QUARREL & REVELATION
"I do have friends at Hogwarts and they like me very much" spat Hermione angrily at her sister, Michelle.
" Well, then I guess they are hideous and idiotic, with no back bone. How can they bear you otherwise?" Michelle said impersonating Hermione's best and usual thoughtful look.
" Michelle, we have gone through this. I have friends who are not hideous and not at all dependant. Leave it at that." Said Hermione barely containing her anger.
" Yes, you do have friends who are handsome and studs of your school. Well, I do believe that and leave it at that. However, I don't believe the fact that they want your friendship seeing as you are nothing but an arrogant pedant and with no looks at that." Said Michelle in her sarcastic voice.
The two sisters are fighting for an hour. It started with a casual comment from Hermione about how her sister would be best student of their school instead of most beautiful girl of her school if she put as much effort in to her studies, as she is putting in to talking with her friends on phone. Michelle retaliated, then Hermione followed her example, and arguments soon lead to verbal combat.
" Why do you want to talk about them Mealy? I know all you want is to go out with your boy friend, and you are just using me as a pretext to go sulking, so that dad would give you permission to go anywhere. Do you think I don't know? " Hermione shot with same amount of vengeance.
" Ha, that's rich. I am going to ask permission, yes, but I don't require sulking in order to attain permission. In case you didn't notice, I am going out with my boy friend. You are asking permission for going to see a boy who is not even your boy friend." Michelle almost shouted.
" He is my friend." Hermione shouted back.
" Friend? What kind of friend? He has injured you for god's sake. You are almost killed and you call him a friend? He is the reason you are taking medicines, isn't he? Don't try to shoo me, I know. That idiot has taken you to some place where some death eaters tried to kill you and all your friends. I don't think mum would ever permit you to go visit him. In fact, I'm wondering why are they letting you go to that magic school. They should have known by now that school is unquestionably dangerous." Michelle is panting by the time she ended her rant. Hermione is too shocked to retaliate.
" You haven't read my diary." Whispered Hermione, controlling her self with all her might not perform accidental magic but her eyes flashed in most dangerous way.
" What if I did? By the way, you are hiding too much from us. I think I should tell mum and dad. For your own good, you know." Said Michelle with a gleam in her eyes, which clearly indicated she wont think twice to tell their parents. She always enjoyed pushing Hermione to her limits, its not sadistic, but Hermione's bossy and erudite manners bored her.
" Fine. What do you want? " Snapped Hermione.
" Manners sister, manners. I am going to invite Jack here." drawled Michelle in very business like tone.
" You are not," said Hermione instantly.
" Well, I am going to. And you better keep your mouth shut about this." Threatened Michelle.
" Mealy, Dad will kill you if he knows about this." Said Hermione pitifully.
"He will never send you to that magic school again if he knows your life is endangered there." said Michelle threateningly.
"Mealy, please. I will do any thing for you but not this." Hermione pleaded her sister again.
"Look, I will even help you to visit you friend or boy friend if you help me with this. I promise I will not do any thing off limits with Jack. Just keep out of our way. "Said Michelle in an honest tone.
Hermione still looked doubtful.
"I promise Immy, I wont tell dad and mom and I will really help u." Michelle pressed Hermione quickly, seeing she is in quandary.
"Ok. But please don't do any thing you will regret later. Please remember that. And he has to leave by four." Said Hermione.
" FOUR? Mom and dad wouldn't arrive home till it is eight. They have an appointment with lawyer." Exclaimed Michelle.
" What if lawyer is gone to attend some unavoidable-important business? If they come early, I would never get permission to go to see Harry. They would never leave you alone again too. " Hermione crossed her arms to add to the effect.
" Urgh! You are too pessimistic." Michele swore in very antipathetic tone.
" I am being careful. If he leaves by four, I will keep quiet. Or else, I don't mind you telling to mom and dad too." Said Hermione in her usual demanding note, understanding she is having upper hand now. In fact, she is nervous. She knew her parents very well; they are not at all pleased about Hermione being injured. If they know the danger that awaits her in magical world, they would never agree to send her back.
