Curses and Kisses

The next morning Hermione woke in time to have a quick breakfast with her friends before they got on the train. She had a lot to explain to them, and she was hoping that if she did it in a public place they would react better knowing that they couldn’t cause a scene. It wasn’t as if she could have told them the previous night anyways, by the time she had returned to the Common Room they had all gone to bed. She purposely chose seats at the very end of the table, away from everyone else. Harry gave her a strange look but joined her, causing Ginny and a reluctant Ron to sit as well.

“I have something important I need to tell you, and by the time I got back last night you were all asleep.” At this, Ginny snickered, looking at Ron with amusement.

“Actually, we were tricking Ron down to the infirmary to get a sober-up potion.”

Hermione scowled, turning on Ron.

“Honestly, Ronald. You spend your last day at Hogwarts hiding from your from your friends and getting pissed because I don’t want to date you. Brilliant, you’re so mature. You’re doing a great job making me regret my decision.”

“Just because you’re so bloody prim and proper doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t know how to have a good time once and a while!”

“I’m not telling you not to! But we’re at war Ron. People are going to worry about you when you disappear for eight hours without a word!” They were starting to attract attention and Hermione didn’t care, he just seemed so, stupid.

“You aren’t my mum! I don’t need a keeper!” She glared at him before rising from the bench and turning to leave. Glancing over her shoulder on the way out she gave an almost smile.

“Obviously, you do.” Without waiting to hear his response she finished making her way out of the Great Hall. Once the doors had closed behind her she bolted out the main entrance and headed for the lake. Maybe a year away from here was exactly what she needed after all. It didn’t take long for her tall red headed friend to sit beside her.

“Don’t let him get to you.”

“Ginny! What are you doing here? You should be getting ready to get on the train. It leaves at half nine, not eleven like the train here.” Ginny rolled her eyes, nudging Hermione slightly with her shoulder.

“This was my fifth year here Hermione, I know the schedule. Harry and I saw Ron onto the train and waited for it to leave. I sent Harry to go tell Dumbledore we missed the train and told him to meet us here.”

“Waited for it to leave? Ginny, I’ve only been here five minutes.” Ginny smiled, shaking her head at her friend.

“You must have been in a hell of a daydream.” Hermione pursed her lips at the curse, causing Ginny to laugh.

“If you’re going to be living with my brother for the next year, you’re going to have to get used to it. Believe me he has one of the foulest mouths I’ve encountered.” Hermione eyebrows rose in shock but she grinned, it was true. He was the perfect little angel in front of Molly except his hair and earring, but once the door was closed he was a different Bill. He cursed a lot, and not in the magical way. His drink of choice was firewhiskey, and it was acceptable with breakfast, as long as his mother wasn’t there. She didn’t understand that one; she’d almost never seen him drunk.

“How did you know?”

“Bill told me in his last letter that Dumbledore was going to ask you about it, so when you said you had news I guessed. Don’t let him protect you though.” Hermione’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “He was pretty upset after the whole Department of Mysteries thing. My guess is that he’ll have to be convinced you can take care of yourself.”

“Of course he was upset! You’re his sister.” Ginny smiled, expression telling Hermione to believe what she’d like. “I can take care of myself!”

“Prove it. I know him. You’ll have to prove it. If I were you, I’d think of something before I stepped foot in Egypt.”

“Well, I’ve got some time then. I not leaving until tomorrow, this afternoon I’m being officially inducted.” Her eyes widened. “Speaking of, does Harry know?”

“No, but he suspects it has something to do with the Order.”

“He’s also standing right behind you.” He said from behind them, causing both girls to stand up.

“Harry.” Hermione said, looking like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.

“Last time I checked.” He answered, grinning. “Is it my turn to know what’s going on?”

“You should probably sit,” Ginny said, patting the ground beside her.

“The reason I didn’t take the train is because this afternoon I have to go with Dumbledore the Headquarters.” Harry’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re being inducted aren’t you? But he still won’t let me.”

“I’m seventeen Harry, technically eighteen. He can’t induct you until you’re legally an adult. Based on what’s been said, I’m sure that when you turn seventeen in July you’ll be inducted too. Ron, well he’s proved too many times that he isn’t responsible.”

