Summary: Why is Hermione Granger being summoned to Hogwarts during the summer holidays? Who are the DeFontes? And, what does a certain blonde Slytherin have to do with them? This time, it's Hermione's turn to be the hero of the Wizarding World. Will she be able to balance two missions appointed to her by Dumbledore while trying to complete her sixth year at Hogwarts? Only the end of the school year holds the answer to all these questions.
Disclaimer: This is pennames bloodyhell92 and 1 4 2 write working together on this wondrous piece of writing! And, though we may be brilliant at times, we were not brilliant enough to come up with the legendary Harry Potter series, nor the characters within it. Therefore, we own no rights to the original characters, no matter how much we wish we did.
Hello all! Thanks for stumbling upon our little story! We hope that you give it the proper chance that it deserves. With that said, on with the story!
A young girl with dark, unruly locks looked out her bedroom window, her chocolate orbs searching. What was she searching for? She wasn't quite sure, but she knew that there had to be something, anything, out there. But, nothing moved; the trees didn't sway with the wind, no birds chirped merrily or glided across the blue, cloudless sky. Not a single person could be seen mowing the lawn or jogging alongside the deserted streets. There was absolutely no sign of life.
Sighing with frustration, Hermione turned from the window and plopped down on her bed. There was nothing to do, and Hermione hated it! Usually her summer breaks consisted of days at the Burrow or traveling with her parents. But, alas, her parents decided to forgo a trip this summer, and Ron's family was forced to take care of a very sick Great Aunt Tessie and had strongly urged both her and Harry to stay away.
Harry had been stuck at Privet Drive for the summer; so, all Hermione had were letters exchanged between friends via owl. But, the letters just wouldn't come fast enough! Hermione had no muggle friends to speak of. When she was younger, most of the kids thought her strange and abnormal for being able to do certain things they did not understand. The ones who had been kind enough to befriend her, however, lost touch with her when she began Hogwarts. So, Hermione truly was stuck for the summer.
"Honey!" Hermione heard her mother shout, most likely from the base of the staircase.
"Coming!" she called out in reply as she heaved herself off the bed and began to go downstairs. "What is it?" she asked once she reached the landing.
"Your father and I have to go into the office today. Are you going to be alright by yourself for a bit?"
Outwardly, Hermione wanted to scream, "Of course! I'm a big girl now! I can take care of myself!" But inwardly, she smiled at her mother's protectiveness. "I'll be fine, mum."
Not thoroughly convinced, her mother nodded and said, "Well… you know the number if you need anything…"
Hermione laughed. "Go on! Shoo!" she said, watching as her father walked in, holding two light jackets.
"Ready dear?" He asked his wife.
"Ready." They turned to leave, but her mother stopped short and turned back towards her daughter. "We should be back by dinner time, but if we aren't, help yourself to some leftovers."
Both of Hermione's parents bid her farewell with a small wave before they opened the door and left.
"Well, what now?" she asked herself aloud.
She waltzed into their family room and plopped down on the couch as she turned on the TV with the remote. As she flipped through the channels, Hermione crossed her arms over her chest in boredom. Nothing seemed to catch her attention. When she successfully went through every channel and not finding a single, decent thing to watch, Hermione switched tactics. "Perhaps a movie will suffice."
But as her eyes glanced over the titles of the movies alongside the television, nothing seemed to be interesting enough for her. Then, as if by fate, her eyes landed upon one of her father's favorite films. As she read the title, her mind began turning and turning.
Smiling to herself and getting a mischievous look to her eyes, she said, "Dare I….?" She weighed her options. It was either spice things up a bit and be a little "risky," or play it safe and do what she always did, day after day. Ever since she had seen the movie with her father, she had always wanted to try it. And now was as good of a time as any.
Deciding to throw all caution to the wind, Hermione raced to her bedroom to grab a particular CD before going across the hall to her parents' bedroom. She stopped short of the closed door, unsure. Slowly, she stepped closer and placed her hand upon the handle.
She hadn't been in her parents' bedroom for so long, not since she was a little girl. It felt weird to her now. Tentatively, she turned the knob, the door creaking on its hinges. Slowly, she stepped inside and took a look around.
