When Harry, Ron, and Hermione got back to the common room, they found that it was fully of other Gryffindors. In order to avoid snooping students, the three friends found some chairs in the corner of the room.

"Okay." said Ron, after a long silence. "Who is Gannondorf?"

"And what's a Triforce?" Harry asked. He and Ron slowly turned to Hermione.

"Don't look at me!" she cried, a little taken aback. "You think that I know what and who those things are?"

"Yeah," Ron said slowly. "You know everything, Hermione! How could you possibly NOT know what they are?! We're desperate Hermione, you've got to think!"

"RON! I am not an encyclopedia! I don't know everything there is to know in the world! I'm as confused as you are about this whole thing!"

"Well maybe if you-!"

"Guys," Harry interrupted. "Fighting about things we're unsure of won't help to solve anything. But we also know that today, two people have called Harkinian a princess.but how is that possible?"

"I don't know," Hermione whispered, deep in thought. "This is all just so confusing! It doesn't make any sense."

"Hey, I've got an idea!" exclaimed Ron. "Remember in our first year when we went to research Nicholas Flamel because we'd never heard of him? Maybe we could do the same with this Gannondorf person!"

"That's a great idea, Ron!" Hermione agreed. "But of course, we're going to have to start looking for information tomorrow. The library is closed now."

"I don't know about you two," said Harry, standing up. "But I think I want to go to bed and get some sleep. Night."

"Yeah, me too," Ron consented, also standing up. "Night, Hermione."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Harry sat down for breakfast with Ron and Hermione.

"Where's Ginny?" asked Harry.

"Well, you know she got bitten by that Erkling the other day?" Ron said glumly. Harry and Hermione nodded. "She got infected. Ginny's in the hospital wing now, but Madame Pomfrey said she'd be okay."

"It's a good thing she's not too hurt," Hermione said, buttering a piece of toast. "I just hope no suspicion arouses around Hagrid."

"I'm not sure if Madame Pomfrey could tell what the infection came from," Ron said in response. "So I think Hagrid'll be okay."

"Oh no," Harry groaned. "We've got double Potions today with the Slytherins!"

"Of course we have it with the Slytherins," Ron sighed. "Who else? You know, I was just beginning to think that we'd be able to get through two weeks without having double potions. But no, we just had to have it on Friday."

"Typical," Hermione stated. "I just hope that Snape doesn't assign us another one of his essays to do."

"I thought you like doing essays," Ron and Harry said in unison.

"Just because I do well on them doesn't mean I like them!" Hermione exclaimed, a little insulted. "I just want to get good grades and do well!"

"Okay, okay," Ron said. "Don't have a cow."

"Well, we've got Charms after Potions," Harry remarked, changing the subject. "I hope he doesn't make us keep trying that Grumpy Spell. It's getting so degrading."

"I think Flitwick said this was our last day of it," Ron said. "And it had better be. I'm with you on it. What ever happened to the Cheerful Charms?"

"I say we move on to counter-jinxes," Hermione sighed wistfully. "You two could both stand a little help in that area."

"Har, har," Harry joked. "Just because you're a genius and we're idiots doesn't give you the right to keep reminding us about it."

"Hey, speak for yourself!" Ron laughed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Today," said Professor Snape. "You will be learning how to make the antidote for Erkling bites." Ron could've sworn that Snape glanced at him. "You'll find the instructions on the board, and ingredients on your desks. You may begin."

"So," said Harry, counting out a certain amount of hamster pellets. "Do you think this is just coincidence, or what?"

"No way," Ron breathed. "Snape knows about what happened to Ginny. Unless, of course, it IS really freaky coincidence."

"And I say that you two continue on your antidotes," Snape snarled at the two of them. "Perhaps later I'll test them on you.providing, of course, that someone gave me a pair of some Erklings." He walked away.

"Yup," Harry and Ron said together. "He knows."

"Hey, you guys," said Hermione, looking around. "Have you seen my jellyfish legs? I seem to have misplaced them."

"Nope," Ron responded. "I've just got the ones I need."

Hermione stooped down to look under her desk. While her attention was distracted, Malfoy leaned over and added several newt eyes to Hermione's cauldron.

Harry had seen him do it. "Malfoy!! What'd you do that for?!" As soon as he'd asked it, Harry knew it had been dumb. Malfoy hated Hermione simply for being a "Mudblood," and for being Harry's friend.

Malfoy put on his most innocent expression. "What on earth are you talking about, Potter? I didn't do anything!"

"I saw you!" Harry growled, gripping his wand in his pocket. "You put newt eyes in Hermione's cauldron when she wasn't looking!"

"What happened?" asked Hermione, standing up.

Snape quickly walked over. "Yes, what did happen, Malfoy?"

"I saw it all, professor!" Malfoy said. "Granger had bent down to look for some ingredients she lost, and then Potter put newts eyes into her cauldron!"

