Chapter One – Grandmother Figg

Elsewhere in the castle, Draco Malfoy was making his way toward the entrance hall.  He looked at his watch.  It was a few minutes to midnight.  As long as he didn’t run into Filch or his wretched cat, Mrs. Norris, he might make it.  Draco picked up his pace and crossed the entrance hall at the stroke of midnight.  His heart was pounding and he was breathing hard.  His pale, pointy face actually had a little colour.   Someone knocked softly against one of the great oak doors.  Draco eased the door open quietly on its hinges.  A hooded figure stood on the threshold.  Draco stepped aside and repeated the words his father had insisted he commit to memory, “I bid you welcome to this place.  You may enter.”  The figure swept inside immediately.  Draco tried to discern her features from deep within her hood.  “Did she really look like Potter’s mother?” he thought. 

He jumped as the creature said with a slight hiss, “Which way?” Draco pointed silently and led her in the direction of the Professor’s quarters.

They climbed to the fifth floor and past a long series of alcoves that were the entranceways to the private quarters of the Hogwart’s Faculty and Staff.  Students were generally banned from this area, but Draco had slipped upstairs on one or two occasions to have a butterbeer with Professor Snape.  Brass plaques on each door identified the residents.  They passed Professor Flitwick’s quarters and Professor Snapes’ before reaching a door with an imposing sign that read “Professor R. J. Lupin”.  Draco pointed toward the door.  “This is it…” he whispered. 

Lila nodded and hissed, “You may go.”  Draco turned to leave when he heard an odd noise behind him.  Where Lila had stood, there was now a cloud of malevolent looking mist.  It began to seep under Professor Lupin’s door.  A horrible smile split Draco’s face as he slipped away, satisfied with his night’s work.

Remus Lupin had had a wonderful evening.  His reunion with the faculty and staff at Hogwarts had been heartwarming.  They were (with the exception of Snape) universally glad to see him and thrilled that he had broken the curse of the werewolf.   Remus was looking forward to his classes tomorrow and could hardly wait to begin.  And so it was, that with a light heart, he turned in early and by midnight, was sleeping soundly - sleeping so soundly in fact, that he was unaware of the unusual mist that was settling around his bed.  Remus began to stir uneasily in his sleep.   He was having a vivid dream. 

He was back, in Godric’s Hollow, standing alone in the grounds near the ruins of the house.  He could hear someone crying – a woman crying.  Whoever it was sounded heartbroken.  Remus made his way toward the sound.  It was coming from Lily’s garden.  He pushed open the door and stepped through a tangle of weed and vines.  There, by the fountain was a woman. She was on her knees, her hands covering her face, weeping and rocking back and forth.  Remus dropped on the ground at her side.  He could see her better now.  Her hair was long and reddish brown -  her figure slim.  Even with her face covered, he recognized her all too familiar form.  “Lily” he whispered, his voice full of concern “what is it?”

At the sound of her name, Lily threw her arms around his neck and wept bitterly onto his shoulder.  “Oh Remus, thank God you’re here. It’s been…terrible.”

He held her tightly and stroked her hair.  “It’s alright, I’m here now, tell me what’s wrong, tell me everything.”  She buried her face in the hollow of his neck.  She had stopped crying.

“You can’t imagine what I’ve been through…” She kissed his neck softly, and then slowly brushed her lips against the line of his jaw. 

He gasped “Lily, what…what are you doing? What about James?” his voice was hoarse.  She kissed his eyes and cheeks.  She held a finger to his lips.

“Shh, Remus. Listen to me,” she whispered and looked up at him through half-closed eyes, “James is gone. He’s dead.” She paused.  “We can be together now.  Isn’t that what you always wanted? If you hadn’t been a werewolf wouldn’t you have wanted to be with me?”

He exhaled sharply and shook his head. “No, Lily, no, this is madness.  You’re dead, just like James.” 

