London, September 25th, 1999, 19.35 hours

"You look fine, dear."

Wand-Leader Hermione checked herself in the single enchanted mirror she had found in the safehouse once again. She agreed with the mirror's judgement, in theory. She did look fine. But looking fine might not be enough. Not for meeting Ron's parents and the rest of his family. She needed to make the best impression possible from what she had gathered.

"You know, you don't have to try that hard. Just be yourself."

Hermione whirled around and glared at Ron. "I can't be myself. I'm in disguise."

"Apart from that, I mean." He stepped closer and kissed her. "I love you. Disguise or not, you're perfect. Relax, my family's not that bad."

He had removed his beard and hair dye already. She still wasn't used to how he really looked, but she liked it. Kissing him like this felt different. In a good way. But it didn't help her nervousness that much. "You're not the foreign witch trying to lure another Weasley away." From what she had heard about the past girlfriends of the other Weasley sons, she could expect a rather hostile reception.

Ron winced. "Fleur's a special case. She's a Veela. Mum has a bit of a chip on her shoulder, ever since one flirted with Dad once."

Hermione nodded. She was certainly no Veela, not even close. Though she still didn't know exactly what Molly Weasley wanted in a future daughter-in-law. And, as importantly, what she didn't want.

Ron sighed. "Ginny was not exactly nice to Fleur either, but then, she has treated every girlfriend of Bill that way. Ma petite was so jealous of anyone trying to take 'her Bill' away."

"I'm not exactly feeling any more secure here," Hermione said.

"You'll be fine. Ginny likes you. You're British. Mum won't fear you'll make me live in France instead of returning to Britain." He grinned. "And you won't try to outdo her at home."

"I guess mentioning I planned to head to France with you before I knew your real name would be a bad idea then."

He chuckled. "Yes. You can save that for our… fifth anniversary, I guess."

The easy way he said that filled her with happiness. She grabbed his head and pulled him in for another, longer kiss.

"I really wish we had more time," Ron said, his tongue flicking over his lips.

She nodded. But they hadn't. It had taken them almost an hour to reach the safe house in London. Hermione sighed, caressing his now smooth cheek, before turning away to grab her jacket.

"Let's go then."

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Outside Argelès-sur-Mer, France, September 25th, 1999, 19.45 hours

Travelling to the Weasley's home in France hadn't taken them more than a minute. Hermione looked around, both to get an impression of the place as well as to be able to apparate by herself next time. If there was a next time after this evening. It was a small plot, with a well-tended garden, and a sturdy looking house. Not new, but certainly not older than twenty years. Big enough so they might not have used expansion charms. Defensible too - the windows were not that large.

"Relax," Ron whispered. He didn't look too relaxed either, though.

Hermione couldn't call him on it, though, since right then, the front door opened, and the Weasley family poured out.

"Ron!" A slightly plump witch rushed forward and pulled Hermione's boyfriend into a hug. That had to be his mother, Molly. She recognised his father, of course, and she already knew the twins and Ginny. Percy wasn't there, Charlie Weasley was a star Seeker, and well-known even in Britain, so the last man there had to be Bill Weasley. She didn't see Harry Potter, which hopefully meant that the absence of girlfriends was not an indication that none of them had a girlfriend. Or a girlfriend they dared to bring home.

"Mum… this is Hermione!" Ron said.

She smiled at the older witch. "Good evening, Mrs Weasley."

"Good evening, dear," Ron's mother said. Her tone left Hermione with the distinct impression that if the evening would be anything but good, it would be the young witch's fault. She stood a bit straighter in response - she wouldn't be intimidated. Before it could get uncomfortable though, Ron's father smiled at her. "I'm Ron's dad. Call me Arthur, please." He looked friendly and harmless, but anyone who accompanied Dumbledore to the British Ministry would be anything but harmless. He had probably recognised her already.

"I'm Bill," Ron's oldest brother said, flashing a very charming smile. "Enchanté. I hear we're colleagues. I'm a Gendarme Magique."

"And that's Charlie, best Seeker in Europe," Ron said, introducing his other brother, before she could answer. Hermione wasn't certain, but she thought her lover had been glaring at Bill.

"Hi!" This Weasley was stockier than Ron, and a bit shorter. "I would say Viktor Krum might be as good."

"Hi Hermione!" the twins chorused. They had to have practised this. "She usually has much wilder hair, and no glasses," Fred said.

