A Touch of Poise by ArianaFaithful

Chapter 1: The Article

Hermione watched Harry out of the corner of her eye. He was staring out of the compartment window, absent-mindedly fingering his scar. The countryside zipped past the train, turning the view into a ceaseless blur.

Hermione worried for Harry, and for the mountainous burden that he was carrying, without a single person able to reach him to help. Ron and she had tried, constantly, over the summer to help relieve him, to distract him – even if it was momentary.

He didn't smile as much as he used to. He was constantly waking at night from nightmares in a cold sweat. She looked over at Ron, who exchanged glances with her. She saw it in his eyes too. He felt hopeless as to how to make Harry feel better.

"Harry, look," Hermione said hesitantly. "If you need to talk about Cedric-"

"I don't want to talk about it," Harry said flatly, dragging his face away from the window and staring at Hermione. He looked between Ron and her and sighed.

"Mate, we're worried about you," Ron said.

"Well don't be."

"Harry, you know perfectly well that we could never not worry about you. Please! Snap out of this self-loathing for a minute and think about it!" Hermione said forcefully. "The bloody ministry is feeding you to the dogs. We don't believe it, and that's what truly matters. And anyone else who actually believes the absolute rot they put in there about you and Dumbledore is not right in the head.

"V-Voldemort is back. There's nothing you can do about that now – it's already happened. Maybe it's better in way, you know? Now we know that he's ready, he's starting to fight again. But this time, Harry, we know that it's coming!"

"You don't get it, Hermione!" Harry cried. "I'm the reason Cedric is dead, and Voldemort's back. Dumbledore has me hidden behind every curtain, even though I've faced more in fifteen years than most adult wizards have their entire lives!"

"Well, I always said Dumbledore was mental," Ron supplied. "Brilliant, but mental. He'll have a reason for it. We may not understand it, but you trust him, right? So we should trust that he's doing whatever cock and bull plan he has now in order to help you or protect you, mate, not to simply keep you out of the dark."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut and ran a hand through his jet black hair, making it even more out of place than usual.

"Yeah," he said, looking up at them. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's just it's all so, so…"

"We know, mate," Ron said, sympathetically.

"Hard?" Hermione supplied to Harry. He nodded and sent her a grateful smile.

Suddenly, there was a sharp ripping sound. Crookshanks had torn a large gash in the side of Ron's pants.

"Bloody cat!" Ron yelped.

Both Harry and Hermione began laughing at Ron, who was glaring at them. Hermione reached forward to grab Crookshanks away from Ron before he could do anything to the poor cat.

"Oh very funny you two," Ron said sarcasticly. "Put a sock in it."

Harry and Hermione tried to stifle their laughter, but their eyes kept drifting to the slash in his pants. This caused Ron to grab his robes and put them on, just to shut them up. But the laughter in his eyes told them he wasn't really angry.

Hermione began to relax, sensing a change in Harry's mood.

Before long, Neville had found his way to their compartment, bustling in with a new pot plant in hand.

"What the bloody hell is that?" Ron asked.

The chalk white plant had several creepers and tendrils, which were flexing and un-flexing themselves lazily. Neville held it in a bright orange pot, with strange carvings that would change every few seconds.

"Oh!" Hermione cried. "I know what that is! It's an asphodel!"

Neville grinned at Hermione as he sat down, chuckling. "It sure is. Gran gave it to me over the summer. Says I'm to take care of it."

"Looney old bat, that one," Ron muttered under his breath to Harry, who chuckled.

"What does it, er … do?" Harry asked staring at it apprehensively as one of the longer tendrils began to stretch menacingly towards him, before recoiling back.

Neville grinned; obviously pleased they were taking an interest in his plant. "It's mostly used in heavy sleep potions, but it's most common potion is the Draught of Living Death."

Hermione nodded eagerly, "yes, you add the powdered roots in an infusion of wormwood."

"Er, I see …" Harry said, still eyeing the plant. Ron snorted, quickly turning it into a loud cough.

"So how was your summer, Neville?" Hermione asked, shooting Ron and dark look.

As the train slowed, arriving at the platform in Hogsmeade, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville all shuffled out of their compartment, joining the throng moving off the train. The cool night air whipped around Hermione's face, making her pull her robes tighter around her. The four of them steadily made their way up towards the horseless carriages.

"Surprised to see you here, Potter," said a cold, drawling voice.

The four whipped around, Harry and Hermione with their wands drawn.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry said coldly.

