*Thanks to the people who've reviewed my story, I really appreciate it!! I hope you like this chapter, I did want it to go in another direction, but it kept changing as I typed it.*
As Harry walked towards the Gryffindor dormitory, he let his mind wander. He thought about Hermione and her sudden appearance during the feast. He wondered about the new teacher, his fifth Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He also thought about Cho. His stomach gave a flutter when he thought of her. Harry was still thinking of her when he rounded a corner and bumped straight into Professor Hawkes.
'Harry!' she exclaimed, brushing her hair from her face. 'What are you doing out here? You should be in your dorm!'
'Sorry professor,' Harry didn't need to ask how she knew his name 'I was just heading back to my dorm from Professor Dumbledore's office.'
'Oh, of course.' She looked awkward.
Harry started to move off, but as he did, Hawkes grabbed his arm.
'Harry, wait.' Harry looked at her in surprise. She dropped his arm. 'I was just wondering, have you heard anything from Sirius?'
Harry's mouth dropped in surprise.
'How- how do you know about Sirius?' stammered Harry.
'Professor Dumbledore. You see Harry, I'm an old friend of Sirius'.' At the mention of his name, Professor Hawkes gently fingered a locket that hung from a delicate gold chain around her neck.
Harry glanced curiously at the locket.
'Well, he and Professor Lupin saw me off at the train – he was in dog form of course.' Harry rushed at the look of shock on Professor Hawkes' face.
'That's good, Harry.' She blushed suddenly, then seemed to compose herself. 'Right, you'd better get back to your dorm. Goodnight Harry.'
She gave him a pat on the shoulder and then hurried off in the opposite direction.
Harry shook his head, confused. He picked up his pace and was soon in site of the portrait of the Fat Lady.
'Well, someone's been out late.' Mused the Fat Lady as Harry approached.
'Frangipani.' Harry gave a bit of a grin as the Fat Lady's portrait swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. As expected, all of his fellow Gryffindors were already up in their dorms. Harry quickly made his way up into the boys' dorm he shared with the other fifth years and pushed open the door.
Although they were in bed, the other boys weren't asleep and greeted Harry brightly. Harry quickly got changed and flopped onto his own bed.
'So,' Ron grinned cheekily 'What did Cho want to talk about?'
Harry grinned back.
'Nothing that concerns you.' He threw his pillow at Ron, who quickly ducked.
Luckily, before a pillow fight could erupt, Ron changed the subject.
'I hope Hermione's all right.' His face was wiped of the smile, and became contorted with worry.
'She'll be fine. Remember that she doesn't know a thing about what happened to her. It's tomorrow after she gets her memory back when we should be worried. She's probably fast asleep right now.'
Ron nodded.
'I'm sure you're right. Night Harry.'
'Night Ron.'
Harry's guess about Hermione's well being was not entirely correct. She was not worried about what she remembered, but rather what she didn't remember. She'd gone through the past few weeks in her head hundreds of times since she'd left Dumbledore's office with Madame Pomfrey.
It was strange being in the hospital wing this early in the year. Harry was usually the year's first casualty, but here was Hermione in the hospital wing, and as far as she was concerned, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. She rolled over in her bed tried to sleep. Patches of moonlight through the clouds were cascading onto her bed.
At last she seemed to doze off.
In her dreams she saw Bulgaria again. She'd looked forward to the trip and had really enjoyed herself. But what date had she and her parents left home? It was almost two months ago…or was it? Surely they hadn't been in Bulgaria that long?
Hermione woke with a start. Where had she been then, if she hadn't been in Bulgaria all this time? It was ludicrous to think she'd been anywhere else.
Sighing deeply, Hermione shut her eyes and again tried to sleep. As she did, a voice filled her head.
Hermione it whispered. It was cold voice that turned her insides cold. You will not say anything Hermione, you know what will happen if you do. She felt her body seize up, as if she were a puppet on strings and someone had taken control of her. Someone else made her whisper yes, I know.
Good. The voice spoke again. You know what to do, and what to say. And if you do not do it, those you love will suffer for it.
Then as quickly as it had overtaken her, the voice left. Hermione lie in her bed, shaking slightly. Yes, she knew what she must do. She didn't want to, but she had to.
When Madame Pomfrey came in to check her around midnight, Hermione feigned sleep.
Hours later, Hermione gathered her possessions and headed for her dormitory with Ginny Weasley. Madame Pomfrey had allowed her to go under the condition that someone accompanied her back to the Gryffindor common room. They walked in silence for a few minutes. Then Ginny spoke.
