A Serpent Among Lions

Chapter 10 - A Mystery In Hogwarts

Hermione sat in her office at Hogwarts, her head on her hand, reading the letter that she had just received from Harry. She could see that things were really getting bad, whoever was terrorizing Harry and Ginny had to be stopped at all costs.

What she didn't understand was how the leak had gotten out about the Potter's new baby. Obviously they had just found out about it themselves. She would need to talk to Meghan for herself and find out if she had accidentally told anyone. She didn't believe that she did, since she had seemed to understand the importance of keeping it a secret, but...

Looking at the clock, she realized that it was getting late and that Meghan would probably be getting ready for bed. She struggled with indecision, wanting to get the answers and at the same time not wanting Meghan to think that she didn't trust her.

Taking a deep breath, she knew what she had to do. She had to go and talk with Minerva. She knew that Harry and Ginny trusted her with all their hearts and Hermione had always looked up to her as a mentor and now as a friend and trusted colleague.

Rising from her chair behind her desk, Hermione left her office, locking it magically behind her, and made her way to the office which had once belonged to Albus Dumbledore and now was the property of Minerva McGonagall. Reaching the office, she gave the password and stepped onto the revolving staircase.

Knocking at the door, she waited to hear a reply...

Minerva slid her spectacles off her nose and folded them before placing them on her desk. She had been grading papers since the evening meal but her mind had been on the news she had received from Ginny Potter. The result was a splitting headache that had finally made continuing grading impossible.

Ginny's patronus had disturbed her deeply for she disliked greatly the possibility that there was a spy or a traitor residing in her school. Since she had heard the news of the leak, her subconscious had been working on the problem. The only answer she had come up with so far was that one of the students had leaked the information to one of their parents. She did not want to even consider the possibility that one of her faculty could be a traitor. Of course, there was no way that a listening device or spell could have been placed on Hermione's office. There were safeguards against such things at Hogwarts. 'Yes,' Minerva thought wearily, 'it must be a student.'

Her thoughts were interrupted by the magical intruder detectors in her office. Seconds later, a knock sounded on the door and Minerva called out, "Come in, Hermione."

Hermione opened the door and gave Minerva a sad smile, "Good evening, Professor McGonagall. I apologize for bothering you so late in the evening," She loved working for her and had been pleasantly surprised when she offered her the job five years ago, "I imagine that you know why I am here?"

Minerva's tired eyes took in Hermione and she nodded. "Yes, I know why you are here. This is a terrible business, Hermione. We now face the prospect of rooting out a traitor in our midst without tipping the school of to our search. Have you had any ideas?" Minerva gestured Hermione to a chair on the other side of her desk.

Hermione shook her head, and took the seat opposite Minerva, "No, I haven't a clue. I was there when Molly told Meghan the news, and she impressed upon her how important it was for her not to tell anyone about the baby. I know that Meghan is a very bright girl and I don't think she would tell anyone, on purpose that is. But I also know how excited she was about the idea of being a big sister finally."

Minerva settled her head against the chair and drummed her fingers thoughtfully against the desk. She could not think of any way that someone could be listening to the conference between Molly, Hermione and Meghan unless they had an invisibility cloak. That meant that the leak came from either a student or a teacher. As she had decided previously, she trusted all of her teachers implicitly. That only left students.

"Hermione, may I ask you to speak with Meghan in private? Do not make a big fuss about the meeting but ask her casually about whether she has told anyone about her new sibling. This is the only place I can think of the leak originating. Meghan must have let the news slip whether inadvertently or purposely."

Hermione nodded, "I will certainly do that. It's really a shame that she was put in Slytherin. I know that we are supposed to be unbiased towards students, but I know that the chances are greater that if she somehow let it slip to one of her housemates that they would be the ones that would tell someone who was less than trustworthy," Hermione said, sighing, "We all know how great the dislike for Harry Potter and his family is among the Slytherins."

Minerva had a thought. "Hermione, I had decided for myself that none of the teachers could be responsible for this leak but I want to ask your opinion before completely crossing them off the list. Do you believe any of your fellow teachers could do something like this?"

Hermione didn't even have to think for a moment before she answered, "No, I don't believe that they did, Professor McGonagall. And I know that there wasn't anyone in my office but the three of us. No, it must have been a mistake on Meghan's part. I'm sure that she didn't mean to do it. I'll have a talk with her and find out what might have happened."

Standing, Hermione smiled at Minerva, "I'll talk to her tomorrow after History of Magic. It has been a long couple of days and you look rather tired. Why don't I stop in tomorrow after I speak with her and I'll let you know how it goes?"

Minerva smiled at Hermione's perceptiveness. "Thank you, Hermione. Sleep well." She watched Hermione leave her office and then stood. It was high-time she got some sleep.