Chapter 13
“Potter,” the Headmistress called in her familiar Scottish tone as she ushered him into Hogwarts at the main entrance. The school was still under reconstruction from the battle and the floo network’s connection was less than reliable.
“Good afternoon, Professor,” Harry started forgetting her new title, “I mean Headmistress.”
McGonagall waved off the title, “I do not know if I will ever grow accustomed to that name, Potter so don’t trouble yourself with remembering it. Come along, we can speak in my office.” McGonagall led Harry to what was formally Dumbledore’s office and pointed to a chair in front of the large desk.
“Tea, Potter?”
“Yes please.” McGonagall prepared him a cup of tea as well as one for herself and offered him a biscuit which he happily accepted. They sat in silence for a few moments as memories of conversations past whirled through Harry’s head.
“I presume,” McGonagall broke the silence, “That you are here about Ms. Granger and this unfortunate predicament she finds herself in?”
Harry sighed, “Yes, I am. It’s awful and terribly unfair. Not only the charges but the truly vile things the press is writing about her.”
“Yes,” she responded, “I was highly disturbed but, of course, it’s all sensationalized nonsense to sell papers.”
“That may be true but that doesn’t mean people who don’t know Hermione the way we do won’t believe it. And that’s where I need your help.” He explained their hope to restore Hermione’s reputation in the press while Edith and Percy explore their avenues.
“I will, of course, do anything to help Hermione. She deserves to be treated fairly. And just this morning Professor Slughorn was saying he might write a letter to the editor about the filth they were saying. Should I encourage him to do so?”
“As long as what he writes put Hermione in a good light, absolutely.”
“Well, he always thought very highly of her. And I will sit with the Quibbler for an interview at any time.”
“Thank you so much Professor, that will mean the world to Hermione.”
They sip their tea again in silence and Harry glances at the wall of portraits of previous headmasters. Snape’s frame was empty but Dumbledore was in his, fast asleep.
“How is Hermione holding up?” McGonagall asked, breaking the silence again.
Harry shrugged, “I’m not sure really. I haven’t had a chance to speak to her one on one since she came back from her night in jail. But she’s weighing all her options.” McGonagall noted a hint of annoyance in Harry’s voice at that last statement.
“And you think she should not do that?” she asked.
“She shouldn’t consider pleading guilty,” he said much more pointedly that he meant to. “She should not be considering going to Azakban.”
“And why would she?”
Harry explained the situation with the Wizengamot and the Veritaserum. McGonagall wished she could be surprised but she wasn’t.
“And I just know,” Harry continued, “that she will put her loyalty to Dumbledore’s wishes before her own future and I can’t let her do that. I can’t believe that he would want her to do that.”
Out of the corner of the Headmistress’ eye she saw her old friend’s eyes open.
“Well, why don’t you discuss that with him?” She said glancing at the portrait. “I’ll go speak with Professor Slughorn regarding his letter to the editor. And when I return, I will escort you out.”
With that McGonagall exited leaving Harry with Dumbledore’s portrait. Harry was agitated; he felt totally useless in helping in Hermione but if Dumbledore gave his blessing then maybe he could stop Hermione from making a huge mistake.
“You have a lot on your mind, don’t you Harry?” the portrait asked.
“Yes I do. The closest thing I have ever had to a sister is being put on trial for trying to save her parents,” Harry could no longer control the frustration that had been building since Hermione was taken away from the Burrow by the Aurors. “The egotistical politicians are resentful because they don’t have all the information they think they are entitled to and her sense of loyalty, to you, may send her to Azkaban. Where she will be targeted every day for 18 months and if she survives that she won’t even be able to have a decent career because of her ‘record’. And what does that do to my best friend who is so madly in love with her? He will throw his life away with hers. My friends who gave up everything to help you, who barely survived, who are still haunted by nightmares are going to destroy the lives they fought to have for you!”
Harry was breathing heavy now after his rant but Dumbledore simply looked at him with a small smile.
“Harry,” Dumbledore said after a few moments of charged silence, “Do you think Hermione is willing to forego her freedom out of loyalty to me? She respected me, yes, but she didn’t do any of the things she has done over the years for me. It was her loyalty and love to the magical community that embraced her and her loyalty and love for you that she did what she did.”
