I apologize in advanced, this was not looked over by a beta. I barely proofed. On top of dealing with the pandemic, I have worked 28 out of the last 30 days, doing two full time jobs. And, yes, I am essential. I work in a nursing home, which means I'm fighting to keep the illnesses out. Even though they will most likely never see this- a huge acknowledgment to my sister and aunt for making wonderful face masks. My sister even added the pockets to put in filters. (Which can be made out of pulling the plastic backing off of panty liners. You didn't know that did you?) I also made my own sanitizer this week.

Thank you all so much for reading, and hanging with me. I own nothing, except for the cat, everyone agrees she belongs to me.

Chapter 43

Despite knowing what Riddle wanted, and that the war was merely delayed, not averted, the carriage ride up to the castle filled Hermione with the hopeful illusion they might have one normal year. Right up until she saw Dumbledore's hand at the Welcoming Feast.

Dark and shriveled, it reminded her of the shrunken head she saw in a museum once. Someone played with dark magic and got burned. Hermione nudged Harry, he looked at her, his unease shining in his eyes. He nodded to her unspoken question. He, too, felt the icy cold fingers of dread running down his spine. Once the Sorting completed, Dumbledore stood to welcome them. He introduced the squat older wizard with a large handlebar mustache, sitting next him. "Professor Horace Slughorn agreed to come out of retirement to teach Potions." A murmur ran through the student body. "Professor Snape will be taking over the Defense Against Dark Arts classes." Slytherin class applauded the loudest.

"No!" cried Ron. A quick glance around the hall revealed he wasn't alone in his concern, just the loudest. Numerous other students had hushed, frantic whispered conversations. Harry gave Hermione a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulders slightly.

"So much for a normal quiet year." Harry muttered dryly.

She chuckled, "Complete impossibility, you knew that."

In the Sixth year girls' dorm after dinner, Hermione half listened to Pavarti and Lavender drone on and on about how mature and fit the male population of Hogwarts looked after a summer apart. Hermione exchanged a fond half smile with Sally-Anne, as they unpacked. Somethings never changed. When Lavender started on about how Ron seemed to have bulked up, she eyed Hermione slyly. She gave the blonde girl a confused look. "Surely you noticed, Hermione." Lavender laughed.

Hermione shrugged, "I haven't noticed one way or another."

"Right." she giggled skeptically.

"I have a boyfriend, have for quite some time now."

"You still have eyes don't you?" Pavarti asked.

"Sure, but that doesn't mean I have any interest in looking at Ron 'Chews with his mouth open' Weasley. But to each her own."

"So, you won't care when he gets a girlfriend?" Lavender questioned, with a mean gleam to her eyes.

"Not in the least." Hermione returned to unpacking, suspecting Lavender intended to chase down, and bagged herself a Weasley. Resisting the the urge to shake her head, she pondered that thought. Since discovering the truth of her fall last year, she hadn't given Ron a second thought. She knew on some level Lavender wan ted Ron's attention, because she wanted to get under Hermione's skin, and thought this would do it. She grimaced at Fay as Lavender prattled on. She prayed neither of them got hurt. Then again, it was none of her business.

Hermione rose early the next morning, making sure all her cosmetics were hidden away as Sally-Anne and Fay began stirring. Pavarti and Lavender snoozed away, they would both be the last two awake. The other three girls, along with Tracey, Katie Bell, and Angelina Johnson had kept their beauty secrets from other girls at Hogwarts. When Katie questioned the fairness of it, Hermione had pointed out she was far from the only muggleborn, others had to be using them as well. And if they weren't, that was hardly their fault. She scooped up Tangle and headed downstairs.

Harry met her in the common room. Together, they made their way down to breakfast. A nondescript brown barn owl, and Horus, Sirius's eagle owl, swooped in as they began serving themselves. The former dropped a letter in front of Harry and quickly winged away; while the latter landed on the table and regally extended his leg for her to collect her package. She offered him a sausage as a reward. Horus snatched up the snack and made his way out of the Great Hall. She opened her letter.

Kitten,

Pup tells me you knew who his secret girlfriend was and you didn't tell me. I am so proud and annoyed at the same time. Moony says it is because I'm a nosy git, and he's probably right. Despite all that I want to enlist your assistance in passing his letters to her this year. I know Percival Parkinson. He is every inch the prejudiced pureblood you thought Lucius to be. To say he will be displeased is an understatement. I suggest a little cloak and dagger action. On the fourth floor, around the corner from the History of Magic classroom, is a tapestry of three witches with a cauldron. Behind it is a small corridor. It would make a good drop point for letters. Think about it.

