Chapter 64
Hermione's parents blinked at her sudden shift. It wasn't like her to be anxious.
"Of course, dear," her mother said.
Hermione stood and headed toward the kitchen, beckoning Mr. Weasley, who quickly set his teacup down and followed, surprised.
"I - I can't do this!" Hermione murmured, closing her eyes and she passed through the kitchen to the dining room and began pacing.
"Hermione?" Mr. Weasley said, looking at her in concern as he entered the room. "What's wrong, dear?
Hermione turned to look at him, her face flushed and tears forming in her eyes. "I can't let you do this!" she cried. "Putting your family in danger with the ministry, telling them too much!"
Arthur gave a chuckle of disbelief. "I told you, Professor Dumbledore said that he would take care of the ministry, and that we should tell them what they needed to know."
"I - I thought it would be enough, but it'snot," Hermione said giving him a pleading look.
"What?" Mr. Weasley asked. "What are you talking about?"
"The calming draught," Hermione said. "I thought I gave them enough. I slipped it in their tea."
Mr. Weasley sighed and removed the bottle from his pocket noticing that although not by much, the bottle wasn'texactlyfull. "I was afraid of that," he said looking at it again. "Where did you get this?"
Hermione bit her lip, looking nervous. "The twins," she said quietly after a moment.
She watched as Mr. Weasley held the vial up to the light. "Well, I'm no expert," he said after a moment, and lowered his gaze to her. "But it looks about the right color. Perhaps you didn't use enough, but," he paused and sighed. "Why did you use it at all?"
"Only because I'mfreakingout right now," Hermione answered, and raked her hands through her hair as she paced.
"Perhaps you need some of this," he said, holding up the vial before putting it back in his pocket. "Why are you so 'freakingout' right now?"
Hermione turned and looked at him where he stood in the doorway and threw her hand up toward the door. "Only because right now they're contemplating not letting me go back."
"Its only a few days till the start of term, we can meet you in Diagon Alley like we have in previous years," Mr. Weasley said.
"No, Mr. Weasley," Hermione said. "I mean, not letting me go back toschool."
"Oh!" Mr. Weasley said. "That's - that's not good."
"No," Hermione agreed. "I've done some reading, Mr. Weasley, on those who are made to suppress their magic..."
"It's not good," Mr. Weasley said.
"I - I read throughA History of Magicfirst year," Hermione said. "I was looking for information on Nicholas Flamel, and the Sorcerer's Stone, and I found information on Ob -"
"Obscurals," Mr. Weasley said, then he paused. "You readthroughA History of of Magic?"
Hermione nodded.
"Youdoknow that isn't likely to happen, don't you?" Mr. Weasley asked. "You've learned to control your magic, Obscurals generally come from those who are abused either physically or psychologically. I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"I know," Hermione said quietly. "But with my cousin asking all kinds of questions, I'd rather not take the chance. Besides, who would look after Harry then?"
"You have a point," Mr. Weasley said. "He and Ron get up to all kinds of trouble on their own. It's good they have you around."
"Well, I don't think they will unless we do something," Hermione said. "I think we told them too much. They've always been protective of me. When they were working, I was always with my aunt and uncle or my cousin. I think telling them about the attack last night spooked them and now they're having second thought about sending me to school at Hogwarts."
Mr. Weasley sighed heavily. "Maybe I should have insisted Albus come... He'd know what to do."
"Well, I," Hermione began and looked uneasy.
"What?" Mr. Weasley asked looking at her puzzled.
"I - I know that if I don't go back to Hogwarts, I'll never see Oliver again, or Harry or - or anybody," Hermione said. "And I don't want that. I - I have an idea, but I - I just don't know if we should..."
"You know that's not true," Mr. Weasley said. "You might not go to Hogwarts, but you'd always be welcome at the Burrow, and I'm sure Oliver would keep in touch. What's this idea of yours anyway? Maybe two heads are better than one at deciding our best course of action in this instance."
