Author's Notes: Another long chapter. Eight pages in Word. =) I don't know how in the world I can manage so many pages about a Hogsmeade visit… but I did it, so I'm not complaining.
All right, so I'm thinking of starting my own mailing list for BCD. I know some of you have me on Author Alerts or whatever that fancy thing's called, but you know mailings lists are more fun. If you want to be on the official BEHIND CLOSED DOORS MAILING LIST (sponsored by the FFDDD Association of America) then leave your e-mail address in a review. I'll send out an e-mail notifying you of new chapters after I post them.
Siriusly Disturbed: I'm ashamed. You're my beta, and you asked me to openly advertise your story (which is very good) here, and I did it too subtly. So here it is. If you want any future chapters, then go read Ghostly Outcomes by Siriusly Disturbed and review. It's just beginning, but I know what the plot is, so I know that it's going to turn out quite nicely. And don't ask for any more Courtney appearances because you're not getting any.
CrimsonEnchantress: You always leave the nicest reviews. Yes, I'll go read your stories, of course! Oh, I only wish that this was a completed novel, but unfortunately, JK Rowling copyrighted Harry Potter. So I'll have to settle for the internet.
Dragonbrat: I would suggest following this story here instead of FictionAlley since I am many chapters ahead here. Your words of encouragement made me so happy – I too hope that someday my writing abilities will grow beyond writing fan fictions, but I'm only fourteen, so I have plenty of time to grow. Thanks again!
Moonypadfoot: Personally, I'm rather fond of the fighting Hermione and Ron, so I don't want them to make up yet, either. Glad you share the same views.
Oh, and if you haven't noticed, I've fixed the chapters, making the prologue chapter one and so on. Having a number (4) next to chapter five irked me something awful.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN – A DAY IN HOGSMEADE
The days flew by at Hogwarts and before Hermione knew it, the weekend of the Hogsmeade visit had arrived. Mallory had returned to classes the past Thursday, looking timid and jumping whenever spoken to. The staff had been warned to keep a close eye on her, mainly to keep her sane, as no one honestly believed Mallory had been acting of her own accord that night in the Forest. Ron was careful to keep his chatter with Harry to a bare minimum at meal times now; Harry quite liked the idea of entertaining his co-workers with his adventure tales, and it had become a regular thing to look forward to. Hermione highly suspected Ron was rather jealous and thought perhaps he would begin ignoring Harry as well, but she still spotted them together in the halls, laughing their heads off. Some things obviously never changed.
On a bright and snowy Saturday morning, Hermione left Hogwarts castle with Ginny at her side, both eager to get to the village of Hogsmeade. Ginny had been reminded innumerable times by her friend that their main purpose was to act as chaperones – too many Butterbeers could have awful side-effects, as Ginny so eloquently pointed out.
The two professors entered the iced village amid flocks of energetic students and Hermione absolutely beamed. It had been so long since she had laid eyes on the village; the different-sized shops all glistening under a fresh coat of snow suggested that they had walked in on some sort of fantasy winter wonderland. The chaos on the streets strongly reminded Hermione of the chaos found in Muggle cities at Christmas time. It was like a billowing black sea; robe-clad students pushed past one another with towering boxes of gifts wobbling in their arms and pockets bulging with sweets and jokes. Tiny little third-years popped in and out of the shops, shouting at the top of their lungs and pointing wildly, their breath rising in clouds of mist in front of their faces. Older students who had clearly visited the village so often that some of the effect had worn off sauntered along the lane, lazily chattering and occasionally popping a sweet in their mouths. In the shadows outside the Quidditch shop, Hermione caught a glimpse of Theodore Lloyd and a fellow Gryffindor conversing quietly while marveling at something under their cloaks. Hermione had half a mind to find out what the two boys were up to but decided it would be best to give them a small holiday break.
Someone collided with Hermione and jostled her to the side. She found herself looking down upon a frazzled Mallory Beldam, who was apologizing consecutively for disturbing Hermione.
