Chapter 17: The End of her Tether
"Silencio!" She cried and Dolohov's voice beneath his mask was extinguished, though he continued to mouth through the hole, emitting no sounds.
The other Death Eater thrust him aside and she watched him stagger backwards for a second. Harry's cry of "Petrificus Totalus!" momentarily distracted her while the other Death Eater was incapacitated. Even before Neville had begun to congratulate him, Hermione had directed her eyes to Dolohov and could see what was about to happen.
The slashing arm movement and preceding purple flame that followed left Hermione speechless as it licked across her chest, leaving a trail of blinding pain in its wake. A small "Oh!" was all the sound that escaped her as she collapsed to the hard black floor, everything fading except the agonised scream of her name.
Suddenly she gasped for breath and was transported to a moonlit clearing, all pain fading from her chest. Scrambling to her feet, Hermione looked around to witness the majestic form of none other than Buckbeak, standing in the exact spot that she had tied him to a tree in 3rd year. Before she could release an exclamation of shock, a twig snapped behind her and she whipped around, ending up looking into her own eyes.
Thirteen year old Hermione Granger was in a right state. Looking like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards, sticks and clumps of mud were woven into her matted hair, though the most terrifying thing was the look of abject terror and despair that clouded her eyes. Releasing no sound other than a whimper, the child raised a shaking hand towards the other side of the clearing, a tear falling from her cheek.
Although she had an inkling of what she would see if she turned, she did it anyway and was met with a sight that chilled her blood. Harry Potter was staring at her, non-seeing through glassy eyes, from his splayed position on the grassy floor. As Hermione took in the lifeless eyes, she noticed some splatters of blood appear from below.
Unable to comprehend the death of her most beloved friend, Hermione hadn't noticed the figure that swamped him. It seemed that even the Boy Who Lived couldn't survive from getting his throat ripped out and feasted upon by a crazed werewolf. The hunched figure of Greyback shuddered and convulsed as it released groans and sighs while it enjoyed it's meal, causing Hermione to let out a pained sob.
Clearly the wrong action at the time, the small cry alerted the creature before her and she could only watch as it's head snapped up, their eyes immediately meeting. As it slowly rose, uncaring for the trail of blood that still dripped from its mouth, Hermione turned her head and widened her stance, determined to protect the younger Hermione.
She couldn't comprehend if she felt fear or relief when she realised the child and the hippogriff had mysteriously disappeared, but the only thing she was sure of was that she was completely alone. Resigned to the fact of her death, she turned back to the now standing figure before her, dropping her wand and splaying her palms outwards.
Greyback seemed to take delight in her acceptance, and crouched down, smiling through his fanged teeth as he coiled himself to pounce. The matter of metres that stood between them proved no help when the werewolf suddenly leapt forward. It's gaping jaws widened and directed themselves towards her throat as she closed her eyes.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Hermione screamed, conscious that her throat already felt raw from another fitful night. As usual, her mind came back to her body all at once and she was left to scramble up the bed, flailing limbs trembling in shock. Overly aware of the sting in her left forearm that she always scratched raw when she had a particularly bad nightmare, she cradled it to her chest as the tears began to fall.
Sobs wracked her body as she tried to come to terms with what she had just seen. It was often that she saw friends and family member's die gruesome deaths, but death by werewolf was a new one. The sight of the very boy that all her efforts had been for, lying covered in pools of his own blood seemed to be tattooed on the insides of her eyelids. There was absolutely no way that she was getting back to sleep tonight.
As she slowly calmed herself, she thought over the previous day and how certain things had triggered her nightmares. When she had faced Dolohov in Defence, she had relived the night in the Department of Mysteries so it was no surprise that it had resurfaced again. However, the way that her altercation with Greyback had twisted her memories into such a vile picture made her want to wash her eyes out, just to get the image out of her head.
