Chapter 3
(-A.N. I am SO sorry about taking so long for this chapter. Softball season started up and then finals…ugh. But now that school's over I can update more often. R&R pleaseeee)
Hermione emerged breathlessly into the common room as Ron and Harry hurried over to her, questions pouring continuously out of their mouths.
"What did he want?"
"Did you get detention?"
"Do you have trophy room duty?"
"Does he know something he shouldn't?" Harry eyed her suspiciously
"No Ron, I don't have detention nor do I have trophy room duty. He just…let me go…" Hermione trailed off.
"Oh c'mon 'Mione, I'm young but I wasn't born yesterday. You're trying to tell me that Snape gave you a little slap on the wrist after being 2 hours late to his class and sent you on your merry way?" asked Ron incredulously.
"Well…yes." Hermione grabbed her books for Transfiguration and motioned Ron and Harry to follow her out of the common room, where they could be free of any eavesdroppers. She led them down a staircase, and into a dimly lit corridor that was now used for storage.
She stopped abruptly and turned to face Harry and Ron, who missed colliding into her by inches. She explained to them what had happened back in Snape's office, and when she had finished, Harry and Ron's mouth hung open in horror.
"Voldemort's plotting something. I don't know what, but it's coming. And by the looks of it, it's coming soon." Harry stated solemnly.
"We've got to find McGonagall before class." Ron turned to leave.
"Yeah, besides, we need to report our research. If you can call it that." Harry recalled the previous nights of endless books revealing nothing.
Hermione also recalled the previous night. What an awful night it had been. She could never tell Ron or Harry; she would be shamed beyond reason if they were to know her dream, or rather her nightmare.
The grass was a lush green. Cerulean blue was vast amongst the seldom wisping clouds.
The trio raced to the Headmistress office before their class.
"Acid Pop," gasped Harry breathlessly as he reached the Headmistress's door with Ron and Hermione panting shortly behind him. The door opened swiftly and the three hiked up the stairs to where McGonagall sat huddled over some form of document, reading spectacles nearly falling off the bridge of her nose. She looked up as Hermione, Ron, and Harry bursted in.
"Hello boys. Have you found anything useful with your research?" she asked, yet half already knowing the answer.
Ron and Harry look down at the floor. Glancing at the two, Hermione spoke, "Nothing at all I'm afraid, Professor."
"I see. I expected as much." McGonagall pursed her lips.
"Theres something else too, Professor." Harry eyed Hermione quickly, then began the story of a mere potions threat.
When Harry had finished, with Hermione clarifying details here and there, the four sat in silence for a moment.
"I see…" muttered McGonagall, rubbing her temples slightly. She spoke in bearly over a whisper, "What would Albus do…" McGonagall stood up. "We need to keep the children safe. We'll arrange for the train to take them straight away tomorrw."
"But Professor, the Slytherins. Surely they will tell their parents. Besides, what about the muggle-borns. They can't get to London in such short notice." Hermione was on fire with wit.
"I'm afraid you're right. I suppose we have no other choice then." McGonagall began pacing.
"What's that Professor?" asked Harry.
"We'll have to keep them here and protect them."
"Against all the Death Eaters? There's got to be hundreds of them swarming around England." Ron shivered.
"What other choice do we have? Ron, go get every prefect in this school up here right now."
"And the Head Boy?" Hermion asked nervously.
McGonagall sighed, "Him too."
As Ron turned to leave, he was startled by a large crash just outside the door.
