Chapter Twenty-Eight

Great Hall, Hogwarts, Scotland, 12 December, 1991

The Hall erupted. There was laughter and whispers, but most of all, speculation.

Who were the Firebrands? Are they really so good that the infamous Weasley twins felt threatened enough to challenge them, or is it more of a prank in itself?

The Firebrands themselves had their heads together, already plotting in hushed tones, and almost no one noticed the eight first years whispering hurriedly.

"No, I am absolutely not participating in something that can get me thrown out of school!" Hermione hissed.

"Oh, come on, Hermione, live a little! It can't be worse than that bloody dog," Ron said with a shudder.

Hermione shot him a poisonous glare.

"Come on, Hermione, we need our favorite Ravenclaw for this! None of us is as clever as you," Blaise said charmingly.

"Hey! I resent that!" Adrian joked.

"Look, we probably shouldn't talk out here. Too many ears," Henry said, looking around carefully.

Although their group had been highly unusual at the beginning of the term, everyone now ignored or accepted the small group who sat at the Slytherin table each day.

"Yeah, you're right. We should go somewhere more private," Draco agreed.

"First, though, we need to decide on the three professors," Daphne said. "I say Snape."

Draco and Adrian spluttered, coughing on their pumpkin juice.

"Are you mad?! Uncle would kill us! And not the kind that can be traced either, the kind that looks like peaceful, natural causes but is really slow and painful!" Draco choked, eyes wide.

"I dunno, Drake. I like the idea of Uncle losing his cool," Adrian smirked.

"NO! No, no, no, no, no! NO!" Neville screamed.

"Calm down, Neville!" Blaise hissed.

"Shuttup, mate!" Ron said. "It was only a suggestion."

"I am not, nor will I ever, prank Professor Snape!" Neville squeaked.

"Why? Uncle is perfectly harmless," Adrian said, waving his hand dismissively.

"I have never met a more harmful person in my life!" Hermione said hotly.

"Alright, so we're undecided on Snape," Blaise said, trying to diffuse the oncoming argument.

"Let's go to the room and talk some more," Ron said. "It's quieter anyways."

"We can't go now, our first class starts in ten minutes!" Hermione said.

"So we'll skip today," Ron said, shrugging. "No big deal."

"No big deal!"

"We can't skip anyway. It'd be much too obvious," Adrian said. "I mean, the day the Firebrands get a huge challenge, eight first years miss all their classes but aren't in the hospital wing?"

"Thank you Adrian," Hermione said, relieved.

"We'll skip tomorrow."

Library, Hogwarts, Scotland

"Why are we here again, Hermione?" Ron asked.

They were in the Restricted Section again, under Adrian and Draco's invisibility cloak.

"I've been researching that dog, and I got some interesting results," she replied breathlessly.

"So, what is it?"

"I think it's a Cerberus."

"A what?"

"A three headed guardian. In ancient Greek mythology, it was the guardian of the underworld. It's also depicted as being a guardian for many Muggle universities."

"So Ade's right, it is guarding something," Ron said, brow furrowed.

"Yes, and that's what worries me. Cerberus was only used to guard between life and death, according to the Greeks," Hermione said, reaching for book on the shelf just above her outstretched hand.

Ron snorted as she jumped up at it. He reached over her head and grabbed it easily, handing it to her. "'Crossing the Line: A Guide to Immortality'?"

"Yes, Ron."

"So, whatever the dog is guarding, it's between life and death?" Ron asked her.

She nodded, preoccupied with turning the pages of the book.

"What is it, then?"

"I haven't the foggiest, Ronald. I've only been a witch for a few months, you know."

"Well, what're you looking for?"

"I'm looking for anything that would be the difference between life and death."

"That book is a guide to life, not death," Ron pointed out.

"Exactly, Ron. If I can understand what makes wizards immortal, it might help me find out what that dog is guarding."

"You're stretching it a bit, don't you think? I mean, no one said anything about being immortal."

"Immortality is the difference between life and death, Ron, the only difference."

"So, one of the professors wants to steal something that could make them immortal?"

Hermione swallowed. "I'm afraid so."

"I still think it's Flitwick."

"Oh Ron, honestly."

"I'm serious!"

"Why would Flitwick want to be immortal?"

"So that when he finally meets a tiny woman, he'll still look as good as ever."

She laughed. "I'm glad you chose to help me instead of plotting chaos with the others."

"No problem. Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Can you plot chaos?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Haven't you ever played a joke on someone?"

"Of course I have. Once, I turned the neighbor boy's cat green. When he ran to tell his mother, I turned it back. He was a right git, though."

Ron chuckled, tucking the heavy book under his arm. "How many times did you do that?"

"Two hours, twice a week for a summer."

"That's terrible!"

"So was he," she shrugged.

Ron laughed out loud. "I never knew you to be devious."

"I'm a good actress," she said, smiling sweetly.

Okay, so Ron/Hermione fluff at the end.

I'll post a new chapter either today or tomorrow, so read, review, opinionate, and whatever else you feel like doing!