Part 3
"Miss Granger, it's time to wake."
Insistent, the hand shaking her shoulder refused to let her slip back into the soft haven of sleep. Hermione blearily opened her eyes and realized it was Professor McGonagall by her bed. This made her abruptly pull herself upright. The older nodded in approval and handed her a set of robes from the wardrobe. Hermione forced her mind to follow her body into wakefulness. It was an unpleasant process.
She had collapsed from emotional and physical exhaustion after her bath but sleep hadn't left her feeling replenished. Her body ached in ways that it never had before. Her mental state was very similar. Hermione felt strangely at a loss as to what she should be feeling. Tears had dulled the sharp edges of her emotions and she was left the dull remnants. Hermione had no idea what she was supposed to do. That wasn't a situation she particularly liked. As she dressed, Hermione wondered what Minerva wanted.
"It's good to see that you can get ready so quickly. Your parents will be arriving by floo in a few moments. Professor Snape is escorting them," Minerva explained.
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"It is better that as few people as possible are involved. Severus wasn't pleased but he understands the situation. Now come along. The Headmaster is expecting you and I must see to Mr Riddle."
She had forgotten her parents were to visit Hogwarts. While she had requested it, Hermione was beginning to wish she hadn't. What could she say to them? They had been told about Voldemort but Hermione wasn't sure they really understood how dangerous he'd been. They regarded the wizarding world with awe and delight but sometimes she thought her parents felt it was some kind of exotic dream. Noticing that McGonagall was waiting for a response, Hermione managed a nod before following the professor's instructions. Apprehensively, Hermione entered the Headmaster's office. Thankfully she was spared trying to guess the password, as it hadn't been changed from when she'd been escorted yesterday. Hermione sighed. It seemed like a century ago.
"Ah, Miss Granger, do come in. Your parents have arrived," Dumbledore spoke as she hovered just outside of his office door.
Needing no more urging, Hermione entered and was swept up in her parent's arms. The embraces were almost too much. The urge to huddle into their arms like a child wanting reassurance was unbearably strong. Hermione was decidedly teary as she parted from them. Her mother seemed confused and her father was beginning to realize something was wrong. Hermione swallowed her emotions and smiled at them. This seemed to calm them and Hermione knew she would have to be as strong as possible as things were explained.
"Mr Granger, Mrs Granger, no doubt you are wondering why I've requested your presence," Dumbledore began.
"Yes, we are curious to know why you have gone to such lengths to bring us here and, please, call me Alan and my wife Lydia."
"Are you aware of Voldemort's recent defeat?" Albus asked.
"Hermione organized for us to have a subscription with the Daily Prophet. We've read the articles and Hermione sent a letter about what happened," Lydia replied.
"That will make things easier to explain. Voldemort was defeated but I fear the situation is far more complex than what the Prophet has reported," Dumbledore spoke and seemed to grow older as he explained. "For a wizard with as much power and determination as Lord Voldemort, death is not necessarily final. He had already proved this once."
"So you're saying that he'll be back?" Alan said, frowning.
"I am saying that it would be inevitable if we had not acted."
"What does that have to do with us or Hermione?" Alan reasoned.
"It is my regret to inform you that Hermione is directly involved with what we have done to protect the world from Voldemort's ambitions."
"What? I've heard all about this Lord Voldemort and what he's done. Hermione's a student and not yet eighteen. It is not her responsibility to fight evil wizards," Lydia spoke with growing horror.
"Wizarding age of majority is fifteen, Mum. Nor am I a student as I have passed the NEWTs. I agreed to help of my own free will. There was no other choice. Besides, I've been involved simply by the fact I'm muggleborn and Harry's friend."
"There are always other options, Hermione. Headmaster, I fail to see why my daughter had to be involved. You are supposed to be responsible for the wellbeing of my daughter!" Alan argued.
Hermione had to stifle smart retort. Her parents didn't really know all that had passed during her years at Hogwarts. They had been informed of some of her adventures but not all. They would have refused to let her continue at Hogwarts if they'd known. They were also ignorant of the special training she'd received with Ron and Harry and that she'd been on the front lines. She would spare them that knowledge if she could.
"Your daughter's part in this was essential. I know of no other who is as trusted and capable. Mr and Mrs Granger, I understand as a parent you wish to protect your daughter but it is her that must protect us."
"What exactly was done? And why was she chosen? Aren't there other witches that could have done it instead?" Lydia asked, struggling to understand.
"I will be happy to explain about Hermione's involvement but I must ask for your patience. To understand about your daughter's role, I must first tell you the story of a young boy who attended here at Hogwarts."
"A boy?" Lydia repeated with confusion.
"Yes, his name was Tom Marvolo Riddle."
