Self-Writing Parchment
Hermione's friendship with the Slytherin girls strengthens, only to hit a snag when Draco warns her about them. Hermione also asks Ginny to help her with Draco. A bathtub fantasy, Severus tries to confide in her, Cillian is confronted, and Hermione hears a startling confession.
Firstly I abhor violence and abuse toward children – anyone actually. I know that the abuse if hard to read – it is hard to type – but thank you for sticking with me.
I'm sorry for any and all typos – I'm owning up to them.
~beaweasley2
~o45o~
Friendships and Confidences
Normally, Thursdays was one of Hermione's favorite days, the other being Tuesday since she didn't have lessons with either of the Carrows on those days. But ever since the incident in the Entrance Hall when Severus had cursed Ginny and Neville, the four Death Eaters, Avery, Baddock, Lestrange, Rosier and Nott, could be seen standing in the corridors, watching the students between lessons and scolding anyone for even the smallest infraction, even trying to deduct house points. Avery stood on the marble staircase or on the top landing, keeping an eye on the Entrance Hall and the first floor. Lestrange lingered in the first floor corridor between the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies classrooms, Mr. Nott on the second, Rosier on the third, and Baddock watching the fourth floor corridor and outside the library. MacCavish, Travers, VanHalal and Rowle each stood in the main corridors of each floor where the DA frequently wrote on the walls.
So far, their vigilance wasn't paying off; the words still appeared in the corridors and the DA flyers were still being pinned up on the notice boards, in the loos or beside classroom doors. The prefects tried to have the first thru fifth year students move silently through the corridors in double lines and the sixth and seventh years either walked in pairs and small groups in formation. Everyone moved quickly and quietly so as not to draw attention to themselves. Hermione saw Jenny, Janilynn and Ginny after Charms and she wanted to talk to them, but Cillian clamped a hand on her elbow, steering her away from Rosier, who was watching her with a scowl. Then he maneuvered Hermione between himself and the wall as they walked by Rowle.
In Wizard Language and Literature lesson, Hermione noticed Hannah and Della whispering to each other at the beginning of the lesson, both of them sitting with their heads together, looking at something Hannah was holding. Professor VanDerhauthe admonished the two girls for talking and then began her lecture. However, when Professor VanDerhauthe turned to write something in the blackboard, Hermione saw Della ask her sister Morag to pass a slip of parchment to Geraldine Smothers, indicating that she should give it to Claudia.
Claudia nodded after reading the note and pulled her Galleon out of her pocket, then slyly sent a message to someone – well, everyone – considering that's how the coins worked. Hermione wondered what was up and wished She'd had her coin, too. But with Felicia, Nott and Schlinder sitting right behind her maybe it was for the best, but she wondered what had come up or if the DA was planning a meeting.
At the end of the lesson, Hermione gathered her things quickly, hoping to catch either Claudia or Geraldine to ask what was going on. However, Felicia stood up from her seat as Hermione approached. "Hermione, hi," the Slytherin girl said as Nott and Schlinder came up behind her.
"Oh, hi," she replied, seeing Claudia and Geraldine hurrying toward the door where the Hufflepuff girls stood.
Not wanting to be rude, she turned her head to excuse herself, but Felicia smiled warmly, falling into step beside her and asked, "You have a break now, don't you?"
Claudia and Geraldine exited the door Cillian held open. "Yes, I do. You?" she asked, exiting the door and watching her friends scurry away down the corridor.
"The same. Maybe we could walk together," Felicia said as Nott and Schlinder waited casually.
Cillian greeted the girls, and Hermione sighed silently. "Sure, why not," she said, realizing that she might as well. She could always ask Ginny or Jenny about what was going on at lunch.
They hadn't gone far when Hermione saw Glenwynn, Daphne and Adriana walking toward them from an adjoining corridor, and Felicia turned and smiled, discretely moving her fingers to wave her friends over. "Hi, Hermione," Glenwynn said as the three Slytherins approached. "We were hoping to run into you."
Hermione tilted her head slightly. "You were?" she asked.
Glenwynn chuckled softly. "Don't be so surprised," she said. "How are you doing?"
Hermione smiled, feeling off-footed surrounded by the Slytherins. "As well as can be expected," she replied in a friendly tone, although her stomach clenched a bit.
Felicia gave her an 'understanding' smile. "Some of us are getting together this Saturday for an informal tea. Will you come?"
They really were being nice to her this year. And she had enjoyed having tea with them last time. "Er, yes, I'd love to. Where and what time?"
Glenwynn glanced back at Cillian as Felicia said, "Noon, in the same room as before. It has a nice view of the grounds."
"All right," Hermione said, turning for the stairs to head down to the library. The girls all fell in line with her. She listened to the girls talk as they made their way to the library, glad for their presence when first Mr. Nott and VanHalal glared at her as they walked by, then when Rosier sneered at her on the third floor and as Baddock did as well on the fourth. Glenwynn urged Hermione to sit with them, and even though Hermione wanted to go talk Hannah who was sitting at another table with several Hufflepuffs, she joined them. She saw Draco enter the library. He looked around until he spotted her and scowled, still scowling as he sat at the next table, his eyes focused on her.
Hermione excused herself and went to get the books she'd need for her Potions assignment. Ginny casually entered the aisle from the other end and smiled, waving her over, and she joined her at the end of the huge bookshelves.
Ginny leaned toward her. "I wanted to ask you if you'd had any luck figuring out where the… you know," she lowered her voice, "cup might… be…" She paused, and Hermione turned, seeing Draco approach. "So, if I could borrow it, I'd appreciate it," Ginny added, slightly louder.
"I – er, what?" Hermione asked, turning back to her friend, confused.
"Maybe you can come up to the common room tonight," Ginny asked, hopefully. "We could work on it together, if you like. What do you say?"
"Maybe, or we could talk about it at lunch," Hermione suggested.
Ginny shook her head. "I – no, not a good idea," she said and leaned in closer to her again. "Professor McGonagall warned us that those Death Eaters have been eavesdropping on us so we shouldn't talk about it then."
"I want to update you on everything." She set her books down and pulled sheets of parchment from her bag she'd covered with her research notes. "Here."
Ginny stuffed the parchments in her bag, but when she glanced up her mouth twitched in a grimace. "Hello, Ferret."
"Weaslette," Draco sneered, looking at her oddly. He turned his gaze to Hermione. "I could use your help with Potions tonight."
"I just promised to help Ginny with—" Hermione started to say, but Ginny quipped in, "Transfiguration," quickly. "That's if Professor Snape and Cillian agree."
Draco crossed his arms. "She isn't allowed a wand," he pointed out, and Hermione cringed at the reminder.
"She doesn't need her wand to help me," Ginny said in a huff, then turned to her. "Hermione, I'll see you later."
"Sure, Ginny," Hermione said, grabbing Walter Thaler's Potions Making: A Wizard's Fine Art in Brewing that she had been looking for as Draco turned to go. "Draco, wait." He stopped and turned back slowly. "I can meet you tomorrow if you like. We can revise in the sitting room," she suggested.