When she finally stopped weeping, she drew her knees up to her chest and just sat in silence, but she soon realised that it wasn't as quiet as it was meant to be. For every night since September, Hermione had been silencing the curtains around her bed to make sure that no one heard her, and had therefore grown used to just the sound of her own breathing. But as she now listened, she noticed that the blissful quiet had been marred by the squeak of bedsprings and a few hushed whispers.
Dreading the inevitable conversation that would follow, Hermione croaked out, "Guys, I know that you're listening." The sound of bare feet hitting the floor and rapidly approaching her bed was quickly drowned out when the curtains surrounding her were whipped aside and she found herself staring into the surprised face of Mary.
"What's wrong, why were you screaming?" She immediately asked, perching on the edge of Hermione's bunk. Before she answered, Hermione looked out across the other beds and into the faces of everyone else in the dorm, each in various states of disarray, bodies falling out of their bed hangings. She couldn't stand the looks that filled all of their faces.
"It's nothing really," Hermione sighed in admission, not daring to look up at them, "I just get nightmares now and again."
"Babe that's some intense nightmare right there," Marlene called from two beds over, the rags she put in her hair to attempt to curl it falling out when she shook her head.
"Has it happened before?" Alice added, her brow crinkled with the same frown that her son would exhibit when he thought that one of his friends was hurt.
Hermione couldn't help the snort that escaped her, "You could say that, yes," she mumbled and Mary's hand shot out to clasp her own at her quiet admission.
Lily coughed and sat up, "Last week I attempted to wake you after lights out to talk about the homework but your curtains were charmed quite strongly and silenced." The girl paused for a second, "Does this happen every night?"
When Hermione met her eyes and didn't reply, the other girls gasped, "Why didn't you say? We could have helped you!"
Another dark chuckle came from Hermione, "Sorry girls, but this has been happening for months, and as much as I admire your willingness to help, I doubt much can be done really." At the defeat that seeped into her tone, she looked down, a traitorous tear falling down her cheek, shocked that she had so easily revealed the fear that had plagued her recently.
Marlene soon came to join her and approached the bed from the other side, cocooning Hermione into a hug, "Have you talked to a teacher or got some Dreamless Sleep? You know that Pomfrey won't ask what it's for if you don't want to tell her."
Sinking gratefully into the blondes embrace, Hermione squeezed Mary's hand as she forced a watery smile, "Thanks, but I don't want to get addicted to that stuff, especially when we have exams coming up."
Unsurprisingly, Mary rolled her eyes, "It's just like you to think of your grades at a time like this, but you can't take any exams if you are falling apart from exhaustion."
By this point, Alice had donned her dressing gown and was also standing over the bed, "Sorry Hermione, but we've all noticed how tired you are all of the time, maybe you should talk about it with someone. You know that we would all listen if you want that, or a teacher or Aberforth?"
Touched by their looks of compassion and calming tones, Hermione released her first genuine smile, looking at each of them in turn, "I appreciate the offer, but I think I have to do this alone, I'm sorry that I woke you all," she sniffed as she looked around for her wand, "I'll make sure to double check the charms next time, I must have forgotten because I was so tired last night."
In the movement she made to reach under her pillow for her wand, a shaft of light from the window struck her arm where her pyjamas had ridden upwards, displaying the red skin. Unable to stop the movement without drawing their eyes, she continued, but not before Mary had noticed. The normally quiet girl moved closer to her, and released a high pitched squeal when she reached forward to take her forearm into her hand again.
"What is that?" She choked out, none too kindly after the surprise of the reveal. Thanks to her exclamation, the other girls' attentions were suddenly all drawn to the length of her forearm where the ugly slur was etched into her skin. To her horror, Alice murmured "Lumos," before she could wrench her hand away, and the rest of her friends were left to look upon the scar that she had tried so hard to hide from them.
Surprisingly there were no gasps and groans, and instead she was met with a stony silence while Lily finally got out of her bed to get a closer look. Ignoring the others, she raised her eyes to the red head, who was the only one who could really understand what she was feeling. The glistening green eyes that met her were all the indication she needed that the scar had had the desired effect.
