Chapter 8: Exams
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Total Words: 29,139
Exams were upon them at last. Hermione somehow managed to push her worries about Harry and You-Know-Who to the back of her mind, which was easier than she thought it would be. All the teachers were pressing their students harder than ever. They were given special quills for their written exams that had been bewitched with an Anti-Cheating Spell (not that Hermione would have ever even thought to cheat!)
On top of their written exams, the students were set practical ones as well. Hermione had to make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk, turn a mouse into a tissue box, and brew a Forgetfulness Potion. Their last exam was for History of Magic, and Hermione frowned slightly when Professor Binns announced they could turn in their papers and the entire class cheered. She wasn't glad exams were over; this meant the school year was almost finished and she would have to go back to the Muggle world for the whole summer. She loved her mum and dad but would miss Hogwarts badly.
After they had finished their History of Magic written exam, Hermione couldn't stop herself from talking about it with Harry and Ron.
"That was far easier than I thought it would be," she said, "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."
Going over the exams made her feel much better, but it didn't seem to ease Ron or Harry's minds. Ron said she was making him feel ill, so the three went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather, sit under a tree, and watch the giant squid; Lee Jordan and the Weasley twins were tickling its tentacles and Hermione, Harry, and Ron were laughing.
"No more studying," Ron said as he stretched out on the grass. This didn't exactly make Hermione feel better; she liked learning about the magical world. "You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."
Hermione looked over at Harry. He did look worried, and he was rubbing his forehead.
"I wish I knew what this means!" He burst out suddenly. "My scar keeps hurting - it's happened before, but never as often as this."
"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested at once.
"I'm not ill. I think it's a warning... it means danger's coming..."
"Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down." Ron sounded very casual. Perhaps it was the fact that exams were over and the weather was beautiful that had him in such a good mood.
Harry tried to explain that he still felt like he had forgotten to do something, but Hermione answered him right away.
"That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."
Hermione turned back to the lake and saw an owl fly by. She smiled. Today was so peaceful. She jumped when Harry suddenly got to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Ron sounded like he was seconds from falling asleep.
"I've just thought of something. We've got to go see Hagrid, now." He was scaring Hermione a bit - his face had gone paper white and he sounded strained.
"Why?" Hermione got to her feet too, hurrying to keep up with Harry, who had taken off across the grounds and towards Hagrid's hut.
"Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"
Hermione thought she knew where Harry was going with this, but didn't answer Ron when he asked what Harry was talking about. When they finally reached Hagrid's, he was sitting outside in an armchair and shelling peas into a large bowl.
"Hullo," he smiled at them as they approached. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"
"Yes, please," Ron answered, but Harry waved his hand to cut Ron off.
"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"
"Dunno, he wouldn't take his cloak off." When Harry, Ron, and Hermione raised their eyebrows at him, he looked stunned. Hermione didn't know how he could accept something like a dragon's egg from someone that he couldn't even see.
"It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head - that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."
Hermione didn't realize she was holding her breath until she exhaled heavily. Harry sat down next to the bowl of peas. Hagrid is far too trusting... she couldn't help herself from thinking. Harry spoke up again.
"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"
"Mighta come up," Hagrid paused on his pea shelling to try and remember his conversation. "Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home... So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..."
Hermione's heart sank. So he had mentioned Fluffy, specifically.
"And did he - did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked, sounding like he was trying to stay calm.
"Well - yeah - how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight ter sleep - " Hagrid stopped and looked shocked and angry at himself. "I shouldn'ta told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey - where yeh goin'?"
The trio had taken off back towards the castle. None of them said anything until they reached the entrance hall.
"We've got to go to Dumbledore," Harry said, sounding slightly out of breath. "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under the cloak - it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?"
None of them knew; they had never been invited, nor had they seen it in passing. Dumbledore seemed to stay relatively out of the way during the school year.
"We just have to - " Harry started, but was interrupted by a sharp voice.
"What are you three doing inside?" It was Professor McGonagall. She had a large pile of books in her arms.
Hermione spoke up. "We want to see Professor Dumbledore."