'How are you feeling, Hermione?'
Hermione felt the unknown force take control of her again.
'Just fine, Ginny. Honestly, I don't know what all the fuss was about.' Hermione heard herself give a little laugh.
Ginny looked at Hermione strangely, but said nothing.
Later that day, Professor Dumbledore summoned Hermione, Harry and Ron to his office. When they arrived, they saw Dumbledore sitting down along with Professor Hawkes and Madame Pomfrey.
'Come in, come in. Miss Granger, Have a seat here.' Dumbledore motioned for Hermione to sit in a large armchair. She did so.
'Where's the ministry charm remover, Professor?' Harry asked curiously. Dumbledore smiled.
'Well Harry, after you left last night, I realised that I didn't have to send for the ministry's best, because we had her here.' He motioned to Professor Hawkes.
Professor Hawkes rose from her chair and walked over to Hermione. She pulled out her wand.
'Hermione, what's the last thing you remember after you left Bulgaria?'
Hermione's face showed concentration. Her mind was fighting against the force that had taken her over.
'Well professor, I remember arriving back here and then travelling straight to Hogwarts. My parents went home.' She gave a small smile. 'That's it, really.'
No! It isn't! she wanted to cry. The voice spoke again. It is fruitless to resist. Let me have control.
Professor Hawkes frowned and tapped her chin with her wand. She seemed to consider for a moment and then put her hand on Hermione's shoulder.
'Sit back and relax, and I'll perform the counter charm.'
Hermione obeyed. Professor Hawkes lifted her wand and pointed it at Hermione.
'Remembrify!' she cried.
Hermione jumped suddenly as her mind was suddenly filled with the images that had been hidden from her.
The force quickly took control of her and prevented her from crying out.
Dumbledore sat forward, he had seen the sudden change in Hermione's face, from alarm to calmness.
'Miss Granger? What can you tell us?'
The voice spoke for her.
'I remember leaving Viktor's house –' across the room, Ron scowled at the mention of Krum 'we were travelling and then suddenly, we were stopped. There were three men, all in travelling cloaks. I knew they were wizards from their robes. We just thought that they were going to escort us to the muggle airport, but they made us get out of the car. Then… I don't know. I think they must have stunned us, because the next thing I knew I was in a room by myself.' The force squeezed a solitary tear from Hermione's eye.
Ron leapt forward and grabbed her hand. Hermione's face was made to look up at him and smile gratefully.
'Please continue Miss Granger.' Asked Dumbledore gently.
The voice continued.
'I couldn't see anything, but I knew there was someone in the room. They began to ask me questions about Hogwarts, Harry, and Sirius –' Harry made a small sound of protest, but was silenced by Dumbledore. 'I wouldn't tell, and then they put the Imperius curse on me, I tried to fight it, but it was too strong. I told them what they wanted to know.' The force made Hermione hang her head.
'They told me that if I didn't cooperate they'd kill my parents, and everyone I cared for. I believed them, so I did what they asked.'
Dumbledore shook his head silently. Professor Hawkes stood over Hermione with an odd expression on her face. Harry noticed that she had her fingers wrapped around the locket tightly. Ron squeezed Hermione's hand and turned to Dumbledore.
'Can we go now?' Dumbledore nodded.
'Take Miss Granger back to the hospital wing.' Ron stood up and helped Hermione to the door.
Dumbledore turned to Harry.
'Harry, I want you to go back to your dormitory and try not to worry. I have reason to believe that Hermione is not speaking for herself.'
Harry gaped.
'But, what do you mean?'
'The Imperius curse, Harry. I think she's still under it. I was watching when her memory returned, it was as if someone turned a switch off in her and she went from horrified to normal in a second.' Dumbledore stood up and walked over the Fawkes the phoenix and stroked him.
Professor Hawkes walked over to Harry.
'Come on, I'll take you to your dorm.'
They left Dumbledore's office silently. Professor Hawkes had not let go of her locket.
'Professor, were you and Sirius good friends?' Professor Hawkes looked at Harry in surprise and blushed.
'Actually, we were an item during our time at Hogwarts.' She fumbled with the locket again and opened it for Harry to see. Inside was a picture of her and Sirius together. Both looked not much older than Harry was now, their faces were full of laughter. Professor Hawkes quickly shut the locket again and they walked on.
They soon reached the Fat Lady's portrait. Professor Hawkes gave Harry a quick smile and then left wordlessly.