Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: I just wanted to make a few things clear.

I don't want to take up anymore of your time so just tell me what you think.

Chapter 6: Explaining

Hermione returned to Harry's side and he watched her cautiously. "Is everything ok? Did you find the bathroom alright?"

"Everything's fine." Hermione sighed heavily, she felt guilty for lying to Harry when he had been nothing but nice to her since he found her. "I didn't go to the bathroom like I told you." Harry watched her expectantly. "I went to follow your godfather, Remus, when he left the room."

"Why did you do that?" Harry asked curiously, trying to hide that fact that his insides were jumping angrily into his throat at the thought of her wanting to be alone with a man.

Hermione glanced around uneasily. "When I met him I got an uneasily feeling that he was different… not human."

Harry's eyes widened. "How did- I mean, what do you mean?" Harry recovered quickly, or at least he thought he did.

Hermione had the urge to laugh. "It's ok. We already talked about it. I asked him if he was a werewolf and he said yes after some convincing."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." Hermione nodded.

"How did you find out so quickly? Most people never find out without Remus actually telling them." Harry exclaimed.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. I noticed that when he walked into the room it looked like he was smelling something, then his eyes landed on me. As if he could tell I didn't belong. Then when you introduced me to him I got the oddest image in my head of an animal pacing, waiting to get out."

"That's amazing Hermione. You have some real talent. I can't wait for you to learn more about magic." Harry smiled at her warmly.

"Hey Harry, mate." He turned around just in time to see Ronald Weasley put his arm around Harry's shoulder.

Harry shrugged his arm off. "What do you want Ron?"

Ron's eyes landing unceremoniously on Hermione. "I never got the pleasure of meeting the new muggleborn. So what's her name?"

Hermione huffed angrily. "This muggleborn has a voice of her own to speak. So I'd appreciate if you had any questions about me then you'll come to me with them. My name is Hermione."

"So muggleborn Hermione, is it?" Ron smiled in what he thought was a charming way. "Maybe when you're done talking to the trash you'll want a real wizard to show you the ropes."

Hermione's eyes blazed fire and she felt very ready to punch the git in the face. "For one thing it's not muggleborn Hermione, just Hermione. An for another, I think you're right. I will seek out a real wizard after I'm done talking to the trash." Harry's mouth dropped open in shock at her statement and he took a step back as if to walk away and Ron grinned in victory. "Harry, would you be so kind as to teach me some magic." She glanced disgustedly at Ron. "I'm done talking to the trash now."

Now it was Ron's turn to stand their shocked while a few people around them started to laugh at Hermione's spunk.

Harry glanced down at Hermione's face and smiled warmly. "I would love too."

"Gred, did you just see what I say? Or is my eyes playing a wickedly funny trick on me?" Fred asked his twin brother.

George shook his head. "It was very real, dear brother. I do believe that I like this new muggleborn friend of ours a great deal."

"Ahh, that's where you're wrong. It's not muggleborn, but Hermione. The young lass seems very against the title we've all been labeling her for the last few hours." Fred pointed out with a grin.

"I do believe you're right. What do you think of the new lass, Neville?" They turned to see the shy boy glance at them hesitantly.

Neville shrugged. "She seems nice enough. I'm just glad she put Weasley in his place before things got out of hand. He's a right piece of work, your brother is." The soft spoken boy turned to look at the rest of the Weasleys. "Seems like your mum and sister have something important to say to the newest addition to our family."

Fred turned to look where Neville was indicating. "Seems you're right. Should we intervene?"

His twin shook his head. "I think Hermione's more then capable of holding her own, as she wonderfully demonstrated a new minutes ago."

Neville shook his heads at the twins, he knew the only reason they didn't want to intervene with his mother and sister was because of their attitudes. The took things very badly and had the nasty habit of thinking they were always right. Not to say he didn't share their sentiment. He wasn't fond of getting on the Weasley women's bad side if he could help it either.

They were definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Ron's mouth fell open in shock after seeing who Hermione meant as 'being the trash.' "Excuse me?"

Hermione didn't even turn to look at him. "You're excused."

"You don't know who you're talking to little girl." Ron sneered.

This time Hermione did turn to look at the tall red headed boy. "Actually I do. You're name is Ronald Weasley. You are obviously the youngest boy of a large family as I see a number of red heads in this room all more mature then you are. You think that I'm stupid enough to fall for a dumb grin and a few simple words, but you've obviously never been with a girl in your life. Now I don't know who you think you are, but I don't need to take you badmouthing my friends no matter how self important you feel." Hermione snapped angrily. "Come on Harry."

She dragged the very shocked Harry away from the still gapping red head. When she felt they were far enough away from the rude boy she stopped to take a deep breath. She knew that she needed to calm down. She had felt a warm tingling in her fingers the angrier she got when talking to Ron.

"That was brilliant!" Harry blurted out before he blushed. "I mean, that was amazing how you just put Ron in his place like that. An I guess I should thank you too."

Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion. "About what?"

"That comment about him being trash and not me. Thanks." Harry stammered.

