Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Just a few characters and plot twists I've slipped in here and there. Hope you like them too, though ;;;. The rest comes from J.K.R.'s genius. ALL HAIL J.K.R.!!!
Spoilers: You'll know 'em when you see 'em! ov!!!
Author's Note#1: Thanks, you guys. I am so overwhelmed by your best wishes. You guys have no idea how encouraging you all were for me. I'm doing... well, not great but... adequately. Coping, as others might say. It isn't easy being the oldest but, hey, that's life. Thank you for all of your encouragement. Words won't be able to express how deeply touched I am by all your thoughtfulness and comments on this story. I have no idea anyone would like this. I am so happy.
To all the readers of my other SS/HG fic Fetters? I'm sorry but I'm afraid that story has to be put on hold for a while. Lots o' work to do, as you know. Thank you. But rest assured I will finish that fic as soon as things get better.
As thanks to all my reviewers and well wishers, I give you a longer chapter. I've started taking a notebook when I go to all my jobs and I write during breaks. My friend, Vionella (waves at Vionella cheerfully), who owns this computer, encodes for me and I taught her how to upload. She also prints out your reviews to me so I can read them in between breaks at work. This isn't a promise that my updates are going to be regular, I'm sorry. But it does mean that I'll try my best to give you guys what you want and hope that's good enough.
Author's Note#2: Enjoy!!!
Chapter Five: Matters of the Ministry"Hey, Hermione!"
She heard the door open and she turned to see Ginny Weasley entering the compartment, wearing her lovely new prefect's badge that was then gleaming in the faint light of the sunset outside.
She smiled at Ginny. "Done already?"
Hermione stood alone in the prefect's compartment on the Hogwart's Express earlier, leaning out the window, not minding the chaos the rushing wind was doing to her already chaotic hair. It was comforting to her and if the price for it was this, then so be it.
Ron left her here as soon as their prefect duties were over, but not without an apologetic glance. Ironic that he should find himself in the middle this time. After all those times when she and Ron would bicker endlessly about everything and nothing at all with Harry acting as neutral ground. She opted to stay in the prefect's compartment this year to avoid anymore unpleasantness from Harry or Ron. She was willing to bet that all the members of the boys in their year was now in the same compartment as they were, talking about Quidditch and chocolate frog cards. She sighed. Oh, what irony... Now, the Norns were laughing at her. Things seemed to almost circle full tilt the other way around.
Ginny slumped on a seat. "All except the last end. The Slytherin prefects said they had that covered. I don't trust them, though."
Hermione nodded. "I'm sure Malfoy and that Parkinson cow would have something to say about it if we interfere in their 'territory'."
She then turned quiet and went back to staring at the scenery outside, now touched with the dying rays of the sun.
"Hermione?"
Hermione, interrupted from her thoughts once again by the youngest Weasley, didn't look back again. "Hmm? Yes?"
There was a pregnant pause and Hermione knew Ginny well enough to know that the younger girl was screwing up her courage to ask the inevitable question that all the Weasleys were avoiding all summer since Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place.
"What happened with you and Harry?"
The question felt like an invisible whip across Hermione's shoulders. She couldn't believe how much that hurt.
Harry had pointedly ignored her for the rest of the summer. Fred and George were quiet about her appointment as a member of the Order, as she asked them to, but they've tried to talk some sense to Harry, like real brothers. After several tries, however (and after Hermione snarled at them to stop), they finally acceded that their efforts were futile.
It was like third year all over again. Except this time, there was no more Sirius.
Everyone seemed concerned, and now, Ginny was asking questions.
Ginny was the closest to a little sister to her that she would ever admit to. Since she spent that time in the Burrow and had to share a room in Grimmauld Place, she became the girl's own personal diary. It was terribly cute. But this summer was different. What with everything else that's happened.
Her mind turned to her question and opted to stall so she can pull out a nice, decent answer. She knew how big Ginny's crush on Harry was although she had settled on several boyfriends since she stepped into fourth year. No use if she went out alienating all her friends even before term starts. But she also knew that lying to Ginny would be useless. Even though her brothers chose to believe otherwise, Virginia Weasley was a very sharp witted young witch with a promising future ahead of her, all things Voldemort aside. The Weasleys may be poor but their whole clan was rife with some of the most intelligent wizards in their world.
Hermione looked out the window again, instead. "Whatever do you mean, Ginny?"
As she expected, the younger witch snorted in impatience. "Oh, you know what I mean!" she heard Ginny straightening in her seat. "He hasn't spoken to you all summer! He keeps on avoiding you and ignoring you and you're letting him! I've seen enough of the both of you to know how much he adores you, Hermione. He wouldn't be acting like this without a reason."
Hermione bit back a sigh. Of course she'd notice. Hard to ignore since they were all staying in the same house together. "It's nothing, Ginny."
"Don't tell me nothing, Hermione!" Ginny said and Hermione heard her stand up behind her. "You guys have been best friends since before I came to Hogwarts and nothing sort of death could have separated the three of you!" she then lowered her voice. It turned shaky and almost... scared. "Is it something that happened that day when you were almost... when they almost... I mean—"
Hermione finally turned to face the girl. Smiling a bit at the red head's hesitance.
"I..." she sighed. "It's nothing, Gin. Just a little misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding, my foot, Hermione Granger." Ginny answered, irritated now. "The three of you are acting weird and I am sick and tired of all of you keeping things from me! Haven't I proved to any of you that I can handle anything you throw at me back at the Department of Mysteries?!"