"All right," he grumbled. He moved aside as she pulled Nightshade Draughts and Elixirs and Magical Works of Circaea: The Enchanter's Nightshade, stacking the three books in her arms. He stepped back, giving her room to walk by him to return to her table. "Hard to believe," he said, and she stopped to look at him. "You've become… popular."
She smiled and shook her head. "I'm hardly popular," she replied.
He glanced at the group of Slytherins at the table where she'd left her bag. "You have a lot more friends than before." He turned to look at her. "Be careful what you say around Nott. Mr. Nott has been asking questions about you, and Theodore Nott, well, he's Marked… The Notts are loyal, and the Glenwrythes and Lockhavens are loyal supporters."
She nodded at the warming. "Is that why he's been… why he has been following me after lessons?" she asked, and he nodded. She had noticed he'd continued to do that even after Cillian had returned.
"You said I should tell you things. Here," he said, taking Alkaloid Aspects of the Night Blooming Flora by Alwin Tyler down and handing it to her. "The Dark Lord marked him before the start of term. Goyle too, but Goyle is… He's changed. He's not the same." He looked around behind him and then pulled his sleeve up as he leaned closer to her, showing her his Mark. "He changed it, see," he said, fisting his hand so the snake undulated. Her eyes widened upon seeing a lion in the coils of the snake, and he yanked his sleeve down. "Goyle's and Nott's are the same; I think they're – he connected them to yours like Snape's and Gwynek's are," he said, buttoning his cuff. "Consider this a warning."
Severus'… and Cillian's mark look like his, but the lion isn't…doesn't appear trapped in the snake's clutch like his. "I will," Hermione said with a nod. She looked up at him. "Thank you."
"Slytherins are never what they seem, Hermione, you should know that by now," he said and left the aisle quickly.
Hermione was contemplating the difference between Draco's altered Dark Mark and the one Cillian and Severus had. She'd seen Severus' many times, and the way the snake looped around the lion seemed almost like…an embrace. Cillian's – his mark, when she'd seen it, coiled loosely around the lion. Draco's lion looked trapped. It had to mean something. Cillian isn't devout, he's helping Severus and protecting me, but hasn't come out openly. Draco's…scared? Feeling trapped? I wish I could see Goyle's and Nott's.
Hermione walked out of the aisle, pondering his warning as she walked to the table where her new Slytherin friends were all revising. Severus had told her that she could trust Glenwynn and her friends, but he could have simply meant that they wouldn't harm her. However that didn't make sense considering that he seemed to encourage her new friendship with the girls. And if the Glenwrythes were such loyal supporters, why were they hiding Undesirables in their wine cellar as Hermione suspected that they were?
She eyed Draco, bent over his own coursework. He had been friends with Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle for six years, but he seemed to be avoiding them this year, and he'd never been close to either Nott or Schlinder as far as she knew. It was possible that Draco was distancing him from them due to his change of opinion regarding the Dark Lord and his questioning of his preconceived notions.
However, she'd also noticed that Goyle was likewise distancing himself from Zabini, Crabbe and Draco, and this year she'd seen Goyle with Nott on occasion. However he was still bullying Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, most particularly Hannah Abbott.
Hermione contemplated the complex dynamics among the Slytherins and Draco's warning as she walked toward the table. Amanda and Adriana looked up, both smiling at Hermione, and Felicia turned her head, a small smile appearing on her face as well. In all appearances they liked her, wanted to be friends. She'd just have to be careful what she said around them, not that she had been sharing confidences with them.
After Herbology, Hermione trudged up the path to the castle, feeling dirty and her muscles ached, especially her arms. Cillian offered to carry her bag, since the scratches on her forearms were irritated and inflamed. She numbly passed him her bag, thinking about Draco and what he'd said earlier in the library. She wanted to question him about it, but he was one of the six students Professor Sprout had escorted to the hospital.
Professor Sprout had made them all divide and repot the Impalebulbus mimbletonias that they had harvested the previous week, and naturally, the magical plants had not taken the disturbance of their roots well. However, thanks to Professor Sprout's directions, and Neville's suggestions about how best to handle the plants, Hermione, Ernie and Hannah had managed to restrain their plants and avoided being pierced by the plant's thorns, although Hermione had struggled with hers. Both Ernie and Hannah had plenty of long red scratches in their arms, and Ernie had a bad scratch on his left cheek. But Pansy and Draco, who had been arguing with each other under their breaths at the start of the lesson, and Goyle, who had been staring at Hannah and Ernie, had been both been stabbed. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the class had to be given the antidote, Hermione included, and six students had to be sent to the hospital for treatment.
She entered the Headmaster's Tower, greeted Severus with a dazed, "Hullo," and climbed the stairs. Peren greeted her in the sitting room, and Hermione mumbled, "I'm going to take a bath before dinner – a nice, long, hot bath to counter the effects of the Impalebulbus mimbletonia's antidote's effects."
"Peren will draw one right away, Mistress," Peren said, bowing and vanishing.
Hermione laughed softly. "With eucalyptus oil and chrysanthemums," she mumbled after the departing elf, remembering what Severus had said her third year about chrysanthemum flowers being used in potions to reduce fevers and inflammation. She climbed the stairs to the bedroom and was delighted to hear the water already running in the bathroom. She kicked off her shoes and removed her school robe in the bathroom. The scent of lavender, chrysanthemums, roses and eucalyptus filled the space, smelling divine.
"Are you all right," she heard Severus say behind her. "Were you poisoned?"
"Only scratched," she said and turned her head, adding, "Professor Sprout gave me the antidote."
His long fingers gripped her forearms, holding them out so he could see the scratches. "Not so bad. Were you scratched anywhere else?" She shook her head, and his hands slid up her arms and he kissed the side of her head.
The lust in the soft timbre of his voce sent a shiver through her, but didn't catch his request. "Get in the tub, Hermione," he repeated, his lips quirked back in a crooked smile. He turned off the taps.
"Mmmm," she replied, startled when he began removing his clothes. "You're joining me?"
"Would you mind?" he asked as he slipped into the water. He held out his hand to help her step in. The water was really hot, but she slid into the water and stretched out, leaning back against his body. After a short while she sighed contentedly, lounging in the hot water, her head cradled on his shoulder with his arms wrapped around her. He languidly washed her, caressing her body with the soap, using his fingers to wash every inch of her skin.
"This is perfect," she said with a contented sigh, leaning against his firm chest with his legs stretched out alongside her and his hands, stroking her skin, easing her aches and tension away. "I had a dream about this once," she said languorously.
"I believe it was a fantasy," he said softly, his rich, velvety voice carrying well in the bathroom.
She turned her head slightly. "You said it would never happen," she said, remembering how he'd sneered at her, standing in the doorway of his bathroom, smirking down at her scornfully.
"I said it did not happen," he said softly, his tone so much sexier now than it had been back then.
"Humm," she replied, pulling away from him. He watched as she twisted, straddling his legs to face him in the tub. "Do you know a spell that keeps the water from sloshing out of the tub?"
