JK Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

NOTE: The Chance was one of the stories in the file that Peeves ate the other week and it was only by luck that there was enough left to recreate it

Chapter 17 – A Belief Dies

Hermione Granger was furious. Yes, she had been rescued (thankfully by Harry), but the traitorous old medi-bitch had been taken to Harry first and who knew what lies she had told him. She was brought to a nice room, her clothes were brought to her, she had had a very nice warm bubble bath and a very nice meal of chicken broiled with herbs, cauliflower with a cheese sauce, a side dish of wild rice and a variety of fresh fruit with milk was waiting for her when she had finished her bath. It was delicious and she had everything she needed except for her wand, the use of her voice and Harry not coming in person to greet her.

At least she had a few Muggle books to read and a comfortable bed to sleep in, but she had to see Harry and dispute the lies told about her. She was awaken by the sound of an elf popping in bringing her breakfast. The elf greeted her and although Hermione pointed to her throat so that the elf would know she needed to speak, the elf just smiled and informed her that Master Harry would be visiting her within an hour and then popped out.

Hermione didn't have time to motion with her hands that she needed paper and pen to write things down as she wanted to make a detailed list to give to Harry. However, she would remember the damage done to her and swear on her magic so that Harry would know the truth. She looked at the breakfast to find a cheese and mushroom omelet (her favorite), a few pieces of Canadian bacon, two slices of toast lightly butter and with just enough of orange marmalade to be tasty but not overly sweet. She was still the daughter of dentists and ate wisely.

Thus fortified, she dressed, brushed her teeth (there was no floss but then Harry couldn't remember everything) and waited for the meeting where, once unsilenced, she could vindicate herself against the lies told about her. The elf popped in to clear the small table and quickly popped away. Then the door opened and in walked Harry, followed by an unknown male carrying something. Two seconds later a bushy-haired missile slammed into Harry giving him a crushing hug but then quickly stopped and the girl pointed to her throat to be unsilenced.

"Hi Hermione" Harry said cheerfully while the girl kept pointing to her throat. "Let me introduce you to Roddy Rhodes, one of our tutors. He was a Ravenclaw and well thought of by Professor Flitwick."

Roddy nodded to the girl who basically ignored him as he sat what he was carrying on the table. When Harry – or even the other guy – hadn't spelled her voice back, she slapped Harry hard on his arm to get his attention and pointed harder at her throat.

"Ow! I know you want to speak but once you can, I won't be able to get a word in" he said smiling, while Hermione frowned, giving him a very nasty look. "However, before anything else, poke your head into the pensive and watch everything, then when you have watched all of it, as it has been timed, I will unsilenced you and you can begin your rebuttal."

She didn't want to, but since it was the only way she could get her voice back, she stuck her head into the pensive and began to watch. Once in, Roddy started casting diagnostic spells on the girl and sure enough, found several unlawful and unethical charms, hexes, potions and various whatnots placed on the girl.

"Damn him Harry, that old #*$#&&#*(& really did a number on her and like you, some of these things were placed on her before Hogwarts" Roddy stated.

"Before Hogwarts?" Harry asked.

"Yes, before she went to school no doubt after McG introduced her to magic. I've heard rumors that Dumbles was always interested in Muggleborns, usually for their talents, magical power and even their family background. He would decide into what House they were to be sorted into and although McG did the initial meet and greet, he would assign Flitwick and Sprout to take those Dumbles had decided to go into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw and McG would take those he wanted sorted into Gryffindor whether they were suited to that House or not. The rumors didn't say if he had McG 'convince' the persons to ask for Gryffindor or if he personally snuck into their homes and 'convinced' them personally."

"How reliant are your rumors?" Harry asked.

Sighing, Roddy replied "I had friends among some of the Gryff Muggleborns who wondered why they were in Gryffindor when that was the last House they had wanted but strangely remembered they asked the Hat to put them in Gryffindor. Once there, they were constantly under pressure to be a follower of Dumbles even if they didn't like things he did. Even if they tried to remain neutral, they became the butt of 'pranks' and unless they praised Dumbles and were followers of the Light. If not, despite any good grades, they couldn't get a sponsor to get a Mastery or a decent job in Magical Britain. Also, Flitwick seriously 'hinted' much of the same as the reason he couldn't sponsor me because Dumbles 'Thought it would be a waste of Filius' time to mentor me and due to his contract with Hogwarts, he had to have Dumbles' permission to mentor or train anyone for a Charms Mastery."

