Chapter 16

Hermione was in the library when a house elf suddenly appeared and almost gave her a heart attack.

"Are you Miss Granger?" he asked.

"Uh, yes," she answered when her heart had calmed down again.

"A letter for you, miss," he said, gave her a piece of parchment and then vanished again.

"A letter?" she mumbled and opened the parchment. The letter consisted of only a few words written in a most elegant handwriting.

.

Dear Hermione,

please come to my office as soon as possible.

S.

.

Severus, she knew at once. As soon as possible. Why? Did something happen?

Her heart started racing again and only a few moments later she was running out of the library and to the dungeons. With every step her worries grew – why else would he wish to see her, he had never summoned her before – he had to be in trouble! She ran as quickly as she could and when she stood in front of his office she didn't even bother to knock but instead just stormed right into it, crying: "What happened? Are you alright?"

Severus sat at his desk and looked unharmed but now alarmed. Then he realised what was the matter with her. "No, I'm alright," he told her with a smile. "Please, close the door – I have good news to tell you."

Confused she closed the door and sat down in front of his desk. What good news should that be? That he liked her? That he even… began to love her? She tried to stay reasonable but her hopes galloped away with her…

"I've found out who betrayed you," he then announced and all her romantic thoughts vanished at once.

"W-What!" she stuttered with an open mouth. "Who?!"

"It was Draco Malfoy."

She frowned. "But he wasn't present at Ginny's birthday party!"

"Or so you thought." And then he told her all about the wire and how Draco had spied on Harry since the beginning of summer.

"Oh, my god," Hermione gasped. "I can't believe it…"

"Well, if it comforts you, I subducted 100 points from Slytherin," Severus told her proudly.

She stared at him in shock. "You did what?!"

And when he only grinned at her, she started to laugh and cry at the same time. "I can't believe it… I have to see my friends!" she then realised and stood up.

Severus, ever the gentleman – at least when he was with her –, rose with her and escorted her to the door.

"Thank you!" she said at last and hugged him firmly.

"You're welcome…" he managed to reply although it was difficult with her proximity…

When Hermione had left him, she went straight into her room and wrote to all her friends from the party a letter in which she kindly asked them to come to the Room of Requirement this evening, for she, Hermione, wanted to talk with them about what had happened…

When she had sent the letters via owls she just hoped that they would come. She had been so stupid and she deserved to be stood up.

But they were still her friends – so they all came.

Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna now stood in front of her in the Room of Requirement and waited for her to say something.

"Well," she started trying not to cry, "I've asked you to come here because I found out who betrayed our friendship."

They all were stunned and looked at each other – no one had suspected any of them.

So Hermione quickly told them the same story Severus had told her earlier: about Draco and his wire…

"Harry," she then said. "May I try and find the thing?"

He just nodded – he had been spied on for almost half a year?! He needed to tell Dumbledore immediately after this meeting!

"Accio Draco's wire!" Hermione said pointing her wand at Harry. And to all of their surprise a tiny black device flew from Harry's left ear into Hermione's hand.

"Blimey!" he exclaimed. "I swear I never noticed!"

"I know," Hermione smiled. "I am so sorry," she suddenly cried, tears streaming down her face. "It's all my fault – I was so stupid. You all were innocent and I made you guilty. I can understand if you don't want to be friends with me anymore but I am really sorry for what I did!" She looked at her friends who gave each other a short glance, then nodded – and embraced Hermione in one big group hug.

"We'll always be your friends," Harry told her. "And not even Draco Malfoy can destroy that." The rest nodded in agreement and smiled widely.

"Thank you," Hermione mumbled and hugged them firmly back. "Thank you all so much!"