"The truth is hard. Sometimes it looks so wrong – the color is off, the style isn't right – but it's where the good ones live."
Revelations
Hermione ran until her legs burned and begged her to stop. She didn't realize where she was until she stopped – she had no specific destination, she just wanted to get away from Cedric and the whole situation. When she stopped, she saw that she was at the One Eyed Witch's passage to Hogsmeade. Without thinking, she entered it and left the castle – it was her only way out and she needed to be anywhere but here.
While Hermione was making her way down the passage, Minerva McGonnagall and Cedric Diggory were hurrying towards the Headmaster's office. Minerva said the password, and the ascended the stairs and entered Dumbledore's office. He was sitting at his desk and looked at them as they both entered, as though he were expecting them. "Well?" he inquired.
Minerva just shook her head and said "I still don't know, but it is bad, Albus, very bad. She recoiled at Mr. Diggory's touch and then drew her wand at him before running away."
"Do you know where she went?" Dumbledore asked in a concerned voice as he rose from his desk.
"No" Cedric replied, "she just took off out of the dungeons."
Albus sat on the edge of his desk and thought quietly for a moment. "And we don't know what set this off?"
"No idea, professor. She has been avoiding everyone, no one heard from her over break, and Ron and Harry told me that she was bleeding through her shirt on the train. She waved it off, saying the cat scratched her – but when they asked her about it is when she left the cabin." Said Cedric.
Albus and Minerva met eyes – reading each others concern. "Alright" said Albus, "we must approach this very delicately. Obviously there is something going on to cause her enough pain that she either doesn't want to burden anyone else with, or she is trying to avoid dealing with altogether. We don't want to chase her further away. Right now we don't know where she is, finding her is our first priority, then we must show her how much we love and care for her – that we are all here to support her. I am going to send her an owl requesting that she come speak with me about missing class. Hopefully she will come, and I will sit down with her – maybe she will open up."
"And if she doesn't?" Cedric asked.
"Well, she does have Occlumency with Professor Snape tonight, I am somewhat convinced she will not go to him for it – I will see if she will consent to having it with me instead. If she is that unfocused, I will without a doubt be able to see what happened."
Minerva and Cedric exchanged an uncomfortable glance.
"I don't want to invade her mind in order to get to the truth, but if she is falling apart as much as you say, it could really be the only way to help her, and that's what we all want. If she continues down the path she is on – where she is pointing wands even at the man she loves, she could travel to a place which is out of our reach. We need to bring her back while we still have a chance." Albus said gravely.
Hermione spent the rest of the day in Hogsmeade, sitting in the Three Broomsticks and drinking butterbeer. As she left the bar, an owl flew in front of her with a note in it's beak. Hermione accepted the note, opened it and read in Dumbledore's handwriting,
Miss Granger, I was informed by Professor Snape that you did not attend Potions class today – as you know there are rules about skipping classes. Please come see me in my office. – Professor Dumbledore.
Hermione sighed and looked up at the ever-darkening sky. A storm was on its way, little did she know it would arrive in more ways than one.
Hermione made her way through the passage back to Hogwarts. She made her way to Dumbledore's office without running into anyone she didn't want to, recited the password and ascended the stairs. "I'm probably going to get detention" was what Hermione was thinking. If she had any idea about what was about to happen, she would never have gone. She knocked on the door and heard "Come in".
Hermione entered the room and saw Dumbledore at his desk. "Ah Miss Granger, have a seat please". Albus said in a cheerful voice.
"Look professor, I am really sorry that I missed class, I wasn't feeling very well." Hermione said quickly.
Albus looked at her kindly for a moment before saying "Miss Granger, that is not why I brought you here."
A wave of panic flowed through Hermione as she was berating herself for not seeing through this. "I should have known" she thought.
"Miss Granger, it has been brought to my attention that something is deeply troubling you, am I right?" Hermione looked down at her hands, not saying a word – but Dumbledore could see that her rate of breathing had increased.
"I'm going to take your silence as a 'yes'. My dear, what has you upset to the point of skipping classes and threatening Cedric with your wand?" He waited for an answer, but when none came, he moved closer to her – watching her body language as her head shot up and she tensed, fear in her eyes. "Miss Granger" Albus whispered as he sat on the edge of his desk. "Please. Let us help you. Please, tell us what we can do?"
Hermione shook her head, For some reason she found herself unable to lie to the headmaster, so she opted for silence instead.
Albus sighed and continued on "Did something happen to you over break?"
Hermione looked up and into the twinkling eyes of the powerful wizard whom she has considered more of a father to her than her own the past couple of years. They locked gazes for a moment, as though they were reading into each other's souls. She didn't want to speak, but was hoping that Dumbledore could see the word "yes" that formed in her head which she was trying to communicate out through her eyes.
