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Chapter 11: Truth or Lies?
That made Hermione pay attention.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"You can't stand there and tell me that you haven't looked at Dumbledore without thinking that something doesn't sound right," Harry told her. Hermione nodded.
"I-I have…but I didn't want to say anything, at least not to you…because you and Dumbledore were…"
"Yeah. I know. And I may be wrong. He looks the same, talks the same, and acts the same. Maybe I'm just being paranoid." Harry smiled but it was forced. Hermione knew Harry wasn't fooling anyone.
"I don't know if you've talked to Dumbledore, but he said he has phoenix blood in him," Hermione told him.
"Really?" He asked. Hermione nodded. Harry looked pensive for a moment, and then seemed to shrug it off.
"Something's just not right. And I am going to figure it out," He told her. Hermione didn't say anything.
"Well, I'm going to breakfast. Are you coming?" He asked. Hermione remembered Malfoy was still in the bathroom.
"Um, you go ahead. I…still have to get ready," She told him. Harry looked at her oddly and left. Once Hermione knew he was gone, she let Draco out.
"He's going to have to know about us sometime," Draco told her.
"I think he already does," Hermione said quietly.
"How would he?"
"Well…the ball and our dance. And the way we were at the hospital," Hermione pointed out. Draco frowned.
"I guess so," Draco said after awhile.
"What do you think about Harry's idea?" Hermione asked.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think he's right. Something just doesn't add up." Draco said. Hermione sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
"Are you ready for breakfast?" Hermione asked.
"No," Draco said simply. He pulled her in for a long, lingering kiss that left Hermione breathless after awhile.
"Now I'm ready," He said with a smirk.
"Hi, Hermione," Ron greeted her when she sat down. Hermione didn't say anything; she just helped herself to some eggs. Ron looked at Harry and muttered to him,
"See? I told you!" Harry didn't say anything. He just gave Ron an encouraging look.
"I…finished my Defense essay without your help!" Ron tried again.
"That's nice," Hermione said with no emotion. "Ginny could I have the fruit bowl please?'
That's how breakfast was. Ron attempting to make small talk, and Hermione shooting him down. She was approaching the end of her rope, so she stood to say goodbye. As she left, someone grabbed her shoulder.
"Hermione, can we talk?" Ron asked her softly.
"Talk about what? There's nothing to talk about. My feelings for you are done. Over with. And it seems to me like so are yours, the way you were with Pansy at the dance,"
"Oh, and that whole thing with Malfoy was nothing?" Ron said, his anger getting the best of him.
"Ronald, we are almost adults, we can each take care of ourselves. You date whomever you want, and I can see whomever I want. I'm going to be late for class," She whirled around and left, leaving Ron standing there.
During Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione was hit with a note. She made sure the teacher wasn't looking before she read it.
Hermione,
Meet me at the doorway to the Great Hall 7 PM tonight.
-Harry
Hermione looked at Harry and nodded. The girl had no idea what this meeting would entail.
"How are your plans coming?" Hissed Voldemort.
"Excellently, my Lord," The faceless man said.
"Excellent…" Voldemort hissed. "This proves how naïve kids are,"
"They are walking into your trap, my Lord, and don't even know it," The two men smirked at each other.
When Hermione showed up at the Great Hall entrance, she scowled when she saw Ron.
"What's he doing here?" She spat.
"I could ask you the same question," Ron retaliated, looking at Draco with disgust.
"Guys, let's not do this now," Harry said. "We need to focus on the matter at hand."
"What matter is that?" Draco asked.
"Dumbledore," Harry answered.
"And how do you propose we do that?" Draco asked.
"We're going to go in Dumbledore's room," Harry said.
"We…we can't do that," Hermione said.
"Why not?" Harry asked her.
"It's breaking and entering," Hermione said. "And…I'm Head Girl."
"But Hermione, we could be in danger," Harry told her. Hermione looked at Draco. Draco shrugged his shoulders.
"It might answer some of our questions," Draco reasoned.
"Gee, you're actually agreeing with me. I think Hell froze over," Harry said sarcastically.
"Don't let it get to your head, Golden Boy," Draco sneered.
"I'm not going if you guys are going to act like immature babies," Hermione scolded. They both shrugged their shoulders. Hermione thought about it some more, and sighed.
"We can't stay for very long," She hissed. "And if we get caught, we'll be in big trouble."
"That's why I have this," Harry took out his Invisibility Cloak.
"Alright. Let's go," Hermione said finally.
The students all walked up together, as if they were going to have a regular chat with the Headmaster, as to not arouse suspicion. When they got to the entrance, Hermione muttered 'phoenix' but the gargoyle did not budge.
"Tootsie roll," Harry supplied. The gargoyle moved to the side and they walked in. No one was there.
"What do we do now?" Ron asked.
"Look for anything suspicious," Harry replied.
"Hermione do you want to--"
"No," Hermione and Draco said at the same time. Ron raised an eyebrow at Draco. Hermione put a hand on Draco's arm. Draco backed off.
"Let's look around," Harry muttered. Everybody nodded. Hermione began looking through the file cabinets. Harry searched the desk. Ron and Draco checked behind the pictures. It seemed like the search was hopeless, when…
"Guys!" Harry exclaimed. His voice sounded strangled. Everyone perked up. Harry took out a bottle.
"So?" Draco asked.
"Look what it says," Harry instructed. They did, and all took in an audible gasp. The words "Polyjuice Potion" were written across it. Hermione stepped back in shock.
"Maybe it's not his," She said almost to herself.
"Whose else could it be?" Ron asked.
Footsteps made them jump. Then they all realized: someone was coming.