Hi Lovelies,

I'm sorry I've been absent. We're going through some busy busy busy times at work at the moment so my chapters are going to be coming a little slower for a while but bare with me! I won't abandon this story!

I hope you like this chapter - as always let me know what you think.

Straight xx

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"Its the rage that took over,

It controls you both.

So they say you're best to go your separate ways"

- Eminem ft Rihana - "Love The Way You Lie"

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Hermione aimed carefully and landed perfectly on the front step of Grimmaud Place. They'd had to abandon Grimmaud Place during the War when they'd doubted Snape but upon this death they'd returned. She wanted to stay a little longer on that front door step simply feeling the emotion in her return but she couldn't - she had a mission. She opened the front door and entered inside only to find herself at the tip of Molly's wand.

"What colour was the first jumper I ever knitted you?"

"Purple with a red G" Hermione answered her calmly.

"Oh Hermione" Molly gushed as she pulled her into a tight hug.

"Molly what time is it?" Hermione asked her, as they pulled out of the hug.

"Just a little after 11am. Why?"

"I've only got just under 2 hours before I have to leave. I'm only here because Malfoy needs answers"

"Hermione?"

She looked away from Molly to find Harry standing at the doorway.

"Harry" she said, smiling as she rushed to hug him.

Molly squeezed past them and muttered that she'd fetch the others.

"What answers does Malfoy need so urgently that he'd risk letting you go? Why not wait for the meeting?"

"You didn't show up to the meeting Harry. We were almost found by Death Eaters. Someone tipped them off!"

"The meeting isn't until 3pm" Harry said, confused.

Hermione sighed and indicated that they should move into the dining room and wait for everyone else. Molly must have roused them all quickly because soon the dining room was full of Order members - most hugged Hermione, glad to see her. When everyone was seated, Hermione stood to address them,

"This morning Malfoy, Nott and I arrived at the meeting point at 11am per Remus' letter to Malfoy. Shortly after Death Eaters arrived and tried to break the enchantments on the area surrounding the building. Harry informs me the meeting was not supposed to be until 3pm. So I'm here to find out who tried to have us killed?!"

"My owl to Malfoy set the meeting at 3pm Hermione" Remus confirmed, "Is there any way he could have gotten the time wrong?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, I saw the letter. Someone changed the time and tipped off the Death Eaters"

"That's a very serious accusation Hermione" Kingsley said.

"Well the three of us almost faced very serious consequences this morning" Hermione said, angrily.

"They were definitely Death Eaters?" Charlie asked, worriedly.

Hermione nodded, "Look I had to almost beg Malfoy to let me come here. He's pissed off and there's a raid tomorrow and a chance for the Order to do some damage to Lucius' numbers but he's not going to give up any details until he knows if he can trust you. I need to bring him an explanation and I have just over an hour left to get him one"

Charlie sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead,

"Look can we clear the room a minute?" he asked.

"Ah okay lets everyone go into the kitchen and I'll make some tea" Molly rushed, pushing open the door and ushering everyone out.

Hermione watched as everyone left except Kingsley, Remus, Harry, Charlie and Arthur. When they were gone, Charlie cleared his throat.

"Okay" he said, "There's something being left unsaid here. Remus wrote the letter to Malfoy but he asked me to post it. I was on my way to find an owl when Hagrid called by and I got caught up speaking to him about Antipodean Opaleyes - there's one whose just been hatched by a local breeder which is so rase given they usually prefer New Zealand's climate- so I asked someone else to mail the letter for me. I didn't think he would do anything like this - nothing that would endanger Hermione"

"Who Charlie?" Arthur asked, frowning, "Who mailed it?"

Charlie frowned, "Ron"

"Shit" Harry cursed, "Where is he?"

"In the kitchen. He went for tea" Hermione answered.

Arthur went to fetch Ron as Charlie tried to apologise,

"I'm so sorry 'Mione. I honestly never thought he'd do something like this. He's been so angry about Ginny leaving and he's been blaming Malfoy…"

"Ginny made her own choices - she's there of her own free will" Hermione said, "And I don't blame you Charlie. Ron makes his own choices too"

Arthur returned with Ron and Molly behind him,

"Ron what did you do?" Harry demanded angrily.

Ron glanced around them all, looking defensive.

"Nothing" he said.

"What's going on?" Molly asked, confused.

"Ron posted Remus' letter mum" Charlie explained.

Hermione swore she almost saw Molly's eyes flash as she rounded on her youngest son,

"Ronald Billius Weasley - explain yourself"

"I didn't - " he begun

"Hermione could have been killed" Harry shouted at him.

"She wasn't supposed to be there!" Ron shouted back, "I figured he'd leave her behind with Ginny!"

"Ginny could have been there" Molly yelled at him, "What if Malfoy had bought them all along?"

"What did you tell the Death Eaters?" Kingsley asked him.

"Barely anything" Ron replied, "I sent an owl to Lucius Malfoy asking him if he knew where his son was and then included a meeting time and a place then I sent that time to Malfoy. I wanted him gone so that we could get the girls back"

"Except that you didn't think, did you Ronald? There's a reason I stayed with Malfoy - we need this alliance! You knew this!"