Ginny just waved, and rolled her eyes behind her brother's backs.

"Come inside, dear," Molly Weasley said, gesturing at the door. Everyone flowed back inside, dragging Hermione and Ron with them.

The house was not expanded, as far as she could tell. At least not the ground floor. It was cozy, the furniture looked worn, but well-kept, and not too expensive. A far cry from Malfoy Manor or the late Malfoy's home in Diagon Alley. A big table dominated the living room, big enough to seat ten people comfortably.

"You're a bit late, so we'd better start with dinner," Mrs Weasley said. She sounded a bit reproachful, though Hermione wasn't certain.

"Mum, we left on time. We had a traffic jam to deal with," Ron said, "or we'd have been here on time."

"She's not Estelle," Ginny added.

Hermione looked at Ron and raised her eyebrows. "Former girlfriend of mine. Took too long to prepare and arrived late to the family dinner," he whispered.

Molly Weasley nodded, but didn't comment. "Let's just all sit down. I'll have the first course ready in a jiffy."

As before, everyone complied. Hermione found herself sitting between Ron and Ginny, across from his parents and Bill. Arthur smiled warmly. "So, Hermione… do you really have the last name 'Britain'?"

He sounded sincere and she forced herself to smile. "That was actually a joke Ron made when we first met. Wands don't have last names."

"Why not?"

His question was so innocent, and yet so ignorant that it hurt. It wasn't his fault that she hadn't a family, but she couldn't keep from blurting out: "We're taken from our families as children, and raised together."

Arthur looked stricken. He was about to apologise for his question, when he was interrupted.

"Merlin! You poor dear!"

Hermione turned her head and saw that Ron's mother had returned from the kitchen, several bowls and pots floating behind her. She had her free hand clasped to her mouth, and looked horrified.

"I had no idea…" The older witch shook her head. "I'm so sorry."

Hermione suddenly realised that in the other witch's eyes, she had changed from the new girlfriend of Molly's youngest son into a poor orphaned young witch.

She wasn't certain if that was an improvement.

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Outside Argelès-sur-Mer, France, September 25th, 1999, 20.30 hours

His mum was in full mothering mode, Ron Weasley thought. No inquisition, no snubbing, no veiled put downs. Just understanding looks and nods, and comforting comments. If not for his brothers and Ginny, Hermione would have probably fled by now. Maybe.

"You mean, she literally fell into Ron's lap? In the middle of a Death Eater attack?" Charlie asked, after hearing how they had met for the first time. Ron winced. He trusted his family, but his spying mission was now known by over a dozen people - that was far too many. He hoped that Malfoy's treachery would be revealed soon.

"Technically, yes," Hermione said. "I took cover behind a cart. He had had the same idea a bit earlier."

"And I had her wand at my throat at once. Though it wasn't really funny at the time," Ron added. Even if it did sound like part of a James Bond movie. Certainly more impressive than meeting at a Quidditch match.

"And he asked me out after I took his statement as a witness." Hermione smiled. "Things developed from there."

Ron smiled as well.

"To the point that after Ron confessed, you've been helping him and Dumbledore fight Malfoy and the Dark Lord?" Charlie asked.

"Yes," Hermione said. She sounded tense now. Ron reached over to take her hand.

Fred grinned. "Our brother the secret agent, seducing the pretty witch working for the enemy to switch sides! We're so proud!"

Ron could have hexed his brother. He knew Fred was joking, didn't mean to hurt her, but Ron remembered how devastated Hermione had been that day. To realise her whole life had been a lie, that her parents had been murdered… that was not something to make jokes about.

Hermione was sitting stiffly now, and speaking in a flat tone. "I had just discovered that my parents had been murdered on Malfoy's order when I was kidnapped, as were most of the parents of the Wands. I was hoping to move to France with 'Antoine'."

Fred had the grace to look sheepish for a few moments while their parents glared at him.

"How did you find out?" Bill asked. "Professional interest," he defended himself when Mum's glare turned on him.

"I was investigating a possible spy or traitor, and the Obliviators were suspects. I discovered that they had more money than they could explain, which led to uncovering how they robbed muggles. Then I saw them attack the family of a muggleborn and kidnap the child. Subsequent investigations revealed that this was standard practise, that the victims included my own family, and that the Minister had personally ordered it."

Hermione spoke in a clinical, controlled manner, a bit too controlled compared to her usual professional manner, and Ron put his hand on her thigh. She glanced at him, smiling briefly.