"I am not belittling your abilities, Ginny—"
"Then tell me what's wrong!" Ginny almost shouted in exasperation. It was a good thing they were in the part of the train that was apart from the other student compartments, and that the other prefects, along with the newest Head Boy and Girl wanted to sit with their friends to swap news. The only one who could probably hear them was the train's driver. "Don't think I haven't noticed that Harry seems to be treating you like you don't exist, anymore! And just about a few minutes ago, I left him and Ron breathing down each other's necks! What is going on?! You've been friends since first year and if you guys break up..."
Hermione sighed deeply, gently scooped up Crookshanks, who was sitting beside her feet silently, before speaking quietly. She knew she'd hurt Ginny if she didn't give her at least some of the truths that was bothering her. The bond she shared with both Harry and Ron was Ginny's stability. It was understandable to find her scared. "Harry and I... got into an argument, Ginny. I think he got scared when he saw that vision of Voldemort (Ginny squeaks a bit and pales) ordering me dead. It was a blow to him when he realized how much danger he was to me and figured the best way to protect me was to drive me away. I tried to reason with him but... you know Harry."
Ginny winced a bit. "Yeah. If he were to try and find his Animagus form, he'd probably turn into a mule."
Hermione chuckled at the mental image for a while before her smile became sweet and sad. "He's afraid everyone he loves and who loves him... who even has a cursory connection to him, will die, just like Sirius. He's afraid of anyone else dying. He's afraid of hurting again. I'm scared, Ginny. I'm scared that this might lead him into a recklessness he can't afford. Especially with the war on... And if he won't let me near him to advise him and watch over him... who will?" The sadness in her eyes became dominant and her gaze was reeled to the floor. "I'm scared of the fact that he doesn't seem to want to feel anymore and..." she looked back at Ginny's face. "...I'm afraid it might lure him to the darkness inside him."
Ginny frowned at her, her eyes being pulled down to Crookshanks who was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms. The fat ginger tom, seemingly oblivious to it's human's sadness and concerns. "I understand. Stupid prat. I can't believe Ron is letting him act like a complete git. Don't worry, Hermione, I'll watch out for him for you."
Hermione smiled at the younger prefect gratefully. "Thanks, Gin."
Ginny sat down and Hermione followed suit. They were silent for a while before Ginny spoke again. "You know, you never did tell anyone how you managed to survive that attack back at Paris. When you were portkeyed back to Grimmauld place, Bill said, he checked for your wand. It wasn't there. And then, suddenly, one morning, you have it back again. The same morning Harry stopped speaking to you. Is there a connection?"
Hermione was silent for a while. Should she tell Ginny about her savior? But, if she did, the red head would require explanations from her and she didn't feel like explaining something she can hardly understand herself. So she slowly shook her head and stared out at the passing countryside outside the train.
"I hardly think there was a connection. I think it was just plain coincidence that Crookshanks appeared in my bedroom with my wand the night Harry and I had our... discussion."
Ginny could only shrug helplessly while wearing a confused look on her face. Hermione sighed in frustration. She knew no one else would be able to understand her when it came to this topic. She knew she should just give it up but her mind just wouldn't let go of the thought. She absently fingered the ring she strung up on a fine platinum chain around her neck and looked out the window again. The same ring her savior used as a portkey to get her to Grimmauld Place that night. The same person who saved her from that Choking Curse.
"I think we should change into our uniforms, Hermione," Ginny finally told her, interrupting her reverie. "We're almost at Hogsmeade."
Hermione nodded and followed Ginny to the changing rooms, her thoughts still elsewhere. She wished Crookshanks could talk. Maybe then he'll be able to give her some answers to the questions that were bothering her. Half an hour later, Hermione was glancing around the platform of Hogsmeade, her heart lifting as she heard the familiar booming voice that heralded the first years forth.
"Firs' years, over here!" Hagrid seemed to have seen her waving at him and greeted her. "Alrigh', Hermione?!"
She beamed at him merrily, but then he seemed to notice that she was alone. Before she could bear the brunt of his questioning stare, she moved on to the carriages with her luggage rolling at her left and Crookshanks on her right. She'll deal with his questions and concern later. Right now, she just wanted to be left alone...
Severus watched the trio from the Head table like a hawk. Therefore, it did not escape his notice that Granger was nowhere near the vicinity of Potter and Weasley. She was, instead, abandoned at the back of the table with the second years. If anybody's noticed Potter and Weasley's abandonment of her, no one showed it. They were busy being center of attention and the object of worship of their fellow housemates again.
Housemates, he may note, who all but accused him of being insane last term. Granger, on the other hand, the person who stood by the Potter brat all these years, always so loyal to him, now sat alone. Talking to no one. Only by looking closely at her could one see the abject sadness on her face.
Stupid Gryffindors and their stupid loyalty...
Granted that Slytherins aren't much better. Slytherins were loyal only to themselves and their goals.
His eyes went back to Granger. He couldn't help it. He couldn't explain why but he felt like... he was hurting for her... which was utterly ludicrous, of course. To feel such empathy for a silly snot of a know-it-all.
Distractedly, he heard the Headmaster announce to everyone about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Bill Weasley. The Order agreed to this arrangement as a means to provide extra protection for the students. Particularly Potter. He managed to convince Albus not to put any assignments on Granger's head during the school year, telling everyone that she needed to focus on her studies. He knew that the Headmaster wasn't fooled for a moment but he was willing to put Hermione in less danger as is possible inside school grounds. His resentment of not having his coveted position once more hasn't changed although it was tempered by the knowledge that he had to keep a low profile during these times if he wanted to stay in the Dark Lord's circle as a spy. Giving him the position he wanted would make the Dark Lord extremely suspicious of him and that was something he can ill afford right now.
