Author's Note: I want to thank the following… MigratingCoconuts06, Blue Rose of the Full Moon, LittleMarySunshine, werewitch, DeltaGamma Liv, Gueneviere, Fangirl-16, Neko-Mitsuko, Viktor Krum's lazyllama101, xriddikulusx, Fairy Love, Moony's Fire, Nynaeve80, Hesper426, hawkeyehellsing, Trins, CharmedatWriting, Beautiful Enigma, ffacowgirl89, michelline and PyroGurl4….for all of your reviews :

Hermione was waiting for Dumbledore to emerge from the door at the far corner of his room. If it were not for the current circumstances she would have been excited to be back within the sheltering walls of Hogwarts. As it were, she was rocking uneasily in an extremely plush antique chair. The portraits were eying her suspiciously, still hesitant from the trio's escapades in the Headmaster's office their seventh year. She smiled at the memory thinking back a few years prior. flash back

"I can't believe you two are stupid enough to try this! Do you have any idea what will happen if this is linked to you two dunderheads?!" her voice proclaimed shrilly.

"Hermione r-e-l-a-x. Take a deep breath. We just won't get caught" Ron flippantly said as he edged towards the gargoyle carry some patched muggle suitcases and a jar that held some vile looking green slime.

"He's right you know, Hermione. We've been over this a hundred times and I thought we agreed that since Umbrigde he the nerve to some back, we should make sure she had a suitable welcome." Harry eyed her. She knew there was no saying no when he looked at her so pointedly. She had mentioned several times that Umbridge deserved whatever came to her. She nervously followed Ron and Harry up to the Gargoyle where they began guessing passwords.

"Chocolate Frogs."

"Fizzing Whizbees"

"Pepper Imps."

"Droobles."

"Ice Mice?"

"Hermione are you sure Dumbledore charmed the password so it had to be a sweet?" Harry asked.

"Positive." She said unwaveringly until…"Oh how can we be so stupid!"

"Who are you calling stupid?!" The boys both shouted.

"No one in particular." She smiled as she continued. "It makes perfect sense really. It's almost as if he knew Umbridge would be the new Head. Something to remember him by…"

"Out with it Hermione." Ron said impatiently.

"Lemon Drops." After the password was spoken they were finally allowed entrance. When the trio got into the main office, they worked diligently without a word. Ron unzipped the worn-out duffle bags and grabbed several strange looking, incredibly stiff animals. Hermione had been unhappy that they had to be stunned, but they could find no other way around it. She muttered a spell and they stretched their limbs while looking murderous. Hermione and Ron began backing out of the office slowly while Harry stayed put keeping the animals at bay while the other two made their way to the door. Once they reached their destination, they called out to Harry, who ran with all his might to the door, slamming it forcefully. Panting soon gave way to hearty laughter as the group made their way to the Gryffindor common room.

"Well done Hermione didn't think you had it in ya." The boys beamed at her.

end of flash back

"You have an awfully far away look about you, Miss Granger." Dumbledore had walked in to the room and sat at the desk, but she hadn't noticed until his veiled question.

"You remembering the time the three of us set Bundimun loose in here." She said with a chuckle that didn't quite reach her eyes. The reality of her visit was becoming more pressing. Dumbledore noticed a veil drop over her features when she began to speak next and it greatly saddened him.

"However, you wished to talk with me about recent events, not past clandestine misdeeds. Am I correct in believing that news from St. Mungo's has reached you ears?" Her voice was flat and she gave a glance to a portrait who didn't have the heart to look back.

"That is the case, Miss Granger." Dumbledore admitted and continued; "I need to know what you remember from that night. I understand that you may not want such memories drudged up like this, but it is of the utmost importance." Hermione sighed. She knew that this was coming and she had prepared what she was going to say as many had skirted around a more direct question.

"I don't know who the father is, if that is what you are really asking." Her tone was strained, yet sharp and one she had never used with someone so revered as Dumbledore.

"Alas, Miss Granger, that matter is none of my business. I am just in need of information concerning that night."

"Oh." Hermione felt a pang of regret. "I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"It is of no consequence, Miss Granger." His eyes gave a slight twinkle as if indicating that she should begin her version of events. "If you will, please. I shall not interrupt." With a sigh she began.

