Ambrogia

Chapter Two-Another Disappearance

I sat staring after Malfoy, those words just stuck with me. I've heard them before...yesterday from Danielle.

Professornape turned, and faced us. He opened his mouth to say something, but at that point the bell rang signaling it was time to go to Transfigurations class.

We slowly gathered our things, and Professor Snape began pacing at the front of the classroom.

"Erm, Professor? Are you alright?" I asked, tentatively.

Professor Snape stopped pacing and looked at the three of us. "Have you three noticed if Malfoy was acting strangely before he came into my classroom?"

From the look on Harry and Ron's faces, they were shocked that Snape was actually talking to us civilized instead of snapping at us. "No sir we didn't see him yesterday or this morning, but then he appeared and just entered the class," Harry replied.

"What do you mean you didn't see him yesterday and this morning? I saw him on the third floor just before breakfast," Professor Snape retorted.

"We didn't see him at the Slytherin table and he wasn't at dinner last night...remember?" I said.

Professor Snape frowned. "He wasn't at breakfast that's right. But how could I have seen him on the third floor?"

"Maybe he went to do something up there? And Danielle Peters is missing also," Harry added quickly.

"Danielle Peters? The new girl?" Professor Snape asked, suddenly becoming attentive.

We nodded.

"We last saw her at breakfast yesterday. She and Malfoy went off together and he came back, but she didn't," Ron muttered.

Professor Snape's expression turned serious. "I'll talk to the Headmaster. You're going to be late for your next class," he barked.

We quickly left the classroom.

"Ah there he is," Ron sighed.

"Who?" I asked.

"Snape. When he barked at us to leave," Ron said sighing. "I miss the old Snape."

Harry's lip twitched. "I have to admit, it was nice talking to him in a civilized manner instead of snapping at us,"

"I told you he isn't all inhuman," I scoffed rolling my eyes.

"Funny...he certainly acts inhuman half the time," Ron noted.

I went to reply to him, but Harry held up his hand to silence us.

"Listen...what we need to do right now is find Danielle," Harry said.

"Right. That is really weird how she just disappeared," Ron said, nodding.

I stopped walking and bit my bottom lip. Harry and Ron had walked ahead a bit before realizing I had stopped walking and turned around to look at me.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Harry asked, a look of concern crossing his face as they walked toward me.

"Before Malfoy left, he said something to me," I said, quietly.

"What?" Ron asked.

Harry look quickly changed from one of concern, to one of anger. "If he said anything perverted to you I'll kill him," Harry growled.

"No...nothing like that. He said, 'Is there anymore cute boys here?'"

Ron burst out laughing. I scowled at him. "I knew Malfoy was weird...but now I know just how weird he is!" Ron laughed harder.

"No! Listen! Don't you remember Danielle asking the same question yesterday?" I reminded Ron irritably.

Harry frowned. "Yeah,"

"Isn't it weird that Malfoy knew those exact words and he would've been halfway across the Hall? It would be impossible to hear, unless you've got supersonic hearing. And no one has that," I replied.

Harry studied me. "That is weird... But the way Malfoy was acting today, maybe Danielle told him yesterday, when they had their little 'adventure'?"

I frowned. "It's possible..."

"Try not to worry okay?" Harry said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

I smiled. "Okay,"

We then continued to head for Transfiguration clas. We learned how to transfigure a cushion into a cake which most of the students loved. Malfoy still hadn't returned from Professor Dumbledore's office, and class was almost over. Neville asked to use the restroom, Professor McGonagall told him to be quick.

A few minutes later, he still hadn't returned.

"Neville's probably gotten sucked down the toilet," Ron muttered.

Harry snorted.

As more time went by, that nagging feeling returned.

Once class was over and we headed out onto the grounds for Care of Magical Creatures, Neville still had not returned. Now, we were starting to worry about him.

Colin Creevey asked Hagrid if he could go to the bathroom to see if Neville was okay. Hagrid agreed and Colin headed back to the castle.

