DISCLAIMER: Characters, except Rebecca Weasley and any others I may have
inadvertently created, do not belong to me. They belong the Great One, J.K.
Rowling.
AUTHUR: ihadanepiphany.
Hermione gets a little bit pissed off. If you don't like that, then I suggest you skim very lightly. Cos I've been waiting for a chance to let her blow some steam, and I was not about to pass this one up!
Do please enjoy.
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The students filed out the Great Hall late that night on their way to their respective towers. Harry turned as someone tugged at his robes.
'Dumbledore wants to see you,' said a young Gryffindor he didn't know. He looked up to see Dumbledore beckon to him and Hermione. Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry, he shrugged. Silently they fought through the mass of students towards the Headmaster.
'Time for a word or three?' Dumbledore asked.
'Always,' Hermione assured, smiling.
'Jolly good.' The Wizard glanced around at the slowly dissipating crowd. 'Another minute or so and we'll be able to risk our necks,' he said, grinning. 'Ah Professor Snape.' The tall sour-looking Professor turned. 'I trust you are happy with your new students.'
'Ecstatic,' he replied. He glanced at Harry and Hermione. 'I hope nothing has happened to young Weasley,' he said, with a touch more amusement than Harry cared for.
'Oh I'm sure he'll come out alright,' Dumbledore stated. 'He generally does.'
'Indeed. Excuse me Headmaster, I have business to attend to.'
'Of course.' With a nod to Dumbledore Snape glided away. Hermione scowled at the retreating back, fingers itching to send a curse after it. 'Come along you too,' Dumbledore said after a moment, setting off in the other direction.
A while later, Harry and Hermione sat fidgeting in Dumbledores office.
'Tell me,' the Wizard said, leaning forward. 'How did you come to be acquainted with Miss Rebecca Weasley?' Neither knew quite what to say.
'We met at Rons house,' Hermione said at last.
'Oh yes? And where is Ron?'
'He's at his aunts,' Hermione said, looking at the corner of the desk. 'Up north somewhere.'
'Up north?' Hermione fidgeted, nervously tugging at the hem of her robe.
'Yes sir,' she replied in a mutter. He stared hard at her and Harry and Harry felt like the old headmaster was reading his mind.
'Well done,' he said at last. 'Not up to the standard needed for Snape, but well done.' Hermione stared at the wizard, startled. He opened a drawer and pulled out a parchment. ' "Dear Dumbledore," ' he read aloud. ' "Our son Ron will not be joining you this year, or any year after this. We are afraid to inform you that Ron has been replaced by Rebecca. We trust your discretion in this matter. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are aware of the circumstances and can be trusted in this. We thank you for your understanding. Arthur and Molly Weasley." ' Dumbledore folded up the parchment and placed it in the fire. Hermione was staring at him and Harry was trying to figure out what was going on. 'I know what happened,' Dumbledore stated, regarding them gravely. 'I am aware of the curse that has plagued the Weasley family for the last seven generations. Arthur Weasley came to see me during the holidays and explained it.' He shook his head. 'It is very sad, but it cannot be helped. Young Ron was by no means the perfect student,' a grin flashed across his features as he remembered some of the redheads exploits. 'But he will be sorely missed.'
'Does anyone else know?' Hermione asked quietly.
'No. And it is to stay that way. Understand?' They both nodded. 'Good. The story of the northern aunt will continue. I have spoken with Ginny and she is also aware of the seriousness of this.' Dumbledore smiled suddenly. 'In fact she was the one who impressed on me how harmful it would be to the family if this secret got out.' Dumbledore stared at the pair of them and they dropped their gazes. 'Rebecca will be given every chance that is due to her.'
'Due to her?' Hermione repeated angrily. 'Why? The only reason she is here is because she took over Rons life cos some damn-stupid ancestor tried to play hero! She has no right to be here! Ron should be the one who's here, not her! She shouldn't even exist!' The young witch was leaning on Dumbledores desk. Harry tried to calm her down. 'You know it as well as I do. She's nothing more than a leech, taking over Rons life.'
'And what would you have us do Miss Granger?' Dumbledore asked quietly. Caught mid-rant she gaped at him. 'Lock her up? Throw her in Azkaban?' Dumbledores voice was calm, and at Harrys urging Hermione sat back down again. 'Kill her even? That won't bring Ron back you know. If you did that, you would destroy any chance of getting Ron back.' He smiled sadly at the witch. 'Believe me Hermione, I can understand your feeling the way you do, but don't take it out on someone who had nothing to do with it.'