"No, I'm okay," Hermione insisted. She studied the young girl; there were deep circles under her eyes that suggested she was indeed ill, or perhaps just stressed. She was sure that the incident Mallory had suffered from had taken a toll on her. The girl looked not a day older than fourteen… her childlike face shouldn't have had such a weary, drained expression.
"Miss Beldam, are you quite all right?" Hermione asked.
Mallory frantically nodded her head, glancing to her right and left as if suspecting someone to attack her any moment. "Yes, yes. Just – so much schoolwork to do, thought I'd give myself a little break, but I've got heaps left to finish before the end of the semester and I really think I should've stayed back –"
Hermione could have laughed. Mallory was practically a mirror image of herself ten years ago. But looking closer at the girl, Hermione realized schoolwork really wasn't the excuse.
"You do deserve a break," said Hermione wisely. "I know you've been working hard. McGonagall should have told you to lay off homework for a week, but you're very persistent."
Mallory blushed. "Thank you, professor," she mumbled. "I've really got to dash – not staying long, just looking for Laura so we can send an owl, and then I've got to get back… sorry again." She dashed away down the swarming street and soon became another blur in the crowd.
Ginny looked dejectedly after her. "Poor girl. She's such a wreck in Muggle Studies."
"Ginny, there's something honestly wrong with her," Hermione said. "It's like she knows something the rest of us don't. I wonder what all went on that night…"
"Hermione," Ginny said fiercely. "Stop it. You're here to enjoy yourself, just don't think about all that." She broke into a wide grin at the shocked face of her friend, and soon the two girls were laughing and merrily moving into the massive throng of students, all worries forgotten.
About an hour later Hermione and Ginny dropped onto a bench outside the Three Broomsticks. Guiltily, Hermione's pockets were stuffed with sweets that Ginny nearly blackmailed her into buying. She was never much of a candy person; her parents were against all food that had negative effects on the teeth, as they had been dentists, but with a painful twinge somewhere in her chest, Hermione brushed the thought aside. She had felt out of sorts when they entered Honeydukes; they easily towered over the crowd of students and were the only adults to be seen aside from the ones working the front counter. Still, it had been rather nice gazing endlessly at the walls of assorted candies – after all, it had been six years since Hermione had such an opportunity to stuff herself with such delicious sweets.
"You know," Hermione remarked, "we haven't been doing a very good job of watching the students, and that was our first priority here. That lot down there could be smuggling out dragon eggs for all we know."
"Quite right," said Ginny. She turned her head towards two sixth years that were leaning in the shadows, clearly thinking they were unnoticed. "Hey, you two! You can't exactly be eating sweets doing that! Get yourself into Honeydukes before I permanently seal your mouths!" Satisfied at watching the two students recklessly dart down the street, Ginny leaned back and smiled contentedly. Hermione goggled at her. It was times like these when Ginny strongly reminded her of Ron, but Ron was miles away up at the castle and had no right to invade her thoughts.
Coming back to her senses, Hermione noticed Ginny had jumped up and was pointing across the lane. A large figure could easily be seen over the heads of the students, and after several booming hellos to a group near his right, Hermione realized it was Hagrid. Decked out in his moleskin overcoat and dragging what looked to be a heavy bag along the ground, he made his way over to the two young professors, smiling.
"Fancy seein' you two 'ere!" he said, lowering himself onto the bench. It gave an almighty groan and sank a good two feet under his weight and was about to give in entirely until Hagrid thought otherwise and decided to remain standing instead.
"Hello, Hagrid!" Ginny said. "Doing a bit of Christmas shopping?"
Christmas shopping, right, Hermione found herself thinking. The bag Hagrid was dragging looked oddly suspicious to her; he was doing Christmas shopping as much as she was polka dancing in the middle of the street.
Hagrid ignored Ginny's inquiry. "Care fer a Butterbeer? 'S on me," he added, winking.
Hermione and Ginny agreed and followed their friend into the Three Broomsticks. They got a table in the front near a window ("We need to monitor the students, Ginny, we can't very well do that in the back!" Hermione explained sharply) and waited for Hagrid, who had gone to get three drinks.
