Damn the bombers, here's the next chapter. Love to all. Severusgirl.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE CALL
"You will have to speak up, Miss Brown, you're sitting on my bad side."
Professor McGonagall turned her good ear in Lavender's direction.
The ear that had been ripped by Lucius Malfoy had healed well. It looked more or less normal. However Professor McGonagall had lost some hearing ability in the ear and the left hand side of the class had to raise their voices to be heard.
"I was wondering, Professor, whether you can choose which animal to be when you become an Animagi?"
"An interesting question, Miss Brown, and a somewhat debatable subject." Professor McGonagall answered. "Some would say 'yes' and argue that they did, indeed, choose the animal. I myself - and I'm not alone in this - believe there are certain animal traits within each of us which dictate the kind of animal we become - if one becomes an Animagi."
They were having a surprisingly relaxed Transfiguration class. Professor McGonagall clearly relished answering their questions on Animagi.
"Well, we all know Malfoy would be a ferret!" whispered Ron, quite loudly.
There were sniggers from those around him. Malfoy was not in the class - he had, unsurprisingly, dropped Transfiguration this term.
"Now, now, Mr. Weasley," scolded Professor McGonagall, but Harry noticed the corner of her mouth twitch in amusement.
"Yes, Miss Brown?"
"I think I'd like to be a cat," said Lavender, blushing.
"A very useful transfiguration. Miss Patil?"
As they went around the class, it was clear that most of the girls wanted to be cute, fluffy animals, instead of anything that might be useful.
"Mr. Longbottom?"
"Um...a chimpanzee."
Everyone burst out laughing.
"Well, I always seem to be getting stuck in high up places," said Neville. "I thought it would be useful to be able to swing down."
"Mr. Potter?"
"A dog," said Harry, without thinking.
"Mmmm," said Professor McGonagall, as though she'd expected as much. "Miss Granger?"
"Oh...I don't know..." she waved her hand as though plucking an idea out of thin air. "Perhaps...a bat?"
There was a moments silence.
"A bat, Miss Granger? Whatever made you choose a bat?"
"Well, they fly at very fast speeds while avoiding objects at the last moment. They're supposed to be quite intelligent - I think it would be a useful animal to be."
Professor McGonagall gave Hermione a searching look before continuing around the class.
One of the advantages of Professor Polykett going was that Professor Dumbledore now taught some of the Potions classes.
His presence lit up the dark and dank chambers of the Potions Room and the lessons were so much more enjoyable. Harry found the potions much easier to brew when there was no unfriendly presence breathing down his neck.
Harry peered at his text book to find out whether the crushed stag beetle went in before or after the powdered hawthorns when, without warning, his scar suddenly flared with pain.
He couldn't help but gasp, putting his hand to his forehead. The others around him turned to look. Professor Dumbledore came over.
"Sit down, Harry," he said, guiding him backwards to his chair.
Harry sat, feeling very embarrassed with everyone around him looking.
"I'm OK." he said. "Just a sudden headache. It's easing off now." He was telling the truth, the pain was going as quickly as it had arrived.
Dumbledore looked at Harry for a moment, obviously satisfying his own mind that Harry was OK.
"Very well," he said. "Carry on, every..."
"PROFESSOR!"
Ron's voice echoed around the Potions Room and Harry looked up just in time to see Ron catch Hermione as her legs buckled beneath her.
With a swish of robes, Dumbledore was there, helping Hermione into a chair.
Hermione rocked backwards and forwards in her seat, clutching her hand. Dumbledore tried to prise her fingers away but she snatched them from him, crying. Then Dumbledore put his hands on her shoulders.
"Miss Granger. Miss Granger."
Hermione didn't seem to hear him. She curled up over her hands as though trying to protect them. Harry could hear her gasping and crying with pain.
The rest of the class stood around helpless. Everyone, including the Slytherins, had shocked looks on their faces.
Dumbledore tried to lift Hermione's chin, but failed. He crouched down in front of her and began whispering something.
Hermione stood up and, breaking away from Dumbledore began pacing the room, putting her palms to each wall she came to. It was as though she wanted to find a way out. Each group of people she approached, parted to let her through. Hermione didn't seem to see any of them.
"Miss Bones, would you go and fetch Madam Pomfrey," said Dumbledore, not taking his eyes off Hermione. "Mr. Malfoy, please would you go and fetch Professor Sna..."
