For the record, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that year was a nun called Sister Kate Lewis, a former Ravenclaw who was almost as boring as Professor Binns. She was an incredibly talented droner. Perhaps she had been a monk.
The school year passed without event until the day before winter break. Hermione was in the library(big surprise) writing a Potions essay for Professor Snape. The door opened and Ron walked in.
"What're you doing?" he asked curiously.
"Snape's essay." Hermione replied.
"That's not due 'til January!" Ron exclaimed, incredulous.
"I want to get ahead." She answered, glaring at him. Just then, Professor McGonagall entered.
"Miss Granger, come with me please." she announced. Hermione obediently followed her teacher. They reached what Hermione knew as Dumbledore's office.
"Pumpkin pastry." McGonagall told the stone gargoyle. It jumped aside. They went up the stone escalator into a small, circular room. Hermione marveled as she looked around at all the beautiful things inside. She had heard about the room from Harry, but never actually been inside. As McGonagall pushed a door at the far side of the circular room open, Hermione saw Albus Dumbledore sitting inside.
"Hello, Ms. Granger." the headmaster smiled.
"Hello, Professor," Hermione returned. McGonagall sat down.
"To business then?" she proposed. Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling.
"Ms. Granger, Lily Potter has been found at an orphanage on the outskirts of London." the stern-looking witch said. Hermione gaped open-mouthed at her teacher.
"What do we do now, Professor?" she breathed.
"You must go and make sure that she is the real Lily Potter, and then Professor McGonagall will come and 'adopt' the child." Dumbledore said, looking directly into Hermione's eyes. "This is a photograph of Lily and James. She should look like one or the other, or maybe both. Ask her if unusual things happen around her. You should be able to tell."
"How will I talk to her?" Hermione managed to squeak out.
"This orphanage has hundreds of children. They will assume you are one of them." Professor McGonagall said.
"But I told my parents, Harry, and Ron I'd be staying at Hogwarts." Hermione pointed out.
"Tell Harry and Ron that you've changed your mind and are going home for the holidays, and don't tell your parents anything." Dumbledore instructed. Hermione nodded. It seemed reasonable enough.
"Any questions, Hermione?" McGonagall inquired. Hermione shook her head.
"Good. I shall take you to the orphanage myself." Dumbledore said. Hermione left, thoughts swirling around her brain like the fog in a crystal ball.
A/N Don't kill me, please.
Disclaimer: I own only Lily Potter the Second.
The school year passed without event until the day before winter break. Hermione was in the library(big surprise) writing a Potions essay for Professor Snape. The door opened and Ron walked in.
"What're you doing?" he asked curiously.
"Snape's essay." Hermione replied.
"That's not due 'til January!" Ron exclaimed, incredulous.
"I want to get ahead." She answered, glaring at him. Just then, Professor McGonagall entered.
"Miss Granger, come with me please." she announced. Hermione obediently followed her teacher. They reached what Hermione knew as Dumbledore's office.
"Pumpkin pastry." McGonagall told the stone gargoyle. It jumped aside. They went up the stone escalator into a small, circular room. Hermione marveled as she looked around at all the beautiful things inside. She had heard about the room from Harry, but never actually been inside. As McGonagall pushed a door at the far side of the circular room open, Hermione saw Albus Dumbledore sitting inside.
"Hello, Ms. Granger." the headmaster smiled.
"Hello, Professor," Hermione returned. McGonagall sat down.
"To business then?" she proposed. Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling.
"Ms. Granger, Lily Potter has been found at an orphanage on the outskirts of London." the stern-looking witch said. Hermione gaped open-mouthed at her teacher.
"What do we do now, Professor?" she breathed.
"You must go and make sure that she is the real Lily Potter, and then Professor McGonagall will come and 'adopt' the child." Dumbledore said, looking directly into Hermione's eyes. "This is a photograph of Lily and James. She should look like one or the other, or maybe both. Ask her if unusual things happen around her. You should be able to tell."
"How will I talk to her?" Hermione managed to squeak out.
"This orphanage has hundreds of children. They will assume you are one of them." Professor McGonagall said.
"But I told my parents, Harry, and Ron I'd be staying at Hogwarts." Hermione pointed out.
"Tell Harry and Ron that you've changed your mind and are going home for the holidays, and don't tell your parents anything." Dumbledore instructed. Hermione nodded. It seemed reasonable enough.
"Any questions, Hermione?" McGonagall inquired. Hermione shook her head.
"Good. I shall take you to the orphanage myself." Dumbledore said. Hermione left, thoughts swirling around her brain like the fog in a crystal ball.
A/N Don't kill me, please.
Disclaimer: I own only Lily Potter the Second.
