Chapter 37
Hermione tried her best to put Oliver's worry over her out of her mind. She found that if she focused on it, it only put her into a panic of her own, and she began to second guess herself as she became paralyzed with fear of the unknown. She couldn't afford to have that happen, so she found herself in the library most times when she wasn't in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, pouring over anything that looked even remotely promising, but still turned up nothing, much to her disappointment.
Finally, Christmas arrived. Hermione was able to excuse herself from the festivities in the late morning, after a snowball fight with Ron, Harry, Oliver, Lee and the twins. She headed into the castle and up to the dorm to get a change of clothes, removing her cold, wet ones after a full morning out in the snow after breakfast. On her way, she had stopped by the bathroom and checked on the potion, noting with a smile that it was in its final phase and would be done that evening.
At lunchtime, she met up with everyone again and watched shrewdly, noticing how Crabbe and Goyle practically devoured entire platters of chocolate cupcakes at the Slytherin table.
"Are you alright, lass?" Oliver asked, drawing her back to their conversation about what gifts they had gotten from their families, and what they'd sent back home.
"Yeah," Fred said.
"You seem a little distracted," George added.
"Are the Slytherins bothering you again?" Oliver asked in concern.
"What?" Hermione asked, blinking. "Oh, no..." she said and shook her head. "I'm alright. Hey Fred, could you hand me some of those cupcakes please?"
"Sure," Fred said and moved the platter of cupcakes toward her.
Hermione took several cupcakes from the platter, tossing one to each Ron and Harry, before taking three for herself.
"A bit hungry, are you?" Lee asked, chuckling.
Hermione smiled, and drew her wand, and they watched her curiously.
"Duro," she said, waving her wand over two of the cup cakes, turning them to stone. "Pluma lux," she said again, before putting both stone cupcakes in her bag. "What?" she said, looking up and noticing her friends looking at her. She rolled her eyes. "So? I'm saving them for later, how else am I supposed to keep them from getting smashed or crumbs all in my bag?"
"Never thought of that," the twins said together.
"Yeah," Lee said. "I remember you dumping crumbs out of your bags all the time."
Oliver just grinned and popped a piece of cupcake in his mouth, having pinched off a good sized piece of one before grabbing it completely off the platter.
"Oh, Oliver," Hermione said after a moment, once she'd stored the cup cakes in her bag.
"Yeah?" Oliver asked.
"I was wondering what you thought of my plan, if you shared it with anyone?" Hermione asked.
"What plan?" Lee asked.
"Yeah, what plan?" the twins said together.
"Well," Hermione said. "I'd thought about it a lot, and while they haven't really bothered me any more than usual, I think it's time for a little payback and to put my present to use."
"Go on..." George said curiously, remembering the book of pranks they had gotten her.
"Well," Hermione said. "I thought perhaps I could get some payback and have a little fun doing it, but I need some help."
"What'd you have in mind?" Fred asked.
"Making them lose theirs," Hermione said. "I think it would be fun to watch, though it may take them a while to figure out what's happening."
"Details, woman," George said. "We need details!"
"I thought perhaps we could nick a set of their robes..." Hermione said. "If they're anything like us, they don't have many clean ones left... I think the best place to do it is from the laundry."
Fred and George grinned. "Leave that to us."
Hermione eyed the table again before turning back to the group. "Malfoy's not been too terrible, oddly enough, but Crabbe and Goyle have."
The twins nodded.
"Bulstrode's been a pain as well... She's tried to heavy hand me a couple times."
Oliver and the others looked at her in surprise.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"It's just that..." the twins said.
"You've never mentioned that before, lass," Oliver finished and Lee nodded.
Hermione shrugged. "I know," she said, lowering her voice, feeling scolded. "I just... don't like to feel so useless. Besides, once I got her off of me, I jinxed her, but I'd still like to get her back for it."
"Leave it to us," the twins said, and excused themselves from the table.
"Hermione," Harry said, drawing her attention. "Ron and I are going to the pitch, want to come?"
"No," Hermione said and shook her head. "Thanks though. I have some more research to do. I'll be in the -"
"Library," Harry and Ron said together.
Hermione laughed and shook her head. "See you later."
"So," Oliver asked, leaning over and nudging her with his shoulder, drawing her attention back to him and Lee. "Is that why you've been hanging around those two more?"
Hermione looked at him curiously.
"So Bulstrode doesn't catch you by yourself?" Oliver asked.
Hermione sighed. "Oliver," she said. "Lee, look... I'm okay. Besides, she wouldn't be caught dead in the library." With that, Hermione excused herself and headed off.
