ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Serpentine, ch. 2

CHAPTER TWO

Hermione lay restlessly in her bed the remainder of the evening. Nerves twisted in her stomach as though she had swallowed a pair of snakes that were trying to find their way out again. When the sky turned pink with the dawn, she gave up on sleep and got dressed before heading down to the Great Hall.

A few other students were spread out among the four tables. Hermione took her place at the Gryffindor table and a large bowl of porridge appeared before her. She spent ten minutes pushing the food around with her spoon, but her stomach wouldn't allow her to eat anything.

While getting up to leave, a barn owl screeched as it flew down to her with a large brown package in its talons. The bird dropped its burden beside her, and with a powerful beat of its wings, it flew away. Hermione tore open the package and found a terse note scrawled in a familiar hand along with a set of black clothes.

You are to wear these. We go at midnight. Meet me at the entrance of the Forbidden Forest. Tell no one of your mission. -S

As much as it pained her, she knew it would be unwise to attend classes, as she wanted to avoid Harry and Ron. She usually told them everything, and the temptation to tell them about her upcoming journey would be far too great. They would give their lives to stop her from going to work for Voldemort. But no, she quickly reminded herself, that wasn't exactly right. She would technically be working for Dumbledore. Not Voldemort.

She spent the day wandering through the castle she had grown to love and memorized every corridor as if she may never see them again. When she arrived at the library, fresh hot tears welled up in her eyes. Books were her love in life and now she was about to leave them all behind. She doubted there would be any where she was going.

Hermione returned to her dorm to spend time with some of her favorite books. But as she lay on the bed, she found herself rereading the same line over and over, unable to concentrate. Slamming the book shut, she surged to her feet and tossed it aside.

Should she leave Harry and Ron a note, give them a reason why she was gone so they wouldn't worry? But Snape's words echoed through her mind: tell no one. She couldn't risk it.

Later that evening, Ginny came into the dorms looking for her. "Are you all right? The boys say you didn't show up for classes today."

Hermione was so glad to see her but feigned a sickly voice. "I'm not feeling well, is all."

Ginny pressed the back of her hand to Hermione's forehead. "You're feverish. Have you gone to the Hospital Wing?"

"I just need some rest. No need to bother Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said, giving Ginny a weak smile.

"Back to sleep with you, then. I'll let the boys know."

"Thank you, Ginny." She felt a pang of loneliness after the red-haired girl left.

When it was nearly time to embark on her journey, she took out the package Snape had sent. First she pulled out a scarf meant to cover the lower half of her face and set it aside. The next item was a black long-sleeved shirt that seemed several sizes too large. It fell off her shoulders after she pulled it on, and she was slightly annoyed until she saw what came out of the package next: a black corset, just her size, and it cinched perfectly around her waist. It laced up the front, making it easier to put on or take off. The final three items--a tight pair of black pants, boots, and a long black cloak--completed the dark ensemble.

But something was missing. She was about to step over to the mirror to see how she looked when she remembered the long, black silk gloves Grandmother had sent as a birthday present. She pulled them on and stepped over to have a look.