Inside the Blackest Heart (Edit, Not Update)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 29 ~ Hermione’s Meeting with Dumbledore

Hermione trailed behind the Headmaster as they entered the Main Hall. Albus silently walked up to the floo, removed a bit of floo powder from the box on the mantle and threw it into the flames.

“My office,” he said. The flames turned green. He stepped back.

“After you, Miss Granger,” he said.

Hermione stepped through the flames, followed closely by the Headmaster. She emerged in the Headmaster’s office, greeted by a welcoming trill from Fawkes. The bird fell silent when Albus entered behind her. Hermione noticed this, and remembered that the Phoenix has stopped singing last time she was in the office and the Headmaster appeared. This was strange. The Phoenix used to always sing in the Headmaster’s presence, even when he had visitors, though the bird kept it low. Now, nothing.

Hermione took the armchair in front of the Headmaster’s desk. She looked at Fawkes closely. The bird was not as bright as she used to be. In fact, she looked a bit bedraggled for a Phoenix. Her tail drooped and her bright red plumage was washed out. She didn’t look old enough to be moving toward burning time, when she would burst into flame and die, then be resurrected from the ashes. Hermione felt a stab of sadness for the magnificent bird. Something was definitely wrong here.

Albus took his seat behind his desk. He took off his glasses, reached into his drawer and pulled out a small cloth. He wiped the half-moon lenses, placed the cloth back in his desk and put his glasses back on. He reached for a small plate full of lemon drops. He offered Hermione one.

“Lemon drop Miss Granger?” he asked her.

Hermione had heard a rumor once that Dumbledore’s lemon drops were dosed with veritaserum.

“No thank you sir,” she replied, shaking her head.

The Headmaster withdrew the plate. Hermione noticed he did not take one himself, which was also unusual. She sat back in the chair, waiting for the Headmaster to address her. She knew it was about the two students she stopped last night.

“Miss Granger, last night you apprehended two students out after curfew, correct?” the Headmaster asked.

“Actually, I apprehended twelve students last night, sir,” Hermione replied.

“Ah, a good night then, I gather,” Albus replied smiling at her.

“That depends on who you ask, Headmaster, me or the apprehended students,” she replied evenly. She was on her guard. Something about the Headmaster seemed a bit off to her. Maybe it was the lack of twinkle in his eyes.

“Well, I am speaking concerning two students. A Ravenclaw boy and a Hufflepuff girl. Both sixth years,” he continued, looking at her intently. “The young wizard claims you used the Imperius curse to stop them from getting away, Miss Granger. Quite a serious charge.”

The Headmaster knew if Hermione had cast an Unforgivable, its magical signature would have immediately alerted the Ministry, and Aurors would have been at the castle gates immediately. But he had to broach the subject somehow. Miss Granger wasted no time pointing this out.

“So,” said Albus, looking at her searchingly, “What did happen last night, Miss Granger?”

Hermione looked the Headmaster in his eyes.

“When I found them, they started running. I yelled at them to stop and come back, and they did. I didn’t find anything odd about that. I just thought they rethought what they were doing and decided just to take the punishment. I didn’t find anything strange about common sense,” she said smoothly.

The Headmaster looked at the young witch in front of him. He didn’t believe her.

“So why do you think the wizard would make up such a thing, Miss Granger?” he asked her.

“I don’t know sir. Maybe he was trying to get out of the detentions he was assigned. Or maybe he didn’t want to admit he got scared and bitched up…I mean gave in. Sorry sir. Or maybe he, like a lot of other students, wants to make it hard for me to do my job. They all resent me, you know. Always being the Headmaster’s watchdog,” she said before she realized it, and clasped her hand over her mouth. Then she said, “I’m so…so…sorry sir.”

Dumbledore sat back and looked at Hermione. She was changing. A year ago she would have never even thought such a thing, much less said it. And the way she said it, with so much resentfulness.

“Miss Granger, you serve a very important role in this school, helping to maintain order. Plus, you are developing skills that will serve you well in the Order. As far as the students resenting you, you must realize that they resent any authority, even when that authority is working toward their benefit,” he said to her, his fingers drumming his desk restlessly. He had moved off the topic of what happened last night. She was feigning to have no knowledge of anything strange occurring.

