Alone in The Wizarding World Chapter 3 (Broomstick, and Red Eyes) (Patreon)

"Back, Fang, back." Hagrid appeared in the crack of the door as it opened, "Hang on. Back, Fang." He let them in, struggling to keep his hold on the collar of an enormous black boar-hound. There was only one room inside the house.

Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire and Hagrid's massive bed stood in the corner, covered by a patchwork quilt. "Make yerselves at 'ome." Hagrid said cheerily, letting go of Fang who bounded straight over to Harry and began licking his ears. "This is Hermione." Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and setting rock cakes out on the table.

"Well, 'ello there 'ermione!" Hagrid smiled at her, "Have a rock cake, both o' yeh. I made 'em meself!" The rock cakes almost broke their teeth, but Harry and Hermione pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid about their first week of lessons. They were both delighted to hear Hagrid refer to Filch the school caretaker as,'that old git.' "An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang some time, if yeh know what I mean. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can' get rid o' her - Filch puts her up ter it." Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry and Hermione not to worry about it and that Snape liked hardly any of the students.

"But he seemed to really hate me." Harry insisted. "Rubbish!" Hagrid said, "Why should he?" Yet Harry couldn't help but notice that Hagrid hadn't quite met his eyes when he said that.

Harry looked at Hagrid's eyes, he knew there was something he wasn't telling him, but before Harry could ask again, he felt his head spinning, suddenly images flying by so fast that he could hardly understand what he was even seeing.

"He's innocent"

"You're Nothing but a Giant"

Harry suddenly stumbled back into his chair, feeling as if his head was splitting open.

"Harry, Are you okay?" Hermione asked, the first to notice that Harry wasn't alright, Hagrid on the other hand looked lost, almost as if he couldn't understand where he was.

Looking around the small house, soon his face turned to normal before rushing to Harry who now felt better.

"Arry my Boi, you alright?" Hagrid asked with concern, wondering if he needed to go to Hospital Wing but the young Wizard just shook his head in denial. He didn't need anything, it was just his head playing tricks with his mind. Again.

Hermione on the other hand nudged his shoulders, gaining his attention.

"Harry, perhaps you" "I am Fine" Harry interrupted her with a rather harsh and loud tone, Hermione was taken aback by his sudden change of tone, but ignored it, perhaps she was being a bit too clingy?

After the tension went away, the young wizards decided to continue the conversation where they left off.

"Yer got any homework this week yet?" Hagrid asked Hermione trying to ease the tension around them. Harry wondered why Hagrid suddenly changed the subject since they were talking about Snape.

Interesting, to hear such a sad story, but next time be more sly with your intentions, my blood body.

Harry almost flinched at the voice again, he wondered what he meant, whose sad story, and what did he mean by 'Blood Body'?!

Harry wondered if he should talk with Dumbledore about the voice on his head, after all, Dumbledore was supposed to be the Wizard of all Good and everything, against the likes of Voldemort, but then Harry heard a laughter at the mention of the Old Wizard of Light.

You will soon understand, that a man like him is neither bright nor a living legend, in many ways he is worse than the dark lord.

Harry was about to ask what he meant with worse than dark lord when Hermione softly nudged his shoulders.

Harry looked back at her with confusion written all over his face.

"You seemed lost!" Hermione said but Harry just told her again that he was alright, Hermione seemed to not be convinced but didn't decide to ask more further and pressure Harry into answering.

While Hermione explained all of the homework that they had already received (and that she had already completed), Harry picked up a piece of paper that was under the teapot. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet: GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts' goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken.

The vault that was searched (713) had, in fact been emptied earlier that day. "But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon. Harry couldn't believe it. Vault seven hundred and thirteen was the vault Hagrid had taken him to, where he had told Harry not to speak of whatever it was that was inside it.

"Hagrid! That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've happened when we were there, or just after we'd left!"

This time, there was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes.

He grunted and offered them both another rock cake. As Harry and Hermione walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Harry pulled the newspaper cutting out from his sleeve to read again. "You stole it?" Hermione gave Harry an incredulous look.

