Chapter 20 Talks
Hermione was sitting on the chesterfield in the common room running her fingers across the soft cotton fabric that coated it contemplatively. Things had definitely been odd lately. She'd be so sure that this year would run smoothly and peacefully, and to her credit, for the most part things had. She managed to continue to excel to the top of her classes, despite her year off; she held a challenging and prestigious apprenticeship with Madam Pomphrey; she had Ron, and all the rest of her life set out for her. She couldn't be more content in her own life, what worried her was Harry. He'd been distant since the war, even going so far as to break up with Ginny, whom everyone thought he'd marry as instantly as Ron had proposed to Hermione herself. What's more was that she was positive she'd caught him staring at Malfoy like a lovesick 14 year old on numerous occasion, yet the boy seemed to be oblivious to his own affections. He was constantly distracted, always missing important directions and assignments only to come to Hermione later in a desperate panic over what he'd missed. And when it was Malfoy he was focused on it was...
Professor Albatross. Harry was so sure that there was something wrong with their handsome, charming potions master. Hermione smiled to herself as she thought the words, but an instant later her smile froze. What? She thought incredulously to herself. Hermione was many things, and no one could say she didn't respect an intelligent mind, but such fan-girls type thoughts of a teacher were beyond her. Her mind snapped back on itself as she recalled her insistent defense of the new professor. In reality, did she know anything about him? Her mind began to mull over past events, combing through the memories as if they were new. She'd defended him so easily, dismissing Harry as being a petulant child, but had she been right to do so? Some of the things Harry said... why hadn't they disturbed her before?
His frequent absences from Hogwarts that Harry detected through use of the Marauder's Map, the unnatural way in which he had enraptured all of the student body. I mean really, it was normal for Hermione to be all too involved in a lesson, but all of the students? Surely there could be no teacher that charming. Then again he hadn't won everyone; he hadn't won Harry. That thought put another knot in the roiling of Hermione's stomach. Harry. No matter how farfetched it seemed at the time, Harry always had a knack for these things. His gut had rarely proved them wrong, yet she'd been so quick to dismiss him. Why? Because she'd been expecting, no, hoping and wishing for peace and normalcy this year, just regular (or as regular as you can get as a wizard or witch) teenagers, going to school to finish out their last year. But no, her gut told her that though this was a good enough reason, there was more. It was like somewhere deeper in her mind, some suggestion planted that had told her to ignore it, ignore Harry. Absently, Hermione began gently stroking the flame coloured fur of her feline companion who had padded over to the couch where she was sitting and curled up next to her.
Soon more thoughts flooded her mind. Harry had been asking her about vampires. Could that mean...? He must have been thinking about Professor Albatross then. It's all he's been on about. Is that even possible? Hermoine thought about the good potions master for a moment. Pale skin; check, unnatural good looks and charm; check... what else... She racked her brain, trying to shake out the necessary pieces to this puzzle. But what did she even really know about vampires? She'd said it herself that vampires tended to be quite secretive and much of their abilities and weaknesses were clouded in mystery.
Lost in her thoughts, Hermione's fingers gradually slowed and stopped their soothing circular motions on the back of Crookshanks ears. Irritated at the loss the ornery orange cat began softly headbutting the brunette girl's thigh. She chuckled warmly at the cat's display, cooing at him as she resumed the petting. "Oh, Crookshanks."
The cats. She thought with a sudden sense of dawning. The missing cats. A vampire would need blood. But would cats really sustain him for this long, I mean after all there can only be so many pet disappearances before someone gets suspicious. I suppose he could find someone in Hogsmeade, but even still, talk tends to spread quickly around there. He'd almost have to have someone here at Hogwarts he was using. Someone vulnerable. With questionable morals. Someone... Hermione almost choked as the next thoughts hit her like a train with many cars. Someone who's recently lost a lot of blood. And has no one to turn to. Someone exactly like⦠Malfoy.
With a new-found resolution she set out to find the one person who she needed to talk to most; she needed the whole story on the professor, with a freshly cleared head from, the boy wonder himself, Harry Potter.
Harry had been studying innocently enough in the library, minding his own business for once this week when Hermione had burst in insisting that they speak immediately. Hastily she'd begun to explain the the jumbled thoughts she'd had regarding their dear professor, however after being shushed by Madam Pince the pair decided to adjourn to a more private location to continue their discussion. Back in Dumbledore Spire the pair sat in Hermione's empty suite, engaged in a feverish discussion. Of course Hermione had been careful to leave out the part about Draco coming to her for the Blood Replenishing Potion and her suspicions that he might be involved with the professor. Harry was already so fixated on Draco; and feeling oddly protective of the blonde, she wondered whether it would actually help or hinder him for Harry to know what she suspected. Harry had always been strangely possessive of Draco, especially as of late. Hermione did not relish to think of how Harry might react if he were to realize what Draco was being used for by the teacher.
Harry had to admit he was taken by surprise when Hermione had come to him actually confessing that she thought he might be right about the professor. Why now, of all times? After more than a month of him harping on her about it she'd finally come and drug him away from his studies to talk about it. He stopped pondering it though when she reignited his curiosity with her revelations.
"But there's still something I don't get Hermione." Harry started, giving Hermione a slight pause. Was he going to realize as I did that cats wouldn't be enough blood for a full fledged vampire? Oh no, if he come to the same conclusion as me... Her thoughts were cut short when Harry continued. "Even if there were a vampire here at Hogwarts, I mean... why?"
That's a very good question. Hermione pondered it a moment. She'd been so shocked at her own revelations she hadn't even had time to think about that. Why would a vampire come here?
Harry kept speaking though. "Why come here at all? I mean didn't you say that wizards and vampires like, hated each other? That wizards hunted them down in the past? Why come here now? Why risk it? I mean, I knows it's my idea and everything, I just don't get it." Harry was pacing through the room now, his frustration mounting. "I just feel like I'm missing something important. There's something I'm overlooking I know it." Harry's face had changed during his short rant from frustrated to... eager? Hermione studied his face again, trying to remember when she'd seen him make that face before, and for a second time that day she was blindsided by dawning.
Suddenly she realized when she'd seen that face before. Oh great. She moaned internally, this is his 'we're going to go looking for trouble' face.
Sure enough, second later Harry spoke again. "Meet me in the common room in ten minutes. I need to grab a few... important items and then were are going to step up our investigation." Harry smirked deviously, excitement glinting in his eyes.
Here we go again. Hermione thought glumly, but then brightened up a bit. At least he's actually smiling. It's been far too long. With a small sigh she nodded and set about prepping herself for the potentially hazardous adventure they were surely about to embark upon.
