''There we are, I shall see you soon Miss Granger.'' Minerva smiled as she headed of towards the Great Hall
Hermione sighed, she walked up the steps that would take her to the door of the headmaster office, she would ask him about Professor Snape she didn't care if he didn't like it, she needed to know she would confront him she walked up and was about to knock when the door opened, she walked in and was shocked to see Snape their as well she walked in ''Headmaster, Professor Snape you wanted to see me?''
Albus smiled when he saw Hermione at the door he had a funny feeling he was going to be answering some questions he would be pleased to only to a certain extent he nodded his head ''Yes I did. Lemon Drop or some tea.''
Hermione walked in ''No thank you I do not like Lemon Drops and I do not need a calming draught Headmaster. I am Not Ronald I am open minded as you well know.'' she smiled sweetly at him.
Severus was amused when she refused the tea and told him about the calming draught he never thought anyone would know.
Albus smiled at Hermione, he knew she was too clever ''How did you know might I ask?''
Hermione smiled ''Yes you may and I know because when Harry came back from your office after Si...Sirius death he was calm and relaxed when he was angry not that long ago. I asked him what was wrong and he said he had some tea I figured that you always lace it with calming draught as many people who come here like the stupid ministry like to cause a scene.'' she smirked ''I know my potions very well, I can sometimes smell them and I also have a habit of checking everything I eat or drink and Harry does the same I showed him since the amount of dodgy people we have had working here Umbridge was just one along with fake Moody for example and I didn't fancy being poisoned or find I drunk truth serum. Harry thought the same as me.'' she smiled.
Albus was impressed and he noticed that Severus was also impressed with the girl's common sense ''Very wise my dear.'' he smiled at Hermione.
Hermione smiled ''Well after listening to Moody and him telling us to remember 'constant vigilance' it sticks in one's head and it is very wise.'' Hermione smiled ''Now not to be rude but what did you need to see me about I don't' want Harry to worry about me more so today than any other.''
Albus nodded ''I understand dear I am sure you have heard this many times but ''Time is a great healer'' He waved his hand and gestured her to sit ''Now Severus came to me during lunch and asked if you would be agreeable to work with him brew some potions for the order or Hospital wing witch ever Severus needs you too.''
Hermione was stunned she would love to something like that and now she would have to ask him ''Certainly but after you confirm that Professor Snape is on your side and acting as a spy or something for you I have thought many times and if he wasn't loyal to you then he wouldn't have risked his life plenty of times to save harry let alone me or Ron. I will not willingly work with someone who could take me to Voldomort or who is loyal to him.
Severus stiffened when he heard her say Voldomort his dark mark tingled
Albus looked thoughtful at Hermione he knew she would ask he just had a feeling ''What else would lead you to believe he is a spy?''
Oh well Fifth year is a good example when the bitch wanted to use truth serum on the three of us she asked him and he told her no. He lied obviously he would have some he is a potions master but then again the woman didn't have a brain cell they may as well have had Crabbe or Goyle take her place then when Harry told him that Voldomort had Si..Sirius remarkably some order members turned up along with your self Headmaster should I go on there are plenty.'' she shook her head ''I will not talk of this to anyone I know it is important and judging from Harry's hatred of him you need him to hate him for what ever you have planned I am not silly forgive me headmaster I know anything you do is for the Greater Good.'' she said the last part in a slight sarcastic manner ''I will even take a wizards oath to not speak of his true status to anyone other than you or the Professor directly.''
Albus looked at Severus and saw the reluctant look in his eyes he decided it couldn't hurt ''Very well yes Severus is a double spy he is loyal to me to Harry but he must do what Voldomort asks of him otherwise he would suspect his loyalty and with out Severus I am sure you know we wouldn't know what was being planned he will take information to Voldomort and he will bring us information.''
Hermione looked into the Potion Masters eyes ''I am sorry you have to do this sir and I must say you should have asked for help sooner all that brewing and spying won't be good for you I would be happy to help your work load I understand that you are the main person to help us win this war along with Harry even if you did not ask for this.'' she looked him in the eye imploring him to understand that she knows what a manipulative goat Dumbledore was she nodded when she saw him nod back she turned to the headmaster ''So when and what time will I be helping what will be done about Voldomort obviously if he finds he has a Mudblood working with him he will wonder if I am a threat.''
Albus smiled at Hermione ''Quite right dear however I will think of something.''
''I know why don't he tell him that you forced him to take me on as an apprentice of sorts because I have the highest grades as I do I am higher than Malfoy and obviously he had no say in the matter that way he can not blame Professor Snape not unless he wants him to be discovered and im guessing Voldomort wouldn't want that.''
Albus smiled and had a twinkle in his eyes that was a perfect idea ''Excellent plan Dear girl , Severus do you think he would by that?''
