Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.
M rating for sexual content anticipated to start in year 4.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
** Sorry for my hiatus. Got distracted by quarantine and sort staffing at work. I got big plans ahead. So, stick with me! Any and all feedback is appreciated! **
The Doting Rival
Chapter 14
The next day, Hermione met Adelyn and Ron by the fireplace. She was fighting back tears and clutching a piece of parchment.
"Hermione! What's wrong?" Adelyn asked with worry in her voice. Hermione didn't cry very often.
"Hagrid lost his case," she replied, lips trembling. "Buckbeak is to be executed." She held out the letter.
Adelyn grabbed it in shock. "What?" She quickly unfolded the letter and read the contents aloud. "We lost. Execution date to be set. I won't forget all the help you gave us." She slumped her shoulders down in defeat.
"Buckbeak isn't dangerous!" Ron said.
"Malfoy's dad frightened the Committee into it." Hermione wiped a stray tear from her eye. "There'll be an appeal. There always is. Though, I don't see any hope. . ."
"Yeah, there is." Ron stepped forward. "And you won't do it alone, Hermione. I'll help."
"Oh, Ron!" Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely. He looked at Adelyn in a startled manner as he awkwardly patted Hermione's head."
"Ron. I'm really sorry about Scabbers," Hermione choked out between sobs.
"Oh, well, he was quite old." He gently pulled her away from him. "And maybe Mum and Dad might get me an owl now."
Though the trio was finally back together, they had never been more distracted. The Easter holiday was around the corner and castle security was more intense than ever. Ron took charge in researching Buckbeak's appeal. He took most opportunities to research in the library. Hermione seemed to always be disappearing. Even at unlikely of times.
Ron and Adelyn had barely made it in time to Charms. Ron looked behind him as they headed towards their desks. "Where's Hermione gone?"
Adelyn looked too. She was right behind them on the staircase, but didn't enter the classroom with them. "That's weird. Maybe she went to the bathroom?"
But Hermione didn't show up for the entire lesson. Nor at lunch either. Ron was getting slightly worried.
"This isn't like her." He scanned the Great Hall one last time and they headed toward the Astronomy Tower.
"No, it's not. I'll swing by the Common Room to see if she's in the dormitory. Save us seats in Divination?"
"Sure."
As Adelyn was continuing her ascent of the staircase, she coincidentally met Draco entering from the fourth floor.
"Adelyn." He greeted her with a soft smile.
"Hey, Draco." Adelyn smiled in return.
"Heading to Divination as well, I presume?" He matched her stride.
"Yes. I need to make a detour to the common room first."
"I'll join you. I was hoping to see you, anyway."
Adelyn stopped and looked in his direction as they waited on the next flight of stairs to rotate back in their direction. "You were?"
"Yea. . . I heard the news of Buckbeak."
"Oh." Adelyn looked down at her hands gloomily.
"I'm sorry for the outcome. But I just came from the library."
Adelyn watched as he sifted through his sleek, leather bag. She couldn't recall Draco every bragging about being from a wealthy family, but he didn't have to. It was evident in his mannerisms and attire. He always looked so sleek and styled himself in name brands. She was noticing it more lately.
"Here." Draco withdrew a pair of books and handed them to Adelyn. "I think these may be helpful with the appeal."
She read the titles as they continued toward the sixth floor. Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality and The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology. "Thank you, Draco," she smiled. He continued to surprise her. And she liked it. "This is very helpful."
"Good." He returned her smile, gently catching her arm as they transitioned to the next moving staircase. She was a bit distracted looking at the books and he was nervous she may miss a step.
Adelyn's breath caught with the touch. She glanced at his hand wrapped around her elbow. His fingers were slender, yet firm. A silver snake ring peeked around his pointer finger. It was a casual touch, but not something she was used to from Draco. He was always bold and confident, but never in a physical manner with her. She found that she didn't mind it.
He only released her once the exited the staircase. They were now nearing the bend to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"It's best if we part here." Adelyn came to a halt.
"Oh?"
"Security has been intense lately, particularly around the common room. It would be easier if I wasn't with someone from a different house. - no offense!"
"Ah. None taken. I'll see you in Divination, then."
"Thanks again, Draco." Her gently eyes met his briefly before she turned the bend. He longed after her, but proceeded in the opposite direction toward the Astronomy tower.
"Flibbertigibbit." Adelyn quickly gave the password to the Fat Lady and scurried into the Common Room. She didn't have to search far before she found Hermione fast asleep at the table under the window, books spewed open on the entire surface. She gently shook her arm. "Hermione?"
"Wh - what?" Hermione jumped with a start. "Is it time to go?" She looked around the room groggily.
"Yes. Divination will start in about five minutes. You missed Charms, though. And lunch."
"What? Oh, no!" Hermione pressed her hand against her forehead. "I don't believe it! I need to see Professor Flitwick." She hurriedly gathered up the various books she had out.
