Chapter 6: In the Library

This chapter is dedicated to Coconut Girl, who had plenty to say when she reviewed my story. And I love hers…Forget Me Not. So if you're reading this CG, I was wondering…if Hermione's wand was broken then perhaps she needs another, special, powerful one to help her get back into the flow of things magical. Hmm?

Note: Due to plot needs, at the end of the last chapter Hermione overheard that the locket was needed for something that was to happen in 3-days…I need that to be 3-months instead, okay? Good! Now, back to our story.

Hermione sat frozen in her spot. Minutes passed before she was able to stand and take another look around. Before she'd even had the time to notice the boxes and crates thrown about the room the door burst open again and Harry and Ron came tumbling in.

"Hermione!" Ron gasped with a surprise. "We…we…"

"We just saw…" Ron shut Harry up by placing a hand over his friend's mouth.

Hermione frowned. "Well, seeing as you two trust me so little, perhaps I won't share with you what I've just seen."

The widened eyes that threatened to pop out of both boys' would have seen comical, if Hermione wasn't so worried about what she'd heard. But at least she had their full attention.

"What did you see, Hermione?" Harry asked carefully.

She shook her head. "No, not here. Let's go back to the castle and talk in my room. I can perform a silencing charm so that no other Gryffindors or Malfoy will hear."

An hour later the three were set in Hermione's room each with a cup of hot tea and some scones. The two boys lounged on a sitting sofa while Hermione sat properly on her desk chair facing them. She told the story of what she'd witnessed.

Harry was the first to break the silence that followed. "So who do you think the boy is?"

Ron chuckled nervously. "Obviously you, Harry. Who else would Vold…I mean, the Dark Lord, want?"

Hermione shook her head. "We don't know that for certain. Plus there is the locket to figure out. What if the boy and the locket are connected?"

Harry thought for a moment, while Ron suddenly frowned. "Who else could it be? I mean, there's no secret that Harry is at the top of his list to destroy. No offense, mate."

Hermione rolled her eyes while Harry responded. "Yeah…thanks, Ron. No, Hermione is right. We have to consider who else Voldemort might want. And whether or not the locket and this person are connected to one another."

As the three teens talked over their next plans, the headmaster sat gleefully in his chambers, watching the scene through a magical hourglass. He watched as three decided their next set of actions and then turned to more youthful conversation.

"Fawkes, I do believe the Golden Trio has finally come together." The phoenix cried out in its own way of agreeing with its beloved human. Dumbledore then tapped his wand. A bottle of firewhiskey and a glass came hovering over, the glass tipping to allow the bottle to pour some of its contents inside. As the aging wizard held his now full glass up in toast toward his faithful companion, he said "Yes, now all we have to do is slowly plant the idea that they, and they alone, will defeat Lord Voldemort."

It was early the next morning that Hermione heard the tapping of Harry's owl on her window. Having slept in after a late night talking with the boys, Hermione had taken her time getting to the window to letting Hedwig in. After graciously rewarding the owl, she opened Ron's most recent letter while drinking a copy of coffee a house elf left with a warming spell on her dresser.

Hermione didn't know whether she wanted to cry, shake or hug Ronald Weasley…or all of the above. He was such a prat, that she knew just from her first week of classes. But what was it about him that made her…what? She wasn't sure, but she knew she felt something more for him.

Hermione re-read the letter.

The new girl…I'm not sure if I should tell you her name or not…well, she's the most know-it-all bookworm I have ever met! Even more than my git of a brother. The first day of classes she showed me over and good. Then she did the same to everyone – in every class. It was really getting annoying, until today. I found out her weakness! I thought it would make me feel good, but it didn't. Instead I offered to help her. Does that mean I'm – gasp – maturing? You know about these things better than I do. And you don't show off…not like she does. Well, she's not that bad. In fact, Harry invited her to Hogsmead with us tomorrow. We're going to show her around.

