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Authors' Note: Updates should come fairly quickly on this one….hope you enjoy
Chapter One
"Safe & Sound"
"Maybe this is forever
Forever fades away
Like a rocket ascending into space
Could you not be sad
Could you not break down
After all I won't let go"
Sheryl Crow
"Safe & Sound"
For once I was happy to be ignored. Ever since I'd returned to the Dursleys for the summer holidays, I had been pretty much on my own. Neither my Aunt Petunia nor my Uncle Vernon spoke to me unless it was absolutely necessary. My cousin, Dudley had been sent to a camp for Overweight Teenagers. My aunt and uncle thought they were helping him. Personally, I believed that they were just setting him loose on unsuspecting prey on which he could bully, taunt and tease at will.
This summer, my Uncle Vernon had procured a job for me mowing lawns at the garden club. I had to give him the majority of my salary, but I didn't care. Muggle money wasn't all that useful in the wizarding world. If it kept them off my back and gave me the chance to be out of that awful house, I would do almost anything.
By keeping myself busy, I was able to forget about Sirius. Well, that wasn't exactly true. He was always on my mind, but by keeping busy, I was able to think about something else, if only for a little while. Ron and The Weasleys had been sending me care packages since summer began. To my surprise, Aunt Petunia allowed me to keep them. They were full of candies and goodies and Ron even managed to send copies of Quidditch Illustrated, a new magazine devoted entirely to Quidditch.
While Hermione had written a few times at the beginning of the summer, I hadn't heard from her in a few weeks. According to Ron's letters, neither had he.
This wasn't like her. After all that happened, this was beginning to trouble me. With Voldemort's return, we really didn't know how far he would go. I prayed that he hadn't done something to Hermione or her family. Too many people had already sacrificed so much over this battle. I didn't want to be the cause of any more pain or problems for the people I cared about so much---namely the Weasley family and Hermione. They were my family now. They and the Order were all that I had left. If I had to die to protect them I would. I just knew that I couldn't stand to lose another person.
Mrs. Weasley liked to point out that we were never given more than what we were able to handle. Somehow, I didn't know if that was true. Someone up there must think that I can handle a lot, then. When I wasn't thinking of Sirius, I sometimes liked to think of what a normal life would be like. Correction, I liked to think about what a normal wizarding life would be like. Maybe I'd be working up the courage to ask a girl to the Yule Ball or I'd been working on my Herbology homework. Instead, I was supposed to somehow juggle all of that at the same time. Oh, and he was also supposed to think of someway to defeat The Dark Lord and restore peace to his world. All in a day's work, right? Wrong.
On the morning of my 16th birthday, I awoke early. This was the day that The Weasleys were going to pick me up and take me home with them for an extended summer visit. I got the impression from their letters that we'd be spending the time at The Burrow instead of at Headquarters. The Order had felt that being there might rub salt in my fresh wound, so to speak. Meetings were still held there, but it would not be used to house us this summer. I was a little relieved at this news. I knew that if I got within two feet of Kreacher or that awful portrait of Sirius' mum, I was apt to take scissors to both of them. I didn't think I'd be able to turn the other cheek as they both hurled insults at Sirius and everyone else.
To my surprise, there was no mention of Hermione joining them. This was very strange. It wasn't like her to stay out of contact for so long. I'd even started to tell myself that maybe Dobby was hiding her letters like he'd done that summer before second year when he'd hoped to prevent me from going back to school. If that was the case, though, Ron's letters would have gone missing, too, but they'd arrived. Something was definitely up and I couldn't wait to see Ron and get to the bottom of this.
I quickly showered and dressed and packed up my trunk. When I finally went downstairs, I found the house quiet and empty.
"Happy Birthday to me," I whispered, looking past the kitchen into the sitting room. The entire house was a Dursley-free zone. The house might not have been so bad if I'd had more free time like this. I noticed the folded piece of paper on the counter that was addressed to me. It was a note from Aunt Petunia.
Harry,
Your uncle and I have left early to attend a summer picnic that his company holds each year. I trust you will leave your room as you found it and make sure that those people do not wreck our home.
Aunt Petunia
I crumpled up the paper in my hands and quickly threw it into the waste basket. Catching sight of the grandfather clock in the living room, I noticed it was just past nine. Mr. Weasley was to arrive at 9:30 to pick me up. I toyed with the idea of grabbing a sandwich or something, but I knew that Mrs. Weasley would have a feast waiting. So, instead, I poured myself a glass of orange juice and set about waiting for their arrival.
You never knew how they would arrive. I wondered if Mr. Weasley would risk using another flying car or if he'd come by Floo. He couldn't apparate as I wasn't permitted to do so until I was of age.
