A Dangerous Project – Part 3 – The Field Trip
After Hermione, Harry, and Ron successfully collected the supplies they needed from Snape's classroom, they set up shop in Headquarters and began the first steps of the potion-making.
"You know," Harry said thoughtfully, "I enjoy this so much more when Snape isn't hovering over me like a bad smell."
Ron laughed. "That's for sure! Hey Hermione, how many drops of this do I need?"
"Twelve," Hermione answered absently. She furrowed her brow in concentration, reading something intently. Harry peered over her shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
"Learning a new lock spell," she said, still distracted. "I thought it would be very bad to have someone find out what we're doing, so I'm trying to figure out this combination spell and potion. Instead of having a specific counterspell, or unlocking spell, it's tied to the three of us. So the only other people who can come in are ones who are with us. I hope it works correctly! If it does, we should also be able to recognize when the spell is in use for others," Hermione started to grow enthusiastic, "You see, it's actually both a spell and a counterspell! So if we try a locked door and get the same feeling we do when we go through our spell, we'll know someone else has done the same spell on that door! And because it's tied to us, we'll know if someone tries our door! Isn't that brilliant?"
"I don't believe it," Ron said in disbelief. "She's fluttering!" Harry grinned at Ron's expression.
"But again, Hermione is dead on," Harry said positively. "What do we need to contribute to this?"
Hermione frowned thoughtfully. "Well, I need a piece of you. Hair, nail, whatever. Other than that, nothing, I think. But thanks!"
"Nothing to it," Harry said cheerfully. Ron gave him an odd look.
"What's got you so perky, mate?"
Harry shrugged. "I just like doing something useful instead of sitting around, that's all."
At this, Ron and Hermione exchanged a worried glance. Dumbledore had once talked to them about how, because of the link between Harry and Voldemort, Harry could occasionally feel an emotion from the Dark Lord. The question was whether Harry was antsy and jumpy because he was honestly happy to be doing something – or because Voldemort was moving. Ron gave a small shrug in Hermione's direction. Apparently he had no idea which it was, either. Hermione sighed. School was not supposed to be this complicated!
"So," Harry began, "We can go to the forest the day after tomorrow, if you like. That way we have a bit of time to sleep in the next day, since I assume we'll be doing this at night." Hermione nodded.
"That's what I was thinking. I hope we all still fit in your cloak, Harry!" she joked, grinning. The cloak had been a tight squeeze when they had first used it together, but now that Ron and Harry had shot upwards several inches, it might be way too close for comfort! But they would find out soon. Only two days.
--------------------
The day before their trip to the forest, Hermione was uncharacteristically shaky. She dropped two African Weeping Tree leaves on Seamus, who had to be rushed to the hospital wing as tears started pouring out of his eyes. Hermione still hadn't recovered from that when Ron leaned over.
"Hermione!" he whispered urgently. "Do you suppose there are many spiders at the edge of the forest?" This was almost enough to make Hermione crack a smile, and Harry grinned outright.
"I'm sure you'll be fine, Ron," he said reassuringly, but Ron spent the rest of Herbology mumbling about the dangers of spider fangs.
That afternoon, Hermione started mentally preparing herself for the job ahead. They were going for tea with Hagrid at four, then dinner, and then they would stay in the Gryffindor common room until it was dark out. It all sounded great – after all, it wasn't the first time they'd had to do something like this! But Hermione couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. Maybe it was Harry's enthusiasm. He was a lot less cautious of late, and that made her uncomfortable.
--------------------
"Hurry up, Ron!" Harry hissed.
"Shoe – untied – tripped – hang on-" Ron grunted. Hermione tugged on Harry and Ron's arms impatiently and gave them a "be quiet!" glare. Ron finished with his shoe and they kept walking, down the front hallway and out onto the grounds. They crept towards the forest, Hermione jumping at noises, Ron at shadows. Harry had a hungry look on his face, anticipation all but pouring out of his eyes. They reached the edge of the forest and shrugged off the invisibility cloak, spreading out to look for their potion ingredients.
"Hermione!" Ron whispered loudly, making her heart speed up, "Is this it?" Hermione glanced at the plant in his hand and shook her head.
"Leaves are too big," she mouthed back. Ron frowned and tossed the plant on the ground close to Hermione's feet. The three of them kept searching, Harry and Ron walking deeper into the forest while Hermione knelt down to re-examine the plant Ron had pulled up. A few minutes later Hermione let out a strangled cry.
"Harry! Ron!"
The two of them sprinted back to Hermione, who was now covered up to her throat in a sticky red substance oozing out of the plant at her feet. Harry saw with horror that her wand had fallen out of reach. With absolutely no idea what this thing was, he pulled out his wand and thought frantically as Ron created a tube of air to let Hermione breathe.
The poison crawled up Hermione's neck and began pressing on Ron's creation.
"Hermione, no!" Ron shouted as the red goo collapsed Hermione's airway. Desperately, Harry yelled.
"Frigidus Totalus!" Immediately, the poison began to slow down, freeze, and crack. Harry knelt next to Ron at Hermione's side. She looked to be asleep, perhaps in a coma.
"Should we try to get it off?" Harry asked in a hushed voice. Ron shook his head grimly.
"Dad has worked with something like this, I remember him telling me. We'd best get someone else to help."
Harry nodded silently, and they levitated Hermione's still form back to the castle. It was probably the quietest walk Harry and Ron had ever taken together. They had no way of knowing whether Hermione would be alright.