The fine line...

“Is it alright if we have a break for dinner now, Dumbledore?” Mrs Weasley asked.



“Of course it is,” Dumbledore replied. “Remus and I have a few last minute things to discuss before we put the plan in to action anyway. Don’t go anywhere Severus,” Snape, who had just started to get out of his seat sat back down. “We’re going to need you to help get Miss Granger ready to go afterwards. So everyone enjoy dinner, Remus and I will return shortly.” And with that he and Lupin left the kitchen.



The mood lifted slightly as Molly served dinner and everyone forgot all about what they had just discussed while they ate. Everyone, it seemed, except Ginny, Hermione and surprisingly Snape, who couldn’t stop staring at Hermione with that weird look on his face. Finally he got up and approached her.



“Miss Granger, may I have a word with you outside, please?”



A little startled at his sudden use of manners, Hermione got up from the table. “Of course, Professor.”



He led her out of the kitchen and in to a small study. He shut the door behind them, locking and putting a silencing charm on it, and told her to have a seat. It was a long time before he actually spoke, the silence and the situation making Hermione very uncomfortable. “I know you,” he said simply.



She looked at him confused. “I know you know me. You’ve been teaching me since I was 11.”



“I know you. Not as Hermione Granger though.”



“Then as who? You’re confusing me, Professor”



“I didn’t think that was possible,” she glared at him, expecting him to be smirking but he wasn’t. “Finally, after all these years of thinking how familiar you look it all makes sense. I know you as Ava Mendez. Not that I ever had the privilege of calling you by your first name. That’s the name you go buy on your little trip to the past.”



“What? You’re saying that I’ve been back there before? What happens to me?”



“I can’t say much, but I bought you here to talk to you about something. Knowing Dumbledore, he probably has plans of wiping your memory clean when you get back and I wanted to warn you.”



“Wipe my memory? Why would he do that?” Hermione was shocked.



“So you don’t remember what happens to you when you’re back there. Not that it’s anything bad,” he added, noticing the horrified look on Hermione’s face. “Probably thinks he‘ll be doing you a favour. All I can tell you is that I remember what happens to you, and I don’t know if it’s something that you are going to want to forget. You remember Dumbledore saying earlier that he was going to ‘programme’ you to write in that note book every night?” Hermione nodded. “Well, if you want, I’ll do the same thing.”



“Sorry Sir, but I really don’t understand where you’re going with this.”



“I will make it so that you remember to keep your own personal journal while you’re back there that will come back with you. Then you can hand it to someone you trust before you forget everything and they can give it back at a later date.”



Hermione was silent for a long time. “Is what happens to me really that important?”



“I think so, but I guess it comes down to your personal opinion whether or not you want to remember it and you will have the chance to make that choice when you get back, I’ll make sure of it.”



“You really think I should?” He nodded. She was sceptical, but didn‘t see how it could hurt. “Alright, Professor. I’ll trust you on this one.”



“You won’t regret it,” he said. Snape leant forward and put his wand on the right side of Hermione’s head and mumbled words that Hermione couldn’t make out. The inside of her head went really warm and she spaced out for a few moments. When she focused again, Snape was sitting back in his own chair. “You better head back to the kitchen, you’re friends will be wondering where you’ve got to.”



“Thankyou, Professor.” She got up and made her way to the door. Stopping with her hand on the handle, she turned. “You will be helping when they fix me up to send back, won’t you?”



“Yes, Miss Granger. I will.”



She nodded, smiled to herself and left him alone in the room, feeling a little better about the whole thing knowing that he would be helping. As much as she didn’t particularly like the man, she did respect him and knew that he was powerful enough to make it all work.







The kitchen was noisy by the end of dinner. The plates were cleared and everyone was in deep conversation amongst themselves. Hermione smiled as she watched Ginny and her brothers talk and laugh together. They had been together almost six months now and Hermione couldn’t have been happier. Where Ginny hated not being able to tell anyone that they were together, Hermione liked having it a secret between them for now. She liked being able to share a room with her girlfriend at Grimmauld Place and no one in the house having any idea what they were doing to each other all through the night. Not even Harry or Ron, who’s head’s were separated from the action by nothing more than a few inches of wall and some well placed silencing charms. She smirked to herself as she looked over at the boys, contemplating the way they’d react if they ever walked in.



