They made it to the bottom of the spiral staircase right as the clock tower began to strike for midnight. Hermione looked over at Viktor, and with a silent agreement, he pushed her towards the stairs as she began to take two at a time. He stayed behind, keeping watch for Filch or anyone attempting to complete the task the same time as them. She fumbled for her wand within her robes, nearly tripping over her own feet, but managed to wiggle it out of her pocket, the feather still kept tightly in her other hand.
Hermione broke through as the moonlight seeped into the domed tower, her eyes flashing towards the circular fixture that took over a large part of the centre of the room. With a glance at her watch, it was only a few minutes past and nothing was glowing like the riddle had stated. She wondered if every night the dome would glow, or if they missed that part in the riddle, meaning there were only specific days they could complete it. She walked over towards the edge to look out onto the grounds, Hagrid’s hut looming in the shadows as his windows blazed from the fire within. She smiled, he had been such a help since returning and was showing great leadership skills when it came to managing the Gryffindor house.
A humming caught Hermione’s ear and she turned around, another glance at her watch -- ten minutes past -- and the orb in the middle of the room was radiating. Blood rushed to her ears as panic swept through her quickly, heart beating heavily in her chest. Hermione walked closer, knowing she had to touch it. Reaching out, delicately she placed her hand on the metal and almost instantly she felt a pull behind her.
Caught in a whirlwind of colours and textures, she closed her eyes to keep herself from getting sick, and once she felt her feet land on solid ground, Hermione opened her eyes to realise she was standing in the library. She was confused, looking around as if it were a mistake -- why was she transferred here and not to the restricted area like the riddle had promised? And just as she thought that her hand came to slap her forehead. “Of course, the restricted section at Hogwarts!” She whispered to herself, still dumbfounded by her understanding. It was in front of her the whole time.
Following the riddle’s next instructions, she lit her wand and began to scan the shelves, looking for a book to levitate the feather with. After a while, she was just going to choose any random book until her wand and eyes fell upon a purple bound book labelled Book of Spells. Once again, she hit her forehead. ‘Behind the bindings of a book entirely of spells’ was just a fancy way of saying Book of Spells. She grew annoyed with herself and the founding Hogwarts members, rolling her eyes as she pulled the book from the shelf but still excited that everything was falling into place. It was so simple, and she made such a big deal about it.
Finding a table, Hermione placed the book down and opened it to a chapter on levitation. Placing the feather above the pages, she flicked her wand and muttered out, “Wingardium Leviosa,” and flawlessly, the feather began to rise into the air.
It grew higher and higher into the library, avoiding all control from Hermione, and began to glow as it reached a certain point. Suddenly, the feather morphed into a badger with glowing red eyes and it smiled down at her. She had done it. It was so simple, Hermione thought there was more to be done, but as the badger opened its mouth, she knew the next task was about to be spoken.
“Well done, once again you have succeeded in figuring out the wish. Like prior, the riddle will be verbally spoken to you and you must remember it, for there is no parchment.” She nodded frantically, ready to listen. The badger opened its mouth again,
“The Third Task is simple, for those who are loyal, only those dedicated and patient can prove their worth for the wish. Hidden in the thickness of trees, patches of land encircle a clearing. To reach the final riddle, fill the patches with magical plants and allow them to bask in the moonlight. Only then will the fourth task reveal itself to you.”
Hermione nodded as she repeated the task over in her mind, and with a little pop the badger burst into flames and turned back into her feather. Instantly, she felt the tug on her robes again and she spiralled back into the Astronomy Tower. Swaying, she ran back down the stairs towards Viktor where she shared the news with him.
These days, Ginny felt herself falling into a routine of sorts. She’d wake up, go to class, eat lunch, return to class, do homework, eat dinner, go to practice, do homework, and then finally go to sleep. Granted, this routine mirrored that of many other Hogwarts students, but Ginny Weasley wasn’t the routine type of girl. Winging it was her best strategy, and just going with the natural flow of life, coming and going as everyone else pleased – it didn’t sit right with her. But yet, here she was, so desperate to just blend in for once. After everything from the war, she just wanted to be normal – not Harry Potter’s ex-girlfriend, and not Ron Weasley’s little sister and ESPECIALLY not the stupid first year who opened the chamber. At this point, blending in seemed like the safest option.
