Harry had been to see Sirius a lot since he had revealed himself to Harry. They didn't talk much while he was in the form of Silos because it was a bit awkward for them. Hermione had no problem speaking to Sirius as if he were Silos, though. The two still had an academic war going on and Hermione was still winning. She enjoyed rubbing it in his face when he was in his older form.
Her and Remus had been getting along well. They talked a lot about the plan to expose Pettigrew. The decided on exposing the rat in public. They needed to give the Ministry no reason to just chuck Sirius back in jail and hide the evidence. If it happened publicly then everyone would know Pettigrew was alive and something wasn't quite right. It was awful that they had to corner the Ministry into doing the right thing.
It didn't matter too much anyways. Sirius Black would be released and Harry would have family that actually cared about him. Speaking of their plans, they went to Dumbledore with the truth. Sirius ended up losing to Hermione in their bet and owed her ten galleons. Dumbledore already knew that Sirius was Silos. The old coot knew everything! Hermione enjoyed beating Sirius in contests. Even just stupid staring contests. They were both majorly competitive.
Anywho, Dumbledore told them that he would help Sirius be a free man. Hermione was glad about that. Everything was falling in place and Sirius could almost taste the freedom. Harry was bouncing with excitement and constantly thanking Hermione. She only shook her head and told him that it was worth it to see him so happy. In other magnificent news, Draco had completely stopped bullying Hermione and Harry. All it took was one look from the petite girl and off he went. She loved that effect she had. It made life so much easier. Hermione and Harry were treated the same among their peers, but Hermione was ignored more than usual. She was alright with that though. It gave her more time to study and less time to deal with gossiping idiots.
That particular day, it was time for Care of Magical creatures with Hagrid and the half giant was leading them into the Forbidden Forest. Hermione rolled her eyes as they walked. The man loved his creatures, but they were a bit dangerous. The textbook was even dangerous! Silos was walking ahead talking to Dean and Harry was walking with Ron. Hermione had told Harry that they had probably been excluding Ron a bit too much. Harry and her felt extremely guilty when they realized how bad of friends they've been. Well, Harry and Ron being friends. Her and Ron have never clicked. They just fought all the time and it was beginning to give her headache. So, she told Harry that he can be friends with whoever he wished, but she would not befriend Ron. She would be nice and respectful to him, just not all buddy buddy. Harry thought that was perfectly fine.
The group reached the place Hagrid was leading them to and were surprised to see a large Hippogriff standing there. The creature stood tall and stoic. His feathers were different shades of grey. His back horse legs were grey as well. He was a beautiful creature. Hermione pushed herself to the front of the class and saw Hagrid smile brightly. He spoke to the class, "this 'ere is a hippogriff. His name is Buckbeak. Now…" He went off asking questions and rambling off facts. It came to the part of the class where Hagrid called up a volunteer. The class stepped back. All except for Harry who just looked a bit confused. Hagrid called him up and told him how to approach the animal carefully. You needed to first bow to Buckbeak and if he bowed back, then it was safe to approach. Everything was going fine until Hagrid stuck Harry on the creature and made him fly!
Hermione was extremely nervous. She kept shifting and looking up. Hagrid was reassuring them that all was well and Harry would be back. That didn't make Hermione feel any better though. Hagrid was right though. Harry came back, safe and sound. He had a large smile on his face and Hermione smiled in return. Thank goodness he was alright. The class clapped and Hagrid announced loudly, "good job, 'arry! Who else wants to try?" Harry went over to Hermione while the class looked around nervously. Who would go?
Hermione caught something in the corner of her eye. The look of a jealous Draco Malfoy. He was going to do something stupid. She was right when he began to approach the animal, insulting him. Hermione saw Buckbeak's anger and raise up on his hind legs. Hermione went into action, purely out of instinct. She sprinted towards the blonde idiot and shouted, "Malfoy!" Then, pushed him out of the way and took the blow from the beast. She fell to the ground and looked up at the animal getting ready to make another strike. She shielded herself, but the blow never came. She opened her eyes to see Buckbeak being pulled back by Hagrid.
Harry came to her side and took her by the shoulders, "you alright Hermione?" She looked at the gushing wound and shook her head. "It hurts so fucking much!" Hermione gripped her arm to her chest and Harry helped her up. Hagrid came over to them and quickly yelled to the class, "class dismissed!" He looked to her and asked, "can ye walk?" Hermione nodded and they began to walk away. Hermione looked back and caught the wide eyes of a confused Draco Malfoy. She just shook her head and continued on to the hospital wing. Harry and Silos were following behind.
Hermione's arm was in searing pain when she reached the hospital wing and Hagrid's stuttering and apologizing wasn't helping. She was sat down by Madame Pomfrey and her arm was taken care of. The wound was closed and wrapped, just to be safe. She was given a potion to help the pain, but Hermione refused to stay in the hospital wing longer than she needed. Hermione was set free and was on strict orders to stay out of classes. She thought that was a stupid idea. She was perfectly capable of holding a quill to take notes or a wand to practice spells.
