Jenny: Guess what? I fixed the Impedimenta mistakes! Yah for me! No more complaints! Thanks!

Queen Isa: I think Wormtail is a dirty, lying thief, a waste of skin and a dumb excuse of a human being and a man that Harry should torture with the imperious curse until they scream 'uncle'! And you'll have to find out if Marindernia is working for Voldemort and if Wormtail's in here ^_^; (I like to keep my reviewers on the edge.)

Cherrymist: I wont stop writing this fic until it's finished! I know better *grin*

Max Lonewolf: G'day, eh? OK, I did have fun with the mosquitoes up north. We played beer games, eh? But they can't hold beer bottles. Have you ever had that problem? When you find a bug that you couldn't play beer games with? I met a few up north, eh? And they couldn't hold beer bottles to play beer games. Have you ever had that problem? When you find a bug that you couldn't play beer games with? (H/H will be with you shortly, Mr. Lonewolf. Please have a seat.)

Whoever the heck you are: Hi! I'm a lazy bum! My butt is lazy because I can't get my story up sooner than I'd like to! Say hello to my lazy butt.  (Lazy butts aren't all that bad! My Prime Minister has a lazy face, but he still manages to run Canada!)

E.C.R Potter: Oh, you're sensing the right things. Yep. I told you all there'd be H/H! I'm glad you reviewed!

Dragonblond_04: Whoa, now. Let's stay away from the drugs, shall we? *giggle* Don't give any of that Marindernia info away, okay? My career will blow up into smithereens. And…you added me to your favorites list? THANK YOU!

Snufalufagus: There isn't enough of this story? Well, I hope there will be enough when it's finished… by then, it'll be roughly longer than the size of the second book (And I'm not lying. I actually checked!) Thanks for your review!

E.C.R Potter (added on Sept 2)- Oh Boy. I didn't even catch that! Okay, thanks for telling me about the mistakes. I changed them. (I thought I did so well! *sob*)

THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS!

…~'*'~…

There weren't many students around the castle. The flow of people in the corridor had minimized and the chatting had lowered to almost a whisper. It was Christmas, and everyone had left in the morning to go see their families back home. Meanwhile, those staying at Dryconderoga couldn't get more into the Christmas spirit; everything was normal again. Or at least until the Christmas season was over.

            Nobody could visit Harry in the infirmary after Hermione had left in the morning. The main reason the Hogwart's students were so happy because they were eagerly waiting until the Christmas feast where Harry could dine with them. It would be like it was a week and a half ago, with Harry talking and laughing while Ron told banal jokes.

            But Ron had left to go to the Burrow with his brothers and sister right after he visited Harry, and Hermione was glad. She and him hadn't spoken to each other since their visit with Harry in the infirmary.

"Why are you so mad at him?" inquired Parvati when they were getting ready for the feast in their dorm (she was staying at Dryconderoga for the holidays as her parents were traveling the country), "Did he do something wrong?"

            But Hermione, being very mulish and not wanting to resurface the long string of spiteful words, replied with, "None of your business."

            Even though Harry had forgiven her, Ron's words were heavily embedded in her mind, as it was all true, as much as she hated to admit it. Harry could forgive and forget easily, but Ron was incredibly stubborn and for the most time, he'd find something wrong in everything.

            Hermione had other things to worry about, of course. She came up with a plan while watching the Gryffindor snowball fight on the grounds with Ginny and Parvati. It was a good plan, because Harry was soon to leave the infirmary. Nothing had dared to attack him there, so if he left, he would become incredibly vulnerable. He'd dealt with things that threatened his life many times, but he really had no idea what had attacked him of what was causing it. And he certainly didn't know that Hermione had met his attacker before.

            Hermione needed to find out more about this false 'Marindernia' figure, and for that, she needed to go back to the abandoned classroom that she found her in. She was sure the 'Marindernia' who attacked Harry wouldn't be there; the real one signed up to leave the school for the holidays. It would be difficult and it would mean that she needed to leave to go there at midnight without being seen, so she planned on asking Harry for his invisibility cloak. How she was to do that and not make him get too suspicious was beyond her.

