Her mother gasped again and she'd already noticed her father had adjusted the rear view mirror to look at her. "What do you mean a trap?" He asked. "What happened?"
"They wanted something," Hermione explained. "Something only Harry could give them. We fought them," Hermione handed her mother the newspaper and magazine. "We...we won. Read those and you'll see what happened. The Quibbler is best."
Jean's gaze remained on her daughter for a few moments before she turned her attention to the magazine. At her husband's request she read it out loud. When she finished, she then read the newspaper. At times she'd look incredulously at her daughter.
"And where were the Wizard police or whatever they're called?" Her father asked when his wife had finished. "Or this Headmaster of yours? I thought after all of the stuff in your second year you were supposed to be safe."
Of course her mother and father didn't really know the truth about her second year. Hermione had only told them that she'd been attacked and had to spend several days under medical care. She'd been afraid that had she told them the whole truth about some of the things that happened at Hogwarts, they would have prevented her from returning. Now Hermione considered how to answer her father. He'd asked similar questions the last time but not as argumentative. They'd been more concerned about her well-being then since she'd had such a close call. Finally she explained. "Remember that I'd said Harry had been persecuted by the Ministry and though it had gotten better, he wasn't willing to take the chance no one would believe him."
"So he dragged you off on some crazy scheme?" Mr. Granger asked angrily. "It sounds like you could have been killed."
"He didn't drag me," She retorted as she thought of the previous time and remembered saying the same thing. "He wanted us to stay behind, but I...I mean we weren't going to let him go alone."
Mr. Granger was going to say something else, but Hermione notice her mother laid her hand on his arm. "Dear," she said softly to him, "it's already happened and we can't change it."
"I don't like it," Richard said. "It sounds like that boy has dragged our girl into the middle of a war."
Hermione gave a sad laugh. "It is a war Dad, and yes I am in the middle of it, but I am muggleborn so I'd be targeted anyway. If you knew you were a target would you prefer to be actively fighting or just sitting and waiting for something to happen?"
"You're only sixteen years old and have no business fighting anyone," Her father argued.
"We aren't planning on looking for people to fight," Hermione explained. "But Voldemort is targeting Harry and as long as Harry is in danger then I am too."
"So it's the boy's fault?" Mr. Granger asked. "Maybe we need to take you out of that school. Keep you away from that boy."
Hermione's eyes widened. She hadn't expected that. Her father definitely didn't suggest it last time. "No…no you can't," Hermione replied finally.
"We're your parents Hermione," Her father said. "If we have to do something like that to keep you away from that boy and danger we'll do it."
"Harry isn't 'that boy' Dad, he...he's my boyfriend and I love him," she admitted as she glared at her parents.
"Dear," Her mother said gently, "I know it might seem so, first crushes can seem like it, but love..."
"This isn't a crush," Hermione replied firmly, "and you will not keep me from returning to Hogwarts."
"Young lady," Richard started with an edge to his voice, "you are still our daughter and as such you will listen to us."
"You're forgetting one thing," Hermione said.
"What would that be?"
"I'm also a witch," Hermione replied. "I'll see you at home," She grabbed her bag and turned slightly in her seat; with a crack she disappeared.
"HERMIONE!" Her mother yelled as the front door of their home flew open thirty minutes later. "HERMIONE! ARE YOU HERE?"
"Yes mum," Hermione replied trying to act calm. She was sitting in the den with a book in her hand but still hadn't read a single word.
"Richard," Jean called to her husband as she entered the den. "She's in here," She turned to her daughter. "What did you think you were doing?"
"It's called apparition mum," Hermione replied as she set her book down and looked at her mother. "It's one of the ways witches and wizards can travel."
"You...you had us worried," Jean Granger said as she obviously tried to settle herself. "I mean you just disappeared."
"I know," Hermione replied. "I'm sorry, but..."
By then her father had also joined them. "What was the meaning of that young lady?" He asked irritably.
"I didn't want to argue," Hermione stated honestly. "But we do need to talk. I know you are concerned about me. I know you think you're doing the right thing, but I am not twelve. I will gladly discuss this with you but you must understand that in three months I will be seventeen which is the legal age in the magical world. In the meantime, if I need to, I can always go live with Sirius until then."
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