Loveletter 9
Hermione woke up in the middle of the night. Everyone was sound asleep and there were sounds of snoring around the room. She quietly arose from her sleeping bag and crept through sleeping people to the door in the Great Hall. Opening the door ever so slightly trying not to make the door creak she crept out of the room and headed towards her destination, the library.
She was making this trek to the library to get into the restricted section in the library where she would find the Advanced Structure of Hogwarts book, a book that would arouse suspicion if she asked any of her other teachers.
Reaching the library she quickly made her way into the restricted section. There was a odd sort of tingling, like power was emanating from the books that were there. She looked through the many books until she came across a black book with mystic silver engravings on it. "I've got it!" she whispered and reached for the book.
She grasped the book and tried to pull it out, but it was wedged tight with the other book. Hermione tugged harder and pulled it out, with a number of other books. The books fell and opened and from one of them came a screaming sound. "Damn it!" she swore.
Hermione ran from the restricted section not bothering to put the books back and hid behind a chair. She heard footsteps approaching the library. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape ran in the room. "Who's here?!" Snape demanded.
Hermione was frozen solid. They made their way into the restricted section. That was Hermione's chance and she bounded out as quietly as she could and made her way back into the Great Hall.
She made it and gently closed the door. Then she ran back into her sleeping bag and shoved the book under it. It would make sleeping uncomfortable but if they caught her…
* * * * *
"Hermione! I'm shocked!" Ron said with mock horror. "Sneaking around in school after lights out!"
"Oh come off it Ron," Hermione said. Her face grew more stern. "And hush up, if any of the prefects hear…"
"I wonder who's behind all this?" Harry mused idly kicking a rock.
"It's You-know-who!" Ron said in a hushed. "Who else could it be?"
Harry shrugged. It probably was Voldemort but why just after he was revived would he try something. He told the two that. "Harry has a point right?" Ron asked a little on the nervous side
"Well I don't know about You-know-who, but someone did something to Hogwarts…I just have to finish this book," she gestured to her bag where the stolen book.
Hermione looked uncomfortable. "Nothing important," she said blushing.
"Oh come on Hermione, it won't hurt," Harry said equally curious.
"Fine! But don't laugh," Hermione said opening a card.
It was card
that said To my dearest Hermione….
Ron read the card and then cracked up. "Hermione! I never knew!"
Hermione blush went deeper. "Well It's not like I like him,"
Ron passed the card to Harry and he proceeded to read. "Crabbe?" he exclaimed. "Of all people Crabbe?!"
Ron and Harry looked at each other then burst out laughing. "What's so funny Weasel?" a voice drawled.
It was Malfoy followed by Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione looked alarmed and tried to stuff the card back into her book bag but it fell to the ground.
"Well well well, Granger," Malfoy said picking up the card.
Crabbe looked shocked. He coughed. "Draco…" he started.
"What Crabbe?" Malfoy said turning over to him.
"Um…look its your dad!" He shouted.
"What?" Malfoy turned around giving time for Hermione to snatch it.
Malfoy turned around. "I didn't see my father Crabbe? Are you sure,"
Crabbe shrugged. "It must have been someone else,"
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Well let's get away from these three; we wouldn't want anyone getting ideas,"
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle walked away. Ron made a face at their retreating backs. "Good riddance!" Ron huffed.
"You said it," Harry agreed.
* * * * *
And now you may ask, where has the love letter gone? It's back in Neville's hands again. He found it at lunch, when it fell out of Crabbe's pocket. It reminded him of Hermione. "I wonder what's going on," he thought. "She's been acting weird lately."
In fact Hermione had been taking all her time in carefully reading the book. It was a challenging book involving advanced magic that wasn't taught until the last year. It was also enchanting. She'd always wanted to know the inside story of Hogwarts.
* * * * *
Ron spent a lot of time in the infirmary, checking up on Parvati who was still recuperating. She hadn't awoke since the time she was brought there and Madam Pomfrey had the faintest idea why.
