Chapter Fifteen
'Ron, d'you know anything about family trees? Are they only a muggle thing or do wizards use them as well?'
'Nah, wizards use them to Harry. Why?'
'Um, I wanted to find out more about my family, you know.'
It had been two weeks since Harry's nightmare. He was still in the infirmary but had been moved to the general ward. He was due to leave the infirmary within the next week or so.
The people that knew about Harry's suicide were the only people allowed to visit him. Ron and Hermione came the most. Draco often accompanied them. Harry didn't know what to make of this friendship that had been forged during his death.
'Well I 'spose you have a right to know about your family, but what will you learn from a family tree?'
'Family tree?' Neither boy had noticed Hermione and Draco enter. Harry felt slightly miffed that he had to talk about his lack of family in front of Draco.
'Yeah, I wanna know the names of my relatives. My grandparents, aunts and.uncles.'
Hermione's heart sprang into her throat. Was it just her or had Harry put special emphasis on the uncle part? That would never do. Harry could never find out.
'You, you don't really that a family tree is going to help at all do you? I mean, it will only make the pain worse. And besides knowing who your dead relatives are, isn't going to help you long term, is it? You would be better off studying for your owls. Merlin knows you need all the help you can get, considering the amount of death, resulting in lack of classes you have been experiencing.'
The other three looked at her in bewilderment.
'Um, Mione.you were the one who was nagging at me last year to get to know my family history.'
'Um, well. I didn't mean instead of working towards your exams. Then look later.' *By then, hopefully, I will have found a way of distracting you.*
'No, Mione, I wanna look now. I have waited 15 years and I am not in the mood for waiting any longer.'
'All right, all right Harry. We'll look tonight, if you would like our help that is.'
Hermione inwardly groaned. *Thanks Ron*.
Aloud, she said 'Ok, I'll help too even though I still think you should be studying.'
She stood to go.
'Hermione.where are you going?'
Hermione smiled at Draco. 'I,m just going to speak with Professor Lupin about the essay he set.'
'He set an essay?' Ron sounded horrified. 'He can't do that.'
'It's only for me, Ron,' soothed Hermione. 'Do you really think I would not remind you that we had an essay?'
'Fucking hell, but that scared me.'
'Language Ron!' Hermione corrected him automatically before realising exactly how many times she had used words that she would never have considered using lately.'
She turned and left the ward.
Once in the hall she started running. She swept passed some young Hufflepuffs and nearly knocked over a Slytherin prefect who shouted something about the loss of points for Gryffindor before she arrived panting at the DADA teachers office.
She knocked sharply, then pounding the door impatiently she called through the door 'Professor, it's Hermione. Are you in there?'
She pushed the door open gently.
The professor was no where in sight but the Marauders Map lay on the table.
Hermione didn't think twice as she stuffed it in her pocket, exiting the empty room. Once in the corridor she realised that she had actually stolen from a teacher and although it wasn't the first time, it didn't make her feel any less guilty. At least before she had been stealing from someone she hated and not a teacher whom she respected and admired.
She turned to return the parchment but stopped. Well it wouldn't really matter keeping it for a while. She would return it later. First she had to find one of the creators of the map.
'I solemnly swear I an up to no good.'
Fine black lines appeared, fanning out across the parchment. After a moment or to she found her teacher. She noted with amusement that the little figure had a wolfs head and was labelled 'Moony'.
She set off towards Dumbledores office. Upon arriving at the stone Gargoyle she glanced at the map which showed her the password before whispering 'Mischief Managed'.
'Acid Pops.'
'Ah, Miss Granger. What can I do for you?'
Hermione blinked in surprise at the sight of her headmaster just inside the doorway but recovered herself.
'I was looking for Professor Lupin, sir.'
'Here I am, Hermione, is there a problem?'
'Yes, sir. Harry has decided that it is time he should be investigating his family tree. He is going to the library this evening to search for it. I tried to stop him, by saying he needed to study, but it's Harry. I probably only gave him more reason to go.'
