The Truth About Hermione Granger

Weeks passed, then months. Hermione had the same dream several times and ended up putting a silencing charm on the curtains around her four poster bed so she wouldn't wake her class mates any more. Finally, after another sleepless night in late March, she headed over to Professor Goldwood's office to talk with her.

"Good morning, Miss Snape," said the Professor, indicating that she should sit in the chair opposite her desk. "I'm surprised to see you up and about so early. What brings you here?"

"My father says you're really good with advise," she said, sitting down.

"I suppose I am," she said appraisingly. "With what do you need help? Is it school work? Girl stuff...? Boys?"

"No, nothing like that," said Hermione. "You see, I've been having this dream. It's terrifying." And again, Hermione related the events of her dream.

"I see," said Professor Goldwood slowly. She sat back in her chair and appeared thoughtful. "Perhaps if you stood still?"

"You mean in my dream?" asked Hermione, a bit confused.

"Yes," said Professor Goldwood. "Try standing your ground and see what happens. If you can keep your head about you in your dream. If the wolf still attacks, then it's simply a dream. But, if he doesn't.... there may be something to it."

Hermione nodded slowly. "Is that some form of divination?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, goodness no!" laughed Professor Goldwood. "It's simply that when our minds realize something that we don't, they often try to tell us these truths through our dreams. This could be the case, but I'm not entirely sure. It may well be just a dream and nothing more."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you professor," she said. "I'll try that the next time I have that dream."

"Keep me posted," Professor Goldwood called after her as she left the office.

Feeling much better, Hermione headed down to the great hall to find that she was the first Gryffindor there and only three other students had made it there before her- all Hufflepuff fifth years. She smiled and waved at them as she sat down. She decided to get a little studying done while she waited for classes to start.

"Studying again?" said Ron, sitting next to her. "Don't you do enough of that in class?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps," she answered. "Where's Harry?"

"I don't know," answered Ron, shrugging. "He said something about having to do some extra work for potions and so I-" Suddenly, he stopped. "That dirty bastard!" he exclaimed. "I'll bet he's off to have a bit of a snog with Ginny!" He threw down his spoon and jumped up.

"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione, grabbing his arm before he could storm off. "Just leave them alone. Ginny's old enough to take care of herself. Besides, if you start beating up Harry every time the two of them sneak off together, he'll end up hating you and so will your sister."

He hesitated, then sat abruptly. "Fine," he said, going back to his toast and porridge.

In a few more moments, Ginny and Harry showed up. Ginny was a bit flushed and grinning and both were a bit out of breath.

"And just what have you two been doing?" asked Hermione before Ron could get a word out.

"Running in the puddles," answered Ginny. "It got awfully warm outside and the snow's all melting! It was great fun!"

"THAT'S a likely story," said Ron, scowling at them.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "All right, then, Ron, we were off in a secret room shagging," she said. "Does that sound better?"

He scowled at his sister. "No," he said.

Harry was lost in fits of laughter at that. "Really, Ron," said Harry. "You don't have to worry about ME!"

Ron only scowled, though.

"Ginny, how are things going with you?" asked Hermione, trying to change the subject.

"Pretty good," she answered. "School's tough. The teachers are really piling on the homework because of OWL's coming up."

"As if we haven't got ENOUGH to do," put in Ron, scowling at his porridge. "Don't worry Ginny, sixth year is MUCH harder."

"Well, that's sure a consolation," answered Ginny, spooning some sugar into her porridge. "Oh, well. I'm sure they just want to make sure we've got everything down."

"Yes," said Hermione, shutting her book and putting it away. She wouldn't get any more studying done with all of her friends here. "After all, we can't have under-qualified witches and wizards running about, can we?" she finished.

* * * * * * * *

Before Hermione knew it, the Easter Holidays were upon them. And, just her luck, she hadn't had the dream again. That was probably because she'd been wanting to have it. But, no luck.

Now, she found herself sitting in her father's rooms on her trunk, waiting for him to be ready. He was going to light the fire for her again and allow her to head to the hotel in Ireland where they would be staying on holiday and he would follow as soon as he'd put out the fire and made the long trek to Hogsmeade. She couldn't wait to get to Ireland. She'd been there once before, but she had been only four years old, so she didn't remember it very well. What she WASN'T looking forward to was having the dream again while she couldn't talk to Professor Goldwood right away.

Well, she would deal with it.

"Well, then, Poppet," said her father, taking the jar of floo powder off the mantle. "Are you ready to go?"

