25 The Betrayal of Hermione

"Severus, have you prepared the potions for us to use today?". Dumbledore's voice sounded in Snape's ears. 

"I have, Headmaster", Snape replied.

"Good. Then we should soon have the answers we need", he contemplated. 

Turning his attention to the students, he noticed a young woman apparently alone with her books.

"Melissa, have you had any of those spicy sausages? They're excellent", he said, catching her eye and offering her a tray of snacks.

The first-year girl turned red with embarrassment when Dumbledore addressed her and everyone at the table looked in her direction.

She picked up the sausage platter with trembling hands and hid her face in her books again.

Professor Sibyl behaved almost normally until the end of the Christmas coffee, two hours later. 

Drenched in food and still wearing their party hats, Harry and Ron got up from the table first and she gave a shrill cry.

"My dears! Which one of you got up first? Which one?", she shouted. 

"I don't know", replied Ron, looking worriedly at Harry.

"I doubt it will make much difference", said Professor Minerva coolly, "unless the madman with the hatchet is waiting outside to kill the first one who comes out into the hall".

Even Ron laughed, as it was a rare occurrence for Professor McGonagall to crack a joke. 

Sibyl looked extremely offended. 

"Are you coming with us?", Harry asked Hermione.

"No", replied the girl. "I want to talk to Professor McGonagall about something". 

"She's probably going to try and see if she can attend any more classes", yawned Ron as they headed for the entrance hall, where they found no hatchet madmen. 

Nathaniel quietly observed the actions of everyone in the room, many of whom were interesting.

For him, many of the problems at Hogwarts revolved around Harry Potter and his friends. And with Cassia's apparent involvement with them now, the problems had certainly doubled.

Cassia, who, after Harry and Ron had left the table, had also stood up, headed for the exit. Not without noticing the watchful eye Professor WinterHeart was giving her.

Lorenzo was still at the table and decided to strike up a conversation with Hermione. "Have you looked into the case to help Hagrid?", he asked about how her research was going to help the half-giant of the defense in the Bicusk case.

Hermione, who had watched Harry and Ron leave and was in her thoughts wondering what to do, was brought back to reality by the Italian boy's charming voice.

"Hm? Yes... of course, I'll try to get the information to him later", she replied, still distracted.

"Okay, see you", Lorenzo noticed that the girl was distracted and decided to leave as well, since he couldn't hold Hermione's attention at the moment.

Harry and Ron returned to Gryffindor tower and when they reached the portrait hole, they found Sir Cadogan enjoying a Christmas lunch with two friars, several former Hogwarts principals and his fat pony. 

The knight raised his visor and toasted the two boys with a jug of mulled wine. "Merry... hic... Christmas! Password!", 

"You despicable dog". said Ron.

"And the same to you, my lord!", shouted Sir Cadogan as the cadre stepped aside to admit the boys. 

Harry went straight to the dormitory, picked up the Firebolt and the Broom Maintenance Case that Hermione had given him as a birthday present, took them downstairs and tried to find something to do with the broom, but there were no splinters left to trim and the handle was still so shiny that there was no point in polishing it. 

He and Ron stood there admiring the broom from every angle until the portrait hole opened and Hermione walked in, accompanied by Professor Minerva and surprisingly, Professor WinterHeart. 

Although Minerva McGonagall was Headmistress of Gryffindor, Harry had only seen her in the common room once before, and then to give a very serious warning. 

And he had only spoken to Professor WinterHeart a few times.

He and Ron looked at her, both holding the Firebolt. Hermione went around where they were, sat down, picked up the nearest book and hid her face in it. 

"So that's it?", asked the teacher with her piercing gaze, approaching the fireplace to examine the Firebolt. "Miss Granger has just informed me that someone has sent you a broom, Potter". 

Harry and Ron turned to look at Hermione. They noticed her forehead blushing over the book, which she was holding upside down. 

Minerva didn't wait for the boys to take the broom from their hands. She examined it closely, from handle to splinters

"Hmm. And there was no note, no card, Potter? No message of any kind?", she asked.

"No", said Harry uncomprehendingly. "I see... Well, I'm afraid you'll have to take the broom, Potter."

"Wha... what?!", exclaimed Harry, standing up. "Why?".

"We'll have to check that it's not bewitched. Naturally, I'm not an expert on this subject, but I imagine that Madame Hooch and Professor WinterHeart here can take it apart", she explained.

Nathaniel saw the sadness in Potter's eyes and decided to intervene. Since he had checked the broom himself after capturing Sirius and Lupin the night before and with the Headmaster's approval handed it over to Harry.

But since Minerva wasn't aware of the facts, he couldn't help as much as he would have liked. "May I? Professor McGonagall", he suggested as he pointed to the broom Minerva was holding. 

"Dismantle it?", repeated Ron, as if the teacher was crazy.

"Don't panic kids, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong, but we still need to analyze it", he said as he examined the broom superficially. "It shouldn't take more than a few weeks. You'll get it back if we're sure it's clean".

"There's nothing wrong with the broom!" exclaimed Harry, his voice slightly shaky. "Please".

"You can't know, Potter", said the teacher with kindness and concern.

"At least until the tests are over, I'm afraid this is out of the question until we make sure no one has altered it. I'll keep you informed". Professor McGonagall turned around, the Firebolt now in her hands, and walked through the portrait hole. 

Nathaniel remained in the room for a while. "It's only for your own safety, Potter", he said to the young man, who was almost in tears. "If you need a broom, you can come to me and I'll get one for you", leaving his message and leaving the room, making the door close.

Harry watched the teachers leave with the can of polishing wax still in his hand. 

Ron, however, turned on Hermione. "Why did you run and tell them?", he shouted.

Hermione put the book aside. Her face was still red, but she stood up and faced Ron, challenging him. "Because I thought the teachers agreed with me, that the broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!".

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