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┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟏 *•. ┄┄

𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒙-𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒔. . . . 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓!

────── *•. ⚡︎ .•*──────

"Miss Granger."

Hermione's eyebrows drew together as she let her eyes wander up as they surveyed the cloudy purple sky. She could have sworn she had heard someone calling her from above but as she watched the yellow clouds pass to reveal the bright red moon she couldn't hear a thing, not even a peep from the aliens in a serious poker face off on the face of the moon. She shrugged her shoulders letting the frown slip from her face and allowing a smile to grace her features again as she turned to the Queen and sipped her tea.

"Miss Granger!"

Hermione heard the voice again, but this time was louder. She spat out the hot tea and along with the Queen they made an effort to keep the terrace table from shaking and break all of the pots and pans—though, the Queen yelped when her favorite piggy bank fell from it and broke revealing the single penny inside.

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione opened her eyes with a jolt as she was shaken from her slumber by Professor McGonagall. The sight of the disheveled Professor was what made her realize she was dreaming and fully snap out of her snooze.

"Good your awake," Minnie sighed. "Go down to the common room, Miss Granger, I'll go wake Miss Weasley."

Hermione didn't even have time to answer as the Transfiguration Professor was already out of the door dashing to wake the younger redhead. Hermione hastily peeled the sheets off of her and threw on a shirt on top of her tank top and shorts and quickly made her way down the stairs while putting her hair up in a bun. Fred and George were already in the common room by the time she got there, both looking like they had just woken up and desperately needed caffeine. Hermione immediately made her way towards Fred, and he wrapped his arms around her. Moments later Professor McGonagall was descending the girls' dormitory's stairs with a yawning Ginny behind her.

Professor McGonagall led the group of students in the direction of the headmaster's office while explaining the reasoning for their sleep being cut short. Hermione didn't really need to hear what happened. She knew what this was about. Mr. Weasley had probably gotten hurt and everything she told Dumbledore was useless. She could feel the pit in her stomach forming as she tried to shove the feelings of guilt under her nearly spilling rug of emotions.

Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny were ushered inside the oval office by Professor McGonagall, all four of them looking unkempt and shocked, still in their night things. Ron and Harry were already in the room along with the Headmaster.

"Harry—what's going on?" asked Ginny, who looked frightened. "Professor McGonagall said you saw Dad and Tonks hurt—"

"Your father and Nymphadora have been injured in the course of their work for the Order of the Phoenix," said Dumbledore before Harry could speak. "It is but a couple of scratches and they will be taken to St. Mungo's so they can attend to them."

"Dora got hurt?!" Hermione did a double-take, her eyes widened in shock. That was the last thing she wanted; to put more people she loved in danger.

"I'm afraid so, Miss Granger, but the worst-case scenario will be them spending the night in the hospital. I am sending you back to Sirius's house, which is much more convenient for the hospital than the Burrow. You will meet your mother there."

"How're we going?" asked Fred, looking shaken. "Floo powder?"

"No," said Dumbledore, "Floo powder is not safe at the moment, the Network is being watched. You will be taking a Portkey." He indicated the old kettle lying innocently on his desk. "We are just waiting for Phineas Nigellus to report back. . . . I wish to be sure that the coast is clear before sending you—"

There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the office, leaving behind a single golden feather that floated gently to the floor.

"It is Fawkes's warning," said Dumbledore, catching the feather as it fell. "She must know you're out of your beds. . . . Minerva, go and head her off—tell her any story—"

Professor McGonagall was gone in a swish of tartan.

"He says he'll be delighted," said a bored voice behind Dumbledore; the wizard called Phineas had reappeared in front of his Slytherin banner. "My great-great-grandson has always had odd taste in houseguests. . . ."

"Come here, then," Dumbledore said to Hermione, Harry, and the Weasleys. "And quickly, before anyone else joins us . . ."

Hermione and the others gathered around Dumbledore's desk.

"You have all used a Portkey before?" asked Dumbledore, and they nodded, each reaching out to touch some part of the blackened kettle. "Good. On the count of three then . . . one . . . two . . .three. . ."

It happened in a fraction of a second; Hermione felt as if a hook pulled at her navel and her feet were thrown off the ground only to then hit the ground again—after practicing with Portkeys all of last year Hermione was confident to say she was getting pretty good at the landings.

"Back again, the blood traitor brats, is it true their father's dying . . . ?"

"OUT!" roared a second voice.

