A/N- Okay, I am currently working on another Fanfict, but I have major writers block on that one. So here I am writing another one! And I'd like to thank my beta-reader the.grey.lady.
DISCLAIMER- if you recognize it as JK's...it probably is.
~*~*~*~*~
Walking down the streets of Diagon Alley was a tall man or boy it was hard to tell which, considering his attire. He was dressed in sunglasses a baseball cap and a long trench coat. The people of Diagon Alley skirted around him, giving him as much room as possible, so much in fact, that one would think they were making way for a giant. Though no one really knew the identity of the figure, the looks of him still made the people, well...nervous. Everything made them nervous these days.
Just five years ago, to the exact day, Albus Dumbledore had been mysteriously murdered and Harry Potter had disappeared; unexplained. So, of course with the two people the magical world had protecting them gone, everything had been in a disarray. Unsurprisingly everyone had blamed it all on Voldemort, but it was concluded that Voldemort had no possible way of getting into Hogwarts, he had not gained enough of his strength back to be capable of that, it was only a year later that he returned fully to power. So the people began to point their fingers at the Death Eaters, but that suspicion was also cleared Double agent Severus Snape had confirmed that there had been a Death Eaters meeting that day, all the current Death Eaters had attended. A chilling question still remained though...who killed Albus Dumbledore? If it wasn't a Death Eater or even Voldemort himself, who would have a motive to kill, the very person who'd been fighting for them?
Then it was discovered that Albus Dumbledore had not been killed by a curse, but had been hit in the head by his very own pensive, and being the old man that he was, it had killed him. For a while people made small jokes about how Dumbledore's own thoughts had killed him, but that was only to cover up how uncomfortable the whole ordeal made them.
Among all the confusion surrounding Dumbledore's death, Harry Potter seemed to be forgotten. The truth was, that he had been, but that was mostly because no one knew what to do or what to suspect. Most people still believed that Voldemort was the culprit, but nothing was for sure, just like everything else was. The ministry was in an uproar, and proved to be most incapable without Dumbledore's constant guidance. Not knowing what to do, all the members seemed to begin to let their guard down and that was when Voldemort struck.
The massacre of June 31st went down in history. Over forty ministry members were killed, the Minister of Magic included. Arthur Weasley took over, and it was only then, that things began to calm down. Arthur proved to be capable and finally put the magical world at ease after four years. But suspicious looking figures such as the one strolling down Diagon Alley still made the people nervous.
People watched him attentively as he took the left turn to Knockturn Alley, and craned their necks to watch him until he was completely out of sight. The figure was used to people staring and gawking at him, he was used to the hushed whispers, and he was used to the indiscreet pointing, so he took no notice to it all. He simply looked in front of himself and kept walking, paying attention to nothing.
He turned into a shabby looking place called "The Pigney Pub". Walking into the pub, he stopped as soon as he got past the door. He surveyed the location slowly, looking for something particular. After several glances around the large room, it seemed he found who or what he had been looking for and casually walked over.
He sat down at the table and looked at the girl in her early twenties sitting across from him. She had changed a great deal since he had last seen her, and startlingly, she was barely recognizable. Her hair had been long, bushy and brown. Now, her hair was shorter with many layers, and the color was more blondish than brown. Her eyes hadn't changed though, and that was how he had recognized her. She still had those big beautiful brown eyes.
"You're late" She said simply. Not even looking at him, she had focused her attention on a group of hags sitting at the corner spot at the bar.
"Yes, but time is more or less an abstract concept, it has no meaning. I thought that surely you of all people would have known that." He pushed his chair out a small amount to stretch his legs out in front if him. The girl gave an exasperated sigh.
"You are nearly impossible." She said, finally turning her eyes to her companion. "Do you know how hard it was to track you down? I've been trying for two years!" The waitress chose this time to come over to their table.
"Can I getch choo anaythang?" She was an odd looking woman, appearing to be half banshee half fairy.
"Oh, no thank-you. We're fine." The girl said hastily, obviously trying to get rid of the waitress as soon as possible. The waitress walked...stumbled rather, away. The girl waited until she was out of earshot before continuing.
"Where have you been anyways?" She whispered abrasively. "Do you have any idea how much you are needed right now?" She said pointing her finger fiercely at him. He just smiled.
"You always were a worrier." He chuckled softly to himself. "Now, do you mind telling me why you searched for me for two years and called me here?" A slight smile of amusement was discernible on his face.
