Chapter IX Castle Transformations

Somewhere else in the world…

Snape and Ernand had just finished killing nearly a dozen Deatheaters. They had arrived at the location nearly a week ago and had been staking the joint, so to speak. Or rather, an area in the woods where the Horcrux was hidden.

They knew the Slytherin Horcrux was hidden at the bottom of a lake, as Snape had been privy to the information since he'd witnessed Voldemort cast it down there himself during the trio's sixth year. They had waited for just the time to attack, and had been successful. Then they had gone into the lake and taken the Horcrux, then disapparated to a safer location afterward.

Ernand was sitting staring at the wall of their motel room. He was thinking about Hermione. He couldn't get her out of his mind. Snape had gone to clean up, as both had been left bloodied and injured. The blood was not only their own, but many they'd had to kill with weapons when time was too short to cast a spell.

"You're thinking about her again." Snape drawled as he exited the shower wearing only his trousers, drying his hair with a towel. "Your human form is weakening your strength."

"I am just as powerful in this form…"

"I meant your emotions. They're building and taking over."

"When we choose, we choose for a reason." Ernand said quietly.

"You think the know-it-all is special. Well, obviously, otherwise you wouldn't have chosen her." He smirked.

"I never should have told you."

"You know it wasn't necessary. I sensed you back then, during the TriWizard Tournament, and you know it. When you sought me out, asking me for help, I knew it was someone in the war. Concluding it was Ms. Granger was only logical."

"I don't know how long I can continue like this…"

"We need to finish this, and quickly. It's nearly done, so you can have your final tryst with Ms. Granger and be done with it."

"If only it were that simple." Ernand then shook his head. "Of course it will be. I need to return to my normal existence. Then I can be happy for her."

Ernand then headed toward the showers. The two needed to get out of there quickly. And he wanted to check on Hermione.

Romania


"You…you looked very beautiful, Mione." He gulped. Why had he said that? She was going to laugh at him for sure!

Instead she blushed. "You already told me that. You didn't have to say it again."

"But you did! Er, you always do."

"I do?"

"Hermione, I…"

Just then Harry opened the door and crept inside, his invisibility cloak already taken off and held around one arm. "Hey, you won't believe what I saw." He told them.

"Did you find the cup already?" Ron asked. He was actually relieved for the interruption. He had almost said it! Told Hermione how he felt about her.

Hermione was equally relieved. She wasn't quite ready for Ron to confess his feelings for her. She had been, but then Ernand had come into her life and she knew she couldn't move forward with Ron until their time was complete. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.

"No, but I did see two muggles. Don't worry, they were in the main kitchen, quite far from here. You were right, Hermione, for me to check the dust. There's tons of it around here, but the kitchen was kept quite clean. I don't think anyone has gone back here at all. In fact, I only found them after going through a curtain on the other side of a pantry. They likely don't know this area even exists."

"Then we can hope to be relatively safe here, at least for a few moments if anyone sees us."

"There's more. The muggles seemed to be looking out for the inside of the castle. They mentioned guards outside, and were complaining that they wanted to go home. In fact, they were preparing to leave."

"Perhaps Voldemort doesn't want his people knowing what's in here." Hermione offered.

"Do they know why they're here?" Ron asked, almost at the same time.

Harry shrugged. "I don't think they know what kind of people they're working for. Sounded like they didn't want to find out, either."

"Well, this is certainly good news." Hermione said, realizing that maybe Ernand sent them here figuring it was safer than where he was going.

"Something wrong?" Ron asked her.

She shook her head. "No, just reminding myself that we need to remain alert, no matter how safe we feel."

The next half-hour, as they waited to give time for the two muggles to leave the castle, Hermione reminded the two boys of spell after spell. While annoying like back in school, they knew she was right in doing so. And Hermione certainly knew which ones were the best to use.

They were also trying to figure out how best to search the castle. Even with the muggles gone, there was still the Deatheaters to take into account – and they were far more dangerous than two simple men from the village.

Harry suggested going under his cloak alone, and then going back for Ron and Hermione. Ron thought that Harry should try to lead the way, or at least take Hermione under the cloak with him. They could warn Ron if anyone was around. But that still wouldn't help Ron. Hermione suggested the two go alone without her, she could easily hide in the forgotten room near the secret panel. But the boys wouldn't hear of it, and they knew all three of them would in no way be able to hide under the cloak. Hermione fit easily, but Ron stretched it a bit.

Hermione sighed in exasperation. She held her necklace without thinking. "If only I were an animagus. That would…"

Suddenly Hermione's form began to change. The boys gasped aloud in shock. In her place sat a sleek, black cat.

The cat stared up at the boys as if asking "what?" They she put her paw up to her mouth and licked it. Suddenly it dawned to Hermione what had happened. She had changed into a cat! Feeling something around her neck, which was a silver collar with the pendant from her necklace attached, she realized what had happened. The necklace apparently did more than provide communication with Ernand!

She closed her eyes and turned back.

"Bloody hell, that was brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.

