Disclaimer: Although I would like to take credit for the amazing work of
J.K. Rowling, my conscience and legal status require me to say that none of
these characters are mine.
Also, much thanks to those who reviewed. Keep up with it. More fun to come, especially with our two lovebirds.
Chapter 5: Pages
The Gryffindor Common Room steadily grew dimmer, as the night dragged on. Soon the lone figure hunched in a chair was surrounded by inky blackness. As darkness enveloped Ron Weasley, his face got closer and closer to his book, now the only link to his two best friends. Ever since their first year at Hogwarts, Ron had depended on these two cohorts, these new Marauders, and to have all links severed but through the use of a book was very frustrating for him.
"Ron?" a tiny voice piped from behind him. It was Neville, dressed in an extremely colorful pair of pajamas. Ron grinned. It looked like a bomb had gone off in the paint factory, and Neville's pajamas were at ground zero. "Yeah, Neville, what's going on?"
"Well, I just thought, you know since no one else is here, you might like to go and play some chess or something?" Neville's eyes looked pleadingly toward Ron. Ron reflected on how lucky he was to have friends like Harry and Hermione. Neville, it seemed, had only his toad to keep him company. And even the toad tried to escape. How frustrating, to be the son of great parents, but to constantly be remembered as the klutz, as the jester of the year. Ron paused. The book lay open on the table, but the letters seemed to be slowing, as if the book itself were tired of being read. Well, thought Ron, its not like they can change what they've done. I can pick it up anytime I want.
That's the great thing about books, Ron thought as he headed off to a brighter section of the common room, chessboard in hand. No matter how many times you can lose your place, when you get back to it, the place hasn't changed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
However, in the book, such easy thoughts were not coming to the two young wizards Harry and Hermione. Both were frazzled, both were confused, and neither looked like they were going to get any answers to the questions they had.
"Well," said Harry finally, "if no one's going to tell us how to get out, I guess we're stuck here for a while. We might as well look the part," he added, looking down at his jeans, sweater and sneakers. Hermione nodded. "Let's try to find our way to the laundry."
As they were walking down towards the dungeons things began to catch Harry's eye. Or rather, the lack of things. There were suit of armor, but none of them shouted as they walked by. There were no statues of famous witches and wizards about, no moving portraits of Robert the Ruffled or Madam Brumhilda, the first owner of the Three Broomsticks. Even Peeves was gone, although Harry couldn't decide whether this was a good or bad thing.
Supposing that the laundry would be in the dungeons, probably around the former House Elf quarters, the two young wizards begin a steady descent downwards. "So much has changed, I can't believe we've only been here a few hours," said Hermione. "I'm still not exactly sure where here is," Harry replied. Hermione abruptly stopped.
"What?" asked Harry. "Oh things have been moving so fast, I almost forgot that Ron wasn't here." Harry smiled at her. "Really, you haven't noticed how quiet these last few hours have been. How no one has been called a 'slimy git'," Harry said, every word dripping with sarcasm. Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he would say the same of you. Ever since we were both made prefects, he's been nearly unbearable." They both laughed. Of course they were joking, but Ron definitely had become a little more mature, especially since Harry and Hermione were made prefects at the beginning of their 5th year. But Hermione was right. Things were definitely not the same without Ron there. They felt somehow diminished in strength, as if they were a body, and an arm had just been severed. And Harry certainly wondered if Hermione missed Ron for different reasons than he did. Well, after that fight at the Yule Ball, it was almost obvious how they felt about each other. Love-hate relationships, and all that.