Be good, study hard.

Padfoot.

P.S. Even Moony can't believe I wrote that.

Tucking her letter away, she chuckled at Sirius's antics. She looked at Harry.

"Dumbledore wants to have private lessons this year. Last year he practically ignored me, let that crazy bint torture us, now he wants alone time!" Harry spat out bitterly, throwing the letter on the floor. "I can only wonder what he wants now?"

"Only one way to find out." She picked her fork up and resumed eating. "Attend his little lessons, find out what he knows about everything, going on."

"He wants to meet Friday."

"Well, until then, once more into the educational fray."

Sirius sent Hermione the first packet of letters Friday morning. Indulging his request for cloak and dagger antics, she snuck behind the tapestry before class. The hallway looked like during construction they had intended to branch off a few rooms, but changed their minds later. Then again, magic school, they could have sealed the rooms off at some point in the past. Towards the floor, in one of doorways, a slightly off colored brick pulled out revealing a hidey hole. Hermione secreted the letters in the hole before replacing the trick brick. She passed Pansy's open bag on her way to a desk in History of Magic. As stealthily as possible she dropped a note detailing the location of the drop spot.

She wondered when Pansy found the note and the letters, but the next morning an owl delivered her response.

Seriously, Malfoy?

A bloody scavenger hunt? I suppose this was Black and Dudley's idea? Dudley mentioned something about it in his letter. Apologized, actually, since he suspected you would agree to indulge Black. We need to do something to annoy them.

Hermione looked over at the Slytherin table, despite appearances, Pansy watched her reaction. She made eye contact with the black haired witch and jerked her head towards the exit. Pansy began collecting her belongings. Hermione jumped up and headed for the doors. She ducked into one of the many alcoves off of the Entrance Hall where she could see Pansy coming, but couldn't be seen by anyone else. When the pug nosed girl began to pass, she snaked out her hand and yanked her into the recess.

"Kinky, Malfoy, what would Theo think?" Pansy drawled.

"He'd ask if he could watch. So would Dudley." Hermione laughed.

"Merlin, blokes are pigs."

"And we date them, what does that say about us?"

"Touche. So, what's your diabolical plan to get back at them?"

"I don't know about diabolical, but how do you feel about learning sign language?"

"What is sign language?"

"A form of communication created to let deaf and mute people communicate without having to write everything down. You talk with your hands."

"And you know it?"

"No, but I know where to get the books to learn. Not really annoying if I have no one to talk to, though."

"I'm in. You, me, Tracy, and at least one of your little Gryffindor friends. That way we can practice without one another."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll have my accomplice mail me the books."

"You accomplice?"

"Remus Lupin, he likes a good prank, too."

Pansy laughed, "I knew I liked him."

Saturday evening Harry shot her a salute as he headed to his first private lesson with Dumbledore. She settled into an armchair by the fire to begin revising the sign language book while she waited for Harry to return. In her peripheral vision she saw a person drop onto the couch next to her. Glancing out of the corner of her eyes, she identified Neville. He appeared content to watch the flames dancing in the fireplace. She appreciated the quiet companionship. She finished looking over the page she was on, before looking up. "Hey, Neville. How was your summer?"

"Hello, Hermione. Not bad, really. Had friends over a few times. Seamus managed to cause an explosion in the greenhouse." He shook his head laughing. "At some point in the chaos my wand snapped. So, Gran had to take me to get a new one."

"That sucks."

"Yeah, she was annoyed. It had been my dad's wand, so she wanted me to use it to honor him."

"But you aren't your dad. Did his wand suit you?"

"Not really, no. But my new one does."

Hermione beamed. "That's great. If you want we could duel sometimes, make sure you have a feel for it."

Neville's face brightened. "That'd be great. How are things with Nott?"

Hermione chuckled, "Smooth change of subjects there. Who sent you?"

"What? I couldn't be interested for myself?"

"You don't engage in gossip. If you were interested in me romantically you would have questioned Harry about your chances, and would have requested we go duel immediately to spend alone time together. Also, Harry told me you think Hannah Abbott has a cute arse." She cocked her head to the side. "I can agree with that assessment. So, back to you don't engage in gossip, and would wait until I offered information. So, someone sent you."

