So, here is the next chapter =) Sooner than I anticipated it, but it's also a little short... which might be a reason to publish another one tonight... As always, I've taken lots of liberties with the story, though I don't own anything but the idea to twist the original story a little.
I hope you still like it, I hope you're still with me and I hope you'll still enjoy!
The four girls sat in the Room of Requirement, taking each other in, something akin to insecurity hung in the air and spread along with the awkwardness, when no one spoke.
Parcival Parkinson figured to be a girl by the name of Pansy Parkinson – she had a guarded look about herself that half tempted Hermione to see how far she got with her Occlumency skills and prod her mind, but she held herself back, for truly if she were trained in that art, their reunion would be spoiled. Unlike Luna and herself, she had even Glamoured her hair short in order to absolutely blend in.
Cho Chang had kept it long as well, tying it in the usual wizard fashion at the nape of her neck. After having been ridiculed for it the first few days, she had explained that long hair in the Chinese culture meant reaching manhood – none of the boys had laughed about it then, manhood was important for a man after all.
"So… what would be your favourite classes?" Hermione finally spoke up, figuring that the safest ground they could at least cover was school. They were all at the same school after all, had the same teachers and were all about the same age, though she'd wager Cho was a little older than they were.
Surprisingly enough, once they talked, they really hit off.
Hermione knew that it was late when she returned to her dorm from the Room of Requirement – it was well past curfew. But she was aware that Snape did not prowl the hallways tonight, he was only on patrol on Friday and Thursday – somehow it made the thing less exhilarating, but also less dangerous.
Still, a huge stone fell from her heart, when she finally reached the safety of her common room. Some of the older Gryffindors smirked at her, the Weasley brother's being amongst them, and she smirked back albeit a bit shyly, before she started towards her dorm.
"Ron…"
It was barely a whisper when she stood in front of the door, but when she opened it carefully, she bore witness to the strangest of scenes. Harry was bent forward, his mouth connected to a blushing Ronald Weasley. Hermes did not know what to do.
Surely she and Luna had placed bets on when the two would finally find to each other, when they'd finally admit that something else but friendship drove towards each other. It had been from moment one, but at eleven, who would know that they tended towards their own sex rather than the other one?
Now though, she was at an impasse… she needed sleep, direly, and on the other hand she really didn't want to disturb the fresh union of Harry and Ron… what to do, what to do, what to do?
While she pondered, Fred and George passed her. "What's the matter Shrimp?" They smiled good-naturedly and stopped.
"I can't go in there right now." She answered in a hush, closing the door as she turned, still pondering. The Weasleys smirked and one of them opened the palm to the other one.
"I said it would be in their first three years, you said the last four. I win, brother." Resigned the brother who'd lost the bet put the money into the hand of the other one, before they returned to look at the still pondering third-year.
"Well… we see you could need a little help, and we have just the thing for you, Hermes." Conspirationally, they pulled a parchment from one of their sleeves and opened it. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
Messers Mooney, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail proudly present – The Marauder's Map
Hermione stared with huge eyes as a blueprint of the school appeared on the parchment and suddenly moving foot-prints filled the voids where the hallways were - there had been no word in Hogwarts: A History about a map like this. Curiously her eyes swept over the print.
Professor Snape apparently was checking the Astronomy Tower
She stared. "What is this?"
Fred, or George she was never sure, smirked. "Well, it's the Marauder's map. We nicked it from Filch in first year – how did you think we had so little detentions? Only for the pranks that we conducted openly, but this map has been our best friend."
The other twin continued. "However, as it is, we are Gryffs, and we're loyal to those in our house. We suppose you can use it better than we can right now. It will be some time until that room is… well useable on a frequent basis, so we figured you find your way to one of the less frequented rooms."
"Oh, and if you're finished, you say Mischief Managed and put your wand to the map, like this." He demonstrated the charm and the parchment became a parchment again – the Weasley twins looked utterly content with themselves.
