Next morning, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went to the breakfast table. They ate as fast as they could, then took a plate of food to the Gryffindor's common room. There sat Sirius looking like a happy puppy. Harry gave Sirius the food and he ate savagely.
Hermione went back up to her dorm while Sirius finished up his meal. No one was there.
She sat down on the bed, picked up a book from her trunk and started reading.. She was reading so intently that she didn't notice the window open or the man that stepped inside. In fact, it took her about 5 minutes to realize it. A cool breeze went past her until she looked up. A man was standing over her dressed in black. He use his wand to bind Hermione's powers and speech so she can't use them. The intruder started rummaging through her things again just like the first time she heard him. The man growled in frustration. "Where can it be?!?," he said.
Then all of a sudden, Crookshanks jumped across the man and slashed his face. On the his cheek were 4 red claw marks. "AHHARGH!" he cried in agony. He backed away from Hermione and was about to exit from the window. He turned back to Hermione and said, "I'll be back..."
Just then Harry burst in followed by Ron with his wand and Sirius.
"What happened? We heard someone yell," Ron said. Hermione was struggling to say something but can't. Siruis grabbed Ron's wand and lifted the spell from her.
"There was this man that came through the window and was looking for something. He was also the same man that came here yesterday. He bound my powers and speech so I can't call for help." Hermione rushed, "Then all of a sudden Crookshanks slashed the guy's face and..." She took a breath before she went on, "..and then he left through that window, just before he left he said he will be back"
"Back for what?" asked Sirius.
"I don't know but he was looking for something." she answered.
"Well, I'll just put a security spell on that window so no one will come through." Siruis said as he waved the wand.
"Why don't we go to the common room and get your mind off of this, it's almost lunch time." said Ron.
"Alright"
"We'll bring you something to eat again Sirius, we need to fill out that hollow you have there."
Then they left Hermione's room.
The next morning, Ron headed up to his dorm to rest but Harry and Hermione stayed in the common room. Hermione was trying to study for her O.W.L.'s but Harry kept muttering things to himself.
"What are you doing?" Hermione finally asked him.
"Uh... nothing..." he laughed nervously.
Hermione raised her eyebrow.
She closed her book with a sigh and said, "What do you think about the situation with the thing they're trying to find, Harry?"
"Um. Well, Sir--er--Snuffles, thinks that, well, you have something they want!"
"Me? But why would I have something and what could it be and they never found it so maybe I don't have it after all." she sighed again.
"Yeah, you never know." he replied simply. Harry got out quickly, said goodnight and went up the spiral staircase leading to his four poster bed.
There's something you're not telling me, Harry, and I'm going to find out what it is... Because it's a valuable part of this confusing mystery, she thought to herself. She went to her bed and drifted into a deep sleep...
"Why does she have to be so clever?" said Harry, to himself, speaking his thoughts aloud. "I always get the feeling she can see right through me, and know what I'm thinking. And that creepy cat doesn't help much either, though he has been useful." He sighed. "She'd better not know - it could be dangerous for her."
Next morning,
Harry and Co. met Krum and Fleur at the breakfast table.
"Good Morning!" Hermione said "Sorry I can't stay long, I have to go to the library to do some research." She ate a butter croissant and drank some ice-cold pumpkin juice. Hermione stood up and turned to go.
"Vait Herm-own-ninny," Krum still hadn't mastered Hermione's name yet, "Vhy don't I come vith you."
"Oh sure Krum, it's nice to have you for company again."
Krum walked with Hermione to the library; they needed some catching up to do.
In the library,
Hermione was skimming the bookshelves for a book she wanted to research on. "Aha!" Shouted Hermione, she plucked the book off the shelf, it read Cats of the Wizarding World. She began reading, then something caught her eye and that's all she needed to read.
"Kneazle: It's a cat that can detect evil. Dark sensor. However it is illegal to have a Kneazle without a license.
Hermione thought of the day when she bought Crookshanks from the Magical Menagerie...
..Ron was just starting to pay for the tonic when something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on Ron's head and then propelled itself, spitting madly at Scabbers. "NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch...
"Herm-own-ninny," said Krum as he brought her back to reality.
"Huh? Oh lets go Krum," Hermione borrowed the book then left the library and Krum and Hermione made their way to Hall.
