The last few days had been more than exciting for Hermione. She was present to observe first hand the process an Auror goes through when bringing in a dark wizard. She was granted passage, by Rita surprisingly, to sit in on the trial of Thomas Greybeard, who was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Evan Skeeter by through illegal use of mechanical magic. Hermione missed a few days of classes but it was more than worth it, especially when she saw the look on Harry and Ron's faces when she told them of what had happened.
"Maybe next time you'll listen to me," Hermione told Harry with satisfaction. The next Saturday after the trial, Hermione sat outside on one of the many benches at Hogwarts, reading a book on journalism she had checked out of the library. After about an hour she was approached by Professor McGonagall.
"Miss Granger, there you are," McGonagall said, "Professor Dumbledore would like to me with you."
"With me?" Hermione asked lifting her eyebrows.
"Yes," McGonagall affirmed. "Follow me."
The hallways were empty today, as most students were outside taking advantage of one of the last nice days of the season. Hermione walked closely by McGonagall's side and looked up into the face of her favorite professor. McGonagall's expression was always stern, never betraying any emotion or feeling. Hermione often wondered about it, and today, she decided, was the day to find out the story.
"You do know a Nevilos Amorus, don't you," Hermione said. To her surprise McGonagall kept on walking, her eyes staying forward and her back straight.
"As I said before I don't know," McGonagall replied, and was silent for a few moments before adding, "I never asked him."
They reached Dumbledore's office and McGonagall said the password.
"You may go in Miss Granger," McGonagall told Hermione as the door rumbled open. Hermione smiled at McGonagall content with the answer she had received. She stepped through the door and into Dumbledore's office but she was at a loss as to why Dumbledore would want to see her. After all, Harry was the important one.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said in his kind old man voice, "Please, come in."
"Professor, have I done something wrong?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore pointed to the large plush chair across from his desk and Hermione sat.
"Why, I don't think so?" Dumbledore did not state but asked. His white eyebrows were raised in curiosity.
"That is to say," he continued as he plopped some candy into his mouth, "Not that I know of."
He extended his hand and offered the sweets to Hermione. Hermione held up her hand and shook her head from side to side. She had better things to do than waste time in Dumbledore's office eating candy.
The Headmaster started to say something but was interrupted by a party of official looking wizards barging into his office.
"Albus Dumbledore, you are harboring a fugitive," the man in the center accused.
"We are from the Ministry of Magic and we have come to arrest Rita Skeeter," another said.
"Gentlemen please," Dumbledore replied getting to his feet. He was a good four or five inches taller than the Ministry representatives which seemed to intimidate them at little.
"I'm sure there is no cause for alarm. What exactly is the trouble?"
The man in the center pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet in which the front page story, Hermione saw, showed a moving sketch of a wild looking Rita bursting into Juliana's office and lighting her hair and office on fire. The moving sketch then showed the entire building catching fire and burning to the ground. Hermione smirked. So that was what Rita had been doing when she disappeared in Diagon Ally.
"This is the trouble," the man said pointing at the picture. "The Ministry will not allow renegade witches like Rita Skeeter to run around and terrorize the rest of us. It's bad enough Bellatrix Lestrange is running free."
"Gentlemen," Dumbledore said, his voice calm yet commanding, "Rita Skeeter is not Bellatrix Lestrange, and she did bring in a known Death Eater, after the alleged attack took place. Now, I'm sure the Ministry has more important issues to deal with and if you do insist on going through with the charges Hogwarts is fully prepared to defend Ms. Skeeter as you have no evidence but a fabricated sketch."
The three Ministry representatives exchanged worried glances.
"Very well, Dumbledore," said one man, "You'll be hearing from us later."
They exited the office without saying anything else. Hermione watched them leave and then turned back around in her chair to face Dumbledore.
"They won't bother us again," he assured, "the Ministry has a weak tolerance for any kind of opposition. Besides, it is a rather amusing what Ms. Skeeter did do." Dumbledore gave Hermione a playful wink.
