"Hermione,are you all right,"asked Harry panting as he caught her up.
"Yes," she began,"It's just that I found something out today."
"What," asked Harry,as Ron came into view struggling to keep up.
She halted suddenly stirring up leaves around her as she turned to face them," It's about house elves."
"Oh not the bloody house elves again,"Ron snorted.
"They're under the imperius curse,"Hermione continued quietly.
"Thats illegal,"said Harry,shocked.
"No, it's illegal to use against wizards,"Hermione said," The law doesn't prevent its use against non humans, magical beasts, or muggles."
Harry and Ron stared at her with wide eyes as she turned away and continued walking towards Hogwarts."Well that explains a lot," Said Ron. Harry simply nodded and they returned to their room. Ron and Harry changed into their pajamas and settled into a dreamless sleep.Harry woke up after what seemed like minutes later.The sun was shining in his eyes.He glanced at the clock on his nightstand,11:00 am.
"Oh no,"shouted Harry jumping out of bed,"Ron wake up.We're late for potions!"
"Go back to bed,"Ron mumbled.
"Get up," Harry insisted,"Snape's gonna kill us."
"Harry,Its Saturday,"Ron explained tiredly," Remember we decided to go Friday night so we could sleep in this morning."
"Oh yeah,sorry,"Harry said.
"Well we're up anyway,"Ron said yawning," we'd better go see Hermione."
They were surprised when they came down to the common room to see that Hermione hadn't gotten up yet."Should we wake her,"Ron asked,looking at Harry.
"We'd better," said Harry,"She probably wants to catch up on her reading for Professor Binns."
When Harry knocked on her door Hermione was still in her blue sleeping robes."Hurry,"she whispered ushering them inside her room and locking it. In the middle of her bed sat a large white lamb."He followed me home last night,"she explained,"He must have thought I was hungry and he brought me this." She pulled a dead bird out of her left robe pocket," I don't know how he got in without us seeing him, but he was already in the common room when I saw him. I had to do the spell before anyone else showed up."
"Will he stay that way," Harry asked gesturing to the lamb.
"I don't think he knows how to change forms by himself yet,"said Hermione," When he learns, we'll have to find a better hiding place. I don't think he understands us and he won't know not to transform in front of people. But for right now he seems to be happy being a lamb."
Harry,Hermione, and Ron spent the next couple of hours petting and playing games with Jeffrey. Then Ron and Harry set off to play Quidditch. Hermione locked the door again and began reading aloud from a book.