"He what?" Hermione said in a loud and angry tone. She couldn't believe what her friend had just told her and needed to hear it again to make sure that she heard correctly.
Ginny had been taken upstairs to her room to catch her bearings before going outside to eat. Everyone had gone back outside to the party except for Hermione. She wanted to know everything that happened between Ginny and Draco.
"Shh, what if one of my brothers or Harry is using an extendable ear?" Ginny shushed, looking around the room nervously.
"Oh trust me; they can't hear us with the wards I've put up," Hermione grinned evilly before her face turned sour once more, "So explain this to me one more time."
"Well okay, I was giving Draco the tour of the burrow, showing him everyone's room and such. He looked surprisingly interested but once we got to Ron's room Draco pulled me inside, shut the door, and then practically tackled me onto his bed to snog. He kept trying to do more than I wanted to do and then he started to try and take off my jumper but I pulled away, slapped him, and went downstairs. Then that's when everyone came in. You saw the rest."
Ginny had a sad look on her face. It dawned on Hermione then that Ginny truly did like Draco, even though she couldn't fathom the reason why. "I'm sorry that he did that to you Ginny. He shouldn't have, but in my opinion you are much better off without him. And not that you want to hear this now, but I believe there is a certain someone who is practically ready to fight for you downstairs, and it's not one of your brothers."
"Thanks 'Mione." Ginny smiled for the first time since the incident, giving her bushy-haired friend a hug. "How about we go downstairs since it is your party after all? Besides knowing Ron, if we don't hurry there won't be any food left."
*~*~*
"If I ever see that bloody ferret again I am going to hex him into next year." Ron said through his teeth, his face still flushed the same color as his hair.
"You and me both mate, you and me both. And to think I gave him the benefit of the doubt," Harry said causing Neville to nod in agreement.
"I wonder what he did to her. I can't believe he actually made her cry. Wait yes I can, it is Malfoy." Neville grunted while pacing back and forth. "I just hope she is okay."
"Bloody ferret." Ron muttered under his breath as he saw Hermione emerge from the house with Ginny in tow. They were both carrying plates of food to be set out on the table. They were almost as big as the ones in the Great Hall.
Neville quickly went forward to take the plates from Ginny so she wouldn't have to carry them. Ginny smiled weakly and reluctantly gave over her plates to him. The other two boys shook their heads and dutifully headed into the kitchen to help with the rest. By the time the food was out, everyone was situated at the table.
Ron reached out to grab one of the hot biscuits but was interrupted by a "Hem, hem," coming from his mother. He face turned a deep shade of scarlet as he quickly folded both hands and placed them in his lap. He stared around at the eyes that were on him, "What?"
A wave of chuckles emerged while Mrs. Weasley just shook her head in response. "I'd just like to take this time to welcome back our very own Hermione. It's great to have you back dear, even if it is under the certain circumstances. We want you to know that we love you and will always be here for you for the rest of your years even if your parents cannot," Mrs. Weasley wiped a few stray tears from her eyes, "Let's tuck in, this is supposed to be a happy occasion."
Everyone kind of sat with an uneasy tension. They hadn't expected the Weasley matriarch to get so emotional at the table. They didn't know whether to say anything or go ahead and start eating. Eventually all eyes turned to Hermione so as to follow suit with her.
Her head was bowed down to her lap, the bushiness of her hair obscuring any view of her face. No one was too sure what she was thinking or doing. Harry, who was sitting next to her, took a chance leaned in to lift up her chin to make her look him in the eyes.
Her eyes were closed and her cheeks were littered with stray tears. She seemed to hold her composure until she caught Harry's eyes, and then almost instantly a wave of magic seemed to burst forth from her, causing random glasses and things to knock over. Not noticing what she had done, she quickly stood, tossed her napkin on the table, and rushed into the house before the sobs could take her over.
Everyone continued to stare in awe, not quite sure what to do. Harry on the other hand turned to glare at Mrs. Weasley, knowing that she was the cause of Hermione's pain.