Shortly after 9:30, I heard a rumble in the sitting room and sure enough, Ron and Mr. Weasley stood, covered in soot, right in front of the fire place.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" Ron exclaimed.
"Thanks," I said, watching as he dusted himself off as best he could.
"Happy Birthday, Harry," Mr. Weasley said. He looked around the room. "Where are your aunt and uncle?"
"Out and about," I said, grabbing my trunk and Hedwig's cage. "Thanks for coming to get me."
Mr. Weasley smiled. "It's tradition after all. It wouldn't be summer without you, Harry. Have you been alright?"
I had known that question was coming. I expected I'd hear it for awhile.
"Yes," I said, looking down. I wanted to change the subject. "Well, I'm all set."
"Right," Mr. Weasley said. "Why don't you and Ron go on ahead and I'll make sure this place is spotless after we leave. Here's some Floo powder, Harry."
I took a handful from his pouch and waited as Ron went first and I soon followed. Within a few seconds, I was back at The Burrow. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny hurried into the living room when they heard us arrive. Mr. Weasley arrived soon after. Both mother and daughter looked as if they hadn't been awake for very long, as they both were still wearing their dressing gowns. They both wished me a happy birthday. Ginny gave me a hug and rustled my already messy hair. I couldn't help laughing.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, looking around.
"Oh, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said, enveloping me in a bear hug that left me almost unable to breathe.
"We're almost an empty nest around here! Those boys of mine, Fred & George, have gone out to scout territory
for their joke shop and Bill and Charlie are away on business."
"What about Percy?" I asked, still catching my breath from the massive hug she'd given me.
"Well, it's a work in progress," Mrs. Weasley said. "Things are getting better between us every day. It's still hard, but at least we're all talking. So are you doing okay?"
I nodded. I knew she was just concerned, but I wasn't really ready to discuss this with anyone right now. She didn't push me any further on this, thankfully. She told her husband to bring my trunk upstairs to Ron's room and then come back down for a spot of breakfast. I protested and said that I could do it, but Mr. Weasley insisted so I thanked him and followed Mrs. Weasley and Ginny and Ron into the kitchen.
"So when is Hermione getting here?" I asked, after we'd all sat down at the table. Ron, Ginny, and I both watched as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged a look.
Mrs. Weasley looked down at her plate and said softly, "Well, I don't think she's coming this year."
"Why isn't she?" I asked confused. "I mean, she comes here every summer just like I do. I can't imagine she's break from tradition without telling us." "Yeah," Ron said. "Come on. Tell us what's going on. I know something is wrong, because every time I mention her name, the two of you get that look on your face and change the subject. Harry and I have a right to know what's going on with Hermione. She's our best mate."
"It's really not-," Mrs. Weasley began, but her husband interrupted her.
"I think it's time that the boys knew, Molly," he said solemnly.
I didn't like the look on his face. In all the years that I had known Mr. Weasley, I'd known him to be one of the most cheerful, optimistic people I'd ever known. On the rare occasions when I'd seen him upset or wearing a stern expression, it really stood out. His expression conveyed one message to me. That message was that Hermione wasn't coming and the reason for it wasn't good news. Truth be told, I'd had enough bad news in the past couple of months to last me a good while. Part of me didn't want to hear the explanation for this very reason.
"Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, looking at her only daughter. "Maybe you should go upstairs."
Ginny protested immediately. "Hermione's my friend, too. I have every right to hear what's going on. I'm not six years old anymore, after all!"
"Alright," Mr. Weasley said, taking a sip from his coffee cup before continuing. "Dumbledore had hoped to tell you himself and I imagine he'll still have something to tell you about this, but you are right, boys, you have a right to know what's going on."
Ron and I both dropped our forks and sat on pins and needles waiting to hear what he would say.
"Hermione's parents, as you know, took her on a summer holiday," he continued. "According to Dumbledore, her parents have expressed concern about her safety many times in the past couple of years. With all that has been going on, their concerns were heightened, and understandably so."
I didn't like the sound of this. I could feel a pit rising in my stomach with every word Mr. Weasley said.
"They decided to withdraw her from Hogwarts," he said.
"WHAT?" Ron and I both said in unison.
"They can't do that! Can they, Daddy?" Ginny asked.
"I'm afraid so," Mr. Weasley said. "They are her parents. They have every right in deciding where their daughter---their only child, I might add---goes to school and where she lives."
"What do you mean 'where she lives'? She's not going to live in London?" Ron asked perplexed.
"Her parents feel that it would be best for her to start over in a new place from what Dumbledore said," Mr. Weasley continued. "They were going on vacation, but it is my understanding that they are going to move straightaway."
