It was the next morning and all three of them were feeling calm and refreshed. The row was long over and Ron and Harry had woken the previous night find the scorch mark gone and to the smell of food. Neil and Melinda had come home and Harry and Ron had found Hermione in the kitchen helping her mum with that night's dinner.
But now after a long nights sleep, they had washed, dressed and eaten and were now under Hermione's instructions to be ready for Apparating in a few seconds.
Harry thought he knew where they were going but would only say he thoughts when Hermione told them where they were going.
Hermione walked into the living room where Harry and Ron were waiting, Harry in a t-shirt and combats, Ron in jeans and an open neck thin short-sleeved shirt. She was wearing a just over knee-high denim skirt and a sleeveless plain t-shirt.
"So," said Harry cheerfully, waiting mentally for an argument. "Where are we heading?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione asked, equally cheerful. "Hogwarts."
"Why?" asked Harry and Ron at the same time.
"To see Dumbledore!" she told them. "We have to tell him about yesterday!"
"Hey," said Harry to her. "He may be one of the most wisest wizards in the world…"
"That's why we're going." Hermione interrupted. "Let's go."
"Fizzing Whizbee!" Harry said loudly. They were inside Hogwarts which was deserted and unusually silent, but that was only expected as term was over.
The trio had stopped before a huge gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. The gargoyle started slowly rotating to reveal a spiral staircase that led up to the office door.
"Come on." Said Hermione, heading up the stairs. Harry and Ron followed her, and at the top came to a stop outside a tall wooden door.
Hermione knocked loudly twice and pushed opened the door by the brass handle.
"Professor?" Harry called, entering. "Professor Dumbledore?"
A crash came from behind a nearly wall-to-wall bookcase on a platform on the other side of the room.
The head of Albus Dumbledore peered round the shelves and stepped out, seeing them. His old face, which bore a long silver beard and hair smiled, his warm blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses.
He opened his arms in welcome. "Harry, Hermione," he said cheerfully. "Ron." His grin turning into a comforting smile. "How are you? Molly, Arthur? The others?"
Ron shrugged.
"So," said Dumbledore. "What brings you three here in the middle of summer?" he asked.
"There was… something we wanted to ask you." Said Harry. Dumbledore tilted his head slightly, looking at them curiously.
"Could we use the library?"
Dumbledore looked surprised at his question. "Of course." He replied politely. "Madame Pince is currently away but I daresay I can find a spare key. May I ask why?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Well…" said Harry.
"There was and attack." Hermione finished.
"An attack? By whom?" asked Dumbledore, his voice serious. He was startled by her short explanation and gestured them to sit down on the chairs in front of his desk. They sat watching him walk round and sit at his chair.
He leaned forwards slightly at full attention. "By who?" he repeated.
Harry continued, starting from the beginning. He told him how the woman had appeared out of no-where; how she threw the ball of electricity at them and how Hermione had pulled them to ground; and how she'd gone after Harry had thrown her against the wall.
"I see." Said Dumbledore, standing up quickly. "Do you have any idea if she'd been ordered to attack, or if she worked alone?"
"No." Hermione replied.
"What did she look like?" he asked them.
Ron answered this one. "We don't know. But she was wearing black robes from head to toe. We couldn't see her face."
"I did." Said Harry. Ron and Hermione swivelled round to face him in a second.
"She was very pale. And her hair; she had dark brown hair."
"I see." Said Dumbledore again. He turned away from them, obviously to think.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hermione mouthed to him. Harry shrugged silently to her.
Dumbledore turned quickly to face them, his face serious.
"We must work quickly." He told them. "I'll check my books, and I'll give you the library key."