Chpt2: Gnosis.
Hermione marched steadily onwards. The dark passageway into the Honeydukes basement seemed to go on and on forever, but the knowledge of her destination kept her going. // I can't believe Snape caught me staring at him! // She thought as she walked. It had been exactly one week since, and she had finally convinced herself that not even a death threat would make her back away from an experience like this. // Heather Gates, honestly! Couldn't think of a better name, could you? No wonder he's suspicious! // Yet another stupid mistake on her part to add to the pile. The ceiling became lower, and she finally saw the rickety stepladder going upwards. A small bag at her side was soon emptied of its contents, and within ten minutes, she had drank the sparkling blue potion, and changed into new clothes.
~*~*~*~ Hogsmeade had always been cold at this time of year, the trees were all bare, and the first signs of winter snow were building up in the sky. // Christmas. // Thought Hermione wistfully, // The perfect season. // Her thoughts contradicted everything that she knew she should believe (not being a great fan of superstition), but for some unknown reason, she felt that nothing could ever go wrong at Christmas. The Three Broomsticks was bustling with its usual throng of weekend customers, but Hermione was able to wade her way through the crowds, and into a quiet table at the back of the pub. // Adult life. Is it really all in the mind, or does it simply come with age. // She thought, and began to observe the people around her. No one seemed to have noticed her presence in this comfortable assemblage twice a week for the past month, during which period, she had wandered around the village, becoming accustomed to their routines and life-styles. Life in this sort of society was very different to life in a Muggle society, or even life at Hogwarts.
She glanced across the room again, sweeping the tables gracefully with her eyes, and froze. // Not again! // She thought, with resignation.
Hermione marched steadily onwards. The dark passageway into the Honeydukes basement seemed to go on and on forever, but the knowledge of her destination kept her going. // I can't believe Snape caught me staring at him! // She thought as she walked. It had been exactly one week since, and she had finally convinced herself that not even a death threat would make her back away from an experience like this. // Heather Gates, honestly! Couldn't think of a better name, could you? No wonder he's suspicious! // Yet another stupid mistake on her part to add to the pile. The ceiling became lower, and she finally saw the rickety stepladder going upwards. A small bag at her side was soon emptied of its contents, and within ten minutes, she had drank the sparkling blue potion, and changed into new clothes.
~*~*~*~ Hogsmeade had always been cold at this time of year, the trees were all bare, and the first signs of winter snow were building up in the sky. // Christmas. // Thought Hermione wistfully, // The perfect season. // Her thoughts contradicted everything that she knew she should believe (not being a great fan of superstition), but for some unknown reason, she felt that nothing could ever go wrong at Christmas. The Three Broomsticks was bustling with its usual throng of weekend customers, but Hermione was able to wade her way through the crowds, and into a quiet table at the back of the pub. // Adult life. Is it really all in the mind, or does it simply come with age. // She thought, and began to observe the people around her. No one seemed to have noticed her presence in this comfortable assemblage twice a week for the past month, during which period, she had wandered around the village, becoming accustomed to their routines and life-styles. Life in this sort of society was very different to life in a Muggle society, or even life at Hogwarts.
She glanced across the room again, sweeping the tables gracefully with her eyes, and froze. // Not again! // She thought, with resignation.