AN: Sorry for the late update. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to review :P

Chapter 11: Infiltration

As Hermione walked out of her last class of the day Professor Dumbledore was standing outside of the classroom waiting for her.

"Ah, Ms. Granger. Just the witch I was searching for. I was hoping you would join me in my office for a cup of tea." His eyes narrowed and focused solely on Hermione. "I expect you there in five minutes."

Hermione couldn't hold in the chuckle, Dumbledore just had a way of making it seem like he was asking you to do something. When really, he wasn't leaving any room for objection.

"Of course, Professor. I'll be there as soon as I drop my bag off."

"No need, you'll need it." He said cryptically.

Dumbledore disappeared through a nearby portrait; leaving Hermione wondering what it was exactly that Dumbledore wanted and why didn't he just walk with her to his office.

Remus came up behind Hermione, startling her out of her trance. "What was that about?"

"Honestly, I don't know." She glanced back at Remus and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll have to meet up with you guys later."

Hermione walked in the direction of Dumbledore's office, and Remus followed her movements with his keen senses. He saw her slip something subtly into the pocket, and mumble a spell. 'What am I gonna do with you Mya? What I am gonna do?'

"Hey, Remus. Wait up mate." Remus turned around to see Peter coming up behind him. "I need to speak to you."

"What about?"

"It's about James."

"What's wrong with him? Has he woken up yet?"

"No, nothing is wrong with him. He just woke up, and he wants to see Mya. He's been asking about her constantly." Peter explained.

"I don't know what to say. Mya just went to Dumbledore's office and I don't know how long she'll be." Remus scratched his jaw. "Come on, let's go tell him."

Peter nodded and watched Remus uneasily.

"Wormtail? What is it?"

"It's just… I was there when he-- changed." Peter paused. "I don't know what happened to him." Peter looked genuinely scared for their mutual friend.

Remus put his hand hesitantly on Peter's shoulder. "Don't worry so much."

"But what if I had something to do with it?"

"I'm sure you didn't."

"You didn't see his face, Moony. He looked emotionless. His face was stoic and he wasn't talking. All he did was stare directly at us and his magic flared to an enormous level. I never knew he even possessed that much power and that's not even the weirdest part." Peter watched the floor as he spoke, not ready to look at Remus.

Remus was astonished, the Potter family were one of the most powerful blood lines still alive. But it was believed that every generation had less power then the last. "What else happened?"

"I was standing behind the Headmaster and McGonagall when James sent this enormous amount of energy towards us. It was burning everything in it's path. Now this is the odd part, Mya was the only thing unharmed." Peter finally looked up at Remus and he looked confused.

"How is that weird?"

"Do you know the only way a witch or wizard can stop their magic from harming another person?" Remus shook his head. "The only way is to be either blood linked or soul bonded. There is no way James was protecting Mya. Which mea--"

"Mya was protecting herself. There is no way she could have that much power as a muggle-born." At Peter's look Remus continued. "I'm not being prejudice against muggle-borns, but only the strongest wizards could stop a Potter. If she can do that there's no telling what she's capable of."

Peter nodded, "We'll talk more later. Now we have to let Prongs down easy."

Remus glanced uncomfortably at the door of the hospital wing. "Yeah, how do you propose we do that?"

"I have no idea."

They opened the door and the moment James saw Peter he smiled, but when Remus came into view he frowned. "Where is she?" He asked impatiently.

"Well, you see… Remus will explain." Peter chickened out.

Remus glared angrily at the small boy. So Remus decided to just go straight in for the kill. "Mya isn't here."

"I had no idea." James said sourly.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"Do I?"

"Stop being a prat, Prongs." As Remus and James continued to bicker, Peter stood in the background trying to keep up. He felt like he was watching one of those muggle tennis matches Mya had told him about.

"I'm not being a prat! I just want to know where the hell Mya is!"

"You should have asked."

"You knew what I wanted." James argued.

