The Subjugation of Hermione Granger

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe and all the characters are property of J.K. Rowling and whomever else has a finger in the huge franchise. I do not. I make no money nor do I claim any ownership of the people, places, and things (unless I make them up as we go). It is only to have some fun do I write this story, in hopes of some entertainment.


Warning: This chapter contains course language, violence and mature themes. Reader discretion is advised.

Hermione could scarcely believe what was happening. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, her bastion of safety and happiness, an institute for the peaceful pursuit of learning, was under siege by evil. Voldemort’s Death Eaters had somehow infiltrated the school and now there was violence and chaos all around. Against her better judgment, the young witch had followed her best friend out of the relative safety of the Potion’s supply cupboard to try to fight off the dark wizards. Harry was brave to try to face wizards that were there to kill him, but Hermione worried over his foolhardy nature. “He’s going to be hurt one of these days,” she thought anxiously. “He may be killed. Just like Sirius.”

Guilt clamped over her heart at her thoughts. Harry would think it a betrayal for her to think like that. Hermione didn’t want to entertain such notions, but she was a pragmatic girl. The chances that The Boy Who Lived would remain living when he always chased after danger were not good. All it would take was for some stray blast of magic, an errant curse to hit him and his life would end. Harry would deny it of course, but if he would only look back at what happened to his Godfather, or even what happened to Ron, when Harry dueled McGonagall, he would see. Accidents happen! Hermione resolved to be there for Harry, to make sure no accidents happened. Not to him.

Still holding hands, the two teens raced along the corridor toward the flashing lights of blasting magic and the echoing roars that reverberated off the walls. Whoever or whatever was up ahead was very angry.

They peered around the corner, Harry leaning against Hermione, glancing over her head. “Whoa,” Harry gasped in an explosion of air. Half a dozen Death Eaters were slowly driving Hagrid and Professor Sprout back into a corner. The half giant of a teacher was standing in front of the Herbology professor holding his pink umbrella splayed open. It was acting as a shield against the spells and curses that the dark wizards cast towards them, deflecting most into the walls to either side of the Hogwarts teachers. Professor Sprout was doing her best to ward off any curses by firing magic under Hagrid’s arms and between his legs. It was pointless to try to go around the Care of Magical Creatures teacher. He took up nearly the whole corridor.

“How is that umbrella deflecting the magic?” Hermione asked in a whisper, her eyes riveted to the scene before her.

“It contains pieces from his old wand,” Harry answered. “Don’t tell anyone.”

“I don’t think it really matters at the moment Harry. Professor Sprout’s bound to notice.” Harry gave her a cheeky grin to which the young witch shrugged innocently.

Just then, Hagrid’s umbrella tore and a blast of magic struck che chest. The half giant roared in anger and using his umbrella like a club, knocked a stunning charm away from him and directly at a Death Eater. The wizard was lifted off his feet and crashed to the ground, unconscious.

With the shield destroyed, the Death Eaters moved in, blasting away. Professor Sprout dropped her wand as a purple flame lanced across her hand. As she bent to pick it up, she was hit with a stunning spell. She fell to the ground in a heap.

“Ruddy cowards!” Hagrid bellowed. “I’ll show yeh not ter mess with Hogwarts.” he lunged forward and wrapped his massive hands around one of his attackers arms. Hagrid hoisted the wizard up into the air with ease and hurled him into another wizard. However, four spells slammed into Hagrid at once, dropping him to his knees. Letting out a great howl of pain, the big bearded man tried to climb to his feet but under the onslaught of magic didn’t have the strength.

Harry dashed around the corner and shouted “No!” raising his wand, he sent a stunning charm down the hall. It hit a Death Eater and sent him careening into the air a few feet before he met the floor with a hard smack. The other wizards turned, looking to see who was behind them. Several spells were sent racing towards Harry in a flash of light and echoed incantations.