The genial old wizard was in the middle of his beginning of term feast speech when the doors to the Great hall opened, surprising Filch and Mrs. Norris, who were all beside the doorway. Everyone's attention was now riveted on the new arrivals.
Severus' eyes narrowed at the new comers. It seems that Percy Weasley, Fudge and Amelia Bones have decided to make an appearance tonight. Angry murmurs from the sea of students rose above the sudden silence as the pair of Ministry officials and their group of Auror escorts, crossed the aisles that led to the high table. McGonagall was instantly on her feet, her face in a very ill natured pinch, but Dumbledore, true to his nature for the evening, met the visitors with his usual benign and cheerful twinkle.
"Cornelius." The Headmaster greeted the bloated pig genially. "To what do we owe the honor?"
The Minister greeted the old wizard with the fakest smile Severus had ever seen. He smirked inwardly, though, when he saw Fudge flinch at the sight of Firenze and Hagrid. Umbridge must have told him what happened. He seemed to have learned his lesson from that little experience after all.
"Uhh...nothing of note, really, just some... matters of the Ministry, is all." Fudge said. He heard McGonagall's distinct 'hmf' and saw Dumbledore's warning glance. Fudge eventually shocked all of them by producing a very familiar object from the pockets of one of his robes. Severus caught his breath when he saw what it was. "I have found out about this certain object from one of my officials. I wish to meet and honor its inventor who I believe is Mis—"
"We shall discuss this later, Cornelius." The Headmaster cut in firmly, his twinkling gone and replaced by a hard expression rarely seen on the old wizard's face. "For now, why don't all of you join in our feast?"
Severus nearly stood in his chair in a rage when he saw the Patronus pendant handled so carelessly. He noticed Percy Weasley turn red at the ears and eventually put two and two together. Of course. Molly Weasley would never allow any of her children to go on about unprotected. A growl from Bill told him he was suspecting the same thing.
As the Minister and his entourage found chairs, Severus cast a surreptitious look at the Granger girl but she was unaware of what was going on but still curious, just like the other students. Virginia Weasley took one glance at Percy and her fork dropped to her plate, her hand visibly shaking. Another glance at the Potter brat and his red haired side kick told him Percy Weasley's fate was sealed.
All throughout the meal, Bill kept throwing poisonous looks over at his younger brother, which the recipient pointedly ignored. The tension at the Head table was so thick, it could have been cut by knife. The students were throwing them curious glances tinged with anger from certain D.A. members. Malfoy and some Slytherins were looking on with mingled curiosity and carefully covered disdain. Probably anxious to find out what was happening. The other students were glaring at Fudge, clearly remembering slights from last term.
At the end of the feast, the tension at the High Table was almost suffocating. The students were now on their feet and preparing for a good night's rest. All but the Dream team and Virginia Weasley, that is. The Headmaster, along with McGonagall, Bill Weasley and the Ministry entourage, stopped beside Granger's seat on their way out of the Great Hall. Severus narrowed his eyes on the Potter brat as he passed him.
"Miss Granger, I regret to bother you from your duties but the Minister of Magic wishes to have a word with you. Please come with us." The Headmaster told the girl gently.
Granger rose slowly from her seat and eyed the Ministry entourage with more than a little suspicion and curiosity.
"What do you want with, Hermione?!" Ron Weasley asked belligerently, his eyes trained on Percy.
"Ron." Bill warned his little brother with a hint of steel in his voice.
Ron fell silent but he still kept on glaring at Percy. Harry was looking at each adult in wary curiosity and Ginny was imitating her older brother.
"We just wanted to ask Miss Granger a favor." Madam Bones said as gently as she could.
"About what?" Miss Weasley asked, curiously.
"Matters of the Ministry," Fudge answered, impatient. "Now can we go, Miss Granger?"
"You aren't taking her anywhere without us." Ron said again, ignoring the warnings from his older brothers' eyes.
"I assure you, Mr. Weasley, that Miss Granger will come to no harm while she is with us." McGonagall told the boy curtly, her lips a thin white line on her face.
Ron was about to open his mouth and protest some more but a soft touch on his arm stopped him. He turned and saw Hermione looking up at the older wizards and witches with a determined look on her face.
"It's alright, Ron." She told the boy softly. "Ginny, why don't you and Colin get the first years into Gryffindor tower? Ron? You'd better do the rounds without me this time. I'll catch up with all of you later."
"But, Hermione—"
"It's alright, Ginny, I can take care of myself." Hermione told the rest of her housemates.
She looked thoughtful and Severus stared at her to try and figure out what on earth was going through that head of hers right now. Probably how to impress the Ministry idiots, he supposed. She is a Gryffindor, after all. Who knows what harebrained scheme she was hatching in that know-it-all brain of hers?
"A-are you sure you'll be alright, Hermione?"
Severus turned and was surprised at Longbottom's sincerely concerned question. He rather assumed the boy was too scared of him to utter a squeak whenever he was around. Clearly he was more concerned about Granger than his sorry self this time.
Granger gave Longbottom a warm smile and patted his arm comfortingly as she passed the boy by. The warmth of that smile and the way it warmed her eyes made Severus' breath hitch in his throat. It was... beautiful...
"I'll be alright, Neville." She told him softly before standing beside McGonagall.
Severus watched as Longbottom followed her with a pair of cow's eyes. It was apparent the boy was a slave of the emotional side of his hormones at the moment. The hope that he would be noticed by the Granger girl was apparent in his hopeful little eyes. Between Potter and the youngest Weasley male, however, the Longbottom Menace didn't stand a chance of ever winning Granger's heart. He could actually feel a bit of sympathy for the boy. It's not easy wanting something you know you can never have...
