Hermione's Revelations

Hermione anxiously awoke from her slumber; thoughts of her dreams were swimming through her head. She focused all her energy on remembering. . . there had been a bird, a red bird full of warmth on her bedside-and it had left something.

Hermione rose out of her bed; the dormitory was pitch black and she supposed it was very late. She had only taken a few steps before she heard the soft flutter of something light being dropped on the floor. It took her a second before she noticed the letter on the ground- it seemed to be giving off a faint glow. Not wanting anyone to see her reading the mysterious letter, she rushed downstairs to the light of the common room fire.

The envelope was addressed to Ms. Hermione Granger in a quite familiar loopy hand. Ideas raced through her head- why was Dumbledore writing to her, especially now? Hermione ripped open the letter rather quickly and read:

Ms. Granger,

Arthur Weasley has been attacked while doing work for the Order. It is urgent that you come to my office right away. Be discreet, teachers will be patrolling the corridors.

Quickly!

Quite confused and now wide awake, Hermione set off. She was terrified at the prospect of Mr. Weasley being hurt... did Harry and Ron know what had happened, was he OK? Ignoring the "be discreet" message of Dumbledore, Hermione galloped through the hallways toward his office. It was only when an extreme chill overcame her did she stop.

Hermione turned her head; a familiar pearly white figure hovered behind her.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Ms. Granger- it is quite late to be roaming the corridors, you know."

"I know, but Sir Nicholas, it's quite urgent. . . Dumbledore has sent for me right away, there was an accident with a friend and. . . ."

"Ah I see, no need to worry than, off you go, but be warned Ms. Granger that Professor Umbridge is patrolling the corridors by Professor Dumbledore's office."

Panic immediately set in. Hermione needed to get there, but how could she possibly find a way past that evil woman. Nick apparently took notice of the look of shock and horror on her face-

"Alas Ms. Granger, you do not need to look quite concerned, I trust that you can keep a secret for the greater good?"

"Of course."

Nick hesitated. "There is another way to the headmaster's office. You see when Hogwarts was young, each founder had his or her own office and they were all linked to each other as well as their houses' dormitories. I dare say you are familiar with your common room fire?"

"Well, yes of course..."

"Just step through it Ms. Granger."

"That's all?"

"Yes, but be warned, those passageways have not been used in centuries. Be careful, and be sure to keep them secret!"

Hermione was back in the dormitory within seconds of the end of her conversation with Nick. She stood there, staring at the flaring fire. She decided to put a tickling fire charm on her before she ventured through the flames. After all, Nick was dead and he may not have realized she couldn't safely walk through fires without being scorched.

Slightly scared, Hermione stepped through the flames. The tickling charm was not needed for she did not laugh one bit. Instead she passed the fire and stepped through an apparently solid wall. She was met with an extremely grimy hallway, but amazingly bright. Green flamed-torches hung on the walls and lit the way down the corridor. Hermione walked very slowly keeping her wand raised just in case. After what seemed like a lifetime she reached a circular room filled with doorways. But where doors and handles should have been there were bright walls of different colored flames.

She looked around in wonderment. A noise in the distance alerted her to reality. She would have to chance the correct doorway. With a deep breath she stepped through the doorway of sapphire flames. She opened her eyes with a surprised sigh of relief. She was in an almost completely empty room, yet still one of the most gigantic rooms she had ever seen. Except. . . a twinkle in the far corner of the gigantic room grabbed her attention. Curiosity got the best of her and she slowly inched toward it. As she got closer a beautiful mirror became ever more apparent. Its gold, although dusty and old, gave off a heavenly glow.

It was a strange feeling for Hermione- she had never been in such a calm and serene room, a room where she felt at home. The mirror and the moonlight only added to the mysterious atmosphere. Hermione gazed in awe for what seemed like hours before she noticed the words. There was an inscription carved around the top. She squinted to read it by moonlight. The words were in an unfamiliar language, but she still tried to pronounce them in her head. . ."Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on woshi."

Hermione stepped in front of the mirror. Her gasp echoed throughout the room. . . .