Chapter 11
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AN1: Thank you for the support. PLEASE REVIEW.
September 6th 1991
A little while after she left the Dungeons Hermione arrives at the hospital wing, having spent her entire time walking worrying about how her Papa is going to react to the fact that she got detention.
"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Poppy asks as she walks into the Hospital wing, "You're not hurt are you?"
"Hi, Pop… I mean Madam Pomfrey." Hermione quickly corrects, "No, I'm not hurt. Neville was hurt during potions and I wanted to check to see how he's doing." She explains.
"Ah, I see. I should have realised." Poppy says as she knows both Hermione and Neville out of Hogwarts so she really should have realised why Hermione would be there, "He needs rest, but you can stay for a few minutes."
"Thank you." Hermione says gratefully.
"He's over there." Poppy says, pointing to the bed where Neville is and seeing that Hermione gives Poppy a grateful look before heading over to her friend.
"Hey Nev." Hermione says as she sits down in the chair next to the bed he is lying in, "How are you feeling?" She asks in curious concern.
"Sore." Neville answers, "I really don't think potions is for me, Mione." He admits.
"Maybe not, but it was just your first lesson." Hermione reminds him, "I'll help you next time." She promises, "Even if we're not working together."
"Thanks, Mione." Neville says, sounding grateful, "How was the rest of the class?" he asks.
"Interesting." Hermione answers, "I got detention." Hermione says in a quick but quiet voice.
"You got detention?" Neville asks shocked, "You Hermione Jean Hope Lupin-Black got detention?" Neville asks, making sure his voice is only loud enough for Hermione to hear, being completely shocked and honestly he wouldn't be surprised if he heard wrong as that would be less of a surprise than Hermione getting detention.
"Yes." Hermione confirms, "I talked back, said you weren't an idiot, and after you left he blamed Harry for what happened so I said it wasn't his fault." Hermione explains, "Papa's going to be so disappointed in me." She says, looking at the ground in shame.
"No, he's not." Neville says, reaching out and taking his friends hand, "The way Professor Snape was treating people wasn't okay, you stood up to him. Remus is going to be proud." Neville assures her.
"Maybe." Hermione says, then she realises what he is doing, "No, you were the one who was hurt I should be comforting you." She tells her friend.
"We're comforting each other, that's how friendship works." Neville says with a smile, one that Hermione returns.
After staying with Neville until Poppy told her to leave Hermione headed up to the library where she spent several hours in her own little corner studying until heading down to dinner.
"I would like to see you in my office after you finish dinner." Minerva tells Hermione after she has been sitting and eating for a few minutes.
"Yes, Professor." Hermione answers, knowing exactly what Minerva will want to talk to her about, and after telling Hermione that Minerva heads up to the staff table, just as Harry and Ron walk over to the table.
"Hermione." A voice says a few minutes after Minerva walked away and Hermione looks up to see Harry looking at her.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to say thank you again, for what you said to Snape." Harry tells her.
"You don't have to thank me." Hermione assures him, "Professor Snape's behaviour was out of line."
"That's one way to put it." Ron comments, "What's the git making you do for detention?"
"I'm not sure." Hermione answers, "it's tomorrow night." Hermione explains.
"Do you know how Neville is?" Harry asks as he knows Hermione and Neville are friends, everyone does.
"I visited him after class, he was resting." Hermione explains, "He's okay."
"Good, I'm glad." Harry says.
"Yeah." Hermione says and they drift into silence as they eat.
Twenty minutes after her conversation with Harry and Ron Hermione is knocking on the door to Minerva's office, not looking forward to the conversation she is going to have with her surrogate aunt, nor is she looking forward to how disappointed both Minerva and her Papa are going to be.
"Come in." Minerva's voice says as Hermione knocks and she walks in, "Close the door behind you, Hermione."
"Yes, Professor." Hermione says and after closing the door she walks over to the table that Minerva is sitting and she sits down across from her, "I take it that you want to talk about what happened in Professor Snape's class?" Hermione ask as that's what she assumes.
