A Whole New Beginning (Completed)

Chapter 17

Harry laid Hermione down on her bed and gently pushed her hair out of her face, watching as Madam Pomfrey was checking over Ginny. Hermione was fast asleep, having fallen asleep on Harry halfway back to Grimmauld Place.

"Feeling better?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Ginny nodded.

"Thank you."

"What's wrong with Miss. Granger?" she asked, moving over to Hermione.

"We found her like this. We have no idea what they did to her."

She ran her wand over Hermione. "Several uses of the cruciatus curse were used on her. There's not much I can do for her. I'll leave some pain potions here, and I'll heal the bruise on her face. She'll have to let this run its course."

Harry nodded as she took a jar out of her bag and gently rubbed it on Hermione's cheek where the bruise was. In a few seconds it disappeared. She then took some vials out of her bag and gave to Harry, who immediately put them on the nightstand.

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," he said, grabbing Hermione's hand.

"I hope she gets to feeling better," she said, closing her bag. She then nodded at Harry, Ron and Ginny before turning and leaving the room.

"She'll be ok, mate," Ron said, sitting down on the opposite side of Hermione. Harry shook his head.

"I still have that feeling, Ron. Something's wrong."

"You still think her parents are dead, don't you?"

Harry dropped his head, refusing to say anything. He was hoping that his worry would go away and that it was wrong.

*****

Sirius sat in the kitchen, drumming his fingers against the table. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat across from him while Remus paced the room. Fred and George stood in one spot, refusing to say anything.

Sirius, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley all stood up as they heard the door to the kitchen open.

"What'd you find out?" Sirius asked, as Tonks and Kingsley entered the kitchen. They both turned their heads away.

"We've launched an investigation. We went to Hermione's house to check things out, and we found Hermione's parents."

"They've been killed, Sirius. We're thinking just an hour or two before the attack."

Sirius looked away, closing his eyes as he did so. Tonks put her hand on her mouth, while Remus gently rubbed her shoulders.

"Don't tell Hermione," he said a moment later, clenching his hands onto the back of the chair. "It would only hurt her. Let me talk to Harry and have him tell her. If she should hear it from anyone, it should be him."

They nodded. Sirius sat down at the table, burying his head into his hands. Fred and George were both extremely quiet.

"That poor girl," Mrs. Weasley said, wiping tears from her eyes. Mr. Weasley wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"We attempted to find the order members that were supposed to be guarding them. Hestia Jones was found dead and Mundungus Fletcher was nowhere to be found."