"Language, Ronald. Well, let's hope I can do that again. That would make things a lot easier."

"You could go on ahead of us," Harry suggested.

"Or go scout for the cup myself. I can then come back and lead the two of you to it."

Harry nodded, but Ron wasn't quite convinced. "I thought we weren't going to separate."

"This way makes more sense, Ron. I'm small now, and no one will think much of a cat in the house, er, castle. Keeps the mice away."

"Blech. Just don't go eating any, Hermione."

She rolled her eyes. "I know what I am doing. I've been preparing to become an animagus and was going to apply for my license during seventh year."

In the end she won, and soon set off searching the castle. Without Harry and Ron with her, she could head straight for the library and the bedrooms without the other two trying to search every room.

Getting around was quite easy, and with her cat instinct she could tell when others were around. She easily avoided the deatheater wandering near the entrance, and soon found the library. She was glad Harry had made the replica of the cup, now she had a clearer idea of what it looked like.

She found the library easily enough, and saw two Deatheaters in it. One she recognized. It was Goyle's father. Well, at least he can't be much brighter than his son, she thought to herself. She looked around the room and saw an armchair to hide behind. It was placed near a corner, giving her a good lookout of the room details. She also tried to listen to what the men were saying, but it was no good.

Once she was sure the cup wasn't in the room, she left to go upstairs. She darted up and immediately sensed the first deatheater she had seen. He obviously had been on his way up here, she mused. Sure enough. He was there inside a large bedroom, sitting in a chair reading. She could see the title: Magical relics and their history.

Without his seeing, she easily dashed under the bed. She looked around one side. No, nothing. She crept around the other. There it was. Sitting easily up on top a bookshelf. She was surprised it was left there so easily, but then again…was she sure it was the right one? There was only one deatheater in this room. Why? But many more were outside? Once again, why?

Soon the man got up to pour himself another drink. Ah, that's why he was on his way up here. He had to fetch himself a fresh bottle of wine. Satisfied, she left the room and crept down the staircase. Just as she was at the bottom, the front entrance opened. Two men entered, both wearing black robes. Great…more Deatheaters…thank goodness Harry and Ron aren't with me!

Hermione was able to follow them easily enough, and was brought back to the library. She waited until getting the chance to once again dart into the corner. No one detected her presence at all.

"There was an attack in the Americas. We don't know any details yet, but likely it's that Potter boy and his sidekicks." This man seemed to be in charge, Hermione winced at the way he sneered Harry's name.

"What happened?" Goyle Sr. asked.

"We don't know much. Just that at least 10 of us are dead. Our lord is sending some of us over to search for Potter. He plans for us to…"

Just then another member sneezed.

Hermione froze. Was it because of her?

"What the bloody hell is your problem, Theodore?"

Hermione took a closer look. It was Nott!

"Allergies. Must be all the dust in here."

"Well, take a potion! Can't have you sneezing about! Go back outside and help reform the guards around the gates. Tell them its my order."

Theodore nodded, then left.

"As I was saying, some of us are being called out. You two will stay here the night. Not that anything ever happens here anyway. New orders will be arriving in the morning. And for the Dark Lord's sake, don't let that clock out of your sight!"

Hermione gasped inside. Of course it wasn't the cup upstairs! It was a decoy, just as she suspected. She looked over and saw the clock they were speaking of. It had to be inside…or had the clock been transfigured? All she knew was that she and the boys were going to need time in the library, to figure out what or where the cup was exactly.

She waited as the rest left, and watched as Goyle Sr. and his partner relaxed after a few minutes.

"I could go for a drink. If we get sent out…"

"Yeah. Blasted castle. One of us will have to go fetch it ourselves."

So…no magic inside the castle, Hermione thought to herself as she waited for one of them to leave. But what if…what about my necklace? When the coast was clear, she darted out and ran back to tell Harry and Ron what she had seen.

Hermione was very relieved when she was able to easily transfigure back into her human form upon returning to Harry and Ron. The two had both let out a big sigh in relief when they spotted her cat form, and she wondered if they'd even breathed since she left nearly an hour before.

After quickly telling them everything she saw and heard, the three set off for the library. They had a tentative plan, Harry and Ron were going to wait in a corner, while still under the invisibility cloak, and see if the two got drunk enough to pass out.

Before they left Ron had told them he had some sleeping talc from his brother's joke shop, which Hermione was sure would still work. She had figured that while no one could cast new spells in the castle, magic already set should still have the desired effect. It would be strong enough to slow the men down. To test her theory, she had Ron take one of his other jokes, a small piece of blasting bubble gum. It worked, and thankfully he only took enough to make him burp in a peculiar way. Of course, a bubble had exploded all over his face and he insisted that she help him clean it off his face

Hermione hadn't known that Harry cast a silencing spell on himself when he first set off in the castle. If she had, she might have realized it was his connection to Voldemort, who likely would have kept his own powers strong inside the castle and the surrounding area.

