Night's visitor
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
10
Views:
17,896
Reviews:
87
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
10
Views:
17,896
Reviews:
87
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
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.
First freedom part 1
Night’s Visitor
Chapter 8 part 1 of 2
First freedom
Author: quivering quill
Disclaimer: I DON'T own Harry Potter!
Let me again start with thanking all of you wonderful readers who review!!! THANK YOU!!
And to all of you readers who don't review- I like you anyways, so there :)
The characters are probably OC, but not by choice! Everyone has their own way of seeing things: The way I'm writing is they way I see them, how I think Hermione truly is on the inside, for example.
And the changes I've done in the characters' lives, would definitely make a change in their personalities, don't you think?
If you find - which you will – grammar or spelling mistakes, sorry, but I can't do much about them, more than I already have. My English is far from perfect. If my mistakes makes you sick to your stomach, please tell me how to correct them, and I will as quick as I can.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I told you that I would be updating around Christmas... you know what: I'm never going to say such stupid things again! I'll never promise anything(except that I WILL finish the story), but I guess I've already promised that before.... I'm hopeless.
I also said that this chapter would be longer as a “forgive-me” present to you, and it really was... but it's taken so long to write this part that I've decided to divide the chapter into two parts.
This one is part one.
Chapter 8 part 1 of 2
Quite overwhelming
Hermione followed Ginny, who was briskly walking down the street. The red-head talked at a fast pace as they walked, and now and then Hermione answered a question cast at her.
Ginny told her about her family, how they were all going to be so thankful for Hermione, when they heard about what happened, and how they were all going to like her, since Ginny already did.
This way Hermione got to hear about Ron, Percy, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George and Mr and Mrs Weasley. And Ginny being a very talkative girl continued with telling Hermione about what every brother of hers was doing, about Bill's job at some bank, about Percy being a snot and working at the ministry but at a different department than Mr Weasley.
She also told Hermione that she, Ron, Fred and George all went to school just outside of town, and at that Hermione immediately felt a stab of jealousy, which she tried to ignore.
Though Hermione felt comfortable with Ginny's she didn't say much and quite soon they had reached Ginny's home.
It was a thin three floor house, only wide enough for two windows beside the front door, and Hermione was shocked that this was the home for a family of nine people. She almost couldn't resist asking how they even fit in there with the furniture, but didn't.
Ginny didn't bother with any keys, only barged in shouting hello to everyone inside.
“I'm home! And I've got a guest with me!” Ginny held the door open for Hermione, who took a careful step inside, and froze in surprise. What had looked like a small house on the outside now looked like a very large house, and she could easily picture Ginny's whole family living here.
A large hall led to the stairway to the upper floor and through an opening in the right wall a bit further down the hall, she could hear the noise of many people eating and talking in the kitchen.
The opening to her showed a big living room, a fire place against the opposite wall, with diplomas of different kinds hanging over it. All the furniture looked old, but well cared of. It had obviously been used over and over, but it gave the house a very homey feeling.
Hermione felt safe and comfortable in the Weasley home.
She was brought of her musings when Ginny grabbed her, after they both had taken of their shoes by the door, and started dragging her towards the kitchen.
“You guys have to say hi to Hermione! She saved my life!”, Ginny exclaimed even before they had gotten inside the kitchen. A woman made a distressed sound and then once in the kitchen Hermione was able to see everyone.
Five people were sitting around a big kitchen table, just about to start eating the delicious meal being put on their plates by a middle aged woman, the mother of all the red heads Hermione presumed.
Only one person didn't have red hair, besides Hermione herself, and that was a boy, of Hermione's age, with black hair and green eyes hidden behind round spectacles. He looked at her with curious eyes, but seemed more reserved than the rest, who immediately shot up from their seats and surrounded the two girls.
“What do you mean 'saved your life'?!” Two twin boys asked at the same time. “What have you been up to, Minerva?”
