Heirs of Middle Earth

Chapter 3

Strange Moods Refuse to Subside

Where has it gone, the boy asked himself frantically. He had searched his room a hundred times over, but still couldn't find what he was missing. He hadn't seen it for two days, even after going through the process of searching each classroom and hallway he had been in since he lost it, utterly retracing his footsteps perfectly. His precious item had been lost, and he was beginning to lose hope of recovering it.

~*~

"Gin, have you seen Hermione recently? We haven't seen her since a quarter to noon yesterday, and we're just a bit worried."

"I did see her retreat to her room around then, but I haven't seen her much since then. Perhaps once or twice in a bathroom, but not really, Harry. What are you worried about?"

"She said she was feeling funny. Like something didn't agree with her stomach, but we know she hadn't eaten since breakfast, so that's a little hard to believe. She never was big on skipping meals, and it isn't like her to skip class unless she was in dire straights. Usually if she skips meals, she's busy in the library."

"I'll check in on her next time I'm in the common room if you want me to, Harry."

"That would be great. Thanks, Ginny," he said, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. She blushed at the contact, but smiled up at him. He saw the coldness her eyes had acquired begin to melt slightly. He knew that she was a very sweet girl, but her eyes just looked cold and hard. He had made it his personal mission to discover exactly what made that change in her and to see if he could reverse it.

Ron glanced at them and smiled inwardly. What could be better for Ginny than Harry? he asked himself. They all sat down at the table and began eating lunch. School had been in session for two weeks and they were all overloaded with homework.

"I have some juicy gossip, you two! Even though you are guys, you will love to hear this. Hermione has a boyfriend," Ginny informed them secretly.

"I don't believe you," Ron laughed. Both boys were taken aback.

"Is it anyone we know?" Harry inquired.

"I don't believe so. His name is Oliver Ëol. I assume he's a muggle, because it's a British name and he doesn't attend Hogwarts."

"How'd you hear this?"

"Didn't hear it. I caught her writing him a letter."

"Sneaky, Gin. Good work," Ron congratulated her. "Mighty fine work. I doubt if he knows she's a witch."

"She wouldn't tell him unless she was sure he had to know. She's smarter than that, Ron," Harry insisted.

"I wonder if he's cute," Ginny pondered.

"Gin! Ew," Ron yelled.

~*~

That evening, Ginny did as she promised, and went to check on Hermione. She knocked on the door to the dorm room, and entered when no one answered. Most of the room was neat and tidy, but one corner was chaotic. Clothes and robes were strewn across the floor and a few were hanging from the bedposts. Quills and ink that generally would be laid neatly on the bedside table were spilt and splintered across the floor, making it perilous to approach. Open books and discarded scrolls littered the remnant of the area, expressing the vexation of the usually placid student.

To her surprise, Hermione was sitting on the foot of the bed that was in the middle of the disarray. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she seemed to be rocking herself. Her hair was unusually disheveled, and her pajamas were on half backwards and half inside out.

"Hi, Ginny," she said weakly.

"Hermione, what happened?" Ginny said, rushing to her side.

"It's nothing," she replied, turning her head away.

"Obviously it's something. Look around yourself. You look like as much of a mess as your room." Hermione glanced around wearily, then stood and faced Ginny.

"Do you notice anything different about me?"

"I don't think I so." Her response prompted Hermione to grab one of her robes and slip it on.

"Now do you see anything?" Ginny searched, expecting to see that Hermione was worried about some sort of weight problem. She did seem a little larger, but not noticeably. Her robes seemed too long, and the hem rested on the floor. Perhaps she was worried about not being in uniform.

"Your robes are too long. Have you gotten yours mixed up with someone else?"

"No, Ginny. These are mine. I'm getting shorter," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. The simple statement made it clearer to Ginny. She did notice that Hermione was shorter. And not only a little. Ginny hadn't grown much over the summer, but she was now almost four inches taller than Hermione whereas at the end of school last year, she had been shorter by about two or three inches.

"I can't find a single reason for this or a spell to reverse it. I have searched the library several times, but I still haven't found anything. And that's not all. Look at my face! I'm growing a beard!"

"Wow, Hermione, that's awful. When did this start happening?" Ginny gasped. Hermione wasn't lying. There were definite signs of facial hair. Apparently she had shaved that day, but, nevertheless, the hair was growing back.