When all three were settled in, Hermione sipping her butterbeer while keeping and eye on the rowdy flock of students running up the street, Hagrid grew very quiet, completely ignoring his own tankard. Hermione looked around to find him staring almost expectantly at her and gave a little jump, slightly startled.
"All righ', Hermione?" he asked in a low voice that no longer held its previous merriment.
Hermione suspected she knew what he was talking about. She hadn't seen Hagrid since her accident in the Forest and should have known he would be concerned. Students and fellow staff members alike still gave her odd stares in the corridors and in the Great Hall. Every time, Hermione was thoroughly agitated.
"Yes, I'm fine," she responded in what she hoped was a strong, solid voice.
"Yer lucky," said Hagrid, taking a swig from his tankard which, Hermione noticed, was about five times larger than her own. "Coulda been killed, yeh know. Didn't know what yeh was dealin' with in there. Dark wizards still on the loose…" he trailed off falteringly and averted his eyes downward.
"I'm fine," Hermione repeated loudly, her voice rising dangerously. She was beginning to grow somewhat annoyed at the fact that everyone was treating her like some child, not the fully grown adult that she was. She had managed to fight off the other person without being killed, right? They did escape, of course, but she couldn't have exactly prevented that; she wasn't an Auror, and Harry had arrived on the scene too late.
"Hagrid," Ginny piped up, her voice quite small. "Who do you think it was?"
An ominous silence fell around the table. Hermione herself had repeated this same question countless times in her mind, never able to come up with an answer. There were names, of course; people who were never killed or never imprisoned in Azkaban, but there were too many, and someone would've shown up for a reason – they had wanted Hermione's records, after all. As perplexing and apparently meaningless as it seemed, she was sure there was a reason hidden amongst all the miniscule clues.
"… confused," Ginny was saying. "Perhaps it was only a lunatic that had gotten lost, you know? Could've just been wandering the forests from a nearby insane asylum or something…"
But Hermione shook her head immediately. "No, no, they were perfectly sane, I heard them. And they weren't a Muggle; they were definitely a witch or wizard. They wanted my records, remember? We're missing something here," she finished quietly, studying the woodwork absentmindedly on the table.
None of them spoke for several long minutes, all too deeply absorbed in their own thoughts to form a coherent sentence. Breaking the silence, the door opened, and Ginny beckoned someone over to their table.
An olive-skinned woman with sweeping, chocolate brown joined their table, smirking peculiarly. It was Bella Levrero, the mysterious Astronomy professor. Hermione hadn't said more than five words to this woman in the short time she had known her, and vice-versa. She seemed like a person that she wouldn't have much in common with.
"Hi, Bella," Ginny said politely, pulling a chair towards their table. Bella graciously nodded her head and took a seat. Hagrid grunted in what he thought was a suitable hello, but Hermione had a strange feeling that he was none too fond of this woman.
"Granger, right?" Bella asked Hermione. Her voice was quite beautiful, Hermione noted. The slight twang of an accent added an unfathomable sense of mystery to it.
"Yes, hello," Hermione responded, smiling. She couldn't form stereotypical assumptions about this stranger; she barely knew her. She could be the world's most loveable witch for all she knew.
"You okay after that night in the Forest?" Bella asked courteously. Hermione was rather taken aback. She hadn't suspected Bella to make much conversation with her, least of all about this.
"Yes, thank you. A bit disturbing, you know, but I'm fine," she said for the third time in the last ten minutes.
"It's curious," the mysterious professor continued, not speaking to anyone in particular. "But I don't think its coincidence. Students are behaving unnaturally and then a dangerous person turns up after dark, wanting a newcomer's information, and luring an actual student into their midst? Then they flee, and Merlin knows where they've gone. Could still be lurking around, even." Her eyes fell upon Hermione. "Surely you have some idea as to who it was? I heard you're quite brilliant."
Hermione blushed noticeably. "It was unexpected," she said. "The attack, I mean. And no, I haven't… worked it all out yet. It's quite a mystery. We're thinking that it was definitely a Dark wizard, not just a random lunatic."
