Chapter Seven
Office of the Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hermione dropped onto the sofa in front of the fireplace and cried silently into her hands, completely unaware of the interested glances from the portraits on the wall.
Unsurprisingly, Albus Dumbledore's portrait spoke first.
"Madam Granger-Weasley." He cleared his throat and called her name again, and she looked up in surprise.
"Oh, Headmaster Dumbledore. Er… Hello."
"My dear, can we do anything to help alleviate your distress? Perhaps one of us could summon Mr. Potter?"
My husband has just asked me for an uncontested divorce so he can marry his pregnant mistress, and now I am talking to a portrait of a man who has been dead for more than twenty years. I feel as though I have fallen through the looking glass. Despite the surreal quality her life had taken on, she lifted her chin and wiped her eyes, smiling politely at the portrait of the ancient former Headmaster.
"Thank you so much, but I don't need to disturb Harry. I'll be fine."
"You've had a shock, my dear. Please remember we are all pledged to help the current Head of Hogwarts in any way possible."
"Thank you, Headmaster. I shan't forget."
"I must say you have comported yourself with admirable restraint, Miss Granger—"
The low, velvety voice of Headmaster Severus Snape startled her and she spun around to look at his portrait over the fireplace. "Thank you, Professor. I wish I felt worthy of your compliment. I really was too shocked to know what to say."
"Had it been you confessing infidelity to your husband, I daresay all of these magical devices would be in shards on the floor, and we portraits would be ducking and dodging in our frames. Mr. Ronald Weasley had a bit of temper. Whatever your motivation, Madam, your behavior does you credit."
She smiled at the austerely dressed man in the portrait and then dropped her eyes, unused to praise from Severus Snape.
"Well said, Severus. Hermione, my dear, you have comported yourself with great dignity."
Hermione got to her feet and started to pace. She could not allow herself to dwell on what Ron had just asked of her. If she let down her guard she would wind up in tears again, and that was not how she intended to spend the remainder of her first day as Headmistress of Hogwarts. She paused and looked around the big circular office, truly seeing it for the first time. Headmasters Dumbledore and Snape watched from their frames as she went to the windows, drawing open the drapes to let in the morning sunlight. The drapes opened with a flurry of dust motes, and Hermione sneezed explosively several times, causing Headmaster Snape to chuckle.
"I always kept the drapes drawn. I sneezed for an entire day the first time I opened them and decided after that to leave them alone."
"They are getting rather dusty, I must admit. I never did find the time to put away all the instruments so the house-elves could take the drapes down for cleaning." Headmaster Dumbledore looked mildly vexed at his failure to accomplish the needed task, but Hermione forgave him. She had been a student at Hogwarts during the war. She knew how little cleaning the drapes had mattered at that point in time. "Minerva did have them cleaned when she moved in to this office, but they seem to attract the dust." Dumbledore peered doubtfully at the drapes.
Hermione looked around again once she had drawn all the drapes open. The office occupied the highest floor of a circular tower and had a charmed ceiling like the one in the Great Hall. Today it was a hazy grey blue, drifted with thin streaks of dark clouds. She watched the ceiling for a moment, then looked around the rest of the office in wonder.
All of the furniture was old and beautifully polished, and there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere on any cleared surface. But her heart sank as she realized how few cleared surfaces the room held. The huge desk in the center of the room did have a cleared space the size of a tea tray, and the table by the fire held only a low, colorful arrangement of flowers, now that Winky or one of the other house-elves had retrieved the tea tray. Most of the chairs were empty. Every other horizontal surface in the room was covered with JUNK. Amusing, fascinating, arcane, undoubtedly valuable, and possibly dangerous JUNK.
A soft chime sounded, followed by a whistle like a tea kettle. Various bowls and vases bubbled and steamed and underneath all the other sounds she was aware of the tick of a clock. Several clocks, actually; all of them ticking away at different intervals. She turned her eyes to the windows again and winced. Aside from being dusty, the drapes were a violent red and gold Tartan. How had she failed to notice that until just now? Especially the lions rampant embroidered in black on the red velvet tie-backs.
Severus Snape had been watching her as she walked around looking at everything, and his lips were twitching in amusement at her changing expressions. Wonder, bewilderment, appreciation and now dismay flitted across her features as she looked at the loud Tartan drapes.
"Interesting décor, wouldn't you say, Miss Granger? That is… Madam Granger-Weasley… "
"Please, I am quite accustomed to hearing you call me Miss Granger." She looked around the office once more, then back at him.
"I don't even know what most of these things are."
"Surely you recognize the tea services and biscuit barrels?" He raised one thick black eyebrow, a mocking half smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
"Er, yes. Those I did recognize."
Snape remembered many of the instruments from when this had been Albus Dumbledore's office. If he was honest, he didn't know what most of them were, either. He could not resist the temptation to provoke Granger just a little bit though. He was stuck to the wall of her office, after all. She would have to get used to him. He could see that she was as curious now as she had been as a first year. He knew it would not be long before she had found out what each instrument was and what it did.
