Chapter Five
Detention. Hermione could scarcely believe it. She had never had detention before. This one was to be served with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forrest. She wasn't sure if this was exactly safe or allowed, the word forbidden was right in the name. They were going to be tracking whatever was hurting the animals inside. Unicorns in particular. At least she was with Hagrid. He seemed to know all the creatures and where they could go and where they couldn't. Draco had scared Neville, so Harry had to be his partner instead. Everything was going fine until Draco and Fang came running up to Hagrid.
"There's something in there. Something in a cloak." Draco said, clearly out of breath.
"Where's Harry?" Hagrid bellowed back.
"I don't know. I ran. I'm not stupid."
Hagrid looked distraught. "Let's go." He said as he took off in the direction Malfoy came from.
"Draco, what did you see?" Hermione asked him, as she struggled to keep up with Hagrid. Determined not to be left behind. She had to take five steps for every one that Hagrid took.
"I don't know what it was. There was a dead unicorn on the ground, and something in a cloak by it. I didn't stay to examine it any further."
"And you just left Harry there?"
"How could I know he'd be so stupid and not follow. Any one with any kind of sense would have took off like I did." He said defensively.
When they came upon Harry he was riding up to them on a creature, half man-half horse. A centaur thought Hermione as she remembered a few of her readings. She couldn't help but notice that Harry had a very worried look on his face. She'd have to wait to ask him when they were back in their common room.
Hagrid stayed next to Harry, keeping a close eye on him. Neville, terrified, stayed as close to them as possible. Draco and Hermione stayed walking next to each other.
"Are you going to be alright?" Hermione asked in a whisper. Not wanting to disturb any creatures that might be nearby.
"I'm fine. Just ready to get back to the bloody castle. I should tell my father about this."
Hermione chuckled a little to herself. Then decided to change the subject. "Have you ever seen a centaur before?"
"No. From what I've read they don't really like humans. They think of us as lesser beings."
"I've read about them." Hermione began to say.
"I'm not surprised." Draco cut off.
She gave him a look. "They believe they have superior intelligence. I don't know if I agree with that. They're fascinating though."
The two continued chatting until they reached the entrance to the castle. Draco returned to the Slytherin common room and Hermione, Harry and Neville went to Gryffindor. Before Harry could go to his dormitory Hermione had asked him what happened in the forest.
Harry told her about the unicorn. He told her about his conversation with Firenze, the centaur. How he found out the cloaked figure was actually Lord Voldemort. That he was killing the unicorns of the forest and drinking their blood in order to stay alive. That he was the one after the Philosopher's Stone. With it he would be able to come back.
Going to sleep that night was difficult for Hermione. What did all of this mean? She didn't know. It was a puzzle that she didn't have all the pieces to. It was too much to process. She had end of year exams. She should be focusing on studying, but instead she couldn't help wondering how long it would be until Voldemort found a way to get to the stone.
Over the next few days Hermione tried to push this stone business to a different part of her mind. After all, Dumbledore was a brilliant wizard. He was protecting it. What difference could a few first-year students make? She tried to get Ron and Harry to focus on their studies with her. The best thing you can do to keep your mind off something is to concentrate it on something else.
When she wasn't spending time with Ron and Harry she would go to the library. Sometimes Draco would be there, but more often than not, Hermione would be alone. This didn't bother her much. She was able to get a lot of work done on her own and it was these late nights spent pouring over her books and notes that she finally felt ready for exams.
It was no surprise that the end of year exams went splendidly for Hermione. While she enjoyed going over the exams after they had finished, it was clear Ron and Harry did not. She couldn't help herself though. Going over the questions lifted the weight of pressure off her.
In celebration of the end of the year, Hermione, Harry and Ron went down to have tea with Hagrid. While there the subject of the dragon he won in the pub earlier in the year came up. Harry had asked Hagrid if the stranger he encountered was interested in any of Hagrid's other pets, Fluffy for example.
When Hagrid revealed that he had told the stranger that all he had to do to calm Fluffy was to play a little music they looked at each other knowingly. They had to tell Dumbledore. They left Hagrid's hut and went straight to the castle looking for him. Instead of finding Dumbledore, they ran into Professor McGonagall.
She had informed them that Professor Dumbledore had been called away to London on urgent business with the Ministry of Magic. The three of them walked away from her defeated.
When they were back in Gryffindor tower, the common room was empty. Harry turned to Hermione and Ron, "It's going to be tonight."
"Tonight?" Ron said incredulously.
"What do you think is going to happen tonight?" Hermione asked him.
"Snape is going to try and steal the stone. I know it. He is going to do it while Dumbledore isn't here. I have to stop him."
"You?" Cried Ron again. And to prove he could say more than just one word he said "What are you going to do against Snape. Harry you can't be serious."
"Ron's right Harry. We can use Hedwig and send a letter to Dumbledore. He'll come back, and everything will be okay." Hermione said hopefully.
"There isn't enough time. Don't you understand. Voldemort cannot get that stone. He cannot come back. He killed my parents."
