CHAPTER ONE

The Summer Before The Start Of 6th Year

Hermione was in her living room; surrounded by her Hogwarts textbooks. She could not think of anything else better than reading to distract herself from everything that had happened before the summer had started. Reading 'Hogwarts: A History', she curled up on the sofa opposite her parents. The nostalgia of looking through the moving images depicting all the corners of her school made her feel at ease.

Her fifth year at Hogwarts ended a week ago, finishing with a battle against the newly-risen Voldemort and his Death Eaters. After Harry and Dumbledore had fought off Voldemort, the whole world seemed to change for the worst.

Even Hermione's parents, as Muggles, knew something unwanted was stirring. They, knowing something was disrupting the wizarding world, did not want her to go back to Hogwarts for her 6th year. Somehow, Hermione had persuaded against the idea, saying it would be safer for the whole family for Hermione to go back to Hogwarts.

Hermione worried for Harry. His scar was paining him more and more, since the middle of the last year. She had not heard from him since the Ministry of Magic attack. She had only seen his face covered on the Daily Prophet every day since, with articles finally acknowledging the return of Voldemort. 

This would have never happened if the Ministry had only believed Harry last year after Voldemort had risen again, and shortly after killed Cedric.

Hermione looked up to see her parents looking worriedly at her. "Is everything alright, Hermione?" Jean Granger asked. "You seem very distant."

"We both know," John Granger said as he turned to his wife and then back to Hermione. "that you are worried about your friends and your wizarding world, but you are here with us now, and we want to spend time with you."

"I'm sorry mum, dad." Hermione apologised. "I think it's partly what happened last week, and when I am going to find out my OWL results, that is making be distracted."

Jean Granger got up and gave her a hug. "You don't need to worry about your results. Why would they call you 'the smartest witch of your age', if you weren't capable enough to get excellent OWLs?"

Jean Granger walked in the direction of the kitchen, to prepare lunch, as Hermione got up and made her way into the garden. She sat down on her favourite deck chair and gazed up into the sea-blue sky, filled with fluffy, perfect-white clouds. A light breeze made her brown curly hair wave and the grass dance in the wind. Six birds flew high above her, in perfect formation, making Hermione reminisce about the time when Harry, Ron, Luna, Neville and her, combined their skills to try and overcome the Death Eaters. Though their teamwork had paid off, they had lost an important person that night. Sirius Black.

One bird fell out of formation; Hermione imagined the bird as Harry Potter, dropping to his knees crying out for Sirius Black to come back after Bellatrix Lestrange had killed him. As Harry had run after Bellatrix, Hermione had fallen and trembled in the arms of Ron Weasley as the Death Eaters disappeared to follow Voldemort.

"Hermione!" Jean called out of the kitchen window. "An owl is here for you."

"Coming! It's not my OWL's is it?" Hermione called back, as she leapt up from her deck chair.

"No, I don't think so. It's the Weasley's owl I think!" Jean Granger replied.

With much speed and force, very unusual for Hermione, she ran into the kitchen to see Errol, the Weasley's family post owl, with a letter in his beak.

"Hermione Jean Granger!" her mother exclaimed sternly. "Calm yourself down!" Hermione apologised calmly rubbing Errol on his back, and took the letter from his beak.

Dear Hermione,

Wait, that sounds so weird. Why did I ever write "Dear"? I can't be bothered to cross it out. Sorry. Anyway, Mum asked if you wanted to come to ours for the rest of the summer? She thought that after the Ministry attack that you would want to be around us. No offence to your parents being muggles, but they don't understand properly what happened to us. We can help and talk to you, the same as you to us. Obviously we don't have to talk if you don't feel like it either. But Mum thought it would be nice to have people around you that do know what you are going through.

Dad said he would pick you up from your house, if you are coming, in two days. Mum thinks he is stupid after deciding to drive to you instead of her. He has only recently recovered from his snake attack. Merlin, it was horrible to see him in such a horrible state at St. Mungo's. Anyway, Mum will be cooking Sunday lunch, so Dad would pick you up at 8 the night before.

Whether you do come or not, I hope you have a good summer. But I hope you do come to ours.

Ron.

Hermione smiled. "What does it say?" Jean asked.

"Ron asked if I wanted to stay at the Burrow for the rest of the summer. Can I go?"

