DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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A/N: Tom Felton reads Fan Fiction! Haha. Have you guys checked? It was hilarious!
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Chapter 49:
October 11, 1995
(eleven days ago)
"How do you do it, Mione? Snape has never stopped you before..."
Hermione looked up from her Transfiguration essay. She remembered writing about the same topic years ago when she was just beginning to be friends with James. She longed to tell Harry about James, the first brother she never had.
"Do what?" she asked, looking at Harry's green eyes. They were in the library and Ron was looking for reference books.
"Ignore Umbridge and keep quiet in class. I can't do it!" he said, looking frustrated.
"It will do no good to talk back to her. She's not like the other Hogwarts Professors. Unlike Professor Snape, she could go to the Minister to get me expelled just because she doesn't like me."
"Right. All Snape could do was give us detention and take points," he replied.
"And read an article about my love life in front of the whole class to embarrass me," she chuckled.
"You really seem different," Harry studied her intently. "What changed?"
"Voldemort happened," she shrugged. "We have to be more careful now and grow up fast, I guess."
Harry nodded. "I guess. Bet only Malfoy and his cronies are the ones not growing up," he said, looking at something on his left.
Hermione followed his train of sight. She saw Draco Malfoy at another table, pulling a prank on a Slytherin first-year. He, Crabbe, and Goyle all sniggered. "Yeah, it appears so." She turned back to Harry. "Have you thought of what Ron and I talked to you about?"
Harry adjusted his eyeglasses. "Yeah, but I haven't decided yet," he admitted.
She reached for his hand on the table. "Harry, you have to do it. Teach us something, anything to defend ourselves," she encouraged.
Ron was back at their table with some books and slumped beside Harry.
Harry looked hesitant. "But Mione, I'm not the best in our year."
She turned to Ron for help.
"Mate," Ron began in a whisper, "Hermione is the best in our year, but you're the one who has faced and fought You-Know-Who thrice. You escaped him and his minions last year. Hermione can provide references and theories, but you are the best for the practicals."
"Thank you, Ron," she said sincerely and turned to Harry again. "Harry, please."
"Just the two of you, right?"
"Don't you want to include Ginny and the twins?" asked Ron.
"And Neville," she added hopefully.
Harry looked defeated. "What's next, the whole Gryffindor?"
"Don't worry, it'll only be a few people," assured Ron. "Right, Mione?"
"We'll see about that," she smiled. "So, I'll arrange a meeting. First Hogsmeade weekend, all right?"
"Can I say 'no'?" asked Harry.
"You can, but come on, we're your friends, Harry. Teach us something!" she said happily. Harry sighed. She and Ron exchanged knowing smiles.
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October 31, 1995
(the present)
"Does it have to happen, Hermione? Harry, liking Cho?"
Hermione felt her pendant warmed while in the middle of the Gryffindor common room, speaking with Ginny. The younger girl was so upset because Cho Chang seemed very open about her fancying Harry these days, especially last weekend - their first Hogsmeade weekend, and first secret group meeting.
She ignored the warming of the pendant and wrapped Ginny in a hug. The younger girl snuggled to her side. They look like mother and daughter, but nobody seemed to mind. "Gin, I don't know. We can't manipulate their feelings," she replied honestly.
"But, if I continue to pay attention to Michael Corner, do you think things will be the same?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Maybe Harry should have a chance with Cho and see for himself what kind of person she is." There was no malice in her tone.
Ginny sighed heavily. "Now that I know what happened in Leo's time, I am beginning to think that dating other boys will just be a waste of time."
"Knowing someone is never a waste of time. Just don't snog them all the time," she laughed.
Ginny did the same and pulled away from her.
"He's calling me," she whispered to her friend.
Ginny grinned and gave her a teasing look.
"Stop that," she chided good-naturedly. "We're just going to talk."
Ginny snorted. "Go, Hermione. Don't remove all of your clothes; it's chilly these days," she giggled to her ear.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, good thing I am capable of casting warming charms both in the room and in our bodies," she retorted with a smirk.
"Now, I'm jealous. Go! I'll cover up for you if Harry and Ron ask."
She ruffled her hair and kissed her forehead like a child. "Thanks, Gin."
"Anytime, Aunt Hermy."
Hermione quickly dropped her bag and other books to the dormitory before walking down to the dungeons. She was sure, Severus was watching her on the map. He would know when she was coming.
She raised a hand to knock on his office door, but it creaked open. She entered and then closed it. Sev was behind his office desk and waved his wand to the door for privacy charms. Then, in just three strides, he was pulling her to him by the waist. He kissed her lips chastely.
"Hi," she greeted, wrapping her arms around his neck. "What do you need me for?"
"I've got some updates, but first, tell me about your meeting. Someone heard you, you know."
"Mundungus," she said matter-of-factly. "It was the same as the scene we saw in the Pensieve. What news do you have for me?"
"Albus destroyed two items already," he whispered. "The one at the Grimmauld Place, and the one in the Room of Hidden Things."
"He's the one who destroyed them? Must be awful," she grimaced.
Severus sighed. "He wants to really do it this time. No pressure on the others. Harry is not yet ready to know about the Horcruxes, and besides, it would be more awful if a boy is the one who's going to destroy the other Horcruxes."
Hermione smiled a bit. "I am glad the headmaster is considering such things. So, when is he going to go after the Gaunt ring?"
"It's risky. The Dark Lord might check on it. Albus reckons the perfect timing would be on the day of the would-be Battle at the Department of Mysteries. The Dark Lord wouldn't notice because he will be focused on the prophecy. And on that day, Albus will also send Narcissa to Gringotts as Bellatrix. He's going to need a lot of people to help on that day because he should be there at the Ministry with Harry."
Hermione nodded. "Sounds good. I just hope he wouldn't send only one person to the Gaunt shack. We know what the ring does."
"Yes. I think he will involve Molly and Arthur. Their love for each other is so strong. Hopefully strong enough to prevent them from being tempted to touch the Resurrection Stone."
"Bill should be with them. He's a Curse-Breaker," she suggested.
"I'll suggest that at our next meeting at Grimmauld Place. Just focus on the D.A. And by the way, Filius placed a charm on Umbridge's office door. It will alert him and Minerva in case a student reports for detention."
She frowned. "And you are certain that Umbridge will not notice?" she asked.
"Oh, surely you remember that your former Head of House is one of the best Charms Masters in Britain. He could've been a high-ranking Ministry worker or Curse-Breaker, but he loved teaching."
Hermione smiled fondly at the memory of her Ravenclaw days. "Yeah. And Umbridge is a pea-brained Ministry puppet, right?" she laughed.
"Precisely. I would've given you points but Albus forbids me to do so," he grinned.
She rolled her eyes. "When have you ever cared for the Gryffindor's points?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I'll have you know that I had secretly awarded you and the Weasley twins house points before this year. I still do with the Weasley twins, like yesterday, when I discovered one of their inventions which contained an impressive potions work."
"That's great," she grinned and kissed him on the lips. "I'll make a mental note to tell the twins about that when this war is over. Get ready to be praised and accosted by two pranksters."
Severus grimaced. "No, thank you. My life is already miserable with Black and Lupin around."
Hermione laughed happily, imagining Sirius and Remus cornering Severus after an Order meeting.
But there was a slight ache in her heart. James. She missed James. Their Jamie. They would've been happier if Prongs was with them.