It was clear that the new girl Hermione was an issue for him. How? Why did half the letter have to do with her? Shaking her head Hermione then opened the drawer in her desk and carefully placed the letters with the others she'd kept throughout the years. Mostly, the ones that Ron had sent her.

During the next several days the three seventh-year students were seen together making themselves a prime target for gossip. For years Harry and Ron were best of friends. While they hung out with others, no one ever seemed able to become part of their friendship. Now others talked about the young transfer muggle-born girl who had somehow become part of their friendship.

Two weeks went by and neither Harry, Ron nor Hermione could find any information about a "special locket". While Hermione had poured herself into book after book, the boys had brought up subtle ways to discuss family jewelry with their mates and some of the girls from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.

On one particular late afternoon Hermione watched as one girl, named Hannah, flirted with Ron by whispering to him "If you'd like to buy me something, I'd be more than happy to accompany you on our next Hogmeade visit."

The Head Girl huffed and brought her attention back to her book while the girl had the audacity to run her hand over Ron's left shoulder. Of course Ron, in true form, had turned red and bolted out of the study hall. What Hermione hadn't noticed was that Ron's attention during the flirtation was focused on her, and not Hannah Abbot.

But Ron wasn't the only member of the trio getting attention. Padma Patil and a sixth-year Hufflepuff named Trudy Turkin had both openly set their attentions on Harry. Hermione immediately noticed Ginny's discomfort with this new development, but was happy to report that Harry's eyes immediately sought out the youngest Weasley when trying to escape the competing girls' affection.

Hermione had her own problems. While it was Seamus Finnegan who increased his advances on the transfer student during classes and at the Gryffindor table during meals, it was Draco Malfoy making his own moves upon her in the private quarters of the Head Girl and Head Boy. Of course he sneered at her in front of the other students, or merely tolerated her presence during head meetings with the prefects.

And then there was Lavender. Despite Pavarti's warning, the girl had made it her mission to make Hermione miserable. It was Ron's ex-girlfriend that pointed out to others the Head Girl's shapeless robes and nose that couldn't seemed capable of staying outside of a book. Hermione knew she tended to dress more conservatively than the other girls, at least during class time, but couldn't help feel slightly hurt that some of the Gryfindor girls excluded her from their social group.

Hermione sighed as she put her book down at her favorite table in the library. Her day hadn't been made any better in Potions. Two Slytherin girls, Pansy and Millicent, had targeted her hair with some goop extract from their potion. It had taken her the entire remainder of class to get it out, from a mixture of spells and washing out in one of the bathroom sinks.

Luckily, her partner for the class was Seamus, and he was more than happy to finish their assignment while she was gone. Unlucky for her, his kind gesture earned her a nasty glare from Ron. He ignored her for the rest of their classes together and dinner as well. Harry tried to play peacemaker to no avail. Although he had been successful leaving a very interesting charm from the Weasley twins joke shop in Pansy's book bag. The Slytherin tram would not have a good nights sleep that night.

Hermione looked at the clock, noting that she had just four hours until midnight, her curfew as Head Girl. Draco and Pansy were doing rounds as well as the two sixth-year prefects from Hufflepuff. She got out her Transfiguration essay, which was a detailed proposal to try her animagus form. She finished rather quickly and pulled out her independent Arithmancy work, but finished that all too quickly as well.

Hermione was about to pull a book to help her study for NEWT's, but then decided on something else. Going over to the catalog, she started a new search. She had found just the book when she spotted Ron waiting at her table. The book card still in her hand, she headed over to see what he wanted.

"Um, hey Hermione." Ron said shuffling his feet a bit. She noticed that his eyes kept shifting downwards, toward the floor. She shifted open eye brow up in question and waited.

"Um, well, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for acting like a git today."

Without meaning to, Hermione smiled. She knew this was a bit step for Ron. She wondered if she was the only he'd ever told (through his letters) about his difficulty communicating his feelings. Without realizing what she was doing, she walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.