Michelle nodded in agreement, since she knew Hermione would not relent and if she continues to negotiate, she would only loose.
Hermione nodded at her sister threateningly in order to give her warning, which said " don't you dare breach stipulations", then stomped off in to her room.
It's her mistake to start fight with Michelle. She was asking her dad permission to visit Harry, and her dad had refused vehemently. She is extremely angry by the time she ended argument with her dad. Consequently she became ireful when she saw Michelle talking to her friend in phone. It's not that she is angry upon her dad, her parents missed her, and during last year there is never an occasion she had spent solely with her family. She could understand her dad doesn't want her to leave home again, but that doesn't mean she will not be angry. She, who prides her self on her logical thinking, lost her temper for a minute and shot a churlish remark at her sister. As if on cue, Michelle seized opportunity to fight with Hermione, albeit with other motives than simply enraging her sister as she usually does. Hermione hated her sister for her fore thought in striking this kind of deals. Michelle is simply too ingenious with this kind of traps.
Now, thinking of it, she could have guessed it is a trap once Michelle mentioned her diary. When did she become so careless with her diary? She wouldn't have opened it in the plain view of her sister, she is always very careful with her diary. Not even her Gryffindor dorm mates know she keeps a diary, well, in fact it is just a memory recorder, but she despise calling it a journal. A journal sounds too girly for her taste. Thus, she wouldn't open it unless her day is very eventful, like on day of waking from being petrified, on her quarrel with Ron, when she submitted Harry's firebolt to Professor McGonagal, so on. It is her confidante in other words. She has to find out how much Michelle read out from that first, mere thought of it enraged her enough to perform accidental magic. Really, it's a wonder that she didn't do any thing till now. Probably, not probably, obviously, her fear of spoiling her chances of being stopped from attending Hogwarts only controlled her action. She never felt such pure and unmitigated anger at any one, not even death-eaters. Unable to dissipate her anger in any other way, for that would mean she has performed accidental magic, she kicked the large Teddy under her bed with all her might.
" AAAAAAH" she screamed as pain coursed through her leg.
Seemingly, some one changed her Teddy bear a.k.a. punching bag, with a solid trunk. She jumped around the room on one leg, wiping her tears at the same time. Her anger turned towards the trunk since she didn't want to blame her self for her mistake again. Its second stupidest thing she had done on this day. She pulled out the trunk roughly, opened it still more roughly.
' No way', was her immediate thought. She closed the trunk immediately, and tried to reduce her heartbeat, which has increased alarmingly, because of her former fight, next because of the shock - she received from the trunk when she opened it.
Apparently, the trunk is a wizard trunk, and it has a portrait adorning it on interior part of lid. That portrait is empty, for which Hermione thanked her stars. After five minutes she composed her self enough to study the intrinsic patterns of runes on the lining of lid. Ostensibly, they are of dark magic, but being competent student of runes, she could infer what they mean. They are enchanted with blood magic, and allow only the wizard or which who inherit from that line. That is not exactly dark magic, usage of blood made it considered more dark than light, but it is a simple security measure in most prominent pureblooded families. That is it, she is not a pure blood, and even with in pure blood families such measures are exercised in prominent families, if she can say like that, she would say only with in royal families. Consummate craftsmanship on the trunk which made rune work blend with floral design didn't help matters. The colors are good, peacock blue base color, and golden arabesque designs embedded on it. Hermione maintained her distance from trunk and examined the design from there. Rising sun right above catch of the trunk, and a complete sun on the lid, and the floral designs, when closely observed, revealed the pattern as the birds flying on a garden. She examined them to find out any hidden meaning, but all she could find is opening the trunk is safe enough. Dark families never used raising sun for adorning. She ran to down stairs immediately, shocking Michelle who is obviously inviting her boyfriend in to her house. She smiled charmingly at her sister's boyfriend, while Michelle glared at her. She may not be the best looking gal, but enigma surrounding her will make Michelle's friends enough curious about her. Michelle never introduced her sister to her friends, and there is a rumor which stated many exaggerated things from Hermione's being mental to her being crippled. Probably such rumors wouldn't have spread about her, but Michelle's being the most sought after girl in her school and Hermione's studying in boarding school didn't help matters much.