Alice, the room's only pureblood, recoiled and uttered out, "What monster would do that to you!"
Mary and Marlene, as half-bloods, also looked appalled, "Is that a permanent scar? Why would someone do that to you?"
Lily scoffed, and tightened her hold around Hermione's wrist, "Why do you think they did it? For the same reason that they have been throwing the word in my face for the past 6 years, because they think it is true and believe that we deserve it." Her face was slowly becoming the same colour as her hair as she continued on her impassioned tirade, "It is disgusting, but I didn't know that it could get this bad! Hermione, you need to tell someone, we can't let whoever did this get away with it."
Yet again, Hermione was amazed at how these girls could so suddenly become so protective of her when they had only known her for a few months, "Yes it's permanent Marlene, unfortunately the witch who did this to me used a cursed blade so I can't get rid of the scar. But don't worry though, I'll make sure that she gets what's coming to her, she can't be allowed to terrorise anyone else."
The dark look of dangerous intent that passed across her face must have been evidence enough that she didn't want to talk about it, and so the other girls backed off slightly, although Lily remained. "Is there anything we can do to help?" Mary's kind voice continued to ask, "If not with the scar, then with the nightmares?"
Before Hermione could open her mouth, Marlene gasped and ran across her room to fish a scrap of fabric out of her suitcase, "Can I at least give you this to wear around your arm at night to stop you scratching at your scar," Hermione grimaced at the offensively bright leg warmer that she had been handed, dreading the days when they would eventually become popular, "I got it from my cousin for Christmas, they're charmed to not fall down."
Softened by the hopeful look in her eye, Hermione agreed and slipped the offensive garment on, glad when it refused to budge when prodded at. Staring teary eyed at the rest of the group, she thanked them all before they began to move back to their beds, "You don't have to keep silencing yourself by the way," Alice continued, "I can promise you that we will always be free to talk about it as well." Hermione smiled, knowing that she would follow neither of those suggestions and turned to the only remaining girl in her bed.
Lily was very quiet as she very quietly and softly traced her fingertip around the puckered lines that made up the word 'Mudblood' on Hermione's arm. The leg warmer had been moved so that she could see it properly, and Lily had taken the chance while Hermione was distracted to find some sort of soothing paste to spread over the inflamed skin. It wasn't until the other girls had all closed the curtains around their beds and quietened until she began to talk.
"When I first became a witch I was amazed at all the opportunities that were suddenly available. I mean, isn't it amazing to think you know everything at the age of 11 and then find out that there's this whole other world that's waiting to welcome you with open arms. I don't know about you, but to me it felt like I had finally worked out what this missing piece inside of me was, and had the chance to feel whole at last."
Hermione sniffed and quietly agreed, knowing that the other girls were still listening. It was amazing how much her experiences were similar to that of Harry's mum, and it left her wondering if it was the same for all muggleborns.
"It was like I was walking into a fairy tale to walk through the doors of Hogwarts for the first time, and I finally felt at peace." Lily sighed before continuing her story, "I didn't really know what Mudblood meant until my second year, but I always remember hearing it when I walked down hallways or did well in class. When I finally worked it out, I was heartbroken that this was how everyone saw me. Now apparently everything I did well or badly could be ultimately boiled down to some accident at birth.
People would say that I had 'done well for a Mudblood' or excuse my mistakes, not expecting much of me, and I suddenly realised that no matter how hard I worked, I would never really escape it." Lily raised her eyes to Hermione, the familiar green eyes were wide open, baring her soul to the other girl, "When we are accepted into one world, you can't help but be pushed out of the other, and when I found out that I wouldn't be fully accepted in either, it broke my heart."
