Hermione woke up to find the dormitory abandoned. She dressed quickly
and headed down to the Great Hall. She took a seat next to Harry who gave
her a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulders and looked away. She
didn't have much of an appetite so she looked around the Hall at the
students and teachers. Hey eyes were just scanning the Slytherin table when
she realized that Malfoy was watching her. He had a look of pure
contentment on his face and his eyes were unusually dark.
Hermione continued to keep his gaze. He suddenly gave her a small
smirk and raised his eyebrows. Hermione was taken aback and abruptly looked
away. She stood up suddenly and headed off to get her books for the morning
classes.
The potion dungeons were very chilly this morning and Hermione
shivered as she chopped her toad livers. Snape was walking up and down the
rows criticizing and deducting points from Gryffindors, while praising the
Slytherins for their work. He stopped in front of Hermione and looked down
upon her with his icy glare. "That is an interesting necklace Granger," he
said softly so only she could hear him. "Where did you get it?"
Hermione looked up and met his gaze. "Well?" He tapped his foot
impatiently. Hermione didn't know what to say. She didn't want to lie, but
she also didn't want to tell him she got it anonymously. She looked back
down to the table and bit her lip. "Cat got your tongue?" he sneered.
"Detention. And 10 points from Gryffindor. I would also like to see you
after class," He turned and strolled over to Neville who cowered behind his
cauldron. "How many times must I repeat myself Longbottom? You add the
newt's tail after the moon juice! 15 points from Gryffindor,"
"Aren't you coming Hermione?" Harry asked her after potions as she walked up to Snape's desk. "I have to talk to Snape," she said. Ron raised his eyebrows. "I'll see you at lunch," she said apologetically. Harry nodded and she continued to the front of the emptying classroom. Snape only looked up after the dungeon door had shut with a dull thud. "Now Hermione," Hermione found it odd for him to use her first name. "Where did you get that necklace," he said slowly. Hermione swallowed hard. "I got it from my mother for my birthday," she lied. Snape raised his eyebrows. "Funny," he said. "It looks surprisingly like. . ." He shook his head. "Well next time answer when the first time I ask. Is that clear?" Hermione nodded. She noticed that Snape was now looking at her hands. They were shaking as she held her books. He looked up and raised his eyebrows. "Is there anything that you would like to tell me, Miss Granger?" he asked. Hermione shook her head. "Alright then. Now about your detention," Hermione looked down at the floor. "You will serve it tonight here with me. I need some help with some potion preparation. Bring your dragon hide gloves. Now hurry off to lunch," Snape looked down and started shuffling papers. Hermione hurried to her dormitory without lunch. She felt very shaky. Snape had not been his usual horrible self, but that was what scared her. She flopped down on her bed and threw the pillow over her head. In seconds she was asleep.
The stars twinkled up above. A light breeze had picked up now. An owl hooted off in the distance. Hermione pushed back the hair flooding in front of her face. She smiled at her surroundings as she lifted her face skyward. There were so many stars. . . so many of them. Someone once told her how many there were, but she could not seem to remember the number. She would just have to count them herself. . . 'One. . .Two. . .Three. . . '
"Hermione, wake up!" Someone was shaking her shoulders. "No, I have to count them. Leave me alone," Hermione protested. She rolled over and shielded her face in the blankets. "Hermione!" Someone tried again. "I have to count the stars!" Hermione explained as she sat up and opened her eyes. "I have to count the-" Ginny was looking at her with the most peculiar look on her face. "Sorry," Hermione muttered. "What time is it, Gin?" she asked. "It's nearly four. Harry said you didn't show up for any of your classes," Hermione stood up and rubbed her eyes. "I fell asleep after potions. I guess I didn't think I would sleep so long," They made their way down the spiral staircase to the common room. "You sure you're all right?" Ginny asked. "Positive," Hermione muttered as she walked over to Harry and Ron. "Thanks Gin," Ginny nodded and headed over to the other side of the common room. Harry looked up from his book. "Where have you been?" he asked. Hermione shook her head. "I don't know what came over me. I came to get my stuff after potions and I just fell asleep," Hermione yawned. "Guess I needed it," she laughed. Ron looked up at her. "What did you have to see Snape about?" he asked. "Oh yeah. . . I have a detention tonight. I