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So far... The reborn Hermione launched the secret Cathesis League to fight corruption. Now at Hogwarts, the young girl formed CREST from the trusted members of the old D.A. After an exciting first year, the youngsters are back at school. Neville and Luna went missing in search of a mysterious gate into a dome of thorns in the Forest, but the others rescued them. Now read on...

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Chapter 61

The Appalling Aftermath


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Coaching

Despite his badgering Hermione, Ron had to wait until early in the morning after he first awoke in Hogwarts' Hospital wing before she would reveal what had been learnt about Draco's fate. He'd not slept well. Olive had been told she could have breakfast in the Great Hall, and Ron anticipated that was when he'd see her again. The delay rankled, made it seem longer than it really was. However, anxiety about the coming confrontation with the Headmaster caused time to race, and it was a very tired and confused Ron who was dismissed with the others by Madam Pomfrey at six o'clock.

"Olive," he said softly, as the white curtains swished back and she joined the other girls with Neville in their approach. Her hair was restored to normal length, though never enough to obscure the self-conscious expression. Ron gave her a sickly smile but she didn't move closer than a Ginny and Luna away from him.

Awkwardness pierced the air like the embarrassing glare of daylight after drunken confessions. Hermione punctured the vacuum with a breezy, matter-of-fact tone. "We've time to talk in 4J before breakfast. Get our story sorted out."

Ron nodded. The others didn't, which Ron took to mean they already knew of the arrangement. That didn't help the sense of frailty and disconnectedness a night's unrest had stirred up within him.

Imogene was no longer present, of course, and he didn't ask about her. Presumably she'd gone home after the rescue made him wonder if she lived up on a cloud and played a harp when she wasn't saving people.

Off they trudged. Harry joined them on the way, but although relief showed in his eyes, he displayed the same glumness all of them did. "I got a month of weekly detentions," he explained, "but–"

"A month!" exploded Ron, animated for the first time since arising. "Just for breaking curfew?"

"The Slytherin prefect told–"

"Farley! That–!" Ron swallowed the expletive that was on the tip of his tongue. Truth was, now time had passed, he felt strangely sorry for the girl after witnessing Draco's treatment of her.

"–she told McGonagall it was rumoured I was sneaking out to the Forest to search for you two." Harry gestured at Luna and Neville. "McGonagall wasn't even interested in my explanation because why else would I be in the Entrance Hall that early not long after talking to her about it?"

The others ummed and ahhed a mixture of comprehension, sympathy, and feelings of injustice at the penalty as they entered Classroom 4J. It was still untidy from the last Potions lesson before Easter. Nobody cared.

"Well, if you got four detentions for only intending to go to the Forest, then we are doomed," said Neville gloomily. "Expulsion for sure."

"Not if we craft our excuses very carefully," said Hermione, and there was a glimmer of hope in her tone as she thought it out. "Look, Luna promised not to go in deeper than the fringes of the Forest, right? In fact, in a curious way, she and Neville never entered the Forest at all."

"What!" cried Ginny. "But–"

"–Think about it. They flew around the Forest then, on finding the dome on the far edge, they flew over it. They never passed over any trees other than the thorn trees and they're–"

"–Not really trees at all!" cried Neville excitedly. "They're unclassified, primitive, and probably date from not long after the dawn of botanical life. I brought back a few prickles to show Madam–"

"Yes, yes, Neville," said Hermione, cutting him off before he got too carried away by his own enthusiasm. "The thing is, the dome is effectively right on the edge of the Forest near the perimeter wall of Hogwarts, and, in a way, its inner barrier marks the edge of the Forest on that side."

"So none of us entered the Forest proper!" said Ron. "We skirted it along the stone wall then we continued along the dome wall!"

"Exactly," said Hermione, triumphant that if Ron could grasp what she meant, then all of them would.

"Erm..." murmured Ginny doubtfully.

"Look," said Hermione, "imagine the Forest pressed in on that side by the dome of thorns outside it. There's a narrow gap between them which, where it widens out, is where the gates are."

"Yeah, that's one way of looking at it," said Ron. "Let's not use the word 'clearing' at all."

"Precisely. So Luna and Neville discovered a big patch of thorns outside the Forest, flew over it, the broomsticks failed, and they fell inside and got lost."

