A visit to Hogsmeade that ends poorly.

HERMIONE IX

"Hermione!"

She jumped, pushing a small outcry at the same time.

"Hey! Calm down! You almost caused me a heart attack!"

She looked around her. Ron was standing a little behind her, an expression of terror on his face, wearing his pyjamas. She was still in the common room, sitting at her usual place where she worked every evening.

"Don't jump like that! You're scary," Ron resumed.

"You didn't have to wake me up so abruptly," she retorted. It wasn't hard for her to guess that she had fallen asleep while working, but Ron could have woken her up more gently.

"I tried the kind way, but you wouldn't budge. And you were snoring."

"What? No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were," Ron said, as if it was an evidence.

"Oh, whatever. What time is it?"

"Two o'clock in the morning."

"What are you doing up at this hour?"

"It's the girl who sleeps over her homework who is asking me that?"

"I must… I must have fallen asleep while working. You know I have a lot of work to do."

"Well, drop a subject or two."

"No. I can't do that."

"What use will you have of Muggle Studies later? Your parents are Muggles. And Divination… Even you say that it's useless. And Arithmancy looks way too complicated. As for Ancient Runes…"

"I will not drop a subject! That's out of the question. Unlike you, Ronald, I take my studies seriously."

Ron shook his head. "Hermione, really, you need to sort out your priorities."

"My priorities? What are your priorities? Honeydukes? Breakfast? Quidditch? That sure is going to lead somewhere in life."

"Well, me, at least, I get some sleep at night. And last time I checked, we can live without taking fifteen subjects at school, but we cannot live without food or sleep. So take my advice, and go to sleep."

On that, Ron left. Hermione was fuming. But at the same time, a part of her knew that Ron was right. She had to sleep. She furiously put back all her stuff into her bag, then she headed for the girls' dormitory. Everyone was asleep, or so she thought. However, when Hermione went to brush her teeth (her parents would never forgive her if she forgot to do it even a single night), she noticed that someone else was already in the toilets. She waited until finally Parvati Patil came out.

"Oh, sorry Hermione," she whispered once she opened the door and saw Hermione waiting. "The bathroom is yours."

Hermione didn't wait and walked inside, where she started cleaning her teeth. A few seconds later, Parvati walked back in. Hermione didn't lock the door since she was only brushing her teeth.

"I forgot to wash my hands," Parvati offered as an explanation. She opened the tap, took some soap and began to rub her hands together. "You have trouble sleeping you too?"

"No," Hermione said through the toothpaste. She spat it. "Just got a lot of work to do."

"Oh." Parvati was taking her time to wash her hands. "Are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

Hermione nodded in affirmation.

"And Harry? Is he going too?"

Again, Hermione nodded.

"I don't think he should." For a rare time, Hermione agreed with Parvati. "With everything going on… And Professor Trelawney said she sensed a danger around our heads for this weekend."

And their agreement stopped. Hermione rinsed her mouth.

"I think it would be better if this time we didn't go to Hogsmeade," Parvati declared.

"Well, if Professor Trelawney says a danger will be upon our heads, whether or not we go to Hogsmeade, it will remain over our heads," Hermione pointed out.

Parvati seemed even more desperate. Hermione began to pass the dental floss between her teeth.

"You know… Right now, I would like another one of Hagrid's classes with the salamanders," Parvati said out of nowhere. "I think it was the funniest lesson I had with our elective classes. The others are quite…"

Parvati seemed to search for the appropriate word, but she probably abandoned.

"Well, elective classes are really not what I expected them to be," she said in the end.

Hermione was now done with cleaning her mouth. "Good night, Parvati."

"Oh. Good night, Hermione."

She had kept washing her hands the whole time. Hermione heard the water stop running not long after she left the washroom, and Parvati was back in her bed not long after, while Hermione was changing for the night. She then went to bed as well, and fell asleep right away.

Hermione woke up the next morning, feeling she could have indulged with a little more sleep, like it often happened lately. They were in March. The exams at the end of the year were approaching. Hermione had work all over the head, and on top of that she tried to help Hagrid with Buckbeak's case. She, Harry and Ron had gone to his house last Sunday, the day after Pettigrew's attack during the Quidditch match. They reviewed everything, compiled again all the information they could find to help the hippogriff, and helped Hagrid prepare the best they could. It distracted them from the events that took place the day before, but it also removed time from Hermione's schedule to do her homework. And now they were going to Hogsmeade today.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to go to the village today. Between the large amounts of work she had and Pettigrew's recent intrusion within Hogwarts, Hermione didn't think it was a good idea to go to Hogsmeade, especially for Harry. She shared her thoughts about this with him, but Ron argued that they couldn't stop living because there was an assassin somewhere they didn't know. Harry had seemed to hesitate, but in the end he agreed with Ron and decided to go to Hogsmeade. Hermione preferred to accompany them in this case. Pettigrew might hesitate to attack Harry if he was surrounded by people. She was determined to not allow him out of her sight for the whole day.

