The Secret

Chapter One

The Dream

Light streamed in through the window to set a golden shimmer in the bedroom. The fifteen-year old girl woke up and threw the duvet off her and went to check herself in the mirror. There she was, as usual hair all bushy, eyes as brown as they can be and the only feature changed was her teeth. Hermione Granger grinned and remembered how shocked her parents were at King's Cross at the end of fourth year.

She grabbed her brush and started combing her hair manically, because today Ron, Ginny and Harry are finally coming to her house!

She had to get ready. She stared at her clock on top of her dresser, and panicked. They would be coming at eleven o'clock and it was already ten. It was really tempting to use magic, but she couldn't afford to, so Hermione got ready the same way she always did.

Hermione nearly tripped as she rushed downstairs and accidentally bumped into her mum.

"What is it? They aren't coming now, surely not! I haven't cooked yet, oh, what are they going to think of me?" Mrs Granger paced around frantically until Hermione grabbed her mum round her shoulders and assured her that there was still time and that they were going out to eat anyway.

"So, when they come I can put their bags in the guest rooms and then we can go...Mum? Hello?" Hermione waved her hand in front her mother's face, which was pale with fear. "MUM!" Mrs Granger finally realised that she was standing there thinking of something absurd.

"Mum, are you okay? Should I stay here with you?"

"No, no. You go and enjoy yourselves. And congratulate Harry and Ron from me on their O.W.L.s."

Hermione had just received her exam results yesterday, and to her great relief she had managed to get a fair share of Outstanding O.W.L.s.

She blushed, "Of course I will, I mean I already have, but that's why we're going out. To go and celebrate, obviously."

"Oh, and dad will be back home soon, right?"

"Yes, yes, don't you worry about me. Just make sure you have a wonderful time dear." And with a goodbye kiss on Hermione's forehead, Mrs Granger closed the door and collapsed on the couch.

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Hermione stood waiting by the great oak tree near her house at five to eleven. It was the same tree where she had seen an owl perched up on a branch holding her letter to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A harsh, loud BANG stirred her out from her deep reminiscence and out of thin air appeared a purple triple-decker bus. With a surge of joy Hermione walked quickly towards the Knight Bus where three people stepped out carrying their bags and waving goodbye to Stan Shunpike the conductor. Ron, Ginny were smiling broadly at her. But Harry wasn't. She didn't expect him to, really. Who wouldn't look sulky after a beloved person died. It seemed that Harry had become dangerously emaciated. She thought that the aftermath of Sirius's parting couldn't have caused that much harm, but then again, she had never lost a person who had committed himself as father to Harry. Her bewildering thoughts stopped; she wasn't expecting to see Lupin and Tonks.

"Hello Professor Lupin! Hello Tonks! How are you?" Hermione said in surprise.

"Hello Hermione" Lupin said quietly. She had always thought that he was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. "How are you, and your parents?

"Yeah, how are your mum and dad?" Tonks said; looking really cool in her curly, black hair .

"They're fine. Why don't you come in?"

"No, we can't, but thanks anyway. We have some things to for the Ord-..." Lupin cast a grave look at Tonks, and she knew not to continue.

"As you probably know, it has been really hard on us after his (Voldemort's Hermione thought) escape at the Ministry and we have been trying to track him down ever since. Mrs. Weasley nearly said no to this trip, but I convinced her," He winked at a critical looking Hermione. "That's why we're here, escorting Ron, Ginny and Harry." The conductor started to sound his horn loudly.

"Yeah, yeah, we're coming! So try to stay out of trouble, or your mum will skin us alive, that goes to you too Harry. We'll see you all soon. Take care of yourselves!" yelled Tonks threateningly as her curls flayed dangerously.

"And Harry, do try and to enjoy yourself this weekend." With that as their parting words; the Knight Bus banged away from view.

"Hermione it's so great to see you," Ginny finally said when Hermione came to greet her. "This place looks really nice." She threw back her long, glimmering red hair from hair face.

"You haven't seen anything yet" she said grinning.

"Are you two going to stand and hug each other all day or something?"

"Why, are you jealous Ronald Weasley?" Hermione said, walking towards Ron, who was much taller and whose head was redder that Ginny's. "It's wonderful to see you." She gave him a little kiss on his freckled cheek and noticed him going red.

Harry, who was standing by the oak tree, was leaning against it handsomely; his dark hair blown by the wind while his face shadowed in the dark.