forgot," Hermione sighed. "All because of one bloody question," Harry shut his book. "What do'y have to do?" he asked. "Help Snape with some potions," She slumped into a chair. Ron breathed out and made a face. "Hey I wanted to ask you earlier," Harry started. "Where'd you get that necklace? I haven't seen it before," Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. "Memorized my jewelry have you Harry?" Harry blushed. Hermione and Ron Laughed. "I'm just joking with you Harry. Er, actually, Lavender brought it up to me last night. It was in a package addresses to me. Didn't have a name," she shrugged. Ron looked suspicious. "Oh really Ron! It's probably from my folks and they just forgot to put a card," Ron rolled his eyes. Harry looked around them to check that no one else was watching them. "Er, you guys? I have to tell you something," he said quietly. Ron and Hermione leaned in closer. "I got a letter from Sirius. He says there has been a sighting of Voldemort, and some witch was murdered last night. She worked for the ministry. "Her name was Anne Harlem. He said that she had just caught a Death Eater. He didn't say whom," Hermione bit her lip. "Where was he sighted?" she asked timidly. "Just near here. A few miles south of Hogsmede," Ron looked a bit edgy as he turned and looked behind him as if he expected Voldemort to come bursting into the room. Hermione sighed and looked at Harry. "Well you'll have to be careful Harry," But he shook his head. "I don't think it's me he wants,"
Hermione headed down to the dungeons at seven forty-five. She didn't want to be late. The fact that Voldemort could be near Hogwarts scared her. This was the first she had heard of a sighting since last year when Harry had been in the Triwizard Tournament. There hadn't been any murders either. She wondered briefly why there had been nothing in the daily prophet about Anne Harlem, and then dismissed the thought. The Ministry probably wanted to keep it quiet. It also gave her a funny feeling to think about what Harry had said. "I don't think it's me he wants," She sighed and continued through the halls, stopping briefly to chat with a painting of a bright red fox named Pounce. Hermione was just reaching the stairs to the dungeons when she heard a hoot up above. She looked up in surprise and saw a giant eagle owl hovering above her. It had a small piece of parchment with it. It swooped down and dropped it on the floor in front of her. She bent down and picked it up. She looked at it with a queer look on her face. "What are you doing here?" Hermione spun around to see Malfoy standing at the foot of the dungeon stairs. Hermione glared at him. "I have detention with Snape," Malfoy smirked. "Oh goody-goody Mudblood in trouble? The world has gone positively mad," he said in an icy tone. "I'm not a mudblood," She said through gritted teeth. "Get out of the way Malfoy," She tried to push past him. He blocked her entrance into the dungeons. "I'm not joking Malfoy! Move!" she said a little louder this time. He smirked at her. Hermione gave him a shove. His smirk turned into a glare. "Don't you push me Mudblood," he growled. "I just washed these clothes," Hermione shook with anger. Malfoy suddenly laughed. "Where's Potter to threaten me now?" Hermione screamed in rage and threw herself at him. She vaguely heard someone yell as she tackled Malfoy to the stone floor. She never thought to use her wand. All she knew was that she wanted to hurt him as bad as she could. Malfoy gave a yelp as she slapped him hard in the face. He groped for his wand. "FLIPPENDO!" he yelled and Hermione flew back a few feet. She felt the impact of the spell as she hit the ground with full force. Her head swam as she saw Professor McGonagall walk past her yelling all the while at Malfoy. Her eyesight clouded and her surroundings went black.
"Miss Granger?" Hermione opened her eyes and found herself lying on the cold stone floor of the dungeon stairwell. McGonagall was knelt down beside her while Snape loomed above. Hermione sat up and rubbed her head. "What is the meaning of this? I've never seen you act so childish!" McGonagall snapped. Hermione looked down at her hands. "He wouldn't let me pass. I didn't want to be late for my detention with Professor Snape. I got angry because he was calling me a Mudblood," Hermione explained in a small voice. Snape raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry," Hermione mumbled. McGonagall nodded. "Go back to your dormitory and get some rest. You will serve your detention at a later time to be arranged," Hermione stood up and began to walk up the stairs to Gryffindor tower when Snape cleared his throat. "Is that yours?" he said pointing to the bit of parchment lying on the ground. "Oh yes," she said and bent to pick it up. She had almost forgot all about the owl and the letter.
