The Seven and The Hidden Child

Chapter 22

"Get this bloody cat off of me!" Draco screamed to the giggling girls.

"Croockshanks, come on down. Please. Leave the angry ferret alone," Hermione coaxed to the cat clawing at Draco's lap.

Crookshanks stopped and looked up. He tilted his head to the side before going back to attacking Draco. Draco growled towards the girls, his anger clear. Crookshanks had stayed at the castle ober the summer. McGonagall had requested for an intelligent intellectual to stay with her, amd had asked to watch Crookshanks.

"Crookshank, come on. Malfoy will kill me of you ruin his clothes," Hermione pleaded with the cat.

"Hell right I will!" Draco exclaimed.

Hermione sighed and went over. She grabbed the large cat and yanked him off. It took a couple of tries, but his claws finally slacked against Draco's clothing and allowed Hermione to pull him off. Crookshanks then left through the open portrait hole, wagging his tail behind him.

"I hate that bloody cat," Draco scowled dusting the orange hair off of him.

"He's getting used to you," Hermione tolled her eyes.

"Well keep him far away from me," Draco growled.

"No promises," Hermione smiled sweetly.

The portrait hole suddenly slammed closed. Blaise stood leaning against it with a huge grin on his face. The girls giggled slightly at his expression while Draco just smirked.

"I take it the date went well?" He asked rhetorically.

"She's amazing when she's not insulting me," Blaise gushed happily sitting next to his friend on the leather couch. "We had dinner and talked about everything. And then we went down to the lake and just sat together for a long time before we had to come back. I took her to her house and told her I thought she had amazing eyes before she went in and . . ."

"And?" Ginny asked hanging onto every word coming from Blaise's mouth.

"She kissed my cheek! It was so magical. She agreed to meet at the library Wednesday to study together," Blaise sighed happily.

"Aw, he's in love," Hermione teased.

"What? No I'm not!" Blaise spluttered suddenly acknowledging the girl's presence. "When did you two get here?"

"We've been here. But you are so in lobe with Hannah," Hermione smiled.

"No, I'm not!" Blaise exclaimed waving his hands around.

"Really?" Ginny asked raising an eyebrow.

"I really, truly hate to agree with Grands and Weasley, but yeah mate. You're in love. This actually explains why you'd watch the Hufflepuff tabke in fifth year," Draco agreed.

Blaise threw his arms up in frustration and left the room grumbling over 'idiot roomates'. Draco rolled his eyes and followrd his friends quickly.

"Have you noticed there hasn't been a sinle major arguement yet?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, weird isn't it?" Hermione sighed in agreement. "I mean Zabini, you and I, I can understand. He's easy to tolerate. It's the fact that the biggest died we've had with Malfoy since Diagon Alley was over Crookshanks."

"Well, it has only been a day. I guess we give it time," Ginny decided.

"Yeah," Hermione responded absentmindedly.

. . . . .

Monday moening came by quicker than Hermione liked. It had a slight advantage, however. Being the Head Girl, she had gotten to see her schedule early that day. It wasn't half bad either. First she had Arithmancy followrd by Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and then Charms with Ravenclaw. After that was lunch and a free period before double potions with the Slytherins.

"I'm hoping to catch Neville at some point today," Hermione decided while changing into black leggings and a grey shirt.

"Yeah?" Ginny called from the open bathroom door where she was doing her hair and makeup for the day.

"He still has my book," Hermione declared.

Ginny emerged from the bathroom and gave a heavy sigh. She slung her bag over her shoulder while Hermione did the same. Ginny waited until they had left their room and begun descending the stairs before she finally responded.

"I think you should ket him keep it," Ginny said softly.

"Are you crazy?" Hermione gaped.

"Mione, that book is dangerous," Ginny pleaded. "You heard what Neville said. The book is the reason his parents are in St Mungo's insanity ward!"

"So?" Hermione asked stubbornly.

The two girls were standing face to face in front of the fireplace. Neither one had noticed Blaise and Draco sitting on one of the white leather couches. The two boys were watching with interest. Ginny and Hermione weren't the kind of people to fight with each other.

"So? Hermione, that book has killed people. Neville is the onky one safe from it. You heard what he said! His mum read it to him when he was a baby. It affected his mind a bit, but now he can read it at a free will."

"I don't care, Gin. I need the book. There's something important in there. I just . .   I don't know what it is yet. I need to know," Hermione explained.

"No, you don't. You only want because you're Hermione Granger and love to know everything. It's in your blood to be curious. But you can't with this book. It might kill you!" Ginny exclaimed. She couldn't understand why Hermione wasnt understanding. The book might kill her.

Hermione glade at her friend with a cold look in her eyes. "I will get that book and you aren't stopping me. Don't take to me until you can actually accept that I choose how I live my life."

"Mione! Hermione stop!" Ginny called after the dark haired brunette.

Hermione didn't listen and left the Head Rooms. Ginny stared after. If she wasnt mistaken, she just lost her best friend.

"That was . . . entertaining," Blaise decided.

Ginny sank down into the couch opposite them and put her head in her hands. "She is going to get herself killed. This just isn't like her at all! And now she won't even talk to me."

"What's the deal with this book, anyways?" Draco asked.

"According to Hermione, it's the true history of wizards and witches. Apparently it's written by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. But . . . everyone who has read it or has had it read to then has died or gone insane. Neville's the only one who has survived it." Ginny explained half heartedly.

"So if Granger reads it, she'll most likely die," Blaise said for clarification.

Ginny nodded once befkre returning to her sulking. Neville better have his the book well He was right. Hermione couldn't read the book yet. Ginny frozen as that thought ran through her mind.

Neville had said yet. He was intending on giving Hermione the book back. He was going to let her read it even though he knew the consequences. He wouldn't do that though, right? Ginny anxiously twisted her fingers together as she thought.

Something was going on and she had to find out. But first, she would let Hunter know what was happening. He deserved to know if his sister was in danger.