"So what happens now?" Emma asked over a late breakfast the morning after Harry, Hermione, and Charlus came home.
Nobody needed to ask what she was talking about. Even though nobody was saying it, the fact that Hermione had killed someone the day before was the elephant in the room. "Well the Aurors determined it was self defence so it's pretty much over for Hermione as far as the Ministry is concerned." Charlus told them between bites of slightly charred hash browns. Sirius had made breakfast and while still perfectly good he liked his food crunchy and sometimes left things a little too long.
"Just like that? Seems like a pretty big thing to deal with so quickly and easily." Dan sounded like he couldn't believe it.
Harry understood better than his grandfather where Dan was coming from so he explained. "It's not like regular police investigations, the wizarding world is so small that our version of the *C.P.S is literally in the building listening to the interviews. Interviews that we volunteered to be put under magic to force us to speak the truth for. It probably helps a bit that bureaucracy gets more complex the more it needs to track. Less people, less bureaucracy. And let's not forget that Malfoy is an escaped prisoner, known murderer, and is a known member of the death eaters who it looks like was actively involved in a plot to murder the person who makes the final decision on who is to be charged."
"Let's not forget they have Parkinson to focus on. There will likely be some paperwork that needs signing and they may want us to give evidence at her trial at some point but generally yeah, as far as the law is concerned that's it." Harry purposely spoke about the position of the law and avoided saying Hermione had done the right thing. Not because he didn't believe she had done the right thing. She had only done what he had been trying to do. Also while he couldn't say she had definitely saved his life, if she hadn't been there he never would have directed his shield up. She definitely finished a fight that would have continued and even then it was a roll of the dice to see which one of them would kill the other and Harry couldn't guarantee that Malfoy wouldn't have gotten off the winning spell. So he also couldn't say she hadn't saved his life.
The only thing he could say for definite was that Hermione was questioning herself. She hadn't said anything about it, the truth was she had barely spoken all morning. What she had done was absolutely refuse to be alone. She had started by clinging on to Harry, then when Harry had to go change and use the bathroom she had moved on to her mother, later her father, even Charlus was included to his surprise. Even now while they were eating Hermione was eating left handed because her right hand was holding on tight to Harry's left.
There was almost a full five minutes where they just ate and nobody said anything, everyone too lost in their own thoughts. The silence was broken by Dan. "I think it's now beyond time we move Hermione to another school and I think you should send Harry to another school as well. Get them both out of the country and away from this madness while adults deal with the problem."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Said Sirius. "The international confederation has sealed off Britain. No magical people in or out until we sort out our own mess. Unfortunately that includes Hermione and Harry."
Emma looked disgusted and asked. "What if we put them on a normal plain old boat and sent them off that way. They could apply for refugee status."
Dan sighed he immediately saw why it wouldn't work. "Wouldn't work love. If they stuck to the normal world nobody would believe that two teens from the UK are being persecuted enough to warrant refugee status and if they tried to apply in the magical side, if such a system exists, then they would be admitting they broke through the quarantine or embargo or whatever it is this international confederation has called it."
"Unfortunately that's true and every magical government in the world monitors their mundane counterparts immigration departments looking for magicals. Harry and Hermione would be back in Britain before a week was out. Probably dropped right in the old Ministry of Magic building. The one currently being held by you-know-who." Charlus unfortunately agreed with Dan.
"That or depending on the magical government, they would be put in a prison. Some don't like magical Britain and would jump at any excuse to imprison a couple of British magicals."
Dan and Emma wanted to say that was barbaric but they knew that was just how global politics worked. There were more than a few countries that had a somewhat adversarial relationship with the UK and would do something similar on the normal side as well.
"So that's just it then? They have to go back to that death trap of a school. No other choice save for being thrown to murderers or thrown in a foreign prison?" Emma calmly demanded. "What if we put them in a normal school so they could catch up on their normal education? Tell no one where they are?"
"It would be too easy to find them with magic and then when there was a fight they would be on their own. Two teens alone against a squad of death eaters. In Hogwarts there are Aurors guarding the way in and out, there are professors they can go to for help, I am there." Pointed out Charlus.
"Fat lot of good those Aurors did yesterday." Dan pointed out.
Harry spoke up. "Honestly I think the fact that they attacked yesterday is proof of how relatively safe Hogwarts is from the death eaters. They only got an opportunity when we all had to leave the castle wards. Seems to me like there were just too many people moving as one, a problem to understand and work out a solution for but honestly isn't it better to only be vulnerable on a couple of days a year while travelling than to be vulnerable every day not knowing if and when we will be found." Hermione didn't say anything but she silently squeezed Harry's hand in support as he spoke.
