Chapter 10 – The Stranger
Hermione was strolling down the off beaten path of the Forbidden Forest once again. The ground was damp and moist. She deeply inhaled the fresh air that surrounded her.
In a few minutes, she was in the middle of a group of trees clumped thickly together that if she even moved an inch, a tree branch would scrape her arms. In front of her was a massive boulder the size of a small hill; but before she could examine it closely, something else caught her attention. Just like before, something was materializing in front of her feet and slowly, the brown leaves disappeared and a wide hole appeared. It seemed to be leading downwards, and as Hermione lowered herself to look inside, it slanted forward after a few feet under.
Suddenly, everything started to drift away. Hermione wanted it to stop doing this, but she couldn't do anything. Before she knew it, she was back in her dormitory with her eyes open. What the hell was that about? She got up from her bed, grabbed her diary, and started to write in it:
December 4,
I just had the strangest dream that I was in the Forbidden Forest and I was looking down at a sort of passageway…but then the dream faded away. I wonder what it meant…
Besides that weird dream, life couldn't be any better right now. I've made up with Ron and almost every single evening, we go for a walk in the grounds, no matter how cold it is, and we hold hands and talk. He really makes me feel special. One thing I regret is the schoolwork that I haven't been taking seriously. Of course, I do my homework and study for my tests, but I haven't been preparing for N.E.W.T's or anything. Another thing I miss is all the arguing that we used to do. We don't bicker anymore, but I guess that's good in one way so we don't bother Harry.
Harry…there's definitely something wrong with him. Yesterday, he, Ron, and I were on the grounds throwing snowballs at each other. For a minute, Ron and I ganged up on him with loads of snowballs and he went ballistic and threw a huge snowball right in my face and the snow got in my eyes and everything. I was so mad that I was about to strike him down again, but Ron stopped me. He thought that something changed Harry's behavior at certain times when he got ticked and he would get really angry. At the time I didn't care what took over him, as long as my eyes were okay, which they were. I guess Ron and I will just have to watch over him so he doesn't do something stupid like last year or the year before or…you get the picture.
I gotta go now. We're going to Hogsmeade today.
She put down her quill, took out her wand locked the diary. Then she put it in the drawer of her desk and locked that as well. Ha, I'll like to see Harry get into that.
After taking a shower, Hermione went to breakfast and spotted Ron and Harry. She took a seat next to Ron and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning!" exclaimed Hermione and went right to her breakfast. The brilliant concept of her happiness what that for the first time she didn't have a book in her hand while she was eating.
"You're making me sick." said Harry, making a face like he was about to throw up.
"You were the one that wanted us together, so don't complain." said Ron.
"And somehow I regret that." said Harry sarcastically.
"I'm so happy we're going to Hogsmeade together today!" said Hermione ecstatically.
"You're way too chirpy for me right now." said Harry.
"I'm just happy. Is that against the law?"
"No." said Ron.
"And anyways, we haven't been together at all this year. We're usually in twos, and never in threes like before."
"And who's fault is that?" said Harry, half laughing.
"Even before that. Whatever happened to the Golden Trio?"
"Golden?" said Ron, chuckling.
"That's what Snape called us last year, and I think the name's pretty accurate."
"Uh-huh." said Harry, nodding his head.
"Cheer up!"
Harry raised an eyebrow, "Shut up. Seriously."
"Oh alright."
After that, Ron and Harry started to talk about Quidditch which pretty much bored Hermione. She ate her toast in silence and stared out the window past Harry's face. Owls were fluttering freely and were making their way inside the castle. There was a blanket of snow on the ground and some of it covered the trees surrounding the castle.
Something or someone was moving and appearing near one of the trees. It was a dark figure in black-hooded robes…
"Look!" she gasped, grabbing Ron's arm, and pointed to the window. Harry turned his head as well.
"What?" said Ron, looking confused.
"That guy…he was just there…" But now he was gone. Who was he? And why was he playing games with her?
"What guy?" asked Ron impatiently.
"Is this about that guy at the dance?" said Harry.
"Yes."
