Arguments and Decisions

“You cannot be serious,” Severus said, looking at Dumbledore. He was certain that the old man had finally lost his mind. The stress of the war had finally gotten to him.

“I can assure you, Severus, that I have never been more serious. This is an important mission, and Miss Granger’s skills may come in very handy.”

“But she is just a —" Snape didn’t get to finish the rest of his thought.

”Now wait just a minute,” Hermione interrupted, her hands on her hips and her eyes flashing. “Don’t even think that! I am not a child. I have not been a child for a long time.” Her eyes went from Severus to Dumbledore. “And before you start deciding what I should do, or what I skills I can offer, don’t I have a say in this?”

Both men turned and looked at her. Severus opened his mouth, but thought better of it when he saw the look on Dumbledore’s face.

“Very well, Miss Granger. I will hear your arguments.” Dumbledore turned in her direction and gave her his full attention.

“Well, for one thing, there is the matter of my job. I can’t very well go off for Merlin knows how long without warning.”

“I can assure you that your job will be well taken care of, Miss Granger. If you go on this mission, there will be someone who will be in place to take care of your duties at the Ministry. And when you return, your job will be waiting for you.”

Hermione waited for Dumbledore to say more, but it was soon clear that he wasn’t divulging any more information. She knew that what he was asking her to do was important, but her job at the Ministry was also important. She could feel the two of them looking at her and knew that they were waiting for an answer.

She was about to tell them that she didn’t want to go, but then she thought of someone who had been lost in the war. A wonderful professor, a wonderful man, and a wonderful friend. If for no other reason, she had to do it for him.

“I will go on this mission, but if for no other reason because Remus Lupin was a great friend to Harry, Ron and I. I don’t want any other people who are affected by lycanthropy to have to suffer because I let my pride stop me from doing what is right.”

“Thank you, Miss Granger. I have arranged for the two of you to have the use of a house while you are doing your research. There is plenty of room and should be more than adequate for your needs. Here are Portkeys for each of you,” Dumbledore said, handing them each a piece of candy. “Yours will activate tomorrow at 11 a.m., Severus, and yours will activate tomorrow at noon. That will give you each time to go home and to gather the items that you will want to bring with you.”

“And to contact Harry and Ginny to let them know where I am?” Hermione asked, slipping the candy into her pocket.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Miss Granger. This mission that I am sending you on is secret and no one must know about it. I can’t tell you more now, but you will have to trust me on this.”

“But they will know that I won’t be at work.”

“You can tell them that you are going away, but you may not tell them why.”

Again, Hermione was frustrated because of Dumbledore’s evasiveness, but she knew from experience that no matter how much she asked, he wouldn’t volunteer information until he was ready.

Finally, the silence was broken by another voice which hadn’t been heard for several minutes.

“Why do I have the feeling that there is much more that you are not telling us?”

After a few more minutes of instructions and general information, Dumbledore excused them to return to their homes. The first thing that she did when she reached her flat was to send out an owl to Harry and Ginny.

Dear Harry and Ginny,

Hermione

She briefly thought of sending an owl out to Ron as well, but then thought better of it. He had enough on his mind as it was. She was sure that Ginny and Harry would let him know if he asked. She watched the owl fly off into the night and then turned to her next task.

Taking out the trunk that she had bought to replace her Hogwarts trunk, she started packing it with everything that she thought she would need. All of her potions books went into it, along with books on werewolves, clothes, parchments and quills. She topped it off with other books that she had purchased when she had gotten her new job with regards to magical creatures, and her packing was complete.

A rumble of her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t had any dinner yet. As she sat down to a hastily prepared meal a few minutes later, she realized that this would be the last meal that she would be eating in her flat for Merlin knew how long. She was off on a secret mission for a guy that was supposed to be dead, with a man who used to be her professor.

Life was never dull.