Ch 11.- Meeting Dumbledore
Harry and Ron struggled to make it through the rest of their day without getting into a fight. By midday all of Hogwarts knew of Hermione's appariating abilities. Although nobody would say it to Ron or Harry's face, most of the students were upset that Hermione was getting friendly with the giants. First there was S.P.E.W and now this, Harry could hear the students saying. The Slytherins were the worst offenders and Harry had to pull Ron away from more than one vulgar Slytherin. Hermione's reputation was going lower than a mudblood and that was saying something. They were relieved however when Professor Dumbledore sent for them during potions. Snape was livid but he couldn't refuse their dismissal.
Dumbledore was sullen when Ron and Harry entered his office. He was pacing back and forth concentrating intently. He didn't notice them at first but when he did he smiled at them.
"What are we going to do now boys?" He asked, but it was more of a statement than a question.
"The ministry is going to have a field day with this. Fudge has already sent me three letters demanding what is going on. But that is the least of my worries. What worries me the most is that Hermione would do this behind my back. It's against the law for a minor to appariate, it is even more serious when a minor appariates with somebody else. I don't see how to get her out of this one." Dumbledore added sadly.
"We didn't know she could appariate Sir," Harry said. "But we did know Grawp came back. We just didn't know what to do? Grawp has only been here a couple of days. He seemed intent on trying to tell us something. We suspected it was something big but we never found out what it was."
Dumbledore listened and continued to pace. "It's dangerous in giant country especially when there are death-eaters lurking about. She isn't safe there. I have no idea what is going on as far as the giants are concerned. All my attempts to get them to turn from the death-eaters have failed. They simply have more to offer the giants than I do."
"What do the giants want?" Ron asked, looking completely confused.
"Freedom, land, what everybody wants. The ministry have basically put the giants in a prison in the mountains. It is nothing but a hardship to survive up there. Voldemort is offering them a chance to escape that."
"Why doesn't the ministry do the same," Harry asked feeling very fustrated.
"Hatred," Dumbledore responded. "Fear too. A whole lot of ignorance and closemindedness."
"Giants are the type of people Voldemort looks for. People that are strong and angry. He plays on their anger and feeds it."
There was a knock on the door and with a flick of the wrist, Dumbledore opened the door. Hermione stood in the doorway looking somewhat frightened. She slowly came into the office, eyeing Dumbledore, trying to gauge his demeanor.
"Ms.Granger nice to see you back so soon. So what happened?" Dumbledore questioned her, but this time he had a warm look about him.
Hermione didn't respond quickly. She measured her words. "Grawp is home. We snuck back into the mountain camp. There were death-eaters all about. Grawp didn't appear to care much for them and for whatever reason he is scared of them. They seem to be gathering giants from all the mountians."
"How many giants did you see?" Dumbledore asked looking very serious.
"Thousands." Dumbledore was rocked by the news. "I saw four death eaters myself while I was there hiding. Lestrange may have been one of them, Wormtail another, I'm not sure since they were hooded. Adds to the fear you know."
With the mention of Wormtail and Lestrange, Harry felt his face flush with anger. It came on him so quickly. "We've got to go there Professor. We can capture them now!"
"Settle down Harry. The giants trust the death-eaters more than us. If we go in there a cause a battle and innocent giants are harmed, whose side do you think they'll be on. Do you know how many muggle and non-muggle villages a thousand giants could destroy in one night alone." Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "Good news is that this news may get Ms. Granger some wiggle room with the ministry. Perhaps if you're lucky Ms. Granger, you can get the upcoming charges dropped in exchange for this information."
Hermione looked unsure of what to do. "I'm not going to make the giants into the bad guys. This wouldn't even be an issue if the ministry would have treated the giants right in the first place. They don't know about the death-eaters being bad guys, to the giants they're the only ones who care. Sickening isn't it."
"Ms.Granger, I agree with you. You must know I do. The only other option is a trial and there will be no justice in that, I can assure you."
"Do mudbloods ever get justice Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione responded. Harry had enough. He wasn't going to let Hermione go to trial.
"I'll tell them if you don't," Harry said to Hermione. It was Hermione's turn to be shocked.
"And if he doesn't I will," Ron added, and he stood be Harry presenting a united front.
"You would sacrifice thousands for me?" Hermione asked them both. They didn't answer and their silence confirmed to her that they would tell the ministry everything. Hermione absorbed this information quietly. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter what I think. You do what you feel you need to do, and I'll do the same." Hermione walked quickly out of the office leaving her concerned friends behind.
"I guess we will have to wait to hear from the ministry to decide what to do next. I have to inform them she is back," Dumbledore then turned from them and the boys knew it was their cue to leave.
The common room was unusually quiet when they entered. Ginny and Hermione were talking in the corner and every other student in the room was trying to eavesdrop. When she saw them enter, she grabbed Ginny by the arm and led her upstairs.
"You talk to Ginny tomorrow," Harry quietly said to Ron. Instead of dealing with the common room gossip, the boys turned in for the night. Harry wanted the next day to come as soon as possible. Sleep however turned out be harder to achieve. Harry tossed and turned till he finally decided to get up. When he went downstairs he saw Hermione sitting next to the fireplace. She saw him coming but made no effort to leave. That was a good side as far as Harry was concerned. He settled into the couch next to her and sat quietly for a few moments.
"I care for you and I can't lose you," his voice was hardly above a whisper. "I can't lose you like I lost my parents and Sirius. I just can't." To his surprise his own eyes were welling up with tears. Hermione finally looked at him and brought her hands to his face wiping away the tears that were starting to spill down his cheeks.
"Everything I do, I do with you in my thoughts," she said. "You need to realize that yourself. You give me the strength to fight for those who can't fight. . To fight for those who are misunderstood. You bring that out of me."
He looked at her and again was astonished by how beautiful she had become. The light from the fire softly shown on her face, even her eyes sparkled. His mouth went dry but he felt the need to test the waters. Slowly he brought his face near hers and she wasn't backing away. It was now or never. He quickly closed the distance and brought his lips to hers. When they connected, Harry's brain shorted out. It was amazing, every part of his being hummed like electricity. When they parted he couldn't even breath. Hermione's face had flushed a deep red and her breathing came quickly. Harry wanted more but he didn't want to push his luck. He scooted in closer to her and gently put his arm around her and pulled her into his chest. They stayed snuggled like that for hours, neither wanting morning to come.