New Romantics | Hermione Granger Book IV

|91| Chapter Ninety-One

 N I N E T Y  O N E 

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It didn't take Amanda long to calm Saffron down. A minute after Fudge had left, Saffron felt incapable of crying anymore, a sensation she had felt frequently during the night but couldn't envision how she could even muster the energy to do so anymore. She was still and silent but insistent on being able to listen to what was going to happen next. That did not happen for a solid ten minutes, however, as everyone wished her condolences to her. It passed by in a blur but Saffron returned every one of their hugs and accepted each one of their condolences for what happened to Maya.

She was then told by Professor Dumbledore precisely what had happened to her sister, to his knowledge and to Harry's knowledge. He revealed this at Saffron's request but most of it went over her head. There was a fuzzy noise blocking her from hearing properly and what she did hear she was unable to digest due to the sheer magnitude of what had happened.

After that was finished, Saffron was able to concentrate again. She was placed in the bed right next to Harry's and waited for Professor Dumbledore to talk. Once he began, she listened intently to every single word.

"One thing I can assure you, Saffron, is that I will do everything in my power that nobody else suffers the same fate as your sister, and I hope I can speak for everyone in my room when I say that," There was murmur of assent from everyone after Dumbledore told her that, as his sparkling eyes scanned the room. "Because there is work to be done, Molly... am I right in thinking that I can count on you and Arthur?"

"Of course you can," said Mrs. Weasley with a nod. "We know what Fudge is. It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back at the Ministry all these years. Fudge thinks he lacks proper wizarding pride."

"Then I need to send a message to Arthur," said Dumbledore. "All those that we can persuade of the truth must be notified immediately, and he is well placed to contact those at the Ministry who are not as shortsighted as Cornelius."

"I'll go to them," Bill stood up. "I'll go now."

"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "Tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in direct contact with him shortly. He will need to be discreet, however. If Fudge thinks I am interfering at the Ministry -"

"Leave it to me," Bill assured him.

Saffron felt his hand graze her shoulder before he quickly left the room.

"Minerva," Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall, "I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also - if she will consent to come - Madame Maxime."

With a short nod, she left the room without question.

"Poppy," Dumbledore called to Madam Pomfrey. Saffron hadn't even noticed her. She looked over to the other side of the room to see a curtained off area, where, she had been told, Olly was getting the Imperius Curse taken off of him. "would you be very kind and go down to Professor Moody's office, where I think you will find a house-elf called Winky in considerable distress? Do what you can for her, and take her back to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after her for us."

"Very - very well," stuttered Madam Pomfrey but soon left.

"Now," Dumbledore said and Saffron looked around the room to see who was left. It was herself, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Sage, Amanda, Mrs. Weasley and Professor Snape. "I believe the only way to move forward is to rid ourselves of any differences of the past and trust one another. As we are only as united as we are divided,"