"And us?" said Ginny.

"Well, you, Ron, and Harry tried to explain to Professor McGonagall that's where they'd be, but were not believed. Naturally, we had to at least search for them around the far edges of the Forest without actually going inside."

"What about Imogene?" said Ginny.

"Uumm... I told Dumbledore she's a friend I called in. Let's say I left word with an adult as a sensible precaution if we did not return before nightfall."

"And Draco?" growled Ron.

"Ah, yes... I was coming to that. Last night I placed myself where I could eavesdrop on a conversation between him, Farley, and Snape. I only caught the tail end of it but I think they've concocted a cover story because they sounded very confident."

"Yeah, well, Malfoy didn't know I was there and heard everything! When I tell Dumbledore what happened, it'll blast any excuse to pieces." Ron rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

The group continued talking for a while then made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Dumbledore was not present, but before a single cornflake was shaken into a bowl, McGonagall was bristling over towards them, eyes and nostrils flaring, and drawing Olive in her wake from the Ravenclaw table.

"Do not keep Professor Dumbledore waiting any longer! Madam Pomfrey informed me you were dismissed half an hour ago!"

Harry piped up, "But surely they can eat first!"

"Keep out of this, Potter," snapped McGonagall. "The rest of you, follow me to the Headmaster's Office – at the double!"

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Cover Up

A surprise awaited the children as they entered the Head's study; not only was Snape and Flitwick there, but Lucius Malfoy stood with a concerned, fatherly hand upon his son's shoulder. His sigh of relief was ambiguous but Snape sneer's was not:

"Finally, the guilty absconders condescend to grace us with their presence, no doubt having taken time to concoct a wild story."

"Severus, please," said Dumbledore, and the seriousness in his tone caused everyone to still their murmurings and pay attention.

"Now, children, I'd like to know what explanation you have for your behaviour."

Hermione prepared herself, but then decided to remain inconspicuous behind Ron and the others for the time being.

Luna spoke up first. "It was my fault, Head–"

"–Our fault," said Neville, daring a toe forward. "We only scouted the edge of the Forest, and–"

"–A blatant lie," sneered Snape.

"–and flew on our broomsticks to be extra careful," Luna continued. "But we were curious about a huge cluster of strange thorns, and descended to investigate. Our broomsticks stopped working and we spent hours trying to find a way out."

Dumbledore said, "Hagrid informed me you had promised not to venture too deeply into the Forest so he could keep an eye on you from time to time. When he was unable to see you for almost twenty minutes, he went to investigate. He searched the boundaries of the Forest for another half an hour yet never saw you. How could that be?"

"Perhaps he didn't look far enough along?" said Neville, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

Hermione held her breath.

It was a while before Dumbledore spoke. "I see," he said finally. "You travelled further around the Forest?"

"Yes, Professor. We kept our promise to Hagrid."

"And did it not occur to you that he wanted to keep you two in sight?"

Luna's look of surprise was real. "He did? We thought he only wanted us to remain in the safe and friendly area at the border."

Neville squeezed back an urge to shuffle his feet, and nodded vigorously instead.

Dumbledore stared severely at them for a while before turning to the others. "And the rest of you? You disobeyed not only my direct orders but those of your head of house."

Ron felt Hermione's hand gently push him forward. "Uumm... well, we did try to erm... inform you that uuh... we thought that's where they'd gone but – well, we couldn't just leave them to die, could we!" The last part he blurted out, but it helped him gather momentum. "You see, me and Olive discovered these bronze gates into the thorns months ago when we were... uumm... you know – and–"

"–and we'll always help our friends if they're in trouble, no matter what!" Ginny had defiantly stepped forward to take a stand beside her brother.

Ron pointed at Draco and shouted, "And that git knew we were in a fix and left us to rot!"

"How dare you!" said Mr Malfoy. "My son's behaviour has been exemplary."

Snape said, "We have already heard young Malfoy's testimony while you were all gorging yourselves on sausages and–"

"He KNEW we'd die!" yelled Ron.

Mr Malfoy drawled, "Which is why he tried to help you."

"What! If he'd helped us anymore, we'd be as dead as dippler docuses!"

Dumbledore had held up his hand to quieten the tumult. "Severus, for the sake of harmony, perhaps you might enlighten them."

