September 1994

By the time Hermione got back to the Common Room - via a detour to the library - she had admitted defeat in regards to to the elves - for now, at least.

The library, once again, had not been much help; when she tried to find books on the Wizengamot or the Ministry of Magic, she found nothing.

Nor were there any books about the Hogwarts founders - she had known about Slytherin, because the only option in second year had been Hogwarts: A History, but she would have thought that the others would have a bit more about them.

After a chat with Madam Pince, she learned that all books on those subjects had been removed from the library several years ago - the summer before she started Hogwarts. Madam Pince had remembered the date, because everything that mentioned the Potter family had also been removed.

Hermione had been startled at that, and gone back to the stacks. Sure enough there were no books at all on pureblood families or genealogy, which would have come in really handy when they were trying to prove Bethany wasn't the Heir of Slytherin.

Had the books been removed to preserve Bethany's privacy?

Or was there something in them that no one wanted Bethany to find out?

Ron and Bethany were finishing their Divination homework in the corner, and as Hermione picked her way across to them, Crookshanks jumped down from Bethany's lap to wind himself around Hermione's legs.

"Hello!" She greeted.

"I'm done!" Ron announced triumphantly, throwing his quill down.

Hermione sat down, dumping her bag on the ground, and pulled Ron's predictions towards her. It started with developing a cough and got steadily worse. "Not going to have a very good month, are you?"

Ron yawned. "Well, at least I'm forewarned."

Hermione tutted, scratching Crookshanks' ears as he curled up on her lap. "You seem to be drowning twice."

"Am I?" Ron asked, seeming surprised. "I'd better change one of them to getting trampled by a rampaging hippogriff."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't you think it's a bit obvious that you made these up?"

"What else are we supposed to do?" Bethany asked, still scribbling furiously. "Neither of us has the Sight, and even if we did, if it's not full of misery, she'd count it as a failure. Hang on - decapitation!"

"You could just drop the class," Hermione said.

"I asked," Bethany said gloomily. "We have to take at least two electives."

"Then pick up something else," Hermione said. "Arithmancy maybe. You did Maths at primary school; you'd probably be okay with the third year stuff. You'd catch up pretty easily."

"I'll think about it," Bethany said, in a way that told Hermione she wouldn't.

Bethany dropping Divination would leave Ron alone, and Bethany would never do that.

And Ron was not going to drop an 'easy' class in favour of a harder one.

"Anyway, I finally got somewhere with the house-elves …" Hermione began.

"Hermione, open your ears!" Ron groaned. "They … like … being … enslaved!"

Hermione gave him a dirty look. "I know that. I spoke to the elves in the kitchen. Most wizards have a good bond with them; it's the bad bonds that lead to elves like Dobby, being forced to punish themselves."

"That's horrible," Bethany said. "Can we fix it?"

"I'm not sure," Hermione admitted. "Ideally I'd like to get a law in place to make the second kind of bond illegal, but I don't know how to go about that. Apparently all books regarding government were removed from the library before we started."

"Why?" Bethany asked.

"Madam Pince didn't know," Hermione answered.

"Well, it's not like we need to know any of that stuff," Ron said dismissively.

"Some of the older students who want to go into that as a career might," Hermione said. "As might the Muggle-borns who didn't grow up knowing how the Ministry works."

"Yeah, but you don't need to," Ron said, apparently ignoring the first part.

Hermione rolled her eyes, turning back to Bethany. "Before I forget, Dobby's down in the kitchens. Apparently he's not so much a free elf as he is half-bound to you."

"Oh no," Bethany said, looking horrified. "Do I need to …?"

"No," Hermione said hastily. "No, he's happy with that. He formed the bond by accident and it's causing problems because it's only one way, so you need to go down there and agree to the bond. He would like to be paid, and he would also be allowed to wear a uniform rather than a tea-towel, preferably with lots of pockets."

Bethany raised an eyebrow. "Just to be clear, we've moved from freeing the elves to encouraging me to own one?

"The elves need a bond," Hermione explained. "They don't eat food; they eat magic, for want of a better word."

Bethan nodded, chewing on her lower lip. "Thanks Mione; I'll go and find him tomorrow."

Hermione nodded. "Thanks. Also, can I borrow the Map?"

"Why?" Bethany asked, sounding confused.

Hermione didn't blame her. She had no problem with Bethany using the Map, especially since it had been made in part by James Potter, but she had never used it herself. "I found a room earlier, and I don't think it's on there."

Bethany frowned. "I thought everything was on there, but here."

"Thanks." Hermione waved her wand over the parchment, whispering the password. The Map formed and she quickly located the kitchen, tracing her route back with her finger the way the twins had led her.

She came up against a solid wall, which was understandable, since the door had vanished, but there was nothing to indicate a hidden room.

"Hmm." She tapped her wand against the markings on the Map, but nothing happened. Remembering Bethany's story about Snape's battle with the Map, she decided to try something. "I, Hermione Granger, would like to know if there is any room hidden behind that wall."

