Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Bon Jovi

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Chapter 48: Secret Dreams

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The air was cold and crisp as a hooded figure dressed in black made their way quickly across the dark grounds of the ancient site, disturbing the thin layer of mist at ground level with their long strides, the pale smoke like substance forming intricate ribbon-like patterns in the night air. Looking around the figure pulled out a thin stick and muttered something in Latin under their breath while waving their hand around. Out of thin air a small cabin appeared to which they entered swiftly, closing the door behind them with a soft thud that didn't even warrant an echo in the stillness around it. A few moments later the building disappeared and the calmness of the night took over once again.

Inside the figure made their way down stone steps in which one would assume led to a basement, instead a long damp corridor lit with flickering torches was the path for this individual, their feet creating echos off the walls around them as they hurried to their destination.

They entered a circular room with others dressed similarly standing quietly in a circle while they waited for the stragglers to arrive. The mysterious figure moved to one of the spots closest to the high backed chair located at one of the points around the ring.

"Nott," a sly voice began from the chair. "How nice of you to join us."

The figure turned their head slightly and nodded in acknowledgement, their steel grey eyes not leaving the cold stone floor at their feet.

"My apologies my Lord, something came to my attention that I needed to follow up," the owner of the grey eyes answered

"And what would that be?" the voice from the chair questioned, a hint of humour in the cold voice.

"I saw someone in Muggle London that I should not have my Lord", whether the pause following was for dramatic effect or unease the rest of the cloaked figures did not know. "Hermione Thomas."

A new voice broke into the conversation now. "My Lord that is not possible."

"I can assure you Lucius it was her that I saw, your little game of prisoner seems to have failed," Nott's voice was cool and dripping with mockery.

"Was she alone?" the Dark Lord asked, ignoring the blonde to his right.

"No, that is how I knew who it was; she was with the blood traitor Black."

"And do you feel she is an immediate threat?"

"She is on par with Black and the Werewolf my Lord, perhaps even more so."

Silence filled the room as Voldemort considered this new piece of information. "Keep an eye on her, nothing changes because of a Mudblood, the plan stays as it is, we seem to be getting rather good at picking off Dumbledore's precious Order members, perhaps the need to attack will diminish over time."

The eyes of the ring turned their attention to the crumpled form in the centre, blood covering the tattered clothing while their wand lay snapped in half at their side, the still figure drew in straggling breaths as the dim torchlight in the damp room caught a flicker of red hair.

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Hermione stared up at the ceiling of the hotel as Sirius slept beside her; she'd woken from a vivid dream and couldn't return to sleep while it was on her mind. She remembered the number five and a shape like that of a star, she knew the dream had a certain significance but that significance did not wish to reveal itself in this particular moment of time making for an extremely frustrated Hermione.

Sighing she rolled over and rested her head on Sirius shoulder content to watch the black haired wizard sleep, but even the soft rhythmic rise and fall of his chest couldn't woo her back to her slumber. She returned to her position of staring at the ceiling, which did not offer as good of a view but didn't let her get distracted from her thoughts.

When the first rays of dawn crept across the carpet Hermione felt a pair of grey eyes staring at her, for the time being she ignored Sirius and kept her gaze fixed on the off white ceiling.

"I know you know I'm awake."

Hermione forced herself not to crack a grin as she continued to stare at the ceiling.

"Have you had any sleep?"

"A bit."

Hermione heard Sirius chuckle. "I would have thought you'd sleep the night through."

Hermione didn't answer and Sirius frowned slightly. "Hey," he said softly turning her to face him. "You ok?"

Hermione smiled at his worried expression. "It was just a dream."

"Bad dream, weird dream or Sirius dream?"

Hermione laughed quietly. "Weird dream, but don't worry about it, I don't want to think about it till we're back at Hogwarts."

Sirius looked doubtful but let the matter drop with a nod. "Breakfast time."

"You and your food."

"What?" Sirius asked. "I happen to enjoy food."

"I know that."

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Sirius said, as if he felt he needed to prove a point.

