Hermione sat at her desk in her office, drinking a cup of coffee and unsuccessfully attempting to wake up. She had been up most of the night after her talk with Professor McGonagall worrying about what she was going to say to Meghan.
Her niece's state of mind at the moment was tedious at best, and she didn't want Meghan to think that she didn't trust her. She had no reason to doubt that Meghan told someone about the baby accidentally. But she did need to know who might have found out so that it could be taken care of.
Sighing, she stood with her coffee and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Her History of Magic class with the first year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs was right after breakfast, so that left her precious little time to mull it over. She knew that she had to be firm but also make sure that Meghan knew that she wasn't accusing her of anything. It wasn't going to be easy.
Breakfast passed without a problem, although she saw that Meghan was a little disappointed when she didn't get anything in the post. She saw her looking up hopefully, scanning the room for Hedwig, but she didn't appear. She tried not to let it show, but she knew that she was hurt. Hermione smiled as she saw William go over and talk to her and she knew that would cheer her up. She just needed time to adjust.
History of Magic was entertaining, just as she tried to make it since she had been brought on staff. As a first class treat, she had the ghosts come in and share their histories and how they came to be ghosts. It was always a winner with the first years and this time was no exception. The Slytherins especially enjoyed The Bloody Baron's story, as it really scared the Hufflepuff students.
Once class was over, she asked Meghan to stay for a few minutes, knowing that she had study hall next period and that she wouldn't miss anything by staying after. She had already spoken with Professor Snape, who was overseeing study hall that period and cleared it with him.
"Meghan, I need to speak to you for a few minutes. I already spoke to Professor Snape about you staying after class and he's all right with it. Why don't we go to my office? This way we won't be overheard," Hermione said, smiling at her.
"Okay, Professor Weasley," Meghan said, following her out the door and to her office. When they got there, she regarded her aunt with concern, "Am I in trouble?"
Closing the door behind them, Hermione gestured to the chair in front of her desk. Not wanting Meghan to feel intimidated, she brought her other chair out from behind her desk and put it down next to Meghan's, then shook her head, "No, sweetheart, you're not in trouble. But there is something I need to ask you about."
Gulping, Meghan looked worried, "What's that?"
"Remember when Grandmum told you about the new brother or sister you were going to have yesterday?"
Meghan nodded, "Yes, I remember. I was so excited. I wrote about it in my diary."
"Ah, yes - that is something that I would write about in my diary too," Hermione said, smiling at her, "But I need you to think about this very carefully, Meghan. It's important. Do you remember telling anyone about the baby? Maybe one of your cousins?" Hermione said gently, in a quiet voice.
"No, Aunt Hermione, I promised you and Grandmum I wouldn't. I don't want anything to happen to mum and dad or my new brother or sister."
Hermione ran her hand over her head, trying to think how else this could have happened.
"Oh wait, I just remembered! Druhilda...Druhilda came in while I was writing in my diary and took it from me and read it. I was so mad at her! She said that the baby would probably be in Gryffindor and that I was a big freak!" Meghan said, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
Hermione stood up and gave her niece a hug, "Meghan, you are not a freak, so don't even think that," Taking a tissue from the box on her desk, she handed it to Meghan.
"Why did you want to know?" Meghan asked, mopping her eyes.
Hermione knew that it wasn't a good idea to tell Meghan about what happened, so she just smiled at her, "Oh, I was just curious, that's all. Nothing for you to worry about. By the way, how did you like my class?" She said, changing the subject and hoping to allay Meghan's fears.
"It was really cool, Aunt Hermione. I heard that the classes that Professor Binns taught years ago were really boring."
Hermione and Meghan talked for a few minutes about this and that, how she was liking Hogwarts, her room, and a lot of little things, and then Hermione gave her another hug and sent her on her way, explaining that she needed to get ready for her next class later that afternoon.
After Meghan had left, Hermione made her way to Professor McGonagall's office. She knew that she would want to know what she had found out.
Ascending the staircase, she came to the top and knocked at the door.
Minerva, who had been getting ready for her afternoon classes, saw that Hermione was there and called out to her, "Come in, Hermione!"
Hermione entered the office with a sad smile upon her face, not sure how Professor McGonagall would take the news that a student was possibly to blame for the leak, "Good morning, Professor McGonagall. I just finished speaking with Meghan Potter."
Minerva nodded, "I see. How did it go?" She could tell by the look on Hermione's face that she had some news that she didn't really want to tell her.
"Well, Meghan said that she didn't tell anyone about the baby, but she did write about it in her diary. Unfortunately, Druhilda Grimwell walked in while she was writing and apparently snatched the diary out of her hand, then read it. I know it's a long shot, but it's the only lead we have."
"Very well, Hermione. I will speak with Miss Grimwell and find out what I can. I will let you know what I find out and we can plan our next actions."
Hermione nodded grimly, as this was serious business indeed, "If you require me further, please don't hesitate to contact me, Professor McGonagall," She said, bowing out of the office.
Minerva put her head in her hands and shook her head sadly. This had to be how the information about the new baby had gotten out, but she would give Druhilda the benefit of the doubt. She sent a note to Severus and requested his presence in her office, since he was the head of Druhilda's house. She needed time to brief him before Druhilda arrived.
Ten minutes after Hermione left her office, Severus was seated before her, "What can I do for you, Professor McGonagall?" The look upon his face was impatient although he seemed to be glad to have escaped from Study hall duty.
"Unfortunately, Severus, we have a possible issue with one of the students in your house."
"Is that Potter girl causing trouble? I swear, she is so much like her father. I can't believe that stupid hat sorted her into Slytherin. She is no more a Slytherin than I am a Gryffindor."
"Actually it does pertain to Meghan Potter in a way, yes, but right now my main concern is with Druhilda Grimwell. She was advised, quite accidentally I assure you, of some information that was supposed to be kept confidential. Due to her family history, I am afraid that she may have told the wrong people this information and posed a threat to another family."
"And what would this information be?" Severus said, dryly, "It wouldn't be about that new Potter brat that is on the way, would it?"
Minerva's eyes narrowed and she looked Severus dead in the face, "How do you know about that?"
Severus rolled his eyes, "Do you really think that the older Slytherins don't talk about Meghan? Merlin, even the younger ones do. Students talk, especially when they think someone is different and doesn't belong."
Minerva looked at Severus angrily, "And you encourage this sort of thing? I thought you had learned your lesson when Albus was here. That man trusted you."
"Albus left a letter explaining what happened that night on the tower. That it was all a plan that he and I had set up during the summer," Severus' face showed he had grown tired over the years of telling the same story over and over again.
"Yes, yes, I know," Minerva sighed, knowing that the situation was hopeless, "This means that any one of the students in Slytherin or even in one of the other houses could have been the one who told the wrong person about the Potter baby," Minerva rubbed her temples in frustration, "Please know, Severus, that I meant nothing by this. I am just frustrated and am currently at a loss on how to help Harry and Ginny."
Severus nodded; he knew all too well about dealing with the insurmountable, having dealt with it most of his adult life, "I will do what I can to see if I can weed out the one responsible," He said, standing up and getting ready to leave.
"I appreciate it, Severus," She said, giving him a tired smile. Once he had left her office, she sent a note to Hermione to let her know that things had gone from bad to worse.
Of course, she had no way of knowing that things would get much worse before they would get better...