Chapter 11 Conspiracy Theory

Hermione ran as fast she could through the cold and deep snow. She had just change back into her old self, and narrowly escaped been discovered as a fraud by Cho Chang, god only knew what would have happened if she changed back in front of her. This caused her adrenalin to spike and her heart to race.

She couldn't think about that right now, she had to share what she had just learned with Harry and Ron.

She headed to Hogsmeade village first because she had just seen Harry there less than an hour ago.

Once she arrived at Hogmeade village she made her way to Honeydukes, the last place she knew Harry was, hopefully he would still be there with Ginny. But when she entered the shop she found that Harry and Ginny where no longer there. But there was someone there, someone who Hermione hadn't seen much of this year, but maybe able to help. Luna Lovegood.

"Luna, have you seen Harry anywhere?" she asked

"Hm... I think I saw him head back to Hogwarts" said Luna

"Thank you Luna" said Hermione. She then quickly ran out of the shop and made her way back to Hogwarts.

Again, through the heavy snowfall she ran as fast as she could to reach her destination. By the end she felt like she was going to pass out from exhaustion, but she still had to find Harry and Ron.

Luckily she knew where Ron would be, in Gryffindor common room, hopefully doing his homework, and it would be a safe bet that Harry would be there too.

So stopping only for a moment to catch her breath she then climbed the seven flights of stairs to the fat lady's portrait.

After saying the password, Hermione went in, and sure enough there was Ron, sat at a table with his head in his hands trying to do his homework, and by the looks of thing he hadn't made much progress and was struggling.

Hermione looked around the room to see if Harry was there, but he wasn't. So she went over to Ron to tell him what she had learned. She didn't like distracting him from his homework but this was important.

"Ron" she said to get his attention.

Ron, who had been completely oblivious to everything in the room suddenly stirred at the sound of Hermione saying his name. He looked up to see her and smiled.

"Hermione, have you come to help me" he asked.

Hermione felt a little annoyed at this question, she wanted to tell him he should do it himself, but there was more important hings going on right now.

"I'm afraid not Ron. Look we need to find Harry. Do you know where he is?"

"Last I heard of him he was going to Honeydukes with my sister"

"Well he's not there. I just came from there and Luna said he'd gone"

"Well I'm sure he'll be back soon. What do you need to talk to him about anyway?"

Hermione pause for a moment. She had hoped that she would find Harry first. That way she wouldn't have to explain where she had obtained this information. But she figured she would have had to tell Ron eventually anyway, so she decided that she may as well get it over with.

She told him about how Cho Chang contacted Harry over the Christmas holiday, and that she had to

tell him something so important that it couldn't be written in a letter. She then told him about the plan that she had come up with so Harry could be in two places at once. She then told him why she hadn't included him in this plan.

Ron was furious. He didn't like the idea of been left out like that.

"Why didn't you involve me" he shouted "I could have helped"

"I'm sorry. But we thought that you might not approve, with Harry dating your sister and all"

"Damn right I wouldn't have approved! But I would have also understood that what Cho had to say maybe important"

"And it was important" interrupted Hermione angrily "and before you start kicking off again about not been included. Let me tell you what was so important"

Ron fell silent. He knew Hermione was right, so swallowing his pride he let Hermione continue.

She then told him about her encounter with Cho, telling him everything Cho had told her, and leaving out a certain miner detail out at the end.

Ron's anger seemed to have subsided now. It was clear that they had a problem and that Harry needed to be informed as soon as possible.

"Come on" said Ron" lets go Find Harry".

They were about to leave the common room and look for Harry when the portrait door opened, and in came Harry, holding hands with Ginny Wealsey. They both looked happy, like a young couple in love who had just spent the day together.

Both Hermione and Ron felt a sigh of relief, they wouldn't have to search Hogwarts or Hogmeade village for him now. Still they thought they should wait until Ginny was out of the room before telling him what they knew, they didn't think that mentioning Harry's ex-girlfriend in front of his present girlfriend was a good idea.

