Chapter 2

AN: Oooo suspenseful wasn't it? Ha ha I do love cliff-hangers. This is the deciding chapter, so please let me know what you think. ENJOY!

It was easy to hunt for and retrieve an object, but people were harder. People had to be lured, persuaded and convinced to aid a cause.

"It's you Hermione,"

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It's strange how loud the crackling of flames can sound when a room falls deathly silent. Even the batting of an eyelash can sound like two garbage bin lids clashing together. Hermione could hear her own heart thumping in her ears and the sound of her mind whirling to a halt, too shocked by Dumbledore's statement to even try and analyse it. Dumbledore's sparkling blue eyes were fixed on Hermione and her oddly restrained reaction.

"Are you being serious?" Hermione finally asked, cursing herself for asking such a stupid question.

"Unfortunately I am," Dumbledore confirmed softly.

"But what...me...how?" Hermione stuttered dumbly. She held up her hand and took a few deep breaths to calm her heart and kick her mind back into gear. "What do you mean, Professor?"

"It's complicated Hermione," Dumbledore frowned. "But I will try to explain as best I can,"

"Any explanation would be welcome right about now," Hermione said with a feeble smile.

"I had absolutely no intention of just springing this on you Miss Granger, but I'm afraid time has become of the essence and we must be ready," Dumbledore put his glass down and gradually started to pace around in front of the fire. "Where to start...,"

"The beginning is usually a good idea," Hermione smirked and Dumbledore shot an amused glance at her.

"Yes of course," He nodded. "It began with Salazar Slytherin many centuries ago, as you know he was a ruthless wizard that sought absolute power and soon after he left Hogwarts he found a way to gain the power desired, by use of a person,"

"A person?" Hermione went wide-eyed. "Just one person?"

"It was all he needed; you see this one person was extraordinary. Before wizards there were other magical creatures living on this Earth and they were the most pure beings to be found," Dumbledore said with a reminiscent grin. "They were the Enkeli, but I think Muggles called them Angels,"

"Angels?...Angels exist?" Hermione cried.

"They were plentiful in the early years, but unfortunately wizards and witches coveted their power," Dumbledore shook his head gravely. "Enkeli are born as an orb of pure magical energy and as they grow their body absorbs it, giving them a power like no other. Naturally they were hunted, captured and killed by those seeking to own or even become one of them,"

"That's horrible!"

"Indeed, but before anyone had the opportunity to stop these barbaric deeds the Angels were all but wiped out, only three remained in the time of the founders, three out of what used to be thousands. Salazar sought after one Angel in particular, the only remaining pure-blooded Enkeli," Dumbledore paused as Hermione frowned questioningly.

"What do you mean by pure-blooded, Professor?"

"To ensure their survival, Angels had been breeding with Muggles and wizards and there was only one Angel left with a pure bloodline, her name was Isira," Dumbledore answered patiently. "Salazar hunted after her for three decades, but when he finally caught her she escaped,"

"Good for her,"

"Certainly, but as you can probably imagine Salazar did not take the defeat well and vowed to capture her. Since then that task has been passed down from him to all of his heirs," Hermione's eyes lit up in realization.

"Voldemort is looking for Isira," she said faintly and Dumbledore nodded, not taking his glittering eyes off her.

"She is of course long since dead, but I believed she had a child with a wizard before her death," Dumbledore stopped his pacing and just stared at Hermione. "I have spent several years researching the line of decedents and have deduced that she must have put a curse on her own family,"

"Why would she do something like that?"

"Angels can only be females and every descendent since Isira has been male, I think she was trying to ensure her families safety from Salazar Slytherin and his future heirs," Dumbledore's ice blue eyes were twinkling as always, but with a new emotion. "However the curse must have worn thin as the last male has recently fathered a female...Your father was the last male in the bloodline, Hermione," For the first time in her life it took Hermione a few moments to get a grip on the blatantly obvious. Although her honey eyes were glued on Dumbledore, she wasn't really looking at him. She was lost inside her own head, floating amidst a tornado of confusing questions.

Does this mean I'm an Angel? Did my Dad know? Why didn't he tell me? What would Mum say? What does this mean for me? One question more than any other sent chills down Hermione's spine. She found the question leaving her lips before she even had a chance to contemplate it properly. "Does this mean Voldemort is looking for me?" Her eyes were unblinking and almost begging Dumbledore to yell 'April Fools!' Unfortunately there was just silence rather than a reprieve and Hermione didn't even need the Headmaster to answer. "Oh Merlin," she breathed, suddenly feeling a little faint.

"Hermione...," Dumbledore quickly crossed the room and knelt in front of Hermione, gripping her shoulder lightly. Her eyes had lost focus and her chest rose and fell deeply as she started to feel suffocated.

"I...I can't breathe...," Hermione gasped weakly. Dumbledore helped Hermione to her feet gingerly and was practically holding her up.

"Just take a few deep breaths," he instructed gently. "Try to calm down," Hermione nodded and finally managed to slow her breathing to a near normal rate. The milky colour of cheeks was tinged with pink.

