Chapter 33

Disclaimer: Not mine. I just borrowed them for a while. I promise to put them back when I'm done. Oh, nope, no money either...just for fun. Once again, what events that are not mentioned that happen in the books is as it happened in the books.

I want to give a great big thank you hug to my alpha reader, Arabellabloodgood, Proulxes for the bit of Brit-picking, and to DuchessOfArcadia for combing through this and helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate it more than you can possibly know.

Thank you, Jay, for the beautiful banner. I absolutely love it!

Hermione woke up feeling a pair of feet pressing into her ribs and her back pressed against the wall. She tried to pull the cover down but couldn't. Leaning up, she saw Kieran curled up next to her in footed pajamas with his arm around Crookshanks, his tiny hand stroking Crookshanks' fur even in his sleep. Her large ginger cat, although purring loudly, was looking at her as if to ask, 'Why?'

"Kieran," Maggie called out softly from the next room. "Where ye be, boy? It's time for yer breakfast."

"He's in here," Hermione called out as she tried to untangle herself from her covers, waking the small boy. Crookshanks took the first opportunity to run as soon as Kieran moved his arm, darting for the floor and landing with a heavy thump.

"Geoffrey Kieran Hamish McGonagall, why in blazin' horntails are ye botherin' our guest!" Maggie McGonagall scolded the little tyke now sitting next to Hermione on the bed, then turned her gaze to apologize to her. "I'm so sorry, Miss Granger. I'd no idea he'd sneak in here like this."

"It's all right," Hermione said as Kieran stretched and then rubbed his eyes. "I'm not at all sure he'd left last night."

"Aye, he did. I put him tae bed when ye fell asleep. Come now, Kieran, time tae eat," Maggie said, ushering the boy off the bed. "Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes."

"I'll be right down," Hermione said with a smile. She was actually famished. She opened her trunk and smiled at the pouch of seashells she'd bought for the house-elves that sat on the warm jumper she'd had on the night before. She pulled out a white blouse she hadn't worn for a while to wear over her lightweight peach tank top. However, she noticed that her blouse was a tad tight in the chest, so she had to leave a few buttons open.

When she entered the kitchen, Kieran was sitting in his booster seat, holding a magically moving Hebridean Black dragon toy in one hand and his spoon in the other as he ate. She sat down at the table across from Maggie. "Help yourself. Geoffrey will be home in a bit, so you'll get tae meet him."

Hermione smiled as she helped herself to the poached eggs, black pudding, fried mushrooms, and homemade whole grain Scottish toast. "How long have you been married?" she asked and sipped on her black tea.

"Goin' on six years now," Maggie said, putting a bit of black pudding on Kieran's plate.

The women talked as they ate, mostly about family, and afterwards, Hermione helped her with the dishes.

Hermione was showing Kieran how to draw with a pen when Professor McGonagall arrived, followed by a strapping man with red curly hair.

"Da, look! I know how tae write with a inks pen!" Kieran said, grabbing the piece of parchment and holding it up, proudly. "See? I drew a Short-Snout! Scales an' all!"

"Very, good, Kieran," he said as he ruffled the boy's hair.

"Miss Granger, this is my grandson, Geoffrey McGonagall," Professor McGonagall said proudly as her grandson turned to smile at Hermione. "He'll be taking you to the Weasley's this morning."

"It's good tae meet ye," he said warmly. "Heard about yeh, o' course."

Hermione laughed. "Thank you, it's nice to meet you."

"Yer welcome," he said with a fond smile at Professor McGonagall. "I'm glad that ye're all righ'."

"Yes, well, unfortunately, Miss Granger, you should be on your way. Molly is expecting you," Professor McGonagall said, and Hermione scrambled to her feet. "I hope you're all packed?"

"Yes, ma'am," she replied as Kieran began to cry.

"No, Gran Nan, no, let her stay! We were going tae play dragon keepers," he said, holding up two of his dragon toys for her to see. The Swedish Short-Snout let out a harmless puff of magical flame and smoke. "She said I could use a fellyphone! And I want tae meet Harry Potter! Please, Grand Nan! She knows him...she said so!"

