Chapter Two: The Misconceptions of Morals (Reprise)
Albus Dumbledore always prided himself, out of everything, on his teaching career. Being able to see curious and young minds blossom and grow. And watching generations of students go from stumbling, bumbling tweens into confident, young and successful adults where some come out with not only their full certificate but a ring on their fingers. It made Albus proud, he had a place in these children lives and they were precious — meant to be cherished.
Growing up to see their fingers prune and knees go scraggly and hair thin with age. To attend their parents funeral to weep and bury the elders that had shaped boy to man, girl to woman. Seeing a life go so soon crushed him and to deliver the news to two loving parents... Parents that had entrusted Albus Dumbledore with their young daughter to turn Hermione Granger from a nervous wreck into a beautiful, flourishing witch thriving in maturity. The girl had a sister too, an older sister who entrusted Albus as well. Who likely, Hermione had looked up to as a role model. And it was Albus that broke it, the trust, the family, the heart and soul.
Children were supposed to lose parents — not the other way around.
"Mrs Granger... May I come in?" Dumbledore face grim, as he wore a black suit with patterns of stars and constellations decorating it. He saw an middle aged woman who had the same bushy hair as his deceased pupil and it made his eyes downcast slightly at that and her confused look. "Mione couldn't have done anything wrong, right? She's a top student." A frown pulled at her lips as she stepped aside and let the door open for Albus and closed it shut behind the pair.
"I'm afraid it's not that, Mrs. May I ask you to bring the family down for a brief discussion?" The woman looked even more confused. "Well, my husband's in the sitting you can wait here."
And she guided Albus to the sitting room, where Mr. Granger was there reading while sitting on the settee and looked up. "Who's this, Miranda?" Miranda Granger turned and gestured her hand out to Albus. "This is Professor Albus Dumbledore, Professor, this is my husband... William Granger." Hermione's father, William, was a thin man with dark brown hair that was greyed and slightly receding, face with stubble and signs of crows feet. There was a look between Miranda and William and he immediately started.
The man stood up and offered his hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Professor." Albus gave a wistful looking smile and shook the hand that was offered. "It is nice to meet you too."
As the older woman left, there was an awkward silence between both men. Dumbledore looked around the room and observed the pictures that covered the bookshelves and mantle. His face became lined when he saw a family portrait. William — and the girls, Miranda, the sister and Hermione. All smiling, seemingly happy compared to the horror stricken face he had seen on his deceased pupils face post mortem. He looked over at the book the male Granger was reading. "The Tempest — great book, isn't it? One of the great...accolades of muggle literature." He spoke, William gave a breath filled chuckle. "Yeah. Irony that my wife's names Miranda — innit it?"
"I find irony to be the greatest tragedy and most amusing laugh."
Miranda walked in with a girl that was of teenaged age, she had wavy dark brown hair of her father's and was rather good looking. And was rather tall for her age, much like a former alumni Dumbledore knew.
"My daughter, Katherine." She gave a welcoming smile and now the family looked at Albus expectantly. He didn't know how to say it, to tell the words that would crush this family completely. It just came out. "I'm sorry to say this... a very unexpected tragedy took place. But your daughter is dead."
Miranda was the first to respond, rather distraught looking. "My daughter — she can't be..." The woman clutched her chest and started sobbing, Katherine stood there eyes widen with shock. And William Granger sat there for a moment before getting up and walking out.
Albus never wanted to see this again, it reminded him too much of his mother and sister. The death of a loved one was by far the worst thing to experience, and he wanted vengeance for this family. He was going to try his hardest to find Keres, to avenge not only Hermione Granger but the other six lives Keres had taken so far.
He did the best thing he could at the time, walked out of the solemn home and apparated.
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One chapter in Voldemort's pov and we'll go back full circle to Harry's twisted pov. It was very interesting to write in Dumbledore's pov, I've always tried and failed because I felt like I couldn't quite capture his character — I was going to make this a Harry chapter but it didn't sit right with me to make this Harry's. So Dumbledore we go.
Btw I came up with the irony quote myself, I just hope someone else didn't magically say that. Because I felt like a genius after creating that.
And did you catch the other references towards Shakespeare besides that Miranda and William thing? Or the Harry Potter/Horcrux reference at the last two lines of this chapter?
Please give a review. I'd like to know what you think!