            Hermione left her dorm after a few minutes of thinking about half-an-hour before the feast would start.

            It appeared that many had decided to wait for Harry too, wondering how well he did with his recovery; people were scattered everywhere. A few Ravenclaws were sipping steaming mugs in the corner and the remaining Slytherins were talking in whispers in the corner while the Gryfindors celebrated in the other.

Hermione sighed and slumped into a chair at the table where nobody would notice her, twirling her new necklace Harry gave her between her fingers. She wished Harry would hurry; she was starting to think about what Ron said and if she believed it. She needn't worry or wait long, because there was a sudden rush of people crowding through the door. Harry walked inside, and he didn't get far before he was engulfed by the horde of waiting boys and girls, asking him questions and thumping him on the back in happiness.

Hermione watched as Harry, who was now wearing his school robes rather than nightclothes, walked over to her, a huge grin on his face. It faded at once, seeing Hermione's face.

            "Something wrong?" he asked her, taking off the wreath and putting it on the table, "You still aren't mad at Ron, are you??"

            "Never mind me… how're you feeling?" interrupted Hermione, not wanting to lie and say that she wasn't angry.

            "Better," smiled Harry, but his eyebrows were raised.

"Listen, we better go before everyone leaves. I bet everyone's in the hall already," said Hermione, quickly getting up and marching ahead of Harry to the portrait. Harry followed, staring at the back of Hermione's head very suspiciously.

            They followed a group of Hufflepuffs out the common room and down the corridor to the Grand Hall. Hermione was amazed how well Harry recovered. They just passed the place were he lay bloody and mangled a week and a half ago, and now he looked very well, except for a few minor scratches here and there and his still bandaged arm. He was smiling, which was definitely an improvement.

            They entered the Grand Hall, which was mostly empty. There was only one table available to sit at, which was the Nockdernian one in the middle; there wasn't many students staying for the holidays, so it was obvious that there was no need for the use of all tables. Hermione could see that many people were already sitting – most were gawking at Harry.

            "There isn't many places, are there?" said Hermione curiously, looking around for places to sit.

            "I suppose some couldn't leave because they live too far away," said Parvati, who was just coming up behind them, "Pity."

Harry and Hermione stood for a moment, looking around, until Hagrid waved them over from a spot at the end of the table, where, unfortunately, most people were sitting. They trudged over to him.

            "Harry, how're you feelin'?" Hagrid boomed from across the table. Hermione was very much aware of the staring eyes from all directions. She felt her face burn in anger.

            "Much better, thanks," answered Harry, smiling. He glanced at the several others, all whom were from either Dryconderoga or Nockdernia, sitting across from Hagrid. They stared back at him. "D'you mind if we-" he didn't need to say anything more. They all shuffled down the bench to make room for both of them to sit. "Er… thanks," said Harry.

            "So what have you been doing, Hagrid?" Hermione asked him to make conversation once they had sat down, Hermione next to Harry and Harry next to a very short Nockdernian boy. She thought if Harry had something to talk about, he wouldn't think much about all the eyes in his direction.

            "Bin' keepin' our Dragon amused in his paddock," said Hagrid, as though the topic thrilled him, "Yeh need teh keep 'em busy, or they'll get bored rigid and have tantrums."

            As much as Hermione was trying not to picture that enormous dragon on the Dryconderoga grounds having tantrums, she couldn't help notice that many others were interested in their conversation.

            "You've been keeping that Dragon in a paddock?" said Harry in disbelief.

            "Sure, why not? He won' leave," smiled Hagrid, his beady eyes shinning enthusiastically. Harry, his mouth open in astonishment, was about to add something, but a loud, excited voice was heard by everyone at the other end of the table. Siamoen, who was wearing red and green robes for a change and a strange hat with a wire holding a clove of mistletoe on it, spoke so everyone could hear.

            "Well, it's the holidays!" he cried, "And we must celebrate! We have quite a night planned for you all. There's no reason to go home, you'll have just as much fun here!"

            One of the boys who were sitting a few spaces from Hagrid snorted and raised his eyes to the ceiling. He was obviously not from Hogwarts.

