Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

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The stairs wound down several flights, at least four before turning down a hallway. Hermione had never been here before. The only time she ever went to the dungeons was for potions.

She didn't much like the damp walls and dark shadows.

No wonder so many of them turned out awful; what with spending so much time in a place like this, Hermione thought.

At the end of the last flight the stairs evened out into a hallway turning right.

Crookshanks stopped and turned to make sure Hermione was still following him. Then he continued on.

Hermione had a sudden thought. How am I going to get into the common room without the password? And for that matter, what am I going to do when I get in there? What if someone is in there?

Hermione stopped walking. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Up ahead Crookshanks stopped and looked back expectantly.

"I don't think this is the best idea," Hermione said out loud to her cat.

Crookshanks looked up ahead and then back at Hermione, waiting.

"Well, it can't hurt to see where it is I suppose." Hermione said again.

She moved forward and Crookshanks led the way again.

More turns and even a hidden opening behind a tapestry of goblins. Crookshanks stopped there and had to scratch at it for a few moments before Hermione realized that he meant to go through it.

Finally Crookshanks stopped in front of what looked like a bare stone wall. He looked at it and looked at Hermione.

"Is that it then?" Hermione asked looking at the wall. She ran her hand over it and examined it. There must be a door concealed here somewhere. She thought to herself.

Suddenly she heard distant footsteps.

Heart pounding she took off silently running down the hall. She found a small alcove there and ducked into its shadows.

Crookshanks had followed her and crouched down by her feet. The hair on his bushy tail was puffed out on end.

The footsteps were getting closer. Hermione hoped they were going to the common room and not down the hall. Hey! She would get the password!

Then she had a wild thought. What if it was Ron? It was completely irrational and unfounded but there was always the chance….

The footsteps stopped at the bare stone wall. "Viridis" said a voice.

Hermione didn't recognize the voice. She did however recognize the password. It was Latin for green. Naturally that would be a password for Slytherin.

A concealed door opened in the stone wall (Hermione was right) and the person walked in. The wall slid back into its previous state.

Well there's not much sense in trying now. Who knows how long that person will be in the common room. Hermione thought as she silently moved from her hiding place.

She walked back the way she came, with Crookshanks leading again.

Up the hallways, through the tapestry, through several more hallways and up the stairs. Finally she was at the door to the Great Hall again.

She opened it a little ways and Crookshanks poked his nose out. He pushed the door open more and Hermione followed.

Now just to get back to her own common room without getting caught.

Up the stairs and through familiar passageways ending up in front of the Fat Lady.

"What are you doing wandering the castle this late at night!" Scolded the Fat Lady.

But she swung forward as Hermione gave her the password. Looking around quickly she darted forward to the door to the girl's dormitories and slipped inside.

Whew! Well, that was interesting. She didn't make much headway but at least knew where the Slytherin common room was. And their password too; at least for now.

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