The atmosphere at Hogwarts was slowly turning better after last week's events. Between the good weather of the last few days, today's visit to Hogsmeade, and yesterday's announcement that the Quidditch season would continue and that Gryffindor and Ravenclaw would play on the next weekend, most students felt more cheerful. Not that everything went back to normal. People had not forgotten that a mass murderer had been close to them only a week ago, and the fact that parents were no longer allowed to attend Quidditch games also made some players gloomy, but in general things were much better than at the beginning of the week, when the atmosphere was similar to that following a Petrification from last year.

Hermione arrived at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall when Harry and Ron were already taking generous portions of porridge and lots of toasts.

"So, you slept well?" Ron timidly asked. This brought Hermione back to their dispute from last night. She decided though that it was better to not resume it.

"Yes," she replied on the most pleasant voice she could produce, filling her bowl with oats.

"I feel this is going to be a good day," Ron continued on a more cheerful voice.

Indeed, it looked like it would be a pleasant day, judging by the bright sun passing through the windows and roof.

"We're heading for Zonko right away," Seamus said. He was sitting between Neville and Dean. "You want to come with us?"

"Yes, why not?" Hermione replied right away. She would feel safer if they walked in a group larger than three people.

"Lavender and Parvati are coming with us too," Dean informed them. "I think I have a few jokes we could make to them while in the shop."

Hermione looked towards Parvati and Lavender, always together, farther down the table. They looked in a good mood as well. Maybe she shouldn't worry too much. Dumbledore and the other professors reinforced safety measures since last week. She tried to put aside her worries at least for breakfast. She would worry after it, once they would go to Hogsmeade.

They were a group of eight people, all Gryffindors, who headed together towards the castle's gates after breakfast. They had to suffer the passage next to Dementors again. Hermione kept an eye on Harry, but he looked fine enough once they were through the zone with the creatures. He told Hermione that his lessons to fight off Dementors with Professor Lupin were going very well. Hermione was curious about how you could push back Dementors. She may have asked Professor Lupin to follow these lessons as well, if she didn't already have too much work to do, but this would be more useful to Harry. Dementors didn't affect her that much in comparison.

They all went to Zonko first, and Lavender emitted a shrill cry when a Fanged Frisbee flew in her direction. She looked towards the origin of the frisbee to find Seamus standing there.

"That's not funny, Seamus!" she cried.

"It's not me," he said, an innocent expression on his face.

"I heard you talking about doing some pranks to us," Parvati accused.

"I never said that. It was Dean."

The argument that followed caught a lot of attention from the other customers, and the owner had to intervene to stop this. This resulted in their group splitting when they left the shop. Parvati and Lavender went their own way, while Dean and Seamus chose another one. Neville remained with Ron, Harry and Hermione. There were a few books Hermione wanted to check, so they went to the bookstore of the village. While Ron attracted Neville to the section of comic books, Harry wandered with Hermione in a section with more interesting and serious books, to her relief, joy, and also surprise in some way.

"You're not with the other boys discussing comic books?" she asked.

"I doubt that I will find the Avengers or Batman here," he replied with a small smile, which Hermione returned.

"So, Ron couldn't convert you to wizard comic books?"

"No." Harry shook his head to emphasize his answer. "I tried, but… They're not as interesting as those the Muggles make."

Hermione nodded. She could understand. Despite all her passion for magic, she grew herself in a Muggle family, and although she didn't read as much of their works as before she received her letter from Hogwarts, she still had fond memories of the books she read. And since the disappointment that Gilderoy Lockhart proved to be, she didn't have a very good opinion of the wizarding literature. So she could understand that Harry wouldn't feel interested by wizard's comic books, no more than Hermione had a chance to be interested by the Mario and Zelda games that most boys in her elementary school talked about before she arrived to Hogwarts.

Hermione went to look into the section where you could find interesting works on Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Harry showed some interest at the beginning, especially for Runes since they were taking the same class, but this quickly waned.

"Are you sure you want to read about this?" he asked her. "You already work on that full time."

"All the more reasons," she replied. "It's going to help me."

With time, she got completely entranced by her research into old and newer tomes that dug deeper into the magic principles. Nothing else existed around her. She found herself in a different row than the one where Harry was. Until a feminine voice she didn't expect to hear whispered next to her.