"I couldn't reveal that back then, not with the Minister still in charge. And after his death, the situation has been a bit too volatile to do so. But the culprits will not escape justice." Hermione sounded dead serious.

Bill nodded. "Good."

The table was silent for a bit - a rarity in the Weasley home.

"Will you keep this house when you move back to Britain?" Hermione asked. Ron almost winced again. It was a harmless question, or would be, if not for his family's circumstances.

He saw his parents exchanging glances. After a moment, Dad said: "We'll keep it for vacations."

Ron almost shook his head. They didn't mention that their mother had hoped Bill would move in, if he absolutely had to stay in France, but the oldest Weasley son didn't want to leave his current home, which had been a wedding gift by the Delacours that Mum still hadn't forgiven Bill's in-laws for - she considered it 'showing off their money'.

"It'll take some time to rebuild the Burrow, but we'll manage," Ron's dad said.

"Luna proposed to build matching houses," Ron said. "A Rook for the Lovegoods, and a Bishop for us."

His mum huffed, but Dad laughed. "That sounds like Xenophilius's daughter." He shook his head. "We'll start small. We don't need to house seven children anymore, though I hope you'll not let us wait too long to babysit our grandchildren."

Ron saw that Hermione looked lost, and squeezed her thigh again. "They don't mean us," he whispered. She relaxed. It was not quite a lie - they weren't even married yet.

"Well… you still have Ginny to babysit," George started, "but she's rarely at home anyway." He grinned at the pouting girl. "And Ron and Hermione might want to have their own secret base as secret agents."

"We haven't really planned where we'd live after the war," Ron said. They didn't even know what they would do, once the Dark Lord was gone.

"Too busy?" Fred said, winking.

"I would have thought you two would build a secret base. Underground," Ron said, ignoring the insinuation.

"We might keep the safehouse, if Dumbledore let us." George smiled.

Mum frowned, though Ron thought the farther the twins' experiments were from anyone's home, the better.

"How many of the other exiled families will be returning?" Hermione asked.

Arthur sighed. "If you had asked me this question a year ago, I'd have said, everyone. We - the ones who fled Britain after fighting in the war - have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time." He smiled. "But that was just talk between old people, reminiscing the past. Now that we actually can return, people are hesitating. Most of us have built new lives here.

Mum sniffed. That was a touchy subject in the Weasley family. Ron knew his mum wanted everyone to 'come back to Britain', but Bill, Charlie and Ginny wanted to stay in France for their careers.

"Most in the Ministry seem to expect that the exiles will return en masse," Hermione said. "Dumbledore gave that impression as well."

"He isn't wrong," Ron's dad said. "We will return, to help defeat the Dark Lord and take our homes back. But I don't know how many will give up their lives in France for good." He sighed. "From my admittedly brief visit, I gained the impression that the Ministry needs a lot of help to keep running smoothly without Malfoy. We'll do what we can, of course, but there might be fewer of us returning for good than left twenty years ago."

"We'll not shirk our duty towards our home," Mum said. "Even if others might do so."

Ron saw Ginny and Bill frown at the implied criticism, and he sighed. Even Hermione's presence as a guest would only go so far when it came to making everyone keep their tempers under control. So he tried to change the topic. "What do you think about the new Keeper of the Aigles?"

Fortunately, with two professional Quidditch players among them, and the rest of the family having been on the school teams, soon everyone was debating the merits and skill of various players and teams. Hermione didn't know much about the French teams, but she had some anecdotes about corruption in the British Quidditch League. Apparently Ludo Bagman had been running bets and had tried to fix matches to scam his 'customers'.

They talked straight through dessert, until they had to leave. All in all, this visit had turned out to be far better than Ron had feared. Much better than any other visit by a Weasley's girlfriend he could remember.

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London, September 26th, 1999, 10.30 hours

"And then Mum went from 'begone, evil seductress' straight to 'you poor orphan'. Hermione didn't know what hit her!"

Ron Weasley, sitting on an armchair in the Order's safehouse, sighed while Harry chuckled at Ginny's description. As correct as it was, he didn't think that it was quite that funny. Maybe looking back at it a few years or decades from now, it would be. Though as long as Harry, who was another 'poor orphan' according to Ron's mum, thought it was funny he'd not make a fuss out of it.