Dumbledore's sentence was cut short by startled cries from a few people standing nearest the door as it sprang open and Snape entered the room.
Sweeping the room with a glance, he went directly to Dumbledore, who was trying to manoeuvre Hermione into a chair. Ron held the chair steady behind her as the backs of her legs hit it, forcing her to sit.
"Severus...is it...?"
"Yes."
Harry realised that he and Ron were the only students in the room to understand what was being said.
Voldemort was summoning his Death Eaters.
Snape did the same as Dumbledore had done and put his hands on Hermione's shoulders.
"Miss Granger! Miss Granger...focus your mind...bring it away from the pain..."
But Hermione struggled to get up. Snape took a firmer grip and began shaking her shoulders.
"Miss Granger! MISS GRANGER!" Snape raised his right hand and brought it down across Hermione's face with a smack.
Some of the girls screamed.
"HEY!" cried Harry and Ron together as they both took a leap towards Snape. Harry believed they would have attacked Snape had it been anyone but Dumbledore who stepped in their way. He held up his hands, forcing them to stop.
Harry glanced at Ron. Ron's face was red with indignation and he guessed his own must look the same. Harry slowly uncurled his fingers from around his wand. How could Dumbledore stand by and watch Snape hit Hermione? Or any student?
Hermione had given a cry and then gone silent. She began to calm down and stopped struggling. Her head bobbed around a little as though it was too heavy for her to hold up. She was sobbing.
Dumbledore was standing behind Snape as Snape crouched before Hermione.
"Focus...Focus.." Snape demanded, shaking her by the shoulders again. Hermione seemed to gain more control over her head. Snape stopped shaking her and she became quite still. He took her jaw in his hand and forced her head round to face him.
Harry watched Snape's eyes narrow as he finally made eye-contact with Hermione. His mouth was moving in a whisper.
He's inside her head, thought Harry, feeling very disturbed. We were right. He IS controlling her mind. But as this thought hit Harry, Snape suddenly recoiled from Hermione and stood up, a shocked, almost frightened look on his face.
Dumbledore gave Snape a quick glance before kneeling beside Hermione.
"Wha...wha...?" she stuttered.
"You came over unwell, Miss Granger," he told her, gently. "Madam Pomfrey is here to take you to the Hospital Wing."
Madam Pomfrey had entered the room and went over to help Hermione to her feet.
"What! But I'll miss Charms!"
Dumbledore smiled.
"It's merely to ensure you are fully recovered. Please go, just to be sure."
Madam Pomfrey and Ron helped guide Hermione out of the door.
"The rest of you, please proceed to your next lesson. I'm sure Miss Granger will be joining you in Charms very shortly. Harry..."
Harry stopped and let the others leave the room. Dumbledore ensured the door was fully closed before saying,
"Harry, I have to ask - when your scar hurt - did you get any idea why the Death Eaters are being summoned?"
Harry glanced at Snape - he was rubbing his left arm.
"No, not really," said Harry, trying to think back. But then suddenly a thought hit him. It hit him so hard that he had no doubt it was true. "He knows about Hermione!" he almost shouted. "He knows about the Dark Mark!"
"How could he possibly know? Unless through you!" spat Snape, his eyes boring into Harry's.
"I don't know how he knows," Harry snapped back. "But it wasn't through me. I haven't had any dreams, or anything, and I've been clearing my mind before I go to sleep."
Snape's face told Harry he didn't believe him.
"You're the expert," Harry shouted at him. "Why don't you tell us how Voldemort could know?"
Dumbledore held up his hands.
"I think that will DO!" he said. "Harry, if you are feeling quite well, I suggest you continue with your lessons." He turned to Snape. "Severus, we appear to have an unexpected problem. I think we need to talk..."
When Hermione had come out of hospital the first time, after the attack in Caverna Caeli, she had been given a glove to wear on her injured hand. No one could erase the Dark Mark, but Professor Flitwick had charmed the glove so that, although people noticed it, it never occurred to them to ask why she wore it. This is how the Dark Mark on Hermione's hand had remained a secret from the entire school, apart from Harry, Ron, Colin and the staff.
After the incident in the Potions Room, however, rumours inevitably spread. Some had innocent reasons for Hermione's 'funny turn' (female problems), some were quite ludicrous (her brain was too crowded with knowledge), but a few were dangerously near the truth.