The Headmaster gently tried to probe her mind, and felt a wall slam down immediately. When had she learned occulmency? But she hadn’t reacted outwardly to his attempt at legilimency. If she were an Occulmens, she was exceedingly talented. If she wasn’t, this could be a manifestation of Primordial power.

“Headmaster, sometimes I get tired of being the one who enforces the rules. Sometimes I wish I could just be a normal student, and live my own life,” she said honestly.

The Headmaster quailed inside.

“Miss Granger, you are not nor have you ever been a normal student. You are the most brilliant witch to have passed through the halls of Hogwarts in fifty years. Life has made you more than ‘normal’ Miss Granger. You are extraordinary, and to allow you to live a normal life would be a waste of your talents and intelligence. You are a resource, my dear, and one of a kind. The wizarding world needs you, and I need you.” the Headmaster said, in a manner that he thought was persuasive. But he had made a grave error.

“Did he say “to allow” me to live a normal life?” Hermione thought, “Does that mean he won’t?”

“But I have needs too, Headmaster,” she replied, letting his comment pass.

“Yes, I know Miss Granger, but sometimes the needs of the many supersede the needs of one individual. You were born to serve the ‘greater good.’ You have a great destiny, Miss Granger. Trust me to guide you to it,” the Headmaster said, his blue eyes meeting her amber ones.

Hermione’s vision came back to her, of being bounced across the landscape of Hogwarts until she was ripped apart. Was that the destiny the Headmaster had in mind for her, to be a resource for others to use until she had nothing left to give?

“Headmaster, you have guided me all my life here in the wizarding world, and I am grateful for it. But once a person reaches adulthood, the responsibility of living falls squarely upon the individual. I cannot be led for the rest of my life, Headmaster. You have prepared me, that is all you can do. I have to start making decisions for myself, and finding my own way through the world. I don’t mind being of service to others, but there has to be limits. I also need time for myself, and I need to decide just how I will be of service, not let others decide for me.”

Hermione took a breath and continued.

“The needs of the many are important sir, but how can I be of service to others if I don’t know who I am or what I am capable of on my own? I’m only eighteen and I have everything in my future planned out for me by you, sir. It’s too much. I need to decide my own future, Headmaster. I’m sorry if that disappoints you, but there it is.” Hermione said, relieved that she finally told the Headmaster what she was feeling.

Dumbledore stared at her. He was watching all his plans for Hermione going down the drain. She was rebelling against everything now, wanting to decide for herself how to serve, make her own decisions. She couldn’t do it. He had to slow her down, distract her from the path she was trying to take, make her need him. It was time to take matters in hand.

“I understand, Miss Granger. Every fledging wants to spread its wings, even though it risks breaking its neck in the fall,” he replied, “You have a right to want to spread your wings.”

Hermione got a very cold feeling about the Headmaster’s analogy. She noticed he said she had a right to ‘want’ to spread her wings, but not a right to spread them.

“I presume you will be making decisions during your year with your parents?” he asked her.

“Yes sir, that’s what I plan,” she replied, “they have always been supportive of my choices, and given me the freedom to make my own decisions.”

Dumbledore nodded.

“Very well, Miss Granger. I am glad you were straightforward with me about your feelings. And don’t concern yourself about the rumors with the couple last night. I’m sure it will blow over. Thank you for taking this time to talk with me,” he said benignly.

Hermione knew this was a dismissal. She rose from the armchair.

“You’re welcome Headmaster,” she replied, “Good-bye sir.” She walked toward the floo.

“Good-bye, Miss Granger,” the Headmaster replied. He was gripping the edge of his desk so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

Hermione stepped through the floo.

Albus’ demeanor changed immediately. She was trying to slip away from him. He knew how to bring her back into his influence. He knew also that her powers were manifesting and she was exhibiting conscious control. He didn’t have much time. He had to secure her before she became a full-fledged Primordial. Before she graduated, he had to make sure Hogwarts was the only place she could call home.

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A/N: Interesting meeting. Please review.