A/N: I do not own any of the characters or the places. Everything belongs to JKR and I do not intend to make any money with her ideas.
Ron wasn't very familiar with the library. He was always with Harry or Hermione when he went. He rapidly eyed the tables. There were very few students on this sunny day, so if Hermione had been amongst them, he would have seen her easily. She wasn't. Oh right! Potion book, he reminded himself. Looking around, he realized he had no idea where the potion section might be. He settled to find Mrs. Pince to ask her. She directed him to a section covered floor to ceiling with books. He muttered a thank you then sighed. Hermione wasn't there either. He started to look at the titles in the "P" section and found two shelves of them. Scanning the covers, he found five books about Polyjuice and started to open them randomly. The forth book, Polyjuice, The Advanced Guide, had a piece of parchment similar to the first clue between the cover and the first page. He picked it up and went to sit at a table with his book to read the hint.
I am a symbol known by everyone
At my best in October, I can also eradicate your thirst
Though you and I share something in common,
You were raised at the Burrow while I grow on this castle ground
"Something that grows on the ground at its best in October," he murmured. Leaving the Polyjuice guide on the table, he exited the library and descended the stairs toward the entrance hall. Once outside, his eyes immediately fell on Hagrid's cabin.
***
"Now, do I need to go in the kitchen?" Hermione asked herself upon reading the first clue again. No, they are talking about the fruits, not the kitchen itself, she thought. She looked around in search of a sight that would tell her what to do. She started to run her hands on the painting and then on the frame. Crouching down to feel the very bottom of it, she finally touched it. Grinning widely, she pulled on the piece of paper and the little piece of tape holding it easily gave away. She unfolded it with eager fingers.
You may see us during breakfast
Though we're not there to eat.
Come see us were we live
In this room full of open windows.
Ghosts? There's always some in the Great Hall and they certainly can't eat, she reasoned, remembering too well Sir Nicholas' party. No, it can't be. They don't live. Teachers eat. Owls! The owlery! She did a little dance to herself but quickly calmed down. Prefects don't dance in the corridors. She then left as fast as she came.
The owlery was pretty far from the kitchens but it didn't take her very long to reach it. Eying the room, she said: "Two down, three to go." There were dozens and dozens of birds here and the vast majority of them were sleeping. Certainly, the hint wasn't on the floor, with all the droppings and everything. She couldn't see Hedwig or Pig. Maybe they were out delivering mail. Looking through the window, she saw a redhead that was surely Ron going to Hagrid's. She watched him walk for a moment then snapped out of her thoughts. She was here for a reason, after all. Turning on her heels, she saw it. So obvious, she needed to resist the urge to slap herself on the forehead. It has been next to her all this time, on the wall, near the door.
***
"Pumpkins! Wait! What do I have in common with them?" "It's obvious, no?" the little voice in his head retorted. He grumped a bit while heading to the pumpkin patch near Hagrid's cabin. This game was not that fun, now. He only hoped that nothing more than his hair was linking him to the fruit. He shivered realizing he didn't even dress for the weather before going out. It was sunny, yes, but still early spring. There was no smoke coming out of the little house, maybe Hagrid was with Grawp. Of course, there were no pumpkins since this was not the season, but Ron could see a fence surrounding the designed area. On one of them was pinned his third hint. Blowing in his hands to warm them, he picked it up.
Have you ever tried to count how many we are on these walls?
But I am unique, through my bravery
In your third year, I was the one and only
Willing to protect you from Sirius Black
"Bloody hell!" he said aloud. The paintings on the walls, that's a given. Might as well go back inside. His mind was blank. A brave painting? He didn't think that would exist. Ready to quit, he made his way to his common room, looking at the paintings surrounding him on his way for some inspiration.
"What is bothering you, dear?" asked the Fat Lady. He didn't notice he was there already; too occupied he was, mingling with the clue in his mind.
"You wouldn't happen to know a brave painting, would you?" That was worth a try.
"Oh, I know the bravest one of them all."
"You do? Which one is it?"
"Maybe you will remember him. He replaced me a few years ago when that crazy man escaped from Azkaban. He still visits me sometimes, you know," she added with a faint blush. Seeing the question marks in Ron's eyes, she felt the need to precise: "It's Sir Cadogan, boy! He is on the seventh floor."
"Thank you," he said rapidly, already backing along the corridor. I only hope he won't ask me to duel, he thought.
After using one short cut, Ron reached the seventh floor and was greeted by loud snores. Upon finally finding Sir Cadogan's painting, he was pleased to see that it was indeed the little knight who was taking a nap. He had no trouble finding the clue as it was taped to the bottom right corner of the frame. Hermione surely didn't want to start a row with him by trying to hide it behind the work of art. Maybe if he pulled gently and slowly on the parchment, he would be able to get it without waking him. Seizing the little roll carefully, Ron began to pull. He was almost there, one more… yes! But when the tape gave up, the painting shook a little making the knight's armor rumble. Not wanting to know what would happen now, Ron darted for the staircase at the end of the corridor. He didn't have time to take five strides that he heard menaces and dares coming out of the portrait. This was only another reason to run even faster. He stopped two floors lower when he noticed the strange look on the faces of other students he crossed on his way.
