Albus cleared his throat, and looked at those assembled around him. It was times like this that he was glad he had gathered such fine minds to teach here at Hogwarts. "Now, as I see it we have a few difficult tasks ahead. We must find someway to counteract this spell, we must ensure Miss Granger's safety until this is counteracted, and we must find out who has cast the spell on her. I have a few ideas, but I would like to hear from you first." He reached into his robe and withdrew one of his ubiquitus lemon drops, before placing in his mouth.
There was silence for just a moment, then Professor Sprout spoke up. "Well, it seems that since we don't know what this is, we have to try a wide variety of antidotes and cancelling charms." The other professors nodded.
"Well, I can run through the set of known cancelling charms. That should take me about an hour." Professor Flitwick nodded, then looked over to where Severus was sitting.
"Antidote potions, on the other hand, require not only preparation, but are grouped by what they are curing. The sets for curing charms, curses, generic dark spells, and specific dark spells are rather large. It would take most of a month to run through each set, given time for preparation, administration, and purging." The Potions Master sounded as if he were lecturing a particularly dense group of first years, but the staff was used his attitude.
"Well, we'd best hope that one of Flitwicks charms works, then." Minerva spoke up, though she couldn't help but glare at Snape for his attitude. "But in case it doesn't, maybe we should have Albus work with her daily, to see her memories of the day, to catch something she missed. Its possible we could identify the spell that way."
It was all Severus could do to hold back his smirk. While he loved baiting Minerva, he knew this was not the time. "Yes, the Headmaster does have all that free time, doesn't he?" He sneered. "However, the idea has merit. I would give Miss Granger the option of either myself or the Headmaster, as she might make the logical choice and not impose on the Headmaster's already busy day."
Minerva almost choked on her tea. "Severus, are you volunteering to help a Gryffindor know-it-all?" Her voice was filled with disbelief.
He snorted at her tone. "It appears I must be, Professor, as you just heard me say something of the sort. It appears your hearing is fine, even if your capacity for understanding has diminished with age." He allowed himself to roll his eyes at her direction.
Before things could degenerate any further, Albus spoke up soothingly, "Splendid ideas! I myself had thought that we would need to install Miss Granger in her own room, using charms and wards to make it as safe as possible until our other plans can be solved. I think we should wait until she decides who she will be working with before we make a decision about where to assign her new rooms." At this suggestion most of the staff nodded in agreement, though Minerva still glared at Professor Snape, who made no attempt to hide his scowl.
Snape rose suddenly and started pacing in the small confines of the staff room. All present knew that this was an indication that he had an idea, one that he was not sure would be well recieved. "In order to... flush out the perpetrator, we will need to be discreet. If the Headmaster were to reassure Messrs Potter and Weasly at dinner, to make a statement about Miss Granger being under a spell, and reassure them that we are working on finding the cause, that would give us, the rest of the staff at the High Table, a chance to view reactions." He paused and only saw agreement on the faces around him before deciding to continue. "I would also suggest that each person be assigned a group of students that are not in their own house, as to avoid undue... influence on the results." He stopped pacing and sat down suddenly, his face a blank mask.
Albus smiled encouringly at him, only to be met with a scowl. This did not deter the Headmaster from clapping his hand on his Potion Master's shoulder and congratulating him. "Well thought out Severus! Any other ideas?" There were shakes of heads all around. "Well then, lets get settled who will watch who, and then Professors Flitwick and Snape, if you will accompany me to the hospital wing so we can talk with Miss Granger?" The question was phrased a request, but both professors understood it was an order, as Flitwick chirped "Of course!" and Snape just grunted and half-nodded to Albus. Shortly thereafter, they had gotten the assignments worked out. Sprout would be watching the Ravenclaws, Snape the Gryffindors, Minerva would watch the Slytherins, and Flitwick the Hufflepuffs. Other teachers would also be watching for general reactions. With that, the meeting broke up, and most of the staff dispersed until dinner. The Headmaster, with Professors Flitwick and Snape headed to the Hospital wing to talk to Miss Granger.