"No, Kieran," Geoffrey said as Hermione went to get her trunk and Crookshanks. "I have tae see that Miss Granger gets tae her friend's house in one piece."

When she came back, Kieran rushed up to Hermione and hugged her legs. "I don't wan' yeh tae go," he cried.

Hermione looked up helplessly at her professor. Maggie pulled him toward her and hugged him. "Miss Granger has tae go, Kieran," Maggie said softly. She stood up and smiled at Hermione. "He'll be fine."

It broke Hermione's heart to see Kieran holding onto his mother's leg with his little face streaked with tears as he waved at her from the doorway.

"Looks like ye've made a friend," Geoffrey said as he grasped onto the handle of her trunk. Outside, the air was crisp and cool from the rain and the skies were cloudy. He held up a horseshoe. "Grab on and keep a tigh' hold on that cat carrier."

As soon as she did, the horseshoe began to glow, and she felt the pull in her navel as if jerked backwards by a hook. This time Hermione knew to keep her feet down and brace for the impact, thankfully landing squarely on her feet. She turned around, smiling at the magically stacked house and the large tool shed that she knew so well.

"Let's go, it's nae good to linger out in the open," Geoffrey stated. He drew his wand, making her trunk follow them as he walked with her to the front door of the Burrow.

As they approached the door, Geoffrey held out an arm so Hermione would not be bowled over by the near collision of an elderly witch's sudden Apparition at the exact moment a rugged, red-haired guy in a dragon hide coat and boots was exiting the house.

"Oh my!" the elderly witch exclaimed, startled as she jumped back a step, while the wizard simply stared down at her. "I'm dreadfully sorry. I must've misjudged my destination." She stopped to stare at Hermione. "Oh, my! You!"

"Not a problem, Mrs. Blenheim," the man said with a definite Romanian accent as he closed the door.

Mrs. Blenheim quickly handed an envelope to the redhead. "See your mum gets this," the witch said, still gaping at Hermione and then disappeared with a loud pop. The wizard stared at the envelope as if affronted.

"Geoffrey," the guy said with a nod, finally noticing Hermione's escort, then shifted his gaze to Hermione, eyeing her speculatively.

"Ioan, ye're back," Geoffrey said jovially. "Did Sandru and Charlie return?"

"Charles, no. Alexandru is inside," Ioan said, his gaze still on Hermione. He turned his head and handed the envelope to Geoffrey. "Give this to Paní Weasley. I must go."

"Will do. Give my best tae Tatyana," he said. Ioan nodded stiffly, looked at Hermione again and walked away.

"Is that one of Charlie's friends?" she asked, curious about the wizard.

"No, Ioan Madgearu works for the International Association of Quidditch Foundation. Our mutual friend, Sandu Pavlenco, works with Charlie in Romania," Geoffrey said, opening the door for her. "In ye go, young lady."

But Hermione's way was suddenly blocked by Professor Lupin and a wiry looking bloke in an old brown coat, both men looking a little worse for wear. "I'm sorry, Hermione," Lupin said, moving out of her way quickly as the other wizard backed up to let her in.

Hermione was taken aback by the scratches and scars on the wizard's youthful face.

"Professor," she said politely, entering the house.

The wiry wizard nodded to her respectfully, albeit shyly, and exited quickly without a word. Professor Lupin quickly followed after the young man and they Disapparated. Hermione wondered if the other wizard was a werewolf, too, considering the state of his clothes and his scars.

It seemed as if the Burrow was the hub of all possible activity, but it was quickly emptying of people as Mrs. Weasley hurried over to Hermione. "Hermione, my dear, are you all right?"

Across the house, an excitable wizard in a wobbly, violet top hat and a full figured witch with long, back braids were situating themselves in the Floo. "The Copper Cauldron," the wizard said as he dropped a handful of Floo powder, and the pair vanished in a puff of green flames.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," she replied as another wizard stepped into the Floo.