Hermione seemed to have up and down days about it. Some days she would shrug it off and go to lessons full of self-assurance and with a 'damn them all' attitude. On other days, the strain was pretty obvious and she became very quiet and withdrawn.
On the evening before their next Hogsmeade trip, they had completed their homework and sat around the table talking.
"Can you bring me back a new quill," asked Hermione, taking out some coins from her bag. "And some cheesy cat-treats for Crookshanks."
"OK," said Harry, who had been very surprised to have been granted permission to go out this time. "I'll go and put the money in my bag now, so I don't forget."
As Harry took the money, Hermione held on to his hand.
"You will be careful tomorrow, won't you?" she said.
"Yeah, of course - what do you mean?"
"I mean, be on your guard. I've got a strange feeling...it's probably nothing but...just be extra careful, hmmm?"
"Hermione, your begining to sound like Trelawney!" Ron snorted.
"Come on, Ron, if you must do some Quidditch practice again!" said Harry, before an argument could develop.
Harry had been persuaded for a second evening running, to go out on the Quidditch pitch. Ron's enthusiasm had reached a new level now that Ronnie needed to be impressed.
Ron and Harry went up to the dormitory to get their things. Harry opened his trunk and went cold.
"My Firebolt's gone!"
Ron came over and looked in the trunk.
"Are you sure you put it in there? You didn't leave it in the changing rooms?"
"No. I always put it in my trunk, you know that. Someone's taken..."
Harry stopped talking as a small figure suddenly materialised on Harry's bed, with the Firebolt in his hands.
"DOBBY! What are you doing with my Firebolt?"
"I is cleaning it, Harry Potter, Sir. The weather has not been kind to Harry Potter's broom. Dobby has made it shine."
Harry put his hand out to take the now gleaming broom. He felt relieved and slightly annoyed with Dobby for giving him a fright like that. Still, he saw Dobby was obviously very pleased with himself.
"Well, thanks, Dobby. That's very kind of you, but please tell me the next time you take my broom, OK?"
The weather was foul. Cold, wet and windy. No one else was practicing. They were far too sensible.
Ron was a maniac. So over-enthusiastic, a couple of times Harry had to land with a roll on the ground as the quaffle came whizzing towards his head. By the time they had finished the practice, they were both soaking wet and caked in mud.
Harry drew out his wand,
"Even this is muddy and it was in my pocket."
Trudging back to the Castle, Ron said,
"I know a short cut. This way..."
Harry followed Ron around the side of the Castle, down some steps and through a heavy doorway.
"We're in the dungeons," said Harry.
"I know, but it's a short cut, I promise. Anyway I'd rather tread mud all over the Slytherin's floor than our own."
Harry followed Ron and they made their way down a very dark narrow corridor towards the main staircase. There were very few torches on the walls and every doorway became a looming black hole.
"I think I'd rather have gone the long way round, Ron," said Harry.
"Nah, this is much quicker."
"Going somewhere, Weasley?"
Out from one of the dark doorways on their right stepped Draco Malfoy.
Harry and Ron paused for just the tiniest moment before walking on, ignoring Malfoy.
Crabbe and Goyle stepped out, barring their way.
"Been practicing, Weasley? Trying hard to impress your girlfriend? What's her name again? Never mind, we all know her as 'runny honey'."
Ron stepped towards Malfoy, but Harry held him back. Crabbe and Goyle were looking dangerous.
"Well done, Potter. Good dog!" Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle laughed. "Heard you want to follow in your godfather's paw prints and be a dog. I hope it's one of those tiny irritating ones - it would really suit you."
"Shut up and let us pass," said Harry.
"Funny the Mudblood chose to be a bat, isn't it?"
"Why should that bother you?" sneered Ron.
"Doesn't bother me," said Malfoy, airily. "It's just that bats are regarded by most people to be...shall we say...on the darker side of the animal kingdom."
Malfoy was leaning against the doorway, examining his fingernails as he spoke.
"What are you getting at, Malfoy?" said Harry.
"Just that it appears Granger may be having a change of heart. Choosing to be a bat; having the Dark Mark on her hand - don't bother denying it, I know it's there. Looks like 'You-Know-Who' is gaining a new recruit."
"You slimy little git. Hermione's too intelligent to follow anything the Malfoys were involved in," hissed Ron.
"Really? Then I wonder what she's doing, having extra lessons from Professor Snape? You don't seriously believe he's teaching her to ignore the call, do you? Preparing her for initiation into the Death Eater's circle more like."
