Hermione's New World

Chapter 8: An Evening at the Burrow


AN: Thanks once again all you fantastic reviewers! This chapter will help clear some things up. And hopefully will be posted in time before the reviewer who is getting ready to go back to school. Hope everyone is enjoying the “end” of summer time.

As Charlie ascended the stairs his mind briefly pondered two details: Why had Professor Snape arrived with Hermione and how exactly was Hermione “of age”. Hermione herself, as Madeleine, swore to being of age, but as he also thought of his and Bill’s musing over her age he remembered her mentioning something about it being a “two-part question.” What the hell was that all about? He thought to himself as he reached the door to Ginny’s room.

Meanwhile, Hermione had finally succumbed to sleep after pondering over her own issues in her efforts to NOT think about Charlie…or Regan, as she had believed his name to be.

When she had been selected as “Head Girl” the Headmaster had mentioned the offer of apprenticeship that would be supervised by Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. Then came the shock of finding out Snape was her father, and his mention of her apprenticeship in potions. It fit, potions was one of her two favorite subjects, transfigurations the other. She hoped somehow that she would still be able to work with her Head of House, and hoped to become an animagus herself one day.

Feeling someone in the room with her she looked up to find Charlie Weasley kneeling down beside her bed. Words were unnecessary as his lips covered her own in a steamy kiss. Within minutes articles of clothing were thrown carelessly onto Ginny’s bed as the Hermione and Charlie became one, making love in desperation, as their honest selves.

Hermione’s eyes opened. *Damn!* It had been a dream. She wasn’t sure if she was more disappointed that he wasn’t there, or if she was relieved that they hadn’t succumbed to desire over the need to have a serious talk.

The Twins Room

Charlie flopped down onto his bed. He had just been in Ginny’s room watching Hermione sleep.

When he had first approached Ginny’s room, he found it locked. But then he remembered something his sister had whispered to him when she had joined the Quidditch game. Realizing it was her password, he had entered the room noiselessly.

Ironically, what Hermione had dreamed, he had wanted to do…but couldn’t. She had looked so peaceful there…then her face had frowned, as if her troubles had entered her peaceful sleep. And so he left, not wanting to cause any more tension.

And now he was alone after having “chickening out”. *Hmph! Some Gryffindor I am!” * He thought wryly to himself.

Later…

Hermione was the last to enter the Weasley kitchen/dining area to be seated for dinner. She felt her face flush as she noticed that while Harry and Ron were seated next to her, directly across from Harry was Charlie.

“Good evening, everyone.”

“Evening, Hermione!” Mrs. Weasley spoke up as everyone else mumbled through their food, having already started eating. “Now, there’s salad over here,” She said pointing in front of her, “And in the middle of the table is bread and corn, and down where Mr. Weasley is seated we have some breaded chicken.”

Hermione smiled weakly as she sat, asking George to hand her the salad first.

“Hermione, you missed a wicked game of Quidditch.” He told her as he passed the bowl.

“Right, it was nearly a tie game until Harry caught the snitch for us against Bill’s team.”

Hermione’s eyes caught Charlie’s, not realizing he hadn’t played the final match, and looked almost apologetic. Bill caught the glance, but said nothing.

Mr. Weasley, now aware of everything after his meeting with Professor Snape, spoke up. “So, Hermione…tell me what is new in the muggle world.”

“Well...,” Hermione answered and went on to explain several current events. Ron looked bored and confused as Mr. Weasley asked Hermione to explain some of the more difficult concepts unknown in the wizard world, while Harry was interested to hear follow-ups to things he knew from growing up with muggles himself. Ginny was too busy being still amused to her knowledge of her older brother and her dearest girlfriend. And Bill and Fleur were too busy feeding each other.

Everyone else seemed appropriately listening, except for Professor Snape who had opted to eat at a separate table, as was the usual deal whenever he had to visit the Weasley’s. He rolled his eyes to some of the questions asked by various Weasleys, but kept quiet nonetheless.

Dinner was a slow event in the Weasley household, as it was quite a social affair. When everyone was finally through Hermione felt something slide into her hand as the group went to the family room, where Fred and George had prepared another evening of games for everyone.

“This, everyone, is a muggle game George and I found early this summer.” Fred said.

“But we’ve made a few changes, so now it will be something any wizard or witch will enjoy.”

Hermione rolled her eyes as the two unveiled a monopoly board, but then realized the potential for disaster. Upon closer examination she noticed that instead of hotels, trains, and other items were types of spells, charms, and other types of wizard ownership. The pieces one would lay on each were not little houses, but instead spells that would open if anyone else happened upon a square owned by someone else. Galleons still played a part in the game, but by the time she realized after all the changes the twins had made this was no game of Monopoly at all. She smiled at their cleverness, and took her seat at one of the two tables set up for play.

