Chapter 4
Ginny and Hermione headed upstairs into Ginny's room which now sported two matching blue twin beds on either side of the room. Several posters of wizarding bands and a few sports stars were on the wall, but none of which Hermione recognized. Frankly she was too tired to care just then and she tumbled into bed and fell promptly asleep after changing into proper pajamas.
The blackness of sleep swirled around her, but soon the dark began to take shapes. Moments after falling asleep she was standing in a small firelit cave, by salt water if the smell was anything to go on. Confused she sat down on the dirt floor by the fire in a tiny niche in the wall. 'What's going on?' she wondered.
Suddenly it was as if she was being 'pushed' out of her body and she began to view the cave scene from just above. Her body stood up and started to pace around, wringing her hands as she muttered.
Unknown time passed before a tall man with messy blonde hair entered. His green eyes flashed as he greeted her "Gwen! I'm so sorry, I was kept for too long..."
She hugged him and replied, "It's okay, I was only just beginning to worry anyway...any news? Can our plan proceed?"
He kissed her on the nose and laughed, "Of course it can, I wouldn't let anything stand in our way now would I?"
"I know," she answered drawing him into a kiss. They wrapped their arms around each other and were just about to deepen the kiss when she pulled away. "I can't, not just yet, but soon...oh everything is in such a mess" she lamented. "What if something happens? Are we ready?"
"Gwen," he said, while taking her face in his hands to wipe away frustrated tears. "You have studied and practised all you can, now comes the test and we will all face the brink of destruction, but isn't it worth it for the chance to come out the other side together?"
She laughed through her tears and replied, "Yes."
Hermione was bewildered by the whole scene and didn't know what to do, or how to get back into her body when she felt a fierce tugging. In a blink she was back in her body, distraught and being held by a man she had never seen before. Her face changed from contentment in the moment to pure confusion and she asked what she had been dying to ask, "Who are you?"
"That's not funny Gwen," he stated seriously. "You're the one who knows me best, and you know that I am..."
"Hermione !" screeched Ginny, awakening Hermione. "We are so late! Bloody hell, we should've been up an hour ago, I bet the boys have already left!"
"What?" sleepily asked Hermione, still trying to let go of the shocking clarity of the dream and the fuzziness of reality. Then the impact of what Ginny had said made sense and she exclaimed "Godamnit!" Both girls rushed around getting dressed, last minute packing and other morning rituals.
Loud foot steps were heard coming up the stairs and they looked at each other and mouthed, "Bullocks!"
Mrs. Weasley, calmly said "Good morning girls, have a nice long lie-in did we?" then her tone changed and she snapped, "While I've been entertaining 10 Aurors?! Nine of which have now left with the boys?! Nymphadora is waiting for you and I suggest you get downstairs! Hurry now!"
"Yes mum," replied Ginny while Hermione hastily latched her trunk and hurried downstairs with Ginny right on her heels.
"Ready girls?" asked Tonks trying to hid her laughter at Mrs. Weasley's antics.
"Ready." they both agreed. Touching hands and holding onto trunks and Crookshanks, Tonks apparated them to an alley just beside the King's Cross to make up for lost time. Glancing around and dusting themselves off they headed towards the platforms.
Upon reaching platform , Ginny and Hermione looked at each other with confusion, there was a man in an ordinary navy business suit sitting on an ordinary red metal bench, reading an ordinary large leather-bound book with an ordinary black suitcase beside him right in front of a not-so-ordinary brick barrier to platform 9 3/4. "What do we do now?" whispered Ginny.
"We...I'm not sure..."admitted Hermione "We could try leaning against it still."
"And what? Drag ourselves and our trunks onto that bench?" laughed Ginny "I might as well curse someone or levitate it so more people could report the rambunctious teenagers."
Tonks who had been lagging behind leaned forward and prodded them, "You really think that we would let muggles block the platform do you? If we could fool Hermione, what's a few Death Eaters eh?" she chuckled then explained "He's an auror, very good one in fact, second in my class for disguises...I couldn't sit still long enough...anyway! He's the guardian, go ahead, touch the book and you'll see what I mean."
"Are you sure?" questioned Ginny.
"It's ingenious really, now lets see how this works..." Hermione pondered aloud. With that she gathered her things and in an apparent great rush she stepped forward and walked right up to the man "Excuse me!" she briskly stated as she 'pushed' by and as she did she stroked the spine with one finger.
The man straightened and said "Ah, Miss Hermione Jane Granger of Gryffindor! I do believe I have something for you..." From the book, newly appeared, he pulled a letter with her name on it and handed it to her.
As soon as she touched the letter, her surroundings seemed to simply dissolve and the colours bled into each other until she was standing in a room with a long blue and white hall beside a small half-moon shaped desk. Under her feet instead of the concrete platform she found hardwood flooring. Blue plastic chairs lined one wall in the hall and, in the same blue, tall doors dotted the other wall.
"Greetings Miss Hermione Jane Granger, and welcome to the Security Check Hall for Hogwarts!" a voice chirped. Startled Hermione glanced around wildly looking for any Death Eater daring to ambush her. Then she spotted the source of the noise, a portrait on the wall behind the desk. Depicted was a small bird-like woman dressed in vibrant greens, pinks and yellows. Her nose was long and similar to a beak. Flowing down her shoulders was feathery blonde hair and she seemed to be perched on a small red stool. "You'll only be detained a moment, and for the meantime please have a seat and an auror will be right with you. This is for your safety and please refrain from any magical use. Your belongings have been separated from you briefly to be checked and will be returned to you at Hogwarts once you pass inspection. Thank you and have a pleasant day!" finished the bird woman before melting into still-life, only moving her eyes, which is why Hermione missed her on the first glance over of the room.