            "First we'll have our fantabulous feast, courtesy from our fantabulous house elves!" Harry glanced at Hermione with a smile, "So sit back and enjoy!"

            Some applauded when he sat, and when he did, the platters and trays of food came soaring through the usual door and landed on the table like Hermione had seen it everyday. The food was decorated with Christmassy coloured ribbons and garland and there seemed to be more of a selection than usual – Harry was overjoyed.   

            "All I've had all week was soggy soup and green water," he said, helping himself to some yorkshire pudding and some funny looking olives. Hermione followed suit.

            The feast was grand, despite the stares from all around. Because that Harry was sitting next to her, Hermione felt uncomfortable as well. But with the food of such a larger variety than any other day, most people had started to loose interest within the first five minutes. Even Hermione was enjoying her roast beast so much that she almost didn't hear the startling start of a conversation between a boy from across the table, who looked as thought he was a third year, and Harry.

            "So… y-you have dragons at Hogwarts?" the boy asked Harry with a bit of gravy dripping down his chin. Harry looked up at him in surprise, and the boy shrunk back a little.

            "Not all the time," answered Harry, "We've only had them twice since I started school."

            Hermione watched as the boy's eyes glistened. Some others, who were apparently his friends, listened in.

            "Yeah, you had them at the Triwizard Tournament, right? I read it in the paper," said the boy with a little bit of enthusiasm, "What're they like?"

            Harry swallowed and took a swig from his goblet, "I know that they're slow when you're on a broom, and their tails are really sharp. And… I suppose they're a bit stupid."

            The boy laughed and jumped in his chair.

            "What about Quidditch?" asked a girl with a ribbon in her hair who was sitting next to the boy, "You play it, don't you?"

            "Of course!" said Harry with a grin, "I'm a seeker for my house Gryffindor. Do you play?"

            "Only forever!" gasped the girl who's eyes were glistening now, "My father taught me when I was five and I've been really good at it ever since. I'm a chaser for my house in Nockdernia," she leaned over the table, "And… I heard that you were the youngest player in a century at Hogwarts!"

            "I started in my first year," said Harry, "In my first match I swallowed the snitch. We won after only a few minutes."

            Hermione smiled, remembering that time. She was hanging out of the stands right after she had set Snape's robes on fire, watching for Harry. She saw him being sick in the middle of the pitch and coughing up a tiny winged ball. Then the whistle sounded.

            "That's brilliant!" squealed the girl.

            "Me and my friends thought you would act really awful if we tried to speak with you," added the boy, who had obviously taken a new outlook on Harry, "I thought you had a really bad temper, with all that You-Know-Who business and the tournament going on."

            Harry and Hermione glanced at each other with raised eyebrows.

            "He's not bad tempered at all. I'm sure you've had a few bad days once in a while, right?" said Hermione so Harry couldn't answer. The boy and girl nodded in agreement, a little too vigorously, it seemed to Hermione.

            "I'm Wade, by the way. Wade Warner," said the boy, sticking out his pudgy hand for Harry to shake, "And this is Mamie Shandrock."

            "Pleasure!" giggled the girl, also shaking Harry's hand.

            Although Harry seemed a bit uncomfortable, he shook the girl's hand too, "This is my best friend-"
            "-Hermione Granger," Wade finished for him, "I know. I read that fantastic article in the paper this morning!"

            Hermione thought mostly everyone had seen that article already. Perhaps that was one of the reasons Harry was getting so much attention from strangers.

            "Oh. Well, how else do you know me?" Hermione asked him. She stared at him in surprise as he snickered into his hand, which had encouraged Mamie to giggle as well.

            "We also know you as Harry Potter's girlfriend," they said in between giggles. Hermione's mouth fell open and her face burned. But Harry didn't really seem to hear what they had said. He was looking across the hall at something, and just as Hermione was about to say something back, he elbowed her in the ribs.

            "Ouch! What was that for?"

            "Sorry," he apologized quickly without looking at her. Hermione, who had a hand on her side, looked over as well, "Looks like someone decided to join in on the feast."

