DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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Chapter 18: Eavesdropping?
"Snape threw Harry from him with all his might. Harry fell hard on to the dungeon floor.
'You will not tell anybody what you saw!' Snape bellowed.
'No,' said Harry, getting to his feet as far from Snape as he could. 'No, of course I w-'
'Get out, get out, I don't want to see you in this office ever again!'"
-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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1992
(Cedric and Hermione's past)
"Ten points to Hufflepuff today for great work, Miss Granger. Homework: essay on Arresto Momentum, eighteen inches, to be submitted next week. Weasley, Thomas, detention later with Professor McGonagall. Class dismissed."
Hermione grinned at the points Professor Flitwick awarded to her for perfecting the Disarming Charm. He even made her demonstrate it with him in class. It was supposed to be taught in D.A.D.A., according to their Charms professor, but apparently, the Ravenclaws turned to their Head of House for help because the other Ravenclaw, Professor Lockhart, wouldn't teach them.
Hermione and Susan walked together to leave the classroom.
"Hey, Hermione," a now-familiar voice called when they were in the corridor
Susan sighed unhappily. "I'll check if Cedric's waiting." Susan turned to the right-wing of the third floor.
Hermione could not understand her best friend. Weeks ago, she was teasing her with Harry Potter. But when she made it clear that she liked someone else, Susan wouldn't even want to hear Harry Potter's name.
Hermione turned around to face Harry. Behind him, a few steps away, Weasley was waiting. "Yeah?"
"Are your parents safe?" he asked with concern in his tone.
Hermione frowned. She just got a letter from her parents yesterday and everything seemed to be fine. "Yeah... Why?" she asked, puzzled.
"Don't judge, okay?" Harry Potter took a few steps closer to whisper in her ear. "I heard Snape and Professor Dumbledore. I thought they were talking about your parents because you're the only one who asked me about my Muggle relatives' treatment of me."
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed even more. "Okay?"
"Well, I heard Snape said - "
"Professor Snape. That's the second time you called him that. He's a teacher," she scolded.
"Yeah, right," Harry said somberly. "Professor Snape. He told Dumbledore: 'she cares about Potter's Muggle homelife'. I thought of you. And he also said: 'The other Dumbledore never thought of sending her parents to a safe house, despite what she has done for Harry Potter.' That's what I heard last night."
"And what did the headmaster say in response?" she asked curiously.
"He said he's sorry and he won't let that happen again. But Professor Snape said something else that made me think it was really you he's talking about."
Hermione tilted her head to meet Harry Potter's eyes. "What is it?"
"Professor Snape said, it's for the best she is a Hufflepuff. I won't drag her into trouble."
She shook her head but her heart was thumping. "I still can't believe that they would talk about me. My parents are fine. They are safe. The only danger, for now, is the Heir of Slytherin, right?"
"Maybe I should ask Professor Dumbledore?" asked Harry, uncertain.
"No, no. I will ask Professor Sprout about my parents' safety. She's my Head of House and like a mother to all of us," she replied, placing a hand on his shoulder as if to stop him from going to the headmaster. "But are you sure I'm the only Hufflepuff who asked you about your life in the Muggle world?"
"Oh, many asked - like your housemate Justin - but you're the only one who cared," he replied bitterly and he must've realized his words because he blushed after.
Hermione took a step back. "Oh. Uhm, I appreciate your concern. I'll go speak with Professor Sprout. You take care, okay?"
Harry Potter nodded. "Yeah. You too."
"Hermione!"
Both Hermione and Harry turned to the owner of the voice. Ian was walking towards them.
"Everything okay? Ced's asked me to escort you to wherever you're going next."
"Oh, yeah!" she replied, trying to sound casual. "We're just talking about... homework."
Harry Potter gave her a parting pat on the arm - to which Ian eyed intently - and walked away.
She started walking. "Let's go. Where's Susan? And Ced?"
"Susan went with Terrence. Ced said he forgot something, so he went back to Professor Snape. You alright? You look pale. What did Potter want?" Ian sounded worried, so it must be very obvious she was anxious.
