10. The Dark Mark again!
After the feast was over they moved into the hall to mingle. Harry noticed that Crabb, Goyle and Malfoy weren't into the spirit of the thing. Instead they were standing in a huddle talking.
"I wish I knew what they were talking about!" Harry said impatiently.
Hermoine hesitated, and then she grabbed his arm. "Come to my office quickly. Ron-you stay here and keep an eye on the terrible three!"
Ron looked as though he might protest at her bossiness, but instead he shrugged.
"What's up Hermoine?" Harry demanded as she raced him through the corridors to her office.
"You'll see." She replied mysteriously.
In the office she took out her wand. "I'm about to do something which is completely illegal here Harry, so you're going to have to keep quiet about it." She said.
Harry raised his eyebrows. Hermoine do something wrong?
"Don't look at me like that Harry!" Hermoine said, shaking her head. "I do sometimes do things which you don't expect. It's just a pity Ron doesn't realise that I'm not a complete nerdy loser.." Then she sighed and changed the subject. "I got the idea from Rita Skeeter."
"Rita Skeeter." Harry replied slowly, remembering. Rita had been a reporter covering the triwizard tournament when he was in his fourth year at Hogwarts. She'd caused a bit of fuss with articles about him and how he was portrayed. Harry still remembered how she had written, "Tears fill those startlingly green eyes as our conversation turns to the parents he can barely remember" despite the fact that it wasn't true. After causing enough trouble Rita was banned from the grounds of the school, however it appeared she was still getting information from something. It had been Hermoine that worked out that Rita was an unregistered Animagus. She was able to turn herself into a beetle, and therefore get the information she wanted.
"You're not talking about electronic bugs are you? I thought you said they wouldn't work-" Harry began.
"-No that's not what I mean." Hermoine replied. "I've worked out how to turn you into a bug."
Harry's eyes widened. "Turn me into a bug?" He repeated.
Hermoine nodded determinedly. Harry took a deep breath and then nodded. If anyone knew what they were doing it was Hermoine.
******
"Where's Harry?" Ron asked as Hermoine returned.
"Have they done anything?" Hermoine asked instead.
"No. They've just been talking, but if you ask me it looks like Malfoy is waiting for something." Ron replied.
Hermoine studied the three carefully. It was true that Malfoy had an even smugger look than usual on his face, and that he was looking around the room expectantly.
"So, where is Harry then?" Ron repeated his question.
Before Hermoine could answer there was the sound of someone behind them. "Yes, where is the famous Harry Potter?" Snape asked them.
"He's in the toilet." Hermoine replied. "He's embarrassed because we've been teasing him about Cho liking him!"
Snape's cold eyes seemed to look right through her. "I don't believe you Miss Granger, but I know that you're not going to tell me the truth, so it's no point asking." He said.
Hermoine bit her lip. "I am sorry if you feel that way Professor, but that's the truth."
After Snape had moved off and was safely out of earshot Ron whispered to Hermoine "Well spill it then. Where is Harry?"
"Here." Hermoine replied, and she opened her hand to release a fly. The fly disappeared over in the direction of Malfoy and his cronies.
Ron looked amazed. "Hermoine, I never knew you would do something like that!" He said.
"Yes, well in some cases there is nothing else for it, but to break the law." Hermoine replied a little embarrassed.
"You know Hermoine I've been doing some thinking lately." Ron said, obviously uncomfortable. "I've been thinking about our fight-"
"-not now Ron please." Hermoine interrupted.
Ron frowned. "Fine." He muttered sulkily.
"I didn't mean it like that. I've forgiven you Ron-and I hope you forgive me-but we've got to concentrate on something else at the moment!" Hermoine explained, and Ron looked placated.
They watched the others for awhile, mingling with other students, but not really taking their attention off where Malfoy, Crabb and Goyle stood in a tightly knit group.
'Harry!' Hermoine thought as the fly landed on her arm. "Excuse me." She said to the person she was speaking to and she left the room just in time as Harry turned back into Harry.
"Well?" She demanded.
"Malfoy was telling them about how his Father was counting on them, but he didn't actually say what for. And then they got talking about how people would straight away think that Voldemort had returned, and Malfoy was quite annoyed by that. "It's not that I don't want people to be scared by it all!" He said. "But I want them to know the truth!" And then they started talking about something else-something unrelated.." Harry explained.
"Something else?" Hermoine repeated.
"Nevermind!" Harry assured her. He didn't want to tell her that they had been discussing the students and how they had, or hadn't, changed, including Hermoine! When he heard Malfoy complain about how they were shocked to see a mudblood teaching DADA Harry had wished he was a bee instead of a fly so he could sting the annoying git!
They went back out to join Ron and then the whole story had to be told again.
"Well something's definitely up!" Ron declared, and Harry and Hermoine agreed.