            It was Silversmith. Wearing heavy robes of fur, he had just walked through the Grand Hall doors, making snow blow everywhere. Everyone jumped as he door slammed shut. Hermione watched as the bulky man crossed the hall to the professor's table, walking as thought he had a stone in his boot. But when Hermione looked closer, she realized that he was limping.

            Silversmith hobbled all the way to the end of the table, where Dumbledore was sitting with Professor Kohl and Siamoen. He said a few words to him, and Hermione thought she saw - she blinked a few times to make sure – Dumbledore scowl at him in a very angry manner. So did the other headmaster and headmistress. Silversmith, nodded at something Dumbledore said and left the Grand Hall down the nearest corridor.

            "That's strange," said Wade thoughtfully, watching Silversmith leave.

            "What's strange?" Harry asked him.

            "That man was at the Ministry a few days ago. My dad works there… assistant for the Minister," he answered, "He caused quite a stir."

            "What for?"

            "I dunno," said Wade, "Why, do you know who he is?"

            "He's out Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor," answered Hermione, and Wade raised his eyebrows.

            "But I read that position was cursed!"

            "It is," replied Harry dryly, and then muttered in Hermione's ear, "We've better keep on eye on him."

            But Silversmith hadn't re-appeared for the feast. Harry and Hermione kept looking at the place where he left, but he didn't return to sit at the end of the table with the other Professors.

The feast turned out to be quite enjoyable after Harry and Hermione had met Wade and Mamie; it was like with all the others who didn't know Harry watching, it dawned on them that Harry was only human. The questions for Harry continued from others down the table from them; Hermione lowered her head, while pretending to eat when really, she was red with mirth.

It was when the platters and dishes were cleared when Hermione remembered about her plan that needed Harry's invisible cloak.

"Uh… Harry," stuttered Hermione, unsure how to ask him and not make it sound suspicious. Harry looked at her, "C-can I bor-"

But Siamoen had interrupted her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention." everyone went quiet, "Now that we've all feasted, I'd like to suggest that this is your holiday, and you should have fun! You may roam the castle, wander outside, do whatever your heart desires. It's your free time. I only ask you to remain on the grounds."

Everyone left the tables and left through the many exits. Harry and Hermione, however, remained seated, looking around. They were hoping to see Silversmith show, since the feast was over, but he hadn't.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you, Harry and Hermione," said Wade as his friends were pulling him from the table, "See you later!" He disappeared down a corridor to the right of the hall. Hagrid, too, bid them goodbye with the reason of feeding his dragon some leftover bones that were the size of a dinosaur's. This left Harry and Hermione alone with a few of the professors.

"What do you want to do now?" Harry asked Hermione as they stood.

"Er… maybe we could go for a walk?" suggested Hermione, hoping that she'd have some time to ask him to borrow his cloak, "I haven't seen all of the grounds yet."

Harry agreed, and they left for their dormitory to gather their heavy cloaks. After a few minutes, they crossed the Grand hall, bundled in layers of warmth, and left the castle.

The grounds looked pretty much the same when Hermione looked out her window that morning, except some of the snow had fallen off the branches. People were scattered everyone, some throwing snowballs and some building snow castles. A few first years were chasing a tall three-legged bird - that resembled a peacock, more than anything – below some snow-covered fir trees a far ways off. Harry and Hermione strolled down the slopping lawn and walked along a slippery lane that would eventually lead to the edge of the grounds.

"So Silversmith went to the Ministry," said Harry thoughtfully, tightening the cloak around him, "D'you know anything about that?"

"None whatsoever," sighed Hermione, "I mean, what would he be doing there anyway? And causing a disturbance… Fudge would've been furious."

Hermione glanced at Harry. His lips were in a thin line and his eyebrows were together. He didn't like Cornelius Fudge much; the two of them somewhat had a sudden grudge against each other from what happened last year with Voldemort and Cedric Diggory. Fudge had claimed that Harry's scar – and Hermione had thought the idea was completely absurd – was causing him to act delusional and mad. It was partly because of Rita Skeeter's completely fictitious 'Harry Potter Disturbed and Dangerous' article and his own misguided fear that Voldemort was back in full power. He hated to face the truth, even if it was genuine, and the way Hermione saw it, he was a terrible Minister of Magic. Since then, he had developed a small fear of Harry.

