HARRY POTTER AND THE UNFORGIVEN

A Sixth Year Harry Potter Fanfiction

BY

Jayiin Mistaya

"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."

...never tickle a sleeping dragon


COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to Harry Potter. Those rights are held, exclusively, by JK Rowling, and any other entities, corporations, subsidiaries, or groups not named here possessing legal rights to the aforementioned books and/or trademark.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: All of the previous chapters have been re-written (10-24-07), some significantly so. The storyline is the same, but there are some events which have changed.

With this chapter, we are halfway through the first part of the story. Fair warning – this is a long and slow-moving story. Though I'll be updating faster (or Elusive Evan will have my head), the story is still slower than most.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading, even if you haven't reviewed, and especially to those people who have me on author alert or favorites.

More information on Harry Potter and the Unforgiven can be found at my website, which is linked in my Author Profile.

Feedback of any kind is always appreciated.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Thanks to Elusive Evan for making me continue to post this.


CHAPTER TWELVE

Bulgaria

Hermione wasn't sure how long she sat there after the conversation with Ginny.

For the first time since coming to Bulgaria, she felt disconnected. For more than two weeks, she had felt like she was in the center of things; attending the Conference, negotiating for the Order, trying to figure out what she was doing with Victor Krum. Not only was she allowed to do magic, as Bulgaria had looser laws against underage witches and wizards, she was treated as an adult witch.

She was Minerva McGonagall's student, and many saw Hermione being chosen to accompany McGonagall to the conference as a proof that Hermione was McGonagall's protégé. She was included in discussions on magical theory and practice, and Hermione found that she was able to not only hold her own, but to contribute significantly. McGonagall fairly beamed with pride.

After the week with her family, Hermione had needed the encouragement. It was a balm on the raw emotional wounds and went a long way to helping her feel more like herself.

Stop being silly, Hermione Granger, she scolded herself. You knew this would be the price of being in the Order.

She heard a muted pop! outside the door, and poured a second cup of tea from the ever-full teapot that had come with the suite of rooms she and McGonagall shared.

The older woman walked in sat next to her student with a sigh, gratefully accepting the tea.

"How did your conversation with Molly go?" Hermione, like every member of the Order, had received the news the Weasley matriarch had resigned from, and she knew McGonagall had decided to go talk to her.

"Not well." Minerva shook her head. "You were right. She's leaving the Order because of what she believes is happening with – and to - Harry."

Hermione grimaced. "My conversation with Ginny went much the same. She wants me to use Muggle methods to contact him and find out how he is. She wasn't happy I refused."

McGonagall's mouth tightened into a thin line. "That fits with what I've been told. Severus apparently overheard Ron and Ginny talking earlier this summer. It seems she is dreaming about him." McGonagall's expression was pained. Whether it was because Ginny was dreaming of Harry or Snape eavesdropping, Hermione couldn't tell. "Severus is convinced it has something to do with the connection between the Harry and Ginny."

Hermione paused with her cup halfway to her lips. "Connection?"

McGonagall nodded. "I thought you knew. Their experience in the Chamber your second year caused Ginny to have a wizarding life-debt to Harry. Such life-debts are powerful ephemeral magic that we do not entirely understand."

Finishing her sip of tea, Hermione didn't look at her mentor. "What do we know about it?"

McGonagall shrugged. "It is a relatively simple theory infinitely complicated by application. Harry saved Ginny's life at the risk of his own for no other reason than it was 'the right thing to do', and a magical connection was created between them. A debt. Miss Weasley is consequently more aware of Mr Potter's existence and needs than she would otherwise be, and feels a compulsion to protect him, even to her own detriment." Sighing, the old Professor shook her head. "It takes a very specific set of circumstances and intentions to create a life-debt. They are very rare and powerful phenomenon on their own, but combined with Ginny's attraction to Harry and her own natural magical gifts, it seems the situation has become extraordinarily complicated."

Hermione set her cup down, a sinking feeling clenching at her guts. "In other words, the connection is stronger and more influential than anyone expected it to be?"

"Essentially, yes," McGonagall answered with a nod.

"Minerva, is it possible that Professor Snape is right, and this is a manifestation of that connection? And if so – isn't it possible that she might know if Harry were in danger?"