"Hermione, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Hermione stopped. No, this couldn't be. He wasn't about to ask THE question. Hermione braced herself. "Wh-What is it?" Harry blushed scarlet, and the words spilled out of him in a rush. Urm. yes. well. about the night of the Yule Ball, the night you and Ron had that row. What was the outcome of that?" To his vast surprise, Hermione began giggling. "Oh, well, that was an important night, wasn't it? Well, Harry, if you must go sticking your nose into that old business, we both decided that we weren't right for each other that night." Harry's eyes shot up. "Well, of course we'd still be friends, but we just didn't fit right. After I told him to ask me first the next time we had a Ball, he crossed over to me, and hugged me. As he was about to kiss me, we both stopped. We looked at each other, and I know what I saw in his eyes. We were friends, nothing more, and we were pushing ourselves to be something that we weren't." "Really?" said Harry, barely containing the excitement in his voice. "Of course! Good Lord Harry, you see how we are always fighting!" "Well. I thought. it was, you know." "No, I don't know," Hermione said, looking suddenly curious.
"Foreplay," Harry said, turning the color of an embarrassed fire engine. Hermione couldn't help herself. She collapsed onto the stairs, laughing until she could hardly breathe. Gasping for air, she snorted, which sent Harry over the edge as well. They both sat on the stair, laughing until their sides hurt. "Honestly Harry, foreplay? If that was foreplay, someone probably would have been murdered if we ever made out!!" Hermione gasped through her giggles. After the two had regained control of the situation (though both could not help the wide grins plastered on their faces) Hermione looked over at Harry. "Why did you ask?" "Oh, no reason, just something on my mind." "Oh really, Harry, if it was bothering you, why didn't you ask back then? We would have told how that fight ended, one way or another. Harry, we are your friends. We wouldn't lie to you. Why would think we would?" Harry could come up with no response for this. So Hermione did it for him, and punched him, hard, on the arm. "Ouch!" "Well, if that's your response to an honest question, I don't think I'll be asking you much," Harry grinned through his wince.
The corridors of the dungeon were very much as Harry and Hermione remembered, except for the noticeable disappearance of Professor Snape. Finally, under the Main Hall, Harry and Hermione found the laundry. It was situated where the House Elves used to cook the food before sending it up. Harry found a pair of tights, breeches, thick leather boots, a doublet, and a large vest. Finally he picked a large, squashy hat with a feather from a table nearby and draped it over his head. Hermione dressed simply, in a gown, a long shirt, vest, and bonnet that pulled her hair back away from her face. Harry gaped. "It looks very. nice on you, Hermione. "Thanks," said Hermione, blushing slightly.
Having been properly dressed for the times, Harry and Hermione began the long trudge back up to the Main Hall. "I'd like to ask Merlin if he could teach us a bit about this time in Hogwarts history. It's never mentioned in "Hogwarts: A History." I'm sure of it." That's probably a good idea," said Harry. "And maybe we could get him to tell us a bit more about what is going on around." "SHHH!!" hissed Hermione. "Listen!"
Hermione was pointing to a small room that Harry recognized as usually being Snape's office, and as Harry strained to listen, he heard it too. It sounded like two people, whispering.
".But time is of the essence. Merlin has already sent for reinforcements. I saw them entering the castle."
"You fool! They are but children. I am not worried, especially because they have no idea of what they can do."
"Master, the longer they are here, the more they will learn, so I suggest we work quickly, yes?"
"Are you afraid? Do you believe that this King could possibly be more powerful than I am. Do you really have that little faith in me? Perhaps that is why you decided to stay in Hogwarts, to give up your power."
"I gave up my power to stay close TO the power, as you well know, my lord. But I am wholly for you. A man of my birth should not be allowed to die like a Muggle." His voice, although whispering, sounded indignant.
"Too true, my friend. You will be rewarded once the Time of Sanctuary comes to an end, and the prize I seek is won. Silence!"
Harry had put his hand on the door, trying to see the two men in conversation. But as he touched the door, it gave a mighty creak. Harry froze. He heard the swishing of clothes, and when he looked up, he saw the shadows were gone. Harry and Hermione went cautiously into the room, but it was empty.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked.
"Find Arthur, and tell him he has some very serious problems."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Many thanks to all who reviewed. Keep reading and reviewing, please. To you first time reading, give me a yell, and tell me what you think.
P.S. My regards to Mr. William Shakespeare, for letting me borrow some of his lines from "Merry Wives of Windsor" to use for Sir Cadogan.
