The Cupboard Series 2: Hermione's Book Nook

Chapter 22

"Well, they're definitely real and definitely a mystery," Hermione concluded.

Harry nodded, glad that she felt the same way about all of the half-hidden snake motifs that he'd found in odd locations around the castle.

"And the fact that most of the snakes are in the same design lends credence to the theory that they were all done by the same person," Hermione continued. "Although who that could be, is anyone's guess."

"I ... I did have a theory about that," Harry said hesitantly. At her upraised eyebrow and expectant look, he continued. "I wondered if maybe Salazar Slytherin himself might have engraved them."

Hermione froze mid-step, obviously turning the idea over in her mind. "They've definitely been there for a long time, judging by how faded a lot of them are. And they're in the same style as his personal design, not like the more elaborate snake design used by Slytherin House these days. It makes sense. Unfortunately there's no proof to confirm it. Why would he have done it though?"

Harry shrugged. "No idea."

"I'm glad that you've stopped avoiding me, Harry," Hermione suddenly blurted, changing topics. "There was no need for it, you know. Just because you can ... you know, doesn't change how I feel about you. You're still my best friend."

"Thanks, Hermione," he near whispered through the lump in his throat. "But what about the others? I've seen how they've been looking at me."

Hermione humphed. "I think you've been seeing what you want to see instead of what's really there. There might be one or two who aren't sure what to think and you being an idiot and distancing yourself from everyone like you have been hasn't helped. But if you come back to hanging out with us again and studying with us in the library, they'll get over it quickly enough."

"Alright, Hermione, I guess you're right," Harry sighed. "I suppose I was being a bit of an idiot."

"Of course I'm right. Aren't I always?"

Harry gave her a wry smile before coughing into his hand. For some reason his cough of 'Lockhart' only caused her to give a sniff and stalk off up the hallway, leaving him running to catch up.

He finally caught her up just outside the library, a place that Harry hadn't entered since his ability to talk to snakes had been announced. Obviously sensing his hesitancy, Hermione grabbed hold of his hand and half-dragged him inside and across to the thankfully empty table that they usually sat at.

Dumping their bags, both set off into the labyrinth of bookshelves in search of texts for their assignments. Their search was waylaid by the sounds of a tinkering laugh followed by the an airy voice uttering words that, joined together in that particular fashion, made absolutely no sense to either of them.

"Oh, Tom, I think some nargles have made off with your common sense again," the voice laughed. "Either that or you've become infested with wrackspurts."

Creeping along the shelves, Harry finally found the place closest to the strange voice before removing a handful of books allowing him to peer through into the next aisle over. There he saw the same small blonde-haired girl that he'd encountered weeks ago when he was out at night under his invisibility cloak.

The girl was standing in the middle of the aisle, a small leather-bound book in one hand, a quill furiously scribbling away in the other. Harry had the impression that she was actually dictating her words into the book. As she turned slowly in place, Harry was able to get a closer look at her.

His eyebrows rose in surprise as he realised that her earrings were in fact made of radishes and the necklace she wore was made of butterbeer corks. The blue trim of her cloak indicated that she was obviously quite intelligent, although, to all appearances, also quite odd as well.