| Chapter One |
"..oh my Merlin." Hermione gasped, straightening the prophet out on the table in the common room. "That poor boy.."
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"A boy from Ravenclaw was found dead in an old Surry housing commission block of flats.." she read the article. "..it says three ministry officials found him but were stuck inside the room with him for two days because the room was magically bound with some ancient curse that's as old as Hogwarts. He was missing half of his throat, too.. someone had set up shack there and they're guessing it's some sort of Vampire. No other harm was inflicted except a few bruises on his arms and his fingernails – oh gross.."
"Sounds like Greyback to me." Ron joined the conversation, full of candy.. "Ripping kids throats out, right?"
"Yeah.." Harry agreed quietly. "What else does it say?"
"Uh.." she scanned it again. "That's about it. His parents are out of town and are trying to be contacted. Lord, imagine coming home to find out your only child has been mutilated by a monster." She cringed. "Unbearable."
"You reckon it's Greyback getting a feast of Voldemort?" Harry asked. "Because I thought Greyback only kills on Voldemort's orders these days."
"What makes you think that?" Hermione asked curiously. "Have you been spying again?"
"Only once.. the order were just going over things that have happened over the past years, trying to find some sort of pattern. Looks like Greyback's intercepted the pattern his own way." Harry replied glumly.
"Hmm.." Hermione nodded in thought. "Well, school starts on Monday. We should go into Hogsmeade tomorrow and get things we might need." She looked at Ron sympathetically. "Like clothes.."
"Get off my back, will ya?" the red head grunted, slapping his belly. "Man, I'm stuffed. But I'm still hungry.."
"You can't be still hungry Ron." Harry said flatly. "You look like you're about to burst."
"Are you saying I'm fat?" Ron raised his eyebrows.
"No." Harry frowned.
"Good. Because I'd have to pull your hair." He retorted, getting up to find more food.
"Honestly." Hermione chuckled. "That boy is just troublesome."
"Yeah," Harry was still laughing. "But he's a worth a laugh or two."
"Harry," she sighed. "You need to tell us when you listen in on the Order meetings. We want to know too."
"I know.. I keep forgetting unless it's something important." He said softly. "I told Dumbledore my scar was hurting over the holidays and still is.."
"Before us?" she gaped.
"No, this is just… I don't know, it's a different kind of pain. It's not like all the other headaches and nightmares. This ones more.. I don't know, placid I guess."
She huffed in defeat, "Right. But tell us these things once in a while, yeah?"
"Yeah, sorry." Harry nodded.
"Alright," she smiled, "See you two bright and early."
"It's Saturday!" Ron gwaffed through cookies and milk fudge. "Noon!"
"Hogsmeade Ronald – be up or I'll drag you down by your ears." She threatened, then smiled sweetly. "Night."
While Harry laughed, Ron was still staring at her, "How does she always do that?"
"Get your scared?" Harry teased.
"Exactly!" Ron sighed. "She's the devil."
"She is, but a good one." Harry nodded.
Ron yawned and bit of food fell from his mouth. Both he and Harry exchanged a glance, looked at the crumbs and shrugged. Deciding that it was getting pretty late, and as usual, they were the only ones still awake, they picked up their bags and went up to the boys dormitory. They knew Hermione was going to ride them all day about everything and anything she learnt over the summer – they needed their sleep.
