Chapter 14
Closing Doors and Building Bridges
The trio had little time to celebrate their success, as they fell back into their school routine which just seemed to get busier and busier as each day progressed. Harry and Hermione seemed were inundated with visits from prefects over the tiniest little thing, which called either one or the other of them away, sometimes even both. When they were not in class, they were trying to get their homework completed, which also meant that looking for the next Horcrux was put on hold, much to the annoyance of Harry, who was very keen to continue what they had started.
Ron, on the other hand, was kept very busy with not only his prefect work but also trying to drag the Gryffindor Quidditch team into some semblance of a order, which was turning out to be harder than he had expected. Most of the students at the school were still a little wary of being alone following the invasion of Hogwarts at the end of the last school year, which put the team on edge during training days, plus they had to get used to the new way that the captain did things compared to how Harry had done them the previous year. And all this was not helped by the fact that Ginny seemed to take her frustrations out on Ron during the practices, much to his embarrassment.
All in all, the week following the destruction of Voldemort's soul had gone passed almost in a blink of an eye, leaving the three friends tired, miserable and more than a little knocked back. They had hoped that the euphoria of their success would have carried them on to finding the at least the clue that would reveal the location of the next Horcrux, but they had had little time to delve into Tom Riddle's past to discover anything.
Hermione looked at Harry, as the three made their way to their next class, which happened to be their least favourite, especially Hermione's. She had this very strange feeling whenever Professor Stygian looked at her, as if the professor was judging her for something, but she did not know what. Hermione put it down to the events that had happened in their first class. Fainting tended to leave a lasting impression, and she felt sure that the professor had still not forgiven her for not following her advice. But deep down, Hermione could not shake the feeling that there was something more.
"With any luck, we might be able to get researching this afternoon." Hermione smiled encouragingly, even though she seemed to say the same thing every day. "As long as nothing comes up."
Harry sighed. "We've been through this every day for the last week, and something always comes up." He looked at Hermione, smiling sadly. "If it continues, I might have to speak to Professor McGonagall about stepping down as Head Boy."
"You can't do that," Hermione exclaimed, looking more than a little alarmed. "It is our best opportunity for time on our own."
"Like we get any time on our own." Harry shook his head, frowning heavily. "Every time we think we get a free moment someone knocks on the door." He lowered his eyes to the ground, as if fighting off a thought. "I would not be surprised if Voldemort had a hand in keeping us distracted. Or I would if Draco were still around to cause trouble." He practically spat their old school foe's name out.
Hermione looked over at Ron, and shrugged, as his eyes asked a silent question. "Harry, we will get time, I promise." She placed her hand lightly on his shoulder. "If we all worked together with our homework, we should have plenty of time for researching tonight." Her eyes remained on Ron's face. "Will you be over tonight, Ron?"
Ron frowned, looking suddenly embarrassed. "I would, but I really need to get some things sorted tonight for the match on Saturday." He lowered his gaze to the floor unable to meet her eyes. "Ginny needs some more practice, in her role as Seeker."
"Ginny is the new Seeker?" Harry suddenly looked up, staring at Ron.
Ron nodded, looking more than a little bashful. "I needed someone to replace you, and she was the best I had." He blushed a little, having not wanted to bring up that particular conversation. He had managed to keep himself from talking about his sister to his best friend after what had happened between them.
Harry smiled awkwardly. "Yeah, she's a good choice."
Hermione and Ron looked at each other then followed after Harry, who had continued on to the classroom, not uttering another word or even meeting the eyes of his friends.
* * * * *
Hermione sat at the desk, her eyes neither fully focused on Professor Stygian or the book that was in front of her. For the second time that she could remember, she could not concentrate on what was going on in front of her; instead her mind had wandered back to Grimmauld Place. Before her eyes, she could see the ghostly form of Lord Voldemort as he rushed around the library, instilling fear. The words from the book that she had been reading swam in front of her eyes, almost as if it were speaking to her.
"Are you with us, Miss Granger?"
