Chapter 3- Where's Hermione?
Harry woke up to a gloomy sky the next day. He looked around him once he sat up. Ron was still catching snoozes and Neville was likewise. Seamus Finnigan was busy talking with Dean Thomas, who was dressing slowly. He looked to his bedside table and the snake was curled up on the pillow. He sighed with relief. He carefully woke up the snake.
" Sss. Harry Potter. Is it morning yonder?" she asked sleepily. Harry nodded. She sighed.
" I'm hungry, Harry. Is there perchance any food?" Harry thought for a moment.
" Well¡¡ I can go and get some breakfast for you when I'm down in the Great Hall. What do you prefer?" he asked.
The snake said. " I suppose some bacon will do. Bring back some eggs if you could, dear?" Harry nodded.
Then he bent and retrieved a water pitcher from under his bedside table. He reached for a saucer on the table and poured a bit of water into the dish. He carefully set the dish in front of the snake who gratefully lapped it up.
When she was done, he quickly dressed in fresh robes and tried to brush down his messy black hair. Then he went down to the common room and down to the great Hall. He sat down and tried to enjoy the breakfast but his mind kept wandering off to what Sasha had said last night.
He polished off two buttermilk muffins, three slices of bacon, two scrambled eggs, and a goblet of orange juice. Then he wrapped up his leftovers in a napkin. He went up to Gryffindor Tower again. He found Sasha still curled on the pillow. Carefully, Harry opened the napkin and set it on the pillow. She slithered over quickly and ate heartily. When she was done, she hissed a thanks. Harry took a look at his schedule. They had Double Potions first, then Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures. He had not choice. He had to take Sasha with him to Potions. Or else he would have to wait until lunchtime to take Sasha to Hagrid. He couldn't risk the chance that someone would see her.
With a sigh, he pulled out a handkerchief and Sasha slipped inside. He tied it and deposited it in a safe pocket in his bag. " Stay inside until I tell you to come out. " he told her. She nodded and Harry sighed in relief. At least she was obedient. He told himself. Then, he went down to the common room and tried to find Ron. He spotted the red- headed boy sitting in a corner with a pretty girl. He made his way over there and sat down next to Ron.
" Hi," The girl greeted him cheerfully. Harry looked closely at her. She had long auburn curls and hazel eyes that sparkled. She grinned and tossed a lock of hair over her shoulder.
" So you're Harry Potter?"
Harry nodded.
" Ron's told me an awful lot about you," she said smiling.
" Er¡ Harry, this is Aurora, Aurora Belsen. She's an exchange student." Ron introduced.
It was obvious from a glance that Ron was smitten with her. Harry tried to hide a smile. He changed the topic.
" Where's Hermione?" he asked.
At once, he detected a change in the girl's manner. She became a bit cold. He tried to sooth her.
" Hermione's my friend." He explained to Aurora who softened a little.
Harry heaved a sigh. Then he looked down into his bag. Sasha was fast asleep.
" Dunno, Harry. You go look for her. She's probably down in the Great Hall. I already ate. I'll keep Aurora company." Ron said, grinning.
" Sure," Harry waved to Ron and set off for the Great Hall.
He walked into the Great Hall and didn't see Hermione sitting anywhere. He scoped out the Gryffindor table from head to end. Hermione was no where to be found. Harry frowned.
He headed upstairs again and back inside the Gryffindor common room. There, he found Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil sitting together and practicing Divination.
" Where's Hermione?" he asked them.
Lavender shrugged. " I think I saw her bed all made up and everything. She probably got up early to study. You know we have Snape's first day pop quiz." Parvati nodded and the two friends went back to studying.
Harry was confused. Where is she? He asked himself silently.
00It was cutting it close enough to look for Hermione before Potions, of all classes but Harry had no idea where she was.
He decided to go out of the common room and found himself in the Potions corridor minutes later.
" Think, Potter, think. Where can Hermione be?" he muttered to himself. A slow drawling voice spoke up.
" Slow enough, Potter. How about a clue? The library maybe?" Harry turned around. Draco Malfoy was standing in the hallway. Harry groaned inwards. Draco seemed to know Harry was not happy.
" I suppose it is boring enough being you. I'd groan too." He said shortly.
Then he turned on his heel and left. For some strange reason, Harry found the urge to stop Draco from leaving.
" Wait!" The word seemed to burst from his mouth. Draco stopped. He turned around slowly. As if disbelieving, he asked Harry a question.
" Did you just ask me to wait for you, Potter?" Harry nodded mutely. Draco folded his arms.
" Okay, what do you want?" a sneer came onto Draco's face.
" Can- can you help me find Hermione?" Harry found the words strange, spoken to a Malfoy. Draco frowned.
" And what would I want with that Gryffindor?" he asked.
Harry tilted his head a little. Something was wrong. Draco had just called Hermione a Gryffindor. When he was in one of his worse moods, he'd just call Hermione a Mudblood or a Muggleborn. In his opinion, both were worse than Gryffindor. But Draco seemed to be in a very bad mood indeed right now. His pale grey eyes flashed with fire and his manner was arrogant. Well, Malfoy will always be Malfoy. He thought to himself.
