Chapter 1- Stupefy
"You understand the task I ask of you is very dangerous, Miss Granger?" Professor Dumbledore looked at her over his spectacles from across his desk.
"Professor, I understand that it must be done in order to defeat Voldemort." Answered the girl.
The old headmaster smiled at her. "You know it will take a lot of reading and preparation, right?"
"That's never been a problem, professor." She answered with a serious expression on her face.
"…and its not just the effort you will have to put into learning the enchantment. You are aware you also need to train harder than you've trained in your life?" Albus Dumbledore wanted to be sure that his young student, the brightest witch of her age, was aware of what she was getting into. He suspected that she knew… but it's always better to be sure.
"Professor Dumbledore, Harry trained us last year, knowing him, he will still want to keep giving us lessons…"
"Miss Granger…" He stood up and walked towards the window of his office. He looked out the window for a few seconds without speaking and smiling as if he could see something beyond the sky and the forest on the castle grounds. "I'm afraid the training required for completing this task goes beyond Harry's talents and capabilities. You need someone who has spent years studying the dark arts, and training in them."
Hermione looked down. This was the part that made her anxious, that made her doubt. She wouldn't be practicing any regular enchantment. No. There was a reason why she had never heard of the incantation when Professor Dumbledore told her about it… it was dark magic. She had never even thought about using dark magic before. She knew she would need to train her mind, body and soul to be able to withstand it.
He turned away from the window and looked at her with concern. There was no trace of the smile he had on his face a few moments ago.
"I've set up meetings with Professor Snape every Wednesday night." The professor's words left Hermione in a daze. Snape? She was to spend one night a week, for Merlin knows how long with Snape? The idea terrified her. Yet, the headmaster continued speaking as if he hadn't noticed the way the girl's eyes widened, or her body stiffened, or that she had stopped breathing. "I find that Wednesdays will be a good day to meet without having to answer too many questions, as your friends will be down at the Quidditch pitch practicing."
"But professor…." She started but was interrupted by the old man.
"Miss Granger, when you first arrived in my office today, we agreed that you would either accept or deny my petition. We agreed that should you accept, it would be under my terms. Am I mistaken?" He peered at her over his spectacles waiting.
Hermione looked at her feet again. The professor's gaze made her feel like a little girl, even though she had lived more than many of the adults she knew.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore." She whispered.
"Then, you will meet Professor Snape on Wednesday, at his office, at 5:30. I trust you won't be late." He gave her a smile.
"Yes, professor."
"And Hermione…" She looked up when he used her first name. "You know that Harry and Ron mustn't know about this right? Otherwise, I'm afraid, they might try to stop you. It is crucial that you fulfill your task."
"Yes, professor. And forgive my asking, and it's not that I don't want to comply but…" she fidgeted with her hands a while before finishing…. "Why does it have to be me? Why not Harry? Or…"
The professor smiled at her a warm smile again as she trailed off. He reached towards his desk, grabbed a box and opened it. He offered the girl a piece of the lemon tart he so much enjoyed. She looked at him and refused.
"Alas, Miss Granger, I'm afraid that is a question you will have an answer for, but not one that I can give you today." He smiled at her again. "I suggest you leave, as you are quite late for your first day of transfiguration lessons."
Hermione calmly walked to the door. As soon as she was down the spiral staircase, she scampered towards the transfiguration classroom.
Her head was full of the information Dumbledore had given her. Her heart pounding in her chest. She had a secret, one she couldn't tell Harry or Ron. She had never kept secrets from Harry or Ron. Well, she had kept one secret, the one about her relationship with Krum. Look how well that turned out when they found out. Ever since, she told them everything. What would she do now when she felt frustrated with her task? It didn't matter. It was her task. Not Ron's. Not Harry's. Not the Order's. It was hers. She was determined to do anything possible to complete it.
Hermione felt like she couldn't breathe. Her backpack heavy on her shoulders. She was carrying around all the books Professor Dumbledore had given her to read moments ago. And although she felt the weight of those books represented the weight of the world on her shoulders, at the same time, it filled her heart to think that she could have such an important role in the war.
She knew she had helped Harry during the last 5 years a lot, and this job was helping too… but it was a different kind of help. It was not memorizing some spells or facts that could help him out with a quick escape. No, this was talent and action. Dumbledore had gone to her because of her strength, her agility, nobody else could do this job. It was hers. She didn't quite understand why, and it made her uncomfortable that Dumbledore didn't tell her, but it was, undeniably, hers.