Malfoy stood cockily, surrounded by Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini. He was around the same height as Harry, and Hermione noticed that his pointed chin wasn't so pointed anymore.

"I would have thought they would have carted you off to Saint Mungo's by now." Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini all laughed coldly.

"Shove off Malfoy," snarled Ron.

Malfoy smirked at Ron. "Or what? Going to mummy to write me a howler? Or knit me one of those dreadful jumpers?"

Ron suddenly lunged forwards towards Malfoy, who took a step back, alarmed. Neville and Harry grabbed his arms, while Hermione quickly wracked her brain for a spell.

"Ron, he's not worth it," Hermione told him calmly as Harry and Neville slowly let go.

"Listen to your favourite mudblood servant, Weasley," Malfoy snapped. He replaced the smirk back on his face, now sure Ron wasn't going to attack him and strode cockily forwards.

"Shut up," Harry said through clenched teeth.

"What is it with you Gryfindors? Potter, get your parents to teach you some good comebacks. Oh wait. They're dead."

"Obscuro!" Hermione cried, sending a pale blue stream of light from her wand.

Malfoy suddenly reached his hands to his eyes, tearing at his face.

"Who turned off the lights?" he panicked. "ARGGGHH! Somebody help me!"

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville all glared at Malfoy as he started panicking. His arms were stretched out in front of him as if he were a zombie. Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini were all staring speechlessly at Malfoy, as though he were an alien.

Then, there was a sickening CRACK! as Malfoy ran into a tree and began screaming. Blood was pouring from his nose, and Hermione realised he had broken it.

"Blimey Hermione!" Ron cackled. "This is even better than that time in third year when you punched him in the face!"

Hermione watched Malfoy floundering around, his sight blinded by her spell. She was resiting the urge to begin laughing, but found a horrible guilty feeling in the pit of her stomach at his broken nose.

There was a billowing of black robes and Snape appeared in front of them, his greasy hair hanging in front of his face, his mouth twisted into a scowl. He waved his wand in the direction of Malfoy, and his nose stopped bleeding and his eyesight clearly returned, for he stopped running around, screaming.

Snape then turned on Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville.

"Who did this?" Snape's cold, slippery voice asked coolly.

"It was the mudblood," Malfoy spat.

"Granger! Detention. My office, Monday at 8."

"Yes sir."

Without sparing another look at them, Snape turned on his heel and headed back towards the castle.

Malfoy sneered at them, then climbed on the nearest carriage, followed by Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini.

The welcoming feast was delicious, as usual. Hermione listened carefully to Dumbledore's speech, as it was a lot graver than it had been in recent years. When he dismissed them all to their dormitories, Hermione stood with Harry and Ron as they made their way out of the Great Hall. Once in the Gryfindor tower, she instantly collapsed on her bed, exhausted.

The first week past slowly, with the anticipation of a Hogsmeade trip that weekend. As Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at breakfast on Saturday morning, Hermione turned around to Harry and Ron.

"Dumbledore isn't here," she said quietly.

Ron chewed through a bite of toast, and then shrugged.

"He's probably sleeping in," Harry said.

"But he wasn't at dinner last night," Hermione pointed out. Harry and Ron turned to her, eyes squinting suspiciously.

"Yeah, that's right. Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing him at the staff table last night," said Ron.

"Where do you think he could be?" Harry asked.

"Maybe he's sick?" Ron pointed out.

Hermione though about this, then shook her head. "No, Ron. He would have gone to the hospital wing for some potion and been right as rain."

They all fell silent, eating their breakfasts and trying to come up with ideas as to the headmaster's whereabouts.

Once breakfast was finished, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to Hogsmeade, still discussing Dumbledore.

"Do you think it has something to do with … You-Know-Who?" Ron asked quietly.

Harry instantly adopted a grim look, while Hermione shrugged hopelessly at Ron.

"Why do you think they gave us first weekend back to go to Hogsmeade?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"It is a bit strange isn't it?" Hermione pointed out slowly. "First we get a surprise visit to Hogsmeade, and then Dumbledore disappears?"

Ron abruptly stopped walking, causing Harry and Hermione to stop as well and stare at him.

"Do, do you think it's safe to go to Hogsmeade then? If You-Know-Who is back, and Dumbledore's gone … It can't be safe, can it?"

"What's wrong Weasley?" came the cold sneer of Malfoy. "Just realised you'd have to sell your house if you wanted to buy anything today?"

