Disclaimer: I just own the stuff JK doesn't.
Review Responses:
Dark-Lady-Devinity – I'm so glad you're sticking with me despite my awful update rate! Sev and Narcissa didn't get a very nice deal in the last chapter and that last part was tough to write so I'm pleased you liked it and thought the emotion came across. Thanks as always for the review!
lilyqueen777 – Narcissa's the unfortunate person who wound up knowing things she shouldn't, Sev really didn't want to do that to her. Glad you liked the chapter thanks for reviewing!
Shadow Cat17 – Ooh do I see from the name an X-men fan? Glad you liked the story and also WYLB, I'm particularly proud of the OCs so thanks in particular for your comment on them! Thanks for both your reviews!
A/N: Thanks to everyone who's still reading this despite my awful update rate! I have an excuse this time I've been ill with an awful cold or you would have got this sooner. I'll update again before Christmas, honest!
Chapter 15
Hermione Granger was the best student in her year group and could have outsmarted and out performed a fair few in the years above her. She was intelligent, determined and principled. Upon finding herself in a strange, unknown world six years previously she had set out to conquer it in the same way she had the world she'd inhabited as a child, she had succeeded in this as well. She was an obstinate, headstrong young woman with a penchant for always believing herself to be right. Hermione Granger was many things, some she liked, some she didn't, but she refused to add coward to the list.
That was why, at seven o'clock in the morning, after a sleepless night, she was stood outside the door to Professor McGonagall's office screwing up the famed Gryffindor courage she needed to knock.
Finally, with a deep breath and her heart hammering in her chest, her fist connected with the door and her head of house's voice was heard compelling her to enter.
"Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall looked up at her student, "What brings you to my office at this early hour?" She smiled at the girl who was one of her favourite students, "What can I do for you?"
Hermione swallowed, tried to speak and turned an interesting shade of crimson.
"Miss Granger, what on earth is the matter?"
"I…"she stuttered, "I…I wanted to talk to you."
"What about?"
"I think Professor Dumbledore needs to hear this too." Hermione could not face explaining herself twice.
McGonagall looked uncertain for a moment before standing up and gesturing towards the door, "You'd better come with me then."
Hermione followed as though in a daze and soon found herself sat in the headmaster's office facing not only Dumbledore and McGonagall but also Snape who had been in the office when they had arrived.
"What was it, Miss Granger, do you want to speak to me alone?" Dumbledore asked gently after Hermione had sat there in silence for almost a full minute.
Hermione was deeply tempted for a moment but she knew what she had to do. "No, sir, I think you should all hear this. I want to tell you something, I should have told you the other day but I was too scared to tell you the truth." She hesitated before plunging into her confession. "I saw Kreacher, I knew he was here and I didn't tell anyone and then I lied to you. I'm so sorry, I was afraid and I lied and I know it doesn't make things any better but I had to tell you and I see that now. Ron found out, he saw right through me, and I know he was right and I was wrong and that I had to tell you. I'm so, so sorry, sir," a vague sob escaped her.
Two astonished pairs of eyes, and another pair that seemed entirely unsurprised, stared at Hermione across the desk.
"Well, Miss Granger, pleased as I'm sure we are that you can finally find it in you to be honest with us, did it not occur to you that this is rather too little too late?" Snape hissed, eyes flashing with controlled anger.
"Hermione," Dumbledore's voice was filled with quiet disappointment and disbelief. "Why would you do that?"
Hermione met his eyes for only a moment before she glanced away, the betrayal in the usually twinkling blue eyes too much for her to bear.
"Perhaps, Miss Granger," McGonagall said gravely, "You could explain yourself more fully, from the beginning."
Hermione could tell from her head of house's tone that this was not a suggestion. She swallowed nervously and tried to order her thoughts to explain everything.
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'Everything' took rather longer than Hermione would have liked but she was determined this time to leave nothing out, no matter what the price her honesty might come at.
Her story met with silence for almost a full minute before Dumbledore spoke.
"We can all act in fear, Hermione, and indeed we all do at some point in our lives, but it is important to remember that fear is something evil preys upon and you should never be ashamed to admit you were wrong. After all the sooner you do that the sooner you can put yourself in the right again. I know you did not intend any harm in what you did but you must have realised that it was imperative we discover who it was who had seen Kreacher and failed to mention him. I do not blame you for your poor judgement on him as it was clearly a result of misguided compassion…"
"Though it would be well in future to speak with someone who knows a little more of the duties and capabilities of house elves before pronouncing judgement that they are all ill used slaves without a bad bone in their body!" Severus interrupted.
