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Chapter 3: The Torch of Green Light
Though Harry was asleep, he felt someone staring at him. He groggily opened his eyes, and saw a pair of yellow cat eyes peering at him. Crookshanks was sitting on his chest, looking absolutely bored with waiting for him to get up. He was wearing a red and gold collar, and didn't look too happy about it. A small piece of parchment was stuck inside it. Harry reached for his glasses, and Crookshanks came into focus. "Crookshanks?" He questioned, "What are you doing here?" He withdrew the parchment and read:
Dear Harry,
I sent Crookshanks to stay with you the remainder of the holidays. I know that you trust her, but… well, it doesn't hurt to be too careful, right? Please let him stay with you, I'm really worried.
Love,
Hermione
Harry stared at Crookshanks to the note and back again. If there was trouble, what good would a cat be? Crookshanks bounded off his bed, walked to his window and found a nice warm patch of sunlight to lie down in. Hedwig gave a ruffled grunt.
"If I send him back, she'll be even more worried," Harry told his owl, "and then she'll go to drastic measures- you know Hermione. She'd camp outside my window, with Omnioculars peering at me… and you."
The remainder of the holidays passed without incident, and now Harry dragged his trunk, Cosette's trunk, her carpet bag, her two suitcases and Hedwig's cage along Platform 9 ¾ followed by Cosette and Crookshanks. Cosette carried her dufflebag over her shoulder, and had even complained about that.
"Well, I don't have enough arms," Harry grunted in such a way that she didn't protest any further.
Arabella had saw them to the Platform, but would be traveling to Hogwarts with the Order. By the time they reached the scarlet steam engine, Harry's arms were aching, and he dropped her luggage in the middle of the platform when he saw Ron and Hermione bustling their way forth.
"Help me with some of these?" Harry asked Ron.
Ron eagerly grabbed some luggage.
"Was everything okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, not bothering grabbing Cosette's bags.
"Yeah," Harry replied, turning around to find Crookshanks sitting behind him. "He's been like a shadow."
"Oh, you're such a good boy, Crookshanks!" Hermione purred, and scooped up her cat.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Cosette searched for an empty compartment on the train. Harry kept a grip on Hermione's arm as they walked; she had almost been knocked unconscious by Cosette's duffle bag when she unexpectedly turned around. Hermione muttered something that sounded like a long line of curses rolled into one, but Harry grabbed her wand from her before she could act. They finally found an empty compartment, and drug all of their luggage inside. There was barely enough room to breathe with four people, two owls, a cat, and Cosette's luggage. It seemed like she had brought everything she owned. There wasn't anywhere for Hermione to sit with all of this space taken, so she grabbed Ron's lap. At one point during the trip, Ginny stuck her head in, but seeing their current situation backed away slowly.
Much to Hermione's delight, when they reached the Great Hall, Cosette had to wait with the first years because she wasn't sorted. Grinning, she sat down next to Harry and Ron. "Ohhh, how embarrassing," Hermione giggled. "Look, she's the tallest one!"
"Who is that?" Neville asked, looking awe-struck.
Hermione opened her mouth, but Harry beat her to it, "Transfer student from Beaubaxtons."
Neville grinned.
"Good eye, Neville," Ron told him quietly.
"And it gets better," Seamus said across from them as Mrs. Figg sat down next to Dumbledore. "Who is that?"
"Harry's mom," Ron said.
"She's the new Dark Arts teacher," Hermione said as the sorting began.
They applauded when a few first years joined their table, and the sound was nearly deafening as Cosette became a Gryffindor. Harry could see Hermione's hands gripping the edge of the table. Cosette settled herself in between Harry and Ron, but there wasn't nearly enough room, and most of her was on Ron. With a look at Hermione, he jumped up and took a seat on the other side next to Neville. Hermione was staring at her with fury.
Harry pried her hands from the table. "Come on, let go, relax, you're going to leave marks," He said, taking all of the knives away from her.
Since the welcome feast, all of the boys were anxiously awaiting their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, much to the annoyance of the girls, especially Hermione.
"Ron," She said as she sat down in-between him and Harry, "You're drooling, and she's not even in here yet."
"Hey, you got Lockhart," Ron said.