"I need to look at it properly. Look, when Hagrid took me to Gringotts on my birthday, after we'd gone to my vault to get some money out, we went to another one. Hagrid told me it was top secret Hogwarts business and that I should never speak of it to anyone."

"So, you stole from him and told me something you'd promised him you wouldn't tell anyone?" Hermione raised an eyebrow playfully.

"Um...well, yes, but that's besides the point. See this?" Harry held the paper out for her to read, "The vault they tried to rob was vault seven hundred and thirteen. That's the vault Hagrid and I visited for top secret Hogwarts business!" Hermione's eyes bulged with astonishment, "What? Really? Oh, Harry, what was in there?"

"I didn't actually see what it was." Harry frowned, "There was just this small, grubby old package wrapped in brown paper, that was all that was in there. Then, Hagrid got all secretive about it and made me swear to keep silent."

"All right. So, whatever the thieves wanted, it was what you and Hagrid took out." Hermione thoughtfully looked up at the sky, "Hold on, did you say it was special Hogwarts business?" "Yeah," Harry answered, "that's what he told the head goblin. Hagrid gave him a letter from Dumbledore as well. He said, 'It's about you-know-what in vault you-know-which. Special Hogwarts business, this. Got to give it to Dumbledore,' well, something like that anyway. Sounds as though Hagrid collected it just in time."

Hermione's mouth was hanging open," Harry," she whispered, "that means whatever it is could be here! If Hagrid had to give it to Dumbledore, it must have been very important. Or powerful. Or both."

"You're right!" Harry grinned, "It could be here. But where?" They both thought for a while before they reached the Great Hall. It seemed that they had only just made it in time, for food spread itself across each platter just as they walked in.

But Harry couldn't shake off a strange feeling, if someone had tried to steal whatever was in that vault, then why has Dumbledore hidden that thing in a school of all places, where's many children who wouldn't be able to protect themselves in case of an attack?!

***********

"Good morning, Harry," Hermione beamed at him as he sat down for breakfast. "Morning." It was Thursday, the day that the Gryffindors and Slytherins were going to start Flying Lessons.

Despite his excitement, Harry was still frustrated that he and Hermione were no closer to figuring out what has been in vault seven hundred and thirteen. Malfoy was boasting about how he was an amazing flyer and that it was very unfair that first years weren't allowed to join their house Quidditch teams.

Ron was also rather boastful about his past flying experiences on Charlie's old broom. Harry had heard a long story about how Ron had once narrowly missed a hang-glider several different times in the space of five minutes, and it was beginning to bore him greatly.

Neville was terrified, as his grandmother had never let him near a broom, with good reason too. Harry personally thought that Neville was really rather clumsy, and that a broom would perhaps give him a one-way ticket to a hospital bed. Surprisingly, Hermione was also very nervous about flying. She bored all of the Gryffindors with flying tips that she had gotten from a book called Quidditch Through the Ages. Neville was hanging onto her every word, desperate for anything that might help him stay on his broomstick, but everyone else was pleased when Hermione's lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the post.

A barn owl fluttered over to Neville and dropped him a small parcel. It was a glass ball from his grandmother that was filled with white smoke, "Its a Remembrall!" He exclaimed. "Oh, I've read about those." Hermione inspected the Remembrall with a great interest, "It tells you if there's something you've forgotten. You've got to hold it tight and, if it turns red - oh..." the smoke in Neville's Remebrall suddenly glowed scarlet. "...you've forgotten something..." Neville finished sadly. He sat for a while, trying desperately hard to remember what it was that he'd forgotten, when Malfoy strode past the Gryffindor table and snatched the Remebrall out of Neville's hands.

"Hand it over Malfoy," Harry demanded, slowly approaching towards the annoying blonde who had a smug smile on his face.

Harry didn't know why, but his hand stretched out, his hand open towards the Remebrall, Hermione wondered what he was trying to do, Malfoy was about to taunt him when the Remebrall flew in Harry's hand much to the shock of everyone, Harry just smirked before giving it to Neville who thanked him.

"How did you do that?" Hermione asked immediately, her mind running wild with what Harry just did, Malfoy looked wanting to say something when...

Professor McGonagall, who could spot trouble quicker than any other teacher in the school, was there in a flash. "What's going on?"