"So," Remus said offhandedly.

James groaned and took a deep breath while Remus smiled innocently. "Ok, I'm sorry for getting anger at you."

"I'm over it."

James gritted his teeth. "Do you know where Mya is?" He turned to Peter. "I sent you to get her."

Peter side stepped out of James' peripheral vision. "Remus will explain."

Once again Remus glared at Peter and James turned expectantly to Remus. "She would be here, but she wasn't able to."

James' anger flared. "Why couldn't she be here is she wanted to?"

"Dumbledore requested her attendance in his office."

"Is that so?" James looked down right pissed off.

"Well, ok he didn't really request, more like demanded. Why?"

"I told both Dumbledore and Peter that I wanted to see Mya. Why would he ask her to go to his office when he knew I wanted to see her?" James was practically seething. "I've been worried about her. I could have hurt her pretty badly from what I heard, but I haven't seen her.

Remus shrugged. "Only Dumbledore can answer that James. An if it makes you feel better Mya looked fine when I saw her. Not a scratch on her."

"You're right. Let's go ask him." James started to get up before Remus and Peter held him down.

"Uh uh uh, you are bed ridden mate. The reason why you weren't there last night." Remus emphasized.

James sat back grumpily, crossing his arms like a child. "It's not fair."

"Life isn't fair mate." Peter responded.

Hermione felt Remus' eyes on her back as she walked away from him, but there was nothing she could do to fix that. As she walked towards Dumbledore's office she started to filter through everything she knew that Dumbledore may want to talk to her about and she came up with nothing. There was absolutely nothing they hadn't already gone over and she already explained to him that she was going to withhold some information.

When she stood in front of the gargoyle she realized that once again Dumbledore had not told her the password. One glance at the gargoyle and he revealed the staircase to her without any of his usual conflict. The moment she touched Dumbledore's door he spoke. "Come in Ms. Granger."

"You wished to speak to me."

Dumbledore smiled encouragingly, "Yes, I do. Did you have any trouble getting inside?"

"You know I didn't."

"I believe you've scarred him for life." His eyes twinkled madly.

Hermione lifted an inquiring brow. "I highly doubt that Dumbledore. Now, I'm pretty sure you didn't ask me here to talk about your statue."

"That's true." His hands went together in a sign of peace, but Hermione wasn't buying the act.

"Go on." Hermione answered disrespectfully. She hated when people tried to beat around the bush.

Yet his smile never disappeared. "I was curious as to how your relationship with Mr. Potter has been progressing. It has come to my attention that you are still against the idea and yet I have moved the only obstacle. The one thing standing in your way was that Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans were apart of prophecy, but that prophecy is no more. As I had explained to both you and Mr. Lupin."

"I am aware of that, but can you in all honesty let yourself lose control like that. He's the father of my best friend, the man I left behind."

"Is that all that is stopping you?"

"Of course not. I do not have feelings for James, we're just friends. Even if I was I have too much to focus on." With that said Hermione left. What she didn't realize was that one sentence said more to Dumbledore then she could ever imagine.

She stopped in front of the beautiful phoenix that was very close to his burning day. She pet his fragile skin and cooed sweetly to him. His body seemed to strengthened with her song. She glared once more at Dumbledore and dashed out of his office.

"But Ms. Granger, if you don't get with Mr. Potter things will turn most dreadful. If only you weren't so stubborn." Dumbledore whispered to Faulkes.

The Phoenix thrilled a happy tune.

"I know Faulkes, if only she did as well. I'm curious to know what she's up to; as a student it's my responsibility that she doesn't do anything rash, but I doubt I could control that girl even if I tried." Dumbledore sighed.

Faulkes watched the man he had lived with for many generations, Albus Dumbledore think about the girl Hermione Granger. She had always been nice to him, cooing at him no matter what he looked like. It was empowering, her touch.

As a magically bird he was privy to a vast amount of information, but there was little he could do to calm Dumbledore's nerves. He would only have to wait and see.