"I would suggest you this one. It helped me a lot during my third year."

Hermione snapped straight and looked at the person who just spoke to her. She had dark red hair arranged in a tail, and distinctive green eyes she only saw in one other person.

"Mrs Evans!"

Harry's mother immediately placed a finger on her lips, and then pointed towards the bookshelf. "He's still here." Hermione was confused for a moment. Then Mrs Evans laughed. "I'm watching over him. But please don't tell him. I prefer that he enjoys time with his friends."

Hermione only needed a few seconds to understand. "Wait. Have you been following us…"

"Since you left the castle. There are multiple ways to remain unseen. I do not need an Invisibility Cloak for that. His godfather is outside, watching him as well."

Hermione was surprised. Well, when she thought about it, she shouldn't be. It was only logical that they would watch over Harry when he was outside the castle. His mother was almost an Auror now, so maybe the Ministry of Magic even asked her to watch over her son.

"But again, I suggest you this one."

She pointed a book on the shelf. Harry's mother was keeping her voice low, so Hermione replied in kind when she spoke.

"Oh, yes. I already have it. Harry gave it to me for Christmas."

Lily Evans Potter smiled. "Clever boy. He must have seen it in my bookcase." She laughed lightly. "Sorry if you're not in Arithmancy with him. I may be responsible. I told him it was a very hard subject."

"You studied Arithmancy when you were at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, I did. Most of my teachers recommended it. I also studied Ancient Runes. I didn't go as far as taking all elective subjects though, I must say."

Hermione felt her cheeks redden a little. She turned back to the books on the shelves, looking for something that might be of interest.

"Harry wrote that you've been very tired lately," the woman told Hermione.

Hermione imperceptibly shook her head. Sometimes, Harry should stop saying everything to his mother. "I just have work to do, like everyone else," she brushed aside.

"Be careful to not exhaust yourself." Hermione kept reading the summary of another book. "I must say… I was surprised when I found out you had chosen Muggle Studies. I never considered the idea of taking it at your age."

"I'm interested in how wizards look at Muggles," Hermione replied.

"Hmm… I see. I thought that Harry was curious by nature… But you're way worse than he is."

Hermione looked back at the woman, who had mischievous smile on the lips. Hermione laughed nervously. "Well… When the time came to choose my subjects last year, I couldn't bring myself to choose. I took them all. Did you really only take Ancient Runes and Arithmancy?"

"It was more than enough, if you want my opinion. I don't use much of the stuff that I learned in these classes, anyway. I wasn't particularly interested in the other choices either. I was born in a Muggle family, so I didn't see how it could be useful to take Muggle Studies. As for Divination… Let's just say it already had a bad reputation back then."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She wasn't surprised. The Divination lessons were the most useless, stupid, uninteresting classes she ever had in her life, even when she considered the lessons she followed at the Muggle school.

"As for Care of Magical Creatures, I didn't think it would be worth it. I didn't plan to make a career that would involve interacting with animals back then," Harry's mother continued.

"What were you planning to do? Were you already considering to become an Auror?"

"Not really. I was only thirteen-years-old. My philosophy back then was mostly to keep as many doors open as possible. So I took the subjects that kept the most open. Do you have an idea about what you're planning to do later?"

Hermione thought about it. She didn't really take the time to ask herself the question so far. She spent a part of last year Petrified, and she was so busy this year that she hardly wondered what job she wanted to do later. She liked to study and to learn new things, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to do later. She wouldn't mind becoming professor, maybe. She liked most of those she had, except Snape, of course. But she wasn't sure at all.

"I don't know," she finally answered.

"Well, anyway, you still have time to think about it," Lily Evans commented. "But still… Take it from someone who actually has no life at all… Don't exhaust yourself by wanting to do too much."

Hermione's mind remembered quickly what she was talking about. "Your training is coming to an end, that's it?"

"Yes. Final examinations will take place in July. You'll be done with your exams before I am."

She smiled, and for the first time, Hermione smiled at the thought of exams being over. She was excited for them the last two years, but she dreaded them this year.

"I should be going," Harry's mother said, still whispering. "Please don't tell Harry that I'm here. I don't want to ruin his day. And keep an eye on him."

Hermione nodded. Lily Evans left the row and disappeared. A few minutes later, Harry appeared at the other end of the row.

"Did you find everything you wanted? Ron and Neville are ready to go," he explained.

"Yes. I'm coming."

Hermione seized three books among the many that interested her, bought them, and the four of them left the bookstore. They were already around noon, and they headed for the Three Broomsticks.