The room was dark, for she hadn't turned on the lights. But, sunlight danced in through a crack in the curtains and flittered across the carpet. The room was a neat, tidy space with pictures framing the walls and knick-knacks loitering shelves about the room. An armoire was pushed up against the right wall, and the king sized bed rested on the opposite side.
Hermione ignored all of it as she started determinedly forward. What she desired was straight ahead of her, to the right of her parents' personal bathroom- their walk in closet. Opening the door, almost timidly, she reached out and took hold of one of her father's dress shirts. She smiled wildly and eagerly ripped it from the hanger.
Then, she looked around the room and found her mother's vanity up against the wall by the door. She strolled over, and her eyes roamed over the tubes of lipstick, eyeliner pens, and mascara until she found a pair of sunglasses. She picked them up before heading out of her parents' room and closing the door shut behind her.
Going downstairs, she walked into the bathroom to change, neglecting her pants altogether, and then headed towards the CD player in the living room. She placed it inside the contraption and pressed the "skip" button until she found the song she had wanted. Then, she turned the volume to full blast:
Just take those old records off the shelf
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
She smiled widely as she placed her mother's sunglasses on and began running to the foyer. She slid across the hardwood floor, the socks upon her feet erasing any friction. Laughing to herself for recreating the scene from "Risky Business," she began to sing along to the song as she slid across the floor once more.
Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
She picked up her wand that had been resting upon a decorative table and used it as a microphone.
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Dancing like no one was watching, for no one actually was, Hermione couldn't help but think this could be the most fun she'll have all summer. She had relished in letting go of her inhibitions, but now that she was actually enjoying herself, she knew that it would probably be a once in a lifetime sort of experience. She usually never acted so much on impulse. She normally thought things through logically, or made a list of pros and cons. This was all new to her. But being bored straight for weeks, she just blamed it on lack of being in touch with her common sense.
Won't go to hear them play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There's only one sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll
Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old-fashioned; say I'm over the hill
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Just as the song ended, Hermione heard pecking at her window. She rushed to it and let the owl inside, expecting it to hold a letter from Harry or Ron, but was equally shocked when she grabbed the letter from the owl to see the Hogwarts crest upon the back. The bird immediately took flight after she had successfully snatched the letter from it, not expecting a reply.
Hermione sat down upon the couch, for she had a nagging feeling that she should be sitting when she read the letter, and with trembling hands broke the seal. Dumbledore's words instantly sprang from the parchment:
Dear Miss Granger,
I hope the summer holidays have treated you well thus far. But, alas, I must request that you end it early. You were always willing to help Harry in his trials since he came to Hogwarts, and I insist that you do not stop now. Times being as they are, I cannot disclose what is needed of you in this letter. All I ask is a simple trip to Hogwarts for a brief visit. A few days are all I ask of your time. I will then be happy to explain as much as possible, although you will no doubt find that most of it will only reveal itself to you of its own due course.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. Do not fret about telling your parents. They have already been informed and have given their consent for your early departure.
Immediately, Hermione leapt from the couch and dashed for her room. Once she burst through the doorway, she instantly began tossing random objects into her trunk carelessly. She still clutched the bit of parchment in her hand with Dumbledore's hastily written words splashed across the surface; he had urgently requested her presence, but for what reason?
Hermione blanched for a second; he wasn't going to revoke her prefects' badge, was he? "No," she told herself, "that can't be possible… I haven't done anything wrong!"
She sat atop her school trunk, attempting to shut it. She couldn't help but think that perhaps it had something to do with last year's events. After all, Dumbledore had mentioned Harry. Did it have something to do with the prophecy? Was it pertaining to the battle at the Ministry?
Hermione's face fell as she remembered the loss of Sirius. She partly blamed herself; she had allowed Harry to run off to fall into Voldemort's trap. She should have stuck to her ground and refused to let Harry leave. Maybe then, Sirius would still be…
"No," she told herself again more firmly. "Don't think like that." She gave one last great jump upon the trunk and finally managed to get the clasps closed.
Sighing from her exhaustion, she stood. After changing, she gathered her trunk, as well as Crookshanks, who had been curled up on her bed, watching in amusement.
She made her way to the curb outside her home and held out her wand hand. The Knight Bus immediately pulled up alongside her, and the doors burst open to reveal a young man in a purple uniform with protruding ears and quite a few pimples. He began reading from a card. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening."