After Hermione left Dumbledore's office she got lost in her own thoughts about James. From what she knew he was still cooped up in the hospital wing. She took a quick look at her watch, there was still a few hours before curfew. So she decided to pay him a visit.

Her feet carried her automatically to the hospital wing. It was a place you knew all too well, but not because she frequented it often. No, it was because her best friend Harry Potter always seemed to find his way there. It was a little odd that even now a Potter was the reason she was going.

There were a few voices inside so Hermione knocked hesitantly on the door. She could hear the distant sound of scurrying feet and took an uneasy step back, but it was all for nothing when Remus poked his head out.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting with Dumbledore." To whispered quietly.

"I did, but I cut it short. Why are we whispering?" Hermione asked.

Remus bent closer. "So James doesn't know it's you."

"Why?"

"Moony, who is it?!" James asked impatiently.

"Do I need to answer that question?" He joked.

Hermione giggled. "I suppose not. How long has he been that way? He's sounds absolutely dreadful."

"Oh, he acts worse then he talks, but don't worry. He's only acted this way for the past hour. He's a little heart broken that you haven't come to see him."

"Does he know I was here earlier?" Remus shook his head. "Has anyone decided to tell him?"

Remus smiled sheepishly. "We forgot."

Hermione's hands went instantly to her hips. "Remus John Lupin, I can't believe that you've been enjoying his misery."

He chuckled. "What can I say? It doesn't happen often that I have a piece of information that would make his day. So how was your meeting?"

Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "That man makes me so frustrated. I'd like to ring his neck." The magic flared around her seemly small body and Remus had to back up as it licked his skin.

"Mya?" He asked uneasily.

The magic that had once surrounded her fizzled out of thin air. "What?"

"Let's go make James' day."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine." She grabbed Remus' proffered arm and they walked the short distance to James' cot.

A frazzled Peter was standing next to James, trying to get him to calm down, but it seemed useless. He looked up, hoping to get some backup from James and flushed when he saw Hermione.

"Hello Peter. How has your day been?"

"It was good." He smiled shyly. "Tonight I get to work in the greenhouses with Professor Sprout."

"I want to hear all about it tomorrow." He nodded eagerly. "James."

James had long since stopped his fit the moment he saw Hermione. "Mya, I'm so glad you're here. I wanted to come see you, but some people wouldn't let me." He glared dangerously at his two friends.

Hermione looked amused. "I'm sure it was only for the most noble reasons. How are you feelings?" She brushed her hand aimlessly over his bed sheet.

"Better now." He grabbed her hand and brought it up to his cheek.

Anyone could see how much he cared for Hermione, but she tried to ignore it. She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach the closer James brought her hand to his face. She tried to ignore the soft quality his voice took when he spoke to her.

She pulled her hand gently from his grasp. "I'm glad your better, but I think I'll leave you alone with Remus and Peter." She turned to leave, but he grabbed the sleeve of her robe.

Hermione turned back questioningly. "They left."

Hermione's eyes searched the entire room for any indication that they were around, but they weren't. "Oh, I think you need your rest."

"No, I want you to stay for a little bit." His eyes pleaded with her.

Against her better judgment she nodded her head and took a seat at the edge of his cot. His hazel eyes traveled down her body, but it was obscured by her loose robes. The silence wrapped around them like a wool blanket.

"Um…" They said simultaneously.

They chuckled. "You go first." Hermione offered.

James looked uncomfortable. "I wanted to know if you knew what happened to me? You know, the reason my powers went all haywire."

"You should ask Dumbledore."

"I have, but he changes the subject or says he has somewhere to be." James looked at her searchingly. "I don't want to lose control like that again. I could have you guys if I wasn't stopped."

"I don't know what set out off." Hermione whispered weakly.

"Then can you tell me what happened before I blew up?"

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. I was hugging Peter when you walked in and when I looked up your eyes were glazed over and you looked cold. It's odd, but I can't really describe the feeling."