"I would suggest that you follow Miss Granger's advice, Mr. And Miss Weasley." McGonagall told them briskly. "You would do well to get some rest, Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom."
Severus saw all the snotty little brats nod and watched as the Weasley girl started to call out to the first years and youngest Weasley male slanted Granger another worried look before walking off with Longbottom. Potter, however, hesitated. Looking from the girl, to the Minister, to Dumbledore, seemingly unwilling to speak and yet wanting to so much. He could read the concern on his face for his friend.
"It's alright, Harry," Granger told him at last. "It will be alright."
Potter's face seemed to overflow with doubt and concern before seemingly remembering something, knotting is eyebrows and turning his back on her. Apparently, the boy's desire to keep her at arms length was a lot more difficult than he expected. Much as Severus wanted Granger to be away from the boy's influence, he couldn't help but wonder how long this situation will last for Potter and what the effect it will have on the boy. He looked at the girl and felt his anger rise at the brat when Severus saw the flash of hurt on her face. He then crushed the emotion.
What the hell was he just on about?!"Miss Granger?" Fudge called the girl's attention. "After you?"
Granger nodded and walked behind McGonagall. He followed the entourage, careful to keep himself silent and watchful for any tricks. When all of them had taken seats (except for him, Bill, McGonagall and the Aurors who were standing at either side of the door. Bill was standing behind Hermione's chair. McGonagall was standing beside the Headmaster's chair.), Fudge didn't wait for any more formalities.
"Miss Granger," he began. "I have been informed by a very reliable source that you were the brilliant mind that has created this..." the Minister held out the Patronus pendant, the malachite setting glowing softly in the light that permeated the Headmaster's office. "Am I correct?"
He saw the girl glance surreptitiously at Percy, who was writing down the proceedings with a quill, hastily, then at Dumbledore, who nodded to her slightly before answering a bit hesitantly. "Yes, sir."
"Excellent, excellent!" Fudge fawned over her. It made Severus' lip curl. "Truly excellent, Miss Granger! It is hard believe you are Muggleborn."
Severus cast a watchful glance at the girl and saw that she was a bit insulted at the reminder of her origins. He could understand what she was thinking. Fudge clearly sought to remind her that she was inferior so she will easily give in to any requests he might make. And willingly, too, if he flattered her enough and offered her all the right things that could make a Slytherin gloat on the top of his cloud. Maybe Fudge had a bit of Slytherin blood in him, after all. What a depressing thought.
"Actually, it is, Cornelius," Dumbledore answered cheerfully, looking on proudly at Hermione. "Pure blooded wizards like us are too insular and set in our ways to entertain any spectacular changes because we are secure in our power, whereas Muggleborns are exposed to a community where things keep evolving for the convenience of their lives. I believe Arthur Weasley and I agree with this outlook."
Fudge cleared his throat nervously at the subtle reminder that he never cared about the Muggleborns before. Especially last term.
Madam Bones decided to save him from any more awkwardness and get on with what they came here for. "And is it true that this object can protect anyone from a dementor's influence?"
Granger shook her head slightly and was barely restraining herself from narrowing her eyes. "Not exactly... It can only protect the person who owns the Patronus and memory inside it."
Madam Bones nodded, eyeing Hermione with more than a little respect. "Brilliant! I never thought it was possible!"
Hermione cocked her head slightly in curiosity as she looked at the woman before her. "With all due respect, Madam...?"
"Oh! Forgive me, dear. Bones. Amelia Bones. My niece goes to school here. Your year, I think. I have heard marvelous things about you before this."
Realization dawned on the girl's face. "Oh, so you're Susan's aunt! It's a pleasure to meet you at last. But please, Madam Bones, I would like to know why the Ministry is suddenly interested in my creation. This should not have been brought to the attention of anyone else before I was ready."
Fudge cut into the conversation, clearly thinking he was a lot more convincing than stalwart Madam Bones. "Well, Miss Granger, you may not notice, but we are at war. We need all the resources we have to defeat (Fudge pales and sweats) You-Know-Who."
Severus almost smirked again when he saw the girl raise an eyebrow slightly in irritation. Fudge was an idiot if he thought he could fool Granger. He was quickly learning that the girl didn't miss much.
"I know perfectly well about the war, Minister. In fact, I know there was a war even before you did. Please answer my question." She half snapped irritably.
This was getting to be more entertaining by the second. The Ministry versus Granger. It should prove to be a good fight indeed.
Fudge cleared his throat awkwardly again, his almost non existent neck, going red. Madam Bones was giving him a raised eyebrow that silently mocked him and asked, 'what now?'.
"Well," the Minister said after clearing his throat again. "When we at the Ministry discovered the amazing function of your brilliant creation, we all agreed to have it mass produced. And since it is, by all rights, yours and you are the only one who is familiar with its creation, we decided to tell you that we want to know how it is made and inform the public that they need not worry and show them that the Ministry still has everything under control."
Granger's eyes seemed to have sharpened in alarm at this and paled. "Who else knows that I'm the one who made the pendant?!"
Fudge seemed to have been taken aback by her reaction but it was Madam Bones who answered her calmly, the girl's alarm reaching her. "Don't worry, dear, the only one who knows about the existence of the pendant so far is the Minister, me and Mr. Weasley here."
"You told them!" Hermione's eyes were now concentrated on Percy. Disbelief and anger in her eyes and voice. "No one else but the Order is supposed to know about it's existence!"
"Well, now the Ministry knows about it too," Fudge huffed, throwing Dumbledore a resentful glare. "They will only make you keep your talents inside their own circle and keep your brilliance from becoming recognized. If you work with the Ministry, Miss Granger, I can assure you that you are guaranteed a high position in the Ministry as soon as you graduate."
