CHAPTER 4

As she neared the evil looking stone gargoyle outside Hermione's office, she realized that she had no idea what the password was. She lingered hesitantly beside it, ignoring its snide remarks, until she spotted Professor McGonagall approaching from the other direction. When she saw her, her eyes widened slightly.

'Ms. Granger,' she said, cautiously, 'You're out of the hospital wing?'

'Yes professor,' Hermione replied, slightly uncomfortable. 'I have to see professor Dumbledore, but I'm afraid I don't know what the password is.'

'That's quite all right,' her transfiguration teacher replied. She cast the gargoyle a scathing glance, and said, 'Cockroach cluster.'

'If you say so,' the gargoyle said, snidely. It slid to a side, and displayed a small wooden door. Professor McGonagall knocked on it. Hermione felt her stomach knotting.

The door was opened, and their headmaster stood before them. He was dressed in midnight blue robes, his hair and beard sparkling. His light blue eyes, behind the half-moon glasses were filled with deep gravity and worry. When he saw Hermione, the expression on his face deepened slightly.

'Ms. Granger,' he acknowledged. 'Please, come in.' He turned to Professor McGonagall. 'Yes, Minerva?'

She pursed her lips. 'Albus, Fudge has sent a few Aurors to check the situation.'

'Who exactly has come?'

'Dawlish and Scrimgoeur. They want to see you.'

'Have they already inspected the body?'

'Yes. They have found a few strange points. They want to talk to you about it.'

'I'll be along.'

He turned to Hermione. 'Ms. Granger, I am afraid I must ask you to wait for a few minutes, while I meet the Aurors.'

'That's okay professor,' Hermione mumbled.

'Do take a seat. I'll be right back.'

He strode out of the room, his robes billowing behind him. Hermione turned to look at his office.

She had neverseenthe Headmasters office before. The room was circular, with several windows. One of them overlooked the lake. Bright sunshine was pouring into the room, and falling onto the burgundy carpet which covered the floor. To one end was a desk, with parchment, quills, feathers, a box of colorful jewels, a tin of candy and a perch on which a beautiful golden bird, with a rich plumage and jeweled eyes. It was surveying her with a sad, comforting expression. Hermione crossed the room, and sat on one of the plush upholstered chairs. Immediately, Fawkes hopped off his perch, and settled on the desk in front of her. Extending a tentative hand, Hermione gingerly ran her fingers over his soft and velvety plumage. He closed his eyes with rapture.

Hermione smiled to herself, despite her tense circumstances. Somehow, the phoenix comforted her. She felt better than she had since she had found the body.

She glanced around the office once more. The windows looked warm and inviting. Getting up from the chair, she crossed the room, and approached one of the largest ones, which was curtained with a tasteful cherry colored velvet drape, tied to the side with a golden tassel

The window framed a beautiful view of the lake, its blue surface calm this evening. Already, the sun was dipping and turning red, and the lake seemed reflect a bloody sheen. Hermione felt tears prick the edges of her eyes. She blinked them away.

As her vision cleared, she suddenly noticed something quite strange. Sitting at the lake, under a shady tree, were two people. Both were dressed in Hogwarts robes, but Hermione couldn't make out who they were. She squinted her eyes, and tried to see better. Suddenly, a blood red ray of light fell on the pale blonde hair of one.

Her breathing quickened. It was Malfoy; he was with some unsuspecting student near the lake. She took out her wand, and tapped her face, saying 'Clarificasious.'

Immediately, her vision sharpened, and she could make out the tiny details of the scene before her. Each and every glint of sunlight of the water seemed to become a thousand times clearer and brighter, each blade of glass seemed sharpened and jeweled green. She slid her gaze to the pair talking by the edge of the lake.

With another shock, she realized that the person who Malfoy was talking to was the one who Ron had introduced her to at the masquerade- Antony Goldstein. He was leaning against the knarled tree trunk, his sandy hair flat against his head. He had a worried, almost scared look on his face. Malfoy, on the other hand, had a sneer decked upon his. Hermione shivered, as she looked into his icy eyes. She felt a wave of sympathy towards Anthony. At the same time, she felt a building curiosity, wondering exactly what conversation was going on below.

'Enjoying the view, Ms. Granger,' asked a deep voice from behind her.

She wheeled around, and came face to face with Dumbledore, who was standing just behind her.

'Sorry professor,' she said, apologetically.

He held up a hand. 'Of course not, Ms. Granger. Windows are to look out off, after all. Now, if you could tear yourself away from the lovely view for a few minutes, perhaps you could take a seat by my desk?'

Hermione took the hint. She settled down on her chair, again, and watched as Dumbledore lowered himself onto his own chair. He steepled his fingers, and looked thoughtfully at her.

'Well,' he began, 'I think I'm right to assume you haven't been having a very good time.'

Hermione bowed her head. 'I suppose not.'

'You found a body, Ms. Granger,' Dumbledore said, gently. 'That is quite disturbing. Have you been told who-.'

'Yes,' Hermione said, quietly, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. 'Neville.'

Dumbledore removed his glasses, and put them on his desk. Hermione noticed, with a little jolt, that his eyes were much clearer and brighter- the type of blue that the sea would be on a warm, sunny day.

