In sickness and in health

Any character or place you recognize belongs to J K Rowling


Hermione Granger was worried about Harry Potter. It was as simple as that. He had not answered any of her numerous letters over the summer and she knew Dumbledore's death had taken a toll on him. She was considering apparating right into his aunt and uncle's house to talk sense into him but thought it would be an unwise idea. The only thing she could do was wait for him to heal. She had some healing of her own to do. She had broken up with Ron after the summer began. Despite what she had thought there was no chemistry between them. Ron was outraged and Hermione feared their friendship was broken forever.

At this particular moment Hermione was lying in her bed unable to sleep. Things were getting very complicated in the war and she was right in the center of it all. She knew she was going to help Harry. She was loyal to him but still it made her sad when she realized that all her years of striving to get the head girl position were now wasted. She wiped a stray tear from her face. The worst of it all was that Draco Malfoy had gotten off free in his trial before the ministry since he hadn't actually laid a hand on Dumbledore and the ministry didn't know he was responsible for harming his other classmates.

Hermione listened to the voices downstairs. She knew her parents had been debating between themselves whether or not to let her return to the magical world at all. Hermione was angry but she knew they had good reason. Things were getting more and more dangerous.

Suddenly there was a ring at the door. "Who the devil would be visiting at this time of night?" Her father asked. She heard him get up. Hermione knew of only one type of person who would come calling at night and she flew out of bed. She ran down the stairs.

"Dad don't-" But it was too late the door was already open.

"Avada Kedavra!" Hermione and her mother screamed simultaniously as John Granger hit the floor dead. Hermione held her mother back from running to him.

"Mum it's too late. He's gone." Her mother collapsed crying. Five death eaters flooded into the room with wicked grins on their faces. Hermione reached for her wand only to discover that she had left it in her room. She was defensless. She dodged eight stunners before being hit. The last thing she wondered before she passed out was why were they not trying to kill her.

Draco Malfoy was hiding out with the order of the Phoenix who had adopted him and Snape when they opened Dumbledore's will to discover that everything had been a part of his plan except the other death eaters coming into the castle. At the moment Draco was sulking. None of the order members were treating him with any sort of courtesy or respect. He was not used to this sort of treatment.

Suddenly he heard a commotion in the entrance hall and wandered down there to find out what it was all about. Order members were gathered in a tight circle to prevent anyone from hearing their conversation but Draco had impressive hearing.

"-Granger....dark mark...house...parents dead...missing...captured" That was all he caught but it was all he needed to know. He wandered back upstairs. He didn't particularly care about Granger but he felt a wrench at his heart knowing she was captured but what could he do? Actually he knew perfectly well what he could do and, being bored and rebellious, he decided to do it.