"You would be correct." Minerva confirms, "Would you like to tell me what happened? Why Professor Snape elected to give you detention?"
"Um, am I talking to Professor McGonagall right now or Minnie?" Hermione asks curious, as she knows that her answer to that question is different depending on whether she is talking to Minerva as her head of house or the person she has known her whole life.
"Minnie."
"Well, Papa warned me that Professor Snape likely won't treat me well because of how things were between them at school so I made sure I was extra prepared." Hermione explains, "It quickly became clear that Professor Snape wasn't going to treat me, or Harry, well and he kept asking Harry questions that he had no way to know, and he called me a silly girl when Harry commented that I had the answers, because I had my hand up." Hermione explains, "As class went on Neville accidently made a mistake that caused his cauldron to melt and caused his potion to spill out everywhere." Hermione explains, "He called Neville an idiot and blamed Harry, who wasn't even working with Neville." Hermione explains, "I spoke up said that Nev wasn't an idiot, and that Harry was focusing on his own work, and isn't that what he was supposed to be doing." Hermione explains, looking down at the ground as she doesn't want to see the disappointed look that she is sure is on Minerva's face, "Professor Snape gave me detention tomorrow at five and deducted twenty points."
"I see." Minerva says, frowning, "Hermione I want you to keep me informed of what Professor Snape's classes are like, especially how he treats you, Harry and Neville." Minerva says, and Hermione just gives a nod, still not looking up from what she is doing, "I'm not disappointed in you, Hermione."
"You're not?" Hermione asks surprised, looking up at her.
"No. I am surprised," Minerva corrects, "But it sounds as though you were just defending Harry and Neville." She explains, "Of course there is nothing I can do about the detention so you're going to have to serve that. I just suggest that you try not to talk back to Professor Snape as you serve your detention." Minerva informs Hermione.
"I'll try not to." Hermione answers, being pretty sure that it might be a challenge.
"Now, as your Head of House I have to inform your father that you received detention." Minerva tells Hermione, causing her to look disappointed, "But I am going to give you a choice, I can tell Remus what happened or you can." She says.
"I'll tell him." Hermione answers, not even really needing to think about it.
"Okay. You can use my fireplace to make a floo call." Minerva informs Hermione.
"I have to floo call him?" Hermione asks as even though she wants to see her father she doesn't want the reason to be to tell him that she got detention during her very first week, "Can't I write Papa a letter?"
"I think a floo call would be best." Minerva explains, "Remus is expecting a call from me, so he should be right by the fire." She says as she stands up.
"Okay." Hermione says, finding herself once more becoming nervous as she too stands up.
Even with her nerves, as she really doesn't want to see her father's disappointed look, Hermione forces herself to walk across the room and over to the fire. Once she is standing by the fire Minerva hands her floo power and Hermione calls her address, making the call with just her head in the fire.
As her head travels through the fire Hermione realises that her Papa was right all those years ago when he described what it was like. Once her head stops moving Hermione opens her eyes and she can't help but smile as she sees her living room.
"Papa?" Hermione calls and she hears footsteps.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Remus asks as he crouches down in front of the fire, "I was expecting a call from Minerva."
"I know, I'm with her." Hermione explains.
"I'm so happy to see you." Remus tells his daughter, "How are you? How's your first week going?" he asks.
"I'm good." Hermione says with a smile, "And my first week has been good… for the most part." Hermione explains.
"That's good, but what do you mean for the most part?" Remus asks, not liking the very specific words.
"I… I got detention today." Hermione informs her Papa, hating that she's going to disappoint him.
"You got detention?" Remus asks, sounding completely shocked as his daughter has never gotten in any kind of trouble, and Hermione nods, "What for?" he asks, assuming that there is a very good reason.
"I talked back to Professor Snape." Hermione answers, "Said that the way he was treating Harry, Neville and I all lesson was unfair." Hermione explains.