James blanched. "I really looked like that?"

"Yeah. Then I sent Peter to fetch Dumbledore, but he couldn't do anything. As soon as he told me to get away from you, you snapped. You sent his amazing force of magic hurdling through the room, but it wasn't hurting me. As soon as I touched you the magic stopped. It was weird." Hermione shivered from the memory of all the uncontrolled energy.

"I'm sorry. I didn't plan on hurting you." He reached for her and this time Hermione didn't stop him because James needed comforting.

She shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for James, I'm okay. See, not even a scratch. Your magic didn't touch me at all. I felt all the energy, but it wasn't harmful to me. The common room on the other hand took quite a beating." Hermione joked.

"Oh Mya, what did it look like?" James smiled at her, she always knew just what to say to make him forget all the bad things in his life.

"Do you really want to know?" She whispered conspiratorially in his ear. He nodded enthusiastically. "Ok, you asked for it. Everything was melted; all around there were puddles of what was once there. It was actually quite humorous."

James' eyes lit up. "Can I see?"

Hermione shook her head sadly. "No, I'm afraid Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall fixed it up in no time."

"Oh," James mumbled and they heard the distant chime of the clock tower.

"Merlin, what time is it?" She glanced at her watch and noticed that she needed to get back to the dorm to prepare for going to Malfoy's house, she only had an hour before curfew. "I have to go." Hermione pulled away gently.

"Mya, wait."

"I'm sorry. I really can't." She placed a chaste kiss on his forehead and dashed out of the hospital wing. She walked for only a few minutes before a noise caught her attention.

Hermione turned around and scanned her surrounding area cautiously. "Who's there?" Her voice came out stronger then she felt.

"Mud-bloods really shouldn't be out so late. Who knows what could happen to a lioness such as yourself." Severus walked confidently out of the shadows.

"You are so funny," Hermione said sarcastically. "Anyways, if we are to be friends you should call me by my given name. I had hoped we got passed such pleasantries on our last encounter."

Severus sneered. "Granger."

"Much better." She smiled smugly. "Now, proper friends know stuff about one another. So you tell me something about you and I'll share something with you. We'll go back and forth."

Severus nodded hesitantly, he still wasn't sure if he could trust her. "I can ask you anything and you'll be honest?"

"Of course."

Severus thought long and hard about what to ask Mya, he needed it to be extremely personal in order to test her. "Ok, what are your feelings regarding Potter and Black?" He smirked when he saw her face, he knew he got her. There was no way she would share something like that with a Slytherin when she knew that he could use the information against her at any time.

Hermione debated with herself on the best course of action. She knew that the only reason Severus had asked her was to see what she would do; so the only thing she could do was answer him. "Well… you promise not to tell, right? This is just between us? As friends?" She emphasized

He gulped, why did she have to say that. "Yes, I promise as friends." His mouth had trouble swallowing that. He had never really had friends. At one time he had been close friends with Lily, but after calling her mud-blood that had ended.

It was odd that this girl tried to be his friend after he called her that dreaded name, she was definently an odd one.

"Well… ok. Recently they've both been so overwhelming and I think I like James, but Sirius is so overbearing. He doesn't pull back, but I don't want to be mean and tell him to go away. I honestly don't know what to do. I need to focus on--" Hermione paused in her rant. She didn't want to share with him that the reason that Sirius was being overbearing was because he was possessed. She figured that was better left unsaid and more in the category of Sirius' business anyways.

"Yes," Severus asked impatiently.

"I need to focus on my studies and I can't concentrate."

Severus didn't know what to do, he didn't know her well enough to be himself around her yet. He hadn't been expecting her to be this forthcoming on only their second meeting. He was at a loss at what to do, all he could think about was running away and so he did just that. Severus turned around with the flick of his black school robes and scurried away before she could say anything.

Hermione was left in shock of what just happened, Severus Snape had actually run away. She couldn't believe it, she didn't think he was capable of doing something so cowardly.