'Mr. Granger,' he began. 'I understand that this is a personal loss. I understand perhaps better than anyone how you are feeling right now. But I also know the line between the good and the practical. I know it is definitely not good, but perfectly practical, to ask you for your assistance at this point of time.'

Hermione looked him straight in the eye. 'Meaning?'

'There is a traitor at Hogwarts,' Dumbledore said, calmly, as if he was simply commenting on the weather. 'I will confess that I did not think that possible. It might be the staff, or it might be a student. We need to find out who it is, because that person is possibly working for the dark Lord. He must be removed from the school immediately, and will be relocated at Azkaban.'

'Professor,' Hermione began, tentatively.

'Yes, Ms. Granger.'

'Do you think it was a Death Eater's work?'

'I think it certainly had something to do with the dark Lord,' Dumbledore replied.

'B- but in that case…why wasn't there a Dark Mark over the school, or in the room?'

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. 'I'm not sure,' he replied. 'This is a most perplexing case. But I will need your assistance, Ms. Granger. Yours and Harry's and Mr. Weasley's. You see, I'm not sure who I can trust right now. I was so sure about my staff, but I wouldn't dare fully trust anybody except the three of you right now.'

'Do you honestly think it might not be a Slytherin?' Hermione asked, frowning.

'I think that Slytherin in highly probable. But you never know.'

'I see,' Hermione nodded. 'How exactly do you need our help?'

'Nothing much, of course. I need you to keep your eyes open, and try whatever you can to find out who it is- without putting yourselves into mortal peril, of course. I will be telling you whatever I know about the case to assist you. For example…'

He reached under his desk, and pulled out something that was wrapped in a silvery-, liquid material. With his long fingers, he unwrapped the material, and pulled out a beautiful silver crucifix, about six inches long, studded with opals.

'This was found under the body. The Aurors weren't able to place it, or detect any spell work in it.'

He handed it to Hermione. She took it, and ran her fingers over the cold surface. A light tremor raced up her fingers.

'I believe it has some form of protective curse in it,' Dumbledore said. 'That protects the wearer. Perhaps the murderer dropped it.'

'Why didn't he pick it up again?' Hermione asked, curiously.

'It was found under the body. Possibly the murderer never noticed he dropped it.'

Hermione slid her fingers over the surface crusted with opals.

'It has a strong magical impulse,' she murmured. 'Why couldn't the Aurors work out how to use it?'

Dumbledore bowed his head. 'The crucifix is protected with Dark Magic, Ms. Granger. If it had been any other type, I could have broken in it. As it were, I am baffled.'

He glanced out of the window. The suns rays were now an even deeper shade of red.

'Alas, time slips by too fast,' he murmured. 'I must ask your leave, Mr. Granger. Go back to the Gryffindor common room- it is unwise to linger outside. All the students have been given a rigid curfew, and encouraged to use protective spells. Please tell Harry and Mr. Weasley too…'

'Thank you professor,' Hermione said, quietly. 'I'll call you if I find anything.'

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'A crucifix?' Ron said, in a puzzled voice, at Charms the next morning 'But why?'

'That's what I'm trying to tell you,' Hermione said, impatiently. 'Muscato!'

Immediately, the orange snail that was sitting placidly on her desk began to mutate, and very soon a purple toad was staring back at her.

'I didn't get you first time,' Ron muttered. 'Muscato! Muscato! '

He winced as his snail sprouted horns and cast him a reproachful look. 'Why can't I ever mutate my snails?' he muttered, bitterly. 'yeah, Hermione, you were saying?'

'I was saying,' Hermione said, in a slightly irritated voice, as Ron's horned snail blinked owlishly at her, 'That Dumbledore thinks it's a talisman of the sort- a Protective charm.'

'But then why would the murderer just drop it?' Ron asked, still trying to process what she was saying.

'Dumbledore thinks he dropped it by mistake,' Hermione said. 'It was under the body wasn't it?'

Ron nodded. 'I see. And did you tell him about Malfoy?'

Hermione shook her head.

'As a matter of fact, no,' she said, crisply. 'I don't think we should point any fingers at him when we don't have any proof.'

Ron turned to her, his eyes wide.

'Hermione, let us think,' he said, in his talking-to-an-idiot voice. 'Neville had the marks on his cheek that indicated that he had been pricked with long nails. Malfoy had long nails. Logical assumption : Malfoy did it.'

'I don't think so,' Hermione said, stubbornly. 'It doesn't make any sense.'

Ron rolled his eyes. 'And why do you say that?'

'Because,' Hermione said, pointedly, 'Malfoy isn't stupid. If he had intended to prick Neville with those terrible claws of his, then he wouldn't have paraded around with them, would he?'

'He might have,' Harry said, unexpectedly from behind them. He was holding a rather fluffy slug, which seemed to be covered with white chicken feathers. 'I couldn't mutate my snail properly,' he replied apologetically, to Hermione's appraising look. 'But about Malfoy, Hermione…what if he didn't mean to prick Neville's cheeks, like that? Maybe he intended to kill him, and didn't realize what the claws did. You have to admit everything points to him.'