Hermione and Krum walked into the Hall
Where Harry and Ron just finished their breakfast and talking with Fleur.
"Hey guys, do you want to go to Hagrid's hut so we can talk to him for awhile." asked Hermione.
"Sure, we haven't talked to him for sometime now." said Harry.
"Who is Hagrid?" Krum and Fleur said in unison.
"Hagrid's our Magical Creatures caretaker. I should warn you before we go that-" Ron leaned towards Fleur as close as he could get so he can be closer to her and whispered, "don't misjudge his cooking, it may look good but it tastes bloody horrible."
"Vhat vas that?" asked Krum who didn't quite catch what Ron was trying to warn them about.
"Just don't eat anything that Hagrid gives us, but just take some to be polite and put them in your pocket unless you want to break your teeth." Harry filled in.
"Oh no problem, my parents can fix them for you for no extra charge." Piped Hermione.
"Your right but it would be a lot less painful if we didn't eat Hagrid's food."
"Ok, lets go."
The gang strode towards Hagrid's hut, when they got there Fang was outside running around chasing his tail then he stopped and ran towards Harry. Fang jumped up to meet Harry but Hagrid came out and instead of jumping on Harry Fang jumped on Hagrid.
"Ho! Easy there Fang, my you're putting on a few pounds, " Hagrid said nudging Fang away, Harry could see his jaws where snapping at something he couldn't see.
"Harry! What are you doing here?" Hagrid said ignoring the sounds Fang was making.
"Oh, we just came by to talk, you must be really lonely here."
"Fang looks very different today," Ron said aloud.
"Don't mind him," as Hagrid pushed the gang inside then shut the door with Fang outside.
:"Could I get you guys some milk and cookies?"
"Uhhh.. heh heh.. no thanks Hagrid," Ron said weakly.
"Oh come on! I baked them this morning, they're still warm." Hagrid insisted.
"Geez, I would like to have some but we just ate breakfast."
"Don't worry, I'll pack them up for you when your walking back to the castle, just in case you're a bit hungry."
"Thanks," said Ron as he smiled grimly.
"Hullo there! This must be Krum and Fleur, so, Fleur how is Madame Maxime fairing? Good I hope."
"Yes, she is doing very fine."
"Hagrid, what do you know about Kneazles?"
"I know that it is illegal to own one, it detects evil and does unkindly things to evil doers, you wouldn't happen to have a Kneazle would you?" Hagrid stared at Hermione suspiously.
"Uhh.. no," Hermione lied.
"Excuse me, but vhat does a Kneazle look like?"
"Yeah, I would like to know that too," Ron said looking towards Hermione.
"Heh heh," Hermione laughed uneasily, "It looks like a cat except they have longer ears and smart intelligent eyes." Harry could see Hermione's eyes darting here and there almost as if she was trying to find a way out of this cozy hut.
"If you do have one, they can be very useful but you can get charged with 1,000 knuts and would be suspended from using witchcraft for a month."
Harry laughed out loud, "This story sounds familiar, eh Hagrid?"
"But Norbert was different!" as Hagrid defended himself and Norbert, "Someone gave it to me and took care of it just like it was one of my own, besides I had to let little Norby go. Hopefully to a place where he can make dragon friends and his mate someday," suddenly Hagrid sighed as if a few years without Norbert has taken its toll. He sat down on a big musty green-grey couch and lit up his pipe.
"Hagrid, I didn't know you smoked." Said Harry.
"Oh, well, umm…" Hagrid said for he was lost for words, "This is uhh.. herbs I've been smoking, it clears up the lungs and makes me feel refreshed."
"Ok, we gotta go, it's getting late," Harry said and Hagrid sighed with relief.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Krum and Fleur filed out the door, just then Hagrid spoke up,
"Wait just a minute, you forgot your cookies." As Hagrid handed them to Ron who was the last to go.
"Yeah, thanks Hagrid."
But as Hagrid handed the bag to Ron, Ron saw a cold steel staring out from the brown eyes which used to be of warmth and laughter.
Ron run out to catch up with Harry,
"Hey these cookies are soft," exclaimed Ron.