"Wow, did that really just happen?"

"Did what just happen?" Lily asked, her voice came out of thin air.

Hermione turned abruptly and lost her footing; falling painfully on her bum. "What are you doing here?" Hermione asked suspiciously. Lily was her friend, but she didn't like being followed.

"Sorry to scare you, I'm doing my prefect rounds for the night. I try to do the Slytherin side because Remus won't be fair especially if James and Sirius talk him into it." Lily chuckled, but her eyes spoke volumes of her untruth.

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "You haven't answered my question?"

Lily was getting suspicious, Mya was being very defensive. "I did."

"No, because correct me if I'm wrong, rounds don't begin…" Hermione looked at her watch. "For about an hour. So please, tell me the real reason you're out here."

Lily didn't look like she was going to give anything away, a few minutes past and nothing. Until she sighed in defeat. "I didn't know you knew the schedule, you being new and all."

"Let's just say I like to be prepared for anything."

"You know that sounds like something James would say."

"Than I suppose he's growing on me. Now-- why are you really here?"

Lily laughed. "You're quite the perceptive one."

"Well if you won't tell me I'll have to come up with my own interpretation. If I were you and it's about eight o'clock at night and I'm walking around the Slytherin area. I would have to assume that you're meeting a guy you don't want anyone knowing about with the amount of secrecy your using." Hermione watched Lily closely for her reaction.

"You would be correct, but--"

"And I believe I know you well enough now to know you're not a cheater, so the man would have to be Remus Lupin." Lily's eyes widened. "Yes, I know about you two. It's fairly obvious if you look for the signs."

Lily's eyes widened slightly. "So it's that obvious?"

Hermione didn't mean to make her so frightened. "No, I'm just more observant than others." Her words seemed to calm Lily down. Hermione thought for a moment. "You know it wouldn't be a bad thing if people found out; it's not like you have to hide it from James anymore." Hermione didn't know why she just encouraged Lily about Remus. She was still hesitant about James and yet she was already pushing Lily to someone else.

"You know that, too?"

"I know a lot of things, I make it my business to pay attention." Hermione hesitated on her next words. She had never been good at apologizing. "I'm sorry, I acted that way. I just wanted to make sure you weren't following me."

"Why are you so paranoid?"

"I can't take the chance of someone finding out." Hermione disappeared before Lily could ask anymore questions.

Lily was fascinated by Mya Granger, there was just something about her that didn't add up. She let it go for the moment, giving all her attention to locating Remus and she didn't want to be caught sneaking around again. So she took to the shadows.

Harry blinked to get the image out of his head of his mother and Snape talking like friends. It seemed like Hermione was trying to befriend the Professor they all despised, but why.

There were so many people he could ask about this; Dumbledore, any of the Professors, Remus, even Snape himself. The question was who would give him the answers he desired and who wouldn't. He knew Dumbledore wouldn't, he was all for the art of finding out yourself. Which means that he had all the Professors following the same line of thinking.

Remus would be the perfect person to answer his questions, or at least Moony would be. He would just be the only one who would try to answer his questions. Now he only had to wait for Remus to come back from class.

Just as he thought that Remus ran into the room looking a little worse for wear. "Are you okay Remus?"

He was bent over at the waist, breathing heavily. "Yeah, did you want something?"

Harry looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I felt a tug on my senses right when classes finished and I got here as fast as I could. So what is it you needed?" Remus finally seemed to get a grip on his breathing.

Harry blushed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you rush or anything. It's not really important or anything like that. I just saw something and I thought you'd b-"

Remus put his hand up to stop Harry's incessant babbling. "Enough. It's okay. What did you want to ask me?"

"I just saw Hermione and Snape talking. It looked like she was trying to befriend him. Do you know anything about that?" Harry asked with the hope he'd say yes and start telling him all about it.

