Beta Reader: Cheryl
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The only things I own are the plot, any characters, spells etc that you do not recognize.
Author Notes: Quite a short chapter, this one and the next one, so I uploaded them both together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Gone
Over the next few mornings, Harry and Ron began their day eating breakfast directly from the kitchens (Harry felt it was unsafe for he and Ron to eat anything they hadn't seen the house elves cook with their own eyes given what had happened to Hermione). They continued their day studying as much as possible for the fast-approaching N.E.W.Ts, but often found themselves slipping into numerous games of Wizards Chess with Harry usually coming out the loser.
On the Thursday afternoon however, all students were called to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron sat together at the Gryffindor table where they watched, as did every other pair of eyes in the room, Dumbledore take to the podium. "Students…I have the unfortunate task of yet again informing you of another tragedy to strike Hogwarts," the startled crowd interrupted with speculative hissing and whispering. "SILENCE!" ordered Dumbledore before continuing, "It is with deep regret and sadness that I must inform you of the passing of Miss Susan Bones a seventh year Hufflepuff at the end of last month. Miss Bones was a fine and caring person but also very brave…she will be missed." A few gasps emerged from the Hufflepuff table.
"I understand that some of you are confused, maybe even angry that you were informed that Miss Bones was away on holiday, but some critical investigating was necessary. But now, the time has come for you to know the truth. Now, let us take a moment to remember Miss Bones, whether it be as a friend, a schoolmate, or a loved one."
Dumbledore bowed his head and his eyes flickered closed. Harry turned to Ron who was pale and expressionless. Harry patted him on the back. "It'll be okay mate," Harry reassured him. Ron nodded half-heartedly, before standing up and leaving the hall.
Harry stood up shortly after and made his way out of the hall. One thing that seemed to be stuck in the back of his mind was that Dumbledore hadn't mentioned Felipe. After all, it had been Felipe who had killed Susan, who had died on the very same night in the very same place. So why had Dumbledore ignored his death completely? "Harry?" Harry turned sharply at the foot of the staircase and watched Ginny sprint to catch up. "Ginny, how are you?"
"Anxious," Ginny began as they started their accent up the staircase, "about Draco's whereabouts, and worried, worried about Ron too." Harry nodded nonchalantly; unfortunately for him he held strong secrets not just for Ron, but Draco as well. It would do Ginny more harm than good if he were to reveal those secrets. He was not about to betray his friends' trust. Ginny continued, "I saw how pale Ron was after the announce-what Dumbledore said…were Ron and Susan…"
"Yeah," replied Harry, relived that he could answer at least one of her questions honestly.
"Poor Ron, I hope he'll be okay."
"Me too. I'm honestly not sure how Ron will be, but I am sure that if he needs anything right now it's our support." Ginny looked up at Harry and smiled with admiration.
"You're a good friend Harry, Ron must confide in you a lot?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah, he tells me what he feels he needs to." They hopped off one staircase and onto another.
"I suppose you tell him a lot too?" Ginny enquired. Harry furrowed his brow; Ginny sure was asking a lot of questions.
"I suppose I do, but we all have secrets you know Ginny? Things we don't tell anybody." Ginny nodded, a grin transpiring on her lips.
"I bet you tell Hermione everything though? Disrupting her studies, waking her from her sleep…" Ginny trailed off and glanced uncomfortably at Harry, who suddenly froze. "Sorry I-"
"It's okay Ginny, don't worry about it," he replied softly.
*
After his conversation with Ginny, Harry found himself wandering aimlessly around the many halls of Hogwarts. He gazed blankly through one of the windows at the front of the Hospital Wing, he could see a large white curtain pulled around Hermione's bed. She was the only student confined and Harry spotted Madam Pomfrey re-arranging the potions cabinet.
Suddenly a burning anger began to well up inside him, he was desperate to see Hermione but that old hag was stopping him. Maybe he could give her a sleeping potion so that he could kidnap Hermione and look after her himself? Or maybe he could buy some Dungbombs off Fred and George and bombard her with them until she let him in?
"Harry?" Harry sprung around and nearly knocked Sirius over.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, massaging his head.
"I came to speak to you," Sirius said, his tone serious.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked, concerned.
"Actually…no," said Sirius shaking his head as he scratched at his thick beard, "But we can't talk here. Meet me in Dumbledore's office in one hour away from prying ears. Order members and the headmaster portraits are all that I trust at the minute."
"The Order? Aren't they at Grimm-"
Sirius quickly cut Harry off. "Not now Harry. Everything will be sorted out soon enough. And get Ron, his presence is also required." and with that Sirius abruptly dashed away. Harry was left standing in front of the infirmary dazed and confused.
*
Precisely one hour later Harry arrived at Dumbledore's office with Ron in tow. The usually snoring portraits on the walls were even awake with anticipation; clearly something important was going on. Around fifteen Order members encircled the upper ground behind Dumbledore's chair, all eyes focused on the Headmaster. Dumbledore cleared his throat quickly, adjusted his spectacles to the tip of his nose and peered over the top of them, surveying the audience.
"Greetings. Just this morning I decided the time was appropriate to announce the death of Susan Bones." He glanced briefly at Ron, who shuffled awkwardly. "Right on the heels of the announcement of Remus Lupin's untimely…departure only a few short weeks ago." Harry looked down to the ground, then up at Sirius, whose eyes remained concentrated on Dumbledore. "However, one death yet to be announced is that of Felipe Dupree. The reason being is that Mr Dupree…is gone."
Author Notes: Short, yes. But you get two chapters in one post, which also saves you the cliffie. Unless of course, for some reason you have to leave the computer in a second.