Catching Her Heart Pt. 1

Chapter 30

Hermione's schedule worked out well for her over the following weeks. She would study late into the night and then follow the same routine if Malfoy had said anything to her on that specific day or Harry or Ron said something without thinking that brought it to her mind. She'd also taken to returning to Quidditch practice with Harry, Oliver and the twins.

Oliver and the twins were glad she was back to watching their practices, and would often fly by and chat with her for a bit while they were waiting for their turn for instruction from Oliver or were taking a short break.

"Hermione," Harry said nervously one night when he joined her in the common room after changing into dry clothes from the cold, rainy practice they'd had.

"Yes, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking up from her homework.

"Um, I - I was wondering..." Harry said and Hermione blinked at his nervousness. "Well, um, the thing is, on the way up from practice, I was almost in trouble with Filch for tracking mud in, and Nick distracted him so I could get away, but um, well... he invited me and my friends to his deathday party on Halloween. It's okay if you don't want to go, I mean, it'd be during the feast, and you'd probably want to go to that, but I just thought I would ask if you wanted to go. I know Ron would probably rather go to the feast, too."

Hermione smiled. "I'd be happy to go to Nick's party with you. I've not seen many ghosts around other than the house ghosts and Moaning Myrtle, maybe there will be more at this party. It would be interesting to see what a ghost party is like."

"Oh," Harry said, and blinked at her in surprise before he relaxed and smiled in relief. "Okay, great. Thanks!" He paused and laughed. "Now all I gotta do is talk to Ron."

Hermione smiled at him. "Good luck with that."

"Yeah, thanks," Harry said. "I'll need it."

Halloween night was upon them before they knew it, and Ron was still grumbling as they bypassed the Great Hall and headed down to the dungeons to Nick's party. Hermione noticed Harry seemed to regret his decision to accept Nick's invitation as they descended the stairs, leaving the warm glow of the upper castle behind.

"A promise, is a promise," she reminded him. "You said you'd go to the deathday party, Harry. Give it up, Ron," Hermione said, tiring of listening to him. "You promised Harry that you'd come. I'm sure they'll have food at the party, too."

The boys fell silent as they continued down the dungeon stairs lined with eerie black taper candles, burning with a bright blue flame. The temperature dropped with every step they took, Hermione kept quiet about her suspicions, but attributed the chill to the number of ghosts they were soon to find. They continued on, pulling their robes tightly around them.

They winced as a sound similar to nails on a blackboard reached their ears from down the passage.

"Is that supposed to be music?" Ron whispered.

They turned a corner and found Nearly Headless Nick standing in front of a doorway hung with black velvet drapes.

"My dear friends," he said in a mournful tone. "Welcome, welcome... so pleased you could come." He bowed them inside, sweeping off his plumed hat.

Hermione smiled as they stepped past him into the chamber that felt like she was stepping into a Muggle freezer. She was correct. There appeared to be hundreds of pearly-white, translucent people drifting around a crowded dance floor, waltzing to the dreadful sound coming from the orchestra's instruments.

"Shall we move around?" Harry asked, stamping his feet in place as he tried to keep warm.

"Just be careful not to walk through anyone," Ron said with a shiver.