Chapter Two
Hermione had moved to stand in a shadowed corner of the room, and recoiled into it when her Professors entered the office, despite rationally knowing she was invisible. Both of them looked a bit tired, and Hermione realized that teachers, too, must feel the lethargy brought on by a summer holiday.
"What did you need from me, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked politely, his eyes darting to the corner where Hermione stood.
"Severus and I simply wanted to tell you that we're both going to stay for a few extra days, finishing lesson plans and all that. You're going to have a lot of planning to do if you want to keep up with Hermione next year, eh Snape?" He looked irritated and proud simultaneously, and Hermione cringed. "You don't mind, do you?" she added when she saw the expression on Dumbledore's face.
"Minerva, Severus, I'm so sorry to have to inform you of a most appalling tragedy." His eyes sparkled with tears, and Hermione couldn't help thinking, detachedly, that he would have made a fantastic actor. Both of her professors were beginning to look confused and upset. Hermione steeled herself for what was to come.
"A few nights ago, Miss Hermione Granger and her parents were murdered by Death Eaters. Their house was magically incinerated, and a Dark Mark was seen floating above the ashes of the house. Nothing of… them…remains."
"Please, Albus, tell me it isn't true!" Hermione felt a tear of her own slip down her invisible cheek when Professor McGonagall stared at the Headmaster in disbelief, and was then wracked with terrible sobs. "Tell me this is some sort of cruel joke!" McGonagall moaned, beating the arm of the chair with her fist.
"Minerva, please," Dumbledore murmured as he moved around the desk to comfort the bereaved professor. "I want you to know that I understand your pain. We will dearly miss our Hermione." He put one arm around McGonagall, then both as she turned to squeeze him desperately, sobbing into his robes.
As her mentor wept, Hermione suffered with her--all she could think of was revealing herself, dashing across the room to show Professor McGonagall that everything was okay. More invisible tears began to well up in her eyes, and Hermione bit her lip to keep from making any noise. A sob would doubtless give her away… If she reacted this way to a teacher's grief, even a beloved teacher's, how would she deal with Harry and Ron's?
Suddenly her attention was drawn to Professor Snape, who hadn't uttered a sound. He was staring at his hands, tugging at the pale flesh on one of his palms in a seeming attempt to distract himself. His hair guarded his face from the Professors next to him, but his invisible observer had a better view. Hermione noticed that his jaw was tight, his breathing slightly ragged. His eyes were even blacker than usual, and Hermione notice their uncanny sheen.
"Albus?" he whispered finally. Both of the other Professors stared at him intently. Snape sighed. "You said there were no traces of them…" Hermione saw hope in his face, even as he tried to suppress it. "Is there no chance…"
"None," interrupted the Headmaster. "All of my own investigations lead to her presence with her parents, in their house, at the time of the attack. I have no doubt in my mind that Hermione Granger is dead." McGonagall began sobbing again, but Professor Snape simply nodded and rose abruptly.
"Then I have failed her," he declared, avoiding Dumbledore's eyes and not responding when he was asked not to blame himself.
"I have work to do," he snarled, stalking out of the office with halting steps. McGonagall soon followed suit, still in hysterics. Dumbledore closed the door behind them gently, and turned to see a sobbing Hermione.
"Why do we have to cause them so much pain?" she asked, then broke down completely. Dumbledore moved to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Sometimes, my dear, we must cause pain for those we love in order to protect them from greater loss. A time will come, Hermione, when you will be in a position to help us all in ways that others cannot. Are you still determined to go through with this?" Hermione had nodded, determined to follow through with her promise. They were going to believe she was dead, regardless. But if she could watch them at all times… then she might be able to save them.
"Harry and Ron will be receiving letters from me shortly," Dumbledore interrupted. "Perhaps they will pay a visit to me in order to gather further details, as well as to hold a small memorial service for you. I thought I'd warn you so that you could mentally prepare yourself."
Then he had left, allowing Hermione to gather her thoughts and prepare herself for the anguish her seventh year, which she had expected to be filled with joy, would bring.
A/N: Oh, yeah! Maybe a disclaimer might be smart, so here it is: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters or products. The plot is mine. I am making absolutely no money off if it, and I don't have any money to begin with, so it's not worth suing me. This disclaimer applies to all preceding and following chapters, and will not be mentioned again. : )
Hermione had moved to stand in a shadowed corner of the room, and recoiled into it when her Professors entered the office, despite rationally knowing she was invisible. Both of them looked a bit tired, and Hermione realized that teachers, too, must feel the lethargy brought on by a summer holiday.