McGonagall looked sharply at Hermione. "It is very possible. But even if he were in danger, we cannot remove him from the Dursleys' home. Whatever danger he is in there is far less than he would be away from his Aunt. It is also quite possible Miss Weasley is picking up on Harry's distress and needs stemming from the emotional turmoil of his godfather's death."

"Yes, I know she could be. And I know the blood protections are important. You've told me dozens of times this summer." Hermione sighed. "But I'm not sure we're not going about this all wrong. Why not put someone in there with him?"

"I don't know," Minerva admitted. "Only Albus understands the full implications of the situation, and he is not available to consult with at the moment." She set down her cup. "Hermione, promise me that you will not attempt to contact Harry Potter."

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. You knew this battle was coming, too. So don't get mad at them, or yourself.

"Minerva, would you ask any other member of the Order that? Even the Weasleys, who have known Harry as long as I have?"

McGonagall pursed her lips. "No, I wouldn't."

"Then why ask me?"

"Because." McGonagall smiled wryly. "I am still used to thinking of your as my student."

"I still am," Hermione said. "But I am also a member of the Order. You and Dumbledore asked me to join, and against what might be my good sense, I did. Either you have faith in my judgment, or you don't."

"If I did not before, I do now." McGonagall stood. "You have more than proven yourself these past two weeks."

"Thank you," Hermione whispered. "After what I've done..."

"Yes." McGonagall sighed. "After what you have had to do...you deserve our trust." She gripped Hermione's shoulder. "And I am still sorry for what was asked of you. It could not have been easy, lying to your friends and to Victor Krum."

Hermione blinked away tears. "Thank you."

"I am still not sure it was the right course. That what we asked you was worth what we have received."

"It is," Hermione interrupted McGonagall. "This is a war. And in war there are sacrifices. This kind of negotiation is a battle in and of itself, and it is a sound strategy. It worked. Victor was more receptive because I was the one doing the talking, and the Bulgarians were more receptive because it was Victor who wanted to help us."

The aging Professor shook her head. "We should both get to bed, Hermione. I will see you in the morning."

Hermione nodded, but kept staring into the fire as McGonagall headed to her bedroom.

She asked me for that promise because she was afraid. They're afraid of me contacting Harry.

She shook her head at the thought. That wasn't right. They were afraid, but it had nothing to do with her contacting Harry.

They don't want Ginny to contact Harry.

Hermione poured herself another cup of tea. Why not? If they're 'linked' through this magical life-debt, why keep them apart?

It made very little sense on its face. Obviously, they knew something she didn't. But she couldn't shake the feeling that if Ginny thought there was something wrong with Harry, there might very well be. She acknowledged the possibility of grief over Sirius, but that didn't account for everything, or the Order's sudden desire to leave Harry with less contact than he'd had last summer.

And the results of last summer were bad.

Yet, there was a plausible explanation for why they wanted to keep Harry and Ginny apart. Flimsy, but plausible.

Voldemort has a connection with both Ginny and Harry. And Harry and Ginny's connection was created fighting and defeating Voldemort. Do they think the link between Harry and Ginny would make it easier for Voldemort to influence Harry? Or even Ginny?

Hermione didn't think she would get answers from the Order. Their business in Bulgaria was finished. They had what Dumbledore sent them for.

And I am no longer the same girl I was when I came here. She didn't like who she was becoming, or what she'd had to do.

In the end, it might make a difference in the war against Voldemort, and it would help protect the Order form the Ministry.

Hermione took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together. What Dumbledore had asked her to do was necessary. She had to believe that. If she didn't, it would mean she had hurt and abandoned her friends for nothing.

But she had served her purpose. The Order no longer needed Hermione Granger. Her opinions and ideas and theories would no longer be welcome – especially those about Harry Potter.

Even if I were going to, how would I get from here to Little Whinging? Or even someplace I could call him from?

The Order wouldn't help her. She'd even put money down on the Order trying to stop her. She didn't know how to make a Portkey, let alone Apparate. Even with all of her knowledge of magic, she didn't know how to get from Bulgaria to Britain.

Magic.

Hermione smiled as a plan began to take shape, but with her plan came more doubts.

What am I doing? Or, rather, why am I doing it?

Always before, it seemed like Dumbledore had his reasons for what he did. Or did he?

Dumbledore has a plan. I know that much because of what I learned when I joined the Order. But what about the past five years?

