When Hermione Fights

The Second War Begins

Chapter beta: Dani

Chapter translator: Nik (& Aivy)

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No questions were asked, and Harry only gave me a lenient but somehow sad look that reflected a deep knowledge and understanding. We all retired to our beds early.

I slept quite well, even though I had thought long and hard. My plans had been running through my brain, consuming my thoughts. It would soon become clear whether I had considered everything because tomorrow my parents would pick me up from the train for the last time. Afterwards... yes, soon after that there would be no more Granger family!

Oh man. So I cleared my mind and tried not to think of anything.

When the next morning came, I dressed in a loose red T-shirt and jeans. From now on, I always had to be fully operational because my schedule ran its course tightly. I tied my hair together to a practical ponytail.

Phew. An icy, inner cold came over me as I thought about the next two days. Was I really doing the right thing?

Good question, but I chastised myself for asking it. I knew that there was no turning back. If I didn't go through with my plans it would become blatantly dangerous for my parents in the coming weeks and months. It would be a risk to leave them in their current world.

One thing was clear: Lucius wouldn't give up, and since I belonged to his family because of Draco's branding he would certainly not accept my parents next to him. This was only the first problem, though. After the Dark Lord had reappeared, my parents weren't safe as defenceless Muggles. The signs of a storm beckoned; the attacks would get worse. Now was the time.

The second war was about to begin!

And I was ready. Where the magical society only now slowly awakened from its sleep and began to open its eyes, I was already executing my long prepared plans and planning new ones. I could deal with the fact that the war now began. The next few days would be so exciting as I would experiencing many firsts. I know I said these things before, a long time back, but there were still things I hadn't done yet, even if they were getting fewer. Well, I was really excited to see how I'd accomplish these things because it wouldn't be easy.

We all greeted each other and I was frightened when I saw Harry. He looked like an Inferius! Simply terrible! He had completely sunken cheeks. He seemed to have cried through the night because his eyes were red and puffy. His whole posture was reminiscent of a beaten dog; as it seemed all the revelations had visibly taken their toll on him. Also, his mourning for Sirius shouldn't be forgotten. As collected as he had pretended to be yesterday, he couldn't keep it up today. Even his hair was hanging somewhat limp into his face.

But as sorry as I was, I couldn't help him. He would have to find a way out himself. How he dealt with the new insights was his choice, yet I hoped very much that he would choose me.

We all went to breakfast in silence and in a melancholy mood. I hadn't been able to escape breakfast thanks to some particular hungry people and I suspected what was coming after the mail arrived. I was curious what Harry would say.

We talked about trivial stuff and watched Ginny cling to Dean. Since the events at the Ministry, she didn't look so longingly at Harry anymore. She seemed much more serious about Dean now than she had at the beginning of their relationship. This renewed confrontation with death, which she had already experienced in her second year, seemed to have shocked her and made her aware of the essentials of life again. I think Dean wasn't a bad catch. He looked very smart, hot-headed perhaps, but otherwise very sweet.

I thought it was good that she wanted to give this relationship a chance. Ron also said nothing about it and accepted it with amazing patience that Ginny seemed to be very happy with Dean. He, too, hadn't left the Department of Mysteries without gaining some inner maturity. Ron not only wore the visible scars on his arms; something had changed in him as well. He was astoundingly calm since he had awakened again and when he thought nobody was looking, he had his eyes fixed on Lav. Hence, I was excited for what the upcoming year would bring.