"Is there something you wanted?" Hermione questioned eager to finally know why Dumbledore had called for her. The old man stroked his beard as if his mind were pondering other things.
"Professor," Hermione said, trying to snap him out of his daydream.
"Oh, yes," he began with a chuckle. "I am sorry Miss Granger. I've had a lot on my mind lately." He pushed is spectacles a little higher up his large nose.
"I was wondering. Do you think wise to invite Ms. Skeeter to join the Order of the Phoenix?"
To say Hermione was stunned by the question would not do justice to the way she almost fell out of the chair. The invite to Rita did not surprise her so much as Dumbledore asking Hermione's advice.
"Why…why ask me?"
Dumbledore pushed his lower lip up causing his beard to stick out a little more around his chin.
"I think, perhaps, you know Ms. Skeeter better than any of us…except maybe Mr. Brighthall, and I've already obtained his opinion on the matter," Dumbledore explained. The Headmaster tossed another piece of candy into the mouth hidden behind the white beard.
"Well," Hermione began, straightening her back; "I don't like Rita. I doubt if I ever will. She is really stuck up and she has no qualms about telling lies. Her manners are quite rude and she has no respect for anyone really…"
"But," Dumbledore gently prompted.
"But," Hermione continued, "I think it would be quite smart to have Rita in the Order. She knows practically everyone, and even though she's a liar I think she can be trusted." Hermione thought about what she had just said and scratched her head.
"I guess that doesn't really make sense, but if you can get Rita to agree to join the Order than I'm willing to bet she won't double cross you." Hermione glued her eyes on Dumbledore, waiting expectantly for his reply.
"Well, then, it's unanimous," He said. "Rita will be invited to join the Order tonight. I'll expect you here tonight at eight."
"Me?" Hermione questioned.
"Of course," Dumbledore replied, "Like you said, it will not be easy to convince her."
Hermione nodded and smiled at the old professor, understanding for the first time why Harry respected and trusted the man so much. She rose from her chair but before she left she decided to ask a slightly unusual question.
"Professor, this is a personal question but I was wondering," Hermione said remembering her conversation with McGonagall only a few moments ago. "Are you a Nevilos Amorus?"
The tone in his voice as he answered held the same sadness Hermione had heard in McGonagall's voice. She pondered his answer for the rest of the school year.
As Hermione stood in front of Dumbledore's office before for the meeting began she could hardly believe whose side she was about to take. Over the past few weeks, Hermione had actually, she shuttered to think it, began to like Rita in the smallest, tiniest, minutest way possible. With a heavy sigh, but a somewhat light heart, Hermione said the magic password and gained entrance into Dumbledore's office.
She was surprised by the sight that met her eyes when she entered. Dumbledore was standing behind his desk, reading over some kind of paper. McGonagall was standing next to Rita; her long black hat made her the tallest in the room. Rita was leaning against Dumbledore's desk, looking slightly agitated in her green silk outfit. Hermione had noticed a change in Rita since the day of Greybeard's trial. The woman was more guarded than ever. The fourth figure in the room was Jerimus. He sat in a wooden chair in the darkest corner of Dumbledore's office. He was bent over with his elbows resting on his knees.
"Finally," Rita said when she saw Hermione, "Now maybe you can tell me what this is all about."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Rita's constant impatientness, although, Hermione knew it was a trait they both shared.
"Certainly," Dumbledore said. "Ms. Skeeter, we would like to invite you to join the Order of the Phoenix."
One side of Rita's mouth curved in annoyance.
"The Order of the Phoenix? What the hell is that?" She asked, treating the subject as if it were unimportant or a joke.
"It's a group of witches and wizards we have organized to ensure that Voldemort never again regains power," Dumbledore explained. Hermione saw everyone but Jerimus react to the name of the dark lord.
