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Secret Plans
The following morning was an affair for the trio. They all woke up around ten and managed to convince Madam Pomfrey to let them go by eleven.( Seriously, she even said they were fine but kept them there anyway.) The trio immediately bolted from the infirmary after they were dismissed. The three set to work. They found in unused classroom and planned what they would be doing over the summer.
Ron would be reading as much as he could about the rise and fall of Voldemort and his followers. He would be finding patterns and tactics they used as well as finding all creatures and the most used dark spells and how to counter them. Also he would try to get Charlie and Bill's advance books on creatures and curse-breaking. And if he could swallow his pride, ask Percy for help… if he was desperate.
Hermione would be finding combatant ways to use the spells they already weren't known for combat. Check her Herbology textbooks for any magical plants they could weaponize. Finding what runes would be vital to know in an any dangerous situation. And spend most of her free time creating potions for them to use if the need arises.
Harry, having the least resources of the three, would be heading to the local library and reading as much as he could about muggle history. Specifically how to defeat an enemy more powerful than you. He would also be reading up on muggle psychology and sociology to try to predict how his enemy was going to act. They("they" being Hermione) figured if they could get any advantage on Voldemort, it would be in muggle areas.
All three of them were going to try being more active in the summer too. They knew they weren't going to be a real threat anytime soon. So the logical answer was to start working out so if a threat they couldn't handle came around they could run for their lives without gasping for air, but still have the stamina to fight back if they didn't have a choice.
The final thing they decided to do was go over every defence spell their textbooks provided. To the point where they could cast it in their sleep.
"Okay, I think that is as much as we can plan for. And we can always adapt it later on if it's not there any complaints?" Harry asked.
"None, that I can think of Harry." Hermione said. "I'm going to go to the library to see if Madam Prince has any ideas on what books we should be using." Harry grabbed her arm in a panic before she could leave. "Harry?" She asked in confusion.
" I don't think we should tell anyone what we're doing."
" Why not?" Ron questioned.
" Think about it. If we tell anyone they'll try to stop us. They'll say 'You are much too you to be worrying about something like this.' 'You are too young to even begin practicing this kind of advance magic.' ' You should let the adults handle this and go enjoy yourselves.'
"They won't take us seriously and even if they do help, they will be watching us like hawks."
" I think you're exaggerating-" Hermione said.
" No, it took me longer than necessary to convince Lupin to teach me the patronus charm- and that was after I had been attacked -TWICE." He looked both of them in the eye. "Look I understand we'd probably learn faster if we learned from the experts. But they wouldn't help us- well at least not the help we want."
" So, we can't ever ask them for help?"
"No, we can ask for help but we just can't tell them the truth behind it."
"Sounds reasonable." Ron said.
Hermione still wasn't convinced. So Harry decided to he needed to be more convincing . "Hermione, remember in first year when we tried to tell Professor McGonagall about the Stone and how it was in danger and she didn't believe us."
"Yes but-"
" Or about how in second year the staff still kept the school open even though Muggle-born students were being petrified."
"Harry-"
" How about last night when Madam Pomfrey and the Minister of Magic practically brushed what we had to say aside. They didn't even listen to us. Just believed what Snape said." Hermione tried to say something in defense but got nothing out. She continued looking helplessly a Harry. " We are nothing more than children to them. Children not worth listening too. Even when Dumbledore- bloody Dumbledore believed us when nobody else did we were the ones who had to go back in time to save Sirius. Not him. Us. For the past three years we have been the ones saving the school. And even after each time we do they still don't give us a bloody chance to explain. Just dismiss us. I am tired of it.I'm done."
" ...I see your point, Harry." Hermione said in a soft voice. " But we can't just- just never ask for their help."
" I know that."
"So what do we do? What do we say to people when they see us studying so much? What are we supposed to say to our professors when we ask them for help on something that isn't for class?"
" Well..." Ron said hesitantly " Hermione you could just say it's for your O.W.L.s study schedule or you're just looking into possible future careers. Harry and I could say that you scared us into worrying about our future so we're following your lead."
Hermione thought about it for moment. Looked at both of them and sighed. " I suppose that could work."
" It will work." Harry said smiling at Ron. " As long as we act relatively the same, no one will catch on!" Hermione still had an uncertain look. " Come on, Hermione. It's not like we're breaking the rules or anything. What are they going to do? Give us detention for studying? Hermione shoulders relaxed slightly. " And besides, it will be really fun. Having our own secret club." Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled at him.
"Okay, I'll agree to keep this a secret. But only if you both do the work."
" Don't need to worry about that, we'll do it." Harry said.
" Good" Hermione said " Now I'll go to the library to go create study plans for the three of us over the summer as well as see if there are any books that might be helpful." Hermione then left the two boys in the empty classroom.
" Should we tell her we won't use her study plans?" Ron said.
