The Reluctant Guardian

Not knowing quite what to make of the reaction she received, Hermione folded her hands primly in her lap and waited for someone else to speak.

It was Professor Snape that broke the silence.

"Miss Granger" he asked in a curt tone, "do you know of your parents' whereabouts at this precise moment? They are not at your home."

Hermione's brows were furrowed, confusion evident in her voice, "You mean this isn't about me being in the library after curfew?"

"Miss Granger!" Professor Snape said sharply. "Answer the question!"

"Now, now, Severus," said the Headmaster quietly, "we need to help her understand why she is here this evening."

The Headmaster turned to Hermione. "Miss Granger, please," he implored, "tell us where your parents are. We have reason to believe that they are in grave danger."

Hermione gasped in surprise and stammered a reply. "They are in A-America. A-at a dental conference. In Chicago, I think. Somewhere called the Drake."

"Good," said Professor Snape simply, "I'll get one of the Order to keep a close guard on them. However, we cannot let the Dark Lord know they are being protected."

"Wait!" shouted Hermione. "Why do my parents need the protection of the Order? Why do you believe them to be in danger?"

"Miss Granger," sneered Professor Snape, "they are in danger because of you. You have suddenly become very valuable to the Dark Lord and his followers. I have been charged with the task of bringing you to the Dark Lord. If I am unable to persuade you, or if you refuse to join him, then your parents will be murdered while you watch. You will then meet the same end."

"Why?" gasped Hermione "Why me? What do they want with me?" Her face had gone deathly pale and her hands were trembling in her lap.

Professor Snape turned to her with a dark look. "Well," he said, "it would seem that you have several unique abilities that the Dark Lord does not wish to be used against him. Do you know to what I am referring?"

Hermione clutched the arms of her chair in a panic. "But, I don't know if I can do that again! It only happened because I was so angry at Malfoy."

"Yes, Miss Granger," said Professor Dumbledore, "and young Mr. Malfoy reported the incident back to his father. Perhaps you might enlighten us with the details? While we do know generally what occurred, we do not know your side."

Hermione sat quietly for a moment, lost in thought. Her mind played the incident back like a film.

Hermione was making her way to lunch from class when she was approached by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in the hall. She looked frantically around for help and found that she was quite alone. She silently cursed herself for staying after to ask questions.

"Well, well, well," drawled Malfoy. "What do we have here? A little Gryffindor mudblood seems to have ventured out without Potty and the Weasel." He took several steps toward her, backing her into a dark corner. Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles threateningly and filled in any gaps that Hermione might have used to escape.

"Do you know what we do to mudbloods in Slytherin?" said Malfoy in an oily voice while fingering one of Hermione's curls.

Hermione felt anger bubbling to the surface. Malfoy had gone too far, again. She forced herself to appear calm. "Malfoy," she said in what she hoped was a nonchalant tone, "you don't seem to have learned your lesson yet. I've already broken your nose, several times..."

"Shut up, you filthy little mudblood!" yelled Malfoy. "I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't soon forget." With that, he grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her towards him, causing Hermione to yelp in pain.

"Sod off, Malfoy!" she yelled. Her eyes narrowed as her lips moved silently. A flash of yellow zapped straight into Malfoy's chest. He screamed and jumped away from her, his hair standing on end. Smoke poured from his ears. His whole body was surrounded by little currents of electricity. Crabbe and Goyle backed away with fear in their eyes while watching the twitching form of Malfoy.

Hermione gave a small chuckle as she looked at her handiwork. "You scream like a girl, Malfoy." She turned to escape when her feet went out from under her. Landing hard on her hand, a snapping sound came from her wrist. Sharp pain shot up her arm. She picked her head up and saw Malfoy standing above her, no longer twitching, wand pointed straight at her. She was stuck, with no escape. Wishing silently that she was somewhere else, Hermione quickly rolled to one side when she heard a mutter from Malfoy. His curse hit the flagstones right where she was sprawled a second before. She looked up at Malfoy and found him looking frantically around, a bewildered look on his face. Crabbe and Goyle looked equally as dumbfounded.

"Where is she?" yelled Malfoy. "She's here somewhere, you idiots, look for her!" he spat at his minions. Crabbe and Goyle stumbled around blindly, their hands feeling around for the now shadowed Hermione.

Hermione hoisted herself up as quietly as possible and snuck off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower to figure out what had just happened.

