Upside Down Mirror: Granger Yet

Not Quite Right

Hermione let out a sigh as she unscrewed the top of the glass jar, letting the beetle fly out as her lips pushed together. A wave of emotion washed over her as she screwed the lid back onto the jar and slid it into her book bag. She swallowed, her hand reaching out to grip the handle of her trunk. Hermione distinctly heard a squelching sound as the leather attached to the handle slid slightly in her sweaty palm.

"Good grief."

Hermione didn't know how she'd explain to her family the horrors going on within the magical community, particularly with how her visit to Diagon Alley between her first and second year led to her father having an anxiety attack which in turn made her already skeptical middle sister even more against the concept of magic. Again, the handle squelched in her hand as she started forward, the color draining from her face.

The feeling of dread which hung over the school as the students prepared to head home for summer break finally started to set in. Yet, her mind finally recognized that despite her zeal at Krum inviting her to visit over the summer and getting the better of Rita Skeeter in the hospital wing and Draco Malfoy on the train that the customary zeal from the graduating students that year was lacking even after they crossed the lake in the same boats which brought them there during their first year was missing.

Though, Hermione couldn't blame them. Not after seeing Cedric dead as they had, which was now sinking into her head that she'd seen a dead body, yet there was that unpleasant feeling at the thought of how her father would react to such news. She took a deep breath and started forward, knowing full well that she'd seen Harry off she needed to meet that particular person despite knowing her father would know something was wrong.

He always did.

"Hermione?"

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned to look at Mr. Weasley standing close by, his usual smile now a grim frown. She touched her chest just above her sternum, her jaw-dropping. "I didn't see you there. What—"

"I've been looking for your mother and father," Mr. Weasley replied. "Molly and I wanted to talk to them regarding your summer plans."

"Oh." Hermione pressed her teeth against her bottom lip, remembering Mr. Weasley was there the day her mother and father visited Diagon Alley; she also remembered his pat with Lucius Malfoy. "This isn't where we meet up."

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Mr. Weasley turn his head to look at Molly, who let her eyebrows lift. He nodded his head and touched Hermione's shoulder lightly, his smile suddenly returning. "Why don't you and I go and meet up with them, then? Molly will go head and take our kids back home as there are things to be done."

Ron's eyes widened. "Wait? Chores? But..."

"Come along, Ron," Mrs. Weasley clicked her tongue. "Leave your father to his business."

"See you later," Ginny waved, quickly turning after her mother to head to wherever it was that the Weasley family chose to apparate from, or perhaps they used a port key given how many of them there were. Hermione let out a sigh.

"You needn't worry. I could explain things to your parents if you want?"

"It's not—," Hermione shook her head, tugging her luggage after her. Crookshanks remained secure on top of her trunk, not complaining at what she felt must have been a sudden jolt. "It's my dad who meets me when I come home."

"Oh?" Mr. Weasley followed after. "Not both of your parents?"

Hermione slowed down her pace, pressing her lips together, deciding not to touch upon how her parents preferred not to leave Elizabeth in charge of Jules. She also didn't want to bring up her concerns about her father feeling uncomfortable around Mr. Weasley after his verbal spat with Draco's father. "That's just the way it is."

He continued following her as she headed to where her father always met her, away from the portal that led to the Hogwarts express. There was part of her that wanted to see her father, to know he was okay, yet another part feared how he might react to seeing the man who'd caused such distress when he got into things with Draco Malfoy's father.

Yet, as they drew closer, her eyes narrowed, and her lips pushed together, noting her father wasn't there in his usual spot waiting for her. It filled her with a sense of—Hermione honestly didn't know how to serve, particularly how dependent her father could be, always excited to see her when she arrived home from school. He was, after all, her dad, no matter how awkward he could be at times.

"Hermione. Are you sure..." Mr. Weasley asked when Hermione suddenly heard someone call out to her. While she recognized the person's voice, she knew it wasn't her dad.

She turned, her shoulders tensing up at the sight of someone in the family other than her dad approaching her, and she knew something wasn't quite right. "Uncle Lettie?" She swallowed. "Where's dad?"

"It's..." Her uncle turned his head, his brown eyes looking at Mr. Weasley. "...complicated." He lifted a finger, pointing at Mr. Weasley. "Who's he?"

Hermione turned to look at Mr. Weasley, unsure how to explain a Wizard to her uncle, so she muttered. "He's the father of one of my schoolmates."

She heard her uncle sigh and looked back to see him attempt to brush a lock of brown hair behind his ear, only for the strand not to be long enough. "Hermione, this isn't the best time."

Which, of course, meant something was wrong with her dad. There had to be something wrong with her dad. Mr. Weasley reached out his hand. "Arthur Weasley." Her uncle Lettie acted as if Mr. Weasley were trying to sting him. "I was hoping to talk to Hermione's parents. It's kind of important. Involving school, so to speak."

Her uncle didn't shake Mr. Wealsey's hand. Instead, after a moment of silence, he said, "I need to call Olivia. Wait here, please."

Hermione glanced away; a feeling of embarrassment set in regarding how her uncle treated Mr. Weasley. She swallowed. "I am so sorry."

"Well, we weren't expecting your uncle, were we, and I suspect he wasn't expecting me either."

"I'm worried," Hermione said.

"Because of what your uncle said? That this isn't the best time?"

"Because my dad's not here." She let her hand tighten around the handle of her trunk while she heard a slight movement in Crookshanks basket. "This isn't right. This doesn't seem right at all."

She waited, watching for her uncle to come back from the phonebooth, her breath hitching when he finally did. "So? What did mom say? And what is going on?"

"I think..." Her uncle started, then shook his head. He took a deep breath, looking at Mr. Weasley before holding out his hand. "Hamlet Granger."

"Arthur Weasley." Mr. Weasley took his hand and shook it vigorously, smiling. "It's nice to meet you."

"I'd like to say the same, but my sister said..." Her uncle's mouth twisted as if he weren't happy with her mother's decision. "She said Sebastian liked you and that we should trust you."

Which in Hermione's mind sounded like a strange thing to say, given that practically every Granger was a Muggle and thus wouldn't, she thought, need the help of a witch or a wizard. And, she was sure her father was uncomfortable around Mr. Weasley and everyone else that day in Diagon Alley. She watched her uncle turn, then glance over his shoulder, motioning them to follow.

"Come along if you must," her uncle said. There was something—Hermione felt as if her uncle were still off-put by Mr. Granger's presence.

Mr. Weasley turned to look at her. "I'm sure your dad is alright."