"We don't know if Oliver's evenokayyet," Hermione protested. "And Iwon'tknow unless I go back, but do you honestly think my parents would let me visit the Burrow since I was with your family when the attack happened?" she asked, her panic rising again.
When she turned to face him, she saw the look on his face and it told her that was something he clearly hadn't thought about.
"What's your idea?" he asked again.
Hermione stopped pacing and looked at him squarely. "What wizards do to Muggles who have heard or seen too much," she said. "I - I hate to do it, to even think of doing it because they're my parents, and they've wanted so much to learn more about and be part of this new world I'm in, but I realize now, they just can't. I don't think I can do it, though," Hermione said.
"You mean -" Mr. Weasley broke off.
"We have toobliviatethem," Hermione said. "They can't remember that whole conversation. I think it was more Ron's wand being broken in second year that caused Lockhart's injuries with it, I mean, the wizards at the match were going around oblivating the Muggles' memories the whole event, that one man was getting obliviated multiple times a day, so if done properly..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "I just don't know, but its the only thing I can think of - I - I really don't want to risk becoming an obscural, Mr. Weasley. I read about them, and - and it just seems awful," she said and a shiver coursed through her.
Mr. Weasley sighed. "I don't look forward to it either, but we must do what we must do," he said. "Plus it would save us from Albus having to cover for what we told them. That is to say, I think you're right. You should be the first thing they see, though..."
Hermione nodded. "Just - just the conversation we had," she said. "Nothing more."
"Agreed," Mr. Weasley said.
"I'll apologize to them about missing the fire call, this morning and remind them that she'd called dad home because she was worried when I missed it this morning," Hermione said.
Mr. Weasley nodded. "And I am here because I wanted to apologize for you being late in contacting them, and to help you with your things. That you hadn't decided yet if you were going to stay at the Burrow or with the Woods, and that they didn't come because you had yet to decide."
"Sounds good," Hermione said.
"So are you ready for this?"" Mr. Weasley asked.
"No, not really," Hermione admitted.
"Well, the longer we wait, the harder it will be to isolate their memories," Mr. Weasley said.
"Okay," Hermione said. "Let's just do this then."
Mr. Weasley nodded, drawing his wand and followed her quietly back to the other room, but stayed in the kitchen out of sight as Hermione went into the living room and around in front of her parents, making sure that their back was to him and she could see him over their shoulder.
"Mum, Dad?" Hermione asked, breaking into their conversation and then suddenly saw their expressions blank, becoming dreamy before they looked at her. "Mum, Dad?"
"Oh, sweetheart, you're home!" Her mum said. "I was so worried when you didn't - what was it? Fire call?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, sorry about that," she apologized, watching Mr. Weasley enter the room. "I slept in this morning."
"Yes, that was actually my fault," Mr. Weasely said going to the chair he'd previously vacated and picking up his tea. He took a sip and made a face. "Excuse me," he apologized. "Tea got cold while Hermione here was showing me where your bathroom was." He headed back toward the kitchen, but as he went he paused. "Are you done with yours? I don't mind taking them."
Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked blankly at him and then down to the cups in their hands. "Oh, yes, thank you," Mr. Granger said and handed the empty cups to Mr. Weasley.
"Not at all," Mr. Weasley said as he slid saucers under his, and looped his fingers through the cup handles. "And its my fault that Hermione slept in this morning," he added. "All the kids did. They were up celebrating Ireland's win last night till quite late, and then we had a long walk back to our house this morning. Poor Hermione fell asleep on the way and my son Fred carried her the rest of the way, while my son George carried Ginny, and she slept in my daughter's room."
"Ah, that's no problem," Mr. Granger said. "Things like that happen."
"Dad, did mom call you home for something? I thought you had to work today," Hermione said.
"Yeah, well," her dad replied. "You know your mother," he said and chuckled when the woman next to him smacked him in the shoulder. "It's okay though; my assistant is either having my patients reschedule or is referring them to Dr. Smith."