Before dinner, the twins flagged her down as she was on her way down the stairs to the Great Hall.
"We got the robes," they said. "Now what do you have planned?"
Hermione looked around. "Do you have them on you?"
"Nah," Fred said. "Too risky."
"They're up in the dorm," George answered.
"Well, I got the perfect place to hide them. Go up and get them and meet me outside the second floor girl's bathroom, hurry, I'll wait for you."
The twins nodded and took off.
The twins returned a short time later, and Hermione thanked them as she took possession of the robes they had pilfered.
"Now all you guys have to do is sit back and watch," she said with a smile, and they high-fived each other with a grin before heading off for dinner.
"Are you going to sit with us?" they asked, turning back when she lagged behind.
"I can't, not tonight," she explained. "I already have plans with Harry and Ron."
"Oh, okay," the twins said. "We'll let Oliver and Lee know."
"Thanks," Hermione said with a smile and a slight wave. "See you later."
She headed into the girl's bathroom after the twins had left and hid the robes in one of the stalls after making sure Myrtle wasn't around to see.
Hermione continued on to dinner and grabbed a plate before sitting down with Harry and Ron.
"Everything's set," she said, keeping her voice low. "We just need a bit of who you're changing into."
"Crabbe and Goyle," Harry confirmed.
"We also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy."
"How?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"I've got it all worked out," Hermione said.
Taking the cupcakes out of her bag, she held them out to Ron and Harry, before drawing her wand.
"Finite Incantatem," she said, and the cupcakes returned to their original soft state. "Don't eat those," Hermione said, looking at Ron who was about to peel back the paper and take a bite.
"Why?" he asked, jerking his hand back and holding the cupcake away from him, looking at it suspiciously.
Hermione sighed heavily and rolled her eyes, snatching the cupcakes back from them. "Because they're not for you."
"What's going on, Hermione?" Harry asked.
She held the cupcakes up. "I've filled them with a simple sleeping draught. Simple, but powerful. When they're out, hide them in the broom cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs." She handed the cupcakes back to them. She paused and grinned as a thought came to her. "And put on their uniforms," she added.
"Whose hair are you pulling out then?" Ron asked.
Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out a small vial. "I've already got mine," she replied, holding the vial up for them to see. "Millicent Bulstrode. Slytherin. I plucked this off her robes. I'm going to check on the Polyjuice Potion," she said, getting up from the table again. "Make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find these," she finished, plunking a cupcake down in front of them.
"All right, fine," Ron said with a sigh, and looked forlornly at the cupcake he couldn't eat.
"Come on, Ron," Harry said. "Let's get this over with."
"Meet me back on the second floor when you're done," Hermione said. "The potion should be ready by now, if not soon."
"Hermione," Harry said a little while later as he and Ron snuck into the bathroom, closing the door behind them quickly. "We got it."
"Good," Hermione said and ladled out three servings of the grey green sludge that was the finished potion. "You're just in time. It's just cooled enough to not burn our mouths and throats when we drink it. We'll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves."
Harry and Ron both looked at the glasses that she handed them rather squeamishly.
Hermione reached into her pocket and got her vial out, uncorking it. "Add the hairs," she said, and dumped the contents of her vial into her own glass.
"Ugh," Ron said after he got a whiff of the potion after dumping the hair in. "Essence of Crabbe."
"Cheers," Hermione said, clinking glasses with them before they each began to drink.
"I... I think I'm going to be sick," Ron said, and dropped the glass to shatter on the floor as he rushed for a stall.
Hermione took a gulp of her own potion. "Me too," she said, and followed suit, going to the next empty stall.
She stifled a gasp, after her stomach stopped roiling, but waited to hear Ron and Harry.
"Harry?" Hermione heard Ron ask, his voice trembling with unease.
"Ron," Harry confirmed.
"Bloody hell," Ron's voice made its way to her where she still hid in the stall.
"We still sound like ourselves," Harry said. "You need to sound more like Crabbe."
"Bloody hell," Ron repeated, making his voice lower.
"Excellent," Harry said.
"But where's Hermione?" Ron asked in his normal voice again.
"I - I don't think I'm going," Hermione said, trying to quell the panic rising inside her. "You go on without me."
"Hermione?" Harry asked after a moment, when she didn't exit the stall. "Are you okay?"
"Just go," Hermione said. "You're wasting time."