Just then, Hermione's head popped out of the pensive and she pointed to her throat. Harry nodded to Roddy who unsilenced the girl and both prepared for the verbal onslaught.

"I don't know how that medi-bitch did it" she began "But somehow she managed to fake her memories."

"Oh really" Roddy asked but was ignored by the girl who stalked over to Harry and looked him in the eye before shouting "You know that I have a perfect memory and what she said was totally inaccurate."

"Are you willing to swear on your magic to that effect?" Roddy asked but again was ignored. Instead Hermione began her tale of woe, betrayal, the abuse she suffered, the abandonment of Professor McGonagall and no doubt would have said more had not Harry managed to nod at Roddy, who stunned the girl, who fell to the floor rather painfully.

"I think Hermione has been getting too close to Molly Weasley, as Hermione has yelled but never that loud" Harry opined.

"Shall we try to remove the stuff Dumbles did to her?"

"Can you get rid of all of them?" Harry asked.

"I'll try, but for some we just might need the services of an Unspeakable as despite Dumbles' death they are still very strong and I would posit that he made arrangements for them to be strengthen when she went to the Weasleys and/or back to Hogwarts. The elves must obey Dumbles' orders and he probably arranged – probably by spelling the elves – to do his bidding even if he were dead."

That being said, Poppy was sent for and asked to do a very thorough medical scan which would also show the presence of the illegals placed on Hermione. While she was doing the scan she asked "Let me guess, Hermione said I must have forged my memories or some such nonsense."

"Yep, but I have discovered some illegals on her most of which have been there for years. Why didn't you find them before?" Roddy asked.

"Because, as long as I worked at Hogwarts, I was forbidden to do thorough scans on anybody but especially Harry, unless I had direct permission by Dumbledamnit. I was only allowed to scan for immediate injuries or sickness such as Quidditch or wizard flu. As I no longer am an employee of Hogwarts, I can now really practice my trade."

Poppy did her craft thoroughly for the first time she had been forced to be the medi-witch at Hogwarts. She concurred with Roddy's prognosis but suggested that the Goblins be called in as the Unspeakables had all probably been sworn to immediately report anything concerning Poppy, Minerva, Hermione, Neville and especially Harry.

"Can we risk taking Hermione to the Goblins as I've only allowed certain people to enter and although I sort of trust them…I don't trust anybody completely after what I have experienced in both worlds."

After much discussion, it was decided that Roddy would go to Gringotts and ask. So off he went and about an hour later, he returned to inform them that the Goblins would protect Hermione, remove any and all illegal magics and Roddy would return to pick her up when it was done.

"Since we didn't give them a list of what's she's been spelled with, they won't know how long it will take or how expensive it will be to totally heal her. Once it is done, they will contact me via this portkey they gave me – which I have checked for trackers – and once I pay their fee, when it is itemized and calculated, we should have a Dumbledore-free Hermione Granger back."

It would take three days to free Hermione and the fee was…substantial…but probably worth it. "She will probably sleep for a day or two due to the stress she has undergone" Roddy was told by the Goblins "but she will be like she had always been before being cursed by Dumbledore."

"In other words, a bossy, bigoted, know-it-all who has to know everything, is always right, is of a higher moral character than any of us and is destined to rule over our world all since she is so superior than we are" opted a very annoyed Susan Bones. She had never liked Granger and now 'after being freed from the evil spells cast on her by an evil wizard' (like something out of a fairy tale) supposedly, she would be a new person. Many agreed with Susan but knew better than agree with her in public, especially since Harry was their savior and benefactor and he had always cared for Hermione, despite her flaws. But Susan knew what she knew and leopards didn't change their spots even after three days spent being cured by the Goblins.

It was Harry who, naturally, came to his friend's defense. "We should all give Hermione a chance. I will admit that she is bossy, a know-it-all, considers herself to be always right and…some of the other stuff you mentioned…but we MUST now give her the benefit of a doubt, correct Madam Pomfrey?"

The medi-witch had a blank look on her face (no doubt to gather her composure) before replying "I told you all to call me Poppy" and that was all she said. So everyone went back to silently eating their lunch, but hoping for the best or rather what was best for them and not Hermione Granger.

