Hey everyone! It took me quite some time to continue but here is the new chapter. Please let me know how you like it, reviews are very welcome!

Chapter 10

-Thou Mind Shalt Burn-

I feel the fear take hold
Afraid this hell I create is my own
Calm my franticness, I can't take it anymore
This used to be my own world, but now I've lost control*

In Flames - Delight and Angers

POV Hermione

"What did she say?", Ron asked immediately as Harry came back from his talk with Professor McGonagall in the Great Hall after breakfast. As the first Hogsmeade trip ever was due for the third grade students on this beautiful sunny and snowy day, Harry couldn't have been unhappier. His relatives didn't sign the necessary leave for him to be allowed to come with Ron and me. So Ron has told him to go to Professor McGonagall in order to get her permission. Of course I thought it a futile undertaking in the first place but kept my mouth shut. After all, I'd love to have him be able to come with us. His horrible family probably doesn't even understand what Hogsmeade is...

But now his face said it all:

"She said no.", Harry muttered downcastly, "As I don't have the permission of neither uncle Vernon nor Aunt Petunia I'm not allowed to go with you."

"I'm really sorry mate.", Ron said with senseably compassion for his best friend.

"Yea, me too.", I chimed in,"We'll buy lots of candys for you, don't worry!". It was a way too obvious attempt on making him feel better. Ron immediately came to my aid:

"And of course some butterbeer and we'll tell you everything we'll be seeing. Soon we'll be already back and in the end it's just a small town. There might not even be so much to see after all."

Harry answered in a useless attempt to reassure us: "Don't worry guys. I got lots of homework anyway and I definitely need to catch up in Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts. So, I guess I'll just go to the library or to our common room and sit down next to the fireplace. Please enjoy yourself and don't worry about me."

Hearing him speak like this made me feel bad for not being able to take him with us and astonished at his attitude towards such an unnecessary situation. Harry was such a brave lad and I always wondered how it had been for him to be raised by his unloving relatives, who didn't even give him the possibility for this trip even though it'd have cost them nothing or in the least would have been bothering them. They just hated him. Needless to say, I'd had my own issues growing up. Being always the outcast because of my intelligence and – well – my over-enthusiasm in class from time to time I could at least in some way relate to what Harry must have felt on the inside. Nevertheless I had parents, who always loved me and helped me whenever they could. What would I be without them? Damn, that whole business was so sad. Harry didn't even have parents to help him out...

Gladly I didn't have time to further deepen those sad sentiments. As everybody was filing out of the Great Hall towards the entrance, where Mr. Filch crossed out the names on a large parchment, Ron and me said goodbye to Harry and followed the others outside. It struck me, how tense and alert the teachers already were. Thus I wondered if there was another reason for it than Sirius Black. Professor Flitwick for example hurried around and hushed the students to orderly proceed, while Professor Jeffson restlessly let his eyes wander around the hallways. They did that even though we were still in the castle. Hogwarts was supposed to be the safest place in England! What measures would they then take once we were outside? Take us by hand?

"'Mione, that's definitely NOT normal", Ron muttered to me through a quenched mouth.

"You're right. Do you think it's all because of Black?"

"I seriously don't know. I mean, obviously he is an Azkaban-escapee but some other former Death Eaters have been free the whole time we went to this school..."

"...like Lucius Malfoy..."

"...yea, or the parents of Crabbe and Goyle. There must be something going on here..."

As Ron finished his sentence, we arrived at the castle's entrance door, where Mr. Filch asked for our names. Slightly annoyed by this ordeal, Ron asked the gruff janitor: "Mr. Filch, you know us now for 2 and something years already!"

Filch retorted: "No exceptions Mr. Weasley. Name?"

While hearing this I couldn't help myself but smile. Especially at Ron's face suddenly became of a reddish colour, pronouncing his hair even further. Somehow he looked so incredibly cute like that... Therefore it was no surprise, that as soon as we were outside and on our way towards the horseless carriages, which would take us to Hogsmeade, Ron bursted out: "How can Filch be so supid? He just did that intentionally to mock us. As often as I've been scolded from him he definitely ought to..."

"Ron! Relax, it's just Mr. Filch.", I tried to calm him down with no immediate success.

"Yea, but it's always, ALWAYS us he picks on. I wonder if he and Snape are living together or something...".

Suddenly, Snape's cold voice appeared from behind. A sudden terror clenching at my heart. I thought to myself: "Oh no! Did Snape really just overhear that?". Immediately afterwards I continued my thoughts in a sense of impending doom: "Of course... how couldn't he...".

Like if he could read what I thought the voice said: "Mr. Weasley. As indulgened as always. If you wouldn't have let your anger take the better of you, you might've noticed that I stood directly outside the castle. Gryffindor loses 5 points for disrespectful behaviour. Furthermore, I await you in my office after the next Defence Against the Dark Arts class for detention."

