DISCLAIMER. None of the characters used are a creation of mine. They belong solely to JK Rowling.
Well into the month of January, Reggie found Hermione in the library one day. 'Are you busy?'
Hermione shook her head, 'No, what is it?'
'Oh, nothing. I just needed some help with homework.'
Hermione gladly obliged. 'How are things at home?'
Reggie frowned, 'Same as ever. Sirius never comes home other than for the summer holidays. Mother's always breathing down his neck.'
'I wasn't asking about your brother.' She said as she wrote furiously in her notebook, cataloguing the ingredients required for the potion she was brewing for Slughorn's class. 'I was asking about you.'
'What about me?' Reggie grunted.
'Well, since Sirius is a disgrace to your mother she must be expecting a lot from you.'
'Er.. yes, I suppose so.'
She looked at him with concern at his sudden discomfort.
'Is something the matter?'
He shook his head.
When Lily arrived at their table a little while later and plopped down next to Hermione, Reggie sneered and huffed to himself.
When Lily got up to go look for a book Hermione turned to her friend.
'I didn't take you for a racist especially after how you seem to detest your mother's ways.'
'I don't like the way she treats Sirius. I never said I was a fan of muggles or mudbloods.'
Hermione shrieked, 'Regulus Black! How dare you?'
Reggie looked away, 'I'm not sorry. I'm sorry that I upset you but I'm not sorry I called her that.'
Hermione sputtered, suddenly at a loss of words.
Wait.. what was this?
How could Hermione have not seen the slowly growing darkness in her friend who was nothing but a twelve year old child?
*
'Maybe she's a Seer?' James suggested as he grabbed the book Remus had been reading while sat in the Great Hall having breakfast.
Remus scowled, 'Give me my book back, please and no she can't be one.'
'Why not?'
'Seers are extremely rare. Extremely.'
Sirius pointed out, 'She always has been kind of.. strange.. not the bad strange, mind you, but I mean she's always been a little beyond her years, if you know what I mean. Maybe because she can See she knows stuff.'
Peter laughed digging into his toast, 'Or maybe unlike you she's just a little smart and a little mature.'
Remus shook his head, 'Forget about it. She obviously doesn't want anybody to go snooping into her business. Give her some privacy.'
The boys stopped talking when Hermione walked by them waving her hand in greeting.
Peter called out, 'Hermione, you coming to the village with us tomorrow?'
Hermione turned around and yelled, 'I'll be with Severus.'
Sirius grumbled, 'She's always hanging out with that pathetic toerag.'
James placed a hand against his chest and sighed dramatically, 'Now you know my pain.'
*
Hermione stood in a canopied part of Hogsmeade the next morning. Very carefully she ensured nobody was anywhere near her but still cast various spells to ward off any onlookers.
She gulped down the Polujuice Potion she held in her hand. She had added the hair of an intimidating looking mugge man to it which she had collected while sneaking off from Diagon alley the previous summer.
The potion had also been successfully brewed since then.
She grimaced at the awful taste and felt her body grow in size. As her body grew taller and wider Hermione took a notice of her clothes. They had already been enlarged before taking the potion. She changed the colour of her robes to a dusty grey and conjured a ragged looking scarf to cover her face with.
Taking a minute or so adjust to her temporary form Hermione walked out of her hiding spot and made her way towards the Hog's Head.
Hogwarts students were milling about excitedly despite the slowly beginning snowstorm.
She had already ditched Severus after an hour of perusing books and telling him to leave her be since it could take her a while.
Entering the pub Hermione's nostrils were hit by the pungent smell of Firewhisky.
She chose a decrepit corner to place herself in which gave her an excellent vantage point.
She was waiting for a certain Mundungus Fletcher.
It had been quite the epiphany when she remembered the bloke. He was known for his shady reputation and his ties to the supposed underworld. If anybody could get her the venom of a basilisk it'd be him.
The timing of her epiphany had also been the most fortunate. She knew he'd be banned from the pub after angering Aberforth somewhere around 1975.
She had spent the majority of her day in the pub. Nearing three hours and having not seen him still put her on edge.
She was certain she'd find him here.
A little while longer. She'd wait for the evening to settle in. She didn't have to bother with returning to school on time. She'd simply take the secret passage when she was finished.
She sat waiting till the snowstorm was brewing in its full glory and finally decided to leave when the clock chimed in eight.
Casting a disillusionment charm on herself she sneaked into the cellar of Honeydukes and opening the trapdoor, jumping into the passage.
She cast a Lumos and began the long journey back.
She wasn't going to lose hope. He'd come someday.
*
On her third Hogsmeade weekend she had finally spotted the miscreant. He looked so much younger than the man she remembered. He looked almost .. agreeable.
As she saw him place his order she carried her own glass of Firewhisky, which she absolutely detested but had to tolerate for the sake of appearances, towards him.
She took the stool beside him and tried to initiate conversation. She thought a direct approach would be the best.
She heard the gruff voice of the man she'd turned into say, 'You're Fletcher, aren't you?'
Mundungus grunted in response and sipped his drink. 'What's it to you?'
'I might be able to make good use of your services.'
'And why'd you think I'd help you out, eh? Never even seen you before. Don't even know your name. Who are you?'
Hermione replied, 'That won't be necessary.' She pulled out a small pouch full of gold and threw it across to him.
Mundungus' eyes grew large and he weighed the pouch in his hands.
'Basilisk venom.' She said, making sure Aberforth was elsewhere busy.
Mundungus raised his brow and barked out a laugh, 'What'd you need that for? Dappling in very very dark magic, eh?'
She feared he'd report it to Dumbledore. She knew the Order was in its initial days and was on the lookout for anybody doing anything fishy.
She grabbed him by the collar and tried to look as scary as possible. She used her best sneer and drawled, 'If you tell anyone, do know I'll be after you, you blithering idiot.'
Hermione snatched the gold from his hands.
His terrified face regained some colour. 'Right here, next week.. same time. And it'll cost you a lot more than what you're carrying.'
Hermione stood up and barked, 'I don't think so.'
She glared at him one last time before leaving.
*
Hermione had sneaked out of the castle on the day Mundungus had specified during their last meeting. Since it hadn't been a Hogsmeade weekend it had taken her quite a while to get here.
'Well?' She demanded of him.
Fletcher looked at Hermione strangely. 'May I ask what you're planning to do with it?'
'Why do you want to know?'
'It's highly suspicious. Come now, it took me loads of effort to get this for ya. I deserve to know.'
'You're the fishiest bloke I've heard of. Everyone bloody well knows of your illicit affairs in the market. And this is fishy to you?'
Fletcher scowled and grudgingly passed onto her a small container.
'Is it safe to touch? What kind of protection is on the box?'
Fletcher smirked, completely in his element now, 'The vessel's lined by dragon blood. It keeps the venom secure. You're gonna have to pour it out into something else to use it.'
'How do I know it's not a fake?'
Fletcher looked indignant. 'I'm always faithful to my clients.' She knew the man had his faults but she also knew he was true to his job.
Hermione very cautiously shrunk the vessel and placed it in the inner pocket of her cloak.
Retreiving the pouch of money, she threw it at him.
Fletcher greedily pawed the gold and tipped his hat at her. 'Pleasure. Maybe next time you want something you'll find me again, eh?'
Hermione sneered and left.
She wouldn't have to worry about adding the task of learning to cast Fiendfyre to her list anymore. She had the venom.
She was a step closer to her mission.
Now if only she could find Harry.