"Honey, you find out your OWL results this summer, and I want to be there when you find out your achievements." Jean explained, kindly. "Plus your father and I hardly ever see you as you are away at school, and it would be nice to spend some time with you!"

Hermione's face dropped, sadly. "Don't worry Mum. It's ok, I'll go and write a letter to Ron that I can't come now."

Hermione began to walk away when her mother sighed. "Darling, don't worry about us. You can go to the Weasley's house instead of staying here with us."

Hermione gave her mother a huge hug. "Thank you, Mum. I promise that I'll send you my OWL results, as soon as I can!"

She walked out of the kitchen and climbed the stairs to reach the second floor of the house to get to her bedroom. Errol flew up after her and perched on her shoulder while she wrote a letter back to Ron.

Dear Ron,

I would love to come to the Burrow for the rest of the summer. It would be nice to talk about some of the stuff that has happened. I would like to tell my parents, but that might be a bad idea as they could be at risk if Voldemort ever tried to get to us through hurting my parents.

However, I'll see you in two days. Tell your mum that I said thank you, and tell Ginny that I'll send her letter.

See you soon,

                           Hermione x

After a heartening lunch, and writing a quick letter to Ginny, Hermione began packing her trunks with all the essentials needed for the rest of the holidays and the new school year. She was excited to be starting her NEWTs when everyone got back to Hogwarts, however, Hermione was worried if this year would be the same as her previous years at school. The excitement would be replaced with worry. She guessed that there would be more restriction of movements of students for their safety and security. But Hermione decided that she would not think about the downsides just yet. She was going to the Burrow in two days, and that was all that mattered for now.

Those two days flew by easily filled with studying for the new year and not too much contemplating the impact of Voldemort's return was on the wizarding world. Meanwhile, outside the busy streets of London, Ron and Arthur Weasley were making their way to the Granger's home.

"That's the wrong turn again Dad." moaned Ron, annoyed at his father.

"Sorry," apologised Arthur. "I don't know these roads well. Plus, I can't fly from now on as we need enough invisibility fuel to get us back home. Now, do I turn right or left here...or is it straight...?"

"Bloody hell, Dad. We are twenty minutes away from Hermione's house, and at this rate, we are going to get there in two hours if you don't hurry up and read the directions properly."

Finally, with much huffing and annoyance from Ron, the father and son combo made their way through the winding roads and backstreets to reach Hermione's doorstep, just before 8 pm.

Already packed and ready to go, Hermione greeted them and introduced Ron and Arthur to her parents.

"Hello dear, we have heard a lot about you." Jean said, shaking Ron's hand. "Thank you for letting Hermione stay at your home, Mr Weasley. We have noticed that she has been very distracted over these past three weeks after returning home. Hopefully being with you and your family will cheer her up a bit."

Hermione blushed. Her father shook Arthur's hand. "What do you do?" Mr Weasley asked, inquisitively.

"I'm a dentist. Hermione's mother and I both are." John Granger explained. "We look at how healthy people's teeth are."

"And this is a normal profession? We do not have dentists in the wizarding world. We can just fix them ourselves." Arthur chuckled.

"I guess so?" John smiled, puzzled by Arthur's questions. "People study for a long time to become a dentist. Same with doctors who work in hospitals."

Sensing the awkwardness, Jean Granger asked if Ron and Arthur wanted a cup of tea, seeing as though she had a fresh batch of Earl Grey tea in the kettle. "Sorry, we can't stay." Arthur apologised. "Molly, Ron's mother, demanded we should all be back at 9 o'clock sharp. You would not want to see her angry. It is all hell on earth if someone is not back on time."

Ron and Arthur shuddered. The Grangers laughed and hugged their daughter goodbye. Once again, Hermione promised to notify her parents of her OWL results as soon as she got them. She also thanked her mum again for allowing her to stay with the Weasley's. She knew that her parents, especially her mum, did miss her while she was away.

With a quick wave from her parents and the close of the front door, Hermione could not help but smile as she got into the Weasley's car and began to enter into the world where she felt she truly belonged.

Fifty minutes later, the Burrow came into view out of the windows of the Ford Angelica, flying high through the clouds. After a rough descent and landing, the trio was attacked with hugs from Molly. "How is your summer going, dear?" Molly asked Hermione.

"Even more fantastic now I'm here!" Hermione replied with a huge smile. "I have missed the Burrow!"

