A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

Wasserspeieraus Stein

"You underestimate me Poppy. I was just about to use my wand."

"Mister Potter, you must call me Madame Pomfrey, now go and sit on that spare bed over there. I can deal with this on my own."

Although Hermione was waking up from what she had felt to be a deep sleep, the voices were remarkably clear. Who was this Mr Potter that had suddenly appeared?

"No need to get your knickers in a twist, Poppy. I can get into the bed myself."

Hermione could now hear three voices: the female one was obviously Poppy, but who was that with Mr Potter? Each of them sounded incredibly familiar, but she could not place where she knew them from.

"Oh not you too!" cried Madame Pomfrey in exasperation.

"Neither of us were injured by the...mishap," said the second male voice. "Now if you would be kind enough to open the door and let us – well, hello. Poppy, where are your manners? Why haven't you introduced us to the lovely young woman over there?"

"Now don't you go bothering her, she's not well. Stop making so much noise, you'll disturb half the portraits in the castle. Honestly, get back into bed!"

Hermione heard two thumps as the boy's bodies fell back onto the mattresses. This was followed by the sound of bedcovers being forced over their struggling masses.

"I'll be back in a minute," said a now breathless Madame Pomfrey.

Hermione listened to the gentle clicks of her footsteps retreating. Opening her eyelid just a crack, she peered out to the room through her eyelashes.

In the dim light of the candles by each bedside, she was just able to make out two lumps on the beds opposite hers. She supposed that these were the forms of Mr Potter and his friend.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm using the time to take a nap," said the friend.

"What for? It's only five in the afternoon. If Poppy lets us out, we'll have to be getting to dinner soon."

"I'll nick something from the kitchens later, I'm tired now. I didn't get enough sleep last night."

The one called Potter let out a snort.

"You're tired, Sirius, because you spent half the night with Marlene. Don't think I didn't hear her sneak in last night."

"What's it to you? Now, please be quiet, I need my beauty sleep."

Hermione heard the second boy, Sirius, thump his pillow into shape before lying down on it.

Gently, Hermione rolled herself over in her own bed, trying to make it appear as natural as possible, but really she only wanted to get a better look at the situation opposite her.

One of the boys – Potter, she supposed – was lounging on the bed, a bored look evident on his face. Observing from a safe distance, Hermione watched as he peered through the window occasionally. He pretended to have a sword fight in mid-air with an invisible opponent, actually making sparks appear at one point with his wand.

It was then that Hermione decided that she might let her consciousness be known. She made her movements in the bed a little more deliberate, making it seem like she was stretching herself awake.

Potter looked over, peering curiously at the girl in the bed opposite.

"Oh, you're awake," he said to her, "Should I be letting Poppy know?"

Hermione discreetly tried to smooth down her hair and make herself look even a little more presentable whilst nodding mutely at the boy.

He immediately took the chance to get out of bed, and bound over to where Poppy seemed to be.