"It wasn't a problem. I was just stating the truth."

Harry was about to say something more, but he was interrupted. "Ahh, Ms. Granger. Just the witch I wanted to see." The pair turned to see Albus Dumbledore standing before them with twinkling eyes.

"And you are?" Hermione asked curiously.

"How rude of me. I am Albus Dumbledore, I head up the Order of the Phoenix." He exclaimed with flourish.

"That's… nice." Hermione didn't know what he was talking about. "But if you would excuse us, I was just in the middle of a conversation with Harry."

A few gasps were heard throughout the now silent room. Hermione turned to glance at Harry and even he looked at her as if she committed a horrible sin. Dumbledore himself was beside himself with shock.

"You have no right to speak to Albus with such disrespect!" A shrill voice reprimanded her.

Hermione's ire was really starting to reach it's peak. Everyone seemed to think that they could walk all over her and tell her what to do just because she was a stranger, but she was tired of that. She had gotten enough from her parents and the people at the Asylum.

"As far as I'm concerned I wasn't the one being disrespectful. I politely told him I was busy while he interrupted my conversation as if he were above such simple things called manners." Hermione pointed out sharply.

"Now look here-" Mrs. Weasley started angrily, but she was interrupted this time.

"Hermione?" Harry's voice grabbed Hermione's attention immediately. "You need to relax, you're shocking me."

Hermione blinked up at Harry before bringing her fingers into view. "Oh, dear. I'm sorry." Hermione blushed sheepishly.

Harry grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze. "It's not your fault. You'll soon learn how to better control you're magic when we start your training."

The sound of a voice clearing woke them from their private conversation. "I'm very sorry about interrupting you're conversation Ms. Granger. I was just so excited at getting the opportunity to speak to you that I seemed to have misplaced my manners. If it wouldn't trouble you too much I would like to have a few words with you in my office with a few others present, if you don't mind."

"Not at all, Mr. Dumbledore. I apologize at my earlier rudeness. Today has been bit of a trying day for me and I haven't quite acclimated to the situation properly." Hermione graciously apologized.

Dumbledore smiled brightly. "Well then, shall we?"

Hermione walked in the direction that Dumbledore was indicating. "Harry are you coming?"

Harry lifted his eyes in surprise and chanced a glance at Dumbledore. "Yea, I'm right behind you.

When Hermione entered the office she saw Harry's parents and godparents seated around a large table. "So what's going on here?" She asked nervously, but she calmed down when she felt Harry's hand brush her back.

"Please take a seat Ms. Granger and you as well Mr. Potter." Dumbledore himself sat at the head of the table. "Now it has come to my attention that you were being held in a facility of some sort."

Hermione nodded her head and Harry turned to stare at her. "I don't understand. When I found you you were in a residential area, no where near any large buildings."

"Harry." His mother admonished. "Please let Hermione finish."

Hermione smiled her thanks at Harry's mother. "I was held in a facility called the Asylum throughout the year. All the children who attend there are required to return home for a week every year so as to not raise any suspicions. No two children are away at the same time, we're all given our own week. When you found me it was the last day of my home confinement before I would be sent back."

Dumbledore could sense there were issues she wasn't talking about. "How was your home life, Ms. Granger?"

"Hermione is fine. My home life was retched to say the least. When I had my first magical mishap a letter arrived my owl, we were all very shocked. It was addressed to my parents. The Asylum is a school to destroy the idea that there is such a thing as magic in the world. It was developed to beat the magic out of us, so we're too afraid to have any more future mishaps. After the letter my parents got the impression that there was something wrong with me and that I needed to be confined. Then on out I was locked in my bedroom for the week, only let out if they were both around." Hermione explained as she stared at the small etchings of the table. She didn't like talking about her home life, it only served to remind her that there was no one that really cared about her anymore.

Everyone was silent for awhile, soaking up everything she had told them already. "So how did you manage to escape from your house?" James wondered aloud.

Hermione blushed as she felt Harry's hand slip into hers under the table. Last year I over heard Professor Pettigrew speaking to the Headmaster about how hard it was to hide the fact that they could do magic from us. After that I started to pay more attention to the Professors and I noticed where the headmaster hid his books. I stole a few of the less used ones and I've been practicing ever since. So when my parents went to work for the day I just closed my eyes and imagined the door wasn't there and it just vanished."

"Without a wand?" Sirius asked in shock.

Hermione blinked. "Oh, you mean those sticks you guys carry around? No, I've never used one before. I can do magic pretty easily without one."

Remus turned to Hermione. "That's quite impressive. Most wizards don't have the mental capabilities to perform wandless magic and you do it effortlessly. Can you give us a taste?"

"I suppose," Hermione whispered nervously. "What would you like me to do?"

"You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with dear." Lily smiled at her warmly. "I know you haven't spent a lot of time with the craft yet."

"Thank you, but I'd like to try. It would be nice to practice without all the secrecy anymore." Hermione pointed out.

"Well how about this," James stood up. "I'll send a slight stunner and you just block it. That should be simple enough."

