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Only Time Will Tell	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3087 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
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Chapter 11: Words of Wisdom

�May I?� Professor Dumbledore�s voice echoed softly through the room. Receiving no response from Hermione, he sat down on the bed next to her in the same fashion she was; his back against the wall and his legs stretched out in front of him. He noticed the blank pieces of parchment strewn around her. Her wand lay tenuously in her lap.

�Ahhh� How I remember the days. It was not so long ago that I was a student here, sleeping in these beds, enjoying the company of my comrades. Alas, though, that time has passed. And although it is lovely to be back in these rooms, that is not why I am here.�

�Miss Granger, it seems that I have underestimated you. I must admit that when Professor Snape told me of his suspicions last summer, I did not believe him. I would not have thought it possible. I trusted Remus with your life, your safety, and your sanity. What I failed to realize was that you were no longer a child.�

There was a long pause before Hermione broke the silence. �You didn�t even have the decency or the courage to tell me they�d captured Remus,� the words sprang from her mouth soaked with anger and bitterness. �Snape told me.�

�Professor Snape, Miss Granger.�

�He is not worthy of my respect!� Her angry words pierced the still air.

Dumbledore sighed, �Perhaps not.�

�You are correct, though, I should have told you. I am afraid that is my fault. You see, I have the failings of an old man. In my years, I have forgotten what it is like to be young. I have forgotten the passion of youth. It never occurred to me that the two of you could be in love. And even if Remus had told me, I�m sure I wouldn�t have believed him.�

�To my great shame, Miss Granger, it never occurred to me to tell you about Remus. It never occurred to me that the two of you might have kept in touch. I thought that what had happened this summer was a product of a very stressful time in your life, of being trapped alone in a small space with a man�� he stopped, seeming to reconsider his words. �For that, Miss Granger, I am truly sorry.� He looked over at her and saw the tears running down her face. She was rubbing her fingers along a golden heart-shaped locket.

�I assure you, Miss Granger, the Order is doing everything in its power to find Remus. You are not the only one who is grieving his disappearance, as I�m sure you are aware. And I give you my word that you will be notified immediately of any new information we uncover.�

Dumbledore�s voice was filled with sadness and regret as he continued. �Remus is a truly great man, and I fear that my unwillingness to listen and my blindness has affected our relationship greatly. I can only hope that I get the chance to make amends with him.�

Hermione buried her head in her hands, sobbing. Through her fingers, she said, �Headmaster, Snape said� he said he��

Professor Dumbledore laid his hand on her shoulder. �I know what Severus said. Miss Weasley explained what happened between the two of you and Severus did not deny it.� Dumbledore paused. �Although I can not believe it myself, we are checking to see if Severus had anything to do with Remus�s disappearance. I can assure you, Miss Granger, if he has, the appropriate actions will be taken.�

After Dumbledore left, Hermione stared at the heart-shaped locket. Picking up her wand, she tapped it three times. She closed her eyes, waiting for the words she so desperately need to hear, waiting for him to tell her that he loved her.

�I promise,� his ethereal voice echoed.

What? That�s not what the locket was supposed to say. She tapped it again, repeating the password very clearly.

�I promise.�

She sat back on her bed, fresh tears coming to her eyes. She remembered his words as they stood outside of Dumbledore�s office after her unexpected return to Hogwarts. His voice spoke clearly in her mind, �I will wait for you, Hermione. I promise.� Maybe, just maybe, he was still alive.

***

The next morning, Hermione came downstairs in her school robes, her book bag at her side. She was exhausted but she had slept quite soundly, for the first time in almost a week. And, as Dumbledore had told her, Dobby had come later that evening to bring her food, which she ate.

�Good morning, Hermione,� Ginny said, rushing to her side.

Hermione smiled sadly and nodded.

�Professor McGonagall would like to speak with you before breakfast. Harry, Ron, and I will wait for you in the Great Hall, okay?�

Hermione just nodded as she headed for Professor McGonagall�s office. She remembered back to that evening when Dumbledore had told her that she would be staying at a safe house for the summer and that Remus would be her protector. She remembered how concerned McGonagall had been, and she remembered McGonagall�s voice cracking as she gave Remus a swift hug and whispered, �Take care of our girl won't you?� Hermione could only imagine what McGonagall must think of her now.

�Miss Granger, thank you for coming, please, have a seat.�

Hermione didn�t look at Professor McGonagall as she sat in the chair. Had she not been so distraught over Remus�s disappearance, she would have been nervous. She knew what was coming but she just didn�t care. Hitting and swearing at a professor were unacceptable, not to mention outrageous, behavior under any circumstances. It was the house master or mistress�s job to dole out punishments. The words suspension and expulsion ran through her head. Those words would have struck fear in her heart in the past but now they were meaningless.

