With Honor

With Honor

Chapter Three - Hermione's Choice

In the week following Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry found himself putting off leaving the Burrow. With Ginny returning, the Weasley family seemed far happier, especially Ron, who delighted in watching every interaction between his sister and his best friend, and mercilessly teasing the latter at night.

It was, however, not to last, as the Hogwarts owls arrived with four letters to the Burrow one lazy Sunday morning. Harry had been absently doing the crossword from the Daily Prophet which Hermione had just handed him after reading and commenting on yet another Dementor attack. Ron was tossing a Quaffle up and down, probably envisioning glorious saves, and Ginny was painting her nails while listening to a happy melody on the wizarding wireless.

Harry caught the first owl, and threw the letter to Ginny, who caught it fearfully.

"OWLs," she whispered to Harry, who leapt up to see what Ginny had received. "You open it, I can't do it, Mum'll kill me..."

Harry tore open Ginny's Hogwarts letter, and skimmed through it quickly.

"Well done Ginny," he said, grinning. "Nine OWLs, are you sure you aren't a prefect?"

"Oh shut up," Ginny said, laughing in relief. "Well, Mum'll probably be happy with this, can't complain about lacking study ethic now, can she?"

"Oh you know you only got that Herbology OWL due to my expert advice," Harry said with a smirk.

"Funny, I was under the impression that you weren't Hermione Granger..."

"Someone say my name?" Hermione said vaguely, skimming through her letter. "Oh my God!"

Hermione had shouted so loudly that Mrs. Weasley came bolting into the room with her wand raised, Ron lost concentration, the Quaffle hitting him in the face, and Ginny jumped slightly. Harry looked warily on, his hand hovering close to his wand.

"Well, what the hell is it?" Ron snapped, rubbing his nose as he angrily kicked the Quaffle away.

"I... I've been made Head Girl," Hermione whispered.

"Well done!" Ginny and Mrs. Weasley said at the same time, the former skipping over and giving her a hug.

Harry and Ron looked at each other, and back at Hermione. They had long known that this day would come, but had never suspected the circumstances. The war was on, and she, Hermione, had stated she would come with them on a hunt for shards of Voldemort's soul...

"Congratulations, Hermione," Harry said, smiling. "Knew it from day one."

"No surprises there," Ron said. He caught Harry's eye once more, and Harry knew that Ron, like him, was wondering what impact this would have on Hermione's choice to join them.

Hermione was positively beaming, taking out the brand new badge in her hand and immediately pinning it on her t-shirt, which was pulled down by the weight. She was admiring the look in the mirror, when suddenly her face turned to an expression of horror.

She's realized that she'll have to make a choice between her best friends and school, Harry thought. And it's my fault.

"Well," said Harry, forcibly cheerful. "This calls for a celebration, no, Hermione? C'mon, let's go to Diagon Alley, I'll buy you any book you want."

"And I'll treat you to an ice cream," said Ron, stepping up quickly.

"You can't, Florean Fortescue was kidnapped, remember?" said Ginny sadly.

"Then I'll buy you any quill you'd like," Ron said firmly, not letting himself be deterred.

"And I'll buy the Head Girl some new dress robes," said Ginny, throwing an arm around Hermione.

"Where did you get that kind of money?" demanded Ron.

"Working for Fred and George on commission was the smartest choice I've made all summer," said Ginny simply.

"Oh, you all don't need to," Hermione said half-heartedly, still looking horrified at her realization.

But they did all the same, and within an hour's time, Hermione's arms were laden with a fine eagle quill feather in a brilliant silver case, a copy of Defence Duelling, and a set of beautiful scarlet dress robes.

All the while, however, Hermione had remained eerily quiet, and did not crack a smile, even when Ron, who had been trying to cheer her up, turned his hair blond when trying to conjure up some flowers for her.

"Thank you," said Hermione quietly, once they had arrived back at the Burrow, and everyone took a seat in the sitting room to admire Hermione's new gifts. "It's been really fun, but... do you mind if I maybe... maybe go back to my house tonight? I really want to see my parents..."

She looked so forlorn that no one even asked why, but Ginny quickly ran up to her room, bringing back a small bag for Hermione, who took it gratefully. Still holding the envelope containing her badge in one white hand, she stood up shakily.

