Chapter 18
"Whispers"
A cowering figure of a small, portly man huddled close to the floor. His sobs echoed in the small, cold room.
"M-my Lord. P-please have mercy!" said the man.
A tall, lean figure hovered over the cowering man. He twiddled his wand in his slender, pale fingers. His black robes made his pale skin stand out. His face, a most horrible scene, looked like that of a snake's with a flat nose and slit, cruel red eyes.
"Must I tell you again Wormtail?" said the pale man in a cold cruel voice. "You know the Dark Lord shows no mercy."
"Crucio!" the Dark Lord hissed.
Wormtail withered on the floor. The Dark Lord laughed. He stopped, watching Wormtail recoil in pain.
"Now, can you remember where the next Ministry of Magic raids are taking place?" the Dark Lord said.
Wormtail looked up into those scarlet red eyes.
"I-I remember now. They are to be c-carried out near London. I hinted it to a few people like you said, m-my Lord. They squealed to the Ministry and n- now they're planning to attack where you t-told me to set it up at." said Wormtail.
"Good work Wormtail." said the dark Lord. "Now, leave me in peace."
Hermione dressed in a simple pair of old blue jeans, a large, fuzzy pink sweater, and a flowery white apron. She was rushing back and forth from her kitchen to her dinning room, placing various dishes of food on the table. It was Saturday, November 11, Hermione's 21st birthday. She magicked a few plates and silverware to settle themselves down on the table. The doorbell rang. Hermione took off her apron and ran to the door.
"Mione!" cried Ron as he and Lavender handed her several presents.
"Come on in." she said as she placed the presents down on her coffee table.
Ron placed a handsome vanilla cake in the dinning room. The doorbell rang again. It was Hermione's parents, Neville, Ginny, Fred and George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Harry. They all placed their gifts on the coffee table. Hermione escorted them to the dinning room. Everyone enjoyed all sorts of dishes like chicken Parmesan, ravioli, apple pie, and more. Finally, it was time for the cake. Ron decorated it with little candles shaped like tiny Crookshanks.
"Make a wish, Hermione." everyone said as Hermione beamed at them all.
Hermione closed here eyes.
"I wish I could find someone perfect for me, my true love." she thought.
She blew out the candles. After everyone had had enough cake, it was time to open presents. Hermione had received a very wonderful cookbook from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley that not only had great recipes, but also prepared the meal for you if you wished. Her parents bought her a wonderful home entertainment system, much to Mr. Weasley's surprise. Ron and Lavender had given her a beautiful new set of robes in baby blue and red velvet. Fred and George presented her with a neat assortment of things from their joke shop, including a bubblegum, when chewed, changed your hair colors. Ginny bought her a handsome set of earrings. Harry's gift was last.
"I found it one day when I was at a muggle flea market. Got a great price on it." Said Harry as he handed her a velvet box.
Hermione opened it and gasped. Inside was a beautiful necklace. It was single, golden-chained necklace. It had a large, gorgeous emerald incrusted with gold. Hermione took it out and watched as the lights danced on the surface of the emerald. It looked so familiar. She put it on.
"It's wonderful, Harry." said Hermione.
Everyone enjoyed a game of Yatzi, Jenga, and more. The night ended with some of Fred and George's wonderful fireworks. As Hermione said goodnight to everyone and thank them for her gifts, she was glad to be blessed with such caring people. Harry walked up to her and gave her a hug. He drew away slightly and rubbed his scar.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
Harry rubbed his scar and looked at her.
"Yeah, but I feel a bit sad and an overwhelming urge to cry." said Harry. "I don't think it's Him though. I mean, I have mastered Occlumency, but every once in a while, I can feel what He feels. It is always on this night that this feeling comes over me."
Hermione starred at Harry. Harry chuckled.
"Yeah, like the big bad Dark Lord can feel sadness." he said.
Far away, in a dark and cold room, the Dark Lord sat in a corner. He was clutching a faded, old picture of a very beautiful young woman with long, gorgeous chocolate brown hair. Her cinnamon colored eyes were alive with happiness. Her beautiful pace was warm and glowed with a natural glow. The Dark Lord's eyes fogged up a bit, almost showing a hint of emerald in those scarlet red eyes.
"My Katrina." he whispered.
Hermione felt a shiver run up her spine as she watched everyone leave. She clutched her necklace. Even though she had it for only a few hours, she felt like she had had it for years. An owl flew overhead and landed on her font porch. It stretched out its leg, bearing a letter addressed to Hermione. Hermione took the note, watched the owl fly off, and opened the letter.
"Dear Miss Hermione Granger,
a sum of money, along with other various items, has been left in your name, of which upon your 21st birthday, you will have access to. Please meet at Gringotts Wizarding Bank when you convenient. Thank You.
Harchard Milks,
Goblin 4634"
Hermione placed the letter on her bedroom dresser. Who would leave money to her? She had not family members of magical decent. Hermione pushed this to the back of her mind, and climbed into her bed. She dreamt once again of that handsome young man. Little did she know her whole world was about to turn upside.
