And So it Goes

Summary - Harry and Hermione find out that they will be playing a part in potential re-securing Hogwarts. What does Dumbledore have in store for them?

EXCERPT -

"I can't believe it....you and me.....it's so..." "Cool?" Harry said, finishing her statement. They had been walking in rather a daze, when Harry spotted it, the Gryffindor painting. "I'll go first this time, Harry." Just as Hermione was about to step through, Harry remembered Dumbledore's words. "WAIT!" He yelled, as he went to try and reach for her. But all he heard was her start to scream as she crossed though.

A/N - First, I did not use a song as an inspiration for this chapter - too many emotions to pick one. Secondly, I did not get that many reviews from last chapter, so I'm not sure if that was because you didn't like it or if it was because that there were so many other posts. Please know that even if you have criticism, that is fine, I love both the compliments and the critiques - so, please, please, do review.

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“Young Mr. Malfoy?” asked Madame Pomfrey, “May I inquire as to why you are touching that painting?” Her tone rang with irritation.

Madame Pomfrey had been slowly traveling down the hall, reading a small piece of parchment, when she had spotted Draco. He was standing only inches away from painting, slowly sliding his left hand across the picture. He was startled by her presence, as well as the shrillness in her voice, and jumped back from the painting.

“I, uh,” Draco momentarily fumbled with an excuse, but than quickly overcame his lapse in thought, “I had caught Potter touching this painting earlier; I was just making sure he hadn't vandalized it in anyway.”

Madame Pomfrey gave Draco a gaze that let him know that she did not necessarily believe his excuse.

“Did you take away any points away for it?”

“Oh, yes, five from Gryffindor.”

”Well, it looks unharmed to me, Draco. Supper should be starting shortly, you should be on your way.”

With a grimace of irritation slipping from his throat, Draco gave another glance at the painting before heading to the Slytherin common room.

*****************

“Wow, Harry, that's amazing.” Ron said in awe, now surveying the paintings in the common room.

The trio was sitting on the floor of the common room, just in front of the couch, near the fire. They kept their conversation to whispers as Harry retold everything he had shared with Hermione.

“Can you take us in to the Corridor, Harry?”

“Erm, Dumbledore did ask me to come back tonight, but I'm not sure that I can bring you two, at least not now, I'm sorry.” Harry answered, now looking away from Ron's pout to also glance around the room. “Hey, where is everyone?”

“Harry,” Hermione said through a giggle, “the students cleared out a while ago. They are in the Great Hall - supper. We should probably head down now if we have any hopes of getting anything to eat ourselves.”

******************

As Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked toward the Great Hall, all three immediately knew that something was not right.

“Why is it so quiet down there?” Hermione asked, looking between the boys for an answer. They both shrugged in unison.

Harry turned the corner into the hall first, Ron and Hermione on either side of him a few paces behind. The students were talking, but at one tenth the volume that they would usual converse during supper. Harry spotted Seamus, who was trying to subtly wave them over.

“Come on, let's go find out what this is all about,” Harry said with a sigh.

As they headed towards their usual seats, Hermione looked over at the professors' table.

“Oh my, goodness”

“Mione, what?”

Harry and Ron followed her glance as they reached the table. Suddenly, they saw the same thing she did, and were now staring.

“Goblins,” Seamus answered for her.

“Sit….Sit down.” Hermione hissed, realizing that it was very obvious what they were staring at and that they looked rather silly.

“When did they get here? WHY are they here?” Ron asked Seamus.

“They arrived only moments before yourselves. They came in and everyone just, well, stopped talking and started staring. I don't think any of us have ever seen the goblins outside of Gringott's. There were ten when they came in. The two that are at the table walked ahead of the rest. They were carrying a box.”

“A box?” Harry asked, a little louder than a whisper. “What did it look like?”

Seamus demonstrated the dimensions as he spoke. “Well, it was black and only about 2 inches deep, but it was the length and width of our Potions book.”

Harry looked from Seamus back to the head table.

“They gave the box to Dumbledore, he offered for them to sit and eat, and when they accepted, the other eight goblins left. Ya know, I think they were guards,” Seamus said, and then added, in an even softer whisper, “Scary little creatures, aren't they?”

They all nodded in agreement.

After a few minutes of eating, mixed with quiet conversation, Hermione glanced down the table and spotted Ginny. They had passed her when they had walked in the door earlier. She was sitting much further down than usual.

'No wonder,' Hermione chuckled to herself.

Suddenly, the room became very silent. Dumbledore had begun to stand and the two goblins followed in suit. They left with him out the passageway behind the head table. All of the students watched them leave, except for Hermione - she quickly looked at the head table and then resumed looking towards Ginny. Harry was sitting next to her, and so she decided that if Ginny just happened to look over at her, she would give her an eyeful of more than just Goblins. She took Harry's hand in hers, intertwined fingers, and brought their hands to rest on the table. Harry, took this as a sign that she was trying to be comforting, and brought their joined hands quickly up and placed a kiss on the top of her hand. He then returned their hands to resting on the table.

