Hermione along with Harry and Ron made her way into the Great Hall, feeling a sense of anticipation rising within her. The hall was filled with students from all four Hogwarts houses, bustling around and chatting excitedly.
As the murmur of conversation slowly died down, the sound of footsteps echoed throughout the hall. Hermione looked up to see Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, making his way up to the raised platform at the front of the room. He ascended the dais with a concerned expression on his face.
However, as she glanced around the room, she noticed that one member of the Hogwarts faculty was conspicuously absent. Professor Snape, the sour-faced Potions Master, was nowhere to be seen. The rest of the teachers sat silently on the platform, their faces etched with worry.
Hermione couldn't help but wonder what was going on. The air in the Great Hall was charged with tension, and she had a sinking feeling that whatever was about to be announced was not going to be good news. As Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, Hermione leaned forward, bracing herself for the worst.
Dumbledore stood on the raised platform in front of the assembled students, his eyes scanning the sea of faces before him. There was a palpable tension in the air, and Hermione felt her heart beating faster as she waited for the headmaster to speak.
"Dear students," Dumbledore began, his voice carrying clearly throughout the Great Hall. "I am sorry to have to announce that Professor Snape will no longer be teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was an eruption of noise from the Slytherin table. Students jeered and booed, their faces twisted in anger and disappointment.
Dumbledore continued speaking, his voice calm and steady despite the disturbance. "I understand that this news may come as a shock to some of you, but I assure you that the decision was not made lightly."
Dumbledore addressed the students solemnly, "Slytherins would have a totally opposite reaction when they know the truth. It's my duty to let you all know that the teacher you loved and respected was not a good man."
Some of the Slytherin students booed loudly, while others exchanged nervous glances. Meanwhile, Ron attempted to lighten the mood by cracking a joke to Harry, "Oh, we never loved him."
However, Harry didn't find the joke amusing. He was too engrossed in the gravity of the situation. Similarly, Hermione was lost in thought, wondering if the news was somehow connected to the dungeons of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore's voice carried on, his expression grave as he spoke. "Severus Snape was the one responsible for everything in the dungeons," he stated. "Due to our irresponsibility, we never put a check on him. But thanks to Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, it had been discovered that they found seven Beauxbatons students locked in a hidden cell for two years that was impossible to locate."
The news hit the students like a ton of bricks, and gasps could be heard throughout the Great Hall. Hermione felt her heart drop, her mind racing with questions.
As she looked around the room, she saw the same look of shock and horror on the faces of her fellow students. They had all been so focused on their own lives and their own problems that they had failed to notice the darkness that had been lurking just beneath the surface of their world.
Hermione couldn't help but think back to the day when she had located Fleur in the dungeons, and she realized now that her unease had been well-founded.
Dumbledore's voice boomed across the Great Hall once again. "Argus Filch is also taken into custody," he declared, "and Professor Slughorn would be seeing if he is found guilty or not. As for the Beauxbatons students, they would be safely transported to their school. We are deeply ashamed that we treated our guests like this."
"They would be safely transported," Dumbledore had said, but Hermione couldn't help but feel uneasy. She knew she had to talk to Dumbledore alone. If the other Beauxbatons students were being transported, they could take Fleur as well. But what about the wand symbol on her back? Shouldn't she be worried about that? And was it right to keep Fleur for her own safety, or was it a selfish act?
Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by Harry's voice. "Where are you lost?" he asked, looking at her with concern.
Ron chuckled. "Snape was her favorite," he teased.
Hermione frowned at Ron. "At least be serious in some situations," she scolded.
Harry nodded in agreement. "We need to focus on the situation at hand," he said. "If Snape is really guilty, then he would be going to Azkaban."
Ron's expression turned serious. "But what about Filch?" he asked. "Do you think he's involved in this as well?"
Harry sighed. "It's hard to say," she said. "But Dumbledore did mention that he was taken into custody."
Hermione sat in silence, the sounds of chatter and murmurs from the other students in the Great Hall could be heard in the background. The atmosphere was tense and uneasy, and she seemed to be deep in thought, trying to process the news about Snape's betrayal and the situation with the Beauxbatons students.
Hermione took a deep breath, feeling a knot forming in her stomach as she entered into Dumbledore's office. She had never been the type to seek out assistance easily, preferring to rely on her own wit and intelligence. But this was different.
Dumbledore looked up from his task of feeding his phoenix, his wise eyes meeting Hermione's gaze. He had always been able to read her like a book.
"Yes, Ms. Granger," he said kindly. "Is this related to your new companion, Ms. Scamander?"
Hermione's mind flashed back to the awkward and annoying encounter she had with Daphne at The Three Broomsticks. She shook her head. "Although she is a problematic one, but she is not of utmost importance. I have something related to Dungeons."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Hermione could see the curiosity and concern growing in Dumbledore's face. "Speak. Fast," he urged her.
"I found Fleur," Hermione blurted out, her voice shaking slightly.
Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How is that possible?" he asked, clearly taken aback by Hermione's announcement.
"I found her before Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick found the other Beauxbatons students," Hermione explained, her heart racing.
Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "Where is she now?" he asked, his voice low.
Hermione's eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope as she spoke, " In moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Professor Dumbledore, if you're planning to transport others, wouldn't it be wise to take Fleur Delacour along as well?"
Her words hung in the air for a moment before Dumbledore's voice, laced with concern, cut her off. "Take her somewhere safe. Talk to Ms. Scamander. She knows."
Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion, "But sir…"
Just then, the door opened and in walked Professors McGonagall, Trelawney, Slughorn, and Flitwick. Hermione quickly composed herself and smiled respectfully at them, trying to suppress her growing apprehension.
Dumbledore turned to Hermione with a kind smile, "Alright, Ms. Granger. I bid you farewell. All the best with your Boggarts."
As Hermione exited Dumbledore's office, her mind buzzed with questions. Why did Dumbledore insist on Fleur being taken somewhere else? And why did he mention talking to Daphne? How would she know how to keep Fleur safe? The weight of her unanswered questions gnawed at her, leaving her feeling puzzled and uneasy.