Chapter 11
Hermione sat with her eyes cast down, as Dumbledore stared at her. She was willing her body not to tremble, and was beginning to sweat with the stress. She would not cower. She felt he wanted her to cower, to beg for forgiveness, cede to his dominance. Fuck that. She thought mulishly. She was done cowering before wizards who considered themselves superior. Stubbornly refusing to submit didn’t mean she wasn’t scared, however. Far from it, her mind was anxiously running through every worse case scenario, half-forming contingency plans to having her wand snapped, being cast into the street, being arrested…she did consider the last one especially far fetched. They can’t arrest me without revealing the existence of the order. She reassured herself.
“So, Ms. Granger. Are you ready to tell me what really happened tonight?” He said finally, leaning slightly forward in his seat. He sat utterly relaxed in his armchair, hands together, and he smiled at her. The smile did not reach his eyes, giving Hermione the impression of a spider in his web, waiting patiently for his prey to come within his grasp.
“I am telling the truth, sir.” She said in a calm voice.
“Ms. Granger, I have no time for childish games. Was it Sirius? Who aided you in this fool’s quest?” His calm demeanor slipped slightly, and she could hear the anger bleeding into his tone.
“No! Sirius had nothing to do with this! I told you I-”
“Don’t think I was fooled by that pathetic show you put on in the kitchen. I am an educator, my dear. I know what a first apparition looks like.” He sneered.
So this is the real Dumbledore. Hermione thought. The grandfatherly facade was cracking and behind it was a calculating and possibly cruel man. Hermione straightened in her seat and took a chance, willing this one piece of truth to come through. She looked her headmaster in the eye, and kept her voice level.
“Sirius didn’t know. This was my plan, my doing. If you are going to punish me for rescuing my best friend from a trap, go ahead.” Not wanting to invite him into her mind (again, just in case, but she was 90% certain he was in fact a Legilimens) she cast her eyes down once more.
“Harry was never in danger. Order members had his home under surveillance, he was never truly alone. You have acted rashly, foolishly putting yourself, Harry and the entire order in danger. As to your punishment…I think we will start with the removal of your Prefect status.” He smiled at her, a smile so void of warmth it was vicious.
“Prefect? I’m not a-” It dawned on her. Fifth year was the year top students of their house could be awarded Prefect status, with extra responsibilities and perks like the Prefect’s bathroom. She had expected it to come to her, as top of her class. What felt like a lifetime ago, she had imagined making her parents proud by having a school achievement they could understand. “Oh.” She curled her shoulders down, attempting to look suitably chastised. The loss of an accolade she had never possessed seemed light in comparison to the punishments her anxious brain had invented.
“May I…go, sir?”
“No, Ms. Granger, that was only the first punishment. You have shown in your actions tonight you are untrustworthy, and therefore have no place here. Unfortunately your parents are unwilling to take you back, and placing you with the muggle social services would endanger them. We will get you a room in London to stay until the ministry appoints new magical guardians for you. You will not be in contact with anyone in this house, save myself. Assuming you cause no further trouble, I will allow you to return to school in the fall, however I think a resorting might be best for you.”
“What?!” She screeched, pushing to her feet. “You- you can’t do this!”
Dumbledore faced her rage with a calm smile. “You will find that I can Ms. Granger. You disobeyed a direct order, as as the-”
“She isn’t going anywhere, Dumbledore.” Sirius said in a cold voice, stepping inside the parlor.
“Black, this does not concern you. I will speak with you momentarily.” Dumbledore said dismissively.
“Well, considering this is my house, it does concern me. You have no authority to cast out a guest in my home.” Sirius gave Dumbledore a wicked smile, leaning against a desk with a nonchalent air.
“This is the headquarters-”
“Because I allow it. This moldy shitpile is my family legacy. Hermione is my guest, she stays. If you no longer want the order here, by all means, find another magical home in a central location, located on a nexus, unplottable, with every anti muggle and protection ward known to wizard kind in place.” Sirius gestured lazily to the door, offering Dumbledore the exit.
“Sirius, you are a fugitive. You are hardly in a place to offer shelter to a young child, as we’ve discussed about Harry. ”
Sirius’s face darkened as he dropped his calm air and glared at Dumbledore.
“So why haven’t you cleared his name?” Hermione asked quietly.
