Love & Betrayal
Chapter 21 – Meeting McGonagall
Harry and Hermione were, once again, in bed. It was the day before term was due to start, and they had decided to return to school early. Hermione only really wanted to go home to see her parents, and seeing as they had run out of holiday time, and had to go back to work, Harry and Hermione went back to Hogwarts.
Harry lay there with Hermione curled up at his side. "We should go and see Professor McGonagall toady." Hermione said in a quiet voice. Harry felt Hermione's nervousness sweep over him, and he hold her closer.
"Okay 'Mione. What do you think we should tell her?" Harry's emerald eyes looked at Hermione's chocolate ones. He could see the pain returning as she thought about what had happened to her. Hermione had thoughtfully blocked Harry from seeing her thoughts so he didn't have to remember as well.
"I think we'll have to show her the memory," Harry's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. Knowing what Harry was thinking about, Hermione quickly said, "Not the beginning part when I'm in our bathroom, just the bit after with … the boy." Now Harry was wearing a pained expression, at the mention of the Ravenclaw.
He began to wonder what his name was. And how a Ravenclaw was capable of such an act of evil. Hermione read Harry's thoughts. "Harry, just because he's a Ravenclaw doesn't mean he's incapable of being evil, or becoming a dark wizard. Yes, it's usually Slytherins, but there are exceptions."
They spent the next half an hour talking, before going down to breakfast.
Hermione had left Harry's side and walked over to the near empty Gryffindor table. He had been held up in the Entrance Hall, when Professor Magna-Conis had pulled him aside to ask him something. As Hermione made her way closer to their usual seat at the long, wooden table, she scanned the rest of the hall.
Most of the students had returned home, to their parents. This included Ron and Luna. Hermione's eyes roamed the Ravenclaw table looking for the boy. When she had looked over the whole table twice, she checked the Hufflepuff and the Slytherin tables. Hermione couldn't see the boy anywhere.
"What are you doing?" Harry's voice came from behind her, and she turned in time to see him slipping into the seat next to her. "I was looking for, him." Harry simply nodded, his expression blank. They started to eat and Hermione said, "What did Professor Magna-Conis want?" Harry swallowed the cereal he had just spooned into his mouth before answering, "Oh, she just wanted to know if I would be up for teaching some of the younger students during my free lessons." Hermione's eyes widened and she smiled.
"That would be wonderful Harry, just think of all the things you could learn." Harry was confused.
"What could I learn Hermione? I've already completed those years." Hermione blushed.
"I just meant, you could go over the subjects and maybe you would see them from a different perspective. Anyway, what did you say?" Harry sighed, knowing he was going to disappoint Hermione.
"I said no." Hermione looked shocked.
"What? Why? Harry."
"Because I have enough on my plate with N.E.W.T.s, quidditch practice, the DA," Harry paused, before talking very quickly, "And making love to you, 'Mione." He started shovelling cereal into his mouth, trying to avoid Hermione's glare.
"Well Harry, I think you should have at least tried once," She looked at the side of Harry's face, waiting for him to meet her eye. When he finally did, she spoke again, "But then you should have quit and come back to me." Harry smiled at her, and wrapped his arm round her waist, sliding her closer to him along the bench. Hermione quickly looked around, trying to see if anyone noticed Harry's movements.
"Come on 'Mione, everyone probably thinks we're together anyway." Hermione gave one last glance around the hall before looking back at Harry, who spotted something remarkably like longing in her eyes. She leaned closer to Harry, and kissed him.
'I've been wanting to kiss you in public for so long.' Hermione thought. Harry heard her at full volume in his own head. He quickly thought back,
'Why? I didn't think you wanted to go public.'
Hermione broke the kiss, and said,
"It wasn't that I didn't want to, I just don't want loads of people watching us kiss." Hermione spoke, whilst blushing, and looked around nervously. She spotted a few people looking in their direction, but they quickly looked away when they noticed Hermione was looking at them.
