Protection
"What?" said Ron, Hermione and Draco in unison.
"You have to protect us? From what? How can you, you're no better at magic than we are?" questioned Hermione.
"What do you think I have to protect you from?"
"Not you-know-who?" said Ron fearfully.
"Who else?"
"But." stuttered Hermione. Tabby moved closer to them.
"I guess it's time I explained things, but you have to understand the importance of keeping this quiet." Harry and Ron nodded, but Hermione glared at Draco, "what about him?" she asked.
"It's OK Hermione, he already knows most of it."
"You told him? A slimy Slytherin before us? And what happens when he goes off and tells you-know-who."
"Listen Granger, she didn't tell me, I wrote to my father who told me what he knew. I don't know everything, only who she really is. She knows I won't be telling Voldemort anything," snapped Draco, upset that he was still being attacked.
"He's right Hermione, he doesn't have anything to do with Voldemort. I know you don't believe me, but I know these things."
"OK, whatever, just get on with telling us what's going on."
"Well firstly I'm not who you think I am. My name isn't Tabitha Christie, and I'm not a transfer student from America. My true name is Fareeda Heba Halle Kyrie Caden Bo Athena Dumbledore."
"I can see why you shortened it!" retorted Ron
"You're related to Dumbledore?"
"Yes, he is my Grandfather, I come from a very long established line of witches and wizards. Before I was born a prophecy was written about me, detailing that I would be the strongest witch of my generation. My training started at a very early. I took my O.W.Ls at the age of 5 and my N.E.W.Ts at 7. I then trained as an Auror, since then I have been working wherever the Ministry felt it necessary to place an undercover Auror, I have been the Ministry's best-kept secret. I came here this year to get inter-house co-operation, amongst other things, so that when the final battle comes, Hogwarts can stand together. I have failed quite badly, this isn't about casting spells or hatching plots, which is what I'm good at; it's about friendships. I can't even get people from my own house to work together."
"You're telling us that you are the most powerful witch in the world?" snorted Hermione.
"Of this age, yes."
"Oh please! Is this some radical scheme to make me feel bad and become all chummy with you?"
"No Hermione. It is of course up to you if you believe me or not, but I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't mind reassuring you."
"How can you just stand there and lie? You're the limit you really are. Come on guys you can't tell me you believe this, this story, do you?" Hermione suddenly had a moment of self-doubt, could it be that she was telling the truth? She looked around at Harry and Ron. Harry was motionless; there was a look of understanding on his face. Ron, who was still leaning on the fireplace, looked confused. Hermione's gaze swept over to where Draco was sitting. He was more serious than she had ever seen him; he had no malice in his eyes. Hermione shook her head, surely not? This was a little farfetched wasn't it?
"I know it's farfetched Hermione, but you know it's the truth. You always knew it."
Hermione sighed, she was right; she had always thought there had been something about Tabby. Looking back now, she realised that was the reason she had disliked her so much, she was scared of her, not that she would ever admit that.
"I guess that explains what you did to Lupin."
Tabby chuckled, "well I didn't lie to you when I said I hadn't meant it to happen. I really tired not to fight the curse, but that goes against all my instincts."
"Tell them about the stars Tabby," said a quiet voice from the corner.
"You remember when we were stargazing that first night, and went on about Cancer dancing?"
"Yeah we always wondered what that was about."
"Well I can read the stars, so it was all really relevant to me. It all made sense."
"Oh come on? Read the stars? You're beginning to sound like Professor Trelawney," snapped Hermione.
"Well it's true Hermione. I'm sorry. I could tell you some of the things they told me about you, if you'd like, but it might be a bit embarrassing for you, the stars tell me every little detail."
"Like what?"
"Like the time you bewitched your hair with a complex spell for a whole week, so a certain someone would notice you, but he didn't seem to care."
Hermione paled, "I suppose you know who that was too," she said in a quiet voice, she felt defeated.
"Yes Hermione, and for the record you should know, he did notice, and he feels the same way."
Hermione glanced over to Ron, he was looking away, but his ears had gone distinctly red.
"OK I believe you, for the moment," said Hermione reluctantly.
"Excellent," said Harry, "I think that's enough to get the door to open."
Draco was closest, so he tried the door. It wouldn't budge. Harry went over and tried too, but the door was staying shut.
"Erm, Harry, when you made the room, did you specify that it was me and Hermione that had to sort out our differences before the room opened?"
"No I just wanted everyone to sort out their differences.Oh God."
"What?" said Ron, a little slow on the uptake.
"The room won't open until everyone in the room has sorted out their differences."
"What, you mean we have to 'sort out our differences' with Malfoy before we are let out?"
"Yes," said Harry grimly.
