Chapter 5 – The Spell

(Disclaimer: see chapter 1)

You might remember that I once told you I wouldn't go on with this fanfic – but as you see, I changed my mind.
Finally I've taken some time and have written the next chapter.
At least 4 other chapters will follow until the wholy story is finished – maybe even more.

A few days later Hermione was in luck.

She was on her way to Transfiguration, but she was late. The hallways were almost empty because the other pupils were already in the classrooms.

Hermione hated to be late, but she had forgotten one of her books and so had gone back to the Gryffindor tower.

Now she hurried.

As she came along a niche, her quill fell down and rolled into the shadows behind a statue, that was standing in the niche.

Hermione sighed and went after it.

The same moment she heard voices approaching.

"...cannot be the way they are now. Those dreadful students..." – This voice belonged to Filch and if that would not have been enough reason to hide, Hermione recognized the voice that answered:

"What do you mean?" – This was no-one but Snape and he sounded more than annoyed. It was obvious that talking to Filch was one of the last things he was interested in now. Somehow, over the last year, the two of them had developed some kind of real antagonism although no-one knew why.

Hermione's heart stopped beating and she pressed herself against the back wall behind the statue, deeper into the shadows. Even one of them was enough to get her in trouble and she didn't want to risk another so-and-so points to be taken from her house for nothing.

"They never listen and again someone broke into the old Potions classroom a few days ago. Luckily nothing is missing, the intruder must have been disturbed."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She had not broken into the room, the door had been open. Pupils met there from time to time, Hermione knew. Couples that wanted to make out without being disturbed my classmates or – even worse! – teachers. So why the hell did Filch make such a big thing of it?

Snape seemed to have the same thoughts.

"Mr. Filch, what is it that you want from me? I'm on the way to my next lesson and I'm already late!"

The two men stopped right in front of the statue that served Hermione as hideout and she didn't dare to move.

Filch grimaced. "I thought about who might have broken into the old classroom, Sir... Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle hung around the corridor quite often..."

"So you think pupils of my house did it? Is it that, what you are trying to tell me? How dare you! Talking about that is idle, you've got no proof. And besides-", Snape paused to calm his furious voice, "I have to go to my classroom. As I already told you, I'm late." His voice was cold and hostile, but Filch was unimpressed.

"There are proofs, Mr. Snape. Meet me in the old Potions classroom at 9pm this evening and we will see who is guilty."

Hermione had the impression that Filch tried to sound provocative, but Snape ignored it.

"Alright. But I forewarn you – if there are no proofs I will take care that you'll never stick your nose in any of my business again!"

With these words Snape turned around and rushed away, leaving a fierce looking Filch who disappeared into the other direction seconds later.

It took a few minutes until Hermione dared to move. She took her quill and spied around the statue, but the hallway was empty. And yet, Hermione remained in the niche. Her thoughts tumbled.

Snape was going to be in the old Potions classroom that evening. Far away from the other inhabitants of Hogwarts. Alone. Well, she corrected herself, Filch planned to be there, too, but there could be found a remedy for that. One question to Ginny and Filch would be busy all night long.

Hermione bit her nails. She didn't believe in coincidences, she never had. This was her chance and she had to take it! But she needed a plan, at least some kind of. And so she decided, with a glimpse at her watch that showed her she was more than late now, to skip Transfiguration and use the time to plan her 'modus operandi'.

When she realized what she was doing she shook her head in disbelief. She was skipping a lesson! Well, to be precise, a double-lesson. She sighed and went down the corridor. She'd make a call on Poppy on her way to the Gryffindor tower and tell her she had stomach cramps or so to be excused for the Transfiguration lessons.

Again she sighed as she realized how much she had changed; how much that night had changed her. And again she had to face the question where this whole thing would lead her. She hoped for the best while deep inside she had the feeling it was to nothing good...

She was still in thoughts at lunch, but her mood had improved – she didn't even mind that baked potatoes were for eats again.

Sitting in front of her plate she reflected the last hours. She had played all possibilities through in her mind and the much she had wanted to write her ideas down, the much she had feared her notes could betray her if someone found them.

But now she was done.

A shadow fell on her plate and she looked up to see Ron sitting down next to her.

"What's up?" he asked while he placed his brimful plate on the wooden table. "I heard you missed Transfiguration."

"Erm... yes. I have been busy." She shook her head when he wanted to say something. Then she turned her head left and right to make sure nobody was listening and went on.

"Ron, I've got it."

"Got what?", her friend asked and shoveled another bunch of potatoes into his mouth.

"A plan, I've got a plan! Well – I think I have.", Hermione responded with a proud smile. Then she told Ron how she had witnessed the quarrel between Snape and Filch and her idea to get Snape alone in the old Potions classroom that evening.

