Chapter 2

Research time!

Hermione woke up early the next morning determined to find out more about "Protection of the mother" Rune symbols. And she also wanted to research blood wards, why was the headmaster so interested in keeping her best friend in his abusive and neglectful relatives home, they clearly hated Harry and he clearly hated them so wouldn't that weaken the blood-wards? She wrote this down in her Journal to reference those sentences later-on when she got to Flourish and Blots.

She finished her bowl of cereal and orange juice before calling out to her mother that she was going to central London.

There was only one person who could help her with this type of research and she intended to ask him, regardless of the risk.

As she made her way through the Leaky Cauldron, Tom called out to her and greeted her with a friendly smile.

"Oh, Hi, Tom, not busy today then?"

"It's the summer, miss granger, may I ask why you are not out with friends in this hot weather?"

"I'm headed to Flourish and Blots for some in-depth research but if you could save me a table and I'll pre-order some of your beef stew and sandwiches for 3pm."

"Absolutely, miss granger, would you like a room for tonight?"

"How much is a room?"

"For you, miss granger, 5 Galleons"

"Okay but I want to make sure that it is warded properly. I don't wish to be disturbed."

Hermione paid for the room and her meal then went through to the backyard to Diagon alley and headed straight for the book shop 'Flourish and Blots'.

As she browsed the obscure magic section. The manager of the magical book shop came up to her and asked if there were any books specifically that she required.

"Yes, Mr Flourish, do you have any books on blood wards and Protective Runes?"

Mr Flourish scratched his chin in deep thought. "That is very advanced magic for a sixth year, miss granger"

"That is not an answer, Mr Flourish, do you have any books on these subjects or not!"

"May I ask the reasons for this line of research, miss granger?"

"Yes, this is for a friend of mine who is forced to live with his relatives who hate anything magical and hate him even more!"

"I see, are these relatives muggles?"

Hermione nodded dumbly.

"Can your young friend not be emancipated?" Mr Flourish said with a knowing smile.

"I don't know?"

Mr Flourish took Hermione's arm and pulled her further between the stacks.

"Alright, possibly but a certain wizard who is likely to interfere at his parents will reading has prevented my friend from knowing of or knowledge of any possible inheritance"

"That is a very serious accusation, miss granger, you must be very sure of your facts before you do your research, is this source of information reliable?"

"I trust this gut feeling and I know how to follow it"

Mr Flourish gave Hermione two large tomes and a warning. "I hope you are wrong, miss granger but for what it's worth, you are very brave to take on such a powerful wizard and try to beat his subtle manipulations. Dumbledore should be very afraid of you!"

Hermione's mouth dropped open at the shop manager's statement and left quickly.

When she arrived back at the leaky cauldron, Tom had a light salad and sandwich waiting for her as she put the heavy tomes on the table.

When she had finished her butterbeer and lunch, Hermione sent an owl message with her new owl Dark Wing to Severus asking him to meet her this evening in her room.

SS.

Room 4 Leaky Cauldron, 5pm

Need your help with translations

HJGS

Hermione sat down to her notebooks and made a list of Dumbledore's failings and manipulations until 3pm when her stew and sandwich were ready. Then she found herself with very sore tired eyes and she decided to lay down until 4pm. Forty-Five minutes later, she was back at her desk with a strong coffee as she continued her list.

At 5pm, Hermione heard a knock at her guest room door and opened it to find Severus standing there and leapt into his arms sobbing. "I'm so sorry, my betrothed, I would not risk calling you to me if I did not need your help desperately" Severus' finding his arms full of his distraught fiancé had not entered his mind but he gave her a calming draught and made her sit down on the sofa.

"Listen to me, Hermione, breath, that's it, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth" His young fiancé calmed down and told him of her research. "This rune means 'Wisdom of the mother' Sowilo. An old Nordic Rune that means wisdom, motherhood and protection. I mean, none of us noticed the distinct 'N' shape of the scar on Harry's head. Why would a dark lord who was trying to kill Harry as a baby cast a symbol of wisdom and protection without knowing it's true meaning?"

"Merlin's beard! You are right!" Severus took a closer look at the other title "Blood wards?"

"Yes, you see, none of what Dumbledore said before made sense. He claims that Voldemort…sorry….Tom is back and that Tom used some of Harry's blood, effectively stealing Harry's blood for a resurrection that would render the so-called blood wards useless leaving Harry and his relatives defenceless. You said that Tom was trying to save Harry at the ministry, are you sure?"

"Yes, certain, Tom Riddle is a grey magus or mage. He has never crossed the lines of light or dark magic and has always been neutral."

"Is there a possibility that the figure resurrected from the cauldron that Harry saw at the Graveyard is a Golem, controlled by Dumbledore?"

"More than likely."

"I don't understand then why Dumbledore is insisting that Harry stays with the Dursley's and not go to his parents will reading at Gringotts unless….No!" Severus watched as the colour drained from Hermione's face.

"Dumbledore is after Harry's inheritance!" Severus crossed his arms as he smiled "Bingo!"

"How many years have you known Harry to back away from being a hero? He has that "saving people" complex because his relatives are downright neglectful if not abusive. He never turns to an adult because he doesn't trust them to A. Force him to look after himself better and his own wants and needs and confide in adults when he is troubled. B. He was so afraid of losing Sirius that he pushed him away to see if Sirius would cut and run like most adults in his life." Severus nodded and filled in the gaps for her "Dumbledore 'rescues' Harry from the Dursley's every year so Harry would look up to him as his saviour."

Hermione lined up the dots and the pattern of Harry's schooling "Severus!" Severus could see the wheels in Hermione's head whirring and turning as she finally came to the same conclusion as himself. "Dumbledore killed Lily and James Potter!"

Hermione went green and ran to her en-suite bathroom where Severus heard her crying and vomiting at the same time.