"So, your girlfriend has successfully braved the Weasley den, and escaped unscathed, hm?" Harry shook his head. "That's impressive. Not as impressive as me wooing the only Weasley daughter in seven generations or so, without getting cursed by her six older brothers, of course."

"That's because you didn't woo her. Ginny all but stunned and dragged you back to her room." Ron would know; his sister had badgered him for advice on how to win Harry's heart more than once.

"Hey!" Ginny glared at him.

"Well, she was stunning in that dress at the Yule Ball," Harry said, wrapping an arm around the girl in question and planting a quick kiss on her cheek.

Placated, Ginny leaned into his side.

"It helped of course that Mum loves you." Ron rubbed his chin. "Though she'd probably have approved of Neville as well." That earned him a glare from his sister.

"And now that we know your mum approves of her, what did Hermione think of your parents?" Harry asked.

"She was a bit surprised by how loud we are," Ron said. "But she wasn't put off." Hermione had not much experience with meeting parents, after all - she was familiar with Luna's father and the Malfoys, and neither family was exactly average.

"I bet she's used to big gatherings. Don't the Wands consider the Corps their family?" Ginny asked.

"They do. Or are supposed to. But I don't think they're as close to everyone as we are." At least Ron hadn't seen much evidence of that.

"So, when's the wedding?" Harry asked, grinning. Ron winced, and Harry apologised. "Sorry."

Ron sighed. "We haven't actually talked that much about it. I mean, we have an understanding, but… We haven't talked about any details. Like what we'll do after the war, where we'll live…" He shrugged.

Harry nodded. "I can understand that." Ron knew Harry hadn't exactly been making plans himself.

Ron sighed. "We don't know how Britain will look after the war." Or if both of them would be still alive. "Speaking of, what exactly is Dumbledore planning? Hermione told me that he had the acting Minister eating out of his hand, and was talking to the Wand-Commander, but she didn't know anything more than that."

Harry cleared his throat, and exchanged a glance with Ginny. "He wants to reveal my prophecy to the Wands. At least the part Voldemort knows already."

"He wants to let them know that you're crucial for the war effort?" Ron asked.

"Exactly," Harry said, and his expression told Ron that he didn't like it. Ginny must have noticed it as well, since she elbowed her boyfriend into his side. He frowned at her.

Ginny matched his frown. "I told you: No complaining about any measures taken to make you safer." She hugged him, and added in a lower tone: "I won't lose you."

Harry smiled, and sighed. "I just don't like the thought of people sacrificing themselves for me."

Ron would have quipped that Harry wanted to do that himself, but held his tongue. Some things you didn't bring up in Ginny's presence. "And what about the time after the war?"

"I guess Dumbledore will be ruling the country," Ginny said.

"I know that," Ron said. "I meant: Will there be a Corps still, and what kind? What about the Aurors?"

"Thinking of signing up?" Harry asked.

"I'm a trained Gendarme, not a future Quidditch star. Or house wizard," he added with a grin to Ginny.

"At least you'll be living in England. That'll make Mum happier," Ginny said, pouting. "She's been giving me grief about staying in France. As if I would give up my career with the Aigles!"

"You're not the only one to stay," Harry pointed out.

"Oh, yes! You should have seen her reaction to Bill telling her he'll stay. I haven't heard that many words for 'French hussy' since Mum heard that the engagement party was to be held at the Delacours'." Ginny shook her head. "And Charlie doing the same had the cauldron boil over. And melt down."

"I was actually speaking about more than your family," Harry pointed out. "Even if it feels sometimes that you're half the exiles. But I think a lot of the younger British exiles won't return."

Ginny shrugged. "France is our home. Britain's just a bunch of tales from our parents."

"Maybe," Ron said. "I've been thinking of going back to France myself, if things don't work out in Britain. Hermione would make a good Gendarme as well." Though he wasn't certain that she'd leave Britain if she thought the Corps needed her.

Ultimately, it all came down to what the Wands would do. Dumbledore was gambling a lot on the Corps' reaction to the revelations about their origin. Ron just hoped that the old wizard's plan would succeed.

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London, Ministry of Magic, September 26th, 1999, 14.30 hours

"Mr. Tonks, Mr. Cresswell?"

Wand-Leader Hermione smiled at the two wizards in obvious muggle clothes who had just arrived in the Atrium. She was among the only ones who did - most of the employees gave the two a wide berth. Even the Wands standing guard were tense. Muggle clothes were not something you'd expect to see in Wizarding Britain these days. If all went well, that would be changing soon. Or so she hoped. When the two nodded, she continued. "I'm Wand-Leader Hermione and this is my co-worker Dean. If you'll follow me to the offices of the Investigative Branch?"

