A/N: Darlings, it has been a week. But we're still here. Reminder updates go every other day and if there's ever a deviation in schedule I will let you know. This weekend is slated to be busy but I'm going to try and eke out some time to do some more of this cos we are rapidly approaching the chapters that are just empty lol
As always, my absolute superstars, thank you for reading, reviewing, kudos-ing (- if it's not a word, it is now). I appreciate it so much. I do try to reply but my intentions aren't always actuated lol Much love!
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The weekend rushed towards them in a flurry of assignments and homework. They didn't really get anything extra-curricular done but by the time they were due to leave for Hogsmeade, they were all ready for a break.
"Why does it all have to come in waves," Ginny groaned as she leaned on Harry so she could tuck in her shoelace. "I mean. We were perfectly fine rotating homework subjects and then suddenly, everyone wants to give us an extra two feet!"
"We are just vindictive like that," Minerva's voice simpered behind them.
Hermione spun and grinned at the smirk they got in return but the others weren't quite as understanding.
"Alright?" Minerva chuckled as they gaped.
"Fine," Hermione laughed. "Are you coming too?"
"Not today. Behave, all of you. Perhaps, if you are well-behaved I will only set an extra foot next week."
She sauntered off, leaving them watching her as she went, and then as if on cue all three of them turned to face Hermione.
"That was a joke, guys," she laughed. "Come on."
They'd tracked Hedwig down only that morning. She'd been bullied into a corner by several other owls, for reasons Hermione wasn't privy to and it was only after Harry rescued her that she forlornly delivered their catalogue. They'd spent the morning picking out their things and Hermione had happily trotted down to Minerva's with a list. She hadn't told the others, she wasn't sure she was allowed to, but they'd chatted for a short while before Minerva had winked at her, plucked the list from her hands, and left her to her Saturday.
Now they were on their way to Hogsmeade with barely a care in the world.
"So," she said conspiratorially as they set off down the lane. "I have a surprise for you all later. We've been given permission to train in the Transfiguration classroom."
"Oh, what?" Ginny blinked. "Really?"
"Mhmm. And," she grinned. "Professor Flitwick has a duelling setup that we borrowed. He's going to let us use it."
"Neat!" Harry grinned. "Reckon I'll start speaking Parselmouth again?"
They laughed as they entered Madam Rosmerta's for a butterbeer to stem the cold. They waved to a few friends and settled into the corner of the room where they preferred.
"You heard from Snuffles?" Hermione asked conversationally.
"Oh," he grinned. "Yeah, I did! He's gone with Moony to track down someone or something, he wasn't specific, but he sounded good."
Hermione grinned into her glass and caught Ginny's eye. It was clear from the look she was giving Hermione that she was well aware that Hermione had at least a little bit to do with it.
"Good," she grinned. "I'm glad he's getting out and going places again. And that he's writing, make sure you write back, okay? Keep talking to him."
"He was really open, actually," Harry frowned. "It was -" He blushed when he saw them all watching him. "Well, it was nice. I've already got a new one going. What you said about writing a bit now and then?" She smiled as she nodded. "That really helped, thanks."
Even Ron grinned at the pleased look on Harry's face and Hermione tried not to look too pleased with herself as she turned to Ron.
"You heard from the Twins?"
"Pfft, not me," Ron scoffed. "Not bloody likely although Bill wrote to me! You'll never guess what?"
"What?"
"He's dating Fleur, the Veela chick from Fourth Year that I, well, ya know?"
"No way," Harry laughed. "Seriously?"
Ron nodded but Ginny didn't look too pleased.
"Simpering idiot, I dunno why he decided that she's the one he has to date," Ginny huffed. "Anyway, George writes to me occasionally," she said a little imperiously. "But not really. We always kind of assume that if we don't hear from them, they're alright."
"I saw Bill, the other night actually, at that -" she whined. "Thing I went to. Hey," she blinked and realised. "Have you guys heard from your Dad?"
"No?"
"Oh," she frowned. "That's weird."
"Why? Did something happen?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "But I can't say what. I just thought you would have heard from them. They're okay though," she said quickly, seeing the worry on Ginny's face. "I just assumed he would have written."
"Well," Harry muttered. "I haven't heard from Dudders, so there's that."
They fell quiet until Hermione snorted.
"That was so bad," she chuckled and finished her Butterbeer. "I hate this stuff. Sometimes I just want a Sprite."
Harry snorted as they sat quietly, listening to the bustle.
"I wonder what it would be like to be them," he mused. "No Dark Lord gunning for them, is there?"
"He is, Harry. Which is why all of what we are doing is so important. He's coming for everyone, which is why we have to stop him."
He sighed and Hermione met Ginny's eyes across the table.
"Let's go to Honeydukes," Ginny said suddenly. "Aren't they supposed to be bringing that new sweet out today?"