“He’ll still be inducted.”

“If he lives until then! Harry the only way he could have gotten as drunk as he was last night was if he snuck out to get more alcohol. He only had one bottle of Ogdens stashed. That means he left the castle and went to Hogsmede, if not somewhere worse, without telling anyone. He’s like a brother to me, but he’s stupid. Not to mention chatty, I’m sorry Harry, but if he were ever captured I’d be willing to bet he spills his guts.”

“That’s not fair Hermione.”

“No, she’s right.” Ginny said quietly. “He always did. Said whatever he had to, or told on whoever he had to, to keep himself out of trouble with mum. It may be different circumstances, but if he couldn’t stand up to mum, he certainly won’t hold his own against torture and legillimancy.”

“He wouldn’t do that. You’re just upset because of this morning.” Hermione sighed, knowing how stubborn Harry could be.

“Maybe you’re right. Either way, that wasn’t what I had to talk to you about. Yes, this afternoon I’m being inducted to the order, but that’s only like a side note. The important part is where I’m going after that.”

“Which is?”

“Egypt.”

“EGYPT! What in the bloody hell are you going to Egypt for?”

“Let me finish, without interrupting.” She waited for Harry to nod before continuing. “Bill is in Egypt, working on a palace for the order. Due to some odd guidelines on who can open the book, I’m the only one in the order who can do it.” Harry looked like he was going to interrupt but Hermione raised her eyebrow, causing him to stop. “I had told Professor McGonagall that I wanted to be a curse breaker, that’s another reason why he thought I should go, so I can train while I’m there and it won’t matter as much that I’m going to be missing my last year here.”

“WHAT?” Ginny and Harry screamed at the same time.

“Dumbledore said that he doesn’t suspect we’ll be done by September.”

“And you agreed?”

“Harry, the book I’m after is a very important text. I wasn’t very happy about it either at first, but if Dumbledore is sending me all the way to Egypt it’s got to be important right?”

“You’ll keep in touch right?” He asked, with a sad grin.

“Of course. That’s it? No argument or fighting?”

“No fighting. If Dumbledore thinks it’s necessary, and there was enough evidence to convince you, that’s good enough for me. I’m going to miss you though.”

“I know. I’ll miss you too.”

“Dumbledore wanted up to head up to his office, he’s just going to have the three of us floo to Headquarters. He didn’t mention that it had been your destination all along though.”

“He wouldn’t, you know how he is.” Ginny told him as she stood up, pulling Harry and Hermione with her. “If we hurry, lunch may be ready.”

“Ginny! You just had breakfast, it’s only, what, half ten?”

“Just after eleven actually, but I’m hungry, so get walking.” She ordered pulling them along the path at an even more rapid pace than before. It didn’t take long for the three of them to reach the headmaster’s office, and even less time for him to send them on their way with the assurances that he would see them later.


*****

“Hermione, they’re waiting for you down in the kitchen.”

“Thanks Professor,” she said, glancing up as she marked her page. “Are they already started?” She may have been doing a good job acting like this wasn’t effecting her, but inside she felt like she was going to explode. Her nerves were off the chart, and she certainly wasn’t going to ask for a stress potion.

“Not yet, they’re still waiting on Severus also, but he’s almost always late.” She nodded absently, following him into the kitchen only to be surprised to find Bill sitting there. No one had told her he was going to be there. He gave her a quick grin before turning back to Dumbledore.

“And here she is now. We were just discussing you, Hermione.” He told her, gesturing for her to talk a seat. She smiled not knowing what to say, and hoping against hope she wouldn’t embarrass herself when she did speak. Especially not in front of Bill. She was going to have to work with Bill. “Bill wasn’t supposed to be here, but he decided to drop in last minute, with the idea that he just had to get you to Egypt today.”

“Professor? What about my parents?”

“Since you’re a member of the Order…”

“Sir?” She was a member of the Order? She hadn’t even been inducted.

