So, let's go for the next round! A little later this time, but sometimes university catches up^^

Also, thanks for reviewing, i was glad to see the story-turn was mostly well taken by you lovely lots :)
Soo, let me know what you think on the next one as well once you've read it. Enjoy!


Chapter 7

„Dark Town Sally's half insane and thinks she hides it well.
Smiling kindly while she sleeps inside her homemade Hell.
And she goes down, down, down.
Would you bring some Adderalls?
And she goes down like so many lost souls."

Amoree Lovell, Dark Town sally


September was over quickly, the wind became stronger and the temperature fell, a few showers of rain came down once in a while and the leaves started to colour. All in all, it was a so average change from summer to autumn, it was almost boring.

One thing though, that made most of the students of the school genuinely excited, was the first Quidditch match of the year which was about to approach – Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin. While most of the students looked forward to the event with barely hidden anticipation, a lot of the Ravenclaws then again had become moody, especially at the day of the match.

„Our team sucks so much." Hailey groaned, leaning back on her chair and almost drinking her whole cup of coffee in one big gulp. She had been complaining about this before, but now, Hermione guessed, the tension had become too strong for any other subject to be important.

„Shouldn't you be cheering on your team regardless?"

„Yes, of course I will. Everyone will, probably a lot of the students from the other houses, too, just because we want to see Slytherin loose for a change. But it's almost impossible. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor really have their problems against Slytherin, while Ravenclaw will probably lose in the first 10 minutes. Our peers are just not made for physical interaction, are they? It's frustrating how incompetent most of them are…"

„Why aren't you playing if you think you can do better?" Hermione asked with a frown. It didn't sound like Hailey to complain about something she could take action in. Now, the blonde shifted a little, obviously uncomfortable.

„Well, actually I never said-„

It was when Dee started to break out into laughter.

„It isn't like she didn't try, alright. She just messed up so badly, they kindly asked her to never go for the qualifications again."

„Oh come on, at least I tried."

„You got stuck on one of the keeper Goals! And you tried to become a beater!"

„Oh shut up. You actually weren't that bad in our flying lessons, you could have tried to get in!"

„Yes, but I have as much interest in playing Quidditch as I have in food poisoning. So thanks, but no thanks."

At some point they had to leave the Hall, together with a bunch of other students to get to the Quidditch-pitch on time, although their squabble went on the whole time, as so often. Hermione had learnt to blind it out most of the time by now.

They sat down between some other Ravenclaws, their blue-bronze-scarfs making them easy to recognise. Hermione looked around, albeit some of the Ravenclaws having a little sour expression, the atmosphere was genuinely relaxed when the ranks filled and the commentator started to announce the players. Also Dee and Hailey had finally finished their argument and focussed on the information the commentator had started to give them. He seemed to be a pretty laid back guy from Hufflepuff, maybe in his fifth year. He had his legs crossed and put on the table in front of him, introducing the players one after another. Hermione didn't know most of the players from Ravenclaw, but when the second beater came along, she listened up.

„…McLaggen!"

Vincent was flying a larger round than the rest of his teammates, waving at the students and sporting a smug grin. Oh god, like father, like son.

After him, the seeker flew in, a girl Hermione didn't know, but received by far the most of the applause from the Ravenclaws, without making a spectacle of herself. She reminded Hermione a little of Harry, trying to make herself as rare as possible and flew high enough not to be seen clearly.

After that, the Slytherin-Team was introduced. Hermione had to admit, they made quite the figure. Especially when the Chasers were announced.

„Gordon! Virtanen! Black!"

They didn't emerge alone, they shot out in the formation of an arrow, with Bellatrix in the front, only recognisable through her curly black mane which she had tamed into a bun for the game.

When the referee gave the signal for the start, the difference in the team-play was soon rather obvious. The seekers actually where on an equal level, it seemed, holding back from the game and minding their own business, waiting for the snitch to appear. The beaters of the Ravenclaw Team, at least, to quote Hailey, tried, but they were pretty much at a loss in sight of the skillful Slytherin beaters.

The most obvious difference though would be the chasers. While the Ravenclaw-Trio had it's problems to even get hold on the Quaffle once in a while, the Slytherin-Team had a, Hermione had to admit, magnificent performance. They flew like a unity, moving around each other and tossing the Quaffle like they had a collective mind, not individual ones. The commentator had problems keeping up with his speech.

„Black! Gordon! Black! Virtanen! Virtanen… and she made it!" He announced their fifth goal in 10 minutes.