"Well, I thought that you might want to know that Dumbledore's murder trial is tomorrow," she said rather abruptly. The small grin instantly disappeared. He now looked rather solemn, a look that oddly suited him.
"I see," he said, looking down at the dark wooden table. "Are you going?"
"People would talk if I didn't, you well know that."
"True, but certainly you don't expect me to go? It could ruin everything."
"Well I surely don't expect you to go. I do however hope you will consider it!"
"Consider it...maybe. But if it lasts more then two or three days..."
"I know, you can not stay too long, but don't you think you could sacrifice something for this?"
"Hermione, I can not believe I am hearing you speak those words!" He seemed entirely upset now.
"I know, I know!" Hermione cried she seemed in the up-most state of distress now. "But, the truth is, I need you to be there! I mean I have no one left! All my friends are either dead or just not going! I thought that maybe I would finally be able to count on you for something!" Her voice had changed from a distraught tone to a rather discordant one, and many of the people in the pub were starting to look at them.
I don't know," he said rather uncomfortably, for he had not been needed in years, but it was obvious that he was softening. "Well I guess I could spare some time." He looked at his watch. "Well it really has been great talking to someone familiar." He got up, and Hermione followed.
"You have no idea how important it is to me that you are coming. We are after all some of the few people that know the real story." She smiled sadly.
"Yeah," he sighed. The two hugged before going their separate ways. Both leaving feeling as if there was something more they should discuss but it was entirely too sensitive a topic to be talked of then. It would of course, have to wait.
~*~*~*~
The distraught Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, sat at his desk reviewing the evidence in the Albus Dumbledore murder trial. Whoever had killed the late Hogwarts Headmaster was extremely clever. They had not used any magic, nor had the left any sign as to their identity. He had no suspects and no witnesses, and having a trial seemed quite pointless. The murderer needed to be brought to justice and that was what he was hoping the trial would do. He could not help but think though, that ministry would look most incapable but that was a risk he was willing to take. It had been five years since the murder and it was about time something be done.
Not looking forward to the following day, Arthur Weasley slowly climbed the stairs to his room, thinking to himself, how odd it was that the only clue was how much of complete disarray Dumbledore's office was in when he was found. It was not like Albus Dumbledore to fight.
~*~*~*~
A/N- There you have it! Chapter one! Hope everyone likes it! Um, if you want to be my beta reader, just say so in your e-mail, I'll take as many as I can get!
DISCLAIMER- if you recognize it as JK's...it probably is.
~*~*~*~*~
Walking down the streets of Diagon Alley was a tall man or boy it was hard to tell which, considering his attire. He was dressed in sunglasses a baseball cap and a long trench coat. The people of Diagon Alley skirted around him, giving him as much room as possible, so much in fact, that one would think they were making way for a giant. Though no one really knew the identity of the figure, the looks of him still made the people, well...nervous. Everything made them nervous these days.
Just five years ago, to the exact day, Albus Dumbledore had been mysteriously murdered and Harry Potter had disappeared; unexplained. So, of course with the two people the magical world had protecting them gone, everything had been in a disarray. Unsurprisingly everyone had blamed it all on Voldemort, but it was concluded that Voldemort had no possible way of getting into Hogwarts, he had not gained enough of his strength back to be capable of that, it was only a year later that he returned fully to power. So the people began to point their fingers at the Death Eaters, but that suspicion was also cleared Double agent Severus Snape had confirmed that there had been a Death Eaters meeting that day, all the current Death Eaters had attended. A chilling question still remained though...who killed Albus Dumbledore? If it wasn't a Death Eater or even Voldemort himself, who would have a motive to kill, the very person who'd been fighting for them?
Then it was discovered that Albus Dumbledore had not been killed by a curse, but had been hit in the head by his very own pensive, and being the old man that he was, it had killed him. For a while people made small jokes about how Dumbledore's own thoughts had killed him, but that was only to cover up how uncomfortable the whole ordeal made them.
Among all the confusion surrounding Dumbledore's death, Harry Potter seemed to be forgotten. The truth was, that he had been, but that was mostly because no one knew what to do or what to suspect. Most people still believed that Voldemort was the culprit, but nothing was for sure, just like everything else was. The ministry was in an uproar, and proved to be most incapable without Dumbledore's constant guidance. Not knowing what to do, all the members seemed to begin to let their guard down and that was when Voldemort struck.
The massacre of June 31st went down in history. Over forty ministry members were killed, the Minister of Magic included. Arthur Weasley took over, and it was only then, that things began to calm down. Arthur proved to be capable and finally put the magical world at ease after four years. But suspicious looking figures such as the one strolling down Diagon Alley still made the people nervous.