Hermione made an odd coughing noise, busied herself in her book, and was quiet.
Ron turned to Seamus and Neville, "It's amazing, beautiful women just appear before Harry."
Arabella walked in a few minutes later, followed by Cosette, who sat down on Harry's other side to Hermione's disgust.
"Like that," Ron said, and Neville and Seamus laughed.
Harry thought of saying something like 'Calm down, she's my mother," or 'she's like my mother,' but decided it would be too lame.
"Good morning," Arabella called, "And welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts, seventh years. I'm Professor Figg, but you may call me Arabella, or what you like."
Hermione gave a snort, but a look from Harry and she turned it into a poor cough.
"Now, I'm sure all of you are aware that he-who-must-not-be-named has returned to power." She looked around the room, and saw them all fidgeting nervously. "Yes, I know it isn't pleasant to think about, but to be ignorant to the fact is unacceptable. This is afterall, Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's my job, seventh years, to prepare you on how to defend yourself against such beings and other foes." She clapped her hands, "Now, who can tell me the name of the dark lord's supporters?"
Hermione's hand shot up in the air.
"Hermione?"
"They're called Death Eaters, Professor."
"Yes, ten points to Gryffindor. And who can tell me the most distinguishing mark of a Death Eater?"
Again, Hermione was called upon, "It's called the Dark Mark. It's a scull and a serpent."
"Brilliant, Hermione, another ten points."
Cosette raised her hand.
"Cosette?"
"Ze Dark Mark is burned into ze skin by 'Ee-'oo-must-not-be-named 'imself." She smirked at Hermione.
"Very good, ten more points to Gryffindor."
But Hermione raised her hand again. "Furthermore, the Dark Mark scars the skin, and when you-know-who is calling his Death Eaters, it can still burn, even if the individual has decided to turn against the dark lord."
"Excellent, take ten more." Arabella said.
On and on this went with each question Mrs. Figg asked. At one point, Ron grabbed Hermione's right arm and tried to hold it down, but she just stuck her left hand in the air, glaring at him. Untill---
"Who can tell me what the only physical weapon you-know-who is said to be afraid of?" She asked.
The whole class turned to Hermione and Cosette. Hermione's eyes bugged, and she looked extremely harassed, flipping through her book.
Cosette smirked at her again, and raised her hand. "Ze Torch ov Green 'Ight,"
"Oh, let's make it five points this time," Arabella said smiling, "Can you tell me about it?"
"Ze Torch ov Green 'Iight iz zaid to be ze only thing he vears because it iz what created his prophecy. Inscribed on it, iz ze vollowing: Ze green-eyed boy will bring eternal calm through ze power within. Ze Rise and Fall ov ze Dark Lord, chapter nineteen."
"Excellent, Cosette."
Cosette continued, "Ze only problem with zis, iz zhat ze Torch iz zaid to be 'othing more zan a myth."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked back toward Gryffindor Tower after class.
"I should have known that," Hermione muttered.
"But you heard her," Harry said, "the thing doesn't exist."
"There's truth to every myth," Hermione told him.
"I don't know why you're so ruffled," Ron told her, "You got us two-hundred and fifty points by yourself."
Hermione didn't respond to that, but said, "Oh, she's awful."
"You just don't like her because she's as smart as you," Ron said as they continued their trek.
Hermione scoffed, "She snores too loud, and her breath smells. It must be all of that French air."
Harry and Ron rolled their eyes.
"Well, you can't hide that fact that she's really rude," Hermione said pointedly. They reached the common room, and found Cosette laughing at something Neville told her.
"Really rude?" Harry whispered to her.
Hermione walked over to their usual table and slammed her bag down a little harder than she should have. Lavender Brown had been watching them, but seeing Hermione's face, she turned away.
"'Arry, Ron," Cosette purred, walking over to them and throwing her arms around their shoulders. "I've learned Quidditch practice iz zis afternoon."
"Uh, Yeah," Ron replied awkwardly.
"Can I try zout?" She asked.
Ron raised his eyebrows. "Uh, why not?"
She grinned, "Let me go change, and then I will be ready," She said and vanished up the stairs.
Ron saw Hermione starring at him, "McGillan transferred."
