QLFC Season 7, Round 1

Chaser 2 for Appleby Arrows

Prompt:"The Holy Grail" King Arthur must answer three questions correctly to cross the Bridge of Death. The guardian gets a question wrong himself. Write about a canonly clever character being outwitted.

Optional Prompts: (color) Cream, (Words) Insufferable and coincidence.

Word count: 1017

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There were very few things in the school that Hermione wasn't good at.

She was good with spells, and potions, and books, and homework. She was a role model student and she prided herself in this. She would be the first to admit that in her friend group, she liked being the smartest.

There were very few things that Harry was good at. Defense Against the Dark Arts and flying was the two that came to everyone when they thought about it, the only two they thought he had over the bushy haired girl.

What no one but the two of them knew was, there are actually three things that Harry can do better than Hermione.

Around third year Hermione had learned that the Ravenclaws had their own personal library, and it was a standard practice that if you could get into the room, you could use it. Hermione was ecstatic until she learned something she hadn't known before.

Hermione was Horrible at riddles.

She stood in front of the door for over an hour trying to get inside, frustrated almost to tears as she wracked her brain for an answer.

You can carry it everywhere you go, and it doesn't get heavy. What is it?

She had guessed a few times at first, but it was wrong. She'd given up that night as curfew came around and she had walked back to the Gryffindor tower, defeated. She was smart, she should know these things. The doorknob just didn't want her in the common room.

"Insufferable, stupid, prejudice, know-it-all hunk of wood." she'd muttered to herself, almost running into Harry as he rushed for the portrait too.

"Alright there, Mione?" he had asked after hearing her rant. Later, they would tease each other about it. You're just an insufferable hunk of wood, would be a fond insult between the two.

At the time, Hermione had just huffed at him.

"The knocker wouldn't let me in the Ravenclaw common room." She'd pouted. He'd given her a small smile in sympathy.

"I'll go with you tomorrow, maybe we can bounce ideas off of each other." he had answered, trying to cheer her up.

So after charms, Ron went to the dining hall and they headed to the Ravenclaw common room. When the knocker saw Hermione, it said it again.

You can carry it everywhere you go, and it doesn't get heavy. What is it?

"See! It's-"

"Your name," Harry answers easily. Hermione had gaped as the door clicked open.

"What? But, how?" She'd demanded of him. Harry had just shrugged it off.

"I've always been good at riddles." he'd defended himself. They went together into the room, expecting Blues and blacks and golds. Instead, they were met with Cream colored furniture and white bookshelves. A white marble fireplace and plush carpet that matched the chairs. A few people had greeted them but for the most part, they had been left alone. After the tournament, Harry had used it as an escape room. Hermione had used it to get away from her roommates.

For the first year, she did try and get in without Harry there. Sometimes she got in, other times, she had to drag Harry along.

I'm taken from a mine and shut up in a wooden case from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody. What am I?

"Pencil Lead, Mione, didn't you go to primary school?"

They have not flesh, nor feathers, nor scales, nor bone. Yet they have fingers and thumbs of their own. What are they?

"Gloves! Oh, I think I left mine in the quidditch room, too. I'll freeze on the way to herbology today."

But now, it was her last time in the hallway. She hadn't gotten into the room much unless Luna had let her in, this past year now that Hermione was alone, and Harry was gone. The first time the little blond girl had let her in it had been a coincidence. She'd been leaving as Hermione had been wanting to go in. after that, though, Hermione had the suspicion that the girl had been helping her in and out because she had been waiting for her, or at least asked to be alerted when she arrived. She squared off with the door and the eagle looked like it might be smirking.

Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain on Earth?

She gapped at it. That wasn't a riddle, that was history! Muggle history, at that! How was she supposed to know?

Resigned to waiting for Luna to come down and open the door, she went to lean against the wall.

"Mount Everest. Just because it wasn't discovered, doesn't mean it still wasn't the tallest." a smooth voice to her left says, having her spin in that direction.

"Harry!"

She throws her arms around her best friend and he catches her with a laugh.

"The door still giving you trouble, Mione?" he teases.

"Why are you here? Aren't you and Ron in training this month?" she ignores the question with a small blush and pulls away to look at him properly. He shrugs a little sheepishly.

"We couldn't miss you graduating, could we? The headmistress is letting us stay the night so we can see you and Gin off in the morning," he explains. She lets off an excited squeal and hugs him again, before motioning to the door.

"Well come on then, Harry. You answered the riddle, you go first." she urges, falling into their old routine easily. He leads the way into the peaceful room and picks a seat as she puts her book away.

One last night in the private library was exactly what she wanted, she decided as she saw two redheads appear from the dorm room stairs, followed by Luna. Ron gave a sheepish shrug at her look and her gaze settled on Harry.

"Well I had Luna let them in and I waited on you. I figured you'd have some trouble with the insufferable hunk of wood," he explained, smirking at her unamused huff.