There was applause and cheering, when the chasers flew around the Quidditch-pitch, Bellatrix in the front. Even if she was the captain and the leader of the group, whoever had the best chances at getting the hit would do it, it seemed, since she had only scored twice. There seemingly was no need for Bellatrix to show of, the outcome was what mattered. Impressive.

„Amazing, right?" Hailey said, leaning close to her ear so the brunette could understand what her roommate would say. „All of them have offers from different Quidditch-Teams to go pro, but Virtanen is probably the only one taking up on that. Sadly, she'll go back to Finnland after finishing Hogwarts, so she won't play for the english teams."

The game went on, and, at some point, it was even painful to watch. Ravenclaw really didn't stand a chance. They had played for 20 minutes and it was 100:0 right now. Even if at least the beaters from Ravenclaw seemed to get more ground. Once they even managed to let one of the chasers from Slytherin, Gordon, drop the Quaffle in her hands for a Ravenclaw chaser to catch, he aimed for the Slytherin goal but their keeper had no problem dodging it, throwing it right back at the Slytherin chasers. Even if the beaters seemed to at least be useful, it still wasn't anywhere near enough. The only hope for Ravenclaw was for their seeker to get the snitch before the Furies, what seemed an appropriate name to Hermione right now, could overcome the snitch-bonus.

Just as Hermione had this thought, both the seekers went down with rapid speed. The snitch had been seen. They quickly came closer and it was a head-to-head-run for both of them, they flew to fast for Hermione to actually see their faces. The snitch was only meters away, both removing one hand from their broom to-

SMACK.

The girl from Ravenclaw was effectively thrown of her broom by a Bludger, by one of the Slytherin-beaters, about 10 meters above the ground. None of the beaters of Ravenclaw was anywhere nearby, they still tried to get to the Chasers, who by now didn't seem to have a problem with dodging their attempts. It was when it clicked for Hermione and she couldn't suppress a small chuckle. Bellatrix and the other two had effectively tricked the beaters of Ravenclaw. They gave them enough room for improvement so that they wouldn't harass their seeker, but they never were an actual threat. Amazing.

In the end, the count was 250:0 for Slytherin, a depressing outcome, so to say. The Ravenclaw-seeker was at least conscious, even if her right shoulder looked suspiciously out of place, she smashed her left fist on the ground, frustrated, as the referee rushed to her, bringing her to the hospital wing.

In the end, it was an uneven, but fascinating game, especially to Hermione, who was more interested in the tactical gameplay than the general outcome, even if she truly felt sorry for the Ravenclaws. The whole house Slytherin was cheering while they ran to the team to carry them away on their shoulders.

Hailey sighed. „Well, let's forget about this quickly, can we? Something you two want to do with the rest of the day?"

It was probably one of the last warm and sunny days of the year, so Hermione, Hailey and Dee, among a lot of other students, decided to stroll along the school grounds a little longer. They could still hear the screams from the Slytherins near the Quidditch-pitch, but it slowly faded. Luckily, since Hailey had developed a muscle-twitch around her left eye, whenever the cheering of the Slytherins reached them.

„Why does Ravenclaw even have a Quidditch-Team? You chickens would do better with, I don't know, a debating-society or something."

Their heads snapped around, Dee's twin brother Talos came up to them, hands in his pockets, grinning widely. His sister only snorted, while Hailey didn't need long to shoot back.

„Well, at least we have something to be good at. What is your special talent again? Right, that would be nothing."

„Uuh, low blow, Ashmore. Anyway, how you guys doing? Mind if I join you?"

They didn't mind, so they slowly continued to walk along the big lake. Hermione carefully eyed Talos who was walking in front of her, next to Hailey. She found Talos to be a nice and funny guy and would like to get along with him, if possible. He never paid her much attention, so Hermione sometimes wondered if he didn't like her. On the other side, she couldn't remember doing anything to him to make herself unlikable. And, also, he mostly was all over Hailey, biting and bickering in a cute way, so it wasn't difficult to figure out why he would talk seldomly to her.

Hermione tried not to be offended, she shouldn't try to make lots friends in the first place. But if would be nice if they could at least be acquaintances, she thought.

They walked together for about an hour, Hermione even managed to make some smalltalk with Talos, who seemed to be an interesting and smart, yet still shy guy. Hermione found it an interesting personality gap, how he could be so open with Hailey and had problems to open up to others.

But she herself was, somehow, the same. She also needed a lot of time to open up to someone. Right know, though, even if she would consider Hailey and Dee someone to trust, and she had the strong feeling she could, she actually couldn't. In her situation, it was critical to keep everything she would like to share to herself, ironically. It was incredible sad thought, which came back occasionally, whenever she wanted to tell a story to the others, but had to alter it to not accidentally let the wrong information loose. She likewise had to be careful how to react to stories they would tell her.

