The Greek Cross
Meeting Hagrid went a bit more dramatic than Hermione had expected. He became so sad that Hermione felt sorry for not taking his subject. Hagrid explained that she shouldn't be.
"I'm messed up… But tha's nothing yeh should worry abou'. It has nothin' ter do with yeh. I get it. Alchemy is takin' a lot of time. I'm sad because we'll… Aragog is dyin'. I'm feedin' him these giant grubs. It's helpin' but he's too ill." He bent over. " He gulped. "I don' know … what I'll do if… If he... we've been together so long…"
Hagrid wiped his face with an apron.
Hermione found herself console him while Harry and Ron stood there stoically. They obviously found it difficult to sympathise with Hagrid since they had actually met Aragog and his children, who had tried to devour them. Hermione to their horror suggested her help, but fortunately Hagrid told her, it would be too dangerous for them to help.
Hagrid eventually forgave them for not choosing his subject and became really happy when he found out Hermione had made it to the team.
"Wow, I couldn' wait to see you on that broom." Hagrid said.
"I'm not riding it, Hagrid. I'll be riding a school broom."
"Are yeh mad? Why wouldn' you?"
"Well, for one, it came from Bellatrix Lestrange." Hermione responded.
"I see. Yer don' approve of her. I don't too. The broom is not teh blame."
"Hagrid, even if I have to play, I would never do it with a broom she gave me. I have something called dignity."
Hagrid laughed hard. Harry could see his large stomach shake wildly.
"Look kid. Yeh shouldn' think like that. Yer magic comes from your mum, too. How about snappin' your wand in half an' leaving Hogwarts?"
Hermione looked horrified by the concept.
"Tha's what I though'. Keep it and use it." said Hagrid and then he asked how Grubbly-Plank had been last year.
The three lied about what a horrible teacher she had been. That made Hagrid feel a bit better.
When they were coming back to castle Harry saw a very angry McLaggen enter the Great Hall.
"Hermione, did you do …" Harry asked quietly.
"You don't want to know."
Hermione smiled sweetly at him.
"Hermione!"
"Come on, Harry. You don't want him on the team either. He's got zero temperament and a lot of bad things to say about Ron and Ginny, too" she explained swiftly and quietly as Ron was distracted by inspecting her wonderful broom.
"Ron, why don't you take it for a spin?" she suggested.
Ron was too eager to argue. He just jumped on it and flew away.
"Harry I …"
"You don't have to explain, I know. Look, Hermione you're no longer the muggle-born girl everyone loves. You're a pureblood who everyone watches, especially since she's a Lestrange. If people find out that you're doing things like this they will start to compare you to your parents even more."
Hermione couldn't say anything against that. Harry was right, and she knew it. He had warned her before as other people had done, too. Some comments she used to make easily were now a taboo for her.
They waited for Ron to come back and then they entered the Great Hall to see Horace Slughorn waiting for them, who invited Harry and Hermione for supper.
"I'm sorry professor, I'm supposed to help professor Moriarty with his occlumency class." Harry politely tried to refused his offer.
"I'm sure I Jim could be persuaded to let you come, my boy. Wait a minute here."
Slughorn hurried away.
"Harry, I don't want to go alone," said Hermione threateningly. "I wish you had told him that I had to help, too."
"He got me by surprise. I wasn't thinking really well."
"Don't worry you won't be alone, Ginny's probably there, too." said Ron spitefully.
"Slughorn wants people of influence. I'm really being invited because of Harry." Hermione said trying to calm him down.
"Really, cousin? It has nothing to do with inheriting Lestranges' business which happens to be producing, importing and exporting all sorts of magical ingredients with branches all over Europe?" asked Draco Malfoy who was standing nearby.
"I actually didn't know that, thanks for telling me, Draco." said Hermione.
"May we talk alone?" Draco asked casually. Harry and Ron looked at him suspiciously, but he ignored them.
"Yes, let's go to a corner." Hermione walked away as he followed. When they had enough distance from Harry and Ron, she stopped and cast a privacy spell.
