Chapter 20





Ron met Harry in front of Coeur's office.

"I can't find her anywhere!" Harry huffed. He leaned against the wall. "Ron, we must've searched this place a hundred times. Where could she be?"

"I dunno, Harry," Ron replied softly. "But, Patrice is missing too. . ."

"Is this about that dream you had? The one where Patrice was going to kill us, and Hermoine stopped her?"

"Sort of. Harry, I'm worried. What if something really did happen to her?"

"Nothing has happened all year, Ron."

"My point exactly." Harry scowled at his friend.

"Is something the matter, boys?" asked Mrs. Coeur, sticking her head outside her door.

"No, Professor," they replied in unison.

"Where's Hermoine? Doesn't she usually spend time with you?"

"I don't know, Professor," Ron replied. He gave Harry a helpless look, as if to say, 'you expect me to lie to this woman?'

"You don't know? How long since you saw her last?"

"Since after Potions."

"That was hours ago! Not at dinner?" They shook their heads. "Not your common room? Nowhere?"

She disappeared back into her office, slamming the door. Ron exchanged a look of confusion with Harry.

They jumped back in surprise when the door flew open. Mrs. Coeur stepped out, her wild hair tamed back in a respectable bun.

"You two boys are coming with me," she said, her wand clutched tightly in her hand. Her fingers were white around the delicate willow.

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. He gave a small nod, and the two boys fell in behind the quickly moving, angry Professor. Harry had to admit he was apprehensions about her reversal of character.

Professor Dumbledore met them in the hall.

"Professor Coeur, my dear lady, what has got you so upset?"

"The girls are missing," she said simply. "Since after my Potions class." Dumbledore turned his ever-calm face to Harry.

"You and Ron must come with me, Harry. You can visit Fawkes."

"But Professor!"

"No buts, boys. Come along. Kalina, you have my leave to go."

"Thank you Professor." She bowed her head, then took off like a shot. Harry looked at the Headmaster.

"Yes Mister Potter?"

"What do you think happened to them?"

"I do not know, Mister Potter. But, I believe it would be safer for you and Mister Weasly to wait in my office where you'll be safe. Fawkes will keep a very good eye on you."

"Safer? Where do you think Hermoine is, Professor? Please, tell me."



An owl swooped in at that moment, landing beside Fawks. The two birds chatted like old friends. Dumbledore turned to them. His face relaxed, and a small smile came to it.

"Just relax boys. I'll be back shortly."

"But-" Dumbledore ignored Harry. He was gone.

"Great." Harry flopped down into an arm chair. "Geeze, I hope she's okay."

"Harry," Ron whispered, "that's Patrice's owl."

"Patrice has an owl?"

"Yeah. She doesn't keep it in the owlries. It's wild."

"What's its name?"

"Athena, I think," Ron replied. He slowly moved across the room, his hand outstretched. "Athena?" he called. The owl looked up at the sound of her name. Ron came closer. "Athena, where is Patrice?" The owl gave him a glare. She nipped at his fingers. Ron pulled back.

"That hurt." He shook his finger. "What's your problem, Athena?"



Harry and Ron sat in silence, each staring expectly at the door. Ron was very pale.

"This is all my fualt," he whispered. "Patrice and Hermoine were friends before I started going out with Patrice."

"It's not your fualt. I don't really think Patrice would hurt a fly."

"She tried to kill me."

"It was a dream, Ron."

"Glad to see you guys actually listened for once," said a familiar voice.

"Hermoine!" Harry jumped out of his seat, but Ron was faster. He swept Hermoine into a big hug.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," Ron said. Hermoine laughed.

"I won't."



Harry gave Hermoine a quick hug. He noticed Patrice talking with Dumbledore. She was crying, and Dumbledore was consoling her.

"What happened to you?" Harry asked.

"Some of Voldemort's henchmen got into the school. They caught Patrice and I. They tried to find you, but you guys had already gone to dinner."

"Is Patrice okay?" Harry asked.

"She will be. In time. Don't ask me any more. If Patrice wants to tell you, she will."

"All right." Harry gave Hermoine a smile. "You sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine."



Ron looked her over.

"You're a mess. Who rescued you?"

"Sirius."

"What?"

"He bit one of the henchmen's hands, and got our wands back to us."

"Good old Sirius," Harry said with a grin.



Dumbledore came over. He looked unusually grim.