�Tea?� Professor McGonagall offered.

Hermione shook her head.

�Yes, well, I wanted to tell you that you have been excused from all further Potions lessons. Harry has agreed to take notes for you and we are confident that you are quite capable of studying for your Potions N.E.W.T. on your own. Of course, if you have any questions, you are more than welcome to ask any of the staff you feel comfortable with.�

Hermione looked up at Professor McGonagall stunned.

Professor McGonagall got up from her desk and pulled a tissue from a box across the room. With her back still to Hermione, she said softly with a broken voice, �You know, I have always been very fond of Remus. I must admit I was quite taken aback when Albus told me last night about the two of you. But,� McGonagall paused, wiping her eyes and turning back to face Hermione, �I can�t think of two people more deserving of happiness.�

Hermione watched in awe as Professor McGonagall tried to regain her composure.

�Thank you, Professor,� she managed to whisper.

McGonagall nodded.

As Hermione got up to leave, McGonagall embraced her, whispering in her ear, �I do hope he�s all right, and I assure you that we will let you know as soon as we hear anything.� Letting go, she smiled warmly at Hermione, �Now run along, dear.�

***

Breakfast was a quiet affair as Ron and Harry tried to engage Hermione in small talk while Ginny sat quietly next to her. The owls came and left, but Hermione never even bothered to look up. Both Ron and Harry offered Hermione their support. She just nodded, lost in her own world. There was nothing to do now but wait. Wait to live, wait to die. The only thing that kept her going were Dumbledore�s words:

�I leave it up to you whether or not to take your N.E.W.T.s this year. However, I must remind you that if you choose not to, you will not be able to take them again until next year. And, if I am any judge of character, I would think you should like to get them out of the way as soon as possible so that you and Remus can begin a life together.�

Perhaps she had underestimated Professor Dumbledore as well.

***

The Gryffindor Common Room was buzzing with excitement when Hermione arrived from the library. She took her seat in front of the fire. Ron and Harry were beside themselves with glee.

�Hermione did you hear?� Harry asked.

Hermione looked between the two of them shaking her head.

�Snape�s been put on probation! Can you believe it?� Ron blurted out. �I don�t know why, but word in the halls is that Dumbledore is absolutely furious with him. Rumor has it that Snape lost his temper and punched some student in the gut.�

Hermione took in the news quietly. It certainly had felt like Snape had punched her in the gut with his revelation.

She headed off to bed early that night to write Remus a letter, fully aware that he might never have the chance to read it.

She arrived late to breakfast the next morning, not having slept well the night before. Harry and Ron had saved her a seat and were looking quite anxiously at her as she walked into the Great Hall.

�What?� she said, as she got closer.

�That bird has been waiting for you all morning. He bit me when I tried to take the letter of his leg!� Ron said incredulously.

Hermione felt a cold shiver run through her body, her hands shaking as she removed the letter. Indeed it was addressed to her, but she didn�t recognize the handwriting. Opening it quickly, she checked to see who it was from. Sirius? She skimmed the contents enough to know that Remus hadn�t been found. Noticing Ron and Harry watching her intently, she folded the letter and put it in her robes, intending to read it later when she was alone.

Harry and Ron looked at her expectantly.

Hermione rolled her eyes, addressing them in an exasperated voice. �It was from Sirius. He must have talked to Professor Dumbledore. He was just lending me his support.�

�That figures,� Harry said, a hint of resentment in his voice. �He hasn�t written to me in ages.�

Hermione gave him a pained look and returned to her food.

�What?� Harry asked.

If you only knew, she thought sadly, he just lost his best friend.

After breakfast, Hermione went back to her dorm to read the letter while Harry went to Potions without her.

Hermione,

I want to tell you how sorry I am about Remus. We were on a stake-out that night. I had transformed to get a better look at the gathering of Death Eaters. I should never have left his side.

I also want to apologize for not telling you about his being captured myself. I thought Dumbledore would have told you. When I heard what Snape said to you, I was livid. I have always hated that man, but even he stooped to new lows. I was too caught up in my own grief to think about anyone else. I should have been the one to tell you and I�m sorry.

The Order is doing everything it can to find him. Remus is a very decent man and the best friend I could ever ask for; I would gladly give my life for his in a heartbeat. I have never seen Remus happier than when he�s been with you, Hermione. I�m sure he misses us as much as we miss him.

I will keep you posted if I hear anything new. Please let me know if you need anything, including just someone to listen.

Sincerely,

Sirius

P.S. Remus would be terribly upset if he knew we were moping around like this. Do try and take care of yourself, and study hard. Don�t roll your eyes at me, I know how hard it is to go on living, not knowing where or how he is. But he needs us to be strong, Hermione, you and me both.
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Only Time Will Tell