Jumping up with a start, the words on the book had made themselves into a mouth that spoke her name, when realisation hit and she looked up, finding the deep, black looking eyes of Professor Stygian staring at her from in front of the desk she shared with Harry and Ron. She felt her cheeks begin to burn, as she looked silently at the professor, waiting for words to come to her.
"I…I am, Professor Stygian," Hermione stammered, trying to clear away her thoughts.
The professor remained still, watching the young witch for a moment, her eyes boring into Hermione, making her shiver. The death's head smile appeared, and then she wandered away, continuing around the classroom as she resumed the lesson she was teaching.
"What is the matter with you?" Ron asked in a low voice, the moment the professor had wandered away.
Hermione looked at him quizzically. "Nothing is the matter with me."
Ron raised his brow in surprise. "You are always fading away in class, especially this one." His brow came down and fell into a frown. "Is there something about the Professor that you don't like?"
"Don't be silly, Ron," Hermione chided, wanting the questioning to stop, but unfortunately, she wasn't about to get her wish, as Harry turned towards her.
"He's right, Hermione. You seem so…far away lately." Harry's eyes held a look of concern, which caused Hermione to look away.
"It's nothing." She let out a sigh, wondering why her friends were so poor at picking up when she did not want to talk about something. "I've just been a little tired lately. This is a very difficult year, what with NEWTs and everything else." Her eyes found Harry's and then Ron's. "But I'm fine, honestly."
Ron glanced at Harry, who remained focused on Hermione.
"If you are sure?" Harry asked, his voice indicating that he was finished if she wanted him to be.
Hermione nodded. "I'm sure." She gave both her friends a smile, before turning her attention back to the professor.
"…Your homework is to read Chapter Twenty-Seven, and then write an essay detailing the effects of the curse and the counter-spell, especially focusing on the counter-spell. Also added points will be given if you can tell me another spell that works against it." Professor Stygian let her eyes flick around the classroom, as the students gathered together their things.
"This is really going to eat into my Quidditch time," Ron sighed and grumbled.
Hermione frowned. "There are more important things than Quidditch, Ron." She looked at Harry. "I still think we can begin tonight, even if Ron is too busy to help."
Harry nodded. "Whatever time we get…"
"I want to help," Ron interrupted. "I just have other things to do."
"We all have other things to do, Ron." Hermione picked up her book, hugging it to her body. "Sometimes we have to put other things first." She got up from her seat and headed towards the door when a voice stopped her.
"Miss Granger, please remain for a minute." Professor Stygian's voice reached her from the front of the classroom.
Hermione turned in time to see Harry and Ron exchange glances, as she made her way back into the room. Her eyes focused on the woman ahead, and she never caught the words Harry said as she walked passed them, as her mind was whirling, trying to find a plausible reason to give to the professor for her lack of attention during the class. She could not tell her the truth, after all, as that would risk their search for the other Horcruxes, and Hermione did not trust Professor Stygian. There was something about her that made Hermione nervous, something that lingered just out of reach in her mind.
"Take a seat, Miss Granger." Professor Stygian pointed to place at the front of the classroom, and waited for the other students to leave, all of which took the opportunity to gaze back at Hermione and depart with the sound of whispering floating after them.
The professor moved around her desk, leaning against it as she stared at the young witch for a moment, as if looking for information that was displayed on or even inside her. "Miss Granger, from the moment I entered this school I have heard nothing but good things about you. And from your school record, which I took the opportunity to read, I see a shining example of a student. Your grades are outstanding, and you seem to excel at almost everything that we can teach you."
She paused for a moment. "I have to ask myself then, what has happened to Miss Granger that has caused her attention to waiver and her grades to, if not slip, not meet with my expectations? The homework that you deliver is not to your usual standard, and your lack of enthusiasm in my class makes me wonder if this is an all over decline in your performance or just in Dark Arts."
Hermione squirmed slightly in her seat, surprised that her studies had shown that much of a decline. She had only noticed her focus disappearing in two classes, but if she thought about it she really did have a lot on her mind at the moment. "I'm sorry, Professor Stygian, I have been a little busy settling into my new role."