"Come on," Harry said, and Hermione sighed in relief when she heard the pair run out of the bathroom. Well, at least as much relief as she could manage at the time. She blinked, staring in shock at the fur that now covered the paws that replaced her hands. How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn't she noticed the difference in the hair that she'd plucked from Millicent's robes? Her mind was in utter chaos for the next hour as she hid in the stall, rocking back and forth, hoping and praying that she was correct and that her transformation was also limited to only an hour... but... she seriously doubted that. The book had said that the potion was only for human transformations... what if.. what if she didn't change back? How was she ever going to explain it to Madam Pomfrey... to Oliver and her other friends?
Hermione tensed suddenly when she heard the sing-song melancholy voice of Moaning Myrtle and groaned, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears that crept out and trickled down into the fur now covering her cheeks and matting it. It had been nearly an hour - almost time for Harry and Ron to return, why couldn't she have stayed away? Hermione wondered bitterly.
"Oh!" Myrtle said in surprise when she noticed Hermione in one of the stalls. "Who's there?"
Hermione turned away from her, but the ghost wasn't having it, and angled in a different direction so she appeared right in front of her. Hermione met the ghost's gaze defiantly, and then deflated when the girl began to laugh when she recognized her.
"Hermione! Come out!" Harry called as the main door burst open and she heard two pairs of footsteps hurry in. "We've got loads to tell you."
"Go away," Hermione called back.
"Wait till you see," Myrtle said, vanishing through the stall door to Hermione's horror. "It's awful." Hermione winced as she heard Myrtle laugh again.
"Hermione?" Harry called, and tried the door. Hermione gasped when she realised she'd forgotten to lock it and turned away swiftly as it was pushed open behind her. "Are you okay?"
"Do you remember me telling you," Hermione said, steeling herself for their laughter. "That Polyjuice Potion was only for human transformations? It was cat's hair I plucked off Millicent Bulstrode's robes," she said, turning slowly to face them. "Look at my face."
"Look at your tail," Ron said, with a grin.
Hermione lowered her head but was thankful that neither outright laughed at her except for Myrtle.
"What am I going to do?" Hermione said sadly, holding up her paws. "I can't hold a quill. I can't go to class like this! I don't even want to think about how long it will take to wear off."
"You could go to the infirmary," Harry suggested. "Madam Pomfrey would help you."
"And tell her what exactly?" Hermione asked.
Harry and Ron looked thoughtful for a moment, before Ron got a smile on his face. "Be right back," he said and raced toward the door.
"Wait!" Hermione called after him. "Where are you going?"
"The twins!" Ron called back. "I got an idea, don't worry, but I want to make sure that they're okay with the story." Without waiting for a reply, he bolted out of the bathroom and off to the tower.
Hermione sighed and sat down on the toilet as Harry sat in the doorway with his back against the stall door, holding it open.
"So," Hermione said slowly after the silence had stretched on between them, becoming uncomfortable. "What was it you had to tell me?"
"Oh," Harry said, blinking back from his thoughts and looking up at her. "The heir of Slytherin," he said. "It isn't Malfoy."
Hermione sighed and nodded. "Honestly, I didn't really think it was."
"But we should be careful," Harry continued.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Because he wants to help whoever it is," Harry explained. "He just doesn't know who it is either."
"Okay," Ron called, entering the bathroom again after a few moments, making Harry and Hermione jump when Ron allowed the door to slam against the wall as he entered. "Everything's set. Fred and George are good to take the hit with the story, but..."
"What story?" Harry asked.
"And but what?" Hermione asked, dreading the answer.
"They like to work on pranks," Ron said. "The story is they pranked you, and it backfired, taking longer to reverse than they expected, and... they don't know how to fix it, so you're going to the infirmary."
"Okay..." Hermione drawled and nodded. "But what?"
"Well, erm," Ron said and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Ron," Harry said warningly.
"They want to see what you look like," Ron finished lamely.
Hermione groaned and ducked her head. "On one condition," she said after a few moments, weighing her options and finding none were better.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"No one else sees me, other than you two, and the twins, and Madam Pomfrey, and you help me write to Oliver and do my homework, I'm sure that Madam Pomfrey can also attest to the fact that I can't write like this," she said holding up her paws. "Nor can I charm a quill without use of my wand which I also can't hold, but there's no way I am going to fall behind in my homework."
"Alright," Ron said. "Deal."
Hermione, Ron and Harry made the twins swear to secrecy before she came out, and just as she thought, they doubled over in laughter like Myrtle. They agreed to the story however, so she was in the clear for the Polyjuice Potion. In the infirmary, she got Madam Pomfrey to allow Harry and Ron to stay with her long enough to send a message to Oliver.