The story might have been aimed at her parents, but Hermione recognized that it was for her benefit as well. For a moment Dumbledore's eyes met hers and she nodded to show he had her full attention. Hermione was aware that she and her friends knew more about Tom Riddle, or Voldemort, than most. Their knowledge was based on both firsthand experience and research. The information they had, however, wasn't very complete. Voldemort had gone to great lengths to obscure his past. Whatever the Headmaster would reveal would be very useful indeed.
Hermione had no idea how to approach and deal with Tom Riddle. Essentially, she was shackled to a man she knew nothing about. Last night she had been shell-shocked and hadn't really said anything to him. Today she wouldn't have that luxury. Hermione wasn't one to avoid her responsibilities and hiding wasn't an option. She was hoping that in what Dumbledore would tell her, would be some clue as to how to proceed with Tom.
"Tom was an orphan. His mother had been a witch who had married a muggle against the wishes of her family. She died in childbirth, not long after her husband cast her into the streets for being a witch. Her family abandoned Tom as surely as his father and so he was raised in a muggle orphanage. His years at the orphanage were harsh indeed. There he was condemned and reviled for his inborn gifts and brutally maltreated when they manifested. Despite this, he refused to be cowed. When he came to Hogwarts he had only his well honed cunning and determination to recommend him. Despite his lack of family or patronage he was sorted into Slytherin."
"Is this Tom one of Hermione's year mates?" Alan questioned.
"No. Tom's stay at Hogwarts began many years ago. During his time here he astounded his professors with his brilliance and charisma. His phenomenal talent silenced even those that had first sneered at his mixed blood. He eventually became Prefect and then Head Boy. When he left Hogwarts, he was fully expected to become a prevalent member of wizarding society. Instead, he was never heard of again. Or so we thought." Dumbledore recounted in an even tone.
"What happened to him?" Lydia asked softly.
"The boy, Tom, became Lord Voldemort."
"Voldemort!" Alan breathed in shock.
"Tom's fall to the Dark, is one of the wizarding world's greatest tragedies. Had he turned his abilities elsewhere..." Dumbledore sighed. "Now, the reason I've recounted Voldemort's history is because the boy he was, is now the boy he is."
"I'm sorry, Headmaster but we're just not following," Alan admitted, giving voice to the puzzlement he and his wife were feeling.
"As I have said, Voldemort's return was inevitable. My staff and I found no way to prevent it and so the next logical solution was to dictate exactly how he could come back. Instead of Voldemort returning at the height of his power, with extensive knowledge of the Dark Arts, instead he is eighteen and just beginning on the Dark path."
"You returned the boy and not the man. I didn't even know that was possible," Lydia spoke beginning to understand. "Isn't that a terrible risk? Who is to say that he won't continue with his plans?"
"It is Hermione that will insure that Tom's interests in the Dark Arts are curbed."
That statement launched the Grangers into stunned silence. Hermione winced a little at the series of expressions that passed over their features. Shock, anger and concern were foremost among them. Instead of being overcome by her own turmoil, Hermione instead felt strangely tired. Her parents were justifiably upset. They had just been told that their little girl was supposed to single-handedly confine a dangerous dark wizard. Put that way, it did sound ridiculous.
"How is she supposed to do this?" Lydia asked after a moment.
"There was a special form of binding placed upon Tom. Hermione can now regulate his use of magic and he will not be able to move further than a mile from her. I shall also put into place a check-in system. If Tom... misbehaves, there the problems will be addressed."
"You did this willingly, Hermione?" Alan asked aghast.
"Voldemort can't be allowed to return, Dad," Hermione replied quietly.
"Honey, you're only just eighteen. You're barely an adult! This is a Dark wizard," Lydia objected.
Hermione felt a flare of anger. She might have just turned eighteen, but she was far from being a child. During the war she'd seen and experienced the gamut of human emotion. Elation, despair, suffering and hope were all unraveled before her in threads vibrant color. Adulthood had come early. Hermione wasn't foolish enough to think she'd seen and done it all, but childhood seemed so far away.
They had all been struggling in one way or another for so long. She deeply desired rest and respite from turmoil. With Voldemort's destruction, Hermione had been anticipating a lazy summer before beginning at Great Oaks. Now she had been catapulted into a battle of a very different sort. Sighing, Hermione wondered if it would develop into an all out war. The Headmaster's 'story' had been interesting but there had been no moment of epiphany for her. Riddle wasn't going to give up. What Dumbledore had said only reinforced that he would still be a very real threat. Tom Marvolo Riddle was both ambitious and motivated. He had already tried to charm her last night. Hermione really didn't want to get into a battle of wills with him. That Dumbledore seemed so confidant in her was equally reassuring and disturbing.