People watched him attentively as he took the left turn to Knockturn Alley, and craned their necks to watch him until he was completely out of sight. The figure was used to people staring and gawking at him, he was used to the hushed whispers, and he was used to the indiscreet pointing, so he took no notice to it all. He simply looked in front of himself and kept walking, paying attention to nothing.
He turned into a shabby looking place called "The Pigney Pub". Walking into the pub, he stopped as soon as he got past the door. He surveyed the location slowly, looking for something particular. After several glances around the large room, it seemed he found who or what he had been looking for and casually walked over.
He sat down at the table and looked at the girl in her early twenties sitting across from him. She had changed a great deal since he had last seen her, and startlingly, she was barely recognizable. Her hair had been long, bushy and brown. Now, her hair was shorter with many layers, and the color was more blondish than brown. Her eyes hadn't changed though, and that was how he had recognized her. She still had those big beautiful brown eyes.
"You're late" She said simply. Not even looking at him, she had focused her attention on a group of hags sitting at the corner spot at the bar.
"Yes, but time is more or less an abstract concept, it has no meaning. I thought that surely you of all people would have known that." He pushed his chair out a small amount to stretch his legs out in front if him. The girl gave an exasperated sigh.
"You are nearly impossible." She said, finally turning her eyes to her companion. "Do you know how hard it was to track you down? I've been trying for two years!" The waitress chose this time to come over to their table.
"Can I getch choo anaythang?" She was an odd looking woman, appearing to be half banshee half fairy.
"Oh, no thank-you. We're fine." The girl said hastily, obviously trying to get rid of the waitress as soon as possible. The waitress walked...stumbled rather, away. The girl waited until she was out of earshot before continuing.
"Where have you been anyways?" She whispered abrasively. "Do you have any idea how much you are needed right now?" She said pointing her finger fiercely at him. He just smiled.
"You always were a worrier." He chuckled softly to himself. "Now, do you mind telling me why you searched for me for two years and called me here?" A slight smile of amusement was discernible on his face.
"Well, I thought that you might want to know that Dumbledore's murder trial is tomorrow," she said rather abruptly. The small grin instantly disappeared. He now looked rather solemn, a look that oddly suited him.
"I see," he said, looking down at the dark wooden table. "Are you going?"
"People would talk if I didn't, you well know that."
"True, but certainly you don't expect me to go? It could ruin everything."
"Well I surely don't expect you to go. I do however hope you will consider it!"
"Consider it...maybe. But if it lasts more then two or three days..."
"I know, you can not stay too long, but don't you think you could sacrifice something for this?"
"Hermione, I can not believe I am hearing you speak those words!" He seemed entirely upset now.
"I know, I know!" Hermione cried she seemed in the up-most state of distress now. "But, the truth is, I need you to be there! I mean I have no one left! All my friends are either dead or just not going! I thought that maybe I would finally be able to count on you for something!" Her voice had changed from a distraught tone to a rather discordant one, and many of the people in the pub were starting to look at them.
I don't know," he said rather uncomfortably, for he had not been needed in years, but it was obvious that he was softening. "Well I guess I could spare some time." He looked at his watch. "Well it really has been great talking to someone familiar." He got up, and Hermione followed.
"You have no idea how important it is to me that you are coming. We are after all some of the few people that know the real story." She smiled sadly.
"Yeah," he sighed. The two hugged before going their separate ways. Both leaving feeling as if there was something more they should discuss but it was entirely too sensitive a topic to be talked of then. It would of course, have to wait.
~*~*~*~
The distraught Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, sat at his desk reviewing the evidence in the Albus Dumbledore murder trial. Whoever had killed the late Hogwarts Headmaster was extremely clever. They had not used any magic, nor had the left any sign as to their identity. He had no suspects and no witnesses, and having a trial seemed quite pointless. The murderer needed to be brought to justice and that was what he was hoping the trial would do. He could not help but think though, that ministry would look most incapable but that was a risk he was willing to take. It had been five years since the murder and it was about time something be done.
Not looking forward to the following day, Arthur Weasley slowly climbed the stairs to his room, thinking to himself, how odd it was that the only clue was how much of complete disarray Dumbledore's office was in when he was found. It was not like Albus Dumbledore to fight.
~*~*~*~
A/N- There you have it! Chapter one! Hope everyone likes it! Um, if you want to be my beta reader, just say so in your e-mail, I'll take as many as I can get!