Hermione looked around and her lips twitched at the familiar sight of the kitchen basement of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. It was a dreadful place, but Hermione couldn't help but feel some sort of comfort in that house—maybe because her dad and uncle grew up there or because of the summer or the importance it had on the books; either way she just knew she didn't hate the place.

The only sources of light were the fire and one guttering candle, which illuminated the remains of a solitary supper. Kreacher was disappearing through the door to the hall, looking back at them malevolently as he hitched up his loincloth; Sirius was hurrying toward them all, looking anxious. He was unshaven and still in his day clothes; there was also a slightly Mundungus-like whiff of stale drink about him but Hermione didn't mind as she ran into his arms and hugged him.

"What's going on?" Sirius said, hugging Hermione back while looking at the others. "Phineas Nigellus said Arthur and Dora are injured —"

"Ask Harry," said Fred.

"Yeah, I want to hear this for myself," said George as Hermione pulled away from her dad with a small smile which he returned.

The twins and Ginny were staring at Harry. Kreacher's footsteps had stopped on the stairs outside. Hermione bit her lip, had she hurt Dora?

"It was—" Harry began; this was even worse than telling McGonagall and Dumbledore. "I had a—a kind of—vision. . . ."

And he told them all that he had seen, though he altered the story so that it sounded as though he had watched from the side-lines as the snake attacked, rather than from behind the snake's own eyes. . . . Which only Hermione noted. She also noted that instead of Mr. Weasley being attacked, this time he and Tonks were not caught by surprise. Not fully. They had just underestimated the snake and Dumbledore's warning and took longer to shake the snake off, subsequently getting hurt in the process. However from what Harry had said they weren't in a critical situation.

Ron, who was still very white, gave Harry a fleeting look, but did not speak. When Harry had finished, Fred, George, and Ginny continued to stare at him for a moment.

"Is Mum here?" said Fred, turning to Sirius.

"She probably doesn't even know what's happened yet," said Sirius. "The important thing was to get you away before Umbridge could interfere. I expect Dumbledore's letting Molly know now."

"We've got to go to St. Mungo's," said Ginny urgently. She looked around at her brothers; they were of course still in their pajamas. "Sirius, can you lend us cloaks or anything—?"

"Hang on, you can't go tearing off to St. Mungo's!" said Sirius.

" 'Course we can go to St. Mungo's if we want," said Fred, with a mulish expression, "he's our dad!"

"And how are you going to explain how you knew Arthur was attacked before the hospital even let his wife know?"

"What does that matter?" said George hotly.

"It matters because we don't want to draw attention to the fact that Harry is having visions of things that are happening hundreds of miles away!" said Sirius angrily. "Have you any idea what the Ministry would make of that information?"

Fred and George looked as though they could not care less what the Ministry made of anything. Ron was still white-faced and silent. Ginny said, "Somebody else could have told us. . . . We could have heard it somewhere other than Harry. . . ."

"Like who?" said Sirius impatiently. "Listen, your dad and Dora have been hurt while on duty for the Order and the circumstances are fishy enough without his children knowing about it seconds after it happened, you could seriously damage the Order's —"

"We don't care about the dumb Order!" shouted Fred.

"It's our dad dying we're talking about!" yelled George.

"Your father knew what he was getting into, and he won't thank you for messing things up for the Order!" said Sirius angrily in his turn. "This is how it is—this is why you're not in the Order—you don't understand—there are things worth dying for! And they aren't that badly injured from what Harry and Dumbledore said."

"Easy for you to say, stuck here!" bellowed Fred. "I don't see you risking your neck!"

The little color remaining in Sirius's face drained from it. He looked for a moment as though he would quite like to hit Fred—Hermione couldn't blame him; she wanted to smack him herself but before she could reply and snap back at him, Sirius talked in a determined and calm voice. "I know it's hard, but we've all got to act as though we don't know anything yet. We've got to stay put, at least until we hear from your mother, all right?"

Fred and George still looked mutinous. Ginny, however, took a few steps over to the nearest chair and sank into it. Harry looked at Ron, who made a funny movement somewhere between a nod and shrug, and they sat down too. The twins glared at Sirius for another minute, then took seats on either side of Ginny. Hermione took to stay standing, leaning against the counter of the kitchen leaving her mind to wander.

She shook her head at her dad's offer for a butterbeer and just gave a half-arsed excuse and left the room as the others drank in silence. She wandered around the house and finally sat down on the couch in the drawing-room.

"What's on your mind?" a voice asked her, and she looked up, her lips twitching, at the sight of her mom.