Hermione smiled at Harry and then shifted her gaze to Ginny, who had clearly been watching them now

'Mmm, perfect timing, Harry.' Hermione thought.

****************

Back in the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Ron had decided that they were just not focused enough to study, so they resorted to a game of wizard's chess. Hermione had been sitting on the window seat, reading while they played, but decided that her bed was now calling her. She was just about to close her book and go bid the boys 'goodnight' when Ginny stepped through the portrait.

“Harry, could you come here.” Hermione called over to Harry.

”He's busy losing right now, Hermione, can it wait?” Ron asked.

Hermione saw that Ginny was now heading over. “No,' Hermione said, as sweet as possible.

“Be right back mate.” Harry said, as he got up and headed over to the window.

”Kiss me goodnight?” Hermione whispered flirtatiously.

“You called me over here for me to kiss you?” Harry said smiling, but knew she was up to something.

“Of course, we don't want to kiss in front of Ron, and his back is to us now - perfect timing,” she said as she stood, laying her book on the seat. She leaned into Harry, kissing him lightly on the lips. While his eyes were shut, Hermione's were open as she glanced over to see if Ginny was near. Upon spotting her, Hermione casually slipped her hands into the back pockets of Harry's jeans. Harry smiled into her kiss and deepened it slightly.

All of sudden, they could hear someone clearing their throat very near to where they were. They broke their kiss only to find Ginny standing right next to them.

“Harry, McGonagall wanted me to give this to you. She said it was for YOUR eyes only,” Ginny said with her eyes focused on Hermione. She was about to walk away but then turned back to Hermione.

“By the way, I get it….he's yours,” Ginny said with a hint of frustration, “you can drop the game now.” With saying that, she headed to the girl's dorms.

“What 'game' is she talking about, 'Mione?'” Harry asked.

Hermione blushed, her lips lifted in a cheeky smile, “The 'Harry is mine, he wants me, hands off' game.”

“Oh, that one, hmmm, I think I like that game.” Harry said.

“Game, did someone say game, oh yeah, there's a game going on over here… ya know, wizard's chess…usually played by two people…”Ron rambled.

“I'll get going so you can finish your game.” Hermione said to Harry. “Good night, Ron”

“Night, Hermione.”

Harry leaned in to give her one more kiss, but before doing so, whispered, “I love you, you know that?” And then he quickly kissed her before she could say anything.

“Good night, Harry.” Hermione said after his kiss, and with that, she headed to her room. Just as she was about to step on the first step, she turned around to see that Harry had gone back to sit with Ron, but he was watching her leave. She slowly mouthed “I love you, too,” to him before heading up the stairs.

Harry smiled and returned his focus to the board. "OK, where were we?"

"I was beating you, remember," Ron said and then pointed to the board, "check."

As Harry studied the board Ron motioned to the envelope that Harry had set on the table when he sat down, "What's that?"

"Oh, I don't know, forgot I even set it there." Harry picked up the envelope and began to open it.

"Man, Hermione has definitely cast some sort of spell over you," Ron said jokingly.

"Ha, ha, ha," Harry said sarcastically. He then pulled out the letter and began to read.

"What does it say?" Ron asked.

"Dumbledore wants me to enter the Corridor tonight, at midnight..." Harry paused before continuing, looking up at Ron, "and he wants me to bring Hermione."

To hearing this, Ron looked rather dejected. "Why her?"

"Well, honestly Ron, I'm not sure. It could be because McGonagall told Hermione at start of term that she thought it would be unwise if her and I were to become a couple."

"And why exactly is that?"

"McGonagall thought I would have more difficulty controlling my powers if I was more emotionally connected to her."

"Oh, that's nonsense."

"Not necessarily"

Ron leaned in, raising his eyebrows inquisitively, "What do you mean?"

"Now don't get upset, because Hermione doesn't know either, but a few days back I ran into Draco in the hallway. He started to insult you both, but he called her a 'fucking mudblood', and then it happened."

"What?" Ron was now on the edge of his seat.

"I threw him up against the wall. Problem is, I don't even know how I did it, plus...I didn't even have my wand."

"Bloody brilliant. God, I wish I could have been there to see that."

Harry gave a small laugh, "Yeah, it was pretty awesome."

"But Harry, this isn't the first time you've made things happen without your wand."

"I know, but I just wish I could understand how to do it, so that it wasn't so much of a fluke." As Harry spoke, he stood up and began to look at the paintings.

"What are you looking for?"

"Dumbledore wrote that the painting that will be the portal tonight has a mirror in it. Help me look."

