Anam Cara
13. Disclosure
The door to the Headmaster's office slowly opened. Draco entered and after a brief nod at Dumbledore in way of greeting, he turned to his employer.
"Minister, I'm afraid…I'm afraid I have made a terrible mistake." His blonde head bowed slightly.
Cornelius Fudge frowned. "What are you talking about, Malfoy?"
Draco exhaled slowly, taking time over his answer. "She is not in the castle, Minister."
Fudge laughed. "Surely you didn't expect to be able to find her so easily? You've played your part in this enough, I have others to carry out that task, as well you know." Through his small smirk, he missed the similar expression on the old Headmaster's face, which disappeared as instantly as it had emerged.
Draco shook his head. "You misunderstand me. She is not in Hogwarts and hasn't been since she finished her education here. When I saw her on Christmas Eve…it seems it wasn't exactly her."
"Then who the devil could it have been, Malfoy?" demanded Fudge disbelievingly, frustration creeping into his tone.
Draco cleared his throat uncomfortably. "That's another thing. I get the impression that Professor Snape had a female 'visitor' this holiday season. I mistook her for Granger because of her appearance…not exactly high maintenance."
Fudge stared at him. "You thought some girlfriend of Snape's was the Death-Eater we've been searching for for five years?"
"I didn't say 'girlfriend', Minister," said Draco, raising an eyebrow in meaning.
"So you're telling me Snape hired a prostitute?" There was a suspicious snort from the Headmaster at this point. Fudge looked at him charily. "Interesting piece of news about your Potions Professor, Dumbledore. Perhaps you will want to look into that?"
"I believe I shall," answered Albus seriously.
Fudge turned back to Draco. "How do you know this? I hardly think Snape would have told you this…perhaps he was lying to cover up?" His round face lit up as if he had been hit by some stroke of genius.
The Slytherin shook his head. "I slipped Veritaserum into his drink. He told me everything I wanted to know…and some things I'd really rather not. Needless to say, his answers were very disappointing. I apologise for my severe misjudgement, Minister, and for wasting your time on another loose end."
Fudge didn't reply. First he looked across to Dumbledore who was innocently staring out of the window, and then back at Draco. His eyes narrowed and he regarded the young man in front of him very carefully.
Draco tried his best to look suitably abashed but not too avoiding of the Minister's eyes. If his quickly formulated ploy worked, he'd have plenty of time afterwards to work out how to turn the whole situation around. If it didn't, well, Hermione was still invisible to both the Minister and the Aurors he knew were on the outskirts of the Forest. That would buy her some time, but not much.
However, Fudge didn't have the chance to give his verdict; there was a loud shout from outside, followed by a discord of startled voices.
"Oh dear," said Dumbledore from his place by the window. "I'd hoped Hagrid wouldn't cause too much of a stir with- Good Merlin! Did you know there were Aurors at Hogwarts, Minister?"
"What!" Fudge ran to the window, with surprising speed, adjusting the ridiculously large hat as he did so.
"There must be ten of them…did you know about this Minister?"
Fudge's face was turning redder by the second. "I told them to stay at the edge of the Forest…after that incident with Umbridge…never the same again…" His head whipped around to face Dumbledore. "It's that bloody gamekeeper! You sent Minerva to…you sent him! You've set those damned centaurs on my Aurors!"
Dumbledore looked quite taken aback. "I haven't done any such thing, Cornelius. But I wish you hadn't taken such extreme measures upon my school without informing me- I could have told you that since Firenze made his opinion known among his kind, there has been dissention between the centaurs of the Forest and any wizard who enters there."
"Don't be ridiculous, Albus! You've made this entire story up just to keep me from finding Granger! I had more than one person confirming she was in Britain- she had to come here sooner or later."
"I assure you, there is no possible way that I could tell the centaurs to do anything. Why, the mere thought of them allowing anyone to command them to-"
"Who else were you talking to?" asked Draco slowly.
Fudge whirled around. "You'd like me to tell you that, wouldn't you?" A nasty smile crept upon his lips. "You've been a good source up to now, Malfoy, but it's obvious they've got to you too." He came closer to Draco. "You looked so satisfied with yourself when you said you'd found her…I'll never forget that look. And now you say she's not here and give me some pathetic lie they've fed you?"
He turned to Dumbledore. "I'll be going now. Be assured that the next time I come, Granger will be discovered and I'll be very glad to know what favours she pulled to get your assistance."
"Minister-"
Fudge revolved slowly from his trip to the door. "Good day, Dumbledore. And Malfoy- perhaps you would like to return to your old office tomorrow morning? I believe the paperwork there is piling up considerably." With that, he left.
Draco let out a low growl under his breath before looking to Dumbledore. The old man smiled gently.