"Whispers"
A cowering figure of a small, portly man huddled close to the floor. His sobs echoed in the small, cold room.
"M-my Lord. P-please have mercy!" said the man.
A tall, lean figure hovered over the cowering man. He twiddled his wand in his slender, pale fingers. His black robes made his pale skin stand out. His face, a most horrible scene, looked like that of a snake's with a flat nose and slit, cruel red eyes.
"Must I tell you again Wormtail?" said the pale man in a cold cruel voice. "You know the Dark Lord shows no mercy."
"Crucio!" the Dark Lord hissed.
Wormtail withered on the floor. The Dark Lord laughed. He stopped, watching Wormtail recoil in pain.
"Now, can you remember where the next Ministry of Magic raids are taking place?" the Dark Lord said.
Wormtail looked up into those scarlet red eyes.
"I-I remember now. They are to be c-carried out near London. I hinted it to a few people like you said, m-my Lord. They squealed to the Ministry and n- now they're planning to attack where you t-told me to set it up at." said Wormtail.
"Good work Wormtail." said the dark Lord. "Now, leave me in peace."
Hermione dressed in a simple pair of old blue jeans, a large, fuzzy pink sweater, and a flowery white apron. She was rushing back and forth from her kitchen to her dinning room, placing various dishes of food on the table. It was Saturday, November 11, Hermione's 21st birthday. She magicked a few plates and silverware to settle themselves down on the table. The doorbell rang. Hermione took off her apron and ran to the door.
"Mione!" cried Ron as he and Lavender handed her several presents.
"Come on in." she said as she placed the presents down on her coffee table.
Ron placed a handsome vanilla cake in the dinning room. The doorbell rang again. It was Hermione's parents, Neville, Ginny, Fred and George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Harry. They all placed their gifts on the coffee table. Hermione escorted them to the dinning room. Everyone enjoyed all sorts of dishes like chicken Parmesan, ravioli, apple pie, and more. Finally, it was time for the cake. Ron decorated it with little candles shaped like tiny Crookshanks.
"Make a wish, Hermione." everyone said as Hermione beamed at them all.
Hermione closed here eyes.
"I wish I could find someone perfect for me, my true love." she thought.
She blew out the candles. After everyone had had enough cake, it was time to open presents. Hermione had received a very wonderful cookbook from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley that not only had great recipes, but also prepared the meal for you if you wished. Her parents bought her a wonderful home entertainment system, much to Mr. Weasley's surprise. Ron and Lavender had given her a beautiful new set of robes in baby blue and red velvet. Fred and George presented her with a neat assortment of things from their joke shop, including a bubblegum, when chewed, changed your hair colors. Ginny bought her a handsome set of earrings. Harry's gift was last.
"I found it one day when I was at a muggle flea market. Got a great price on it." Said Harry as he handed her a velvet box.
Hermione opened it and gasped. Inside was a beautiful necklace. It was single, golden-chained necklace. It had a large, gorgeous emerald incrusted with gold. Hermione took it out and watched as the lights danced on the surface of the emerald. It looked so familiar. She put it on.
"It's wonderful, Harry." said Hermione.
Everyone enjoyed a game of Yatzi, Jenga, and more. The night ended with some of Fred and George's wonderful fireworks. As Hermione said goodnight to everyone and thank them for her gifts, she was glad to be blessed with such caring people. Harry walked up to her and gave her a hug. He drew away slightly and rubbed his scar.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
Harry rubbed his scar and looked at her.
"Yeah, but I feel a bit sad and an overwhelming urge to cry." said Harry. "I don't think it's Him though. I mean, I have mastered Occlumency, but every once in a while, I can feel what He feels. It is always on this night that this feeling comes over me."
Hermione starred at Harry. Harry chuckled.
"Yeah, like the big bad Dark Lord can feel sadness." he said.
Far away, in a dark and cold room, the Dark Lord sat in a corner. He was clutching a faded, old picture of a very beautiful young woman with long, gorgeous chocolate brown hair. Her cinnamon colored eyes were alive with happiness. Her beautiful pace was warm and glowed with a natural glow. The Dark Lord's eyes fogged up a bit, almost showing a hint of emerald in those scarlet red eyes.
"My Katrina." he whispered.
Hermione felt a shiver run up her spine as she watched everyone leave. She clutched her necklace. Even though she had it for only a few hours, she felt like she had had it for years. An owl flew overhead and landed on her font porch. It stretched out its leg, bearing a letter addressed to Hermione. Hermione took the note, watched the owl fly off, and opened the letter.
"Dear Miss Hermione Granger,
a sum of money, along with other various items, has been left in your name, of which upon your 21st birthday, you will have access to. Please meet at Gringotts Wizarding Bank when you convenient. Thank You.
Harchard Milks,
Goblin 4634"
Hermione placed the letter on her bedroom dresser. Who would leave money to her? She had not family members of magical decent. Hermione pushed this to the back of her mind, and climbed into her bed. She dreamt once again of that handsome young man. Little did she know her whole world was about to turn upside.