The Letters to No One - Romione

Chapter 13

'Ron, take a seat,' Dumbledore said indicating towards the chair that was opposite him. He was wearing a long emerald green cape and a tall wizards hat and anyone who wasn't used to it would have thought that he looked ridiculous. Even Ron thought it a little bit as he sat down. On Dumbledore's side was his mother and father but other than that the room was empty. 

'I want you to tell me everything,' he began an airy calmness to his voice that was both relaxing and unsettling. Ron squirmed a bit in his seat not knowing what to say.

'What exactly do you want to know?' Ron asked.

'How about you start from the day you met Miss Granger,' Dumbledore said and Ron began to tell the whole story from that day, a few weeks ago, in the bookshop to everything that had happened earlier today. When he finished talking he watched as his parents exchanged a nervous glance but Dumbledore seemed just as calm as when Ron had started telling the story.

'Well,' Dumbledore said after a long pause that had kept Ron sat on the edge of his seat. 'It appears that we have made a mistake.'

'What?' Ron gasped, that had not been the answer that he had expected. He had convinced himself that Hermione was a witch and now after all of this he probably wouldn't be able to see her again. They'd probably have to erase her memory meaning that she wouldn't remember any of this. She wouldn't remember Ron. 'You mean she's a muggle?' Ron asked almost inaudibly hardly able to believe the words that he was muttering.

'Not at all,' Dumbledore replied and Ron's heart lept in his chest. 'It appears that we have made a mistake by not sending Miss Granger a letter to Hogwarts when she was eleven.' 

'Are you serious?' Ron asked still in disbelief, not quite sure if he had heard Dumbledore right.

'Of course Mr Weasley, I never joke about this kind of thing,' Dumbledore said with a smile.

'But how come she could do magic without having learnt it at school?' Ron asked. 'Or even knowing that she was a witch.' It was a question he had been asking himself  all day.

'It's very common among young witches and wizards before they have been properly trained and have learned to control their magic to show signs.' Dumbledore said. 'It's often fuelled from extreme emotions that can't be controlled themselves.' He added and Ron remembered the time Harry had told him about being able to regrow his hair over night and suddenly it all made perfect sense. 

'So what happens now?' Mrs Weasley asked. Ron turned to face his mother, having momentarily forgotten that she was sat there, and she smiled back at him. 

'Well that depends on what Miss Granger wants,' Dumbledore replied and Ron suddenly realised that in all of this he hadn't thought about how Hermione would feel about this. He had only considered the effect her being a witch would have on him, not how life changing it would be to her. 'Thank you for your help Mr Weasley,' Dumbledore said directly at Ron. 'I would really appreciate it if you would go and fetch Miss Granger for me, there is something rather important I need to tell her.' 

Ron nodded his head at Dumbledore before heading back out of the room. He couldn't believe it, Hermione was a witch. A witch. Just imagine if she came to Hogwarts, that would be incredible. But then again what if she didn't want to, that was a possibility. 

He reached the tree house and climbed up the steps, hearing Hermione and Ginny chatting and laughing together. 

'Hey Ron,' Ginny began. 'Thanks for the book that you chose me for my birthday.' She said emphasising the you. Hermione gave him and apologetic look but he couldn't help but laugh.

'Yeah about that...' Ron laughed and the three sat and laughed, their laughter eventually  dying out until they were sat in silence.

'So is everything alright?' Ginny asked.

'You mean you don't know?' Ron asked in surprise having expected Ginny to know everything that happened that day.

'No,' she sulked in a way that reminded Ron of himself, making him realise how ridiculous he must look. 'Mum and Dad wouldn't let me stay in the kitchen while they were talking to Dumbledore. I had to wait in my room until they sent me to fetch you.'

'What's happening?' Hermione asked. It was different now that Ron knew the truth and strange that Hermione didn't. After all this affected her a lot more than it would ever affect him.

'Dumbledore wants to see you,' Ron said, not realising how strange this sounded to Hermione who had no idea who this man was. From everything that had been said that day she felt terrified but from the look on Ron's face she felt as if  perhaps things weren't as scary as they seemed.

Ron took her hand and led her towards the Burrow and she couldn't help but smile at the house that looked as if it would collapse at any moment. Hoping with all her might that this wouldn't be the last time that she would come here. 

'Are you alright?' Ron asked squeezing Hermione's hand.

'Honestly, no.' She replied. 'But I'm hoping I will be in a bit.'

'Do you want me to stay with you?' Ron asked and Hermione nodded, unable to find the words.

Ron pushed open the door and Hermione followed him into the room. She hadn't seen it properly earlier when she had stood on the doorstep talking to Ron, but now that she was inside she saw that it was one of the most homeliest rooms she had ever seen. Something was cooking in the stove, which was gently heating the room and every area seemed to be covered with pillows and blankets. In one chair sat an old man with a long beard and wearing a bright green cape. The sight of him startled Hermione and she didn't know what she should expect. 

'Miss Granger, please take a seat,' the man said indicating towards the chair where Ron had sat just minutes earlier. 'My name is Albus Dumbledore.' 

'W...What's going on?' Hermione stuttered, suddenly a lot more nervous than she had felt when Ron was stood by her side. As if reading her mind Ron took a couple of steps towards her and placed his hand on the back of the chair. Hermione looked up at Dumbledore and noticed that behind him sat a man and a women, both with bright red hair, that must've been Ron's parents.

'I know that today has been a very strange day for you Miss Granger,' Dumbledore said. 'But I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep you waiting for a few more minutes. We're just waiting on something.' 

Hermione turned to Ron to see if he had any clue as to what was going on, but the confused face on his face showed that he didn't know what was happening either. She wasn't sure whether that was reassuring or not. They sat in silence and every second but Hermione a little bit more on edge. A part of her thought that perhaps this was all going to turn out to be some big practical joke at her expense and that they had nothing to tell her. But just as she was starting to doubt everything that had happened a large bird flew through the window causing Hermione to squeal. She looked around as the bird landed on Dumbledore's knee, surprised that the appearance of this bird didn't seem to startle any one else in the room. The bird dropped a letter in Dumbledore's lap and he picked it up as the bird flew off just narrowly avoiding Hermione. 

Dumbledore held the letter out towards Hermione and after a few seconds she realised that he wanted her to take it from him. She took the letter from him and read the front. It looked as if it was written on parchment with green ink on the front showing her name and address. She turned it over and saw a red crest imprinted on the back.

'I'm sorry for the mistake Miss Granger,' Dumbledore said startling her, she had forgotten that there was anyone else in the room with her. 'But you should have received this later many years ago.'