Bella nodded. "I fear for the students," she said gravelly, lowering her voice and glancing at the knot of seventh years laughing boisterously behind them. She adapted a rather mystifying tone of voice that reminded Hermione of her former Divination professor from her early years at Hogwarts and nearly whispered, "There is nothing written in the stars about these occurrences, nothing at all. I have been watching, believe me. They are as unexpected as pulling a dragon out of a Niffler hole. The Ministry may begin to interfere if we can't put a stop to them soon."
"The Ministry is interfering," Ginny said quickly. "I mean, that's why Harry and Ron are here, isn't it? The Ministry sent them. And you," she added, nodding at Hermione.
Bella's eyes once again wandered over to Hermione at these words, gazing at her inexplicably with glossed eyes. "Right," she said softly. Slightly disconcerted, Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She really wished Bella would look elsewhere.
Ginny and Hagrid didn't seem to notice. "But the students donno what the three of yeh is doin' here, really," Hermione found Hagrid saying in what he thought was a quiet voice. Ginny slapped his arm and shushed him quickly, glaring at the seventh years who had become highly interested in their conversation. "They jus' think yer teaching, Hermione. Harry an' Ron are supposed ter be Ministry representatives fer a new division. 'Course, they might as well say they're both gnomes fer all the good it does," he added, dumping the rest of this tankard into his mouth. "Everyone knows Harry's a world-famous Auror an' Ron –"
"Can we talk about something else?" Hermione interjected heatedly. Hagrid stopped mid-sentence, staring at her in surprise. She didn't mean to interrupt so rudely, but why did their conversation always turn back to Harry and Ron? Why, for once, couldn't they pretend that the two of them were nonexistent?
Hermione mentally slapped herself for being so selfish. Harry's your friend, a rational voice told her. Remember? You can't stop people from talking about him, can you? And why should you care?
Because Ron's name always comes along with Harry's, an angrier voice challenged. Hermione thoroughly agreed with the second one.
When she found Ginny and Bella both staring at her along with Hagrid, Ginny's mouth slightly open, Hermione shooed the two voices away and regained her composure. "It isn't very smart to be talking about this here," she hissed quietly. "Anyone could overhear, and I'm not talking about just the students."
The three nodded in agreement and converted the subject onto the upcoming Quidditch match – Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Forgetting her preceding rashness, Hermione became quite excited; she hadn't attended a proper Quidditch match in ages. The inter-House rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor would, no doubt, prove to turn out an interesting match.
"Christoph's good for a Slytherin, of course, but he's nothing compared to Kinsey," Ginny said. Being the Head of Gryffindor House, she was known to support her team perhaps a bit more than necessary.
"Don't let Desdemona hear you saying that," Bella muttered. "She's all for equality amongst the different Houses, you know, but she'd hex you in a minute if she knew you were insulting her Quidditch team."
Hermione was slightly shocked. Desdemona King was Head of Slytherin? She should have guessed it, of course; she did teach Potions, after all. She was perfectly friendly, though, and one would have never known that Desdemona supported Slytherins. Hermione's surprised countenance was noticed by Ginny, who chuckled.
"She's joking," Ginny reassured Hermione. "Des wouldn't do that, she isn't sinister enough. I don't think she likes being Head of Slytherin much, but McGonagall couldn't get anyone else to do it, and Desdemona was told she'd get a pay raise if she volunteered."
"Yeah, Desdemona's all righ'," Hagrid agreed, slapping his hand against the table and sending Hermione and Ginny's empty Butterbeer jugs flying (perhaps his tankard had been a tad too big). "Glad she came ter replace that ol' bloke, Prock, or whatever his name was. Scared me a bit, ter be honest."
"Jules, Gryffindor's newest Chaser, you know which one I mean, the fourth year? She just got a Nimbus 2001 for her birthday last week. Can't wait to see the look on Desdemona's face at that," Ginny said, grinning with satisfaction.