Also, much thanks to those who reviewed. Keep up with it. More fun to come, especially with our two lovebirds.
Chapter 5: Pages
The Gryffindor Common Room steadily grew dimmer, as the night dragged on. Soon the lone figure hunched in a chair was surrounded by inky blackness. As darkness enveloped Ron Weasley, his face got closer and closer to his book, now the only link to his two best friends. Ever since their first year at Hogwarts, Ron had depended on these two cohorts, these new Marauders, and to have all links severed but through the use of a book was very frustrating for him.
"Ron?" a tiny voice piped from behind him. It was Neville, dressed in an extremely colorful pair of pajamas. Ron grinned. It looked like a bomb had gone off in the paint factory, and Neville's pajamas were at ground zero. "Yeah, Neville, what's going on?"
"Well, I just thought, you know since no one else is here, you might like to go and play some chess or something?" Neville's eyes looked pleadingly toward Ron. Ron reflected on how lucky he was to have friends like Harry and Hermione. Neville, it seemed, had only his toad to keep him company. And even the toad tried to escape. How frustrating, to be the son of great parents, but to constantly be remembered as the klutz, as the jester of the year. Ron paused. The book lay open on the table, but the letters seemed to be slowing, as if the book itself were tired of being read. Well, thought Ron, its not like they can change what they've done. I can pick it up anytime I want.
That's the great thing about books, Ron thought as he headed off to a brighter section of the common room, chessboard in hand. No matter how many times you can lose your place, when you get back to it, the place hasn't changed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
However, in the book, such easy thoughts were not coming to the two young wizards Harry and Hermione. Both were frazzled, both were confused, and neither looked like they were going to get any answers to the questions they had.
"Well," said Harry finally, "if no one's going to tell us how to get out, I guess we're stuck here for a while. We might as well look the part," he added, looking down at his jeans, sweater and sneakers. Hermione nodded. "Let's try to find our way to the laundry."
As they were walking down towards the dungeons things began to catch Harry's eye. Or rather, the lack of things. There were suit of armor, but none of them shouted as they walked by. There were no statues of famous witches and wizards about, no moving portraits of Robert the Ruffled or Madam Brumhilda, the first owner of the Three Broomsticks. Even Peeves was gone, although Harry couldn't decide whether this was a good or bad thing.
Supposing that the laundry would be in the dungeons, probably around the former House Elf quarters, the two young wizards begin a steady descent downwards. "So much has changed, I can't believe we've only been here a few hours," said Hermione. "I'm still not exactly sure where here is," Harry replied. Hermione abruptly stopped.
"What?" asked Harry. "Oh things have been moving so fast, I almost forgot that Ron wasn't here." Harry smiled at her. "Really, you haven't noticed how quiet these last few hours have been. How no one has been called a 'slimy git'," Harry said, every word dripping with sarcasm. Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he would say the same of you. Ever since we were both made prefects, he's been nearly unbearable." They both laughed. Of course they were joking, but Ron definitely had become a little more mature, especially since Harry and Hermione were made prefects at the beginning of their 5th year. But Hermione was right. Things were definitely not the same without Ron there. They felt somehow diminished in strength, as if they were a body, and an arm had just been severed. And Harry certainly wondered if Hermione missed Ron for different reasons than he did. Well, after that fight at the Yule Ball, it was almost obvious how they felt about each other. Love-hate relationships, and all that.
"Hermione, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Hermione stopped. No, this couldn't be. He wasn't about to ask THE question. Hermione braced herself. "Wh-What is it?" Harry blushed scarlet, and the words spilled out of him in a rush. Urm. yes. well. about the night of the Yule Ball, the night you and Ron had that row. What was the outcome of that?" To his vast surprise, Hermione began giggling. "Oh, well, that was an important night, wasn't it? Well, Harry, if you must go sticking your nose into that old business, we both decided that we weren't right for each other that night." Harry's eyes shot up. "Well, of course we'd still be friends, but we just didn't fit right. After I told him to ask me first the next time we had a Ball, he crossed over to me, and hugged me. As he was about to kiss me, we both stopped. We looked at each other, and I know what I saw in his eyes. We were friends, nothing more, and we were pushing ourselves to be something that we weren't." "Really?" said Harry, barely containing the excitement in his voice. "Of course! Good Lord Harry, you see how we are always fighting!" "Well. I thought. it was, you know." "No, I don't know," Hermione said, looking suddenly curious.
