Teenage Detective

Chapter 3:

Did Not Anticipate

Hermione never stopped following Harry where ever he went, even the bathroom. She only ate a couple of pieces of toast that morning and it provided enough energy to follow him. He observed as she walked closely to him, learning more about him. Girls admired and giggled whenever Harry passed a group of them, Hermione felt a little jealous at the girls. But she was glad that Harry never halted to pay any attention to them.

Harry walked down the marble staircase and turned right and made his way to the stairs that led to the eerie dungeon. 'Why would Harry want to be there?' Hermione thought. Then it struck her; Harry walked along the dark corridors moving towards the office at the end. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. Harry entered the unmistakable office of Professor Snape. The greasy haired professor who she and Harry supposedly had something in common: hate. She hurriedly trudged down the corridor, dragging along the invisible cloak, but she was too late as Harry closed the door. She cursed in frustration, something she never done. Fortunately, she could hear some voices in the room. She put her ear against the wooden door.

"Good afternoon Severus," Harry greeted in a not so hate voice. This came as a shock to Hermione.

"Good to see you too, Harry. Please take a seat," Snape's voice was heard and he sounded nice.

"No thanks," said Harry. Sound of footsteps could be heard. "Ah! Remus, how are you?"

"I'm fine and healthy, Harry," the new Defence Professor replied happily.

Either her ears were deceiving her or the three men inside were polite and casual with each other. Shrugging it off, she continued to listen.

"I see you're here to report some information," Snape spoke.

"And both of your opinions," Harry added briskly.

"Yes our opinion too," the Potion Master said in a delighted tone. "Tell me - What have you found lately?"

Hermione could hear some foot shuffling; probably Harry was pacing around the room. "It's been rather odd lately, professor. This is the fourth one and I thought I had enough clues, but Ron's death marred my theory of solving this case." This piece of information gave Hermione quite a shock.

"How so?" Lupin asked.

"Well, his body was found in the Great Hall, where it was easily spotted. Further more, unlike the last two, his body was not brutally severed, leaving me to believe that the murderer was either another person or he wanted to do the job quickly. Ron's face being disfigured led to me believe that this was the same murderer," Harry explained in a low tone.

"That is quite true Harry, but what's your point?" Lupin asked.

"I'm not sure, but it seems to me that Ron was killed accidentally," Harry deducted and a strong silence occurred after he spoke. Hermione was keen on listening more.

"What about that boy from your house? I believe his name was Jack Sloper, wasn't he the prime suspect?" drawled Snape.

"Getting sacked by Ron for a dumb strategy is not a good motive, it is more of a grudge than revenge," said Harry whose feet stopped moving.

"Great work, Harry!" Snape praised. Hermione was momentarily shocked with disbelief. "But how are you going to prove his innocence?"

"I have asked him some questions regarding his whereabouts that night and sadly, his alibi is not solid," said Harry gloomily. Hermione tried to fight the urge to burst into the room and yell 'Sloper is the murderer! He was going to the Great Hall upon being called by Ron.'

"What happened then?"

"According to him, Ron left the Gryffindor Tower at midnight, doing I don't know what, but I know he was a latenighter. Sloper and a fellow friend of his, Marion left an hour or so later. Marion told Sloper that he wanted to go to the loo and he would meet him later in the hall. Sloper said that when he reached the Great Hall, Ron was already dead and Marion came afterwards."

Hermione's mind screamed 'Liar! Liar!' but she remained quiet, afraid that her cover might be blown.

"Then this Marion could prove Sloper's innocent," said Snape adequately.

"Yes of course, but the Aurors mistook Marion's statement as someone who discovered Sloper murdered Ron and no one believed him," said Harry.

"Nobody believed him?!" Lupin cried in outrage. "By thunder, Mr. Sloper should be reported to Dumbledore."

"Already taken care of," Snape said quickly. "Sloper is right now staying with the Hufflepuffs."

"Really? The Hufflepuffs? Could they-?"

"Don't worry, Remus. The Hufflepuffs are loyal and also are my friends," said Harry proudly.

Hermione flinched at this statement. 'When did Harry become friends with them?' she thought. This was the second revelation about Harry that she found.

"I would like to give you my opinion Harry, but time seems to be against us," said Snape.

"It's alright professor, but can I have your permission to check out the crime scene?" Harry asked eagerly.

"Of course, perhaps I should give you a Letter of Boundary so that you can walk freely at night," said Snape genuinely.

"Thank you Severus, and you too Remus for listening. I will go now," said Harry as footsteps could be heard moving towards the door. She frantically moved out of the way as the door almost knocked her over. Harry closed the door and passed her. She let out a huge breath of relief and continually followed Harry.