"If you are having trouble fitting your work around the duties of Head Girl, I am sure that Professor McGonagall would be willing to let you step down." Professor Stygian looked at Hermione, almost willing her to refuse this offer. "Even though you are the ideal candidate for the position, we would not like to see your studies suffer."
Hermione shook her head. "No, I do not want to step down." She smiled awkwardly. "I'm getting myself into a routine now, and I'm finding it easier to arrange my time."
"And what about Mr Potter? Does he have time to do everything?"
The look Professor Stygian gave Hermione was odd, almost as if she knew what they were up to. Burying the thought, Hermione nodded. "He is arranging his time to get everything done. We are working well together, sharing the work."
"Sometimes, things look like they work well and that the situation is set to the best arrangement, but small changes in the way things are can make all the difference." Professor Stygian smiled, as she stood upright, no longer leaning on the desk. "We do what we think is for the best, or at least, what is best from our point of view, but we fail to always see the big picture."
The professor moved around the desk, standing with her hands resting on its surface. "If you need help in arranging your schedule, I am here to help you. I do not want to see my Gryffindor students failing to achieve what I know they can achieve." She looked Hermione in the eyes, once more appearing to read the young witch's inner thoughts. "I would like to see your studies returning to normal, Miss Granger."
"Yes, Professor Stygian." Hermione looked more than a little confused.
The older woman smiled. "I'll not keep you any longer, Miss Granger. I know that you have a busy night ahead of you."
Hermione stared at the professor, her mouth opening questioningly. Had she heard what had been discussed with Harry and Ron? Shaking the thought away, Hermione continued to focus on Professor Stygian.
"With your homework." The professor added, wiping the puzzled look from Hermione's face.
Rising from her seat, Hermione looked at Stygian and smiled, before turning away and heading out of the classroom. Her mind instantly filled with the conversation they had just had. There was something about the Professor that confused Hermione. It was like she was speaking to her on various levels. Like she was saying one thing and meaning something else, as if she knew more than she was letting on. Was it some warning? Was Stygian trying to tell Hermione that she knew what was going on? The professor seemed to touch on so much without actually coming out and saying it directly.
Her mind was so occupied with her thoughts that she would have collided with Harry and Ron had they both not jumped out of the way at her approach.
"What did Professor Stygian want?" Ron asked as soon as they were out of earshot from the classroom.
Hermione shrugged. "I think she was telling me I need to concentrate more in class." She looked at Harry. "There is something strange about her. She seems to talk in riddles."
Harry opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Ron. "It's her stare I don't like. She kind of looks right through you, as if she can see inside you." He grinned suddenly. "I make sure my mind is on the lesson when she is around, in case she can read my mind."
"She wouldn't have much to read, would she, Ron?" Hermione giggled as she turned to him, trying to make light of the situation.
Harry joined in with the laughter, while Ron stood there looking a little hurt before he too laughed. The three walked away, chuckling to themselves, as they made their way back to their respective rooms.
* * * * *
Hermione put down her quill and looked at the drying ink on her parchment. The homework that Stygian had set had not taken as long as either her or Harry had expected. She placed the parchment down on the desk and looked over at her companion, who was just finishing putting the last few touches to his essay.
"Well, that's done, and now we have some time to look into Tom Riddle's past to see if we can find where he would have hidden the other Horcruxes." Hermione rose from her seat as she spoke and gathered up her books. "There have to be clues buried in his life."
Harry nodded and closed up his book with a thud. "It's a shame Ron is busy today." He too got out of his chair and began to clear the desk. "Things seem to happen when we are all together."
Cradling her books to her chest, Hermione smiled sadly. "We can start, and maybe he'll be by later after his practice. We cannot wait for us all to be free. We may never get anywhere."
"I never thought there would be a day when I regretted Quidditch existing." Harry frowned, though he was trying to pull his features into a smile. "It suddenly seems unimportant compared to what we have to do."