With a sigh she walked over and plopped onto a chair just inside the door behind the desk. Trying to look calm but had her wand at the ready just the same. A slight sound, like the rushing of water, echoed from the spot where she had been standing and then... Ginny appeared! She looked around for a moment and once her eyes laid on Hermione she began to walk towards her. Before she could take a step the portrait sprang to life and chirped "Greetings Miss Ginevra Molly Weasley, and welcome to the Security Check Hall for Hogwarts! You'll only be detained a moment, and for the meantime please have a seat and an auror will be right with you. This is for your safely and please refrain from any magical use. Your belongings have been separated from you briefly to be checked and will be returned to you at Hogwarts once you pass inspection. Thank you and have a pleasant day!"
Ginny was silent for a moment and then asked, "Did she do that to you?"
Hermione answered, "Yes, annoying really..."
"Should I curse it or what?" she responded without missing a beat.
Hermione just stared and once Ginny started to laugh when the portrait 'hmph-ed' she laughed too. "But seriously," said Ginny, "I have some of that new paint tape that Fred and George came up with. Inspired by Mrs. Black I'm sure, but it's great! Take a paint brush and dab on some of this silver potion and it binds to the figure in the portrait, shutting them up! They called it 'Tattle Me Not Tape'"
"Um given the present war situation...isn't that a little dangerous?" asked Hermione.
"Well no, it wears off in 10 minutes or so. Pretty smart of them actually." answered Ginny.
Before Hermione could reply a door opened and a short woman with black hair and piercing blue eyes beckoned her, "Please come in Miss Granger."
As she crossed the threshold of the door she noticed a thin golden line and smiled to herself. An age line, probably looking for Death Eaters under the polyjuice potion.
"Now, Miss Granger, I just wanted to ask you a few questions, but first may I see your wand?" requested the lady.
"Of course, Ms...?" replied Hermione as she reached for her wand.
"Names are not important right now but you may call me Ms. Jones." explained Ms. Jones.
"I'm sorry, I don't normally just hand out my wand to just anyone, I need some proof that this isn't just some 'kill the students' scheme hatched by Voldemort." inquired Hermione.
"They told me you wouldn't be as cooperative as most...very well." replied Ms. Jones. "I am Ada Jones, graduate of Hogwarts class of 1989. McGonagall's prize student in those days, Head Girl and in Gryffindor, do my credentials impress you?" she questioned.
"Not really, I beg your pardon, but you just sound like me, except for the 1989 part you could be me." Hermione curtly responded.
"I see," sighed Ms. Jones. "Well could you just hold out your wand? I just need to scan it! This is wasting my time!" Hermione agreed and held out her wand in a tight grip. Ms. Jones waved her wand over Hermione's and mumbled to herself, "vine wood...inches...drag...heart..ing...core." straightening she spoke plainly "This is certainly the wand registered to Hermione Jane Granger, and you look, act and are the appropriate age. Have you had any odd things happen to you? Or a black out? A time when a dark wizard could've placed the imperius curse upon you?"
Thinking back on past events, Hermione decided the wisest course of action to be silence on the subject, "No, I most certainly have not."she said.
"Please drink three drops of this veratiaserum and state you name, house, age and birthday." instructed Ms. Jones. Handing her a small vial of clear liquid.
Gulping Hermione did as requested after considering the pro's and con's of disobeying this Ministry Official. "I'm Hermione Jane Granger, Gryffindor and I will be 19 on September the 19th" she correctly answered.
"Excellent, you may proceed Miss Granger!" exclaimed Ms. Jones somewhat begrudgingly. She handed her a letter with an address on it, but she only got as far as the first line, 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' when the letter burst into flames and she was propelled through a wall and fell down in a grassy field.
"What the hell?" she cursed as she picked herself up and took a look around. She was on the edge of Hogwarts grounds! There was Hagrid's hut about 30 feet to her right and she could see the front entrance of Hogwarts just over the hill. Turning her attention back to the field she was in she noticed 3 circles of stones about 3 feet in width and she was standing in one of them.
"'Ermione! It's abou' time yeh arrived! Yer Head Girl now! Couldn't be prouder of yeh!" Hagrid blurted as he walked up behind her. "Awful business I' is! Can't ev'n take the train! Never 'n Dumbledore's day!" at this a great fat tear dripped down his cheek, "I still can't believe..." then he pulled himself together and took a deep breath, "Ah well, couldn't be prouder yah know, always knew yeh'd be Head, yeh'll right show Ernie Macmillan this year won't yeh!"
"Ernie Macmillan?" she asked, "What's he got to do with it? He's not actually coming this year is he?" Ernie's family had tried to pull him out of Hogwarts after Dumbledore's death, but to Ernie's credit, he had stayed for the funeral. This Ernie reminded her of another Ernie whose death she had witnessed just that day, she wondered if the bus had been discovered yet...
Hagrid mistook her shudder as one of disgust and gave her an odd look. "I'll say 'e is! 'e's Head Boy this year!" he answered. "R'minds me of that one Weasley, 'e does..."
"Oh well, I guess he's better than somone like Malfoy," she sneered, "Stupid git, at least I won't have to put up with him this year, not after what he did!"
"Now, now" he began. "Almost all the Slytherins are back, parents figure better tah have insiders and whatnot...'e's here only b'cause I' was his word again'st 'arry's and there was no proof that he actually did anythin'! Caddswallop in my opin'on! Besides this year is goin' tah be a strange un, and it's better to keep your friends close and enemies closest, but the Slytherins are about as cuddly as Umbridge, ghastly woman..."
