Eight

Early August, 1998

Bill upset the books from the table with a thud as he rose and hurried towards the kitchen. From all over the house, footsteps thundered: on the twisting stairs, from the sitting room. Doors slammed and a moderate babble set up as people converged upon the scene in the kitchen

By the time Snape arrived, the mass of humanity had managed to bring Molly to her kitchen table, where she sat, clutching a tea towel, rocking back and forth and keening, "Ron, Ron, Ron!"

Winky wormed her way next to her and was holding out a tumbler of something light brown. Snape guessed, from the fumes wafting towards him, that it was sherry.

"Missus Molly must calm down," Winky squeaked above the general babble of voices. Unnoticed, Snape leaned against the doorframe and closed his eyes and sifted through the tumult.

"What happened?" Ginevra's voice first.

"I don't know – I heard the scream and crash." Potter.

"Charlie, what's going on?" Bill.

"I don't know; I was with Dad in the shed."

"Ron's disappeared." George.

"What?" Bill.

"Just disappeared – he was helping Mum and Winky with the dishes, and poof!" George again.

"George – you must not joke about such things. You see how your mother is." Fleur.

"Swear on my brother's grave, Fleur, he was there one moment, and when I came back from the pantry, he was gone!"

"Molly, Molly!" Arthur was speaking. Snape opened his eyes and watched the older man shoulder his way through the crowd. Snape noticed that Arthur's face was grey and his hands were shaking.

"Ron's gone, Ron's gone," Molly cried, dropping the towel and turning to her husband with a wail.

"Molly, what happened?" Arthur enfolded his wife in his arms.

"He ... he was there one moment, and the next, flickered and then he wasn't! I was handing him a plate and ..." She trailed off and began to sob great gulping hysterical sobs. "Arthur, I can't do this again – can't lose another one! Arthur!"

"Hush, hush ..." Arthur began to rock his wife back and forth.

Bill came out of his shocked reverie first. "I think we all need to go..." he said, nodding meaningfully at the door. "Winky, will you finish the dishes? Ginny, why don't you pour us all some wine, and we can sort this out in the dining room."

There was a murmur of agreement as the company filed past Snape into the adjoining room. Minerva stayed behind in the kitchen for a moment, staring hard at him from the outside door where she had watched the scene.

He stared implacably back.

Did you...? her look seemed to ask him.

He raised an eyebrow. She pursed her lips. I'm watching you, her look said.

He smirked. Watch away; there's nothing to see here.

Molly continued to sob quietly in Arthur's arms.

The moment stretched taut until a soft touch startled him and he turned.

"Severus?" Hermione asked. "What's happening?"

Minerva gasped.

Snape glared at her and turned to Hermione. She was pale, but appeared steady on her feet. Inexplicably, his heart lightened to see her with them – even at such a time.

"Welcome back, Miss Granger," he said, allowing her to see a quick smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Confused. We're at the Burrow, right?"

"Correct."

"For Harry and Ginny's party?"

"Yes. Very good, Miss Granger."

She made a moue of exasperation at his sarcasm.

"And you brought me here."

"Again, you are a credit to your year."

"So why is Molly crying?" Hermione asked, peering curiously around him into the kitchen.

"It appears that your friend, Ronald, has vanished." The words seemed to galvanize Minerva into action as she hurried across the room to them.

Hermione laughed. "Oh, I don't think Ronald's my friend, anymore," she said and then paused. "I'm sorry," she continued, "that was a very Luna thing to say, wasn't it? I meant ... that ... dear God, what happened to him?"

"Oh, Hermione," Minerva interrupted, enfolding the girl in her embrace, "I'm so happy to see you up and about; let's get you settled. And poor Master Weasley; we don't know what's happened." She shepherded the girl into the dining room, buffeting Snape with an icy glare.

In the kitchen, Molly's sobs had subsided, and Arthur sat beside her, holding her hand and murmuring to her.

Snape turned and hurried to the sitting room. Grasping for the Floo powder, he turned towards the fireplace.