Suddenly there was a commotion at the other end of the hall and everyone's eyes turned to see what it was. Smoke was rising slowly into the air and slowly taking the form of the Dark Mark. Nearby Harry heard Neville whimper, and Fred and George tell him it was nothing to worry about-just someone playing a practical joke. Harry remembered that they didn't know about the things which had happened. Nobody really did yet! His eyes darted straight to Malfoy and his friends. Malfoy was smirking slightly, and so were his friends. None looked at all concerned, nor surprised by the appearance of the Dark Mark again!
"It's Voldemort!" Someone cried. "Voldemort's back!"
This outburst lead everyone to start talking loudly, and looking scared. Hermoine glanced around, realising that the headmistress was still not there, and she stepped up to the front.
"Listen everyone!" She called. "Please everyone!"
People began to calm down and listen to what she had to say. "Everyone remain calm please. There is nothing to be alarmed about. It's all one big joke I am sure!"
Harry thought everyone was going to believe that until a voice asked "What about telling them everything which has been going on? I think it's about time the wizarding world knew what they might be dealing with!" It was Snape, looking smug.
Everyone was now staring at Hermoine expectantly. She swallowed nervously. How could she not say anything now when everyone was going to want to know what Snape had meant? She could deny it of course, but nobody would believe that. Before she knew it everyone in the wizarding community would have been told about the Dark mark appearing at Hogwarts twice, and the paper, and the strange disappearance of Professor Binns. And if that happened wouldn't she get into trouble for telling everyone something which was meant to be a secret? Before she could decide a stern voice spoke up. "What on earth is going on here?" It was Professor McGonagall back from London!
Hermoine crossed to her side to tell her, but the headmistress's sharp eyes had already caught the fading Dark Mark hanging in the air, and she went pale. Ron and Harry hesitated, and then hurried over to hear as well. The headmistress drew them to the side.
"Professor Granger." The headmistress said curtly. "We have no choice now but to owe these people, and the rest of our community, an explanation. I don't want to cause a panic and let people think that somehow Voldemort is returning, when we know that there is no way he could possibly return. But something is going on, and it is no doubt the work of dark wizards."
"You're right headmistress." Hermoine replied. She glanced at Harry and Ron, deciding then and there not to mention what they knew about Malfoy. Not considering she had done something illegal to obtain the information!
"Is it bad Professor?" Ron asked. "I mean, it's not going to be like when Voldemort came back to power, is it?"
The headmistress sighed. "I doubt it Mr. Weasley. Nobody could be as bad as Voldemort was, but I have to confess, I do have fears about what could happen!" Then she turned back to Hermoine. "I'll explain it all now."
The room was full of people speaking, and they all fell silent the moment the headmistress held up her hand for quiet.
After the feast was over they moved into the hall to mingle. Harry noticed that Crabb, Goyle and Malfoy weren't into the spirit of the thing. Instead they were standing in a huddle talking.
"I wish I knew what they were talking about!" Harry said impatiently.
Hermoine hesitated, and then she grabbed his arm. "Come to my office quickly. Ron-you stay here and keep an eye on the terrible three!"
Ron looked as though he might protest at her bossiness, but instead he shrugged.
"What's up Hermoine?" Harry demanded as she raced him through the corridors to her office.
"You'll see." She replied mysteriously.
In the office she took out her wand. "I'm about to do something which is completely illegal here Harry, so you're going to have to keep quiet about it." She said.
Harry raised his eyebrows. Hermoine do something wrong?
"Don't look at me like that Harry!" Hermoine said, shaking her head. "I do sometimes do things which you don't expect. It's just a pity Ron doesn't realise that I'm not a complete nerdy loser.." Then she sighed and changed the subject. "I got the idea from Rita Skeeter."
"Rita Skeeter." Harry replied slowly, remembering. Rita had been a reporter covering the triwizard tournament when he was in his fourth year at Hogwarts. She'd caused a bit of fuss with articles about him and how he was portrayed. Harry still remembered how she had written, "Tears fill those startlingly green eyes as our conversation turns to the parents he can barely remember" despite the fact that it wasn't true. After causing enough trouble Rita was banned from the grounds of the school, however it appeared she was still getting information from something. It had been Hermoine that worked out that Rita was an unregistered Animagus. She was able to turn herself into a beetle, and therefore get the information she wanted.
"You're not talking about electronic bugs are you? I thought you said they wouldn't work-" Harry began.
"-No that's not what I mean." Hermoine replied. "I've worked out how to turn you into a bug."
Harry's eyes widened. "Turn me into a bug?" He repeated.
Hermoine nodded determinedly. Harry took a deep breath and then nodded. If anyone knew what they were doing it was Hermoine.
******
"Where's Harry?" Ron asked as Hermoine returned.
"Have they done anything?" Hermoine asked instead.
"No. They've just been talking, but if you ask me it looks like Malfoy is waiting for something." Ron replied.
Hermoine studied the three carefully. It was true that Malfoy had an even smugger look than usual on his face, and that he was looking around the room expectantly.
"So, where is Harry then?" Ron repeated his question.
Before Hermoine could answer there was the sound of someone behind them. "Yes, where is the famous Harry Potter?" Snape asked them.