Ginny made a face at the name, but calmed herself when she saw her mother's pale face.
“I was on Fishers street when Dumb and Dumber and their friends cornered me and forced me inside an alley. They were five against me and I wouldn't have stood a chance if Hermione hadn't showed up and saved me.” Her face split up in a wide grin and she spun around to point proudly at Hermione.
“You should have seen her!” She exclaimed awed. “She knocked Goyle out by hitting him with a glass bottle head and then she managed to beat up two more up with a plank. She was a real heroine!”
Hermione stood there beat red, trying to burn a hole in the ground with her eyes. The praise warmed her heart but she was unused to this much attention.
The room feel silent after Ginny's declaration, then the boys were pushed aside and when Hermione looked up she saw the woman standing before her. The second after Hermione was engulfed in the warmest and softest embrace since her mother died years ago, her second hug within the half hour.
“Thank you so much for saving my daughter.” The woman said, voice thick with emotion. “You will always be welcomed in this house for what you have done.”
Hermione could see over the woman's shoulder how the four red haired boys nodded gravely in agreement.
After Hermione it was Ginny's turn to be hugged by her mother, and though they didn't say or do anything she could see the gratitude in the boys eyes, that their sister was home safe and sound.
When the welcome was over Ginny and Hermione were given plates filled with stew and rice, and seats at the table. Hermione sat at the end of the table, between Ginny to her left and one of the twin boys to her right. The boy and his identical brother grinned at her and she smiled shyly back.
“Hello” she said.
“Hi Hermione” the boys chorused back. “Has Ginny told you about the family?”
Hermione nodded. “A little bit, she told me about her brothers, and I guess you two must be Fred and George, since you're the only twins here...” She felt that the twins were nice boys, but when their eyes started to spark mischievously she understood that they were far more than just normal friendly boys.
“We-ell...”, the boys started “...then me must make sure you're introduced to the other, mustn't we?”
The started with pointing at the women “That's mum, you can call her Mrs Weasley, or Molly” The woman looked up and smiled again.
“That's right, dear.”
Their fingers changed direction and pointed at the boy sitting between Mrs Weasley and the dark haired boy at the table's other end.
“That's Ron, but to us he's our dear little Ronnikins, which you may call him as much as you like” the boy's head snapped up at the name, his ears tomato read and glared heatedly at his brothers.
“My name is RON! Stop giving me stupid nick-names!”
“Oh no, little Ronnikins is upset, what ever shall we do?” the twins sing-sang.
Ron was just about to open his mouth, when Mrs Weasley lifted the big stew spoon in warning.
“BOYS!”
To Hermione's amazement every boy at the table seemed to shrink considerably, even the dark haired one.
“We have a guest - I mean two guests... Sorry, Harry-dear, you are here so often that it almost feels like you are one of my own children... And I expect you to behave!”
The boys quickly nodded, clearly afraid of their mother's wrath. The dark haired one, Harry, looked as scolded as the others, even though he had barely said a word since Hermione came in. It was only Ginny and Hermione who were unaffected.
When Mrs Weasley saw their remorse filled faces she calmed down and the meal continued. It didn't take long, however, before the twins started talking to Hermione again.
“...And that one is Harry, you know the Harry Potter.” Again the table fell silent, but now Hermione was the one to shrink as everyone was looking at her to see her reaction. Harry seemed a bit peeved at the twins for some reason, but she just couldn't understand why.
“....Eh, ehe... OK?” She said questioningly. “Hi, Harry.” But the table continued to be silent. Hermione panicked under the pressure.
“Oh no, they hate me, I must have said something wrong. Oh no, what do I do?” She thought frantically as she tried to come up with an excuse for not answering correctly. But she didn't need to. Instead it was Ron who slowly asked Ginny;
“Gin, is she a... muggle?”
Ginny's eyes got so wide! She stared at Hermione with a flabbergasted expression,
“Erhm... I... don't know?”