"What happened Miss Granger?" Albus whispered, "You can trust me, you can trust US, we are not here to hurt you, only to help you."
Hermione's eyes welled with tears and a single tear fell down her cheek as she shifted her gaze out the window where storm clouds were gathering. "I can't" she whispered. "I can't do this."
"What can't you do?" Albus inquired.
"I can't keep this up, I feel like I'm dying inside." Hermione said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Can you tell me about it?" Albus asked.
Hermione shook her head back and forth so vigorously that the rest of her tears fell.
"But you WANT to tell me about it?" Albus said – and with that Hermione looked him square in the eye, which gave him all the answer he needed.
"Alright Miss Granger, are you sure you want me to do this?"
"You had better do it before I change my mind" Hermione replied.
And with that, Dumbledore drew his wand, pointed it at Hermione, and said "Legilimens."
Instantly Albus saw flashes of what happened to Hermione over break. He saw her plummet down the basement stairs, saw her be dragged down the hall, saw her scream and struggle against her attackers, saw her be raped, beaten and bruised – to be left lying on the floor naked and ashamed. He saw her in bed having nightmares, saw her getting thinner, and applying glamours throughout the day. He exited her mind and looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Oh Miss Granger…"
"No!" Hermione cried as she stood up and made for the door, "do NOT use that tone of voice. Do NOT pity me."
As he watched to door close behind her, Albus wiped away his tears and knew that immediate action was going to have to be taken before she self-destructed. He walked over to the flu and called to the Weasleys.
Molly Weasley was in the kitchen and was surprised to see Albus Dumbledore's face appear in the floo. "Albus!" she cried "You gave me a start!".
"Sorry to startle you Molly, but I was hoping that you and Arthur can come to my office as soon as possible."
"Of course Albus, is everything alright? What did the boys do this time?" Molly said with a slight annoyance in her voice.
"It's not concerning the boys, it's about Miss. Granger, there is something we all need to discuss." Albus said.
Molly didn't need to hear another word, Hermione never showed at her house over break, and Ginny sent her an owl saying that Hermione was acting very strangely and was worrying everyone. No sooner did Dumbledore's face disappear, Molly quickly removed her apron and sent word to Arthur to meet her in Dumbledore's office. With a troubled expression on her face, she grabbed the floo powder and said "Albus Dumbledore's office". She dropped the floo powder and walked out of the headmaster's floo.
As she oriented herself, she saw Minerva McGonnagall, Cedric Diggory and her husband gathered in the headmaster's office.
"Have a seat everyone, please." Albus said, summoning up extra chairs. "Molly, Arthur – Minerva and Cedric came to me regarding how Miss Granger has been acting. They brought forward some concerns."
The Weasley's exchanged nervous glances. "Is she alright?" Everyone in the room had their eyes locked expectantly on Dumbledore who bowed his head. He was silent for a moment before raising his head and saying "No."
Everyone in the room looked at each other, Cedric was visibly distraught, wanting Dumbledore to just come out with it already. "What happened professor?"
Dumbledore was quiet for another moment, considering how to approach this. He finally decided – "Molly and Arthur, I brought you in on this because you have become a second family to Hermione, and she needs everyone's support and help right now." The Weasley's nodded as Dumbledore continued. "I believe it may be better for me to show you what happened so you can see for yourselves. Cedric – if you are not comfortable with this, you may wait and we can discuss it with you in a moment."
"No way." Cedric said firmly, "She is my girlfriend, I love her and up until earlier today I was convinced that she loved me as well. I need to see."
"Very well, but brace yourself." Albus replied.
The anxiety in the room reached whole new levels as Dumbledore beckoned them all over to the Pensieve. Albus dimmed the lights, and using his wand he drew a silvery liquid memory from his mind. "Hermione gave me permission to use Legilimens on her so she could tell me what happened. This is what I saw."
He shook the memory from his wand into the Pensieve while Molly and Arthur Weasley, Cedric, and Minerva all bent over it – not knowing what they were going to see. Albus stepped back as the horror that Hermione went through was revealed to them all. Molly Weasley clapped her hand to her mouth "Oh my God." Arthur, put his arm around his wife as pain filled his eyes. Minerva seemed to stop breathing altogether, her mouth slightly open in disbelief – tears in her eyes as she watched one of her Gryffindor cubs, her favorite student and mentee live through something that no one ever should. When the memory was over, everyone but Cedric looked up at Albus astonished. Molly had to sit down, her face in her hands as she cried for the girl she considered another daughter to her and Arthur. Minerva put a hand on Cedric's shoulder – who was still looking down into the Pensieve. "Cedric" Minerva said, her voice cracking – but trying to retain composure "come sit down." But Cedric didn't budge, he stood there staring, his hands balled in fists so tight that they were turning blue – a mixture of sadness and pure rage on his face.