"Such a sweet girl." Molly cooed as she pulled Hermione in for another hug.

"C'mon Mum." Ron interrupted. "You're squeezing the life out of her. She probably wants to get to bed." Molly let go of Hermione. "Off you go then. Hermione, go and unpack. Your stuff is in Ron's room."

"Thank you, Molly." Hermione said, kindly. As Hermione and Ron went to leave the kitchen, she called them back. "I know you'll probably be disappointed to hear this, but I don't think Harry will be joining us this summer."

"What?" Hermione and Ron gasped, in unison.

"Dumbledore notified the Order that Harry and him are off on business. He did not say how long it will take either. You know Dumbledore, he doesn't put any restraints on what he needs to achieve. And before you ask, I do not know what this business is." Hermione and Ron climbed the stairs of the Burrow sullenly, knowing the summer wouldn't be the same without Harry.

Ginny came out of her bedroom as Hermione and Ron passed it. Ginny leapt at Hermione and gave her a huge cuddle. "I've missed you so much! How are you? How have you been?"

"I've been alright, thanks." Hermione was interrupted by Ron. "We are going to my room to talk to Ginny. You are not invited." Ron started pushing Hermione's back so she went up the stairs to the top of the house where Ron's bedroom was. "I will talk to you tomorrow morning Ginny. Goodnight!" Hermione called.

A bed had been set up for Hermione in Ron's room with all her luggage upon it. Crookshanks had been let out of his cage, having the delight of scratching Ron's ankles. He tried to push the cat away multiple times, but Crookshanks always crawled back. The pair sat on their beds, not knowing what to talk about.

"Are you alright after what happened at the Ministry?" Ron asked. "I remember you said in your letter that you wish you could talk to your parents about stuff..."

"In all honesty, I think I am okay. I do get some flashbacks sometimes, but not anything to be concerned about. I do want to keep my parents informed about what has happened to us. But, I am worried about their safety. Voldemort could use what they know to get us to do what he wants. Family is important to both of us, and also Harry."

"Yeah, that makes complete sense. It is hard for my family too. We know that the Ministry is corrupt in some areas, and we don't know which areas Percy is influenced by. We all know he doesn't come home much, but we still have to be careful."

"I'm just so worried about Harry. He has got so much media attention for the past few weeks. I wish the Ministry had just believed him after what happened at the Triwizard tournament. Plus, he has to deal with the loss of Sirius. I could never imagine losing my parents, let alone the only person I could call a family member."

Hermione now had tears in her eyes; Ron sat down next to her, and awkwardly patted her shoulder. 

"It's alright." Ron reassured. "Harry always gets through things. Like Cedric unfortunately dying, and um... always wanting to avenge everyone for what Voldemort has caused. He will be fine."

"But Harry's lost the one person who was his closest family member. And the only family that he has as I said before. Meeting Sirius was a big deal for him. Harry had found an adult that he could actually talk to and confide in, and now he's gone...". Hermione sniffed, sadly. "...a whole chunk of happiness in his life has been ripped away. You saw how devastated he was when Sirius went through the archway. It was horrible to watch. It was like the whole world just fell apart at that moment for Harry."

"I know..." Ron stammered.

"...and how he chased after Bellatrix to avenge Sirius." Hermione cried, making herself angry with herself. "I'm working myself into such a state. Sorry Ron, I'm going to go to bed. I feel really tired all of a sudden."

Hermione changed into her pyjamas and crawled into bed. As she closed her eyes, she began to dream. She was back in the Ministry of Magic, watching Bellatrix shout "AVADA KEDAVRA!". She saw Harry looking confused, and then distraught. Her heart yearned for this just to be a dream, just a horrible dream conjured up from everything that had happened to her. But she knew that it wasn't.

She began to cry and was awakened by Ron's snoring. The sheets around her suddenly felt suffocating so she kicked them off. Ron arose from hearing Hermione cry. He got up and climbed into her bed next to her. She lay on his chest and felt much better. Ron's arms around her made her feel surprisingly secure like nothing could ever affect or hurt her while she was in them. Hermione definitely thought that she could get used to this. Although she did feel guilty about feeling a little bit happy, while Harry was out somewhere probably mourning Sirius.

"Goodnight Ron." Hermione whispered, snuggling into his chest.

"Goodnight Hermione. Sleep well." Ron whispered back, holding Hermione closer.