Hermione's Letter
Chapter 3
by Steve
Please R&R! Reviews keep me writing!
Thanks to the people who have reviewed so far. Your reviews have encouraged me to continue writing this story.
---
Chapter 3
Harry and Ron simply sat on the seat, paralysed by the letter. Both kept opening their mouths to speak, but words escaped them.
Eventually Ron managed to comment.
"Bloody hell!"
Hermione nodded. "I think that about sums it up."
Harry continued the conversation. "Do you believe it Hermione?" He was pretty sure he knew the answer.
"Well I was dubious at first, but I think so. I mean look at the spells sheet attached." Harry took the sheet and started to glance down it. Hermione continued. "Those spells wouldn't be available to just anyone. Secondly it does at least sound like me writing, I would do the same if I were in a situation as desperate as this."
"But we can't be sure that it isn't just a stupid prank by someone with access to high level spells," piped in Ron. "Think about it. Draco's father probably has access to this type of magic. He could have given it to him, or perhaps Draco sneaked a look at his father's magic books without him knowing."
Hermione, of course, had considered this. "We can't be sure; and that's the main problem. So we must find out if it's true."
Harry looked up at Hermione's deep brown eyes. "But how?"
Hermione's expression indicated her disgust at what she was about to say.
"We could do what we did before: brew some Polyjuice Potion and turn into Crabbe and Goyle. Only this time I'm making sure I don't get cat hair. And I'll try and do something about the taste of the mixture too."
Ron looked just as disgusted, if not more so. "Aww Hermione, do we really have to do that? I mean, isn't there any other way? Can't we just read his mind or something?"
Hermione scowled at Ron for a moment then continued. "If we find out it isn't him, we proceed. But we mustn't let anyone know. The letter said not to."
Harry and Ron nodded.
The trolley-lady came up to their cabin at that point. "Anything from the trolley, dears?" Harry bought everyone some refreshments for the rest of the trip to the magnificent castle that was truly his home. New for this year was Every-Flavour Drinks, drinks that change flavour with every sip, running through a myriad of tastes, from pumpkin juice to ear wax.
***
Later the group reached the Great Hall, but Harry and Hermione were intercepted by Professor McGonagall on the way in, and asked the pair to come to her office. Ron continued on to watch the Sorting Ceremony.
Some of the new first years looked nervous; some looked excited and some looked like Hermione had looked, thought Ron, a bit nervous but a bit confident too.
Professor Snape was this year conducting the ceremony, as McGonagall was talking to the two third-year students.
"Samantha Tensenson." He glared down at the first years, trying to identify the student whose name he had called.
The girl stepped forward and sat on the chair, as Snape placed the Sorting Hat on her head, which was adorned with fine blonde hair. The girl was obviously quite nervous, and Ron thought if she landed in Slytherin she'd be massacred by Malfoy.
"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat made its decision. The girl climbed off of the stool and walked down to the Gryffindor table to applause from its occupants. Ron gestured for her to come and sit by him; he had made sure he was seated next to the destination of the new first-year Gryffindors. She moved to place herself next to Ron, and after shaking hands with many Gryffindor students, Ron addressed her.
"Hi. I'm Ron Weasley. Welcome to Gryffindor!" He smiled down at her. She was considerably smaller than him. He offered her his hand.
"Sam Tensenson," she replied with a little trepidation, her voice a little quiet, as she took his hand and shook it.
"Let me tell you Sam, you're in the best house. Most friendly house there is, unlike that Slytherin. What's more, we've won the House Cup two years running, and we have best Quidditch team there is, not to mention the best Seeker, I'm sure you'll have heard of him – Harry Potter." Ron tried to project an ambiance of friendship towards the much more anxious young Gryffindor.
"Harry Potter? I've always wanted to meet him." Her voice was filled with inspiration on hearing the famous wizard's name. As a pure-blood, as Draco Malfoy would have designated her, she was well aware of Harry's defeat of Voldemort while he was just a baby.
Ron turned around at that instant, looking for his sister, whom he also wanted to introduce Samantha to, and saw Harry walking down the aisle. Obvious his meeting with Professor McGonagall was over. He turned back to face Samantha.
"Well you're in luck. Here he comes now." Harry reached Ron and Samantha. "Harry, there's someone here I'd like you to meet."
Harry sat down on the opposite side of Samantha as Ron continued. "This is Sam Tensenson, our newest house member. She's been looking forward to meeting you."
Harry offered her his hand. She took it rather more nervously than she had any of the previous Gryffindors, and shook it.
"Hi Sam. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He smiled widely at her.
