November 1994
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The day Amelia Bones had arrived in Hogwarts, Harry after retrieving the Ravenclaw's Diadem had spent his rest of the day cooped in his chamber studying the so called 'dark' magic from some of Slytherin's book.
Now the next day, Harry after having his breakfast was attending the first class of the day which was double transfiguration.
Harry was sitting alone at the back of the class. What he found intriguing was few gazes that Minerva had directed in his direction. Harry felt as those gazes were filled with relief, as if some kind of weight had been lifted from Minerva's shoulder. Harry wondered if something had happened the previous day?
After the lecture got over, Harry left the corridor and was walking alone in the corridor when a panting Hermione caught him from behind.
"Harry…. Where were you yesterday after you left the Great Hall?" Questioned Hermione with annoyance laced in her voice.
Without giving any chance to reply she asked further, "And you tell me, where have you been staying during the night? Why don't you come back to dorms?"
Harry smiled, "Don't worry, I have found a good place to stay."
Hermione opened her mouth but as if understanding what she wanted to say, he added further, "No, I won't tell you where. At least not now, maybe in future."
Hermione huffed in fake anger but did not pushed further.
After walking for some time in silence, she asked in grave tone, "Will Madam Bones be able to find the culprit who was responsible for putting your name in the Goblet?"
Harry stayed silent for some moments and then decided to tell the truth, "Honestly… I feel the chances are too low. There are too many variables and hardly any clue. Unless something very concrete come to light, it is almost impossible."
Hermione nodded solemnly.
"Why do you think headmaster was trying to put the blame on you?" she asked with an expression of dejection.
At this question, Harry stared at her incredulously. Sensing his prying gaze, she whispered slowly, "You yourself repeatedly asked for DMLE to investigate but even then, headmaster made up the reason that whatever he was doing to protect you."
"It should be a common sense that if you really were the culprit why would you try to force an investigation. And even if headmaster truly believed what he said, he should have at least first found the truth and then decide what to do with that truth," she added further.
Harry shook his head, "His motives remain unclear. But one thing is certain that his aim is to bring me back under his influence."
"From the first year, he acted as if he was very caring towards me, very kind towards me. But that was all words. He did nothing about the way Snape insulted me and my father."
He continued, "During the Quidditch match when Quill tried to kill me no one wondered how come the latest broom Nimbus 2000 suddenly started to malfunction. We were naïve children at that time but not Dumbledore. Using my safety as reason he first kept me in that animal zoo, then each year forced me to return the same place but no one wondered if some previous death eaters were trying to kill me in Hogwarts?"
Hermione was silent and looked solemnly while Harry continued, "Let us not even mention second year. Despite evidence that I was innocent the whole Hogwarts believed me to be a murderer and Dumbledore did nothing about it. I won't go on but every year my life had been put in danger but not even once did Dumbledore lift a finger to do anything."
Hermione still had a dim expression on her face and muttered, "Why would headmaster do such a thing?"
Harry halted his steps and after some moments of silence he replied, "Only he would know what he wants. But I know one thing for certain. That in the past three years by the end of the year I was face to face against Voldemort. First year against his wraith. Second year against his diary. And in third year against Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort's death eater."
Though Harry did not say but he knew that this year also the path lead to his confrontation with Voldemort.
Hermione did not reply anything back and continued walking slight ahead of Harry. Only she knew what was she thinking.
Harry simply followed behind her towards the direction of their next class when he noticed something very peculiar about Hermione.
The stairs of Hogwarts which were famous for making students lose their way was bending to Hermione's way though she was not doing it subconsciously.
Harry observed her for some minutes and then reached her, "Hermione, do you still face problems while using Hogwarts' stairs?"
Hermione widened her eyes as if struck by some realisation, "Now that you mention it, Harry, I have not lost my way in the past week."
"It seems that I have finally cracked my way around Hogwarts," she exclaimed in happiness.
Harry nodded, "Sure you seem have."
"You had told me about some surprise, when I had asked you what you have been doing in the past month. When are you going to tell me?" Harry asked further.
Hermione seemed to hesitate to which Harry said, "Tell when you are ready."
Hermione nodded with and walked with a smile.
"What have you been up to in the past month, Hermione?" muttered Harry slowly while deep in his thoughts and walked behind her.
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