Chapter 33: Meeting with Dumbledore

"Hurry up Hermione!" Harry shouted from downstairs. "You're going to be late for our meeting with Dumbledore!"

"I'm coming!" Hermione said as she ran down the stairs. "How do I look?" she asked.

"You look great now let's go" Ron said as he pushed Hermione out the portrait hole.

"So, Hermione, what do you think this is about?" Harry asked

"I don't know, maybe it's about the Halloween ball that was mentioned this morning at breakfast" Hermione suggested

"Well then why would he want to see me too?" Harry asked "I'm not a prefect"

"Good point, maybe he has some information about your dad 'Mione" Ron said

"Nah, he knows about the whole thing"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

The three then arrived at the gargoyle

"Pixi Stix" Hermione said

The gargoyle moved to the side and the trio went up the staircase. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk looking upset.

"Professor Dumbledore? Are you alright?" Hermione asked

"Ah, my dear, faithful students. I have terrible news. Please sit down. The first thing is that there has been an attack, by Death Eaters. Hermione, I fear your father was there. This has been the third since you came to school. So far, many people have died. I don't want to put this pressure on you but I want to know that if you know your father's whereabouts, me must know. I'm not pressuring you to do this. Only give information if you feel comfortable. The second bit of news is that Fudge has been researching your documents and everything he can find about you and your father. Your mother's information, though is with me. I swore to her that I would never tell a soul about her or you until your seventeenth birthday, when you were supposed to find out about your father, but I feel that is important that you know about her now rather than through some false source. She is alive and well and I have owled her. She is to arrive here in one week, on Halloween. Now, the last bit of news is for all three of you, there are spies all over. For the light side, the dark side, creatures and almost every side imaginable. You two must take good care and protect Hermione. I want you to make sure she says all her spells, wears all her necessary garments (the patch) and try to keep a low profile. By that I mean try to not look as you did when you first arrived this year. Give your snake to me to look after, and your lion cub. And etcetera." By the time Dumbledore had finished Hermione had only one thing in her mind

"My mother?"

"Yes. I do not feel that I am the right person to tell you. Now, the last thing I need to ask you three is if you could organize the Halloween ball. The heads are working on a special project. Yes, even you Harry. There is a prefect meeting in a half hour so I suggest you three start thinking. Good day"

The trio left the office and made their way to the lake. When they got there Hermione dragged them behind a large tree.

"Guys, I have great news! Do you want to know why I took so long this morning?" before the boys could answer Hermione took off her robe and removed the patch she wore over the tattoo on her arm. When she took it off there was nothing there. That tattoo was gone! "And..." she lifted her shirt and showed that the snake tattoo was also gone.

"Hermione! That's wonderful!" Harry said. Ron was examining her arm Where the dark mark used to be.

"But Hermione, didn't you say that you tried everything except cutting your arm off? How did this happen?" Ron asked

"Yeah, did you use some dark magic or something?" Harry asked

Hermione's eyes changed to look like Voldemort's (she forgot to say the spell that morning).

"What I mean is how did this happen?" harry asked

"I don't know."

"Hey, Hermione, how many of those things did you have?" Ron then asked

"Three, one next to my eye, the snake and the dark mark. Why?"

"Because you have a small one just below your neck. Maybe the two marks became one and moved up there where you wouldn't need to hide them?"

"Let me see" Harry said. Hermione turned around. Sure enough there was a small snake that looked like it was slithering up her neck towards a tiny skull. The whole thing was only about three or so inches. "Wow Ron, I think you're right."

"What?" Hermione said.

"Don't worry 'Mione. Let's go to the library to research this"

"We don't have enough time though, remember, the prefect meeting is in about twenty minutes and it takes ten to get there plus we have to come up with some ideas" Ron said

"Don't worry guys. I have an idea for the dance so we can just go to the library for a minute or so, I think I read a book that might help us. Let's go quickly" The three ran to the library. Hermione went strait to the section about heritages. She handed Harry and Ron three books each and took three herself. They went to Madame Pince and told her which books they were taking and practically ran to the meeting.

"Phew! We got here with a minute to spare" Hermione said when they got there.

"Everyone seems to be here so lets begin. Um, everyone! May we please have your attention!" everyone looked up at them.

"What do you want mudblood?" Pansy said

"Shut up whore and listen. Dumbledore put us in charge of the Halloween ball this year. Does anyone have any ideas to share before we tell you our's?" Hermione asked

When nobody raised their hands Hermione said "OK, well, every year we just have a major feast so this year let's have a costume party with a costume contest. We'll serve only junk food. We can have the ghosts float around, giant pumpkins, bats, and etcetera. Now, would anyone like to add to that?"