"I believe many of them are used in the science," his voice took on a heavy note of sarcasm now, "of Divination." He almost laughed as she rolled her eyes. She had failed divination rather spectacularly in her third year. He recalled Sybill Trelawney's indignation that Miss Granger had told her off and stalked out of the Divination classroom, but his sympathy had really been with Miss Granger. Divination depended heavily on the innate talent of the witch or wizard, rather than spells or equations. Miss Granger's mind was a very logical one; her magical talents leaned heavily towards the practical. She had been dreadful at Divination and had hated every second of it.
"I never was very good at that."
"No, you were not. It was one of the few classes in which you did not excel." Flying had been the other.
"A compliment from you, Professor Snape?" She laughed, but there was a tinge of sadness in her laughter.
"Your academic record speaks for itself, Miss Granger. Your marks were always exceptional, and you took more NEWTs than anyone in your year."
"I wish your praise had come 25 years ago when I wanted it so desperately."
Professor Snape's dark eyes reflected something that looked very like regret, and his voice dropped lower. "I wish I had been in a position to offer it 25 years ago."
"I do understand." And she did. Severus Snape had been a spy for the Order of the Phoenix when Hermione had had been a student at Hogwarts. His cover story depended upon Voldemort believing he favored Slytherin house and pure-blood wizards in all things, which meant he'd been unable to praise good students from the other three houses at Hogwarts. Withholding criticism had been as close as he could come to praise during those years. Once Hermione had seen Snape's memories, given to Harry Potter on the day that Voldemort fell, she'd repented of all the resentment she'd felt towards him. If only she had known.
"Your success at brewing Polyjuice Potion in your second year is a feat that remains unmatched. I never quite understood what you three intended to accomplish by using it, nor where you got the fur that turned you into a cat."
"We thought Draco Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin, and hoped to catch him incriminating himself among his housemates in the Slytherin common room."
"Ah. I had never heard the full story. Presumably, then, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley impersonated two of his companions?"
"Crabbe and Goyle, actually."
"And who did you plan to transform into?"
"Millicent Bulstrode. I thought I had a strand of her hair to use for the transformation. I didn't know she had a cat, and I got one of the cat's hairs, rather than one of Millicent's." Miss Granger's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and she couldn't look at him. With great difficulty, Snape resisted the temptation to tease her and turned his chuckle into a cough.
"I must admit I have been much more careful about what goes into my potions ever since that incident."
"Then it is a lesson well learned."
Hermione came back to the sofa near the fireplace and sank down onto the cushions, glancing up at her two Headmasters again.
"I'm very sorry you were forced to witness the scene with Ron."
"Rest assured, child, there are no surprises to those of us who occupy this office." Headmaster Dumbledore's voice was soothing.
"Mr. Weasley did give you one very good piece of advice, Miss Granger."
"He did?"
"Mr. Malfoy could refer you to a very good attorney, and you should retain one as soon as you can. Your interests should be protected, and those of your children."
Hermione frowned.
"I really hate to do that. I hate to think I can't trust Ron to keep his word."
"Miss Granger. Please do not allow your pain at his transgression to blind you to the fact that he has, in fact, already broken his word. If Mr. Ronald Weasley had proven trustworthy, you would not now need legal representation." Despite all that has occurred, she remains the quintessential Gryffindor, he thought, … always wanting to believe the best about everyone, even when there is evidence to the contrary.
"That's what I am doing, isn't it? Thank you for pointing that out to me."
"Severus." Albus Dumbledore could still rebuke him just by invoking his first name. "Madam Granger-Weasley can use all our tact," there was definitely an emphasis on the word tact, "and support at this difficult time."
"I spoke rather hastily, Miss Granger. It is not my intention to chide you for a situation that is not of your making."
Hermione recognized that this was a fulsome apology, coming from Severus Snape.
"I'm not offended, Professor Snape. I appreciate your advice, and yours, Headmaster Dumbledore."
She got to her feet and began pacing around the office again. Ron's confession meant she had even more to do now.
~OoO~
Hermione had only been alone for twenty minutes when the gargoyle statue that guarded the stairs to her office announced, "Mister and Madam Harry Potter seek an audience with the Headmistress."
Glancing to the portraits on the walls, she asked, "Does it do that all the time?"
"Yes, indeed. The gargoyle is very helpful, Madam Granger-Weasley. It allows entrance to anyone who has the password, and announces all other visitors."
"How do I tell it to let Harry and Ginny in?"
"Merely instruct the gargoyle to permit them to enter the office, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, Professor Snape."
Raising her voice slightly, she said, "Gargoyle, please allow the Potters to enter the office."
"Yes, Headmistress."
A moment later the doors swung open and the Potters surged into the office. Both of them engulfed Hermione in hugs, followed by a flood of tender words, mingled with indignation at Ron's behavior. Dumbledore watched the proceedings quite openly, looking for a chance to put in a helpful word. Snape wasn't as obvious about it, but he, too, closely observed the conversation.
