Authors Note:
Hello all!
I'm sorry if this authors note is pretty short I'm half asleep because it's nearly midnight here and not really sure what to say. :P
I don't really know how long this will be yet although I do have some idea about where it's going. :)
I hope this isn't too bad in comparison to all the other amazing fanfics out there at the moment. :P But either way please please review and let me know what you all think of it, it will really mean a lot! Thank you. :)
So without further ado here's chapter one. I hope you all enjoy. x
Lightning flashed across the pitch black sky and thousands of miles below it a creature surrounded by a large forest let out a cry and began racing through the trees.
Hermione walked away from the window and sat back down in her seat next to the fireplace where she was watching Harry and Ron play wizard's chess. Sighing she pulled a book from the table next to her and curled up in her chair. They had only been back at Hogwarts for a few hours and everyone else was already in bed but the three friends were still discussing whether or not Draco Malfoy had now joined the Death Eaters.
"Harry you're being ridiculous. How can he be one of them? For the one millionth time he's still at school. They're hardly likely to allow a child..."
Hermione trailed off when she realised that the boys were no longer staring at her but over her shoulder. She turned to see what they were looking at and nearly jumped out of her chair when she saw Professor Dumbledore standing directly behind her.
"Good evening Miss Granger."
"Good evening Professor." Hermione replied a little stunned. She couldn't remember ever seeing him in their common room before. Professor McGonagall had appeared on more than one occasion, usually in the middle of the night after Quidditch victories when they had all still been up celebrating in order to tell them all to get to bed. She had also been in on the odd occasion to deliver bad news to them; but even she had never appeared unannounced like this in the dead of night.
"If you wouldn't mind would it be possible to speak to you in my office Miss Granger. You will be more than welcome to return here afterwards and relay everything that I tell you to Mr Potter and Mr Weasley but I think it would be prudent to talk to you alone first."
"Of course," Hermione agreed and then followed behind him in silence.
Once they had reached his office he gestured to the chair in front of his desk and he himself selected the chair on the other side.
"I'm sorry to drag you from the Gryffindor common room at this hour Miss Granger but I have some news and it cannot wait."
Hermione tried not to panic as she hastily asked "about my family Professor?"
He shook his head. "Oh no Miss Granger, your family are perfectly safe. It is your safety that we are here to discuss."
Hermione's jaw dropped a little. "My safety - why am I any more unsafe than anyone else?"
Dumbledore observed her sadly from behind his half moon glasses and then spoke. "Unfortunately Voldemort has taken what happened last summer as a sign that he can use those close to Harry in order to get to Mr Potter himself. That along with his previous experience of the boy means that he's more than aware of how far Harry would go to save someone that he loves. This of course does not narrow it down as unlike Voldemort; Harry is someone that is capable of loving not only one person but a great many people at once. However the most obvious choices remained as both yourself and Mr Weasley. After much deliberation he decided that he wanted you for two reasons. Firstly he chose you because of your blood status. Ironically though despite this the second reason that he wished to take you rather than Mr Weasley was because he felt that you and Mr Potter were more of a threat to him than Harry would be with Ronald."
"He picked to fight against Harry allied with a pure blood wizard over a muggle born witch?"
"It certainly appears that way yes." Dumbledore replied watching her carefully to ascertain her reaction.
"So I'll have to be especially careful this year? Does it mean that I won't be allowed to go on the visits to Hogsmeade?"
There was a moments silence before Dumbledore began speaking again. "I'm sorry Miss Granger but it is a little more complicated than that. I personally hold the belief, if I may be so bold, that while I am here there is no safer place in the world than Hogwarts. However that is exactly what Lord Voldemort will be expecting me to think and therefore if he does decide to come after you then this would be the first place he'll look. Due to this it would be... unwise, to keep you here."
"You're sending me away from Hogwarts?" Devastation hit Hermione instantly. She would never complete her NEWTS, never gain the qualifications she'd need for a job, and would never be able to continue learning as she previously had been.
Seeing her reaction Dumbledore leant across his desk and placed his good hand on Hermione's arm. "I know it's very upsetting my dear but please don't think you will just be abandoned. You are not being sent back into the muggle world as of course that would completely defeat the point of moving you away from Hogwarts. Instead you will go to a safe house where your formal education will continue in the form of private lessons. It was decided by the staff here that you shall have only the best protection available and as I am unable to leave Hogwarts without it creating a great deal of unwanted attention, Professor McGonagall has kindly volunteered herself for the role."
Hermione was still trying to take everything in. "I... Professor McGonagall will take me for every one of my subjects, not just Transfiguration?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I assure you that her knowledge is quite adequate in all of the fields that you wish to pursue to NEWT level."
"How often will I have lessons with her?" Everything else had gone from Hermione's mind at the moment, her only concern being that she continued to maintain the same level of education that she would receive here at Hogwarts.
"That is something for the pair of you to discuss when you arrive. She's currently in her office packing. I feel that it would be far safer for you both to apparate under the cover of darkness tonight. Therefore I ask that once I have answered any questions you may have, you return to the Gryffindor common room, inform Mr Weasley and Mr Potter of the situation, and then go and get your trunk from your dormitory."
Hermione had barely heard the second part of what had been said. "When we arrive? She's packing? So she isn't just travelling to where I am when I have lessons?"
Dumbledore chucked. "No of course not Miss Granger, did you not hear me before? It is essential that you have the absolute best protection we can offer; and bar myself she is it. She will remain with you at the safe house for as long as you yourself do."
Hermione really couldn't take this all in. "I..." She fell back into a stunned silence and tried to understand everything that was going on. Part of her wanted to sit there and cry, but the other part of her wanted to show the bravery that she knew she as a Gryffindor should exhibit. After all, the most important thing was that she would be safe and that her education would continue. Of course it would be strange not seeing the boys but hopefully it wouldn't be for long. "I should go now, I'm assuming the sooner we leave the better?"
Professor Dumbledore surveyed her over his half moon glasses, concern spread across the entirety of his face. "Do you have any further questions for me Miss Granger? You are welcome to ask anything you like..."
"Thank you, but I think that's all. I'd better go and explain everything to Harry and Ron; they'll be worried about what's going on."
"In that case Miss Granger I shall see you back here whenever you are ready. Take your time, there's no rush."
She simply nodded to him and then raced out of his office.
Just as she left Minerva McGonagall appeared in the fireplace.
"Have you told her Albus?" If he had looked worried about the young witch it was nothing in comparison to the anxiety etched across the Head of Gryffindor's face as she climbed onto the hearth and brushed herself off.
"Yes," he replied solemnly.
"And, how did she take it?" she replied briskly, impatient to discover how the news had been received.
"Rather well actually, although I don't think she's had time to let the information sink in yet. She will need a great deal of care over the next few weeks Minerva, are you quite sure you're up to this?"
Nodding impatiently McGonagall moved her trunk so that it was to the side of her. "We've already been through this Albus."
"I know my dear I know. Now while we wait for the young Miss Granger to return would you care for a sherbet lemon?"