" You could help me, and I- I won't bother you so much." Harry said slowly. Draco considered this.
" That doesn't sound fair especially as I'm the one that mostly bothers you," Harry snapped his head up at this surprising declaration.
" What'd you say, Malfoy?" Draco appeared ashamed. His cheeks took on a pink tinge.
" Forget I said it," He muttered.
Harry watched Draco walk into the distance and the bell alerted him to his senses. Of course, it was Double Potions with the Slytherins first! He ran after Draco and arrived just after him.
Snape looked up through his long greasy hair unpleasantly.
" Mr. Malfoy, please be seated. Potter, 5 points from Gryffindor for being late."
Harry partially opened his mouth to protest but closed it in the nick of time. Then, Draco Malfoy surprised him for the second time that day.
" Professor Snape, please, I am sorry for holding up Potter. I dropped some of my things and Potter was kind enough to help me."
The whole dungeon sat silent at this. Moments later, an uproar exploded. Chaos reigned. The Slytherins were irate, to say the least. They were screaming insults at Harry and Draco. Many Slytherins went as far as to get out of their seats to yell at Draco for letting a Gryffindor help him. Through all this, the Gryffindors sat silent. They were as shocked and as startled as can be. And Harry was the most surprised of all. Snape sat immobile at this, a look of mingled horror and surprise upon his face.
" Quiet!" A sharp command rang crisply through the noisy classroom. Silence spread quickly.
A furious McGonagall stood in the doorway.
" Potter, Malfoy, come here. Professor Dumbledore would like to see you. For you, Potter, he had strict instructions to bring Sasha, whoever she is." She said sternly.
A wave of whispered washed over the silent room. Harry himself was most puzzled. Why Malfoy? Did he have something to do with it as well?" Harry looked over at Draco, who returned his look of utter confusion.
" Now come." She beckoned with her hand. Harry stood up, then remembered Sasha. He got his bag and followed a bewildered Draco out of Potions.
The most confusing, bewildering, and puzzling thing of all was that Snape hadn't spoken one word between this conversation. However, if anyone had closely watched his face, they would have seen a miraculous change. First, when Draco announced Harry had helped him, the face would have been completely astonished. Then, it would assume an angry look as McGonagall intervened. Now, the face would turn purple when it realized Harry would not be there for Potions. At last, it would turn red when it didn't know why the Headmaster wanted Draco also. But of course, no one was watching so no one saw the changes.
Harry woke up to a gloomy sky the next day. He looked around him once he sat up. Ron was still catching snoozes and Neville was likewise. Seamus Finnigan was busy talking with Dean Thomas, who was dressing slowly. He looked to his bedside table and the snake was curled up on the pillow. He sighed with relief. He carefully woke up the snake.
" Sss. Harry Potter. Is it morning yonder?" she asked sleepily. Harry nodded. She sighed.
" I'm hungry, Harry. Is there perchance any food?" Harry thought for a moment.
" Well¡¡ I can go and get some breakfast for you when I'm down in the Great Hall. What do you prefer?" he asked.
The snake said. " I suppose some bacon will do. Bring back some eggs if you could, dear?" Harry nodded.
Then he bent and retrieved a water pitcher from under his bedside table. He reached for a saucer on the table and poured a bit of water into the dish. He carefully set the dish in front of the snake who gratefully lapped it up.
When she was done, he quickly dressed in fresh robes and tried to brush down his messy black hair. Then he went down to the common room and down to the great Hall. He sat down and tried to enjoy the breakfast but his mind kept wandering off to what Sasha had said last night.
He polished off two buttermilk muffins, three slices of bacon, two scrambled eggs, and a goblet of orange juice. Then he wrapped up his leftovers in a napkin. He went up to Gryffindor Tower again. He found Sasha still curled on the pillow. Carefully, Harry opened the napkin and set it on the pillow. She slithered over quickly and ate heartily. When she was done, she hissed a thanks. Harry took a look at his schedule. They had Double Potions first, then Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures. He had not choice. He had to take Sasha with him to Potions. Or else he would have to wait until lunchtime to take Sasha to Hagrid. He couldn't risk the chance that someone would see her.
With a sigh, he pulled out a handkerchief and Sasha slipped inside. He tied it and deposited it in a safe pocket in his bag. " Stay inside until I tell you to come out. " he told her. She nodded and Harry sighed in relief. At least she was obedient. He told himself. Then, he went down to the common room and tried to find Ron. He spotted the red- headed boy sitting in a corner with a pretty girl. He made his way over there and sat down next to Ron.
" Hi," The girl greeted him cheerfully. Harry looked closely at her. She had long auburn curls and hazel eyes that sparkled. She grinned and tossed a lock of hair over her shoulder.
" So you're Harry Potter?"
Harry nodded.
" Ron's told me an awful lot about you," she said smiling.
" Er¡ Harry, this is Aurora, Aurora Belsen. She's an exchange student." Ron introduced.
