you make your own destiny

chapter 2

Harry and Hermione sat in silence on the playground,

each at a loss for words.

"It's getting late, Hermione. We should get moving,"

Harry said, remembering his encounter with the

dementors when he had been out too late.

"Harry, I know it's still before school, but would you

want to go ahead and move to my house? We have a

spare room and I'm sure my parents would be happy to

have you."

"But what about their safety? Harry said. "Voldemort

is probably waiting for his moment..."

"We have a strong defence system of wards Professor

Dumbledore set them up at the beginning of the summer.

We should be perfectly safe."

"I hate that you're in danger simply because you're my

friend," Harry said angrily.

"I wouldn't`t change it for the world," Hermione said,

patting his shoulder awkwardly.

"Let's go back to my place. I just need a few minutes

to get my things and we can go," Harry said, spirits

lifted by the prospect of getting out of the Dursley

household weeks early.

"We should meet with Professor Dumbledore as well. I

think...he should know," Hermione said quietly.

"Maybe he does already," Harry said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well he seems to know everything. Do you really

think that he wouldn't think something like Tom Riddle

being your father would be important? We need to

confront him and tell him that we know," Harry said.

Both were quiet with this new knowledge. Could

Dumbledore really have known this and not told them?

What else had he neglected to mention?

Hermione cast a spell on the letter and a few minutes

later, the new Portkey had placed them back in Harry's

room. Quickly he gathered his things, scribbled a

quick note for the Dursleys and together, they set out

for Hermione's house, this time via Floo Powder in the

living room fireplace.

Hermione's parents were understandably startled to see

their daughter and a friend pop out of the fireplace,

but they welcomed Harry with a friendliness that

brought a twinge of regret. Would his parents have

been like this? He would never know.

Hermione wrote a quick note to Dumbledore and sent it

with Hedwig.

"Now what?" She said, craning her neck to look at the

clock. It was one in the morning and both of them

were exhausted.

"We wait for a response from Dumbledore. But first,

sleep," Harry said good-naturedly, bidding Hermione

good night and heading to bed. It was some time

before he fell asleep, his mind filled with concern

for Hermione.

It didn't matter who her father was, he decided.

Hermione was a Gryffindor. That meant she was

innately good...right?

Morning came too quickly, bearing with it a response

from Dumbledore, stating that he would meet them at

the Hog's Head at noon. Sleepily, Harry glanced at

his clock. It was already 11:30.

He woke Hermione and quickly, they dressed and Flooed

to the Hog's Head with five minutes to spare. A quick

glance around the restaurant showed Dumbledore waving

them into a booth.

Harry and Hermione entered, surprised to see Remus

Lupin sitting beside Dumbledore. He looked as tired

as Harry felt.

"Hello Professor," Harry said to Lupin.

"Harry, I'm not a professor anymore. Call me Remus."

"Right," Harry said, abashed. "Sorry, Professor."

Remus just rolled his eyes.

"Headmaster, we're here because...well, I found out

that I'm adopted. This isn't easy for me to believe,

but I looked up the records and it was there in black

in white. My mother died in childbirth. Tom Riddle

is my father."

Dumbledore nodded once and looked at the two of them

over his half-moon glasses. For the first time, those

normally twinkling blue eyes seemed to hold something

dark and sinister.

"I see. I was hoping your parents would choose to

withhold that information until Voldemort was

defeated. Alas."

"I suppose I'm worried. What if...what if I'm evil

like him?" Hermione said urgently.

"You make your own destiny, Hermione," Remus said

gently.

"I think the two of you need some food and drink. I

will be right back," Dumbledore said, getting up and

heading for the bar.

They sat in awkward silence. The food seemed to be

taking an abnormally long time to prepare. Harry slid

out of the booth. "I'll go see what's taking so

long."

He was surprised that he didn't see Dumbledore

anywhere in the Hog's Head. Harry moved to the door

and checked outside.

His vision went black almost immediately as a gloved

hand went around his mouth and a stunning spell went

into his back.

"Get the girl." Harry recognized the silky voice as

Voldemort's and tried to move out of the firm grasp

the Death Eater had on him, but to no avail.

Moments later, another Death Eater emerged from the

restaurant with Hermione thrown over his shoulder.

Remus ran out of the Hog's Head, wand at the ready,

but he couldn't get a clear target with Hermione's

body in the way.

"Tell Dumbledore what you saw here today, wolf,"

Voldemort hissed and disapperated with his Death

Eaters and two of the wizarding world's most valued

members.

Dumbledore appeared a few moments later, hands laden

with food.

"Remus, what are you doing outside? Did I miss

something?"

Remus could only stare into the distance, where Harry

and Hermione had been a second before.

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