Questions and revelations
Hermione took a breathing-space before she tried to enter Dumbledore's office. She knew from Harry that the gargoyle would only go away if you gave it a 'candy password'.
She started to name magical sweets. "Fizzing Whizbees? Toothflossing Stringmints? Cockroach Clusters? No, euhm, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" she asked.
The Gargoyle came to life, but he wouldn't let her pass, he only shook his paw. It looked like he was trying to say that she was getting close. "Oh, spinach? Marmelade? Ear wax ?" she tried again.
Hearing the last words, the gargoyle nodded and opened the secret door behind him. Hermione stepped on the stairs and rode on the spiral wooden stairs, moving slowly upward.
Hurriedly she knocked on the door. "Come in, please." said a voice. When she entered, the headmaster looked a bit confused. "What can I do for you , Miss Granger, at this hour?" he asked.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, professor, but you're the only person who can help me." Hermione replied, still taking deep breaths from running.
"Please, sit." Dumbledore said. "Now, tell me what's bothering you."
"Professor Snape, he..he..." Hermione stuttered.
" Calm down Hermione, I already understand. You've caught him in a very uncomfortable situation, haven't you?" he gently asked.
"Yes sir. Does this mean that the Dark Lord has regained his power?" she carefully asked."I'm afraid so." Dumbledore said, "But I would recommand you not to tell anyone. It would only make other students and the wizarding community feel frightened."
Hermione looked at the old wizard and understood the importance of his words. "I won't, professor." she replied, "But, professor Snape, doesn't he need..."
"...care?" Dumbledore finished her sentence. "No, Miss Granger, it wasn't serious this time. Professor Snape can look after himself. He is, after all, one of Britains greatest potionmasters." he said seriously.
When Hermione stood up to leave, the headmaster asked: "What, may I ask, where you doing down there at this hour?"
"I had detention, sir." Hermione said, feeling her cheeks getting red.
"Ah yes, I believe it had to do something with Mr. Malfoy?" he asked.
"Yes sir." she replied.
" I hope you realise that magic musn't be used to punish someone, no matter what feelings you have for that person." Dumbledore said and indicated that she could go.
Hermione nodded and left. Did she imagine it, or had she seen a twinkle in his eyes when he had said those last words?
After Hermione was gone, Dumbledore looked at his phoenix and said: " I don't know about you, Fawkes, but I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of this." The phoenix looked at his master and nodded in approval.
Authors note : Yes this was a very short chapter, but it's easier for me this way. I'm almost ready with the next chapter and I promise that it's going to be a little more interesting.
Hermione took a breathing-space before she tried to enter Dumbledore's office. She knew from Harry that the gargoyle would only go away if you gave it a 'candy password'.
She started to name magical sweets. "Fizzing Whizbees? Toothflossing Stringmints? Cockroach Clusters? No, euhm, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" she asked.
The Gargoyle came to life, but he wouldn't let her pass, he only shook his paw. It looked like he was trying to say that she was getting close. "Oh, spinach? Marmelade? Ear wax ?" she tried again.
Hearing the last words, the gargoyle nodded and opened the secret door behind him. Hermione stepped on the stairs and rode on the spiral wooden stairs, moving slowly upward.
Hurriedly she knocked on the door. "Come in, please." said a voice. When she entered, the headmaster looked a bit confused. "What can I do for you , Miss Granger, at this hour?" he asked.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, professor, but you're the only person who can help me." Hermione replied, still taking deep breaths from running.
"Please, sit." Dumbledore said. "Now, tell me what's bothering you."
"Professor Snape, he..he..." Hermione stuttered.
" Calm down Hermione, I already understand. You've caught him in a very uncomfortable situation, haven't you?" he gently asked.
"Yes sir. Does this mean that the Dark Lord has regained his power?" she carefully asked."I'm afraid so." Dumbledore said, "But I would recommand you not to tell anyone. It would only make other students and the wizarding community feel frightened."
Hermione looked at the old wizard and understood the importance of his words. "I won't, professor." she replied, "But, professor Snape, doesn't he need..."
"...care?" Dumbledore finished her sentence. "No, Miss Granger, it wasn't serious this time. Professor Snape can look after himself. He is, after all, one of Britains greatest potionmasters." he said seriously.
When Hermione stood up to leave, the headmaster asked: "What, may I ask, where you doing down there at this hour?"
"I had detention, sir." Hermione said, feeling her cheeks getting red.
"Ah yes, I believe it had to do something with Mr. Malfoy?" he asked.
"Yes sir." she replied.
" I hope you realise that magic musn't be used to punish someone, no matter what feelings you have for that person." Dumbledore said and indicated that she could go.
Hermione nodded and left. Did she imagine it, or had she seen a twinkle in his eyes when he had said those last words?
After Hermione was gone, Dumbledore looked at his phoenix and said: " I don't know about you, Fawkes, but I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of this." The phoenix looked at his master and nodded in approval.
Authors note : Yes this was a very short chapter, but it's easier for me this way. I'm almost ready with the next chapter and I promise that it's going to be a little more interesting.