"I sure am!" exclaimed Hermione, jumping up and taking a pinch of the powder.

"Now, don't forget," he admonished as she threw the powder into the flames. "It's Malloy Castle."

"I know," she said, and took a step into the flames. Quickly, she called out, "Malloy Castle!" and was gone in a rush of smoke and flames.

It took a bit longer to get all the way to Ireland, but soon, she came tumbling out of a fireplace and into a large room. Before she could stand, a pair of large hands was lifting her off the floor and dusting her off. "There y'are, lass!" exclaimed a loud male voice. "You must be Miss Snape. Yer father said ya'd be showin' up shortly afore him."

"Yes, that's me," she replied, trying to get a good look at the man. "Hermione Snape. And you?"

"Simon O'Leary," he answered. "Old friend o' yer fathers."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. O'Leary," she said, adding a slight curtsey. "Do you own this place?"

"That I do, lass," he boomed. Then, quieter, he said, "Get mostly wizards and witches, but there are a few muggles who show up now and then. We got a few now, but they'll be leaving in a few days time. Keep your wand away for now, though."

Hermione nodded. "Of course," she said, grinning.

With a pop, her father appeared in the room.

"Severus!" bellowed Simon O'Leary. "Good ta see yeh! Just been chattin' with your daughter! And a lovely daughter she is, too!"

"Thank you, Mr. O'Leary," said Hermione.

"I can't take all the credit, Simon," said her father, beaming at her. "But, she is quite a girl, isn't she?"

"That she is!" said Simon. "Polite and friendly and quite pretty, too! All the things important in a girl. I don't suppose you'd let me set her up with that son o' mine?"

"I'm already taken," said Hermione, seeing her father go almost livid in rage.

"Already?" laughed Mr. O'Leary. "Well, that's okay. Here! I'll show you both to your rooms."

With that, Mr. O'Leary grabbed two keys from the desk and led them out of the posh study and into the main entrance of the castle. There was a large set of oak doors which was obviously the muggle entrance. To their right was a large winding staircase, which disappeared into the ceiling high above their heads. Through another set of doors, Hermione could see a sitting room, nearly empty but for a few people. Mr. O'Leary led them up the stairs and into an even larger hallway, carpeted in red and with windows running along the left side, revealing a lush, green countryside, even this early in April. Near the end of the hallway, Mr. O'Leary unlocked a large set of double doors and threw them open. Inside was a huge sitting room with table and chairs, couch and more red carpeting. Through the doors on either side of the room, Hermione saw two bedrooms with large, four-poster beds and their own bathing rooms. The windows opposite the door revealed a lovely view of the courtyard gardens. There was a balcony as well, accessible by the smaller glass doors.

"It's lovely, Simon, thank you!" said her father with a half smile.

"Very lovely!" put in Hermione, dropping her trunk onto the floor and having a look out on the gardens.

Simon gave her father the keys and left them alone saying he'd catch up with them later.

As he left, Hermione turned from the window to see her father flopped in the sofa rubbing his forehead. "What's the matter, daddy?" she asked.

"I have a headache," he answered.

"Poor daddy," she said, sitting next to him. "Perhaps a walk in the gardens will cheer you up. They look lovely!"

"I don't think so, Hermione," he answered tiredly.

"Oh, come on, then!" she said softly. "Some fresh air will do you good. It's just because you've been cooped up in that school since November without getting out much. Go take a walk, you'll see!"

He just sat there for a moment, rubbing his forehead. Finally, he sighed. "Perhaps I will," he said. "Are you coming with me?"

"Do you want me to?" she asked.

"Not really," he answered. "Besides, dinner is in an hour and don't you have to take a shower? You're covered in soot!"

Hermione grinned, looking down at her clothes. "You're right, I'm filthy!" she said, jumping up and heading towards one of the rooms. "I'll take this one, okay?"

"Of course, poppet, whatever you want," he answered.

Hermione closed the door and threw off her clothes, leaving them on the floor for now. She would pick them up in a bit.

As soon as she finished her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and hurried out to the main room to retrieve her trunk. She was rather glad that her father had left because her towel fell off once as she struggled with her trunk. Finally, though, she was back in her room and pulling on some clean clothes. As soon as she'd done a drying charm on her hair and powdered her shiny nose, she stepped out into the sitting room to find that her father had not yet returned. That was odd, he'd said that dinner was in an hour and it had been over that already. Where could he be?