*~*~*
By the time Harry had finished three glasses of pumpkin juice, he had seen a visibly shaken Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Fred, George, and Luna make their way back to the living room where everyone else had been situated. They had attempted to go console Hermione but to no avail. Harry waited on going up there. He knew she would have wanted to be alone. He could see it in her eyes when she ran off.
Ron came back into the room and collapsed onto a chair next to Harry. His face was red and his jumper had a slice in it. "Merlin mate, now I know why you didn't want to go in there. That girl is bloody mental."
Harry couldn't help but smirk at what Hermione had done to him.
"Now I know why you didn't storm up there after her." Ron sighed. "I do say it's probably your turn though."
Harry gulped knowing it would take a lot to finally get through to her. He knew exactly what it was like to want to hide away from everyone and everything. The room murmured a collective good luck as he made the journey up the stairs to where Hermione had taken up residence.
He stood outside the door for a few seconds before knocking. "'Mione?" There was no answer. "'Alright 'Mione I'm coming in."
He braced himself and opened the door, but quickly shut it almost as fast. He had just missed a blazing blue light that had to have come from Hermione's wand. "Come on 'Mione, I just want to talk. There is no need to hex me."
He cracked open the door and was relieved to not have some hex flinging at his head. He quickly stepped in and shut the door, but as soon as he turned around he had to duck as his head was nearly taken off by a stunner.
"'Mione!" Harry shouted as he jumped and dodged her other attempts to hex him. He kept getting a step further between every hex until he was a couple steps away from her. Hermione's bloodshot eyes blazed in anger and she raised her arm to hex him again, but Harry's quidditch reflexes were quicker and he lunged at her and tackled her onto Ginny's bed. He held her tightly as she fought against him to free herself.
"HARRY IF YOU DON'T GET OFF OF ME…" She huffed as her voice seemed to crack.
Harry kept his voice down trying to talk to her soothingly as she struggled beneath him. "'Mione love, calm down. It's okay, I'm here for you."
Her voice changed from loud shouts to sobs. "They're gone Harry, they're gone."
Harry felt Hermione stop and she seemed to latch onto him as she sobbed. "I never got to say goodbye, they're gone."
She seemed to repeat the same mantra over and over inserting 'It's all my fault,' and 'I miss them so much.' Harry just continued to hold her, his heart breaking with every sob.
After what was about thirty minutes of crying, Hermione seemed to quiet down, her sobbing seeming less severe. Harry rested his forehead on hers and looked down into her tear stained face.
"Hey you," he whispered.
Hermione looked up at him with a very weak smile. She squirmed underneath him, but he didn't seem to get the hint. "..Harry…squishing…" she choked out with what little voice she had left.
It took Harry a couple more seconds to realize what she meant, and he quickly moved off the top of her and onto his side so he was next to her. "I'm so sorry 'Mione. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'm fine, nothing hurts. I feel like part of me is missing," she whispered.
He brushed the hairs that got matted into her tears off of her face. "It'll get easier with time, and in the meantime you've got us."
Her face contorted into one of anger and she spat, "How would you know? You don't know what it's like Harry. You didn't even know your parents."
As quickly as she said it her eyes went wide and she gasped. "Oh Harry! I didn't mean that."
Harry let out a defeated sigh. "You're right though, it is different. I have lost the only person who has been a parent to me."
"I'm sorry for saying that Harry, I just can't seem to get a hold of myself lately. It's just so hard. I don't like everyone seeing me like this. I should be stronger than this." She sighed.
"'Mione, this is to be expected. You can't act like nothing has happened, and you can't push us away like…" Harry trailed off realizing how familiar all this sounded.
"Like you did…?" Hermione finished for him with a soft smile. "Where do you get this advice?"
"Well this beautiful girl once told me it…repeatedly. And you know, she's right and if I could tell her two things, it would be to listen to herself…"
"Some girl she is, and what is the other thing?" She smiled again.
"And that I love her very much," he whispered, his breath hitching in his throat.
Harry looked into Hermione's big, brown eyes, feeling like he could get lost. He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips and pulled back.
"Oh Harry…I…think I'm going to be sick." Hermione said as she started to pale.
"Wow okay." Harry stood really fast and paced trying to figure out how to get her to the loo in time until he realized he could conjure a bowl for her.