"I...I'm okay," she muttered softly, slowly sitting back down. "I'm sorry,"

"Don't be," Dumbledore smiled warmly. "I was actually expecting much worse,"

"You were right,"

"Oh that's refreshing, what about?" Dumbledore chuckled.

"This definitely rids me of the whole peaceful Christmas idea," Hermione smiled in spite of herself.

"I'm so very sorry Hermione, but you had to know," Dumbledore said, sounding genuinely upset. She knew Dumbledore was right, but something inside still wanted to blame him. It was his fault she knew about this, his fault she would have to face this and his fault for being so damn good that she couldn't blame him.

"I know," she muttered. "But I still don't fully understand what this means for me,"

"Maybe we should discuss this at a later date Hermione, when you are a little less shocked," Dumbledore said cautiously.

"There is no way I can just leave here with half the story," Hermione scoffed. "I'll be fine I promise, I was just a little taken aback,"

"Understandably so," Dumbledore patted Hermione's hand and sat back in the armchair across from her. "If you're sure...,"

"I am, please the curiosity is worse than the shock," Hermione said with a grin.

"Alright, like I said Lord Voldemort has been trying to complete Salazar Slytherin's vow to find the Angel and I believe he has come to the same conclusion I have," Dumbledore straightened up. "Hermione whether you like it or not, you are an Angel...The only one left alive,"

"Well that's comforting," Hermione sighed.

"I have had my suspicions since your first year. Your level of intelligence and magical skill is unusual for someone of your heritage; it seemed like a logical explanation. So forgive the intrusion, but I traced your bloodline back and sure enough your blood is that of Isira,"

"And Voldemort definitely knows this?"

"According to Professor Snape, he has just realized that there is an heir of Isira's in existence that is female," Dumbledore said. "It is only a matter of days before he finds a name,"

"Yeah, my name," Hermione twirled one of her locks in her fingers as was her custom when she was nervous.

"So it would seem, yes," Dumbledore admitted sombrely. "However we must look on the bright side, we have a couple of days to prepare you before Voldemort becomes a real threat,"

"Oh believe me he's already a threat," Hermione said with a bitter smile.

"Forgive me, a bigger threat," Dumbledore grinned in an attempt to cheer Hermione up.

"I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but how will a couple of days help me?" Hermione dropped the curl.

"Even though you may not be a pureblood Angel you have the same power that Isira herself had, you need to learn how to use it properly, you need to be in control of it," Dumbledore said seriously.

"Control it?" Hermione laughed. "I don't even know what it is,"

"You will, with a little help," Dumbledore rose once again from his seat and Hermione watched him curiously as he grabbed a handful of greyish blue powder and threw it into the fire. They both flinched as the flame jumped and then revealed the sitting room of 12 Grimauld Place. "Remus...Sirius," Dumbledore called calmly and Hermione couldn't see what either of them had to do with the problem at hand. It took a couple of seconds, but the ruggedly handsome face of Sirius Black came into view.

"Albus, this is a surprise...Merry Christmas," he said with a familiar smirk. "What brings you to our fireplace?"

"And to you too, I need to discuss something rather important with you actually," Dumbledore sighed. "Is Remus with you?"

"Yeah, he'll be here in a second...He's just feeding Buckbeak," Sirius looked to the side and saw Hermione sitting in an armchair, looking quite pale. "Oh, Merry Christmas Hermione," he said, surveying her odd condition.

"Merry Christmas Sirius," Hermione offered a small smile and Sirius didn't have the chance to ask any questions as Remus came wandering into the room. His hair tousled and the sleeve of his t-shirt was ripped. Nevertheless he looked quite cheerful and healthy, which made Hermione think it was still a while before the next full moon.

"Albus, Hermione," he smiled broadly. "How is your Christmas going?"

"It has been...Interesting," Hermione said weakly. Remus frowned a little, but decided to leave the questions for a moment and turned to Dumbledore.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Albus?" he asked.

"I wondered if I might imposeon your day and ask you to apparate into my office...We really need to discuss something," Dumbledore said with a fleeting glimpse in Hermione's direction.

"Of course, we'll be right over," Remus said, also looking at Hermione. The image of Grimauld place disappeared and dissolved back into warm, comforting flames. Dumbledore and Hermione didn't have to wait even thirty seconds before Sirius and Remus appeared in the office.

"Thank you very much for this," Dumbledore said, smiling benevolently at both boys.

"It's nothing, what's wrong?" Sirius asked as Remus drew up two chairs between Dumbledore and Hermiones'.

"I've found Isira's heir," Dumbledore said simply, sitting down and motioning for the two men to do the same. They looked at each other with wide, cautious eyes.

"Are you sure?" Sirius cast a side glance at Hermione, wondering why she was there and looking so on edge.

"Certain," Dumbledore assured him. "Voldemort does not yet know the identity of the heir, but is aware of her existence,"

"Do we know her name?" Sirius asked.

"Hermione," It was Remus who spoke, he had not taken his eyes off the pale girl since he and Sirius arrived. Sirius looked from Dumbledore to Hermione with large eyes, waiting for the punch line.

