Petrified

Petrified - Hermione

In my second year, I was there during all the horrible attacks on the poor people who were "unworthy" to study magic in Hogwarts. The truth was, I was scared out of my mind. I was a muggleborn, and someone who was most likely to be attacked.

All in all, I was quite surprised I hadn´t been attacked yet. My fear increased every time someone talked. The slightest noises made me jump. However, I had Harry Potter next to me all the time, so I felt just that bit better.

One day, I was walking in the great hall with Ron and Harry, when I had one of my regular brainwaves.

"Harry - I think I´ve just understood something! I´ve got to go to the library!"

I ran across the hall, and sprinted up the stairs five at a time. Speeding down the Transfiguration corridor, I began to wonder why I hadn´t thought of this before. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I accidentally ran into Professor McGonagall.

"Oh, sorry professor... it´s been using the plumbing... pipes, you know...snake...big one, can´t remember the name,... going to find out," I panted.

McGonagall looked thoroughly confused.

"What are you talking about?" she called, but I was already at the stairwell.

Up, up, up and heading for the library, my second home. The endless bookshelves loomed at the top of the stairs.

I slowed down, and walked over to the enquries desk.

"Madame Pince, that book I got out at the beginning of the year, what was it, er, Magical Mythical Monsters and Beasts. Is it still in?"

"Of course. But someone is reading it at the moment. Penelope Clearwater. The prefect."

I tore off, without saying `thank you´. Made mental note to do say thanks sometime.

"Penelope!"

"Hey, if it isn´t Miss know-it-all! How´s it going? Hey, give that book back!"

"Sorry, this is really important."

"More important than me revising for my care of magical creatures class?" she said as I flipped to the reptile section.

"I mean, everyone´s just so rude these days. No consideration." Dragons, Fire crabs, Aha! Basilisk. I quickly read the description.

"I mean, if people were more like Percy, Perfect Percy..." Thank goodness. She shut up for a while. My mental mechanisms whirred. It all fits!

"Penelope. That thing that´s been attacking people. It´s a Basilisk. A big snake."

"Whatever. Can I have my book back?"

"Sure. Just make sure you look round all corners with a mirror."

"Why?"

"Because then you´ll see if something´s there. The Basilisk kills people with its eyes."

"Fine. Just GIVE ME MY BOOK BACK!"

Madame Pince came over and indicated to the Quiet please sign. I quietly tore out the page with the Basilisk´s information on it.

"Here you go Penelope. Sorry about the noise Madame Pince."

"It´s alright. Call me Rosa." Madame Pince left.

"Ok, excuse me, but I have to go now." I said. I edged my way around Penelope, and leant against a wall. I had to get someone to know somehow if something happens to me. So, I wrote Pipes. The basilisk has been getting around by pipes. Or at least I tried to. I got as far as the first pipes, Then Penelope screamed.

I turned around, and felt my body seize up.

***HERMIONE´S SUB-CONSCIOUS***

Who am I? I am Hermione´s sub-conscious. I wake up when her major brain has something happen to it. That´s right. Oh, this feels good! At last, that nervous know-it-all has finally gone away! Time to kick back, and relax. So, what can I do? Let´s try moving. Ok, no movement. Let´s try tasting. Ok, no taste. Next, I´ll try hearing. Yes! Success. Houston we have sound. Sound and sight! I can see! Ok what´s this. Dumbledore's coming. Ok, Dumbledore´s swearing. Stay calm Hermione´s sub-conscious. I´m just floating. Nothing to worry about. Now, Snape, McGonagall, Sprout, are around me and Penelope. Everything is normal. Now I am floating to the hospital wing. Tickety-boo by me. This is boring. I think I´ll have a quick snooze.

That was nice. Ok, what´s happening? I´m in the hospital wing. Who are these people? Hermione´s friends. Horry and Ran? No, Herry and Rope...ah, Harry and Ron.

**

Five hours later**

Wish I´d brought a magazine. This is so boring! I´m going to sleep for a WEEK!

**One week later**

What´s happening? Where- hey, get off me. Hey, It´s Rorry and Han. No, Harry and Ron. They´re pulling something from my hand. That´s sexual abuse! No, it´s just a piece of paper. Oh well, back to sleep for me!

**Two days later**

Hey, stop that. Pomfrey´s pouring something down my throat. Ow, that hurts! STOP IT!!!, I´M DISINTEGRATING! NOOOOOo...

***END OF HERMIONE´S SUB-CONSCIOUS***

Oh god, I´m stiff. I´ll just wriggle a bit. Oh, that feels good. Oh, cracking knuckles, that´s niiiiice.

"Welcome back Hermione," I heard a voice say. Who was it...Pommy? Pomfrey, that´s it.

I tried speaking, but my mouth was too dry.

"Here, have some energy potion."

I nodded, and drank the potion. It felt like someone had sent a couple thousand volts down my spine. Hey, where am I? Oh, F**k, I need to get to Dumbledore, he needs to be told, the Basilisk!

"Madame Pomfrey, I need to get out of here, I need to tell Professor Dumbledore, I need to tell him about the Basilisk!" I tried to get up, but Madame Pomfrey held me down.

"It´s alright, Harry Potter killed the Basilisk three hours ago." Relief spread through me, but I still had a million questions. Let´s have them in order of importance.

"When are exams?"

***HERMIONE´S SUB-CONSCIOUS***

Oh, come on...

***END OF HERMIONE´S SUB CONSCIOUS***

"They start tomorrow." Damn.

"How long was I stoney-fied?"

"You were petrified for two weeks," curses, two weeks of revision missed.

"Who solved the mystery?"

"Harry Potter did," there he goes, taking my credit again...oh, well, better look happy...

"He solved it?"

"Yes."

"He solved it, he solved it!" I sang as I danced around, then Colin Creevey called:

"Hey, Hermione! There´s a feast! In the great hall!"

"Coming!"

***HERMIONE´S SUB-CONSCIOUS***

Ok, enough is enough, at least realise that Harry is stealing your fame, the least you can do is be angry...

"When are exams..." You´re killing me down here!

***END OF HERMIONE´S SUB CONSCIOUS***

The end.