A/N: Everyone always seems to lose stamina after the chapter before things start to change. Why is that, I wonder? In the future, I'm going to have to pre-write things and then take it back one chapter.

Please remember that fear is an incredibly powerful feeling that really, REALLY, doesn't lend itself to sensible (or often kind) actions. Animals that are terrified are often at their most dangerous. Hermione is able to withstand it simply because she can already feel the tendrils of what Min is going through so just stick with me. We're on the up now anyway.

-0-

"Hermione!"

She blinked and looked up from her reading as Harry poked his head into the portrait hole.

"Need to go, now."

She was beside him in no time and followed without question out of the Portrait hole where Ginny was already waiting.

"Where's Ron?"

"No clue. Dumbledore's back. He wants to see us."

"Well then we're going to have to get Ron, aren't we," she chuckled. "Go on ahead, I'll get him."

He nodded and ran down the corridor with Ginny's hand in his and Hermione took a second to smile at it before taking a deep breath. Minerva had mentioned his letter saying that he'd be gone another week when they had had their picnic, but it seemed he had come home early. Hermione wasn't sure what to make of that.

She hadn't seen Minerva socially since the weekend. Their evening had ended peacefully and though Minerva spoke of finding room in her emotions to acknowledge Hermione's experience in this as well, Hermione would not hold much hope for it. It wasn't that she didn't believe Minerva, she just wasn't sure Min had the capacity to do that just yet. She seemed to be continually swinging between acceptance and resistance and honestly, it was exhausting. She wished Minerva would just pick one and she could work on that, but every time she got her hopes up, it seemed to swing the other way.

She wandered down towards the grounds and decided to test out a little niggling feeling she'd had for the week or so that Dumbledore had been gone.

She focussed on Ron, on what he looked like and how she cared for him and closed her eyes. For a moment, it was just that and then, as she focussed harder, she saw where he was.

"Ron," she said quietly, following her instincts. "Dumbledore's office."

She waited for half a beat and then decided to go down to the doors and meet him, just in case.

"Did you -" He pointed to his head with wide eyes.

"Yeah," she chuckled with a shrug. "Did it work? New trick, I guess."

"I'm -" He frowned. "That was kinda awesome, I guess. Felt weird though."

"Might need to discuss it a bit later. Dumbledore is back; wants to talk to us."

"Best lead on then, boss," he chuckled. They walked quietly for a while before he spoke again. "How are you doing 'Mione?"

She laughed and nudged him carefully.

"I'm doing okay, I guess. It's a lot, ya know?"

"And McGonagall?"

"We had a good talk the other day, I -" She almost didn't tell him, but of the three of them, it turned out that Ron was the best at listening to her woes and not reacting. It had shocked her when she realised and she still felt bad for thinking otherwise about him. "We've met a couple of times, but she's keeping a pretty low profile. I mean, Dumbledore's been gone, so she's been busy but -"

"And you?"

"I miss her," she chuckled sadly. "Like, beyond all this new stuff. I used to see her every other day, socially, not in class. Just the two of us. And she's scared," Hermione whispered. "Which I understand but is exhausting. And now," she sighed. "I barely even see her in class and it is a complete nightmare to try and think of things that we can do together that aren't," she winced. "Date-like."

"It'll work out," he smiled. "I mean," he grinned. "Not sure who's luckier, ey."

"Thank you, Mr Weasley," Minerva's voice dropped the temperature by ten degrees and made Ron's ears burn the colour of his hair.

"Um," he swallowed. "Yep."

He raced up the spiral staircase to Dumbledore's office as quickly as he could, leaving Hermione at the bottom with Minerva.

"He meant it kindly," she chuckled. "Don't be too hard on him."

She tutted but didn't speak. She didn't look at Hermione either and Hermione sighed and nodded; the pendulum had swung the other way again.

"After you, I guess," Hermione said, moving out of the way.

She didn't move and Hermione shrugged and started up the stairs.

"Would -" She stopped and looked back at Minerva. "Would you join me on Saturday? While the others are at Hogsmeade?"

"Yes," Hermione shrugged.

"You do not even know what I'm inviting you to?"

"It doesn't matter."

Minera stared at her and Hermione saw the moment that Minerva realised that she was being serious. And she was. Minerva could have invited her to sit in silence for an hour and she would relish it. She smiled to ease the tension that had crept back into their space and stepped back.

"After you, Min."

Hermione told herself that it wasn't because she wanted to watch the muscles in Minerva's arse when she climbed the stairs but she would have been lying to herself. As it was, when she stepped into his rooms, Albus looked troubled. She paused and took him in while she took on all the feelings floating around the room.

"Alright?" she asked.

"Nicolas is not well and I was delayed but yes, I am fine."

"Would you -" She offered her hand but he waved her off.

"No, thank you. It's fine."

