Recap******I ripped open the fold, and out fell... a key. *******

Solving Problems

Dedicated to:My beta-reader, Devita10. World's fastest beta.


My father's vault key, with a brightly sparkling head. I turned it over in my hand, taking in its staggering weight. Although it was so small, it had to weight 2 or 3 pounds. On the side, in a miniscule engraving, was a number. 623. I could only assume this was a vault number, since there was nothing else it could have been. I decided then and there to see what was in my father's vault. But getting to London would be a problem. That was over a day's flight by broomstick, so even if I could sneak out of school I couldn't get there.

And then it struck me. Floo powder. It was safe, legal, and damned fast. But I didn't have any. I never had use for it while I was at school. And I doubted if any of my friends did. I would have to find some, and get to London. And quickly.

***

The next day I awoke startled. It was a few moments before I was able to figured out where I was. Then everything came rushing back to me. The sorting, the new teacher, the pensieve, and... the key. I still had no idea where I was going to get floo powder. The only person I knew that had any was Dumbledore. He kept some on his mantel. And Snape probably had some too, but I doubted he would help me. Wait a minute! I mentally smacked myself. Hogsmeade would be sure to have some. It was only a 30 minute walk if I used the tunnel under the one-eyed-witch. And I could go today. It was, mercifully, Saturday. This left me the entire day to get to Hogsmeade.

"Ron!" I hissed. He was sleeping late, and I had to get out of bed and shake him till he woke up.

"Wha? Where's the cannon?" he said groggily.

"First off, never say that again! Secondly, I have to go get something. I'll be back by lunch. Tell Hermione."

"Right," yawned Ron. "Tell Hermione never to ask for a cannon, and go get something."

"No!" I half hissed, half whispered. "Forget the cannon. Tell Hermione I'll be back at lunch."

"Muhumm..." moaned Ron, once again drifting off to sleep.

I looked at my alarm clock. 7:30 in the morning. I could get to Hogsmeade by 8:30, just when the shops started opening. Then I could easily get back by 10:00 or 10:30. The Great Hall would still be serving breakfast. Nobody would even miss me.

I crept over to my cabinet, careful not to step on the squeaky board by my slippers. I reached in and pulled out my invisibility cloak and my money bag. Looking inside I found a few galleons and sickles. I had more than enough. I threw the cloak around my shoulder, and thought how great it would be if Moody had given me back my map. I'd figure out how to get it.
I crept down the dormitory steps and into the common room. Hermione, of course, was already up, doing--what else?--reading. Would she ever learn? Scratch that, would she ever not learn? I opened the portrait just a crack, careful to make sure Hermione didn't see. If she saw the portrait open of its own accord, she would know it was me. And then I would have to tell her everything, and she would tell me to go tell Dumbeldore. But I wanted to be the one to figure this out. And on my own for once.

I managed my feat with little trouble. I skirted students in the corridors and watched out for cats. I swear, that cloak doesn't work on animals. I found the witch without much trouble, and tapped her hump. "Dissendium," I whispered. I hoisted myself up, and I was in. Sliding down the ramp, I lit my wand. I was off. Just one step closer to finding out who I was.

AN: No, this does not count as a real chapter, at least not in my mind. It's just one of those stupid transitional things you have to throw in so people understand. Get it? Good. I figured out my dry sense of humor has been trying to snake its way into this story. I think I'm just gonna let it go, and make Ron or Rowbans have my dry humor. What do you think? Ron is more sarcastic/sardonic in my mind so I'm not sure how it would fit. I might go with Rowbans. Two points and a detection to the first person to figure out where I got that name. :)

~Hermonie, known in real life as Jo~