" She'd make them anyway." Ron sorted. After a beat Harry decided to get Ron's full opinion on the situation. " Ron are you sure you want to do this. I mean we're preparing for a battle we're not sure even exists. And I know neither one of us are ones to study unless absolutely necessary…"
" Harry…" Ron said slowly. " When Sirius dragged me into the Whomping Willow… it was the most terrifying moment of my life. And then when I saw who exactly was dragging me… I froze… I knew in that moment that even if he hadn't taken my wand I wouldn't have been able to do anything… I only came out of my… frozen state when you kicked the door and barged in. I thought he was going to kill you in front of me and…" Ron stopped speaking. After a few tense, emotional moments he spoke again. " Harry, I don't ever want to feel that defenceless again. I will work for this. I won't slack, not… not for something like this."
Harry was amazed and touched by his best friend's statement. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Harry decided to change the topic to something a little lighter. " So how are you going to deal with your family. Studying, especially in the summer, is out of character."
" Well, I figured I just tell them Hermione asked me to do it. And hoped they just buy it." Ron said sheepishly.
" There is no way they are going to buy it."
"It's fine, the only people who will make a big deal out of it are the twins. And I can handle their teasing for a summer."
"If you're sure."
"I'm sure."
" Come on, less go to the great hall before lunch is over."
" Oh, good. I'm bloody starved
After Ron and Harry and eaten lunch in the great hall they decided to sneak some food into the library for Hermione. ( She developed a bad habit of forgetting to eat this year.) About half way there they ran into Hagrid, who had the biggest smile on his face.
The pair of them tried to act surprised when the giant said Buckbeak escaped. Luckily he was too elated to notice their bad acting.( Something to work on over the summer.) However the news turned sour when Hagrid told them Lupin had resigned.
Harry told Ron to go inform Hermione and that he would try to persuade Lupin to stay here.
It didn't work. When Harry got to his office Lupin was done packing and just about to leave. Harry did his best to convince him to stay but it was no use. The werewolf had made up his mind. But before he left Lupin had given him the Marauder's Map and his father's invisibility cloak back and said to keep in to keep in touch.
Then Dumbledore came in saying his carriage was ready and Lupin left promptly. Harry decided to tell Dumbledore about the prophecy, mostly because he would be the only one who would believe him. Although Dumbledore's response wasn't what he expected. The man had believed him, but he said that it was the second prediction that came true. Which begs the question… what was the first?" Harry was too busy thinking about it that he missed Dumbledore leaving him with his thoughts.
Harry left Lupin's old office to meet up with Ron and Hermione. Luckily he had the map back and saw that they were still in the library. He immediately set off to meet them.
When Harry got to the library the first thing he noticed was that it was completely empty. Which he thought was good because the three of them could talk freely.
"Harry!" Hermione whispered. "Over here." Harry turned to his right and saw his friends sitting at the small table.
"Were you able to get Lupin to stay?" Ron asked.
"No. He won't be coming back anytime soon."
"That's so unfair!" Hermione exclaimed " He was the best Defence teacher we've had."
"He said he wanted to leave before parents started to complain." Ron and Hermione stewed in anger for a bit before Ron said " This is all Snape's fault! He's still bitter about a mishap that happened over ten years ago so he reveals to the world about Lupin's condition. I knew Snape was a bastard but he's gone too far this time. He just ruined Lupin's life forever!"
" Professor Lupin is smart Ronald, I'm sure he'll bounce back."
"No he won't Hermione. Everyone in the wizarding world are afraid of werewolves. Dad says it's hard enough for an unknown werewolf to keep a job once they got them. You know because they can't come into work around the full moon. And after awhile the employers get suspicious and fire them out of fear. But all of Britain is going to know about him now. And he'll never get another job here again. All thanks to the bloody prick of a Potions teacher."
After Ron's rant Hermione looked horrified. She, like Harry, didn't know how bad it was for werewolves. "That's horrible." Hermione said. " This cannot be legal."
"It is Hermione." Ron interrupted. " Remus either has to work in the muggle world or move to France, Bulgaria, America or Brazil if he wants to work again. Those are the only countries that actually have laws in place that make it illegal to turn down someone because they're a werewolf." Harry and Hermione sat there flabbergasted at the information just given to them.
"How- how do you know that?" Hermione asked.
" Bill has a coworker who's a werewolf in hiding."
"And he told you about?" Harry asked sceptically.
"No… he told Charlie. I just... happened to overhear." Ron said while his ears started going red. Harry smirked at the implication .
"This completely unjust. Professor Lupin shouldn't have to move to get basic rights!" Hermione said righteously. Then Hermione gave a look of realization. " Snape is a bloody bastard." Harry and Ron gave looks of surprise. This was the first time either one of them had heard her swear. " Snape knew exactly what he was doing. He completely and utterly ruined him." She said near tears. " And all because of some childhood grudge! This is completely unacceptable." She got a look of determination. " I'm going to go talk to Professor Dumbledore."
Hermione left the library in a rush. The two boys just stood there not sure what to do.
" Sh- should we go after her?" Ron questioned after a few moments.