"Bullocks, he'll be here probably to kill us all in our sleep or something equally as cowardly, spineless weasel." she spat.
"'Ermione! I agrees wit' yeh, but me bein' a teacher 'nd all, no prejudices yeh know." he countered a little hestitantly.
Hermione laughed at that and agreed, "I know Hagrid, where is everyone anyway?"
"They're all up a' the castle, where you should be gettin' off the!" he answered. Then one of the stone circle began to glow and vibrate. "Here comes another un!" he warned.
With a sudden flash, Ginny stumbled forward and fell to her knees. "What a horrible, horrible woman! If I could use my wand..." she trailed off mumbling, " bloody...best bat-boogey...magic..damn her..."
"Who did you get?" asked Hermione. "I got Ada Jones..."
"Nah," responded Ginny then spat the name like it left a bad taste in her mouth, "Bertha Edwards...damn blonde woman! Was convinced I was Bellatrix in disguise...tried to make me tell her where Voldemort was hiding, what his plans were and if it involved Harry's owl because he shouldn't be afraid of Harry but only of her blah blah blah..." Then the absurdity of it all struck her when Hermione let out a giggle and they both erupted in laughter. Even Hagrid chortled a bit and then looked at the two lunatics rolling around on the ground and was unsure of what to do.
"Err...Ginny? 'Ermione? I think they might want yah two the go tah the castle...Hello?" Hagrid questioned while looking very lost. "I didn't think I' was tha' funny."
Both girls stopped, tears rolling down their cheeks and apologized. Ginny asked, "Is Harry and Ron here?"
"I don't know fur sure, they should've gone directly teh th' castle tah report teh McGonagall." he replied.
"Thanks!" they both said and rushed off in the direction of the castle.
"Bless 'em Merlin!" Hagrid said to the wind, "They'll need tha' laughter in the times tah come...may we all pull through." A tear could be seen rolling down his cheek and was lost to his beard before he turned back to the stone circles to await the next arrival.
When they reached the Main Doors, Flitwick was sitting behind a desk shuffling papers.
"Hullo professor." greeted Hermione, flushed from her run across the grounds.
"Afternoon professor." acknowledged Ginny equally flushed and still wiping tears from her eyes.
"Greetings girls, good to see you back again!" replied Flitwick, shuffling through the papers at a more frenzied pace. "Curses," he muttered to himself before pulling out his wand, "Accio Granger record," and a 2 sheets of paper floated up and into his hand. "What a tidy record Miss Granger! Few reprimands and many praises! Good to see!" commented the small man.
"Thank you professor!" replied Hermione.
"Lets see, with the double Defence Against the Dark Arts this year there are a few changes to the normal time table, less free time I'm afraid! We were fortunate to secure two teachers for the one course. Without the train, today will be a little different, students have been arriving all day! Here's your timetable, and your new room is close to the Great Hall behind the portrait of the phoenix rising from the ocean, Dumbledore had it commissioned last year, before it was Gretel the Great...but she grew too arrogant to open for anyone. You can set your own password by stating the last password and asking for the new one, but for now your password is 'Lumen'. Headmistress will be by before tonight's welcoming feast to brief you in your duties!" finished Flitwick to draw breath before starting again, "Accio Weasley record!" and he was engulfed in papers, nearly a third of all the papers on the desk. He sputtered as he brushed off the offending records, "Interesting family Miss Weasley, very...comment worthy. I thought they said that they got rid of Fred and George's records..." he broke off muttering, "Burn them...keep...students...getting ideas...dangerous...Anyway! Accio Ginevra Weasley record!" 3 sheets of paper floated into his hands. "Ah," he said, "you know where the Gryfinndor tower is and this year's password is 'Widderskien'. Here's your timetable and now off with the both of you!"
They started up the stairs when a thought struck Ginny, "Hermione, you won't be sharing a room with the Head Boy will you?"
"Ernie Macmillan?" she replied.
"No!" exclaimed Ginny, "Isn't he off at 'How to be Minister for Magic in 10 steps' camp or something?"
"Apparently not," she responded.
"You're not rooming together right?" repeated Ginny.
"According to 'Hogwarts: A History, we're not as part of the old stringent 'boys here and girls there' tradition but this year has already been turned upside down so who knows?" she answered.
"That would be interesting," commented Ginny, "He studies almost as much as you do!"
"He does not!" shuddered Hermione. "He was in the DA, and he wasn't that bad..."
"So you admit that you're bad then?" asked Ginny innocently.
"Hey! I never said that!" she retorted.
"Sure, sure," teased Ginny, "Must be frustrating, always being second to a Gryffindor! Maybe he'll sabotage your homework to get ahead!"
"He would never dream of doing that!" she responded, "If he wanted to be top, he'd want to earn it! Besides this year is more about training for your respective career anyway..."
Ginny got this terrified look on her face and she replied with wide eyes, "If he made you fail an exam...he'd be destroyed...no Death Eater could be more inventive in torture! And if he killed you...he'd never sleep again because you'd be right there in the most awkward situations, like Myrtle!"
