CHAPTER 21: A Promise

A/N: Welcome back, my friends. Without further ado...

Hermione and Ron dashed over to Harry as he groaned in pain while clutching his mid-section.

"Oh Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione concernedly as she crouched down and along with Ron pulled him into a sitting position.

Harry took a few quick breaths as he leaned on his left arm, his other arm still around his middle. "Just peachy Hermione...OW!" He wheezed out before his face scrunched up in pain. "Help me stand up, it's worse sitting"

They both put their arm under his shoulder and holstered him up.

"Ow, ow!" he groaned before letting out a deep sigh as the pain slowly subsided. He took a few deep breaths "Ohhh...that's better" he moaned, as he walked a couple of steps.

"Oye!" They all whipped their head in the direction of the voice and took a couple of steps back in fear as they saw an angry looking security guard stomp his way towards them. He was on the bulky side and quite tall, had a thick black moustache and appeared to be in his late 20s. He was wearing a blue uniform with a matching hat.

"What do you think you're doing! This isn't a playground!" He yelled as he came to a stop a few feet before them.

Hermione took a big gulp before she opened her mouth to apologize. "We're sorry, we didn't mean to-"

"Didn't mean to what, huh!" His loud voice made her jump in fear and Harry instantly stepped closer to her. "I didn't say anything when you did it the first time, thought maybe you tripped or something. But you're all just bratty little kids who just want to break the peace and order"

His nostrils flared as he took a step forward. "Do the messing around in your home or the playground but if I see any of you muck about in here one more time than I won't think twice about throwing your little asses out, and this is your only WARNING, YOU HERE ME!" His voice reached several octave levels higher in the end, attracting the attention of several people either standing, sitting or walking by.

He glared one last time before turning around and walking in the direction he came from.

Harry heard a sniffle and looked at Hermione. Her face was downcast, but he could still see a tear roll down her cheek. Suddenly, the shock and fear gave away to anger.

Before he could think about it, the words escaped his mouth. "You didn't have to shout!" He yelled; the pain long forgotten by now.

He watched the guard stop before he slowly turned around and looked at them. Harry took a step forward to let him know that it was him and watched the guard's eyes narrow as they locked with his.

"Harry, no!" gasped Hermione as she tried to pull him back by his sleeve.

He yanked his arm free from her grasp and took another step forward. He looked at Ron as he stopped right beside him. They now stood shoulder to shoulder as the guard neared them.

Harry looked around and saw that pretty much everyone was watching them. He turned his gaze back to the guard who unlike before didn't stop until there was only a gap of couple of inches between them.

He didn't step back or show any signs of fear even though his insides were squirming frantically as the guard bent his knees and brought his face level with his until their noses were practically touching. "What did you say to me?" His voice was soft, just above a whisper, a complete contrast from before but, even scarier.

This sudden closeness made him a bit uncomfortable, even though he was aware that it was an intimidation tactic being used and it took him a few seconds for him to find his voice. "I said that you didn't have to shout" He was glad that he managed to finish the sentence without his voice breaking.

"Oh really, so you're going to tell me what I should and shouldn't do, huh" his lips twisted in a smirk as he finished. Harry's anger flared; he knew that he was mocking him.

He watched the guard's eyes flicker briefly towards Hermione before snapping back to his. A derisive smile forming at his lips. "A piece of advice kid, you're a little too young to play a knight in the shining armour, my advice, wait till your balls have dropped" He chuckled before standing back to his full height before turning around.

He had only taken a few steps when Harry's voice stopped him, again. "You're a piece of jerk!"

The guard turned back around and raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "What did you say?" He asked calmly.

A nasty smile came over Harry's lips before he opened his mouth. "You heard me...or maybe you need to get your ears waxed. I believe I saw a pharmacy nearby"

"Apologize now, kid" He took a step forward with each word.

Hermione took a step forward and nudged Harry, silently telling him to do as he was told and not make this thing any worse. She was hoping that he got her message but when he didn't say anything she turned to look at him and what she saw sent a chill down her spine.

His head was tilted down slightly, and he had a malicious grin on his face. But that wasn't the worst part, it was what she had seen when she looked into his eyes. It was quick as a flash, a blink and she would've missed it, but luckily, or not, she saw it. A flash of red, like a bolt of lightning, blazed in his eyes.

Its appearance was less than a second but the impact it made on her was something she would've nightmares about for a very long time. She didn't think she could ever get the image out of her head because the scar on his forehead would be its constant reminder as it looked exactly like what she saw in his eyes and unlike the flash of red, it was never going away.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the next words that came out of Harry's mouth.

"Make me you piece of shit"

They were standing outside the main gate, under the blazing heat of the sun. They all watched with varying degree of emotions the guard climb the steps back to the building.

