Chapter 10 : The Green Monster
Hermoine had shaken off any attempts to get her to the infirmary. She felt fine, just slightly tired. Harry, too, was tired. At least they had been given the afternoon off. Most of the teachers looked completely worn out, even Snape, who usually did not let any kind of weakness appear on his face. Only Coeur appeared her usually self. She drifted in and out among the student population, whispering to some, talking loudly with others, and occasionally just smiling.
Coeur came to their table. She grinned at Hermoine.
"Well done Patronus Charm," she said, ignoring Harry and Patrice. Ron gave Hermione a sharp look.
"What?" he whispered fiercely. "When did this happen?"
"When you were off being stupid." Hermoine had found out that Ron had gone to the field when he saw a battle transpiring. She hadn't really forgiven him for risking his life so needlessly.
"Let's not get into this again," Harry said in a broken tone. "Please. I'm too tired to listen to a fight."
Hermoine knew how he felt. Patrice was half asleep. She would occasionally lift a fork into her mouth, then she would stare off into nothing again. Hermoine looked over at Harry and Ron. Each boy nodded. Ron turned bright red.
"After supper," he mouthed. Hermoine nodded again.
Patrice had told Hermoine she planned to hang around her, so that she was able to get the hang of Hogsmeade. However, Sirius had asked to see Hermoine specifically. So, Harry's plan was to have Ron ask Patrice out. If that failed, they'd figure out a new plan. Harry, however, seemed to think there was no need for a back up plan. Hermoine hoped there was.
It was odd. Hermoine really liked Viktor, but whenever she saw Ron with Patrice , she felt. . . . jealous. Or was it something more? Patrice creped Hermoine out. There was something odd about the Canadian that she just couldn't place. Something that made her very nervous.
Something clicked in her head as she stared at Patrice. She had known that Hermoine and Harry could both cast Patronus spells. She knew what had happened in Coeur's class.
"How long have you known?" Hermoine asked when the two boys were talking about Quiddich. Patrice looked up.
"About two weeks. You?"
"Nearly a month. Coeur said I figured it out first." Patrice looked surprised.
"You? Did you tell either of them?" Hermoine shook her head.
"This is one thing they need to figure out for themselves." She looked over at her two friends. "I'm really glad that you knew, Patrice, otherwise the professors might still be battling those Dementors."
Patrice smiled. She looked less tired now. She leaned in.
"Are you and Ron an item?" she asked. Hermoine blinked in surprise.
"N-no." Patrice's smile widened.
"Good, I'm glad. I like him, but I didn't want to hurt you. You're my friend."
"If you hurt him, you'll find me at the end of a wand," Hermoine whispered fiercely. She wasn't sure where that came from. Patrice looked startled.
"Of course I won't hurt him. I already told you, I like him. He's cute." Hermoine made herself smile. She hoped it didn't look too forced.
Warning bells went off in her head. It wasn't Patrice though. Hermoine looked behind her slowly. Coeur was staring at her, and speaking to Dumbledore. Hermoine had never wished harder that she could read lips. There was something funny going on.
It was well after supper. Ron, Harry and Patrice were all at Quiddich practice. Hermoine had finished all her homework assignments. She had even studied for three hours, but there was only so much work someone could do in a day. She decided to go down and meet her friends as they came back from Quiddich practice.
The halls were quiet as she walked along. She rounded a corner, and bumped into Harry.
"Where are the others?" asked Hermoine.
"Got me. One minute they were there, the next. . . ." He shrugged. "Maybe Ron's asking her out."
"She'll say yes. She already told me she likes him." Harry grinned.
"Told you."
"Shut up."
"Ohh, why so touchy, Hermoine? You've got Krum, remember?" He ginned. "Remember Herm-own-inny?" Hermoine glared at him. Sometimes Harry could be such an inconsiderate jerk. Usually, that role was reserved for Ron, but today . . . .
The two of them stared down the hall when they heard soft noises that sounded suspiciously like kissing. Instead of continuing on, they turned toward the sounds. Harry looked over at her.
"Wouldn't it be great if we caught Malfoy?" he whispered. Hermoine smiled. The prat needed to be taught a lesson, if it was him.
"Oh," came a low voice. Hermoine froze. She spun, and stalked back down the hall. It was Ron! Tears prickled at her eyes. . . . How could he! How dare he! How!
A sudden movement nearby caught Hermoine completely off guard. A huge green snake loomed over her, its tongue flicking out. It hissed in warning. Hermoine screamed, and fell back. Harry was suddenly there beside her. He yelled at the snake in parselmouth. The thing fell back. Harry put his arm around Hermoine.
"Let's get out of here," he whispered.
The snake followed them, like a loyal pet. Harry yelled at it again. It rose up again. It took off down another hall.
"Harry, that's where-"
"Ah!" Patrice's scream cut her off.
"No!" yelled Hermoine. A huge ball of flame erupted in the hall. There was a great rushing noise. Patrice and Ron limped out of the dark corridor. Patrice was much more pale then usually.
"Are you okay?" asked Harry. There was another scream from another direction.
"What's going on?" cried Ron. Then they heard Lavender's shrill voice.
"Snakes! Help!" Similar cries echoed throughout the entire school.
The four friends rushed toward the nearest scream. Coeur was there. She had killed the great beast. Lavender was shaking madly.
"Take her to your common room now," ordered the professor. Hermoine put her arm around Lavender, and the five hurried to the common room.
It was only after Hermoine had seated Lavender when she had an odd thought. Neither she nor Harry, nor Ron, nor Patrice had their wands out. What had killed the snake attacking Patrice?