Regardless of her own doubts, Hermione had made her choice. Her parents had always told her to take responsibility for her own decisions. That was precisely what she was doing. They just had to see that.
"I've stood by Harry and Ron to face Voldemort. I've played my part in the war. I've seen what Voldemort was capable of doing. I can't let him free to see it happen again. It was my decision," Hermione said softly but with a core of strength.
"No, Hermione, this can't be right. Dumbledore, this is ridiculous. There has to be someone other than our daughter!" Alan responded after a moment, blindly grasping at straws.
"I fear there wasn't. Even if we could have found someone else with the required attributes, the binding has been cast. It cannot be undone," Dumbledore explained carefully. "Your daughter has done a very great thing. Few would have accepted the duty laid upon her. She now needs your support and understanding."
"And she has it! No matter what may happen, we love our daughter. It is your part in this mess that we dislike. Regardless of Hermione being of majority in the wizarding world, it is your duty to protect your students! We've heard stories about Hermione's friend Harry. Are you in the habit of using children as shields?" Lydia burst forth.
"Mum!" Hermione gasped.
"It's true, Hermione, and you know it," Alan said. "We've said nothing believing that being Muggles we didn't fully appreciate the situation. Now I'm seeing I was incorrect."
"Mr and Mrs Granger," Dumbledore said standing. "You are correct."
There was a flummoxed pause as Hermione watched her parents struggle to find something to say in response. They were upset and afraid for her. She didn't blame them. As parents, they wanted to protect their child. What her parents had said was something she'd considered herself once or twice. Many times Dumbledore had placed Harry in harm's way. She too had been manipulated. She had, however, decided that Dumbledore did what he did for a reason. As nebulous a concept as the 'greater good' was, Dumbledore did work towards it and mostly it was better than the alternative. Her parents just had to see this was the path of less harm.
"My treatment of your daughter and Harry Potter hasn't always been in agreement with my duties as Headmaster of Hogwarts. Instead I have done my best to insure that there is a Hogwarts and students to be Headmaster of," Dumbledore continued and then sighed.
"Mum, Dad, this was my decision. I could have said no, but I didn't," Hermione coaxed. "The Headmaster had to ask."
"This is hard for us, Hermione. This isn't the life we'd seen for you. You had so many hopes and dreams. What about university? Didn't you have you eye on that wizarding place?" Lydia asked.
"Great Oaks *is* what I want and I'm still going. The only difference is that Tom Riddle will be going too. The Headmaster has made arrangements," Hermione reassured.
"You say that like it's nothing," Lydia said tightly. "How can you be so calm?"
"Lydia, she's being strong, just like we've taught her," Alan replied to his distraught wife. "We're proud of you, Hermione, even if it's not something we think you should have been involved with. I doubt our concerns can be put aside but I think we need to talk about what will happen in the near future."
"I'm glad you asked, Mr Granger," Dumbledore spoke up once again. "Being Hermione's family, you will play a part in Tom's binding."
"What part?" Lydia asked with a frown.
This time, Hermione winced. She was only just beginning to see the consequences her decision would have on her parents. When she'd agreed to the binding, she'd only thought of the impact it would make on her life. Conveniently, she'd forgotten that her parents would be directly involved. Even though she would be going to Great Oaks, Tom Riddle would be spending a significant amount of time with her family. Hermione felt decidedly uncomfortable about that. Her parents were muggles and Voldemort had made no bones about his hatred for muggles. Was this a catastrophe waiting to happen?
"There is a couple of months before Hermione is to go to Great Oaks. I assume she intended to spend that time at home?" Dumbledore began.
"Yes."
"Where your daughter goes, Tom Riddle is obliged to follow."
"He will be staying in our home?" Lydia said and sighed. "There is no option."
"Isn't that risky?" Alan interjected. "I know of the activities Voldemort and his followers got up to in the muggle world."
"The protections the Ministry and I erected about your home will insure you are safe. Nor will Tom be able to harm you through magic. That Hermione is muggleborn was considered a bonus when she was chosen. Tom's hatred for muggles was not without reason. He was treated very harshly as a boy by the muggles that oversaw the orphanage where he stayed," Dumbledore explained.
"You want us to become some kind of positive role model," Alan realized.
"I cannot say that it would be successful. Tom's hatred is deeply ingrained in him. The possibility that some of his hatred being ameliorated is not something I can ignore. Without his hatred motivating him, the threat is lessened."
Her parents looked at each other for a moment. Their wordless communication was so intense Hermione felt as if she was intruding on an intimate moment. She didn't want to argue with her parents. She wanted them to understand. Finally they both let their gazes drop. Their air of resignation was palpable. Hermione felt a spark of hope ignite.
"So... when do we meet this boy?" Lydia asked.