-ϟϟϟ-
Despite everything that had happened the day proceeded calmly. Hermione was understandably clingy but she wasn't breaking down. Considering everything they took that to mean she was processing everything and with their support, support they were more than happy to provide, she was going to be fine.
A little after lunch Harry received an owl from the Ministry. It was a collection of portkeys like the ones he had gotten for Hermione. Harry took three of them and draped them around his neck. One would bring him back to Potter manor, one would take him to a stand of trees in a park near were Hermione lived, and one would take him to the path right outside the Burrow.
Harry also handed Hermione her last portkey, her own portkey to their best friend's place. He was glad that Mr Weasley had signed off on the two of them having portkeys to burrow as well as Ron. With the floo now unreliable, especially for them or anyone they cared about, they would have missed their best friend over the summer. It also showed just how much trust the man had in the two of them. Portkeys to your home, even if it was outside the wards, were dangerous in times like these. They worked for anyone and there was always the possibility that they could be stolen.
Though as Harry thought about that as he looked over the three portkeys that were left that he needed to deliver to Ron he thought that it may not be such a big risk for the Weasleys. The Weasleys were one of those families who everyone knew and as such it wasn't difficult to find out where they lived. And the other side could make portkeys as well as theirs could.
"Do you feel up to a trip?" Harry asked Hermione.
"To the burrow? To deliver the portkeys?" Hermione asked, checking if she understood his plan. Harry just nodded. Hermione paused for a minute, Harry would have withdrawn the offer but Hermione had a look on her face that told Harry she wanted to go but was worried. She was debating with herself and Harry wasn't going to try and make that decision for her. "Yeah let's go. Ginny has crooks because I didn't want to bring him to the ministry and I want to get him back. But not for long, okay."
Harry was happy with that. "Sure half an hour tops. I will just go tell grandfather and your parents what we are doing."
So Harry did just that. "I'm not sure that is a good idea Harry." Dan said when he told them. "After what happened yesterday I don't think it's safe."
Charlus luckily stepped in. "I understand your concerns but it should be safe enough. As soon as they are out from under the Manor wards they would portkey to the edge of the Weasleys home wards and step across them. And as an extra precaution Hermione and Harry can go under his invisibility cloak. That way even if someone was waiting for them at the edge of the wards they wouldn't be able to see them."
"Okay but don't be too long okay?" Emma said.
Harry nodded. "Five minutes to walk to the ward line, thirty minutes at the burrow and five minutes to walk back to the Manor. So we will be back in forty minutes. Fifty tops."
Hermione had grabbed their cloaks, including the invisibility cloak while they were talking and the two of them left. They enjoyed the view as they walked under the clock. The Welsh mountains were a lush green at this time of year and the wild flowers gave the air a fresh scent.
The portkey to the burrow dropped them three steps off the path right next to the gate that marked the edge of the Weasleys' property. They didn't waste any time getting through the gate and under the protection of the wards. As Harry pulled off the cloak and bundled it up into a pocket of his robes Hermione knocked on the door.
Ron opened it but he didn't smile or let them in. Instead he was hiding that he was holding his wand just out of sight and asked Hermione a question. "Hermione, what's worse than dying?"
Hermione flushed a little as a memory from their first year came back to her. "Getting expelled of course."
Ron relaxed and gained at them. "Sorry, I had to be sure. New security, dad said everyone started doing it while we were at Hogwarts. Now Harry, what was I during that chess game?"
"You mean apart from a show off?" Harry grinned at his mate. "You took the role of a Knight."
"Excellent, the two of you are who you say you are. Now you need to ask me a question."
"Who was the first Chudleigh Cannons player to score a goal in the year 1989?"
Harry didn't know the answer himself but he knew Ron well enough to know how he would answer and sure enough Ron gave them not just the name but a full rundown of the play. "Okay we accept you're you. Just please stop with the Cannons talk." Hermione jokingly begged.
Ron invited them in and Harry wasn't surprised to find the twins putting their wands away that they had obviously had ready to help Ron if he hadn't verified it was Harry and Hermione. "So what brings you by? And how did you get here? I didn't expect to hear from you for days." Ron asked, sounding a little confused.
"Well how and why are linked. Here, catch." Harry tossed a pouch containing the three portkeys to Ron. "Portkeys. One here, one to my place and one to Hermiones."
"Oh brilliant. Thanks Harry."
"And I was also hoping to get Crooks back. Where is he?" Hermione asked.