Hermione frowned at the word, why did these nice people say the same thing as that rude Draco?
Mrs Weasley started looking worried, her eyes swept around the room as if looking for something, but then focused on Hermione.
“Oh dear, you don't understand what we are talking about are you?”
Hermione shook her head.
“I'm sorry, I don't know if I am a muggle as you say. I don't know what the world means. Maybe if you explained it to me...?”
The people around her now got very nervous, what was wrong with them?!
Ron started shaking his head, trying to not be very obvious about it, but failing, the twins seemed expecting something big to happen and couldn't stop grinning. The only guy at the table that hadn't spoken yet was the one to answer.
“It is not something to be anxious about. Since you didn't know what it means, you have already answered the question.”
Hermione blinked, that made sense, but why then did he make her so very annoyed?
The twin next to her grinned at her. “That's Percy, he has the amazing ability of being able to nag and bore one to death at the same time.”
Hermione hid her smile behind a hand, pretending to wipe her mouth on her napkin. Percy did seem to be a bit of a know-it-all.
The boy in question frowned, but his mother again let her displeased face show and he was quiet.
Now she had been introduced to everyone at the table except for the twins themselves. She looked at them expectantly and they didn't disappoint.
The one next to Percy made a little bow, putting his head almost in his own food. “My name, is George I am the clever one of us two.”
Fred made a identical bow and almost dipped his nose in the sauce. “My name is Fred, and George only thinks he's the clever one.”
Hermione laughed.
#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤
After dinner she and Ginny helped Mrs Weasley do the dishes, while the boys headed back to the upper floor were they continued their chores. They had been put on cleaning duty for the day.
Hermione couldn't help but notice that both Ginny and Mrs Weasley still looked nervous, and it upset her greatly that they disliked her already, for a reason she couldn't even understand.
Once they were finished, Ginny turned to her.
“Come on, let me show you my room.”
Hermione nodded with a small smile, and together the walked the stairs. The first Hermione noticed was that the house was Very much bigger than she had originally thought. Much bigger than she could even imagine.
There were at least a dozen doors here, and since most of them were wide open she could see that they all were bed rooms. Another stair began beside the one they'd just climbed, leading to a third floor.
“Wow, your house is so big!” She couldn't help but exclaim. Ginny blushed under the praise.
“Well yes, but it's so worn down too.”
“Who cares? It's a lovely and cosy house, I adore it!” Hermione's eyes twinkled. She meant every word. She'd give anything to have this.
Ginny blushed more and quickly guided her to one of the rooms. Just as they stepped inside, a 'BOOM' was heard from the neighbour room, and purple smoke started seeping out from it's keyhole. Hermione let out a surprised yelp and made wide eyed at the spectacle.
“Oh my! What in the world was that?!” She exclaimed.
Ginny smacked herself with a hand and groaned.
“They couldn't stop goofing around even now?! Aargh, brothers!”
She pulled Hermione inside of her room, and closed the door after herself with a bang.
“Just ignore what you saw and heard. Fred and George are pranksters, they can't stay calm for anything in the world!” She shook her head. The two girls plopped down on the red's bulky bed.
“Sorry about my messy room. I just really don't like to clean.”
Hermione just smiled. “I think it's fine, I also HATE cleaning.”
Ginny hesitated for a moment then asked what she had wanted to ask since the lunch. “Are you really a muggle? I'm sorry, I never even considered that possibility when I dragged you home.” She sighed.
“I can't even explain it to you since it's forbidden.... I'm not even supposed to talk about this with you...”
“Then don't.” Hermione cut her off with a small smile. “I don't want you to get into trouble. You have been so nice to me...”
“Of course!” Ginny exclaimed. “I like you! And you saved my life!”
Hermione laughed. “True, but still. I... haven't met so many nice people in a long time, I'd rather keep you happy with me than bothered by a secret I have never heard- nor care about.”