“Not dead, Remus, very much alive.”  She kissed him hard, drawing his head down to hers.  He was being overwhelmed.  Against his will, he found himself responding.  Suddenly the scene shifted.  They were back at Hogwarts.  Lily was in his arms.  He was carrying her toward his bed.  She was kissing his ears and neck.  He felt a sharp prick, but didn’t care.  He didn’t care what happened as long as Lily stayed with him, kept talking to him – kept kissing him.  He was drifting in a cloud of mist.  Lily slipped out of his arms.

“Wait!” he called, but she only looked at him with a sad half-smile.  The mist began to envelope her.  “Wait, Lily! No! Don’t go!”

Remus sat up suddenly in bed, his eyes filled with tears and calling desperately for Lily. He was breathing hard and shaking.  Blinking uncertainly, he realized that he was in his room at Hogwarts.  “It was a dream” he said in disbelief.  It had seemed so real.  He felt something warm and sticky on his neck.  He reached up to touch it and winced.  He cried out and withdrew his hand.  It was covered in blood. 

He needed to get to the hospital wing; he needed Madam Pomfrey, but he felt strangely weak.  His limbs were heavy and useless.  He could hardly keep his eyes open.  Remus fell back against his pillows, promising himself that he would rest for only a minute, then find Madam Pomfrey.  The minute stretched to hours…

Meanwhile, in Gryffindor Tower…

Hermione closed the door to the girls’ dormitory softly, leaving Harry on the other side.  She smiled as his voice filled her head, “I love you, Hermione!”  “I love you, too” she thought back. 

Lavender and Parvati were still awake, talking quietly on Lavender’s bed.  “About time…” Lavender called with a grin.  “I had no idea a Prefect’s duties could be some time-consuming.”  Hermione didn’t mind her teasing.  They had shared a dormitory for four years and although they had never been best friends, they were completely at ease in each other’s company. 

Hermione opened her school trunk and drew out pajamas.  As she changed, she told them about Jonathan Clift’s visit to the Common Room.  Lavender and Parvati were fuming.  “I always knew the Slytherins would go to any lengths to win.” Parvati said.

“Forewarned is forearmed,” Lavender shrugged.  She was about to say something snide about Malfoy, when she noticed the Cadeau Du Mer, sparkling at Hermione’s throat.  It had been hidden beneath her robes all day, but was now in plain view.  Hermione drew on her pajama top, hastily covering it up.  “Oooh Hermione! What was that?” Lavender asked.

“What?” Hermione said, trying to sound nonchalant, but not fooling anyone. 

“That necklace!” Parvati said eagerly. 

“Oh, this?” Hermione said, allowing the collar of her pajamas to fall open slightly, revealing the Cadeau Du Mer.  It glowed in the dim light of the dorm room.  “It was a gift from my grandmother.  She gave it to me this summer.” 

“Why does it glow?” Lavender asked with interest.  “Is it enchanted in some way?”

Hermione was deliberately vague.  “Well, you know, lots of amulets glow or hum.” 

Parvati had spied the matching pearl bracelet on Hermione’s wrist.  “Whoa! Pearls to match,” Parvati breathed.  “Your grandmother is certainly generous.” 

Hermione suddenly felt a bit shy.  “Harry gave me the pearls.”  She said in a low voice. 

Lavender laughed.  “So it’s true then!  You two really were dating last year and now you’re dating again!  Why didn’t you tell us?” 

Parvati chimed in, “I’ve been reading Rita Skeeter’s articles about you and Harry all summer.  Were you really with him in Cornwall?”  Hermione rolled her eyes and dropped onto her bed.

“In the first place, we weren’t dating last year.  Rita Skeeter made all that stuff up.  Harry and I have only ever been friends….until this summer.”