"I heard what happened, of course," Mrs. Weasley said kindly, ushering her inside to the kitchen area. "Are you hungry?"

Hermione saw Auror Moody, the real Mad-Eye Moody, and Bill Weasley standing at the table, both facing a grey-haired witch holding a magnifying glass as they all leaned over, examining two intricate silver spinning devices. "No, I had a big breakfast, thank you," she replied as a silvery skunk shot through the window and stopped right next to Mad-Eye.

"Let's get you settled in Ginny's room, then," Mrs. Weasley said, and then turned to Geoffrey. "Just leave her trunk, Geoffrey. One of the boys will take it up for her."

Hermione thanked Geoffrey again and carried Crookshanks up to Ginny's room.

"Oh, my god, are you all right?" Ginny asked as soon as she opened the door. She took Crookshanks' carrier from Hermione and ushered her over to the bed.

"I'm fine," Hermione said, plopping down on the bed and resting her head against the wall. "Who are all these people?"

"Order of the Phoenix, mostly," Ginny replied. "Charlie is here, and his friend Sandu Pavlenco...they're on leave from the dragon sanctuary in Romania. Sandu recruited his friend, Ioan Madgearu."

"I met Ioan Madgearu downstairs," Hermione said. "Professor McGonagall's grandson said he works for the International Association of Quidditch Foundation."

"He does...Ron was thrilled to meet him. Ioan tried to recruit Charlie when he'd left school, but Charlie hurt his eye that summer and had to stay off a broom," Ginny explained as she let Crookshanks out of his carrier. "But Charlie's always liked dragons, so he chose that career instead." She sat down on the bed and turned to face Hermione. "So give, tell me everything. All we heard is that you were attacked in France and had to be sent to a safe house."

"Gosh, where to start," Hermione said as Crookshanks jumped up into her lap. Hermione began with meeting Pierre Baudelaire on the beach, which Ginny thought was so romantic until Hermione told her about being set up by Ciarán Montague.

"No!" Ginny gasped. "Gareth Montague was really rough on the pitch, but a Death Eater? He's signed up to play with the Falmouth Falcons!"

"Well, we can safely assume he and his family are either Death Eaters or Voldemort's supporters," Hermione said with a shrug. Crookshanks nudged her hand for attention so she idly started petting him. "Have you ever heard about someone named Lucien Laurent?"

"Sure, pure-blood, rich, much like the Malfoys," Ginny stated. "Why?"

"He apparently paid Pierre Baudelaire and Philippe LeFèvres to help Montague get me," Hermione said. "Although Pierre said he didn't agree to do it for the money."

"Initiation perhaps?" Ginny said, more like a question than stating a fact.

"Could be," Hermione admitted, smiling as Crookshanks nudged her hand again. "So, what's going on here?"

"Well, until we hear otherwise, this is the Order's headquarters, although I think that either Dedalus Diggle's or Hestia Jones' house is being used as well." Ginny started telling her what had been going on and what she, Fred and George had overheard. It matched pretty much what Professor McGonagall had told her. "Oh, and dad got a promotion at work, the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects."

"Gin, that's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Thanks. Oh, and one more thing," she said, her smile fading, "we have the delight of hosting that Veela witch from the Triwizard Tournament as well. Ron's delighted, but I call her Phlegm."

Hermione shook her head as she exhaled. "I remember her. Is Ron still affected by her charms?"

Ginny nodded as she rolled her eyes. "But he's at least behaving around her...she's engaged to Bill."

"Bill?" Hermione gasped. "When did this start?"

"Over the spring. She took a job at Gringotts to emprove 'er Englesh," Ginny said, mocking Fleur's accent. "She's sooo annoying and trying to be soo helpful, reminding everyone who'll listen that she was a Triwizard Champion, as if it matters. I keep my distance as much as possible."

Great, Hermione thought. She hadn't really gotten to know Fleur all that well, however, she'd hated the way all the boys acted when the French Veela had been around. But, Hermione had other things to worry about. "Ginny, do you by chance have the latest copies of the Daily Prophet?" she asked.

