"Veritaserum is a highly sensitive potion. The slightest thing can make it
poisonous. So I suggest you pay very close attention to the directions!"
said Snape with a meaningful glance at Neville. "You will be sampling this
potion when you are finished. Begin!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville stood in the back of the dungeon. They were about to begin when the door opened and Denis Creevey stepped in.
"Umm..Professor?" said Denis in a halting voice.
"Yes, what is it that is so important you feel the need to interrupt my class?" said Snape.
"Pr..Professor Dumbledore wants to see Hermione Granger in his office right away, he says it's urgent." Denis said.
"Very well, Ms. Granger, collect your things and get out of my class."
"What in the world does Dumbledore want with me that is urgent?!?!?!" said Hermione in a whisper to Harry and Ron just before she hurried out of the dungeon. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione was starting to become apprehensive as she sat in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Staring into the blue depths of his eyes, which usually contained a sparkle, she saw now a strange new emotion, pain and sadness.
"Miss Granger, I have just received a letter that is most distressing."
Hermione didn't know why but she had a strange feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. It was almost as if a warning bell was going off in her head. "Sir, what is it, what happened?"
"It's your grandmother... she died of a heart attack this morning." Dumbledore's voice was filled was sadness and comfort when he said this.
Hermione didn't move, she just sat there and stared at the old man sitting in front of her.
"Your parents are on there way, they want you to be ready to leave by the time they get here."
"I.... I'll go pack." Said Hermione in an emotionless voice.
As she walked out of the room Albus Dumbledore considered calling her back, telling her life would go on, but in the end decided against it. She needed time to grieve and there were only three people in the world, both muggle and magical, that could help her through this. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As soon as Hermione walked out of the room Harry leaned over and whispered to Ron, "This can't be good, something has happened, something terrible."
"How do you know?" said Ron skeptically "He probably just wants to give her some award for grades, or attendance, or something."
"No, I don't' know, I just feel it. I can't explain it, it's just there." Said Harry
"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter! What is that is more important than my class, I wonder. Ten points from Gryffindor. NOW BACK TO WORK!!!!" shouted Snape
Harry and Ron quickly returned to their potion, from the other side of the dungeon they heard sniggering coming from Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins.
"Ooh, sometimes I would just love to ring his neck." Said Ron
"Which one, Malfoy or Snape?" Harry asked
"It's a toss up." Ron replied
They finished up the class and hurried up to the common room. "I wonder where Hermione is." Said Ron in a worried voice.
"She only just got pulled out of class, it would take sometime to get to Dumbledore's office and back here." Said Harry logically
As soon as the words were out of his mouth the portrait opened and in stepped Hermione. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Are you sure about this Albus, those two, stuck together, he's powerful and she's smart, they might blow up the school." McGonagall said in a nervous tone.
"Yes Minerva, there are two reasons, they need to be united, for the good of the war we need them to be allies. Besides, he is the only person her age in this school who knows what she is going through right now, if she hasn't snapped out of it by the time she gets back this could be just what she needs. Some one to talk to who know how it feels." Explained Dumbledore
"One of her best friend is Harry Potter!!!" McGonagall reasoned
"Yes and her never knew his parents, he didn't grow up with them or have a special connection with them, like she did." Dumbledore said
"I guess you're right. It is a good plan." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Both boys were up in a flash. "Hermione what's wrong! Why are you crying." Asked Harry
One look at Hermione and they had known she was that she had been crying for some time. The only question was, why.
"My grandma, she..she...she's dead!"
She felt like her legs were about to give out on her, and the next second they did. Harry and Ron were by her sides in a flash. "Hermione are you ok?" ask Ron
"Ok.ok.would you be ok, would you?!" Hermione yelled
"I didn't mean it that way, I only meant that you look like your about to pass out." Ron explained
Ok. she had never felt worse in her life, but one look at Harry and Ron and she could tell they were scared for her, and sad for her. "I'm sorry I just can't believe this, she can't be gone, she can't." Hermione choked out just before a fresh batch of tears broke through.
Harry awkwardly patted her back, not sure what else to do. "Hermione I.. I don't know what to say, I really am sorry, and if you need anything, we're here for you."
"Yeah" agreed Ron
"Well, I guess I better go pack, my parents are coming to pick me up and take me home for the funeral." Hermione Explained
With that Hermione stood up and walked to her dormitory. While she was putting together a small bag she continued to cry on and off at random things, stupid things.
