Well I hope this was worth the wait, I know some of you asked me to update sooner and I tried I honestly did but I've had a really busy week!
Chapter 11: The Other Dumbledore
"Mrs. Granger, can I see you in my office after dinner please," said Professor Mcgonagal as she caught up with Hermione.
"Of course professor, do you have some new information for me," said Hermione hopefully.
"Digression Hermione!" Professor Mcgonagal exclaimed. "But yes, I have information for you." Hermione blushed realizing she had been so forward. "I'm sorry professor."
"Not at all Mrs. Granger, 8 o clock."
"Yes Professor," said Hermione as she and the professor split ways and went to their separate tables. Immediately the hall began to buzz, people were not even bothering to lower their voices as she walked by, but Hermione kept her head held high. She took a seat at the end of the table away from everybody else and began piling her plate. She ate quietly trying to ignore the incessant hum of the students around her. She finished quickly and then went to Professor Mcgonagal's office where she sat in an adjacent alcove waiting impatiently for the professor.
Draco smiled as he watched Hermione walk into the hall with her head held high. He honestly didn't care about the rumor, he actually found it amusing how all the lemmings had nothing better to do than gossip. He watched as even some of the fourth years dared to gossip openly in front of him.
Then an official looking owl swooped in and landed next to his plate. Extending it's leg he saw an envelope with a St. Mungo's seal on it. Quickly he untied the envelope and quickly walked out of the hall. Ducking into an empty classroom he quickly ripped open the envelope and scanned the documents inside. To his dismay it was a detailed report on exactly what he already knew. Angrily he threw the papers aside and went to stare out the window.
Professor Mcgonagal walked briskly towards her office all to aware that Hermione was probably already waiting for her.
"Mrs. Granger," She greeted as went to open her door.
"Professor," Said Hermione as she leapt down from the alcove and followed the professor into her office. Professor Mcgonagal motioned for Hermione to sit and then cast a muffilato curse on the door.
"First of all I would like to tell you that your mother has made a full recovery but will be remaining at our safe house," Hermione smiled and sighed with relief. "Your aunt and her family are being monitored and we have also placed protective spells over their dwelling."
"Thank you," said Hermione feeling even more relieved.
"Professor Dumbledore will like to speak with you sometime in the upcoming week to brief you further on the situation, and I also received this from your aunt," said Professor Mcgonagal as she handed Hermione a letter.
"Thank you Professor."
"Your welcome Mrs. Granger, and I must say I am proud of how well you have handled yourself given your situation, now off you go I'm sure you have a lot of homework to do." Said Professor Mcgonagal as she dismissed Hermione from her office.
Draco was now staring into the flames of the heads common room fireplace, watching as the last of Healer Salander's report burned to ashes. Then all of a sudden he saw his fathers face emerge in the flames. Jumping back he exclaimed "Father,"
"Yes my dear boy, I am your father, and I have heard some very disturbing news from Ms. Parkinson. Do you deny it?"
"Deny what? That I am not your son...Gladly," Said Draco defensively.
"That you had demeaning relations with that filth," Snarled Lucius.
"First of all she is not filth, and quite frankly I disagree with your old fashioned views,"
"Old fashioned, I think you are confusing yourself with tradition and honor, which I expect you to uphold, you are doing more than damaging your own name you are tarnishing the Malfoy name as well which I will not tolerate."
"Well tolerate it or not I'll defile the Malfoy name as much as I want, with whomever I want."
"You will do no such thing you ungrateful, spoiled, brat and I will make sure that you will never see your sorry excuse for a mother ever again." Draco made a reach for his father's face but he was already gone. The burning hot pain of the fire snapped him out of it and he pulled his hand out of the flames.
Hermione walked into the common room just in time to see Lucius face vanish from the flames. She stood their in shock until Draco turned around noticing her presence.
"Draco, is everything okay?"
He looked up at her his eyes swirling dangerously with anger as he cradled his burnt hand. "No."