With that remark, Malfoy and Zabini burst into laughter and shoved past the trio. Harry, Ron and Hermione watched them walk down to Hogsmeade.

"Gits," Ron muttered.

"They aren't even worth it, Ron," Hermione said quickly, hugging Ron. "You're so much better than Malfoy will ever be."

Ron smiled at her and Harry.

"You know, if Malfoy's fine about going down to Hogsmeade, then we should be alright," Harry pointed out.

Hermione nodded slowly, "as long as if he leaves, we leave. Agreed?"

Both Harry and Ron nodded and followed her down the path to Hogsmeade, talking about Zonko's latest invention – the candy potion kit, the Lecca Lecca Kit.

"Fred and George said they were getting one, you know, to experiment with," Ron told them excitedly, missing the slight glare of Hermione's at the mention of Fred and George experimenting. "All you have to do to get a chocolate frog, it put in a bit of cocoa and then say the magic word – and POOF! There it is."

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, chuckling at their friend's eagerness for food.

As they walked into Zonko's they were stopped short by the mass of students already in there. Ron pushed through the crowd, towards the candy potion kit, leaving Harry and Hermione by the door, unwilling to try and get any further through the crowd. A bird in the corner closest to Hermione kept asking her for a scone and a cup of tea, to which she replied 'oh do shut up!' Harry picked up what appeared to be a broomstick, but it suddenly began hitting him over the head.

"Ow! Hermione! Get it off!" Harry cried, covering his head and ducking.

Hermione pulled out her wand, "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"

The broom froze mid-air. Harry slowly pulling his hands from over his head and stepped away, shooting her a grateful glance.

"Honestly Harry, don't you ever read the labels?" Hermione asked him, half exasperated, half amused.

Harry looked to where she was pointing and read out: 'The Belting Broom! Use this on enemies who need a good bonk on the head!'

"Oh, right," Harry chuckled sheepishly.

Hermione pulled the broom from out of the air and set it next to the box of Belting Brooms.

"Let's get out of here," Harry said, eager to escape the crowded shop. "We can wait for Ron outside."

Hermione nodded and followed him out the door. Ron appeared a short while later, looking crestfallen.

"They ran out," he said.

Harry patted him on the back sympathetically. "Don't worry about it, mate. Lets go grab a butterbeer."

Inside The Three Broomsticks, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat around a small table, clutching their butterbeers. Hermione looked between Harry and Ron, watching them as they talked about quidditch, their faces animated. A sudden bursting of her heart make her beam.

"I love you guys so much!" she cried. Harry and Ron stopped their conversation, looking at Hermione oddly.

"Er, we love you too, Hermione," Harry said, his face showing Hermione he was amused.

Hermione started laughing. Harry and Ron, perplexed at their friend's odd behaviour, began chuckling at her.

"It's just," Hermione said, clearing the laugh out of her voice. "I-I just … I dunno. I'm so glad I have you two."

Ron turned red, while Harry smiled at Hermione warmly.

"We are too, Hermione," Harry said. Ron nodded in agreement, still red in the face.

Finishing their butterbeers, the three exited The Three Broomsticks.

Harry, Ron and Hermione headed back up to Hogwarts not long after. They stopped outside the portrait of the fat lady, as Ron said the password. Once inside the common room, they all collapsed into the armchairs around the fire.

"I had fun today," Ron said sleepily.

"Me too," Hermione whispered, her eyes slipping shut.

Harry sat up a little straighter.

"Hermione?" he asked.

"What is it, Harry?"

"About what you were saying earlier, in the pub. Well, me too."

Hermione smiled at him, "I know Harry. You two mean the entire world to me."

Harry grinned back at her, relaxing in his seat once more. A bright camera flash and the sudden loud snore from Ron sent both Harry and Hermione cackling. Colin Creevy zoomed past them, having taken a picture of them.

Ron sat up groggily, muttering, "wuss going on?"

Harry and Hermione burst out in a fresh fit of laughter.

"Hi Harry!" Colin called, before shooting out the portrait hole.

"Oh shut up you two!" Ron cried, throwing at pillow at Hermione.

"Hey!" she cried indignantly, before throwing it back at him, her horrible aim causing the pillow to land closer to Harry then Ron.

Harry picked up the pillow and stood up, walking slowly towards her, a wicked grin on his face. Ron grabbed another and then made his way closer to Hermione, along side Harry.

Hermione gasped, then shot out of her chair, hiding behind it.