For a second, nothing happened.

The the Map vanished, and writing began to appear on the page.

Mr Padfoot would like to inform Miss Granger that the Marauders know of no hidden room in that part of the castle.

Mr Prongs would like to add that if Miss Granger has located a hidden room in that part of the castle, then he takes his hat off to her. Or would if he was wearing one.

Hermione giggled. "No, it's not on here."

Bethany read the words over her shoulder and tapped the parchment with her own wand. "My name is Bethany Potter."

Immediately the words changed:

Mr Prongs would like to enquire whether Miss Potter is his daughter.

Mr Wormtail would like to point out that, having no time-frame, Miss Potter could be Mr Prongs's granddaughter.

Mr Prongs would like to ask Mr Wormtail to stop making him feel old.

Mr Padfoot suggests that it sounds like Miss Jade may have finally said yes, and asks if Miss Shadow may have followed suit.

Mr Moony suggests that Mr Padfoot might want to get over it and welcomes Miss Potter to the Marauders.

"That's incredible," Hermione murmured. "I'd love to know how they made this. Who's Miss Shadow, do you think? I didn't think there were any female Marauders."

"Not asking about Miss Jade then?" Bethany asked.

Hermione laughed. "I'd say that's obvious, Beth. Miss Jade was your mother."

"How'd you know?" Bethany pressed. "For all we know, Dad had another girlfriend when they wrote the Map." She pulled a face. "Not that I want to think about that."

"Green eyes," Hermione said, pointing at her face. "I'm sure it was her. Although … I can't help but feel that I knew that anyway. Professor Lupin - sorry, Remus and the others never said anything, did they?"

Bethany frowned. "Not about Jade or Shadow, but I know I heard Mandy call Arabella 'Bastet' once, so maybe they all had nicknames. Although, now you mention it, I can't help feeling I've heard those names before as well."

"Well, I haven't," Ron said. "I know they never mentioned it in the Shack. How'd you find this room, Mione?"

Hermione sighed. "You're never going to believe me."

"Try us," Ginny suggested, taking the seat beside her. "Wait, what are we not believing?"

Hermione took another look at the Map, confirming that they were the only people in the common room, and launched into the story of what had happened in the small room with the Founders.

When she'd finished, the other three sat in stunned silence, while she waited with bated breath to see if they would believe her, knowing that she would doubt the sanity of anyone who had told her that story before today.

Finally, Bethany let out a deep breath and waved her wand over the Map. "Mischief Managed." She looked up to meet Hermione's eyes. "Are you sure you haven't just been working too hard?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Beth, I can hardly imagine that I've met the Founders when I don't even know what they look like, can I?"

"Well, you could have imagined what they look like," Ron pointed out.

"Wow, that was actually logical," Ginny said, earning a poke to the ribs. "Mione, I don't want to doubt you, but … it is a bit unbelievable."

"A bit?" Bethany repeated.

"On saying that," Ginny continued, elbowing her, "there's a lot of things you three have gone through that are unbelievable, Miss I-Drove-Off-A-Hundred-Dementors."

Bethany flushed. "I did."

"I know," Ginny said. "But it is unbelievable. It took Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick to drive them off at the Quidditch match."

"Well, yeah, but there were more people there, right?" Bethany asked. "More for them to be attracted to."

Ginny rolled her eyes and turned back to Hermione. "Can we see your Animagus form?"

Hermione re-activated the Map and gave it another check to make sure they were alone, before standing in front of the fireplace, and gesturing for them to do the same. "I don't want to be seen be anyone who might come down the stairs."

The three stood as one, forming a wall between her and the staircase. Hermione closed her eyes, and focused on the lioness she had seen in the mirror. She felt the transformation again, this one far smoother, but still just as painless, considering she had to be breaking bones in order to shift. She held the form for a few seconds, then turned back, opening her eyes to see three stunned expressions.

"Well?"

"I believe you," Ginny said faintly, collapsing back into her chair.

"Me too," Ron and Bethany chorused, following suit.

"What's this prophecy then?" Ginny asked, clearly trying to gather herself.

Hermione pulled the parchment from her bag and read it aloud: "The true leader of the light is hidden … her mind is locked away but her gift is not … she will guide the Chosen One and destroy the vestiges of Evil … the answer will be revealed in the place where the fire maid almost met her doom …"

Bethany frowned. "So … What?"

"I have no idea," Hermione said. "Not sure who the Chosen One is, or the leader of the light …"

"People often call Dumbledore that," Ron said.

Hermione frowned. "Then why does it say 'the true leader'?"

Ron shrugged. "I dunno. What does it mean by 'vestiges of evil'?"

"Whatever it means," Ginny said softly, "we'll need to go to the Chamber of Secrets. Or the … true leader will, whoever she is."

