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Summer Holiday	By : orchid Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 2901 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
Summer Holiday

Chapter 9. Old Friends

Hermione screwed up her eyes as they travelled, feeling her hips bump against Bill's and on the opposite side, Harry's. The port key seemed to last a lot longer than she could ever remember any other to have. When finally she felt her feet ram onto the ground she fought hard to maintain her balance. Her eyes still closed she heard a stifled sound, a half scream, half sob. Hermione opened her eyes and looked around. They were in Hogwarts, that much she could tell, however she had never been in the room before. It was small, and decorated with deep mahogany panelling and ruby coloured wallpaper, a large painting of an English countryside covered one of the walls, sheep were grazing peacefully in the fields and the trees rustled gracefully in the light breeze. The floor was covered in thick, sheepskin rugs, and on one wall was a huge French window, which was shut and had heavy drapes pulled across it. Hermione followed the chink of bright sunlight that shone from a gap between the curtains and cut a white line through the room, and saw a strip of the Hogwarts grounds, smooth lawn, and then the glittering surface of the lake. Suddenly a sorrowful sound broke the eerie silence, and Hermione's head snapped to the side. Beside a large bed sat Molly Weasley, her eyes were bloodshot and red, her hair messy and as she held out her hands palm up to embrace her four sons Hermione noticed four red moons cut into them, where she had been digging her fingernails in anguish.

"Boys!" Mrs Weasley sobbed out, clutching the twins to her chest. Hermione tore her eyes away from them and saw Dumbledore was standing in the shadows of the room; he nodded to Hermione and to the side of her where she presumed Harry was standing. Shifting her gaze it came to rest on the bed, and her breath caught sharply in her throat. Between the sheets lay an almost unrecognisable Arthur Weasley; His face was a horrid palette of colours, red raw in some places, ranging to tones of blues and purples in different degrees of bruises. His eyes were swollen, and lips both split. He lay very still.

"Dad!" Ron's anguished voice cracked the silence as he ran towards the bed. At this point Dumbledore moved into the light.

"He is unconscious Ron." He said in his quiet voice, his blue eyes glittering sadly. Ron turned and stared wildly at the tall wizard, he seemed unable to speak.

"He will recover. He is being carefully monitored and cared for by Madam Pomfrey and specialists from St Mungo's." Dumbledore said his tone assuring, Ron didn't answer his wide eyes turned back to his father's limp body. Hermione twisted her hands together, feeling bile rise in her mouth, she didn't know what to do, she wanted to comfort Mrs Weasley. Ron. Bill. The twins. But she couldn't feel the right to cross the distance that separated the family from her and Harry, stranded in the middle of the room. Instead she dropped to her knees unnoticed and scooped up the used port key. Straightening she handed it to Dumbledore who took it and swept her with a piercing, searching gaze.

"Miss Granger, Mr Potter. If you'd accompany me—" He said softly. Hermione nodded, her gaze travelling from the back of Ron's head to Molly Weasley who was obscured by the twins and rested on Bill. She met his eyes, trying to offer him some comfort, show him she was feeling some of his pain, Bill looked back at her as if she was stranger, then quickly snapped his stare away. Hermione swallowed down the bitter taste in her mouth and the impending tears and followed Dumbledore from the room, hearing Harry pursue her.

"What happened?" Harry asked Dumbledore his voice reverberating with fear and anger. Dumbledore sighed and laced the tips of his bony fingers together,

"Yesterday, Molly, Ginny and Arthur were enjoying a quiet lunch, when five death eaters apparated into The Burrow. Two of them seized Ginny and her mother. The other three took Arthur downstairs." Dumbledore paused, looking disgusted. "It appears they wanted information on your location." He continued looking at Harry whose stomach lurched in guilt. "When Arthur refused to give anything away, they physically beat him." Hermione flinched and looked away. "Downstairs, the death eaters were spooked by the Weasley's resident ghoul and Ginny managed to break out of her attacker's grip. She drew her wand--" He shook his head slowly, "I don't know what she planned to do, obviously she was utterly terrified and could hear her father's moans. The death eaters perhaps worried about their breach of control, or for some other reason at that instant apparated. Ginny contacted me, and we brought Arthur here." He finished. Hermione sighed holding her head in her hands.