"I have today's," Ginny said with a shrug, walking over to her writing desk. "Why?"

"I was...oh, bugger." Hermione turned to look out of the window. It would be almost nine weeks before she went to Hogwarts and could look everything up in the library's copies.

"Why? What's wrong?" Ginny asked.

"My parents! Montague has been sending my parents the wizarding paper ever since the incident at the Ministry. I know pretty much what was printed before that, and I received a few issues when I was in the hospital, but I want to know what my parents may have read," Hermione said while Ginny looked around her desk. "Mum and Dad want to pull me out of Hogwarts."

Ginny turned to gape at her with mouth open before she gasped, "No!" She handed Hermione three older issues of the Prophet and a few issues of the The Quibbler. "I found these. Would they really pull you out?"

"Thank you. I have a feeling that they wanted to talk me into agreeing, rather than trying to take me out of school by force," Hermione said, now certain that her parents couldn't actually pull her out. Well, they could stop paying for her schooling, but Hogwarts had scholarships. Certainly she could talk to Professor McGonagall about one if her parents did stop payment, but she didn't know if there was a deadline for the application for financial aid. "But yes, Mum and Dad want me to finish at a Muggle school and go to a Muggle university."

"You won't do that, will you?!" Ginny asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. "I mean, I know that most wizards finish after Hogwarts. Some fields have further studies, training programs, and there are apprenticeships, but we don't have formal universities like you've described. There is Cambridge, but only if you are going into law or something academic...not for the magical fields. Remember, you and I talked about this your fifth year, before your career counseling."

"I'm a witch now; I'm finishing at Hogwarts," Hermione said with determination, but it wasn't Ginny who she was affirming to, it was her parents, even though they were at Madam Vance's home in London.

"Hermione, you are a witch...you've always been a witch...whether you finish at Hogwarts or not," Ginny said reassuringly with a small smile and checked under her schoolbooks. "No matter what, you belong in the wizarding world, and at Hogwarts, no matter what those pure-blood extremists say. Here. I found today's."

Hermione leaned forward as Ginny handed her that morning's issue of the Prophet. "I know," Hermione admitted, knowing in her heart Ginny was right. "But I think I'll look into what courses are offered at Cambridge. My parents would like it if I went there."

She looked at the Daily Prophet. The paper carried a picture of Amelia Bones on the front page with a short article that stated that her services were scheduled for Friday. The other headlines read: 'Friarton Bridge, Perth damaged. Muggles blame a chemical truck explosion' and 'Dementors thought to be breeding.' Below that was a picture of the stately woman, Madam Emmeline Vance, who had escorted her parents to her home. Hermione stared at her picture in shock. The lovely witch smiled politely at her from under a headline that said she had been 'brutally murdered by Death Eaters near Number 10 Downing Street, London.' "Oh, my gods!" Hermione shrieked and scrambled from the bed.

"What?" Ginny asked, alarmed.

"NO, no, no..." Hermione stammered as she ran from the room. "This cannot be happening!"

"Hermione?" Ginny called out after Hermione as she ran from the room. "Wait, what?"

Hermione didn't listen as she barreled down the stairs. "Mrs. Weasley, I have to call my..." she cried out, coming to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. I can't call, can I? The Weasleys don't have a telephone, and I can't Floo because my parents are not hooked up to the Floo network...except for special circumstances. "Go. I have to go! My parents...I have to go!"

Tonks looked up as Mrs. Weasley rose to her feet. "Go? Go where, dear?"

"Home," Hermione said, although the logical part of her brain kept telling her that her parents would not be there. "My parents. Are they...are they...?" She covered her mouth to fight back the panic that threatened to erupt. The Knight Bus, I can summon the Knight Bus, can't I?

Mrs. Weasley was holding her, one arm across her shoulders and her other hand on Hermione's arm, as she guided her to a chair. "Tell me what's wrong?"

"Dead...are they dead?" Hermione asked, showing Mrs. Weasley the paper.

