Chapter 20 – Gaining Strength
Hermione sat alone in the library as she tried to search for the means to produce the magical bullet she had watched Harry fire hours ago. She was so focused on her research that Hermione did not even notice that supper had passed. Although Hermione had not been able to find concrete evidence or explanations after hours of searching, she was content with everything she was learning.
It was once theorized that if magical energy could be condensed to form even greater magical spells, however that theory was disproved during the tenth century when the Germans used twelve wizards to fill a room with magic and try to condense it. It was proven that magical energy could not be condensed in any manner as it did not exist the way conventional energy and matter existed. Thus leading to the experimentations to examine what magical energy consisted of. However, even after centuries of experimentation, all the wizards could prove was that magical energy had no mass. It was not affected by gravity because it had no mass for gravity to act on and magical energy was not affected by air friction, thus can move continuously at the constant speed equal to its initial speed. It can only be stopped by something solid. Magical energy could pass through all liquids and gases.
Seeing that researching the condensing of magical energy was a dead end, Hermione proceeded to research how to make magical energy bounce off a target. Again, Hermione reached a dead end as the books containing the information she needed was stored in the Restricted Area. Hermione let out a deep sigh as she rested her head down on the table. The books were still spread across, but in an orderly fashion so it was easy to clean up.
Condensed magical energy was used to create the bullet, Hermione repeated in her head the things Harry said to explain the theory behind his revolver. A thin magical layer used to create the casing as well as to substitute for gunpowder. The hammer is enchanted to create a magnetic repulsion to send the bullet forward initially. Engraved inside the barrel were magnetic runes to increase the velocity as well as create a spin for precision.
Taking out a sheet of parchment and a quill, Hermione sketched out the pistol and noted were magic was used. The hammer, bullet and barrel. The trigger remained a mechanical device to draw back the hammer. Below the sketch, Hermione wrote down all the physical properties and general physic theories behind the magical pistol.
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction," Hermione said Newton's theory aloud. With the quill, Hermione linked this theory to the magnetic propulsion and recoil. Then she added on the theory about magical energy having no mass as well as the ability to move at a constant speed until something solid blocks it. Hermione quickly noticed that these two theories contradicted what the pistol Harry was carrying had done. The barrel was able to accelerate magical energy to speeds greater than the average speed of any spell. The bullet was also able to bounce off a solid surface and slam into another object with force.
Few spells existed that could exert force upon an object. If several casters use Stupefy on a target with low magic resistance, the target would be blown back. The Impediment Jinx could be used to push back a target. However, none of these spells had magical energy that had any mass. Instead, these spells could only reverse the force of the target or use the mass of the target to create a force.
This time, Hermione was truly frustrated as nothing made sense. Perhaps she was too young to understand, but nothing Hermione had seen Harry do matched anything she had seen or read of the wizarding world. Hermione quickly picked up her bag when she noticed the corner of a picture she had made weeks ago. As she pulled it out, Hermione saw the image she created of James Evans from her memory. It was then Hermione realized that she had seen such phenomenon before.
The black cloud that hid James from everyone's eyes; even Hermione's. She only saw a black and slightly transparent cloud moving that night. Later, Hermione saw magic flow from James' hand and take on physical forms that tore holes into creatures called Shadow Fiends. James was also able to use his magic to extend the sword he carried according to his will, rather than having an object scale in length, width and height uniformly. Magic had been said to be unable to take physical form after touching a solid object, yet the magic James wielded contradicted all the laws written for magic.
Similar to James' ability to store magic and keep a physical form, the pistol Harry had also stored magical energy condensed to form the shape of a bullet. In addition, magic was used to fire the gun in place of gunpowder. Somehow, Hermione knew that James was connected to Harry in some way. Having the surname of Evans only strengthened her conviction as it could explain how Harry was able to get magical equipment that seemed to break the foundations of magic Hermione had been taught.
As Hermione closed the last of her books, giving up on attempting to find evidence to explain the strange occurrences in the books she had access to, she pulled out her next assignment from Professor Snape. The assignment was to find the ingredients and process of making a Boil Cure Potion as the Professor had stated that they would be making it in the next session of class. When Hermione pulled out her potion books, someone pulled the chair next to her back and sat down. It startled her for a moment as Hermione quickly turned to see whom it was and found Lavender sitting next to her pulling out her books as well.