"I'll be back in a few days... I'll send along an owl."

"Hermione, why do you have to go?" asked Ron.

"Just got a few things to think over," said Hermione simply. Taking her bag, she waved to the room at large. "I'll take the Knight Bus, see you all in a few days."

Without waiting for a response, she was gone, leaving an eerie silence. Mrs. Weasley stood and went to the kitchen.

"Looks like we're one person down," Harry said, helping himself to a biscuit.

"For what?" Ginny said suspiciously.

"Good one, Harry!" Ron exclaimed angrily.

"Ron?" said Harry, looking at his friend. "I think it's time you came clean with Ginny."

***

"I'm going," Ginny said firmly.

"No, you're not," said Ron.

"Come on!" Ginny exclaimed. "As if I could not when all you lot are!"

"It's too dangerous," said Harry grimly. "This is going to be the real deal."

"Just because you're the one their after the most doesn't mean that everyone else is safe," Ginny snapped. "It's not just your war you know."

Harry felt like Ginny had smacked him with a crowbar.

"Is that what you really think of me? That I'm trying to soak up all the limelight, all the attention and responsibility for this war?"

"Your words and actions don't give much evidence to the contrary," Ginny said coldly.

Harry scowled, rising to his feet.

"You don't mean that, Ginny," said Ron quietly. "Sit down, Harry, what are you going to do, punch my sister?"

"You know I'd never hurt her," said Harry, sitting down heavily.

"A bit late," Ginny scoffed.

"Although sometimes I may be tempted," Harry added, glaring back at Ginny.

"I'm not ten years old, Harry, as you seem to remember and forget at whatever times that are convenient to you..."

"What does that mean?"

"Brother is here," said Ginny casually. "Don't think he'd much appreciate what I have to say."

"Harry, is my sister implying..."

But Harry had stood up once more. He had had enough of Ginny's constant stabs at him for one night.

"You know perfectly well exactly what I think about you, Ginny," said Harry calmly. "And you should know I care more about you being safe than you could possibly imagine."

"So why won't you let me be with you?"

"Because Voldemort is after me!" Harry exclaimed, incredulous. How hard was it for Ginny to grasp this cold fact?

"And don't you think, that as the only person that Voldemort really fears anymore, I would be safer closer to you rather than away?"

"Not if he specially targets you to get at me! I'm not Dumbledore, I'll never be as great or as powerful as him! Don't you understand? I probably won't be able to protect myself, let alone the people I love! And that's why you can't come!"

"And yet you let my brother and Hermione go with you," Ginny said bitterly. "I suppose your peer to peer love with them just doesn't apply to their safety, does it?"

"Of course it..." Harry began.

"Harry knows that no matter what he says, we'll be there. We've always been there, as long as the situations have let us. It's something you don't understand, Ginny, something you can't possibly grasp. We're his best friends, practically his brother and sister! We'll be beside Harry because that's where we belong!"

"And I suppose because I dated you and kissed you just means I can't tag along," Ginny said acidly, turning to Harry and stepping very close. Her eyes were blazing as Harry surveyed her calmly.

"Ginny..." Harry said softly. "You have your whole future ahead of you."

Ginny looked rather taken aback suddenly.

"Of course I do, and so do you."

"Do I?" Harry wondered aloud. "Sit down. I think it's time I told you what was in the Prophecy."

"The prophecy?" Ginny echoed, not moving. "But... but it was destroyed..."

"Yes," said Harry slowly. "But one person knew the contents."

"You?" Ginny whispered.

"No, not me. At least not for another hour or so. Dumbledore."

"So? What was in it?" demanded Ginny.

"Please sit down, Ginny," Harry repeated.

"I think I'll stand," she replied, looking concerned yet defiant at the same time.

"Fine. Well, believe it or not, it happened one night, at Professor Trelawney's job interview..."

Ten minutes later, Harry felt Ginny slam into his chest, giving him such a tight hug he felt all the air being pushed out of his lungs.

"Harry..." whispered Ginny in his ear. "I understand now."

With that cryptic note, she broke away from him, and walked gracefully out of the room.