Harry cast two defensive spells at once, almost like the young wizard knew what was coming at him before the magic had been cast. One curse was deflected into the ceiling, while the other was redirected into the floor. Dust swirled around the black haired teen. He stepped forward as the dust cleared.

Hermione watched in awe. It looked as if a phoenix was being reborn from the ashes. Harry seemed to glow with magical energy. His hair danced with crackling electricity and his eyes sparkled with raw magical power. He raised his wand, almost in slow motion, and magic shot forth. The light enveloped a wizard, so blinding Hermione thought the Death Eater must have vanished, but as the glare faded she saw the man bound in glowing tendrils that had him immobilized.

Seeing two Death Eaters fire at her friend, Hermione stepped around the corner and redirected one curse into the wall. Harry easily knocked the other spell away also. Harry shot Hermione a smile in thanks.

Hagrid surged to his feet and swung his large arm around, driving his boulder of a fist into a Death Eater. The unlucky wizard doubled up gruesomely before falling to the ground and lying still.

The last remaining Death Eater, with panic in his eyes, raised his wand at Hagrid. “Avada Kedavra!” he shrieked desperately.

Hermione gasped and her hands flew to her mouth in terror.

Harry reacted instantly and yelled “Protego!” The magic flew from his wand, racing the killing curse towards Hagrid. Harry’s spell reached the half giant first but couldn’t completely stop the Unforgivable. The spell hit Hagrid’s arm, sending the large man spinning to the ground.

“Hagrid!” Hermione yelled hysterically.

The Death Eater jumped to his feet and dashed down a corridor. “He’s here!” he shouted. “Potter’s this way!”

The sound of pounding feet thundered through the corridors. Harry and Hermione were frozen to the spot. “Hagrid,” Harry whispered, a tear in his eye.

The big shaggy head of the Care of Magical Creatures professor slowly rose from the floor. Red rimmed eyes looked toward the two teens. Relief swept through Hermione and she took in a shuddering breath of air. “Yeh two,” Hagrid bellowed. “Run. Hide.”

“What about you and Professor Sprout?” Harry shouted.

Hagrid scooped the unconscious witch onto his shoulder with his right hand. Hermione noticed with shock that his left arm dangled loosely at his side. “I’ll take her teh safety, but yeh need to scamper.”

“But Hagrid…”

“Now!” the half giant roared.

“Come on Harry,” Hermione urged as she pulled her friend’s sleeve.

The sight of a throng of Death Eaters spurred Harry to move. Giving Hermione a little push, the two students dashed down the corridor. How did she get to this point? Hogwarts was under attack, Death Eaters were chasing them, and she was on the run. At least she was with Harry. There was no one she would rather be with in a situation like this. Of course, not being in a situation like this would be just fine with her. Being in the library doing her schoolwork would be much preferable. Heck, she would even settle for being with Draco at the moment.

Shouts and clomping footfalls were getting closer behind them. A panic swept through her. Hermione knew that she and Harry couldn’t fight so many Death Eaters alone. They needed to hide.

“Harry,” Hermione exclaimed, stopping suddenly. She pulled him towards her and shoved him into a tight alcove behind a tapestry of Alberta Toothill, 1391 - 1483, a famous Wizarding Duelist. She had won the All - England competition in 1430 with a Blasting Charm, defeating Sampson Wiblin, who was the favourite to win.

It was a very small alcove and Harry and Hermione had to stand very close together. The young witch clutched desperately to the front of Harry’s robes and buried her face in his chest in fear. Propping his chin on top of her head, Harry gently stroked Hermione’s hair, trying to soothe her. The bushy haired girl felt her heart hammer in her chest. The sound filling her senses so much that she was positive the chasing wizards would find them with ease.

Hermione felt the terror rise as the wizards moved next to their hiding place. They were going to be caught! Hermione looked up into Harry’s green eyes. He looked down at her and put his finger to his lips, telling her to stay quiet. The teen’s confidence and calm demeanor helped settle her shaky nerves. Hermione nodded lightly to Harry.