"Jeez, Hermione," Lavender began while Pavarti, Vicky and Demelza took seats next to the two. "You're so engrossed in studying sometimes that you don't even notice when people approach."
"Sorry…" Hermione apologized quickly in a quite voice while lowering her head.
"And stop apologizing all the time, Hermione," Pavarti said as she turned to face Hermione. "Especially when you haven't done anything wrong."
"By the way," Vicky spoke catching Hermione's attention. "There are a few guys who want to form a study group with us."
As Hermione looked up, she saw Neville, Ron, Dean and Seamus taking seats across from her. She quickly shot a look at Lavender who ignored her by starting a conversation with Dean. Looking past Lavender, Hermione noticed that everyone sitting at the table was prepared to work on Professor Snape's assignment, just as she was.
"You're not escaping this time," Demelza whispered to Hermione as she walked past to search the library for more books on the ingredients of a Boil Cure Potion.
"I know this may be weird for you, Hermione," Neville began, "but I'm sorry for the way I acted that day in class when you were just trying to show me how to perform the Levitation Charm. Although I hate to admit it, but I was wrong that day. So, if you are willing, could we start over?"
Hermione remained silent, as she did not know what to do. Neville was the one who did not want anyone talking to Harry as well as the one who yelled at her when she corrected him. He later apologized, and although Hermione was willing to forgive Neville, she was not the forgetful type. The damage inflicted was still there and fresh in her mind, which was why Hermione had avoided Neville as much as she could. However, she knew she could not get away from Neville or his friends this time around. Not with Lavender, Pavarti, Vicky and Demelza keeping her here.
Hermione took a deep breath and summoned all the courage she could muster. "Okay," Hermione agreed hesitantly. This was all new for her as when she lived in the orphanage, few of the children there befriended her. Instead, they teased her because she had always been the one to catch on first whenever the adults taught them about magic (as all the children at the orphanage were offspring of witches and wizards). However, Hermione always hoped that one-day things would be different. Perhaps today was the day. "What do you need help on?"
"The Boil Cure Potion," Neville answered quickly. "We've read through the material Snape-"
"Professor Snape," Hermione corrected instinctively only to quickly slap her hands over her mouth realizing she was being offensive. "I'm sorry!"
"Miss Granger is quite right," a snide voice spoke from the shadow as Severus walked out from the shadows with silent footsteps. Behind him were Draco and Blaise who frowned at the group. Hermione could not tell if their frowns were of disbelief or of caution. "I was surprised to hear you were able to garner the respect of your fellow peers, but seeing how you lack the respect for your professors, that will be twenty points from Gryffindor."
"My apologies, Professor Snape," Neville quickly spoke without a word of protest. "I will not forget the use proper titles, sir."
"Very good, Mister Longbottom," Severus spoke with a skeptical tone. "It would do you well to remember."
Hermione watched the Potion Master carefully as he walked away as silently as he came in. Her eyes could not help but glance towards Draco and Blaise who have become outcasts ever since Cyril became a prominent Slytherin. As she watched the two, Hermione noticed that Blaise had a worried look across her face. Draco looked as if he wanted to say something, but Blaise held him back.
"Why did Professor Snape pay a visit to the library?" Neville asked curiously.
Yes, why did the professor visit the library? Hermione asked herself.Professor Snape was very knowledgeable about potions, ingredients and the process, so what purpose would a visit to the library have? More importantly, why would the professor be accompanied by Draco and Blaise? If Professor Snape wished to give the two private lessons, he would have done it in the dungeons where there was more than enough supplies and information.
"Neville, what Professor Snape does with his time is none of our concern at the moment," Vicki spoke aloud. "We are working on his toughest assignment thus far."
"How often does Snape visit the library?" Neville asked in counter of Vicki's statement.
"I don't know," Vicki answered. "We've only been here a couple months."
"Well, something is up that Snape would have him consort the Restricted section for answers," Neville said, going in a different direction.
"Okay, you lost us," Pavarti said for the girls. "First of all, I haven't heard of anything come up. Second, how do you know that he came from the Restricted Section?"
"There's only one aisle between us and the restricted section in the direction Professor Snape approached us in," Hermione answered the second of Pavarti's two questions. "The aisle only has books on Ancient Runes."
"That leaves us with only one question, what's going on that the professors don't want us to know about?" Lavender asked.