"Nothing professor, Malfoy was just being a ferret, isn't that right Malfoy?" Harry asked smugly towards Malfoy who wanted to say something but the watchful eye of McGonagall made him shut up, before walking away with his two loyal dogs.

Watching them walk away, McGonagall walked away as well, Harry snickered but it seemed Hermione had a million questions on her head.

"How did you do that Harry? Can you tell me?" Hermione asked multiple questions, her curiosity peaked, Harry raised his hand to slow her down a bit.

"I don't know, I just raised my hand, and I wanted the Remebrall in my hand, and it just flew in my hand," Harry tried to explain since he really didn't know himself how else to explain it, thankfully they were soon distracted by...

The next thing to arrive was a letter from a small tawny-brown owl. It dropped the thin envelope in front of Hermione. Harry was rather amused to see that there was a stamp sitting in the top left hand corner of the envelope.

"What is that?" Ron asked. "It's a stamp. That's what Muggles use to send post. We...they don't have owls." Hermione explained quickly, turning over the envelope, "I think it's from my mum and dad, yes. They'd put a stamp...oh." A small frown appeared on Hermione's face as she read the back of the envelope. Harry peered curiously over her shoulder. Do not open until 19/09 xox

"Why not?" Harry asked her.

"Oh...see, that's my birthday, so I suspect it's a card from my parents..." Hermione spoke so quietly that her voice was nearly a whisper. "What? Why didn't you tell me? That's in a week!" Harry gaped at her, a sudden thought rushing to his mind. "Um...I don't know, really. I suppose I sort of forgot about it until now..." Harry's mind was still racing. He had to get back up to his dorm before lessons. Pushing his half-empty plate away from him, Harry stood up, "er...I'm just going to the toilet." He lied, hurrying from the room.

***********

Harry dashed up the stairs two at a time and pushed the door of his dorm open. He made his way over to his bed and pulled his heavy trunk out from underneath it. Swinging the lid open, Harry rummaged through it until he found what he had been looking for: a small, lilac paper parcel with a confusing note attached to it.

Mrs. Figg was the Dursley's next door neighbour and was the one who had always looked after Harry when the Dursley's were going somewhere that they didn't want him to tag along to. It was horribly boring at Mrs. Figg's.

She'd show Harry pictures of birds, cats and even fish. Crazy and boring as she was, she could be quite wise every so often. The most interesting thing that had ever happened while Harry was there was her giving him the very same parcel that he held in his hand then.

Harry read the note for what must have been the hundredth time: Dear Harry Potter, This is a bracelet. However, it is not just any old bracelet. The bracelet enclosed in this paper holds powers greater than many people's comprehension. It represents only the closest of bonds. I want you to understand that one day, you will meet someone who means more to you than you may initially think. When this person comes along, you will know. Give it to them. True friendship is rare, but everyone finds that one person who will never leave their side. Find them, Harry, and don't ever let them go. Yours sincerely, Mrs. Figg.

Harry pulled open the lilac parcel to reveal a small silver bracelet. It was a simple chain with a little infinity charm sitting in the middle. Across the centre of the charm the world, forever, had been engraved. He tied the parcel back up gently and placed it into his trunk before pushing it back under his bed. Yes, Harry thought with a smile, understanding the note for the first time, Hermione.

***********

At three-thirty that afternoon, the Gryffindors hurried down to the grounds for their first flying lesson. Every student stood by a broom and, on Madam Hooch's instruction, shouted, "UP!" Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the only few that did. Ron's had simply rolled over on the ground, whilst Neville's hadn't moved at all.

On Harry's left, Hermione shouted at her broom for the third time and it suddenly shot upwards into her hand, taking her by surprise. Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end and walked up and down the rows, correcting their grips. Harry and Ron were delighted when she told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years.

"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off of the ground. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle - three - two -"But Neville, nervous and jumpy, kicked off before the whistle had even touched the Professor's lips. "Come back, boy!" She shouted.

"I-I can't!" Neville yelped, rising higher and higher, like a cork shot out of a bottle. He gasped, slipped sideways off the broom and - WHAM - a thud and a nasty crack sounded out as Neville hit the ground. A lot of people around Harry screamed.