“What do you mean? Isn't your family nice?”
“I don't have a family. Mom died years ago, and dad died when I was two.”
“Oh, no! I'm soo sorry, Hermione.”
“Don't think about it, it's OK.” Hermione then remembered that she had to find some place to stay tonight, and a job... Reluctantly she stood up.
“I am really thankful that you invited me, Ginny, but I have to go again. Just today I... lost my job and I have to find a new place to stay before night falls...”
Ginny quickly grabbed her arm. “No way! Hermione, you can stay here! I know mum won't let you leave, not when you're my friend, and saved my life.”
“But...”
“No buts, I want you to stay and I know you're welcome.” Ginny persisted.
Hermione – willingly – gave up. She wanted to stay after all, just hadn't wanted to be a bother.
“Hey, let me show you the house!” Ginny had become her old happy self again. She shot up form the bed and pulling Hermione after her, went out of the room. In the hall she pointed at the different doors and told Hermione about whom occupied which room, then, if a door was open, she barged in with Hermione behind her and showed Hermione the room, completely ignoring the protests of the one, or the ones, inside. The only room they didn't go inside was Bill's and Charlie's.
“They're away in work, and I think there are some magi-... things in there that .... they want to keep private.” They also didn't climb up to the next floor.
“Very messy up there.” Ginny tried to explain. Hermione let the bad lie pass, she wouldn't put her nose into other's business.
They went down to the ground floor and Ginny showed her their large living room. As Hermione had already seen the large fireplace was the heart of the room. Over it were marks in the tapestry, and the “diplomas” she had seen before had been taken down. Hermione didn't ask.
Two big couches stood in front of the fireplace, angled so that both would give their seated an equal amount of warmth. On the left wall were two bookshelves, an ancient looking cupboard with some china plates standing on its top, and a window to the street.
When Hermione took a moment to observe the room, she noticed that not only were the diplomas missing, everywhere in the room it looked like something had been recently removed, especially from the walls – she could count to at least ten suspicious square marks on them. The coffee-table, surrounded by four arm chairs, had a table-cloth but nothing on it, though a round circle showed that something usually stood there.
It was blatantly obvious that this family had something to hide and didn't trust her, but that was OK. She liked them, but didn't trust them either.
The following hours Hermione and Ginny spent chatting about themselves, their lives and what they wished for in the future. Hermione kept the most important and very personal things unsaid; that she had met Draco, that her highest hope was a life where she was completely free, and how she “escaped” from miss Pansy. These secrets she kept as a precaution.
She couldn't afford to trust these people too much...
#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#*#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#*#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#
When evening came it wasn't until the big clock in the kitchen started to chime that she realized that it was already six o' clock.
“Oh NO!! I'm late!” She exclaimed loudly, making all the people around her jump in shock.
"What are you late for, Hermione?” Ginny asked her curiously.
Hermione shook her head, trying to make it look like it was nothing important.
“Oh... I just promised... someone... that I'd meet him at six.” She bit her lip.
“I'm sorry but I really have to go and meet him.”
Ginny's eyes lit up in excitement. “Oh is it your lover?”
“Ginny Weasley!” Mrs Weasley yelled angrily. Ginny flinched.
“Sorry Hermione, I didn't mean it in a bad way.”
Hermione smiled. “I know Ginny, I wasn't insulted. But no... He's... not my lover.” She stood up, anxious to get going as soon as possible.
“I hope I don't offend you when I leave like this. I'm just going to meet him for about an hour.”
Mrs Weasley smiled at her from the sofa, where she was reading a book. “Of course not, dear.
Will you come back later?” Hermione nodded.
“Yes I'd love to.” Then Hermione stood up from the chair by the chess board, where she and Ginny had been playing, and nodded in parting to Ginny, Mrs Weasley, the twins and Harry and Ron, who were also playing chess on the sofa.
She hurried to the hall, quickly put on her shoes, then disappeared out through the door.