"This is just getting bloody weirder and weirder," Ron said, shaking his head.

"I agree," Harry said.

Colin came back looking panicked.

"Neville's not in the bathroom!" Colin cried.

We began talking amongst ourselves now, wondering what happened to Neville now.

After class, we headed to the common room for a break before we went to History of Magic. "I'm really confused here. First, Malfoy and Danielle disappear. Then, Malfoy appears but not Danielle. Then, Neville disappears and Malfoy disappears again," Harry said.

"I know. What's going on here?" I mused.

&lduo;Something's really wrong here," Ron added.

Then, Neville entered the common room.

"Neville! Where were you?" I cried.

Neville looked at me startled.

"Who?" Neville asked.

"You silly! Where were you? You went to the bathroom and then never returned to class!"

"Oh...I went for a walk afterwards," Neville stammered.

I wasn't convinced by his tone, but let it drop. "O-Kay," I said, slowly. "Come on. We've got History of Magic now."

The four of us headed to class. Malfoy still had not returned yet. Nor did Danielle.

~*~

We sat at the Gryffindor table that evening for dinner. Ron hungrily dove into his spaghetti and meatballs. I looked at him disgusted.

"How can you fit all that food into your stomach? Do you have a bottomless pit or something?" I asked, grimacing.

Harry laughed. "Probably,"

I took a bite of my pork chop and mashed potatoes and shook my head.

Harry glanced down along the table at Neville. He was hungrily devouring his food like he hadn't eaten in ages. Some of the other Gryffindors were watching him with a cross between amusement and disgust.

"Check out Neville," Harry whispered. Ron and I looked up and followed his gaze. Neville was practically shoving the food into his mouth.

"Blimey. He takes a walk after using the potty and he's eating like he hasn't eaten in years," Ron mused. Harry snorted.

"Maybe he power walked," I suggested.

"Power walk?" Ron asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Walk very fast," Harry replied. Ron nodded that he understood.

"That could work up an appetite," I continued.

"That's probably what he did," Harry concluded.

After dinner, we went back to the common room before heading off to bed. Neville smiled at me before heading to bed. The smile sent chills down my spine.

"Did you see him smile at me?" I whispered to Ron.

"Yeah. We all know he probably has a crush on you because you always help him during Potions," Ron grinned.

I scowled at him. "Didn't you see something strange about the smile, nimrod?"

Harry burst out laughing at that.

"No, why? Was he trying to seduce you?" Ron asked, still grinning.

"Ugh," I said, getting up disgustedly and was about to walk to the girls dorm, when Harry stood up and grabbed my arm just above the elbow.

"Wait Hermione... Ron, there was something off about Neville's smile. Did you really catch something or not?" Harry demanded.

Ron nodded.

"Okay then," Harry said pointedly.

"I'm going to bed," I mumbled

I went to continue to walk towards the staircase, but Harry was still holding onto my arm.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, concerned.

"I'm just worried, there really is something odd going on here. And I have a feeling it has to do with Danielle. Why hasn't she shown up yet? Where is she?" I asked, searching his face.

"I don't know? But we will find out don't worry," Harry said, soothingly.

I nodded feeling better. Harry let go of my arm and I continued to the girls' dorm.

I climbed into bed and fell into a troubled sleep.

Around midnight, I sensed someone above me. I opened my eyes and screamed, but then, a hand was clamped on my mouth. It was Neville.

How on earth did he get in here? No boys were allowed in the girls' dorm! I thought wildly. He lowered his face close to mine, as the silvery moonlight cast over his face. There definitely was something odd about him His eyes seemed lifeless and dull.

"I asked you if there were anymore cute guys around here," he muttered his hand was still on my mouth. "What about Harry Potter? What is his story? I already know about Ron...oh yes. But see, I need you to talk to me about Harry," Neville said, smiling.

There was even something remotely in inhuman about him.

Neville's smile was sending fearful shivers down my spine.