Hermione smiled, and walked over to where Harry stood, offering her arms for him to place his books on. "I'll get rid of these, while you get the notes we made on Tom Riddle from the things you saw in the Pensieves."
Harry placed his books as requested and headed off to his room, while Hermione moved over to the shelves and put the books on them, out of the way, before returning to the table and moving their homework. She watched as moments later Harry returned carry a couple of parchments that they had been making notes on. He dropped them onto the table, and began to roll one open.
"I just hope no one wants us this evening." He let out a sigh, knowing how previous evenings had gone. "If the door knocks, I'm not going to answer it."
Hermione smiled. "You know you will." She looked around her. "I'll just get some fresh parchment, just in case." Giving Harry one last grin, she wandered over to her bedroom door and headed over to her chest, where she kept her spare stationery.
Gathering the items she wanted, she was just returning to the main room, her hand touching the handle of her door, when a knock on the Head's Suite's entrance ceased her movements. She heard Harry tut and move over to the door, his feet scuffling along the floor. The door clicked open, and Hermione was about to continue through when she heard the voice of the new arrival.
"Hello, Harry."
"Hello, Ginny." Harry answered, his voice not sounding at all pleased to see her. "I thought you had Quidditch practice with Ron."
The sound of footsteps indicated that she had entered. "I had a few minutes, so I thought I would come and see you. Are you on your own?"
Hermione let go of the door handle and took a step back, as the footsteps in the main room started up again.
"What do you want, Ginny? I'm a bit busy right now." Harry remained by the door, the slight squeak of its movement making Hermione believe he still held onto it. "Unless this is Prefect business, I would rather you left."
One of the comfy chairs squelched, as Hermione guessed Ginny had sat down in it. "I just want to talk to you, Harry." Ginny's voice sounded pleading. "That's not a lot to ask of a friend, is it?"
"I don't want to get into this, Ginny. Please leave."
"Not until I speak to you." A moment of silence, until the sound of Harry's footfalls echoed around the room, walking towards the chairs. They paused and Ginny spoke again. "Harry, you know how I feel about you…"
"Ginny, I've explained this to you already." His voice sounded exasperated. "I have a lot on at the moment, and I don't need you hanging around my neck. It's finished."
"You don't mean that!" Ginny's voice rose, as she got to her feet and walked towards him. "I know you care about me. You can't just stop, just like that."
Harry let out a loud sigh, almost as if he was trying to stop himself from saying something he did not want to. His footsteps once more echoed around the room as he put some distance between him and Ron's sister.
"Harry, talk to me. Please." Ginny was almost pleading now.
"I don't care about you, Ginny." Harry's voice was low, there was no shouting, but his tone had a definite edge about it. "It's time you moved on. There is no us, and there never will be."
A sniffling started, and then the sound of running footsteps, followed by the steady step of Harry as he walked over to the door and closed it again. When Hermione entered the room, she looked over at Harry, who was leaning with his back against the door, his head bowed down, his eyes fixed to the floor.
"Harry?"
He raised his head and looked at her. "How much did you hear?"
Hermione fell silent for a moment, blushing slightly. "Enough."
Harry let out a long drawn out breath and moved from the door, walking deeper into the room over to where Hermione was standing. "I'm sorry you had to hear that." He frowned, searching for words. "I expect you think I was too hard on her, don't you?"
Shaking her head, Hermione paused before answering; her voice was low and understanding. "No, I don't. Sometimes we have to say things we might not want to say, but they need to be said." She gave him a sad smile. "I know that you have a lot on your mind at the moment."
Harry's eyes met Hermione's. "It's not just that." He frowned. "I just don't feel the same way about her that I did. I thought I would, but I don't. Being away from her, being with you and Ron, and seeing you both together, I realised that what I had with Ginny wasn't what I wanted."
"What do you want, Harry?" Hermione asked, her voice low, as if to speak too loud would stop him from answering.