For about an hour, both Harry and Ginny were sat beside the fireplace holding hands. Hermione thought about asking to speak to Harry in private, but that would be no good, she knew that Ginny would want to be included in whatever the trio was up to, and this was one occasion Ginny couldn't be involved. They couldn't afford to have Ginny Weasley's jealousy or ego to complicate things.

Finally after what seemed like a life time, Ginny Wealsey found herself yawning and going to bed. When the trio was finally alone both Hermione and Ron approached Harry.

"Harry, we have to tell you something" said Ron.

"What is it" Harry asked.

"It's about what Cho told Hermione today"

Harry's jaw dropped. He looked to Hermione.

"He knows" said Hermione "I told him just before you arrived. And it's too important to not keep him in the loop"

Harry could tell this was serious. So he sat down and paid attention.

"Why? What did Cho say to you?"

Hermione then told Harry exactly what Cho had said during their meeting. Again leaving out a certain miner detail out at the end. She thought that telling Harry that Cho also did want to get back together with him was irrelevant.

When Hermione had finished, Harry had come to the same conclusion that she had done. That getting her to invent a love potion that lasted forever was their plan all along.

"My god this is bad" said Harry "we have to tell Dumbledore"

"Agree" said Hermione.

They were about to head to Dumbledore's office when Ron stop and said "hold on a minute"

Both Harry and Hermione stop dead in their tracks and turned around.

"How do we know Dumbledore was really fooled?"

"What do you mean" said Harry.

"I mean how do we know that Dumbledore isn't in on this as well?"

"Ron that is ridiculous " said Hermione.

"No think about it. I mean how likely is it that Dumbledore could be fooled, by some common Death Eater?"

"Ron, by now we have establish that the Parkinson's aren't your run of the mill Death Eater's. They are smart. They have been one step ahead of us since this hole thing began"

"Exactly! They must have been planning this for months before they set it in to motion."

"Sorry? I still don't get what you mean"

"Remember Mad-Eye Moody."

How could they forget? Their fourth year Defense against the dark arts teacher had turned out to be an impostor and he had fooled everyone, Even Dumbledore.

"Ron, that only shows us that Dumbledore can make mistakes like everyone ells.

"No. that's not what I meant. What I meant was what if Dumbledore isn't really Dumbledore"

Both Harry and Hermione jaws dropped. The idea that Dumbledore had being replaced by an imposter was unthinkable.

"Dumbledore couldn't have been replace. We would have notice or seen him drink from a flask like with Professor Moody"

"No offence. But neither of us know Dumbledore well enough, to know if he was being impersonated"

The more Harry and Hermione thought about it, the more they thought Ron maybe right. It was unlikely that Dumbledore could be fooled so easily. And now that they thought about it, they hadn't seen much of Dumbledore this year.

"You really think Dumbledore could have been replaced by an imposter?" said Hermione.

"Either that or he really has been fooled. I just wish we had a way of knowing"

"Actually there is a way of finding out" said Harry. Both Hermione and Ron turned to him. "The marauders map. It shows were you are, even if you're someone ells so…"

"So if Dumbledore is being impersonated we'll be able to see who is impersonating him" Said Hermione gleefully.

"Well what are you waiting for" said Ron go get the Marauders map".

Harry quickly ran up to the boys dorm room to bring back the Marauders map. When he returned he had a look of fear on his face.

"What is it mate" said Ron.

Harry said nothing and handed the map to Hermione and Ron.

Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen on the map. A cold chill of fear, came over Hermione, it looked as though Ron's theory had been right. She continued to look at the map in the hope that she might be mistaken, but Dumbledore wasn't there. she check the map again, this time to see who had replaced Dumbledore, but she saw no one in his office , nor did she see the names of any know Death Eater's roaming the castle. Hermione felt sick with worry. She didn't know what to think. She also worried what this meant for her mother, the Death Eater's had gotten the potion now they didn't need her mother anymore.

"He's nowhere on the map" said Ron.

Taking a breath, Hermione replied "Well... that doesn't necessarily mean that he's been replaced, after all we can't see any new names or known Death Eater's on the map"

"He could be away" said Harry.

"What do you mean?" asked Ron.

"I mean, Dumbledore or whoever has replaced him could be away from the school. If there's any evidence that Dumbledore has been replaced, it's in his office"