Hello all here is the next chapter, I've been added to a few alerts and I am very excited to unfold this story for your eyes. As always please review and give me some insight. I do enjoy constructive criticism. Anyways these few first chapters are just getting your feet wet so to speak, I like the build up rather than diving right in. : )
I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 2
Nearly a year later the last few weeks of their sixth year...
The golden trio were sitting in Great Hall eating breakfast when the post came in. Hermione refused to move her eyes away from her potions book, trying to retain as much information as possible as the boys sat across from her discussing Quidditch.
"Bloody Hell!", Ron said loudly after spraying his pumpkin juice all over Hermione. His eyes wide on the front page of the Daily Prophet.
"Ron that's disgusting!", Hermione shrieked quickly casting a scourgify to herself and her book.
"Ron what is it?", Harry asked next to him.
"Sorry Hermione, but look! Bellatrix was found dead this morning!", Ron exclaimed. Harry stiffened beside him and Hermione looked up in interest.
"It says here, Bellatrix Lestrange was found brutally murdered with numerous wounds on her person. Her throat was slit and her body had been left in the back alley of Bourgin Bourke's. Bloody Hell!", Ron spoke in awe. "Harry someone murdered her without using magic! Just like a mudding!', Ron exclaimed loudly.
"Mugging Ron. Mugging.", Hermione said with a roll of her eyes and looking carefully at Harry.
Harry was sitting there wordlessly lost in his thoughts.
"Harry?", she said gently.
"Hm?", he looked at her than with slight confusion in his eyes.
"Are you alright mate?", Ron asked cautiously.
"Yes, I'm fine. Its just unexpected.", he replied quietly staring at his plate. Harry suddenly grabbed the paper from Ron's hands. Scanning the article quickly with a look of disgust.
"Ugh... it also says that Lucius Malfoy was accused wrongly... he was placed under the imperious curse a second time to be framed for the actions occurring in the Dpeartment of Mystery last year.", Harry groaned out.
"More like a hefty donation to the ministry is more likely.", Ron said.
A silence crept up on the trio each lost in their own thoughts, until Hermione suddenly stood up.
"Well I for one am not suprised. That vile man has been using his wealth in the Ministry for God knows how long, and as for Bellatrix i'm happy she's dead. The witch had it coming to her.", Hermione spoke vehemently. Ron and Harry quickly looked up at her shock and surprise on their faces. As well as a quiet hush fell upon the Gryffindor table. Others staring at Hermione in slight shock. The other students around the hall looked over at the quiet table murmuring to themselves. Hermione quickly gulped down the rest of her morning juice and promptly started packing up her book not meeting the eyes of anyone.
"Hermione?", Ron asked fearfully.
"Yes Ron?", she looked up and he cringed as he saw her face void of any emotion, her brown eyes staring coldly at him in question.
"Are you feeling okay? I don't think I've ever heard you say anything like that.", he drifted off quietly.
"Oh honestly Ronald. That woman was a vile and worthless creature. She enjoyed the sick and twisted game of torture nearly as much as the Dark Lord himself. She was a power hungry obstacle that we thankfully will not have to face in the future. I'm glad the wicked witch is dead. This turns the tables quite a bit. Don't you see?", A hush of silence came over the Great Hall. All but one set of eyes watching her in shock, except the slytherins who glared in disgust.
She picked up her backpack and made her way swiftly out of the Great Hall. Whispers and murmurs broke out amongst all of the tables.
"Wow…", Ron said quietly.
"Ron she's absolutely right.", Harry spoke quietly looking at him.
"Harry…", he said shocked even more.
"No listen Ron. Bellatrix was a powerful and unpredictable witch. It's good that she's out of the picture it will help us more.", Harry spoke glancing around to make sure no one heard him.
"Yeah…but…wow. I just didn't think Hermione could be so…harsh.", he shivered slightly.
"She has her moments Ron. Come on we better get going we can't be late for Charms again and escape detention.", Harry said standing up with half of the hall, preparing to leave.
In the front of the room that Hogwarts staff were quietly whispering amongst themselves.
"I have never heard Hermione Granger ever speak words like that…"
"So cold and vicious…"
"That's so unlike her.."
"It seems your Gryffindor Princess has a mean streak, Albus", Severus Snape said flatly. "It seems Severus that you are right. I've never known Miss Granger to ever seem so…" the Headmaster drifted off.
"Cold? Heartless? Vicious?", Snape tried to fill in.
"Yes. Rather strange. What could have gotten into her?", Albus replied in shocked curiosity.
"Maybe she should pull her wand out of her…" Severus was brutally cut off.
"Oh leave it you too. Miss Granger is perfectly fine. She's just slightly stressed. She's a hormonal teenager who's been studying herself to death, on top of keeping her reckless friends out of trouble. She just needs to relax is all.", Minerva McGonagall said evenly.
"Even so Minerva, that is not her usual behavior…", Albus was than cut off by the slash of her tongue.
"Albus leave it. She and I have been sharing company these last few weeks and I've come to learn a great deal about the young woman. She's trying to figure out some things in her life as well as her future. She's undecided and has asked my help in a little soul searching so to speak. She will be fine.", Minerva said in conviction than sweeping out of the hall.
"Dear me..", Albus said in surprise.
"Merlin forbid we speak ill of her most prized cub.", Snape muttered to himself. "Well off I go to the Dungeons of dunderheads. Wonder who will melt a cauldron today.", Snape said with sarcasm. "Good day Headmaster.", and he too left the Great Hall billowing cloak and all.
"Strange.", the Headmaster couldn't help contemplating to himself. He sat for a few moments lost in his thoughts until, he was interrupted by Nearly Headless Nick.
"Good morning Headmaster!" the ghost said enthusiastically shaking the headmaster out of his thoughts.
'Good morning Nick. Fine morning don't you agree?", he responded pleasantly.
"I do indeed agree Headmaster.", Nick replied.
"Sir Nick, I was wondering have you noticed anything off about our dear Miss Granger as of late?", Dumbledore asked.
"No sir. Not more than unusual. She always has her nose in a book or is practicing spells in empty classrooms. Quite a brilliant mind that girl has and quite pleasant and polite as well. Why she unlike other students actually engages not only us ghosts but the portraits in polite conversations. She seems fascinated by our histories as well as Howarts in times before. A true gem amongst stones if I may say so myself. I'm quite honored to have her in my house. It makes the Bloody Baron and Grey Lady quite upset that I have such a talented young witch. Though that's neither here nor there sir. Why do you ask?", Nick asked intrigued.
"Oh. I am just keeping an eye on one of our prized students. She truly is brilliant, I just hope she uses her natural talents wisely. She is just a young girl after all.", the Headmaster spoke without a trace of a twinkle in his eye. In that moment the Headmaster looked well beyond his years.
"Oh come now Headmaster. That girl will stop at nothing and strive for success. That no good wizard will not know what has hit him once he comes face to face with our golden trio.", Nick said with a laugh.
"That's what I'm afraid of. Well good day to you Nick. I must be off now.", Dumbledore said quickly and standing to move out of the Hall.
"How odd.", Nick said with a shrug than was off to tease the other ghosts.
A/N So...whatcha think? Next chapter will be posted in a few days.