"Not funny!" chastised Hermione. "Anyway, here's my portrait! I guess I'll see you at the feast eh?" As she stopped in front of a ceiling to floor painting in a gilt golden frame that was about five feet wide. The scene was bordered by two towering cliffs of granite-like stone and the little you could see of the sky was night with a few stars and a crescent moon in the right top corner. But the image that drew your eye was at the middle, a majestic bird bursting forth from foaming waves just about to spread its magnificent wings wide and mouth open in call. The blues and whites of the ocean was enchantingly mixed with the reds, oranges and yellows of the phoenix and the silver and black of the night's sky. So incredibly full of details, a path along one cliff, the rocks below, but what really made you look again wasn't the fusion of colour, but the face of the bird, a perfect tear was nearly lost in the water of the ocean and it's call seemed to be haunt her even though she couldn't hear it. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
"And I get stuck with the Fat Lady...geez, but I can see your room later right?" asked Ginny.
"Sure, after the feast, I just want to get settled in." said Hermione, suddenly over-eager to be rid of Ginny and able to discover this new room for herself.
"Okay, don't get lost in there!" warned Ginny as she went to leave and called, "See ya!" over her shoulder.
"Bye..." responded Hermione, "Lumen." The phoenix bent its neck to look straight at her and smiled, odd looking with a beak but it did. Nodding its head it spoke in a slightly screeching voice, "Accepted, Welcome Miss Granger, you'll find all you require within." Then it spread it's wings in glorious fashion and the portrait swung open.
Behind it was an arched entry in the grey stonework of the wall and the pentagon room beyond was cavernous in size. A fire already burned merrily in the wood panelled fireplace with a lion face grate to the left of the door. The panels were carvings of all four house mascots with the Hogwarts crest occupying the centre panel. Perched on the mantle, a round brass clock with silver numbers ticked away the minutes. In front of that was a love seat in the deep burgundy of Gryffindor, and two matching overstuffed and faded gold armchairs with Ravenclaw blue throw pillows. The floor was all deep and dark hardwood with several Turkish style carpets placed around. Directly across the room from the entry was a spiral staircase in the same wood as the floor. To the left of this was an arched wooden door in the stonework, the plaque on it read "Head Library" in black lettering. This sent thrills down her spine, imagine that, a library to herself. Funny, but only now did she realized that not once had she seen a Head Girl or Boy in the normal library, so it made sense that they would have one to themselves. Between the Library door and the fireplace was a tall wooden bookcase set into the corner, but it was empty.
To the right of the staircase was another door with a plaque in burgundy lettering that read "Gryffindor Common Room". To the right of the entry was a small wooden dining table with a black loop design on the top and four straight backed chairs with burgundy and gold striped seats trimmed in black. Just behind this on the wall was another door, smaller than the other two and with no plaque. Between this door and the Common Room door, fitted into the corner was a curved desk and modern Slytherin green swivel chair. Oddly, for this was a castle full of portraits, there were no paintings on the wall.
Finally daring herself to look up she saw the same enchanted ceiling as in the Great Hall, but it was marred by a large silver chandelier with softly glowing candles and crystals. Being the only silver thing in the room it screamed 'odd one out' but in a weird way it didn't seem out of character for this room of odds and ends. Thrown together in such a way that it was soaked in character, a little from each Head Girl and House, Hermione supposed.
Stepping forward she saw that she had missed the brass coat hooks to the right of the door and the small ledge-like wooden table to the left. Scattered throughout the room were twin electric brass wall sconces to add light to the already well lit room.
Wondering where her bed would be and what that would be like made her rush towards the spiral stair and bound up them two at a time. What she saw made her freeze on the top step. It was as extraordinary as the room below. The stair was encased on three sides by a polished wooden banister. The left side of the room was dominated by a gargantuan, bigger than king size, burgundy curtained bed. It was so tall that there were a small set of three step stairs to reach it. A petit wooden bedside table was occupied by a silver lamp with a blue shade and antique brass clock with golden hands and the window on the wall behind the stairs on this side had a faded gold window seat with two yellow pillows.
The right side of the room had a vanity with numerous bottles of lotions and potions of different shapes and shades directed at the vain and the only thing that hung from the wall in the room was the oval mirror for it. Beside that was a door, which when she opened it, housed a queen-sized walk in closet already stocked with clothes...but not hers. The window on this side had a handle, which she assumed was for going out onto the balcony she could see outside through the window.
On the balcony was a long wood bench with white pine rose inlay and a golden telescope covered in knobs of all shapes and sizes.
Going back inside she caught a glimpse of her clothes in the mirror. She had been unable to change into her uniform because she had assumed she would be able to change on the train and since that never happened...
"Nice outfit," commented a motherly voice, "Although you should wear more off-the shoulder cuts instead of low cuts to accent your neck, but we have all year to work on it my dear!"
"What the..." she said beginning to panic and looking around before she remembered. Mirrors in the wizarding world talked, no threat here. "Sorry, I forgot you could talk." she apologized.
"That's alright, but it tells me you're a muggle-born." observed the mirror. Seeing Hermione's slight grimace she interjected, "Am I wrong?"
"No, you're not wrong, I'm just waiting to see if you're one of those 'Hail Pureblood' mirrors." explained Hermione.
The mirror chuckled, "No, no! I have seen more half-bloods and muggle borns become Head Girl than the old Truebloods. Too much inbreeding I believe."
"Really? That's interesting..." she replied. "I didn't see another bedroom here, but am I sharing with the Head Boy?"
"Oh no!" exclaimed the mirror. "Everything here, you earned! Besides, mixing the sexes tend to have...negative results."
"That's a relief," she answered. "Do you have a name?"
"You can call me, Gemma." requested the mirror. "And who do I have the pleasure of preening this year?"
"Oh, I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger." she introduced.
"Delighted!" responded Gemma. "Now go and see the bathroom! If you think this room's to die for, wait until you see!"
"Why? What's so special?" asked Hermione, thinking on the prefects bathroom. "Where is it?"