"Hi Harry. I… I've always wanted to meet you," she managed, going cherry red.
He smiled back at her. "Well, I'm pleased to meet you too. Welcome to Gryffindor. It's the best house there is, the friendliest…"
Ron interrupted. "Err, Harry I've already given her the Gryffindor promotional speech."
Harry laughed. "OK then, we'll skip that part. So Sam, if you don't mind me asking, are the rest of your family witches and wizards?"
Sam responded a little more confidently. "Yes, my family is all-magic. And my parents work in the Magical Discovery Corps. My father recently worked on a dig which discovered much ancient magic. He showed me how to do something, I don't know if I can do it though…"
Harry and Ron encouraged her to try, and eventually, she took out her wand. Pointing it into the air, she called out:
"Inflamare spectrolia!"
A small energy pulse shot into the air from the end of Sam's wand, and seemed to disappear in the air. But it expanded, and divided into red blasts which rocketed around the room for a couple of seconds, before they exploded like fireworks. The colours were wide and varied and the display was awe-inspiring.
Professor Snape marched over to the table and was about to reprimand Samantha, but Dumbledore stood up and called out.
"Professor Snape, I hardly think that will be necessary. The display was most impressive."
Snape looked aghast at the order, but reluctantly complied. He returned to the podium.
Dumbledore continued. "In fact, I believe the girl should be rewarded, not only because she was brave enough to use such a powerful spell, but to have the courage to do it here, in front of all. I award twenty points to you, Samantha."
There was considerable applause and cheering from the Gryffindor table. Sam had made a good first impression on her house.
On the other side of the room however, Draco Malfoy, and his goons Crabbe and Goyle, had also formed their opinions of this new Gryffindor.
"Seems that Potter and the Weasley have made a new friend. We'll have to… show her the right path to follow." He sniggered.
***
Hermione came in a little later. Although she missed the Sorting Ceremony, she said hi to all the new members of Gryffindor House during the start-of-year feast.
It was quite clear however, that she was still preoccupied by the events of the past couple of days. She let Harry and Ron know that she needed to speak to them after the feast, and proceeded as normally as she could hope to.
At least for a while.
Everyone had just gone to their dormitories for the night. Hermione was getting into bed.
She heard a deafeningly loud noise.
She felt a massive shockwave…
Chapter 3
by Steve
Please R&R! Reviews keep me writing!
Thanks to the people who have reviewed so far. Your reviews have encouraged me to continue writing this story.
---
Chapter 3
Harry and Ron simply sat on the seat, paralysed by the letter. Both kept opening their mouths to speak, but words escaped them.
Eventually Ron managed to comment.
"Bloody hell!"
Hermione nodded. "I think that about sums it up."
Harry continued the conversation. "Do you believe it Hermione?" He was pretty sure he knew the answer.
"Well I was dubious at first, but I think so. I mean look at the spells sheet attached." Harry took the sheet and started to glance down it. Hermione continued. "Those spells wouldn't be available to just anyone. Secondly it does at least sound like me writing, I would do the same if I were in a situation as desperate as this."
"But we can't be sure that it isn't just a stupid prank by someone with access to high level spells," piped in Ron. "Think about it. Draco's father probably has access to this type of magic. He could have given it to him, or perhaps Draco sneaked a look at his father's magic books without him knowing."
Hermione, of course, had considered this. "We can't be sure; and that's the main problem. So we must find out if it's true."
Harry looked up at Hermione's deep brown eyes. "But how?"
Hermione's expression indicated her disgust at what she was about to say.
"We could do what we did before: brew some Polyjuice Potion and turn into Crabbe and Goyle. Only this time I'm making sure I don't get cat hair. And I'll try and do something about the taste of the mixture too."
Ron looked just as disgusted, if not more so. "Aww Hermione, do we really have to do that? I mean, isn't there any other way? Can't we just read his mind or something?"
Hermione scowled at Ron for a moment then continued. "If we find out it isn't him, we proceed. But we mustn't let anyone know. The letter said not to."
Harry and Ron nodded.
The trolley-lady came up to their cabin at that point. "Anything from the trolley, dears?" Harry bought everyone some refreshments for the rest of the trip to the magnificent castle that was truly his home. New for this year was Every-Flavour Drinks, drinks that change flavour with every sip, running through a myriad of tastes, from pumpkin juice to ear wax.
***
Later the group reached the Great Hall, but Harry and Hermione were intercepted by Professor McGonagall on the way in, and asked the pair to come to her office. Ron continued on to watch the Sorting Ceremony.