"Hi. Was the journey all right? It wasn't too bumpy, was it?" Hermione was now leaning beside him, leaving Ron and Ginny bickering on about Hermione's harmless kiss on his cheek. "Harry, I just wanted to say..."

"Don't, you don't need to say anything. It's not your fault. And thanks for the birthday present, it was really nice." Harry walked away, leaving Hermione dumbstruck on her own. All she wanted to do was to show her sympathy. After being hushed all through the last week of term, this was her first opportunity to consolidate, and all he had to say was that his birthday present was "nice"?

Hermione decided to leave it. Back at home, she told them to wait outside and took their bags upstairs. When she returned downstairs, she saw her mother lying on the couch. She closed the window; put a blanket on her, and with a last glance at her mother, she left.

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She had fallen in a pit. It was dark and there she could see a cave lit at the end. There was a distant scream; a baby's scream. She ran, and ran towards the sound and stopped abruptly. One final step would have been fatal. There, underneath her feet, was a carter that seemed bottomless. The screaming continued. She had to stop it, but how? Sweat dripped down her forehead; she quickly wiped it away with the back of her sleeve and decided to jump, it was like as if she was floating. The baby was in pain and it must be stopped.

One final leap in the air and...

Mrs. Granger suddenly jerked awake. Was the sound of the baby real? What kind of dream was that? She had never felt this kind of dream before. It was time for her to contact him...

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Chapter Two

Diagon Alley

Harry's mood seemed to have lifted as they had arrived in London. He seemed much happier and this feeling inspired the Weasley's and Hermione. They had finished eating their lunch. Amazingly Ron and Harry were still not full after second helpings, and wanted more; but they changed their minds and decided to have some ice-cream in Diagon Alley instead. Hermione was overwhelmed that Harry was eating; he seemed rather healthier now than when he had arrived by her house earlier.

Hermione tapped the third brick from the left above the dustbin, and the backyard wall of the Leaky Cauldron sprung alive. The beauty of the Alley was that it was full of life, always buzzing, with all the stores a wizard and witch ever dreamed of. Now, somehow, it changed dramatically. The Alley wasn't energetic with animatedly chatting witches and wizards anymore, and its shops were no longer packed with kids hovering over the latest racing brooms. It was almost as if it had turned into a ghost town. They went into Florean Frotescue's Ice-cream Parlour and the friendly man who normally sat at the counter wasn't there. Instead there sat a glum woman reading the Daily Prophet. Hermione was the first to speak.

"What's happened around here?" Hermione finally asked.

The woman looked up; she wore a face of someone who's been attacked several times (a fleeting reminder of Mad-Eye Moody sprung into her mind), and had red eyes. She didn't seem happy at all to see customers. "Are you a witch?"

"Um...yes. Yes I am." Hermione's voice steadied.

"Then what kind of question is that?" She barked at her. "Are you not aware that You-Know-Who is back? And that he is going to wreak havoc amongst us all, and that we are in a time of danger?" She barked once more, this time more menacingly.

"Yes, I know Vol-(The woman winced) I mean You-Know-Who's back. But that doesn't explain why Diagon Alley has turned dead all of a sudden." Hermione shook angrily.

Ginny decided to come forwards this time.

"What she means is, how could he possibly come here, I mean surely you have protections around here. Don't you?" She asked, biting her lower lip in fear.

The woman replied in a hiss that made the hairs on the back of their necks go up. "The Dark Lord has many powers that many fear, and his supporters can easily be helped to get in here and play merciless tricks upon us all. I am an Auror, and am only here to help when help is needed. I have told you enough, now leave! I sell no ice-cream here."

"What was that all about?" Ron asked; his goose bumps still showing.

"Wait, why don't we go and ask Fred and George? They'd definitely know the answers we want to know." Hermione thought it was a great idea until it shattered when Ginny said they were away promoting their products in France. Soon enough they found that Weasely's Wizarding Wheezes was closed with a sign saying that they would return in a week's time.

Hermione told them that they might as well get their stuff before leaving. Professor McGonagall had sent the list of books early this year. Since they didn't have any ice-cream, they had some money left, so they went into Flourish and Blotts and got their sixth year books - Ginny was going to use Ron's old ones. Here too, the store was empty.

As the gang left, they decided to take a short cut by passing Knockturn Alley. Harry had not said a word since arriving into Diagon Alley. He was also certain that some one was watching his every step. "Sirius?", he called in despair, wishing he could hear his godfather's voice once more. All he heard was a ominous laugh. He had heard that laughter before. He took out his wand and cried "Lumos!" there, in a corner he saw red eyes, gleaming from the dark alley.

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