"I can't believe we just got kicked out!" exclaimed Ron, putting his hands over his head.

Harry spared a look at Hermione and felt really guilty at seeing disbelief etched all over her face as she stared down at the ground.

"I'm sorry" he sighed, gaining both their attentions. "It was all my mistake. I should've kept my mouth shut" He shook his head sadly. "It's just what he said and how he said it..." He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm sorry"

"It's not your fault mate" Ron put a hand on his shoulder. "He was a complete tosser." Harry flashed him a grateful smile before turning towards Hermione.

"Hermione?" He asked tentatively, scared of what her reaction would be.

"I'm not mad at you, Harry" He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "It's not like we were going to get in anyway. Although I would appreciate if in the future if you think before speaking" She gave him a small smile.

He gave her a smile in return before replying. "You know me. Act first, think later" They all chuckled, remembering her saying the same words to him during their first year.

"But thank you" She gave him a knowing look, secretly telling him that she knew that he started the argument because of her.

He gave her a nod in return before looking away. As soon as he turned his head, the smile left Hermione's face but she didn't take her eyes of him, more specifically his eyes.

They all stood in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own convoluted thoughts.

"Oh no!" Ron's voice brought them out of their reverie. They turned their attention towards him as he continued in a desperate tone, his eyes wide with fear. "Mum and Dad..." Harry gave him a confusing look when he didn't elaborate further, simply staring at them to put the pieces together.

Harry faced Hermione and she had the same bewildered expression on her face. She shook her head before they turned back to Ron. "Ron!" started Harry, gaining the redhead's attention, who was looking up at the heavens while pulling at his hair.

He brought his gaze back to Harry as he continued. "What about your parents?" he asked.

Ron furrowed his eyebrows before he understood that his friends weren't on the same track as him. "Harry, if we can't go through, that means my parents can't come back!"

He watched the realization dawn upon his friends faces as their eyes turn wide.

"Crap" muttered Harry as he racked his brain to come up with a solution to their predicament.

"Maybe my parents are still here" exclaimed Hermione, her eyes hopeful as she stared at them.

"But how are we going to find them?" Ron asked. "They could be anywhere" He threw his arms out to make his point.

"No, we only need to check if the car is still here." she had barely finished the sentence before she turned on her heel and started running. Harry and Ron looked at each other before running after her.

They caught up with her as she cut a corner towards the parking lot. "Over there" she said out of breath, pointing with her finger somewhere in the parking lot.

They stopped next to an empty space between two cars. "No!" cried Hermione in despair. Harry saw her eyes starting to fill up and looked at Ron. He motioned with his eyes towards her. Ron, getting what he was trying to say, nodded his head before walking up to Hermione and putting his arm around her shoulder. She willingly went into his embrace.

Harry turned his gaze away as he watched a tear roll down her cheek. He knew how much school meant to her and now with the possibility that they might not be able to go back, must've crushed her heart, and he blamed himself for it.

He ran a hand through his messy locks as he took a couple of steps.

"I might have a way" Ron's voice stopped him before he turned around and looked at him. Hermione looked up at him at him while still in his embrace.

Harry raised his eyebrows when he didn't continue. "Well!" He sighed exasperatedly.

"You're not going to like it"

"I don't care, Ron! Just say it" he exclaimed.

A few seconds trickled by before words finally came out of Ron's mouth. "My dad's car"

Silence.

"You're right, I don't like it," said Harry.

Ron nodded his head before turning his gaze down.

"But"

He looked back up as Harry continued. "We don't have any other choice."

A large smile enveloped Ron's face but it was instantly squashed away by Hermione.

"Are you guys mad!" she snapped, glaring at them both as she stepped back from Ron's embrace. "There is no way we're flying in a car. I can't even fathom how you can even think-"

"Hermione," Harry's voice stopped her ranting. He walked over to her as he continued. "We don't have any other choice" He reasoned.

"Of course, we do!" she exclaimed. "Any choice is better than this"

"Really, like what" he raised an eyebrow. "Because I can't think of any and neither can Ron"

"I can call my parents" she paused, nodding her head. "There are payphones everywhere. They'll be here in no time"

"And then what!" He took a few deep breaths to calm his voice down. "Hermione, your parents can't help us...not with this. They don't know anything about our world. It's not like they can apparate us back to the castle"

"No one can apparate on castle grounds" she said stubbornly. A small smile formed at Harry's lips. He found it extremely funny that even when she was completely distraught, she never lost the opportunity to correct someone of their mistake. It was such an ingrained part of her personality and it made him appreciate her even more.