Hermione, back in her cat form, pranced down the hallways of the castle, her tail high in the air and slightly swaying back and forth. Ron, who was behind Harry as he was a good few inches taller than his mate, couldn't help but be entranced by the thought of seeing her in her real form, walking in such a way. He imagined her cute little bum, wiggling as she walked her normal fast pace. How many times had he caught himself staring at that particular view in front of him? Too many, not enough, he thought as he abruptly bumped into Harry.

Harry jabbed him in the gut. Hermione had stopped, and seemed to be checking things out with her feline senses. She turned back at them and then continued. She led them to a dark corner, and they could hear the laughing of two men in the nearby library. Hermione went ahead, peeking around the corner. She waited, then was gone from view.

"They'll catch Potter and his friends for sure. Our Lord will have a feast in honor of slaying the mudblood and the blood-traitor." One of them said. Harry and Ron could hear everything. Hermione, watching, knew that it was Goyle Sr. who said this.

"Yeah, I just hope he lets some of us have some fun with the mudblood first. Lucius told me she's turned into quite a beauty, even if her blood's dirty."

"You won't get the chance, Lucius will want her for himself. He'll only share with Bella and the other ranking men. Perhaps Draco, too, if he's successful with his latest order"

"And our Lord, he'll probably want to do the mudblood first. Well, they'll let us watch at least. I could use a good show. Maybe they'll find the blood-traitor's sister, too."

"Yeah, and make Potter watch before the Lord kills them all."

Hermione shivered in her place. She could only hope Ron and Harry couldn't hear, but she was wrong. Ron was shaking in rage, while Harry, angry, too, held him back. They couldn't afford to be caught now.

Hermione watched as the two toasted their hopes for a bloody end to Potter. She noted they had retrieved more than just wine, and were currently drinking firewhiskey. They downed a glass each, then poured another. An idea came to mind. As they drank their second, she left the room and went to join Ron and Harry. She motioned for them to follow her down to an empty room and transfigured again.

"Ron," She whispered, "Give me the talc. Give me a few minutes, then knock something over and hide."

Ron got it out without question and handed it to her. She took and thanked him by giving him a kiss on the cheek. Ron blushed as she placed the packet in her teeth and transfigured back into a cat. Being careful not to rip the packet, she darted back into the room.

Ron and Harry looked at each other in confusion, then glanced around for a good hiding place. Even with the cloak, they needed to be well covered. "We could go back into the hallway, in the opposite direction and wait. I'm sure Hermione has a plan." Ron suggested in a low voice.

Harry nodded.

Once Hermione was settled in her corner again, she waited for the crash. They two men quickly stumbled onto their feet (she was glad to see them already out of sorts) and run out of the room.

She jumped onto the table and sniffed the drink (why, she did not know) then jumped off and quickly transformed, then emptied the packet into both drinks. She transformed back, and then ran to the room where she left Harry and Ron. The two Deatheaters were looking at both a broken vase. Likely an antique, Hermione winced, glancing around the room at the other artifacts. Hermione ran through one of their legs and toward the wall as if in search of a mouse.

"It's just a cat. Muggles let one in last week to rid of the mice." The one Hermione didn't know said.

"Bloody cat."

She sniffed at the wall and pawed it, as if trying to get at something. She followed the edge of the room a bit, sniffing and scratching at the wall as she had seen Crookshanks do so many times before.

"Leave it alone, Goyle, it'll catch anything we don't want around here."

"What's going on?" A voice from upstairs called out.

"Just a cat chasing a mouse." Goyle Sr. yelled back. "Nothing to worry about."

"I'm going to kill that cat when we finally get to leave this place!" The voice upstairs called. "It already broke two heirlooms last week."

"Stop being such a poof!" The third one said, then muttered to Goyle, "Should have known not to bring a historian."

They left and Hermione waited until Harry and Ron rejoined her. She saw them hold up the cloak as Ron whispered "Good work, Mione!"

If she were human again, she would have blushed. She took off again, knowing they'd wait for her signal.

It wasn't long, not even ten minutes before she came back and turned human. She was starting to get dizzy from all of the transfigurations.

"We'd better hurry," she told them. She brought her hand up to her mouth as if to lick it, then hastily dropped it back down her side. Ron snickered, while Harry just looked amused.

They walked quickly but quietly into the library and went to work. Hermione and Harry kept trying to open the clock and see if anything opened to reveal a hidden compartment while Ron stood guard near the door, watching the prisoners. Nothing worked. Hermione tried concentrating (using her necklace) but still, nothing. Harry looked at her curiously, but she just shook her head.

Ron heard a noise went over to say something, but before he could someone appeared in the doorway.

"Who the…" The man started to gasp. Without thinking Harry whipped out his wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" The man froze stiff and fell over. Hermione gasped at him. "How…"

"I dunno, Hermione."

AN: I can't believe the castle scene! I was stumped for weeks upon weeks…and originally hastened it up after Harry searched around to the end And CoconutGirl's scolding when I showed her the scene. Glad my muse finally returned, much of it inspired from your fantastic reviews! Thanks! Please keep them coming…