The Boy Who Protected

The Trap Door

Hermione POV:

The time for our end of the year exams was upon us. I was both excited and nervous for the exams. I felt both prepared and not prepared enough for these exams. The You-Know-Who encounter with Harry and Kaden happened a few weeks ago and it seemed to be in the back of our minds as we started the exams.

We were given anti-cheating quills just like Kaden had said during our study session we had found out about Flamel. One couldn't help but wonder if Ron would have actually cheated off of us but I guess we'll never know. The exams were a mix of both practical and written assessments. In charms, we had to make a pineapple dance. In transfiguration, we had to transfigure a mouse into a snuffbox. In potions, we had to make a forgetfulness potion. The last exam we had was history of magic which was one hour of a written exam. It was history on all of the wizarding world. Once we finished our exams, many of us cheered that we had made it through our first Hogwarts exams.

"That was easier than I thought." I said to the group. I needn't have to learn about the 1637 werewolf code of conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."

"Can you shut up about the exams!" Ron whined. "It makes me ill to know I didn't get the right answers."

"Fine Ronald, but watch your tone when talking to my sister." Naomi said in a low tone.

"Kaden, both professor Flitwick and McGonagall looked pleased when you exited the room after your practical's." Aurora commented.

"I said don't!" Ron shouted as Kaden hit him on the back of the head.

"Remember what happened last time you were rude to them?" Kaden asked as Ron went pale thinking about his broken nose and black eye.

"You should look more cheerful, Harry. We've got a week before we find out how badly we've done. There's no need to worry." Ron told Harry.

Harry wasn't listening to Ron as he was rubbing his scar in discomfort. He said it had been hurting ever since the forest.

'I wish I knew what it means." Harry grumbled as we continued to walk as he was rubbing his scar. "It's happened before but not like this."

"Go to Madam Pomfrey." Naomi and I said in unison.

"I'm not ill. I think it's a warning...it means danger is coming." Harry said.

"Harry relax, Hermione's right, the stone is safe as long as Dumbledore is around." Ron said. "Anyway we've never had solid proof that Snape found a way past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off the last time he tried to get past him. He's not going to try again."

Harry kept trying to explain the feeling he was having until he had started running to Hagrid's.

"We have to go see Hagrid, now!" Harry said as he kept running.

"Why?" I asked.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd?" Harry questioned. "That what Hagrid wanted more than anything else was a dragon, and a stranger who just so happens to have one turns up? How many people wander around with dragon eggs in their pockets, why didn't I see it before?"

The six of us arrived at Hagrid's to see him sitting on his steps playing on some kind of flute. He looked up as we got closer to him and smiled at us.

"Hello!" Hagrid greeted. "Finished your exams? Got time for a drink?"

"No time Hagrid." Kaden said

Harry then stepped up.

"Hagrid the night you won Norbert, the stranger in the pub, what did he look like?" Harry asked the man.