a/n: Harry's thoughts are red, Hermione's, blue. Not much else to say…
Tonks looked up and down Starling Circle. She was waiting on Kingsley Shacklebolt to change shifts for guard at the Granger home. Ever since the fight in June and Dumbledore's death, all the Order members (save Snape, of course) decided amongst themselves to test for Veritaserum and the Imperious Curse, along with guarding the Trio's homes.
Tonks looked at her watch. Kingsley was twenty minutes late! She needed to go and needed to go NOW! Scrimgeour was strict on the entire Ministry, but especially the Auror Department since it was the most publicly criticized department. Looking at her watch again, she knew that something was up, but didn't have the time to find out unless she wanted to explain why she was late because of "elf-riots" again.
So waving her wand in some complicated movements, she set a spell that would alert her when/if Dark Magic was used on this property and Apparated away. Little did she know, Kingsley was on Starling Circle, but he wasn't in any condition to change shifts. Anyone could tell just by looking into his lifeless eyes.
The person sitting next to him was none other than Rodolphus Lestrange. He waved his wand once and a black glow came from the tip of it. Knowing his signal was sent, he smiled although his eyes were cold as steel.
A few minutes later, a pale faced witch appeared out of nowhere, with no sound of Apparation and at least 5 masked men behind her. Her smile seemed to be even colder than her husband, Rodolphus' if possible. "Ready Bella?" he asked, standing up.
"I've been waiting for this moment all summer." she replied.
"Good. Let's go." he said, crossing the street with Bellatrix and the others following behind. Stopping just before Tonks' spell line, he bellowed "REDUCTO!" and the front door shattered to splinters.
Inside, Hermione had been sitting in the Study with her parents when she heard the front door shatter. She knew it wasn't good and quickly decided to not find out why. Grabbing each parent by a hand, she Apperated them all out. Mere seconds later, the Study door blew open with an angry Bellatrix Lestrange standing in it's place.
Hermione had Apperated them to the safest place she knew of besides Hogwarts. 4 Privet Drive. She only hoped that Petunia wouldn't make too much racket while being forced to let the Grangers in. After Hermione knocked, Petunia opened the door with the falsest smile possible. "Are you here for Dudley? Oh he'll be so pleased--"
Hermione interrupted with, "No not your whale of a son. We're here to see Harry and shutting the door in our faces won't help any because then I'll only be forced to Apperate from right here on the doorstep for the whole neighborhood to see." Her parents went from anger at Hermione calling a kid a whale, to astonishment when Petunia looked horrified and stepped aside. "Now, where's his room? Oh never mind, I see it. It's the one with the locks on the door right?" and all three Grangers went upstairs. Performing an unlocking charm, she turned to her parents, "Stay here. I have to see if he's up to talking yet. He may not be considering he witnessed our Potions Master kill our Headmaster." This wasn't news to the elder Grangers. Hermione had sat them down at the beginning of break and told them everything she knew. At their nod, she knocked softly. "Harry? It's me, Hermione."
Opening the door, gave Hermione a sight she hoped to never see again. Harry sat on his bed, looking straight ahead, not focusing on anything with bloodshot eyes that had bags under them. "Harry? Can you hear me?" she tentatively asked. No answer. Walking over to him she could see Hedwig had gotten her own food, judging by the bones of various small rodents "Evanesco!" she said as she sat down next to Harry on his bed. "Harry." Again, no response. "HARRY JAMES POTTER, you look at me this instant!" she said, getting quite agitated with him and his behavior. She could tell he heard her. He was just being stubborn and ignoring her. She got right in his line of vision, since she knew he wouldn't move his head because that would acknowledge her presence, which he'd rather not do at the moment. "Maybe if I ignore her, she'll go away. I can't let her get hurt because of me. I need her too much."
That was wishful thinking though, obviously. Hermione stayed silent while thinking "He's trying to pull his protector act again. He doesn't want me to get hurt again like at the Ministry. Damn Voldemort for instilling this fear that everyone he loves dies. Damn Dumbledore for not knocking Harry out instead of just a bloody body bind. Harry shouldn't have had to see two of the most important people to him die right before his eyes! It isn't right!" "Harry James Potter, you are not going to get rid of me that easily by simply ignoring me! I'm much more stubborn than that and you know it!" she said making sure not to blink so he understood the fire behind each and every single syllable she was saying.
Suddenly, a small unused voice interrupted Hermione's rant. "I don't want to lose you."
Surprised, she could only look at him as his eyes slowly filled up with tears. Finally she threw her arms around his neck and held on tightly, as her own eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." was all that could be heard from either one.
Sometime later, they pulled apart and Harry looked at Hermione; "Why did you come? I know it's too early yet to leave."