Disclaimer: No, we do not own anything! Only the plot of the story… and our shoes. Other than that we do not own a thing. Well there are our computers, we do own those. And our pets. But other than that we do not own a thing! Actually I (American Jen) do own an awful lot of clothes. And books. Not to mention my extensive Monty Python and Beatles merchandise. But other than that I do not own anything and I'm sure that British Jen owns nothing either… except of course her clothes and shoes… and books…
Chapter 3: The Theft
It seemed like potions class lasted forever, even more than usual with it being a double class. Snape kept rambling on about cleaning potions and the different variations that exist. Harry was slowly falling asleep, Ron was doodling on some parchment, and even Hermione seemed to be taking notes only every alternative sentence. They had already lost ten points due to another cauldron falling victim to Neville.
Just as Harry was about to close his eyes and drift into a peaceful slumber, a piece of crumpled parchment landed on his head. "Ouch." He lifted his head and stared at the wrinkled globe of paper that now sat before him. He also noticed a snickering Malfoy across the room.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked spotting the parchment in front of him. "And what would this be?" Snape picked up the parchment, unraveled it and read to himself. A small smile crept across his face. "I always had suspicions about you two," he stated handing the parchment back to Harry. "Detention, Potter, and five points from Gryffindor for writing things that don't apply to my lessons."
Harry looked down at the note. It read "Harry Loves Hermione" all over it. Harry looked across the room at Malfoy who was trying as best as he could not to burst out laughing.
Class ended five minutes later. Harry packed up and rushed out of the room as quickly as he possibly could. Ron caught up with him. "What was that about?" he asked curiously.
"Nothing. Just one of Malfoy's many tricks to get me in trouble with Snape."
"I'll get him, don't you worry! I'll curse him."
"I wouldn't try that," warned Harry. He remembered his second year when Ron had attempted to curse Malfoy. Of course, his wand was broken and the hex backfired on Ron, causing him to cough up slugs for most of the rest of the day. He hoped that by now, their fifth year, Ron would have learned his lesson.
"So, what did the note say?" Ron looked at Harry carefully, waiting for an answer. Harry looked behind him only to see Hermione with her nose stuck in a book, apparently not paying attention to anyone or anything around her.
"It said," he told Ron in a low voice, "Harry loves Hermione." Ron looked behind them as Harry had before to see that Hermione was still reading, and didn't seem to have heard Harry.
"Only Draco would say that kind of thing. I mean of course it isn't true."
"Yeah." Harry looked back at Hermione who was still reading. She had one hand holding the book, and one hand busy twirling a strand of hair. She looks pretty when she plays with her hair like that. What am I thinking? No, I'm not going to let Malfoy get to my head. I do not, absolutely do not, love Hermione in any way other than a friend.
He looked forward, not even realizing that he had been walking the whole time and stood in the Great Hall for lunch. He, Ron, and Hermione walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Actually, Hermione didn't sit down.
"I have to go to the library. I'll see you two later," she said as she rushed off.
"Of course! It's only two weeks into the year and she's already rushing off to the library," Ron stated sarcastically. Harry watched Hermione walk away, secretly wanting to go with her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Hermione sat at a small round table in the back of the library, with piles of books around her. She kept searching; looking for the potion that would help her. The first book she read didn't help and the mystery person in her dreams was bothering her.
"Ten books," she sighed to herself. "Ten books and no potions or charms to regain memories. They must all be in the restricted section. I wish Harry were here so I could use his invisibility cloak."
Hermione began to think about the situation. If she didn't find a spell then the dream would probably haunt her for the rest of the school year. She absolutely needed to find the identity of her long lost friend. She was desperate over a problem that most people would just ignore. But, she knew what she had to do. Hermione put back the books and fled from the library to her Arithmancy class.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Harry and Ron walked down the stairs from the North Tower. Divination class had just ended. Professor Trelawney had, of course, predicted Harry's demise, as was a tradition of every year. This year she decided to add a little more drama by predicting that Ron would die with him.
They walked carefully through the halls, hoping not to run into Malfoy and his cronies. After what happened this morning with Malfoy's dirty plan, which landed Harry detention tomorrow night with Snape, Harry didn't want to have any more problems today.
Arriving at their Defense against the Dark Arts Class, they walked inside to see Dumbledore sitting at the front desk, like he had done for the last two weeks. "When do you think we're going to get our real teacher?" Ron asked.
"I have no idea. Everyone is two afraid to take the post." Harry searched the room and found Hermione sitting at the front of the room doing some Arithmancy homework. Harry automatically knew that Dumbledore had given them another free period. Ron and Harry walked over to her and took a seat.