Stan looked down from his perch on the middle stair. "So where ya headin'?" he asked, almost as if it was routine; Hermione figured that it probably was.
"Er- Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she responded, giving him the correct amount of sickles and stepping onto the bus.
"Well, we have a few stops before yours, so just hang on and we'll get you there soon," Stan said, rushing off to tell the driver of their destination.
Having already been on the Knight Bus, Hermione took Stan's advice and literally held on to the seat she currently occupied. And just in time too, for the bus gave a great lurch and began to rapidly zigzag its way down the street.
Hermione closed her eyes and gripped the arms of the chair even tighter. She hated the Knight Bus- it reminded her too much of flying. She turned her thoughts towards something less terrifying. Dumbledore.
What did he want with her? Granted, she was reputed as being the smartest witch of her age, but surely whatever Dumbledore needed of her he could figure out himself; he was obviously wiser than she could even begin to imagine. Worse yet, Dumbledore seemed to want to meet with just her. Harry and Ron had seldom done anything without Hermione ever since they had rescued her from the mountain troll over five years ago, and vice versa. So, it was a surprise when she received the owl from Dumbledore. Rereading the letter that was still in her hand, Hermione realized that it had implied her not to tell them. Dumbledore must have known the situation this summer, with Harry stuck at Privet Drive and Ron taking care of his Great Aunt. He had said that it wasn't the best idea to write such things in a letter, the only way she had to communicate with the two. So, why couldn't she tell her best friends about this?
She had never imagined something like this would involve just her. It was Harry who was supposed to be the hero. It was supposed to be Harry who had the secret meetings with Dumbledore. So, again, what did Dumbledore want with her?
It just didn't make much sense. Perhaps this is a trap, Hermione thought to herself. After all, Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped from the Ministry, and there were countless other followers of Voldemort that could still carry out his bidding. Lucius Malfoy as well as other followers had been captured at the end of Hermione's fifth year, but she couldn't be naïve enough to believe they would remain in Azkaban for long. Perhaps they wanted to lure her away from her home to hurt her parents. Or perhaps she was rushing headlong into a trap at Hogwarts. Maybe it was already taken over…
Hermione shook her head. They wouldn't have been able to take Hogwarts over, not with Dumbledore alive and well. She was just being paranoid.
The Ministry could no longer deny Voldemort's return. Cornelius Fudge himself had seen him at the Ministry of Magic. Being away from the Wizarding World for the summer, Hermione could only hope that the Ministry had taken precautions, especially at Hogwarts. But, the question was, would the Ministry still be run as it had been? Suspicious and conspiratorial, the Ministry was slowly falling apart. Would Fudge still delude himself into believing the Ministry would be safe? Changes needed to be made. If Hermione feared anything at that moment, it would be the inevitable fall of the Ministry. And at this rate, it wouldn't be long before Voldemort would take it over…
Hermione couldn't deny that her nerves were rising. She was apprehensive that the coming war would come too soon and that Harry would not be prepared. She only hoped that Dumbledore would help him through these difficult times. She understood now that in the end, Harry would have to be the one to end it all, to destroy Voldemort for the last time. She knew that it wasn't going to be easy, and Harry needed all the help he could get.
So, whatever reason Dumbledore needed her, Hermione was willing to help in any way she could. But, it unnerved her exactly what that would mean. How far would she have to go so that Harry could win the war?
At last, the Knight Bus gave another great lurch and came to a complete stop. Hermione peeked an eye open and instantly recognized the familiar sight before her- Hogwarts.
She got off the bus after thanking both Stan Shunpike and the driver, Ernie. She watched as they sped off before walking up towards the gates; they were locked, but Hermione could see the figure of Albus Dumbledore walking across the school grounds towards her.
She waited until he had reached her. "Good day, Miss Granger," he said with a smile. "I hope your travels have been fair?" Hermione nodded as she watched Dumbledore take out his wand and wave away all the spells that had been keeping her out.
Then, he opened the gates, and Hermione noticed that his hand was blackened, like it had been badly burned. As she stepped through the gates, she began to ask her Headmaster about it. "Sir? What happened to your-"
But, Dumbledore had interrupted her. "Another time, Miss Granger. Another time." They continued to stride towards the castle in silence. Hermione wondered yet again what Dumbledore wanted of her. I guess I'll soon find out, she thought.