"I'm listening Draco."
"They attacked home." Draco said.
"What?"
"Malfoy manor. They raided in, Arthur Weasley and his colleagues from whatever their office is called."
"Misuse of Muggle Artefacts?" she asked patiently.
"No, he got promoted over summer. He now runs The Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. Which is a really stupid long name. The point is, they got in."
"And you're telling me because…"
"Just wanted to see if you knew about it."
"I didn't know. Not that I would tell." said Hermione impassively.
"Look, you know I have a mission-" Draco said desperately.
"I do, how's fixing that cabinet going on?"
"How did you…" He whispered, frightened by Hermione's knowledge.
"The Ministry is run by fools. They should have tried to look into your activities, not your house, Draco. You got lucky." said Hermione contemptuously. "You're wasting your time. Go to Dumbledore, he'll hide you somewhere, and Voldemort wouldn't be able to find you. Father will handle Aunt Narcissa."
Draco gulped. "I can't do that, it's too risky. Mother might die. Snape might tell…"
"I assure you Snape likes Narcissa Malfoy too much to give Voldemort the news."
"Please, I cannot take the risk. Just tell me this; If I can't fix it in a month, will you help me?" his lips quivered as he begged.
"I won't promise anything."
Hermione knew she needed to talk to Dumbledore fast, "You have time for now. Try to handle it yourself. I'm sure Crabbe and Goyle are helping you."
"Yes, they… They guard the door. You know, I took it to the seventh floor to…"
"The Room of Requirement. Very well. I'll think about it."
"I know the Dark Lord forbid you from helping me, but…"
"Enough. Go have your dinner and stop being a child." said Hermione in rather cold-hearted manner. However, this didn't discourage Draco as she reminded him of his very capable aunt.
"Okay. I'll go now."
Hermione went back to Harry, Ron and Demelza Robins who was a Slytherin and told Harry that Moriarty had not allowed Harry to go and Hermione had to go alone.
**hp***
When Moriarty finally dismissed the class, Harry sat on a chair to massage his temples.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" asked Moriarty with smile that could only be generated by pure sadism.
"It's even worse than Occlumency."
"Occlumency is like trying to hold a rope while Legilimency is like climbing it. It takes much more strength to do it. You see, there is a concept in alchemycalled transcending behavior; It's paradoxical behavior of matter when something is there, yet not exactly just there, but here too. Like when you turn copper into gold. for a femtosecond it's neither gold or copper. The same happens to your mind. It's in your brain but also in your target's brain, too."
"So it's like being in limbo." Harry said.
"That is a layman's description, but yes it is like limbo."
"Professor, you know alchemy, don't you?"
"Yes, Harry. I could use it very well, too."
"I have a question then." said Harry and continued when he nodded. "I saw the Philosopher's Stone in your head for a second. That made me think about something that I had on my mind years ago. Is there any other way than using the Philosopher's Stone to make an Elixir of Life?"
"Seeking immorality, Harry? Well yes there are similar paths, but the cost is always great."
"Then, I don't thing Flamels would go for it, would they?"
Moriarty momentarily looked at his skull in silence.
"The ways I'm talking about are ways they have fought several lifetimes to eradicate." said Moriarty softly.
"Then they're going to die?" Harry asked.
"Although they will die one day, I highly doubt that they are going to die as long as they have their stone."
"But the stone was destroyed." said Harry with a puzzled face.
"Um… I'm afraid that's impossible, Harry. Flamels have spent centuries trying to destroy it and so far, they have failed. They tried absolutely anything. It never worked out. They tried Volcanoes, magical poisons, potions, even Fiendfyre! It's the most indestructible thing that I have ever seen."
"But, Professor Dumbledore… He told me that the stone was destroyed." said Harry confused by this odd contradiction.
"Perhaps, he was trying to keep you safe from a piece of information that might very well harm you." said Moriarty, "Even knowing about the stone could be very dangerous to a person. To the point its true nature is hidden from governments and only a select number of people know what the stone truly is."