"You know… there's a lot of rooms in this school that no one has ever discovered…"
"… and we figured that since you helped save Ronnie-poo…"
"… who is now making it impossible for you to go to sleep…"
"… we are in your debt, double, once for the saving,…"
"… and then because he's family. So…"
"Here you go." They cheered in unison, before taking off towards their own dorms. Hermione was still gobsmacked – she held a key to the school's darkest mysteries in her hands. Quickly hiding the map in her robes, she trudged towards the common room, now seeing it deserted. It was the optimal opportunity to see if the map worked… and how…
Hiding in a far corner where there was enough light but no one would be able to sneak up on her, she tapped the parchment.
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
Again the formal greeting appeared on the map and Hermione made sure, for the last time that she wasn't being observed, before immersing herself into the secrets of Hogwarts at night.
The map, it appeared showed footprints of everyone awake, seeing as she could still see Harry and Ron doing… strange things in their room, she didn't even want to think too deeply why Harry's and Ron's name appeared on the same spot, the same two foot-prints, just simply alternating.
Watching more, she found that Severus Snape had retreated to the dungeons – she was amazed that the map included all levels off the school instead of just one level, it made the map all the more magical. As she watched, she realized that, indeed, the map showed rooms that were not always visible – for example, the Room of Requirement showed up on the map as well.
She was sleepy, but was aware that falling asleep in the common room, where her Glamours would slip away during her sleep, and she could be detected, she stole away towards the Room of Requirement – not once did she cross a teacher.
"Today, we will learn how to fight against your biggest fears." Professor Lupin spoke up, the wardrobe rattled angrily behind him, but he paid it no heed – the students did though, he smiled sickly, his nose twitching and his eyes constantly darting towards Hermes. "Do not fear, in there you will find a boggart. Can anyone explain to me what a boggart is?"
Hermione's hand shot up in the air, and she waited patiently to be asked to answer. Unlike with Professor Snape, with whom she played another game altogether, she wished to be viewed as a patient, knowledgable student – Professor Lupin did take her in the end.
"A boggart is an amortal shape-shifting non-being that takes on the form of the viewer's worst fear. When facing a boggart, it is best to have someone else along, to try to confuse it, since facing more than one person at once would make it indisicive as to what form it must take, usually a mixed-up amalgam of the victims' fears. Because of their shape-shifting ability, no one knows what a boggart looks like when it is alone, as it instantly changes into your worst fears when you first see it." Lupin smiled, but she could see his nose twitching and his eyes showing his confusion, she fought her blush valiantly.
"Very good, Mister Granger, 10 points to Gryffindor."
As he went on to explain how a boggart was to be defeated, she released a hardly noticed breath. She hadn't known that a nose could be that sensitive, for true, she had just started having her… time of month, but how would he be able to smell that. No one was able to, no one noticed it… Hastily she queued up to face the boggart, not all that intent to really face the boggart.
Would it show the headmaster telling her she'd be thrown out? Would it show her Lupin as he detected her?
She was lucky though, for Harry's biggest fear appeared to be a Dementor and therefore class was cancelled and Harry taken aside. Hermione quickly exited the classroom and headed straight for the library. Magic could arrange noses, could make you someone else… surely it could also neutralize your scent.
I took the explanation of a boggart from wiki/Boggart ... just to make sure no one thinks I'm stealing things ;)
Thank you renaid (satisfied?), dia (yes, you are right... according to JKR she should have been about to celebrate her 12th), arabellagrace (Tadaa!), douglas. bailey. 7946 (Sorry, I will not spoil my own story, I'm sure you can understand ;P), TequilaNervous (surprise!), Pellaeonthewingedlion (Much to my shame, I didn't even think of Ginny... I do not even know why...) and bushyhaired-american-nerd (disappointed?) for all your lovely reviews.
As I said, it's possible I publish another chapter tonight, so I hope you're not too disappointed with the fact that, at the moment, there is hardly any SeverusHermione - TRUST ME IT WILL COME! I haven't conceived this story to be anything else. But please bear in mind that she's only in her third year now... she's a little young, don't you think? Patience, only a few more chapters it will all make sense in the end.
PLEASE REVIEW! (I love reviews :D)
