So, here it is, another chapter. I hope you like it so far, I hope you like this, I hope you'll continue liking this ;)
ENJOY!
"So, it is said that Sirius Black has found his way into the school." Cho said, while she chewed on a sandwich that Peetey had been kind enough to forward. It seemed that indeed the house-elf tended enormously towards Hermione and after reassuring her friends that Peetey knew of them and had not told them off, she was accepted in their circle – after all, a house-elf could always be useful.
Hermione nodded. "But since that incident with the Fat Lady I've been keeping my eyes on the map and have not once seen his name appear, so perhaps he's laying low now that he has all the attention drawn to him. Although…"
She unfolded it and spoke her vow, making the map appear – the four girls bent over the parchment and watched, before Hermione put her finger to a certain name. "That name… is quite unfamiliar with me." Pansy furrowed her brows.
"Peter Pettigrew?"
Hermione nodded. "Especially since he always sticks around Ron, and his dorm… and I've never seen him. It doesn't sit very well with me if I'm quite honest."
Pansy nodded. "I think I've heard the name once already… though I am at a loss as to the details."
"I've asked the twins about the name. They said that the map is faulty." Hermione said, closing the map again and making the blue-print vanish from the parchment. Luna furrowed her brows delicately.
"How do you mean 'faulty'?"
"I appeared as Hermione Granger on the map.", the witch said. Luna's eyes went wide, Hermione only shook her head in a reassuring way.
"As I said, they think the map is faulty and that Peter Pettigrew had been a student here once but that the map never quite figured out that he went. However… I know that my real name is on that map, not the name with which I am enrolled. So the question stays: who is Peter Pettigrew?"
The girls shrugged. Surely if the boy stuck around Ronald so much, sooner or later they'd meet him.
"Shut your mouths, take out your books and open them on page three-hundred-ninety-four."
Hermione could hardly watch as Snape hurled into the classroom, shut the blinds and suddenly stood in front of them. Didn't they have Defense Against the Dark Arts right now? Where was Lupin?
Dean Thomas raised his hand – and immediately Snape pinned him down. "Yes, Mister Thomas?"
"Where is Professor Lupin, sir?"
Wrong question, Hermione noticed almost immediately when a sneer spread on Snape's face and – maybe even without him noticing – he snarled. "He is sick today… and asked me to do his lessons. Now… page three-hundred-ninety-four. Mister Granger, read."
Hermione read, confused at first as to why Snape had jumped from one magical creature to the next, without ever finishing the first subject, when her brain finally caught on the creature they were discussing.
Werewolves.
It was a full moon tonight, wasn't it? And Professor Lupin was sick he said? What about his sensitive nose? His ears?
Diving head-first into the text, she never noticed how, just ever so slightly, Snape's mouth twitched upwards – the Book-Shrimp had caught on it appeared.
"Hermes?"
Hermione turned around to face Harry, who had been walking behind her, close to Ron – they had finished DADA and technically would have Divination, but since Hermione had not patronized the lesson after the Trelawney-incident, she could care less. The black-haired boy caught up with her. "Might I have a word with you in private?"
A word he might have, she didn't have anything to do anyways, save for practicing her Patronus – those Dementors were eating away at her and she rather liked knowing that she would be able to defeat them or at least keep them at bay should she unwittingly run into one of them.
The two of them shuffled into an alcove and Hermes waited patiently for Harry to speak. "Ahm… well, first of all, I've found out something really disturbing." Harry started. "Concerning Sirius Black… he… he was my godfather and apparently let Voldemort know just where they were, which gave him the opportunity to… yeah."
He had said it in a hushed voice and had almost tripped over his words, but Hermione had understood every bit of it.
"Harry, I am so sorry." She wanted to hug him and hold him, tell him that things would be alright… but as the young man that she was, she amicably put her hand on his shoulder. The boy blushed.
"Yeah… and… umm the other thing is that… well… uhm…"
"You and Ron are an item." She finished for him, smiling broadly when Harry's blush intensified to a point where he was red as a tomato. Hermes smiled good-naturedly. "I know Harry, that's the reason I… kind of found a new room. Don't worry – it's alright with me. You're still my best tormentors-turned-friends."
At that, finally, Harry cracked up and smiled.
Turning the wheel backwards, Hermione watched with rapt attention as the tiny hourglass spun faster and faster and around her, the light changed until the sun stood far in the sky again – it was only noon.
