Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Damaged Bridges	By : Gandalfs-Beard Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 46850 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all rights belong to Rowling and Warner Bros, nor do I make any money from the production of this work.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
A Reunion of Sorts

After thoroughly flossing, Richard Granger swirled the spearmint mouthwash in his mouth, scowling at himself in the mirror, wondering if he was doing the right thing. It wasn’t until he felt his gums stinging and tongue puckering that he realised he’d been swishing the mouthwash for several minutes and spat it out. Richard rinsed with some fresh water and wiped his face with a towel.
The knot of tension in Richard’s stomach tightened when he found his wife sitting on the bed, weeping quietly with her hands covering her face. He clambered up beside Jean and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she sobbed into his chest. Richard pushed back at the anger and guilt churning in his gut, knowing how useless it was at a time like this.
It wasn’t poor Harry’s fault after all. Taking his anger out on a boy - a young man really - who had already lost so much in life would have been entirely unfair.
And what would it have accomplished to have had another row with Hermione? Especially when it might be the last time Richard or Jean ever saw their daughter. If it was to be his last memory of Hermione, Richard wanted it to be a good one.
It was clear that Hermione had made up her mind, and now that she was a legal adult in the wizard world, there was nothing he or Jean could do to force Hermione to leave Britain with them... and Richard wasn’t even completely sure that he wanted to, even if he could.
Richard had been doing his best to put on a brave face for Hermione and his wife’s sake - for his own sake - but it hadn’t been entirely a lie. When Jean had spoken for the both of them, and told Hermione how proud they were of her and Harry, Richard couldn’t help but be reminded of everything his own parents had taught him about standing up for what was right, and fighting Fascism wherever it raised its ugly head.
It had been Jean’s idealism which had brought them together, when they had met at University in the mid 1970’s. His head buried in a book, Richard had nearly tripped over Jean who was sitting cross legged in the middle of a lawn when he wandered into a small meeting Jean had organised to try and rekindle Britain’s waning anti-nuclear movement.
Jean’s invitation to join them had sparked Richard’s aspirations to do something meaningful with his life - something that his own parents would be proud of. One thing had led to another, and before he knew it, Richard had fallen madly in love with Jean, and they had participated in every significant protest movement together since then as much as their careers and having a daughter would allow.
Richard had seen that same bravery and determination - that same passion for justice - in Hermione; standing in her way simply wasn’t an option.
Sighing, Richard kissed his wife’s bushy head as he gently rubbed her back, listening to the rain which was still pounding against the windows. Gradually, Jean’s sobs ebbed. She grabbed some tissues from beside the bed and loudly blew her nose, then peered pleadingly at her husband.
“We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we, Richard? ... Letting Hermione stay?”
“Yeah,” he croaked, smiling wanly, “we are. I hate it too Jean, but we don’t really have a choice, do we?”
“Not really,” Jean agreed, returning the smile with a sad little laugh and shaking her head. “Besides, she’d probably hate Australia...”

~o0o~
Hermione tried her best to put things behind her, relieved that her parents had taken things much better than she had thought they would, and hoping they’d like it in Australia. But she found that she still couldn’t sleep. Hermione tried to keep her sniffles as quiet as possible, so as not to wake Harry, but after an hour she felt Harry stir, curling his arm around her waist and kissing her bushy head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you, Harry,” Hermione whispered.
“You didn’t,” Harry murmured back. “I can’t sleep either, knowing how much you miss your parents.”
Hermione rolled over to face Harry and wrapped both arms around him. Harry kissed her forehead and wet cheeks. They held each other in silence, and gradually - eventually - both drifted off into a sound sleep...

~o0o~
Harry had hoped for better when Dora told him and Hermione that she had caught up with Dumbledore before breakfast the following morning, but much to Harry’s great annoyance, Dumbledore had decided to table immediately pursuing Slytherin’s Locket while he considered “the most suitable options for its recovery.” But Harry didn’t have very much time to wallow in irritation, as he found himself with a new responsibility thrust in his lap.
“Wait, I’m going to be what?” Harry gaped at Dora, not sure if he’d heard her correctly.