He figured it wouldn't be a good idea to mention that apparating on castle grounds didn't apply to Dumbledore but refrained from it as it would bring up more questions that he didn't want to deal with.

"C'mon Hermione" Her eyes went wide as he laid a hand on her shoulder. A small blush came over his cheeks as he realized that it was the first time, he ever initiated a physical contact with anyone other than Dumbledore. "We won't go with it unless you agree." He stared intensely into her eyes, hoping that she would say yes.

They didn't break eye contact as they continued to stare into each other's eyes. Ron raised an eyebrow as he grew quite awkward. It seemed his friends were in a staring contest, seeing who would blink first and with the way things were going it appeared that they would be standing here for quite a long time.

A smirk came over his lips before he shouted "Hey!"

Harry and Hermione jumped back before they looked at him. Harry felt his cheeks grow warm as he realized what he had been doing, while Hermione shot Ron a nasty glare.

"I'm still here" he smiled cheekily as he waved at her.

"Yes, I'm quite aware of that, thank you very much" she finished with a harrumph.

"Could've fooled me" He muttered under his breath.

"What was that" She scowled, desperately wanting to wipe that smirk of his face.

"Nothing, nothing" he chuckled, backing away.

"Yeah, that's right, nothing" she said snootily.

Harry cleared his throat, still not fully out of his embarrassment. "Umm...have you decided yet, Hermione." He asked, scratching the back of his head.

Hermoine bit her lower lip as she stared at the ground. After a few moments, she released a breath as her shoulders sagged. "Fine"

A huge smile came over Harry and Ron's faces as they turned to each other.

"And wipe that smile off your faces or I'll change my mind"

"You got it, Herms" chuckled Ron.

"Call me that again and you'll be picking up all your teeth from the ground" she growled.

"Hey, I was just being nice. Plus, it's a nice nickname. Don't you think so, Harry" he turned to his friend for support.

Harry's eyes grew wide as he didn't know how to respond, luckily, he was saved by Hermione.

"Don't bring Harry into this. Just don't call me that name again because I. don't. like .it"

"Fine, geez. Talk about having a temper" He lifted his hands up as Hermione shot him a deadly glare. "Let's go"

He turned around and started walking with Hermione and Harry right behind him.

They stopped when they reached the Ford Angelina. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary as it stood parked between all the other cars. Nobody seemed to be any wiser as people walked by it.

"Ron" Hermione was looking at the car warily, all her fears about what they were going to do came hurtling back. "Are you sure you can fly it?" she looked up at him with apprehension in her eyes. Ron closed the trunk after storing all their luggage inside.

Harry was really fascinated with how much more they could put inside it as the space seemed endless.

"Of course, I've flown it countless times around near the house" he said confidently as he subtly took his wand out before checking to see if anyone noticed. He tapped it once on the door handle before putting it back inside his pocket and opening the door.

They all got in the car. Harry was sitting in the front with Ron, while Hermione sat in the middle of the back seat.

She was the first to put the seat belt on as the sound of the engine came alive.

Harry watched in confusion as Ron pressed the two blue buttons next to the steering wheel before saying "Hogwarts castle" The buttons blinked three times before they lit up.

He turned to Ron. "What was that?"

Ron gave him a smile as he answered. "That's just a charm my dad added when he was tinkering with it. If you press this button and say the address you want to go to, then the car will take you there. You just need to move the wheel so you don't hit anything but if you lose your way than one of these lights will start blinking to let you know if you need to move right or left until you're back on track. Basically, if these buttons don't blink that means we're heading in the right direction" he finished

Harry nodded his head, really impressed with Mr Weasley's charm work.

"Buckle your seatbelts because it's going to be a bumpy ride." Ron chuckled manically but dropped the act after Hermione shot him a venomous glare through the rear-view mirror. "Sorry" He said sounding anything but before a huge grin lit up his face. "Let's get going!"

…...

"AAAAAH! RON, WATCH IT" screamed Hermione as the car narrowly missed colliding with the top of a small hill.

"Sorry" he smiled apologetically through the rear-view mirror.

"Stop apologizing and keep your eyes forward" she snapped at him, her face red with and anger.

Harry was tightly clutching the handle above his seat, his other gripping the edge of the seat tightly as the car tilted slightly to the left.

"I thought you said you knew how to drive" huffed Hermione.

"Hey, I do!" he said defensively. "And I think I am doing pretty fine since I've never flown so far before"

Hermione looked at him incredulously, her face expressing that she couldn't believe he just said that. A few seconds trickled in silence during which nothing could be heard except the engine. Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose before shooting daggers at him as he pretended that he couldn't see her by focusing on the clear blue sky. If looks could kill, Ron's head would be lying peacefully on top of the steering wheel by now.

