Hp: Hermione and Darkness

The rhubarb crumble was incredible, but Hermione could hardly believe it when Ron and Harry each asked for two extra helpings each. She knew Harry had barely been fed at his aunt and uncle's, but Ron? She had no idea how he physically fit the amount of food he ate into his body.

As everyone finished their crumbles, there was a lull in the general conversation: Mr Weasley was leaning back in his chair, looking replete and relaxed; Tonks was yawning widely, her nose now back to normal; and Ginny, who had lured Crookshanks out from under the dresser, was sitting cross-legged on the floor, rolling Butterbeer corks for him to chase. Hermione watched the scene, feeling a bittersweet mix of contentment and worry. The warmth of the family moment clashed with the dark clouds of the looming threat they all faced.

"Nearly time for bed, I think," said Mrs Weasley with a yawn.

"Not just yet, Molly," said Sirius, pushing away his empty plate and turning to look at Harry. "You know, I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here would be to start asking questions about Voldemort."

The atmosphere in the room changed in an instant. Where seconds before it had been sleepily relaxed, it was now alert, even tense. A frisson had gone around the table at the mention of Voldemort's name. Lupin, who had been about to take a sip of wine, lowered his goblet slowly, looking wary. Hermione could feel her heartbeat quicken, her pulse thudding in her ears.

"I did!" said Harry indignantly. "I asked Ron and Hermione, but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so-"

"And they're quite right," said Mrs Weasley. You're too young." Hermione sneaked a glance at Mrs Weasley. She was sitting bolt upright in her chair, her fists clenched on her arms, every trace of drowsiness gone.

"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenix to ask questions?" asked Sirius. "Harry's been trapped in that Muggle house for a month. He's got the right to know what's been happen-"

"Hang on!" interrupted George loudly.

"How come Harry gets his questions answered?" said Fred angrily.

"We've been trying to get stuff out of you for a month, and you haven't told us a single stinking thing!" said George.

"'You're too young; you're not in the Order,'" said Fred in a high-pitched voice that sounded uncannily like his mother's. Hermione internally cringed. This was not going to turn out well at all. "Harry's not even of age!"

"It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's doing," said Sirius calmly, "that's your parents' decision. Harry, on the other hand-"

"It's not down to you to decide what's good for Harry!" said Mrs Weasley sharply. The expression on her ordinarily kind face looked dangerous. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, I suppose?"

"Which bit?" Sirius asked politely, but Hermione knew he wasn't planning on remaining that way. Something about the overly polite argument made it almost worse than if they had been screaming at each other.

"The bit about not telling Harry more than he needs to know," said Mrs Weasley, emphasising the last three words heavily.

Hermione, Ron, Fred, and George's heads swivelled from Sirius to Mrs Weasley as though they were following a tennis rally. Ginny was kneeling amid a pile of abandoned Butterbeer corks, watching the conversation with her mouth slightly open. Lupin's eyes were fixed on Sirius.

"I don't intend to tell him more than he needs to know, Molly," said Sirius. "But as he was the one who saw Voldemort come back, he has more right than most to-"

"He's not a member of the Order of the Phoenix!" said Mrs Weasley. "He's only fifteen and-"

"And he's dealt with as much as most in the Order," said Sirius, "and more than some."

"No one's denying what he's done!" said Mrs Weasley, her voice finally rising, her fists trembling on the arms of her chair. "But he's still-"

"He's not a child!" said Sirius impatiently.

"He's not an adult either!" said Mrs Weasley, the colour rising in her cheeks. "He's not James, Sirius!"

Hermione gasped.

"I'm perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly," said Sirius coldly.

"I'm not sure you are!" said Mrs Weasley. "Sometimes, the way you talk about him, it's as though you think you've got your best friend back!"

"What's wrong with that?" said Harry.

"What's wrong, Harry, is that you are not your father, however much you might look like him!" said Mrs Weasley, her eyes still boring into Sirius. "You are still at school, and adults are responsible for you. You should not forget it!"

"Meaning I'm an irresponsible godfather?" demanded Sirius, his voice rising now as well.

"Meaning you have been known to act rashly, Sirius, which is why Dumbledore keeps reminding you to stay at home and-"

"We'll leave my instructions from Dumbledore out of this, if you please!" said Sirius loudly.

"Arthur!" said Mrs Weasley, rounding on her husband. "Arthur, back me up!"

....

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