"Then, there's no way you would tell me." Harry smiled politely.
"On the contrary, I feel it's crucial to tell you about it."
He stood up and went to the middle of the class as if he wanted to teach. "Harry, do you know the story of Pompeii?"
"It was destroyed by a volcano, wasn't it?" Harry asked doubtfully.
"That what was a lie told the world. In fact something much much more horrible happened there. Pompeii was destroyed more than 1900 years ago. it was a time when use of alchemy was at its prime. initially it came from the Eastern countries and spread wildly. Making good wands was very difficult back then. Those few wands available were a bit impractical - too long to be kept around by ordinary wizards and witches.
Our story begins with a wizard who had mastered alchemy. He was obsessed with the concept of immortality. He kept looking for a way to remain young forever. Eventually, he already had a way to transfer life from others to himself, but it was imperfect and it would take a lot of time transfer life. Therefore he designed a method to transfer lives of masses into himself. He utilised runes and alchemy to build a dome in Pompeii. In one day he killed hundreds of thousands. There is no way for one man to hold so much life in his own body without consequences. He did not die. However, his body changed drastically to accommodate the amount of energy stored within it."
Moriarty waved his wand and a man appeared. He was young with black long curly hair. With medieval armor and a Knight's sword.
"This is how I remember him. This is how I saw him first."
Moriarty appeared next to him in a similar armor. The men started to fight vigorously.
"He was very strong and I almost lost the battle, but a good man helped me out."
A young man appeared behind the evil alchemist. He had short black hair and simple clothes. He struck Moriarty's enemy with a spear in the back. It went through and came out of his chest taking a hot blazing stone with it which fell on Moriarty's armor and burned through. Harry recognised the stone it penetrated his flesh and cooled down.
"When the stone touched me it was still active. I was partially immortalised by its influence. This happened much later than Pompeii. That man you see was known as..." He turned to Harry and looked into his eyes, "... Emeric the Evil."
"Hold on, you're Egbert the Egregious!?" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes, that's correct. I had a very different life back then."
"No offence sir, but you were too thin to be a knight." Harry couldn't stop smirking.
"None take,n Harry. We'll see about that anyway as we're going to study magical weapons next session." Moriarty smirked back as Harry's faded away.
"Sir, how could Emeric claim to be a Gryffindor while he was alive before Hogwarts even started?" Harry asked.
"Ah, I see how it can confuse you." the former knight smiled. "Emeric was a real person before he was killed by Hohenheim, that man." He pointed at the frozen picture of the indignant knight. "Hohenheim was his name at the time, but he chose to change his face, so he murdered poor Emeric and assumed his identity."
"He can shapeshift?" asked Harry.
"The proper word is Metamorphosis, Harry. He was, like me, a Natural at both Legilimency and Occlumency, and on top of that he was a metamorphmagus, too."
Harry remembered a conversation he had had with Lucinda.
"But that's impossible, Lucinda told me that those powers are never found simultaneously."
"Ah, yes. Well, you have to wait for me to finish my story before you can understand why."
He waved his wand and the scenery changed. "That incredibly skinny lady you see is Elizabeth I, who ruled for forty-five years under the guidance of this man next to her, John Dee."
Dee seemed to be a young man in his forties. His face was strikingly similar to Sirius.
"Dee was an influential man with a great amount of wealth and an unnatural hostility toward Nicolas Flamel, the Gaulish man who saved my skin and lived in London back then. It was much later that we realised who he really was."
Moriarty wanted his wand and a mini version of London came into view, suddenly it was engulfed by angry flames.
"Dee tried to get his hands on the stone over decades but he failed. He eventually became so desperate that he summoned Fiendfyre and burned half of the city, and guess who saved the city." He smiled brightly at him.
"You?" Harry said.
"Oh no. I was far away at the moment. No. His son Aurelius Dee was there and he saved the city. He changed his name to Aurelius Black later on. I think things are becoming a bit more clear, aren't they?"