"Let's see! You almost crashed 15 times, and that's not including the one time you did scrape the side of the clock tower" She took a few deep breaths before continuing. "You forgot to use the invisible charm...DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TROUBLE WE ARE GOING TO GET IN!"

Both boys jumped up from their seats and smashed their head under the roof.

"Ow!" groaned Ron, before glaring at her through the mirror. "Jeez Hermione, you don't have to shout, and I've already apologized for it. I don't see why you are keep bringing it up every ten seconds"

"Because I don't care! Your apologies won't save us from getting killed every few seconds or worse expelled if we somehow make it to the castle" She leaned back in her seat after finishing her rant and folded her arms across her chest.

Ron turned to Harry. "You're on my side aren't you mate. I mean I'm doing the best I can" his eyes were pleading with Harry to take his side.

"Ron," his voice was raspy and thick from all the screaming he had been doing for the past couple of hours. "I promise I won't kill you if I come out of this alive"

Ron nodded his head in understanding as he turned his gaze forward.

He scrunched his eyebrows as he leaned forward, looking to his right when something caught his eye. "Wait a minute...is that..." He trailed off before turning the car right and tilting it slightly towards the ground.

"What are you doing?" asked Hermione in fear as she leaned forward and grabbed the headrest of both front seats for support.

"Ha! I knew it" exclaimed Ron happily before turning his head towards them and pointing at the small gap in the forest. "Train tracks!" he said happily.

Hermione and Harry looked at each other in bewilderment before looking back at him. Ron missed their reaction as his gaze was transfixed forward. He ascended the car till they could see the tracks fully from above the forest.

"Why are we heading towards the tracks?" asked Hermione like she was talking to a toddler.

"What do you mean, why" frowned Ron as he looked at her.

"We know how to get to get to the castle, more specifically the car does. You've already given it directions" she said pointing at the blue buttons.

"Oh...yeah, I'm just making sure you know. One time Fred ended up on the other side of the country because he was following the directions" His said before scrunching his face in thought. "Although that may also be because he got the spelling wrong"

He dipped the car below when they crossed the forest before angling it parallel with the tracks as it hovered just a couple of feet above them.

"Ron, I don't think this is a good idea" Hermione said, her voice breaking at the end. She wore an anxious expression as she kept turning her head to look out of both windows.

"I agree with Hermione, Ron" Harry said, tightening his hold on the handle.

"Don't worry" Ron waived his hand casually. "I'll move after a little while once we know we're near the castle. Plus, we're much safer here. Less chance of crashing since there will be nothing to hit" He chuckled, catching Hermione's fear-stricken face through the mirror. "Chill Hermione. You need to relax and enjoy the ride. Trust me, it's not every day you get to ride on a flying car, am I right, Harry" He grinned at Harry who gave him a tight-lipped smile.

"What's that noise?" whispered Hermione.

"What noise?" asked Ron, as he looked at her before his eyes turned wide as something caught his eye behind Hermione's head.

He stared in shock through the rear-view mirror as the red locomotive's head came into view as it emerged from behind the mountain to their right.

By now everyone in the car was aware what was happening as the loud steam engine of the Hogwarts express reached their ears. Hermione and Harry had both turned in their seats as they looked through the back window.

The look on all their faces were similar as it expressed just but one emotion.

Fear.

"AAAAAAAH!" screamed Hermione after a couple of seconds as the train was quickly closing the distance on them.

"AAAAH!" Harry and Ron joined her as they were unable to take their eyes off what would be their impending death.

In their fear-stricken brains, they didn't heat the train whistle as it kept closing the distance with every passing second.

"RON! MOVE!" screamed Harry, once he finally got out of his shock.

His scream got Ron's attention as he turned back around and just when it looked the train was about to collide with them, he turned the steering wheel to the right, sending the car of the track as it swerved in the air in no particular direction.

Their screams merged into one as Ron desperately tried to pull the car in an upright position. He kept turning the wheel in both directions and in doing so managed to tilt the car sideways.

Harry's door smashed open, sending him dangling in the air as he held onto his life with one hand on the door.

"HARRY!" Ron and Hermione yelled simultaneously.

Ron tried to reach over to grasp his free hand, but he was too far. "Ron, I can't hold much longer. You have to turn the car straight!" yelled Harry.

Sweat was rolling down Ron's forehead as he took deep breaths through his nose before he turned the wheel in the opposite direction as quickly as he could. The car jerked back into an upright position as Hermione managed to get herself onto the front seat.

"Grab my hand, Harry!" Harry thrusted his hand forward and grasped hers on the first try. Hermione let out a cry as she started pulling him.

