Title: Screaming on the Inside
Rating: R
Summary: Tragedy strikes Hermione. How will her friends react?
Disclaimer: The characters of this story were created by the genius that is JK Rowling. This fic was not written to make money of any kind but merely for the enjoyment. The title belongs to Sara McLaughlin.
Authors Note: Please review it helps get things out quicker.
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Lavender's POV
I wake suddenly out of my restless sleep wondering what I'm worried about. As I stare at the curtains it suddenly hits me. Hermione. After her little scene in the common room I'm more than just worried about her. I'm downright terrified. It's very rare for Hermione to show any emotion in public, I guess a side effect from hanging around with Harry and Ron. Consequently always finding herself in danger. I left the common room last night knowing that she was in Harry's very capable hands but that still doesn't do much to help ease my worry.
Without even putting on my dressing gown I quietly open the bed curtains and take a peak at Hermione's bed. What I see there is unbelievably sweet. Still in his Quidditch robes minus the pads fast asleep is Harry his arms protectively around Hermione still dressed in her school robes and sleeping restlessly. I can still see tear tracks marring Hermione's otherwise pretty face.
Silently I back away from the curtain smiling to myself. I'm not shocked to find Harry in Hermione's bed in fact I'd be more shocked if he wasn't there. My smile grows as I remember the shock I got when I first caught them in Hermione's bed.
It was in fifth year, Ron and Hermione had, had a whirlwind romance and kept Harry close by as their best friend. The whole school thought they would be together forever and had grand illusions of an early wedding. And then it all went kabloey when Hermione and Ron had a small fight. That small fight turned into a very public World War III when Ron had the gall to suggest that Hermione was having an affair with Harry. Of course this wasn't true, but the damage. Harry and Hermione were unbelievably close friends, closer than most people could comprehend. It made Ron insanely jealous but he couldn't see the platonic and only part of the relationship. Hermione had been upset to say the least and Harry was irate.
That night Harry clad only in his boxes had snuck into our dorm and he and Hermione just sat on her bed and talked. Imagine Parvati and my surprise when we flung the curtain open, armed with chocolate, make-up, nail polish and all things a girl needs for a cheer-up slumber party and we found the half-naked Harry sitting on one end of the bed and Hermione in her pyjamas at the other both laughing heartedly over hot chocolate. Bumbling apologies and unable to take our eyes off Harry's well-muscled chest we slowly backed out of the room until the hysterical pair invited us to stay. From that night on I always had the highest regard for Harry and was never surprised to find him lurking around our dorm during strange hours at night or early in the morning. On the same token if Hermione was ever missing from her bed the first place everyone thought to check was Harry's bed.
Now don't get me wrong the entire teaching staff knew about this arrangement, they would be naïve not to. They just didn't say anything about it. They accepted the relationship as entirely platonic as everyone in the school did. Yet along with the rest of the school they each hoped that one day the pair would just wake up and realise that they were not best friends but in fact very much in love. Also the professors were smart enough to know that they would never be able to change this sleeping arrangement no matter how hard they tried.
I jump slightly when I hear a noise just behind me. I turn quickly and breathe a sigh of relief when I find that it's only Ginny come to check on Hermione. Silently she points to Hermione's bed chambers wanting to know if it's okay to go in there. 'Harry' I mouth back and she gets the message. Instead she comes and sits on my bed ready to wait until the pair come out.
Ginny seems to be in the mood for a bit of nostalgia when she suddenly blurts out "Remember when Cho and Harry broke up?" I stuff my hand over my mouth trying to muffle my giggles as memories of that night came flooding back. I look up to see Ginny mimicking my actions.
Not long after her break-up with Ron, Hermione had started to have some horrible nightmares and as far as I knew she still is. Anyway to combat her nightmares Hermione would make her way to the boys' dorm room and crawl into bed with Harry. Some nights Harry would stay the night in Hermione's bed rocking her to sleep. On this particular night, unknown to Hermione, Harry and Cho had organised a late night tryst which had ended up in Harry's bed and Hermione burst into Harry's bed chamber scared witless from her nightmare. Thinking the pair were both asleep Hermione tore back to her own bed absolutely mortified. Harry, however, had seen her, slipped on some boxers and left a sleeping Cho to go find her. Harry did a good job of comforting the distraught girl until Cho came storming in not happy with her boyfriend. Apparently she had woken Ron asking after Harry and still drowsy with sleep Ron had pointed her in Hermione's direction.
Unlucky for the pair, Cho had found Hermione with her head lying on Harry's bare chest talking softly to him and she just happened to walk in as Harry placed a soft his on the top of Hermione's head. Irate Cho started yelling all kinds of profanity's at the pair and waking the all the girls in Gryffindor. Harry thinking Cho knew the nature of his relationship with Hermione looked on shocked unable to say anything. Hermione still too upset from her nightmare and embarrassment to say anything. Without a second thought Ginny, Parvati and I started yelling back yelling her that she could like it or lump it. It had all ended when Cho looked at a silent Harry for his take on the situation. His reply was one of the sweetest things I had ever heard. "Cho, I'm really sorry. Hermione and I come as a package. If you can't accept her importance to me than you can't accept me." Cho had looked at Harry for a couple of seconds in disbelief before turning sharply on her heal and walking out the door.
Ginny and I stopped laughing at the same time and she took on a wistful expression. It didn't last for long as she nearly jumped out of her skin when Ron came up from behind her and pulled her into a rather fierce bear hug. Slightly startled she hugged her brother back before pulling back to question him. Without letting go of Ginny's hand Ron walked over to me and gave me a kiss on the temple. Yeah, so, he's my boyfriend. Deal with it. He grabbed my hand with his spare hand rather possessively. It was my turn to give Ron a questioning look. He swallowed noticeable before shocking the hell out of us with the news. "Hermione's parents… there was an accident… in a car… neither of them made it."
Everything stoped for a second and then the pair of us look at Ron in total disbelief. That only lasts a few seconds before we realise just how much that explains Hermione's actions from the night before, why Harry and Hermione had not showered before venturing into bed and why Ron was being so possessive. "Hermione," Ginny whispers. I nod agreeing with her statement.
We sit for awhile each lost in our own thoughts. Our hearts going out to Hermione. Gradually girls from our house come to sit around my bed in silent support for Hermione, each being told the tragic story as they approach. I'm not sure how long we sat there but it can't have been too long yet it seemed like an age.
We were all broken out of revere when Professor McGonagall breezed into the room, her eyes looking slightly teary. Ginny was the first to react jumping in front of the curtains blocking the professor's path. "You can't go in there Professor," she announced while still managing to sound respectful. "Hermione… she's still really upset you see. Asked to be alone."
McGonagall gave Ginny a rather withering look. "Ms. Weasley if you think I'm going to believe that you are sorely mistaken. I know that Potter is in there with her and frankly I wouldn't expect any less of him." Reeling in shock Ginny stood aside letting the professor through. With a slight and strained smile Professor McGonagall walked through the curtain turning to snap it shut behind her.