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Chapter Four

Is it too late to turn back now that I'm here

When Hermione awoke the next morning she was surprised to see that Ginny was already up, and that she had made breakfast, "What's all of this for?"

"A thank you for saving me," Ginny answered, "And I'm celebrating, I finally found you."

Hermione nodded as she spooned sugar into her coffee, "But why were you looking for me in the first place? You said everyone thought I was dead?"

"Well yes, but you see, I didn't believe that, because there was no body in your hotel room. It's not like the Dark Lord to take the body of his victims; he likes to leave them at the murder scene as a sign of his power. The mark was there, but you weren't," Ginny explained biting into a piece of toast.

"Oh, well that was the point of the plan I guess to make everyone, including the Dark Lord, think I was dead," Hermione continued to tell Ginny about Draco's plan.

"So he was a Death Eater," she exclaimed after Hermione had finished her tale, "I knew it!"

"But he was working for Dumbledore, that was partly how he knew how to find me," Hermione pointed out.

"Still," Ginny protested.

"Still nothing, if he was evil he would have killed me when he had the chance," Hermione said closing the subject.

"Fine," Ginny pouted, which made Hermione giggle, and Ginny followed suit, soon they were rolling on the floor in laughter.

After calming down and finishing their, meals the two sat at the table in a comfortable silence drinking tea. It was then that Hermione decided was the best time to make her announcement, "I'm going back."

Ginny was shocked; "to Hogwarts?" the thought gave her the chills, if only Hermione knew it was like.

Hermione nodded, "I have to," she looked up at Ginny, "I need to," then she looked down at her tea.

Ginny was silent for a minute, thinking, "I understand, but I don't think you do; its horrible, yes I have said it before but I don't think you got it. Everything has changed, it's like a dark cloud is hovering over the wizarding world, and it's not planning on moving any time soon. He-who-must-not-be-named has control over just about everything, he knows all, and sees all. It's really scary."

Hermione was still looking at her tea as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, she knew what Ginny was saying was true, but she couldn't believe it, she wouldn't, "I know, but I left and things got worse, now I feel that I owe something to everyone who is suffering, if I would have stayed He might have been gone already, but no, now he's in absolute power."

"Then I'm going with you," Ginny announced.

"No, you finally got out, you found me, now you can rest, stay here, where it's safe," Ginny shook her head, "You have done your share, now you can stay."

"But I can't just sit here, I would go crazy. And you don't know anything about the wizarding world now, it's different, places change, you need my help," Hermione knew she was right, and she hated Ginny for that, but agreed.

***

The rain outside couldn't compare to the tornado that was going on inside Hermione's mind as she and Ginny stepped off the boarding platform and into the airport. She knew in her heart she was doing the right thing, but it seemed that every time she closed her eyes the vision of her parent's lifeless bodies appeared and she thought that it could be her next.

A hand came to rest on Hermione's shoulder pulling her out of her thoughts and making her turn and look at Ginny who had a look of concern on her face, "It's not too late to go back you know." her voice filled with worry, a voice that Hermione knew too well.

"Yes Gin; it is. I should have never left in the first place," Hermione smiled sadly and sighed.

Ginny nodded, not so much in agreement but just to say that she was behind Hermione no matter what, "Then we should get to Hogwarts before we get noticed. It has been the only safe place for decades; He has refused to enter since we forced him out five years ago; but no one knows why." She took out her wand and her grip on Hermione's shoulder tightened. The next thing Hermione knew, the airport had vanished and in its place was an iron gate bearing the symbol of Hogwarts.

Hermione didn't spend much time in examining the gate; instead her head automatically turned to the large castle perched upon the hill above. It was no longer what she remembered from her childhood. The candlelight that lit up the windows was gone, to be replaced by darkness; the chimneys bore no billowing smoke; there was nothing to show that the castle was even inhabited. Hermione pried her eyes away from the gloomy castle and turned them towards the grounds, which were devoid of any movement or sign of life. The grass was scattered with bits of debris and stained black with dried blood that not even the rain could wash away. A heavy scent of death loomed over the entire picture. It was as if someone had taken her dreams and turned them into nightmares.

As Hermione was taking in the barren waist land that Hogwarts had become; Ginny was busy opening the intensely complicated spell lock. She smiled proudly as the lock disappeared and the gates opened, "Hermione come on, hurry." She said pulling Hermione inside and relocked the gate.

The walk up the rugged and overgrown path to the castle was filled with a mounting tension as Hermione tried to brace herself for the worst. She had no idea as to what the stone walls of the castle held for her, all she knew was that there was no turning back.

In the entrance hall Hermione got her first dose of reality. The room was dark, lit only by a few black candles emitting a blue glow. On the wall were several different boards, and on them were names and dates. Hermione made the mistake of looking at the one nearest to her. Its heading was Tragic Losses; scanning the list Hermione found more than a few names that hit home. Charlie Weasely, May, 2000; Lavender Brown, July, 1998; and at the very bottom of the list was Neville Longbottom, June, 199, for he of course was the first to fall.

Ginny had to pull Hermione away from the board to stop her from reading all the names. But as they walked through the hall there were other boards, with other headings; the longest one was Missing in Action, which must have held over a thousand names.

They didn't dwell for long in the entrance hall before heading down a flight of stairs that Hermione remembered lead to the dungeons. Yet still as they continued father into the castle they didn't encounter a single soul, until that is when Ginny stopped abruptly in the middle of a corridor that looked as if it went of forever, and turned to one of the walls.

"Digladior," she said to the wall, which in turn opened into a large and dark room.