The boys searched the walls. After about only five minutes of looking, Ron found it.

"Blimey Harry, look at this."

The painting was about 2 feet across by 3 feet high and was hanging on the same wall that the fireplace resided. It was a painting of a dormitory, and it had a small circular mirror on the far wall. As Harry stepped in front of it to look, he noticed that he could see is own reflection move in the painting's mirror.

"Thanks, Ron," Harry said, still intrigued by the picture.

"I'm gonna stay down and watch you two go through, alright."

"That's fine, speaking of which, I should go up and get her."

****************

They stood in front of the painting, patiently waiting for the mantel clock toll midnight.

"How do we know when it's open?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I'm pretty sure if we watch the name plate, it will light up. That was how I knew that the other painting today was a portal."

Almost as if cued by Harry's words, suddenly a thin band of light shot around the name plate three times. They all smiled at each other and Harry went to touch the painting. As with before, the colors pooled around his hand,

"You ready?" He asked Hermione.

"As ready as I can be," she said cautiously.

Harry pushed his hand through the painting and the portrait quickly expanded to the size of small doorway.

Ron stood frozen in this place, looking in amazement at the wall. "Cool," was all he could mutter out.

Harry smiled at Hermione, "Give me your hand."

They proceeded to walk through the painting. Once they had vanished entirely, the painting shrunk back to it's normal size again. Ron looked around and then moved up to it. He just wanted to touch it, to feel what Harry described. But right before he touched the painting, he noticed the light shoot around the plate again. When it had stopped, he put his hand up to the surface only to find that the colors didn't move. He tried to push against it a little harder, but it wouldn't give. He figured that the portal must have closed, so with a sigh, he gave up trying and headed to bed.

************

Once in the Corridor, Hermione froze, the shock of actually being in this hallway washing over her.

"This is simply.....amazing." Hermione said as she traveled down the hall, stopping every now and then to examine some of the sculptures and paintings. Harry had to keep reminding her that they had to get to Dumbledore's office, and at this rate, it wouldn't be for another hour.

Eventually they reached the portal that lead to Dumbledore's office. His painting was of a beautiful phoenix soaring through the air. Harry again led them through.

"Ah Harry, Miss Granger, thank you for coming at such a late hour. I could not delay our meeting until tomorrow, thus, why you are here now. Please, have a seat."

After Harry and Hermione were comfortably seated in two wing chairs, Dumbledore continued.

"I assume, Miss Granger, that Harry has shared with you all of the events that have transpired?"

To this, Hermione merely nodded.

"Good, then you know that new Amulets cannot be created until the old ones are destroyed?"

"Yes, but why is that sir?"

"Well, the castle is still tied to the Amulets of Prostestas. That bind cannot be easily broken or replaced. Yet, that is why you are here, in preparation for if and when Voldemort destroys them."

"How can we be of help?" Harry asked, as he looked to Hermione and then back to the headmaster, surprise evident in his voice.

"I think you will astonished how much of a help you are going to be, but first I must show you these." Dumbledore crossed over to his desk to retrieve a box. Harry assumed that from the way it looked, that it was the box that the goblins had brought. Dumbledore removed the top of the box, and set it off to the side. As soon as the lid was of, Harry and Hermione could see that the objects in the box were glistening, golden flecks floating up.

"These Amulets have been created by the goblins to replace the ones that have been taken."

"They are beautiful," Hermione said in wonder. "They look like four different types of irish knots."

"Indeed. Celtic knots are complete loops with no end or beginning. Once they are, 'brought to life' shall we say, all four will bind together, increasing their power ten fold, and you will not be able to see where one starts and the other begins. This is were you come in. Should the time arise that we are able to invoke the power of these new amulets, you will be part of process, as will professor McGonagall and myself. One drop of each of our blood in the center of each knot will start the transition." Dumbledore paused, giving the two the opportunity to say something, but since they still look confused, he continued. "You see, it is actually very simple, we need to bind the old generations with the new, creating a cycle. You are two of the most powerful students here, who better to use than you."

"I don't know what to say Headmaster." Hermione said.

"I'm sure you will have questions later. Also, there is a bit more to the process, but when the time is right, we will walk you through it. Off to bed with you now, good night."

As they were about to exit through the painting that they came through, Dumbledore added, "Oh Harry, don't forget what I told you to do when leaving the Corridor."

**********************

"I can't believe it....you and me.....it's so..."

"Cool?" Harry said, finishing her statement.

They had been walking in rather a daze, when Harry spotted it, the Gryffindor painting.

"I'll go first this time, Harry."

Just as Hermione was about to step through, Harry remembered Dumbledore's words.

"WAIT!" He yelled, as he went to try and reach for her.

But all he heard was her start to scream as she crossed though.