Chapter #6

Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked slowly up to the Gryffindor common room. It wasn't until they got there that Hermione noticed something pinned to Harrys' robes.

"Harry? What's that?" She asked curiously. Harry smiled tired. Hermione felt sure that this wasn't the first time someone had asked him. He took it off and handed to her. Hermione gasped. It was a shiny silver Prefect badge.

"Yep." He said, as though he was reading her mind. "I'm a prefect, believe it or not. And what really rocks is now I can take points away! Cool eh?" He grinned at Hermione, but she was thinking only of James.

"Hey Herm, where have you been?" Ron asked, but Harry threw him a warning glance. Ron glanced at Harry in confusion. The two were still in shock with the fact that Hermione was alive.

"Well," Hermione said carefully. "I got caught by Death Eaters. I was really scared, but while they were leading me to this building, one of them slipped. He let go of me and fell into this cow pond. It was quite funny, but the situation was quite grim." Hermione said, laughing. Ron raised a questioning eyebrow at Harry, who shrugged. Hermione glanced at Harry and she knew that he knew that she was lying. He looked at her and shrugged, but Hermione saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes, which now seemed ten times brighter than before. He winked lightly at her before turning to run.

"Hey Dopey, ya remember the password?" He asked Ron loudly. Hermione smiled at him gratefully, but she still didn't understand. Wouldn't Harry be mad that she was lying? Apparently not.

"Hey, you're the prefect around here, not me!" Ron replied, a flicker of jealousy in his eyes.

"Um."

"Ah, there you are. May I have a word, Ms. Granger?" The three spun around, coming face to face with Albus Dumbledore.

"Ern, I guess so." She said nervously.

"And don't be late!" Harry called, sounding like Percy Weasley but Hermione caught the amusement in his voice, and the two boys burst into laughter. She scurried after Dumbledore.

"Ms. Granger, you understand why I called you here?" He asked. Hermione nodded.

"Yeah."

"You arrived under rather unusual circumstances. Do you understand why I feel slightly uneasy?"

"Do you think I'm like, on the dark side?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Hermione, I suspect you of being on the dark side no more than I suspect Harry. I am merely stating that if Death Eaters attacked your place, and killed your parents, why are you here? Why did they not finish you?" He pressed.

"Oh, Professor! Um." Hermione was stumbling over her words. Dumbledore frowned. Surly it wouldn't be that hard to tell him. Give him these simple answers. But maybe he was overlooking something? Possibly. Maybe he was being insensitive. There had to be some traumatic event, or she wouldn't be stammering.

"Ms. Granger, if you don't feel comfortable with these questions at the moment, I will call you perhaps tomorrow night?" He asked. Hermione nodded, and Dumbledore could see that her face was streaked with tears.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Run along now, Ms. Granger. You surely need sleep." He answered, and watched as she ran away. He took a pinch of powder and threw it into the fireplace.

"Severus! A word if you please." He called. Moments later the man spun into view.

"Yes Headmaster?" He asked in that same cold voice.

"Tell me, Severus, what is the best way to get answers from a reluctant teenage girl?" Dumbledore asked

"Patience, Headmaster, patients. Why do you ask?" Severus answered.

"How long before they spill?"

"Depends on the subject."

"Example?"

"Takes 'em ten minutes to tell you that they hate you. Takes 'em ten months to tell you they love you." Snape said with a shrug. "Why?" He asked again.

"Ms. Granger will not tell me what troubles her." Dumbledore replied thoughtfully. "I don't get it, Severus. Is it because she's ashamed? Embarrassed?"

"She could be just upset."

"Sorry to bother you Severus. You may go."

"Good day, Headmaster. Or more appropriately, good night." Severus left, leaving the older wizard speechless and confused.







James immediately inhabited the passageway in the womping willow. Nobody could possibly find him here, and he had easy access to the Hogsmeade Mountains if he needed to run. He had a terrible longing for Hermione in his heart. He smiled as he recalled their kiss, if you could call it such a sweet word as kissing. It was strange though. He was old enough to be her father! And still, he could understand this feeling. He knew what love felt like. But this was accompanied by something else. Something that was totally alien to James Potters' mind. It was a strange feeling. And why did he bother? Did she love him, or did she just think he was troublesome? James sighed. He was too confused at the moment. And suddenly the fact hit him, somewhere in his chest: My son is in that school. It was strange. Everything was different from when he had last actually seen the wizarding world. Nobody was being secretive. Everyone was open and cheerful. But Voldemort was still alive! How could they walk around so carefree? Pondering over this, James fell asleep, a tree root tucked under his head for a pillow.

End Of Chapter.