"Did your father find out about the rumor, please tell me you told him it wasn't true."
"It hurt the abhorrent excuse of man more to let him think it was true."
"Whats wrong then?" She asked as she walked closer.
"He's going after my mother and there is no way I can stop him." He said turning away from her.
"No, Draco I think there is," said Hermione as she grabbed his arm, "Come on."
Draco weakly resisted then allowed her to lead him away.
Ron came up behind Pansy and said "Good job, I knew you would come through for me."
"Get away from me Weasley," said Pansy as she whipped around to face Ron.
"And what are you going to do... scratch me with your claws."
"You are intolerable," she exclaimed as she began to walk away.
"Don't you want to get back at Malfoy..." Said Ron as he grabbed Pansy's wrist.
"Oh trust me I do, but I am perfectly capable with my own wiles, let go of me before you infect me with more of your filth," Said Pansy as she ripped her arm out of his grip.
"Oh I am sure you can get another guy, but what do you think is going to make him really jealous, seeing you with Crabbe or seeing you with me? It would destroy the both of them."
"You are quite determined aren't you Weasley, but I think a little goody two shoes like you doesn't even know how to pull off real revenge...how do I know you won't chicken out the minute things get serious?" Said Pansy as she trailed a finger down Ron's cheek.
"Oh I won't," Said Ron as he kissed Pansy square on the lips.
"Eew get off of me scumbag," said Pansy as she pushed Ron away. "Now see Parkinson, I don't think you can handle real revenge, I think you're all talk." Said Ron as he backed her into the wall.
"Oh I can handle it Weasley," Said Pansy as she wrapped her hands around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. "Convinced?" She said as she abruptly ended it and pushed Ron away drooling.
"We'll be in touch Weasley," She said as she turned and walked away not even glancing back at the baffled Gryffindor. Revenge was her favourite game to play and now that she had a naive little sidekick she was really going to enjoy ruining Granger's life.
"You're taking me to Dumbledore?" Exclaimed Draco finally breaking out of her grip.
"Yes," Said Hermione as she turned to the stone gargoyle to give it the password.
"Why? I doubt he wants to interfere with my trivial family matters," Said Draco as he turned to leave.
"Trivial.. this is your mother, and I know he can help you because he helped me save my mother."
"He did?" Said Draco as he turned to face Hermione again, this time with hope in his eyes. "Is that why you were gone for so long?"
"I can't talk about that..." said Hermione reluctantly.
"Oh," said Draco curiously. But he couldn't ask any further as they were now at Dumbledore's door.
"Enter"
Dumbledore watched Hermione and Draco enter quietly with his all knowing eyes. They sat in front of him and waited for him to speak.
"Do tell, what brings you to my office at this hour?"
"My mother is in danger." said Draco, eyeing the professor who seemed to be looking at him with x-ray vision.
"I see Mr. Malfoy, can you elaborate?"
"My father is going to kill her to get revenge on me."
"Are you sure Draco?"
"Why the hell would I be telling you if I wasn't," said Draco as he slammed his hands on the desk.
"You make a good point Mr. Malfoy, but if we take your mother into our protection, I need something from you."
"And what would that be?" Demanded Draco.
"Your alliance, I know you father has sided with Voldemort..."
"Are you asking me to spy!" Exclaimed Draco.
"Not if that makes you uncomfortable, but I am asking you to choose a side." Said Dumbledore seriously.
In a shocking turn of events Narcissa Malfoy, age 45 has vanished from St. Mungos, after she was committed for severe memory loss and brain trauma. Her son was unavailable to comment since he is completing his final year at Hogwarts school of Magic. However her husband has disappeared after the ministry began investigations and presumably found evidence against Mr. Malfoy. Which shouldn't surprise you readers as Lucius Malfoy was only recently released from Azkaban for being a death eater. We believe he only secured his release with bribe money, so we hope ex-minister Cornelius Fudge enjoys his fortunes while we deal with a rampant mass murderer and wife beater on the loose.
On other news...