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"I'm going to have to what?" Hermione's voice was deadly quiet as she was told of the plans set in motion to help her.
"Miss Granger," Albus smiled softly at the young woman whose eyes were sparkling with anger, "Unless we can counteract this spell, we simply must further investigate. Hopefully, having another set of trained eyes looking at your memories each day will notice the person or persons responsible. We do not even know what type of spell this is, a charm, a spell of dark intent or... "
"A potion?" Hermione asked, glaring at Professor Snape as if it were all his fault.
"Well, no, its not a potion. The spells we performed earlier would not have worked on a potion. That is why they are no longer well known, and usually only performed by trained Aurors." He tried to reassure her. "However, there are some potions that can reverse spells. So if Professor Flitwick cannot undo the spell, then we will need to try varying potions."
"Yes, yes, I understand." Hermione waved away the explanation, and closed her eyes. So she had to chose between the man who most hated her at Hogwarts, and the man who was directing the entire resistance against Lord Voldemort. She understood their reasoning, and could even agree, if it hadn't applied to her. Leglimancy had to be used, because it would allow the person to feel everything she did, which would provide greater understanding of her situation. In a penseive, one was a visitor, apart from the happenings, which wouldn't help near as much. She sighed, keeping her eyes closed as she tried to work through this delicate issue of who to trust her mind to.
While Albus was the Headmaster, and she trusted him, she wasn't sure she wanted him running about in her mind. He was powerful, and he was almost painfully good. Hermione knew she had rather uncharitable thoughts at time, and she didn't want the Headmaster to see some of her worst moments. On the other hand, Professor Snape appeared to dislike her so much, she wasn't sure she wanted him in her mind either. But when it came down to it, there was one person she trusted to keep her secrets, and that was amazingly, one Severus Snape, Potions Master. Since she had found out he was a spy, she realized what iron control the man must have, and while she didn't care for his teaching methods, the man had kept more secrets and done more for the resistance than anyone else she knew, including her best friend, Harry Potter. All her petty thoughts wouldn't phase him, all her insecurities wouldn't touch him, and she would again ask his word. This time to keep what he saw to himself, unless it helped her situation. All in all, she'd rather have Snape in her mind, odd as it felt to think that. The Headmaster was just... too much.
And it would help her to be close to Snape's workshop as they tested the antidote potions. She opened her eyes, and looked at the man she was thinking about. Dressed in those billowing black robes, greasy hair hanging down, a scowl that she was sure was permantly etched on his face, he was the epitome of the dark, brooding wizard. But he had helped her before, he had saved Harry's life numerous times. This wouldn't be any different. "With all due respect, I think I will chose Professor Snape, Headmaster." She lowered her head, and hoped he wouldn't ask any embarassing questions, like, WHY IN MERLIN'S NAME WOULD YOU CHOOSE HIM?
"Very well, Miss Granger." His non-judgemental tone caused her to look up at him, and he smiled encouragingly. "Professor Snape and I will see about setting up your new quarters. Professor Flitwick, if you would find us after you are done?" Flitwick nodded, "We will be warding them, as well as setting up charms to keep you safe in your new home, my dear." He patted her on her hand, then stood up, his beard brushing her arm as she stifiled a giggle at the way it tickled. "And you can be sure that Misters Potter and Weasley will be by to see you after dinner."
Hermione moaned at this reminder. What would her friends say?
Severus couldn't keep the smirk off his face as he spoke up for the first time, "I believe, Miss Granger, I would moan too if I were forced to suffer such company." At her indignant gasp, he turned and strode out of the Hospital Wing, not waiting for Albus as he let himself smile. She was almost as much fun to tease as Minerva.
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Dinner time in the Great Hall. One of the everyday events that most of its attenders took for granted, though when they grew up and moved on they would understand just what it meant to be able to sit down and go over the days events with those most important to you, as well as be able to relax and be yourself. To be surrounded by those who cared for you.
