Guilty until proven innocent?
"Harry Potter? I seriously doubt that!"
Ginny looked at Hermione, who was crying. Why would she say such a thing? She had already said she didn't believe it was him, so why tell McGonagall it was? She would get Harry into trouble! It was obvious she hadn't thought this through.
"Why would I lie to you? It was Harry. In Gryffindor common room, with a pile of my work as a shield from intruders! I was never brilliant at cluedo, but I'm pretty sure I've got this one right!"
"Ok, Hermione, you're free to return to Gryffindor, and I won't mention this to anyone. Come back at seven tomorrow evening, with Ginny if you must, and we'll decide what is to be done. Until then, I advise you not to tell anyone else, and not to talk to Harry Potter. Goodnight. Oh, and Hermione? Bring tissues tomorrow."
And the girls left the small office, one crying, one confused.
* * *
"Are you ready?"
"No."
"Tough."
"But…"
"Shut up. You are under my control. Don't fight it."
* * *
"Herm? What was that about?" Ginny asked her on their way back. She was not feeling well. The past few days had gone by in a blur, and there hadn't been much time for sleeping. This was obvious from looking at her face, which was pale with large dark circles under her eyes. Her hair hung in loose waves around it.
"Ginny, I had to do it."
"Hermione, do you realise what you just did? Harry is going to be in so much trouble!"
"Ginny, do you think it will matter if I had said it wasn't Harry? No. Because I'm expected to believe him as he's my friend. But if I show that there was doubt in my mind, that I had to really think about listening to him, then it will be more likely he's innocent. I'm going to say that I believe him later, but I can't do it now. We have to make this look real, so yes, you are going to back me up the whole way."
"I can't Hermione. Harry means so much to me, I can't do this to him. Never. Sorry."
And with that she walked off.
* * *
McGonagall went over the facts in her head as she walked up the winding staircase to Dumbledore's room. She was sure she was doing the right thing, but it was going to be hard, especially to convince Dumbledore. He always knew when she wasn't being herself. But what else could she do? She'd just have to hope she wasn't caught.
She got to the stone gargoyle, and whispered "Coconut ice." The door slid open, and she entered the office.
"Yes, Minerva?"
"I have some important news to tell you. I have not gained the permission of the owner of this information to come to you, though I am sure that the girl in question would be supportive of my decision."
"Hermione Granger?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"I know these things." he replied, looking away.
"So do you know the details?"
"No. But it must be serious. Miss Granger does not tend to get so worked up over small, trivial matters." he answered, still not meeting her gaze.
"Serious the matter is. She was subject to sexual assault, in the grounds. I don't know the details, but I know the consequences. Not only will she find this hard to deal with now, but when it comes out she will be very insecure. Her grades will slip, and she will become unable to communicate with the opposite sex if her trust has been completely destroyed, which I fear it may have, because of the person that was responsible for this. Harry Potter."
* * *
Harry felt a sharp pain all over his forehead. It was his scar. If the other boys in his room hadn't been asleep he probably would have cried out, but instead, he clutched his dressing gown and made his way downstairs. It was almost two in the morning.
There it was again. This time he couldn't prevent himself yelling in pain as he walked across the common room. There was a sharp intake of breath from the corner.
"Who's there?" a familiar voice asked him.
"It's me, Harry! Hermione, what are you doing up?"
"Studying," she said, standing up. "What about you?"
"My scar hurt."
"Oh."
"Hermione, what's up? You would normally go into a panic when my scar started hurting me. You don't even look like you care!"
"Of course I care, I'm just going to bed now. And get back to sleep, I'm sure you're only imagining it."
Harry watched her figure climb the stairs, and disappear from view, stunned that she would say such a thing. Of course he wasn't imagining it! It was as if she really didn't care about him any more. She hadn't been the same the past few days, since she had time off. Maybe it had gone to her head, the whole having time off thing. Like, it wasn't as if she'd ever had time off before, apart from when she had been in the hospital wing for various reasons.
Oh well.
* * *
"Harry Potter? I don't believe you."
"Dumbledore, that's what she said. Do you honestly think that she would try and get her best friend locked up? No. Which is why I suggest you do something about it!"
"What can I do?"
"You can get Hermione some counselling for a start, and well, I don't know about Harry."
"I'll contact St Mungo's for a counsellor, and I think it would be important that we both have a word with Miss Granger."
"My office. Seven tomorrow evening, she's going to be there."
"Of course. And so shall I."
Dumbledore reached for his desk drawer, and pulled out a sock, which he proceeded to knit.
"Sir?"
"Mmm?"
"What are you doing?"
"Knitting socks."
"Oh, Ok. You dropped a stitch."
* * *
'I'm going to have to start a diary.' Hermione said to herself as she climbed the staircase up to her room, the room her and a few others shared. She was still wondering if she was doing the right thing by accusing Harry, but she'd made the decision. It was just worrying her about Ginny, it was never going to work if she let it out, and then Harry would be locked up in Azkaban, and she would be responsible. No, the person that started this was responsible. She just hadn't done anything to stop it.
* * *
The meeting the following night was well underway. Hermione was sat one side of the room, tissues in her hand and on her lap, and the two teachers were opposite her. The idea of counselling wasn't going down too well though.
"I just want him to suffer, I don't want fuss on me, I'm fine!"
"Hermione, would you like to prosecute straight away? Could you handle the trial?"
"Of course! Just make sure he goes. There's no way I'm going to find this easier, and maybe I'll have counselling afterwards, but it won't help me until he's locked away!"
"We'll do all we can Hermione," the Headmaster reassured her, "but won't promise anything. You have a good reputation in the wizarding world, I don't see there being too much of a problem. But the thing is, Harry does too, and so he may have favour."
"I know, I know. But surely my word counts?"
"Of course it does!"
* * *
