Author's Note: I'm so sorry for this chapter taking so long! I had finals and now I'm in the middle of moving to a new apartment, but thing are calming down quickly. Sorry this chapter is a bit short, but its stuff that had to be said before the good stuff can come. The next chapter will be up within a week. Thanks so much for your patience!
Chapter Six
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts
"What do you mean he's gone?" asked Ron as he proceeded to follow Professor McGonagall from her classroom.
"He's gone to fetch Hermione's parents, Ronald. Please stop badgering me about it," she replied as she hurried down the hall towards her private office.
"Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath, running a hand roughly through his hair. His face and ears had flared red in anger as he heard the news that only Harry had been allowed to see Hermione's parents. What about when I go meet them for the first time! They're going to wonder why Harry was sent to get them instead of their daughter's boyfriend…damnit!
After only a second of hesitation he turned on his heel and headed for Dumbledore's office. When he reached the enormous doors, he spat out the password and rode the stairs to the top. As soon as he stepped foot in the office and spotted Dumbledore standing behind his desk, he began shouting a barrage of questions.
"Why did you only let Harry go see her parents?!" he demanded. Dumbledore turned around slowly, seemingly not surprised by the sudden outburst of a student in his office.
"Why wasn't I told? Why wasn't I asked to go?!" Ron burst out again, seemingly unaware that he was yelling at his Headmaster.
"I sent Harry because I cannot allow both of you to leave the grounds. Keep in mind Ronald, that you were raised wizard, and Harry was raised muggle. You could get into trouble just running off into the muggle world," Dumbledore replied, staring at Ron patiently over his spectacles.
"But professor!" Ron stammered, and the fire in the fireplace behind him flared up temporarily.
"Ronald, please calm down," Dumbledore said quietly, his eyes flicking to the fireplace and back to him again. "He will be back in a few days time, and everything will be taken care of," he finished, moving to his desk and sitting down. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have quite a few graduation diplomas to sign. Off with you now," he said, picking up his feather pen and dipping it in an inkwell. Ron stood in the office only a moment longer, his mouth fallen open, before turning and exiting the office.
Dumbledore looked up after him, and once he was gone he called out, "Minerva?"
"Yes, Albus?" she replied, her head suddenly appearing in the fireplace.
"Did you notice anything funny about Mr. Weasley's conversation?" he asked her, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes sir. He neglected to ask if we have found Hermione," Minerva replied, disappointment evident in her voice.
"Indeed, Minerva. Do you see now why I requested we not tell him what is going on?"
"Yes, Albus. Unfortunate as it may be," she replied. They were both quiet for a moment before Dumbledore continued.
"Minerva, I'll be changing the password to my office to jelly bellies in a few moments. When Harry and Hermione arrive, I'd like to keep them both hidden away until we perform the ceremony."
"Yes, sir." Minerva replied, then her head disappeared from the fire. Once she had left, Albus slowly raised his hand and muttered, "Accio Marauder's Map." From some unknown level of the castle, the role of parchment came flying through the hallways and into his hand a moment later.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," he said quietly, tapping his wand to the paper. Ink immediately flowed magically from the wand, and painted a blue print of the grounds, and dots began popping up everywhere. He quickly located the dot labeled, "Ronald Billius Weasley," which was moving quickly towards Gryffindor tower. He laid it down on the side of his desk, and began reviewing and signing diplomas, but not without glancing at the map every few moments.
When I awoke the next morning, I was oddly rested, as though I had just had the best sleep of my life. Slightly puzzled by this, I began to look around, and quickly remembered why I felt so good. Not only had I not slept since Hermione had disappeared, but it was also my first sleep since the fall of Voldemort. As the realization that the terror he had caused for so long was over ran through my mind, an odd feeling came over me. I felt relieved, yet for some reason, I was still scared.
I rolled my head to the side, gazing over the hills to where Hermione was wondering across the field. As I watched her run her fingers through the wheat, my heart ached as I realized that at that moment, I wanted nothing but to be able to talk to her. To Hermione…my Hermione. My stomach turned as I was overcome with dread. What if the potion doesn't work? What if Snape messes it up? What if her most important person isn't Ron…
I stood from the blanket and walked quickly away from her, retreating behind some trees as tears rolled down my cheeks. I stood there, quickly wiping those few tears away, a million thoughts running through my mind. So many things could go wrong and keep me from ever seeing her again. Was that embrace before she ran away the last time I'll ever touch her? Was that first "I love you" the last thing I'll ever say to her?
I buried my head in my hands as tears began to fall uncontrollably down my cheeks. Memories of her began to flash beneath my eyelids as I fell to my knees, overcome with fear.
"Harry?"
I only shook my head, not wanting to look up. One of my hands left my face and waved her away, not wanting her to see me like this. But she caught my hand mid-air and held it tightly, and my eyes finally rose to hers. She stared at me for a few long moments, and I realized how much she was like Hermione, wonderfully caring and endlessly stubborn.
"You're still in there somewhere," I said quietly, and she tried to hide her confusion from her face. "Come on, lets go home."