It was the conclusion of her day, which meant that she, among the many other students who were bound to the same daily routine, were getting ready for bed. Sleep always proved to be difficult. In fact, she hadn’t a decent nights rest in a long while. The same thing happened after the chamber incident, where she couldn’t sleep for weeks on end at a time. It got to the point where her parents had to start providing her with sleeping droughts. Eventually she got better, but the dreams would still plague her every so often, now being no exception. Between the war and her past, Ginny’s dreams would often start off sweet, until You-Know-Who returned and destroyed everything in a snap of his snake-like fingers. So, despite sleep meaning the end of her mundane routine, it was also her least favorite part of said routine.
Collapsing into her bed, she rolled over to look at Hermione. With Hermione having to repeat a year, that now meant she could be Ginny’s roommates, which was nice considering Ginny couldn’t stand the group of girls in her year. She always found that she got on better with Ron’s friends, anyway.
“ How was your day? ” She inquired, figuring she’d keep the conversation light. “ Solve anymore of that stupid riddle? ”
Since returning, the dread of being back at Hogwarts weighed heavily each passing day. Some days, Hermione found herself reasonably coping with the memories, seeking sanctuary in the library, out on the grounds (when the weather was nicer) and even visiting Hagrid. Little things kept her mind at bay, and since the start of the riddle and completing the task with Viktor, the idea of having her parents back was closer than imagable. She used that fantasy to keep her going, along with her studies, and knew eventually everything would be over and she’d be back in her flat with Crookshanks. Why she thought to return was an excellent idea was beyond her, the greed of knowledge and N.E.W.T.s seemed more satisfying at the time than her own well-being. As she flipped a page in her book, she knew this was just nightly thoughts, and knew better than to question her actions of returning to the one place she watched so many murdered.
The sun had settled and the dorm was quiet, there was nothing but the sound of shuffling feet outside the door and the scraping of her paper against her sheets whenever Hermione turned a page in her book. It wasn’t long before the door rattled and someone slipped through-- Ginny, and she walked over and plopped down onto her bed. Hermione had half of her curtains open, enough to look over at Ginny from her bed but to also be concealed from the door and the other four-posters. She really didn’t care much for her other roommates, Ginny was the only exception-- she was her best friend, besides the boys, and probably the one that understood her the most.
“Usual day-- spent the time doing work, spent some time with Hagrid. Classes were as normal.” Hermione folded the corner of her page and placed the book down on her side table, shuffling in her bed as she turned to look at Ginny. “Viktor and I are going to work on it in the library. We might also solve it tomorrow, depending on how things go.” Her fingers twiddled together, the anxiety of it all really bubbling up within her. She just wanted this to all be over, to have her parents, and to get the year done with. “Did you have practice today? How was it, and the team?”
“Maybe I could tell her of the mess you’re making,” Draco suggested, pausing in front of the table and folding his arms over one another. “Don’t worry, I’d be way too easy. I’d like to beat you fairly instead of by getting you banned from the library.” As fair as Draco Malfoy could do, anyway. Rules were going to be broken anyway. They had to, since the riddle required for Daphne and him to be away from the common room past midnight ( oh, the horror of breaking such an important rule ). “Sneaking around with a professor past curfew,” he said, studying her with a slight smirk on his face. Too bad the Astronomy Tower wasn’t the romantic getaway that they may have been hoping for. “And before you say I’m being an ass and slap me like you did with Zabini, you may consider realizing I’m sneaking around past curfew with my girlfriend’s best friend. So much gossip and none of it true.” Maybe Granger just needed to learn she was inevitably going to be the subject of rumours now that she was world famous for helping defeat the Dark Lord. “We don’t need to try, we’ll get it,” he corrected her.
Hermione rolled her eyes with slight annoyance, trying to not overthink his words. “I didn’t slap him because of gossip, I slapped him because he was foul. He whistled at me, like some kind of dog, and kept provoking. I’m not going to stand there and just let it happen.” Her arms came to cross over her chest, knowing that the extent of slapping Blaise was rather dramatic, but she didn’t regret it. With a dismissive wave, she wanted the conversation to be over, and as he stated confidently that he and Daphne would achieve the next riddle, curiosity got the better of her. “What are you and Daphne going to wish for, if you make it?”