"Women," Ron snorted. "Strangest creatures in the world. Chess, Harry?"

Harry, still staring at the door where Ginny had left, barely heard these words.

"Harry?"

"I'd pay a thousand Galleons to know what's going on inside Ginny's head right now," he murmured.

"I'd pay that much to be excused the sight," Ron replied. "Probably thinking something dirty, a wild girl, that one. Hermione, on the other hand, what's going on with her?"

"She got Head Girl," said Harry. "I'm not quite sure whether she'll go back or come with us..."

"What are you saying?" Ron said sharply. "She'll be with us, you know that."

"I wouldn't blame her if she didn't," said Harry, ignoring the angry expression on Ron's face. "You know Hermione, she's wanted Head Girl ever since she was a little first year..."

Ron suddenly looked noticeably subdued.

"She knows what's at stake in this war," said Ron with renewed conviction, a few moments later. "She'll come with us. She needs to."

"Of course," Harry said, no longer listening. His thoughts strayed to Ginny, how she felt, whether he should go after her. He decided against it. "C'mon, let's play a game of chess. Loser buys a chocolate frog."

***

The next few days passed in a flurry. Order members came to the Burrow regularly through the Floo system, often with dire news, sometimes requesting help. Although Harry and Ron always volunteered whenever these situations came, Mrs. Weasley forcibly brushed them away, often relaying the message to Bill, Mr. Weasley, or even the twins.

Harry was beginning to feel a bit cooped up the night before his seventeenth birthday. He had spent the days with Ron in the morning, and Ginny in the afternoon and nighttime. The two were taking shifts at Fred and George's store, in which they seemed to delight in coming back with a few coins in hand, and in Ginny's case, bagfuls of amusing tricks, which were often played on an unsuspecting Harry. All this time, Hermione remained noticeably absent.

It was in the Weasley sitting room, the family listening to a story of a Death Eater attack on a small wizarding village told by Mr. Weasley, when the Weasley fireplace erupted into green flames.

Coming out was a bushy-haired girl, dressed in dark robes. Straightening, her eyes swept the room with an oddly detached expression on her face.

"Hi everyone," Hermione Granger said softly. "Harry? Ron? Can I have a word?"

Harry felt his heart sink, as he stood up. He tried to catch Ron's eyes, but he found his best friends staring at each other.

When they gathered outside the sitting room, Hermione spoke quickly.

"I've thought this over, a hundred times and more."

Here it comes, Harry thought, not quite believing his ears even though he had anticipated it.

"I... I can't come with you Harry... I've got to go back to Hogwarts."

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. "But the Horcruxes!"

"I'm sorry!" she wailed. "But... I got Head Girl, it's more than just a title, they'll be needing me for responsibilities, for leadership, and what about after the war, we'll all need jobs, we need to think about our education, we can't simply..."

"If there is an 'after the war'," said Ron fiercely. "What if we lose? What if we can't find the Horcruxes, and Voldemort wins? Do you think your NEWTs will help you then?"

"Ron!" cried Hermione, stricken. "Please, you don't understand, I can't just..."

"You can, but you won't. There's a huge difference in that, Hermione," Ron said, looking disgusted.

"My parents, they..."

Ron turned and walked furiously away from Hermione, who looked utterly deflated.

"I understand," said Harry as rationally as possible. "I understand why you have to go back. Just like how you understand how I can't."

"Harry," Hermione whispered tearfully. "I don't want to abandon you two..."

"You aren't," Harry said firmly. "Just because you're at Hogwarts doesn't mean we won't be able to talk at all. I can understand why you need to go..."

"Head Girl," Hermione said in an awestruck voice. "I've always wanted it, Harry, but not at this cost, I always imagined you and Ron there with me, I can't possibly..."

"Ginny will be there as well," Harry said heavily. "You'll be fine, Hermione. Be happy, I know that sometimes you have to make hard choices. I hope you've made the right one."

"What would you have done?"

"I can't possibly answer that question," Harry said. "You know what I have to do, what the Prophecy says..."

"Do you hate me for going back?" asked Hermione.