" I just wanted a cello tape." Declared Hermione and went to drawer to take cello tape, after much thought she abandoned thought of taking a broom twig with her and settled for old antenna of their television, just to avoid embarrassing her sister. She walked back to her room to make final arrangements.
She pulled out antenna stick till it is long enough. She found out a parchment and quill along with an inkbottle. She placed them on a tray, and kept on her bed in such a place where they can not be seen from her dressing table. Then she dragged the trunk right in front of dressing table, fixed the cello tape to the catch (like tying a rope). Then she adjusted her position so that she can retreat near stationary tray in an instant. She pulled open the lid, and retreated to her tray immediately. She slowly attached the cello tape to her bed's handle with out being seen in mirror.
A stately lady is standing in previously empty portrait, observing her surroundings with a perplexed countenance. She is wearing a quaint navy blue flowing gown. From other ornaments the woman is adorning Hermione can tell that the portrait is extremely old. She can see the reflection of portrait in her dressing table mirror. She took out the antenna, plastered the parchment to it so that it will hang from the tip of it, and attached a small soft toy to its end so that it will not roll in.
" Who are you?" Hermione wrote down on the parchment, hung it in front of portrait.
" Weird. This is all very weird. I am Rowena Ravenclaw. May I know thy name? ", Said the lady in portrait.
Hermione took back her parchment in astonishment, looked down at the lady in portrait again appraising her. In fact she looked like lady Ravenclaw. Well, there is a way to find it, thought Hermione.
" Why is this trunk enchanted with blood magic? And what are other protections? ", Asked she observing the trunk again.
" Well, this is a scholastic treasure from many generations. Only my heirs can open this trunk, and this treasure is protected with ancient spells, which forbids admittance to warlocks with malignant intentions. Now, may I ask for seeing the person is the veritable heir of me? "
" One more question. Tell me how many Manors do Lady Ravenclaw posses? And where is Hogwarts built? " Hermione extended the parchment hoping this would be for last time, at the same time wondering how she is able to be heir of Ravenclaw when she is a muggle born.
" I didn't own any Manors in public's eye, but there is a hidden manor whose location we, founders of Hogwarts only knew. All of us had our own mansions and all of them are well protected from prying eyes. Only our potential heirs can have access to those hidden forts. Hogwarts is an unplottable, however, as you must have calculated by now, it does exist in the midst of great forest of Albania." Said Lady Ravenclaw.
Hermione is satisfied by now. If the lady is not Ravenclaw, there is no way she could have known location of Hogwarts. Even if she is not Ravenclaw, she can expose her self to the witch who is intelligent enough to calculate location of Hogwarts on her own. She kept the parchment aside, and moved to face the portrait.
Lady Ravenclaw observed Hermione keenly for a moment.
" So, you are my bona fide heiress. I believe you are capable one. What is your name? " Asked the portrait.
"I am Hermione Granger, and I am a muggleborn. If this trunk is blood enchanted as you had acknowledged and I have inferred, then I suppose I am indeed your heir. However, I do wonder how this is possible " she half stated and half questioned.
The portrait chuckled in answer.
"Yes Hermione, you indeed seem to be not only of my blood line, but also capable of being my heir. Well, last time I have seen any one from my bloodline is in 18th century I presume. He admitted his only son is a squib, and he hadn't had any other siblings. I think no one was a wizard in that line since then." answered Lady Ravenclaw.
Hermione nodded in answer. She wanted to ask for the name of her last descendant, but she refrained from doing that. Instead she looked in to the trunk, and not surprisingly, the trunk is a wizard trunk and she could see a large room down.
" My Lady, what does this trunk consist of exactly? " asked Hermione looking down.
" Please dear, call me Rowena. This trunk does consist of most valuable treasure which is collected from generations. Now, why don't you come in, so we can take a little tour? " Asked Rowena.