"No…" Harry said " If Dumbledore could do something he would have already done it… Let's try and do something here so Hermione will calm down faster when she comes back."
The two boys set to work. They had to ask Madam Pince were they could find any information regarding laws on werewolves. She gave them a sad smile a pointed to where they needed to go. There was only a handful of information on werewolf laws and it was decided that Harry would read and take notes on them while Ron went to the history section to begin working on finding patterns Voldemort used in the last war.
Hermione came back about an hour and a half later fuming.
" Dumbledore said there was nothing he could do!" she said bitterly. " He said he already had a serious discussion with Snape and that everything would turn out okay in the end! He had the gall to look me in the eyes and say it too!" They had never, ever seen her this mad about something. Neither one knew what to say.
Hermione then sighed and deflated her shoulders. " … I think you were right, Harry."
" ...About what?"
" About not telling anyone about what we're doing. "
" Really?" Ron said.
"Yes," Hermione said. " While Gryffindors are known for their bravery they are also known for their sense of right and wrong. A need for justice. But both Dumbledore and Mcgonagall just told me there was nothing they could do. So I went to Professor Flitwick thinking he might be able to think of a way to help. But he couldn't. He just brushed me away. Then I went to Professor Sprout she said the same thing. I went to as many teachers as possible but none of them would put up a fight for Professor Lupin…" A few tears fell from her eyes when she whispered " I trusted and looked up to them… and- and they did nothing. I had always thought..." She started crying silently
The boys were in over their heads. They looked at each other, neither knew what to after a while Harry spoke up.
" I don't know what you what us to say , Hermione."
" You don't have to say anything, either of you" She took several calming breaths. " I'm not upset that they can't do anything. I'm upset that they won't even try doing something. I'm upset that they wouldn't help their coworker. I'm upset that they wouldn't help their former student. But mostly I'm upset at the thought of that someday if we were in trouble they…"
" They might not try to help us?" Ron finished. Hermione nodded and started crying again. Ron grabbed her hand to silently support her.
" Do you think that's why Dumbledore asked the two of us to go. He couldn't be bothered to save Sirius." Hermione whispered.
" No. I think he knew we were the only ones who could pull it off. But that doesn't mean we have to tell him what we're doing. He's the one who keeps defending Snape from… something."
" Think he has dirt on the slimy git?" Ron asked.
" Maybe…" Harry said. Ron did make a point. Snape hated children. So it wasn't a passion for teaching that kept him here. He was also a Potion Master. He could work anywhere and make much more there. So the money also wasn't keeping him here. He decided to put "finding why Snape teaches here' on his to-do list Then he noticed that Hermione was still crying. While out of his depth with dealing with a crying girl. He thought of something to say.
"So the staff here let us down. That doesn't mean there's no hope for a better future. If we work at this maybe, we can change this world for the better. Maybe we'll be the ones to help werewolf rights come to forwishen. But until then we look out for each other. Deal?"
Hermione gave a small, watery smile and wiped away her tears with her sleeve. Ron gave him a thankful look.
" So Harry and I have been researching, care to join us?" Ron asked. If anything Hermione's smile got bigger.
That's how they spent the majority of their last week at school. Stuck in the library. (Although Ron did convince them to go for a walk outside every five to six hours. Harry was thankful. He wasn't used to studying for such long hours at a time.)
But then came the final day of school. All three of them were packed and ready to go. They boarded the Hogwarts Express and spent most of the ride talking to each other, knowing full well they wouldn't be seeing one another for several weeks.
However their conversation was ended abruptly when Hermione saw a tiny gray mass outside there compartment window. Harry opened the window and grabbed it. When he pulled it back into the apartment he saw it was a tiny, little owl. He released it and the owl started excitingly flying all over the place. Ron eventually grabbed it out of the air when he saw Crookshanks eyeing it. That's we he noticed the letter around it's leg.
" Hey, Harry, it's from Sirius! " Ron said. He gave Harry the letter and Harry read it aloud. The gist of the letter was that he and Buckbeak made it out alright and will be hiding out south. He was the one who sent Harry the firebolt. Sirius had given Harry a permission slip to go to Hogsmeade.("That will be good enough for Dumbledore!") And that the owl was now Ron's if he wanted it. (After Crookshanks gave his approval Ron accepted)
All too soon the train had stopped and it was time to go home. He said his goodbyes to Hermione and the Weasley family, promising to write, and left with his uncle, aunt, and cousin. After threatening them with his mass murdering , criminal godfather, of course. ( Maybe now they would treat him decently.)
He got into the family car and promised himself this summer was going to be different.
Hooray! Second Chapter Done! Now onto the question from OH no one asked a question. Y'all are too good to ask a question on my lowly fanfic? I see how it is. But seriously are you guys crazy? You can get dirt on story ideas before they are written. Or, even better, get to know the fantastical author a little more. What I'm trying to say is WRITE A DARN QUESTION!(she said calmly) Until next time.
