Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Author's Greeting: I'm getting started early on another chapter!
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The day seemed to drag by as Hermione looked forward to midnight. She also felt nervous and kept glancing cautiously at Ron, wondering if he could somehow read her mind.
At last, classes were over and dinner was done.
It was difficult to concentrate on homework that evening and Hermione felt frustrated with the effort. She was getting restless.
Hermione forced herself to calm down; she knew that being restless and hurried was a sure way for error to happen.
Hermione gave another glance at Ron but she needn't have worried. He looked very preoccupied and appeared miles away.
It was a surprise to Hermione when Ron said he was turning in early. The day was going her way! Now that he was out of the way, she just needed to wait for the common room to empty.
Hermione decided to do some light reading until then.
At 12:30 AM, the last Gryffindor left the common room. Hermione gathered most of her things but left a small book on the table, pretending not to notice it. It would give her an excuse to come down later looking for her "forgotten" book.
Hermione went up, waited for five minutes and came back down with Crookshanks. The common room was still empty. She tucked the book into her robes, went to the portrait hole, and climbed out.
The castle was dark but she didn't light her wand; it was too risky.
She picked her way through the castle poking her head around the corners in case she should run into Filch or worse, Ron. She also watched her cat closely. He would know before she would if they were in danger.
Ten minutes later, Hermione had reached the dungeon doors successfully. She let Crookshanks go first, leading the way.
Down the stairs and through the damp, dank hallways. Suddenly, Crookshanks' tail puffed out and he bristled. Hermione heard footsteps.
She silently ran back the way she came until she came to an alcove which she hid in. Her heart was racing. Crookshanks would have found a place to hide somewhere.
The footsteps got closer. There was a shadow on the wall. Hermione closed her eyes.
The shadow passed and she was undetected.
Hermione waited for the steps to die out and then another minute. She breathed.
"Crookshanks!" She whispered loudly. After a moment, the bottlebrush tailed cat came padding up. He looked at her and then on down the hall, expecting her to follow. They continued on.
They came to the tapestry and went through it. More dark hallways and then one familiar one. Crookshanks stopped in front of a patch of wall. They had arrived.