Ah, Severus thought, and so the bribing begins. He couldn't wait to hear the threats and the Headmaster's reactions to it.
"We are not in a bloody auction, Minister!" Hermione answered him, standing now, her face white and her fists shaking, surprising everyone in the room. "Haven't you even considered the safety of my parents?! If word of this comes out and reaches Voldemort, their safety will be jeopardized!"
"Don't say his name!" Fudge snapped at her, trying to regain composure.
"I WILL SAY HIS BLOODY NAME BECAUSE I BLOODY WELL CAN AND NOBODY CAN BLOODY STOP ME!" she finally shouted before pacing, now alarmed, shocking her teachers. No one has ever seen her this way before. She reached for the Patronus Pendant that Fudge was clutching, surprising the older wizard with how fast she can move, and held it to her chest protectively. Trying to breathe and calm herself enough to think clearly. "What am I going to do to keep my parents safe?! They're Muggles! The Dark Lord now has another reason to put them on a target list and if that happens, it will be all your ruddy fault! The worst part is that I'm involved in it!"
"The Ministry will provide safety for your parents and for you—" Fudge said this as though it were a mere triviality.
Hermione cut him off with a glare. "The Ministry, so far, has not shown anything to give me confidence that they can provide my family the protection that they need."
"Hermione, may I remind you that you are speaking to the Minister of—"
"Shut up, Percy, I know bloody well who I'm talking to." Hermione snapped at the former Gryffindor, taking him aback before settling on her chair again and breathing deeply and closing her eyes, the pendant still trapped on her chest. Severus couldn't bring himself to reprimand her for her language. He was too entertained with the expression on Fudge's face. And so was McGonagall and the Headmaster if he were any judge. When the girl opened her eyes and released the air she collected, Hermione looked into Madam Bones' face, coming to a decision right then and there. "I'm sorry, I can't help you. A public appearance of the pendant's creator is not— cannot be an option for me. I can, if you like, provide you with the pendants but I refuse to give you verbal authorization to recreate it or be named its creator for now. I cannot teach you how to make them. The knowledge might be intercepted by the enemy and that is a risk neither of us can take. It's better that only I know the secret for now."
"No need to worry, Miss Granger," Dumbledore told her, looking on at her kindly. "In our world, no one will be able to duplicate something like this without the express wish and consent of the creator. Unless you sign a patent for it or give a written permission or if you choose to appear publicly about it, the pendant cannot be duplicated by anyone else but you and those who you gave verbal and written permission to."
"This is preposterous!" Fudge exclaimed, his voice, heavily placating and his smile, stiffer than it was before. "There cannot be any danger to you while you are a ward of the Ministry!"
"No, she's right." Bill put in with cold formality but Severus saw the fire blazing in his eyes. "She has a right to refuse you and keep the creator of the pendant secret."
"Shut up, I am not talking to you!" Fudge growled at Bill. "Miss Granger—"
"I am currently a ward of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as I am not of age yet. Therefore, I am going to rely on the school's staff to decide for me at the moment. I trust them all and I have faith in whatever they decide for me regarding this topic. "she told him resolutely. "And for now, if they say they agree that I should not go in public, then I most assuredly will not go public with the pendant."
"But you can't do this!" Fudge stood up quickly and reached for her shoulders. His eyes were bulging in fear and desperation as he shook her. "YOU WILL DO AS I SAY, GIRL!"
Severus was moving in an instant. He pulled the girl away from Fudge and caught her close. His arm around her waist and his other hand already preparing to pull out his wand from his sleeve. The Aurors around them instantly had their wands trained on him but Madam Bones' raised hand stopped them short of casting hexes.
"How dare you, you spineless, scum bag of a Death Eater!" Fudge roared as he tried to reach for Hermione again. "You will hand her over to me this instant or I will make sure you get thrown in Azkaban like the rest of your kind!"
He glared at the spineless sod who was still seething in front of him, still clutching Granger close to him, idly noting the soft scent of something earthy and sweet coming from her. He breathed her in deeply before he could stop himself and the fragrance of wildflowers struck him like a punch in the gut. He glanced down at her, shocked senseless, but she was unaware of his alarming reaction to her nearness. She was gazing at the Minister and watching the bloated pig while her hand was still holding the pendant close to her chest in a protective manner.
"You will not lay hands on my students, Cornelius!" Dumbledore was standing up too and looking angrier than Severus had ever seen the old wizard.
Fudge immediately backed away from Hermione but the terror was still there in his eyes. "Y-you cannot tell me what to do! I'm the Minister of Magic!"
"No, Cornelius." Dumbledore said firmly. "Miss Granger is right and this is her decision. The pendant's creator will not be made public unless she gives her permission."
Madame Bones nodded her signal to the Aurors who then took a harmless, but firm hold on Fudge and guided him out of the office with a bit of a scuffle amidst his furious swearing and half mad threats.
"Please forgive his actions, Albus. He's been a bit... on edge lately." She apologized to the Headmaster.
"I believe Miss Granger is the one whom you should apologize to." Dumbledore told the woman quietly.
Severus let go of her as if burned the instant she turned her beautiful doe brown eyes at him questioningly. He let his hair fall over his eyes to hide the sudden surprise and confusion he was feeling all of a sudden. Hermione didn't seem to be disgusted by the fact that he was holding her earlier. Instead, she seemed thankful and smiled at him softly before saying, "Thank you, sir."
McGonagall was at the girl's side in an instant and checking her student for injuries while he stood behind her, his heart beating so fast he could hardly breathe properly! "Are you hurt, Miss Granger? Shall I send for Madame Pomfrey?!"