'Well, well. This is an unfortunate turn of affairs. I assume that Miss Granger realises why we don't want him to read it.' It wasn't a question or a subtle dig, Dumbledore was merely stating the facts.
'Well, I will keep him confined to the infirmary for the rest of the week and hopefully by that time we will have been able to destroy all books containing records of Harry's lineage. However I do not believe we will be able to do so in such a small amount of time. Nor do I believe it is the best option. I think we are all agreed that this is something that Harry must never find out.'
'No Professor Dumbledore, with respect we are not all agreed.' Hermione looked shocked at her daring to speak out like this to her Headmaster, but she continued.
'Harry has a right to know who his family is. He has had enough torment over the years, he deserves to have a real family. Also when he does find out, which is inevitable, he will feel deceived and betrayed. No offence, sir, but his trust of you is already waning. He is losing faith in everyone since he was brought back and this will only worsen the matter.'
'Those are excellent points, Hermione, but do you really think Professor Snape is going to see it that way?'
'Yes, Professor Lupin, I do. He is closer to Harry than he has ever been. Harry is even starting to like him. I think it is best that he finds out now so that if he reacts badly then he isn't to deep in a relationship with him, and if he reacts well, he doesn't have to start trying to get to know this man whom he has hated all his life. He will have a little knowledge of him already. And even if Snape.'
'Professor Snape.'
'Professor Snape, doesn't take it well, then he will just have to learn to deal with it. No disrespect, sir, but if he thinks he can just shirk his responsibilities as an uncle then he is mistaken. Harru is going to need a guardian, since Harry told me he isn't welcome at their home anymore, and Sirius is on the run still. Professor Lupin here, would make a brilliant guardian, but wouldn't a blood relative be more agreeable?'
Hermione stopped as she realised that her voice had risen shrilly, and that she was still standing outside in the corridor with the gargoyle watching avidly (he hadn't had this much fun in about a century) and that she was lecturing her Headmaster in a subject that she knew next to nothing about, whilst he had had 15 years to consider the implications of the relationship.
So Hermione did, what any normal, brilliant, embarrassed 15 year old witch would do. She stuck her tongue out at her stunned professors, said 'So there!' before running of mortified. (A/N I realise this is OOC, but it was getting too intense for my liking, sorry.)
Dumbledore chucked quietly. 'Isn't it amazing how the younger generation can voice what you have been unwilling to face for years so eloquently.'
He swept down the corridor, leaving a bemused DADA teacher in his wake.
Ok, I realise this is short, but I am once again stuck. ( Poor nessy. Well I am awaiting ideas for a way to end this story. Please email me with any suggestions, no matter how ludicrous they may sound. If I don't use them I will still be extremely grateful. Hmmmmm, I actually don't think it is quite right to ask reviewers for help writing my story. Is it cheating???? Ah well, shit happens.
BTW I have just remembered: REVIEWS. I have a bone to pick with all you people out there. At this present time I have 21 reviews. I received 14 for my first few chapters, but now they seem to have dried up. I refuse to post anymore until I receive at least 6 more. Flames are absolutely welcome. Just review damn you. (I know I'm being greedy but I feel like no-one likes my work. I feel insignificant and lost. I am deslolate. I want to bring joy to the world but I get no response. Am I bringing joy or do I make your lives worse? Sniff sniff. [teeheehee emotional blackmail]). Also, if you are kind enough to make me feel like I have a purpose for living then please don't write things like 'It was good. Please write more.' I wanna know what was good. The whole thing can't have been good. What were the likable features and what were the parts that just sucked. And just one more thing before I finish my tirade: I'm not sure about the whole Uncle Sevvie routine. It seems too clichéd, too good to be true, too fucking corny to put it bluntly. What do you wonderful people think?
Ok, I just realised how fucking bossy I just sounded, so if you take the above paragraph and soften the words and twist it to make it sound less imperative, then hopefully I will not have turned you off reviewing all together.
Very tired now, so I'm gonna go to bed and dream sweet dreams of all those lovely (or not so lovely) reviews I will be receiving. ( yeah that was a not so subtle hint)
Good night
'Ron, d'you know anything about family trees? Are they only a muggle thing or do wizards use them as well?'