“Sharing substitute teaching duties with me in Defence Against the Dark Arts the next few days while Mad Eye’s overseeing the resettling of Hermione’s folks and the Dursleys,” said Dora, chuckling at the expression on Harry’s face.
“I know you’re already TA’ing for Moody in your class,” Dora continued, “but apparently, you did so well trainin’ up the DA last year, Dumbledore reckoned you should help me out with the other periods as well, seeing as you’ve got more experience than me actually teaching kids. And Hermione can help too, seeing as we all have to stick together.”
“But what about our other classes?” asked Harry as he rubbed at his scar.
“It’s only for a few days, Harry,” said Hermione. “We won’t fall behind too much.”
“Er, right!” Harry swallowed nervously and nodded, taking a deep breath. “Only a few days. ... Okay then...”
Fortunately, the very first lesson of the day was a class of fifth year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. With a few friendly faces - specifically those of Luna and Ginny, and Colin Creevey - Harry’s anxiety at helping Dora teach the students who hadn’t been part of Dumbledore’s Army lessened considerably, and by the end of the day he could barely remember why he’d been so fussed to begin with.
“You’re a natural born teacher, Harry,” said Dora, grinning, after the last group of students of the day departed from the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
“Isn’t he though?” Hermione beamed. “Nearly everyone in the DA learned how to perform Corporeal Patronuses, thanks to Harry’s patient tutoring.”
Dora’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Blimey! Really? Barely half the Auror Corp can even manage a Corporeal Patronus. That’s usually where recruits wash out of the programme... You gotta at least pull off a basic Patronus Shield to make it all the way through, and that’s tough enough for a lot of Auror applicants.”
“Er... Well, it probably would’ve been a lot harder if we’d actually had a Dementor to practice on, like I sort of did,” Harry muttered, his features reddening.
“Maybe,” said Dora. “But we didn’t train with Dementors to begin with either...”
“And I’m sure we could make our Patronuses work in a pinch,” said a familiar dreamy voice behind the trio. Harry, Hermione, and Dora all turned around to see Luna and Ginny trailing behind them.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to manage it at all,” Luna continued, smiling beatifically at Harry. “I try not to be sad about my mum dying, but it’s hard sometimes. If Harry hadn’t made friends with me, I’m not sure I’d have ever worked out how to do a Patronus, and now I’ve got lots of happy memories to choose from.”
Luna said that last bit with a look at Ginny which made Ginny blush.
“Me too,” said Ginny, grinning.
“I know,” said Luna matter-of-factly. “Your first happy thought had to do with Harry too...”
“Luna!” Ginny squeaked, her blush deepening. Harry and Hermione both turned a bit pink as well. Dora chuckled and shook her head.
“Anyway,” Luna went on, “we really liked your lesson today, and we were wondering if you and Hermione were thinking of restarting the DA, Harry.”
“Er...” Seeing Luna’s eager expression, Harry suddenly felt a bit guilty.
“You don’t have to feel bad Harry,” said Ginny quickly. “We know you’ve been going through a lot since Sirius was killed, and then with everything else that’s been happening...” Ginny gave Hermione a sympathetic look. “We were just sort of hoping you and Hermione might feel up to it now...”
“But only if you’ve got time for it,” Luna added. “We know you’re both busy, and Professor Moody is teaching us most of what we need to know anyway.”
Hermione and Harry shared a look, both suddenly understanding what Luna and Ginny were really asking: Luna had always looked forward to DA meetings more than just about anyone else - perhaps more as a reason to hang out with friends than anything.
“Well, we were planning on practicing a few advanced spells on our own in the Room of Requirement,” said Hermione. “You’re welcome to join us if you’d like.”
“I suppose we could see if anyone else wants to as well,” Harry agreed, “if you’d like to meet us there for an hour after dinner...”

~o0o~
“I’ve got too much homework tonight - another bloody essay for Potions,” Ron grumbled when Harry asked him during dinner, shooting a frown at Hermione who was chatting to Parvati and Lavender. “Even with Ernie’s help, I still can’t hack it. I think I might have to drop Potions...”
“Seriously?” Harry looked stunned. “Are you joking?”
His ears reddening, Ron glanced around to make sure nobody was listening, then leaned in closer to Harry.
