Chapter Two
Around one in the afternoon, Hermione sat at her kitchen table munching on chips and salsa while her and her mother discussed Hermione's upcoming school year. Ann was telling her daughter of the fun times her and her father had while they were in their final year of school when Pig smashed into their kitchen window.
"That clumsy bird, I swear…" Hermione mumbled as she stood up to rescue the poor bird from his blocked path. She opened the letter and began to read Ginny's rushed script.
Hermione,
YES! We will be at your house around noon tomorrow to floo you over. Please tell me you still have the floo network connected to your fireplace? I cannot wait to see you! Mum got the 'okay' from Dumbledore to let Harry come early too. He is arriving tomorrow as well so mum is planning a huge feast for dinner. Not as grand as the one at Hogwarts but enough to feed all of us, so pack your stomach! (Is that something Muggles say?). See you tomorrow!
Love,
Ginny
Hermione laughed when she read Ginny's letter, her friend always found ways to humor her at the most dullest of times.
"I should go respond. I'll be in my room if you need me." Hermione allowed Pig to hop up on her shoulder as she gave her mother a peck on the cheek and walked up the stairs to her room.
She grabbed a pen and a piece of parchment and wrote a short message back claiming that her floo network was still connected and she wasn't all so sure that "Pack your stomach" is a phrase commonly used by muggles; however she was sure it has been said before.
Hermione sent Pig away with the letter after giving him another treat. She looked out her window for a brief moment. She saw a mother and her child walk past her neighbor's house. The child was pointing at something in the sky and the mother was ushering him along with a smile.
Hermione stood from her window seat and walked to her closet where she dug out her thick and heavy trunk. She began sorting through her clothes and placed them in the trunk along with other necessities, such as her shampoo and the little amount of make up to which she owned.
As she picked up another article of clothing she heard a tapping on her window.
"That was fast…" She got up and took a few steps to her window to find that Pig was not the owl that was waiting for her. She crumpled her eyebrows in a confused expression as she opened the window to let in the small black owl. It had a typical brown beak but its eyes had a yellow hue to them making them almost glow an eerie gold.
She took the letter from his leg and the owl flew away without waiting for a reply message.
(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)
Hermione,
I know it has been a while since I have replied to your last letter, other than sending that snitch that you had asked for to give Harry for his birthday. I apologize for such a haste response but I felt it necessary that you must know; you and that Malfoy fellow at your school are in serious danger. I cannot say how or why but I ask that you heed with caution every step and/or flick of the wand. I also recommend you tell Malfoy about this situation. Please remain safe Hermione.
Yours truly,
Victor K.
Hermione read over the letter twice more before sitting in her wooden chair at her study.
'Blimey…Malfoy? That can't be true. He is nothing but an arrogant-'
"Hermione, come down stairs for a moment and collect your belongings from the living room. You may want to bring your sweater to school with you. The one Ronald's mother knitted; and your books as well." Hermione's mother called from the bottom of their
staircase.
"Be right there mum." She placed the letter in her trunk along with some parchment and a quill that she will need to compose her letter to Malfoy.