“But what about Ron?” Parvati interrupted.  “We all thought he was crazy about you…” 

Hermione sighed.  “That was never really meant to be.  I think he was only interested in me because I was so different from him.  I’d been raised by Muggles and was an only child and here he was totally immersed in the wizarding world and one of about a zillion children.  I think, deep down, he was just curious about how the ‘other half’ lived.  But that’s all over now.  He’s definitely gotten over it and is really supportive of my relationship with Harry.”

“Aren’t you lucky” said Lavender coolly, raising an eyebrow.  She knew from experience that threesomes of friends didn’t often withstand the onslaught of romance.

“Yes” Hermione said firmly, catching her meaning.

“Tell us about all about Cornwall!” Parvati insisted. “What was it like finding out you were Arabella Figg’s granddaughter?  Was her house incredible?” she asked in a rush. 

Hermione smiled.  “It was a bit of a shock at first, but she turned out to be the nicest most wonderful woman.  Not the least bit like any grandmother I ever heard of.  She was more like a dashing Aunt or an older sister.  I could talk to her about anything.  I spent nearly all my holidays at Paravel, her home in Cornwall.” 

“Who else was there?” Lavender prompted. 

“Well, Harry, of course, and Ron.  Also, Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black and Professor Lupin.” 

“Professor Lupin?” Lavender cried. 

Hermione laughed.  “It turns out that he is Arabella’s nephew.  Professor Lupin is my cousin, but we never knew it until this summer.” 

“Cool” Lavender breathed. 

Hermione held up a warning finger, “But don’t tell everyone okay? I don’t want people to think he’s playing favorites or anything.”  They promised.

“I can’t believe you stayed in the same house with Sirius Black.  I mean, I know he’s been cleared an all, but he always looked so scary on the news.  Is he totally creepy?” Pavarti asked. 

“Not at all,” Hermione said warmly “He’s wonderful.  Very sweet and a terrific dancer.”  Lavender and Pavarti stared in disbelief.  Hermione laughed and said, “No really, he is! Here, look…” she drew a photograph from her trunk.  It was the one Hopkins had taken the morning Harry and Hermione had agreed to be bound by the Cadeau Du Mer.   From within a heavy silver frame, Remus, Sirius, Arabella, Harry and Hermione grinned and waved.  Hermione passed the picture to Lavender and Parvati who had sprawled across her bed, looking on.

“I can’t believe it!” said Lavender.  “Now I see why Rita Skeeter keeps nominating him for ‘Most Eligible Wizard of the Age”

Hermione laughed out loud.  “I’ll introduce you if you like.  He’s promised Harry that he’ll come for all the Quidditch matches.” 

Lavender hugged Hermione.  “Would you really?”

 “And me?” said Pavarti hopefully. 

“Sure” said Hermione.  “He’d love to meet you.”

They spent another quarter of an hour in girl-talk before finally putting the lights out and getting into bed.  As Hermione drew the hangings around her four-poster, she thought about how nice it had been to talk with Lavender and Parvati.  She had never had any close girl friends, but maybe now, she would…

She slid under the covers and closed her eyes, wishing Harry were there with her.  She loved the warmth and security of sleeping wrapped in his arms.  She liked falling asleep while he stroked her hair and waking up with him beside her.  She sighed, punched at her pillow and turned over.  There was a quiet whisper in head, “I miss you, too my love”.  It was Harry.  He was still awake and thinking about her.  The Cadeau Du Mer brightened slightly in response. 

“Can’t seem to fall asleep” she thought to him from her bed in “No-Man’s Land”.

“Me either” came his instant response, “Wonder why?” he thought with a quiet laugh.  Hermione smiled.  It was incredible to hear his thoughts.  Even though they’d been able to talk like this for weeks, it still gave her goose bumps.  She curled up on her side. 

“Pretend we’re back at Paravel” she whispered a message to him.  “What would we be doing now?”