“It’s just too bloody hard without Hermione helping me, or... er, trying to copy whatever you’re doing,” Ron whispered glumly. “I... I was wrong, Harry! Even if I had the Prince’s book, I still wouldn’t bloody know what the hell I was doing in Potions. But you’re obviously brilliant at it without Snape harassing you all the time.
“It’s not just Potions either! ... I reckon I wouldn’t’ve got half as many decent OWL’s if it weren’t for you two, and the only reason I’m not failing out of Transfiguration at the moment is because Lavender’s brilliant at it. She’s been helping me loads - but I’m still just barely passing.”
Harry flushed, feeling guilty for the second time that afternoon, not really knowing what to say.
“Er... I’m sorry Ron,” Harry muttered. “You’re still doing great in Defence Against the Dark Arts at least. And maybe, er... maybe I can talk Hermione into helping you...”
“NO!” Ron shook his head vigorously, his eyes widening in terror as he looked to make sure that Lavender hadn’t heard. “Don’t say anything! Please! Lavender would probably freak if I started hanging out with Hermione again. She’d probably set a lot worse than Canaries on me... probably send Eagles or Vultures to peck my eyes out.
“Besides, I, erm... I really don’t want to upset her. I think... I think I’m really falling for Lavender, Harry.”
“Really?” Harry stared at Ron incredulously as the hits just kept coming. If Harry was being honest with himself, it was the last thing he had expected to hear, despite Ron’s protestations of how much he fancied Lavender at the tail end of their row following the Christmas holidays.
“Yeah! Really Harry! I think... I love Lavender. I really love her!”
“Er, wow!” said Harry, peering intently at Ron, looking for signs of illness or a love potion. But Ron’s eyes were perfectly clear. Harry suddenly grinned, feeling relieved in large part for Lavender’s sake, as much as for his own and Hermione’s. “Okay! That’s great, Ron. But what about all that ‘Won Won’ stuff?”
Ron managed to look a bit sheepish and earnest all at once. “Er... I’m sorta getting used to it, to tell you the truth. I mean, she really seems to dig me, Harry, and I dunno why really. At first I thought it was just because I’m half-way decent at quidditch now, but it’s more than that.
“Lavender actually seems to like me... she likes me... just as I am. She doesn’t seem to mind that I’m a bit thick or a bit grumpy sometimes,” said Ron, sounding amazed. “And now that we’ve been together for a while, it’s easy to talk to her about... well, about anything really! And... and Lavender doesn’t yell at me about stuff! ... I mean yeah, she can get a bit cross if I look at other girls, and she’s a bit strict about making sure I do my homework.
“But other than that, we’re great. We actually like a lot of the same things, besides quidditch and shag... er, snogging. Lavender’s not half-bad at chess. ... I never realised, Harry...” Ron glanced at Hermione again then cast his eyes down, not quite able to meet Harry’s eyes, and looked even more abashed if possible.
“It’s just nice being able to get along with someone I fancy without fighting all the time. I never knew it could be like that,” said Ron in a small voice. Then Ron took a deep breath and looked up at Harry again. “Anyway, I may not be doing as brilliantly in all my classes now, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“I suppose I’ll never make Auror now. But you know, I guess I just thought it would be cool to be an Auror because you’re probably going to be one, Harry,” Ron admitted ruefully. “But honestly, I’ve always been more interested in quidditch anyway, really. ... I’m gonna go for it Harry - I’m gonna try out for the Chudley Cannons when I’m done with Hogwarts.
“And you’ll be brilliant Ron! I mean it!” Harry said sincerely. “Any team would be lucky to have you as a Keeper! I think that’s fantastic! And... I’m really happy things are so good between you and Lavender!
“Anyway, don’t worry about tonight - maybe we can practice spells some other time, if we both have time. To be perfectly honest, I think this is more about Luna and Ginny wanting to hang out with me and Hermione and Nev...”
“Yeah! I bet!” Ron snorted mirthfully. “Now that Ginny’s not with Dean anymore, Hermione’ll have to watch out...”
“What? But Ginny’s with Luna now...” Harry blurted out before halting suddenly. Did Ron really not know?