"Hogwarts Infirmary," he bellowed into the green flames, but before he could step into the fire, he heard his name.

"Severus, wait!" Bill's voice called to him. "Hermione might need you."

"Harpy shit," Snape snapped. "Minerva's caring for her without my assistance. Let us keep the tabby happy, shall we?"

Bill strode forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "Severus, wait."

"Don't touch me!" Snape twitched away.

"Severus, wait. Please. Just ... for Hermione's sake?"

Snape glared at the eldest Weasley offspring.

"I think," Bill said, twisting the knife, "that Ron's disappearance might have something to do with the curse."

"I'm so glad you came, Dr Gupta."

"Not at all, Mrs Granger. How long has she been like this?"

"I found her an hour ago when I called her to breakfast and she didn't come, but it looks as if she's been this way all night – her light was on, and the journal you gave her was, well, look!"

Dr Gupta followed Jocasta into the room and noted the position of the bedside lamp and the book.

"And it appears she has been writing," he mused. "May I?"

Jocasta nodded. "I need to make sure Atalanta is up. Martin will get you a coffee, if you like."

"Of course, thank you; a coffee would be very nice. I will let you know if I have need of you."

Jocasta left the room, and Dr Gupta sat carefully on the edge of Hermione's bed.

"Now, young Hermione," he said, gently taking the notebook from her unresisting fingers, "let us see what you have been writing."

"How could it be related to ... what's been happening to me?" Hermione asked.

"It's a possibility – but I'm not positive. We know so little about the Unde Orieris Curse. But any avenue of exploration is worth traveling at this point," Bill admitted from his position at the head of the table.

Hermione was struck by how much the meeting resembled an old Order meeting. Sadly, she listed those not present: Remus, Tonks, Moody, Fred, Sirius. At least Severus was there (glowering in the doorway) and Professor McGonagall. But who was missing? Something niggled at the back of her mind – she thought perhaps she missed a flash of purple, but dismissed the stray thought.

"Hermione?" Minerva's voice held an edge of panic. Hermione jerked her head and smiled at her teacher, her friend.

"Sorry, I was just thinking – trying to remember."

"Well, we know that Ron was here one moment and then Mum turned to hand him a plate, and he wasn't there," Charlie said.

"When did you awake?" Bill asked Hermione.

"At around that time," she replied.

"Hermione, what makes you think there's a connection?" Minerva asked.

"I'm not sure, but ... it seems that there's always a bit of time between when I'm here and when I'm at home; I mean that there's stuff I remember. And I think I remember ... Oh, God!"

"What is it, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked from the doorway, staring at her intently.

"I just remembered ... Oh my God, I just remembered what I'd written."

"Written?"

"Yes!" She turned eagerly towards him. "Dr Gupta – the Muggle doctor who is treating me – said I should write things down I remember from being here. I was remembering that Ronald had said he wanted to be my friend, but not my ..." She trailed off and blushed. Then holding her head up, she continued, "I remember I was writing that I was glad that Ron wasn't real because he'd been such a prat to me tonight, saying that he didn't want to wait for me to ..." She clapped her hand over her mouth and looked at Snape in horror.

"Hermione," Bill said quietly, "what exactly did you say?"

Hermione turned to Bill. "I ... I don't remember," she whispered, stomach sinking. "Just that I was glad that he wasn't real because he was ..." She frowned. "It's ... I'm so sorry, Bill; it's gone. And now ..." She looked around the table. "I'm sorry; who were we talking about?"

Ginny gasped and spilled her wine. "You!" she exclaimed.

"Shit!" Harry sprang up and began to blot at the table.

"Here, Mr Potter, Harry." Minerva drew her wand and said Evanesco, disappearing the mess.

"Hermione! How could you?" Ginny cried.

"Ginny," Harry said, reaching for his fiancée. "She couldn't have ... I don't think she can help it."

"Severus, what's going on?" Hermione turned back to him. "Why is Ginny – what's...?"

"I think ..." Snape stepped forward, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I think it's time I took you back to Hogwarts."