"Remember the troll incident?" Ron spoke in Neville's place. "Trolls are too dumb to be able to get past Hagrid and enter Hogwarts undetected not to mention their gigantic size."
"What are you saying?" Demelza asked, fearful of the answer. "Someone let the troll in?"
"Not just someone," Ron spoke the words the five girls feared, "A professor let the troll into Hogwarts."
"And you think it's Sn-?" Lavender almost cried out but Ron clasped his hand over her mouth.
"Hush!" Neville said quickly in a hushed voice. "What I'm telling you is knowledge that is very dangerous to know about. You mustn't speak about this or let anyone overhear you talking about this, understand?"
As Lavender, Pavarti, Vicki and Demelza nodded in agreement, it made Hermione think about recent events. Professor Snape had shown up to the girl's bathroom that night and his leg was injured. The injury was moderate, but it did not come from battling trolls as James Evans killed three while Neville and Ron disabled the fourth. The incident was spread quickly around with only two details changed: One troll entered Hogwarts that night, not four and James Evans did not come to aid. Why the cover-up? Was there something the other three trolls had in- James Evans. Why would the professors hide the fact that James Evans had killed three of the four trolls? Why would the professors not want James Evans to be mentioned when he did defend me, Neville, Ron, Dean and Seamus that night in the Forbidden Forest? What connected the dots that would lead to why the professors would want to keep the involvement of James Evans a secret? Even with so many questions raging in her head, Hermione listen to Neville in hopes that he could answer some of her questions.
"At the end of the summer, someone broke into Gringotts to steal from a vault that my mother emptied earlier that morning," Neville began explaining. "It was not mentioned anywhere as whatever was in the vault my mother delivered here to Hogwarts. Whatever was in that vault must have been important to keep away from the world, and what safer place to keep something hidden than Hogwarts?"
"What could possibly be so important that would be needed to be moved into Hogwarts?" Lavender asked, voicing the question in everyone's minds.
"We don't know, but whoever wanted what was in the vault could have only known that it was here in Hogwarts if they were a professor at Hogwarts," Ron continued the theory Neville was explaining.
"And what better way to try and steal it than creating a diversion; a diversion involving a troll that could terrorize students who are completely defenseless against a monster?" Neville finished with a question.
"Does Professor Dumbledore know about this?" Pavarti cried out as quietly as she could.
"Yes, but he says he's worried about Snape," Neville answered to which everyone except Hermione immediately agreed to.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, I forgot you didn't grow up in our world," Vicki said as she turned to Hermione. "Well, during the war with You-Know-Who, Professor Snape was one of his supporters. When the war ended, Professor Dumbledore and Neville's father vouched for him."
"If Professor Dumbledore and the Minister vouched for him, then shouldn't we trust him?" Hermione followed with another question.
"No. But everyone knows Professor Snape was a slippery one," Demelza answered. "If you haven't forgotten, Professor Snape is a Slytherin. They strive for power, so at the time, allying himself with Professor Dumbledore and the Longbottoms would have been the best choice."
"So you think Professor Snape is going to betray Professor Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic?" Hermione asked the next obvious question. "Why would he do that? What could he possibly gain?"
While Hermione asked those questions, a couple things clicked into place. James Evans had told her that Voldemort had returned. That night in the Forbidden Forest, James had noted Voldemort was in the forest as well which meant that there was a chance Voldemort was near Hogwarts or in Hogwarts itself. Voldemort must have been the one who set the trolls loose inside the halls of Hogwarts. Or in league with whoever was responsible. The target was whatever was hidden on the third floor of Hogwarts. Whatever was hidden there must be something that could restore Voldemort to his former glory.
"Hermione," Ron said with a 'this is so obvious' tone, "once you're a Death Eater, you're always a Death Eater. There's no going back."
"Oh," Hermione replied. "So it's kind of like the Mafia."
"The what?" Everyone asked.
"Mafia," Hermione repeated. "It's a Muggle thing. Think of it like a Muggle version of Death Eaters. Kind of."
"Okay, whatever," Neville said as he did not understand. "Anyways, Snape is definitely still a Death Eater and he's probably after whatever is hidden here."
"And whatever is hidden must be something powerful enough to bring about a new age of dark witches and wizards," Ron continued.
