Chapter 8

Questioning of the unknown

Harry awoke early the next morning, with his mind buzzing about what had happened the previous night. Of course he felt remorse for what had happened, but there was something about the excitement of it all that stirred something in Harry that had been sleeping for quite some time. His ambition had finally awoken. No longer had he wished for the days to quietly pass him by, but he wished to join them. He wished to be apart of everything. And, of course, with that the questions began to rise.

What had happened to Dumbledore? Who had done it? Is this what McGonagal was talking about it? They rolled out one after another. Harry couldn't even catch up with them. It seemed as though a million things were happening at one moment in time. And then, of course, there was school on top of everything. Harry dreaded going to potions as though he was walking to the noose. Every other class was harder than ever before, never giving them a break. And then there was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione continued to question their new teacher, but...there was something about her that Harry was not afraid of. It seems as though, even in the little time they had known her, everything wanted to accuse her of being a follower of Voldemort, but for some reason, Harry wouldn't jump to this conclusion. Why? He didn't know. And at a time when Harry couldn't trust anyone, made evident by McGonagal and Snape, he found it hard 'not' to trust her. Whether something was clouding his judgement or what he felt was genuine, only time would tell, which Harry felt he had very little of.

"But if McGonagal knew something was going to happen then it's only obvious that Dumbledore knew," said Hermione, as they sat at the breakfast table. It seemed as though everyone had made that extra effort to get up a little earlier to see if their Headmaster was back and well. But it seemed as though he was not. His chair was empty, and remained so throughout the morning.

"If they were expecting something, you'd think they'd be a little more cautious, "Hermione continued. "There is just something about this whole thing that doesn't make since."

"You've got that right," said Ron.

"Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the world," said Harry. "I can't imagine anything bringing him down."

"And we've got to look at the obvious here; poison," said Ron."

"Yes, that does seem most likely, but I don't think thats what it was," said Hermione. "I think its much more complicated than that."

"Maybe," said Ron. "But what could it be."

"I dunno," said Hermione. She gave a quick glance towards the staff table. Dumbledore was not the only one who was missing. "But Im sure she has something to do with it."

"Hermione, not that again," said Harry.

"Oh come on!" said Hermione."You cant say thats not the first person that came to mind."

"You know nothing about her," said Ron.

"I've seen enough to make a good enough judgement," said Hermione. "I can't believe you both haven't faced the facts. Especially you Harry."

"Im not going to go around accusing everybody," said Harry.

"Im not asking you to," said Hermione, rolling her eyes at him. "But you cant-"

"Hermione," said Ron, looking just above her head.

"-say that she doesn't create suspicion."

"Hermione," said Harry, looking at the same thing Ron was.

"Will you listen!" said Hermione, ignoring their refusal. "Face the facts, both of you. She's a death eater. I know she is."

"Oh v-really," said a voice that Hermione, most likely, would have wanted to be anybody else. "Now s'you wouldn't ve talkin' about leetle old me, now v-would s'you?"

Hermione turned around and found her herself looking up at Signora Aradia. "Not even sh'welve hours and s'youve already begun decidin' who keel'ed Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore's dead!?" Harry rose to his feet. It was almost as though he could feel the faces turning towards him, they turned so fast. Harry's heart wouldn't stop jumping, and Signora Aradia just stared at him, rasing a single eyebrow.

"I s'dunno..." she said. "Is he?" And she walked away to find a very angry McGonagal at the staff table. Harry stared after her.

Hermione's was in shock. "No...no," said Hermione. "She's just joking. That just proves the kind of person she is. Just don't believe it Harry. She's...she's just...making up things."

But Harry remained standing for a few more seconds. He slowly sat back down, not removing his eyes from the person who could have just changed everything about the world Harry lived in. No Dumbledore....no matter how much he was angry at him, he couldn't imagine a life without him. He was the only reason he was here.

"I think that is the single most...scariest thing I've ever heard in my life." said Ron. "Dumbledore dead....it just....it's beyond comprehension."

"Enough," said Hermione. "Repeating it will only make her happier. She knows she's the enemy, and she is trying to stir things up before everyone else realizes it."

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Forgive me for the small hiatus. But don't think for a second I wont continue this. Im just trying to keep it in order. Sorry this was a small one, but it was filled with a lot (if that counts for anything). Thanks for reading and reviewing, please continue.

Next chapter will come sooner, I promise