Disclaimer- see the 1st chapter.
A.N. All chapters are currently being beta'd by my wonderful beta Alice so for now please bear w/ me as this chapter is currently unbeta'd. I just wanted to get this chapter out as soon as possible before I forget all about it sitting in my hard drive.
The next morning, a depressing silence has befallen the Granger household. No one in the house is speaking to each other and they are afraid to even speak out of fear of bringing up the touchy subject of Hogwarts. Hermione comes down from the attic with the owl her parents had brought strictly for communication with her during the school year.
"Althea, would you mind waiting for me in the kitchen because I have a letter for you to deliver"Althea hoots comfortingly and sets down on the dining table chair to await the letter. 'Here it goes, the moment of the truth...' grumbled Hermione as she sat down on the dining room chair to await her father's orders.
Peter, looking weary and tired from a restless night of sleep looks at his daughter 'Why did I even agree in the first place to send her to that damn place?' and hands her a quill & parchment paper to write a letter.
"Hermione, you know what you have do...
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
Hello this is Peter Granger, I would like to request a personal meeting with you in person regarding the situation that is occurring in the wizarding world. My daughter has informed me of the events that has happened in the past 5 years of her attendance at Hogwarts. Frankly, I am not pleased because my wife and I had absolutely no idea that we were putting Hermione in danger every time we had to send her back to Hogwarts. Hermione has stated to me that there are protective wards surrounding the house but I personally don't think that is enough to protect my family. If the solution that you provide me is not satisfying to me, I will be forced to pull Hermione out of Hogwarts against her wishes, and relocate the family to America where I believe we will be safer.
Sincerely,
Peter & Annabelle Granger
Ok...Hermione, we are finished for the day and I strongly suggest that you behave because knowing that temper of yours. I don't want to attract any attention to this house period."
Hermione is stunned by her father's coldness and his reaction towards what she has revealed to him. 'Damn, I don't know what to do now...it is not exactly a wise idea to run away right now with the climate in the wizarding world.' Althea hoots to get Hermione's attention and sticks out her talon for Hermione to tie the letter to send to the headmaster.
"Althea, this letter has to get to Professor Dumbledore as quickly as you can deliver it." Althea hoots before flying off Hermione's arm in the backyard and disappears into the clouds. 'I wonder what will happen now...'
Annabelle Granger watches on worriedly as she watches the confrontation between Hermione and Peter happen. 'Peter...what were you thinking? For Gods' sake she's your own flesh & blood not one of those cadets you trained!' Peter walks up to Anna and leaves a perfunctory kiss on her cheek before leaving for work.
"Dearie, I know how your father is sometimes. I have been married to that man since we were both 19. He does love you but sometimes he is not affectionate." Anna moves into the kitchen and hugs her daughter.
"Mum, why does he have to be so cold like that...its like he wants to control my life, NO ONE will ever have the right to control my life!"
Anna hugs her daughter even harder and whispers "things will get better, hopefully the headmaster will quickly response to the letter."
Hermione looks at her mom, "Thanks for the support, I just need some time to myself...I think I will just go outside into the backyard and suntan for a while to get my mind off things."
"Ok, Hermione, don't forget sun screen or you will burn quickly and lunch will be ready at around 2." Anna walks up to Hermione and gives her one last hug before retreating back into the kitchen
Meanwhile back at Hogwarts a troubled Albus Dumbledore reads the letter from Peter Granger, and watches the scenery of the Hogwarts grounds from the window of his office. Turning around to face the three occupants of his office. "I have been informed about some unfortunate events from Peter Granger."
After hearing the name Granger, Minerva's head shoots up from staring at the wizard chess board right by the fireplace. "Albus! What is going on?"
Snape looks up from the book he was reading by the bookcase and sneers "How Gryffindor of you, Minerva...always jumping to conclusion every time it appears your pet Gryffindors appears to be in danger!"
"Severus! Shut your trap, if you don't have something nice to say, don't even say anything because if I hear one more rude comment from you. I'll silenco you!" Minerva gives Severus one last glare that makes him feel like he was a misbehaving schoolboy.
Lupin is amused by watching the byplay between Severus and Minerva, despite the outward appearance of disliking each other due to being heads of rival houses, Minerva truly thinks of Severus as a somewhat rude but caring son she could never have. Severus thinks of Minerva as the overprotective, strict, but loving mother he never had. Chuckling, "Albus, since Minerva and Severus are in a way tripping over each other to find out what is in the letter. I'll get to the point...does it have something to do with the current situation in the wizarding world."
Albus scans the room and looks directly at Severus "Severus, it was your turn to guard the Grangers yesterday, did you find anything out of the ordinary?"
Severus scowls and folds his arms and said tersely "No Albus, if I did, you would have been informed right away...don't forget what I am."