Some of the new first years looked nervous; some looked excited and some looked like Hermione had looked, thought Ron, a bit nervous but a bit confident too.
Professor Snape was this year conducting the ceremony, as McGonagall was talking to the two third-year students.
"Samantha Tensenson." He glared down at the first years, trying to identify the student whose name he had called.
The girl stepped forward and sat on the chair, as Snape placed the Sorting Hat on her head, which was adorned with fine blonde hair. The girl was obviously quite nervous, and Ron thought if she landed in Slytherin she'd be massacred by Malfoy.
"Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat made its decision. The girl climbed off of the stool and walked down to the Gryffindor table to applause from its occupants. Ron gestured for her to come and sit by him; he had made sure he was seated next to the destination of the new first-year Gryffindors. She moved to place herself next to Ron, and after shaking hands with many Gryffindor students, Ron addressed her.
"Hi. I'm Ron Weasley. Welcome to Gryffindor!" He smiled down at her. She was considerably smaller than him. He offered her his hand.
"Sam Tensenson," she replied with a little trepidation, her voice a little quiet, as she took his hand and shook it.
"Let me tell you Sam, you're in the best house. Most friendly house there is, unlike that Slytherin. What's more, we've won the House Cup two years running, and we have best Quidditch team there is, not to mention the best Seeker, I'm sure you'll have heard of him – Harry Potter." Ron tried to project an ambiance of friendship towards the much more anxious young Gryffindor.
"Harry Potter? I've always wanted to meet him." Her voice was filled with inspiration on hearing the famous wizard's name. As a pure-blood, as Draco Malfoy would have designated her, she was well aware of Harry's defeat of Voldemort while he was just a baby.
Ron turned around at that instant, looking for his sister, whom he also wanted to introduce Samantha to, and saw Harry walking down the aisle. Obvious his meeting with Professor McGonagall was over. He turned back to face Samantha.
"Well you're in luck. Here he comes now." Harry reached Ron and Samantha. "Harry, there's someone here I'd like you to meet."
Harry sat down on the opposite side of Samantha as Ron continued. "This is Sam Tensenson, our newest house member. She's been looking forward to meeting you."
Harry offered her his hand. She took it rather more nervously than she had any of the previous Gryffindors, and shook it.
"Hi Sam. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He smiled widely at her.
"Hi Harry. I… I've always wanted to meet you," she managed, going cherry red.
He smiled back at her. "Well, I'm pleased to meet you too. Welcome to Gryffindor. It's the best house there is, the friendliest…"
Ron interrupted. "Err, Harry I've already given her the Gryffindor promotional speech."
Harry laughed. "OK then, we'll skip that part. So Sam, if you don't mind me asking, are the rest of your family witches and wizards?"
Sam responded a little more confidently. "Yes, my family is all-magic. And my parents work in the Magical Discovery Corps. My father recently worked on a dig which discovered much ancient magic. He showed me how to do something, I don't know if I can do it though…"
Harry and Ron encouraged her to try, and eventually, she took out her wand. Pointing it into the air, she called out:
"Inflamare spectrolia!"
A small energy pulse shot into the air from the end of Sam's wand, and seemed to disappear in the air. But it expanded, and divided into red blasts which rocketed around the room for a couple of seconds, before they exploded like fireworks. The colours were wide and varied and the display was awe-inspiring.
Professor Snape marched over to the table and was about to reprimand Samantha, but Dumbledore stood up and called out.
"Professor Snape, I hardly think that will be necessary. The display was most impressive."
Snape looked aghast at the order, but reluctantly complied. He returned to the podium.
Dumbledore continued. "In fact, I believe the girl should be rewarded, not only because she was brave enough to use such a powerful spell, but to have the courage to do it here, in front of all. I award twenty points to you, Samantha."
There was considerable applause and cheering from the Gryffindor table. Sam had made a good first impression on her house.
On the other side of the room however, Draco Malfoy, and his goons Crabbe and Goyle, had also formed their opinions of this new Gryffindor.
"Seems that Potter and the Weasley have made a new friend. We'll have to… show her the right path to follow." He sniggered.
***
Hermione came in a little later. Although she missed the Sorting Ceremony, she said hi to all the new members of Gryffindor House during the start-of-year feast.
It was quite clear however, that she was still preoccupied by the events of the past couple of days. She let Harry and Ron know that she needed to speak to them after the feast, and proceeded as normally as she could hope to.
At least for a while.
Everyone had just gone to their dormitories for the night. Hermione was getting into bed.
She heard a deafeningly loud noise.
She felt a massive shockwave…