Both Harry and Ron flew at Malfoy, but Crabbe and Goyle grabbed their robes, restraining them.
"You're scum, Malfoy," shouted Ron, trying to release himself from Goyle's grip. "In fact, scum wipes you off its shoes."
"You know what I don't understand?" shouted Harry, still trying to reach Malfoy. "Everyone knows the Malfoys are evil filth - why doesn't Dumbledore just kick you out of school?"
Draco gave a self-satisfied smirk and opened the door behind him.
"Let's just say, Potter," he said before he slipped through the doorway. "You're not the only one with a godfather."
"I'm sorry you can't come with us," said Ronnie to Hermione as they left the Great Hall after breakfast.
The Hogsmeade day had arrived and the entrance hall was buzzing with students eager to be let out for their day of freedom.
"I don't mind, really," said Hermione. "I've got some studying to do."
"Ancient Runes?" said Harry with a sympathetic smile.
"No, I did that last night," she said.
"Really?" said Harry, frowning. "I didn't notice. You usually have to spend a couple of hours pouring over your books."
"Oh, well, I seem to have got the hang of it now...ooh, Filch is letting you all out - bye, have a lovely time..."
"We're going to Honeydukes first, to see Ronnie's grandparents," called Ron as they were swept towards the doors in a wave of students. "Do you want anything?"
"No thanks," Hermione called back. "Have a good time."
Harry, Ron, Ronnie, Ginny and Neville made their way down into Hogsmeade. It had stopped raining but it was still cold enough to send vapour from their mouths every time they spoke.
As they walked down the hill, Harry and Ron slowed down and let the others go a little way ahead.
"I feel weird," said Ron.
"So do I," said Harry.
"Really? For the same reason as me?"
"Doubt it. My scar's been burning all morning. Didn't dare say anything, they wouldn't have let me out. Why do you feel weird?"
"Well...you know how much we hate Malfoy?"
"Yeah."
"And everything he stands for?"
"Ye-ah?"
"How come we agree with him?"
"About Hermione, you mean?" said Harry. "Yeah it's worrying that he's come to the same conclusion us - especially as his dad and Snape were mates - he must have a pretty good idea of what the Death Eaters get up to."
"Perhaps they get house points or something for bringing in a new recruit," said Ron.
"But as Hermione is always reminding us, Dumbledore trusts Snape."
"Well, you know my feelings about that," said Ron.
"And Bellatrix called him a traitor."
"She's been locked up in Azkaban for years, what would she know? She's not in her right mind."
"Dumbledore said he'd brought Snape back to the castle after the Death Eaters had tortured him. Why would he remain loyal to them after that?"
Ron thought for a moment,
"'Cause they were only after the gold for their own purposes. They thought 'You-Know-Who' was gone for good. Snape could hate the Death Eaters but still be working for 'You-Know-Who'."
"You reckon it's time we went to Dumbledore?"
"Yeah. Or maybe McGonegall first."
"Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie!" cried Mrs. Honeyduke, coming round the front of the counter and hugging her granddaughter. "Oh, you're looking bonnie - isn't she, Archie?"
Mr. Honeyduke smiled and waved at Ronnie, but was overwhelmed by customers.
"Och, it's the same every time the students come down to the village. I'll have t'go, but mind you look in on us before you go back to school."
"Gran...hang on... This is Ron." Ronnie pulled Ron closer and put her arm through his.
Mrs. Honeyduke looked at the linked arms and then smiled up at Ron.
"I'm very pleased t'meet you Ron. Mind yourself now. Our Ronnie's a headstrong lass. She always gets what she sets out to get - you've been warned."
"Gran!"
Mrs. Honeyduke gave them all a huge smile.
"You and your friends help yourselves - no charge. I'll see you later."
Ron looked as though his birthday and Christmas had arrived at the same time as he helped himself to a bag and began selecting sweets.
"Your Gran's a bit brilliant," said Ron afterwards as they all sat in the Three Broomsticks drinking Butterbeer.
"Yes, they're both lovely. I'm their only grandchild, so they spoil me a bit."
"Are you planning to take over the shop one day?" asked Ron.
"Oh, no," she smiled. "I'm going to be a Healer."
"You've made up your mind already?" replied Ron in astonishment.