No. Hermione disagreed. Not a new age. A restoration of the previous age. A restoration of Voldemort and his Death Eaters' power. Whatever was stored in Hogwarts was important to both sides. Professor Snape seemed like a good candidate to steal whatever was stored. If Professor Snape were in league with Voldemort, Professor Dumbledore would immediately know about it. Professor Snape did receive an injury on the night of the trolls and did not hide the injury in any way. Professor Dumbledore must have noticed it and inquired about it. Perhaps that was where the suspicion started, but if someone wanted to steal something of great importance, one would try to leave as few trails as possible whether they succeeded or failed. Since the attempt failed, Professor Snape would no longer be the best candidate as all eyes are on him.
However, the presence of Draco and Blaise with the professor did make Hermione skeptical of the claim as well. It seemed the two were under protective custody under Professor Snape. They were now outcasts from their own house simply because they refused to side with Cyril. Taking on the care of two students would only burden someone who was tasked to steal something of great value from Hogwarts.
There was also how Professor Snape paid very close attention to Harry. Hermione would have never noticed if Professor Snape had not asked about Harry after the incident earlier today; the incident where Harry fell down a flight of stairs and was hit by his own weapon. Hermione noticed that the professor only asked about falling down the stairs; well, indirectly so. Professor Snape had ignored Harry's weapon even though it was a big commotion due to the girls of Gryffindor spreading around the story of how Harry subdued Kessler. It was not like the Potion Master to miss any details, so Hermione wondered if it was purposefully done.
Which side was Professor Snape on? Hermione could not help but ask herself. Is he with Voldemort or against Voldemort?
Voldemort. Hermione only then realized that the name came naturally to her. A name she once feared to hear no longer froze her as it once did.
Once?The work echoed in Hermione's mind. The only times she remembered hearing Voldemort spoken aloud was when she was with James Evans or Harry. However, while the name did shake her up, Hermione was not frozen in fear. Yet she remembers her body locking up upon hearing the name. James Evans used Voldemort the night in the Forbidden Forest and the night the trolls attacked. Harry used Voldemort when… When did Harry use Voldemort?
When Hermione asked that question, a flow of memories returned to her. She remembered what she had forgotten the day on the train to Hogwarts. Hermione had forgotten how many times Harry spoke the name Voldemort without a single ounce of fear. In fact, Harry had spoken the name Voldemort so forcefully and so familiarly that Hermione was not frozen in fear because Harry had said the name, but rather how it seemed like Harry had a connection to Voldemort. A connection that was not good. A connection that seemed to empower Harry as well as destroy him at the same time. Malice, hatred, anger, sorrow, helplessness, regret and despair all poured out from Harry's words. It poured out the same way it poured out when James talked about Voldemort.
Hermione suddenly closed her books and packed them away before saying, "Sorry Neville, I just remembered something I have to do. We'll meet again to talk about this and Professor Snape's assignment soon. I promise."
"What is it, Hermione?" Lavender asked as she looked at Hermione with a confused face.
"I just remembered something I wanted to ask Blaise," Hermione said quickly. It was the truth, as Hermione wanted to ask Blaise if she had seen Harry, but Hermione was not about to tell her friends and newfound friends about that. Especially if her suspicions about a connection between Harry and James were true.
"What is it?" Pavarti asked, now curious as to why Hermione would socialize with a member of their rival house.
"I'll tell you about it later," Hermione said weakly. She did not want to talk about it, as Hermione was not sure if she wanted to know the truth yet.
"Wait," Neville called out, catching everyone's attention. "You're friends with Blaise, right, Hermione?"
"Yes…" Hermione replied after a pause, as she did not know what it was Neville wanted.
"Then you can perhaps ask her about Snape," Ron put out into the open.
Yes, she could ask Blaise about Professor Snape and that would be a good way to solve two of her problems: confirm or deny her suspicions of Professor Snape and provide an alternative answer to her roommates whom she promised a reason to why she wanted to talk to Blaise. "That was what I was going to do," Hermione lied quickly before walking away in a hurry.
Hermione quickly made her way down to the Dungeons where the entrance to the Slytherin House was, but she was suddenly pulled away from her path into a hidden corridor. A hand clasped over her mouth preventing her from screaming while a voice whispered into her ear, "You shouldn't be here, Hermione."
Hermione turned her eyes into the darkness and when her eyes adjusted, she saw the face of Draco Malfoy standing close beside her. "I need to talk to Blaise," Hermione said quickly after pulling Draco's hand away.