"Of course, Miss," Tonks said, smiling. Cresswell nodded, though he seemed a bit more reserved.

"Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions," she said while she led them to the lifts.

"How long have you been in the Corps?" Tonks asked.

"We've both been active members for almost one and a half years. We graduated Hogwarts in 1998, in the same class," Hermione said.

"Ah, Hogwarts!" Tonks smiled. "I wonder how it has changed since I was a student."

Hermione was certain he had been briefed thoroughly on the situation at Hogwarts, but she simply smiled. "I'd not know, that was before my time."

When they reached their floor, she stepped out first, out of habit from her tour as a guard, while Dean brought up the rear.

Benjamin and his entire team was waiting for them, as were most of the other members of the Investigative Branch. "Welcome to Britain's best investigators," the wizard said. "I'm Wand-Leader Benjamin."

He introduced the rest of the Wands present as well. Hermione used the opportunity to study the two visitors some more. Tonks appeared to be friendly and polite, though that could be an act. Cresswell was more tense, but not much more than Dean was. Hermione's friend was still dealing with the revelations from Dumbledore and herself, she knew.

"Pleased to meet you all. I'm Ted Tonks. I'm an investigative judge at the criminal court in Paris. This is Dirk Cresswell, a Gendarme Magique." He beamed at them. "We're here to coordinate with you so any Death Eater that is arrested will be able to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and not be acquitted because their rights were violated."

That was the pretext. Hermione was certain that both visitors were all too aware that the British judicial system hadn't really cared about technicalities under Malfoy's regime. Nor, as far as she knew, had those been a concern before Malfoy's takeover.

"Albus Dumbledore chose us two since we both have experience in law enforcement, and we're both muggleborns, like you," Tonks added.

The Wands present nodded. If they hadn't already known that from the men's clothes they wouldn't have been in the Investigative Branch, Hermione thought.

As she had expected, the actual coordination didn't take that much time - the differences between the systems the exiles were used to and the Wands' were minimal as far as investigating and arresting were concerned. Judging would be handled by the Wizengamot, most likely. Which would probably do what Dumbledore wanted - that was how it had been under Malfoy, after all.

"Do you have any questions for us not related to procedure?" Tonks asked when they took a break.

Colin, bless his curiosity and what Hermione liked to think of as courage while Dean called it a lack of embarrassment, spoke up at once: "Were you abused by your parents?"

When she saw the two muggleborn exiles' reaction at the question, Hermione wasn't quite certain anymore that they had been as thoroughly prepared as she had thought.

"Pardon?" Tonks asked, blinking.

"Were you abused by your muggle parents?" Colin asked again.

"Why would you ask that?" Tonks exchanged a glance with his companion.

"Because we were. The Minister saved us," Colin said.

"No, we were not. My parents fled with me to France when the Ministry fell in 1981," Cresswell said.

"In fact, I don't recall any case of abuse of a muggleborn by their parents during the time I was working as a litigator here," Tonks added.

"That sounds a bit implausible, given the known attitudes of muggles," Cleo said. Hermione hoped the doubt she noticed was not just limited to Tonks's claim.

"Witchcraft is still a capital crime among muggles," Dean said.

"In some countries," Tonks said. "Not in Europe though, and certainly not in Britain or France. My parents were very surprised when they learned that I was a wizard, but they certainly never abused me."

"Were all of the Wands abused by their parents?" Cresswell asked, almost hesitantly, or so Hermione had the impression.

"According to the Obliviator reports, all of us were saved from impending harm, usually at the hands of our parents, in response to our first bout of accidental magic," Hermione said.

"That sounds a bit implausible," Cresswell said, glancing at Cleo.

"That's what the files say. We were looking into the Obliviators for possible treason or corruption," Hermione added. "We didn't find anything, but we were not allowed to include activities in muggle Britain in our investigation." She did her best to sound normal, as if given additional information as usual.

Colin nodded. "The Obliviators have more gold than they should have, but that's all we found."

Benjamin nodded slowly. "It's of no consequence now, under our current circumstances. We'll need to focus on beating the Dark Lord."

The glance he sent at Hermione though made it clear that there would be words once their visitors had left again.

She hoped very much that they would be the words she wanted to hear.