"I've known since I was about five years old. You must have an idea what you're going to do when you leave Hogwarts," she said. "you're taking your NEWTs next year."
"Yeah, well, I thought I'd try out for the English Quidditch team," replied Ron, casually. "and then I might be an Auror."
Harry and Ginny hid their smirks by taking sips of Butterbeer.
"So you're going to be a Healer?" Ron continued, leaning in closer to Ronnie. "Would you like to practice? Only I've got this ache in my..."
Ginny spluttered loudly into her glass, sending Butterbeer foam flying everywhere and making everyone but Ron laugh.
"What? WHAT?" he said, his bemused face sending them all into fits of giggles again.
"Where too next?" said Neville as they spilled out of The Three Broomsticks. "Hey, are you OK, Harry?"
Harry's scar had given a sudden surge of pain and he staggered a few paces.
"Yeah," he laughed. "Yeah, I'm OK. I think Ron must've slipped something in my drink!" He wanted no one but Ron to know about his scar playing up. He glanced at Ron who turned to the others,
"Well, I want to go to Zonko's," he said, loudly while Harry recovered. "They've got these joke bluebottle flies that really buzz around. I want to get one for Crookshanks - it cracks me up when he chases them."
"Are you sure you're OK?" asked Ronnie, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks." Harry stood up straight. The pain was going. "Don't forget we've got to get a quill and some cat snacks for Hermione," he said.
"Hermione eats cat snacks?" said Ronnie, frowning.
"For her cat!" said Ron, laughing.
"Why don't we go up one side of the street and come back down the other?" suggested Ronnie.
It was hard work ignoring the shops on the other side of the street particularly as all the shops Harry and Ron wanted to visit seemed to be there.
Eventually they reached the top of the street. They were slightly higher up now and when they looked back down, they could see the other streets, crowded with students.
"Right let's start our way down," said Ron, rubbing his hands together.
"Ginny and I want to go in this shop," said Ronnie, pointing towards a very girlie-looking shop full of clothes and sparkly stuff.
The boys looked horrified.
"It's all right, we won't be long," laughed Ronnie, standing on tiptoes so that she could plant a kiss on Ron's cheek. She and Ginny disappeared inside the shop.
The girls were a long time. It seemed to Harry they'd been waiting ages, and when they began stamping their feet to try and get some feeling back into them, Harry said,
"Neville, go and get them out. Tell them if they're going to be much longer, they can meet us in Zonko's."
Looking very embarrassed, Neville pushed open the door and went inside the shop.
"Right, well I'm not waiting any longer, anyway," said Ron. "Zonko's here we come."
There was a sudden commotion at the lower end of the street. Harry and Ron turned to look.
Crowds of Hogwarts students were scattering - some were giving startled cries and looking back down the street, towards the road that led to the school.
"What the..?" said Ron, taking out his wand.
Harry went to do the same.
His pocket was empty.
Frantically, he patted all over his robes.
"My wand! It's gone!" Harry felt a little knot of panic begin to tighten in his stomach. "Hermione told me to be careful," he said. "She had a funny feeling about today, remember?"
"And your scar's been hurting..."
Harry and Ron looked at each other. Ron took a step closer to Harry so they were shoulder to shoulder. Holding his wand to protect them both, they started to walk down the hill.
Before they had gone two steps Harry saw the unmistakable figure of Hagrid striding backwards and forwards across the bottom of the street. Then the last of the students parted. A black-cloaked figure could be seen weaving in and out of the crowd. Then the figure stopped dead as it spotted them both.
"POTTER!"
It was Snape.
They watched as Snape began running up the hill towards them. It seemed to Harry that Snape's feet hardly touched the ground. He appeared to be moving at an impossible speed, and with his black cloak billowing out behind him, it gave the impression he was - flying.
Harry caught his breath as Snape reached them. Hardly slowing down, he almost collided with them.
Harry was now almost as tall as Snape, but at that moment Snape seemed to tower above him like a huge bird of prey. Harry felt seriously intimidated.
Snape grabbed hold of Harry's robes at the neck,
"Where's Miss Granger?" he demanded, his black eyes boring into Harry's.
"Wh...what?" stammered Harry, completely confused.
"Miss Granger. Is-she-with-you?" Snape still had hold of Harry, pulling his face close.
People were now gathering.
"She...she's back at school."
Snape thrust Harry from him and began looking frantically in all directions.
"What's going on?" It was Harry's turn to demand.