"She's pathetic," Hermione said, and did her best French accent, "'Arry, will you 'old my panties open while I step into 'dem?"
"Does she want me to?" Harry asked with a grin.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm going to the library. I need to clear my head."
Hours later, Ginny marched into the common room muddy, and furious. She saw Hermione doing work, and strolled over. "You have got to talk to my brother!"
"What's wrong?"
"Ron! Ron's wrong! He gave that French Poodle a spot on the team!"
"What?"
"She's a Chaser, like me! She can't even catch! You have to know how to catch to be a Chaser, and her throwing…" She shook her head.
"She's really terrible?" Hermione asked with a grin.
"Terrible isn't the word," Harry said, walking in.
"We tried her for every position!" Ginny shouted. "Every one!"
"Ron calls her our Secret Weapon," Harry said. "He said she can distract the other team."
"And what if the other team has more girls?" Hermione asked.
"They'll be shocked at how bad she is," Ginny mumbled.
Hermione stared at Harry. "Where's Ron?"
Harry avoided her eyes.
Just then, Cosette's laughter filled the portrait hole, and she and Ron walked in.
"I can't believe him!" Ginny yelled.
"It wuz zo nice of you to let me try," Cosette told Ron, and did something that made Hermione's blood boil. She kissed Ron on the cheek.
Hermione jumped out of her chair and pointed her wand at Cosette. "I've had just about enough of you!"
"Hermione!" Harry yelled, and all but tackled her to pull her wand out of her hand.
"Let me go, Harry!!!" She screamed, "I want to see how pretty she is in pieces!"
Ron stood there, his mouth hanging open. It looked like he couldn't quite understand that two girls were arguing over him.
Cosette, on the other hand, gave Ron a tight hug, and looked at Hermione like she was something on the bottom of her designer shoe. "Iz zere a problem, liddle girl?"
"Little girl? Little… I'll show you how little I am when I turn you into a Blast-Ended Skrewt!" And she lunged at Cosette again, but Harry had a firm grip on her.
"Hermione! Hermione, you're Head Girl! You're Head Girl!" Harry repeated. "You can't act like this!"
"I need zome air," Cosette said, and walked up the winding staircase to the dormitory.
"Ron," Harry told him still gripping Hermione, "Hermione needs some air too,"
"Yeah," Ron whispered, walking forward and sliding a hand around her waist, "Come on, we'll go to the library, that'll cheer you up."
Hermione settled down next to Ron, and they walked out of the common room.
"Man," Harry said to Ginny, putting Hermione's wand in her bag. "Can you believe that? First Ron had none, know he has two girls fighting over him."
"You mean three," Ginny said knowledgably.
"Three?"
"Lavender Brown makes three."
Harry let out a low whistle. "Weasley really is the king."
"Ah, don' worry too much 'bout her, Hermione," Hagrid told her with a giant wave of his hand.
Hermione sat in Hagrid's hut, (while Ron and Harry were at Quidditch practice) spilling her guts to him about the French intruder. If there was one thing she could say about Hagrid, he was a good, impartial listener, and a very good friend.
"I'm not worried," Hermione said, but Hagrid raised an eyebrow. "Alright, yes, I might be a little worried. I mean, look at her, she's gorgeous, and all the boys love her."
"You really think Ron n' Harry would abandon you fer her?"
"Well, I suppose not." She said, blushing.
Hagrid gave a swift nod. "Tha's the righ' way o' thinkin'." He gazed longingly out at the forest.
"How is… Grawp?" Hermione asked tentively.
"Loves his home, he does." Hagrid said, "Matter o' fact, I got somethin' to tell ya…"
"What?"
"Well, Dumbledore is goin' off to the mountains to see wha' exactly the deal is wit' them, where they stand, an' he's kindly asked me to go along."
Hermione stared at him. "But, then that means…"
"If yer don' mind," He asked kindly, "Jus' make sure he's alrigh'?"
Hermione nodded. A promise was a promise, and they had made that promise back in fifth year.
Hagrid grinned, "Knew I could coun' on ya! And by the way, Grubbly-Plank will be fillin in fer me, so ya don' miss any lessons."
Hermione nodded, and looked out Hagrid's window to the forest. Somewhere deep in its depths, a baby giant was waiting for them.