Ron's face turned beet red. Hermione smiled at him. "Come on, now," She told him. "Help me locate this book."

Ron looked at her book card. "Charmed objects and people: An introduction to forceful magic. You think the locket is in there?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, that would be too easy. But it will help us understand what we're looking for. What caught my eye was the specific wording in the title. Forceful…not powerful magic."

"What's the difference?" Ron asked as he followed Hermione down a row of books. She paused at the end of it, then turned down two more rows before continuing down a dark part of the library.

"Oh, Ronald, there's a big difference." She replied once she narrowed down to a select row of books. Finding her selection, she pulled out the dusty book.

Rom grimaced. The book was at least a hand's length wide. "Well, I'll carry it for you." He suggested.

Hermione smiled and handed him the book, then led the way back to the table.

The two spent the next three hours looking through the book for any possible clue or other information that might help them. If anything, Hermione was able to figure how important this locket was when paired with a person of significance.

"If only we could figure out who the person is." Ron expressed.

Hermione sighed. This was bothering her immensely. "Yes, once we know who the person is, we'll have a better idea of the kind of power the locket is to possess."

"I thought you said the locket was powerful on its own?" Ron asked, confused.

"It is, but remember what we read? Once the object has been magically connected through a person, it's magic intensifies and thus enables said person to yield more power when directing it at another person or persons."

Ron scratched his head. "Oh yeah. Hey, it's almost midnight. We should be getting back."

Hermione frowned. "Well, I'm Head Girl so it shan't be a problem for me. However, your curfew was almost an hour ago. I guess I'll have to walk you back to the Gryffindor dormitories and then get to my room through the girl's dormitory."

Ron smirked. "Or we could meet Harry down at the kitchens for a snack and then all head back under his invisibility cloak."

Hermione smiled. "Or that. I guess you'll lead the way?"

"Of course." Ron replied, holding out the crook of his elbow. "Besides, tomorrow is last Friday."

Hermione raised a brow, but she hooked her arm in his nonetheless. "And what is so special about last Friday?"

"It's the last Friday of the month." Ron explained to her in his own all-knowing way. "Shorter classes. The first visit at Hogsmead for third-years and above is Saturday, so they let the older students have shorter classes, from ten-till-two. It also gives extra time to study for NEWTs"

"Hmm…how come that wasn't mentioned on my schedule?"

Ron laughed. "Probably a joke since you're new. It's standard for all transfer students. Probably something my brothers started."

"The twins?" Hermione gulped as she realized what she'd said.

"Yeah…Fred and George. They…hey, how did you know about them?"

"Um…I thought I heard someone mention them." Hermione quickly covered.

"Oh, yeah…they're pretty much famous. They own two joke shops. Used to pull all kinds of wicked pranks on the students and professors during their stay here."

Hermione laughed. "Well, I guess I'm glad I missed them. I probably would not have approved."

Ron smiled at her. "A bit tight with the rules, eh?"

Hermione blushed. "I suppose so, but not all the time. So will Harry be meeting us there?"

"Huh?"

"The kitchens. You said we could go meet him for a snack."

"Oh, yeah…it's tradition. He and I always go there, especially before last Fridays."

"All right, but if anyone catches us, we'll tell them that you were helping me with head duties."

"So you aren't that much a stickler about the rules then? Am I getting to know the real Hermione?"

"That depends." Hermione replied softly. "Are you flirting with me?"

Ron looked at her with what could only be described as immense fear. Hermione scolded herself. Of course Ron would never admit to that. Why had she said that? "I'm only joking you know."

"Oh, er…yeah." Ron stammered. He looked up, as if suddenly aware of where they were. "Well, here we are. The kitchens."

"Thought you two would never make it." A voice suddenly said from behind the two, causing them to jump. What neither knew was that Harry had been following the last few minutes and had overheard their conversation - and had seen Ron's reaction. Oh, yes, this will be a most interesting year. The boy-who-lived thought to himself.