"Yes," he said, his hands sliding on her legs, pulling her to him as she settled herself on him.
"Then do it," she said, reaching down to grasp him, her fingers stroking his length. "I don't want to make a mess for Peren to clean up."
He waved his hand, making a few flicks of his wrist and then pointed at the water behind her. "Wandlessly?" she gasped as the water warmed up several degrees.
"I can do quite a few spells wandlessly," he purred, taking her hand and encouraging her to continue stroking him. She watched him as she drew her hand upward, raking her fingertips along his underside, then swirled her fingers on his tip, and curled her hand around him on the down stroke, loving the look on his face. "It is good to… hold… the element of surprise…" His eyes flickered closed as she cupped his balls then ran her fingers up to his tip. "Gods, Hermione, you'll undo me."
He gripped her hips and pulled her forward, entering her. She placed her hands on his chest for support as she rode him, posting as she'd done as a child on her horse Maisay, sliding forward on each down stroke, his pubic hairs tantalizing her clit, giving her little pleasurable jolts. His hands gripped her hips, helping her, his eyes locked on hers.
She moved faster, riding him harder, propelled by the raging feelings. "Oh, yes, yes, yes," she cried, and threw her head back as she felt herself release in spurts and spasms, and rolling, crashing waves. She wavered as if drunk, feeling a blissfully satiated satisfaction and heady relaxation of her every muscle, as she collapsed against him.
His arms encircled her, pulling her to him, and she rested her head on his shoulder, nuzzled into his neck as her breathing slowed, and her heart, pounding in her chest, began to quiet down to a normal rhythm. After a while, he brushed her hair from her face. "Thank you," he said softly, kissing her. "But we'd best get out or we'll miss dinner."
"Do we have to?" she protested. "I'm too tired."
He laughed, the sound reverberating in his chest. "Yes, we have too. I have to be in the Great Hall for all meals," he said, making her get up reluctantly.
Hermione turned to Cillian as the plates from dinner vanished. "I'd like to go up to the Gryffindor common room," she said and rose.
MacCavish looked at her with a scowl. "Why would you need to, you've been with them all through dinner," he sneered.
Hermione ignored him, saying, "Gin wanted some help with something she'd had trouble with in Transfiguration," to Cillian.
"You are not allowed a wand," Rosier said, both MacCavish and Rosier also scowling at her.
"She doesn't need her wand," Ginny piqued in as she rose from the table before Hermione could respond to him. "Is it all right?" she asked Cillian.
Cillian shot them an expression that conveyed annoyance. "No, we're going to the Headmaster's Tower," he snapped.
Hermione felt hurt by his attitude, and Ginny gave him a scathing glare. However after dinner he didn't stop her from following the others out of the Great Hall, chatting quietly with her friends even though MacCavish and Rosier were both walking up the stairs with the Gryffindors. Cillian stopped her on the fourth floor, and tilted his head, trying to catch her eye as she watched her friends walk away. "You did notice that MacCavish and Rosier followed the Gryffindors, didn't you?" he asked.
Startled out of her thoughts, she looked up at him sharply as he led her away, and he smirked. "So, give them a few minutes to pace outside the common room, and we'll go in," he said, and led her to a small unused classroom on the seventh floor, opposite the tapestry showing Barnabas the Barmy and his trolls in tutus.
The Room of Requirement! Hermione stopped. But how – he hadn't paced? "Wait, you mean I can—?"
"That's precisely what I mean. Honestly, you Gryffindor's are dense," he said with a quirk of his lips. "I won't allow you your wand, but I don't have a problem allowing you to visit your friends. As long as I know where you are, and we leave before curfew."
Hermione sank into a seat, wondering how long she'd have to wait. Dutifully, she pulled out Alkaloid Aspects of the Night Blooming Flora to see why Draco chose this one for her essay. He stood and watched her. "If you wait here, I'll see if they've gone," he said.
He was back quickly. "Okay, let's go," he said, holding the door open. She shoved her book into her bag and followed him.
Jenny, Janilynn and Stephanie looked up, startled when they entered the common room. Hermione hurried over to them. "He changed his mind?" Janilynn asked.
"Yep. Where's Ginny?" she asked.
Jenny pointed upward with her quill.
Hermione thanked her and hurried up to Ginny's room.
Ginny looked up when she entered, her eyes widening for a second. "I thought you couldn't come up?" she asked, moving books so Hermione could sit down on her bed.
"Cillian wanted to avoid a run-in with MacCavish and Rosier," she explained, and Ginny nodded.
"Neville almost had to change the password again. I'll be Pimentón infinemundi," Ginny stated as Hermione sat on the end of her bed.
"The Argentina magical paprika – the nightshade from the end of the Earth," she translated.
"Only you. Been reading up on nightshades?" Ginny shook her head. "So, about this cup."
Hermione set down, The Magic of the Peoples of the First Nations by Senoa Croulx on top of The Art of Transfiguration: The Key to Transforming Yourself by Babajide Akingbadeand, and looked up at Ginny. "Harry said the cup belonged to Hepzibah Smith. According to what Dumbledore shared with him, Riddle stole it from her, but that doesn't tell us where it's hidden now."
"There is Bellatrix Lestrange. The Lestranges and Malfoys are the wealthiest wizard families in Great Brittan, and they're loyal to Vol—the Dark Lord," Ginny added, but Hermione shook her head. "The diary had been in the possession of the Malfoys' before Mr. Malfoy put in my cauldron."
"And she's wherever the Dark Lord resides, which is now Malfoy Manor; she's zealously devout," Hermione stated. "It won't be at Malfoy Manor; Malfoy blew it giving you the diary. He doesn't trust him anymore from what little I've seen. I just don't think the Dark Lord would hide two of his Horcruxes in the same place, he's too clever for that, so I have no idea where the cup could be."
Hermione inhaled deeply. "Okay, here is what I know about the ring. Harry found out from Dumbledore; Caractacus Burke, of Borgin and Burkes had it. That's where Tom got his first job. Mr. Burke was one of the people Dumbledore interviewed to find out more about Voldemort's past. Tom stole the ring from the vault before quitting Borgin and Burkes and hid the ring in his grandfather's home – Marvolo Gaurant – in Little Hangleton. The Dark Lord's father's family is all buried in the Hangleton Graveyard – and that's where the Dark Lord had his reemergence."
"The locket; it belonged to Riddle's mother, Merope Gaunt, but Harry said it may have been an heirloom that belonged to Salazar Slytherin. Tom hid the locket in a cave he found when the orphans were taken to the seashore… But, Regulus Black found out about it and took it."
Ginny nodded in understanding. "I remember a locket at Grimmauld Place – a heavy thing with an 'S' on it," Ginny said, deep in thought. "It looked really old, but no one could open it, so mum told us to leave it in the cabinet until Dumbledore," she looked up, "or Snape checked it… It felt odd. Wonky. I hated touching it, but felt compelled to."
"We didn't know the significance of the locket then, but when we did – it wasn't in the house anymore," Hermione said, then sighed. "Apparently, Mundungus stole it and sold it to Umbridge, and Harry and Ron stole it back from her."