Harry felt like he was punched in the gut; he had been looking for someone to blame but it wasn’t Dumbledore. He was right; she didn’t have the same relationship with the headmaster as Harry. Everything she did, every time she put herself in harm’s way was for him. And he will not allow her to continue.
“I won’t let her do this, sir.” He said, “Even if that means the truth about Horcruxes is revealed. She doesn’t deserve this.”
Dumbledore smiled again, “I don’t think anyone can make Ms. Granger do anything she doesn’t want to do. Not you and maybe not even Mr. Weasley. Let her know how important she is to you but let her make her own choice and support her in it. Especially if you don’t agree with it.”
“But sir,” Harry interrupted.
“Friendship and love are the strongest magic we have, Harry, don’t throw it away trying to be right. Or trying to save someone who doesn’t need or want to be saved.”
“Sir, I can’t lose her too,” Harry said, tears swimming in his eyes.
“I know,” Dumbledore responded, “I don’t think you will.”
With that, Dumbledore left his portrait just as McGonagall returned.
“Professor Slughorn is writing his letter to the editor of the Prophet as we speak and I promise to review before it is sent.”
Harry’s back is still to the headmistress as he tried to gather his emotions, “Thank you.”
“Come along, Potter,” she said, “I am sure everyone is waiting for you at the Burrow.”
As they reach the front hall, Harry said again, “Thank you again, Professor.”
“Potter,” she said as she placed her hands on his shoulders, “I believe Hermione will make the wise choice. Have faith in her.”
He nodded, “I’ll try.” And he headed off toward the front gate where he could apparate back to Devon.
When Harry arrived just outside the protective wards of the Burrow, he saw Ginny who must have just arrived from the Lovegoods.
“Hello there,” she smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “How was the headmistress?”
“Good,” Harry responded though with less enthusiasm than Ginny had. “Of course, she’ll do an interview and Professor Slughorn is writing an angry letter to the editor of the Prophet on Hermione’s behalf.”
“That’s excellent,” Ginny responded, “Luna and her father are completely on board. Mr. Lovegood was actually already writing a piece on Hermione before I got there. And I spoke to Neville, he is happy to help. So, operation save Hermione’s reputation is well under way.”
When they entered the home, it was quiet, “Ron must not be back yet,” she said looking around. “Do you know why he was going to Shell Cottage?”
“I don’t,” Harry answered, “But for him to leave Hermione’s side it must have been important.”
The kitchen door opened and Mrs. Weasley’s head appeared, “Oh, hello, dears. Are either of you hungry?”
“Not right now, Mrs. Weasley,” Harry answered, “Is Hermione up and about?”
“She is,” Mrs. Weasley responded with a worried look on her face, “She had a little lunch but didn’t talk much. And then just headed out to the orchard. Too much is weighing on her mind, I dare say.”
Harry crossed the kitchen to the back door, “I’m going to go talk to her.” Harry’s determined tone caused Ginny to grab his arm before he walked out.
“Harry, go easy on her, ok? I see that determined look on your face but she’s not as strong as she wants everyone to think she is.”
Harry nodded, grateful that Ginny could read him so well. “Don’t worry, Gin. I just want to talk to her.”
Hermione knew it was Harry approaching before he got to her side. After all those months in the tent, she could easily recognize his and Ron’s footfalls.
“How is the effort to restore my good name going? Have you found enough people to say I’m not a slag who cursed Muggles into raising McLaggen’s illegitimate baby?”
When Harry appeared beside her, she had hoped to see a slight smile but got nothing of the sort. Reminding her, unfortunately, of some of the darker times in the tent.
“Our press offensive is in the works, yes,” he said.
“Well, I’m grateful for everyone’s help,” she said softly but she knew what he wanted to know. “I haven’t decided what to do yet, Harry.”
Harry let out a deep breath, remembering Ginny’s warning to go easy on Hermione.
“Hermione, you can’t plead guilty.”
“It’s not my favorite option, either, believe me. Can you imagine how much more frightful my hair will be in there.”
