DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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Chapter 17: I've Got You Under My Spell
"But why's she got to go to the library?"
"Because that's what Hermione does," said Ron, shrugging. "When in doubt, go to the library." -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
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1992
(Cedric and Hermione's past)
"Potter and Weasley aren't here," she whispered to Cedric and Susan, her eyes still searching the Gryffindor table.
"Do I want to know why you're concerned about Potter and Weasley, little bookworm?" asked Ian across from her.
Hermione turned to him. "It's Halloween. This day last year, there was a troll in the dungeons. I mean, something might come up."
"Relax, Hermione!" Terrence said, cheering her up. "Nothing's going to happen."
"He's right. Don't overthink," Ced bumped his shoulder to hers playfully.
The Halloween feast went on nicely, and Hermione listened to her fourth-year friends' story about seeing Hagrid carving pumpkins for the decorations and how the Slytherin Head Boy bossed Percy Weasley around, including the other prefects when they decorated the Great Hall. Soon, it was time for bed.
Hermione yawned as they were leaving the Great Hall. Then, she felt Cedric's arm around her shoulders. "You just ate and you're sleepy?" he chuckled. "Do you have a so-called food coma?"
Hermione laughed and elbowed him by the ribs.
"Ouch!" He put on a pained look, but she knew it was fake because he didn't remove his arm around her.
"You know, last night, I had a dream that I was Duelling with Weasley," she chuckled. "These Defence lessons are rubbing on me too much. You have to teach me the tripping jinx again tomorrow. If you've got time."
"Oh, sure, no problem," he replied casually. "I always have time for you. But I actually don't think Weasley would be a problem. He might be a Gryffindor, and you annoy him, but he doesn't have any reason to attack you."
She nodded. "Of course."
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The following morning was a Sunday. On days like this, Hermione and Susan would usually go to breakfast without the boys - they were either at the Quidditch Pitch (if it wasn't booked by other houses) playing with the other Hufflepuffs or still snoring.
"Have you heard? Mr. Filch's cat was Petrified."
"And he's blaming Harry Potter because he was on the crime scene."
"There's no crime; the cat was just Petrified."
Hermione and Susan eyed each other with curiosity when they reached the ground floor and heard students at the grand staircase, talking.
"What happened last night?" whispered Susan.
"Your guess is as good as mine," she whispered back.
"Oh, there's Lavender Brown! Let me ask her," said Susan. Her friend went ahead to catch up with Gryffindor Lavender Brown. Hermione remained near the stairs.
"Er, excuse me."
She turned to the right side and saw Harry Potter. He was wearing day robes - and flushed cheeks. He was alone. No Weasley this time.
"Oh. Yeah?" she asked kindly.
"Er, something happened last night..." Harry Potter began. He couldn't meet her eyes and she wondered why.
"Yeah, I gathered," she replied carefully.
"Well, there was writing on the wall - on the second floor - and Malfoy said something like... Muggle-borns will be next."
She frowned in both confusion and curiosity.
"Just... be careful, all right? There's a... an enemy out there... targeting people."
Hermione was a bit touched by Potter's concern. She gave him a small smile. "Thanks. I will be careful."
Harry Potter nodded with a smile and made a move to leave.
"Hey, Harry?"
He stopped and turned to her. "Yeah?"
"I know this is not any of my business but... are your Muggle relatives treating you well?"
Harry Potter looked taken aback. "Well, they don't actually hurt me or starve me but... they just don't like magic stuff..."
Hermione nodded in relief. "Well, that's all right, then. In case they... you know... hurt you, my parents can help you report them, you know."
Harry smiled. "Thanks. I appreciate it, Hermione."
With one last smile, Harry Potter left.
Susan was still speaking with Lavender Brown and didn't want to interrupt them. She didn't have anything negative towards Lavender Brown, but she wasn't comfortable with her, either. So, she decided to go to the Great Hall alone and just wait for Susan there.
On her way, she saw Cedric outside the Great Hall, speaking to a beautiful blonde witch, just inches shorter than him, but their faces were on the same level. They appeared to be in a deep conversation and were even holding hands.
Hermione sighed and felt something in her chest again... just like how she felt when she saw him with Cho Chang.
What's with these Ravenclaws? she wondered.
She turned the other way, not wanting Ced to spot her. Susan was walking towards her.
"Hey, Hermione, sorry," her friend Ced, reaching for her hand.
"It's okay," she replied. "So, what's up?"