It was lunchtime and the loud chattering noises made by students filled the Great Hall. The Slytherin table was cleared and the Slytherins were informed to sit at the other tables. The table could not be used for a week, as that was the place where Ron was found murdered. The Slytherins did not protest when they were told. Aurors were still investigating the recent murders in Hogwarts that have been plaguing the school recently. But to no avail. Nothing could be found. The murderer was as slick and cunning as a fox.

Hermione was still keeping an eye on Harry but he was no where to be found in the now crammed Gryffindor table. Draco and Ginny, who sat opposite of her, stared anxiously at their friend. She finally found him. He was sitting at the end of the table near the double door and talking to a boy with mousy brown hair: Dennis Creevy!

"Since when did Harry respond to his fans," said Hermione indignantly and bewildered at the fact that Harry was talking to his number two fan, Dennis Creevy.

Draco and Ginny was surprised at her outburst. "He's talking to a Creevy! That's not the Harry I knew. He doesn't like being followed by publicity, especially the Creevys." The couple looked lost at each other as to who Hermione was speaking to.

"Are you listening to me?" she looked at the couple crossly. The couple was puzzled at her. "Is Harry talking to his fan club rather than his friends?" her face was obviously showing anger. She was now attracting attention of nearby students. "He's talking to a Creevy now, and then what is Creevy going to do, kiss his shoes and offer him some food like those poor house-elves?"

A clanking sound interrupted Hermione's irritating speech. Someone dropped a spoon on his plate strongly. Everyone turned to see a boy running out of the Great Hall in a trivial manner.

"Now you done it," Ginny exclaimed, turning away from the now retreating form of Colin Creevy.

Hermione peered around the table, as eyes looked irate at her. "What did I do wrong?" she asked, eyes demanding answers.

Ginny motioned for her to lean in closer, ignoring the other students' glares. "Let's just say Colin is not on good terms with his brother," the red head said softly.

"Why? What happened?" she asked rather quickly and keenly. Ginny looked at Draco for reassurance and the Slytherin nodded in response.

"Some months ago, Harry saved Dennis from being beat up by a bunch of bully Slytherins above his year-"Hermione eyed Draco furtively and the Head Boy was slightly taken aback, "-no it's not Draco who done it. That isn't the point. Harry saved him. Dennis and Harry became close like siblings after that. Dennis changed from that onward, he became less annoying and less of a trouble. Harry once said to me Dennis was very reliable and very helpful," Ginny ended with a beaming smile.

Hermione snorted.

"Reliable? Helpful?" said Hermione puzzled. Draco cut in.

"That's what he sees in that fourth year, all we've seen is a very hardworking kid who recently detached himself form his brother's obsession and it was a good call," he said and got an approving smile from Ginny.

Hermione pondered for a moment, trying to etch the information in her ever-growing brain. Harry's changes were sure a shocking revelation to her and she knew the changes were physical, mental and social. The first was his physical appearance, then his somewhat incredulous knowledge to know Amy's broom whereabouts. Thirdly, the way he talked to Snape was not what it used to be, no tension was evident between them like the feud was over and Snape buried the hatchet. That new part of him she liked the most about. Harry befriended the Hufflepuffs; maybe that was the reason he knew so much about the greenhouses. Lastly, he talked and formed a bond with Dennis Creevy. This was what she learned about in the expense of two hours.

Later that evening, Hermione was in the common room, still keeping an eye on Harry who seemed to indulge in that black book. She was happy that Harry finally learned to enjoy reading, but felt guilty and regretted that she was not the one who made him. She mostly wanted to find this person and give a piece of her mind. Her thoughts were interrupted when Harry strode out of the common room. She hurriedly followed.

As she followed him down the revolving staircases, she noticed only a few would notice Harry and a lot would ignore him. He was the hero of the Wizarding world, and the world itself in large, and yet no one looked at him full of admiration and amazement. She guessed Harry got his wish. She did not know if she should be happy for him or not.

His walk ended when he reached the lake. Hermione quickly hid behind the bushes as Harry circled the lake. She took a great hiding spot where one could see all of the grand view of the lake at its best. The lake, reflecting the sun's shining light on the surface in this near cold climate, was soothing and calming her soul. It was a great romantic scene but Hermione had no time for this as she watched Harry intensely. Hermione watched as Harry walked toward another person.

Hermione tried to make out the appearance of the man throwing stones at the lake. He was tall, built and had dark skin. Harry soon joined the man in his pointless activity. She could see small ripples on the lake as the stones skipped along the surface. She recognized the familiar man, but from where? Thinking deeply for a second, she placed the man as one of the member of the Order of the Phoenix and a very good and skilled Auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Why did Harry want to talk to an Auror? Did he want to get an early entrance to become an Auror? But why keep it a secret? But had Harry changed? Did he want to become one himself?

Meanwhile Harry was reporting to Kingsley just like he did to Snape and Lupin. Kingsley in turn gave some useful information to him and his best deduction as well. They did have a good laugh about it.

