Hermione and the Challenge Tree
Chapter 1: The Golden Yew
Hermione ignored the imploring voice of Ron Weasley as she ran out of the Great Hall, knocking uncaringly into a little Ravenclaw in her haste to escape the castle.
"C'mon, Hermione! I was just joking! Harry, tell her we weren't serious."
"Hermione, Ron was just kidding. You know he's a bloody moron. And I had nothing to do with it."
"What??? Harry, you were saying it too, you traitor. You're the one who brought it up to begin with!"
"Did not! This is your mess! You always do stuff like this, if you would just think before you go around saying things like that… Oi! Hermione! Wait!"
Hermione took no notice as she jumped down the marble steps and sprinted away, away from Hogwarts, away from it's shallow problems, and most of all, away from Ron Weasley, who had told Dean and Seamus how annoying and geeky she was, and that Ron wished she would just leave him and Harry alone. And Harry, who had sat there and agreed.
Once she was safely several hundred meters away, the first messy tear spilled out of her eye and made a track down her cheek. It was like first year all over again. How could he say those things about her after all they'd been through together? Sure, stress was high with Voldemort's return and the mockery of more than half the school. But why did Ron and Harry have to take it out on her?
Hermione sighed. It would be stupid to just go back to breakfast now, after making such a theatrical exit. She needed to go back soon, or she would be late for double potions. Followed by History of Magic and then study hall. Which she wasn't really in the mood for anyways…
Maybe she would skip class. If Ron wanted her to leave him alone, then he'd be happy. She'd show him she was no boring miss perfect.
Hermione sighed. This skipping class was very daring and spontaneous and all, but what was she to do until lunchtime? She had no one to hang out with while she wasted away the hours, and she really had nothing to do. She had finished all her homework and even all the long-term projects.
Well, there was nothing else for it. She headed across the deserted grounds towards the Forbidden Forest, her book bag awkwardly banging against her thigh as she walked. She reached the edge, and hoisted the bag off her shoulder. She hung it on one of the branches of a gnarled and lumpy tree that resembled, in Hermione's opinion, Ron Weasley with a sword through his head.
Twirling her wand, Hermione felt confident she could handle most anything that would threaten her daring little adventure. No sir, she thought as she strode happily into the dark forest, Hermione Granger would not be spending her ditch time crying in a bathroom this year.
Hermione was enjoying herself as she walked briskly through the slightly rougher, less distinct forest path dappled only occasionally with sunlight. She hummed a Weird Sisters tune to herself as she took care to avoid the path that led to the centaurs' territory.
How long had she been walking though the forest? Surely at least 45 minutes. She had seen a few disgruntled gnomes being pursued by doxies, and a very large flobberworm that appeared to be wearing a Hogwarts uniform, (Hermione made note to ask Hagrid about that) but nothing too interesting.
After about another half-hour of pleasant wandering, Hermione began worrying about finding her way back. She wasn't really on a path anymore. Hermione tried to make sense of which way she had come, and pursued the direction she thought might lead back to Hogwarts. It would probably take her until lunch just to get back.
Just when Hermione had really begun fretting over getting back, she came across a very curious sight. Right smack in the middle of a seemingly normal patch of forest was a shining tree. That's right, a radiant yew, glowing with light. Hermione moved forward curiously, examining the strange sight. On either side of the mystical tree were more trees, unusually straight, packed together so tightly that they formed a sort of fence, with the only opening being through two of the golden tree's lower branches.
The shining tree didn't appear to be dangerous, so she further examined it by placing her hand on it. It was extraordinarily smooth, and warm to the touch. As soon as Hermione pressed her hand against the tree, two tree fairies flew out from the tree's labyrinth of branches. Hermione jumped back, startled.
The tree fairies didn't seem to notice her at all, but flew back and forth through the air in front of her, twirling and passing each other, and flinging shining golden glitter every which way. After about thirty seconds of this most confusing activity, the fairies stopped suddenly, and hovered unnaturally stilly on either side of their glowing masterpiece.
To Hermione's wonder, she saw they had created a sort of floating, glowing message that read:
Greetings student, witch or wizard.
Throughout sunshine, rain, or blizzard
Always faithfully has there stood
This challenge tree in the enchanted wood.
If your heart be heavy of sorrow
And you've no plans for tomorrow
We recommend, no we implore you,
Travel beyond this shining yew.
Four challenges you will face
If you've the skill to win the race.
But if at any task you fail,
If you try your best to no avail
Then you must leave something behind
Your most valued possession for any to find
Treasures or riches, gold or jewels
Don't enter if you're not prepared to lose.
If you reach the end, you'll see wonders
And earn the riches from others' blunders.
But a final warning to all, and this is true
Fail and your treasure won't leave with you
Hermione read the floating cryptic message, and was thoroughly confused. What was this weird tree, and what was it doing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest? And how many students really wandered this deep into the forest and happened, by chance, to be carrying their most valued possession? What "challenges" were ahead and what "wonders" were in store for the winner?
Hermione turned away. Better to just leave this whole weird thing behind. As she took a step away, the conversation Hermione had overheard came back to her.
She's such a goody-goody mental case. She'd never do anything that might risk breaking a precious school rule.
Oh yeah? Hermione's lip jutted out defiantly and she spun right around. She marched bravely up to the "challenge tree" or whatever. Time to prove her lion's heart. Hermione grabbed onto one glowing branch and hoisted herself through the neat gap in the branches that was clearly the door to this bizarre game. She jumped down, landing on a fairly normal forest ground.
Looking behind her, Hermione saw only empty space and ordinary trees. Hermione scanned every direction, but there was no trace of the golden door through which she had come. Hermione felt a little nervous, but she wasn't going to give up. She walked forward cautiously, looking for the challenge that was supposed to await her. The forest seemed eerily quiet and vacant. Her only company was the trees. All of which seemed thoroughly unremarkable.
Hermione was just beginning to wonder whether she had really seen a golden tree to begin with when she finally noticed another creature in the forest.
"Here," it said, "is your first task…"