Disclaimer: I, British Jen, own a lot of things. For example, I own lots of CD's and DVD's, books and clothes, but the best thing I got for Christmas was Harry Potter. My Mummy and Daddy bought him and his friends for me! They're all mine now! ^_^
American Jen- You wish!!!!! I always thought that you might have a crush on Snape though….
Chapter 4: Watching Eyes
Hermione crept nervously along the corridors making sure that she kept herself inside the shadows that lurked in the darkness. She slid one foot after the other, slowly and carefully she made her way towards the library. She was finding it hard to make out where she was. The dim light that was emitting from the oil lamp hidden under the invisibility cloak did little to help brighten up the passageway.
It was a strange commodity that Hermione could navigate her way blindfolded to the library from the common room during the daytime, but at night she found the task much more difficult. It was even harder now, she had to be careful in case the professors were prowling around. She knew that she was breaking the cardinal rule as a prefect, sneaking around the school after ours, but Hermione was desperate to find out who the person in her dreams was.
'Maybe I'm just out of my mind, I mean what does it matter if I find out who this person is. It's not they're going to be like the best friend in the world or my soul mate or anything. It's not like I can write them letter going 'Hey, how are you? I was the girl that helped rebuild your tower when someone knocked it down. Oh, and by the way, I've been having dreams about you lately, just thought I should let you know.' That sounds so stupid Hermione! Just get to the library quick.'
She continued to coach herself in a similar fashion until she reached the main doors to the library. She heaved a sigh of relief when she slipped through the doors and the familiar comforting smell of books swam up her nose, invigorating her mind. Not wishing to spend any more time than necessary, Hermione threw the cloak off and onto one of the many scattered tables. She ran as quickly as she could into the restricted section, under the rope and through the door, her heart pounding. 'Harry and Ron would laugh at you now, you're nervous like hell and you've only snuck into the library! Well Harry wouldn't laugh too much, he'd understand that this was important and he'd reassure you. He's so sweet sometimes, he's- STOP IT! He's your best bloody friend Hermione, get a grip.'
Hermione quickly headed for the set of books regarding potions, and without hesitation she held out the oil lamp, peering through the dust at the many forgotten books that must have been sitting there undisturbed in their slumber for years. She spent a good quarter of an hour searching with no avail; she was beginning to get impatient and worried that she would get caught. 'And what if Harry wanted to use his cloak, and then notices it went missing? Even if I did get away with it, he'd notice if I put it back tomorrow, and would instantly know that it was me that took it. How many other people know about his cloak? God Hermione, if you're so smart why didn't you think about this in the first place?'
The urgency was manifesting itself around Hermione, she never realised that there could be so many potions books in the restricted area of the library. Running along, she continued searching for anything to do with recalling forgotten memories or remembering dreams more clearly. She barely glanced at the titles, from 'Lovely Love Potions' to 'Destructive Draughts of Fire', from 'The Perfect Potion That Makes You Perfect' to 'Extremely Hard But Very Efficient Potions', but she couldn't find any that could possibly help her. She bit her bottom trembling lip, she was getting desperate. The shelves were running out fast, and she wasn't about to risk her status as a prefect without finding the book she needed so badly first.
Suddenly, she found one. She had to double back quickly, afraid that it would disappear from her sight. 'The Key to Your Mind, Remembering What You've Forgotten'
"Perfect!" Hermione wedged the rather small book out carefully from the cramped bookshelf, and wiped away the years off dust that had accumulated on the surface.
"What's that my sweet? You think that someone is in the restricted section of the library? Well let's just go and have a look and see if we can make a students life miserable." A horrible cackling of a laugh suddenly engulfed the air around a panic stricken Hermione, Filch was heading into the room. Quickly, she hid the book within her robes, and blew the light out. She couldn't risk Filch or Mrs Norris spotting it, the dark would have to help her.
'Oh no! The invisibility cloak! Why did I leave it by the door? This is going to be terribly difficult, you'd better not get caught and ruin everything all because of a stupid dream!' Hermione hid behind a bookcase close to the exit from the restricted section, and tried desperately to calm down her beating heart and slow her breathing so that she could hear where Filch was.