"Yes, Severus...the content of this letter is that it appears that Miss Granger has informed her parents of what is happening in the wizarding world and her parents are not very happy. They have already threatened to pull her out of school and relocate to America to ensure their safety. Her parents have requested a personal meeting with me to discuss the wards surrounding the house and they will determine if its safe enough to remain here or leave for America."
Minerva gasps... "Albus, they cannot do that! Miss. Granger is a valuable asset to this school and she has always been a pillar of support for Harry. Harry needs her right now since that night in the Department of Mysteries. He cannot afford to lose his best friend."
"Minerva is right, we cannot afford to lose someone as brilliant as Miss. Granger, she virtually shattered all the records for the O.W.Ls becoming the first ever muggleborn witch to record the highest scores at Hogwarts." Lupin looks at Dumbledore wearily and collapses into the comforter chair after pacing the room. The two night shifts was beginning to take a toll on his already taxied body due to the full moon being only 3 days away.
Flinching when he heard the O.W.Ls & Department of Mysteries statement, it brought back unpleasant memories...the dark revel he was summoned to shortly after the fiasco at the Ministry. At the last revel, Severus had been moved from the outer fringe of the inner circle to being Voldermort's right hand man. After getting crucioed a few times the moment he arrived as Voldermort expressed his displeasure of Severus being late. While twitching on the ground from the blinding white hot knife-like pain moving through his body, Voldermort smiles somewhat demonically, and probes Severus' mind. Severus was thankful he already had his mental shields up in place before he came to the meeting, because he could feel Voldermort probing around for any damaging information. Relived that Voldermort hadn't found anything or otherwise he would have been Avada Kedavar'd by now & thrown to the bloodthirsty Death Eaters. He had given up the depraved activities that the Death Eaters usually participated in during the revels a long time ago because he realized when the Potters were in danger it brought back his conscience that he had long buried deep inside himself.
"Rise, my loyal servant. You have pleased me, you have continued to come back and serve me loyally despite working for that fool Dumbledore. As you may already know, there are several members missing. Severussss, you will now stand aside me as my right hand from now on because your brother Lucius is in Azkaban along with most of the inner circle. Bellatrix...come here, embrace your new brother."
Severus looks into the maniacal face of a once beautiful lady who had been corrupted by the darkness and due to family genes had gone insane...being in Azkaban drove her insanity even further. His insides roiling with the urge to vomit and curse everyone in sight before disappearing, Severus managed to suppress the urge and embraced Bellatrix. Voldermort turns his snakelike eyes back at Severus and cooed "Severus, tell me more about that Hermione Granger...I hear that she shattered every record known for OWLs and she was involved in the battle at the Ministry."
Mentally panicking, Severus is able to keep a calm exterior sneering, "That little know-it-all, she is just merely a mudblood and has been a constant thorn in my side since the first day she arrived in my potions class. She is Potter's best friend."
Voldermort laces his fingers and ponders on what to do next, looking at his newest 'pet'
"Severussssssssssss...I want you to seduce Hermione Granger to the dark side, she will be a valuable asset to our side despite her being a mudblood. It will be a great victory for our side if you are able to seduce her away from the light of that fool Dumbledore. If you are not successful in your efforts, I want you to kill her, she is too much of a danger to us if she does stay on the light side. I want to rip out the backbone of Potter's system of support. You are dismissed, I want you to start as soon as possible."
Snape kneels and bows to Lord Voldermort "Yes My Lord, I will do my best" He kisses the hem of Voldermort's robes and apparitied away."
Panting, Snape runs across the Hogwarts lawn under the shine of the half moon into the secret passage that he uses whenever he was summoned. The passage leads directly right into his chambers in the dungeons. The wards recognizes him and the door bursts open and Severus slams the door and leans back on it. Catching his breath, Snape quickly rips off the mask and sheds his Death Eater Garb like its burning him, tossing them all onto the floor of his living room. Feeling the effects of what happened at the revel come crashing down on him, Snape collapses onto the dark leather couch across from the fireplace. Uncorking the snifter of Firewhisky, he drinks half of the bottle in one gulp, sardonically he thought 'I'm a bloody spy for the order...and I need liquid courage just for that meeting in Dumbledore's office to inform him of the events that happened at the revel.'
Trudging up the stairs, Snape stops at the gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Bloody hell! That crazy old fool and his sweet tooth! Canary creams! Bon Bons! Snickers! Fried Mars Bars! Creak! The gargoyle jumps aside and Snape makes the climb to the door 'Ugh...fried mars bars...unpleasant!'
knock "Come in Severus." Dumbledore said as he was sitting by the fireplace playing chess with the Grey Lady.
Severus walks in and he is a little taken aback by the weariness in Dumbledore's frame. It looked like the man had aged 50 years. "Headmaster, I do not have good news." The Grey Lady ends the game with a checkmate and smiles at both of the men in the office and graciously fades away. Severus sits in the chair the Grey Lady had just vacated moments ago.