Right now, her other self sat in Ancient Runes, while she'd have to go to Transfiguration with Harry and Ron.
As she entered, Harry and Ron had diligently saved her some space next to them, she occupied it contentedly. Ron stared.
"Where the hell do you come from? I mean… I swear you weren't here before."
She smirked and shook her head. "Of course not Ron, I just entered through the doors."
Oh, the joy of it – he'd never know just where she really came from.
"Come closer, come closer I have someth'n' very special for ya'all today." Hagrid called them into the clearing – the students were still fighting with The Monster Book of Monsters while Hermione, bibliophile that she was, had first of all explored the texture of the book and found out quite quickly that it stilled when you stroke its back.
"So, today, I have a very special guest for ya. Come closer, come closer. Yah, that's good. So… on this fine day, I'd like you to welcome… Buckbeak."
Buckbeak, was a Hippogriff.
Hermione couldn't stop staring. Of course Hagrid had to go and give such a creature such an idiotic name, Fluffy had taught her relatively early that Hagrid never quite… went with the flow when naming a potentially dangerous creature, or he did, she wasn't quite sure.
"Hermes! Perfect!"
What? She was startled out of her reverie when she realized that Hagrid had not just asked a question, but apparently she had volunteered for some insane task. While others that had not been lost in la-la-land had stepped back, she had stayed where she was, which now made her a volunteer. Great.
"Come here."
She came closer to Hagrid, who looked a little worriedly at her. "How'm I doin'?" he asked in a hushed tone and she nodded her head reassuringly – it seemed to placate him. "Okay, now… Hippogriffs are proud things, don't look into his eyes, right? Good."
As Hagrid moved away, Hermes' path to Buckbeak was clear. "Now, Hermes, bow."
Doing as told, she bent perfectly, as she had learned in dancing lessons and realized with a start, that she missed those lessons direly. With one ear, she listened to Hagrid explaining the rest of the class that it was impervious that the Hippogriff would bow as well, or any going closer would be met with… well, possibly instant death.
Hence Hermione waited, but Buckbeak only watched.
Finally, Hagrid had almost pulled her back again, the Hippogriff bowed and Hagrid breathed relieved. "Very good, now Hermes go pat 'im."
Cautiously Hermione approached the animal, careful to never look it directly into the eye and stroke her hand over the soft feathers – Buckbeak clipped his beak and she was reminded of Sif, who hadn't come back to her in some time now.
"Wonderful, wonderful." Hagrid clapped, before all of a sudden, she was lifted in two bear-like clutches onto Buckbeak's back.
"Hagrid?" She was sure that she wanted down.
"Go, Buckbeak!"
Hardly having the time to hold on, she almost toppled over when the Hippogriff reared into an uneven gallop and spread its wings, taking off. It took some time to get used to the feeling of sitting on a Hippogriff instead of a broom, but eventually she realized that there were really only advantages to it.
While a broom was hardly more than a stick, a Hippogriff had real form to it, which made it easier to sit on top. However it was also easier to steer a broom, while a Hippogriff partly had an idea of its own where it wanted to go.
Of course, then, Malfoy just had to destroy it all.
I always loved Buckbeak - and yes, it is important that Hermione sit on his back and not Harry, you'll se why later.
Anyways, I want to thank twibe, MissRichTeaa, white demoness (also for the Author Alert and the Favourite Author), Little Miss Banana, wintersalad, Lily of the Shadow and icarus enjoyed the view (also for the Favourite Story) for the Story Alerts, before I continue with the reviews.
I had so many reviews this time that all made me happy, so thank you LittlebigmouthOK (as explained, they thought the map faulty), bushyhaired-american-nerd (no SPEW here, I fear), Pellaeonthewingedlion (you think it's too early for them?), renaid (thank you! So many encouraging words!), douglas. bailey. 9746 (I knew you would ;p), arabellagrace (I'm glad to hear that), twibe (welcome aboard!), Smurfgirlz (I intend to 'keep' her as long as possible), DitzyPickle (thank you for the Author Alert, I hope you will like the story in the future as well), TequilaNervous (I needed a Slyth and sometimes I feel she gets too little recognition... and it just popped up in my mind), Little Miss Banana (I'm glad you like it I hope you'll continue to like it) and Guest (thank you) for the encouraging and manifold reviews.
And for the sake of me being happy:
PLEASE REVIEW :)