Ron let out a guffaw. “Haha! Really funny Harry. Ginny and Luna? Ginny doesn’t like girls like that... That’s barmy!”
Harry raised his eyebrows at Ron.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Ron quickly added, with another snort of mirth. “Luna I could see - she’s batty - but okay. But not Ginny... there’s no way!” he scoffed.
Not knowing what to say, Harry simply continued giving Ron a look.
“Come on, Harry, stop pulling my leg.”
Harry shook his head.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” said Ron incredulously. Ron’s head swiveled and he stared down the Gryffindor table at Ginny, who was sitting awfully close to Luna and giggling about something. “Nah... They’re just friends,” he said, sounding a little less certain.
“Well, it’s really not my place to say,” Harry said finally. “I suppose Ginny will say something whenever she feels comfortable enough to tell you. Maybe she’s just afraid to, after, er, the way you went mental on her about Dean.”
Ron flushed, and had the decency to look ashamed.
“Yeah, but that’s because, Dean - he’s a guy... any brother would be arsed...” Ron trailed off, knowing how lame he sounded, a strained expression on his face. “Blimey! Ginny and Luna? Really?”
“Look, even if you do think it’s weird, just be nice about it Ron! She’s your sister,” said Harry a bit sharply, taking the risk that Ron would think he was being self-righteous and judgmental.
“Yeah,” Ron sighed, deflating. “You’re right Harry. It’s really none of my business who Ginny goes out with. I shouldn’t have been such a knob-end to her about Dean. I just never knew she liked girls too.”
“Well, she probably wasn’t sure either, until recently,” said Harry wisely, deciding to leave it there and start digging into his shepherd’s pie...

~o0o~
In the end, it was a very small "reunion" of the DA of sorts. Nearly every previous member of the DA whom Harry or Hermione had approached had declined for one reason or another, being busy with their own lives - even Neville, whom they had suspected was just as eager as Luna to restart the DA. And Harry really couldn't blame him, as Hannah Abbott had apparently kidnapped Neville from the Gryffindor table before the end of dinner and dragged him off somewhere to snog him silly.
So only Luna, Ginny, and Parvati met up with Harry, Hermione, and Dora and joined them in the corridor across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. At first Parvati had said it was because she was bored, feeling more and more like a third wheel now that Lavender was spending so much time with Ron, but apparently there was a bit more to it.
“...Besides,” Parvati was telling them, as they all traipsed up the marble stairs and through drafty stone passages, “the DA was the most important thing I’ve ever done at Hogwarts. I should have been with you lot at the Department of Mysteries...” Parvati trailed off, frowning when she spied three Slytherins lurking at the end of a corridor with their wands out, looking for all the world like they were searching for something.
“What are those three doing?” she muttered. Everyone glanced the direction Parvati was looking and spotted Nott with Crabbe and Goyle.
“Dunno,” said Harry, scowling. “Nott’s definitely up to something though.”
“Maybe Malfoy lost something before he was expelled?” Hermione offered uncertainly. She caught Harry’s eye and in that instant, a disconcerting thought occurred to them both.
Harry paled slightly. “Or maybe they’re looking for a secret passage... another way to get Death Eaters into the castle.”
“Bloody Hell!” swore Dora. “That’s an ‘orrible thought.”
“Wait,” Ginny gasped, sharing a horrified look with Luna and Parvati, “I thought Malfoy had just been taken ill or something...”
“Is that why Draco Malfoy was expelled then? ...trying to help Death Eaters break into Hogwarts?” asked Parvati.
“Er... Partly!” Harry replied, glancing worriedly at Hermione and Dora when he realised they might be revealing more than they should have.
Dora shrugged. “I don’t think it really matters if they know, Harry.”
“Know what?” asked Luna, her big silvery-grey eyes widening.
“Draco Malfoy’s also the reason that Katie Bell is in St Mungo’s,” said Hermione. “And why Professor Slughorn got poisoned. Draco was trying to murder Dumbledore with anonymous Christmas Presents’...”
“I don’t get it!” said Parvati, frowning. “Why wasn’t Malfoy arrested then?”
“Did it have something to do with Professor Snape ‘getting sick’ too?” asked Luna. “Was he trying to help Draco assassinate Professor Dumbledore?”