When Dee, for example, told them about her boyfriend she had out of Hogwarts - it seemed he had finished school two years ago - not only her, but also Hailey and Talos didn't say much when Dee raved about „Phil", as she called him. They actually were pointedly quiet.

One reason for that, she knew. As Hailey had told Hermione at one point, both Talos and her thought that Phil was a „giant wanker", to quote her, always with his head in the clouds and encouraging Dee to do dangerous things.

Another reason that they didn't participate much in a romance-discussion, as Hermione assumed, was the relationship between Talos and Hailey, which both were still to scared to speak openly about. Really, she felt like looking at herself and Ron, in some really strange way.

Ron.

Harry.

Ginny, Luna, Neville.

Nothing about missing her friends had changed. There had been enough nights where she checked her silencing charm on the bed over, when her feelings became to much for her to handle. She cursed, sometimes even screamed, but regardless how devastated she felt, what wouldn't come trough anymore were tears. She assumed she had her fair share of crying for the time being and just felt tired of being sad. It was easier to handle a sore throat from voicing your feelings than crying over them.

Despite she felt at night, it wasn't all bad, she was totally aware of that.

What probably helped, was, that actually, for the first time, Hermione felt something like a real routine in her new life. Even if she had trouble sleeping and comprehending her situation in the night, it wasn't like she was totally unhappy right now. Every morning, Dee and Hailey, who so lovely and without questioning integrated her into their daily life, made her feel home and welcome again, dismissing her dark thoughts from the night before.

The classes in school were interesting, though she would not act as eagerly and in a know-it-all manner as she used to be, taking praise rather modest – which, she had to admit, was difficult, all the more if it resulted from beating Bellatrix.

And yes, in some strange way, even the dark witch was part of her constant challenging of each other in class became one of her top reasons for studying, despite her usual eagerness, bringing herself to outstanding performances.

Another, way more secret and private thing, were Bellatrix' weekly time in the quire room. The brunette had argued strongly with herself the next week, but in the end couldn't stop herself from visiting again. She always made it top priority to never get noticed by Bellatrix. Sometimes, the witch played an hour, sometimes a bit longer, depends on what she was playing, apparently. If a piece was particularly difficult and she needed to practice, she didn't stop until she was happy with the result. Occasionally she even cursed, making Hermione chuckle.

Sometimes, Hermione would only listen. In other situations, she would take out a book and read a little while listening to something that felt like her own private concert. Silently, she referred to it as „Her secret in a secret."

She knew she violently invaded Bellatrix' private time and that the Slytherin would never approve of someone - all the more Hermione of all people - to know. But still, she felt drawn to the play like a moth to the light. It felt like a beacon of light, a sanctuary she could find a short time of peace in, making reality wander and alter. Maybe it was the same for Bellatrix, Hermione wondered.

Hermione's first impression, that Bellatrix favorite pieces were kind of melancholic, didn't change after the second or third visit. Hermione felt like the witch would loudly voice all the feelings Hermione wasn't allowed to share with anyone, letting them out into the night, taking some of them off her own shoulders. She always felt better after listening, her best night sleep generally after it.

Out of this moments, whenever Hermione had to interact with Bellatrix directly, it was far from pleasant.

Cranes adored her. No surprise here, she was a brilliant duellist, she probably could match most of the teachers. Still, it irked Hermione not just a little. Every time he pointed out a great performance of hers, she felt the dark witches gaze on her, often with a quirked eyebrow and a smug grin, an unspoken, but evident challenge. Luckily, Hermione was able to do her payback in the lesson after, being still way better with arithmancy than Bellatrix, who, in return, seemed to be annoyed to no end by it. It felt a little like a game none of the both wanted to let the other gain even the slightest bit of ground.

More than once she had encountered Bellatrix in the library, deep in thoughts about the literature she was considering. And more than once, their was a book about arithmancy within it.

It felt completely strange to her, that Bellatrix was part of her day to day life, challenging her to become better and, so much Hermione gathered, in return also felt challenged by the Now-Ravenclaw. Hermione even respected Bellatrix for her astonishing talent and knowledge. Also, sometimes, Bellatrix had a look in her eyes, when Hermione solved a particularly difficult problem in arithmancy or gathered a quick solution in transfiguration, that let Hermione think she may also not just thought of her as a repulsing pile of dirt like her later self, even if the Slytherin would probably never admit it.