The redhead gulped down a lump in her throat as a tear snaked down her cheek, "My own sister will no longer talk to me, and my best friend dismissed me all because of something that I have entirely no control over, and I am sick of people who think they know us to be beneath them." Hermione squeezed her hand as she let the girl vent the troubles that Hermione had also experienced for so long, "And now apparently, the same people who dismiss us as useless savages are claiming that we are becoming a problem that needs to be eradicated. I mean honestly, the hypocrisy would be laughable if it wasn't so terrifying!"
They both agreed with a watery chuckle before she continued "As terrible as it sounds, I'm glad you are here, even if this was the reason you arrived," Lily stroked her hand down the word on Hermione's arm, "It is revolting that people would feel the need or even take pleasure out of doing this to a person, but at least now I know the lengths that they will go to."
As her monologue drew to a close, she again met Hermione's gaze, "I know you don't want to go into details about what happened, and I don't expect you to, but I understand that you lost your family and many of your friends," Hermione remained absolutely still as she took in what the other witch was saying, "But I want you to know that if you ever need someone to spend the day with, in either of our world's, I will be there, as your friend or even your sister if you need me. Our predicament is unique and I know that only another fellow muggleborn could possibly understand, so I hope that you would be there for me as I would be for you."
When silence finally fell, Hermione could do nothing more than bleat out a strangled "Of course!" before collapsing into the other witches arms, crying and repeatedly thanking the girl. Before long the other witch joined her, both terrified at what this war could bring for them, but glad to no longer be alone in the face of it anymore.
While their breathing quietened, Hermione couldn't help but relax into the bed and pull the other girl downwards, still tightly wound together. For the past couple of months it had been agony to look into the eyes of her best friend on another woman and see a stranger looking back at her. This meant that the thought that she had finally gained Harry's mum's support and friendship felt like a burden had been lifted off of her shoulders.
Lying in her dorm as it began to lighten, with her new slumbering friend at her side, Hermione Granger felt glad that she had finally become more comfortable with these people. Immensely grateful that they had accepted her into their circle, trusting her with their secrets, and standing in her corner when her own problems got too much for her.
When the rest of her dorm had finally woken up again, Hermione was long gone; already running yet another circle around the Quidditch pitch. Marlene joined her like usual, but contented herself to run in silence while Hermione dragged her still beaten and exhausted body along behind her.
It's safe to say that her day went downhill from there. Whatever direction she turned, she was met with either more pitying looks from the girls, the boys attempting to be chummier than before now that she knew their secret, and also dark looks from various Slytherins. By the time that dinner had finally finished, Hermione was ready to yell to all and sundry to just leave her alone.
What made the experience all the more painful was the constant sight of Halloween decorations that popped up everywhere, reminding her of the anniversary of the end of the first wizarding war. After watching her best friend collapse in on himself on this day every year for the past 7 years, the melancholy had rubbed off onto Hermione. Furthermore, the sight of James and Lily shyly brushing against each other, as new couples do, made Hermione's stomach turn when she considered precisely where they would be in 4 years time.
Unfortunately, she knew that she had an Order meeting that night so she soon found herself distracting her friends yet again in order to sneak off and use the floo in McGonagall's office during the Halloween feast. Given the reactions of those people who met her on the other side, Hermione could only assume that her face promised death to anyone that dared annoy her.
Finally slumping into her usual chair on the outskirts of the room, she at last was able to get a moment of peace and quiet. Unfortunately, the Prewett twins did not seem to have got the memo that she was not up for socialising and so they promptly ended up sinking into the chairs on either side of her.
"Hello darling, what's got your wand in a knot?" the one on her right began before the other one continued, "You know if you wanted to get our attention you could have just called for us, you didn't have to storm in here in a strop."
The glare that she sent their way could have scared even the most seasoned aurora, but it seemed to only incense the jokers further. "Ooooh Gideon look, she's flirting with her eyes, I always knew that she liked me better!"
Before his twin could reply, Hermione was mercifully saved by the man that she was beginning to see as a sort of brother figure, "Calm down boys, we all know that none of us are good enough for her."