"Well that would explain why Draco has been acting like such a grumpy gills lately," said Luna as she handed her paper to Blaise as they walked around the lake.
"I thought you only read the Quibler," said Blaise as he scanned the first page of the daily profit, falling on the article about Narcissa. "Oh I like to read Daddy's competition, especially when they reveal conspiracy theories about the ministry." Said Luna as she sat down beside the lake. Blaise chuckled at her remark and then began to read the article.
"Oh man, I am a horrible friend!" Exclaimed Blaise, "here I am teasing him about some stupid rumor and his mother has been in the hospital with her life in danger."
"Draco is a strong man, though I have to admit I was never very fond of him, I know he is your friend but he can be quite rude sometimes."
"He may not be as strong as he seems, Draco feels a great deal more than he lets on. And if there is one person that he truly cares about in this world that is his mother."
"That is sweet," said Luna as she smiled into the distance. "Not as sweet as you," Said Blaise then blushing embarrassed at his outburst he stared at his feet. Luna looked over at him, "thank you Blaise, no one has ever said that to me before,"
"Well I mean it, I never met anyone quite like you before...wow I'm just full of cheesy cliches today!" Exclaimed Blaise still blushing.
"Would it be a cliche if I kissed you right now?" asked Luna as she leaned in.
"Even if it is I'm going to anyways," said Blaise as he closed the gap between them.
"Now you have to realize that the information I am about to tell you is confidential, and exposing any part of it not only puts the members of the Bonham program in danger but also your mothers, and due to the measures you took to keep them safe I believe I can trust you with this information." Said Dumbledore as he placed a pensive in front of Hermione and Draco. Then taking a vial of memory out of his robes he poured the silvery substance into the bowl and prodded it with his wand.
"After you," said Dumbledore as he motioned to the pensive. Obediently Hermione then Draco stuck their faces into the mysterious gas like substance and felt their feet life off the ground as they were thrown into an odd circular room littered with odd rickety contraptions. Taking in their odd surroundings they waited for Professor Dumbledore to join them.
"Ah do excuse me, I received an owl from Alan, your mother has now been safely moved to the safe house. Now follow me," said Dumbledore as another presumably younger, though not by much version of himself entered the room and walked straight through Draco and then exited the room on the other side. Quietly they followed the other Dumbledore through more passage ways and obscure rooms until he finally stopped in front of a closed door and knocked 3 times.
"Password," echoed a voice from the other side.
"Curatio," replied the younger Dumbledore as the door swung open and revealed a wizard and two witches in yet another circular room. Dumbledore greeted the wizard and then proceeded to speak in a foreign language to the two witches.
"I'm speaking in Kannada, I met those sisters over in India and brought them here under my protection 20 years ago to begin the Bonham program." Said the current Dumbledore.
"What are you saying?" Asked Hermione.
"Ah that is not important we will begin speaking english again."
"How are we supposed to help Dumbledore, we cannot even venture outside!" Exclaimed one of the sisters in a strong accent.
"Lalan, I do not need people on the outside, I need you and your sister here using your healing gifts to help those injured in the war."
"What war? Political tension maybe but war Dumbledore? There is no war," replied the other sister.
"There will be Sachi, there will be. That I can be sure of. Tom will not give up his quest for power. Even now as we speak he is steadily gaining followers and we need to be ready for when he strikes."
"And even if he does, what good will two healers do?" Said Lalan
"You two are only the beginning, I intend to make this the one of the bases for the Order of The Phoenix."
"And what good is a safe house if every one knows about it Albus," Said the man at the door.
"One of the bases Jeremy, this location will still remain a safe house, only those who are most close to me shall ever know this location." Said the younger Dumbledore as he clapped Jeremy on the shoulder. "Now I shall go check on Aberforth's progress with the emergency supplies."
Once again they followed the other Dumbledore through the labyrinth of hallways and rooms until they stopped in a room full of hospital beds.
"Poppy, I thought you weren't arriving back in London for another week," Dumbledore said as he entered the room.