"And the only artifacts Gryffindor had are his hat, which was turned into the Sorting Hat, and his sword," Ginny added. "The sword will come to anyone who has need of it. Even if Tom could've obtained it, the sword would've left Tom's hands since he isn't honorable or in need of it to defend himself or others.
"Also I've searched everything I can on Ravenclaw." Herionme said. "The diadem with the magical blue stone, whether it's a diamond or a sapphire, is the only thing of hers that's not accounted for. Everything else is in the British National Museum in the Magical Archives section."
She looked thoughtful for several seconds. "Tom had been here at Hogwarts and he knew the castle pretty well." She looked up. "But he started to take over me… Could the cup be in the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Do you remember how to get to it?" Hermione asked, hopeful.
"I know where it is, but I can't open it. Tom made me hiss things, but…" She shook her head. "I've had no luck." She put her quill down. "So how's it going, converting the Ferret's point of view?"
"Gin, please stop calling him that." Hermione said. "I told you – he's discontented with how things are, I know it. Ever since the Dark Lord came back, his life hasn't been the same. Yes, the Malfoys were dedicated to him during his first rise to power, but Lucius renounced him when he fell to save face. But, Gin, I saw Mrs. Malfoy at the Dark Lord's Winter Solstice party and she… she looked different. Not as haughty or conceited. She was actually nice to me that night after I was marked. And Mr. Malfoy looks horribly, unkempt, like his image from prison in the Daily Prophet, only in a nicer robe. But his robes were scuffed and dirty from kneeling."
"And this is why you think Draco is wavering, because of the way his family is being treated?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, I do – plus there are a lot of little things: his comments, his mannerisms, and his tone toward me when we're alone. He's changed. Help me with Draco," she pleaded. "Then I can help Harry and Ron without worrying about what Draco overhears."
"And you really think you can trust him?" Ginny asked.
Hermione shrugged. "I know this sounds weird, but I think I've convinced him that his life would be better if Harry wins. I think he's agreeing with me. And if that's the case, if he decides that living without the Dark Lord is what he wants, then yes, I think I can trust him. It's a matter of choosing which side he wants to win this – and I think he'd like to have his old pre-Dark Lord life back."
"Now that makes sense," Ginny admitted. "Okay, I'll help with Malfoy, but I'm not calling him Draco."
That was all Hermione wanted.
"I have another question, and I'm sorry to bring this up, again, but… I saw Draco's Dark Mark – in the library. His looks like yours…" She moved closer and looked at Hermione's forearm, biting her lip. "So the Dark Mark with the lion is so Severus, Draco and Cillian can keep tabs on you." Hermione nodded. "Do Nott and Goyle… They're marked, the same as Draco's – with the lion in its clutches? Can they track you, too?"
"I think Draco, Severus and Cillian can, but Cillian is always watching me – or knows where I am anyway. Not that I've tried ditching him, I'd be crazy to with the Death Eaters that are here. I was marked so as to upset Harry so he'll slip up. I wish I could get him to trust me," Hermione said with a sigh.
"Ron does, and so do many of the other's." Ginny scrambled from the bed as Hermione watched her.
"They do?"
"Yes, of course, he's accepted why the Dark Lord marked you, but Harry's angry you married Severus. That's what he can't… Don't think on it, he trusts the information you give me." She picked up Babajide Akingbadeand's book. "I have been reading up on Animagus transformations, trying it all year. I found the books checked out of the library by James and Peter my fourth year! They were hidden in the Room of Requirement. I – I've turned into a squirrel a few times. It's helpful, scurrying around the castle. I can be a scout and no one notices me. But changing back, it's tough… I don't seem able to. Jenny or Janilynn have to do it… What?"
Hermione couldn't believe it. "You're still mentally aware when you're a squirrel?"
Ginny nodded, "Of course!" although she was unaware of the significance of what that meant.
"Gin, you're an Animagus!"
"Nooo…" Ginny said with a shake of her head. "I can't always do it, transform without a wand, and I have to have help transforming back… What? It's why I've been reading the books on it."
"I'm having Animagi lessons with Professor McGonagall," Hermione confessed. "On Wednesdays. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but my Animagi form is a ferret."
Ginny gaped at her. "You're a ferret?" she asked and Hermione nodded. "Is Draco a ferret, too?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, he couldn't recall anything when was changed except to run away to the dungeopns. It's what Professor McGongall looks for when teaching us how to change each other into animal forms in seventh year. If a student retains their sense of self, and is cognizant of what is happening, it means that they have the potential."
Ginny beamed.
"If you want I'll let Professor McGonagall know and maybe you can join us on Wednesdays."
"Oh, yes, or I'll ask her," Ginny said.
Hermione thought a moment. "My lessons are supposed to be a secret, so let me. I'm sure that once I've talked to her, she'll speak to you about it."
She'd never seen her friend look so happy.
~o0o~
A list was written on a blackboard in Dark Arts, four columns of twenty-five curses, hexes and jinxes for them to choose from, many of which they had used before. Lestrange collected everyone's homework assignments as Amycus once again paired up the students, Hermione and her friends against his favorite students. Pansy and Millicent got to take shots at Hermione and Lavender, and nether girl bothered to restrain their curses. Goyle squared off against Nott, the duel between them quite evenly matched. Draco was paired with Charlene, and Schlinder with Breanna, although they were sparing rather than trying to harm each other. Seamus was once again paired with Zabini, and Neville and Crabbe, dueling aggressively with each other, but by this time, all four Gryffindors were getting very good at defending themselves. The rest of the class gathered against the walls behind shield charms to protect themselves.
Lestrange lingered at the far wall near the Slytherin girls, trying to engage them in conversation while Cillian stood between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students, his attention on those dueling.
Suddenly Millicent spouted, "Lingua vomica," the Tongue Blisters Curse at Lavender. She fell to her knees, gagging and sputtering. Hermione immediately dropped to her knees beside Lavender, ignoring the prickly scales erupting all over her body from Pansy's curse. What had Draco said about the curse… the counter curse is… 'Lingua mederi,' she remembered him telling her. 'It's nonverbal, and you end up swallowing the scabs.' Lavender was choking, her eyes watering as she tried to swallow around her swollen and blistering tongue, and Hermione could hear Draco's warning in her head, 'It's easy as long as you think your mouth, throat, and tongue, and really want it to heal and you can't panic – it won't work if you panic.' Being the daughter of dentists, Hermione had no trouble visualizing the entire mouth, throat region and the tongue; she just hoped it worked. 'Lingua mederi,' she enchanted nonverbally while aiming at Lavender's throat.
Lavender gagged and vomited on the floor, then looked up at Hermione with gratitude in her brown eyes before throwing up again.
"That's not fair! She has to do it," Millicent snarled, pointing at Lavender, and then aimed at Hermione. "Lingua vomica!"