"Oh he is with mom, Ginny, and Susan. Apparently they are taking the opportunity to do something girly up in Ginny's room." Ron said with a shrug leading them out to the back garden, grabbing himself an apple as they walked through the kitchen.
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron at the girly comment. How is Susan holding up?" Hermione asked.
Ron kicked at a small stone sending it tumbling down the garden. "As well as can be hoped for. She is having trouble being anywhere with a closed door at the moment and dad warned me she may end up with closterfibbyer?
"Claustrophobia." Harry and Hermione said together but Harry left it to Hermione to elaborate. "It's a fear of small spaces or being locked in. Chances are she will get over it in time but it could be permanent."
Ron winced at the idea it could be permanent and quickly changed the subject. "So how are you doing Hermione?"
She shrugged. "I killed a person. So all things considered, better than I should be.
"Malfoy doesn't count as a person, he barely counts as a cockroach."
Hermione couldn't help it, she laughed. Trust Ron to be the one to put into perspective just how much Malfoy deserved what he got. It wasn't a permanent fix to her issues but it was definitely a help.
Hermione was then granted a second laugh as Crookshanks in all his bigger than a lot of dogs glory snuck up behind Harry and slammed himself into the back of Harry's knees and sent him tumbling to the ground.
Hermione laughed at Harry's predicament and it actually became a full on belly laugh as the cat jumped onto Harry then used him as a platform to jump into Hermione's arms.
As Hermione cooed at her cat Harry climbed back to his feet grumbling rather loudly about the "ginger menace."
"Ginger menace?" Came a voice from around a corner and another Weasley stepped into view. "What's my family been up to now? It's good to see you Harry, Hermione."
Harry smiled. "This time the ginger menace is the cat. Though I'm sure Ron will regain the title at some point."
"Hey." Ron yelled with fake indignity. "How dare you give my title to Crookshanks." They all laughed.
"So Hermione, how are you holding up after yesterday?" Mr Weasley asked.
"About as well as you can expect, but I'm starting to get annoyed at everyone constantly asking how I'm doing." Hermione replied honestly.
Mr Weasley nodded in understanding. "I can understand that." Mr Weasley got a dark look on his face as he remembered something. "People want to know how to help so they keep asking, but it quickly starts to feel like they are pressuring you to be better immediately. They want to help but they become an extra burden to manage. My suggestion: give them a job to do for you. It gives them a way to channel their worry into something constructive."
"Isn't that still just me having to manage their worries in a different way?"
"Yep but this way you get a chore done for you. And they leave you alone for ten minutes " Mr Weasley said without much if any seriousness.
Not long after that Mrs Weasley came down the stairs leading the two girls and all three of them had wide smiles, though Susan looked a little flushed. Harry's guess was that Mrs Weasley had been interrogating Ron's girlfriend to see if she approved and if he was right the smiles meant that she did. The three women were surprised to learn that Harry and Hermione were there and immediately came over.
Mrs Weasley immediately pulled Harry and Hermione into heavy handed mothering hugs "Oh when I heard about everything that happened I was so worried about you. It's good to see that you're both okay. Harry, how are Charlus and Sirius holding up? Hermione, how are your parents taking it?"
"Grandfather and Sirius are fine." Said Harry
"My parents want to pull me out of Hogwarts and want uncle Charlus to pull Harry out as well and send us to school in a different country. It is impossible so neither of them is happy." Hermione said.
"Well I can definitely see where they are coming from. If it were possible I might send Ron and Ginny to another country. Just remember, as frustrating as it all is, your parents just want what's best for you."
"The two of you will need to stay for dinner." Mrs Weasley stated as if it was settled just by her saying it.
"We would love to but it will have to be another time. This is only a quick visit so we could drop the port keys off for Ron and so Hermione could collect Crookshanks. If we aren't back in…" Harry checked his watch. "Twenty minutes then Grandfather Charlus and Hermione's parents are going to worry."
Mrs Weasley was disappointed but she understood. They chatted for a while longer and after Ginny fetched Crookshanks' carry basket it was time for them to leave. The trip back to the Manor was as smooth as the one to the burrow. That is to say a lot of uncomfortable spinning but Harry wasn't reintroduced to his lunch.
As soon as they were in the front door Harry, who was carrying Crooks at that point, let him out to explore. They told the adults they were back and with five minutes to spare. After that the two teens disappeared into Harry's room to be alone for a bit.
