Summer of Change (GxG) - A Hermione Fanfic

Chapter 14

POV: Molly

I was pacing.

Why was I pacing?

Dear Hermione had been gone longer than she should have been.

And it had my entire body on edge.

I tried to focus on other things. I cleaned the house from top to bottom like I usually would when my nerves were high. I would have sweated up a storm, but the magic that keeps the house temperature regulated was a lifesaver.

I also could cast a cooling charm on myself.

"Frigidus Aer," I said with a twirl of my wand.

Cool air swirled around my person, and I instantly felt better.

My body might have now been cooled, but my mind was still swirling with thoughts incessantly.

I thought of making dinner for Hermione, for when she came back, but there was this awful feeling in my chest that made me fall to my knees. My breaths came up short, and I felt...

Fearful.

Merlin...

What was this?

Why was I afraid?

I had only felt like this when- when I found out half my family hadn't survived the war. When I saw the sheets being lifted off their cold bodies, and knew that I would not be seeing them in this life ever again.

That Arthur, George, Fred, Bill, and Ron were gone.

This... feeling was different.

It had my heart beating faster, it had sweat dripping down my back, and it clouded my mind with anxiety. The only clue I had was a scent. One particular scent flooded my nose, and it was... pumpkin.

Pumpkin!

I knew who that scent belonged to!

Hermione!

She- she was in danger.

I didn't understand why she was....

She had just gone to Andromeda's.

What could have happened there?

Unless...

It was the rogue death eaters who evaded capture.

No matter, I apparated to the Tonks' home as quickly as I could. I didn't even think about splinching myself. The urge to protect the younger witch was strong. It flowed through my veins like a roaring river.

POP!

When I appeared on the street, it was raining, so I had to cast the charm I knew to keep me dry while I was out on the road. I also kept my eye out for any muggles. I did not want them to see me doing magic out in the open like this. The last thing I needed was for the Ministry to find out.

"Adaquo," I said as I pointed my wand to the sky.

An invisible umbrella-like barrier was erected above me so I would not get wet. I also cast a drying charm on my clothes, which had gotten a little wet when I first popped here.

"Exaresco," I said and felt my wet clothes become dry.

With that out of the way, I made my way toward the Tonks' residence. My steps were hurried, and my heart thudded against my chest. I hoped everything was all right. I didn't want to seem like an arse by interrupting their much-needed reunion.

But...

I wasn't keen on me not doing anything.

I trusted what I was feeling.

Something was wrong.

I just knew it.

When I got closer to the house, I heard yelling, which spurred me on. Energy coursed through my body at the sounds of a conflict. My mind was going through the memories of the war. Yelling and screaming were prevalent on the battlefield.

I quickly made my way to the front door and cast Alohomora on the door so it would unlock for me. I did not want to alert whoever was behind this door that I was here. I heard the lock mechanism unlock the door for me, and I burst through the door to see a horrid sight.

Andromeda was pointing her wand at Hermione. I looked to Andromeda's lips, and her mouth formed a word I would never have thought would come out of the older witch's mouth. Just thinking about the accursed word had my mind thrown into a frenzy and my body panicking.

I couldn't believe this was happening.

Time seemed to slow, and I raised my own wand to defend the young witch. I knew Hermione would not be able to defend herself. I knew her body would not respond. I felt the same bone-chilling fear she was feeling right now.

I might not have been able to defend my family, but... on Godric's name I was going to defend Hermione even if I lost my life in the process.

"CRUCIO!"

"STUPIFY!"

Andromeda and I yelled.

Our spell jet streams met in a clash, and we battled for dominance. Andromeda was a talented witch, and I could feel her power pushing me back. Green inched its way forward and snuffed red out. My hand started to shake at the brutality and force of Andromeda's spell.

Doubt started to seep into my mind.

The wizarding world thought of me as only a housewife.

An accessory.

A mother.

A pureblood woman whose only value stemmed from my womb.

But wasn't I more than that?

I went to Hogwarts, didn't I?

I had gotten excellent grades, didn't I?

I could have stood with the best of them...

Isn't it high time I showed what I was truly capable of?

My eyes locked onto Andromeda's own, and determination rolled through me. I gripped my wand tighter and planted my feet more firmly on the ground. I stood straighter than I had been and licked my lips. My eyes flicked to the clashing jets, and I let my magic flood out of me. I let it empower the spell I was casting with abandon.

"NO!" Andromeda yelled.

Red pushed back green at an alarming rate. Andromeda was losing and she was losing rather quickly. She tried to hold on as best she could, but the victor of this duel was already clear.

With one last push, red surged forward and hit Andromeda square in the chest. The spell sent the older witch flying backward into the kitchen, where a loud crashing was heard moments later.

I was out of breath. I took one large breath in and let it out. My magic was slowly receding, and I felt the energy drain from my body. I knew I had overworked my body in a way I hadn't recently.

But I needed to check on Hermione.

I looked to my left and saw Hermione fall to the floor on her knees. Tears were falling from her eyes. The younger witch's body was shaking. I didn't even know what I was doing until I had done it. I scooped the younger witch up from the floor and cradled her to my chest.

"Let's go home," I said softly.

I felt Hermione nod in agreement, so I apparated us back home where the younger witch could finally heal.