It seemed like forever that the Death Eaters stood within just metres of their hiding place. Hermione was afraid that any moment the tapestry would be thrown aside and they would be captured. The tension grew within Hermione. She whimpered quietly.

Harry’s hand covered her mouth gently. Her eyes snapped to his. With his face just centimeters from hers, Hermione saw the determination and strength. Hermione took a deep breath, trying to keep calm, and buried her face against Harry’s chest again. The sound of his heartbeat, steady and strong, its thumping against her ear lolled her to calmness.

“Fuck,” a deep voice spat. “If we lost the brat and his bitch, Lestrange will have our balls.”

“You’re worried about that loon?” another wizard asked disbelievingly. “I’m more worried about the Dark Lord. He’ll have our hearts for breakfast.” there were a few murmurs of consent before the wizard afraid of Voldemort spoke again. “Well, we better keep moving. We won’t find the little brat by standing still.”

Relief washed through Hermione as the sound of the Death Eaters receded down the hall. She looked into Harry’s eyes and smiled. Harry wore a relieved smile and he embraced her with a whoosh of air. “That was a close one, eh Hermione?” Harry said next to her ear. “You were so brave.”

Hermione felt elated to hear the praising words from her best friend. She beamed at Harry. “Not as brave as you. I’ve never seen such magic before. You are an amazing wizard. You stopped the Killing Curse!”

“Deflected is more like,” Harry replied, his face growing dark, grim. “I think Hagrid…”

Hermione grabbed Harry around his neck and dragged his lips to hers. A soft sigh escaped her mouth at the warmth Harry offered her. Wanting to melt away at the sweet taste of pumpkin juice on Harry’s lips, Hermione clung to the raven haired teen with fervor.

“Harry, I lo-”

“We have to go,” Harry exclaimed quickly. An expression of panic swept across his face, one Hermione hadn’t seen since Cho Chang and his Hogsmeade date with her in fifth year.

“What?” Hermione sputtered. “But…”

“I think the coast is clear. We have to keep moving.”

With her heart plummeting to her stomach, Hermione nodded sadly. Harry was correct. Now was not the time for romance. But was it romance Harry was delaying? Or was it just Hermione Harry was putting off?

The halls seemed eerily quiet. It was like all the Death Eaters had vanished, but Hermione knew that couldn’t be. Apparition was impossible on the school grounds according to Hogwarts: A History. That meant that the dark wizards had another means of travel. But how?

Just then, light and sound exploded in the corridor ahead of them. Magic flew over their heads forcing the two teens to drop to their stomachs. Screams echoed around them. Harry looked back to Hermione with a pained expression. “What classes are down this corridor?”

“Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, and…” Hermione’s eyes opened wide. Her breath caught in her throat. “Arithmancy. Oh my goodness. Ron! Ginny!”

Harry was on his feet instantly and sprinting ahead. When Hermione caught up to him the scene made her heart stop. It was total confusion. Six Death Eaters were firing spells at whatever moved. The still bodies of many students littered the floor. Among the fallen was Professor Vector, the Arithmancy teacher. There was a group of students huddled in a corner trying to deflect the spells fired at them, but the magic from the Death Eaters was too strong. The students were tiring. Ron was at the front of the group looking haggard.

“Ron!” Hermione breathed in fear.

Harry raced forward and stunned one of the Death Eaters. Heads turned to see who dared attack. “It’s him. It’s Potter,” a rumbling voice muttered from behind a cowl. “Nott, Dolohov, get him.”

Two of the wizards broke off their attack on the other students and advanced on Harry. “Wait,” a shrill voice rang from the group. “Itty bitty baby Potter is mine.”

Harry gasped. “Bellatrix Lestrange.” His face tightened in rage and he raised his wand. “You killed Sirius!”

Bellatrix pulled off her mask and shook out her long black hair. Her face was fuller now, less gaunt than last year. It appeared freedom agreed with her. Sparkling blue eyes glinted insanely around. “Did I?” the witch asked in a trill. A large toothy smile broke out on her face. “Fancy that. You don’t miss my dear cousin do you?”