Alarm bells went off in Hermione's head. She is not exactly ready to enter the trunk. She half doubted the fact that she is of Ravenclaw's blood and she herself once told Harry, he could be descendant of slytherin for all they know. But Harry is a half blooded wizard, thought she immediately. Rowena said that last one of her bloodline is a squib and he could have refrained from telling his off springs that they hail from one of the famous wizard bloodlines. Still, she considered this trunk as a trap in the first place, and despite all her reflections she is now at a position where she should walk in to trap. She deliberated for a moment to decide what she should do. It is simply a portrait claiming she is Lady Ravenclaw, and every one knew that founder's portraits are not kept on show at Hogwarts. They were removed from public access in 11th century considering it would be dangerous for their descendants if their identity is revealed. It certainly is a trap, decided Hermione.
"Well, I think I would" said Hermione, ran off to collect her wand and climbed down the ladder.
The lid of trunk closed immediately as she entered the trunk. Hermione berated her self for believing the portrait, and thinking she have faced enough dangers and is smart enough to walk in to a trap and walk back alive.
She tried to open the lid, but it is not possible. Preparing for the worst, she climbed down and landed on soft carpet below, looked around.
She gasped at the sight that greeted her.
She is in a magnificent library, each of rakes up to twenty feet high. There are no other portraits, and there is a door lined with a beautiful floral design with eagles flying over it. Door has an eagle shaped doorknob which tried to flutter its wings occasionally. Floor of room is furnished with a royal blue carpet while its ceiling is painted with a light blue color. The lights that are shining with blue-white flames gave the room a feeling of being undersea. Hermione walked over to nearest book rake, started examining the titles. After two minutes she remembered portrait of Rowena is still there in this library, turned to portrait feeling embarrassed at the show she put up. Rowena is observing her with obvious amusement.
"Well, dear – that proves you are indeed my heir. I presume you are in Ravenclaw house? "Said lady Ravenclaw.
" Hmmm... I am in Gryffindor." Answered Hermione her cheeks turning still more red.
"Gryffindor?! You are in Gryffindor? "Exclaimed Rowena.
" Yes. Sorting hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw, but I asked to be in Gryffindor." Said Hermione speedily.
" This is certainly interesting. Sorting hat recognized you are from my blood yet it placed you in another house. I would have thought you might end up in slytherin but Gryffindor? This certainly is interesting. "Said Rowena thinking to herself.
"Why should sorting hat place me in slytherin? "Asked Hermione nervously, fidgeting with a button on her jeans.
" Because my last heir married a descendant of slytherin line. They are most cute pair you know. By the time he stopped coming here, he had only one son."
"Oh! But I didn't have any talents that are possessed by Salazar Slytherin." Said Hermione immediately.
"You must have had some talent that belongs to Salazar dear. And it takes time for any talent to evolve and reveal it self. May be you will never have any talent of Salazar but still you would be a descendant of him. ".
"Well, one of my friends is a parselmouth and it didn't take any amount of time to evolve and reveal it self." said Hermione immediately.
"One of your friends is parselmouth?" asked Rowena shocked beyond her self.
"Well, yes. That's what I am saying. ", replied Hermione cheekily.
"You are friends with a Slytherin? That is good. Last time I checked, Slytherin and Gryffindor are still in a state of bitter rivalry", said Rowena happily.
" Er . . . Rowena, He .. He is a Gryffindor." said Hermione stopping Rowena from going further.
"He is a Gryffindor... May be… May be! But that would be impossible." Rowena maundered to herself and seem to be lost in thought. She looked up after a minute, on seeing Hermione cracked a smile.
"Dear, before this situation become more complicated, I would like you to fill me in on what I have missed", said Rowena pointing toward a chair from portrait. Hermione sat down and explained Rowena all the history from the time eighteenth century till now.
"So this Voldemort, who is heir of Slytherin wants to clean the wizard world by getting rid of muggleborns, even though he him self is a half blood. Your friend sustained Avada kedavra because his mother sacrificed her life for him. Hmm.. I know this magic. It is called soul shield, but I have never heard it could be used along with blood magic unless in the case of serpents, which essentially is not the case. She must be extremely gifted since she could perform two of most complex charms at the same time. " Rowena mused on the charms for some time. Hermione could hear words like "love" and "power", "how", "impossible" .. After some minutes of deep cogitation, during which Hermione is observing the library from where she is sitting, suddenly Rowena talked loud startling Hermione.
