Chapter 3: Horcruxes and Whorecruxes
The door to the study clicked open quietly and Madame Hooch strode into the room, taking a seat in the background so as not to interrupt her colleague mid flow. Hermione registered the entrance of Madame Hooch with a slight nod of her head, noting that she was pouring a large amount of firewhiskey into a glass. Either all her teachers had a drinking problem or this mission required more than the usual amount of danger. Neither idea was particularly welcome.
"However, we are not here to discuss Horcruxes, that is Mr Potter's burden to bear," the Professor continued, as she explained to Fleur about Harry and Dumbledores' most recent mission. "We are here to discus Whorecruxes." Minerva let the statement hang in the air as she took another sip from her glass.
Fleur arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow and addressed Professor McGonagall. "I thought you just said that we were not 'ere to discuss 'orcruxes?" Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to face the French woman.
"Not HORcruxes, WHOREcruxes honestly I thought you were working with Gringotts to improve your 'Eenglish'!" Her comment had a little more sting than she had intended it to have but ignoring this she turned expectantly to Professor McGonagall."Please continue Professor." Fleur bristled at Hermione's comment and forcefully putting her glass on the desk she turned to the younger witch.
"'Ow dare you! You are just a leetle girl and do not even 'ave the manners to discuss this very serious matter without acting like a, 'ow you say, spoiled brat!" Fleur spat.
Before an indignant Hermione could respond, she felt a heavy calloused hand drop on her shoulder. Madam Hooch stood between her and Fleur, keeping both of them in their chairs. "There are bigger things hanging in the balance at this time than your egos. Hermione, I know that Minerva has already asked you to put your petty squabbles aside and work together but I am afraid I must insist you do this at once or choose to leave this study immediately and never look back." Feeling scolded for the first time in her life, Hermione turned a deep shade of red, muttered an apology to the room in general and began to study her hands in her lap. Madame Hooch sighed "Don't do it for me Granger, and don't do it for the greater good either, Merlin knows there is more than one way to win a Quidditch game. Do it for yourself!" Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly and Madame Hooch backed off but as she did she noticed that Fleur wore a contemptuous smile on her face, "Miss Delacour, being the more seasoned witch I would have thought you of all people would be more of a role model. You would do well to remember that the only person in this room who is replaceable on this mission is yourself, not Granger."
Professor McGonagall shot to her feet. "Have a biscuit, Rolanda!" she snapped, thrusting the tin of shortbread at Madame Hooch, who took both the tin and the not-so-subtle hint back to her chair across the room with a rather sour look on her face.
Hermione looked at Professor McGonagall. "Why?"
Professor McGonagall regained her composure quickly and looked back at Hermione "What was that, Granger?"
Hermione took a deep breath, cleared her throat and spoke a little louder. "Why am I irreplaceable on this mission?"
Hesitantly, Professor McGonagall shot a look at Madame Hooch before sighing deeply and gulping down the last of her firewhiskey in resignation, "You're a Whorecrux, Hermione," she answered tartly
Hermione's jaw hung open in bafflement. "I'm a...what?"