“Well, it’s probably better for your safety if you don’t know everything just yet,” said Dora. “For now the most we can say is that yeah, Snape was sort of mixed up in it too. Can’t really say exactly how though - we gotta keep it all under wraps for the time being.”
“I knew it! Professor Snape’s a Death Eater, isn’t he?” said Luna, uncharacteristically scowling.
“Er...” Harry was a bit taken aback, and he raised his eyebrows at Ginny, who knew as well as he and Hermione and Dora did that Snape was in the Order of the Phoenix.
“Snape’s always been really mean to Luna,” Ginny explained apologetically. “He’s absolutely horrible to her. It’s much better now that Slughorn is Potions professor. Snape made fun of Luna and the Quibbler and called her father an ignorant buffoon whenever Luna talked about magical plants and animals in class. And I knew I couldn’t tell her about...”
“Okay, look, I guess we’d better explain everything after all,” sighed Dora. “Let’s talk about it somewhere a bit safer then.”
Fortunately, the corridor with the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy was all clear. Harry paced quickly back and forth several times, and when the magically appearing door was opened, the familiar setting of the gymnasium in which he and Hermione had led the DA the previous year was waiting for them on the other side.
“Yeah, Snape was a Death Eater a long time ago, back during the first war,” Harry began, once everyone was settled, sitting cross legged in a circle on the mat. “But he switched sides. And to be perfectly honest, I thought Snape might still be on Voldemort’s side too, but apparently he - Snape I mean - he’s been spying for Dumbledore - a double agent...”
Parvati gasped at all of the shocking bits as Harry and Dora filled in the blanks. Luna nodded, feeling vindicated, a satisfied expression on her face.
“I’m really sorry, Luna,” said Ginny. “I wanted to tell you a bit about the Order, but...”
“That’s alright Ginny,” Luna reassured her girlfriend. “It’s a very important secret. It wouldn’t be good at all if Voldemort found out that Snape is really on Dumbledore’s side. ... There’s just one thing I don’t really understand - considering how horrid Snape still is - and obviously Voldemort must believe Snape is spying on the Order for him - how do we know for certain that Snape’s really on the Order’s side now?”
“I don’t know. And I’m not entirely convinced he is,” Ginny admitted, her eyes flashing as they narrowed. “He’s always trying to get Harry expelled.”
“Er...” Harry flushed uncomfortably when Ginny peered at him. “Dumbledore didn’t really go into all the details. But... erm, my mum... apparently Snape had a bit of a crush on her when they were in school together - that’s part of why Snape hated my dad I suppose - and Snape switched sides when he found out that Voldemort wanted to kill her... because...”
Harry swallowed, hesitating. Hermione bit her lip sadly and took Harry’s hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. Harry took a deep breath and continued.
“Voldemort killed my parents to get to me. You know - that whole Prophecy business - me being the Chosen One. Voldemort heard part of the Prophecy and reckoned I was the one - Snape told Dumbledore when he found out Voldemort was coming after my mum, because he still had some feelings for her and thought Dumbledore could save her, but... well... you know...”
“I’m sorry, Harry,” whispered Luna; her big limpid eyes pooled, and Luna’s tears weren’t the only ones leaking; Parvati’s and Ginny’s cheeks glistened wetly as well. Harry nodded in acknowledgment.
“...Anyway, that’s why Dumbledore believes Snape, and... and I guess I do too,” Harry concluded, not quite able to sound like he entirely believed it either.
An awkward silence fell in the Room of Requirement for a few minutes. Finally, Hermione cleared her throat.
“Okay! ... Er, now that’s out of the way, maybe we should practice some spells for a bit,” she began. “Harry and I found some interesting spells in his Potions book...”
“What?” gasped Ginny, peering at Hermione incredulously. “Are you joking? I thought you hated that book...”
“We’ve been sharing it lately,” said Harry, smirking slightly, and Hermione’s cheeks took on a rosy hue.
“Well, I still think whoever it originally belonged to was a bit nasty, and probably into the Dark Arts,” Hermione sniffed defensively, “but they obviously knew their stuff, and there’s no question that they were absolutely brilliant at potions. Anyway, some of these spells look a bit dangerous, but I think they’re worth learning, as long as they’re used carefully and only in appropriate circumstances...”

