Chapter Two:
Hermione curled up in a large squishy armchair near the fireplace in the library. She opened her book, but found she couldn't read. All she could do was think about the way Harry had smiled at her. She shifted uncomfortably in the chair before deciding it was no use to try to get any studying done. She rose from the chair and stalked into the hall way. She rounded the corner and collided with a young scribe.
"Watch where you're going, little you girl." The scribe spat as he bent low to retrieve the dropped scrolls
"I'm terribly sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Here, let me help you"
"NO! Keep your filthy hands off." The scribe hissed. "You've done enough damage."
Hermione looked up at the scribe. He had flaming red hair and wore horn rim glasses. He looked a lot like Ron.
"I should go." Hermione said
Tears were forming in her eyes as ran down the hallway, her footsteps echoing as she went. She stopped only when she was sure the scribe wasn't behind her. She leaned against the cool stone walls and slid to the floor. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. She felt stupid. She was crying because of a rude scribe. Imagine that. Her, Hermione Granger, the girl who hadn't cried since she was five, bawling like a baby in the middle of an abandoned corridor. She picked herself up and walked down to the dungeons. She stepped lightly on the creaking stairs. A door was ajar and it cast a sliver of light across her face, but she was sure it was Remus's private study. She pushed the door open and saw her uncle hunched over a large cauldron filled to the brim with a golden colored potion that Hermione knew to be Felix Flexis.
"Uncle Moony?" Hermione said cautiously
"Come in, come in. Close the door behind you, though. Don't want anyone knowing I'm brewing this." Remus said gesturing his niece forward
Hermione quietly pushed the door closed and hurried to join her uncle by the potion. She couldn't help, but smile as the potion bubbled and not a drop spilled.
"If anyone knew about this, do you have the slightest idea how much the damage would be?" Remus asked
"It would start a war of epic proportion." Hermione said
"Precisely. No one must ever know about it. Not even the king."
Hermione nodded. She watched as Remus dipped a small diamond flask into the cauldron and filled it to the brim with Lucky Potion. He sealed it with wax and handed it to her.
"Keep this with you. You'd be amazed how things turn out wit just the tiniest sip."
Hermione smiled and tucked the flask gingerly into the pouch on her hip. There was the sound of footsteps roaring toward them. Remus threw a large sheet over the cauldron just as the door opened. It was the rude scribe from before. Hermione scowled at him and looked away.
"The king wishes to see you." The scribe said to Remus
"Thank you, Percy. " Remus said coldly. "We'll continue our lesson tomorrow."
Remus hobbled out of the room leaving Hermione alone with Percy.
"Look. I'm really sorry about earlier. I was determined to be angry at someone. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Percy as quietly
Hermione hesitated. She gave Percy an appraising look before nodding.
"So are we friends?" Percy said shyly extending his hand
"I suppose." Hermione said shaking his hand
She stalked past Percy and back up the stairs. She saw Harry and Ron sitting in the entrance hall chatting. Hermione felt herself flush at the sight of Harry. He glanced up at her and did a double take. Hermione scuttled over.
"Good morning." Hermione said softly
Harry slid over and allowed her room to sit. Hermione sat down shyly.
"Did you hear about the tournament? It's supposed to be really dangerous." Ron said to Hermione
"What tournament?" Hermione said
"The Tournament of Valor. It's a tournament for the four kingdoms. Everyone wants to enter. Archers, knights, everybody." Harry said in an awed voice
At that moment two boys who were completely identical sauntered in.
"Fred, George over here!" Ron bellowed
The twins looked over at them and grinned. They walked over.
"Where were you two off to in such a hurry?" Ron asked his older brothers
"We're off to see the warlock. You see we need an aging potion to enter the tournament." George said grinning even wider
Ron groaned.
"If you need and aging potions than we'll never be able to enter." Ron said loudly
"Quite, you twit!" Fred hissed
The twins glanced over their shoulders. No one was paying the jesters the slightest bit of attention. The Fred and George stalked away in search of Remus.
"They're hopeless, you know. Completely and utterly hopeless." Ron said shaking his head
That night, just after dinner, Hermione snuck across the hall into the library. She was about to curl up in front of the fire when she heard something move in the corner.
"Do you always sneak in hear for late night reading?" Harry's voice said softly
"You startled me." Hermione said as she looked over her shoulder
"Sorry."
Harry climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked over the railing.
"Have you read any thing on this floor?" Harry asked
"No. I'm going to work my way up." Hermione said cooly
She stood up and flounced up the stairs. She was amazed that there were so many books she still had to read.
"I really need to read more." Hermione breathed
"It's amazing up here. I come here just to get away from Ron." Harry said looking at fire
"Yeah amazing." Hermione said glancing at Harry