"Not sent, per se, but Cormac McLaggen thinks Nott will drop you soon if you don't put out, and he figures that you don't, ergo..." Neville turned tomato red.

"Feel free to punch McLaggen in the face, or hex him, when you assure him my love life is on solid ground. If you get caught, I'll visit you in detention."

"Ah, thanks, Hermione."

"The least I could do for a friend who defended my honor."

"And took the resident arsehole down a peg or too."

"Hex him good." Neville returned to watching the flames, and Hermione resumed her revising until the fire died down.

Well past curfew, Harry returned to the dorms. Hermione laid across one of the couches, practicing a few of the signs. "How did it go?" she inquired.

Harry sank down on the couch opposite of her. "He's gathered pensieve memories about Riddle and his family. We're learning 'my enemy' and how he thinks."

"Why not take this to the Ministry?"

"Because Dumbledore in convinced I'm the child of this prophecy, and only I can stop Riddle."

"Okay, fine. Learn anything then?"

"His mother was ugly and his grandfather a son of a bitch."

"That's not much to go on."

"His uncle attacked Riddle Sr because Merope had a crush on him. When the Ministry sent someone to complain, the male Gaunts attacked. They both went to prison for a time. That gave Merope the window to snag herself her preferred man. At some point she stopped using the magic and he left her alone and pregnant. She refused to use magic, not even for her baby's sake. She sold Slytherin's locket to Borgin and Burke's for a song. Then she gave birth and died, leaving her orphaned son in the muggle world."

"So, nothing new, just filled in the holes of what we all ready pieced together?"

"Pretty much." Harry sighed, "He wants me to take Occlumency lessons with Snape."

"You all ready know Occulmency."

"You know that, and I know that, but Dumbledore doesn't know that. And I think it is too soon to show our hand. It isn't like he's telling us everything he knows."

"That's true. I guess we'll just have to talk to Professor Snape during these lessons."

"We?"

"This summer Professor Snape offered his assistance with a certain project of ours."

"I see. Well, we meet him Thursday evening after dinner." He stood tiredly, holding out his hand, "Come on, it's late, we should both be headed to bed."

She allowed him to pull her up, "Very true. Night, Harry."

"Night, Hermione." They parted at the stairs, each headed up to their beds.

Over the the next week, the girls began passing short messages about the Great Hall, practicing sign language, sometimes to their own amusement when one of them messed up. A few students noticed, giving the one they saw an odd look. Pansy usually shot them a rude gesture, making the others laugh. Harry noticed once, but Hermione refused to explain. Ron opened his mouth, probably to declare her mental, but promptly shut it at her arched eyebrow. She was chatting with Daphne about possible birthday plans as dinner drew to a close Thursday.

"If you're almost done, Snape will be waiting."

"Professor Snape, Harry."

"Uh-huh. What's with the sign language?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out. Though I am very proud of you for recognizing it."

"Don't be condescending." Harry laughed.

"Sorry?"

"You don't sound sorry."

"Sorry, not sorry?" They laughed, making their way down to the defense against the dark arts classroom.

Harry knocked on the door of the office and entered when bid to. Snape looked surprised to see Hermione in tow. "I was under the impression that your lessons were of a private nature, Mr Potter."

"I explained to Professor Dumbledore how much I relied on Hermione's assistance over the years. He agreed I could tell her about what I learned."

"I see, and she is here now, because?"

"Sirius and Remus taught us Occulmency over the summer. We would rather spend this time discussing Riddle's horcruxes, and where we can find them."

Snape blinked twice. "If you would allow me to test you, just to insure I don't have any further advice, we can discuss the other topic." Harry and Hermione looked at one another, having a silent conversation, before turning back to Snape and nodding. "Every well, ladies first."

Hermione felt the pressure and reinforced her barriers. Her defenses resembled a fairy tale landscape, with castles and magical creatures. Pushing too hard caused the monsters to come out in defense. After fifteen minutes, Snape withdrew, sweating. He nodded his approval. "Interesting defenses, not what I expected. You turn, Potter."

Harry nodded and waited for the onslaught. His defenses differed from Hermione's. Instead of letting one wander about the landscape, he imagined a quiddith match. He jostled the invader about like a quaffle, barely giving them time to attempt to search his mind. Again, Snape retreated after fifteen minutes. "Impressive, Mr Potter. Do either of you require a pain potion?"

