Waiting for Maxima

The War Room

Remus leads Hermione to a room deep into the maze that is Twelve Grimauld place. The room is large colored in deep green, papers are tacked to the walls, drawings, articles placed in all available spaces. A long table sits in the center surrounded by chairs almost all filled with members. A girl with bright pink hair is placing feathers on the sleeping form of Kingsley snorting as she adds another to the stack. Remus takes his seat nodding to a few as he settles in.

The room turns quiet as Hermione enters, all eyes follow her as she takes the remaining seat nestled between Sirius Black and Luna Lovegood.

"Hermione, brilliant you're here." The familiar voice of Sirius Black calls as she enters. He has filled out since she's last seen him, a proper diet and dementor free existence did do wondrous things. Today his hair is tied back, and he is wearing a 'Scrieking Sirens' wizarding band t-shirt making him look more like a teenage boy than a man especially not one who had spent the last decade is one of wizarding world's worst prisons.

Hermione does not miss the chocolate bar that he slides across the table to Remus, or the small smile the old friends share. For all the two had lost, at least they had each other.

Hermione feels a surge of missing her own friends, Harry and Ron, there was so much going on without them by her side. She needed them, that and copious amounts of research. They were backbone, her courage, she could use a little of that right now.

At first there is silence surrounding the table upon her arrival, but this does not last.

Molly Weasley is the first to speak "She is too young. A child! What were you thinking bringing her here? This table is not for the ears of children." She glares at Remus. Hermione does not doubt that lack of presence of her friends was wholly due to this woman.

"We were children too once Molly! Children and we sat at the table, why is she any different? She volunteered just like every member of this table; she knows the risk. We are getting slaughtered, we could use someone new, fresh blood, new perspective." Sirius is the first to respond, standing up across from Mrs. Weasley, his arms are crossed, and his hands play with a gallon. She swore it glows at times.

"She will be fresh blood soon enough, fresh SPILT blood. Sirius Black, blood on your hands. Should my children be in here just as well?" Her face is red, her hands a balled tightly into fists.

"you want to separate them, your own kids. SURE. FINE. But that is not your child. You know who doesn't separate, who doesn't discriminate against youth for their age, Riddle. Tom Riddle indiscriminately kills, doesn't matter if you join the meeting of not, but I bloody well would think you'd rather have your kids informed- "Sirius is cut off by Luna Lovegood.

"Apologies all" she rises from her seat non-confrontational, but heads snap in her direction when she speaks. She wears a headband full of feathers and a purple velvet waistcoat. She was Luna, through and through.

"Perhaps it is not our decision whether Hermione should occupy a seat, but rather her own. Muggleborn's are very much in danger and she may very well be the most famous one. Her aura is particularly bright, I think she'll be a wonderful addition" Luna smiles gazing inches above Hermione's head.

"Molly, you might have a particularly aggressive Nargle clouding your mind. I have the most wonderful charm that would help" Luna continues. "it even smells an awful like fresh grass" she smiles happily at the thought.

"Luna.. er.. that's really fine, I don't need a charm...thanks dear" Mrs. Weasley mumbles, reduced to awkwardness by the eccentric girl. Hermione had been surprised to see the mild-mannered girl at the table at first, but she now saw the appeal.