"It's downstairs, that's all I know. I am just a mirror! Go and see!" commanded Gemma.
Hermione rushed downstairs and headed for the unmarked door that was by the dining table. Throwing open the door she gasped in shock. No way was all this for just one person!
The bathroom, or more accurately bathhouse was in a Roman style. Columns of white marble lined a crushed white seashell walkway that lead along the stonewall to the right. To the left was an open door that showed a modern toilet "Thank Circe" thought Hermione and sink resting on mosaic flooring that depicted a large tiger lily and several smaller flowers she couldn't identify. The entrance that she was standing in had constellations on the floor, and between each different mosaic scene the transition was done with slender tendrils of the previous one 'leaking' into that of the next. It was amazingly done and she was almost too afraid to walk on such beautiful artwork. Walking gingerly ahead she went through a room that had a purple curtain on either side for dressing rooms with wooden benches and pegs for hanging clothes. The floor illustrated an ancient Roman village in surprising detail. Here she changed out of her runners into some wooden sandals she found by the door. Continuing on she found a cold bath about the size of a large bathtub, located on her left in the next room with odd symbols shown on the floor. Further down she discovered a large tepid bath, that could comfortably seat 16 people, along the same wall as the cold bath. On the wall behind each tub was the usual array of faucets. But on the other side of this room there were two elephantine columns in each corner. Each column was glistening white marble and about 8 feet in diameter. These weren't ordinary Roman columns either, because they had an average sized frosted glass arch door. Curious, Hermione opened both of them to take a look inside. The column closest to the cold bath contained a hot tub and the other was a shower done in the same white marble. On the floor between these two columns was a huge rectangular black slab of marble. Since this seemed to be just be part of the floor she turned her attention to the wooden door on the far wall. Opening this she realized at once what it was, a sauna, because of the huge cloud of steam that had now settled around her.
Going back out after changing into her shoes, she started to follow the pathway which rounded a corner. Stopping to observe the jaw-dropping scene in front of her, she gasped. Beside the bath house was a long open area that was lined on one side by the bath house itself and on two sides by the column lined path and then finished by the stone wall of the castle. In the middle of this was a gigantic long pool, complete with diving board, for laps and set into the wall of the bath house was a marble fountain made up of 3 circular half bowls cascading water into each other.
There was no way this could all be for her. If this was the Head Girl's room what must the Headmaster's or mistress' room be like? A castle within a castle? Thinking back she realized that throughout her years at Hogwarts not once had she seen a Head in the library, and rarely in the Great Hall, never alone anyway. The prefects patrolled the halls at night, so what were they doing? If this was the room they had, obviously the answer was here and that lead to the question; 'why would they leave it except for class?'
"This is going to be one hell of a year!" she commented to herself before she turned and rushed back to her common room to further evaluate her situation for the coming year.
Upon actually reaching the common room she noticed that a lot more time had passed than she had previously thought, it was almost four pm. Crossing the room to take a better look at the clock she almost tripped right over her trunk, book bag and Crookshanks. Immediately her cat began howling to be let out and seemed to have hair scorched off in several places, no doubt, courtesy of the "Security Check".
When she didn't rush to let him out, she was in minor shock at the state of him, he started to rock the cage back and forth until it rolled around on the ground. All the while he was hissing, growling and making scary unhappy noises.
Recovering herself, she ran over to where the cage had rolled to and released her poor vexed cat. Before she could scoop him up into her arms, he tore out of his cage and shot into some nearby hiding place. Worried, she began looking for him everywhere but after half an hour she still couldn't find the damn thing.
"Well, if you won't let me help you and you're in this kind of a mood, you are obviously alright without me." she stated to the room before she grabbed her book bag and levitated her trunk up the stairs behind her.
Setting her trunk down on the floor in front of her closet, she opened it and instead of the neat folded piles of clothes and shrunken books she and her mother had packed, she found an exploded array of clothes, jewelry, books and toiletries jammed in every which way and a few shrunken things that hadn't been shrunken when she had packed. Mumbling obscenities to herself she began to make sense of the chaos and put things away. Underwear in the drawers under the vanity, the rest of the clothes in the closet at the front, makeup on the vanity, toothbrush in the bathroom with the toilet and her books on the bookshelf. Finally everything was put away in an orderly fashion and she had changed into her uniform, minus the Head Girl badge she had yet to receive. Once the trunk was empty she had discovered scorch marks within it, like someone had tried to hex it. Crookshanks was still MIA, so she went downstairs to finish some of the extra light summer reading she had to do.
At five-thirty a knock sounded on the portrait and she answered it, it was Headmistress McGonagall.
"Good evening Miss Granger," she began, "You have found your rooms to your liking I trust?"
"Very much Headmistress," Hermione replied.
"You can still call me "Professor' if you'd like." she commented.
"Yes, Professor." answered Hermione.
"I have brought your texts, no doubt that you would like to read them before tomorrow's classes," she remarked, "Also, here is your badge." Handing Hermione a small badge shaped gold pin with the Hogwarts Crest on it and "Head Girl" printed in black at the bottom. It was smaller than the prefects badge but was a little more, official looking. "Being Head Girl is a proud thing, but you don't have to see it glaring on your chest across the castle like the prefects, it does make some of them lord over their friends," she laughed. Then she pointed to the left lapel of Hermione's robe, "It gets pinned there, same as the prefects, but I shouldn't have to tell you that," she explained, "Now, your duties! You don't have to patrol, but you do have to organize the prefect's patrols. The black marble block in your bathroom allows you to see most of Hogwarts as well as the students." Seeing Hermione's slightly confused face she explained, "Did you think that only the Marauders could have made such a thing? It's a complicated piece of magic but your own block doesn't show teachers. Where did you think they got the idea from?"