Hermione clutched at his hand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Snape bent and helped her up.

"Miss Granger," he replied, "we will solve this."

Bill looked across the table at the pair. Minerva sat stiffly in her chair, staring intently at them, lips pursed.

"Take care of her, Severus; we can solve this from here," Bill said.

Snape nodded briefly. "I will. I do believe this might be a result of the Unde Orieris. Or ..."

Bill shook his head. "It might be, but there's not much written about it."

"Understood. I think, perhaps, there's another reason for this."

"What is it?" Bill asked.

Hermione looked between the two men.

"So this isn't part of what's been happening?" she asked.

"It may be, Hermione," Bill explained.

"But it also might not be," she said. "Severus, Professor Snape, I mean, will you take me back to Hogwarts? I think ... perhaps there are some books there that might help."

"But if she did this, we need to figure out how!" Ginny exclaimed, breaking free of Harry's grasp. "We need to bring Ron back!"

"Ginny," Hermione began, "I'm sorry, but I just don't ..."

"We will," Bill told his sister as Charlie moved to her other side.

"But I reckon Professor Snape needs some time to work his magic, eh, Gin?" Charlie asked.

"Thank you, Charlie," Snape said quietly. "Ginevra, please rest assured that we will do everything to restore your brother."

"You bastard!"

"Ginny!" Hermione gasped.

"Ron is right – you are a right bastard, Severus Snape!" Ginny cried.

"You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, Miss Weasley, but let me assure you ..."

"Severus, this is a bad idea," Minerva finally said, cutting through the tumult.

"And you have a better one?" Snape asked icily as he took advantage of the lull to lead Hermione to the Floo.

"Yes," Minerva said firmly. "Leave the care of Hermione to those who do, in fact, care for her."

"How dare you suggest that I do not care for her?" Severus hissed, turning to the older woman.

"Severus!" cried Hermione. "I can ... Minerva, let me go back to Hogwarts, please!"

"Child, you cannot possibly know," Minerva began.

"I can help solve this!" Hermione protested. "I know I can!"

"And I'm sure we will, Hermione," Minerva said patiently, "but at the moment, it's not safe for you to stay ... Hermione? Severus, what's happened to her?"

Severus turned and caught the girl before she crumpled to the floor, staring blankly before her.

"Minerva, Bill," Severus said into the horrified silence. "I think you two need to come with me. There's something at Hogwarts that you need to see."

"Welcome back, Hermione."

"Dr Gupta! Dad! Was I ... I am back, aren't I?" Hermione felt a flood of relief and smiled at the doctor sitting on the foot of her bed. Martin Granger was standing behind him.

"Welcome back, sweet pea."

"Oh, Dad! I'm so glad to be back!"

"Do you remember where you were?" Dr Gupta asked.

Hermione frowned. "I was ... there was ... shouting, an argument. And Severus said that there was something else ... and ..." She trailed off. "I don't remember," she said.

"Don't remember what?" Mr Granger prompted.

"But it doesn't matter," Hermione replied, smiling at the doctor and her father. "Because I'm here. And I want ... I want to stay here."

"Good girl," Dr Gupta said, patting her knee. "That's our good girl."

Mr Granger smiled.

High atop the Headmaster's tower, in a back room where nosy portraits could not penetrate, Severus Snape stood watch as Minerva and Bill rapidly scanned the dog-eared file marked "Granger, Hermione J."

Minerva reached the end first. "Dear God," she whispered, face white.

Snape nodded as Bill lurched from his chair.

"If you're going to vomit, Mr Weasley, please have the grace to cast Evanesco thoroughly when you're done," Snape remarked.

"Um, fine," Bill muttered, returning to his chair, white as a sheet. "It's just, oh, holy fucking Merlin..."

"Indeed."

"But why would Albus...?" Minerva began.

"That, I do not know for certain. I have some theories, of course," replied Snape. "But I do believe that once again, the old lunatic has grievously blundered."

AN: These characters are still not mine. Special thanks to Subversa, SavineSnape and Bluestocking79 for all their help!