Even though she had been having a terrible day, Hermione couldn't help the wide grin that soon grew across her face as she jumped up to embrace Benjy. "How are you sweetheart?" He whispered in her ear before leaning back to take in her face, "Still breaking hearts I see…"
The scoff that escaped made her blush but she knew that he had heard it thanks to his quiet chuckle, "Is Aberforth here yet? I knew I shouldn't have left him alone with you each week in between my shifts. In all the messages I receive from him, he always seems to get steadily grumpier and grumpier."
Benjy released a mock gasp and clutched at his heart, "You couldn't possibly be suggesting that I'm the cause of his grouchiness, could you? I'm a joy to be with, so it must be your absence that pisses him off." At her raised eyebrow he sighed and caught his eyes on a figure behind her, "Don't worry, he's coming over now."
Hermione barely got the chance to turn before she was enveloped in the arms of the specified man, in a very odd public display of affection. Smiling benignly, she accepted the hug from the older man and eventually stepped back to look into his worried eyes, "Albus told me you were attacked by Greyback, why didn't you write to me about it?"
Surprised by the fatherly worry that he exhibited rather than the grumpy exterior he usually presented, Hermione quickly apologised and assuaged his fears. "Sorry, I must have forgotten after all of the bother, not that I would have had much space in the book anyway. If you keep having to ask for help with the crossword then we're going to need a new pair for Christmas!"
He huffed out a mumbled comment about rude teenagers before reprimanding her, "Well I hope there won't be a next time, but knowing you, there probably will be. When that happens, let me know as soon as possible and if you can't do that make one of your insufferable friends do it. Just not Black, anyone but Black, that smarmy bastard."
She chuckled at his assessment of her friends, already fully aware and amused by the long drawn out rivalry between the man and her curly haired friend. In the remaining minutes before the meeting began she beckoned Aberforth over to sit with her, shooing away the Prewett's. After repeatedly reassuring him that her cracked rib was healing nicely, she proceeded to tell him about the evening in question, ignoring the room filling up around them.
As soon as the other Dumbledore brother strode confidently out of the fireplace and the room hushed, Hermione's black mood returned, causing her to look at the man with a growing anger. After the preliminary welcomes and catch ups for ongoing projects, they swiftly moved onto the reason they had all been gathered together.
"Two nights ago, we became aware that Hogwarts is being watched and that Fenrir Greyback had breached the wards to enter the forest in werewolf form." Dumbledore's announcement was met with a burst of gasps and murmurs for how this could have happened, "Unfortunately, I can reveal that this was due to an oversight on my part regarding the wards that pass through the forest and their rules for allowing the free roam of the animals that dwell there. This oversight meant that Greyback could enter on a full moon without me being alerted, and we believe has been stationed there for a month in order to watch the goings on in the school. Rest assured though, that the wards have now been strengthened."
A number of parents of the group seemed to visibly relax but Hermione couldn't help but smile at the derisive snort that her own adoptive father released at this speech. Almost like he had heard it, Albus looked up at the pair and narrowed his eyes, "Our members stationed in Hogsmeade have also noticed increased activity outside the school recently. Fenwick, Aberforth, care to elaborate?"
When all that Albus received was another stoic look, Benjy leapt to his feet and began to rattle out the numbers of suspicious people that had been seen in the Hog's Head and surrounding area, "Furthermore," he finished eagerly, "we have reason to believe that there is some sort of recruiting cell within the staff or student body actually in the school."
Hermione all but rolled her eyes when some people still looked surprised. What did they think was happening at Hogwarts? They were at war, and with the increased numbers of alumni turning to the dark arts, it was pretty damn obvious that someone in the school was spreading the word.
Realising that everyone was suddenly looking at her, Hermione blushed and looked questioningly towards their leader. "I said, have you noticed any strange behaviour Miss Dumbledore?" Albus reiterated, a slight glint of frustration shining out of his usually emotionless eyes.