Severus was shocked to see that the girl knew the headmaster was a manipulator he was pleased in a way and when the girl came up with a plan on the spot he couldn't help but think Potter and Weasley were lucky to have befriended her in their first year.''
''That should work and it will work should any of the Death Eater children find out and blab about it, you will come down tomorrow evening and we will plan a time of sorts for you.''
Hermione smiled ''Thank you Professor, I was wondering why does it hurt when I say his name in your presence?''
Severus looked to consider her for a moment ''It is his name when anyone speaks it then it makes my mark tingle I believe that his name is a password of sorts so that anyone who speaks his name will be traced and he can send his Death Eaters to the location he has made it more effective as of late it is now a taboo.''
Hermione nodded her head in understanding ''Of course I will no longer speak his name in front of you '' she turned to the headmaster ''So has the maniac used any type of soul or spirit spell to help keep him alive because I knew he used the blood ritual known as the 'rebirth blood of thy father' from what Harry described of it I found it in the book we were disusing your cryptic conversation and I was curious not that I know.''
Albus looked at Hermione and wondered how he should answer her ''I am not sure my self it but is my suspicion that he has a way of keeping him self alive until he could use Harry of course I didn't even know of the Ritual until you told me a moment ago.'' he looked to Severus ''Did you know of this type of spell''
Severus nodded ''Yes I am aware of the blood rites and rituals however I have never used it nor have I had a reason to look it up I have heard of it and many like it from the past.''
Albus turned back to Hermione, ''my dear child wait here a moment while I have a chat with Severus would you.''
Hermione watched as they left the room she sat their for a moment when she thought of the opportunity she got up and walked over and said out loud while snorting ''honestly does he think me stupid obviously his words truly meant 'I am going outside Miss Granger so you can look at my books and find what you wish to know'' she shook her head she heard a couple of portraits chuckle she smiled at them and nodded ''Oh do not tell him will you I know he want's me to do this but let him have his moment of fun thinking I am unaware still'' she smiled as she walked over she decided to Accio a book ''Accio Horcrux information.'' but when it didn't come she sighed ''Bloody Hell'' she walked over and looked at the names when she came to a stand still she looked at the book and slowly took it of the shelf she walked over and sat down she cast a few spells to see if their were any type of wards on it she nodded when their was she began to break them she smiled when she did she looked behind to make sure she was ok she opened the book and started searching when she reached the page that said Horcrux above she smiled in triumph but it soon wiped off when she read what one was exactly.
However, as long as the Horcrux remains the person can never truly die should it be destroyed, then that would mean the perpetrator would die if killed again. A Horcrux is the darkest of dark magic it can split a soul and encase its self into another object so that if the person who created one should be killed his soul would remain enabling him to still survive. It is known as being darker than dark magic its self because of the way a Horcrux is made would be because a soul shouldn't be split they are not meant to it would take the ultimate evil and act, to create one all one has to do is Murder then a bit of your soul will be ripped away and remain earthbound.
Hermione stopped reading she knew enough, she didn't like to think of someone else discovering something that dark, she shuddered and began to pace, ignoring the Paintings as she spoke out aloud ''Ok so if he managed to create a Horcrux he would want to keep it safe? But what though if I was doing something like that I would choose something sentimental, personal or perhaps even sacred to myself and then I would hide it somewhere hard and ensure that it would be protected and hard to destroy should it be found. Just then she gasped ''Something personal but then perhaps the Diary was a Horcrux seeing as Harry said he had panicked when he destroyed it so if that was one then just how many has he made? But why a Diary surely that wasn't personal or sentimental?'' She would need to ask the headmaster straight out on this one, but she would wait and try to figure it out herself Hermione was horrified if she was looking she would have seen the thoughtful and shocked look on a certain portrait's face, she looked at the book and put it back she then took her seat and waited. Hermione wanted to roll her eyes when Dumbledore had suddenly appeared.
Albus left the office ''Well she certainly is clever more so than I thought, she will have figured this out and I bet you she will have a look through my library I know she has been researching It.''
''Yes but what will you say when she discovers what a Horcrux is exactly.''
Albus chuckled ''Never mind you go and get to Dinner I shall join you shortly I need to speak with Hermione alone on this.'' he turned around and headed back into his office he knew she was done because of the spell he used ''Are you well you seem a little pale.''
Hermione sighed ''OK Ill cut to the chase I have no idea of what any of this means but I know what a Horcrux is and how It is created and I figured it would be something personal but I don't' understand the Diary I know that must be one going on what harry told me about what happened and how reacted and just how many could he have made?''
Albus nodded ''what I have learnt or know so far is that you are correct the diary that Harry destroyed four years before was a Horcrux, but also a weapon of sorts intended to posses the reader and there by possessed a Hogwarts student to open the chamber of secrets.''