At Hermione’s words, he couldn’t help but clutch at his chest, ever so dramatically, and act as if her sarcasm had sent him to an early grave. Pretending to gasp for air, he managed to mutter out “ Hermione, your words, they’re even more soul crushing than that wall! ” He quickly fixed himself though, knowing that not many people, particularly those close to the situation, don’t exactly find his repertoire of wall jokes as amusing as he does. But hey, it’s the only thing that keeps him from circling the drain of absolute depression and devastation.
As the pair continued to the back of the shop, Fred couldn’t help but laugh along with Hermione. The two had spent a lot of time together this summer, and as a result, they grew quite close. In fact, Fred considered her to be one of his closer mates now, and he was very much surprised to find that the Hermione Granger had a sense of humor – who’d have thought? “ You know, I think you’re on to something here.. Poor Georgie, so misguided. I wonder what snapped in him for him to end up this way.. ” Shaking his head, he couldn’t help but laugh at the prospect that his twin actually gave up his womanizing ways for a patch of bloody grass. Although, stranger things have happened.
Opening the back door, Fred lead Hermione into the back room, where there were stacks beyond stacks of boxes, each containing a prank desperately waiting to be unloaded on an unsuspecting victim. Though, that’s not what caught Fred’s gaze – it was the three sweaters folded on a table. Walking over to them, he handed them to Hermione. “ Are these yours? If not, they’re definitely one of George’s girls, so in any event, just take them. Not like he’d see them again. ” After a short pause, he looked back to her with a wink, “ Though if they are theirs, you’ll definitely wanna wash them first. ”
She couldn’t help the eye roll at his dramatic antics, wanting to comment on how him and his brother were the most theatrical people she’s ever met but decided against it. When Fred made the comment about the wall, Hermione sucked in her breath and bit her lip, wanting to seem like she was being a good sport by understanding his way of coping was literally with morbid humour. It was tasteless, but there wasn’t much she could do. Again, Hermione was reminded how she couldn’t control everything. Some things just wouldn’t change, and Fred finding relief through comedy, even though it hurt her and his family, they had to deal with it.
She took the sweaters, rather unwillingly, into her arms as Fred handed them over. They didn’t look like hers, and the more is inspected them, the more she began to pull off blonde strands of hair from the wool. “I don’t think I want them, to be frank.” She admitted, handing them back to Fred, slightly disgusted yet slightly amused. “Let George know I wish him the best, however. Blonde is a big step up from green.”
@brightestwitchxmione a closed starter.
It was a matter of fact that Hermione Granger could most often be found in the library. Draco checked the prefect schedule and she wasn’t supposed to patrol any halls or schedule anything and she wasn’t in the Great Hall either, making the library the most logical option. He wasn’t wrong, even if others may not have seen her due to the books laying around her.
‘Madam Pince will throw an angry fit if she sees how many books you have laying around,” he said by way of greeting. “I was wondering if Krum and you were ever going to solve the riddle so Daph and I can too. I’m getting bored but if we solve it first we’ll be accused of cheating and whatnot and I don’t want to put Daph through that. So are you almost done?”
She looked up from her books, quill frozen in her hand midsentence as Draco approached the table. Her eyes trailed over all the texts she had taken out, some for homework and others for the riddle her and Viktor were working on. “Well, best she doesn’t find out,” Hermione greeted right back, dropping the quill into the ink pot to rest as she pulled away from her studies. “We’re going tonight, we have to wait until after midnight.” She explained but was sure he already knew what the riddle entailed. “Tomorrow the score should change and you and Daphne can go ahead and try for yourselves.”
Viktor had been nervously keeping an eye on the clock, fingers tapping rhythmically on his desk as he tried to do something productive in the hours leading to midnight. But he couldn’t focus on grading essays or making lesson plans with what he and Hermione were about to do. They were likely the first ones to crack the second riddle, unless they ran into someone else tonight. He really hoped that wouldn’t happen.