"Can't it wait?" Draco asked in a hushed voice. "This is Slytherin territory; my brother's territory. Have you any idea what he would do to you?"
"What does your brother have against me?" Hermione asked, now curious about Draco's warning.
"For starters, you're a Mudblood. A Muggleborn. Slytherins hate Muggleborns the most. Blood purity and all. Second, you're the person Harry holds the closest." Draco answered.
"Why would Harry hold me the closest?" Hermione followed, as she could not understand why Harry would hold her close when she has done nothing but push him away.
"I don't know. Blaise says that there are two people here Harry holds very close and you're one of the two. Also, Cyril somehow has come to the conclusion that hurting you would hurt Harry the most. You're important to Harry, Hermione, there's no doubt about that; and Harry is the one who has not only defied my brother, but also defeated my brother." Draco answered the best he could.
"But Harry is always with Blaise! It doesn't make any sense!" Hermione reasoned.
"It doesn't, but in life, few things do. You're important to Harry and that's enough reason for me to try and keep you away from my brother the best I can," Draco replied.
"And why would you do that?" Hermione asked, now more curious of Draco's actions.
"Hermione, you ask too many questions," Draco said quickly as he looked away. "Look, you came here looking for Blaise. That should be your focus."
"I wanted to ask Blaise where Harry was," Hermione replied as she decided not to pursue her previous question. "And also whether you and Blaise think Professor Snape still is a Dea-"
Again, Draco's hand went over Hermione's mouth. This time it was to stop her from completing her sentence. "You're asking a very dangerous question, Hermione. Don't dig too deep into it. In fact, stop digging and don't try to understand it either. While the truth my comfort you, but the price is too great. The price must not be paid, especially for you."
"You're not making any sense!" Hermione cried out as she pulled Draco's hand away. "What is it that you know that you aren't telling me? Why is it so important to keep me away? And why is it that you fear for my safety?"
"Look, Hermione," Draco said sternly, "in some way, you're important to Harry. Very important. Only Harry can answer why you're important to him. It may not be apparent now, but in the future, you will see and understand. Right now, you're weaker than anyone in Hogwarts and I'm not talking about your magic potential. You have been alone all your life with no family and no friends. You have no one to support you outside of Hogwarts. You have no one to lean on once the school session is over. The places your questions will lead you are places you're not ready to face yet. Places that will destroy you and leave you as an empty shell to walk this Earth. If that should happen to you, Harry would be crushed."
"Then how do I become strong?" Hermione asked immediately.
Draco had not expected Hermione to react this way. Any normal person would turn away in fear and Hermione seemed like the person who would. It was apparent that courage was not her strong suite the moment Draco met Hermione. Courage was not something Hermione had a lot of. The little courage she had allowed her to stay in Hogwarts; but that was because she was more afraid of returning to the world outside of these halls. Yet, in spite of Draco's cold-hearted warning of what could happen if Hermione tried to investigate the Death Eaters, Hermione responded with confidence and strength.
Draco realized that this was not the same Hermione Jane Granger as the one that walked into Hogwarts not long ago. Hermione was orphaned from birth. She was left in a Muggle hospital shortly after her birth. No one really knows why she was left behind at the time and no one went to claim her. To this day, the reason behind why she was left behind was never given. However, Draco and Blaise recently found a clue to her orphaning. On September 19, 1980, the day Hermione was born, there were two couples named Granger giving birth to daughters. By coincidence, the fathers had the same name and the mothers had similar names. Also by coincidence was how both couples gave the same first name to their daughter and a similar middle name. One couple was Sander and Roselyn Granger who gave birth to Hermione Jean Granger. The second couple was Sander and Rose Granger who gave birth to Hermione Jane Granger.
When Sander and Rose Granger left the hospital that day, they carried Hermione Jean Granger with them not knowing that their real daughter, Hermione Jane Granger, remained in the hospital. Sander and Roselyn were shocked to find that the hospital had mixed up the two girls due to the similarities in their names and the names of their parents. Not wanting Jane, they set off to find Sander and Rose but their search was of no use. It was not until five years ago when a car accident made the headlines in the newspaper that things changed. The car accident involved three people: Sander Granger, Rose Granger and Hermione Jean Granger (although at the time she was known as Hermione Jane Granger). Hermione Jean survived the car accident and Sander and Roselyn took Hermione Jean into their family, as it should have been from the start, and told the world that Sander and Rose stole their daughter destroying their names forever.