"Well, surely they'll be coming back to pack their things up, right?" I asked. "I mean, she has to come back at least to say a proper goodbye."
"From the way Dumbledore talks, they've had their belongings shipped to America. They won't be returning anytime soon, as far as I can tell," Mr. Weasley said. "From what I've heard, her parents have been planning this for some time. They've been really concerned about her. I don't blame her parents, though. Being Muggles and all, they really don't know or understand what's been going on. They must have been worried sick about her."
"How could you take their side?" Ron asked, incredulously. "Her parents have taken her away from her friends, from her school. She won't stand for this, you know!"
"Ron," Mr. Weasley said. "I know you're upset, but try to see this from their perspective. They are looking out for the best interest of their daughter. They don't want to see any harm come to her. They're trying to protect her. Now, we might not agree with the extent to which they'd decided to do to achieve that, but we have to respect their decision."
Ron sunk lower in his chair.
I suddenly felt like I needed to get out of there. I quietly excused myself, and walked out of the house and through the backyard toward the field. I didn't look back, I just kept walking.
A number of thoughts were racing through my head. The main thought was that this couldn't be happening. Right on the heels of my godfather dying, I'd lost my best friend. No, she wasn't dead, but she was gone. From the way it sounded, it didn't seem as if he'd be seeing her again anytime soon.
I hated myself for seeming so selfish, but this wasn't fair. I didn't see how she would have gone along with any of this. She loved being at Hogwarts. She wouldn't willingly allow herself to be taken away from there.
Ron and I could sometimes give her a hard time, but she was really one of the best people I'd ever met. I honestly don't believe either of us would have passed any of our classes without her helping us. Not only that, she was one of the most loyal people I'd ever met. Through everything I'd been through, she'd always stood by me. Even when it seemed as if the safer route would have been to walk away, she'd thrown caution to the wind and been my friend. When everyone had thought I'd stuck my name in The Goblet of Fire, she was the only one who believed me that I hadn't done that. Even Ron, had doubted me, then, but not her. She'd never wavered in her belief in me.
As I walked out there in the field, I couldn't even imagine being at Hogwarts without her. Her friendship meant a lot more to me than I'd ever realized. They always said you never knew what you had until it was gone, and that certainly had proved true.
I came to rest at one of my favorite spots, just beside the creek. I picked up some stones and began to skim them absentmindedly on the pond.
"Hey," a voice said, startling me.
I turned to see Ron staring at me. I only nodded at him. He stood beside me at the edge of the pond watching me skim stones. We were both silent for a long time.
"I can't believe this," Ron finally said.
"I know," I said softly.
"Where do you think she is?" Ron asked me.
"I don't know," I said.
"Do you think we could try and find out and bring her back? I mean, if we found her, and talked to her parents, maybe they'd understand and let her come back," Ron offered.
"Sounds as if their minds are made up, Ron," I said grimly. "They wouldn't budge."
"She can't be gone, though," Ron said, shaking his head. "We'll never make it through N.E.W.T.S. without her, you know that? We'll never graduate without her! We'll be as bad as Neville without her, you do realize that? This isn't fair, Harry! There's got to be some way that we can find her and bring her back."
I was silent as I listened to Ron spout off questions. They were the same questions I had been asking myself.
"And with all the stuff coming up with You-Know-Who, we're going to need her now more than ever. She's the brains behind our little trio, you realize that?"
Ron asked.
"YES!" I answered hotly. "I realize that, Ron! I realize all of that!"
He looked taken aback by my outburst. I certainly hadn't meant to get that upset about it.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I shouldn't have gotten so upset."
"It's okay," he said. "I understand."
"So what are we going to do?" Ron asked a few seconds later.
"What can we do?" I asked. "I don't think her parents are going to change their minds anytime soon."
"There's got to be something we can do. I mean, we can't just let her go, can we?" Ron asked me.
I agreed with him. We couldn't just let her go, but how would we get her back? There had to be something we could do.
"You know if she was here, she'd probably tell us to go to the library to research the problem," I said, with a laugh.
"Yeah," Ron said, laughing. "I wonder if there's a book called, "How to Save Your Best Friend from her Overprotective Parents."
"I can't believe this is happening," I said.
"Me, either," Ron said.
"Do you realize Malfoy is going to love this," I said glumly.
"Oh, you're right!" Ron said. "He'll be over the moon about this. I can just hear the git now."
"What are we going to do, Harry?" Ron asked again.
I could only stare back at him. I had no idea what we were going to do, or if there was anything we could do.
One thing I did know was that I didn't like feeling helpless like this. I wouldn't be able to just let this go, though. She needed me, I was sure of that. I couldn't, no I wouldn't let her down.