Unique (Hermione x M! OC)

7. Together and Divided

I walk with the group as Harry, Ron and Hermione try to convince Hagrid of Snape's nonexistent foul play. "Nonsense. Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?"

"Who knows?" Harry asks, "Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?"

"Who told you 'bout Fluffy?" Hagrid demands.

"Fluffy?" Ron asks.

"That thing has a name?!" Hermione asks in disbelief.

"Well, of course he's got a name. He's mine. I bought him off an Irish feller I met down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-"

"Yes?" Harry asks.

"Shouldn'ta said that. Don't ask any more questions. That's top secret, that is." Hagrid says.

"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it!" Harry pushes.

"Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher."

"To be fair, that'd be a perfect ploy to work under our noses." I throw in. Stay neutral, Sammy, stay neutral.

"Exactly! Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a curse when I see one. I've read all about them. You have to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking." Hermione explains.

"Exactly." Glasses agrees.

"Now, you listen to me, all four of you. You're meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in. It's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel." Hagrid stops.

"Nicolas Flamel?" Harry asks.

"I shouldn' of said that. I should not have said that. I should not have said that."

"Nicolas Flamel...Who's Nicolas Flamel?" Harry ponders. The name lingers in my head, and I can't place why. I stop to think.

"I don't know." Hermione whispers.

"I've heard that name in Dad's studies." I recall in realization. "He's immortal, he created something... shit! I can't remember."

Hermione grabs my hand, "We'll go to the library together." Then realizes she grabbed my hand and drops it.

It's been two months and Christmas season has come around. It's Mom's favorite holiday. I smile weakly at the memory as Ron and Harry play a heated game of wizard's chess, a game my Dad taught me to play. I suck at it. Hermione shows up with her suitcase and watches Ron's queen decimate a knight with a chair shot.

"That's totally barbaric." She says.

"That's wizard's chess." Ron shrugs, "I see you've packed."

"I see you haven't." Hermione rebuttals.

Ron sighs, "Change of plans. My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother Charlie. He's studying dragons there!"

"Good, then you can help Sam and Harry look for information on Nicolas Flamel."

"We've looked a hundred times!" Ron declares.

"Not in the restricted section." She says.

I slide on my leather coat and beanie before standing up, "I'll walk you to the train!"

She smiles at me before turning to the other two. "Happy Christmas." Then we walk out together. All too soon, we're at the train, "You promise to write?"

"Scouts honor." I say, smiling, "I'm gonna miss you."

"I know. I don't know what you'll do without me."