"What guy?" said Ron desperately. Hermione filled him in shortly, and then took his hand and pulled herself up like a machine.
"Where are we going?"
"Come on…I bet he's still there…we have to find out who he is…Let's go, Harry."
"But I'm not done eating!" Ron complained, but after seeing the look on Hermione's face, he said, "Oh alright, let's go."
They dotted out the doors and went outside. White sheets of snow were on the Hogwarts grounds that shined as bright as a bulb. It was freezing but beautiful outside, and all it needed were Christmas lights, and the castle would look illuminating.
They searched practically everywhere but there was no sign of him. Hermione let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Maybe he Apparated." Ron suggested.
Hermione glared at him ludicrously.
"Oh right. Sorry."
"Where else could he be? Maybe he went in the Forbidden Forest." said Harry, gazing at the forest far away.
"Then we can't look for him in there, we'll just get in trouble. Come on, let's go inside." said Hermione, talking a last look around her.
As they were walking back inside, Hermione said, "You reckon we should tell someone about him?"
"What are we supposed to say, that a person in a black hood is stalking me? That hardly sounds believable." said Ron.
"What if it's a Death Eater?" said Hermione uneasily.
"Why would a Death Eater stalk you? Wouldn't he go after Harry?"
"Yeah, she's right." said Harry, hugging himself tightly to get rid of the cold, "maybe he just likes you a lot and he's following you."
"That sounds a bit far fetched." said Hermione. If this person liked her, wouldn't he just tell her? Why would he be stalking her? "Couldn't they just tell me that they like me? I think we should tell one of the teachers."
"I don't think we should either," said Harry, "he hasn't done anything to you."
"Yet." said Hermione
"No. Let's just watch our backs."
They went back inside the castle and as Harry and Ron made for the Great Hall, Hermione changed routes.
"Where are you going?" said Ron, turning around to look at her.
"Library. Be back in half an hour."
"Library? It's Sunday!" said Ron, flabbergasted.
"I have to look something up. Come if you must."
"No thanks. We'll just play Quidditch or something."
"In this weather?"
"We have to practice." said Harry distractedly.
Can't boys think about anything else but sports? They separated as Hermione walked to the library.
Since they were going to be in Hogsmeade wild and unprotected, it would be a good idea to protect themselves so she wouldn't have to tell one of the teachers about this "mystery" person. About two years ago, she had read about a Protection Potion in one of the advanced books of the library. Maybe if they drank that today, they could be safe in Hogsmeade.
Hermione entered the library. It was as desolate as a desert except for Madam Pince, who was sleeping heavily on her desk. She approached the shelves in the back area and scanned them until she found A-Z: Potions and rummaged through the book. Halfway, she found the potion. She read:
The Protection Potion, sometimes known
As the Barrier Potion, is used to protect
Oneself from any human-being for a total
Of six hours. It casts a shield on the selected
Person and burns any skin that attempts
Physical contact or blocks magical spells
With the only exception of the Killing Curse.
The ingredients needed:
3 laurel leaves
5 lavender strings
10 cm. apple skin
½ cup holy water
½ cup water
1 teaspoon asafetida
Hermione thought that was all she needed and sighed with relief until she turned the page and saw that half the next page was filled with more ingredients and the instructions to make the potion.
Great. There goes my morning.
…
It took a little more than two hours to make the potion, but the good part about it was that Hermione didn't have to let it rest for a certain amount of time. Half of that time had taken up from getting the ingredients.
Hermione was still in the back of the library and now there was a goblet of bubbling orange liquid in her hand. She closed her nose and gulped a third of it. The potion tasted awfully like raw eggs and liver. She coughed roughly and craved for water. She examined herself. Nothing was different, at least not physically. It had to have worked because she had done everything right. With the goblet hidden under the back of her hand, she went back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What's that?" said Harry, eyeing the goblet suspiciously, as Hermione made her way in the room.
"Protection Potion." she whispered.
"What's it for?" said Ron.
"For protection, you dolt. And don't touch me, at least not for the next six hours."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"What?!"
"It's the only way I can stay protected. Here, I reckon you two should drink it too. Just make sure you don't touch my hand."