As she neared the class, she hoped to Merlin that Harry and Ron had the decency to save her a seat next to them. She reached the transfiguration corridor and slowed her run to a walk. She calmed her breathing and gently opened the door.
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall." She said in barely a whisper to a stern looking professor. "I'm sorry I'm late… Could I come in?"
Professor McGonagall stared at her blinking. She seemed to be deciding whether she should let her in or kick her out. If there was one thing McGonagall hated more than finding her and her friends in trouble, it was students being late to class, and as she looked at her professor, she knew someone had already pushed her buttons that morning.
As she waited for the professor to make up her mind, she looked around for Harry and Ron. As she found their table, her heart sank. Neville was sitting with them. She kept looking at the Gryffindor side of the classroom, but there were no more empty seats.
"Yes, Miss Granger. You may take a seat, but since you decided to be late, you'll have to settle for the seat in the back." McGonagall had said finally. Her lips tightened as she spoke. Hermione looked at the table to her left and she felt like someone had punched her in the gut. She stayed frozen in her spot, as she noticed that sitting there, on the last table, in the last empty spot in the class was Malfoy. "I trust neither you nor Mr. Malfoy will be late to class again."
She moved towards the table after what felt like seconds and years at the same time. Her heart was still full of the conversation she had with the headmaster, and she was not going to let sitting next to the ferret ruin her mood. She felt proud. Before taking a seat at the table, she looked towards Ron and Harry. The expressions on their faces let her know they were sorry, but she glared at them, nonetheless. They would have to pay her back for this eventually.
She placed her bag carefully on her lap, took out her parchment, quill and ink and placed them gently over her side of the table. She looked straight up at the professor and stared at her, without blinking. She was determined to act as if there was nobody there.
The professor continued talking about the lesson. She kept speaking about the expectations for NEWT students and how we should be able to perform most of the transfigurations in our book by the month of November. She took notes fervently and raised her hand to answer every question the professor asked. Each time her hand flew into the air she felt Malfoy stiffen and snort next to her. Sometimes he would even scoff or groan. She didn't care, she kept answering them all. If it annoyed him, even better.
"Now I expect you be able to use non-verbal spells, as well by November." Professor McGonagall said as Hermione's hand once again flew up. This time, it was a question. "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Are we expected to be able to perform these new enchantments non-verbally or will we be practicing with the ones we know already?" She asked.
That's when she heard it… the laugh. It was subtle, and low. Quiet enough for nobody apart from her to notice, and she did. She felt her insides boiling with rage. It had been enough that he was annoyed at her answering questions. But to laugh? That was too much. She didn't hear the professor's answer, while she snapped to whisper at her Slytherin companion.
"Could you stop that?"
"Stop being annoyed by your insufferable participation?" He whispered back, without looking at her, barely moving his mouth. "No."
Hermione looked furiously to the front of the classroom. How could he be like that?
"It's expected for students to participate in class."
"Is it also expected for mudbloods to be so daft that they ask stupid questions?" he sneered at her.
Hermione tensed before spitting back at him. "Just at it is expected that Death Eaters spend their summers locked up in Azkaban like your father."
"Just so you know, my father has been released from Azkaban." He said, his face tightening. "No charges found against him. Yet, you never denied your mudblood stupidity."
Hermione was fuming. With every word that the blond spoke she felt the hatred in her chest grow more and more. Her head was pounding. She had proposed that she wouldn't let him get to her, and he had waited until now to open his big mouth and ruin all of the excitement she had moments ago.
She didn't know what made her do it. Maybe it was the bravery she had felt from her conversation with Dumbledore before, or the fact that she didn't want him to get away with insulting her and she was so angry she didn't know to respond. But that was when under her breath, Hermione whispered 'stupefy' while pointing her wand at Malfoy. His head fell forward onto the table as a bang so loud everyone in the classroom was startled came from Hermione's wand.
Professor McGonagall stopped speaking and looked around. Hermione tried to look as innocent as possible, but her ears were flushed red with anger and embarrassment at what she had done. The professor walked up to her and spoke in a voice several octaves lower than a whisper to Hermione.
"What is the meaning of this Miss Granger?"
"He called me mudblood and..." Hermione knew this wouldn't be enough to justify her outburst in class, but she felt embarrassed to admit that insult to her blood status had been the least of her anger. She thought long before finally finishing her thought. "… and stupid."
