Chapter 7

"Wulver's Burrow" turned out to be a hidden chamber. It wasn't the only one the maps indicated, but it was the first she'd been in. She'd expected the layers of dust, but not the set of large comfortable looking chairs, two tables, sofa, throw pillows, three lamps and decorative wall sconces. Someone had taken care to furnish this room.

Wiping her hand across one table, Hermione looked around her. There was a window, so it could be seen from the outside. Obviously the room had never been used as a classroom, it was too small. Taking out her wand, she hastily spoke a spell that banished dust. That meant someone must've made it into a sitting or reading room. That would explain the furnishings.

"This will make a lovely studying spot." She said out loud, dropping her books on a table. Ambling over to the window, she peered out at the snow-covered landscape. From there she could see the Quidditch pitch. Smiling, she stepped back and took a turn around the room. Hermione was delighted it. Wandering back to the table, she knelt down on the floor in front of it. It was a sturdy looking low standing table with bowed legs in the Victorian style. There was a drawer set into it, just under the lip. She'd noticed it when she'd first walked in. Curious, she took a hold of the tarnished brass ring that decorated it and pulled.

The drawer slid open easily and she found another journal. The same blue and yellow ribbons held it shut as Greenlands' Journal. This must be their meeting place, Hermione reasoned staring at it. Picking it up, she sat down in one of the chairs to flip through it. There were two sets of handwriting in this journal. One she quickly recognized from Greenlands' Journal, the other logically was the Queen of the North's. As she read, Hermione realized that these were notes between the two girls. They must've left them for each other when they couldn't meet face to face, she thought delighted by her discovery. Some of the banter appeared to be plotting their next journey into the passageways, but most of it referenced real life events. The "happy birthday Lady" stood out, the ink still turning colors years after it'd been written.

"They were really good friends." Hermione mused smiling over a "good luck on your Potions test, you'll need it" comment, which lazily moved about the page. She wished she could've known them; they seemed like interesting girls. After all, they'd taken on a daunting task to map the secret passages and rooms of Hogwarts.

"Too bad they didn't find the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Ron could've used that." She muttered putting the journal back in the drawer. She'd save it for later. Right now she needed to head for class.

Stepping out into the hallway, the doorway closed behind her, it's guard statue back in place. Double-checking that she had everything, she hurried down the corridor. As she walked, Hermione began wondering what the girls had been like. Adventurous, dedicated, ingenious, and a bit silly from what she'd read. They would've been fun to talk to at least. Sighing, she reordered her books to hide Greenlands' Journal once more.

It'd be nice to have someone female to share adventures with. Occasionally she felt like the proverbial third wheel with Harry and Ron. She was friendly enough with most of the Gryffindor girls her age, but none of them she'd consider her best friend except perhaps Ginny. Even then, Ginny had her own circle of friends that she talked too.

For a moment Hermione felt alone. She knew she wasn't truly alone as long as she had friends, but Ron was slowly being taken away. Yes, Natalie was slowly pulling him into her clutches. If she weren't careful, she'd lose Harry to her too. She was pretty and charming, Hermione was neither. Ron hadn't even thought of her as a girl really until he saw her at the Yule Ball last year. Annoyed, she considered it his loss that he hadn't realized sooner otherwise she might have gone with him. Might have, but probably not if he'd asked in the same way. He could be such an idiot.

Turning a corner, she shook her head. This was ridiculous, she was making a big deal over Ron as if he was her boyfriend. He wasn't, he was her friend, there was a difference. Irritated with herself, Hermione stomped off to class.