First year, Dumbledore's plan to protect the Philosopher's Stone had literally come within minutes of losing it to Voldemort. Second year, Harry had saved Ginny with, again, only minutes to spare. Third year, she, Harry and Ron had almost died again – in some ways, because of Dumbledore's plan to protect Harry. Their fourth year seemed random - not even Dumbledore could have expected Harry would have been forced to compete in the Triwizard Tournament.

Why hold such a dangerous event? Even with the precautions they took, why hold it?

Last year had been the worst. Harry had been an emotional wreck, barely able to hold himself together. And until the very end, when they were fighting for their lives in the Department of Mysteries, Dumbledore had barely raised a hand to help him. Or any of them.

There are pieces to this puzzle I'm missing. There has to be a unifying factor to tie everything together.

There was one, but she didn't like it. Each year, it had been harder to survive, and each year, more and more of what made them able to fight seemed to slip away.

In every case, if we had been allowed to act as we saw fit – if we had been trusted, given help instead of cryptic warnings to stay out of things – we might have...

She paused. Might have what? Won sooner? Prevented the inevitable confrontations?

Why did Dumbledore believe us third year? There was no proof

Hermione rubbed her temples. She needed more information. I don't have it, so I have to work with what I have.

It was hard to accept that, because her conclusion was as preposterous as any of Ron's off-the-cuff theories.

How many times have we been right, even when told we were wrong? Even when presented with proof we were wrong?

She poured herself another cup of tea. Why are we always right? What do we know the adults don't?

This time, her conclusion was one that would have driven Snape or Draco Malfoy insane.

No matter what, our focus is on Harry James Potter. Rarely was the focus of the trio on Ron or herself. She had never resented it. She didn't like the limelight, but she did like being a 'supporter' behind the scenes. It sometimes created friction between Ron and Harry, but in the end they always worked it out – and the focus stayed on Harry.

Everything always comes back to Harry. She set the teacup down and stood up to pace. Last year, everything had led up to finding and protecting a Prophecy she had never heard. That would make sense. If Harry is the focal point for a Prophecy...

Hermione looked like she'd bit into something sour. Divination again. Foretelling the future.

"Always in motion, the future is," she muttered to herself. It was a line from one of her father's favorite movies. The future is always changing, with each action each person takes. Right. I agree with that. It's part of why I think Divination is a crock.

She gathered up the tea things and put them in the kitchen. So, why would Prophecies even work? Obviously, they're real.

Of course. Just because the future was always changing didn't mean that there couldn't be a condition set on a set of probable future events. Some circumstance or element that was necessary for a certain set of events to take place in a certain way.

Right. Okay. That's logical. Does that mean Harry is a conditional element?

It made a good hypothesis to start from, considering the plethora of empirical evidence supporting it. But a conditional element of what? Voldemort's defeat? It was a frightening thought, but it was the only answer that fit the facts.

It would explain why Voldemort is so intent on Harry. But Dumbledore's actions – or lack thereof – didn't make any more sense in light of it. Unless he doesn't know?

There was another possibility, one that chilled her to the core. Or he's misunderstood, misinterpreted somehow. Or someone else has.

Either way, it meant Harry was in the center of things. Ignoring the center of a hurricane or a fire makes it impossible to predict or understand what it might do next.

Hermione distantly realized she had made it back to her bedroom and had started packing.

But that doesn't mean much...unless you take into account that Harry is being ignored, or at least set aside. He's trapped in a prison each summer, and each summer it gets worse and worse.

What would happen if the conditional element of a future event were removed? Or kept from interacting with the event he was a condition of?

It wouldn't happen according to the Prophecy, because the conditions of the outcome would be violated.

She pulled out a piece of parchment, one corner of her mind composing a note for Professor McGonagall.

The logical event for Harry to be the conditional element of is the defeat of Voldemort. If we remove him as the conditional element, then Voldemort has a greater probability of winning.

The purpose of the Order of the Phoenix was to defeat Voldemort. If I've been right before when others have been wrong, then there's a good chance I'm right now and I need to go to Harry.

Hermione finished the note and left it on her door for McGonagall to find. Then she paused.

Dumbledore has to know. He said he was going to out of touch. He might not know what's going on.

She grabbed another piece of parchment, re-dipped the quill, and wrote frantically for almost an hour. She was careful what she told him, because she wasn't sure of most of her own theories, but she concentrated on what she thought was happening between Harry and Ginny.

