Into The Multiverse

Chapter 15 - Norbert & The Forbidden Forest

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I've gotta say, Hermione is scary.

She is the exact copy of Rin Tohsaka. Her Elements are the same, she uses Jewel Magecraft, even her [Gandr] is the same as Rin's. Ruby shivers at the resemblance.

Her Magecraft is more advance than me now, and to make matters worse, she watches me train my Magecraft, criticizing everything I do wrong. It's like she's the Mentor and I the mentee. I don't mind though. I can learn what to improve after all.

I revealed my [ID Create and Destroy] skill to her... well it was Ruby who did, and ever since that, every night, she'll come to my room and ask me to activate [ID Create] to either do her light reading or to practice her Magecraft. And since my [ID Create] has a 1:5 Time Ratio, 1 hour in the real world is 5 hours in the ID.

Ruby is now disguised as her old wand. She can't talk in this state, which is heaven for both of us. She has been embarrassing her every day.

Anyways, back to Hogwarts. Hermione and I went back to Hogwarts before term started, and she was livid. She was torn between horror at the idea of Harry being out of bed, roaming the school three nights in a row, and disappointment that he hadn't at least found out who Nicolas Flamel was.

They had almost given up hope of ever finding Flamel in a library book, even though Harry was still sure he'd read the name somewhere. Once term had started, they were back to skimming through books for ten minutes during their breaks. Harry had even less time than the other two because Quidditch practice had started again. 

Wood was working for the team harder than ever. Even the endless rain that had replaced the snow couldn't dampen his spirits. The Weasleys complained that Wood was becoming a fanatic, but Harry and I were on Wood's side. If they won their next match, against Hufflepuff, they would overtake Slytherin in the house championship for the first time in seven years, and I do not want to McGonagall pissed.

Then, during one particularly wet and muddy practice session, Wood gave the team a bit of bad news.

Wood: Snape's refereeing this time, and he'll be looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!

George: Snape's refereeing? When's he ever refereed a Quidditch match? He's not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin.

The team starts to complain, too.

Wood: It's not my fault. We've just got to make sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn't got an excuse to pick on us.

Harry and I headed straight back to the Gryffindor common room after practice was over, where he found Ron and Hermione playing chess. Chess was the only thing Hermione ever lost at, something Harry and Ron thought was very good for her. I chuckle at how bad she is in chess.

Ron: Don't talk to me for a moment. I need to concen— What's the matter with you? You look terrible.

He caught sight of Harry's face.

Speaking quietly so that no one else would hear, Harry told the other two about Snape's sudden, sinister desire to be a Quidditch referee. 

Hermione: Don't play. 

Ron: Say you're ill.

Hermione: Pretend to break your leg.

Ron: Really break your leg.

That line made me snort.

Harry: I can't. There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all. There is Damien, but he's more of a Chaser, Keeper, and Beater than a Seeker.