"How" said Cedric, his voice barely audible and full of anger "How could he do this to her?" He sat down and stared at the floor. Arthur sat and held his wife, and Minerva looked into Albus' eyes, shaking her head in disbelief. She felt ill, she felt as though her insides were being ripped apart – it wasn't just that a student was hurt, it was one of HER students – her cub, forced to fight against someone who was supposed to love and care for her.
When everyone regained composure, Albus cleared his throat and said "Now, obviously Miss. Granger will never return to that home. I have already spoken with the minister, and if you agree to it, we wondered if Hermione could come live with you all at the Burrow."
The Weasley's looked up, "Of course, there's no question about it – we love her and already consider her our 8th child." Molly said adamantly.
"Now, there is a magical way to emancipate her from her father. It's called the Blood Rite" Albus stated.
They all looked at him, none of them had ever heard of it before.
"What it entails is a magical rite through blood – Hermione's, Molly's, and Arthur's which would bind her to you in a way greater than any adoption could. At the completion of the rite, Hermione would be your flesh and blood – as though you conceived and gave birth to her yourself. She will still be Hermione, but it will be as though she came from you – and not the Granger's. The minister and I discussed this at great length and we decided that if everyone was willing – Hermione included, this would be the best course of action. First, Hermione would truly become part of the family – right down to her DNA, but it was also make it impossible for her father to find her if he ever tried. We will obliviate his memory of ever having a daughter, but this will be an extra safeguard – making her untrackable because she will no longer be Hermione Granger by any form, she will be Hermione Weasley. It will also hopefully help her deal with this tragedy, she will have a REAL family again – a family who CHOSE her, who chose to make her their flesh and blood. " Albus explained.
The Weasley's didn't need to consult each other – didn't even need to look at each other before they both automatically said "Absolutely". They both knew this is what they wanted, and knew it was the best way to help Hermione.
Just then, the door to Dumbledore's office opened, and Hermione (who was coming to retrieve the bag she left there by accident) walked in saying "Sorry Professor, I left my…" She stopped in her tracks as she saw the group that was collected in the office. She saw the looks on their faces and instantly knew that they all knew. Her heart caught in her throat as she looked at Dumbledore "How could you?" she said sadly, "How DARE you" her tone revealing feelings of betrayal.
"Hermione" Molly said, standing up and slowly moving towards her.
"No. Oh HELL no" Hermione shouted, backing towards the door. "I do NOT need some intervention!" As she made for the door, it slammed shut and she heard the lock click. She wheeled around to see Dumbledore with his wand in hand. She turned back and tugged at the handle, when it wouldn't budge, she pulled out her own wand "Alohamora!" She called out. Nothing.
"It will open only for me Miss. Granger. Please take a seat" Albus said.
"No, I am fine! There is nothing wrong! I'm fine I'm fine!" she screeched, becoming hysterical – repeating "I'm fine" as though it were a mantra – trying to convince herself of it more than anyone else in the room.
"Hermione" Molly said again, "we are so so sorry."
"No! Do not pity me! I am FINE!"
And at that, Albus raised his wand and pointed it at Hermione, "Revealo" has said.
And before she had a chance to act, her glamours disappeared to reveal a badly bruised, cut, and dangerously thin Hermione Granger. Everyone gasped when they saw her. This time it was Minerva who had to sit down as she was unable to steady herself anymore.
"If you are so fine," Dumbledore began, "then why are you trying to hide?"
Hermione almost felt relief, but she also felt naked – she looked from face to face of Minerva, Cedric, Dumbledore, and the Weasleys. She began to pant hard, as though she were hyperventilating. Minerva looked in shock, Cedric looked angry, and the Weasleys looked so so sad.
"We are all here because you need us to be here Hermione. We are here because we needed to know how to help you, not just because it is Albus and my jobs, but because we genuinely care for you and are worried about you. Your safety is our utmost importance so do not blame professor Dumbledore. We needed to you, and you needed for us to know." Minerva said.
"My sweet girl", Molly said as she wrapped Hermione in a hug. Hermione lost all control at the touch – she began sobbing so hard that she could no longer support her own weight. Slowly she and Mrs. Weasley sank to the floor where Molly held and rocked Hermione, who was now sobbing uncontrollably. "My sweet girl." Molly said again, "Why didn't you tell us, why didn't you come to me?" She wasn't expecting an answer, only thinking aloud as Hermione wrapped her arms around Mrs. Weasley's waist on the floor as though she were a small child wanting her mother to protect her.
"Mr. Diggory." Dumbledore said, looking at Cedric, "Will you please go get Madame Pomfrey?"
Cedric nodded and left the room, Hermione still sobbing in Molly's lap as Minerva and Arthur walked over to Hermione to help comfort her.
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