"Miss Granger!" shouted Professor Snape. He was now standing directly in front of her, clearly trying to get her attention. "I am not here to witness your mindless daydreaming. The whole story. Now."

She started her story tentatively. "Well, you see Professors, I happened across Malfoy in the dungeons a few weeks ago. We were arguing about something and I think I may have lost my temper," she trailed off.

"Miss Granger," said Snape sharply. "Clearly you are the guilty party here. I'm sure we would both appreciate it if you could just get to the point."

Hermione swallowed hard and continued. "Well, I hexed him. When he tried to curse me back, I just kind of went away. They couldn't figure out where I had gone and I knew they couldn't see me by the way they were running around trying to find me. I just went back to my common room."

"Hmmm," Dumbledore sighed as he looked at Hermione. "Have you borrowed anything from Mr. Potter?"

Hermione's eyes grew wide, "No, Professor."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and glanced at Snape. "Umbramancy?"

"It would seem to be the consensus, Headmaster," said Snape.

Snape turned to face Hermione. "Child, what do you know of your lineage?"

"Both my parents are Muggles," stated Hermione factually. "As were my grandparents and great-grandparents."

"Miss Granger, what do you know of inherited magic?" asked Dumbledore.

"Inherited Magic is magic that is passed on through pure bloodlines. Most of those pure bloodlines can be traced back to the greatest Wizards in history, such as Merlin. In many cases, even pureblood wizards and witches do not inherit the blood magic, as it is sometimes called." Hermione paused for a moment and then continued. "In cases where a family that has previously shown signs of Inherited Magic can no longer find traces of it in the newest generations, it is widely believed that the ability and inheritance are gone."

"Once again, Miss Granger," said Snape in an irritated tone, "you have proved yourself to be an insufferable know-it-all."

"Severus," warned Dumbledore, "there is more to Hermione's life story than even she is aware of at the moment. Indeed, that this has remained hidden for so very long indicates that both your parents were very powerful."

"But, I just told you," said Hermione in a quiet voice. "Both of my parents are Muggles."

Dumbledore shook his head slowly. "We shall find out the truth soon enough, Miss Granger. I am sure of it."

After Hermione had left the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore found himself facing a furious Potions Master.

"Albus," shouted the now livid professor. "I came here tonight with the intention of giving you my resignation. I will not put the life of a Hogwarts student in this kind of danger. And furthermore, I will not play nursemaid to that!" He pointed to the door that Hermione had just walked out of moments before. "She is a nightmare. I am through! Let someone else be responsible for her, for I have had enough. I will not lead a child into the Dragon's Lair!"

Dumbledore peered at Snape over his half moon glasses. "Then what will you do, Severus? You know you will never be a free man if you refuse Lord Voldemort his request. You will lose the protection that Hogwarts provides if you resign." He gazed at Snape before walking around the desk to place his hand on Severus' shoulder. "And most importantly, you would leave an old man without one of his closest friends."

Severus brushed the hand from his shoulder and said in a very quiet voice, "You are clearly suffering from some sort of illness. Perhaps I should floo Poppy. Closest friend, indeed."

"Well, Severus," the twinkle back in Dumbledore's eye, "Hermione Granger is certainly no longer a child and has the right to chose her destiny for herself. We need only present her with the choices. She may well decide to have none of it and remove herself and her family from danger."

"You know she won't, Albus," Severus growled in a clearly irritated way. "She is a Gryffindor. Survival is not one of their attributes. Dying for the heroic cause is a more likely ending."

"You need not remind me of that fact, Severus. You forget that I too was a Gryffindor. Lemon sour?" offered Dumbledore.

"Absolutely not," said Snape briskly. "And where did you get these detestable lemon sweets from this time?"

"Ah, yes," sighed Dumbledore happily. "Fred and George Weasley happened upon these in Muggle London and thought to send them on to me. Amazing the sweets that Muggles are capable of creating without magic." Dumbledore paused for a moment. "Will you teach her Severus? You are the only member of the Order able to do so. And, you are the only one who can help her remain true to herself while deceiving everyone around her. She will not survive without your help."

Severus Snape stood up and made his way to the door. "You'll forgive me for wishing to retire, Albus. It has been a trying night for me."

Dumbledore watched Severus cross the room. Just as the door clicked behind him, Dumbledore heard a mutter from Severus. "Perhaps this one will make a better pupil than the big-headed Mr. Potter."

A smirk crossed Dumbledore's face.