"See Professor Dumbledore? Why?"
"It's sort of a secret," Harry said, choosing his words carefully. Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared n suspicion. Hermione bit her lip.
"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," Professor McGonagall answered. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."
"He's gone?" Harry's tone mirrored Hermione's fear. "Now?"
"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time - "
"But this is important."
"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?"
"Look, Professor - it's about the Philosopher's Stone - "
Hermione let out a tiny squeal as the books in Professor McGonagall's arms came tumbling to the floor. Clearly, she wasn't prepared to hear that.
"How do you know - " she sounded shocked.
"Professor, I think - I know - that Sn - that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she said, suspicion clear in her eyes. "I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."
"But Professor - " Harry began to protest. McGonagall wouldn't have it.
"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she bent over to pick up the books that had fallen from her arms. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."
Hermione trusted Professor McGonagall, but couldn't bring herself to forget about the Stone. Not now, that they had discovered that someone now knew how to get past Fluffy.
"It's tonight," Harry said, waiting until Professor McGonagall was safely out of earshot before speaking to Ron and Hermione. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore shows up."
"But what can we - "
Hermione went white and gasped. Snape was standing right behind them, looking rather smug.
"Good afternoon."
Neither Harry, Ron, nor Hermione answered him.
"You shouldn't be outside on a day like this," he said silkily. Hermione did not like the way his smile looked.
"We were - " Harry began, but he never finished. Hermione wondered what he would even say.
"You want to be more careful. Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"
The three of them began to walk away, back towards the grounds, when Snape called them back.
"Be warned, Potter - any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."
Does he know more than he's letting on? Hermione wondered anxiously as they went back outside. They really didn't have a choice to go anywhere else but the grounds after their encounter with Snape. I hope he didn't overhear what Harry was saying...
"Right, here's what we've got to do," Harry said once they were alone again. "One of us has to keep an eye on Snape - wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do that."
This took Hermione by surprise. "Why me?"
"It's obvious," Ron chimed in, "you can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know. 'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong...'"
"Oh, shut up," she said, but eventually agreed to be the lookout. Ron's imitation of her left her flattered and slightly annoyed at the same time.
"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry continued. "Come on."
Hermione made her way to the staff room and waited outside for several minutes. Nothing eventful happened, and she wondered how Harry and Ron were fairing and if they had made it to Fluffy's door without being caught. Suddenly, Snape came out.
"What are you doing here, Miss Granger?" His voice sounded dangerously soft.
"I'm, uh - waiting for Professor Flitwick," she stammered, hoping he would leave and she could get away safely.
"I see. Well, let me go fetch him," Snape said, turning back and going back into the staff room. Hermione panicked and ran away, back towards Gryffindor Tower. She couldn't believe the plan had gone so badly. Hopefully Harry and Ron had done better. When she reached the Fat Lady and gave her the password, she climbed through the portrait hole only to find Harry and Ron sitting there.
"I'm sorry, Harry! Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only just got away, I don't know where Snape went."
"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" Harry said. He sounded like he had just made a decision. His face had gone pale and his eyes were brighter than usual. Hermione wasn't sure what he was thinking, nor was she sure she was going to like it. "I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to the Stone first."
She was right; she didn't like it.
"You're mad!" Ron said loudly.
"You can't! After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!" Hermione's voice shook slightly.
"SO WHAT? Don't you understand? If Snape gets ahold of the Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?" Harry finished, breathing heavily and glaring at Ron and Hermione.
"You're right, Harry," Hermione's voice sounded small, even to her own ears. But she didn't want Harry to do this alone.
"I'll use the invisibility cloak. It's just lucky I got it back."
"But will it cover all three of us?" Ron asked. Hermione had been wondering the same thing.
"All - all three of us?"
"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?"
"Of course not. How do you think you'd get the Stone without us? I'd better go and look through my books, there might be something useful..." Hermione began to imagine what kinds of things they would need to know to get past all the teachers' spells.
"But if we get caught, you two will be expelled, too."
"Not if I can help it," Hermione said at once. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twelve percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."