Harry tried to lift his right leg up but just missed to stick it inside. He tried it again as Hemione kept pulling him up and managed to do so and with Hermione's help, he pulled himself up and into the car.

He landed right on top of her before pulling his other leg up and in the car. He turned around and reached outside to close the door.

Their ragged breathing was all that could be heard as they all sat in shock staring ahead with wide eyes.

"Well, that was fun" Ron chuckled nervously, wiping the sweat of his face with his sleeve.

Hermione gave him a death glare but didn't say anything. It was all she could manage for now, but her look perfectly conveyed to him that they will talk about what just happened later.

After a couple of minutes, Hermione tried to get her left leg from under Harry. It had gone numb from his weight.

"Oh sorry, Hermione! I didn't know" he said after noticing her predicament.

"It's okay" she groaned after freeing her leg. She tried to move it but couldn't do so. "I can't move it and the gear box is hurting my back"

"I'll climb to the back seat so you can sit here" Harry got up and tried to move his leg over her, but she stopped him.

"No!" He looked into her wide eyes. "I don't want to sit alone, please" She added the last part in a whisper.

Harry looked at her for a moment before slowly nodding his head. "Okay" He said before looking at the seat to check if there was another way for them to get into a more comfortable position.

"How about you sit in between my legs" he pointed out.

"How would we do that?" she looked at the seat to see how they could manage that.

"Here, get up and let me sit first" She lifted herself before he twisted his leg around her as she got in front of him. It was really uncomfortable to move in a tight space but he somehow managed to sit down and widened his legs before pulling her by the waist to sit between his legs.

His arms automatically fell around her body, pulling her back close to his chest. His eyes grew wide in embarrassment, and he tried to remove them, but Hermione caught onto his attention and pulled them back to rest on her legs as she held tightly onto his forearms.

He turned his head to see Ron looking at him with a small smile. "Sorry" he mouthed.

Harry shook his head and gave him a smile before a chuckle escaped both their lips. It slowly grew louder and before long, they were cackling madly like maniacs.

Hermione tried to maintain her stoic expression and also tried to give Ron one of her famous glares but only managed a half smile which she tried to hide by looking away.

"I saw it, Hermione! You can't hide it" Ron said in between his laughter.

Not being to hold it any longer, she joined them as her body shook with huge peals of laughter.

…...

Hogwarts Castle, Night

The castle glowed under the light of the moon, as it shined brightly on it. The Ford Angelina glided past the Astronomy tower before flying over the courtyard and towards the forbidden forest.

"Ron! Watch where you're going!" exclaimed Hermione, her eyes wide with fear as she turned to face him.

"I can't control it!" Ron shouted back; his face had a look of absolute horror. Hermione and Harry looked at him as he was desperately turning the wheel in both directions, but it was of no use and did nothing to deter the car's direction. It seemed that it had a mind of its own and there was nothing any of them could do about it.

They all turned their eyes forward and clutched anything they could get their hands on as tightly as possible. For Hermione that meant digging her nails into Harry's hands.

The car made a big dive towards the ground, and they let out ear deafening screams of terror.

Just when it looked that it was going to crash, head first, it pulled off a Wronski feint and levelled with the ground. The back tyres brushed against the grass as the car slowed down and slowly touched the ground before coming to a stop at the edge of the forbidden forest.

Their breathing was coming in short, ragged gasps as they seemed unable to move, not yet out of the shock that they weren't dead. Suddenly, both front doors burst open a second before all 3 were sent flying out of the car, before hitting the ground some 10 meters away.

"Ouch" groaned Harry, from under Hermione, who somehow had managed to land safely on top of him, saving herself from any impact and pain.

"What the hell!" they heard Ron shout from the other side of the car as they pulled themselves up.

"Thanks" said Harry, as Hermione handed him his glasses which had fallen when he was flying backwards in the air. He wiped them off before putting them on as Ron came bursting towards the car, an angry scowl over his face.

"What was that about!" he yelled at the car as he kicked the tyre with his right foot.

He received his answer when the trunk snapped open before their luggage was being thrown out, not dissimilar to the people who it belonged to.

They watched in shock as all the doors shut themselves before the engine roared to life once again. Their mouths fell open as they stared in disbelief at the car as it lazily made its way into the forbidden forest.

A few moments had passed as they all stood next to each other. The sound of the crickets was all that could be heard before Ron turned to them with what Harry would call his, I'm-dead-please-save-me, look. "I'm dead" Even in his whisper, they could hear his voice tremble.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here, my darling?" They whipped their heads around to see Filch standing a few yards away, an evil smirk playing on his lips as he held Mrs Norris next to his chest, stroking the top of her head with his other hand.