"No!" she cried, panic bubbling up within her as she also fought the urge to laugh. "Pick on someone your own size!"

"NOW!" Hermione heard Ron yell and then she was suddenly being pounded with pillows.

Screeching, she ducked and ran away from them, pulling her wand out.

"RICTUSEMPRA!" Hermione cried.

Suddenly, both Ron and Harry stopped advancing towards her, dropped their pillows and began cackling madly.

"ARGH! HA HA! HERMIONE HA HA! MAKE IT HA STOP HA HA!" Ron yelled.

"HA HA HA! HERMIONE! HA YOU HA KNOW I HATE HA BEING HA HA TICKELED!" Harry cried between laughter.

Hermione had dropped her wand to the floor and was shaking with silent laughter. Hermione looked up at Harry and Ron's horror stricken faces and instantly realised something was wrong. She stopped laughing and spun around.

"P-Professor," Hermione stammered horrified.

McGonagall raised her wand, and both Harry and Ron instantly stopped laughing.

"There has been an incident with Professor Dumbledore. He has had to leave the school briefly, and all students must return to their towers immediately." McGonagall said gravely. "The students are being sent back now. When your fellow Gryfindors arrive, please make sure they all get here."

McGonagall handed Hermione a list with everyone who was in Gryfrindor's name on it. Without another word, she left the common room. Harry and Ron stood behind Hermione, silent. The carefree atmosphere that had existed seconds ago had vanished.

"Why do you think she's making us do it?" Ron asked after a while. "McGonagall's usually here for this sort of thing."

Harry and Hermione shrugged at Ron, and they all took their previous armchairs.

Slowly, the Gryfindor common room became more and more packed. Hermione had set up an appointed member of each year level to account for all fellow students in their respective years. Once she was sure everyone in Gryfindor was there, she sent them all to bed.

The normally cheery atmosphere of the Gryfindor common room had been muted left to a dull, tense murmur. Even Fred and George hadn't made any wise cracks.

Hermione followed Harry and Ron up the staircase.

"Night," Ron said when she stopped at the girl's dormitory.

"Night."

Hermione pushed open the door and made her way over to her bed. Sighing she put on her pyjamas and quickly got into bed, Chrookshanks was curled up on the end. Exhausted, Hermione quickly fell asleep – without even reading a single book.

The next morning at breakfast, the atmosphere was still tense. Dumbledore was still not back, and all the teachers sat at the staff table, looking downright terrible. They all had lines under their drooping eyes, and many of them would pour coffee or pumpkin juice into their cereal bowls.

"Wonder what's up with them?" Ron asked, reaching for a piece of toast. Hermione shrugged and waited as an owl flew onto her shoulder, before pulling the Daily Prophet off the owl's leg, and handing it the rest of her toast. The bird snapped the toast up, hooted and took off.

Hermione unrolled the newspaper and gasped.

Harry and Ron quickly stopped eating and asked her what was wrong.

"Dumbledore: A Murderer?" Hermione read from the front cover.

Harry and Ron both gasped, and a hush fell over the entire Great Hall, as if they had all been listening to Hermione.

"I, Rita Skeeter, bring you, my avid readers, terrifying news. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogswarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, was brought before the wizengamot yesterday on murder charges. Dumbledore, who has been Headmaster since 1970, could possibly be sentenced to Azkaban or The Kiss.

"Ariana Dumbledore, born 1884 was attacked by three young Muggles, at the age of six, who had seen her performing magic. She never recovered from the incident, and required constant care and supervision for the rest of her life. Desperate to prevent the loss of custody of her to St. Mungo's, her father, Percival Dumbledore who had attacked the Muggles and went to Azkaban rather than tell his real motive. The family, which consisted of Kendra Dumbledore; Ariana's mother, and Albus Dumbledore and Aberforth Dumbledore; Ariana's brothers, relocated to Godric's Hollow.

"When Ariana was 14, Kendra died, leaving Albus and Aberforth to care for her. Aberforth, who was close to Ariana, insisted on dropping out of Hogwarts to care for her. Albus, age 17, insisted that Aberforth return to school. Albus then met Gellert Grindelwald, and became so caught up in their plot to change the world, he neglected the care of his sister.

"During August 1899, the same summer of Kendra Dumbledore's death, Albus, Aberforth and Grindelwald had a violent quarrel, which soon turned into a duel. Ariana, who was upset by the magic, was accidentally killed. While Albus declares he has never known who struck the fatal blow, his brother, Aberforth, has recently come forward, blaming Albus for Ariana's death.