"Certainly, Headmaster. Firstly, Draco suspected you planned to break the rules again, and informed a prefect in the hope of preventing you from plunging recklessly into serious danger. Unfortunately, your gang had split up by then and only Potter was saved."

"What! I don't believe this!" cried Ron. "If that prefect was Farley, then she was in on it!"

Snape's glare was both haughty and condescending, as if explaining to a six-year-old. "Miss Farley was one of the prefects I allocated to search the Forest with me. As we entered, I instructed my group to spread out slightly to cast our net wider so to speak. Draco caught up with her to share his thoughts on your whereabouts and she lagged behind, thus losing contact with me. In the emergency situation they found themselves, the pair of them then made the brave decision to fly over the Forest to find and help you as best they could."

Ron's mouth gaped in astonishment.

Dumbledore said, "Draco, if you would tell them what you discovered, please?"

Draco smiled sadly. "We found the big gates easily enough but were distraught to detect footprints up to them. However, on opening the gates, it was obvious the ground within was unmarked so we felt our duty was to hurry back to report to you, sir."

"You lying toe-rag!" shouted Ron. "You knew we–"

"–You laughed at us!" cried Luna. "Shame on you."

"We laughed with relief because we thought you'd turned back."

"You came through the gates too!" bellowed Ron. "I saw you and heard what was said!"

Draco flinched, but there was also a hint of confusion in his eyes. "But–"

"That's enough," said Dumbledore. "I can confirm that Draco did inform me of what he'd discovered and begged me to send help. He is also willing to imbibe a truth potion, and I have no doubt such testimony would verify his other claims."

Neville said, "Wh–! But, Veritaserum can't be given to students!"

"Mr Longbottom!" cried McGonagall. "Do NOT contradict the Headmaster!"

Dumbledore said, "Veritaserum can be administered with a parent's approval and presence, and Mr Malfoy has not only agreed but in fact insisted we do so. However, the decision rests with myself and I accept Draco's version of events."

"Well I believe in Ron." And to Ron's great surprise and relief, Olive strode forward to stand with Ginny beside him too. "He was the one who helped save us when the staff refused to listen to him." She avoided eye contact with McGonagall, who had noticeably stiffened at her words.

Quickly, Neville and Luna joined them, and Hermione was left exposed and stranded. She raised a hand meekly as she also placed a nervous foot forward. "Yesth, thso insthtead w-we told a resthponsible adult where we'd be"

Dumbledore said, "Ah, your friend, Miss Dunn who fetched you out?"

Yesth, sthir."

"Very well," said the Headmaster. He paused, but only briefly. "Your heads of house will decide what is to be done about such serious rule-breaking, but there are grounds for leniency, and so I am recommending only detentions and loss of house points as a deterrent."

He peered over his spectacles at Luna and Neville, "As for you two, we do not punish foolishness but we must correct it. I am suggesting you apologise to Hagrid, serve one instructional detention with him, and are henceforth banned completely from even the borders of the Forest" – Luna and Neville cried out in dismay but Dumbledore raised his voice over their protests – "unless supervised."

"And my son, Dumbledore?" said Mr Malfoy. "He obeyed all the rules, was accompanied at all times by an authorised prefect, and reported the whereabouts of the missing children to you immediately on his return."

The Headmaster waved a hand dismissively. "Let Severus decide. The rest of you may go."

McGonagall gestured for them to follow and they began to shuffle after her.

Snape said, "I have already awarded twenty house points to Miss Farley, but since young Malfoy took the lead in guiding her authorised search, I award him fifty."

"WHAT!" Ron, stiffened in mid-stride, clenched his fists, and the tips of his ears flushed redly as he turned back. "How can you possibly–!" but Olive and Ginny dragged him away towards the door which McGonagall had already opened.

He spluttered and growled all the way down the stair, but then he felt Hermione's hand on his elbow. When he glared back at her, she gave him an assured nod, and his shoulders relaxed somewhat. Hermione can sort out anything, Ron reminded himself. This isn't over!

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Devil in the Details

A couple of days passed without the seven having much time to discuss events because McGonagall made sure to split up their detentions. Ginny was sorting and counting matchsticks and needles under her scrutiny while Ron was swabbing out the lowest, stinkiest washrooms for Filch.

