Chapter 16

It had taken Harry, Hermione and Rontwo hours to get back. It was now around 1'o'clock in the morning. The conversation between Harry and Ron was about what had happened. Harry hadn't seen what had happened to Hermione, so plagued her with questions about her health.

" Harry for the 100th time...I'm fine.( Ooo that rhymes)." Hermione said, dully.

" I just want to make sure. So... What are we going tosay to the teachers at school? Either way I see a detention coming." Harry began, Sounding as bored as Hermione.

" I never though of that...We could get expelled. Well me and Ron could. They are too scared to expel you encase Voldemort finds you. They need you." Hermione replied sadly.

" They need you too. I'm nothing with out you and Ron." Hermione smiled happily. It seemed to cheer her up.

" So what are we going to say? That we happened to get attacked by vampires, because we were in the Forbidden Forest?" She asked, emphasingingly.

" I think we should say that I dreamt there was someone in the forest, who needed our help... or something...."

Hermione though it over in her head. " Very clever, since most of your dreams are true. But..." She was interrupted by the groan of Ron.

" Are we there yet?" Hermione looked ahead. In the distance she could see the castle. The glow of warm lights lit it up.

" Almost. Hang in there."

20 minutes later.

Hermione opened the doors. The warmth welcomed them. The entrance hall had never been so welcoming to Hermione.

" Where do we go?" She asked Harry desperately.

" To Sirius and Lupin. They'll know what to do."

There was no time to think. They quickly dragged Ron to the Defence against the dark arts corridor. They found the classroom, then walked up to Lupin's office. Hermione kicked open the door.

Inside talking were Lupin, Sirius, Giles, Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore. All looking very confusedly at them. It was only when they saw the state they were in they jumped to their feet and rushed them off to the hospital wing.

Hospital Wing

Hermione and Harry were sat at the side of Ron's bed. They were all sat in silence. Five professors came into the hospital wing. It was now 2am, and the teens were desperate for sleep and rest.

" So...what exactly happened. the situation you are in...I wouldn't lie." Snape said sharply, and with a luck on his faceHarry wanted to wipe off.

The three students all looked silently at each other. Harry was the first to speak.

" Well...I had this dream. This...person...a girl was in trouble. She was in the forest calling for some one to help her. I couldn't take it anymore. I dragged these two with me to check It out. Then..."

Harry stopped. The look that Sirius was giving him made him feel uncomfortable, like he had let everyone down, and it wasn't just Sirius glaring at him furiously. Lupin too, who Harry cared about was frowning at him in a way Harry didn't like.

" Then...what?" Dumbledore asked concerned, his brow lined with worry.

" Then we bumped into some vampires." Hermione said before she could shut up. Everyone looked to her.

" Miss Granger! What did you just say?" McGonagallasked disbelievingly.

" We...bumped into some vampire...bats." Hermione said quickly. No-one believed her. She could tell from their looks. Harry and Ron just looked blankly at her.

" OK...we bumped into some vampires. They attacked us...then...left?" Hermione lied, looking to Harry and Ron for support.

" Yea...major kickage of our ass." Ron muttered looking to Hermione meaningfully, and with a lost look on his face.

"I mean look...at...us." Harry threw in, understanding where the other two were going.

" Well major kickage of our ass. Hermione only twisted her ankle. We were out before her." Ron said not knowing it. Everyone looked at him. Hermione glared at him then it hit her.

" How much veritaserum (that drink that makes you tell the truth), did you put in the drinks we had earlier?" Hermione asked innocently. The professors rolled their eyes while Dumbledore smiled a little. Harry and Ron tried to hide the smiles that were already showing on their faces.

" Enough to give you some freedom of mind. In case you felt like telling the truth without aid. Just the right amount to help you along. " Snape replied sarcastically and coldly, his thin lipping thinnining even more.

" Well it's nice to know the teachers care. Thanks for the help. We really needed it." Harry snapped back a little sulkily. Anger raging inside of him.

" Mister Potter! Do not speak to a member of staff like that again." Dumbledore was now walking towards Harry and Ron, who were trying not to laugh at the look on Snape's face. Even Lupin and Sirius were trying not to laugh.

" Harry, what happened with the Vampires?" Sirius asked worried, concerned and angry all at the same time.

Harry deciding that laughing now wasn't the best idea kept a straight face. " I don't know...Like Ron said. We were knocked out after each other. Ron was kicked in the face and I was...well, I'm not entirely sure.I didn't see what happened after that." Harry explained ashamed, trying to avoid Siriu's gaze.

" Well...it seems that Hermione is the only one that can tell us what happened." Said Snape matter of factly, as if impersonating her.

While Giles looked pale, Remus and Sirius looked seriously and accusignly at her. Dumbledore looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. Snape and McGonagall looked impatiently at her. Harry and Ron just looked guilty.

Hermione glanced at the people staring at her. Giles, who was behind everyone was motioning his hands across his neck, as if he was talking about having a head cut off. Hermione got the hint. The veritaserum however did not let her lie much.

" Well. One lunged for me...I...dived on the floor. Something happened and they all disappeared." The words were forced out of Hermione's mouth, as naturally as possible.

" Professor Dumbledore. I would like to speak to Hermione, if that's ok?" Giles spoke for the first time. Dumbledore considered it, before nodding. Giles lead Hermione out of the hospital wing.

" What are we going to say?" He asked worried.