The First Evil

Chapter Two: Flashbacks





"Okay, Hermione," Harry quickly slammed the book shut, "What exactly did you hear the teachers say?"

Hermione squinted thoughtfully, "Well, it was strange. I was standing in the hall on the third floor waiting for Flitwick..."





***





Hermione stood beside the charms doorway waiting for Professor Flitwick. She had been sick the day before, and wanted to talk to him about catching up on what she had missed.

She tapped her foot impatiently. Where could he be?

Just then, she heard voices from a few doors over.

"The cloud is..."

"... yes of course..."

"...how can we protect..."

"...it's impossible..."

Hermione leaned in to hear better.

"It's crazy to think that we can survive this thing," said a voice that Hermione recognized as Professor McGonagall's.

"We can find a way out. We can temporarily relocate..." suggested Professor Flitwick's tiny voice.

"No. Nothing can stop it. Not walls, gates, doors or magic. It will follow you until it gets you. It's inescapable."

Hermione felt a stab of fear, then a jolt of surprise as she recognized the last voice to be that of Remus Lupin.

"Don't you try and brighten up the situation any more, Remus." Professor McGonagall said dryly.

Hermione heard rustling of papers and squeaking of chairs, so she sidestepped back to the entrance of the charms classroom.

As the three professors emerged from Flitwick's office, their eyes widened with surprise at the sight of Hermione.

"Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall smiled, and Hermione managed an innocent smile back.

"Hermione!" greeted Lupin warmly as Hermione acted surprised.

"Professor Lupin! What are you doing here, sir?"

Lupin winked at her, "That's top secret information, I'm afraid. What arei you/i doing here?"

Hermione reddened, "Um, I was absent from classes yesterday and I came to see-"

"What you missed and if you could get your homework." finished Lupin with a smile, "I know all of your lines, Miss Granger."

Hermione smiled as McGonagall and Lupin preceded down the hallway and she followed Flitwick into his office.







***





"I followed Flitwick into his office, he told me what I'd missed, I stopped at the library and now I'm here." Hermione sighed.

Harry's eyebrows furrowed, "Okay. Why wasn't Dumbledore there? He's usually head of all of this stuff, especially since the order was first formed."

"I know," Hermione raised an eyebrow. Ever since their fifth year when the order of the phoenix had been originally formed, they were told not to speak of it. But, since it was a ring of wizards and witches who had dealt with Voldemort's clan, Harry, Hermione and Ron had been made honourary members. They had dealt with him multiple times, after all.

The Order of the Phoenix still existed, but it was rarely spoken of. Since the second disappearance of Voldemort and the death of his followers, the ring was merely waiting for it's second chance to destroy him.

"Do you think that this has anything to do with you know who? Do you think that he could have summoned it and made it come to Hogwarts?" Ron looked worriedly at his friends.

Hermione shook her head, "No. No, he couldn't have. It can't be summoned. You heard what the book said. It's not even a form. It's more just...a feeling. A feeling that will make all be gone, all be destroyed. Nothing, not even the most evil man on earth would be able to control it. If he had tried, it would have killed him."

"I think I'm starting to like this Cloud." kidded Harry, but shut up after a Look from Hermione.

"So," she pursed her lips, "What do we do?"