Harry, meanwhile, had to scrape out the owlery with a bucket and trowel. Hermione – who had not been with the other three when McGonagall had insisted they leave the search to the Headmaster – did better; she only had to write out a thousand lines without magic and watched carefully by the Professor.

As for Luna and Neville, they found Hagrid slightly gruff with them for a few minutes, but his heart was too big to be annoyed for long, and soon they were being taught safe woodcraft in the fringes of the Forest not far from his hut.

Finally, Flitwick, who secretly wanted to award house points for her courageous action, sent Olive to 'help' Madam Pince, and they had a fine time chatting in her office.

It was Thursday evening before the seven of them could meet together in Room 4J without breaking any rules. Yet the mood was dull, not anticipatory, resigned rather than hopeful. Ron was still fuming on and off like an uphill steam train, his mood relieved only by faith that Hermione would somehow, one day, get revenge on Draco. She'd got rid of Umbridge, hadn't she? Olive sensed his inner turmoil, and gave his arm a squeeze.

Hermione swished her wand to clear away the remnants of the last Potions lesson they'd rushed from before the Easter holidays. Only when the last cauldron had scuttled into its cupboard did she summon herself a chair and join the others who were already picking over the pieces of what had transpired.

"None of this makes sense," said Harry, who'd only heard disjointed accounts of his friends' experience. "Draco seems just the same to me. Ron, are you sure you understood him right? Maybe they just opened the gates to look inside like he said?"

Ron sighed. "I KNOW, okay? Luna and Neville saw the poncey git leave too."

"Well..." muttered Neville.

"What?" said Harry.

"I think we should go over everything more carefully," said Hermione, turning to Neville, "starting with you and Luna, when you saw Draco leave."

Neville looked at Luna. "Luna, erm... we didn't actually see him leave, did we? Not walk out through the gates?"

"Yes, I see it in my head," said Luna. "People have a different look after they've done something. So you know. You can tell if someone's just stood up or if they're about to sit down, can't you?"

Hermione hissed out softly through her teeth. "Tell us precisely what you did see."

Neville got in first. "The girl was–"

"Gemma Farley? The prefect?"

"Yes. She was standing by the gate as if she'd pushed it open."

Olive said, "Playing the part of Thuros, the gatekeeper who–"

"–as if?" cut in Hermione. "How can someone stand as if? Was her hand on the gate?"

"No, the gate was closing by then. But she looked as if she'd–"

Hermione shook her head.

"She must have!" insisted Neville. "When we got to the gate we couldn't open it from this side. There's no handle, and we couldn't push it the other way."

"It's wrought bronze!" protested Hermione. "Couldn't you have pulled it open?"

"We couldn't get our fingers to it properly. Couldn't get hold of it, could we, Princess?"

Luna said, "The mud didn't quite reach to the gates. It held us back."

Olive nodded. "Only the gatekeeper can open–"

"–Maybe Draco could have done it himself if he wasn't muddy," said Hermione, quickly.

Ron shook his head. "Listen, Draco told Farley to repeat her orders, and she replied she had to open the gates. She did it too, to let him enter, but he said he didn't mean that. I understand that now. They both knew he was talking about she was to open them when he came back. He glared at her, threatened her."

"Anyway, his willy's really small," pouted Luna.

Ginny burst out in a giggling fit and Ron roared with laughter. "See? That proves it! Why would he strip off if he never went in the dome?"

"I thought you said he was wearing waders?" said Hermione.

Luna said, "He flung his pantaloons in through the gates before they shut so I got a good look. That's when he saw us coming and laughed. Sort of as if he threw them into the mud for spite. Like throwing bread in a stinky gutter to tease a beggar. But we didn't know what they were then."

"So what did they look like?" said Hermione. "I mean, could you have used them? Maybe he wanted you to? I'm trying to work out why in some ways he seemed to want to help. I mean, he actually did tell Dumbledore where we–"

"–Yeah, after he thought it was too late to save us!" cried Ron. "He was covering his own arse."

"Yet he really did stop Harry–" Hermione stopped. Looked thoughtful suddenly. "Why didn't he–?"

"–No, he knew we couldn't use his leggings," said Neville, "that's why he flung them in the mud. They were thick with it."

