CHAPTER 5: THE EMPTY PROMISE

"Professor? We are ready to order our outfits. We have our money and everything." Professor Jerall looked up from her book to see the girls standing there.

"All right girls, which do you want? Lavender?" Lavender replied

"Item number 555886..."

"May I see your paper, so I can out it on the owl?"

"Oh," said Lavender, slightly blushing, "of course" She handed her a piece of paper, and the galleons to go with it.

"Excellent. Ginny, where is your paper, dear?" She handed her the paper.

"Ah, yes. I think that would look very nice on you, Ginny" She beamed. Ginny handed her 5 galleons.

"What about you, Hermione?"Hermione handed her the paper, but it had a few adjustments on it. Professor Jerall read it with her eyebrows up.

"You want this to be done?" asked Professor Jerall.

"Yes please Professor! I would love it if that could be done!" said Hermione excitedly.

"OK, you got it, kid" said Jerall. Hermione handed her her 20 galleons.

"Thank you, and I promise, 3 days or less, OK?"

"Yes Ma'am!" they shouted. They hurried to catch up with the others. Hermione turned back, and saw Professoer Jerall slip the notes in her pocket, along with the money. She got suspicious, but then shrugged it off and went to catch up with Ginny.

"Ginny, didn't that seem a little suspicious?" asked Hermione as they walked to their outside classes.

"What did?"

"Professor Jerall stuffed the money and the notes in her coat pocket, like she didn't care."

"Maybe she was just keeping it there to bring to the Owl tower, to send it on an owl."

"And another thing, she didn't seem like she had an owl.

"Hermione, jeez, stop being so picky! Let's just get to our classes!" Hermione had almost forgotten about classes, she was so worked up about the Jerall thing. She rushed over to her Herbology class, where they were studying Venus Fly Trap.

"Now class, be very careful near these things. They hurt badly." Said Professor Sprout. Suddenly, there was a scream. Neville had gotten his finger caught in a Venus Fly Trap. He yelped with pain, as Madam Pomphery came out to take him to the infirmary.

"Poor Neville, that's the 4th time this week," whispered Ron to Harry. Harry nodded in agreement. Hermione kept thinking about Professor Jerall. Why had she put the money in her coat pocket, and not in her purse? Hermione tried to shrug it off again, and concentrate on the fly trap.

They went off to their Care of Magical Creatures class, where Hagrid gave them a speech about the importance of double headed fire blasters in some countries. Harry dazed off thinking about him and Cho at the Valentine's dance. Only did he snap out of his daydream when he heard the bell for dinner.

The group walked into the Great Hall, unusually quiet. Hermione kept thinking about Professor Jerall.'oh come off it' she told herself 'You're going mad. She's a Hogwarts teacher, she would never cheat students out of money.' She focused on her outfit and how she altered it to really impress Harry. She chuckled to herself.

"What's so funny, Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Nothing, Harry, nothing."