"I don't know..." answered Hermione.
"Remus, perhaps?" she replied. "He was a prefect in his 6th year...but anyway, say 'Reveal' and it will show you almost any part of Hogwarts. You can hand down detentions with my approval and dock house points. You oversee the prefects to make sure no unfair dealings with house points occur. You may also hand out points, but any abuse of this system will strip you of your title and all that comes with it. Since you did so well on your O.W.L's, as did Ernie Macmillan, you will be teaching a Defence Against the Dark Arts tutorial with Macmillan on all your free periods. You will be provided a classroom and materials to work with. Together, you and Macmillan, will organize the prefects into three dance committees. They will be a Halloween ball and Christmas ball as well as a Year End. Frankly, with the tutorial you will be conducting, you will have little time for doing most of the duties that are given to the Heads, which is why many of the previous duties that would have been yours will be handed down. Since we do not know at this time whether or not the war will be over by then, the students may not be going home. So I would be grateful if you would stay over the summer break, if necessary, to aid us with them. Of course, you would be allowed plenty of training time for your career."
"Okay, do I still have two Defence Against the Dark Arts classes?" interjected Hermione, "And I'll have to come to a decision about this summer at the end of the year..."
"That's what I expected, and yes, if you glance at your timetable you would see that you have DADA every day instead of every other day. Anything else you may need to know will be announced at the feast, which you and I need to be off to. Good Luck in the coming year Miss Granger, the Head Girl next year will have big shoes to fill." She finished and left the room.
Hermione put on her pin and went upstairs to check her appearance before leaving. This would be the first time any of them would see her as Head Girl and she needed it to be an impressive sight.
Later, in the Great Hall, Hermione sat in her usual place across from Harry and Ron and was busy discussing summer activities and the many empty places around them when Neville plunked down beside her.
"Double DADA? Why couldn't it be double Herbology?" he complained.
"Mate, I think I'd rather have the extra DADA class instead of shaking a daisy in the face of a Death Eater!" laughed Ron.
"Yeah, he might think you were asking him on a date!" added Dean. "I'd Kedavra you just for that!"
"Ha Ha! You all think you're so funny don't you? Herbology is actually quite useful for defence I'll have you know!" snapped Neville.
"Sure it is mate!" joked Seamus. "I'll just take my little pocket full of posies and make all the Death Eaters apparate to safety!"
"Actually he's right," interjected Hermione, "For instance if you distill the sap of..."
"Mione, please!" groaned Ron. "School hasn't started yet!"
"Has anyone seen Hannah?" asked Ginny. A round of "no's" went around. "Do you think she's coming back?" Hannah had left the previous year early because of the murder of her mother by Voldemort's Death Eaters.
"Probably, I mean, where else would she go?" answered Ron. The fact the she might very well be dead let the question hang unanswered in the air.
"Classes will be interesting at least," blurted Hermione in the uncomfortable silence, this had the desired effect because everyone started groaning and teasing her. Soon, to her relief, McGonagall
called for quiet.
"Students and staff! Let the sorting begin!" announced McGonagall, looking at little uncomfortable behind the great podium once used by Dumbledore. Lead by Professor Binns, a short line of more-than-usually-scared first years made their way towards the sorting hat.
Once shuffling had quieted the seam opened and the hat burst into its start of the year rendition:
This year my words will be short,
Saddened am I by things of this sort,
Although to everyone I am just a patched hat
By the founders, given brains and all that
To future generations I divide you as they saw fit,
Now, I'm sure they regret the weakening split,
To Ravenclaw, the cunning!
The questing brain was her art!
To Gryffindor, the stunning!
His mark was his daring heart!
To Slytherin, the best!
The purest blood was his game!
To Hufflepuff, the rest!
The helping hand was her claim!
What we seek is within these walls,
Plainly seen in classes and halls,
Together, stand strong against the tide
Lesser beings would run and hide,
But Hogwarts will never cower
Nor retreat to its tallest tower
Today I will sadly divide you,
Later, recall these words on cue,
From Gryffindor to Slytherin
All hold the qualities within
To throwback these bonds of war
And usher a new era in the door
Of peace and acceptance,
Of strength and tolerance,
To the one I gave the sword,
In this year your fate is moored,
But do not drown in your despair
Fate's eye will turn to another pair
Finally, remember my words
For unity is not the work of thirds!
The last of the hat's poem faded away to echo, and the Hall was as silent as a tomb lost to time. Then MacGonagall sternly cleared her throat and broke the spell, "Thank you for your guiding words Sorting Hat, will Lindsay Burke please approach the seat?" A short brunette girl with curly hair skittered forward.
Harry started in again on the topic of Heads, "So what's it like to be Head finally Hermione?"
"Ah mate, don't get her started!" lamented Seamus, "I don't want to hear about how her rooms are just so much better than ours!"
"Hufflepuff!!"
"Jamie Carnsteen!"
"How do you know they're any better than your dorm?" asked Hermione.
"Awe, come on don't you think I could get a guided tour of the rooms last year if I wanted?" he suggested earning the knowing chuckles of the boys around him.
"Nice, I bet Pavarti doesn't know about that does she Seamus? Maybe I should tell her, she does love juicy gossip..." trailed off Ginny watching his face as he paled.
"Gryffindor!"
"Stephanie Custer!"
"Ginny..." he warned. "It's taken 6 years for her to notice me, and that stupid fling would ruin my snogging sessions for the rest of the year, be a pal? One of the boys?"