The place was packed full at this hour.

"Where are we going to sit?" Neville asked. "All tables are occupied."

"Let's find one," Hermione said, heading inside the crowded space, the boys on her heels. After a few moments when she couldn't find any table, a hand raised at one table and someone hailed her.

"Hey, Hermione! Harry! Come here!"

It was Hannah Abbott. She was sitting with a group of Hufflepuff students that also included Ernie Macmillan, Sally-Anne Perks, Wayne Hopkins and Megan Jones.

"Seems like we found a place," Ron commented.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville took place as the others moved to allow them to sit at the same table, and they ordered Butterbeers right away.

"Having a good day?" Ernie asked them all.

The four of them replied by the affirmative.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Hannah asked.

"Ready to play next week?" Ernie asked further.

"Of course, he's ready. We're going to crush Ravenclaw," Ron declared.

"Don't be so sure, Ron," Wayne said.

"Wayne is not wrong," Ernie supported. "Ravenclaw has a very good team. Not that yours is weak, far from it. But I don't think beating them will be a walk in the park."

"Harry has a Firebolt," Ron reminded them.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She could already feel where this discussion was going. She searched the person who would agree with her exasperation, but she found out that Susan was not here today.

"Yeah. By the way, Harry, we're all eager to see you fly on it," Hannah said. "Many people in our house are joking that we're lucky you didn't have it in November."

"You're right," Ron said. "Without the Dementors, Harry would have caught the Snitch."

"I'm not so sure about that. Cedric is a very good Seeker," Wayne said. "He would have gotten the Snitch even with a good weather."

"Harry easily got the Snitch last year when you faced us."

"Yeah, but not this year."

Hermione could see that Harry and Neville didn't seem quite comfortable either about the direction this discussion was taking.

"Well, I guess we'll never know," Hannah said. Hermione thanked her internally for trying to defuse things.

"But be careful, Harry," Ernie said. "The girl who plays as Seeker in Ravenclaw, Cho Chang. She's a very good player."

"I know…" Harry coughed. They received their Butterbeers and he seemed to have a taken his first swallow the wrong way. "I saw her play… before."

"You're alright, mate?" Ron said, hitting him on the back to help.

"Yes, I am."

"Well, be prepared," Ernie resumed. "Aside from you, this girl was the only Seeker to be undefeated. Well, at least, before their game against Slytherin this autumn."

"That didn't seem really fair to me," Hermione said. "One of the Beaters in Slytherin hit her with his bat."

She remembered very well how Cho Chang was clutching to her broom after this, and how she was hit by a Bludger afterwards and sent to the infirmary as a result. Hermione got the distinct impression that this girl found herself in the hospital wing as often as Harry did.

"I know. They're Slytherins," Ernie said, contempt plain in his voice.

"Well, no matter if you win or lose against Ravenclaw, we all hope you'll defeat Slytherin at the end of the year," Hannah said. "They beat us a few weeks ago, and no one wants to see them with the Quidditch Cup again."

"Thanks," Harry said.

"But first, we got to win against Ravenclaw," Ron reminded everyone.

In the end, Ron spent most of their time at the Three Broomsticks talking about Quidditch. Hermione engaged a conversation with Hannah on something else, which Harry and Neville joined.

Overall, they spent quite a pleasant day. Hermione thought she caught a glimpse of someone who looked like Harry's godfather, but when she approached to look closer, he must have been gone or he was never there. She didn't tell Harry that his family was watching him. She found it a little strange that Lily Evans wouldn't simply spend the day with her son. After all, being with a powerful witch would probably deter Pettigrew from attacking much more efficiently than a secret surveillance.

They dined after coming back from Hogsmeade. As they were about to leave the Great Hall, Harry, Ron and his brothers were discussing about playing Exploding Snap or chess, while Hermione was already thinking about which homework she should start first. She planned to spend the whole evening working. She ignored Harry's and Ron's disapproving expressions when she told them so. As they approached the heavy doors, however, an owl landed on Ron's shoulder.

"Yes?" he asked. The owl simply showed his paw, to which a message was attached. "I wonder from who it comes from," he said as he removed the very small piece of parchment the animal was carrying. "Oh, it's Hagrid's writing… Hey!" Ron seemed to have realized something, and Hermione remembered it the moment Ron must have remembered as well. "Wasn't it Buckbeak's audience yesterday?" He looked to the staff table. "Hagrid hasn't been here today."

Ron now rushed to open the scroll, and both Harry and Hermione squeezed him between them to read what was written. Ron finished before they did.

"Damn! They're going to execute Buckbeak!"

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