"Our concern is Silversmith," Hermione said heavily, "and what he's been up to. We don't even know who he is."

They silently came across the frozen lake. Hermione was beginning to doubt if her plan would really work; it seemed as if there was no way of asking Harry for his cloak. Without anything to say, Hermione just kept walking along his side.

"Hermione," started Harry curiously, "what you were saying to Dumbledore after the Tournament… I don't understand it."

It took a moment for Hermione to realize what he was talking about, but with a disturbing lurch, she understood. He was still watching what was in front of him as they walked, but she could tell he was listening hard.

"You don't know what happened on the night you were attacked, do you?" she asked him, "Tell me what you remember."

Hermione could tell he was screwing up his brain in concentration, attempting to remember whatever he could. He sighed, shook his head and said, "All I remember is walking down to the common room, then… I might've imagined it, but I saw red light. After that, I think I was knocked out… does that make sense?"

Hermione nodded slowly, "It makes perfect sense, Harry."

"So… you know something then," said Harry quietly, looking at her, "Hermione, I need to know what you know."

They came across the back entrance of the castle where Harry sat on the cold, stone steps in front of it and gestured Hermione to do the same. Hermione was afraid of this. She had to tell Harry everything now. She really didn't want to, but with Harry's eyes watching her eagerly, she had no choice.

"It may sound far-fetched-"

"I can believe anything right now, Hermione, and I know better of you than for you to lie," urged Harry. Hermione swallowed hard and began to tell him everything, from the time where she pretended to be ill the point where Dumbledore carried him away in a stretcher, Harry's eyes growing wider with everything she said. Hermione felt sympathy for him, telling him what had happened to him when he didn't know. But there was something in his eyes, Hermione noticed, that made her think that he believed and understood every word of the disbelieving and incredulous story she was reliving for him. It was just like when she told Dumbledore her story.

"I've seen Marindernia, Harry, and she's acting perfectly normal. She doesn't know what she did," Hermione finished.

            Hermione stayed perfectly silent as Harry thought it all over. A hand on his chin and his elbow on his knee, he looked at Hermione, "And I reckon you're willing to do something about it?"

            Hermione watched him curiously, "What do you mean?"

            "By the looks of it, you have a plan. You've been nervous all day," smiled Harry, "So what is it?"

            He knows too much, thought Hermione wearily. Nevertheless, she was glad he knew. That way, Harry, the bravest out of himself, Ron and Hermione, could accompany her. She swore she'd never return to the classroom where she found Marindernia, but now she really had a reason to.

            "Ok, here's what I was thinking," started Hermione eagerly, edging forwards so she could whisper and Harry could still hear, "There should be a celebration at around late sundown, but we mustn't go to that. If we could use your invisibility cloak, we could stay in the common room with it hidden until midnight. Then I can lead us to the classroom I found Marindernia in," she swallowed, "With a bit of luck, we'll find something there that could give us a hint on what's going on."

            "D'you think Marindernia would be there again?" Harry asked her slowly.

            Hermione really didn't know the answer, nor did she want to know. What if Marindernia was waiting for them? Harry was obviously her only intention of hurting, and if he does get caught… there goes another two week or more in the infirmary. Either way, Harry's face was set. He obviously realized the answer.

            "Well go prepared, then," he said.

            Hermione starred at him for a long moment, frowning. She hadn't forgotten their long talk in the infirmary, nor should Harry.

            "And… I'll try not to interfere with her. If she's there, I'll stay out of her way," said Harry. A smile was just visible at the corners of his mouth.

            "Promise?"

            "I promise."

…~'*'~…

There were cheers and hollers coming from the Grand Hall loud enough to make the clouds of snow shudder in the sky. Hermione had crossed the hall with Harry when it was near dark, trying not to make heads turn and questions asked to where they were going, but it was difficult. Most of everyone had given up on snowball fights to bask in the warmth inside. Eventually, they made it to the common room, which was unsurprisingly empty.