Remus' eyes clouded for a moment as he tried to pull forth any memory of Hermione talking to Snape. He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't anything that I wasn't directly apart of and I can't remember most of them."

"It's okay, it's not your fault. Dumbledore did say that her changes are happening in an alternate universe." Harry said sadly.

"Yeah, that's why I'm a little confused."

Harry turned to him. "What do you mean?"

He scratched his jaw and contemplated his words. "Dumbledore said that any changes Hermione makes is there, right?" Harry nodded. "If that's the case, why do any of us remember her? Why did you die and come back to life?"

Harry's eyes focused on the fire flickering in the fire place. Remus had a lot of good points, but even he couldn't answer them. Even with all he had seen it was still a mystery to him.

"Even I can't answer that."

Everything was ready and in place. Now all she needed was to find a way there; she had realized all too late that she had forgotten one key thing, how was she going to get there. She had been berating herself for the last hour about forgetting something so important.

She was ready to pull her hair out if she didn't figure it out soon. If she left through the front gates Dumbledore would know and then she would have to worry about getting through the corridors without getting caught.

"What am I going to do? I need to get out." She whispered desperately to herself. As if someone answered her prayers there was a loud resounding pop. It sounded quite a bit like apparation, but that wasn't possible. Standing before her was the house elf Dobby.

Hermione's eyes were wide in shock, but she quickly guarded her eyes. She knew that he was still working for the Malfoy's so there was no telling what he was doing here. His elfish head turned back and forth obviously looking for someone, but who Hermione didn't know.

When he turned his big eyes in her direction he smiled and threw himself at her legs. Sending Hermione straight to the ground. "Potter's 'Mione!" He gushed.

She blinked a couple of times, not sure she had heard Dobby correctly. "Excuse me?"

His large eyes began to water. "You's not remember poor Dobby?" He wailed loudly and Hermione covered his mouth, hoping no one had head him.

"No, I do. I just don't know how you know me. I mean, we've never met before. At least, not in this time." She mumbled quietly.

His smiled instantly returned and the tears had completely vanished. That was one bipolar house elf. "Potter's 'Mione does remember." He said proudly.

"Shh," she put her hand over his mouth again. "An quit calling me that. Harry's not even here." Hermione grumbled.

"I knows that. The great Harry Potter isn't born yet," he looked subtly at her flat stomach. "Dobby's not calling you his 'Mione. Yous is James Potter's 'Mione." Dobby once again looked at her stomach, but Hermione was too shocked to notice.

"What?" She stuttered, but the sound of footsteps started down the stairs. "Merlin, Dobby get us out of here!" She whispered loudly.

Dobby stood up straight. "That's why Dobby has come. To take you his master's place." He wrapped his small arms around her waist and the disappeared with a pop.

Remus Lupin walked down the stairs to get to the common room. He had heard voices and had thought he heard Mya's. "Mya?" He called out when he didn't see anyone. "Maybe my furry little problem isn't going haywire." Remus yawned loudly and went back to his bedroom.

Hermione's head was still spinning even after they finally stopped moving. She decided then and there that elf travel just wasn't for her. The beginnings of a headache was starting to form.

"Dobby?"

"Yes Pot-"

"Don't finish that sentence." She growled.

Dobby gulped. He may he oblivious to some things, but Hermione's anger was known to many. "Yes, 'Mione?"

"Where are we?" She looks around and only sees the dark abyss that surrounds them. The feelings of being surrounded was strong and she felt a strong urge to hex something.

"We is at Dobby's master."

"Are you telling me we're in Malfoy Manor?" Dobby nods. "Fuck! When I said get us out of there I didn't mean here." She whispered urgently.

"But-but yous called Dobby. Yous did. I's heard very clearly that 'Mione needed to get to masters. So Dobby brought you. 'Mione's not happy?" His voice cracked.

Hermione put her hands up in defense. "No, I'm happy." She said quickly. "I just wasn't expecting you to show up in front of me, much less bring me here. How do you know me?"