"Never," Harry said. "I trust in your instincts, Hermione. I know you'll do the right thing, just as you always do. And just for the record... I always knew you'd be Head Girl."

Smiling sadly, Harry patted Hermione on the shoulder, and followed Ron out of the room, leaving behind a very miserable looking Head Girl.

***

Needless to say, Harry's seventeenth birthday was marred with discreet glances, forced cheerfulness, and awkward conversation all around. Ginny's curiosity towards why Hermione seemed so detached from the world only served to remind Harry that Ron had yet to tell his parents about not returning to Hogwarts, and he dreaded seeing the Weasley parents' reactions when they found that their son would not return to Hogwarts.

Surprisingly, it was the dinnertime arrival of Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, outcasts at school, that provided a dose of normalcy to an otherwise tension-filled atmosphere.

The Burrow seemed to be divided after dinner, with Neville, Hermione, and Luna sitting at the cleared dinner table where Mrs. Weasley was putting finishing touches to the large chocolate birthday cake. On the other side of the room, Ron, Harry, Fred, George, and Ginny were engrossed in a game of Mini-Quidditch, a dinner table sized replica of a Quidditch pitch, where each player could use their wands to control the miniature players enchanted with complex charms to fly, stop, and even react to the enivronment, to play a life-like game of Quidditch, complete with Quaffle, bludgers, and a Golden Snitch so tiny and so fast that after twenty minutes of play, neither Harry or George, controlling each team's Seeker, had been able to catch it. Harry and Ginny controlled the red and white robed players, whom they called Team England, and were currently in battle against Ron, Fred, and George, who had stood behind their own Team France. The set had been a fresh birthday present, a combined gift from Ron, Ginny, Fred and George.

"So Hermione, I heard you got Head Girl," said Neville loudly, sounding impressed. "They promoted Parvati as prefect to fill your place, do you believe it?"

"What?" Hermione gasped. This piece of news seemed to jolt her out of her thoughts. "Parvati? But... she... but she wouldn't want to... I mean, Parvati..."

"I think she would make a poor prefect," said Luna. "She's obviously under a Devilkin spell, do you see her eyes glint red when you shine a bright light at her, and she reacts rather violently...'

Across the room, Ginny shouted suddenly, grabbing Harry's arm.

"The Snitch!"

Slashing his wand quite violently, Harry directed Team England's Seeker towards the speck of gold where Ginny had pointed, dodging two Bludgers Fred had sent at him, and quite accidentally flying straight into George's seeker, who was knocked off the broom, falling to the table with a loud clank.

"Oh come on!" George complained, just as Harry's Seeker triumphantly snatched the Snitch from the skies.

Harry and Ginny let out whoops of triumph, and gave each other a celebratory hug, all tension momentarily forgotten.

"Game over!" Ginny declared triumphantly.

"No fair, you played like a Slytherin!" Fred argued. "That would've been another penalty..."

"Well, just assume you got that penalty in," Ginny said, shrugging. "You still would've lost by two hundred."

Harry's Seeker had just come to a quick halt, right in front of Harry's face on the very end of the Mini-Quidditch table. Seeing the jersey number not present on any of the other players, Harry curiously peered to see the name of the player, if it had one.

To his great surprise, he saw, written in block red letters, was the word POTTER.

Smiling, he picked the Seeker out of midair, observing the lifelike black hair, glasses, and even the small green eyes. Slowly, Harry placed the model of himself back on the table.

"Finite Incantatem."

The life instantly went out of the players and Quidditch balls, clattering to the table noisily.

As Ron, Fred, and George packed up the table to a handy briefcase-sized package, Harry caught Ginny looking at him.

"Did you know, our Seeker has my Quidditch robes on?" he asked her.

"Really? Aren't they a bit big for the little guy?" asked Ginny, grinning.

"Ginny made it," said Ron, handing Harry the Mini-Quidditch package. "You know, your Seeker. She put the number and name on the robes. She also made one with her name on it, but she wasn't sure if you'd want it on your set so she..."

"Why wouldn't I want it on my set?" Harry asked. "A mini-Ginny Chaser, what could be better? Besides the real one, of course."

Ginny blushed slightly, as Fred and George started sniggering.