"Broken wrist." Hooch was examining Neville, "Come on, boy - it's alright, up you get now." She turned to the rest of the class, "None of you are to move until I get back! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of here before you can say 'Quidditch'."

No sooner were they out of earshot than Malfoy burst into laughter, "Did you see his face, the great lump?" The other Slytherins laughed, except one of them who just rolled his eyes at their childish behaviour.

"Look," Malfoy darted forwards and snatched something out of the grass, "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."

The Remembrall glittered in the sun as Malfoy held it up. "Give it here, Malfoy," Harry said calmly. Everyone stopped talking to watch. Malfoy smiled nastily, "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect. How about up a tree?"

"Give it here!" Harry yelled, but Malfoy was on his broom and had taken off. He certainly hadn't been lying when he said he could fly well. "Come and get it, Potter!" He shouted. Harry grabbed his broom. "Harry, no!" Hermione grabbed Harry's arm, "You can't! Madam Hooch told us not to move - you'll hurt yourself and they'll expel you!" Harry looked at her worry-stricken face and whispered, "Sorry," before swinging his leg over his broom. Blood pounded in his ears as he kicked off.

"What. An. Idiot!" He heard Hermione say as he began to soar through the air. It was easy; it was wonderful. He pulled his broomstick up a little higher and heard screams and gasps from below him along with an admiring whoop from Ron.

Harry turned to face Malfoy. "Give it here," Harry called,"or I'll knock you off that broom!"

Or spill his Pure BLOOD, We can easily just make him fall from that broomstick.

Harry thought of it, he seriously thought of wanting to hurt Malfoy, but immediately shook his head in denial, but Malfoy's broomstick was already twitching around...

Noo, Harry quickly though, he didn't like the prick, but he couldn't just kill him. Malfoy took back the control of his broomstick.

"No Crabbe and Goyle to save your neck up here, Malfoy!" Harry shouted. The same thought seemed to have struck Malfoy, "Catch it if you can then!" He threw the glass ball high into the air. Harry sped after it as Malfoy streaked back towards the ground.

Picking up speed, Harry grew nearer and nearer to the ball. As the ball got closer to him, however, the ground did as well. He was about a foot away from the ground when his hand found the ball, giving him just enough time to straighten up for a reasonably safe landing. A swarm of cheering students rushed towards him. The first to reach him was Hermione. She leapt onto him, gave him a huge hug and whispered, "Well done," into his ear.

"HARRY POTTER!" Harry's heart sank faster than he's just dived. Professor McGonagall was storming out of the castle. "Never - in all my time at Hogwarts - how dare you - might have broken your neck -" McGonagall was speechless.

"It wasn't his fault, Professor-"

"Be quiet, Miss Granger-"

"But Malfoy-"

"That's enough, Mr Weasley. Potter, follow me, now."

***********

"You're joking!" It wasn't long until dinner and Harry had finished telling Ron what had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. "Seeker? But first years never - you must be the youngest in about-"

"-a century." Harry told Ron with pride. Hermione had walked up to the bench Harry and Ron were sitting on, "Follow me." Hermione demanded. She led the boys to a trophy case that Harry had seen before, but had not really acknowledged. "There, look." Hermione pointed at a large plaque that read, Greatest Gryffindor Quidditch Players of All Time.

Harry followed Hermione's finger properly to see that the largest golden badge on the plaque read: Chaser James Potter 1970

"Harry! You didn't tell me your dad was a Chaser!" Ron cried excitedly. "I-I never knew..." Harry trailed off and smiled at Hermione, who smiled back at him. The only thing that was on Harry's mind at that moment in time was the bracelet.

*********

"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?" Harry and Ron had been eating dinner in the Great Hall when Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had swaggered over to them. "You're a lot braver now you're back on the ground and you've got your little bodyguards with you." Harry said coolly.

"I'd take you on any time on my own." Malfoy sneered, "Tonight, if you want. Wizards duel. Wands only - no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizards duel before, I suppose?" "Of course he has!" Ron spat, "I'm his second, who's yours?" Malfoy looked around and started sizing Crabbe and Goyle up, "Crabbe. Midnight, alright? Meet you in the trophy room, that's always unlocked." As the Slytherins strode off, Harry looked at Ron, with clear anger.

