Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all other characters, excluding Abby Granger, belong to the wonderful and exaulted J.K. Rowling and her associates.
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A/N: Woah, alright. I understand that you all love the story. But aren't the death threats a bit much? lol.
June: Good observation, but, for the purpose of this story...let's just say he needed MOM permission for pensieves. And wand oaths? Eh. It's more funner to see 'em squirm this say.
Intelligent Witch: Anger and spite are powerful tools.
Dragonmaster Kurai: Don't worry...Sevvie-dearest'll enter the picture soon enough. I just gotta set everything up first.
Anarane Anwamane: Indeed it will be.
Natsuyori: You've honestly made my day. Wow.
BraeBee: Yeah, isn't it just killing you inside not knowing? ::evil grin:: You'll find out who raped her soon. Not this chapter. Perhaps the next? You'll just have to wait and see!
Colleen: Melodramatic? Me? ::laughs:: Let's just call it a flair for drama, shall we?
GEmory: Uh...well...things will get better. After they get worse. ::hums innocently::
Micheala90: I know the characterization's a bit odd in the first 2 chapters...but it's explained better in future chapters.
kishkitten36: Well at least you were honest. Though I'm not sure you read correctly. I did mention that Hermione had left her owl there, which obviously implies that she had one. Hermione's not an only child in this story, and I thought it was rather obvious that her parents didn't give a damn about Hermione, which I do plan to elaborate more on. Dumbledore's reasoning will be explained as well. There are only two chapters (three now) you can't expect me to spell things out for you right away. Next time you plan on leaving such a harsh review, I suggest you take the time to read properly.
12 Grimmauld Place hadn't changed much over the years. It was still the same, creepy, eerily dank place that it had been the day of Sirius' death.
And of course, as it had been for years, it was still the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, which was currently finishing up a meeting.
They were sat at the large table that took up much of the dining room, and the armchairs the littered the sides of the rooms.
The meeting was just an obligatiory update one, nothing really was said that they hadn't heard before. Harry and Ron, who had finally been allowed into the lesser meetings, seeing as they found out what was going on in them anyway, were sitting next to each other, talking.
"Have you owled Hermione lately?" asked Harry, propping his head onto his hands, leaning onto the table.
Ron frowned. "Meant to, honestly! But with everything going on it's hard to find the time." he said defensively.
"I'm not blaming you or anything, Ron. It's just that something's not right." Harry said tenitively.
"Whatcha mean? She's prolly just busy, she said she would be. That's why she didn't come to Grimmauld Place with us." Ron replied.
Harry shook his head. "It's not even that. I sent a letter to her 2 days ago, you remember?" said Harry.
Ron nodded, a confused look on his freckled face. "I got a letter back this morning," Harry pulled the letter in question out of his pocket. "It's from Hermione's mum and dad. And it's not very nice. I thought I'd show it to Dumbledore."
"Whats it say?" Ron asked, looking at the innocent looking letter in Harry's hand.
"More or less that Hermione doesn't live there anymore and as far as they're concerned she's dead to them." Harry grimaced. "I'm worried. Why hasn't she shown up here or the Burrow if something's happened?"
Ron looked dumbstruck. "How could Hermione's parents do that to her?"
"That's what I'd like to know." Harry said, getting up from the bench. He motioned to Ron, who stood up and well. Together, they made their way across the cluttered room. Many people had left since the meeting had ended, but it was still littered with chairs and people.
"Professor?" Harry asked, making his way over to where Dumbledore sat.
"Yes, Harry?" Dumbledore answered, a small smile on his thin and worn lips.
"Uh...I think something's wrong with Hermione. We haven't been able to contact her and when we tried we got back a rather nasty letter from her parents." Harry said, sticking his hands into his pockets. Ron nodded next to him, not having anything to add.
Dumbledore sighed wearily. "I'm sorry."
Alarm flashed in Harry's eyes, which was quickly recognized by Dumbledore. A million and one thoughts were flying through Harry's mind. What on earth had happened?
"Please, sit, both of you." Dumbledore said, and a few people slid over on the bench to give them room.
The Headmaster waited while the boys took their seats. When they had, they stared at Professor Dumbledore expectantly.
"Hermione will not be returning to Hogwarts this September." Dumbledore began, taking care of the way he worded his sentences.
"What? Why won't she be?" Ron blurted out. His expressive eyes were teeming with concern for his friend.
"She'll well, I assure you. Well, as healthy as one can be under the circumstances." The Headmaster said, deliberately evasive.
"Circumstances?" asked Harry simply.
"I'm afraid that Miss Granger became with child during the summer holidays." Dumbledore said regretfully.
The boys gaped at him. Ron kept opening his mouth to say something, but every time he did, the words refused to come out. Harry stared incredulously at the Headmaster, his eyes taking on a strange glazed expression.
Finally, Harry regained enough sense to say incrediously, "You can't be serious?!"
But Dumbledore's expression was deadly serious. No, there was no mistake here. With the information at least.
"But...but...Hermione...she would never..." Harry rambled, still trying to process the information.
"I'm inclined to agree with you Harry, but there's nothing to be done for it now." The Headmaster said.
"She came yesterday to Hogwarts, her family apparently kicked her out. Just before her arrival, I received a letter from her parents, explaining the situation. They wrote that Miss Granger was pregnant by her boyfriend, Tom I believe his name was, and that she was no longer her responsibility. They also mentioned that Hermione seemed to protest that she was raped, and that she had not had other relations."
"Hermione was raped?!" Ron exclaimed, drawing the attention from the others in the room.
"I cannot say if it's true or not. It's unlikely, though." Dumbledore replied calmly. "Either way, the result would have been the same. I was forced to expel her."
"What? But...that's completely unfair Professor!" Harry argued, beginning to get angry. Not exactly at Dumbledore, but at the world in general. How could fate be so cruel as to rip his best friend from him?
"Harry, I had no choice. As it is, I'm under Ministry surveillance. I can't afford to go against policy at this point. We can't fight both Voldemorte and the Ministry." The Headmaster reasoned.
They sat in silence for a few moments, each of them absorbed in their thoughts. None of them made eye contact, they stared at inconspicuous spots on the wall as if they were the most interesting sights in the world.
Eventually, one of them spoke.
"It makes sense dunnit?" Ron mumbled, more to himself than anyone else.
Harry shifted his gaze to his red-haired friend. "What in Merlin's name are you talking about?"
"Hermione. She said she'd be very busy all summer, though she never said with what. She must have been with her boyfriend." Ron said in a distant tone.
"I suppose." Harry said slowly. "I just hope he's taking care of her."
"I'm sure of it." Dumbledore said. He was back to twinkling again.
Well, that certainly explains alot, thought a certain dark haired, sallow skinned, not-so-nice professor from his victorian style armchair on the side of the room.
He had seen the girl as she was leaving. She was in a fury as she tore across the hall; her hair unruly, a scowl set upon her face. Not that remarkable when it came to Miss Granger though, she had developed a bit of a temper as she grew older. But what had piqued his curiousity was the trails of tears that were on her face. Severus was hard pressed to remember a time when he had seen Miss Granger cry.
No wonder she was in such a state. He almost felt sorry for the girl. Almost. If it weren't for the fact that this was a mess of her own doing, he might have appealed to Dumbledore. Not himself of course, but he would have convinced Minerva or someone else to do it.
All in all, it was a real shame.
A/N:Ahhh feels good to get this bit done. Kinda just a transition chapter. ::shrug::
Alright, I'm putting out an official request here. I'd like a beta, and if someone here could give me a hand it would be much appreciated. Let me know in a review, or e-mail or IM me if you're interested.
R/R.