"Yes, but the Slytherins all have Nimbuses," remarked Bella. "Half of Gryffindor's still riding around on Cleansweeps. Though they aren't bad Cleansweeps… Gryffindor's managed to stay at the top of the league for the past two years, haven't they?"
"No," Hagrid corrected thickly, furrowing his brow. "Ravenclaw beat 'em out that one year, 'member? 'Cause Gryffindor's Keeper was injured, he broke 'is arm –"
The rest of the hour turned out to be rather enjoyable. Hermione listened in interest as Ginny and Bella got into an argument over which broom rode smoother, the Cleansweep or the Nimbus, and Hermione, who preferred to stay away from broomsticks altogether, decided not to interfere. Ginny turned out to be quite the fanatic about Quidditch, more so than Hermione had known. When a passing fifth year who, upon hearing Bella's comment about Gryffindor being a more organized team, commented that it was Ravenclaw whose tactics were more structured, Ginny assigned him detention on the spot.
Leaving the pub alongside Ginny some time later, Hermione was grinning. Her visit to Hogsmeade had indeed turned out to be quite pleasant. She no longer thought of Bella as a mysterious stranger; on the contrary, Bella was very open and sociable and congratulated Hermione on winning the Most Valuable Witch award the previous December. Any person who brought up Hermione's success automatically earned themselves a spot on her Christmas list.
It was nearly dinner time and the sun was beginning to set behind the castle in the distance when Hermione remembered she still had to buy Ginny a small gift. The streets were beginning to empty as the students made their way back up to the school, moaning from stuffing their mouths with endless sweets.
"I just thought of something I still need to do," Hermione explained to Ginny quickly. "You can go back on up to the school if you want, I'll just be a minute."
"No, I'll stay," Ginny said, barely concealing a small grin. "I'll wait down there at the end of the road. Do hurry, though, my toes are getting rather frozen."
Hermione nodded and waved good-bye as she watched Ginny's retreating back; then, making sure she wasn't going to turn her head, Hermione dashed into Hickory's Emporium, the bookshop. Of course, Hickory's was the sort of place Hermione would love to receive a present from, and she wasn't all that sure what Ginny would fancy most, but she was pressed on time, so something would have to make do.
Hickory's was amazing. It was a newer addition to Hogsmeade (Hermione didn't remember it from her own schooldays) and looked positively marvelous. A two-storied shop, Hickory's was home to books of all genres, enchanted quills, talking bookmarks, planners that reminded you of upcoming appointments every hour, and much more. The young professor could've gazed at the shop for hours on end, but then she remembered Ginny was waiting outside and it was nearly supper time, so she tore her eyes away from the books she was so yearning to touch and headed for the back of the shop where a large scarlet sign hung from the wall, bearing one word: QUIDDITCH. There was no need for elaboration.
Rows and rows were dedicated to the sport; books on different teams, quills that squeaked the members of any said teams, small and interesting glass objects that gave a full play-by-play of the most recent matches… Hermione was suddenly at a loss at what to buy. She knew Ginny would appreciate anything but how could she ever come to a decision?
In the end, Hermione chose a large book entitled "The Chudley Cannons: A Legacy of Brilliance" for Ginny, knowing that the Cannons were her favorite team (most likely, she was influenced from one of her older brothers). She wasn't sure if Ginny did much reading, but anything that fell under her nose with the word "Quidditch" on it would be sure to captivate her attention for a little while, at least.
Hermione turned the corner and began weaving her way through the bookshelves and towards the front counter. She slowed her pace down a considerable amount when she arrived in the section on Transfiguration and considered buying herself a new textbook for teaching reference. Extending her hand, Hermione was about to pull down a thick navy volume, but a voice only a short distance away made her freeze.
"D'you think she'll like this one?" someone said, obviously a male.
"I don't know," replied another voice flatly, also seemingly male. "Why are you asking me?"
