You Don't Know

Chapter 6 - Reapers

When the morning came Hermione woke to find a letter on he bedside table. It was from Professor Dumbledore. She curiously got dressed and headed off to his Office

***

Dumbledore was looking through the papers that sat on his mahogany desk when Fawkes came flying in. His golden red and orange feathers glowed in the morning light. He swooped past his desk dropping a letter on to it. Dumbledore picked up his half-moon glasses and began to examine the letter. It was of yellowish parchment, and sealed with a black wax seal, with the letters S and B. Dumbledore began to search for his letter opener so he could read the letter, when a knock came at the door. With a motion from his hand the large door opened. He had no need to ask who it was as he already knew.

* * *

Hermione looked cautiously into Dumbledore's office, she had been here once before, but it still was a daunting place to be. She looked in and found him sitting at his large desk, he was placing what looked like a letter to his side before welcoming her in.

"Have a seat," he gestured with his cheery voice.

Hermione sank down in the large soft leather chair that sat across from him. As soon as she saw the large smile on his face she immediately felt at ease.

"As you already know we were unable to give you the title of head girl, despite my personal feelings. But after council with the Ministry and the teachers we have decided that with extra credit we might be able to give you joint Head Girl with Julia Henderson."

As these words met her ears, Hermione sat up in the chair at attention.

"I'm not sure I would be able to take on extra classes, my time table is already full. And we know how its turned out last time I tried to do extra credit

"We are aware of this, and we were thinking more along the lines of tutoring."

"Tutoring," muttered Hermione confused.

"Professor Binns has voiced problems with one of his students who's performance last year was well below what he is capable off, and if he doesn't pick up his grades its possible he might fail. And a student hasn't failed in over a century."

Dumbledore paused for a moment as if collecting his thoughts.

"Well not including expellees. I'll give you a minute to think this over," continued Dumbledore.

Think it over, she didn't need time to think it over, if it meant she could be head girl it didn't matter if she had to tutor a Dementor.

"I'll do it, when do I start?" she answer eagerly.

"Great." said Dumbledore with a grin "Today, and once or even twice a week after classes in Professor Binns' classroom."

Hermione couldn't help the big grin that was forming on her face. Finally her dream of being Head Girl could come true.

"Well I better not keep you from you classes any longer," said Dumbledore subtly looked across at the letter.

"Thank You," said Hermione the happiest she had been this year.

The door magically opened for her and she headed off to her classes

* * *

The door closed leaving Dumbledore alone in his office. He reached across and took the letter in his hands. Eager to open it he ripped the seal open and unfolded the letter. It was written in black ink and in haste. It read:

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Dear Dumbledore,

The north is in unrest. Three full moons ago there were sightings of Reapers in the Village of Rohdan in the far north. They fear the worst. They fear the new rising. They believe that they are heading for the Ministry. It is my opinion they are heading for you. I don't know when this will reach you. You may still have time to protect the castle when this reaches you. I will write again when more information is made present, until then good luck!Â

Sirius Black

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Dumbledore placed the letter gravely on his desk. If there were Reapers about then great Evil was on the rise. Reapers the soulless spirit of the ancient evil only ever showed themselves if it was time for them to choose their new heir. They search the land for the one that bears the sign. A sign that can't be seen by the mortal eye. A sign that grows stronger as they approach, and it was most likely that a child would bear this sign. As children are week willed and can be taken with ease. And as it was probable that this child would be at Hogwarts it was crucial that they should in someway protect against this.

Dumbledore called Fawkes over. He gave him a few words sprawled onto a piece of parchment.

"Take this to Professor McGonagall," he said as Fawkes swiftly flew off to deliver Dumbledore's message.

* * *

Hermione was grateful that her first class of the day was Charms and not Potions, as she knew that Professor Flitwick would understand her being late. She quickly hurried down the corridors trying to go as fast as she could without running. By the time she reached the room they were already engaged in the days lesson. She sneaked in and took a seat up the back next to Ron and Harry, who like always were having difficulty with their charms.

"So what did Dumbledore want?" whispered Ron, before she left she had told them about the letter, they had been as inquisitive as her.

"Nothing," she replied. On her way over she decided to keep this a secret until she was sure that she would become Head Girl, and give them a big surprise. Ron and Harry looked at her strangely as she still had a large smile on her face.

"It doesn't look like nothing," said Harry curiously.

"Really it was nothing, just some stuff to do with my timetable."

"All right," they both whispered, still not convinced that she was telling the truth.

Like some dreadful curse, they were stuck with Slytherin again! As Hermione was showing Ron and Harry the correct way to charm a piece of string to dance she noticed that Draco was looking at her. The smile wiped from her face as she looked coldly across at him. As soon as he realized she had caught him looking at her he turned away. The rest of the class flew buy and the time for lunch arrived. The three of them with Ron leading headed off to the Great Hall, where lunch was awaiting.

"My favourite time of the day," said Ron cheerfully.

"Any time of the day is you favourite as long as it involves food!" said Harry with a laugh.

"Hey," yelled Ron is defensively.

"It was a joke, jeez," said Harry still laughing.

Lunch was extravagant as usual, Hermione was still buzzing over the news of possibly being Head Girl. She couldn't wait to start tutoring. Come to think of it she didn't even know who it was she would be tutoring.

* * *

During the lunch period all the teachers had gathered in the small room the lead off the great hall. Dumbledore stood at the head of the room and called for silence. All the faces fell upon him.

"I am glad that you all got my message. The reason I have called you here is because it has come to my attention that there are Reapers heading this way. Whether their destination is here is unknown," said Dumbledore in a powerful voice.

"I believed it necessary that we do what we can to protect the castle in the event that they do head here. As it is know that darkness and the shadows are its allies and light and fire are its enemies. Reapers are not of the mortal plain and are only extremely powerful magic can stop them. And even then it takes time and at the moment we need something that can be done now. So we will put a protection spell on the grounds that it will produce a ring of light blinding to them but invisible to the naked eye the moment there is movement at the forests edge. This will prevent them from entering the grounds," said Dumbledore. There was a rush of whispers in the room.

"The curfew will also be enforced heavier then before, points taken away will be higher and students will need to be escorted back to their common rooms. I would appreciate that we keep this matter quiet. We don't know if we are at risk so there is no need to create panic among the students and their families. You will be notified if what we believed is confirmed."

At this the teachers softly talked amongst themselves quietly as they headed of to their classes.

* * *

The rest of the day moved quickly for Hermione. Soon classes were over and it was time for her to start tutoring. She was a little confused as to what she was supposed to do. Hopefully it would all become apparent when she started. She had told Harry and Ron that she was going to the library, in which they made a comment like, "What's new!" and when back top playing wizards chess. She reached Binns' classroom. She excitedly opened the door and walked in. The room was empty except for a lone person in the room.

"You have got to be kidding me!" she said aggravated, because before her sat . . .