when he noticed her. "So sorry, didn't know you'd fallen asleep until Fred and George carried you in the house this morning. You should have said something."
"It's okay, Mr. Weasley," Hermione said. "I didn't even realize I was that tired."
Mr. Weasley nodded. "Ah, lunch!" he exclaimed as Mrs. Weasley handed a plated sandwich to both him and Percy.
"Now, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley said. "Don't forget to take Hermione home and explain the situation to her parents. We talked about it this morning, remember?"
"Ah, yes," he replied. "Thank you dear, we can go after I'm done here," he said looking to Hermione.
"I already told her that she can check in on the Woods when you return," Mrs. Weasley continued.
"Any news from them today?" Arthur asked.
"Not a peep either by floo or owl, but then they don't really socialize with us much," Mrs. Weasley admitted. "Not in the same circles, if you know what I mean... its just that Fred and George were on the Quidditch team."
Hermione blinked in surprise at this. Juniper had seemed nice enough to her, she wondered which circles Mrs. Weasley was referring to, but thought it best not to ask.
"You should also have a talk with our youngest son when you get back, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley continued. "You know he's been putting up a fuss all day?"
"What about, dear?" Arthur asked as he ate his sandwich.
"Only that Harry Potter is ONLY his friend, and that Hermione shouldn't be here because she made plans to go stay with the Woods, and why was she still here? I tell you, Arthur, his green monster is showing, and its getting a bit ridiculous. He and Ginny were fighting earlier about it."
Arthur sighed heavily. "I'll talk to him when we get back," he said.
"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said. "See that you do."
It wasn't long before Hermione was stepping into the green flames, calling out her address and stepping into her living room.
"Oh!" Hermione heard her mother shout from the direction of the kitchen and saw her rush over. "Oh, sweetheart! Are you all right? When you didn't do that thing - what was it you called it? A Fire Call? - this morning, we were worried something had happened."
Mrs. Granger gave a start when the flames ignited once more and Mr. Weasley stepped into the room behind Hermione.
"I'm afraid that's my fault," Mr. Weasley said. "Is your husband at home? Might we sit down and talk?"