"Ew, and why would I want to be 'one of the boys?" she questioned.
"Hufflepuff!"
"Marc Fogley!"
"Err," he stalled glancing around before throwing his arm around Harry. "Because of ol'Harry here, I'm sure you want a piece of his action!"
To which, Ginny snorted and Harry, pushing the offending arm away, replied "Sorry Seamus, but, you're not really my type mate!" The whole table burst out laughing, earning them a reproachful look from McGonagall. Ginny and Harry had agreed to friendship at the beginning of the summer after dating since the previous May.
"Ravenclaw!"
"Jacob Gaunt!"
"I wonder what the hat's getting at this year?" pondered Dean.
"Could it possibly be? Unity?" dramatasized Ron, throwing his hand to his face.
"Come off it Ron!" complained Harry.
"Slytherin!!!"
"Elizabeth Jugson"
"Slytherin!!!"
"Anyone heard anything about Quidditch?" countered Seamus. Launching the boys into a sports debate about whether the war would stop their favourite teams from playing.
"Melissa McInnes"
"Gryffindor!!!"
Turning to Neville, Hermione asked "How was your summer?"
"Brenna Travers"
"Slytherin"
"Morgan Graine"
He responded shaking his head, "Gran drove herself crazy trying to protect our family, I've never had to remember so many passwords and counter-curses in my life, our whole house was bogey-trapped! I singed my eyebrows off so many times I have to grow them back magically...yours?"
"Ravenclaw"
"Merrick Michaels"
"Gryffindor!"
"Average muggle stuff," replied Hermione, "Nothing to interesting, worked in the dentist office as a receptionist mostly..."
"Austin Opie"
"Ravenclaw..."
"That would be nice I guess," he commented, "I'd rather work for a muggle tooth torturer than spent two months with my half crazed gran! When she heard Hogwarts was still open...she just about tossed me on the front lawn! Told me to get to Hogwarts, dressed me in muggle clothes and gave me 'cabby fair'. She's living out the war in north London, I suppose. She's a tough one, my ol'gran! Last thing she said was to make Mum and Dad proud and not let any Death Eaters get the best of a Longbottom!"
"Eunice Caron"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Wow Neville," she said in awe, "I don't think I'd be able to do what you've done. I mean, I know my parents are safe because they are muggles...but your family...I know your parents must be so proud of you already! Look at your performance at the Department of Mysteries! Even I was unable to help Harry when he needed it most and you showed Bellatrix! I wish I could've done that..."
"Chase Wiebe"
"Awe, it was nothing much," he replied, "The orb broke in the end anyway, not much of a rescue."
"Hufflepuff"
"No one else could've done it any better Neville," spoke Harry, "I wouldn't have been any happier to have anyone else there. There's a reason you're in Gryffindor, the sorting hat is never wrong."
"Susanna Travers"
"Gryffindor..."
"Brian Lesters"
"Gryffindor!"
"Devon Adams"
"Ravenclaw"
"Sanna Patil"
"Hufflepuff"
"Geoff Jansen"
"Hufflepuff"
"Ignatius Yaxley"
"Poor kid, what a name!" commented Seamus, "Please don't be Gryffindor!"
"Slytherin"
"Zinnia Rosier"
"Slytherin"
"Megan Klein"
"Gryffindor"
"Attention everyone!" cried McGonagall, "In the tradition of my great predecessor, Albus Dumbledore, Dig in!" Instantaneously everyone was distracted by the grander-than-normal feast that appeared before them. The house elves had taken extra care and went all out to ring in the new school year, as if anticipating the times ahead. Then, after Ron's sixth helping of pasties, she started in on the announcements, "As always, the forbidden forest is actually forbidden, Filch is keeping a special eye out for 'Weasley Wizarding Weezes' products, anyone found in possession of fainting fancies or canary creams and the like with be promptly placed in detention. There will be absolutely no going off of school grounds, this includes Hogsmeade!"
All the students seemed to groan as one, making the Great Hall echo, "This is for your own safety! Any student caught doing so will be expelled! There is two teachers I would like to introduce to you, they are in charge of our two DADA classes, please give a warm welcome to Professor Bradshaw and Professor Aberdeen!"
A slender dark woman of about 5' 1 stood up and bowed beside a much taller brunette man. Glancing around, every boy in the hall was staring at her. She was young, and dressed as such. Her robes were black like the rest of the staff but underneath her dress was wine red and slim-cut, a black corded belt hung low on her waist and from it dangled a small golden key.
Professor Aberdeen had short brown hair and work a black robe with navy blue robes underneath them. Perched on his nose were tiny silver spectacles and his face broke out in a warm grin as he surveyed the room.
"Also," added McGonagall to cover the lack of applause, "Professor Firenze has agreed to continue to teach Divination every other day. Professor Steblin will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures this year! We were fortunate to have him take a year off his research for his book 'Plethora Bestia'! "
She paused as the short dirty blonde man in green robes who, was taller than Flitwick but a good head or two shorter than her, did an awkward bow.
"My dear friend, Professor Wade," she motioned to a stooped older man with a short nose and a missing little finger on one hand. " Has agreed to come out of retirement to teach Potions this year in light of last year's events. My duties as Headmistress has made it impossible to continue my own subject so, Professor Forsberg has agreed to come and instruct you." At this, an average height man with blonde hair and a beard dressed in brown robes took a bow.
"Your schedules have been altered slightly this year to allow for more class time due to the extra DADA. I expect good attendance in these classes! These professors have gone out of their way to come here and teach you! This year we have been rendered short for two Heads of Houses! The new Gryffindor Head of House will be, albeit temporarily, Professor Bradshaw and the Head of House for Slytherin will be Professor Vector. Thank you, prefects lead the first years!" she finished.
