Second chapter for today. I continue to take liberties with this story, please bear in mind ;)
ENJOY!
"Had a hard day McLaggen?" Hermes smiled good-naturedly at the regular customer, who had just taken his seat at the bar, as he always did. Fortunately for her, he was not aware that she was a student at the same school as his son.
"It's full moon, Hermes, wizards tend to… react to that and then they all go crazy and everything is mayhem." he groaned; the young assistant smiled.
"So, the same as always and a glass Firewhiskey, yeah?" The man nodded and Hermes went to deposit the order, before she returned to the bar and quickly poured a healthy amount of whiskey into a tumbler. It was a little bit more than two fingers, but where McLaggen was concerned that was just alright. He'd been a customer, since Tom had opened the Leaky and if she had overheard correctly, then the two of them had even frequented Hogwarts together.
This summer Tom had finally allowed her to start working at the bar, which was a serious step-up for her. Not only because it was more work, but because it meant that she was starting to be viewed as a young man that could be trusted… and it raised her pay, which was never a bad thing.
It was funny to her that the beverages were served the muggle way, while the dishes could be levitated through the air, but Tom had explained to her that many spirits reacted badly to magic and would either expire too soon or would be ruined the very instant they were touched by magic. Now as she bustled through the Leaky again, collecting empty cups and taking up orders again, she was all of a sudden thrown back from a table near the fireplace.
Around her black-clothed men appeared in billowing robes and skull-masks that hid the upper part of their faces. She wandlessly disillusioned herself and scurried back under the next best table. Alone under the table she watched with growing fear as a few of them cast Unforgivable curses before all of a sudden another black-robed, skull-masked wizard appeared – the fire ceased immediately as he turned and watched.
"I ordered not to create havoc, you lot." He sneered and Hermione watched with rapt attention the familiarity with which his mouth curled. A man dared to dive for his wand, but before he could reach it, the speaker had hexed him immobile, Hermione's gasped.
She regretted the slight sound in the very minute she'd made it.
The nearest robed man, pivoted around and cast a spell she was sure would hit her with ferocity and kill her, dismantle her secret, put Tom into trouble and then have her buried without grace. But the violet hex bounced off a shield right in front of her.
"Not more than you already caused." And as quickly as they'd come, they were gone – Hermione still shaking beneath the table, her vision still dancing with spots from the light of the curse sent at her.
Snape had saved her. But he had killed McLaggen.
"Robed men with skull masks, you say?" Harry asked concerned as she recounted her story to the clover, the four friends looked up and at the gay pair that had neared them. Hermione nodded and Ron looked uneasy.
"They're Death Eaters." The black-haired boy said. "They raided the Quidditch World Championship… apparently before they made a small stop at the Leaky Cauldron."
Hermione's brows furrowed. Death Eaters were Voldemort's followers – formerly known as Knights of Walpurgis, Snape had been with them, she was sure of that. A voice like his didn't exist a second time… and he'd saved her, but why? He was her teacher, he knew that she was a muggle-born – and it was Voldemort's wish to have a world without muggle-born wizards… let alone witches, even though that part of her secret was safe, as of now. Then again, it was possible he hadn't even known it was her beneath the Disillusionment-Charm and he'd simply meant to spare an unknown life.
Guiltily she searched Cormac McLaggen in the crowd of students and found that he was already staring at her. Tom and herself had been lucky survivors of the raid, but had both been destroyed when Alecto and Claudius McLaggen had been declared dead – they'd drunk a Firewhiskey to both of them.
Now as she studied Cormac she found that he was wearing Claudius' family ring and she nodded at him, he returned the gesture.
"I need to research this…" she finally said, and found that her friends were smiling at her, especially the Clover. "They have never appeared before this summer… it probably means that Voldemort will try to strike again. Especially since this year we host the tri-wizard tournament."
The Tri-Wizard Tournament had been the talk of the whole British Wizarding Society, for finally it had returned to the Isles. Students from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and Hogwarts would compete for the Cup, there were several competitions apparently, though Hermione had no real insight on what exactly the competitions would be – according to the books she'd read, they changed every time.
Fred and George roared with laughter and cheers as they entered the small room; the clover looked from next to the Cup. Hermes smirked: "Why do even try something so stupid? Dumbledore drew the age line himself, surely he won't have forgotten the possibilities of an aging potion, it's so simple."
And if Dumbledore had forgotten, then probably Snape made sure that the aging potion will not be a possibility to cheat. Pansy supplied mentally and the four boys smirked, the twins smirked back.