"No, no, your parents are fine, dear," Mrs. Weasley tried to assure her as she took the paper from her hand and gently pushed Hermione onto a chair. "They're fine. Really, they're fine."

"How do you know?" Hermione asked, shaking, looking up at the motherly witch, wanting to believe her, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Tonks sat down next her and touched her arm. "I took them to my parent's house," she was saying. Hermione turned to look at her. Tonks looked ill, less colorful than normal, a bit drawn, and she had puffy eyes as if she'd been crying. "My parents live much closer to their office..."

"Emmeline Vance...the witch from the Ministry...I-I thought they were staying with her?" Hermione blurted, although coming out as a question, and Tonks shook her head. "The paper said he killed her...Voldemort killed her!"

"Madam Vance worked for the Cabinet Secretary at Number 10 as a civil servant and liked to walk to work. Not that she needed to work, she was fairly well off, but the Minister thought it important to have people assigned to the Prime Minister and key members of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom," Tonks explained. "She was killed on her way to her house last night."

Hermione didn't understand, shaking her head, so Tonks continued, "We had a warning, Hermione...Professor Snape warned us about the attack. I called my friend, Iris Lindhardt, and we went and got your parents. I took them to my parents' home. We'd already arranged for Iris to work in your parents' office for the rest of the summer...longer if necessary," Tonks explained patiently as Mrs. Weasley stroked Hermione's back tenderly. "She is going to start Monday. So, your parents are staying with mine for two days while Dumbledore strengthens the protection charms on their house."

"Doing what?" Hermione asked, still puzzled. "I mean, what is Iris going to do at my parents' dental practice?" After their talk in St. Jean de Luz, Hermione couldn't believe that her parents would hire a witch or that any witch would be able to do anything helpful around the office. Her parents' office was really quite modern by Muggle standards.

Tonks smiled, although it didn't exactly reach her eyes. "Answering telephones, filing or something... scheduling appointments. She has to learn how to work the commuter," she said, smirking, making Hermione's mouth twitch into a slight smile for a brief moment, and Mrs. Weasley give them both a confused glance, "but her real purpose is to watch over them and make sure they're all right, you know, to Apparate them out if anything happens like an attack."

Hermione nodded, finally understanding, feeling grateful to Tonks and Professor Snape. "So, they're all right?"

"Yes, Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said, her fingers of her hands tightening reassuringly on her shoulder and on her arm. "Your parents are both fine. They are being protected. If you want to, I can see about arranging a Floo call for you tomorrow?"

"I'd like that," Hermione said weakly, feeling relieved and yet sad at the news. She'd have to wait until tomorrow to talk to her parents, but she trusted Tonks and Mrs. Weasley that her parents were alive and safe. Hermione was so grateful to Severus; he had warned Tonks about the attack on her parents in time so that she could take them to safety. It was sad that they hadn't been able to save that lovely Vance woman, too. Hermione could only imagine what her parents thought about all of this, especially since they wanted her to abandon the wizarding world.

"Now go upstairs and wash your face. I'll have lunch ready in a bit," Mrs. Weasley said, getting up.

Hermione rose to go, thanking Tonks before turning for the stairs.

Ginny walked with Hermione up to the bathroom. "Take your time. I'll be in my room, okay?" she asked.

Hermione nodded and turned the tap, her emotions still in a turmoil.

By morning, Hermione felt better. She'd hoped to be able to make her Floo call that morning before her parents went to their office.

"They're really shaken up about the conflict with You-Know-Who and the wizarding war, so we thought it best they had a Muggle-born to talk to, and Molly's Floo is already connected to my parents' house, so you can talk to them after the meeting," Tonks had said, sitting crossed-legged on the floor between the girls beds. She'd come up to talk to Hermione after catching the two girls and the twins, Fred and George, on the stairs, trying to eavesdrop on the early morning Order meeting, and had shooed them all back to their respective rooms. The usually vibrant witch had still looked, well, dull; her hair had been a mousy brown, and she had bags under her eyes as if she hadn't slept well.

