Chapter 11

The Book of Pythagora

You could feel the absence of Dumbledore everywhere. In the halls, in the dorm rooms, in the class rooms, everywhere you looked you saw a frightened student hurrying to get where they were supposed to be. But there was one place they did feel comfortable, thanks to a certain newbie.

Headmaster Winfred always kept the Great Hall alive with the sound of laughter with on-the-spot games, and tales of how he used to get in trouble at Hogwarts. For that short period of time during the day, the students didn't care about a thing, because they were happy. But of course, you cannot please everyone, and that he did not.

"I've lost complete faith in Dumbledore," said Hermione, as they walked from the Great Hall to the Gryffindor common room. "He is a complete joke."

"Well, I think that's what he is going for," said Ron. "I imagine Fred and George will be like him one day."

"Is there anyone that you don't like, Hermione?" said Harry.

"As a matter of fact," she began. "I'd like to know why Dumbledore didn't just give the position to McGonagal."

"Because I didn't want it Miss Granger," said their Professor, she had been walking behind them the whole time. "Maybe it would be best if you stuck to books and not public Affairs. You are a student, not a teacher."

Professor McGonagal turned down a separate corridor, and the three of them continued walking. Hermione all of a sudden found no interest in talking.

"Am I sensing false information or did she just say that your grades were slipping?" asked Ron, with his eyebrows raised.

"Don't try and act smart Ron," said Hermione. "It doesn't suite you. Tantacula Imbregulio."

Hermione immediately made her way to the girls dormitory while Ron and Harry took the nearest seats.

"Hopefully that will keep her mouth shut for a little while," said Ron.

"Don't be so hopeful," Harry replied.

"Harry! Harry! Wake up!"

"No! Stop it!"

"Shhh! Keep your voice down."

"Wha?"

Harry reached for his glasses so that he could see who it was that was waking him up. Hermione stoop at the foot of his bed, fully clothed, looking quite annoyed.

"I've been here for five minutes trying to wake you up," she whispered at him. "I need your Invisibility cloak."

"No, Hermione," said Harry, falling back onto his pillow.

"Yes, Harry," she said, pulling him back up. "I need it."

"What for?" asked Harry.

"I need something from the restricted section," said Hermione.

"Why?" said Harry.

"You'll see, just give it to me," she said, trying to pull him out of bed. "Well, Im coming with you," said Harry.

The pair made their way down the empty corridors in haste. Harry more quickly than Hermione, causing the cloak to slip off of her once or twice. They reached the library safely and unseen.

"Alohomora!"

The lock to the Restricted Section of the Library popped open.

"I can't believe they haven't put a better spell on that," Hermione whispered, as they opened the gate.

They took off the cloak and placed it on a nearby counter. Hermione immediately went for the nearest row of books, using her wand to see the names.

"What is this book anyhow?"

"The Book of Pythagora. It was used in Ancient times to pass down the secrets of the Pythagoras. It has since then been added to, of course, in secrets about the different races of our kind."

"Races?"

"Werewolves, and others."

"That doesn't seem very harmful, why is it in this section?" said Harry, as they moved to the next row of books.

"Because it tells you how to become them," said Hermione. "Here it is."

"No, don't open that one."

"Why not?' said Hermione, preceding to open the book. As she did so, a loud wail came from it's pages. She immediately shut it.

"That's why," said Harry.

"Well, I'll have to fix that," she said. "Come on."

They put the cloak back on and locked the gate behind them. They moved quickly around corners, this time Hermione more quickly than Harry. And when Harry tried to speed up in order to match her pace, she stopped in mid track. Harry looked at her, and then looked at what she was looking at. A hooded figure stood directly in front of them, with its back to them. A few more inches and they would have run right into it.

Hermione slowly backed up until they were hidden behind a corner. They stood their for a few moments, Harry looked at Hermione and could tell she was thinking of a way around, so Harry took the opportunity to think about what it was that was just in front of them.

Hermione moved to look around the corner, and Harry did the same. It was gone. Hermione slowly walked from behind the corner, Harry moved with her. Their pace slightly began to pick up, and then it abruptly stopped when the weight of the Invisibility cloak left them. They turned around, and saw the hooded figure standing there, with Harry's cloak in hand.

Harry made a dash for his wand, as the figure made its way to reveal itself, in the light of Hermione's wand.

"S'you have no courtesy for d'ose who v'wish to sleep," Signora Aradia spoke to them.

Hermione grabbed for the invisibility cloak but Signora moved it away from her grasp.

"Tell me dear girl, v'what is it dat you hold?" she said. Her deadly pale face looked frighteningly alive in the light of the Lumos.

"A book," she said sternly. "Now give us our detention, and let us be on our way."

"V'what book could make two student risk detention?" she asked, and pulled it from Hermione's grasp. She read the cover, and looked up.

"Planning to join a cult?" she asked Hermione, shoving the book back into her hands. Hermione didn't say a word. "You detentions v'will be held in my office, tomorrow. Good night."

She walked away, with Harry's cloak still in her possession. Hermione still stood their, while Harry immediately turned to continue walking. After a few seconds he heard Hermione's feet rushing to catch up with him. They made their way back in silence. It wasn't until they entered the common room that any words were spoken.

"I'm sorry Harry," said Hermione.

"Just please tell me that getting this book has nothing to do with her," he said, angrily at her. She didn't reply. Harry walked away from her in anger, not noticing the small figure standing in front of him, he tripped.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Potter!" screeched the House elf.

"It's alright Dobby," said Harry, getting up from the floor.

"No it's not," he said. "I stood in your way on purpose."

"I don't care, just let me get back to bed. Night."

"Wait, I need to give you something," he said, with a grin spreading across his face. He wobbled towards Harry, dragging his mis-colored socks on the floor. "A letter."

Harry took the paper from his hands. "From who?"

"The savior of the House Elves!" Dobby had a very admiring look on his face.

"Who is that?" asked Harry, opening the letter. Hermione moved next to him.

"Who is it?"

"I'll give you one guess?" said Harry, folding the letter back together and putting it in his pocket.

"Dobby, why is she the savior of the house elves!" Hermione asked, in a fed up manner.

"Oh, she did a tremendous thing years ago," he said, clasping his hands together in glee.
"Years ago?" Hermione repeated in mockery. 'She would have been...10 years old years ago."

"Oh no she wasn't," said Dobby, who began to rock on his feet.

"How-...Harry, aren't you going to read it?"

"Later," said Harry, as he walked up the stairs to the boys dormitory.

I know that it has been a long time since I have written anything, but my computer was attacked by a virus, and it erased everything. As you can imagine, it is taking me a long time to gather everything back, so I hope you will forgive me. I am doing my best to keep writing in the process. I'm going to try and have some more reactions between characters, I think it's lacking that.

I hope you enjoyed, please review