"Mr. Filch's cat had been Petrified and there were writings on the wall on the second floor. The Heir of Slytherin opened the Chamber of Secrets."
"The Chamber of Secrets?" she repeated, trying to recall if she had read about it in books.
"Not here," said Susan. "Let's talk about it after breakfast. I'm starving. Have you seen the boys yet?"
"Ced's outside the Great Hall, talking to a beautiful girl... maybe someone he fancies," she replied with a bit of bitterness.
Susan frowned and smiled. "Who?"
She shrugged. Susan took her by the hand and led to the Great Hall. She stopped when they spotted Cedric and the girl. The girl was hugging Cedric. She suddenly felt the urge to walk away and leave. To her surprise, Susan laughed. "That's the girl?"
She glared at her friend. "Yes."
"So, Ced never introduced you to his cousin, Penny?"
She frowned and shook her head. "No. Never."
Susan giggled. "I suppose I am really his favourite cousin."
"That's his cousin?" she asked, cheeks flushing because of embarrassment.
Susan giggled and nodded.
Cedric and his other cousin parted and he spotted the two of them. "Morning," he greeted, approaching them.
Hermione smiled, feeling a bit guilty for the things she thought about Cedric earlier. "Morning."
"Penny and I spoke. She warned me about the Petrification of the cat and that someone out there could attack us," he told them, but his eyes were locked with hers.
"Oh, really?" asked Susan.
Cedric turned to Susan. "Yes. They said the Heir of Slytherin - or whoever - is out there to attack Muggle-borns." Then his eyes searched her again. Those beautiful grey eyes... And one of his big hands reached for her hair. "She told me to never let you go alone... it's not safe for you."
Hermione nodded appreciatively, subconsciously pushing Harry Potter's concern at the back of her mind.
"I've got to go to the library," she declared after eating breakfast with Cedric and Susan.
Ced's hand stopped her when she stood up. "Oh, right. I shouldn't go alone..."
"We'll go with you," declared Susan. The three of them started walking. "But why so sudden? Can't it wait?"
"I have to know about petrification."
"Right," sighed Cedric dramatically. "Hermione Granger. When you want the answer, go to the library."
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Hermione didn't usually attend the D.A.D.A. study group because all they did was share theories and information about defensive and offensive spells, but there was never a practical lesson. But on the night of November first, Professor Sprout called all of them - the members of the study group. Because the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins (except for Malfoy and his gang) weren't on the second floor last night, they didn't know about the petrification and writing on the wall until this morning. Their Head of House also told them - even if Professor Dumbledore was against it, she said - about the legend of the Chamber of Secrets. She suggested they watch out for each other and share their knowledge with the defensive spells and dark creatures with everyone in their House.
"We have to know who the Heir of Slytherin is," she whispered to Cedric. They were sitting together on a couch while Susan, Ian, and Terrence were sitting on the floor with the other students.
"It's a legend," he whispered back.
"But Mr. Filch's cat had been attacked," she countered.
"The enemy - the monster is on the loose... walking around the castle, scaring us. There's no Chamber of Secrets. Where would it be?"
"In the dungeons? Or below the dungeons?" she suggested. "This castle is huge and we don't know a lot about it. Last year, see, there was a teacher possessed by You-Know-Who, and there was the Philosopher's Stone..."
Ced shook his head. "Forget about it, Hermione. Let's focus on keeping you safe. You heard Professor Sprout. You and Susan should not be alone. We will walk you to your classes."
Hermione sighed. She didn't like the idea of not being able to wander around the castle whenever she liked, but she was scared. "I have to find out who's causing this chaos..."
"How?"
"I don't know. But I think it's time we use my Polyjuice Potion."
Cedric eyed her with disapproval. "No. We don't know from which house the perpetrator is."
"That's why we have to gather more information first and observe the people around us before we use the potion."
"How? By breaking the rules? We can't stick our nose to somewhere it doesn't belong."
"Hey, what are you two conspiring about?" asked Ian.
Hermione and Cedric turned to three pairs of eyes looking at them, questioning.
"Hermione's talking about a silly plan," Ced teased.
Hermione slapped him playfully. "It wasn't a silly plan!"
"It won't be silly if you involve me there," grinned Ian.
"Count me in," quipped Terrence.
"And me too," said Susan.
Hermione turned to Cedric. "You still disapprove?"
Cedric sighed and gave her a look of surrender.
"I knew it! I've got you under my spell," she teased.
"It appears you have," he replied and it made Hermione smile.