While Hermione Jean had received two pairs of loving and caring parents, Hermione Jane was left alone in the orphanage without knowing about the events surrounding her birth. Hermione Jane grew up in the orphanage alone because she was peerless in her studies. Had Hermione Jane been born to a family of the magical community, she would have been the "Brightest Witch of the Century", not Cho Chang. In spite her environment, Hermione Jane was still able to keep up with Ravenclaws through her own studies in preparation to enter Hogwarts. However, Hermione Jane remained alone in her studies. Few people approached Hermione Jane at Hogwarts, as she was the only orphan enrolled in the school. The only person who neither knew nor cared was Harry Potter, a boy who was once a squib but entered Hogwarts a wizard. Harry Potter, a boy who ignored the powers that rule and took a stand to do what was right. A boy who had no political power (because his family at the bottom of the magical society) fought the most powerful and most influential figures simply because he believed they were wrong. Harry Potter, a boy who rocked the wizarding world, had changed what Draco thought was his destiny. Draco decided to place his destiny into the hands of Harry and decided to be one of the few who would protect those Harry held close when was not there.
"Time. It takes time to become stronger, and in time, you will become strong, Hermione." It was odd saying those words. Draco had once thought he was strong. He had once thought he was enough to support his two younger sisters. When Harry came to his aid against Cyril, Draco recognized, for the first time, how weak he was. In his moment of weakness, Draco reached out for hope and found Harry. Blaise had told Draco Harry could be trusted, but Draco trusted no one. However, when Harry came to his aid when there was no reason for Harry to help, Draco began to trust Blaise's words. Draco decided to place his future in the hands of Harry and as a way to repay Harry, Draco decided to be the one who protected those close to Harry when he could not be around. "There's no guidebook to becoming strong. We become stronger in our own way, Hermione, and you will find your way to becoming strong."
"What if I don't have time?" Hermione asked. When she arrived at Hogwarts, Hermione thought she could just remain a ghost, as she had been her entire life. It was easy being invisible to the public eye. It was also easy to live invisible. However, things changed when Hermione's life crossed paths with Harry Potter. Things changed even more when James Evans stepped into her world. Two people whose lives and actions are uncannily similar. Two people who feel as if they should be- no. Two people who feel as if they are one person. One single person trying to change the world. One person trying to save the world. One person trying to do the right thing. One person trying to do what a million others should be doing. This one person removed the cloak Hermione had placed around herself. This one person made Hermione believe that her life had meaning when she once believed otherwise. This one person lent her strength when she had none.
"Hermione," Blaise spoke as she stopped right outside of the hidden corridor. "We still have plenty of time to become strong. Don't try to do too much too fast. As for the initial reason why you've come, Harry should still be in his room."
"Thanks," Hermione said quickly before leaving Draco and Blaise alone.
"Do you think she understood?" Draco asked Blaise as he walked out of the corridor.
"She understood. Hermione is smart enough to understand without us telling her," Blaise responded. "But my eyes tell me that she's not going to listen."
"Should we stop her?" Draco followed with another questions, but Blaise did not have time to answer.
"Mister Malfoy and Miss Zabini," a cold snide voice rang in the hallway. "I do believe I told the two of you to stay in your rooms, did I not?"
"Yes, Professor Snape," Draco responded quickly as he turned towards the direction of the voice.
"Then why are you standing in the halls?" Snape asked as he walked over to the two. "Perhaps there's something the two of you wish to tell me?"
"No, Professor," Blaise answered for the two before Draco could speak. "We were just returning to our rooms."
"Good," Snape said as he watched Blaise and Draco enter the Slytherin Dormitory. He waited a few more moments to confirm that the two would not return before saying aloud, "Professor Quirrell, I do hope you are not spying on our students for I'd hate to have to ask you why it is that you are secretly watching students."
"N-no, Pr-profes-sor. I-I wass not s-spying on s-stud-dents," Quirrell responded as he walked out from the shadows. "I w-was merely ma-making s-sure the st-tudents re-return-ed s-saf-fely. Y-you kn-know, with t-trolls a-and all."
"Well then, I suppose that is why you have your wand drawn behind your back," Snape reasoned as he turned around to walk away. "You can never be too careful when trolls suddenly waltzed into Hogwarts. Be on your way, Professor. I assure you, the students of my house are perfectly safe."