"Getting called mudblood or stupid is not a valid reason to assault a classmate in the middle of class." Professor McGonagall looked like her head was about to explode from trying to contain her anger before reversing Hermione's curse on Malfoy.
He gained consciousness but didn't even had the chance to speak before McGonagall sentenced them both to detention for the whole week.
"Professor, I can't have detention!" she started.
"My decision is final, Granger." She turned away without looking at her. "Next time, think about the consequences before attacking someone in my class."
Malfoy rubbed his head and scowled at Hermione. She thought it was strange enough that he hadn't said anything to her yet, but maybe she had hit him so hard with the spell that he lost the ability to speak. That sure would have been a pleasure.
"You'll pay for this, Granger." He finally let out, barely audible, when McGonagall had resumed her lecture.
She took a deep breath. Looked towards the front of the classroom and continued to pretend that he wasn't there. Harry and Ron had been looking back towards Hermione's table in shock, and they saw the anger in Hermione's face. She wasn't even looking at them, just straight ahead at the wall, like she was trying to read it like she would read a book. They looked at each other and they knew, Malfoy must have done something to push her buttons. It wasn't like Hermione to act up in class.
Professor McGonagall dismissed the class, and before Hermione could gather her things, her thoughts and stand up, Malfoy was already out the door. When he left, she noticed that she had been holding her breath and clenching her jaw. She wondered how long she had been reacting to his presence like that but shook it off.
She started out of the classroom without waiting for Ron and Harry, who ran after her as quickly as possible. They finally caught up the her.
"Hermione." Harry tried quietly, as he kept up with her quick pace towards the Great Hall.
"What?" She spat at him.
"What was that?" Harry tried, he was unsure how to continue.
"That! That was amazing, Hermione!" answered Ron, dismissing Harry's question.
"That that was my two so called best friends leaving me alone to be taunted by that stupid ferret and me deciding I didn't want to put up with him anymore." She said, without stopping to look at them. "But you don't care, you didn't even care enough to save me a seat!"
"Come on, Mione, don't be like this. We didn't know Neville was going to sit with us." Ron tried. "We couldn't just kick him out."
"You could've told Lavender and Parvati to save me a seat as well." She said, without stopping or looking at them.
"Herms… What can we do to make it up to you?" Harry asked.
"We'll do all your homework for a month!" Ron offered. That made her stop.
She turned around, placed a hand on her hip, looked up at him and laughed.
"Explain to me in what world that would be a favor, Ronald?" She kept laughing. "Do you want me to be even angrier at you?"
"But it worked, you're not mad anymore." Said the redhead, proud of himself.
Hermione turned around and kept walking towards the Great Hall, in a much more relaxed and slower pace. Harry thought this was the perfect moment to ask the question that had been gnawing at him ever since last night the girl had told them the news of her meeting with Professor Dumbledore.
"So, what did Dumbledore want?" He tempted.
Hermione felt a small panic. She knew they would ask, and she hadn't thought she would have to lie to them when she was first summoned by the headmaster. But as Harry asked, realization dawned on her, that she couldn't tell her friends the truth. That was the whole point of the mission. She knew they would eventually find out, but she needed to have everything ready first. It would take a long… long time.
"Oh, he just wanted to congratulate me on my O. ." She said, the first thought that popped into her head. She wasn't technically lying, the professor had congratulated her. "He said it had been years since someone had achieve 12 Outstanding's."
Ron looked at her. "I still can't believe how you achieved that."
"With hard work, dedication and responsibility." She said reaching their table at the Great Hall. "Three things you just so happen to lack."
And as she sat down, Hermione looked down at her plate. A small feeling of remorse overcame her. She hadn't lied to Harry and Ron, she was just withholding information. In front of a muggle court, she could be convicted for that… but not with her friends. They would understand.
As the first food appeared, Hermione thought of the things that this year held for her. Her NEWT courses and making sure Harry and Ron passed theirs would he exhausting enough. Now she also had to deal with private lessons with Professor Snape every Wednesday, and to make it worse she had she had to deal with detention for a week. She wondered which task would be worse, telling Snape she would miss her first lesson for attacking the Slytherin Prince in class, or achieving what Professor Dumbledore expected of her. She looked up at the starry sky reflected on the Great Hall and sent a silent prayer, that this year would turn out for the better.