They shook their heads. "No, Lupin insists on pushing for at least thirty minutes. We've built up a tolerance." Hermione told him. When Snape turned his back to retrieve a pain potion for himself, Harry raised an eyebrow. 'Later,' she mouthed.

"Now, what do you know about the Dark Lord's horcruxes?" Snape asked, putting down the vial.

"Without being insulting, sir, we were wondering how we know we can trust you? Dumbledore sent you back to be his spy, what's to keep you from running Riddle and telling him everything?" Harry asked politely.

Snape blinked twice, once for the logical concern, and once for the polite tone. Hermione beamed proudly. "Good point. For now, let's just say in my youth I foolishly allowed false promises and a bit of praise to go to my head. This lead to the worst two decisions of my life. I am now attempting to atone for those decisions. Helping you is the endgame for me. Anything discussed here will go no further."

"Let us tell you this one thing first. Then you can think about it and tell us whether you want to continue next time." Hermione blurted out.

"All right." Snape nodded.

She took a deep breath, reinforcing her barriers. "He found a ritual that will bring him back to life and make him more powerful than Merlin. He will be a god."

"Hermione," Harry protested, shocked. "No, Harry, Professor Snape deserves to know the risks. He has a chance to curry favor and secure himself a prime position."

"I would never, Miss Malfoy." protested Snape.

"Still, professor. Think it over and see how you feel in two weeks." He nodded, still clearly shocked. "Come on, Harry. We should let Professor Snape think." She hung her head sadly, Harry following her from the room.

Once they were out of earshot, Harry burst, "What the hell was that?"

"Ensuring we can trust him. If Dumbledore comes at you wanting to know about Riddle's new ritual, or tells you about it, we'll know we can't trust Snape not to report what we tell him. And if Dad hears about this ritual, we'll know Snape is running to his other master."

"Wow, you are scary, brilliant, but scary."

"Please, that was child's play. And remember this next time everyone wants to insist I can't lie."

Waking up the morning of September 19th, felt not different than waking up the day before; except, now, Hermione could perform magic outside of school. A chipper chorus of happy birthdays drove Lavendar and Pavarti further under the covers. Sally-Anne and Fay ignored them and showered their friend with gifts and winks. Slyly, Hermione peaked into the gift bags to see the new eye shadow palettes and lipstick gift boxes. She thanked the others profusely before joining them on the way to breakfast.

Theo and Draco waited for her outside the Great Hall. Theo greeted her with a quick peck on the cheek. "Come have breakfast with us, Sweet."

"It's my birthday, shouldn't you sit with me?"

"Yeah!" agreed Sally-Anne, linking arms with Draco.

Fay captured his other arm, "On your birthday she can sit with you snakes, today you enter the lion's den. They laughed and dragged Draco away.

"He doesn't appear to be struggling too much." Hermione observed.

"He thinks he could fancy Perks, if he tried." Theo told her.

"That would be nice, I guess."

"You don't have an opinion?"

"Not really, she's my friend. I would like to think she won't be horrible to my brother. I would hate to have to hurt her." Hermione chuckled and link her arm with his. "Shall we go have breakfast?"

"Of course. This way, my lady." He escorted her to the table.

Harry watched Ron struggle to keep from saying anything negative when the Slytherins joined them. Tracy quickly slipped into the seat next to him, greeting him with a kiss before ignoring him to gush at Hermione. He exchanged indulgent smiles with Theo. Sally-Anne flirted outrageously with Draco, who flirted back while ignoring Ginny and Pavarti's attempts to gain his attentions. The owl post swept in, several owls dropping packages in front of Hermione.

She smiled at the packages and letters. "Everyone shouldn't have."

"You say that all the time. And we just ignore you. Maybe you should save your breath." Harry teased.

"Perhaps." She picked up envelope and ripped it open, scanning the contents, a laugh bubbling out of her. She looked up at the curious stares. Mischievously, she put the letter down and reached for another. Theo grabbed her hand. "Yes?"

"We're all dying of curiosity here, sweet."

"Is that so?" she laughed.

"The fun part of opening presents is showing them off."

"And here I thought it was getting things. Sirius plotted out a series of shopping trips to fashion meccas. Dad must have tried to block gifts of jewelry again."

Tracey sighed, smiling a dreamy, wistful smile. "Milan, Paris, Rome, New York, utter bliss."

