Chapter 4: A New Discovery

Harry wondered what he should do with the rolled up piece of parchment. He longed to open it, but he knew snooping in someone else's things was wrong, whether you knew the person or not. Harry also knew the feeling of satisfaction he would get after he read through it. After all, he thought, it's probably not that important. He shrugged, bent over, and picked it up.

The note read:

Dad-

Your plan has been working perfectly. I put on such a good act, I knew she couldn't resist. I got both of their schedules from her. It's included at the bottom. I feel great that I'm doing my part. Hopefully the Dark Lord will be proud.

-Draco

At the end of the letter was a complete list of all of Harry and Hermione's classes.

Harry's stomach sank. He had a strong feeling that the "she" Draco was referring to was Hermione. And then Harry put it all together. Me, he told himself, he used Hermione to get to me.

He touched the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. "Why does this—" he pointed to his scar, "have to hurt everybody?"

Harry didn't care that he was late for class. The only thing that mattered to him was that Hermione found out about the letter. The later she found out, the more it put both Harry and Hermione in danger.

Harry glanced at his watch. He still had an hour before the next class let out. He decided that he should stay put until then. He couldn't risk running into Peeves, or worse, Filch.

What seemed like hours passed, but finally he saw that classes were done for the time being. Hermione was in Harry's next class, Transfiguration. On the inside, Harry's stomach felt as if it was being tossed around. He thought he might be sick at any moment. Harry felt he was the one who was deceived, and that he was the one who was tricked into thinking someone deeply cared for him. He also wondered what significance his class schedule had to the letter. Was Voldemort watching his every move? Harry felt overwhelmed with paranoia.

He was surprised that he was already outside the Transfiguration room, unaware he had reached it already. A minute left until class started and Hermione was nowhere to be found. Harry knew she normally got to class a few minutes early.

Harry began to panic.

"Where is she?" he said loudly, his voice quivering.

"Harry, are you okay?" Ron looked very nervous, as if Harry might bite his head off if he got too close.

"Yeah, yeah, fine." Harry tried to reassure him, but failed miserably.

"Harry, what's going on?" Ron asked.

"Nothing, nothing. Really. Tell Professor McGonagall I went to see Madam Hermione—I mean Madam Pomfrey."

With that, Harry left the room quickly with dozens of eyes on him, including the professor's.

"He's not feeling well." Ron explained.

"So I heard," Professor McGonagall replied. "Well, well...I guess it's time to start class."

Meanwhile, Harry looked everywhere for Hermione. She was not at the nurse's, nor was she in the girls' bathroom. Harry was relieved Moaning Myrtle didn't see him come in. He also checked the library, but she was not there, either. He made his way to the Gryffindor common room, and found that Hermione was in there. But when Harry found her, the sight was so bad, he almost wished he had not.

Another cliffhanger! More soon! --end