"Ve-very w-well, Pr-prof-fessor," Quirrell said with a bow before walking down the hall in a different direction.
"Now for the other eavesdropper," Snape said as he walked over to the end of the corridor where Hermione was standing. "Miss Granger, why, may I ask, were you eavesdropping?"
"Well, I…" Hermione started, but her throat tightened in nervousness. Right before her stood Professor Snape, her Potion Master, Head of the House of Slytherin and a suspected former Death Eater.
"Walk with me, Miss Granger," Snape ordered as he continued down the hall. "Do you want to be in trouble?"
"No." Hermione responded softly as she held her head down while walking a few steps behind Snape.
"Because if you have not noticed, it is past the curfew. All students should be in their respective rooms by this time. If not, you, Miss Granger, should know very well what the consequences are," Snape lectured as he led Hermione to Professor McGonagall's office. When he knocked on the door, he said, "Hello, Professor, I found one of yours wandering about near the Slytherin Dormitory."
"Come in," a stern voice filled with disappointment spoke.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Hermione winced as she stepped into the room followed by Snape.
"Miss Granger?" McGonagall responded in sheer shock. "Of all the Gryffindors, I would have never suspected that you would miss the curfew."
"Sorry, Professor McGonagall, but I was looking for Harry," Hermione answered only to realized that she had not wanted to tell the professors about it.
"And why were you looking for Mister Potter near the dungeons?" McGonagall asked curiously.
"I…" Hermione began, but she did not know how to answer without giving away her intentions.
"Well, it doesn't matter," McGonagall said with a sigh. "Ten points from Gryffindor and you have detention with Mr. Filch. Now return to your room."
"Wait," Hermione blurted out. "There's something I want ask you privately."
"Very well," Snape said as he turned around. "I do have a bit of business to attend to."
"Good night, Professor," McGonagall said as Snape left the room. "What is it that you wished to ask?"
"Is there a chance Professor Snape is trying to steal something of great value that is stored on the third floor of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked directly.
"What are you talking about?" McGonagall asked, slightly pale.
"Professor, someone broke into Gringotts at the end of summer to steal from a vault that was emptied that very morning. Gringotts is supposedly the most secure place for storage next to Hogwarts. To break into Gringotts to steal something, that something must be very important. If Gringotts was not safe enough to store something of that importance, the only place left is Hogwarts. If someone wanted to steal something from Hogwarts, they would need a very big distraction, know the location and have access to Hogwarts. Only a professor at Hogwarts would know that something is hidden in Hogwarts and also know exactly where it is." Hermione responded.
McGonagall let out a deep sigh as she said, "Miss Granger, you are a very bright girl, but you should leave this task to the adults. A child like you should be enjoying Hogwarts and your studies to become a proper witch."
"I know, Professor, but I can't help but suspect Professor Snape because of his history as a Death Eater," Hermione said quickly. "And there's a chance Voldemort may return since he's feeding from… um…"
"Miss Granger, what is it that you know?" McGonagall said with an angry tone.
"Voldemort was feeding off of unicorn blood in the Forbidden Forest."
"Who told you this?"
"James Evans said that on the night we were in the Forbidden Forest. That was why Hagrid was out in the Forbidden Forest searching for what was killing unicorns. James Evans also said Voldemort was in a spectral form," Hermione answered honestly. "Professor, why is it that the world doesn't know Voldemort is still alive?"
"Miss Granger, during the days of You-Know-Who, people lived in constant fear. Those who survived would much rather forget those days than admit that there is a chance of it returning," McGonagall replied. "If what you say about You-Know-Who is true, then you must try and stay as far away from this as possible. You are too young to have to deal with this. Now return to your room and try to keep away."
"What about Professor Snape?"
"Professor Snape is one of the professors protecting it. If he wanted it, he could have easily taken it away," McGonagall replied. "Now return to your room. I don't want to see or hear about you asking anymore questions after today."
"Yes, Professor," Hermione replied before leaving the office and slowly making her way to her room. A smile grew across her face as Hermione realized that she was becoming stronger. It may have been small, like confiding in a professor or starting over with Neville, but those steps were a good start.
Author's Note: The Jane and Jean story is a bit confusing and I tried my best to not make it so, but to completely tell the Jane and Jean story would be difficult since only one character knows the whole story and that character isn't narrating the story. If you have any questions, feel free to leave it in a review or PM me.