The two were cuddled up on Harry's bed and had been for over an hour when there was a tapping at Harry's window. Harry looked over and there was an owl waiting on the sill with an envelope clamped tight in its beak. Harry grumbled, got up off his bed and went to open the window. He reached for the letter but the bird dodged around him, took flight into the room, and dropped a black envelope on Hermione's lap before it turned around and flew right back out the open window. Hermione quickly cast a bunch of magic detection charms over the envelope and when they came up clean she opened the envelope and pulled out not a letter but a single black raven's feather.
Hermione looked at the feather with a confused look on her face. "Harry, do you have any idea why someone would send me a black feather?"
"Not a clue. Could it be some kind of obscure wizarding custom?" He asked, eyeing the feather himself as if it was about to explode.
"I hope not. Because the only things I can think this would mean are not exactly pleasant. We should go ask uncle Charlus and Sirius." Hermione said as she put the feather back in the envelope.
They started looking for the adults. Apparently Charlus and Hermione's parents were taking a walk around the grounds but Sirius was in the kitchen stuffing a couple of chickens for roasting.
"Hey kids. Chicken for dinner tonight." The cheer came over as a little forced but it was appreciated.
"Hey Sirius. Chicken sounds delicious." Hermione said, then she held out the envelope with it held open so Sirius could see the feather. "Is there some weird wizarding meaning behind sending someone a black feather?"
Sirius went pale then he looked in the envelope and a look of pure horror came over his face. "It's not a wizarding custom, it's an old Black family custom. You should probably sit down." He pointed the teens at some chairs and quickly wiped off his hands on a towel before joining them.
Before Sirius could say anything Hermione spoke first. "Let me guess. Your cousin Narcissa, Draco's mother, in revenge for me killing her son, has marked me for death?"
Sirius sighed. "I wasn't going to be so blunt about it but yes. The raven has been a symbol of death in the British Isles for thousands of years, even one of the old celtic goddesses of death was said to appear in the form of a raven. My family has always had a flair for dramatics as well as our rather vicious and bloodthirsty tendencies. At some point an ancestor decided that sending a Ravens feather was a suitably dramatic way to mark someone for death."
Harry's emotions were all over the place. He wanted to do something but he had no idea what to do. Hermione however seemed calmer than she had been all day. "Is there anything we can do?" Hermione asked.
"Not really. In the end it's all going to boil down to what we are already doing to keep you both safe. The D.M.L.E is already looking for both of Draco's parents because they are death eaters. While I will inform the D.M.L.E of this and it will be added to the list of crimes they are wanted for, that will be all they can do. Their resources are just spread too thin to focus on protecting individuals. That means it's up to the family to keep you safe. Which let's be frank we are already doing. So as scary as this is, in practical terms it doesn't mean much at all."
Harry let out a snort of disbelief.
"No Harry, Sirius is right. The Ministry is already doing everything it can and so are we and I am already a target. Hell, it was me that Draco targeted in Hogsmeade. Not you the boy who lived symbol of defiance to him and his people, not Ron the so-called blood traitor, not even Susan the niece of the head of the D.M.L.E. No, he targeted me. And just like yesterday when he tried to kill you, we will just have to be better than them when his parents try. We were already training so we will just have to keep that going over the summer." Determination started to build in Hermione as she spoke and by the time she was finished she had a plan and a goal in mind.
Harry however was making his own plan and said. "That's it I'm not leaving your side until we are back at Hogwarts."
"What?" Both Hermione and Sirius demanded.
"That is a declaration that someone is going to try and kill you. I want to keep you here safe in the Manor but I know you won't go for it. So wherever you go I go. So that when something happens, whoever it is will have to deal with the two of us." Harry said firmly.
Emotions played across Hermione's face as she tried to work out how she felt about this. On one hand she wasn't a fan of Harry just making a decision like this without speaking to her. On the other hand Harry wasn't treating her like a child to be locked away and he was saying he was going to stand with her, two things she did like.
After a few seconds she pulled him into a hug and said. "Guess I need to talk my parents into letting me move my boyfriend in for a lot of the summer."
"And why would we allow that?" Asked Emma. Apparently she, Dan, and Charlus had arrived back just in time to hear Hermione's decision. So Harry, Hermione, and Sirius explained the feather and what it ment. Neither dentist was particularly happy with the situation but it wasn't like they couldn't understand the reaction of the Malfoys. Evil murdering magical KKK they may be, but they were parents, the motivation was easy to follow and not unexpected. As to Harry's solution of staying with Hermione wherever she went, the logic of having two wands instead of one and for that extra wand to be Harry's, the boy who had killed a dragon in single combat and was one of few people who had ever scored a hit on the person whose name they were no longer allowed to say, was a pretty good choice.
Nobody was happy with the situation but apart from keeping Hermione locked in the Manor all summer it was the best they could do.