“Stupefy!” Harry shouted, his voice overpowering all other sound in the corridor. The flash of magic flew from his wand but was batted away easily by the crazy witch. Instantly, spells began to fly back and forth frantically from both Harry and Bellatrix.

Hermione pried her eyes off the battle before her and turned to lend her magic to the surrounded students. “Expelliarmus,” she shouted. A flash of white erupted from her wand and struck a Death Eater. His wand flew up into the air. He growled with frustration as he turned to see who had hexed him. Hermione could almost see the dark wizard smile behind his cowl as he looked the young witch over. He obviously didn’t think her much of a threat as he slowly advanced on her.

Frowning, Hermione stood up straight. The bushy haired girl couldn’t believe that the wizard was going to try to intimidate her unarmed. “Petrificus Totallus,” she said in exasperation and the Death Eater fell to the floor on his face. Hermione hoped he hurt his nose.

Turning back to Ron and the others, Hermione found the students rallying. With the leadership of the two Weasley’s, Ron and Ginny, as well as Luna, the Arithmancy class was finally using its size to advantage. The Death Eaters were beginning to lose their confidence.

Movement caught Hermione’s eye as a Death Eater began to creep behind Harry. “Expelliarmus!” Hermione yelled. The wizard’s wand soared out of his hand causing him to look around desperately for the thin wood. He dove for the wand when he saw it a few feet away and rolled, coming up in a defensive crouch. Upon seeing his quarry, the evil wizard laughed eagerly.

“Allowing me the opportunity to finish what I started at the Ministry of Magic poppet?” the Death Eater sneered as he pulled off his mask. Antonin Dolohov smirked at the look of apprehension on Hermione’s face.

“You,” she breathed. “You’re the one who hexed me from behind.”

“That’s right girl. You’re lucky I couldn’t speak then. That curse should have killed you.”

“You evil…!” Hermione shrieked. The young witch couldn’t quell the rage that exploded in her chest. Never in her life had she imagined a person could be so callous, so cruel. The wizard before her had meant to kill her, and would have succeeded if not for a silencing charm. By the gleam in Dolohov’s eye, he meant to finish what he started last year. Narrowing her eyes, Hermione was damned if she was going to let him.

“Crucio!” Dolohov intoned.

“Protego,” Hermione countered, but let out an anguished cry as the curse broke through her charm. She fell to her knees. Tears welled in her eyes.

The evil wizard smiled in victory. He raised his wand.

“Stupefy!” Hermione screeched. The beam of magic shot from the end of her wand and struck Dolohov in the chest so hard he flipped end over end in the air before he slammed hard against the wall. Shakily Hermione rose to her knees as she watched the unconscious wizard slump to the floor.

“Hermione!” Ron shouted as his friend turned, swaying unsteadily on her feet. A blast of magic from the red head’s wand hit the Death Eater that had been sneaking up behind Hermione, in the back, sending him flying forward. He skidded to a halt in front of the girl, out cold.

Putting his hand on her shoulder, Ron steadied Hermione before she could fall over. “That felt horrible,” she commented with a trembling voice, referring to being hit by the Cruciatus Curse. “And I didn’t get hit with the full force of it either. Malfoy didn’t know what he was doing, Thankfully.” Hermione shook her head in wonder.

Ron grinned widely.

Hermione pointed her finger at her friend menacingly. “Don’t say it.”

“What?”

“That I’m scary sometimes.”

“Well, how about brilliant then?”

That I can live with,” Hermione replied with a grin.

“But still scary.”

Hermione slapped Ron lightly on the shoulder. She wobbled slightly on her feet and Ron held her steady again. The two teens looked into each other’s eyes and smiled. It was amazing how blue Ron’s eyes were. They seemed electric. Pink suffused his cheeks and ears.

Finally breaking the silence, Hermione asked, “Where’s Harry?”