Hermione gagged as her tongue swelled up and the blisters quickly formed, making it difficult to swallow or breathe. She concentrated, holding her breath as she said the counter curse, 'Lingua mederi,' in her mind, envisioning her own mouth, throat, and tongue. Immediately, her tongue began to shrink and the blisters seemed to go down, but they formed scabs. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Draco holding a bucket for her and Cillian moving toward her.
"Try to vomit," Draco suggested.
"Malfoy," Amycus barked. "Leave the chit alone."
"I don't want to slip on her vomit," he stated as Lavender vomited on the floor again. Crabbe laughed as Pansy turned, sickened by the sight.
As Hermione rose to her knees, she noticed that the scales were gone, but her joints all felt stiff as if she had arthritis. "Get back to practicing," Amycus shouted, and Pansy, her mouth smirking, took aim. "Porkus, Spinascālaeporcupyne," she said, and then fired another spell Hermione hadn't caught as her arms swelled and the prickly scales reappeared. She fell back to the ground, in horrible pain, but unable to touch her skin or curl up in a ball. Her body felt bloated, barbs on the scales erupted on her skin. And she snorted as she tried to call out, sounding like a pig, hearing Millicent and Pansy fire two more spells she didn't understand.
"Stop that this instant," Cillian snarled. Hermione squealed in pain as he tried to reverse her condition. "Draco, your robe," Cillian ordered.
A moment later, she felt herself (thick, heavy and immobile) rising and supported in a blanket. She was tasseled about as she floated along in her hammock, occasionally bumping into something hard, making her skin prickle and the spines bend painfully and poke her, creating wounds that itched severely, then landed on something soft. "Stay here," Cillian barked and walked away.
Hermione couldn't leave if she'd wanted to – she couldn't even move! She tried to look around, but her head didn't rotate like it should. The next thing she knew, Madam Pomfrey came into view.
"Oh heaven's stars!" the matron exclaimed. "What in the devil is this curse?" She paused, looking up. "This will take some time to sort out."
"I'll inform the Headmaster," Cillian said. Hermione squealed as he walked away, and Madam Pomfrey laid a hand on her cheek. "Hold still, child. I have to sort out what was cast on you."
~S~
Severus sat at his desk with his old school mates, Franklin Avery and Sylvester Rosier, sitting in the ladder-back chairs facing him. "Nott took our final reports to the Dark Lord," Avery stated, looking at the amber liquid in his glass. "Baddock is leaving after dinner, but I believe Lestrange is staying." He finished his drink and helped himself to more from the decanter.
"So you have concluded your review," Severus stated, knowing full well that the only reason they were leaving was because he'd cancelled the rest of the Quidditch games.
Rosier downed his drink. "We have other obligations to fulfill," he said as he refilled his glass. "The Dark Lord needs us out there fighting the insurgents."
Severus suppressed his smirk. "Dumbledore's band of misfits is still causing a lot of trouble for you, even with their limited numbers," he said casually, although he knew that the Order's numbers had grown. He set his glass down as the gargoyle announced Cillian's arrival.
"Just as Potter's friends are doing here," Rosier said, picking up the nearly empty decanter.
The door flew open and Cillian entered the office looking furious. "Hermione is in the hospital. Millicent and Pansy cursed – hexed – she's a porcupine-pig with barbed scales and thorns, horns everywhere… She's a mess."
Avery spewed his drink as he choked out a laugh, and Rossier chuckled amusedly, although Severus hardly found it amusing at all. "Will she be all right?" Severus asked, ignoring the rude chuckling of his 'friends'.
Cillian nodded. "I think so. Madam Pomfrey had just started her diagnosis when I left." He crossed his arms, refusing the drink Avery offered him. "She may be there all night."
Severus nodded. "You can go if you want," he said, knowing that Cillian would go back to the hospital until Hermione was sorted out.
Cillian nodded. "I'll see you at dinner."
As he walked out of the office, Avery and Rosier burst into raucous laughter at Hermione's expense. Severus tried to keep his expression one of mirth, even though he wanted to hex Misses Parkinson and Blustrode himself.
As soon as his friends finished their second round of drinks, Severus poured each a finger's width of the Ogden's Firewhisky and put the decanter back in the cupboard. He waited until they'd finished their drinks and then saw them out, walking with them down to the Entrance Hall and wished them a safe journey home. He waited until the door closed, then turned on his heel, heading for the hospital to offer the matron his assistance in case she needed his help in sorting Hermione out.
~H~
It took both Madam Pomfrey and Severus to sort Hermione, but the transformation back to her natural shape had been painful. The Dreamless Sleep Potion and pain potions helped her through the night as did the morning doses too, thankfully, but her back was sore and her joints still hurt. She knew it had to be sometime in the afternoon, because Madam Pomfrey had already been by. Peren nervously hovered around, changing her linens, adjusting her pillows, bringing her anything foods she knew Hermione liked. Hermione still had a hard time believing what a voracious appetite she had, considering she normally had small meals. Now, she felt overly stuffed and lethargic, and her arms and legs felt as thick as ham hocks. At least she could move her head normally.
She watched the sunlight patterns on the wall for a bit, then closed her eyes, and sighed heavily, waiting for the afternoon potions to kick in. But as soon as she did and her body relaxed, she felt a hand on her arm.
"Hermione, are you awake?"
"Yes, I'm still awake, sort of, drowsy, but yes, somewhat awake," Hermione said as she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry at first, she saw four girls clustered together by her side; worried faces, their long hair hanging down, blending together in a nice way with their green and silver-grey scarves and long arms in white sleeves… and recognized Glenwynn, Felicia, Adriana and Amanda. In a way they reminded her of the Portrait Of Dulcinea by Marcel Duchamp… only with more colors. Felicia sat down next to her as did Adriana, and she felt the bed dip by her feet as Amanda sat on the edge of her bed. She hoped her feet would not slide down and get trapped.
"Are you okay?" Glenwynn asked from the bedside chair. "If you're not up to having company, we'd understand."
"No, no, I'm fine," Hermione stated, scooting up a bit. "I don't want you to go. I'm not used to having so many friends. No one visited me when I was in here last – Draco scared them away." With all Madam Pomfrey's potions and what else Severus had given her, she felt groggy and thick.
"Yes, well, I suppose he can be irritating," Adriana said, smiling. "He was just here. We broke up a confrontation between him and your friends Miss Weasley and Miss Wang."
"Oh darn, she was going to let me use the mirror again," Hermione said, pouting. She wanted to talk to Harry, get him to see reason. "But I can't without a wand – and I'm not allowed a wand so I can't use it unless she's around to open it."
"Mirror?" Felicia asked. "You want to see your reflection?" She pulled away, and Hermione thought she'd offended her, but she pulled a compact from her pocket. "Here, use mine."
Hermione examined the compact. For a moment it looked like the clock in a Salvador Dali's painting, but then her focus sharpened and she could see it properly. It was pretty, silver with a dahlia pattern carved into the case. "No, this isn't it." She handed it back. "Wrong mirror. I need the one that Ginny has. Like Harry's," as if she'd been given Veritaserum.
Glenwynn sucked in her breath sharply. "Harry's – as in Potter? Has she…?"
