Chapter 2
The next sound was that of the back door slamming shut; Ginny jumped on a broom and took to the sky to find Ron and Harry.
“Hermione,” Percy said as he crossed to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, “We don’t have a lot of time so my only piece of advice is to say nothing. Don’t deny anything, don’t defend anything, just stay quite.”
At that moment, that was not a problem since Hermione couldn’t put a coherent thought together. Mrs. Weasley quickly put a comforting arm around Hermione’s shoulders.
“Kinglsey is on his way and we won’t let the Aurors take you anywhere until he gets here.” Percy said, “I hope Ginevra can find Ron and Harry before they get here.”
Just then the floo came to life again and Percy ran to the parlor wand drawn, “Whoa there, Percy,” Charlie said, “What’s this about?”
“Aurors are on the way here to arrest Hermione.” Percy said, ushering his brothers into the kitchen.
“What?!” George replied, “They can’t do that! She’s a bloody war hero for Merlin’s sake. What’s the charge?”
Percy looked at Hermione who had been put into a chair by Mrs. Weasley but she was staring at a fixed point seemingly not listening to conversation around her.
“I don’t know, exactly. Kinglsey got word it was happening and there wasn’t time to explain it so I just came straight here.”
“Well, we just have to get her out of here,” George said, “Charlie, apparate her to Romania and hide her.”
“George, we can’t do that.” Percy snapped, “They know she’s here; it would endanger the entire family.”
“She endangered her life for the entire wizarding world, I think the least we can do is help her!” George yelled.
“I know what Hermione did and I know what she means to this family, Ronald especially, but we can’t aid and abet her, it’s far too risky. The Ministry is by no means clear of all Voldemort sympathizers and we need to be smart.” Percy said, trying to calm his brother down.
“This is bullocks!” George shouted but didn’t continue the argument.
Meanwhile, in the skies over Devon, Ginny rode harder than she ever had desperately looking for Ron and Harry. She knew their usual routes and she just hoped that they hadn’t deviated. After what felt like hours but was probably only 3 minutes, she found them.
“Hey Gin, we were just heading…” Harry started but Ginny interrupted him.
“We need to go back now! Aurors are on their way to arrest Hermione.” She spit out as quickly as she could and turned her broom around to head back to the Burrow.
“WHAT!” Both young men responded in unison.
“Is this some sort of joke, because it’s not funny Gin!” Ron said.
“Get moving!” She shouted at them both, “Percy just arrived, he was only minutes ahead of the Aurors.”
The three of them headed back home with Ron taking the lead. He just could not comprehend what was happening. This made no sense. Hermione had done some less than legal things during the war but so had Ron and Harry. Why was she being signaled out? He was aware from both his father and brother that though strides were being made, the Ministry still had its fair share of Voldermort sympathizers, even in the Auror Corps. His heart clenched and his stomach seized, he needed to get back to Hermione. He pushed that broom harder than he ever had.
The floo flashed for the third time in mere minutes and this time all three Wesley brothers drew their wands.
“Be steady boys,” Mr. Weasley said as he walked into the kitchen seeing a stricken Hermione sitting a chair and his wife trying to hide the panic in her face.
“Where’s Ron?” he asked.
“He and Harry were out for a fly. Ginny went to find them.” Mrs. Weasley explained. Not a moment later the back door flew open and Ron went to Hermione, kneeling in front of her.
“Hermione,” he whispered, “We won’t let anything happen to you, love. You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s a mistake.”
She finally seemed to come back to the present upon his arrival and tears were forming in her eyes. He hugged her tightly to him and she whispered, “But I did do something, Ron.”
He pulled her away, looked in her chocolate brown eyes and let her continue, “I..”
But before she could continue the tell-tale sound of the floo coming to life again was heard. Everyone except Ron and Hermione went to the parlor where two men in official Auror robes with their wands at the ready made their way out of the fireplace.
“I am Auror Roebuck and this Auror Hodgekins. We have an arrest warrant for Ms. Hermione Jean Granger.”