"He's back?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes." Dumbledore replied, his gaze directed at Harry. "He seems as determined as usual to get to you Harry. This time I fear he is stronger. However you are also, older and wiser."
Hermione glanced at Harry he looked green and very sick, she wanted to hold him and tell him it wasn't it fault but she couldn't, his outburst in Bermuda still fresh in her mind although partly clouded by the recent events.

"Hermione, I would ask you to leave me to speak to Harry alone for a while. Perhaps you would enjoy a walk in the grounds with Remus. He will be waiting in the Entrance Hall." Dumbledore said, the phrase was carefully maintained as a suggestion but his voice held all the implications of a command. Hermione sighed and nodded, her gaze rested on Harry for a moment before she exited Dumbledore's office and walked down the stairs. Hermione didn't head for the entrance hall; instead she traced her way back to the hospital block and took a seat outside the door that led to the room which contained the shaken Weasley family. She didn't know how long she sat on the cold marble floor, her eyes fixed intently on the door handle in front of her. Eventually it turned and Bill emerged from the darkened room. Hermione scrambled to her feet.

"Bill..." She began reaching out to touch his arm, comfort him. Bill jerked his arm away and his eyes flashed as he looked at her.

"Where's Dumbledore?" He demanded curtly. Hermione gulped taken aback,

"His office, with Harry. Bill, I--" Bill cut across her his eyes burned into hers, and Hermione winced under the pain that overflowed from them.

"Hermione I can't talk to you." He said simply, Hermione opened her mouth to protest but he shook his head. "Please. Hermione." He said, although Hermione knew he wasn't asking her, but telling her to back off. Swallowing down her tears she nodded and stepped aside to let him pass. He headed through the empty ward, down the centre of the parallel lines of beds, not looking back. Hermione bit her lip hard to stop herself from dissolving into tears and set off towards the entrance hall.

Hermione's eyes were blinded with tears as she stumbled into the empty, unfamiliar entrance hall. She blinked the space into focus and saw a tall man, with messy, sandy blonde hair and soft, caring eyes. Feeling another sob well up in her, she propelled herself towards him. Remus caught her in his arms and felt her melt into anguished sobs against his chest. He lowered himself to the marble step, and let her cry against him, murmuring softly and smoothing her hair comfortingly. Eventually Hermione drew away, her deep brown eyes were an alarming mixture of sorrow, fear and hurt. Her lip trembled slightly, and then her jaw stiffened and she appeared to mentally shake herself. Remus remained silent, watching her. Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she had cried, for herself, for Arthur, Ron, Bill, Harry and the Weasleys. And now, she knew she had to be strong. Her eyes snapped open and she stared expectantly at Remus.

"Hermione." He greeted her, his hand covering hers protectively.

"Remus. It's good to see you." She replied attempting a smile. Remus nodded.

"I'd hoped we'd meet again in better circumstances." He said gravely, and Hermione flinched. "Will you walk with me? Dumbledore wishes me to speak to you." Remus stood, pulling lightly on her hand, the formal tone he spoke to her in was alien but Hermione rose obligingly. He led her out of the large doors, down the wide spreading steps and down one of the many winding gravel paths that led through the rose gardens.

"So how long have you known he was back?" Hermione asked.

"Dumbledore has been receiving rumours for the past two years Hermione. You know that." He answered his tone softening and relaxing slightly in the open.

"Yes. But didn't he get any hint towards this-- this sudden—” She trailed off. Remus shook his head.

"No. He had in fact been becoming slightly suspicious of the lack of whispers recently, but the attack was totally unexpected." He said. Hermione remained silent for a while, her eyes fixed on the skittering chips of gravel that bounced where her feet hit the path. After a while she spoke again.

"What are we going to do?" Even as she asked it, Hermione knew she'd hate the answer. Nothing like this was simple. It couldn't have an easy, resolved answer. Remus sighed.

"All that we can. Dumbledore had summoned a number of Aurors. He has a selection of people researching all possible information that could help us." He paused and stopped walking, grasping Hermione's arm and spinning her to face him.

"Dumbledore believes that Voldemort may try and contact us somehow. He is arrogant and calculating and often seeks the anger and sorrow his actions consequence." Remus said watching her intently. Hermione swallowed.

"How can I help?" She asked, Remus didn't answer immediately. "Remus please." She continued her voice shaking, "I love Harry and Ron more than anything I have to do anything I can." Remus nodded.

"I know Hermione."