"I don't think Hermione would be happy to know that her ancestor was a mass murderer." Harry said uncomfortably.
"Oh, come on. Why focus on the empty half of the glass, Harry? She's also the descendant of Aurelius."
"Yes, but his father was responsible for the fire. Many others could have stopped …" Harry trailed off as he remembered something. Had Aurelius had the same power Hermione had?
Moriarty noticed Harry's pause and gave him a friendly smile, "Aurelius was a unique young man. Many of his descendants inherited his powers. His children, however, have almost never manifested more than one ability. Hermione Lestrange it's quite unique in her family."
"I see." Harry smiled politely once more.
"Harry, Lucinda says that Dumbledore told her that the stone had been fake. I for one suspect that. Do you think it was fake?" He asked sternly.
Harry thought for a minute before giving an answer.
"After I secured the stone and Quirrell… perished … I passed out. I woke up in hospital and Dumbledore met me there. He told me that the stone was destroyed. There are two possible reasons for not telling me it's real. Either he didn't want me to think about why he had bothered with protecting a fake stone which would lead to asking some more serious questions, or that the stone was in fact real and by saying that it was destroyed I would never pursue it."
"A bit cynical, aren't you?" Moriarty commented on his analysis. "I personally think your second theory is correct. People are used to lying but to say consistent lies you need to be a pathological liar, which Dumbledore isn't. He's not a good liar. A common weakness of most Gryffindors."
"Is it important that the stone was here?"
"Oh yes, Harry, it is." Moriarty said with a wary expression. "It's not just a stone, you see. It's a living organism which torrents life to its original host despite the large distance between them. Let's call him Dee for now. That's his latest name after all. Dee can feel his heart. Bringing that heart to a magical place like Hogwarts is an insane move. Dee has probably felt the magical surge and planned his moves accordingly."
"Why would professor Dumbledore risk it?"
"Oh … He doesn't… Well I didn't tell him the story the way I told you. He knows how it was made, but he knows nothing about John Dee. He thinks its maker is long gone. He knew it could be very dangerous to bring it here, but I had stupidly decided to keep him in the dark."
"Why?" Harry asked incredulously and indignantly.
"Why didn't I tell him? Or, why did I tell you?" Moriarty asked perplexedly.
"I think both are valid questions."
"Well, because you're a Potter. You have the blood of Merlin within you. I told you just as I told your grandfather Charles."
"I have what?" Harry said, eyes wide after the latest news.
"Look, your family has been involved in this debacle for a long time. The fact that you saved the stone from a dark wizard when you were eleven confirms it. It's your fate." said Moriarty excitedly.
"I'm sorry to phrase it like this; ARE YOU SHITTING ME?" Harry's face had a dangerous crimson complexion, "First I find out that I'm supposed to defeat the Dark Lord of my time and then you tell me that I have to face another two millennia old Dark Lord?"
"No." Moriarty replied firmly.
Harry waited for him to continue.
"I do not wish you to defeat Dee. You couldn't possibly do that, boy, even if you had every intention to do so. That is my responsibility." He pointed at himself.
"Then what?"
"I'm telling you all this because one day I may be gone. When that day comes, I'd like to know that someone out there knows about John Dee and his evil plan to become God."
"That's a lot to take in." Harry said as he relaxed a bit.
"Which is why I told you now and not ten years later. Make no mistake, we will confront him sooner or later. You will have to be prepared." Moriarty finished with warning him. "I think it's time you went to bed. I'm sorry you couldn't enjoy a meal with Slughorn."
"I think I won't miss it. Good night sir."
"Good night, Harry."
**hp**
Lucius was quite busy with a game of chess which he was losing.
"Lucius," called a familiar voice.
"Not now," He snapped and then moved his bishop only to lose it to Bellatrix's queen.
"The Dark Lord wants to see you."
That got his attention. His head snapped toward the speaker. It was his wife, Narcissa.