"I'm alright, Professor." She tried to assure all of them a bit weakly.
"Please accept my apologies, Miss Granger—"
"It's alright, no harm done, Madame Bones." The girl cut her off quickly, stepping away from Severus. Much to his dismay, he found himself feeling bereft without her in his arms. "But please understand that I can't risk the safety of my family like that without any proper planning. The secret on how to prepare the pendant has to remain so until we can be sure it will not fall into enemy hands. There has to be another way. I'm sorry if I can't bring myself to trust the Ministry as much as I probably should but—"
"It's alright, dear, I am well aware of the mistakes we have made these past few years. We have been too lax and sure of ourselves."
"Pride cometh before the fall..." Hermione whispered aloud, looking a bit pale around the edges but smiling softly. Severus looked up and stared at her in surprise. Where had she come by with that phrase? Those were words he only heard from his own subconscious the moment he decided to spy for the Headmaster all those years ago... "What can you do to prevent the knowledge of me being the creator of the pendant from coming out, Madame?"
Madame Bones smiled at the younger girl and held out a hand to shake hers. "I will watch the Minister and make sure I can hold him off from putting up a press conference about this for as long as I can, but I cannot promise you anything else. You are indeed quite brilliant. Owl me after you graduate and decide you want a career in the Ministry. We need more people like you in there."
Hermione nodded and blushed charmingly before smiling her thanks. Madame Bones was about to leave but Percy called to her.
"Madame Bones?"
The older witch raised an eyebrow as she turned to him. "Yes, Percival?"
"I would like to stay a few more moments here. I will try to convince Hermione to change her mind." Percy answered her with a confident tone of voice.
Severus narrowed his eyes on the pompous ass, daring him to lift a finger on the girl. He saw the third oldest Weasley son taking on an air Severus was familiar with during the boy's prefect years in Hogwarts. It made him want to hex the red head on the spot.
The older witch merely raised a skeptical eyebrow before nodding. "I don't think you'll be able to sway Miss Granger from something she's already decided on, Percival, but I wish you luck all the same." And then she left with a respectful nod at Hermione.
Percy immediately turned to face Hermione. "Hermione—"
Hermione turned her face away from him. "No, Percy, I don't want to hear it."
"The people of the wizarding world needs this sort of protection right now!" he told her in his most authoritative tone of voice. "Besides, don't you want to be known as the youngest genius in the wizarding world? The public will glorify you once you provide them with this charm! They need someone to worship other than Harry Potter!"
"What the wizarding world needs right now," Hermione shot back at him. "is to unite themselves against a common evil! Not to be buried knee deep in political intrigue and paranoia! Turning this into an all out media frenzy will not help matters, Percy."
"Hermione, the danger will only be for a while, the Ministry will provide protection for your parents—"
"I know of your willingness and ability to protect me and my parents from the Dark Lord, Percy..." Hermione told him a bit calmly. "The question is... can you protect me from yourselves?"
Percy's eyes knotted. "What do you mean?"
Hermione walked over a few steps towards him before stopping and speaking, looking him directly in the eye. "I can readily assume that the Minister only wishes to acquire the knowledge on how to reproduce the pendant and present me to the public so that he can gain favor from the populace again. After his constant refusal of Professor Dumbledore's and Harry's accounts that the Dark Lord is alive again, I am sure he is afraid of being abdicated and replaced. He needs to show the people that he has done something for the public safety to restore their faith in him. He wants to know how to duplicate this charm to make himself look good again and secure his position in the Ministry offices!"
Percy's face blushed red at the insult. "I suggest that you be careful with what you're saying, Hermione. I am still Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic! I have the authority to—"
"What you have is a title, Percy. It means nothing!" Hermione cut him off passionately. "A title is only as good as the person who wields it. And you—" she looked him up and down as she waved her hand at him in a dismissive manner while shaking her head. "—are nothing! A person of authority claiming to work for the Ministry of Magic should be someone who can be fair! Someone who cares. Someone who is deeply passionate! Someone like YOUR FATHER!"
Percy was speechless for a few moments as he stared at her before clearing his throat awkwardly and retrieving a vestige of his usual dignity. "And what do you know about such things?! You're only a shadow! Trailing behind Potter and Ron and being shunted aside as soon as they've had their use for you! You're nothing to them but a third wheel, Hermione, you mean nothing to them!"
Hermione looked as though she was slapped for a moment. Severus glared at Percy, ready to hex the pompous git where he stood but Bill beat him to the punch. The eldest Weasley son came forward and slammed Percy onto a wall, his face furious. "How DARE you?! You will not talk to Hermione like that, you hear me, Percy?!"
Percy was red in the face, just like his older brother. He struggled against Bill's hold. "Or what?! What's she done to you?! Caught you in her web too, just like what she did to Ron, Potter, George and Krum?! I thought you were only interested in girls above the age of seventeen, Bill!? I can't believe you'd fall prey in the clutches of a scarlet woman like that! Teasing men with her smiles and her laughter and pretending she has no idea what she's doing to them—"
Bill slammed Percy on the wall again, harder this time, his face was red with rage, his brown eyes blazing violently.
"One more word out of you—"
"Bill, stop!" Hermione called to him, her eyes pleading.
Bill looked back at her, incredulously. "But, Hermione!"
Hermione shook her head shakily at him. "Please, Bill... He's not worth it."
Bill stared at her for a few moments, breathing heavily, before roughly letting go of his younger brother and backing off, fixing Percy with a glare. "You're lucky, prat."