“Hermione, this is not a joke!” So much for going easy, “This is your life, your future. And I will not allow you to throw it all away out of some sense of loyalty to me.”
“You?” she whispered.
“I am the one who insisted only Kingsley and McGonagall know about the Horcruxes but sod that!” He ran his exasperated hand through his hair. “You don’t deserve this, Hermione. So, give them what they want.”
“Oh Harry,” She didn’t look at him, just kept looking straight, “You think this is about you? I’m not considering pleading guilty because of you. I believe the world, magical and muggle will be better off if no one ever knows about Horcruxes. If the truth about them gets out, it’s not a question of if another deranged wizard tries to create them, it’s a question of when. And I don’t want your and Ginny’s kids or, Merlin willing, my and Ron’s kids to have to face what we faced. So no, Harry, I’m not considering Azkaban because of my love for you as my brother. I’m considering it for our world, both worlds.”
“Hermione,” he begged, “Please let your solicitor try her plan. Let us all fight for you. Please.”
She looked at him, saw tears in his eyes and was reminded again of how grateful she was that day of the battle when he shot back to life. How grateful she was he wasn’t gone for good.
“Harry, there’s no guarantee her plan will work or Percy will be able to persuade anyone to change their opinion. If I plead guilty, in 18 months it’s over and I move on.”
“If you survive in there,” he shouts. “Hermione, you are strong and I know that but this is Azkaban! Filled with pureblood Death Eaters who think you stand for everything they despise. Who think you are scum under their shoes. They will try to hurt you every day!”
It’s not like she hadn’t already thought of that, “Harry, I know,”
“And what about Ron,” he asks with almost anger in his voice, “You are willing to destroy him like this?”
It was Hermione’s turn to feel like she was punched in the gut, “Playing dirty, huh, Harry?”
“You in danger 24 hours a day for 18 months, it will be like he is perpetually in that dungeon at Malfoy Manor, screaming for you and clawing at the walls.”
Tears were running down her face now. Every time she even considered Azkaban, all she could think about was how it would hurt Ron.
“And let’s say you do make it out alive, huh? You heard Percy, no job worth your brains can hire you.”
“Well, I’ve thought about that,” Hermione said as she wiped the tears from her face, “McGonagall has created documents for Muggle born students before to help them get into university. I’ll apply to Oxford and Cambridge and get a Muggle degree like my father always wanted me to. And then I’ll get a job in the Muggle world.”
“And, where may I ask, does that leave us? Where does that leave Ron? You get out of prison and run away to the muggle world. Leave us all behind?”
Harry knew he went a bit too far but he has got to get her to see the flaw in her plans, somehow.
Hermione felt like she’d been slapped, “How could you think that of me?” She gasped. “I can go to school and work in the Muggle world and live my life in the magical. I don’t plan on leaving any of you behind. Especially Ron….unless.”
“Unless what?” Harry asked, not wanting to know the answer.
“Look Harry, even if I don’t plead guilty, I could still end up in prison. Sure, we think that the Wizengamot wants the details of our mission but even if they get it, they might still convict me. And I don’t know that it’s fair to ask Ron to wait for me if I go to Azkaban. You two are going into Auror training come the fall and how will it look if a new trainee is dating a prisoner? I don’t want to loss Ron but I won’t ruin his future either.”
Harry practically pulled his hair out in frustration, “Hermione, all I am asking is please fight this. Don’t hand yourself over to them just fight as hard as you can; let all of us fight for you. And for Merlin’s sake don’t tell Ron what you just said to me. You’ll throw him into a tailspin and we need his strategic mind right now. Not to mention, what you are saying is utter nonsense.”
She took a deep breath, “Fine. I keep those thoughts to myself. And Harry, make me a promise too?”
He looked at her and nodded, “Stop placing the weight of the world on your shoulders. For a long time, it was all about you but it’s not anymore. Give your shoulders a break.”
He shrugged but smiled and she gave him a hug. “I love you, Harry.”
“I love you too.” When he broke the embrace he grasped her shoulders, “Fight Hermione. You’re a warrior witch, fight this.”
She smiled and nodded.