Harry and Silos had to go back to classes and Harry almost threw a fit about having to leave Hermione. She just reminded him that her arm was still intact and didn't need to be babied. So, off Harry went and Hermione was left alone. She didn't know what to do with herself besides homework. So, she went to the library and finished her homework. It only took her a small amount of time because she was so ahead. Believe it or not, Hermione didn't feel like reading. Her arm was beginning to hurt a bit, so she needed a an activity to relax.
Hermione walked around and thought of the perfect thing to relax. She bounded down towards the dungeons and made sure to stick to the shadows. Her plan obviously didn't work because she turned a corner and slammed into something. She landed on the ground with an 'oomf' and hissed in pain. Man her arm hurt. She opened her eyes and looked up into the eyes of a sneering Potions Master. Hermione scrambled up from the floor and stood before him. He crossed his arm and asked, "why are you not in class?" She swallowed and held up her bandaged arm. "Madame Pomfrey forbid me to go to classes, sir." He looked at her curiously and asked, "how did you manage to injure yourself?" Hermione shuffled and looked down. "I, uh, I got attacked by the hippogriff in Hagrid's class, sir." He looked at her and scoffed, "likely story." Hermione shook her head and said, "if you don't believe me, sir, then just ask Malfoy, it was him I took the beating for!" Professor Snape paused and peered down at her. "Draco Malfoy?" Hermione nodded, "he insulted the hippogriff and it tried to attack him, sir."
"And you just pushed him out of the way?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why?"
"Well, I, uh, actually have no idea why."
"Where are you going?"
"Somewhere to relax."
"In the dungeons?"
"Yes, sir."
She saw Snape think over her story and then he nodded. "Carry on." Hermione smiled and continued on her way with a parting, "thank you, sir." Hermione sighed in relief. She was glad Snape believed her. She wasn't in the mood to be given detention. He was being oddly lenient, though. She didn't question it. If something was good then leave it alone. So, she would leave the subject alone.
Hermione continued on her way and got to a stairwell in the back of the dungeons. It was out in the open! Just there for anyone to use, but it always seems to be overlooked. Harry knew about the place too, but he never wanted to use it. He told her that he likeying in the quidditch pitch to relax instead of some artificial magic. She would just shake her head and tell him he's missing out.
The stairwell started in a large archway and wasn't lit by torches. It always seemed to have an eerie glow somehow. She walked down the dark stone steps and lit a small bluebell flame with a snap of her fingers. It was the first wandless trick she learned. Why? Because it was extremely useful. Lighting candles, light for book passages and all that. Plus, it couldn't catch anything on fire besides where she directed it! It was the perfect safety flame.
Hermione reached the bottom of the winding steps and reached a large wooden door. She extinguished the flames and saw the soft glow of the written words on the door.
Enter thee,
Be warned of me
I am your greatest fear
She concentrated in the magic around the door and blew on the letters. They morphed into-
Enter intelligence
You solved the riddle
Relax away your greatest troubles
Hermione smiled. When she first saw the message on the door, she ran like hell. Then she rethought and found that the message was a riddle. When focusing on one's magic, your entire being is exposed. That meant one's greatest fears. If she focused on her magic, the door would find her fear within it and let her enter. If one has no fears, then one cannot have use of the room. It was the very room that made her focus more on what magic actually is. She found that magic wasn't just a wand movement and a spell. It was her entire being. It was part of her and if she just searched for it, she would be connected.
Hermione shook her head and opened the door. It was dark at first, but it began to glow a crystal blue. The light illuminated the magnificent room. It was actually just like a sitting room. It was circle shaped with smooth stone walls. The ceiling was lit to look like a copy of the northern lights. The floor was covered with the softest carpet known to man. A beautiful shade of black. Farther in, there was a bookshelf with the greatest books on theory, the connection with magic and other things. The best part of it though, had to be the sofa and chairs. There was the plushest black sofa pushed against the wall with two black chairs beside it. In front of the furniture was a black circle table. The room was actually pretty ordinary, but it wasn't the decor that made it all so relaxing. There was something in the air that made your back relax and your thoughts untangle. It was….magical.
Hermione glided over to the sofa and laid down. Her thoughts went silent and her entire being relaxed. She read that the room was created by Salazar Slytherin. He was said to have major stress and anxiety. So, he built a place to relieve even the greatest stress. She hoped he didn't mind her being in there, she respected the man. Even if most of the Slytherin students were complete scumbags, that didn't mean that the house of Slytherin was bad. Their traits were ambition and cunning. Those traits could be used for bad intent very easily. So, she only had qualms with the students and not the actual house.
Hermione stayed in that room for what seemed to be hours. She was in a state between sleeping and consciousness. Everything was peaceful. She was even still peaceful when the door opened. She knew it was Harry. She could feel it. He walked in and sat on the floor in front of her. "Hermione?" He said the words so softly. She opened her eyes and looked into his emerald ones. "Yes?"
"You need another dose of pain potion, it's dinner time."
"I'd rather stay in here."
"You know you can't do that Kitten."
"You're right. Just…..a few more minutes." Harry nodded and got up. He was about to walk away, but she grabbed his hand. He looked back to her in the softly glowing light. She whispered, "stay?" Harry smiled and sat back down in his spot. There they sat for more than a few minutes. Hand in hand in complete relaxation.