She finished talking by the same time Ron finished eating and waited eagerly for his opinion.

"Well... I hate to say that", he began and Hermione strained, "but it might really work."

When Hermione was all smiles he shook his head. "No, don't halloo till you're out of the wood! I havn't finished yet. It might really work to distract Filch and to get Snape alone in the classroom, I don't see any problem so far. Ginny is quite talented." Pride resonated in his voice then he got back to the central point.

"What I worry about is you facing Snape. It's not just that you might not be able to... well... control you feelings or something like that..."

"Isn't it?", Hermione asked combatively and Ron shook his head, ignoring her attack.

"No it isn't. Believe me, for that I am your friend I know best what a talented, genious witch you are. But I, too, know Snape. He's thrice as old as you and he has been in contact with the dark side. What I want to say is: How can you be sure to be able to knock him out that easily?"

"A goldfish can kill a gorilla", Hermione answered offended, "all he needs is the element of surprise."

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Ok, even if I'm gonna take this serious – lets play this through. Let's assume you're lucky and you take him by surprise. And then? You're unpractised with this spell and there must be a reason why the book is stored in the restricted area of the library. But, alright, let's also assume you're able to recall the spell and Snape is so stunned he doesn't fight you. Have you ever thought of the risks?"

He shook his head again.

"You know I hate to be the one to talk sense, but Hermione! You've such a keen mind... What if something happens to Snape or – even worse – to you?"

Hermione didn't answer, but her killing glance made her point clear.

As Ron realized he was not going to get an answer he took his plate and stood up. Before he left he turned around a last time and with a sad look on his face he added:

"All I ask you for is to think it over. Why don't you just leave it? He doesn't remember, so what's the problem? You can make it much worse with this action. I don't want you to be expelled from Hogwarts because you've used an ancient spell against a teacher. Think about it."

Then he left.

Hermione stared at her plate and the potatoes she had not even touched. So Ron thought she overrated herself, that she didn't know what she did. Fine. Friends - so much for that.

She felt that tears filled her eyes and quickly wiped them away. She was on the brick of winning or losing everything she had and the only one she had trusted in this whole matter had just forsaken her.

It was five minutes past nine when Hermione tiptoed through the hallway that led to the old Potions classroom. She was late on purpose to be sure Snape was really there; she knew he hated to be late – a common ground that united the two of them.

Her heart almost broke her chest and she hold her wand tight in her shivering hand while a million thoughts rushed through her head. She had asked Ginny to distract Filch in time and fortunately her friend had asked no questions. Right now, Filch should be busy in the cellar beneath the castle, far away from where Hermione lingered. She didn't know it for sure, but she had to trust fortune – even if just because it was all she could do at present.

She also had to trust that Snape was in the room and she knew it had to work with the first try - she wouldn't have another.

So she tried to cool down, recalled the spell and approached the wooden door that was ajar. For a second she toyed with the idea of bursting in, but quickly dropped that thought. Instead she hold her breath and listened. From inside the room she heard the sound of paper being lifted and dropped down again and bottles being moved. Snape seemed to use the time while waiting to investigate by himself. Or to stash away possible proofs for his pupils' former presence.

Being very careful, Hermione poked her head in. Fortunately, Snape stood with his back turned toward her and didn't notice. Hermione weighed her chances up and decided to take the risk, silently opened the door another ten inches and slipped inside without a noise.

She could hardly believe she seemed to be blessed with luck because Snape was so busy with studying the potion bottles that he still hadn't noticed yet that she was approaching from behind.

Hermione lifted her wand and her lips formed the silent words of the spell.

It could have really worked if not...

Snape took another bottle, that was covered with a thick layer of dust which he wiped away with the border of his black robe.

Hermione had lifted the wand, pointed directly on Snape's back of the head and recited the spell without a sound.

A cloud of dust ascended from the bottle and spread in the muggy air of the old room.

Hermione reached the last line of the spell and focused her concentration.

The dust reached Snape's face and entered his respiratory tracts with the next breath he took. He coughed and quickly put the bottle down, but it didn't better. Coughing and gasping for breath he turned around.

Snape froze. Hermione froze, too.

She wasn't able to believe what happened. She was so close and quickly shouted the last words aloud.

"Tercetus solitura vi-" – she couldn't finish the spell, because the same moment Snape's voice resounded in the room and was reflected oddly blurred from the stone walls.

"Expelliarmus!"

Before Hermione could realize what happened, her wand flew away and she found herself facing a coughing but nonetheless furious Snape, and now it was his wand that was pointed at her.

To be continued... Soon!