"What will we have for entertainment?" Hannah asked

"Well, I was thinking about hiring a D.J. then having a surprise person come in to announce the winner of the contest? Any objections?"

"Who will this surprise person be?" Pansy sneered

"Well, I do happen to know quite a few people who would be happy to join us, but only one of them is free that night. I think we might have to ask Dumbledore to find someone else though..."

"Just tell us who the bloody person is!"

"Well, um, Vicktor Krum, but I think we should try to get someone else..."

"Why would we want anyone else?" Hannah Abbot asked

"Um, well"

"Because the mudblood broke up with him and she doesn't want him to fall for anyone else." Pansy said

"Shove it Parkinson" Draco said "I do agree that he should not come, for I saw the breakup and he would make a fool of himself, but he is one of the most famous quidditch players so..."

"Alright, let's vote. All in favor of asking Krum to come raise your hand" Harry said, hoping nobody would raise their hands. Hannah, Ernie, Padma, Pansy, the other Ravenclaw prefect and all the sixth years besides Ginny, Luna and Colin raised their hands. "OK, that's nine for him to come. Now all against him coming..." He, Ron, Hermione, Draco ,Ginny, Colin and Luna raised their hands. "one two three four, seven. Sorry guys but I guess we're going to ask him to come." Hermione nodded her head

"Now, to give out positions. Um, All sixth years will be in charge of food. I think I can trust eight people to decide how to divide it. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are in charge of finding a D.J. Slytherin, you guys are just in charge of getting Krum (Harry knew that Pansy wouldn't screw it up because she wanted to throw herself at him) and Hermione, Harry and I will make a plan for the atmosphere and get the ghosts."

"Sixth years, ignore what Ron said. Slytherin will be in charge of the meal, like a real meal. Huflepuff, you guys are in charge of baked goods. Ravenclaw, you guys do appetizers. And Gryffindors I want you guys to get party favors from George and Fred.

You all will decide on the candy TOGETHER." Hermione said.

"Who died and put you in charge?" Pansy said

"Oh my god, Pansy, you are the stupidest person to walk the face of the earth. We already said Dumbledore put us in charge. That was the first thing we said you moron. The heads are working on a special project so if anyone has any questions or ideas..."

"Wait, Hermione, I have an idea and a question" Ron said

"Yes Ron?"

"First, what about the D.J., whose getting that?"

"Um, how about the seventh years all work together to find one then I'll call them."

"And how about we have a theme?"

"Great idea Ron. All in favor" almost everyone raised their hands "OK, does anyone have an idea?"

"How about an underwater theme?"

"No, a meant to be theme, like the one from 'Never Been Kissed'"

"Hell no!"

"OK! Let's just all write down ideas and put them in a hat." Harry said

Everyone wrote down an idea on a piece of parchment and put them in Hermione's hat

"OK, and the winner is, 'no theme, but we all dress up as what we want to'" Hermione looked up. "sorry Padma, but we voted on having one, so our theme will be 'retro'. Cool, so how about we have Dumbledore announce that tomorrow at breakfast. Meeting adjourned unless anyone has something else to add." No one had anything to add so everyone left the room, except Draco, Pansy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"Why did you vote against Krum coming" Pansy whined

"Because he might have caused a scene, and why am I explaining myself to you! Get away from me whore!" Draco said angrily

"I still can't believe you two were best friends" Harry whispered to Hermione

"Shut up" she replied as she punched him on the arm.

"What, I'm just saying..."

"What are you just saying to the, oh my god!" Hermione said. "I just realized something!"

"How many things are you going to realize today? Because we have to start reading those books" Ron said

"I'll tell you later" Hermione said as Pansy walked out of the room. She made her way to Draco with a bitchy attitude and a sour look on her face (A/N I was going to say bitchy look but that would have overused the word).

"Hey Malfoy, we need to talk" she said in a spine tingling voice. "Harry and Ron, I'll meet you two back in the common room" Harry and Ron left with the books

As soon as they closed the door Hermione kissed Draco. "I need to talk to you" she said after she ended the kiss

"Is there anything wrong?" Draco asked as he wrapped his arms around her petit body and pulled her in.

"No, it's just that I hate how we cant be seen together or let people know that we're together. And also" she sighed "Dumbledore told me something I need information about. Information that I can only get from my dad, but he wont tell me so I need to ask your father"

"Tell me what you need first. Maybe I can tell you"

"Well, let's go to the Room of Requirement first. That way, we wont have to worry about anyone walking in on us"