When she returned to the common room it was filled with people talking and carrying on. Ron and Harry had been sitting in the chairs by the fireplace in silence, but as soon as Hermione came out they jumped up and walked over to her.
"You ready to go?" asked Ron
"You guys don't have to come to Dumbledore's office with me can make it on my own." Hermione offered
"We want to." Harry said
"Ok, thanks you guys, you're being really great." Hermione said. Then they left the common room and headed down the hall to Dumbledore's office. They spent the walk in silence, Ron and Harry understanding that Hermione needed time to process everything that had happened.
About half way there they ran into the last person they wanted t see. Malfoy stood at the end of the corridor. "Well, well, well, look who it is. The golden child, the pauper and the mudblood. Such a trio you make."
"Piss off Malfoy, you know wh.." Ron would have said more but was silenced by Hermione's hand on his arm.
"Don't, he isn't worth it, we need to go." said Hermione in a defeated voice.
As they were walking past him Malfoy put in one last word "That's it, run away, like the cowards you are." And with that Hermione turned around and slapped him so hard that he was knocked to the ground. Then she turned and walked away, Harry and Ron following after her, leaving a stunned Malfoy on the floor rubbing his cheek.
Hermione's parents were already there when they arrived at Dumbledore's office. Her mother ran to her and embraced her.
"Well, I guess we had better be going." Hermione's father said, and then turning to Dumbledore he said "Thank you professor for everything. Come on darlings. Let's go."
"Wait." Hermione said. "Harry, Ron, thanks for being so great. Don't forget to take good care of Crookshanks." she gave them both a big hug. "Ok, let's go."
Dumbledore took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the flames. As one the Grangers walked into the flames and disappeared.
Dumbledore was the first to tear his face away from the flames. "Well, that's the one problem with a muggle life, they die so young."
"Yeah" said Ron as he came out of his trance "we had better get back to class Harry. Come on."
"Wizards die young too, when their killed." Because Ron was walking to door he missed Harry's whispered statement, but Dumbledore heard him clear as day, and as Harry and Ron left his office Dumbledore looked even more slumped than usual. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Note~Sorry it took so long to update, but there will be more installments soon, right after exams are over. Thanks for reading.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville stood in the back of the dungeon. They were about to begin when the door opened and Denis Creevey stepped in.
"Umm..Professor?" said Denis in a halting voice.
"Yes, what is it that is so important you feel the need to interrupt my class?" said Snape.
"Pr..Professor Dumbledore wants to see Hermione Granger in his office right away, he says it's urgent." Denis said.
"Very well, Ms. Granger, collect your things and get out of my class."
"What in the world does Dumbledore want with me that is urgent?!?!?!" said Hermione in a whisper to Harry and Ron just before she hurried out of the dungeon. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione was starting to become apprehensive as she sat in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Staring into the blue depths of his eyes, which usually contained a sparkle, she saw now a strange new emotion, pain and sadness.
"Miss Granger, I have just received a letter that is most distressing."
Hermione didn't know why but she had a strange feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. It was almost as if a warning bell was going off in her head. "Sir, what is it, what happened?"
"It's your grandmother... she died of a heart attack this morning." Dumbledore's voice was filled was sadness and comfort when he said this.
Hermione didn't move, she just sat there and stared at the old man sitting in front of her.
"Your parents are on there way, they want you to be ready to leave by the time they get here."
"I.... I'll go pack." Said Hermione in an emotionless voice.
As she walked out of the room Albus Dumbledore considered calling her back, telling her life would go on, but in the end decided against it. She needed time to grieve and there were only three people in the world, both muggle and magical, that could help her through this. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As soon as Hermione walked out of the room Harry leaned over and whispered to Ron, "This can't be good, something has happened, something terrible."
"How do you know?" said Ron skeptically "He probably just wants to give her some award for grades, or attendance, or something."
"No, I don't' know, I just feel it. I can't explain it, it's just there." Said Harry
"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter! What is that is more important than my class, I wonder. Ten points from Gryffindor. NOW BACK TO WORK!!!!" shouted Snape
Harry and Ron quickly returned to their potion, from the other side of the dungeon they heard sniggering coming from Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins.