In the boys dormitory, separated from Hermione by a flight of stairs and two locked doors, Harry lay flat on his back with his arms behind his head.   A smile spread slowly across his face.  Hermione was awake.  She had heard him.  His ring began to glow faintly as he continued to focus his thoughts on her.  “What would we be doing now?” he responded.  That was easy.  If they had still been at Paravel, he knew exactly what they would be doing.  His eyes became smoky as he whispered back.  “I’d been in your room now.  You would be brushing your hair and I would apparate behind you.  I’d take you in my arms and ever so slowly, I would kiss your eyes, then your cheeks….” He paused deliberately. 

Her voice, suddenly sultry echoed in his head “Then what?”

He laughed to himself.  “Your perfect mouth and lips.”  He thought in reply.

“So? What’s stopping you?” Came the sultry voice again.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he asked, his breath coming faster now. 

He could hear her laughter, “I’m saying, that if you want to tuck me in properly, you can.  Otherwise, what’s the point of dating someone who can apparate and has an invisibility cloak?”  

“Are you serious?” he stammered. 

“Perfectly” she said, “but you have to be quiet and don’t stay too long.” 

“Yes ma’am” he said, slipping out of bed and easing open his trunk to get the invisibility cloak.  “Ready?” he asked.  Hermione eased to one side of her narrow bed to make room. 

“Yes” she whispered – practically purring. Harry pulled his father’s cloak over his head, closed his eyes and concentrated hard on her image – her form.   There was a rush of wind.

Hermione felt the Cadeau Du Mer warm suddenly around her neck.  “Here he comes…” she thought with a smile.  She felt, rather than saw, him thump silently onto the bed beside her.  Harry didn’t dare remove the cloak, so he drew her gently underneath with him.  “I believe it was eyes first…wasn’t it?” she thought to him and flashed wicked grin.  He began to kiss her softly.

“I love this side of you – this secret wanton side…so playful, so sensuous…” he thought as his kisses drifted to her cheeks and lips.  “The side no one knows but me…” he breathed in her ear.   

“The side that no one will ever know but you…” she whispered.

Hermione got her wish.  Harry tucked her in properly and she fell asleep in his arms.  They promised each other that it was only for one night.  Somehow, they would wean themselves of the habit of sleeping together, maybe next week, or the week after…

The next morning found Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall looking over the fifth year course schedules. In between bites of breakfast they compared notes. “Oh no,” Ron moaned. “Double Potions this morning first thing – and of course we’re with the stinking Slytherins.”

Hermione studied her schedule closely. “Hmm, and History of Magic afterwards – what a delightful morning!” she said with a frown.

“What about this afternoon?” Harry asked.

“We’ve got Defense Against the Dark Arts after lunch, then Transfiguration. How ‘bout you, Hermione?” Ron asked.

“The same” she said, taking a drink of pumpkin juice.

“Well,” said Harry, “that’s something to look forward to then.”

“Excuse me? Hermione?” It was Ashima Kahai. “I have a question about my schedule…” Hermione offered her a seat and began giving Ashima directions to each of her classrooms.

While they were talking, Harry filled Ron in on Jonathan Clift’s visit to the Common Room the night before. Ron was outraged to hear what Malfoy intended. “He needs to get a life, that one!”

Harry said in a low voice, “I promised myself that after what he did to Hermione this summer, I wouldn’t let him get away with anything this year…” Harry was about to say more when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up to see Cho Chang smiling down at him. Her eyes were sparkling. “Good morning, Harry” she said in a voice that fairly dripped with honey. “Mind if I join you?” she said, and not waiting for him to answer, slid into the vacant seat beside him.

Being ever-thoughtful and perpetually quick-thinking, Ron kicked Hermione under the table to get her attention. She looked up from Ashima’s schedule to ask what Ron was playing at when she saw Cho. The retort she intended for Ron was now frozen on her lips.

Cho had laid her hand on Harry’s arm and was asking when he might have time to try out her new racing broom. Hermione was gratified to see Harry slide his arm away, and mumble something about having a very busy schedule. But Cho didn’t seem in any hurry to leave.

Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. “Better be going hadn’t we? Can’t be late to Potions – you know how Snape is.” Harry got to his feet and began gathering up his things. Hermione and Ron did likewise.

“C’mon Ashima,” Hermione said, not wanting to desert Ashima, “we’ll walk you to your first class.”

Hermione was in the act of swinging her book bag to her shoulder when Harry caught it with one hand. “No you don’t” he said. “I’ll carry those for you.” Hermione beamed at Harry. Not only was he thoughtful, he had marvelous timing. He took her by the hand and they started to make their way out of the Great Hall.

As an afterthought, Hermione called “G’bye!” over her shoulder to Cho, who looked angrily away.

~~

Snape was a few minutes late arriving in the dungeon for Potions. It gave Harry and Ron the opportunity to glare at Malfoy, who leered back in return. As well, Pansey Parkinson had a few choice words for Hermione. As thick as Pansey was, she had still managed to notice the change in Hermione’s appearance, particularly her hair. “What’d you do this summer, Granger?” she barked from across the room, “get a head transplant?” The Slytherins laughed stupidly – Malfoy the loudest of all.

Any hopes Harry had of Snape easing up him since they were now supposedly on the same “side” against the Death Eaters vanished. “Hands to yourself, Potter. We want to set a good example as a Prefect, don’t we?” he said sarcastically, eyeing Harry with disgust down his overlarge nose. Harry made no reply. “Five points from Gryffindor!” Snape said with satisfaction.

Harry checked the time on his new watch. Potions seemed to be crawling by. He had never looked forward to History of Magic as much as he did now. At last, Snape let them go. Harry, Ron and Hermione practically bolted from the room in their desire to put distance between themselves and Snape.

They didn’t say a word to each other until they were well outside the dungeon. “You’d think he finally come around, wouldn’t you?” said Ron, who like Harry, had been hoping Snape might ease up a bit this year.

“Apparently not,” Hermione sighed. Once again, Harry reached for her books, and they climbed the stairs toward History of Magic. They passed Cho in the Charms corridor. She waved brightly at Harry. He pretended not to see her, and casually draped his arm over Hermione’s shoulder. Cho looked daggers at their backs.

“What are you going to do about Cho, Harry?” said Ron under his breath as they took their seats in the History of Magic classroom. “You’ve sent her every “Go away…I’m taken!” signal in the book and she still doesn’t get it!” Harry gave a helpless shrug as Professor Binns appeared through the blackboard.

Lavender Brown rested her head in her hand. Her hair brushing the blank page where she should have been taking notes. Somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to focus on Professor Binns’ monotone lecture about the Dwarf uprisings of 1647. Instead, she was engaging in her favorite activity - people watching. Specifically, she was watching Harry and Hermione.

She was trying to detect any subtle differences in their behavior toward one another now that she knew they were dating. They had exchanged several long looks and every now and then, Harry seemed to be concentrating hard on something – after which, Hermione would inexplicably smile. It was after one of these exchanges that Lavender’s keen eyes picked out the ring on Harry’s finger. It glowed momentarily, just like Hermione’s amulet. Lavender nudged Parvati and pointed under the table. She saw the ring as well, and raised her eyebrows in interest. “Enchanted?” she mouthed to Lavender, who scribbled back to her on a sheet of paper “I guess so…but surely, Hermione wouldn’t stoop so low as to charm Harry into dating her!”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Parvati thought to herself. But Harry certainly had not been as attentive to her the night of the Yule Ball as he was now being to Hermione. Maybe he was under some sort of spell…after all, hadn’t Pansey Parkinson implied that Hermione would be well up to making a love potion? Parvati remembered reading something like that in one of Rita Skeeter’s articles last year. She made a mental note to tell her sister, Padma – a Ravenclaw, what she suspected.

