Chapter 8: Suspicions
Ron had attempted to go to bed, but found it near impossible to even think of sleep once he set his head upon his pillow. Almost as soon as he sat on the soft mattress his thoughts immediately went to Hermione and under what conditions she might be sleeping in at that very moment, if she were even alive. After a total of two and a half minutes of bed rest, he threw the comforter off and headed down the spiral stone steps and into the Gryffindor common room. He saw Harry sitting on the couch staring into the fireplace. Harry's eyes were glued to it. Ron could see by Harry's expression that he was deep in thought. As common as these moments were for Harry, the thought of loosing some one else he had been so close to seemed insufferable.
Not even an hour earlier, they had solemnly walked out of the chamber, each of them practically in a daze. Both Dumbledore and Snape told them to head for bed.
"Perhaps we will all be able to think clearly with a fresh mind," as Dumbledore had so elegantly put it. "How on earth are we going to be able to sleep knowing that Hermione has been kidnapped? With all due respect sir, but have you gone mad?" said Harry.
"Harry, give me a little time to think this through. I have an idea as to how to start looking for Hermione, or better yet, help her to find herself and come home. But you need to give me just a few hours. Preferably until morning."
"But why can't Ron and I help you? We are just as capable as-" but Dumbledore cut him off this time.
"Harry, that is not the issue. I have a very strong sense of what has happened here tonight and I need to make the proper preparations."
"What preparations?" said Ron before Harry could blurt it out.
"I will explain everything in the morning. Now please my dear boys, try as best you can to get some sleep. We will think clearly with a fresh mind, I promise you." These were his last words before they reached the Gryffindor common room and Dumbledore disappeared into the darkness of the hallway along with Professor Snape.
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Ron as he stepped down the final few steps of the stairs.
"I didn't even try."
"I thought as much."
"I don't think I can handle sitting here the whole night. I will drive myself mad." And with that, Harry leapt up from the couch and started up the staircase.
"If you're thinking what I think you are thinking again…I'm going with you" said Ron.
"Its not like I have this thought out, Ron." Harry made his way to his trunk and thrust it open going for the Invisibility cloak. He really didn't care if he woke the entire room up with all the noise he was making. A few stirred, but luckily none awoke.
"So what! Its not like we ever really do. Most of the bloody stuff we pull is made up as we go."
"Look, I know Riddle! I know how threatening he can make himself sound, how he can manipulate you, and force you into doing anything he wants you to!" Harry was looked at Ron directly in the eyes now. "I have to know what Dumbledore is planning. I normally let him just lead me in the right direction, but that is not enough this time. Not when Hermione's life hangs in the balance. The last thing I want is for you to get caught up in the mess that more than likely has something to do with me."
Ron could feel himself starting to get angry.
"Sorry, but I missed the part where you explained a LOGICAL reason as to why I can't go. Since when is talking to Dumbledore about his plans cause for my life being in danger?" There was a long silence before Harry answered.
"If Riddle can get to Hermione so easily…" he felt himself loose his words for moment. "I just don't want the same for you. For all we know this could all just be another way of trying to get to me, or even Dumbledore for that matter. Riddle knows you both are my weakness. He told me so the first time I met him in the chamber. That's the whole reason why he petrified Hermione in the first place; and the reason why he possessed Ginny. I won't risk it and please don't ask me to." Harry stood there waiting for a rebuttal from Ron, but none came. Ron quickly sought for a way to reason with him.
"If Riddle had wanted to get to me, wouldn't he have already?" he said.
"Please just let me do this alone. If I can get a few answers, if anything from Dumbledore, maybe we'll able to rest easier." Harry took a deep breath waiting again for Ron to argue.
"She's my friend too, Harry. And I'm just as worried as you are." Silence then followed for a moment. "This is the last time I'm letting you leave me out. But only because I know Dumbledore will listen to you better." Harry was relieved when Ron finally gave into his reasoning.
"I'll be back soon," he said heading down the stairs and for the door. Slipping on his cloak, Harry walked as quickly as he could while still trying to be quiet. The darkness was starting to make him jumpy. Every time he would hear the slightest disturbance he would stop in his tracks, holding his breath. After everything appeared to be clear, he continued to Professor Dumbledore's office.
Harry softly muttered the password as he was halfway down the hall and climbed the steep steps, not even waited for them to carry him up most of the way. With his cloak clinched tightly to his body, he peered around the corner for a sign that Dumbledore may still be awake. Hearing nothing but silence, he began to trudge up and down the ghostly room. Not even the portraits were making a sound. From the corner of his eyes he saw a movement from the top of the stairs to his right.
"I have been expecting you, Harry. Would you care to join me?" said the professor. He had not even been facing him, but he still knew he was there. Harry slipped off his cloak and walked up the stairs towards Dumbledore.
"I can't say I didn't try, Harry. But Miss Granger's fate will not be in our hands for much longer." His voice was like the sound of a whisper. Harry felt his heart sink to bottom of his stomach. But he still didn't feel that he quite understood what Dumbledore had meant.
"There has to be something else we can do. None of this adds up! Why would he get Hermione involved in this?" He felt his body begin to tremble. Never had he seen Dumbledore so doubtful. If Dumbledore didn't know what to do, who would?
