After shakily convincing the witch that what she had to say couldn't wait, they had made their way along the trek to the Headmaster's chamber in silence. Professor McGonagall would look out of the corner of her eye at her, making sure that she wasn't going to suddenly go down following the witnessed momentary breakdown. She hadn't, stronger than she thought she would be when facing her ruination.
The witch had left her in the protected alcove outside of Dumbledore's office when she had slipped quietly inside. Seconds seemed to stretch into hours as Hermione stood frozen, wishing she could take it back and be in bed trying to sleep instead. Eventually she heard the standard sounds of occupancy from the other side of the door and their muffled conversation reached her ears.
"And you have no inkling to the cause of her need for this nocturnal visit, Minerva?"
"No, but she was quite adamant she had just cause..."
"Hmmmm..."
"Be careful with her, Albus. I think… I think she might be cracking."
"Noted and thank you for the warning. I will make sure to inform you of any prudent information."
His clear dismissal had Hermione quickly stepping away from the door so she didn't get caught eavesdropping. McGonagall stepped through and gestured for her to enter. "He is ready to speak to you."
"Thank you."
A lingering look of pity in the older witch's eye was the last thing she saw before she stepped into the cluttered office. Her heart started to race so fast that she thought it would burst as she inched her way into the room she had never entered alone. Her earlier dizziness returned as she tried to take stock of her surroundings.
Every single one of the portraits that covered the walls was pretending to be asleep. Some were better at the ruse than others. The ceiling height shelves behind the ornate desk were filled with a variety of books that had been banned from the library over the years and a wide array of magical objects that spilled over into the rest of the quarters. While Minerva McGonagall's space had only hinted at her personality, the lodgings hid none of its owner's idiosyncrasies.
"Ah! Welcome Miss Granger!" Professor Dumbledore's voice rang out from a small nook to her left. He ambled into view. A teapot and two cups followed closely behind, floating in midair.
"Thank you, sir." Hermione inclined her head in a show of respect.
He slowly made his way over to his desk and sat down. The tea pot poured scalding hot liquid into both cups before settling onto a pile of precariously stacked books. One cup floated over and perched itself on the opposite side of the impromptu table waiting for her to pick it up. While the other landed near the wizard's hand which he promptly picked up and took a quick sip of its contents before giving her a kind smile. "Would you like to sit?"
Her nod was jerky and her palms were sweaty as she made her way over and stiffly sat on the edge of the chair closest to her.
For a moment the only noises in the room were both their breathing and the ruffle of Fawkes' feathers as he gave himself a disgruntled cleaning, even the portraits had stopped pretending to snore and mumble in their sleep. Dumbledore took the time to appraise her, clearly assessing McGonagall's counsel. He gave nothing away before motioning to the cup in front of her. "A special blend made by Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfrey that I have found to help soothe the nerves without overmedicating."
She openly eyed the tea hesitantly and immediately realized how rude it would be for her to decline the offer. Especially considering the time of her impromptu request... Her hand shook as she reached out and grabbed the cup, taking her time to bring it to her lips so she wouldn't spill.
The distinct floral scent hit her nose and quickly followed onto her tongue, reminding her of walking into a plume of perfume with her mouth open. Her features turned up in an involuntary wince as she placed the cup back and resumed perching on the chair silently.
"It does take some getting used to, I am afraid."
His clear amusement at her reaction was slightly off-putting but the thought was banished from her mind as whatever potent ingredient inside the tea took nearly instantaneous effect. She felt as her shoulders started to relax and the tremble in her hands stilled and yet there was none of the deadening of her reflexes and emotions that she so hated with the potions given to her.
"Thank you." Hermione whispered, for the first time in close to a year she felt like the her before their ill-advised romp into the bowels of the Ministry.
"Of course." Dumbledore bowed his head in acknowledgement and then leaned forward, clasping his healthy hand over the gnarled version that peaked from his robes. A subdued effort to shield the obviously cursed appendage from her view. "Now, if you do not mind I will be throwing all manners out the window, taking into consideration the late hour... What has brought you to my office this early in the morning?"
"I have... I have something I need to tell you." She hedged. Now that the moment of confession had come she didn't know how to get the words to form. Even without her normal bodily responses to such complex stress, everything in her shied away from speaking the truth out loud.