"A week or two ago. I first noticed the robes ten days ago, because I tripped on the hem. That has never happened before. The beard started in yesterday. I can't go to class until I fix this."

"I know a masking charm I can teach you. It can make your face look normal. My mom taught me how to use it in case I find Dad looking like a mess."

"How long does it last?"

"About fifteen hours. Enough to go to classes and all meals. Just don't forget to use it."

"Alright. Thank you, Ginny. Oh and please don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry. I wouldn't," she said, pulling her wand out of her pocket. She pointed the wand at Hermione, flicked her wrist and said strongly, "finesgal."

They immediately set to teaching Hermione the spell. Luckily, she was a genius, so the task took no time compared to straightening the chambers, which managed to occupy an hour.

"We just happen to be done in time for dinner. Care to join me?" Hermione asked, offering her arm. Ginny laughed and took her arm.

They reached the Great Hall and joined Harry and Ron at the table. Upon seeing her, Harry and Ron stared at her inquiringly.

"Where have you been?"

"I was ill. I'm feeling much better now. Ginny helped me tidy up a bit before we came down. Have you two found anything?"

"Nope. You just walked in on us laughing at Malfoy some more," Ron stated.

"Actually, you were laughing and I was observing," corrected Harry.

"What about him this time?" Hermione groaned.

"For one thing, he's wearing the same thing he wore yesterday, and for another, his hair is sticking up like crazy. Especially in the back."

"I don't think it's funny, Ron. I think something is wrong with him. Didn't you hear him talking to himself in potions today?" Harry inquired.

"Yes, I did, and I think it's hilarious. They ought to send him to St. Mungo's."

"Well, I think his hair looks tastefully disheveled," Ginny said, causing Ron to began choking on his food. When his fit ended, he stared at Ginny.

"Please tell me you don't mean that," he gasped.

"Of course not. I knew that would make you snarf."

"Boy, she got you, Ron," Hermione laughed. "I think that you should try the disheveled look, though. It would go really well with your hand-me-down robes."

"Hermione, you should try the trim and tidy look. Straight hair would do wonders for you," he barked back.

"Cut it out, you two. We have more serious things to discuss, such as who wants to do the research on the potions essay before the day it's due," Harry insisted.

"As much as I would love to chat, I've got a few friends of my own to visit with. In fact, I think I hear Míriel calling me," Ginny said, making an excuse to leave a homework discussion. She rose to walk down the aisle and then joined some other third years at the table.

"Now then, on to the more important topics. Have either of you been even planning to check out the library for any ideas about the mysterious item?" Harry asked, leaning towards the other two and talking softer.

"I have been to the library, but not for that. I honestly see no point in looking in the library," she stated.

"What is this? Hermione, the wonder girl, not wanting to go to the library? I am in shock," Ron gasped. He mocked his amazement by putting his hand on his cheek as if surprised. "And what is this about you having a boyfriend?"

"I do not. Where ever did you hear such an incongruous thing?"

"Ginny told us she saw you writing a letter to him," Harry said nonchalantly. He obviously didn't care if she did have one or not. She didn't mind though. Her gaze had shifted elsewhere.

"Oh. She misinterpreted. The guy I was writing a letter to is just an old friend of the family. Anyway, we have absolutely no clue what to look for, and it would take us ages to go through the whole of the library, and assuming the item is even mentioned in any one of those books, we wouldn't know what to look for in the first place, so it would take us all year to find what we're looking for at the least," she blathered.

"I know exactly what you mean. I guess we should do our best to search for whoever has the thing, whatever it is," Harry agreed. "Perhaps we should go to library after dinner to talk about it, though. It is much quieter and separated from everyone else."

He was getting anxious to leave. He had been fidgeting the whole time. Anxious didn't quite describe it, though. He was nervous. He didn't want to see ... well maybe he did want to, but just shouldn't... No. He didn't want to see.

"If that's what you want, Harry. I don't know how many people will be there, but I'm sure it'll be quiet enough," Hermione conceded.

Harry nodded and said something about needing to talk to Ginny. When he found the group of third years he had been looking for, he leaned across the table to ask Ginny, "Is this seat taken?"

Her face became pallid and she looked slightly taken aback. Luckily, Arda noticed her predicament and came to her aide. With a flick of her wand, she said, "Why, yes, Harry. It's reserved for you."