            As Harry ran to his dorm to fetch his invisibility cloak, Hermione waited in one of the armchairs by the fire, since she had never sat there before; the Slytherins normally occupied the entire end of the room where she was. Soon after, Harry arrived, panting slightly.

            "I haven't used this thing in a while," he said, collapsing in one of the armchairs opposite of Hermione, tucking the silvery cloak into his pocket "but I'm glad I will."

"D'you think we'll run into someone?" Hermione asked him nervously, "I mean, none of the Professors will be celebrating, will they?"

But Harry, looked strangely confident.

"I said we'd go prepared," said Harry, smiling as he put it back into his cloak.

They didn't have much of a choice on what to do until midnight. Harry's watch said it was almost eleven once they had decided to start a game of chess, and nearly fifteen minutes had passed when they had finished three rounds of it. Soon, they had gotten bored and only pretended to play when people walked by.

Hermione stared into the fire after a while of sitting silently. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt more anxious. What they were doing meant breaking about a hundred rules and Hermione didn't need another detention. On top of it all… there was still the fact that Marindernia, or whatever was controlling her, wanted Harry's blood. It made Hermione shiver with fright at the thought.

Soon Harry spoke up.

"Hermione," he said, making Hermione jump. He was staring into the fire as well, "I was just thinking... about the Anika Ball. I can't remember it much, but when I went outside to the garden to talk to Ron about-" he paused and sighed deeply, "Ron told me something that I already knew."

Hermione watched him carefully, but yet, Harry didn't take his eyes off the fire.

"I realized it when we came here to Dryconderoga," continued Harry. Hermione thought she was imagining it, but she almost saw a smile on his face, "I really liked what Ron told me and… you might think it's mad… but I think I-"

He didn't finish. It wasn't that he couldn't; it was that the doors of the common room burst open and people from the celebrations came bellowing inside. Harry finally took his eyes off the fire to look at them. Then he checked his watch.

"Hermione," he gasped, "It's midnight!"

They both jumped to their feet.

"Where were you two?" asked Justin Finch-Fletchley, who had just emerged into the room, "You missed the cake and sweets!"

"We didn't feel like going," said Harry hurriedly.

"Yeah," said Justin, smiling "Sure thing, Harry."

Harry narrowed his eyes at him, but before he could say anything, Justin had gone.

"Oh, forget him, Harry!" said Hermione in panic. She seized his arm and dragged him to the door. Once the stragglers had entered, they both slipped through the door before it closed.

"OK," said Hermione nervously, "We mustn't take long or someone'll get suspicious. We'll use your cloak when we get to the hall. For now, just follow me."

Harry nodded and they set off.

The corridors were very dark, but the windows high above let in some moonlight, just enough that Hermione could see where she was going. Trying to remember where exactly the abandoned classroom was, she gripped her wand inside her pocket, and led the way to the end of the corridor.

The stone basilisks cast enormous shadows across the floor and the noises – the squeaking floorboards, the suits of armor and the snoring portraits – seemed magnified somehow. They passed several classrooms until they came to a landing with a wide opening, and at the end of it was dim light.

Hermione looked behind her at Harry; he pressed a finger against his lips and nodded very slightly. Slightly bent-backed, they edged along the wall and peer past the wall.

Below them was the marble staircase entering the Grand Hall. The four long lines of tables were replaced for tomorrow's meals and it looked as though there weren't celebrations there at all. Hermione narrowed her eyes to see that there, walking down one of the rows, was Filch in his enormous overcoat, holding a lamp in his trembling hand. He was grunting and sounding very angry indeed.

"I've had enough of it, I tell you. Too many ruddy kids. Someone ought to get rid of 'em," he spat, kicking a table leg, then grunting in pain, "'The other caretaker's away on holidays' he says. Rubbish! I'll show him lack of respect…"         

Harry and Hermione watched him stumble all the way across the hall, then leave through a door, slamming it loudly. Hermione gulped – this was it.

She felt Harry cover them both with his invisibility cloak. Then, with a frightening jolt, she heard Harry whisper in her ear-

"Let's go."

