The Wandering Road
Arguments and Explanations
Disclaimer
I live in a castle in
Not really. I just get my jollies playing with her toys. I promise I will clean
them when I'm done.
All the
mistakes you see belong to me. I have an awful habit of tinkering with my chapters
after my lovely Beta, Olweneleanor, checks them over. She rocks my socks!
Chapter 3 –
Argumentation and Explanations
Hermione
Granger found herself floating in the darkness, its twisted embrace pulling her
deeper into its depths. She tried to awaken herself from this perverse
nightmare, but seemed unable to do so. She remained, somewhat disconnected from
reality, but with moments of rare lucidity. On occasion, after waking and
prying her eyes open, she would hear snippets of conversation.
“Miss
Weasley, would you care to explain how you just appeared in your brother’s
shop, directly in front of your mother, when I myself put up the
anti-apparition wards?”
“Well, you
see… what I mean to say is…. Professor Dumbledore, I…,” the auburn haired girl
mumbled, pointedly avoiding the all-knowing eyes of the Headmaster.
“We haven’t
all day for your excuses, you foolish chit,” Severus snarled.
‘I know that
voice.’ Hermione thought as she struggled to open her eyes. Blearily she
blinked, before realizing who the voice belonged to.
“Professor
Snape!” she gasped as she jerked up in the bed. Blearily she opened her eyes to
find herself being regarded by the twinkling blue eyes of her Headmaster.
“Professor
Dumbledore, don’t blame Ginny. It was my fault. I cast a spell on her; she had
no idea what it did.” She shifted in her bed, pulling down her gown.
“Miss
Granger, we’re waiting. Don’t waste our time with your foolish excuses. I know
exactly what you did.” He smirked evilly and then glared down his nose
disdainfully at her.
“Now now, Severus. Give the girl a chance to explain what
happened. You should be a little nicer; she did after all buy you enough time
to call the Order, did she not?” Professor Dumbledore stood and twirled his
fingers in his beard thoughtfully. “I must admit that I am quite intrigued,
Miss Granger. I myself have not come across anything like this spell in my
hundred and sixty years.”
“Well you
see, Professor Dumbledore, I did some experimentation this summer. I was
looking for ways to give us the upper hand in the inevitable war.”
“You are
children, what do you know of war?” Severus whispered dangerously.
“Severus, if
I have to tell you again to let them explain you will have to leave.” Albus
turned and peered over his eyeglasses towards Hermione and motioned for her to
continue.
“After some
reading Blurring the Lines of Arithmancy and Spells, Charms, and Techniques for
Evasion I found a way to determine the most effective combination of spells and
charms to allow me to cast a spell that allows temporarily invisibility.”
She paused to
look at the amazement on the face of her friend, the thoughtful look on
Dumbledore’s face, and the puzzling expression on the face of her dour Potions
Master.
“Unfortunately,
there is a problem with the spell that I have not been able to work through. It
takes a great deal of magical energy to sustain the effects of the spell. I
think that after casting the spell on Ginny, myself, and then Professor Snape
that my magical reserves must have been depleted.”
“Well,
actually, Miss Granger,” Professor Dumbledore began quietly, “It was well
beyond two hours after the battle was over and Diagon Alley cleaned up before
we became aware of the existence of Miss Weasley. It was perhaps twenty minutes
after that when Professor Snape walked up the path to the school with you in
his arms.”
“You carried
me back to the school,” she exclaimed, staring at her professor.
“What was I
to do, you foolish chit? There is no doubt that you irritate me, but was I to
leave you, unconscious, lying on the ground. After all,” he paused, “you are
responsible for me being here right now. Voldemort knows of my treachery.”
“Professor
Snape brought you here and told us of what you did.” Albus moved to stand in
front of her and peered over his glasses to look into her eyes. “What were you
doing in an apothecary that specializes in all things dark?”
Hermione
ducked her head down, staring at her hands as she twisted them. “Professor
Dumbledore, there is a war going on,” she began. “Pardon my bluntness, but
there are many different ways to fight against Voldemort. I am well aware of
what your thoughts would be if I told you exactly what I was doing and I hope
that you would respect my privacy in this matter.”
“Impertinent chit.” Severus snarled as he stood and began pacing
the floor restlessly. “Do you realize the types of people that shop in places
like that?” He paused to glare at her and began pacing again. “Many people
would like to see you dead.”
She squared
her shoulders and glared at him. “Of course, sir. Why
do you think that I was disguised? I am not foolish, despite what you may
think. I have been to that particular shop four times already. I am just
waiting on a shipment.”
“Miss
Granger, I realize that you and your friends are no longer children, but-”
Before Professor
Dumbledore could finish his thought Hermione interrupted him.
or not he wants it, and we are his friends. If he is to go into battle then we
will help him prepare in whatever ways we can. If that comes in the form of
knowledge, even if you would consider it grey or black then we will take that
advantage.”
She was
stopped by the raised hand of Professor Dumbledore. “That is enough, my dear.
It seems that yet again I am guilty of underestimating you. If you feel that
you must be included I will talk to the members of the Order and we will vote
on it. But I would feel better if you discussed things with us first.”
“Headmaster,
I realize that you would like for someone to watch over us, but the truth is
that much of our advantage is darker magic than you would approve of.”
Dumbledore
stared at her for a moment before he looked at Severus with a twinkle in his
eyes. “Well Miss Granger I think that perhaps the answer to both of our
problems would be Professor Snape. He is well aware of the many different forms
of magic and is part of the Order.”
Before Snape
could object, Hermione stared at Dumbledore. “Headmaster, we are going to have
to do this whether he agrees or not.”
“That’s right
sir,” Ginny said loudly, “It’s our job to help him.”
“Gryffindor bravery indeed.” Severus mocked. “You sound like a
bunch of Hufflepuffs.”
“Excuse me,
sir,” Hermione snarled, “but we did not ask for your opinion.”
Professor
Snape stalked over to her and glared.
“That is enough
children!” Professor Dumbledore stated forcefully. “I will not have you at each
other’s throats.”
Hermione
crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Professor Snape.
“Come,
Severus. We have much to discuss,” Professor Dumbledore said as he walked out
of the infirmary.
Professor
Snape glared at Hermione once more before following the Headmaster out of the
infirmary.
“Well, that
went well.” Hermione huffed.
“I wish I
could have told off Professor Dumbledore like that.” Ginny stared at Hermione,
impressed.
“I wasn’t put
in Gryffindor for my brains, Gin. Besides, it needed to be done, we aren’t
children anymore and the war gets closer every day.” Hermione stood and looked
around. “Gin, do you know what they did with my clothes, or my wand?”
“Madame Pomfrey
put your things in her office.”
“Well come
on, we need to get my things. I need to get to that shop before the term
begins. You know that the only place we’ll be able to go is Hogsmeade and they
don’t have what I need.”
Severus Snape
stalked angrily towards the infirmary. ‘Damned interfering
old codger!’