"Minerva sent for me when his condition worsened," she said as she moved aside revealing a boy no older than 10 covered in long gashes that looked like claw marks and bites from a wild animal of some sort.
Hermione gasped and Draco gulped. "Is there any way you can save him?" Asked the younger Dumbledore.
"I'm afraid not, his body isn't strong enough to fight the virus, and I'm afraid when he transitions his body won't be able to take the strain." Both Dumbledores looked sadly upon the boy.
"It's a pity, he was so full of life, and his parents?"
"They didn't survive the attack. The werewolves are positioning themselves to transition and cause as much damage as possible. The village didn't stand a chance."
"Did you find anyone alive?"
"A small girl no older than 4."
"Where is she now?"
"I believe she is with Aberforth, Lalan has decided to raise her as her own."
"Then she is in good hands," said Dumbledore as he exited the room and began walking away in another direction. All of a sudden Hermione and Draco felt there world rushing around them and then felt their feet slamming down in Dumbledore's office once more.
"Confused?" Said Dumbledore as they say down, "I would be surprised if you weren't."
Hermione and Draco nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"I showed this to you so you could meet the founders of the Bonham project and get a little background of what was happening 20 years ago when I instated it."
"But why are you telling us this?" Asked Hermione confused. "I thought the less people who knew the better."
"A very valid question, I will explain everything, but now if you don't mind I have another memory to show you." Said Dumbledore as he retrieved a second vial. Draco looked at the headmaster wearily as he poured the new memory into the pensive.
Once again they found themselves in the strange corridors of the Bonham base following the younger Dumbledore till they stopped in front of a door where he knocked on the door softly and then took a step back and waited patiently for someone to open it. Within seconds a little girl no older than six came toppling through it.
"DUMBY!" she exclaimed as she ran forward and hugged him. Both Dumbledore's chuckled and smiled warmly at the girl.
"Good morning Alana, did you sleep well?" Asked the younger Dumbledore.
"Yup," she said as she nodded her head vigorously. "Lalan said I could use my magic today so I can help people!" She exclaimed.
"Did she now?"
"Uh huh, let me show you!" She said happily as she grabbed Dumbledore's hand and began dragging him towards the hospital wing. Hermione looked at the girl curiously as she followed and then turned to Dumbledore and asked, "Is she a Healamorph?"
"Yes, only one born to this century," Said Dumbledore smiling at Hermione while Draco looked at the two of them lost."Healamorph?" He finally asked.
"You'll see soon enough Mr. Malfoy," Said Dumbledore as the entered the hospital wing, which was no longer barren and cold but seemed to be bursting at the seems with patients.
"How did you keep it a secret with all this traffic?" Asked Hermione as she looked around horrified at all the injured bodies.
"Memory charms, Jeremy was quite effective with them...now watch closely," Said Dumbledore while he pointed at Alana. They watched as she walked up and greeted a patient happily asking where his booboo was. The man lifted what should have been his arm from the blanket, instead they saw a mangled mess of skin and muscle hanging loosely to a protruding bone. Alana didn't even flinch, instead she took the man's arm into her hands and began to trace intricate patterns with her fingers as she talked to him about unicorns. At first nothing seemed to happen then slowly right in front of their eyes the man's arm began to heal while the little girls arm took on his mangled shape. When she was finished her story the man didn't even have a scratch. She jumped down from the bed and shouted "SEE! SEE WHAT I DID DUMBY!" With glee. The younger Dumbledore patted her on the head and said "I did indeed, that was amazing Alana."
"You see Mr. Malfoy Alana was able to take other's injuries upon herself to heal them, then her body would regenerate itself." Said Dumbledore as he smiled fondly over at the little girl. "She always had a way of lighting up the room." They watched again as she approached another patient and took on their wounds this time talking about the tooth fairy and wondering when she would come for her tooth. Again and again she approached the patients taking on their horrific injuries until she fainted in the middle of the room. Hermione gasped and ran towards.