"What?" said Ron, Hermione and Draco in unison.
"You have to protect us? From what? How can you, you're no better at magic than we are?" questioned Hermione.
"What do you think I have to protect you from?"
"Not you-know-who?" said Ron fearfully.
"Who else?"
"But." stuttered Hermione. Tabby moved closer to them.
"I guess it's time I explained things, but you have to understand the importance of keeping this quiet." Harry and Ron nodded, but Hermione glared at Draco, "what about him?" she asked.
"It's OK Hermione, he already knows most of it."
"You told him? A slimy Slytherin before us? And what happens when he goes off and tells you-know-who."
"Listen Granger, she didn't tell me, I wrote to my father who told me what he knew. I don't know everything, only who she really is. She knows I won't be telling Voldemort anything," snapped Draco, upset that he was still being attacked.
"He's right Hermione, he doesn't have anything to do with Voldemort. I know you don't believe me, but I know these things."
"OK, whatever, just get on with telling us what's going on."
"Well firstly I'm not who you think I am. My name isn't Tabitha Christie, and I'm not a transfer student from America. My true name is Fareeda Heba Halle Kyrie Caden Bo Athena Dumbledore."
"I can see why you shortened it!" retorted Ron
"You're related to Dumbledore?"
"Yes, he is my Grandfather, I come from a very long established line of witches and wizards. Before I was born a prophecy was written about me, detailing that I would be the strongest witch of my generation. My training started at a very early. I took my O.W.Ls at the age of 5 and my N.E.W.Ts at 7. I then trained as an Auror, since then I have been working wherever the Ministry felt it necessary to place an undercover Auror, I have been the Ministry's best-kept secret. I came here this year to get inter-house co-operation, amongst other things, so that when the final battle comes, Hogwarts can stand together. I have failed quite badly, this isn't about casting spells or hatching plots, which is what I'm good at; it's about friendships. I can't even get people from my own house to work together."
"You're telling us that you are the most powerful witch in the world?" snorted Hermione.
"Of this age, yes."
"Oh please! Is this some radical scheme to make me feel bad and become all chummy with you?"
"No Hermione. It is of course up to you if you believe me or not, but I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't mind reassuring you."
"How can you just stand there and lie? You're the limit you really are. Come on guys you can't tell me you believe this, this story, do you?" Hermione suddenly had a moment of self-doubt, could it be that she was telling the truth? She looked around at Harry and Ron. Harry was motionless; there was a look of understanding on his face. Ron, who was still leaning on the fireplace, looked confused. Hermione's gaze swept over to where Draco was sitting. He was more serious than she had ever seen him; he had no malice in his eyes. Hermione shook her head, surely not? This was a little farfetched wasn't it?
"I know it's farfetched Hermione, but you know it's the truth. You always knew it."
Hermione sighed, she was right; she had always thought there had been something about Tabby. Looking back now, she realised that was the reason she had disliked her so much, she was scared of her, not that she would ever admit that.
"I guess that explains what you did to Lupin."
Tabby chuckled, "well I didn't lie to you when I said I hadn't meant it to happen. I really tired not to fight the curse, but that goes against all my instincts."
"Tell them about the stars Tabby," said a quiet voice from the corner.
"You remember when we were stargazing that first night, and went on about Cancer dancing?"
"Yeah we always wondered what that was about."
"Well I can read the stars, so it was all really relevant to me. It all made sense."
"Oh come on? Read the stars? You're beginning to sound like Professor Trelawney," snapped Hermione.
"Well it's true Hermione. I'm sorry. I could tell you some of the things they told me about you, if you'd like, but it might be a bit embarrassing for you, the stars tell me every little detail."
"Like what?"
"Like the time you bewitched your hair with a complex spell for a whole week, so a certain someone would notice you, but he didn't seem to care."
Hermione paled, "I suppose you know who that was too," she said in a quiet voice, she felt defeated.
"Yes Hermione, and for the record you should know, he did notice, and he feels the same way."
Hermione glanced over to Ron, he was looking away, but his ears had gone distinctly red.
"OK I believe you, for the moment," said Hermione reluctantly.
"Excellent," said Harry, "I think that's enough to get the door to open."
Draco was closest, so he tried the door. It wouldn't budge. Harry went over and tried too, but the door was staying shut.
"Erm, Harry, when you made the room, did you specify that it was me and Hermione that had to sort out our differences before the room opened?"
"No I just wanted everyone to sort out their differences.Oh God."
"What?" said Ron, a little slow on the uptake.
"The room won't open until everyone in the room has sorted out their differences."
"What, you mean we have to 'sort out our differences' with Malfoy before we are let out?"
"Yes," said Harry grimly.