~~

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just reached the entrance to the Great Hall for lunch, when Hermione stopped suddenly and tugged the sleeve of Harry’s robes. She pointed to a cluster of students standing in a nearby doorway. Draco Malfoy had propped himself elegantly against the door frame and was giving his entire attention to two of the Gryffindor first-years, Lucy Steele and Nicole Emsworth-Jones. Nicole said something that Hermione couldn’t hear and Draco laughed out loud, appearing to be highly entertained by whatever it was Nicole had said.

Ron gave a low whistle. “That can’t possibly be good.”

“He’s up to something!” said Hermione in frustration. “He’s flirting with them to gain their trust, then he’ll try to manipulate them – just like he did to you and Ron your first year when he challenged you to that midnight duel in the trophy room.” she said, her eyes narrowed. “I just wish I knew what he had in mind…”

“Well, whatever it is,” Harry said quietly, “it’s bound to cost Gryffindor points – that’s his ultimate goal.”

“Hermione,” said Ron, “Can’t you talk to them? Can’t you tell them he’s untrustworthy?”

“I can try,” she said, doubtfully, and made as if to enter the Hall. Ron turned to follow and ran headlong into a girl with long red hair. Her books and papers went everywhere. She stooped instantly to pick them up, her hair falling across her face.

“Watch it, Ginny!” snapped Ron. He crouched beside her and picked up some of her papers - thrusting them in her face. She looked up.

“I’m not Ginny”, she said flatly. “I’m Holly.” Ron lost his balance and sat down hard, gulping like a goldfish.

“Sorry about that!” he said after a minute. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Holly, Holly Lockheart” she said loudly and slowly.

“I’m Ron, Ron Weasley.”

She laughed, green eyes dancing. “I know who you are. You’re the one who went into the Chamber of Secrets with Gilderoy. It was your wand that backfired and obliviated his memory” she paused, then said under her breath, “and about time, too. He was a dreadful bore.”

“How’d you know about all that?” Ron asked, dumbfounded.

She sighed, “Because he is a distant cousin of mine. I don’t often claim him, but I’ll make an exception in your case, since I have you to thank for wiping his memory clean. He’s been much easier to tolerate since the incident with your wand.” She smiled warmly and stretched out a hand, helping Ron to his feet. “Best be off,” she said and strolled away. She turned for a moment and called back over her shoulder, “Nice to finally meet you…” then she was gone, blending into a crowd of her third-year classmates.

Ron stared after her for a long time before rejoining Harry and Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

Hermione was on the point of making her way over to Lucy and Nicole to warn them about Malfoy, when Arabella’s owl appeared in the Great Hall, winging its way toward her. It landed smoothly on the table in front of her with a pale blue envelope. Hermione recognized the stationary immediately – it didn’t belong to Arabella, but to Catherine, Hermione’s mother.

Hermione frowned slightly. She didn’t often receive letters from Catherine at school. “I hope nothing’s wrong” she said to herself as she removed the envelope from Arabella’s owl. Harry offered the owl a swallow of juice. It sipped gratefully, then flapped away, beginning its long journey back to Paravel.

Hermione tore open the envelope and found a brief letter from her mother which she read aloud to Harry and Ron.

“Dear Hermione,

Hope this finds you well and enjoying the new school year. Your father and I have missed you dreadfully and have been re-thinking our future as it relates to you.

The time we spent with you at Paravel was magical, darling. It is clear to us that you when you finish school, you will no doubt choose to live among wizards, rather than return to life in Muggle London. We also suspect that you may one day make your home in Cornwall. For these reasons, and because I desperately want to re-connect with you and with my own mother, I have asked your father to consider selling our London practice and re-locating to Cornwall.

We could open a small practice in Penmarren or Pendeen where we would we close to you, Harry, and Arabella. Even if I am a hopeless “squib” as Sirius continues to call me, I would still like to live among you. I hope you understand. And while this may come as a bit of a shock, I hope it is a pleasant one.