"Little testy today isn't she?" commented Ron. "Reminds me of mum!" To which everyone rolled their eyes.
"Can't believe we get her, in our last year!" whined Seamus, "Why me? Why couldn't she be younger and I could be younger and..." he was shut up by the Professor in question gliding by and glaring in his direction.
"Blimey," whistled Dean, "You're in for it now, mate!"
"Gryffindors! This way please!" called Hermione. "Prefects to the front! Okay, Everyone has the password for the tower except the first years correct?" Everyone nodded . "Excellent, everyone 2nd year and up, excluding prefects, are excused." She waited until everyone else had filed out before addressing their six first years. "Each prefect has a badge they'll be wearing at all times, so if you have any questions, address them or me." She paused, "Prefects, there'll be a meeting later tonight at nine, so in an hour and a half, with Professor Bradshaw and McGonagall in the Great Hall to distribute patrol timetables, rule lists and the like. Until then, please lead the first years to the dorm. I hope that this will be an excellent year for all of us and it'll be a pleasure to work with all of you! Good Night!" Then they filed out and she was left alone. Feeling like this great weight had been lifted, she felt overwhelmingly tired and decided to call it a night.
Returning to her dorm, she made a bee line for the stairs, having forgotten Crookshanks and, after changing into light night clothes, curled up in her bed and blissfully fell asleep.
INSERT
The next day went by in a blur until dinner, when Ginny clued her in that Susan Bones had finally returned and the rumour was that Hannah Abott would as well. The Montgomery sisters, Jo and Donna, had also returned since the unfortunate events preceding their leave last year. Their mother had been killed en route to their arrival and both girls were in seclusion for the time being.
"Awful stuff," comment Ron. "Imagine that, a five year old in the hands of that werewolf? It would be like locking a Hippogriff and Malfoy in a cage for a tussle, poor kid... I bet his mum never saw that coming when she turned down You-Know-Who..."
"Wow Ron," Hermione shook her head, "You definitely ascended a maturity level or four this summer."
"We all had to..." stated Harry quietly.
Just then Lavender came in, slid onto the bench beside Ron, who turned a little pink, and squealed, "I just heard from Pavarti, who heard from Padma, who was in his class this afternoon, that Professor Aberdeen, who is completely dark, mysterious, unattainable and sensitive, had a brother, who was a werewolf, and he was killed in some turf war in Russia...but anyway, he took on a whole pack of werewolves and won! Isn't that completely heroic and selfless?"
"Actually, I think the words you're looking for is vengeful and mental," quipped Ginny, rolling her eyes.
"What do you think Won Won?" she asked, sidling closer as she spoke, "Don't you think that someone who would go after a pack of werewolves because they hurt someone they loved, despite great personal risk, to find closure, just so romantic, heroic and selfless?"
"It was his brother!" said Ginny blatantly, "Since when is that romantic? Last I checked, incest was not best!"
"It's not that it was his brother, but that he would do that for someone he loved!" retorted Lavender. "Well, Won Won?"
Ginny snorted in reply and lamented, "Oh Won, If only I had known that you could be romantic for a brother! Oh Won, I love you..." Ron flushed with rage and began to reach his hands across the table and Ginny's jest was tinged with a little anger mixed with fear. "Ron! Sit down! Ron!"
Suddenly, Lavender was in Ron's lap and kissing him. Everyone else stared on, blankly, shock evident on their faces.
Hermione leaned over to Ginny and asked, "Didn't they break it off?"
Ginny looked on in disgust and replied, "Yeah, he dumped her because she wasn't mature enough for him." Then stated louder, "Well I don't know about you, but this has put me off my dinner!"
At that, Ron pushed Lavender away and rubbed his sleeve against his mouth, "Um, Lavender? I think we should talk..." Then he got up and said, "Now." before walking away with her in tow.
"What am I missing?" asked Hermione.
"Just after summer break started, Lavender wouldn't leave him alone! She didn't understand why she couldn't go to the burrow, obviously because we were at Headquarters, but he couldn't tell her that!" Ginny explained, "So she got into a huff, went a little mental and sent him a howler about how he must be cheating on her. At this point, he got fed up and dumped her. This was the first he's seen her since and apparently she doesn't think they're still broken up..."
"Oh," was all she said in reply. They hadn't told her anything, well not that they could've this summer...but they were all back now, shouldn't they at least fill her in, last she knew, Ron and Lavender were happy.
"Does anyone else find it funny that we have DADA at 8 o'clock tonight?" questioned Neville after a moment's uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah! Why do you think that is?" commented Seamus.
"Maybe she's a vampire," said Harry offhandedly.
"No, really? Do you think so?" asked Neville a little nervously. Hermione was about to tell him all how ridiculous they were being when she recalled that DADA for Professor Bradshaw was being held in the lower level of the Dungeons, so no windows. Suddenly the idea didn't sound ridiculous at all, actually, very plausible. They had had a werewolf, and a vampire wasn't that far off.
"Maybe she's allergic to the sun," reasoned Hermione.
"A witch? Allergic to the sun? And I'm the Queen!" stated Ginny.
"Well, Queen Ginny has a point doesn't she?" said Dean thoughtfully, "I mean, IF, she was a vampire, how could she teach DADA? It's all spells and counter curses innit? Now I don't know about you lot, but I have never heard of a witch-vampire!" They all agreed, and the topic of conversation switched to more normal things like quidditch and who was snogging whom.