Snape turned to him.
"She's not in the school."
"WHAT!" said Harry and Ron together.
"She has to be - she's not allowed out," said Ron.
But Snape wasn't listening. He suddenly lifted his head and began running back down the hill. Harry and Ron ran after him. They ran as fast as they could, but they were no match for Snape who seemed to skim across the ground and reached Hagrid long before they did.
Hagrid was talking in a low voice to Snape. Then Professor McGonegall came out of Honeydukes, followed by Ronnie's grandfather. Professor McGonegall's face was white.
"I believe this is yours, Mr. Potter." she said, holding out a wand.
"Yes," said Harry, taking it. "Where..?"
"In the cellar of Honeyduke's."
Snape made to go into the shop.
"We've searched, Severus. She isn't there," said Professor McGonegall.
Snape looked as though he had turned to stone. Hagrid gave a loud sob.
"Who?" asked Harry. "Hermione? Where is she?"
Professor McGonegall's eyes brimmed with tears.
"She's gone," she said, her voice trembling. "Gone to Lord Voldemort."
Harry's blood turned to ice.
He stood looking at Professor McGonegall for a long time not knowing what to say, do or think. It seemed he needed all his concentration just to breathe.
Hermione had gone?
To Voldemort?
It wasn't possible.
A blur with red hair barged past Harry. Ron's fist landed on Snape's jaw with a loud 'thwack'.
Taken completely by surprise, Snape was sent staggering across the pavement and fell with a thud against the wall of Honeyduke's.
In one stride, Hagrid had grabbed hold of Ron's collar and lifted him up off the ground.
"What the 'ell d'yer think yer doin'?"
Ron thrashed around like a demented puppet. It might have been funny in different circumstances.
"IT'S HIM!" yelled Ron. "HE PLANNED THIS!"
Snape got to his feet. There was a large smear of blood over the right side of his mouth where his lip had split. Hair hung in disarray across Snape's face, but Harry could still see the rage in his eyes.
Snape drew out his wand and took a step towards Ron.
"Severus, please - let the Headmaster deal with this..." Professor McGonegall looked genuinely frightened.
Snape ignored her. Professor McGonegall went to put a restraining hand on his arm, but Harry noticed she didn't actually touch him.
Stepping up close to Ron, Snape pointed his wand at Ron's face, his whole body rigid with fury.
"Hagrid..." cried Professor McGonegall, desperately.
Hagrid lowered Ron to the ground and stepped between him and Snape.
"Don't reckon you'll be wantin' to do anything, Professor. Not with all these folk watchin'."
Snape glared at the little bit of Ron he could see behind Hagrid's massive frame before lowering his wand.
"I suggest we return to the Headmaster's office," said Professor McGonegall with a sigh of relief.
Hagrid did not let go of Ron's collar for the whole, silent journey back to the school.
Harry had time to think while they walked back to the Castle.
It must be a mistake. It had to be a mistake. They would get back to the school and be greeted by Dumbledore who would tell them Hermione had been found in a forgotten section of the library. Or she'd been down in the kitchens with the house-elves, doing some research for SPEW all along.
But when they entered the office and Harry saw the expression on Dumbledore's face, he realised there was no mistake. Hermione really had gone.
Dumbledore remained silent while all five of them filed in. His eyes flickered with the merest trace of surprise at Snape's now swollen lip and the restraining hand of Hagrid on Ron's collar.
There were enough chairs for all of them to sit, but no one did.
"The Muggle Prime Minister has been informed," said Dumbledore promptly. "We must remember that Miss Granger is Muggle-born. We cannot expect her parents to leave everything in the hands of a world of which they know very little. They are, understandably, distraught."
Dumbledore's eyes had lost their usual twinkle. he looked very tired and, Harry thought, a little lost.
"Have we no idea where he has taken her, Albus?" asked Professor McGonegall, with a sideways glance at Snape.
"The last reports were that he was somewhere on the outskirts of London - more than that we do not know," said Dumbledore.
"But how could she have gone?" said Harry. "We haven't been taught how to apparate yet."
Dumbledore gave a flicker of a smile.
"Six years of Miss Granger's company should answer that question, Harry. Do you really think she would have entered her first lesson unprepared?"
"But what was she doing out of school? Hermione doesn't break rules," said Harry.
"She realised you had gone to Hogsmeade without your wand."
Harry was horrified.
