5 Objects

Hermione Granger slipped into the Potions classroom early. She looked about casually then crept silently towards Snape's private storeroom. She whispered a spell but the door refused to move. She tried another spell. Nothing. Running her fingers around the perimeter of the door she felt a hidden release near the bottom hinge. It wouldn't budge.

"Have you lost something, Miss Granger?" Horace Slughorn said genially.

His gentle voice startled Hermione and she spun around.

"Hello Professor Slughorn. Professor Snape confiscated an unsuccessful experiment of mine in my fifth year. I let it go until realized how to make a go of it. I just need a small sample to put it right," she said quickly, fumbling for a spare glass phial in her robes.

"Why didn't you come to me? I would have been glad to assist you," Slughorn said tentatively.

"I'm supposed to be the brightest witch of my age. I can't be seen to fail."

Slughorn looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "I take your point, Miss Granger. One cannot be too careful in being seen as successful. Unfortunately the Ministry removed all of Professor Snape's experiments upon his departure. Tell me what you are trying to accomplish and I'm sure we can get you set up in a place where you can work discreetly," he said, looking at her shrewdly.

Hermione's face flushed. "Thank you, Professor Slughorn. I'm actually working on two potions: one to detect serpents and one to repel them. I've read that Vol-, He-who-must-not-be-named sometimes uses them as his allies. And I'd be forever grateful for a place to work."

Slughorn put his hands behind him and thought for a moment.

"Well, it's not exactly the Room of Requirement but it will serve nicely. Come with me," he said pleasantly.

Hermione was amazed at the assortment of potion ingredients Slughorn was able to cram into the old classroom he had set aside for her. She quickly sorted and organized them all. Some were rare enough to have been from Snape's private stores. He'd also left behind some old books full of handwritten, arcane formulas. The reaction between magical silver objects and serpent's blood was surprisingly well documented. "And why wouldn't it be, coming from two or more first rate Slytherin Potions masters," she said to herself. One was written in a script she was sure belonged to Severus Snape. She perused several of the books, creasing her brow in intense concentration. Pulling a piece of parchment from her sleeve Hermione drew out an intricate diagram, placing bottles and flasks on specially marked points. She rechecked her list and redid her Arithmancy figures. "Yes, I knew it. I need to discover just one more ingredient to balance this potion." She danced a jig around the dusty room.

Harry, Hermione and Ron spent Easter Break at Grimmauld place. The Order continued to meet there and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley spent little more than mealtimes with them. They sat in the drawing room trying to come up with a plan for tracking down the horcruxes.

"We need to find the locket that was in the drawing room," Harry said.

"Then we need to find Mundungus or Kreacher," Ron replied.

"Neither one of them will help us willingly," Hermione said impatiently.

"Then we'd better have a good look round before we assume they've taken it," said Harry.

They spent the rest of the day and all of the evening tearing the house inside out looking for suspicious objects. Ron found several small golden cups. One even had a badger on it but they weren't from Hufflepuff. Hermione and Harry stumbled across a parchment something like the Marauder's Map but it didn't seem to work. Hermione wearily tucked it into her schoolbag and they went off to bed.

Morning came and Mrs. Weasley was still detained by business with The Order. They were on their own for breakfast. Of the three Harry was the best hand at cooking so he made a small mountain of bacon and eggs for Ron and himself. All Hermione wanted was a little porridge, toast and marmalade. They ate in frustrated silence. Harry glanced back and forth between his two best friends.

"Porridge Ok, Hermione? Toast a bit underdone the way you like it?"

"Fine, thanks, Harry," she said coolly. "At least someone doesn't think cooking is beneath him. And takes the trouble to know what people other than himself like for breakfast."

"Thanks, Hermione. I need to see if I can find Dobby now," he said, stepping briskly out of the kitchen.

"Ron, are you even listening? Have you done your Defense Against the Dark Arts homework?" Hermione nagged.

"I always listen to you Hermione. And I don't know how much more of Dawlish I can take. He knows the spells well enough but blimey, he's bad with students."

"Well at least Potions is a lot better. Professor Slughorn actually wants us to succeed. And he doesn't play favorites with the Houses like Snape."

"When, it comes to bloody rudeness in a classroom, it's hard to beat the so-called Half-blood Prince. Prince Snape, more like King Snape, king of the gits," Ron griped. Hermione jumped up. All the color drained from her face.

"That's it Ron!" Hermione ran from the table after Harry, spoon clattering in her porridge bowl.