Percy glared after him, righting his clothes, before fixing his eyes on Hermione who was still standing in front of him. A quiet dignity and sorrowful strength, surrounding her. Severus was sinking further into her web. Was it true, everything that Weasley just said? He looked at Hermione harder, not liking the fact that he was noticing things he'd rather not. He tried to look away but he couldn't. His eyes drank her silently in from behind the ebony curtain of his hair...
Percy puffed his chest up and fixed Hermione with a dignified glare. "I will give you another chance to change your mind and join the Ministry, Hermione. We are the only ones who can help you. I am the only one who can help you."
But Hermione raised up her chin in defiance and looked him in the eye. "You are nothing. Nothing but a mindless puppet who nods at the every order, every whim of a superior who is incapable of caring for anything else but a bloody title! You only acquired your so called authority because of a political scam to impose more influence to protect people who doesn't want to lose their bloody labels and to turn you against YOUR OWN FATHER! You never earned it. And you don't deserve it because you can't care less for anyone but your greedy little self!"
Percy was enraged. "How dare you! I merely disclosed the facts to the Ministry about the existence of this pendant to help others protect themselves against the threat of dementors too! You should be grateful! I am helping you to gain prestige to slip out from under Potter's shadow!"
"Shadows only exist if you let your light shine out of you and see things in others you know you cannot have and be darkened by jealousy because of it. Shadows only exist when you begin wanting what others have and produce discontent and bitterness because you know you are not like that but are too arrogant to admit you're less!" she spat at him. "Power should be controlled, Percy. It should not control you."
Hermione's last words were like hail on Severus' whole being. Was she always this wise? She was echoing words he had heard once upon a time... a long, long time ago... He stared at her and saw the sadness and the determination on her face.
Hermione stared at Percy, her eyes bleak and filled with tears she didn't dare let fall. She held the pendant out to him, holding it under Percy's nose, her voice indicating how close she was to tears. "Do you have any idea how one of these pendants are made, Percy?"
Silence met her as Percy became more uneasy by the minute. Hermione swallowed before continuing, never breaking eye contact with the older boy. "Each and every one of these pendants contain a certain amount of life force from the person who asked me to make it. A person who, I might add, cares for you deeply. It was the only way to make the protection of the pendant stronger than it originally is. It isn't that easy to make. Your mother instilled each and every one of the pendants you and your brothers and sister are wearing, with a certain amount of her own life force to protect all of you... I should know. I taught her how much she should put in each and every one of them. I witnessed her drain herself little by little just so she can provide all of you the safety that you need. You know what that means, don't you, Percy?"
Bill held onto his pendant possessively all of a sudden, understanding dawning on his face. Severus felt himself swallow around the emotion Hermione was displaying. The rawness in her voice were like nails on a blackboard for him. He wanted to make her stop hurting. He wanted to hold her again and never let her go...
Oh merciful Merlin what is WRONG with me...?!
"Your mother told me that she sent you your pendant first because you were in more danger than anyone else in the family aside from your father because you work for the Ministry. I suspect Ginny and Ron's will be arriving soon as well. I know Bill, Charlie and your father already have one each. Nice of you to worry about them, by the way." Hermione slapped the pendant back on Percy's chest, which he caught with a thunderstruck look on his face as though Hermione just punched him in the gut.
"You don't deserve her sacrifice. You don't deserve your family..." She ended before whirling gracefully around to face the Headmaster, her face controlled, her voice, calmer than she felt. "Harry loves your mother and your whole family and he envies you because he's never had a family before. Not like yours. He wants something that simple while you want something so complicated when you already have everything but are too blind to see it! You have allowed your ambition to rule you... You're no better than the Dark Lord..."
Silence filled the room. Even the paintings of the former headmasters and headmistresses were silent as they watched the scene before them. Hearing every single breath and word of every person in the room. Even Phineas Nigellus was quiet although there was a shrewd, calculating look on his smarmy, bearded face as he stared at the Gryffindor prefect.
"Headmaster?" Hermione finally broke the silence at last. "May I go now?"
Dumbledore nodded grimly, his eyes softening as they landed on her face. "Yes, my dear. And thank you."
With a curt nod at no one in particular, Hermione started to walk out of the Headmaster's office. Her head held high and with a dignity few can ever really manage. But before she can step out of the office, she suddenly stiffened. Her hands immediately went to her chest and she fell on her knees with a sob without warning.
"Ah!" she gasped in pained surprise.
"Miss Granger!" McGonagall was immediately running for her, concern on her face.
"Hermione?!" Bill called and was immediately by her side.
Severus was stricken by panic and concern but managed to stay where he was. Hermione looked as though she was having a hard time breathing. She was clutching her chest so tightly, eyes wide in fear.
"What's happening to her, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked. He too came close to the three. His concern seemed alien on his face.
"I don't know!" she answered, her voice trembling slightly. "Miss Granger? Miss Granger, what is wrong?!"
"I'll take her to Madame Pomfrey." Bill said as he began to carry her. Severus felt a wave of jealousy course through him as he watched Bill's arm start to wrap around Hermione's shoulders.
Hermione, however, waved them off. "No. I'm fine... I'm just... a little weak."
"Weak? From what?" Bill asked her, his eyes narrowed.
She took a few more breaths in before answering. "Too much life force drained... from me... My magic is suffering slightly from the use... Nothing serious..."
"On Harry's pendant? You spent that much life force on Harry's pendant?! Are you mad?!" Bill growled at her, growing pale. "Why haven't you told us anything before?!"
Severus felt a new wave of hate for the ungrateful spawn of James Potter at the very thought. What was it about the boy that would make Hermione risk her own life for him?! He didn't deserve her!
Hermione, however, shook her head as she tried to stand by herself. Her breathing was still a bit uneven "I'll be fine once I've had some rest. It's not easy and I'm not used to giving away my life force energy on something like the pendants I made for Harry, Remus and..."