Glad that she wasn't the only one with ruffled feathers, Hermione began to rattle off the list of names she had memorised of students she knew would one day become affiliated with the Death Eaters. As she continued, she couldn't help but notice the increasingly dubious looks of other people around the room, "They're all the students I know off, though I haven't really been watching the teachers. I believe that is more your domain, Headmaster."
Albus stared down at her yet again, obviously not enjoying her tone," Anything else to add Hermione? Any thoughts or feelings, remembered anything actually useful?"
She narrowed her eyes towards the older man, not quite believing that he was trying to wrestle information out of her in front of a crowd so that she couldn't just escape or rudely shoot him down. "Albus, I'm not sure what you're implying…?" She feigned ignorance when a number of people watching began to look curiously between the pair.
"It's just that I was under the impression that you had some information to reveal to me when you joined us, and yet here you are 6 months later with nothing to show for it." Albus bit out, surprising more than just Hermione with his rude address and at his rare reveal of feelings.
Trying as hard as possible to reign in the frustration that had been brewing within her all day, she responded, "Sorry Sir, but I have revealed as much as I believe would be useful for you to know, if you are not happy with that, then we may need to reassess our terms."
By this point, the entire room was focussed on the strange battle of wills between them, amazed that Hermione would talk that way to the man they all trusted so much. "Surely if you revealed more of what you are feeling then I would be able to assess the most useful use of our resources."
At the way that her headmaster continued to talk down to her and hint at using the same tactics of withholding evidence that had been their downfall in the future, Hermione snapped. "Do you really want to know what I feel, Headmaster?" She ground out, not taking her eyes off of Albus's pearly depths, noticing the slight widening of surprise that his plan had worked.
"When I walk across this room I feel like I'm walking across a graveyard." She paused slightly to swallow, "In five years time 50% of this room will be dead and another 25% will be missing or incapacitated. And do you want to know why?" A pin drop could have been heard in the silence that followed, "Those resources you speak of are the lives of those around you, who you ultimately see as expendable. I know how you work. If I tell you everything I know then you will hide yourself away in your war room and cart us all around to be killed for your cause. All of us unknowing of the entire picture and why exactly we died.
I hope I don't need to remind you again, but I never want to see that world again!"
In the long drawn out silence that followed her announcement, Hermione didn't take her eyes off of the man before her. The idea of the man she had admired and trusted throughout her childhood was shattered as she took in the flawed human before her. Before she gave up, it surprised her to see Dumbledore break their stare first, looking down at his notes to collect himself.
"Thank you for your assessment Hermione, but I hope you're not naïve enough to believe that this war will be run on your terms and with no one else's input. We are a team here, with no individual greater in importance to another."
Hermione was sure that her grinding teeth could be heard in even the furthest corner of the castle room, "Pot calling the Kettle black?" She snorted out, "You must be blind to your own hypocrisy if you believe that to actually be true. From the moment I set foot in this room I have either been looked down upon either because I am too young, a woman, or because I am muggleborn.
You may all claim to fight for the plight of the downtrodden but at the end of the day, the majority of the people in this room are older purebloods and half-bloods, still clinging onto the beliefs of those before you. I understand the importance of upholding traditions, whether they are pureblood or Muggle, but from the way you all act towards me it's like you're horrified that I don't know your customs, but also don't try to learn mine. No offense, but you don't know how it feels to be constantly undermined because of something as ridiculous as your blood!"
At this point she turned to run her eyes across the rest of the room, finally falling on the silenced play pen of Weasley children in the corner. "You're shocked that your children could be targeted, but we are at war." Her stomach twisted as she looked up and into Mrs Weasley's pale face, "This isn't some problem that will disappear overnight, and they are the ones that will end up fighting for this war the longest," her voice cracked as she looked at the floor, unable to keep eye contact while thinking of Fred's lifeless corpse, "And will ultimately die for it in the end."
