Chapter 9: Hermione's Encounter with Mr. Lusiam

'Welcome ladies and gentlemen, welcome to witness this great match between Gryffindor and Slytherin!' said Jordan. And the crowd immediately cheered as the Quidditch team of the two houses walked out to the field.

'Harry what you're looking for?' Wood asked as he noticed Harry was looking around at the stands.

'I'm just curious…curious of who is Mr. Lusiam…'

'Dunno.' Wood replied.

'You won't be expecting any of us here knows how the master of an evil family looks like…' said Fred Wesley. Harry shrank his shoulder.

'Hey Wood.' Flint grinned evilly.

'Yes Flint.' Wood sounded impatient. Instead of giving any reply, Flint just simply grinned.

Just then Madam Hooch came forward, 'Ok all of you, mount your brooms.' Harry noticed Madam Hooch seemed to be worrying about something. He then thought of Hermione's and Professor McGonagall's words, he glanced at the stands for the guests—no sign of an evil looking man, Harry thought to himself.

Before Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle, she said, 'Let this be a clean game. No hospital wing.' She blew her whistle and the brooms went up.

'The game now begins!' and there's another cheer.

Meanwhile in the audience stand, Hermione was sitting with Ron, but with Anna sitting between them. From time to time, Ron took a glace at Hermione, and Hermione winked at him telling him not to look at her so constantly.

The game went on quite well, Gryffindor was leading on 2 scores. Hermione pretended that she knew nothing and answered every question that Anna asked friendly, they even discussed about the match joyfully.

During mid-game, Anna suddenly stood up.

'Where're you going?' Hermione asked.

'I need to go to the toilet, could you accompany me?'

Hermione gave a looked at Ron, she remember what Ron said about Anna's letter.

'Please…' Anna begged with a friendly smile.

'Oh alright! What a pity the game is so exciting!' Hermione said while standing up. Then they left the stand.

Inside the school, it was deserted; all the students and professors had went to see the match. Still, it was unusually quiet.

Hermione and Anna went to the nearest toilet, so that they could rush back and catch up with the game.

'You should have gone to the toilet before the match, now I'll miss a lot of things…' Hermione said while waiting for Anna. But Anna didn't reply.

'Do you think Gryffindor will win?' Hermione changed the subject. Still Anna didn't reply.

Then Hermione began to get worried. 'Anna are you there?' she knocked on the door.

'Anna? Anna are you alright?' she knocked harder.

'Anna you're scaring me! Are you in there?'

After a few more knocks Hermione rushed out of the toilet at once, wanting to find some help. Just then, a well-dressed mid-age man appeared.

The man dressed with expensive material that, quite clearly, he was from a wealthy family. He had a fine strong build, with dark curled hair and a pair of eyes green as emerald.

'You're…' Hermione stammered.

'Mr. Lusiam.' The man answered proudly.

'Anna's father?'

'Yes I am. You know my daughter, young lady?' his tone became much polite.

'Yes I do…sir.'

'If I'm right, you must be Miss Granger then.' Mr. Lusiam smiled.

'Yes I am.'

'Aha I see. My daughter mentioned about you constantly in her letters to home. She said you're being very nice to her. Thank you for taking care of my daughter Miss Granger.'

'My pleasure.' Hermione wasn't sure what to say was right.

'I've heard that you're Muggle born.'

'Yes…' Hermione began to feel a bit uneasy.

'Don't worry, I'm a well educated man, and I'm not those people who are, thinking themselves as a family of very pure blood.

'Yes, sir. I understand.' Hermione smiled awkwardly.

'By the way Miss Granger, do you have any idea where my daughter is?' he grinned.

'Oh she's…' Hermione pointed towards the toilet, 'Anna…'

Back to the field the game continued. Gryffindor was still in a leading position, however if Slytherin scored on more they would be having the same points.

Ron began to feel worried as Hermione did not return. He was planning to look for Hermione when just then, Hagrid came and sat beside him.

'Ello Ron.'

'Oh! Hello Hagrid.'

'Sorry I'm a bit late…how's the game goin'?'

'Not bad, Gryffindor is wining.'

'That's good. Nothin'…er…weird or somthin' strange happenin' huh?'

'Not until now…' Ron murmured as he looked at Harry, who was then on his broomstick still searching for the sight of the Snitch.

'Say, where's Hermione?'

'I don't know too. She went to the toilet with Anna but then didn't return! They left about ten minutes ago…' Ron clapped his hand.

'Oh this is no good…' Hagrid stood up at once.

'Where you're going, Hagrid?'

'Professor McGonagall told me to take care of the both of you, and now that one is missing, I gotta go and find her!'