"Well, she's right here," Ginny said, ignoring her brothers. "So what do you want to do now, Harry?"

"Well," said Harry. "How about a quick walk, maybe down to the village?"

"Sure," Ginny replied cheerfully, hooking her arm in his.

Fred and George started letting out catcalls, and Ron frowned.

Shrugging, Harry walked out of the room, letting himself be pulled along. They had just reached the front door, when it was pushed open with force.

"What the..." Ginny started.

Stumbling into the house, panting, was a battered and bloody Remus Lupin.

"Hermione!" he groaned, crashing to the floor. "Tell Arthur or Molly... Hermione's parents..."

"What?" Ginny cried, panicking.

"Tonight... werewolves... Death Eaters... they're going to try and kill Hermione!" Lupin gasped, clutching at a chest wound which was spurting blood. "They stunned me and locked me up, I had to fight through all of them to get out..."

"Merlin!" Ginny exclaimed in shock, but Harry was already moving.

"Mrs. Weasley! Call the Order," Harry shouted, running into the crowded living room. "Hermione's house, the Death Eaters are trying to get her, her parents are in danger!"

"Calm down, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said quickly. "What are you saying, what about Hermione?"

"Remus Lupin, he's by the door, he told me, the werewolves and Death Eaters, they're after Hermione..."

"Why would they be after Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley asked blankly.

"JUST CALL THE ORDER!" Harry shouted. "We've got to get them out, we can't wait, it's..."

Suddenly, there was a loud groan, and Remus Lupin came stumbling into the room.

"Molly, I need to get to the safe spot, I haven't had any Wolfsbane..."

"Remus!" Mrs. Weasley shouted in alarm. "What on earth happened to you?"

"The werewolves, they caught me listening in to the leaders' conference, have you called the Order? Hermione's parents, their in danger, they were planning to attack her..."

"But, what could've..."

"Molly, now!"

Mrs. Weasley dropped the bag of sprinkles she had been decorating the chocolate cake with, and dashed for the fireplace.

Remus turned around, and let out another loud groan.

"What's going on?" Ron demanded, standing beside the couch with his mouth half open.

"Harry," Remus said, clutching his side. "You have to get me to the safe point, I can feel it in my blood, I'm about to transform..."

"Where? Where is it?"

Remus screamed, and fell to the floor in agony.

"I got him," Fred said quickly, hurrying to Remus's side. "Give me a hand, George."

With a loud crack, the three wizards disappeared.

"Hermione, where's your house, we've got to go, now!"

"Wait!" said Ginny breathlessly. "I can't apparate, how am I meant to..."

"Stay here," Harry ordered.

Ginny opened her mouth angrily, but Harry gently put a finger to her lips.

"Wait here with Luna, Neville, and Ron, find out what your mum wants you to do, Hermione and I will go, we can apparate..."

"You haven't got a license," Ginny said, but Harry had turned away.

"Hermione, come on, we got to warn your parents, the moon is coming up!"

She moved fluidly, grabbing Harry's hand.

"Follow," she said. "One... two... now!"

Harry focused his mind on following Hermione, and the braced for the sensation of apparition.

It came and went quickly, and Harry felt himself in a far different environment, an upper to middle class environment, complete with leather sofa, glass coffee table, and four adults chattering amiably.

"Hermione?" Mr. Granger said uncertainly. "What are you doing here? And how did you..."

"There's our little girl!" an elderly man with white hair said, holding his arms out wide. "How's the special girl of the family doing?"

"Hi Grandpa," Hermione said, allowing herself to be hugged. "Listen, Mum, Dad, you have to..."

"You're in danger," Harry cut in, drawing his wand. Outside, the sun had already fallen, and darkness was settling.

"Danger? Who are you, barging into my daughter's house, and what are you talking about?" Hermione's grandmother demanded.

"My name is Harry Potter, your granddaughter is a good friend of mine," Harry said, waving his wand and reinforcing the large windows and walls with defensive wards. He turned to look Hermione's parents and grandparents. "And you're about to be attacked by werewolves and Dark..."

But Harry stopped cold, for in the distance, the unmistakable howls of werewolves sent paralyzing fear through the hearts of all who could hear them.