"That's exactly why it will work, Hermes. It's so simple." The clinked their flasks and then hooked their arms together. "Bottoms up!"
The Clover watched with rapt attention when the twins jumped into the circle and were expelled just as quickly again, now sporting white hair and large beards – they roared with laughter as the two of them were hauled up by the ears by none other but Snape and dragged to detention. Their laughter died, however, when Viktor Krum entered the room to put his name into the Cup – she wasn't sure why but somehow their eyes met for a longer than normal period.
"Florent DeLacour." The headmaster read loudly and a pretty, French boy stood up, practically prancing down the dais. It was strange, Hermione mused as she clapped, that these boys, even though they were so female, were considered a functioning part of the wizarding chain.
"Viktor Krum." The Bulgarian seeker from Durmstrang stood up and marched to the front, his eyes again resting on her, this was getting strange. The hall applauded, especially his school, but when the headmaster received the last piece of parchment, they went silent all together – this would be Hogwarts' champion.
"Cedric Diggory." Hogwarts howled with joy as the Huffelpuff strode forward to shake the headmaster's hand – Hermione was about to listen to what Dumbledore wanted to say further, when the Cup suddenly shrieked and cackled in an ugly way.
The blue flames turned hellishly red and the students along with their teachers stepped back, save for Dumbledore, who was rooted to the spot – red fog spread from the cup.
"I was called." Came a grave voice from the Cup, it was scratchy and too deep for anything human – and indeed as the mist lifted, it revealed something that was everything but human. Mortified she watched as the bulking form of what she assumed to be a demon hunched over the cup, its grotesque face reminded her of a fox as it stared at the headmaster with its huge, red eyes. The thing split it face almost into half, when it smiled at Dumbledore.
"I was called." It repeated as a humanoid hand reached forth to hand the headmaster a last parchment. "To hand this over. For surely you know, Albus, that a name that comes from the cup has to enter the tournament… there are contracts that are binding."
And then it cackled and vanished in flames.
Silence reigned the room and Hermione watched the headmaster slowly bow down and pick the paper up. The students were still shocked from what had appeared to be a demon in the Cup – Hermione made a mental not to look it up in the library.
"Harry Potter." The old man read and if she wasn't tricked, his voice was a little bit shaking.
In the safety of her room behind Joan, the Clover shed their Glamours and fell down on Hermione's bed. They had just been to the library and only barely had escaped Snape, who had been looking for something on his own apparently.
"So it has been a demon." Pansy finally said, still breathing hard – Hermione nodded. Despite her decision to not look it up in the library, curiosity and the Clover had gotten the better of her and before she'd really known it, they had traipsed into the Restricted Section; only to flee it when their wards had jingled in their ears, announcing a teacher. Snape had been silent as a shadow though and they had almost run into him whilst their flight.
"But if the book on it is already in the Restricted Section and even there it is considered as one of the darkest arts of magic, then who in their right minds would summon it?"
As if on cue Hermione thought of Snape, who'd been in the Leaky Cauldron just this summer, who'd saved her but who'd killed Cladius McLaggen – could he have summoned the beast? But to what use? Abruptly she sat up.
"It's one of the Death Eaters. Voldemort is gaining in strength – and he will use the Tri-wizard tournament to get to Harry, that's why they summoned the demon, a soul is easy to sell if you have a captive that would be killed either way. It is possible that Harry dies in one of the competitions… and if he doesn't then he will simply attack, now that apparently a Death Eater is already at Hogwarts." She collected herself before she turned around and faced the inquisitive stares of her female companions. "I have something to tell you about this summer's attack that I haven't been able to share in the Great Hall."
"So let me get this straight, Hermes," Ron intercepted her steady flow of words, somewhat interrupting his chess game with Harry, she smiled as they finally turned their full attention at her. "You mean to say that You-Know-Who found a way, via Death Eater, to enter Harry into the competition to have him get killed?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, Ronald, that's exactly what I was saying. And if you'd put your strategic mind to that task for once, you'd find that actually it's not so stupid as you make it sound!" she said exasperated, but waited for the red-head to come around.
Harry listened attentively. Ron shook his head: "And who would that be? I mean Dumbledore knows our professors, it would be too obvious if one of them slinked away to go on raids, Hermes. And surely you don't suggest its one of our guests."
Hermes sighed. If Dumbledore knew that Snape was a Death Eater? If it was really Snape who had summoned the demon? "We have our theories, Ron. But you can't deny that it is a possibility." Again the red-head shook his head and this time around Hermione couldn't help the annoyed look that marred her face, he simply thought he knew everything better.