Ron groaned, Hermione whimpered, and Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. All three had different reactions at being caught by one of their least favourite people in the world, but a similar thought was running through all their heads.

'This day can't get any worse'.

…...

They all had their heads turned down, staring at the floor as they stood with their hands behind their backs.

The sound of fast scribbling was all that could be heard in the otherwise silent room when the door burst open and the sound of hasty steps added to the noise.

"Severus, I heard that-" McGonagall stopped in her tracks when Snape, without looking up from his parchment pointed with his quill in the direction of the other three occupants in the room.

She slowly walked to front on the room and took in their appearance. Their clothes were dirty and Harry's trouser had a small hole in the them. Their hair was all over the place and they all had some dirt on their faces. All in all, she decided that it looked they had just escaped a horde of acromantulas.

She took a deep breath as her eyes flared with anger. "Look at me!" Her voice boomed off the walls as the 3 Gryffindor's snapped their heads up to look at their head of house. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you all have caused?" She bristled in her thick Scottish accent. "Flying a car all across the country...The ministry has accounted more than hundred sightings and now because of your foolishness and ignorance, they had to send aurors to clean the mess you've made. As if their job already doesn't keep them away from their family enough, they now had to waste their time by cleaning the memory of muggles when they could've been saving lives or spending time with their families!" Her voice reached an octave higher by the time she finished.

McGonagall glanced a look at Snape when she felt him staring at her. His face was blank of any emotion except the single raise of his eyebrow. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he turned back to his work.

McGonagall turned her gaze back to the students and her eyes softened when they landed on Hermione. She saw the tears streaming down the face of the little girl who seemed so scared. Her whole body was trembling as loud hiccups escaped her lips.

McGonagall briefly closed her eyes before opening them. "Hermione"

Hermione's head whipped towards her. A look of shock on her face as she seemed momentarily static, her mouth had fallen open and she was staring at her in disbelief.

McGonagall reasoned that it was because she used by her first name that elicited this reaction from her.

Despite her reputation she couldn't stand the sight of kids crying and was all always careful that she was never the reason behind their sorrow. It was a fine line between strictness and tyranny, and she believed in her humble opinion that she always treaded it expertly.

But seeing the face of her house student, whom she admired greatly, she wondered if she might have misplaced her foot and landed on the other side of the line.

She let out a tired sigh before turning her attention to the boys standing on either side of Hermione. "Potter, Weasley, you're both dismissed" Harry and Ron looked at her with wide eyes, not believing they heard her right.

"Close your mouth, it's disgusting" she reprimanded before continuing. "Of course, you'll be serving detentions" Their shoulders sagged a little at hearing this, something McGonagall noticed as her eyes narrowed dangerously. "But consider yourself lucky that you're getting away with so little. That wouldn't have been the case if I had the power to give the decision myself. Being expelled would've been the least of your worries then" she lied, but they didn't have to know that.

"But since it's not, and it seems Professor Dumbledore for some unfathomable reason has a soft spot for you, you are still a part of this school. You may leave now; your luggage has already been brought to your dormitories."

Harry and Ron nodded their heads before they turned around and slowly made their way towards the door. "Potter and Weasley" They stopped and turned around to look at McGonagall. "Make sure you're on time for tomorrow morning's class...If you value your free time that is" she raised an eyebrow as they gave a single nod. "Good, now go straight to your dormitory"

Harry gave a brief glance in Hermione's direction before he followed Ron out of the room.

"Ms Granger, you come with me" McGonagall said before she started walking towards the door at the back of the room

It took Hermione a moment to move her feet and follow the transfiguration professor, who was already waiting for her at the door. She walked past Snape's desk and despite the situation couldn't fight her curiosity and stole a sneak at what the potions teacher was working on.

She could only read the headline, Draught for Lycanthropy, and under it in slightly smaller handwriting was written, advantages and disadvantages.

She reached McGonagall who opened the door and gestured her to walk through first, which she did.

…...

Hermione was looking round the room from her place on the sofa. The room oozed warmth and comfort as her eyes glided across it. A small fire was burning in the fireplace, enveloping the room in a yellow glow.

She still couldn't believe that she was sitting in Professor McGonagall's private quarters. What struck her most was the sheer size of the place. It was large enough for a family to live in. The living area, where she was sitting, stretched wide, it was almost as big as the one in her home.

But unlike the living room in her house which merged into an open kitchen and a small room dining room behind it that overlooked their back garden, this one was just a rectangular box with a door attached to each wall.

Hermione squinted her eyes when her gaze fell upon the mantelpiece above the fireplace. She got up and walked over to it. Her frown deepened as she got a closer look at the moving picture in the frame that was placed in the middle. It was slightly larger than the other frames that were on either side of it.