"Friday morning, Aberforth came forward to the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and has told him what really happened. Aberforth said, "Albus then turned his wand on Ariana. It was clear to me that he wanted her out of the way so he could pursue his ideas with Grindelwald. I had confronted him about it, which was how the fight started."

"Albus, who appeared before the wizengamot yesterday has refused to answer any questions … Continued page three."

Hermione let out a shaky breath and looked up from the newspaper. Harry and Ron looked just as shocked as she felt. Slowly the Great Hall filled with whispers.

Hermione looked up at the staff table, where all the staff had their heads hung hopelessly. A sudden BANG! echoed into the Great Hall. All the students began to appear alarmed as heads turned towards the door.

And there he was. Dumbledore. Gryfindor and Hufflepuff cheered as he made his way grimly up to the staff table. Ravenclaw clapped politely, uncertainly. Slytherin eyed him evilly.

He stood in front of the staff table and brought his hands together in a short clap, which silenced the Great Hall.

"Students," he addressed. "Staff. I understand you are shocked as to the story in the paper. I wish you to know that I did not, under any circumstances, deliberately turn my wand on my own sister. Things will be explained to you in time. For now, the case has been placed on hold, under the imperius curse enquiry into my brother. Classes shall run as usual, and I shall remain in my office. Now is an important time for us to stick together through the bonds of peers, now more than ever."

With that, Dumbledore swept back through the Great Hall and out of the door. No one said anything for several moments.

"That was odd behaviour for Dumbledore," Harry said.

"Doesn't matter what Skeeter says. I believe Dumbledore," Ron said loudly.

This was met by a chorus of "hear hear" by the Weasley family and most other Gryfindor's and Hufflepuff's.

The next week of school saw Dumbledore away for meals increasingly. More news of the Headmaster was arriving to the school in the form of the Daily Prophet. Whispers and rumours floated around the school, while teachers began to look more and more strained than ever.

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent countless discussions on Dumbledore, wondering what had triggered his brother to reveal it now, after all these years. Hermione even allowed Harry and Ron peeks of all her homework, for the stress and tension in the castle was getting to everyone.

Malfoy and his gang of Slytherin's were strutting around the castle as if they owned it, shoving people out of the way, and hexing Muggle-Borns for the sake of it. Anger welled up in Hermione whenever she heard about what they had done, and she resolved to make them pay for it. Harry and Ron were in firm agreement with her.

When Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking out of the dungeons from potions on Friday afternoon, they saw their chance. Malfoy and Zabini (who the trio had noticed was spending a lot more time with Malfoy that he ever used to) were standing near the Great Hall, in front of the broom cupboard Harry and Ron had hidden Crabbe and Goyle in during their second year. Neither of them had noticed Harry, Ron or Hermione, as they crept forward, planning to hit them with a good curse or two.

"Miss Granger," McGonagall snapped loudly, causing the trio to stop, guilty expressions written all over their faces. Malfoy and Zabini spun around, mere meters away. Turning their noses up at them, the two strutted into the Great Hall.

"Yes professor?" Hermione asked carefully.

"Please come with me."

Hermione nodded to Harry and Ron, who watched Hermione walk away with McGonagall before walking up the stairs to the Gryfindor Tower.

McGonagall took Hermione to the Dumbledore's office.

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans," McGonagall said clearly.

The entrance snapped to life, and McGonagall ushered Hermione onto the stairs. Hermione paused as the stairs slid to a holt, before quickly knocking on the door in front of her.

"Come in."

Hermione pulled the door opened and walked into Dumbledore's office. She sat in the chair across the desk from Albus Dumbledore, his half-moon spectacles twinkling in the candle light. The sorting hat stood proudly on the shelf behind him, and Hermione noticed the pensive to her right.

"A lemon drop, perhaps?" Dumbledore asked kindly, picking up the small bowl on his desk and offering it to her.

Hermione shook her head, "no thanks. Professor, what is it that you called me here for?"

Dumbledore popped a lemon drop in his mouth, while leaning back in his chair. He seemed to be mulling over her question as though he did not know the answer to it. Confused and slightly alert, she sat up straighter in her chair. Her fingers were twisting themselves nervously around the hem of her skirt. Dumbledore sighed, then with sad eyes, leaned forward.

"Miss Granger, I have something of great importance to tell you. Something that will change your life as you know it."