It was the most surreal thing to her. Considering Bellatrix Black, despite her arrogant and annoying personality, by now sometimes even a positive aspect of her life. And well, the music was something else, not even Hermione understood. Still, it reinforced her opinion on Bellatrix heavily, that, at some point in her life, had passion about something good and beautiful, making herself partly good, as much as she wants to hide it.

Another part of her routine was her work for the Waterhouse-mystery. Even after about two weeks of research, she didn't seem to come any closer to the problem. Even if she occasionally felt as she would waste her time, it still felt good to at least do something related to what she was supposed to do. And it also was kind of a relaxing work, even if she could mostly understand where Madame Pince were coming from, considering those documents. The most exciting thing she found so far besides the picture of Flitwick was a brief mentioning of Lorcan McLaird, the Minister of Magic from 1923 to 1925. It seemed like he would, instead of talking to someone, rather use his wand to give smoke signs as a way of communication.

Need to tell that Luna later. She'd like that guy.

But still, this stuff was mostly nonsense. Madame Pince said, that, the librarian before her, had given the whole stuff a real quick go-through, nothing near as organised as Hermione did right now, but still. If there had been anything severe, she would have probably found it, what let Hermione's courage down once more. Still, she mused, she would be finished with those boxes around November, so after that she could search for the next project, if this should fail. She sat down on her usual place in the restricted section of the library and got the next box of papers and notes from a shelf in the other room.

As soon as she got it down, she felt a small tingle in her spine, which let Hermione briefly shake her head. For a moment, she was lost there – what was she doing again? She shook her head again. Right, research. She shook her head a last time and sat down, not forgetting to put on her charmed gloves again. That love letter wasn't something she needed a repeated performance of, thank you very much.

Again, nothing out of the ordinary. Bill for The Three Broomsticks from 1876 - they drank 6 Butterbeer, how very exciting - , janitor-notes, janitor-notes - really, how were they organised -, Notebook of some second year, mostly scribbles of brooms and snitches… what?

While reaching out for the next pile of paper, what appeared to be a small, particularly old notebook of no more than 30 pages, she hesitated. She felt the same tingle as when she touched the box first, even if she was wearing her gloves. She literally felt how something tried to break through her resistance. Frowning, she put her hand back, not daring to touch it. What had happened earlier, again? Right, she was confused for a moment, this thing probably the reason for it. The magic even working through the box it had touched. Careful now.

She decided to reinforce and strengthen the protection charm on the gloves before trying to touch it again. A little frightened, but mostly excited, she created a plan. She rather trusted her now-carefully charmed gloves, but, for any incident to occur, she wrote a small notice for herself, on what she was doing right now, so she could check on her progress later of something should happen. So, now she was prepared for almost anything.

I hope that at least.

She shortly debated to call for McGonagall or Dumbledore, but this would probably lead to a long time of discussing and preparing. No. Whatever it was, it was something that needed utmost protection, that needed to be guarded. And she wanted to know, why. Now. Curiosity winning over, her heart was racing like crazy, but despite all that she slowly reached out, touching the small book with her fingertip, she closed her eyes.

The tingle in her spine was almost unbearable, extending to the Indexfinger of her left hand that was touching the book. She could feel the fighting of the magic against her gloves almost like a weak burning. It held on for a few seconds, then it was over. Her gloves had worked, she didn't feel anything besides that, still knew what she was looking for. With hear heart beating in her throat, trembling fingers and non-bearable anticipation she opened the notebook on the first side.

Hail leve, whoever found this book,
Whatever you now think,
take a peculiar look.

You found what others search and desire,
The key to a secret and a gest,
But more than one virtue you must require,
to be one of the glorious, one of the best.

It's a path you may go alone,
may as a pair of two or even mo,
The place that's searched is for is no throne,
It for all of worth, but not a fleak or for show.

So take your friend, take your enemy,
mastow take your spouse,
to find the chamber of mine,
the witch of witches, Agnes Waterhouse.

If you are willing, first look at the prime, go to the place where it begins,
Feel the ilhayl, misery and pyne Go through time to look at the woodness and sins That were never truly mine.

Find the place, go joyluf and loud,
in a childlike manner,
so at least blutter or shout „Ostenta temporis preteritum pueritae!"

Agnes. Agnes Waterhouse! I found it!