"I've tried everything I could dear," she said a little put out. "She's not pulling out of it, so I think that she has a curse on her, but what is it…" she trailed off.
Ron kneeled down next to the bed where Parvati was. "I shouldn't have let you get into all of this Parvati," he said solemnly.
"It's not your fault Ron," a voice behind him said softly.
"Harry…"
"You didn't know, and you did the best you could, and all you can do now is wait until Madam Pomfrey finds a cure for her,"
"What if she doesn't?"
There was a silence. Harry hated when Ron was feeling like this. Especially now that they never had any fun anymore. Hermione was spending all her time reading that blasted book and while he had other people to talk to, it wasn't the same.
"I have to go and finish Professor Flitwick's essay," Harry said dismissively. "I'll see you in the common room?"
There was no answer from Ron. Harry turned and walked out of the room.
* * * * *
"Four strands interwoven," the lady said looking at a apparition of four strands braided together.
The apparition was a golden transparent dome and a braid made of different colors, a green one, a red one, a pink one, and a light blue one.
The lady picked at the pink strands and the braid was broken. The other ones were separated. "Take one out, and they unravel, unable to come together again…"
The lady waved her hand and the apparition disappeared. "I've already broken the bond, now all I have to do now is wait!" she said triumphantly.
The lady turned around and stared into a face. It was whiter than a skull, with wide scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake's with slits for nostrils. "What brings you here my master," she said bowing in respect.
"It's been two months…I haven't seen any progress," Voldemort said.
Eris smiled. "I do not control how long it will take
for a fate to reveal itself…I only direct its path."
Voldemort wasn't impressed. "Perhaps you should
make an attempt at it…" He said. "If it does not happen I will be forced to
seek out another person to do my bidding, is that clear?"
Eris bowed again. "Yes master."
The face faded into darkness. Eris paced around the room, wringing her hands in nervousness. "I have to try," she said gravely.
Her very existence depended on it…
* * * * *
"Today is an important lesson so you all must listen!" Professor McGonagall said pacing around. "We are learning advanced magic, maybe too advanced for you fifth years but I will try to teach."
She faced the class. "This is a dangerous thing you are about learn, so I don't want to see any fooling around, or for sure you will be expelled!" she said sternly.
Curious looks were on the faces of the students. They were outside at the borders of Hogwarts, a place most of them had never been to. There was an eerie tingle in the air. Professor McGonagal bent down and started to draw a diagram on the ground.
"What is she doing?" Harry asked confused leaning over to get a better view.
Professor McGonagall finished her drawing and stood up. It was a circle and in it was the Gryffindor Lion next to a shield. It was rather crude but she left it at that.
"You are summoning the magic of Hogwarts," she said. "One must draw the circle and then chant the words to activate it…" she paused.
"Do I have a volunteer?"
Harry feeling an urge to do it raised his hand. Him and Hermione were the only ones with their hands raised.
"Harry, come over to the edge of the circle," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry walked over to the circle. As he neared it he felt more tense and tense and wondered why he put his hand up in the first place. "Good luck Harry!" Dean whispered as he walked past.
Harry stopped at the edge of the circle. "Close your eyes and repeat after me," Professor McGonagall said.
He did so. She started to chant.
I summon the power of the lion
I summon its magic
To fill me with its never ending
source
Open the circle
Unlock the door
Of the wonders of the Gryffindor
He repeated it. The circle started to glow green. There were gasps through out the class. "Now walk in slowly," she said.
Harry took a step inside and was overwhelmed. He was surging with magic. "Go," Professor Gryffindor.
Seamus started to cheer him on. "Harry! Harry! Harry!"
Soon more people joined in and then the whole class was cheering. "Harry! Harry! Harry!"
Harry took a huge step in the circle. He was now surrounded in a green cylinder. "This is a protection spell, that will protect you from almost any spells," Professor McGonagall said. "Incase of another incident, you all come here and summon the magic, is that clear?"