Hermione sucked in her breath. What the fuck?! Her mind was so befuddled she'd answered honestly! Her words just seemed to come out of her unchecked for some reason.
Adriana leaned forward, saying, "I told you, she has," excitedly, and Hermione tried to move away, her back now against the headboard.
"But how?" Felicia whispered to Glenwynn.
"She said mirrors? – can you do that through mirrors?" Amanda asked under her breath.
Uninhibited Hermione said, "Yes, it was difficult but they work," shocked by her honesty. "I can't be telling you this!"
"Merlin's beard – she…" Adriana lowered her voice. "I suppose, if there is a way, you would know," and leaned in even closer. "Draco and Professor Snape used to call you an insufferable know-it-all – but you - you're really smart. I used to think that you were just showing off, always quoting the books."
"I can't help it – I have a photographic memory is all," Hermione said.
"Hermione?" Felicia asked, "I was wondering…" She leaned in closer to her as if she were going to whisper something to her, "if and… well – oh, this is difficult. Nott overheard, you see, and we were curious—"
"When – what did he hear?" Hermione gasped in panic. Oh gods, what did he hear? When?
"Calm down," Felicia said, placing a hand lightly on Hermione's as Adriana's hand dropped lightly on her feet. "He had these Extendible Ears things. They're gross, but he keeps one in his pocket." She looked to Glenwynn, then back to her and leaned in. "Thing is we all thought, after the fiasco before the start of term, when the Dark Lord did something to your Mark, we thought that you'd gone over to his side. And you've been so obedient…But Nott didn't think so, so we… But your friends, they still treat you the same, so Nott… don't blame him – I asked him to – he listened."
Hermione gaped in astonishment. How could she be so careless? Constant vigilance – hell! I've ruined everything – Severus! Oh gods no! She could feel her mind become muddier as her panic heightened, swirling and tilting as if she were drunk.
"No, Hermione, it's okay, we haven't told anyone – really we haven't," Adriana said, placing a hand on her legs as Felicia and Glenwynn tried to calm her.
"I – are you still Potter's friend? Are you on his side?" Amanda asked.
Hermione found herself nodding treacherously as she confirmed it, and then Amanda sat back, exclaiming, "Merlin's stars!" and covered her mouth. "So you're still…?"
"He's my friend. Yes, I want him to win – that's not a secret," Hermione admitted softly, wondering what exactly Madam Pomfrey and Severus were giving her.
"But your Mark – it's real! I heard Crabbe telling Zabini that it is real," Felicia said.
Hermione told them about being marked as she pulled up her sleeve to show it to them. "I think he did it to unhinge Harry, you know, let him think I'd changed sides. But I haven't."
A crease formed in Felicia's brow. "But you're married to Severus Snape?" she asked surreptitiously.
Hermione shrugged, shaking her head, which didn't help the dizziness any. "Yes," she said, truly feeling like a drunk. "Otherwise I'd be dead."
Felicia's eyes widened, Adriana turned her head, and Glenwynn and Amanda looked horrified. "So, you've spoken to Potter?" Glenwynn asked.
Hermione nodded, her head feeling loopy. "Briefly. He's hiding, searching… They're okay."
Glenwynn and Adriana looked relieved. Amanda and Felicia looked pensive. She heard the girls mumbling something, well it sounded like mumbling through the fog in her head, catching bits like, "I thought so."
"So I was right!"
"Do you think it is possible?"
"I really hope so."
"But if he can," Glenwynn said and then looked at Hermione with a hopeful expression. "It would mean things can go back to normal."
"You want Harry to win?" Hermione asked groggily, hardly believing what she'd been hearing. "But you're – your family – they are supporters. I know you're hiding people, but really, if you're not, then why are we friends?" Gods she felt sick.
"It's not only because you are married to the Headmaster," Amanda said, touching her hands, "although that was a perfectly acceptable excuse. We wanted to get to know you, to see if you were still… with Potter or with them."
Hermione felt ill.
Glenwynn leaned forward. "Are you all right. Should we go?"
"No." Hermione shook her head, she was so confused. "I'm all right."
"I – Hermione, I was hoping—"
"We were hoping," Adriana interjected, and Felicia nodded. "That you could tell us if Potter is going to fight him – the Dark Lord. You know, if he's really the Chosen One."
Hermione tried to sit up, and Felicia helped prop her up with her pillows. "Yes, if he finds them," she admitted, and gritted her teeth. She had to be more careful! Why couldn't she control her tongue? "He is the one who can, or so it said. But why are you – if – why?"
"Hermione, not all of us agree," Adriana said softly. The girls moved closer. "Not all of us want to see our family members killed simply because they don't have the right magical background."
"Why turn over your grandmother simply because she's a half-blood," Felicia stated. "Or betray a favorite aunt, an uncle, your cousin – so many of us have relatives, family friends who are… questionable or undesirable, and we're expected to turn them in. It's horrible!"
Hermione shook her head to dispel the fuzziness but it only made it worse. "You want to be friends with me – because your family is questionable? Is that why you want me to tell you about Harry?"
Glenwynn huffed a laugh as the other girls chuckled, scoffed or shook their heads. "No, it's… Merlin, this is risky, but… Hermione, we want the Dark Lord to fall. We want Potter to win – your side to win. Isn't it obvious?"
Hermione slowly shook her head, saying, "No," feeling the room shift. She looked at the girls, each of them. They seemed earnest. "You are – you want – to join the DA?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Felicia and Adriana looked shocked, but Glenwynn smiled. "Not join, but not stand against. And if it came down to it, I don't think I could fight against my own brother or my cousin, but I want your side to win," she explained. "Rest. We'll talk about this when you're better."
"Please, don't tell anyone about us," Glenwynn pleaded, her concern apparent in her eyes.
"I… I'd say I won't but gods, I feel so out of it," Hermione replied sadly.
"I can stay with you, we'll take turns," Adriana suggested. "So no one questions you."
Hermione nodded, "Sure, I'd like that."
"Penelope Padgett confiscated Skiving Snackboxes from some students. She keeps them in her cupboard. I'll get them. It will give us reasonable excuses to skive off lessons," Amanda said, her expression determined.
"I'll be fine, I'm always around someone," Hermione stated, wondering if she could tell Severus about the girls' revelations.
"No, we have a lot more to tell you, and right now you're mentally impaired," Glenwynn said, and turned toward Adriana. "I'll get the boxes."
The girls stood, Amanda flicking her wands at the curtains, and Hermione suddenly noticed that she could hear the sounds from the other beds again. "We'll talk more you when you're out of the hospital," Felicia promised.
Amanda transfigured the chair into something more comfortable. "Rest. I'll just read to you for a while."
Hermione lay there, listening to Amanda's voice and the soft snores and moans from the other beds and tried to think about what had transpired, before she fell asleep.
On Sunday, Felicity moved from the chair back to the bed beside Hermione's seconds before Ginny came around the curtain. "Hi, how are you?"
"Better. Not as groggy, but my joints feel arthritic, and the wounds from the spines and horns are draining," she said, as Ginny sat, stood, paced, sat again… "What's got you ruffled like a wet kneazle?"