"Best wait until after class," Adelyn reminded her.
"Oh, right. Right." She followed after Adelyn out the portrait hole.
Together, they climbed the ladder into the Divination classroom and joined Ron at a table. Glowing crystal balls were centered on each table.
"Good day, children!" Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance. "I decided to introduce the crystal ball a bit earlier than originally planned. The fates informed me that you examination in June will concern the Orb."
Hermione scoffed. "Honestly. 'The fates informed her' . . . What an amazing prediction. Who sets the exam? She does!" She wasn't being cautious of keeping her voice down.
"We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind," Professor Trelawney continued. "If we are lucky, perhaps some of you may See before the end of class."
As the lesson continued, the trio peered into their crystal ball. "Anyone see anything?" Adelyn asked.
"Just looks cloudy," Ron answered.
"This is a waste of time," Hermione groaned.
"Would anyone like assistance interpreting the shadows within their Orb?" Professor Trelawney made her way to their table.
"Nah. It's obvious what this means," Ron pipped up. "Loads of fog tonight." He and Adelyn broke out in laughter.
"Really, now," Trelawney reprimanded. "You're disrupting the clairvoyant vibrations!"
Adelyn averted her gaze, looking anywhere but at the professor. She caught Draco's eye a few tables away. He too was stifling a chuckle. This made her want to laugh more.
Trelawney leaned forward, peering into their crystal ball. Oh, no. Adelyn knew what was coming.
"There's something here." She lowered her face further. "Something moving. . ." She gasped, catching the remaining attention of the rest of the class. "My dear. . . It is here. Plainer than ever before. Stalking toward you, the Grim -"
"Oh, for GOODNESS' sake!" Hermione exclaimed. "Not that again!"
Professor Trelawny stood up straight to address Hermione. "I am sorry to say, from the moment you have arrived in my class, it has been apparent you do not have the requirements for the noble are of Divination. I don't recall ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane."
The class was stunned to silence.
"Fine!" Hermione suddenly shot up, cramming her book into her overflowing bag. "Fine! I give up! I'm leaving." She stormed out of the class.
The students whispered amongst themselves. After a few moments, they begun to settle down. Lavender spoke up, "Oooooo, Professor. I've just remembered! You saw her leaving. . . at the beginning of the school year. You said 'Around Easter, one of our members will leave us forever!' You said it ages ago!"
"Yes, my dear. I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes that one might have mistaken the Signs. . ."
Adelyn glanced back into her crystal ball. She saw nothing but swirling mist. Had she truly seen the Grim again? The last thing Adelyn needed was yet another near-fatal accident this close to the final Quidditch match.
The Easter holiday was not exactly relaxing. Even after dropping a class, Hermione was busier than anyone. Ron submerged himself in research for the appeal, adding a large stack of books to the two Draco had found. Quidditch practice was increased to daily practice. And Oliver took any spare time of Adelyn's to discuss tactics.
The Gryffindor-Slytherin match would take place the first Saturday following Easter. Slytherin was leading the tournament by two hundred points. This meant, as Oliver continuously reminded Adelyn, that they needed to win the match by more than that to win the Cup. Much of that burden fell on Adelyn, as catching the Snitch was worth one hundred and fifty points.
"So, you must catch it ONLY if we're MORE than fifty points up." Oliver cornered Adelyn in the Common Room. "Only if we're more than FIFTY up, Adelyn, or we win the match, but lose the Cup. You've got that, don't you? Only if -"
"I KNOW, OLIVER!" Adelyn yelled.
Never in anyone's memory had a match approached with such tension. Not only was Adelyn stressed by Oliver's constant pestering. She couldn't walk to class without Slytherins trying to sabotage her. Oliver gave instructions that she be escorted everywhere she went in case one tried to start a scuffle with her. He would not risk her being injured before the final match.
The night before the match, Adelyn slept poorly. She kept having various nightmares about it. First it was Neville substituting her as Seeker. Then, it was the Slytherin team flying against them on dragons. After waking with a start, she headed down to the Common Room for a glass of water.
She sat at the window trying to calm herself looking at the still and quite grounds. There was not even wind disturbing the trees of the Forbidden Forest. Suddenly, Adelyn saw some movement along the edge of the forest. She squinted to make out that it was Crookshanks! How did she get outside at this time of night?
Crookshanks came to a halt. Then it emerged – a gigantic, shaggy black dog sauntered across the silvery lawn. Crookshanks trotted next to it. If Crookshanks could see it too, surely it could not be an omen of Adelyn's death.
She shuffled to the hearth of the fireplace and grabbed a pair of binoculars. As she returned to the window, she lost sight of the pair. Where had they gone? Had she imagined it? Adelyn took this as a sign to return to bed. She needed to get some kind of rest before morning.