Hopefully Draco wouldn't be too upset that she was late. Hopefully.
Chapter 8 part 1 of 2
First freedom
Author: quivering quill
Disclaimer: I DON'T own Harry Potter!
Let me again start with thanking all of you wonderful readers who review!!! THANK YOU!!
And to all of you readers who don't review- I like you anyways, so there :)
The characters are probably OC, but not by choice! Everyone has their own way of seeing things: The way I'm writing is they way I see them, how I think Hermione truly is on the inside, for example.
And the changes I've done in the characters' lives, would definitely make a change in their personalities, don't you think?
If you find - which you will – grammar or spelling mistakes, sorry, but I can't do much about them, more than I already have. My English is far from perfect. If my mistakes makes you sick to your stomach, please tell me how to correct them, and I will as quick as I can.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I told you that I would be updating around Christmas... you know what: I'm never going to say such stupid things again! I'll never promise anything(except that I WILL finish the story), but I guess I've already promised that before.... I'm hopeless.
I also said that this chapter would be longer as a “forgive-me” present to you, and it really was... but it's taken so long to write this part that I've decided to divide the chapter into two parts.
This one is part one.
Chapter 8 part 1 of 2
Quite overwhelming
Hermione followed Ginny, who was briskly walking down the street. The red-head talked at a fast pace as they walked, and now and then Hermione answered a question cast at her.
Ginny told her about her family, how they were all going to be so thankful for Hermione, when they heard about what happened, and how they were all going to like her, since Ginny already did.
This way Hermione got to hear about Ron, Percy, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George and Mr and Mrs Weasley. And Ginny being a very talkative girl continued with telling Hermione about what every brother of hers was doing, about Bill's job at some bank, about Percy being a snot and working at the ministry but at a different department than Mr Weasley.
She also told Hermione that she, Ron, Fred and George all went to school just outside of town, and at that Hermione immediately felt a stab of jealousy, which she tried to ignore.
Though Hermione felt comfortable with Ginny's she didn't say much and quite soon they had reached Ginny's home.
It was a thin three floor house, only wide enough for two windows beside the front door, and Hermione was shocked that this was the home for a family of nine people. She almost couldn't resist asking how they even fit in there with the furniture, but didn't.
Ginny didn't bother with any keys, only barged in shouting hello to everyone inside.
“I'm home! And I've got a guest with me!” Ginny held the door open for Hermione, who took a careful step inside, and froze in surprise. What had looked like a small house on the outside now looked like a very large house, and she could easily picture Ginny's whole family living here.
A large hall led to the stairway to the upper floor and through an opening in the right wall a bit further down the hall, she could hear the noise of many people eating and talking in the kitchen.
The opening to her showed a big living room, a fire place against the opposite wall, with diplomas of different kinds hanging over it. All the furniture looked old, but well cared of. It had obviously been used over and over, but it gave the house a very homey feeling.
Hermione felt safe and comfortable in the Weasley home.
She was brought of her musings when Ginny grabbed her, after they both had taken of their shoes by the door, and started dragging her towards the kitchen.
“You guys have to say hi to Hermione! She saved my life!”, Ginny exclaimed even before they had gotten inside the kitchen. A woman made a distressed sound and then once in the kitchen Hermione was able to see everyone.
Five people were sitting around a big kitchen table, just about to start eating the delicious meal being put on their plates by a middle aged woman, the mother of all the red heads Hermione presumed.
Only one person didn't have red hair, besides Hermione herself, and that was a boy, of Hermione's age, with black hair and green eyes hidden behind round spectacles. He looked at her with curious eyes, but seemed more reserved than the rest, who immediately shot up from their seats and surrounded the two girls.
“What do you mean 'saved your life'?!” Two twin boys asked at the same time. “What have you been up to, Minerva?”
Ginny made a face at the name, but calmed herself when she saw her mother's pale face.
