Hermione's Secret

November 25 - Back at Hogwarts, a letter surreptitiously appeared near Hermione's plate during the breakfast mail bomb. Once Dobby dropped off the letter, he tugged on Hermione's robe so she would notice. As she picked it up, Ron and Ginny noticed. "Is that a letter from your Evan friend?" Ginny asked. "Yes" she replied. Ron's face and ears began to get red. "Are you still writing that muggle!" he exclaimed. "And why shouldn't I?! He is a nice bloke and he is my friend." She responded. "Because he is a muggle and you are a witch!" Ron began. "What does that have to do with the price of wool?" Hermione asked. "Price of wool? What does that have anything to do with why your corresponding with a muggle?" "Exactly" Hermione replied.

Hermione's face was a veritable motion picture of emotions that morning as she read the letter. She would smile, giggle, frown, and towards the end, pale. Ron, Ginny, and secretly Neville were watching her as she read. "What does it say?" Ginny asked. "He was telling me a little bit about his training, about some of the pranks he has been playing on his instructors" – that caught the attention Fred and George – "and about a terrorist attack on a town of Gothland. Apparently 30 black-robed terrorists wearing white masks tried to attack the town the night before last. The Crown's military has been on high alert since there has been an uptick in the number of terror attacks lately.

They caught the terrorists in the act of trying to set several inns and other buildings on fire, and were able to neutralize them. They all bore the mark of a black skull with a snake coming out of its mouth." Hermione whispered. "Death Eaters" Neville whispered back, while Ron asked "What does he mean 'neutralized'?" "They were killed." Hermione responded solemnly. "Didn't several students in the Hall receive a black letter this morning?" Neville asked. "So, your 'boyfriend' is training to kill wizards?" Ron remarked loudly. "Shush, Ron! And, NO, he is not training to kill wizards. He is training to protect the sovereign nation of the UK. How is that any different than Tonks being an Auror? How is that any different than your own father being in the Order?" she asked. "There is huge difference! They aren't killing wizards!" Ron responded, getting redder in the face.

"I see, Ron. It's OK if, say Death Eaters kill muggles like my parents, but not OK if they were to kill those Death Eaters in their own defense. Is that what you are trying to say? It's OK for Death Eaters to kill hundreds of innocent muggles, slaughtering them, but not OK for the military and police who are charged with their protection, to kill these same Death Eaters in the process of defending the innocent? Is that what you are trying to say, Ron?" Hermione asked heatedly. "No! I mean they should not be killing wizards!" Ron responded. "Then pray tell me, Ron, how are they to protect the innocent against Death Eaters who use deadly force; who kill, torture and commit despicable acts of violence with glee and abandon? Who can disappear and appear in a whirl of robes and a puff of smoke.

How would YOU protect them if you were under attack? How about if it was your mother or sister under attack?" Without waiting for an answer, Hermione got up and started off to the next class of the day, while worrying about her Evan. 'My Evan', she thought…mmmmm….yes. My Evan. My Boyfriend. I like, she thought to herself.

Later that afternoon, in the Entrance Hall (outside the Great Hall), Hermione was confronted by a group of students: Malfoy, Crabb, Goyle, Parkinson, a few other Slytherins, and a smattering of Ravenclaws, Huffelpuffs, and even a Gryffindor or two. With Hermione stood Ron and Neville. "Well, Mudblood. It seems your….kind…have taken to killing wizards. Good citizens out for a bit of shopping, and filthy muggles like you murdered them!" Malfoy said. Hermione looked him in the eye and asked "Do good citizens go shopping in muggle neighborhoods at 11 o'clock at night? When all the stores are closed? Do 'good citizens' do their shopping in black robes and white masks? Do 'good citizens' all have the Dark Mark branded on their forearms? Do 'good citizens' try to set pubs and inns on fire while their occupants sleep or eat within? Innocent men, women and children who have never even heard about the Wizarding World. Is that your definition of a 'good citizen', Malfoy?" Hermione replied.

"You Filthy Mudblood! You aren't even fit to be a brood mare! We will teach you your place!" Malfoy shouted out as he and the rest of the group began pulling their wands. Just as Hermione, Ron and Neville were scrambling to pull their own wands, and as the first spells left Malfoy's wand, all three disappeared…..and reappeared adjacent to Professor McGonagall's office. After realizing where they were, they quickly knocked on the door and entered at the Professor's response to enter.

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