McGonagall paled and doubly insisted that Pomfrey look the Gryffindor over. Bill carried her off amidst weak protests leaving the Headmaster, himself and Percy Weasley in the office. After a few moments of silence, wherein the portraits of the former headmasters and mistresses of Hogwarts were listening in avidly on everything that was happening, Dumbledore surprised Percy by turning to face the former student. The customary twinkle in his clear, blue eyes, gone.
"Mr. Weasley, you have seen for yourself how difficult it is for her to continue to put herself in the service of others," Dumbledore began as Percy seemed to shrink in on himself, wide eyed. "I cannot allow her to be exposed to danger more than she already is. We will find a way to distribute the pendants to the public, if this really is the Ministry's concern, but to give Miss Granger a publicity fest and land her on top of Voldemort's (Percy flinches) Top List Of Priorities is strictly out of the question. I will not allow the Ministry to use her so that Cornelius would look good in front of the wizarding population once more. If the Ministry tries to spread even a hint of a rumor about her connection to the pendant, I will personally make sure to convince the Wizengamot to oust Fudge from his position along with you and your cohorts and ship all of you off to the front lines of the coming war. Do you understand?"
Percy gulped hard and nodded once. His wide brown eyes told them he understood perfectly and Severus felt himself smirking as the boy hurriedly (and nervously) scurried out of the office before he turned to the Headmaster.
"You seem to have developed a fondness for Miss Granger also, Headmaster." He commented smoothly, trying to quash all of the confusing feelings he found for the girl earlier. "You should be wary, sir. We cannot afford to be close to someone who may well become expendable during the war."
"I know, Severus," Dumbledore told him quietly as Fawkes sang for him from its perch. A sadness in his voice. "But how can you not love a person such as she...? Who would sacrifice all for the people she most loves? How can anyone not wish to protect such vulnerability from the ills of the world...?"
Severus knew what the Headmaster was talking about. He was right there a few minutes ago, looking at her soul as though she were standing there naked and helpless as the day she was born. He shivered at her openness. He couldn't remember a time when he felt that way before. He couldn't even imagine such a feeling. "Still, we must think rationally, if we wish to help her through this."
"I know, Severus, I know..." Dumbledore smiled at him, the twinkle back in his eyes. "I believe Harry is trying to protect her by hurting her. He really does remind me of you at that age, Severus. If only you had someone like Hermione back then—"
"I prefer not to speak of what ifs anymore, Headmaster." Severus cut off the old wizard stiffly before turning away expressing his feelings over the current topic more with his actions rather than his words. "I will return to my quarters now, if you do not mind. I have first years to... greet tomorrow. Good night, sir."
Dumbledore nodded at his back. His blue, blue eyes gone sad and old as he watched the sad man his former student has become. "Good night, Severus..."
Severus strode out of the Headmaster's office, his cloak billowing majestically behind him. His jaw was twitching and his hands were fisted inside his sleeves.
Yes, he was angry. Extremely so...
For how many times had he thought of the exact same thing when the nights came forth and the lights bowed low and all he had for company was a glass of firewhiskey and memories of a past and present that would appear pathetic in the eyes of many but was all he ever could and ever would have? How many times had he longed for someone to be his... friend? His companion? Just someone to stave off the loneliness between work and sleep and drive away the darkness, even for a while?
Severus' eye twitched bitterly and he sneered. Because, in the light of day, he knew it would be impossible for anyone to see him as anything else but an entity to be feared. Everyone was afraid of him. He implanted the idea in his brain so many times until he preferred it that way that he didn't know when he started to believe it himself.
His former classmates, his students, most people in the wizarding world... even his own mother. His very ever cowering mother who made the mistake of marrying— Severus stopped abruptly in the middleof the deserted corridor. His fists clenched, his whole body trembling until he willed himself to calm down. Then his thoughts brought back the memory Potter saw in the Pensieve last term and it made him furious all over again. Nearly gripping him in the rage that followed the humiliation.
Yes... It was incredibly ironic, how similar he was back then to James Potter's son now... What a very bloody irony indeed. That was why he was going to make damn sure the boy turns out better than he ever was...or ever could be.....
A/N Thank yous:
serpentstear: (did I spell that right?) Thank you so much for liking this story. Don't worry, there's lots more to come. I have this story halfway finished in my brain but, as you know, plots are one thing, dialogues are another. Add in my lack of time and facilities, I think you'd understand . Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and well wishes. I wish you the best also.
Ezmerelda: LOL!!! Yeah, I think so too. But you have to admit, in a way, his logic seems quite feasible, at least, in his point of view. Only thing is, Hermione is almost as stubborn as he is. As for who will defend her from Malfoy... well I'll let you read on and find out . Thank you for enjoying and appreciating. Hope you'll keep on reading.
HazyDayClearNight: Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Fun's just beginning so keep on reading and enjoying !
I-LUV-ILC: Erm... just out of curiosity... what does your nick mean? Lol! I didn't know you've been reading this. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm happy I've updated too just to read you were pleased . Have no fear, I plan to finish this story.
potts: Thank you so very much. Your wish is my command v.
Also, just to let all of you know, if turns pissy and chucks out this story, you'll find another copy of this fic in . I posted there just in case. Thanks!
All my love and thanks,
leloupblanc
Extra A.N.: Hi, everyone! This is Vionella and I want to apologize b'coz it's my fault this chapter was delayed. Leloup gave me this to type it up like about a month ago but I just wasn't in the mood so don't blame her. I'm very, very sorry. Erm... let's keep this as our little secret, shall we?