"Want to make it a cat?" Ron asked with a grin when the letter was done.
"Might as well," Hermione said. "But read it back to me first and don't send it to him till you're back in the tower."
Harry cleared his throat and began to read:
25December 1992
Oliver,
I wanted you to know that I had a wonderful time today, but as it turns out, I got pranked by the twins. I'm not sure what they gave me, whether it was something I ate or what, but I'm in the infirmary until I return to normal. Please don't be too hard on them. I know they like their pranks after all.
"No," Hermione said. "Wait. I can't lie to him, it's simply too awful. I mean, I've never lied to him before."
"Okay," Harry said and drew out another piece of parchment, waiting for Hermione to begin after he added the date to the letter.
"Oliver," Hermione began and Harry started writing. "I'm sorry if you won't see me for a while. While I had a great time today, there was a mishap with the potion -"
"He knew about the potion?" Ron asked, surprised.
"Well, of course he did," Hermione said. "He's one of my friends, and your brothers helped too, by the way."
"They did?" Ron asked, blinking.
"Yes, they got us the extra uniforms," Hermione said.
They heard the clearing of a throat and Madam Pomfrey parted the curtains. "It's nearly curfew," she said.
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said. "We're nearly done here. I promise we'll hurry."
"Very well," Madam Pomfrey said and closed the curtains again.
Hermione waited until she heard the matron walk away before she continued, keeping her voice low.
"I'm in the infirmary now, and will be until I return to normal. Harry and Ron have promised to help me with my schoolwork, coming up to see me and taking dictation so I don't fall behind, as the mishap doesn't allow me the use of a wand or quill. I know you'll be worried about me, but I find that this is all rather embarrassing and would really rather you wait to see me until I return to the tower. The official story however, is that the twins were testing out a prank on me and it went wrong. Not sure how long it will take for the effects to wear off, but I hope that it won't be too long before you see me again. Hermione."
Harry nodded as he finished transcribing the letter, and promised to get it to Oliver on their return to the tower. "How do I turn it into a cat?" he asked, getting to his feet.
"Wave your wand over it while you think of it turning into a cat, and it will do it. It works for any animal," Hermione replied.
"Okay," Harry said. "I guess..."
"We'll see you tomorrow?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded. "Oh," she called to them as they turned toward the curtain, making them turn back in question. "Please let Oliver know that he can still write to me if he wants."
Later that night, Hermione was almost asleep when she heard a scratch on the door of the infirmary. It echoed through the stillness of the darkened room, seeming rather loud to her ears. She waited, but nothing in the infirmary moved in response. She felt her ears twitch as she listened hard and felt her tail flick under her, hitting her legs. She looked around, blinking and found that she could see quite plainly in the darkness.
Suddenly, the sound came again, and she carefully moved the covers back from her, using her arms, and sprang from the bed, landing lightly on her feet, smiling slightly when there wasn't a sound to the action. She eased the curtain aside and stepped out into the infirmary beyond, and made her way toward the door, her tail whipping behind her as she saw the source of the sound — A piece of parchment was struggling to wiggle its way into the room from under the door.
She waited, and pretty soon she stifled a laugh as a dog shaped parchment pulled itself free from the room and bounded over to her. She bent down holding out her paws and smiled as the parchment leapt into them, and unfolded itself after circling three times.
25December 1992
Hermione,
Lass, don't be embarrassed, potions mishaps happen all the time. I am glad you told me and that the twins are helping you with a cover story though. I was really concerned that you might get into trouble with the teachers if they found out about the potion. Besides, Harry and Ron had successful transformations, right? I mean, they looked alright to me when they delivered your letter. I take it you look like you're of the feline persuasion based on the form your letter took? It could have been worse, I mean, who wants to be stuck as a Slytherin snake, anyway?
Glad you aren't going to let this hinder your studies though. It's so hard to catch up if you fall behind. I wish you'd let me visit you, but I understand your reasons for not wanting people to see you. I will be happy to write to you if you wish, like this letter, I can charm them to open for you, but you don't have to write to me if you don't want to always dictate to Harry or Ron. Maybe... Maybe Madam Pomfrey could get you a Quick-Quotes Quill? It's an idea at least. Anyway, I hope you sleep well, and I look forward to when you're no longer a kitty, though I bet you look like a cute one. Hermione, little kitty cat -smile-
Oliver
Hermione smiled and hugged the letter to herself, standing in the moonlight a moment, she closed her eyes, and sighed, before turning and heading back to her bed, sliding the parchment under her pillow.