Sighing, Harry glanced about him. "I don't know. I think I do, and then it seems to change." He looked back into her face. "Maybe I won't really know until I've faced Voldemort and killed him. But sometimes…" He fell silent.
"Sometimes…?" Hermione prompted.
"Sometimes I think I'm missing something." Harry shook his head and sighed. "Like something is just within reach and yet far away at the same time." He laughed suddenly, not a happy sound. "I'm not making much sense, am I?"
Hermione smiled. "In a way, you are." She moved closer to where he was standing, placing her arm around his shoulders. "I think we all feel like that."
"Do you?" Harry asked, his voice sounding unconvinced. "You have Ron."
"Yes, I do." Hermione frowned, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "That doesn't mean I don't…" She paused looking for what to say.
"Don't what?" It was Harry's turn to prompt.
Hermione stared at him for a moment. "I don't know." She shook her head and smiled at him. "Like you, I feel there is something that I need…but I don't know what it is. Maybe once the Horcruxes are destroyed and You-Know-Who is destroyed, we'll both get our answers."
Harry laughed. "You always manage to say the right things to cheer me up." He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her slightly around from his side.
Hermione gasped slightly at his touch, feeling herself shiver. "It's part of my job as your friend." She smiled. "Perhaps we should get started." Her head turned towards the table.
Despite her suggestion, the two remained where they were, her arm around his shoulders, with his arm around her waist, not wanting to break apart just yet, as they found strength in each other.
"Thank you, Hermione."
The young witch smiled, her brown eyes twinkling. "It's a pleasure." She moved her head slightly, lips poised to press a kiss to his cheek.
As her lips were about to brush his skin, Harry turned to look at her, his smile disappearing as her kiss landed against his lips instead. His arm tightened around her waist, holding her close. Then as suddenly as it began, Hermione took a step back, breaking the kiss, as both of their arms fell from the other's body. Hermione's face was growing pink.
"I'm so sorry, Harry."
Harry shook his head, frowning slightly, yet his eyes held something within them. "No, it was my fault." He grinned. "I, ah, I shouldn't have moved."
Hermione stood staring at Harry, her gaze lingering on his lips, as if her eyes were drawn to them by some magic force. She nibbled lightly on her lower lip, as her mind whirled. Inside her head was swimming, with a million thoughts, some of them things that she really should not have been dwelling on. Her fingers moved to her mouth, brushing over her lips where only moments ago Harry's had been. Her stomach fluttered, which she put down the embarrassment of the situation.
Running her fingers through her hair, she fidgeted trying to find something to say. "It was an accident." She smiled, trying to push the thought of it out of her mind. "We…ah…should really get to work on finding the next Horcrux."
Harry nodded and moved over to the table, settling himself into one of the chairs. "I'm glad you were here, following Ginny's visit." He pulled the parchment over towards himself that he had opened earlier. "Knowing you were in the next room made speaking to her easier."
Hermione sat down in her own chair opposite him. "I wish there was something I could do." She frowned. "I know how both of you are feeling."
A smile crept onto Harry's lips. "I'm feeling a lot better now."
"It's good that you managed to clear the air." Hermione smiled as she rolled open a fresh bit of parchment for making new notes on. "That always makes things easier."
"Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry." Her eyes met his across the table, before her gaze slipped briefly to his lips, as once more she could imagine feeling the gentle pressure of the kiss.
Harry smiled to himself. "Nothing."
Hermione lowered her eyes to the parchment, feeling her cheeks growing warm, as suddenly her thoughts turned to Ron, who had slipped from her mind, causing her to feel a twinge of guilt.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, his face full of concern.
"Yes, I'm fine." Hermione almost snapped. "I was just wondering about Hagr…"
A knock at the door brought her to a halt, as both she and Harry turned, wondering who it was. Getting up to their feet, they turned towards each other, looking questioningly, before Hermione moved over to the door.
"If it's her again, I don't want to see her." Harry whispered as she walked passed him.