“I was on Fishers street when Dumb and Dumber and their friends cornered me and forced me inside an alley. They were five against me and I wouldn't have stood a chance if Hermione hadn't showed up and saved me.” Her face split up in a wide grin and she spun around to point proudly at Hermione.
“You should have seen her!” She exclaimed awed. “She knocked Goyle out by hitting him with a glass bottle head and then she managed to beat up two more up with a plank. She was a real heroine!”
Hermione stood there beat red, trying to burn a hole in the ground with her eyes. The praise warmed her heart but she was unused to this much attention.
The room feel silent after Ginny's declaration, then the boys were pushed aside and when Hermione looked up she saw the woman standing before her. The second after Hermione was engulfed in the warmest and softest embrace since her mother died years ago, her second hug within the half hour.
“Thank you so much for saving my daughter.” The woman said, voice thick with emotion. “You will always be welcomed in this house for what you have done.”
Hermione could see over the woman's shoulder how the four red haired boys nodded gravely in agreement.
After Hermione it was Ginny's turn to be hugged by her mother, and though they didn't say or do anything she could see the gratitude in the boys eyes, that their sister was home safe and sound.
When the welcome was over Ginny and Hermione were given plates filled with stew and rice, and seats at the table. Hermione sat at the end of the table, between Ginny to her left and one of the twin boys to her right. The boy and his identical brother grinned at her and she smiled shyly back.
“Hello” she said.
“Hi Hermione” the boys chorused back. “Has Ginny told you about the family?”
Hermione nodded. “A little bit, she told me about her brothers, and I guess you two must be Fred and George, since you're the only twins here...” She felt that the twins were nice boys, but when their eyes started to spark mischievously she understood that they were far more than just normal friendly boys.
“We-ell...”, the boys started “...then me must make sure you're introduced to the other, mustn't we?”
The started with pointing at the women “That's mum, you can call her Mrs Weasley, or Molly” The woman looked up and smiled again.
“That's right, dear.”
Their fingers changed direction and pointed at the boy sitting between Mrs Weasley and the dark haired boy at the table's other end.
“That's Ron, but to us he's our dear little Ronnikins, which you may call him as much as you like” the boy's head snapped up at the name, his ears tomato read and glared heatedly at his brothers.
“My name is RON! Stop giving me stupid nick-names!”
“Oh no, little Ronnikins is upset, what ever shall we do?” the twins sing-sang.
Ron was just about to open his mouth, when Mrs Weasley lifted the big stew spoon in warning.
“BOYS!”
To Hermione's amazement every boy at the table seemed to shrink considerably, even the dark haired one.
“We have a guest - I mean two guests... Sorry, Harry-dear, you are here so often that it almost feels like you are one of my own children... And I expect you to behave!”
The boys quickly nodded, clearly afraid of their mother's wrath. The dark haired one, Harry, looked as scolded as the others, even though he had barely said a word since Hermione came in. It was only Ginny and Hermione who were unaffected.
When Mrs Weasley saw their remorse filled faces she calmed down and the meal continued. It didn't take long, however, before the twins started talking to Hermione again.
“...And that one is Harry, you know the Harry Potter.” Again the table fell silent, but now Hermione was the one to shrink as everyone was looking at her to see her reaction. Harry seemed a bit peeved at the twins for some reason, but she just couldn't understand why.
“....Eh, ehe... OK?” She said questioningly. “Hi, Harry.” But the table continued to be silent. Hermione panicked under the pressure.
“Oh no, they hate me, I must have said something wrong. Oh no, what do I do?” She thought frantically as she tried to come up with an excuse for not answering correctly. But she didn't need to. Instead it was Ron who slowly asked Ginny;
“Gin, is she a... muggle?”
Ginny's eyes got so wide! She stared at Hermione with a flabbergasted expression,
“Erhm... I... don't know?”
Hermione frowned at the word, why did these nice people say the same thing as that rude Draco?