Dobby's eyes widened into large quarters. "Dobby can't be saying miss. It's against elfish code."

"What if I guess? Can you nod if I'm right?"

"Dobby can do that."

"Are you from the future? No, that's not right. You wouldn't have called the Malfoy's masters if you were." Hermione paused to think. "I remember reading somewhere that house elf's have very good memories." She mumbled to herself and Dobby nodded enthusiastically.

"You remember everything from your past, correct?"

"Yes."

"Is it possible for you to know your future?" Hermione inquired. Dobby nodded at her happily. "That makes sense. None of the house elves I've met ever seem surprised to see you."

"That's right. It's one of our talents." He grinned cheekily.

"Ok, I need your help Dobby."

"What can Dobby do for you?"

Hermione lent in close as if she was sharing a secret with him. "Does Lucius have any dolls?"

Dobby looked thoughtful about her odd question. Why would his master play with dolls, he was a grown wizard. Even young wizards didn't play with dolls. His eyes lit up, "yes, master has a few."

"Can I see them?" She asked desperately.

The small house elf nodded. "Ok, but we must be quiet. Master be sleeping and he doesn't like Dobby messing with his dolls." Dobby said fearfully.

"Don't worry. You won't be the one playing with them." Hermione said darkly and followed Dobby through the maze that was Malfoy Manor.

It seemed like hours before they finally found the room Dobby was searching for. Hermione already felt ready to sleep, like she had been walking around for hours instead of only a few minutes.

Hermione yawned. "It is much longer Dobby?"

He shook his head. "No, is 'Mione tired?" Dobby asked worriedly.

"Just a little. I haven't been sleeping well for the last few nights," she admitted.

"No, Dobby had forgot." He whimpered.

"Forgot what?" She slurred.

Dobby gulped. "Master had put a curse on the house. People whos uninvited are cursed until them be leaving. So we must hurry or you won't be able to leave."

Hermione could barely understand what Dobby was saying, his words were going in and out. So she just nodded that she understood him. She closed her eyes for a moment, she just needed to rest her eyes for a quick moment. Hermione opened her eyes with great difficulty when she felt someone shaking her roughly.

"What?" She mumbled.

"We be here." Dobby pointed to a number of shrines in front of them. There were at least five of them, but only one had Sirius' telltale black hair attached to it.

"It's that one." She stumbled uneasily to the one she pointed at.

Dobby reached out to steady her. "Yous need to be careful. Master might hear you." He glanced fearfully at the door in behind him.

She pushed his hands away. "I'm okay."

It was all there. The cauldron was set up directly in front of Sirius' shrine and on the table sat the Sirius look-alike and a shimmering blade. It looked so harmless and yet it was causing Sirius to act so differently. Hopefully when this was destroyed he would get back to normal and become the man she knew in her time.

Hermione took the doll and stuck it in her robe pocket, but kept the blade in her hand. She didn't want to get cut by it on accident. "Ok, I'm ready to go."

Dobby looked relieved. "Let's go." He grabbed her around the waist and this time Hermione tried to clear her mind.

By the time they landed it seemed to have worked, as she didn't feel as light headed as before. When her head stopped spinning she felt instantly rejuvenated, Dobby hadn't been kidding about the curse.

"Thanks Dobby. I don't know what to say."

"Nothing. Dobby did it because he knows what's best." He smiled at her sadly before he started to turn.

"Wait." He turned to glance at her. "How were you able to show me where the shrine was? Didn't he order you not to?"

"Yous be remembering Kreacher?" Hermione nodded. "Well it's like that. Master said if anyone asked to see his shrine I mustn't show them, but master said nothing about his dolls." Dobby grinned cheekily.

"Thank you. I'll be seeing you."

"Yes, you will." With a resounding pop Hermione was left alone in the common room. She glanced longingly at the staircase, bed sounded wonderful right now.

She glanced down at the blade in her hand. "This can wait until tomorrow."