Harry and Ron looked up as she sat down next to them. "That was a very short detention," Ron commented. Hermione shook her head and filled them in on what happened. "Well of all the things for him to pull!" Ron growled. "I'm going to kill him! I don't need a wand!" Ron made numerous gestures with his hands. "I'll hit him into next Thursday! He won't know what hit him!" Hermione shook her head. "Calm down Ron," Hermione pulled him back into his chair. "I don't know why he would be hanging around by the dungeons anyway," Harry said. "Perhaps he knew that you had detention and he got bored," Ron shrugged. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes and I'm sure he planned it all in his head; step one: call Granger Mudblood. . ." Ron crossed his arms over his chest and flopped into his seat. "Oh of course! Whenever Ron has a suggestion, it can't be right! Or even probable for that matter," Ron said sarcastically. "Well!" Hermione huffed. "Aren't we in a mood," Ron looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry Hermione. I'm just mad because of what Malfoy did. He better have gotten in trouble," Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. He was gone by the time I came around. "But before I saw Malfoy I got a letter," she said and held up the roll of parchment. "What's it say?" Harry said and reached for it. "Hang on, I haven't even read it yet," Hermione broke the seal and unrolled it. She read for a moment and her eyes grew big. Her breathing became heavy and she dropped the parchment. "What is it?" Harry asked. Hermione swallowed hard and picked up the parchment again. "Read it," she croaked and shoved the letter towards him.
"Aren't you coming Hermione?" Harry asked her after potions as she walked up to Snape's desk. "I have to talk to Snape," she said. Ron raised his eyebrows. "I'll see you at lunch," she said apologetically. Harry nodded and she continued to the front of the emptying classroom. Snape only looked up after the dungeon door had shut with a dull thud. "Now Hermione," Hermione found it odd for him to use her first name. "Where did you get that necklace," he said slowly. Hermione swallowed hard. "I got it from my mother for my birthday," she lied. Snape raised his eyebrows. "Funny," he said. "It looks surprisingly like. . ." He shook his head. "Well next time answer when the first time I ask. Is that clear?" Hermione nodded. She noticed that Snape was now looking at her hands. They were shaking as she held her books. He looked up and raised his eyebrows. "Is there anything that you would like to tell me, Miss Granger?" he asked. Hermione shook her head. "Alright then. Now about your detention," Hermione looked down at the floor. "You will serve it tonight here with me. I need some help with some potion preparation. Bring your dragon hide gloves. Now hurry off to lunch," Snape looked down and started shuffling papers. Hermione hurried to her dormitory without lunch. She felt very shaky. Snape had not been his usual horrible self, but that was what scared her. She flopped down on her bed and threw the pillow over her head. In seconds she was asleep.
The stars twinkled up above. A light breeze had picked up now. An owl hooted off in the distance. Hermione pushed back the hair flooding in front of her face. She smiled at her surroundings as she lifted her face skyward. There were so many stars. . . so many of them. Someone once told her how many there were, but she could not seem to remember the number. She would just have to count them herself. . . 'One. . .Two. . .Three. . . '
"Hermione, wake up!" Someone was shaking her shoulders. "No, I have to count them. Leave me alone," Hermione protested. She rolled over and shielded her face in the blankets. "Hermione!" Someone tried again. "I have to count the stars!" Hermione explained as she sat up and opened her eyes. "I have to count the-" Ginny was looking at her with the most peculiar look on her face. "Sorry," Hermione muttered. "What time is it, Gin?" she asked. "It's nearly four. Harry said you didn't show up for any of your classes," Hermione stood up and rubbed her eyes. "I fell asleep after potions. I guess I didn't think I would sleep so long," They made their way down the spiral staircase to the common room. "You sure you're all right?" Ginny asked. "Positive," Hermione muttered as she walked over to Harry and Ron. "Thanks Gin," Ginny nodded and headed over to the other side of the common room. Harry looked up from his book. "Where have you been?" he asked. Hermione shook her head. "I don't know what came over me. I came to get my stuff after potions and I just fell asleep," Hermione yawned. "Guess I needed it," she laughed. Ron looked up at her. "What did you have to see Snape about?" he asked. "Oh yeah. . . I have a detention tonight. I forgot," Hermione sighed. "All because of one bloody question," Harry shut his book. "What do'y have to do?" he asked. "Help Snape with some potions," She slumped into a chair. Ron breathed out and made a face. "Hey I wanted to ask you earlier," Harry started. "Where'd you get that necklace? I haven't seen it before," Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. "Memorized my jewelry have you Harry?" Harry blushed. Hermione and Ron Laughed. "I'm just joking with you Harry. Er, actually, Lavender brought it up to me last night. It was in a package addresses to me. Didn't have a name," she shrugged. Ron looked suspicious. "Oh really Ron! It's probably from my folks and they just forgot to put a card," Ron rolled his eyes. Harry looked around them to check that no one else was watching them. "Er, you guys? I have to tell you something," he said quietly. Ron and Hermione leaned in closer. "I got a letter from Sirius. He says there has been a sighting of Voldemort, and some witch was murdered last night. She worked for the ministry. "Her name was Anne Harlem. He said that she had just caught a Death Eater. He didn't say whom," Hermione bit her lip. "Where was he sighted?" she asked timidly. "Just near here. A few miles south of Hogsmede," Ron looked a bit edgy as he turned and looked behind him as if he expected Voldemort to come bursting into the room. Hermione sighed and looked at Harry. "Well you'll have to be careful Harry," But he shook his head. "I don't think it's me he wants,"