The much older wizard interrupted her by sighing. His shoulders rose and fell heavily, betraying the eternally optimistic facade he typically exuded. For a short second she could see his true age in the tired slope of his frame and she felt guilty for her intrusion, but his stare found hers and he spoke openly. "If you are here to formally recognize your relationship with Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, I am regretful to have to inform you- that ship has sailed like a lonely hippogriff in the night."
"Wha...? H... How?" Her brain was barely able to articulate the simplest of her numerous questions as she tried desperately to play catch-up to the new set of parameters she hadn't known they were playing in.
"There is very little that happens within these walls that I do not know about." His reply was unpretentious. A statement of fact instead of his own admission that bordered on voyeurism. At the very least, it was a blatant invasion of the minimal privacy expected by the students that attended Hogwarts.
She knew it was blatantly tempting Fate but without the customary fear-inducing hormones to warn her not to, she asked her question anyway. "Why haven't you tried to stop us?"
His bright and astute eyes analyzed her reaction. Feeling her out, much the same way Draco always did when he was apprehensive on how to proceed. He seemed to decide to give her a lengthy answer because he relaxed back into his chair and started. "Immediately after becoming a professor here it was made quite clear to me that allowing students the freedom to make their own choices was just as important as educating them. Giving each of you who pass through these doors a safe environment in which to grow and learn the politics of the wizarding world is vital. Maybe even more so for your generation..."
It took a moment for her to work over his impersonal explanation and in the end she wasn't able to connect how any of it had bearing on their unique circumstance. And she called him on it, needing to know she could count on her trust in him before crossing the line and betraying Draco's confidence. "That is all fine and well but I still do not understand..."
"The thought did cross my mind to attempt to dissuade you from your current course with Mr. Malfoy when I first caught wind of it. And yet upon reflection, I knew there had to be a very good reason that you would continue on your path- despite the risks."
A quick nod of concession at the obvious conclusion was all she gave him.
"The only plausible scenario was that..." A soft smile lifted the corners of his beard and softened his eyes before the old man continued. "You have the same hope in him that I do, Miss Granger."
His admission caused her eyebrows to raise but she kept herself quiet and gave another nod of recognition, still unsure.
"There truly is an overwhelming amount of potential inside of him. Isn't there?" After a few seconds in which they both held the others' gazes, ruminating over their own inner thoughts on the matter, he nodded. "Oh yes... Quick witted with an attentive eye for detail and no qualms on doing whatever it takes to get what he wants... He could sweet talk a nundu, only to impurse the poor creature to do his bidding. It is no wonder why Voldermort is testing his allegiance this year. He will undoubtedly end up being of immeasurable value to whichever side he ends up choosing."
As each word of his true motives fell around her she felt the first inklings of the tea starting to wear off as a faint heat fled up into her cheeks. Dumbledore, the person she had believed to always do what was right above all else, was using her as bait... An unwitting temptation to lure Draco to the opposing side…
Theodore Nott had been partially correct and she hadn't even known it!
She let a loaded silence spread between them as she came to terms with the truth. The wizened wizard had known about them for some time and saw a vast opportunity for knowledge on the daily inner workings of one of Voldermort's favorite strongholds in Draco Malfoy. Something Snape- in all of his standing- wasn't able to offer. And he thought she was the key…
"Yes, he will be." Hermione finally conceded, knowing she had to play nice because any hope she had of helping the boy they spoke about was now laid in their headmaster's hands.
"Which leads me to wonder what exactly it is that has come up with Mr. Malfoy that you felt the risk of coming to me outweighed any perceived consequences..."
"V...Voldemort is threatening Narcissa Malfoy's wellbeing." She stumbled over the beginning of her confession. Unable to shake the feeling of misgiving that slipped into her stomach when speaking the name aloud.
This time it was Dumbledore who took a moment to consider her revelation, allowing himself another sip from the tea. Eventually he shook his head slowly, clucking in disappointment before responding. "That is regrettable news, Miss Granger."
A full minute passed for the realization that his words had been a veiled dismissal to finally sink in. Her disgust over being faced with this dishonorable side to her long-held mentor morphed into a full blown deep seated anger. She had trusted him to do something. Anything!
"What do you think I can do for the poor woman? Am I supposed to rally the troops and attack a well fortified fortress, Miss Granger? Do you really think it advisable for me to send some of our friends to their certain deaths for an enemy? One that we cannot guarantee will accept the help? Would you like to assist me in choosing who is best suited for a suicide mission?"