"I was just thinking. . . . I dunno about what. . . . I was lost in my mind," said Hermione shrugging.

"Dora and Arthur are alright, Mia," Annora smiled at her daughter. "I reckon it's better a minor injury than Weasley having to spent days and days in St. Mungo's."

"I guess. . . ." Hermione shrugged. "Can you tell me about your time in Hogwarts?"

"Why?"

Hermione shrugged, "Just to get my mind of everything."

Annora smiled and nodded taking a seat next to Hermione and wrapping an arm around her as she started humming racking her brain for stories.

"Okay! I have one," Annora exclaimed and shifted on her seat to look at Hermione, "It was our O.W.L.s year—so, the same as you and your dad was in his sixth year—and me, Barty and Bas knew we wouldn't be able to pass at least two of the exams each—in my case, it was Herbology and History (the main ones at least). So we came up with the solution. Evan would tell you he fought against it but he was the one who suggested it in the first place. Reggie just didn't need the solution cause he's just so smart," Annora drawled out with a smirk and a huff was heard. Both mother and daughter turned to see Regulus glaring at Annora and Evan frowning.

"Annie is telling a story?" Evan grimaced and Annora scowled.

"Yes, now hush!" she said and then turned to Hermione again, "Anyway, as I was saying, we came up with the perfect solution! Solution Glasses! It's pretty self-explanatory but I'll walk you through the process. We got glasses and put a charm on them to give the correct answers for every question we looked at if we had charmed it to know the information already—"

"Of course it wasn't as simple as that and it actually took some time to create them," said Evan rolling his eyes and Annora gave him a sarcastic smile.

"Right. But to make it less suspicious we started wearing them at the start of the second term," Annora said, "Bas already used them for reading, so everyone just thought his eyesight got worse. Barty never read a book in his life so people assumed it was because he didn't have glasses. And I told people I was doing it for solidarity and that glasses made me look cute!"

"So all three of you started wearing glasses, all of the sudden?" Hermione raised her eyebrows looking amused.

"Well, yeah," Annora shrugged, "Still better than when your father and prat friends wore chalkboards for a month and didn't talk."

"They did that?" Hermione choked out laughter.

"Yeah, we told people we were striking against. . . . something," James said with a laugh and Hermione turned to see him seating beside the Slytherins, "Moony just told people he wasn't a prat. I don't know how that's related though. . . ."

"We do," said Evan and Regulus at the same time, and Hermione and Annora burst out laughing.

The rest of the evening was much the same and eventually, Hermione fell asleep only to be awakened by her dear grandmother's screeches. She winced and stood up as she walked down to the kitchen again seeing as no one was in the hall anymore. When she got there she saw Mr. Weasley at the head of the table, a bandage around his head as he smiled at his children and wife. She also saw Harry, Sirius, and Dora talking on the other side of the table. Dora had a bandage on her forearm and one around her stomach visible through the holes on her t-shirt. Hermione smiled at Mr. Weasley with a nod (to which he smiled back and nodded) and then went to sit down next to Tonks.

"Breakfast!" said Sirius loudly and joyfully, jumping to his feet as Tonks complained about a rumbling stomach prompting Hermione's and Harry's to roar too. "Where's that accursed house-elf? Kreacher! KREACHER!"

But Kreacher did not answer the summons.

"Oh, forget it, then," muttered Sirius, counting the people in front of him. "So it's breakfast for— let's see—ten . . . Bacon and eggs, I think, and some tea, and toast—"

"Oh, Sirius, I'm so grateful. . . . For letting the kids stay here the night. . . ."

"It wasn't a problem Molly," said Sirius with such obvious sincerity that Mrs. Weasley beamed at him, threw on an apron, and began to help with breakfast. "I was thinking maybe you'd like to spend Christmas here! With everything that's going on and all. . . ." Sirius suggested after a while.

"That would be wonderful," Mrs. Weasley smiled after having a silent conversation with Mr. Weasley.

"Perfect! The more the merrier!" Sirius barked out a laugh and Hermione smiled, excited. She was happy for her dad; he seemed so content he wasn't alone anymore.

"Sirius," Hermione heard Harry muttered, "Can I have a quick word? Er — now?"

She watched as they walked into the dark pantry and sighed taking a seat next to Ron on the table.

The rest of the day passed by in a relaxed daze, no one wanted to do much after the shock of the previous night. Tonks was the first to leave as she had to go tell her mother, Andromeda Tonks, of her whereabouts and inform her that she was fine and safe. And after breakfast, all the teens gathered in the drawing-room playing Gobblestones.