His name appeared on the seat in golden letters. He took this as his cue, and quickly wiped off the glittery substance and sat next to Arda. He listened distractedly as the girls chattered about various cute boys and upcoming visits to Hogsmeade. He observed Ginny's friends, two of whom he'd heard plenty about. Míriel Zimraphel was sitting between Ginny and Colin Creevy, her boyfriend. Tall and lanky, Míriel never seemed to stop talking and thus saved Harry from many uncomfortable situations. Her wavy hair never seemed to be frizzy and the light gold color contrasted with her gangly frame for a more awkward appearance that could be beautiful once she grew into it. Arda, on the other hand, had long black hair, and pale skin that seemed to always have a slight natural blush. Not nearly as gregarious or verbose as Míriel, she was known for being flirtatious and snappy.

Harry noticed Hermione and Ron get up and leave for the library, so he rose to follow. Neville caught them and asked if he could study with them, forcing Hermione to stop and think up a reason to send him away. While she was busy, the boys found a secluded table where they could talk.

~*~

"We've made absolutely no advances," Ron surmised.

"Do you mean advancements?" Hermione ventured as she joined them.

"Er... does it matter?"

"Well, advances are... um... no, Ron. It doesn't make a difference."

"Ron is exactly right, though. We haven't figured anything out. All that's different that we've noticed is that Malfoy's not the same. There has to be something we've overlooked somewhere," Harry raved.

"Neville has made fewer mistakes than usual," Ron began. "And Snape has only taken away about 30 points a day."

"All that proves is that the universe is out of whack, which was proved when Malfoy donned inexpensive clothes. I want to know what knocked it off track. When we find that, we will solve Sirius's puzzle and we will have found the item, whatever it is."

"I am worrying about this so much that I fear I'll start losing my hair or something," Ron exclaimed dramatically. "I've even lost sleep."

"As much as I want to think you're talking about the item, I believe our homework is the root of your troubles," Harry grumbled. "I wish we didn't have to write such long essays. I think essays are best kept short."

"With so much work to do, I'm even forgetting to shave. I'm turning into a hairy beast," Ron proclaimed. Hermione wanted to laugh darkly at him, knowing that she had a much more profound need to shave and that her 5 o'clock shadow was beginning to appear underneath the spell.

"Come off it, Ron. You barely shave as it is. Unless, of course, you shave something other than your face," Harry jested. Ron's face flushed wildly, and Hermione giggled vivaciously. Obviously embarrassed, he tried changing the subject.

"I suppose we ought to set down to work, then, if all we're going to talk about are my shaving habits."

"I am sorry for laughing at you so horribly," Hermione managed, trying to conceal her laughter by standing and leaving. "I'll go find some resources while you two work a little on that Herbology essay."

Glad to be away for a bit, Hermione began scanning the library for the books of magical artifacts for reference and to try to narrow down possibilities. With a pile that blocked her vision, she prayed not to trip in the dimly lit room as she began finding her way back to the boys. A hand was placed on the small of her back and she heard a whisper in her ear. Startled, she dropped the books and turned around suddenly. There was no one nearby, or even close enough to have spoken to her. The only person in sight was Draco, whom she barely caught a glimpse of as he turned down an aisle twenty feet away.

She returned to her mess and gathered everything. Ron and Harry were less than ecstatic when she placed them all on the table, though she hardly noticed. Had Malfoy really just said... that to her? In public, nonetheless...Hopefully, she had imagined it all. But regardless there were some questions that required answering. She pardoned herself from the other two and left the library.

Chapter 4

Sly Arrangements

What's this, he wondered as he surveyed the parchment. The paper appeared to have been torn out of a book, and the handwriting was a hurried scrawl. Even though the name at the end would have piqued his interest by itself, the remaining contents were enough to intrigue him. Don't this beat all.

Chuckling, he shoved the scrap into his pocket. A quick trip to the owlery was in order.

~*~

"Eye of rabbit," Seamus began as he flicked his wand at a goblet on the table. He had formed a habit of attempting the same explosive spell every month or so, and had since become less apt to burn something, though he could manage to produce some odd liquids. A few moments later, a distinct poof signaled the completion of the spell and the two boys sitting next to Seamus scooted closer to their place settings.

"How's your Charms homework coming along?" Harry asked Ron, who was slouching over his paper. Harry was attempting to sneak a glance at his paper inconspicuously.

"Not too shabby, I suppose. How about yours?" he returned, casting an oblong glance at Harry's paper in search of a few answers.