"Thank you, Severus, quite." Dumbledore continued, "What is worse than this is that you lied to us when we asked you whether you had seen him or not. Your honesty now is something I am grateful for and proud of you for, as you must have realised that having lied to us once you had only made your confession all the worse. However, I am deeply disappointed in you."
Hermione held back tears and steeled herself for her punishment.
"I am not putting you in detention for this, it seems far too trivial a punishment. I will leave the punishment to your own conscience to devise, which I'm sure it will. However, I will be revoking your prefect's badge for the foreseeable future. If there are no further incidents involving you this year I may reinstate it for your final year but at the moment I think a little time for reflection and humility would do you a world of good." He looked at her gravely, "You may go now."
Silent and shaking, Hermione stood and walked from the office, unable to speak because it was the only way she could be sure of not bursting into tears. Though determined not to be a coward, knew she could not face the rest of her schoolmates that day. With this in mind she hid herself away in the dormitory after the others had all gone on to breakfast, leaving explanations to come from other sources.
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If there was one thing Ronald Weasley hated it was being interrupted at breakfast, which was precisely what happened that morning just as he lifted the first bite of toast to his lips.
"Mr Weasley," the sound of his head of house's voice behind him suddenly was enough to make Ron drop the toast promptly into his lap, butter side down of course. McGonagall rolled her eyes heavenwards, flicked a cleaning spell in her student's direction and continued, "Come with me please."
"What have I done?" Ron asked in dismay.
"Nothing I as yet know of," the stately witch said with amusement, "It's about prefecting duties, now come along."
Ron grabbed another piece of toast and darted after his already retreating teacher, after gracing Harry with a long troubled look that clearly said, 'bloody hell, how am I supposed to understand prefecting duties at this hour!'
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When Minerva McGonagall showed the sleepy looking Ron Weasley into his office, Dumbledore was amused to see him hastily munching away at the remains of a piece of toast.
"I am sorry to have interrupted your breakfast, Mr Weasley," he said, a twinkle in his eyes.
Incoherent noises issued from Ron as he attempted to mumble apologies through the toast.
"Quite alright, Mr Weasley, do sit down," Dumbledore's expression turned serious as Ron nervously perched on a chair with McGonagall stood beside him.
"Mr Weasley, would I be right in assuming that you are aware of the conversation I had with Miss Granger yesterday and of what it was about?"
Ron nodded hesitantly.
"It is alright, Mr Weasley, she has already admitted to knowing Kreacher was here, we are not asking you to give her away." At the look of wonder on Ron's face, Dumbledore continued, "She holds you and your good opinion in high esteem, whether she realises it or not."
"We have removed her prefect badge from her, Mr Weasley, leaving you as Gryffindor's sole prefect for your year, that is why you were dragged from your breakfast," McGonagall explained. She turned to Dumbledore, "Headmaster, it is my opinion, as I have already stated, that Mr Weasley is quite capable of coping alone and I see no need to appoint a temporary replacement for Miss Granger."
Dumbledore nodded, "I am in full agreement with you. Mr Weasley, I am sorry for the extra workload it may mean you taking on but I believe you are more than up to the challenge." Ron nodded dumbly, looking doubtful. "Well, off you go before you miss your first lesson."
Ron rose slowly to his feet, still confused, made as though to leave then changed his mind. "Sir, with all due respect, can't you overlook what she did and let her keep her prefect badge? She didn't mean any harm!"
"It is not so much what she did as that she lied about it," Dumbledore said sadly. "I warned you all after the Tri-Wizard Tournament that the time was coming when you would have choose between what was right and what was easy. On this occasion Miss Granger chose what was easy by lying to us. Your defence of your friend is admirable but my decision is final. I'm sorry, Mr Weasley."
Ron nodded in defeated understanding and, with a polite acknowledgement of Professor McGonagall, slipped through the door and down the spiral staircase.
XXXXXXX
Hermione did not re-appear until long after dinner that evening. Ron had explained things to a shocked Harry during a dull Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.
"How could she?" Harry whispered, behind the cover of their textbook. "That elf was the reason Sirius died!"