Ginny cast the muffling spells around them. "Snape cursed Ernie, Jack, Nigel and Demelza – that's what! But then they had to scrub corridors all afternoon. I know you said that Headmaster Snape cursed me and Neville so Amycus wouldn't – but he did it again! I know he meant it – you should have heard the screams. Alecto was gloating the whole time, and Lestrange – what a toe rag! Your house-elf – Peren? – she gave us all the same potions Neville and I got when we were in the pillory."
"Of course that hasn't stopped us from leaving our messages on the walls – or posting the flyers in the loos. Neville gathered everyone in the Room of Requirement for a meeting," Ginny continued.
"Oh, Gin, be careful!"
"Oh we are! I've been changing into a squirrel to check the corridors. I can do it, change myself wandlessly. Do you want to see? Hermione?"
She sat up. "Oh, yeah," she replied. Ginny stood up, seemed to concentrate for a bit, then began to morph and shrink. A second later, a beautiful red squirrel jumped up onto Hermione's bed, perfectly formed. "Oh, gosh, Gin, you did it!"
The squirrel bobbed its head and flicked its tail. She spun around in a circle and stood, facing Hermione with her nose twitching.
"Now change back," Hermione said, knowing that without her wand, she was helpless in turning her friend back. She had spoken to Professor McGonagall about Ginny being cognitive in squirrel form and suggested that Ginny be included in her lessons when her professor came to check in on her. Professor McGonagall had said that she'd speak with Ginny and see if the girl had the potential, but apparently she hadn't talked to Ginny yet.
The squirrel seemed to shut its eyes, looking for all intents and purpose like it was constipated. But nothing happened. Ginny the squirrel tried again without any success. She huffed, flicked her tail and tried again. Hermione tried not to laugh at the scrunched face and flicking tail. After a few more attempts, Ginny squeaked and darted off, apparently seeking someone with a wand to turn her back.
Alecto came by the hospital Monday morning to gloat, but upon seeing that Hermione was in her natural state, she tried to order her to attend her Muggle Studies lesson. Madam Pomfrey stood her ground, defiantly refusing to let Hermione go. Severus was called, and he and Professor McGonagall came to the hospital.
Severus had Madam Pomfrey cast her diagnostic charms on Hermione as he watched. He nodded to the matron and turned to face Alecto. "No, she's staying," he told her firmly. "I suggest that you return to your classroom. You do have a lesson to teach."
As Alecto stormed out, he turned to Madam Pomfrey. "I should take her to our rooms tonight," he stated. "It would be for the best."
"If she feels up to it, she may attend her lessons on Tuesday," the matron agreed.
Severus nodded and smiled down at Hermione. "I'll have Draco collect your assignments for your lessons."
"And my finished coursework – I need to turn those in," she said, worried that her assignments should be turned in on time.
"Mrs. Snape," Professor McGonagall said kindly. "You can give me your essay on Friday."
Hermione shook her head. "It's already finished."
Professor McGonagall smiled. "If they are completed, that is fine with me. I shall collect them and pass them on for you. You still have Potions and your Literature lessons today. I'll inform Professors Rodarte and VanDerhauthe you're excused for the day." She excused herself and walked away with Madam Pomfrey.
Severus made a sweep of his wand and sat on the chair beside her bed. "How do you feel?"
"Better," she said, sitting up. "I feel much more like myself today, not as groggy and thick anymore."
"Rest," he said and leaned up to kiss her. "I should be going…"
"I've missed you," she said, trailing her fingers down his buttons, and he pulled back, smiling at her.
"I do have to go. I'll be back after dinner."
"All right," she said with a pout, crossing her arms. "But can you ask Peren to bring me a book to read?"
He chuffed a laugh. "Just ask her to bring the book you've stolen from my shelf – from the ones I told you not to read."
Her eyes widened. "How did…? I'm sorry. I wanted to…"
He laughed. "If you're going to take a book from shelf you shouldn't, you should move the others on the shelf so that the space of the book your reading isn't noticeable."
She felt her cheeks flush.
"What did you think you'd find? What are you looking for?" he asked.
She shrugged, looking at her hands as she twisted them in her lap. "Information. Something that – that may help Harry."
"Those are Dark Arts books, Hermione," he stated, his eyes narrowing. "There is nothing in them that will help – or that Potter should be using." He tipped her face up. "Why won't you confide in me? If you tell me what you are looking for, I will help you."
"How to destroy Dark artifacts. How to break Dark Curses safely," she said, knowing that was close enough to the truth.
"There is no safe way to break or dissemble Dark cursed objects if you are not familiar with the Dark Arts. There are risks. There can be backlash," he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Even with everything I know about the Dark Arts, there are still a lot of spells I can't reverse or break." He looked at her levelly. "Are you still in contact with Potter?"
Hermione shrugged. "I can, if I use my coin. But it's limited, and he doesn't respond."
"Your Galleon," he said thoughtfully. She bit her lip as he turned his head. "Dumbledore's portrait said the sword should destroy the objects Potter seeks." He turned to look at her, his expression weary.
"If he answers me, I'll remind him," she promised. "Thank you."
"For…?" he asked.
"Trusting me, and for not being upset about the books."
He smirked, the old smirk like he used to. "I didn't say I wasn't upset about my books being taken when I specifically told you not to." He rose to his feet. "We'll address that transgression later." The curtains around her bed fluttered as he walked away.
"Hermione, are you all right?" Amanda asked, her turn to eat a skiving toffee to stay with her.
"I'm good, thank you," she replied as Amanda sat down after casting spells on her curtains. "Severus is taking me to our quarters tonight."
"I heard that part," she said with a smile that quickly faded. "About our conversation when you were befuddled on potions – I'm sorry. We shouldn't have done that, but when you asked about the mirror and said you're not allowed to use a wand, then mentioned Harry Potter – it was shocking. We won't tell anyone, but you gave us hope – our families hope."
"Is Glenwynn's family hiding people? I remember she said that before – you're hiding people," she asked.
Amanda looked away for a second, her expression pensive again, and nodded slowly when she faced her. "Yes – well my family isn't, not really. Whitehall isn't that big, but we have Aethonan and Granian stables. Glenwynn, her family is. They live in Glenwrythe Priory – it's huge and the old priory, the ground level, is actually underground."
"Underground?" Hermione asked, stunned. "Why is her home underground? They could've put it under the Fidelius Charm instead."
"Oh, it is, and more." When Hermione didn't comment – pondering about living underground like that, Amanda continued, "Glenwrythe Priory was magically reconstructed underground when Henry VIII decommissioned all Catholic properties. But since it was mostly used by witches and wizards who followed the faith, it's not in the records after that. The Glenwrythe's acquired it during the reign of Queen Mary as a land grant. Felicia's home is Lockhaven Keep, a minor castle which had been improved upon over the centuries. It's gorgeous, but well hidden."
"Maybe when this is over, I'd love to see your Aethonan and Granian stables," Hermione said wistfully.