He handed it to her just in time. Once she finally finished, she looked up to Harry who was standing above her holding her bushy hair from falling.
"Thank you." Hermione said weakly. "That could have been bad."
"Like I said before, I am here for you. Just now I can add in 'vomit and all.'" Harry said trying to lighten the mood. "Here, I will let you get cleaned up and I can get you something to drink."
Harry stood and made his way to the door to go downstairs. When he opened the door he nearly hexed the person standing in the way. "Easy now Harry."
Dumbledore came striding into the room, his long grey robes billowing behind him. "I must say Miss Granger your power has grown quite nicely," he smiled with a twinkle in his eye as he started at all the destruction around Ginny's room.
Hermione blushed furiously instantly feeling horrible for all the damage she had caused. "Not to worry though," Dumbledore added. With a flick of his wand the room seemed to shimmer before it reappeared in its original form, if not cleaner. "I do believe that should suffice."
"Th..thank you professor," Hermione said weakly.
"Miss Granger, I have something I would like to discuss with you." Harry started for the door, assuming it was going to be a private manner. "I think you should stay for this as well Harry. Perhaps Mr. Weasley should be here as well."
Almost instantaneously Ron arrived in the doorway causing Harry and Hermione to look at him in shock. "I'm sorry to just barge in like this but I felt compelled to come up here," He asked with a confused look on his face and a glass of water in his hand.
"Ah Mr. Weasley perfect timing I do have to say. Would you mind giving Miss Granger the drink in your hand?" Ron shrugged and made his way over to Ginny's bed to sit next to Hermione.
Harry locked eyes with Dumbledore, but he did nothing but turn and shut the door while conjuring a squishy armchair for himself to sit in. Harry continued to stare Dumbledore down as he took a seat on Hermione's other side.
"I know that you three are wondering why I have asked to talk to you." Dumbledore paused as if daring them to respond and when no one did, he continued. "I feel that the Dark Lord will try to attack again now that you three have been reunited."
"I'm sorry sir, but hasn't Voldemort always been a threat?" Hermione said looking at Harry. Another tear started to fall down her cheek as she thought about her parents.
"Yes, well he is gaining in strength and followers. So an attack will be happening in the near future. I want you three to be prepared."
"Professor, what good would it be for them to be in harms way?" Harry voiced his concern, obviously not wanting to put his two friends in danger.
Hermione immediately turned to Harry with a look of contempt. "Harry James Potter, you had better not think that you're going at this alone because if you do, you have another thing coming. We're in this until the end."
"She's right mate," Ron voiced as he leaned forward to get a look at his two friends, "We've been together since the beginning, we'll be together until the end."
Harry opened his mouth to fight back, but realized his attempts would be futile. Besides who was he kidding, he really didn't want to do this alone.
"I feel that we should train you. It will be in depth and very difficult but many Hogwarts teachers will help, along with some of the aurors." Dumbledore stated. "We have two choices for the location as well. I will let you three choose where, Hogwarts or Grimmauld Place."
Dumbledore waited for an answer but the trio was silent. Suddenly he stood and went to the door, opened it. All that was seen from the bed were Fred and George toppling in first, then Ginny, Neville falling on top of Ginny, and then Luna just stumbling in. All of them groaned as they realized what had happened. Harry, Hermione and Ron couldn't help but howl in laughter. Even Dumbledore had a small smile.
"Sorry sir, we uhh, thought," Fred said.
"That something important was happening since you were talking to them." George stated and pointed to his brother and friends.
"And now you can all get up because I am positively squished underneath you lot." Fred grimaced as he was the bottom of the pile.
Neville and Ginny got up quickly, their faces scarlet as it was obvious that they had been awfully close to each other.
"Finally!" George said as he pulled up Fred off the floor.
"I'll leave you to discuss what it is your answer will be." Dumbledore said as he turned and made his way back downstairs. "Oh yes, and Miss Granger you may want to think about going downstairs to get something to eat."
Everyone sat in silence until they were sure Dumbledore had made it downstairs. George crossed the room and shut the door and turned and looked to Hermione impatiently. "What?" She asked.