"So it's my fault. If I hadn't forgotten my wand..."
Dumbledore held up his hand.
"It is not your fault Harry. An unfortunate set of circumstances. Apparently you and Mr. Weasley were practicing Quidditch yesterday evening and your wand became rather dirty. Dobby the house-elf took it to clean, but did not return it to you before you left for Hogsmeade. Miss Granger took it from him and, using the secret passage that leads to Honeyduke's sweet shop..." (Harry and Ron exchanged glances)..."Thought she would find you there."
"We told her we were going there first," said Ron, quietly.
"Wait a minute," said Harry. "Are you saying that the moment Hermione stepped outside the school, Voldemort pounced? It's too much of a coincidence, isn't it? It sounds like someone was watching her."
"Or controlling her!" Ron glared at Snape.
"Mr. Weasley, hold your tongue. I think you are in enough trouble already," warned Professor McGonegall.
Dumbledore looked from Ron to Snape and then back again.
"Mr. Weasley, am I to understand you are responsible for..?"
"Yes I am!" said Ron, defiantly. "And I'd do it again. This is all his fault. He sent her to Voldemort."
It was the first time Harry had ever heard Ron use the name. Ron was wriggling towards Snape as he said it. Hagrid took a firmer hold of Ron's collar.
"Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore, quietly. "These are very grave accusations. I would advise you to remain silent..."
"On the contrary, I think we should hear what Weasley has to say," said Snape, silkily.
Dumbledore looked as though he didn't think that was a good idea, but said,
"Very well, Mr. Weasley, please enlighten us."
"She's been having extra lessons with him," said Ron. "He's not been using those lessons to teach her to resist - he's been brainwashing her. He sent her to Voldemort. And we're not the only ones who think that."
"And what has brought you to this assumption?" asked Dumbledore.
"Hermione's been acting weird," said Harry. He wasn't going to stand by and let Ron get all the blame for something they both suspected. "She's been crying after her extra lessons with Sna...Professor Snape. She's not been paying attention in class..."
"And," interrupted Ron. "she's got that thing round her neck."
Harry looked across at Ron. What was he on about? What thing? Ron saw Harry looking.
"Sorry, Harry. She made me promise not to tell anyone; but now she's gone, I have to...she had that thing on a chain around her neck - you know, the Scribe's Crystal. The one that belonged to Snape. I caught her using it the other night to do her Ancient Runes homework. It's obvious he gave it to her so that Voldemort would know when she was out of school; it must be some kind of spyglass or something..."
"MR. WEASLEY!" said Dumbledore, loudly. "When you have quite finished... Firstly, I must inform you that I am fully aware Miss Granger is in possession of the Scribe's Crystal, and I promise you the reason she has it has no relevance to the current situation."
Ron's mouth fell open.
"Secondly," Dumbledore continued with a rather stern expression on his face. "It may interest you both to know that I have been sitting in on Miss Granger's lessons - at Professor Snape's request - and I can assure you she has received nothing but the utmost help and detailed instruction on how to deal with the call."
"So how come she's gone then?" demanded Ron.
There was a brief silence.
"Mr. Weasley, I do understand how distressed you are over Miss Granger's disappearance," said Dumbledore. "We all feel the same. However, that does not give you an excuse to attack a member of my staff..."
"But..."
"AND I must remind you that an assault such as this requires your instant dismissal from this school. However..."
"Headmaster!" Snape cut in. "You cannot mean to allow this boy to remain at the school? I will not stand by and permit you to waive the rules once again for Potter and his friends. I demand that you act through the proper channels."
Dumbledore turned to look Snape eye to eye.
"Severus, surely I do not have to remind you of the many times I have 'waived' the rules in your favour? That, had it not been for the fact the boy is your godchild, I would have removed Mr. Malfoy from this school long ago. I ask you now to return the favour and not pursue this action."
Snape looked as though he had a nasty taste in his mouth.
"Very well," he spat. "It seems I have no choice. However, if I cannot have him expelled from the school, I will expel him from my classes. I refuse to teach him anymore."
Dumbledore nodded slowly.
Hagrid gave a low, rumbly cough.
"'er, sorry t'interupt, Professor Dumbledore, but...'Ermione?"
"Yes, of course. I must go to the Ministry." Dumbledore moved towards the door but stopped in front of Harry and Ron. "I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to bring Miss Granger back safely to this school."