Chapter Thirty
Room of Requirement, Hogwarts, Scotland, 18 December, 1991
"Immortal?! Are you joking?" Blaise cried.
Hermione shook her head seriously. "I've done a lot of research with Ron, and we both agree: someone in the castle is trying to become immortal."
"But why? I mean, I see the advantages and all, but being immortal would be awfully lonely, don't you think? You'd outlive everyone you cared about," Neville said, staring into his lap with that look he sometimes got when he talked about such things.
"Yeah, it would. I wouldn't want to," Henry said.
"We have to look into this more. I have a bad feeling that if we don't, we'll live to regret it," Hermione said sadly.
"Or worse, we won't live to regret it," Ron added.
"But what about the war?! We can't just drop everything to chase after some mad idea!" Adrian protested.
"No, we can't. We can't let anyone know what we're up to. If anyone guesses who the Firebrands are, and we just stop pulling pranks, they'll get suspicious," Hermione explained.
"So, only some of us can do pranks?" Adrian asked, looking slightly appeased.
"Exactly. I can't do all this research myself, it'd take months. But if we split up, or even take turns with the pranks, it'd be easier for all of us. But I need your help especially, Henry."
"Me? What d'you need me for?" Henry asked, ruffling his hair.
"Because you're close to Dumbledore, you're famous, and you're cleverer than people give you credit for," Hermione said simply.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked, curious now.
"When I was in Gringotts that day, Hagrid said he needed something for Dumbledore. We don't know Hagrid, and he frightens me, so Dumbledore is the key to this whole mess."
"But Dumbledore is really smart, or at least smarter than me. I don't think I can get him to say much," Henry admitted.
"Just try, then," Hermione said, smiling.
"Alright."
"What can I do? I'm not much for pranking," Neville asked eagerly.
"Uh, what're you best at, Neville?" Hermione asked. She was now commanding the room: even Adrian was paying attention.
"I like Herbology," he offered.
"Good, because I don't. Ask Professor Spout if there are any plants that can make someone immortal."
"Great!"
"Adrian, Draco, ask your uncle if there are any potions that can make you immortal."
"Uncle will know something's going on. He's too observant for our own good!" Draco joked.
"Try anyways," she commanded.
The brother saluted and headed out the door.
"Good night, all. I needed to speak with Uncle anyway," Adrian called over his shoulder. Draco whispered something to him and Adrian shrugged. "I'm okay, but it's getting a bit worse today."
The others stared curiously as the Malfoys left the room. There were several moments like that, when Draco would ask Adrian something and Adrian would reply in what seemed like gibberish.
"I think that's all we can do for now. Te rest of you can prank away," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"Ah, Hermione? There's only two of us," Blaise pointed out.
"Yeah, so now you have an invisibility cloak each!" she said, and promptly returned to her book.
"Did we get a general or a hyper-active friend with that one?" Blaise asked wryly.
"A bit of both, actually!" she called across the room cheerfully.
"Lucky us," Daphne and Blaise said together.
Holy crap! Three chapters in one day!
My fingers are about to fall off!
*thumb drops dead, other fingers rise up in a revolt*
Thanks for being awesome and dealing with my constant updates!
My muse is back from Ireland, where it got smashed and stole the Blarney Stone. Yay!