Hermione's stomach lurched unpleasantly as she realized who the two voices belonged to. Inching slightly to the right, she spotted Harry and Ron standing in front of a bookcase two rows in front of her own, Harry examining something in his hands. The register was the other way, though… she could easily turn left and slip away to the front of the store, unnoticed. There wouldn't be need for confrontation at all. Of course, Hermione wouldn't have minded meeting Harry in Hogsmeade… the only problem was the person standing next to him…
But somehow, Hermione couldn't move. She took two steps to the left, concealing herself in the shadows, and stood rooted to the spot as if their words had bound her there with a powerful charm. She knew Ginny was waiting for her down the road; she wasn't going to turn into a snowman, could wait just a little while longer…
"Come on, Ron, do you really think she'd like it?"
"As long as she can stick her nose in it, she'll be satisfied," Ron replied coldly.
"Yeah, I'll just take this one, she won't care either way, will she?"
Ron grunted indifferently.
Harry sighed. "What's your deal?" he asked exasperatedly. "Every time I mention Hermione, you pretend like she's pus under a house-elf's toenail. It's getting annoying."
Ron laughed mercilessly. "You don't seem to mind much, do you? Now that you two are all buddy-buddy again, everything's just back to normal, isn't it? Have you forgotten that I still think differently?"
Hermione found herself wincing slightly; Ron didn't sound like himself at all, and his icy tone could cut like a knife. She sensed a change in Harry's attitude, too, but his words were still casual and encouraging.
"You can't hate her forever."
"Yes, I can."
"You've got to make up sometime."
"No, I don't."
"It isn't that hard! I did it, see? And it didn't kill me, I'm still breathing, aren't I?"
"Well, you're more forgiving, than I am!" Ron snapped. "I don't forget things as easily! She's lucky if I ever even look at her again!"
Harry sniggered and muttered incomprehensible something under his breath, but Hermione couldn't make it out. There was a loud smacking noise, and she suspected Ron had punched him in the arm.
"I don't think I know exactly why you refuse to talk to her – sensibly, I mean," said Harry. "The day you interrupted her Transfiguration class was quite amusing –"
"Shut up."
Harry dissolved into small snickers again and, to Hermione's horror, began walking down the aisle towards her hiding place. Hermione threw herself against the bookshelf behind her, praying against all hope that Harry won't spot her, because she could only imagine what stupid things he would do if he did…
"I've told you, Harry," Ron said, clearly irked. "She's a prat and she's never stopped to consider other people's feelings, I don't want a replay of what happened in our seventh year."
"Ron, you've got to –"
Harry stopped talking abruptly and froze in his tracks as he passed the Transfiguration bookshelf. Hermione found him staring back at her with the most perplexed expression on his face. Horrified, she quickly put a finger to her lips, motioning for him to keep quiet. Harry obviously got the message and nodded but couldn't restrain the small smile spreading across his face.
"Actually," he said, turning around and moving back towards Ron. "I don't think Hermione would like this book much, it's too interesting, I need to pick a much more tedious one for her…"
Brushing away Harry's last comment, Hermione gratefully slipped around the corner, going completely unnoticed by the two men. She nearly knocked over a tiny witch exiting through the door as she tore across the shop, sliding to a halt in front of the register and giving the cashier quite a fright.
After throwing several Galleons and Sickles at the wizard behind the counter, Hermione ran out the door, whispering a silencing spell that would stop the annoying bell above the threshold from announcing her departure. She stumbled down the icy and deserted road, glancing occasionally over her shoulder, and found Ginny standing at the entrance to the village, rubbing her hands together and bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"There you are!" she exclaimed hoarsely. "I can't even feel my nose anymore! Took you long enough; what'd you do, buy presents for the entire school?"
"Of course not," Hermione snapped, pulling Ginny after her as she quickly departed Hogsmeade. "Don't be ridiculous. There was a line, and I had to wait my turn. Now let's hurry, I don't want to miss dinner."
Ginny stared after Hermione with a curious expression but Hermione knew she didn't dare pry. The two professors walked the distance up to the school in silence. Hermione's brain was too cold to comprehend what she had just overheard in Hickory's, so she busied herself with stuffing the remainder of her sweets into her mouth instead.