Darkness flickered behind Ron’s eyes. Hermione frowned at the sight. She could have sworn the youngest male Weasley’s eyes had turned green for that split second. Ron took a step back and looked over Hermione’s shoulder. Instantly, the bushy haired girl turned to follow Ron’s gaze.

Several metres down the hall, Harry stood facing Bellatrix Lestrange with wands raised. There was ferocity in the teen’s eyes that made Hermione a little afraid. “Harry is so angry,” Hermione thought. “He’s so temperamental, but that… woman deserves it. She killed Sirius.”

Harry’s magic was forcing the insane witch back. He wasn’t hurting her, but Bellatrix was not going to win. Harry was going to defeat her.

The Transfiguration classroom door opened. It was the chance Bellatrix had been waiting for. She dove into the room. Screams erupted and echoed through the corridors. Several sparks of magic shot out the door. Harry ignored it all and rushed after the Death Eater.

Hermione let out a squeak of surprise. She looked to Ron and the two teens nodded together before rushing after their impetuous friend. As they stomped into the room they saw the raven haired wizard facing Bellatrix, wand raised again, the same stance as before. This time however, Bellatrix held Maia Jeinsen, a Hufflepuff student, in a choke hold. She was using the hostage as a shield against Harry.

“You let me go now itty bitty baby Potty,” Bellatrix demanded in a loud voice. “Or I will kill this girl.”

Darkness filled Harry’s face. It was almost like The Boy Who Lived was draining the very magic from the chamber as he raised his wand and uttered “Accio Maia.” The Hufflepuff witch gasped as she was wrenched from the older woman’s grasp and flew swiftly to Harry.

“Damn you Potter!” Bellatrix shouted. She raised her wand, ready to curse Harry when Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall ran into the room. The old Headmaster seemed to glow white with magic as he filled the doorway. The Grand Wizard had a commanding presence. Hissing in fury, the black haired witch sent magic streaking to the wall and blasted a large hole in which to escape. Her trill voice could be heard echoing curses down the corridors as she fled.

Harry turned to follow her. Thinking to stop her best friend from an ill advised plan, Hermione took a step forward only to be frozen in her tracks as Maia grabbed Harry and embraced him desperately. Hermione’s mouth fell open and a tiny gasp bubbled forth.

“What the Hell?” she croaked.

A hand gripped her shoulder and she turned to Ron. Her eyes were wide and begged for an explanation. Ron’s eyes were sad as he looked at Hermione. The lanky teen then looked over to Harry, forcing Hermione to do the same. Another hole was punched into Hermione’s heart as Maia pulled Harry down for a kiss. It looked as if this wasn’t the first kiss the two teens had shared.

“When did this happen?” Hermione asked in a small timid voice.

Running his hand through his fiery hair, Ron sighed heavily. “Um, since the DA meeting. Remember? You told Harry to go.”

“I did no such thing!”

“Yeah, you did. Harry was going to go to Snape’s with you, but you told him to stop being a m a martyr. He went with Maia instead.”

“Oh.” Hermione turned away from Harry and Maia. She couldn’t take the feelings of pain and betrayal. She shook her head. Harry wasn’t betraying her. She had betrayed him. Her eyes alighted on Professor Dumbledore. He was looking at Harry also, his eyebrows raised and his mouth open. It would be almost satisfying to see the old man so shocked if not for her own dismay.

The Headmaster turned his eyes toward Hermione and frowned slightly. “It appears Hogwarts is safe once again,” he said assuredly to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, who had just swept inte roe room. “The few captured Death Eaters will be sent to Azkaban. It is imperative we discover how this attack took place. How did so many wizards get inside the castle without warning?”

“It seems that they came from the dungeons Headmaster,” Professor Snape commented evenly. “Every room will be searched extensively, I assure you.”