" I wonder why this man took a name such as Voldemort. And how could purebloods follow him knowing the effect of the name." Rowena is still looking in to space while she spoke these words.
Hermione is startled when Rowena started talking, but her mind perked on the words Rowena spoke.
" Why would purebloods refrain from following a man with such name?" asked Hermione immediately.
"Well, in an ancient language, which is once used by a race of most powerful wizards, Voldemort means brutal murder and implies destruction and pure evil. The magical race ended its existence long before, and this language is used with in the few remaining people of this kind, but I doubt any remnants of the language existed till now. This language is nearing its extermination even with in our age. I documented what ever I have known of this language since their magic is unique and quite powerful, though I couldn't comprehend it properly since I belong to an entirely different magical race. Their magic depended solely on emotions. They could evoke what ever feeling they wanted to in who ever they want, and very few wizards existed who can resile effect of their magic. But being most emotional people of all, their magic had a self-destructive effect on them. Passion, which is soul of their magic and behavior made them go to any length for what they desired, be it a lady or land. This evoked wars between them till their numbers hit bottom, and the wars they had with the other magical races didn't help matters. Finally, this race extinguished completely, but the common belief is that the most powerful families of serpents have gone in to exile. But no information is known on them. Perhaps they would have built a realm for themselves. Or, they would have gone to a place where no normal human can reach. Their descendants still exist with in wizards but they are not as powerful as serpents ". Rowena completed her lecture.
Hermione is busy in the process of memorizing what she had heard just now.
"That's it." she suddenly shouted, her face bright with happiness of solving a problem and startling Rowena who is looking at her intently.
"Sorry to interrupt dear, but what is it?" asked Rowena.
"This is why Voldemort can inspire fear. Salazar Slytherin must be the serpent you knew, and as his descendant Voldemort must have had his hands on some books which are written in serpent language. He did found out where chamber of secrets is, with out any clues. If what you said is true, then the very language of serpents should be composed of emotions and can inspire them. That is why wizards refrain from speaking his name. Not many wizards exist who can speak his name. It fits exactly with what you said about serpents. Not many wizards exist who can resile effect of serpent magic ". Hermione explained her theory at her usual express speed.
" Indeed dear, I am wondering why sorting hat put you in Gryffindor while you so clearly belong to Ravenclaw" . Said Rowena smiling at Hermione. Hermione blushed bright red in response. Rowena screwed up her face in concentration suddenly as though she is remembering some thing.
"Hermione, did you say this Voldemort found out where chamber of secrets is? " Asked Rowena.
"Yes. He found out he is heir of Slytherin and he tried to find the legendary lineage which Slytherin leaved for his heir. He found it in his fifth year. A muggleborn died when he opened the chamber, from there onwards Albus Dumbledore, one of the teachers at Hogwarts, and most powerful wizard of this century except for Voldemort that is – he kept a close watch on him. Voldemort refrained from opening chamber when he is at school, but he did found a way to continue his work." Hermione paused for breath.
"Where is this chamber? And how did he find a way to continue his work? We three cast watching charms all over castle walls to know if any monster traverses on them. Even if Salazar tried to keep a monster over there, it would be impossible for it to pass through castle and hurt one of students. "
"Apparently, Slytherin guessed you would do that so he circumvented your plans by procreating a basilisk, which being a snake, could move through pipes. You wouldn't know about it since you must have cast charms on walls but not in walls. You would never guess where the entrance is – it is in the girl's bathroom on second floor. Now, it is inhabited by the ghost of the girl who died. Moaning Myrtle. I dread what a miserable place Hogwarts would be if ever she was a serpent. Don't worry, now the basilisk is slaughtered and Hogwarts is freed from it for ever. "Hermione added seeing worried face of Rowena.
Hermione is lost in thoughts about her second year. She came in to real world when Rowena cleared her throat.
"Well, dear. You seem to have lost in your memories" Said Rowena with a glint in her eyes.