'Nah, wizards use them to Harry. Why?'
'Um, I wanted to find out more about my family, you know.'
It had been two weeks since Harry's nightmare. He was still in the infirmary but had been moved to the general ward. He was due to leave the infirmary within the next week or so.
The people that knew about Harry's suicide were the only people allowed to visit him. Ron and Hermione came the most. Draco often accompanied them. Harry didn't know what to make of this friendship that had been forged during his death.
'Well I 'spose you have a right to know about your family, but what will you learn from a family tree?'
'Family tree?' Neither boy had noticed Hermione and Draco enter. Harry felt slightly miffed that he had to talk about his lack of family in front of Draco.
'Yeah, I wanna know the names of my relatives. My grandparents, aunts and.uncles.'
Hermione's heart sprang into her throat. Was it just her or had Harry put special emphasis on the uncle part? That would never do. Harry could never find out.
'You, you don't really that a family tree is going to help at all do you? I mean, it will only make the pain worse. And besides knowing who your dead relatives are, isn't going to help you long term, is it? You would be better off studying for your owls. Merlin knows you need all the help you can get, considering the amount of death, resulting in lack of classes you have been experiencing.'
The other three looked at her in bewilderment.
'Um, Mione.you were the one who was nagging at me last year to get to know my family history.'
'Um, well. I didn't mean instead of working towards your exams. Then look later.' *By then, hopefully, I will have found a way of distracting you.*
'No, Mione, I wanna look now. I have waited 15 years and I am not in the mood for waiting any longer.'
'All right, all right Harry. We'll look tonight, if you would like our help that is.'
Hermione inwardly groaned. *Thanks Ron*.
Aloud, she said 'Ok, I'll help too even though I still think you should be studying.'
She stood to go.
'Hermione.where are you going?'
Hermione smiled at Draco. 'I,m just going to speak with Professor Lupin about the essay he set.'
'He set an essay?' Ron sounded horrified. 'He can't do that.'
'It's only for me, Ron,' soothed Hermione. 'Do you really think I would not remind you that we had an essay?'
'Fucking hell, but that scared me.'
'Language Ron!' Hermione corrected him automatically before realising exactly how many times she had used words that she would never have considered using lately.'
She turned and left the ward.
Once in the hall she started running. She swept passed some young Hufflepuffs and nearly knocked over a Slytherin prefect who shouted something about the loss of points for Gryffindor before she arrived panting at the DADA teachers office.
She knocked sharply, then pounding the door impatiently she called through the door 'Professor, it's Hermione. Are you in there?'
She pushed the door open gently.
The professor was no where in sight but the Marauders Map lay on the table.
Hermione didn't think twice as she stuffed it in her pocket, exiting the empty room. Once in the corridor she realised that she had actually stolen from a teacher and although it wasn't the first time, it didn't make her feel any less guilty. At least before she had been stealing from someone she hated and not a teacher whom she respected and admired.
She turned to return the parchment but stopped. Well it wouldn't really matter keeping it for a while. She would return it later. First she had to find one of the creators of the map.
'I solemnly swear I an up to no good.'
Fine black lines appeared, fanning out across the parchment. After a moment or to she found her teacher. She noted with amusement that the little figure had a wolfs head and was labelled 'Moony'.
She set off towards Dumbledores office. Upon arriving at the stone Gargoyle she glanced at the map which showed her the password before whispering 'Mischief Managed'.
'Acid Pops.'
'Ah, Miss Granger. What can I do for you?'
Hermione blinked in surprise at the sight of her headmaster just inside the doorway but recovered herself.
'I was looking for Professor Lupin, sir.'
'Here I am, Hermione, is there a problem?'
'Yes, sir. Harry has decided that it is time he should be investigating his family tree. He is going to the library this evening to search for it. I tried to stop him, by saying he needed to study, but it's Harry. I probably only gave him more reason to go.'