The Headmaster nodded to his Potion’s master and turned back to Hermione. Slowly, the old wizard shuffled over to her. Hermione took a step back involuntarily. Professor Dumbledore peeked over his half moon glasses at Harry and then looked down to Hermione in confusion. It was an expression the young witch never thought she would see in the old wizard’s face. Wasn’t Albus Dumbledore supposed to know everything? His confusion unnerved Hermione.

“Miss Granger?” the old wizard asked softly. “Are you alright?”

Taking another step away from her Headmaster, Hermione nodded quickly. She stared at his long fingers as they hung in the air, reaching for her. She cringed. These hands had touched her before. They had taken her innocence. They had forced her into adulthood too early. Hermione remembered the pleasure, the explosion of sensations throughout her body in revulsion. She should have been with someone she loved for the first time, someone to give her body to. Instead, Albus Dumbledore had taken her.

Realization dawned in her eyes. That Professor Dumbledore had taken her. Draco had taken her. She had taken Harry. Her eyes filled with tears. With a guilty heart, Hermione looked to Harry. He was still talking closely with Maia. If only Hermione had not tricked him, her best friend, into having sex with her, she might be in Harry’s arms right now. Harry would have given himself to her freely. “He did,” she thought wretchedly. She could have given herself to him. Now that was lost, done so very wrong. Hermione felt her stomach roll piteously and bile clog her throat.

Professor Dumbledore laid his hand on Hermione’s shoulder and softly asked his question again. She didn’t hear him. The sound of her heart drowned everything else. It was breaking. Turning shining eyes upwards to the man shaking her lightly, the confused girl yelped in shock. “Get your hands off me!” she yelled. Every eye turned towards her. She could feel their judgment, their disgust boring into her soul.

The young witch pulled away from the Headmaster, her eyes darting from one person to the next. When she locked gazes with Harry a dam burst in her chest. Tears flooded her eyes and streaked down her cheeks. Through her watering eyes, Hermione saw the startled, guilty look on Professor Dumbledore’s face. Professor McGonagall was scandalized at her favourite student’s outburst and turned her nose in the air. Ron gaped at her, his mouth hanging open.

“Hermione?” Harry called to her in confusion and concern, but the wild haired witch didn’t hear. She turned and ran from the room.


Author\'s Note: i must apologize for those who had expected this chapter out last week. it just wasn\'t meant to be. aside from the fact that i wasn\'t quite finished yet, a few other factors got in the way. from friday to sunday i was away participating in a baseball tournament (we made it to the semi finals. yay us!) i figured i would get the chapter up on sunday night, but alas, i couldn\'t get onto the site. anyone else having this recurring problem? it\'s getting very annoying. i know, excuses are lame, but things do creep up in what we jokingly refer to as real life. it\'s getting so bad that my writing production is becoming so exceedingly slow. i use to be able to get two chapters a week out, now i struggle to get one out. what\'s up with that? just so you know, even if i\'m late, i am very commited to getting this story (as well as TBOTBN) completed and posted. but if this site keeps crapping out like it has recently, i may just have to find a new site. any ideas?


keys - thanks! knowing i\'m doing draco well is such a relief. it\'s hard to keep the characters in, um, character. i know hermione is a little off, but you never know, being in a situation like this might make a l a little confused. puberty sucks.

star - thanks. you\'re a star.

spaz141 - you think draco might be falling for hermione? well i ask you, who couldn\'t love her? she\'s such a cutie. hehe. anyway, that\'s my take on her. as for harry and hermione getting together, it seems our heroine has some competition now. she seems quite upset about that eh?

Ashes - marry harry? where did you get marriage? they\'re only 16! hehe. but yes, hermione did seem to choose harry over draco. as for fluff, this story isn\'t about fluff. too much angst for fluff, but we\'ll see. who knows how it will end.

dragonlady sakura - i know from computer problems. i\'m glad you made it back to review the last chapter at least. i\'m glad you liked the reconciliation scene. i thought it was due, even though it didn\'t last anywhere near as long as jkr has put the trio through before. my timeline is still early in the year. it\'s not even christmas yet. as of this chapter, it\'s only about the beginning of december. this story is going to end before the holidays.