They hurried down the staircase, careful not to tread on the cloak, and Hermione lead them to the corridor on their right. They walked as fast as they could without making any noise to the end of the passage and traveled down another corridor, passing classrooms and creaking suits of armor as they went. Then, with a horrible lurch in her stomach, Hermione found what they were looking for.

The classroom was just several paces away, but as far as Hermione could see, it didn't look all that dangerous. She pointed it out to Harry, and they crept towards it.

 Harry turned the brass knob and the door creaked open, revealing the old, abandoned classroom that Hermione swore she wouldn't enter. But Harry, who looked very eager, took the cloak off them and walked inside, pulling her gently by the arm as he went.

The classroom didn't look any different then the last time Hermione was there. The filthy up-turned desks and shelved books hadn't moved from their places and Hermione noticed that her dusty footprints were covered over again with dust. Harry took out his wand.

"Lumos," he muttered, and his wand tip lit up, "Where was she?" he asked Hermione quietly. Hermione pointed a trembling finger to the back door of the classroom that lead to the storage room. Harry nodded and he, with Hermione gripping his arm very tightly, approached it, guiding the wand light ahead of them.

Harry kicked open the door and found – nothing. Marindernia wasn't there, and more astonishing to Hermione was that the books that were thrown to the floor from the wind she created were all back in their shelves, misplaced from what Hermione had seen before. It looked as though someone had randomly put them back, but rather ruthlessly.

"She was floating in mid-air right there," Hermione breathed, pointing to the middle of the room. They both crept inside to look around. Hermione let go of Harry's arm.

"It doesn't look like anything happened," said Harry, who was investigating the bookcase.

Hermione felt the floor with her foot for a possible trap door.

"I don't know what happened. It was right here, but this room changed. I think someone was here to put it back together."

They spent a few moments investigating the bookshelves and walls for any trickery possible, under Harry's wand light, but nothing was worth the worry. Hermione didn't know what happened.

"I swear this is the room," she said rather uncertainly, "You do believe me, don't you?"

"Of course I do." said Harry reasonably, "It's just odd, isn't it? How everything's normal again?" he sighed, "Are you sure this is the right classroom?"

Hermione bit her lip, thinking hard.

"I-I think so…"

After a few more minutes of searching everything they could see, they left the back room. Hermione sat on one of the dusty, up-turned desks, wondering. What had happened?

"Nobody couldn't have seen you, everyone was at the task then. So how could anyone tidy this all up without knowing you and Marindernia were here?" thought Harry aloud, "I think you might've seen the last of her. Unless-" he looked at Hermione, "Reckon we should check the other classrooms?"

Hermione nodded sulkily. They got under Harry's cloak again and left the classroom, silently shutting the door behind them. They carefully crept to the next classroom. They opened the door, entered and looked around, but Hermione didn't recognize that one as the abandoned classroom either. They did this for several classrooms down the corridor, but none of them fitted Hermione's profile of the right classroom. Every room had the books neatly tucked in the shelves and the back rooms were organized, unlike the one Hermione saw Marindernia in. Yet every classroom they checked looked as though it were deserted years ago.

They came to the second last of the classrooms. They entered, yet it wasn't the right one either. Hermione was getting frustrated.

"I know it was this corridor!" she said angrily, "The classroom has to be here somewhere!"

"There's one more classroom left. She might be in there," said Harry sensibly.

But Hermione knew there was no luck that what she was looking for was in the next room. What chance was there of that?

"It's hopeless!"

She started to pace the room, racking her brain in thought.

"Maybe we should tell Sirius about this all," said Hermione quickly, talking to herself more than Harry, "I bet he'll know what to do. I just hope he'll believe me… you're the only one who does, besides Dumbledore. But he knows everything. What do you think, Harry?"

She looked around at him.

"Harry?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he was facing the wall, starring at a portrait of a hag. At least that's what Hermione thought at first.

"Hermione," he whispered so quietly that Hermione had to come nearer to hear him, "I hear someone."

Hermione approached the wall, listening… but heard nothing.

"Are you sure?"

She wasn't sure if he was pulling her leg, just to frighten her. Soon, Harry's eyes were growing wide.