"What'll happen if we do?" said Harry in apprehension as he reached for the potion.
"You'll get burnt."
"Well. No pressure there." He snorted, and drank half of it, making a horribly twisted face, "what did you put in this?"
"A lot of rubbish. Ron, you next." But Ron looked at Harry's face and said, "No thanks. I'll pass."
"Come on Ron!" said Hermione. Ron hesitantly took the goblet from Harry and drank it.
…
It was time to go to Hogsmeade. Hermione, Ron, and Harry walked past the front gate and went into the High Street of Hogsmeade, filled with Hogwarts students bustling up and down the street and hurrying into the ships for a warmer atmosphere. Some of the shops and restaurants were decorated with red-and-green Christmas lights and when they approached the Three Broomsticks, it had an immensely colossal snowman grinning and bouncing up and down. They went inside and found a bigger crowd inside the pub than all of the people outside in Hogsmeade combined.
They got three Butterbeers from a cheerful Madam Rosmerta and found seats near one of the windows.
"So why exactly didn't you tell me about this mystery person?" You told Harry."
That's a really childish thing to say, she thought, but she responded anyway, "I forgot, and I told Harry awhile ago, when we weren't talking."
"Oh," said Ron, taking another sip of his butterbeer, "Of course."
"Where's Luna?" asked Hermione, looking around the pub. She spotted Draco sitting on the other side of the room with a gloomy black-haired girl. She waved and he waved back.
"I dunno, but-" Harry cut short and followed Hermione's gaze. "Tell me I'm dreaming." He said, looking absolutely dazed.
Ron cackled.
"Why?" questioned Hermione.
"Because I just saw you wave to Malfoy."
"Oh, then I'm sorry to say that you're not dreaming."
"WHAT?" bellowed Harry, causing his Butterbeer to splash all over his robes.
In the next few minutes, she told him about her approach to Draco and they were now somewhat "friends", believe it or not.
"You have lost your mind." said Harry, staring at her incredulously, with his robes still wet, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Yeah, I have to agree on that one." Ron nodded his head in agreement.
"Oh, please. He's not that bad, you know. You should give him a chance."
"Hermione, the day I give Malfoy a chance will be the day Snape dances around naked in front of the whole school."
They left the Three Broomsticks together and walked quickly down the street, freezing in their robes. Hermione had an urge to find shelter next to Ron's body, but she remembered the potion and that prevented her from any physical contact.
Next, they stepped in Honeydukes. Just like the Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes was swarming with students buying craving Chocolate Frogs or Christmas candy canes.
Suddenly, a chill ran up Hermione's spine and she shivered. It was the weirdest feeling she'd even gotten and the feeling told her that someone was watching her. Slowly, she pivoted and observed the store. Then she looked out the window and saw the dark figure staring at her from far away.
Instantly, she grabbed Ron's hand.
"AAAAHHHH!!!!" They both screamed at the top of their lungs. Hermione felt like a thousand burning knives had pierced through her skin and it felt like her hand had caught on fire. The pain was unbearable. It gradually ended and she looked at her hand. The color had changed to a dark brown and a wisp of smoke was rising from it. She looked over to Ron's hand, which was in the same condition. The whole shop was staring at them like they were crazy, and not a sound came within it.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Ron furiously, moving his hand in a circular motion. An old witch in a pointed green hat was coming their way.
"What seems to be the problem, my dears-" she stopped with a halt, her eyes resting on Ron's hand, "Oh my goodness! How did that happen?"
"It's alright." Hermione spoke quickly before Ron opened his mouth to say something stupid, "we'll take care of it." The three of them scrambled out of the shop without another word.
"What the hell was that?" said Harry, in total bewilderment.
"The spell worked obviously." said Ron, still glaring viciously at Hermione.
"I'm sorry! But I saw him again. Over there-" she pointed to the right of them, which was where the Hog's Head was. It was the only place where there wasn't a crowd of people around it, and the only person Hermione could see was a burly looking man in his thirties wearing a long yellow scarf.
"Hermione, are you sure you're feeling alright?" Harry looked at her worryingly.