What could Hermione say to that besides, "How can we help?"
Harry paused a moment before he said "We have to get to the stone first. If we can't then at least we can slow Snape down."
"Let's go." Ron and Hermione said at the same time.
"Let me get the cloak. It won't hurt to be invisible."
Harry dashed up the stairs to his trunk. When he got back to the common room the three of them took off for the third-floor corridor. When they got to the landing they couldn't hear the snarls they usually could from Fluffy. Opening the door, they could see a harp that had been enchanted to play music. It was bad luck the harp was no longer playing.
They crept inside looking for the next place to go. When they noticed the trap door at the large three-headed dog's feet, Harry pulled out a flute and began to play. Fluffy was lulled back to sleep while Hermione and Ron dropped below. Harry followed shortly after.
"Lucky this plant thing was here."
Hermione looked around. The green vine type plant looked familiar, but she couldn't remember right away. The pounding of her heart was too distracting. Almost immediately she got up, but Ron and Harry began struggling and the plant began wrapping itself around them. That's when it hit her, Devil's Snare. Although it looked harmless, it was a deadly plant. The more a person struggled the faster it would kill you, but there was something that could help them. What was it? Light! She conjured up fire and set the boys free from the snare's grasp.
"I would bet anything that was from Professor Sprout." Ron said as he brushed off his pants in frustration. "It's lucky you pay attention in Herbology."
Hermione couldn't help but feel appreciated at the comment. It wasn't often Ron gave her one.
"Wands out." Harry commanded. "We don't know what's coming next. I can only assume it gets worse as we go."
The next room was mild in comparison though. As they looked around they noticed strange creatures flying around near the top of the room. Along the floor was a broom. Hermione didn't understand what they had to do until Ron exclaimed.
"They're keys."
"Look there, that one looks injured." Harry pointed.
"The broom, Harry. You're the best flyer in our year. It has to be you." Hermione said, knowing full well she would never attempt the feat herself.
Harry mounted the broom then took off. It wasn't long before he had the key in hand and they could move on to the next room.
"Wow." Ron called out in amazement as the moved further into the next room. A large chess set was displayed in the middle of the room.
They tried crossing the board to the other side but were blocked from passing. They'd have to play their way across. Hermione was smart, but she didn't know a lot about wizard's chess. Ron was the one who would play in his spare time, so it was Ron who took the lead. He played a magnificent game.
Hermione followed each step. She saw the calculations. The planning. She was understanding the game. Pieces, from both sides, were advancing and falling. It was down to a few last moves when Hermione understood.
"Ron you can't!" She yelled.
"What?" asked Harry.
"He's going to sacrifice himself."
Harry turned to him. "No."
"Don't you see, it's the only way. Once I make my move you're free to check the King. Then you can go on. Harry you must stop Snape. You must. We didn't come this far to give up now."
He made his move. Hermione watched as he was struck down by the opposing token. Ron, her friend, was hurt. She had to go to him. She didn't realize her feet were taking her to him when she heard Harry yell to her.
"Stop! Don't forget we're still playing."
She froze in her spot. Then Harry made the last move. "Checkmate."
They had won.
They both ran to Ron. He was knocked out. "We'll come back for you." Harry said to him even though he knew Ron couldn't hear him. Hermione was distraught. She knew she must go on with Harry, but part of her wanted to stay behind and make sure Ron would be okay.
When Harry and Hermione entered the next room they were assaulted with a terrible smell. There laying in the middle of the floor was a large troll, even bigger than the one they encountered on Halloween. Luckily, this one had a lump on its head and was out cold. Eyes watering from the atrocious stench, they moved on to the next room.
This room, however, didn't look very intimidating. It was just a table with numerous potions spread out across the table top. When they walked completely into the room fire shot up blocking the door across the room from them, as well as the one behind them.
On the table Hermione noticed a piece of parchment. She picked it up and read the riddle. "Brilliant." And it was brilliant, there was no chance for advancing or retreating from this room without solving the puzzle. "It's not magic, it's logic." Hermione smile. She couldn't fly on a broom. She wasn't an accomplished chess player, but she was logical.
She read over the clues again. And again. She read them until she was certain which potions needed to be taken. There was only enough for one person to go on. That would be Harry. Hermione would take the one that would allow her to go back. She would get Ron. They would take brooms from the key room and fly out the trapdoor. They would go to the owlery and send an urgent message to Dumbledore.
She didn't like the plan, but she couldn't see another choice. Hermione threw her arms around Harry. "You're a great wizard Harry."
"I'm not as good as you." He said to her and Hermione knew he was frightened.
But he had to know. "Me? Books and cleverness? There are more important things. Friendship and bravery." She paused because she truly believed it. "Be careful."
She drank the potion, looked at Harry one last time, then walked through the flames. She was back in the troll room, but not for long. She was sprinting to the chess room towards Ron.
When she burst through the door she could see Ron, still unconscious. Bruises and cuts visible from even a distant. It took a while to bring him around, and a bit longer to get him moving. He was wobbly at first, but he was standing, and that's all she could hope for.