She opened her mouth to respond but quickly snapped her jaw shut on the rebuttal. When it was plainly spelled out for her like that... Anything was much too high a price to ask any of the members from the Order to pay.
"I do apologize that I am unwilling to make that sacrifice for Mrs. Malfoy, but as it presently stands our involvement in a rescue for her is non-negotiable." The formidable man behind the desk leaned forward to make sure he had her full attention before he continued. "Now if Mr. Malfoy could help set up the mission, guaranteeing we had his mother's blessing, that would up the odds of success considerably..."
The implication in his proposal was clear. He would only help if Draco came to him willingly. The young wizard would have to voluntarily sign up, not just himself but his mother, to be used for information in exchange for an even more uncertain and treacherous future. One in which they might not ever be trusted by either side again.
"I don't know if I could convince him that you would be willing to help them in the first place." Hermione told him honestly before mumbling under her breath. "Not that I have the option to attempt anymore anyways..."
"And why not?"
Startled by the proof that the headmaster didn't really know everything, she blurted out without thinking. "Well... Harry has both Kreacher and Dobby following Draco. From what I understand they have been trailing him since the last Quidditch match. Poor things looked quite out of sorts the last time I saw them give Harry an update. Neither had been sleeping, you see..."
A chill filled her stomach when she saw the momentary anger flash in Dumbledore's eyes and she wondered how much trouble she had gotten Harry in. The flame was quickly squashed though, and it was his turn to sigh heavily. "Harry seems to have an odd propensity to obsess over things that do not matter for him in the grand scheme of things. All while ignoring those of the utmost importance."
She resorted back to the safe response of nodding and leaned back in her chair. Worried she would unwillingly say something to make things worse for her friend.
"Which has everything and yet little to do with your conundrum. Doesn't it, Miss Granger." He declared before tutting and then standing. He made his way over to an innocuous wardrobe that blended in amongst the rest of the office's decor and pulled out an even more innocuous looking cloak. In a flourish the old man brought it over and laid it across her lap, as if being able to actually do something for her brought him some added energy. "Not much of a show-er, of course, but it will keep you from the prying eyes you wish to avoid."
Her chuckle at the convenience that he would have just what she needed a few feet away was stopped short as her eyes flicked quickly around the room. Coming to a stop on the owner of the cloak once again, she realized she could never forget who she was dealing with. The venerable wizard was prepared for any possibility. He had to be, given the responsibilities on his shoulders, she supposed.
"Thank you!" She said in a respectful tone that she hoped matched the gratitude she felt towards the bequeathal. In no way did she have to like the fact that he was using her for his own motivations, but without the gift there was little chance of her or Draco figuring out a way to continue their arrangement.
"Just like the last cloak to pass from my hands, I do hope that you use it well."
A smile threatened to lift the corners of her mouth but she stifled it and ran her hands over the woolen fabric in her lap. The things that those in control could condone under ambiguous circumstances were... Peculiar to say the least, considering the headmaster had to know they were not only having pleasant conversations during their trysts. She decided to go with something much more inoffensive when she opened her mouth. "I will."
"Good. Sadly, unless there is something more you would like to discuss, you will have to forgive my impoliteness, but I do have other things that require my attention... Now that I am awake." The headmaster's blue eyes twinkled at the gentle ribbing.
"Of course, sir. I do apologize for my rudeness. I just..." Her sentence trailed off. Any excuse that she had seemed crude against the truth.
"Couldn't hold it in any longer?" He suggested gently.
"Yes..."
"I, for one, am glad there are no lies between us. You are now free to ask for help whenever you need it and I am able to offer aid when the situation allows." Dumbledore told her, indicating the cloak in her lap.
She nodded and quickly stood, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was starting to head. "Thank you again. I will make sure to limit any future visits to a more reasonable hour."
"I have faith in both of you, Miss Granger." When she didn't respond- frozen by the unexpected pressure his accolade evoked, he reached out and patted her arm reassuringly before dismissing her. "Good night."
"Good Night." She barely whispered, keeping her eyes on the ground as she gripped the cloak tight. Suddenly afraid again, she turned and fled the office and the lasting impression his departure left on her.
How was it possible to have faith in another person anymore? They had all been corrupted by the darkness that had invaded their world. Turning even the most respectable into monsters who had no issue using children like chess pieces in their game of war.
The very real but unanswerable question was…
How did you fight against it when only one side offered your hopeful salvation...?