"I sent her a Remorical, Harry. One of the most powerful of its kind… but it did more harm than good. It was the last option we had."
"A Remorical?" said Harry. Professor Dumbledore sighed preparing himself for the long explanation awaiting.
"I had Professor Snape find one years ago in case this should happen. A Remorical serves as a deep reminder. A reminder of what can be real and what can be an illusion for those under the influence of a curse. I had hoped it would remind Miss Granger of her home here with the people she cares for and how her current surroundings can be deceitful. But it gave Voldemort the chance he needed to turn her," at this Harry felt his knees nearly give way. "It gave him the chance to remind her of who she truly is, and what she is to him. As well as what they could be together."
Harry's blood was running wild through his veins, and he felt himself begin to shake. A panic surged through him like he had never felt before.
"What could she possibly be to him? He couldn't turn Hermione. He couldn't! Where did the Remorical go wrong?" If Harry had raised his voice any louder, he may have started shouting in disbelief. Dumbledore let a silence thicken the air while he searched for the right words.
"He must have left her alone for too long. It would have worked otherwise. She needed to have a clear mind for it to work. Forgive me, Harry for not seeing this possibility…but the Remorical did more harm than good. It showed her everything she once knew; all the evil that surrounded her, and everything we had tried to keep from her. Riddle stopped the Remorical as it became too powerful and used it to push through her mind. You and I both now how vulnerable she has been." Harry took a seat across from the Professor on a stool overlooking the starry sky, trying to soak it all in.
"Professor," Harry started, "you're not making sense…none of this fits."
Dumbledore simply shook his head in shame as he thought back on what he had done.
"Harry, Miss Granger is not who you think she is. She is neither muggle born, nor impure. She is in fact a descendant of an ancient wizard family; one so strong that it runs along the same lines of Salazzar Slytherin's."
"How is that possible?" asked Harry. "I've met her parents."
"No you haven't." Said Dumbledore in a very solemn tone. "You met the muggles who took her in as a child and cared for her since. As I had earlier suspicioned, Riddle sent Death Eaters to destroy them and ordered them to take her in by secret. Things must have gone gravely wrong somehow, because I don't believe she was meant to end up back in our hands. Therefore, Riddle took matters upon himself. He has undoubtedly used the Remorical to his own advantage and told her who she really is."
Harry sat starring at Dumbledore with a stunned look in his eyes. Any doubts Harry may have had before vanished as he saw the guilt in the professor's eyes. He knew his words were true.
"Why would he go through so much trouble to get to her?" asked Harry.
"Hermione is powerful, Harry. She perhaps holds nearly the amount of power that Riddle now holds."
"So he wants her dead? Is she a threat to him?" Dumbledore looked at him straight in the eyes.
"No, Harry. He wants her by his side. It is my belief that he might attempt to train her in the ways of the dark arts."
"No," Harry argued. "She wouldn't allow him to do such a thing. She wouldn't…" but Dumbledore interrupted.
"Do you see now, Harry, how the Remorical failed? Riddle told her who she is and how strong she could be with him."
"But Hermione isn't power hungry!" Harry was on the brink of shouting again.
"But she does see herself as having been betrayed. She has always been told she was muggle born for her own protection. We knew Voldemort would be after her if he were aware of her existence, so we made it a secret from everyone. Even herself." Dumbledore explained.
Harry didn't know what to think at this point. All these years he had known that Hermione's brilliance and power would be her strength, but this?
"Professor, how could he possibly have gained her trust?" Harry said softly. Dumbledore was silent for a moment again as he considered this himself. He slowly turned to face the night sky.
"If we keep our minds clear…perhaps the answer to that question will come to us. We must keep ourselves open to all possibilities," said Dumbledore.
"Professor, could there possibly be more to this? I just don't see why she would let him take control of herself in that way."
"Then, perhaps there is someone who does." Dumbledore's words lingered in the air for barely a second before Harry sat straight up with eyes wide open as the realization suddenly struck him.
"Malfoy! He acted as if he knew something." Harry thought to himself. Dumbledore broke his train of thought as he spoke up and faced him again.
"I trust that you and Mr. Weasley can carry out your own investigation without further help. I have something I need to do before attending to Mr. Malfoy myself." Although Harry was not sure of Dumbledore's future intentions, he knew he had just received permission to use whatever means necessary to interrogate Malfoy.
"Do you mean that you will come help Ron and me with Malfoy?" asked Harry.
"Oh no, Harry. You pay close attention to young Mr. Malfoy as best you can. But I was speaking of Draco Malfoy's father. If there is anyone who could possibly be behind Miss Granger's disappearance or possibly be an accomplice, it would him. But first, I need to send a message to an old friend who might be able to help.
Dumbledore turned to Harry as he reached the door.
"One more thing, Harry. Please try to come straight to me once you have learned anything. And if I am not here, I request that you go Professor Snape." Harry made a face as Dumbledore gave his final word.
"Promise me, Harry." Said Dumbledore in a very strong tone.
"I promise," said Harry roughly as he stared down at the floor. By the time he lifted his head to watch Dumbledore walk out, he had disappeared.