Chapter 24
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Vswimming12 beta's this for mess. And doesn't she do the best job people? WELL?
On with the story…
The next morning, nearly all of the students had left for their homes or to their friend's homes for the Christmas holidays. Gryffindor Tower was empty, as was Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The only other student to remain was Ernie McMillan and Cathy Nelly from Hufflepuff.
I had lied to Harry, Ron, Ginny and Draco last night when I told them I was going home via flu powder from The Three Broomsticks. I wasn't going home at all. I have no home to go to. Well, not anymore. I got up early to send their Christmas presents, along with Severus' and the rest of the staff.
No one knows that I'm still here, and I want to keep it that way. So instead of heading down to the Great Hall for Christmas Eve meals, I stayed in my room and asked Dobby for my meals to be brought to me, and to keep it between us. He agreed, so I will stay here until night fall and then go for a run around the grounds in my animagus form.
The day passed with me reading and studying for my NEWT's and the occasionally crack from Dobby, with my meals.
At five minutes to midnight, I packed away my books and headed out and down to the castle grounds. I took care as I made my way down to the Entrance Hall.
Using the secret passageways to get to the main door. Twice I had to stop and slam up a disillusionment charm to escape detection by Mrs. Norris and Filch. I kept them up after the last encounter and was just passing the entrance to the Great Hall when Severus and Remus exited, nearly banging straight into the invisible me.
I darted out of the way just in time. Remus' eyes followed my direction, I was caught. He could smell me and sense that I was there. I was sure of it. Any minute now he's going to counter my charm. I held my breath and waited. Making myself as small a target as possible by hugging tight to the entrance hall wall.
Remus leaned over and whispered something in Severus' ear. They continued on walking down the corridor and around the corner.
I heaved a sigh of relief and continued on towards the door. Opened it and headed for the forbidden forest. Keeping to the shadows, I finally made it.
I finite'd the charm and got ready to transform. I stretched out my back muscles and began to transform. A few seconds later I was in my panther form. I arched my back again and took off at a graceful lope around the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Passing behind Hagrid's cabin and around the pumpkin patch, I caught a whiff of something strange. I followed the scent deeper into the forest. Nose to the ground I didn't see, hear, or smell him until I bumped into him.
Something pounced onto my back, causing me to be pinned to the ground and at eye level with Severus' hairy black paws. The fool that I was, having followed his scent and wacked into him, after only just avoiding him and Remus in the Entrance Hall.
"Care to explain, Hermione?" asked Remus, as he removed himself from my back.
"Ehhh…I'm not this Hermione person, you speak of. I'm Kasha, daughter of Clearo and Naroie." I said, praying to god that they'd believe me.
Unfortunately, I realized it was to late, they both knew my scent by heart and my tell tale white marking on my chest and right front paw.