"Now, that you have floated out of your dreams, I would like you to tell me how you found out these." Said Rowena, clearly limning Rawenclaw eagerness to learn new things. Hermione smiled despite her conscience which said this is what she will look like when she is trying to find out about some thing. She is going to have fun now. She smiled mischievously at Rowena with a strange glint in her eyes.
"My Lady, being the wise one of Hogwarts four, I would assume you can figure out how I found out about chamber." Said Hermione smiling slightly at Rowena.
"Why do I feel sorting hat has lost its head completely? You belong everywhere but not Gryffindor." Said Rowena still with a smile.
"Well, it did see some thing which makes me more Gryffindor than other houses. While the sorting hat hasn't lost its head completely, I wouldn't say it is quite sane too. " Answered Hermione.
"Let's see how? Which year did you found about this chamber? "Asked Rowena.
"It doesn't matter which year I found about chamber. What matters is how did I figured out about this chamber." Said Hermione grinning at Rowena.
She is beginning to enjoy this. Its not often there are some one to question her, and the questioner have enough brains. She had too many answers for people to dare question her. Once in a while she would get a feeling she is giving too many answers and she loved the intrigue surrounding not giving an answer. She is a girl after all. She enjoyed her best in her fourth year when she did an excellent job of avoiding answering Ron's questions about her date; she even complimented her self for her control on her tongue. She never got a chance to tease some one after that year, not that it is impossible, but she had a reputation to maintain. More over, she had to read for OWLS, their incompetent teachers and worrying about her friends occupied rest of her time. Now, thinking of it, she suddenly realized she never had enough time during Hogwarts for her self. Now she understood why her parents want her to be at home. She is worrying too much about her friends for her parents to be comfortable.
"How indeed? "Mused Rowena with a thoughtful look on her face. Hermione shot out of her reverie to see Rowena screwing up her face in concentration. Suddenly, she recognized the portrait to which she is talking isn't normal portrait. If the portrait is as old as its inhabitant said, then she is talking to Ravenclaw's original portrait. It would be so rare and valuable, thought Hermione.
"Hmm... Let me identify clues. Chamber hosts a snake, a basilisk in particular. Salazar allowed it to wander inside walls. You heard it." Rowena looked like a child who got a key in to candy store.
"How can I Rowena? I can not speak to snakes". Hermione Supplied smirking mentally.
"Yeah. You can not speak to snakes. "Rowena looked like Christmas has been cancelled.
She screwed up her face in concentration and started making out theories. Hermione sat listening to wild imagination of Rowena, highly amused by her theories.
"May be you have heard rustling of snake in walls." said she first.
"Rowena, I am not a cat." Told Hermione.
"Hmm… you have seen its tail some where around the corner."
"All the corners are closed except the ones which are used for drainages. It can't move on walls. If it ever came out, what people will see would be head. Not tail. You do see me here – alive. Didn't u?" asked Hermione.
"I think so. You have seen Voldemort trying to call it."
"Really! He studied in Hogwarts before fifty years." Exclaimed Hermione.
"Hmm… you have seen his heir opening chambers." Said Rowena hopefully.
"He doesn't have children. He is the heir of Slytherin. Isn't he? "Hermione asked.
Rowena screwed up her face in concentration this time, talking to her self. 'She did spend too much time alone.' Thought Hermione involuntarily as she heard to Rowena's soliloquy. Suddenly, Rowena's face lit up.
"I got it this time. You have seen your parselmouth friend open chambers."
"He didn't know about chambers. Every body thought he did it, but he has known there is a place called chamber of secrets after its opened." Said Hermione. 'She's close.' Thought she coolly as she sat there destroying Rowena's chances of coming near truth.
"You have seen the other way Voldemort is using for opening chamber of secrets." cried Rowena happily.
"He is dead at that time. He is less than a human and more than a ghost at that time" said Hermione reminding her self – 'no lies'.
"Merlin! He is having a cursed life?! … You don't mean he drank unicorn blood. Please tell me you didn't mean it. I don't like to think even Slattern's heir has gone to that extent. "
"He did. He has done that during our first year. But he is rejuvenated now."
Rowena looked like she is about to vomit.