Inside, the grand fireplace was barren, making the room as cold as ice. The room was lit with green lantern dangling from the low stone ceiling. Scattered around the room were old, worn pieces of furniture; and in one of the over stuffed chairs sat a single person; one that Hermione would have happily killed five years ago for the horrible things he did to the people she considered family; Lucius Malfoy.

The tall, thin man was sitting, legs crossed in the arm chair, a large and rather dusty looking volume resting, open, on his knees, oval reading glasses resting on his sharp nose. He looked very different than Hermione remembered him, he no longer held the aura of power he once did, yet the way he sat, in perfect posture, he did command a sort of relaxed respect. He was so engulfed in the book that he didn't notice when the two girls entered the room. Or if he did he simply ignored them.

That was until Ginny strode casually up to him, as if they had known each other for a lifetime and spoke to him, "Lucius," he looked up at Ginny a look of surprise flashing across his face, "I'm back as you can see."

He nodded, looking her up and down, as if examining her for damages, "I see that; and you seemed to have made it back in one whole piece. But I see that you failed on your mission."

Ginny smiled smugly, glancing quickly out of the corner of her eye at Hermione, who was still standing in the doorway, "I have not," and she motioned for Hermione to join her, "Lucius I believe you and Hermione have met before."

Lucius looked past Ginny to Hermione, his dark eyes searching her for something, but finding nothing, "Hello," was all he said.

Hermione nodded in reply, not trusting her voice, as she had become suddenly nervous. Luckily Ginny spoke for her, "She wants to join the Phoenix," the term made Hermione look up from her spot on the floor in confusion, "I believe, as I told you earlier, she would be a great asset to us. That is why I set out to find her."

He nodded, a thin smile forming on his face, "Yes, I remember, as I almost did not let you go, for the quest seemed pointless," then he turned to Hermione, "You are legally dead Ms. Granger. Did you know that?"

Hermione shook her head; some of the nervousness faded away as she became more comfortable with the fact the Lucius Malfoy seemed to be Ginny's superior.   

Without saying another word Lucius stood, closing the book and placing it on the chair. It was then Hermione got her first good look at him. He was tall, and thin, that much was obvious. But his hair was long, past his shoulders, tied in a tight ponytail at his neck, and through the light blonde the streaks of silver were barely noticeable. In his left ear was a minute crystal ankh, and he was dressed in, not wizard robes, but a pair of muggle khakis, and a black tee-shirt. He removed his glasses, setting them on top of the book, and began to walk out of the, motioning for the girls to follow. 

They walked back up the stairs that Ginny and Hermione had previously travelled down; back to the main level. Then Lucius turned to Ginny and nodded, not saying anything, and she walked off leaving Hermione alone with Lucius, making her even more nervous. They continued to walk up more flights of stairs, until they reached the gargoyle that, if Hermione remembered correctly led to Dumbledore's office. Lucius whispered the password and the stone figure jumped aside to reveal the moving spiral staircase.

When the reached the top the door that awaited them was locked, so Lucius knocked, and stood waiting impatiently. The door opened a few minutes later to reveal, not Dumbledore as Hermione was expecting, but a vaguely familiar man with short black hair and bright blue eyes. He looked as if he was in a great hurry, as he didn't notice Lucius standing there, so he ran right into him, knocking him over.

"Watch where you're going Black," Lucius hissed at the man who was now sprawled out on the floor, "There are other people in this castle who don't enjoy lying on the floor." 

The two men glared at each other for a long while until Hermione cleared her throat, getting their attention, "Umm, Mr. Malfoy, weren't we going somewhere?"

"Hermione?" the man looked up at her in astonishment, "Hermione Granger?"

Hermione looked at the man, trying desperately to put a name on the face that looked so familiar, "Yes, that's my name."

The man, now standing on his feet smiled at her, "You don't remember me? Sirius Black?"

It hit her. He looked so different from when they had last spoken where he looked awful. The person standing in front of her bore nearly no resemblance to the Sirius Black she knew before; he looked more alive, "Sirius? I didn't recognize you, I'm so sorry."

Sirius laughed, his eyes lighting up, "That's alright, not many people do." He bid Hermione and Lucius farewell stating that he had important work to do, and let them get on with their journey.

Inside Dumbledore's office Hermione's nervousness grew to a point that bordered on panic, and she began to ring her hands together, wishing that she had someone to talk to. Lucius had vanished somewhere once the door had opened, and Hermione doubted she'd see him again today. So now she sat, waiting in the round, empty room.

She didn't have to wait long though, for the door at the back of the room opened slowly and Dumbledore entered the room.

He looked different, as everyone did; he had changed, grown older. He still held the aura of mystery, yet it seemed to have dimmed slightly, to anyone who had known him long enough it was plain to see that he was getting weaker. He sat down at his desk, folding his hands together and looked at Hermione through his half moon spectacles, "Hermione. I didn't think I'd see you again. It's good to know that you're well." He smiled warmly, "I presume that you are here to offer your services in our time of need."

That was one way of putting it, "Yes, I feel as if I should be doing something instead of hiding out waiting for the world to end." She explained, trying to phrase her thoughts correctly.

Dumbledore didn't reply, instead he reached behind him and brought foreword the sorting hat; ratty and worn as it had always been.  He motioned for her to put it on. So, with a look of confusion written on her face Hermione placed the hat on her head.

*And this is where I'm going to leave you for the moment, you've been a wonderful audience so far, and I hope that you will return for more of Hermione's personal dilemmas. Meanwhile I must say that I read a great story a little while back and I want you all to read it, and review 'cuz I'm sure the author would be really happy if you did. You can access it by clicking on this little link = http://www.fanfiction.net/index.fic?action=story-read&storyid=410506 * the story is called When Love Goes Missing it's a Sirius fiction so…yeah it's a Sirius fiction. And you should read it.

So TTFN and see you in the movies!!!