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.
Authors Note: I decided to be really nice and put the third chapter out today as well. Chapter uploads are not always going to be this quick because I'm majorily stuck on the chapter I am working on now. Don't worry that's a few chapters off yet. I'm hoping by posting it at Portkey I get all inspired.
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Professor McGonagall's POV
Despite the tragic situation I can't help but smile a bit as the young Ginny Weasley lets me through to see Hermione and Harry. Just like a Weasley to be so protective of her friend. She reminds me so much of her mother it's uncanny. I resist looking at the bed for a second before turning around and shutting the curtains on the concerned young Gryffindors.
Away from the prying eyes I now take the time to survey the bed chambers. I smile as I look on the scene and am immediately taken back about twenty years. I had not long since been made Gryffindor House mistress when James Potter and Lily Evans had both missed the prefect meeting and everyone claimed ignorance as to their whereabouts. Finally finding my last straw I had gone myself to check in Lily's bedroom. I was incredibly surprised when I found James and Lily in bed together much in the fashion that Harry and Hermione were now.
I lean over and very much regret what I am about to do. In the next few days I doubt Hermione will be able to find even this small amount of peace. Gently I shake Harry awake careful not to arouse Hermione, I'll leave those honours to Harry.
Harry stirs and wakes looking up and jumps, startled, when he sees who has woken him. He quickly opens his mouth to offer an explanation but seems to be unable to come up with any he finds acceptable. In any other situation it would have been amusing.
I raise my hand and quickly silence him. "No need, Mr Potter. Professor Dumbledore needs to see the both of you in his office." Harry nods grimly knowing what was coming. He then turns to me and gives me a slightly pointed look. I nod and turn around giving them some privacy.
As I turn I see him gently kiss Hermione on the top of her head. "Hermione," I hear him whisper.
While Harry gently tries to wake Hermione my mind wonders back to the past seven years. Over time the pair had almost become a fixture among the hallways, making their own stamp on Hogwarts. It was rare that a group of students came along that made such an impact on the school that when they did the professors, ghost and paintings all paid close attention to them. From the day Harry, Ron and Hermione had been sorted into Gryffindor together everyone had sat up and taken notice.
The three of them had wondered the halls absolutely inseparable cooking up some counter plot to that years evil. Recently the trio was more often seen as the duo as Ron was not very often seen with them. An event which occurred after his fifth year fling with Hermione and that fact had placed a small strain on their friendships. Most peoples guess was that words were said that were unforgivable even though it appeared that none of the trio noticed.
There was hardly a day go by when I didn't see the pair walking down the hallway hand in hand or Harry's arm draped over Hermione's shoulder. One day as Albus and I watched Harry and Hermione walk down the hallway Harry's arm around Hermione and whispering something in her ear Albus mentioned to me what I thought was so obvious I couldn't believe I missed it. His exact words were "Looks like we've got Lily and James take two." At the time I was startled by the revelation but putting some thought to it I could not disagree with him.
I hear them both get up off the bed and I turn back around. "I suggest you both get yourselves freshened up before we go see the Headmaster." Hermione just stares dumbly ahead. I can tell she has heard the words but they make no sense to her. Harry nods slowly and turns back to Hermione. "I'll be back soon," he whispers into her temple before he quickly turns on his heel and leaves the room.
"Are you okay?" I ask Hermione. She nods slightly and I realise that she is as okay as she is going to be. "I'll let you get changed." I pause as she nods again. "Do you want one of the girls to help you?" Hermione shakes her head and starts to move around the room on autopilot. Unable to do anything more for her I leave the room to allow her to change into some clean robes.
As I slip back through the curtains the young faces turn to look up at me, wanting reassurance. "She's as well as expected," I tell them not wishing to lie. I see Ron nod and wince slightly. That is when I realise that his little sister is gripping his hand as hard as she can, her knuckles white. I try to give them a reassuring smile but it comes out more of a worried grimace.
We stand in silence for a couple of minutes the students just enjoying the comfort of each other's company. We had not been standing there for long when Harry came rushing back in still buttoning up his shirt in his hurry back to Hermione. I can't help but notice Lavender, Parvati and Ginny give his chest an appreciative glance before turning away quickly.
As Harry finished buttoning his shirt Hermione emerged from behind the curtains, looking a lot more like herself. She offers everyone a weak smile. With a couple of quick steps she crosses the room and finishes tying Harry's tie for him. The scene was so decidedly domestic. As she finished she flattened the tie down with her hand and then looked up at Harry. "Ready?" she questioned. Harry nodded slightly and the pair were out the door before I knew what was happening.
Quickly shaking myself I follow them realising that it was Hermione's way of dealing with the grief. She had cried all she was going to for now and was taking charge of the situation as best she could. Trying to keep her mind off what had happened.
Before I knew it we had reached the gargoyle which stood at Albus' office entrance and Harry mumbled the password, "raspberry twist". It struck me then how often Harry must have found himself in the headmaster's office if he knew the password without hesitation. As we waited rode the spiral staircase up to the office Harry and Hermione carried out a conversation with their eyes giving the entire situation a slightly eerie feel.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Mr Potter," Albus greeted as we entered the room. "Thank you, Minerva. Take a seat if you will." Hermione and I took a seat whilst Harry stood behind Hermione's chair, as if he were standing guard.
"Miss Granger, first off let me say how sorry I am for your loss." Hermione nodded and Albus continued. "I wish it were possible that we were here under circumstances not so grim. Alas, I know this is painful but we must make arrangements. I have been in correspondence with you're aunt and she has agreed to pick you up from train in London."
Hermione nodded again. "Professor," she asked in a hollow voice. "Is it possible for someone from Hogwarts to come with me? It's just that I don't know my extended family all that well…" Hermione let her sentence trail off. Harry looked down at Hermione surprised whilst Albus nodded, understanding.
"I'll allow for Mr Potter to accompany you," Hermione grinned slightly, "however, I am unable to allow Mr Weasley to go as well." Hermione and Harry looked up at Albus in slight shock. I must say I was shocked at his revelation as well. "Mr Weasley is wizard born Miss Granger. I can only imagine the havoc he would create forced into Muggle surroundings."
"Thank-you Professor," Hermione answered. Slowly I tuned out the conversation going on around me and took to studying Hermione. I was having trouble figuring out her reaction. True she was always such a controlled person, rigidly sticking to the rules yet she was governed by her emotions, a true Gryffindor. Right now she seemed to be thinking entirely with her head and not her heart an unusual occurrence for the Head Girl, especially after seven years of such close quarters to Harry Potter.
I realise that she must have closed off her emotions, her coping mechanism. It pained me too see. I watched as Harry's hand came down and gave her shoulder a squeeze. Almost on reflex Hermione reached up and squeezed Harry's hand back. A couple of seconds later both of them stand to leave and I realise Albus must have dismissed them.
As they both make there way back down the stairs Albus turns to me, "Out of great tragedy the most beautiful things may blossom."