Harry patted his girlfriend's hand, "I'm sure he included a few friends. I think you'll make the cut."

"He's better have, and, of course you will." Hermione reached for another letter. Four tickets fluttered out of the next one.

Draco picked one up and let out a whistle. "Front row tickets and backstage passes to the Weird Sisters!"

"Apparently Tonks went to school with the band. Their still friends, hence, the awesome tickets." She grinned at Harry, "Remus says try to fake surprise at Christmas, would you?"

Tracey poked her boyfriend's chest, "I
better be one of your plus ones."

"Who else would I take?" He kissed her cheek, "If you didn't hex me, Hermione would." As they all laughed, he returned his attention to the birthday girl.

Spying a bright buttercup yellow envelope, she pulled it from the pile, smiling widely. "Before I read this, I should probably explain the background. Great Uncle Orville Granger is Wendell's great uncle, his grandfather's eldest brother. He is ancient, eccentric, and, according to rumor, ridiculously wealthy. He hates Wendell and Monica, often calling them fake gold diggers, but he liked me. He use to tell me he intended to leave everything but enough to cover bus fare home from the will reading to me." She giggled at the thought. "I have no idea if he has any money or not, as long as I knew him he lived comfortably in a rest home in Liverpool."

She opened the envelope and pulled out a card decorated with balloons. "My dearest little Hermione," she read aloud, "I knew it! I knew it! I always said you were too smart to be from Wendell's loins. It took me seventeen years, and those gold diggers taking off to travel the world to find the evidence, but I knew you had to be adopted. Monica never got fat enough to have been pregnant. But that doesn't matter, as far as
I am concerned, you are still my only family." Her voice thickened with emotion. "Even if you changed your name to Hermione Malfoy, and the bloke answering the phone says his name is Black. Don't let this next bit spoil today, but I know my time on this earth is growing short. I hope to see, or at least talk to, you one last time. Do something stupid today. Hippo birdie two ewe. Love, Great(est) Uncle Orville." She dashed the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm sure Sirius, or Dad, would make arrangements for you to see him if you wanted." Draco told her quietly. She nodded. "I'll write him this afternoon. Now Greatest Uncle Orville ordered us not to let today be spoiled, open mine next."

Laughing, she ripped the green and gold wrapping paper off of the box he handed her. Inside a crystal dragon nested in the tissue paper. "Oh, Draco, It's beautiful." She picked up the delicate figurine. She admired the iridescent wings. It looked as if the artist plucked the majestic beast from the sky mid flight, changing the flesh and bone into glass. "Simply exquisite, thank you."

"You're welcome. Happy birthday."

Harry handed her a slip of paper. "Good for one full day at the museum of your choice. No complaints, no whinging."

He shrugged, "What do you get for the girl who has everything?"

"I love the idea of spending time together."

"British museum here you come." Neville joked.

The twins sent her samples of their new Wonder Witch line, and her grandmothers sent notes with well wishes. Narcissa and Lucius sent a delicate, expensive looking wrist watch. Draco explained that a watch was the traditional gift for wizards at seventeen, and more and more parents were extending the tradition to include witches. She clasped the watch on her wrist as she picked up the last card. She glanced at Theo, who shook his head in the negative. "I'm saving your present for after dinner tonight."

A glance confirmed the envelope had no return address marked, not uncommon with wizarding post. She scanned it for curses or hexes, and once confirming it was clean, she opened the flap.

Pretty Bird,

Bella reminded me today is your birthday. I hope to make it a good one. Seventeen, such a tender, innocent age, so ripe for the plucking. Rumor has it I should search for you in Gryffindor Tower instead of the dungeons. Tell me, pretty bird, is your bed near the door, or the windows? Never mind answering, I'll discover that for myself. Many happy returns of the day, my pretty little bird.

See you soon,

Rabastan.

The letter dropped from her shaking hands, as the blood drained from her face. Theo read the letter, and stood. He stalked to the head table and handed the letter to Professor Snape, who immediately shared it with Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore. Snape said something to Theo, who nodded and returned to the table. "The teachers will summon the aurors and your parents. You and I are excused from morning classes. We're suppose to go the Infirmary and get you a Calming Draught and wait there."

Hermione nodded numbly and obediently followed his directions.

Draco hugged her fiercely when she whispered, "Why won't people just leave me alone?"

"He's crazy, who knows why he does anything." She nodded and let Theo lead her from the Great Hall.