Your father was not terribly keen on the idea at first, but I think he’s coming around. I’ll let you know more when we’ve made a firm decision. In the meantime, please know how much we love you and how proud we are of the woman you’re becoming. Give my love to Harry and Ron,

Your devoted mother,

Catherine

Hermione dropped the letter and looked a question at Harry “as Sirius continues to call me?” “What does she mean by that?” Hermione asked. “Is it just me, or does anyone else here think that she may have other reasons for wanting to move to Cornwall?”

Harry shrugged and said reassuringly, “C’mon, Hermione, you don’t think your mother could have her head turned that easily do you?” Hermione made no reply. Harry continued. “I mean, she wouldn’t sell her practice and move her whole life from London to Cornwall just because Sirius let her ride Buckbeak and danced with her a few times, would she?”

Hermione shook her head slowly, “I guess not.” But Catherine’s letter continued to nag at her as they left the Great Hall and headed for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Harry had been looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts all day. Remus Lupin had been the best teacher they’d ever had and now he was back – not only back but healthy and energetic now that he was no longer a werewolf. And so, Harry was a little surprised at Remus’s appearance when he entered the class room. He was a bit pale and there were shadows under his eyes. Hermione noticed too and was concerned.

As he called roll, Hermione noticed that his voice seemed flat – entirely without affectation. But the lesson proceeded smoothly and soon the class was spellbound as he began to describe numerous methods for dealing with zombies. A bell rang somewhere, signaling the end of class. Harry, Hermione and Ron had a few minutes before Transfiguration and approached Professor Lupin’s desk. He had slid into a chair and was shuffling papers aimlessly. Once or twice, his eyes seemed to slide out of focus.

Hermione laid a hand on his shoulder and said quietly, “Remus?” He looked up startled. Up close, they could see that his face was drawn and slightly haggard. Hermione was shocked and dropped to her knees at his side. “Remus, are you well?”

“Fine” he mumbled, patting her hand, “just didn’t get much sleep last night.” Harry and Ron exchanged meaningful looks. There was more going on here than just loss of sleep.

Remus tilted his head up to smile and Ron and Harry, and when he did, Hermione noticed something unusual on his collar. Small dark red stains, like dried blood. Her eyes flicked automatically to his neck. There, nearly hidden by his shirt, were two small circular wounds. Hermione recognized them at once. “Remus!” she cried out “You’ve been bitten by a vampire.”

He seemed amused. “Nonsense, Hermione! What on earth are you talking about?”

She scrambled in her bag for a small hand mirror – holding it out for him to see. “There, on your neck…do you see those marks? That’s a vampire bite!” Remus frowned and stretched his neck a bit, straining to see what she was talking about in the small mirror.

The marks were now plain to see. “She’s right!” Harry cried. “Where were you last night?” Harry asked, agitated.

“Here! In the castle! All night.” Remus said, firmly.

“You didn’t go up to the Three Broomsticks or anything?” Ron asked. “You said something about trying to find that woman that looked like Harry’s mother…”

“Harry’s mother…Lily” Remus repeated slowly. The words seemed to light a fire in his brain. The memory of last night’s dream came flooding back. “I dreamed about Lily last night!” he said suddenly. He raised his hand to his neck, thinking hard. He was trying to decide if he had had a dream or….a visitor.

“We’d better get him to Madam Pomfrey” Hermione said briskly.

“Oh no,” he protested. “You’re not sending me to some tiresome school nurse…”

Harry gripped one of his arms and Ron the other, “Oh yes we are…” they propelled him from the room, ignoring his half-hearted objections. They were nearing the hospital wing when another bell sounded. “We’re going to miss Transfiguration!” Ron said; his horror at what Professor McGonnagall might say or do about this breech of rules was evident.

Remus waved a hand, “I’ll go along peaceably boys. Don’t be late for class.”

Hermione was suspicious. “You go on,” she said to Harry and Ron. “I’ll walk him the rest of the way and get Madam Pomfrey to give me a note.”

