Written for Religious Education Assignment 10 Task #12 for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Word Count: 1,501

Lavender's PoV

Gryffindors were herded up to the dorms from the Great Hall by Percy. I could see he was scared as well.

Parvati and I were soon inside the common room, deciding to linger so we could find who was attacked this time. The common room was abuzz with murmurs, even the Weasley Twins seemed serious for a change. We noticed Lee Jordan making his way up to them after talking with the Gryfinndor Chasers. We decided to quietly eavesdrop on them, opting to stand near one of the windows overlooking the grounds.

The twins were whispering amongst themselves.

'We already checked multiple times! It is impossible to know without a name!'

'Can't we check again? Maybe it'll be visible when an attack happens?'

'Are we now supposed to wait for another attack to take place?'

We could gather it was regarding finding the Heir as it was all everyone was thinking about but we didn't know what they wished to check.

As Lee reached them, he asked, 'What are you both talking about?'

I shifted slightly so I could look at them better in the reflection on the window as they sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

Instead of replying, the twins gestured towards some pages in their hands.

I wished I could go closer to see what it was they were looking at.

'It just sucks it is Hermione this time. I think it must be someone who is hiding in plain sight. Someone we would know and wouldn't stand out on it.' Lee said.

Parvati and I looked at each other in horror.

We hadn't noticed the Golden Trio weren't here. They were always creating trouble and roaming the corridors at night so it wasn't uncommon not to find them where they were supposed to be.

Parv nudged me with her shoulder and after a few minutes of pushing each other, we decided to link elbows and go up to the Twins and Lee.

I started, 'Do you…do you guys know what happened to Hermione?'

The Twins turned the parchments upside down as they shifted to face us on the side. I could see now it wasn't parchments but rather a single parchment folded multiple times.

'Hermione and Penelope Clearwater, you know, the Ravenclaw Prefect? They were both found petrified near the library.'

Now I understood why Percy looked terrified when he led us up to the tower. Even the prefects weren't safe. Plus, Parv and I had long suspected he fancied Penelope. He was more uptight than usual, if that was even possible, when they had prefect rounds together.

'And Harry and Ron? Weren't they with her?' Parvati inquired.

One of the twins replied this time. 'No, no they were both at the match, she wanted to go to the library so they forgot they were supposed to walk in groups. She probably took off on her own at the thought of library.'

'Yeah, we saw McGonagall escorting Harry and Ron up to the Hospital Wing. I overheard her saying both of them were found on their way back towards the Entrance Hall.' Lee added.

We thanked them as we decided to go up to our dorm. There was no place to sit in the common room since all the Gryffs were gathered there, unwilling to go up to their dorms. They must be waiting for Harry and Ron to get back so they could find out more.

For once in my life, I was scared to know more. Even before Hogwarts, I always kept up with who visited my Ma for tea regularly, who stopped visiting and even knowing when Papa was in a bad mood.

We had lived with Hermione for almost two years now. Sure we didn't get along too well but it was mainly due to us having nothing in common. I regretted not making an effort to include her in our conversations often. I vowed to myself I would do that when she woke up. She had often helped us silently by fixing my book bag and conjuring a blue ball of light as a night lamp, when Parv and I were talking late into the night.

On reached up to our dorms, I couldn't help but look at the bed on the corner. It was easy to spot. The stack of books towering on her bedside table, the sugarless chewing gum which her parents sent her monthly, her uniform for tomorrow already up on the hanger, ready to be worn.

We went to our respective beds, unwilling to speak. What could we have talked about? I could always tell Parv later about Angelina sneaking glances at one of the twins. This just wasn't the time.

We took turns going to the bathroom to change into our Pjs. It was going to be a long night. It was just 7 now, so once I reached my bed I decided to make my way through homework quickly. Maybe we would get sleepy earlier than usual. Parv followed me once she saw me taking out my books and parchment roll.

We worked in silence, occasionally asking each other a question from class where we had missed parts of it. Thankfully, we both took notes in class, usually just single words and phrases which were enough to guide us though our homework.

'It feels very different, no?' Parv broke the silence.

I nodded my head before looking up at her.

'One time that we are doing homework way before our deadlines and she isn't here. She would definitely be happy to see us like that.'

Parv readily agreed. Just as she picked up her quill again, I decided to ask, 'Hey, Parv? Do you think we can visit her tomorrow? We will take her books and gum to put on her table. She would like that.' I paused, taking a deep breath, before continuing, 'It's just, this attack on her feels like the Heir stepped through our threshold, you know? In our safe space. I am so scared.'

She came over to my bed and we just hugged each other tight.

A couple hours later, we were both in bed. I could see Parv was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillows. Normally I would be too, since we both got sleepy from studying too much. We could only study in bits and pieces. I felt tired as I once again glanced at Hermione's four poster, seeing the perfectly made bed.

I felt restless. I had my wand underneath my pillow, ready to use if the Heir came bursting through the door or through the windows. I wasn't sure which spell I would use if that happened. The Disarming Charm Professor Snape had used on Professor Lockhart would have been handy if we had learnt properly in the Duelling Club. I couldn't help but admit in that moment that Professor Snape would have been a better teacher than Professor Lockhart to teach us how to defend ourselves.

I sighed as I turned again. I felt sweaty and thirsty. I took the glass of water from my bedside table which was already filled with water and took a sip from it. I immediately felt a little better and decided to gulp down the glassful.

I stared up at the rich golden embroidery on the top of my bed, tracing it with my eyes as I had already done countless times before. The night felt endless. I wondered if it would be like this till the Heir was caught. I will definitely have dark circles if this continued for long.

Before long, I felt the urge to pee and decided to get up immediately.

It might have been an irrational fear but I pulled by feet up on the bed and after a soft Lumos, I pointed my wand underneath my bed and all corners of the room before I took any step on the carpeted floor.

I quickly rushed to the bathroom and back. Just as I was about to hop into my bed, I had an idea. I walked towards Hermione's bed, quietly apologizing to her as I lifted up her sheets and put her pillows in place to make it look like she was burrowed underneath. I knew she did this many times when she was off sneaking out with Harry and Ron. Her bedside clock showed it was already 3:30 in the morning. Leaving the curtains as they were, I walked to my bed again, slipping underneath the covers.

'Tomorrow,' I breathed to myself. I felt a little better already. Now I could pretend she was sneaking out again and not lying petrified under Madam Pomfrey's care, waiting for the mandrakes to mature.

Just as I could hear the birds chirping and the owls hooting, I finally felt lulled to a tired sleep.

I am so excited to share with you guys that this story was selected by Seppa for storytelling on her podcast! Please check out Seppa Stories on Spotify to listen to it. She has done a wonderful job reading it, with her comments added to it. She even has some other fanfics as well as original works featured. I will put the link in my bio. Do check it out!