Ripple Effect

Chapter 32

"Oh God we are so going to get expelled!" Hermione moaned, her eyes peeking out at her 'compadres' from between her hands. "We are most definitely going to get expelled."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the quintessential Ravenclaw: Hermione Granger." Cho rolled her eyes as they made it up to the third floor. "While the rest of us wonder why an entire floor was declared off limits to students and risk death at the hands of a potentially deadly creature, this rare specimen of Raven is more concerned about getting kicked out of the Institution known as Hogwarts."

"A truly remarkable specimen indeed." Terry grinned back as he whipped out his wand to cast a quick spell at the door. In response, the door glowed green bar a small red spot over the handle. "Revelare et seras. Part of a suite of spells my big bro taught me over the last year."

"You… Terry, that was silent casting!" Hermione whispered in awe. "How did you-?"

"It's a pretty low-level spell so it wasn't too difficult to learn to cast it without a word." The boy replied a tad bashfully. "Garry ensured that I had it down pat before my letter came in."

"Terry." Cho cut in impatiently. "I'd love to hear more about how to cast spells silently but I would also like to get out of here before Filch catches us and tries to make fillets out of my eyeballs."

Hermione recoiled at the mental imagery. "Now that's just disgusting."

"His words." The Asian witch replied with a shrug as the door clicked open. "Now, to see if Monsieur Weasely wasn't just blowing hot air..."

"A Cerberus?!" Harry whispered in shock, eyes wide in equal parts fear, shock and awe. "That's what's on the Third Floor? A bloody Cerberus?"

"Well I'll be damned." Sally murmured as she absentmindedly jabbed her wand at the piece of cloth she was to practice on. "Ronald's girly screams weren't just for show."

"Quiet!" Hermione hissed just before Professor McGonagall walked past, observing the work of the table beside theirs. In the ensuing silence, the three concentrated on their assignment for the day though it was obvious that neither Harry nor Sally seemed particularly bothered by the task and, the instant the Transfiguration Professor was back at her seat, the whispered conversation continued.

"Yes, Harry. A Cerberus." Hermione frowned as she dropped her wand and slapped her hands to her face to alleviate the shaking. "I swear, I gained a few gray hairs when the door swung open and we were faced with it's musky breath."

Sally gaped. "It was right in front of you?!" She reached out to hold on to her friend's arm. "How the blazes did you get out?"

"We got lucky." Hermione admitted. "Two of the three Cerberus heads were asleep when we poked our heads in and you can be damned sure we didn't push our luck. And even then we just barely made it out." She shuddered as the unwanted memory of wild barking, bloodshot eyes and flying claws bubbled to the surface of her mind. "At least now I know why I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor; not enough courage to slay the beast."

Harry's curiosity was in no way close to being sated but he was not oblivious to the watery smile on his brunette friend's face as she delivered that joke nor was he blind to the way her hands shook.

His curiosity could wait.

I'm alive!

This was rushed but just consider it my New Year's Gift to Y'all.

The chapter will be polished later.

Happy new year everyone.