"Go on to bed, boys. Mrs Coeur will escort you. Hermoine, if I could have a word?"

"Yes, Proffessor."

"Thank you." Harry cast a reluctant glance over his shoulder as he followed Ron out. Patrice still stood in the doorway, but she had composed herself slightly. She was fumbling around in her pockets for a tissue.

"Here," Harry whispered, handing her one. "I'm glad you two came back all right."

"Thanks," she sniffed, taking the tissue. "Goo' night Harry."



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Hermoine waited until the boys had gone. Then she looked up expectantly at Dumbledore.

"They were very worried about you," Dumbledore said.

"Not nearly as much as they should have been. This mess isn't over. They know how to get into the school."

"I know. An oversight on my part. I had not realized that she was an illegal animagus. I have changed the enchantments on the school slightly so that an animagus in animal form must pass through the front doors now, but I must admit I left it open for Sirius's sake. I can no longer afford such liberaties."

"You can do that?" Hermoine whispered, awed.

"It is not as difficult as it may seem, Miss Granger. Now, you have some explaining to do."

"Yes, Proffessor?"

"Why did you not alert any of us that you knew where your familiar was?"

"I didn't know until I heard a strange voice. Crockshanks was calling out to me."

"When did this happen?"

"When I was falling unconscious." He nodded thoughtfully.



Dumbledore looked up at Patrice.

"Miss Esotich, are you all right?" Patrice gave a wooden nod. "Good. We need you. Are you able to go to classes tomorrow, or should I notify your professors that you are not feeling very well?"

"I will be fine, proffessor. I need to keep busy."

"You know that we must contact the Ministry?"

"I know, professor." Patrice looked down.

"And you are aware that we must report you two were kidnaped?"

"Yes, professor." She began to shift back and forth nervously. Hermoine wondered what had Patrice so worried.

"How would you like to have had escaped?" he asked with a smile. Patrice looked up in surprise.

"Professor?"

"Well, I cannot very well tell them who actually saved you. That would reveal our existance. So, I am afraid I must lie." Patrice looked to Hermoine.

"I don't know professor. Perhaps we. . . we. . . Oh I am not good at this sort of thing."

"I have an idea," Hermoine replied softly. "One of our friends noticed we were not at supper, and told Mrs Coeur. She, in turn, sought you out, and came after us. Using an invisibility cloak, she snuck up on our captors, and while they were not looking she retrieved our wands and apparated us to safety." Hermoine smiled. "It is pretty close to the truth."

"Good one, Hermoine," Patrice said. "I approve."

"Knew you would."

"Then it is settled. Go on to bed girls. I am sure Mrs Coeur would be delighted to take you to your common room, since she is so eagerly listening in." Dumbledore gave a little chuckle as Mrs Coeur came around the corner, her face red. Hermoine smiled, shaking her head. She would never understand professors.



Hermoine crawled out of bed the next morning with a terrible head ache. She heard commontion down below, coming from the common room. A blond head came up the stairs.

"What's up, Patrice?" she asked sleepily.

"The Daily Prophet got ahold of our story," her friend replied with a shrug. "We are suddenly very popular. And, people are all in a panic."

"Do you think they'll be able to get in here again?"

"No. Not the same way, anyhow."

"I'm sorry about all this, Patrice, that you were pulled into this mess."

"It happens," Patrice replied with another shrug. "Come on. We've got Potions first." Hermoine sighed.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. . ."



Mrs Coeur gave them each a smile as they slid into their desks, early.

"How's he doing?" Patrice asked softly.

"Better. He should be back soon. In time for exams, anyway." Hermoine groaned inwardly.

"I'm glad," Patrice whispered with a smile, as Ron and Harry came in.

"Good to see you boys," Mrs Coeur said. "Especially since you were on time today." Harry flushed. Ron cast a helpless look at Hermoine. She smiled, and felt her cheeks go red.



Ron stopped Hermoine as they left Care of Magical Creatures at the end of the day.

"Yes Ron?" Hermoine asked. Ron flushed, his freckles disappearing.

"Hermoine, would you, I mean, would you like to go out for Butterbeer, just the two of us?" He was blushing furiously now. His face matched his hair. "You know, when we go into Hogsmeade. I mean, it's not like you have to or anything but I thought it would be, er, nice if you and I, well-"

"Ron, I'd be delighted to go with you." She smiled. He gave her a grin.

"Thanks, Hermoine."