"I am NOT having hallucinations," She retorted, "I swear he was there. He's just playing games."
"Well, then, first let's get this stuff off-" Ron made to get his wand out of his robes, but Hermione snapped, "NO! You can't do any magic on yourself. It'll probably just backfire and kill us."
"Great. Just great." said Ron sarcastically.
"Let's get away from here first." said Hermione, scattering away from the main street and sitting down on one of the benches far away from the Hog's Head.
"Just sit here for a few minutes, and you'll see him, but don't stare. Just pretend we're talking or something. And don't touch me."
"Ha! Like I wanna feel that again." said Ron, caressing his hand.
A couple of minutes passed. Hermione sent occasional glances across to the Hog's Head and to the street where Hogwarts students were walking. Hermione waved to Neville, Ginny, Parvati, and Dean in that time. She thought he had left, but then Harry quietly spoke, "I see him."
The three of them followed his gaze. Even though the figure disappeared in a flash, all three had seen him.
"I think we should get out of here." suggested Harry nervously.
They all got up and walked away. Ron said, "You're right, Hermione. We should tell someone."
"Who? Dumbledore?" said Hermione.
"No, that's high profile. Let's tell McGonagall." said Harry.
"Alright." The three of them walked normally so the person wouldn't suspect anything. Hermione lowered her head and gazed at her hand. Little bits of brown material like thick dust particles were peeling off of her skin. It didn't really hurt, but there was still mild pain in her bones.
She was now scared. Obviously, this person wasn't just trying to seduce her and she ruled out the possibility of him being a student. She was positive that it was a Death Eater and she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. She had been lucky so far since she had been with Ron and Harry.
"Where could she be?" said Ron quizzically.
"Perhaps the Three Broomsticks?" suggested Hermione, and once again, they went inside the restaurant and scanned it. They found McGonagall talking sternly to Tonks and Professor Sprout.
"Professor McGonagall, can we talk to you?" said Hermione after they reached them.
Professor McGonagall peered at her seriously over her glasses, "Yes, Ms.Granger?" Professor Sprout and Tonks were observing them curiously.
"Well…erm…someone's following us-"
"No, actually, someone's following her." interrupted Ron.
"Yes," Hermione continued, "And I've seen him or her a several times, but I don't know who they are."
The three teachers looked at each other with worried expressions.
"And we thought it might be a Death Eater." Harry added.
Professor McGonagall looked at each of them in turn and then finally said, "Very well, Ms.Granger, I will alert the other teachers to search Hogsmeade. However, you should be escorted back to Hogwarts right now."
"I'll take them." said Tonks, jumping to the opportunity.
"Then we must go also." said Professor McGonagall abruptly to Professor Sprout, "and be careful."
They left the Three Broomsticks and walked cautiously back to Hogwarts.
"Where did you see him?" asked Tonks as they were walking.
"I saw him a few times, actually. Once at the Halloween Dance, then outside in the castle grounds this morning and then back there behind the Hog's Head."
"And you didn't-oh my god! What happened to your hand?" exclaimed Tonks, doubling back. She gawked at Ron's hand.
"Protection Potion. Don't ask." said Ron gloomily. He didn't seem to have forgotten about his hand so quickly.
After they entered the castle, Tonks said, "Now, I want you to go straight to your Common Room. No wandering around or going after this mystery person by yourselves. I know you three." She smirked.
They agreed and went to the Common Room. On their way, Hermione saw a small map of England hanging on the wall between two oak portraits. A map…
She almost hit herself. How could she have forgotten?
"Harry…" trailed Hermione.
"What?" he said.
"The Maruader's Map…"
The three of them stopped with a jolt. They looked at each other, and then sprinted across the corridors and hallways as fast as they could until they reached the boy's dormitory. Harry quickly rummaged through his trunk, spilling with books, and pulled out the Marauder's Map. He tapped it with his wand and said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
The map revealed a distinct outline of Hogwarts and up on the top of the map was Hogsmeade. They looked at it eagerly, especially where the Hog's Head was, but were unsuccessful. He was gone.