She looked up to her friend. "Ian, who's the other Dumbledore?"
Ian frowned. "I don't know. Maybe the headmaster's brother or sister? I'm sure he has no wife and child."
"Do you think the Heir of Slytherin, the one - "
"The monster."
"Yeah, the monster, whatever - who is causing all these - is just in Hogwarts and they are not after my parents?"
Ian looked at her with pure concern. "Your parents? Why? What made you say that?"
"I will tell you later. I have to find Professor Sprout and ask her about my parents' safety."
"Right, let's find Professor Sprout," replied Ian with urgency in his tone.
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"I don't understand, Professor. Who is the other Dumbledore?" Cedric asked quietly, though very confused and worried for Hermione's parents.
"That, Mr. Diggory, is up to the headmaster if he would like to reveal. But I doubt he will," replied Professor Snape before sipping his tea.
Cedric still could not believe he was having tea with Professor Snape. Half an hour earlier, he was supposed to get Hermione from her Charms class and escort her. He also followed his father's suggestion - to Disillusion himself and cast Silencing Charms on his shoes to avoid the one who Petrified Mr. Filch's cat. That was how he heard Hermione's conversation with Potter without them knowing. He went back to Ian and asked him to escort Hermione and then went back to the dungeons. He was pale and bawling uncharacteristically when the professor opened the door. He had to ask him to calm down and started serving tea and biscuits.
"And Hermione's parents are safe? You're certain, Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Diggory. The conversation Potter," he spat at the name, "heard between me and the headmaster was about another event... another time. I cannot tell you about it, I'm sorry."
Cedric's eyes widened. Professor Snape never apologized. Ever.
He must've realized the implication of his words because he sighed and put down his tea on the table. "Out now, Diggory," he told him nonchalantly.
"Sir?"
"Well, I've answered your questions. Out now." He sounded a bit impatient but less snarky than he usually was.
Tea time's over, he thought to himself. "Thank you, Sir," he said politely and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Mr. Diggory?"
He stopped in his tracks and turned back to face the professor, sitting in his wingback chair as if it was his throne.
"I trust you are not planning to use your perfectly brewed Polyjuice Potion to disguise as anyone," he said laxly as if it was a normal potion anyone could brew.
He frowned and didn't know what to say. How could he possibly -
"Close your mouth, Mr. Diggory. May I remind you that I am a Potions Master? You might not smell anything, but I know every smell of every potion I have studied and brewed. Better tell Miss Granger that."
Cedric nodded. "Yes, Professor. We were just... experimenting."
"Well, tell Miss Granger to bring her experiments in a proper room, not in Merlin-knows-where. Out!"
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August 2020
(the present)
"Hello, Diggorys!"
Three pairs of eyes turned to them.
"Dad!"
"Oh, hello Albus."
"Hey, Al."
Rose and Hugo abandoned the table setting to run to their father. Albus almost felt like his heart clenched. He would not admit it to anyone, but he missed his father. And the rest of the family. The longer he stayed here, the longer he got envious and the longer he wanted to go home.
"Hello, love," greeted 'Aunt Hermione', approaching her husband and kissed him chastely. "How's work?"
"Great. Same as always. Everything's in order," replied Mr. Diggory. "Why do we have a lot for dinner?"
Albus went to the kitchen to wash his hands and make himself useful, leaving the married couple in the dining. He saw Rose at the open backdoor of the kitchen, looking at something outside. She was smiling.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked as he went to her side.
"Them," she replied, not even taking her eyes off at where her eyes were plastered.
Albus's eyes scoured the yard. He saw Hugo with a tall man with shoulder-length black hair tied behind his neck, wearing a white Oxford shirt and black trousers. He was showing Hugo a basket full of green leaves he recognized as potions ingredients.
"Who's that man?"
"He's Hugo's godfather," replied Rose.
The two wizards went back to the house and the man's eyes found him. Even though his heartbeat doubled, Albus bravely met the man's gaze. "Good evening, Professor Snape."