"Are you okay?" She asked, breathless.
"I'm okay. Where's Harry."
"C'mon, I'll explain on the way." And she took off. Ron hesitated a moment before following. She gave the short version of the events that happened in the potion room. There really wasn't time for anything else.
They were in the keys room and on brooms. Hermione didn't even hesitate before taking off, admittedly a bit wobbly. They went past the Devil's Snare. They went up through the trap door and just barely made it out the door past Fluffy.
They were thundering down the corridors, headed for the owlery when they ran directly into Dumbledore. His arms grasped hers, keeping her from falling backwards. She looked up to his blue eyes in panic. She didn't even say anything when Dumbledore said,
"Harry's gone after him hasn't he."
She still couldn't say anything, she just shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You and Mr. Weasley Go to the infirmary. Tell Madam Pomfrey you need to speak to Professor McGonagall. Tell her everything. Tell her I'm going after him. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor." Hermione finally mustered up the ability to speak. He nodded and let her go.
"Blimey." Was all Ron could say.
They made their way to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey came out of her office and looked them up and down. "What happened to you two."
They told her quickly that they needed to speak to Professor McGonagall. That it was on Dumbledore's orders and was urgent. Madame Pomfrey led them to some beds and made them wait.
It was only a few moments later when Professor McGonagall came bursting through the door, Madame Pomfrey on her heels.
Ron and Hermione both began talking at once.
"One at a time please." Professor McGonagall looked to Hermione to continue. So, she told her everything. Madame Pomfrey gasped but didn't interrupt.
"Poppy. Make sure they're okay." The nurse didn't need to be told twice. She began checking Ron over.
McGonagall continued. "It was incredibly foolish of you. To think you had any need to go down there. You two will stay here until I or Professor Dumbledore has dismissed you, is that understood?" She looked at them sternly, and they nodded in understanding.
She swept out of the room without any further chastisement. Madame Pomfrey examined them in silence. Ron suffered a few minor injuries that were easily cured. Hermione, luckily, came out unscathed, but extremely tired. It wasn't long before the two of them had fallen asleep.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed since she had fallen asleep, but when Hermione opened her eyes she bolted upright in her bed. There in the bed across the room was Harry. He was alive. That gut-wrenching panic left her body as fast as it had flooded it and she relaxed.
She looked to her left over at Ron, who was still asleep. No longer covered in cuts or bruises. You couldn't even tell anything had happened. When she looked to her right she was startled to see a boy there. A boy with blonde hair.
He looked grim. "Draco, what are you doing here?" She whispered.
He looked up but didn't say anything. Then he got up out of his chair and walked to the other side of her bed. He pulled the curtain around her, giving them just a little bit of privacy.
He sat down on the side of her bed and looked at her. "You're okay."
"I'm okay."
"Hermione what were you thinking? It's all over school. You could have died." He said the words barely above a whisper.
"I'm alright, Draco."
"That's not the point. Why did you even go? I thought you were smart."
She was a bit taken aback at his words. "I had to go. Harry . . . he needed me. He's my friend."
"I'm your friend, Hermione. Did you even think about what it would have done to me? You're the only person in this bloody school worth talking to. If something happened . . . I just . . . I can't . . . not you."
Hermione looked at him. This was not the confident, sarcastic Draco she had become familiar with. He was hurting and scared and she was the cause of it. She placed her hand on his and squeezed.
"I'm alright, Draco." She said again.
He looked up at her. "Promise me, you won't do anything that stupid again."
"Well, I'm friends with Harry and Ron now I can't really make that kind of promise." She smirked.
"Granger." He said, but only with a slight amount of exasperation. He got up off the bed and went back to sitting in the chair. "Fancy a game of exploding snap?"
It was three days before Harry was awake. By then, Ron and Hermione were dismissed from the hospital wing. The whole school had heard about their adventure and were consistently bombarding them with questions. Ron and Hermione made regular checks at the infirmary to see their friend and were elated when they could finally talk to him.
It wasn't long until the end of year feast. Not one of them was looking forward to it. First it meant that the year was over, and they'd be going home soon. Second, Gryffindor was in last place for the house cup.
Well, they were in last place before Dumbledore awarded a few last-minute house points. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and even Neville were awarded points for the events that recently happened, putting them ahead of Slytherin and in first place.
Hermione liked to pretend she was above the competition between houses, but she really liked the idea of winning. Before they knew it, their trunks were packed, and they were boarding the train home.
Before they reached King's Cross Station, Draco pulled Hermione aside.
"Will you write to me this summer?"
"I don't have an owl. Do you get muggle post?"
"No. Definitely not. I have an owl. I can send him with a letter, and you can just send him back with one."
"Okay." She said just before the train whistle blew.
They were pulling in to the station. It was time to say goodbye. They looked at each other and smiled.
"See you." They both said, waving.
Hermione got her trunk and was on the platform when she saw Draco meet his parents. She watched as they walked away, before crossing the barrier with Harry and Ron to find her mom and dad.