Mrs Weasley started looking worried, her eyes swept around the room as if looking for something, but then focused on Hermione.
“Oh dear, you don't understand what we are talking about are you?”
Hermione shook her head.
“I'm sorry, I don't know if I am a muggle as you say. I don't know what the world means. Maybe if you explained it to me...?”
The people around her now got very nervous, what was wrong with them?!
Ron started shaking his head, trying to not be very obvious about it, but failing, the twins seemed expecting something big to happen and couldn't stop grinning. The only guy at the table that hadn't spoken yet was the one to answer.
“It is not something to be anxious about. Since you didn't know what it means, you have already answered the question.”
Hermione blinked, that made sense, but why then did he make her so very annoyed?
The twin next to her grinned at her. “That's Percy, he has the amazing ability of being able to nag and bore one to death at the same time.”
Hermione hid her smile behind a hand, pretending to wipe her mouth on her napkin. Percy did seem to be a bit of a know-it-all.
The boy in question frowned, but his mother again let her displeased face show and he was quiet.
Now she had been introduced to everyone at the table except for the twins themselves. She looked at them expectantly and they didn't disappoint.
The one next to Percy made a little bow, putting his head almost in his own food. “My name, is George I am the clever one of us two.”
Fred made a identical bow and almost dipped his nose in the sauce. “My name is Fred, and George only thinks he's the clever one.”
Hermione laughed.
#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤
After dinner she and Ginny helped Mrs Weasley do the dishes, while the boys headed back to the upper floor were they continued their chores. They had been put on cleaning duty for the day.
Hermione couldn't help but notice that both Ginny and Mrs Weasley still looked nervous, and it upset her greatly that they disliked her already, for a reason she couldn't even understand.
Once they were finished, Ginny turned to her.
“Come on, let me show you my room.”
Hermione nodded with a small smile, and together the walked the stairs. The first Hermione noticed was that the house was Very much bigger than she had originally thought. Much bigger than she could even imagine.
There were at least a dozen doors here, and since most of them were wide open she could see that they all were bed rooms. Another stair began beside the one they'd just climbed, leading to a third floor.
“Wow, your house is so big!” She couldn't help but exclaim. Ginny blushed under the praise.
“Well yes, but it's so worn down too.”
“Who cares? It's a lovely and cosy house, I adore it!” Hermione's eyes twinkled. She meant every word. She'd give anything to have this.
Ginny blushed more and quickly guided her to one of the rooms. Just as they stepped inside, a 'BOOM' was heard from the neighbour room, and purple smoke started seeping out from it's keyhole. Hermione let out a surprised yelp and made wide eyed at the spectacle.
“Oh my! What in the world was that?!” She exclaimed.
Ginny smacked herself with a hand and groaned.
“They couldn't stop goofing around even now?! Aargh, brothers!”
She pulled Hermione inside of her room, and closed the door after herself with a bang.
“Just ignore what you saw and heard. Fred and George are pranksters, they can't stay calm for anything in the world!” She shook her head. The two girls plopped down on the red's bulky bed.
“Sorry about my messy room. I just really don't like to clean.”
Hermione just smiled. “I think it's fine, I also HATE cleaning.”
Ginny hesitated for a moment then asked what she had wanted to ask since the lunch. “Are you really a muggle? I'm sorry, I never even considered that possibility when I dragged you home.” She sighed.
“I can't even explain it to you since it's forbidden.... I'm not even supposed to talk about this with you...”
“Then don't.” Hermione cut her off with a small smile. “I don't want you to get into trouble. You have been so nice to me...”
“Of course!” Ginny exclaimed. “I like you! And you saved my life!”
Hermione laughed. “True, but still. I... haven't met so many nice people in a long time, I'd rather keep you happy with me than bothered by a secret I have never heard- nor care about.”
“What do you mean? Isn't your family nice?”
“I don't have a family. Mom died years ago, and dad died when I was two.”