The bodies of the Toad and Short Troll weren't found until a cowed house elf arrived in Toad's bedroom with her morning tea. Her bed hadn't been slept in so maybe, the elf thought, perhaps the hideous, fiendish, cruel Headmistress had fallen asleep at her desk. Holding the tray, the elf quietly popped into the office, only to immediately drop the tray, scream (although house elves were not allowed to scream) and then pop out to report to the head elf the horror she had seen. The head elf went to have a look for himself and promptly threw up his breakfast. After cleaning it up, he left to find an Auror.

An investigation was started, photos of the "horror" were taken, and finally Fudge was notified. The Auror who had fetched Ginny Weasley to the office swore that he had left the girl there about 11:30 p.m., wearing, as ordered by Umbridge, nothing but a nightie, bathrobe and slippers, and that he still had the girl's wand.

One had to give Fudge credit as he waited until it was too late for the deadline for the Evening Prophet, not only so that a thorough investigation could be done but to put together as slanderous a finding as possible. Arthur Weasleys had not shown up for work, so Aurors were sent to the Burrow and noticed that apparently some hasty packing was done and Arthur and Molly Weasley were gone so they probably had Ginny with them.

The Twins and Ron were summoned, or rather roughly dragged from classes and taken to a Ministry holding cell for interrogation. Although breakfast was over and it was now nearly time for lunch, no one missed the Toad at breakfast and it was announced that lunch was now a mandatory meal to commence at exactly 1:00 p.m. The students were told only that there was a murder investigation underway and until further notice all classes were cancelled. Auror MacNair was now in charge and it was he who addressed the great hall.

"The Perfects will lead all students to their respective common rooms, a head count will be taken, and once it is determined that all students are present in the common rooms, all doors and windows will be sealed. Meals, beginning with this one, will be served in the common rooms, the owlery and all working floos will be closed and NO ONE will leave their House until further notice or face a one-way ticket to Azkaban."

Of course the students were shocked and just as the Perfects began to lead their charges to their Houses, Draco Malfoy (because he was Draco Malfoy) had to ask "Who has been murdered?" only to be yelled at by MacNair "None of your damned business Malfoy and your father will hear about this but by us and not you, so shut the hell up."

Once all the students were accounted for and in their Houses, a meal was delivered, consisting only of sandwiches, beef broth and pumpkin juice. Naturally there was grumbling, but since it was lunch and sandwiches were often served at the midday meal, but so were other things like salads, full soups, rolls and butter and pudding. Most students spent their day complaining and wagers were being taken as to who was murdered. Not surprisingly (and dearly hoped for), Umbridge was the most likely to have been offed and as to who had done it, the Weasleys were blamed if only for the fact that three of them had been dragged from their classes and Ginny was missing.

A message had been sent to Charlie's dragon reserve with specific instructions and British Aurors would soon be arriving not only to question Charlie but to hunt for his murderous family. Percy had been horrified at learning what had happened and his sister being blamed for double murder, but he had been absolutely speechless (quick alert the news media) when he was sent to a holding cell only to find Bill already there.

The next morning the headlines of the Daily Prophet screamed out about the "Horror at Hogwarts" listing various opinions about who had done the dirty deed, why were the murders committed, and what the punishment would be. "If Arthur, Molly and Ginevra Weasley do not turn themselves in, the six other Weasley boys will take their place in Azkaban or even be given the Kiss once the trial in absentia is completed."

Since the three Weasleys were on the run and didn't have access to the news in Britain, they wouldn't know about the Weasley boys being held as hostage. Since the owlery was closed and the students confined to their Houses, no one received a copy of the Prophet, and thus knew nothing, which is what MacNair had planned. "Keep them in suspense and ignorant in case we have to question them. That and the food should weaken any will."

What he meant by the food was short and boring rations. In each House a large caldron full of a glue-like porridge appeared along with bowls and spoons and water. At lunch and dinner, sandwiches were served but without any broth or form of soup, pumpkin juice and NO PUDDING. The sandwiches were plain and had no condiments to liven them up. After one full day of such a menu, it was noticed that there were not enough bowls for each student to have porridge and only one sandwich per person was served. It was the survival of the fastest and heaven help you if such people like Crabbe and Goyle spotted the food first. At least Gryffindor didn't have Ron-the-bottomless-pit-Weasley to feed as riots would have surely broken out.

It was enough to almost wish that Umbridge was still in charge because at least they got to eat!