'Well, well. This is an unfortunate turn of affairs. I assume that Miss Granger realises why we don't want him to read it.' It wasn't a question or a subtle dig, Dumbledore was merely stating the facts.
'Well, I will keep him confined to the infirmary for the rest of the week and hopefully by that time we will have been able to destroy all books containing records of Harry's lineage. However I do not believe we will be able to do so in such a small amount of time. Nor do I believe it is the best option. I think we are all agreed that this is something that Harry must never find out.'
'No Professor Dumbledore, with respect we are not all agreed.' Hermione looked shocked at her daring to speak out like this to her Headmaster, but she continued.
'Harry has a right to know who his family is. He has had enough torment over the years, he deserves to have a real family. Also when he does find out, which is inevitable, he will feel deceived and betrayed. No offence, sir, but his trust of you is already waning. He is losing faith in everyone since he was brought back and this will only worsen the matter.'
'Those are excellent points, Hermione, but do you really think Professor Snape is going to see it that way?'
'Yes, Professor Lupin, I do. He is closer to Harry than he has ever been. Harry is even starting to like him. I think it is best that he finds out now so that if he reacts badly then he isn't to deep in a relationship with him, and if he reacts well, he doesn't have to start trying to get to know this man whom he has hated all his life. He will have a little knowledge of him already. And even if Snape.'
'Professor Snape.'
'Professor Snape, doesn't take it well, then he will just have to learn to deal with it. No disrespect, sir, but if he thinks he can just shirk his responsibilities as an uncle then he is mistaken. Harru is going to need a guardian, since Harry told me he isn't welcome at their home anymore, and Sirius is on the run still. Professor Lupin here, would make a brilliant guardian, but wouldn't a blood relative be more agreeable?'
Hermione stopped as she realised that her voice had risen shrilly, and that she was still standing outside in the corridor with the gargoyle watching avidly (he hadn't had this much fun in about a century) and that she was lecturing her Headmaster in a subject that she knew next to nothing about, whilst he had had 15 years to consider the implications of the relationship.
So Hermione did, what any normal, brilliant, embarrassed 15 year old witch would do. She stuck her tongue out at her stunned professors, said 'So there!' before running of mortified. (A/N I realise this is OOC, but it was getting too intense for my liking, sorry.)
Dumbledore chucked quietly. 'Isn't it amazing how the younger generation can voice what you have been unwilling to face for years so eloquently.'
He swept down the corridor, leaving a bemused DADA teacher in his wake.
Ok, I realise this is short, but I am once again stuck. ( Poor nessy. Well I am awaiting ideas for a way to end this story. Please email me with any suggestions, no matter how ludicrous they may sound. If I don't use them I will still be extremely grateful. Hmmmmm, I actually don't think it is quite right to ask reviewers for help writing my story. Is it cheating???? Ah well, shit happens.
BTW I have just remembered: REVIEWS. I have a bone to pick with all you people out there. At this present time I have 21 reviews. I received 14 for my first few chapters, but now they seem to have dried up. I refuse to post anymore until I receive at least 6 more. Flames are absolutely welcome. Just review damn you. (I know I'm being greedy but I feel like no-one likes my work. I feel insignificant and lost. I am deslolate. I want to bring joy to the world but I get no response. Am I bringing joy or do I make your lives worse? Sniff sniff. [teeheehee emotional blackmail]). Also, if you are kind enough to make me feel like I have a purpose for living then please don't write things like 'It was good. Please write more.' I wanna know what was good. The whole thing can't have been good. What were the likable features and what were the parts that just sucked. And just one more thing before I finish my tirade: I'm not sure about the whole Uncle Sevvie routine. It seems too clichéd, too good to be true, too fucking corny to put it bluntly. What do you wonderful people think?
Ok, I just realised how fucking bossy I just sounded, so if you take the above paragraph and soften the words and twist it to make it sound less imperative, then hopefully I will not have turned you off reviewing all together.
Very tired now, so I'm gonna go to bed and dream sweet dreams of all those lovely (or not so lovely) reviews I will be receiving. ( yeah that was a not so subtle hint)
Good night