"Oh, I see." Remus answers, completely understanding now though there was a part of him that was hoping Snape would get over his school grudge and treat Harry and Hermione as their own people rather than their parents children, "I'm very proud you for defending yourself and others Hermione." Remus tells his daughter who looks surprised, "But Professor Snape is a teacher and you need to show him some level of respect, even if he doesn't do the same to you." Remus explains, frowning at that as he really doesn't like that, "Professor Snape is likely going to try and bait you so that he has a legitimate reason to get you into trouble, as hard as it Is you need to try not to let him." he explains, "I also want you to tell me about anything he says or does to you in lessons." Remus tells his daughter, planning on talking to both Minerva and Albus about Snape.
"I will." Hermione assures her Papa, "I'm sorry, Papa, I don't even know why I said it, I just couldn't stay quiet anymore."
"It's okay, Hermione. I know Professor Snape, I know it can be hard to say nothing to his taunts and cruelty, I just didn't expect him to be that way to students." Remus admits, not understanding how Snape could be cruel to students after what he experienced at school, "Do you know what you're going be doing for detention?"
"No. He just said that it's tomorrow at five." Hermione explains.
"Okay, I want you to write me as soon as you finish your detention and if he makes you do anything you're not comfortable with tell Minnie." Remus tells his daughter.
"I will." Hermione promises.
"Now, now were your other lessons?" Remus asks his daughter and Hermione begins to explain all about the classes that she has had other than potions.
Fifteen minutes after his daughter fire called him Remus stands up in front of the fireplace, the call with Hermione having just ended.
"Detention in her first week." Remus says to himself, "You'd be proud." He says to the picture of Sirius that his hidden behind pictures of Hermione from various points in her life, as he knows, without a doubt, that if Sirius was here not only would Sirius be thrilled about Hermione getting detention he would probably by her a present for standing up to Snape.
Walking over to his chair Remus finds himself becoming guilty as he realises that he is partly to blame for the way Snape is treating his daughter and he really hates that. Hermione should be able to enjoy school without having to suffer for what her fathers did, and it's not fair that she can't.
September 7TH 1991
Even though it is weekend Hermione finds herself waking up just as early and as she did during the week and as Neville isn't back from the hospital wing yet Hermione heads down to the Great Hall alone and just like the last few days she doesn't get lost.
Once she finishes eating Hermione heads out of the Great Hall, but instead of heading up to the library she heads outside as there is something that she has been wanting to do all week, but hasn't had a chance.
Walking across the grounds Hermione walks for several minutes before she stops when the Whomping Willow comes into view, because she knows better than getting too close Hermione stops once she can see the entire tree and just stares.
"There you are." Hermione mutters to herself, as she thinks about this is it, the tree that leads to the one place, more than any other, where her father felt alone, where he spent so many nights in pain and afraid of what he becomes.
For a while Hermione just stares at the tree, tying to imagine what all those nights must have been like for her Papa. Hermione doesn't even know how long she spent staring at the tree before she tears her eyes away and walks over to a nearby tree, one that doesn't move, and sits down leaning against it. Once she is sitting down Hermione opens her bag and pulls out a book and parchment and gets started on some work, her eyes flickering up occasionally to look at the Willow.
Hours later Hermione has spent all day out studying on the grounds, looking at the Willow, but as she realises the time she realises that she should head in to have something to eat before her detention with Snape.
Just as she is about to walk into the Great Hall Hermione hears, "MIONE." And she turns to see Neville running down the stairs, almost tripping as he does.
"Nev." Hermione says, hurrying over to hug her friend, "How are you feeling?"
"Much better." Neville says as he returns the hug, "Where have you been? I've been looking for you all day." he comments, it being clear that he is worried.
"I was out on the grounds, I found a pretty good place to study. I'm sorry that I made you worry." Hermione tells her friend, feeling bad.