"Nearly Headless Nick said he saw a glimpse of the murderer when he walked past the Great Hall: A very thin and lanky fellow. Odd thing was he has white hair," said Kingsley in his deep tone voice.

Harry felt great when he heard this piece of information. "Great! Now we can prove that Jack Sloper is innocent. The kid is quite built, not thin," he said delightedly, showing his grin to Kingsley, but the Auror had other thing to speak.

"I know that is great, but no one in Hogwarts has white hair other than the professor and you know they have a meeting with Dumbledore that very same time," said Kingsley frowning at that thought.

"None of the professors did it, Kingsley and you know it," said Harry as a reminder.

"I know, the ghosts didn't see what they thought they saw," the Auror quoted. "Besides Phillips is a desperate fellow, he will have any kind of evidence, whether it's true or false. Then, he makes his own assumptions which are farfetched and manipulating people easily."

Harry stopped throwing stones and thought for a second,

"So all I need is a firm evidence to prove Sloper's innocence."

Harry bid farewell to the Auror, who had become a great informant to him. He was back at the castle for some dinner seeing it was dark already. During dinner, he glanced at Sloper who was eating among the Hufflepuffs with a hundred eyes shooting glares at the kid. Harry knew he has to prove Sloper's innocence fast and formed some theories to connect the dots that plague to poor lad life and turn-it-around. The raven-haired boy was also aware of people gazing secretly at him, one being his former bestfriend.

That night, Harry got out of bed and went out of the tower towards the Great Hall. He had not need the invisibility cloak as he had grand privileges after he defeated Voldemort. One, being able to walk at night after curfew. He reached the place without any disturbances from the prefects or Filch, although the old man shot mean words at him. He made his way to the Slytherin table. He had been here two times before, but never had the satisfaction of gaining clues.

The Aurors who were supposed to be guarding the place were gone. Under the command of an impudent careless Auror named Barry Phillips, they were on orders to leave the scene, seeing it as unimportant. Aurors these days were lazy and a bit lacking in performance. But Harry was thankful because he could not have stepped onto the crime scene if the Aurors were here. He searched the table thoroughly, especially under the table.

When he was at the middle part of the table, he heard the bench move. He knew he was being followed. "You can come out now, Hermione!"

Hermione gasped, she was so intent on following Harry that she accidentally knocked the bench. Surrendering, she got out of the cloak with a face flushed with embarrassment.

"So," Harry drawled, "you've been following me since this morning, haven't you?" Her face was innocent yet full of awkward embarrassment. "Nosy, aren't you Hermione?" his tone was of quiet and calm and have no intention of being sarcastic or joking. He peered around the scene, ignoring the girl beside him. Hermione waited for any more comments but nothing came.

"Aren't you going to ask me why am I here?" she grinned meekly.

"No," Harry withdrew his wand from his cloak, "Lumos. You're here because you wanted to know about me, why I changed. Being the curious one, you're eager to know such things and you always wanted to know and must know it." He knelt down and checked the cold stone floor under the table.

Hermione felt astonished yet again. He completely described her full intention and here now two people in the middle of the dark and dim lit hall, standing on the forbidden crime scene where their late friend was killed. She thought he must be searching for Ron's killer.

"So, um, need help?" she asked full of hope. She genuinely wanted to be his best friend again.

"No thanks," he replied.

"But you're solving an impossible case here!" she protested, her voice was high enough that it echoed. Harry spun around and stared crossly at her.

"Keep quiet, we don't want to attract any unwanted attention here." He went back to his search. She blushed again; raising her voice was not a good idea.

"Ha! Found something," Harry exclaimed, he outstretched his hand under the bench to pick up something.

"What is it?" Hermione quickly knelt beside him, as eager as he was.

"Dirt!"

"Dirt?" she looked incredulously at him.

"Here touch it," he put some of the dirt on the back of her hand. Her reaction was to quickly wipe it away.

"That's cold! What did you do that for?" she glared at him, but he ignored her. Harry stood up and wiped the dirt away from his hand.

"How long does it take for someone to walk from the Gryffindor common room to the Great Hall?" his question made her frown. He was completely ignoring her.

"Fifteen to seventeen minutes," she answered despite the ignorance.

"Thank you, that's all I need." he said and walked away from her for the second time. She was shocked and ran to chase him but lost him when she got out of the hall. Another thing she learned about Harry, he was slick.

Unknown to her, a silent figure was watching her from the shadows, cursing Harry Potter's disturbance.

Thank you Rackhmar for beta-ing this chapter two times and my laptop is on top condition. I regretfully wanted to say that i promise to do thirty chapters of my stories but this laptop was infected and needed to be rebooted. So i hope i can update all my stories in the future. thank you.