"He's got my sister" Ron yelled at her.

"No" Hermione yelled back, "Zabini does. Malfoy has me. The difference is that Ginny is there because she loves Zabini"

"Bullshit" Ron growled.

"You've endangered us all Ron" Remus said, "You almost got Hermione, Malfoy and - Nott did you say? - killed and sending that owl to Lucius Malfoy may have exposed our location if he traced it back"

"What do we do?" Molly asked, worriedly.

"We need to move" Remus replied, "and we need to do 'damage repair' with Malfoy. What will achieve that 'Mione?"

Hermione sighed, "He's going to lose it. When he hears Ronald is behind this - "

"Are you going to be in danger 'Mione?" Harry asked, concerned.

She shrugged, "He doesn't want to hurt me I dont think but when he's angry, he's impulsive. I'll handle it, i'll be okay. As for Ron - God I don't know, short of using an unforgivable on him, he will definitely want Ron gone. He's not going to want to work with the Order if Ron's around"

"That sounds reasonable" Charlie said.

"Charlie!" Molly scolded.

"No Molly, he's right" Remus agreed, "This is the second time Ron has acted foolishly and put Hermione and our alliance in danger. I'm no longer comfortable including him in Order business"

"So what?" Hermione questioned, "We cast him out?!"

"He can go to Bill and Fleur's cottage. Its a safe house - he'll be safe there and he can help Fleur with the baby" Arthur suggested.

"You're joking right?!" Ron scoffed, "I'm not leaving"

"We're all leaving Ron" Charlie said, "Thanks to you - you're just not coming with us"

"No!" Ron protested, angrily.

"You fucked up Ron - this is the best decision you could ask for" Harry told him.

"You bought this on yourself Ronald" Molly finally said, "You endangered Hermione, all of us really, possibly Ginny if she'd been with them. I want you to be safe so go to Bill's, stay there and think about your actions"

Hermione glanced at the time,

"I need to go" she said, "We still need a meeting"

"3pm at the old Muggle camp ground where the Quidditch World Cup was. In the small forest there. We'll wait there 30 minutes. If you can convince Malfoy to meet us we'll see you there"

Hermione nodded and pulled out Malfoy's wand.

"'Mione I'm sorry" Ron muttered, quietly.

"Be safe Ron" she said.

Then, with a loud crack, she was gone.

XxXxXx

Draco had been pacing impatiently up and down the floor of his living room for the last hour and half while Theo lounged on the couch watching him.

"If you're going to fret like a clingy bitch, why did you let her go?" Theo asked, curiously.

Draco stopped pacing, "I am not fretting. I'm impatient to find out what the fuck is going on, I want answers. She'll be back soon"

"Unless she finds a way around your little bracelet" Theo taunted.

"She'd need my blood for that" Draco replied, "and I know Granger - she wants answers just as much as I do. She'll be back and when she is then you need to stop provoking her"

"Who? Me?" Theo asked, innocently.

"Fuck up" Draco said, shortly, "You know what you're doing Theo - you made that jibe for me about my supposed 'victims' but now its time to stop pushing it. I don't need her anymore closed off to me than she already is"

"You're the one keeping shit from her - stuff she might appreciate knowing"

"She doesn't need to know - not yet. Her reactions need to be real"

Theo shrugged, "Whatever mate"

They settled back into silence and Draco resumed his pacing. A moment later, the front door opened and Blaise and Ginny arrived.

"I just got your owl" Blaise said, "Did they see you?"

"No" Draco said, "and Hermione used her magic to mask ours"

"Hermione covered for you?" Ginny asked, seeming surprised.

Theo nodded, "If she hadn't they'd have identified the magical signatures of our wands - we need to get spare wands"

Blaise nodded, "I agree. Is Granger back yet?"

"Any minute now" Malfoy answered.

"Supposedly" Nott added.

"She will be" Malfoy snapped at him.

Ginny joined Nott on the couch while Blaise moved to stand next to Draco.

"Do you think the Order tried to get rid of us?" he asked Draco.

Draco sighed angrily, "I don't know mate. It doesn't make sense that they'd endanger Granger but to get rid of us, maybe?"

"What if she was in on it?" Theo asked.

"No" Ginny said, shaking her head.

Draco shook his head, "She alerted us and then covered for us"

"And in return you let her go unaccompanied to Order Headquarters" Theo pointed out, "Maybe she played you mate"

"Hermione wouldn't do that" Ginny argued, "If she tipped you off then she didn't know about it. If she'd known then Malfoy probably would have picked up on it before you got to that house - Hermione isn't very good at lying"

A loud 'crack' sounded and Hermione appeared in the living room. She glanced around the room at everyone there but it was the look on Ginny's face that tipped her off to what they'd been discussing,

"Doubted me did you?" she asked Draco.

"You cut it very close Granger" Theo answered for him.

Choosing not to provide him with an answer, Hermione merely rolled her eyes at him as Ginny asked,

"What happened?"