"It's okay." Neville assures her, "When do you start detention with Professor Snape?"
"Five, so I have just enough time to eat." Hermione explains.
"Then we should eat." Neville says, "I'll wait up for you in the common room." Neville tells his friend.
"Thanks Nev." Hermione says gratefully as the two of them head into the Great Hall.
After eating a hurried dinner Hermione heads to the potions room and knocks on the door.
"Enter." Professor Snape's voice and taking a calming breath Hermione walks into the room.
"Punctual, something you definitely didn't get from either of your fathers." Snape says with a sneer and Hermione forces herself to remember her Papa's words so that she doesn't rise to the bait, "Tonight you will be excising toad hearts, without magic." Snape tells Hermione, honestly it was the most disgusting detention that he could think off, "I intend to use them for potions so you best do careful work, something which neither of your fathers are capable of."
"Yes Sir." Hermione says, biting her tongue.
"And as I don't want any contamination there is no reason to use protective gloves." Snape adds.
"Yes, Sir." Hermione once more says.
"Get to work." Snape says, gesturing to the table nearby and Hermione nods, walks over to the table, sits down and gets to work without another word.
After hours of excising toad hearts, while listening to Snape make snide comments about her fathers for most of the time, which she struggled not to react to, Hermione has just enough time to go to a bathroom and thoroughly scrubbing her hands before heading back to the Gryffindor common room, getting there just before curfew.
As soon as Hermione walks into the Common room she spots Neville sitting by himself so she walks over to her friend and sits down in the armchair next to him.
"How was detention? What did he make you do?" Neville asks curious as Hermione sits down.
"Cut out toad hearts." Hermione explains, "It was really quiet disgusting." She comments.
"Sorry." Neville says with a frown.
"You have no reason to apologise." Hermione assures him.
"Have you see the notice board?" Neville asks curious.
"No, why?"
"We've got flying lessons on Thursday, with Slytherin." Neville reveals, looking far from happy about that.
"Really? That's not going to end well." Hermione says as she has only been at Hogwarts a week and she knows that.
"It's really not." Neville confirms and the two of them drift into silence.
"Have you been on a broom before, Mione?" Neville asks curious, being surprised that he doesn't know, breaking the silence after a couple of minutes.
"No. Papa's not really a fan of flying so he didn't offer and I didn't ask." Hermione explains, finding herself frowning, "You haven't, have you?" Hermione asks as she doesn't think so.
"No." Neville confirms, "I'm really not looking forward to it."
"Me either." Hermione admits, "Maybe I can find a book to help." She says, pondering ways that could help.
"That would be good." Neville says, honestly wanting to find anything to help him with flying.
"We'll look tomorrow." Hermione says, "Right now I really need a shower." Hermione comments, standing up, "I'll see you in the morning."
"see you then." Neville says and Hermione heads upstairs and a couple of minutes Neville heads upstairs too.
September 12th 1991
It has been five days since Hermione served her detention with Snape and ever since Hermione has been the perfect student, though she hasn't had a lesson with Snape again so that might be why.
It is dinner time on a Thursday, but not just any Thursday, the Thursday where Gryffindor and Slytherin had their first flying lesson, and just like Hermione suspected it would the lesson didn't go well. Neville broke his arm and Harry preformed a dangerous stunt which got him caught by Professor McGonagall, though, according to the conversation between Harry and Ron that Hermione has overheard that has led to Harry becoming the Gryffindor seeker.
Even though she promised her Papa she would try not to eavesdrop as much anymore Hermione finds herself listening in to a fight, and a challenge of a duel, between Harry, Ron and Malfoy and after hearing what they talked about she cannot stay quiet and act like she didn't hear.
"Excuse me." Hermione says after taking a deep breath, being pretty sure that this isn't going to go well but she has to try.
"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" Ron asks, but Hermione decides to ignore him and face Harry.
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying…." Hermione starts to say but she once more gets herself cut off by Ron.