It was unlike Hermione to be late. Viktor didn’t know if she’d been caught by Filch, though he thought her smarter than that, or if she’d decided to wait because there was another part of the riddle they still needed to work out. Finally she showed up with just four minutes left until midnight. There was no time to catch up, they had to move or risk missing it and someone else using tomorrow to solve it, making them lose their lead. “Let’s go, ve haff to hurry.” He was out behind his desk and heading down the hallway faster than someone his size should be able to move. The castle was eerily quiet, even for being after curfew. Usually there was a ghost moaning or Peeves setting up something troublesome but tonight nothing.
Hermione ran behind him, trying to keep her footsteps quiet so they wouldn’t alarm the caretaker or his cat. She really let the time cut close, but she wasn’t too worried. The riddle said when ‘midnight was past due’ so they didn’t have to be at the Astronomy tower exactly at Midnight.
Climbing up steps, two at a time, and trying to keep her pace with Viktor, Hermione slowed down once they were just outside the spiralling staircase leading to the tower. “I’m assuming there is going to be a portkey or something-- the glowing orb mentioned in the riddle. Let’s just make sure we’re both holding on once we get there. Wherever this restricted place might be, it could be dangerous.”
Hermione was cutting it close; it was almost midnight and she was running down the deserted hallway, Head Girl badge pinned on her robe as it slammed against her chest, an excuse to be out late after curfew. She held her wand in one hand and the other loosely gripped a feather, afraid that if it were damaged the riddle wouldn’t work. She slowed down to a walk once she reached Viktor’s corridor, standing outside his office door as she knocked lightly, chest pounding from her sprint but also from the nerves that were slowly eating her away. She tried to catch her breath as she waited for the door, “Viktor? It’s me.”
“Hermione, hermione – there’s just so much you simply do not know.” His tone was teasing, because in all reality, there was just too much she knew. Fred, however, enjoyed the innocent banter that came along with Hermione being so smart – it made her clever and witty, though it also gave Fred some source of material. When in doubt, just call her a nerd. “To every macho man, much like myself, there are several things that must be done properly.” He lowered himself off the latter, now facing her completely. Holding up his fingers, he counted aloud all the proper man etiquette he was about to bestow upon her. “One, a man always does his job properly, no short cuts – this isn’t potions. Two,” His second finger now rose next to his first, “Real men always chug back a brew in its entirety, and well three,” This time he had a light smirk on his face, bringing his hand to pat on her back lightly, “You’ll find out when you’re older, young one. All in due time.”
Walking past her, he motioned her with his head to follow him towards the back of the shop in the storage closet. “By the way, I found some old sweaters in the back, I’m assuming they’re yours.” He continued walking, looking back to see if she were behind him, “That is unless George is charming some sheila and hasn’t told me – but that’s unlikely, I’ve spread a rumor he’s been shagging some grass.” He shrugged it off, as if this was the most normal thing a brother could do.
“If only that were true, Fred,” She teased just back, her fingers twiddling against her arms that were crossed over her chest. She continued to watch him as he descended the ladder, her eyes coming to meet his gaze as he stood in front of her. Standing her ground, chin lifted as a smile tugged at her mouth, Hermione observed Fred as he began to count on his fingers. The more he spoke, the more her eyes rolled, and eventually, she closed them because she could not take any more of his nonsense. As he patted her back, she swatted his hand away, her eyes sharply opening once again. “Unfortunately, dearest Fred, you are not the macho man you think yourself to be.” She joked at him, shrugging her shoulders. “But I’m sure if you can dream it, you can be it. All in due time, young one.”
Turning round, Hermione followed Fred as he motioned towards the back of the shop, passing by a few lurkers who were testing some jokes to debate whether they should buy. “I’ve heard the rumour circulate. Even as a professor you can’t seem to keep your nose out of gossip,” Hermione teased, slipping into the backroom as she looked for the sweaters. “I doubt they’re mine, I tend to keep track of my things. Maybe he is buying sweaters just to leave them lying back here as a prank-- to distract you from the whole ‘shagging’ grass situation. To make you think it’s girls and not the quidditch pitch.”
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