It wasn't until she looked at the frames that her frown was replaced by a small smile as realization dawned on her. She picked up the larger frame and her smile widened as the baby in the photo started flailing his arms.

The door to the far right opened and Hermione's eyes turned wide. In her haste to put the frame back she knocked several other and watched in shock as they fell to the ground.

The sound of the glass cracking against the floor was so loud to her ears that she didn't even hear McGonagall shutting the door or when she walked over to her. It wasn't until Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder that she came out of her shock and turned around with wide eyes to stare at her professor.

McGonagall gave her an amusing smile before saying. "It's alright, dear. Here, I'll take care of it" she said while gently pulling her to the side before she pointed her wand at the broken pieces of glass and the pictures strewn across the floor.

Hermione watched in utter amazement as everything was back in its place in less than 10 seconds.

McGonagall guided her back to the sofa before they both took a seat on opposite ends, looking at each other.

"I'm extremely sorry, professor. I had no business-" She stopped at seeing McGonagall raise her hand. "No harm done" was all she said. She raised an eyebrow to say that they wouldn't talk any further about it.

Hermione gave a nod of her head. "Is that your family, professor?" she pointed towards the fireplace.

A smile curved McGonagall's thin lips before she nodded her head. "Yes, most of them are of my son. But there are others of me and my husband as well"

"Oh...where do they live?"

McGonagall's face turned solemn as she answered. "My son lives in London with his family."

"And your husband, professor?" She hoped she didn't cross the line as a dark look came over McGonagall's face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's alright." she sighed. "We separated long ago. I don't know where he lives" she answered evasively, her eyes looking away. Hermione nodded her head in understanding.

"What does your son do?" she asked, changing the subject, hoping this would bring the smile back on her face.

It did as McGonagall answered "He's an auror. Has been for more than 30 years. I get to see him and my grandchildren only on holidays" Hermione could hear the longing in her voice, but then she realized that he must be one of the aurors who was sent to wipe the memories.

"I'm sorry he had to extra work because of our stupidity"

"Oh know, he wasn't part of the team that was sent. He's the one who sent them. He's the head of the auror department."

"Oh...well that's nice I suppose" she said. "I wish to work in the ministry someday as well" she said with a smile which McGonagall reciprocated.

"I need to ask you something" McGonagall said. "And be honest"

Hermione nodded her head, a feeling of despair crept over her as she wondered what she was going to ask.

A moment later McGonagall spoke again "Do you enjoy spending time with Mr Potter and Mr Weasley or is it only because you don't have any other friends"

Hermione's eyes turned wide. That was not what she was expecting at all. But that wasn't a good thing because the feeling of dread only intensified.

"Pardon my bluntness dear, but I have never seen you around with anybody else except those two"

She was at a loss for words. Even though the answer was clear to her, she wasn't able to voice it for some reason. "Um..." she trailed off.

McGonagall gave her a kind smile as she scooted closer towards her. "I'm only asking you this out of concern" Hermione's face scrunched in confusion, but she let McGonagall continued. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, and only you can decide what's better for you but...I don't think those two boys are a good influence on you" A stricken look came over Hemione's face.

McGonagall, aware of the change in her expression, followed up further. "You are the most brilliant student I have seen walk through these halls in...forever" she finished with a wistful smile as her gaze shifted to somewhere over Hermione's shoulder. "I think she would agree with me on that" she murmured to herself before shaking her head and looking back at Hermione.

"I just don't want you to lose focus. You have so much potential dear, and sooner or later, you will start to lose that focus if you keep spending time with them and indulging in their frivolous and foolish activities. Those boys are trouble I tell you" A scowl came over her face. "Never in all my time here have I ever seen such brazen attitude towards rule breaking" She huffed before continuing. "And I taught James Potter during all his seven years which should tell you something. I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" she shook her head before turning towards Hermione who had her head down and was fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

McGonagall released a sigh as she covered Hermione's small hands with her own, making her look up into her eyes. "I'm not saying that you should break your friendship with them...I just wonder if the friendship is... real, or was it born out of fear of isolation because if it was than I could assist you to make friends more suited to your personality and who share your passion for school" she finished softly.

Silence overcame them as she patiently waited for Hermione to speak. "They are my best friends" Hermione said after a while, staring into her eyes. She had a determined look on her face as she let out a sniffle. "If they weren't my friends, I wouldn't have tried to forge a friendship...with anyone. But they are and I'm never going to break it." she wiped her sleeve across her face.

McGonagall looked at her with a piercing stare but unlike earlier, Hermione didn't cower away and held her gaze.

Seconds trickled by before McGonagall gave a curt nod before saying. "I hope you know what you're doing and that we don't have this conversation again. Well then, we've nothing more to say" she stood up and walked over to the door on the left before opening it. "Off you go, then" She motioned with her head.