"What did you need from me, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked politely, his eyes darting to the corner where Hermione stood.
"Severus and I simply wanted to tell you that we're both going to stay for a few extra days, finishing lesson plans and all that. You're going to have a lot of planning to do if you want to keep up with Hermione next year, eh Snape?" He looked irritated and proud simultaneously, and Hermione cringed. "You don't mind, do you?" she added when she saw the expression on Dumbledore's face.
"Minerva, Severus, I'm so sorry to have to inform you of a most appalling tragedy." His eyes sparkled with tears, and Hermione couldn't help thinking, detachedly, that he would have made a fantastic actor. Both of her professors were beginning to look confused and upset. Hermione steeled herself for what was to come.
"A few nights ago, Miss Hermione Granger and her parents were murdered by Death Eaters. Their house was magically incinerated, and a Dark Mark was seen floating above the ashes of the house. Nothing of… them…remains."
"Please, Albus, tell me it isn't true!" Hermione felt a tear of her own slip down her invisible cheek when Professor McGonagall stared at the Headmaster in disbelief, and was then wracked with terrible sobs. "Tell me this is some sort of cruel joke!" McGonagall moaned, beating the arm of the chair with her fist.
"Minerva, please," Dumbledore murmured as he moved around the desk to comfort the bereaved professor. "I want you to know that I understand your pain. We will dearly miss our Hermione." He put one arm around McGonagall, then both as she turned to squeeze him desperately, sobbing into his robes.
As her mentor wept, Hermione suffered with her--all she could think of was revealing herself, dashing across the room to show Professor McGonagall that everything was okay. More invisible tears began to well up in her eyes, and Hermione bit her lip to keep from making any noise. A sob would doubtless give her away… If she reacted this way to a teacher's grief, even a beloved teacher's, how would she deal with Harry and Ron's?
Suddenly her attention was drawn to Professor Snape, who hadn't uttered a sound. He was staring at his hands, tugging at the pale flesh on one of his palms in a seeming attempt to distract himself. His hair guarded his face from the Professors next to him, but his invisible observer had a better view. Hermione noticed that his jaw was tight, his breathing slightly ragged. His eyes were even blacker than usual, and Hermione notice their uncanny sheen.
"Albus?" he whispered finally. Both of the other Professors stared at him intently. Snape sighed. "You said there were no traces of them…" Hermione saw hope in his face, even as he tried to suppress it. "Is there no chance…"
"None," interrupted the Headmaster. "All of my own investigations lead to her presence with her parents, in their house, at the time of the attack. I have no doubt in my mind that Hermione Granger is dead." McGonagall began sobbing again, but Professor Snape simply nodded and rose abruptly.
"Then I have failed her," he declared, avoiding Dumbledore's eyes and not responding when he was asked not to blame himself.
"I have work to do," he snarled, stalking out of the office with halting steps. McGonagall soon followed suit, still in hysterics. Dumbledore closed the door behind them gently, and turned to see a sobbing Hermione.
"Why do we have to cause them so much pain?" she asked, then broke down completely. Dumbledore moved to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Sometimes, my dear, we must cause pain for those we love in order to protect them from greater loss. A time will come, Hermione, when you will be in a position to help us all in ways that others cannot. Are you still determined to go through with this?" Hermione had nodded, determined to follow through with her promise. They were going to believe she was dead, regardless. But if she could watch them at all times… then she might be able to save them.
"Harry and Ron will be receiving letters from me shortly," Dumbledore interrupted. "Perhaps they will pay a visit to me in order to gather further details, as well as to hold a small memorial service for you. I thought I'd warn you so that you could mentally prepare yourself."
Then he had left, allowing Hermione to gather her thoughts and prepare herself for the anguish her seventh year, which she had expected to be filled with joy, would bring.
A/N: Oh, yeah! Maybe a disclaimer might be smart, so here it is: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters or products. The plot is mine. I am making absolutely no money off if it, and I don't have any money to begin with, so it's not worth suing me. This disclaimer applies to all preceding and following chapters, and will not be mentioned again. : )