Unlike in the books, Hermione noted Harry wasn't closing himself off and that gave her some sense of relief seeing as he was happier.

The night of Christmas Eve, Hermione found herself in hers and Ginny's bedroom alone. Ginny had decided to stay downstairs with Harry and Ron, the twins were God knows where, and the adults were drinking in the kitchen—something they promptly left her out of. So, Hermione laid in her bed and smiled softly as she glanced at the ceiling.

She knew the world was on the verge of war and that Voldemort was gaining power and soon enough she would have to start risking her life, but she couldn't help but be happy at how things turned out. She had a family she loved, surrounded by friends and family, living and dead—but that's normal—she was going to her dream school—though classes were still classes—, there was magic surrounding her and she finally felt as if she belonged, which wasn't a feeling she had when she lived in the orphanage.

Hermione still didn't know about her future or what it had reserved for her, but Hermione was never one to plan ahead, she would just go with the flow and live life happily—well, at least until the war and Horcrux hunting—

"Sickle for your thoughts?" Hermione propped herself on her elbows to see Fred leaning against the doorframe with a smile.

"I was just thinking about how happy I am," Hermione shrugged, and Fred frowned as approached her laying down next to her when she scootched over.

"How come?"

"I dunno. . . . I just, I never thought I would get here," Hermione whispered turning her face to him. Fred was already looking back at her. "What about you?"

"If I'm happy?" Fred asked and Hermione nodded. 

"Well, I'm laying in bed with a beautiful witch, I'd argue that's a happy moment," he said and Hermione laughed trying to cover up her blushing cheeks and stomach fluttering.

"You're a beautiful witch yourself," Hermione smirked, and Fred gasped dramatically turning over, so he was hovering above her and started to tickle her sides only to realize Hermione was smirking at him.

"You're not ticklish?" Fred asked and Hermione shook her head with a grin. "Well, I guess I'll take the other approach," Fred shrugged and brought his face down to hers looking into her silver eyes as his lips brushed against hers.

Hermione closed her eyes and the gap between them, pulling him down to her by the nape of his neck. Immediately the familiar fireworks erupted inside her and Hermione smiled against his lips, making Fred smirk.

Soon enough his tongue grazed against her bottom lip and she was quick to allow him entrance. It was a fight for dominance (which Hermione let Fred win). Fred's hands roamed her body with passion as Hermione wrapped a leg around his waist pulling him closer to her—

"What —"

"—In the actual—"

"—Fuck!?"

Fred pulled away from her and Hermione saw his eyes widen and she groaned letting her head fall back as the redhead on top of her sat down next to her, pursing his lips trying to fight off a smile. Hermione slowly turned to the door to see Ginny ad George gaping at them, their eyes the size of a Galleon. She turned to look at Fred again and he found her eyes and gave her an expression between a grimace and a smile.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Ginny demanded as she looked between her brother and Hermione.

"Uh—Surprise?" Hermione said sheepishly with jazz hands.

"And what a bloody surprise that was?!" George exclaimed, then narrowed his eyes at Fred, "How come I didn't know about this?"

"Didn't I tell you I was dating, Mimi?" Fred asked with a sly smile.

"You're dating?!" Ginny hissed pushing George into the bedroom and closing the door.

"Duh," Hermione rolled her eyes sitting up.

"Since when?"

"Beginning of the school year. . . ."

"WHAT?!"

"Oi! Don't go screaming it out in the streets, Sirius will kill me!" Fred gulped fearfully and Hermione gave him a sympathetic smile.

"Why are you keeping it a secret?" George asked with a pointed look at Fred.

"It's way more fun," Hermione shrugged, and Fred nodded in agreement.

"So those two second years were right?" Ginny asked baffled and Hermione and Fred frowned. "They were talking about Hermione Granger and one of the Weasley Twins sleeping in the common room. I thought they meant Ron."

"You think anyone would mistake me by Ron?" Fred gasped dramatically and George, too, looked offended.

"Stop offending your brother and go away, we need to sleep," Hermione told both twins and they rolled their eyes as Fred got up and joined George at the door—not before pecking Hermione on the lips which caused her to smile and the others to gag. They got out of the room with a goodnight and Hermione was left alone to fend for herself against the red fire-breathing dragon.

"We'll talk soon," Ginny said narrowing her eyes and Hermione sighed in relief, "I'm too tired for this, now."