"What new sweet?" Harry asked.
And just like that the melancholy eased for a while as they left the building. Just as Hermione reached out and squeezed Ginny's hand in thanks, someone pushed past her at the door.
"Watch out," she mumbled.
Katie Bell barely even looked at her as she stormed off but her friend apologised as she ran after her, calling her name.
"Weird," Ginny shrugged.
They'd managed to while away the afternoon and after stashing their sweets, they went down to the Transfiguration classroom.
"Whoa," Ron said as they went in. "That's cool."
"Isn't it," Hermione grinned. "It wards the classroom and everything. I figure we can practise for a bit on something."
"Like any spell?"
"I promised we would not do lethals," Hermione laughed. "So no, not any spells."
"Bet that didn't take her long to explain," Ginny snorted. "What do you reckon then? Shall we practise what you've been doing?"
"Sure," Hermione nodded, happy to do whatever.
They went over as many spells as Hermione could remember from her time with Minerva until their arms could barely hold their wands anymore. They left the duelling set up and slumped on the chairs that Minerva had left out when she'd set it up.
"I'm pooped," Ginny moaned. "Who knew magic was so tiring."
"Min told me that sometimes you can do yourself real damage by doing too much magic."
"Reckon we might be there?" Ron asked around a yawn.
Hermione chuckled and dug in her bag for the chocolate frogs that she'd bought for that very purpose.
"Luckily for you, I think ahead."
They cracked them open and Ginny blinked at hers and then stood up.
"No way!"
"What?"
"I got it."
"What?"
"That special card they're doing!"
"WHAT!"
"Um." Harry looked as confused as Hermione felt as they watched the two Weasleys fawn over the card.
"Guys?" Hermione asked loudly. "Clue in the muggles will you?"
Ron snorted and Ginny showed Harry and then Hermione.
"They're doing a series on like mythical creatures," Ginny explained. "Fred was telling me over the summer. Like kelpies and mermaids and stuff. They made about 5 of these Dragon People ones and watch -" she waved her wand over it and the person roared like a dragon, then went back to being smug. "That's kinda awesome."
"Yeah, it is," Harry grinned. "I'll give you all my Nicolas Flamel cards for that one."
"Pfft," Ginny snorted. "Whatever."
"But you're -"
He blushed as he bit off the rest of his sentence and Hermione laughed.
"Even if she's your girlfriend, Harry, she's not going to give up that card. She's a Weasley, remember?"
"HEY!"
The two turned and glared at her while she laughed.
"I'm just teasing you guys," she giggled. "Let's go back up, we'll go have some dinner."
They wandered back up to the Towers, Harry still pleading with Ginny and Ron egging her on, but Hermione wasn't paying that much attention. She suddenly felt like she'd missed something and she hated feeling like that.
"Hang on, I just need to -" She pointed to the bathroom and went inside, immediately stopping at the door. "Katie?"
Katie Bell, their fellow Gryffindor, was laying on the floor writhing in pain while her friend stood over her crying.
"What happened?" Hermione ordered.
"I don't know," her friend said. "We were at the Three Broomsticks and then," she pointed to something on the floor." She grabbed a package from somewhere and then it was like she didn't even know who I was. She left -" Hermione remembered her pushing past them. "And came up here. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't even look at me, so I -"
Hermione quickly joined the dots, seeing the ripped paper and whatever it was laying underneath.
"Did you touch it?" she asked.
"No, I grabbed at it but she wouldn't let me see and then -"
"Go and get Professor Dumbledore. Now."
Katie's friend dithered for a moment before she sprinted out of the room. Ginny wasn't long in coming in and she gaped.
"Get in here," she hissed to the boys.
"What the -"
"No idea. Harry, go and get Madam Pomfrey. Oh," she groaned. "Shit. Um. Snape!" she said finally. "Get Professor Snape." She met Harry's eyes. "Run."
He left, Ron as well as Ginny and Hermione sat beside Katie and watched as continued to writhe in pain.
"I can't stand this."
"Hermione, don't -"
Hermione slipped her hand into Katie's and immediately wished she hadn't. She felt like all her nerve endings were on fire, but miraculously, Katie calmed just a little.
"We've got help on the way Katie," Hermione muttered through clenched teeth. "Hang in there."
"Hermione?"
"Professor!" she squeaked as Albus Dumbledore came in the door. "She's been cursed or something. That -" she groaned as a particularly deep stabbing pain started in her chest as she pointed. "There."
"Hermione!" Dumbledore ordered. "Let go."
She tried to, she really did, but Katie's grip was strong and her hand didn't seem to want to cooperate. Ginny shifted and suddenly Hermione felt a boot in her stomach and she was pushed back with a groan.
"Sorry," Ginny winced as she scrambled over to her side. "Sorry. Didn't know what else to do."