Ginny turned to look at her quickly and winked before turning back to Fred’s story about how to explode garden gnomes.



“Yeah but I always thought a well placed firecracker would do the trick just as well.” As she spoke she felt Hermione’s hand on her thigh. Fred laughed and explained why she was wrong. But she was only pretending to listen, choosing to focus more on Hermione’s finger’s tracing their way up the inside of her leg, scratching her lightly as they climbed. Just as the hand began to reach its final destination, the kitchen door opened and Lupin stuck his head in. Hermione pulled away suddenly.



“Hermione, it’s time to go. We’ll be in the living room, and Dumbledore has asked everyone to please keep away and stay quiet while we’re doing this.” Then he left Hermione to say her goodbyes.



Everyone gave her a hug and wished her luck. “Come on guys, I’m only going for 2 weeks, really.”



“Yeah we know that, but it’s no comfort when we know where you’re going,” Ginny said sadly as she finally got her turn to say goodbye.



“I know,” Hermione said, hugging her girlfriend. “And I’ll finish what I started just then when I get back,” she added in a whisper. She kissed Ginny on the cheek as she pulled away. “Well, I’ll see you all later,” she said to everyone and left the kitchen.



“Good luck,” Ginny called after her.







“How are you feeling Hermione?” Lupin asked her when she reached the living room. “Nervous?”



“A little. Not too much though. I trust you all and know I’ll be looked after so I’m not worrying too much.”



Dumbledore smiled. “That’s right. You have nothing to worry about; we’ve been looking in to this for a long time and know exactly what we’re doing.” Hermione tried to ignore the sceptical looks that swept briefly over both Lupin and Snape’s faces as he said this. “Now, just to go over a few last things. You’re main goal is to get as much information out of Bellatrix Lestrange as you can, by any means necessary.”



“Any type of information in particular?” Hermione asked.



“We mostly want inside information on Bellatrix that we can use to crack her now, thing‘s that get to her, her weaknesses. We need to break her down and it looks like emotionally is the way to go. As well as anything regarding the Death Eater’s, what their weaknesses are and in particular anything that could be useful in bringing them down. Also things regarding Lord Voldermort would also help. Generally anything that might help us now, but you don’t have to worry about that now, we’ll have it so you will know what to do without even thinking about it.”



Hermione nodded. “So what name will I go by?” This was her moment to figure out whether Snape was right or not.



“Ava Mendez,” Lupin replied. “Mendez is an old wizarding name that hasn’t been around for a very long time and Ava was the first name of great witch philosopher from the 12th Century. She was incredibly smart; we thought the name would suit you.”



Hermione stayed silent. ‘So Snape was right,’ she thought. ‘I wonder if he’s right about everything else.’



“One more matter before we begin,” Dumbledore said. “Upon your return to the present all the memory charms that we placed on you will be removed, meaning that not only will you remember who you really are, but you will also remember everything that happened in the past. So to save your memory from becoming confused we will obliviate you so that your memory will go straight from probably around dinner time to you being back without all the stuff in between. Understand?”



“So you’re saying that I won’t remember anything about the past at all?”



“That’s right, Miss Granger,” Snape said, giving her a knowing look. Hermione looked as though she was going to complain but he shook his head at her and she thought better of it.



‘He really was right. I’m happy he got to me first,’ Hermione thought. She saw him smirk a little at her and knew that he must have been reading her thoughts. ‘Must make a note to learn Occlumency when I get back.’ He nodded his head at her.



“Alright Miss Granger, time to get started. If you’d just like to come and have seat here, we can begin. Professor Snape is going to take care of your mind, and then I’ll be the one who sends you back. Lie down; you’re going to be fine.”



Hermione was getting really nervous now as she laid back on the lounge, the three older men standing over her. Snape crouched down beside her and placed his wand on the same spot as he had earlier that evening and began the mumbling again only this time as the tingling went through her brain, her vision completely blurred and it wasn’t long before she completely blacked out…

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A/N: IMPORTANT Remember that Hermione will hence forth be referred to as Ava. The POV will also go fromher to Bella.


Finally, the real story can begin :D


This is all I have for now, but there's a lot swimming in my head. I also have a few future chapters written (all the fun one's ;) haha), I just need to fill the gaps.


I really want to know what you think and where I can improve. Also if you want anything specific to happen or have any requests then please let me know and I'll put it in for you :)