The summer after fourth year was the most difficult for all of us. Possibly the worst for Harry, but I can't speak to that. I watched through the front window of my parents house as a tabby took up position at the end of the block, her tail rapping securely around her front paws, she was content to wait, I wasn't. I knew exactly what was coming. Dumbledore.

Even from halfway down the street, I could see the transfiguration professors glasses etched in fur sitting primly on her feline face. I strained my ears to listen for the tell-tale pop of apperation, while I tried to not look like I was watching the cat.

My parents sat in the living room with me, the Sunday paper divided between them, while they both discussed what they were reading to the living room in general. Normally I would be completely immersed in discussion about the affairs of state, and the world. Once I left the confines of Hogwarts, I was more than thrilled to join the Muggle world, and participate in what was pertinent to my family. That's not to say that I didn't judiciously read the Daily Prophet, I had to keep up on what was happening with the war, which seemed to be more lies about Voldemort, but when I was home, I was there to spend time with my family. That is until I spotted the tabby, and knew something was up. Minerva McGonagall didn't sit at the end of your street for no reason. I was itching to know that reason, but I knew it wasn't anything good. She was here watching me, protecting the house, that's what she had done once upon a time for Harry, and I couldn't help but feel a little unsure as to why she was doing it for me know.

My parents put down their papers simultaneously, as if they were using Legitimus to communicate, which was preposterous. "Hermione, dear, is there something the matter?" My mother looked at me with concerned eyes. I was never good at keeping anything from anyone, which was a wonder I'd lived so long in this time of deception and war, but luckily my brain kept me from needing to lie often. There was always a logical and legitimate reason for me to act anyway, besides the real reason, and not telling the whole truth was still not lying.

"I'm just thinking about school, Mum." I tried to put a reassuring smile on my face, but I'm pretty sure I just ended up looking constipated.

"I know you miss it dear, but we miss you when you're away in your little world, and we would really appreciate it if you would spend your time with us while you're home." She smiled at me and went back to her paper. Dad wasn't as easily deterred, but I could tell that he wasn't sure how to broach the subject. My poor father had wanted a brood of kids, probably rivaling the Weasleys, but unfortunately that hadn't been in the cards, and he had ended up with one daughter, that he wasn't entirely sure what to do with most of the time. I didn't like sports, I wasn't interested in World War II like he was, and he couldn't take me to the Club to golf, so he really didn't have much use for me, or any way to really talk to me. It was sad that we didn't have more of a relationship, and I wished I could do something about that, but the bottom line was that when we weren't discussing the news, we really had nothing to say to each other.

"I think I'm going to try to get some reading done, I'm not half as ahead in my studies as I would like to be, I promise to be more attentive when I come back downstairs." I stood up without another word and headed to my room.

I loved being home, if only for the fact that I had my own room. I could shut my door, and know that no one else was going to come barging in and bother me. It was also a place away from my parents, who tended to get a little startled when owls arrived for me. There was one sitting mostly patiently on my windowsill when I got to my room. It had a collar around its neck with the Hogwarts seal on it, and I knew that I would get my answers as soon as I let the poor owl in. I sat down on my bed, watching the owl get increasingly impatient, and took a deep breath. It wasn't good that McGonagall was watching the house, or that I was receiving a letter from Hogwarts that wasn't pertaining to school, and it was way to early in the summer for me to get anything from them, and most importantly, I could feel something was wrong in the pit of my stomach.

The owl deposited the letter on my bed as soon as I opened the window, and left immediately, without asking for any kind of snack, I really didn't want to open that letter.

Miss. Granger,

As you must know, from your dedication to your subscription to the Prophet, the Ministry is not going to support the fact that this war is going to happen. I am worried about the safety of you students as this war begins to be more and more of a reality. Not only that, I am also worried about your family, and those of other Muggle-born students. Professor McGonagall and I have discussed this at length, and we feel that we have come to a conclusion that will end this war quickly and efficiently, at least on this end, with minimal loss of life, and will assure the safety of Muggle families for all of our students. This unfortunately will require a great deal of participation on your part. Please accompany Professor McGonagall to Hogwarts as soon as possible, we must begin immediately.

Dumbledore