"You mean… you can't hear that?"

"No!" said Hermione loudly, "Look, Harry, if your joking with me-"

She couldn't continue, for with a quick motion, Harry pressed his hand over her mouth from behind. She felt his unsteady breath on her neck.

"It stopped," he whispered, "He heard you."

Hermione hadn't seen Harry look so alarmed all year, and she was astonished to realize that… this was surely no joke. Uncovering her mouth, he dashed for the door, dragging Hermione along with him. They ran out of the classroom, slamming the door shut, this time not careful to make any noise. It was all so odd and unexpected, but Hermione knew better than to protest. All she knew was that something wasn't right and that she must follow Harry as quickly as she could. The reason why would soon become apparent - the sound of a door banging open behind them echoed down the corridor.

They ran all the way to the end of the second corridor, and when they were just about to skid into the Grand Hall, Harry stopped so abruptly that Hermione ran right into him. She looked up, and saw, unexpectedly, a shadow of a person on the wall coming towards them.

There wasn't enough time to use the invisibility cloak. Nevertheless, they flattened themselves against the nearest wall, held their breath and waited.

Hermione really wished she had night-vision to see in the dark, for she could hardly see them approach. Whoever it was swept right past them, and Hermione squinted to see that it was – Silversmith, wearing his nightclothes and holding his wand readily. He marched, rather unsteadily (his leg was obviously still injured), right past them and down the corridor they had came from.

"What is he doing?" breathed Hermione in horror, seeing that Silversmith broke into a run. He disappeared from view soon after.

"Come on!" said Harry.

They hurried out the corridor, dashed up the staircase that led to the Hogwart's dormitories and ran as fast as they could, not looking back. Hermione was ready to collapse in exhaustion once the dormitory door appeared in view. Once there, they threw themselves against the door and stumbled inside.

There, in the deserted dormitory, Hermione and Harry each collapsed into armchairs, panting and wheezing. They didn't talk for several minutes, and even if they tried, they found that they couldn't. There was too much adrenaline running through their blood and from the fear that they felt came waves of coldness. Once again, Hermione found herself swearing that she'd never again go into one of those abandoned classrooms.

"Harry," said Hermione breathlessly after nearly ten minutes, "What was that all about?"

Harry didn't answer right away. The burning embers from the fire lit his apprehensive face.

"I'm… not quite sure yet."

After a few more moments, he added, "It's obvious, isn't it? I heard someone talking in the next classroom from the one we where in, and you didn't."

"Well… what did they say?" Hermione asked him.

"It was blurry," said Harry, putting his face in his hands and elbows on his knees, "Something about… a curse, or someone destroying it. And… a murder."

Hermione starred.

"That happened in out second year, remember? You heard that basilisk in the pipes when no one else could," said Hermione, "But hearing that now… that's ridiculous! There can't possibly be any basilisks in the school!"

"Not a basilisk. It was human," said Harry, "There's no chance of that."

"Then it had to be a person. But the only people I've read about who speaks parseltongue is you and…"

Harry raised his head and nodded very slowly, his eyes unmoving on Hermione's.

"Voldemort."

…~'*'~…

A/N: It may be a little shorter than the last chapter, but it's as much as I could write. But I did double-check it for mistakes (thanks goodness I did. I found a mistake that said 'a fart ways off' instead of 'a far ways off') and I also corrected most mistakes in the other chapters before this one, including the IMPERIOUS AND IMPEDIMENTA mistakes! And… don't hate me… I didn't get the artwork done. Well, I did do some art for this story, but it isn't a pic of Harry, Marindernia and Tisroc. It's only of Marindernia, actually. Here's the link ---             http://www.geocities.com/lady_darkshine/marindernia          I really hope you like it!

Anyways, I came back from camping a week ago… but I kinda didn't want to. One of my cats got locked into my living room and our temporary housekeeper didn't realize it… you fill in the blanks. But now, everything's normal again, only school starts in 2 days *sigh* Oh well. Summer was good while it lasted!

By the way… I really used to like Eminem and his music.('Hey Eminem! I will hit a man with major issues.' Sincerely, Meg)