Chapter 21: Strange Things Pick Up

Hermione left the castle the first chance that she got. True, she liked the idea of being around her books and work, but she wanted to leave and not have to worry about being around people that just didn't understand her reasons for what she had been doing for over a month. She also thought about her task and the fact that the Clow Cards hadn't appeared for some time. She feared that something was going to happen and she wouldn't be able to stop it.

"Are you alright?" Kero asked her.

"Ya, I'm fine," Hermione answered, but she wasn't. The Clow Cards were on her mind.

"Are you worried about the Clow Cards?" Kero asked.

"Ya," Hermione answered. "I can't understand why their not showing up."

Kero grew silent which was a good thing because several Hufflepuff's passed by her, not even looking at her. Hermione looked at them and that's when she heard what they were talking about.

"I'm telling you that I saw a buffalo," said the Hufflepuff, a boy that looked like he was in his third year. "And I've seen it in pictures. I just didn't think that one was by Hagrid's hut."

"Chris, I was with you and it wasn't an animal, but an eyeball."

Chris gave him a look that Hermione knew was surprise.

"Come on, you two," said the third. "I saw a feather, not an eyeball or a buffalo."

Both of them looked at him and then moved on.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked Kero.

"I don't know, but I think we should check it out," Kero advised.

Hermione nodded, and when Kero was safely hidden in her pocket, she went to Hagrid's hut to investigate what had happened. She wondered, as she walked, if a Clow Card was finally appearing after several days of silence and also she hoped that Dumbledore wasn't watching her at this moment.

"Can you sense if anyone is watching us?" Hermione asked Kero.

"Yes and no one is watching us," Kero informed her.

Hermione felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was safe from Dumbledore.

Hermione walked around Hagrid's hut and the pumpkin patch that had Buckbeak in it. She felt bad for the Hippogrift since he was being accused of attacking Vincent Crabbe. Deep down she wished that the animal had really attacked him then she wouldn't have to look at him.

"Something happened here," Kero told her.

"Don't I know, those Hufflepuffs were just talking-."

"I would of told you this even if they hadn't mention it," Kero cut in.

"Do you think it's a Clow Card."

Kero nodded and that's when Hermione noticed her mother standing there. Hermione stared at her and then she launched at Hermione.

"HERMIONE!" Kero yelled as she fell to the ground. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"

Hermione groaned her answer.

"Hermione, are you-."

"I'm fine," Hermione told him. "But I saw my mum."

Kero looked at her.

"I didn't see your mother," he told her. "I saw a candy cane."

Hermione stared at him. They, like the others, had seen different things. She now knew that this was the work of a Clow card and she had to capture it.

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"So something else has happened," Professor McGonagall said when Ron Weasley mentioned what the three Hufflepuffs had said.

Ron nodded.

"So what are we going to do?" Harry asked.

Professor McGonagall looked at him.

"The Headmaster will hear about this," she told them. "Thanks for finding out."

Both boys nodded and left. The Professor headed to Snape's office.

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"So I'm needed," Snape said when McGonagall told her what Ron had told her.

"Yes," McGonagall said. "Find out what's going on so that Albus can take care of it."

Snape nodded and as soon as she was gone he went looking for Hermione.

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To Excel Go Boom: I thought what happened there was really funny.