Hermione sighed and gave Ginny a look that said a lot as Ginny shook her head angrily,

"You were sent the wrong meeting time and someone tipped off the Death Eaters. Remus and Harry were under the impression that the meeting was at 3pm today"

'Who was it?" Draco asked, angrily.

"I just want to say that the Order have dealt with it. They've sent him away to another safehouse and won't be including him in anymore Order business" Hermione said, quickly.

"Who. was. it?" Draco asked again, slowly and still angry.

Hermione frowned before she quietly said,

"Ron"

As she'd expected, at the mention of Ron's name, Draco's temper began to rise as he swore and hit out at the book on the coffee table which went flying.

"Of course it fucking was" he cursed, "Of course it was the fucking Weasal. I told bloody Lupin that he was a loose canon. He could have had you killed Granger, what did they say about that?"

'They were furious" Hermione replied, "As I said, they've sent him to another safe house and he will no longer participate in Order business and they still want to meet you"

"Fuck 'em" Draco snapped, "The people in their ranks are weak - if its not the Weasal then there'll be another one. We can't trust them"

Sensing the Order was about to lose it alliance - one they badly needed - Hermione stepped towards Malfoy, forcing him to stop walking, and put her hand on his chest and looked into his furious eyes.

"I am here because they are good people and you can trust them. Ron acted on his own and he endangered us all - its not acceptable and he won't be given an opportunity to do it again so don't walk away from them. Use them, help them… together we can get rid of these Deaths Eaters but only if you work with the Order"

"He's a cunt - a worthless, weak cunt"

"He's angry" Hermione told him, "In his mind, you stole me and then Ginny. Ron has always been rash to act but he's gone now - he wont' have anything else to do with you or Blaise or anyone else here. Please Draco…"

He looked down at her, his eyes searching hers and Hermione could almost see the internal battle raging inside him. One the one hand, he wanted to tell the Order to go and shove it - he and his little gang may just be powerful enough to get rid of the Death Eaters without them. However, on the other hand, the Order provided a nice little bit of back up and they were the reason Hermione was here cooperatively.

"You can't seriously be considering this madness Draco" Nott snapped, "We were almost exposed thanks to Weasley"

"They've sent him away" Ginny shot back.

"Knowing your mother, you can't seriously believe that'll be for long. They'll allow him back"

Hermione could see that that was Draco's fear.

"Ask Remus to swear a vow" Hermione implored him, "They were so mad at Ron - Molly isn't leading the Order, Remus and Kingsley are"

With Hermione and Theo at a deadlock, Draco turned to Blaise,

"What do you think?"

Blaise shrugged, "Damned if you do, damned if you don't. You may as well see what the Order has to say"

After a moments pause in which everyone waited with baited breath, Malfoy eventually said,

"Alright I agree but Blaise this time you're coming and Granger you're staying here"

"What?!" Hermione cried, outraged, "No! I want to be there"

Draco shook his head, "You've had enough excursions for today. You stay, work on your next two questions perhaps"

Blaise stood and grabbed his coat as Theo got up and stretched. Hermione scowled, annoyed that she was being left behind especially since it was denying her another chance to see her friends but she also was afraid that Draco would tell the Order to bugger off if she fought him further and sent him to that meeting in a rage. Seeing that she was giving in, Draco looked to Theo and Blaise.

"Lets go"

He reached out and snagged his wand from Hermione and then they were gone. After a moment of anger-induced staring, Hermione looked to Ginny who shrugged.

"Hey I haven't been able to go anywhere yet" she sighed, "How were my family 'Mione?"

"They were okay" Hermione said, quietly, "They're not happy Gin but they are coping. They, at least, know you're safe. I'm sure they would have bombarded me with questions about you I was on a time crunch"

Ginny nodded, "I was thinking of sending them another letter but I didn't know whether they'd…"

She trialled off unsure and, finally, the part of Hermione who missed her friends so much broke and Hermione found herself drawing Ginny into a hug and squeezing her tightly,

"Oh Gin, of course they would. They love you, they miss you and they'll want you to tell them what is happening to you"

Ginny squeezed her back and, suddenly, Hermione found herself shaking and, most shockingly, crying. It was like she couldn't stop it, the sheer overwhelming emotion, the pain and the fear and her confusion. She wasn't sure when the roles changed but, suddenly, Ginny was holding her, comforting her and Hermione was telling her everything. She told her about what Malfoy wanted from her, how he was pushy but oddly respectful, how she'd discovered her magical core was stronger than she'd ever realised, about the dream with Dumbledore the old tome and the deal she'd struck with Malfoy. For her part, Ginny listened and held Hermione tightly until,

"Wait" Ginny said, "Wait… 'Mione did you say you can do wandless magic?"

Hiccuping and attempting to stop her tears, Hermione slowly nodded,

"Mione" Ginny said, slowly, but almost excitedly, "I know how we can break the spell Malfoy is using to hold you here"

Hermione frowned at her disbelievingly, "What?"

"You can break Malfoy's spell" Ginny repeated, "You can get out of here"

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I do so love your reviews!

- S xx