"Why do you …?" Bethany's face cleared. "The place where the fire maid almost met her doom. You think that means you?"

Ginny shrugged. "Maybe."

A soft tapping at the window caught their attention, and Bethany jumped up to let Hedwig in.

She did a lap of the room, dropped the letter on the table, and came to roost on Bethany's shoulder, preening her hair.

Bethany grabbed the letter and read it aloud, the others leaning in eagerly to listen. "Beth, I'm flying North immediately. This news about your scar is the latest in a series of strange rumours that have reached me. If it hurts again, go straight to Dumbledore - they're saying he's got Mad-Eye Moody out of retirement, which means he's reading the signs, even if no one else is."

"What signs?" Ron asked in bewilderment.

Bethany shrugged, worried eyes straying to Hermione's. "I'll be in touch soon. Give my best to Ron and Hermione. Keep your eyes open, Beth. Love Sirius."

"He's flying North?" Hermione repeated. "He's coming back?!"

"And what signs?" Ron repeated. "Beth, what's wrong?"

Bethany had turned very, very pale. "I shouldn't have told him."

"What are you on about?" Ron asked in surprise.

"I've made him think he's got to come back," Bethany said, jolting to her feet, causing Hedwig to flutter to the back of Hermione's chair, hooting reproachfully. "He's coming back because he thinks I'm in trouble and there's nothing wrong with me! And I haven't got anything for you," she snapped at Hedwig. "You'll have to go to the Owlery if you want any food."

"Beth," Hermione snapped back. "Do not take that tone with Hedwig; it's not her fault!"

Bethany stopped pacing, and took a deep breath. "You're right. Sorry, Hedwig; I'm just worried. Hermione's right, it's not your fault."

If Hedwig was human, she might have given an imperious sniff.

As it was she just fluffed up her feathers and turned her back.

"I really don't have any food though," Bethany said, her tone softening even more. "Sorry."

Hedwig hooted and took off for the open window, cuffing Bethany with her wing as she did.

Bethany groaned. "Great. Now she's mad at me too."

"Beth," Ginny said tentatively. "Isn't he just doing what … you know … he's supposed to be doing? He's supposed to be your guardian; isn't his job to look after you?"

"Not at the expense of his own freedom!" Bethany protested. "Why would he even do that?!"

"Because he loves you?" Ginny suggested.

Hermione winced.

"I … that … I'm going to bed."

With that, Bethany practically fled up the stairs.

"What did I say?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Beth gets funny about stuff like that," Ron said nonchalantly. "I'm turning in too. Night."

"Night," Hermione murmured, as he made his way up the other staircase.

"Mione?"

Hermione sighed. "Ginny, you know how your mum's really good with hugs, and feeding you, and telling you how much she loves you?"

"Yeah." Ginny still looked puzzled.

"Bethany's aunt and uncle … aren't good with it," Hermione said carefully. "At all."

Understanding dawned in Ginny's eyes, and was swiftly replaced by anger.

"That's why Jess is so important," Hermione continued. "Beth's still dealing with it. So, yes, you're right, but she's not …"

"… used to it," Ginny finished, the anger fading into a kind of sadness. "So it's not just your father that needs a visit then."

"Stay away," Hermione warned. "I won't thank you for it; Bethany definitely won't thank you for it."

"I won't do anything," Ginny said. "Yet."

The last word was muttered, and Hermione pretended she didn't hear her, bidding Ginny goodnight a few moments later.

After a second's indecision, Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, and began her own letter.

Padfoot

Beth reacted quite badly to the news that you're coming back. Hopefully you'll get this before hers; she's probably going to write to you immediately tomorrow morning.

Don't take it personally.

I'm sure you've heard about the Triwizard Tournament being held again this year. Don't worry - if you haven't heard, under-17s can't enter, so Bethany's safe.

Not that she'd want to enter anyway, but weird things happen around her sometimes.

While I'm writing to you, I saw Narcissa Malfoy at the World Cup, and I think she may have slipped me a note while everyone was distracted. It says 'Tell SB I'm sorry. He was right. NBM'. I'm making an assumption about its origin and it makes no sense to me, but hopefully it does to you.

Beth and I were looking at the Map today, and the Marauders had a little discussion when Bethany said her name. Was Jade Mrs Potter's Marauder name? Because I'm fairly sure it is, even though I don't think you ever mentioned it.

Here, Hermione paused, wondering whether to ask about 'Miss Shadow'.

She decided against it - she knew it wasn't Arabella, and it didn't seem to fit Mandy. That meant that the owner of that nickname was probably dead, and given that she'd just thrown the Potters in there without warning, it was probably best to leave that can of worms unopened for the moment.

On a more important note, Sirius - be careful. I won't try and convince you not to come back - Beth needs the support - but please, please be careful. I don't know how - or if - Beth would cope if you were recaptured, and I'm afraid I'm fresh out of last-minute, law-breaking escape plans.

With love

Hermione