"There are prophecies, Hermes, on You-Know-Who and on Harry and probably even on you with your meddling mind and nose in a book." Affronted, she stifled an insult, and continued to listen – she'd read of prophecies, mind you, but she's never read a prophecy on Voldemort himself. "It says that You-Know-Who cannot be killed by a man and hence it would be illogical for him to fear Harry, wouldn't it?"
Hermione snorted. "You cannot be serious, Weasley." She ground. "Might I remind you that every year we've been here, Voldemort has made an attempt on Harry's life? That kind of puts a huge hamper on your theory. Add to that the fact that Harry has managed once to disembody him for soon thirteen years and you might really want to overthink what you've just said." As she stood up, about to go, she turned around once again, poking the dumbfounded red-head viciously into the chest. "And if it is so impossible to defeat him, Weasley, why are you still sitting here and doing nothing – shouldn't you be fearing for your life or something?"
Snape watched Granger in his class as he meticulously brewed his Healing Potion – nowadays a frown marred his features almost constantly. Sure he could hardly remember a time when the Book-Shrimp had been one to laugh at all times, but before last year, he was sure that at least the frown hadn't been there.
His eyes glided over the exposed lower arms of the young man – he was a strong young fellow it appeared, physically in some cases more advanced than… say his godson Draco. Granger's muscles showed already, fine and delicate, but show they did. He suspected that he'd turn out to be a sinewy lad instead of a bulk…
Frowning he tore his thoughts away from his subject of thought; since when was he interested in what a student would look like later in his life? Where the hell did that come from? Taking a cleansing breath and emptying his mind of those thoughts, he turned to concentrate on Longbottom, who'd been Granger's neighbour since the day in first class where the Shrimp had been bullied to sit beside this catastrophe of a student.
Granger hardly even looked at Longbottom anymore nowadays, it was as if he had a magical Moody-eye only for Longbottom's cauldron – and stopped him just in the right times, without looking at him only once. Another thought struck him though, when Granger went to chop his Daisy root and did not look at Longbottom, for his back was turned to him, and Boy Chaos was about to add the Adder eyes too early.
Surprisingly the lid of his cauldron slid onto the pot and would not budge when Longbottom tried to open it. Finally they boy looked at Granger with huge eyes, before looking at the text, and realizing that something else needed to go in right now. Severus' eyes narrowed at the O-student.
Granger had not even looked at Longbottom, he should not even know what that dunderhead had wanted to put in, and then of course he had neither spoken a word nor had he waved a wand – the lid had simply slid over the cauldron. The potion's master smirked; apparently Granger was ahead of his time just again. Damn it... he hadn't wanted to think of the boy anymore...
So, there it IS! And since I've forgone my usual round of thanks in favour of quickly posting this chapter, I'll rectify that now.
Thank you quattrecskids (for the encouragement - it pushes me), LittlebigmouthOK (Yule ball is soon, promise), renaid (thank you so much, I'm trying to put some thought behind this and love it when people see it), douglas. bailey. 7946 (impatient as always, aren't we^^ but we are not that far from what you wish), legolas (obviously I'm twisting the original story somewhat ;P otherwise it wouldn't be a fanfiction, now wouldn't it), arabellagrace (well, what were you expecting, it's Malfoy after all), TequilaNervous (she is in some way star of the story, but in another way, she also isn't... we'll see, won't we?), bushyhaired-american-nerd (unfortunately I fear this will be most of Remus and Sirius... but seeing as my head is cramped with story ideas anyways, perhaps I can give them more credit in another story...), Guest (Yes, sir/madam! ^^), MissRichTea (I don't mind at all, it is a great honour to have someone read and review your story with so much gusto!), Smurfgirlz (thank you so much for the enthusiasm), SamMacKennaJustineTaylorFlac k (thank you so much) and Starflower1984 (I am very glad you like it) for the reviews.
Furthermore, thanks to ruby2360, RomanticDudette, EmilyWoods, MissPrincess1989, Mia Lenor, AideensEnvy, StrangersLikeMe25, desire88 and Starflower1984 for the encouraging Story Alerts!
And lastly, for the Story Favs, my gratitude to austen16, RomanticDudette, A. Laufeysen, sherry905, ArcanePikachu, Readergirl56, SamMacKennaJustineTaylorFlac k (question: can I abbreviate you to SMKJTF?) and desire88.
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