"Bet you could." Ron says but Hermione continues to speak acting like she didn't hear him
"And you mustn't go wondering around the school at night." Hermione says, trying to get them to see sense, "Think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be because you just don't know the castle well enough." Hermione says, knowing that because from her Papa's stories she knows that it takes a while to learn how to travel the castle at night without getting caught.
"How do you know that?" Harry asks, giving her a suspicious look.
"I just do." Hermione says, "It's not a good idea. You'll get in so much trouble."
"We'll it's my choice. It's none of your business." Harry informs Hermione.
"Goodbye." Ron says and the two of them walk off.
"I'm just trying to help." Hermione mutters as the two boys walk away.
Ever since her conversation with Harry and Ron Hermione debates what to do, a part of her thinks that she should tell someone, Minnie or Percy, but she quickly decides not to as she realises just how much trouble they will be in if she does that and after all that is what she is trying to prevent. So, after a lot of debating Hermione decides that she will try again herself to stop them.
As she is always the last to full asleep Hermione isn't overly surprised when her roommates fall asleep early, in fact this time she finds it quiet useful, and so once the sounds of her four roommates sleeping fill the room Hermione climbs out of bed, puts on her bathrobe and heads downstairs, making sure she has he wand on her as she does.
Once downstairs Hermione makes her way over to one of the armchairs and sits down, leaving the light off.
Hermione hasn't been sitting for very long when she hears footsteps and one the footsteps are closer, and as she is sure that they belong to who she suspects Hermione speaks,
"I can't believe you are going to do this, Harry." Hermione says as she turns on a light, a frown on her face.
"You." Ron says, sounding furious, "Go back to bed!"
"I considered telling your brother." Hermione tells Ron, anger in her voice, "As a prefect I though he could stop you." Hermione explains, and after giving her angry looks Harry just pushes Ron saying,
"Come on." As he goes.
As she watches them go Hermione realises that she just can't let them go and so, against her better judgement, Hermione follows behind.
"Don't you care about Gryffindor?" Hermione asks once she has followed them out of the portrait hole, "When you get caught you're going make Gryffindor lose so many points and Slytherin will win the house cup, again." Hermione says, using an argument that she hopes will work on them.
"You lost twenty points during first week." Harry argues.
"Yes, but I earned them back in Professor McGonagall's class." Hermione argues, "If you do this you'll lose more than you can earn back."
"Oh, just go away." Ron says, sounding annoyed.
"You know what fine!" Hermione says angrily, "I was just trying to help." Hermione explains, "Remember that when you're in detention, or in Professor McGonagall's office, or the Headmaster's, explaining yourselves." Hermione says angrily as she turns back to the portrait, "You are so…." Hermione starts to say, but she finds herself trailing off when she realises that the portrait is empty, something her Papa didn't warn her about, "Now what am I going to do?" Hermione asks, panic filling her voice and making it sound shrill.
"That's your problem." Ron informs her, 'We've got to go, we're going to be late." Ron says and he and Harry start walking. As the boys walk away Hermione ways her options and as she does she realises that there is only one so she runs and catches up with Harry and Ron as they reach the end of the corridor.
"I'm coming with you." Hermione informs them.
"No, you're not." Harry says, looking angry.
"Yes, I am. I'm not going to wait here for Filch to catch me." Hermione says, knowing from her father that she really doesn't want that, "If he finds all three of us I'll just tell him that I was trying to stop you, and you'll back me up." Hermione says, there being no room for questioning in her voice.
"You've got some nerve…." Ron starts to say loudly, sounding furious.
"Shut up! Both of you." Harry says, causing Ron and Hermione to both quickly shut their mouths, "I heard something." Harry says and as the three of them are quiet they all hear the sound that Harry heard, it sounds like some kind of snuffling.
"Mrs Norris?" Ron asks.
"No, I don't think so." Hermione answers as she and Harry take a few tentative steps, "Neville?" Hermione asks as she sees her friend fast asleep, curled up in a ball. Seeing him Hermione squats down next to him, "Nev." Hermione says, gently shaking him.