“I’m not Voldemort, Hermione; I’m not going to brand you. You’ve already been voted in, that’s what makes up the induction.” She wasn’t sure how he knew what she was thinking, but she suspected it had something to do with Legillimancy.

“And because you are no longer a student, you should feel free to call me Albus.” She opened her mouth to protest that she couldn’t possibly when Bill decided to speak up.

:And by feel free, he means you’re forbidden to call him anything else. He did the same thing to me and I had a bugger of a time getting used to it.”

“Very well then, Albus, what about my parents? You know I haven’t had a chance to take care of that yet.”

“I was hoping that you would consider allowing them to spend some time, at least the summer months, at Hogwarts.” She stared at him wide-eyed, forgetting that she was trying to make a good first impression on a group of people who had known her for seven years.

“Hogwarts? You can’t possibly be serious.” It actually sounded like a good idea, but she couldn’t just give in like that, it had been his plan all along. And then she realized what she was doing. She was going to erase her parent’s memory just to prove she could. That no one could stop her because she was an adult. There had to be something wrong with that.

“I promise you they will remain safe while there.” She was aching to say no, but wasn’t sure she could. Or should, for that matter.

“I know. Why do I need to be in Egypt today instead of tomorrow?”

“It wasn’t my fault! He made me do it!” Everyone around the table, except for Mrs. Weasley laughed at Bill’s outburst making Hermione think she still wasn’t all that happy about her joining the order so young.

“While I appreciate the humor caused, there was really no need to make poor Bill come all this way Professor. I won’t refuse to see logic when it’s presented in front of me; sometimes it just takes a bit of time to digest. So long as you can assure me that they will be kept safe I’m more than willing to hold off on modifying their memories.” It was logic making up her mind all right, just not Albus’ logic. The text she had been reading in the library about modification reversal had her more than a little terrified that she wouldn’t be able to perform the process.

“That was my thought on it too Hermione,” Bill agreed, “But since he mentioned it, if you’d like to go back to Egypt with me this afternoon, there is one thing we could start on today. It’s not necessary, and really it’s only my horrible curiosity that has me suggesting it.” Curiosity was something that Hermione could understand since it had been the driving force in causing her to read so many books.

“Which is something I can more than understand, so if that’s what you want to do its fine with me. I was hoping to get a bit more time in the library, but I can’t say that I’m not at least a little excited about seeing the place anyway.” She looked around, noting that no one seemed concerned with the absence of the potions master.

“In that case, I shall have Lupin give you a few more details about the assignment, and then we can all have lunch. Although, I do believe you already ate?” Hermione laughed, thinking about Ginny.

“No, professor, Ginny ate lunch. I, on the other hand, didn’t feel the need to gobble down a second meal in less than four hours.” Hermione said, causing Bill, Mrs. Weasley and Tonks to laugh. Dumbledore too smiled, but he seemed to be somewhere in thought.

“I’ll ask you once again Hermione,” Dumbledore said in an almost stern voice, “Call me Albus.

“The book Albus spoke with you about earlier is the main target. It will be the most important thing to come out of the palace, and probably the hardest to find and access.” Although listening to each word carefully, Hermione couldn’t help but wonder why Remus was explaining this to her. “That doesn’t mean that it can be your only focus. No one has inhabited that palace since Ichstata died, we expect that there are still many things hidden that would be of use to us. While we have no proof, it was greatly believed that she had discovered potions ingredients still unknown to wizards today. They were plants she bred herself and they were rumored to die with her. We’re hoping that you and Bill can find some proof behind this. Possibly even the ingredients, or how to produce them.”

“Alright, so far everything seems simple and straightforward. Although, that’s probably because the most difficult thing I’ve had to do so far was show up for this meeting.”

“I have every confidence you will do well.” It seemed like that one sentence was the universal phrase for ‘eat lunch’ because all of a sudden everyone was bustling about and asking Mrs. Weasley what was available in the kitchen.

“Chat over lunch?” Bill asked smiling, as he walked over to Hermione. She thought about it, knowing they’d have to get better acquainted at some point. She’d only spent about an accumulated ten hours with Bill over the last two years.

“As good a time as any,” she answered, silently praying that they would get along ok and work well together. They would have to.