Hermione stood up and walked towards her. She was about to walk through when she stopped, turned and looked at her teacher. "School will always be my topmost priority. That's never going to change. But so will be my friends and that's never going to change either" she said confidently.

McGonagall slanted her head sideways as she said, "Yes they will change, believe me." Hemione's brow furrowed as she saw a ghost of a smirk on her face. Before she could ask what she meant by that statement, the door closed.

She let out a sigh and turned around before heading towards the Gryffindor tower.

…...

"You made sure no one saw you, right?" asked Madam Pomfrey as she led the way as Harry walked behind her.

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey. I told Ron I had to ask Professor Snape a question for the holiday homework he gave us"

"Dear merlin, you're just like your father." A smile came over Harry's face as she continued. "You're lucky, I was just about to close the infirmary." she stopped and opened the door before walking in, Harry right behind her.

He looked around the room he had seen just a few days ago as she closed the door before walking towards the last door in the small corridor.

She opened the door and motioned him to go in first, which he did.

Harry walked into the room which had gone through some small changes from the last time he had seen it. Another bed had been joined next to his aunt's. He looked at the sleeping form of his cousin who was lying on his back, arms widespread, his mouth half open.

A small chuckle escaped his lips before his eyes turned to his aunt. A despondent expression came over his face as he walked over to stand beside her bed. She slept in complete contrast to her son, with her hands folded at her middle. She looked at peace.

He turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Any sign of-" She shook her head.

"It's still too early" He nodded his head as he looked back at his aunt. He desperately wanted to stay with her. He turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Can I stay...just for tonight, I promise."

She had an unreadable look on her face as she stared at him. "Just for tonight" She said, while fixing him with an adamant look.

"Thank you" he smiled gratefully.

"At this moment I can't add a bed without waking your cousin up"

"It's okay. I'll sleep on the chair" He pointed to the chair behind him.

She nodded her head once before leaving the room and closing the door.

He grabbed the chair and brought it closer to the bed before sitting down. He swapped his hand with Petunia's left hand and grasped her other hand before laying his head on the edge of the bed.

He closed his eyes, and a second later darkness coloured his vision.

…...

He pushed the door open and peeked inside. After seeing no movement, he walked through before gently closing the door behind him.

His steps made no noise as he made his towards the room at the far end. He stopped and waived his wand over the door, murmuring an incantation under his breath. He opened the door and was about to walk in when his steps halted as his eyes fell upon the boy with messy black hair sleeping on the chair next to her bed.

He wasn't surprised, but he didn't expect to see him either. After taking one last look at him, and her, he closed the door.

He closed the door to the infirmary before leaving.

He removed the charm he placed on his shoes. He had to, or the suspicion would've fallen on him if he caught a student past curfew.

He turned a corner and headed towards the courtyard.

The cool air whipped his hair as he walked into the open.

He walked over to the bench near the fountain and was just about to sit down when a voice stopped him.

"Why do you do this to yourself?"

He wasn't surprised. Infact, he should've expected it. He let out a sigh as he faced him. He didn't have the energy to reply with a snarky comment, which was always expected from him.

"Can't you for once let other people be in peace?" He said irritably as he sat down.

"Are you in peace?" said Dumbledore as he took a seat beside him.

He didn't answer, because he already knew it.

"Was he asleep?"

"Hmm" he said after a while, knowing he wasn't going to stop till he gave an answer or left, and he was tired of always being the one to leave.

"Good, good" muttered Dumbledore before letting out a yawn.

"A bed would help with that...or death" Dumbledore let out a chuckle as he stood up and faced him.

"You may be right" he said. "Any progress with the potion?"

He shook his head.

"I'm sure you'll work it out"

He didn't say anything as Dumbledore turned around and started walking.

He rolled his eyes. By now, he knew this move of his like the back of his hand. But still it worked every damn time and he hated himself for it. "What do you want?"

Dumbledore stopped. "What do you mean?" he said, looking the other way.

He growled. He could practically hear the smile in his words. "Don't make me say it?"

"Alright. I won't" He paused and turned around. "You're starting to worry me" Dumbledore spoke in his deep baritone.

He turned his gaze to the ground. "You've always been worried about me"

"I know." His dark brown eyes locked with Dumbledore's as he continued. "Don't ruin what you've taken your entire adult life building"

Dumbledore turned around and started walking.

"And what would that be?"

Dumbledore stopped and looked at him. His lips curved into a small smile as he said "A promise, Severus. A promise"

A/N: As always guys, post your comments and let me know your thoughts and I'll catch you on the flip side.