Hermione fell silent. She had to admit, that Harry's idea was logical.

'We need to find out,' Hermione said, softly. 'For Neville. For Hogwarts.'

'I know,' Harry said, his voice miserable. 'I've been thinking...but I can't think of anyway to find out…'

'Flitwick,' Ron said, warningly, as their professor approached.

'Yes, Ms. Granger, a perfectly mutated snail,' he said, admiringly. 'But boys, boys…'

For the next five minutes, he told Harry and Ron exactly what was wrong with their charms.

'It's all about concentration, boys…' he said, wisely. 'You have to concentrate! Ah dear, looks like your lessons are over…well, pack up everybody! Ad practice!'

They left the Charms classroom, and began walking back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione walked with her head bent. The entire school, except perhaps the Slytherin, who were maintaining a nonchalant, indifferent air, was in mourning, but she still attracted quite a few glances from the other students, who knew for a fact that it had been her that had found the body. No one had asked her directly yet, but she was sure that someone would soon become emboldened and question her. She had already decided to maintain a stony silence.

They headed back to the common room. Harry was still looking thoughtful.

'I'm going to the library after this,' he announced, suddenly. 'We have a free period, don't we?'

Hermione and Ron jerked up and stared at him.

'Harry?' Hermione asked, tentatively. 'Is that you?'

'Of course it isn't.' Ron said, in a worried voice. 'Someone's impersonating him…Polyjuice person! It must be a Death Eater!'

'I'm not a Death Eater,' Harry said, in a nasty voice. 'I'm going to try and find some curse that'll help us find out if it really was Malfoy who did that- horrible thing.'

Ron looked puzzled. 'Like what?'

'Something like the Polyjuice Potion again, do you think?' Hermione murmured, thoughtfully. 'If we could persuade him to tell one of his cronies…'

'Not happening.' Harry said, shaking his head. 'I doubt he'd tell anybody about this, if it was him. He'd be too scared of being ratted out, don't you think?'

'But then- what?' Hermione asked, frustrated. 'There must be something!'

There was silence for a few minutes, while they thought about that. Without realizing it, they overshot the common room, and headed off towards the library.

'What if-.' Ron began, hesitantly. 'What if there's some kind of mind-reading spell?'

'Mind reading?' Hermione looked worried. 'It's possible, I'm sure. But it's bound to be complicated. I rather fancy that a potion would be easier. But not mind reading, I think that will be too general. We could try a truth serum, I suppose.'

'You think we can make Veritaserum?' Harry asked, doubtfully.

'I don't think we'll have to,' Hermione said. 'We're bound to find some in professor Snape's stores.'

'I am not throwing a fire cracker into someone's Cauldron in his class again.' Harry said, stolidly. Hermione cast him an annoyed look.

'Of course not. I think going at night would be sa-.'

'Peeves,' Ron hissed, warningly.

They fell silent as the poltergeist drifted above them. When he caught sight of Hermione, his mouth split into a wide grin.

'Well if it isn't Granger!' he said, in a savoring voice. 'The girl who's been stumbling over- bodies.'

'Shut up Peeves,' Harry said sharply, glancing at his friend. 'And get lost, or I'm going to report you.'

With a little chuckle, Peeves blew a wet raspberry, and swooped away. Hermione looked slightly sick.

'Don't pay any attention to him,' Ron said, abruptly. 'He's just a nasty poltergeist.'

'But it isn't just him, is it?' Hermione whispered, softly. 'The entire school thinks- but never matter,' she quickly composed herself. 'As I was saying, I think the safest time would be at night.'

'Won't that be slightly dangerous, Hermione?' Harry asked, in a worried voice.

She waved his wariness aside. 'Snape has some simple hexes on each door to his private stores, and a Seeing-Dwarf…that's like a security camera,' she added, as Harry looked puzzled. 'Well, your cloak will take care of the bloody dwarf, and a simple Shield Charm should take care of the jinxes.'

'Why would Snape keep such loose security against his stores?' Ron asked.

'Oh, it's just his office he's worried about,' Hermione said, airily. 'I don't think he really cares about his stores. And I suppose he thinks nobody could get past his stupid Dwarf- but I dare say that if we get in, we'll be able to find some truth serum.'

'But then how do we get it into Malfoy?' Ron asked. 'And how do we make sure we have him alone to interrogate him?'

Hermione was silent for a moment. 'I think that's where Polyjuice would come in handy,' she said, finally. 'If we could impersonate a Slytherin, and meet up with him in the Common Room, then persuade him to have a drink- and I'm sure we could manage to get him alone, somehow..'

Her voice trailed off. It was Harry who continued.

'Fine then. We bust into Snape's stores tonight, get some truth serum and Polyjuice Potion, and then bust into the Slytherin Common Room tomorrow.'

'Hold it!' Ron said, loudly. He glanced over at Hermione. 'Well?"

'Well what?'

'We're waiting for it.'

'For what?'

'The- oh my gosh, just think of how many school rules we'll be breaking.'

Hermione drew herself up. 'It's for Neville.' she said, softly. 'It's to hurt Voldemort. Damn all school rules.'