Harry's eyes narrowed at his father's request. "Maybe that's not the best idea."

"What?" Hermione's turned to face him angrily. "You don't think I can do it?"

"No, that's not it. I just don't want you to get hurt. You haven't had practical magical experience yet and my father is one of the best aurors around." Harry quickly explained. "I know you're capable. I'm just worried."

Hermione had to stop the smile that was threatening to escape at Harry's proclamation. It felt nice that some one cared about her safety. "I'll be fine."

Throughout the entire conversation Dumbledore had just been watching the petite girl, she was a mystery. He was very eager to find out what she was capable of with just her own personally training.

"Ready?" James asked as he readied his wand, Hermione nodded. "Stupefy!"

Hermione concentrated her magic into her hands as she raised them in front of her person quickly. The spell was immediately absorbed into her shield and a few seconds past before it was spit back out and thrown forcefully back at James Potter. He barely managed to raise his shield in time to protect himself and his body was thrown back into the wall from the shear force of the spell.

"That was amazing." Remus whispered.

James glared angrily at Harry. "She was supposed to protect herself."

"She did." Dumbledore said. "Can't you feel the energy she's exuding?"

Hermione blinked at the magic slipped back into her body. "I told you I would be fine, Harry."

"How did you do that?" Harry asked in shock.

"Do what?"

"You send my father's spell back at him and stronger from the looks of it." Harry explained quickly. "It was awesome, but what spell is that? I don't remember ever learning it."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. Aren't all shield spells supposed to do that?"

"No, they usually only block the spell and the spell dissipates and depending on how strong the shield spell is it will remain." Lily explained. "What you did was so much more? Is it a spell you learned in one of your Headmaster's book?"

"No, I just thought of protecting myself. There was nothing else to it. My magic just instinctively reacts to my feelings and thoughts. Isn't that what magic does?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I'm afraid not." Sirius mumbled. "Be awesome if it did."

"Is the spell still up, Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore spoke up again.

"I don't know."

Dumbledore stroked his beard in contemplation. "I have a thought… James, Sirius and Remus. Can you please attack Ms. Granger simultaneously?"

Lily turned to Dumbledore with a serious look on her face. "Is that wise? We don't know what she's capable of yet and you're already trying to test her."

"I know what I'm doing Lily. I know she can handle this. Mr. Potter, you and your mother should stand away from everyone please." Harry and his mother moved to follow Dumbledore's orders quickly. "On my count… one, two, THREE!"

Three stunners made their way towards Hermione quickly and once again her shield was up, but this time Dumbledore himself sent a silent attack towards Harry and Lily. Hermione immediately popped out of sight and reappeared in front of the pair.

"As I thought." Dumbledore sounded bemused.

"That was uncalled for!" Harry yelled. "You said nothing about using my mother and I as your guinea pigs."

James also glared. "I do not appreciate you attacking my wife and son Albus. You better have a brilliant explanation for this."

"Ms. Granger's magic has been bottled inside her body for the last thirteen years or so and it has been building in strength. An because of her inexperience with controlling her magic it has absorbed itself in the very recesses of her mind. It has essentially molded with her, it knows how to protect her when her emotions are high and it does what she needs." Dumbledore explained diplomatically. "They've bonded as a wizard normally does with their wand."

"But how? Most people drive themselves insane if their magic isn't properly controlled. How could she accomplish what others could not?" Remus eyes lit up with excitement of learning something so fascinating.

"Because she knew that she had magic. The people who go insane are muggleborns who have no knowledge that magic even exists." Lily spoke up. She had studied up on the subject since she herself was a muggleborn.

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "I don't like that word. I'm the same as all of you, why do I have to be labeled?"

"It's ok, Hermione. They're not labeling you that way to be cruel. Just in this world people are put into categories. I'm a halfblood, while my mother and you are muggleborns, and my dad and my godfathers are purebloods. While people who don't have magic are called muggles. It's kind of how you're a human and a dog is an animal. Just ways to differentiate." Harry put his arm around her waist so she wouldn't blow up again. He turned to the others in the room. "She doesn't like the term because that's what Malfoy called her right before he tried to kill her."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Ms. Granger."

Hermione nodded. "It's alright. Was there anything else that you wanted to know? I'm getting kind of sleepy."

"Actually there is a few more questions, but it shouldn't take too much of your time. We just want to know how many people are in the Asylum and if there was a way that you could take us there."

"There were over a hundred students at the Asylum. Many of the older ones would disappear and we'd never hear from them again, but I'm afraid I can't bring you there." Hermione spoke softly.

"Why not?" Sirius demanded angrily.

"Because I don't know where it is. I was always unconscious through the trip and I would wake up in my bedroom. I figured they were using magic on me." Hermione yelled back, she hated being yelled at.

Albus Dumbledore was by no means a cruel man, but he would do what needed to be done for the greater good. He would willingly sacrifice the lives of a few for the prosperity of many. An he had a small feeling that Hermione Granger was necessary to finally win this war, even if it meant her demise.

He would do it, for the greater good.