If Ginny is bound to Harry through a wizarding life-debt, and if, as Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape believe, the bond between them is stronger than expected (which I have my own theories on, of course), then it is possible Ginny is picking up on some danger or distress on Harry's part.

I understand the reasons why no one should contact him. I understand Ginny could be picking up on his grief over Sirius or even his anger at Umbridge and the Dursleys, but if that were the case, wouldn't she have picked up stronger impressions during the school year or even right after?

Regardless, I think there is enough reason for someone to check on Harry. As our business in Bulgaria is satisfactorily concluded, I am going to Little Whinging. I know the possible consequences, which is why I am acting in defiance of direct instructions. You and everyone else will have deniability in that you told me not to go and even tried to stop me.

Folding up her letter, Hermione sealed it with a quick set of charms and pulled out the small red leather bag she'd been given when she joined the Order. It was easy enough to find the token she was looking for and pulled out a long, thin feather. It was a beautiful shade of red and seemed dusted with gold.

Fawkes' tail feather.

Though Professor Dumbledore felt he had to be out of touch while he did whatever it was he was doing, he still made sure the Order had a way to contact him in an emergency. There was only one feather, but any member of the Order could reach it through their bag.

I am going to get into so much trouble for this.

Hermione touched her wand to the feather and there was a flash of light as it caught fire. She stood and watched it burn. It was utterly consumed by the fire. There weren't even ashes.

And as soon as the feather ceased to exist, there was a flash of light and a burst of song that warmed her all over, from the inside out. It was a clarion call of triumph and victory and light.

He stood before her, magnificent and regal in bright red and glittering gold. Larger than almost any bird she'd seen, Fawkes stared her in the eye, crooning softly. Tentatively, Hermione reached out a hand and caressed the phoenix.

"Fawkes..."

She knew who he was, but she'd never seen him before. Harry had told her about him, but seeing him was something entirely different.

"I need you to take a note to Professor Dumbledore. I think Harry is in trouble...I'm going to him. To check on him, and if I need to, get him out of there. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but I know Harry would do the same for me."

Even as she said it, she realized the real reason she was going. If there was even a chance Harry needed her, she needed to be there for him. He would have moved heaven and earth to get to her if there was even a hint she was in danger.

How could she do less for him?

Fawkes nuzzled her and trilled a whisper of song that seemed to cement her determination. How could she have even thought about not going? Even Fawkes thought she was right.

The phoenix took the letter in his beak and vanished in a flash of fire.

Hermione didn't wait for an answer. She needed to get moving. It didn't take her long to collect the rest of what she needed, and she made her way silently through the halls of Durmstrang. The school was both everything Hermione had expected and nothing like what Hermione had expected.

It was a dark and imposing citadel, with none of the open, airy courtyards she was so fond of at Hogwarts. Everything was dark and somewhat gloomy; the entire place was drafty, damp, and moldy. But there was something very elegant about it. There were no suits of armor, but there were hundreds of tapestries and murals decorating the walls. Instead of torches and candles and sunlight, gaslights provided eerie illumination that never quite reached the high, vaulted ceilings.

Hermione missed the windows and the fresh air and the constant hiss of the gas feeds drove her to distraction, but she was grateful to them right then for the steady light they gave.

She had most of her plan worked out – except how to get out of Durmstrang. It's always the little things. Always the point A to point B.

Durmstrang, like Hogwarts, had house-elves to take care of the work. And as barbaric as that slavery was, Hermione knew the house-elves knew everything that went on in the castle. Unlike Hogwarts' elves, Durmstrang house-elves were more than willing to appear and ask questions of and interact with people in the castle.

With everything else I've done here, now I'm taking advantage of their servitude!

She stood at the main doors with her packed bags and trunk, and waited. She didn't wait very long before a long-fingered hand tugged on the hem of her jacket.

"Does Miss need help?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes, I do."

- 0 -

It had taken Hermione much less time than she thought it would to get to the nearest Bulgarian airport.

After that, catching a plane was easy. The house-elf had helped her convert most of her wizarding money into Muggle money, and a red-eye ticket to any airport in Britain turned out to be cheaper than she'd feared.

Less than three hours after Professor McGonagall was in bed, Hermione was sleeping fitfully on an airport seat, a quiet spell set to wake her half an hour before her flight.

End Chapter

Revised 12-25-07