"Ooh, sometimes I would just love to ring his neck." Said Ron
"Which one, Malfoy or Snape?" Harry asked
"It's a toss up." Ron replied
They finished up the class and hurried up to the common room. "I wonder where Hermione is." Said Ron in a worried voice.
"She only just got pulled out of class, it would take sometime to get to Dumbledore's office and back here." Said Harry logically
As soon as the words were out of his mouth the portrait opened and in stepped Hermione. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Are you sure about this Albus, those two, stuck together, he's powerful and she's smart, they might blow up the school." McGonagall said in a nervous tone.
"Yes Minerva, there are two reasons, they need to be united, for the good of the war we need them to be allies. Besides, he is the only person her age in this school who knows what she is going through right now, if she hasn't snapped out of it by the time she gets back this could be just what she needs. Some one to talk to who know how it feels." Explained Dumbledore
"One of her best friend is Harry Potter!!!" McGonagall reasoned
"Yes and her never knew his parents, he didn't grow up with them or have a special connection with them, like she did." Dumbledore said
"I guess you're right. It is a good plan." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Both boys were up in a flash. "Hermione what's wrong! Why are you crying." Asked Harry
One look at Hermione and they had known she was that she had been crying for some time. The only question was, why.
"My grandma, she..she...she's dead!"
She felt like her legs were about to give out on her, and the next second they did. Harry and Ron were by her sides in a flash. "Hermione are you ok?" ask Ron
"Ok.ok.would you be ok, would you?!" Hermione yelled
"I didn't mean it that way, I only meant that you look like your about to pass out." Ron explained
Ok. she had never felt worse in her life, but one look at Harry and Ron and she could tell they were scared for her, and sad for her. "I'm sorry I just can't believe this, she can't be gone, she can't." Hermione choked out just before a fresh batch of tears broke through.
Harry awkwardly patted her back, not sure what else to do. "Hermione I.. I don't know what to say, I really am sorry, and if you need anything, we're here for you."
"Yeah" agreed Ron
"Well, I guess I better go pack, my parents are coming to pick me up and take me home for the funeral." Hermione Explained
With that Hermione stood up and walked to her dormitory. While she was putting together a small bag she continued to cry on and off at random things, stupid things.
When she returned to the common room it was filled with people talking and carrying on. Ron and Harry had been sitting in the chairs by the fireplace in silence, but as soon as Hermione came out they jumped up and walked over to her.
"You ready to go?" asked Ron
"You guys don't have to come to Dumbledore's office with me can make it on my own." Hermione offered
"We want to." Harry said
"Ok, thanks you guys, you're being really great." Hermione said. Then they left the common room and headed down the hall to Dumbledore's office. They spent the walk in silence, Ron and Harry understanding that Hermione needed time to process everything that had happened.
About half way there they ran into the last person they wanted t see. Malfoy stood at the end of the corridor. "Well, well, well, look who it is. The golden child, the pauper and the mudblood. Such a trio you make."
"Piss off Malfoy, you know wh.." Ron would have said more but was silenced by Hermione's hand on his arm.
"Don't, he isn't worth it, we need to go." said Hermione in a defeated voice.
As they were walking past him Malfoy put in one last word "That's it, run away, like the cowards you are." And with that Hermione turned around and slapped him so hard that he was knocked to the ground. Then she turned and walked away, Harry and Ron following after her, leaving a stunned Malfoy on the floor rubbing his cheek.
Hermione's parents were already there when they arrived at Dumbledore's office. Her mother ran to her and embraced her.
"Well, I guess we had better be going." Hermione's father said, and then turning to Dumbledore he said "Thank you professor for everything. Come on darlings. Let's go."
"Wait." Hermione said. "Harry, Ron, thanks for being so great. Don't forget to take good care of Crookshanks." she gave them both a big hug. "Ok, let's go."
Dumbledore took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the flames. As one the Grangers walked into the flames and disappeared.
Dumbledore was the first to tear his face away from the flames. "Well, that's the one problem with a muggle life, they die so young."
"Yeah" said Ron as he came out of his trance "we had better get back to class Harry. Come on."
"Wizards die young too, when their killed." Because Ron was walking to door he missed Harry's whispered statement, but Dumbledore heard him clear as day, and as Harry and Ron left his office Dumbledore looked even more slumped than usual. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Note~Sorry it took so long to update, but there will be more installments soon, right after exams are over. Thanks for reading.