Harry and Hermione spent the afternoon with the Grangers which was a welcome treat given everything they had been through the past few days. Hermione refused to tell her parents about the baby and even pulled Professor McGonagall aside and begged her to not mention anything that would let her parents know she was pregnant. "Don't tell me to drink milk or eat protein or anything, okay?" McGonagall had offered her food at every chance and had practically been ordering for her when they did go to restaurants. It verified to Hermione that the she knew of the pregnancy. Apparently, Lupin did not though.
"You have to tell them in your own time and your own way. I understand," she said. They were in the small restroom of the restaurant, close to the door to hear if anyone else was approaching.
"Then explain it to me," Hermione said before thinking. "How could he have done this to us without telling us?"
"Albus always has his reasons, my dear, even if we don't always understand why. I remember when he insisted on leaving Harry with the Dursleys, I begged him to let us place the baby with a wizard family, but he knew what he was doing and why he was doing it."
"And look how well that worked out," Hermione huffed. Granted that may have been for the best, but it could also have gotten Harry killed. "He's playing God with our lives," She had not intended to get into a deep discussion with the teacher about this, but the door had been opened. "I'm not ready for this. Harry isn't ready for this. And what if Harry gets killed? What will I do then?" Once she began talking, all her fears were easily voiced.
"It will all work out," McGonagall assured her, giving her a rare hug.
"How? How are we going to have a baby and finish school?" Hermione felt like she might begin to cry, wavering between anger and frustration.
"Don't worry about that. We'll see it to it that you do," she promised. "You're the brightest witch at Hogwarts and Harry is the most powerful wizard we've seen in decades. If anyone can handle this, it's you and Harry."
"And then what about the rest of our lives?" Hermione asked despondently. A baby at this point would disrupt so many things including their furthering their educations. Without good jobs, it could even effect how many kids they eventually had. She did not want to resent this baby. She knew she would love the baby no matter what, but she wanted to want it too.
Before the professor could reply, their conversation was interrupted when they heard light footsteps outside the door. Julie walked into the restroom, "Come on, Hermy! I'm hungry," she whined. They weaved through the tables to rejoin the group waiting to order lunch.
"We won't waste too much time here," John told them. Everyone was aware that the Grangers needed to transition from the protections they'd been provided over the summer until now to the more secure cover provided by the old Black family home. "But it is great to be able to see our girl on her birthday," he grinned.
Harry's eyes bulged. "Today's your birthday? Already?"
"You've been preoccupied," Hermione smiled. The expression on his face was priceless.
"I'm horrible!" he said. "I didn't forget your birthday was coming up. I have a present for you in my room. I swear, I do. I just lost track of the dates."
"Harry, it's okay!" Hermione laughed. "Now I get to hold this over your head for at least 150 years."
"She learned from the best," John laughed, earning a jab in the side from his wife. He then explained that they had sent Hermione's gifts via owl post to the school because they were not sure they would be able to find her at the church.
"That's okay," Hermione said. "I'm just glad I got to see you all!"
"Happy Birthday," Harry said meekly. "I'll make it up to you,"
"Sweetheart, Darling, Love of My Life, you do not have to make it up to me. You lost track of dates after finding out every remaining member of your mother's family was murdered. If it wasn't my own birthday, I would have forgotten too!"
"Eventually, you'll want him and everyone else you know to forget your birthday," Jane told her. She added some artificial sweetener to her coffee as she spoke.
"As young as you are, you're worried about people remembering your age?" McGonagall asked her. "Darling, you're just a baby yourself!"
"So, how old are you then?" Lupin asked his former professor, something only someone who had a good relationship with the woman would have dared.
"Old enough to remember when you were young Mrs. Potter's age," McGonagall answered. "And keen enough to remember the kind of trouble you got into with the previous Mr. Potter. So, unless you want me to start telling stories on you, I suggest you change the subject." Despite her usual stern voice, everyone knew she was being jovial.
"We'd love to hear those stories, Professor," Harry grinned. It would be fun to hear stories about Lupin, but it would be even better to hear stories about his father.
"And fill your head with ideas? I should think not!"
"Things are kind of boring without Fred and George." Hermione said wistfully as she set down her menu. Nothing sounded appealing, but she ordered a turkey sandwich when the waitress came by.
While they waited for their food to arrive, they shared many stories with her parents about the Weasley Twin's antics through the years. By the time desert came, they had made it to Fred and George's magnificent escape from Umbridge the year before. Hermione was mortified when the waiting staff at the restaurant brought out a small cake for her and the entire restaurant sang a chorus of "Happy Birthday" in her honor.
"I am going to kill you all," she said slowly, her face burning crimson, as the staff cleared out, but soon she was laughing over the whole thing. Saying goodbye to her parents came too soon for Hermione.