"Very well, dear. Don't let your sister move anything."
He jumped up and darted to his master's office. He paused behind door and then knocked the door softly.
A soft reply allowed him to enter. Voldemort's office was well organised as always. His snake was surprisingly absent and Voldemort himself seemed a bit unhappy. He stood up and moved to a cabinet nearby, taking a pamphlet from its top drawer.
"Uh Lucius. we've been so busy these days." He opened the pamphlet. "Take a seat. We are in no hurry my friend."
The Dark Lord took a sip of tea and started reading. "Your son had five 'outstandings'. You must be proud."
"I am, my lord." Lucius answered quivering unintentionally.
"Has your smart boy had any progress?"
"He has been working hard on his project, my Lord."
Voldemort gave Lucius a calculating look. Lucius was too anxious to be believed.
"Lucius, I hope you understand what's at stake." said Voldemort quietly. Lucius gulped visibly. "How's your daughter?"
"Bellatrix and I sent her a birthday present recently."
"May I acquire what it was?"
"A broom, my Lord."
Voldemort grinned amused by his answer.
"A broom, you say? Does she even like brooms?" he asked, hoping the answer would be negative. He had personally hated brooms, but he loved flying. Perhaps he would teach her over Christmas break.
"According to Draco, she dislikes them, but Rodolphus insisted that flying is something every witch and wizard should be practicing every once in a while, and agreed. According to Draco she has made the Gryffindor team, the reserve beater."
"I see, your flying lesson did her good after all." He stood up and looked outside his window, "Has your son asked his sister to help him?"
"I- I don't suppose he has, master." Lucius responded as he moved uncomfortably in his seat.
"Good." Voldemort turned to Lucius. "Is everything set up for our Christmas operation?"
"Yes, my Lord. They have spiked their security measures. Everything was done according to Rookwood's instructions."
"Very well, you can go to your chess game with Bella. Albeit I doubt you are going to win that one." said Voldemort to a very terrified Lucius, "Tell Rookwood to come here on your way."
**hp**
The more Harry studied Prince's book the more interesting it became. It contained several spells that Prince had invented himself. Harry had tried some which had made Hermione very angry. Hermione promised to teach Harry her own type of spells if he stopped testing the spells in the book.
"Harry, I know a much more effective spell than muffliato. If you need such spells, I'm sure you can find them in much more trusted sources."
"Look, you should drop it, Hermione. There's no way he's going to do with that book." said Ron. "It's like asking your dad to stop killing people."
Neville got agitated by his comparison but said nothing. Harry and Hermione were very surprised by Ron's comment as he was aware of Hermione's true parentage.
"Ron, please don't bring this up again." Hermione begged him irritably.
"I'm not. I'm just saying, stop trying to do the impossible."
"Look, guys, most of these spells are harmless." said Harry as he aimed at Ron to try another spell. In a second Ron was dangling from his ankle.
"Harry!" he yelled angrily.
Hermione immediately snatched the book and found the counter spell, Liberacorpus.
"Really, Harry? Didn't it occur to you that Levi stands for levitate?" she asked him angrily, "You could have hurt Ron."
"Oh come on, Hermione. It was fun." said Ron now that he was back on the ground.
"Again, this is not a trusted ministry approved source. There is no explanation on what each spell does. Do I have to say more?" Hermione said hotly, "Who would make such a spell anyway?"
"My twin siblings come to mind." commented Ron.
"And my dad," said Harry saddened by remembering the memory of Snape.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Remember last year when Snape showed me… That memory… Where… My dad was bullying him. He used this spell."
"Harry, I wonder if you remember the Death Eater attack at the Quidditch World Cup." said Hermione calmly.
Harry's blood froze as he remembered Death Eaters had done the same to helpless muggles.
"Hermione, look. That's totally different. That's abuse. Harry and his dad were using it to have a laugh. You couldn't possibly be comparing the two." Ron defended Harry's father passionately, "You know, I think you hate Prince, because he's better than you at Potions."