Out of breath, he sat on a stair and waited a few minutes before unrolling the parchment.
I am the door Harry crossed each year
Even if he wished he didn't have to
The room that I lead to saw suffering
And its only guardian has many ways to help you
That's the easiest one of them all, he though happily. The potion's dungeon. With that final reflection, he left feeling much more confidant to win this game.
***
"Where is he going?" Harry asked.
"No idea. He seems to be going downstairs… to the dungeons!"
"He thinks it's the potions' door!"
"Don't worry. I'm on it," Ginny told him just before leaving the dormitory quickly.
***
I think of a color that may well be one on the banner of one of the school houses
Then I think of an object that some dolls have, alike you have too
Finally, I think of a number associated with a triangle
The colors are obviously red, green, yellow and blue. And the triangle number is three, that's obvious too. Now, dolls have a lot of things. Me too. They have clothes, pets, plastic food, little furniture to go in their little dollhouses, … Hermione played with those thought for a while. This one was harder than the two previous clues. Red something 3. No. Green something 3. Greenhouse 3!
Hermione quickly went to get her cloak before stepping outside toward the greenhouse #3. She saw some students walking along the lake, a bit farther. Everybody seemed happy today, probably because of the perspective of chocolate eggs and bunnies tomorrow. Why do some chocolate always cheer people up? Her parents always sent her unsweetened chocolate, as the good dentists they were but she got some real chocolate every year from her friends anyway.
The air was quite warmer these days and she took her time to reach the greenhouse. She didn't have to search for the clue this time. It was simply pinned on the doorframe. Nobody went near the greenhouses during the weekends so there was no real need to hide it.
I host one of the most cherished tradition of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and if you respect the rules, you may win very useful points for your house… but keep an eye on the others or you might get hit pretty hard.
It couldn't be the sorting at the beginning of the year since nobody ever got hit during this ceremony and one of the other traditions she knew was the Quidditch Tournament. If the clue was hidden on the Quidditch pitch, she would have a hard time finding it. It is, after all, pretty huge. Nevertheless, she was pleased to spend some more time outside.
***
"Hey Ron! What are you doing down here?" asked Ginny.
"Er… I'm looking for something," he said examining the handle of door.
"Can I help? What's that in your hand?" Not waiting for the answer, she snatched the clue and read it while Ron was complaining loudly about the lack of privacy in his family. "Ron, why are you here? I thought Harry liked potion class with Slughorn."
"Yeah, well… It's still a pretty hard class. And what else could it be, anyway?"
"The hospital wing, thick head! Look! The room saw suffering, Madam Pomfrey has many ways to help you, and I'm almost positive that Harry doesn't like to be hurt and cross those doors."
"That sounds…"
"I think it's pretty clear, Ron."
"Alright, but you can't come with me. Don't you have anything else to do?"
"Don't worry, I have much more fun things to do. Try not to get lost on the way there," she teased him.
He was happy to leave the dungeons anyway since it was still cool down there at this time of the year. As a matter of fact, he felt the air become warmer and warmer as he was climbing the stairs. Alright, so he made a mistake. A lot of people would have, this was a confusing clue. I bet Hermione did it just to test me, he thought reaching the floor he was looking for. Suddenly, it hit him that he was on his way to the very last hint. It would be over soon and could go on with the rest of his day. He was a busy prefect after all. He had Quidditch practice today, and… and… Well, he's still busy enough not to spend his time running back and forth in the castle in search of little pieces of parchment. The corners of his lips twisted lightly as he refrained to admit to himself that it was nice to do something different, for a change. And the fact that Hermione did it just for him was a pleasant thought too.
The huge wooden doors were closed and there was nothing apparent on them. As he stepped closer, he heard absolutely nothing. It must had been a slow week for Madam Pomfrey. Ron's eyes glanced from top to bottom at the doors. Definitely nothing there. He would easily see a piece of yellowish parchment against the brown color of the entrance. Maybe Ginny was wrong. Nothing on the handles either. There were two statues, one on each side of the door. Maybe the clue was on one of them. Patting everywhere around the first one, he found nothing. It is when he strode towards the other that he finally spotted it, squeezed in a crack between two wood panels. It was folded so many time that it was about the size of a sickle. It was also a very tight fit and it took him a bit of time to extract it. He managed it nonetheless.
