*A/N*: I won't distract you for long, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I have the next few chapters already written, but I have limited internet access over the weekend. I will try to keep posting daily but no promises. Also, I did quite a bit of editing on this after I uploaded it to so it might have some typos. My appologies! XOXO R&R!!!!
However, over the next few days, the trio was unable to make any headway with their Hogsmeade stakeout. Dumbledore had not been kidding about their workload being increased. Already prepared for extra work, the golden trio was in no way expecting their expectations to be blown away. Potions, always a nasty two hours with Snape, had turned into torture as he had prohibited bringing textbooks to class. At the end of every class, he would write the name of a potion on the board for the next class. When they came in the next class, they were expected to have memorized the potion to be tested by the end of the class. Charms was now covering using several different spells at once to create a specific reaction in an inanimate object which resulted in long hours of homework trying to make sure the spells were in exact alignment. If they were off by even a single factor, the whole spell would collapse--usually with disastrous results. Even Sirius, who was adapting well to his new position as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, was challenging them. He had cleared out all of the desks from the classroom and had dueling in every class. In addition to the dueling they were required to study the logistics of why certain curses lead to certain results. This meant deconstructing entire spells and writing essays on why one more swish of the wand created more firepower than one less. Even Hermione, who usually held up well under the pressure of class--flourished even--was showing signs of wear. However, none of their other classes could compare to the difficulty that everyone was no facing in their already challenging class of Transfiguration.
"I can't do it! I just can't!" Ron whined as he sat across from Harry in class one day. They had just begun human transformation and were practicing on their partners. The object was to turn Harry into a guinea pig. So far he had only succeeded in covering his friend in vast quantity of silky black and white hair.
"Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall said from across the room, quickly de-furring Harry with the flick of her wand. "You must focus and say the enchantment correctly. You are using too much arm movement. It is all in the wrist."
There was a sudden outburst of applause as Hermione successfully turned Dean Thomas into a long hair guinea with hair that looked as if he had just stepped out of a wind tunnel.
"Very good, Miss Granger!" McGonagall commended. "Ten points to Gryffindor." She turned back to Harry and Ron. "Now, your turn Mr. Potter."
Harry took out his wand and within seven tries had successfully turned Ron into a…hamster. The whole class had burst out in laughter as Harry stood on his chair and bowed deeply; gaining a sour look from Professor McGonagall, though he could swear that he saw the corners of her stern mouth turn up in a smile as she put Ron right.
Thirty minutes later, they were laughing as they walked down the corridor to dinner. "It was close!" Harry defended between laughs.
"No, mate, not even close!" Ron laughed.
"You just need a little work," Hermione encouraged. "Come on, let's go to the library. We can work on it."
Harry shrugged, still trying to wipe tears from his eyes. "Why not? Herbology isn't for another three hours and maybe we can plan out when we can start our mission."
Ron looked slightly awkward. "Actually, I can't, I've got...er…plans."
"Plans?" Both said, curiously.
"Yeah, catch you later." Without further explanation, he turned on his heel and sped in the other direction.
"What was that about?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"No clue."
"Oh well, shall we library?"
"Right-o!" Harry said with false enthusiasm, using it as a excuse to wrap his arm around the slender girls shoulders.
Hermione blushed profusely and turned the corner into the library.
#-#-#-#
Without Ron around, Harry had thought that being trapped up in the library alone with Hermione burried in her books would be boring beyond belief. However, when he wasn't busy trying to be bored with Ron, he actually found himself enjoying the study sessions. Hermione seemed to be right in her element as she taught him not only about the spells themselves, but clarified the why's of how they worked. Harry was constantly flabberghasted at her brilliance. Every time he had been alone with her before, he had spent his time ceaselessly flirting with her to see how many times he could make her blush, which usually caused her to clam up. Now that he was actually paying attention, he couldn"t help but marvel at her brilliance and sharp wit. Conversation seemed to flow easily with her when she was in her comfort zone and the tme flew by.