"Yes, but, I was wondering why exactly didn't Farley report you all back at the Entrance Hall? Ginny, you said she must have seen Ron at least?"

"Unless she's really, really stupid, which the cow is anyway."

"Ginny..." cautioned Ron.

"What, you fancy her now, do you?"

"No, but..." Then, after a sideways glance at Olive, he added, "You didn't see her like I did. She's a bit... messed up frankly. In over her head, I reckon."

Hermione said, "We're missing something. Why did Draco really go there? And why would he enter the dome? Tell us everything that happened, Ron."

With much prompting, Ron painstakingly related the episode with Malfoy and Farley in the clearing.

"So, he had a map to help him find the dome?" said Harry.

"Not only find it, but where to go inside. He studied it and used the Point Me spell just before entering."

"This is unbelievable," said Neville. "He just happened to be going to the dome at the same time we were?"

"No," said Hermione thoughtfully, "he must have been planning to go for some time. He looked especially interested when the Headmaster first announced that Luna and Neville had gone missing in the Forest. He spoke to Farley. I thought he was getting permission to leave dinner early but–"

"–You don't need permission if you finish early," said Neville.

"I know," said Hermione. "She met up with him later in the library. I bet they were studying the book of fables that Madam Pince wanted to show us. But I think he must have already known something about the dome – and he'd have heard Ron talking about his and Olive's adventures in the Forest too. And he might have overheard us talking that breakfast before Easter, remember? We were a bit loud. Blue light anyone? Thorny dome? Luna even asked about abominable snowmen in the Defence class. Holy Cricket, we might as well have used a Sonorous charm to broadcast our intentions!"

Ron said, "But nobody would have understood what we–"

"–unless they already knew about the dome! Somehow Draco pieced it all together that was where Luna and Neville had gone and we were likely to follow. Suppose he'd been planning to go there himself for some reason? Not easy to get away without being noticed."

"Especially if you're a cowardly git like him," snuffed Ron.

"Well, here was a golden opportunity. A perfect cover for whatever he was trying to do. The heads of house were organising prefects to help in the search. He must already have had some connection with Farley. The rest is history. So...?"

"So what?" said Ron.

"What was he after?"

"How should I know?"

"You followed him, Ron! You must have spotted some clue as to what he was intending to do."

"I told you, I lost sight of him around the pool, and his tracks had faded away." He paused, thinking. "We came from the west and I followed him around the pool to the right – which is erm... south of it – but he'd continued ahead by the time I'd found a bit of rock for a weapon. Maybe he went north. I was more concerned about warning you!"

"About what?"

"I told you, he said you'd all die without protection."

"That's another thing – those so-called 'magical' pants, but magic doesn't work in–"

"Not 'pants' – leggings. They were tight fishing waders or something to keep the mud off."

"And did they?"

"Did they what?"

Hermione sighed. "Keep the mud off him?"

"Well obviously. He was wearing waders!"

Hermione scratched her bushy head. "How did he–?"

She, Olive, and Luna gasped together and stared at one another.

Olive said, "Ron, were the waders splashed with mud?"

"Of course they were."

"Pig skin," said Hermione. "He slaughtered a big wild boar just like we... that is, I, killed that Grump Grouse. He knew in advance so could prepare."

"Wow! He he'd have to be brilliant at magic then to hunt it, stun it, skin and flay it, then cut it down to fit," said Ron, "all while flying over the Forest and dancing the polka on his broomstick and still get there not long after we did! Not to mention lucky in even spotting a wild boar. We only saw one family of pigs in all the weeks we were there before, didn't we, Olive?"

She nodded. "The Forest is huge."

"Anyway," continued Ron, "Malfoy said they must have charmed the leggings for protection, so somebody else did it for him."

"Who?" said Neville.

"I think I know," Harry said quietly.

Everyone looked at him.

"Remember that breakfast we were talking about? An eagle owl delivered him a big package."

"Oh, I remember that!" cried Luna. "She had lovely big wings!"

"Too long ago," said Hermione. "It would–"

She froze suddenly as a new thought struck her. And then a cascade of ideas flooded her mind: Rita Skeeter's handbag. Snape's comments about it. Draco likely being a member of the Black Arc.

And then...