As she had finished her rant, Hermione released a huge breath as she realised what she had just done. Not only had she revealed sensitive information about herself to a room full of people, but she had also talked down to them as if they were children. The main reason that she had been allowed into this room was because of her secret connection to Dumbledore and yet here she was, publicly dismissing him in front of his peers.
Furthermore, she knew that everyone within this room had earned their place there, and yet she had just let out her frustrations on them all, calling them hypocrites and telling them they would all die. Not that what she had said was incorrect, but she probably shouldn't have told them in that way…
Thinking back on the precise wording that she had used, she also realised that she had pretty much revealed what she was, or at least made them think that she was a Seer. This was such a stupid idea considering that she trusted very few people in the room and knew that they could gain a mole at any time. When I get my hands on Dumbledore alone, I'll make him regret pushing me this far in public! A dangerous voice shouted out from within her mind.
In the heavy silence, she took solace in the weather-beaten hand of Aberforth who had reached over to clasp her own, "I'm sorry," Hermione choked out to the stunned room, knowing they deserved it, "I was incredibly rude to you all when you have been so hospitable to me, and it was not my place to do so." She swallowed deeply as she looked towards the younger people in the room who had accepted her so readily and was glad to see them smiling at her, if not also looking very confused about what she had revealed.
"But I know that the war is going to get a lot worse before it gets better, every young person like me knows that," she looked directly at the Potter's while she remembered how angry they had all originally felt when they hadn't been allowed into the Order in the 90s, "We are not stupid and definitely not useless, so please don't dismiss us." Realising she had stood at some point during her apology, she turned towards Dumbledore, "I know what you want from me, but it hurts too much to reveal everything at once, and it certainly won't help you to be overwhelmed, so I promise to tell you everything that regards the safety of anyone here."
Somehow realising that this would be the best deal that he could get, Dumbledore nodded quietly before ending the meeting and immediately rushing off out of the fireplace. Hermione took this time to sink back into her chair and leaned into Aberforth, "Was that really bad?" She mumbled out, digging her face into his shoulder so that she wouldn't have to look at all the people staring at her while they left, "He was just pissing me off so I snapped, I didn't mean to reveal so much!"
To her immense surprise, Aberforth's torso began to shake as he rumbled out some throaty chuckles, "No matter what anyone else says to you Hermione, just know that what you just did made me incredibly proud of you." Her shocked face and wide open eyes only seemed to make him laugh harder, "It's about time that someone put my brother in his place, what does it matter if you already insulted a bunch of stuck up purebloods as well? Someone needed to say it!"
Greatly appreciating that she had someone in her corner, Hermione took the opportunity to sink backwards and relax, taking in the much emptied room. This quickly ended when Benjy joined them, indicating that McGonagall was still talking to someone so they still had some time before Hermione had to leave. When Hermione turned her head back to the older boy she could see that he was looking very uncomfortable.
"So does this mean you're a Seer then or just very intuitive?" Hermione's eyes widened at the direct question and stuttered slightly as she tried to come up with an excuse.
"Something like that," she finally admitted, "But it's very Hush Hush because it's so dangerous so please don't tell anyone!" She begged, hoping that it wouldn't change his opinion of her.
Luckily he seemed to only get more excited, "That's so cool, I know a Seer! Does this mean that you can tell me the results to the next couple of Quidditch matches, you see, I have an ongoing bet with Meadows that…"
Hermione's brain faded him out as she smiled, noticing McGonagall had finished her conversation and was waiting for her. "Never change Benjy!" She laughed out as she kissed his and Aberforth's cheeks and strolled away, though just before she was out of earshot she felt a sharp tug as Benjy pulled her around, his face serious again.
"Just so you know Hermione, I would never tell anyone that you don't want me to, no matter the secret. So don't worry, I'll take it to my grave."
A/N: In case you haven't heard of it before, 'Pot calling the kettle black' is an idiom which means "to criticize someone for a fault you also possess." Originates from when both pots and kettles were made from cast iron, which acquires streaks of black smoke when heated over a flame.
Up next is Chapter 18: A Crack in her Defences