"Harry, you know what she's like, she was blinded by her compassion for Kreacher's pathetic condition."
"Where was her compassion for Sirius?" Harry asked coldly.
Ron sighed, "Harry, I know it hurts but I bet she feels worse than you do right now. She was a bit silly but she didn't mean any harm and I think if I hadn't fought with her she'd probably have told us. It's as much my fault as hers in that respect."
"No it isn't, Ron," Harry suddenly spoke with feeling, "Stop blaming yourself for things. Sounds like it was thanks to you that she confessed at all." He ran a hand through his typically untidy hair, "Look, I don't want to talk about this now. I'll talk to her myself when I see her."
"Don't be too hard on her," Ron cautioned softly.
Harry simply managed a small, unconvincing, smile and returned to his work.
Concern for what Harry might say made Ron grateful for Hermione's continued absence that evening at dinner and in the common room. Concern for her however made him increasingly uncomfortable with her absence.
He waited up in the common room after everyone else had gone to bed, shooing out the stragglers in his wish to be alone. Harry eventually left him to it, muttering something about it being better he see Hermione after he'd had time to sleep on the thing anyway and that Ron was to wake him if she didn't turn up by midnight.
Ron soon found himself dozing in a corner of the common room, woken only when he heard a small noise coming from the direction of the fireplace. Climbing out of his chair he crossed the room to see a startled Hermione sat on the rug with her head resting on her knees.
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes and bags beneath them.
"I heard that you told them," he said quietly and simply.
She nodded, hesitantly.
"I knew you could do it," he drew closer to her, extending a hand and pulling her firmly but gently to her feet. "You did the right thing." Seeing her tears threatening to spill he took pity on her and pulled her into his arms, allowing her to bury her head in his shoulder and cling to the front of his robes. He sighed, "You're a very intelligent girl, Hermione, you're just not always that wise. You can stopping beating yourself up about it now though."
He released her and stepped back, "I heard what happened," he gestured to the left hand side of her uniform where her prefect badge was normally pinned. "I'm sorry."
"They were probably right to do it," her voice cracked and silent tears slipped down her face.
"Don't cry," he wiped her tears away gently with his thumb. "No real harm was done, and even Percy would tell you that a prefect's badge isn't worth crying over."
Hermione managed a choked laugh.
He smiled at her, "Maybe you should go to bed. You look really tired."
She nodded, "I am. I'm sorry, Ron."
"Forget it," he said, "You acted stupidly and you did your best to put things right, and you told them the truth which can't have been easy. Now just forget the whole thing."
She shook her head, "I should never have lied to them."
"No, you shouldn't, but everyone gets scared and does silly things. You're only human, Hermione, when are you going to learn that you're as flawed as the rest of us and that that's how you're meant to be?" He smiled, "Now for God's sake get some sleep before you fall asleep in transfigurations tomorrow."
"Ok, thanks, Ron. Goodnight," she gave him a small smile and climbed the staircase leading to the girl's dormitories.
He watched the staircase for several minutes after she had passed beyond his sight and hearing.
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Seeing Hermione's drawn face the next morning, Harry hesitated to raise the issue of Kreacher with her and settled for nodding acknowledgement across the breakfast table. She gave him a tentative smile and sat down by Neville. No more passed between the two of them until the evening in the common room, mostly due to Ron's determination to keep them from fighting in public.
Surprisingly it was Hermione who raised the issue. "I take it Ron told you what happened, Harry?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah, he did."
"I'm sorry, Harry," her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Hermione," Harry shook his head in disbelief, "Why would you do that? Kreacher's the reason Sirius is dead…" he trailed off, not knowing how to continue.
"He isn't, Harry, he just got twisted by the Black family and I know I shouldn't have let that fact stop me but…" it was Hermione's turn to be lost for words, "I'm sorry."
For a moment it looked as though Harry was going to argue with her but then a calm resignation settled on his features, "It doesn't matter, Hermione. You didn't mean any harm." He stood up suddenly, "I'm going to get an early night. See you tomorrow."
Hermione looked ready to pursue Harry but Ron placed a restraining hand on her arm, "Leave him, he's not angry with you, he just needs to think."
The girl looked at him in surprise, "Since when did you become the knowledgeable one?" she joked.