"You're kidding," he mumbled.

"Unfortunately I'm not," Dumbledore caught Hermione's gaze and saw the fear and anticipation in her eyes. "Her father was the last of the bloodline and because he fathered a girl, that means she has Enkeli blood,"

"Does Mr. Granger know?" Remus asked, finally tearing his eyes from Hermione, who was avoiding any eye contact except for Dumbledore.

"I don't believe so," Dumbledore shook his head. "But that is not the issue at hand; we need to make sure Hermione is able to control her power,"

"Hermione...Are you alright?" Remus reached over and put his lean hand on Hermione's and she slowly looked up at him with worried chocolate brown eyes.

"Yeah, just a little confused," Hermione confessed, feeling strangely comforted by Remus' simple gesture.

"I need both of you to help Hermione with this," Dumbledore said, feeling more confident now after seeing Remus comfort Hermione. Sirius' expression looked like that of an overly protective big brother.

"Anything we can do," he assured the Headmaster.

"Excellent, just what I wanted to hear," Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief. "First of all Hermione I need to ask a favour of you,"

"Go ahead,"

"I need you to keep this secret between ourselves, Harry and Ronald...Just to avoid Voldemort finding out any faster than he should,"

"I understand," Hermione said solemnly.

"Thank you. Remus, Sirius I need to ask a much larger favour of you two," His eyes were no longer twinkling, but fixed and staid. "I need you two to help me prepare Hermione. I cannot devote as much time to this as I should like as I need to keep a close eye on Voldemort's progress, but she needs to be ready and I am confident that Hermione would benefit from both of you teaching her...Remus I know she has already benefited from your brief stint here four years ago," he added with a smile.

"As much as I would like to take credit, Hermione was brilliant long before we ever met," Remus said fondly and Hermione found herself blushing.

"Quite, I will understand if you feel you cannot help, but I would appreciate it if you could both spare the time," Dumbledore said, a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Nah, we've got dinner plans and then I'm washing my hair and after that---," Sirius was cut off by Remus' elbow in his side.

"We'll help in any way we can," Remus said, glaring at Sirius for his ill-timed jokes. "Just tell us what you need,"

"Remus I need you to fill Hermione in on her past as much as possible, she needs to know what she is capable of and Sirius I need you to ward Grimauld place even further and both of you will need to give her duelling lessons so that she can protect herself when the time comes," Dumbledore said, finally looking at Hermione. "I'm afraid your plans to stay in the castle for the holidays will have to be cut short. Things will be simpler if you go and stay with Remus and Sirius,"

"As long as it's not a bother for them," Hermione looked at both of the handsome, kind men.

"Never for you Hermione," Sirius said with a wink.

"Can I ask a favour?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Of course you may," Dumbledore raised a curious eyebrow.

"Would Harry and Ron be able to stay with me?"

"Remus...Sirius?" Dumbledore looked at both men with a look that Hermione didn't notice, but clearly said 'Just let them stay,'

"I don't see why not, he is my Godson after all and Ron's good for a laugh," Sirius shrugged.

"I see no problem," Remus agreed. "Of course they can stay Hermione,"

"Thank you, all of you,"

"Not at all Hermione, now you should probably get packing," Dumbledore stood up and ushered Hermione back out of the office and waited for the sound of the rotating staircase to stop.

"Albus...What are we going to do?" Sirius asked, getting to his feet as soon as Hermione was out of earshot.

"Prepare her as best we can," Dumbledore said firmly. "There is nothing more we can do, in the end it will be entirely up to Hermione,"

"But she's so young...Is she ready for that kind of decision to be laid on her?" Sirius pressed, again looking like an older sibling.

"Hermione's strong Sirius and you have to admit she is pretty mature," Remus said levelly, staring into the dancing embers and trying to stop his mind from wandering too far away,

"I know she is mature, but come on Remus it's not like she has ever faced something like this before...Not directly it has always been through or about Harry and now it's her life that's at risk," Sirius said his worry seeping through in his voice.

"If her life ends up in any serious jeopardy then we won't be doing a very good job of looking after her, will we?" Remus quirked an eyebrow.

"We can't just hide and shelter her through this whole thing, like Albus said in the end it will be up to her," Sirius said, sounding a little heated.

"I know, but until then all we can do is protect her, help her and just try to hide her from Voldemort...I don't think we should be worrying about anything else just yet," Before Sirius could retort again he was cut off by Dumbledore.

"Remus is right Sirius, preparing Hermione is the priority right now and I need you to focus on that,"

"Fine," Sirius said grumpily and Remus just chuckled and shook his head.

"Thank you," Dumbledore was also looking quite amused at Sirius' childish behaviour. "Now if both of you could go back to Grimauld place and set up rooms for Hermione, Ron and Harry I will wait for them here,"

"We'll see you soon, Albus," Remus and the Headmaster shook hands as did he and Sirius. "Good luck,"

"And to you," Dumbledore smiled warmly as two of his more memorable ex-students disappeared with a faint pop. "You're going to need it...,"