However, Hermione's Floo call that morning hadn't exactly gone well. According to her father, Mr. Tonks had explained to George and Jean Granger that even if Hermione turned her back on the wizarding world, she still not only fell under Wizarding law and the magical statutes, but she'd always be a witch, with all the rights and obligations that implied. And she would always have her magic...it didn't just turn off...it would actually get stronger, and she'd need training and guidance on how to use it properly and responsibly, which is why she should return to Hogwarts. Hermione's mum had been rather upset by the information, still arguing for her only child to find a 'safer lifestyle', and her father had been adamant, insisting that she 'remain neutral' and stay out of the conflict as much as possible.

She'd ended the Floo call feeling relieved that her parents were alive and cooperating with the Tonks and the Order members trying to protect them, but not at all pleased that they wanted her to separate from her friends and take a coward's way out by keeping neutral in a conflict she felt so strongly about. It wasn't that she really wanted to be fighting in a war at her age, but her very survival...her right to be what she was...was in jeopardy should Voldemort win.

Hermione thanked Mrs. Weasley and went outside for some fresh air and to think, refusing Fleur's request to accompany her. Ginny had understood, as had Professor Lupin and Mrs. Weasley. Hermione promised Mrs. Weasley to stay on their property and not to go any further than the pond, which she knew could be viewed from the kitchen window. But she needed time to think.

She picked up a stone and tossed it into the pond, watching the ripples spread outward.

She knew that should Voldemort win, she, like all Muggle-borns, would be hunted down, persecuted, and systematically eliminated just like what had happened to the Goblins after the Goblin wars of the thirteenth century, (which resulted in Eargit the Ugly's appointment as the Goblin representative on the Wizard's Council) and again after Urg the Unclean led the Goblins into rebellion during the early eighteenth century. Both periods of wizarding history, Goblins had been slaughtered mercilessly, greatly depleting their numbers, and for a race that typically only bore one or sometimes two offspring in their lives, this really had devastating results on the Goblin population. It was not too dissimilar to the genocide of the Armenians by the Turks or the Holocaust of WWII in her opinion.

She threw another stone, her gaze locked on the ripple effect as she sorted things out in her mind.

She felt a presence behind her and slyly slipped her wand into her hand.

"If I'd meant to do you harm, you'd already be dead." The cool tone of Severus' voice sent a chill down her spine, even though she'd felt an immediate sense of relief by his presence.

"I assumed that you were not an enemy, considering we are this close to the house and under the protective wards surrounding the place," she said softly, watching a dragonfly as it moved among the cattails.

"Never assume you are safe or that wards can protect you. Your naïveté is your weakness as it only proves your overconfidence in another's magic," he said, coming up to stand beside her. "Consider the times; you should never let yourself be so unguarded."

"Constant Vigilance. And here I thought the Burrow was protected by spells devised by you and Professor Dumbledore," she replied as she turned her head to look at him. "Nice to see you, by the way."

He turned to face her. "And yet, you are quite lucky that you can," he said coolly, his anger tightly controlled. "What were you thinking going off with a strange boy unchaperoned?"

She turned to face him fully. "I was in France! I didn't think I was in any danger at the time, and he seemed nice," she said defensively, realizing that that was the real reason he sought her out.

"I can seem nice...the Dark Lord can seem nice when it suits his purpose," he said sharply.

"You are nice," she said, then cringed at his smirk, adding, "When you want to be. You were nice enough to me all last year...when you weren't trying to put me in the hospital."

"Hermione," he growled in warning.

"In fact, I'd assume that Vol...er, sorry, the Dark Lord can be deceptively nice when it suits his purpose. Otherwise, why would people...intelligent people such as yourself and the Malfoys...follow him?"

She blushed under his glare and turned to stare out at the pond. "I assume the Malfoys are intelligent; Mr. Malfoy certainly doesn't strike me as an imbecile, neither is Draco," she added, and he shook his head. "I don't have that much experience with boys... well, not like that, anyway... So, I was deceived. I admit it...I used poor judgment, and I should've been more aware of my surroundings. Thank Merlin I remembered what you taught me last year and that we'd worked on my reflexes during my training sessions."