Hermione waited for Harry to finish his breakfast before getting to her feet, and motioning her head to the top table, where the Professors were eating. Harry followed his girlfriend up to the table, and stood with her in front of the Headmistress.
"Yes?" Professor McGonagall spoke tersely.
"Professor Harry and I were wondering if we could have a talk with you, in private, at some point today." Harry was always amazed at Hermione's confidence when she was asking a professor for something that wasn't to do with class work.
"Oh, yes. Of course. Eleven o'clock in my office, the password is Discovery."
Hermione nodded and turned, Harry followed her back through the Great Hall. About half way to the grand double doors, Harry took Hermione's hand, and was glad when she didn't pull away. Several students stared at the couple, but there were none of the shouts that Harry had been expecting. Maybe people respected him a little bit more for defeating Voldemort.
Harry and Hermione ascended the spiral staircase leading to the office of Hogwarts Headmistress. They knocked on the door, and hearing Professor McGonagall say they could enter, opened the door. This was the first time either Harry or Hermione, had been in the office since he had repaired his wand at the conclusion to the war. Professor McGonagall was sat behind the desk that Harry remembered sitting at so well.
Professor McGonagall motioned to Harry and Hermione, and they sat down in the chairs at the desk.
"Now. What is it you wished to talk to me about?"
Harry looked at Hermione. He was asking her whether she wanted him to speak or if she'd like to.
"Professor, a little while ago, I was," Hermione chose her words carefully. "Assaulted."
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened in shock.
"Attacked? Who attacked you, Miss Granger?"
"I don't know his name. He's in Ravenclaw."
Professor McGonagall had sat forward in her chair, and her lips had formed a familiar thin line.
"His! You mean a boy, attacked you? A Ravenclaw?" There was a touch of worry in Professor McGonagall's voice.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her hands twisting in her lap.
"Professor, I have the memory of what happened. Perhaps you should take a look. We're," Hermione indicated herself and Harry, "Are going to take him to court, as soon as we know who he is, and make sure he's locked up in Azkaban."
"Miss Granger, I'm highly doubtful that he, whoever he is, would be able to cause enough damage to you to warrant a spell in Azkaban. You look fine."
"Believe me Professor, I've seen some disturbing things in my life, and I assure you that this ranks number one." Harry had spoken for the first time, and his voice was hard, his eyebrows knitted together and his lips taught.
Professor McGonagall looked at Harry for a few moments before saying, "Well, if it is as serious as you make it out to be then the least I could do would be to expel him. But you would have to take this evidence to the Ministry if you wanted to take him to court."
Professor McGonagall stood, and walked over to the cabinet that the pensive was kept in. She brought it over to the desk and put it down. Harry and Hermione stood, and Hermione pulled a glass vial from her pocket.
'Is this the modified one?' Harry thought.
Hermione gave the smallest nod to him. Then she poured the memory into the pensieve. Professor McGonagall gave Harry and Hermione one last look as she dove into the pensieve, quickly followed by Harry and Hermione.
Harry and Hermione were stood behind the desk, watching Professor McGonagall. The old woman didn't seem able to take in what she had just seen, and collapsed into her chair, her head in her hands.
"Hermione...I..." Professor McGonagall could say no more than that. Harry and Hermione both retook their seats. They waited patiently for the Headmistress to regain her composure.
"You say you don't know this boy?" Harry and Hermione shook their heads. "His name is Joe Callidus."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, neither recognised the name. But both looked back at Professor McGonagall when she spoke again, her voice barely audible.
"I let him leave a few days ago."
Cliffhanger! lol, i'm sorry.
I'm on holiday/vacation (from school, not in a different country.) I have two weeks free, so in between writing essays (which i'll do later!) I'll have the time to finish this story off, and if I haven't finished by the time I'm back at school, shout at me.
So, yeah. I'll be working on this story alot to finish it, and I think i would've done a reasonable job, finishing it pretty quickly.
Thanks for your support, and reviews. They mean a lot to me. Thank you!