Ron answered shocked but at least once in his life quietly and controlled enough in order to avert getting into more trouble: "Yes, professor."

With that we could finally go and take a seat on one of the horseless carriages together with Dean and Luna. Once the carriages started moving I spoke up to Ron: "I just hope Harry is alright. Just wondering what he does right now..."

POV Harry

As I left Ron and Hermione I went back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Of course, I had to leave them or they wouldn't have been able to just go. It sucked to be left alone in the castle and especially because there wasn't any real reason for it but the ignorance of my "lovely" family. Well, I wasn't even sure to be able to call them family. After all, isn't your family where your heart lies? The only time I ever felt loved for just who I was was in this very walls by my newly found friends. They are the best friends you could ever dream of and the only ones I have – no, Little Whinging wasn't my home and the Vernons were not my family. Maybe by blood, but that meant nothing to me.

With such grim thoughts I approached the portrait with the Fat Lady and told her the password to enter: "Pris Feniksa!". To my surprise the Lady didn't complain, just moved to the side and I was able to enter the always cozy common room. Naturally, as everyone was on her or his way towards Hogsmeade it was completely empty.

Wait! It wasn't empty! Fred and George, the two persons I expected the least to stay behind in the castle, were broadly smiling at me from the big sofa at the fireplace, while motioning me to come over and join them. A broad fire blazed in the fireside, spreading its warmth through the whole room.

"All alone..."

"...here Harry?", Fred started and George ended.

"Yeah, my relatives didn't sign the paper allowing me to go to Hogsmeade so, ehm, I'll stay here and study.", I answered.

"Mmmh, that's very honourable from you..."

"...to take your studies that serious."

"But wouldn't it be wiser..."

"...to not let this change slip and join the others in Hogsmeade?", the twins answered as nicely set as if they were studying there change of voice. Slightly irritated but also curious I asked them: "How could it be wiser, when there is no other way to that damned village than together with the others? By the way, why are you guys here?"

With a huge grin on their faces they answered in unison: "There are some opportunities to be taken in empty Hogwarts, you know?! Some opportunities to investigate.". Seeing the slight sparkle in their eyes, the one, which indicates that they're up to no good, I decided not to ask about these "opportunities".

Thus the twins continued: "Yes."

"What 'yes'?", I retorted confused.

"Yes, there is another way outside."

"Really? How could it be that Dumbledore doesn't know about it?"

George got from his back a brown old piece of parchment and with a huge grin on his face he declared: "This, dear Harry... is the Marauder's Map..."

Hunched under my invisibility cloak I hurried down the small tunnel leading from the One-Eyed-Witch-Statue on that third floor corridor corner to, hopefully, Honeydukes Sweetshop in Hogsmeade. As I tried to be as silent as possible and as the tunnel wore on and on I thought about the great possibilities this map held. Besides, I was gayly imagining the faces of Ron and Hermione once they noticed my presence. Furthermore I pondered upon the conversation I've had with Fred and George. Especially about two subjects. First of all they warned me that they'd seen Malfoy's father visiting Snape in his dungeon cabinet. They thought it very odd for Lucius Malfoy to wander around the school grounds when the whole school is worried about the protection against Sirius Black. I felt very bad about it.

Secondly they told me that they've seen on the map Hermione and Julia in the Forbidden Forest, staying a whole evening at one certain spot. Hermione never told me about that. It seems odd for her to break any rule at all, but to enter the Forbidden Forest near dusk seemed unlike her at all. And then again, she came along quite well with that Slytherin girl, didn't she? Remembering how I saw them often in the library, sitting next to each other in silent companionship, studying, talking and laughing together, I concluded that maybe it wasn't that odd at all.

This map definitely gave as a decent advantage over the Death Eaters and Voldemort, if they tried to enter the castle. That was, IF the map could be trusted. So far it did a fine job for me as I noticed the tunnel going slightly upwards. Furthermore I started hearing muffled noises. Soon I reached a thick wooden trap door in the ceiling at the end of the tunnel. Fearing to be seen I breathed in and out a last time and pushed against the door.

Indeed I found myself in the cellar of Honeydukes. After I struggled my way out of the crowded shop while trying to stay unseen, I wondered where I could find Ron and Hermione.

A deep sense of satisfaction started to spread inside me. How the both of them would look, as they'll slowly understand that I was able to follow them on my own. Thus I wouldn't be absolutely honest, if I'd hide my feeling of pride, even though without the help of the twins I wouldn't have been able to find my way here. Especially not with all these teachers going crazy about our security.

Still hidden under the invisibility cloak I strolled around the crowded streets and passed several of my classmates. In the middle of students walking around, chatting, snow falling and me trying to avoid running into anyone I tried to search for my two best friends. Unfortunately I couldn't find them. Who I did find though was Malfoy and Julia.