"Yeah but don't eat them, who knows what Hagrid put in them, for all I care he might of put in lizard's eggs or something."
"Blah," said Ron and made a face.
Hermione went back up to her dorm while Sirius finished up his meal. No one was there.
She sat down on the bed, picked up a book from her trunk and started reading.. She was reading so intently that she didn't notice the window open or the man that stepped inside. In fact, it took her about 5 minutes to realize it. A cool breeze went past her until she looked up. A man was standing over her dressed in black. He use his wand to bind Hermione's powers and speech so she can't use them. The intruder started rummaging through her things again just like the first time she heard him. The man growled in frustration. "Where can it be?!?," he said.
Then all of a sudden, Crookshanks jumped across the man and slashed his face. On the his cheek were 4 red claw marks. "AHHARGH!" he cried in agony. He backed away from Hermione and was about to exit from the window. He turned back to Hermione and said, "I'll be back..."
Just then Harry burst in followed by Ron with his wand and Sirius.
"What happened? We heard someone yell," Ron said. Hermione was struggling to say something but can't. Siruis grabbed Ron's wand and lifted the spell from her.
"There was this man that came through the window and was looking for something. He was also the same man that came here yesterday. He bound my powers and speech so I can't call for help." Hermione rushed, "Then all of a sudden Crookshanks slashed the guy's face and..." She took a breath before she went on, "..and then he left through that window, just before he left he said he will be back"
"Back for what?" asked Sirius.
"I don't know but he was looking for something." she answered.
"Well, I'll just put a security spell on that window so no one will come through." Siruis said as he waved the wand.
"Why don't we go to the common room and get your mind off of this, it's almost lunch time." said Ron.
"Alright"
"We'll bring you something to eat again Sirius, we need to fill out that hollow you have there."
Then they left Hermione's room.
The next morning, Ron headed up to his dorm to rest but Harry and Hermione stayed in the common room. Hermione was trying to study for her O.W.L.'s but Harry kept muttering things to himself.
"What are you doing?" Hermione finally asked him.
"Uh... nothing..." he laughed nervously.
Hermione raised her eyebrow.
She closed her book with a sigh and said, "What do you think about the situation with the thing they're trying to find, Harry?"
"Um. Well, Sir--er--Snuffles, thinks that, well, you have something they want!"
"Me? But why would I have something and what could it be and they never found it so maybe I don't have it after all." she sighed again.
"Yeah, you never know." he replied simply. Harry got out quickly, said goodnight and went up the spiral staircase leading to his four poster bed.
There's something you're not telling me, Harry, and I'm going to find out what it is... Because it's a valuable part of this confusing mystery, she thought to herself. She went to her bed and drifted into a deep sleep...
"Why does she have to be so clever?" said Harry, to himself, speaking his thoughts aloud. "I always get the feeling she can see right through me, and know what I'm thinking. And that creepy cat doesn't help much either, though he has been useful." He sighed. "She'd better not know - it could be dangerous for her."
Next morning,
Harry and Co. met Krum and Fleur at the breakfast table.
"Good Morning!" Hermione said "Sorry I can't stay long, I have to go to the library to do some research." She ate a butter croissant and drank some ice-cold pumpkin juice. Hermione stood up and turned to go.
"Vait Herm-own-ninny," Krum still hadn't mastered Hermione's name yet, "Vhy don't I come vith you."
"Oh sure Krum, it's nice to have you for company again."
Krum walked with Hermione to the library; they needed some catching up to do.
In the library,
Hermione was skimming the bookshelves for a book she wanted to research on. "Aha!" Shouted Hermione, she plucked the book off the shelf, it read Cats of the Wizarding World. She began reading, then something caught her eye and that's all she needed to read.
"Kneazle: It's a cat that can detect evil. Dark sensor. However it is illegal to have a Kneazle without a license.
Hermione thought of the day when she bought Crookshanks from the Magical Menagerie...
..Ron was just starting to pay for the tonic when something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on Ron's head and then propelled itself, spitting madly at Scabbers. "NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch...
"Herm-own-ninny," said Krum as he brought her back to reality.
"Huh? Oh lets go Krum," Hermione borrowed the book then left the library and Krum and Hermione made their way to Hall.