~o0o~
Harry woke with a start, remembering that there was something very important to discuss with Dumbledore, but at the moment, Hermione was still fast asleep, her arms wrapped snugly around him. Harry glanced at the clock. It was still very early yet, but Harry didn’t think he could go back to sleep. He kissed Hermione’s forehead and tried to relax, his thoughts returning to the session in the Room of Requirement in the meantime.
Things had gone rather well, all things considered, after the somewhat maudlin beginning. Judging by its effects on the dummies in the Room of Requirement, Sectumsempra had been just as deadly as Hermione had surmised, and Harry was glad he hadn’t accidentally cast it on Ron as he had Levicorpus.
Everyone had practiced the spell and mastered it quickly, all agreeing that it should be reserved for only the most extreme circumstances after Ginny beheaded the wooden dummy upon which she was practicing in one swipe. Clearly feeling a bit disturbed after that, Ginny had suggested practicing a more cheerful spell for a bit, and Luna had wanted to do Patronuses.
Harry and Hermione were only too eager to comply, as they had both been planning on exercising their new Patronuses anyway. Harry smiled to himself, gently stroking Hermione’s tawny-brown curls; the astonished expressions on Ginny’s and Parvati’s faces, and the curious look on Luna’s, at the sight of his and Hermione’s incandescent Lion and Lioness had been priceless.
“Wow!” Parvati had exclaimed. “I didn’t know Patronuses could change - and both changing to Lions too.”
“Hmm... Probably because if anyone’s ever proved that they really belong in Gryffindor, it’s Harry and Hermione,” Luna had proffered sagely.
“That’s true,” Ginny had added, “They’re always doing something brave and chivalrous...”
“No doubt about that,” Dora had said with a chuckle as she regarded Harry and Hermione’s embarrassed expressions. “They’re just about the Truest Gryffindors that ever lived.”
And in the confined space of the Room of Requirement, everyone had been swept up in the blissful intensity of the euphoria produced by the eddies and currents of the potent and voluminous flood of Magic generating his and Hermione’s Patroni as it swirled around the chamber.
The tingles of Magic rippling across their skin had been almost arousing. It had been a supremely uplifting way to end the practice session to say the least, and Harry and Hermione had both blushed furiously when Ginny and Luna looked at each other knowingly and giggled.

~o0o~
“What are you grinning about?” Hermione murmured, startling Harry out of his reverie, having apparently just awoken.
“ ‘Morning Hermione... I was just thinking about our Patronuses last night. I guess I’m still getting used to the idea that they’ve changed. But I dunno - somehow...”
“...somehow it feels like they were always meant to be Lions,” Hermione finished for Harry when he paused.
“Yeah! Exactly!” Harry agreed, nodding. “Weird, huh?”
“It’s possible...” Hermione said slowly, looking thoughtful and slightly embarrassed, “It could be that Luna was onto something. I didn’t want to say anything last night, because it seemed a bit boastful to agree, but that might partially explain why both of ours changed - to reflect the key traits that you and I both share, Harry. It more or less fits with what Dumbledore told us.”
“Er... yeah, I suppose that does make sense.” Harry half-smiled, feeling somewhat abashed, the sense of self-consciousness that he’d felt at Luna and Ginny’s observations rekindled. “Anyway, let’s hurry up and get dressed now that you’re awake. Maybe we can catch Dumbledore before breakfast...”
Now fully awake, Hermione suddenly remembered that she and Harry had planned to talk to Dumbledore at their earliest convenience. She leapt out of bed, dragging Harry with her towards the bathroom.
“Er... Hermione?”
“No time for separate showers, Harry. Come on - it’s not like you haven’t seen me naked now.” Hermione giggled at Harry’s flustered expression, feeling secretly pleased that Harry was still shy about such things.
Hurriedly they showered together and dressed, then knocked on Dora’s door, and the three of them dashed through the corridors. The gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore’s office yawned, grumbling at having been awoken so early.
“It’s barely the crack of dawn,” the gargoyle moaned as the trio raced up the spiral staircase.