"Now that everyone has arrived, I would like to make an announcement. Your new Defense Teacher will be hear within the next three or four weeks, hoping that everything goes well." Dumbledore looked around the room, and Harry could have sworn that Dumbledore gave him a wink.
"Until then, you will have this class as a free period for today and next week's classes. After that, I want you to start reading your books on Dark Arts, so that you will have some knowledge of this year's studies. You will, of course, have to work extra hard the first few weeks that your new teacher is here, since you will be far behind. Now, I will let you get back to your work."
"Wait, Professor, who is our new teacher?" Hermione asked.
"I am sorry, Miss Granger, but I cannot say. He has wished me to keep it a surprise." Everyone got back to work, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to talk about their mystery teacher.
"It doesn't matter who it is. He's only going to stay for the year, if he's lucky, and then we'll get another one next year. Maybe the position really is cursed." Ron picked up his quill and doodled on his parchment.
"I don't think the position is really cursed. I think its bad luck and people just blame it on a curse because they are afraid to take the job," said Hermione.
"Well, I don't care who it is as long as they don't perform illegal curses on us again," stated Ron. "Hey, are you okay Harry? You haven't said anything." Ron looked down to see Harry with his head on the table, sleeping.
"He must've had a rough night sleeping," Hermione said. She stared down at Harry, looking at his untidy jet-black hair. She listened to him breathing, and she soon noticed that she had slowed down her breathing to match his. What am I doing? She thought. Why am I trying to match my breathing to his? I should be paying attention to my homework, not Harry. I don't even know why I'm paying any attention to him in the first place.
Hermione got back to work, Harry still sleeping and Ron talking to Neville about Divination. Half way through the class, Hermione walked up to Professor Dumbledore.
"Professor -um- may I go to the -um- lavatory?" she asked.
"Of course Miss Granger."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was late, close to midnight, and Harry and Ron sat in the Common room chatting. Hermione got up, said goodnight to them, and walked up to the girl's dormitories. "Merlin, I'm hungry," complained Ron.
"I don't see why," laughed Harry. "You had three helpings of everything tonight at dinner!"
"Yeah, well, I'm a growing boy, I need food."
"You sound like my aunt trying to defend Dudley. I have an idea. Let's go down to the kitchens and get some more pumpkin pie. I'll go get my cloak."
Three minutes went by and Harry hadn't come down from the dormitory. Ron decided that he'd better go see what was keeping him. Upon reaching the fifth year dorms, he saw Harry kneeling by his trunk, clothes tossed all across the floor around him.
"What are you doing, Harry?"
"I don't think that we'll be going down to the kitchens tonight."
"Why not?"
"It's my cloak, Ron. It's gone!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you to the following people for reviewing our story:
LyssaQuill (dont feel like loggin in @ i m lazy. harry rulez): Thank-you, that was a good idea, the site takes ages to update! We're glad you love the story! ^_^
Kateydidnt: Thank-you! :)
Dave: Cheers – Here's the next chapter! ^_^
Leah: We hope that Harry and Hermione get together in the next book too! We do like Ron, we do, but we think that it just doesn't look right for him and Hermione to be together. But like we've said before, some people can see it and we respect them. Everyone is entitled to there own opinion! H/Hr forever! :)
Oceansun: Thank-you for letting us know that Gryffindor is spelt wrong! It shall be changed shortly. ^_^ (a.j.- it already has been changed)
k00lgirl1808: Here's the next chapter, we're far from over yet! Thanks! :)
Liliana-Suger: We are working on our spelling and grammar, thanks for your review. :)
tomzgurl77: We haven't decided who'll figure it out first. . . we'll just have to wait and see and you'll have to keep on reading! Thank-you! :)
hermione-smarts23: I (British Jen) haven't got a clue what Sirius is going to say, but I think that American Jen has an idea! She won't tell me! Thanks for reviewing! :)
Vivian Marie: It does sound cute, we can imagine a bushy haired Hermione and a scruffy haired Harry placing block after block on top of each other. . . Thank- you ^_^
Ice: Wow! We're on your favourites list! Yey! Cheers, that means more than a lot to us! Here's the next chapter!
hpdancer92: You don't have to wait much longer! :)
~*Emily*~ (loudane@msn.com): hmm, so you're not related in any way, shape or form to American Dream? You're too kind! ^_^
If British Jen has forgotten to mention a reviewer, then she is terribly sorry! It is hard trying to find out who's reviewed and who she has already thanked! If she has forgotten someone, then thank-you anyway! We love you and hoped you liked it so far! Cheers to everyone!