"He's my best friend, I'd venture I know him better than anyone else does and I'd also venture that that's still not that well." He looked momentarily sad before shrugging and plastering a smile on his face, "How about a game of chess? I'll let you win," he winked wickedly.
She pulled a tongue at him and smiled, "Actually I think you should go and see that that best friend of yours is ok, as it's clear that you're dying to."
He frowned in confusion, "How do you know that?"
"Because you're not the only one who knows people, Ronald Weasley," she smiled again, "Go on, I'll stay here and get some work done."
He nodded, "Alright."
Ron found Harry sat on his bed in the dormitory. "Hey," he greeted his friend a little uncertainly, "You ok?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah, I'll live," he laughed mirthlessly, "Until my next encounter with Voldemort at least!"
"Don't say that!" Ron complained.
"It's just a name," Harry shrugged.
"I meant don't say that he's going to kill you!"
"Oh."
They were silent for a moment.
"Hermione was right about one thing you know. Kreacher isn't the reason Sirius is dead, Voldemort is. Somehow I have to stop him before anyone else suffers and that looks more and more impossible some days."
"You're not alone in this you know," Ron sat down beside him.
"But that's just it," Harry exclaimed, "I am alone! Hermione's actions just proved that, I have to be focused on bringing down a Dark Lord I don't have time for the compassion she showed to Kreacher."
"Compassion isn't a weakness, Harry."
"No, but if you don't use your judgement with it, it can be. I'd sacrifice anything or anyone to bring Voldemort down, no one person is important enough to stand in the way anymore."
"Harry, that's pretty harsh."
"And that's why I'm alone, because you and Hermione don't have to realise that."
"Harry, the world's not black and white and things aren't as simple as you make them sound," Ron said sadly.
"You just don't understand, Ron." Harry said emotionlessly. "Anyway, I'm going to bed, I need some sleep."
"Right," Ron nodded, trying to keep the pain he felt out of his tone, "I'll leave you to it, Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
XXXXXXX
His short conversation with his best friend continued to haunt Ron so much over the next few days that he eventually found himself sitting down to write to the one person he could think of who might be able to advise him. His own parents were both too busy and too worried by their own children and so Ron wrote urgently to Remus Lupin.
Things being rather too complicated to explain in something so straightforward as a letter, Ron requested that the werewolf meet him on the coming pre-Christmas Hogsmeade weekend. Remus readily agreed, being concerned by what Ron related and curious as to how the boy had become so worried as to seek adult intervention, (hardly something either the young Weasley or his best friend were known for, no matter what the circumstances).
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The Hogsmeade weekend fell on the first weekend in December on a glorious crisp day, with the previous night's fall of snow fresh on the ground. Ron had been wondering how to slip free of Harry and Hermione until most surprisingly Snape had solved his problem for him. Harry had managed to create such a ruckus in that week's potions lesson that the professor had put both him and Hermione (who had been trying to hold him back from hurling a pig's bladder at Draco Malfoy while his back was turned and instead caused Harry to fall back and knock their cauldron flying) in detention for the entirety of the weekend. Needless to say Hermione had not been pleased by this turn of events and Harry had hardly been pleased either and the two seemed very much inclined to blame each other for the incident's outcome. Harry argued that if she'd just let him throw the bladder their cauldron wouldn't have been upset and Hermione argued that if he hadn't been trying to toss pig bladders about in the first place there wouldn't have been any sort of upset.
Ron left them still trying to resolve the issue on their way to detention on the Saturday morning and headed down the snowy path with Neville and Luna, who had run up to join them the moment she'd spotted them outside.
Once in Hogsmeade, Ron made his excuses and apologies to the other two, who surprised him by not minding being left with each other too much.
"You go on, Ron," Luna said, "I want to go and see if the new edition of The Quibbler's in print yet."
Neville merely nodded, looking slightly nervous at being left with Luna but then Ron felt that for once Neville was reacting the way most people would as there really was no knowing what that girl would do.
He grinned and shook his head as he remembered what Luna had done after he'd won the quidditch match earlier in the term. He hurried on through the snow, hardly looking where he was going and ran smack into the very person he was going to meet.
"Oh, look out, Ron!" Remus laughed and caught the boy by the arms, causing Ron to notice that he was now decidedly taller than the man. "You nearly had us both over!"
"Sorry, Remus," Ron apologised, steadying himself. "You ok?"