Slowly, Snape turned to face Harry. "Potter, surely you knew that newt eyes are not in the antidote?"

"Professor, I-"

"And I am slightly surprised that you would intentionally mess up Miss Granger's potion, since she is your friend and fellow Gryffindor."

"But sir, I-"

"Potter, I have an eyewitness. Ten points from Gryffindor, and meet me here at seven tonight for detention." Before Harry had another chance to argue, Snape swept to the other side of the room. Malfoy grinned and turned back to his own cauldron.

"Harry, you didn't do that, did you?" Hermione asked, who had finally found her jellyfish legs.

"Of course not!" Harry grunted. "Why would I do that, Hermione! It was Malfoy who put the eyes in your cauldron! Now you're going to have to start all over again!"

"No, I won't," said Hermione calmly. She made sure that Snapes back was turned, then quickly (but subtley) pulled out her wand. "Accio newt eyes!" she whispered, pointing the wand at her cauldron.

"Hermione! You're not allowed to-"

Harry watched on helplessly as a steady stream of newt eyes flew out of Hermione's cauldron and into her open hand. She quickly stuffed them into her pocket and carried on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that day at lunch, Harry, Ron and Hermione went straight to the library. They were still quite intent on researching Gannondorf.

"Well, at least we've got something of a start," Hermione pointed out, as they sat down at a table. "We know he's evil."

"How could that possibly help?" Ron asked.

"Because we know he won't be in anything like 'Wizards Who Helped To Save The World,' and stuff like that," Harry answered. "So come on, let's get started."

Hermione picked a book off the shelf that was titled, "Wizards That Revolutionized The Earth." She swore loudly upon discovering that the book had no index, and impatiently flipped through the pages for Gannondorf.

"Not in here," sighed Ron, who had just scanned the index of "Freaky Wizards and Where To Find Them."

"No luck in here," Harry said, closing a title-less textbook. "Hey look, there's Hagrid! Maybe he can help us!"

"We shouldn't ask him for help," Hermione disagreed. "Remember how reluctant he was to offer it when we were looking for Nicholas Flamel? He point-blank refused to give us the tiniest piece of information!"

"That's because we weren't supposed to know about Flamel!" Ron snapped, standing up and walking towards Hagrid.

"But what if we're not supposed to know about Gannondorf either?" Hermione asked, hurrying after Harry and Ron.

"Stop being such a worry wart," Harry said to her impatiently. "Hey, Hagrid!"

"Hello there, 'Arry!" Hagrid greeted them. "What're you lot doin' in the library when there's lunch ter be eaten?"

"We've been doing a little research," Ron answered. "On a wizard. And we were wondering if you could possibly give us a hand."

"I'll do the best I can," Hagrid responded cheerfully. "Who is it tha' you three are studyin'?"

"His name is Gannondorf," Harry whispered.

"Gannondorf?" Hagrid repeated, apparently non-plussed. "I don't know any wizard by the name of Gannondorf.are you sure that's the right name?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances. "Yes, we're sure."

Hagrid still seemed confused. "Sorry, mates. Can't help you there.but I got ter be getting' ter Professor McGonagall. She's been wantin' these Jobberknolls for inspection." The three friends noticed a large box he was holding. "But 'ere you go, since you ain't goin' ter lunch." He quickly gave them each a Fizzing Whizbee. "Well, gotta go."

"I don't believe it!" Ron exclaimed, as Hagrid siddled off. "He's never even heard of this guy before!"

"Unless he's faking it," Hermione mused. "Maybe he's learned from experience not to tell us anything of value. And besides, you heard Professor Harkinian.she said she didn't know whether or not Dumbledore would be able to defeat Gannondorf!"

"Maybe he's even worse than Voldemort!" Harry said, making Ron flinch. "Oh, stop being such a sissy, Ron."

"But if he was worse than Voldemort, SURELY we'd have heard of him?!" Hermione cried desperately. "We definitely would have!"

"Unless he's from ancient history," Harry whispered. "You know, like maybe he can live forever, but he went out of action for a few centuries!"

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"If Gannondorf was evil in, like, 5,000 B.C., maybe nobody knows him! It is possible that he's immortal and can survive.but he got stopped by something and-"

"Okay, I think I've got your point," Hermione interrupted. "And of course, Hagrid could've been telling the truth about not knowing who Gannondorf was."

"I don't know about you two," said Ron. "But I'm eating this Fizzing Whizbee now. I'm starving!"

"Yeah, me too," said Harry, starting to eat his. Hermione did the same.

"EXCUSE ME!!" came a voice from the other side of the room. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned around. It was Madame Pince, the librarian. "You should know by now that food is forbidden from the library at all times!! NOW GET OUT OF HERE!!"

"Okay, okay, we're going," Ron sighed, as they packed up their things.

"I HEARD THAT, WEASLEY!!" Madame Pince roared. "NOW GET OUT!!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

DUN DUN DUNNN!!!! Ain't Malfoy a stinker?