Hermione and Krum walked into the Hall
Where Harry and Ron just finished their breakfast and talking with Fleur.
"Hey guys, do you want to go to Hagrid's hut so we can talk to him for awhile." asked Hermione.
"Sure, we haven't talked to him for sometime now." said Harry.
"Who is Hagrid?" Krum and Fleur said in unison.
"Hagrid's our Magical Creatures caretaker. I should warn you before we go that-" Ron leaned towards Fleur as close as he could get so he can be closer to her and whispered, "don't misjudge his cooking, it may look good but it tastes bloody horrible."
"Vhat vas that?" asked Krum who didn't quite catch what Ron was trying to warn them about.
"Just don't eat anything that Hagrid gives us, but just take some to be polite and put them in your pocket unless you want to break your teeth." Harry filled in.
"Oh no problem, my parents can fix them for you for no extra charge." Piped Hermione.
"Your right but it would be a lot less painful if we didn't eat Hagrid's food."
"Ok, lets go."
The gang strode towards Hagrid's hut, when they got there Fang was outside running around chasing his tail then he stopped and ran towards Harry. Fang jumped up to meet Harry but Hagrid came out and instead of jumping on Harry Fang jumped on Hagrid.
"Ho! Easy there Fang, my you're putting on a few pounds, " Hagrid said nudging Fang away, Harry could see his jaws where snapping at something he couldn't see.
"Harry! What are you doing here?" Hagrid said ignoring the sounds Fang was making.
"Oh, we just came by to talk, you must be really lonely here."
"Fang looks very different today," Ron said aloud.
"Don't mind him," as Hagrid pushed the gang inside then shut the door with Fang outside.
:"Could I get you guys some milk and cookies?"
"Uhhh.. heh heh.. no thanks Hagrid," Ron said weakly.
"Oh come on! I baked them this morning, they're still warm." Hagrid insisted.
"Geez, I would like to have some but we just ate breakfast."
"Don't worry, I'll pack them up for you when your walking back to the castle, just in case you're a bit hungry."
"Thanks," said Ron as he smiled grimly.
"Hullo there! This must be Krum and Fleur, so, Fleur how is Madame Maxime fairing? Good I hope."
"Yes, she is doing very fine."
"Hagrid, what do you know about Kneazles?"
"I know that it is illegal to own one, it detects evil and does unkindly things to evil doers, you wouldn't happen to have a Kneazle would you?" Hagrid stared at Hermione suspiously.
"Uhh.. no," Hermione lied.
"Excuse me, but vhat does a Kneazle look like?"
"Yeah, I would like to know that too," Ron said looking towards Hermione.
"Heh heh," Hermione laughed uneasily, "It looks like a cat except they have longer ears and smart intelligent eyes." Harry could see Hermione's eyes darting here and there almost as if she was trying to find a way out of this cozy hut.
"If you do have one, they can be very useful but you can get charged with 1,000 knuts and would be suspended from using witchcraft for a month."
Harry laughed out loud, "This story sounds familiar, eh Hagrid?"
"But Norbert was different!" as Hagrid defended himself and Norbert, "Someone gave it to me and took care of it just like it was one of my own, besides I had to let little Norby go. Hopefully to a place where he can make dragon friends and his mate someday," suddenly Hagrid sighed as if a few years without Norbert has taken its toll. He sat down on a big musty green-grey couch and lit up his pipe.
"Hagrid, I didn't know you smoked." Said Harry.
"Oh, well, umm…" Hagrid said for he was lost for words, "This is uhh.. herbs I've been smoking, it clears up the lungs and makes me feel refreshed."
"Ok, we gotta go, it's getting late," Harry said and Hagrid sighed with relief.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Krum and Fleur filed out the door, just then Hagrid spoke up,
"Wait just a minute, you forgot your cookies." As Hagrid handed them to Ron who was the last to go.
"Yeah, thanks Hagrid."
But as Hagrid handed the bag to Ron, Ron saw a cold steel staring out from the brown eyes which used to be of warmth and laughter.
Ron run out to catch up with Harry,
"Hey these cookies are soft," exclaimed Ron.
"Yeah but don't eat them, who knows what Hagrid put in them, for all I care he might of put in lizard's eggs or something."
"Blah," said Ron and made a face.