"Omigod!" She turned on Neville. "You said he flung those trousers in the mud. They were thick with it?"

He nodded. "Yes."

To Ron she cried, "And they fitted Draco snugly?"

"Yeah, stretchy. Tailor-made."

Out came Hermione's organiser and she began scribbling furiously in it. There came a moment when she stopped. The planner fell from her hands. She ran out of the room, clutching her mouth.

"Hermione!" cried Harry.

"What's going on?" shouted Ron.

Harry looked to Ginny. "Go after her. She didn't look well."

Ginny was already on her way before he finished speaking.

Luna had picked up Hermione's organiser. "It's an alphabetical list."

"Of what?" said Neville.

"Names."

"Whose?"

"Everybody's. Well, second-years. Mostly in Crest."

Neville took it from her and read quickly down the list, pausing only at his own and Luna's names. Finally he looked up. "It's you, Harry. Something bad must be going to happen to you."

"What!" Harry strode forward and snatched the planner from Neville's hands.

"See?" said Neville, leaning over Harry's shoulder to point. "She just started to write your name then stopped. That's when she ran out."

"Po– that might be Ponsonby. Isn't there a Ponsonby?" he said hopefully.

Ron said gravely, "Harry, I doubt there's a Ponsonby anywhere under the sun, let alone in second-year."

Ginny had silently re-entered through the open doorway. "She's... she'll be back in a minute or two. Got to clean up her robes."

"She's been sick?" said Olive. "Must be bad then."

Ginny nodded.

Everyone looked at Harry, and he shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. Most everyone did for the next minute or so, not sure what to say. Only when Harry's eyes flicked towards the doorway did they look round. Hermione was there.

From her bag she took some folded parchments. Her voice was strained as she said, "Harry, can you give these to Farrimond and send Hedwig to your parents with an urgent message for me?"

His eyes rounded. So did his mouth. "Wh...?"

"Ask them if... ask them if I can come over tonight and bring–"

"Tonight? But Dumbledore will do his nut if we break any more rules or–"

"To hell with Dumbledore!" shrieked Hermione, and the frightening energy of her magic spat and crackled and split the air around them. "And the whole rotten world with him!" Her screams collapsed in her throat to a heart-wrenching low croak. "this is too, too desperately awful..."

She broke down in tears then and for several seconds everyone stiffened in shock. They'd never known their guiding guardian, their foundation, their rock to be so upset. Ginny went and put an arm round Hermione's shoulder and steered her to a chair.

"sorry..." Hermione whimpered in a tiny voice. "I'm just so bone-weary of it all. I was stupid enough to think that this time around, things would be different."

Shining eyes then flitted to Ron and Olive, back and forth between them, as if deciding. "Ron, it has to be you. Your help is needed once more. But this would be the hardest thing you've ever had to face. Please, Ron..."

Ron blinked only once, touched by the sincerity of her appeal. "Of course I'll help, Hermione. Of course I will."

"Harry, tell your mother there'll be three of us coming over if that's alright. But it could be hours yet. Explain that I'm distraught; she'll understand."

Harry nodded. "I'm with you, Hermione. Together we can–"

"–No, Harry. Not this time. You can never know. None of you can ever know – except Ron."

Something had changed, and Harry was stricken with a fearful sense of loss. Hermione stood up and he handed over her organiser as if it were a final contact – a parting gift torn out of his heart. For a while she stared at it, then silently opened her beaded bag again and drew out the Zabini knife. The blade flashed and the last page of her planner split into thousands of cascading dust motes which flamed into nothing before they reached the floor.

"The meeting's over. I need to speak to Ron privately."

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—oOo—

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Author's Notes

Yeah, that nervous lisp again. I've been phasing it out but here I felt it important for Hermione to take a back seat and encourage the others, especially Ron, to stand up for themselves. Just remember, she's faking it, and many adults suffer it for real – just google nervous lisp if you don't believe me. Sooner or later, the Black Arc are going to notice dark wizards are erm... disappearing, and wonder who's behind it. Hermione wants to be the last person they'd ever think of.

Many thanks for all comments and reviews. These are most welcome and very encouraging. Let me know of any weaknesses or faults – I'm always trying to improve my writing so feedback is really useful. :)

– Hippothestrowl

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