"Foreplay," Harry said, turning the color of an embarrassed fire engine. Hermione couldn't help herself. She collapsed onto the stairs, laughing until she could hardly breathe. Gasping for air, she snorted, which sent Harry over the edge as well. They both sat on the stair, laughing until their sides hurt. "Honestly Harry, foreplay? If that was foreplay, someone probably would have been murdered if we ever made out!!" Hermione gasped through her giggles. After the two had regained control of the situation (though both could not help the wide grins plastered on their faces) Hermione looked over at Harry. "Why did you ask?" "Oh, no reason, just something on my mind." "Oh really, Harry, if it was bothering you, why didn't you ask back then? We would have told how that fight ended, one way or another. Harry, we are your friends. We wouldn't lie to you. Why would think we would?" Harry could come up with no response for this. So Hermione did it for him, and punched him, hard, on the arm. "Ouch!" "Well, if that's your response to an honest question, I don't think I'll be asking you much," Harry grinned through his wince.
The corridors of the dungeon were very much as Harry and Hermione remembered, except for the noticeable disappearance of Professor Snape. Finally, under the Main Hall, Harry and Hermione found the laundry. It was situated where the House Elves used to cook the food before sending it up. Harry found a pair of tights, breeches, thick leather boots, a doublet, and a large vest. Finally he picked a large, squashy hat with a feather from a table nearby and draped it over his head. Hermione dressed simply, in a gown, a long shirt, vest, and bonnet that pulled her hair back away from her face. Harry gaped. "It looks very. nice on you, Hermione. "Thanks," said Hermione, blushing slightly.
Having been properly dressed for the times, Harry and Hermione began the long trudge back up to the Main Hall. "I'd like to ask Merlin if he could teach us a bit about this time in Hogwarts history. It's never mentioned in "Hogwarts: A History." I'm sure of it." That's probably a good idea," said Harry. "And maybe we could get him to tell us a bit more about what is going on around." "SHHH!!" hissed Hermione. "Listen!"
Hermione was pointing to a small room that Harry recognized as usually being Snape's office, and as Harry strained to listen, he heard it too. It sounded like two people, whispering.
".But time is of the essence. Merlin has already sent for reinforcements. I saw them entering the castle."
"You fool! They are but children. I am not worried, especially because they have no idea of what they can do."
"Master, the longer they are here, the more they will learn, so I suggest we work quickly, yes?"
"Are you afraid? Do you believe that this King could possibly be more powerful than I am. Do you really have that little faith in me? Perhaps that is why you decided to stay in Hogwarts, to give up your power."
"I gave up my power to stay close TO the power, as you well know, my lord. But I am wholly for you. A man of my birth should not be allowed to die like a Muggle." His voice, although whispering, sounded indignant.
"Too true, my friend. You will be rewarded once the Time of Sanctuary comes to an end, and the prize I seek is won. Silence!"
Harry had put his hand on the door, trying to see the two men in conversation. But as he touched the door, it gave a mighty creak. Harry froze. He heard the swishing of clothes, and when he looked up, he saw the shadows were gone. Harry and Hermione went cautiously into the room, but it was empty.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked.
"Find Arthur, and tell him he has some very serious problems."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Many thanks to all who reviewed. Keep reading and reviewing, please. To you first time reading, give me a yell, and tell me what you think.
P.S. My regards to Mr. William Shakespeare, for letting me borrow some of his lines from "Merry Wives of Windsor" to use for Sir Cadogan.