"I suppose it began after I left Headquarters. I was rather distressed, I guess and I wasn't really paying attention." She paused, expecting him to ask a question until she realized that he truly wasn't going to interrupt." Um. I found myself in Diagon Alley and, I don't know, I felt as if someone was watching me. I kept turning around, but I didn't see anyone."

"I was standing across from Knockturn Alley, over by Florean's, and I saw this trolley and I just felt pulled by it. I can't really explain better than that. I just really needed to get closer. It happened so quickly after that. There was a man and he had a wand to my back. I couldn't do anything; he seemed to know that I was going for my wand and made sure I couldn't do anything. Side-Along Apparition took me to a horrid house after that. I can't remember much after that. There were so many Death Eaters. They--" Her voice broke. Up until that point she had been speaking rapidly; Dumbledore hardly caught a word, but now it looked as if she wasn't going to go on. Dumbledore looked at her for a moment encouraging her to continue. "I can't remember much. They beat, cursed, and hexed me and I remember wishing it was all over." Tears began to fall.

"I must have passed out, because I awoke to more abuse, but Professor Snape managed to stop it. He cast some healing spells. If it weren't for him-- I was taken to another room and it was more of the same really. It was as if it were some twisted game. How close to death can she get, without actually dying?" She gave a bitter laugh. "When word that the Order had arrived they all seemed very keen on keeping me there. I was shuffled between different Death Eaters and kept hidden. One was particularly cruel; it was him that cast the Imperious. I tried to fight it. I really did." Her eyes looked at Dumbledore's trying to convey the sense of guilt she had for not being able to. "I don't remember what happened after that. What happened to Emmiline-- I mean… I heard that she-- It's all my fault" She broke down in tears. Her chest heaving with each labored breath.

"Hermione." Dumbledore said in a reassuring voice. "Emmiline Vance died at the hand of a Death Eater. It was not, in any way, your fault."

"But--"

"Hush child. This has been quite the experience. I will not bother you any more. However, might I suggest something?" Hermione looked dazed.

"Erm. Yeah, what--"

"I know one Order member in particular has been quite worried about you since your stay at St. Mungo's…"

"I don't want to see him." She answered flatly.

"Hermione…"

"I don't want to--"Her plea was cut short when a man in ragged robes quietly entered the room from the same one Dumbledore had prior in the evening. He still had the bags under his eyes and he looked positively worn. But the concern and hurt in his eyes could not be hidden but the effects of sleep deprivation. He walked towards Hermione, but stopped after she gave him a caustic glare.

"I'm so very, very sorry Hermione. Forgive me." With that the man turned silently and began walking towards the door.

"Wait." She asked, her heart melting. The man stopped, but did not turn as if he thought it was too good to be true. Dumbledore wisely took this as his cue to leave and left the room unnoticed by the others.

"Why?" She asked the man whose back faced her. His shoulders slumped and his head looked to his feet.

"I was a fool." She looked enraged at this until he turned around and walked up to her. She was poised to slap him. How dare he!? After everything…Her thoughts and actions were cut short, however, when the man caught her in a kiss. It was delicate and sweet and when it was broken she was left utterly speechless.

"I was a fool to leave you." She was immediately found in a tight embrace and she felt content.

Author's Note: A Bundimun is a creature skilled at creeping under floorboards and behind skirting boards they infest houses. They are associated with a foul stench of decay and ooze a secretion that rots the foundations of the dwelling it resides in. It resembles green fungus with eyes and when alarmed it will scuttle away on numerous spindly legs. (Taken from Magical Beasts).

Author's Note the Sequel: I know I haven't been that great with updating (school owns my soul) so I decided I would do a wrap up. I think I'll do a sequel that picks up right after this, maybe this summer?? For now though, I think this is it. I know thee are a billion loose ties I haven't dealt with, i.e. the baby, Mrs. Brinker's vow, and who he is : I was quite thrilled with that actually….hmmmm is it Lupin he was certainly a fool for leaving her that morning….or perhaps Snape, because definiately left her with a bunch of crazed Death Eaters…foolish. :D Don't hate me too much. A sequel will come and all questions answered.