"Mione!" Neville says, sounding glad, "Thank goodness you found me. I've been out here for hours. I couldn't remember the new password." He explains.
"Keep your voice down, Neville. The password's 'Pig snout' but it doesn't matter, the Fat Lady's gone off somewhere." Harry explains.
"How's your arm?" Hermione asks, feeling bad that she didn't go and check on her friend.
"Fine." Neville says as Hermione helps him stand up, "Madam Pomfrey mended it in about a minute." He explains.
"Good." Hermione says with a glad smile.
"Look, Neville, we've got to be somewhere." Harry says, "We'll see you later."
"Don't leave me!" Neville says, looking between them all but his eyes linger on Hermione, "I don't want to stay here alone. The Bloody Baron's been past twice already." Neville explains and as he does Ron looks at his watch.
"if either of you get us caught, I'll never rest until I've learned the Curse of the Bogies that Quirrell told us about and I'll use it on you." Ron says, looking between Neville and Hermione.
Hearing that Hermione opens her mouth, and is about to explain how to do the curse but before she can Harry hisses at her and beckons them forward, and together the four of them start to walk.
As she sneaks through the corridors with Harry, Ron and Neville Hermione can't help but be reminded of some of her Papa's stories, a lot of which start out with four Gryffindor students sneaking through the castle; she just hopes that this ends with a lot less trouble than everyone of her Papa's stories.
After a few minutes of walking Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville arrive at the Trophy room and for a few more minutes they just stand in silence, all four of them not wanting to make a sound in case It leads to them getting caught.
"He's late, maybe he's chickened out." Ron comments, but before anyone can answer him all four of them hear someone speak and that someone definitely isn't Malfoy.
"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner." Filch says to Mrs. Norris and the second he hears that Harry realises what it means so he waves madly at Hermione, Ron and Neville and they all scurry towards another door and head down the adjoining corridor.
"This way." Harry mouths as the group of four begin to creep down a long gallery, one that's full of suits of armour. As they make their way down the gallery they can hear Filch getting closer. Not being able to help his fear Neville lets out a squeak and breaks into a run, but after a second he trips, falling into a suit of armour, and taking Ron with him as he does.
"RUN!" Harry yells as he and Hermione help the two boys up and together all four of them run as fast as they and own the gallery, not looking back.
Even though he has no idea where they are going, Hermione was right about him not knowing the castle well enough yet, Harry leads the group and they just run, down the gallery, around corners, down corridors, through a tapestry that lead them to a hidden passage way which lets out near their charms classroom, miles away from the trophy room.
"I think we've lost him." Harry pants as he leans against the wall.
"I told you, I told you." Hermione gasps as she clutches a stich in her chest as while she is quiet fit that was a lot of running.
"Mione." Neville says, shaking his head as if to say not now.
"We've got to get back to Gryffindor tower." Ron comments, "As quickly as possible." He adds.
"Malfoy tricked you." Hermione says to Harry, needing him to realise that, "You know that, right? He was never going to meet you." Hermione says a she realised that the second Filch came in, "Filch new someone was going to be in the trophy room, Malfoy must have tipped him off."
"Let's go." Harry says, not wanting to admit that Hermione was right. Once he says that the group start walking but they don't even manage to walk a dozen paces when a doorknob rattled and something came shooting out of a class room in front of them, and the second it does Hermione realises that thing are going to get so much worse, because with it being Peeves who has just come out of the classroom that is the only possibility.
"Shut up, Peeves." Harry says, "Please, shut up, you'll get us thrown out." He says and as he does Hermione realises that that is probably the wrong thing to say, so she quickly runs through what her Papa told her so that she can think of something better to say.
"Wondering around at midnight, ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty." Peeves says.