"Okay," she smiled, taking a seat with the others and leaving the chair for Minerva. She got a relieved smile out of the woman for that.

"Now," Albus said seriously once he had banished the portraits above. "I have not been back long and I am tired, but I feel it is key to impart the most important information as soon as possible. Nicolas was quite helpful in parts. There is a lot I need to sort out first, and more beyond this, so we will need to meet again soon but in the meantime, these are the facts which I feel are the most important. He does recall hearing of the spell that was used and gave me roughly a lot of the details that we had already worked out. Ordinarily, it was used by long-dead people, usually dark wizards, to enhance dark spells and the like. He could not recall the last person he heard use it but in addition to all the other things, he said something in passing that he didn't pick up but that I did."

Hermione sat forward.

"He said something of The Old Ones. And to him, I'm sure he meant it as a descriptor but as he said it, I felt something. A pull, almost, towards that phrase."

"You think this is a long-dead concept of what," Minerva said. "Something older than dragons, or whatever this is?"

"I honestly wondered what Hermione thought of it," he said, offering her the floor.

She considered it, feeling it echoing in her chest and nodded.

"I feel it is the right phrase, or close to it. Maybe it was not originally in English?"

"Ah, yes," Albus muttered. "Good point."

"I have no prior knowledge of it, though. What else?" she asked.

"He reminded me that while our contacts in the Ministry are few, at the moment, there are plenty that remain loyal and would be glad to help," he dropped into his chair. "But I do not enjoy the idea of spreading this information further than this room."

"I think I agree," Hermione nodded. "Between Draco and -"

"Mr Malfoy is of no concern," Albus muttered.

"But -"

Dumbledore waved Harry's interruption off and though Hermione didn't necessarily agree that Draco was quite as bad as Harry seemed to think, Albus' blase attitude rang a tiny alarm bell.

"Mr Malfoy is doing what all Malfoys do." He levelled his gaze at Harry who was working up to an argument. "How are you doing with getting the memories from Horace?"

"I," he scratched his neck awkwardly. "Have been trying, but -"

"Harry," Albus said softly. "It is imperative that we see those memories. I have more for us to view in the meantime, I wondered, Hermione, if you would want to join us?"

"Definitely," she nodded.

"He won't talk to me." Hermione looked at Harry with a frown. He did get so whiny when he was under pressure.

"Then find a way," Albus urged. "Find a way to put him at ease."

Harry sat back with a huff and Albus nodded like Harry had promised that he would do it as soon as he could.

"I tried something new just now while I was fetching Ron. I think I might be able to, at least a little, communicate with all of you. In my mind."

"What?" Minerva blinked.

"I had to concentrate really hard and I had to push myself to do it, and I saw where Ron was. And then on a whim, I spoke to him in my mind and he heard it."

The room turned to Ron and he blushed.

"Um, yeah. Kinda quiet but clear, you know? A bit echoey but I knew it was Hermione." Albus looked

"Did it make you stop what you were doing?" Minerva asked sharply.

"Sorry?"

"Min," Hermione said gently. "It wasn't like that."

She looked up and their eyes met and Hermione almost felt her fear. She looked away as Ron turned to her.

"She's asking if you felt like my voice forced you to stop and join us."

"Oh," Ron said, shaking his head immediately. "No, not at all. I could have stayed where I was. I mean, I was flying so I had to choose to land, you know?" He swallowed. "I only stopped cos obviously if 'Mione needs us then it must be pretty serious."

"Quite," Albus said kindly. "I would like to explore that, later, Hermione"

"Absolutely."

"So," he sighed, sitting down. "How has your week been?"

Harry scratched the back of his neck and looked up at his Headmaster.

"I really did try to ask Slughorn again about the Horcruxes but," he shook his head. "He refused. He invited me to the Slug Club though, so maybe," he sighed. "I dunno. He doesn't seem keen."

"Fine," Albus muttered. Hermione felt a little tug on her heart at how hurt Harry looked. Albus was undoubtedly someone he wanted to please but he also really needed to get on with it. "Hermione?" She blinked, coming back to the conversation.

"Uh, nothing really to report." She glanced at Minerva who subtly shook her head. Obviously, none of her escapades would be spoken of at this meeting. "Aside from that, though, I've found nothing in the books I could find. I tried looking in the restricted section but could find nothing there either."

"We may have to go back further than we can find here at the Castle," Albus mused. "Min? Anything to report?"

"A few things but I shall discuss with you after," she said quietly. "Other than that, you need to address a few correspondences that came through for you."

He waved it away, nonplussed and Hermione smiled at his lack of concern.

"Alright," he nodded. "I propose we meet up again on the weekend after we catch up on the things we must do and then go from there."

"Sunday," Hermione said quickly before Minerva could speak. "Not Saturday. Hogsmeade etc."