“Are you sure?” said Harry. Hermione smiled in answer and they dashed away in the direction of the Transfiguration classroom.

Madame Pomfrey bustled toward them as they entered the hospital wing. “What is it, Miss Granger?” she asked sharply, noticing Professor Lupin’s ashen face.

Hermione took a deep breath and said, “He’s been bitten by a vampire.” Hermione expected a huge reaction from Madame Pomfrey, but she seemed entirely unfazed.

“He isn’t the only one…” Madam Pomfrey replied, gesturing him to a bed. She pulled screens around and handed him some hospital pajamas. While Remus was changing, Hermione glanced around the ward.

To her surprise, she saw Andrew Weston, a fourth-year Gryffindor, propped on pillows talking to a boy that Hermione thought she recognized from the Ravenclaw House Team. She walked to Andrew’s bedside. “Andrew, what are you doing in here?” Hermione asked. Ruefully, he pulled at the collar of his pajamas and showed her bite on his neck, identical to the one Remus was sporting.

“Me too,” said the boy in the other bed, revealing a similar mark.

Andrew said, “Hermione Granger, meet Sam McDermott. Sam plays Quidditch for Ravenclaw.” Hermione nodded in friendly greeting. Andrew continued, “Sam, this is Hermione Granger, she one of our Prefects.”

“Nice to meet you” Sam said with a small half-smile.

Hermione turned to Andrew. “Do you remember what happened?”

He sighed, “Madam Pomfrey has asked me that about a hundred times. I don’t remember anything. I just woke up this morning with my pillows soaked in blood. The guys in my dorm brought me here. Madame Pomfrey’s giving me a transfusion of fresh blood to replace what I lost.” he pointed to the IV bag hanging nearby, “She says I’ll be fine after that.”

“How about you, Sam? Do you remember anything?” Hermione asked.

“Umm, not really. I just remember having a bizarre dream about this woman with long red hair…”

Andrew snorted “There’s nothing bizarre about you having a dream about a woman, Sam.”

Sam tossed a pillow at Andrew, making his IV swing crazily for a moment. Andrew was silenced immediately.

“What do you remember about the dream Sam?” Hermione prompted.

“I just remember that the woman was crying. I tried to comfort her and she started kissing my neck…” He shook his head in frustration. “I don’t remember much after that. Just waking up in my bed with blood everywhere.”

“Did you see the woman’s face?” asked Hermione.

“Only for a split second” Sam answered. “She had the most amazing green eyes…”

Hermione understood immediately who the vampire must be. “But how is she getting into Hogwarts?” she thought to herself. Hermione chewed her lip fretfully as she walked back to Remus. She was about to question him, when Madam Pomfrey put a warning finger to her lips. Professor R. J. Lupin had fallen asleep. An IV dripped silently, bringing him the blood he so desperately needed. Hermione sighed, sorry she couldn’t confirm her suspicions, but glad that this cousin who had become so dear to her, was getting the treatment he needed.

Madame Pomfrey gave Hermione the note she needed to get back into class, and then sent her on her way. “You can visit him after dinner…” Madam Pomfrey called. Hermione sighed gratefully and headed for Transfiguration.

Professor McGonnagal accepted Hermione’s note without comment. Harry’s gaze followed Hermione as she took her seat. “Remus isn’t the only victim.” She thought silently to Harry. “And I think I know who the vampire is…I’ll tell you after class.” Harry nodded and turned his attention back to Professor McGonnagal, who had been watching them both, intently.

After Transfiguration, Hermione told Harry and Ron everything. And they agreed with her completely. The woman they had seen on the platform in Hogsmeade – the woman that looked like Harry’s mother – had to be the vampire.

“You know what we’ve got to do don’t you?” Hermione said to Ron and Harry as they sat in the Common Room before dinner. They looked uneasily at her. “We’ve got to get word to Sirius.”

Harry scrawled a quick note to Sirius, and then the three of them dashed to the Owlery in search of Hedwig…