Fingers wrapping around the handle, Hermione pulled open the door a little, then let out a sigh, as she opened it fully to reveal a rather annoyed looking Ron, who brushed passed her and stormed into the room with a face like thunder. He walked over to the table and sat down on the chair that Hermione had vacated, his two friends watching him with puzzled expressions.
"What's up, mate? I thought you had practice." Harry asked, risking a quick glance at Hermione, who was slowly returning to the table.
"Ginny cried off." Ron grumbled. "Like I have the time to rearrange my schedule around her." He flicked his gaze between Harry and Hermione. "Still, as the Quidditch was off, I thought I would come and help you with the search. Have you done much already?"
Hermione shook her head, and took the third seat at the table. "No, we were just about to begin."
Ron nodded. "At least I haven't missed anything important."
Hermione and Harry looked at each other silently, their faces briefly revealing their feeling of guilt, each realising what had happened now that their friend was there. It had not happened on purpose, but the accidental kiss suddenly took on more importance than it had done before.
Ron looked between the pair of them, his brow furrowed. "Have you two lost your tongues?" He grinned. "This is going to be a slow evening if I'm the only one talking."
Hermione smiled awkwardly, and pulled the parchment in front of her, leaning over to grab the quill. "It's just been a long day." She turned to Harry and blushed slightly.
"Have you two had a row?" Ron asked, looking concerned.
"No." They answered in unison, shaking their heads.
Ron looked between Harry and Hermione, his expression one that showed he knew that something was the matter, but he could not quite put his finger on it. But he did not take the discussion any further, which made Hermione feel slightly easier.
For the rest of the evening, she could not look at Harry, and it was with a sigh of relief that several hours later she finally bid Ron and Harry goodnight, escaping into the sanctuary of her room.
* * * * *
Hermione had not slept at all well, and it was on more than one occasion that her dreams turned towards her kiss with Harry. Unfortunately, as dreams have a tendency of doing, it replayed itself differently to how it actually happened. And instead of the accidental brushing of their lips, her mind had conjured up visions of her and Harry sharing a passionate kiss, their arms wrapped around each other, so caught up in their passion that they failed to see Ron enter.
And to make matters worse, the dream escalated to a point where Ron and Harry stood facing each other, their wands drawn, in some kind of duel. Who won the duel, Hermione would never know, as she woke up with a start as a knock at her door brought her out of sleep.
"Who is it?"
"It's me." Harry's voice sounded from the other side of the door.
"What time is it?" Hermione asked, knowing from the darkness in the room it was not yet morning.
"I need to talk to you, Hermione."
Hermione climbed out of bed and gathered her robe, pulling it on as she walked to the door. She pulled it open a little and stared at Harry as he was revealed in the crack. "What's the matter?"
"I couldn't sleep." Harry frowned. "I've been thinking about what happened earlier."
"What you said to Ginny needed saying." Hermione smiled, trying to offer some words of comfort.
Harry's frown grew. "I didn't mean the thing with Ginny."
"Oh." Hermione paused, lost for words.
Harry placed his hand on the door frame and looked at Hermione, his eyes serious and sad. "I don't want that little accident to ruin our friendship. I can't do what I have ahead of me on my own, especially not without you, Hermione." He sighed. "If I could change things that had happened, I would, if it would make things right between us again."
Hermione smiled. "You don't have to do it on your own, Harry." She moved her hand to where his rested and took it in hers. "We are friends and I am with you every step of the way." Her eyes twinkled slightly with mirth. "Who would do all the research if I'm not there?"
Squeezing her hand, Harry smiled. "I might be able to sleep now that I know everything is good between us."
"Me too." Hermione hoped that her dreams would stop haunting her once she returned to her bed. "Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Hermione." Harry turned to leave then stopped, looking back at the young witch, barely visible in the light, giving her a smile. He then continued on to his bedroom, disappearing out of sight.
Hermione stood at the door until she heard his close, before shutting her own and wandered back over to her bed. Climbing back in, she was asleep a little while later, her dreams pleasant ones, still containing Harry, but this time there were no duels or feeling of guilt attached.