Chapter Two
"Minerva, begin organizing a search team. Contact Remus, Tonks, Arthur, Molly - all you can gather. Severus, begin the potion," Dumbledore dictated quietly, breaking into my thoughts. I looked up and saw Snape and McGonagall exit quickly, closing the door behind them. I looked up expectantly to Dumbledore.
"Do you think we can find her, sir?" I asked hesitantly. He sighed deeply before slowly leaning over his desk to get closer to Ron and me.
"Yes, Harry. I do honestly believe that we can find her," he said slowly, sending relief rushing through my veins. I felt my face flush as I tried to calm myself down, telling myself that everything was going to be alright.
"The spell he used requires a great deal of concentration, because it is essentially two spells combined. A very strong memory charm, combined with a relocation spell. The amount of concentration put into the spell determines how well guarded she will be from our seeking charms as well as how far it sends her. Seeing as the Quidditch pitch was in complete chaos when she was cursed, I can't imagine he was able to create any more than a moderate location guard.
"Now, boys, I need you to help in thinking a list of people Hermione is close to - who might have been the most important person to her when her memory was lost. But I'm pretty sure that that person is in this very room, and by all means, it definitely isn't me…" he trailed off, looking up to smile at me over the rims of his glasses. I immediately looked away from him, and could feel the redness crawling up my neck to my cheeks. What the hell did that mean? My eyes darted over to Ron's face, and the sickening feeling that had previously occupied my stomach immediately returned. He looked content, like there was no serious crisis currently taking place with Hermione…my Hermione.
"But, in case that I am incorrect in my assumption," Dumbledore interjected into my thoughts once again. "We do need to have all possible people present at the time. You two know her best. Please have a list prepared within one or two days, so we may begin gathering those people to Hogwarts."
"Yes sir," I muttered quietly before turning on my heel and exiting the office, so quickly that Ron had to jog to catch up with me.
"Hey Harry! What's wrong?" he called to me as he caught up to me, and reached out to pull on my shoulder. I turned on him before he could touch me.
"Why the hell are you so calm, Ron? Don't you care if she ever comes back?" I snapped at him. Shock crossed his face for less than a second before it passed and he resumed that calm, content demeanor.
"Of course I want Hermione back. I'm just saying that its not that big of a deal," he remarked casually, shrugging his shoulders. My mouth fell open and my eyes grew wide as I gawked at him. A sudden urge of anger welled up inside me - how dare he think of this like that. I could lose her completely if anything goes wrong…
My face screwed up into a scowl as I turned away from him and continued down the long hall away from Dumbledore's office. I was only five steps away before he called out again.
"Dumbledore's right, you know."
I stopped mid-stride, my breath catching in my throat. I knew exactly what Ron was referring to.
"…that person is in this very room…"
I turned my head around to look at Ron. He had his hands shoved in his pockets and was leaning against the stone wall, a smug smile on his face. For a brief second, he reminded me of Malfoy.
"Her most important person was in that room," he said, his eyes glazing over with a faraway, dreamy look.
And then it hit me.
All those times that Hermione and Ron had bickered around me, all those times she had sighed in relief that he was gone at Quidditch practice in fifth year and we were left alone, all those times she had put on the act that she was seriously uncomfortable around Ron…could that have all been an act to deceive me? Could they have been seeing each other and doing this to keep it from me? Would she do that?
I looked at Ron, only to be met with another stinging remark.
"Don't worry about that list, Harry. It's all taken care of."
I turned away from him, knowing my pain was evident on my face. Hermione, Hermione and Ron, Hermione and Ron, my mind screamed at me as I took off at a run, desperate to get away from him. It can't be true, it just can't be…
By the time I reached the quidditch pitch, I was out of breath and no longer able to control the tears in my eyes. It couldn't be true. She wouldn't lie to me. But why is Ron acting like that? Did something happen between them? Why didn't they tell me? Why didn't I see it! I thought her and I were close...she would have told me!
"What's going on?!" I screamed across the field at no one as I lost control. I fell to my knees on the cold grass, covering my face with my hands as tears rebelliously slid down my cheeks. I stayed there for a long time, angry tears running down my face as I gasped for air, suddenly unable to breathe from the immense pressure bearing down on my chest. I felt as though I had lost a part of my friendship with her. A part that had always been reserved for just her and I. A part that I had always cherished.
I slowly let myself lean onto my side, water in the grass seeping into my robes. I have no idea how long I laid there before finally picking myself up and heading back towards the school. When I arrived I passed the Great Hall without stopping. I could hear everyone inside, celebrating and talking and eating dinner. I kept walking, unconsciously heading away from Gryffindor tower, and before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of the library. When I arrived at its doors, I stared up at its sign as if I'd never seen it before. The library; where I always used to find Hermione. My gaze fell downwards again and into the open doors, where I could see shelf after shelf of books. The library; where I could find some answers.