Fortunately, when Dumbledore answered his office door, he looked as if he had been up for a while already, confirming Harry’s guess that he was an early riser.
“Harry, Miss Granger, Tonks! This is a surprise indeed, but not unwelcome. Please, come in, come in... Would you like some tea?”
Dumbledore waited until everyone was settled and sipping Darjeeling laced with honey and lemon from delicate Belleek teacups, before pressing Harry, who looked bursting at the seams to tell him something urgent.
“Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of such an early visit, Harry?”
Harry set down his teacup and reached into his robes to retrieve the Marauder’s Map, passing it to the headmaster. Professor Dumbledore’s bushy eyebrows rose as he examined the map.
“Most ingenious! The detailing is extraordinary! ... This is the map which Barty Crouch Junior spoke of during the veritaserum interrogation, is it not? So much happened that night and in the ensuing months, I had forgotten all about it.”
“Er... yeah.” Harry looked a bit sheepish. “I snuck into his office and got it back. My dad and Sirius and Lupin - and Pettigrew too I suppose - they made this map when they were at school, and it has all the secret passages on it.
“Anyway, Hermione and I only just thought - it just occurred to us after seeing Nott sneaking around the castle yesterday evening - we think he’s looking for another way into Hogwarts. If Voldemort’s still trying to find a way into the castle, he might find out about the secret passages from Wormtail...”
“...and we thought you should probably block them as soon as possible,” Hermione squeaked.
“Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention,” said Dumbledore, looking very grave. “You are quite right of course! I shall have to block these passages at once. We are most fortunate indeed that Voldemort never thought to seek Peter Pettigrew’s counsel regarding Draco’s secret mission, but who knows how long that will last if Voldemort is still endeavoring to gain secret entrance to the castle, hoping to catch us unawares?”
To Harry’s great surprise, after peering at it for several minutes, Dumbledore handed him back the Map.
“Sir? Don’t you need this?”
“No longer! I have committed the tunnels of which I did not know to memory,” said Dumbledore, a twinkle returning to his eyes. “And you may yet have need of the Map again, as along with your invisibility cloak, it will no doubt prove exceptionally advantageous to protecting yourself and your friends - especially if Voldemort and the Death Eaters do manage to breach the castle.
“It is quite possible - indeed very likely - that there are more tunnels which your father and his friends never found, and we can only hope that Voldemort does not discover them. But if he does, you will need every possible advantage.
“Now, I expect you are also eager to learn of my plan for obtaining Slytherin’s Locket - and it is true that the sooner we retrieve the Horcrux the better - but I must beg your further patience, Harry, while I continue to give it careful consideration. However we accomplish this mission, it must be done in such a manner that Voldemort never learns of the Locket’s theft. It is vital that he does not...”
“Of course,” said Harry, light dawning. “If Minister Umbridge made a public stink about the locket being stolen, Voldemort would find out about it and he’d probably work out that we’ve been destroying his horcruxes...”
“...so we’ll probably have to replace Slytherin’s Locket with a fake - a copy - somehow,” Hermione added, her eyes widening.
“Blimey! Our work’s cut out for us,” Dora sighed. “We’ll have to come up with a real brainwave to pull this off smoothly.”
“Quite so,” Dumbledore agreed, stroking his long silvery beard and nodding. “By all means, if any of you have any ideas to contribute, do not hesitate to let me know...” The headmaster’s clear blue eyes caught the clock on the wall. “Well, unless there is anything further to discuss, it would seem that it is nearly time to join the rest of the school for breakfast. I must make haste if I am to block the secret passage before the day grows much longer...”

~o0o~
Wormtail scowled as he flipped the fried eggs and arranged the slightly burned toast and crispy bacon on plates for himself and Snivellus while he waited for the eggs to finish. He racked his brains for a convenient excuse to slip away after he had cleaned up following breakfast.
With a bit of luck, if he got Snape in a reasonable mood, Wormtail would have the rest of the day free and clear to sneak into Hogsmeade and into Honeyduke’s cellar as a rat, and scout out the old tunnel. And if all went to plan, Wormtail’s fortunes in the Dark Lord’s Army would soon be taking a sharp turn for the better...
- 14
- 15
- 16
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Damaged Bridges