"Are you sure you want to just LET Ron have the divorce uncontested, Hermione?"
'There's really not much point in fighting it, is there? It's clear that he wants to be with her. If I drag this out for months, everyone will be hurt, and his child-THEIR child-will be born illegitimate. I don't want to be the cause of that."
Harry and Ginny protested that Ron's first obligation was to Hermione, until she reminded them that Ron had already chosen to put Caroline first.
"Ron's a prat; Mum and Dad are going to be so disappointed in him."
"It will all work out, Ginny. I don't want a huge fight to tear the family apart. The more bitterness there is, the more it will hurt Hugo and Rose. This is better."
Snape and Dumbledore watched as she spoke soothingly to her best friends. Snape felt a stirring of compassion for Miss Granger. Even in this situation it was she who maintained her composure, and she, the injured party, who lavished comfort on her friends, rather than seeking comfort from them.
Snape could not have explained why this bothered him so much. He sat back in his chair, just watching quietly and wishing there was something he could do for her. Perhaps there was. He nodded his head. Yes, perhaps there was.
~OoO~
By Owl
Draco Malfoy
Malfoy Manor
Nottinghamshire, England
To:
Madam Hermione Granger-Weasley,
Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogsmeade, Scotland
Dear Hermione, I just heard of the situation with Ron and am writing to offer you my solicitor's name and address. Dominius Attenbury is the head of a very old wizarding law firm, and will take good care of you. Attenbury and Associates have an excellent reputation. Actually, if I am very frank, they're sharks. But a shark with big, sharp teeth is just what you need right now. I've written to Dom already and informed him that you are the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, so you will need him to come to you, rather than you trying to scramble to get to London to see him. He actually went to school with Minerva McGonagall; that will give you an idea of his age. He is honorable and competent, though, and he'll do what's best for you, rather than what's most expedient. I trust him implicitly, and you can, too. And in case you are wondering if you and Ron were overheard and now the news is all over the school… Rest easy, it's not. My godfather brought the news this afternoon. Mother had a portrait of him commissioned after the war and he visits us often. He's entirely on your side in this whole mess and quite indignant over Weasley's behavior. I shall be very disappointed in you if I need give you any assurances as to Uncle Sev's discretion. I'm very disappointed in Weasley myself, just so you know where I stand. I know feelings are next-to-impossible to control, but one can always regulate one's own behavior. And now that I sound exactly like my sainted mother, I shall end this missive by expressing my concern for you, especially, and Hugo and Rose. You know how to reach me if I can be of any help to you. Owl my solicitor, Granger. Give my regards to your children, and know, Madam Granger-Weasley, that I remain, Your obedient servant, Draco Malfoy P.S. Daphne sends her good wishes, as well, and thinks you should hex Ron where it will do the most good.
Hermione collapsed into giggles at Draco's formal letter and the odd, mis-matched post script, but then looked up at the portrait over the fireplace. Professor Snape had not returned, and she felt oddly disappointed that she could not thank him.
~OoO~
The Library, First Floor, Malfoy Manor, Nottinghamshire, England.
Severus Snape watched from his portrait as Draco Malfoy sent off the owl bearing his letter to Hermione Granger-Weasley and left the room. Then he glanced up at the portrait of Lucius Malfoy, which hung on the opposite wall. The elder Malfoy lounged in a fabulous chair, silver-headed cane in hand, impeccably tailored, as always. Tonight, his eyes glittered with amused malice as he greeted Snape.
"Well, well, even bloodlines don't guarantee good breeding, do they?"
Snape shook his head. "If you're saying that Weasley is a short-sighted, inconsiderate lout, I'll not disagree with you."
"What I cannot understand, Severus, is how he allowed himself to get caught. A gentlewizard's first duty is NOT to remember whom it was he took to his bed the night before, my old friend. A gentlewizard's FIRST duty is to ensure that there won't be inconvenient reminders of his pleasure coming along nine months later. After all, there are both potions and charms to prevent this sort of thing. " Malfoy's eyes narrowed in malicious appreciation of his own wit, and Snape had to laugh. Trust Lucius Malfoy to get to the heart of the matter at once.
"If Mr. Weasley is as thoughtless now as he always was while a student at Hogwarts, this outcome could easily have been predicted, Lucius."
"Yes, I remember your comments about him when he was your student. Still, it's a pity for Madam Granger-Weasley. I have been watching her, not that I would ever admit that outside this room. She's done well for herself over the years. Quite an intelligent witch."
"I think we can expect great things from her. I predict she will rise above this unfortunate turn of events… in time."
"Draco and Daphne think well of her."
"As do I, Lucius."
"It will be interesting to see how it all turns out."
When Draco returned to the library a few moments later, he saw that his mother had joined the conversation, slipping into her husband's portrait frame, and the topic of Hermione Granger-Weasley was forgotten.