"It's alright. I'm more worried about finishing that Potions work." Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement and they continued their secretive collaboration of answers.

The students ate and conversed until owl post, when they merely stopped eating. Hedwig brought Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet, which had an alarming front page. Apparently, there had been a murder in Knockturn Alley.

"It was a fairly new store. The column says the murder was so violent that they can't tell us what happened," Ron read.

"The Dark Mark appeared over the store late last night. No suspects have been identified, and no apparent motives have been detected," Harry continued. Ginny leaned across the table to glance at the paper.

"What's the guy's name?" she asked.

"Why? Do you think you'd know him?" Ron barked.

"Of course not. I just want to know," she growled back.

"I don't see it. It says he owned the place called Angmar, but I'm glad not to know the name," Harry informed her.

"That sounds oddly familiar, though," Hermione added. A thoughtful look was spread across her face. Reaching to take the paper from them, she continued, "Does it say anything else? Let me see."

"I wonder what kind of dark stuff that guy was into. I mean, he managed to get You-Know-Who's followers turned against him," Ron thought aloud.

"Just because he worked in Knockturn Alley doesn't mean he was into dark magic. It says he was a semi-honest man running a pawn shop," Ginny reprimanded him, rolling her eyes before continuing reading the column.

"Angmar... the name sounds too familiar. Why can't I remember where it's from? And what is a witch-king, anyway?" Hermione rambled, raking her brain to try and find the answers.

"A witch-king might own a brothel of sorts," jested Ron. "And Angmar could be his favorite porn star name."

"Ron! What would Mum say?" Ginny exclaimed through her giggling.

"She wouldn't have a chance to say anything. She would go straight into shock."

"It's not funny. Don't laugh," she said as she tried to conceal her own laughter.

As they continued reading and joking, a strange owl landed in front of Hermione. It was small and sleek, with silvery colored plumage. A small note was tied around its leg rather tightly with Hermione's name written in a beautiful flourish. She tried to untie it, but the knot wouldn't budge. Instead, she used a cutting spell to remove the string, careful not to cut the note or the bird. Then she peeled the note off its leg and offered it a piece of food from the table. It hooted at her and shook its head as if it was above eating table scraps.

"I guess he's going to wait for a reply to his note," she guessed. She began reading it and nodded as she did so. Ron and Harry looked at her curiously from the other side of the table. When she had finished, Hermione ripped a corner off of the note and wrote a simply okay on it. She handed the scrap to the bird, which flew off immediately. Almost instantaneously, another bird dropped a letter in front of Hermione. She grabbed it and skimmed over its contents. Curiosity getting the better of him, Ron asked about them.

"I presume you're not going to tell us what that one says either?"

"Actually, I was going to. This is from my friend Oliver. He says he's going to transfer here sometime later this year." A few glances proved that they were interested.

"Is he the one that we thought was your boyfriend?" Harry asked. She nodded in response as Ginny blushed slightly, knowing she had spread the rumor. "Well, who was that other one from?"

"Not telling," she said, almost flirtatiously. Leaning closer, he replied in a similar fashion.

"Why not?"

"It's my secret. I get to keep some secrets, you guys," she teased. They nodded their consent and finished reading the paper.

~*~

Quietly, she snuck into the room. It was fairly bright; the sun was shining through the windows splendidly. The room was empty, which she knew it ought to be, since the occupants were all off cavorting outside.

She cautiously made her way over to the trunk, passing littered scrolls and clothing that hadn't made it off the floor for a while. They probably wouldn't notice if she moved anything, but she didn't want to risk it. Opening the trunk, she began rummaging around until she located what she was searching for. She attempted to conceal it, but something like that was not easily hidden in her robes.

Duh, she thought sarcastically, wanting to smack herself. She donned the item and slipped out of the room. That night, she snuck out of her room with the item she stole, with plans to meet someone. Walking silently, she made her way towards the arranged place.

I sure hope I get there on time, she thought. The corridors were dark, but she didn't dare risk any light when she was able to find her way without it. She followed the path she had mapped out before hand, purposefully avoiding all classrooms and offices she could. When she entered the dungeons, though, her sources of light were greatly depleted, so she pulled out her wand to make up for the lack.

Finding the corridor she was looking for, she turned aside from the larger halls and more into the shadows. The room was supposed to be well hidden, so she had a little difficulty finding it. She opened the door quietly and entered, closing the door behind her as noiselessly as possible.

"You're late."