"Now, what's this?" his voice leered, "A lamp - who's here? Show yourself now; you won't get away in the dark." Hermione leapt for the door, this was her only chance. She ran as quietly as she could, but couldn't help the ragged breaths that escaped from her mouth. Suddenly, she heard a meow behind her, and the pounding of heavy footfalls.
Hermione could see the cloak; it was barely a few yards away from her. 'Quickly, come on Hermione, you can do it! Don't get caught!' She reached out for the cloak and grabbed it, skidding as she slowed down to throw it over herself as best she could. But then he was right in front of her. He was barely two metres away, looking directly into her horrified brown eyes. 'Oh no oh no oh no! I've been caught! Oh no, I'm going to get into sooo much trouble. Hermione, why are you so stupid?'
Suddenly without warning, Mrs Norris jumped onto her master's head, trying to get closer to Hermione, her venomous mouth spitting and hissing wildly, claws ready to strike.
"Get off me, you silly cat. I could have sworn that we nearly had them-"
Hermione couldn't hear anymore, she had taken the diversion and ran with all the speed that she could muster into the corridor and as far away from Filch and his cat as she could in the dark. When she was sure that the coast was clear, she slumped onto the cold stone floor, gasping for breath and shaking. She was so close to being caught, yet she had managed to escape.
"You are so lucky sometimes Hermione," She said to herself. "But how are we going to get back to the Gryffindor tower? I wish I'd taken the map as well!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ron was sat anxiously in a chair by the roaring fire, wringing his hands over and over
again, whilst Harry paced up and down the room shocked.
"Who could have taken it?" Ron asked, trying to slice through the tension with a knife.
"It's not like many people know that you have one. . .I wouldn't put it past Malfoy, he's
not thick. Remember in third year, with the mud and your suddenly appearing head at the
Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade, he knows!"
"Ron," Harry said for the one hundredth time, "It couldn't be Malfoy, he would be able
to get into the Gryffindor common room anyway, not even if Snape authorised it!
It wasn't him."
"Then who was it? Are you sure that you checked everywhere in your trunk, you
probably just misplaced it-"
"Ron!" Harry was beginning to get sick of his friends babbling. "I know that it wasn't
there, I checked everywhere. Someone's taken it."
"Well it can't have been Hermione, she went to bed, and she'd never break the rules
being a prefect, and it couldn't be anyone in our dorm, they wouldn't go through my
trunk without permission."
"Well then who Harry?"
Suddenly the portrait to the common room flung open. "Quick, hide!" Harry whispered to
Ron. They both jumped behind the armchairs just in time. They watched as the portrait
shut, no-one had come through. But then-
"HERMIONE!" Ron yelled as she pulled the cloak off herself.
"W-w-what are y-you two s-still doing up?" she asked. 'Damn Hermione, yet again! You
escape Filch but you get caught by your best friends, good one!'
"Let me explain, please" she pleaded, looking Harry directly in the eye. Harry felt a
sudden turning inside his stomach. 'Stop it' he told himself, but it wouldn't go away.
Something about the way she looked at him. . .
"Go on then," Harry replied with a small smile. Ron was flabbergasted, he couldn't
believe Harry was being so calm about the whole thing.
"Umm, Harry-"
"Shut up Ron, just listen." Ron's mouth fell open.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Time to thank our reviewers:
Lyssa: Don't know whether we've thanked you enough, so have a big virtual hug and a lollipop and keep reading and reviewing! And British Jen will read your fic tonight!
hpdancer92: Another loyal reviewer! We love you too! Have a big cookie and a hug as well! I don't know how they're going react yet (I wonder if American Jen is keeping stuff from me. . .)
Fiona: Ahh, you're so sweet too! Thank you!
Leah: You're another loyal reviewer. Take your share of a hug and you can have a Hershey's or something (ask American Jen, I'm not American I'm british. I would have said have some malteasers hehe! If you know what these are, you must love them!)
Merciful Mother of the Galaxy: Don't worry, there is plenty more too come yet. Join the rollercoaster!
blue-strawberry52: NO we are not split personalities, we are two Jen's that live on opposite sides of the ocean and we write under one name, JenSquared! Anyway, you are too kind! Next chapter shall be up soon!