I bit his hand and he cried out and let go of me. I leaped out of bed and lunged toward the door. Neville grabbed my legs and pulled me down, then flipped me onto my back. I kicked him in the face. He fell backwards, and I scrambled to get to my feet again, but Neville grabbed me and punched me in the jaw. Still reeling in shock I managed to kick him in the groin. That seemed to immobilize him for a minute, while. I managed to get out of the dorm.

"HARRY! RON!" I screamed as I reached the common room.

I leaned against the fireplace. Neville appeared in the dorm room's doorway.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I screamed at him.

At that moment, Harry and Ron came belting out of their dorm.

"Hermione? Neville? What's going on?" Harry demanded, looking from me to Neville.

"HE GOT INTO THE GIRLS' DORM AND ATTACKED ME!" I screamed.

Immediately, Harry's expression turned ugly. Ron came over and tried to calm me down.

Harry stormed over to Neville, grabbed him by the collar of his pyjama shirt and threw him against the wall.

"What did you do to Hermione?" Harry growled.

"N-nothing!" Neville stammered.

"He punched me!" I cried.

"What the fuck did you do to Hermione?" Harry continued, getting even angrier. "Stay the hell away from us."

Neville nodded and then took off out of the Gryffindor tower.

Harry came over to me; I was too upset and terrified to scold him for using bad language.

"Are you alright?" Harry demanded worriedly as he stood in front of me.

Letting out a sob, I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him throwing aside all stubbornness.

I buried my face into his neck and cried. I felt him slowly wrap his arms around me, pulling me close.

"Oh Harry...I was so scared! It didn't seem like Neville at all!" I sobbed.

"Hey," Harry comforted, as he gently pulled back from the embrace, but he kept his hands on my shoulders.

"Did he say anything?"

"He asked me again if there were any cute boys here and he wanted to know all about you," I sobbed. "Harry, it didn't look like Neville."

"What do you mean?"

"He looked...inhuman somehow," I sobbed.

"Listen stop crying, I don't think he will be coming any where near us again after I scared the crap out of him tonight," Harry said soothingly.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hands.

"I'm not sleeping in the dorm again," I said shivering.

"Why don't you sleep out here in the common room?" Ron suggested looking concerned too.

"Alone?" I asked.

"I'll stay with her. Go back to bed. We'll tell McGonagall about Neville in the morning," Harry said.

Ron nodded and gave me a wink before returning to the boys' dorms. I curled up on the sofa next to the fireplace. The fire was still crackling gently. I laid on my right side, facing the chair where Harry had settled himself. I propped my head up on my right hand.

"What set Neville off?" I mused.

"I dunno," Harry replied. The orange glow of the fire reflecting off his face his emerald green eyes glittering.

"He certainly wasn't acting like the Neville we know," I said, slowly.

Harry smiled at me. "McGonagall will handle it, I'll stay awake to make sure he don't come back in here,"

I smiled gratefully and then rested my head on my arm. I drifted off to sleep.

HARRY.

I watched Hermione fall asleep. The firelight reflected off her body, I got a warm feeling toward her at that moment. After all these years of knowing her, I've never seen her this terrified or scared. I began wondering if my feelings toward her began slowly changing. I certainly liked her, and that warm feeling returned when I watched her side rise and fall with each breath in rhythm.

I would die for her and Ron... They were the best friends I've ever had and I was lucky to know such good friends.

I looked at my watch; it was 2:34 AM. Amazingly, I didn't feel tired. That confrontation with Neville seemed to have pumped adrenaline into my body. I tried to calm down by taking deep breaths.

Finally, I managed to calm down.

I leaned against the back of the chair.

The next morning, Hermione, Ron and I headed straight for McGonagall to tell her about what Neville did.

What we couldn't understand or figure out was how Neville got into the girls' dorm in the first place. We tried last year, but the stairway changed into a slide.

We were coming out of Charms when Professor McGonagall came walking toward us.

"Professor? Did you get a hold of Neville?" I asked.

"No," Professor McGonagall said, frowning.

"How come?" Ron asked tilting his head.

"He's missing,"