"My Molly is the same way," Mr. Weasley said with a laugh. "Always worries about our kids, especially our twins and our youngest. The twins are always getting into trouble, and our youngest is our only daughter."
"What is it mum?" Hermione asked noticing her mother's confused expression.
"I just," her mother began and shook her head. "I'm glad you're home, I just don't knowwhyyou're home. Weren't you talking about stay with Oliver's family?"
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed. "Yes, um," she stumbled for a moment. "I hadn't really decided what I was doing yet, and the Weasleys also offered that I could stay with them, so I'm just really not sure yet, but we came to get my things just in case. I hope you don't mind if I'm not home this last week before school. I - I might be able to talk Oliver's parents into a visit to an amusement park. Oliver was really excited about seeing one."
"Oh, that would be lovely, dear," Mrs. Granger said with a smile.
"How much do you need for your books this year, pumpkin?" her dad asked. "Have you figured it out yet?"
"No, I haven't gotten my supply list yet, but I'll contact you and let you know, okay?" Hermione asked, not wanting to discuss money in front of Mr. Weasley, even if he might not know the exchange rate.
"Okay, sweetheart," her mother agreed.
"Well, I'm going to go pack my things," Hermione said. "I'll be right back."
"Okay, dear," her mother said.
Hermione moved out of sight, and into the hallway where she grabbed her pack and drew her wand. She quietly cast the leviating spell on her trunk and headed back to her room. Canceling the charm after she opened her door and directed her trunk inside, she headed back to the kitchen and retrieved her potions box and headed back to her room. Opening her trunk, she sighed, and shook her head. "Pack!" she said, waving her wand and watched as her things packed neatly into her trunk. She moved a couple jumpers and tucked her potions supply box inside as well before putting the jumpers back, she closed her trunk with a satisfied sigh that she wouldn't have a mess to deal with when she got where she was going.
She looked around her room once more and her eyes fell upon her cotton candy pink piggy bank on her desk. Going over to it, she turned it over and pulled the stopper, dumping it out on her bed so that the coins didn't roll off onto the floor when they fell out, once they were out, she reached in and wrapped her fingers around the bills, working them out as well. She was surprised to note that it was so hard to pull them out and found that her parents had been putting her allowance in it, increasing it to the number of her age, each year. She counted out one thousand, one hundred eighty six pounds and sixty four pence. She took off her pack and opened, it, pulling out her money pouch and raked the money into it before stuffing it in the pack again. She returned the pack to her back and then opened the door.
"Mr. Weasley," she called. "Can you and dad come help with my trunk?"
"Yes, of course," she heard Mr. Weasley say.
"Coming, pumpkin," her dad called.
Hermione headed down the hall and passed them as she made her way to her mother in the living room.
"You have everything, sweetheart?" Hermione's mother asked.
"Yes, mum," Hermione answered. "I raided my piggy bank, so I have some money if Oliver and I make it to an amusement park," she continued, "if not, I'll have some money for my school supplies."
"Okay, sweetheart," her mother said and gave her a hug. "Oh, we're going to miss you! Are you coming home at Christmas?"
"I don't know," Hermione replied. "I'll let you know, okay?"
"Okay, sweetie," her mother said, as her father and Mr. Weasley carried the trunk into the room and set it by the fireplace.
"Okay, if you want to go first, Hermione," Mr. Weasley said. "I can follow with your trunk."
"All right," Hermione said. "Love you mum, love you dad," she said giving both her parents a hug. "I'll miss you."
"We'll miss you, too, pumpkin," her dad said.
"Let us know if you need any money or anything,"" her mother said.
"All right, I will," Hermione promised. "Bye!"
"Bye, sweetie," her parents said.
Hermione stepped into the fireplace and turned to see her parents one last time.
"Thank you for letting her stay with you," her father said.
"Any time," Hermione heard Mr. Weasley say before she tossed her Floo powder and was enveloped in green flame after calling out 'The Burrow'.