The men turned to her, Dumbledore looking nonplussed while Sirius’s brows knitted together.
“Hermione, they never caught Peter Petigrew, you know that.” Sirius said gently.
“Yes, but that shouldn’t have been the end. Why were our memories of that night never reviewed? I would take veritiserum and testify before the court, gladly give my memory for review.” She sat up straight, locking eyes with Sirius.
“And have your own crimes from that night reviewed? Illigal use of a time turner? Aiding a fugitive? Attacking a teacher?” Dumbledore sneered. “It’s simply not possible, and in this political climate, Sirius is more likely to face the kiss than be given a pardon.”
“ So then, why don’t you tell Sirius why you didn’t advocate for him, from your position of Supreme Mugwump, when no less than 10 sacred laws were broken during his arrest and incarceration?” Hermione asked in a falsely sweet tone.
“What? Ms Granger, we are not here to discuss crimes that took place 14 years ago, we are talking-”
“I think it’s very relevant, Professor. You see, and a leader is only as strong as his Army. So why would you hold back one of your best fighters, loyal even after 13 years in Azkaban, and keep him trapped in this house, a fugitive.” She smiled at Dumbledore, feeling the frustration at having lost the edge in this conversation radiating off him.
“There is no alternative, the political climate”
“Favors purebloods of the sacred 28 based on the sacred doctrine laws of 1657.”
“Are you now a champion for the bigoted rights of pure-bloods?” Dumbledore said in a haughty voice.
“When they have the power to undo an injustice for someone I care about, yes. If Lucius Malfoy can use these laws to stay free and use his power for Voldemort, why can’t we do the same and use it to fight him?”
“You are too young to understand, but the hysteria-everyone thought Black was guilty. It’s more complex than you assume.”
“Even more reason to file for immediate pardon, Sirius was incarcerated in a mass hysteria. Even though he didn’t have the Mark he was labeled a death eater and never given a trial. The justification was him laughing and screaming hysterically, a normal human response to extreme shock and trauma, like having your best friends murdered, while your other best friend was the cause of it and framed you for his murder and the death of thirteen others. That madness should have meant an immediate trip to St. Mungos under Auror observation.”
“Are you a lawyer now, Ms Granger? Here I thought you were about to enter into your fifth year.” He sneered.
“Actually, I’d like to know as well, Dumbledore.” Sirius smiled darkly.
“Sirius, you know I’d never have left you there if there was any other choice. Are you really going to take the wild legal theories of a child as fact?”
Sirius put his hand on Hermione’s shoulder and looked at her.
“This “child” saved my life and believed me when no one else did. She might be the smartest, most loyal person I've ever met. Why wouldn’t I trust her?” Hermione’s eyes filled with tears at the heartfelt declaration, feeling a surge of affection for Sirius.
“I do not have time for this nonsense. Fine, Sirius, the girl can stay here while she awaits a new gaurdian. You can be personally responsible for keeping her in line.” With that declaration he swept from the room, leaving no time for arguments.
“Are you OK, Kitten?” Sirius asked her softly.
“I’m-not sure.” She said in a wobbly voice, the adreline of the last hour leaving her body to a sudden crash of exhaustion and overwhelming sadness. What had she done? She hadn’t just made Dumbledore angry, she had quite possibly made an enemy out of the most powerful wizard currently living. Who was also her headmaster. A new gaurdian? Chosen by who? The ministry? Not to mention resorting, she’d never even heard of a student being sorted into a different house. Was it even possible? Or would the hat refuse? Her body started to tremble and her eyes filled with tears. Sirius pulled her up by her shoulders and folded her in a warm embrace.
“We’ll figure it all out. You’re really something, you know that? You had him flustered, and I’ve never seen that man lose his composure.” He chuckled softly.
“I was serious, you know.” She mumbled into his chest, sniffling.
“No, I’m Sirius.” He joked back.
“No really.” Hermione pulled away slightly to look Sirius in the eye, quickly swiping the tears from her own. “About your freedom, I’ve been doing research and, oh wait.” She stepped back and pulled out her wand. “Accio Legal Binder.” A moment later a thick pink three ring binder flew into the room and landed in her waiting hand. It was packed with parchment and colorful tabs of paper jutted out from each side. “Snuffle’s Case” was written in block letters on the front. She handed it to Sirius with a smile.
“I’ve been working on this in my spare time since 3rd year.”