Amanda smiled. "I'd love that. I'll take you riding!"
~C~
Cillian watched Hermione shift back into human form again. She was getting really good with this, and he hoped it would not become a problem. He knew Draco had been transformed into white ferret his fourth year, the same color as his hair, and he recalled some of the sensations, a few memories, which meant he'd possibly been aware, but he never pursued it since. Nor would he talk about it, becoming agitated and defensive. He didn't even want to come to the lessons – not that he knew what Hermione was learning. Severus wanted them to be a secret.
Processor McGonagall's classroom hadn't change at all since he'd been a student. Behind the professor's desk and the small detached blackboard for assignments and her the magical blackboards and along the walls were cages for the animals she used in her lessons, all brightly lit by the high windows. He enjoyed watching Processor McGonagall's blackboards show the magical diagrams of the technique of the Animagus transformations – he'd always liked those blackboards.
"Well, Miss Granger, I believe that is enough for today. I daresay you are becoming quite proficient," Processor McGonagall said, flicking her wand at the blackboard, changing the images to variations of the Avifors Spell showing transforming rats into birds. The spell was viewed as a jinx when used to transform certain creatures into birds, but he assumed rats didn't count. Well, one might – Pettigrew came to mind.
"Ready?" he asked Hermione and opened the door for her. Draco was standing beside the door, twirling his wand.
"How'd she do?" he asked. "Get any of the animal dung on you?"
"I'm fine, Draco. No dung at all, thank you for asking," she quipped.
But as they neared the stairs, Cillian caught sight of Hufflepuffs, Ernie, Hanna and Charles, with Ravenclaws, Claudia and Geraldine, helping students from their houses up the stairs, several of them limping.
"Looks like the badger and birds had detention with Filch," Draco commented, but Cillian told him to, "Hush," and to keep quiet.
"They were probably breaking the rules," Draco stated.
Cillian was getting tired of the attitude. "You do realize they are the fourth and fifth years Alecto and Amycus are targeting? And to put them in chains – for what? How much trouble could they be getting into?"
"I dunno, ask Hermione. She, Potter and the Weasel were always getting into mischief they had reason to be doing every year they were here. In fact she's still getting into trouble almost every week. Keeping her safe is a full time occupation."
"Draco, I'm trying to follow the new rules, really I am – but I'm targeted by the Death Eaters every day – all day. You know I am."
"It's hard enough being your friend. It's harder keeping up with my own coursework without having to worry about who is going to do what to you next." Draco sighed heavily. He shot a stinging hex at something on the bottom of the stairs and Hermione gasped in horror, seeing a squirrel fall off the step.
"Draco – No!"
"Fine, but I'm going to bed," Draco snapped, being petulant. "Night Granger, see you in the morning."
Hermione ran forward. "Ginny," she said, gently scooping the inert squirrel up and holding her carefully, trying to see if she was still breathing.
"What is it?" Cillian asked and she immediately said, "It's Ginny!"
He aimed his wand. "Homenum Revelio," he said casting the spell, and then exclaimed, "Crap!" as a wisp in the shape of Ginny revealed herself. He immediately aimed again, saying, "Rennervate" clearly. "She's breathing at least," Cillian said and cast some quick reversal spells until one apparently worked. "Who did this to you?" he demanded from Ginny when she opened her eyes, sprawled across Hermione on the stairs.
"No one did," Ginny said, eyeing him suspiciously as she slid off Hermione to sit beside her on the steps. "What are you going to do – turn me in because I turned myself into a squirrel? By mistake?"
"No one turns themselves into a squirrel by mistake," Cillian snapped. "Who did this to you?"
"And what would you do? Put them in the pillory – into a gage in the Entrance Hall or turn them into Filch," Ginny argued. "Oh, I forgot – Slytherin's get house points for cursing students opposed to your Dark Lord. The Slytherin house points jar has expanded to the size of a puncheon barrel!"
"Cillian, I'll tell you if you promise to keep this secret," Hermione pleaded.
"You know? How could you know?" he asked as Ginny pleaded for her not to tell him.
"Gin, it's okay?" Hermione turned to him. "Because—"
"Because I've been watching you – I've seen how you are, and I know it was you who gave my friends the potions – the ones that Draco has been brewing in the old Potions classroom" Ginny said, her voice low so only they'd hear her. "You're not at all like the other Death Eaters. You don't like what's going on or what the Dark Lord is doing. Yet you're too cowardly to really take a stand."
"I am not a coward," Cillian snarled softly, anger infusing his words as he leaned over them and ripped up his sleeve to expose his Mark. "I am a Death Eater and no one quits without the Dark Lord making his snake bite you when he finds you." But the snake was looser, more relaxed, the lion looking out calmly.
"And if he wins – what then, blind loyalty for fife? Is that really what you want?" Ginny asked.
Cillian repaired his sleeve, pulling it back into place. Holy shite! But she knew. Hermione knew – just as Severus had known since before the eminent fall of the Ministry when he'd put Dianne and her parents on his island. He leaned in closer to the girls. "If you haven't figured it out, I want the other side to prevail – for good. Whatever it takes, but I can't be seen as a traitor. Lives depend on it, people I love. But stop turning yourself into a squirrel, it's dangerous."
"Ginny's Animagus is a red squirrel," Hermione stated.
"And I'm to keep this a secret?" he asked. "Fine, tomorrow, in the classroom on the seventh floor across from that awful tapestry with ballerina trolls."
"We can't?" Ginny stated.
"Why not?" he asked, confused.
"Come to the room behind the Red Knight and the Chinese Fireball on the on the fifth floor down the corridor across from the statue of Boris the Bewildered."
The room beside the Prefects Bathroom supply closet. "I know the statue," he smirked.
That night at dinner, and the next day at breakfast, Cillian noticed gaps in the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. There had been no mention of the student's he'd seen being escorted up the stairs having been sent to the hospital.
By lunch several teachers were showing concern.
By dinner, all the teachers were concerned and Severus initiated another castle wide search to be quietly conducted. But they'd gone missing.
~~o0o~~
I know I'll be asked this question: Why is the Headmasters office on the fourth floor? Well in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the entrance to the Headmaster's Office is stated to be on the second floor. However, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the entrance is on the seventh floor. I split the difference so Severus' year as Headmaster is more centrally located on the fourth floor. This is easily explained my JK Rowling, however, by Hogwarts' magically ever-changing floor plan.
Pimentón is Spanish for paprika.
There is a Physalis infinemundi that was found fossilized in Chubut Province, Argentina. It is estimated to 52 million years old type of Physalis fruit, a Nightshade plant, closely resembling that of the Cape gooseberry, popularly described as a fossil tomatillo. "In fine mundi" means "at the end of the earth" referring to the fact that it grew in the far south regions of South America's temperate rain forest.
Babajide Akingbade was a wizard who succeeded Dumbledore as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. Akingbade attended Uagadou, the African school for witches and wizards.
Puncheon is an old term that refers to the barrel's size. A puncheon holds 500 liters of liquid, which makes it about twice the size of a typical wine barrel.