When Harry, Hermione, and their professors returned to Hogwarts it was to more stunning news. It was time for dinner when they arrived and the professors insisted that the students go first to the Great Hall. McGonagall was back in her "Hermione, you have to eat right" mode.
The Potters joined their classmates as a few students scooted down to make room so that they could sit across from Ron and Ginny. Soon after McGonagall and Lupin made it to the head table, Dumbledore rose from his seat and clanged on his glass to get the collective attention of the crowd.
"Since our Deputy Headmistress has returned, I feel it is the right time to make an announcement," he started. There was none of his usual joviality. After a brief pause, he continued. "I have decided it is in the best interest of this school for me to step down from my position."
After some initial gasps and murmurs, the entire hall was in a state of complete stunned silence. No one looked quite as taken aback by this announcement as the Deputy Headmistress herself.
"I have begun to question myself and some decisions I have made recently. At this point, I do not believe I am the best person to be in charge of our brightest young witches and wizards." His voice was steady and sure.
Harry and Hermione exchanged knowing glances which were not lost on Ron and Ginny.
"Albus!" McGonagall interrupted. "You can't be serious!"
"Oh, but I am, Minerva. I am. You will be Headmistress now. Hogwarts will be just fine under your care and supervision."
"I consider myself lucky to have had the privilege of being Headmaster for so many wonderful years. So very many years," he added, as though exhausted by the thought.
"No, it is time for this tired old man to step down," Dumbledore concluded. "I believe it is for the best. Thank you." With that, he literally stepped down from the head table and silently exited.
The Great Hall went from stunned silence to an uproar in an instant. Students at every table were reacting in various ways, though most seemed unhappy. Only some of the Slytherins were smiling. Even the ghosts were reacting with surprise.
"He can't do that!" Hermione exclaimed. "He can't leave us. Not now!"
"You know what he's talking about," Ron accused Harry. "You know exactly what mistake he's made. He made it with you. That's what that blow up was about the other day."
Harry ignored Ron and hoped the other students near them were too busy with their own conversations to pay attention to his friend.
Hermione burst into tears, "I can't take anymore!" she cried. "How can he leave us now? What happens when-if-?" she sniffed. None of her housemates needed her to finish her statement. They were all thinking the same thing: What happens if Voldemort comes, though it was doubtful that any of them were thinking his actual name.
Another sound of a spoon clanging on a goblet from the head table got everyone's attention again. "If you please," McGonagall started, "Professor Dumbledore has made his decision. We will carry on as normal. Thank you." She sat down and continued to eat. The last thing she needed to do was demonstrate any apprehension about being Headmistress.
"Let's go," Harry said to Hermione, taking her hand as she stood up. "Maybe we can catch him." It was not lost on him that Professor Snape had left the head table almost immediately after McGonagall had called the room back to order.
"Not if he doesn't want to be caught," Hermione answered sadly. Ron jumped up to follow them as the exited the Great Hall.
"He'll go to his office," Harry reasoned. The three of them raced to the stone gargoyle and Harry gave the password only to find that it had been changed. "Dammit. He doesn't want us to get up there."
"Cockroach Clusters! Ton Tongue Toffees!" Ron began listing every candy he could think of.
"Voldemort," Harry exclaimed. The statue moved immediately.
"What the hell made you think of that?" Ron asked, as he took the steps two at a time, ascending faster than either of his companions.
"It's a great word to keep out visitors," Harry explained as he followed Ron. How many other words did so few dare to utter?
They found that Dumbledore was in his office. He looked up at the intruding students. "I have trained you well," he said to Harry, the twinkle still in his eye.
"And now you're going to just leave us?" Harry asked. He watched as Dumbledore put some magical odds and ends into a carpetbag that swallowed them up like a great black hole. It held far more than it's size indicated it would.
"Yes," Dumbledore answered as he put some books into his bag. .
"But you can't!" Hermione cried. "Not after everything that's happened. You can't leave us! We need you. Voldemort might attack us at any time. That was your plan, to lure him here. And now you're going to leave over a bad decision?"
"That's correct," the old man replied. "Good luck, Harry, Hermione, Ron." he said, stepping toward his fireplace.
"But if you leave--" Harry started, but was cut off.
"If I leave, you will be well equipped to handle what comes your way." Dumbledore took a handful of floo powder and stepped into his fireplace. He muttered something none of the teens understand and disappeared in a flash of light.
@@@@@@@@@@
Somewhere in the dark night, Severus Snape was bowed before Lord Voldemort in a dimly lit room that resembled a dungeon. "My Lord, I came immediately to inform you, Dumbledore has left Hogwarts. McGonagall is in charge and the student body is in an uproar. Now is the time My Lord. It's time to strike Harry Potter."
A/N: Where has my summer gone? I have to go back to work in a couple of days, so my time for writing will be limited. I promise I am going to finish this story though. I've got the plan... I just have to get it onto paper (so to speak). Thanks for sticking with me this far!