Well, thats what it was for most. For right now, Ron Weasley was feeling the sting of being ostracized by his fellow classmates. He and his best friend Harry Potter sat together towards one end of the table, trying to ignore the angry glares and whispers, once Hermione's absence was noted yet again.
"What do you think happened this time, Harry?" Ron asked dejectedly. He not only was missing Hermione, but the weight of the stares was getting to him. He thought he could handle everything, being the youngest boy of the Weasley clan, but this hurt more than he thought it would.
Harry sighed and looked sadly at his best friend. "I dunno, Ron, but... I'm scared. She was gone last night and she's still not back." He tried without success to control the waver in his voice at the thought of Hermione seriously injured.
"I know, Harry, I know." Ron looked down at his plate for a moment, and when he raised his head, his eyes were filled with worry and anger. "And these morons aren't helping much. I know they don't know anything, but still... how could they think that I would... I mean, dammit Harry, I'd never hurt her!" He slammed his fist on the table, which only drew more stares, and he quickly subsided. Both boys continued to eat in silence.
As they were finishing up dinner still not speaking for fear of more attention, Dumbledore left the High Table and came down towards them. As the Headmaster approached them, looking splended in shiny blue robes covered in tiny dancing silver stars, most of the conversation in the hall ceased, as everyone was waiting to see what would happen to the Boy Who Lived and the Boy Who Beat his Girlfriend. To their shock and suprise, instead of an accusatory glare, Dumbledore smiled sympathetically down at the two boys. Ron looked into the Headmasters eyes, he saw sympathy and... absolution? His mouth dropped open in shock as Dumbledore began to speak.
"Mr. Weasley. I wanted to reassure you that Miss Granger is indeed in the Hospital Wing as I'm sure you've deduced. She is suffering from a detremental spell, one that is causing her injuries. It appears that there is an apology owed to you, for some of the way you have been treated, and the assumptions my staff and I have made." He locked eyes with Ron and let the younger man see the regret he felt. "I am sorry, young Weasley, for the way you have been treated."
Ron blushed as red as his hair as Harry gaped like a fish next to him. "S'okay, Headmaster." He mumbled, feeling somehow ashamed at some his previous uncharitable thoughts towards this man. All around him, those in hearing distance were mimicking Harry's shocked face. It wasn't Ron, it was a spell? As the whispers rose and the news spread, the staff sitting at the High Table watched intently.
A flash of anger and something undentifiable from this distance appeared and disappeared on a face not unlike Mr. Weasley's, though decidedly more feminine in nature.
A snicker from down further on the Gryffindor table, Seamus Finnegan now on the receiving end of the glares of his tablemates.
Obvious distress and agitation noted in the boy who couldn't make a potion to save his life.
Narrowed eyes and a sharp look cast in the direction of the Gryffindor table when the Hufflepuff Prefect Hannah Abbot heard the news.
A Ravenclaw rose from the table in disgust and exited from the Great Hall as the whispers flew across the hall.
A delighted squeal from the Slytherin table as Pansy Parkinson's tablemates shushed her.
Blond hair in place, blue eyes dancing with merriment as the news reached the Slytherins.
All of these reactions were catalogued by those watching as Albus continued his discussion with Hermione's best friends. "After dinner, Miss Granger would most likely like some company, don't you think?"
Ron and Harry nodded, smiles on their faces. Now that the Headmaster knew the truth, an answer would be found. Such was their belief in the man standing before them, that the couldn't concieve of any other outcome. "Yes, Headmaster! We'll go straight away!" Ron's enthusiasm was fueled by his relief that this would be over soon, and Hermione wouldn't be hurt again.
Albus placed his hand on Mr. Weasley's shoulder, and nodded before leaving the Great Hall.
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A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews.
I am writing this as I go, though I have plotted it out. I know where this is going, but I need a couple of days between each chapter so that all the characters can let me know how they are doing. ;)
And keep reviewing, it *does* keep me writing. *innocent non-ulterior motive containing smile*