"He's in the toilet." Hermoine replied. "He's embarrassed because we've been teasing him about Cho liking him!"
Snape's cold eyes seemed to look right through her. "I don't believe you Miss Granger, but I know that you're not going to tell me the truth, so it's no point asking." He said.
Hermoine bit her lip. "I am sorry if you feel that way Professor, but that's the truth."
After Snape had moved off and was safely out of earshot Ron whispered to Hermoine "Well spill it then. Where is Harry?"
"Here." Hermoine replied, and she opened her hand to release a fly. The fly disappeared over in the direction of Malfoy and his cronies.
Ron looked amazed. "Hermoine, I never knew you would do something like that!" He said.
"Yes, well in some cases there is nothing else for it, but to break the law." Hermoine replied a little embarrassed.
"You know Hermoine I've been doing some thinking lately." Ron said, obviously uncomfortable. "I've been thinking about our fight-"
"-not now Ron please." Hermoine interrupted.
Ron frowned. "Fine." He muttered sulkily.
"I didn't mean it like that. I've forgiven you Ron-and I hope you forgive me-but we've got to concentrate on something else at the moment!" Hermoine explained, and Ron looked placated.
They watched the others for awhile, mingling with other students, but not really taking their attention off where Malfoy, Crabb and Goyle stood in a tightly knit group.
'Harry!' Hermoine thought as the fly landed on her arm. "Excuse me." She said to the person she was speaking to and she left the room just in time as Harry turned back into Harry.
"Well?" She demanded.
"Malfoy was telling them about how his Father was counting on them, but he didn't actually say what for. And then they got talking about how people would straight away think that Voldemort had returned, and Malfoy was quite annoyed by that. "It's not that I don't want people to be scared by it all!" He said. "But I want them to know the truth!" And then they started talking about something else-something unrelated.." Harry explained.
"Something else?" Hermoine repeated.
"Nevermind!" Harry assured her. He didn't want to tell her that they had been discussing the students and how they had, or hadn't, changed, including Hermoine! When he heard Malfoy complain about how they were shocked to see a mudblood teaching DADA Harry had wished he was a bee instead of a fly so he could sting the annoying git!
They went back out to join Ron and then the whole story had to be told again.
"Well something's definitely up!" Ron declared, and Harry and Hermoine agreed.
Suddenly there was a commotion at the other end of the hall and everyone's eyes turned to see what it was. Smoke was rising slowly into the air and slowly taking the form of the Dark Mark. Nearby Harry heard Neville whimper, and Fred and George tell him it was nothing to worry about-just someone playing a practical joke. Harry remembered that they didn't know about the things which had happened. Nobody really did yet! His eyes darted straight to Malfoy and his friends. Malfoy was smirking slightly, and so were his friends. None looked at all concerned, nor surprised by the appearance of the Dark Mark again!
"It's Voldemort!" Someone cried. "Voldemort's back!"
This outburst lead everyone to start talking loudly, and looking scared. Hermoine glanced around, realising that the headmistress was still not there, and she stepped up to the front.
"Listen everyone!" She called. "Please everyone!"
People began to calm down and listen to what she had to say. "Everyone remain calm please. There is nothing to be alarmed about. It's all one big joke I am sure!"
Harry thought everyone was going to believe that until a voice asked "What about telling them everything which has been going on? I think it's about time the wizarding world knew what they might be dealing with!" It was Snape, looking smug.
Everyone was now staring at Hermoine expectantly. She swallowed nervously. How could she not say anything now when everyone was going to want to know what Snape had meant? She could deny it of course, but nobody would believe that. Before she knew it everyone in the wizarding community would have been told about the Dark mark appearing at Hogwarts twice, and the paper, and the strange disappearance of Professor Binns. And if that happened wouldn't she get into trouble for telling everyone something which was meant to be a secret? Before she could decide a stern voice spoke up. "What on earth is going on here?" It was Professor McGonagall back from London!
Hermoine crossed to her side to tell her, but the headmistress's sharp eyes had already caught the fading Dark Mark hanging in the air, and she went pale. Ron and Harry hesitated, and then hurried over to hear as well. The headmistress drew them to the side.
"Professor Granger." The headmistress said curtly. "We have no choice now but to owe these people, and the rest of our community, an explanation. I don't want to cause a panic and let people think that somehow Voldemort is returning, when we know that there is no way he could possibly return. But something is going on, and it is no doubt the work of dark wizards."
"You're right headmistress." Hermoine replied. She glanced at Harry and Ron, deciding then and there not to mention what they knew about Malfoy. Not considering she had done something illegal to obtain the information!
"Is it bad Professor?" Ron asked. "I mean, it's not going to be like when Voldemort came back to power, is it?"
The headmistress sighed. "I doubt it Mr. Weasley. Nobody could be as bad as Voldemort was, but I have to confess, I do have fears about what could happen!" Then she turned back to Hermoine. "I'll explain it all now."
The room was full of people speaking, and they all fell silent the moment the headmistress held up her hand for quiet.