"Rowena, you are forgetting what we are talking about." Said Hermione so that Rowena will stop thinking how heinous Voldemort is.
"Yes! On to subject then." Said Rowena concentrating again. However, she still looked slightly green, that is if portraits can change colors.
"Ok. I think I will never be able to guess it. Tell me." Said Rowena after five minutes – she still looked like she is need of pure air.
"Ok, I think I might tell you as well. But I must say - you did come near truth. Probably, you would have managed it if I haven't given you any pointers." Said Hermione, thinking it would be good to distract Rowena's conscience.
"Harry, he is my parselmouth friend – you better remember his name. "Offered Hermione seeing confused look on Rowena's face.
"He heard this snake as you told, but he simply said it's a voice. I didn't understand what this voice is first, but then a dueling club is started in Hogwarts to teach students about defending themselves. We accidentally found out he is a parselmouth at that time. … … … "Hermione explained her second year to Rowena including her being petrified.
"Which year you are in dear? "Asked Rowena again after completion of story.
"Honestly! I told you a bestseller story, not to mention I lived it, and you ask what is my age at the end. Why are so bent up on my age? "Exclaimed Hermione.
During her animated exclamation, Hermione noticed wall clock showed time as 3pm. She enacted another beautiful exclamation on noticing what the time is. She bade her good bye to Rowena, advised her to find out what their age is at the time chamber is opened.
Coming out of the room she remembered she is terribly hungry. She smirked to her self, went out in to hall to ruin the little get together session of her sister. As she expected, they are deeply engrossed in each other, but unfortunately and quite disappointingly, they are doing nothing but holding hands. That is rather unlike Michelle, thought Hermione observing them. She cleared her throat loudly at the same time when the both are leaning forward. Jack or what-ever, jumped of the couch and landed rather haphazardly on the floor. Michelle glared at her again, but Hermione is looking at jack amusedly. She has never seen Michelle's boy friends blush; his blush reminded her of Harry. Is this is a change?! Thought she wryly. By the way, for the first time, she felt she can talk to Michelle's boyfriend. She turned to Michelle, who is now trying to kill her with eyes. She smiled at her sister sweetly, Michelle glared in return.
"I have missed my lunch. You both can continue with what you are doing." Said she smirking at her sister, who is now turning pink, but obviously for different reasons than Mr. Who-ever.
"I will bring some food." Offered Jack. Hermione and Michelle both turned to Jack at same time. If any one can call it so, he looked scared right now. Though Hermione didn't understand why. After all, his girlfriend wouldn't kill him.
"We … I me…mean me and Michelle didn't have any lunch, we can eat together. "Stammered Jack. To Hermione he looked like he is becoming claustrophobic all of a sudden. She is not monster after all. But her cogitation didn't stop her from seizing the opportunity.
"No need –"began Michelle, but Hermione soon cut her off.
"That is very nice of u Jack. We will be grateful. Wait a minute, I will give u money … and address too" added she as an after thought, quickly retreating towards kitchen. Her mother always places some amount of change on kitchen table. Jack protested saying that he would buy their lunch to day, and if she would like, he did know an excellent restaurant. Hermione said yes even before Michelle could glare at her, Jack departed immediately.
"Well, he is a good fellow." Said Hermione turning to her sister.
"Yes, and he is not a delivery boy." Answered Michelle hotly.
"He seemed chivalric enough to be one." Returned Hermione.
"At least not as chivalric enough to lead me to a group of maniac killers." Said Michelle, placing extra stress on chivalric.
"He does look like Harry." answered Hermione coolly. She is too elated and slightly tired from her former conversation with Rowena and she is not up to another fight with her sister.
"Unlike your friend, I am not his last resort. He is fancying me ever since we are sixteen. And for your information, he never dated another girl. Please miss Goody-Goody , remember people don't like to be disturbed when they are in the hands of their long time fiancé and they are just about to take one more step further. For god's sake, stay out of my love life. " Snapped Michelle. It is uncharacteristic of her to say any thing directly, even if it is an epithet. She is quite angry with Hermione for sending her boy friend to bring their lunch. Michelle stomped off towards her room, leaving a shocked Hermione in living room.
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