"Oh come on, Harry is better than me at Potions. Do I hate Harry, too?" Hermione asked rhetorically.
"I don't hate him or her. I simply think it is irresponsible to use unknown spells." she continued, "I also dislike people who refuse to use their real names."
"Merlin! Hermione. You of all people say that?" said Ron, "You still introduce yourself as Hermione Granger. You have asked your friends not to call you Lestrange."
"Not that it would be accurate even if they did." she whispered so quietly that only Harry heard it. Hermione left the common room dejectedly, realising that she had lost the argument.
She remained sour during breakfast. Harry had enough decency to avoid reading the book and spent the morning talking to his angry girlfriend who eventually agreed to let him read the book but test the spells only in controlled environment.
Harry's promise made Hermione feel much better.
They were enjoying autumn's last sunny days outside, when Ginny joined them with a message in written form.
"Harry, I was asked to give this to you."
She gave him the parchment she had been holding. Hermione glanced into her eyes and studied her mind lightly. Her admiration for Hermione was present in her mind, as strong as ever.
"May I sit with you guys?" she asked politely.
"Of course," said Harry before Hermione could say anything.
Hermione honestly was appalled by Harry's openness toward Ginny.
"Perhaps I'm not enough. Maybe he wants something more." Hermione's depressing thoughts clouded her head, so much she barely heard Draco Malfoy call her.
"Lestrange, I said we have a Prefect meeting before Hogsmeade trip. Are you telling me you're not interested?" he said loudly after Hermione's initial lack of response.
Hermione jumped out of her thoughts and faced her cousin.
"I almost forgot."
She told her friends to wait for her by the gates and followed Draco to the castle.
"So Harry, what was the message about?" asked Ginny.
"Dumbledore wants to meet me on Monday."
"Oh, about what?"
"I don't know." Harry lied, "We're going to Hogsmeade when Ron gets here. Want to join us?"
"Sure." Ginny smiled brightly.
At the front gate Filch stood with his Secrecy Sensor, checking students' names and themselves.
"Why is he checking people now. Shouldn't he check what they bring in?" asked Ron as they left Filch behind.
"I'm just glad you didn't say that back there, he would have kept us even longer." said Ginny.
Hermione joined her friends saying goodbye to Ernie who went back to the castle.
"Isn't he coming?" Asked Harry.
"Not now. He's got to meet Professor Flitwick."
Hermione cast a smokeless fire around them to keep them warm as they were far enough from school that the wards wouldn't detect Fiendfyre. Harry gave her an apprehensive look but said nothing. They entered the Honeydukes dry despite the harsh weather outside.
"Harry, my boy! Hermione!" called them Slughorn's loudly, before they could see him.
"Harry, you're a difficult man to get." he said as they approached him.
"I've been a bit busy, sir; Quidditch practice and Occlumency sessions of professor Moriarty."
"Ah, I'm aware." Slughorn grimaced at Moriarty's name. "You've sent Hermione alone too many times, Harry. Be careful, she might become interested in Mr. McLaggen." Slughorn was clearly joking, but it simply made Hermione livid to hear that. Her face reminded Harry of that time he had made fun of Voldemort's heritage in front of Bellatrix. It was a horrifyingly deadly expression. It was a miracle Hermione hadn't already murdered the annoying boy. According to Ginny, Zabini had managed to keep him busy in order to get him out of Hermione's hair, but McLaggen was too stubborn, so Hermione had opted to participate more on quidditch practices to avoid the parties even more.
Slughorn suggested Monday evening which made Harry very happy.
"I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore plans to meet me then." said Harry, almost relieved that he got away with it one more time.
"Uh, we're getting unlucky again." Slughorn waved his head sadly. "At least young Miss Weasley is always with us. Well, Harry, You can't avoid me forever, can you?"
"I don't intend to, sir."
Slughorn smiled as he left them to have a talk with the owner.
"What's with the hat?" asked Ron when Slughorn was out of their earshot.