"Certainly," he nodded. "That will give me time to make it through the list Minerva will have so graciously left me."

Hermione chuckled as she met Minerva's eyes across the room and grinned at her tiny glare. There was no way she was missing out on seeing Minerva, no matter if Voldemort himself turned up at the gates.

"Right," Albus said tiredly, interrupting her silent conversation with the older woman. "Minerva, Ron, Ginny. If you would please allow Hermione and Harry to stay so that we may look at these things, they will be along shortly.

Minerva went to protest, but Albus squeezed her hand and whispered something in her ear. She tutted and left, motioning for the Weasleys to follow her. As soon as the door snicked close he met her eyes expectantly.

"Oh, we simply don't have the time," she sighed.

He chuckled a little and motioned for them both to follow him to the Pensieve.

"I have gathered a few more pieces of the puzzle. And one older piece," he summoned a small vial to his hand. "That makes more sense, now that I have this."

Hermione watched as he upended the first one and glanced at it swirling in the liquid. Harry didn't hesitate but she did, watching as Albus looked at the vial still unopened.

"How bad was it," he asked quietly.

"Oh," she chuckled. "It was so bad, but it might be getting a little better. I have things we need to discuss."

"As do I," he nodded. "This first though."

She waved him on and then followed him down into the memory.

They watched as a handsome, young, Tom Riddle charmed his way into the house of a lady who was far too enamoured with her own self. Hermione could almost feel the compulsion in it and as she examined that feeling, she realised she could.

"I can feel that," she muttered. "A compulsion charm. And something else."

"Don't forget to mention it again," Albus muttered. "Watch though."

They did so, the memory changed abruptly into one of the DMLE knocking down the door and arresting the House Elf and charging it with murder.

"That makes no sense," Harry muttered. "Why didn't they realise that made no sense."

"Mistakes were made, perhaps other spells," Albus concluded. "He obviously took the Cup and the Locket."

"Oh," Hermione suddenly said, making them jump. "The founders! He's using the items left behind by the Founders. They're -" She rolled her eyes and pulled herself out of the memory, pacing behind the sofa. "The diary was personal. It was his, his only friend. And he used his mother's ring, the last thing he had of her bloodline. But his bloodline was also that of Slytherin. He was Slytherin's heir. We know that already, he could control the Basilisk. So of course he would want to use the items from the other Founders too. Hogwarts was his first home!"

"So Hufflepuff's cup," Albus noted. "Slytherin's locket. I believe Rowena had a diadem. Or perhaps a crown, I can no longer remember the specifics. I doubt that's been seen for an age - and will be harder still if we assume he did find it and now he has hidden it again. That is -" He counted on his fingers. "Five." He paled.

"Nagini," Harry whispered. "Six."

"What?" Hermione asked. "What are you saying?"

"He has a snake. He would protect it above all else. I don't think he would do that for anything, no matter how long he'd had it."

Hermione nodded slowly. The pieces fit in her head and there was no evidence to refute them. She sighed as Dumbledore took out the second vial and upended it.

"One more, I want to see what you make of it."

They went in, and true to his word, it was short and they were out not much later.

"He was here to do something," Hermione muttered. "He wasn't here for the job, he knew damn well you wouldn't have given it to him. You think he hid something here?"

"You said it was his first real home," Harry muttered. "I would have."

They paused and looked at Harry carefully, who shrugged sadly.

"Alright," Albus muttered. "I think that's enough for tonight. Go on up to bed and we will reconvene on Sunday.

"Night," Harry muttered, clattering down the steps with haste.

Hermione waited for Albus to turn back to her after he had put away the Pensieve.

"He must achieve what he has set out to do with Horace."

"And he will," Hermione promised. "You have not really given him any guidance about how to go about it," she chastised gently. He tutted and shrugged. "But he will. He is nothing if not resourceful."

"And you? Minerva?"

"It was going okay. We spent some time together then her fears got the better of her. It went horribly then it went twice as bad the following night. She -" She apologised to Minerva in her head. "She lost it and ran into the Forest and Firenze found her and then the Herd found them. I, well, I stepped through time again."

"And?" He almost squeaked.

"Got to her in time. She is fine. Hurt her ankle and broke her wrist but I healed that. She was." She shook her head at the memory. "Inconsolable, I was hungry and short-tempered and she was fearful. Though," she said to soothe his frown. "It has, on the whole, been slightly better. Time is winning but I fear we are running out of it if you are still insisting on giving us time. I can take it, Albus. Just tell me."

"A few more weeks," he muttered. "Just a little longer. Try," he cupped her cheeks. "Try for a little while longer. I long to see you both happy again."

She smiled and nodded and he let her go. She greeted the Gargoyle properly as she left and dropped right into bed where she fell asleep with other people's memories floating around her head.