Disclaimer: Don't own anything...All belongs to the wonderful yet evil JK Rowling.
A/N: Who feels like killing me?...Everyone?...I thought so! Sorry for the huge delay...My beta...has encountered some problems so...well, this version is not beta-ed yet...for the possible mistakes, I apologize first. Then...of course...there's another issue at hand...the release of the Half-Blood Prince...for those who'd read it already, I'm sure you know what this make my story. For those who hasn't read it...this fic is only up-to-date with OotP...so it's rather AU now.
Pivot
She hastily scribbled down on the board what she wanted her first class, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff second years, to complete. The piercing screech of the chalk scratching across the board echoed in the still empty classroom. She ignored it. Maybe because she had grown use to it…or she was too distracted by the owl which had arrived less than thirty minutes ago.
When she was positive that her message was legible, she raced into her office with as much dignity as she could manage. Hermione threw a pinch of floo powder, specially made for Hogwarts, into the hearth in her office and whispered the name of the Teacher's lounge- Hogwarts' Bed.
She'd been thoroughly amused by the name when she'd first learnt it. It was purely ingenious. She didn't think either of the twins would've guessed it, had it not been the Marauder's Map.
She arrived with a puff of smoke and quickly stepped out because quickly following her arrival, Professor McGonagall arrived. They nodded in greeting and took their seat in the rearranged room. Within moments, the professors of Hogwarts waited for Professor Dumbledore to start the meeting.
"We've got a letter from Blaise Zabini." The headmaster stated as he passed the letter which arrive in the morning to Professor McGonagall who was beside him. "It would seem that he wants…a change."
Hermione took the letter which was handed to her and read the content with rising suspicions.
'Professor Dumbledore,
Due to recent changes in circumstances, I have no reasons to work for the Dark Lord any longer. Therefore I've a proposal; with my new position, I am willing to trade information and fight for your organization at the price of two pardons for Pansy Parkinson and myself at the end of the war. We can arrange a meeting at your designated place to prove my sincerity and loyalty to your organization.
Blaise Zabini'
She passed the letter on to Neville who sat next to her and waited patiently for the rest of the faculty to read the parchment. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to recall what she remembered about this man who claimed to have change sides.
Hermione remembered that they were in the same year and partaken in the same Charms class. She remembered a dark haired male who had spoken little but managed to get correct answers when asked upon. He hadn't been attention drawing…but he had been always found in Malfoy's group. With Malfoy and those who became the most dangerous Death Eaters.
"I don't know much about him." she voiced her opinion out as the letter was handed back to Dumbledore.
"Zabini is another old pureblood family." Dumbledore explained. "They're a very successful family. Both in business and relationship."
Hermione raised her eyebrow quizzically, not really getting the evasive Headmaster's meaning.
"Their family is built on love. Unlike most pureblood marriages back then, the Zabinis were a love match. They were a family built on love." Severus elaborated.
"Were?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"They're dead now." Severus said casually. "This is a topic I was planning to bring up in the meeting this afternoon. It is said that the Dark Lord killed the immediate families of his circle. His attempt to strengthen them."
"So," Professor Flitwick said thoughtfully, "The recent change in circumstances would be talking about his parents' death."
"I do believe so." Severus said.
"Then, it is decided that the letter is genuine?" Neville asked.
"It can be a very timely ploy." Hermione commented.
"Yes, it can." Dumbledore said, "However, we must balance out the odds of the situation. Mr. Zabini is willing to meet us at our named place. This takes quite a lot of courage. This can also however be Voldemort's plan to find out about our base."
"If he is sincere about his claim, we will have an informant from the heart of the enemy territory." Hermione said, continuing to analyze the situation.
"But it can also immediately endanger the one-" Professor McGonagall protested.
"I think everyone in the Order is very capable at defending themselves." The Headmaster assured his deputy.
"But who will go? It's a possible suicide mission." Professor McGonagall asked.
"I will-" Hermione began, feeling more involved in the war than she had in weeks.
Anyway to win this war, she would take.
"I will go." Neville's voice quickly overridden hers. "I won't draw attention to myself. Voldemort and his minions don't know I'm involved yet. We've been in the same Herbology class too. It'd be less suspicious if I approach him."
"But if it turns out to be a ploy to eliminate more members of the Order…" Professor Vector voiced the worry of the group at the prospect of sending a member to meet a Death Eater.
"I'm capable of defending myself." Neville said calmly.
"I will go too." Hermione said.
"But-" The attention of the professor drawn to her sharply.
"I will be under disguise so it will be fine." Hermione said, decidedly. "I can also add some truth serum into the drinks without drawing attention."
"Then it is decided." Professor Dumbledore summed up the meeting. "Neville and Hermione would meet Mr. Zabini. We must conclude this meeting until this evening before we draw more attention and panic."
With that the meeting dispersed. All teachers lost in their own thoughts about the sudden conversion of a Death Eater.
xxXxx
Hermione sat in her chair before her desk and watched the Fourth years arranged themselves into pairs. Her lesson plan for today was to introduce them to the Protection charm. The bodies of yellow and blue ties mingled noisily but quickly and within moments, all were set.
Then she stood up. She whipped out her wand and performed the spell, a spell that she could perform even in her sleep now. She made a quick summery of the spell and stressed the importance of the charm. She set the Fourth year students off with a spar using only the Protection charm and the Tickling spell.
When the students were underway in the exercise, Hermione found herself back in her seat and already formulating a plan for the up-coming meeting while keeping a close eye on the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws progressed. Satisfied by their on-going spars, she took a peek at the white world outside the window and wondered when Harry and Ron would arrive for the meeting this evening…
A pang in her heart.
A flash of tawny yellow.
Umber stains on the pristine snow.
Labored legs dragged a darkly clothed body.
Step by step, leaving a trail behind.
She turned to her class whose attention was undivided by the dueling task she set them.
"Stop!" She ordered loudly, nearly shouting. She knew she had startled her students and they were probably wondering what they've done wrong. She should explain to them that they've done nothing wrong…but she couldn't. An emotion, one that she hadn't experience in a long time, swelled inside her.
"Professor Granger?" a braver Ravenclaw spoke to her meekly.
"I want you to sit down. And DO NOT, under any circumstances, leave this room without any permission!" She barked out the order and she turned to the girl who'd spoken. "Go to the Headmaster and tell him that we have a visitor! The password is 'lemon drops'."
With that, she ran.
A/N: I'm starting to love Cliffy! I know it'd be less affective if I say 'if you review, I'd update faster'...but to show you my progress and get you to review...I'll show you an extract of the next chapter...(note: this is the very first version...so it may be slightly different.)
"Tears blurred her vision slowly and she felt their path down her reddened cheek. The girl in her was crying. It felt like that day again. Wind blew and trees fluttered in it. A numbing cold penetrated her thin layer of clothes. Her surrounding was quiet. Her surrounding was still. Just like that day.
They waited for someone to break this silence.
Someone who never came that day."
Voila! Review! Review! Review!