"Right. Night, Gigi."

"Night, Mione."

Hermione woke on Christmas morning to find a stack of presents at the foot of her bed—which made her grimace as she had bought the others' gifts at last hour on the muggle shops she found around the corner, those included: chocolates for Ron; comic books for Harry (Batman), Neville (Spiderman) and Seamus (Superman); a book of Madlibs for Ginny; a lighter saying 'I love London,' for Sirius; a six-pack of cokes for the twins; a stuffed toy wolf for Tonks; a mood ring for Moony; a new apron for Mrs. Weasley saying 'best cook!'; a book about airplanes for Mr. Weasley; a mug for Professor McGonagall saying 'Sass Queen'; pamphlets about the dangers of smoking for Blaise and Theo (plus chocolates); a nail polisher for Daphne; a drawing pad for Dean; and finally she got a photo of her and Fred, below the Quidditch, stands, kissing, framed but that she would give him later on.

For the presents she received, she got a beautiful sweater from the Grangers (she had talked about it a lot). Moony had gifted her, red-framed glasses, not rectangular but not exactly round either, that she soon realized were the glasses her mother had used in her fifth year, which brought her to crack up—he wrote her note saying:

Nora would kill me if I didn't leave you her legacy, try not to use them. . . .

— Moony

Dora had given her a holster for her wand, that had a Disillusionment charm on it and that she could wear wherever; Ron gave her about a dozen chocolate Frogs that made her mouth water; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley the usual hand-knitted jumper and chocolate muffins; Harry gave her a new tape for her Walkman; the twins gave her about twenty Puking Pastilles; Ginny had gifted her a hug saying she and Hermione would go to Hogsmeade soon and the butterbeer was on her; Theo gave her a pack of cigarettes and so did Blaise and Daphne gave her a lighter with the note saying:

Might as well give this to you, since the prats aren't clever enough to send you something to ignite the killers

— Daph

Seamus gave her his mom's chocolate cake; Neville gave her a beautiful flower in a pot with a charm on it so it wouldn't die; and finally, Dean sent her a drawing of her, him, and Seamus with the note:

Merry Christmas, Mimi! Thanks for everything (by that I mean being supportive, I think things with Seamus would've been rather different if you weren't here to nag us!)

— Dean

Hermione and Ginny quickly got dressed and opened the door to their room to find Fred leaning against the opposite wall grinning at them. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Ginny beamed and Hermione watched with a warm smile as she ran to hug her brother; the latter grinned and hugged her back. When they pulled away Ginny looked between Hermione and Fred and noted how it was as if she didn't exist, she rolled her eyes and smiled, going away. That left Fred and Hermione grinning at each other until Hermione ran into his arms.

"Merry Christmas!" she said happily and Fred laughed.

"I have something for you," Fred sang, and Hermione pulled away, her hands out, beaming at him with a grin from ear to ear. Fred laughed again and took a package from his back pocket giving it to her.

Hermione frowned at it furrowing her eyebrows as she looked at Fred and unwrapped the present. She opened the box that was wrapped in colorful paper and found a silver ring inside it. The band was simple only with a simple small and silver flower placed upon it. Hermione smiled at how beautiful it was and immediately slipped it into her index finger. "It's beautiful, Freddie, thank you!" she told him happily as she observed her hand.

"Glad you like it," Fred began, "It's charmed, too. Just think of any short message you want while touching the flower and it will appear on the inside of your band and here," said Fred showing her his watch and pointing at the frame around it. "It'll get warm when it changes."

Hermione gaped at the gift and then grimaced. "Now you're making me feel bad about what I got you."

"You got me something?"

"Duh," Hermione rolled her eyes and entered her room, in an instant coming out with his wrapped present, "It's not much though."

Fred unwrapped the paper and immediately a smile graced his features at the sight of the picture. He looked at Hermione who had her lower lip between her teeth waiting for his response. He grabbed her chin and Hermione looked up at him releasing her bottom lip and closed her eyes as he kissed her softly.

"I guess that's an I like it, right?" Hermione smiled licking her lips as they pulled away.

"I love it. We should take more pictures," Fred said examining the frame, "I look rather dashing, if I must say. I just have one question," he said frowning, "Why isn't it moving? Is it broken?" He asked and Hermione burst out laughing.

"No—that's a muggle picture," she explained amusedly, "It doesn't move."

"Don't they get tired of staying in the same position forever?" Fred asked and Hermione just shook her head and kissed him again.

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