"Yes it is."

"Bacon, porridge, toast, pancakes, crumpets, cornflakes…"

"I get the idea."

"….eggs, sausages, muffins, bacon."

"You said bacon twice."

Sirius grinned. "I know, just checking to see if you were still listening."

"So what do you want?" Hermione asked, reaching over to the bedside cabinet for the room service menu

"I just told you."

"You want all of that?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes. "Why does that not surprise me?"

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The reluctant pair apaparted back to Hogsmead around midday and walked hand in hand down the street, the black clouds hovering above threatening another early spring downpour. A crowd of people outside of the local bookshop drew their attention and Sirius and Hermione wandered over to see what all the fuss was about as they caught snippets of conversation.

"The potions master…"

"Muggle killings…"

"All this time with the students!"

Sirius frowned and pushed his way through the crowd, Hermione following behind, a flicker of fear in her eyes, after all she was now the Potions Professor at Hogwarts.

Sirius grabbed a copy of the Daily Prophet and flicked a sickle at the boy handing out the papers. He steered Hermione away from the growing crowd and opened the paper, his eyes widening as he read the headline.

"What is it?" Hermione asked trying to peer over his shoulder.

Sirius held out the paper for her to read.

'Potions Master accused of muggle and muggleborn attacks'

Hermione gasped as Sirius started to read out loud.

"'The Minister of Magic has declared that the recent attacks on Muggleborn wizards and Muggles were conducted by Hogwarts Potion Master Severus Snape trying to re-live the 'glory days' of he-who-must-not-be-named'….what a load of bull"

"Sirius, keep reading."

"Sorry….'In an interview with the Minister himself the Daily Prophet learnt that the surly Potions Professor had indeed been missing for a short time, within which the sporadic attacks had begun to cease thus concluding that these attacks were not ordered by you-know-who as some members of our society would have you believe'."

Sirius groaned this was the last thing the Order needed, people not believing the danger was there.

Hermione looked confused. "But the Minister knew Voldemort was in the Ministry that night, how can he go back on that?"

"Because that is what he's like," Sirius explained simply his eyes scanning the article for anything else. "What the…" he cursed, his grey eyes darkening.

"What is it?"

"'This new piece of information leaves this reporter in doubt of the credibility of not only the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor A Dumbledore, but also in the credibility of Harry Potter; the-boy-who-lived, whom both for a number of years now have tried to convince the Ministry that you-know-who had indeed resurfaced. It appears now that these were the ramblings of an aging wizard and a boy wanting to relish in the spotlight of events that took place almost seventeen years ago'…I can't believe this," Sirius muttered. "They've gone and pushed everything back to your fifth year, everything the Order has worked on."

"What about the attack in Hogsmead? Did they say anything about that?"

Sirius skimmed the last of the article and shook his head. "It goes against their theory they wouldn't put that in there."

"We should get back to the castle," Hermione said, starting to walk in the direction of the path to Hogwarts, Sirius falling in step beside her. Both disappointed their carefree weekend seemed to have come to an end.

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"Where are we going?" Sirius asked Hermione as they made their way through Hogwarts corridors in the opposite direction of their chambers.

"I just need to pick up some reference books from the library."

"On what?"

Hermione frowned. "I'm not quite sure, that's why I want to go to the library."

"But you don't know what you're looking for," Sirius pointed out, an eyebrow raised as they entered the library.

Half an hour later Madame Pince was checking out a large pile of books for Hermione as Sirius read the titles in confusion, they ranged from Potions to Arithmancy to Divination

"You have books on almost every subject taught here….why?" Sirius asked picking up an armload of books.

"I told you I wasn't sure what I was looking for," Hermione answered picking up the remaining books, "so I got a bit of everything."

Back at their chambers Sirius struggled to open the door with his armload of books, a few muttered curses later the door opened and the pair moved to place the books on the desk.

"A little light reading?"

Sirius and Hermione turned around to see Harry sitting quietly on the couch, Ginny asleep with her head in his lap, obvious signs of tear tracks down her cheeks.

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