Hermione flipped the page, but the rest of the book was empty. Hermione read the short poem over and over again, until she had to admit she didn't unterstand all too much. It made sense that the texts of Agnes would be in a medieval kind of english, but as she was no expert, she didn't understand some of the words. And with that she wanted to double-check on the other words. She shortly debated to make an all-nighter to start her research right now. it was just so tempting. But no, too many things were going against it. She already started to get tired and she wanted to be in her best form for this. Also, it would be difficult to explain to Hailey and Dee why she pulled an all nighter with all her homework done ages ago.

And, maybe the most important reason, even if she was only able to admit this reluctantly, Bellatrix probably already was at the quire-room. This had become as much a ritual for Hermione as it has for Bellatrix. Even if Hermione was slightly embarrassed and even a little mortified to admit that one of her biggest pleasures in Hogwarts was related to her later nemesis.

While walking out of the restricted section, she still looked at the book in awe. This was an amazing discovery! So glad I didn't give up earlier.

It was when Hermione heard footsteps coming in her direction.

„Ms. Gabor, did you find anything?" Madame Pince was hurrying towards her, apparently she had already spotted the book.

Shit.

She frowned. „What is this book? I don't recognise it. And I know all books here. Did you find it among the old stuff? Give it to me."

She lunged out for the book, and before Hermione could protest or say anything, she had clawed her hand around the small notebook.

Madame Pince stopped midmotion. She completely froze until she began to shook slightly. Then again, she stopped, Hermione was watching her in horror.

„Uhm, Madame Pince?"

„Yes dear, what is it?"

„Are you okay?"

„Why wouldn't I? I just have to close the library now, so please, hurry up to your dorm." With that, she made a shoo-gesture towards Hermione and strolled away.

Mouth slightly agape, Hermione was rather puzzled. Amazing, she thought. Like that, Agnes had protected her notebook and it still worked perfectly. Maybe, in the last 400 years, a lot of students or even teachers had found the notebook and came close to the riddle of Waterhouse. But nobody had, without a reason, a protection charm on them as Hermione had. It was sheer coincidence it didn't work on Hermione, though. It made Hermione feel enthusiastic. It showed her she maybe was on the right track here. She carefully put the book into her enchanted bag, promising to herself never be careless around it.

Hermione also discovered that the notebook probably didn't contain any evil or dark magic, what soothed her.
Madame Pince was the proof that this book was not meant to harm but only wanted it's secrets protected. Hermione didn't plan to test it on the librarian, but well, now she knew.

Besides everything else, one thing confused Hermione, though.

Why would she charm her Notebook to be so difficult to find? About what Hailey told her, she wanted her House to be official. If she had planned to keep her House a secret for so long or she never came to the point to actually try to make it official, Hermione didn't know. Maybe Hailey's information were off. Even if Waterhouse should've had high expectations about the students in her house, it didn't make much sense to Hermione to charm it sow throughly.

However, 400 years of a secret were starting to end. It excited Hermione a lot more than she had expected it to do. But she decided to leave it for later, maybe think about it at night when Dee and Hailey were sleeping. Because she didn't really want to miss more of Bellatrix music. So she collected her stuff, threw a last gaze over her shoulder and was off.


Sooo... what do you think about my english medieval poetry-skills? I hope I got my point across :D
Oh, one funfact I forgot last time: Agnes Waterhouse is a real character from medieval england. I wouldn't encourage you to look her up, since one or two surprises maybe would be futile in that case (even if I, after the general biography, obviously went on with my something completely different)
Well, I really hope you enjoyed it :) Till next week, guys! (The next chapter will a) be longer again and b) in Bellatrix POV for a change ;)

SH4DOW44: Yep...but they wouldn't admit it :D

JesseB: I've never been so proud about a pun in my whole life :D

HitsujiNoShinigam: Thanks a bunch for your lovely words! I'd actually love to know where you think I'll take it :) (even more after this chapter :D)

fnawabi: It's a pleasure! :)

MB: There you go! I hope I didn't disappoint :)

L: I see, the Ratties and Cupcakes are strong here :D

Darkshadow-lord: I can see why you would think of the Chamber of Secrets, but I plan to make its completely different, actually :) -no spoiler here, since it was in the 6th and 7th Chapter- technically everyone could enter, if you follow Hailey, you don't need to be a parselmouth or something. But well, we'll see that later, won't we? :)

Bellatrix-Forgive: Wow, you flatter me! :) I hope I didn't disappoint in this chapter? But I'd guess the next two chapter will be even more to your liking ;)

Boomerang: Well, I just happen to like the nocturnes (not a specialist, not in the slightest) and thought it appropriate for the scenario I imagined :) For why Bellatrix plays the piano, I'll do a little more explaining in the future. Hope it still was to your liking :)

So, see ya all!

-Hoshino out