Hermione headed down to the dungeons at seven forty-five. She didn't want to be late. The fact that Voldemort could be near Hogwarts scared her. This was the first she had heard of a sighting since last year when Harry had been in the Triwizard Tournament. There hadn't been any murders either. She wondered briefly why there had been nothing in the daily prophet about Anne Harlem, and then dismissed the thought. The Ministry probably wanted to keep it quiet. It also gave her a funny feeling to think about what Harry had said. "I don't think it's me he wants," She sighed and continued through the halls, stopping briefly to chat with a painting of a bright red fox named Pounce. Hermione was just reaching the stairs to the dungeons when she heard a hoot up above. She looked up in surprise and saw a giant eagle owl hovering above her. It had a small piece of parchment with it. It swooped down and dropped it on the floor in front of her. She bent down and picked it up. She looked at it with a queer look on her face. "What are you doing here?" Hermione spun around to see Malfoy standing at the foot of the dungeon stairs. Hermione glared at him. "I have detention with Snape," Malfoy smirked. "Oh goody-goody Mudblood in trouble? The world has gone positively mad," he said in an icy tone. "I'm not a mudblood," She said through gritted teeth. "Get out of the way Malfoy," She tried to push past him. He blocked her entrance into the dungeons. "I'm not joking Malfoy! Move!" she said a little louder this time. He smirked at her. Hermione gave him a shove. His smirk turned into a glare. "Don't you push me Mudblood," he growled. "I just washed these clothes," Hermione shook with anger. Malfoy suddenly laughed. "Where's Potter to threaten me now?" Hermione screamed in rage and threw herself at him. She vaguely heard someone yell as she tackled Malfoy to the stone floor. She never thought to use her wand. All she knew was that she wanted to hurt him as bad as she could. Malfoy gave a yelp as she slapped him hard in the face. He groped for his wand. "FLIPPENDO!" he yelled and Hermione flew back a few feet. She felt the impact of the spell as she hit the ground with full force. Her head swam as she saw Professor McGonagall walk past her yelling all the while at Malfoy. Her eyesight clouded and her surroundings went black.
"Miss Granger?" Hermione opened her eyes and found herself lying on the cold stone floor of the dungeon stairwell. McGonagall was knelt down beside her while Snape loomed above. Hermione sat up and rubbed her head. "What is the meaning of this? I've never seen you act so childish!" McGonagall snapped. Hermione looked down at her hands. "He wouldn't let me pass. I didn't want to be late for my detention with Professor Snape. I got angry because he was calling me a Mudblood," Hermione explained in a small voice. Snape raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry," Hermione mumbled. McGonagall nodded. "Go back to your dormitory and get some rest. You will serve your detention at a later time to be arranged," Hermione stood up and began to walk up the stairs to Gryffindor tower when Snape cleared his throat. "Is that yours?" he said pointing to the bit of parchment lying on the ground. "Oh yes," she said and bent to pick it up. She had almost forgot all about the owl and the letter.
Harry and Ron looked up as she sat down next to them. "That was a very short detention," Ron commented. Hermione shook her head and filled them in on what happened. "Well of all the things for him to pull!" Ron growled. "I'm going to kill him! I don't need a wand!" Ron made numerous gestures with his hands. "I'll hit him into next Thursday! He won't know what hit him!" Hermione shook her head. "Calm down Ron," Hermione pulled him back into his chair. "I don't know why he would be hanging around by the dungeons anyway," Harry said. "Perhaps he knew that you had detention and he got bored," Ron shrugged. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes and I'm sure he planned it all in his head; step one: call Granger Mudblood. . ." Ron crossed his arms over his chest and flopped into his seat. "Oh of course! Whenever Ron has a suggestion, it can't be right! Or even probable for that matter," Ron said sarcastically. "Well!" Hermione huffed. "Aren't we in a mood," Ron looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry Hermione. I'm just mad because of what Malfoy did. He better have gotten in trouble," Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. He was gone by the time I came around. "But before I saw Malfoy I got a letter," she said and held up the roll of parchment. "What's it say?" Harry said and reached for it. "Hang on, I haven't even read it yet," Hermione broke the seal and unrolled it. She read for a moment and her eyes grew big. Her breathing became heavy and she dropped the parchment. "What is it?" Harry asked. Hermione swallowed hard and picked up the parchment again. "Read it," she croaked and shoved the letter towards him.