"What was That?" Harry demanded, he was losing his patience.

Ron tried to explain but Harry kept going. "Don't talk in my place Ron, if I wanted a Wizards Duel, I could have just easily said so myself," Harry said/shouted.

Ron just looked down, not knowing what to say before Harry sighed tired.

"Excuse me."

"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying-"

"Bet you could." Ron muttered. "-and you mustn't go wandering about after dark. You're lucky to have escaped any trouble the first time, but you can't just expect that to happen again. Besides, you know Malfoy. He's bound to have some sort of a trick up his sleeve. You could get seriously hurt, or even killed. The least that could happen is you'll lose loads of points for Gryffindor if you're caught - and you're bound to be. Filch will be looking out for anyone whose out of bed after hours. It's very risky of you-"

"And it's really none of your business." Ron said coolly, "Goodbye." As Hermione sighed and walked off, Harry knew she was probably right, but the Potter was wondering something. It was as if something was calling him, What is this?

It seems is calling to you, interesting!

***********

"It's half past eleven. We'd better go."

"All right." Harry climbed out of his bed fully clothed. "You ready?" Ron whispered, sliding out from under his covers, also in his day clothes. "I think so." Harry said uncertainly, pulling his jumper on over his t-shirt. The boys crept downstairs and into the common room. He didn't know but he felt something calling him, he wanted to know what it was.

They almost jumped out of their skins when the lamp flickered on seemingly of its own accord. "I can't believe you're actually going to do this, Harry."

Hermione was sitting on the chair closest to the portrait hole. "You!" Ron whisper-shouted furiously, "Go back to bed!"

"No!" She turned to Harry and gave him a pleading look, "You can't, Harry, you'll get hurt or caught or killed or expelled or-"

"Dear Merlin, how can someone be so interfering?" Ron crossed his arms and glared at Hermione. She, unlike the boys, was wearing her pyjamas. Her arms were bare, and she looked a little cold, but that did not stop her from persisting on.

"Look, this is stupid. You're just going to sneak off to the trophy room to get beaten up by Malfoy, what's the point in that? You know, he may not even show up. He's probably just trying to get you into trouble, seeing as you didn't get expelled for flying after him to get Neville's-" Ron was pushing Harry out of the portrait hole, but Hermione wasn't giving up that easily. She climbed out after them whispering, "Please, there's no point in doing this at all, what are you trying to achieve? This isn't going to work and besides, if you do end up losing Gryffindor lots of house points then that's quite selfish of you, isn't it?"

"Go away." Ron said. "All right, but I warned you-" she turned on her heel to face the portrait hole, "Oh! She's gone. The Fat Lady's gone!"

"Well then, I guess you're sleeping out here tonight." Ron shrugged and started walking away. "Ron!" For the first time in what seemed like ages, Harry spoke, "We're not just leaving her here! Come on, Hermione. You can come as well-"

"No she can not!"

"Enough Ron" Harry shouted back at him with a glare, if he had just kept his mouth shut.

The trio sped down the stairs and ran through the first door to their left. It was a deserted Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.

They sighed with relief. Harry could feel Hermione shivering next to him. He glanced at her; goosebumps covered every inch of her arms as she clutched them closer to her chest, in an attempt to warm them up. "Here."

Harry pulled his red jumper off and handed it to Hermione. "If you were cold you should have brought a jumper!" Ron said irritably. "I...are you sure?" Hermione asked, ignoring Ron.

"Of course, I'm used to the cold..." Harry trailed off, thinking of the cupboard under the stairs at 4 Privet Drive. The thought that he would have to go back there in the summer saddened him.

"Thanks." Hermione gratefully pulled the jumper over her head after giving Harry an apologetic look. It was too big for her, and she had to pull the sleeves up a bit for her to be able to hold her wand properly.

"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner."

"Filch!" Harry's voice was barely audible. "They're in here somewhere, probably hiding." Harry gestured for Ron and Hermione to follow him as he crept silently out of that room and into the next, which was a long gallery filled with suits of armour.

