December 20, 1995, Hogsmead Train Station – The students going home for the holidays were boarding the train. Amongst them, Draco Malfoy et al, Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood. As Neville was exiting the carriage that brought them to Hogsmead from the school, he felt a tug on his robes and looked down. He recognized Winky, and moved to the side to speak with her. "Good morning Winky." He said. "Good morning Mr. Greeny. Mistress asked if yous can meet her on train, second carriage, third compartment. Door bes locked but knock. Mistress says she likes lemon drops" She replied. Neville chuckled and responded "We will be there". While Neville didn't notice Draco lurking behind the carriage, Winky did.
On the train, the Gryffindors and one Ravenclaw found the right compartment, knocked and gave the password. As they were filing in, they saw Hermione, with her wand out. At her feet was a large trunk. "Quickly, climb down the ladder into the trunk. We don't have a lot of time!" All the students quickly descended into the trunk. Hermione then turned to Winky. "Please close the trunk, make a copy with a name tag of Dumbledore, and then pop us to my home in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Thank you Winky."
A few minutes later, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkenson, and Marcus Flint, arrived at the compartment the Gryffindors went into. They knocked and said the password Lemon Drops. As the door unlocked, Draco kicked the door open and rushed in firing off cutting curses. The others also rushed in firing off curses. In the top corner of the compartment, looking down was a magical camera. The camera was triggered when the door was first opened and was able to catch up to 5 seconds of time, enough to capture the faces and actions of the students barging in to the compartment. As soon as the Slytherin students left, frustrated they didn't catch anybody with their spell fire, Dobby popped in and retrieved the camera. He also retrieved four special crystals that had been hidden in the corner of the compartment.
Dobby took the camera to have the photograph developed. He was instructed to make four copies: one to remain with Hermione, and three for Professor McGonagall. After collecting the photographs, he brought them back to Hermione's house and left them on her table. Then he checked to make sure the house was clean.
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Moments after descending into the trunk, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna were sitting on sofas in a room within the trunk. "So what gives, Hermione?" asked Ron. "Before we do or say anything more….Winky? Can you scan everybody for tracking, scrying, and listening charms?" Hermonie asked. Winky appeared and immediately scanned everybody. With the exception of Hermione, all of them were covered in tracking and scrying charms, and one listening charm. Winky removed them all. "You remember Dumbledore trying to obliviate us?" she asked. "Yes" they replied.
"Since then, Dumbledore and Snape have been trying to locate me, I assume to 'bring me out into the open'. They made threats to expel me. Malfoy et al have apparently been patrolling, beating up on anybody in the hallways trying to find me." "How do you know all this?" asked Neville. "Dobby and Winky have been watching over me. They hear things, see things, and other elves tell them. Neville, when you spoke with Winky at the carriage, Malfoy overheard you and followed you. Winky popped to me and told me. I had already prepared for such a situation, and brought this trunk with me today. Dobby set up a different surprise for them – we will see that when we get to my house."
"Hermione? For someone that was against bonding with elves, how is it that you have two?" asked Ginny. "Let's just say that before Harry left, he conscripted Dobby to watch over me, and he brought Winky in." she replied. "The rest is currently confidential. You all know that both Dumbledore and Snape are Legilimizers and have no qualms searching the minds of their charges. The less you know the less they can scan from your mind. Now, let's get out of here." She said. Hermione opened the lid to the trunk and exited to the yard behind her house. She led her friends into the living room. "We will have to pop you guys back onto the train when it arrives in London, to keep up appearances. In the meantime…" Hermione began, before hearing a knock on the door.
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