Occulemency and Beyond

Frog Intestines

Chapter 3. Frog Intestines

Hermione woke with a start early Sunday morning. The dream that startled and woke her had been so vivid, yet she couldn't remember a single detail. Her heart still thudded in reaction to whatever emotion the dream... or nightmare, she mused, had stirred.

Sitting up and stretching she yawned loudly and tried to remember what she'd been dreaming about. Unable to recollect even the smallest detail she decided it must not have been that major, so she rose and began to prepare for the day ahead. She tied her bushy hair into a ponytail and smiled at her reflection before meeting Harry and Ron in the common room to walk together to breakfast.

The Great Hall was excessively noisy, as it was Sunday everyone was taking their time eating breakfast and socializing before they started revising or finishing up their weekend homework. Hermione, Ron, and Harry found seats together and sat. Ron and Harry immediately dug into the the roast sausages and fried potatoes.

"Do take care to leave a bit for me would you?" said Hermione, dubiously eyeballing the massive amounts of food each boy had piled on his plate. "I'm starving for some reason."

"What'd Filch have you doing last night?" asked Ron through a mouthful of sausage.

"He... He had me scrubbing rotten frog intestines of the ceiling of his office. I think Peeves must be holding a grudge against, I mean he's always a terror but this was disgusting!" she replied thinking quickly.

"Filch has always had it out Peeves. He tries to have the Headmaster get rid of the poltergeist every year." said Harry lending a measure of authenticity to Hermione's lie.

"Now that Umbridge is in charge it's only a matter of time. Have you seen the way Filch kisses up to her? It makes sick." said Ron shoveling a huge spoonful of potatoes in to his mouth.

"It must. to make you all that sick. Merlins beard! How can eat like that Ronald! You're making it difficult for me to enjoy my breakfast!"

"I'm sorry, "he replied swallowing the large mouthful. "Angelina wants us down on the quidditch pitch right after breakfast. She keeps threatening to make us practice through lunch."

Ron made an apologetic face at Harry, Hermione sighed in her mind. Umbridge had really gone too far this time. Harry had been uncharacteristically depressed since the 'High Inquisitor' had banned him from the quidditch team.

"Hopefully the curse on the defense position gets her." stated Harry derisively, earning him a glare from Hermione.

"She may not be a good person Harry but do you really want her to die?" she intoned sternly.

"I suppose not." he replied sheepishly.

"I want to see her working in the Hogwarts Kitchen, with a house-elf for a boss!" said Ron.

The three of them shared a laugh with the few people nearby that had overheard their conversation, imagining Umbridge's indignation at being ordered about by a house-elf. Ron stood as the laughter died down, saying goodbye to Harry and Hermione and taking care to avoid the word quidditch.

Harry, looking decidedly grumpy, trudged away citing the loo. Leaving Hermione to finish her morning pumpkin juice in peace.

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The Gryffindor Common Room was packed with loud students. Hermione had planned on studying by the fire but thanks to the extremely cold weather her usual seat was taken. There was no way she could focus in there so she headed to the library.

The library, much to Hermione's dismay, was packed with fifth and seventh years. Not even bothering to enter she turned away from the library and headed up to the seventh floor her destination; a blank wall across from a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and his ballet dancing trolls. Hermione paced back and forth in front if the blank stretch of wall focusing on her need for a quiet place to study alone.