'What am I supposed to do?' she asked in a voice shaking with repressed anger. 'Just smile and pretend nothings wrong? My best friend is gone dammit! And that Rebecca is walking around, like she's real!'
'She is real,' Dumbledore stated firmly. 'Make no mistake about that. She has her own life-history, her own mind, her own personality.'
'Her own House,' Harry supplied dully.
'Oh yes,' Dumbledore remembered. 'Well that cant be helped. Look,' he sighed. 'There is nothing to be done about anything this whole sorry mess.'
'Isn't there?' Hermione asked. Dumbledore looked at her.
'I hope you are talking about research Miss Granger,' he said warningly. 'I should hate to think that you would stoop to anything, drastic.' Hermione raised her chin.
'Don't worry headmaster,' she said. 'I wouldn't dream of such a thing.' Harry hurriedly rose as he spotted danger signs from Dumbledore.
'Lets not waste anymore time Hermione,' he said, pulling the witch up and out of the office. 'Thanks for your time, headmaster. We'll be careful, see you tomorrow.' He pulled the door closed on the two of them and soon emerged onto the deserted hallway.
'Just what do you think you were up to?' he growled at Hermione, grabbing her elbow. 'You'd better not be planning anything stupid.'
'Or what Harry?' she hissed back, whirling on him. 'What will you do?' She stared fiercely at him, until he dropped his hand and backed off. She pivoted on her heel and stormed off.
'Where are you going?' he yelled after her. 'The towers the other way.'
'I'm going to the library!' was the angry reply punctuated by a heavy slam of a door.
'Trouble in the ranks Potter?' a familiar voice smirked. Harry turned to see Malfoy standing behind him. Harry pushed past him, in no mood for it. Draco started laughing. 'Surely you're not mad about Rebecca are you?' Harry spun and faced him.
'What are you talking about now?' he snarled, fists clenched. Draco raised a sardonic eyebrow.
'So mad Potter? No wonder she joined Slytherin. I had no idea Muggle- lovers had such tempers.' Muttering curses under his breath, Harry turned and began the walk to Gryffindor tower, Malfoys laughter trailing behind him.
See what I meant? And that is not the end of Hermiones strops so be prepared.
Review, or I'll, um, er, write really bad stuff? Even worse stuff?
AUTHUR: ihadanepiphany.
Hermione gets a little bit pissed off. If you don't like that, then I suggest you skim very lightly. Cos I've been waiting for a chance to let her blow some steam, and I was not about to pass this one up!
Do please enjoy.
=============================================================
The students filed out the Great Hall late that night on their way to their respective towers. Harry turned as someone tugged at his robes.
'Dumbledore wants to see you,' said a young Gryffindor he didn't know. He looked up to see Dumbledore beckon to him and Hermione. Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry, he shrugged. Silently they fought through the mass of students towards the Headmaster.
'Time for a word or three?' Dumbledore asked.
'Always,' Hermione assured, smiling.
'Jolly good.' The Wizard glanced around at the slowly dissipating crowd. 'Another minute or so and we'll be able to risk our necks,' he said, grinning. 'Ah Professor Snape.' The tall sour-looking Professor turned. 'I trust you are happy with your new students.'
'Ecstatic,' he replied. He glanced at Harry and Hermione. 'I hope nothing has happened to young Weasley,' he said, with a touch more amusement than Harry cared for.
'Oh I'm sure he'll come out alright,' Dumbledore stated. 'He generally does.'
'Indeed. Excuse me Headmaster, I have business to attend to.'
'Of course.' With a nod to Dumbledore Snape glided away. Hermione scowled at the retreating back, fingers itching to send a curse after it. 'Come along you too,' Dumbledore said after a moment, setting off in the other direction.
A while later, Harry and Hermione sat fidgeting in Dumbledores office.
'Tell me,' the Wizard said, leaning forward. 'How did you come to be acquainted with Miss Rebecca Weasley?' Neither knew quite what to say.
'We met at Rons house,' Hermione said at last.
'Oh yes? And where is Ron?'
'He's at his aunts,' Hermione said, looking at the corner of the desk. 'Up north somewhere.'
'Up north?' Hermione fidgeted, nervously tugging at the hem of her robe.
'Yes sir,' she replied in a mutter. He stared hard at her and Harry and Harry felt like the old headmaster was reading his mind.