"I have no doubt you will cause Severus with much displeasure at what the rumour mill will begin churning out about him soon…but you have bought Miss Granger much needed time for us to conceal her whereabouts."
Draco nodded briefly. "Do you have anywhere in mind?"
"There might be somewhere…" answered Dumbledore thoughtfully. "But we must discuss this with the woman concerned. First though, would you mind taking the Floo to The Burrow? I imagine two worried young gentlemen will wish to take part in this decision."
Draco grimaced at his destination but went to the fireplace. After taking a handful of powder, he threw it into the fire that was already burning there.
"I'll be back shortly."
Severus stared at Dumbledore.
"He told Fudge what?"
"I do believe you heard me the first time, Severus."
The Slytherin opened his mouth in fury again and then was silenced by the sound of stifled laughter.
"Pray tell us what is so funny, Miss Granger?"
Hermione bit her lip and shook her head, badly concealing her mirth. "I'm sorry…it's nothing…just the thought of me being a-"
Snape let out a sound of disgust. "Draco always did have a colourful imagination. I suspect this was a jab at me as well as an interesting cover story."
"Unfortunately, it didn't work."
Hermione stopped laughing from her chair by Severus's desk.
"What do you mean 'it didn't work'?" she demanded of Dumbledore. "He didn't believe him?"
"I must admit, I was rather surprised myself. Cornelius has never been the most perceptive of wizards."
Severus snorted. "That's an understatement."
"We are not here to debate the Minister's intelligence, Severus. Once Draco arrives with Messrs Potter and Weasley, we can begin."
At that point there was the sound of muffled voices outside.
"Will you please tell me why we're here in the first place? And in the dungeons no less? What is going on? And why is he here?" The woman outside was clearly very frustrated with her companions.
She had no answer until the people inside the office heard Draco clearly state the password. The door appeared again and there was a short knock for politeness before it was opened.
"You're not telling me this is-" Ginny Weasley marched in only to come to an abrupt stop at whom she saw there. Severus raised one nonchalant eyebrow.
"Good afternoon, Miss Weasley."
From her seat, Hermione gave a very audible gasp.
"P-Professor, I didn't realise- Hermione!" The redhead's mouth fell open and she stared in abject disbelief before running forward and giving the brunette a hug, which could have choked the life from her.
There was a very sudden mood change the moment she released her.
"Where the hell have you been?" Ginny's face took on a Molly Weasley expression.
Hermione didn't know what to say. As she stared at her friends face dumbly for a few moments, she realised Harry and Ron were both there too.
"That question can wait a bit, Gin," Harry said quietly before taking her hand and giving her a small smile. It was then Hermione noticed the ring on Ginny's left hand.
"He married you?" she whispered, still staring at the ring.
Ginny smiled shyly. "Almost three years," she answered. Her tone was quiet but Hermione could hear the happiness in it.
"I don't know what to say…I knew you were married, Harry, but to Ginny?" Suddenly she looked over to Snape.
"Why did you call her Miss Weasley?"
Severus neither smiled nor frowned. "Do you find the element of surprise overrated now, Miss Granger?"
A queer expression spread over her face as they regarded each other. Hermione's face then broke into a wide grin and she reached forward to give them both Harry and Ginny a hug in turn. "I know it's overdue, but congratulations."
"You should also know that I'm an uncle," said Ron, standing to one side and watching them with an embarrassed but happy expression. Hermione turned to give him a hug.
"Her name's Kate Hermione Potter," Ginny said, watching her friend's reaction carefully. "Five months old."
Tears sprung to Hermione's eyes. "I've missed so much…" she murmured. Ron hugged her tighter.
"And I've missed you," he said softly. Nobody else in the room heard him but Hermione felt a burst of warmth inside her as he voiced the words. It didn't really occur to her at that moment just what they could imply.
It did occur to the dark man standing alone in the corner, however. Before Hermione began any wonderings about her supposed future, it would be best she knew what lay in front of her. Severus cleared his throat. The four young people in the middle of the room turned to look at him.
"Perhaps it is time to discuss your idea, Headmaster?"
Before Dumbledore could reply, the door reappeared again and McGonagall came in. She looked calm but grave as she addressed him.
"She will come tonight, Albus."
"Thank you for contacting her, Minerva. I was just going to begin."
The Transfiguration teacher took the only seat left vacant. "Then let's hear it, Albus."
A/N: Thank you for the excellent response to the last chapter, it took me a while to write Draco's reaction. In comparison to other updates, this is very good timing for me, but I can't promise more soon. My next new update will probably be for I Don't Want To Be Alone when I find the chance to get on it.
The next part of the story will begin in the next chapter- things will start to move along then and eventually getting to the fact that this is an HG/SS story.
Babyred: I have posted this at LordandLadySnape along with all my other HG/SS's so feel free to check it out there instead if you want to. :)