"No, you don't." She gasped biting her lip to stop herself breaking down again as a flash of Bill's angry face sped across her mind. "The Weasley's are like my family. And Harry—" She licked her lips unable to put into words what he was to her.

"I do. Hermione. Trust me." He repeated sombrely, and Hermione winced.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—" She stuttered. Remus shook his head.

"Don't apologise. We need to be strong. Hermione you are going to have enormous amounts of pressure put on you. Dumbledore wants you to help research. Your friends will need your support. It's going to be hard." He said solemnly. "But. Remember you are not alone. I'm here for you, Sirius, Dumbledore. If ever you need to talk." He said his eyes fixed upon hers. Hermione nodded.

"And Harry." Remus said, Hermione started at the mention of his name segregated from the natural conversation.

"What?" She stammered anxiously. Remus eyed her confusion at her reaction flashing in his gaze.

"You two will need each other more than anything. The Weasley's will need to support each other; they are suffering a common loss. You and Harry will have to be strong together." Remus said slowly watching her intently for each tiny reaction her face gave. Hermione battled to look as normal as possible.

"I know." She said simply, "Thank you." She added, feeling Remus draw her into another hug. His arms wound around her tightly and she felt loved and protected, he felt like some sort of elder brother figure to her. Drawing away, Hermione summoned all of her strength and looked Remus square in the eyes.

"Where should I go?" She asked.

"The team is working in the library. They're expecting you. I'll speak to Dumbledore. I'm about if you need me." He said his tone reassuring. Hermione smiled and turning she walked swiftly in the direction of the castle.

Upon entering the doors of the library, Hermione started at the untidiness. The library usually epitomized neat. Books were stacked in thickness, descending size, alphabetically. To alter it was a normally a crime, so the parchment strewn mess she had stumbled on was another element in this hideous parallel world that shook her. The desks of the library, usually smartly arranged bordering the room were crowded into the space in the centre. Opened books, stacks of volumes, rolls of parchment were scattered everywhere. Ink pots, quills and empty goblets were dotted amongst these. There were noticeable chunks of books missing from the visible shelves and three ladders were leant against the towering bookcases having been used to retrieve books from dusty, high unreachable places. A group of about twelve witches and wizards were sat amongst the clutter, some in discussion, others deeply engrossed in reading or taking notes. Hermione cleared her throat and all the heads snapped up to stare at her.

"Hermione!" A familiar voice rang out and Hermione saw Sirius Black, Harry's godfather coming towards her across the room, his arms outstretched. He embraced her tightly, and kissed the top of her head.

"Talk to me later." He muttered into her ear, before pulling away and addressing the group. "Everyone, this is Hermione Granger. She will be aiding us in our enquiries." He paused and scanned the group. "Hermione, you know Professors Mc Gonogall, Flitwick and Snape." He said gesturing to Flitwick and Mc Gonogall who were partly obscured by a large stack of books. Snape who had been writing a long passage of spidery looking script looked up and fixed her with his jet black eyes, Hermione swallowed and nodded vaguely. Sirius squeezed her arm encouragingly.

"I'll leave everyone else to introduce themselves to you." He decided.

"Okay." Hermione said softly her eyes skimming the group. Her stomach knotted suddenly as from behind one of the tall bookcases three people emerged. Alastor Moody, her former teacher at Hogwarts was accompanied by Charlie Weasley and Bill. Charlie looked tense, his athletic form seemed to be buzzing in anticipation ready to spring at anything, his deeply tanned face made Bill's sun kissed complexion look pale in comparison, his brown eyes held the same subdued angst as she had seen in almost everyone she had spoken to on her return to England. He didn't notice her. Bill's blue eyes however met hers something surged between the gaze, and Hermione started towards him, but Sirius having noticed the exchange, held her back and twisting her to break the eye contact he pushed her towards a studious looking witch with shiny black hair dappled with grey.

"This is Leticia Stone." Sirius said hurriedly. Hermione strained a smile at the woman, trying to twist in Sirius grip back to Bill but he hung on with a vice grip and pushed her into a seat next to the witch.

"I'll let her explain what's happening. I'll come and find you later." He said firmly his hand resting on her shoulder, not allowing her head to turn. Hermione nodded in exasperation and watched as Sirius fixed her with one last penetrating stare then sprinted towards the trio who were waiting a few metres away. He hissed something to Bill whose loaded gaze instantly snapped away from Hermione and the group exited the library.

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Summer Holiday