'Well done,' he said at last. 'Not up to the standard needed for Snape, but well done.' Hermione stared at the wizard, startled. He opened a drawer and pulled out a parchment. ' "Dear Dumbledore," ' he read aloud. ' "Our son Ron will not be joining you this year, or any year after this. We are afraid to inform you that Ron has been replaced by Rebecca. We trust your discretion in this matter. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are aware of the circumstances and can be trusted in this. We thank you for your understanding. Arthur and Molly Weasley." ' Dumbledore folded up the parchment and placed it in the fire. Hermione was staring at him and Harry was trying to figure out what was going on. 'I know what happened,' Dumbledore stated, regarding them gravely. 'I am aware of the curse that has plagued the Weasley family for the last seven generations. Arthur Weasley came to see me during the holidays and explained it.' He shook his head. 'It is very sad, but it cannot be helped. Young Ron was by no means the perfect student,' a grin flashed across his features as he remembered some of the redheads exploits. 'But he will be sorely missed.'
'Does anyone else know?' Hermione asked quietly.
'No. And it is to stay that way. Understand?' They both nodded. 'Good. The story of the northern aunt will continue. I have spoken with Ginny and she is also aware of the seriousness of this.' Dumbledore smiled suddenly. 'In fact she was the one who impressed on me how harmful it would be to the family if this secret got out.' Dumbledore stared at the pair of them and they dropped their gazes. 'Rebecca will be given every chance that is due to her.'
'Due to her?' Hermione repeated angrily. 'Why? The only reason she is here is because she took over Rons life cos some damn-stupid ancestor tried to play hero! She has no right to be here! Ron should be the one who's here, not her! She shouldn't even exist!' The young witch was leaning on Dumbledores desk. Harry tried to calm her down. 'You know it as well as I do. She's nothing more than a leech, taking over Rons life.'
'And what would you have us do Miss Granger?' Dumbledore asked quietly. Caught mid-rant she gaped at him. 'Lock her up? Throw her in Azkaban?' Dumbledores voice was calm, and at Harrys urging Hermione sat back down again. 'Kill her even? That won't bring Ron back you know. If you did that, you would destroy any chance of getting Ron back.' He smiled sadly at the witch. 'Believe me Hermione, I can understand your feeling the way you do, but don't take it out on someone who had nothing to do with it.'
'What am I supposed to do?' she asked in a voice shaking with repressed anger. 'Just smile and pretend nothings wrong? My best friend is gone dammit! And that Rebecca is walking around, like she's real!'
'She is real,' Dumbledore stated firmly. 'Make no mistake about that. She has her own life-history, her own mind, her own personality.'
'Her own House,' Harry supplied dully.
'Oh yes,' Dumbledore remembered. 'Well that cant be helped. Look,' he sighed. 'There is nothing to be done about anything this whole sorry mess.'
'Isn't there?' Hermione asked. Dumbledore looked at her.
'I hope you are talking about research Miss Granger,' he said warningly. 'I should hate to think that you would stoop to anything, drastic.' Hermione raised her chin.
'Don't worry headmaster,' she said. 'I wouldn't dream of such a thing.' Harry hurriedly rose as he spotted danger signs from Dumbledore.
'Lets not waste anymore time Hermione,' he said, pulling the witch up and out of the office. 'Thanks for your time, headmaster. We'll be careful, see you tomorrow.' He pulled the door closed on the two of them and soon emerged onto the deserted hallway.
'Just what do you think you were up to?' he growled at Hermione, grabbing her elbow. 'You'd better not be planning anything stupid.'
'Or what Harry?' she hissed back, whirling on him. 'What will you do?' She stared fiercely at him, until he dropped his hand and backed off. She pivoted on her heel and stormed off.
'Where are you going?' he yelled after her. 'The towers the other way.'
'I'm going to the library!' was the angry reply punctuated by a heavy slam of a door.
'Trouble in the ranks Potter?' a familiar voice smirked. Harry turned to see Malfoy standing behind him. Harry pushed past him, in no mood for it. Draco started laughing. 'Surely you're not mad about Rebecca are you?' Harry spun and faced him.
'What are you talking about now?' he snarled, fists clenched. Draco raised a sardonic eyebrow.
'So mad Potter? No wonder she joined Slytherin. I had no idea Muggle- lovers had such tempers.' Muttering curses under his breath, Harry turned and began the walk to Gryffindor tower, Malfoys laughter trailing behind him.
See what I meant? And that is not the end of Hermiones strops so be prepared.
Review, or I'll, um, er, write really bad stuff? Even worse stuff?