"Uh Ron, I suggested that hat. Are you saying I have bad taste?" said Ginny dangerously.
"No… No… not at all." Ron responded nervously.
"I can't believe you got away with it again. I really don't want to have another supper with that McLaggen or I might shove my wand in somewhere light doesn't shine." said Hermione dangerously.
"That's not very appropriate, Hermione," said Ginny and burst into laughter.
"I disagree. In McLaggen's case it's quite appropriate."
"Um Hermione, could you please refrain from doing that for now, so I could do it to him first?" Harry requested angrily. "I didn't know he was bothering you."
"Harry, I'm afraid that's not your business. I can handle it on my own."
"I'd really love to see that happen." said Ginny mischievously.
"Hey guys, look, Deluxe Sugar Quills. Why don't we buy some?" said Ron to change the subject.
"I'm not in the mood, Ron. Let's go to Three Broomsticks." Hermione said as she practically ran there.
The moment they entered Harry grinned wildly. Hermione looked at the direction of his gaze and saw Sirius and Lucinda with an apparently well teased Nymphadora Tonks.
"Ah, finally!" Sirius stood up. He opened his arms to hug Harry.
"Sirius, how come you're wearing all black." asked Hermione suspiciously.
"I was in London, fixing some affairs. Nothing to worry about."
"You look like Tiberius Nott in that garment." commented Tonks.
"Oh, don't say that! He looks gorgeous." Lucinda said passionately.
"Pff." Was Tonks' response.
"So, what brings you guys here?" asked Ginny.
"You guys actually. I missed Harry a lot, so Lucinda and I decided to visit you guys." Sirius smiled brightly.
"Guys, I sort of have to go." said Ron, "I have a meeting today."
"Of course, Ronald. Good luck." said Lucinda while she winked at him before anyone could say anything.
Harry looked at the table Ron was approaching and saw Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
"Looks like Ron's serious about Lavender." Harry whispered into Hermione's ear.
"Mom is going to love her so much." said Ginny sarcastically.
"Nothing has happened yet, Ginn. Let's not judge soon." replied Harry.
"Ah, the very thing Remus said about your mom and dad." said Sirius teasingly.
"I remember Lily and James hated each other fiercely. I have no idea how they ended up together." said Lucinda.
"Oh, that happened really fast. I think it was over a bet. They suddenly started to like each other and a year later they married. I assure you aunt Dorea wasn't happy. Not because of Lily's blood status, but their decision to do it so soon." Sirius clarified immediately. "It was very soon. I mean, I can swear something happened during Halloween that made them fall in love so fast. It wasn't normal."
"Hermione, is Ron an idiot? He just checked out Rosmerta, in front of the poor girl." said Lucinda disapprovingly.
"Ron has fancied her since third year. Honestly, she's a better choice than Lavender. I'd v kill to have that bum." said Ginny.
"Wow, when did you grow up?" asked Tonks.
"Speaking of growing up, have you..." Sirius began but a warning glare from Lucinda shut him up.
"What?" Tonks asked suspiciously.
"Well, I was gonna ask…"
"Ah, Ron how did it go?" asked Lucinda loudly from Ron who had joined them.
"I think I upset her." said Ron sadly.
"Well next time keep your eyes on her eyes, not on the barmaid's arse." advised Ginny.
"Just like Harry." Hermione said and kissed Harry's cheek.
Sirius grinned foolishly at Harry.
"Let's go, dog. We've got some work to do." Lucinda dragged Sirius from his chair.
"Harry, you guys should totally… Ahhh." Sirius screamed as Lucinda grabbed him by his ear.
"Hermione, promise me you're not going to be like that." Harry asked Hermione as the couple left Three Broomsticks.
Once their trip was over, they followed Katie Bell and her friend to the castle. As they walked toward the castle, kept warm by Hermione's colourless flames, Harry noticed that Katie and her friend were arguing about a package Katie had in her hands.
Wind sped up and Lenea grabbed the package, but Katie pulled it back and fell on the ground.
