Okay, so this is my first stab at a HP fanfic. This one has two ships, both involving Hermione. It just won't become apparent at first.And I already have the next five or so chapters written, so... Oh, and also, I can't decide which ship I'm going to stick with, lol. Once I have enough chapters up, give me some ideas about this little problem.

Changes from the 6th book: Dumbledore's alive, Snape is still on the good side, and heaven knows what's going on with Malfoy and the Death Eater thing. I haven't really gotten that far yet. (sweatdrops)

And no, I do not own any of these characters. (cries)

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Chapter One: The Plan Is Set

Dumbledore looked at Hermione, his blue eyes gazing right through her, it seemed. "Miss Granger, are you upset about everything I have just told you? Please, feel free to be upset, or angry, even violent and reckless. Heaven knows your friend Mr. Potter has been." His tone was laughing merrily at the recollection.

Hermione sat, not speaking. An hour earlier, she had recieved word that she was the new Head Girl, but that Dumbledore needed to speak with her urgently. "No," she replied slowly. "I suppose not." Inside, she still felt somewhat uneasy.

"Then you are ready to face the task I have placed before you?" His voice suddenly became much more serious. The kind of tone that would make anyone listen.

"Yes, Professor"

"Hermione, it is against my wishes that I do this to you, but I would trust no one else with this. No, not even Harry... But, Hermione, should you choose to go through with this, there is no turning back. No reversing time. And, should you fail..." Dumbledore trailed off, but she knew what he was thinking.

"I know, Professor. B-but... I'll do it."

"Thank you. And... may God be with you."

"Hermione, are you okay? You didn't say two words on the train." Harry's concerned voice trailed over the sounds of people eating. Ron, of course, was stuffing his face, but Harry was kind enough to try and console her. "Did something happen over the summer?"

The bushy-haired girl looked up from the book she was reading, Advanced Transfiguration and Beyond, her Head Girl badge gleaming. Surprisingly, Ron was not upset about not making Head Boy. "I wouldn't want to follow in that slimy git Percy's footsteps, anyway," he had remarked.

Hermione gave a small grin. "Well, something happened, but nothing bad."

"You gonna tell us or keep us in the dark some more?" the black-haired boy asked, smiling good-naturedly.

"Um... see... I... I found out I'm not Muggle-born, after all. I'm pureblood."

Clatter. The goblet Ron was drinking from dropped from his hand, its contents staining the tablecloth. Both boys' jaws were hanging open, their eyes wide. Their expressions reminded her strongly of Venus fly-traps waiting for flies. This struck her as so funny that she had a giggling fit.

When she had finally calmed down, Ron spurted out, "Why didn't you tell us before? Send an owl, or-or something!"

"Ron, I'm sorry, really, but I just felt that this was something I had to tell you in person."

"B-but your parents... they live asMuggles!"

Hermione sighed. "Yes, because that's their job."

"I thought you said they were den-sits?"

She bit back more giggling. "Den-tists, Ron. And yes, they are, but as wizards, their real job is to try to forge a friendly connection with Muggles. And, in order to do that, they felt that they had to live like Muggles. Understand?" The boys nodded. "Good," she replied, and went back to reading.

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Well? What did you think? It's not a very good chapter, as I've rewritten it about three times so far...Heh heh... Go ahead and flame, I like fire. The rating may go up later on, but I'm keeping it where it is for now.