Chapter 3: Letters
December 2nd
"At least this stupid class will get us an extra day at Hogsmeade," Ron said brightly.
Harry shrugged slightly, not looking all that thrilled.
"Weren't you 'mister positive' about this whole situation just two days ago?" Ron asked
The two boys sat in the Gryffindor common room over a game of wizard's chess. Harry sat back in the chair across from Ron and frowned.
"Why wont you just tell me who you got?" Ron asked. "I'm sure I could help you out, Harry."
"You are the biggest blabber mouth when it comes to stuff like this and once it gets to the person who I am the secret santa for I'll be doomed."
"Oh, come on!" Ron challenged. "I promise not to tell anyone!"
"Ginny please!" A sudden yell erupted through the common room. Hermione had just burst through the passageway that lead to the head student's room. Ginny was tagging right behind her. "Leave me alone about it!"
Hermione went straight to the announcement board and tacked up a piece of parchment.
"You've got to tell someone Hermione! This could be dangerous!"
Ron was already edging towards the two girls with Harry close behind.
"What could be dangerous?" Ron said a bit harsher than he meant. He hated being left in the blue, especially when it came to Hermione and Ginny.
"Nothing," Hermione replied quickly. "I just posted the seventh year Hogsmeade trip for the present buying. I have to get back to the head student's room. Draco has his goons there and I don't want them messing with anything."
Just as Hermione turned to leave, Ron's hand grabbed her arm. She turned to him, her eyes fiercely determined, making him let her arm go. She stomped off to the passage and vanished inside of it.
All eyes shot to Ginny who was feeling more and more awkward with every passing second.
"Explain Ginny," Ron whispered to his sister.
She looked from Ron to Harry, both looked equally concerned.
"Alright. I think it's important so I will tell you. Promise not to tell Hermione I told you. I don't want her thinking her trust is mislaid."
Hermione slid into the head student's room which was void of all Slytherin's. She had just used that as a ruse to get away from Ron and Harry. They always had so much worrying to do and frankly she was sick of being the 'mudblood' of the group who seemed to attract the most problems.
It was just a note anyway, some stupid prank that Draco was apparently playing on her again. She pulled the paper out of her pocket and examined it. In Deatheater's emblem was burnt into the corner in flawless perfection. It could have easily been Draco's father's paper… hell Draco could be a real death eater by now and it could very well be his own.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione tapped her wand to the wall on the far left of the room. A door appeared which she opened and stepped through. This was her room. She had felt safe in this room until this morning when she found the letter under her pillow. She wasn't sure how Draco had managed to get into her room since the doorway was only to be opened by her wand , with the exception of a few teachers.
Suddenly she heard loud knocked on the wall she had just come through. She jumped almost immediately, it was just someone who wanted to talk to her. No need to be afraid. She edged towards the wall and tapped it with her wand. It turned into a door once again and in piled Ginny, Harry and Ron.
Ginny stood behind the two, her eyes never connecting with Hermione's. Ron and Harry's eyes were the complete opposite, they never left Hermione.
"Can I help you?" Hermione asked after a few moments of complete silence.
"The Slytherin goons are gone I see," Ron said almost accusingly.
"Yes they are, now I have to get rid of a few Gryffindor goons," She attempted a smile.
"Hermione," Harry spoke, his eyes looking concerned were Ron's looked angry. "Why didn't you tell us about this note. We are your friends."
Hermione glared at Ginny, a feeling and betrayal welled up in her. "Apparently…"
"I'm sorry, Herms… I had to think of your safety,"
Ignoring her, Hermione handed Harry the note. "It's just another one of Draco's sick jokes. Nothing to get all worked up over."
Harry read it aloud:
"A Gryffindor mudblood brave and true,
23 more days is all that is left of you;
For the night of joy shall be you night of death,
When on the 25th you breath your last breathe;
Your ultimate present will be your ultimate end,
And to Voldemort you body you body we will send.
Your True Secret Santa"
Ron's eyes softened. "That's the most foul thing I've ever heard. Do you think it's really Draco?" He turned his eyes to Harry. "and do you think it's an actual threat or just a joke?"
Harry shook his head. "I'm not sure. All I know is that you are not going anywhere alone, Hermione. We will have to take turns watching over you. I also think we should tell Dumbledore. He can help us."
"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you guys," Hermione frowned. "It was only one letter. I am fine and even if it's true, we have until the twenty-fifth to figure it out. There's nothing to worry about and getting everyone in an uproar this close to the holidays isn't going to do anyone good."
Ron nodded as if he understood, but Harry didn't look so sure.
"We will watch over you still. We can alternate nights and stay in your room just incase you get another note, then we can catch Draco in the process."
Knowing she wouldn't win, Hermione simply nodded.
"I'll stay tonight," Ginny offered. Her brother gave her a look. "Oh grown up Ron! I'm not five anymore. I am more than capable of watching over her, plus if I am caught here I wont get in trouble, but if Dumbledore catches boys in Hermione's room it's cause for a new head girl to take Hermione's place."
Hermione doubted Dumbledore would take it that far and she was sure that the other two did too, but she didn't want paranoid Ron and Harry keeping guard on her all night. "She'll be fine. Ginny is very talented. Now you two got what you wanted so get out of my room, I need to change for dinner."
Harry smirked as he pulled Ron out of the room.
"I really wish you wouldn't have said anything," Hermione said to Ginny.
The sixth year simply nodded and left it at that.
(A/N: Fare warning: the next chapters will go up in rating, possibly to R, nothing to hot and heavy, but it's just the way my story line is going. You'll be given a warning at the top that it changed ratings in the chapter and I'll make it to where you can skip that chapter and not miss anything. Sorry if it offends anyone! Please review and let me know what you think.)