Suddenly, Katie was floating in the air as if she was flying. Her arms were open and her pose was graceful. Her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping without any disturbance. Then a moment later she screamed. She was in terrible pain and anguish. She opened her eyes and kept screaming endlessly.
Hermione's fire faded away and Harry felt the cold wind blowing unto them. Hermione ran toward Katie and waved her wand in complex moves. Katie immediately fell on the ground and stopped screaming.
"My God. That was Greek Cross!" said Harry.
"What?" said Ron and Ginny simultaneously.
"It's a very complicated curse that kills you the moment you wear it. If she had worn it she would have died."
He then sent a Patronus.
"I've informed Snape. He will come soon."
Snape arrived with company. Moriarty immediately kneeled next to Katie to examine her. Hagrid simply staggered around.
"Leanne, right?" Hermione asked the shivering girl. "What happened?"
"It happened when that package tore, she just…"
Ron went to the package to pick it up but Snape snatched his hand.
"Don't … touch it." he warned.
"Excellent response, Miss Lestrange. She'll live." Moriarty handed Katie to Hagrid. "Rubious, take Miss Bell to Madam Pomfrey, please. Severus and I must take a look into this curious curse."
He levitated the package. Harry immediately recognised what was inside.
"I've seen this before. A few years ago, I saw it in Borgin and Burkes."
Hermione had seen it, too. However, unlike Harry, she had instantly felt it's curse upon first glance.
"That bit of information can be very useful Harry. Let's hope wasn't smart enough to order it anonymously." said Moriarty. Snape smirked at his words.
"Did Miss bell tell you who gave it to her, or who she was supposed to deliver it to?" Snape asked Lenea.
"She wouldn't tell. She said it was a surprise for somebody in Hogwarts and she was acting in a funny way. She had it when she came out of the bathroom."
"The Imperius Curse is very likely, Severus. We are lucky she didn't make it to the castle." said Moriarty. "Let's go back to the castle. For now, don't tell anyone."
When Harry finally got alone with Ron and Hermione he put forward his theory.
"I think Malfoy is behind it." Harry said.
"Just because Malfoy has been to Borgin and Burkes?" asked Ron.
"Harry, there are a few holes in your theory." said Hermione thoughtfully, "Katie got the package in the lavatory. Therefore the chance of a male culprit is extremely low. Also if you remember Malfoy talked to Borgin about two things and not one. He asked Borgin to fix the other one. Malfoy would have no use for two necklaces and such cursed objects need no kind of repairs."
"You are… actually right. I think we need to tell the order." said Harry.
Hermione, of course, had already told Dumbledore about Draco's mission and Dumbledore in return had told her that he had a plan. Draco was evidently trying other measures. Perhaps it was time she helped him with the cabinet.
"Tell Dumbledore. You are meeting him this Monday." Hermione suggested.
Harry agreed to do so.
In the afternoon, Hermione made an excuse to leave the boys and went to look for her cousin. She found him leaving Myrtle's Bathroom.
"Of all the places you'd go. This was the last on my list." she said coldly.
Draco froze in his place.
"How's fixing the cabinet going on?" she asked to receive no answer, "I don't think it's going well since you decided to improvise. A cursed necklace? Really? It didn't even get to the castle."
"I know," he said as kept his eyes locked on her shoes.
Hermione sent a mental projection to Draco. It had worked on Harry before and fortunately, it worked for Draco, too. He looked up and looked at her with astonishment.
Hermione made no Legilimency attempt. It calmed him down.
"Please help me, sister." said Draco simply.
"Very well." she said before giving him a fake sickle. There was a picture of a house-elf on it.
"Time and location. Be brief."
She left him without another word.
When she came back Ron told her that Harry had brought his suspicion about Malfoy to McGonagall.
"What did she say?" she asked
"Malfoy has spent the day in detention with McGonagall. Yeah, Harry was surprised, too."
A/N: Draco is getting some help. Will he get Hermione in trouble?