"Don't worry she'll be fine Ms. Granger, when Alana was young she tended to over exert herself in her excitement to help everybody," Said Dumbledore as they watched Poppy carry the young girl out of the ward presumably back to her bedroom.
"I never thought one of those existed, sure they have been mentioned from time to time in magical history, is she still alive today?" Asked Hermione.
"No," Said Dumbledore sadly, but he did not offer an explanation.
"How did she die if she was able to regenerate?" Asked Draco unable to stop his curiosity.
"The only way to kill a healamorph is with the avada curse, she was a very unfortunate casualty of war."
Once again the ground was swept from underneath their feet, as Hermione and Draco found themselves back in Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Please sit," Said Dumbledore solemnly as he motioned to the seats they had recently vacated. "Should I be killed, Professor Mcgonagal will be forced to take my place as head of the Order of the Phoenix and will be forced to go into hiding as she is the secret keeper for the Bonham program. If such a time should come, I would like the two of you to be contacts to the outside world for her."
"Why us?" Demanded Draco.
"Because I believe that love is the strongest bond one can forge. Both of your loves for your mothers run deep, that I am sure of and because I am sure of this I know I can trust you."
"Are you in danger?" Asked Hermione.
"Not immediately, but then again when is one ever truly safe?" Said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "But that is all for tonight, I trust I do not need to remind you of the consequences of what could happen should either of you leak any of this information."
Hermione and Draco both nodded, unsure of what to say or think. "Good, then off to bed, pip pip," They both gave him a funny look then exited his office heads full of questions. They walked back to the common room in silence each absorbing the information they had just witnessed. Hermione quietly gave the password to the portrait then sat on the couch where she saw the letter she had dropped earlier. Leaning forward she picked it up and quickly tore it open as Draco sat down opposite of her.
Dear Hermione,
I hope you well, Mrs. McGonagal has informed me that Jean will make a full recovery. You must be so relieved. I am so sorry that I could not be with you during these difficult times.
As asked I have arranged your father's funeral to be this weekend and we will be holding a wake for him at my summer cottage in the evening. I hope you and your mother will be able to come. If not I know you will be there in spirit. I am sure Greg is watching over you already so he knows he is loved.
Love Aunt Cindy
Hermione folded the letter up neatly and put it back in the envelope. Then looking up she noticed Draco was studying her. "Is everything alright?" He asked.
"My father's funeral is this weekend," she said quietly as her eyes began to water. "I knew it was coming, but now it seems so final," she said as she began to shake.
"Come with me," he said as he got up.
"Where?" Hermione asked.
"Just trust me," Said Draco as he took the lead. Hermione followed him out the door with mild curiosity, her brain still on the funeral. She walked absent mindedly behind them not even noticing they had entered the grounds until they were almost at the Quiditch pitch. Catching onto his plan she exclaimed "Oh no, there is no way you are getting me onto a broomstick Malfoy!"
"Dumbledore trusts me, why can't you?" He asked teasingly.
"You can risk your own life, but I am keeping my feet firmly on the ground thank you very much." She said as she began walking towards the bleachers. Draco shook his head at her as he walked towards the broom shed. Picking up his firebolt he mounted it and flew straight over Hermione where he began to fly circles around her. "I won't stop until you agree to try," he said. But Hermione just crossed her arms stubbornly. "Oh come on if you can drink firewhiskey you can ride a firebolt."
"I might just have to hex you if you don't let up," said Hermione jokingly as she got out her wand and twirled it in her fingers. Draco took his chance and quickly grabbed her wand from her hand and shot up 10 feet in the air. "If you want your wand back you're going to have to come and get it," he said as he held it out tauntingly. Hermione glared up at him and then looked over at the broom shed.
So I know you have been waiting for a kiss between Hermione and Draco but instead you got two unexpected ones ( well maybe expected for Blaise and Luna... ). So did you like the memories or was it deviating to much from the story for your taste? As always please leave a review, I always appreciate them :)