"Lemon Drop?" Dumbledore offered but after seeing a shake of Snape's head, with a snap of his fingers he makes the bowl of Lemon Drop vanish.
Training his eyes on the flames dancing in the fireplace, Snape begins his story. "Albus, when I arrived, Lord Voldermort was already displeased with me for my tardiness. He blessed me with the cruciatus curse, probed my mind, and promoted me from a lowly member of the inner circle to his right hand. Also he made a inquiry about Miss Granger, he wants me to seduce her to the dark side."
"My boy, this is a good news about you becoming Voldermort's right hand albeit, your job is now even more dangerous. Now about Miss. Granger, she is the most powerful witches ever to come through Hogwarts. She hasn't even begun to tap into the full potential of her powers and I have to admit that she is already more powerful than Minerva is. Indeed it would be a great victory for Voldermort to have her next to him. I don't want that to happen or there will be dire consequence for everyone. I want you to offer a apprenticeship to her, yes you will have to train her in the dark arts but I trust you to keep her from falling in the trap like you did. Severus, you are more powerful than I am, but your power lies in the dark side and you know the dangers and have learnt from your own mistakes. I will be ensuring the safety of Miss. Granger to you, I think being your apprentice will allow her to finally tap into the power that has always been simmering in her. I will inform Miss. Granger personally about the true purpose of her apprenticeship, it is just to ensure her protection. Severus I want you to teach her the fine arts of potions brewing because someday she will make a fine potions mistress and you may be finally able to take the DADA post after she becomes a certified potions mistress."
Hearing a loud pop from the merrily crackling fireplace, Snape is snapped out of his thoughts as Dumbledore, Lupin and McGonagall look on worriedly. "Severus are you truly ok, my boy?"
Sneering, "Yes, you bumbling fool, I'm all right." Minerva looks up at Severus and notices his agitated stance 'There is never a reason Severus would be like that unless it was something very dire.'
"Minerva and Remus, there is some unfortunate news, Voldermort has set his sights on Miss. Granger and will not hesitate to do everything to get his hands on her. Severus has been ordered to seduce Miss. Granger to the dark side. I will not allow that to happen on my watch, yes she will be trained in the dark arts but very little, Severus will be teaching her potions because Hermione is truly a prodigy in that particular field. Yes it will appear to Voldermort that the apprenticeship is just a cover for his seduction. Otherwise, I would rather trust Miss. Granger's safety to Severus because...before he came back to the light, he was one of the most feared death eater. Severus was personally trained in the dark arts by Voldermort so his knowledge is even more vast and he will use the dark arts to protect Miss. Granger but only when I think it is necessary. Sometimes using the dark arts can be an advantage. The is no black & white, just shades of gray."
Horrified, both Gryffindors are too shocked to response to Albus' plan. Minerva is the who is able to pull herself together. "Albus, I don't agree with this at all! I think Miss. Granger would be better off not taking that apprenticeship! If I was her mother I would have already shipped her off to America!"
"Minerva, Voldermort already has a presence in America! It would be entirely unwise to allow her to go there because she would be out of the order's protection." Snape harshly says as he glares at Minerva.
Lupin sitting in his chair softly comments, "I'm sorry Minerva, but I have to agree with Severus and Albus. The best thing for Miss. Granger right now is to remain in England."
"Albus, I will go along with this plan but I suggest you put her parents in hiding because I have a feeling that Miss. Granger nor her parents will agree to this ridiculous plan unless there are extreme security precautions taken. Her father is a former British SAS commando and he will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to protect his family." Glaring at Albus one last time, Minerva storms out of his office.
"On this note, this meeting is concluded, I will be leaving for the Grangers right now."
Lupin and Snape follow Minerva's footsteps out of the office and Albus turns back to the view outside his window to gather his thoughts before appariting away to the Granger residence. 'Good luck Miss Granger...indeed a hard path is ahead of you with many obstacles.'
Hearing the crack of apparition, Hermione rushes down from her bedroom and scrambles into the living room as her father opens the door to the view of Albus Dumbledore standing at the doorstep.
"Headmaster! I didn't think you would come this quickly, I just owled the letter to you early this morning." Hermione said as she picked up Crookshanks and sat on the recliner.
"Hello Miss Granger, and I daresay Mr. & Ms. Granger. Lemon drop?" Albus says as he steps into the house and settles himself on the couch.
Peter takes a long hard look at Albus " No thanks, Headmaster Dumbledore...what the heck is going on in the wizarding world"
TBC
In the next chapter...things get a little tense between Peter Granger & Albus Dumbledore and Harry makes his first appearance!..dun dun dun
suspenseful music playing in the background
A.N. I would like to thank all who have reviewed my story! Also I would like to thank my muse Courtney because she is the one who convinced me to write one more...maybe 3 more chapters before HBP comes out.