The class nodded solemnly. "Now Harry," she called into the circle. "We are going to close it,"
Harry nodded, he was feeling rather woozy. "All you say is Seal the circle, Close the door of the magic of Gryffindor," McGonagall instructed.
Harry said those words and the light disappeared and became a drawing in the dirt, he stepped out holding a hand to his head.
"Class is dismissed, you have a recess of about an hour and a half," Professor McGonagall said. "Do not do anything that will put your class in danger…"
* * * * *
"It was awesome!" Ron exclaimed. "There was so much magic in that one spot it was really cool right Harry?"
Harry nodded. "It felt like a dream,"
"A mighty fine experience that is," Hagrid agreed.
"Yeah but dangerous," Hermione said. "To think what if something went wrong and something bad happened?"
"Like what?" Ron asked shrugging.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a brick Ron, anything could have happened." she said. "It's not exactly fool-proof."
"It went alright," Harry said quickly feeling a fight coming on.
"Yeah it did, and when something happens again like what happened a week ago, no one will end up like…Parvati," Ron fumed.
Hermione sighed. "I know, but what's with the desperate measures?"
"There have been sightings of
Hogwarts by Muggles, a lot" Hagrid said. "It seems that the protection
magic of Hogwarts is wearing off."
Hermione stood up and paced around.
"But why? And who? And when?"
"We don't know, but it started when the attacks of the suits of armor happened." Hagrid said petting Fang.
There was a knock at his door and the door opened. "Parvati?" Ron said standing up.
"No, I'm Padma," the person said.
"So what brings you here?" Hagrid asked warmly.
"I just thought you guys wanted to know that Parvati woke up five minutes ago," she said.
"What?!" All three of them exclaimed.
Padma nodded. The three were dumbstruck looking at each other. "Well aren't you going to go see her?"
"Yeah, lets go you guys," Ron said getting up.
"See you later Hagrid," Harry said waving as they walked out of the door.
* * * * *
"Where am I?"
Parvati looked around in the dark room. This was not Hogwarts. It was spooky and cool in a weird sort of way. She was laying down on a soft bed draped with blood red curtains. The room was dim almost dark with a single candle on the side of her bed giving a little light. "Hello!" she called out into the shadows.
"Ah, so you are awake," a voice said from somewhere.
Parvati turned around and saw a boy about her age. He had blond hair but it was so blond it appeared white and his skin was the same color making his deep violet eyes stand out. He was dressed in black robes like Parvati but his was of a different material, from what Parvati couldn't guess. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Ares," he said extending a hand. "You are?"
"Parvati Patil," she replied shaking his hand.
His hands were unusually hot, it was like Parvati had stuck her hand in a fire. She let go off of his hand. "Where is this place?" Parvati said.
"It is the house of fate." He replied.
Parvati scratched her head giving him a weird look. "Er…what?" she asked.
She was finding this boy to be really weird and she had a feeling in her gut that she shouldn't trust him. There was a silence that filled the room as they looked into each others eyes. Parvati had to get out of this place and she had to get out fast. "Well I'll be going now," she said walking to the door.
Ares's hand darted out and grabbed her arm. "I am not allowed to let you go," he said sternly.
Parvati struggled to wrench herself away from him but it was no use; his grip was too strong. "What? You must be mad!" she shouted. "Let me go!"
Ares's eyes narrowed. "I cannot allow it," he said. "Eris would not be pleased,"
"Who?"
"She is my mother," he replied.
"What does she want with me?" Parvati asked.
"She wants nothing from you, but your appearance," he said. "She has already acquired it and is now taking your place at Hogwarts,"
Parvati's jaw dropped. "What? Why?"
"To destroy Hogwarts." He said simply.
Parvati was really confused now. "Don't you go to Hogwarts?"
"No…" he said. "I learn from Eris."
"You mom?"
He nodded. "Oh, okay, can I go please?" she asked in her sweetest voice.
He shook his head and Parvati sighed. She hoped that someone would coming along and save her from what seemed like a boring time.