“Oh, no! I'm soo sorry, Hermione.”
“Don't think about it, it's OK.” Hermione then remembered that she had to find some place to stay tonight, and a job... Reluctantly she stood up.
“I am really thankful that you invited me, Ginny, but I have to go again. Just today I... lost my job and I have to find a new place to stay before night falls...”
Ginny quickly grabbed her arm. “No way! Hermione, you can stay here! I know mum won't let you leave, not when you're my friend, and saved my life.”
“But...”
“No buts, I want you to stay and I know you're welcome.” Ginny persisted.
Hermione – willingly – gave up. She wanted to stay after all, just hadn't wanted to be a bother.
“Hey, let me show you the house!” Ginny had become her old happy self again. She shot up form the bed and pulling Hermione after her, went out of the room. In the hall she pointed at the different doors and told Hermione about whom occupied which room, then, if a door was open, she barged in with Hermione behind her and showed Hermione the room, completely ignoring the protests of the one, or the ones, inside. The only room they didn't go inside was Bill's and Charlie's.
“They're away in work, and I think there are some magi-... things in there that .... they want to keep private.” They also didn't climb up to the next floor.
“Very messy up there.” Ginny tried to explain. Hermione let the bad lie pass, she wouldn't put her nose into other's business.
They went down to the ground floor and Ginny showed her their large living room. As Hermione had already seen the large fireplace was the heart of the room. Over it were marks in the tapestry, and the “diplomas” she had seen before had been taken down. Hermione didn't ask.
Two big couches stood in front of the fireplace, angled so that both would give their seated an equal amount of warmth. On the left wall were two bookshelves, an ancient looking cupboard with some china plates standing on its top, and a window to the street.
When Hermione took a moment to observe the room, she noticed that not only were the diplomas missing, everywhere in the room it looked like something had been recently removed, especially from the walls – she could count to at least ten suspicious square marks on them. The coffee-table, surrounded by four arm chairs, had a table-cloth but nothing on it, though a round circle showed that something usually stood there.
It was blatantly obvious that this family had something to hide and didn't trust her, but that was OK. She liked them, but didn't trust them either.
The following hours Hermione and Ginny spent chatting about themselves, their lives and what they wished for in the future. Hermione kept the most important and very personal things unsaid; that she had met Draco, that her highest hope was a life where she was completely free, and how she “escaped” from miss Pansy. These secrets she kept as a precaution.
She couldn't afford to trust these people too much...
#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#*#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#*#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#¤#
When evening came it wasn't until the big clock in the kitchen started to chime that she realized that it was already six o' clock.
“Oh NO!! I'm late!” She exclaimed loudly, making all the people around her jump in shock.
"What are you late for, Hermione?” Ginny asked her curiously.
Hermione shook her head, trying to make it look like it was nothing important.
“Oh... I just promised... someone... that I'd meet him at six.” She bit her lip.
“I'm sorry but I really have to go and meet him.”
Ginny's eyes lit up in excitement. “Oh is it your lover?”
“Ginny Weasley!” Mrs Weasley yelled angrily. Ginny flinched.
“Sorry Hermione, I didn't mean it in a bad way.”
Hermione smiled. “I know Ginny, I wasn't insulted. But no... He's... not my lover.” She stood up, anxious to get going as soon as possible.
“I hope I don't offend you when I leave like this. I'm just going to meet him for about an hour.”
Mrs Weasley smiled at her from the sofa, where she was reading a book. “Of course not, dear.
Will you come back later?” Hermione nodded.
“Yes I'd love to.” Then Hermione stood up from the chair by the chess board, where she and Ginny had been playing, and nodded in parting to Ginny, Mrs Weasley, the twins and Harry and Ron, who were also playing chess on the sofa.
She hurried to the hall, quickly put on her shoes, then disappeared out through the door.
Hopefully Draco wouldn't be too upset that she was late. Hopefully.