The following night, while waiting for Ron, the topic of their trips to Hogsmeade resurfaced. After getting thorugh some of the specifics, they grew tired of waiting for Ron and headed back for Gryffindor Tower without him.
"So, Saturday night?" Hermione confirmed.
"Yeah, I think that's best. Only two of us will be able to fit under the cloak though, so it will probably have to Ron and me. If we're caught, it's more likely that we won't get sent to the camps." Harry shuddered at the thought of Hermione being sent to the camps that muggleborn witches and wizards were being rounded up into. A lot of people who went in never came back out. His father had brought home stories of those who had been liberated from the camps and most of them were never the same again.
"I understand." They walked on in silence for a few more moments, both thinking about the turmoil of the outside. "I actually thought you migh say that, so I thought up a plan of how I can go with you guys witout actually going with you." She reached into her pocket and brought out a small Gryffindor lion lapel pin and held it up for Harry to look at.
"What's this?" he asked, taking it and examining it more closely.
"It will record everything you witness so we can review it later, see if there is anything you might have missed." She pulled out a matching pair of gold and scarlet scarves with the Gryffindor lion blazing on the ends. "With these, you will be able to talk to me while you are out. No one but you two will be able to hear my responses but I will be able to hear everything that is going on around you."
Harry took them in his hand and gave Hermione a quick kiss on the cheek before laughing heartily. "You are a bloody brilliant, you know that right?"
Flustered, she simply blushed and, muttering the password to the Fat Lady who was now dozing cozily in the fame of her portrait. Hermione clamored through and made a beeline for the small couch by the fire that they always took over in the evenings after a hard day of lessons.
Ron was already sprawled in one of the high wingback chairs, his arms crossed lazily behind his head. His blue-grey eyes were fixed on the flickering flames as if he wasn't seeing them at all. A small smile was teasing at the corners of his mouth as Hermione came up and sat next to him. "Nice of you to join us in the library, you know, like you promised," Hermione said as she sat down pulling out her books and wasting no time in spreading them out on the coffee table in front of her. The heat in her voice drew Ron from his revere.
"Sorry," he said, still smiling. "I was busy."
"With what?" Harry asked, taking his seat next to Hermione.
"So," Ron said ignoring the question, turning to face his best friends, "have you guys come up with a plan?" Harry could swear he saw the tips of Ron's ears go pink as they poked out from under his long red hair.
Hermione was still giving him an inquisitive look, but pressed on nonetheless. "We did, no thanks to you."
"Listen I'm sorry, okay? I was just—"
"Busy," they finished in unison.
"Well, we decided that it would be you two to," she indicated, "that would do the actual sleuthing. But I devised a couple of things that would help me keep in contact with you both just in case." She handed him the scarf and lapel pin, explaining what each one did.
"That's brilliant, 'Mione!"
"So I've been told, but anyway—"
They were up most of the night talking about all of the details. Hermione enjoyed meticulously planned everything about the entire mission from what they would wear (to which Ron protested loudly saying they would be under the Invisibility cloak the entire time), to where they would go and how long they would stay for. The thrill of adventure shot through Harry at the thought of an adventure. Adrenaline pumped through his veins at the idea of doing something so against the rules on so many levels. He thrived on it. After all he was his father's son. Even Hermione's meticulous nagging planning, which now that he was back with Ron seemed utterly annoying, couldn't dampen his spirits. He was saving his family and that was all that mattered.
Through the night, the trio had pulled out their heavy textbooks, rolls of parchment, and quills at the insistence of Hermione but none of them were paying much attention to the mountains of homework. By three in the morning, everything was set and Harry had to admit he was impressed. Not only did it offer them a way safely spy in everyone, but it left room for future missions—which they were likely to need.
So as Friday slowly melted into Saturday, there seemed to be no doubt in their minds that they would find out exactly what they needed to know.
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