"Don't touch her," Dumbledore ordered, although Ginny wasn't as dumb as Hermione was. She kept well back but her eyes had nothing but worry in them.
"'S Fine," Hermione groaned. "Was stupid."
"I need to get help," Dumbledore muttered.
"Harry, Ron getting Snape," she groaned. "Min is at P-P-Pomfrey's -"
She rolled and bent over and heaved as her stomach rebelled against the pain.
"Hermione -"
"I'll" she heaved. "Get her."
"I'll go," Ginny interrupted. "There's gotta be a way of contacting them up there right?"
Dumbledore nodded, telling her where Madam Pomfrey kept the Floo powder, and Ginny left, leaving Hermione watching as he chanted over Katie's body.
"What is going on?" she asked, breathlessly.
"Something that I cannot fathom. The stupidity. This is -"
"Think she Imperiused," Hermione muttered, resting her forehead on the cold sink where she'd managed to prop herself up. She took a few deep breaths and felt the pain subside for just a moment. "Her friend, whatever her name is, said Katie wasn't seeing, not list -" she heaved. "Listening."
"I assumed as much," Dumbledore muttered. "What do you feel?"
"Sick," she managed. "Stings. Everything. Like fire or," she threw up. "'lectricity." He nodded. "What do we do?"
"Wait for Severus," Dumbledore muttered. "Then get her to St. Mungo's."
The door slammed open and Harry stormed in and pointed angrily.
"If you'd have just listened, you would have -"
"Harry," Dumbledore said gently. "That is enough. Thank you. Severus?"
The man's face was like thunder as he took in the whole room before he drew his wand with a venomous look on his face and nodded for Dumbledore to move while he worked. Dumbledore got up and went over to the thing on the floor, which Hermione could see now was a necklace. He poked it carefully with his wand and drew it up into the air and put a bubble of something around it.
"What on earth?!"
Madam Pomfrey and Minerva both came in, looking shocked.
"She was already on her way back," Ginny shrugged. "Are you okay?" she asked, dropping to her knees beside Hermione.
"Fine," Hermione muttered. "Sick, but okay."
"Will somebody please tell me what the hell is going on?" Minerva's voice rose as she glared at everyone in turn.
"Severus, Hermione held Miss Bell's hand."
"She did what?!"
Minerva rounded on her and stared as Snape swore quite badly and looked over.
"What do you feel?"
It was Snape that asked; Minerva seemed unable to form words.
"Nausea," Hermione mumbled. "Pain, tingling. And it's coming and going. 'think I'm okay. She's wearing gloves, I don't even know -"
"There," Madam Pomfrey said, pointing to Katie's hand and she knelt beside Snape and drew her wand as well. "There's a hole in her glove."
"Hermione -" Minerva's voice croaked a bit as she shook herself and looked at the other Professors. "What do you need me to do?"
"Take them out of here, Minerva," Albus ordered. "I will join you in time. Miss Granger, do you need -"
"I'm fine," she nodded. "I'll be okay, I'll go with Mi," she heaved. "Professor McGonagall."
"But what if you're -"
"I'm fine," she insisted as she used the sink to get up. "Just -"
"Take my hand," Minerva said.
"No," Hermione muttered. "Not until someone checks me over."
"Hermione -"
"Ladies," Albus ordered with just a hint of force in his voice. "Please."
"I'm fine," Hermione whispered. "Go."
She was lying, of course. She felt like she'd been dragged backwards through a hedge by an angry Hungarian Horntail but she wasn't going to admit it.
"Come," Minerva said, nodding to Ginny to leave the room as they met Harry and Ron outside. Hermione was slower but she followed as best she could, leaning against the wall now and then. They beat her back by several minutes but even though she was out of breath, she refused to let anyone touch her.
"No," she hissed as Minerva moved to help. "If I'm cursed then -"
"Hermione," Minerva snapped. "Don't be so bloody stubborn. Let me help."
"So you can be cursed as well? Brilliant," Hermione sneered. "Just -" she groaned again. "Let me sit down. Get out of the way."
Minerva hovered as Hermione dropped onto the sofa, not even caring that the others seemed to be gathered together at one end.
"'Mione?"
"I'm fine," she insisted. "Just feel sick. I'm going to close my eyes. Do not," she instructed, looking right into Minerva's eyes. "Touch me." She looked over at Ginny. "Do not let her, just in case." Minerva made an indignant noise. "I'm certain I'm okay, but I will never forgive myself if anyone feels the way I just felt so," she sighed. "Don't."
She closed her eyes and let her head drop onto the sofa. Ideally, she'd have preferred to lean against Minerva's thigh but she wasn't joking either. She wanted to be cleared by Snape or Madam Pomfrey first before anything else happened. She supposed they would just have to wait.