"I'm fine, and what were you so deep in thought about? From the grin on your face I'd wager it had something to do with a girl?"
Ron blushed and shook his head, "Not quite in the way you think."
The werewolf was never one to pry and simply hid a smile behind his hand before suggesting they find somewhere warmer to talk. His suggestion was well received by the rather chilly Weasley and the two made their way into the packed, and nicely heated, Three Broomsticks and were soon seated in a far corner with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
"Now, Ron, pleased as I am to see you, where are Harry and Hermione?"
"Detention." Ron felt a little guilty disclosing this fact but saw no way around it.
"Detention?" Remus raised his eyebrows, "What did they do?"
"Harry tried to throw a pig's bladder at Malfoy in Snape's class and Hemione tried to hold him back and in the struggle they knocked their cauldron over. Snape was pretty cheesed off."
Remus laughed, "I bet he was." He sobered quickly, "You say Harry was trying to throw a pig bladder at Draco Malfoy? He was asked to steer clear of that boy and his family."
Ron shrugged non-commitally.
"Ron, we won't get anywhere if you can't tell me what Harry's been doing," Remus said gently but firmly.
Ron sighed, "I wasn't there, I assume he was provoked but I didn't ask. He is staying away from him for the most part but he hates him, Remus, he really seems to hate him."
Remus sighed, "That's far too reminiscent of Sirius and Snape when they were at school for my comfort."
"That's actually not why I asked you to meet me. It's not just Harry's attitude to Malfoy, that doesn't concern me that much in and of itself, it's his attitude to everything lately."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean he seems determined to stand alone through everything, he thinks he has to and that no one else can understand and I think he might be starting to doubt if he can do this."
Remus pressed a hand to his eyes and sighed heavily. "You think this is a serious problem then?"
"Yes, I do. Maybe, maybe you could have a word with him when we come home for Christmas?" Ron suggested.
Remus nodded, "I will, I was hoping to talk to him today but it will have to wait. I don't want to discuss this in a letter, I'd much rather do it face to face."
"I don't know what to say to him, he just isn't really listening to me and to be honest he and I seem to have been drifting apart a lot this year," Ron sighed.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Remus frowned in concern, "I've always classed your friendship as one of Harry's greatest assets."
Ron blushed, shrugged and muttered something inaudible.
Remus smiled, amused at the boy's self-effacing attitude, so different to most of his siblings, and behaving more like Percy than Remus felt it was wise to point out. "How are you coping with everything?"
Ron seemed surprised by the question, "Oh, I'm fine."
"Dumbledore mentioned what happened with Hermione, are you coping with the extra prefect duties alright?"
Ron nodded, "Yeah, it's busy, what with that and quidditch and this strange idea the teachers have got that we should work, but it's not bad. It's Hermione I feel sorry for."
Remus smiled sympathetically, "How is she?"
"She's holding up, she's tough."
The werewolf grinned, "I know."
"How are you anyway?" Ron asked.
"Me? I'm doing ok."
"What have you been up to?"
"I've been spending a lot of time either doing work for the Order, which I obviously can't talk about, or aiding your brother's boss at the ministry with her efforts on behalf of werewolf rights."
Ron grinned, "Oh yeah, I heard you'd been spending a lot of time with her."
"She's a very dedicated woman."
"You want to watch out," Ron laughed, "Dad's said some funny stuff about her!"
"Like what?" Remus tried and failed to affect disinterest.
"Oh don't get me wrong he likes her but says she's got a bit of a reputation! Man-eater apparently, you should be careful or she'll set her sights on you!"
"I am sure Druscilla has better things to do than chase an ageing werewolf, Ron," Remus said mildly.
Ron snorted in amusement, "We'll see."
Remus sighed in amused annoyance, "I have to get back to Grimmauld Place, there's a meeting this afternoon."
Ron smiled, "Have fun, I'll see you at Christmas."
Remus nodded, "I'll have a word with Harry then, keep an eye on him for me."
The boy nodded determinedly, "I will."
"Goodbye Ron."
Ron smiled, "See you." He returned to the school hoping that Remus would have a positive impact on his troubled friend.
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Next Chapter, Percy's back along with Dru and Remus and shocking news for those at Hogwarts. I'll update again before Christmas! Thanks to everyone who read this and I'd be delighted if you dropped a review:o)