They chatted quite freely with each other. Obviously Malfoy explained every shop in detail to her and she, whether in a massive display of politeness or in serious interest I couldn't tell, listened intently. Just as I was thinking about sneaking upon them and listening to what he told her (and, well, maybe playing him a trick or two), I stopped on the spot as I became aware of Ron and Hermione coming into my view. They came from the opposite direction of the road and walked directly towards Malfoy and the new girl. Both of them looked equally displeased at seeing the guy, even though I didn't fail to notice the slight indecypherable glow in Hermione's eyes as she saw that Julia was indeed on her free will together with Draco in Hogsmeade. As the two groups met, I walked up behind them so I could hear what they said. Though I still stayed beneath the cloak, I drew my wand to be ready for any possible occasion. You'd never know with Malfoy.

In his snarling teasing voice I heard him start the 'conversation': "Hey, Weasel! Of all people in the world it's of course someone from your red-haired-family we meet. How many siblings do you have again?"

"Shut it Malfoy.", Ron answered with a red touch of anger on his face.

"Oh, getting cocky, aren't you?", Malfoy continued and he wanted to say more but then Hermione interrupted him:

"Get out of our way, Malfoy. We're not in any need of trouble."

"Granger, hello. Yea, I couldn't fail to notice that the golden trio shrinked to a golden duet. Or should I say a red duet?", Draco mocked her while looking at Ron's now tomato-red-face, "So, where is the Chosen One?"

At the contempt in his words I'd to literally restrain myself not to give up my cover and hex him now and then. What held me back was Julia. The look on her face told me that she disliked this kind of conversation. Although she kept her face in a mask of indifference I noticed that she searched and found eye contact with Hermione, her eyes voicing an excuse. Hermione apparently understood, as she took Ron, who obviously were just about retorting something nasty to Draco, by her arm and pushing past the other two. Draco tried to make another one of his hurtful comments but interstingly though Julia verbally somehow restrained him and after he presented his arrogant smile one last time, the two Slytherins turned around and continued on their way. Then I'd to stumble out of Hermione's and Ron's pace in order to stay hidden and not being run into. My heart immediately dropped a beat as the interpretation of Mione's face sank into the depths of my brain and realization struck me: She was really sad – Apparently not because of what Malfoy had said. Connecting the hints Fred and George had given me earlier with my own observations, I came to terms that some kind of connection between Hermione and the new girl was going on. Could she really be into girls?

Unable to answer this question to myself, I hurried to follow my two friends. Consciously they strolled to a side street and then to the backside of some houses to a small space unseen by the public. Then I restrained the urge to throw away the cloak and hug them because I became aware of the conversation between the two. Hastily I put away my wand and listened.

"'Mione, you're crying...", Ron stated the obvious.

While brushing a trail of tears on her cheek away she answered: "Ah, it's nothing. I was just so angry."

"Yea, I feel you. Malfoy is a pain in the ass, seriously."

"Ron, I'm actually not feeling sad because of him. Or not directly. Is Julia seriously going out with that prick?"

"Apparently.", Ron retorted, "You ARE really fond of her, aren't you?"

Very shyly and quietly – and I mean I haven't seen Hermione like that in my whole life – she answered that single word: "Yes...".

Seeing her discomfort and Ron's obvious troubles to decide on what to do to comfort her, I decided to come out of my hiding and show them my presence.

"Harry!", both shouted in unison as they saw me removing the cloak. "How did you manage to come here, mate?", Ron asked.

I explained everything to them. That the twins had given me the map and that I was witness to their encounter with Malfoy and Julia. Though Hermione couldn't help herself but to scold me about coming here with all these impending dangers and breaking at least a dozen house rules I noticed her broad smile and relief in having me here with them. I was so happy in that moment. Hogwarts indeed had become my home – Ron and Hermione indeed my best friends.

But as if Voldemort himself wouldn't let us that precious moment of peace and happiness we suddenly started hearing loud screams all over town. People shouted incomprehensible stuff and all our senses went into flight mode. Adrenaline pumped through my veins; my heart was beating incredibly fast. Because it already became dark outside we couldn't see much. Exception given for the lights coming from the shops in town. The other side, facing outwards into snow-covered fields with a forest at its end was laid in darkness.

All of a sudden, Hermione started to shudder heavily: "I... I'm so cold... what's happening?"

A snow-white Ron turned around to the outside of the town and pointed breathlessly to black floating shapes coming near to us. What on earth was happening? Ron's mouth was moving but I couldn't hear any words. Just as I noticed that I started having 'eye-contact' with one of those things... though I was scared to death as I realized that they hadn't eyes, just blank sockets...I thought my head started to explode. Screams were getting louder and louder, I sank to my kness, Ron and Hermione shouting something but I couln't understand what. Just screams...

Then one... scream... – and it all went dark and blank.