As everyone listened to the rules, Hermione was able to slip the piece of paper onto her lap to read without anyone noticing. It read:
Meet me in the broom shed at midnight
“R”


At Hermione’s table sat Fred (who was leading the game), Ron, Charlie and Mr. Weasley. At George’s table sat Harry, Ginny, Bill and Mrs. Weasley. Fleur had opted to do some reading (a trendy witch’s magazine) while Professor Snape worked on some curriculum for the upcoming semester. No one understood why he was still there, although they were all used to him at headquarters and thus didn’t question the matter.

After an hour and a half of fun and creative spells coming from the game, suddenly a loud “crack” was heard outside. Professor Snape, who was now sitting in the dark drinking a firewhiskey while watching the others, didn’t hesitate to look outside as the doorbell rang.

“It’s Professor Dumbledore.” He said to Mr. Weasley. The others continued, realizing it must be Order business, but watched as Dumbledore led Mr. Weasley and Professor Snape to the “office”.

After a few minutes Mr. Weasley returned with a solemn look upon his face. He walked over and leaned down to where Hermione was enjoying her game. “Hermione, could you please join us?”

She nodded, then excused herself.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep playing for you, Mione.” Ron exclaimed, which only earned him a frown from Charlie. Not understanding why, Ron gladly took Hermione’s turn for her and found himself landing on one of Charlie’s owned potions. He picked up a piece, and found that it exploded into sticky lemonade, pouring all over his face. As everyone laughed, Fleur (who had by now been helping everyone recover from their spells) rushed over with a damp cloth and handed it to Ron to clean himself.

Meanwhile…

Hermione sat down as her headmaster had her father ward the door and cast a silencing charm.

“Hermione, there is no other way to tell you this. Your parents…well, there was an attack.”

“Oh my…are they alright?” She asked hopefully, knowing that was likely not the case.

Dumbledore regretfully shook his head. “I’m sorry, dear…your father…” he paused, noting how both Hermione and Severus reacted to his reference of the man Hermione had only assumed was her father, “I am afraid he was killed in the attack. Your mother was fortunate and survived when a team of aurors arrived.”

Hermione’s face paled. Tears began to stream down her face as the news sunk in.

“No!” She said shaking violently.

Severus suddenly understood the paternal instinct he himself had been deprived of as a child. Before anyone knew it his arms were around Hermione as she burst into tears. He took her onto his lap as her arms slid around his neck, her own face burrowing itself there as she continued to cry.

Dumbledore sighed, not having wanted to bring such news to one of his favorite students. Hermione had only just found out a truth from long ago, and know to hear this…of all things. He sighed as he and Mr. Weasley got up to leave the two alone.

As he unwarded and opened the door to Mr. Weasley’s office, they found Charlie Weasley standing there. He closed the door immediately, but not before Charlie saw Hermione crying in Professor Snape’s arms.


Near London…

Mrs. Granger slowly packed some of her belongings as the team of aurors identified as Tonks, Remus and Siruis guarded her immediate presence. Another team was downstairs, watching the house.
She found the scene unbearable, after having just lost her husband of twenty-one years.

Just the year before, the two had sold their dental practice for a huge sum and had spent the last year on an extended second honeymoon. They were planning to use the rest of their savings on opening research institute and helping Hermione in whatever her future aspirations turned out to be.

But now everything had changed. Her daughter was in her last year of school, and she was now alone.

Thinking of her daughter brought back the many memories of Hermione’s childhood. As she closed the bag to one suitcase she stopped cold as another memory entered her mind. One long forgotten.
An image flashed before her eyes. Men in black robes and masks, just as she had seen tonight. How could she have forgotten?

She then saw the face of a man who had been on top of her. She remembered being startled as she heard his voice in her mind. He seemed to actually care about her fate as he laid out several options. She remembered choosing rape, although others probably would have preferred death (think Enter the Dragon).

The attack had happened less than a week after she and her husband had visited a fertility doctor who explained that Mr. Granger was sterile. When her attacker, who somehow had the ability to enter her mind, mentioned rape, her quick, calculating mind had screamed fertility. And so she had chosen rape in her desperation for a child.

She had never spoken, nor hardly remembered, of the attack to her husband. He himself had been unconscious during the whole event. Thinking about it now she realized he must had been under a spell. And the attackers were deatheaters, something she had learned since her daughter had been accepted to a school for witches and wizards.

She stood upright as realization sunk in. Hermione’s father was a wizard!

At the Burrow

Charlie wasn’t sure what to think anymore. Before dinner he had lost the courage to talk to Hermione, but was sure he’d gain it back. After dinner he had enjoyed the game with her and the others, even if one of them was his brother who was infatuated with Hermione.

But now things had changed. After wondering what Snape was doing with Hermione, he had seen the two in an embrace. She was crying, that much was clear…but why was she openly sharing her emotions with the greasy-bat of the dungeons? Why hadn’t she come to him? He punched a hole in the wall of the twins room.

“What the hell are you doing?” Bill asked.

Charlie shook his head in an attempt to regain control. “I’m not sure anymore.”