It was obvious from a glance that Ron was smitten with her. Harry tried to hide a smile. He changed the topic.
" Where's Hermione?" he asked.
At once, he detected a change in the girl's manner. She became a bit cold. He tried to sooth her.
" Hermione's my friend." He explained to Aurora who softened a little.
Harry heaved a sigh. Then he looked down into his bag. Sasha was fast asleep.
" Dunno, Harry. You go look for her. She's probably down in the Great Hall. I already ate. I'll keep Aurora company." Ron said, grinning.
" Sure," Harry waved to Ron and set off for the Great Hall.
He walked into the Great Hall and didn't see Hermione sitting anywhere. He scoped out the Gryffindor table from head to end. Hermione was no where to be found. Harry frowned.
He headed upstairs again and back inside the Gryffindor common room. There, he found Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil sitting together and practicing Divination.
" Where's Hermione?" he asked them.
Lavender shrugged. " I think I saw her bed all made up and everything. She probably got up early to study. You know we have Snape's first day pop quiz." Parvati nodded and the two friends went back to studying.
Harry was confused. Where is she? He asked himself silently.
00It was cutting it close enough to look for Hermione before Potions, of all classes but Harry had no idea where she was.
He decided to go out of the common room and found himself in the Potions corridor minutes later.
" Think, Potter, think. Where can Hermione be?" he muttered to himself. A slow drawling voice spoke up.
" Slow enough, Potter. How about a clue? The library maybe?" Harry turned around. Draco Malfoy was standing in the hallway. Harry groaned inwards. Draco seemed to know Harry was not happy.
" I suppose it is boring enough being you. I'd groan too." He said shortly.
Then he turned on his heel and left. For some strange reason, Harry found the urge to stop Draco from leaving.
" Wait!" The word seemed to burst from his mouth. Draco stopped. He turned around slowly. As if disbelieving, he asked Harry a question.
" Did you just ask me to wait for you, Potter?" Harry nodded mutely. Draco folded his arms.
" Okay, what do you want?" a sneer came onto Draco's face.
" Can- can you help me find Hermione?" Harry found the words strange, spoken to a Malfoy. Draco frowned.
" And what would I want with that Gryffindor?" he asked.
Harry tilted his head a little. Something was wrong. Draco had just called Hermione a Gryffindor. When he was in one of his worse moods, he'd just call Hermione a Mudblood or a Muggleborn. In his opinion, both were worse than Gryffindor. But Draco seemed to be in a very bad mood indeed right now. His pale grey eyes flashed with fire and his manner was arrogant. Well, Malfoy will always be Malfoy. He thought to himself.
" You could help me, and I- I won't bother you so much." Harry said slowly. Draco considered this.
" That doesn't sound fair especially as I'm the one that mostly bothers you," Harry snapped his head up at this surprising declaration.
" What'd you say, Malfoy?" Draco appeared ashamed. His cheeks took on a pink tinge.
" Forget I said it," He muttered.
Harry watched Draco walk into the distance and the bell alerted him to his senses. Of course, it was Double Potions with the Slytherins first! He ran after Draco and arrived just after him.
Snape looked up through his long greasy hair unpleasantly.
" Mr. Malfoy, please be seated. Potter, 5 points from Gryffindor for being late."
Harry partially opened his mouth to protest but closed it in the nick of time. Then, Draco Malfoy surprised him for the second time that day.
" Professor Snape, please, I am sorry for holding up Potter. I dropped some of my things and Potter was kind enough to help me."
The whole dungeon sat silent at this. Moments later, an uproar exploded. Chaos reigned. The Slytherins were irate, to say the least. They were screaming insults at Harry and Draco. Many Slytherins went as far as to get out of their seats to yell at Draco for letting a Gryffindor help him. Through all this, the Gryffindors sat silent. They were as shocked and as startled as can be. And Harry was the most surprised of all. Snape sat immobile at this, a look of mingled horror and surprise upon his face.
" Quiet!" A sharp command rang crisply through the noisy classroom. Silence spread quickly.
A furious McGonagall stood in the doorway.
" Potter, Malfoy, come here. Professor Dumbledore would like to see you. For you, Potter, he had strict instructions to bring Sasha, whoever she is." She said sternly.
A wave of whispered washed over the silent room. Harry himself was most puzzled. Why Malfoy? Did he have something to do with it as well?" Harry looked over at Draco, who returned his look of utter confusion.
" Now come." She beckoned with her hand. Harry stood up, then remembered Sasha. He got his bag and followed a bewildered Draco out of Potions.
The most confusing, bewildering, and puzzling thing of all was that Snape hadn't spoken one word between this conversation. However, if anyone had closely watched his face, they would have seen a miraculous change. First, when Draco announced Harry had helped him, the face would have been completely astonished. Then, it would assume an angry look as McGonagall intervened. Now, the face would turn purple when it realized Harry would not be there for Potions. At last, it would turn red when it didn't know why the Headmaster wanted Draco also. But of course, no one was watching so no one saw the changes.