Something, a fish perhaps, broke the surface, making new ripples on the surface of the pond.

"I read in the report that you used wandless magic," he said after a long pause as if he'd been watching the ripples too.

"Simple spells. I can Summon and Repel objects, even heavy ones, with nonverbal wandless charms, but I can't do a Blasting Hex or deflect spells yet. Oh, and I think I did the Defensive Charge," she admitted, turning to look at him again. "I was so frightened; I could feel my magic, make it grow stronger, as if my adrenaline levels were elevated, so I used it, focused on it..." He looked surprised by her statements. "It was so much easier than trying it at school."

He crossed his arms and his posture became rigid as he stared at her. "You could have been killed...you were almost captured. Have you any idea what would have become of you if you had been?"

"I got away," she said, looking him directly in the eyes. For the first time she realized she was nearly tall enough that she almost could look him in the eye. Her five foot five height made her about level to his mouth. Of course he wore his dragon hide boots, and she was wearing her favorite Vans.

"You were lucky," he said, his eyes narrowing.

She smiled weakly. "I used what you taught me in our lessons," she said, hoping to assuage his anger. "I was able to dodge and deflect everything..."

His brow quirked, but he didn't relax his posture. "You and I will have more lessons on your fighting skills and work to enhance wandless magic."

Hermione couldn't believe his offer and exclaimed, "Promise?!" grinning at the prospect.

His eyes narrowed again. "This is not a game, Hermione, this is serious!"

She refrained from rolling her eyes. "I know it's serious," she quipped. "Why does everyone think I'm not taking this seriously?! I'm in this for my right to live, my right to belong! It's not a game to me!"

He relaxed. "Yet, you allowed yourself to be caught unaware."

"I was in France! On holiday! How was I to know his reach was that far?" she said a bit too defensively.

"Well, now you know," he said with a sharp nod. "His reach extends from here to France and across Europe to Poland and down to Bulgaria, although he's concentrating his efforts on the United Kingdom first."

Hermione looked at him in shock.

"Or did you think that Karkaroff simply waited in Durmstrang to be caught after failing to report to the Dark Lord in the graveyard a year ago...he fled. He tried to hide...in the Vozgian Republic of the Russian Federation. He was found and killed within a month of his desertion," Severus explained. "That's why Charlie Weasley remains in Romania; he and his friend, Sandu Pavlenco, are recruiting for the Order and reminding people what it was like under the Dark Lord's mantle the first time."

She gasped, stunned. "Headmaster Karkaroff...dead?"

"It has yet to be confirmed, but yes, my sources tell me he is dead," Severus said with an odd look in his eyes.

She exhaled as she stared at the cattails swaying gently in the soft breeze, taking in what he said. "I understand. I'll be more cautious in the future."

"Please be sure you are," he said softly. "You're important."

"I know, to help Harry keep a level head and from doing anything too impulsive," she said, nodding sadly. The voice of reason.

He turned to leave. "I wasn't talking about Potter," he said, taking a step and Disapparating.

She stared at the spot he'd disappeared from, his final words echoing in her mind as the warm summer air made a strand of her hair brush across her face. "You're important too."

~ T. B. .C. ~

Author's Notes:

I know, in canon Mr. Weasley said Igor Karkaroff died 'some where up north,' but I thought, 'That's odd? Why hide in Scotland and not in his homeland or someplace he knew...' so, I put him in Vozgia. Then realized that Severus heard about the ex-Durmstrang Headmaster a month before it was reported in the Daily Prophet! So yes, that is what I mean. Severus knew about it a month before Karkaroff's body was found and his death confirmed in the papers. I know, he'd be a bit decomposed, wouldn't he? (Sorry for the ickish mental visual)

The Vozgian Republic is one of the twenty-nine constituent republics of the Russian Federation. Vozgian history in a nutshell: http://steen.free.fr/vozgian/vozgian_republic.html