"We won't if you don't give us away." Hermione says it, being the first thing she can think to say, "You wouldn't want to help Filch, would you?" Hermione asks and as she does Peeves stops for a second, almost like he is pondering Hermione's words.
"Oh, get out the way." Ron says, taking a swipe at Peeves as, according to him, he's taking way too long. The second Ron takes his swipe it becomes all too clear how much of a mistake that was as Peeves starts to yell,
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"
Having no choice, the four young students duck under Peeves and run for their lives. They run down the entire corridor until the slam into a door, a door that is locked.
"This is it!" Ron says as he pushes at the door, "We're done for it! This is the end." He says as they all here footsteps. Footsteps that undoubtable belong to Filch running towards Peeves voice.
"Oh, move over." Hermione says as she grabs Harry's wand that is out as it will be quicker than her grabbing her own, "Alohomora." Hermione whispers as she taps the lock.
As the door opens the four of them quickly pile through, shut the door behind them and then they all press their ears against it, listening, or more specifically Harry, Hermione and Ron listen to Peeves refuse to help Filch while Neville looks around the room, and the second he does he regrets it. So, quickly turning back to the others Neville starts to tug on both Hermione and Harry's robes.
"What is it, Nev?" Hermione asks, turning around and the second she finds herself facing something that her Papa's stories didn't prepare her for.
Standing in the corridor, the corridor that Hermione now realises is the forbidden third floor one is a monstrous dog, a dog that files the entire space between the celling and floor, a dog that has three heads.
For several, what feels like, long seconds Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville just stare at the creature in shock and they stare back at it, it being clear that it is shocked too; though as they are staring Hermione notices something that the others don't, the fact that the dog is standing on a trap door.
Being the first one able to react Harry turns the doorknob and they all fall backwards. Once they are all through the doorway Harry closes and locks the doorway and once again they start to run, and they don't stop.
After a few minutes of fast running, during which time they surprisingly aren't caught, Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron arrive back at the portrait of the Fat Lady, who is thankfully back in her frame.
"Where on earth have you all been?" The Fat Lady asks as soon as she sees them.
"Never mind that, pig snout, pig snout." Harry pants and once the portrait swings forward they all scramble inside and collapse into armchairs.
For a while Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron just sit, trembling, all four of them terrified, none of them sure whether they'll be able to speak again.
"What do they think they're doing, keep a thing like that locked up in a school?" Ron finally asks, being the first one to regain the ability of speak, "If any dog needs exercise, that one does." He says and hearing that comment Hermione gets her speaking ability back too, and feels her anger grow.
"You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you?" Hermione ask, looking between Harry, Neville and Ron, "Didn't you see what it was standing on?" Hermione asks, not being able to believe that none of them noticed.
"The floor?" Harry asks shocked, "I wasn't looking at its feet, I was too busy with its heads." He reveals.
"No, not the floor." Hermione says, sounding annoyed as she really can't believe that none of them noticed, "It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something." Hermione says, glaring at Harry and Ron, "I really hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could have been killed, or expelled." Hermione says angrily, and for the first time Ron and Harry see the grey flicks in Hermione's eyes being more noticeable, as she can't even imagine what either of those options would do to her Papa and she never wants him to have to, "Now, if you don't mid, I'm going to bed." Hermione say before heading upstairs.
Within two minutes of leaving the common room Hermione is sitting up in her bed and she is has almost started writing a letter to her Papa when logic catches up to her,
"I can't put that in a letter." Hermione realises and so she puts what she is writing away and decides to tell her Papa when she sees him at Christmas.
After she puts her letter up Hermione finds herself running through everything that happened and wondering what is going on? As she knows Albus well Hermione knows that he would never have something like that in the school without a very good reason, but for the life of her she can't think of a reason. What would be so important, and probably so dangerous that he would risk student's safety like that?
Realising that she isn't going to get her answers tonight Hermione closers her eye sand attempts to full to sleep, her mind running through the questions she has as she dose.
PLEASE REVIEW
PLEASE REVIEW