All he did was wave his finger in a circle all around the room indicating something. "Ahh," she answered and waved her arm around the room making the room safe from any outsiders listening.
"That's my girl," Fred smiled.
"So you guys are going to start training huh?" Luna finally asked as she crossed the room to sit next to Ron.
"I guess we are," Harry answered, looking to Hermione for her okay to divulge all of the information to them.
Hermione nodded her head in an okay, but before Harry could speak again Neville spoke. "So when do we start?"
"Wait a minute, there is no we," Harry started in protest, "Dumbledore specifically said us three. I don't need you guys to be in danger again. Not after what happened last time."
"We're going to be there for you Harry whether you like it not, so I'm thinking a little training wouldn't hurt, don't you think Luna?" Ginny asked, with a knowing smirk on her face.
"Absolutely. We don't want to go out into battle waving our arms around like dolts. Training would be the right idea." Luna agreed.
"She's got a point mate. If we're going to get you alone with Voldemort in the end, then we're going to need all the help we can get," Ron said, his eyes bugging wide with realization of what he just said.
"Why would Harry have to be alone with Voldemort?" Ginny asked.
"Because he's the one in the prophecy," Luna responded as if it were normal, every day conversation.
"You know?" Harry asked, looking at Luna in shock.
"Well my father had told me about the prophecy since I was little. It was only after I really got to know you during your fifth year that I realized that it was you it was talking about." Luna smiled.
"What prophecy is she talking about Harry?" Neville asked, "The one I broke?"
Harry nodded and Neville winced. "I guess I really messed things up again didn't I?" Neville asked.
"Actually Neville you did a great thing." Hermione answered, "Voldemort was looking for it because he only knew the first half of it, but since you destroyed it, now he'll never know."
"Well are you guys going to tell us what was in the prophecy or are you going to keep us in suspense all night?" George piped up, showing his impatience.
Harry feigned a weak smile and then recited the prophecy. He knew it by heart. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
"Wow mate, that's a bloody nasty prophecy. I feel sorry for you." Fred sympathized, while George nodded.
Neville seemed to go white in the face and he whispered something completely inaudible to the group.
"What was that Neville?" Ginny asked.
"It could have been me," Neville whispered.
"I'm afraid he's right," Harry agreed, "But unlike you Nev, I got to be the one he marked." Harry brushed his hair out of his face to point at his lightning bolt scar.
"And now that we all know, I think it only makes more sense that we help you Harry." Ginny concluded.
Harry looked to Hermione for help with this. He didn't want his friends to get in the line of fire again.
"Don't look at me Harry. You're outnumbered." Hermione smiled weakly.
Harry sighed reluctantly, "Alright then. We'll be meeting at Grimmauld Place until school starts for you two," he pointed to Ginny and Luna, "and then we'll move to Hogwarts. This is only if Dumbledore is okay with it."
"Are you two going to come too?" Hermione asked Fred and George.
"Merlin no. We have a booming business to run." George answered.
"But so you know Harry, when the time comes, we'll have your back." Fred nodded.
"Thanks guys." Harry smiled weakly. He still didn't know what to make of all this support.
"Now if things are settled, I think we should go downstairs, talk to Dumbledore, and finally eat because I am famished." Ron said as he stood.
"Third time is a charm right?" Hermione said with a small laugh.
Everyone besides Harry didn't seem to get it. "Nevermind," she said as she took off all the charms on the room, "Let's go eat."
Fred and George stood and were first to leave the room, followed by Ron and Luna, and then Ginny and Neville. Harry hung back to wait for Hermione to make sure she was strong enough to make it downstairs.
"Thanks again Harry," Hermione said as she took his hand to help her stand.
"No 'Mione thank you," he said as he leaned in to kiss her.
**A/N: Taadaa. :p We told you it was a matter of time before Hermione broke down. She was bottling it up entirely way too much. And we know that technically no one besides Dumbledore knew of the prophecy, but the Lovegoods are weird and who's to say that they wouldn't have found out somehow? Thanks so much for all your guys' continuing support. It makes us so giddy to see all the new reviews and such. So now it's on to the training bit, what could possibly be in store?**