Mind your ears while in this room
You certainly don't want them hurt
Really careful you may be
'Till you're sure the room is empty
Last destination of this journey
Enter to find what your heart really wants
"Ha!" he exclaimed with a triumphant tone in his voice. He was waiting for this one. Fred and George once wrote a poem to Ginny using the same old trick. Mum was so mad when Ginny showed her the beautiful poem the twins wrote to her. The youngest Weasley hadn't noticed the acronym saying that she had a "clown head". It wasn't really mean but she was young. This particular one, though, spelled Myrtle and it didn't took long before Ron was on his way to get his prize and, most of all, show Hermione that he mastered all the clues, even that nasty fourth one, that she prepared for him.
Once in front of the girls' lavatory, he stopped and crossed his fingers, hoping Myrtle was off spying someone in the prefect's bathroom. He took one last deep breath and pushed the door open.
***
Hermione had been circling the Quidditch pitch for about ten minutes now and had found nothing. How can I find a piece of parchment the size of my hand in this place? I haven't even started the stands… Oh, this is ridiculous. Accio Clue! she said, pointing her wand nowhere in particular. A moment later, she saw something fly toward her to her right. This isn't cheating. There's no way someone could expect me to find it here. Her last hint was pretty easy for her too so she headed straight for the school, eager to get "what her heart really wants".
***
"Oh… Hi, Myrtle."
"Oooooh! You're the first one there. They didn't tell me who was coming. Of course, I couldn't expect anybody to come here just to see meeeeeeee," she said, sobbing the last part.
"Who are you talking about?"
"I can't say. I promised him," she added, batting her lashes.
"Him? I thought this was from Hermione…" he frowned. "Was there more than one person?"
"I can't say," she repeated in her most innocent voice, looking at him over her glasses. "Why are you here?"
"What? I thought you knew about the hints and stuff. You don't know where is my prize?" he asked, starting to look around.
"Who told you there would be a prize? There is a reward, they told me, but none of the sort you seem to be thinking about. Are you thick?"
"What!? Hey! I'm not. It should be obvious, no? I managed to get here. Now, give me my reward. I have very important things to do."
"Don't panic, your reward, as you say, should be here any minute now. If you're not so dumb, do you remember what was the last line of the fifth clue?"
"Enter to find what your heart really wants," he read aloud looking at his hint.
"Sooo…?"
"So what?" He was getting impatient. True, he escaped dueling with sir Catogan but Moaning Myrtle was no piece of cake either.
"What does your heart wants?" Myrtle asked detaching every word as if to teach a wall to count to ten.
"I don't know," he mumbled, hands in his pockets.
A silence lasted a few minutes in which Ron was thinking and the ghost floated in the room humming a funeral march.
The door suddenly opened and in stepped…
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, his face pale as he glanced at Myrtle, who simply winked to him.
"I mean. Hi! What are you doing here?" he asked in the most normal voice he could manage at this time, which was slightly higher than usual.
Hermione looked as stun as he was. She read the piece of parchment in her hand again and blushed a little. She was still wearing her cloak because she didn't want to lose time going all the way to Gryffindor tower and back to the lavatory.
"I just… Did you make that treasure hunt?" she said as she finally entered the room, looking at him questioningly.
"No. I thought you did. To get me to study or something…" he lingered.
"This is so much fun," squealed Moaning Myrtle. Hermione jumped at the sound. She was so startled to see Ron when she opened the door that she didn't even notice the other occupant.
"Can't you leave, Myrtle?" Ron was starting to get annoyed with her.
"I have instructions. I have to stay. It's not very often I get entertainment like this…" she retorted, her bottom lip trembling.
"Let's go somewhere else, Hermione. She won't give us our reward anyway. I asked her many times already."
"NO! Forget that stupid reward, you silly boy. You'll get it only if you guess the last line correctly."
"Ron, I think someone played a joke on us. They seem to suggest that… that I am what…er… your heart really wants," Ron blushed intensely at these words, "and that you are what mine…"
"Well, Hermione…" he cleared his throat, then added very low, "maybe."
Hermione looked at him in shock. Did he just say what she thought he said? Did it mean that he likes her? He was playing with his piece of parchment, not looking at her. Myrtle was bouncing happily in the air, saying "He got it!" over and over again.
"Hermione, say something," he said finally raising his eyes to meet hers.
She shot a look at Moaning Myrtle and muttered "Can we go someplace else?" Ron looked at the ghost, as if waiting for her permission.
"Now, you can," she nodded.
***
In the boys' dormitory, Ginny and Harry were high fiving each other as they saw their two friends' dot leave the lavatory side by side.
"Harry, you still didn't explain to me how you got Myrtle to help us," Ginny asked.
"I had to promise to visit her once a week for the rest of the term," he said a little more grimly. "But it was worth it!"
"I think so." Ginny grinned as she pointed at the two dots so close together on the map that it looked like it was only one.
A/N This is the end of a short little story. Hope you liked it. It was just a bit of fun. Feedback is always appreciated and thank you to the ones who reviewed the first chapter.