The Secret

Chapter 3

The Explanation

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"Thank you for coming on such short notice. I've been meaning to speak to you a long time now. It's just that, well you know, with you being busy and..."

"You needn't explain anything. However I would like you to explain as to why I am here."

"I'm sure it's nothing. I mean, I'm being really naïve, that's all."

The look on the man's friendly face made her continue. "But I've been having these dreams. I have tried to block them out, say that they aren't real. I don't know why, but I felt it again today," the woman continued by describing the dream.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and replied soothingly, "Karen, we all know that Voldemort is amongst us, and having these dreams just proves the strain you are under. I can assure, there need not be a cause to feel anguish. Even I have restless nights."

Mrs. Granger smiled sheepishly, "But why was it a baby, and the crater, what does it all mean?" Drips of sweat trickled down her back as she awaited Albus's answer.

After what seemed like minutes, Dumbledore finally said, "As to that, I am unaware. It does however open many possibilities."

"Possibilities to what?" Karen asked nervously.

"Don't worry yourself too much. There are other times in which you can ask me these questions, and now it most certainly is not. I am aware that the children will be arriving shortly. Thank you very much for the tea and biscuits. I will see you soon Mrs Granger." He put down his saucer on the coffee table and with a pop, Albus Dumbledore Disapparated out of view and left the even more worried Karen on her own.

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"Don't you think it's a bit deserted here, even for a Muggle station?" Ron asked Hermione as they stepped off the train followed by Ginny and Harry.

"Yeah, it does seem a bit dead if you ask me," Ginny added.

Trying not to sound too embarrassed, Hermione finally replied, "No, it's normally like this during the summer holidays. Besides, it's Saturday. People usually stay at home, right?" Hermione quickly changed the subject by commenting on the beautiful sunny weather. She didn't want to give a bad impression of her town.

Ron seemed to have ignored this remark and swiftly asked Harry what he thought of this whole "dead" situation.

Of course Harry wasn't listening to a word Ron was saying. All he heard was the distant sounds of the words "nutters", "bonkers" and the sound of the gravel they were walking on. He wasn't feeling as cheerful as he had when they arrived to London. What was really bothering him was the pair of gleaming red eyes he'd seen in Diagon Alley. He never had a chance to see them properly, seeing as Ginny had chivvied him into the Leaky Cauldron. Though Harry had a hunch to whom they belonged, it was utterly ridiculous. Ginny had said that surely they had protections around there, but do they really? After all, he wasn't the most feared wizard ever existing for nothing. Could it have been possible that Voldemort was in Diagon Alley for an afternoon stroll with him?

Harry only stopped pondering when his face was pulled forwards into someone's chest. He quickly backed away and clumsily knocking the umbrella-stand. Mrs Granger's face lit up with a toothy smile as she greeted him, Ron and Ginny.

"How are you? Did you have a nice time? Oh, I've got presents for both of you, and you too Ginny. Hermione, can you go upstairs and get them for me, please?" Mrs. Granger tried to sound as cheerful as possible. The conversation with Professor Dumbledore had not faded completely. How can it?

Ron blushed suddenly, "Mrs. Granger, you didn't have to get us anything. It's enough that you are kindly letting us stay over."

"Don't be silly Ron. And call me Karen, there no need for all this formality."

"Oh, Mrs. Granger, I mean Karen, can I go with Hermione to get the presents?"

"Of course Ginny, dear. Go on then Herm. And come down quickly, I've prepared dinner." Mrs. Granger clapped her hands happily and gestured Harry and Ron into the wafting smells of roast beef and gravy in the dining room.

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Once Hermione opened the door, Ginny gaped in disbelief. The room was huge! It had a four-poster bed with creamy silk sheets in the middle, there were French windows -was that a balcony- to the left and the opposite side was a dresser with a large mirror and the largest wardrobe she's ever seen in her life. Ginny had heard that dentists are well paid from Dean Thomas, and realising this answered her question as to how they could afford to decorate so lavishly.

"Wow! This is...you were right when you said I hadn't seen anything yet. This bed is all yours? Oh it's beautiful!" Ginny suddenly felt so embarrassed and blushed furiously.

Hermione smiled, "No, this is my parents' room. My room is just there," Hermione pointed to her right. "And besides, my walls are lilac. I've never liked olive green, it's so ancient. And I've got a mini library instead of a big wardrobe."

"Oh! That explains the wedding photos. Ah, is that you?" Ginny had just noticed a portrait of a baby Hermione in a nappy, with cute curls down her chubby smiling face instead of her normally bushy hair. Ginny tried hard to suppress her laughter, but couldn't and Hermione joined in.

"Okay, okay, that's enough." Hermione wiped the happy tears form her face. "Let's go downstairs and eat. I'm starving," and with the three nicely wrapped packages under her arms, she escorted Ginny out of the bedroom.

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To Ron's relief the presents were nothing maroon. All three of them had received Muggle clothing, and from the label it clearly said NEXT. After having seen a fashion show on the television, both Ron and Ginny wore the clothes and acted like Muggles on a catwalk, even if the sitting room was not that big. This was very entertaining, but not for Harry who just sat there not noticing a thing.

After two plates and three puddings later, Ron felt his belt tight around his stomach. "That was a lovely meal Mrs. Granger. I'm so full I could last without food for a month at least."

"That is very doubtful," Ginny whispered into Hermione's ear, and they burst into another fit of laughter.

"Oi! I heard that!"

"Now, now, settle down you lot," Mrs. Granger calmed Ron down. "And what did I tell you 'bout calling me Karen? Do I need to stick a nametag on my blouse?"

Ron blushed, and Hermione and Ginny as giggly as they were froze when Karen spoke again. "Harry dear, you haven't said a word all through dinner. Are you feeling all right? Did you not like the clothes?"

"Um, yes, it was delicious and the jeans and T-shirt are nice. Thank you. Karen is it okay if I go upstairs and sleep, I'm really tired."

"Of course; Hermione, go upstairs and show him Harry's room." Hermione got up and Ginny and Ron were about to as well when Hermione signalled that she wanted to talk to him alone.

The guestroom had the same décor, except that it had two smaller beds in the middle of the small room and creamy walls. Harry sat on of them and Hermione stood by the door.

"I brought up the luggage before we set off to London. And you will be sharing the room with Ron. I can leave if you want me to."

"No, stay. I need to talk to you. You know before, by the tree, I'm sorry I snapped at you like that. It's just..."

Hermione quickly sat next to him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Shh, you don't need to explain. It was wrong of me, selfish and I didn't mean to charge at you like that. Whenever you want to talk, you know that I'm here for you.

Hermione looked into his deep green eyes that seemed tearful. Suddenly Harry grabbed Hermione round the shoulder and cried. She stroked his beautiful soft hair, and shushed him. Her heart started pounding manically. She'd never been like this, and it felt as if it might explode.

Harry wiped his tears with the napkin Hermione gave him. "Thank you. It's really hard, you know. It doesn't feel like he's gone and yet he is. He was the closest I had to a father and now he's gone."

"Harry, I've been reading around. That veil that he fell through, it isn't what it seems. It's..."

But whether Harry heard what she said or not was unclear because the sounds of explosions and screams thudded loudly outside. Green light flashed through the window and Hermione ran to it -- lying at the door step, lay Hermione's dad, dead.