"Those wizards who came here the other day," Rita said to McGonagall.
"They were here for a meeting. They are part of the Order," McGonagall explained.
"You understand the need for secrecy," Dumbledore added.
Rita shook her head and gave Dumbledore sardonic smiled. She took off her glasses and folded them neatly in her hands.
"An order of witches and wizards that fight for freedom?" Rita questioned, almost mockingly. "You've got the wrong person, Dumbledore. I'm no hero, didn't you read that story?"
Hermione was surprised by the defiant air Rita put on. She flaunted in front of the three of them as if she had nothing at stake in the fight. Hermione knew that wasn't true, and she knew that Rita was capable of acting like a decent human being. What Hermione disliked about Rita was her defiant, uncaring attitude. The girl was beginning to regret her decision to stick up for Rita.
"Well," Dumbledore said, looking Rita in the eyes, "There are three people in this room who would argue otherwise."
Hermione resisted the impulse to give Dumbledore a high five. Rita had no come back and stood in stupor for a moment. Hermione took advantage of the silence.
"You know a lot of people. You would be a big help to the order. You know who used to be a Death Eater and who we can trust," the girl said. McGonagall gave her a very subtle approving nod.
"I am insignificant in the fight against you-know-who," Rita replied her eyes dodging everyone else's.
"The seemingly insignificant are more often the one's who accomplish the greatest tasks," Jerimus' gentle voice echoed through the office.
Hermione found it odd that for the next, what seemed like about two whole minutes, Rita and Jerimus locked gazes. After about a minute, when no one spoke, Hermione grew uncomfortable. Hermione was standing slightly to Rita right, so she only see Rita's profile but she had direct view of Jerimus.
Either the light was changing in the office or Jerimus grew very pale in the shadowy corner. A look of deep sadness sunk into his face, and he finally dropped his eyes to the ground, almost as if he had been defeated. This certainly didn't look like the man who had kicked Bellatrix Lestrange's ass a few weeks ago.
"Mr. Brighthall is correct," Dumbledore said as he strode over to Jerimus and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Hermione could tell by Rita's expression that the action confused her too.
"Even those without magic are of great use to us," the old professor said as his kind eyes landed on Jerimus. Hermione thought it an odd comment for Dumbledore to make.
"Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Jerimus Brighthall," Rita said and turned around to glance at Hermione, "And of all people Hermione Granger want me to fight along side them. This could be the greatest story I've ever written."
Hermione just about gasped at the possibility she could have been so wrong about Rita. Dumbledore had risked exposing the entire operation by inviting Rita and now it looked as though he made a mistake.
"I won't," Rita said curtly, "…write it, of course. It's a great compliment, to be seen as having an important role to play. I thank you for that. And I suppose if I must join your pitiable mishmash little organization I might as well get started on a list of possible Death Eaters."
Rita began to leave the room and stopped to look at Hermione. The girl saw something in Rita's eyes she had never before seen. It came across as something like hope.
"Lucius Malfoy is at the top of the list," Rita told Hermione with a wink. The reporter then strode out of the room.
"I can't believe she agreed," Hermione said. McGonagall gave Hermione a warm smile but Dumbledore frowned as he looked down at Jerimus, who now hand his hands clasped behind his neck and his head down.
"Come along Miss Granger," McGonagall said, picking up her long robes, "I think we should be going."
Hermione tried to steal another look at Dumbledore and Jerimus before McGonagall had completely shuffled her out of the room. Once the door to the office closed Hermione turned her typical questioning expression on McGonagall.
"What's wrong with Mr. Brighthall?"
McGonagall looked down at the girl, her expression stern.
"I couldn't be sure," she said, "but I think he might be Nevilos Amorus."
Yes, I know it was evil, but I wanted to leave the thing with Dumbledore up in the air. It is much moreinteresting that way! Thank you to everyone whose has reviewed and I hope you are ready for the conclusion.