Classic Cowboy - it\'s great you like this story so much. especially since you don\'t normally like dm/hg stories. could it be that this isn\'t fluffy in the least?

jm007 - you want hermione to end up with draco big time eh? i\'m a bit surprised since he\'s such a mean guy. i guess the bad boy really does appeal to some people. well draco is definitely the bad boy in this story and i\'m happy you\'re reading.

Apollonia - now if i told you secrets like draco developing feelings for hermione that would just ruin the surprise wouldn\'t it. the ferret boy always seems to want to shake things up, perhaps he\'s just trying to do that again. or maybe he is falling for hermione. you\'ll just have to wait and see.

Marc - hmmm, you might be disappointed. you\'re right, there hasn\'t been much point to this story except for the discovery of their sexual selves. this little adventure, the school being attacked, has run it\'s course for the moment. that plot point will be more relevant to harry\'s story (whenever that comes) and it\'s back to the instinctual sex next chapter. as for changing their minds, um, i bet you think it\'s coming out of left field that harry is kissing maia. this is what happens when i decide to cut one gigantic story into three. now you\'ll have to read all my stories. muahahaha.

cdog21 - thanks for the vote of confidence, as well as the suggestion about keeping draco and hermione\'s playtime secret. that\'s an awesome idea. not sure if i\'ll use it, but it\'s swimming around in my murky waters of a brain now. and yes, i know that because of the removal of the harry and ron chapters that some things are a bit confused. however, i think that all the points that you need to know are there and it\'s followable. the chapters i did remove are still on file and i plan to use them, in some edited form, later. things will be very tied up together. keep reading and reviewing. i love to hear from you.

Miki - wow, that\'s some deep stuff. very intriguing theories, quite persuasive arguments. the only thing, do you really believe i\'m capable of thinking that far ahead? that\'s advanced stuff. sorry for insulting your leonine pride. from what you said about not being able to lie and all i figured that sounded more honest and true then adventurous and courageous. my mistake and i\'m sorry. i hope you can forgive me. this chapter is for you. :-)

Dr. Huff-Puff - now why would malfoy ruin things? sheesh, you trying to give him a reputation as a trouble maker? as for ron not being there, well he\'s not in advanced potions. he didn\'t get the marks. i thought it was cute how they woke up together too.

traydr vic - hmmm, crossed wires i think. i\'m going to have to disagree with you on the two TBOTBN chapters. didn\'t happen. the last time theodore\'s story was updated was 07/03/04. hermione\'s story was last updated 06/26/04. i didn\'t update last week and now we have this week, where it\'s back to hermione. so you see, no double posting of theodore\'s tale, so you don\'t get two of hermione\'s. nice try though. it\'s a shame you don\'t like theodore and his friends but hey, it happens. of course, you didn\'t like this story at the beginning either. i can hope for a change in your mind for that one too. i\'m going to guess you won\'t like the outcome of this chapter. i can only guess what you\'ll think where the story is headed now. hehe.

OddDoll - intending to write more? of course. this story isn\'t done yet. plus i have so many ideas in my head i don\'t think i can ever stop writing. we\'ll see if my muse can keep me going though. i have never, ever written as much as i have with this story and my other epic. plus i have dozens of other epics in my head. what a surprise, you didn\'t like the dumbledore scene. hehe. i\'m glad you came out of hg/ss for a bit of a visit to my twisted universe. i\'m glad, overall, it agrees with you.

AriadneElda - welcome to the fold ariadne. i\'m so happy you like the story. i know hermione is out of character, and while dumbledore and snape appear to be so, i am trying to make things mysterious and compelling. dumbledore is scheming as usual. snape\'s tale to hermione was to show her that she isn\'t so depraved as she feared. that little scene will crop up again, but not in this story. you\'ll just have to read my other stuff when i get to it. i\'m evil that way.