Filch grunted and, terrified, Ron broke into a run - he tripped on one suit of armour's foot, grabbed Harry around the waist and the both of them toppled right into another suit of armour. The clanging and crashing was enough to wake the whole castle.

"RUN!" Harry yelled and the three of them sprinted down the gallery. The sound of their fast, heavy breathing mingled with the slapping of Harry and Ron's slippers on the stone floor and the pitter-pattering of Hermione's bare feet. Not looking back, they swung around the doorpost and galloped down corridor after corridor.

Finally, they ripped through a tapestry that they knew was near their Charms classroom, which was miles away from the trophy room. "I - told - you." Hermione wheezed, clutching a stitch in her side, "I - told you."

"We've got to get back to the common room, now."

Harry panted, leaning against the wall. "I think - Malfoy, he must have tipped Filch off - he...he knew we'd be out of bed - didn't he? He knew we were - going to the trophy room." Hermione gasped. "Probably." Harry sighed, "Sorry for not listening to you..."

"We don't - have time - for that. We need - to go - back, now!" Hermione pushed herself off of the wall so that she was standing up straight. "Let's go." It wasn't that simple. They hadn't gotten more than a few paces when- "Whoopee!"

"Peeves, shut up! You're going to give us all away!" Peeves the Poltergeist had leapt out of the wall in front of them. "Wandering around at midnight, ickle firsties?" He cackled, "Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty."

"Not if you don't give us away, Peeves, please." Ron begged. "Should tell Filch, I should." Peeves' voice was saintly, but his eyes flickered wickedly, "It's for your own good you know."

"Get out of the way!" Ron snapped, taking a swing at Peeves - this was a big mistake.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves yelled, "STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!" Ducking under Peeves, they ran for their lives, right to the end of the corridor, where they slammed into a door, and it was locked.

"This is it! We're done for!" Ron moaned as the boys pushed hopelessly on the door, "This is the end!" They could hear Filch running as fast as he could behind them. "Oh, move over!" Hermione snarled at Ron.

She pulled out her wand, tapped on the lock, and whispered, "Alohomora." The lock clicked, and the door swung open. They piled through it, shut it quickly, and turned to face the room. Hermione gasped. It wasn't a room; it was a corridor.

The forbidden corridor on the third floor. And now they knew why it was forbidden. They were looking straight into the eyes of a monstrous three-headed dog which filled the whole space between the ceiling and the floor. Ron let out a yelp that Harry muffled with his hand. Hermione turned around quickly and groped for the doorknob.

Ron and Hermione run away when the large dog glared at Harry who felt immobile.

Allow Me

His eyes slowly turned red like blood, Harry saw the dog suddenly whimpering; the head in the middle started swinging his head around wildly while the head to the right was crying in pain, while the head to the left tried to bite the head of the second.

Harry smirked before feeling something; whatever it was calling him was under the dog's pawn; Harry understood it wasn't the only thing in this school, there were two more things in the school. Walking away noticing the hidden door on the floor.

***********

"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that in a school?" Ron asked incredulously.

"You don't use your eyes, do you?" Hermione snapped, "Didn't you see what it was standing on?"

"Um...the floor?" Ron suggested loudly, "Wasn't really looking at his feet, I was a bit preoccupied with his three heads!"

"Shush!" Harry whispered. "No, not the floor. It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something." She looked to Harry, "Something important, or powerful-"

"-or both!" Harry finished excitedly.

"What the bloody hell...?" Ron asked, "What are you on about?" Neither Harry nor Hermione was listening. Harry was lost in thought, and Hermione had suddenly snapped, "Well, I hope you're pleased with yourselves. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed before either one of you comes up with another clever idea to get us all killed - or worse, expelled."

Ron stared after her, his mouth hanging open, "She really need to understand her priorities" He said.

It was clear to him now that she and Ron were no closer to settling their differences. That grubby brown package from vault seven hundred and thirteen sat somewhere underneath that dog, and Harry felt sure that they'd have to go back there again. It wasn't until he climbed into bed that Harry realised that Hermione still had his jumper.

Soon